Author's Note: Yay! Reviews! Reviews make me extremely happy! And the more reviews, the longer chapters are, and the quicker they are posted!
Glory was in a rage. Spike hadn't been telling her anything, but she wasn't stupid. She knew that he knew who the key was, but his damn undead brain wouldn't let her suck the information out of him. Even so, a small smile graced her red lips. Sure it would be quicker to suck it out of him, but then she wouldn't be having so much fun. A particularly loud groan of pain interrupted her thoughts.
Glory sighed and rolled her eyes. The noise he made was less amusing. "Gag him." She said offhandedly to one of her minions. The minion quickly ripped a piece of cloth from his own ragged robes, and started to approach the vampire nervously. He jumped straight into the air, and scuttled away when Spike's eyes jumped open and he growled, his face contorting into bony ridges and his eyes glowing amber.
"C'mon sweetness!" Cecily crooned. "It can't hurt that much!" Oh, but it can it can it can… Spike's mind muttered desperately to him, as he slumped in his chains. His weight was completely on his arms, which were covered in blood dripping sluggishly to the floor. His legs hung uselessly at odd angles under him, his feet bare and broken. Spike's hopes jumped as his world began to fade into black, releasing him from the sharp pain. But Cecily had other plans. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her, slapping him sharply. She punctuated each blow by saying "Oh no no no! You aren't going to sleep through this!" She hissed maliciously, "Come on honey, it just isn't that easy!"
"Let him be." Glory said commandingly, and Cecily immediately let his head drop, his chin rolling onto him bare chest. Glory snatched the rag from her quivering minion, and shoved it into Spike's mouth. "We'll let him heal a bit, then we'll continue. He's not getting off that easily, not while the key still isn't in my hands." Glory patted Spike's unconscious head as one would pat a dog, and went back to painting her toenails. She wiggled her newly pink toes and giggled girlishly.
Buffy sat curled up on her bed, emotionally exhausted. Telling Giles about her dream had completely drained her, so she rested while the others searched for the prophecy that Glory had mentioned. She pulled Mr. Gordo closer to her chest, and hastily wiped away a tear that leaked out of one mournful hazel eye.
"Buffy?" Dawn said quietly, and Buffy sat bolt upright. When she realized who it was, she relaxed slowly again into the pillows on her bed.
"Hey Dawnie." Buffy smiled weakly, still trying and failing miserably to be the strong older sister. She cursed herself mentally, for not putting up a better front, for not understanding her dream, for not knowing the prophecy, for not looking for Spike… She knew that they were going to search tomorrow, but who knew what could happen between now and then! She should be helping him now, but no, she was being self-pitying Buffy, and that was the side of her she hated the most.
"Are you okay?" Dawn said, walking slowly into the room and sitting on the side of the bed. Buffy's room didn't look like one of a warrior for the Powers That Be. It still looked like a teenager's room, even though she was in college or was supposed to be. Posters from bands she hadn't listened to in years adorned her walls, and the frilly bedcover was as girly as ever. Dawn supposed that Buffy needed this sanctuary, to get away from the things that go bump in the night, the things she was duty-bound to kill. This was where she could be a semi-normal girl.
Buffy looked down and replied "Not so much…" Both she and Dawn were surprised at the answer. Buffy hadn't really ever trusted Dawn with her worries, or hopes even, cautious that such knowledge would be a burden to Dawn. Little did she know that such confidence in her little sister would be a gift. "I'm just worried, a-about you…" Buffy continued hesitantly, and Dawn looked down, guilty. She didn't want to have to be one of the reasons that Buffy was worried. "A-and about Spike." Buffy finally said quietly, and Dawn smiled, triumphant. Her sister was finally admitting that she cared for Spike! Her joy quickly turned to sadness though as she remembered their situation. "I'm just worried that he's not going to be alright, that I'm going to be too late to save him, and to tell him…everything." Buffy trailed off, as sobs began to shake her body. Dawn felt tears well up behind her eyes too, and scooted next to Buffy as they held each other.
"He's going to be okay." Dawn whispered through sniffles. "He always is, and he'll come back for us, like he always does."
"Why?" Buffy asked frantically. "Why will he be okay, why will he come back when I'm always such a bitch to him!" There was momentary silence in the small, teenage room.
"Because he's Spike, and he loves us."