Please Don't Leave Me

Chapter Three

"So you're telling me I'm broke?" Buffy asked

"Not yet" said Willow

"But money is definitely becoming an issue" Tara told her

"Yeah as in you're almost out of it" Xander quipped

"But I haven't spent any money… I've been all dead and frugal" Buffy frowned

The gang proceeded to tell her about the hospital bills from her mother's care and the fact that just keeping the house standing there was costing her money. This was a headache Buffy definitely did not need. She had only been back for a few weeks and it seemed like real life stuff was slowly but surely coming back to bite her.

Buffy had been in a foul mood all day, trying to figure out a way to pay off all the money she owed to various different establishments and still look after Dawn, keep a roof over their heads and avert the occasional apocalypse. 'Maybe Anya was right,' she thought to herself.

Buffy found herself in the middle of the graveyard when she felt a familiar tingle on the back of her neck.

"Hello, Spike," she said, turning to face him.

He said, lighting a cigarette, "Well you sound very chipper; what's wrong?"

"Apart from world hunger?" she asked.

He rolled his eyes and inhaled his cigarette.

She said as she sat down on a stone bench. "I had an interesting conversation with the gang today...apparently, I'm broke."

"What now?" asked Spike.

"So apparently Mom had really good insurance, but the hospital basically said "I'll take that," and poof, no more safety net for Buffy" She sighed. "I was fixing to get a loan, but darn the luck, you need actual real income for that."

He asked, "How much do you need?"

"More than a few thousand," she shook her head in dismay.

He said, "I've got money."

"What? From your ill-gotten gains?" she asked.

"No! Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't always like this. My parents were well-off, and I made some pretty good investments"

"You're a trust fund baby?" Buffy stifled a giggle.

"That's it, yak it up Slayer," he pouted. "Do you want the money or not?"

She said, "You're serious?"

He gave a nod of agreement.

"No, I couldn't ask you to do that" she told him.

"You're not asking, I'm offering."

Buffy paused for a moment. "No, I need to set a good example for Dawn. I need to get a job or start charging."

"Charging for what exactly?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Slaying… get your mind out of the gutter," Buffy huffed.

"Hey," he said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Your poor choice of words."

Buffy laughed and Spike smiled brightly at her. It was the first time since she had come back that he had seen her genuinely laugh. He looked at her with pure amazement.

"What?" she asked finally, noticing his staring.

He smiled at her and said, "It's nice to hear you laugh again."

"Thank you," she smiled back.

He asked, "How are the dreams?"

"Getting fewer and farther apart… I'm past the worst of it," she told him.

She lied; she wasn't past the worst of it, and what's more, he knew it too.

"C'mon, walk with me," he said, holding out his hand.

"Where are we going?" She asked, ignoring his outstretched hand.

He smirked and said, "You'll see."

XXXXX

They rounded the corner and finally got to their destination. Buffy stopped in her tracks as Spike walked on a few steps before noticing she wasn't beside him.

"What's the matter luv?" He asked

"A demon bar? Really?" She sighed

"You'll be fine Slayer" he assured her

"In a demon. Bar?" She asked

"You're with me, don't worry" Spike said taking her by the arm and leading her in.

Spike swung the bar door open as Buffy looked around. The music was loud and indistinguishable, the room was dimly lit with splinter laden wooden tables and chairs.

Buffy's senses were in overdrive; she scanned the room. "Gloppy demons at three o'clock," she told herself. "Vamps in the corner."

"We're not here for that tonight luv" Spike whispered in her ear

He grabbed the bottle of whiskey he'd ordered from the bartender with two glasses and ushered her to a booth in the corner of the room.

"What are we doing here?" She asked

"I thought you needed a night off" he told her pouring two glasses of amber liquid

"A night off?" She frowned at the glass he'd handed to her as she sat down next to him. "Getting drunk isn't really my thing, Spike."

"Just to take the edge off Pet" he told her as he downed his first glass

Buffy thought for a moment 'Meh… can't hurt' she told herself as she brought the glass up to her lips and drank it.

Spike smiled as she grimaced

XXXXX

Spike introduced Buffy to a floppy-eared demon named Clem about an hour ago. Several shots of liquor later, Buffy challenged Clem to a game of pool. Neither of them were any good; Buffy hit the balls with such force that several of them went flying off the table.

Spike sat chuckling as he watched Clem scurry around trying to find each ball. Buffy stumbled over to the table, knocking a beer bottle over as she did so.

