'I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all to die'
"Help me get him to the kitchen," Buffy slipped one arm underneath Graham's shoulder, lugging him to the floor as she and Spike maneuvered him through the narrow hallway into the kitchen. Shakily, Graham balanced against the counter, his eyes shot in pain as the wound in his shoulder throbbed violently. He was vaguely aware of the sound of running water and then the quick tear of fabric as his shirt was removed from him, exposing his wound in the overly bright light.
Spike shook his head as he studied the network of thin spidery black lines that spread out over Graham's chest from the wound, "Poison."
Carefully, he moved Graham's hand so Buffy could wash away the caked blood and pus that decorated the opening, "We need to get him to a doctor."
"There's nothing we can do for him, love," he said, lowering his voice as he eyed the semi-conscious commando, "It's been in his system for too long. He's got an hour left at most."
Buffy shook her head as she reached for the bottle of hydrogen peroxide and began gently dabbing it on the wound, "You can't know that."
Spike let out a heavy sigh as he watched the soldier twitch under Buffy's ministrations. A fine sheen of sweat coated his body and he skin had developed a ghastly dull color like uncooked dough. It wasn't his appearance though that let Spike know that there was no saving him. All around him he could hear the erratic, frenzied, forced thudding of his heart. A cacophony of percussions that slowed and faded as the seconds ticked past. Spike reached out and laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder, offering her the comfort of his touch, "His heart's weak, love. I can hear it. He's going."
Buffy turned to face him, the moisture in her eyes apparent as her chin hardened and her shoulders squared, "I can't just let him die, Spike. Not while there's even the smallest chance …" Spike gathered her close, felt her shaking against his chest as he stroked her hair. She sniffled and pulled away from him, her eyes turning to Graham, "We have to help him."
Spike let out a deep breath, before nodding reluctantly, "Let me get my keys, it'll go faster if we take the DeSoto."
Buffy smiled, a thin watery upturning of the corners of her mouth, "Thank you."
Spike shook his head and stared at the still figure, the heart beat growing quieter and slower in his ears, "Don't thank me yet pet, it's only a long shot."
* * *
Riley smiled as he watched the three figures emerge from the house. Graham hung numbly between Slayer and vampire as they made the mad dash down the block toward where Spike stored his car as quickly as they could. He'd known she wouldn't let Graham die. Despite how twisted she was she had an unmovable sense of duty to saving others. Must be the human part of her, he mused.
With a sharp gesture he beckoned his squadron closer. The men eyed him nervously, the wariness apparent in their eyes as they listened to him detail his plan. Even though he had explained the need to eliminate Graham firing against one of their own, and a higher ranking soldier at that, didn't sit easy with them. He had to be careful with this lot -- despite their orders they could turn against him very easily. As long as they helped him take out Buffy and Hostile 17, he thought cynically, they could do whatever they liked. So long as they did it after his mission was accomplished.
* * *
Buffy glanced around furtively as she loaded Graham in the back of the DeSoto. She climbed in after him, checking his vitals for any sign of improvement. She'd hoped that after cleansing the would he'd begin to come around but the infection had shown no sign of abating and the long black lines across his chest had not only darkened but thickened, moving closer to his heart. It made her sick to look at them, sick to look at him in general. His hand was clammy in hers, his breathing labored as Spike started the car and headed in the direction of the hospital. Despite her earlier confrontations with Graham she prayed that he would heal; he was dying in a horrible way.
Spike settled in the front of the car and turned the key, the ignition instantly sputtering to life. Despite it's age the DeSoto maneuvered speedily through the streets of Sunnydale to the hospital. There were about a block from it when a figure clothed I black stepped out in front of the car, hefting a large gun on his shoulder. Spike muttered a curse as he swung the DeSoto, the bullet ringing out into the empty night streets as the car swerved. Graham gasped for breath, his eyes wide and wild as Buffy tried to calm him. Spike turned the car again at the sight of a second figure, glancing worriedly at the backseat where Buffy sat tense and white, her hands gripping the seat tightly, "Hang on, love."
