Spike didn't have time to think about Buffy. He didn't have time to think about anything that wasn't Dawn/Glory related. The moment the God had torn through the wall and demanded to have her key, Spike knew the game was coming to a close. Glory was never going to wait forever. He'd known that all along. And as May grew closer and things got worse, the dread that filled his stomach grew with it.

With Buffy's injuries and Tara's... Tara, it had been obvious that the end was coming.

And then Tara had opened her mouth and doomed them all. The words were in the air. Bright green energy. And then they were running. He didn't think about Willow or Tara. They didn't matter in that moment. All that mattered was getting Dawn away from there. He grabbed her arm and practically dragged her down the stairs and out of the campus.

He heard Glory come bursting through concrete and the scared shouts of the other students. It was no use, she would catch them. Spike felt Dawn falter behind him.

"Will! I can't!" Dawn's breath was ragged but they couldn't stop.

Instead he threw Dawn over his shoulder and carried on going. As fast as his legs would go. Just run. He had to keep running.

Then Glory was on them and he put Dawn down behind him. He would die before she laid one hand on his sister. The God stood in the middle of the road half congratulating herself, half ranting about how much Spike had got in her way so far. Spike let the God talk. Any stalling was good.

And then he saw it. Anticipation ran though him. They had a chance. A slim one. It's probably wouldn't keep her down long but maybe enough to get out to sight.

"One word for you, luv." Spike smirked. "Truck."

Glory turned and the truck slammed into her sending her flying. Spike picked Dawn back up and was off without a second look. He didn't stop running for ten minutes. Eventually Dawn's insistent screams and swats broke through and he put her down and caught his breath.

"I don't think Glory's following."

There was brick dust in her hair and the shoulder of her shirt had torn. There was tear tracks running down her cheeks. Spike looked up and checked their surroundings. A pay phone on the other corner of the street caught his eye.

"Come on." He jogged over, digging in his pockets for some change.

He made a quick call to the Magic Box and told everyone to meet him at Xander's. Once he'd hung up Spike looked around to get his bearings. Then he started walking.

"Come on." He said over his shoulder again.

Dawn's footsteps echoed around the empty residential area. It was the middle of the day and everyone was off at work or school.

"Where are we going?" Dawn noted they were not heading in the direction of Xander's.

"Fetch the back-up." Spike caught Dawn smile.

It was good to see but he couldn't let himself right now. He had to stay strong. And Hard. Because if he let himself feel, he'd slip and Dawn would die.

The action of death. The blood cry. The penetrating wound. He was starting to get it. No speech. No name. Just destruction. Absolute. Alone. Death was his gift.

8888888888888888888888

When the Slayer said they were running, Buffy almost didn't believe it. If it weren't for the look on his face, so determined, so hard and rigid. She didn't argue. She could tell he didn't need to hear it. This was War Slayer. Even the vibrations running through her body, warning her the Slayer was near, seemed stronger.

She suggested a car. Just the Slayer, her and the Nib. But no. Had to drag the whole crew with them. So off she went to find something big enough to carry eight. While it was broad daylight. With only an hour or two to spare.

But Spike asked so Buffy did.

She had to call in a few favours but she'd managed to get her hands on a Winnebago. She quickly blocked out the sunlight as best she could with tinfoil and picked up Spike and Dawn. The Slayer directed her to where the Scoobies were waiting. Squinting through the gap she'd made, Buffy saw the huddled and jittery group.

Buffy couldn't help the defeatist thought that ran through her head. So these are the troops. It didn't help that when she pulled up and opened the doors, she was greeted by a scowling Giles.

"What's she doing here?"

Buffy snorted. What did he think she was doing here?

"Oh you know. Nice day, I was thinking walk in the park. Little sun tanning." Buffy replied dryly.

"Out." And he made to grab and pull her out of the Winnebago.

Spike appeared at Buffy's shoulder and spoke curtly to her Watcher.

"She's here because we need her."

"Like hell we do." Xander snipped.

