Chapter 43 - 25 July 2004

Once he's recovered from his stumble, Spike won't let me help him, even pushing me away. I swallow my irritation, and follow him into the bedroom. Any thoughts about him looking rosier than usual are gone - he's pale - his skin looking grey rather than its usual white.

He seems surprised that I followed him, swallowing hard when he turns around to me.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I …"

"What's to be sorry for? You found two of them. That's better than anyone else's done, and as much as Willow expected for your first time."

"I'm sorry I had to stop. Useless pillock that I am."

I take both his hands in mine.

"A long way from useless. Lie down and get some rest."

He nods, getting onto the bed. He looks so lost like that, that I climb on beside him, holding him in my arms. Within moments, he's asleep, his exhaustion overcoming his misplaced guilt.

When I'm sure he's really asleep, I get up carefully and go upstairs to find out what's happening with the two we've brought back. Giles is with Glenna, who has freshly washed hair and a t-shirt I recognise as belonging to Dawn.

"Hey. Feeling better?"

"A bit freaked. I mean, you become a Slayer, get all these powers, find out that there're vampires and monsters, you don't think there's anything else could happen to out-weird your life. Then … "

"I know what you mean."

"Sounds like I've been lucky. I've been missing for weeks, but for me it's only hours. That other girl wasn't so lucky."

"No. Any word on her?"

Giles answers. "Gus is on his way back - he's left Angel at the hospital for now. They've stabilised her condition, but they're still trying to identify the poison in her wounds. It looks like whatever caused her condition happened at least a couple of weeks ago. Her Slayer healing, even her normal human healing, seems to have been subverted by the poison. I've got a team in London researching the possibilities, and the Council's foremost expert on the treatment of demon-induced injuries is on a plane as we speak. Beyond that, I'm at a loss."

Those last words are delivered in a voice I hardly recognise as Giles'. If I thought Spike sounded defeated before he slept, that's nothing to how Giles sounds. I take another look at his face once he's finished rubbing his eyes. His eyes are red-rimmed, and the bags under his eyes look like they've been over-packed.

"Giles, when did you last sleep?"

"I … er … got a couple of hours, er …"

"When, Giles?"

"What day is it?"

I have to think about that. "Sunday?"

"Sunday? No, no."

"When did you last sleep?"

"I, er think it was … Friday."

"Giles, go and get some sleep."

"Don't be ridiculous. Now is not the time."

"What, exactly, are you doing, Giles? Everything's set up. We're doing what we can, and you've got everything arranged. Go and get some sleep. We'll call you if something comes up."

"But …"

"I'll take him," Gus offers from the doorway where he's obviously heard the exchange.

"But you're needed here."

"Not while Spike's resting," I remind Giles.

"And how long is that going to be? He's got no business resting when …"

"That's exactly what he said, just before he almost fell over with exhaustion. Now, go, Giles. You've been living on too little sleep for weeks."

His shoulders slump, and he gets to his feet.

"Be back soon," Gus offers over his shoulder as he leaves the office.

"So," I say to Glenna since I don't really know what else to say.

"He's pretty intense, isn't he?"

"Giles? Yeah. I suppose. He's always been a bit like that, but lately, …"

"It's like he really cares, you know?"

"He does. Maybe too much. So, you hungry?"

"Yeah. I was starting to think people don't eat in England."

"Ah, friendly warning. You're not in England, and saying that? Doesn't go down well with the natives. I'm sure we can get you something to eat downstairs, and Moira's going to want to meet you."

After a quick mini-Geography lesson on the way downstairs, I introduce Glenna to Moira and Dawn. Moira immediately wants to get up and start cooking, and it takes both Dawn and me to persuade her to sit still and give Dawn instructions. When I'm sure everything's under control, I go back to Spike's. Willow's curled up on the sofa sleeping, and when I check out Spike's room, he's still sleeping, but his face seems to have lost some of its extreme pallor. I creep back over to Moira's chased by the sound of my own stomach which seems determined to waken both of them.

There's a pile of sandwiches on the table, and Glenna and Dawn are eating while Moira nibbles at one. There's a pot of tea on the table, and I pour myself a cup before taking a sandwich.

"Tinned salmon," Dawn announces as I peer inside.

