Shock and Awe, my friends!
I managed to get two chapters in a row of the same story out in consecutive weeks. My Muse deserves a cookie. Or an hour with the Spike!Bot. Or something.
Anyway, let the games begin. Not angsty yet, but definitely not of the happy. The next couple of chapters are killers, so enjoy the action while you can. And REMEMBER, always a happy ending.
Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
In Kindness, Nimue "Though beauty is rare enough
Still we trust
Somehow we'll find it there
With no guarantee
It seems to me
At least it should be fair" - Allison Krauss - That Kind of Love
www.livejournal (dot) com/users/nimuetucker/
Title: New Kid in Town (Chapter Twenty-six - Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Spike/Buffy (Most major characters included)
Feedback: Yes, please
Summary: The meeting of the most powerful forces of good and evil has concluded in the Windsor living room, but the problem still exists. Empty promises made and sure to be broken, and the crew have to find another way. Plan B goes into action. But will the product be worth the cost to them all?
New Kid in Town
It had been three days since the meeting had come unhinged by the cross of demonic fingers. They hadn't done much at all other than meet and plan and sleep and patrol. Lots of patrol, Spike thought as he walked next to Buffy through their fourth cemetery of the night.
Four cemeteries. Lots of dead in Sunnydale.
Lot less now than there were before the little blonde thing stalking in front of him. He smiled at that. Really, he was turning into such a sap.
Who was he kidding? He was always a sap.
A rustle of leaves and Buffy pounced; finding a small group of younger Vampires huddled around a trash can fire in the west corner, hidden only by ill tended shrubbery. Spike hung back for a moment as she launched off the stone wall behind the hedge, flipping flawlessly into the middle of the group and smiling triumphantly as little, newly dead minds figured out who she was.
A flick of the wrist and one of five was dust before the rest had even processed the information.
The dance began anew. Roundhouse kick. Parry. Duck. Left hook. What seemed so predictable to Spike was a complete shock to them as they hopelessly fought the lioness of all Slayers. The Queen. His Queen.
But she didn't see what he could feel coming, with the power and might of the ages.
As Buffy fought, a presence came from behind the shrubs, pausing for only a moment to watch Buffy massacre what Spike guesed was this one's newest recruits. A master vampire. Old. Powerful.
And in Spike's town.
He was the only Master here, even if his family wasn't of the Vampire variety anymore.
With a flourish, Spike turned from Buffy, his back to her, calling a warning over his shoulder as he began to stalk forward toward the shadowed figure. Buffy paused long enough to get caught by a mean, yet harmless right cross to the chin, hollered her acknowledgement and went back to the remaining fledglings.
The figure came forward, robed and hooded, face obscured by the darkness. It stopped short of the blond Vampire and took a deep, unneeded breath.
"Got the wrong town," Spike hissed, his legs spread and anchored, his body tensed to pounce. "No Master's welcome here. Should know that."
The figure scoffed. "This is the Hellmouth. There should be a Master in residence, since the last one went soft."
A bristle of electricity crept up Spike's spine. "Have to ask the Slayer' bout that."
"Formidable, I've been told," the Vampire said coolly. "And stronger for your mating. But I've not come here to mate."
That did it. Even the *thought* of another Vampire mentioning Buffy in that manner was intolerable. It was time to prove that he wasn't the oldest surviving Vampire in Sunnydale, albeit with... modifications... for nothing.
Spike sprang forward, fist raised and arcing towards the head of the creature. He had no weapons other than a stake, as the town had been quiet for months now. They were really just patrolling to keep the fledgling population down and give them something to do to take out their frustrations.
As the hooded figure slid gracefully out of the way, Spike thought that complacency might *not* have been the best of all ideas.
He landed on the ground with a thud, somersaulting to his feet and lunging at the figure. This time, it took the bait and swung at Spike, starting a dance step he hadn't performed in years.
The two Masters tangled together, fists flying, claws and fangs bared as they fought. Spike could hear Buffy in the background, polishing off what seemed to be a continuous supply of fledgling minions. A trap. Occupy the Slayer with a horde of baby Vamps, then take out her mate, the competing Master, in a proper match. One on one.
Can't have that, can we? Spike thought.
His hand caught the back of the other creature's hood and ripped it down, exposing a young looking man with longer, dark, hair. Power crackled around him and as he swung, catching Spike in the side of his head and knocking him clear, the blond judged that this one was old. Older than him and probably than Angelus.
And he was strong.
How the *hell* had they missed this?
Spike shook his head to clear it, pulling the stake out from inside of his duster, and ran at the dark haired Vampire full tilt. The other master braced himself, pushing Spike back, but missing the right hand the blond swung from an awkward angle, smashing into the darker master's face. Stunned for a moment, both by the shock and the weight of the blow, Spike took his chances and brought his left hand in for the kill.
