A Mindful Cry For Help – Chapter 9

"What happened to you? You look like you've been thrown through the blender!" Dawn stated, staring at Xander with shock. Xander's shirt was torn at the shoulder.

"The question of the day is who actually did it," Xander muttered, rubbing his back as Willow supported him with her arms.

"Well who did it?" Dawn looked from Willow to Xander and back again.

Both friends looked awkwardly towards Dawn. The silence seemed to build up in the room as Dawn perched her demon research book on the coffee table and stood up to take a position closer to Willow and Xander.

"It was your sister, Dawnie," Willow whispered, settling Xander carefully down on the coach.

"Buffy? But why would Buffy do this? I think you're lying," Dawn shouted, frowning at Xander's burning, red arm.

"I wish we were, Dawnie. Believe me, I wish we were, but we both saw her tackle me down to the floor faster than a speeding bullet. She was mad at me for questioning her decision of making up with Spike and for asking her to come back to help us with the Hoygle demons in San Francisco. I have to admit I have no stand on what she does with her life, but as her friend I need the old Buffy back," Xander put his hands up in defencewith a look of pain in his eyes.

"She hasn't been the same after Spike rejected her after seeing her talking with Angel again. Spike has been tossing her back and forth like a yo-yo and it hurts me to see her get torn apart every time by his selfish desires," Xander declared, frowning and breathing deeply in and out to control his anger.

"Easy now, Xander. You look like you're ready to charge through a red cape," Willow joked, trying to lighten up the room for Dawn.

"Look guys, I know you mean well, but I think I should go check on Buffy right now. Make sure she's not beating herself up and all. Will you two be okay researching the Hoygles for now?"

"We'll be fine. Don't worry. We'll be peachy keen as soon as I calm Xander down," Willow smiled reassuringly.

Dawn looked back questioningly, but Willow just made another gesture to go.

I wonder what could be bothering Buffy. She is never overwhelmed or anxious. During the battle against the First in Sunnydale, Buffy showed her determination and confidence even though we threw her out, scolded her and claimed Faith as our leader, Dawn pondered.

Dawn slowly crept down the stairs. The stairs had no railing and were quite squeaky.

"Buffy?" Dawn shouted. The room echoed, but nothing more. No answer.

"Buffy, are you okay? Where are you?" Dawn squinted among the dark basement. There were only three lights in the basement. The only problem was that they were stationed somewhere on the other side of the room, further away from the stairway. There was a dim light on in the wine cellar.

Maybe that is where Buffy is at the moment, Dawn thought. But why isn't she answering me? Is she hurt?

"Buffy, speak to me! I need to know where you are," Dawn shouted, loudly.

Dawn waited for a response, but what she heard was not her sister's voice.

"Little Bit, over here. Come quick!"

"Where are you, Spike?" Dawn searched blindly around the room.

"Just a couple of paces right, away from the wine cellar door," Spike took an unnecessary sigh.

"Hold on, I'm coming down." Dawn felt her way down the stairs and kept against the wall closest to the cellar door to guide her in Spike's direction.

Finally Dawn spotted Spike with a body cuddled close in his lap. Looking closer, Dawn could see that the body belonged to Buffy. Fear filtered Dawn's system as she saw Buffy dangle lifelessly in Spike's arms.

"W-what did you do, Spike?" Dawn shook, watching and waiting for Spike's response as she glanced into his blue eyes. Blue eyes and not his golden-yellow demon eyes, which was a good sign, but it still seemed eerie to see her sister looking half-dead in Spike's lap.

"Bloody hell, I didn't do anything! Can't you see how shaken up I am, Little Bit?" Spike showed her his hands. They were shaking and his eyes were glistening with tears. He looked lost and actually scared. Shock and fear left her as she knelt down beside him to check her sister's pulse and breathing. Buffy's breathing was shallow and her heart was at an unsteady pace. Buffy's eyes seemed glassy and her skin was cold and warm at the same time.

"Spike, do you think this was supernatural related or natural?" Dawn waved her hand in front of Buffy, but there was not even a smidgen of reflex.

"Well lets see, Doc, I heard a scream and then I ran down here and she went limp in my arms. That's about it!"

"It could have been an emotional break down or something like that," Dawn searched her body for any broken limbs. Dawn sighed with relief. Nothing broken so far except for maybe her heart.

"Since when have you become a doctor?" Spike eyebrows rose questioningly.

"Since I've been going to the library. I learned that this group needs a doctor. Everyone is getting hurt around here in one way or the other," Dawn mused.

"What is that supposed to mean, luv?" Spike shifted Buffy off his lap and laid her head down on his leather trench coat. He folded his arms. Little Bit had something up her sleeve she was not telling him.

"Well lets just say that I'm not amused by your little antics and childishness when it comes to Buffy. You have been just stringing her along and playing games. She's not a toy. She has feelings Spike! You hurt her and pushed her away when she needed you. I'm surprised you haven't seen her reaction to you. She loves you and would do anything for you. So what do you say to that?"

"I'd say someone put those thoughts into your head. You think she's gone mad because of me?"

"Yeah. That's why she's not responding to anyone. She's caught up inside her own mind and it looks like she is replaying her memories."

"You Summer girls are really something, you know. That's all a bunch of bullocks to me!"

"No, it's a woman's intuition. You don't need magic to figure this out. Even if I could perform a spell, Willow would know and she wouldn't let me because I am still an amateur. But as far as I'm concerned about Buffy's well being, we are going to have to get her upstairs quickly. God only knows how long she's been in this odd state," Dawn could feel Buffy was burning up like wild fire. There was only one way to find out if this was natural or supernatural. Willow was going to have to do a spell. Spike stared at Dawn, examining her sad expression.

"Listen Spike, I don't know what exactly happened to Buffy, but I'd like to believe that it's not serious. In any case, I should not blame you for the reason. I'm sorry," Dawn glanced up at Spike's confused and saddened face. That made her feel even worse for scolding him.

"Right. I'll carry Buffy upstairs. We need to get her into her bed and decrease her temperature." Spike started up the stairs without looking back at Dawn.

"Spike? Wait!"

Spike looked over his shoulder and paused.

"Yeah, now what?"

"How is it that you heard the screaming and we did not?"

"You didn't? I would have thought you guys did because Buffy's screaming sounded like a hammer in my head."

"That doesn't seem right. If you could hear it raging in your head and we did not then there must be something going on here."

"I think you may be onto something Little Bit, but right now is not the great time to research. She's getting warmer, we better hurry."