Willow came to his aid and put a warm cloth over his forehead.
"How ya doin', Giles?" Willow asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"What happened to me?" he inquired.
"Well, for starters, Spike saved your life..." she hesitated, unsure of what his reaction would be like.
Giles looked at his sore, bandaged arm. Some blood had leaked through the dressing. He started to unwrap the bandage. Willow waited until he had removed it to say anything. Giles examined his arm, taking close notes on the puncture marks.
"What did you let that creature do to me?" he spoke up, his voice a little raspy. His tone was very stern and serious however.
"Giles, we had to get the demon's poison out of your bloodstream..." Willow tried to explain.
"And Spike - this was your only solution?"
Buffy and Spike came through the door carrying a grocery bag and some first aid supplies.
As soon as Giles saw them, he immediatly spoke up.
"You can risk you and your child's lives all you want, but don't EVER think you can risk mine!" he scolded Buffy.
His ungratefulness took her a little by suprise.
"Excuse me? You would've died Giles, if it wasn't for Spike!"
"You would've thought of something else eventually." he told them.
"Giles, Buffy's right. You were running out of time and we did think of other things, believe me. Nothing would've worked fast enough." Willow stepped in. She tried to be calm about this. Giles didn't need to be arguing in his condition. He could end up fainting or losing consciousness.
Giles took in what Willow had said. He doubted that she would lie to him about something like this. And she wouldn't have let Spike unless...unless it was really severe. Yet, he couldn't help but state his feelings. "Still, you let that thing sink it's teeth into me!"
Spike was getting irritated. He had just about had enough of the Spike-bashing from Giles.
"Hey, it's no secret I hate you as much as you hate me! The only reason I saved your bloody life is because Buffy cares about you!" Spike pointed at him.
Giles listened as the words spilled out of Spike's mouth. He realized that Spike had done this because he loved her. He wanted to prove it to her by helping save his life. Maybe Spike deserved some credit. He had put as much passion into saving him as he did into loving Buffy. Giles realized how immature he was being. He was alive and he should be grateful, whatever the circumstances.
"Spike, although I can't stand to be in your presence, I do mildly appreciate what you did."
"A little recognition. That's more than I expected..." Spike said.
"Thank you, Giles. It means a lot to me." Buffy thanked.
Giles started to help himself up.
Xander and Anya ran through the door.
"Willow, we got your message!" Xander said, out of breath. "Is Giles-"
"Giles!" Anya interrupted, all happy to see him standing. She ran over to him and gave him a big hug. "You're okay!" she finished.
"Yes. Thanks to Spike." Giles informed.
Xander stared to chuckle. "Cause we all know what a shining example of unselfishness Spike is!" Xander sarcasticly exclaimed. He looked at Willow and Giles' faces. There were no traces of humor in them.
"Wait, you're serious?" he asked.
"Listen, all of you...I know you don't particularly like Spike, but he did save Giles' life." Buffy said.
"Giles?" Xander questioned, still unsure about the whole Spike-saving-Giles'-life thing.
"I may not have like the manner in which my life was saved or the person who saved it for that matter, but I'm alive because of it. As much as I hate to admit it, I think we all need to acknowledge what Spike did."
"Taking on the role of Buffy's hero...when were auditions?" Xander smartmouthed.
"Does it really matter? You obviously didn't make the cut, lad..." Spike lashed back.
Xander gave him a look. The look that said 'I'd pummel you to the ground if you weren't a vampire.'
"Xander, please! I want everything to go back to normal. Well...as normal as Sunnydale gets, considering we live on the hellmouth and all." Buffy explained.
"Normal...I remember that." Willow reminisced.