Not Beneath Me 
 By MissKitty and Tasha (read authors note)

Story Summary: Begins at the end of the episode "Fool For Love" (Season 5).  What if Buffy hadn't kept completely silent when Spike sat down next to her?  What if she had asked him to stay and opened up to him, even a little?

Author's Note: Prologue - Chapter 6 were jointly written.  From then on Tasha only writes them.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  I will try to give accurate warnings, depending on the chapter, as I do plan for this to move from PG-13 through to possibly NC-17.  At the very least it will have R chapters.  They will be clearly marked.  There will be claiming involved at some point as well.  If you love Riley, don't read it because I never really liked him.  This is my first posted fiction from this genre.  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

Disclaimer: All characters originally created by Joss Wheadon and Mutant Enemy belong to them by all rights.  I just sneak them out of the vaults to play with them whenever I can.  I do not make any money off of this.  I have only the satisfaction that others enjoy the creativity and storylines that I come up with for our heroes and heroines.

Distribution: I welcome this story to be posted in related archives, but PLEASE let me know first.  I'd like to know where this is going and see the feedback that people have for it.  So contact me at tasha@timelessrose.net (please put the story title in the subject of the email) to ask permission before posting this story anywhere.  Thank you kindly.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

 

Prologue

Buffy Anne Summers walked out past the kitchen door and onto the back porch of her home.  Every bit of her heart screamed out with a splitting ache after hearing the news from her mother about the now scheduled hospital visit.  'So much for it being nothing.' She thought.  'Why couldn't she tell me sooner?'

Buffy sank down onto the porch steps, blankly staring out at the yard.  Her eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face in her hands and lap.  'Nothing can go right anymore.  First I'm staked with my own stake, then Spike, and now this.'  Her body shook with the sobs that lodged in her throat.

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Spike aka William The Bloody swaggered down the street with a definite destination and purpose in mind.  'This time that damn slayer won't be so fortunate.  Beneath her ... HA!'  His grip tightened around the barrel of the shotgun.  Black booted feet crushed through the foliage that lined the Slayer's backyard on Revello Drive.  'I'll show her who's beneath whom.'

Anger and hatred burned in Spike's eyes.  The last time a woman had said those words to him it destroyed him, and he became a creature of the night.  This time he would get back some of his own, as it were.  Sure and determined steps moved assuredly along the back lawn, sauntering closer and closer to Buffy's position on the stairs.

Cold, steely blue eyes glared at the Slayer, not even recognizing the girl's pain in the haze of his own crumbling heart.  With a twist of a sneer on his lips, and his chiseled cheeks sucked in deeply, he cocked back both barrels of the shotgun.

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The click of each barrel being readied broke the silence of the dark night and disturbed the little world the Slayer had slipped into.  Buffy looked up at Spike with tears in her eyes, the despair, pain and worry evident in the glistening green orbs.  "What do you want now?"  Perhaps if she weren't crying the harshness of her voice would have secured the vampire's anger at her.  As it was, it knocked him from his reverie.

Spike's anger started to abate a little.  His face, only a few moments ago filled with loathing, changed to a look of concern and care.  His gaze locked with hers as she spoke.  'Is she crying?' He asked himself.  With each passing moment his face softened just a little bit more as the love that he holds in his heart for her melted the icy barrier he had worked to erect in the last few hours.  "What's wrong?"  He gulped when he asked.

"I don't want to talk about it."  Buffy looked down at the ground and away from the probing eyes of Spike.  No matter what she was dealing with now, she couldn't let him see her pain.  After their meeting earlier in the night, she was sure that he would revel in her grief or mock her.

It didn't matter how much disgust or revulsion Buffy shoved at him earlier.  Spike's heart could not stop from constricting upon seeing her like this.  He might be undead, but she could make his heart beat or break with just a look or a word.  "Is there something I can do?"

Buffy was silent.  The lost look on her face only deepened with each breath inhaled and exhaled.  It was almost as if Spike wasn't even standing there in front of her.  She had zoned out, back to her thoughts once more.

Spike tilted his head to the side watching her. What could make his Slayer cry?  Cautiously he moved to the stairs.  Backward glances at the shotgun in his hand made his gut retch.  How could he have been thinking of killing her?  He laid the gun against the porch post and let it go.

Spike sat down next to Buffy, slowly so as not to spook her.  Buffy didn't flinch at his nearness but neither did she seem to welcome it.  After several minutes of silence, Spike tried to break the heaviness surrounding his Slayer.  He patted her on the back and repeated, "Is there something I can do?"

The touch was enough to slap Buffy back into reality.  Instinctively she pushed Spike away and stood.  "No!"  She looked away from him again, out into the dark night, and sighed.  Her emotions fought to take control of her.  So, she spoke out to no one in particular, "God, why does life have to be so hard?"

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(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 1 
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: Begins at the end of the episode "Fool For Love" (Season 5).  Will Buffy keep pushing Spike away and remain silent, or will she open up to him a little?  Why might she be willing to share things with Spike and not Riley?  Hmmm, some very good questions.  Read and find out the answers.  {smiles}

Author's Note: Prologue - Chapter 6 were jointly written.  From then on Tasha only writes them.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

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Maybe, Maybe Not

The touch was enough to slap Buffy back into reality.  Instinctively she pushed Spike away and stood.  "No!"  She looked away from him again, out into the dark night, and sighed.  Her emotions fought to take control of her.  So, she spoke out to no one in particular, "God, why does life have to be so hard?"

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"Not quite sure about that one myself, Slayer."  How many times had he asked himself the same question?  As a human he was plagued with feelings of mediocrity or inferiority.  Just when he thought his life was improving by becoming a vampire, Angelus knocked him down and reinforced his lack of self worth.  Oh he had hid behind a secure facade for over a century, but some things could still destroy that to bring him back to his more poncey days and insecurities.  "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it, pet?"  He needed to break out of this melancholy of past memories and focus on the present or it would swallow him up again.

"Yes, I'm quite sure.  Besides, it's not like you care a thing about how I feel."  So many burdens from the past and the present crowded her.  Where did she fit in?  What was her purpose?  Every day she tried to act like a normal girl with a normal life, but it wasn't working.  Her nights were filled with things that would strike terror in the hearts of most, but they were commonplace to her.  What was normal about that?


Spike huffed.  'If the crazy bint only knew.'  He shook his head back and forth.  'How could she suspect nothing after I tried to kiss the bloody girl.'

"No one understands what it's like."  Buffy's tone carried a bit of annoyance to it.  She was getting frustrated with everyone.  Her friends had their own little lives now.  They weren't there for her.  Sure, she had a boyfriend, but she just couldn't talk to Riley about anything.  He always turned everything into something about himself.

"What about Captain Cardboard?"  Spike asked, unaware of Buffy's thoughts.  "I'm sure good ol Whitebread would like to kiss and make it better?"  He snarled.

"Yeah, right."  Buffy's eyes widened in shock at the irony of Spike's comment coinciding with her thoughts.  "He understands me real well.  You know in the NOT variety."  She emphasized the not with sarcasm.

Spike flinched.  Not like he cared if the G.I. Joe stayed or left, but the last he had heard the couple wasn't having any problems.  "You two having a fight?"  He tried to ask casually, a little inner smile spreading as he waited for the answer.

"No, it's just ..." Buffy's voice trailed off to nothingness.  She sighed.  Why couldn't she talk to Riley about all of this?  Shouldn't her boyfriend care enough to have called her tonight after his patrol?  She didn't even know if he was okay.  Instead of calling Riley to chew him out, she took out her frustration on the blond vampire that seemed to be trying to help her.  "Why am I even talking to you about this?"

Spike threw his hands up in a surrender motion.  "Geez, Slayer.  Jus' trying to help."  He stood up a bit put off with her attitude.  "Thought maybe you'd like someone to talk to.  Something is obviously wrong, but I've been your whipping boy enough tonight."  He growled and moved to walk away from Buffy.  He was surprised when he didn't even get a step away before he felt her hand on his arm.

"Wait ... please."  Buffy could see the questioning in Spike's glance at her.  "Stay?"

Spike couldn't have been more shocked.  Was Buffy actually asking him to stay?  Did she really mean it?  'This is definitely not like her.  I'd always be the last person she'd like near her when she isn't happy.  Something is terribly wrong.'  He sat back down, resting his hand lightly on her knee.  "All right, Slayer.  What's buggin' you?"

Buffy wouldn't even look at Spike now as she spoke.  "It's my mom."  She processed the information her mother told her earlier, again.  "She has to stay at the hospital for some testing."

"Oh?  She going to be okay?"  Now Spike was worried too.  He liked Joyce Summers a lot.  She was the only one of the whole lot of them, except for the Nibblet, that treated him like a person.  He could always count on Joyce as a shoulder to lean on or an ear to bend.  She'd listened to him talk about all of his Dru problems, his loneliness, or Scoobie problems many times.

"Of course!"  Buffy almost yelled out on instinct and fear.  She frowned, "I don't really know.  I have no idea what I'm going to do if anything is really wrong."  She buried her face in her hands again.  "If anything happens to her, I don't know what I'll do."

"She's strong like you and the Little Bit.  She'll make it."  Spike tried to convey a confidence in his voice that he didn't feel inside.  He knew first hand how the health of someone you love was not something you could control or predict.

"You think so?"  Buffy looked up at Spike, hopeful.  "I can't even bear to think about life without my mom."

Spike patted Buffy's knee.  "You'll have enough strength to deal with whatever comes your way, Slayer.  Don't doubt yourself."  He gazed off into the distance and up towards the stars.  "I know how the world can seem to crumble when someone you love is ill.  You feel helpless, like your heart will stop beating the very moment that theirs does."  Though no one would have thought that Spike could feel much of anything, he'd never forget the memories of his mother's illness and subsequent deaths; both of them.

Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing.  Could Spike have ever felt love so deeply that he knew the pain of loss?  Several minutes passed with her simply watching him.  What was he thinking about?  What had happened to him before, and why should she be caring about it?

Spike shifted in his seat when he realized that Buffy was staring at him.  He cleared his throat and tried to change the subject.  He'd told her enough about his past already.  There was no sense in her finding out truly what a mama's boy he was in his human days.  "So, what about Captain Cardboard?  Why isn't he here talking to you?"

"I don't know."  Buffy's eyes narrowed.  He was changing the subject on her, but he sure didn't pick a good one to start talking about instead.  "He was supposed to patrol tonight, but I haven't heard a thing from him yet.  I know he's back because Willow already called me, and the gang went with him tonight."

"Maybe he just forgot."  Spike shrugged.  He wished he could snatch the words back as soon as they passed his lips.  Telling a girl that her boyfriend forgot about her was not the right way to go to cheer the girl up.  'Idiot,' he called himself.

"Why do you care so much about my love life anyways, Spike?"  Buffy spit out the words with venom.  "Cause if you are just trying to get me to talk so you can mock me later about it, you can just go away!"  She tried to stand up.

"Hey, I'm not gonna mock you later."  Spike placed his hand on Buffy's arm.  He had to prove to her that he wasn't playing games with her.  He teased her in a lighthearted voice, "I would like my nose not broken, thank you very much.  Mocking a Slayer wouldn't do well to keep my face unblemished."  His gaze turned more serious as it leveled with hers.  " 'Sides, who says that I don't care?"  He knew that he was probably setting himself up again for hurt by telling a woman that he cared about her, but he needed Buffy to know that she had someone on her side.  "I do care about you, Slay ... Buffy."

Buffy stared at Spike completely stunned.  What was he getting at?  Did all of the Clan of Aurelius take pleasure in the head games with their enemies?  "You can't be ser ..."

Spike interrupted Buffy before she could sink the dagger of a forked tongue into his heart.  "I am deadly serious.  I. Care. About. You."  If vampires could blush his face would be heated.  Why did he risk her rage and embarrass himself like this.  He couldn't believe that he'd actually told her that he cared.  True it wasn't a declaration of love, but those few words set him up for a big time smack down if the Slayer didn't want to accept them.  His brain never seemed to be able to stop the words of his heart from pouring out of his mouth.  It had gotten him into trouble for the last 150 years.

"Oh."  Buffy knew that her voice sounded flat, and she should say more, but she just couldn't form the words to say.  Her brain was trying to focus on what he'd said to her.  Instead of facing the situation she did what she always did, she tried to steer away from what she couldn't handle.  "I just feel like I can't talk to Riley."  She sighed. 

Spike was slightly disappointed that an "oh" was all he got as feedback for saying that he cared about her.  He was happy that Buffy wasn't punching him in the face though.  Maybe there was hope for him yet.  She didn't seem to hate him for saying it.

"I mean I know he wants me to talk to him, but I don't think he really understands what I need.  It's weird to realize when I think about it, but he really doesn't know me."  Buffy continued on without noticing Spike's reflection on her words.  "I don't know how long this can go on between him and I.  Someone has to understand me, and my boyfriends haven't exactly been with me in that department in ... well ever."

Spike tilted his head slightly to the side.  'She said boyfriends.  I wonder if she means good ol' Peaches never understood her either?'  That thought alone made Spike's night.  The great poofster was not a person on his favorite's list.  "Not tryin' to piss you off, but are you sure you love him?  I would think that if he was truly the one you were meant for you'd be able to talk to him about anything."  He expected a sharp slap across the face or a punch in the nose for even suggesting what he did.  Instead all he got was a very quiet, almost inaudible, "Maybe you're right".  Only his vampiric hearing allowed him to hear the words at all.

"You know," Buffy continued, "I just realized something."  She rested her hand over Spike's on her arm and lightly squeezed it.  "You're not beneath me."

Spike couldn't have had a more shocked look on his face if a Fyarl demon had appeared in a tutu in front of him singing Grease Lightning.  He gulped hard.

"I'm sorry that I said it.  You scared ... I shouldn't have struck out at you like that."  Buffy knew why she'd said it.  She was scared at what the proximity of his body was doing to her.  He had looked like he was going to kiss her, and it scared her to realize that she wanted him to at the time.  "I didn't really want to hurt you."  She leaned a little closer to him.

"S'all right, luv."  Spike shook his head in disbelief.  This night went from bad to extremely good.  He didn't want to say more for the fear that she'd take it back.  His eyes traveled from her lips to her eyes and back down.  He licked his lips nervously.  His brain knew that he should count his lucky stars and not press his luck, but he couldn't help the fact that his body responded to her nearness.  He slowly leaned in towards her further.

Spike's lips brushed across Buffy's gently, and then he kissed her.  She closed her eyes and instinctively her arms stroked up his arms to wrap around his neck, leaning into the kiss.  His tongue darted against his own lips, outlining them and seeking entrance into her mouth.  Just as she was about to open her mouth to allow his tongue to dance with hers, a deep but shrill voice inside the house invaded their moment.

"Buffy!?!"  There was no mistaking the clomp of Riley's boots in the front entryway as he made his way through the kitchen.  "Are you home?  Why was the door unlocked?"

"Bloody Hell!"  Spike growled low and pulled back from Buffy.  'Of all the bloody time to finally show up!'  He sighed dejectedly.  "Guess I should go, eh?"

Buffy stared at Spike wide-eyed.  She licked her lips slowly not moving further away from him.  Her body warred with her mind.  She knew that she needed to go to Riley, but she didn't want to leave Spike's side.  "Yeah."  Her voice was barely more than a whisper.  She didn't trust herself to say more.

Spike stood up, picked up his gun, and adjusted it in his arms.  He started to walk away but stopped and turned back around to face Buffy.  "Be seein' you around, Slayer.  You know where I am if you need me."  With that he walked away, back to his crypt and back to another lonely night.  Harmony was definitely getting kicked out of there tonight.  He couldn't stand her air headed prattle and "I told you so's" tonight.

Buffy stayed a few moments longer as she watched Spike disappear through the hedges.  She went into the kitchen just as Riley reached the door.  She really didn't want to see Riley right now.  Irritated at being interrupted and at herself for being mad about the interruption, she pushed Riley out the door fairly quickly without ever mentioning her mother's ailment or upcoming hospital stay.

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Buffy laid in her bed that night and thought about what had happened with Spike.  Just where the heck had that kiss come from?  She knew that Riley could sense that something was wrong with her during the time they did talk tonight, and she felt bad about it.  She hadn't explained anything to him, and there was no way that she could tell him about the kiss.  How could she kiss someone that wasn't her boyfriend?  She wasn't the kind of person that cheated on the man she loved.  What was it that Spike had said earlier about if Riley was the one she was meant to be with that she could talk to him about anything.  Was she truly meant to be with Riley?

Buffy traced her lips with her fingertips.  That kiss ... it was so soft, and it was nothing that she'd have expected from Spike.  He always seemed so rough and tumble about everything.  She wouldn't have thought that he was capable of such tenderness.  Spike had said that he cared about her.  Wow!  That was so out of the blue for him.  She had no idea that he felt anything for her except disdain.  That kiss was definitely not of the disdain nature.  It spoke of something tender and deep, almost passionate.

Hadn't they been fighting tooth and nail in the alley just an hour before Spike arrived at her house?  Now all of a sudden he cared for her?  'Wait a minute ... he tried to kiss me in the alley.  I would swear it.'  Her mind was in complete overload.  'So Spike has some sort of feelings for me.'  That thought made her body tingle and warm up.  Now the big problem though ... Riley.  The more she thought about it all, the bigger the headache she got.  She finally decided that she'd thought about everything enough for one night.  She needed to sleep on it all.

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All night Buffy dreamt about Spike.  So many scenarios played through her mind about what could have happened if Riley hadn't interrupted them.  She squirmed all over the bed as each played out, but in the middle of it all a nightmare blossomed.  Buffy sat upright in bed, panting and crying at her last dream.  She had dreamt that Riley got mad when she made her choice to stay with Spike and staked him.  For several panicked moments, Buffy thought Spike was gone.  As her body shook with the sobs that threatened to begin, she realized it was all just a nightmare.  Another thought hit her hard just as the relief of realizing it was just a nightmare did, she cared for Spike too.  'Oh god, what am I going to do now?'

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(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 2 (Sneaking Around)
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: This events of this chapter are mixed in with the episode "Shadow" where Joyce is in the hospital, has her CT Scan and biopsy surgery.  What happened to Buffy and Spike the day after the porch scene?  Will she turn to Riley for comfort now, or will she continue to seek out Spike.

Author's Note: The first several chapters of this story were jointly written.  From then on Tasha only writes them.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.  Do the chapters seem too long?

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.  Also any actual dialogue from episodes is of course theirs too, as with the scene between Riley and Spike at Buffy's house in this chapter.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

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Spike strode confidently back to his crypt.  He didn't give a second thought to what Harmony might say about him coming back without killing the Slayer.  A smirk of secret delight was edging his lips at the thought that he was the one to help comfort Buffy and not Captain Cardboard.  He'd stuck around long enough in the shadows to see how long good ol' Whitebread had been allowed to stay.  When Riley exited the house a short while later, a delighted Spike had begun his trek back to the cemetery for a good night's sleep.

Harmony shrieked as the crypt door burst open.  "Did you kill her, Blondie Bear?"  She asked nervously.  He didn't seem pissed off, but sometimes you couldn't tell with Spike.  Something was a bit off about how he looked right now.

"I don't want to talk about it, Harm.  Now, go away!"  Spike snarled.  'Crazy bint.  Why don't I just stake her?'  He tossed the gun back into the chest he'd retrieved it from earlier.

"Hey, it's not my fault you can't kill her.  I told you not to ..."  Harmony's voice was cut off in a choke.  Never mind that she didn't need to breathe, the tight hand around her throat still hurt.

"I said to shut your bloody mouth, Harm."  Spike's eyes narrowed.  He shook the air headed Vampiress and threw her out the open door.  "Don't come back tonight or you're dust."

Harmony scampered away in fright and disgust.  She had smelled the Slayer all over him and that alone made her sick to her undead stomach.

Spike slammed the crypt door shut.  He slumped down into the chair in front of the television.  He needed to relax if he was going to get any sleep today.  After several hours of being bored out of his mind, he was no closer to finding rest.  His thoughts ran the gauntlet from one end to another.  It bugged him so much not knowing if the next time he saw Buffy would she kiss him or punch him.  He was dying to find out if she'd felt anything when they kissed.  He knew that he had definitely felt something, and he couldn't have imagined the feeling of her arms around his neck before the kiss ended.

Finally, he fell asleep in his own bed and dreamt of the Slayer well into the day.  Amidst the dreams of warmth and comfort, an underlying fear and grief niggled him.  He dreamt of his arms around her, holding her close to him as he murmured soothing words to her.  Other times he dreamt that he was afraid, lost, and helpless.  There was no way for him to decipher what any of the dreams meant, but he knew one thing, he had to find the Slayer as soon as he awoke.  He needed her, and she needed him.

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Buffy and Dawn sat in the waiting room of the hospital while Joyce was in the CT scan room.  Dawn's nervous chatter and questions were getting on Buffy's last nerve, but one look at Dawn told Buffy that her sister was just scared.  Neither of them knew what to do, and Buffy felt helpless just sitting in the empty waiting room.  It was still too early in the morning to call any of her friends, and there was no way she was going to leave Dawn here alone.  So, Buffy wrapped her arms around her sister and stroked her long brown hair, trying to comfort her little "sister".

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Spike awoke with a start.  He kicked off the covers of the bed and tossed on some clothes.  Climbing to the main level of the crypt, he growled at the appearance of Harmony in front of the television.  "Didn't I tell you not to come back tonight?"

"But it isn't night, Blondie Bear.  I had to come back before the sunrise."  Harmony looked at Spike fearfully.  She hoped that he wasn't mad enough to toss her to the sun.

Spike snarled in disgust.  "Fine."  He walked past Harmony to turn off the TV.  "Just get out of my sight."  He waved a hand towards the lower level.

Harmony quickly jumped up from the chair and scooted down the ladder to the lower level.  'I didn't like that stupid chair anyways.  I wanted to sleep in the bed.'  She thought to herself, mentally sticking her tongue out at Spike.

Spike paced back and forth for a little bit, feeling like a caged bird.  This was one reason that he hated the daytime.  'Bloody sun always getting in the way of my fun.'  He sighed, grabbed a blanket and ran out into the light.  He knew just where to catch the best sewer tunnel to get to Buffy's house.  It was a partially cloudy day right now anyways.  He wanted to see how she and the Nibblet were doing.  He hoped to hear news about Joyce.

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Riley trudged up the front porch steps to the Summer's home.  He frowned when he noticed the front door a tad bit ajar.  'Why do they keep leaving this door unlocked?'  He almost tripped over a dingy green blanket when he opened the door and moved towards the inner flight of stairs.  It looked familiar to him, but he couldn't place it exactly.

Spike hadn't found Buffy home when he'd gotten there, but something inside of him needed the assurance of her nearness.  So, he had headed upstairs instead to Buffy's bedroom.  He stood in front of her dresser with a light pink sweater in his hands.  Closing his eyes he inhaled the scent that was all Buffy: Slayer blood, salty sweat, vanilla, and a sweet musk that always told him she was near.  So lost in the memories of her, he missed the presence of Riley as he snuck up on the vampire.

"What are you doing in here?"  What was Spike doing in Buffy's bedroom?  This day was just getting more and more bizarre.

Spike snapped around to face Riley.  He quickly hid Buffy's sweater behind his back.  'Stupid, git, letting someone like that sneak up on you.'  He practically bounced from one foot to another in nervousness.  "What?  Me?  I was, um, uh ... what are you doing here?"

Riley shook his head back and forth and walked further into the room.  "Looking for the girl who's going to rip your arms off for being in her bedroom."  He rolled his eyes. 'What an idiot.'

"Oh, yeah?"  Spike stood firm, face to face with Riley, even when Riley stood only inches from him.  "Well, me too."  He cocked his head to the side, his sardonic smirk in place as if it was nothing out of the ordinary for him to be in Buffy's bedroom.

Riley tried to stare Spike down.  He moved to look behind Spike to see what he was hiding, but he couldn't get the right angle.  Instead he remembered the bit of pink that he'd seen flash by as Spike faced him.  "Were you ... were you just smelling her sweater?"  His face contorted into a look of disgust.

"What?  No?"  Spike scoffed after he dodged Riley's attempts to see what he had in his hands. He smirked then rolled his eyes when Riley put his hands on his hips and didn't budge or seem to believe him.  "Well, yeah, all right I did.  It's a predator thing, nothing wrong with it.  Know your enemies scent.  Whet your appetite for the hunt and all that."  He brought the sweater up to his face.  "You know?  Mmmmm."  He inhaled deeply.  "Ahh, that's the stuff, Slayer musk.  It's bitter and aggravating."  He growled.  'Am I a ponce or what.  He'll never believe it.'

Riley grabbed Spike by his jacket, tore the sweater from his hands and tossed it onto the bed.  "Out."  There was no way that he was letting Spike stay in Buffy's bedroom, whether Buffy was in it or not.  He dragged Spike out of the room, but not before Spike hijacked a pair of panties from Buffy's top drawer.

"Hey, watch it! Easy!"  The two practically tumbled down the stairs towards the front door.  "You're bruising the leather."  Riley practically threw Spike at the closed front door.  "Look, I know for a bleeding fact that the Slayer wouldn't mind me being here."

"Right.  What's a little sweater-sniffing between sworn enemies?"  Riley spat out in disbelief and anger.

"Your girl in the habit of buying her enemies drinks?"  Spike was really starting to get pissed.  He had no love for Riley or any of the commando's, former or not.  It grated him even further that Buffy was spending time with Captain Cardboard as her boyfriend too.  " 'Cause she spent the better part of last night with me, doing just that."  His cockiness was getting the better part of his good sense with the look he gave Riley.

"Right."  Riley almost chuckled at the supposed idiocy of that statement, especially coming from Spike.  " 'Cause you guys are such tight pals?"

Spike was tired of being the butt of Riley's jokes.  It was time to put the boy in his place. "Yeah."

Riley put his hands on his hips.  'Why does Buffy let this idiot stay around anyways.'  He couldn't believe the nerve of this guy.  There was no way that Buffy would sit down with Spike over drinks.  "That's good.  Tell me another."

"Okay.  How about this one?"  Riley was definitely getting on Spike's last nerve.  He had to think only a moment before finding another tidbit to drive the nail into Riley's coffin further.  "Twice in recent memory she's had the lover Wiccas doing a de-invite on the house, keep out specific vamps.  Ever ask yourself why she's never taken my name off the guest list?"  He leaned in closer to Riley to emphasize the point.

"Because you're harmless."  Riley scoffed, but a moment of stuttered paused ruined the effect of his confidence.

"Oh.  Yeah. Right."  Spike almost laughed at Riley's naivete.  "Takes one to know, I suppose."  He kicked back to rest his weight on his left leg, all swagger and attitude.  "Least I still got the attitude.  What do you have?  A piercing glance?"

Riley was getting pissed.  What right did anyone have to say that to him, let alone to hear it coming from nothing but a worthless vamp.

Spike watched Riley's jaw clench tighter, and he knew he was finally getting to the corn fed Iowa boy.  "Face it, Whitebread.  Buffy's got a type, and you're not it.  She likes us dangerous, rough, and occasionally bumpy in the forehead region."  He wiggled his fingers near his brow.  "Not that she doesn't like you," he pointed to Riley with a sardonic grin on his face, "But sorry, Charlie you're just not dark enough."

Riley had enough of this bull crap.  Spike had more than peeved him off, and it was time to pay the piper.  He grabbed Spike by the lapels of his duster, opened the door and forced a "Hey" yelling vampire out into the sunlight on the porch.  "This dark enough for you?"

"Bloody pull me back in, you sod."  Spike screamed.  No matter his confidence he knew the sun would toast him pretty quickly.  "I'm starting to sizzle."  Even with only a few moments in the sun the smoke started to waif up from Spike's skin.

"You don't know anything about Buffy.  You never did.  I'm the one that knows what she needs."

'Oh that's it.  No holds barred now!' Spike snarled at Riley.  If he was going to toast, his last digs would be into this fool's pride and heart.  "Oh yeah?  That's why you're with her at the hospital right now giving her what she needs."

Riley pulled Spike back into the house.  "What are you talking about?"

"Don't you know?  Didn't she tell you?"  Spike almost laughed.  Buffy hadn't told Riley about her mom last night.  She'd only told him?  That made him feel good.  Not about Joyce being sick of course, but the fact that Buffy hadn't told Riley made up for the little sizzle.

"You tell me."

"Her Mum's sickly."  Spike couldn't keep the concern out of his eyes and face at the thought of Joyce being in the hospital.  "Buffy took her to the hospital for a bit of prod and probe.  Bite size one went too."

Riley's gaze left Spike's face.  'How could she not have told me?  She had to have known last night.'

"You know, it's funny her not telling you about that."  Spike had to hammer that nail in a little more.  "I've known since last night."

Riley's temper got the better of him.  In an instant he manhandled Spike and threw him completely out the door.  Amidst the cries of Spike calling for the blanket, he kicked it out onto the porch and slammed the front door.  He had to get to the bottom of this.  He had to head to the hospital ASAP.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy walked towards the examination room.  She stopped several times not quite being able to make her feet cover the last bit of distance to reach the room.  Just as she felt she had enough courage to go in a hand on her shoulder stopped her from moving.  She turned around.  "Riley?"

"I heard."  Riley looked at Buffy lovingly.  The vampire had to be wrong.  He swore that he saw something behind Buffy's eyes that told him his presence mattered to her.  "I thought you might want some company."

"I do.  I do."  Buffy hugged Riley, a brief moment of disappointment flashed in her eyes when she realized that it wasn't Spike holding her.  She berated herself for those thoughts.  When she pulled back again to look at Riley, she tried to keep a happy face on for him.  "I was just about to go in and get the results from the CT scan.  Would you go sit with Dawn?"

"Sure, whatever you need me to do."  Riley's arms dropped back to his side when Buffy stepped out of them.  Why didn't she want him in there with her?  He wanted to support her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'A shadow?  What hell is a shadow?'  Buffy thought to herself as she sat once again in the waiting room of the hospital.  She was really beginning to hate Sunnydale General.  This place brought her nothing but bad memories.

Riley draped his brown leather half-coat over Dawn's sleeping body.  The poor girl was worn out already.  He moved back over to sit next to Buffy on a double length bench chair.

Buffy turned her lost gaze from the cracks in the walls into a reflective one towards Riley.  They hadn't said a word to each other since she'd left the examination room, except for a brief explanation from Buffy about her mother's condition that was more for Dawn's benefit than Riley's.

Riley coaxed Buffy to lay her head on his shoulder.  Draping his arm over the back of the bench chair, he pulled Buffy in closer to him.  He stroked her hair as soothingly as possible, hoping that it would help her to drift off for a few moments.  'Why won't she talk to me?' He wondered once Buffy's eyes closed.  'She just sat there staring into nothing, as if I wasn't even here.'

The operating doctor walked down the hallway to the waiting room.  Riley recognized him from an earlier conversation about pre-op.  He gently shook Buffy, trying to wake her.

Buffy was pulled from her dreams abruptly.  She hadn't slept well the night before, and her body was beginning to shut down even without her wanting it to.  She sat upright quickly still partially stuck in the dream.  "No. Wait. Spike!"  She called out before she realized that she wasn't with Spike, and she was sitting in the hospital waiting room.  She quickly noticed the doctor though and met him near the wall before he could reach the waiting room.

If Buffy had seen Riley's face she would have noticed the hurt and confused look on his it.  'What the hell was that all about?'  He questioned inwardly.  'When did she start calling out to Spike in her dreams?'  He couldn't pinpoint what disturbed him more: the fact that Buffy was dreaming about Spike or the fact that she was calling out for her supposed enemy like she needed him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'This isn't real.  It can't be happening.'  Buffy tried to reassure herself.  The doctor just droned on and on about the technical terms and placement of things in her mother's brain.  What did she care about that?  What did it matter?  All she knew was that her mother had a tumor in her brain.  Her own brain wanted to shut down.  It couldn't comprehend all of the information that it was being given.

'Why won't he shut up?' The doctor moved them to sit down in a couple nearby chairs.  "What can I do?"  She meekly asked.

"We need you to answer a few questions for us."  The doctor went through his checklist of does she and has she's.  Buffy didn't know the answers to hardly any of them.  Her mom always took care of the medical insurance and other issues.  With each question, Buffy only became more confused and when she could handle no more she jumped up and ran to the bathroom.

Ben, a nearby intern, stepped up to the doctor and informed him that someone needed him in ICU.  Ben knew that no one had called specifically for the doctor, but he could see that the young lady needed a break from the man.  'At least when she gets back here, she won't be bombarded again immediately.'  He thought to himself and headed out the door, as it was the end of his shift.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You are such an idiot, Spike."  Spike paced his crypt back and forth.  Harmony was still asleep downstairs.  So there was no way he was going to try and get any more sleep, not like he could anyways.  'You probably sent him straight into Buffy's arms.  Where you can't be right now.'  His inner William chided his more aggressive Spike side for his temper.  'You just had to get snippy with the man, didn't you.'

"Do shut up you Nancy Boy.  Like you could have done much better."  Spike rolled his eyes at himself.  He knew that he shouldn't have taunted Riley so much, but it was just too much fun to see the look of pain on his face.  He figured that Riley headed straight to the hospital after he kicked Spike out Buffy's house.  Now he'd have to wait until he could run into her somehow.  He tightened his hand into fists.  "She doesn't belong with him.  She belongs with me."

'Perhaps you will listen to me more next time then."  Spike's traces of humanity warred with the demon.  'I know you care about her too.  So, don't mess it up for both of us.'  Spike could practically feel his inner William remove his glasses to clean them.  'Now, if you're done growling, here is what we need to do.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 3 (Tumors, Snakes, and Dates ... Oh My!)
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: Spike has put enough doubt in Riley's mind already.  Where will that lead?  Spike seeks out Buffy to comfort her, and we continue through the end of the events in "Shadow".

Author's Note: The first several chapters were jointly written.  It will be noted which chapters were joint and which were single by Tasha only.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

WARNING: This chapter contains bloodplay; in this case it is a vampire biting a human for pain and/or pleasure.  It is not overly graphic, but if that scares you, don't read please.  It is from an actual scene in the episode "Shadow" on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

Don't worry; Riley is well on his way out the door.  I'm just trying to keep things canon for as long as needed.  Thank you to all of you who have left feedback.  Please let me know if you still like it.  If you haven't left a review yet, please do.  It really helps me to know if it is being enjoyed.  Thanks.

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A lot of things had happened in the last few hours.  Buffy had returned from the bathroom to find the doctor was thankfully gone.  Checking in with Riley, she found out that her mother was going to be out for at least 6-7 more hours.  Brain surgery, even only biopsies, took a longer time to come back into consciousness.  There was no way that she could just sit in the waiting room for another 7 hours.  She left Dawn in Riley's care to get her to school for at least part of the day while she headed to the Magic Box.

As if things couldn't be worse, they were.  After a lecture from Giles and Tara about how doing a magical healing spell for her mother wouldn't be a good idea, she found out that Giles had sold two things to the crazy "demon" lady that kicked Buffy's butt the other day.  Willow went on and on about some transmogrification spell, but Buffy couldn't sit still any longer.  She had to do something about it.  She had to stop Glory.

Buffy tried to stop Glory, whom they only knew as a demon at the time, at the Sunnydale Zoo.  After checking out a couple other places, she figured that was the best place to find a lot of reptiles that Glory could use to raise into the tool she needed.  Buffy only had the upper hand in the fight for a minute or two before Glory again wiped the floor with her.  She watched in horror as a cobra burst from an urn to a dizzying height at Glory's beck and call.  Buffy ran away while Glory was distracted.  She had to recuperate, ASAP.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Riley showed up at the Magic Box after spending some time with Dawn.  He'd dropped her off at school to pick up her homework.  She had strict orders to come to the Magic Box from there.  He was furious to find out that Buffy wasn't at the shop but instead off searching for the "demon" on her own.

Xander tried to stop Riley before he barged off.  "Buffy needs something she can fight; something she can solve."  He looked back to the other's at the table before he turned back to face Riley.  They stood near the door out of the shop.  "I don't know what kind of action you're looking for.  Do you?"  His eyes narrowed to watch Riley more closely for a few moments.

Riley was in complete shock.  What was Xander trying to insinuate?  Xander broke the moment of silence, "Hey, I'm not trying to get ..."

"It's cool."  Riley shifted big time from one foot to another.  He knew that he was pushing things.  He was just worried about where he stood with Buffy.  Every minute they spent apart just solidified his worries more.

"You okay?"  Xander asked, now concerned.

"Just a little crazed."

"I hear ya."  Xander had known Joyce Summers since Buffy moved to Sunnydale.  She had always been right there to welcome all of them into her home, especially once she found out the truth of Buffy's calling.  The summer that Buffy had headed to LA after sending Angel to Hell, Mrs. Summers had even patrolled with them.

Riley moved to the door.  "If she needs me ..."  He let the statement hang in the air as he left the shop for somewhere to think.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy headed back to the hospital to check on her mother.  She called Giles on a pay phone to tell him about the snake on the loose as she nursed her wounds.  This day was just getting worse and worse.  She wished it would just end.  Before hanging up she asked Giles not to tell Dawn about her mother yet.  She wanted to be there when Dawn found out.  It was going to be even harder on the young girl.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike watched Buffy walk away from the phone.  He'd been sitting in his crypt when the unmistakable urge to find the Slayer hit him upside the face.  It was almost as if he could feel physical pain from her.  Seeing her now, he realized that she'd been in a fight.  'Damn it.  I should have been there.'  He condemned himself for Buffy being hurt.  'Sure genius.  You should have been there to go all poof and into dust in the sunlight.  Sometimes I wonder if you even use your brain for thinking.'  He argued with himself, within.

Buffy inquired about her mother's status.  She found out that Joyce was just waking up, and they were moving her to an actual room for now.  They directed Buffy to a different area to sit in until Joyce was ready.  So lost in her thoughts, Buffy didn't realize when a platinum blond vampire sat down in the seat next to her.

"You okay, Slayer?  Looks like you got into a fight with a nasty."  Spike looked around to be sure that none of the Scoobies were anywhere around before he placed his hand on Buffy's arm.

"Spike?!?"  Buffy turned to Spike.  She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly without a second thought.  She was vulnerable right now, and somehow it just felt right to let him hold her.

Spike's eyes almost bugged out from the strength and surprise of the hug.  He curled his arms around Buffy and returned the hug with equal comfort and strength.  "There, there, pet."  He stroked one hand down the back of her head to her shoulders.  "Let it out.  I'm here."

Buffy let the tears start to fall.  She hadn’t felt that she could let go earlier when Riley was there.  Being in Spike’s arms she felt secure enough to just it loose.  Everything was so overwhelming.  Her life hadn't been simple in years, but now life was even more complicated.  No matter that the body that she clung to was cold, she felt a warmth of comfort surround and envelope her.  She felt safe, home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Riley sat at a local demon/human bar near downtown Sunnydale.  He'd frequented this place enough times, but that was always in search of some HST that he needed to take out.  It was odd to just sit and have a drink.

A tall dark haired woman sat down next to Riley.  She eyed him with interest, and he couldn't help but to notice her beauty.  There was something else about her though.  Something told him that this woman wasn't human.  He looked briefly down at a cuff he wore just above his watch.  He casually moved his arm to her side of the bar and gazed at the temperature listed.  'Hmmm, vampire.  I should have known.'  He gulped down the last of his shot of alcohol.  'Not dark enough, eh?  I wonder just what Buffy sees in these vamps.  What makes it so hard to resist being with them?'  He determined that it was about time he found out.

After a bit of small talk the brunette led the Vampiress out into the alley.  He propositioned her with a deal to have her bite him for a bit of cash.  He'd heard about vampires that were willing to do that.  He just hoped that she'd agree to it. 

It didn't take long for the look of pleasure to cross the Vampiress' face.  She kissed and nibbled on Riley's neck with her human teeth.  She pulled back to gaze at Riley in her demon face before she buried her face back into his neck and bit down with her fangs.

Riley's face first contorted in pain and a bit of rage.  'This hurts.'  Those thoughts quickly gave way to others as he felt his body tingle and arousal swept through him.  With each small pull of his blood into her mouth, he felt himself get harder and harder.  'Is this what Buffy felt when Angel bit her?'  He briefly closed his eyes when his heart fluttered a bit.  'No wonder she wants it.'  He thought to himself, pulled his hand back from the Vampiress' arm and pushed it forward straight into her heart.  The look of surprise on the Vampiress' face was mirrored with a steely coldness in Riley's eyes when the demon disappeared in a cloud of dust to reveal the stake in Riley's hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy sat on the left side of her mother's bed when the doctor's informed Joyce of the biopsy results.  Spike stood behind Buffy, his hand rested on her shoulder.  He had been surprised when Joyce even let him in the room.  He knew that she liked him more than Angel.  They’d even spent many days sharing stories and conversation over a “cuppa”, but she didn't even seem to question his presence here with her daughter.

Buffy hugged her mother tightly.  She felt comforted in Spike's presence.  She felt him standing so firm behind her, a rock of strength that she needed to draw from right now.  She couldn't explain why, but she needed him.  She'd felt smothered when Riley was with her earlier.  Spike offered support without burying her in him.  It was as if he seemed to know just what she needed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Buffy walked to the Magic Box.  Joyce, after getting over the shock herself, wanted to talk to Dawn about everything.  There was no way that Spike was going to leave Buffy to walk the streets alone.  He wasn't afraid that she couldn't handle herself under normal conditions, but he knew she was distracted tonight.  He wasn't going to abandon her so that some beastie could have its one good day.  He waited outside the shop for Buffy and the Nibblet.

Spike lit up a cigarette while he waited.  He'd only gotten two puffs out when a huge snake brushed past him and slammed through the shop's front window.  "Buffy!"  He yelled and tried to grab the tail but missed.  The sound of Dawn's scream chilled him to the bone.

Buffy jumped up, pushed the case off herself, and turned to Giles.  "It knows!"  She rushed back for the door.  Up ahead she saw that Spike was already chasing the creature.  She took off after it too.

The snake twisted and turned it's way through Sunnydale's streets.  Spike dove for it's tail, getting thwapped about as it bounced him down the street.  Giles' car ran right in front of the cobra, slowing it down for just enough time that Buffy caught up with it.

Between Buffy and Spike they choked, punched, and kicked the cobra vessel of Glory's.  Spike used the long tail to wrap it around the snake's neck and knot it.  Buffy and Spike both pulled on the end of it to increase the pressure.  For good measure, Buffy punched the snake's face repeatedly until it was evident that it was more than dead. 

Spike had to pull her away from the battered carcass before she completely obliterated it.  He had a feeling that the watcher would want to check this one out.  He wrapped his arms tightly around Buffy, rocking her back and forth.  He whispered soothing words into her ear, trying to calm her.

Giles stood off to the side slack jawed and amazed.  This was not something he expected to see in his lifetime.  What was Spike doing here anyway, holding Buffy no less?  Angel had been one thing, but this was Spike.  This was not the normal occurrence for any vampire to do, chipped or not.  This scene bore further investigation.  Right now they had more pressing matters though: Joyce, Dawn and this snake.

Buffy and Spike hauled as much of the carcass as they could into the back of Giles' car.  Giles drove back towards the Magic Box while they walked.

Spike kept his arm around Buffy's shoulders for now.  "I think your Watcher just about had a heart attack, pet."

Buffy looked up at him confused before she noticed his arm still around her.  "Oh, yeah."  She half chuckled.  "I'm sure he'll ask me some questions about that one."  She didn’t even want to think about all of the questions Giles was going to ask her about Spike.  She wasn’t sure of the answers herself.  How could she answer Giles?

Spike had expected Buffy to pull away or vehemently deny that anything happened.  He was pleasantly shocked to find her acceptance of his nearness.  "I seem to be asking you this a lot lately, but are you okay?"  He tucked his hand under her chin so that she was looking directly into his eyes.

Buffy laughed.  "That seems to be the question of the day, doesn't it?"  She half smiled.  "My life just keeps getting more and more complicated."

Spike had no idea how to respond to that.  What he really wanted to do was scoop her up in his arms and hold her all night.  He wanted her to stop hurting because whenever he saw her like that, it hurt him more than he'd care to admit.  Instead he asked her, "What are you planning to do tonight aside from kicking snake butt and taking Dawn to see your Mum?"

"Well, I was gonna go back out and kick some demon ass, blow off some steam once we told Dawn the news, and then go home.  Why?"  Buffy tilted her head to gaze at Spike.

Spike turned to Buffy and dropped his arm.  They were in front of the Magic Box now.  He could hear a flurry of activity going on inside.  "You have dinner yet?"

Buffy shook her head no.  Dinner hadn't even been a thought on her mind earlier.

"I know you have a boyfriend and all, and I'm not askin' you on a date or anythin', but do you want to go to dinner somewhere after you take the Nibblet to see your Mum?"

Buffy thought about it.  She knew that Dawn was going to want some time alone with her Mom.  She also knew that her Mom was going to need a lot of rest tonight.  She had a feeling that the doctor's weren't going to let them stay very long.

Spike buried his hands in his duster pockets.  He shifted from one foot to another nervously.  'At least she hasn't smacked me yet.  You had better be right about this you poofter.' He snarled inwardly at the poet.

With everything that had happened tonight, she really did need someone to talk to it all about.  Giles was the only one that knew about Dawn's key status.  She needed someone less fatherly to talk to about it.  Spike cared for Dawn.  She knew that he did.  Perhaps it would be safe to tell him about her.  Spike could help her protect Dawn.  Besides, free food was always a good idea.  "All right, but it's not a date."

Spike beamed.  "Sure.  Right, luv.  Not a date."  He knew he was being selfish for wanting it to be a date, but he had to give her time.  He was happy that she'd even agreed to go out with him anywhere.  'Just go at her pace, little demon.  Don't push her too fast.'  William knew that Spike was not known for his patience in anything.  It had gotten them in a lot of trouble over the years.

"I'll have Xander drive Dawn and I to the hospital."  Buffy looked through the broken window into the shop.  "He and Willow have been wanting to see Mom too.  I'm sure that one of them will be able to take Dawn home when they're all done."

Spike nodded.  "Okay."  He handed Buffy a piece of paper with a number on it.  "Call that number when you're ready for me to pick you up at the hospital."  He leaned back and around Buffy to see into the shop.  "I don't think the Scoobies would be too happy with my being around."  He sucked his cheeks back in before locking gazes with Buffy.  "That number is my cell phone."

"Thank you, Spike."  Buffy folded the piece of paper and slipped it into her pocket.

"No rush or anything.  Your Mum needs you and the Bit."  Spike smiled warmly.  'Cor, what this woman does to me.'  He felt all tingly inside.

"I'll call you."  Buffy stepped away from the door, taking Spike with her.  She leaned up, drew his head down closer to hers, and placed a soft kiss to his cheek.  "See you later, Spike."  With that she broke away from him and headed into the Magic Shop.

'Yes!' Spike inwardly exclaimed.  'Maybe you're not so dumb after all, William.'  He smirked.  He had to go get his Desoto now.  He headed off into the night, cigarette in hand.  If someone didn't know him better they'd think he actually had a little bounce in his step.  'I have a date with the lady with the bright golden hair.' He hummed softly to himself, black leather duster flapping with each step, disappearing into the shadows of the dark night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 4 (Comfort & Caring)
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: After a long day Spike asked Buffy out to dinner.  He didn't want to have to leave her side yet.  Buffy has something that she needs to tell Spike.  Maybe she can make sense of a few things along the way too.

Author's Note: The first several chapters were jointly written.  It will be noted which chapters were joint and which were single by Tasha only.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As the striking blonde couple walked into the Sunnydale IHOP, Buffy admitted to herself that she was already feeling more relaxed than she had been all day.  Xander and Willow took Dawn home before Spike even arrived at the hospital.  Consequently, he was able to slip back upstairs to Joyce's room to say good night.  Buffy had shared in the tender moment when they both gave Joyce a hug and left with wishes of sweet dreams from their lips.

'Why is Mom so comfortable around Spike?' Buffy thought about the car ride to the restaurant.  They had argued playfully about the best group to listen to.  While Spike sided with the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, Buffy preferred a little Cranberries or U2.  When Spike pulled out a Cher single of "I Believe" Buffy screamed.  "No, anything but that."  She shivered at the thought of her first evil roommate at college.  "If I NEVER hear that song again it would be too soon."

"Just teasin' ya luv.  I heard about your bloody awful roommate."  Spike laughed.  He enjoyed taunting her this way.  It was all fun and games, and it felt better than when he was trying to hurt her as much as she'd hurt him.

Now sitting at a table near the back of the restaurant, Buffy gazed across at her companion.  'Did Mom see something before that I just didn't want to see in Spike?'  She rested her chin in her hands, watching him.  He had an easy manner about him while he flirted with the waitress, but strangely Buffy couldn't feel a bit of jealousy.  As soon as Spike turned to look at her, she felt a tingling down to her toes that told her that she was the one that mattered to him.

'What is going on in that pretty little head of hers?'  Spike wondered.  He placed his order for a large orange juice.  When Buffy didn't answer the waitress he waved his hand in front of Buffy's face.  "Luv?  What do you want to drink?"

Buffy snapped out of her almost trance like state.  "Oh, sorry."  She blushed.  "I'll have a Diet Coke."

The waitress left two menus with the couple.  She turned to walk back to the counter, but she couldn't keep the exaggerated swivel from her hips.  'Damn, but that girl is lucky.  He's a hottie.'

Buffy picked up her menu.  She was startled when Spike also reached for one.  She gave him a weird look, like he was crazy or something,

"What?"  Spike asked.  He cocked a scarred brow in curiosity.

"Are you actually going to eat something?  'Cause I don't really think they sell blood here."  Buffy leaned over the table to whisper her question to him.  She didn't want anyone to overhear their conversation.

"Course I'm going to eat something."  Spike huffed.  "I like human food too.  Jus' cos' Peaches only drinks blood doesn't mean I do too."  He rolled his eyes.  Didn't this girl's watcher teach her anything, or was the Council that bloody stupid.  "We aren't all like him you know."

"Okay, whatever."  Buffy really didn't want to get into an argument about Angel right now.  In fact, she didn't even want to think about Angel right now.  She wanted to focus on the vampire in front of her.  "I don't really have any money with me, Spike.  So, how are we going to pay for this?  I'm so not up to doing a dine-n-dash tonight."

