Buffy carried Spike into the office and turned on the small desk lamp. She
laid him gently on the couch before she removed her jacket and tossed it on
the desk. Kneeling beside him, she patted his cheek to wake him, "Spike."
He opened his eyes and gave her the barest hint of a smile, "When I imagined you picking me up and throwing me over your shoulder it never ended quite like this."
She returned his small smile. "The night's not over, yet." She caressed his cheek with her warm hand; "You know what you have to do, right?" Her tone was serious as she unbuttoned her blouse and pulled it off her shoulder to give him better access to her throat.
"Don't think I can do it, Buffy." He tried to sit up. "Maybe it's best you just let Fred draw the blood."
"I don't want Fred to draw my blood." Buffy shook her head as she took his hand and held it tightly. "I want to do this for you. I want to give this part of me to you.... it's not just to save you... it's..." She paused for a moment as if she was searching for the perfect word.
"Buffy, it's not a good idea." Spike shook his head.
Buffy continued as if she had not heard him, "Commitment! This is my commitment to you. You'll always have a part of me," she sighed softly, "I love you and I want to give this to you. A syringe of blood is not the same. Do you understand?" She smiled again, this time a full on Buffy smile.
"It's a beautiful gesture, luv. But what if I can't stop? I won't have you ending up in the hospital like last time." He pushed her hair behind her ear. "I couldn't live with that."
"You won't let that happen. You'll stop. Spike, we don't have time to argue. Please, please do this for me." She lay down on the couch next to him and pulled her hair away from her neck.
"Still not sure, pet." He replied weakly.
"I am. Trust me, please? For us?" She pulled his face closer to her throat; she could feel him tighten against her.
"You promise that if I can't stop, you'll stop me?" He whispered against her.
"You'll stop." She answered matter-of - factly as she pulled his arm around her waist tightly.
"I love you, Buffy." She could feel him change against her skin, the smooth forehead rippled and hardened.
"I love you, Spike." She replied as she felt the sting of fangs enter her throat.
******
"You sure that's a good idea?" Gunn asked as Buffy left the room.
"I'm sure she knows what she's doing." Wesley assured him.
"I'm not." Angel grumbled from the gurney.
"Thank you, Jenna," Fred told the younger girl as she put a bandage on the venipuncture site. She'd drawn several vials of blood from the young slayer. "Why don't you lay down over here for a little while, I'll get you a snack."
"Actually I feel okay, I've donated blood before. "Jenna nodded towards the door. "Do you think Buffy is alright?"
"I'm sure she's fine. I'll check on her in a bit," Wesley answered. "Now you need to rest a bit; she took more blood then your ordinary blood donation would have."
"I'm going to complete this transfusion now." Fred gathered the blood and went to Angel's side.
Angel looked worried as Fred poured the blood for him, "Here you go, Angel. This should have you feeling better soon."
He took the offered blood. "She's right, someone needs to check on Buffy."
"As I said, I will check on her in a bit," Wesley reassured him.
"But..." Angel started to argue,
"Just worry about getting yourself well, Angel. This is Buffy's decision, and you need to start respecting that." Wesley sat down beside the gurney. "I'll give her fifteen more minutes and then check on her. If she needs medical attention, she can get it right here."
******* Spike felt the difference as soon as the first drops of hot blood hit his tongue. He began to move against her as he drank, rubbing against her back; his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer against him.
Buffy gasped slightly when Spike began to feed more earnestly, there was pain, but the feeling of sharing herself with him far outweighed it. He was moving ever so gently against her as he fed and she couldn't help but move with him in this strange dance.
He could feel the poison leaving him as the power of her blood entered his system. Part of his brain screamed that he'd had enough, while the other part wanted to drink her power until it was gone. She was gasping beside him; he tasted something else in the blood now, something stronger... her trust and her love. It was enough to make him stop.
Buffy shuddered slightly as Spike withdrew his fangs. She was a little dizzy but she knew she would be okay. She could feel his tongue lapping at the bite, cleaning it. She clumsily turned towards him, a goofy smile on her face. "See, you stopped."
He gathered her to his chest, pressing her against him, and placed kisses in her hair. "I did." He sat up with her still against him; then pulled away so he could see her face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She tried to sit up but fell dizzily against him with a small giggle. "Just a little dizzy."
He situated her in his lap and helped her to sit up. She nuzzled against his cheek. "That was...intense."
"Was it like that with Angel?" He asked. It was a silly question, but he had to know.
"Yes... no... well it was intense but different somehow. I was so afraid for him, afraid that it might be too late and that my blood wouldn't save him. I had to hit him to make him drink," She said as she tried to explain the experience to him.
