I'm so glad I was able to write this chapter so fast but it was only
because you all reviewed! ^_^ Your reviews really motivated me to write,
so, please review this one too!
And I want to thank JoeB1451, lady z, Night Slayer, Katie, southern cross,
Vaan_Silverbane and Anne Rose for reviewing. Thanks you guys! Now on with
the story!
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LAST CHAPTER
". . . Well, I guess it's a good thing I ran in to you, eh? I was sent to you." she finished ranting with a smile.
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Buffy was about to ask her what she meant, cuz, not to be offensive, but she was obviously not Slayer in Training material, but the door swung open to reveal a shocked Willow.
"Oh Goddess! Is he okay?"
Willow had never really hated Spike. Not since he had gotten the Initiative's chip and he had tried to bite her. That night, she had seen a different side to him, not really a good one, but one that showed her that he wasn't a mindless killer.
Xander was now at the doorway as well as Dawn, Anya, the SiTs and a recently-freed Andrew. He still hated the vampire, with a passion, but they did need him and in the state he was in, Xander couldn't help but feel pity at the very least. He would have gone to support Spike's other side but he saw that that position was being occupied by an unknown girl.
'Oh well, there will be time for questions later.' He thought as he instead busied himself by clearing the path to the couch in the living room, moving both objects and curious teenagers.
Buffy was so relieved at her friends' reactions that her knees threatened to give way as her forced solidarity was brought down a notch to make room for fatigue. She realized that her shock had kept her rooted on the doorstep when Cassandra started walking inside, pulling Spike which tugged Buffy forward. They made their way slowly but confidently because there were about 4 people on either side of them ready to help if need be. Buffy's heart swelled as she took in the trust her friends were showing in her.
Cassandra just concentrated on her feet, making sure she wouldn't accidentally trip Spike as they turned the corners. She had seen the red head and the tall, dark and so-so guy, in her opinion, and figured they must be Buffy's friends. The others, all girls except for one, seemed to be holding back. Most seemed curious, one blond seemed slightly worried and a younger brunette looked angry but Cassandra could still see the caring in her eyes.
They got to the sofa and realized that Spike was pretty much unconscious. They began to sit him down when the new position brought Spike reeling back to reality when the pain of misplaced bones assaulted him. He let out a strangle gasp and the girls immediately stopped their movements. A moment passed where Spike remained completely tense, not moving a muscle in fear that the pain might worsen.
"Spike." Buffy called, trying to get him to concentrate on her instead of the pain. "Spike." She called again, in a voice much softer than most people in that room had ever heard her use. It seemed to grab his attention though as he turned his head slightly and slowly trying to figure out if she was real or not.
Buffy's lips quirked slightly in relief when she saw the recognition in his eyes.
"Spike, we need you to sit down okay?"
He tried to look behind him to see what the back of his shins were touching and he realized where he was. He nodded and they managed to sit him down with Buffy beside him greeting the rest with much gratitude.
Buffy took this time to glance at their audience. Xander was to her left, standing at the end of the couch not looking very happy but not voicing his dislike for the situation, for which she was very grateful. Willow was standing next to Dawn looking very worried and curious, probably about Cassandra. Dawn still looked angry but a lot less, letting her worry seep through. Anya was next to Andrew, she seemed to be acting as a guard of sorts, making sure he couldn't run away if he was still afraid of Spike, understandable of course, but still. . . Although he was kind of annoying, kind of a lot, still doing the "Kameha meha" gestures from Dragonball Z. Kennedy was close to Willow, her face expressing nothing. Vi was huddling in a corner behind Molly, who looked ready to burst with questions and Rhona and Chloe who seemed a cross between dislike and reluctant pity. There was also a girl whom Buffy had never seen before. She was tall with long black hair, olive skin and wide eyes. She looked Asian, probably Korean.