Spike laughed.  "Anybody ever tell you that you worry way too much?"  He noted the serious look that still crossed her face.  "I invited you out to dinner.  I bloody well wouldn't have expected you to pay for it."  He was starting to get a little mad on the inside.  'What kind of man does she think we are?  Preposterous.'  His inner William cried out.  'One never invites a lady to dinner with the intent of her to pay for the outing.'  On the rare occasion, like this one, his inner demon couldn't agree more.  'I take care of my woman, always!'

Buffy watched Spike's face contort a few different ways as if he was in an argument within himself.  She could see the fire behind his eyes.  "I probably don't even want to ask where you got the money from, do I?"  She needed to derail his internal struggle.  He only appeared to get madder with each passing moment.

"I won it in a poker game.  Fair an' square."  At Buffy's raised eyebrow he added, "Well sorta fair and square, but I can guarantee I wasn't the only demon cheatin'!"  At this Buffy laughed.  He loved hearing her laugh because it meant she was happy.  Buffy didn't seem to get enough happy in her life.

"I wasn't trying to say that you wouldn't take care of me.  I just know that you aren't usually all money having."  Buffy caressed her hand over the top of Spike's on the table.  "Usually you are working for us to pick up cash.  I knew we hadn't paid you lately."

"There is a lot about me that you don't know, Buffy."  Spike started to relax.  There were many things the Scoobies didn't know about him.  He wasn't about to share his actual non-poor status with them.  If they knew what would be the fun in antagonizing them for money.  He lowered his gaze to their joined hands.  "It is up to you if you want to find out what all of me is like."

Heat crept up into Buffy's cheeks at Spike's words.  What was worse: that he thought she would like to get to find out "all" of him or that the thought of it made her tingle from head to toe.  She pulled her hand back from Spike's in a rush.

Spike's eyes widened when he realized where Buffy's thoughts were going.  He could smell her arousal, and it made his manhood twitch and harden in his already tight jeans.  "I meant all there is to know about me, not ... you know."

"Right."  Buffy stuttered.  "Right, I knew that.  Of course."  She was saved from further embarrassment with the arrival of the waitress to take their order.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After dinner arrived things had been quiet between the Vampire and Vampire Slayer.  Both ate in a bit of reflective silence.  They'd each snatch looks up at the other one when they thought the other one wasn't looking.  Slowly the restaurant started to empty.  Buffy was glad because she needed to tell Spike about Dawn.  The less people around the better.  When they seemed to be the only ones there, aside from those working, she laid her empty plate to the side.  "Spike, I wanted to come here for a couple reasons.  I wanted to relax, but I also needed to talk to you."

Spike gulped at the serious tone in Buffy's voice.  'Here it comes.  She's going to tell you to get lost, mate.'  He wiped his mouth, moved his plate to the side, and set the no longer needed napkin on top of the plate.  "Talk about what, pet?"

'He almost looks nervous.'  Buffy pondered that thought a few moments before speaking again.  "There is something about Dawn that only Giles and I know.  I haven't told anyone else because I was afraid that the more people who know, the harder it will be to keep it a secret."  She reached across the table for his hand.  "I want to tell you now though.  I trust you."

Spike was shocked.  She trusted him?  You might as well have hit him over the head with a hammer, he would have had the same shell-shocked look on his face.  "I'd never betray you, Buffy."

"I know.  Sounds strange, but somehow I just know you wouldn't now."  Buffy smiled warmly.  "I know who the key is that the demon lady is looking for."

"Who?  Don't you mean what?"  Spike tilted his head to the side, confused.

"No, I mean who."  Buffy inhaled deeply.  'This is hard.  How do I tell someone that the person they believe has been around for years is just a bunch of fabricated memories?'  She knew that this was going to be hard for Spike because of how much he seemed to care for her sister.  "Dawn isn't really my sister.  Some crazy monks created her from my essence."

"Come off it, Slayer.  You're kidding right?"  Spike scoffed in disbelief.  He knew the Nibblet and Buffy got into quite a few scrapes, but that was just what siblings did.  She couldn't be trying to disown her own flesh and blood.

"I'm serious, Spike."  Buffy breathed in and out several times deeply.  "The memories we have of her growing up were placed there by some over zealous Monks.  She doesn't even know that she was formerly just a ball of energy that Glory can use as a key to something."

Spike blinked several times.  This had to be impossible.  How could someone put memories into another person's head?  He remembered so much about the Nibblet.  He felt so much for the Nibblet too.  That couldn't be fake, could it?  "I don't believe it.  That's ridiculous."  He jumped up, threw enough bills on the table to cover the meal and the tip, and he headed outside.  He had to think about this.

"Spike!"  Buffy yelled.  She scampered to follow him as quickly as she could.  She had expected many different reactions, but she wasn't prepared for this one.  Spike seemed furious and hurt.

Spike turned around quickly when Buffy caught up to him.  "What, Slayer?  You expect me to believe that Dawn isn't flesh and blood?  I can hear her heartbeat, smell the blood that flows through her veins, and feel her body heat when she's near."

"That's not what I said, Spike."  Buffy sighed exasperated.  "She is human now, but she also contains all the elements of an energy that acts as some kind of key."  She placed her hands on each of Spike's forearms.  "Don't you think I know how crazy it sounds?  I know it's true though."

Spike shook his head back and forth.  Buffy interrupted him before he spoke.  "That snake tonight that we killed?"

"Yeah."

"It was trying to locate the key for Glory."  Buffy frowned.  She absentmindedly rolled her shoulders that were still sore from her earlier beating.  "It went straight to Dawn.  Remember her screaming?  It was there for the key ... to find out where it was."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"It makes perfect sense when you are willing to admit to the facts of things."  Buffy was exasperated.  If Spike was this hard to convince, how was she going to convince the rest of the Scoobies or her mother.  "I found out from one of the monks that I tried to save from Glory.  They made her from a part of me so that I would feel compelled to protect her with my life."

Spike slumped against the side of the Desoto.  "Wow."  He sighed, reached into his duster, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.  "Definitely time for a fag."  He inhaled a couple mouthfuls contemplating all that Buffy had told him.  "So she's real, but she's also not really just human?"

"That's about it.  I have to protect her from Glory."  Buffy leaned against the car next to Spike.  "God only knows what Glory wants to "open" with my sister, and yes she still feels like my sister.  I won't treat her any different either.  I still love her, as annoying as she is."

"She's say the same about you, pet.  The annoying part that is."  Spike chuckled.  He took a few more hits of the cigarette.  "You know I'm going to try to protect her, don't you?"

Buffy turned to face him and nodded slowly.  "Yes, I was hoping that you would."

"Bleeding Summer's women."  Spike tossed the cigarette butt to the ground and ground his boot heel into it to put it out.  "You lot are going to be the death of me yet."  He half chuckled.  He slid off the car and opened the door for Buffy to get in.

Buffy rested her hand on his on the doorframe before she sat down.  "Thank you, Spike."

"Anything for you, Buffy."  Spike's cold body warmed on the inside a moment at saying that to her.  "You are going to have to tell her, you know?"

"Yeah, I know."  Buffy sighed.  "I just don't know how."

Spike closed Buffy's door.  He sauntered to his side of the car, opened the door and slid in.  "We'll figure it out."  He turned his key in the ignition.  "It wouldn't do for her to find out from someone else or some other way."

Buffy nodded and stared out the window.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The pair rode home in silence.  Neither even turned the radio on.  They were both so lost in their own thoughts that they didn't realize how close they were to Revello Drive until Spike pulled up in front of the house.

"Spike, I know that we've had a lot to take in today already, but I've been thinking all day about what you said to me last night."

Spike hoped that she was thinking about it in a good way.  He was getting tired of pretending that they hadn't kissed last night or held each other today.  He so wanted to hold her again.  "Yes?  What about it?"

"I uh ... I think I ..."  Buffy broke off her stutter with a mumble instead.

"What was that, luv?"  Spike asked.  Even with his vampiric hearing the words had been too garbled for him to pick up clearly.  He turned off the engine.

Buffy turned to look at Spike.  "I think ... Well, I think that I care about you too."  She said a bit louder this time.  She cleared her throat.  "I don't know what happened, or why I feel like this, but ..."  She looked up into Spike's eyes.  "If you were just messing with me last night, then please tell me know because I don't want to be made a fool of again."  She lowered her gaze.

Spike grabbed both of Buffy's hands quickly with his.  "Buffy, I wasn't messing with you."  He paused to take in an unnecessary breath.  He lifted her chin with the tips of two of his fingers to look at him.  "I would never be that cruel.  Do you really care about me?"

"Goodness, I don't totally know."  Buffy sighed.  "I think I do.  I'm so confused because I thought we hated each other."  She shook her head back and forth in confusion.  "Then you kissed me and the way it felt ... I haven't felt like that in a very long time."  She gulped.  "Then I had this dream, well a few dreams, but we aren't discussing all of them now.  In the one dream you got staked, and when I woke up I felt scared that you might be gone."

A few dreams?  Interesting.  Spike definitely wanted to hear about those, but he was learning that timing was everything with Buffy.  So, he didn't push.  "Pet, last night ... What exactly did you feel?"

The tension of the moment finally hit her.  She was having a discussion about her feelings of caring about someone who was not her boyfriend with someone who was not her boyfriend.  "Oh my gosh!  I can't do this right now!"  She started to panic and tried to pull away from him.

Spike felt like a knife had been stabbed straight through to his heart.  'Patience, Spike.  She has a lot going on right now.'  He growled low in his throat.  He pulled Buffy closer to him whispering soothing words in her ear.  "It's okay, pet.  Shhhh, there's no rush."

Buffy started to calm down, rocking in Spike's arms.  After several minutes of silence, save for Spike's purr-like words, she was ready to face him again.  "Thank you for dinner.  I think that taking a break helped."  She told him.

"No problem, luv."  Spike smiled down at the petite woman in his arms.  He drank in her scent and memorized the warmth of her against his body.

"It wasn't a date though."  Buffy whispered more to convince herself than him.  It didn't work though.  She knew something had changed between them last night, and something changed even more between them tonight.

"Right, not a ..."  Spike was cut off because at that moment their lips met, and all he could think about was her soft lips on his.  He wrapped his arms even tighter around Buffy's waist as she put her arms around his neck.  They each held the other as close as possible.

When Buffy felt Spike's tongue on her lips she parted them, and his tongue slipped into her mouth.  She knew that she should break away from Spike, but her body called to his.  She felt so right in his arms no matter how wrong someone else might think this was.  After a while she knew that she had to leave soon or she'd never be able to leave his side tonight.  Her control was slipping more with each passing moment.  Just by kissing her, Spike had made her feel more cherished, safe and loved than anyone ever had.  Finally Spike pulled away to let her breathe.

Buffy stared up at Spike.  His lips were so beautiful.  She licked her own lips in desire for him.  "I have ... I have ... to go."  She said trying to catch her breath.

Spike panted with unneeded breath but nodded.  There was no way that he wanted Buffy to regret anything she did with him.  He wanted everything to mean as much to her as it did to him.

In a daze, Buffy slowly got out of the car and walked towards her house.  She stopped on the porch, turned and waved to him once more.  As she opened the door and climbed the stairs to her room, she pressed her fingers to her lips reliving each moment of their kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike drove off back towards the cemetery that his crypt was in.  He really didn't want to see Harmony again after kissing Buffy, but he had nowhere else to go right now.  He would totally kick her out, but the memories of losing everything when he was chipped haunted him.  No, he couldn't do that to anyone, not even Harmony.  She needed protection from the sun the same as him.  He swore that tonight would be the last night that Harmony would spend at his crypt though.  He'd find something for her somewhere else.  Even if Buffy couldn't leave the soldier boy, he couldn't have Harmony around.  He didn't love Harmony.  He loved Buffy.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As they each went their separate ways, neither one of them noticed that someone had watched them, seeing all he needed to see to conclude that Buffy did not really love him.  It looked like he wasn't going to be back in Buffy's bed anytime soon.  He knew where he could get his pleasures from though.  He didn't need Buffy for it.  She didn't have the right teeth anyways.  Riley Finn silently walked away determined that he'd get the truth out of Buffy tomorrow one way or another.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 5 (Facing the Facts)
By MissKitty and Tasha
Chapter Summary: Don't you think it is about time that Buffy kicked Riley to the curb for good?  Did a good night's rest give her the proper perspective?  I sure hope so.  {Smiles}

Author's Note: The first several chapters were jointly written.  It will be noted which chapters were joint and which were single by Tasha only.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Buffy woke up and rolled over to look at the clock.  She freaked when the clock read 9:30 am, thinking she had missed her first class.  A moment's pause and she realized that today was Saturday.  She rolled back over to face the closed window.  She was almost asleep again when the phone rang.  She tried to ignore the incessant ringing at first.  Dawn loved to answer the phone.  So, she hoped that Dawn would get it.

After 7 rings no one else had picked it up yet.  So, Buffy leaned over to pick up the phone on her nightstand and answer it.  "Hello?"  Her groggy voice cracked.

"Buffy?  Did I wake you up?"  Riley's voice echoed clear over the line.

When she heard Riley's voice, Buffy felt slightly guilty about wanting to go back to her dreams of Spike.  She knew that she shouldn't be feeling the way she did about Spike, especially without her current boyfriend knowing.  "Yeah, but it's okay."  She needed to make a decision, and now was the time.  Her voice took on a bit of a grim note, "Hey, what are you doing today?"

"Not much, why?"  Riley already knew why Buffy wanted to know what he was doing today.  He wasn't going to let her slink out of any of this easily.  He decided to play along for now.

"There's something that I have to talk to you about, but I need to tell you this in person."

"Okay," was the only thing that Riley could get past his lips.  Whether he realized what she wanted to do or not, that didn't mean that he wasn't hurt over it all.

"How about I meet you at one of the picnic tables in the University Commons?  Does 11 sound okay?"  Buffy bit her lip nervously.  'I don't know if I can do this.'  She inwardly cringed.  'If you want to be fair to everyone, you need to.  You can't be with Riley and want Spike.  It's wrong.'

"Yeah."  Riley said with a sigh.  "See you then.  Gotta go."  Riley hung up before Buffy could even say goodbye.

The dial tone blared in Buffy's ear.  'Uh-oh,' She thought.  'Does he know what I'm going to do?'  She didn't think he could know.  Spike wasn't even around Riley yesterday.  She really hated breaking up with Riley like this, but she had realized something.  Spike was right.  She was not really in love with Riley.  If she was, why couldn't she let him in about Dawn and talk to him about all the things that were bugging her?  Wasn't he the one that she should be able to confide in?

No, instead she had confided her secrets in Spike.  For some odd reason, Buffy felt like she could trust Spike.  He comforted her after he found out her Mom had to go to the hospital, and he had tried to cheer her up when she told him about the spot the doctor's found.  Just being with him on the back porch, at the hospital, or even in his car last night had made her feel better.  She had finally felt that everything was going to be all right if he was by her side.

Buffy still couldn't figure this all out in her mind though.  It didn't make as much sense in the scheme of things as it did in her heart.  There was no way that she could go on with anything behind Riley's back.  She did not want to cheat on her boyfriend, and she already felt bad enough about what happened with Spike.  She didn't want to feel bad about anything with Spike.  He was the only thing that made her feel good.

When Buffy was completely dressed and ready to go, she trotted down the stairs to the living room.  Dawn and Xander sat on the couch watching movies together.  "Hey guys."

"Hey Buffster."  Xander grinned with a mouthful of popcorn.

"Hey Buffy." Dawn beamed.  She jumped up to wrap her arms around her sister tightly.

Buffy hugged Dawn back.  "I need to go out and meet Riley for a little bit.  I shouldn't be too long."

Dawn huffed, stepped back and crossed her arms.  She didn't like Riley.  He may be nice enough at times, but he always treated her like a little kid.  Besides she liked Spike better.

"Don't give me that look, Dawn."  Buffy waggled a finger at Dawn then tickled her.  "Xander, will you take Dawn to the hospital for me if I'm not back in time?  Mom's pre-op is at 6:00 pm.  The doctor said that we could see her before she went in for the removal."  She tried to keep her voice solid, but she couldn't hide the fear from her face.

"Not a problem, Buffy."  Xander sat up to the edge of the couch.  "Are you sure that you won't need a ride too?"

"Naw.  Once I get done talking to Riley, I'll come back here to get some things together for Mom."  Buffy smiled to Dawn.

Dawn raised a curious brow.  She knew that there was something about Buffy's demeanor this morning that seemed secretive.  "I'll tell Mom that you'll be there before surgery."

"Thanks, Dawnie."  Buffy hugged her again tightly.  "I love you, Dawnie.  I always will."

Dawn squeezed her sister once more before letting go.  "Hurry up and go.  The sooner you go talk to Riley, the sooner you can see Mom."  She let her sarcasm be heard as she emphasized Riley's name.  "If we're still here when you get back, you can go with us."

Buffy chuckled.  "Don't worry, Dawn.  I'll be back as soon as I can."  She headed out the door.  'I don't want to drag my conversation with Riley out any longer than I need to.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy paced through the University grounds in turmoil.  She was so nervous that she had reached the campus at 10:30, a full half hour before her meeting with Riley.  She tried to think of the best way to tell Riley how she felt without hurting him as much.  'Yeah, I think I might love Spike, the evil fiend who tried to kill me, more than you.  So, go away so I can figure it out.'  She thought to herself sarcastically.  'That would go over oh so well.'

Buffy suddenly stopped in the middle of the path between concourses.  Her thoughts backtracked to what she had been thinking about a few minutes ago.  'Love him?  Uh, no way.'  She groaned.  She knew she was starting to care for Spike, but love?  'I so can't fall in love with another vampire.  Giles will kill me!'

Finally, unable to delay it any longer, Buffy reached the picnic tables in the Commons.  She looked around for Riley, but he wasn't anywhere in sight.  'Odd.'  She looked at her watch, 11:15.  'Great, don't tell me that the guy I'm breaking up with is standing me up for the break up?'  She chuckled inwardly at that thought.  She sat down at a table near a small line of trees.

A few minutes later Riley came up and sat down across from Buffy at the table.  "Sorry, I'm late."  His voice clipped out shortly.

"It's okay."  Buffy bit the inner side of her cheek trying to remember all that she had thought to say before.  Her mind went completely blank about what to say, but she noticed that Riley seemed to look a little pale today.  "About what I needed to talk to you about ..."  She trailed off realizing that breaking up with Riley was even harder than she thought it would be.

"Yeah?"  Riley asked.  There was no way he was giving her any leeway.  She was going to come out with it.  He had known for a while that Buffy didn't really love him like she did Angel.  He never expected her to chase after another vampire though.  Worst-case scenario he thought Buffy would go back to Angel.

"Well, see it's umm ... complicated.  I think that maybe we should ..."  Buffy broke off again.  'Come on girl.  Stop stuttering like a true idiot.'

"Buffy, just say it already."  Riley snapped impatiently.  He knew she was breaking up with him, but damnit he wasn't going to let her drag it out this much.  "Sometime this afternoon would be nice.  I do have other places to be."

Buffy stared at Riley wide-eyed.  She wasn't used to him getting all edgy.  Yeah his face would get twitchy when he was upset, but he didn't usually snap at her like that.  It gave her the courage that she needed to continue with what she needed to say.  "I think we should take a break from seeing each other."  She said quickly before she could chicken out again.  "I don't think we should date each other anymore."

There was an awkward silence between both of them.  "Is that all you want to tell me?"  Riley asked.  'She isn't going to tell me about Spike.  I don't know whether to be mad that she isn't telling me or happy that she isn't rubbing my face in it.'

"Yes."  Buffy responded uncomfortably and confused as to why Riley was calming looking at her instead of being sad that she was breaking it off.  Maybe Riley felt the need to break it off as much as she did.

"Right."  Riley laughed.  "You see you left out the part where you go around making out with the undead behind my back."  He responded coldly.  "You and your vampires."

Buffy's eyes widened in horror.  'Oh shit.  He knows.'  She had no clue what to say.  It wasn't a matter of admitting or denying it.  She wasn't going to lie to Riley, but she didn't know what to say to him now.  She was growing more and more furious inside.  Was he spying on her again?

"Yeah, that's what I thought."  Riley continued.  "I happened to see you in his car last night, and I saw you kiss him."  He pushed himself to stand up partially.  "How long has this been going on?  Did anything else happen between you ... No, wait.  I'm not sure if I even want to know the answer that last one."

"Riley, how could you think ... No, nothing else happened."  Buffy felt bad enough about a few kisses.  How could he even think that she'd do more behind his back.  "He was giving me a ride home from dinner and then it happened."  She knew it sounded horrible, but she didn't know how else to explain what she felt when she kissed Spike.  She wasn't about to mention that it wasn't the first kiss either.

"Fine."  Riley was fuming.  "I guess I was right that a normal guy isn't enough for you.  You said yourself that if superpowers were what you wanted, you'd be dating Spike."  He spat the words out at Buffy wish as much venom as he could.  "I told you then that you'd run off.  I just didn't realize that you really wanted Spike."

Buffy was dumbfounded.  This was exactly the root of their problems.  She could never think of what to say to Riley, even when things were going well between them.  'Wait, who's breaking up with whom here?'  She thought and decided to kick back.  "Riley, my being with Spike has NOTHING to do with who is stronger than whom or if you are as strong as I am.  Get over it."  She had been sick of his tirade when he'd almost killed himself because of the Initiatives meddling.  She definitely didn't care for his pity party now.  "I can't even talk to you anymore.  Face it.  We've grown apart.  I'm sorry, but you don't help me.  You smother me.  I can't do this anymore."  She started to cry.  What was going on with her?  She was leaving a "normal" life behind to be with Spike?  Was she crazy?  "I'm sorry because I know this hurts you, but I also know that I'm not the only one who feels that we just don't belong together anymore.  If you are honest with yourself, you'd admit it too."

If Riley had been thinking with his brain he would have seen the sense in her statement.  Hadn't he told Xander a long time ago that he knew Buffy didn't love him.  He was growing more and more restless in Sunnydale.  He felt worthless and without purpose.  Buffy never leaned on him.  The Scoobies didn't seem to really need him either.  Instead of dwelling on it, he lashed out at Buffy.  "Yeah, like you can talk a whole lot better to Spike."  He snapped, trying to cover up his own pain.

"Yes, I can actually, but I'm getting into a pissing contest of the pro's con's of Spike versus Riley."  Buffy stood up, hands on her hips.  "This was happening long before the whole surgery too, and you know it.  Big bad Riley isn't top man on campus anymore and he's pissed about it."  She sneered.

"Watch it, Buffy."  Riley jumped up and got right in Buffy's face.  He towered over here, but that didn't seem to faze the little blonde.  "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't?"  Buffy laughed.  "When the Initiative went down you lost your little throne at the "top" of the food chain, didn't you?"  She dared him to contradict her firing at him with a glare.  "You weren't lord of the manor over all things demon and human anymore.  I've never needed your protection, and you couldn't stand it."

Riley's jaw clenched, and his hands fisted themselves.  "You're pushing a fine line, Buffy."

"Can't handle the truth?  Once in the Initiative, always an Initiative mentality.  Isn't that right?"  Buffy wasn't about to back down for the overgrown schoolboy.  He had peeved her off, and he was going to get the full emotional outburst from Slayer and Buffy.  "Face the facts, Riley.  You can't accept anything but what was programmed into that brain of yours.  You refuse to see that even someone like Spike can change and be a better man than you could ever be."

Riley had enough of this garbage.  In a moment of rage he drew back his hand and slapped Buffy hard across the face.  "I told you to shut up!"  He bellowed.  Students around the whole Commons area stopped to watch the spectacle.

Buffy's eyes were as round as saucers in shock.  "Didn't your mother teach you that it isn't nice to hit girls?"  She hit Riley with a right hook and then kicked him hard in his mid-section, sending him flying several feet away from her.  "I'm warning you, Riley."  She stepped up to his body on the ground.  "Stay away from me, my family, and my friends."  She leaned down closer, a bit of a sneer on her lips.  "Especially Spike.  I didn't want it to end this way but NO ONE gets away with what you just did.  I don't like to hurt humans, but I will protect all that I love."  With that she stood up and headed back for home.  'I'll bet that I don't even get a bruise.  Wimp!'


Not Beneath Me - Chapter 6 (The Next Step?)
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy returns home to find Xander and Dawn still there.  Now that she's broken up with Riley, what should she do?  That is a no brainer to us, but will Buffy do what she should?  You know she wants to.  Maybe she just needs a little push in the right direction.

Author's Note: The first several chapters were jointly written.  It will be noted which chapters were joint and which were single by Tasha only.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy trudged her way up her porch stairs.  She'd fumed and kicked stones all along her walk back from the university.  "Just who the hell did he think he was, hitting me like that."  She muttered to herself.  Half of her had wished that it was night time.  She would have enjoyed a bit of demon butt kicking to work off these pent up emotions.  She opened the front door with more force than necessary.  The door hit the wall behind it with a crash.

Dawn and Xander jumped up from their places on the couch.  Popcorn flew everywhere and twin squeals filled the air.

"What the ..."  Xander's heart raced, and he tried to calm himself down when Buffy peeked her head into the living room.

Dawn stared at her sister in shock.  Her own heart picked up its pace to double time.  "Buffy, you scared the crap out of us."

"Sorry guys."  Buffy gritted her teeth.  "I didn't expect you to still be here."  She stood with one hand on the railing to the upstairs to support her weight.

"You were only gone a couple hours."  Dawn explained.  "We were trying to wait for you."

"Oh, yeah."  Buffy's voice was low.  There was no reason to upset Dawn even more by telling her about Riley.  She knew that Dawn didn't really like Riley, but she would be upset to know that Riley had hit her.

While Xander gathered up the bits of popcorn that now decorated the living room, Dawn walked over to her sister.  Something was wrong.  She just knew it.  She loosely grabbed Buffy's arm.  "Hey, what's wrong?"

The phone ringing interrupted Buffy's answer.  "Just a minute, Dawn."  Her mood took another downturn during the phone call.  It seemed that Willow had caught some flu bug overnight.  She had quite a high temperature.  She needed to stay in bed, but she hoped that Buffy would understand.  Tara offered to still come to the hospital for the surgery, but Buffy told her that it would be best for Willow if Tara stayed home to take care of her.

Xander's cell phone rang just as Buffy was hanging up the house phone.  "Come on.  You've got to be kidding.  You know that I have an extended family emergency."  He sighed.  After several more minutes of grumbling, Xander hung up the phone.  "Guys, it looks like I have to go into work."

"Man.  That sucks."  Dawn pouted, crossing her arms in front of her.

"I have no choice, Dawnie."  Xander clipped the cell phone to his belt again.  "The boss said that I either come in now or I could lose my promotion."  He stood up next to Buffy and hugged her.  "I'm sorry, Buffy.  I have to be to the job site in a half hour."

"I understand, Xander."  Of course Buffy did understand about Willow and now Xander not being able to make it, but she still felt like she was being abandoned.  "You can't lose your job."

"I can still take you guys to the hospital.  We just have to leave now, instead of later."

Dawn ran upstairs.  "I'll be right back down.  I want to get a couple things for the waiting room time."

"Go ahead and take Dawn.  I still need to get the things that Mom wanted me to bring her."  Buffy told Xander.  She wasn't quite ready to put on the chipper face yet anyways.

"All right.  If you're sure."  Xander gathered up his coat and keys.  "Have Dawn come out to the car when she's ready.  I'm going to go outside and call Anya while I wait for Dawnie.  She has to stay and mind the store while Giles is at the hospital with you guys."

"Okay, I'll tell Dawn."  Buffy walked up the stairs.  She headed for her mom's room.  She stopped in the doorway, almost afraid to step in any farther.  This was her mother's domain.  She felt like she was intruding.

Dawn walked out of her own room.  She stood in the hallway watching Buffy for a couple minutes.  'She's way too deep in thought for normal Buffy behavior.'  She rested her hand on Buffy's shoulder.  "Hey you.  What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Buffy replied absently.  She stared off into their mother's room still lost in thought.

"Liar," Dawn accused.  She wasn't mean about it, but this wasn't a time to let Buffy clam up on her.  They needed to stick together.

"What?"  Buffy turned to Dawn, surprised at her tone.

"I know that look, Buffy.  That look means you're thinking and pretty heavily too.  What's wrong?"

"Well ..."  Buffy had no clue where to start.  They didn't have a lot of time because Dawn needed to leave.  She tried to keep it simple and quick.  "I just broke up with Riley."

"You what?"  Dawn asked.  She was surprised, but hey if Buffy wanted to break up with Riley that was perfectly fine with her.

"You heard me."  Buffy didn't feel like repeating herself.  Was she mistaken or did Dawn actually sound happy about it?

"Wow.  Why?"  Dawn had been getting sick of Riley's pushing lately.  When he'd taken her from the hospital yesterday he was all over her asking her about Buffy.  He should have been asking Buffy those questions, not her.  Sheesh.

"It's complicated."  Buffy sighed.

"Buffy, just tell me.  I think I can handle it."  Dawn perked up a moment and made a face.  "Unless it's sexual reasons.  Then you can just keep that to yourself.  Ick."

"No, it's nothing sexual."  Buffy laughed.  No matter how grown up her sister wanted to act, she still didn't like the whole sex issue.  "We've been growing apart for a long time now.  We never talk, and we just weren't happy with each other any more.  I thought it was best that we broke up."

"Oh.  So you broke up with him then?  I'll just bet he loved that."  Dawn found that interesting.  The way Buffy was acting she would have figured that Riley left her sister.  There was something in the way that Buffy was looking and acting.  She figured that Buffy wasn't telling her all the reasons, but if Buffy was available again, she knew just who she'd rather see her sister with.  "Have you talked to Spike lately?"

"Yeah, I saw him last night.  We went to dinner after I left the hospital."  Buffy replied.  "I wanted to talk to him about some things."  She still wasn't sure whom she could tell about her growing feelings for Spike.  She didn't figure that Dawn would mind though.  Spike had always seemed to care about her sister like she was his own sister.  She was curious though why Dawn had changed the subject from Riley to Spike without missing a beat.

"Dinner?  Really?"  Dawn was almost giddy in her response.  "Does he know about Mom?"

Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, I told him the night of the CT Scans."

Dawn was silent a moment then asked, "Do you think he would want to come to the hospital with us while mom's in the O.R.?"

Buffy didn't respond right away.  She hadn't told Dawn that she was planning on heading to Spike's crypt to see if he would stop by after sunset.  She knew that she would probably feel better if Spike was there while they waited, but Giles and Spike didn't get along all that well.  "Dawnie," she began but stopped when Dawn stuck out her bottom lip and made a pouting face.

"Please?  Mom said she didn't mind if he was there, too.  You know how Mom likes him."

Buffy sighed in surrender.  Dealing with Giles would be easier to handle than a pouting Dawn.  It should be fine if Spike wanted to come earlier and wait with them now.  She'd figure out something to tell Giles.  "Fine."

"Yeah!!"  Dawn heard Xander beeping his car horn.  "So you are going to go ask him?"

"Yes, Dawnie.  I'll head over there as soon as I get Mom's stuff together."  Buffy put her hand on the small of Dawn's back.  She gave her a little push to the stairs.  "Now hurry.  You don't want Xander to be late."

"Okay, bye!"  Dawn ran down the stairs and out the front door.  Anyone watching would have seen a mischievous smirk on her face.  Now that Riley was out of the picture she was going to do her best to see to it that her sister and best friend spent a lot more time together.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy stood outside the entrance to Spike's crypt.  She shifted her weight from one foot to another trying to decide if she should knock on the door or just barge in.  She finally decided on walking in without knocking.  'Don't want him to fry.' She reasoned with herself that if Spike answered the door he'd get toasted from the sun's rays.  She winced when the crypt door opened with a loud squeal.  Careful to not keep the door open too long, she shut it again and looked around for Spike.

Spike sat in the chair in front of the television, asleep.  Harmony was nowhere to be seen.  Buffy was immensely glad that she had not walked in on him and Harmony doing something she really didn't want to see.  Vampires looked at sexual intimacy different than humans, but Spike had never seemed like the normal vampire.  Just thinking about Spike being intimate with another woman right now made her heart ache.  The ache solidified her courage that she needed Spike more in her life.  Why would it bother her to see him with another woman if she didn't care?

Buffy walked over to Spike's chair and watched him.  He looked so peaceful in his slumber.  'He must have been really tired.  Usually I can't get this close to him without him waking up.'  She leaned closer when Spike shifted in the chair and whispered something that distinctly sounded like her name.  'What is he dreaming about?'  That thought intrigued her.  She watched as Spike seemed to shift himself in his sleep.  'Must be a good dream.'  She smirked.

Remembering why she came here in the first place, Buffy leaned down next to Spike's ear to talk to him.  "Spike."  When he didn't respond she said it again.  "Spike!"  She still didn't get a response.  'He really does sleep like the dead.'  She chuckled at that thought.  "SPIKE!  Wake up!"  She practically yelled in his ear.

Spike jumped up from the chair with his arms flailing.  He would have knocked Buffy over if she had slower reflexes.  "Bloody hell, woman.  What're you shoutin' for?"  He was still quite disorientated, and he thought he was going to rip Harmony's throat out for this one.

"You awake now?"  Buffy giggled.  She stepped back and crossed her arms.

"Oh, Buffy.  Hello."  Spike ran a hand through his hair, a bit embarrassed.  "Sorry about that."

"I hate to wake you up during the day, but you know how Mom's having her tumor removal surgery today?"

"Yeah."  Spike tried not to look as worried as he felt.  'Did something go wrong?'

"Well, the gang was going to all be there, but now it is just going to be Dawnie, Giles and I."  Buffy nibbled on her lower lip.  "Dawn wanted me to ask you if you'd like to come sit with us."

"Dawn?"  Spike smirked.  "You know luv, if you wanted to see me you don't need to use the Nibblet as an excuse."  He teased.

"No, I'm serious.  She asked me to ask you to come."  Buffy said hurriedly.  She wanted him to know just how much Dawn thought of him.  She noticed an almost hurt look cross his face though, and she quickly added her wanting him there too.  "I would like it if you would be there too."

'Now, we're getting somewhere.'  Spike smiled happily.  "All right."  His eagerness left him the moment he remembered about Buffy's boyfriend.  "Isn't Captain Cardboard gonna be there?"

Buffy had hoped Spike would not mention Riley, but she should have known better.  It made sense for him to ask especially after what happened between her and Spike the last couple days.  "No, I doubt that he'll come."

Spike raised a scarred eyebrow curiously.  "He doesn't know, or he doesn't want to come?"  There was no way he wanted to be around Whitebread any more than he had to, but he was surprised that Buffy's own boyfriend wouldn't be there at a time like this.

"Neither, actually."  Buffy lowered her gaze to her feet as she spoke.  "We kind of broke up today."

"Kind of?"  Spike questioned.  He tried to keep the utter joy from showing on his face, but he couldn't help a large grin.  Was Buffy trying to tell him that she'd made her decision about the two of them?  After their conversation last night, he knew that she had some choices to think over.  "Is that like kinda pregnant?"  He teased.  "Usually you are or you aren't"

Buffy laughed.  "Not kind of.  We did break up."  She wasn't sure what else to say.  "I told him today that we weren't working out anymore and that I didn't want to see him anymore."

"So, you're single, huh?"  Spike said and quirked a suggestive eyebrow that made Buffy's insides melt.

"Single from Riley, yeah."  Buffy wanted to know if Spike was going to let her stay single for long, but she didn't have the guts to ask yet.  "What about you?  You know, you and Harmony?"

"That is an interesting question."  Spike tried to think of how to word it.  Harmony was still living with him, but he'd already found a new place for her.  "I ... uh ... Sorta single, but ... we haven't done anything for a long time."

Buffy couldn't help but to grin.  "Yeah, that's right."  She half smiled.  "It's your turn to stutter and backpedal, isn't it?"

"Buffy, she doesn't mean anything to me."  Spike quickly chimed in.  "Honestly.  I just didn't think I could kick her out to the curb when she wouldn't have anywhere to live."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."  Buffy teased.  "I'm sure that is it."  She gave him a devilish grin.

Spike visibly relaxed when he realized that Buffy was just messing around with him.  "My relationship status all depends on this one girl.  She's kind of cute, but she's a bit indecisive.  She isn't quite sure if she can handle the Big Bad."

Buffy laughed.  "Oh really?"  She shook her head back and forth and stepped closer to him.  "I might just have to have a talk with this girl.  She sounds like she needs to have her head examined, if she's thinking about turning you down that is."

"You think so?"  Spike reached out to Buffy and pulled her down into his lap as he sat back down in the chair.  "I think she's pretty smart, but sometimes she just doesn't notice what is right in front of her."  He brushed his lips against hers.  "You think I can convince her to give me a try?"

Buffy turned her head into the kiss and pressed her lips harder to his.  "Maybe.  If she's ready for that next step."  Spike's tongue fluttered against hers.  She parted her lips to allow him entrance.  Again she felt the emotions wash over her and remembered how she had never felt like this with Riley.  Turning on his lap to straddle him in the chair, she broke the kiss to whisper, "Spike."

Hearing his name coming from Buffy's lips made Spike want her even more.  Just as they delved back into each other's mouths a high pitched voice echoed off the crypt walls.

"Spike!?!  Why the hell are you kissing the Slayer?"

Breaking the kiss, Spike looked over at Harmony with wide eyes.  She stood by the ladder leading to the lower level of the crypt.  No one could miss the completely pissed look on her face.

"Oh bloody hell."  Spike muttered.

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 7 (Blondie Bear)
By MissKitty and Tasha

Chapter Summary: None of the Scoobies, save Giles, is going to be able to make it to the hospital.  Buffy is at Spike's crypt to invite him to come sit with them and to tell him how she feels.  Things go a little wacky though when the "space cadet" blonde Vampiress, Harmony, interrupts them.  Will Harmony be kicked to the curb or simply dusted?

Author's Note: This is the last jointly written chapter from the original piece of work by MissKitty.  Tasha will write all the rest of the chapters, and the tag line will change.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Constructive criticisms are welcome; flaming is not.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Just great.'  Spike thought to himself.  'Harmony would have to come up here and ruin this moment.'  Buffy and Spike sat still in the armchair looking at Harmony who looked like she was going to hurl, explode, or both.

Buffy kept looking back and forth between Spike and Harmony with wide eyes.  She knew that Harmony was still living here based on what Spike said earlier.  She hadn't expected the Vampiress to be bold enough to come upstairs while they were together.

Spike looked more annoyed with Harmony as each moment passed.  His hands firmly on Buffy's waist, he glared at Harmony.  "I thought I told you not to come up here while I was here."

Harmony looked like she was going to kill the next thing she came into contact with.  Spike's favorite blood mug was sitting on the mini-fridge next to her.  She shoved it with such force that she sent it flying into the wall of the crypt.  It shattered back out into the room, shards nearly hitting the stunned couple in the chair.  Spike hadn't been able to kill the Slayer, but that was no reason for the Slayer to be sitting on Spike's lap now.

"Hey!"  Spike quickly turned in the chair.  Instinctively he used his body to protect Buffy from any bit of flying debris.  He snarled, jumped to his feet and started to advance on Harmony.  "You do NOT want to push your luck now, Harmony."

Harmony stood straight up with her arms at her side.  She had not missed the fact that Spike seemed fiercely protective of the Slayer all of a sudden.  That fact, along with coming up on the two of them kissing, was royally ticking her off.  "You didn't answer the damn question, Spike.  Why the hell are you kissing the Slayer?"

"Umm ..."  Spike glanced down at a ruffled Buffy who sat askew in the armchair since he'd jumped up so quickly.  He searched for an answer that wouldn't get him staked by either of the women in the room.  "I'm not kissing her right now, am I?"  He laughed.  "I was until we were rudely interrupted though."  He knew that the statement would piss off Harmony, but he couldn't help it slipping from his lips.  He loved Buffy, and this sad excuse for a Vampiress was not going to get in the way of that.

Buffy tired hard not to laugh.  She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep the corners of her mouth from curling into a smile.  'Poor Spike.  He's trying not to be mean, even to Harmony.'  She pondered just how much Spike had changed from the first day she met him in the alley behind the Bronze.  He was still all sass and attitude, but he did have a caring side.  Did he always have it, and she just didn't notice it before?

"Whataver!"  Harmony shouted.  "I'm sick of this back and forth, Spike.  Kill the Slayer.  Don't kill the Slayer."  She snarled.  "You can't make up your stupid mind about anything.  I want an answer."

Spike looked nervously at both women.  Buffy's expression seemed a bit hidden.  He thought he saw the mirth in her eyes, but he couldn't be sure.  Was she embarrassed at being caught by Harmony?  Was she pissed that Harmony was still there?

"See!  He won't even answer me.  Can't even make his mind up about that!"  Harmony slapped her hands down to her sides and then kicked the sarcophagus.  "Ow!  Ow!"  She started hopping around on one foot.

Buffy had to laugh then.  "Seriously Harmony, could you be any more of an idiot?"  She laughed harder, holding her sides.

"You are a sorry excuse for a Vampire, Spike, and you know what?"  Harmony's voice was loud, but the whimper of pain from her lips killed the angry effect.

"What?"  Spike tried to humor Harmony.  She may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but Harmony was still a Vampire.  He didn't want Buffy to have to kill her.  Being a fool wasn't an excuse to dust someone.

"No!  You don't get to talk to me anymore."  Harmony ordered.  Spike arched an eyebrow as she continued her tirade.  "We are so over, Spike.  You don't get to be my little Blondie Bear anymore!"  She stopped hopping now that the pain in her foot had eased off somewhat.

Upon hearing the name Blondie Bear, Buffy laughed even harder.  She practically rolled off the chair onto the floor.  "Oh my gosh!"  She gasped for breath.  "Blondie Bear?"

"Love?"  Spike glanced from Buffy to Harmony.  He'd heard about women scorned, and he didn't want to see just what Harmony's twisted blonde mind would try to do.  He saw Harmony's human face make way for her game face.

Buffy looked up at Harmony's game face.  She just laughed harder.  "Even as a Vampiress she still doesn't scare me.  What is she going to do to me?"  She giggled, but she started to calm down some.  "She can't hurt me.  Not even close."

Harmony sniffled.  She hated all of this.  Nothing had been the same since she'd been turned.  At first it seemed like a party.  She could steal anything she wanted, and she was strong.  She thought her Blondie Bear was the best man ever until she'd lived with him for a while.  Now she was being subjected to even more ridicule from the Slayer than she ever would have had to tolerate back in high school.  Men weren't supposed to like that freak more than her.  She was the popular one, not Buffy.

Spike watched as the anger bubbled deeper in Harmony's mind.  For a moment he swore that he saw a trace of tears in her eyes.  He must have been mistaken as the look was gone at a second glance.

"As I was saying," Harmony huffed indignantly, "I'm leaving."  She headed towards the door.  She stopped a hair's breath away from opening it to let the sun inside.  "Um ... Yeah ... I'll leave through the tunnel entrance after I get my stuff."

Buffy jumped up and grabbed Harmony's arm as Harmony passed her.  "Stay away from Spike, Harmony.  I mean it."  She knew that the blonde wasn't a threat to her, but she was feeling overly possessive.  No one was going to touch Spike again if she had anything to say about it.

"As if I wanted to waste myself getting dusted over that idiot."  Harmony scoffed.  "He isn't worth it."  She tore her arm away from Buffy and headed downstairs to pack.

Spike stepped behind Buffy.  He wrapped his arms around her waist, nestling his lips into her neck.  He doubted that they could regain the mood that was going before Harmony's interruption.  He wasn't about to let it kill all of their time together.  "You okay, pet?"

Buffy closed her eyes and purred.  How could such a rough and harsh being be so soft against her?  A giggle of laughter coursed through her and into his body.  "Blondie Bear?  Oh my gosh!  That's too much."

"Ha, ha."  Spike snarled.  'If she keeps that laughing up, I swear I will cum right here from the vibrations of her body against mine.'  He tried to get himself to calm down before he spoke.  "Very funny, Slayer.  I did not have anything to do with that nickname.  That's the bint's twisted mind at work."

Buffy smiled.  She turned around in Spike's arm.  Raising a hand to his cheek, she cupped it and drew his face down to her lips for a kiss.  "Don't worry.  I'll never call you that.  I couldn't do it and keep a straight face."

"Good."  Spike rolled his eyes before he kissed Buffy deeply.  He wrapped his arms around her tighter.  Her warm body felt like an inferno against his chilled torso.  He didn't care if her heat dusted him.  She was worth anything in the world that he would have to endure to be near her.

Buffy broke the kiss when the need for air overcame her need to be kissing him.  "You really are good at that."

"And don't you forget it."  Spike beamed in manly pride.  "It is so good to hear you laugh you know.  You don't get to laugh often, luv."

"My life isn't usually up there with the happy tinglies of laughter."  Buffy rested her face against Spike's chest.  Angel and Riley had both been so much taller than her.  Their beefy bodies always seemed to smother her in their embraces.  She didn't feel that way with Spike.  He was still taller than her, and his body was taunt and muscular, but she felt like she belonged in his arms.  His body seemed to mold to hers, and it wasn't a power struggle to see who could hug tighter.  They knew just how much pressure to give each other.

"I'll have to make sure that changes, pet."  Spike stroked his fingers through Buffy's hair.  "I'll do whatever I can to make you happy, Buffy."

"I know you will."  Buffy stepped back to stare at Spike.  He'd actually called her Buffy.  The tenderness and caring that she read in his eyes warmed her heart.  It gave her courage to know that she was doing the right thing.  No matter what her friends said, Spike cared.  There could be no denying that look in his eyes as anything else.  "I should get going.  Mom's thing starts at 6 o'clock.  The sun should be down enough by then."

"I can get to the hospital via the tunnels."  Spike squeezed Buffy's hand.  He walked her over to the door.  "It won't take me too long, and I'll leave now."

Buffy picked up the bag of things that she'd brought for her mother.  She placed her hand on the door.  "Okay, that's great."  She kissed him once more softly.  "Dawn and I really do want you there.  I know my mom will be happy too."

"Joyce is a nice bird.  I've always cared for her."  Spike smiled.  He thought back to the many conversations that they'd shared through the years over a nice cup of hot chocolate.  "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than at your side through this."

"Thanks, Spike."  Buffy started to open the door, but she turned back to face Spike.  "Spike, Giles is going to be there.  Promise me that you won't fight with him?  He is likely to be a bit edgy about you being there."

"I'll do my best, pet."  Spike tried to reassure Buffy.  He wouldn't start anything, but he knew he was going to have to bite his tongue around Giles.  He would support his girls, but Giles had better not push him too far.  "I won't start anything if he doesn't provoke me.  What are you going to tell him as to why I'm there?"

"I wasn't thinking that far ahead yet, but let me tell the gang about us, okay?"  Buffy sighed.

Spike nodded.  He didn't like the sound of it.  He wanted to believe that she wouldn't hide their new relationship from her friends, but he didn't want to hide how he felt about her.  He'd already been trying to hold back his emotions from Buffy before the last couple days.  Now that he knew she wanted a relationship with him, he wanted to shout it from the rooftops.  "I won't be a dirty little secret, Slayer."

Buffy stiffened.  The edge in Spike's voice was far too noticeable to miss.  "You aren't, Spike."  She squeezed his hand in assurance.  "I'm not going to hide it, but you know how some of them will be.  I can't handle all that conflict along with everything with my Mom."

"All right."  Spike sighed.  He pushed her towards the door and stepped out of the way of any stray rays of sunlight.  "Go on then.  I'll see you at the hospital."

Buffy waved as the door closed.  She darted off in the direction of the hospital.  Nothing would be right about her mom having to have surgery, but she knew that she could handle it all much better with Spike by her side.  'Now what am I going to tell the gang?  They are so not going to believe me.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Riley watched Buffy run out of Spike's crypt.  He frowned.  "I should have known that she'd run right to the bleached wonder."  He muttered, turned around and headed back his place.  "He is going to regret that he ever touched what is mine."  He sneered.  Much planning needed to be done.

Riley picked up the phone and called a number that he swore he'd never talk to again.  "Hello.  I'd like to get a message to Agent Graham."  He paused as the person on the other end denied knowing anything about someone like that.  "Whatever.  Tell him that Finn needs his help in solving an old problem.  Tell him that I need help with 17."  He hung up before the person on the other side of the line could deny what he knew was true.

"Let him enjoy his moment.  It won't last long."  Riley sneered, waiting for the return phone call.  "I know just how to make your dreams come true, Spike.  Too bad it will mean that Buffy is going to have to dust you."  He grinned.  "Maybe if she has to dust another vampire "lover" she'll get it through her head that she needs a real man."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 8 (Insanity Creeps In)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Spike are at the hospital awaiting Joyce's surgery.  Nothing ever goes as planned on the Hellmouth, and that goes now more than ever.  Will Giles stake Spike on sight or will he realize just how welcome Spike is to the Summer's girls?

Author's Note: Tasha is now writing all of the chapters, solely.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

<HR>

Family and friends surrounded Joyce Summers while they awaited her surgery.  Dawn was curled alongside Joyce on the bed.  Giles sat in a chair on the other side of the bed.  Buffy stood behind Dawn with her hand on her sister's shoulder.

Giles rubbed his hand down his face nervously.  After the "band candy" incident he and Joyce had briefly considered dating each other.  Various aspects of their lives and schedules kept them apart in the beginning.  They'd decided that perhaps it would be better if they simply remained friends.  No matter how many times he reminded himself of that fact, he still felt a stronger connection to Joyce.  He wasn't here simply to support Buffy.  He was here to support Joyce directly.  He needed her to know that he cared for her.  Now wasn't the time to spring more surprises on her, but Giles vowed that he would have a serious talk with her when this was all over.

Buffy's eyes darted from her mother to the door.  She felt his presence almost as soon as he'd entered the hospital.  His presence always screamed Master Vampire to her, but underneath that she felt so much more.  Her senses felt a distinctive trace that told her Spike was nearby.  It was a feeling that she'd only ever felt once before, yet this sensation was even stronger than what she sensed when Angel was nearby.  She knew that any second Spike was going to step through the door.

Although the knock was soft, it echoed around the hospital room like a gong sounding.  The four occupants of the room, each in their own private worlds, turned their attention to the slowly opening door.

A platinum blonde head peaked through the crack of the door and opened it further.  " 'Ello, Joyce."  Spike grinned at the woman in the bed.  He'd only moved into the room two steps before he was face to face with an angry Giles.

"What do you think you are doing here?"  Giles spoke angrily.

"I'm here to see how my favorite cocoa buddy is doing."  Spike smiled brightly at Joyce.  He tried to hide his fear at her paled complexion.  'Hold it together.  We have to be strong and support our girls right now.'  He looked up at Buffy with a smile on his face.  His smile grew wider when he realized she was smiling back at him in joy to see him.  That wasn't going to stop Rupert Giles' tirade though.

