Disclaimer: All BTVS material belongs to Joss - the bad man who had Spike disintegrated :(

Chapter Two: The Morning After The Night Before

"Lay her on the couch Spike," she motioned whilst ushering the rest of the Scoobies through the door.

She couldn't understand it. Out of all the studying we've done and knowing full well what would happen if Dawn had been bled by Glory, how did Buffy manage to stop it without giving her life? I mean sure she's a slayer but that much energy?

"Hey Red," growled Spike, interrupting her thoughts, 'Can you give us a hand here, she's still unconscious and she's bleeding."

Walking over to the unconscious Buffy, it struck Willow that before falling unconscious, Buffy had neglected to ask after Dawn. Sure she'd just fallen through a huge amount of energy granted but after the death threat she'd given them all in the Magic Box before the fight it seemed a little wiggy that she hadn't said anything. Must be the concussion.

Spike had put Buffy onto the sofa and was sat beside her trying to staunch a wound on her forehead. Covered in cuts and bruises himself, Willow went to him. "Spike, go get yourself cleaned up, I'll look after Buffy, besides I don't think it's a good idea if you're here when she wakes up, she might get confused again and I don't think that's a good idea after what she's been through."

Looking between the Wicca and Buffy, Spike nodded in agreement. "Ill go be in the kitchen with Glinda and the nibblet then," he replied, walking out of the room.

Willow turned her attention back to the form of the sleeping slayer lying on the couch,

"Come on Buffy, time to rise and shine, no more hell god to worry about and good ol' Sunnydale is back to normal with all the lovely demons waitin' to be slain."

No response.

"Everyone's Ok apart from cuts and bruises, oh and Anya's got a concussion but Giles and Xander are looking after her. And Tara and Spike are making sure Dawnie's Ok so you have my undivided attention, so it would be really nice if you could wake up and tell me if you're Ok," she added still receiving no response from the sleeping Buffy.

"How is she?" came a voice from the stairwell.

Willow turned round to see the watcher descending the stairs, his eyes concentrated on the form lying on the couch.

"She's still out of it and she's bleeding but the wound's beginning to heal so.."she replied.

"I take it," Giles interrupted, "that you heard what Buffy said before she collapsed." He sat down on the edge of the coffee table and looked at the witch.

"Yeah, about Spike, and getting all aggressive towards him. But that has to be the concussion talking right? She knows Spike would never hurt her, I mean chip wise and other way wise.." she responded.

His face was as a blank slate marred only by the confusion etched into his eyes.

"I don't know. The truth is, Buffy should not have come out of that battle alive. You know that, I know that, we all know that. I find it incredibly hard to believe that she has come out of this entirely unaltered and that perhaps her unfamiliarity with Spike may be a side effect or an indication of what may have happened to her."

"But she's unharmed Giles, I mean she's all here, no bits missing, and..and..and she remembers me, don't go jumpin' to conclusions or anything! She probably just needs some R & R."

'I hope you're right Willow. Besides we have everyone to worry about which reminds me, Xander needs some help upstairs with Anya and I have to find some.."

Before Giles could finish his sentence, the sleeping form on the couch began to stir.

"Mom?" she whispered.

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