Chapter 11
Dawn woke up snuggled in Spike's embrace. She sighed with contentment and turned over in his arms so she was facing him. She placed a kiss in the hollow of his throat and thought absently that she didn't think she'd gotten around to kissing that part of him last night. She scooted closer until her body was flush with his and twined a leg through his. Spike woke up slowly with a grin. "Baby knows how to wake a bloke up in the morning." He murmured.
"Technically, I think its early evening." She whispered.
He kissed her and she couldn't remember what time it was.
*
When they finally got up, Dawn was starving.
"What do you want to eat, Niblet?" Spike asked.
"A Johnny Rocket's cheese burger and a chocolate soda." Dawn said.
Spike chuckled. "Whatever you want."
They sat outside next to one of the gas heaters at Johnny Rocket's. The excitement of Melrose swirled around them. Dawn ate a cheeseburger and shared her fries with Spike. She drank two chocolate sodas and then they shared a banana split. Dawn leaned back in her chair, holding her stomach, careful not to brush the still sore tattoo.
"I think I'll pop if I put one more thing in my mouth." She said with a groan.
"Come on, let's walk it off." Spike said pulling her out of her chair. He draped his arm over her shoulders, she wound hers around his waist and they walked down Melrose like that, connected.
They poked around in the stores. Spike bought Dawn a bracelet of clusters of tiny red beads. He drew the line at a cross necklace.
"Bloody hell no, I'm not burning the shit out of myself every time I pull you close." He muttered.
She grinned and they continued down the street. He should have smelled them, or felt them or something. He didn't. His guard was down; he was wrapped up in her. He heard the muffled whine of a silenced gunshot and dove for the sidewalk. He pulled her with him and covered her body with his own. People all around them screamed and ran, some of them falling, tripping and trampling over them. Spike raised his head and looked around. They had to get out of here or they were as good as dead. He leapt to his feet, dragging Dawn with him and they ducked down an alley. He heard the thud of feet behind them but didn't dare look back. There wasn't enough time. There were several more muffled whines. Spike drew Dawn closer, trying to block bullets with his body. She jerked forward and fell. He swept behind her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. She was pale. She looked down at her left side. A bright red blossom of blood stained the tank top she wore.
"Dawn, not right now. We can't stop. Look at me. It's your shoulder. Keep moving, Niblet." Spike said and shoved her forward. He stumbled to his knees as a bullet caught his thigh. He snarled, slipping into game face automatically and pushed himself to his feet. He ran again, catching up to Dawn. She screamed out in pain as another bullet grazed her side. She tripped and fell. Spike turned to face their pursuers. They couldn't run now. They were too close and they were both hurt.
"Dawn, get over there in the corner. If you know any handy key powers that don't require anything of you physically, now would be a good time to try them." Spike said as four assassins approached them.
One was human, Spike thought. It was hard to catch his scent when it was mixed with so many others in this alley. There was bright yellow Miquot demon, something that resembled a shade with black skin and white eyes and a woman with bright blue skin.
"Spike, we'd heard you'd gone soft. None of us wanted to believe it though. I remember a time not long ago you hired our order to kill a slayer, now you're going to die for a slayer's sister." The Miquot said.
"Everybody's got to have priorities. Being that we've worked together, I'll let you walk out of here now it's the only time you're going to get this offer." Spike said.
The Miquot laughed and charged him. Spike ducked out of the way. He grabbed the miquot's arm as it ran past and pulled up. The arm snapped at the elbow and the miquot uttered a cry of rage. Spike caught him with a hard sidekick in the small of his back. It sent him flying into the wall of the alley. He slid down into a pile of garbage with a moan.
Dawn tried to sit up. Blood flowed faster between her fingers. She whispered some words that she wasn't sure were words and the blood flow slowed. She turned her attention to Spike and the battle he was fighting for her. The blue skinned woman had a long, ornate dagger in one hand and a stake in the other. She slashed at his torso. Dawn could see at least two bullet wounds in Spike's back and the one in his thigh. He wasn't going to last long in this fight. Dawn swallowed thickly and closed her eyes. She held her hand palm out and whispered "Foruss". The human, blue skinned woman and shade flew back and slammed against a brick wall. The shade was the first to shake it off. He leapt to his feet catlike and crept toward Spike, more wary now.
