Title: Forgotten Until Remembered
Chapter 4: Black Darkness
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"Where have you been?" That loud, slurred voice booms as I enter the door.
I tried to come in quietly. I opened the door softly and now barely clasp it shut behind me. I'm hoping that he'll forget I came in. He's probably drunk anyway.
"I said where have you damn been, you selfish bitch!?" He screams at me again.
Dawn's crying up stairs. This is my justification. My reason not to answer. I have to go to her. I need to. Need. Need. Need to protect her from him.
"Get your ass in here, you dirty slut! I know you've been with him. Vampires aren't the only ones with a good sense of smell."
He's standing there, leaning heavily against the doorpost. I can smell the beer all over him and the faintness of cigarettes. This means he was at the bar. He left Dawn all alone. This bas- He left my little baby all alone.
He takes a step toward me and this all too familiar scene flashes in my head again. Riley would come at me and after the blows finally made it to my head I would come out of it a few moments later. When the blinding pain faded away he would be back on his chair, swigging a beer, and Dawn would be crying for me.
I hear her sobbing again and the sound of the pound as Riley's foot, both now and before, comes down.
"I told you, you couldn't see him. You bitch. You damn bitch! I told you, you little slut, that you couldn't see any of them, especially that slimy, piece of shit beast."
His words don't hurt me. On the contrary. I feel this tide, this burning flame, starting to seep up through me. I hear Dawn's crying again and the raging inferno within me grows stronger. My hands start to tingle with a warmth I haven't experienced in a long, long, all too long time.
"How could you do this to me? After all I've done for you, ungrateful bitch!"
He was getting closer. So close that I couldn't hold the rage within. Before he could lunge I came at him with a force I hadn't ever experienced. It was a fueled wrath that I've never felt, even when facing the many apocalyptic foes.
"Bitch." He screamed, after I had made contact with his left eye.
I couldn't hear him. I couldn't hear anything, but my child's painful crying and the beating of my too long abused heart. It pulled me forward, dominating my ever action. Before he could counter-attack I was on him again, pummeling him without limitations of conscience. At one point I hit him with such great strength that I sent him into the back wall, where his body smashed my Grandmother's mirror, shattering it into millions of pieces.
Then I could hear. The silence. The quiet I hadn't ever heard around him before. It was so unusual and unique. I wanted to just listen. Just listen a little longer. Hoping I could enjoy it before I realized. I realized.
"Mama!" The voice screamed from upstairs, within a pitiful, ear-piercing sob.
Looking down at the still body I realized what I had done as the world began to go black and images distorted. Trying to reach her, I aimed for the stairs, but when my hand took a hold of the railing my legs became limp. Sinking down, I felt guilty tears slap down upon my soar hands, as I wrapped my face into my fingers.
I'm not sure I heard her when she first stopped crying, but I am sure that I smell him. He's smiling walking down the stairs, as she joyfully giggles at his side, held carefully in his arms.
"Buffy." He says, and it appears that he's trying not to laugh. "Finally gave that wanker the old one-two eh? Had it coming."
I look up at him, my expression frozen and blank. Doesn't he realize what I have just done? Doesn't he-
"Pity his hearts still beating," Spike mumbles and then meets my eyes. "I know. Why don't you stay here love, and let me worry about taking this guy in. Two hospital trips in one week and no blood. I'm a changed man." Laughing, he goes over and scoops Riley up, who groans as Spike hauls the beaten man over his shoulder. "I can take the pet to if you like."
It's not a suggestion. He knows as well as I that I can't hold her right now.
"Be taking your car if that's all right."
I nod, inwardly or outwardly I don't know, but he takes the keys anyway from the hallway hook. He turns to me. I look at him not sure why he's just standing there not saying anything.
"The door." He finally says.
Suddenly I'm able to stand up. Walking over I push it open and step aside. Passing me by, his exhilarating smell tingles my senses, but I'm too tired to allow the feeling to develop into anything more. Too tired to question how he got here just at the right time. Too tired to think what would have happened if he didn't. Too tired to worry about him or what this could mean. Too tired to think what it means to have this house free of Riley for at least a day. Too tired to think. Just too tired.
Meeting me eyes he simply says "Oh and Buffy. I'm not Angel."
Smiling, he steps through the door.
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Another chapter... three months or so without and suddenly two chapters in one day. I am so proud of myself! Please review! That's all.