Please Don't Leave Me
Chapter Nine
Buffy stirred and opened her eyes, Spike's arms were still lovingly placed around her.
"What time is it?" She asked him
"Not sure… sun's been up a while though" he told her
Spike pulled his arms from around her and she stretched.
"I hope Dawn is alright, I wasn't really expecting to leave her all night" said Buffy
"I'm sure she'll be fine luv, the Nibblet's tough" he reminded her
"Still… I better go check on her" said Buffy, reaching for her jacket that was at the end of the bed.
"I'll be there later to help her with her history homework" he told her
Buffy giggled a little
"What's so funny Slayer?" He asked
"Sorry" she stopped herself from laughing "It's just we're kinda like this oddball family now, I never would've guessed"
"You and me both Luv" he chuckled
"I like spending time with you Spike, you've made coming back a little easier" she smiled placing her hand over his.
"I'm glad I can help" he smiled back "Go on get back to Dawnie"
She gently squeezed his hand and went up the ladder. Spike laid back and pulled a cigarette out and lit it, his smile was beaming. He couldn't believe that she enjoyed his company. After all he had tried to kill her more than a few times and now he was a part of her life. Helping her and her sister, even the bloody Scoobies. There wasn't anything that could take this smile from his face.
XXXXX
Buffy just got home and passed Tara in the hallway. Buffy gave Tara a confused look and continued into the kitchen.
"Buffy! Uh, where were you, are you okay?" Asked Dawn
"I'm fine… I'm sorry I just… had a fight, you know the… all-nighter kind" said Buffy not wanting to admit she had spent the whole night in Spike's arms
"Figured. I knew that's why you didn't call. So, what's the big bad? Uh, should we be worried?" asked Dawn
Buffy looked around at Amy sitting beside her and Willow standing by the fridge.
"No. I mean, I, I think you guys are, are safe…Tara was here?" Buffy asked Willow
"I guess she stayed over with Dawn" Willow shrugged
"You guess? Where were you?" asked Buffy
"We went out, kinda lost track of time" Willow admitted
"Oh" said Buffy
"I never would have if I knew you weren't coming home" said Willow
"No, o-of course, I mean, you know, it wasn't ... intentional. And, you know, everyone's safe. You are, right? You're okay?" Buffy asked her sister
"Oh, yeah. I mean, um, I think my pancakes are burning, but..."
Willow looked over at the stove, walked slowly over and turned it off.
"Tara was making..." Dawn told them
"I've, uh ... I've gotta get some sleep" said Willow
"Yeah…" said Amy, getting up to leave "I should go home. Dad's expecting me"
"Okay. I'll call you later" said Willow
"Yeah, good" said Amy, heading out of the back door
"I'm gunna crash" said Willow walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"You sure you're all right? I'm sorry about everything" Buffy asked her younger sister
"It's okay. I'm totally fine, I think Spike is coming over tonight to help with my history homework" said Dawn
"Okay" Buffy smiled
"So you were at Spike's all night?" Dawn asked
"What?" Buffy asked
"I'm not stupid, I know you two are spending time together" said Dawn
"I… uh…" Buffy tried to find the words to explain
"Buffy, it's cool" Dawn smiled "I like Spike, he's cool and he helps out and stuff. If you two were getting closer I'd be fine with it"
With that Dawn, bounced out of the kitchen and out of the front door to school. Buffy stood in the kitchen dumbfounded, she hadn't realised it was so obvious that she was getting close to Spike.
XXXXX
Buffy entered the house. It was unusually quiet, she had spent the day with Xander & Anya trying and failing to find the freeze monster who eats diamonds. She was expecting to hear Dawn and Spike squabbling over something or another but there was nothing. It was silent, until she heard a noise coming from upstairs
"Hello?" Buffy frowned, she headed up the stairs and called out again "Willow?"
She reached the top, looked around the hall "Dawn?"
She heard a small noise coming from Willow's room. She entered the room and saw magic paraphernalia strewn around the floor. Buffy bent down to pick it up and she saw a person sneaking out from behind the door out of the corner of her eye.
Buffy whirled around, and grabbed the person, pinning her against the wall. It was Amy.
"What's going on?" Buff demanded
"Uh-oh" Amy chuckled nervously "Busted"
"Where's Willow?" Buffy asked shaking her slightly
"She said - she said I, I-I could-" Amy babbled
Buffy grabbed things she was holding
"Wait!" Amy protested
"What is this?" Buffy asked looking at the plastic baggie with herbs in it
"It's not what you think it is, it's sage!" Said Amy
Buffy finally wrestles it from Amy and sniffed "That is what I think it is" said Buffy tossing it aside "What's going on? Where's Willow and Dawn?"
Amy rubbed her arm nervously "I ... I saw - I saw her, but that was - I like your coat. When does the slayer find time to shop?"
Buffy shook Amy again, slamming her against the wall "So they didn't let you in?"
Amy smiled nervously "Not that they know of"
"What else did you take?" Buffy sighed
"Nothing" said Amy
Buffy slammed her against the wall again, causing Amy to groan
"What else?!" Asked Buffy
Buffy let go of Amy's arms and began searching Amy's pockets.
"Please! Please, I need this stuff. Willow wants me to have it, she understands" Amy begged her
Buffy removed several plastic bags and glass vials from Amy's pockets "Understands what? Breaking into someone's house for kitchen spices? No, I don't think so"
"You should. She's as bad as I am, worse…Bet she's at Rack's right now"
"Rack's?" Buffy asked
"A place. He does spells, heavy stuff…Willow's his new favorite"
"She's there?" Buffy asked slamming Amy against the wall again "With Dawn?"
