A/N: See chapter one for disclaimer, rating, and notes.
A/N: Sorry guys, Spike's gone. Don't kill me, trust me. It's for the story. A bit of heroic sacrifice to redeem the once remorseless killer. Trust me.
Title: A nod to Smashing Pumpkins this time, "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
*****
Michael gently lay Faith into the elevator cage and ushered a screaming Buffy and crying Dawn in with her. Hitting the down button, he drew his blade again and faced of against a creature far to powerful for him alone. He knew he would die here, but he had to try. This thing could not be allowed to roam free, and Spike's sacrifice would not be in vain.
Willow stood by his side, her eyes clear and voice steady when she spoke. Her voice gave him confidence and her words gave him strength.
"Let's finish this."
Her first spell forced the demon off balance, driving daggers of force into it's chest. Michael's first powerful thrust buried deep in the pit fiend's chest, hurting it severely. It cried in pain, and Michael took hope in the sound as he spun behind the demon, ready to land a second blow.
His elation was cut short as the demon backhanded him as it spun, sending him flying from the construction. It was an act of sheer will that he still held his blade, it's golden radiance marking his unplanned flight.
"Just you and me now, witch," the demon's smooth, masculine voice promised her painful death. Willow raised her hands, becoming one with the magic, as she had only once before. Her call, born not of anger or hate, was answered.
*****
Xander's truck was right by the elevator when it came to a stop, and the young man quickly loaded the wounded women into the back. Looking at Dawn's tears, he decided that this wasn't a good time to ask what happened. He lead her to the passenger seat and was almost behind the wheel when Faith's sudden scream caused him to look up.
Michael was falling. Faith had woke just in time to see him begin to fall, his sword's golden radiance marking his decent. Dawn and Xander, looking up, caught sight of him.
Suddenly, about halfway down, a flash of light enveloped his falling form. White feathered wings spread from his back as his fall was suddenly turned into a sudden ascent, and he sped back to the battle.
"Holy shit," Xander whispered..
*****
The whip crackled against the shield she raised, and the demon was forced back by the wall of air summoned by a gesture. Willow worked fast and hard, trying to defeat the demon but having no idea of how to. Suddenly she grinned and stopped her gesturing.
"Silly bitch," the demon growled, "I'll enjoy your screams before I kill you."
"No, you won't." Her simple, confident gave the creature pause, and it straightened quickly.
Willow could feel the power suddenly rising to the fight, and it took only a second for her to recognize the source. It bore the same power of the blade Michael carried. But it was a living thing.
The sudden appearance of steel in the demon's chest stunned and silenced it's query. Slowly, inexorably, the blade was forced upwards, as Michael cut the demon in half along it's spine. Hot gore splattered on the girders as the blade was forcefully torn from the demon's neck, nearly decapitating it. It fell, quivering, as Willow walked to the edge of the construction.
"Let's get out of here," Willow said as strong arms gripped her. The simple joy of flying was overshadowed by the reality of the battle, and the costs for such a stalemate. Spike was gone, both Faith and Buffy were severely wounded.
*****
Giles paid the taxi driver when the cab stopped in front of Buffy's home. He didn't notice the shattered door or broken windows until he reached the front porch, and his reaction was actually pretty mild, considering the wide variety of possibilities that could have lead to this destruction. He merely set his suitcase down, took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
*****
"Maybe you two should take Dawn back to the house, get cleaned up," Michael said softly in the waiting room of the hospital the next day. "I'll wait here until you get back." The wings that had saved him during the fight were gone, having faded into a pale mist when his feet touched the ground. Xander and Willow didn't ask him about them, which was fine. He really didn't have any answers.
"She's not going to want to leave," Willow countered. "Neither do I, really. What happens if he tries something?"
"He won't," Michael replied, while Xander nodded his agreement. "We caused him one hell of a setback. That many minions destroyed in that short a time will send him to ground for at least a month or two."
Willow sighed, then turned to look at Dawn. She was passed out in a nearby chair, her face a mess due to her almost constant tears. Knowing it was the only thing to do, Willow nodded and went to wake her.
"One of us will be back shortly," Xander said. "I'm thinking it'll be best if she gets some sleep."
"Yea," Michael half answered, his gaze drawn to the rooms at the end of the hall, one in particular. Buffy was pretty beat up, but she'd taken worse. A few stitches, an IV, and she'd be alright. Faith, on the other hand, was hanging on to life by a thread. She'd lost far too much blood, and had a number of internal injuries. She slept, almost as if she was in a coma. The doctors said if she made it a few hours, she'd live.
"Relax," Xander said, "We know this is hard, but she'll pull through. She's just as tough as Buffy, and the Buff-ster's been down twice. Faith will be just fine."
"Take her home," Michael said softly as he walked down the hall to Faith's room. The nurse was about to say something to him, but Xander quickly pulled her aside and whispered something into her ear. The nurse nodded, glanced once more down the hall, and went about her business.
*****
"Giles!" Willow cried when she saw the older man sitting on the front porch. "What are you doing here?"
"I came because of…"
"The Necromancer," Xander finished, carrying the sleeping Dawn. "We've already run into him."
"Dear God," Giles gasped. "Buffy! Is she alright?"
"Loaded question, G-man," Xander replied. "Let me get Dawn to bed, then we'll fill you in."
"Just tell me Buffy's still alive," the watcher asked.
"Yes," Willow answered as Xander walked upstairs. "But she and Faith are in the hospital. Michael's there right now."
"Michael?"
Willow sighed, knowing that the explanations were going to be pretty damn long.
*****
Michael sat by her beside, gently holding her hand as she slept. A single tear escaped his eye as he watched her, his heart in his throat. The steady beeping of the machine in the corner should have given him hope, but the pain at seeing her like this made thinking a difficult thing.
When Willow and Giles walked into the room two hours later, they saw Michael passed out with his head resting on Faith's bed. The Slayer was sitting upright, a tender smile on her face, as she shushed them to silence. They left, content that she was healing. They knew sweet moments such as this would be few and far between in the conflict ahead.