The cloaked figure caught the hand and began to fight anew, twisting Spike's arm behind him and spinning him into a chokehold. Spike kicked back with a satisfying crack of the other Vampire's knee and spun back to face him, setting loose a flurry of jabs that knocked the older Vampire back.
A scream from his lover took Spike's attention as he jumped back, spinning towards Buffy. She was doubled over, down on her knees, blood running from the corner of her mouth.
"Buffy!" Spike screamed as his feet moved at a frenzied pace toward her. Before he could reach her, the dark master grabbed the collar of his duster and yanked him back. Buffy's eyes met Spike and he saw her nod quickly, a signal that he knew meant she was okay... or at least okay enough... before he was hauled back into battle with the older creature.
A moment or two later, a howl of victory came from behind Spike and he could feel Buffy's adrenaline course through his system. A new surge of energy propelled him, game face on, at the older Master. As Spike attacked, the dark hair stranger's eyes grew wide and he dodged out of the way of Spike's raised stake, taking off into the bushes.
Spike fell forward on his own momentum, landing on his knees where the dark master had been standing. A moment of confusion at his enemy's hasty departure clouded Spike's mind until he felt her drop down beside him, bloodied and bruised and panting, but seemingly all right.
"Guess he was too chicken to try against us both," Buffy panted, a smirk on her face.
Spike chuckled, tumbling back onto his backside in the grass. "No one's that stupid, Pet." He paused, catching his own breath, and looked at her. "You all right?"
She nodded, but he saw pain in her eyes and she was guarding her arm against her belly. He tensed, fearing the worst.
For a moment, he'd forgotten that she was carrying their child.
"Buffy?" Spike asked, hopping back up to his knees in front of her. "What aren't you telling me?"
She sighed, wincing. "There were a lot of them, Spike. And... they kept coming. I need to train more... and..."
"Love?" Spike almost growled. "You killed the lot of them. Not doubting your strength. But there are more important things to think of... what.is.wrong?"
She clutched her arm against her belly tighter and closed her eyes, grimacing. Spike could smell the pain flowing off of her in waves and his heart began thudding wildly in his chest. "Buffy, please..."
Her eyes slid open and she nodded down at her midsection. That arm clutched over the barely swollen belly. "Think I'm hurt."
Spike's heart began breaking before her words even came out of his mouth. He moved towards her on his knees, visually surveying her every inch and coming back again and again to that arm clutched tight over their child.
Buffy saw it in his eyes – the terror that comes from losing it all, not the frustration of letting someone you love suffer a physical injury. Oh God.
"Spike?" She whispered, raising her right hand up to cup his cheek. "I'm okay. Really. I think I broke my arm."
His gaze shot up to meet hers and she could feel the relief slip from him in a deep sigh. "Your arm?"
She nodded, dropping her good hand to the sleeve of the one held against her torso, and pulled it back, exposing a nasty gash and a flash of bone about half way up her forearm.
"Hell, love. S'bad. Need to get you to the hospital. Want you checked out."
"Just a break, Spike."
"Not just a break," he grunted, standing and leaning down to pick her up carefully. "Cell phone's in my pocket. Call Takina and tell her to meet us there."
"Spike. Slayer. I heal," Buffy whined as he loosed his grip long enough to let her worm her good hand into the pocket of his duster and pull out the cell phone as he picked up a fast walk in the direction of the hospital.
"Damn trap, that was," Spike grunted. "Divide and conquer. Getting soft, I am. Let my guard down. Could have hurt you. Could have hurt the baby. Could have..."
Buffy leaned up, kissing his chin. "Broke my arm," she whispered quietly. "Ouchy, but not life threatening. Baby is *fine*. But you'd know that if you stopped long enough to..."
"Doesn't change that the tot has enough against her without me letting his mum get pummeled by a horde of Vampires," Spike growled, annoyed.
Buffy sighed, flipping open the phone and wincing. "I'm the Slayer, Spike. My *job* to pummel and be pummeled."
"Just call her, all right? Let me brood," Spike snapped, breaking into a jog.
Buffy chuckled, wincing as her arm was jarred by the giggle. "Don't tell me you're turning into your grandpa."
Spike growled and jogged on.
~~~@~~~@~~~@~~
"She's fine," Takina said, coming out of the examining room in the ER with a slight smile on her face. Spike was pacing back and forth and Xander was looking nervous, River squirming in his arms.
Spike stopped and looked at her. "Little one?"
