Chapter 1: Crushing Words
She debated whether she should call him or not. It wasn't like they don't talk anymore they just haven't in over 2 years. He had been such a big part in her life but now, she had changed so much after her mother died, she wondered if they would ever be the way they were.
But then she remembered this wasn't about her. It was about Dawn. Spike loved Dawn just as much as she did. He treated her like his own sister and he would want to know, no matter how bad it was.
She picked up the phone, staring at the buttons for a while, still debating on calling him or not.
She remembered back when her mother had died. She did the same thing as she was doing now, only that time she didn't call him. She picked up the phone numerous times only to put it back down again. But that time had been about her. She felt like she wanted pity from him if she called him about her mother and she didn't want that to be the topic of their first conversation in a year. But now it had come back to almost the same situation, maybe worse. This time she could do something about her sister and her death. And for that, she needed Spike. If she lost Dawn, she needed someone to be there for her to fall back on. To keep her strong. And to make her better. She couldn't lose another person she loved alone.
Dialing his cell number, she listened to the five rings on the other end and was about to hang up.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end was like heaven to her ears.
She had forgotten how much she missed him until she finally heard him speak.
It felt like forever.
"Spike? Its me. B..Buffy. Buffy Summers." She said, her voice shaky.
"Buffy! How are you luv? It's been forever."
He was too cheerful. She hated herself for calling him this way. She should have called him sooner, maybe if she had, telling him about Dawn would've been easier than it is now. She didn't want to spoil his good mood so decided to make small talk and forget about telling him about Dawn. It would destroy him.
"I've been all right, Spike. How are you?"
"Buffy, what's wrong?"
Damn it! She thought. She knew her voice was shaky but she thought she had calmed it down. Maybe to the ordinary person she would have appeared calm and collective but to Spike, he knew something was wrong by the slightest change in her voice. After all the time they spent away from her, he still knew her better than himself. God she missed him.
"Something has happened..." she said slowly, being cut off by Spike.
"What is it? Are you alright? Is Dawn okay?"
Her stomach flipped at his question. She felt like she was going to be sick as her chest became tight and tears stung her eyes.
She tried to find the words to tell him, attempting to form sentences that wouldn't hurt him.
"Dawn, she was taken...by someone. She has gone missing." She surprised herself by how calmly she has said it. But no matter haw calm she was, she could sense Spikes heart-ache like she was staring right at him.
"When? When did this happen?" He asked, his voice cracking.
"It's been 8 days now. They...uh, the cops are doing everything they can to find her but nothing...lately."
She heard a sob and a sniffle. He was crying. She felt like a monster breaking the news to him. He had been so happy when he first realized it was her but now, it sounded like he could barely speak. She hated herself for causing him this much pain.
"Spike, im sorry." She whispered trying to control her own emotions for the sake of his.
There was a brief pause until he finally answered, his voice even and deep.
"Buffy, luv, don't be sorry. I...oh god." he sniffled.
Another pause.
"Buffy, I'm coming home. I'll be there tonight. Same place?"
"Yes."
She was lost for words. She wanted to tell him not too. She wanted to tell him to stay away, not wanting him to see her like this...destroyed and weak. She wanted to yell at him to not come near her because he would only make it worse.
But she couldn't. She needed him way to much to deny him. And even if she did tell him everything she wanted to, he would still come. He would be able to tell she was lying and hear the need in her voice. He wouldn't have believed a word she said. And she loved that sense of comfort and familiarity that she had lost in her life. No one will ever know her as well as Spike does. She never gave anyone the chance to.
Lost in thought, she hadn't realized he had hung up. He was probably already on his way toward the airport and on her way to see her.
He was coming home. In just a few short hours she would see the man who had been her closest friend since she was 7, he being 9. She would have something in her life that was taken away, back in her life. And he would be the strength and support for her to find her sister. In just a few short hours, her life wouldn't seem so broken anymore.