His foot pushed down on the accelerator, sending the DeSoto rushing forward towards the commando who fired again, the bullet going through the windshield and missing Spike by an inch. He heard Buffy duck as she pushed Grahams down, her hands braced on the back of the seat as he hit the commando sending him upward into the air before he hit the ground with a sickening thud. Once again the sound of a gunshot rang out and Spike cursed as his car veered sharply, the sound of his tire going followed rapidly by the other three. The car ground to a dead start. Through the rearview mirror he could see the commando, now flanked by several others, moving towards them, guns raised. He cast a wary look back at Graham who lay open mouthed on the car seat, his breath erratic. Buffy looked up from him as she dug under the seat, finally unearthing two long knives. She followed his gaze back to Graham, "It's too late now. He's gone into shock."
She tossed Spike a knife and crawled into the front seat next to him, "At the very least we can kill the ones who did this to him." He nodded and watched as she turned away to open the passenger side door. For a moment time stilled for him as he watched her pull the handle towards her. He couldn't place where the panic came from, the overpowering worry that made him place his hand on her arm, bringing her attention back to him. Silence filled the space between them as they drank each other in, recognized the same kaleidoscopic cacophony of emotion in each other's eyes. He pulled her close to him, kissed her, breather her breath for an instant, tasted her soul, and reluctantly let her go, "I love you."
She smiled, something more than sadness darkening her face as she looked at him, "I love you too." There was only time for one last kiss before they opened the doors and went to meet the enemy.
* * *
Riley smiled as he watched the two of them leave the car, their weapons glinting in the dull street light. For a moment a dull pang of regret made it's way through his heart as he watched her approach, beautiful and defiant, "Just like I remember." But it died with his whisper.
With a curt motion of his head he urged the others forward, his eyes avoiding the fallen soldier on the ground. The price of war, he thought bitterly as he raised his gun and took aim at his ex-girlfriend. For a moment their eyes met across the expanse of the asphalt battlefield, recognition widening the hazel orbs as her fist tightened on the hilt of her weapon as she continued her approach. His finger tightened on the trigger, anticipation and adrenaline flowing through his body as he pulled the trigger.
She hit the floor and rolled with the blast, coming up in a graceful fighting stance. The hostile roared, his face shifting into game face as he lurched forward, the commandos firing, the bullets missing and hitting, barely slowing him down as he raised his knife and brought it through the stomach of the first soldier, his fist simultaneously rising to meet the unsuspecting face of a second before coming up to his head as he let out a howl of pain. The chip, Riley realized with glee. He turned and aimed his weapon, his finger tightening on the trigger for only a moment before he hit the ground, the shot going awry as the gun clattered from his hands to land on the cement beside him.
He sputtered, his vision turning red with rage as he raised his gaze to the defiant features of his ex. A twisted smile broke out across his face as he surveyed the gleaming blade in her hands. He raised himself up on his elbows, his blue eyes twinkling in the semi-darkness as he spoke, "Come to do me in?" Her foot shot out, hitting him squarely in the chest. He groaned, the flesh tearing beneath the heel of her boot, "So we'll just get right down to the heavy-handed torture then. You always did lack finesse."
Her foot moved, connecting with his ribs and sending him rolling a few paces away. He stood shakily, clutching his side, his eyes meeting hers as she faced him, chin raised as she stood waiting, "What's the matter Riley? Not so brave now that you're facing the real thing? You always were half a man," she paused, her eye sliding suggestively up and down his body before returning to meet his, a wry smile on her lips, "Both in bed and out."
He frowned, his anger growing as he took a step forward, "You loved it. I made you scream --"
She laughed at him, short and broken, her eyes never leaving his as she shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, Riley, yes, please -- make me uncomfortable for, what was your record time?, fifteen minutes? You were minute man personified."