Giles just walked in with bags of groceries and halted at the sight that greeted him. He had needed an excuse to get out of the house, his nerves had been on the fritz deciding whether or not Spike's return would be a good thing and since Buffy had wanted to go alone, he had nothing to do but wait. He set his bags down, roamed his eyes over the beaten bodies of the two blonds and the stranger on the sofa before finally breaking the silence that had fallen over them since they had sat down.
"Well then, we'd best get him fixed up. Willow, would you get the supplies? Dawn, I bought some blood if you'd like to prepare it?"
As the girls set off to their appointed tasks and Buffy's shock was subdued, the rest of the people seemed uneasy.
"Why don't you all get some rest? We can do the whole Inquisition thing tomorrow?" Buffy suggested looking primarily at Xander and Anya then the rest, seeking their approval.
"Good idea, Buff." Xander said.
"Yes, and it would be if you all weren't bleeding on Molly's bed." Anya said with her usual bluntness.
"Oh, right. Okay well, sunrise is a few hours so we might as well get Spike to the basement. Xander, could you make sure that no sun can get through down there?" she asked.
"No problem." he replied as he headed upstairs to get some heavy blankets.
"Cassandra, can you help me bring him downstairs?"
Cassandra smiled at the small vote of confidence she was receiving from the famous slayer. It was obvious she still wasn't completely trusted but that was just because she hadn't had a chance to explain who she was.
"Sure." she said, nodding.
"Spike?" Buffy asked, wondering if he was still with them and getting a small grunt as a reply.
"We have to move you okay? More stairs, but not up so it should be easier."
"Alright, luv." he mumbled not really understanding what she was saying, his head hurt so much, but he was willing to do anything she asked of him, half un-undead or not.
As they stood, with a noticeable groan, Willow came back and Buffy told her to get Dawn and to come down to the basement.
They went down the stairs, Buffy in front in case Spike fell and Cassandra behind him trying to support him by the shoulders. Like this, they got down just in time to see Xander, having finished with the small windows, setting up the cot with new sheets and a pillow.
Spike couldn't really think clearly through the haze that was covering his mind but what Xander was doing for him registered and as they passed each other, Spike put his hand on Xander's arm and effectively stopped him. He gave Xander a look that clearly conveyed his thanks and Xander simply nodded. They understood each other. They didn't like each other but that wasn't the biggest problem they had at the moment.
Willow had already brought down their medical kit and was just standing-by in case she could help somehow. Buffy and Cassandra led Spike to the cot and sat him down as Dawn came down with the blood in a mug. She was a little uneasy since she was supposed to be angry at the vampire but her stupid worry kept overpowering her. She looked at her sister who didn't seem to be sending any hate vibes at Spike and figured she would follow suite, at least for now.
"Heal fast, okay?" she said, those words being the only ones that came to mind. She then turned to Buffy and Willow.
"Everyone is settled in, well, the trainees and Andrew are settled in. Giles, Xander and Anya are in the kitchen probably waiting for you guys. So, I'm gonna go to bed too, k?" she reported.
"Sure, yeah. Thanks Dawn." Buffy replied.
"Oh, before you go to bed, can you find some place for Cassandra? In the living room, or maybe your room?" asked, suddenly remembering the young stranger.
Dawn looked over to the blond girl who had helped her sister and said, "Sure, come with me. Good night you guys." she finished, making eye contact with Willow, Buffy and lastly, Spike, making sure he knew he was included.
As Spike caught her eyes, he was filled with love for the little brunette and he nodded his good night.
"Goodnight Dawnie" said Willow.
"Goodnight, and Cassandra, thanks for your help. We'll talk tomorrow okay?" said Buffy.
"No problem and of course." she left them with a small smile. "Get better Spike."
"Willow, thanks. You should go get some rest too." Buffy told the Wiccan.
Willow nodded and said goodnight, smiling inside at the obvious reason she had been advised to get some sleep. She crept up the stairs and into the kitchen, giving a small smile to the Scooby Gang assemble there as she closed the basement door behind her thus leaving Buffy and Spike alone together.