"Your presence is neither wanted or requested here, Spike."  Giles wasn't going to let anything upset Joyce if he could help it.  He doubted that Joyce would want the vampire around.  He was about to find out how wrong he was.

Spike clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth together and sucking in his cheeks so they twitched.  He uttered not a word, but he cast a pleading glance from Buffy to Joyce.  He knew that they both wanted him here, but he didn't want to cause a fight either.  He'd promised Buffy that he wouldn't argue with Giles.  This wasn't starting off well.

Joyce raised her hand and settled it on Rupert's arm.  "It's all right, Rupert."  She smiled warmly at Spike.  She then turned her gaze back to Giles'.  "He is wanted here."  She hugged Dawn tighter to herself.  She knew that Dawn loved Spike, and there was something in Buffy's eyes that told her that she wanted him here too.  Dawn had told Joyce that Buffy broke up with Riley.  Although Joyce never approved of Angel, it had been for more reasons than just him being a vampire.  She was willing to wait and see what might be between her daughter and Spike.

"You can't be serious, Joyce?"  Giles gasped.  He was confused about Joyce's attitude.  He knew that Spike helped Joyce out from time to time at the gallery, but he always figured that it was only for pay.  He had to admit that he'd walked into the Summer's kitchen a couple times in the middle of a cocoa session between Joyce and Spike.  He looked up at Buffy to see if she had any objections to Spike's presence.  When he saw none, he was even more confused than he was a few moments before.

"Quite serious, Rupert."  Joyce squeezed Giles' arm in support.  "Spike is always welcome in my home, and he's been by to visit a couple times already."

Buffy inhaled sharply.  'Spike has been here a couple times already?  He came to check on my Mom when I wasn't here too?'  She felt her heart swell in joy at this news.  This would help to prove to the gang that Spike wasn't just spending time with Buffy at the hospital to get on Buffy's good side.  He'd even come by when she wasn't around.  "I didn't know you were here after you and I had been here yesterday evening."

Spike shifted his weight from one foot to another.  He tried not to look nervous.  If vampires could blush, he was sure that he would be.  He hadn't intended for Buffy to find out about his other visits.  It wasn't that he was trying to hide them from her, but he didn't want her to feel bad that he was here when she wasn't.  "Yeah."  He looked up at Giles.  The shocked look on the Watcher's face made the smirk return to his own face.  "I came by this morning for a little bit to see how she faired during the night."

"That ..."  Giles removed his glasses and started to clean the lenses with a cloth he drew out from his pocket.  "Interesting."  He put his glasses back on and glanced at Spike.  He sat back down in the chair next to the bed.  "I appear to have been mistaken."  He looked over at Joyce then back up at Spike.  "My apologies."

Spike's mouth almost hung open.  'Did the Watcher just apologize?'  His mind went blank to figure out what to say in return.  "That's okay, Watcher.  Easy mistake to make."  He half laughed to cover his nervousness.

Buffy beamed at Spike and Giles.  That went a lot easier than she thought it would.  Leave it to her Mom to be able to diffuse any situation.

Spike walked around the bed.  He leaned down and hugged Dawn.  "Hey there, Nibblet."  He pulled a little stuffed teddy bear out from inside his duster.  It was a soft, fuzzy brown color.  It wore a black leather jacket and leather pants.  A small gold color chain adorned it's neck, and if you looked close enough you could see little white fangs had been sewn onto the sides of its mouth.  "I saw it, and I couldn't resist the urge to pick it up for you."

Dawn squealed in joy.  She jumped off the bed and hugged Spike tightly.  "This is so cute."  She leaned in to whisper into Spike's ear.  "You put those fangs on it though, didn't you."

Spike smirked innocently at Dawn.  "I'll never tell, Little Bit."  He winked at her.

Buffy chuckled.  Standing next to Spike, she'd heard what Dawn said.  Dawn turned the bear to show Buffy.  Buffy shook her head slightly.  "He does look familiar.  You'll have to think of a good name for him."

"I'm sure that I can come up with something good."  Dawn giggled.  She nestled the bear into the crook of her arm.  She resumed her place lying next to Joyce.

"That was sweet of you, Spike."  Joyce smiled up at him.

"I'm not sweet.  I'm ..."  Spike blubbered, but one look at Joyce's teasing face and he just sighed.  "Yeah, real softie.  I'm still the Big Bad."  He said sarcastically.

Buffy playfully slapped Spike on the arm.  "Yeah, you Big Fluffy Bad you."  She teased.

"Oy, Slayer.  It's bad enough that Mum is calling me that."  Spike groaned.  "Don't need you to help her.  My image is already shot to hell."

Buffy, Joyce and Dawn laughed.  Even Giles couldn't resist a grin.  He couldn't help but to notice how different Spike acted around just the Summer's women.  He still seemed guarded at times, but there was an openness to his expressions that he didn't normally show around the other Scoobies.

Amidst the laughter Doctor Kriegel walked into Joyce's hospital room.  He looked ragged and tired.  It uplifted him some to see Joyce smiling, but he knew they weren't going to like his news.

Spike was the first to realize that the doctor was in the room.  "Heya.  What's up, Doc?"  He chuckled.  There was no way that he could resist that old joke.

Dr. Kriegel smiled.  "Hello, Spike."  He clasped his hands in front of him.  "I'm afraid that I don't have good news this time."

Buffy inhaled sharply, Dawn whimpered and Giles squeezed Joyce's hand tighter.  "Did the tests show something else, Doctor?"  Giles was the first to recover his voice.

"Oh, goodness."  Dr. Kriegel stuttered.  "The tests are the same.  I'm sorry.  Nothing more is wrong with Joyce."  Everyone in the room visibly relaxed and exhaled, even those that didn't really need to breathe in the first place.  "There has been an incident in the hospital and much of our surgical equipment was vandalized or destroyed."

Buffy stepped around to the foot of the bed.  "Is everyone okay?  No one was attacked, were they?"  She wondered what was going on.  Had some demon gotten into the hospital?

"The staff is fine, just a few bruises."  Dr. Kriegel sighed.  "We've had an influx of mental patients lately, and we just don't have the proper staff for them all.  We're in the process of sending who we can home or sending them to other hospitals."  He shook his head back and forth.  "Unfortunately several of the patients were able to break free and overpower the nurses station.  They wreaked a bit of havoc through the surgical storage facilities and other places."

Joyce sighed.  Her head was starting to throb again.  She really hated being in the hospital in the first place.  Now she was going to have to worry about loose mental patients?  She rubbed her temples.

Spike noticed Joyce's motions.  He picked up a glass to fill it with water.  He picked up the small cup that had two pills in it.  He handed her the glass and the pills.

Joyce smiled up at Spike.  She swallowed the pills down with some water and lay back with her eyes closed. 

"I don't mean to sound uncaring, but what does this mean for us?"  Spike glanced down at Joyce then back up to the doctor.

"It means we can't do the surgery until at least tomorrow night."  Dr. Kriegel placed his hand on Joyce's arm.  "We don't want to take any chances that something might not be functioning properly.  Also one of the machines that we need to monitor and perform the procedure was irreparably damaged.  We need to get a replacement from LA.  That will take until at least tomorrow."

"I'm so tired of this hospital."  Joyce moaned out.  "I swear that I'm going to go crazy in here myself if I have to wait much longer."

"I sympathize Joyce, but we don't want to take any chances on your health.  The machines ..."

Joyce interrupted.  "Damn it all.  Just rip them up and shove them in the trash.  You're all worthless anyways."  Her voice was full of anger and loathing.

Everyone stared at Joyce, stunned.  Joyce never swore, and her tone was nothing like the sweet woman that had always cared for everyone in their group.

"It's all right, Joyce."  The doctor watched Joyce's face change back to a passive, yet pained one, a few seconds later.  He let his gaze travel to everyone present.  "The tumor is putting pressure on various parts of her brain.  I expected this kind of a reaction as a possibility."  He pressed the button for the nurse's station.

Two beeps echoed throughout the room followed by a soft female voice.  "Nurse's station.  How may I help you, Joyce?"

"Actually this is Dr. Kriegel.  Please get a mild sedative for Mrs. Summers stat.  Her surgery has been postponed, and I want her resting as much as possible."

"Yes, Doctor."  The nurse responded quickly.

"I'll be out to fill out the full doctor's orders in a moment."

"I'll order it right away, Doctor."

"Thank you."  Dr. Kriegel looked back down at Joyce.  "You need to sleep as much as possible Joyce.  I'm going to give you something to help with that."  He turned to the rest of them.  "Once she is asleep, it would be best if you all leave until tomorrow morning."

Joyce opened her eyes.  "I'll be fine."  She tried to sound convincing.  "You can go out patrolling now.  I doubt that Riley will be doing it tonight now."

Giles looked questioningly at Buffy.  Buffy cringed.  "Yeah, I doubt that he shows up."

Spike secretly squeezed Buffy's hand, using his long and flowing duster to hide their joined hands.  He was willing to wait for Buffy to make their relationship known, but he was going to comfort her in any way that he could.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy, Dawn and Spike walked out of Joyce's hospital room.  The trio strode down the corridors of the hospital.  Things still seemed a bit chaotic around the nurse's stations they passed.  A couple of mental patients were still unaccounted for.

A heavyset man looked up at Dawn from between a younger couple near the nurse's station.  "No input."  He got closer to Dawn.  "No data.  You have no data." 

Protectively, Spike pulled Dawn closer to him.  He looked up at Buffy and nodded to head down the other hall.  Dawn squirmed in his arms, freaking out.

The man started shaking his hands at Dawn.  "Not here.  Not real."  The young couple pulled their father's hands to pull him towards the exit.

A young doctor that Buffy and Dawn had met earlier stepped over to the trio.  "Are you guys all right?  Was he bothering you?"

Buffy spoke up first.  "It's okay, Ben.  He was just muttering a bunch of nonsense."  She ran her fingers through Dawn's long brown hair.  "They are letting him go home?"

"Yeah."  Ben placed his hands on his hips.  He huffed.  "After the incident earlier today they are trying to send any patients home with their families that they can."

"Is that safe?"  Buffy looked at Spike worriedly.  "If they are causing trouble here, won't they hurt their families?"

"They're trying to weed out the more passive ones, but a passive patient could be aggressive in the next moment."  Ben shook his head back and forth.  "I don't like it all, but who am I to argue with the doctors.  I'm just an intern.  They don't listen to me."

"Will Mom be safe here, Buffy?"  Dawn was scared.  This was the second time someone had told her that she wasn't real.  Nothing about it made sense, but it was starting to creep her out.

"Giles is with her now.  I doubt that he'll be leaving any time soon."  Buffy tried to reassure her sister.

"The Watcher seemed like he wasn't going to be moving from her bedside."  Spike agreed.  "Buffy and I can come back to check on her after our patrol, Nibblet."

"Your Mom should be perfectly safe."  Ben rested a hand on Buffy's arm.  He quickly removed it at the sound of something like a growl coming from the blonde man.  "Security has been doubled and the damage has mainly been to property."  His name was paged over the intercom, and he quickly left the trio.

"I want to come back with you guys."  Dawn whined.

"We'll see, Dawn."  Buffy continued her stroking through Dawn's hair.  "Right now we're heading to Xander and Anya's.  You can stay there until Spike and I are done with patrolling."

Dawn rolled her eyes.  They headed out into the night.  "I don't see why I can't come with you."

"You are too young, Dawn."  Buffy gripped Dawn's arm protectively.

"I'm almost as old as you were when you were called."  Dawn countered, arms crossed in front of her.

"But you haven't been called.  You aren't as strong as I was, and I was petrified when I was called."  Buffy didn't know how long Dawn would be around.  Would she disappear once the key's usage time was up?  Was Dawn able to handle getting hurt?  She didn't know the answers to way too many questions.  Each answer she found seemed to lie in just another question.  She looked up at Spike pleadingly.

"Let your big sis and I handle the patrolling tonight, Nibblet."  Spike ruffled Dawn's hair playfully.  "Once we get everything settled with your mum maybe we can talk Buffy into letting me train you some.  No matter what you should be able to defend yourself."  He looked over Dawn's head at Buffy in support.

"Goodie!"  Dawn practically bounced for the several block walk from the hospital to Xander's house.  All earlier thoughts and worries were gone.  She had something to look forward to.  Spending more time with Spike was always a good thing in her book.

Buffy smiled at Spike.  Behind Dawn's back she reached out her hand and gathered his hand into hers.  She squeezed it tightly in a form of thank you and for safety.  She felt so much more at peace in his presence.  She knew that he would support her, and he seemed to know just what she needed without pressuring her.  With him by her side, she knew that she could handle whatever the next couple of days had for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles remained behind to watch over Joyce for a little bit longer.  The nurse arrived only 10 minutes after Dr. Kriegel made his request for a sedative.  It wasn't long before Joyce was asleep, but Giles didn't want to leave her yet.  While she was asleep the pain seemed to fade from her face.  He memorized every soft curve by tracing his fingertips along her cheeks, forehead and lips.

"Rest, my beloved Joyce."  Giles cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb gently over her skin.  "We'll get through all of this somehow.  I know you are strong."  He sighed, dropped his head to their joined hands on the side of the bed, and closed his eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander opened the door to reveal Buffy, Spike and Dawn.  "What the heck is the bleached wonder doing here?"

"Let it go, Xander."  Buffy snipped.  Dawn's bouncing had annoyed her for half the trip to Xander's house.  Her mother's health weighed on her mind.  Something nagged at the back of her thoughts, telling her that trouble was near.  She didn't have the time to deal with Xander's pettiness.

"Whoa, easy Buff."  Xander took a step back.  He took in the downtrodden faces of the group.  "Did something go wrong with the surgery?"

"Yeah, it didn't happen, Whelp."  Spike growled at Xander.  With his hand on the small of Dawn's back, he gave her a little push into the apartment.

"What?"  Xander asked confused.

"The equipment they needed for Mom's surgery was destroyed by some mental patients."  Buffy sighed.  'And I just left here there, helpless if one of them decides to come after her.'

"They delayed her surgery until tomorrow night."  Spike continued for Buffy.  "Buffy and I are going to patrol, but we need you to watch the Nibblet until we're done."

Anya peeked her head into the doorway.  "Sure.  We can play Life again."  She giggled gleefully.  She loved to play with the money.  "Or maybe Monopoly."

Dawn laughed.  "You just like those because you win all the time."

"I'm very good with money, Dawn."  Anya nodded emphatically.

"Of course you are, Honey."  Xander glanced back and forth between Buffy and Spike.  There was something going on there, but he couldn't put his finger on what it might be.  Spike was standing awfully close to Buffy, and Buffy didn't seem to be minding his presence at all.  "We'll take care of Dawn until you get back."

"Thanks, Xander.  We ..."  Buffy was interrupted by the sound of a loud whistling from the sky.  When she looked up it seemed that the sky was burning in a streak of fire.  "What the heck?"

Spike was already halfway down the stairs when he shouted back up to the group that now stood on the landing outside of Xander's apartment.  "Meteor or something else."  He took off in the direction of a booming sound from the object hitting earth.  He wasn't sure just how close it was, but there was a burst of light as the object hit the ground.  It seemed like it was coming from some nearby woods.

Buffy skipped several steps before she hit the ground and followed Spike.  Xander, Anya and Dawn decided without even saying a word that their help might be needed.  Xander and Anya grabbed their coats quickly, locked the door and ran in the same general direction that Spike and Buffy had took off in.

"Somehow I don't have a good feeling about this Xander."  Anya huffed as she ran in-between Dawn and Xander.

"Maybe it will be an alien?"  Dawn picked up her pace, wanting to get to Buffy and Spike soon.

"We'll find out soon enough."  Xander pointed to a clearing where Buffy and Spike stood near a huge path that was gouged out of the earth.  "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 9 (Who Am I?)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Something has crashed in some woods near Xander and Anya's place.  Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Anya and Xander go to investigate.  Joyce is awaiting her surgery, but her mind is not quite there right now.  Dawn is starting to get freaked out from all the people saying she isn't real.  The Summer's girls stood up for Spike with Giles, and now he is wondering what is going on with Spike. **Warning, minor bloodplay at the end; wound healing**

Author's Note: I decided to compress the episode "Listening To Fear" to take care of the Quellor demon right off.  I wanted to put more focus on the relationships and Dawn's key status.  (Tasha is now writing all of the chapters, solely.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty (and at her request).  Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike stared at the long crater sized path in the ground.  "Bloody hell, that's not good."  He shook his head back and forth at the destruction that the "meteor" had caused.

Buffy hopped across the trench to reach the large object embedded in the ground at the end of the trench.  She bent down to take a closer look, but an arm blocked her way.

Spike's arm went out in front of Buffy.  He grasped her by the waist and gently pulled her back.  "Careful luv.  We don't know if that thing is radioactive or if anything is alive in it."

Buffy nodded and sighed.  "We have to find out somehow."

Xander, Anya and Dawn finally caught up to the blonde duo fully.  Dawn beamed at Spike and her sister.  They were standing very close to each other, and she could see Spike's arm around Buffy's waist.

Spike's arm position didn't go unnoticed by Xander either.  "Hey."  He pointed to Spike.  "Get your hands off of her."  He started to march closer to Spike.

Anya pulled Xander's hand back when Spike started growling.  Chip or no chip she didn't want a battle between the two of them.  It always upset her the way Xander went off about demons.  Does he forget that she is an ex-demon?  That she's killed more people in her 1000 years than Spike, Angelus, Darla and Dru combined?  "We have more important things to worry about than Buffy's sex life, Xander."

Spike and Buffy choked.  Xander's jaw dropped.  "No.  No.  Bad."  His whole body twitched.  "Buffy, Spike and sex do NOT belong in the same sentence."

Buffy frowned.  She felt Spike start to pull away from her.  She gripped his hand tightly so that his arm remained in place.  She was not ready to deal with Xander, but there was no way that she was going to let Xander push Spike away.

"Buffy doesn't need your criticism right now, you stupid git."  Spike snarled.  He focused on Buffy's face and body language.  Nothing could explain the joy in his heart when her hand tightened on his.  He figured that she'd throw him away as fast as possible once Xander started jumping on her.

"Criticism?"  Xander's steam wasn't even close to running out.  "You aren't going to take advantage of Buffy's mom being sick to wheedle your way into her life."  He turned to Buffy.  "What about Riley, Buffy?  Sleeping with vampires wasn't enough before.  Now you have to cheat on your boyfriend to be with one?"

Dawn gasped in unbelief.  Even Anya stared at Xander slack jawed.  Buffy's face furrowed and her jaw clenched to tightly that you heard her teeth grinding against each other.

Spike grabbed Xander by his jacket lapels.  He forced him backwards several steps to pin him to a large tree.  "You don't know what you are talking about as usual."  He practically spat out each word in Xander's face.

Buffy, Dawn and Anya ran the few yards to where Spike and Xander were.  Buffy grabbed a hold of Spike's arm, but her eyes were directed to Xander.  "I broke up with Riley, Xander."  She squeezed Spike's arm, turning to face him.  She silently pleaded with him to let Xander go.

"Are you crazy?"  Xander barely choked out.  Although he wasn't being "hurt", the tightness in his chest from the grip Spike had on him was not pleasurable.  "He's the best thing that ever happened to you."

Buffy did the last thing that anyone expected her to do; she laughed.  She started with a slight giggle and worked it up into a full-fledged laughter.

Spike let go of Xander, dropping the whelp to the ground.  'Oh my god.  He's pushed her to crazy land.'  He rested his hand on Buffy's shoulder.  "What's so funny, luv?"

"Xander ... He ... Oh, that is such a good one."  Buffy straightened up.  "Does your idea of a perfect guy include hitting his girlfriend when she doesn't agree with him and wants to break up with him?"  Her laughing subsided.

Spike growled deeply.  "That wanker hit you?"  Unnecessary breaths were inhaled and exhaled deeply.  "I'll kill him.  I swear I will find some way to kill him."

Xander stared wide-eyed at Buffy.  "No way."  He shook his head back and forth.  "Riley wouldn't do it.  I don't believe it."

"Well believe it, Xander because that is what he did."  Buffy snapped.  "I'm sick of you self-righteous and judgmental pricks who think that you can run my life for me just because you are my boyfriend or my friend."  She advanced on Xander getting right in his face.  "I'm through with it.  I'll date who I want.  I know what kind of boyfriend I want now, and I have him right here."

Spike tightened his grip on Buffy's shoulder.  He had never seen her this mad at any of the Scoobies before.  What shocked him even more was the fact that Buffy was sticking up for her choice.  She actually called him her boyfriend.  'Yes, choke on that one you wanker.'  He thought to himself.

"If I'd done that in the first place maybe we wouldn't have had to deal with all that Initiative crap like we did."  Buffy looked over at Spike.  She'd never forgotten how she felt during Willow's "thy will" spell.  What might have happened if she hadn't panicked when the spell wore off or if Spike had acted a little differently to her?  After what had come out between them in the last few days, she figured that Spike wasn't all that upset by how they were during the spell either.

Spike quirked a scarred brow at Buffy.  'Does she mean what I think she means?'  He thought to himself.  Nothing would erase how he felt during Willow's botched up "thy will" spell.  He'd found a happiness in those hours that he hadn't known in over 150 years of existence, not even with Dru.

There wasn't enough time to ponder what everyone meant because at that moment a loud screeching rent the air behind the group.  Everyone turned just in time to see a back shelled like demon burst from the "meteor".

"Ahhhhh!"  Dawn screamed.  She jumped behind Spike and Buffy just as they were both pulling her back.

"What the hell is that?"  Buffy questioned.

"It's ugly, whatever it is."  Anya cringed.  She clutched tightly to Xander's arm.  "Don't let it get me, Xander."

The demon took off through the woods.  It seemed to walk on it's hands and feet like a four legged creature of sorts.  Buffy and Spike ran after it in sync with each other's steps.  They quickly surrounded it.  With it being so close to the ground, they weren't prepared for it to turn around and jump up at one of them.  It tried to wrap it's "arms" around Buffy.

Buffy screeched as she fought to get the demon off of her.  She dug her fingernails into the seemingly soft underbelly of the creature.  She couldn't reach the stake that she always kept safely hidden on her person.

Spike slipped his hand into his duster.  He pulled out a long Bowie knife and a stake.  He tried to stab the demon in the back, but Buffy and it were twisting around too much in their fight.  He didn't want to take a chance of hitting Buffy accidentally.  "Stand still, Slayer."

"I'm trying."  Buffy grunted.  "Just kill the damn thing already."  The demon spat a clear slime in Buffy's face and lunged for her neck.  The Slayer and the demon fell to the ground in the process.

"No one ..."  Spike plunged the knife into the back of the demon so hard that it broke the outer shell in that place.  "Touches ..."  He twisted the knife in it's place, driving it into the creature further.  "That neck ..."  He twirled the stake before he plunged it into the back of it's head.  "But me!"

The demon squealed with each plunge and twist.  Finally it wriggled one last time and fell silent.  Spike kicked the beast off Buffy who was pulling at the slime that solidified on Buffy's face.

Buffy gasped for breath once her mouth and nose were clear.  "Thank you."  She scooted farther away from the demon.  "We need to get back to Giles to tell him about this one.  That was just too weird."  She shivered.  "Now we have to worry about demons from outer space too?"  She slapped her hands at her side.

Dawn fell down and hugged her sister tightly.  That thing had scared her.  Spike hugged both Buffy and Dawn together.  "Let's head back to the hospital.  He's probably still there."  He extended a hand to both of his girls to help them up.

"Wait a minute."  Xander stood right next to Spike.  "There is no way that I'm letting you take them anywhere after that earlier display."

"It isn't your choice, whelp."  Spike hissed.  He pulled both Dawn and Buffy closer to him.  "We're going back to the hospital to see the Watcher, and right now you aren't invited."

Buffy rested her head against Spike's shoulder.  "He'll take care of us, Xander."  She sighed.  "Besides he'll be able to describe that thing better than I can."

"Buffy ..."

"We're leaving."  Buffy cut him off immediately.  "Go home, Xander."  She tugged on Spike's hand.  Spike tightened the grip on his girls.  He kept his eyes open for any more dangers as they walked back to the hospital.

No one noticed the dark haired intern named Ben who had witnessed everything between the demon and the group.  He strode off towards his car.  He was confused as to how and why this group of people killed the demon he'd summoned.  'I could swear those were the Summer's girls.  Very odd.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander kicked the ground in a huff.  He ranted and raved to Anya for 15 minutes before he strode back towards their apartment.  Cursing the vampire's name every which way, he still refused to believe that Riley hit Buffy.  "There's no way that bleached idiot is better for Buffy than Riley."  He muttered to himself.

'Oh Xander.'  Anya thought resignedly.  'What am I going to do with you?'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles really needed some coffee.  The doctor had already been back in to check on Joyce's status once more.  Thankfully, Giles had been able to report that she was still sleeping.  He knew that he should go home, but he just couldn't make himself leave.  It was as if he was afraid to miss out on a moment when Joyce might awaken.

Unfortunately Giles did need to stretch his legs a bit.  It was starting to get quite late, and he needed a bit more coffee in his system if he was going to make it through the night.  He picked up Joyce's hand and kissed the back of it softly.  "I'll be right back, Joyce."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy, Spike and Dawn walked quietly through the corridors.  There was something eerie about a hospital at night.  It creeped Buffy out big time.  She would rather patrol all night over the Hellmouth then be present in a hospital at night.  So a hospital over the Hellmouth ... so not a good idea.

Dawn turned the handle to Joyce's room.  The only light came from a box on the wall behind the bed.  It was on low level.  They could see each other, but it was a bit dark.  While Spike and Buffy looked around the room and then hall for Giles, Dawn curled up on the bed with her mother.

"He has to be around here somewhere, pet."  Spike pointed to the bit of tweed and leather draped over the back of a chair near Joyce's bed.  "That's his jacket.  I doubt that he'd leave it here."

Buffy nodded.  "You're right."  She leaned down to whisper near Dawn's ear.  "We're going to check out the waiting room.  Stay here."

Dawn smiled and nodded.  She clung to her mother tighter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles pressed a couple buttons on the vending machine in the waiting area.  "Come on, damnit."  He sighed when the cup of coffee did not pop down to start filling.  He slapped the top of the machine in frustration then rested his head on his arm against the machine.  The click and plop of the cup falling into the proper place sounded and the slurping sound of coffee filling the cup seemed to echo in the quiet room.

"Possessed machine, Watcher?"  Spike patted Giles on the back.  "Wants to keep all that caffeine to itself?"  He could tell that Giles was tired and frustrated.  So, he tried to lighten the mood.

"Yes, quite."  Giles half chuckled and shook his head back and forth.  "I didn't expect you both back here tonight."  He glanced at Buffy who was now standing next to Spike.  "It's only been a few hours.  Slow patrol?"

Buffy shook her head back and forth.  "I wish it was."  She motioned for them to sit down.  The three huddled together while Buffy recounted everything that had happen since they'd left the hospital.  She skipped over most of the Xander things and tried to focus on the demon.  Spike chipped in details and descriptions of the demon, the fire trail, and the object they found.

"Interesting."  Giles removed his glasses with his free hand.  He sipped from his coffee cup in the other hand.  He rubbed his forehead with the back of the hand holding his glasses.  "It sounds like a demon of sorts, but I don't know why it would have come from the stars."

"We were pretty stumped too, Rupert."  Spike wrung his hands together.  "It definitely came down from somewhere not on this planet."

"Pretty lights coming down, but I could do without demons spitting in my face to try and kill me."  Buffy shivered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Joyce stirred a little in her room.  She felt a warm body snuggled up against her.  Instinctively she stroked her fingers through the girl's long brown hair.  Everything changed in an instant and Joyce began to yell and scream.

"No!  Get away from me."  Joyce tried to crawl off the bed and push Dawn off at the same time.  "You thing.  You're not real.  Go away!"  She screamed again.

"Mommy?"  Dawn felt the tears in her eyes long before they started to fall down her face.  She was scared.  'Not Mom too!'  She cried even harder.  "Mommy, please."

Buffy, Spike and Giles burst through the door.  All three had bolted from the waiting room at Joyce's first scream.  "Mom, what's wrong?"

Joyce pushed Dawn farther away then pulled back her hands quickly.  "Get it away from me.  Not real ... Not mine."

Spike gathered Dawn in his arms.  He hugged her tightly, gazing from Giles to Buffy.

Giles sat down in the chair.  He clasped Joyce's hand in his and spoke in soothing tones.  "It's all right, Joyce.  Everything's fine."

Joyce shook her head.  Her eyes cleared, and her thoughts righted themselves.  She looked around the room in shock that all 4 of them were there and Dawn was crying.  "What's wrong, Honey?"  She said reaching out towards Dawn.

'Whoa now that is a big change.'  Buffy thought.  She turned Dawn around to face her mother.  "It's okay, Dawnie.  See."  She pointed to their mom.  "All better."

"No, it's not."  Dawn sniffled and sobbed.  "Mommy hates me."  She clutched to Spike harder.

"Baby, I don't ..."  Joyce wasn't able to finish her sentence because a nurse burst into the room at that point.

"What's wrong, Joyce?  We heard screaming."  The nurse asked.  She was very concerned.  Brain tumor patients could be very temperamental, but they needed to be kept as calm as possible to avoid more damage or stress to the brain.

"Everything is in hand now, Madam."  Giles responded with authority and politeness.  "She was just confused for a few moments.  Thank you for checking."

"All right, but you need to try and keep her as calm as possible."  The nurse looked at her watch.  "I'll check her chart to see what sedative they used.  Maybe we can give her a little bit more to help her sleep again."

"That sounds like a good idea."  Buffy nodded.  She looked at Joyce.  "Mom, I'm going to take Dawn home.  Spike will walk us there.  So, don't worry."

"That's right, Mum.  I'll take care of them."  Spike spoke proudly.  Nothing and no one would hurt his girls on his watch.  Come hell or high water he'd defend them with his life.

"Okay, Baby.  Be careful."  Joyce kissed both her daughters good night.  She was confused as to why Dawn was crying.  What had happened?  Maybe she'd ask Rupert about it later.  Right now she just wanted to sleep.

Buffy leaned down to whisper into Giles' ear.  "I think we need to tell Dawn.  She's really getting freaked out."

"I don't think that is a good idea, Buffy."  Giles whispered back.  "Once she knows that puts her in even more danger."

"I know, but I can't have her thinking that her mother doesn't love her."  Buffy  frowned.  "No matter what, I know my mom will want her."

"Use your discretion, but I wouldn't tell her unless you have to."  Giles nodded.  "And be careful where you talk to her about it.  Who knows who might be listening."

Buffy stood back up, hugged her mother one more time, and nodded to Giles before she stepped out of the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The trip home was uneventful except for Dawn's fidgeting and numerous attempts to ask questions.  Nothing would form a coherent sentence or thought.  So halfway through the walk home, Dawn gave up on asking anything.

The trio stepped into the house.  "Buffy?"  Dawn headed for the kitchen even though she was talking to her sister over her shoulder.  "Why did Mom say those things about me?"

"The doctor told us about the tumor putting pressure on her brain, Dawnie."  Buffy hated to worry Dawn more, but how would the girl handle the truth?  She was so young, yet so old.  Human emotions were definitely not easy to grasp.

"She wasn't the only one to say that though, Buffy."  Dawn filled up a glass with orange juice.  She sat on the stool at the island in the kitchen.  "Besides you were doing the whisper thingy with Giles, and I heard my name."

Spike held out a hand to Dawn.  "Come on, Nibblet.  Let's go in the living room."  He looked over at Buffy who nodded.  He sat down on the couch.  He pulled Dawn down beside him.

Buffy sat down on the other side of Dawn.  "You're right.  I was talking to Giles about you, but I didn't want you to worry about anything."

Dawn looked at the serious expressions on her best friend and sister's faces.  She knew that this was something pretty heavy.  Both of them looked pretty uptight about whatever it was.  They were worried.

Buffy held Dawn's hand.  'How do you tell your sister that she's not really your sister but an old big ball of energy that was made human by using parts of you?  'They do not have a manual for stuff like this.'

Spike helped Buffy out by starting things off.  Everyone was already so stressed.  He'd do anything he could to help.  "Nibblet, this is going to sound very strange to you, but please hear your big sis and I out."

"Um, okay."  Dawn sat back against the back of the couch.

"You are very special to us Little Bit, but what you remember about your life isn't quite correct."  Spike began in an even tone.  He watched Dawn's every movement and facial expression.  "You know how Glory keeps trying to find something?  And you remember that big snake that came into the Magic Box?"

Dawn nodded.  "That snake was freaky."

"Yes, it was."  Spike ran his hand through his bleached locks.  "They were looking for you, Nibblet.  They want you."

Dawn eep'd.  "Why would that crazy woman and snake want me?"

"Because you were created by some pretty strange but well meaning monks for a special purpose."  Spike tried to think of what to say next.

"Monks?"

"Yes, Dawnie."  Buffy jumped in.  "You are a key, Dawnie.  Before a few weeks ago you technically weren't human."

"That's crazy."  Dawn jumped up.  Her drink sloshed around in her glass.

"Now, Dawn, you promised to listen to it all first."  Buffy chastised softly.  "I didn't believe it at first either, but the monks proved it to me."

Dawn plopped back down onto the couch.

"Your essence is made up of a ball of energy that can be used to open up inter-dimensional portals."  Buffy rolled her eyes at herself.  Even saying it out loud always sounded crazy to her.

"So they were right?  I'm not real."

"No, Dawn."  Spike rubbed Dawn's knee.  "You are human in every way that matters.  Member I can't hit you?"  He grinned to lighten things.  "That says 100 percent flesh and blood."  He mockingly held his head in his hands swaying side to side.

Buffy giggled at Spike's antics.  "The monks made you human from me.  You are a Summer's, Dawn.  You are my little sister no matter if you are 14 years old or 4 weeks."

Dawn started to cry.  "This can't be happening.  First Mom and then me, and now my mom isn't really mom."  She shook as the sobs overtook her.

Spike and Buffy hugged Dawn.  "It's okay, Dawn.  She is your Mom.  Remember Summer's blood is running through those veins.  It's just more complicated than that."  She looked to Spike for assistance.

"Nibblet, Glory needs the key part of you for some portal she wants opened."  Spike rubbed Dawn's back.  "Being the key isn't all that you are.  You are human above everything.  The key is just like an extra bonus."  He perked up.  "It makes you more special than anyone else.  It doesn't make you fake."

"But I wasn't human until a little bit ago."  Dawn sniffled.  "That makes me feel fake."

"You are real, Dawn."  Buffy had an idea.  She went into the kitchen for a minute or two.  She returned to the living room with a knife in her hand.  With one hand Buffy lifted Dawn's hand in the air.  She cut a shallow diagonal slash down the palm of Dawn's hand.

"Ow!"  Dawn shrieked.

"Oy, Slayer.  What are you doing?"  Spike cringed.  Blood certainly didn't bother him, but it was different when you cared about the one whose life force is flowing out.  Blood was dripping from his Little Bit's hand.

Buffy repeated the process on her hand that held Dawn's.  "See, Dawnie."  She held the two hands right in front of Dawn.  "Your blood."  She pointed to Dawn's hand.  "My blood."  She pointed to her own.  "It's the same blood, Summer's blood."  She clasped both of their wounded hands together, mingling the blood between them.  "You are as real as I am."  She said determined to prove her point.

Spike licked his lips.  He forced his demon mask into the back of his mind.  Unlike most vampires he was able to control his bloodlust.  He was partly forced into it by being chipped, but he was better at controlling it even before being chipped.  Slayer blood was strong and alluring to a vampire though.  It was the ultimate blood for them in so many ways.  His reaction was instinctual, but it was also something more.  This wasn't just Slayer blood.  It was Buffy blood; his slayer, the woman he loved with all of his undead heart.  He turned away from the girls to calm himself.

Buffy noticed Spike's reaction to the display.  At first she didn't pick up on what could have caused him to become so panicky.  Shortly she realized that he was reacting to her blood.  She was amazed that he wasn't in his demon visage.  This had to be almost like torture to him.  For him to have Slayer blood so close to him and yet not be able to sample it had to be hard.  Her respect for him grew even deeper in that moment of realization about what kind of control Spike had over his demon.  "Spike?"  She placed her free hand on Spike's arm to get his attention.

"Yes, luv?"  Spike turned back to face the girls.

"Vampire saliva has a healing quality, does it not?"  Buffy questioned.  She wanted to show him that she trusted him implicitly.

Spike nodded.  Why was she questioning him about that?  That was a strange question to come from anyone.

Buffy moved her and Dawn's hands over towards Spike.  "Dawn doesn't have Slayer healing."  She tried to reason it out with him.  She had to think of something to get him to do it because his head was shaking back and forth rapidly.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm quite serious."  Buffy let go of Dawn's hand.  Dawn's eyes bugged out.  She wasn't going to stop Spike because she trusted him, but she couldn't figure out why Buffy was doing this.  Buffy opened her hand to Spike as well.  The active flow of blood on each had stopped, but Dawn's hand appeared to have a bit of angry reddening around the cut.  "Heal us please, Spike."

Spike locked gazes with Buffy.  Her eyes never wavered from his.  He leaned down to Dawn's hand, watching Buffy the entire time.  Slowly he licked the palm of Dawn's hand.  Solid long strokes lapped up any of the blood that formerly leaked from her hand.  He continued for a few more strokes to be sure the healing process was well in order.

Dawn pulled her hand back slowly when she knew Spike was done.  "Wow.  That tingled."  She said in awe at Spike.  "Thanks."  She hugged him.  She looked from Buffy to Spike.  It seemed as if they were lost in their own world with only each other for company.  She quickly excused herself to go to bed.  Once she reached the stairs she turned back around to watch Spike begin to lap at Buffy's hand.  She shivered at the very erotic sight the two made.  No way was she going to let Xander get in the middle of her sister and Spike.  She liked Spike.  Heck she loved Spike like a big brother.  She skipped up the stairs to her room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike's tongue flattened out across Buffy's palm to fully stroke her hand.  He growled lightly.  The tang of her blood tingled and practically sizzled over his tongue and down his throat like a fine wine touching his taste buds.  He was in heaven at the moment.

Buffy inhaled sharply.  Her chest heaved, and her heart raced.  Her body was practically shaking.  This had to be the most sensual thing she'd ever experienced.  'Oh gosh.  If this is what I feel like when he's just licking my palm and suckling lightly, what would it feel like to have him fully taste me.' 

"Oh Buffy."  Spike purred.  He suckled the wound to make sure that he didn't miss a single drop of the ambrosia from her veins.  He lapped like a good puppy to clean and heal the whole area.  Slayer healing would take care of anything Buffy needed, but he wasn't going to turn down her offer.  For her to trust him to sample her blood and not sink his fangs into her to drain her astounded him.  This was beyond her figuring that the chip would save her.  He'd seen the look of absolute trust in her eyes.

Buffy panted.  Even when Spike was done, she still held his hand in hers.  "That was ... Wow."  She exhaled slowly.  "Amazing."  Her heart continued to race.  What did you say after something like that?  Words seemed inadequate.

"Aye, pet."  Spike snuggled closer to Buffy.  He pulled her into his lap, nuzzling his face into her neck.  "An amazing treasure to me.  Thank you so much."  He nibbled lightly up and down her neck, purring.

Buffy sighed in contentment.  She rested comfortably in his lap and arms for a long time.  She had no idea just how much time had passed.  She was so tired, but she didn't want him to leave.  She needed to know he would be close.  "Spike?"  She asked shyly.  She looked down at the floor.

"Yes, luv?"  Though he knew that he should be leaving, he planned on watching the house from the tree until he was forced into shelter from the sun.  He needed to be sure that they were safe.

"Will you stay here tonight?"  Buffy looked back up at Spike.  "With us?"

Spike blinked.  Shocked didn't begin to describe what he was feeling from her asking that question.  "If you want me to, I will."  He tilted his head to the side a little and smiled wider.  "Your wish is my pleasure."  This night was just getting better by the moment.

Buffy blushed.  She thought about opening up the hideaway bed in the couch, but there would be too much sunlight coming in through that window.  She nibbled on her lower lip.  "Would you mind sleeping in my Mom's room?  Hers is the easiest to light proof."

Spike stepped up to Buffy.  He wrapped his arms around her.  As he hugged her he rested his cheek against the side of her head.  "I'd be honored that you would offer me that, luv."

Buffy lost herself in the scent of his leather duster.  Each distinct smell mingled together to create a scent that could only be described as all Spike's: leather, tobacco, alcohol and something earthy and stirring to her blood.  "Thank you, Spike."

Buffy and Spike walked up the stairs.  After pulling the shade and tucking a couple blankets over the window, they were pretty sure that all bases were covered.  They stood in the hall.  Both of them shifted nervously from one foot to another.

Spike rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.  He sighed.  "Good night, Buffy."  He leaned down to kiss Buffy tenderly.  "Sweet dreams, Kitten."

Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's neck, kissing him more deeply.  When her lips were parted with his tongue, she offered no resistance.  She needed this closeness, this connection.  It all felt right with Spike.  It made no sense, but he felt like home: safe, strong, loving, comforting, and secure.  She needed that in her life.  She didn't care if others thought it was wrong.  Spike wasn't like the vampires that she killed nightly.  He was so much more, and she was going to enjoy getting to know every little nuance.  "Sweet Dreams, William."  She closed her bedroom door, Spike's surprised expression the last thing she saw before it shut.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 10 (More Like A Family)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy asked Spike to spend the night in her Mom's room while Joyce is waiting for surgery.  Dawn now knows that she is the key, and her relationship with Buffy and Spike has not suffered because of it.  The Summers' house is quiet now, but their thoughts are not.  How will Joyce's surgery go?  Will Giles believe Spike's disturbing news about Riley?  Will Xander and Spike fight at the Bronze or work together?

***Warning: This chapter begins the R portion of the story.  It includes semi graphic depictions of past sexual encounters.  The next chapter will definitely be of an NC-17 rating***

Author's Note: Some quotes in this chapter are direct from the episode "Listening to Fear".  (Tasha is now writing all of the chapters, solely.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty.   Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hands clasped behind his head, Spike stared up at the ceiling.  Nighttime wasn't the most natural part of the day for him to sleep.  His thoughts jumped from one memory to another about the last few days.

Spike himself was different from many vampires and yet the same.  Vampires were comprised of part demon, part humanity, and a little soul.  Usually the demon part controlled all the actions and thoughts of the vampires.  Vampires weren't known to retain many of their human or soulful qualities, which resulted in their lack of guilt, and atrocities that they loved.

For Spike, he'd never lost all of his soul nor the majority of his emotions.  Of course the demon, after being punished and molded by Angelus, had more control over his human self for well over a century now.  Even still, all of William was not gone from him.  Spike could love, and he usually loved with all of his unbeating heart.

What few seemed to realize was the kind of control that he had regained over his demon side in the last few years.  Although Spike cursed the chip with each unneeded breath, it had allowed him an excuse to let more of his emotions and kindness resurface.  The demon would always just chalk it up to the chip making him soft.  In reality the chip did nothing to his emotions or desires.  It only stopped him from harming humans.

Over the last couple of years the fights between the demon and his humanity were fierce and constant.  Sometimes his mind would listen to one's ideas and sometimes the other’s.  It was only when the two parts of his being could agree on something that the whole Spike finally found some peace. 

There was one thing that all of him realized.  All of him loved Buffy.  Of course each part had its different reasons or signs of love, but they were there.  William, his human side, was the romantic at heart.  He was passion with subtlety and romance tempered with propriety.  Spike, as the demon side usually called himself, was passion with fire, lust and bite.  His romance was full of twisted bodies writhing in the pleasures during groping sex and claiming.

It was both of these sides of him that Spike Jamison, the combination of both parts, were now fighting on just what to do next.  They both wanted Buffy and loved the Nibblet and Joyce, but their ways of wooing the girls were as different as night and day.

'Who knew that it would take just a little tongue to get into the Slayer's bedroom?'  The inner Spike demon grinned at the thought.  Boy did that demon loved to pull strings.  'Told ya I could get her going.'

'What a rude and crude assumption you impertinent buffoon.'  William chastised Spike.  'Besides we are in her mother's bedroom.  I don't think we'd endear ourselves to Buffy by getting all happy about sleeping in her mother's bed.'

Spike laughed inwardly.  'You really are a fool, William.  Joyce is a right hot looking lady.'

'Watch your tongue you ruffian.'  William mentally slapped Spike upside the head.  'If you ever want to make it to Miss Buffy's bedroom you need to keep those thoughts in check.  Besides I have a feeling that Watcher would stake you in an instant for even thinking that about Mrs. Summers.'

'Come off your high horse you poncy Mama's Boy.  What would you know about getting into any woman's bedroom?'  The inner demon taunted William.  'I don't remember getting laid as a part of your human days.'

William huffed.  If he had a physical form he would’ve had his glassed removed and be cleaning them rapidly.  'There is more to being intimate with a woman than a ... What do they call it nowadays?  Oh yes, "Wham, Bam, Thank you, Ma'am".'

'You don't know what you're missing, you stupid git.'  Spike laid back in Spike's whole mind, relaxed as he thought of a few good shags from the past.  'The feel of a warm woman surrounding your cock makes you burn from within and without.  The softness of her breasts pressing against your hard chest makes your skin tingle.'

'Oh dear Lord.'  If William could have blushed he would be beet red from Spike's words.  'That's enough.  I was with you during all those encounters you know.'

Spike delighted in his other half's nervous twittering.  'Then you remember the feel of those inner muscles clutching and milking us as a woman cums from our pounding her?  The way a woman's breath hitches at the first feel of our fangs in her skin, suckling and drawing her life's blood from her body?'

"Bloody hell."  Spike Jamison panted at the warring thoughts in his brain.  He beat his head back into the pillow to try and make himself more comfortable.  His hands stroked down his body to find his rigid shaft saluting the ceiling.  "I'm going to die.  I swear I'm going to dust if I can't get this bad boy down."  He groaned.

'Now see what you've done.'  William waggled an imaginary finger at the demon.  'There is no way we are “whacking off” in Mrs. Summer's bed.  That is just not proper.'

'Aw, you're no fun, Willie.  It would probably be more action than this bed has seen in a hell of a long time.'

William started sending thoughts of Angelus and Dru together in the mansion, memories of being in the wheelchair, and memories of holy water burning his skin.  'I let you get away with a lot, Spike, but not this.’  He knew the thoughts would tick off the demon as well as help him deflate the erection.  ‘I draw the line.'

'Nancy boy.'  Spike grumbled.  He wasn't going to fight too hard because he really didn't want to get off from the feel of his hand anyways.  He'd much rather be sliding into the warmth of Buffy's inner sanctum, joining with her in mind, body and spirit to claim her fully.

Spike sighed to himself.  His raging hard on retreated enough that he could turn over and bury his face in the pillow.  "I should have known that I couldn't be this close to her without wanting her even more."  He muttered into the pillow.

A faint rapping sounded throughout the room.  Spike perked his head up halfway.  "Who is it?"

"It's me, Dawn."  The voice replied softly.  "May I come in?"

"Sure, Nibblet."  Spike propped himself up on his side, resting his head in his hand to see what Dawn needed.

Dawn hugged her fanged teddy bear fiercely.  She walked over to the bed and sat on the side edge of it.  "I'm scared, Spike."

Spike scooted closer to Dawn thankful that he'd kept his jeans on.  He sat up straight exposing his bare chest.  He pulled the covers back to sit directly next to Dawn.  "There's a lot going on now to be scared about, Little Bit."

Dawn gazed up at Spike doe eyed with tears starting in her eyes.  He buried her face in Spike's chest.  She clutched to him like a lifeline.  Everything was overwhelming her now: her key status, her mother's illness, and feeling so scared of it all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy spent the last couple hours tossing and turning in bed.  She couldn't get her mind off Spike.  He was just down the hall, and yet he felt he was miles away.  Earlier in the night she'd felt so aroused by his touch on her hand.  She thought that she would cum right there in a quivering puddle.  As more luscious thoughts raced through her head again, she tore off the covers.  "Enough of this."

Buffy stormed across the room to her door.  She pulled the door open a crack.  Just as she was about to step into the hallway the door to Dawn's room opened.  She watched the young brunette creep into the hallway and knock on the door to their mom's bedroom lightly.

Buffy heard a muffled voice ask who it was, and after a response from Dawn she walked in.  "What in the world is Dawn doing sneaking into Spike's room in the middle of the night?"

Buffy creeped down the hall to her mother's door.  She felt like such a peeping Buffy when she placed her ear against the door to try to hear what was going on.

"Oh Spike!"  Dawn's voice whimpered behind the door.  "I don't think I can do this."

'Do what?'  Buffy held her breath.  'Please don't make me have to kill another man I love.'  With that thought she jerked straight.  'Whoa, man I love?  Uh oh.'

"But it's just too hard, Spike."  Dawn sighed from inside Spike's room.  "I'll never be able to handle it all by myself."

"No one can, Nibblet."  Spike cooed soothingly.  "Everyone would need help with it."

'Oh my gosh!'  Buffy thought.  'Is he seducing my sister?  I will so stake him if he is.'  She was just about to barge in with fists blazing when she heard Dawn speak again.

"Yeah well anyone else that wants to be the key can, and they can deal with it all.  I don't know what to think about any of it anymore."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike looked up at the closed door.  He heard Buffy's heart start beating faster and then slow down.  'What is she doing?  It sounds like she's right at the door.'  He inhaled deeply, drinking in her scent.  'Yep, she’s at the door.  I wonder what she is up to.'  He paid attention to every word Dawn was saying, but at the back of his mind he was worried about Buffy too.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy visibly relaxed against the door.  'I have got to get my mind out of the gutter.  Spike loves Dawn like a sister, not a lover.'  She shook her head at her own silliness that she thought otherwise.  'We don't have a father figure or even a brother for her to look up to.  Spike has been that for ... well those monks put it in our brains that he's always been like that with her.' 

Buffy tilted her head to the side as she thought.  'Though I know that he's treated her well the last few weeks that weren't induced memories too.  Even after learning she was the key, he swore to protect and care for her.  He truly loves her like a sister.'  With that thought in mind, she placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn and Spike looked up from their place on Joyce's bed.  "Hello Buffy.  I didn't wake you up, did I?"  Dawn clutched her fanged teddy bear tight to her chest.

