Ch.5
"Really Willow, I just don't see how this is anything other than mere trauma. Buffy was..uh..brought back to a place... a place that must be hell compared to where she was. That alone would be enough send a sane person over the edge." Giles informed the group as he finished cleaning his glasses.
"Yeah Will, I think I'm with Giles on this one. I really don't think some evil thing would be causing Buffy's swimmy head." Xander sat down beside his best friend, placing a comforting touch on her shoulder. He knew how hard this was on her, especially since she had been the principle player behind Buffy's resurrection.
Tara had been upstairs in the loft area and had just begun her descent down the stairs to join the others, when she was suddenly stuck by a thought. Oh god, Dawn. They had forgotten about Dawn. Tara hurried the rest of the way down, and the others looked up at her sudden entrance.
"Dawn. Where's Dawn? Has anyone seen her?" Tara asked frantically. Each one of them looked to the other with questioning eyes, and if wasn't so serious it might almost have been comical.
"Ummm.. she wasn't at the house when I left. I guess she should've been, since school was out by then. Maybe she went with Buffy somewhere." Willow suggested, but knew this was adding up to no good. "I mean I don't think Buffy would....would do anything to Dawn. Would she?"
Anya walked over and slapped Willow on the back of her head. "OWW! What was that for?" Willow asked as she held her injured head.
"To remind you what Buffy is capable of! You seem to keep forgetting. You brought back an altered version of your best friend! This Buffy might still have slumber parties with you. The question is will you wake up from the slumber?"
"An...hun...I'm sure Will remembers all of this. It's just that this is hard for her...for all of us." As Xander finished his explanation Anya just brushed it off. She was so sick and tired of everyone babying Willow. She was capable of real damage, and everyone kept putting blinders on. It was getting to be ridiculous.
Now another Summers' was missing, and all they could argue about was if they should go look for her. Things sure changed. Just months ago they were all risking their lives to save Dawn, and now they were arguing over who was going to go find her.
"I'll go! Since you all have more important things to do. I'll go. Go on making excuses, and analyzing Buffy's current mental health. I for one think you have your priorities screwed! But hey that's what being mortal is all about isn't it?" Anya grabbed her things and left. She needed the air anyway.
The night air was crisp and clean, and she felt better almost immediately. Of course, whether it was the cool night air or being away from the Magic Box that made the difference, Anya was quite sure. She heard Xander's steps as his feet hit the pavement behind her. This whole day had her rethinking their marriage plans. Not that any had really been made except for they were getting married. Ever since Buffy came back that was all anyone ever talked about. It was truly sickening, and she felt as if she was the only one that could see what was really happening. Anya whirled around to face Xander, announcing, "I know what is happening to Buffy, to us all! When a spell like that is cast there are consequences to pay. This is only the beginning. It's not going to get any better."
Xander had been thinking the same thoughts. They had all known going into this that things might not go well, but he was stuck in the middle, as always, a slave to his emotions. He loved Buffy and Willow, they were his best friends. Anya had an unbiased opinion, because frankly she just didn't care. He often wondered if she even cared for him. Xander sighed heavily. Why couldn't things ever be simple? "I know Anya. This is all just really tough right now. I don't know what to do in these situations. I know how to swing at evil creatures when they are coming at me, but I don't know how to save Buffy, or even tell Willow she's getting sucked into her spells. I am man enough to know this isn't going to be an easy fix, but right now we need to find Dawn." It wasn't what Anya really wanted to hear, but she didn't feel like being angry anymore, so she let it slide. For now.
"Spike's crypt! It's closest, and most likely the place Dawn would go if Buffy tried to hurt her." Anya turned in the direction of the graveyard, Xander at her side.
They arrived at the crypt to find signs of a struggle. Blood splatters were present on the floor, and so was Dawn's book bag. But more concerning was the total absence of Spike and Dawn.
"This can't be of the good." Xander said as he pointed out all the blood to Anya. Before last summer, he would have jumped to the conclusion that Spike had done something to Dawn. As much as it pained him to admit it now, he knew that Spike was probably the one protecting the young girl from her sibling, of all things. Still didn't mean he had to like it though. " I guess we should swing Buffy's house first just to make sure she isn't there, before going and telling the guys the news."