"Fine," Takina answered, moving to take River into her arms. "Nasty break, but judging from how the two of you heal, especially since the joining, I didn't even cast it. Just put a splint on it, cleaned and stitched the wound, and told her to keep the sling on. She can't be picking anything heavy up or moving it much for a couple of weeks after the wound heals..."
"Won't have to. She's not moving from the bed. Or the couch. Or wherever. Sod it, not letting her out of my sight again," Spike grumbled, still internally beating himself over the head for her injury.
"Not thinking that's gonna happen," Xander muttered, under his breath.
Spike turned, snarling, when the door to the waiting room swung open and Giles bustled in. "How is she?"
"Other than a nasty broken arm, she's fine," Takina answered for the umpteenth time. "The nurse is just getting her a new shirt since hers is a little worse for wear, and then she can go."
"The baby?" Giles asked, tensing once again.
"Fine," Takina reassured, switching her own from one hip to the other. "Coming along nicely from the looks of the ultrasound."
Spike and Giles both looked at her like dopey expecting fathers. "You saw her?" Spike asked.
Takina nodded. "Yep. Starting to look more baby-like now. "
"And you're sure..." Giles began.
"Fine," Takina sighed.
Giles nodded and looked at Spike. "Well, I would love to say that I came here just to check on her, but I'm afraid that there's more to it."
Spike turned his attention to the Watcher, a growl beginning in the back of his throat. "Not a good time, Rupert."
Giles sighed, taking off his glasses and swiping them aimlessly. "I know, Spike. But I'm afraid we don't have much... time, that is. Angel called."
The growl grew to full-fledged and Spike's eyes lit with fury. "Don't care much about what Peaches has to say at this instant."
"Right. Well, then I guess you don't think that a chance of saving your child is particularly important then," Giles snapped, uncharacteristically.
Takina excused herself back to the examining room, tugging a slack-jawed Xander along behind.
Spike bristled, moving to within centimeters of the taller man. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."
"I'm afraid that's how you're acting," the Watcher answered, standing his ground. Looking at Spike's frightened eyes, he softened. "Look, I know what it's like to have a close call with that particular Slayer, but we all know by now that she's fallible. That she gets hurt and she gets bloodied and all we can do is watch and try to help. I trust Takina to be telling us the truth that she is fine. And she and I will talk about what happened and why, so that it doesn't happen again. But, in the meantime, we are running very short on time in regard to our plan."
Spike clenched his jaw and relaxed it, relieving some of the tension. He hated when the Watcher was rational about Buffy, even though he knew that Giles was probably almost as upset as he was under the surface. "Can't leave now, Mate. She's hurt and there's another master in Sunnydale."
The Watcher's eyes opened wide and he took a step back. "What?"
"'S how she got hurt," Spike continued, his shoulders slumping. "We stumbled 'cross this group of fledglings in the cemetery and she plowed in. 'Cept it was a trap. More of them were waiting in the wings."
"And a master was waiting for you," Giles surmised.
Spike nodded his agreement. "An old one, Watcher. Older than me. Maybe even Angelus. Powerful. And he's right under our sodding noses. Can't leave Buffy to..."
"Go and find out information that might help our baby?" Buffy asked, pushing through the doors into the waiting room. "Uh... let me think... yes. Yes you can."
"Buffy, Spike tells me that there's another master Vampire in Sunnydale?" Giles asked, still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. He turned back to Spike. "I was under the impression that once one Master had taken residence that..."
Spike's eyes dropped. "Forfeited my status, least as far as the Vampire community is concerned, when I took a human as my mate. Oh, and the bit with the beating heart and soul built for two didn't help my case much..."
"Then why wouldn't another master have made a move before now?" Buffy asked, her arm in a sling hanging down against a pale pink hospital scrub shirt.
Spike shot her a look. "Would you want to be the first to go against us, Pet?"
"Oh," Buffy whispered, her head still muddied by the throbbing pain in her arm. They couldn't give her much pain relief because of the baby. "Guess not."
"Right," Giles said quietly. "Well, this does change things."
"How?" Buffy asked. "You're the one who said that Drusilla was the one that may know the most about Gwydion and what he'd be planning..."
"Can't leave you alone and unprotected with a broken wing and a master Vampire in town, Pet," Spike snapped back. "Not going to."
"Yes you will," Buffy responded, pulling him to face her. "This moron is going to plot and scheme and take his time thinking up a way to get to us. That gives you time, and we need this information. All of us. Besides, I've got the rest of the crew here to keep an eye on me."
Giles nodded. "That much is true, Spike. We'll all be here, save for Anya, who's with Willow and Dawn as we speak, preparing to go back to..."
A bolt of guilt shot through Spike. He'd just torn the Watcher apart in his hurt and anger over Buffy's injury, but he failed to remember if he was about to embark on the second part of the plan, so was Giles' beloved. "She all right then, Rupert?"