"Ohh, don't shake me again, super strength. I think I'm gonna boot" Amy groaned
"Then tell me where this place is, and I won't" said Buffy
"Well, it's downtown, but it moves" Amy tried to explain
"What do you mean, it moves?" Buffy frowned
"It's downtown, I'm, I'm not sure where it would be tonight exactly-"
Buffy shook her once again "Tell me how to find it"
"You just kinda have to feel it out ... oh god, I think I'm gonna-" Amy put her hand over her mouth and rushed to the bathroom
"Buffy? You hear?" She heard Spike call up the stairs.
"I'm here!" she yelled back, making her way down the stairs
"Where's the Nibblet?" He asked
"With Willow, I think they're in trouble. There's this guy Rack?" Buffy explained
"Rack?" Spike frowned
"Yeah, he's, uh, some sort of-"
"I know who he is, he deals in magic. Black stuff, dangerous" Spike told her "Let's go"
XXXXX
Dawn had become increasingly concerned about Willow. She knew that she was into some heavy stuff but she didn't think for a moment that Willow would put her life in danger. She just wanted to get home, Soike was supposed to be meeting her there and Buffy would be home soon.
A demon had popped out at them a few moments ago and now somehow Willow was driving a stolen car just by using magic.
The demon continued running after the car. Willow sat in the driver's seat laughing
"What are you doing?!" Dawn yelled at her
The wheel magically turned in the direction Willow moved her hand, making the car veer crazily from side to side. Dawn held onto the sides of the car screaming. The demon continued to pursue them.
"Woo!" Willow laughed
Dawn stared at Willow, terrified. The car zoomed down the street and into an alley. Dawn continued screaming.
Willow looked over her shoulder "Take that, scuz-" before she could finish her sentence the car slammed into a concrete pillar.
XXXXX
Buffy and Spike had been walking the back alleys of Sunnydale searching for Rack's hideout.
It was written all over Buffy's face that she was worried for her sister and to a lesser extent her friend. She hadn't talked much since they left the house, only occasionally asking if he sensed anything.
"Where were you?" She asked him
"What?" He frowned
"You were supposed to be coming over tonight to help Dawn" she said
"I came by, saw the note Dawn left you on fridge" he shrugged
"She left a note?" Buffy asked
"Yeah, something about going to a movie with Willow" he told her
"Well maybe they are just at a movie" said Buffy
Spike shrugged again "Well if what Rat Girl told you is true, I'd say Willow is in too deep and has took the Bit on a jaunt to get jacked up"
Buffy sighed heavily "I suck at this parenting thing, she should be at home tucked up in bed not out god knows where with a magic junkie"
Spike stopped her from walking and grabbed her shoulders "You are a great mum, you do what you can"
"Thanks, but I'm not a patch on my mom" said Buffy
"She had years of practice Pet" he tried to reassure her
"Spike you're a better parent at this point. Dawn and Tara told me about the routine you guys had… I just feel like I'm failing at everything lately" she said tearfully
"I had nothing else going on… you have demons popping up at every turn trying to destroy the bloody world… and with recent… events…Cut yourself some slack luv" he comforted her
Before Buffy could respond they heard a huge crash. They looked at each other and both ran in the direction of the noise.
They turned the corner and saw Dawn being attacked by a demon.
"Dawn!" Buffy yelled tackling the demon and getting him away from Dawn
Spike crouched next to Dawn to look at her injuries. "Hey, Nibblet let me see"
"Please don't touch it" she cried
"Shhh, it's okay. I've got you" he soothed
The demon growled and snarled, but as he advanced towards Buffy, he began to tremble all over.
"*Now* you're scared?" Buffy shrugged "Better late than never"
Buffy frowned as the demon began to scream and steam came off of him. He dissolved into a shower of sparks and smoke. Willow stood there as the demon disappeared, sparks crackled out of her finger tips. Her eyes were completely black and she had blood on her face.
Buffy stared at her. Willow stands there panting.
"No, no!" Dawn yelled at Spike as he tried once again to look at her injuries
"Dawn" Buffy rushed over to her sister
Dawn was still on the ground cradling her arm against her stomach
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Uh ... He was after Willow, she made the car drive, don't!" Dawn sobbed
"I need to see, okay, let me see your arm" Buffy said softly
Buffy murmured reassuringly and tried to pull Dawn's arm gently away from her body. Willow rushed up.
"Dawn? Oh god, there's blood" said Willow panicking
"Okay, we need to get her to a doctor" Buffy said to Spike, completely ignoring Willow
"Is she okay? Is she okay?" Asked Willow
Buffy and Spike helped Dawn stand up "Back off, Will, I got her" said Buffy
"No, Dawnie!" Willow cried
"I mean it, stay away from her!" Buffy said firmly
Willow ran around in front of them.
"Dawnie! Dawnie, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, it was an accident! I didn't see, I'm so, so sorry" Willow cried
Dawn glared angrily at Willow, without a second thought Dawn slapped Willow across the face.
"Dawnie! Dawnie, don't!" Willow continued to sob
Spike looked at Buffy and sighed "I'll get Dawn to the hospital. You deal with her" he said with a tinge of anger in his voice
Buffy nodded and went back towards Willow.
"Nice little slap there Lil Bit" he said to Dawn proudly
"She deserved it" said Dawn, with venom in her voice
"I don't doubt it" he told her "C'mon let's get you to a doc"
"Sorry I bailed on our study date" she told him
"S'alright… I think you paid for it" he said pulling her in closer to him