If you've been waiting for some more Spuffy, this is the chapter for you.
Hope you enjoy. Don't forget to R&R!
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They continued down the street in silence. Spike thought over the scene in the Magic Box and tried to make sense of it all. There were two questions he couldn't seem to answer. First of all, why had Travers been so insistent that Buffy kill him? As far as he could remember, he'd never even met the bloke until this night. Why then should he care so much about a vampire, a vampire that was helping the slayer no less?
The second question was even more perplexing. Why had Buffy said no? It would have been so easy for her to stake him right then and there but she hadn't. Instead, she'd given up her best, possibly only chance of getting back her powers. Why?
"There's something I don't get slayer," said Spike, nervously running a hand through his hair. "Why didn't you do it?"
Buffy was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear him. "Do what?"
"You know...stake me, get back your powers, live happily ever after? Not that I'm complaining mind you. Turning to dust is not high on my to-do list. It's just...why did you say no?"
Buffy didn't answer right away. The truth was, she didn't know. She could have staked him, easily. Her friends would have been behind her one hundred percent. For some reason though, she couldn't do it. She knew Spike was evil. He was a vampire. She was the slayer. Slayers were supposed to kill vampires. It all seemed simple enough, but with Spike, everything became much more complicated. There was something about him that was different, something that was special.
"Slayer?"
She opened her mouth to reply but felt strangely dizzy. Everything around her went black and she felt herself begin to fall. The next thing she sensed were two strong arms wrapping around her body, catching her before she hit the ground. Though she didn't know what was happening, she felt safe and warm in her rescuer's tight embrace.
Spike gently lowered her to the ground and rested her head in his lap. "Buffy," he called softly. "Buffy, wake up."
"Hmm..." she murmured and slowly opened her eyes. There was Spike gazing down at her, his brows lifted slightly with concern. "What happened?" she whispered.
"You fell luv. Something's wrong with you and don't tell me there isn't because I'm not bloody buying it this time."
Buffy raised herself into a sitting position and took a deep breath. "Ok, so maybe I really am sick. Probably just means I need some rest right? Rest and chicken noodle soup as they say."
"This seems more serious than your everyday cold slayer. Maybe you should see a doctor."
Buffy shook her head. "No. No doctors. I just need to rest and then I'll be ok."
Spike slowly helped her to her feet. Buffy's legs were still somewhat wobbly so she leaned against the vampire for support. He in turn kept a protective arm around her shoulders.
Normally, the thought of being this close to Spike would disturb Buffy, but for some reason, tonight it didn't bother her. She was actually...enjoying his closeness. Maybe it was because she had been through so much that day, and Spike was the only one who seemed to understand. She inhaled his light scent of leather and cigarettes and found it surprisingly comforting.
Spike looked down at her and smiled. "Let's get you home pet."
Buffy wasn't about to argue.
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It was now eleven at night and the Scoobies were still hard at work researching in the magic shop. The four of them were seated at the table, sifting through some watcher journals and various other reference materials.
Xander aimlessly flipped through a book entitled Spells of the Ancients and soon added it to the ever-growing pile of useless information.
"This is pointless," he complained. "We've gone through every single book and still don't know how to help Buffy. What if the spell we're looking for doesn't even exist?"
"It has to exist," replied a bleary-eyed Willow. "If the watcher's council has it, we can find it too."
"There are a few books in the back room we haven't gone through yet," offered Anya. "Giles had them priced too low so I was going to remark them. Perhaps they can help us."
"Good idea Anya," said Willow with a yawn. "I need to get up anyway or else I'm going to fall asleep. Can you show me where they are?"
The two women disappear into the back of the shop, leaving behind a drowsy Giles and a frustrated Xander.
"You know what really bugs me?" began Xander. "Buffy would already be back to her old self if it wasn't for that arrogant, bleach-haired, freak of nature. He had to make Buffy feel guilty about staking him. I'm sure even he knows the world would be a better place if he wasn't in it."
Giles took off his glasses and began rubbing his eyes. "I can't say that I disagree with you Xander. However, it wasn't our choice to make. Buffy feels that she did the right thing."
"Well what if that's not good enough?" Xander replied with growing anger. "What if Buffy's being blinded by that jerk and we're the only ones who can help her?"
"How do you plan on doing that?" asked Giles. He understood the boy's frustration but knew that trying to convince Buffy of her error was hopeless. What could they possibly do?
An idea started forming in Xander's mind. It was risky but it just might work. He looked at Giles and grinned.
"I have a plan but I'll need your help. Travers said that we could help Buffy stake Spike right? Well he never said she had to be there while it was done. What if we did it on our own? That way Buffy won't have any guilt about Spike and she'll get her powers back!"
