Author's Note: Well we're nearing the end now folks. The way I see it this could be the 2nd last chapter, but don't hold me to it because I may change my mind next chapter and decide that more is needed. We'll just have to see how it pans out. To everyone who has read and reviewed Loss of Innocence thus far; thankyou. It's been quite a ride so far and I'm glad you've all been able to experience the highs and lows with me!

screaminheathen69: Thanks for reviewing yet again, I'm glad that you keep enjoying my work. I am eternally grateful for your continuing support.

That also goes out to everybody else who has ever left me a review. Hearing such great things back from you guys really inspires me to continue and inspires me to improve, or at least attempt to anyway!

Spoilers & Disclaimer: See chapter 3 if you really must see them, I swear to god they're there…

Spike groaned loudly, he was in pain. His face felt like it had collided with a semi-trailer and a rather strong someone was shaking his shoulders roughly and shrieking at him to get up. He was tempted not to open his eyes, perhaps if he kept his eyes closed long enough it would all just disappear. But then suddenly the blonde vamp remembered how he had gotten into his current situation and it occurred to Spike that Dawn might very well be in grave danger. Oh god Dawn, I have to find Dawn and make sure she's alright...Spike thought to himself, trying desperately to suppress the suffocating feelings of fear and anguish that were rising within him as he went to pick himself up off the floor. Or at least he tried to but was currently being pinned down by a small angry slayer straddling his torso and quite willingly punching his face. "Oi! what the bloody hell is wrong with you slayer?" he demanded, trying futilely to avoid her blows. Buffy merely continued her assault on the blonde, showing no signs of having even registered the vampire's question. Spike grunted, obviously he was going to have to try a different approach "This isn't helping ..." mid-sentence something occurred to Spike, something awful "Oh god, Lil' Bit is...is she..." before Spike could finish the alarming question Buffy decided to break her silence. Focusing wild hazel eyes on wary blue ones she spat out "Glory has Dawn, you son of a bitch! How could you allow this to happen?" Spike merely raised his eyebrows at this "Yeah I allowed this to happen, even knocked myself out to speed things along" Spike said dryly. When Buffy merely glared at him the vamp rolled his eyes before continuing "If Glory has the bit then why are you wasting time hitting me? I should be out there looking for her and so should you, now get off me you bint!" With that Spike managed to push Buffy off him and stood up, heading towards the door, or lack of door now. He stopped suddenly when he sensed that Buffy was yet to move from her spot on the floor. "Are you coming?" Spike asked expectantly. The sooner he found Dawn safe and unharmed the better. That part Spike understood 100 percent, clear as day. What he didn't understand was why he was still wasting time waiting for a small blonde haired slayer, who at the present moment appeared to be having a breakdown of sorts. The bleached vampire couldn't believe how bad Buffy's timing was. Couldn't she see that curling up in a ball crying on the floor wasn't going to get Dawn back alive? Spike supposed it was understandable though. Buffy had been under an enormous amount of pressure ever since back when Joyce first became ill, so the prospect of losing Dawn might just be enough to push her over the proverbial edge. If anything happened to Dawn….Well, he wasn't even going to finish that thought, he couldn't.

Cautiously Spike approached Buffy, who was at this stage sobbing uncontrollably and tried to figure out how he was going to handle the situation at hand. Everything inside him was screaming: "Bugger her and go find nibblet!" but the very, very small logical part in Spike's brain told him that he needed the slayer on board if he had any hope in rescuing Dawn. That and the fact that it kind of hurt inside to see her, the love of his un-life, so distraught. With that in mind Spike slowly knelt down next to Buffy, he had to get through to her. Fast. "Buffy…we have to go find the bit now….okay?" Spike rolled his eyes, he was evil and even he knew that sucked. "Pet…it's gonna be okay. We'll get her back, I promise…" Spike was cut off by Buffy launching herself at him, flinging her arms around him in an almost bone-crushing hug. As he uncertainly wrapped his arms around her Spike silently thanked the Powers that…whatever that he didn't need to breath, as he was certain that would be impossible at the moment the way Buffy was clinging to him. It occurred to Spike that it was funny how he had dreamed so many times of hugging this girl, okay so hugging was a little more G-rated than what he had dreamed of doing to her, but he had dreamed of being this close to her dozens of times and now it was actually happening and the only way Spike could describe it was that it was the most awkward thing he had ever felt. He had expected it to feel like the most natural thing in the world, like coming home even, not this. Spike would've continued in his analysis of the hug but he suddenly remembered why the slayer, someone who usually despised him, was sobbing into his shoulder and why there was growing feeling of uneasiness in his stomach, he had to get Dawn back.

tbc

So what do you think? I decided to use this chapter purely to try and highlight that Spike's feelings for Buffy have changed significantly and to hint how he may now feel about Dawn. Did i succeed? let me know :)