Using her key powers when she was already injured made her dizzy and incredibly weak feeling. Dawn took a deep breath, willing herself not to pass out. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She let the power build inside of herself. She could feel it rolling and swelling in her chest. She heard Spike roar and she knew without question it was a roar of pain. There was an urgency inside of her. Her eyes snapped open and she held both hands in front of her palms out.
"Spike, duck and roll, trust me." She screamed "Iciderio!" She shouted using all the strength she could summon.
Spike hit the ground and rolled just in time. There was a flash of orange light and the three assassins went up in flames. Dawn looked blurry eyed at Spike. He was well out of the way. She closed her eyes and passed out.
Spike kicked the door open. He stumbled into the hotel lobby carrying Dawn. There was so much blood on him and her it was impossible to tell which of them were hurt or how bad.
"What the hell-"Angel started, and then he saw the girl in Spike's arms. "Is that who I think it is?"
"Dawn. She's been shot, I'm shot and stabbed and I don't know what else." Spike said.
Angel caught Dawn as Spike stumbled and fell to the floor. The bloody palms of his hands made a sick, wet thwap against the tiled floor of the hotel lobby as he caught himself. He pushed himself back to his feet through sheer force of will. "She's hurt. I can't take her to a hospital. They're after her." He said.
"Alright, Gunn, help Spike up and follow me. Fred, call Wes and get him here now. Cordy bring the first aid kit." Angel ordered. He carried Dawn up the stairs. Gunn followed, practically carrying Spike. He took them to a large room with a queen size bed. He laid Dawn down in it and pulled the leather jacket Spike had wrapped her in away from her body. It stuck to the rapidly drying blood. The scent overwhelmed Angel and he struggled against vamping out. Her blood smelled like Buffy's.
Spike sat down on the other side of the bed, leaning against the headboard. He reached over and brushed bloody strands of hair off Dawn's forehead. "It's going to be alright, Niblet." He whispered.
Angel glanced up at Spike but didn't say anything. He'd never heard so much tenderness in the vampire's voice, not even with Dru, with whom he'd been infinitely patient and tender. "We've got to get these bloody clothes off her and clean her up so we can tell how much damage has been done."
Spike growled and instinctively his fangs flashed. He fought it back. He didn't want his Sire seeing Dawn half naked. He knew that he had much of a choice right now. He was in no shape to care for her the way she needed to be. He nodded slightly, granting permission. "You go get the water. I'll get her undressed and bring an extra blanket. She gets cold easy." His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. He concentrated on the sound of her heartbeat. It was weak but steady.
Gunn and Angel left the room in search of hot water, wash clothes and blankets. Spike carefully slid Dawn's pants off. He tried not to jostle her. The movements shot currents of pain through his body. It didn't matter. He couldn't die from his wounds, Dawn could. His eyes scanned her body, searching for wounds. She was so covered in blood it was hard to tell. He knew some of it was his blood. There a huge blossom of blood over her left shoulder. He swallowed and took a deep breath. He knew it hadn't hit her heart. He could still hear it beating, hear the swoosh of blood, although slower, weaker, in her veins.
He could hear Angel approaching in the hallway. It sounded like he was being followed by an army. Gunn, Cordy and Angel all filed in. Spike pulled the blanket up, covering Dawn's legs. Angel carried a bowl of water and several washcloths. He handed one to Spike without a word. Spike dipped it into the hot water and started washing the blood off Dawn's face. He didn't know why. He knew they needed to see the wounds but it hurt him far more then any of his injuries to see her pretty face splattered with blood.
"Gunn, how good are you at removing bullets?" Angel asked.
"Fair." Gunn said.
"Spike, go with Gunn let him take care of those bullets." Angel said.
"I'm not leaving her." Spike said. His voice was cracked but strong and determined.
"Spike-"Angel started.
"No, you're not going to bully me out of this. I'm. Not. Leaving. Her." He matched Angel's stare. Angel looked away first.
"Fine, lay down beside her and let Gunn take those bullets out." Angel consented.
Spike stripped off his shirt and jeans.
"Oh Gawd, cover up! I'm blind, I'm scarred for life." Cordy screamed slapping her hand over her eyes.
Angel rolled his eyes. "Cordy go get a pair of boxers for Spike. You know, Spike they invented something called underwear. It's a good thing."
Spike shrugged and sat down on the bed naked and covered in blood. He hovered over Dawn. She still hadn't woken up. Cordy came back with a pair of black silk boxer shorts. She tossed them to Spike and turned her back. He slipped them on and said "Alright you can look now."