Giles was silent for a moment as he thought. He had to admit, it wasn't a bad idea. Of course Buffy would be upset when she found out Spike was gone, but her relationship with the vampire had never been healthy anyway. It was only a matter of time before Spike turned against them, Giles was sure of it. This way, Buffy would never have to deal with that betrayal.
"Yes Xander," said the watcher. "Your plan might just work."
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The unlikely couple arrived at the brick-faced dormitory and took the elevator to Buffy's floor. A few people gave them curious looks as they stumbled through the hallway. Buffy was still struggling to walk and Spike had to practically carry her into the tiny dorm room. He placed her on the bed he assumed was hers because of the trunk full of weapons at its base. She looked so pale, too pale.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper before closing her eyes.
Spike stood and watched as she drifted off to sleep. He heard her gentle breathing and the steady beating of her heart. It was hard for him to believe that this was the same girl who averted the apocalypse not once, but three times, the girl who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Right now she looked like an angel, peaceful and beautiful but very weak. Spike knew she was sick and it killed him that there was nothing he could do to help.
'Why should I care whether she lives or dies?' he asked himself. 'Vampires aren't supposed to care about humans.' But he did care. He cared so much it hurt inside.
Deciding it would be best to let her sleep in peace, Spike turned to leave. The door creaked as he turned the handle, and Buffy opened her eyes.
"Spike?"
The vampire turned around and smiled. "I was just leaving luv. You get some sleep now."
"No," she said quickly. "I mean...you don't have to leave...if you don't want to."
Spike was surprised but also happy that she wanted him to stay.
He closed the door and figured that Willow wouldn't mind if he rested on her bed for a bit. After taking off his jacket, he headed over to Red's side of the room.
Buffy's heart started pounding, not because of her sickness, but because of what she was about to ask.
"Hold me Spike?"
Spike was sure he hadn't heard her right. Maybe he had caught what Buffy had and it was making him delusional. Could vampires get sick?
He met her gaze and saw the question echoed fearfully in her eyes. Was she worried he would refuse? The thought didn't even enter his mind.
Without a word, Spike crossed the room and lay down next to the weary slayer. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her lavender hair. The warmth of her skin traveled to the very depth of his being, tempting his lifeless heart to beat again. He listened to the rhythm of her heart and marveled at the rising and falling of her chest. For the first time in over a hundred years, Spike was at peace.
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They continued down the street in silence. Spike thought over the scene in the Magic Box and tried to make sense of it all. There were two questions he couldn't seem to answer. First of all, why had Travers been so insistent that Buffy kill him? As far as he could remember, he'd never even met the bloke until this night. Why then should he care so much about a vampire, a vampire that was helping the slayer no less?
The second question was even more perplexing. Why had Buffy said no? It would have been so easy for her to stake him right then and there but she hadn't. Instead, she'd given up her best, possibly only chance of getting back her powers. Why?
"There's something I don't get slayer," said Spike, nervously running a hand through his hair. "Why didn't you do it?"
Buffy was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear him. "Do what?"
"You know...stake me, get back your powers, live happily ever after? Not that I'm complaining mind you. Turning to dust is not high on my to-do list. It's just...why did you say no?"
Buffy didn't answer right away. The truth was, she didn't know. She could have staked him, easily. Her friends would have been behind her one hundred percent. For some reason though, she couldn't do it. She knew Spike was evil. He was a vampire. She was the slayer. Slayers were supposed to kill vampires. It all seemed simple enough, but with Spike, everything became much more complicated. There was something about him that was different, something that was special.
"Slayer?"
She opened her mouth to reply but felt strangely dizzy. Everything around her went black and she felt herself begin to fall. The next thing she sensed were two strong arms wrapping around her body, catching her before she hit the ground. Though she didn't know what was happening, she felt safe and warm in her rescuer's tight embrace.
Spike gently lowered her to the ground and rested her head in his lap. "Buffy," he called softly. "Buffy, wake up."
"Hmm..." she murmured and slowly opened her eyes. There was Spike gazing down at her, his brows lifted slightly with concern. "What happened?" she whispered.
"You fell luv. Something's wrong with you and don't tell me there isn't because I'm not bloody buying it this time."
Buffy raised herself into a sitting position and took a deep breath. "Ok, so maybe I really am sick. Probably just means I need some rest right? Rest and chicken noodle soup as they say."
"This seems more serious than your everyday cold slayer. Maybe you should see a doctor."
Buffy shook her head. "No. No doctors. I just need to rest and then I'll be ok."
Spike slowly helped her to her feet. Buffy's legs were still somewhat wobbly so she leaned against the vampire for support. He in turn kept a protective arm around her shoulders.
