Chapter Eighteen

Therapy

Spike released Tara suddenly and grabbed her car keys off the counter, with a quick glance out the window. "Sun's set," he nodded. "We're going over there!"

"No, Spike! She'll know you're there!" Tara argued, gasping for breath as she recovered from her trance.

"Tara." He spoke firmly as he turned back to her. "I love you. You're doing a bloody good job of protecting me. But I have to protect Dawn. I made a promise to a lady a long time ago – even if the lady doesn't even remember it now. And I will protect her – even if it's from Buffy."

Tara looked at him for a moment before giving in. "You're right. Let's go," she agreed, taking her keys from his hand. "But I'm driving." As they pulled out of the parking lot, Tara thought desperately, though she knew she couldn't hear her, Hang on, Dawnie! We're coming!

Across town, fifteen minutes earlier, Dawn crept down the stairs, trying to walk softly, not wanting to attract Buffy's attention. When she reached the foot of the stairs, Buffy was nowhere in sight. Dawn rushed toward the front door and opened it, stepping out into the cold night air with relief.

Just then, Buffy's strong hand gripped her arm and yanked her back in with bruising force, dragging her back into the living room.

"Ow! Buffy that hurt!" she cried out as her sister shoved her down onto the couch.

"Are you crazy, Dawn?" Buffy snapped, shaking her hard. "It's dark out there! It's dangerous! I told you to stay inside!"

"Buffy, you're scaring me!" Dawn choked out in a high, trembling voice, angry, frightened tears streaking her face. "Buffy, stop it! Let go of me!"

Fury in her eyes, Buffy struck her sister across the face, hard. Dawn was shocked into silence for a long moment, before she began sobbing in pain and fear.

"Shut up!" Buffy snarled impatiently. "I will let go of you when…" She broke off, then started again, calmer. "when you listen to me, Dawn. I am trying to protect you! Believe it or not, I am doing this for your own good!" Jerking her up by the arm, Buffy pulled Dawn upstairs to her bedroom, where she shoved her in and closed the door.

Shocked and terrified, with no idea what this stranger, her sister, was doing outside that door, Dawn sank down on her bed in panicked tears.

Suddenly she heard a familiar voice, coming from inside her head. Hang on Dawnie, we're coming!

She was still for a long moment; had she just imagined it? Cautiously, focusing intently on her thoughts, she attempted to reply.

Tara?

Tara nearly swerved off the road when she heard Dawn's voice in her head.

"And you wanted to drive why exactly, love?" Spike asked tersely, staring out the window. Then he glanced at her apologetically and reached out to take her hand.

"I heard Dawn! She heard me, and she answered!" Tara explained, an elated smile on her face. "I didn't think I could do it, but…" Her voice trailed off as Spike turned to her with excitement, hopefully, watching as she tried to focus on Dawn again.

Dawnie? You can hear me?

Yes! Tara, oh Tara, oh my God! Dawn sobbed with relief.

What's happening, Dawnie? Are you ok?

I – I don't know! No! Buffy hit me! She hit me, Tara!

There was a brief pause. Dawnie, honey, I'm so sorry! We're gonna get you out of there ok? Where is Buffy now?

I – I don't know! She shoved me in my room and shut the door.

Is it locked?

I don't know. I'm afraid to try it! No! She broke the lock earlier! I tried to call you but she broke the phone!

Oh, Sweetie! Tara's voice was sad, sympathetic, and drew fresh tears to Dawn's eyes. Ok, let's think…can you get out your window?

It's – it's pretty high…

I'm almost to your house. I'm gonna park around the block and we'll help you get down, ok?

Ok.

"We need a distraction," Tara said to Spike. "We need to help Dawn get out her bedroom window, but it's really risky if Buffy sees…"

Spike smiled grimly, the beginnings of an idea in his eyes. "Give me your cell phone, love," he said, holding out his hand.

Tara obeyed, a wordless question in her eyes. They were a block away from the house.

"Park here," Spike ordered softly. "She can't sense me from here." He paused then laughed softly. "I'll give her a distraction!"

"If she sees my number on…" Tara began to object.

"67, Baby," Spike grinned at her. Then his smile faded as he said seriously, "Get her out of there as fast as you can. I'll keep her on the line 'til you get back, but she's gonna be bloody pissed off when she hangs up!"