Giles chuckled. "I wouldn't want to be on her bad side," he answered softly. "I trust her judgment and if this is what she wants to do, then I'll do what I can to help her do it safely."
"You'd better get to her, Giles. See her off," Buffy said quietly.
Her Watcher nodded. "Spike, when I spoke with Angel, he told me that there isn't much time. He wouldn't- or couldn't- explain further, but I suppose that Drusilla is about to move again. It may not be so easy to find her a second time..."
Spike nodded. "I'll stay with Buffy until you and the Witch come back, all right?"
Giles nodded his consent. "We won't leave her until you've returned. And she won't leave the house. She's safe there with the wards around the property."
Buffy shot a cold look at the Watcher. "But there's another master that needs to be..."
"Dealt with when Spike comes back and you're healed. Right now, you need to worry more about you and your child," Giles interrupted. "And I will make sure of it, Spike."
Spike nodded, looking forlorn, but accepting the situation. "Go see your bird off," he said softly. "And tell her thanks from us."
Giles nodded. "Do you have a way home?"
"Xander and Takina can take us," Buffy answered nodding.
The Watcher turned to Spike. "Be safe. We'll take care of her." With that, he turned and quietly left the room.
~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~
He had tucked them all into bed. Will first, as he'd awoken when they'd come home. Then Emma, who was frightened over her mother's injury, but exhausted from all that was going on. He kissed them both and settled them in before heading back to his and Buffy's bedroom to wait.
She was lying on top of the covers in flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top he'd helped her into when they first got home. She looked so small and so young, all freshly scrubbed and overwhelmed by an enormous splint and equally ungainly sling.
Spike leaned down and kissed the healing wound on her arm. "Sorry I didn't get to you in time, Love," he whispered for the fiftieth time that night.
Buffy bopped him playfully on the back of the head. "Would you stop? Hazard of slaying. Besides, you were getting your ass kicked too at the time."
"Was not," Spike grumbled defensively.
She chuckled, pushing herself up on the pillows. "Okay then. You were being unsuccessful at kicking someone else's ass?"
"Not bloody likely," he groused. "Just moved so fast. Haven't fought like that in..."
"We should train more," Buffy said quietly as Spike laid his head just below her wounded arm so that his ear was pressed to her abdomen.
He nodded, his hair tickling her through the cotton of the tank top. "True. Thought that three times a week was enough,' specially now...."
"But now," she continued softly, "is when I need to be able to protect myself, and the rest of us, most."
Spike nodded, suddenly hearing something and freezing.
"What is it?" Buffy asked, her body tensing. That other Vampire couldn't get into the house, could he?
Before she could launch herself into full throttle panic, Spike put his hand on her good arm and began to tap out a quick, staccato beat against her skin. Buffy smiled, letting her eyes slide closed and feeling his cheek against her belly, his fingers tapping out the rhythm of their baby's heart.
""S gonna be all right, Pet," Spike whispered, turning his head up so his gaze met hers. "Promise you, I'll protect us."
"*We'll* protect each other," Buffy corrected, letting her hand slide through his silky hair.
"That we will," Spike confirmed.
The door downstairs creaked open and they could hear Willow's voice call up the stairs. "You decent?"
"Not likely," Spike called back, getting a smack from Buffy.
"Be down in a second, Will," Buffy called back. "Guess this is it," she whispered so that only Spike could hear her again.
Spike pushed himself up on his elbows, studying her face. "Guess so, Pet. If you tell me to stay..."
She shook her head slowly. "As much as I don't want you near her, I know... well, if it will help..."
He leaned down and pressed his lips softly to hers. "Buffy, I will *never* love anyone again but you. Not the same. You're my world."
Buffy smiled sadly and leaned forward to kiss him once again. "I love you, Spike."
"I love you too, baby."
"Be careful and come back to me, okay?" The tears were welling up in her eyes as she said it. She knew, rationally, he'd never leave her side if given that luxury. But her heart was nowhere near as secure.
"I'll always come home," Spike whispered, kissing her once again. "Now be a good duck and mind your daddy."
Buffy nodded, tears slipping down her face. "Don't mind your mom."
Spike chuckled. "Deal."
He stood, kissing her once again, and then leaned down to pick up a light duffle bag. "Promise me you won't move against the bloody master without me?"
Buffy's turn to giggle. "Promise. And don't kill Angel while you're down there."
"No promises," Spike joked, kissing her cheek. "Better go, love." Against his will, he began to back towards the bedroom door. "I love you always, Pet."
"I love you everyday, Spike."
He smiled softly, and then turned to leave.