'I saw it's birth, I watched it grew
I felt it change me,
I took the life, I ate it slow
Now it consumes me'
With a snarl of rage Riley launched himself at her, his fist shooting out only to meet air as she ducked, bringing her hands down into his stomach and her knee up into his face. He stumbled backward, a small trickle of blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth onto his army grins. Slowly, he brought his hand up to his mouth and wiped at it, the red staining his skin. He scoffed, his eyes meeting hers, "Not bad, Buffy."
She ignored him, "You killed Graham."
He shrugged, "He was a traitor. He deserved to die."
She shook her head in disgust, "Give it up, Riley. You're no better than the monsters you fight."
"Really? The same ones you fuck?"
Her foot launched out, her heel connecting with his stomach and sending him back a few feet. Without wasting any time she launched herself at him. Out of the corner of her mind she was aware of Spike as her fended off the remaining three commandos. Not bad, she thought dimly as one commando's punch missed the vampire and took out his buddy instead, for someone with a chip. For a moment it seemed as if they had the upper hand when Buffy heard Spike yelling her name, she turned in time to see one of the commando's fire at her. She ducked, hitting the ground, the dart embedding itself in her shoulder.
Undaunted she struggled to raise herself, her body hitting her ground as her body went numb. In the background she could hear Spike yelling as he tore into the commandos. His screams of rage turning into howls of pain as they tackled him to the floor. Her eyes turned upwards to where Riley stood, a smile on his face as his foot lashed out, hitting her hard twice in her ribs. She sputtered, her vision blurring as she was hauled to her feet. She stumbled fell, was half dragged over to Spike who hung limp between the two commandos. The third handed Riley his gun.
For a moment he stood contemplating it before giving the others a small smile. With measured steps he made his way over to the DeSoto. He paused for a moment before opening the door to the driver's side. Sprawled on the backseat lay Graham, still breathing. His eyes opened and found Riley's, he groaned and tried to turn away as Riely hefted the gun and stared down at his fallen comrade. He shot the gun without looking.
Slowly he left the car, his gun back in it's holster, his eyes a little emptier as he surveyed his captives, "Let's get them back to the compound. General Arthur MacGruder has been waiting for them for a long time."
I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all behind, and never said goodbye
I left it all to die'
"Help me get him to the kitchen," Buffy slipped one arm underneath Graham's shoulder, lugging him to the floor as she and Spike maneuvered him through the narrow hallway into the kitchen. Shakily, Graham balanced against the counter, his eyes shot in pain as the wound in his shoulder throbbed violently. He was vaguely aware of the sound of running water and then the quick tear of fabric as his shirt was removed from him, exposing his wound in the overly bright light.
Spike shook his head as he studied the network of thin spidery black lines that spread out over Graham's chest from the wound, "Poison."
Carefully, he moved Graham's hand so Buffy could wash away the caked blood and pus that decorated the opening, "We need to get him to a doctor."
"There's nothing we can do for him, love," he said, lowering his voice as he eyed the semi-conscious commando, "It's been in his system for too long. He's got an hour left at most."
Buffy shook her head as she reached for the bottle of hydrogen peroxide and began gently dabbing it on the wound, "You can't know that."
Spike let out a heavy sigh as he watched the soldier twitch under Buffy's ministrations. A fine sheen of sweat coated his body and he skin had developed a ghastly dull color like uncooked dough. It wasn't his appearance though that let Spike know that there was no saving him. All around him he could hear the erratic, frenzied, forced thudding of his heart. A cacophony of percussions that slowed and faded as the seconds ticked past. Spike reached out and laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder, offering her the comfort of his touch, "His heart's weak, love. I can hear it. He's going."
Buffy turned to face him, the moisture in her eyes apparent as her chin hardened and her shoulders squared, "I can't just let him die, Spike. Not while there's even the smallest chance …" Spike gathered her close, felt her shaking against his chest as he stroked her hair. She sniffled and pulled away from him, her eyes turning to Graham, "We have to help him."
Spike let out a deep breath, before nodding reluctantly, "Let me get my keys, it'll go faster if we take the DeSoto."
Buffy smiled, a thin watery upturning of the corners of her mouth, "Thank you."
