The Guest

Deciding finally to answer the door because whoever was on the other side was being extremely persistent she tightened the robe around her waist and headed into her living room to answer the door. Before opening it, she stood listening to the pounding hoping the individual would just go away.

She had just turned around to walk back into her kitchen when she heard a soft voice informing her he knew she was home. Slowly turning around, she closed her eyes and took in a deep cleansing breath. Placing her hand on the knob she turned it and pulled at the same time.

There he stood; Spike.

The teams bomb experts hands were safely tucked inside his jeans pockets and he now displayed a not so surprising bashful look on his face. He looked tired, dark circles under his usually expressive brown eyes, his infamous grin absent, his boyish dimples could still be seen however.

Donna wanted to tell him to go away but something in his stance told her if she did it would fall on deaf ears. Without saying a word she stepped aside opening her door wider as she did so and gestured for him to come in.

Her eyes followed him as he walked into her living room.

When he turned around their eyes met and he informed her he'd convinced Winnie into giving him her address and not be angry with her. That he'd insisted. She had been on the team long so she decided quickly not to hold any grudges against the dispatcher as she knew when Spike wanted something he usually didn't give up until he got what he wanted. She also knew that it probably hadn't taken him long as Spike had a heaping full of boyhood charm. He was like a puppy coming at you with a ball, just wanting to play. He'd just hang around until you finally took the ball from him and threw it for him to fetch.

Nobody could accuse her of being a motor mouth at the best of time, but tonight all show could come up with was a simple oh as she couldn't shake her surprise to see her team-mate standing in front of her. Of all the guys, Spike was the last one she thought would reach out to her. He was such a happy go luck guy she figured nothing would really ever get to him so therefore wouldn't really think of someone else needing some comforting.

She informed him that she'd been about to pour herself a drink and would he like one as well. He'd looked uncomfortable when he said he'd take one. She noticed he looked uncomfortable but didn't break eye contact with her.

She motioned for him to take a seat and walked across the room towards her kitchen. Once there she picked up her bottle of whiskey and continued pouring herself a drink. She reached into the cupboard and took down another class and poured another drink for Spike. Just as each hand picked up a glass she remembered she was in nothing more than her housecoat. Looking down at herself she did a mental head slap and moaned to herself. She walked into the living room to find Spike seated on her floral love seat looking a little lost. She offered him a glass and placed the other on her coffee table, telling him she'd be right back.

Once in her bedroom she quickly pulled on a pair of underwear, a pair of track pants and a hoodie before returning to her living room. She noticed Spike still looked just as uncomfortable as when she left the room and had downed half his drink.

She asked him what brought him by as she took a seat on the sofa.

Spike looked at the foot he had resting on his opposite knee before looking back up informing her that he just thought she might like someone to talk to.

She remained uncomfortable for some time while she and Spike continued with small talk, but much to her surprise, somewhere along the way, she opened up and before she knew it she was expressing her thoughts and feelings of the days events. Anger had been the first emotion she'd let her team-mate see. She confessed the overwhelming guilt she felt in killing a fellow police officer all the while saving the rights and life of a serial killer. Soon enough though her anger gave way to the pain once again.

She was amazed that allowing Spike to see her tears and vulnerability wasn't as awkward as she first thought it would be. She didn't know if it was due to Spike being another SRU member or if it was the man himself. In the end, she supposed it didn't matter. She had no idea how or when it happened, but eventually they were both standing and Spike held her while she sobbed. Again, not as awkward a moment as she thought it would be. Once she regained her composure she noticed she was feeling much better than before Spike had arrived.

When he told her he should get going she walked him to her door and thanked him for stopping by and that she'd see him in the morning. When she closed her door she turned her back and leaned against it. While she was feeling better and didn't feel awkward, she couldn't be so sure that the next day at work it would feel normal either. Deciding it really didn't matter because she was feeling much better she knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth and made a promise to herself that if Spike ever needed her she'd be there.