Spike felt like he was in hell. On fire. Being tortured with stabbing pain.
He was on fire in hell and someone was stabbing him. Very slowly, and quite
groggily, he was being pulled out of the darkness... into darkness. At least
it was darkness at the Summers' home. He saw daylight through a crack in
the curtain, and he was lying on a couch in the darkened living room. He
felt a hand on his chest. It was gentle. He cracked his eyes open and saw
with some surprise that it was Willow. He remembered her being there,
working some mojo, when Buffy helped him out of the nuthouse. Or
nutmansion.
"Red. Thank you." He put it simply. She looked up and saw the meaning in his eyes. She looked a little surprised at his sincerity, but smiled.
"You're awake. And you're welcome. Let me tell Buffy you're awake." He lay back, his body one big, throbbing bruise.
Buffy walked in and crouched down next to him. "How do you feel?"
"Like someone tortured me." He could barely manage a facsimile of a smile to reassure her, thought he wasn't feeling all that reassured himself. She laid a hand against his cheek and started to say something, but Dawn came in and came to him in a blur of flying brown hair and long legs.
Buffy backed off to let Dawn kneel by him.
"Oh Spike. Are you okay? You look horrible." Her brown eyes were filled with worry.
He was starting to feel nauseous, he was tired, and his head was throbbing, but he managed to murmur, "I'll be okay, luv."
Buffy came back over and said, "Spike, you need to get some blood in you. You seem to have lost a lot, and you actually look scrawnier." She held out the mug she had brought in with her. He made a face, his stomach pitching, and turned away.
"Spike..."
"No, pet. I can't. Now now."
Buffy motioned to Dawn and they left him to rest some more. Giles and Xander left to get a few supplies. A few hours later, when it was beginning to get dark, he woke up again. Buffy had pulled the armchair over, and she was lying sideways on it, her head pillowed on the arm, fast asleep. He looked down and saw she had reached for his hand, and their fingers were entwined.
He heaved an unneeded sigh and groaned at the aching pain. Buffy woke up and murmured, "Spike? Are you awake?"
"Yeah, luv." He shifted, feeling like a lightweight and still overly sick.
"Spike, you really need to eat something." She gave him one of her patented 'Don't-screw-with-me' look. She shifted and lifted a mug. He grimaced at the smell of pig's blood. She held it to his lips and he tried to drink. His stomach protested and the little bit he got in his mouth he let dribble out again. "Bugger." He made a face.
"Dammit Spike. This is like trying to feed a testy, vampire baby."
He would've laughed, but he didn't want to hurl all over her. "Sorry goldilocks. Ever' time I try, my stomach starts disagreein'. I know you're tryin' to help, but sod it, I won't be able to keep it down."
Buffy sat back and he felt her eyes on him. "What about Slayer's blood? Would that work?"
He turned his head too quickly at that. 'Bloody hell, that hurts like a bitch.'
"No. I can't drink from you."
"Yes you can. I want you to, if it'll make you well again."
"If I drink from you, I might not be able to stop."
She stroked his cheek and said softly, "I trust you, and if it'll make you feel better, it doesn't have to be from my neck."
Resigned, he nodded. She sat on the couch next to him. She pulled her sleeve up, baring her wrist to him. She held it up to his mouth. She felt him nuzzle her, his lips soft on the tender skin.
"It's okay, Spike." She reassured him, since he seemed to be hesitating. "Take what you need."
The blood pumping through her veins was intoxicating. The smell of her sweet blood had his fangs extending. He scratched open her wrist with one, latching his mouth onto her wrist. He started drinking. 'God, what a rush.'
Buffy gasped at the pain in her wrist from his sharp fangs opening it and the grazing of them over the cut. She buried her face in his shoulder. Her blood flowed into his mouth and Buffy and Spike were immersed in flashbacks. Fighting each other in the alley, talking on her porch, shagging like mad wherever they happened to land, bits and pieces of their lives before they knew each other.
She felt the rhythmic sucking slow and groggily lifted her head from his shoulder. She felt so tired, and her eyelids were heavy, like there were bricks weighing them down. His tongue gently stroked over the wound. He fought off the urge to keep feeding and won. Her blood was an aphrodisiac.
"Buffy, are you okay?" He sounded worried.
She managed to keep her eyes open. She murmured, "Yeah, I'll be okay. I'm just feeling a little woozy."