Gunn pulled a chair up to the bed and whistled as he inspected Spike's back. "Damn you've got at least four slugs in there." He poked at one oozing gunshot wound. It seeped blood.
Spike growled. "Why don't you just stick your finger in it and wiggle it around while you're at it."
Cordelia handed the first aid kit to Gunn. "I'm really not going to want to be here for this, am I?"
"Nope, why don't you go down with Fred?" Gunn suggested.
"Call Buffy, let her know Dawn is here. Don't mention her condition." Angel said.
Cordy nodded and left the room again. Gunn took a pair of curved forceps and a thick wad of gauze. He started digging in one of the gunshot wounds for the bullet. A low, constant growl from Spike accompanied the procedure.
"Okay, she's got one gunshot wound to the shoulder. I don't think it's anywhere near her heart but the bullet is still in there. The wound on her side is just a graze. Who's after her, Spike?" Angel said.
"Order of Tareka. They aren't supposed to kill her just grab her and take her to some sorceress. Magic user's gonna split up her parts and use the power in them to gain more power." Spike said.
"Great, Order of Tareka. Ok, so a hospital is out of the question." Angel said.
"Why do you think I brought her here you bloody Git? If I could have taken her to a hospital I would have." Spike exploded. Part of it might have had to do with the fact that Gunn was now literally scraping bone trying to get a bullet out.
"Wes will be here in a minute. He's good at removing bullets. This one isn't deep." Angel said.
Spike's game face slid on and pain flicked across his demon features and Gunn jerked the bullet out. He bit off a curse. Gunn dropped the bullet into an ashtray with the other one he'd already pulled out. Dawn made a mewling sound of pain and Spike's human face slid back into place. His eyes softened and it was obvious his pain wasn't an issue now, only hers. He delicately stroked his fingers over her eyebrow and down her cheekbone.
"Spike?" She whispered without opening her eyes.
"Its okay, Niblet, I'm right here." He said.
"Are we dead?" She asked as she opened her eyes and looked into his.
He smiled and shook his head. "No, Luv, we're not dead. We're at Angel's hotel."
"Oh," Dawn's eyes flicked over to Angel and she smiled slightly. "Someone shot at us." She said.
Angel nodded. "Spike told me. Wes is on his way here. You've got a bullet still in your shoulder and you've lost quite a bit of blood."
"I'll be okay, so tired." She said as her eyes slid closed.
"Just sleep, Niblet. I'll be here when you wake up." Spike whispered.
She smiled and whispered "I know."
Wes showed up a few minutes later. Cordy brought him to the room. Gunn had dug all the bullets out of Spike and bandaged the wounds. The stab wound to his ribs was neat and clean. It would have pierced a human's lungs. Gunn covered it with a bandage and went to get Spike a mug of blood.
"Buffy's on her way and I'm going to go ahead and go back downstairs where they aren't removing bullets from people." Cordy said.
Wes sat down in a chair next to Dawn. He leaned close to her shoulder and slid the strap of her tank top down her arm. Spike growled possessively. Wes glanced up at him but didn't say anything. He dabbed at the wound with a damp washcloth and then sat back.
"It's going to hurt her." Wes said.
Angel nodded. "I've got some whiskey in my room."
Wes nodded. "Best to use a small bit at least."
Angel got up to get the whiskey. "Alright, let's wake her up then and let her know what we're about to do to her." Wes said.
Spike turned Dawn's hand over in his and kissed the pulse point of her wrist. He placed another kiss on her temple and whispered in her ear. "Got to wake up for me now, Niblet." She moaned her protest and kept her eyes shut. Spike kissed her collarbone and cupped her face with his hand. "Come on, Niblet. We've got to get that bullet out."
Dawn wrinkled her nose but opened her eyes. Spike smiled at her and brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek. "There's my girl." He whispered.
Angel walked back in the room with the bottle of whiskey and a glass. He poured a couple of fingers into it and handed it to Wes. Spike helped Dawn sit up. He sat behind her against the head board and pulled her up between his legs. He cradled her like that and let her lean against him, taking all her weight on fresh wounds that must have hurt but he never so much as grimaced. Wes handed the glass to Dawn.
"That will help dull the pain a little." He said.
"I don't wanna, last time I got drunk I was sick." Dawn said.
Spike smiled down at her. "We're not going to get you drunk, Luv, just numb the pain a little."