"You weren't afraid for me?" Spike asked frowning.
"I was very afraid for you but I knew that this time my blood would work; and when I let you feed, it wasn't as if I was just giving you your medicine. I told you before; it was a commitment, a pledge to you. When Angel fed from me, I knew it wasn't going to change anything. He was still leaving. When you fed from me... I knew... I knew that you were staying." Her voice lowered softly.
"I am... for as long as you'll have me." He kissed her lips then, sweet and gentle.
She rested her head against his chest, gently rocking her against him, he ran his hand through her hair, . "You're stuck with me now." He whispered softly.
*********
"Will you please go check on her now, Wesley? If you don't, I will." Angel stood up.
"Angel, my friend, I don't think you want to do that. You might see more then you want to." Gunn placed his hand on the vampire's shoulder.
Angel frowned as he sat back down.
"I think Gunn's right. I'll go." Wesley left the room.
"If he's hurt her... " Angel shook his head.
"Spike wouldn't hurt her, Angel," Fred replied softly.
"I didn't think I would either, but I have over and over again." He sighed.
*********
Wesley could see them through the glass window of his office. Buffy was in Spike's lap curled against him. For a brief moment he considered what a handsome couple they made, then he raised his fist to knock lightly on the door.
The soft knock startled the couple. "They've come to check on us, luv. Or check on you anyway."
Buffy smiled at him, "Let's show them we're okay." She shifted in his lap. "Come in," she called out softly as she quickly buttoned her blouse.
Wesley walked in the room smiling, "You're okay? Both of you?"
"We're good," Buffy answered, her hand tightly curled around Spike's. "Angel?"
"He's fine, if not a bit grumpy. He wanted me to check on you," Wesley answered as he sat on the edge of his desk.
"Well, he's back to normal then, nothing to worry about," Spike smirked as he placed both hands around Buffy's waist pulling her closer against him, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Buffy grinned despite herself, "I'm glad he's better."
Wesley took a deep breath. "You did well tonight, Buffy. You too, Spike. I know that in the past we've had our differences, you've made decisions and alliances," Smiling he nodded at Spike, "that I didn't understand, but there has never been any doubt that you are good at what you do, I know you have company in your job now, but you are still the slayer."
Buffy smiled despite herself. She had not always thought highly of Wesley, but having his approval still made her feel good inside. "Thank you."
Wesley nodded and turned to Spike, "And you William the Bloody, I have to thank you too. I know that Angel is not your favorite person and I understand part of the reasons for that. The fact is he's my friend and you helped him despite your problems."
Spike looked embarrassed. "Umm... Angel, never could take care of himself very well." He muttered. "It was nothing."
Wesley grinned. "Be that as it may, my friend is safe; and speaking of Angel, could you please come with me so he knows that Buffy is safe too."
Buffy uncurled from Spike's lap and stood offering him her hand, "Come on, let's go."
******
Spike's strong arm slid around Buffy's waist supporting her as they followed Wesley back to the lab.
Angel stood when they finally entered the room. "Buffy."
"I'm okay, Angel." She walked towards him leaving Spike with Wesley.
Spike watched her go and was surprised that he felt not one spark of jealousy. Buffy cared for Angel, but he knew in his heart that she was with him now. He watched as she hugged Angel and it was okay; she was coming back to him after all.
Angel hesitantly returned the hug while looking over Buffy's shoulder at Spike, expecting an outburst. Instead, Spike was standing there with a calm smile on his face. Spike felt a moment of pity for Angel. How terrible it must be to always be so hesitant, so afraid of a bit of happiness.
"Thank you." Angel whispered into Buffy's hair as he let go of her.
"Your welcome." She smiled as she stepped away from him. She nodded towards Jenna "Thank you.".
"No problem, but I would like that explanation when you have the time." Jenna grinned at Buffy, "You never mentioned this kind of thing at 'slayer school'."
"I promise you'll get the whole story."
"I'm looking forward to it. I'll see you later." Jenna gave a small wave as she left the room.
"Looks like you're okay, too." Angel nodded at Spike.
"Yeah, my girl fixed me right up." Spike couldn't help but smirk.
Angel only shook his head at the other vampire. "I suppose I owe you a thanks too."
"I did it for Buffy," Spike answered honestly.
"I know." Angel shrugged. "By the way, you need to clean out your office, ASAP."
"Yeah, that's a real thank you." Spike shook his head.
Buffy entwining their fingers together, shook her head at Angel's words, "I thought that maybe you had changed."
"Angel, I realize that you have differences but Spike has been quite helpful." Wesley started.
"Man, he helped save your life." Gunn pointed out in disbelief.