Anya just nodded her head in agreement, and reached for his hand. She knew why she loved him, and it wasn't just the sex. He always tried so hard when it came to his family and friends, always trying to do right by them. They walked hand in hand to Revello Dr.
"Spike? Do you think the water still works?" Dawn asked as she stood in front of a mirror she found in the hall. She was still covered in Spike's blood, a thought that appealed to the vampire as he snuck up behind her. He wasn't sure if he was going to make it being cooped up in this house with all of the blood, and Dawn's scent all around him. He snaked his arm around her midsection, and caught her off guard! "Shit, you scared the begeezes out of me! You really do need to start wearing a bell!"
Spike just chuckled, he was feeling better. He still wasn't a hundred percent, more like sixty-five percent, but he loved scaring her. "I don't think I will be acquiring any fuzzy pet jewelry anytime soon, luv. I figure the water still works. Why?"
"What do you mean why? Look at me! EWWWWW! It's even in my hair! I look gross!" Dawn turned back towards the mirror to finish her assessment. Spike reached out and stroked the length of her brunette locks, finding himself completely awed by her beauty.
"I think you look lovely, bit." His voice was raspier than he intended, but he couldn't help it. She would look so gorgeous naked bathed in crimson. Dripping from her in puddles at her feet. He would lick every drop from her body, and then bathe her in it again.
"Spike! Earth to Spike! Did you hear me? I'm going to take a shower." Dawn was still snapping her fingers and waving her hands in his face. When that didn't work, she slugged him in the arm.
"Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?" Spike looked as if he was in shock. Which he was, her strength seemed to be increasing as well. He rubbed his upper arm as he felt Dawn still staring at him. "What?" He asked again.
"I...AM...GOING...TO...TAKE..A...SHOWER! Did you understand that?" Dawn eyed him questioningly.
"Yes, bit I got it. Go on off with you then." He fought back the urge to slap her ass as she walked past. She turned back around to Spike. "I don't even want to know what you were thinking about with that look on you face, and that." She said as she pointed to the very obvious bulge in the front of his pants.
Spike, had completely forgotten about his growing hard on when he was brought out of his daydream. He was slightly shocked by his Nibblet's bluntness. It must have showed on his face because Dawn laughed at his discomfiture and left the room. He was going to have to figure a way out of this soon.
As the water fell upon Dawn's naked body, her mind drifted back on the week's events. She still didn't know where she had found the courage to stand up to her sister. Sure she could battle over clothes or shoes, but to stand up to her about a vampire? Never in her wildest imagination did she ever imagine that. Ok, maybe once or twice, but it was always fictional, and it was borrowed power. Power... that was something she had now. Cool! Dawn thought to herself. She knew she shouldn't count her chickens and all, but it was... cool! Sure I probably just managed to piss Buffy off more, and she will be more inclined to kill me, but still, it was way cool!
"You're right Bit." Spike's voice broke in at the end of her verbal thought. Spike had been listening to Dawn thinking out loud. Dawn peeked her head out from behind the shower curtain eyes widening almost comically when they spotted the blonde vamp setting on the counter. "Spike!" she screeched. "What in the HELL do you think you are doing in here?"
He cocked his scarred eyebrow and surveyed the current situation. Dawn warm and soaking wet behind a thin film of blue plastic. She was emotional and vulnerable; he could smell it above the steamed scent of the oleander shampoo she must've found in there. If he were still the predator he once was, he would pounce on her in a heartbeat, regardless of his slowly healing wounds. Alas he was a different vamp now, and was just...
"OW!"
Hit in the head with a......bar of soap?? " Nibblet? That bloody well hurt! What was that for?"
"It was for your wish for x-ray glasses while I was asking you what you were doing in here while I'm showering! Now what are you doing in here?" Dawn fought the urge to take her hand away from the curtain and place it on her hip.
"Oh, Yeah right. I uh..heard you talking to someone, and I thought I should check it out." It was partly the truth, Spike thought. He hoped it was believable. He looked at Dawn's face, stopping himself before he looked in her eyes. He knew he would lose his concentration completely.
