A/N: So, a word about this chapter. Some of you might not like how I kinda glossed over some canon stuff in this one. I hate writing out canon events so I try and do it this way so I don't need to regurgitate the show that we've all seen a million times. I really struggle when it comes to writing canon stuff because I hate it looool
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Everything was wrong. So very wrong and Kat wasn't sure how they were going to fix it. In the space of a week, everything crashed down around them all. Glory had Dawn. She knew she was the key and she'd taken her. It had been an ordeal. It had started out when Glory found out Dawn was the key. Buffy had promptly wanted to get Dawn and Kat out of town. For the first time, the Slayer didn't want to face her problems head on. She wanted to run. She didn't believe they would win this fight and that scared the crap out of Kat. The whole gang, a mentally unwell Tara included, all piled into a sunproof winnebago provided by Spike. But on their journey, they'd been intercepted by the Knights of Byzantium. It had all gone downhill, Giles getting impaled and the RV crashing. It had been chaos. Dawn ended up being taken and Buffy had gone into a catatonic state with the shock of it. Willow ended up doing some magic mojo, going into Buffy's mind to get her out of it. And then the cherry on the shit cake was the fact that Spike found out that Ben and Glory are one and the same.
If Dawn's blood was let for the ceremony Glory was planning, the boundaries between dimensions would dissolve and reality would collapse. The only way to stop it would be for Dawn to die before that happened. There was no way in hell she or Buffy were going down that road. Eventually, they'd come up with a plan. Ayna suggested using the Dagon sphere to confuse Glory and also using some big hammer that Kat couldn't remember the name of. They needed to delay Glory enough for the deadline of the ritual to pass and then she'd have no use for Dawn. The plan was spotty at best but it was all they had. And that's how they ended up all grabbing weapons as they readied themselves for war. Kat's stomach was tied in knots. She had the overwhelming feeling this wasn't going to end well and it was getting harder and harder for her to ignore it. All she could do was focus on the task at hand. Save Dawn.
She had a dagger strapped to her jeans as she grabbed the old ax, weighing it in her hand. It wasn't too heavy, she figured she'd be able to use it. Her first choice, a sword, had been too heavy for her to swing. She was determined not to be useless in the fight. She couldn't afford to be, not with Dawn on the line. She glanced over at Spike as he too picked which weapons of death he was taking. She wasn't sure what would happen to them. If both of them would make it out of this. A heavy weight pressed down on her chest at the thought as she padded over to him.
"Ready?" He asked solemnly. She nodded, gripping the ax tighter. After their moment in the cemetery, they hadn't had much alone time within the chaos.
"Look… if anything happens to me or Buffy, promise me you'll take care of Dawn," she implored, willing the lump in her throat to go away. The Tower card had been playing on her mind this whole time and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Something was going to go terribly wrong and she wasn't sure what. But she trusted Spike. She knew he'd keep her little cousin safe if it ever came down to it and she needed that reassurance before she ran headfirst into a battle she knew she wasn't quite equipped to fight. He frowned as he settled a hand on her shoulder.
"Won't need to. I won't let anythin' bad happen to you," he said firmly. The conviction in his tone did little to ease the all consuming worry that was gnawing at her. Seeing the concern all over her face, he heaved a sigh and nodded.
"I promise," he murmured. She knew it wasn't easy for him. He had plans to protect her and didn't want to think of anything bad happening to her, but she needed to know he'd do it.
"You're a good man, Spike. And I know… I haven't made things easy with all my issues and stuff but… I'm glad I have a connection with you," she admitted, fearing she'd never get the chance to tell him otherwise. His gaze softened then and suddenly his lips were on hers. Her heart felt like it exploded as she forgot to breathe for a moment. His lips moved against hers and she snapped out of her stupor, kissing him back fervently. Like a goodbye. When he moved away, she blinked up at him in awe for a moment. She felt tears pricking at her eyes with the knowledge that it might have been their first and last kiss.
"Let's go!" Buffy called out, cutting the tension instantly. Kat turned away, blinking rapidly to clear the tears from her vision as she held her ax tightly. It was go time.
They all set off out and the air was thick with tension. Buffy walked with purpose at the front as the others all followed. They all knew this could be it for them, not sure who was going to make it out of this. They hadn't ever faced anything of this magnitude before. Yet they were all doing it. For Dawn. When they were almost there, Kat quickly grabbed Buffy's wrist, pulling her into step with her as Giles and Spike took up the front. Buffy looked at her curiously as Kat's mouth floundered. She felt the deep need to tell her cousin she loved her or some other sentimental shit but she couldn't seem to get the words out. Luckily, her cousin knew her well.
