Buffy took a right turn. She was going to talk to Spike, and find out why
he was avoiding her and where their relationship stood. It won't be so bad,
she told herself completely unconvinced. She ran up the stairs and found
Angel's office; she peered through the window and gasped. There lying on
the floor beaten to a bloody pulp was Spike. She didn't even stop to think,
she dashed into the room, a horrible knot tied in her stomach. She rushed
to his side and kneeled down beside him. Spike's eyes were unfocused so she
couldn't tell if he knew she was there.
'Spike', her voice came out in a croaky whisper. Spike's eyes rolled and he blinked trying to see who spoke.
'Spike, it's me, Buffy', she continued her voice barely above a whisper. Spike's eyes rested on where Buffy was kneeling
'B-Buffy................your here', Spike choked out.
'I'm here', Buffy said, her eyes filling with tears. Spike managed a weak smile.
'Always.....count.....on......you', Spike said.
'Yeah you can always count on me', Buffy reassured him. She waited for Spike's reply, nothing, instead he very slowly reached out his arm to find Buffy's hand, but he couldn't find it so Buffy lifted her hand and took Spike's hand. A moment passed between them, them just hanging on to each other, Buffy wiping away the blood from his nose, and mouth.
'Who did this to you', Buffy asked eventually. Spike opened his mouth and closed it again.
'Angel', Spike murmured.
'Who?'
'Angel', Spike said louder. Buffy eyes widened in shock.
'Why what did you do?'
'Nothing', Spike said his voice cracking, he found it offensive that Buffy immediately assumed it had been his fault.
'Ok ok I was only asking', Buffy said.
'The barstad completely lost it', Spike grumbled.
'Why would he do that', Buffy said more to herself than Spike.
'Pissed him off', Spike muttered.
'What a prix' Buffy cursed.
'I swear when I see him....' Buffy started. Spike smiled.
'Don't bother, I'll sort him out', Spike promised.
'But look at you, you're a wreck', Buffy objected.
'I'll live', Spike replied. Buffy's hold on Spike's hand tightened, he looked at her. Their eyes met, and Spike noticed Buffy had the pleading look in her eyes, the same look that she had when she begged Spike to come out of the hellmouth with her. Spike looked away, closed his eyes and knew no more.
When he opened his eyes again he found he was lying in a bed. His focus was still blurry and he strained his eyes to see where he was. He could hear voices but they sounded so distant. He tired to sit up, but a sharp pain shot across the side of his stomach and he lay back down, groaning in pain.
Just outside Spike's room, Fred and Buffy waited.
'I don't understand why Angel would beat him up that bad, he hadn't done anything to deserve it', Buffy said to Fred. Fred looked just as puzzled as Buffy was.
'Yeah I don't get it either, Angel's normally a reasonable man, I guess he just lost it, I mean he has been going through a lot, there's rumours going around that he's had nervous break downs', Fred replied. Buffy shook her head. Just then they heard the sound of footsteps and looked around to see who it was. It was Angel. Buffy stormed up to him.
'What do you think you were doing', she demanded. Angel looked away, ashamed.
'He annoyed me', Angel said in a small voice. Buffy made a clicking noise with her tongue.
'That's it he annoyed you, Buffy said in disbelief, you beat him into the ground and your reason....oh he annoyed me', Buffy said putting on his voice.
'I'm sorry it was a stupid thing to do', Angel muttered.
'STUPID, YEAH YOUR DAMN RIGHT IT WAS STUPID, SPIKE'S A WRECK', Buffy yelled.
'He beat me into the ground once before too', Angel defended himself. Fred put up her hand to object.
'Actually you both beat each other up, but that was when you were fighting for the cup thingy which turned out to be fake, I'm not saying it was the right thing to do but it was a good reason, loads of people get on my nerves but I put up with it, it's part of the job', Fred said.
'No remember people don't get chances here, they kill someone I kill them, they annoy me, and I'll annoy them, basically what comes around goes around Fred', Angel argued.
'You don't waste your time annoying people', Fred said.
'No but this is different me and Spike kinda have a history of hating each other', Angel said.
