Buffy sighed and walked into the house. She was covered in black goo from head to toe. Spike had been waiting on the couch and sprang to his feet as the door shut behind the slayer.

You alright? Spike asked anxiously.

Buffy stood before him looking rather messed, her clothes soaked in the demon goo. Just peachy, she drawled sarcastically.

Spike took a quick step towards his slayer, Are you hurt? Do you need a doctor? You're bleeding!

Buffy forgot the cut just underneath her eye where one of the demon's tentacles had slashed her. The tentacles were suprisingly sharp and her hands were cut up from her mistake of grabbing the slimy arms in the beginning of the fight. It's a scratch, Spike. I'm fine. Buffy tried not to sound snappy. She understood the way Spike felt when she left to fight some big bad and he had to stay home and curse his new humanity.

Spike ran his hand through his hair and apologized with a look. Just worried about you is all.

Buffy smiled appreciatively. Well a girl could use a back scrubber after a hard day's fight with a fiendish fishy thing, she said in a bubbly voice.

Spike grinned, I suppose a lad could help with that.

Dawn rolled her eyes in disgust as sounds of playful laughter and drones of Oh, Spike made their way into her room. Dawn was lying on her bed writing about the day in her diary.

Dear Diary,

Today was fun. Willow and I spent the whole day together. Well almost all day. First we went out for breakfast and Willow let me order extra whip cream for my pancakes. It was nice just hanging out talking to her. I know she misses Tara and I do too. The three of us always had so much fun together, and Tara always knew fun things to do that Willow and I would never think of. After breakfast we went to the matinee and pigged out on popcorn and candy. At one point Willow threw popcorn at the screen and everyone in the theater nearly tore her head off. It would have been cool if she did a spell and the everyone in the theater turned into frogs or something. After that we decided to go to the mall and that's when we ran into a demon and had to come home to warn Buffy so she could go do her slayer thing.
I really liked hanging out with Willow. For the first time in a long time it feels like I have a big sister again. I miss doing things with Buffy but now she's pretty much tied up with Spike. Literally. The two of them are inseparable since Spike became human. I used to think it would be cool for Spike to turn human and we could do things together during the day like normal people, but now I'm not so sure. I haven't spent anytime with him since Christmas and I miss him. Buffy says Spike will be around forever now, but I'm not so sure. I can't help but feel that he doesn't want to be here. Maybe he feels the same way dad did when he left.

A knock on the door interrupted Dawn's thoughts. Come in. Dawn closed her diary and sat up in time for Willow to pop her head into the room.

Buffy's back and everything's seems to be okay now. Since it's not too late, want to try that trip to the mall again? Something tells me we won't be missed.

Dawn smiled and jumped off her bed. Sounds like fun. Grabbing her sweater off the end of her bed, Dawn followed Willow into the hall and closed the bedroom door leaving her diary alone for now.

For the second time that day, Buffy rubbed her hair dry with a towel. Spike was lying on Buffy's bed, his arms folded behind his head as he watched her. This time he hadn't bothered pulling on a shirt and the softness of the bedspread felt good against his aching ribs.

Are you going on patrol tonight? Spike asked quietly.

Buffy stopped moving the towel across her hair and turned to face him. You know I have to.

Spike sighed and nodded in agreement. He knew but he still wished she'd change her mind. I suppose this bloke's not invited to the fight then.

Buffy frowned sympathetically. You know I want you there with me, Spike, but it's too dangerous for you now. You don't heal like you used to and Giles said you're supposed to be resting. I don't think today helped much. A small mischievous smile lit up Buffy's face.

Spike couldn't help but smile at that. His body was definitely sore, but it was worth every minute of today's activities.

I'll have Xander and Anya with me and who knows, maybe tonight will be slow and I'll get to come home early. I bet I'll be back before you go to bed. Buffy continued drying her hair.

Xander and Anya are human and they get to go, Spike pouted.

Buffy tried not to laugh at her man's disappointment and hung the towel on the door knob before climbing onto the bed to lie against Spike's warm skin. I know it doesn't seem fair, but Xander and Anya have been with the whole slayage thing for a while now and they've learned to adapt. I know you'll adapt, it'll just take some time. I have complete faith in you, Spike.

I can't adapt if I'm sitting at home all the time! Spike snapped and sat up on the edge of the bed with his back to Buffy.

The slayer sighed sadly and got up to get dressed. She never thought things would be so difficult once Spike became human. She had taken it for granted that he would be as strong human as he was vampire and never gave any thought to the danger. She still remembered the first time she had taken him on patrol after Christmas.

Chaos ensued! A vampire held Spike by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Spike's hands desperately tried to pry himself lose but the demon's grip held tight. A few feet away, Buffy kicked a vampire in the chest and whirled around to hit another vampire in the face. She cried as she saw his feet leave the ground and swung around to plant her stake in the heart of yet another vampire.