Dawn had not heard anything from Tara for several minutes. She went to her window and slowly slid it open, careful not to make a sound. Suddenly, she heard Buffy's cell phone ring, right outside her door. She froze.

"Hello?" Buffy snapped into the phone.

"Hello, cutie."

There was a long pause; then in a softer, calmer voice, she said, "Well isn't this a surprise. Nice to finally hear from you, Baby." He could hear the smirk in her voice across the phone lines.

Dawn listened carefully; she could tell by the tone and words that Buffy was talking to Spike. As she listened, she heard her sister's voice slowly fading, and then the click as her sister's bedroom door across the hall closed. And then she could hear nothing. But she knew what was going on, and felt safer than she had all night. Buffy didn't want her to know, either that she was talking to Spike, or what was being said.

Like I don't already know she's a psycho lunatic! she thought derisively, as she swung one leg over the windowsill.

"So where are you calling from, Baby?" Buffy asked softly. "No number on my caller ID."

Spike laughed quietly. "Do you think I'm bloody stupid, love? Don't answer that." His voice suddenly serious, he added, "You don't need to know that, love. I'm not letting you hurt me anymore."

"Not a matter of 'let', Baby," Buffy continued, in a voice of cold menace, sending chills up his spine. Even though he was safe in a car a block away from her, and she had no idea where he was, he found himself glancing around anxiously before he realized what he was doing. How could her voice alone still hold so much power over him?

Buffy continued with a mocking laugh, "I think you should know – I take what I want!"

Spike swallowed back the sick feeling of fear and shame that threatened to overwhelm him again as Buffy continued, softly, taking advantage of the silence she had stunned him into, filling the empty space with cruel threats and brutal personal comments, shooting daggers through his heart with each word.

"You know I'll find you, don't you, Baby? Deep down, you know it. Come on, Sweetheart! I can feel you!" Buffy sneered at last.

He jumped, looking behind him quickly, feeling his body beginning to shake.

"Can't you feel it, Baby?" Her voice was almost a whisper now, and he imagined that it was coming from right beside him, not over the phone. "I've found you already."

She was silent, as he tried to regain enough control to respond. Interpreting his silence correctly, she laughed softly, then spoke in a normal tone again, "You know I will. That's why you're shaking. Looking around, wondering if I'm really right there. I know you, Baby! I know all about you, and I know all the places you could hide. It's only a matter of time before I find you. You're mine, Baby. Mine. Always have been. Always will be."

Spike took a moment to regain his composure, hating that she knew what he was feeling, how badly she had scared him – hating that she knew all the right words to bring him to just this point. But finally, she had given him something to work with.

"See, there's where you're wrong, pet," he replied at last, his voice low and soft to disguise its trembling. "Haven't always been yours. Lived a great deal of time in which I didn't know you existed. Bloody hell, lived a great deal of time in which you didn't exist! I've loved before you, and I'll love again, pet. I've discovered that during this time apart, and I feel it's been good for us." Now the smirk was in his voice, which was growing stronger with every word. "Contrary to your belief, Buffy Summers, you are not the be all and end all. Not for me. Not anymore. I'm not yours. Never will be again in fact. Even if you find me tomorrow and kill me, in that way, I've escaped you for good, love."

A glance toward her house revealed Tara and Dawn running toward the car. He reached over and turned on the engine, relishing the sound of Buffy's stunned silence. Then he finished, smiling openly now, "Lesson number one, Slayer. The villain always has to stop and gloat. And while she's busy gloating, that's when the hero sweeps in on his great white horse and rescues the girl." He paused, letting his words sink in, then added in a low, seductive tone that always had driven Buffy mad in one way or another, "That one's on me, love."

"Oh, crap!" he heard Buffy mutter under her breath, followed by a loud thump which was the cell phone being dropped, followed by the sound of her footsteps pounding away, presumably toward Dawn's room. The Slayer had figured out the game at last – too late.

Spike snapped the phone shut with a satisfying click, and held it out to Tara as she got into the driver's seat. Gently she closed her hand over his, the phone still clasped in it.

"Are you ok, Baby?" she asked, her serious, concerned eyes searching his. She could only guess at the things Buffy would have said to him, the vicious words she would have employed to tear him to pieces without touching him.

But Spike's smile was euphoric; his eyes shone as he returned her gaze. "Ok? I'm more than ok, love. That was bloody therapy!"