Chapter 6

Showers and Sparring

Spike eyed the apartment; it was simple yet cozy and it was clearly kept clean.

"Here's a towel. I'm not sure how much this is gonna help…" Dawn shrugged.

"Thanks Nibblet," he took the towel gratefully and wiped at the goo on his face, disgusting buggers.

"You and the boy live here?" Spike prodded gently with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," she answered then noticed Spike's raised brow and quickly added, "But we're just friends,"

After a few more attempts of trying to get all the crap off, she surrendered to the shower.

"These towels aren't helping. Only a shower will help us now," Dawn sighed dramatically with a wrinkled nose.

"You can go first," she told Spike, "I'll get you clean towel."

Spike was amazed that she'd invited him in, let alone allow him use her shower.

Dawn came back with a clean towel and directed him to the bathroom.

"I'll be back in a minute to get your dirty clothes, we can run them in the washer and dryer," Dawn informed him and went into her room.

Spike did as she told him to, stripping down leaving the goopy clothes in a pile. The bathroom was just as neatly kept as the rest of the apartment with a small shower. He turned it on hot, something he hadn't had in a while. He heard her footsteps approaching and he grabbed the towel she gave him and put it around his waist. Mind as well maintain some modesty around her.

Dawn had taken off her for sure ruined clothes and put on her fuzzy bathrobe. She knocked on the bathroom door and Spike opened it. She gulped; keeping her eyes away from what she knew was a well muscled chest.

"Put your clothes in here," she held out a laundry basket with her dirty items.

Spike put his clothes in the hamper, keeping his eyes trained on her head, not on her very exposed bathrobe, not gonna look, not gonna be a bloody wanker, he reminded himself. She said something and he glanced down briefly; her bathrobe had loosened so he caught a glimpse of her exposed breast. He swallowed and felt himself grow hard. Fuck. He quickly shut the door and stalked over to shower, dropping the towel and turned the shower cold, very cold.

Dawn found an old pair of sweatpants that belonged to Connor and shirt that would have to temporarily do for Spike while she put their slimed clothes in the wash. She leaned back on her bed waiting for Spike to finish showering. Showering, it was so weird to think of Spike in her bathroom showering. If it weren't for the soul, she realized, he might have already been kissing the sun. She still wasn't sure if she trusted him, but something told her that he had a soul and he was…well maybe good wasn't the right word, not evil sounded better.

Her ears perked at the sound of the shower turning off and she grabbed her own sweats to wear. She braced herself to knock on the door when it flew open, almost knocking her into Spike. A very wet Spike, she noticed and a tingle started down below, a wet, toweled Spike who had smooth ivory skin and abs to die for. Stupid vampire shouldn't be so hott.

"See something you like luv?" He smirked at her as she dragged her eyes up to his.

"Here!" she yelped, shoving the clothes into his hands. He didn't move and stared at the clothes in his hands, confusion written across his face.

"To wear until your clothes are ready," she explained, avoiding looking his eyes and any other part of him she might really want to stare at.

"Something wrong Nibblet?" He asked concerned, reaching out to comfort her on instinct.

"Shower!" she blurted out, blushing and pulled away from his touch. He was having a bad effect on her.

"Right then, don't suppose you want to stay slimy," he said briskly and Dawn blinked at his sudden mood change. He moved out of the way, and she closed the door behind her. She really needed a cold shower.

"Stupid, fucking bloody wanker," Spike cursed as he jammed his head through the shirt. He shouldn't have tried to touch her. She had been so delicious standing there in that fuzzy thing staring at him, blushing. Then he had to ruin it by trying to comfort her. He hadn't even really thought about what he was doing, and there lies the mistake.

Her room smelled like her, spicy sweetness and vanilla. There weren't many personal things lying around except the occasional article of clothing. He drifted over to her nightstand were he saw a picture wedged between the lamp and clock. He picked it up and smiled at the image of her and Buffy, so young and innocent looking with big smiles on their faces. He carefully put it back where he found it. Dawn had really changed and he wasn't sure if it was for the better.

"Spike?" Spike turned to see Dawn standing there in similar clothes, her wet her hanging over her shoulders.

Dawn suppressed a giggle at seeing Spike in sweatpants. Sweatpants! They really didn't improve his bad boy look that was for sure.

"Nice outfit," she bit her lip from grinning. She couldn't resist, it was too easy. Spike made a face, "I look like a bloody poof in these," he grumbled, yanking at the pants.

"Sorry," Dawn responded, pressing her hand against her mouth. It really was too funny, "It'll be a few minutes before your clothes are dry," she apologized. She moved towards the living room and Spike followed.

Spike knew that she'd been laughing at him in the stupid buggering sweatpants. They stood by the TV awkwardly, neither wanting to talk.

"Wanna spar?" Spike finally asked, not sure what else to do. Dawn paused for a moment and Spike was sure she was going to say no, but she shrugged, "Sure,"

They danced around each other, throwing lazy punches and kicks, testing one another.

"If we move any slower, we might go backwards," Dawn complained after a moment.

"All out then?" Spike asked, tilting his head in question.

"All out," Dawn agreed and snapped his head back with a jab.

Soon they were both in a frenzy of kicks and punches. Spike lashed out with a kick sending Dawn reeling back and he swiped her onto her feet. He pinned her down, but Dawn was able to push him off and with a kick to the solar plexus and kick to his legs, she knocked him down on the ground. She pounced, straddling him, "Who's on top now?" she teased, momentarily forgetting her unease around him.

Spike suppressed a groan as Dawn shifted on him slightly and he willed his erection to go down. Dead puppies, dead puppies-naked Dawn-NO! Nuns, naked bloody nuns! He chanted in his mind, anything to keep his mind off Dawn on him. Unfortunately, she unconsciously shifted again, grinding slightly as she pulled herself up. Spike growled and yanked her down so they were pressed together, lips mere inches apart.

Dawn froze in their compromising position, staring into Spike's eyes. She could feel his cool, unnecessary breath against her cheek and his lips were soft and if she'd lean just a little further…NO! She scrambled up and off Spike, backing up against the wall.

Spike avoided Dawn's eyes.

"Sorry Bit, got carried away, you're a bloody amazing fighter," he covered trying not to dwell on their closeness seconds ago. Dawn was silent for moment before replying, "Thanks,"

Both stood there, once again awkward. Spike felt he should say something, stupid guilt, stupid soul.

"I-" He began, taking a step forward when the door opened and a voice called out, "Sliver! You here?"

Dawn's eyes snapped open, "Yeah I'm here,"

Connor rushed in to the living room and stopped at the sight of Dawn and a guy that looked a lot like the drunk from the other night, standing there, casually dressed. In fact those pants looked really familiar.

"Hey, are those my sweatpants?"