Chapter 9

All the girls left sat in the gym. They were all shook up form the loss of slayers that night. It wasn't an ordinary patrol, it was a massacre. They had lost five girls that night and the rest were shaken up. All except Madison, she had been the hero of the hour. She had killed most of the vamps, however some had gotten away.

Faith entered the gym; she had a hard look on her face. It was obvious she blamed herself. She was followed by Spike.

"Girls." Spike said. "I know you lost some girls tonight, but don't give up. You are all strong and if you give up at the first hurdle, you will never know how strong each and everyone of you are." He paused and looked at Madison, she smiled at him and he gave a tired smile back.

"I want you to get some sleep tonight, and in the morning you can all have the day off. Now go and get some rest." Spike pattered Faith on the back and walked out.

"Now you heard him girls, go."

Spike sat in his chair; he had had a rough night when he found out what happened. Madison walked into his office.

"Hey." She said and Spike held his head up.

"Hey pet." He greeted back.

"You okay?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"Not really, because of me, five girls are dead. Now I have to be the one to tell their families." He rubbed his eyes trying to focus.

"Do it in the morning. You should get some sleep." Madison began rubbing Spike's shoulders. He liked it. She was so gentle yet tough at the same time. It was something words couldn't describe. Magical.

"Your right, I need some sleep." Spike said, he stood up and held his hand out for Madison.

"Are you coming pet?"

She stood up and took his hand. He led her to his apartment.

Part of him was hoping he could kiss her again, another part told him it wasn't right.

Once in the apartment, Spike turned on the TV in his bedroom and him and Madison watched it together until they fell asleep in each others arms.

Madison awoke to the smell of bacon. She looked beside her and saw Spike holding a tray of food.

"Breakfast in bed malady?" Madison laughed.

"You did this for me?"

"Oh, only for you." Spike climbed back beside Madison in the king-sized bed.

"Has it got brown sauce?"

"Yeah. The way you like it." Madison laughed and tucked into the food. Spike watched her, she was beautiful.

"We failed." One of the vampires said bowing down to her.

"Relax, get up." She ordered. "You haven't failed me. I now know the slayer's movements, how she fights. She will soon die."

"So, tell me everything." Madison was saying to Dawn. Dawn did. The pair sat for ages sharing gossip and details on their love lives. Madison didn't have one though. That much bummed her.

"Shame you couldn't stay longer." Dawn said as she hugged Madison at the door.

"Yeah, well Spike promised me a Chinese and I'm holding him to it."

"I don't understand why you two don't just go out." Dawn said forcing the smile form Madison's face.

"Because, we're friends." Madison defended herself.

"Madi, I'm not trying to get all critical on you, but you love him. You've told me that. And, from what I've seen he loves you. Just go for it."

Madison left, she was half in a rage but never let Dawn see that. Madison wondered whether Dawn was right. No, she couldn't be, they were friends, anything but a couple. Was they?

Madison needed to think about it.

"Hey, pet." Spike said as Madison walked into the apartment.

She dropped the keys on the side and sat next to him on one of the couches.

"Thanks." She said once he handed her a glass of wine.

"You hungry?" Spike asked standing up and walking in the kitchen.

"Yeah." Madison went to join him. "You make those calls today?" she asked making light conversation.

"Yeah, expect screaming mothers in tomorrow." Spike tried to laugh the subject off.

"Spike. I can't do this." Madison blurted out.

"What don't you like Chinese? Cause if not I could order something…."

"It's not the Chinese, it's us." Madison cut in leaving Spike really confused.

"Spike, we're too close. We're not a couple, we're just friends."

"Okay, you've lost me."

"Spike, your treating me like I'm your girlfriend. You stay in on nights with me, you cook for me, and you even wash my clothes and underwear. That's the stuff a guy does for his girlfriend. And I'm not."

Madison was just about to leave when Spike said something that totally shocked her and came out of no where. She stopped frozen.