"Thanks Spike. For checking on me. Sorry if I was too hard on you." As she said the word hard her eyes started to subconsciously moved to the zipper on his jeans. She looked away quickly when she noticed that once again Spike was staring at her. Damn! She can't even speak now without the words taking her back to earlier! She had disappeared completely behind the shower curtain once again. She knew she was blushing furiously, and if Spike had noticed he was being kind enough not to call her on it.
Indeed Spike had noticed, he had sensed her embarrassment, and chose to let it slide. He decided instead to go back to the previous conversation about the slayer. "Dawn, you do realize we aren't out of the woods yet. Most likely you just set the Slayer back a step or two, but she will be back. More fierce than before, I'd wager." Spike toyed with the towel Dawn had left out.
"I'm not stupid Spike. I know what I did! I know she will be harder to fight next time..."
Spike jumped in heatedly "There won't be a next time Platelet. Not for you! I'm healing now. Thank you for that, but you will not go up against that bloody Bitch again! Not as long as I bloody unlive! This is my fight! You should never have been involved in this! You just shouldn't have...."
He was pacing again. Dawn could feel it before she heard his footfalls. She peeked her head out once again and looked at her graceful beast. "I shouldn't have loved you?"
Her words were but whispers. Whispers that made his dead heart live. It was such a bittersweet mess he had gotten himself into. She looked so alone, so lost. Like the night he found her at her mothers grave. Or the first nights when he would track her down at Buffy's grave. The words should have shocked him, but he felt her love. Felt how much she loved him every time she looked at him or spoke to him. He was never naive to the fact she was falling in love with him. He knew many times he should have put an end to it, but he was selfish. He knew now she would always love him, just as he knew Buffy never would.
"Yeah, Bit." His features were sullen as he looked from the tile floor back to her. "You shouldn't have." His eyes moved back to the tile floor finding it more interesting this time. "You wouldn't be in this mess. You would be..." He tried to concentrate harder trying to picture where she would be, but he couldn't see her anywhere else but with him.
"I would be where? I'll tell you where I would be. I would be dead! If not physically, then I know I would be emotionally! Spike don't you realize you are what kept me going after Mom died? After Buffy died? There wasn't anyone else that cared. Only you. Of course I love you, and anywhere else I could've been would be hell compared to this." She motioned to the light blue butterfly printed walls that were slightly spattered with blood. "So don't go imagining me at some prom with the perfect date. Or going home to the perfect family. I'm not even human, Spike! My life has never been normal, nor will it ever be! Accept it. I do. And I am not ashamed to love you."
Dawn didn't wait around to see his expression. The words she had just said were starting to sink in. She had just told Spike she loved him. What was she thinking? She had said it with such ease, more ease than the actual feelings were. She knew Spike would never love her like he loved her sister. She never expected him too, and it wasn't a wonderful thought. Oh my God I just told Spike I love him! Oh my God what is wrong with me? So many thoughts were cluttering her mind that she almost missed Spike's next words.
"You're not ashamed to love a soulless creature? You should be." Spike couldn't have imagined all that Dawn had said. Sure he knew she loved him. He just hadn't realized how deep her love went, and the fact that she wasn't ashamed of her love, well, that was all new to him. Buffy had always been ashamed. Buffy never wanted anyone to know she talked to him, let alone slept with him. And now here was her younger sister, deliciously wet and naked behind a shower curtain, glowing with her love for him, like no one else on heart mattered. It was such a foreign concept to him that he couldn't quite wrap his mind around it.
Dawn peaked her head out through a crack once more a tad bit worried about what he was thinking. He was probably thinking how lame she was, and just wanted her to leave him alone. But she sucked all of courage up for what she was going to tell him next, after all she was knee deep in it now, might as well drown. "I don't believe souls are all that they are made out to be. I mean look at you Spike you loved Buffy enough to risk your life to save someone that wasn't even her sister. You stayed by my side until she came back all because you loved her. As much as you would like others to think I know you aren't all bad. Besides I don't even know if I have a soul. I was manufactured for a purpose of evil. How can I have a soul?"
Spike looked at the loving girl in front of him. He hopped down off the counter, and started toward her. Dawn noted his predatorial stance, and wondered what she had said wrong. Spike took another step closer to her. Dawn swallowed hard. She wasn't sure she wanted to be in the room now, and she knew she preferred to be clothed. The look in his eyes made her feel like a vulnerable gazelle that had just been spotted by a ferocious lion ready to pounce. Oh, but did the lion ever look gorgeous. If this was what it was like to stare at death she wanted to do it more often.