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Don't worry, Spuffiness on the way. I mean, hello? Spike, Buffy . . . alone? Think of the possibilities! Hehe, sorry. Please review! ^_^ thx! ^_~
****************************************************
LAST CHAPTER
". . . Well, I guess it's a good thing I ran in to you, eh? I was sent to you." she finished ranting with a smile.
************************************************
Buffy was about to ask her what she meant, cuz, not to be offensive, but she was obviously not Slayer in Training material, but the door swung open to reveal a shocked Willow.
"Oh Goddess! Is he okay?"
Willow had never really hated Spike. Not since he had gotten the Initiative's chip and he had tried to bite her. That night, she had seen a different side to him, not really a good one, but one that showed her that he wasn't a mindless killer.
Xander was now at the doorway as well as Dawn, Anya, the SiTs and a recently-freed Andrew. He still hated the vampire, with a passion, but they did need him and in the state he was in, Xander couldn't help but feel pity at the very least. He would have gone to support Spike's other side but he saw that that position was being occupied by an unknown girl.
'Oh well, there will be time for questions later.' He thought as he instead busied himself by clearing the path to the couch in the living room, moving both objects and curious teenagers.
Buffy was so relieved at her friends' reactions that her knees threatened to give way as her forced solidarity was brought down a notch to make room for fatigue. She realized that her shock had kept her rooted on the doorstep when Cassandra started walking inside, pulling Spike which tugged Buffy forward. They made their way slowly but confidently because there were about 4 people on either side of them ready to help if need be. Buffy's heart swelled as she took in the trust her friends were showing in her.
Cassandra just concentrated on her feet, making sure she wouldn't accidentally trip Spike as they turned the corners. She had seen the red head and the tall, dark and so-so guy, in her opinion, and figured they must be Buffy's friends. The others, all girls except for one, seemed to be holding back. Most seemed curious, one blond seemed slightly worried and a younger brunette looked angry but Cassandra could still see the caring in her eyes.
They got to the sofa and realized that Spike was pretty much unconscious. They began to sit him down when the new position brought Spike reeling back to reality when the pain of misplaced bones assaulted him. He let out a strangle gasp and the girls immediately stopped their movements. A moment passed where Spike remained completely tense, not moving a muscle in fear that the pain might worsen.
"Spike." Buffy called, trying to get him to concentrate on her instead of the pain. "Spike." She called again, in a voice much softer than most people in that room had ever heard her use. It seemed to grab his attention though as he turned his head slightly and slowly trying to figure out if she was real or not.
Buffy's lips quirked slightly in relief when she saw the recognition in his eyes.
"Spike, we need you to sit down okay?"
He tried to look behind him to see what the back of his shins were touching and he realized where he was. He nodded and they managed to sit him down with Buffy beside him greeting the rest with much gratitude.
Buffy took this time to glance at their audience. Xander was to her left, standing at the end of the couch not looking very happy but not voicing his dislike for the situation, for which she was very grateful. Willow was standing next to Dawn looking very worried and curious, probably about Cassandra. Dawn still looked angry but a lot less, letting her worry seep through. Anya was next to Andrew, she seemed to be acting as a guard of sorts, making sure he couldn't run away if he was still afraid of Spike, understandable of course, but still. . . Although he was kind of annoying, kind of a lot, still doing the "Kameha meha" gestures from Dragonball Z. Kennedy was close to Willow, her face expressing nothing. Vi was huddling in a corner behind Molly, who looked ready to burst with questions and Rhona and Chloe who seemed a cross between dislike and reluctant pity. There was also a girl whom Buffy had never seen before. She was tall with long black hair, olive skin and wide eyes. She looked Asian, probably Korean.
Giles just walked in with bags of groceries and halted at the sight that greeted him. He had needed an excuse to get out of the house, his nerves had been on the fritz deciding whether or not Spike's return would be a good thing and since Buffy had wanted to go alone, he had nothing to do but wait. He set his bags down, roamed his eyes over the beaten bodies of the two blonds and the stranger on the sofa before finally breaking the silence that had fallen over them since they had sat down.
