I make my way back to the hotel and up to my room. I sit down on the edge of the bed, trying to figure out what Lorne had meant. Why wouldn't Spike come back? I lay back, my hand reaching for the skull ring on its chain around my neck. I slip a finger through it, enjoying the feel of it on my skin. I fall asleep with it cradled in my hands.
Early in the morning, before the sun is even up, I wake. Some noise, barely audible, grates on my nerves. I get out of bed, slowly. The sound goes away completely the moment my feet hit the ground.
I look around my room, trying to figure out what's going on. Maybe I really am going as crazy as I feared before. With a shake of my head, I decide to go downstairs.
Willow and a couple of the girls are sitting at a small table. I move to sit with them. "Morning." The girls respond, but Willow looks distant. She's lost in thoughts I can't even begin to fathom.
"Morning Will." Willow jerks and looks up at me.
"Oh. Sorry Buff. Just thinking about the ritual I have to do later." I nod and sit down. "The ingredients came in this morning. But it'll take a few hours to set up. I just wanted to eat something before I started." Again, I nod.
"There's no rush Will. Thanks for doing it." Willow nodded.
"I have to head back to London tonight. Something happened there, and they need me." I look at her, concerned. "No, no. It's nothing bad. They just need me back there. I'm going to send out another witch to take my place."
"Okay. Will you let me know if there's anything I can do to help?" Willow nods. I stand up to grab some food. Willow heads back upstairs and I try not to worry about her going back to London. Or the possibility that Spike might not come back. I finish my food and decide to take some time to train some of the girls.
:~:~:~:
Spike wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings. He is connected to an IV and a heart monitor. From the faint memories he had of the day before, he realizes where he is. He also remembers who he is.
"OH BLOODY HELL." He shouts, loud enough that a nurse comes racing in. He yanks off the electrodes connecting him to the heart monitor, which promptly let's out a blare of alarm. He's about to pull out the IV when the nurse stops him.
"Mr. Pratt. Control yourself. You're safe. But I have permission from Mr. Giles to restrain you if you get out of hand." The nurse places a restraining hand on his chest. The pressure, although light, is painful, and he stops struggling.
It takes him a few minutes to catch his breath again, as it comes raggedly. "What am I doing here?" He asks, pausing often to get more air.
"Mr. Giles insisted we take care of you. He will be down to see you when he is finished with his meeting." The nurse reattaches the electrode before leaving the room. Spike stares up at the ceiling. Did Buffy know he was there? If so, where was she? Not that he really expected her to be weeping at his bedside. Especially not after what he had heard about her and the Immortal. But still...one could dream, right?
He closes his eyes and imagines her there with him. His brain is still feverish enough that it almost feels real. He can almost feel her touch. "I love you." He isn't even aware he's spoken out loud, till a male's voice clears their throat.
"Well, glad to know you are not holding a grudge anymore, Spike." Spike opens one eye and sees Giles standing in the room. Well, standing is a bit of an exaggeration, as he is more leaning against a wooden cane.
"Oh come off it, Watcher." Spike struggles to sit up in the bed. "I would say you look good but..." Spike shakes his head. "Maybe you should sit down?" Giles nods and sits down in the chair Spike had just pictured Buffy in.
"I am here because...despite hating what you've done and the way Buffy seems to still be in love with you despite it all, I am here to help you." Spike looks at Giles with disbelief written on his face. "I know you have no reason to believe-" Spike interrupts him.
"You're right I don't! You tried to kill me. What do you want? No, wait. Let me guess. You'll help me in return for me disappearing?" Spike glares at Giles. Giles looks down, takes his glasses off, and begins to clean them on his shirt.
"I'm not in any shape to argue with you, Spike. I only want what is best for Buffy. And I have every reason to believe that, even as a human, you will prove a terrible distraction. And Buffy does not need any distractions right now."
"That goes both ways, Watcher. I am not in any shape to argue with you. But I will not disappear. If Buffy wants me around, especially now that I am human, I'm not going anywhere." Spike adds, quietly: "But I have been led to believe she has no reason to want me here." He closes his eyes. Giles coughs softly, and Spike opens one eye to look at him.
"Regardless, she is not in London at this point in time." As Spike starts to ask, Giles holds up his hand to silence him. "I am not at liberty at the moment to tell you where she is. It's a matter of life and death." Giles closes his eyes for a moment and draws in a breath. "You may stay here until she is supposed to return. After that, we'll decide where it is best to put you. I have a team of healers working around the clock. But as of yet, they aren't sure what kind of poison you were exposed to."
Spike sighs and nods. "I suppose I should say thanks." He leans back, feeling to lousy to fight, even though he is already planning ways to get out of the compound. He is vaguely aware when Giles leaves.
A little while later, the nurse comes back in and gives him a shot of something. Spike has no idea what it is, but a few minute later, his eyelids grow heavy. He falls into a deep sleep.