Spike noticed Dawn's breathing increase, and her heart beat more rapidly. She looked a bit frantic at first, but the longer they stared at each other the calmer she got. Almost as if she had become entranced by his movements. He closed the distance between the two of them. Reaching out his hand he gently brushed her moist cheek. "No, I didn't do it all for Buffy. I loved you too Bit. Still do. And as sure as I stand here now, a creature as beautiful as you are surely has a soul." His voice was dripping with seduction, and Dawn was hanging on his every word. She couldn't shake the hold he had on her, not that she was sure she wanted to.
Spike leaned forward as Dawn's eyes closed and lips parted. Just as he was about to kiss her Dawn slipped forward cutting her ankle on the old faucet and ripping the shower curtain down. A whirl of wet blue plastic and moist naked flesh fell into Spike's arms as he fell to the ground. "Ow! Shit! That hurt! Are you ok spike?" Dawn asked as her head found it's way out of the mess.
Spike brushed the fabric away from his face and saw Dawn's concerned face above his. "Yes, luv just fine." Of course he wasn't. The spill they took had reinjured a few of his fragile bones, but the position of his naked girl on top of his body was well worth his pain. Just as he was about to lean in for a kiss again his nose caught wind of fresh blood. Dawn's blood. She must've injured herself during the fall. "Nibblet, you're bleeding." Spike set up careful to make sure her naked body was covered with the offending shower curtain, and to avoid any further injury to her.
"I must've cut my leg in the fall. How embarrassing is that? You were about to kiss me, and I crash into you." Dawn held her flushed head in her hands pushing the tears back that wanted to surface. She had her chance to kiss Spike, and she blew it by slipping in the shower. Why did these things always happen to her? "That would never have happened to Buffy," She mumbled to quietly for Spike to hear.
Spike looked at her cut. It wasn't as bad as he had thought. He would patch her up in a bit. First he needed to bring her out of her slump of self-loathing. "I've had girls fall for me before, but never quite like that luv." He stroked her damp hair, and placed a kiss on her temple. A small smile graced her young features. "Come now, Let's get you bandaged up." Spike got to his feet, and lifted her light body up and placed her on the counter he was once setting on. Dawn straightened her blue covering exposing her bloody ankle for Spike.
He viewed the crimson flow down her leg. The whole day had been testing his restraint. He wanted to taste her so much, it shocked how much. He couldn't mask that intense desire, even if he had wanted to, and Dawn knew instantly what was on his mind the second she gazed into his stormy eyes. She nodded giving him permission. "It's ok. You know I trust you." As she spoke those words, she realized just how true they were. She did trust him.
That intense look of desire was replaced with happiness; she never failed to amaze him with her trust. He lightly grasped her delicate foot in his hand as his demon features surfaced. He bent down, and gently ran his tongue up the length of her wound. Her blood made his demon sing like it had never sang before. It was more potent and intoxicating than anything he had ever tasted before. Euphoria was the only thought in his mind.
Dawn could see the pleasure in the glimpses he gave her. She never thought there could be pleasure out of someone licking her ankle, but once again Spike proved her wrong. His tongue felt so tender against her skin. As Spike tentively lapped up the remaining blood from her skin a warm tingle went up her spine. Spike drew back his human features returning as he licked a remaining drop of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Right then. All better pet?" He backed away from her a few steps. She was as beautiful wrapped in that horrid curtain, as she was the night on the tower, and so many nights after.
Dawn was still in a lust-drenched daze as she looked at her protector. "Yes, all better." The two stared into each other's eyes not sure where they should go next. Spike broke the silence first, " You had better get dressed Nibblet, before you catch your death." She nodded and he left the room knowing he was in to deep now. There really was no way for him to get out of this. Not that he wanted too.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short. There was more to it, but I just haven't had time to fiddle with it lately, as you all can tell. Hopefully, this story will be taken off my back burner soon. Thank you to my wonderful beta Stacy! You rock! All that have reviewed thank you, and keep it up. It does help get me in the writing mood. Nicola where ever you are try to reach me again. All I have is your old email. Thank you for your support.