"Kay," She said before downing the amber liquid. She coughed and sputtered after it was down. "How can you stand that stuff?" Dawn exclaimed.
"Acquired tastes." Wes said as he got out forceps, gauze and antibiotic. "Alright, this is going to hurt. I'll do what I can to minimize the pain.
Dawn drew back, closer to Spike. He brought his right arm around and rested it on his knee. Dawn grabbed his hand in both of hers. She was scared. He could smell it. He moved the meaty part of his hand to her lips. "Bite down, and listen to me, Niblet. I'm going to recite a poem to you. I didn't make it up because right now I can't think of anything except that you're hurt. This guy named Pablo Neruda wrote it. Listen to it, every word is true." He whispered in her ear too low for Wes to make out but Spike knew from the look on Angel's face, he caught every word.
Dawn nodded and bit down on Spike's hand. Wes started working on getting the bullet out.
"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose or topaz/or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off/I love you as certain dark things are to be loved/in secret between the shadow and the soul." Spike whispered.
Dawn whimpered as Wesley dug in her shoulder and bit harder on Spike's hand.
"I love you as the plant that never blooms/but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers/thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance/risen from the earth lives darkly in my body." Spike whispered.
"Almost got it, Dawnie." Wes promised.
Dawn nodded and bit harder. She felt the skin on Spike's hand break.
"I love you without knowing how or when or where/I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride/So I love you because I know no other way/that this: where I does not exist, nor you/so close that your hand on my chest is my hand/so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep." Spike whispered.
Wes pulled the bullet out and plinked it in a glass ashtray. Dawn eased up her bite but didn't let Spike's hand go. She could taste small amounts of blood swirl into her mouth and she sucked at his hand apologetically. Wes doused the wound with peroxide, causing her to wince and bite down on Spike's hand momentarily.
"Sorry," Wes apologized as he squirted antibiotic cream on a square of gauze before placing it over the wound and taping it in place. Another large bandage was taped over the graze wound on her side.
"Can I sleep now?" Dawn asked in a whisper soft little girl voice.
"You can sleep now, Niblet." Spike said.
Dawn curled her body into Spike's and closed her eyes. She was asleep before Wes ever left the room.
Dawn woke up snuggled in Spike's embrace. She sighed with contentment and turned over in his arms so she was facing him. She placed a kiss in the hollow of his throat and thought absently that she didn't think she'd gotten around to kissing that part of him last night. She scooted closer until her body was flush with his and twined a leg through his. Spike woke up slowly with a grin. "Baby knows how to wake a bloke up in the morning." He murmured.
"Technically, I think its early evening." She whispered.
He kissed her and she couldn't remember what time it was.
*
When they finally got up, Dawn was starving.
"What do you want to eat, Niblet?" Spike asked.
"A Johnny Rocket's cheese burger and a chocolate soda." Dawn said.
Spike chuckled. "Whatever you want."
They sat outside next to one of the gas heaters at Johnny Rocket's. The excitement of Melrose swirled around them. Dawn ate a cheeseburger and shared her fries with Spike. She drank two chocolate sodas and then they shared a banana split. Dawn leaned back in her chair, holding her stomach, careful not to brush the still sore tattoo.
"I think I'll pop if I put one more thing in my mouth." She said with a groan.
"Come on, let's walk it off." Spike said pulling her out of her chair. He draped his arm over her shoulders, she wound hers around his waist and they walked down Melrose like that, connected.
They poked around in the stores. Spike bought Dawn a bracelet of clusters of tiny red beads. He drew the line at a cross necklace.
"Bloody hell no, I'm not burning the shit out of myself every time I pull you close." He muttered.
She grinned and they continued down the street. He should have smelled them, or felt them or something. He didn't. His guard was down; he was wrapped up in her. He heard the muffled whine of a silenced gunshot and dove for the sidewalk. He pulled her with him and covered her body with his own. People all around them screamed and ran, some of them falling, tripping and trampling over them. Spike raised his head and looked around. They had to get out of here or they were as good as dead. He leapt to his feet, dragging Dawn with him and they ducked down an alley. He heard the thud of feet behind them but didn't dare look back. There wasn't enough time. There were several more muffled whines. Spike drew Dawn closer, trying to block bullets with his body. She jerked forward and fell. He swept behind her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. She was pale. She looked down at her left side. A bright red blossom of blood stained the tank top she wore.