He looked better than he did before. Buffy's slayer healing kicked in and she felt a little better. She got up and Spike reached out for the leftover bandages that had been for him and wrapped it around her wrist for her. Dawn was up in her room, boy band music turned up loud. Willow was just coming down the stairs with her books, about to study. She disappeared into the kitchen.
Buffy turned to Spike and said, "I don't want you going home tonight or going out at all. It's not safe right now. You're staying here with us."
He looked as if he were going to protest, but saw the determined glint in her eye. He still felt a bit weak anyway, so he agreed. He dropped back on the sofa. 'Might as well see what's on the telly.'
Buffy went into the kitchen and poured a tall glass of orange juice. She needed the vitamins. She turned and saw Willow scrutinizing her.
"Spike looks better. What's with the presto-changeo all betterness?"
Buffy sat down next to her. She pulled back a corner of the bandage and showed Willow the obvious teeth marks and open wound in her wrist. She kept her eyes on the table the whole time.
Willow gasped. "Buffy! He fed off you?!"
"Yes. I told him to, though. It was the only thing that would work. He couldn't keep the pig's blood down and slayer blood is healing."
"Oh Buffy." Willow looked concerned. "Remember what happened when you did that with Angel?"
"Yes, of course. Spike stopped when he had enough, though. Angel was out of it from nearly dying. Spike wasn't as bad off, so he knew when he had enough without going too far."
Willow frowned. "That was a little risky, though."
"I know. But it's over. I'm fine, and Spike's fine."
Willow let the subject drop. "Xander and Giles will be back soon with books to do more research. We really need to figure out what to do and get moving."
Xander and Giles arrived soon after, and Dawn came downstairs. They came into the kitchen and dropped their load on the table.
"Spike is his usual spirited self," Giles commented drily.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Yeah, swearing at the television and making fun of us. Oh the joy of the bleached undead feeling better. I liked him more when he was unconscious."
"He has made a miraculous recovery. His bruises seem to be healing." Giles raised his eyebrows at Buffy.
Blushing, she murmured, "He just had some blood to drink."
"Buffy, do you think that was wise?" Giles demanded. He saw the white bandage around her wrist.
Annoyed that her actions were being questioned, Buffy gave him a look. "It healed him, Giles. He couldn't keep down the pig's blood. We'll need him in the upcoming fight, and I did what I had to do."
Catching on, Xander snapped, "That'll just encourage him, Buffy. Getting a taste of human blood could cause him to want more and try to get it by any means necessary. Also, he'll probably think he has a chance with you because of it."
"You know, I might as well get this out in the open. I don't know what we have together exactly." She knew she loved him, but she wasn't feeling quite ready to share that with anyone. "Either way, I care deeply for him. What the hell... we're sleeping together again. Now can we research?"
'Never thought I'd be able to say that again.'
Giles and Xander looked aghast, while Dawn and Willow remained silent.
"Buffy..." Xander and Giles commented at the same time.
"No. We're not going to discuss my love life. We have more important things to worry about. It's time to get all researchy." She gave both of them a firm look. They looked annoyed, but let it go. The room was silent as everyone kept their eyes on their respective books.
Feeling headachey and sluggish, Buffy rubbed her forehead. She just wanted to get some sleep.
"The coven! They could help," Dawn burst out. Everyone looked up, startled.
Willow raised her eyebrows. "Yeah..." She paused, lost in thought.
"Yeah what?" Buffy inquired impatiently.
"They could imbue us with their power, like they did for me last year," Giles chimed in, leaping onto the same-thought train.
Dawn added, "If they did that for ALL of us, we could defeat her. Especially if they did that for Spike and Buffy. Added to slayer and vampiric strength, it'd be hard to stop them."
Buffy grinned. "Sort of like what we did to defeat Adam. Only we all have the power. Pure magic power at that."
"Could they do that, or should I say, would they?" Xander looked at Giles.
"I would have to discuss it with them. I will give them a ring tonight, talk to Althenea about it. For now, I think it best if we all got some sleep."
Everyone agreed. Dawn and Willow went upstairs. Giles and Xander left, and Buffy was left with Spike.
He looked up at her. "The curtains need to be drawn tight, or I'll end up a crispy-fried tater come morning."
"You can sleep with me tonight." She saw his eyes widen. Of all the times they'd shagged, he'd never been invited or welcomed into her bedroom.
