Continuing on her path, Buffy fiddled with the stake that she held. It had been dull all night and quite uneventful. Letting her mind slip back to this morning, she relived the days events. First, there had been the waking up to Spike in the house, which was quite alarming, and then the smoochies. There had deffinately been a change in Spike over the past week, one that Buffy really liked. But she still was on the cautionary side of things.
When Dawn had come home, she shooed him out of the house, taking another blanket with him to protect him from the sun. What had that been? A total of three he still hasn't returned? Dawn was still being a little short with Buffy so to make it up, she took her on an all-day shopping trip. They came home with some great deals too, and some extra panties to replace the ones Spike either kept or ripped apart in his haste.
'Why is it every thing or thought I do now-a-days always involves him?' Buffy wondered to herself. He had become so apart of her life that sometims she found herself about to let slip their relationship with her friends. Dawn especially. Buffy knew they shared a close bond. Spike was like her dangerously cool older brother she never had. 'If Dawn knew about their. . . thing, it wouldn't exactly be the end of the world, right?' She was about to ponder some more to herself when the tiny hairs on the back of her neck started creeping upwards with a slight chilly sensation. 'At least I'll get some action tonight,' she thought. Little did she know that the action was just beginning.
There was a total of three vamps surrounding her. Not bad, but in her condition she decided to take it slowly. . .
"Hi. My name's Buffy. I'll be your Slayer for tonight."
They all charged at once. She side-kicked the one to her right, the closest of the three, sending him tumbling back. The front man was next leading with his right fist. She quickly blocked the punch, and with her stake in her hand, layed a right uppercut into his face. Unable to to bring her arm down, she realized that someone grabbed her arm with the stake in it, and bent it backwards before she got a look at him. He managed to get the stake out of her hand but dropped it on the ground. The goof gave Buffy enough time slide out of his grasp to knock the oncoming vamp to the ground.
Soon enough Buffy managed to regain her stake and dust the clumsy vamp who tried to take it from her. She still had two to deal with.
"Having fun without me are you?"
Without even missing a beat she knew he was closeby. That smell of whiskey and cigarettes, and of course the deep voice, could not be mistaken for anyone else. Spike stood about 10 feet away, leaning up against a towering tree, watching the Slayer work.
"Oh yes," Buffy replied dryly as she was bear-hugged from behind. "Tons."
Using the vamps arms for support, she leaned back and kicked the rising star coming towards her. She was still wraped tightly from behind when she felt his cold breath and the tips of his fangs on her neck. She knew what was coming next.
"Adios, Slayer," he slithered out in a mexican acent.
Without hesitation she used all the strength in her body to flip the vamp over, rolling him off her back. He slammed down hard and in a matter of seconds was dust.
Buffy stood up in fighting stance, ready for the last opponent. Stake in hand, her body was trembling all over with power. She glanced around knowing the last vampire was around somewhere but just out of sight. She caught Spike still standing where he was, arms crossed against his chest.
"So what, you're not going to help me tonight?" she asked.
"New shirt. Don't want to get it dirty." Plain and simple with just a hint of attitude. A sly grin crossed his face as Buffy arched her eyebrows.
She heard the sound of a tree branch break and felt the vamp behind her. She spun around quickly but he was alread in motion at full force, running as fast as he could towards her. In an instant, he rammed into Buffy, knocking her clean off her feet. As she hit the uneven ground, her almost healed back gave out. She cried out in pain giving the vamp full advantage. He grabbed and pinned her arms as he stradled her waist. Buffy fought back with all her might, scrambling and twisting underneath.
Spike loved watching Buffy fight. Sometimes when they were out patrolling together and came up on a group of newborn vamps, he'd get lost in the motions of her dance. Even back three or four years ago when he first came upon the Slayer he loved her. Her sheer courage and determination was unmistakeable. But now a slow freezing chill ran up and down his spine. His decaying intestines churned inside as his eyes widened in fear and panic. If his heart still beat it was lodged up in his throat.
It was almost as if her life flashed before her eyes. Feeling of regret and guilt consumed her. Buffy was holding out as best she could but she was still unable to bring her legs up or move. The vamp slowly lowered his face to her neck but not before Buffy head-butted him. He growled but remained on top, this time coming at her fast.
She thought she felt it. The pinch of her skin in his teeth. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. . .but then it stopped. Buffy no longer felt the weight on top of her. Instead she was choking on dirt. More specifically vampire dust. She opened her eyes to see her knight in shining black armor standing above her.
"Eww," she managed to finally say. "You just dusted that vamp in my mouth."
"No need for thanks," Spike replied as he extended an hand out to help her up. She willingly took it and brushed herself off. "Thought I almost lost you there."
"Nah," she said casually, rolling the event of her shoulders like she almost wasn't killed. Again. Hiding all her raw emotions inside.
Buffy started to walk off but faultered as the pain sliced through her lower back. Spike caught her and let her lean on him for support as they walked off to his crypt in silence. Only a few hisses and ow's filled the heavy air on the way.
Once there, Spike helped her reach the sarcophagus and set her atop. Buffy watched him go to his freezer and pull out an icepack and then head to get a small towel until he finally came back over. He wrapped the towel around the ice and gently placed it on Buffy's back. She gasped at the coolness.
"A little lower," she commanded and he quickly obliged.
Buffy placed her hand on top of his free one beside her and turned her head to look him in those baby blue eyes.
"You know, you're really nice when you want to be."
"What?! No, no I am not nice," he started panickly. "I'm evil and souless and a killer and . . . " He exhaled some un-needed air and visably relaxed at her smile. "Don't tell anyone."
Buffy's hand came to rest on his face as they stared into each others eyes. His were filled with devotion and concern. She brought him closer into a passion filled kiss. Her aching back and the icepack were soon forgotted as they fell into each others arms.