"No, Dawn."  Buffy smiled at Spike.  She ran her fingers through Dawn's hair soothingly when she neared the two of them.  "I wasn't really sleeping very well either.  I stepped into the hall just as you came in here."  She looked back at the door nervously.  "I didn't want to interrupt anything.  So, I waited outside for a few moments."

Spike quirked a scarred eyebrow at Buffy.  From the blush in her cheeks he knew there was a little bit more to her reasoning than that.  "We were just having a chat, weren't we Bit?"

"Yep, just a chat."  Dawn petted the teddy bear.

"I thought I could try to talk her into laying down for a bit more.  Care to join us?"  Spike's gaze locked with Buffy's.  As soon as he realized how that might have sounded he tried to correct himself.  "Safety in numbers, and all that rot."

Buffy laughed.  She crawled onto the bed on the other side of Spike.  Spike centered himself in the bed.  He wrapped an arm around each one of the Summers' girls.  He hugged them closer to his body and each of them rested their heads on his shoulders and a hand on his chest.

The three of them finally found some peace in the night with different thoughts as their last for the day.

'Heaven.  I swear this is as close to heaven as I'll ever get.'  Spike purred at the thought.  How did he tell this woman that he loved her for all that she was or could be: woman, warrior, friend, lover, mate, or wife?

Dawn exhaled softly onto Spike's shoulder.  'Never fear.  The Big Bad is here.'  She inwardly chuckled at an old tease that Spike used to taunt her with.  No matter how he played himself off as evil those days, she knew he had a good heart (unbeating or not).

'I never thought I could feel so relaxed in someone's arms.'  Buffy reflected back on how she always felt swallowed up in Angel's and Riley's embraces.  They seemed to squish her or be forcing dominance on her even when sleeping.  This felt right, being in his arms.  'I know this is where I belong.  I need him more than I've needed anyone before.'  That thought scared her.  She was never someone that wanted to need another person, but she was soothed at the thought of Spike taking care of her.  For some reason it didn't seem scary at all.  It truly felt meant to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The blaring sound of a phone ringing pounded through Spike’s head.  ‘Someone answer the damn phone.’  He growled.  Another couple rings forced him to twist in the bed to reach for the cordless phone on the nightstand.

Giles tapped the wall at a pay phone on the other side of the phone line.  ‘Come on, Buffy.  Answer the phone.’  He thought worriedly.  ‘I knew I shouldn’t have let them go home with Spike.  If he’s hurt them, I’ll stake him.  Chip or no chip.’

“The world had better be bloody ending.”  Spike snarled in the phone when he answered it.

Giles sighed with relief despite the curt tone in the vampire’s voice.  He didn’t want to believe that Spike would hurt the girls, but experience dictated that he needed to ere on the side of caution in these cases.  He’d learned his lesson the hard way with Angelus.  “Spike?”

“Yeah, Watcher.  It’s me.”  Spike rubbed his eyes.  Buffy stirred next to him on the bed.  Her heart rate increased, and he knew that she’d wake up soon.  “No other man had better be answering the bloody phone here at this hour.”

“This hour?”  Giles looked down at the watch on his wrist.  “It’s two in the afternoon, Spike.”  He rolled his eyes.

Spike sat up, hitting his head on the headboard of the bed.  “Bloody Hell!”  His cursing awoke Buffy fully.  Dawn also stirred out of slumber.

“Spike, what in heaven’s name are you doing?”  Giles held the phone away from his ear.  The loud cursing added to the growing headache he’d procured over the last few days.

Buffy took the phone from the grumbling vampire.  “Hello?”  She asked tentatively.

“Buffy?”  Giles removed his glasses quickly.  If Spike was sleeping, how had Buffy taken the phone from him so quickly?  Did he even want to think about the possible reasons for that?

“Giles?”  The last vestiges of Buffy’s sleep were wiped away the moment she realized that Giles was the one on the phone.  “Is Mom all right?  Please tell me that nothing more has happened.”

Dawn jerked out of her remaining sleep.  “Mommy?”  She muttered. 

Spike pulled Dawn into a close embrace.  He draped his arm across Buffy’s waist as well to pull her in closer.  He wanted to protect these women with every ounce of his being.  It frustrated him so much that he couldn’t save them from the pain they were going through with their mother’s illness.

“No, nothing like that, Buffy.”  Giles reassured his Slayer.  “I’m calling to let you know that they were able to get the equipment a little sooner than they’d anticipated.”  He returned his glasses to his face.

Buffy let out the breath she’d been holding.  “That’s great.  How soon?”

“2 hours.”  Giles absentmindedly rubbed a smudge on the metal of the pay phone’s casing.  “She really wants to see you both before she goes in.”

“We’ll definitely be there.”  Buffy jumped out of bed.  She got up so fast that she forgot what blankets she still had wrapped around her.  Her leg caught in the comforter, sending her crashing to the floor.  “Shit!”  She dropped the phone.

“Slayer!”  “Buffy!”  Spike and Dawn yelled simultaneously.  Both leaned down to help Buffy up off the floor.  Spike picked up the phone.  “How long do we have to get there, Watcher?”

“2 hours Spike, but I know Joyce would like to see them as soon as possible.”

“I’ll have them there in less than 45 minutes.”  Spike looked back and forth from the disheveled Slayer to the rumpled Key.  “That is if they can forget all that putting on their faces crap for a day since they don’t need it.”

Giles half laughed on his side of the phone.  He could well imagine the dirty looks that Buffy and Dawn were sure to be giving Spike at the moment.  He was glad that it was directed at the blonde vampire and not himself.  “All right.  I’ll let Joyce know.”

Buffy ripped the phone from Spike’s hand.  “We’ll get there as soon as we can.”

“See you soon, Buffy.”  Giles hung up the phone.  He rested his forehead against his arm for a few moments while he leaned on the pay phone booth.  He needed to collect himself before he headed back into Joyce’s room.  He didn’t have a lot of time left before the children would arrive though it seemed to be strange calling a 200-year-old Master Vampire a child.  Sometime Spike truly acted like an adolescent.  There were some things he needed to tell Joyce now.  He couldn’t wait until after the surgery.  If something happened, he would always regret not telling her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Put our faces on?”  Dawn hovered over Spike on the bed, tickling fingers ready.  Tickling was something she discovered a while ago to be one of Spike’s weaknesses.  She would never consciously give away his secret, but she couldn’t resist the teasing glint in her eyes.

“That wouldn’t be nice to do, Nibblet.”  Spike backed warily away from the wriggling digits.  “I paid you both a compliment.  You are both beautiful enough without all that fake crap that women put on their faces nowadays.”

“Suuurreeee, that’s what you meant.  Of course it is.”  Buffy pulled herself back up onto the bed.  “At least it had better have been.”  She rubbed her sore head.

Spike leaned over to kiss the top of Buffy’s head.  He knew that her Slayer healing would heal the scratch and bump in no time flat, but he couldn’t resist the urge to add his own healing to the wounds.  His tongue flickered out of his mouth and lovingly licked over the lump forming under the small cut on her head.

Buffy’s body shivered at Spike’s touch.  Her insides churned into a gelatinous goo at the sensations coursing through her.  She gripped her hands tightly on Spike’s wrists.  Her breathing was labored as her heart raced.

“Cor, Buffy.”  Spike pulled back to rest his forehead against Buffy’s.  He forgot about Dawn’s presence for those moments, lost only in Buffy’s scent and warmth.  “You are the most beautiful woman in the world.  Nothing could make you more perfect.”  He spoke honestly and from deep within his heart.

“Oh, Spike.”  Buffy cooed.  “Need you so much.”  She tightened her grip on his wrists.

Dawn took in the scene next to her.  A soft “awwww” escaped her lips before she could pull it back.  The look on Buffy’s face told Dawn all she needed to know about her sister’s feelings for Spike.  Dawn knew that she’d never seen that look on Buffy’s face while she was dating Riley.  She looked content and passion filled.

Buffy jerked her head back.  Dawn’s voice broke her mind’s drifting reverie.  “Um, yeah.”  She cleared her throat, blushed and slipped off the bed.  Wanting to reassure Spike that she wasn’t leaving because she didn’t want to be with him, Buffy kissed his lips softly.  “We really should get ready.”

Spike nodded.  “Right, Kitten.”  He cleared his throat trying to remove some of the hoarseness from it due to the rolling desires in his mind and body.  “Where would your garbage bags be, Nibblet?”

“Garbage bags?”  Dawn looked at Spike strangely.  “Under the kitchen sink, but why do you need them?”

Spike playfully ruffled Dawn’s hair.  “Because we’re going to take some shortcuts to get to the hospital, and I don’t want my girls to smell nasty when we get there.”  He teased.

Buffy raised a curious brow to Spike.  “Just where are you going to be taking us?”  She stood at the door with one hand on the knob and one foot out the door.  “Or don’t I want to know?”

“You’ll find out.”  Spike’s smile twitched into more of a grinning smirk.  “Now hurry up and get dressed.  Mum needs to see you both as soon as possible.”

Dawn hugged Spike.  “She needs to see you too, Spike.”  She smiled, hopped off the bed and headed for the door.  “You’re her “Passions” partner.”  She giggled and ran out the door just as a pillow hit the back of the door.

“Crazy Bit.”  Spike collapsed back on the bed.  “I sure do love the Nibblet though.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”  40 minutes later Buffy, hands on her hips, stood in the kitchen with a look of disbelief and disgust on her face.

“Pet, it’s the fastest way to get there, and you’ll need these.”  Spike held up the large garbage bag with a couple carefully placed holes in the end for her legs.  Two smaller trash bags were ready to have her step into them and be wrapped at her knees for complete safety.  “No one will see you in these.”

“Spike, we still have to get from my house to the manhole cover.  Don’t tell me no one will see us.”  Buffy wouldn’t admit that the idea did seem ingenious to her, but she balked at following the sewers from her house all the way to the hospital wearing garbage bag protection.

“We’ll run fast.  I can’t stroll down the street with the sun blazing, and I’m not letting you two out of my sight.”  Spike was frustrated.  The girls took longer to get ready than he liked.  An argument over proper shower time had ensued between the sisters.  Spike broke it up by timing them each to ten minutes with the threat that he would physically remove whoever was in the shower over their time limit.

Buffy huffed, crossed her arms, and turned her gaze to her sister.  “Don’t tell me that you are okay with this?”

Dawn shrugged her shoulders.  She watched the argument go back and forth like a spectator at a tennis match.  “I don’t care.  So long as we get to Mom as quick as possible.”

“Don’t let your vanity get in the way of necessity.”  Spike sighed.  “I made these so that you won’t get dirty or smelly.”

“But they look absolutely ridiculous.  It’s absurd.”  Buffy frowned.

“Trust me, pet.”  Spike readied Dawn with her garbage bag cover gear.  “This is the best way.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed in defeat.  “Fine.”  She muttered under her breath a few choice phrases about their situation ending with, “If you would just let me drive Mom’s car.”

Spike and Dawn both yelled. “NO!”

Buffy pouted.  The covered trio opened the front door and made a mad dash for the manhole cover in the middle of the street in front of the Summers' residence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Joyce?”  Giles rubbed Joyce’s hand slowly.  The nurses were back to recheck her IV and take some more blood before surgery.

“Rupert?”  Joyce rubbed her eyes with her free hand.

“Sorry to disturb you again Joyce, but we need some more blood.”  Joyce offered her good arm to the nurse.  “You guys take so much blood, I’d swear you were vampires.”

Giles stiffened at the reference.  He gazed at Joyce questioningly, but he tried to laugh off her comment.

The nurse laughed too.  “We’ve been accused of that many times especially in this town.”  She winked at Giles.  She filled up two long vials before she bandaged the wound closed.  “That should do it.  Good luck with your surgery.”  She patted Joyce’s arm gently.  “You’ll be back with us up here in no time.”

“I hope so.”  Joyce gave a weak smile.  She felt horrible.  Each day she felt worse, and now she added feeling cabin fever to it.

Giles nodded to the nurse and smiled.  “Thank you.”  He turned back to Joyce.  He squeezed her hand in assurance.  “You’re going to get through this Joyce.  I know it.”

Joyce turned her head to gaze at Rupert Giles.  She missed some of the old talks that they used to have when she first found out about Buffy’s calling.  She was so mad at him then, which later turned into a different kind of fire during the “band candy” incident.  She missed having another adult who shared in her problems with teenagers and understood about her needs.  “I know, Rupert.  It’s just so hard.”

“My dear ...”  Giles removed his glasses and set them on her nightstand.  He pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand.  “I don’t know what I can say to reassure you, Joyce.”

Joyce cupped her free hand against Giles’ cheek in a caress.  She trailed her fingertips down his jaw and ran the tips of her index finger over his lips.  Her gaze held the physical pain that she felt, but it also held a pain of the heart for things unrealized.  “I’m so sorry, Rupert.”  Her voice was soft and choked.

Giles looked back up at Joyce.  He sat straighter in his chair.  He held her hand tighter, drawing it to rest on his chest.  He knew what she was sorry about, for he had felt sorry many times about the same thing.  “I am too, Joyce.  We were foolish to let it go.”  He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss the tops of her knuckles.  “You’ve still held the place in my heart, even if not in my life.”

Joyce felt the tears form in her eyes, and she swiped them away as quickly as she could.  She never dared to hope that Rupert would still feel any love for her.  He was an attractive man.  Surely he had women a plenty that would wish to snare his affections.  The fact that he still cared for her was beyond what she had thought possible.  “As have you, Ripper.”  The twinkle in her eye showed the teasing that her voice could not convey.

“Joyce, you will get through this.”  Giles spoke with determination.  “And this time we aren’t going to let the chance pass us by, are we?”  His eyes held the wisp of hope that they could pursue what it seemed that both of them wanted.

“No, we won’t waste it, Rupert.”  Joyce drew him closer to her to embrace him.  “If nothing else this whole experience has taught me that life is too short to let your dreams pass you by.”

Giles hugged Joyce delicately.  He didn’t want to bring any more pain upon her body than she was already facing.  “I hope that you truly mean that Joyce Summers because I promise you this ... This time I’m not letting you go.”  He squeezed her a little tighter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy, Spike and Dawn emerged from a storage room near the lower level janitorial department.  They quickly dispatched their now dirty garbage bag gear into the garbage itself.  All three of them looked and smelled pristine despite how they arrived at the hospital.

The banter between the three of them was playful and light.  While in the tunnels Buffy warned Dawn not to talk about her “status” with anyone.  She said that not even all the Scoobies knew about it, and she didn’t want to tell them all just yet.  She said they also had to be careful where they talked about anything because you never knew who might overhear.  Dawn understood the need for caution, and she agreed to keep everything private between the 5 of them: Buffy, Spike, Giles, herself, and hopefully their Mom.  After their mother’s bout of “insanity”, they all felt it was necessary to let Joyce know what was going on if she didn’t already.

The three were laughing lightly at some dirty limerick that Spike rattled off when they opened the door to Joyce’s room.  All of them stopped and stared wide-mouthed at Giles half on Joyce’s bed and half not, holding Joyce tight.

Buffy couldn’t resist a bit of a tease.  Giles always mocked her for her actions.  “You two haven’t been eating chocolate again, have you?”  She teased.  She couldn’t let this fly with nothing.  “Something you should be telling me, Mom?  Giles?”

“Right nice spot you have there, Watcher.”  Spike smirked.  “Best seat in the house if you ask me.”

Buffy playfully slapped Spike in the arm.

“Ow, Slayer!”  Spike rubbed his arm as if he had been decked hard.  “I meant the best seat for him.  You know where I want to sit.”  He pulled a giggling Buffy down into a nearby chair with him.  “Or be sat on.”

Dawn rolled her eyes.  “Oh brother.”

Giles sat up straight.  His cheeks were crimson and warm with the force of his blush.  Joyce was the first to recover her voice.  She eyed her daughters and the blond vampire with amusement.  “Be careful how you say that Dawnie.”  Joyce teased.  “He just might be someday.”

Buffy nearly fell off of Spike’s lap at the comment.  If Spike hadn’t tightened his grip on her in that moment she would have crashed to the floor.  “Mom!”

Joyce shrugged and looked up at Giles.  “Makes sense to me, doesn’t it to you?”  She squeezed his hand, knowing that Buffy really needed her father figure’s approval.

“Um, yes.  Quite.”  Giles cleared his throat.  His gaze evened on the vampire holding his daughter like charge.  He planned on having a heart to heart with Spike soon enough to find out his true intentions towards Buffy.

Spike gaped at Joyce in amazement.  That statement sounded like her approval for such a thing between him and Buffy.  He knew Joyce liked him, but he hadn’t realized that she liked him that much.  He grinned from ear to ear in delight.  He bounced Buffy in his lap, giddy as a jaybird.

Dawn held back the peels of laughter and giddiness that she felt from all the acceptance in the room.  This was just too awesome.  All of them here together, like a family.  Giles was like a father to the girls and of course Joyce was their mother.  Spike was the older brother that she never had.  If Spike and Giles could just cooperate with each other, they would be a true family.

“Rupert, would you take Dawn and Spike with you to get some sodas and coffee for all of you?”

Joyce’s face told Giles that she needed some time alone with Buffy.  To what end he was not sure, but he nodded his head in agreement.  “Of course, Joyce.  We’ll be back shortly.”

Spike hugged Buffy before he left the room.  He whispered in her ear that he’d be back as soon as they could if she needed him.  Buffy nodded as the trio headed out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What do you suppose she wants to talk to Buffy about?”  Dawn asked as soon as they were out of the room.

“Whatever it was, she wanted to do it in private, Nibblet.”  Spike looked back at the closed door with concern.  These were the times when he sorely wished his relationship with Buffy was more progressed.  He wished that he and Buffy were truly together in all ways.  He’d be able to feel her emotions and know if she was all right or not if they had bonded and claimed each other.

Giles put an arm around Dawn’s shoulder, drawing her towards the snack machines.  “I’m sure she just has a lot on her mind.”

Dawn nodded, but none of the three seemed relieved or relaxed about what the secret conversation might entail.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Buffy, I wanna ask you something, and if I’m being crazy you just tell me okay?”  Joyce was lost in the jumble of thoughts.

“You got it.”  Buffy slid onto the bed at her mother’s feet.  She caressed her thumb over the back of Joyce’s hand.

“The other day ...  Well, actually I’m not sure when.  The days seem to bleed together.”  Each day seemed to run into the next and the previous one.  It was hard to keep it all straight.  Her dreams and nightmares clashed with reality.  What was really true and what wasn’t?

Buffy’s eyes filled with tears and she shook her head.  “It’s not important.”

“No, I guess it isn’t.”  Joyce said resignedly.

“I do know I was pretty out of it, and I had ... not ... not like a dream exactly.  More like I had this knowledge.”  Joyce tipped her head to the side.  She was confused.  It all seemed so stupid to blurt out, but it was as if she just knew that she was right about this.  “It just came to me like truth, you know.  Even though it doesn’t seem possible.  Even though I shouldn’t think such things.”

“What?”  Buffy had a feeling that she knew what her mom was going to ask her.  She’d heard Joyce’s ranting at Dawn when the tumor made her seem insane.  Perhaps in some ways she had gone temporarily insane.  The other mental patients seemed to have a knowledge of Dawn’s key status that others could not see.  Maybe her mom had sensed the same thing.

“That Dawn ... She’s not mine, is she?”  Joyce silently counted the seconds in-between her question and Buffy’s response.

Buffy frowned.  “No.”  She looked down and back up at Joyce.

Joyce slowly shook her head trying to push away the disbelief and the pain that this knowledge now lodged in her heart.  “She’s ... She does belong to us though.”

“Yes, she does.”

“And she’s important to the world, precious.”  Buffy nodded to her mother.  “As precious as you are to me?”  Joyce added.

Buffy continued to nod, a hint of a smile played on her lips even as she forced the tears in her eyes not to fall.

“Then we have to take care of her.”  Joyce’s voice was urgent and demanding.  “Promise me if I don’t come through this ...”

Buffy cut Joyce off.  “Mom.”

“No.  No matter what she is, she still feels like my daughter.”  Joyce paused for her words to sink in.  “I have to know that you’ll take care of her; that you’ll keep her safe.  That you’ll love her like I love you.”  Joyce needed the reassurances about Dawn that only Buffy could give her right now.

“I promise.”  Buffy was losing the fight with her tears.  Each word was another arrow to her heart that left a hole of loss.  She refused to let her mother go yet.  She couldn’t let her go, and she hoped that she didn’t have to any time soon.

“Good.”  Joyce started to cry.  “Good.”  She pressed forward and hugged Buffy tightly to her like she never wanted to let go.  “My sweet, brave Buffy.  What would I do without you?”

Buffy’s heart clenched.  “What would I do without you, Mommy?”  She let the sobs start to fall.

A RN came into the room at that moment to prepare Joyce’s gurney to be wheeled down to the operating room.   Giles, Spike and Dawn returned to the room.

“May we have a moment?”  Giles asked.  The RN nodded.  “Just let me get her into the hall first.”  He helped Joyce move from her bed to the gurney he’d brought.  He wheeled the gurney into the hall, locked the brakes, and stepped away to take care of some paperwork.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike was the first to bid Joyce farewell.  He placed a kiss on her forehead.  His blue eyes glazed over slightly.  “See you soon, Mum.  You still have that hot chocolate recipe you need to teach me.”

Joyce chuckled.  “You betcha.”  She rubbed his arm tenderly.  “I know you’ll take care of my girls.”

“With my life.”  Spike spoke with serious conviction in each word.  “And so will you.”  He wasn’t going to let Joyce go thinking that she wouldn’t be coming back.  “You’ll be there to whip my arse to make sure that I take care of em proper like.”  He stepped back to let Dawn in closer.

Dawn hugged Joyce tightly.  Her tears fell freely.  She couldn’t hide them even if she tried.  “Come back soon, Mommy.”

Joyce kissed Dawn’s forehead, reached out her hand towards Buffy, and pulled both of her daughters in for a tight hug.  “Don’t you worry.  We Summers women are strong, and that includes you.”  She tapped the end of Dawn’s nose.

Giles was the last to step up next to the gurney in the hall.  He looked down at Joyce with love shining in his eyes.  “We have much to look forward to now, my dear.”  He caressed her cheek then left a brief kiss to her lips.  “We’ll be here when you are done.”

The RN adjusted the brakes on the gurney and took his place at the head of it.  “They’re ready for her now.  You all can wait in the surgical lounge.”  He pointed down the hall.

The four of them stood there and watched as Joyce Summers was pulled away from them.  Each of them was holding a hand or holding onto another to link them all together.  No one moved until the doors finally flapped closed to hide their mother from them.

Their lives were going to change for the good or bad depending on the outcome of this surgery.  No one wanted to think about the bad, but they all knew it was a possibility.  With heavy hearts the quartet turned in the hall and headed to the lounge.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)


Not Beneath Me - Chapter 11 (A Joining Of Hearts & Body)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Joyce has gone in for her surgery.  Giles, Dawn, Spike and Buffy are waiting as patiently as possible for her to get out.  Dawn, Buffy and Spike became even more like a family before they left for the hospital and Giles declared his love to Joyce before the other three got there.  Joyce now knows that Dawn is not her daughter, and important, but not exactly that she is “the key”.

***Warning: This chapter is a definite NC-17.  It includes graphic descriptions of sex between a male and a female.  There is also a little bit of biting and blood play in this one.***

Author's Note: (Tasha is now writing all of the chapters, solely.  This story was adopted with the permission of Miss Kitty.   Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn, Buffy, Spike and Giles sat in the surgical waiting room at Sunndydale General.  The hours ticked by with still no word from the doctor, nurses, or any of the surgical staff.  Buffy’s hands twisted into little fists in her lap and then relaxed once more.

“What time is it?”  Dawn meekly asked Giles.

“It’s 10 minutes past the last time you asked me that question, Dawn.”  Giles tried to hide the irritation from his voice, but he failed.  He knew that he shouldn’t be hard on Dawn, but his nerves were shot.  He was as worried about Joyce as the rest of them were.

Dawn hung her head.  “Sorry, Giles.  It just seemed like a lot longer had passed.”

Giles turned to his other surrogate daughter and half smiled.  “It’s okay, Dawn.  I didn’t mean to snap at you.”  He removed his watch.  He wrapped it onto Dawn’s wrist.  “There you go.  You’re all set now.”

“They’re taking forever.  Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”  Buffy gazed at Spike worriedly.

Spike patted Buffy’s arm.  “No news is good news, luv.”  He looked up at the clock.  “If they came out right away, that could mean they weren’t able to do anything.”  He rubbed his thumb over the top of Buffy’s clenched hands.  “The brain is a complex part of the body.  Don’t want to rush.”

“I know.”  Buffy sighed.  “This waiting all the time is just killing me.”

“I know, luv.”  Spike pulled Buffy against his side.  “I know.”

The whole group sat for another half hour before even Giles grew too restless to sit still.  “I need to walk a bit.  Would anyone like anything from the cafeteria?”

Dawn and Buffy put in requests for something to drink.  Neither of them figured that they could eat anything until they knew more about their mom.

Spike stood up.  “I think I’ll join you, Watcher.  If that is all right?”  He smiled reassuringly at Buffy’s curious look.  He leaned down to whisper something to her.  “I’d like to talk to him a little, okay?”

Buffy nodded.  “Be careful, Spike.”  She squeezed Spike’s hand.  She picked up a nearby Cosmo magazine and tried to get into reading it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Giles walked side by side down the long stretch of hall to the cafeteria.  “You know you can’t smoke in here, Spike.”  Giles spoke blandly, hating the silence between the two.

“I didn’t join you so that could have a smoke, Watcher.”  Spike half chuckled.  “I actually wanted to talk to you about a few things.”

“Oh really?”  Giles adjusted his glasses.  ‘What would he want to talk to me about?  Maybe it is because he knows I don’t trust him.  Is he going to threaten me about Buffy?’

“Yeah.”  Spike shoved his hands in his duster pockets.  “I know that you might find this hard to believe, given your experience with Peaches, but I wanted to tell you that I do love Buffy.”

Giles blinked in surprise.  ‘Love?  How can a soulless demon love at all?’

“I know what you’re thinking, Watcher.”  Spike sighed.  He’d seen the look on Giles’ face as soon as he said the word love.  “Vampires can love just as well as any human can.  I loved and took care of Dru for over a century.”

Giles nodded.  He couldn’t refute that statement.  Drusilla had been quite the crazy Vampiress, but Spike remained by her side during all of that.  He’d even seen evidence of what could be construed as loving actions between the vampires.  Though he suspected the feelings were more on Spike’s end than Drusilla’s.

Spike stopped outside of the cafeteria.  He turned to face Giles.  “Buffy is a woman unlike any I’ve ever met over the centuries.  She’s amazing in her capacity to love.”  His eyes glossed over in pride, desire and love at the thought of her skills.  “And she’s the best Slayer I’ve ever seen.  Certainly the best I’ve ever fought.”

Giles nodded along with Spike’s compliments.  He visibly cringed when reminded of the Slayer’s that Spike had fought and knew that he had killed.  “Yes, well the chip keeps you from taking her down like the others.”  The underlying anger and concern for his surrogate daughter was apparent.

“Look, I know that I can not undo my actions of the past, but I wanted you to know that I did hear you that day after I helped you as a Fyarl demon.”  Spike sighed.  “It didn’t look like I was listening, but I was.”

Giles looked at Spike amazed.  He was sure that the vampire had just ignored him during his little speech about the chip giving him a chance to switch sides and be good.

“You may not believe it, but I never lost all my humanity.”  Spike groaned.  ‘Why are you telling the Watcher about that you pillock?’  The inner demon argued.  ‘He’s going to use that to his advantage.’  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.  “When the Judge was here, he accused me of reeking with humanity.  I didn’t think much of it until Angelus came in and the Judge said that there was not even a spark of humanity in him.”

“Fascinating.”  Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them with the ever present cloth from his pocket.  “I never knew that.”

“Well I wasn’t going to go around advertising that fact, now was I?”  Spike huffed.  “This bloody chip hasn’t helped me in the vampire way either.”  He leaned back against the wall outside of the cafeteria.  “Still a demon.  No doubt of that, but it seems that there are two parts of me now that do battle.  They’re trying to find a commonplace where they both can live.”

Giles ached to have his notebook with him.  He wanted to take some serious notes about this conversation.  Why was Spike telling him all of this though?

“I’m sure you don’t believe me, but I had to tell you.”  Spike held his gaze even with the Watcher’s.  “I will not hurt, Buffy.  I won’t leave like the Poofter or Captain Cardboard when Buffy isn’t who they want her to be.”  He inhaled deeply.  “I love her just as she is, and what I know she will be.”

“How can you be so sure of that Spike?”  Giles was surprised he even got the words out.  The vampire before him dumbfounded him.

“I can’t explain it, Rupert.”  Spike spoke honestly and from the heart.  His usual swagger and rough British accent gave way to the more refined one of his birth.  “I only know the draw that I feel for her.  The desire I have to be a better man and the man that she deserves.  I can only hope that someday I will be enough for her.”

“I must admit you have quite astounded me, Spike.”  Giles returned his glasses to his face.  “What you are saying to me is unprecedented and certainly unproven given the experiences we have had with soulful and soulless demons.”

Spike hung his head down.  He needed the Watcher not to fight Buffy and him about their relationship.  Buffy had so much to deal with already.  He needed the Watcher’s support, or at the very least he needed his trust.  “All I’m asking is that you give me a chance to prove myself, Rupert.  I would give my life for her and the Nibblet, and I love them both.  Heck I seem to have a weakness when it comes to the Summers’ women.  I love them all.”  He half laughed.

“What you ask is not an easy thing to do.  You have tried to kill us many times.”  Giles considered every word that Spike said.

“Yeah, I know.”  Spike sighed.  “I only tried to break you guys up during the Adam incident because I was trying to prove to myself that I could still be the Big Bad.  Red’s spell made me realize some things, and I didn’t want them to be true.  Figured if I helped Adam, I’d prove that I wasn’t a Scooby.”

“You nearly got us all killed, Spike, but you did help us with him in the end.”  Giles pondered what to say a few moments more before he continued.  “I’ll tentatively trust you Spike, but you are going to have to continue to earn it and prove yourself worthy of my trust.  I won’t fight this for now, for Buffy’s sake, but if you cross us ... I promise you that you will not survive your next “slip up”.  Are we clear?”

Spike admired the bit of Ripper that flashed in Giles’ eyes.  He knew that the Watcher loved Buffy like a daughter, and he was acting like he would protect her as one too.  “That’s all I can ask for, Watcher.  I think you will find that we have a lot more common interests than you would believe.”

“Common interests with William the Bloody?  A ruffian from human days and evil vampire beyond that?”  Giles scoffed.

Spike laughed.  “That’s where your bloody council of wankers is wrong, mate.”  He couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling forth harder.  “They have no idea what my human days were like.  They are so far off as to why I was William the Bloody, that it is hilarious.  Maybe one day I’ll tell you about it.”

Giles’ eyes widened.  He’d never seen Spike laugh and definitely not that hard.  “I will look forward to it.  If you would give me the pleasure of documenting it.”

“Only if it doesn’t end up in that Council of yours’ hands, mate.  It’s their stupidity.”  Spike may be trying to work things out with the Scoobies, but he was not going to be some pet project of the council of wankers.

“Agreed.  I’m sure it will be an interesting chat.”  With that Giles walked into the cafeteria to get the drinks for the girls.  Spike followed close behind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn watched Giles and Spike walk away.  She moved over to sit next to Buffy.  “What do you suppose is going on with those two?”  She pointed to the retreating pair.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders.  “I’m not sure, but Spike said that he wanted to talk to Giles about something.”

“You aren’t the least bit worried about what is going on?”  Dawn questioned.

“No, not really.”  Buffy looked up from her magazine.  “Giles seemed much better around Spike when we were in Mom’s room this time.  Maybe he’s getting used to the idea.”

Dawn stretched to look down the hallway to see if she could still see the two.  “I hope Giles doesn’t push him away.  I like Spike being around.”

Buffy refused to voice her concerns about the same thing.  “Spike won’t leave just because of Giles.  He cares too much about us.”

“Does he know that you love him?”  Dawn queried.

Buffy gasped.  “Love him?”  She put the magazine back down on the table.  “How would you know that I love him?”

Dawn rolled her eyes.  “It’s written all over your face every time you look at him silly.”  She playfully jabbed Buffy’s arm.  “But guys still want to hear it especially Spike.  He seems like someone that needs to hear it.”

Buffy sighed.  She hoped that she’d told Spike enough about how she cared for him to believe that she loved him too.  “It is so hard for me to say.  You know that.”

“Has he told you that he loves you?”  Dawn hugged the little fanged teddy bear in her lap.  “Cause you know he does.”

“He hasn’t said the words yet, but I thought he was going to say them a couple times.”  Buffy thought back to some of their conversations over the last few days.  “I know he wanted to say something after he cleaned our wounds.”  She shivered in pleasure at the memory.

Dawn cooed.  “Oh yeah.  She looked down at her hand.  Only a small red line remained of the cut from the night before.  “You are so lucky.  If he wasn’t so gone over you, I’d be throwing myself at his feet.”

“Dawn!!”  Buffy sat back in shock.

“Come on.  Don’t tell me you can’t see what a major hottie he is.”  Dawn scoffed.

“Well ... um ... Yeah.”  There was no way that she could get out of answering this question.  Of course Buffy realized how sexy Spike looked.  The glimpses of his chest the night before made her nipple taunt and tingly, wishing they could rub up against him.  “But he’s way too old for you.”

Dawn laughed.  “Oh and he isn’t over a hundred years older than you too?”

“That’s different.”

“How?”  Dawn was still chuckling.

“I don’t really know, but it is.”  Buffy slouched in the chair.  She was oh so not with the witty comments today.

“Okay, Buffy.”  Dawn shook her head back and forth.  “Whatever you say.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander stepped out of the elevator onto the floor they’d been directed to.  They searched the first waiting area for Buffy, Dawn and Giles.  When they didn’t find them there they headed to the second waiting room.

“Hey, Buffster.”  Xander walked over to wrap both Summers’ girls in a hug.  “I got the message about the surgery as soon as I got off work.  Came as quick as I could.”

“Thanks, Xander.”  Buffy hugged him tightly.  Xander may act like an idiot sometimes, but he was still one of her best friends.  She hoped that she could get Xander to accept Spike in her life somehow.

“Any news yet?”  Xander sat down in the chair Spike had been sitting in.

“Nothing yet.  It’s already been 6 hours.”  Buffy sighed heavily.  “I’m starting to get worried.”

Xander patted Buffy’s back in comfort.  “She’ll pull through.  She’s strong.”

Buffy smiled up at Xander.  “Thanks for being here.”

Xander looked back and forth around the area.  “Where’s the G-Man?  I figured he’d be here for sure.”

“Oh he is.”  Dawn piped in.  “He and Spike went to get us something to drink.  I think they needed to stretch their legs a bit.”

“Spike!?!”  Xander sat up startled.  “What in the hell is he doing here?”

Buffy leaned forward and slapped her head in her hands.  She did not need this crap right now.  She would fight Xander tooth and nail on this, but she didn’t have the strength to do it right now.  Instead she started to cry.

Dawn stepped right up when she saw her sister’s distress.  She slapped Xander’s arm.  “You leave him alone.  Spike took care of us last night, and he’s here today.  We all want him here.  So you’d better not start anything or ... or I’ll let him eat you.”

“That’s not even close to a threat.  The Bleached Wonder can’t hurt a fly.”  Xander protested.  He pointed at Buffy.  “Even the mention of him and Buffy starts to cry.  How can that be good?”

Buffy jerked up.  She glared at Xander.  “Spike didn’t make me cry, Xander.  You did.”  She spat out at him.  “You just can’t leave it alone.  I need him here.”  She cried more loudly, putting her head back in her hands.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Spike talked amicably as they headed back from the cafeteria.  They spoke of the different places that they’d lived in England.  They even talked about recent Scooby business and news of the Magic Box.  Everything seemed to be going well for them until they neared the waiting room again.

Spike was the first to pick up on the sobs coming from Buffy.  His vampiric hearing alerted him to her pain, and he took off in a run barely keeping from spilling the drinks he held in his hand.  He burst into the waiting area and slid down in front of Buffy.  He feared that bad news about Joyce had come while they were gone.  “What is it, Buffy?  What’s wrong?”

Xander tried to comfort Buffy but Spike turned to him and growled.  Instinctively he backed off from the game faced vampire.  It didn’t hit him that this was a chipped vampire.  His face was still scary enough to make him nearly pee his pants.

“Spike?”  Buffy raised her head from her hands.  She wrapped her arms tightly around Spike’s neck, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

Giles finally caught up with Spike in the waiting room.  He looked between all four of the people there trying to figure out what had happened.  “Oh dear Lord.  What’s going on?” 

Dawn rolled her eyes.  “Xander came in and got all demon bad on Buffy and made her cry.”  She rubbed Buffy’s back to try and help calm her down.

“What were you thinking, Man?”  Giles chastised.  He may not totally trust Spike, but he knew well enough when to let things alone.  Buffy was under a lot of pressure right now, and she didn’t need one of Xander’s tirades.

“Me?”  Xander was shocked by everyone’s reactions.  “Since when did I become the bad guy and not him?”

Giles set down the cups he was carrying and the packages of snacks.  “Buffy doesn’t need any more to deal with right now.”

Spike turned to Xander and snarled.  “She told you in the park to give it up, whelp.”  He pulled Buffy to stand up, sat down again, and pulled her onto his lap.  He hugged her close to him.  “She told you we were together.  So, why wouldn’t I be here?”

“Maybe because you are a soulless demon that can’t care for anyone but himself?”  Xander spat back at Spike.  He didn’t’ care how many times Spike helped them out.  He was still a soulless and heartless creature to him.

“He obviously cares more about Buffy’s feelings than you do right now, Xander.”  Dawn threw angrily at Xander.  “Spike isn’t making Buffy cry.  You are.”

Buffy, who had been silent again until now, spoke up.  “Xander, leave.  Just go away.”

Giles, Dawn, Spike and Xander all stared at Buffy in shock.  Spike never expected Buffy to push one of the Scoobies away from her so that he could be there.  Dawn knew that Xander had been Buffy’s friend forever, but she was pretty peeved at him.  Giles felt torn between backing Buffy and backing Xander.  He felt that it would be best to eliminate any more disturbances.  Tensions were already running high enough.

“Buffy, you can’t mean that.”  Xander’s heart ached for his friend.  ‘This is a spell.  It has to be.  He has her in some sort of thrall like Dracula did.’

“Yes, Xander.”  Buffy evened her gaze directly at Xander.  “If you can’t be here and treat Spike with respect, then I don’t want you here.”  She looked up into Spike’s eyes, letting her love for him show in her eyes.  “He’s my boyfriend now, and he’s family to Dawn and Mom.  He’s won’t be leaving any time soon.”  She looked back over to Xander.  “You can either accept that or leave.”

Xander stood up, fists clenched.  He was furious.  How dare she put Dead Boy Jr. up there with her family over him?  It was ridiculous.  He was going to find out what the hell was going on.  “Fine, but I’m going to find out what’s happening here.”  He poked Spike in the upper arm.  “I know you’ve done something to her, and I’m going to stop you.”

Spike wanted to stand up and force his fist through Xander’s face.  Buffy put her arm on Spike’s chest.  He looked at her, and she shook her head.  He sighed.  He stayed sitting for Buffy’s sake.  “Whatever, Whelp.  I haven’t done anything but love her.  No spell can truly create that.”

“Willow’s did.  You were both all over each other like dogs in heat.”  Xander huffed.  “I’m sure this is a spell.  It has to be.”

Spike rolled his eyes.  “Red’s spell said that we were supposed to get married.  She didn’t say anything about loving each other.”  He shared the thoughts that had gone through his mind over and over since the day of that Willow’s “thy will be done” spell.  “I’ve thought about it a lot.  Many marriages, especially in my human days, had nothing to do with love and all about arrangements.”

Buffy looked at Spike in awe.  He was making a lot of sense, and he wasn’t even using his fists to make his argument.  ‘I do love him so much.  He will protect me with all that he is.’

“Anything else we did other than the actual engagement was all us.”  Spike drove his point home.  “We might not have realized it at the time, but we’ve always been attracted to each other.  So, get over yourself, whelp.  She’s mine, and I am hers.”

If Angel or Riley had made such a declaration she was sure that she would have fought it.  Spike saying that she was his didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would.  She actually felt warm and loved by his statement.  She did belong to him, and he’d admitted that he belonged to her too.

“I’m not going anywhere.”  Spike finished.  “I will never leave her.  So, get used to it.”  He picked Buffy up, set her on the ground, and wrapped his arm around her waist.  “I’m taking Buffy for a walk.  Be gone when we get back or know your place.  Because if you start up again when I get back I’ll suffer the migraine to punch your lights out.”  He made sure everyone there realized just how serious he was.  Then he turned and walked away with Buffy down the hall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander kicked the runner on his truck.  “Stupid idiot vampire.”  He jumped from one foot to another from the pain that now radiated through his foot.  He hadn’t stayed in the waiting room long enough for Buffy and Spike to return.  He was too ticked to be civil to anyone.  Even Giles had spent a good ten minutes lecturing him on how he should have been more considerate of Buffy’s feelings especially if she had already warned him about Spike’s involvement in her life.

“Has everyone gone crazy?”  Xander put the key into the lock of his car door.  A hand covered his.  He spun around to face what he thought was an attacker.

“Easy, Xander.  I’m not going to hurt you.”  Riley smiled wide at Xander.  He caught the tail end of Spike’s speech to Xander at the hospital.  He had then followed Xander down to the parking garage.  He knew that the brunette would be on his side.  “I tried to warn you, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to believe it.”  Xander sighed.  He’d gone to Riley earlier in the day after Buffy’s accusation yesterday.  After a long time of venting and talking he’d agreed to help Riley get Buffy back.  Of course Riley denied punching Buffy, and in Xander’s land of denial he believed Riley over Buffy.

“He’s twisted her mind.”  Riley further drew Xander into his web of revenge.  “We both know that Buffy would never pick a soulless vampire over me if she was thinking straight.  He’s manipulated her while she is down from everything going on with her mother.”

Xander shook his head back and forth.  “I can’t believe I’m saying it, but do it.”  He gripped the keys tighter in his hand.  “He won’t know the chip isn’t working until its too late?”

“Good choice, Xander.”  Riley grinned evilly.  Everything was going just as he expected it to.  “He won’t know until he tries to hurt a human.  Then the absence of pain will give him away.”

“This is so going to hurt me when he hits me, but it will be worth it when I see his dust flying in the breeze.”  Xander cringed at the thought of the pain, but he reasoned with himself that it was for the greater good.  He could endure some pain if it saved Buffy from herself.

“I’ll get it taken care of tonight.”  Riley clapped Xander on the back heartily.  “Give it until tomorrow afternoon at least just to be sure.”

Xander nodded.  “I just hope this works.”

“It will.  I’ll make sure it does.”  Riley opened Xander’s car door.  “By tomorrow night Spike should be nothing but a bad memory.”

Xander hopped into the truck and started the engine.  He waved to Riley before he disappeared from the garage.

Riley waited until Xander was no longer in sight.  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the number given to him earlier in the day.  No greeting was exchanged.  He was direct and to the point.  “Do it.  Send the signal and scramble.”

“You’d better be right about this Finn or our asses are in a sling.”  The familiar voice of Graham Miller came through the line.  “If she doesn’t dust him ...”

“She will.”  Riley ground his teeth together.  “She will.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upstairs, completely unaware of the plotting below them, Buffy and Spike met with Dr. Kriegel on their way back to the waiting room.  Buffy clutched tightly to Spike’s arms.

Dr. Kriegel smiled warmly.  “Miss Summers.”  He removed his surgical hat.  “The surgery was a complete success.  We were able to remove the whole tumor and repair the damage that the growing tumor was causing.”

Buffy let out the breath she had been holding.  She jumped on the doctor in a big hug.  “Thank you.  Thank you so much.”  She squeezed him hard.

Dr. Kriegel started choking from being unable to breathe.  Spike tapped Buffy to let her know that she needed to let go.  “Easy, luv.  The Doc needs to breath.”

Buffy blushed and let go.  “Sorry.  I’m just so happy.”

“That’s all right.”  Dr. Kriegel walked with Buffy and Spike back to the waiting room.  “She is going to be in the recovery room for at least 8 hours.  She was under for a long time, and we have to keep her sedated to allow her more time to heal without moving.”

Giles and Dawn looked up at the doctor.  From the looks on Spike and Buffy’s faces they knew the news was good.

“I want you all to go home until tomorrow morning and get some sleep.”  Dr. Kriegel put up his hand at the objections that started to surface.  “No buts.  Once she’s out of recovery we are going to try to keep her sleeping in her room too.  She needs the rest, and so do all of you.”

Giles nodded to the doctor.  He didn’t like it one bit, but he could really use a good night’s rest in his own bed.  “Thank you, Doctor.  We’ll get some sleep.”  He herded Dawn towards the elevator.

Spike’s arm was around Buffy’s waist.  He led her towards the elevator as well.  Buffy spoke up as they walked.  “Giles, do you think Dawn could stay at your house overnight?  I have some things that I’d like to go over with Spike.”

Giles looked in shock at Spike.  Spike returned the shocked gaze.  He sent a questioning glance her way.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”  Buffy nodded.  “I want to ask you about a favor for my mother, and some other things.”  She shifted nervously when the elevator doors opened.  The four of them stepped in.

“That is fine with me, Buffy.  I’ll drive you all home.”  Giles looked at Dawn to see if she seemed to have a problem with the arrangement.  To his surprise Dawn was grinning from ear to ear.  “Dawn can pick up a few things then.”

Buffy nodded.  They exited the elevator onto the lower level and finally into the parking garage.  As the four of them slid into Giles’ car, no one noticed the brunette glaring at them from the shadows.  He hopped into his car and trailed the group to their destination.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Buffy waved to Dawn.  Dawn was a quick packer when she wanted to.  It seemed that today she wanted to leave Buffy and Spike alone as quickly as possible.  She prepared her overnight back in less than 15 minutes.  Now Spike and Buffy were waving goodbye to Giles and Dawn.

Buffy shut the door with a sigh.  ‘Alone at last.’  She thought.  She drew Spike towards her by wrapping her arms around his neck.

Spike pushed Buffy gently back against the door.  He wrapped his arms around her waist, one hand splayed down her lower back and the other halfway up her spine.  His face lowered as hers rose until their lips met in the middle.

They swayed to a light melody that only they could hear and feel with their bodies.  When their lips met all of the pains of the day floated away.  Buffy pressed her body tighter into Spike’s embrace, and Spike gripped Buffy tighter to him.  Neither needed to worry about the passion of the embrace because Slayer and Vampire strengths would prevent them from truly hurting each other.  After all, one didn’t need to breath, and the other could hold out long enough to move away when need be.

Spike moaned into the kiss, deepening it.  His tongue slipped past his lips to outline Buffy’s, seeking entrance within.  Everywhere any part of his body rested against hers, he felt the searing heat that her body radiated.  It sent his senses towards an overload.  He longed to feel that heat completely around him, to be wrapped in her warmth and her love.

Buffy ran her fingers up through the back of Spike’s neck.  She twirled her fingers amidst the bleached locks that were becoming loosened from their gel hold.  Her lips parted slowly to allow Spike’s tongue to dance with hers.  Just as his tongue slipped past her lips, she suckled it hard to bring it deep within her mouth and intertwine them more tightly.

‘Oh gods, Buffy.’  Spike thought to himself.  His cock hardened and pressed against the confines of his black denim jeans.  Just being in her company and embrace was enough to make him hard.  Having her suck on his tongue made his cock weep in need and harden in desire to have that mouth around it.

Buffy didn’t know exactly what she was doing.  Every movement seemed to lead to another on instinct.  Her body knew that she needed to feel Spike close to her.  She needed to know she was loved, and she needed to be showed that this man loved her.  She felt her whole body tingle and a surge of desire course directly to her core.  She couldn’t help but to notice just how perfect the two of them seemed to be in size to each other.  She only had to lift her head slightly to kiss him, and their bodies rubbed against each other in all the right places.

Spike growled low, his body in overdrive.  What were they doing?  Were they ready for this?  ‘Hell yeah.’  Spike thought.  He ached to taste and touch HIS Slayer.  He’d longed for such moments for longer than he’d care to admit.

‘Careful, Spike.  Make sure this is what she wants.’  The inner William noted back.  He wanted to be with HIS Buffy as much as Spike wanted the Slayer, but his insecurities still feared that Buffy would change her mind later on.  He wanted to be sure and save them both from future pain.

Spike pulled back from Buffy.  He panted in and out with unnecessary breaths.  “Buffy.”  He rested one hand on the door to hold himself up and away from her.  “I thought you said we needed to go over a few things?”  He tried to gain some control over himself.

Buffy’s eyes glazed over in desire.  She nodded slowly, panting.  “Yes, I wanted to ask you if ... Well it seemed like a good idea at the time.”  She stuttered.  She was off balance, partly because of the desire coursing through her and partly for the fear of rejection.

“It’s okay, pet.  Just say it.”  Spike secretly grinned.  ‘At least I know I’m not the only one affected by this.’ 

“Mom, Dawn, and I all love you Spike.”  Buffy began.  “Mom has been trying to push me to get back to my classes, and with Dawn being the key I worry about her being here alone.”  She gazed down at the floor for a few moments.  She needed to word this right.  She didn’t want him to think that she was trying to take advantage of him.

Spike inhaled deeply only to be assaulted with the full force of Buffy’s arousal.  He fought his demon back as he growled in pleasure.  He wanted Buffy with all of his being, both to have and to protect.  Whatever was worrying her hadn’t dampened her desires.  She still smelled so sweetly of need.

“I don’t want Mom to be here alone either once she gets home.”  Buffy looked back up at Spike.  “What I want to know is if you are willing to move in here with us?”

Spike’s little scent exploration was cut short at her request.  “Are you serious?”  He expected her to ask him many different things, but this wasn’t one of them.

“If you don’t want to, I understand.  I know it is a lot to …”

Spike cut off Buffy’s babbling.  “I would be happy to move in here, luv.”  He took one of Buffy’s hands in his, caressing the back of it with his thumb.  He rested his forehead against hers.  “You just caught me off guard is all.”

Buffy caressed her free hand along Spike’s cheek.  “I hadn’t meant to tell you this so soon.  Heck this has all kind of hit me at once.”  She cupped Spike’s jaw, rubbing her fingertips over his lips.  “But it feels right to tell you.”

