Spike woke up at one in the afternoon the day after. His brain registered vaguely that Dawn wasn't there anymore, but still in a daze he didn't worried. He tried to get up but his legs was like jelly.

« What the Hell happened to me... » he mumbled, but suddenly his memory returned to him like a blow in the gut. Dawn's kidnapping, him being stabbed by Doc, his fall from the Tower and Buffy's body lying on the floor.

« Buffy...no...not her... » he whispered, tears falling unnoticed on his cheeks. He curled himself up against the corner of the room, his knees against his chest, rocking back and force. It's just a bad dream he thinks, I'm going to wake up and all will be allright, she's fine, Buffy is fine and she is gonna kick my door tonight and ask me to patrol with her. It was just a sodding nightmare, a nightmare...But he knew it will never be allright again for him, not without her to kick his ass every sodding day, not without her to make stupid jokes, not without her to kiss him...

He stayed like that until he fell asleep, exhausted.

It's in the same state that Dawn found him three days after Buffy's death. She was worried for him, but she hadn't had the strength to do anything the past few days. She had cried non stop and didn't want to see anyone except Tara.

She had come to see if he wanted to go to the funeral with her. She had insisted that they do it at night because of Spike, Giles and Xander wasn't happy with her decision but they hadn't said anything.

When she saw him she was horrified, he was covered in dried blood and mud, his face so pale that it was transluscent. His bone's legs were still broken and formed an odd angle, his wounds were still bleeding.

She tried to speak to him, but he didn't answer anything, it was as if he wasn't even here. His gaze was blank and unfocused, it was frightening.She shaked him, cried his name but he didn't respond.

« What can I do ? » she said pleadingly, her gaze directed at the ceiling. « Buffy please ! Help me ! »

As if she had heard, an idea popped in Dawn's mind. « Yes ! Blood ! Of course it's always about blood ! » she screamed excited.

She climbed the ladder to the upper level and went for the fridge. There it was, four bags of blood.

She poured one in a mug and warmed it. She approached him slowly and kneeled in front of him.

Dawn hold the mug under his nostrils, but nothing happened. « Spike ! Please ! It's me Dawn ! You have to drink that to be better ! ». He was still unresponsive. « Spike you promised to Buffy you would take care of me, you can't do that to me, I need you ! » she said with unshed tears in her eyes.

She put one of her finger in the mug and paint his lips with blood trying to make his demon appeared, but he remained still.

« I know that it's pig's blood, but you need it and... » Dawn stopped in her track, It's not pig's blood he needs, it's Buffy's blood. He needs her and her blood would awaken him, he needs comfort more than blood. My blood is the same as hers, so if I give him my blood, he will think it's Buffy's and that will make him react...I hope !

She took him in her arms and took the swiss knife Spike had given her. That day she had complain about the fact that she was always unarmed and that it wasn't fair, he had given her the swiss knife saying that it wasn't really a weapon but it could be helpful one day. He was right !

She cut her arm, not her wrist (she didn't want the others to know what she had done they wouldn't have understand) and placed it against his mouth.

His demon camed to the surface slowly, as if he was unsure of what to do. The demon saw her and looked at her without recognition. He carefully licked the wound with his rough tongue and his fangs ellongated. Dawn was fascinated, it was the first time that she saw his demon alone, she had saw glimpse of him some times in fights but Spike was always in control of it. Now there was only the demon and she knew that she should run but strangely she wasn't affraid.

Spike's demon stopped licking surprised to see that this girl wasn't affraid of him. Suddenly the scent of the blood reached his mind and clarity of whose blood it was dawned on him. Slayer's blood, Buffy' s blood. No not her blood, this girl is not the slayer. Conflicted toughts collided in his mind, it was too confusing for the demon simple brain so he pushed them aside. He needs the blood and it'all that matters. He sinked his fangs in her arm and began to drink greedily. Her blood is like a nectar and it's so potent.

Dawn yelped in surprise and pain when his fangs pierced her skin brutally. He tooks mouthfull of her blood so quickly that she is soon dizzy. He seemed totally unaware of her pain, and she started to become frightened. The demon sensed her fear and an evil smirk twitched his lips. The stupid bint is finally affraid of me it's about time !.The demon closed his eyes in satisfaction.

« Spike you are hurting me ! Spike it's me Dawn ! Please come back to me ! »

The human part of Spike registered her name this time. Dawn ! What is she doing here ? Hey it's human blood I'm drinking ! Wow it's so good, MMMM ! Must be fresh it's so warm and alive...

wait a minute alive ? Dawn ! Oh my god ! I'm drinking Dawn's blood !

Spike's eyes snapped open, to see Dawn's eyes filled with tears. Instantely his human features reemerged and he let go of her arm.

« Bloody Hell ! Dawn what are you trying to do ! Do you have a death wish ! » he said shaking her.

« No ! I'm trying to save your stupid life ! You moron ! » she said, lifting her chin defiantely.

She tried to get up but the blood loss took over and she fall down on her butt.

« My life was not in danger, stupid bint ! Stay still, you have lost too much blood, you can't walk immediately,give it five minutes it will be better ! »

« Your life was in danger Spike ! You were out of it since I left you three days ago ! Your wounds were still bleeding and your leg is still broken three days after ! And I'm not a stupid bint ! » she cried.

Touched by her concern and by the risk she has taken for him, his anger subsided. He took her in his arms and rocked her gentely.

« I'm sorry Nibblet ! I wasn't thinking straight you know, it's just that it was dangerous what you did. I could have drain you if I hadn't react in time ! »

« I know ! But I can't live without you, I've lost too much people, I can't loose another person I love ! »

« You love me ? » Spike said astonished and unsure he had heard her correctely.

« Of course I love you Spike ! Not that I am in love with you...you know, I mean I love you like I love my sister, you are family to me ! »

Spike was speechless for the first time in the last century. Dawn really loves him, he had always known that she liked him, sure, but that she considered him as a member of her family, he wouldn't have thought that possible.