Xander burst through the door of Spike’s crypt in a panic. “SPIKE!”
The watchful vampire stepped back as the door crashed open. The book he held in his hand fell to the floor. “Harris, what the bloody hell are you doing here?" “Some of us are a little bit busy and don’t have time to be concerned with whatever’s got your knickers in a twist. . . Xander was the last person he expected to see at his crypt, which meant something happened that he wasn’t going to like. “Is it Dawn or Buffy?”
“They’re in the hospital,” Xander said, as he met Spike’s eyes.
“Why?” Spike asked, jumping up and grabbing his coat. Both of his girls were in trouble? One, he could deal with, but two? Both of them needed him. Dawn had only been to the hospital once, right after her sister died and Spike did not like the visit they had had there. However, he had never known Buffy to be sick enough to go to the hospital. As far as he knew, Buffy didn’t get sick.
“Angelus…he…raped them.” Xander remarked sadly with a hint of anger but he couldn’t say anything else as Spike took off into the night. He sighed in frustration and took off after the vampire as fast as he could. He caught up to Spike right outside the cemetery as Spike was unlocking the door to the Desoto. “We found Buffy at the mansion and Dawn in an alley. Dawn was screaming for you.”
The blonde vampire turned to look at Xander with golden eyes. “Why are you not out looking for Tall, Dark and Forehead? That’s where I’d be,” he growled, his voice dangerously low.
“Buffy and Dawn asked me to get you,” Xander said, getting in the car, not waiting for an invitation. “So just drive and don’t ask questions.”
Spike had never taken orders in his life, with the possible exception of his slayer, so the car ride was filled with nothing but questions.
*******************************
At the hospital, Willow and Giles were with Buffy in her room. Spike ran into Buffy’s room first, his heart pulling him toward her. He left the whelp in the car, not bothering to wait for the boy when he came looking for his girls. He was speechless as he stared at Buffy’s broken body. There were tubes and wires everywhere, and a machine was beeping. He knew very little about hospital machines but he knew that Buffy was hurt, badly. The scent of her blood wafted in the air, faint, but it was still there.
Willow noticed Spike and went over to him. “They were both awake and they asked for you. But now they are heavily sedated on painkillers.” Willow glanced at her comatose friend. “I’ll give you guys some time,” she said, leaving with a protesting Giles.
Spike crossed the room and sat next to Buffy in the chair that Willow had vacated, his vampire hearing ignoring the rant that Rupert was having about him being alone with Buffy. “Pet? You need to wake up. The Whelp came to get me. Should have known something was wrong. Hadn’t heard from you for some time, thought I did something to upset you. Should have felt that something wasn’t right. He said Dawn asked for me. Red said you wanted me here too. Well, here I am,” he whispered, his voice catching. He picked up her hand and held it to his lips. A few tears slid out of his eyes, unsure of her condition. Her heart seemed to be okay but it wasn’t normal. The fear of losing her was catching up to him quickly but he couldn’t push it away as he had been able to in the past.
Something must have registered because Spike felt Buffy squeeze his hand. “Pet?”
Buffy grimaced as she was engulfed in pain. “Spike,” she whimpered, clutching his hand as much as she could in her weak state. Her eyes fluttered open and they were filled with tears and pain.
“Shhh… I know. You’re gonna be okay,” he breathed, kissing her hand. He was relieved she at least squeezed his hand even though she was weak.
Buffy tried to get up but Spike carefully pressed her back into the lumpy hospital bed. He was trying so hard not to hurt her or piss her off but with Buffy he never could tell. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
“Dawn, he . . . he has her. I need to go find her.” Buffy whimpered fearfully, as she struggled against him weakly. Why wouldn’t he let her go? Doesn’t he love Dawn too? He should be out looking for her not here trying to be a hero. “Let me go, Spike. I have to find Dawn. He’s going to hurt her.”
“No, she’s here,” Spike said, soothingly. “Harris said you both were here.”
“Is . . . she okay?” Buffy asked, not sure if she wanted an answer.
“I don’t know. I just got here,” Spike said, regretfully. “I don’t know where she is exactly but I’m sure she’s close by.”
“Go see her. Lemme talk to everyone else and send them home. Then I’ll tell you what happened,” she said.
“Don’t you think you should rest?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t you think you should do as I say and not argue with me?” Buffy retorted.
Spike sighed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll get your mates and then I will be back to make sure that you are resting. You’re in no position to be giving me orders, Slayer.”
Buffy looked up at him with a vulnerable gaze. She wanted to go home. She hated hospitals, but Spike didn’t know that and she had no intentions of telling him. He squeezed her hand before leaving. It wasn’t long before her friends were piled into her room. Anya had joined the group and Buffy wasn’t about to wait for Spike to tell her about Dawn.
“Has anyone seen Dawn?” Buffy asked, worriedly. “Is she okay? Is she hurt badly?”
“I was with her,” Tara said, shyly. “She’s doing as good as can be expecting. Her room is next door to yours.”
“But she’s okay?” Buffy questioned, looking at the blonde witch.
Tara sighed and ducked her gaze as Willow squeezed her hand. “She’s hurt Buffy,” she whispered. “I’m not going to lie. She’s hurt, but she’ll heal. Physically. Emotionally, you’re in for a ride with her.”
“What does that mean?” Buffy asked, tiredly.
Willow looked at her girlfriend then at her best friend. “Buffy, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. She’ll be okay. She’s a Summers.”
Buffy sighed in defeat. She was very tired but she doubted she would get any sleep in this place. The goodbyes between her and her friends fell upon unheard ears. Buffy just nodded and words fell out of her mouth without her even thinking. She was grateful when they finally left but she felt the absence in her room immediately.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!