"If Glory finds us she's the only one besides me who can protect Dawn." He stepped off the bus and grabbed at their bags.

"Spike, come on-" Xander insisted.

"This isn't up for discussion Xander. Just get in the van. She stays." Spike stomped back in and the others followed.

Buffy couldn't keep the smirk off her face. He hadn't quite said he needed her but it was close.

"Buckle up kiddies. We'll get this show on the road." Buffy closed the door and pulled away, heading for LA.

The Slayer didn't seem to have a plan beyond that but that was okay. She had options. Once they got to LA there were places she could take them. They could head down to the dock and find passage to Europe. She had more contacts over there. Spent most her life on the continent.

Maybe he'd want to stay on the road. Make haste for the other side of the country. New York. Florida. Hell, he might want to head down Mexico way. But even as they passed the Sunnydale border and Rupert insisted on taking over driving, she didn't raise any of these thoughts.

Spike had left to sit in the bedroom in the back. Buffy had heard him open the blinds in there, a clear sign he didn't want her company. Instead she was left to listen to the wittering of the Scoobies. Anya was trying to make out that this was just some family road trip. Were we there yet? Really? Buffy almost couldn't believe it had come out of her mouth.

"Should have stolen the Porsche I had my eye on. Just enough room for me, you and big bro." Buffy leant in and whispered to Dawn conspiratorially.

Xander, who was trying not to puke, gave her a annoyed glare.

"What?" She asked.

"Just give it a rest or-"

She snorted. "Or you'll what? Toss your cookies on my shoes?"

"Or you'll be Undead Woman Walking. See how far you can hitch with a flaming thumb." Xander raged.

It was times like this that she really missed being able to hurt humans. Xander, 'donut boy', Harris would never speak to Buffy the Master Vampire like that. He'd whimper and wet himself. Instead she had to put up with this.

"Fine." Well, not completely put up with it. "Shrimp."

The boy got even more green and got up to sit with Giles. Buffy couldn't help but think good riddance. Why couldn't the two of them see she could be helpful? That right now they could use her help. Instead Rupert and Droopy boy would be happy to throw her to the side of the road and drive away as she dusted.

As the natterings continued Buffy let her eyes drift closed. Spike had woken her up when he burst in looking for a ride out of town. The sun was up and she could feel it pressing her to sleep. But she wouldn't let herself. Not till they were somewhere more secure. She'd just rest her eyes and block out the rest of them.

Buffy listened to their heartbeats. Focusing in on Spike and Dawn. She let the steady cadence lull her.

Suddenly sunlight hit her and she jumped back, holding up her arms to protect her face.

"Hey!" She yelped.

"Tara! No." Willow shouted, rushing to put the blinds back in place. "What did I tell you?"

But instantly Tara burst into tears. Proper full sobs that only a child could make. Willow wrapped her arms around her.

"No Shhh... I'm sorry. It's okay." Willow looked around at the rest of them, lip wobbling. "She didn't mean it. She doesn't know what she's doing."

"We know." Dawn whispered.

"Hey don't worry." Buffy showed Tara her hands. "See, stopped smoking already. You go ahead and play peek-a-boo with Mr Sunshine. Stop the trip getting boring."

Tara looked her way but Buffy could tell she wasn't really seeing her. She'd seen that faraway look in Angelus' eyes too often not to. Tara turned back to the blinds and Buffy put some distance between the two of them.

"All light...gone." Tara said sounding as though she would weep again.

Willow tried to reassure her. And so did Dawn. But the Bit looked as though she were about to burst into tears too. Buffy couldn't have that.

"Why don't you go check on your brother?" She said nodding to the back.

The Slayer had been in there too long. All on his own. Buffy wasn't going to let that happen either. He needed to stay connected. Remind himself what he fought for. Because that was why he was the best Slayer she'd ever seen. Because the rest of them, they fought to keep the world safe. A world they weren't really part of.

But Spike was. He had a Watcher who gave two figs and a little sister who needed him. Friends. That was why Spike won. Again and again. Buffy just hoped it would still be enough.