Spike woke up completely hung over. He barely remembered anything from last night, but the slender body curled up against his side gave him a pretty good clue. In the – admittedly dim – light of day he realized just how wrong that night had been. The bot looked like it was asleep. Probably ran out of power some time during the night, he figured. He needed to get it back to the Scoobies. He needed to get it away from him. He managed to carry it all the way to the Summers house, covered by his good old smoking blanket. He knew there were blisters on his hands and probably the back of his neck where the blanket had repeatedly slipped off, but he just couldn't get himself to care. He dropped Buffybot at the back door, knocked, and turned away.
"Spike?"
He closed his eyes for a moment. Crap. The niblet. Shouldn't she be in school or something?
"Come on in, you're going to burn yourself to death!"
She had a point. No way would he make it all the way back to his crypt without at least taking a break.
Spike had carried the bot upstairs into Buffy's room, and Dawn had plugged it in. Spike tore himself away from her door.
"How're you holding up, little bit?"
Dawn shrugged.
"Sometimes I can just pretend that she's – her. And then she says something so unbelievably stupid that I feel like slapping her, and it's as if I realize for the first time that she's gone. Only it keeps happening. I just don't get used to it."
"Give it time, niblet. It'll get easier."
Dawn snorted. "Don't tell me you really believe that."
I have to.
He didn't say it.
"Why did you do it anyway? Red, I mean, why did she put the bot back together?"
"Giles said we needed her. Patroling and stuff. Something about a vacuum attracting more beasties."
Spike smiled.
"I'm sure those were his exact words."
Dawn returned his smile. "I'm translating from Giles to English as we speak."
It felt good to see her smile, felt good to talk to someone. He straightened.
"Tell the gang I was here, and that I'm back amongst the not living if they need my help. You know, filling that vacuum and stuff."
He made for the door, but then he turned back.
"And Dawn?"
She looked up at the use of her name. He never did that!
"I'm sorry. I made a promise to big sis and I couldn't deliver. I should have protected you. I'm sorry I didn't."
She stood a little closer. "The way I remember it you really tried."
"Yeah well, tried wasn't enough as it turned out."
Dawn didn't know what to say. She felt like hugging him, but wasn't sure if he'd be OK with that. So she settled for a smile instead. He nodded once and left, careful not to expose any bare skin to the blazing California sun.