Buffy, Faith, and Spike took the new girls on patrol in the old teal painted van Giles had found for such trips. They didn't have far to go to the nearest cemetery. It would have been an easy walk but Giles had made Faith promise to take the van in case something happened because the nearest hospital was relatively far away.

The girls stood huddled around the cemetery entrance looking nervous. "Who here has been in a cemetery at night?" Buffy asked.

All four girls shook their heads.

Buffy looked from Spike to Faith and back to the girls, "Well… you'll get used to it real fast. Feels like I've spent most of my life in them. We are here at this particular cemetery because the local paper reported some suspicious deaths and several missing persons reports in the area. These are the things we need to check out. The paper was vague but experience tells me that it's probably a vamp."

"That's right, it most likely is, but there are loads of other nasties that like to rip out throats so be on the lookout," Spike added.

Faith stepped towards them with a leather messenger bag in hand. She pulled out four stakes and four small bottles of holy water for the girls, "Tonight will be your first test. Deloris and Thea you two will be with me. Sheena and Aretta with Buffy and Spike. We will be watching from a distance. If something comes at you, it is up to you to defend yourself and your partner. We will be close but don't count on one of us saving the day. Any questions?"

"What do we do if it is not a vampire?" Aretta asked in a strong Nigerian accent. As strong as Aretta's Nigerian accent was, it was nothing compared to Sheena's Scottish brogue. Buffy had more trouble understanding Sheena than she did any of the other girls and the vast majority of the people she'd met in Scotland. It was bound to be an interesting night.

"The best you can, you might surprise yourselves. We'll intervene if you're in over your heads," Spike switched to his vampire form. Deloris let out a little squeal. Spike ignored her and continued speaking, "For the record, you get in over your heads one of us will be there. I'll be coming in hot. Remember, every vampire has two faces. This is mine, don't get stake-happy with me, alright? Bad guys yes, Spike no. Got it?"

The girls nodded, and Spike let his face melt back into his human form.

Faith clapped her hands, "All right ladies, let's head out. Thea and Deloris, You start out on the left. Aretta and Sheena go right. Cemetery loops around so we'll meet up. We'll give you a head start. Good luck."

Buffy sidled up to Spike taking his hand, "Nice job working in the self preservation angle."

"Yeah, well I plan on shagging tonight and I can't do that if I'm a pile of dust now can I?"

"Probably for the best, it's always hard to predict how newbies are going to react. Speaking of which, you picking up on anything yet?"

Spike took a moment to concentrate and sniffed the air, "Nah, nothing yet. Nights still young. Tell me again why all three of us are out here?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and pulled him along with her, "Come on, last thing I want is for these girls to come up against something they're not ready for."

"They're alright, we can still see 'em."

"Maybe you can," she grumbled.

"You're sexy when you pout. But seriously, is this the same woman I was with when we closed a bunch of girls into a crypt with a vamp?"

"That was different and you know it. They had to get it fast and they didn't have Slayer strength. These girls… they have power but they're still green. Same problem just reversed."

Spike threw an arm around her shoulders, "You're worrying too much, Love."

"I like to think of it as making up for not being here the last few months. I know we said we were just coming to visit but I'm seriously thinking maybe this is where I need to be… I just hope Dawn understands."

"You mean 'where WE need to be', don't you?"

"That's what I said wasn't it?" She grinned innocently.

"No, but I'm not going to fuss," They went on a little further in silence before Spike spoke again, "You know the older girls will be leaving soon. Heading off to wherever you're sending them. I say let's stay until they're all trained up and out of here. Then we can resume our Euro-trip, head back to Rome, pick up the Niblett, and come back here, permanently."

"Did you just ask to move in together? I mean we're… and- and we're staying in the same room… traveling… and I love that— we're always together… wait— wait, wait…. are we somehow living together already and I didn't realize it?" She turned to him with her eyes wide, "We just started… it— it's a new- ok not NEW but it's a new chapter of an old— oh my God, are we actually living together?"

Spike snorted out a laugh, "Hell if I know, Pet. Relax. Is it so bad if we are?"

"Spike, I—"

He was suddenly afraid of what she was going to say, "Look. We don't have to talk about this now. I know we haven't actually been together long… not to mention you've never lived with any of your other— I just—-You have time. You live with a bunch of birds already, if you want me to get a place of my own, I will. I'm sure Dawn and Willow will both have a weigh-in on that. We can—"

Buffy cut him off by placing a hand on his chest, "Buffy?"