"I always keep a tin or two in the cupboard in case of unexpected company," Moira informs me. "There's some mince in the fridge, and I'll cook that later."

"I think Giles has booked me a hotel," Glenna says. "I should go there and eat. And call my family again. I gave them a quick call a while ago, but they'll want to hear more. They've been so worried."

"Use the phone here," Moira tells her. "As for the hotel, unless you want to go there, I'd suggest you stay here at least until you won't be alone there. There's nothing worse than being alone in a strange place."

Glenna looks relieved. Dawn shows her where the phone is, then comes back into the kitchen.

I take a bit of my sandwich. It's good. In no time, the pile has gone down considerably, and I'm feeling ok to go back to see how Willow's doing.

"Can I take some next door for Willow?" I ask. "I don't think Spike's got much in the actual food line in there, although there seem to be a lot of potato chips. And tell me, what flavour is Marmite?"

"Marmite?" Dawn parrots.

"That's the flavour of the chips. I wasn't sure whether Willow would like them."

"Try them," Moira suggests. "If you've never heard of Marmite, then it's hard to explain."

I take the sandwiches through to find that Willow's up and preparing another Slayer cocktail for Spike.

"Are you going to have enough blood?"

"I think Giles was going to get some more sent up. The first lot'll give us another three or four goes, though. What'cha got there?"

"Sandwiches from Moira. Thought you might be hungry."

I open the cupboard where I spotted the chips and pull out the bright yellow bag. There's only a couple of small bags inside, and I take one.

"You like Marmite?" I ask.

"Yeuch, no." Willow shudders.

"You've tried these before?"

"No - not the crisps. Tara got some once. It's a British thing, but it's supposed to be real high in B vitamins, so she wanted to try it. She liked it, but I didn't. It's powerful stuff."

It's almost like a challenge now. I open the bag and take out a chip. I take a small bite, chewing it around my mouth. Apart from saltiness, I don't get a lot. I put the rest of the chip onto my tongue and after a moment, I chew it.

"It's not bad," I decide. "Not like anything else I can think of. What's it made from?"

"It's a by-product of the brewing industry." Spike's voice behind me takes me by surprise.

I turn around quickly.

"You're looking better."

"Feeling it too. Hungry though."

"Have some regular blood for now," Willow advises. "The Slayer blood's not enough to be your main nourishment - you can have that when we're ready to start."

"How're the girls we brought back?" He looks to me for information.

"Glenna, the first one, is sitting with Dawn and Moira and looking fine. The other one, I didn't catch her name, is in hospital. Looks like she was attacked by something with poisoned claws or talons. The poison's knocked out her healing ability."

"Natural or magic?" Willow asks.

"Not sure. Gus should be back from taking Giles to his hotel soon. He was there, and Angel's still at the hospital. Why?"

"If it's magical, I've got an idea that might help. It's no biggy, just a poultice that Tara used sometimes - it's supposed to cancel out any magical energy that's doing harm. It's real gentle, but it might help. I'll go see Moira. Maybe she's got what I need - it's all pretty basic stuff."

"How soon can we go again?" Spike asks.

"Half an hour? Maybe a bit longer if I can make up this poultice. If you're sure you're ready."

"The longer we leave it, the worse it is for the girls."

"If you're sure."

Willow takes her sandwiches and goes next door, leaving me munching potato chips while Spike warms some blood. When it's done, he takes it out of the microwave and moves over to stand close to me. He puts his hand into the bag of chips, takes one, and dips it into the blood.

"Can I just say 'gross'?"

"I only started using Burba weed because it's so hard to get Marmite in the States. Well, that and not having to pay for Burba weed. Gives the blood a bit of bite."

I decide to ignore that. "You sure you're feeling better? You haven't slept for long."

"I'm fine, Pet. It was just that last one - her being so injured. Took it out of me. How's she doing really?"

"They've stabilised her, but if Willow can neutralise the poison, I think she'll be ok. If not, Giles has some expert on his way from London, and he's got everyone he can spare researching it."

"And the first one - she really ok?"

"A bit wigged, but more by our story than what actually happened to her. She'd probably like to meet you, you know, when you're not off exploring the cosmos."

"Maybe later, Pet. I'll feel more like socialising when they're all home."