***Calmly, Buffy took his hand and pulled him up and off the sofa. She led him upstairs.
"You could definitely use a shower first, though. Wash that dried blood off."
He let her pull him into the bathroom, still surprised he was being invited to sleep in her BED. He pulled up short when he realized they were in the bathroom. She was watching him, her green eyes calm and content. 'Oh God, that night. I can't be in here.'
Feeling panicky, Spike backed away toward the door.
"Spike, stop." She touched his arm.
He jerked, as if her touch was a cross, and it burned. "No, Buffy, I can't be in here."
She reached out for him, went up on tiptoe, and pressed her lips against his. She kissed him gently. Sweetly.
Softly, she murmured, "It's okay. You're different now."
Spike shook his head. He wanted those memories out, before they drove him out of his mind.
Buffy put her hands on his face and made him look at her. "I trust you."
That was the second time she had said that. He looked at her, and she smiled at him. He nodded. "Okay." Buffy turned to brush her teeth and wash her face, while Spike stripped and got into the shower.
Buffy went into her room and changed into her pajamas. She was pulling the covers back on the bed when she noticed Spike standing just outside her door.
"You can come in, Spike." She slid into bed, and patted the space next to her. He entered the room and hesitantly slid into bed next to her.
He relaxed as she snuggled up against him. Buffy leaned on her elbow and looked down into his face. Such a beautiful face it was. She kissed him.
She felt a rumble in his chest as the kiss deepened. He nibbled at her lips, combing his fingers through her long, golden hair. Things progressed quickly and, soon enough, they were both naked.
Spike slid on top of her, maneuvering himself between her legs. She accommodated him by wrapping them around his waist. He entered her gently, but it soon escalated into a wild rumpus. Buffy clung to him, their mouths' everywhere on each other. He ground his hips against hers, rotating them, hitting her hot spot. She groaned and trembled as she orgasmed, and let out a small scream as he did a little something extra with his fingers. After they were both spent, he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Buffy mumbled against his shoulder, too tired to lift her head.
"Your little scream. I heard the patter of feet in the hall, but they must've thought 'bout it 'fore bargin' in."
Buffy blushed at the thought.
He smiled, taking in her wild blonde hair, flushed face, and happy smile. He felt so content. In his slayer's bed, talking and teasing, and holding onto each other.
"I love you," he whispered.
She smiled at him, pulling his head down for a languid kiss. As he lost himself in her kiss, feeling her tighten around him, he felt sure she was near to loving him.
"Red. Thank you." He put it simply. She looked up and saw the meaning in his eyes. She looked a little surprised at his sincerity, but smiled.
"You're awake. And you're welcome. Let me tell Buffy you're awake." He lay back, his body one big, throbbing bruise.
Buffy walked in and crouched down next to him. "How do you feel?"
"Like someone tortured me." He could barely manage a facsimile of a smile to reassure her, thought he wasn't feeling all that reassured himself. She laid a hand against his cheek and started to say something, but Dawn came in and came to him in a blur of flying brown hair and long legs.
Buffy backed off to let Dawn kneel by him.
"Oh Spike. Are you okay? You look horrible." Her brown eyes were filled with worry.
He was starting to feel nauseous, he was tired, and his head was throbbing, but he managed to murmur, "I'll be okay, luv."
Buffy came back over and said, "Spike, you need to get some blood in you. You seem to have lost a lot, and you actually look scrawnier." She held out the mug she had brought in with her. He made a face, his stomach pitching, and turned away.
"Spike..."
"No, pet. I can't. Now now."
Buffy motioned to Dawn and they left him to rest some more. Giles and Xander left to get a few supplies. A few hours later, when it was beginning to get dark, he woke up again. Buffy had pulled the armchair over, and she was lying sideways on it, her head pillowed on the arm, fast asleep. He looked down and saw she had reached for his hand, and their fingers were entwined.
He heaved an unneeded sigh and groaned at the aching pain. Buffy woke up and murmured, "Spike? Are you awake?"
"Yeah, luv." He shifted, feeling like a lightweight and still overly sick.
"Spike, you really need to eat something." She gave him one of her patented 'Don't-screw-with-me' look. She shifted and lifted a mug. He grimaced at the smell of pig's blood. She held it to his lips and he tried to drink. His stomach protested and the little bit he got in his mouth he let dribble out again. "Bugger." He made a face.