Spike tilted his head to the side to gaze at Buffy.  “Don’t rush yourself if you don’t feel like it, pet.”  He was sure that Buffy was going to tell him that their little make out session earlier wouldn’t be happening again any time soon.

“The strange thing is that I don’t really feel it is a rush.”  Buffy smiled.  “I need you, Spike.  I want you not only as a boyfriend, but as more.”  She looked down for a moment shyly before she returned to his gaze.  “I lo … I love you.”

Spike stepped back in shock.  His face was almost unreadable as it switched so fast from one facial expression to another: from shock, to awe, to disbelief, to joy, and finally to love.  “Say that again?”  His voice shook as he asked the question.

Buffy wanted to take back her words when the first phases of his facial expressions changed.  Had she read him wrong?  Did he not feel the same for her?  She breathed a slight sigh of relief when he finally spoke.  “I love you, Spike.”  She repeated.  She drew his face down to hers.  Her lips pressed against his lightly at first and then with growing depth.

Spike stood immobile during the first seconds of their kiss.  Once the realization hit his brain and was processed, he pulled Buffy hard against his body and started to devour her lips with his.

The kiss went from slow and tender to hard and feral.  Any doubts that Buffy had about Spike returning her affections were gone in the moments that Spike’s kiss became more demanding.

Spike picked Buffy up by the waist and spun her around in the entryway.  He laughed heartily when he put her back down and broke apart from her.  “Cor, Buffy.  Those are the sweetest words you could have ever said to me.”  He cupped her face in both of his hands.  He kissed her forehead, temples, cheeks jaw and finally her lips again.

Buffy giggled with glee.  She felt like she was soaring through the air like a bird when Spike twirled them.  Her heart felt as light as her feet, and she knew that she’d made the right choice.  Her hands gripped his shoulders tighter to keep from falling.

“I love you, Buffy.”  Spike said reverently when their kiss ended temporarily.  “I have for so long that it killed me when you told me I was beneath you.”  He fought back the tears of joy and sorrow.

“Spike, I was so wrong about that.”  Buffy buried her face just underneath his chin.  “You are not beneath me in any way.  I’m so sorry.”

“Shhh.  It’s okay, pet.  You apologized before.”  Spike rocked Buffy back and forth to calm her.  “You loving me makes up for anything we’ve been through in the past, believe me.”  He scooped Buffy up into his arms and headed for the stairs.

Buffy giggled and whooped.  Spike practically flew up the steps, he took them so fast.  He headed right for her room.  ‘I wonder how he knows just what one is mine.’

Spike could see the wheels turning in Buffy’s mind.  He figured it was better to confess now then have a problem later.  “I’ve been in your room before, pet.”

“You have?”  Buffy questioned. 

Spike set her down on the floor.  “Yeah.  I wanted to be near you in any way that I could.”  He hung his head down.  “So sometimes I’d come up here just to smell you and feel the remnants of your presence.”  He waited for the recriminations and anger from Buffy.

Buffy cocked her head to the side.  She knew she should be mad, but it all seemed so sweet and romantic.  “I should be pissed at you, Spike, but I’m not.”  She held onto Spike’s hand and led them both to her bed to sit on the side of it.  “I’ve gone by your crypt many times in the hopes of just seeing you myself.

Now it was Spike’s turn to be amazed.  “I didn’t know that.”

Buffy nodded.  “Even when I didn’t want to admit to myself what I was feeling, I was seeking you out.”

“Oh, Buffy.”  Spike pulled Buffy close.  “We’ve already wasted so much time.  If I hadn’t acted so disgusted after that spell maybe you wouldn’t have gone out with Captain Cardboard.”

Buffy stroked her fingers through Spike’s hair.  “No, what if’s Spike.  I acted the same when the spell was done.  We acted as we figured everyone expected us to.  I’ve always tried to do what the rest of them expected me to do.”  She looked over at her vanity where pictures of the Scoobies littered the mirror.  “Neither of us were truly ready to admit what we felt back then.  I’m just glad that now we can.”

Spike kissed Buffy hard.  He wasn’t going to let her go anytime soon.  She was his reason for still existing.  She was the sunshine in his darkness, the soul in his body’s void.  She was everything he thought he could never have, and having her in his arms was literally a dream come true.

Buffy pulled back from Spike to catch her breath after several minutes of caresses and kisses.  Her hands continued to roam up and down his arms.  One hand moved to lightly scratch her fingertips up and down his chest.  “Spike?”

“Yes, pet?”  Spike panted unnecessarily.  Buffy brought out every desire and need that he hadn’t ever felt for anyone.  He had loved Dru, but not like this.  This was deeper.  This love burned him from the inside out as if he would burst into flame if he didn’t quench it with Buffy’s love in return.

“Make love to me.  Please.”  Buffy’s gaze never wavered from Spike’s.  She wanted to be sure that he knew she was serious.  “I want to show you how much I love you.  I need you.”  Her desires continued to grow and her body ached to be filled and completed with his touch.

Spike gulped and nodded.  Without a word he lowered Buffy onto the bed.  He propped her head up on the pillows and kissed her until she needed to breath again.  His hands were never idle, constantly caressing down her chest and up under her shirt to caress the swells of her breasts covered in lace.

Buffy closed her eyes.  She used her senses to memorize each moment and each touch.  She licked her lips, nibbling on her lower lip when his lips left her mouth.  She inhaled sharply when his blunt human teeth suckled and nibbled down the left side of her neck.  She felt more than heard the growl that passed Spike’s lips when he encountered the marks left by the Master, Angel and Dracula.  She knew enough about vampire mating rituals to know why he was upset.

Spike forced his demon to remain more docile the moment his lips hit the marks on Buffy’s neck.  He knew what his demon wanted to do.  He wasn’t going to allow the demon to take over the first time with Buffy.  They needed to talk about claiming and bonding before he would subject Buffy to it.  He didn’t know if he could even bite her at all because of the chip.

Buffy yelped in surprised pleasure when Spike pinched her nipples hard.  A moan followed the yelp and she squirmed against the bed sheet.  “Please, Spike.”  She whimpered.  She wriggled underneath him.

Spike chuckled.  He left the marks on her neck alone for now.  He would talk to her about them later.  It irritated his demon and his romantic side to have another’s mark on the woman that he loved.  He lifted Buffy’s top over her head.  He then easily snapped the back clasp of her bra.  He liked being able to snuggle close to her to reach the clasp in the back.  Though front closures had their advantages too.  He’d have to remember to snap the first front closure bra she wore with his teeth.

Buffy tightened her grip on the curls of Spike’s hair.  She tried to direct him to the places that she wanted touched.  Her nipples were hard and aching to feel his mouth on them.  He didn’t disappoint.

Spike nipped the hardened pebbles of her breasts.  Careful not to draw blood, he let the tips of human teeth nibble and pinch Buffy’s nipples between them.  His tongue curled out and around as much of her breast as it could without letting go of her nipples.  The saltiness of her sweat actually tasted good to him.  He let the nipple go and licked full strokes on the underside of one breast.  He cupped it in his hand, rolling the nipple between his fingers, while his tongue began circles that started tightly around the nipple and grew bigger and bigger until he was circling the entire breast with each stroke.

Buffy wriggled back and forth on the bed.  She let go of Spike’s hair with one hand to fist her hand in the bed sheets.  She needed to find some perchance to keep from bucking him completely off her body.  She moaned in need as her core seeped more past her nether lips to glisten in the curls of her mound.

Another wave of desire assaulted Spike’s nose.  He practically snarled on the other breast that he was now giving attention to.  He sat up quickly to remove his shirt.  He needed to feel her skin against his.  He looked from Buffy’s face down her body.  When his gaze reached her pants, he decided that he could wait no longer to see the treasures hidden by her denim.  He slowly popped the button and then drew the zipper down.  With a quick jerk he pulled both legs of the pants to remove them.  He tossed them over the end of the bed.

Buffy gasped.  The cold air of the room hitting her heated core sent a shock of pleasure through her.  Her body hummed in need.  Her passions were not going to be tamed this night by making out and a little cuddling.  She needed oh so much more.  She pulled Spike down on top of her body.

Spike tsked and grinned up at Buffy.  “Now, now Slayer.  No rushing.”

Buffy growled, a pitiful sound from a human as compared to a vampire, but effective in getting her point across.

“I won’t leave you wanting, luv.  I promise you that.”  Spike lowered himself between her legs.  He tucked his hands underneath her butt and kissed her inner thighs.  “Going to worship this beautiful body of yours.”  He licked a trail from Buffy’s knee to the focal point where the leg met the torso.  He paid special attention on the way back down to suckle just below the hip and then nibble behind each of her knees.

“Oh gosh, Spike!”  Buffy panted and gasped.  She couldn’t believe all that she was feeling.  No one had ever kissed all over her body like this.  He hadn’t even touched her pussy yet and she felt like she would cum.  She tightened her legs around Spike’s head trying to trap him.  He moved back up the other leg, resting his cheek against her inner thigh.

“Hmm … I see the bottle doesn’t fall far from the sink, does it?”  Spike teased as he nipped at the dark curls surrounding Buffy’s sweet mound.  “All that teasing about my bleaching and you …”  He nipped along the left lip.  “Aren’t …”  He nipped along the right lip.  “A natural …”  He flickered his tongue up between her slickened lips to lap up the sweet juices of her desire.  “Blonde.”  He grabbed her clit between his blunt human teeth and worried the bit of flesh before he sucked hard to draw it into his mouth fully.

Buffy exploded into orgasm when her clit was tortured with his teeth and mouth.  “Spike!”  She called out his name as her body crested over.  She wasn’t even allowed to come down from her first peak when she felt two fingers slip into her tight channel.

Spike groaned.  Cor, she was tight.  Her grip on his fingers was tight and strong.  ‘Must be a Slayer muscle thing.’  He twisted and scissored the two fingers in Buffy’s hot canal.  He added a third finger and arched the tips when he pulled the fingers out to graze over the bundle of nerves that he knew would send her over the edge again.  The second time he plunged all three fingers in he did a little tap dance on the inner bundle.  He was rewarded with Buffy’s second orgasm and a flood of her juices gushing out of her lovely pussy and wetting his face.

Buffy screamed.  She wasn’t usually a loud lover, but this was beyond any pleasure that she’d felt before.  Her legs held Spike’s head between her thighs so tightly that it was a good thing he didn’t need to breathe.  She would have killed a human man, squished his skull like an overripe strawberry.  Her hips bucked off the bed, pushing her pussy into his face time and time again.

Spike rode out the waves of Buffy’s pleasure.  He made sure to get every drop of her sweetness.  It tasted like the ambrosia of the gods.  He was sure that the only thing that could be sweeter would be her blood.  His demon surfaced demanding to be heard.  His fangs elongated while his tongue was lapping up her nectar, lightly piercing both of her lips on the edge.  As her blood started to trickle into his mouth he snarled and dove into her pussy harder.

“Spike …”  Buffy grunted out.  “Yes … Harder … Oh Harder please!!”  Buffy crested over the precipice again not even caring that the reason for her latest orgasm was the nicking of Spike’s fangs on her sex.  All she knew or cared about was the waves of pleasure that ripped through her.

Encouraged by Buffy’s reaction and a bit surprised that the chip didn’t fire since he bit her, Spike buried his face into her pussy deeper.  He pressed his fangs harder into her lips and allowed the flow of her blood to satiate his needs.  He forced himself to keep from cumming in his pants.  The taste of Slayer blood was an aphrodisiac as much as it was a powerful jump start to a vampire.  He savored each little drop.

Buffy’s body quivered and shook.  Mini orgasms continued to fall through her, but she failed to keep her breath.  She was near to passing out.  She didn’t want him to stop, but she knew that she needed a few moments to collect herself back together and rest.

Spike withdrew his fangs and fingers from Buffy’s pussy.  His cock was harder than he ever remembered it being.  He wanted nothing more than to plunge himself deep within her tight chasm, but he could see her strength waning in bliss.  He stood up and made a show of licking his fingers clean.  He left one slightly coated.  He brought it up to Buffy’s lips, sitting next to her.  “Taste, pet.  Taste how sweet you are to me.”

Buffy cringed at first at the thought of tasting herself.  None of her previous lovers had or even wanted to eat her out in the way that Spike had.  So surely they’d never suggested she taste herself.  Spike’s encouraging smile made her willing to give it a try.  A tentative tongue slipped out of her mouth to the tip of the finger.  She licked it slowly until she found that she did like the taste.  She suckled the finger deeply into her mouth to be sure that she got it completely clean.

Spike groaned.  Every time he thought that Buffy had done the hottest thing he’d seen or acted the sexiest he’d ever known, she’d out do the previous act.  Watching her suck his finger dry turned him on beyond belief.  He had to stand up and adjust himself.  He realized that the curtains were still open.  He moved over to close them.

Buffy felt the loss of Spike’s nearness.  She whimpered and reached out for him.  ‘Don’t leave.  Please don’t leave.’

Almost as if he heard her, Spike turned back to Buffy.  “Just closing the curtains pet while you rest for round two.”  He grinned.  He closed the window and the drapes making sure that they were secure.  He picked up another blanket and clipped it over the curtain rod.  This was turning out to be the best night of his life.  He didn’t want to wake up toasting.

Buffy gathered Spike in her arms when he returned to the bed.  She nestled her head against his chest, drawing circles on his abdomen with her fingers.

“Rest luv.  Gonna make it real good again for you soon.”  Spike purred to her touch.  He would be patient.  She was going through a lot.  Letting go of one’s emotions was very draining, and he was positive that Buffy felt the freedom to let it all out while he pleasured her.  They would just rest here a little bit and then he’d show her just how close they could get.

“I love you, Spike.”  Buffy sighed softly, rubbing her cheek against Spike’s chest.

“I love you too, Buffy.”  Spike ran his fingers through her long blonde tresses.  “Always will.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Outside Buffy’s window a lone figure stood in the shadows of the tree there.  He kicked the trunk several times in frustration.  The window to Buffy’s bedroom was open, and the curtain had be separated for long enough for him to see just what was going on in there.  ‘I knew that bitch would be fucking that damned vampire soon.’  He punched the tree.  His knuckles bleed, but he didn’t care.  ‘I hoped I could get back to her before she did.  Now, she’ll have to pay for violating herself in that way.’

Riley turned away from the Summers’ household.  He knew just where he needed to be.  He’d go where someone wanted him, or at least they wanted his blood.  Tonight was a partial celebration ... the even of his enemies demise ... and part need to be satisfied.  He knew just where he could get both fixes.  So, he headed back down to a seedier part of town to his little vampire whorehouse.  His brain didn’t register the hypocrisy of his visiting a vampire whorehouse when he swore that vampires were vile and shouldn’t be touching Buffy.

 

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 12 (Let No Man Put Asunder)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Riley and Xander have a surprise planned for Spike that they hope will get Spike dusted.  Buffy and Spike spent the night together in her bedroom.  Dawn is at Giles' house.  We begin where we left off in Chapter 11.  Spike is watching over Buffy while she sleeps.

***Warning: This chapter is a definite NC-17.  It includes graphic descriptions of sex between a male and a female.  There is also a little bit of biting and blood play in this one.  There is Riley/other at the end of this chapter, but you will see that it is necessary.***

Author's Note:  Everyone has a different viewpoint on claiming, mating, etc for vampires.  I've tried to define out how I feel about that subject within the terms of the story.  I hope this will help clear up any possible confusions.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike strolled his fingers down Buffy's side while Buffy slept.  Her body spooned in his embrace with her back to his chest.  Never did he think he would have the chance to be this close to her, let alone touch her.  He memorized every curve and dip with his fingertips.  He vamped out into his game face to see her more clearly.

Although Buffy really hadn't overexerted herself while Spike pleasured her, she was pretty tired.  All of her emotions and tensions tightened her muscles into firmly wrapped tight coils.  The release of her orgasms unwrapped each tense muscle until her body felt like a blubbering mass.  Her mind tried to stay awake for Spike's sake, but her body refused to heed to her will. As she drifted off to dreamland she hoped Spike would understand.  She'd make it up to him somehow when she woke up.

Golden eyes savored every inch of the Slayer's body.  The demon was quite proud of himself for his ability to please a woman.  He'd learned many tricks over the decades, and he wanted to use every last one to bring His Slayer pleasure.

It was almost amusing how many vampires viewed sex and fidelity.  For the strong, sex was a tool merely to gain satisfaction and release of one's tension or feel pleasure.  Sex was also used to dominate or hold power over the young and weaker vampires.  In some vampires it was an extension of love or passions shared, but it was uncommon for a vampire to find its true mate.  Those who were fortunate enough to find their mate claimed or bound themselves to them.  At that point everything was different and shared.  One mate was usually still termed as the Alpha of the relationship, but that all depended on the individual vampire's personalities.

Mating was a sacred ritual to vampires.  It was stronger than any human bonding or marriage.  To claim a mate meant the pair was bound for eternity.  When one mate died the other wound follow shortly to death not being able to bear the separation.  A mate's mark was recognizable to others as a means of protection as well.  If the vampire or vampires were strong the identity of the mate's other half would be clear upon scenting.  Otherwise it would simply be known that each one was mated to another.

Vampires did not encroach upon the relationship between mates like humans did to try and steal another's boyfriend or girlfriend.  Among some of the familial clans an elder vampire might challenge a younger ones claim to mate within a certain timeframe of the original mating bite.  This was rare, and it was only allowed if the challenging vampire was in a direct line of Sirehood.  Even then just cause must be given and the other mate must be willing to accept the challenger as their mate if the challenger won.

Spike's demon craved and loved Buffy as much as his William side did.  His demon demanded that Spike claim all of Buffy properly and fully.  It was a sign of the demon's love, his loyalty, and his willingness to protect her until death.  In the back of his mind he feared Buffy's rejection.  Once rejected another claim could not be reinitiated by him.  Buffy would have to initiate a claim later if she changed her mind.  He was also concerned that Angel would return to challenge the claim.  With Angelus being his true Sire, he would have the right of challenge.  Angelus was always a possessive bastard.  He would challenge Spike if for no other reason than to keep Buffy from Spike.  Once Buffy had a taste of being mated would she leave him for Angel, if challenged?

Spike's demon forced a snarl from Spike's mouth at the thought.  Angel was always a sore spot of insecurity in the back of Spike's mind.  As Angelus he'd taken from Spike anything he wanted or held dear.  Would Spike survive if Buffy, as a mate, was taken from him?  He doubted it.  His undead heart would be crushed beyond repair.  He would surely take a walk in the sunrise if that happened.

Perhaps it would be safer to talk to Buffy about a more familial claiming.  It only needed to be one way.  That kind of claiming mark served as a protective measure.  It would bind Buffy to be protected by Spike's clan, the Clan of Aurelius, and more specifically himself.  His clan was feared enough to serve as quite a distractive message to any wayward vampire that wished to tangle with the Slayer.  Although other side effects were known to happen if the two involved had strong feelings for each other, they weren't common.  This kind of mark was more easily broke if the claimed one wanted to accept a "stronger" champion.

Spike's demon was disgusted with the thought of only a familial bonding.  He wanted Buffy as his true mate.  William tried to calm the demon with thoughts that as a human Buffy might need to take this in steps and not just rush into everything full force.  'We want to be sure that she wants us as much as we want her, don't we?'

Spike sighed.  'Yes, but we've waited so long already.  We can't take the chance that Peaches will come back soon.  He never seems to stay completely away for long.'  His gut twisted again at the thought of losing Buffy to his Sire.  'If he's even half the vampire he was, he'll feel the change in the family.'

'I fear the rejection as much as you if not more, Spike.'  William sighed.  'I've faced nothing but rejection during my entire life.  If she would so easily turn from us to Angelus then she was never really ours.'

Spike growled.  'I'll die before I let him take her from us.  I was foolish to think that Dru was our destiny, but I still hate that her took her from me.'

'She was your "savior" in your eyes, Spike.  It is understandable why you thought she was the one you should cherish above all.'  William responded.

'Both of us want Buffy, William.'  Spike reasoned with his inner ponce.  'We both know that we'd rather die than live without her.'

William nodded.  'I know.'  He hoped that tonight was the first night of the best time of his life.  It was a huge step for both of them, and he didn't think he could go back to being the dirt under her feet again.  'Okay.  We'll try to explain it to her, but we have to be patient.  If her Slayer side fights this we'll never win.'

'I think that there are a lot of things about the Slayer side of her that the humans don't realize.  Why do you think the Slayer can sense vampires so well?'  Spike might be just a demon, but he also knew how to feel his own.  'There is a bit of vampire demon in that Slayer.  I just know it.'

'We'll have to hope you are right, Spike.'  William mentally crossed his fingers.  Spike seemed to have a certain intuition and ability to read people's thoughts and emotions.  In this he needed to trust in Spike's abilities.

Spike pulled Buffy closer in his embrace.  He draped his arm over her waist, caressing his hand up and down her abdomen to her chest.  He nuzzled his face in her hair, inhaling her scent.  He would never tire of smelling all that made up Buffy, slayer and human.  Her scent called out to him.  Everything felt like it was his to love, protect, and claim.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy cooed aloud while lost in her dreams.  She was at peace, enveloped in warmth, and safe.  She felt loved like she'd never felt before.  Her arms outstretched, she twirled around with Spike in the sunlight of her dream.  They ran through the lush green fields of a meadow.  Wild roses and daisies interspersed amongst the green to add to the vibrant color of her dream.  She felt the emptiness of her life disappear.  Everything was so full of life.  Here she was whole, complete at last.

Spike and Buffy laughed while they danced amongst the foliage.  They raced each other to a nearby lake.  Spike's skin seemed to glow in the sun's rays.  Nothing seemed able to harm them here.  Buffy dove into the water.  She came up for air to a splashing Spike.  Both of them playfully tossed water at the other.  They were having a grand time together.

Their happiness was not to last.  All too quickly the skies above darkened, and the clouds grew thicker to form a blanket over the sun.  Spike was sucked underwater, and Buffy was thrown out onto the hard ground.  She shivered, pulling a now dry sweater more tightly around her thin frame.  Her eyes scanned the landscape searching for a place of refuge.  She couldn't see Spike anywhere.  She was afraid for him.  A storm was brewing, and it looked like it would be quite a big one.  She needed to find some cover and soon.

The wind whipped Buffy's hair back and forth.  A landscape that was clear before was now littered with large stones, trees and other foliage.  Tree branches pulled at her sweater.  A trip over what appeared to be a headstone entangled her further.  The sweater was ripped from her back and she landed face first in the dirt.

Buffy raised her face from the ground and spat out a mouthful of dirt.  The sounds of snarling, crashing stones and raised angry voices echoed in the air.  She fought the dizziness that clouded her brain when she tried to stand up.  She held onto the headstone tightly when the two figures became clearer.

Riley, in game face, was attacking Spike full force.  He lifted half of a broken headstone from the ground to pitch it at Spike's head.  "She'll never be yours.  My Sire will see to that."  He snarled at Spike.

"No one will take her from me."  Spike ducked quickly and kicked out his foot at Riley's knees.  When Riley hit the ground he laughed harder at Spike.  "You can't stop it this time.  Your twisted heart won't let you because you loved my Sire before."

Spike looked confused at Riley.  He pulled him up by the collar.  In full game face he demanded answers from Riley.  "What are you blabbering about, pillock?"

Riley pointed towards Buffy.  A dark, Victorian dressed, woman stood behind Buffy with a raised sword.  So lost in the scene before her, Buffy didn't even notice the Vampiress sneaking up on her. 

Spike dropped Riley.  He took off in a run towards Buffy, screaming.  "DRU! NO!"  Riley's delighted laughter echoed through the dark night.  The wind kicked up harder throwing debris around the now cemetery landscape.

Buffy turned around face to face with Dru.  The two fought hard in a flurry of kicks and twists.  The sword was knocked from Dru's hand.  The point was embedded in a nearby tree.  She heard Spike continue to call out to her from behind her, but he didn't seem to be getting any nearer to her.  In a moment of distraction she turned around to find him.

Dru caught Buffy's arms in that moment.  She pinned them behind Buffy's back.  She leaned down to whisper into her ear.  "Watch and learn, pet.  Leave my men alone, Slayer."

Buffy watched in horror as Spike writhed in Riley's embrace.  A needle stuck out of Spike's arm, and he seemed to grow weaker by the moment.  What was wrong with him?  Riley had to be a fledgling.  Spike should be wiping the ground with Riley's hide.

"See what happens when you try to take what is mine?"  Dru pushed Buffy closer to Spike and Riley.  "I'll take them from you in any way I can."  She nodded to Riley who now held a neatly sharpened stake.

One moment Buffy was staring into the blazing but glossy blue eyes of Spike, and the next she watched the mass of his dust blow away in the force of the wind.

"NO!"  Buffy screamed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"RILEY NO!"  Buffy screamed into the dark night.  She lurched up in bed, grasping and punching at whatever she could reach.

Spike, who'd been confused at the scent of fear and increased heart rate of the sleeping Slayer, fell off the bed when Buffy punched him.  "Easy there, Slayer."  He climbed back onto the bed.  He grabbed her hands, trying to calm her down.  "Shh ... It was a nightmare, luv.  Calm down, Spike's here."

Buffy openly sobbed.  Her eyes opened to find herself no longer staring at the ex-commando but the penetrating blue eyes of the vampire she'd just seen dusted.  She clutched onto Spike like a lifeline.  "Oh God, Spike.  He killed you."  She wept.

Spike held Buffy against him.  He rocked her back and forth in soothing motions.  He learned a few things after spending a century with an insane Vampiress.  "I'm here, Buffy."  With great care he stroked his fingers through her long hair.  "No one is taking me from you now."

"Spike ... Dru ... Riley ..."  Buffy tried to tell him about her dream, but she couldn't form coherent sentences amongst the pain the dream had evoked.  She scratched at his arms and back, trying to get as close to him as she could.

"Just a nightmare, luv."  Spike kissed Buffy's forehead.

Buffy pulled back from Spike.  She was desperate to assure herself that Spike wasn't dust.  She needed him close to her.  She needed to feel one with him, to make all of the nightmares go away.  She wrapped her arms around the back of Spike's neck.  She smashed her lips to his in a searing kiss.

Spike blinked.  Buffy went from scared to practically devouring him whole.  His demon beat at the surface to come forth.  Spike pushed Buffy back onto the bed, covered her body with his and plunged his tongue into her mouth.  His tongue battled with hers in a lover's embrace.  He scooped it around her mouth just as he had her pussy a couple hours before.  His hands gripped her hips hard.

Buffy moaned into Spike's kiss.  She arched her back to press her body closer to his.  Her hips rolled and rocked, coating his curls with the sweetness of her arousal.  She nibbled on Spike's lower lip, suckling it into her mouth before she bit down on it hard.

Spike ground his cock into the mound of curls that covered her luscious gift.  He tasted his own blood from the bite, and it stirred him further.  "You should be careful about biting vampires, luv."  He snarled, attacking her lips, neck and breasts with his mouth and tongue.  He was able to keep his demon face buried, but human teeth bit and nibbled hickeys all over Buffy's upper torso and neck.

Buffy slipped her fingers into Spike's hair.  She gripped his head to try to force his face back up to hers.  She needed to feel him within her.  She thought she'd die without being joined.  "Spike, please.  I need ..."

"What do you need, pet?"  Spike growled.  He removed Buffy's hands from his hair.  One hand grasped both of hers and pinned her arms above her head.  "Because I don't think you're in the place to make demands right now."

If anyone else heard the words he spoke they'd be afraid that Spike was hurting Buffy.  She saw the look in his eyes when he spoke, and she knew that if she asked he would stop.  He was toying with her.  She squirmed underneath him.  She wanted to tease him.  His eyes were a tint of green as the demon fought to emerge, mingling his blue eyes with the demon's amber ones.  "You, Spike.  I need you.  All of you."

Those words were music to Spike's ears, demon and man.  He used his knee to push Buffy's legs further apart.  His cock head hovered over Buffy's clit.  He rubbed the tip back and forth over the sensitive area to tease her.  "You think you can handle it?"  He tormented her with words and movements, slipping the length of his cock up and down the length of her folds but never entering her.

Buffy whimpered.  She twisted her hands to try to break free from his grasp.  He held them together too tightly for her to make any headway though.  She pleaded with him with her eyes.  "Yes, Spike.  I'll die without you.  I love you."

The last of his will broke at those words.  No longer was this a matter of playing with her.  He had to have her.  She loved him, and he loved her.  With one sure and solid thrust he pulled back and pierced her pussy to the core.

"SPIKE!"  Buffy screamed out in pleasure.  She nearly came from his entry alone.  Her fingernails bit into Spike's hand that held her.  She bucked against Spike to meet his thrusts.  With each push between them he was buried to the hilt in her heated canal.

"Cor, Buffy."  Spike groaned.  He couldn't believe just how she felt.  He didn't usually have sex with humans. He'd forgotten just how hot it could be.  The sensations could never be repeated with another vampire.  She was also unbelievably tight.  Did Captain Cardboard have that tiny of a prick or is this an effect of Slayer muscles?  "You're so tight, luv.  So bloody hot."

The two lovers writhed on the bed.  Spike let Buffy's hands go.  Her whimpers and begging to be able to touch him broke him.  Buffy's fingernails scored Spike's back, drawing blood.  The harder he pounded into her, the more lost she became.  "Harder, yes.  Fuck me.  Please, harder."

Spike's demon kicked into high gear.  He forced himself to the surface.  With powerful thrusts he pounded Buffy into the bed.  The headboard slammed against the wall so hard that it rattled the pictures on it.  Each plunge was driven deep into Buffy's core.  He buried his face into her breast.  His fangs pierced either side of her nipple, and he lapped up the blood in slow pulls while he tormented the little nub.

"Yes!!  Spike!!"  Buffy squealed when Spike bit her.  Her whole body tensed in pleasure.  Her muscles tightened around Spike's cock, and she started to cum even harder than she had earlier to his tongue.  She twisted back and forth in his arms, pressed her hands on his ass to push him hard against her body, and rubbed her clit against his curls to prolong her orgasm.  "I love you!"

"Love you too!"  Spike ground out in a muffled voice around her breast.  He sat up off her chest.  The sheer ambrosia of her blood and the pleasure of her body clenching and pulling on his cock were driving him insane.  He wanted to hold off to make her orgasm again, but when he looked down to see the look in her eyes he froze.

Buffy's gaze locked with Spike's.  She was in a state of nirvana.  Heaven had to feel as good as this.  She panted beneath him.  With trust and love in her eyes she turned her head, pulled back her hair, and tightened her still pulsing center around him.  She wanted him to know that she loved all of him.  She knew he needed this, and she was willing to give it to him.

Spike dove for Buffy's neck.  This was a gift even more precious than the one he was already receiving in her heat.  He pumped several crushing thrusts into Buffy before his fangs slipped into her neck.  He felt no pain in his head, but he paid no heed to anything but the sweet coppery liquid that slipped down his throat.

Buffy crashed over into another orgasm with the first pull of her blood.  The pain of his fangs was nothing compared to when Angel drained her.  It was certainly nothing like when the Master or Dracula bit her either.  This was so much more than that.  This was pleasure, not just pain.  The pain was fleeting, and the pleasure was sustaining.  Her body quivered and shook at the multiple crashes over the edge with each subsequent gulp that Spike took.

Spike's demon was in heaven.  William was in a state of pure bliss.  Both luxuriated in this joining.  With the second pull Spike erupted into Buffy.  Thick streams of his cool seed coated and filled Buffy from within.  His milky cream soothed the inferno within Buffy's pussy, cooling it down some.  He buried himself to the hilt, hitting her cervix, with the last pull of blood and burst of his cock.

"That was amazing."  Buffy's heart was pounding rapidly in her chest.  Every inch of her body tingled.  Her fingers were wound tightly in his hair.  She softly murmured words of love and encouragement as they both recovered from their orgasms.  "I love you, Spike."

Spike removed his fangs from her neck.  He listened intently to be sure that Buffy was in no danger from the blood loss.  Both his William and Spike sides were pleased that they'd maintained the right amount of control to make love to the woman they adored.  He laved attention to the twin pricks on her neck with his tongue.  Content that the wounds were sealed; he wrapped his arms behind Buffy and flipped them over.

Buffy shrieked then giggled when she ended up on top of Spike.  His cock was still hard within her.  She'd only been with Angel the one time, and both of them had fallen asleep right afterwards.  She didn't know if this was an example of vampire stamina or Spike stamina.  Riley was always down for the night after he came once.  This was a treat.  She wriggled her hips back and forth.

Spike growled.  "Rest pet."  He slapped her butt playfully in chastisement.

"Oh, did I tire out the Big Bad?"  Buffy teased.

"Far from it, pet."  Spike arched his hips up thrust himself deeply within her a couple times to prove to her that her statement was not true.  "But I did take some of your blood.  I don't want you to be dizzy or anything."

Buffy nodded.  She didn't feel light headed at all, at least not from blood loss.  She was giddy with delight though.  Warmth spread through her entire body.  Every nerve ending felt more alive than it ever had.

"Besides after being awakened by your nightmare, I thought you might need a bit more sleep."

Reminded of her nightmare, Buffy clutched Spike hard.  She buried her face in his chest.  "I don't want to think about that now."  She nipped at his nipple playfully.  "Rest first.  Play soon.  Talk much later."  She giggled.

Spike shook his head.  "Little minx."  Buffy was quite a lover.  He ran his fingers through her hair.  "I love you, Buffy."

Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes.  "I love you too, William."

Spike's eyes widened in surprise.  He wasn't used to anyone calling him that anymore.

Buffy kissed Spike softly.  She let one hand trail over the scars from when William was turned into a vampire.  "We'll have to do something about these later."  She smirked at him.  She brought his hand up to caress the fang marks that were on her neck from him.  "And we'll talk about these in the morning.  I don't even want to think about how you were able to do that, tonight."

Spike nodded.  He kissed Buffy again.  They snuggled together to sleep.  How had he been able to bite her?  When he'd been thinking about claiming Buffy he hadn't spared a thought as to how he would bite her without the chip firing.  Yet somehow he bit the Slayer, and the chip didn't fire.  'Interesting.  She isn't running away from me either because I could do it.  That is encouraging.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Riley stopped just short of his destination.  Before him was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen.  Her long dark tresses begged to have his fingers in them.  Her odd style of dress told him that she must be a vampire.  He approached her carefully.  He usually chose his woman for the night from the sampling inside.  Perhaps this woman was only stepping out for a moment.

The dark vampiress danced closer to Riley.  She swayed slowly around him, crooning out her words to sound like a light lullaby.  "There you are, my dark warrior.  I've been waiting for you."  She ran her fingertips down Riley's cheek.

"You've heard of me?"  Riley was pleased.  His reputation of being a good lover and customer must be preceding him.  It delighted him to know that he could have this woman as his own for the night.  For if she'd heard of him, she must work here too.

"Oh yes.  I knew you would come to me."  The woman stood in front of Riley.  Her hands caressed down his arms to his waist.  She cupped the front of his pants where he was sporting a nice erection.  "Oooo ..."  She purred.  "My nice dark warrior.  I shall enjoy the feel of you."

Riley concentrated on her face.  The thought that she hadn't asked him for his money yet didn't occur to him.  Right now he didn't care.  He didn't want her to stop touching him.  The Vampiress slipped into her game face.  He gasped.  "You're beautiful."  He was amazed at how lovely this woman was even in her vampiric state.  How could such a demon be so lovely?

"Close your eyes, pet."  Her sharpened claws ripped his pants opening.  She gripped his erection, the edges of her claws drawing blood.  The mix of pain and pleasure made the human squirm even more.  She gripped him tighter.  She pushed him back against the stairs.

Riley moaned.  'This one is feisty.  There's nothing passive about her.  She is really hungry for me.  I'm going to enjoy this one.'  His hands wandered up the woman's torso until he could feel her pert nipples against the fabric.  He pinched and massaged the full of her breasts as well as her nubs.

"You will help me punish my bad boy."  The Vampiress lunged for Riley's throat.  She tore into his jugular with her fangs.  There was nothing slow or soothing about her bite.  She tossed her skirt up and plunged herself down onto his cock.

"Gods!"  Riley screamed out.  His neck throbbed in pain while his cock pulsed in pleasure.  The lingering thought that something was wrong was pushed aside.  The mixture of pain and pleasure only aroused him further.  "Yes.  Oh yes.  Fuck!"

The Vampiress pulled on the human's blood with strong gulps.  When she felt his cock erupt within her, she ripped her fangs from side to side to make the holes larger.  Her orgasm ripped through her body with the last pull needed of his blood.  She collapsed on top of the nearly dead man.

She continued to twirl his stiff cock within her folds.  "You will be the instrument of my revenge, my sweet."  She tore a gash in her wrist.  She then placed the bleeding wound at Riley's mouth.  She forced his mouth open to receive her treat.  When he eagerly gulped her blood, she came again.  She waited for him to get enough blood before she removed her wrist from his mouth.

Their spendings dripped down her thighs when she picked up Riley to carry him to safety.  This was the kind of sex that she'd been missing.  She'd train this new Childe from the start to worship her body and do her bidding.  She had plans for him.  He wouldn't awaken right away, and the sun would be up soon.  They needed shelter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike's eyes opened with a start.  He was torn from his precious dreams by a feeling of foreboding.  Something was wrong.  Something had changed.  Then he felt the lingering traces of the woman who'd left him behind and someone else.  'Dru, what have you done?  Why are you here?'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 13 (Family Ties)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Unknown to everyone but Riley and Xander, Spike's chip has been deactivated.  Buffy had a Slayer nightmare, and Spike made love to Buffy when she woke up.  Spike was able to bite Buffy during their coupling, but neither of them know why yet.  Buffy wasn't freaked out by it.  Spike felt Dru at the end of the last chapter, and he's wondering what she's doing in Sunnydale.  Now Spike and Buffy have to figure out how he could bite her, Spike needs to contact Giles about Dru, and Spike would like to put at least a familial claim on Buffy to protect her especially now that he thinks Dru is in town.

***Warning: This chapter does include blood play in the form of a vampiric claiming.  It also includes more sexual situations.  I rate this chapter NC-17.***

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy was the first to wake up the next morning.  Spike, being a creature of the night, was deeply asleep come mid-morning.  Thankfully no more nightmares haunted her once she went back to sleep after making love with Spike.  She turned in his arms.  It was her turn to gaze at her lover while he rested. 

'He looks so peaceful and content.'  Buffy traced his cheekbones with her fingertips.  None of the attitude was apparent, and Spike's face seemed almost vulnerable in this state.  She pondered how someone so strong could look so weak while they slept.

Buffy's protective instincts kicked in.  At that moment she realized just how much Spike must be risking to be with her.  She'd been so focused on the problems that she would face loving Spike that she forgot just what others of his kind would think of it.  Of course he'd been fighting with the "white hats" for a while, but that was still a far cry from being in love with the Slayer.

Buffy thought back to the multiple times she woke up the night before only to be seduced back into Spike's warm embrace and passionate lovemaking.  They'd made love off and on all night long in-between little naps and respites. 

Spike took little bits of her blood several times during their continued couplings.  They tested out different places and different amounts to see if it had any effect on his chip.  The best they could tell was that since Spike wasn't intending to hurt Buffy, the chip wasn't firing.  It seemed the most logical solution to the two of them.

Buffy decided it was time for "little" Spike to wake up and play.  She couldn't seem to get enough of him.  Her body craved him as much as her heart did.  His nearness gave her a sense of security, love and warmth.  His body gave her a sense of passion, love and completion.  She was pretty sure that Spike didn't have a soul, but she'd swear that he was her soul mate.  She needed to talk to Giles about that later.  Maybe if he researched further, they could find out more about vampires than just what the Council told them.

Buffy snuck down Spike's body.  She trailed her lips along his alabaster skin.  He was so pale that even with only tiny filters of light in the room his skin seemed to glow.  Each muscle rippled when she passed over it with her fingernails scratching down his body after her lips.

Spike squirmed in his sleep.  His body tingled, and his senses were becoming more aware of the little spitfire that was teasing him to wakefulness.  He groaned when soft lips pressed against the head of his cock.  His groan turned into a low growl when Buffy's mouth opened and engulfed the head of his cock into her mouth.

Buffy grinned around his cock.  She loved teasing him.  Spike was such a responsive lover.  He was so sensitive and tender in certain areas.  She never realized that a vampire, who essentially had a "dead" body, could have so many nerve endings.  She brought one hand down to stroke the exposed part of his shaft in time with her mouth moving up and down the first half of his cock.  Her other hand cupped his ball sack, rolling the large globes in the palm of her hand.

Spike hissed and opened his eyes.  The pleasure was exquisite, almost like a torture.  The handling of his jewels was the last friction that his body could handle while being asleep.  He leaned up and looked down his body to see Buffy between his legs.  He moaned.  "Cor, Buffy."  He slapped his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.  "That is the most beautiful sight I've ever woke up to."  He grunted out in between growls.

"Glad you approve."  Buffy's voice was partially muffled because she didn't let go of her suckling when she answered him.

Spike gripped the sheets tightly.  He wanted to flip them over and completely ravish Buffy.  It took a considerable amount of willpower to keep those desires at bay.  Every touch of her mouth was driving him to the point of crazed ecstasy.  "Yes, luv, those teeth.  Harder please."  He begged with a whimper.

Buffy was amazed at the power she had over such a strong man.  He was putty in her hands with the mere touch of her mouth.  She rolled her tongue over the head before she half bit down to rake her teeth down his shaft and then back up.

"Buffy ... stop ..."  Spike called out in warning.  He was too close to orgasm.  If she didn't stop now, she was going to get a mouthful.

Buffy shook her head back and forth.  She wasn't stopping for anything right now.  She wanted to show Spike just how much she enjoyed his pleasuring of her by returning the favor.  Instead of slowing down, she increased her ministrations.  She tightened her lips around his shaft and lengthened her strokes.

Spike growled deep.  He shook while fighting off his urge to cum.  He twisted both of his hands into Buffy's long tresses.  He bucked up into her mouth with a fury.

Buffy buried her face down deep into the nest of curls at the base of Spike's cock.  She gulped and swallowed against her gag reflex to milk him into her throat.  She felt, even before she heard, his orgasm take over him.  His cock pulsed and coated her throat with ample amounts of his cold cream.  'How in the world he still has that much left after all the times he came last night is amazing.'

Spike pushed the back of Buffy's head to hold her on his cock while he erupted in her mouth.  He wasn't forcing her to stay there, but he was making sure she knew just where he wanted her to be.  He screamed out her name when he fell over the edge.  His body thrummed in pleasure with each burst from his balls to her throat.

When he was fully spent, Buffy licked up Spike's cock to make sure it was clean.  She crawled up his body to curl in his arms.  Buffy's breasts rubbed up Spike's chest.  It made his content cock twitch in delight.  She looked down at the twitching member.  "You have got to be kidding me?"  She chuckled.

"No joke here, baby.  Vampire stamina you know."  Spike snarled, flipped them over and buried his cock against the outer lips of her sex.  "You make me want you more than anyone ever has."  He playfully nipped at her collarbone.  "And I'm just man enough to show you just how excited you make me."  With that he plunged, balls deep into her pussy in one swift stroke.

Buffy's back arched into the thrust.  Her fingernails left tiny trails of blood up and down Spike's back.  "Yes, Spike. YES!"  She quickly rose to the height of pleasure at the repeated full length poundings back against her and plunged over the edge into the abyss. 

Spike's body was attuned to Buffy's in ways that no one ever could come close to knowing.  They bucked and grappled at each other in the heat of the moment.  Spike shifted into game face.  He bent over and attacked her neck with his vampiric love bite.

Buffy fell over into another orgasm with the first pull of her blood into Spike's mouth.  She shivered at the intensity.  She swore that she would never grow tired of that feeling when he bit her.  She craved it.  Spike buried himself into Buffy in another hard stroke, cumming again within her canal this time.

Happily twittering, Spike turned to the side, curling Buffy into his arms.  He soothed his words of love into her ear while he lapped at the wounds on her neck to seal them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy lay wrapped in Spike's arms still a couple hours later.  She gazed lovingly into his blue eyes.  Her fingers trailed over the scars on Spike's neck.  She didn't even realize she was growling until Spike raised his brow at her.  "You all right, luv?"

"I don't like this reminder that you were with Drusilla all that time."  Buffy frowned.  She knew she was being unreasonable.  If it wasn't for Drusilla turning William, she never would have met him.  Rationalization wasn't always apparent in matters of love though.

"There are ways to remove them, but I don't think we are quite ready for that yet."  Spike answered.

Buffy raised a curious brow this time.  "What do you mean?"

Spike edged the three sets of scars on Buffy's neck.  One set belonged to the Master, another to Dracula, and the last to his brooding Sire.  He had every reason, even without his love for her, to want to remove all traces of those who bit Buffy before.  He was not about to rush it though.  Mating was for eternity, and that was a little bit longer for vampires than humans.  "Have you heard of vampire claiming?"

"Yes.  That is where a vampire picks his eternal mate, right?"  Buffy rested her head on Spike's shoulder.

"That is one form of claiming yes."  Spike nodded.  "It is the most serious form, and it would erase all previous vampiric bites from the mates except ones that belong to each other."  He tried to explain.

"There are other kinds of bites?"  Buffy questioned.

"Did your Watcher teach you anything true about vampires, luv?"  Spike's exasperated sigh was noticeable.

Buffy quickly defended Giles.  "It isn't like I was supposed to know about the benefits of being bit by vampires, Spike."

"Sorry."  Spike sighed.  "I find it frustrating how the Council claims to be the epitome of knowledge on vampires, but they have most of their facts half-assed backwards."

Buffy calmed somewhat.  "With all of the years they've been around you would expect them to know what they are talking about."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Slayer, but they don't know jack about vampires."  Spike retorted.  "They only tell you what they want you to know so you will kill us."

Buffy couldn't refute that point.  She had reason to distrust the Council over the years.  Whenever she needed them they deserted her.  The Council swore that vampires could not feel or love.  Looking at Spike, she knew that wasn't true.  There was no way she could mistake his love for anything else.  She waited for Spike to continue.

"There are two kinds of bites which are the most common.  One of which I'd like to see if you will let me do right away, Buffy."  Spike used her real name to impart on her just how serious he was about this.

Buffy nodded for Spike to continue.  Over the years she read many of Giles' books and old Watcher diaries.  She was neither stupid nor uneducated.  She just didn't happen to enjoy researching in general.  Now when the topic caught her interest that was different.  She was interested in this topic, especially now.

"The first is a mating claim, which as you stated is, where a vampire chooses the person they wish to be bound to for eternity.  It is stronger than any human marriage ceremony ever could be."  Spike waited to see that Buffy was paying attention.  "The second is a familial bonding."

"Familiar bonding?"  Buffy asked.

"Familial bonding."  Spike corrected.  "This kind of bite requires a specific ritual and bloodletting and sharing between the two vampires to bring one into the other's family."  He ran his fingers through Buffy's hair.  "It is said that the ritual chants create a type of protection spell around the one being bitten to protect that person from the other's family hurting the new member.  It also encourages other family members to protect the new member."

Buffy thought about what he was saying.  "So that would mean that if Angelus or Drusilla tried to hurt me, they couldn't?"  She doubted that Angel would ever physically hurt her, but it was possible for Angelus to make a reappearance.  She wanted to be sure she had all her facts straight.

"Yes."  Spike growled at the mention of his Sire and his ex-lover.  "That is one reason why I want to do this type of claim."

Buffy gazed at Spike in confusion.  "Angelus isn't back, is he?"  She shivered at the thought.

"No, the poofter is still ... poofy."  Spike snarled.  "But last night I felt Dru near.  I think she is creating a new family as well."

It was Buffy's turn to shiver.  "That is not of the good."

"No, it isn't."  Spike agreed.  "I don't know why she would be here unless she felt or heard about my feelings for you."  He had no idea what had been happening in Los Angeles or about Darla's return to the "living".

Buffy buried her face in Spike's chest.  "So, you want to do this claiming to protect me from her?"

Spike nodded.  He kissed the top of Buffy's head.  "I know you can take care of yourself, luv, but I want to do what I can to add to your safety.  I love you too much to lose you."

"That is so sweet."  Buffy cooed softly.

"I am not sweet, Slayer!"  Spike bit Buffy's ear with his human teeth.

Buffy giggled.  "Okay, romantic then."  She teased.  "But you are sweet too."

Spike rolled his eyes.  "Don't make me prove to you just how much of a Big Bad I still am."

Buffy wrapped her hand around his cock and squeezed.  "Oh, I know just how big and bad you are, Spike."

Spike closed his eyes and groaned.  "You don't fight fair, pet."  He buried his face in her hair.  "As much as I would love to go another round with you, this is something we should do soon."

Buffy pulled back to gaze into Spike's worried eyes.  "You are very concerned about this, aren't you?"

"Yes."  Spike sighed resignedly.  "If Dru is back, it can't be good.  You don't need problems from her on top of everything with Glory."

"I'll agree with you there."  Buffy frowned.  'Why did she have to come back now?  Was my dream a Slayer dream?'  She shivered at the thought of losing Spike now.  "What do we have to do?"

"First I think we need to call the Watcher over here, Nibblet too.  They need to know what we want to do."

"Giles is never going to go for this."  Buffy was afraid of what Giles would say.  He seemed to be tolerant enough of Spike so far, but what would he do with the knowledge that Spike wanted to bite her.

"Watcher is a reasonable man most of the time, luv."  Spike reasoned.  "If this will help you, he will go along with it."

Buffy sighed.  She wished she had Spike's confidence on the matter.  Dawn loved Spike.  She wasn't a concern.  A protective Watcher was a definite kink in the chain link fence.

"Why don't you go call him, pet?"  Spike kissed Buffy softly and reassuringly.  "I'll go make us some breakfast.  Then I can explain to you what we need to do."

"Okay."  Buffy nodded.  She had an uneasy feeling about how this day was going to turn out.  She trusted Spike implicitly, but images from her dream kept haunting her.  What parts of it were prophetic, and which parts were merely her own fears?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The knock at the front door caused Buffy to jump off the living room couch.  She felt more nervous than a child who was in trouble for stealing candy from the candy jar.  "I'll get it Spike."  She stood up to answer the door.  "Hello, Giles."  When they ate breakfast, Spike explained everything about the ceremony.  She was as ready as she ever would be to try and explain things to Giles.