'Well you've been getting on alright, well you were until Buffy got here', Fred said.
'We never got on', Angel interrupted.
'Well you weren't being as hateful to each other as you were when Spike first got here', Fred replied. Angel rolled his eyes.
'Look I said I was sorry', Angel cried. Buffy gritted her teeth, grabbed Angel by the collar and shoved him into the wall.
'Sorry isn't good enough', she growled. Angel stared at her, but didn't try to break free.
'Spike didn't do anything to you, there was no reason for you two to fight in the first place, but you beat the crap out of him (Angel suppressed a grin) and I'm warning you, do anything like that again, lay a hand on Spike and you'll end up just like him', Buffy threatened him seriously. Buffy gave him one last warning glare then let go of him and stormed off leaving Angel mouthing like a goldfish. Fred let out a long whistle.
'Boy, you don't wanna mess with her.' Angel didn't say anything, he was pissed off that Buffy was being so protective over Spike, but then again she did love him.
'Mature love', Angel scoffed. Fred frowned at him.
'Don't worry', Angel said quickly.
Shortly after it was just Angel left alone by the window, he peered in watching Spike twist and turn with narrowed eyes. Spike sat up slowly and looked around, he saw Angel standing by the window, arms folded. Spike felt a rush of hatred surging through his veins and he just wished he had the strength to run out there and smash him through that window. Angel held his gaze, then without a word or any expression at all he turned and left.
'He doesn't even care; Spike said to himself, the stupid sod doesn't even care that if I was human I'd be in a freakin' coma right now.'
'I know terrible isn't it', came Lindsay's voice. He had just opened the door on Spike's left.
'What do you want', Spike sighed.
'Nothing just came to visit my favourite vampire with a soul', Lindsay replied. Spike scowled.
'Lucky me', Spike said sarcastically. Lindsay came and sat on the chair next to Spike's bed.
'So how are you feeling?' Lindsay asked.
'I'm feeling great, just great', Spike exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Lindsay smiled slightly.
'That's good to know I mean you must be ok as your sense of humour certainly hasn't gone', Lindsay said.
'So where are all you visitors?' Lindsay continued to pester Spike.
'What do you mean?' Spike asked sharply.
'Oh you know your get well visitors....let's say Buffy for instance (Spike winced and Lindsay smirked)'
'What about her, she's been here', Spike said defensively.
'Oh really Where is she now then?'
'Well I dunno do I', Spike replied getting really pissed off now.
'Hmmm', Lindsay said studying Spike.
Buffy made her way to Giles; she had to talk to someone. Giles looked up and smiled when he saw her.
'Hello Buffy', he greeted her politely. Buffy strained a smile.
'Erm I actually wanted to talk to you about something....' Buffy muttered.
'Yes', Giles urged her on. Buffy opened her mouth but no sound came out.
'Is it about Spike?' Giles asked catching on. Buffy looked up, relieved that he'd started her off so she didn't need to say that bit.
'Yeah it is', Buffy replied. Giles nodded and waited for her to continue.
'Er anyway about Spike....we er, I mean he's been beaten up by Angel as I'm sure you know but I.....I'm kind of confused', Buffy stammered.
'About what?'
'Everything really, I think there's something their not telling me then there's these vampires trying to help out Angel and then he suddenly goes and beats up Spike shortly after and.....', Buffy broke of shrugging, her throat was burning.
'And it's confusing them both being here', Giles finished for her. Slowly Buffy nodded.
'Yeah I mean I'm not saying I still love Angel because I don't....in that way but I care about him, a lot.....or at least I thought I did and I know I love Spike, I told Angel that and he just flipped and I don't even get why he still loves me anyway', Buffy said confused.
'Well we mustn't forget Buffy that he's had quite a miserable life and he's not really allowed a proper relationship because it's dangerous because he could become Angelus again and you were the only person that he ever had a properly serious relationship with and it ended badly, you may be able to let it go but only because you had to, you had a mission, he didn't he was just doing right because he had nothing else to do, he had no life, no where to go, and no one to love, that's why it's harder for him to just let it go', Giles explained to her.
'Just because he can't let go doesn't mean he should hope that I don't either', Buffy sulked.