"Dammit Spike. This is like trying to feed a testy, vampire baby."
He would've laughed, but he didn't want to hurl all over her. "Sorry goldilocks. Ever' time I try, my stomach starts disagreein'. I know you're tryin' to help, but sod it, I won't be able to keep it down."
Buffy sat back and he felt her eyes on him. "What about Slayer's blood? Would that work?"
He turned his head too quickly at that. 'Bloody hell, that hurts like a bitch.'
"No. I can't drink from you."
"Yes you can. I want you to, if it'll make you well again."
"If I drink from you, I might not be able to stop."
She stroked his cheek and said softly, "I trust you, and if it'll make you feel better, it doesn't have to be from my neck."
Resigned, he nodded. She sat on the couch next to him. She pulled her sleeve up, baring her wrist to him. She held it up to his mouth. She felt him nuzzle her, his lips soft on the tender skin.
"It's okay, Spike." She reassured him, since he seemed to be hesitating. "Take what you need."
The blood pumping through her veins was intoxicating. The smell of her sweet blood had his fangs extending. He scratched open her wrist with one, latching his mouth onto her wrist. He started drinking. 'God, what a rush.'
Buffy gasped at the pain in her wrist from his sharp fangs opening it and the grazing of them over the cut. She buried her face in his shoulder. Her blood flowed into his mouth and Buffy and Spike were immersed in flashbacks. Fighting each other in the alley, talking on her porch, shagging like mad wherever they happened to land, bits and pieces of their lives before they knew each other.
She felt the rhythmic sucking slow and groggily lifted her head from his shoulder. She felt so tired, and her eyelids were heavy, like there were bricks weighing them down. His tongue gently stroked over the wound. He fought off the urge to keep feeding and won. Her blood was an aphrodisiac.
"Buffy, are you okay?" He sounded worried.
She managed to keep her eyes open. She murmured, "Yeah, I'll be okay. I'm just feeling a little woozy."
He looked better than he did before. Buffy's slayer healing kicked in and she felt a little better. She got up and Spike reached out for the leftover bandages that had been for him and wrapped it around her wrist for her. Dawn was up in her room, boy band music turned up loud. Willow was just coming down the stairs with her books, about to study. She disappeared into the kitchen.
Buffy turned to Spike and said, "I don't want you going home tonight or going out at all. It's not safe right now. You're staying here with us."
He looked as if he were going to protest, but saw the determined glint in her eye. He still felt a bit weak anyway, so he agreed. He dropped back on the sofa. 'Might as well see what's on the telly.'
Buffy went into the kitchen and poured a tall glass of orange juice. She needed the vitamins. She turned and saw Willow scrutinizing her.
"Spike looks better. What's with the presto-changeo all betterness?"
Buffy sat down next to her. She pulled back a corner of the bandage and showed Willow the obvious teeth marks and open wound in her wrist. She kept her eyes on the table the whole time.
Willow gasped. "Buffy! He fed off you?!"
"Yes. I told him to, though. It was the only thing that would work. He couldn't keep the pig's blood down and slayer blood is healing."
"Oh Buffy." Willow looked concerned. "Remember what happened when you did that with Angel?"
"Yes, of course. Spike stopped when he had enough, though. Angel was out of it from nearly dying. Spike wasn't as bad off, so he knew when he had enough without going too far."
Willow frowned. "That was a little risky, though."
"I know. But it's over. I'm fine, and Spike's fine."
Willow let the subject drop. "Xander and Giles will be back soon with books to do more research. We really need to figure out what to do and get moving."
Xander and Giles arrived soon after, and Dawn came downstairs. They came into the kitchen and dropped their load on the table.
"Spike is his usual spirited self," Giles commented drily.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Yeah, swearing at the television and making fun of us. Oh the joy of the bleached undead feeling better. I liked him more when he was unconscious."
"He has made a miraculous recovery. His bruises seem to be healing." Giles raised his eyebrows at Buffy.
Blushing, she murmured, "He just had some blood to drink."
"Buffy, do you think that was wise?" Giles demanded. He saw the white bandage around her wrist.
Annoyed that her actions were being questioned, Buffy gave him a look. "It healed him, Giles. He couldn't keep down the pig's blood. We'll need him in the upcoming fight, and I did what I had to do."
Catching on, Xander snapped, "That'll just encourage him, Buffy. Getting a taste of human blood could cause him to want more and try to get it by any means necessary. Also, he'll probably think he has a chance with you because of it."
