Chapter 22: Any minute now

Willow ran out of the building, straight into Buffy's open arms. The two girls hugged each other fiercely, both with tears trickling down their faces, "thank God!" Buffy breathed as she stroked Willow's hair.

"Xander!" Cordelia exclaimed in relief and threw her arms around him. Then she pulled back and smacked him hard on the arm, "are you insane? What were you thinking running into a burning building?" she scolded before hugging him again.

Buffy pulled away from Willow, as Xander disentangled himself from Cordelia, who instantly wrapped Willow in a hug. Buffy weaved her arms around Xander, feeling reassured, "I won't hit you, but I agree with Cordelia, that was stupid and brave and…" As she pulled back from the embrace, her fingers slid down his arms and connected with the feel of leather.

Her eyes landed on Spike's duster. Buffy looked all around and then back at Xander, her hand never once letting go of the coat. "Where is he?" her voice croaked. Her watery, emerald eyes looked up at Xander expectantly. The young man couldn't bring himself to say anything. "Where is he?" Buffy asked again; an unthinkable thought forced its way into her mind. She hurled herself on him beating at his chest with her arms, "where's Spike? Xander! Where is he? Where is he?" she pleaded through her sobs.

Willow shook her head, the tears becoming more frequent on her face, "no," she said weakly, "he was right behind us," she sobbed. Cordelia was barely holding it together. She stared at the doors, 'any minute now,' her cousin would swagger out of the burning building like some kind of slow motion action hero, 'any minute now'. She felt Willow shake and she held her a little tighter, rubbing her back in an attempt to soother her and herself.

Buffy was inconsolable. Her tears wouldn't stop, her legs gave way and she collapsed into Xander and he sank to the floor with her, just letting her pound him until she came to a natural stop. He cursed himself. This was his fault. If he hadn't run in, Spike wouldn't have followed him. If Spike had been in front, all of his friends would be safe. "Come back…come back to me," the soft broken murmurs of his friend brought him back to reality. His heart broke as he looked at the crumbled form below him, her face nuzzled into Spike's leather duster like it was a lifeline. All he could do was hold her tighter.

"Any minute now," Cordelia said aloud finally, "you'll see, he's too stubborn and pig headed to…to…" she couldn't finish. Finishing that thought would make it real.

"Maybe he's ok?" Willow muttered, although she dare not believe it as she stared at Sunnydale High. The gym was almost completely alight, giant orange flames engulfed the entrance way, "maybe the fireman found him...maybe...maybe…" she trailed off as Cordelia shushed her, muttering words of reassurance in an attempt to prevent her from hyperventilating.

"Maybe…" said a gruff, out of breath but very welcome British accent, "maybe he found the bloody back door and smashed the soddin window!"

Everyone turned to stare in the direction of the voice. "There'd better not be a single scorch mark on that Harris," Spike warned pointing at his coat.

Xander let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, he stopped stroking Buffy, shaking his head in disbelief and admiration, "oh you ba..."

"Boy are we glad to see you!" Willow said interrupting Xander's heartfelt insult and giving Spike a quick hug, while Cordelia smacked him around the head and glared at him with tears in her eyes, "you stupid ass!" she mouthed and Spike surprised himself when he hugged her.

No sooner had she moved, Spike felt another body barrel into him, gripping him like a python. He looked down to see Buffy, her head was buried deep in his chest and he could just about make out her muffled sobs. Tentatively, Spike raised his arms and wrapped Buffy in them tightly. He closed his eyes briefly, enjoying how good it felt to hold her again, "hey…it's ok…Buffy, I'm ok pet," he said.

"I thought I'd lost you!" she whispered into his shirt as she gripped him tighter still, not wanting to let go, in case he disappeared. Her voice was barely audible but Spike heard it. His heart skipped a beat, as he lowered his head and kissed her gently on the forehead, "can't get rid of me that easily, pet."

Willow and Xander were too busy hugging each other to really notice the interaction. Cordelia however, did notice and smiled. She tactfully started to steer the group away from the pair to give them some privacy.

She sat with Willow and Xander as they got a check over from the paramedics, "aww," Willow said as she spotted Spike and Buffy still locked in their embrace, "now that's a friendship that's going to stand the test of time," she giggled, "they'll probably be in the same nursing home together." Cordelia found it very difficult not to have an opinion on the matter. Spike might have told her he was in love with Buffy, but Buffy had just shown her beyond any doubt that she felt the same. If he didn't tell her now, she was going to have to bash their heads together.

Spike continued to hold Buffy, attempting to soothe her. He stroked her hair, whispering words of reassurance. Eventually, he heard her cries subside and he spoke softly to her, "come on pet, I think I should take you home."

Buffy finally pulled her head from his chest and Spike instantly missed her feel. She looked at him, "I don't want to leave," she said her voice small and croaky.

He gave her a little smile, "well, we can't stay hear all night, I've got to get checked by the guys in green and I promised I'd get you home…"

Buffy shook her head interrupting him, "I don't want to leave you."

Spike's heart almost stopped 'no time like the present', "Buffy, I…"

"Buffy?" a voice questioned from the side of them.

'Son of a…' Spike screamed internally.

The pair turned to look at the speaker.

"Angel?" Buffy questioned.