"Hello, Buffy."  Giles appeared nervous as well.  He faced up to the fact that his charge was in love with another vampire.  He couldn't fathom what they wanted to talk to him about though.  His mental checklist of topics included quite a few that he didn't even want to consider yet.  He had been quite surprised to receive Buffy's call a couple hours ago.

Dawn practically bounced into the house before Giles even moved from the porch.  She hoped they were being asked over to hear good news about Spike and Buffy getting married or something.  Nothing registered in her mind that it might be too soon for such a declaration.  She only knew that Spike and Buffy asked Giles and her to come over before the hospital to discuss something important.

"Please come into the living room.  Spike will be right in."  Buffy held the door open for Giles.  When everyone was inside she closed it.  The living room was dark, except for a lit lamp.  The window had a heavy blanket over it to protect Spike from the sun's harmful rays.

Spike finished the pot of tea he was working on in the kitchen.  He replaced the lid on the teapot before he added it to the tray he made up.  This was going to be quite a conversation with the Watcher.  He picked out two mugs instead of Joyce's finer teacups.  'No sense in taking any chances with Joyce's better dishes if the Watcher gets upset at my proposition.'  He placed a little jar of creamer and a sugar container onto the tray.  He then walked towards the living room.

"Tea, Rupert?"  Spike set the tray down on the coffee table.  'It was funny how they call it a coffee table and not a tea table.  How strange these Americans are.'  William noted.

"Yes, thank you."  Giles watched Spike pour a cup of tea for him.  Both of them were British by birth, but Spike always seemed to carry a ruffian or low district air about him.  Even his accent seemed to come from the seedier side of town.  It intrigued him in moment's like these to see a more proper Englishman style emerge.  It often made him wonder if the information the Council had on William the Bloody was accurate.  He was too upper crust to be who they thought he was.

Spike poured a cup of tea for himself as well.  He knew that Buffy was too nervous to drink anything.  She still had some Diet Coke left in a can that he gave her earlier while they waited too.  He set a glass of milk and a couple chocolate chip cookies in front of Dawn.  He knew just what his girls liked.

Spike offered the cup of tea to Giles and moved the tray of accoutrements (cream and sugar) forward as well.  "Help yourself."

Dawn nibbled on one of the cookies.  She was saddened when she thought about when these cookies were made.  She and her mother made this batch of cookies right before her mom went into the hospital.  She sighed softly, but she hid her pain fairly well.  Only Spike noticed the look on her face, and she half smiled to tell him that she was okay.

"Spike and I are contemplating something that we'd like your thoughts on."  Buffy nervously twisted her hands in her lap.  "I know you are probably going to freak out, but I hope that you will hear us through."

Giles always worried when Buffy appeared this nervous or upset.  Not much put a sense of fear or concern in her.  He knew he was not going to be happy about whatever it was.  "I promise to be as open minded as possible.  I can't promise I'll agree to whatever it is you want to do though."

"That's all we can ask for, Watcher."  Spike hoped that Giles didn't fuss too much over it all.  Humans couldn't fathom that vampires were anything but heartless killers.  He had to explain things in a way that Giles would accept them.

Buffy nibbled on her lower lip.  "I wouldn't ask you to accept this if I hadn't thought about it very hard."

Giles nodded in understanding.  'At least she isn't going off half-cocked on some idea.'  He loved Buffy, but she did have a tendency to act first and think later.  Her asking to talk to him was a big show of her continually growing maturity.  He added a bit of cream and sugar to his tea.  He motioned for them to begin while he stirred his tea before sipping it.

Spike repeated all of what he told Buffy earlier in the morning.  He told Giles about his feelings for Buffy, the nearness he felt of Drusilla, and how he knew that Dru made at least one Childe if not more since she returned to Sunnydale.  He explained the difference between certain types of vampire bites, and he outlined what he wanted to do with Buffy.  "I know Buffy can take care of herself, but this would give her an extra line of defense especially against those from my own clan."

Buffy took Spike's hand in hers in a show of support.  "I agree with Spike on this, Giles."  She squeezed Spike's hand in assurance.  "We have given thought to an actual mating later when things are a bit calmer.  We don't want to rush this, but if Dru is back she is bound to know that Spike and I are together."

Spike nodded his agreement.  "Dru always seemed to have a sixth sense about things.  She was a bit looney, but you'd be amazed at how accurate her visions were."

"Let me get this straight."  Giles, long having removed his glasses, continued to clean the lenses to pristine condition.  "You wish to place a vampire bite on Buffy in such a way that other family members would not be able to harm her but be forced to protect her."

"Any of our family could try to fight the urge to protect her, but they would find it very hard to hurt her.  It is more than just a bite.  The words chanted with it are like a spell of protection over the one bitten."  Spike placed his teacup back on the tray.  "It is the only way that I know of to completely protect Buffy from Dru."  He sighed.  "Dru may not want me over the poofter, but she is pretty possessive.  You can be sure she would try to kill Buffy to keep me from Buffy.  She always was a selfish bint."

Dawn, who sat back for the most part to take in the conversation, finally spoke up.  "If it will help Buffy out, then I am all for it."  She moved over to hug Spike first and then Buffy.  "Spike loves her, and I don't think he'd do anything that would hurt my sister.  I trust him."

"Thanks, Nibblet."  Spike hugged Dawn tightly.  It meant a lot to him to have her trust.  "It matters that you trust me."

Buffy looked at Giles.  "Will you trust us, Giles?  Please?"  She was tense with worry and concern over his disappointment.  She knew things would run much more smoothly if he would accept this part of Spike.

"I don't agree with taking a chance on your life, Buffy."  Giles held up his hand to stop either of them from voicing their objections to his statement yet.  "But I can not deny that Spike has indeed been trying to fight on our side for quite a while now."

Spike exhaled the unnecessary air he held in his lungs.  There was no way he was going to lose Buffy now that they realized their love for each other.  He might as well walk into the sunrise if he let her die, or didn't stop her from dying.

Buffy rested her head against Spike's shoulder while Giles continued.  "I would like to request that I be present, if that is agreeable with both of you."

Spike looked down at Buffy.  He nodded his head that he was all right with it.  "The familial bite doesn't require the intimacy that a claiming bite does.  I don't have any objections."

Buffy nodded her agreement as well.  "You are definitely not going to be there for the claiming though Giles.  So don't even think about it."

Giles was flustered.  "Why I ... never Buffy ..."  He blushed further.

Inwardly Spike grinned.  'Hear that Nancy Boy.  Our lady talked about the claiming as if it is happening.  She didn't say maybe or if.'  He loved to tease William.

William held himself back from literally making Spike jump for joy.  'Yes, I noticed that too you beast.  Stop calling me a Nancy Boy or it's going to get real ugly in here the stronger I get.  I'll push you so far back into the recesses of his mind that you won't be able to find your way out.'  The more both sides reconciled themselves to each other, the more equal they became in all ways.

Spike mentally gave his counterpart a playful punch.  'You know just as much as I do that we both need each other.  We aren't complete without the other.'

'Doesn't mean I won't try to thwap you if you get out of hand.'  William felt invigorated from all of the love he felt from their beloved Buffy.  The rejection that he kept expecting wasn't happening.  Dawn and Buffy both accepted him how he was, and he knew that Joyce gave her approval.  He still needed to more formally ask for Joyce's permission to court, but that could wait until she was out of the hospital.

'Yeah, yeah.  So you say.'  Spike playfully nipped William.  'Everything is going too well.  I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall.'

'I know what you mean.  That dreadful Drusilla woman is going to muck things up somehow.  Remember Miss Buffy's dream.'  William reminded.

'She may have been the love of my unlife for the last 100 years, but she isn't anymore.'  Spike retorted.  'If she comes near Buffy to harm her, I will kill her.  Nothing will keep the stake from reaching her heart from my hand.'  His thoughts were echoed out loud at a similar question from Giles.

"What will you do if you do encounter Drusilla?  I know that she was like a Sire to you."  Giles questioned.  "She did actually drain you and choose you."

Buffy straightened next to Spike.  She hadn't given any thought to what Spike would do with Drusilla if they met her.  Her training engrained that she was supposed to kill vampires that tried to kill her, but Drusilla was with Spike for a long time.  Would he be able to do it?

"I loved her for near to 100 years, Watcher."  Spike began, "We went through a lot of things together, but if she comes near Buffy to harm her in any way I will kill her.  That isn't even a question in my mind."  He stood firm in his resolve.  No one would stand in their way.  Buffy was willing to stand up for him to the Scoobies and her family; he must be willing to do the same.

Giles put his glasses back on.  "Then it would seem everything is settled."  He sat back on the couch.  "If Drusilla is back, then I am assuming you wish to do this as soon as possible?"

"Yes."  Buffy quickly put in.  "We were thinking about doing it before we went to the hospital tonight.

"That would be wise."  Giles agreed.  "Do you need any time to prepare?"  He directed the question to Spike.

Spike shook his head back and forth.  "Not really, but I would like to talk to Buffy again before we go through with this."  He pulled Buffy towards the stairs.  "We'll be in her room.  I'll call down in a couple minutes."

Giles and Dawn stared blankly at the now empty stairs.  Both Buffy and Spike practically ran up them so fast that they surely couldn't have stepped on each stair.  Dawn shrugged.  "Guess they were in a hurry."  She chuckled.  Giles tried to hide his mirth by taking another drink from his cup.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Are you sure about this, luv?"  Spike sat down on the side of Buffy's bed.  He held both of her hands in his.  "I don't want you to do this just because you are worried about Dru."

"I'm sure."  Buffy cupped Spike's cheek.  She rubbed her thumb over Spike's lips.  "I don't see it as a protection or a have to do thing.  You are giving me a special gift from you, Spike."  She leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips.  "It is a gift I am happy to accept."

Spike beamed.  He pulled Buffy up against his body and kissed her.  The kiss started off slow and consoling, but it ended up deep and passionate.  He needed to feel her close to him.  He needed the reassurance that she was his.  He longed for the day when he could claim her as his mate.  For now this would have to do.  "Let's get the Watcher up here then."

Buffy nodded.  She stood up, opened the door, and called down for Giles to come up.  Dawn was right behind him.  At Spike's raised eyebrow Dawn snarked, "What you didn't honestly think I wasn't going to watch, did you?"

Spike laughed.  "I should have figured you wouldn't want to miss the fun."  He teased.  He drew Buffy back down onto the bed.  He pulled a stake from Buffy's nightstand. 

Buffy raised a brow in curiosity as to how he knew she kept one there.  She watched as Spike handed the stake to Giles.  She looked back at Spike fearful.

Spike ran his fingers through Buffy's hair.  "Just in case we're wrong about why I can bite you."

"You didn't lose control last night or this morning when you bit me."  Buffy tried to counter Spike's concerns.

Spike caressed his other hand along Buffy's jaw.  "I don't want to take any chances.  You mean too much to me."  He trailed his fingertips along her jugular.  "This requires a slightly deeper bite.  The blood will flow heavier this time."

Giles watched the exchange between the couple.  He was reminded again of just how much Spike dedicated himself to those he cared about.  The Council's claims that a soul was necessary for any being to feel emotions was being unproven yet again before his very eyes.  Good or bad, this vampire felt with all of his being.

Buffy pulled her long blonde hair away from her neck.  She exposed the golden skin to him.  Her heart raced in anticipation of the bite from her lover.  Her eyes focused on his, and she never let her gaze falter.

Spike leaned in closer to Buffy.  He lowered his face to her neck.  A soft human tongue licked and curled up the line of her jugular.  He nibbled, suckled and nipped at the skin to encourage more blood flow.  He wanted this to be as painless as possible for Buffy.

"Do it, Spike."  Buffy inhaled sharply.  Her eyes closed and a soft moan slipped past her lips.  "I trust you."  She wrapped her fingers in the bleached curls at the back of Spike's neck to hold his face tight against her neck.

Spike shifted into his game face.  A now roughened tongue scratched against Buffy's skin.  His canines elongated, he kissed her neck, opened his mouth, and allowed his fangs to pierce her skin.  He tightened his jaw on her neck to bite down more deeply than he had when they made love.

"Oh God."  Buffy whimpered out.  The bite stung a lot at first, but it gave way to the same pleasures that she'd felt when they made love.

Giles started to step forward to Buffy.  He clutched the stake in his hand, but he really didn't want to use it.  He wanted this to work out for Buffy and Spike.  Dawn stiffened beside Giles, but she stood firm in her place.  Giles relaxed when he saw the pleasured look take over in Buffy's features.

Buffy splayed the fingers of one hand on Spike's back.  Her fingernails dug into his shirt, surely drawing blood beneath the cloth.  Her face turned from a mask of pain to one of delight as Spike pulled more of her blood into his mouth.

Spike pulled his fangs from Buffy's neck.  He allowed the blood to flow and chanted.  "Blood is the flow of life.  It is offered freely and in reverence for protection and joining of families."  He took a hold of Buffy's wrist and slit his fangs along first her wrist and then his.  He placed both cuts together to allow their blood to mingle.

Buffy reached for a nearby scarf on her nightstand.  With a nod from Spike she tied the scarf around their wrist like a handfasting cord.  The warmth of her blood slipped down her neck to dip in the hollow along her collarbone.

Spike licked the trail of blood back up to the source.  Before he bit down again he chanted again.  "My blood exchanged with yours to bring you into my family.  Sworn by our bond to defend until dust.  Let no harm come to this one through my blood or the blood of others in my lineage."  He buried his fangs into Buffy's neck again in the same spot.  He gulped down two more mouthfuls.

Buffy felt her arousal increase.  If Giles and Dawn weren't standing right near the bed she would have impaled herself on Spike's cock in a heartbeat.  As it was she squirmed around so much on the bed that Spike growled to warn her to remain still.

Spike's demon receded once he licked the twin puncture wounds clean to seal them.  The demon fought against William for a few moments before going away, wanting to complete a true mating claim.  Finally satiated and soothed for now, his demon returned to the back and Spike's human face came to the fore.  "May the family tie be complete."  He pulled back to look into Buffy's face.  He nodded for her to say what he told her to say earlier.

"Your family is mine.  By your will protection divine."  A flash of light surrounded Spike and Buffy for a brief moment.  It wasn't bright enough to be blinding, but those who witnessed it saw a twinkling light pulse down from Buffy's head to her toes.

"Intriguing."  Giles spoke when the ritual was complete.  He set the stake on Buffy's dresser.  He pulled on Dawn's arm.  Even though he knew Spike wasn't claiming Buffy as a mate yet, he knew what the looks in their eyes meant.  "We'll just meet you at the hospital."

"Wait I ..."  Dawn protested until Giles pointed to Buffy and Spike who were locked in a passionate embrace and heated kiss now.  "Um yeah.  I'll be at the hospital with Mom and Giles."

Giles and Dawn walked downstairs and out the door.  They left the two lovers to complete each other and assure each other of their love.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dru danced around the warehouse that she found near the docks of Sunnydale.  She caressed the back of her hand down the pale cheek on the table.  "You will rise soon, my darling tin soldier."  She giggled with glee.  "And then you will bring my Spike back to me after you kill the nasty Slayer."

Dru screamed and hit the ground.  "No!  NO!"  She pulled at her hair.  "He couldn't do that to me!"  She squealed at the tightening in her throat.  Her mind whirled at the sensations she was picking up from their familial bond.  She looked up, full vampiric demon to the fore.  "He will pay for this abomination.  No Slayer will ever be a part of our family!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander wrung his hands together.  'How did I let myself get talked into this?'  He paced back and forth in the hospital parking garage.  He visited with Joyce for a while to find out when Buffy and Spike where supposed to come by.  When he found out that they wouldn't be there until evening, he headed back downstairs to get his car.

"Riley better be right about that chip, or I am going to look like a real idiot."  A part of him laughed at the irony of that statement.  A part of him knew that he was being stupid and prejudiced, but the other stronger side of him wouldn't listen.  As he got into his car he started repeating to himself, "I'm doing the right thing.  I'm doing the right thing," the whole way to Revello Drive.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Chapter Summary: Giles and Dawn are back at the hospital with Joyce.  After a little comfort sex after the familial claiming, Spike and Buffy are now trying to get ready to head to the hospital themselves.  Xander, in his usual blind hatred for Spike, is at the Summers' house ready to prove that Spike's chip doesn't work.  It is his hopes that Buffy will dust Spike immediately.  Is he right or does Buffy love Spike enough to trust him?  Dru felt the familial bond engage due to her being in Sunnydale.  How will this affect her plans to get Spike back into the fold?

***Warning: If you love Xander and/or can't see how his prejudice affected things on the show then don't read this chapter.  You won't like it.  I do like Xander on his own, but his hypocrisy over the years was just too much for me, and it comes out in this story.  Maybe he will redeem himself someway before the end of the story.  I don't know.***

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander parked alongside Joyce's SUV in the Summers' driveway.  He stared at the house for at least another 10 minutes before he gathered enough courage to get out of the car.  He patted his jacket to be sure he still had his stake with him.  Buffy usually had her own everywhere she went, but he was happy to supply the stake for Spike's dusting if she didn't have one available.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inside the Summers' household Buffy was adding the finishing touch to her make up.  She didn't bother with a scarf or make-up to cover the bite marks on her neck.  The wounds were already mostly healed, but the red dots were still noticeable enough.  Giles and Dawn already knew about the marks.  She was pretty sure one of them would spill the beans to her mom before she could get to the hospital too.  Giles would want to offer some explanation as to why he was there with Dawn while Buffy and Spike were not.

Buffy decided to wear her hair down.  The casual observer wouldn't understand the wounds on her neck.  Her hair would sufficiently cover them unless she turned her head quickly enough to brush the hair from her shoulders.  Besides, Spike preferred her hair down over her shoulders.  Of course he loved her hair up if he could nibble on her neck, but she decided not to be too much of a tease today.  They were going to be at the hospital spending the evening with her mom.  It wasn't exactly the most romantic of places.  She needed her focus to be in the right place.

Buffy turned her head from one side to another, examining her profile.  She pulled her blonde tresses aside to admire the marks Spike left.  She found herself in awe at the precision of his bite.  He bit her several times during the night and morning.  He bit her more deeply for the ritual.  Then he bit her again when they made love after the ritual.  Yet she only had one set of twin puncture wounds on her neck.  No one would be able to figure out how many times she'd been bitten.  "Amazing."  She muttered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike hummed a merry tune from his childhood in the shower.  He was so happy that it scared him.  Whenever life started getting good, someone was bound to throw a monkey wrench in things.  He refused to let dark concerns overtake his current state of contentment.

Spike grinned in amazement at the feelings he was sensing from Buffy.  The familial protection bond brought them closer together.  The repeated times he consumed her blood over the last 24 hours further deepened and enhanced any bonding effects.

Spike felt how Buffy was preening over his marks.  It made him proud and chuckle at her curiosity.  Her acceptance of his bite hit him a little closer to home.  Each time she allowed him to bite her, he felt the barriers and insecurities between demon and man evaporate further.  He longed for the day when he could claim her as his mate.  It seemed to be more a matter of when than if she would be his mate.  He no longer doubted that fact within himself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So much had changed in her life in such a short time.  Just last week Buffy's mom was working on the plans for her next buying trip.  Now Joyce was not only in the hospital, but she just survived a grueling brain surgery involving a tumor.  Last week she was frustrated about Riley pressuring her and smothering her.  This week her boyfriend, Spike, fit in her life, heart and body like Riley never could.

Even with Glory still on the loose, her mom recovering in the hospital, and worrying about how upset her friends would be over her boyfriend, she couldn't help feeling that her life was starting to feel good.  She had a better chance against Glory with Spike helping her protect Dawn.  Even Giles was being amazingly understanding about everything.  She held out hope that the two Brits would continue to grow closer.

Buffy knocked twice on the bathroom door before she opened it.  "Spike?"

Spike poked his head around one side of the shower curtain.  "Yes, luv?"

Buffy patted the neatly folded black t-shirt and black jeans she placed on the counter.  "Mom had these washed from one of our messier patrols.  Remember that Calgon demon a couple weeks back?"

"You mean the Culgana demon, pet?"  Spike hid his amused grin behind a sassy smirk.  It was adorable how Buffy mixed up the names of demons.  Half the time he wondered if she did it on purpose to frustrate her Watcher.  Buffy wasn't stupid.

"Yeah, that one."  Buffy made an "ick" face.  "That thing sure was slimy, and did it have to spit that yellow goo at us?"

"He was a nasty bugger, wasn't he?"  Spike agreed.  "There's no way Mum was able to get the stains out of your light pink baby tee, was she?"

"No, she wasn't.  That one headed for the trash as soon as she saw it."  Buffy tipped her head slightly sideways.  "You remembered what I was wearing?"

"Um ... Well ... You see ..."  Spike stuttered to come up with an explanation that didn't sound too obsessive.  "I told you that I've loved you for a while.  I notice and remember a lot of things about you."  He cringed at how pathetic he sounded.

"Oh really?"  Buffy responded with an amused expression.  "Should I be worried about a stalker?"

"Not anymore, luv."  Spike teased.  "I get to live here now, remember?"

Buffy beamed.  "Seems I do remember an invitation of that sort being given."

"You bet you do.  Not going to let you change your mind now."  Spike made a shooshing motion with his hand.  "Now let me finish my shower before the water gets cold."

"I thought temperatures didn't matter to vampires?"

"Just because the cold doesn't affect me like it does you, doesn't mean I don't prefer a hot shower over a cold one."  Spike stated very matter-of-factly.

"Fine then.  I know when I'm not wanted."  Buffy teased Spike.  She heard a wet cloth hit the door behind her.  "I'll go make us some lunch."  She called through the door.  After she heard a muffled, "No cooking," she headed downstairs.  "No one ever trusts me to cook.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The door refused to budge when Xander turned the knob.  'That's odd.' He thought.  'The door is usually unlocked during the day.'  He located the right flowerpot, dug into the soil, and pulled out a house key.  'I hope they haven't left already.'  He wiped the dirt from his fingers onto his jeans.  He slipped the key into the lock, turned it and opened the front door.  His entry seemed to be missed by the other two people in the house.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike's hearing wasn't as acute with the shower running.  Everything he felt from Buffy was positive.  Plus he wasn't concerned about any Childer Dru would have created because it was the middle of the day.  Besides the tune coming from downstairs was all he needed to hear to determine Buffy's sense of safety and joy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alternately Buffy sang one of her favorite sappy love songs while working on lunch in the kitchen.  “Did you ever know that you’re my hero?  You’re everything I wish I could be.  I could fly higher than an eagle.  Cause you are the wind beneath my wings.”

Buffy belted out each note with the confidence of a natural vocalist singing her favorite song.  The fact that Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler was the song Buffy told Spike she wanted played at their wedding while under Willow’s spell wasn’t a coincidence.  It was one of her favorite songs, and the words seemed appropriate now more than ever.  She continued to chop up some vegetables for her salad as she started in on the second verse.

Xander turned towards the kitchen.  He clearly heard Buffy singing.  It furthered his resolve to hear that song.  He’d heard enough teasing from Spike towards Buffy about that song.  He thought he knew what it meant.  From the doorway to the kitchen Xander yelled.  “Ah HA!  I was right!  It is a spell!”

Buffy let loose a shrieking scream.  Nothing and no one snuck up on her successfully anymore.  How had she missed the door being opened or Xander coming to the kitchen?  He wasn’t exactly known for his stealth.  She had to be careful.  He could have been Glory.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike practically fell back into the tub when Buffy screamed.  He’d almost finished drying off when he felt her panic and heard her shriek.  He was out of the bathroom in a heartbeat and down the stairs.  He grabbed Xander by the neck from the back and flipped him at the dining room wall without a thought.

Buffy stared at Spike bug-eyed.  His whole naked body was taunt and his demon was in control.  His golden eyes were focused on Xander as the enemy almost as if he didn’t recognize who he threw.

Xander groaned from his place on the ground.  He hit the wall so hard that one of Joyce’s lithographs fell down next to him.  He pressed one hand to the back of his head.  A lump was already forming there, and he felt the warmth of his own blood.  He would be lucky if he didn’t have a concussion.  He tried to pull himself up, and he groaned harder at his protesting muscles.  He tried to take a step closer to Buffy, but Spike stood in his way.

Spike growled more loudly the second time Xander tried to sidestep him to reach Buffy.  The scent of Xander’s blood filled him, but he didn’t attack him to drain him.  His only concern was to protect his lover.  His hand shot out, wrapped around Xander’s throat, and he pushed him back against the wall.

Buffy rested her hand on Spike’s arm.  She tugged on it gently.  She needed to get his attention before he squeezed the life out of Xander.  ‘Wait a minute!’  Her brain kicked into overdrive.  ‘He threw Xander into the wall, and he is choking him.’  She looked over Spike closely.  He looked totally ticked, but she saw no trace of pain in his face from the chip firing.  “Spike.”  She shook his arm more forcefully.  “SPIKE!”  She yelled when he didn’t respond.

Spike heard Buffy calling his name through a haze of red anger and protectiveness.  Whether the bonding was only on a familial level or not, his demon saw Buffy as its mate.  She was his to protect and care for.  The sound of her fearful scream drove William’s more passive tendencies to the background.  All that existed in those first few minutes were the same thoughts repeated over and over in his mind.  Buffy.  Protect.  Stop.  Kill.  Enemy.

Xander gaped in fear.  Spike’s hand tightened around his throat harder every time he tried to move free.  He started to panic.  Buffy appeared dazed, and she wasn’t working all that hard to stop Spike.  ‘This was definitely a bad idea.’  He gulped hard.  ‘She has to realize by now about the chip no working.’

Buffy grabbed Spike’s chin to force him to face her.  She looked up at his face with pain in her own.  She had no idea what was going on, but something wasn’t right here.  Spike shouldn’t be able to hurt Xander.  She reached up with her fingertips to caress them over his ridged forehead.  “It’s okay, baby.”  She tried to comfort him.  “I’m safe.  He didn’t mean to scare me.”

Spike looked between Buffy and Xander.  He snarled a warning to Xander and let go.  He turned back to Buffy with a softer smile on his demonic face.  Even William didn’t like Xander.  William was more than happy to let Spike kick Xander’s arse, but Buffy asked him to stop.  So they would stop.  His face shifted back to his human mask.  He pulled Buffy tight to him, wrapped his arms around her protectively, and walked back into the kitchen with her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander gasped and choked on the floor of the dining room.  ‘This is too surreal.  She should be staking his ass right now.’  He rested on his hands and knees trying to regain some form of composure.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Buffy completely ignored Xander when they stepped back into the kitchen.  Buffy sat Spike down on a stool near the kitchen’s island.  She sat down in one next to him.  “Spike,” She began softly.  “The chip, Spike.  It didn’t go off, did it?”

Spike looked up at Buffy confused.  He hadn’t even thought about it.  He quirked his head to the side in contemplation.  He pressed two fingertips to his temples on either side and pressed in a bit.  He gazed up at Buffy again.  “Come to think of it, I didn’t feel a thing.”

Buffy sat back thoughtfully.  She should be running away from Spike scared at whatever deception he had going on.  She refused to believe that Spike concocted some sort of elaborate scheme to kill her. If he wanted her dead, he could have done it several times over already.  She looked directly into his eyes.  She could see the confusion there and the sense of fear he had.  Why would he be afraid if his chip wasn’t working?  He would be fully capable of doing whatever he wanted to again.  Why would that worry him?

Spike stood up from his stool.  He saw Buffy’s calculating gaze measuring him up.  ‘Oh no!  She thinks I knew about this.’  He hung his head sadly.  ‘I knew it.  I knew that our happiness couldn’t last.’  He turned away from her to face the refrigerator

Buffy followed Spike over to the fridge.  She saw the fear in his eyes before he turned away from her.  ‘Does he actually think I’ll stake him?’  She sighed.  ‘Why not?  I ran a sword through Angel.  Why wouldn’t I do that to Spike too?’  Her mind argued back with her.

Spike nearly jumped when Buffy’s hand hit his shoulder so softly that he barely would have felt it if he wasn’t so wound up.  “Please, Buffy.”  His voice held a note of begging to it.  “Just make it quick.”  His shoulders slumped forward.  “I won’t fight back.”

“Spike.”  Buffy used her hand to start turning Spike around.  “Look at me, Spike.”  She put her other hand on his other shoulder to finish moving him to face her.

Spike’s watery gaze met Buffy’s loving one.  “I swear I didn’t know, luv.”  He pleaded with her to believe him.  “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Buffy cupped Spike’s face with one hand.  “I know, Spike.”  Although she hadn’t taken any of Spike’s blood yet, she felt attuned to his emotions on a lower level.  Even if her heart hadn’t already made her believe in his innocence, the look he was giving her was honest and pure.  “Something must have malfunctioned, and I know you were just trying to protect me.”

Spike nodded.  “As much as I hate to say it maybe we can have the wiccas take a look at it with their magic?”  He cringed.  He hated magic, but he wanted to know what was going on.  He wanted to be able to reassure Buffy in any way possible that he didn’t have anything to do with the malfunction.  ‘Why did this have to happen now?’

Buffy semi-playfully poked Spike in the chest.  “Though why you thought you needed to protect me from Xander is silly.”  She half laughed.  “He couldn’t hurt me, even if he wanted to.”

Spike smiled.  What a girl Buffy was.  She was trying to lighten the moment at Xander’s expense to comfort him.  “All I heard was your scream, and I felt your fear.”  He cupped the side of her face.  “I didn’t think to see who it was that scared you.  I just knew that I had to get to you.”

Xander stared at the couple in disdain and disgust.  “This is ridiculous.”  Not only had Buffy insulted his fighting skills, but also the two of them were acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.  “Are you crazy, Buffy?”

Buffy faced Xander, blocking his path from Spike.  “No, Xander.  I’m not crazy.”  She smiled.  “I trust, Spike.  You did scare me.”

Xander rubbed the stake in his pocket.  “But he … Buffy this is insane.  If he can hurt me, he can hurt you too.  Shouldn’t we be staking him?”  This was his worst nightmare.

Spike stepped alongside Buffy.  He entwined their fingers together to hold hands.  “I would never hurt her.  I love her.”

“That’s rich, Spike.”  Xander laughed.  “An evil soulless demon in love.  Tell me another lie.”

Spike snarled.  He made a move to step forward, but Buffy held onto his hand tighter. 

“How many times do I have to tell you to let it go, Xander?  I’m beginning to think my record is broke.”  Buffy spoke directly to Xander.  “I trust that Spike loves me, and he won’t give me a reason to have to stake him.”

“I heard you singing that song, Buffy.  This has to be a spell.”  Xander inched closer to the pair.  “I won’t let him destroy us all by playing with you.”

“You don’t have a choice, Xander.”  Buffy was getting peeved off.  “Who is to say that because I love Spike it has to be a spell?  Your in love with a 1000 year old vengeance demon.”

“Ex-demon, Buffy.  Big difference!”  Xander retorted.

“And did you make nice with Angelus and Buffy when he became all soul boy again, Whelp?”  Spike snorted.

“Of course not.  He’s the evil dead.”  There was only one person that Xander hated more than Spike.  That was Angel.  Although right now Spike was vying for top place on Xander’s hate list.

“Then why is it all right for you to be with the demon bird scott free who’s killed more people than the Scourge of Europe combined?”  It always angered Spike that people seemed to overlook that vengeance demons killed people as well.  Many of them enjoyed their work as much, if not more, than a vampire on the hunt.  “She’s far from innocent as a lamb.”

“You leave Anya out of this.  She gave up her past.  She’s human now.”  Xander defended his girlfriend.  He refused to see any point to Spike’s tirade.

“Human doesn’t mean not evil you pillock.  Look at all the humans who murder and rape.  They have souls, and they are just as evil as I used to be.”  Spike’s nerves were fayed.  His body vibrated in anger.  He was ready to snap.

“Still are, Bleach Boy.”  Xander sneered.  “You’ll always be evil.”

Buffy had enough of the arguing.  “That’s enough!  Both of you!”  She turned to face Spike.  “It doesn’t matter what Xander thinks this time, Spike.  I believe you.”

Spike smirked in delight.  ‘Take that, whelp and chew on it.’

“And you,” Buffy whipped around to face Xander again.  “I’ve had it with your two sets of ideals: one for you and one for every other demon you don’t want to date.”  She poked an accusing finger in the air at Xander.  “I will not stake, Spike unless he gives me reason to, and I have no reason to right now.”

“You may not, but I sure as hell do.”  Xander was already in motion before Spike could turn his contented gaze from the woman he loved.  “He’s not getting away with it this time.”  Xander finished in a hateful gleam.

Fortunately and unfortunately Buffy noticed the gleam in Xander’s eye.  When he was almost at Spike and bringing down a stake that she hadn’t noticed before, she stepped in front of Spike to take the blow.  “NO!!!”

Xander’s arm twisted and forced the stake down hard at Spike’s chest.  When Buffy’s face appeared fully in front of him, he had no time to stop the follow through.  The stake ripped through Buffy’s shirt and chest, embedding itself deeply in her left upper lung.

Buffy’s slight height difference from Spike saved her from being pierced through the heart, but the stake pushed its way into the upper area of her left lung.  She fell to the floor gasping and screaming in pain.

“Oh God!  Buffy!”  Xander cried out.  He didn’t even have time to see Spike’s fist come across and send him back into the dining room again with the full force of his vampiric strength.  He felt the searing pain of bones breaking just before he hit the floor and lost consciousness.

Spike growled.  “Buffy!”  He picked up his would be mate as carefully as possible and ran her into the living room.  He kicked Xander in the side for good measure on his way through the dining room.  “Oh my love.”  He looked down at her staked chest in grief.  That stake was meant for him.  He should have been the one to take it.

Buffy flickered in and out of consciousness.  He tried to keep her awake, but the pain was too great at the moment.  He grabbed the cordless phone and dialed 911.  Slayer healing was good, but he didn’t want her to bleed to death because he took the stake out.  She hated hospitals, but this time she needed to go to one.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“She surprised an intruder.  I don’t know why he used a piece of wood to hurt her.  Maybe it was all he could find.”  A now fully dressed Spike tried to explain the injury to the police officer while the paramedics   “She was making lunch in the kitchen when it happened.”

The police officer took notes as Spike talked.  “And the boy?”  He pointed to the unconscious form of Xander who was now sprawled out in the armchair.

“He …“  Spike contemplated telling the officer that this was all Xander’s fault.  It would serve him right to pay for what he did to Buffy.  He knew that Buffy wouldn’t’ want him to do that though.  With a growl he answered, “He’s a friend of the family.  He was running to the kitchen when I came down the stairs.  The intruder knocked him into the dining room wall when he tried to help Buffy.

“And the intruder?”  The officer jotted down a few more notes.

“He escaped out the back door when I made it to the kitchen.  I didn’t follow because I saw my girlfriend lying on the floor in her own blood.”  Spike shivered.  There was more than one reason for it.  He’d treasured the samples of Buffy’s blood from the last 24 hours, but the smell of it right now sickened him because she was bleeding from a wound that could have killed her.  He hoped that her Slayer healing kicked in and quickly.

“Spike?”  Buffy croaked weakly from her place on the paramedic’s stretcher.

“I’m here, luv.”  Spike hurried away from the officer to stand at her side.  He picked up her hand in his, caressing his thumb on the back of her hand.

“Mom … We have to tell her.”  Buffy whimpered.  The stake was still buried in her chest.  Every breath stung and hurt her to take in or let out.  Tears pooled in her eyes and down her cheeks.

No one wanted to remove the stake before they had her at the hospital to make it easier to repair any damage removing it made.  The paramedics feared that her lung was punctured.  Removing the stake now would do more damage that it would help.

“I’m coming with you.”  Spike brushed the back of his hand down Buffy’s wet cheeks.  “We’re going to Sunnydale General.”  He nodded to the paramedics, and he walked alongside the stretcher onto the porch.  “Once you’re stable, I’ll go to her.”

The officer handed Spike a slip of paper with a number on it.  “If you have any more you can tell us, give me a call.”  He pointed to Xander in the chair.  “Another ambulance is on its way to get him.  I assume you will be going to the hospital with the lady?”

Spike nodded.  He looked up at the sky and thanked the heavens that it was cloudy.  It looked like one heck of a storm was building.  If it wasn’t, he would be a crispy critter right now.  “Thank you.  Yes, I am going with her.”  He hopped up into the back of the ambulance.

The paramedics continued to work on Buffy even after the doors of the ambulance closed.  Spike tried to stay out of their way as best he could.  He rested his face next to Buffy’s ear.  “It will be all right, luv.  Slayer healing and all that.”  He whispered.  “We just have to get you patched up.”

Buffy nodded.  She forced herself not to move since any movement hurt even more.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t move faster, luv.”  Spike croaked.  She shouldn’t have had to defend him.  Better that Xander stake him than to see Buffy hurt.

“It’s okay.  Couldn’t …”  Buffy took as deep a breath as she could and continued to whisper to Spike.  “Couldn’t let him dust you.  Can’t live without you.”

Spike ran his fingers through her hair.  He buried his face in his hair and began to cry.  “I love you, Buffy.”  His shoulders shook with the force of his tears.  “I’d rather dust than lose you.”

“Shhh … no dust today.”  Buffy turned her head to kiss the side of Spike’s face.

Spike nodded.  He pressed a kiss to her temple while inside his emotions were a tumultuous mixture of love, anger, pain, sorrow, and revenge.  ‘Let the whelp heal up for now.  He is going to pay for this.’  He clenched his jaw.  ‘He seemed like he knew.  He won’t get by on a feeble excuse this time.’  Half of his mind kept focused on Buffy for the rest of the trip, and the other half plotted out ways to make Xander pay for hurting Buffy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tara and Willow walked up the path to Sunnydale General’s main entrance.  Willow was feeling better, and she wanted to see Mrs. Summers to see how she was doing.  An ambulance passed them for two doors down to the emergency entrance.  Their attention was focused on the rush of paramedics pulling a stretcher out of the vehicle. 

Willow gasped and Tara clutched her girlfriend’s arm tighter when the shock of platinum blonde hair emerged after the stretcher.  “Oh goddess, Spike?”  They both said in unison.  They rushed towards the emergency entrance to find out why he was here and who he was with.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)
Not Beneath Me - Chapter 15 (Repercussions)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Xander made it to Buffy's house just in time to screw everything up in true Xander prejudiced style.  He scared Buffy, who screamed, which sent Spike careening down the stairs to throw Xander against a wall.  Once Xander proved the chip wasn't working, and Buffy didn't stake Spike, he took it upon himself to handle the deed.  Instead of Spike turning to dust though, Buffy stepped in the way, taking the stake to the chest.  It didn't hit the heart, but it was bad enough that Spike called an ambulance to get Buffy to the hospital.  Spike covered up the injury with an intruder story without implicating Xander's involvement in the deed.  As the ambulance arrived at the hospital, so did Willow and Tara who were there to see Joyce.  How is everyone going to find out about what happened?  Whose side will each Scoobie and/or family member take?  What is going to happen to Xander and Buffy?

***Warning: Redemption for Xander seems to be the least thing on most people's minds from the reviews I've received.  So Xander on the bad guy list will continue.  To what extent, not sure ... but if you really think Xander hangs the moon, don't read on.  Cause you won't like it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike followed the paramedics all the way to the operating room doors. A nurse held him back at the OR entrance. "You can't go back there, Sir."

Spike pushed lightly against the nurse. He wasn't trying to hurt her. He only wanted to get past the lady to reach Buffy. "I can't lose her now. I need to keep her safe." It angered him that he'd found a way to protect Buffy from Drusilla, but he couldn't protect her from her own friends. How could Xander do this to her? Sure he didn't intend to stake her, but only an idiot wouldn't realize that Buffy would try to protect Spike after her comments to Xander.

"We'll keep her as safe as possible ..." The stoutly nurse raised a brown in question to get his name.

Spike spoke without thought to the answer. "William Jamison, Ma'am, but most people call me Spike nowadays." He knew he was more fearful for Buffy than he'd like to admit because he just gave the nurse his real name. Even the poofter didn't call him that unless he was seriously trying to tick him off.

"All right, Spike. Let's head back to the waiting room." The nurse extended her arm back down the hall. "If I know where you are at, I can find you more easily once they're done."

"I should probably head to Joyce's room." Spike turned to the nurse. "Buffy's mother, Joyce Summers, is in a room on the neurological floor. I'll be with her. I have to tell her what's going on."

"It sounds like this is quite a stressful time for the family." The nurse said in shock. The professional side of her mind wanted to keep the young man from telling the mother. Being a mother herself, she knew she'd want to know if something was wrong with a family member no matter what though.

"You have no idea." Spike mentally checked off a whole list of concerns for the Summers' women right now. He mentally added Xander to the list, moving him up there with Glory problems and Dru. The Whelp was becoming more of a liability to Buffy than a help. "Please let me know the minute you hear anything or if I can see her." His eyes pleaded with the nurse to understand. "I'm sure her sister and mother will want to see her too. That is if they will let Joyce come down."

"I will come up myself or have the nurse's station up there paged with any news." The nurse, experienced in dealing with the families of emergency patients attempted to convey her sincerity to the man before her. He exuded a sense of power that both frightened and assured her of his concern.

"Thank you, Nurse ..." Spike glanced down at the nametag she wore. "Jacobs. I'm sure her mother will appreciate your help as much as I do. Buffy is my girlfriend."

"We have some very good doctors here." Nurse Jacobs assured Spike. "They've dealt with some pretty severe injuries."

"I'm sure they have." Spike smirked. He wondered if Ms. Jacobs realized even half of the truth behind many of Sunnydale's injured. "This town does seem a bit ... rowdy."

Nurse Jacobs and Spike stood side by side waiting for the elevator. "If anyone can patch her up right, these doctors can. We'll have your girlfriend back at home in no time at all."

Spike stepped into the elevator. "I hope so. She really hates hospitals."

Nurse Jacobs waved to Spike then sighed when the elevator doors closed. "Oh boy. Better warn the doctors." She turned back to the emergency OR ward. She walked right past two stunned looking women: one a redhead and the other a blonde.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Rupert, I'm starting to get worried." Joyce Summers looked up at the man standing next to her bed.

Giles stopped pacing and turned to Joyce. "Something tells me that we have a reason to worry." He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't see what they could have run into on the way to the hospital that they couldn't handle."

Dawn bit the inside of her cheek. "I so can't see Glory using the sewers to get around. They shouldn't have run into her." She too was starting to get worried. Buffy and Spike said they were getting ready to come up to the hospital almost 3 hours ago.

"Quite right. Buffy did explain her to look like a bit of a prissy girl." Giles reached for Joyce's hand. "I'm sure that nothing demony would get in their way right now, and Drusilla can't."

Joyce rested her head against her pillows. She closed her eyes. Her motherly instincts were on fire. She ignored them for a long time before she knew that Buffy was the Slayer. Now that she knew, she tried to listen to the inner voice and feelings that she received. Something wasn't right. She just knew it.

Giles watched the play of emotions cross Joyce's face. He and Dawn explained the ritual Spike performed before they arrived and the reasoning behind it. Surprisingly to Giles, she hadn't flown off the handle at the thought of Spike biting her daughter. He knew Joyce always hated Angel, but apparently the hatred didn't go for the whole family line or even all vampires. He could plainly see that Joyce had a soft spot in her heart for the bleached one.

Joyce squeezed Giles' hand. She needed the extra comfort. The doctor's told her that she was healing remarkably well. They were surprised at her recovery time, but it meant nothing to her if her babies weren't safe. "Will you call them please? See if they've left?"

Giles nodded. After dialing the phone and waiting at least 10 rings without a response, he hung up. "No one seems to be answering. I'll call Xander, and see if he's seen them." He pressed a few more buttons into the hospital phone. Again he received no answer. "Odd, he always keeps his cell phone on him in case Anya wants to talk to him."

"You don't think something went wrong after the ritual do you?" Dawn was starting to get scared. What if something happened to Buffy and Spike after they left? What if they were passed out at the house bleeding to death? "What if we left too soon, Giles?"

"There is nothing that could have harmed them from the ritual after we left." Giles reassured Dawn. "Spike was clear that the blood taken was minimal, and I could see the wounds already healing when we left." When he thought about everything later it occurred to him that he never even considered that Spike could have harmed Buffy after they left. His mind registered the look of love in both of their eyes, and it wasn't even a chance in his mind right then to consider it.

"Rupert, you have to find them. I must know if my baby is all right." Joyce drew Dawn up alongside her on the bed. She held Dawn tightly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike rode the elevator in silence. Several passengers joined him on different levels, but he refused to be drawn into any conversation with them. His mind reeled on what he was going to do next. 'How can I tell Mum about this?' He sighed, rocking back on the heel of his boots then rocking back all the way to his toes. 'She doesn't need this right now, and how can I tell her that I Buffy took that stake for me?" He growled.

Two passengers in the elevator turned around hastily to face the growling man. They edged closer to the front of the elevator. They pushed for the next floor. Something told them they really didn't want to be around this man right now.

Spike beat his head against the back of the elevator wall. 'Bloody, pillock.' He snarled after the elevator was empty again. 'I wish I could twist his head right off his neck.' He kicked the back wall. 'Wait a minute. I can. No chip!' His demon perked up until that little voice of William reason kicked in.

'Remember what we've told her. Chip or no chip, it didn't matter.' William chided. 'We love her, and we can't do anything that might make her have to stake us. Remember Angelus?'

Spike growled, exiting the elevator on the needed floor. 'You of all people know better than to mention that wanker's name.'

'I'm just making a point. Calm down Mr. Beastie.' William sighed. 'She will do what she has to do. She protects those she loves, but her duty to save others will always come first. If we cross that line, we'll lose her.'

Spike scuffed the toe of his boot on the carpeted floor in a little lounge area. 'Yeah, yeah. I know. Doesn't mean I still wouldn't like to do it though. Tis what he deserves. Self-righteous prick.'

'That he is, but we need to have faith in Buffy.' William reassured the demon as best he could. 'She took a stake in our place because she didn't want to lose us. Have faith that she will do what's right by us.'

Spike nodded. He exited the lounge and walked down the hall towards Joyce's room. 'I have faith in her. It's the rest of em that I'm worried about.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow stared at the closed elevator doors in shock. "Buf ... Buffy?" She turned to Tara. "Buffy was in that ambulance? How? What?"

Tara covered Willow's arm with her hands. "Some ... th ... thing must have happened. At least Sp ... Spike was there to get her here."

"But didn't you hear what he said?" Willow pointed an accusatory finger at the closed doors. "He called himself Buffy's boyfriend. I'm her best friend. I should have known about that. And may I say huh?"

"Sh ... she's had a lot going on Willow." Tara did her best to reassure her upset girlfriend. "We haven't been in touch except brief updates on her Mom for the last few days."

"2 days! It was only two days, Tara." Willow started to walk back to the emergency room in the same direction that the nurse took a few minutes before. "That much couldn't have happened, could it?"

Tara nodded. She wasn't sure what to say. Her and Willow had been dating for over a year already. During that time she'd seen many different interactions between each of the Scoobies, Spike included. Their auras always reacted to each other in ways that she doubted they knew about. "Willow, surely you haven't been blind to the chemistry between those two?"

"They fight all the time." Willow blinked. Did Tara see something that she missed, and how could she have missed something that big? "The only time they really even liked it each other was during that spell gone wrong of mine." She slapped her hand to her mouth. "You don't think he has her under some spell?"

"Spike doesn't like magic, remember?" Tara shook her head. "He may be many things, but he's always wanted things with Buffy to be on the up and up. Even everything you've told me about him from the past says that he wouldn't want Buffy to be anything other than herself."

"I suppose you're right." Willow sighed. "He could have killed her a couple times on her off days, but he said it just wouldn't be right if she wasn't in top form. Very strange vampire." She shook her head back and forth.

"See, he wanted to kill her fair and square." Tara piped in. She knew how ridiculous that sounded, but it was past her lips before she could reel it back in.

Willow chuckled, despite the circumstance. "That sounds really funny when you put it that way."

"You know what I mean." Tara bashfully ducked her head and play punched Willow's upper arm. "As Buffy would say 'Spike and magic, not so mixey'." She smiled warmly at Willow. "Maybe they finally realized just how equally matched they are. Have you seen those two patrol lately? Pretty amazing to watch."

"It's almost like a dance with those two. They fight like each move was choreographed ahead of time, anticipating the other's move." Willow nodded. "I wasn't even really needed the last time we went out to take out a nest. It was weird."

"See, this can be a good thing." Tara smiled. "We just have to figure out what happened and if Buffy is going to be all right. I get worried when Spike looks scared."

"He was so tense." Willow frowned. "He did seem pretty worried. None of his usual snappy comments."

The couple reached the emergency information desk just as the emergency doors opened up again with another stretcher being brought in. The two turned to see what the commotion was about and Willow choked.

"Goddess, it's Xander." Willow rushed over to Xander's side. His face was bruised yet it seemed so pale underneath. Blood was stained on various places of the sheets. She clutched his hand in horror. "Xander?!?"

Xander opened his eyes briefly. Everything hurt. The lights of the emergency room gave him a headache as soon as his lid uncovered his eye. It hurt to breathe, and his head was throbbing. "Will ..." His voice trailed off, sounding like a croaking frog.

"Xander, speak to me." Willow's eyes started to fill with tears. "What happened?"

Tara stood back at the desk watching everything. Xander's stretcher was almost to her when she heard him speak again.

"Spike ... Chip ..." Xander gasped for breath and exhaled raggedly. "Bad ... Buffy ... Sorry …"

The paramedics pushed Willow out of the way. "I'm sorry, but we have to get him in. Leave your name at the desk." His curt voice offered no choice but to obey his instructions.

Tara pulled Willow back to her at the desk. "I think Xander knows what happened with Spike and Buffy."

'I'll bet he went ballistic if he found out the two of them were a couple.' Willow thought to herself. "I almost hope not. He's always had a chip on his shoulder when it came to Spike." Her brain tried to process the tidbits of information Xander got out before being taken away. "Chip. That's it!"

Tara gazed at Willow with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"Xander said Spike, chip, bad and Buffy." Willow's eyes widened. She quickly pulled Tara along with her back to the elevator doors. "Don't you see?"

"See what?"

"The chip. Spike's chip. It must have failed!" Willow pushed the buttons several times. "Come on. Come on!"

"You don't think that Spike had anything to do with Buffy's injuries?" Tara frowned. "I don't think he could hurt her like that. Willow, I've seen his aura when he's around her. It's full of love."