"I didn't say he was fired, I just think he'll be wanting a transfer... to England." Angel smiled.
TBC
He opened his eyes and gave her the barest hint of a smile, "When I imagined you picking me up and throwing me over your shoulder it never ended quite like this."
She returned his small smile. "The night's not over, yet." She caressed his cheek with her warm hand; "You know what you have to do, right?" Her tone was serious as she unbuttoned her blouse and pulled it off her shoulder to give him better access to her throat.
"Don't think I can do it, Buffy." He tried to sit up. "Maybe it's best you just let Fred draw the blood."
"I don't want Fred to draw my blood." Buffy shook her head as she took his hand and held it tightly. "I want to do this for you. I want to give this part of me to you.... it's not just to save you... it's..." She paused for a moment as if she was searching for the perfect word.
"Buffy, it's not a good idea." Spike shook his head.
Buffy continued as if she had not heard him, "Commitment! This is my commitment to you. You'll always have a part of me," she sighed softly, "I love you and I want to give this to you. A syringe of blood is not the same. Do you understand?" She smiled again, this time a full on Buffy smile.
"It's a beautiful gesture, luv. But what if I can't stop? I won't have you ending up in the hospital like last time." He pushed her hair behind her ear. "I couldn't live with that."
"You won't let that happen. You'll stop. Spike, we don't have time to argue. Please, please do this for me." She lay down on the couch next to him and pulled her hair away from her neck.
"Still not sure, pet." He replied weakly.
"I am. Trust me, please? For us?" She pulled his face closer to her throat; she could feel him tighten against her.
"You promise that if I can't stop, you'll stop me?" He whispered against her.
"You'll stop." She answered matter-of - factly as she pulled his arm around her waist tightly.
"I love you, Buffy." She could feel him change against her skin, the smooth forehead rippled and hardened.
"I love you, Spike." She replied as she felt the sting of fangs enter her throat.
******
"You sure that's a good idea?" Gunn asked as Buffy left the room.
"I'm sure she knows what she's doing." Wesley assured him.
"I'm not." Angel grumbled from the gurney.
"Thank you, Jenna," Fred told the younger girl as she put a bandage on the venipuncture site. She'd drawn several vials of blood from the young slayer. "Why don't you lay down over here for a little while, I'll get you a snack."
"Actually I feel okay, I've donated blood before. "Jenna nodded towards the door. "Do you think Buffy is alright?"
"I'm sure she's fine. I'll check on her in a bit," Wesley answered. "Now you need to rest a bit; she took more blood then your ordinary blood donation would have."
"I'm going to complete this transfusion now." Fred gathered the blood and went to Angel's side.
Angel looked worried as Fred poured the blood for him, "Here you go, Angel. This should have you feeling better soon."
He took the offered blood. "She's right, someone needs to check on Buffy."
"As I said, I will check on her in a bit," Wesley reassured him.
"But..." Angel started to argue,
"Just worry about getting yourself well, Angel. This is Buffy's decision, and you need to start respecting that." Wesley sat down beside the gurney. "I'll give her fifteen more minutes and then check on her. If she needs medical attention, she can get it right here."
******* Spike felt the difference as soon as the first drops of hot blood hit his tongue. He began to move against her as he drank, rubbing against her back; his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer against him.
Buffy gasped slightly when Spike began to feed more earnestly, there was pain, but the feeling of sharing herself with him far outweighed it. He was moving ever so gently against her as he fed and she couldn't help but move with him in this strange dance.
He could feel the poison leaving him as the power of her blood entered his system. Part of his brain screamed that he'd had enough, while the other part wanted to drink her power until it was gone. She was gasping beside him; he tasted something else in the blood now, something stronger... her trust and her love. It was enough to make him stop.
Buffy shuddered slightly as Spike withdrew his fangs. She was a little dizzy but she knew she would be okay. She could feel his tongue lapping at the bite, cleaning it. She clumsily turned towards him, a goofy smile on her face. "See, you stopped."
He gathered her to his chest, pressing her against him, and placed kisses in her hair. "I did." He sat up with her still against him; then pulled away so he could see her face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She tried to sit up but fell dizzily against him with a small giggle. "Just a little dizzy."
He situated her in his lap and helped her to sit up. She nuzzled against his cheek. "That was...intense."
"Was it like that with Angel?" He asked. It was a silly question, but he had to know.
"Yes... no... well it was intense but different somehow. I was so afraid for him, afraid that it might be too late and that my blood wouldn't save him. I had to hit him to make him drink," She said as she tried to explain the experience to him.
"You weren't afraid for me?" Spike asked frowning.
