A/N: Big thanks to everyone who gives me reviews.  They inspire me to write more, I hope you like this chappie.  More to come! ~Serendipity

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 31: Courage

Buffy yawned and stretched her arms.  She smiled as she felt Spike's warm body pressed up against hers.  Security, comfort and love all rolled into one.  Marvelous.  With naughty thoughts flying through her head, Buffy rolled over. 

And fell out of bed. 

"What the…" she muttered.  Then it came flying back, she was in the hospital bed, not Spike's king-size bed at home.  Crap.  There goes my great idea, Buffy thought glumly. 

Spike poked his head over the side of the bed.  "You okay, luv?"

Buffy nodded.  "Just peachy.  Well, my pride and my butt might hurt just a bit, but that's it."

Spike smirked at her, and Buffy barely resisted the urge to wipe the expression off his face. 

A nurse bustled into the room, all sunshine and smiles.  "How are we feeling today, Mr. Giles?" she chirped.  Buffy, unseen due to the bed, grinned at Spike's grumpy expression. 

"'M peachy fucking keen.  Can I go home now?" he asked petulantly. 

The nurse sighed.  "I don't know, Mr. Giles.  You'll have to ask a doctor.  If it was left up to me, I would have released you long ago, simply to spare myself the headaches."

Spike's eyebrows shot up.   "Excuse me?" he asked incredulously.  Buffy snickered. 

"Don't think that statement doesn't include you too, Miss Summers," the nurse said as she rounded the bed. 

"Hey," Buffy protested.  "I'm nowhere near as bad as Spike."

The nurse rolled her eyes.  "Between the two of you, I swear I'm getting gray hairs."

Buffy hopped back into bed.  "Gray hairs show wisdom," she said with a chuckle. 

Spike pulled Buffy against him and tucked an arm around her.  The nurse shook her head.  "I'll send the doctor in to talk to you, okay?"

"Okay," they chorused. 

The nurse smiled at them and left.  She passed Joyce on her way out.  "How are they?" Joyce asked quietly. 

The nurse paused and looked back at the bed.  Spike was whispering in Buffy's ear and she was laughing.  "Physically, they are both ready to be discharged.  Buffy probably didn't need to stay, but we didn't want to separate her from Spike for various reasons.  Mentally, they are lucky to have one another.  It's going to be hard on them both, getting though this, but at least they have another person to lean on.  Sort of like a survivor's syndrome, people who experience traumatic events band together.  I'll let you have a few minutes together, and then send the doctor in.  I think they may be discharged today.  Too bad, they are both really quite amusing." 

The women shared a smile, and the nurse left.  Joyce walked into the room, and Buffy smiled.  "Mom!  I thought you were working today."

Joyce gave them a tired smile.  "No.  Actually, I'm here with Rupert.  He's parking, and then coming up."

Spike and Buffy nodded.  Joyce sighed and pulled up a chair.  Spike looked at her carefully.  She had tired lines on her face and stress lines around her eyes.  "You doing okay, Mum?" he asked. 

Joyce nodded.  "I haven't been sleeping well, surprise, surprise.  And Rupert and I have decided to postpone our buying trip until all this blows over.  We actually had a bit of a tiff about it, the first time we've disagreed about anything."

Buffy tugged on her lip with her teeth.  "Mom, I really don't think you should postpone your trip.  Actually, I think it would be a good idea if you left and took A.J too."

Joyce shook her head.  "Honey, you know I can't yank A.J out of school."

Buffy rolled her eyes.  "I think that they'll understand, Mom.  How dense could they be?"

Joyce sighed again and shrugged her shoulders.  "I'll talk to his principal, and we'll see what happens.  He'll be on summer vacation pretty soon anyway.  In the meantime, I thought I would offer Spike a place to stay while his house is being repaired.  What do you say, Spike?" 

Spike felt his heartstrings tug.  "Joyce, you are an absolute angel, you know that?  I would love to."

Joyce smiled and leaned toward the bed.  "You know, of course, there will be no naughty happenings while I'm at home, right?"

Spike blushed.  Both Joyce and Buffy laughed at him.  "Mom, stop teasing Spike," Buffy said. 

The doctor walked into the room, followed closely by Giles.  "Hello Mr. Giles, Miss Summers, how are we feeling today?" she asked. 

"Fine," they said in unison. 

The doctor checked their charts, and gave them both a short physical exam.  "Good news, kids.  You're officially released, better run for the hills," she said with a smile. 

Spike whooped and Buffy laughed.  "Finally, 'bout damn time," Spike said. 

"Definitely," Buffy echoed. 

The doctor gave both the blonde's some follow-up tips and advice, and told them to make a check-up appointment.  They both agreed, and the doctor left.  "Well, luv, ready to go?" Spike asked. 

"More than you know," Buffy replied. 

Giles rolled his eyes.  "I suppose I have to go get the car now?"

Joyce smiled and patted his shoulder.  "Don't worry; I'll go with you this time."

Giles grumbled under his breath, but smiled as he and Joyce left the room.  "They're looking well," he said. 

Joyce nodded and looked back.  "Yes, they are." 

Giles opened the door, and he and Joyce walked out to the parking lot.  "Have you thought about telling Spike yet?" Joyce asked Giles quietly.

Giles sighed.  "I was going to, but now I'm not sure.  He's been though so much already, I don't really think now is the time."

Joyce nodded.  "You know that you're going to have to tell him eventually, right?  Buffy knows part of it, and if you don't, I know she will."

