Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. Chaps will get longer but bear with me, they're short at first. I don't feel like summarizing the episodes much and as my own idea develops more they get longer.

Faith

I woke up the next morning all kinds of hung over. After ample time spent praying to the porcelain gods I took a shower and got dressed. I grabbed some cold pizza from the fridge and got a glass of water. As I sat down to eat I glanced at the clock. 8:53 pm. Shit, guess it ain't morning after all.

I finished eating and put on my leather jacket, loading a few stakes. I start a patrol of the allies but only take out two. I'm suddenly itching for more and do a quick sweep of the cemeteries. Finding absolutely nothing I grow impatient and seek alternate ways to let off some steam.

I headed over to the Bronze and walked straight to the bar. Jessie, the bartender, saw me approach and had my usual waiting. I slipped her a twenty, letting her keep the change, and sat down. I had taken two of my four shots and drank half my beer when Spike sat down next to me.

I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he nods to Jessie and she brings over a glass and a full bottle of Jack Daniels. He nods his thanks and she goes back to work. He pours himself a rather full glass and downs it quickly. I don't even think he realizes he's sitting with me.

"Cheers," I say as I down a shot. He looks over and I'm surprised, I have to admit. For a soulless vamp he sure seems to be an emotional wreck. He looks like he's been crying, and I see a war brewing in his dark eyes.

He growls and turns back to his bottle, pouring another drink. I'm intrigued, I must say. "What's the problem dead-boy?"

He drinks the full glass quickly and slams it down. He just stares at the empty glass for a moment before he raises his eyebrows at me. "You don't know?"

Should I know something? "Know what?"

"Buffy..." he says, shaking his head.

Oh that. It's been like 5 months, he's still getting like this? It's B yeah but come on now. Pull it together man. "Yeah, that's how I got out."

He shakes his hand, pulling out a cigarette. I watch as he tries to light it but his hands are trembling now. "No..." he mutters, the cigarette dangling between his lips as he finally gets it lit. "She's back."

Excuse me? Back? He must have started drinking before he got here. "That's impossible."

He laughs bitterly, taking a drag. He appears to calm down as his features grow colder. "Red, that little twit has tapped into some power. She brought her back."

Willow brought Buffy back from the dead? How? When? I turn from him, downing my last shot. "When?"

"Last night, during the riot. Seems they thought it didn't work when they got attacked." He pours some of his whiskey into my shot glass as he pours himself another drink. "Red doesn't even know her own power. They better keep a close eye on her, mark my words. She let Buffy claw her way out of the grave."

I let his words sink in and remember the pain and fear I was feeling. No, that's impossible. I couldn't have been feeling what she was feeling could I? The connection was never that strong before.

The silence between us stayed as he shared the rest of his bottle, and a few cigarettes, with me. It's been that way for about a week. Same time every night we 'bump' into each other at the bar and share a bottle, sometimes two. We don't talk much but that works for both of us. Sometimes all you need is someone to share the silence.

He's late tonight though. In fact I think I've been stood up, not that its a date or anything. I shrug it off and pay up my tab. I walk out the door, heading down the alley back to my apartment when I see Spike crashing into a trash can. I stop in front of him and he looks up at me, smiling. "I was on my way to see you!"

I chuckle, he amuses me. "What kept you?"

He holds up his empty bottle. "Him and a few of his friends."

What's got into him now I wonder. "How long you been drinking Spike?"

He scrunches up his nose and thinks hard, "Since I left Buffy this afternoon."

Her again. I don't know what's gonna happen there. I've avoided her during patrols, the stronger bond coming in handy. I don't know if she feels it, or if she does I doubt she knows its me. Seems her friends don't think she should know I'm back.

I bumped into Willow the other day and she filled me in. They're cool with me being back. Won't give me any shit as long as I leave them and Buffy alone. Fine by me. That's all I wanted in the first place.

I'm dragged back to reality when Spike uses me for support as he stands. "What now?"

He pushes off me, the thought sobering him some. He glares down at me and shakes his head. "She wasn't in hell Faithy."

Not in hell, interesting. "Where was she?"

He tosses his bottle in the trash and starts walking away, calling out, "Heaven."

Damn.