In the Morning

by Amber Tuesday

An actionpacked story where Buffy ends up in the hospital twice, Dawn being kidnapped by demons that Buffy's never fought and Giles believed to be extinct, and the bond between Buffy and Spike becoming stronger, but will they end up as more than friends?

5. Alone & Frightened

Chapter 5

Alone & Frightened

Buffy came home the next day and was strong enough to walk around by herself and, minus slaying, could do about anything. Spike slayed every night and would then go upstairs to check on Buffy, watching her sleep before going back downstairs to the basement.

A week went by and Buffy strength still hadn't returned. She was depressed and hardly ever said anything. Her friends were trying to cheer her up by taking her to the Bronze every night, talking to her, making jokes, but nothing worked. She constantly felt alone. Why hadn't she just died? She was useless anyway. That's what Buffy said to herself everyday. She kept having nightmares about that night, re-living the whole thing over and over again. She'd wake up sweating and would curl up in a ball, crying herself back into a restless sleep.

One night Spike came up to check on Buffy after patrolling and found her tossing and turning in bed as if trying to get away from something, opening her mouth as if trying to scream.

Spike walked over to her and touched her shoulder. "Buffy?" he asked, but Buffy kept tossing and turning and then started screaming. "Buffy!" Spike shook her.

Suddenly, Buffy sat bolt right up in bed and opened her eyes, breathing heavily.

"Buffy? You alright?" Spike put his hand on her shoulder, making Buffy jump and look up at him with frightened eyes. Spike took his hand away, surprised. "Buffy?"

"Spike...they came back. They came back!" Buffy started crying and Spike sat down on the bed. Buffy threw her arms around his neck, burying her head in the shoulder of his black leather coat.

"Shh, luv. You're alright. I won't let them get you," Spike soothed as he put one hand carefully on her back and the other on the back of her head, feeling the soft, blonde hair under his palm. "Not again," he whispered to himself.

Spike spent the night there, rocking Buffy to sleep in his arms. He caressed her hair lovingly, watching her sleep peacefully with a loving smile on his face.

END OF CHAPTER 5

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Sorry that this chapter was so short, but I just felt that I couldn't put in into chapter 6 because, even though it's short, it's very important to the story, I believe, and it should be by itself. Thanks for reviewing Spuffy6 & Shateiel! You rock!

-A.A. Julson