Normally, the thought of being this close to Spike would disturb Buffy, but for some reason, tonight it didn't bother her. She was actually...enjoying his closeness. Maybe it was because she had been through so much that day, and Spike was the only one who seemed to understand. She inhaled his light scent of leather and cigarettes and found it surprisingly comforting.
Spike looked down at her and smiled. "Let's get you home pet."
Buffy wasn't about to argue.
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It was now eleven at night and the Scoobies were still hard at work researching in the magic shop. The four of them were seated at the table, sifting through some watcher journals and various other reference materials.
Xander aimlessly flipped through a book entitled Spells of the Ancients and soon added it to the ever-growing pile of useless information.
"This is pointless," he complained. "We've gone through every single book and still don't know how to help Buffy. What if the spell we're looking for doesn't even exist?"
"It has to exist," replied a bleary-eyed Willow. "If the watcher's council has it, we can find it too."
"There are a few books in the back room we haven't gone through yet," offered Anya. "Giles had them priced too low so I was going to remark them. Perhaps they can help us."
"Good idea Anya," said Willow with a yawn. "I need to get up anyway or else I'm going to fall asleep. Can you show me where they are?"
The two women disappear into the back of the shop, leaving behind a drowsy Giles and a frustrated Xander.
"You know what really bugs me?" began Xander. "Buffy would already be back to her old self if it wasn't for that arrogant, bleach-haired, freak of nature. He had to make Buffy feel guilty about staking him. I'm sure even he knows the world would be a better place if he wasn't in it."
Giles took off his glasses and began rubbing his eyes. "I can't say that I disagree with you Xander. However, it wasn't our choice to make. Buffy feels that she did the right thing."
"Well what if that's not good enough?" Xander replied with growing anger. "What if Buffy's being blinded by that jerk and we're the only ones who can help her?"
"How do you plan on doing that?" asked Giles. He understood the boy's frustration but knew that trying to convince Buffy of her error was hopeless. What could they possibly do?
An idea started forming in Xander's mind. It was risky but it just might work. He looked at Giles and grinned.
"I have a plan but I'll need your help. Travers said that we could help Buffy stake Spike right? Well he never said she had to be there while it was done. What if we did it on our own? That way Buffy won't have any guilt about Spike and she'll get her powers back!"
Giles was silent for a moment as he thought. He had to admit, it wasn't a bad idea. Of course Buffy would be upset when she found out Spike was gone, but her relationship with the vampire had never been healthy anyway. It was only a matter of time before Spike turned against them, Giles was sure of it. This way, Buffy would never have to deal with that betrayal.
"Yes Xander," said the watcher. "Your plan might just work."
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The unlikely couple arrived at the brick-faced dormitory and took the elevator to Buffy's floor. A few people gave them curious looks as they stumbled through the hallway. Buffy was still struggling to walk and Spike had to practically carry her into the tiny dorm room. He placed her on the bed he assumed was hers because of the trunk full of weapons at its base. She looked so pale, too pale.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper before closing her eyes.
Spike stood and watched as she drifted off to sleep. He heard her gentle breathing and the steady beating of her heart. It was hard for him to believe that this was the same girl who averted the apocalypse not once, but three times, the girl who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Right now she looked like an angel, peaceful and beautiful but very weak. Spike knew she was sick and it killed him that there was nothing he could do to help.
'Why should I care whether she lives or dies?' he asked himself. 'Vampires aren't supposed to care about humans.' But he did care. He cared so much it hurt inside.
Deciding it would be best to let her sleep in peace, Spike turned to leave. The door creaked as he turned the handle, and Buffy opened her eyes.
"Spike?"
The vampire turned around and smiled. "I was just leaving luv. You get some sleep now."
"No," she said quickly. "I mean...you don't have to leave...if you don't want to."
Spike was surprised but also happy that she wanted him to stay.
He closed the door and figured that Willow wouldn't mind if he rested on her bed for a bit. After taking off his jacket, he headed over to Red's side of the room.
Buffy's heart started pounding, not because of her sickness, but because of what she was about to ask.
"Hold me Spike?"
Spike was sure he hadn't heard her right. Maybe he had caught what Buffy had and it was making him delusional. Could vampires get sick?
He met her gaze and saw the question echoed fearfully in her eyes. Was she worried he would refuse? The thought didn't even enter his mind.
Without a word, Spike crossed the room and lay down next to the weary slayer. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her lavender hair. The warmth of her skin traveled to the very depth of his being, tempting his lifeless heart to beat again. He listened to the rhythm of her heart and marveled at the rising and falling of her chest. For the first time in over a hundred years, Spike was at peace.