"Having fun, pet?" Spike smirked.

She smiled and said, "You know, I think I am."

He asked, "And you're surprised by that?"

Well, yeah... Before I- well, you know..." she said, inching closer to him. "I wouldn't have even followed you here, and now it's like we're best buddies," she laughed.

"Best buds, eh?" he asked, his face just a mere few centimeters away.

Buffy pulled back with a strange expression on her face.

He asked, "You alright, Slayer?"

She said, "I think I'm gunna-" and then proceeded to throw up all over his boots.

"Bloody hell!" Spike exclaimed, his voice heavy with concern. He supported her as she heaved and more vomit spilled from her mouth.

Clem looked at Buffy and said, "He doesn't look so good."

"Ya think?" Spike rolled his eyes.

XXXXXX

With the help of Clem, Spike managed to get Buffy home. Clem made his excuses and left quickly. Spike helped Buffy up the stairs and into her bedroom.

He placed her gently on the bed and she flopped backwards with a giggle.

"Shh, Slayer," he whispered. "You'll have the whole sodding house awake."

Buffy zipped her lips and smiled. He smiled back and pulled her boots off before pulling back the covers. She crawled up the bed and settled in.

"Are you going to tuck me in?" She asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Spike sighed and pulled the sheets over her. "I'll go get you some water."

Spike snuck back down the stairs and into the kitchen where he was met with Tara sitting at the kitchen island with a glass of milk in front of her.

"Spike?" She asked "What are you doing here? Is Buffy okay?"

"She's fine… just pissed is all" he grinned "I put her into bed, just getting her some water"

Tara nodded curiously.

"Uh glasses?" He asked

"Third cupboard on the left" Tara told him

He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and ran the faucet filling the glass with water. "You got any Tylenol? She's going to have a wicked headache tomorrow"

Tara stood up and, rummaged through a kitchen drawer. "I'll grab some," she said.

"Thanks" he smiled gratefully

Tara found the medicine bottle and handed it to Spike "Is she okay?"

Spike shrugged "Just one too many drinks, she'll be fine in the morning"

"You know what I mean" she said with a worried look on her face

Spike thought for a moment before he spoke "She's just adjusting to life again"

Spike saw how genuinely worried Tara was. He patted her shoulder gently "She's tough, she will be okay" he told her

"Thank you for helping her," smiled Tara. "Goodnight."

XXXXX

Buffy lay in her bed, she'd fallen asleep half clothed. Spike placed the glass of water and medicine on her bedside table and pulled the sheets over her once again.

She stirred "I'm sorry about your boots" she said softly

Spike sat on the edge of the bed and smiled "I'll send you the cleaning bill"

"Sure, I'll pay with Monopoly money" she smiled

"Take the money Slayer. I've no use for it and it will help you and the Nibblet out" he told her

"Spike" she sat up trying to argue

He warned, "I'll find a way to pay your debts off."

She relented "Okay… but I'm paying you back once I have a job"

"Deal" he lied, he didn't want her to pay him back. "Now drink your water and I'll check in with you tomorrow"

He started to stand, she pulled at his sleeve "Don't go" she told him "Don't leave me"

"Buff-"

"Stay with me… please" she pleaded with him

He looked at her, she looked so innocent and vulnerable. He sighed "Okay" he said taking off his leather duster and hanging it on the back of Buffy's vanity chair.

Buffy moved over in the bed and pulled the sheets back gesturing for him to get in.

"Are you sure about this Buffy?" He asked

She nodded "I just want one night where I don't dream"

He wanted to sleep next to her of course he did! Inside his heart was singing his brain however was nervous. He didn't want to fuck this up. He took his boots off and slid between the sheets.

It was awkward at first both of them lay there looking up at the ceiling neither daring to move.

"Spike" said Buffy, rolling on her side to look at him

"Yeah?" He rolled to face her

"This is totally weird and you can say no but… would you hold me?" She asked

He studied her face, she had sobered up considerably since leaving the bar. But still she was in an inebriated state, he didn't want to take advantage. "I want to but…" he trailed off

"I just thought that with you here and if you held me maybe I won't get the bad dreams" she shrugged

"Okay" he sighed.

She sat up slightly as he slipped his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest "is this okay?" She asked

He nodded "yeah" he said his voice barely above a whisper

She smiled as she closed her eyes