Giles polished his glasses.  "I know, I know.  I will, just not right now."

Joyce saw Buffy and Spike walk out of the hospital.  "There they are.  We'll talk about this later."

Giles sighed again.  "Bloody wonderful."

He drove over and picked the couple up.  "Where to?" Giles asked.

"Home," Buffy replied.   

"Can do," Giles said and smiled. 

Minutes later, he pulled into the Summers' parking lot.  "Ahh, home sweet home," Buffy said. 

Spike smiled at her.  "Glad to be out of there, pet?"

Buffy nodded vigorously.  "More than you can imagine."

"Me too," Spike said. 

With the help of Giles and Joyce, Spike and Buffy got all of their things settled into Buffy's room. 

"Xander called and said that he and Anya were going to stop by Spike's house and get him some clothes.  Oh, and Willow said that she and Oz needed to tell you something.  I don't know when everyone was coming by, but I'm sure they'll all show up eventually," Joyce said as she walked into the kitchen.  Giles followed her in. 

"Okay," Buffy called from the living room where she and Spike were fighting over which movie to watch. 

They had just decided on one when the door to the apartment flew open.  From the kitchen, all Joyce and Giles could see was a flash of red.  In the living room, Buffy and Spike found themselves assaulted by a shrieking Willow.  "Hey you guys!"

Oz followed behind her, as calm as ever.  "Hi."

Buffy laughed and shoved Willow to the floor.  "Hey Wills, Oz, what are you guys up to?"

Willow pulled herself up from the floor.  "Ow, Buff, that kinda hurt.  Anyway, Oz and I just wanted to stop by and see how you two crazy kids are doing."

Oz nodded. 

"We're doing fine.  Actually, we were going to watch a movie.  You guys wanna join in?" Spike asked. 

"Sounds good," Willow said. 

Oz nodded. 

So began another movie debate, as Spike tried to sway Willow and Oz toward his choice.  Halfway into the debate, Joyce and Rupert appeared in the living room.  "We're going to put in some hours at the store," Joyce said. 

"What's A.J up to?" Buffy asked. 

"He's staying at Bobby's tonight.  Jan will bring him home tomorrow," Joyce replied. 

"What time will you be home?" Buffy asked.

"I'm not sure," Joyce said. 

Buffy nodded.  Joyce and Giles said their goodbyes and left

The debate about the movie resumed.  Oz smiled as they argued.  He turned the television on and began flipping through the channels.  A news story caught his eye.  "Guys," he said. 

The others stopped bickering and turned their attention to the television.  The onscreen reporter looked properly solemn as she reported on a fire that consumed a local bar and club.  Willow and Buffy looked at one another and then back at the screen.  "Holy shit," Buffy whispered. 

According to the reporter, the details were sketchy, but is appeared that it was an arson fire.  The owner of the First Amendment Gentleman's Lounge was taken to the hospital in serious condition.  No other details were known. 

Oz shut the television off.  Buffy felt her calm façade fall down around her.  She had been in a steady state of denial since her conversation with Spike at the hospital.  Trying to be strong for both of them, telling everyone she was fine and acting like she wasn't absolutely terrified out of her mind, everything just fell down around her.  She collapsed back into Spike's arms, shaking violently.

"GODDAMMIT!" she screamed suddenly, jumping to her feet. 

"Fuck!  Shit!  Son of a bitch!" Buffy began to throw things around the living room.  Vases, picture frames and pillows flew through the air.  Willow and Oz watched in silence as Spike tried to calm her.  "Pet, relax.  Buffy, baby, calm down."

Buffy felt the rage drain from her, leaving behind a deadly calm.  She let Spike embrace her and rub her back.  "I think that I need to be alone right now."

Willow and Oz nodded.  They got up and left, after Willow gave Buffy a quick hug.  "Call me," she whispered. 

Buffy nodded and gave them a tired smile. 

"What do you want to do, luv?" Spike asked in a low voice. 

Buffy looked at Spike.  So handsome, how'd I get so lucky?  Reaching a hand up, Buffy stroked his face, outlining his cheek and tracing his scarred eyebrow.  Love washed through her, and she smiled as he leaned his face into her hand.  "I meant you too, Spike," she said quietly. 

Spike looked at Buffy in shock.  "Excuse me?"

"Why don't you go and see if mom and Giles need some help?"   Buffy asked. 

Spike couldn't conceal the hurt that flashed though him.  "Buffy, what's wrong?"

Buffy gave him a sad smile.  "Nothing, baby.  I just need some time to think.  Alone."

Spike's jaw tightened in anger.  "Buffy, whatever it is, you need to talk with me about it."

Buffy shook her head.  "Not right now.  Please Spike, don't push me on this."

Spike gave her a curt nod.  "Fine.  But Buffy, just so you know, if this is going to work, we have to trust one another.  Completely."

Buffy nodded.  "I know, Spike, and I do trust you.  I just need to think."

Spike looked into her eyes, and then leaned forward and kissed her cheek.  "I'll be at the store."

Buffy nodded again.  "I'll see you later."

Spike gave her one last look and walked out the door. 

Buffy took a very deep breath.  She went into the kitchen and picked up the phone.  Courage.  She dialed a number and waited.  She was going to end this, immediately. 

A voice on the other end answered. 

Buffy took another deep breath.  "Can I talk to Angel, please?"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Until next time, my pretties.