"Dawn, not right now. We can't stop. Look at me. It's your shoulder. Keep moving, Niblet." Spike said and shoved her forward. He stumbled to his knees as a bullet caught his thigh. He snarled, slipping into game face automatically and pushed himself to his feet. He ran again, catching up to Dawn. She screamed out in pain as another bullet grazed her side. She tripped and fell. Spike turned to face their pursuers. They couldn't run now. They were too close and they were both hurt.
"Dawn, get over there in the corner. If you know any handy key powers that don't require anything of you physically, now would be a good time to try them." Spike said as four assassins approached them.
One was human, Spike thought. It was hard to catch his scent when it was mixed with so many others in this alley. There was bright yellow Miquot demon, something that resembled a shade with black skin and white eyes and a woman with bright blue skin.
"Spike, we'd heard you'd gone soft. None of us wanted to believe it though. I remember a time not long ago you hired our order to kill a slayer, now you're going to die for a slayer's sister." The Miquot said.
"Everybody's got to have priorities. Being that we've worked together, I'll let you walk out of here now it's the only time you're going to get this offer." Spike said.
The Miquot laughed and charged him. Spike ducked out of the way. He grabbed the miquot's arm as it ran past and pulled up. The arm snapped at the elbow and the miquot uttered a cry of rage. Spike caught him with a hard sidekick in the small of his back. It sent him flying into the wall of the alley. He slid down into a pile of garbage with a moan.
Dawn tried to sit up. Blood flowed faster between her fingers. She whispered some words that she wasn't sure were words and the blood flow slowed. She turned her attention to Spike and the battle he was fighting for her. The blue skinned woman had a long, ornate dagger in one hand and a stake in the other. She slashed at his torso. Dawn could see at least two bullet wounds in Spike's back and the one in his thigh. He wasn't going to last long in this fight. Dawn swallowed thickly and closed her eyes. She held her hand palm out and whispered "Foruss". The human, blue skinned woman and shade flew back and slammed against a brick wall. The shade was the first to shake it off. He leapt to his feet catlike and crept toward Spike, more wary now.
Using her key powers when she was already injured made her dizzy and incredibly weak feeling. Dawn took a deep breath, willing herself not to pass out. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She let the power build inside of herself. She could feel it rolling and swelling in her chest. She heard Spike roar and she knew without question it was a roar of pain. There was an urgency inside of her. Her eyes snapped open and she held both hands in front of her palms out.
"Spike, duck and roll, trust me." She screamed "Iciderio!" She shouted using all the strength she could summon.
Spike hit the ground and rolled just in time. There was a flash of orange light and the three assassins went up in flames. Dawn looked blurry eyed at Spike. He was well out of the way. She closed her eyes and passed out.
Spike kicked the door open. He stumbled into the hotel lobby carrying Dawn. There was so much blood on him and her it was impossible to tell which of them were hurt or how bad.
"What the hell-"Angel started, and then he saw the girl in Spike's arms. "Is that who I think it is?"
"Dawn. She's been shot, I'm shot and stabbed and I don't know what else." Spike said.
Angel caught Dawn as Spike stumbled and fell to the floor. The bloody palms of his hands made a sick, wet thwap against the tiled floor of the hotel lobby as he caught himself. He pushed himself back to his feet through sheer force of will. "She's hurt. I can't take her to a hospital. They're after her." He said.
"Alright, Gunn, help Spike up and follow me. Fred, call Wes and get him here now. Cordy bring the first aid kit." Angel ordered. He carried Dawn up the stairs. Gunn followed, practically carrying Spike. He took them to a large room with a queen size bed. He laid Dawn down in it and pulled the leather jacket Spike had wrapped her in away from her body. It stuck to the rapidly drying blood. The scent overwhelmed Angel and he struggled against vamping out. Her blood smelled like Buffy's.
Spike sat down on the other side of the bed, leaning against the headboard. He reached over and brushed bloody strands of hair off Dawn's forehead. "It's going to be alright, Niblet." He whispered.
Angel glanced up at Spike but didn't say anything. He'd never heard so much tenderness in the vampire's voice, not even with Dru, with whom he'd been infinitely patient and tender. "We've got to get these bloody clothes off her and clean her up so we can tell how much damage has been done."
