Bloody danger

This used to disgust Buffy. She remembered preparing Spike's blood at Giles' house; it had been disgusting. But as she descended into the basement, she realized that had changed. Her hands clutched the mug, allowing the blood to warm her hands with a tender heat; it was only food now, nothing more. A gasp escaped Buffy as she stared at Spike, asleep in his cot. His hair was enviously shiny and he looked angelic with his features calmed by sleep. The covers were loosely bunched around his waist, but as her eyes trailed down his form of their own accord, she easily filled in the blanks. She placed the mug on a nearby table, and ran her fingers tenderly through his hair. Spike purred and Buffy continued her ministrations, her heart fluttering as he purred like an over-grown kitten. His blue eyes fluttered open, drowsy as sleep lingered, and his happiness at seeing her was almost child-like in its innocence. Then as he became more alert the conflict of love yet a cautiously wary look entered his eyes.

"Buffy?-"

"I brought you some blood."

Spike pulled himself up, and a hungry gleam appeared in his eyes as Buffy passed him the mug.

"Anything else Pet?"

It was obvious he didn't want to eat in front her but was having a hard time holding back.

"Spike, you don't have to wait. It's just food. No one died for it, no additional harm came to the pig, its food. I get that."

Buffy could feel Spike's blue eyes probe hers deeply, trying to figure out her change in attitude, but he didn't hesitate long, and he swiftly downed the blood in huge gulps.

"Just the spot Slayer."

"Buffy,"

She corrected him, tired of how distant he was

"It's Buffy."

Spike's eyes narrowed slightly and became more guarded.

"Buffy, what is - OW!"

Buffy fixed Spike with a confused look.

"Ow?"

A pained emotion slowly built up in Spike's eyes, and he subconsciously tilted his face towards her.

"OW, OW, OW - OH GOD!"

Spike's hands flew to his head, and his face screwed up in agony. Spike hid his face in his hands and he emitted horrible whimpers. With Spike's face hidden by his hands, Buffy couldn't tell what was going on, or how much pain he was in. She placed a hand on his arm, her heart beat racing almost out of control.

"Spike! What is it? Talk to me!"

Spike slowly moved his hands away, they came away scarlet from the blood dripping out of his nose.

"The chip... But why? Why would it-"

The rest of his sentence was ripped from him as a truly eardrum bursting scream filled the cellar. Buffy barely had to time to acknowledge this was all happening, before scarlet liquid gushed down Spike's face again. Spike tried, in vain, to stop the flow, but the blood trickled out between the gabs of his fingers and he groaned in agony. Buffy forcing herself out of her paralyzed state, and gently guided Spike back down to the cot. She ripped her top, exposing a tanned midriff, before using the material as a tissue in an attempt to stem the blood flow from Spike's nose. Spike looked at her, his eyes terrified and full of agony, when his body slumped and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Buffy stood there shocked to the core, barely registering that the events were actually happening. Cautiously, she lessened the pressure she was applying to the blood-drenched material, and to her relief the bleeding had subsided. But as she looked at her bloodied hands, and the drenched material, she knew he must have lost at least a pint; a pint just like that, so quickly... Left alone like that for 10 minutes or so... Buffy shook her head, and dropping the useless material to the floor, she hurriedly soaped her hands clean. Spike had mentioned something about the chip, something was wrong, she just needed to find out what was wrong exactly and then fix it. The alternative was too bleak for her to even think of considering.

"Willow, what do you remember about Spike's chip?"

Willow took in Buffy's slightly haunted expression, and felt something cold shiver up her spine.

"Not much, turns out when the government secretly kidnap and experiment on demons, they don't publish their findings on the web... What's happening?"

"The chip, its firing all by it's self."

Willow looked at Buffy helplessly, then in trepidation as a hopeful gleam shone in Buffy's jade eyes.

"The bullet!'

Buffy started,

"I was dying and you saved my life, you moved the bullet out of me... You could do the same to Spike!"