'You care a lot about Spike don't you', Giles said studying her.
'Yeah I do', Buffy answered.
'I've seen you two together, you'd do anything for each other', Giles added. Buffy nodded.
'Then that's all that matters', Giles said firmly.
'Spike', her voice came out in a croaky whisper. Spike's eyes rolled and he blinked trying to see who spoke.
'Spike, it's me, Buffy', she continued her voice barely above a whisper. Spike's eyes rested on where Buffy was kneeling
'B-Buffy................your here', Spike choked out.
'I'm here', Buffy said, her eyes filling with tears. Spike managed a weak smile.
'Always.....count.....on......you', Spike said.
'Yeah you can always count on me', Buffy reassured him. She waited for Spike's reply, nothing, instead he very slowly reached out his arm to find Buffy's hand, but he couldn't find it so Buffy lifted her hand and took Spike's hand. A moment passed between them, them just hanging on to each other, Buffy wiping away the blood from his nose, and mouth.
'Who did this to you', Buffy asked eventually. Spike opened his mouth and closed it again.
'Angel', Spike murmured.
'Who?'
'Angel', Spike said louder. Buffy eyes widened in shock.
'Why what did you do?'
'Nothing', Spike said his voice cracking, he found it offensive that Buffy immediately assumed it had been his fault.
'Ok ok I was only asking', Buffy said.
'The barstad completely lost it', Spike grumbled.
'Why would he do that', Buffy said more to herself than Spike.
'Pissed him off', Spike muttered.
'What a prix' Buffy cursed.
'I swear when I see him....' Buffy started. Spike smiled.
'Don't bother, I'll sort him out', Spike promised.
'But look at you, you're a wreck', Buffy objected.
'I'll live', Spike replied. Buffy's hold on Spike's hand tightened, he looked at her. Their eyes met, and Spike noticed Buffy had the pleading look in her eyes, the same look that she had when she begged Spike to come out of the hellmouth with her. Spike looked away, closed his eyes and knew no more.
When he opened his eyes again he found he was lying in a bed. His focus was still blurry and he strained his eyes to see where he was. He could hear voices but they sounded so distant. He tired to sit up, but a sharp pain shot across the side of his stomach and he lay back down, groaning in pain.
Just outside Spike's room, Fred and Buffy waited.
'I don't understand why Angel would beat him up that bad, he hadn't done anything to deserve it', Buffy said to Fred. Fred looked just as puzzled as Buffy was.
'Yeah I don't get it either, Angel's normally a reasonable man, I guess he just lost it, I mean he has been going through a lot, there's rumours going around that he's had nervous break downs', Fred replied. Buffy shook her head. Just then they heard the sound of footsteps and looked around to see who it was. It was Angel. Buffy stormed up to him.
'What do you think you were doing', she demanded. Angel looked away, ashamed.
'He annoyed me', Angel said in a small voice. Buffy made a clicking noise with her tongue.
'That's it he annoyed you, Buffy said in disbelief, you beat him into the ground and your reason....oh he annoyed me', Buffy said putting on his voice.
'I'm sorry it was a stupid thing to do', Angel muttered.
'STUPID, YEAH YOUR DAMN RIGHT IT WAS STUPID, SPIKE'S A WRECK', Buffy yelled.
'He beat me into the ground once before too', Angel defended himself. Fred put up her hand to object.
'Actually you both beat each other up, but that was when you were fighting for the cup thingy which turned out to be fake, I'm not saying it was the right thing to do but it was a good reason, loads of people get on my nerves but I put up with it, it's part of the job', Fred said.
'No remember people don't get chances here, they kill someone I kill them, they annoy me, and I'll annoy them, basically what comes around goes around Fred', Angel argued.
'You don't waste your time annoying people', Fred said.
'No but this is different me and Spike kinda have a history of hating each other', Angel said.
'Well you've been getting on alright, well you were until Buffy got here', Fred said.
'We never got on', Angel interrupted.
'Well you weren't being as hateful to each other as you were when Spike first got here', Fred replied. Angel rolled his eyes.