"I know," Buffy murmured, glancing at her with wide eyes, so full of emotion, Kat wasn't sure how she was holding herself together.
"We've got this," Kat breathed, her voice not conveying the sentiment as it shook.
"We do," Buffy agreed with a nod. "We save Dawn… at all costs," Buffy added softly, an anguished look crossing her features.
"At all costs," Kat murmured. Buffy took her hand as they walked, giving it a tight squeeze as they looked at each other for a moment. With one more nod, Buffy let go of her hand and moved back up front and Spike fell back behind to walk with her. Kat took a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly as she felt her heart hammer against her ribcage. She felt Spike's hand go to the back of her neck and glanced over to him as he rubbed it soothingly.
"We got this," he said firmly, giving her a pointed look. She guessed he could hear her heart going like a jackhammer.
"Funny, I just told Buffy the same thing," She snorted wryly, making him shoot a crooked grin her way.
"That's my girl," he smirked as the hand on her neck disappeared, replaced by his arm around her shoulder. He tugged her closer as they walked and placed a firm kiss to the top of her head. It made her smile despite it all.
They finally reached their destination. The ritual was happening on some rickety tower where Dawn was at the top and everything descended into chaos. Glory had a lot of minions and they all fought to make their way to Dawn as Buffy went to deal with Glory. Kat was overwhelmed. So much was happening around her, it was hard to keep track. She swung her ax, not feeling any guilt when she hacked and sliced at the minions. The only thing on her mind was Dawn and how they needed to get to her before her blood was let. There was no other option. A minion ran at her wailing like a banshee and Kat yelled, swinging the ax with as much force as she could muster and taking its head clean off. A sword suddenly flew right by her head and she whipped around with wide eyes to see it buried in the chest of another minion she hadn't realized was creeping up behind her as Spike ran over and yanked the sword out roughly. He shot her a rogue smile and she nodded in thanks. He threw himself back into the fray, making quick work of anyone that got in his way. Her eyes frantically swept around, trying to keep track of everyone and making sure they were okay in the madness they were in the middle of.
When her eyes landed back on the stairs, she saw a chance to get to them and took it, running like her life depended on it as she ascended. She was breathless as she got to the second flight of stairs but didn't slow down. Suddenly a demon was in front of her and before she had a chance to swing her ax, she was flying over the railing. It felt like her stomach was trying to escape out of her mouth before she hit the floor with a sickening crack. She cried out in blinding pain, her whole body hurting but it was her clearly broken leg where the pain was worse. She also thought she might have some broken ribs. The pain was all consuming and felt ready to throw up.
"Kat!" Spike yelled, slicing his way with the sword through the demons to make his way to her. She was off to the side as she tried to get up desperately but the pain seemed to seep into every inch of her. She didn't want to be useless and here she was, too broken to do anything. She hated herself. He got to her, dropping to his knees as his eyes scanned her body, hands hovering over her.
"Just get Dawn," she pleaded through her broken sobs. He and Buffy were the only ones who really had a chance here. She'd tried her best but it wasn't enough. The stairway was now blocked with more demons that seemed to multiply like bunnies. She'd had her chance and she'd blown it. He glanced to the tower before back at her, hesitant to leave her so vulnerable like this. The demons could come after her and there wouldn't be a damn thing she could do to defend herself.
"Please, save her!" Kat begged desperately. She didn't even recognise her own voice through the pain and panic that was lacing it. He swore under his breath before he called out to Willow to come over to her. The witch rushed over with Tara in tow, seemingly better now.
"Protect her," he ordered roughly. Willow nodded before muttering and waving her hand, parting the sea of Glory's minions so Spike could make his way to the tower. Kat's heart was thumping in her chest at not knowing what was happening and that she couldn't help.
Tara crouched next to her, worryingly looking at her broken leg. Kat's eyes were glued to Spike though as he got to the top of the tower, fighting with Doc who they'd all assumed was dead. It all happened at once. Spike got thrown from the top of the tower and Kat called out for him as she sat up, moaning at the pain she felt as she did. He got back up, not too badly hurt and he'd heal a lot quicker than she would. But then the portal opened and dread swallowed Kat whole as she stared at it. It was too late. Dawn's blood had been let and now it was all over. It was only then that she noticed Buffy at the top of the tower with Dawn. She couldn't hear what they were saying but then Buffy ran to the edge of the tower and flung herself into the portal.
"No!" Kat's piercing wail seemed to echo in the night as Buffy's body plummeted and collided with the concrete. Kat's eyes were wide. Heartbreak ripping through her entire being and hurting more than her physical injuries as she stared at her cousin's lifeless body. She was gone. Buffy was dead.