"Buffy no-"

"Listen to me, we can make a small incision and your magic will take care of the rest."

"Buffy I can't! I'm sorry; I really am but Buffy you have no idea what this could to do me! What if it takes me over?! If I lose control! I couldn't bear it!"

Buffy stiffened, her eyes unforgiving.

"And I can't bear the thought of Spike dying. If he dies I'll never forgive you Willow. If he dies I want you out, out of my home, my life, out of Sunnydale!"

With that Buffy whirled around and slammed the door to the basement behind her.

"Buffy, please don't."

Buffy ran quickly down the stairs at Spike's cry, to his side, cradling his practically limp dangling hand in her own.

"Don't what?"

"Don't blame Red, she's - I don't want her putting herself at risk just to save me."

"Just to save you? Just? Spike how can you say that?"

"Buffy, have you ever thought that perhaps I just wasn't meant to last this long? Another thing we have in common pet."

Buffy shook her head.

"No Riley and his stupid scientists did this to you, and they're gonna fix it or they're gonna have one pissed off Slayer on their hands."

Riley knocked on Buffy's door anxiously; his marriage had completely fallen apart because he had returned here last year. Seeing Buffy again had re-awoken the love he had vowed to bury and leave to rest. She had haunted his dreams since then, and now the phone call could only mean one thing, - right? The door opened and a somber Buffy answered. Her hair was long and flowing again, although she appeared to have splatters of blood on her face and clothes, and her top was ripped, roughly done by hands in a rush and violent movement.

"Buffy!"

Riley greeted in concern and wonder. Buffy coldly nodded, and moved aside allowing him to enter. The door closed behind him.

"It's Spike...-"

A dark shadow passed over Riley's face.

"Spike?!"

He spat the name from his lips.

"You brought me here to deal with Hostile Seventeen!!"

Fury erupted behind Buffy's jade eyes, and Riley swore he saw her hand curl into a fist, but slowly her slender hand relaxed, her eyes did not.

"It's Spike, William the Bloody, or William in this house. Not Hostile Seventeen."

"Whatever! I've dropped everything! Put my life on hold for you because you needed my help now I want answers!"

Buffy sighed, and some of her anger faded.

"I know, and I'm grateful, but Riley this is just business, we're finished."

Hurt flittered across Riley's face, but Buffy found she didn't care; he had been stupid to assume her phone call had meant a reunion of some sort.

"What do you need Buffy?"

Riley gritted out, barely keeping his Iowa-boy politeness intact.

"I need you to fix the chip, Spike's chip! It's misfiring all on its own and it's-"

"Killing him."

Riley finished softly, at Buffy's nod, he continued harshly,

"Good riddance!"

This time Buffy did punch him in the nose, and for the second time that day her hand got blood on it. Riley let out a pained exclamation and unconsciously backed away.

"He's a better man than you'll ever be Riley! This is it, after this I don't ever want to see or hear about you in my town ever again! Your organization did this to him and if you don't fix it you'll be leavin here with more problems than you came with."

Riley straightened his spine, his eyes narrowed and he looked down on Buffy.

"Are you threatening me?"

Buffy unfazed by Riley's threatening stance simply, looked him squarely in the eyes.

"Yes I am."

Riley nodded, and made towards the door before Buffy yanked at his shoulder and sent him flying backwards and onto his back.

"You used to hate me holding back, it used to make you feel less of a man... Well I assure you Riley, I won't be holding back for long."

"You wouldn't-"

Buffy aimed a savage kick at his stomach and Riley swore, he was certain a few ribs had been broken.

"You help me Riley or you'll be begging for a vampire to finally finish you off."

"What's happened to you?"

Riley choked out, as he spat blood onto the floor. Buffy threw him a disgusted look at that.

"I've stopped pretending, oh and Riley in the choice of spit or swallow - its swallow."

Hey! I'm sooo sorry for the gab in updating. But hopefully this chapter will make some of it up! Let me know what you think good and bad reviews welcome! And I'll try and update sooner!

Regards

Lisi the slayer