"I don't know what to think, but I'll bet he had something to do with Xander's. That means Spike can hurt people, and he's headed right now to Mrs. Summers' room." Willow jumped into the elevator before the doors could fully open. "We have to get there and warn them. Who knows what he'll do to everyone else."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike pushed open the door to Joyce's room. "There's no need to come looking for us, Mum." He heard Joyce's concerned voice when he reached the door. He wasn't ready to face an angry mother, but he couldn't delay any longer either. They all needed to know.

Dawn bounced off the bed and ran to Spike. She hugged him tightly. "We were so worried." She looked around Spike to find Buffy. She looked back up at Spike in confusion. "Where's Buffy?"

Giles knew something was wrong as soon as Spike walked in. His body language was tense with a hint of defeat in the carry of his shoulders. He was familiar with the way he was holding himself. He saw it a lot right after Spike was chipped. "Where is Buffy, Spike?" He asked calmly.

Spike looked down at Dawn and then over to Joyce and Giles. "She …" He shoved his hands into his duster pockets.

'Uh oh.' Giles thought. 'If Spike is that scared of something, it can't be good.'

"What happened to my baby?" Joyce was frantic. She sat up fully in bed. "Where is she?"

Spike hung his head. "She was injured trying to protect me." What else could he say? Would they even believe him that Xander was the one to send the stake into Buffy's chest? It was still his fault anyways. Xander wouldn't have staked Buffy if he hadn't been trying to kill Spike. The guilt carried over into his facial features.

"What?!?" Dawn shrieked. "It wasn't Glory, was it?"

Spike shook his head. He tried to speak but Giles' voice interrupted first. "Drusilla wasn't able to get to you at the house during the day, was she?"

Joyce rubbed her temples. "My baby. My poor baby." She started to weep. Normally it would take more to get her this distraught, but her emotions were on a roller coast all week long.

Spike was at Joyce's side in an instant. "It's okay, Mum. Well it's not okay, but she'll be fine in a while." He sat down on the edge of the bedside.

Joyce turned to face Spike with tears in her eyes. "What happened to her, Spike? Why did she have to defend you?"

Spike hung his head for a few moments. He twisted around to face Giles first. He didn't want to tell him, but he needed Giles to know that he would be upfront with him. "Watcher, I think you should know that the chip doesn't work anymore. Also, it would seem that some people knew it wasn't working before I did." He closed his eyes and waited for the onslaught to begin. He half expected a stake to come flying his way.

Dawn instinctively stepped back. She wasn't afraid of Spike, chipped or unchipped, but she'd always been warned about vampires without souls or chips. She found herself glad that Spike's eyes were closed. She felt ashamed that she even had a split second of worry.

Giles stood rooted to the spot. All of his Watcher training told him that there was a dangerous creature in the room who could kill them all in an instant. "How do you know that?" He tried to force down his first instincts so he could get the full story. Hadn't Spike said that Buffy was injured defending him? So, it wasn't that Buffy was trying to stake him. He felt he should listen to Spike's story before making a judgment.

Joyce actually hugged Spike in comfort when he mentioned that the chip wasn't working. She'd been around Buffy's friends and Watcher long enough to know what some of them might try to do to Spike. She knew how much Spike loved Buffy, and in her heart she was sure that Spike didn't intentionally get Buffy hurt.

"Xander." Spike summed up all the emotional baggage he was carrying in that one word. His voice was filled with disgust and undisguised loathing. "He surprised Buffy downstairs while I was taking a shower."

Spike continued to recount the whole sordid story to Dawn, Giles and Joyce. Giles removed his glasses from the get go. He even snapped one arm of his glasses off completely when Spike told him about Buffy warning Xander and Xander's subsequent actions that ended in the staking of Buffy.

Joyce pulled Spike tighter to her as she wept. Her baby was downstairs in the emergency room, and she couldn't even get to her right now. She constantly worried about all the demons and creatures that her daughter had to fight. How ironic that the thing to give her one of the worst injuries she ever had was a human in the form of one of her best friends.

"They don't know the extent of the damage yet, but I'd place my bets on a punctured lung." Spike rubbed Joyce's back. He rested his head on Joyce's shoulder that was away from the door. He buried his face next to her neck and ear. His chest vibrated as he spoke, sending cooing vibrations to try and help calm Joyce.

"Please no." Joyce cried harder. He shoulders shook. "Oh god, Spike. No."

At that moment two out of breath Wiccas burst into the room. Willow panicked at the sight of Spike at Joyce's neck. She heard what sounded like Joyce's pleas to Spike not to bite her, and she reacted without thought. "Separate!" She screamed out and waved at Spike.

Spike flew back into the opposite hospital wall. He crashed to the ground with a thud, tipping the chair over too. "Bloody Hell!" He jumped off the floor in a rage. He advanced on the two women. "What the hell is your problem?"

"Willow!" Giles yelled. He rushed to Joyce to make sure she was all right. "What are you thinking? It is dangerous to use magic so frivolously."

Willow ripped the cross off the hospital wall. She held it out in front of her, counter advancing Spike's movements. "I did what I had to do. He was hurting Mrs. Summers."

Tara clung to head of Joyce's bed. If Willow was right then Spike could really hurt them now. She could see just how ticked off he was. His aura radiated brightly from the anger and pain he was feeling. "Willow, maybe we should …" She was cut off by Dawn.

Dawn wasn't in as much shock as she was mad. First she hears about Xander trying to kill Spike, and now Willow was coming around throwing her magic around at Spike to hurt him. She walked over to Willow, slapped the cross out of her hand and punched her in the shoulder. "Leave him alone!"

Spike snarled as the cross flew by him across the room. He stomped to the foot of the bed. "What is it with you people? Do you even think?" He usually liked the redheaded woman. She stood up for the Whelp too much, but usually she wasn't too bad to deal with. The blond Wicca, Glinda, was one of Spike's favorites though. Aside from the demon bird, Anya, she'd never judged Spike on the basis that the rest of the Scoobies did.

"Dawn, he doesn't have his chip! He's dangerous!" Willow wanted to convey her reason for panicking. "Your mother was begging him not to bite her."

Joyce fumed. "I was doing no such thing. He was consoling me."

"How did you know the chip wasn't working?" Giles asked tersely. Spike said how it seemed that Xander knew ahead of time that the chip wasn't working. He seemed prepared to kill Spike all along. The only way that he could know the chip wasn't working was if he had some part in it being disabled. "Did you help Xander with this treachery?"

Spike's eyes widened in realization. "No one should know about the chip except Buffy, the Whelp, myself and anyone else that was involved in whatever happened to it." His demon raged in a fury. He strode over to Willow with a predatory glare in his eyes. "If you had anything to do with this, you will live only long enough to regret it."

Despite his own innate desire to seek vengeance on anyone that had a part in hurting Buffy, Giles knew he had to be the voice of reason right now. Tara seemed shocked into silence. Joyce and Dawn were ready to break down at any minute. Spike looked like he was going to rip Willow's head off. He hastily stepped between Spike and Willow.

Spike gazed into the Watcher's eyes. He saw the determination there, but he also saw the pain. Giles wasn't stopping him because he felt he didn't have a right to be angry. His eyes reflected his need for answers. William noted the kinship that seemed to echo in Giles' eyes, and he helped to calm Spike down along with Giles' next words.

"We need to get to the bottom of this, Spike." Giles voice was tight but even. "Buffy wouldn't want either of us to go off half arsed or hurt anyone … yet." His controlled tone emphasized the yet at the end of his sentence.

Spike nodded. He stepped to the side of Giles, but he moved no further forward. They presented a united front to Willow who was now backed up against the wall.

Giles turned to face Willow when Spike stepped alongside him. "I suggest that you explain how you knew about Spike's chip as quickly and completely as possible." He spoke through clenched teeth.

Willow's eyes were red, and she was crying. "I wasn't completely sure." She sniffled. "But Xander said …" She shrieked at the sight of a vamped out and snarling Spike.

Tara stepped forward to help out her girlfriend. Things were deteriorating rapidly, and none of this was going to help Xander or Buffy. Her and Willow had no idea yet what had even happened with any of them. "Xander was brought into the emergency room when we were down there."

"Pillock!" Spike spat out. "They should have left him at the house to rot. Justice would be served."

Joyce chastised Spike in a stern motherly fasion. "William, none of that. He is still Buffy's … well he was Buffy's friend. I don't know what he is now, but your duty is to help people, no matter who they are." She waggled a finger at Spike warning him that she was serious. He may play the "Big Bad", but she knew that had a good unbeating heart.

Spike's shoulders slumped. His head lowered some and nodded to Joyce. "Sorry, Mum." He sighed. "I've always hated him, and he's given me even more reason to now."

"Hate begets hate, William." Joyce reached out a hand to clasp it around Spike's. "Buffy needs your love, not the anger inside you." She rarely called Spike by his original human name. It felt appropriate to get through to the vampire at this time.

The other occupants of the room stared in wonder at the transformation. How could a mortal woman stuck in her hospital bed subdue such a powerful and "evil" creature?

Tara was the first to speak again. "We saw Spike come out of the ambulance when we arrived at the hospital. So, we followed him." She continued her story. "He was talking to a nurse, and when he was done we saw Xander brought in. He said something about bad chip, Buffy and Spike. They took him away before we could get more out of him."

"So naturally you assumed that I was on my way up here to eat Mum, Nibblet and the Watcher?" Spike growled. "I've done nothing but hang my little white hat on the same hall tree as the rest of you bleeding Scoobies for months. What does it take?"

Dawn wrapped her arm around Spike's waist. She snuggled into his side. "You have done a lot of things to them before though Spike, and there was that thing with Adam." She wanted to encourage him, but surely he could see why some of them would doubt him.

"After Red's spell I was trying to prove to myself that I wasn't a toy for the lot of them. I tried to get back at them anyway I could." Spike slapped his hand to his forehead. "I was going crazy with this chip in my head, and Adam offered to remove it."

Giles nodded. He always wondered what Spike was offered in exchange for his help. He assumed it had something to do with the chip, and it would seem that it did. "You have tried to kill us on more than one occasion."

"It's been a long time though, Watcher." Spike reasoned. He looked over at Willow. "Your spell has haunted me ever since, Red. It showed me things about myself that took a long time to admit. Plus Buffy seemed so disgusted with the feelings that I then knew I felt for her."

Willow listened along with everyone else to what Spike had to say. "I never thought about what effect the spell had on you, Spike."

"Yeah, I never even got a bloody cookie for my trouble." Spike half teased. The tensions in the room started to abate, but many explanations were still in order.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Downstairs a little blond woman was gasping for breath on the operating table. Her Slayer endurance made it harder for her to be drugged or killed with poisons. Therefore it was hard to determine the right amount of sedative to give Buffy to knock her out.

"Bump up the anesthetics." The doctor bellowed. "We can't get this thing out unless she stops moving."

The anesthesiologist picked up the IV line into Buffy's arm. "Doctor, I've already given her double the dosage for someone her size. If I give her anymore, it could kill her."

"She must have an immunity. She is definitely not asleep, Nurse." The doctor added another set of straps to crisscross over Buffy's abdomen. He tightened the straps just as Buffy slumped to the bed.

The anesthesiologist breathed a sigh of relief. He checked her vital signs and nodded to the doctor. "She's resting now. Heartbeat is strong and steady. Breathing is labored, but I'm sure that has something to do with the piece of wood in her chest, and that is not something I can do anything about."

The doctor laughed sarcastically. "No, that is my job. Now, let's get on with it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So all of this happened in the last 2 days?" Willow and Tara were now sharing one of the chairs in Joyce's room. They'd both listened to Joyce, Giles, Spike and Dawn explain all that happened in the last 48-72 hours.

The four even told them about Dawn being the key that Glory was seeking. Dawn shifted nervously during that part while Tara and Willow were in shock. It took a few minutes of gasps and confused expressions before anyone was able to continue with the story.

"Yep, that's it in a nutshell." Dawn nodded eagerly. "Buffy and Spike are together. I think I'll be seeing Giles at the house more often." She giggled at that part and both her mother and Giles blushed. "Glory wants to shove me in some lock. Spike's chip is not working, though we doubt it is gone, and it seems that Xander not only knew about it but ended up staking Buffy while trying to kill Spike."

"This is just … It's so much to take in." Willow looked over at Dawn. "I remember everything about you since you guys came to Sunnydale."

Giles, without his glasses since he'd broken them earlier, pinched the bridge of his nose in concern. "I think the less said about that right now the better. We took enough risk even speaking about it here."

Tara understood Giles' concern. "We don't know where Glory is or who might be helping her. That makes sense."

Willow nodded. "I knew Xander didn't like Spike, but why would he push it this far?"

"Maybe because he is a self-righteous, judgmental, arrogant, prick who thinks that he alone knows what is best for Buffy, and I don't get his stamp of approval." Spike piped in. Other than interjecting his thoughts of events that he was first witness to, he remained quiet during the storytelling. He didn't trust himself not to blow up over certain events.

'Spike has some issues to work out about Xander.' Willow thought. She looked at her girlfriend. She was torn between her loyalties to the man who'd been her friend almost all of her life and her loyalties towards what seemed to be the right thing to do.

Tara offered a supportive glance towards Willow. She imagined that Willow was going through a lot of turmoil right now.

Willow's insides burned at the mere thought that Xander would have anything to do with harming Buffy like this though. The magic within her crackled with its energies begging to be set free. If Xander did plot this out with someone, there would be hell to pay. He needed to be taught a lesson; one that he would not forget so easily.

"The only one I can think of who could have done this with Xander would be Riley." Dawn reasoned. "We know Spike wasn't kidnapped for any surgeries. Maybe the Initiative had some sort of back up plan to control those they chipped?"

Giles pondered that thought. "Many electronic devices can be activated or deactivated by remotes." He looked over at Spike. "Wouldn't the Initiative have wanted a means to set their little monsters loose during enemy situations if they could control them?"

"Makes sense, Watcher." Spike nodded in contemplation. "They were always talking about the perfect soldier and finding a way to make us useful weapons." He sat up straighter. "If that's the case then we need to find a way to get this bloody thing out of my head before they activate it again."

Giles noted Spike's agitation. "We don't know how they did this, Spike. Let's not jump to any conclusions."

"You wouldn't be so complacent if the bloody thing was in your head." Spike countered. "Not like I'm going out feeding or hurting people, well except in defense. I won't even be able to do that if they activate it again."

"I didn't say we couldn't try to get it out, Spike. We need to figure out our options first." Giles pulled a notebook out of his jacket pocket and jotted a few things down. He looked up at the smirking faces around him. "You never know when you'll need to write something down."

Dawn giggled. "Sure, Giles. Whatever you say."

The tension that threatened to rise was swiftly broken with the bit of merriment about Giles' research habits.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy tossed and turned on the bed. Several straps remained in place until she was fully awake to keep her from hurting herself. She was in the recovery room with several nurses huddling about her. She was vaguely aware of the voices around her.

"You should have seen him, Delores." One nurse squeaked in glee. "I saw him talking to Jacobs, and man was he hot."

Another nurse, Delores, sighed. "Did you hear that voice, Nancy? That accent was to die for."

Nancy, the first nurse, looked down at Buffy. "She's one lucky girl." She checked Buffy's vitals again.

Buffy opened her eyes. Her face lit up in a smile. She realized they were talking about Spike. "Definitely lucky." She croaked out.

"Welcome back, Miss Summers." Nancy wiped the sweat off Buffy's face. "You gave us all quite a scare."

"Spike." Buffy licked her lips trying to moisten them. She felt like someone left a bag full of cotton balls in her mouth.

"We'll get him down here shortly." Delores worked on the other side of Buffy. She removed the remaining straps. "You need to lie still. Your wounds were pretty serious."

Buffy barely heard their words. She wanted to hear only one thing, Spike's voice telling her it was all right. "Spike. I want him now." She practically begged. She tried to get off the bed, but she was stopped with a sharp pain near her shoulder.

Delores and Nancy both pushed Buffy back down as carefully as possible. "We have to get you to a room. I'm sure he'll be there right after we get you there."

Buffy shook her head back and forth. "Hurry, now. Need Spike."

Nancy motioned her head in the direction of the nurse's surgical station. Nurse Jacobs informed them right away whom they were supposed to notify once Buffy was awake. Delores punched in the code for the neurological section. She relayed the message on Buffy's condition and requested that they get him down there soon. Lastly, Delores gave the nurse station Buffy's new room number before hanging up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The nurse's station on Joyce's floor hung up the phone. "Finally some good news." The head nurse sighed in relief. She stood up. "I've been afraid that they were going to bring the walls down."

Several other nurses nodded in agreement. Nurse Jacobs called their station before Spike made it to the floor. It was the only reason that everyone ignored the loud yelling and smashing coming from Joyce Summers' room. They all figured that the family was dealing with their grief in a physical way.

Everyone was eager to bring good news to the family, but none were eager to walk into a war zone. After drawing straws, short one being the loser, it was decided that Becca would deliver the message.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Everyone was exhausted in the Summers' room, both physically and emotionally. Each sat silently in their private thoughts trying to decide what should be done next.

There was a light tapping on the door, and a delicate redhead peeked her head around the edge of it. "Mr. Jamison?" She meekly questioned. Her keen eye noticed the haggard looks on the occupants faces, but thankfully the room still looked in order.

"Yes?" Spike automatically responded. He cleared his throat and threw Giles a "Don't ask." look before standing up to head to the door.

"Miss Summers is awake and calling for you downstairs." Becca further relayed the message. "They were able to repair the damage to her lung. It would seem that she was healing quite rapidly even as they operated. She'll still need to stay for observation, but she is free to have some visitors."

Everyone in the room let out an audible breath. Joyce looked at Becca. "Do you think Dr. Kriegel will let me go down there?" She asked hopeful. Even though she knew Spike would take care of her daughter, she wanted to see for herself that Buffy was okay.

"We'll page him Joyce. It shouldn't be a problem. So long as you don't get dizzy." Becca answered.

Spike wrapped his arm around Dawn. "I'll take the Nibblet with me, if that's all right with everyone."

Giles and Joyce nodded. Dawn clung to Spike. "Thank you, Spike." She buried her face into his duster, taking a calming breath.

"I'll be back up as soon as possible to let you all know how she is." Spike calmly opened the door to leave the room. "I'll let her know that you all want to see her." He closed the door behind him, heading for the elevator with Dawn in tow.

Becca breathed a sigh of relief when the elevator doors closed on the blonde man. 'Whew, that went well.' She slumped into her chair at the nurse's station.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Back in Joyce's room the four remaining occupants continued their discussion. "Someone should check on Xander." Tara inputted.

"We should call Anya." Willow added.

"Quite right. I'll have her close the shop and get here." Giles picked up the phone.

"I know how close he is to all of you, but he can't just get away with this." Joyce's voice trembled. "Spike is a caring being, even if he is undead. Xander can't be allowed to continue trying to harm Spike." She looked over at Willow and Tara. "Buffy will keep defending him, or Spike might lose control one time in self-defense and Xander will be killed."

The other three nodded their agreement. "I don't know what we can do about it though. Spike's already covered for Xander with the authorities." Giles intoned. "I doubt we could have him arrested now."

Joyce spoke with conviction. "As far as I'm concerned he is no longer allowed near my house or my family until his attitude changes." Joyce was a very easy going woman, but she was definitely a "mother bear" you didn't want to mess with. "If he hurts Buffy or Spike again, I will be the one to call the police to get him."

No one argued back. A part of Willow wanted to scream out in Xander's defense, but she just couldn't. Xander had a right to his opinions, but this demon hating had gone too far now. He didn't have to approve of Buffy and Spike being together, but he had to accept it as fact or he was going to get pushed out of their lives completely.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn and Spike were directed to a small room in the 24 hour holding area on the first floor. Spike rapped his knuckles on the door frame as they entered. Dawn ran to Buffy, wrapped her arms around her, and buried her face in her neck. "Oh Buffy. I was so scared."

Spike stood at the other side of Buffy's bed. He picked up her hand, cradling it in his own. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it lovingly. "Hey there, luv."

Buffy stroked her free hand through Dawn's hair. "It's okay, Dawn. Slayer healing will make me all better soon." She looked up at Spike with love in her eyes. She spoke only three words, but they were the best words he would ever here. It was all the reassurance he needed to know that she didn't blame him. "I love you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 16 (Visits)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy is out of surgery.  Spike and Dawn are with her.  Joyce has ruled her house and family a "No Xander" zone.  Anya is being called to let her know about Xander's condition.  Sunset is quickly approaching.  Will Dru's new Childe awaken?  How is Dru going to get to Buffy now that the familial claim is in place?  Does the claim protect all of Buffy's family or just Buffy?  Hmmm ... what about her friends?  Will Spike be able to protect the woman he loves?

**WARNING: There is some more familial bonding in this chapter.  It involves a minor and Spike.  Although there are residual sensations during the bite, there will NOT be sex involved.  No touching will be involved in a sexual type way.  Just warning you though so no one freaks out.**

Author's Note: Thank you to Jeni from Darkly Dreaming/Misfits (www.thetwojanes.com) for bringing up a valid point about Dawn.  It's yet another reason why I love feedback/reviews.  You all help to make this story a better one with your ideas and encouraging remarks.  So, a big thank you to everyone who reviews.  It really does help to keep me going.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"How are you feeling, Buffy?"  Dawn asked.  Shortly after first hugging her sister, she broke down into tears.  Both Buffy and Spike spent the last 15 minutes trying to calm and console her.  She felt like such a baby, but she couldn't help it.  Now that she calmed down some, she tried to start a conversation.

"I've had better days."  Buffy joked.  "Having my lung punctured by a stake wasn't on my "To Do" list today."  She made light of the situation as best she could.

Spike flinched.  He wanted to pummel Xander for a growing list of reasons.  A new building anger at Xander was because he tainted the day's memory.  Instead of Buffy being able to remember the bonding, lovemaking, and declarations ... all that would be remembered would be a miserable hospital stay because she defended him and Xander accidentally staked her instead.

Buffy squeezed Spike's hand.  "It's not your fault, Spike."  She tried to reassure him.

"Yes, it is.  Bloody idiot wouldn't have had that stake if he wasn't trying to kill me."  No matter how much Buffy tried to soothing him, Spike still felt the pain of guilt.  "Even with this chip not working, I couldn't stop him from hurting you."  His conscience was slightly eased by her declaration of love ealier, but he hated seeing her in this pain.

Anya inhaled sharply from her position in the doorway.  "It's true then?  The chip doesn't work?"  She asked.

Buffy, Spike and Dawn turned their heads towards Anya's voice.  "So, it seems."  Buffy was the one to answer her.

"Giles said that the chip didn't seem to be working when he called me about Xander."  Anya in her usual bluntness went straight to the point.  "Are you going to kill us all now?"

Spike laughed.  Anya was a strange woman, but her forthrightness didn't offend him.  He actually found it refreshing.  The ex-demon didn't hide behind pretense and "not wanting to hurt other's feelings".  She said whatever was on her mind.  "No, I won't be killing any Scoobies."  He grunted.  "Well except your boyfriend, if I can get away with it."

Anya shrieked.  "Xander?!"  She looked at Buffy to see if Buffy was going to slap Spike for saying that.  She was surprised to see Buffy half smile at Spike, but Buffy shook her head back and forth.  "Why do you want to kill, Xander?  He doesn't like you, but he could never hurt you.  He's not strong enough."

Dawn's eyes narrowed.  She stalked over to Anya.  She poked her finger into Anya's chest.  "Tell that to the hole that was in Buffy's lung because Xander tried to stake Spike, but she got in the way."

Anya's eyes widened in shock and fear.  She was in shock that Xander would push things far enough to stake Spike.  The fear was for Xander's life.  Whether anyone else wanted to realize it or not, she'd seen how Spike felt for Buffy a long time ago.  She knew Spike would defend Buffy with his own life, and now Xander had harmed the woman Spike loved.  Vampires were known for exacting their own vengeance.  "Please don't kill, Xander.  Something must have possessed him.  He'd never try to hurt, Buffy."

Spike noted the pleading tone of Anya's otherwise steady voice.  "The only thing that possessed him was his hatred for vampires and demons."

"But he loves me."  Anya retorted.

Dawn rolled her eyes.  "Proof of what a hypocrite Xander is."

Buffy watched Dawn and Spike tag team Anya because of Xander's actions.  She rubbed her thumb over the back of Spike's hand.  "Dawn."  She motioned for Dawn to return to the bed.

Spike calmed down a little bit.  It wasn't doing Buffy any good to get all worked up.  Dawn walked back over to Buffy.  She curled up on the bed next to her sister.

"I'm sorry, Anya, but you won't find any Xander support in this room."  Buffy hugged her sister tightly.  "I do like you Anya.  It’s nothing against you personally, but Xander has always tried to tell me who I could date or not date.  He has tunnel vision when it comes to demons."  She explained.  "Where you are concerned, you are perfect and pure no matter your previous demon status."  She looked up at Spike.  "Anyone else, he sees as evil and unredeemable no matter what they've done to prove otherwise."

Anya's eyes traveled back and forth between Buffy and Spike.  "You two are actually dating now?"

Spike nodded.  "Yes.  You have a problem with that?"  He was on the defensive, and it was hard not to be.

"I think it is about time."  Anya stated matter-of-factly.  "You two needed to have sex for a long time now."  She looked at Buffy seriously.  "I hope he gives you many orgasms."

Buffy blushed, Dawn shrieked and Spike laughed.  "I'll make sure she is well taken care of in the orgasm department."  He laughed harder.

"Spike!"  Dawn reached over Buffy and punched him in the chest.  "Good grief.  TMI, Spike.  More than I needed to know."

Buffy stifled a giggle behind her hand.  "We're all set, Anya.  Thanks.  No orgasm problems."  It felt good to laugh after all of the tensions of the day.  She held one hand over her injured lung.  It ached a little from laughing, but it was worth it.

"Good."  Anya nodded emphatically.  "Do you know what happened to the chip?"

Spike shook his head back and forth.  "No clue.  Better ask your boyfriend.  He seemed to know that it wasn't working before I did."

Anya's confusion escalated.  "He knew?"  She questioned.

"He came into Buffy's house with stakes blazing before there was any way he could find out that it didn't work."  Buffy answered.  "It was bizarre."

Anya thought back on the last couple days.  Xander had been quite tense.  He refused to have sex with her this morning before work too.  That, in itself, was highly unusual for Xander.  She remembered Riley coming over the night the group found that demon from outer space, but he and Riley had left shortly after Riley got there.  Xander didn't return until late that night.

Spike watched the thoughts change Anya's facial expressions.  Something was adding up, and he would pay good money to know what she was thinking.

"I'd better go check on Xander."  Anya stood up straight.  She held the handle of the door in one hand.  "Is there anything I should tell Xander?"

Even though she didn't know what her mother told Willow, Giles and Tara upstairs, Buffy echoed her sentiments clearly.  "Tell him to stay away from me and my family, especially Spike.  Xander and I are going to have a serious talk once I'm better, and if I don't like what he has to say it might be the last chat we ever have."

Spike blinked in surprise.  There was nothing playful or teasing in Buffy's voice.  She sounded deadly serious.  Was she choosing him over Xander?  A part of him rejoiced inside while another part felt sad for Buffy's loss of a friend.  He placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder.  "Maybe he'll change his mind, luv."

Anya nodded to Buffy.  "I'll tell him."  She opened the door.  "For what it is worth, I'm sorry he did this Buffy.  I'll try to get through to him."  She'd felt on the outside of the little Scooby group more than she felt in it, but now it seemed she might have a choice of being in or out.  Should she do the right thing or stick by Xander and the wrong thing?

"I hope you are able to, Anya."  Buffy said in all seriousness.  "This is his last chance.  I don't need another enemy, but that is better than someone disguised as a friend trying to destroy me from within my own circle."

Anya sighed.  Her shoulders slumped lower and she exited the room.  Whether or not Xander approved of Spike and Buffy together, Anya thought it was a good match.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow fluffed the pillows behind Joyce Summers' back.  Joyce fidgeted back and forth.  Giles placed a hand on Joyce's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.

"The nurse told me the doctor was making his rounds."  Tara stepped back into Joyce's room after a visit to the nurse's station.  "They've paged him to your room, Mrs. Summers."

"Thank you, Tara."  Joyce forced herself to sit still.  "I know Spike and Dawn are down there, but I need to see with my own eyes that she's all right."  She weakly smiled at Giles.

"I'm sure he'll find some way for you to visit Buffy."  Giles assured Joyce.  He squeezed Joyce's shoulder in support.  He loved Buffy like he would his own daughter.  He was antsy to see her too.

Willow and Tara exchanged curious looks before they slipped out of the room quietly.  They both thought the couple would enjoy a little time alone to talk.

"I think Mr. Giles and Mrs. Summers are smitten."  Tara said with a blush.

"I think they are too, Tara."  Willow giggled in a little girlish manner.  "It's so sweet to see Giles like that again."

"I've never seen Mr. Giles on a date."  Tara spoke her thoughts out loud.  "Has he dated?"

"Not recently.  At least not that I know of."  Willow remembered Olivia from a year or two ago, but they never seemed serious.  "He seemed in love with Miss Calendar a few years back.  They started dating, but things fell apart."

"Why?"  Tara sat down in a chair near Joyce's room.  There was so much history between all the Scoobies.  She tried to learn everything she could.  You never knew when it would come in handy for the future.

"First it was because she lied to us about who she was when she befriended our group."  Willow sat down next to Tara.  They were far enough away to give Giles and Joyce privacy, but they were close enough to hear if they were called.  "Later, after they reconciled, Angelus killed her."  She explained what Angelus did and how Giles found Jenny.

"That's horrible."  Tara shivered.  Over the time she'd been dating Willow she heard various stories about Angel and Angelus.  Most of them she heard from Xander.  After recent events, she wasn't so sure just how many of them were true.  Apparently Angelus was a nasty killer though.

"That's another reason for Xander's prejudice."  Willow sighed.  "Of course the fact that he's had a crush on Buffy since the first day he met her doesn't help."  She shook her head back and forth.  "Riley seemed to be the only one that Xander liked, but I think that was because he couldn't use the evil bad argument with Riley after he left the Initiative."

"Xander has always been pretty adamant about Spike and Angel."  Tara held Willow's hand.  "This must be very hard for you.  I know how you feel about Xander."

"It is pretty hard, Tara."  Willow patted the hand covering hers with her other hand.  "He's been my friend for forever, and you know the crush I had on him for all those years."

Tara nodded and listened.  She knew that Willow needed to talk this one out.

"But he can't keep doing this to Buffy."  Willow sighed.  "If Giles and Spike are right about Xander knowing the chip wasn't working, I can't even think of a way to defend him.  The Spike is bad argument won't fly especially if Buffy is on Spike's side.  Besides what he would have done would be bad and wrong too.  Two wrongs don’t make a right."

"They really are in love, Willow."  Tara tried to reassure Willow that Spike and Buffy being together was right.  "I've seen it in the possibilities from their auras for a long time.  Spike isn't all evil.  I even think he has some part of his soul."

"Like Angel?"  Willow questioned.

"No, not like Angel."  Tara thought for a minute about how to explain her theory.  "It probably isn't his soul, per say, but there is something inside him that is fighting what a vampire is only supposed to be.  It's gotten stronger over the last year, more pronounced."

"Maybe we can explain that to Xander."  Willow squeezed Tara's hand.  "You've always been so attuned with auras.  I just don't see them like you do, but I trust your judgment.  You figured out that Buffy wasn't Buffy when Faith was in her body."

Tara blushed at the praise.  "You are able to do so much more than I can though."

"That just shows what a perfect match we are, sweetie."  Willow leaned over to kiss Tara's lips softly.  "We complete each other."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dr. Kriegel walked into Joyce's room.  He held her medical chart in his hands.  "Hello, Joyce."

Giles stood up from where he was previously sitting next to Joyce on the bed.  "Hello, Doctor."

Dr. Kriegel motioned for Giles to sit back down.  "This won't be a long visit, Mr. Giles.  Stay comfortable.  She needs the support."  He had a healthy respect for the British man.  He knew how many hours Giles spent with Joyce, and he was glad to know that the lovely woman had such a good support system.

"Did the nurse's tell you about my daughter?"  Joyce questioned.

"Yes, they did."  Dr. Kriegel made a few notes in the chart after checking Joyce's monitors.  "I was quite shocked that such a break in would occur in broad daylight."

Giles and Joyce shared a look of understanding.  The story around the hospital must be the one Spike told the police officer.  Though they knew the truth, it was good that no one else was suspicious.

"Yes, it was."  Giles reached for his glasses only to remember that he'd already broken them earlier.  He buried one hand in his pocket while the other wrapped around Joyce's hand.  "We'd really like to see how Buffy is doing."

"I need to see my baby, Doctor."  Joyce pleaded softly with Dr. Kriegel.

"Don't fret, Joyce."  Dr. Kriegel patted Joyce's shoulder on the other side of her bed.  "I've already called transport to get you a wheelchair."  He closed the medical chart.  "Later today we'll start you with your walking exercises, but I don't want to take a chance of you fainting on the way to see your daughter.  So, for now I will agree for you to see her if you take the ride in a wheelchair."

"Oh thank you, Doctor."  Joyce leaned over and hugged Dr. Kriegel hard.  "I didn't think I could sit here much longer without seeing her."

"I would be the same way, Joyce."  Dr. Kriegel looked up at Giles.  "With her progress, I wouldn't be too surprised if she wasn't released back to her own home in a couple days.  She is healing very nicely."

Giles questioned the doctor's decision.  He was concerned about rushing Joyce's recovery.  "Is that wise?  Aren't there a lot of chances for complications?"

"Yes, complications may arise, but I think her recovery would be better at home."  Dr. Kriegel was used to concern from loved ones about the status of his patients.  He'd been a doctor for a lot of years, and unlike some others, he didn't take offense when someone questioned him.  Instead he took it as a chance to explain things further.  "She'll heal much faster around her family and in her own surroundings.  Hospitals are too sterile and mundane to promote the kind of recovery she needs."

Joyce nodded.  "There are enough of us to be sure that someone can be with me at all times too."

"That will be a big help, Joyce."  Dr. Kriegel looked down at Joyce.  "You have a very loving family.  I know you will be in good hands."

The door of the hospital room opened.  A young brunette intern pushed a wheelchair into the room.  "Your chariot awaits, Mrs. Summers."

Joyce, Giles and Dr. Kriegel turned to the young man at the door.  The intern looked at the doctor with a smile.  "I heard that Buffy Summers was in emergency, and I took it upon myself to relieve the regular transport tech of the wheelchair.  I've met Miss Summers a few times.  I thought I'd see how she was doing."

Dr. Kriegel nodded.  He and Giles helped Joyce into the wheelchair.  "This is Ben.  I know he'll take good care of you."  He looked up at Ben.  "Minimal walking.  I'd prefer her to be sitting for as much of the visit as possible.  Only an hour for now."

"Yes, Doctor."  Ben agreed.  He unwrapped a warm blanket to cover Joyce's lap and feet.  "We'll have you downstairs to see Buffy in no time."  He leaned over to whisper into Joyce's ear.  "Maybe we can have a race to the elevator."  He winked at her.

Joyce laughed.  She patted her lap then smiled at Dr. Kriegel.  "I think I'm in good hands, Doctor."

Dr. Kriegel held open the door for Giles to walk out followed by Ben and the wheelchair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Do you think Xander will listen to her, Buffy?"  Dawn asked.  According to her memories she had a crush on Xander for most of her adolescent life.  The monks were pretty thorough.  She even had year's worth of diary entries to prove it.

"I hope so, Dawnie."  Buffy closed her eyes and rested her head against the pillow she was propped up with.  "We've been through a lot over the years.  I don't want to lose him."

Spike's heart constricted.  He leaned over to press a kiss to Buffy's forehead.  "If anyone can make him understand it's the demon bird.  She's a right bit forthright."

"If that is your nice way of saying blunt, then yes she is."  Buffy chuckled.  Her smiled turned more to a frown.  She clutched Dawn tighter to her, and she opened her eyes.  "There was something else I started thinking about while I was waiting for you two to get here.  Something other than the various ways to strangle Xander."

Dawn looked up into Buffy's eyes.  She sat up some.  She knew that look.  It was her serious "you're not going to like what I have to say" look.  "What about, Buffy?"

"The family claim," Buffy turned her head to look at Spike.  "It only protects me, doesn't it?

"It only protects those who have shared the blood."  Spike nodded.  He quirked a brow at Buffy.  'What is she thinking about?'

"That was what I was afraid of."  Buffy sighed.  "With me out of commission for a day or two, I started thinking about Dawn and Glory."  She caressed her hand down Dawn's head to her back.  "I started to realize that Dawn is in danger from more than Glory."

"What do you mean, pet?"

"Dru can't hurt me now, but what is to stop her from kidnapping Dawn to get to me?"  Buffy questioned.  Her memories told her that Dru and Angelus did that before, but she wasn't sure if it really happened or not.

Spike's eyes widened in surprise.  Surely she wasn't suggesting what he thought she was.  "I can protect Nibblet from Dru, Buffy."

"I know you will try to Spike, but how many places can you be in at once?"  Buffy questioned Spike.  She needed him to see the reason of what she was going to ask him to do.  "You can't be at the hospital, out patrolling, and watching out for Dawn at the house all at the same time."

"Hey!"  Dawn sat up offended.  "I don't need a babysitter."

"No, but you do need a protector from a crazy Vampiress hell bent on revenge."  Buffy was exasperated.  She couldn't do this if both Dawn and Spike fought her on it.  "You'd do anything you could to help us protect you, right?"  She tried a different tactic.

"Of course I would."  Dawn responded.

"Then do this for me."  Buffy looked back up at Spike.  "I want you to do the bond on Dawn too."

"No!  No way, Buffy."  Spike responded very adamantly.  "I will not bite the Bit."

"Why not?  The bond will protect her just as much as it will me, or was that just a bunch of hogwash to get your fangs into me?"  Buffy knew that wasn't the reason, but she had to goad him into seeing past his insecurities.

"You know it wasn't, Buffy.  You were letting me bite you before the bond."  Spike stopped after that admission to look at Dawn.  He was afraid to see fear in her eyes, and he was thankful that Dawn appeared unfazed by the declaration.

"Dawn, will you let Spike do this?"  Buffy turned to her sister.

Dawn locked gazes with Spike.  "I trust you, Spike."  She fidgeted a little on the bed.  "You can do it."  It wasn't that she was fearful, but she was nervous.  She remembered how it felt for Spike to lick her wound clean and heal it.  What would it feel like to have him drink from her?

"Buffy you don't realize what you're asking."

"I've already done the ritual, Spike.  How could I not know what I'm talking about?"

Spike sighed in exasperation.  "You were bit by three vampires before I ever bit you.  You knew a little of what to expect."  He ran his fingers through his hair.  "You're also the Slayer, but that doesn't mean you didn't still feel the draw that being bit can cause."

"Big with the Huh?"  Buffy questioned.

"Being bit by a vampire isn't all about the feeding and pain.  You know how it can feel when done in other ways."  Spike tilted his head to the side and raised a scarred brow to emphasize his point.

"Oh ... OH!"  Buffy blushed.

"If I bite Dawn, there's a good chance it would cause  a euphoric feeling similar to what you've felt."  Spike tried to explain.  "A lot of times humans who survive the experience get addicted to that feeling.  They seek it out in other places."  He sighed.  "Eventually it ends up either getting them killed or turned.  I don't want that to happen to the Bit."

"I don't see why I'd go seeking out any other vampires to bite me, Spike."  Dawn frowned.  "Especially since you've warned me about it."  She reasoned.  "If I feel that way, I can just come to you for your help.  If you'll let me that is?"

"I'd rather you come to me yes, but I don't want you to have to come to me either."  Spike reached over the bed to cup Dawn's cheek.  "You don't need to deal with that on top of everything else."

Dawn looked from Spike to Buffy.  She could see the concern in her sister's face.  She inhaled deeply.  "I'd rather you bite me than that wacky Drusilla bite me."

Spike sighed resignedly.  His hand dropped to his side.  Buffy picked up Spike's hand with both of hers.  "I know you want to protect her in every way, but you have to know your limitations Spike."  She raised one hand to cup his cheek.  "This is the only way."

"What about Mom?"  Dawn asked.

"With her being in the hospital, I doubt Dru will come in to get her."  Spike's eyes never left Buffy's gaze.  "It would be harder to make a stand here, and it would be even harder for her to move Joyce to another location."

Dawn nodded.  She was satisfied that her mother would be safe.  "Where should we do this?"

"I haven't said I'll do it yet, Nibblet."  Spike countered.

"You haven't refused again to do it in the last ten minutes either."  Dawn teased.

Buffy stifled a giggle.  At the stern look Spike threw her, she laughed out loud.  "Oh come on.  Like you didn't know that she was feisty."

Spike shook his head back and forth.  "You bleeding Summers women are going to be the death of me.  You know that right?"

Dawn and Buffy both leaned over the bed to hug Spike.  "You know you love us for it though, bleach boy."  Dawn teased.  She ruffled his hair with her hands.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I think we're going to stop by Xander's room to see him before we head to Buffy's."  Willow turned to Joyce and Giles when they exited the elevator.  "I want to see if Anya made it and see if I can find out what is going on."

"Be careful, Willow.  We don't know exactly what state of mind he is in right now."  Giles cautioned.  He didn't want to see Willow's feelings hurt.  Xander was acting extreme, even for him.

"I will, Giles."  Tara and Willow walked towards Xander's room while Joyce, Giles and Ben headed to Buffy's.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After arguing for several minutes with the emergency staff, Anya was finally shown to Xander's room.  His eyes were closed, and several IV bags were connected together and dripped down a tube into Xander's arm.  "Oh Xander."  Anya muttered softly.  She sat down next to his bed.

Xander's eyes opened slowly.  They set his broken ribs, stitched the worst of the cuts, and his jaw was repaired with a metal pin.  It wasn't damaged enough that he couldn't talk, but it hurt a lot to move his jaw.  Thankfully they had him on quite a few painkillers. He was never good at tolerating pain.

Anya slipped her hand into Xander's.  "You really messed up this time, didn't you?"  She said with a shake of her head.  Her voice was soft with concern.  She was worried for him and about him.  "Was it worth it, Xander?"

Xander looked at his girlfriend curiously.  He was thankful she was there, but what was she talking about?  Who called her?  What was she told?  "Was what worth it, Ahn?"

"Whatever it was you and Riley planned."  Anya cut to the chase.  She never minced words, and she figured her best bet to get an honest answer from Xander was to surprise him with her hypothesis.  She hoped she was wrong.

Xander cringed.  He pulled his hand away from Anya.  "I don't know what you're talking about, Anya."  He was mad.  Shouldn't she be here to comfort and console him?  What could she possibly know about him and Riley?

"Come on, Xander.  I'm not stupid."  All of her hopes that she was wrong went out the window with his vehement denial.  She knew Xander well enough to see when he was trying to avoid something.  "You and Riley have some big pow wow the other night, and now you are in the hospital because you tried to stake Spike?"

"That has nothing to do with ..."  Xander stopped mid-sentence.  'Oh hell.  What does it matter now anyways?'  He sighed.  "I wasn't supposed to have to do anything.  Buffy should have staked Spike herself."

"How can you expect Buffy to kill the man she loves?  Really Xander."  Anya's voice dripped with disappointment.  "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that it needed to be done.  She did it to Angel when I told her she had our support to kick his ass.  Why not Spike too?"  Every word hurt his jaw to speak, but Xander pressed on.  "The only way I could release her from whatever spell Spike put on her was to get her to kill him."

"Are you really that much of an idiot, Xander?"  Anya rolled her eyes.  "What nonsense did Riley tell you anyways?"

Xander blinked in astonishment.  Anya never talked to him like that.  Sure she was blunt, but she was always on his side.  "You're really not helping, Ahn."

"Neither are you, Xander Harris."  Anya crossed her arms in front of her.  "There is no spell.  Don't you think Willow and Tara would have seen it if there was?"

"There has to be a spell or a thrall like Dracula."  Xander argued.  "She can't be in love with him."

"She was in love with Spike long before she ever started dating Riley."  Anya rolled her eyes at her boyfriend.  'Sometimes men are just so stupid.'

"That's ridiculous.  She's just confused."

"You are the one who's confused, Xander Harris."  Anya tried to reason with him.  "Buffy wants you to stay away from her and her family.  If you go near Spike, she is going to defend him with her life again."

"Then I'll just have to find some other way to kill Spike when she isn't around."  Xander closed his eyes in pain and frustration.  "I won't let him ruin her life by stringing her along with one of his stupid plans.  He'll try to kill her.  I know it."

"Buffy said you two would have a chat when she's better, but you had better listen to her Xander.  She's serious."  Anya was getting madder by the moment.  How could he be so blind?  "If you ignore her, she'll cut you out of everything.  She will choose Spike over you."

"No!  I won't allow it!"  Xander spat out loudly.  He moaned at the pain that shot through his body when he tried to move.

"You won't allow it?"  A voice from the doorway brought the two occupants attention away from each other.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy looked around the room.  "We need something for the handfasting."  She tapped her cheek in contemplation.  "I know ... I wore one of my scarves as a belt today."  She pointed towards the closet.  "Hopefully it is in there."

Dawn slid off the bed to look for Buffy's clothes.  She pulled the long silk scarf from the belt loops.  She brought it back over to the bed.  "This?"  She held it up for everyone to see.

Spike tilted his head to the side and smiled at Buffy.  He recognized the scarf.  It was the same one they used to tie his and Buffy's wrists together in the earlier ritual.

Buffy blushed.  "So, I'm sentimental."  She said softly.  "I wanted to have it on me."

Spike beamed in delight.  The realization that the ritual meant more to Buffy than just protection warmed him.

Dawn watched the exchange between her sister and the man she looked at like a brother.  "Do I dare even ask?"

Spike shook his head.  "No, you don't."  He snatched the scarf from Dawn and handed it to Buffy.  "You know what to do pet."  He pulled a pocketknife from his coat pocket.  "Get comfortable, Bit."

Dawn sat back down next to Buffy.  She sat on the side closest to Spike, which was the farthest from the door.  She rested her head on Buffy's shoulder.  She moved her hair away from her neck.

"No, Bit."  Spike put Dawn's hair back in place.  He carefully picked up her hand and cradled the wrist in his hand.  "It is more intense and intimate from the neck."

Buffy raised a curious brow to Spike.  She smirked.  'Little devil.  He couldn't resist my neck, could he?'

Spike avoided looking at Buffy.  He knew she realized why he chose her neck instead.  He handed the pocketknife to Buffy.  "You know what to do, pet.  I'm going to focus on the first bite."

Buffy nodded.  "I'll take care of the wrist binding."

Spike looked up at Dawn.  "Are you sure about this?"

Dawn nodded slowly.  "Yes, Spike.  Go ahead."

Spike hovered his head just above Dawn's wrist.  "Do you remember what Buffy said earlier?"

"Yes.  It was "Your family is mine.  By your will protection divine", right?"

"You've got it, Nibblet."  Spike inhaled a deep breath.  He didn't need the breath to live, but the action helped to soothe his nerves.  He vamped out and licked the pulsing vein with his rough tongue to bring it closer to the surface.  He wrapped his lips around Dawn's wrist and bit into it deeply.

Dawn jolted from the flash of pain through her body.  Buffy rubbed Dawn's back soothingly.  "It gets better really soon."  She soothed Dawn with her words.

Spike shook his head a little to tear a bit deeper.  He swallowed the blood that flowed from Dawn’s wrist into his mouth.

Joyce gasped, Ben gaped, and Giles stiffened.  Buffy heard the three walk in right before Spike and Dawn noticed them.  "It's all right, Mom.  He's doing what I asked him to do."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Tara glared at Xander.  Willow couldn't believe her ears when they walked up to Xander's room.  "What makes you think you have a right to allow or not allow anything, Xander?"

Tara gripped Willow's arm.  Her fears were coming true.

Xander groaned.  He did not need any more people ganging up on him right now.  "Look, if you aren't here to support me you might as well leave."  He snapped.  "I've had enough of the poor Spike club."

Anya jumped up.  "Xander Harris, that was rude."  She backed away from him.  "Even for you."

Willow’s eye color darkened.  Her hands clutched into fists and started to rise from her sides.  Tara felt the power surging through Willow.  She squeezed Willow's arms harder and turned Willow to look at her.  When Willow's eyes met Tara's, the color lightened again.

"We'll lea ... leave."  Tara wanted to turn from the room in a run.  She was scared for Willow.  No good would come from the darkness and anger that she felt in Willow's power for those few moments.

"You'd better start praying, Xander."  Willow added before leaving.  "If I find out you did plan this, you are going to need every Snoopy dance you will ever do for the rest of your life to try to calm me down."

Xander gulped.  He never saw this side of Willow directed at him.  She was his little yellow crayon buddy.  For a couple moments he even feared that she would kill him herself.

Tara and Willow left the room.  Before the door could shut behind them, Anya had her hand on the door.  "I hope you're happy, Xander."  She frowned.  "You've managed to push away just about everyone that cares about you."  She shook her head back and forth.  "If you think Riley is going to be able to protect you, you're mistaken.  He'll be in the grave right next to you."  She opened the door and stepped into the hall.

Xander slumped deeper into his bed.  Why was he the only one that saw the problem with Buffy and Spike being together?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ben stared at the blonde man with his lips wrapped around Dawn's wrist.  He stuttered.  "What is he doing?"

When Ben spoke, Spike's eyes shot open and stared at the man.  A deep growl rumbled in his chest and throat.  He let go of Dawn's wrist for a moment.  Something about the man felt wrong to him.  He felt an innate need to protect everyone in the room from Ben.

Giles noticed Spike's reaction to Ben.  He filed it away as something to ask Spike about later.  He gave Ben a little push towards the door.  "Weird family thing."  He tried to explain the display away.  "Buffy's boyfriend is kind of touchy."

Ben stared at the vampire.  He knew what vampires were, and he remembered seeing hair like that around Buffy when the Quellor demon hit the earth the other night.  He exited the room, but he stuck around outside the door.  There was more to this than met the eye.

Back inside the room, Joyce finally found her voice.  "What is going on?"

Spike looked up at Buffy before he leaned down to lick Dawn's wounds.  "Don't Spike."  Dawn stopped Spike from sealing the wounds.  "We need to finish."

Spike nodded his agreement and Buffy sent Giles a pleading look.  "Spike is bringing Dawn into the family, Giles.  We can't take a chance on Dru kidnapping her to get to us."

Giles had already assumed that was what was taking place.  He pushed Joyce's wheelchair closer to the bed.  "It's the ritual Dawn and I told you about earlier, Joyce."