Spike growled and instinctively his fangs flashed. He fought it back. He didn't want his Sire seeing Dawn half naked. He knew that he had much of a choice right now. He was in no shape to care for her the way she needed to be. He nodded slightly, granting permission. "You go get the water. I'll get her undressed and bring an extra blanket. She gets cold easy." His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. He concentrated on the sound of her heartbeat. It was weak but steady.
Gunn and Angel left the room in search of hot water, wash clothes and blankets. Spike carefully slid Dawn's pants off. He tried not to jostle her. The movements shot currents of pain through his body. It didn't matter. He couldn't die from his wounds, Dawn could. His eyes scanned her body, searching for wounds. She was so covered in blood it was hard to tell. He knew some of it was his blood. There a huge blossom of blood over her left shoulder. He swallowed and took a deep breath. He knew it hadn't hit her heart. He could still hear it beating, hear the swoosh of blood, although slower, weaker, in her veins.
He could hear Angel approaching in the hallway. It sounded like he was being followed by an army. Gunn, Cordy and Angel all filed in. Spike pulled the blanket up, covering Dawn's legs. Angel carried a bowl of water and several washcloths. He handed one to Spike without a word. Spike dipped it into the hot water and started washing the blood off Dawn's face. He didn't know why. He knew they needed to see the wounds but it hurt him far more then any of his injuries to see her pretty face splattered with blood.
"Gunn, how good are you at removing bullets?" Angel asked.
"Fair." Gunn said.
"Spike, go with Gunn let him take care of those bullets." Angel said.
"I'm not leaving her." Spike said. His voice was cracked but strong and determined.
"Spike-"Angel started.
"No, you're not going to bully me out of this. I'm. Not. Leaving. Her." He matched Angel's stare. Angel looked away first.
"Fine, lay down beside her and let Gunn take those bullets out." Angel consented.
Spike stripped off his shirt and jeans.
"Oh Gawd, cover up! I'm blind, I'm scarred for life." Cordy screamed slapping her hand over her eyes.
Angel rolled his eyes. "Cordy go get a pair of boxers for Spike. You know, Spike they invented something called underwear. It's a good thing."
Spike shrugged and sat down on the bed naked and covered in blood. He hovered over Dawn. She still hadn't woken up. Cordy came back with a pair of black silk boxer shorts. She tossed them to Spike and turned her back. He slipped them on and said "Alright you can look now."
Gunn pulled a chair up to the bed and whistled as he inspected Spike's back. "Damn you've got at least four slugs in there." He poked at one oozing gunshot wound. It seeped blood.
Spike growled. "Why don't you just stick your finger in it and wiggle it around while you're at it."
Cordelia handed the first aid kit to Gunn. "I'm really not going to want to be here for this, am I?"
"Nope, why don't you go down with Fred?" Gunn suggested.
"Call Buffy, let her know Dawn is here. Don't mention her condition." Angel said.
Cordy nodded and left the room again. Gunn took a pair of curved forceps and a thick wad of gauze. He started digging in one of the gunshot wounds for the bullet. A low, constant growl from Spike accompanied the procedure.
"Okay, she's got one gunshot wound to the shoulder. I don't think it's anywhere near her heart but the bullet is still in there. The wound on her side is just a graze. Who's after her, Spike?" Angel said.
"Order of Tareka. They aren't supposed to kill her just grab her and take her to some sorceress. Magic user's gonna split up her parts and use the power in them to gain more power." Spike said.
"Great, Order of Tareka. Ok, so a hospital is out of the question." Angel said.
"Why do you think I brought her here you bloody Git? If I could have taken her to a hospital I would have." Spike exploded. Part of it might have had to do with the fact that Gunn was now literally scraping bone trying to get a bullet out.
"Wes will be here in a minute. He's good at removing bullets. This one isn't deep." Angel said.
Spike's game face slid on and pain flicked across his demon features and Gunn jerked the bullet out. He bit off a curse. Gunn dropped the bullet into an ashtray with the other one he'd already pulled out. Dawn made a mewling sound of pain and Spike's human face slid back into place. His eyes softened and it was obvious his pain wasn't an issue now, only hers. He delicately stroked his fingers over her eyebrow and down her cheekbone.
"Spike?" She whispered without opening her eyes.
"Its okay, Niblet, I'm right here." He said.
"Are we dead?" She asked as she opened her eyes and looked into his.
He smiled and shook his head. "No, Luv, we're not dead. We're at Angel's hotel."
"Oh," Dawn's eyes flicked over to Angel and she smiled slightly. "Someone shot at us." She said.