"Shhh, just-" her attention was directed towards the girls in the distance. They were still walking along the cemetery path when a man in a suit stepped towards them. "Later. It's show time, let's see what they do."

One of the girls let out a nervous battle cry and charged. It was Sheena. The vampire dodged the attack easily and flung her hard into a tombstone. Spike took a step forward, "Crap… rookie mistake. Come on," he snarled.

Buffy put out a hand again, "Just a minute, let's see how Aretta does. Can you see Sheena?"

"She landed over there behind those markers. We need to get closer,"

"This way," they wound their way through the headstones until they had a better vantage point.

"Aretta is holding her own, do you see Sheena yet?"

"There-" Spike pointed as Sheena used a headstone to pull herself up. The girl shook her head before quickly stooping down to pick up her stake and rejoined the fight just as Aretta landed on the ground with a thud.

A moment later both girls had the vampire cornered against the back wall of a crypt. Sheena kicked the vampire, pinning him to the wall with her foot, while Aretta staked him. The girls backed away looking at each other. Sheena held her hand up for a high-five, "I can't believe we just did that!" She exclaimed before they slapped hands and burst out into a fit of nervous laughter.

Buffy and Spike came into view clapping slowly, "Not bad for your first time girls."

"It was teamwork," Aretta said, smiling at Sheena.

"You got a win and that's great. You're not done yet. We're going to head over towards Faith and the other girls now. Maybe you'll run into something else, maybe you won't. Stay alert, got it?"

"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison.

"We'll go over the pros and cons of your fight when we get back to the castle."

The four of them made their way back onto the path that looped around the cemetery, the girls continued in front with Buffy and Spike following at a distance. "About earlier…" Spike started.

Buffy gave him a fleeting look, "Maybe we should talk about this later."

"I- humm, yeah, sure. It'll keep," he nodded as he thrust his hands deep into his pockets.

They walked along in silence for several minutes. Spike started humming a song Buffy had heard but couldn't place, "What song is that?"

"The Ramones, doubt you know it. I've had it stuck in my head since I met Sheena."

"Do I want to know why?"

"Kinda hard not to, songs called 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker', catchy tune too…" Spike continued to hum quietly as they walked.

It wasn't long before they heard the unmistakable sounds of a fight. "Aretta, Sheena," Buffy called to the girls, "hang back behind us, at least until I can see what's going on."

The girls did as they were told following close behind. They redirected their steps, winding their way through the tall headstones as the fighting grew louder. It was sometime until they could see Faith and the girls standing back-to-back surrounded by at least ten vampires.

Buffy stepped towards them from behind a particularly tall headstone, "Is this a private party or can anyone join?" she asked loudly.

"Oh, hey B! Nice of you to join us. As you can see, our dance cards are pretty full, feel free to join in."

"Sounds like fun, count us in," Buffy said as she stepped forward to the closest vampire, "Any time, Honey! Bring the kids!" She yelled over her shoulder as she quickly staked the first one.

"Already on it, Pet," Spike grunted as he blocked a kick from a tall, thin, female vampire. Spike caught her leg and sent her flying into a headstone. In one swift motion he pulled a small crossbow from a special sling he'd added to the inside of his jacket. He shot the vampire squarely in the chest turning her to dust.

Spike then reloaded his weapon and turned it on one of the three vamps Faith was facing, allowing her to stake the remaining two in quick succession.

"Thanks man," Faith said, turning towards him, "hey where did Buffy go?"

"Saw one bolt, she's probably gone after him."

"Pretty sure we lost more than one. You go, I got the girls," Faith said as she folded her arms in front of her. She watched as each of the girls squared off against their own vampire. "Keep your feet and follow through, Deloris!" She barked.

Spike caught up to Buffy just as she sent a dark haired vampire stumbling with a kick to the stomach. An extremely large and muscular vampire well over seven feet tall, came up from behind her. The vampire picked her up like a rag doll and started squeezing her like a soda can. Moving quickly, Spike ran forward throwing a rock at the massive vampire, "Oi, Andre the Giant! Put her down!" He yelled as the rock made contact with the back of his head and bounced off.

Spike maneuvered himself behind the oaf. He leapt up, wrapped his arm around his neck and began punching the gigantic vampire in the side of the head. The vampire stumbled forward into a tombstone pinning Buffy there. She let out a strangled scream of pain. Spike pulled up a stake driving the entire length of it into the back of the huge vampire. Spike leapt off as the vampire crumbled.