To be continued.
I managed to get two chapters in a row of the same story out in consecutive weeks. My Muse deserves a cookie. Or an hour with the Spike!Bot. Or something.
Anyway, let the games begin. Not angsty yet, but definitely not of the happy. The next couple of chapters are killers, so enjoy the action while you can. And REMEMBER, always a happy ending.
Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
In Kindness, Nimue "Though beauty is rare enough
Still we trust
Somehow we'll find it there
With no guarantee
It seems to me
At least it should be fair" - Allison Krauss - That Kind of Love
www.livejournal (dot) com/users/nimuetucker/
Title: New Kid in Town (Chapter Twenty-six - Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Spike/Buffy (Most major characters included)
Feedback: Yes, please
Summary: The meeting of the most powerful forces of good and evil has concluded in the Windsor living room, but the problem still exists. Empty promises made and sure to be broken, and the crew have to find another way. Plan B goes into action. But will the product be worth the cost to them all?
New Kid in Town
It had been three days since the meeting had come unhinged by the cross of demonic fingers. They hadn't done much at all other than meet and plan and sleep and patrol. Lots of patrol, Spike thought as he walked next to Buffy through their fourth cemetery of the night.
Four cemeteries. Lots of dead in Sunnydale.
Lot less now than there were before the little blonde thing stalking in front of him. He smiled at that. Really, he was turning into such a sap.
Who was he kidding? He was always a sap.
A rustle of leaves and Buffy pounced; finding a small group of younger Vampires huddled around a trash can fire in the west corner, hidden only by ill tended shrubbery. Spike hung back for a moment as she launched off the stone wall behind the hedge, flipping flawlessly into the middle of the group and smiling triumphantly as little, newly dead minds figured out who she was.
A flick of the wrist and one of five was dust before the rest had even processed the information.
The dance began anew. Roundhouse kick. Parry. Duck. Left hook. What seemed so predictable to Spike was a complete shock to them as they hopelessly fought the lioness of all Slayers. The Queen. His Queen.
But she didn't see what he could feel coming, with the power and might of the ages.
As Buffy fought, a presence came from behind the shrubs, pausing for only a moment to watch Buffy massacre what Spike guesed was this one's newest recruits. A master vampire. Old. Powerful.
And in Spike's town.
He was the only Master here, even if his family wasn't of the Vampire variety anymore.
With a flourish, Spike turned from Buffy, his back to her, calling a warning over his shoulder as he began to stalk forward toward the shadowed figure. Buffy paused long enough to get caught by a mean, yet harmless right cross to the chin, hollered her acknowledgement and went back to the remaining fledglings.
The figure came forward, robed and hooded, face obscured by the darkness. It stopped short of the blond Vampire and took a deep, unneeded breath.
"Got the wrong town," Spike hissed, his legs spread and anchored, his body tensed to pounce. "No Master's welcome here. Should know that."
The figure scoffed. "This is the Hellmouth. There should be a Master in residence, since the last one went soft."
A bristle of electricity crept up Spike's spine. "Have to ask the Slayer' bout that."
"Formidable, I've been told," the Vampire said coolly. "And stronger for your mating. But I've not come here to mate."
That did it. Even the *thought* of another Vampire mentioning Buffy in that manner was intolerable. It was time to prove that he wasn't the oldest surviving Vampire in Sunnydale, albeit with... modifications... for nothing.
Spike sprang forward, fist raised and arcing towards the head of the creature. He had no weapons other than a stake, as the town had been quiet for months now. They were really just patrolling to keep the fledgling population down and give them something to do to take out their frustrations.
As the hooded figure slid gracefully out of the way, Spike thought that complacency might *not* have been the best of all ideas.
He landed on the ground with a thud, somersaulting to his feet and lunging at the figure. This time, it took the bait and swung at Spike, starting a dance step he hadn't performed in years.
The two Masters tangled together, fists flying, claws and fangs bared as they fought. Spike could hear Buffy in the background, polishing off what seemed to be a continuous supply of fledgling minions. A trap. Occupy the Slayer with a horde of baby Vamps, then take out her mate, the competing Master, in a proper match. One on one.
Can't have that, can we? Spike thought.
His hand caught the back of the other creature's hood and ripped it down, exposing a young looking man with longer, dark, hair. Power crackled around him and as he swung, catching Spike in the side of his head and knocking him clear, the blond judged that this one was old. Older than him and probably than Angelus.
And he was strong.
How the *hell* had they missed this?
Spike shook his head to clear it, pulling the stake out from inside of his duster, and ran at the dark haired Vampire full tilt. The other master braced himself, pushing Spike back, but missing the right hand the blond swung from an awkward angle, smashing into the darker master's face. Stunned for a moment, both by the shock and the weight of the blow, Spike took his chances and brought his left hand in for the kill.