"Really Willow, I just don't see how this is anything other than mere trauma. Buffy was..uh..brought back to a place... a place that must be hell compared to where she was. That alone would be enough send a sane person over the edge." Giles informed the group as he finished cleaning his glasses.
"Yeah Will, I think I'm with Giles on this one. I really don't think some evil thing would be causing Buffy's swimmy head." Xander sat down beside his best friend, placing a comforting touch on her shoulder. He knew how hard this was on her, especially since she had been the principle player behind Buffy's resurrection.
Tara had been upstairs in the loft area and had just begun her descent down the stairs to join the others, when she was suddenly stuck by a thought. Oh god, Dawn. They had forgotten about Dawn. Tara hurried the rest of the way down, and the others looked up at her sudden entrance.
"Dawn. Where's Dawn? Has anyone seen her?" Tara asked frantically. Each one of them looked to the other with questioning eyes, and if wasn't so serious it might almost have been comical.
"Ummm.. she wasn't at the house when I left. I guess she should've been, since school was out by then. Maybe she went with Buffy somewhere." Willow suggested, but knew this was adding up to no good. "I mean I don't think Buffy would....would do anything to Dawn. Would she?"
Anya walked over and slapped Willow on the back of her head. "OWW! What was that for?" Willow asked as she held her injured head.
"To remind you what Buffy is capable of! You seem to keep forgetting. You brought back an altered version of your best friend! This Buffy might still have slumber parties with you. The question is will you wake up from the slumber?"
"An...hun...I'm sure Will remembers all of this. It's just that this is hard for her...for all of us." As Xander finished his explanation Anya just brushed it off. She was so sick and tired of everyone babying Willow. She was capable of real damage, and everyone kept putting blinders on. It was getting to be ridiculous.
Now another Summers' was missing, and all they could argue about was if they should go look for her. Things sure changed. Just months ago they were all risking their lives to save Dawn, and now they were arguing over who was going to go find her.
"I'll go! Since you all have more important things to do. I'll go. Go on making excuses, and analyzing Buffy's current mental health. I for one think you have your priorities screwed! But hey that's what being mortal is all about isn't it?" Anya grabbed her things and left. She needed the air anyway.
The night air was crisp and clean, and she felt better almost immediately. Of course, whether it was the cool night air or being away from the Magic Box that made the difference, Anya was quite sure. She heard Xander's steps as his feet hit the pavement behind her. This whole day had her rethinking their marriage plans. Not that any had really been made except for they were getting married. Ever since Buffy came back that was all anyone ever talked about. It was truly sickening, and she felt as if she was the only one that could see what was really happening. Anya whirled around to face Xander, announcing, "I know what is happening to Buffy, to us all! When a spell like that is cast there are consequences to pay. This is only the beginning. It's not going to get any better."
Xander had been thinking the same thoughts. They had all known going into this that things might not go well, but he was stuck in the middle, as always, a slave to his emotions. He loved Buffy and Willow, they were his best friends. Anya had an unbiased opinion, because frankly she just didn't care. He often wondered if she even cared for him. Xander sighed heavily. Why couldn't things ever be simple? "I know Anya. This is all just really tough right now. I don't know what to do in these situations. I know how to swing at evil creatures when they are coming at me, but I don't know how to save Buffy, or even tell Willow she's getting sucked into her spells. I am man enough to know this isn't going to be an easy fix, but right now we need to find Dawn." It wasn't what Anya really wanted to hear, but she didn't feel like being angry anymore, so she let it slide. For now.
"Spike's crypt! It's closest, and most likely the place Dawn would go if Buffy tried to hurt her." Anya turned in the direction of the graveyard, Xander at her side.
They arrived at the crypt to find signs of a struggle. Blood splatters were present on the floor, and so was Dawn's book bag. But more concerning was the total absence of Spike and Dawn.
"This can't be of the good." Xander said as he pointed out all the blood to Anya. Before last summer, he would have jumped to the conclusion that Spike had done something to Dawn. As much as it pained him to admit it now, he knew that Spike was probably the one protecting the young girl from her sibling, of all things. Still didn't mean he had to like it though. " I guess we should swing Buffy's house first just to make sure she isn't there, before going and telling the guys the news."