Buffy landed unceremoniously on the ground with a thud. She gasped for breath as she looked up to see the dark haired vamp coming back towards her. Buffy twinged in pain as she grabbed her stake and held it up at the last second as the vampire charged at her with his teeth bared.

"Think that's all of them," Spike said as he reached out a hand to help Buffy up. She gasped in pain. "Are you alright there, Love?"

"Think he might have cracked a rib, maybe two," she said breathlessly.

"Shit. Come here, let's get you back to the castle. Here, I got you," he said, wrapping an arm around her.

They hadn't made it far before Faith and the girls appeared from among the graves. "There you two are. The girls did great. They— You alright B?"

Buffy shook her head, "I'll be fine, couple of cracked ribs."

Faith made a face, "Yeah, those are never fun. Good thing we heal fast."

"Yeah," Buffy wheezed a little.

Faith turned to Spike, "Van is over that way. Let's get your girl home. Make sure she didn't do anything worse than crack ribs."

Spike gave a quick nod and they all made their way back to the van. The girls talked excitedly all the while. "Looks like the night was mostly successful," Buffy said.

Spike eased his grip on her a little, "How's it going there, Love?"

"I'm starting to wonder if one of these is more than just a little cracked," Buffy quietly gasped in pain as Spike helped her up into the front seat.

"Lift your shirt, Pet. Where's it at?"

"Can't we do this back at the castle?" She asked.

"Girl takes a couple dozen beatings, survives a few mortal wounds and she thinks she's a hard-ass," Spike teased.

Buffy chuckled then gasped in pain, "Oh, it hurts to laugh,"

"But you can, that's a good sign," he smiled at her. Buffy nodded in agreement.

Faith climbed into the driver's seat, "All set, just waiting on you Spikey-boy."

"Sod off, Faith, stop calling me that would you?" Spike grumbled as he climbed into the back seat with the girls.

"How about 'Willy'?"

"Not if you value your life."

"William," Buffy murmured.

"Right here, Love," Spike said as he pulled himself up so he could see her from around the back of the seat.

"Just proving a point," she chuckled weakly.

"Very funny, you are," he huffed as he sat back in his seat.

As Faith parked the van in front of the castle she addressed the girls as they filed out, "I know you guys are probably hungry, that's typical after slaying. Get your snacks and get to bed. I mean it, I'll be around to check on you. Go on, we got this. We've all had worse, she'll be fine."

The girls protested but complied in the end. While Faith was dealing with them Spike got out of the van and offered to help Buffy down, "Thanks, but I got it."

Spike stepped back to give her space. It was clear she was in pain but true to her word she was managing as they made their way in.

"Let's get you in bed, let you heal properly."

She nodded, "Maybe a little something to dull the pain,"

"I hear there's something in the roll top," Spike smirked.

"Count me in," Faith chimed in as they walked up the stairs to the first floor. Buffy gritted her teeth and gripped the railing as they reached the first landing.

"Is there a reason we don't use that?" Spike asked, gesturing to the closed off shaft for the elaborate birdcage style elevator.

"Yeah, cables are old as hell and frayed, the thing is a death trap."

"So get your boyfriend to fix it," Buffy gasped.

Faith colored slightly, "He's not my boyfriend."

"Here, Love. Let me. Still got a way to go here," he wrapped an arm around her gently as she allowed him to help her up the stairs.

"For the record, I'll fix the thing myself if it comes down to it. Even if we only use it for injuries."

"Didn't know you were handy," Faith said as she followed them into their room.

"I'm no expert but it's hard not to pick up a few things along the way. Anyone can become a Jack-of-trades if they live long enough. I figure one as old as that, well it's not exactly complicated is it?"

"Yeah, sorry, not really overwhelming me with confidence right now. I think I'm going to ask around."

"Ask Callum," Buffy insisted as she sat down on the loveseat in the seating area of their bedroom. She shrugged off her lightweight jacket and leaned back against the seat. Buffy took a few breaths and grimaced.

"Let's take a look, Love," he said, motioning for her to lift her shirt. Her right side was already bruising badly. Spike gingerly pressed his fingers to the area, Buffy let out a hiss of pain.

"Sorry, Pet," he frowned as he moved to check the other side. The bruising wasn't nearly as bad there.

"How's our patient?" Faith asked.

"Definitely a couple a broken ribs on the right side there. I count two for sure, the third one is questionable, it's at least cracked."

"I'm going to make sure the girls cleaned up the kitchen and I'll bring up a couple of ice packs for you alright, B?"

