Sacrifice

Tara's metal bar smashed into Spike's with a loud, metallic clang. Where he'd gotten it from, she hadn't seen; why he was using one, she didn't know. 'The drugs must have muddled his mind,' she thought as she magically stopped Spike's beam in the air, ending its trajectory of colliding with her skull.

She knew her limits for using magic; knew which spells not to use. But, if she continued on like this, she'd get too close to what she'd felt outside. Those had been dark spells; necessary, but dark. I need to stop this…I need Willow. As she fought Spike, she realized how little time she'd had with Willow before they were once again inevitably separated. She needed her Willow tree by her side to feel complete.

"So, you've come to save the annoying brat. Well, blondie, I'm sorry to say it's too late for her." Spike sneered.

She felt a surge of energy from his taunts, the maternal instinct for Dawn taking over. Bursts of adrenaline-powered blows soon had Spike on the floor, weapon skidding on the cement away from him.

"You think you've bloody beat me, haven't you?"

Tara, ignoring him, moved to step over Spike to get to Dawn. Something hit her in the back of the head and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Spike looked up into the darkness that was the Ferrildi demon's shadowed face.

"Time is almost up! Soon there will be no closing the portal. My reign on this earth will begin!" Sagar let out a cackle.

A blinding light exploded in Spike's eyes and he grabbed his head, body convulsing in agony. This is worse than when I attack a human and the bloody chip fries my brain! That brought a realization. He had fought a human: Tara. Why had he fought her?

Another explosion of light, his body rocking on the cement. Then he remembered: the portal; Dawn; Tara; the Ferrildi demon. I bit Dawn! No wonder my brain is going on self-destruct mode!

He already knew what had to be done. Knew from proof; heck it had already been done twice in the past. It's what Buffy would want me to do.

His mind fought back. Oh, who sodding cares about that twit? All she is is trouble. A great big blonde sack of trouble.

Actually, she's quite petite...her small, narrow waist... He felt a tightening in his pants.

"Oh bugger," he said aloud.

"What?" queried Sagar, hood tilting downwards in a vague form of acknowledgement.

Spike stood up. "Oh nothing, it's just," he grabbed the demon's head. "I very much don't like you."

CRACK!

Just like that, the Ferrildi demon fell dead to the floor.

Spike walked over to the flashing portal, sparks bursting within the swirling lavender depths.

"I hate this world. It just ain't bloody fair."

Then he stepped into the magical mass, disintegrating into violet particles.

The portal closed with a buzz and Tara awoke.

She quickly assessed the situation. "No portal: check. Demon..." she kicked its head and it rolled on the broken neck, "dead: check. Spike: gone. But, whe-"

Then all at once, it hit her:

Spike sacrificed himself. To save the world.

Spike.

Because he had drank Dawn's blood, he had her blood inside him and was therefore able to close the portal, releasing his trapped soul to go down the final paths of destiny.

She heard a cough, and Tara focused onto the still suspended form of Dawn. Using magic, she loosened the bonds and laid Dawn on the ground. She brushed her hand across the bite marks, white particles of energy falling from her palm and closing the holes. Once again, Tara brushed the dark forces, and she cringed.

Dawn's face was only slightly pale; there was a small puddle of blood on the floor. It would be safe to take Dawn home now.

Thankfully, the teenager wasn't too heavy, and with a little assistance from magic, Tara carried her home.

Tara looked around the room. Xander and Anya sat next to each other on the couch. They all held mixed feelings about Spike's sacrifice.

"Well, I never liked him, so I say good riddance," Xander said sourly.

"How can you say that?" asked Anya. "He gave up his life to save Dawn, at least show some respect." She wasn't crying, but her voice did quaver.

Tara wasn't sure what to feel. She hadn't really known Spike very well. He had given up his life, but she felt neither hate nor love towards him. She was indifferent. It was sad he'd given up his life, but hadn't he done that already? He was already dead, so nothing had really changed, right?

The door burst open, and Buffy walked in, scowling. Willow trailed close behind.

"I told you already, it's not your fault she got away! I mean, who even knows where she is now!" Willow sounded exasperated, and she gave a little wave and smile to Tara as she followed Buffy into the kitchen.

Buffy grabbed a water from the fridge. "I know, but…that bitch! She kissed Angel. HOW COULD SHE KISS ANGEL?"

"Well…he was sleeping, so at least he didn't kiss back. That would have been all bad and stuff…"

"Not helping, Will."

"I know, it's just…there's nothing we can do. Drusilla will come back eventually, and we'll fight her like always. It's just the way things go. When you live on a Hellmouth, you kinda get used to demony things coming back again...and again."

"I guess you're right." She looked up as Tara walked in. "Hey Tara! Hold down the fort while we were gone? I'm sure nothing unusual -and when I say unusual, I mean totally usual- happened?"

"Well, actually...it's a long story. It can wait."

"Come on, baby, tell us!" laughed Willow, embracing Tara from behind.

"Spike attacked Dawn." Okay, not how I had planned to start out this conversation.

"He what?! I'll kill him!" exclaimed Buffy, grabbing her coat and heading towards the back door.

"Th-there's more. He'd been drugged, along with a couple other demons. They captured Dawn…th-they were going to use her blood to open another portal to hell."

Willow gasped behind her.

"I w-went to save her, and had to fight Spike; he had bit her."

Buffy growled.

She didn't want to say the next part; wanted to delay the inevitable. She knew Spike and Buffy had had a relationship, however unusual it was. "Spike's dead. He sacrificed himself to close the portal."

Shock came over Buffy's face. After a brief pause, she smiled again and said, "Well, I guess that saves me the trouble of killing him."

"You…you're not s-sad?" Tara stuttered, nervous.

"Why would I be? One less demon in Sunnydale always makes my day." Buffy jogged out of the room and up the stairs.

Dawn awoke. She heard crying. Throwing the covers off of herself, she stepped onto the carpet, creeping quietly toward the door. She opened it slowly, peering down the hall. The weeping was coming from Buffy's room. "What is she crying about?" Dawn whispered to herself. She walked down the hall and opened Buffy's door.

Her sister sat collapsed on the floor, rocking with sobs. She ran to her sister's side, hugging her. "Buffy...what's wrong?"

Her sister continued to cry, tears streaming down her face as her body convulsed.

"Is...is it about me? Are you crying because I almost died?"

Buffy sniffed through a sob. "Spike. Why'd Spike have to die?"

Dawn let go, standing up. "Of course. Why would you care about me? I'm just your stupid sister!"

Buffy wrenched out a moan. "Of course I care about you Dawn. But I loved Spike..."

"And you don't love me. I get it. I should have known. The only one who ever loved me was mom, and she's dead!" Dawn screamed, tears falling onto her cheeks.

"Shut up!" Buffy yelled at her. "Why are you always such a brat? Life isn't always all about you Dawn."

"Of course not. It's never about me. All you care about are the guys you're screwing!"

"Get out!" Buffy screamed.

Dawn let out a screech, then stormed out of the room, leaving Buffy to her sorrow.

Why? Why would Spike save her? He saved her...and killed me.

She laid back onto her side, curled her knees up to her chest, and cried herself to sleep.