"You know, I might as well get this out in the open. I don't know what we have together exactly." She knew she loved him, but she wasn't feeling quite ready to share that with anyone. "Either way, I care deeply for him. What the hell... we're sleeping together again. Now can we research?"
'Never thought I'd be able to say that again.'
Giles and Xander looked aghast, while Dawn and Willow remained silent.
"Buffy..." Xander and Giles commented at the same time.
"No. We're not going to discuss my love life. We have more important things to worry about. It's time to get all researchy." She gave both of them a firm look. They looked annoyed, but let it go. The room was silent as everyone kept their eyes on their respective books.
Feeling headachey and sluggish, Buffy rubbed her forehead. She just wanted to get some sleep.
"The coven! They could help," Dawn burst out. Everyone looked up, startled.
Willow raised her eyebrows. "Yeah..." She paused, lost in thought.
"Yeah what?" Buffy inquired impatiently.
"They could imbue us with their power, like they did for me last year," Giles chimed in, leaping onto the same-thought train.
Dawn added, "If they did that for ALL of us, we could defeat her. Especially if they did that for Spike and Buffy. Added to slayer and vampiric strength, it'd be hard to stop them."
Buffy grinned. "Sort of like what we did to defeat Adam. Only we all have the power. Pure magic power at that."
"Could they do that, or should I say, would they?" Xander looked at Giles.
"I would have to discuss it with them. I will give them a ring tonight, talk to Althenea about it. For now, I think it best if we all got some sleep."
Everyone agreed. Dawn and Willow went upstairs. Giles and Xander left, and Buffy was left with Spike.
He looked up at her. "The curtains need to be drawn tight, or I'll end up a crispy-fried tater come morning."
"You can sleep with me tonight." She saw his eyes widen. Of all the times they'd shagged, he'd never been invited or welcomed into her bedroom.
***Calmly, Buffy took his hand and pulled him up and off the sofa. She led him upstairs.
"You could definitely use a shower first, though. Wash that dried blood off."
He let her pull him into the bathroom, still surprised he was being invited to sleep in her BED. He pulled up short when he realized they were in the bathroom. She was watching him, her green eyes calm and content. 'Oh God, that night. I can't be in here.'
Feeling panicky, Spike backed away toward the door.
"Spike, stop." She touched his arm.
He jerked, as if her touch was a cross, and it burned. "No, Buffy, I can't be in here."
She reached out for him, went up on tiptoe, and pressed her lips against his. She kissed him gently. Sweetly.
Softly, she murmured, "It's okay. You're different now."
Spike shook his head. He wanted those memories out, before they drove him out of his mind.
Buffy put her hands on his face and made him look at her. "I trust you."
That was the second time she had said that. He looked at her, and she smiled at him. He nodded. "Okay." Buffy turned to brush her teeth and wash her face, while Spike stripped and got into the shower.
Buffy went into her room and changed into her pajamas. She was pulling the covers back on the bed when she noticed Spike standing just outside her door.
"You can come in, Spike." She slid into bed, and patted the space next to her. He entered the room and hesitantly slid into bed next to her.
He relaxed as she snuggled up against him. Buffy leaned on her elbow and looked down into his face. Such a beautiful face it was. She kissed him.
She felt a rumble in his chest as the kiss deepened. He nibbled at her lips, combing his fingers through her long, golden hair. Things progressed quickly and, soon enough, they were both naked.
Spike slid on top of her, maneuvering himself between her legs. She accommodated him by wrapping them around his waist. He entered her gently, but it soon escalated into a wild rumpus. Buffy clung to him, their mouths' everywhere on each other. He ground his hips against hers, rotating them, hitting her hot spot. She groaned and trembled as she orgasmed, and let out a small scream as he did a little something extra with his fingers. After they were both spent, he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Buffy mumbled against his shoulder, too tired to lift her head.
"Your little scream. I heard the patter of feet in the hall, but they must've thought 'bout it 'fore bargin' in."
Buffy blushed at the thought.
He smiled, taking in her wild blonde hair, flushed face, and happy smile. He felt so content. In his slayer's bed, talking and teasing, and holding onto each other.
"I love you," he whispered.
She smiled at him, pulling his head down for a languid kiss. As he lost himself in her kiss, feeling her tighten around him, he felt sure she was near to loving him.