"Thanks," Buffy closed her eyes for a moment, "Spike, would you get my sweats and a clean tank, please?"

"No problem. Need help?"

"I'll let you know."

Spike shrugged one shoulder as he got the requested items from her drawers. "Are you cold?"

"Yeah, a little. Not everyone is impervious to temperature change."

"I wouldn't say that. Extreme heat or cold can be a bother."

"Well sure, burning up or freezing solid would bother anyone," she laughed weakly clutching her side.

"See what you get for poking fun?" He said teasingly as he handed her the clothes. "Are you sure you don't want me to help?"

"Thanks but I think I got it, it's not my first broken rib."

It did take her a little longer than usual but Buffy managed to get changed on her own. After which she went into the bathroom. While she was in the bathroom Spike decided to turn on the gas fireplace in their room. For the end of June it was unseasonably cool inside the castle that night. He then went over to the roll-top desk where he found a bottle of whiskey from a local distillery and three glasses. He took them over to the little table by the fire and poured a small measure into each glass. Spike downed his and poured another.

There was a knock at the door before Faith pushed it open without waiting for an answer, "I got the big ice pack and a— Where's Buffy?"

"In the loo."

"One of those for me?"

"You bought the bottle. Ta by the way."

"Figured we could use it at some point."

"Yeah, doesn't matter how many times I see her get hurt, it still gets me."

"Guess that's what love is huh?"

"Guess so," he swallowed his drink and poured himself another, "Good stuff, this. Where'd you get it?"

"There's an awesome distillery not far. It's a super cool place. They even do weddings and stuff there."

"At a distillery?"

"Used to be an Abbey or something. You can still see where it was, there's ruins and a little cemetery next to it they use for pictures. Like I said, it's a super cool place."

"Whiskey's good, all that matters."

Buffy came back in, "Drinking without me?"

"I poured you one, Love," he said, handing it over to her.

"Thanks, honey" Buffy moved close to him and tilted her head up for a kiss, "Hum, whiskey."

"You could almost get a bloke's heart beating again."

"Are we drinking or should I leave you two alone?" Faith interrupted.

"Drinks, then some serious sleep and healing," Buffy said, curling up on the loveseat as best as she could. She looked up at Spike patting the seat next to her.

He sat down, "You're taking some time off. I'll take over your training classes."

"He's right Buff, you definitely don't want to re-break those suckers. I should know," she paused to take a drink, "He shouldn't have any trouble, they're mostly in the training rooms anyway, we'll work it out."

"I can't just sit around," Buffy said, taking a swallow of whiskey. She looked at the glass perplexed, "Wow. I normally don't like whiskey."

Spike grinned as he remembered the first time he shared a drink with Buffy in his crypt, "This is some good local stuff," he said refilling her glass.

"You know what? You can still do the classes with Spike, just let him do the physical stuff. You could also take over the demonology stuff with the level 1 girls. Giles was just going to give them time off, but you can do that."

"That's sorted then," Spike squeezed her hand.

"Still feels like you're mollycoddling me but I guess I'll take it."

"It's for your own good you know," he said, kissing her.

"Ok that's it! At this rate I'm never getting laid. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going over to the hardware store and I'm asking Callum out for a drink."

"I'll drink to that," Buffy said, emptying her glass, "You can ask him about the elevator too."

"Faith and some dandy at a hardware store? Oh that's good."

"He's also a handyman."

"Is he now?" Spike grinned.

"He's a nice guy, he does construction and odd jobs."

"So what's a girl like you want with him?"

Faith poured more into her glass and drank it down, "Why do you think I haven't asked him out already?"

"It's like that is it? Yeah, I know how that goes. Worth taking a chance in my book," he looked fondly at Buffy, "Even if she did kick my ass a couple dozen times before it went anywhere. Never know, you might have more in common than you think."

"Like he also leads a double life fighting the forces of evil?"

"Haven't seen any commandos around have you?"

"Not one,"

"Could be a civilian outfit like Gunn's crew…" Spike suggested.

"Or maybe he's just a guy, it would be a pretty big coincidence if he was in the know, don't you think?" Faith replied, pouring another drink for each of them.

Spike took his glass back, "Not necessarily, look at Buffy's track record."

"Hey!"

"It's not a jab. Hear me out, Love. I just mean that of the three guys you've been with, all three of us have fought with you. Not to mention the fact that it's one hell of a strange coincidence you fallin' for two different ensouled vampires called 'William' ain't it?" He said, as he sat back in his seat sipping his whiskey.