Anya just nodded her head in agreement, and reached for his hand. She knew why she loved him, and it wasn't just the sex. He always tried so hard when it came to his family and friends, always trying to do right by them. They walked hand in hand to Revello Dr.
"Spike? Do you think the water still works?" Dawn asked as she stood in front of a mirror she found in the hall. She was still covered in Spike's blood, a thought that appealed to the vampire as he snuck up behind her. He wasn't sure if he was going to make it being cooped up in this house with all of the blood, and Dawn's scent all around him. He snaked his arm around her midsection, and caught her off guard! "Shit, you scared the begeezes out of me! You really do need to start wearing a bell!"
Spike just chuckled, he was feeling better. He still wasn't a hundred percent, more like sixty-five percent, but he loved scaring her. "I don't think I will be acquiring any fuzzy pet jewelry anytime soon, luv. I figure the water still works. Why?"
"What do you mean why? Look at me! EWWWWW! It's even in my hair! I look gross!" Dawn turned back towards the mirror to finish her assessment. Spike reached out and stroked the length of her brunette locks, finding himself completely awed by her beauty.
"I think you look lovely, bit." His voice was raspier than he intended, but he couldn't help it. She would look so gorgeous naked bathed in crimson. Dripping from her in puddles at her feet. He would lick every drop from her body, and then bathe her in it again.
"Spike! Earth to Spike! Did you hear me? I'm going to take a shower." Dawn was still snapping her fingers and waving her hands in his face. When that didn't work, she slugged him in the arm.
"Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?" Spike looked as if he was in shock. Which he was, her strength seemed to be increasing as well. He rubbed his upper arm as he felt Dawn still staring at him. "What?" He asked again.
"I...AM...GOING...TO...TAKE..A...SHOWER! Did you understand that?" Dawn eyed him questioningly.
"Yes, bit I got it. Go on off with you then." He fought back the urge to slap her ass as she walked past. She turned back around to Spike. "I don't even want to know what you were thinking about with that look on you face, and that." She said as she pointed to the very obvious bulge in the front of his pants.
Spike, had completely forgotten about his growing hard on when he was brought out of his daydream. He was slightly shocked by his Nibblet's bluntness. It must have showed on his face because Dawn laughed at his discomfiture and left the room. He was going to have to figure a way out of this soon.
As the water fell upon Dawn's naked body, her mind drifted back on the week's events. She still didn't know where she had found the courage to stand up to her sister. Sure she could battle over clothes or shoes, but to stand up to her about a vampire? Never in her wildest imagination did she ever imagine that. Ok, maybe once or twice, but it was always fictional, and it was borrowed power. Power... that was something she had now. Cool! Dawn thought to herself. She knew she shouldn't count her chickens and all, but it was... cool! Sure I probably just managed to piss Buffy off more, and she will be more inclined to kill me, but still, it was way cool!
"You're right Bit." Spike's voice broke in at the end of her verbal thought. Spike had been listening to Dawn thinking out loud. Dawn peeked her head out from behind the shower curtain eyes widening almost comically when they spotted the blonde vamp setting on the counter. "Spike!" she screeched. "What in the HELL do you think you are doing in here?"
He cocked his scarred eyebrow and surveyed the current situation. Dawn warm and soaking wet behind a thin film of blue plastic. She was emotional and vulnerable; he could smell it above the steamed scent of the oleander shampoo she must've found in there. If he were still the predator he once was, he would pounce on her in a heartbeat, regardless of his slowly healing wounds. Alas he was a different vamp now, and was just...
"OW!"
Hit in the head with a......bar of soap?? " Nibblet? That bloody well hurt! What was that for?"
"It was for your wish for x-ray glasses while I was asking you what you were doing in here while I'm showering! Now what are you doing in here?" Dawn fought the urge to take her hand away from the curtain and place it on her hip.
"Oh, Yeah right. I uh..heard you talking to someone, and I thought I should check it out." It was partly the truth, Spike thought. He hoped it was believable. He looked at Dawn's face, stopping himself before he looked in her eyes. He knew he would lose his concentration completely.