Angel nodded. "Spike told me. Wes is on his way here. You've got a bullet still in your shoulder and you've lost quite a bit of blood."
"I'll be okay, so tired." She said as her eyes slid closed.
"Just sleep, Niblet. I'll be here when you wake up." Spike whispered.
She smiled and whispered "I know."
Wes showed up a few minutes later. Cordy brought him to the room. Gunn had dug all the bullets out of Spike and bandaged the wounds. The stab wound to his ribs was neat and clean. It would have pierced a human's lungs. Gunn covered it with a bandage and went to get Spike a mug of blood.
"Buffy's on her way and I'm going to go ahead and go back downstairs where they aren't removing bullets from people." Cordy said.
Wes sat down in a chair next to Dawn. He leaned close to her shoulder and slid the strap of her tank top down her arm. Spike growled possessively. Wes glanced up at him but didn't say anything. He dabbed at the wound with a damp washcloth and then sat back.
"It's going to hurt her." Wes said.
Angel nodded. "I've got some whiskey in my room."
Wes nodded. "Best to use a small bit at least."
Angel got up to get the whiskey. "Alright, let's wake her up then and let her know what we're about to do to her." Wes said.
Spike turned Dawn's hand over in his and kissed the pulse point of her wrist. He placed another kiss on her temple and whispered in her ear. "Got to wake up for me now, Niblet." She moaned her protest and kept her eyes shut. Spike kissed her collarbone and cupped her face with his hand. "Come on, Niblet. We've got to get that bullet out."
Dawn wrinkled her nose but opened her eyes. Spike smiled at her and brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek. "There's my girl." He whispered.
Angel walked back in the room with the bottle of whiskey and a glass. He poured a couple of fingers into it and handed it to Wes. Spike helped Dawn sit up. He sat behind her against the head board and pulled her up between his legs. He cradled her like that and let her lean against him, taking all her weight on fresh wounds that must have hurt but he never so much as grimaced. Wes handed the glass to Dawn.
"That will help dull the pain a little." He said.
"I don't wanna, last time I got drunk I was sick." Dawn said.
Spike smiled down at her. "We're not going to get you drunk, Luv, just numb the pain a little."
"Kay," She said before downing the amber liquid. She coughed and sputtered after it was down. "How can you stand that stuff?" Dawn exclaimed.
"Acquired tastes." Wes said as he got out forceps, gauze and antibiotic. "Alright, this is going to hurt. I'll do what I can to minimize the pain.
Dawn drew back, closer to Spike. He brought his right arm around and rested it on his knee. Dawn grabbed his hand in both of hers. She was scared. He could smell it. He moved the meaty part of his hand to her lips. "Bite down, and listen to me, Niblet. I'm going to recite a poem to you. I didn't make it up because right now I can't think of anything except that you're hurt. This guy named Pablo Neruda wrote it. Listen to it, every word is true." He whispered in her ear too low for Wes to make out but Spike knew from the look on Angel's face, he caught every word.
Dawn nodded and bit down on Spike's hand. Wes started working on getting the bullet out.
"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose or topaz/or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off/I love you as certain dark things are to be loved/in secret between the shadow and the soul." Spike whispered.
Dawn whimpered as Wesley dug in her shoulder and bit harder on Spike's hand.
"I love you as the plant that never blooms/but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers/thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance/risen from the earth lives darkly in my body." Spike whispered.
"Almost got it, Dawnie." Wes promised.
Dawn nodded and bit harder. She felt the skin on Spike's hand break.
"I love you without knowing how or when or where/I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride/So I love you because I know no other way/that this: where I does not exist, nor you/so close that your hand on my chest is my hand/so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep." Spike whispered.
Wes pulled the bullet out and plinked it in a glass ashtray. Dawn eased up her bite but didn't let Spike's hand go. She could taste small amounts of blood swirl into her mouth and she sucked at his hand apologetically. Wes doused the wound with peroxide, causing her to wince and bite down on Spike's hand momentarily.
"Sorry," Wes apologized as he squirted antibiotic cream on a square of gauze before placing it over the wound and taping it in place. Another large bandage was taped over the graze wound on her side.
"Can I sleep now?" Dawn asked in a whisper soft little girl voice.
"You can sleep now, Niblet." Spike said.
Dawn curled her body into Spike's and closed her eyes. She was asleep before Wes ever left the room.