"What are you talking about? You're the only—"

"You already know Darla named him 'Angelus' and he didn't start calling himself 'Angel' until after he got his soul. Never wondered what his real name was?"

"Liam, ain't it?" Faith asked.

"Short for William."

"He never liked talking about his life, I just—"

"Don't feel bad, I was runnin' with Angelus for a good five years before he let it slip when he was drunk one night, never let him forget it either."

"Yeah and I only know it because of the whole mind-walk thing. Picked up on a lot of stuff in there," Faith said.

Buffy shrugged, "Willow had to do something like that with me a few years ago."

"Good thing too, seeing you catatonic was scary as hell, Love."

"See, all this stuff here?" Faith twirled her finger in a large circle, "This is why I'm kinda hoping Callum is just a regular vanilla kind of guy… an open mind would be good though. Maybe vanilla with a little wild cherry."

"Nice guys don't often have bull-whips," Spike smirked.

"Nice memory but its the quiet ones that surprise ya," Faith countered.

Buffy narrowed her eyes and looked between the two of them, "Bull-whip?"

"Just an old story Faith told me a while back."

"I probably don't want to know."

"Probably not," Faith grinned as she took another sip of whiskey.

Buffy adjusted herself in her seat, wincing. Spike reached for Buffy's drink, "Here, Love, finish this. We'll get you to bed."

"Humm, you just love getting me in bed."

"True," he stood up, holding his hand out to her. Buffy took his hand, allowing him to pull her up, "Tonight I'll settle for you getting some rest and letting those ribs heal."

Faith stood up, "I should get going too, I need a shower."

"Night!" Buffy called as Spike led her over to the bed.

"Cheers. Enjoy the hot water."

Faith closed the door behind herself. Spike directed his attention back to Buffy, pulling the blankets aside for her, "In you get, Slayer."

"Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really sorry I freaked out like I did earlier."

"Oh that-", Spike started to say.

"Everything is so new. I just—"

"Hadn't thought that far ahead?"

"Well no. I mean yes, you're right, I haven't… and when I did, it just really—"

"You just get some rest, Goldilocks."

"Where are you going?"

"No where,"

"Spike…"

"I'd originally thought I might go check out the underground. But now you're hurt—"

"Are you still going to go?"

He cleared his throat, "Nah, course not. Not if you need me here," his words hung in the air for a moment before Buffy answered.

"I'm not sure if I'd say 'need'-" Spike dropped eye-contact and started to turn away from her. Buffy shot out a hand to grab his wrist, "But I do want you here with me. Understand?"

"You do?"

"Of course I do. I've had worse injuries and I've managed just fine, but it's nice to have company."

"Right. It's not like I can't go another time. Besides that, if I'm training the kiddies I guess that means I need to switch things around a bit don't I?"

Buffy furrowed her brow, "Are you sure we're ok?"

"Course we are."

"You just seem off."

"You're the one who's hurt, Love. Let's just focus on that alright?"

"Can you help me with the pillows? The whiskey helped dull the pain a little but I don't think I can handle laying flat tonight."

"Here, you can take one of mine."

"Thanks."

Spike laid awake half the night thinking and watching Buffy sleep. He loved her more than he'd ever loved anyone. He knew she loved him. Otherwise they would have both been driven insane by the demon's blood incident in Paris. That had been enough proof for Dawn and Willow, hell even Giles was convinced.

So why was he questioning her now? When they had decided to make it official, Spike had just assumed they would be together in all senses of the word. Including living together. But if Buffy wasn't sure… where did that leave him? He tried to remind himself she had a good point, they hadn't actually been together long, not really. Not officially.

A nagging voice reminded him that Buffy had a way of keeping those she loved at arms length or worse. He knew it better than anyone. Then a stronger voice reminded him that it was him, Buffy ultimately came to when she was in trouble and needed help. Didn't that prove he was the man she needed most in her life? Or did it? Was simply loving someone enough? He watched her as she took a deep breath and started to cough a little. She didn't wake up but by the look on her face it was clear she was in pain.

He rested a hand high on her chest by her collarbone and she relaxed instantly. Her breathing eased and the look of anguish on her face melted away. It was a little thing but in that moment it was what they both needed. A comforting hand for her and reassurance that she didn't just want him but also needed him. Spike fell asleep with that thought, his hand still resting on her chest.

He didn't notice the slim ghostly figure of a teenage girl watching them.

A/N: To be continued... Please Read and Review!