"I was very afraid for you but I knew that this time my blood would work; and when I let you feed, it wasn't as if I was just giving you your medicine. I told you before; it was a commitment, a pledge to you. When Angel fed from me, I knew it wasn't going to change anything. He was still leaving. When you fed from me... I knew... I knew that you were staying." Her voice lowered softly.
"I am... for as long as you'll have me." He kissed her lips then, sweet and gentle.
She rested her head against his chest, gently rocking her against him, he ran his hand through her hair, . "You're stuck with me now." He whispered softly.
*********
"Will you please go check on her now, Wesley? If you don't, I will." Angel stood up.
"Angel, my friend, I don't think you want to do that. You might see more then you want to." Gunn placed his hand on the vampire's shoulder.
Angel frowned as he sat back down.
"I think Gunn's right. I'll go." Wesley left the room.
"If he's hurt her... " Angel shook his head.
"Spike wouldn't hurt her, Angel," Fred replied softly.
"I didn't think I would either, but I have over and over again." He sighed.
*********
Wesley could see them through the glass window of his office. Buffy was in Spike's lap curled against him. For a brief moment he considered what a handsome couple they made, then he raised his fist to knock lightly on the door.
The soft knock startled the couple. "They've come to check on us, luv. Or check on you anyway."
Buffy smiled at him, "Let's show them we're okay." She shifted in his lap. "Come in," she called out softly as she quickly buttoned her blouse.
Wesley walked in the room smiling, "You're okay? Both of you?"
"We're good," Buffy answered, her hand tightly curled around Spike's. "Angel?"
"He's fine, if not a bit grumpy. He wanted me to check on you," Wesley answered as he sat on the edge of his desk.
"Well, he's back to normal then, nothing to worry about," Spike smirked as he placed both hands around Buffy's waist pulling her closer against him, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Buffy grinned despite herself, "I'm glad he's better."
Wesley took a deep breath. "You did well tonight, Buffy. You too, Spike. I know that in the past we've had our differences, you've made decisions and alliances," Smiling he nodded at Spike, "that I didn't understand, but there has never been any doubt that you are good at what you do, I know you have company in your job now, but you are still the slayer."
Buffy smiled despite herself. She had not always thought highly of Wesley, but having his approval still made her feel good inside. "Thank you."
Wesley nodded and turned to Spike, "And you William the Bloody, I have to thank you too. I know that Angel is not your favorite person and I understand part of the reasons for that. The fact is he's my friend and you helped him despite your problems."
Spike looked embarrassed. "Umm... Angel, never could take care of himself very well." He muttered. "It was nothing."
Wesley grinned. "Be that as it may, my friend is safe; and speaking of Angel, could you please come with me so he knows that Buffy is safe too."
Buffy uncurled from Spike's lap and stood offering him her hand, "Come on, let's go."
******
Spike's strong arm slid around Buffy's waist supporting her as they followed Wesley back to the lab.
Angel stood when they finally entered the room. "Buffy."
"I'm okay, Angel." She walked towards him leaving Spike with Wesley.
Spike watched her go and was surprised that he felt not one spark of jealousy. Buffy cared for Angel, but he knew in his heart that she was with him now. He watched as she hugged Angel and it was okay; she was coming back to him after all.
Angel hesitantly returned the hug while looking over Buffy's shoulder at Spike, expecting an outburst. Instead, Spike was standing there with a calm smile on his face. Spike felt a moment of pity for Angel. How terrible it must be to always be so hesitant, so afraid of a bit of happiness.
"Thank you." Angel whispered into Buffy's hair as he let go of her.
"Your welcome." She smiled as she stepped away from him. She nodded towards Jenna "Thank you.".
"No problem, but I would like that explanation when you have the time." Jenna grinned at Buffy, "You never mentioned this kind of thing at 'slayer school'."
"I promise you'll get the whole story."
"I'm looking forward to it. I'll see you later." Jenna gave a small wave as she left the room.
"Looks like you're okay, too." Angel nodded at Spike.
"Yeah, my girl fixed me right up." Spike couldn't help but smirk.
Angel only shook his head at the other vampire. "I suppose I owe you a thanks too."
"I did it for Buffy," Spike answered honestly.
"I know." Angel shrugged. "By the way, you need to clean out your office, ASAP."
"Yeah, that's a real thank you." Spike shook his head.
Buffy entwining their fingers together, shook her head at Angel's words, "I thought that maybe you had changed."
"Angel, I realize that you have differences but Spike has been quite helpful." Wesley started.
"Man, he helped save your life." Gunn pointed out in disbelief.
"I didn't say he was fired, I just think he'll be wanting a transfer... to England." Angel smiled.
TBC