Spike shook his head and stared at the still figure, the heart beat growing quieter and slower in his ears, "Don't thank me yet pet, it's only a long shot."
* * *
Riley smiled as he watched the three figures emerge from the house. Graham hung numbly between Slayer and vampire as they made the mad dash down the block toward where Spike stored his car as quickly as they could. He'd known she wouldn't let Graham die. Despite how twisted she was she had an unmovable sense of duty to saving others. Must be the human part of her, he mused.
With a sharp gesture he beckoned his squadron closer. The men eyed him nervously, the wariness apparent in their eyes as they listened to him detail his plan. Even though he had explained the need to eliminate Graham firing against one of their own, and a higher ranking soldier at that, didn't sit easy with them. He had to be careful with this lot -- despite their orders they could turn against him very easily. As long as they helped him take out Buffy and Hostile 17, he thought cynically, they could do whatever they liked. So long as they did it after his mission was accomplished.
* * *
Buffy glanced around furtively as she loaded Graham in the back of the DeSoto. She climbed in after him, checking his vitals for any sign of improvement. She'd hoped that after cleansing the would he'd begin to come around but the infection had shown no sign of abating and the long black lines across his chest had not only darkened but thickened, moving closer to his heart. It made her sick to look at them, sick to look at him in general. His hand was clammy in hers, his breathing labored as Spike started the car and headed in the direction of the hospital. Despite her earlier confrontations with Graham she prayed that he would heal; he was dying in a horrible way.
Spike settled in the front of the car and turned the key, the ignition instantly sputtering to life. Despite it's age the DeSoto maneuvered speedily through the streets of Sunnydale to the hospital. There were about a block from it when a figure clothed I black stepped out in front of the car, hefting a large gun on his shoulder. Spike muttered a curse as he swung the DeSoto, the bullet ringing out into the empty night streets as the car swerved. Graham gasped for breath, his eyes wide and wild as Buffy tried to calm him. Spike turned the car again at the sight of a second figure, glancing worriedly at the backseat where Buffy sat tense and white, her hands gripping the seat tightly, "Hang on, love."
His foot pushed down on the accelerator, sending the DeSoto rushing forward towards the commando who fired again, the bullet going through the windshield and missing Spike by an inch. He heard Buffy duck as she pushed Grahams down, her hands braced on the back of the seat as he hit the commando sending him upward into the air before he hit the ground with a sickening thud. Once again the sound of a gunshot rang out and Spike cursed as his car veered sharply, the sound of his tire going followed rapidly by the other three. The car ground to a dead start. Through the rearview mirror he could see the commando, now flanked by several others, moving towards them, guns raised. He cast a wary look back at Graham who lay open mouthed on the car seat, his breath erratic. Buffy looked up from him as she dug under the seat, finally unearthing two long knives. She followed his gaze back to Graham, "It's too late now. He's gone into shock."
She tossed Spike a knife and crawled into the front seat next to him, "At the very least we can kill the ones who did this to him." He nodded and watched as she turned away to open the passenger side door. For a moment time stilled for him as he watched her pull the handle towards her. He couldn't place where the panic came from, the overpowering worry that made him place his hand on her arm, bringing her attention back to him. Silence filled the space between them as they drank each other in, recognized the same kaleidoscopic cacophony of emotion in each other's eyes. He pulled her close to him, kissed her, breather her breath for an instant, tasted her soul, and reluctantly let her go, "I love you."
She smiled, something more than sadness darkening her face as she looked at him, "I love you too." There was only time for one last kiss before they opened the doors and went to meet the enemy.
* * *
Riley smiled as he watched the two of them leave the car, their weapons glinting in the dull street light. For a moment a dull pang of regret made it's way through his heart as he watched her approach, beautiful and defiant, "Just like I remember." But it died with his whisper.
With a curt motion of his head he urged the others forward, his eyes avoiding the fallen soldier on the ground. The price of war, he thought bitterly as he raised his gun and took aim at his ex-girlfriend. For a moment their eyes met across the expanse of the asphalt battlefield, recognition widening the hazel orbs as her fist tightened on the hilt of her weapon as she continued her approach. His finger tightened on the trigger, anticipation and adrenaline flowing through his body as he pulled the trigger.
