They had split up into two pairs – Dawn and Spike, Xander and the bot – with Willow overseeing them.
Giles had indicated that it was a difficult night, so they had been tense and jumpy, but so far nothing had shown up. Dawn looked at Spike sideways.
"What", he asked, turning to her.
"Are you OK with the bot now? I mean is it any better?"
He gave her a smile and a small nod.
"Way better. Way easier to ignore it."
It was true. Since Red had overwritten the bot's programming it was way easier to forget how good it had felt. Way easier to image it was real Buffy who wouldn't even give him the time of day. Way easier to stay away from it. And he wasn't hurting all that bad anymore.
Dawn returned his smile.
"That's good."
"Yeah. It is. Thanks again, niblet."
And then all hell broke loose. Willow was shouting at them to get their asses over there, and when they reached the others Xander was already down. Six, seven, eight demons were coming at the bot from all sides. Spike signaled for Dawn to take out the one closest to them and then threw himself at the one attacking the bot from behind. Breaking its neck with one swift motion Spike moved in and took position back to back with the bot. They were fighting for their lives. Well, one unlife and one – whatever. For Dawn's and Willow's and Xander's lives. And for a long time Spike wasn't so sure they would make it. From the corner of his eye he caught Dawn beheading one, but then she went down. Miscalculating her own momentum again. She wasn't used to fighting with an ax.
"Spike!", Buffy yelled, and he turned at the last moment, ducked and let the bot deal with his attacker. He nodded once and took on the next one, realizing it was the last one. Correction. Last but one. The very last one was currently swinging a branch at the bot that look more like a whole tree – and he got her. Shit that looked bad. The bot went down and Spike jumped onto the demon's back, reaching for its chin with one hand and the back of its head with the other. The familiar crunching sound. Last one dealt with.
Xander was coming to, Dawn was getting up, Willow appeared from wherever she had been watching over them. The bot was still on the ground.
They limped back to the house, Spike carrying the bot. Don't look at her face. Don't think about what she feels like in your arms. Don't pull her closer than necessary. As soon as the Scoobies had taken the bot from him he left the house and made his way back to his crypt. This would be one of the 'drink more than usual' nights...