The cloaked figure caught the hand and began to fight anew, twisting Spike's arm behind him and spinning him into a chokehold. Spike kicked back with a satisfying crack of the other Vampire's knee and spun back to face him, setting loose a flurry of jabs that knocked the older Vampire back.
A scream from his lover took Spike's attention as he jumped back, spinning towards Buffy. She was doubled over, down on her knees, blood running from the corner of her mouth.
"Buffy!" Spike screamed as his feet moved at a frenzied pace toward her. Before he could reach her, the dark master grabbed the collar of his duster and yanked him back. Buffy's eyes met Spike and he saw her nod quickly, a signal that he knew meant she was okay... or at least okay enough... before he was hauled back into battle with the older creature.
A moment or two later, a howl of victory came from behind Spike and he could feel Buffy's adrenaline course through his system. A new surge of energy propelled him, game face on, at the older Master. As Spike attacked, the dark hair stranger's eyes grew wide and he dodged out of the way of Spike's raised stake, taking off into the bushes.
Spike fell forward on his own momentum, landing on his knees where the dark master had been standing. A moment of confusion at his enemy's hasty departure clouded Spike's mind until he felt her drop down beside him, bloodied and bruised and panting, but seemingly all right.
"Guess he was too chicken to try against us both," Buffy panted, a smirk on her face.
Spike chuckled, tumbling back onto his backside in the grass. "No one's that stupid, Pet." He paused, catching his own breath, and looked at her. "You all right?"
She nodded, but he saw pain in her eyes and she was guarding her arm against her belly. He tensed, fearing the worst.
For a moment, he'd forgotten that she was carrying their child.
"Buffy?" Spike asked, hopping back up to his knees in front of her. "What aren't you telling me?"
She sighed, wincing. "There were a lot of them, Spike. And... they kept coming. I need to train more... and..."
"Love?" Spike almost growled. "You killed the lot of them. Not doubting your strength. But there are more important things to think of... what.is.wrong?"
She clutched her arm against her belly tighter and closed her eyes, grimacing. Spike could smell the pain flowing off of her in waves and his heart began thudding wildly in his chest. "Buffy, please..."
Her eyes slid open and she nodded down at her midsection. That arm clutched over the barely swollen belly. "Think I'm hurt."
Spike's heart began breaking before her words even came out of his mouth. He moved towards her on his knees, visually surveying her every inch and coming back again and again to that arm clutched tight over their child.
Buffy saw it in his eyes – the terror that comes from losing it all, not the frustration of letting someone you love suffer a physical injury. Oh God.
"Spike?" She whispered, raising her right hand up to cup his cheek. "I'm okay. Really. I think I broke my arm."
His gaze shot up to meet hers and she could feel the relief slip from him in a deep sigh. "Your arm?"
She nodded, dropping her good hand to the sleeve of the one held against her torso, and pulled it back, exposing a nasty gash and a flash of bone about half way up her forearm.
"Hell, love. S'bad. Need to get you to the hospital. Want you checked out."
"Just a break, Spike."
"Not just a break," he grunted, standing and leaning down to pick her up carefully. "Cell phone's in my pocket. Call Takina and tell her to meet us there."
"Spike. Slayer. I heal," Buffy whined as he loosed his grip long enough to let her worm her good hand into the pocket of his duster and pull out the cell phone as he picked up a fast walk in the direction of the hospital.
"Damn trap, that was," Spike grunted. "Divide and conquer. Getting soft, I am. Let my guard down. Could have hurt you. Could have hurt the baby. Could have..."
Buffy leaned up, kissing his chin. "Broke my arm," she whispered quietly. "Ouchy, but not life threatening. Baby is *fine*. But you'd know that if you stopped long enough to..."
"Doesn't change that the tot has enough against her without me letting his mum get pummeled by a horde of Vampires," Spike growled, annoyed.
Buffy sighed, flipping open the phone and wincing. "I'm the Slayer, Spike. My *job* to pummel and be pummeled."
"Just call her, all right? Let me brood," Spike snapped, breaking into a jog.
Buffy chuckled, wincing as her arm was jarred by the giggle. "Don't tell me you're turning into your grandpa."
Spike growled and jogged on.
~~~@~~~@~~~@~~
"She's fine," Takina said, coming out of the examining room in the ER with a slight smile on her face. Spike was pacing back and forth and Xander was looking nervous, River squirming in his arms.
Spike stopped and looked at her. "Little one?"
