Chapter 12

Buffy was sitting in the waiting room, while Angel was talking with the doctor. Riley sat down next to Buffy and grabbed her hand. "Is he going to be okay?" She said after a few minutes of silence and Riley didn't want to worry her.

"Yeah, he'll be fine." He told her with a small smile and Buffy turned tired eyes on him.

"Don't lie to me, Riley. I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take the truth." Riley sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew he couldn't get anything by her. He has known Buffy for years, ever since Hank started bringing her around the police station when she was younger. Spike and Angel weren't there for as long as he was, so they never got to know her then.

"I don't really know. They got the bullet out, but he lost a lot of blood and he's unconscious right now. I guess only time will tell." He explained to her and Buffy felt more tears in her eyes.

"It should have been me." She whispered and Riley wondered what she meant, but he didn't have to wonder for long. "Hamilton was aiming for me and Spike pushed me out of the way. He's in the hospital now because of me." Riley shook his head as he looked at Buffy.

"It's not your fault and Spike wouldn't want you blaming yourself. He was protecting you like he promised he would. I know he would do the same thing again if he had to. Spike is crazy about you, Buffy. I have never seen anyone so in love before. You're everything to him and he would be destroyed if you were the one laying in a hospital bed right now." Buffy nodded as the tears fell down her face. She rested her head on Riley's shoulder. He then put his arm around her and held her closer to him as she cried. Angel walked over to them a little while later and Buffy raised her head to look at him.

"What happened?" She wondered and Angel took a deep breath before he answered her.

"They did all they could for him. It's up to him to wake up now." Angel told her and Buffy nodded as she wiped her eyes.

"Can I see him?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"They're only letting one person in at a time. You can go in first. He's in room 214." Buffy nodded again as she stood up and gave Riley a quick hug. She then pulled away and headed in the direction of Spike's hospital room.

Buffy got to Spike's room and took a deep breath before she walked in. She wasn't prepared for what she found. Spike was lying in the bed and he looked so lifeless. He was more pale than usual and she didn't think that was possible. She walked closer and sat down in the chair that was by his bed. She tried not to let anymore tears fall as she grabbed his hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "You'll come back to me, Spike. I know you will. There's so much we haven't done yet. You're stronger than this." She whispered as she looked at his face and couldn't stop the tears from falling. She lowered her head onto his chest and cried for what seemed to be forever. She then felt his hand move and she looked up at his face to see his eyes suddenly open. Buffy didn't know what to say, when Spike gave her a smile.

"Hey, love. What's with the waterworks?" Buffy cried happy tears now as she gave him a hug and he wrapped his arms around her the best he could.

"God, I was so worried. I was afraid you wouldn't wake up." She said as she looked at him and he wiped some of her tears away.

"It'll take more than this to get rid of me. Are you okay?" He asked suddenly wondering if she was alright. "You're not hurt, are you?" Buffy laughed as more tears fell down her face.

"You're lying in the hospital after being shot and you're worried about me?" Spike gave her a soft smile.

"I'll always worry about you." He whispered to her and she smiled back at him. He then noticed the cuts on her cheek and arm. "You should get those looked at." He told her and Buffy shrugged.

"That's not important. Minor wounds compared to you. You need to worry about getting better." Spike was still worried about her, but he didn't say anything else about it. He decided to change the subject.

"What happened with Hamilton?" He asked her.

"He's gonna be locked up for a long time. He can rot in hell with his brother now, for all I care." She stated.

"Summers, I'm shocked. What happened to my sweet girl?" Buffy moved to his lips and gave him a kiss.

"I was never sweet." She whispered against his lips and he smiled.

"Whatever you say." He replied as Buffy sat back down. She grabbed his hand again and looked at him, with a serious expression.

"You saved my life, Spike. It was supposed to be me." Spike shook his head.

"I would have done it again in a heartbeat. I made a promise to protect you and I never back out of my promises. There was no way I was going to lose you. I love you, Buffy." He said and Buffy gave him a watery smile.

"I love you, too. Don't ever scare me like that again." Spike caressed her cheek.

"I'll try my best." Buffy gave him another kiss on the lips and this one lasted longer. They were caught up in each other, when Angel and Riley walked in. Angel cleared his throat and Buffy pulled away from Spike.

"Well, I see sleeping beauty awakes." Angel said and Spike rolled his eyes, but he had a hint of a smile on his face.

"We should probably let him rest now." Riley said and Buffy nodded as she gave Spike a kiss on the forehead and then walked over to the other two men. "We'll take care of her tonight, Spike. You just rest and we'll be back in the morning." Riley told his friend and Spike had a look of gratitude on his face. Angel then thought of what else he wanted to say.

"I almost forgot. We got a hold of Hank and told him what happened. He got into a bit of trouble himself, but he's alright and should be coming home in a few days." He said and Buffy then had a huge smile on her face. She had a feeling that her father was alright, but she felt so much better now that she knew for sure. Spike smiled at Buffy's excitement.

"I told you he would be fine, pet." He said and Buffy turned her smile on him. She then left the hospital room with Angel and Riley. Buffy knew that she would be sleeping better that night.