She hit the floor and rolled with the blast, coming up in a graceful fighting stance. The hostile roared, his face shifting into game face as he lurched forward, the commandos firing, the bullets missing and hitting, barely slowing him down as he raised his knife and brought it through the stomach of the first soldier, his fist simultaneously rising to meet the unsuspecting face of a second before coming up to his head as he let out a howl of pain. The chip, Riley realized with glee. He turned and aimed his weapon, his finger tightening on the trigger for only a moment before he hit the ground, the shot going awry as the gun clattered from his hands to land on the cement beside him.
He sputtered, his vision turning red with rage as he raised his gaze to the defiant features of his ex. A twisted smile broke out across his face as he surveyed the gleaming blade in her hands. He raised himself up on his elbows, his blue eyes twinkling in the semi-darkness as he spoke, "Come to do me in?" Her foot shot out, hitting him squarely in the chest. He groaned, the flesh tearing beneath the heel of her boot, "So we'll just get right down to the heavy-handed torture then. You always did lack finesse."
Her foot moved, connecting with his ribs and sending him rolling a few paces away. He stood shakily, clutching his side, his eyes meeting hers as she faced him, chin raised as she stood waiting, "What's the matter Riley? Not so brave now that you're facing the real thing? You always were half a man," she paused, her eye sliding suggestively up and down his body before returning to meet his, a wry smile on her lips, "Both in bed and out."
He frowned, his anger growing as he took a step forward, "You loved it. I made you scream --"
She laughed at him, short and broken, her eyes never leaving his as she shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, Riley, yes, please -- make me uncomfortable for, what was your record time?, fifteen minutes? You were minute man personified."
'I saw it's birth, I watched it grew
I felt it change me,
I took the life, I ate it slow
Now it consumes me'
With a snarl of rage Riley launched himself at her, his fist shooting out only to meet air as she ducked, bringing her hands down into his stomach and her knee up into his face. He stumbled backward, a small trickle of blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth onto his army grins. Slowly, he brought his hand up to his mouth and wiped at it, the red staining his skin. He scoffed, his eyes meeting hers, "Not bad, Buffy."
She ignored him, "You killed Graham."
He shrugged, "He was a traitor. He deserved to die."
She shook her head in disgust, "Give it up, Riley. You're no better than the monsters you fight."
"Really? The same ones you fuck?"
Her foot launched out, her heel connecting with his stomach and sending him back a few feet. Without wasting any time she launched herself at him. Out of the corner of her mind she was aware of Spike as her fended off the remaining three commandos. Not bad, she thought dimly as one commando's punch missed the vampire and took out his buddy instead, for someone with a chip. For a moment it seemed as if they had the upper hand when Buffy heard Spike yelling her name, she turned in time to see one of the commando's fire at her. She ducked, hitting the ground, the dart embedding itself in her shoulder.
Undaunted she struggled to raise herself, her body hitting her ground as her body went numb. In the background she could hear Spike yelling as he tore into the commandos. His screams of rage turning into howls of pain as they tackled him to the floor. Her eyes turned upwards to where Riley stood, a smile on his face as his foot lashed out, hitting her hard twice in her ribs. She sputtered, her vision blurring as she was hauled to her feet. She stumbled fell, was half dragged over to Spike who hung limp between the two commandos. The third handed Riley his gun.
For a moment he stood contemplating it before giving the others a small smile. With measured steps he made his way over to the DeSoto. He paused for a moment before opening the door to the driver's side. Sprawled on the backseat lay Graham, still breathing. His eyes opened and found Riley's, he groaned and tried to turn away as Riely hefted the gun and stared down at his fallen comrade. He shot the gun without looking.
Slowly he left the car, his gun back in it's holster, his eyes a little emptier as he surveyed his captives, "Let's get them back to the compound. General Arthur MacGruder has been waiting for them for a long time."