A/N Well that's one annoying other half got rid of, only one to go. Mwah! Sorry this chapter's a little on the short side, but I wanted to include it. I'll update again fairly soon, although I have essays backing up at the moment!

Chapter Eighteen – Wounds

Buffy heard a scream and her head shot round. She'd decided to give the cemetery a quick sweep before she went home after a long day's work. It had been unusually quiet until a moment ago, just when she'd thought she might get off early. Stupid vampires. But as Buffy got closer to the action at the entrance to the cemetery, she realised they weren't vampires at all. They were human and they were holding a knife to … Sarah! Buffy rolled her eyes as she recognised the girl. Great, why couldn't I have left early? She thought to herself. She sighed as she made to interrupt the mugging. Do you always have to do the right thing? Buffy noticed that the bad side of her conscience was starting to sound a lot like Dawn. That was definitely not a good thing.

"Ok, you have to the count of ten to get the hell away from that girl before I get seriously pissed." There were definite chuckles from the thugs as they took in the slayer's slight form. That was it, they were asking for it.

"Ten." Buffy launched herself at the four attackers. They were no match for her strength and skill, even their weapons only served to limit their options. She managed to trip one of them early on, knocking them out cold. The three remaining men managed to hold her off long enough for one of them to reach one of the knives that were now strewn on the floor. Buffy saw the intention in the mugger's face with only a split second to spare.

Spike had been wandering for over an hour. He didn't know why, he just needed to be alone. Without realising it, his feet had taken him to his crypt. He spent some time outside the door, thinking. He reflected to himself about what the last few months had brought, but couldn't bring himself to enter his crypt. After a few minutes, he got up to leave. Just then he heard a distant scream. As he rounded the corner at full pelt, he arrived just in time to see Buffy throw herself on top of Sarah, taking a knife in her shoulder to protect her. Spike charged at the attackers, who ran away at the sight of a new fight. Sarah pushed Buffy off her roughly and ran into Spike's arms.

"Spike, I'm so glad you're here. I was so scared." But Spike immediately pushed her away, rushing to Buffy. He pulled her up gently into a sitting position.

"Buffy, are you ok?"

"I'll live." Buffy gave a weak smile, but Spike was already taking off his shirt and tearing the material into a bandage. Buffy's shoulder was bleeding badly and she winced as he tightened the make-shift bandage around it. Sarah looked on in disgust as Spike helped Buffy to her feet, and then lifted her into his arms.

"We need to get her home to be stitched up."

"Can't she walk?" Sarah asked huffily.

"She just saved your life!" Spike said shocked.

"It's her job, isn't it?"

"What is your problem?" He walked past her, Buffy still in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. Sarah glared at them, and walked away in the opposite direction, furious.

After ten minutes they got to the high street and Buffy insisted on being allowed to walk. Spike tried to argue with her, but quickly realised that he would get her home faster by agreeing. They walked slowly and Spike supported Buffy with an arm around her waist. As they approached the Expresso Pump, Buffy suddenly stopped, her mouth falling open. Spike followed her gaze, confused, until his eyes fell upon the cause of her shock. Richard was sat with his tongue down the throat of a girl who looked about Dawn's age. Spike didn't hesitate. In a flash he was dragging Richard out of the coffee shop. He punched him repeatedly, not stopping even when he saw blood. Buffy dragged him off as best she could.

"Spike, please stop." She begged him weakly.

"Buffy, you can't be serious. He cheated on you."

"Come on, a guy's got to get his kicks some how." Richard spat out. "If I'd realised how frigid she'd be, I wouldn't have bothered. Don't even know why I was still with her." Buffy winced at his harsh words, but cut across Spike before he could start defending her.

"You're right Richard. I don't know why we were still together. We obviously are both very different than we thought. Now run along to your little high school girl before she misses her curfew. Come on, Spike." Spike followed Buffy as she used all her strength to sweep past Richard. As soon as they were out of sight, she fell, exhausted into Spike's arms and the tears came thick and fast. Spike held her as huge sobs shook her. This was so weird, why was she crying over Richard? Except it wasn't Richard she was thinking about. It was Spike. Always Spike. Finally she was letting all the emotion out, everything she'd been bottling up. All the fear, hope and hurt. All the love. And that was it, as simple as that, she loved him. Not because she wanted him, not because she couldn't have him. In fact it had nothing to do with her at all. It was all about Spike. Who he was.

"Shhh. It'll be alright, I promise. I'm here, Buffy, I'm not going any where." Spike whispered comforting words into her ear as he held her close, watching her weep like there was no tomorrow. As she finally wore herself out, Spike scooped her back up into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to Revello Drive.

Upon arrival, Buffy had instantly been fussed over by Willow, Tara and Dawn, but Spike quickly shooed them away. He set Buffy on her bed, and gently took off her shirt and the make shift bandage to see what the damage was. Buffy whimpered as he cleaned the wound as gently as he could.

"How are you feeling?" Spike whispered, not sure how deep the wound went.

"I feel ready to kill something." She practically growled out.

"I meant physically." Spike stifled a grin, even thought Buffy couldn't see it as she was led on her stomach.

"Oh. Well how's it looking, Dr Spike?" They both giggled at this, but both stopped abruptly when Buffy's giggles were replaced by pained moans.

"It looks kinda deep, Buffy." She held her breath as he pressed his finger against the tender wound. "I think it's going to need stitches."

"Wanna patch me up?" Spike chucked at this and took out the necessary equipment to stitch up the cut.

"So is there any particular reason why you didn't tell me about all that stuff with Richard?" He tried to distract her as he began stitching.

"To be honest, I didn't realise things had got that bad, but then if I had I probably wouldn't have told you anyway, based on how bloody his face ended up." Buffy explained between winces, her teeth gritted against the pain. There was silence for a few minutes as Spike went about his work. Finally he spoke up.

"Why did you do that for Sarah?" He whispered.

"Like she said, it's kinda my job, beating the bad guy and all of that."

"I didn't really expect you to take a knife for her though. I know you two aren't exactly best of friends."

"I know, but it's not about that." Spike finished up and cleaned her shoulder once more. Buffy turned slowly on the bed.

"Thanks." She tried to distract him from the inevitable question, but it came anyway.

"What is it about then?" He asked her gently, sweeping some stray locks of hair back behind her ear. He looked deep into her hazel eyes.

"You love her. She makes you happy. I would never forgive myself if I took that away from you. You deserve to be happy." Buffy was fighting tears back, hoping Spike would attribute them to the wound rather than her feelings.

"Why?" Spike called her on it. Buffy looked away from his searching eyes. A lump rose in her throat as she struggled to find the words. She tried to swallow as her mind raced. Just as quickly as her brain had fogged up, it now cleared. She knew what she had to say. There was nothing else to say. So she looked him straight in the eyes as she whispered it.

"I love you." Spike looked her deep in the eyes, and his mouth lowered gently to hers. He swept a sweet kiss across her lips, but as she moved her good hand to cup his face, he pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I need some time. I really can't deal with this right now." With that he left her, and the tears began to fall on both sides of the bedroom door as it shut behind him.