| Breaking Down the Walls by araedhel |
| Chapter #5 - Chapter 5 |
| Buffy sat next to Dawn. She was holding her hand. Sh hadn't moved for five hours. Spike walked up and slipped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I brought you some food, pet," Spike said, "You need to eat." Buffy glanced up at him, her eyes full of unshed tears. "What if she doesn't wake up?" she whispered. She was trembling in his arms. "She will Buffy, I'm sure of it," he said. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. "The doctors will call us if there's any change. You should go home and get some sleep." She reluctantly nodded. She kissed Dawn's forehead and left the room. Spike glanced sadly at his friend. He would find some way to fix this, he resolved. Dawn was not going to die. ~*~ When they got to Buffy's house, they found Willow waiting for them on the couch. "How is she?" Willow said, "Buffy, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?" Spike growled at her. "This is all your fault!" "She's in a coma," Buffy said quietly, "The only thing you can do now is...give up magic. It will ensure that nothing like this happens again." Willow's mouth promptly opened and closed. "I'll do it," she said, "I'll need help." "I'll support you," Buffy said tiredly, "Now we should all get some sleep." Willow nodded and thery all went upstairs. Spike closed and locked the bedroom door. Buffy sat down on the edge of the bed and began to cry,again. He sat down next to her. "It's all my fault!" she wailed. Spike searched her eyes for a moment. To his horror, he realized that she was serious. "How do you figure?" he asked, "If Willow made you think this way then I'm going to show her what happens to people who make my slayer cry." She smiled weakly. "I was so *sniffle* busy worrying about myself that I didn't notice *sniffle* that my best friend had become addicted to magic *sob*" "That is hardly your fault!" he exclaimed, "They pulled you out of heaven. Who wouldn't need time to recover from that!" "...but I'm the Slayer," she said. "That excuse is the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. Those fucking watchers have been using that excuse on their charges for centuries!" he exploded. He forced her chin up so that she was once again looking into his eyes. Then he said more softly, "Even the slayer needs time to be a human being. Whatever you or the council of Wankers may think, what you felt was normal. You are not to balme for this and you're not alone. Whatever happens, I'll stick by you. I love you, We'll get through this together. Now, I suggest we get some sleep." She silently nodded. She stripped her clothes off and crawled under the covers. Spike hesitated for a moment, uncertain of what he was expected to do. She motioned to him with one finger. He took his clothes off and spooned himself against her. He wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into his well muscled chest. Within minutes she fell asleep, exhausted from the events of the day. It didn't take long for Spike to follow her. ~*~ "I have to get a job," Buffy announced the next day, "Now I need to pay both Dawn's medical bills and the mortgage. The only place that I've found so far is...*cringe* the Doublemeat Palace." "I can pay the mortgage, pet, I have plenty of money form when I was human," Spike pleaded, "I don't want you working at some fucking fast food place." The two were facing off in the living room. They had been putting away every one of the magical items in the house. Buffy blinked at him for a moment. "You have money?" she said. "Several million, last time I checked," he said. "Then why do you live in a crypt?" "I just like the place," he muttered. "I still think I should get a job and the Doublemeat Palace is the only place hiring," she said. "I've got a good job for you," he said with a wicked smile, "You make me happy and I give you all the money you could ever need. You can go to college. I'll pay for it and ''Dawn's medical care. I'll also give you as much money as you want to go shopping, I dare you to find a downside to that." She gawked at him for a moment. "That is not playing fair and you know me too well," she said. Then she grinned. "The job sounds strenuous." "It is," he said curling his tongue behind his teeth, "Especially at night." "Pig," she said. "So...do you accept the job position?" he said. "I accept," she said finally. He grabbed her and kissed her hard. They broke apart reluctantly when Willow came down the stairs. "I Love you," he whispered. "My room's magic free," Willow said. "That's great," Buffy said with a forced smile, "I'm going to go to the magic shop and then I'll go check on Dawn." "Great idea, pet," Spike said, "If you get home early enough, I'll take you out to dinner somewhere nice." "I'd like that," she said with a dazzling smile, "See you later." They shared one last kiss and she walked out the door. Spike grabbed a mug of blood and heated it in the microwave. Then he grabbed the remote and flopped down on the couch. Passions was about to start and nothing, with the exception of Buffy and Dawn, would make him miss it. ~*~ Meanwhile, in L.A..... "We really need some help with Conner," Cordelia said. "Is there anyone we know that the kid doesn't already hate?" Gunn asked. "Well, there's always the Sunnydale gang..." Cordelia said. "That's our last resort," Angel said. "Angel-cakes, we need our last resort NOW," Lorne said. "Okay," Angel said resignedly, "I'll tell Conner. You should star packing. We're going to Sunnydale." |