"Thanks Spike. For checking on me. Sorry if I was too hard on you." As she said the word hard her eyes started to subconsciously moved to the zipper on his jeans. She looked away quickly when she noticed that once again Spike was staring at her. Damn! She can't even speak now without the words taking her back to earlier! She had disappeared completely behind the shower curtain once again. She knew she was blushing furiously, and if Spike had noticed he was being kind enough not to call her on it.
Indeed Spike had noticed, he had sensed her embarrassment, and chose to let it slide. He decided instead to go back to the previous conversation about the slayer. "Dawn, you do realize we aren't out of the woods yet. Most likely you just set the Slayer back a step or two, but she will be back. More fierce than before, I'd wager." Spike toyed with the towel Dawn had left out.
"I'm not stupid Spike. I know what I did! I know she will be harder to fight next time..."
Spike jumped in heatedly "There won't be a next time Platelet. Not for you! I'm healing now. Thank you for that, but you will not go up against that bloody Bitch again! Not as long as I bloody unlive! This is my fight! You should never have been involved in this! You just shouldn't have...."
He was pacing again. Dawn could feel it before she heard his footfalls. She peeked her head out once again and looked at her graceful beast. "I shouldn't have loved you?"
Her words were but whispers. Whispers that made his dead heart live. It was such a bittersweet mess he had gotten himself into. She looked so alone, so lost. Like the night he found her at her mothers grave. Or the first nights when he would track her down at Buffy's grave. The words should have shocked him, but he felt her love. Felt how much she loved him every time she looked at him or spoke to him. He was never naive to the fact she was falling in love with him. He knew many times he should have put an end to it, but he was selfish. He knew now she would always love him, just as he knew Buffy never would.
"Yeah, Bit." His features were sullen as he looked from the tile floor back to her. "You shouldn't have." His eyes moved back to the tile floor finding it more interesting this time. "You wouldn't be in this mess. You would be..." He tried to concentrate harder trying to picture where she would be, but he couldn't see her anywhere else but with him.
"I would be where? I'll tell you where I would be. I would be dead! If not physically, then I know I would be emotionally! Spike don't you realize you are what kept me going after Mom died? After Buffy died? There wasn't anyone else that cared. Only you. Of course I love you, and anywhere else I could've been would be hell compared to this." She motioned to the light blue butterfly printed walls that were slightly spattered with blood. "So don't go imagining me at some prom with the perfect date. Or going home to the perfect family. I'm not even human, Spike! My life has never been normal, nor will it ever be! Accept it. I do. And I am not ashamed to love you."
Dawn didn't wait around to see his expression. The words she had just said were starting to sink in. She had just told Spike she loved him. What was she thinking? She had said it with such ease, more ease than the actual feelings were. She knew Spike would never love her like he loved her sister. She never expected him too, and it wasn't a wonderful thought. Oh my God I just told Spike I love him! Oh my God what is wrong with me? So many thoughts were cluttering her mind that she almost missed Spike's next words.
"You're not ashamed to love a soulless creature? You should be." Spike couldn't have imagined all that Dawn had said. Sure he knew she loved him. He just hadn't realized how deep her love went, and the fact that she wasn't ashamed of her love, well, that was all new to him. Buffy had always been ashamed. Buffy never wanted anyone to know she talked to him, let alone slept with him. And now here was her younger sister, deliciously wet and naked behind a shower curtain, glowing with her love for him, like no one else on heart mattered. It was such a foreign concept to him that he couldn't quite wrap his mind around it.
Dawn peaked her head out through a crack once more a tad bit worried about what he was thinking. He was probably thinking how lame she was, and just wanted her to leave him alone. But she sucked all of courage up for what she was going to tell him next, after all she was knee deep in it now, might as well drown. "I don't believe souls are all that they are made out to be. I mean look at you Spike you loved Buffy enough to risk your life to save someone that wasn't even her sister. You stayed by my side until she came back all because you loved her. As much as you would like others to think I know you aren't all bad. Besides I don't even know if I have a soul. I was manufactured for a purpose of evil. How can I have a soul?"
Spike looked at the loving girl in front of him. He hopped down off the counter, and started toward her. Dawn noted his predatorial stance, and wondered what she had said wrong. Spike took another step closer to her. Dawn swallowed hard. She wasn't sure she wanted to be in the room now, and she knew she preferred to be clothed. The look in his eyes made her feel like a vulnerable gazelle that had just been spotted by a ferocious lion ready to pounce. Oh, but did the lion ever look gorgeous. If this was what it was like to stare at death she wanted to do it more often.
