Chapter 21

Buffy and Spike were sitting in the waiting room at the hospital. Joyce arrived with the girls a little while after Spike called her to tell her what happened. They were all anxiously awaiting the doctor's arrival, no one knowing what to say when the youngest then decided to speak first. "Mommy, is daddy gonna be okay?" Casey asked and Joyce gave her daughter a small smile.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, honey." Casey nodded even though she didn't seem sure. Buffy then turned tear stained eyes on her youngest sister.

"Yeah, daddy's strong. He's a survivor." She told her and Casey seemed a little better after that. A few more minutes went by when the doctor finally showed up. They all got up and he gave them a smile.

"Mr. Summers is going to be fine." They sighed in relief. "He lost some blood and he has cuts that will probably scar, but he's stable and he just regained consciousness." He finished.

"Can we see him?" Buffy asked and the doctor looked at her.

"I can only allow one person to see him at a time since visiting hours are over. His room is right down the hall." He said as he pointed in the direction of Hank's room and then walked away. Joyce looked at Buffy.

"Honey, you should see him first." Buffy looked at her mother.

"Are you sure?" Joyce gave her eldest a smile.

"Yes, I'm sure. We'll be fine out here." Buffy nodded and then looked at Spike who gave her a smile also. She smiled back and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"I won't be long." She said as she walked away and headed to her father's room. When she got to the room, she took a deep breath before she opened the door. She found her father lying up in bed and she was relieved to see that he looked better. He turned to look at her and graced her with a smile.

"Hey, you can come closer." He said and she walked over to him. She sat down in the chair that was by his bed.

"How are you feeling?" She asked to start a conversation.

"I've felt worse." Buffy nodded as more tears formed in her eyes. She didn't think it was possible for someone to cry this much. "Please don't cry, honey. You know I can't take it." He told her.

"I was scared that you wouldn't make it." Hank felt touched that she was worried about him.

"It'll take more than that to get rid of this old man." Buffy smiled at that and then grew serious again.

"I don't want you to die. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if we left things like that. There's still so much I want to tell you." Hank grasped her hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

"We'll have time, Buffy. I'm not going anywhere." Buffy nodded again and for once she actually believed him. She then noticed the tears in Hank's eyes as he looked at her. "I'm so proud of the woman you're becoming. I realize that you're not my little girl anymore. I'm so sorry that I didn't get to see you grow up. I regret my actions every day, but I'll be here now. Whenever you need me. I want you to know that you can trust me, sweetheart." Buffy had tears streaming down her face at her father's words and she got up to embrace him. He was surprised at first and then hugged her back, both of them crying.

"I love you, daddy. I missed you so much." Hank cried as he kissed his daughter's hair.

"I love you, too. You don't know how much I missed you." They were like that for a few more minutes when Buffy pulled away. She wiped at her eyes and gave him a shy smile.

"I should probably go. The others wanna see you, too." Hank nodded as Buffy got up and walked to the door. She turned to look at him one more time. "I'll always be your little girl. Thank you for saving my life." She said before she walked out of the room. Hank smiled once she was gone.

"Always," he whispered to himself as he waited for the next visitor.