"Fine," Takina answered, moving to take River into her arms. "Nasty break, but judging from how the two of you heal, especially since the joining, I didn't even cast it. Just put a splint on it, cleaned and stitched the wound, and told her to keep the sling on. She can't be picking anything heavy up or moving it much for a couple of weeks after the wound heals..."
"Won't have to. She's not moving from the bed. Or the couch. Or wherever. Sod it, not letting her out of my sight again," Spike grumbled, still internally beating himself over the head for her injury.
"Not thinking that's gonna happen," Xander muttered, under his breath.
Spike turned, snarling, when the door to the waiting room swung open and Giles bustled in. "How is she?"
"Other than a nasty broken arm, she's fine," Takina answered for the umpteenth time. "The nurse is just getting her a new shirt since hers is a little worse for wear, and then she can go."
"The baby?" Giles asked, tensing once again.
"Fine," Takina reassured, switching her own from one hip to the other. "Coming along nicely from the looks of the ultrasound."
Spike and Giles both looked at her like dopey expecting fathers. "You saw her?" Spike asked.
Takina nodded. "Yep. Starting to look more baby-like now. "
"And you're sure..." Giles began.
"Fine," Takina sighed.
Giles nodded and looked at Spike. "Well, I would love to say that I came here just to check on her, but I'm afraid that there's more to it."
Spike turned his attention to the Watcher, a growl beginning in the back of his throat. "Not a good time, Rupert."
Giles sighed, taking off his glasses and swiping them aimlessly. "I know, Spike. But I'm afraid we don't have much... time, that is. Angel called."
The growl grew to full-fledged and Spike's eyes lit with fury. "Don't care much about what Peaches has to say at this instant."
"Right. Well, then I guess you don't think that a chance of saving your child is particularly important then," Giles snapped, uncharacteristically.
Takina excused herself back to the examining room, tugging a slack-jawed Xander along behind.
Spike bristled, moving to within centimeters of the taller man. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."
"I'm afraid that's how you're acting," the Watcher answered, standing his ground. Looking at Spike's frightened eyes, he softened. "Look, I know what it's like to have a close call with that particular Slayer, but we all know by now that she's fallible. That she gets hurt and she gets bloodied and all we can do is watch and try to help. I trust Takina to be telling us the truth that she is fine. And she and I will talk about what happened and why, so that it doesn't happen again. But, in the meantime, we are running very short on time in regard to our plan."
Spike clenched his jaw and relaxed it, relieving some of the tension. He hated when the Watcher was rational about Buffy, even though he knew that Giles was probably almost as upset as he was under the surface. "Can't leave now, Mate. She's hurt and there's another master in Sunnydale."
The Watcher's eyes opened wide and he took a step back. "What?"
"'S how she got hurt," Spike continued, his shoulders slumping. "We stumbled 'cross this group of fledglings in the cemetery and she plowed in. 'Cept it was a trap. More of them were waiting in the wings."
"And a master was waiting for you," Giles surmised.
Spike nodded his agreement. "An old one, Watcher. Older than me. Maybe even Angelus. Powerful. And he's right under our sodding noses. Can't leave Buffy to..."
"Go and find out information that might help our baby?" Buffy asked, pushing through the doors into the waiting room. "Uh... let me think... yes. Yes you can."
"Buffy, Spike tells me that there's another master Vampire in Sunnydale?" Giles asked, still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. He turned back to Spike. "I was under the impression that once one Master had taken residence that..."
Spike's eyes dropped. "Forfeited my status, least as far as the Vampire community is concerned, when I took a human as my mate. Oh, and the bit with the beating heart and soul built for two didn't help my case much..."
"Then why wouldn't another master have made a move before now?" Buffy asked, her arm in a sling hanging down against a pale pink hospital scrub shirt.
Spike shot her a look. "Would you want to be the first to go against us, Pet?"
"Oh," Buffy whispered, her head still muddied by the throbbing pain in her arm. They couldn't give her much pain relief because of the baby. "Guess not."
"Right," Giles said quietly. "Well, this does change things."
"How?" Buffy asked. "You're the one who said that Drusilla was the one that may know the most about Gwydion and what he'd be planning..."
"Can't leave you alone and unprotected with a broken wing and a master Vampire in town, Pet," Spike snapped back. "Not going to."
"Yes you will," Buffy responded, pulling him to face her. "This moron is going to plot and scheme and take his time thinking up a way to get to us. That gives you time, and we need this information. All of us. Besides, I've got the rest of the crew here to keep an eye on me."
Giles nodded. "That much is true, Spike. We'll all be here, save for Anya, who's with Willow and Dawn as we speak, preparing to go back to..."
A bolt of guilt shot through Spike. He'd just torn the Watcher apart in his hurt and anger over Buffy's injury, but he failed to remember if he was about to embark on the second part of the plan, so was Giles' beloved. "She all right then, Rupert?"