Spike noticed Dawn's breathing increase, and her heart beat more rapidly. She looked a bit frantic at first, but the longer they stared at each other the calmer she got. Almost as if she had become entranced by his movements. He closed the distance between the two of them. Reaching out his hand he gently brushed her moist cheek. "No, I didn't do it all for Buffy. I loved you too Bit. Still do. And as sure as I stand here now, a creature as beautiful as you are surely has a soul." His voice was dripping with seduction, and Dawn was hanging on his every word. She couldn't shake the hold he had on her, not that she was sure she wanted to.
Spike leaned forward as Dawn's eyes closed and lips parted. Just as he was about to kiss her Dawn slipped forward cutting her ankle on the old faucet and ripping the shower curtain down. A whirl of wet blue plastic and moist naked flesh fell into Spike's arms as he fell to the ground. "Ow! Shit! That hurt! Are you ok spike?" Dawn asked as her head found it's way out of the mess.
Spike brushed the fabric away from his face and saw Dawn's concerned face above his. "Yes, luv just fine." Of course he wasn't. The spill they took had reinjured a few of his fragile bones, but the position of his naked girl on top of his body was well worth his pain. Just as he was about to lean in for a kiss again his nose caught wind of fresh blood. Dawn's blood. She must've injured herself during the fall. "Nibblet, you're bleeding." Spike set up careful to make sure her naked body was covered with the offending shower curtain, and to avoid any further injury to her.
"I must've cut my leg in the fall. How embarrassing is that? You were about to kiss me, and I crash into you." Dawn held her flushed head in her hands pushing the tears back that wanted to surface. She had her chance to kiss Spike, and she blew it by slipping in the shower. Why did these things always happen to her? "That would never have happened to Buffy," She mumbled to quietly for Spike to hear.
Spike looked at her cut. It wasn't as bad as he had thought. He would patch her up in a bit. First he needed to bring her out of her slump of self-loathing. "I've had girls fall for me before, but never quite like that luv." He stroked her damp hair, and placed a kiss on her temple. A small smile graced her young features. "Come now, Let's get you bandaged up." Spike got to his feet, and lifted her light body up and placed her on the counter he was once setting on. Dawn straightened her blue covering exposing her bloody ankle for Spike.
He viewed the crimson flow down her leg. The whole day had been testing his restraint. He wanted to taste her so much, it shocked how much. He couldn't mask that intense desire, even if he had wanted to, and Dawn knew instantly what was on his mind the second she gazed into his stormy eyes. She nodded giving him permission. "It's ok. You know I trust you." As she spoke those words, she realized just how true they were. She did trust him.
That intense look of desire was replaced with happiness; she never failed to amaze him with her trust. He lightly grasped her delicate foot in his hand as his demon features surfaced. He bent down, and gently ran his tongue up the length of her wound. Her blood made his demon sing like it had never sang before. It was more potent and intoxicating than anything he had ever tasted before. Euphoria was the only thought in his mind.
Dawn could see the pleasure in the glimpses he gave her. She never thought there could be pleasure out of someone licking her ankle, but once again Spike proved her wrong. His tongue felt so tender against her skin. As Spike tentively lapped up the remaining blood from her skin a warm tingle went up her spine. Spike drew back his human features returning as he licked a remaining drop of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Right then. All better pet?" He backed away from her a few steps. She was as beautiful wrapped in that horrid curtain, as she was the night on the tower, and so many nights after.
Dawn was still in a lust-drenched daze as she looked at her protector. "Yes, all better." The two stared into each other's eyes not sure where they should go next. Spike broke the silence first, " You had better get dressed Nibblet, before you catch your death." She nodded and he left the room knowing he was in to deep now. There really was no way for him to get out of this. Not that he wanted too.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short. There was more to it, but I just haven't had time to fiddle with it lately, as you all can tell. Hopefully, this story will be taken off my back burner soon. Thank you to my wonderful beta Stacy! You rock! All that have reviewed thank you, and keep it up. It does help get me in the writing mood. Nicola where ever you are try to reach me again. All I have is your old email. Thank you for your support.