They were everywhere! There had to be at least a dozen and all of them stronger than usual. Xander and Anya had their hands full with four of the blood suckers and poor Spike was left to deal with three alone. Unfortunately, the ex-vampire no longer had the strength to fight demons and he was caught of guard and quickly overpowered.

Xander finally axed one he had been struggling with and turned to the other just in time to block what would have been a fatal blow to the throat. Anya ducked as one grabbed for her, spinning she hit the other of her opponents with a baseball bat. Neither of them were able to get to Spike and help him.

Buffy finally staked the third of her assailants and ran to help Spike who had begun to turn a purple color. The slayer ran up behind Spike's captor and raised her stake to puncture the vampire's heart but was stopped as another vampire grabbed her arm and hit her in the face. Buffy rebounded with a swift kick to the vampire's face and swung around with her free arm to hit him with an uppercut to the jaw. The vampire let go and Buffy turned as another vampire came at her. Fighting desperately to get to Spike, the slayer threw powerful combinations of punches and kicks in the demons' directions. One vampire hit the ground and Buffy pounced on him with her stake. One of the other vampire's jumped on her back and Buffy used all her might to throw him over her head. He landed in front of her on his back and a quick stab made for more dust. Finally free, Buffy hurried over to the large vampire still holding Spike. Buffy thrust her stake into the demon's back and through his heart. Spike fell to the ground through a cloud of dust.

A scream from Anya brought Buffy's attention to the three vampires still left. One of the vampires had a large forearm around Xander's throat and a second was trying to take the axe Xander held tightly in both hands. Anya kneed a third vampire in the crotch and hit him in the head with the bat as he fell to his knees stunned. In a swift motion Anya produced a stake of her own and ran the vampire through. Before the dust had settled she was already trying to help Xander who had kicked the thief vampire in the gut and jabbed his elbow twice into the ribs of the vampire holding him. The vampire let go and stumbled back. Xander whirled around and swung the axe in a smooth motion beheading the demon. Anya hd hit the other vampire once with the bat but it had hit her in return and she was now trying to find her bat and get to her feet. Buffy came to the rescue with a roundhouse kick to the vampire's face knocking him backwards. Anya found the bat and stood up just Xander came up behind the last vampire a performed another perfect beheading.

Buffy helped Anya up as Xander hurried over to make sure she was okay. The three friends gasped for air as the last of the dust settled at their feet. Instinctively Buffy ran over to where Spike was lying on the ground. His face was pale and his lips had turned a light blue. He wasn't breathing.

Buffy cried as she fell to her knees beside him and slapped his cheeks with her hands. Spike wake up! There was no response.

Xander and Anya rushed to the scene and Xander threw down his axe. Give him CPR, he said in a firm tone as he knelt opposite of the slayer.

Buffy quickly drew her fingers down Spike's chest landmarking for chest compressions. Folding her hands together she pumped three times before holding Spike's head as she had been taught, plugging his nose, and blowing a long deep breath into him. His chest rose as she exhaled and fell as she pulled away to give him five more chest compressions which was followed by two more long breaths.
Xander held Spike's wrist with two fingers feeling for a pulse. After a few minutes he could feel a faint beating beneath his fingertips. He has a pulse!

Buffy sat up and Spike suddenly began to cough violently and try to sit up. Unable to stay up, he fell to the ground in a daze.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the slayer carefully helped the man up. Spike's legs gave way underneath him and Buffy held him up. Another crisis averted, Xander slowly bent over to pick up his axe before aiming a small smile at Anya who looked confused. Xander gently grabbed her by the arm and lovingly pulled her toward the cemetery exit, a Spike laden Buffy close behind.

Buffy snapped back to the present. That night would haunt her for the rest of her life and she wouldn't let it ever happen again. Spike was human now and her responsibility. She remembered what it felt like lying his limp, broken body onto the bed in his crypt a few months ago. Her heart had felt as if it were being shredded inside her and pain of losing him was the greatest she had ever known. The slayer would not take that risk of losing him again and she would die trying to keep him safe.

Spike asked in a confused voice. Is everything alright?

Buffy turned to look her precious love in the face and smiled. Yeah everything's fine. I just zoned out for a minute. Buffy picked up her brush from the top of her dresser and began to run it through her hair.

You know it doesn't get dark for another hour, pet, Spike glanced at the bed. What do you say we have another go before you get your nasty on with the big bads?

Buffy threw her brush back onto the dresser and jumped onto the bed. Spike pounced on her with a deep throated growl and began to ravage her with kisses. Buffy giggled as Spike burrowed his head in her half open shirt and nipped at her breast.

Spike engulfed himself in pleasure and knocked all other thoughts away. For now he would forget about his raging humanity and enjoy himself. As soon as the slayer was called to her nightly duties, the ex-vampire had a plan!