"Well then, we'd best get him fixed up. Willow, would you get the supplies? Dawn, I bought some blood if you'd like to prepare it?"
As the girls set off to their appointed tasks and Buffy's shock was subdued, the rest of the people seemed uneasy.
"Why don't you all get some rest? We can do the whole Inquisition thing tomorrow?" Buffy suggested looking primarily at Xander and Anya then the rest, seeking their approval.
"Good idea, Buff." Xander said.
"Yes, and it would be if you all weren't bleeding on Molly's bed." Anya said with her usual bluntness.
"Oh, right. Okay well, sunrise is a few hours so we might as well get Spike to the basement. Xander, could you make sure that no sun can get through down there?" she asked.
"No problem." he replied as he headed upstairs to get some heavy blankets.
"Cassandra, can you help me bring him downstairs?"
Cassandra smiled at the small vote of confidence she was receiving from the famous slayer. It was obvious she still wasn't completely trusted but that was just because she hadn't had a chance to explain who she was.
"Sure." she said, nodding.
"Spike?" Buffy asked, wondering if he was still with them and getting a small grunt as a reply.
"We have to move you okay? More stairs, but not up so it should be easier."
"Alright, luv." he mumbled not really understanding what she was saying, his head hurt so much, but he was willing to do anything she asked of him, half un-undead or not.
As they stood, with a noticeable groan, Willow came back and Buffy told her to get Dawn and to come down to the basement.
They went down the stairs, Buffy in front in case Spike fell and Cassandra behind him trying to support him by the shoulders. Like this, they got down just in time to see Xander, having finished with the small windows, setting up the cot with new sheets and a pillow.
Spike couldn't really think clearly through the haze that was covering his mind but what Xander was doing for him registered and as they passed each other, Spike put his hand on Xander's arm and effectively stopped him. He gave Xander a look that clearly conveyed his thanks and Xander simply nodded. They understood each other. They didn't like each other but that wasn't the biggest problem they had at the moment.
Willow had already brought down their medical kit and was just standing-by in case she could help somehow. Buffy and Cassandra led Spike to the cot and sat him down as Dawn came down with the blood in a mug. She was a little uneasy since she was supposed to be angry at the vampire but her stupid worry kept overpowering her. She looked at her sister who didn't seem to be sending any hate vibes at Spike and figured she would follow suite, at least for now.
"Heal fast, okay?" she said, those words being the only ones that came to mind. She then turned to Buffy and Willow.
"Everyone is settled in, well, the trainees and Andrew are settled in. Giles, Xander and Anya are in the kitchen probably waiting for you guys. So, I'm gonna go to bed too, k?" she reported.
"Sure, yeah. Thanks Dawn." Buffy replied.
"Oh, before you go to bed, can you find some place for Cassandra? In the living room, or maybe your room?" asked, suddenly remembering the young stranger.
Dawn looked over to the blond girl who had helped her sister and said, "Sure, come with me. Good night you guys." she finished, making eye contact with Willow, Buffy and lastly, Spike, making sure he knew he was included.
As Spike caught her eyes, he was filled with love for the little brunette and he nodded his good night.
"Goodnight Dawnie" said Willow.
"Goodnight, and Cassandra, thanks for your help. We'll talk tomorrow okay?" said Buffy.
"No problem and of course." she left them with a small smile. "Get better Spike."
"Willow, thanks. You should go get some rest too." Buffy told the Wiccan.
Willow nodded and said goodnight, smiling inside at the obvious reason she had been advised to get some sleep. She crept up the stairs and into the kitchen, giving a small smile to the Scooby Gang assemble there as she closed the basement door behind her thus leaving Buffy and Spike alone together.
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Don't worry, Spuffiness on the way. I mean, hello? Spike, Buffy . . . alone? Think of the possibilities! Hehe, sorry. Please review! ^_^ thx! ^_~