'Look I said I was sorry', Angel cried. Buffy gritted her teeth, grabbed Angel by the collar and shoved him into the wall.
'Sorry isn't good enough', she growled. Angel stared at her, but didn't try to break free.
'Spike didn't do anything to you, there was no reason for you two to fight in the first place, but you beat the crap out of him (Angel suppressed a grin) and I'm warning you, do anything like that again, lay a hand on Spike and you'll end up just like him', Buffy threatened him seriously. Buffy gave him one last warning glare then let go of him and stormed off leaving Angel mouthing like a goldfish. Fred let out a long whistle.
'Boy, you don't wanna mess with her.' Angel didn't say anything, he was pissed off that Buffy was being so protective over Spike, but then again she did love him.
'Mature love', Angel scoffed. Fred frowned at him.
'Don't worry', Angel said quickly.
Shortly after it was just Angel left alone by the window, he peered in watching Spike twist and turn with narrowed eyes. Spike sat up slowly and looked around, he saw Angel standing by the window, arms folded. Spike felt a rush of hatred surging through his veins and he just wished he had the strength to run out there and smash him through that window. Angel held his gaze, then without a word or any expression at all he turned and left.
'He doesn't even care; Spike said to himself, the stupid sod doesn't even care that if I was human I'd be in a freakin' coma right now.'
'I know terrible isn't it', came Lindsay's voice. He had just opened the door on Spike's left.
'What do you want', Spike sighed.
'Nothing just came to visit my favourite vampire with a soul', Lindsay replied. Spike scowled.
'Lucky me', Spike said sarcastically. Lindsay came and sat on the chair next to Spike's bed.
'So how are you feeling?' Lindsay asked.
'I'm feeling great, just great', Spike exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Lindsay smiled slightly.
'That's good to know I mean you must be ok as your sense of humour certainly hasn't gone', Lindsay said.
'So where are all you visitors?' Lindsay continued to pester Spike.
'What do you mean?' Spike asked sharply.
'Oh you know your get well visitors....let's say Buffy for instance (Spike winced and Lindsay smirked)'
'What about her, she's been here', Spike said defensively.
'Oh really Where is she now then?'
'Well I dunno do I', Spike replied getting really pissed off now.
'Hmmm', Lindsay said studying Spike.
Buffy made her way to Giles; she had to talk to someone. Giles looked up and smiled when he saw her.
'Hello Buffy', he greeted her politely. Buffy strained a smile.
'Erm I actually wanted to talk to you about something....' Buffy muttered.
'Yes', Giles urged her on. Buffy opened her mouth but no sound came out.
'Is it about Spike?' Giles asked catching on. Buffy looked up, relieved that he'd started her off so she didn't need to say that bit.
'Yeah it is', Buffy replied. Giles nodded and waited for her to continue.
'Er anyway about Spike....we er, I mean he's been beaten up by Angel as I'm sure you know but I.....I'm kind of confused', Buffy stammered.
'About what?'
'Everything really, I think there's something their not telling me then there's these vampires trying to help out Angel and then he suddenly goes and beats up Spike shortly after and.....', Buffy broke of shrugging, her throat was burning.
'And it's confusing them both being here', Giles finished for her. Slowly Buffy nodded.
'Yeah I mean I'm not saying I still love Angel because I don't....in that way but I care about him, a lot.....or at least I thought I did and I know I love Spike, I told Angel that and he just flipped and I don't even get why he still loves me anyway', Buffy said confused.
'Well we mustn't forget Buffy that he's had quite a miserable life and he's not really allowed a proper relationship because it's dangerous because he could become Angelus again and you were the only person that he ever had a properly serious relationship with and it ended badly, you may be able to let it go but only because you had to, you had a mission, he didn't he was just doing right because he had nothing else to do, he had no life, no where to go, and no one to love, that's why it's harder for him to just let it go', Giles explained to her.
'Just because he can't let go doesn't mean he should hope that I don't either', Buffy sulked.
'You care a lot about Spike don't you', Giles said studying her.
'Yeah I do', Buffy answered.
'I've seen you two together, you'd do anything for each other', Giles added. Buffy nodded.
'Then that's all that matters', Giles said firmly.