Giles chuckled. "I wouldn't want to be on her bad side," he answered softly. "I trust her judgment and if this is what she wants to do, then I'll do what I can to help her do it safely."
"You'd better get to her, Giles. See her off," Buffy said quietly.
Her Watcher nodded. "Spike, when I spoke with Angel, he told me that there isn't much time. He wouldn't- or couldn't- explain further, but I suppose that Drusilla is about to move again. It may not be so easy to find her a second time..."
Spike nodded. "I'll stay with Buffy until you and the Witch come back, all right?"
Giles nodded his consent. "We won't leave her until you've returned. And she won't leave the house. She's safe there with the wards around the property."
Buffy shot a cold look at the Watcher. "But there's another master that needs to be..."
"Dealt with when Spike comes back and you're healed. Right now, you need to worry more about you and your child," Giles interrupted. "And I will make sure of it, Spike."
Spike nodded, looking forlorn, but accepting the situation. "Go see your bird off," he said softly. "And tell her thanks from us."
Giles nodded. "Do you have a way home?"
"Xander and Takina can take us," Buffy answered nodding.
The Watcher turned to Spike. "Be safe. We'll take care of her." With that, he turned and quietly left the room.
~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~
He had tucked them all into bed. Will first, as he'd awoken when they'd come home. Then Emma, who was frightened over her mother's injury, but exhausted from all that was going on. He kissed them both and settled them in before heading back to his and Buffy's bedroom to wait.
She was lying on top of the covers in flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top he'd helped her into when they first got home. She looked so small and so young, all freshly scrubbed and overwhelmed by an enormous splint and equally ungainly sling.
Spike leaned down and kissed the healing wound on her arm. "Sorry I didn't get to you in time, Love," he whispered for the fiftieth time that night.
Buffy bopped him playfully on the back of the head. "Would you stop? Hazard of slaying. Besides, you were getting your ass kicked too at the time."
"Was not," Spike grumbled defensively.
She chuckled, pushing herself up on the pillows. "Okay then. You were being unsuccessful at kicking someone else's ass?"
"Not bloody likely," he groused. "Just moved so fast. Haven't fought like that in..."
"We should train more," Buffy said quietly as Spike laid his head just below her wounded arm so that his ear was pressed to her abdomen.
He nodded, his hair tickling her through the cotton of the tank top. "True. Thought that three times a week was enough,' specially now...."
"But now," she continued softly, "is when I need to be able to protect myself, and the rest of us, most."
Spike nodded, suddenly hearing something and freezing.
"What is it?" Buffy asked, her body tensing. That other Vampire couldn't get into the house, could he?
Before she could launch herself into full throttle panic, Spike put his hand on her good arm and began to tap out a quick, staccato beat against her skin. Buffy smiled, letting her eyes slide closed and feeling his cheek against her belly, his fingers tapping out the rhythm of their baby's heart.
""S gonna be all right, Pet," Spike whispered, turning his head up so his gaze met hers. "Promise you, I'll protect us."
"*We'll* protect each other," Buffy corrected, letting her hand slide through his silky hair.
"That we will," Spike confirmed.
The door downstairs creaked open and they could hear Willow's voice call up the stairs. "You decent?"
"Not likely," Spike called back, getting a smack from Buffy.
"Be down in a second, Will," Buffy called back. "Guess this is it," she whispered so that only Spike could hear her again.
Spike pushed himself up on his elbows, studying her face. "Guess so, Pet. If you tell me to stay..."
She shook her head slowly. "As much as I don't want you near her, I know... well, if it will help..."
He leaned down and pressed his lips softly to hers. "Buffy, I will *never* love anyone again but you. Not the same. You're my world."
Buffy smiled sadly and leaned forward to kiss him once again. "I love you, Spike."
"I love you too, baby."
"Be careful and come back to me, okay?" The tears were welling up in her eyes as she said it. She knew, rationally, he'd never leave her side if given that luxury. But her heart was nowhere near as secure.
"I'll always come home," Spike whispered, kissing her once again. "Now be a good duck and mind your daddy."
Buffy nodded, tears slipping down her face. "Don't mind your mom."
Spike chuckled. "Deal."
He stood, kissing her once again, and then leaned down to pick up a light duffle bag. "Promise me you won't move against the bloody master without me?"
Buffy's turn to giggle. "Promise. And don't kill Angel while you're down there."
"No promises," Spike joked, kissing her cheek. "Better go, love." Against his will, he began to back towards the bedroom door. "I love you always, Pet."
"I love you everyday, Spike."
He smiled softly, and then turned to leave.
To be continued.