Joyce panted.  Her heart raced.  "I know you explained it to me, but to see it ..."  Her words trailed off.  She placed her hand on the arm above where Spike was biting her daughter.  She squeezed Dawn's arm, showing her support.  "Go on, please Spike."

Giles stood alongside Joyce now with one hand on Joyce’s shoulder and the other on Dawn’s.

Buffy readied the scarf that she'd used as a belt for her pants earlier in the day.  Everyone watched the ritual take place.  Spike and Dawn both repeated the necessary words.  Buffy was the one to actually make small slits in both Spike's and Dawn's wrists before tying the scarf around their hands and wrists to bind them.

The twinkling light pulse that trickled down over Spike and Buffy during their own ritual now covered Joyce, Giles, Spike, Buffy and Dawn.  All five were touching each other in some way.  The light seemed to flow from one person to the next after filtering down over Spike and Dawn.  Though only the three who actually shared blood were protected from the Aurelius line, the magic of the bond brought the five of them a little bit closer together, more connected.

With the ritual complete, the room fell silent.  Everyone remained in their own thoughts contemplating what just occurred.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the darkness of a bedroom at the Hyperion in Los Angeles, a long figure sat up straight in bed.  “What the hell?!?”  He muttered.  He threw the blankets off of him as he turned to get out of bed.

“That is the second time today.”  He spoke softly to himself.  He opened a tiny fridge in his room, pulled out a bag of pig’s blood, and pierced it with his teeth.  There was no time to heat it up because the lust for blood was heavy upon him.

Angel was unable to tell exactly what was going on, but something was changing in his family.  He was too far away to be able to tell which one of his Childer were doing what, but whatever was happening it was getting stronger.  He felt the pull of it.

Wesley busted into Angel’s room without bothering to knock.  “Angel!”  He called out.

“What Wes?”  Angel grumbled.  He hadn’t woke up in the best of circumstances, and he didn’t like his privacy interrupted.

“Cordelia had a vision.”  Wes tried to explain.  “She thinks Buffy is in trouble.”

“I’m sure Buffy can handle herself.”  Angel snorted.  The last time he listened to one of his seers about Buffy’s safety, Buffy had been peeved at his interference.  He wasn’t stepping into something again.  “Have her call Buffy to warn her.”

“You don’t understand, Angel.  It’s more serious than that.”

“Why?”

“It has to do with Drusilla and Spike.”

“What?!?”  Angel threw the empty blood bag into the trash.  ‘So that is what is going on?  Spike and Dru are up to mischief again together.’  He growled.  “Pack up.  Looks like we’re heading to Sunnydale.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shortly after sunset a solitary figure stretched out in a yawn from atop a table.  He growled at the presence of another vampire near him.  His eyes flashed yellow when he opened them to notice the same dark-haired woman watching him that he'd seen the other night.  "What's going on?"

Dru giggled manically.  "You, my precious, are going to help me get my revenge."  She caressed a sharp claw down his face, neatly slicing his skin.  She leaned down and licked the trail of blood up his face.

The scent of blood enraged the newly risen vampire.  It tickled his senses, and a surge of power flowed through him along with the hunger.  He hadn't felt this good since his days in the Initiative under their super drugs.  He laughed hard.

"I see my boy is finally realizing his power."  Dru started to pull back from Riley.  "It's time for my boy to learn so much more."

Riley grabbed the back of Dru's head by her hair.  He forced her head forward into a kiss.  His fangs cut through his Sire's lips with the force and fury of the kiss.  He drank greedily of her precious blood.  "Gladly, Sire."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 17 (Dreams Revisited)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Dawn was brought into the protective familial claim with a bite.  Joyce and Giles witnessed the event, and they felt a little bit of a closer bond between the five of them since they were touching the others involved in the claiming.  After a vision warning from Cordelia, Angel headed to Sunnydale to find out what was going on.  Everyone is mad at Xander right now.  Buffy, Joyce, and Xander are all in the hospital right now.

Author's Note: I'm sorry that it has been so long since the last update for this story.  I worked more on Revenge For Love for a while there, and I've also had quite a few RL issues that have gotten in the way of my writing as a whole.  Hopefully I can get more regular updates of this story out to you all again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel fidgeted behind the wheel of Wesley's car.  Morning was quickly approaching.  He arrived at the Sunnydale city limits with only a couple hours to spare.  He needed to find out what was going on.  Cordelia and Wesley had a few more things to tie up before they would head down later in the day.

Cordelia's vision had been vague as usual.  She only caught glimpses of Spike, Buffy and Dru fighting.  She wasn't clear who was fighting who, but if Spike and Dru were involved the situation wasn't good in his mind.  "If he harms one hair on Buffy's head, I'll stake him."

Angel still felt guilty for not staking Spike the last time he saw him.  He was never quite clear as to why Spike was tied to a chair in Giles' apartment over a year ago.  Several weeks before that Spike had tortured him over the Gem of Amara.  He should have staked Spike last Thanksgiving when he saw him at Giles' place.

Angel stopped in front of Buffy's house.  'Strange that the house is all dark.  Mrs. Summers should be getting ready for work.'  He knew that Joyce Summers was an early riser.  She always spent time with her morning coffee and paper before heading in to the gallery.  He stepped out of the car, strode up to the porch, and knocked.  After knocking again several times he climbed up the tree to Buffy's bedroom.  He opened the window.  He was surprised to find Buffy's bedroom empty too.

Angel grew more concerned over the mixture of scents as they merged around him.  He noticed Buffy and Spike's scents the strongest.  At almost the same level was the scent of sex in the air.  Although that scent confused him, the traces of Buffy's blood scent brought Angel's demon to the foreground.

Vamped out, Angel scoured the room for any sign of a struggle.  The only evidence of a tousle was on Buffy's bed.  Spike and Buffy's scents were the strongest there too.  He growled in irritation and possessiveness.

Angel growled even louder while he traipsed through the house.  Joyce's scent was so light that he knew she hadn't been home in days.  His golden eyes flared at the chaos in the dining room.  Furniture lay in disarray amongst pieces of broken wood and glass.  The scent of Buffy's blood assaulted his senses.  "What the hell is going on here?"

Angel hustled back into Wesley's car.  He sped towards Giles' place in the hopes that the Watcher knew what was going on.  When he was met again with an empty house he was completely frustrated and worried.  What took out Buffy?  Was it Spike?  'His scent was everywhere; even her bedroom.'  His brain refused to reconcile all the reasons Spike might have been in Buffy's bedroom.

The approaching dawn forced Angel to wait out the day at the mansion.  He was no closer to the answers behind Cordy's vision and the strange familial sensations than when he left Los Angeles.

Angel spent most of the day packing back and forth in the mansion's living room.  He had too much running through his mind to sleep.  Several times he tried to reach out to Dru and Spike through familial and Sire bonds.  He was either met with a wall that blocked him or various emotions that confused him.

Angel detected new presences through the familial bond.  With a sigh, Angel vowed to dust the new presences under the assumption that all of them were new Childer Spike or Dru made.  Now that he was closer to the sources, Angel was able to differentiate between which of his Childer the new bonds belonged to.  He was surprised to find out that two of the bonds seemed to be tied to Spike.

'He was never interested in making a Childe before.  Why would he make two now?'  That question floated through Angel's mind throughout the afternoon and evening.  He waited impatiently for the sun to go down while sending out his "feelers" through the bonds to attempt to locate where they were coming from.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn shot up in bed next to Buffy at the hospital.  Her eyes were wide.  "What is that?  It's getting really annoying."  She shivered at the echoed remnants of the icy grip on her thoughts.

Giles, Dawn and Spike stayed all night at the hospital and all day.  Joyce stayed down with Buffy for a few hours off and on all day and night.  Willow, Tara, and Anya made the rounds between Buffy, Joyce and Xander.  No one went into Xander's room, but they did check with the nurse's station from time to time.

Currently Spike and Dawn were in Buffy's room.  Giles was up in Joyce's room.  Willow, Tara and Anya had left to get some sleep and a bite to eat before they meant to return later in the evening.

Spike, Buffy and Dawn were all curled tightly together on Buffy's bed.  Although there was nowhere near enough room for them all on the bed, the three seemed to need the comfort of the other's closeness.  So they squished themselves together to catch little cat naps here and there.

Spike lifted his head up off of Buffy's shoulder.  "What's wrong, Nibblet?"  He had a good idea what was bothering the teenager.  He felt Angel's many attempts to locate him all day long.  He was thankful for dealing with Dru's ways for all those years.  He'd learned to be able to put up blocks to keep other's out of his head.  He still knew when they were searching.  They just weren't able to get anything from his thoughts.

"That is just so creepy."  Dawn visibly shook.  "I can feel this dark hand reaching out to me.  It is almost like it's trying to pull me back to it or at least my mind."

Buffy sighed.  Her eyes were closed, but she was far from asleep.  She never had the connection with Angel that she did with Spike, but somehow she knew the tendrils searching for her were coming from Angel.  "I swear I am going to slap him when I see him."

Spike tilted his head in curious wonder.  "You know he's here?"

"Who?"  Dawn questioned.

Buffy opened her eyes.  "Yes, I can tell it's him.  Very freaky to feel him in my head though."

"Who?"  Dawn asked again, a bit more eagerly.

"I should have known that the bonds would bring him here."  Spike frowned.  "I had hoped that he'd be far enough away to just ignore the sensations."  He shook his head back and forth.  "Since Dru made at least one Childe while she's been here, probably didn't help."

"Will someone tell me who the hell you are talking about?"  Dawn slapped the arm rail of the hospital bed to emphasize her frustration over the whole situation.

"Dawn!" Buffy scolded.

"Watch the mouth there, Bit."  Spike waggled a disapproving finger at the young girl that he loved as much as his own sister.  "Don't want you upsetting your delicate sensibilities."  He teased.

Dawn crossed her arms in front of her.  She scowled at both of them.  "I want to know who's rummaging around in my head.  It's wigging me out big time."

"That would be the big brooding poofter," Spike answered first.

"Angel?"  Dawn questioned for clarification.  "He can do that?"

"Apparently he can."  Buffy frowned.  She glanced over at Spike for his agreement.

"He is the elder of our vampiric line.  He is also in direct line of Sirehood."  Spike started to explain some of the intricacies of blood relations.  "He is able to call to or search out those of his lineage, but I didn't expect that it would work on you two.  You're human, not vampire."

Buffy nodded in understanding.  "The blood exchange must have been enough to link us in that way too."  She pondered the possibilities.  "It makes sense since he would have to feel our presence in his family that would keep us protected."

"I didn't think about that."  Spike's shoulders slumped.  "I'm sorry, Buffy.  Perhaps I can find him later to get him to stop.  If he finds the answers he's seeking, he might leave."

"No!"  Buffy sat up abruptly in bed.  "You aren't going after him alone.  He'll stake you for sure."

Spike huffed in disgust.  "Have you no faith in my abilities?"

Buffy settled her hand on Spike's arms.  "I know you can handle yourself, but I don't want the two of you two fight if it can be avoided."  She tried to soothe his wounded ego.  "Besides we could use his help with Dru, if he's willing to give it.  He is her Sire."

"And when Mister Broodypants finds out about us?"  Spike evened his gaze on Buffy.  "Do you think he's just going to say good for you and walk away?"

Buffy sighed.  "We'll cross that bridge when we get there, Spike.  Nothing Angel can say to me will change my mind about you and I."  She reassured her newest boyfriend and lover.  "I went into this knowing exactly the kind of vampire you were and are.  He was the one who hid his past from me."

Dawn reached over Buffy to hug Spike.  "Mom always liked you more than Angel, and we know that he isn't a favorite on Giles' list either. He'd have to go through a lot of people to get you away from us."  Her voice bounced with a slight hint of worry, but the majority of her voice echoed her inner confidence and protectiveness.

Spike ruffled Dawn's hair.  "Just great," he teased, "I need a big bad teenager to protect me."  He winked.

"Anything for you Spike."  Dawn answered good-naturedly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Drusilla trailed a clawed finger down Riley's arm.  The sunset was not too far off.  She had plans for her new Childe tonight.  The pixies told her that tonight was the night for revenge.  All of the player's were in place.  She only needed to wait for the sunset to begin.  She set a hypodermic needle next to a vial on top of a stone monument.

Riley barely stirred from his sleep.  Being a fledgling, his body refused to wake up until the sun was completely gone from the sky.  His dreams were covered with thoughts of ripping Spike and Buffy apart and bathing in their blood with his Sire.  A sadistic grin curled his lips in his sleep.

"Good boy."  Drusilla cooed as if she saw Riley's dreams.  "She won't laugh at you any longer.  You'll be laughing at her."  She clapped her hands in delight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Joyce sat eating from their separate dinner trays.  “I think we’ve been here quite long enough when they bring me a dinner tray with yours.”

Joyce laughed.  “Thankfully Dr. Kriegel is letting me go home tomorrow.  I don’t know how much longer I could stand hospital food.”

“Joyce you aren’t going to be able to spend a lot of time on your feet to start with.  You heard what the doctor said.”  Giles spoke with great concern in his voice.  “Unless Buffy’s cooking skills have improved since Thanksgiving last year, you are going to be doing a lot of eating out or ordering in.”

Joyce smiled.  “Buffy is a good Slayer, but she is definitely no Suzy Homemaker.  She’s more comfortable with a stake or a sword than she is with a vacuum or a spatula.”  She gazed away from Giles thoughtfully.  “How do you think they are doing down there?  Dawn hasn’t been up in a while.”

“I don’t know, Joyce.  I do not fear for their safety here in the hospital with Spike at their side.  He will protect them with his unlife.  Their emotional well being is another matter.”

“I know he would do anything for either of them, Rupert.”  Joyce responded in a confident and fervent tone.  “He is much more of a man than you all have ever given him credit for being.”

Giles set his fork down.  “I am realizing that more and more every day, Joyce.”  He picked up his cup of tea to take a sip from it.  “He is turning out to be a remarkable young man.  Well, old man if you look at his actual years on this earth.”

“That he is.”  Joyce smiled.  Ever since Spike’s return after being jilted from Drusilla in Brazil the first time, Joyce had grown closer to the old Victorian born vampire.  After a while the more cultured and refined aspects of his personality shown through.  “I’m glad that you are finally being able to see some of the man I’ve known for the last couple years.”  She sat down her can of clear pop.  “He is a very smart man.  I think you two could learn or share a lot between you.”

“I told him before that he had a chance to use his chipped state as a means to begin a redemption for himself by helping us.”  Giles remembered the conversation he had with Spike after Ethan turned Giles into a Fyarl demon.  “He practically laughed in my face during the whole conversation.”

“He always tries to maintain his bad boy image in from of most of you.  I’ve learned to look past that entire gruff exterior to see the man he is inside.  Did you see how guilty he looked about Buffy’s injury?”

Giles nodded.  “Yes, I did notice he seemed a bit more reclusive and withdrawn over the whole incident.”

“I don’t blame Spike at all for it.  I just want to slap that darn Xander Harris boy.  I don’t know what he was thinking.”  Joyce shook her head back and forth.  “He’s been around Buffy for 5 years, and he doesn’t realize Buffy will do anything to protect those she cares for?”

“I believe Xander refuses to acknowledge that Buffy could truly care for Spike.”  Giles sat back in his chair.  “That is part of the problem.”

Joyce nodded her head in agreement.  “What is going to happen now?  Spike promised Buffy he wouldn’t kill, but I know he wants to kill Xander for sure?”

“Strange as it is to say this, I think Spike will stick to his promise.  If he breaks it, he would lose Buffy.”  Giles thought the matter over carefully.  “When Angel lost his soul, he was already wreaking havoc on us from the moment it was gone.  Spike has already showed more restraint when he didn’t kill Xander especially since he had a good reason to kill him.”

“Thought I told you never to compare me to the brooding poofter.”  Spike drawled from the entryway of Joyce’s hospital room.

“My apologies, Spike.  I was merely using an example.”  Giles looked thoughtfully at the vampire.  He knew Spike was teasing with him.  How things had changed in the last week.

“S’all right.  I knew what you meant.”  Spike pushed off the door frame and walked fully into the room.  “Dawn is downstairs with Buffy.”

“How is she?”  Joyce queried.

“They’re both doing all right.”  Spike turned to Giles.  “Angel is in town.  He’s been sending out feelers through our blood link.  The Bit and Buffy are a bit concerned because they’ve felt him searching too.”

“He can do that?”  Giles was amazed at what he didn’t know about vampires even after all of his years training to be a Watcher and being a Watcher.

“Yes, but I don’t think he’s pinpointed anything yet.  Promised Buffy I wouldn’t go out looking for him, but I am going to go patrol and look for Dru.”

“Should you be going out by yourself, Spike?”  Joyce was concerned about Spike.  He’d taken care of her family so well already.  She didn’t want to lose her hot chocolate buddy and friend.

“It is safer for me to find her alone.  She’d only use anyone that came with me as a hostage.”  Spike tried to reassure Joyce.  “Rupert, the docs say that Buffy can probably go home tonight.  Do you think you could take her home later?  I’d say take her when she’s ready, but you know she’s already ready.  She hates hospitals.”

Giles nodded.  “I can drive her home later.”  He patted Joyce’s hand before locking his fingers with hers.  “She’ll be safe.”

“Good.  I should be at the house by the time you get there.”  Spike dug around in the pockets of his duster.  “Most of the nightly creepy crawlies haven’t been lurking about with this Glory chick around.”

“That is a small reprieve.”

“Ya, except that when something is bad enough to send the other demons into hiding …”  Spike let the sentence trail off for both of them to think about themselves.

Giles sighed.  “Hopefully we can find a way to stop her soon.”

“Once I get this mess with Dru sussed out, I’ll go back on the hunt for the skanky bitch.”  Spike promised.  “No one touches my girls.”

Joyce smiled proudly at Spike.  She reached up to hug him.

Spike huffed in mock disgust.  He wasn’t fooling anyone in the room though.  They knew he cared for Joyce, and his little huff and puff was all show.  “I’m out of here.  See you later, Watcher.  Get some rest, Joyce.”  With that Spike disappeared in a blur of black and white.

“We must find out how Xander knew about the chip’s malfunction.  If it was even a malfunction to begin with.”  Giles returned to their previous conversation before Spike’s interruption.

“You think the chip was deactivated or removed on purpose?”  Joyce questioned.

“That makes the most sense to me right now.”  Giles shook his head back and forth.  He didn’t want to believe that Xander could be a part of such a conspiracy, but all of the current evidence was pointing in that direction.  “He would have to be working with someone though to have it deactivated or removed.”

“Spike has been with us or Buffy for the last week on a fairly constant basis.”  Joyce added in her thoughts to Giles’ mental notations.  “I don’t see how he could have had the chip removed by any surgical means without us all knowing Spike was missing.”

“We were never able to fully investigate the Initiative’s purpose for having chipped vampires in the first place.  The electronic hardware in his brain would cost a fortune.  It would be counter productive to chip vampires as a whole.”  Giles explained some things about the Initiative that had been on his mind ever since the fall of Adam.  “Much easier to kill them instead.  There must have been some way they wished to control the vampire’s they chipped.”

Joyce listened intently to every word.  “Like an on and off switch?”

Giles pondered all that he knew of the Initiative.  “That would be my guess.  If they could send a pulse to the chip somehow, then I am sure they could deactivate it as well.”

Joyce shivered.  “That group was more of a monster than the beings they tried to kill and torture.  They were the inhumane ones.  Spike told me about some of the harmless demons that the soldiers ran the experiments on.  It makes me sick.”

“I quite agree.  In the beginning I thought they could be useful in our cause.”  Giles chastised himself for not voicing his doubts and concerns to Buffy more strongly.  “The more I learned about the organization, the more I felt their means were detrimental to handling demons.”

“I’m glad they’re gone.”

“With this latest development, I’m afraid they might not really be gone.  It would seem they are just out of our line of vision.”

“I’d wager my money on Riley being involved.”  Joyce spoke adamantly and sure of her conclusions.  “I know he wouldn’t have been happy to have Buffy break up with him.  If he knew about Spike them I’m sure he would have tried to kill Spike.”  She ran through several different scenarios in her head.  “Xander is naïve enough to play into any plan Riley would have to kill Spike.  Their own little demon bad fan club.”

“I am inclined to agree with you, Joyce.”  Giles concurred.  “The hard part will be proving our suspicions.  I spoke with Anya, Tara, and Willow earlier.  Xander is not being forthcoming in any capacity about his knowledge of Spike’s chip.  Anya feels that it is the result of something Riley and Xander planned based on what occurred a couple of days ago.”

“This has got to stop, Rupert.”  Joyce looked worried.  “Buffy has enough things out trying to kill her.  She doesn’t need to be worrying about those who are supposed to be on her side.  We also have to make sure that this Initiative can’t reactivate Spike’s chip again.  It seems that Spike needs to be able to defend Buffy against human attacks as well as demon ones.”

“We’ll do what we can, Joyce.  We’ll do what we can.”  Giles squeezed Joyce’s hand in comfort.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike patrolled the usual and unusual places throughout Sunnydale.  He wanted to be as thorough as possible in his search for Dru.  A couple times he felt he was close to her location, but the feelings disappeared rapidly.  Only once had he needed to back track and side step to avoid Angel.

Spike rounded a line of tombstones in the Restfield cemetery.  He was on his second run through the various cemeteries of Sunnydale.  Some force drew him towards a particular crypt deep within the property.

Spike felt a strong pull of family the closer he got to the crypt.  “Dru?”  He called out a few feet from the crypt.

A light girlish giggle echoed from the crypt’s entryway.

“Come out, Dru.”  Spikes voice was soft but stern.  “I know you’ve been a bad girl lately.  Come out and talk to me.”

“Why would she have anything to say to you?”  A deep voice from behind Spike carried over the grounds to the crypt.  “You’re beneath her.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy slipped her arms into the soiled top she was wearing the day before.  Although a large bloodstained hole ruined the shirt, it was still wearable enough to get her home.  She looked up when Giles entered the room.

Dawn stomped over to Giles in a huff.  “Please take her home.  She’s driving me crazy!”

Giles half chuckled.  “The doctor informed your mother and I that I may take Buffy home.”  He turned to Buffy.  “Joyce would like you to rest, Buffy.  Spike is out patrolling, and she hopes you will take this one night off.”

Buffy sighed.  “I’ve been stuck in this hospital all day with nothing to do.  Now, you are telling me that I can’t even go kick something’s ass to help me feel better?”

Giles sighed.  He knew better than anyone how stubborn Buffy could be.  “Spike can take care of it, Buffy.  Maybe you can do a second patrol in the wee hours of the morning if you are still feeling up to it.”

Buffy crossed her arms in front of herself.  She tapped her left foot in agitation.  “Fine, but if anything gets in my way before then, I’m so kicking its butt.”

Giles hid the mirth of laughter behind a hand covering his mouth.  “Yes, Buffy.  I’m sure you will.”  He hugged Dawn briefly.  “Dawn, your mother is waiting for you upstairs.  I’ll be back later to pick you up too.”

“Thanks, Giles.  With all of this Angel wiggage, I need some motherly comfort.”  Dawn made a yuck face.  “I don’t know how vampires stand having someone else being able to get into their head.  I know I don’t like it one bit.”

“They learn to be able to block things.”  Giles led both females out of the hospital room.

“Spike said he would teach us some meditation type techniques to help keep our minds clear.”  Dawn spoke up and pushed the elevator button.

“That sounds like a fine idea.  Meditation is good for many purposes.”  Giles was glad that Spike was trying to take care of every aspect of the familial claim and link.

Buffy and Dawn hugged when the elevator dinged to announce its arrival.  “I’ll see ya soon sis,” Dawn quipped.

Buffy ruffled Dawn’s hair a little bit.  “I love you, Dawn.  Thank you for being so cool about this.”

Dawn shrugged.  “We’re blood remember.”  She winked.  “No matter what, we are sisters in every way that counts.”  She added with a maturity in her voice beyond her earthly years.

Buffy smiled.  “You have the Summers’ spunk.  That’s for sure.”  Giles and Buffy waved goodbye to Dawn and headed for the parking garage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Captain Cardboard?”  Spike turned around to fully face Riley.  “Fancy meeting you here.  What are you doing here?”

“Oh just hanging around.”  Riley stretched out his arms behind himself.  “I’m more surprised to see you.”

“Why is that?”  Spike asked.  He moved a few feet away from the crypt.  He wanted to keep an eye on the entrance.

“I figured you’d be a pile of dust on Buffy’s floor by now.”  Riley’s tone was even and smooth.  It held only a hint of agitation and no remorse.

“It seems you miscalculated then White Bread.”  Spike circled Riley.  Something was off about him.  A familiar connection tugged on his psyche towards Riley.  He hated the soldier.  So why did he feel a kinship with him.

The answer came slinking out of the crypt in the form of the dark Vampiress Drusilla.  She wrapped her arm around Riley’s waist then nibbled on his neck.  Riley pulled Dru tighter to his body and kissed her deeply.

“Dru, what have you done?”  Spike groaned in frustration.  He surmised that Riley would be a problem for his relationship with Buffy but not this kind of a problem.

“The golden doll took my glowing little boy from me.  So, I took her tin soldier.”

“She doesn’t love him, Dru.  She isn’t going to care that you turned him.”  Spike knew that was a lie.  Buffy would care, and there was no way he was going to leave Riley’s dusting for Buffy to do.  He’d heard the cliff notes version of how she sent Angelus to Hell.  He wasn’t going to leave this burden up to her.  He’d spare her that.

“You took my fun away, Spike.”  Dru mock sniffled.  “You removed the golden doll from the toy box.  Only you can play with her, and that’s not fair.”

Spike raised his scarred eyebrow in question.  One hundred years with her, and a lot of patience, allowed him to see beyond the crazed yammerings to their true meanings.  “None of our family can harm her now, Dru.  She’s family … protected.”

“I found others who can help me.”  Drusilla pointed to a group of 5 vampires that emerged from the crypt.  “Not our blood, not our line.  I will have my revenge.”  She prodded Riley in the side.  “Have fun my sweet.  Kill Spike.”

“With pleasure,” Riley sneered.  “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)


Not Beneath Me - Chapter 18 (The Nightmares Of Life)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Giles is taking Buffy home while Dawn remained at the hospital with Joyce.  Spike is out patrolling where he ran into Drusilla and Riley.  Angel is still out there somewhere searching for Spike and Dru.  Dru found some vampires who were not Sired of the Aurelius line.  Will they be able to kill Buffy?  Will Riley get his revenge on Spike by beating him in combat?  Will Angel get it right, or will he stake the wrong vampire?

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story at The Spuffy Realm, Buffy/Spike Central, The Bloodshedverse, and my web site (Hearts Of Twilight, part of the Misfits family).  These reviews help to shape the story and encourage the writer to keep writing.  Please keep reviewing.  I love hearing your thoughts and ideas.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You've got to be kidding, Dru."  Spike stared at Riley without fear.  "He's just a fledgling.  You ARE crazy if you think a fledgling can beat a Master Vampire who's bested two Slayers."

Drusilla clapped and cooed.  "He will, my Spike, because I know something you don't."

"And what's that?"  Spike's eyes never left Riley.  He was still unconvinced about a fledgling being able to kill him.

"You can't kill me."  Riley broke into the conversation with his words and a punch that missed Spike's face.

Spike rolled his eyes.  "In case you didn't notice, you aren't all that human now."  He thought about that.  "Even if you were, the chip isn't working anymore."  He turned around with a flying kick to Riley's gut.  He was satisfied to hear the air rush from Riley's lungs and no pain in his head accompanying the hit.  "Though I'm sure you already knew about that."

Riley bounced off the ground and back to his feet.  "Xander paid you a visit, did he?"  He laughed with glee.  He threw a left then a right hook, the latter of which connected with Spike's jaw.

Spike rubbed his jaw with one hand and shoved his elbow into Riley's shoulder.  "I knew the whole situation stunk of you and the Whelp in cahoots."  He growled and raced at Riley with anger.

Drusilla watched the two fighting.  It delighted her to see all the anger and insults flying as well as their fists.  She motioned for the other vampires to stay near the crypt for now.  They had another purpose to tend to; one that would be here shortly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Giles drove from the hospital to her house with the windows rolled down.  The night was unseasonably warm.  Even if that hadn't been the case, Buffy wanted to inhale the open air deeply after breathing in the sterile air of the hospital for the last 36 hours.

They had agreed to take the long way home.  It allowed them to drive by several of the main cemeteries Spike usually patrolled.  As they neared the Restfield cemetery, Buffy sat up straighter in her seat.

"Do you hear that?"  Buffy leaned out the window to hear better.  "Giles stop the car.  I feel ..."  He voice trailed off into the night with her sentence unfinished.

Giles stopped the car and shut off the engine.  He hadn't heard anything before, and he still didn't now.  He watched Buffy carefully.  She was clearly listening to something in the distance.  He wondered if her familial link increased her Slayer abilities.  He hadn't had the time to ask her because she jumped out of the car and ran across the grounds.  "Oh dear Lord," Giles exclaimed.  He grabbed his keys from the ignition.  He knew he couldn't match her pace, but he followed in the general direction of Buffy's exit.

Buffy followed the sounds of fighting across the graveyard.  The moon was partially covered by the cloudy night.  The clouds crowded in even tighter to force the moon to hide behind it.  The wind kicked up with bits of twigs and leaves twirling around the tombstones.  'I don't like this one bit.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dru listened to the pitter-patter of raindrops on the tombstones.  Everything was happening just as she’d foreseen.  She waved her hand at the small group of vampires.  She needed them to hide in the crypt now and prepare her last surprise.

Buffy staked a newly risen vampire on the way to her destination.  She remembered this from her nightmare, and she wanted to eliminate any possible threat.

Buffy skidded to a halt several feet away from Spike and Riley.  “Oh no.”  She uttered softly.

“Oh yes, naughty Slayer.”  Drusilla popped up behind Buffy with two other minions.  They tossed magically enhanced ropes around Buffy’s waist and arms.

Buffy struggled against Dru and the other vampires.  When she’d kick one away another would take its place.  “I thought the link kept you from hurting me?”

“I’m only holding you back.”  Drusilla giggled maniacally.  “I’m not the one who’s going to kill you.”

Buffy shrieked when one of the minions came at her with a long knife.

Spike felt when Buffy was near, but he tried to keep his focus on Riley.  He was strangely strong for a fledgling.  He wondered what Dru had been feeding him.

“Finding it a bit harder than you thought it would be, Spike?”  Riley taunted Spike.

“Don’t worry, mate.  I’ll get the job done.”

Riley punched while he laughed harder.  “So you think.  I don’t think you can kill one of your own.”

“I’ve been killing demons for almost as long as your blasted Initiative has had me chipped.”  Spike snarled.  He ducked underneath one of Riley’s punches.  “I can’t choose my family, but I can certainly cut off some of the dead branches.  I’ll have no problem killing you, wanker.”  He forced the palm of his hand up against Riley’s jaw, snapping it.

Riley stumbled back against a tombstone.  He worked his jaw back and forth to put it in place again.  “You’ll pay for that.”

“Bring it on, farm boy,” Spike retorted.  His attention was drawn away from Riley when Buffy shrieked behind him.  He searched the landscape to locate her.  “Dru, no!”  He panicked at the sight of Buffy tied to a tree with Dru holding an axe at her throat.  He momentarily forgot that the familial claim prevented Dru from issuing the killing blow.

Those moments were all that was needed for Riley to pull a capped hypodermic from his pocket, remove the cap, plunge the needle into Spike’s arm, and unload the contents of the syringe into Spike’s system.  “Now we’ll see who is the Big Bad.”  Riley punched Spike inbetween his shoulder blades.

Dru leaned down close to Buffy’s ear.  “Watch and learn, pet.  This is why you leave my men alone, naughty Slayer.”

Buffy watched in horror as Spike writhed in Riley’s embrace.  The needle still stuck out of Spike’s arm, and he seemed to grow weaker by the moment.  She shook her head back and forth rapidly muttering, “Not again.  Please not again.”

“See what happens when you try to take what is mine?”  Dru cupped Buffy’s chin tightly.  She forced Buffy’s gaze to remain on Spike while Riley punched and kicked the downed vampire.

“What do you care, Drusilla?  You left Spike.”  Buffy spat out and cried.  “You knew he’d come back here when you left him.”

“I really don’t want Spike anymore, but you do.”  Drusilla grinned.  “The fairies say if I kill Spike then maybe you’ll feel the pain we felt when you took Daddy away from us.”

“All of this because Angel can’t love you with his soul?”  Buffy laughed harshly.  “You really are insane.  It’s not my fault that Angel can’t stand the sight of you when he’s all soulful.”

“NO!”  Drusilla shrieked.  “Daddy loves me.  You’re the one who’s tainted him against me.”

Giles, having finally caught up, waited for the right moment to strike.  Everyone was occupied when he removed two stakes from his jacket and plunged them into two separate vampires near Drusilla.  Their dust exploded into Drusilla’s face.

Drusilla batted away at the dust cloud.  She backhanded Giles on the back swing.  “Bad Watcher.”  She pounced on Giles and knocked him to the ground.

Angel ran in from the side.  He pulled Dru off of Giles.  “Get Buffy.”  He yelled to Giles while he attempted to restrain Dru.

“Daddy!”  Dru twisted in Angel’s arms.  “We have to put out the sunshine, my Angel.”

“No can do, Dru.”  Angel held tight.

Giles crawled over to the tree Buffy was tied to.  He stood up.  “At least I wasn’t knocked out this time.”  He worked at the various knots of the ropes.

“Giles, behind you!”  Buffy called out. 

Two of the remaining vampires lunged for Giles.  He ducked in the nick of time and rolled away from them.  Angel knocked Drusilla out and dusted the other two vampires.  “Someone had better tell me what is going on, and they’d better do it quickly.”

Riley, who was not in game face spoke first, “Spike’s chip isn’t working anymore.  He and Dru tried to kill Buffy.”  He held Spike’s arms behind his back in a lock.  “Toss me your stake.”

“No!!”  Buffy screamed.  She worked at the last of the ropes to get free with Giles’ help.  “Spike is protecting me.”  She raced towards Spike, but a now conscious Dru tripped her up.

Dru threw a stake to Riley.  She forced Buffy to the ground.  They both watched while Riley raised his stake and plunged it down towards Spike’s unbeating heart.  The wind kicked up the cloud of dust into Dru and Buffy’s faces.

Buffy raised tear stained cheeks to look up at the place she expected to see her lover vacated.  Instead a very weakened Spike collapsed to the ground still holding a stake in his hand that he’d used to dust Riley with.

“SPIKE!”  Buffy kicked Dru in the head.  “Let me go!”  She crawled along the ground to get to Spike’s side.  She cradled Spike’s head in her lap, much to the shock and amazement of Angel.

Drusilla’s shrill squeal reverberated through the graveyard.  She charged at Buffy and Spike with her axe held high.  She might not be able to kill Buffy, but she would kill Spike instead.

Buffy grabbed Spike’s stake.  She lobbed it at Dru without a second thought.  The swoosh of Drusilla’s body turning to ash was the final sound in the now silent night.

Spike sobbed in Buffy’s arms.  His Sire was dead, but the pain he felt wasn’t for her death as much as it was for the fact that he couldn’t protect the woman he loved from his Sire.

Buffy ran her fingers through Spike’s hair.  She tried to soothe him.  “I’m sorry, Spike.  I had no choice.  I’m so sorry.”  She repeated her words over and over again.  She hoped Spike would be able to forgive her one day.

Spike reached up a shaking hand to cup Buffy’s face.  “Don’t be sorry, luv.  It had to be done.”  His arm dropped back to the ground.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you from her.”

Buffy cried along with her lover.  “You did save me, Spike.  Dru was trying to kill you, not me.”  She leaned over, caressed his cheek, and placed a soft kiss to Spike’s lips.  “She wanted me to suffer because Angel didn’t still love her with his soul.”

Giles and Angel stayed back from the couple to allow them a few moments alone.  Angel wanted to interrupt, but one look at Giles’ stern face told him that he’d better not butt in.  This whole day had been one bizarre fiasco after another.  If he didn’t get some answers soon, Angel feared he would implode.

“Would someone like to tell me why Buffy is cradling Spike like he’s her lover?”  Angel finally broke the silence.  “And maybe why his scent is all over her house, as well as Buffy’s blood?”

Spike buried his face into Buffy’s lap.  He had no strength left within him to fight, argue or explain anything.  Whatever Riley had filled him with was zapping all of his vampiric stamina and healing abilities.

Buffy looked up at Angel and then Giles.  “We need to get him back to my house, Giles.”  She turned her attention to Angel.  “Please, Angel.  Help me.  I promise I will explain when we get to my house.”  Her eyes pleaded with Angel to accept her promise as enough for now.

Angel sighed.  He bent over, placed one arm under Spike’s legs, and the other arm behind Spike’s shoulders.  “Lead the way, Buffy.  I swear I’m in an episode of the Twilight Zone already.  What is another few minutes of suspense?”  He ground out sarcastically. 

Angel followed Buffy and Giles who led the way back through the cemetery to Giles’ car.  They all piled in the front and back seat.  Buffy insisted on sitting in the back seat with Spike.  The whole ride to her house she whispered soft words of love and encouragement in the weak vampire’s ears.  She knew that Angel would probably be as bad to deal with as Xander was, but all she cared about right now was taking care of Spike.  Angel wasn’t going to be allowed to get in her way of that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 19 (Out Of The Mouths Of Fools)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Riley and Dru are dust after they attacked Spike and Buffy in the cemetery.  Angel showed up in time to actually help.  Riley injected Spike with something that sucked his supernatural strength from him.  Buffy had to carry him back to Giles' car and into the house.  Spike is still unconscious, and Angel is waiting downstairs at Buffy's house for some explanations.  **If you really love Angel, you might want to close your eyes.**

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy sighed sadly.  Her finger twisted through Spike's bleached curls.  She quickly learned that the reason Spike slicked his hair back was to hide the mass of naturally curly locks.  The rain dissolved the gel that had held his locks down.  She sat on the side of her bed.  Her heart willed him to wake up, but his eyes remained closed.

Other than a few incoherent bouts of consciousness during the ride how, Spike remained silent and still since she'd dusted Dru.  He was lost within his own mind.  Multiple chaotic images criss-crossed over themselves.  None of it made sense, but the bombardment to his brain forced his psyche to retreat inot the farther recesses of his mind.

Buffy bandaged her wrist.  It concerned her that Spike hadn’t woke up as soon as she fed him a bit of her blood.  What was going on in his system?  She was scared for the man she loved.  She hated feeling helpless.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'll let you know as soon as anything changes.  I'm sure he'll be fine, Dawn."  Giles hung up the phone in the kitchen.  He walked out into the living room with a cup of tea in his hand.

Angel paced from one end of the living room to the other.  He was bombarded with the scent of Buffy's blood, what he thought was Xander’s blood, and arousal.  The various scents agitated him.  He tried not to breathe, but his demon itched to follow the scent of Slayer blood to the source.  The only time he sampled Slayer blood was when he was poisoned and Buffy forced him to take her blood.

Giles heaved a sigh.  "Will you sit down before you break something?"  Angel's pacing was what forced Giles into the kitchen in the first place.  He understood the vampire's nervousness or confusion, but he was driving Giles insane with his muttering and shuffling around.

"How can you be so calm about this?"  Angel whipped to face Giles, and he growled.  "How long is she going to be up there?"  Buffy promised answers once they got Spike home.  It had been 45 minutes with no sign of the Slayer.  "If she doesn't come down soon, I'm going to drag her down here."

"I'm sure that will make her more willing to talk to you, Angel."  Giles' sarcasm laced every word he spoke.  "Pillock."  He muttered under his breath.

"It's just Spike," Angel said as if that statement alone held all the reasons needed to explain his agitations.  "She shouldn't be wasting her time on him."

"I know she would disagree with you on that point."  Giles straightened his position on the couch.  After everything he'd seen this last week he added, "As do I."

"But ..."

"Spike is worth everything I can give to him."  Buffy interrupted the conversation from her place on the stairs.  She'd listened with pride on the upstairs landing while Giles defended Spike to Angel.

Angel walked over to the stairs.  He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and watched Buffy descend.  "I don't know what kind of spells Spike has worked over on you to get you to help him, but we'll figure a way to break it.  I won't let him hurt you."

"Hurt me?"  Buffy laughed tersely.  "Spike wouldn't hurt me.  That's your job."  Her nerves were on edge.  Spike was saved from the dusting her dream predicted, but he wasn't really unharmed.  Instead she had a weak, comatose vampire on her hands.  Was he still going to end up dust?

Angel placed a hand on Buffy's arm in an offer of comfort.  Her words stung, but he chalked them up to a spell influencing her.  "I know you're confused, Buffy.  I'll stay to help you get rid of him."

Buffy pushed Angel away from her.  "Help me get rid of him?"  She stormed past Angel into the living room.  "That vampire upstairs was willing to give his unlife to protect me.  He fought to keep me safe."  Her chest heaved with the quick inhalations of air she breathed in to try to calm herself.  "He even used a familial claim to keep any Aurelians from harming me."

"You can't honestly believe that Spike cares about your life."  Angel huffed in anger.  "I can't believe you let him bite you."  He knew what was required to complete a familial claim.  His demon was enraged that Spike touched Buffy in that way.  "He has no soul.  Killing Slayers is what he does best."

"You don't know anything, Angel."  Buffy slapped Angel hard across the cheek.  "How dare you waltz back into my life and assume that you know what's going on.  You ignorant asshole."

Angel vamped out in anger.  He grabbed Buffy's arms and shook her.  "You are acting like an irrational and foolish child.  I won't let you endanger yourself this way.  Your blood is already all over this level.  So something big is happening that isn't good for you."

"Let go of me, or I swear when I get free your heart will meet the pointy end of my favorite stake."  Buffy struggled to break free of the enraged vampire's grasp.  Unfortunately she was still weakened from the earlier battle and her blood donation to Spike.  The emotional drain affected her physical stamina as well.

"How can you say you are fine when you are threatening to kill me, Buffy.  I'm not Angelus.  You love me."  Angel pleaded with Buffy to see reason.

The high strung thwap of a taunt string being pulled into place to ready a crossbow brought all attention back to Giles.  "Let her go, Angel."  He held his ground firmly and seriously.  He tried not to focus on the past, but a part of him would take great pleasure in dusting the creature responsible for Jenny's death.

Angel threw his hands up in the air, stepped back from Buffy, and leaned against the wall.  He hadn't missed the glare or glint in Giles' eyes.  It reminded him of the night Giles stormed into the factory to kill Angelus.  Angelus may have taken pleasure in the pain and anger that radiated off the Watcher, but Angel merely seethed at Buffy's betrayal and took a more neutral stance to avoid a confrontation.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike awoke to raised voices coming from downstairs.  He was unable to decipher most of the words, but he surmised the three voices belonged to Buffy, Angel and Giles.  His body shook from the effort it took him to get out of bed.  He forced himself to stand on wobbly legs.  Whatever Dru and Riley knocked him up with, it was wreaking havoc on her supernatural senses and strength.  He should have been able to hear every word they were saying downstairs from his position on the bed.

Spike rolled his eyes at the various comments Angel made that he was able to make out.  Spike used the wall to lean against as he moved from Buffy's room into the hallway.  He wasn't able to fully support his weight yet.  'Stupid wanker.'  He growled at the verbal assault thrown at Buffy.

'It's a shame familial claims can't mute the family from insulting as well.'  Spike knew the power of words.  A few well placed insults or doubts had a stronger effect than a punch to the jaw.  Three little words, "You're beneath me", sent him out into the darkness to meet his first death.  Those same three words from Buffy almost caused him to take her life in his anger and pain.

Spike fought for the progress of every step.  Even though he wouldn't be able to physically protect Buffy from Angel, he needed to be by her side to support her.  If the warmth in his body was any indication, Buffy wasn't in the physical form to fight either.  He needed to have a talk with her about the timing of her blood gifts.  He was worried that she'd weakened herself too much for his sake.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Vampires can make one way claims with humans that leave them as nothing more than a slave to the vampire."  Angel lectured Buffy on the carelessness of her choices.  "He could have recited that ritual instead, and you wouldn’t have known the difference until it was too late.  He could even have drained you completely."

"Giles and Dawn were in the room with us.  He knows all about the rituals."  Buffy countered Angel's argument.  "Spike even made sure Giles was armed with a stake in case he lost control."

Angel looked at Giles for confirmation of both facts.  He was astounded to see Giles nod in the affirmative.

"Even with all that Slayer blood at his disposal, he never lost control of his demon or himself."  Buffy grinned with pride.  She sent another barb Angel's way, "I never even felt woozy when the soulless vampire bit me, but I seem to remember a soulful one almost killing me.  So who should I really be worried about?"

Angel hung his head in shame.  He hated the power his demon had over him when he bit Buffy a couple years ago.  It was hard to fathom that the younger soulless demon had more control over his bloodlust than he himself had.  "His sense of survival probably kicked in because he knew Giles would stake him."

"I think you're grasping at straws, Angel."  Giles entered the conversation again in Spike's defense.  "He never gave any cause for concern during the ritual.  He only remained in his demon mask long enough to bite and satisfy the ritual's need for vampiric family recognition."

"And because of that you trust him not to drain, Buffy?"  Angel turned back to face Buffy instead of Giles.  "You just got lucky."

"I trust him because he loves me, all of me.  He doesn’t put me on some pedestal of virtue.  The man and demon accept me as I am, faults and all."  Buffy nearly growled the words out at Angel.  He was really starting to tick her off.  It was almost like he wasn't listening to a word she said, and she hated being ignored.

"He's playing you, Buffy."  Angel was extremely frustrated.  What was going on in Sunnydale that Buffy and Giles were both so accepting of Spike in this way?  It was wrong, all wrong.  "He'll gain your confidence and then destroy you."

"Head games are your gig, Angelus."  Buffy emphasized the name Angel used for his soulless state.  The more time she spent with Spike the more she wondered just how separate the demon and man were.  Spike seemed to be blended in all aspects human and demon.  It was true that oftentimes one part of him was in the dominant role, but even then the other part would still fight through when needed.

"That's not fair, Buffy.  You know that I would never ..."

Buffy held her hand up to stop Angel from continuing.  "That's right.  That was my fault for fucking the soul right out of you."

Giles cringed at the harsh words Buffy threw Angel's way.  His inner Ripper delighted in every barb thrown at the vampire.  Every bit of pain that he noted on the vampire's face made him feel that he'd gotten back a bit of himself that he'd lost when Angelus killed Jenny.  "Buffy ..." His fatherly side placed a warning hand on Buffy.  He was worried about how far Buffy could push before Angel snapped.

"No, Giles.  I'm tired of this crap."  Buffy stepped closer to Angel.  "You gave up all your rights for this protective crap when you left for L.A.  You don't get to tell me who I can date or have in my bed."

Angel growled low.  Just the thought of his unruly Childe sharing a bed with the woman Angel loved made him mad.  His demon was enraged that Buffy allowed his unruly Childer to take his place.

"That's right.  In.  My.  Bed."  Buffy emphasized each word.  "Get used to it because he isn't going to be kicked out of it anytime soon.  You see, he is quite the lover, and he's actually still there when I wake up the next morning."

Angel pushed off the wall.  He stood right in Buffy's face.  He towered over the petite Slayer, and he faced her in fury.  "I swear I will kill him myself if you don't give up this nonsense.”

Their height difference didn't matter.  Buffy stood her ground against her first teenage love.  "The last person to try that ended up in the hospital."  She poked Angel in the chest.  "You will not touch my, Mate."

"Mate?"  Giles jumped into the conversation in shock.  "I was unaware that you two had formally completed the claiming and mating ritual."  He wondered where they found time to finish that one.  'Perhaps it was when I took Dawn to the hospital after the familial ritual.'  He pondered the different times Buffy and Spike were alone.

"We haven't, but I want to."  Buffy blushed shyly at Giles.  "I wanted to ask you for one of your books, and then I was going to talk to Spike about it."  She shifted her weight from one foot to another.  "I want to make sure that it is something he wants too."

"Something I want?"  A shaky voice from the stairs carried into the living room.  "Cor, Buffy.  I want that more than anything."  Spike held onto the railing at the bottom of the stairs to keep himself steady.

Angel vamped out in rage.  He stormed over to Spike, grabbed him by the throat and held him off the ground.  "How dare you think you can claim what is mine, boy?"

Spike hung from Angel's grasp.  He tried to kick out, but his strength was still reduced to practically nothing.  He gazed in pain at Buffy.

The twang and swish of a crossbow being fired and the bolt flying through the air to embed itself in Angel's shoulder echoed through the room.  Giles hastily reloaded the weapon when Angel turned with Spike in his grasp to face him.  Giles aimed the reloaded crossbow at Angel's chest.  "The next one will not miss, Angel.  That is your last warning.  Let.  Spike.  Go."

Angel threw Spike to the floor in a heap at his feet.  He twirled away to the front door.  "This is not over, Buffy.  I will find out what the Hell is going on to make you do this."

"Nothing is making me do anything!"  Buffy screamed at Angel from her kneeled position on the floor next to Spike.  She cradled his head in her lap.  "I love him, damn it!"

Angel opened the front door, and it slammed into the half wall behind it.  "I refuse to accept that."  He disappeared out the door into the remainder of the night.

Giles finally relaxed when the door snapped closed on it's own behind Angel.  He lowered his crossbow.  "I'll go call Dawn and Joyce.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Pumpkin Belly," Joyce tried to get Dawn's attention.  The teenager's nervousness was starting to agitate her.  Between the pain in her head, the worry over Buffy, the fear for Dawn, and now the worry over Spike ... she was quite near the end of her rope.  "Please stop doing that."

Dawn looked up from her seat.  She stilled the hand drumming its fingers on Joyce's table.  "Sorry, Mommy.  I'm just so worried.  Nothing has ever done that to Spike before.  Well, if you don't count the time Buffy dropped an organ on him."

Joyce nodded.  "I am sure that Buffy and Giles can handle things."  She was trying to be understanding of her youngest daughter's feelings.  "He said that he would call as soon as there was a change."

Dawn sighed.  "He also said Angel was there.  I'm scared he'll do something to Spike, and Spike won't be able to fight back right now."

"Buffy won't allow that to happen."  Joyce was interrupted by the ringing telephone.  "Hello?"

"Hello, Joyce."  Giles started with his return to the living room, and he conveyed everything that happened to Joyce.  He sighed, huffed and let his anger out during various parts of the conversation. 

Joyce shared in Giles' anger, and she asked Giles if they could have a disinvite spell done.  She didn't want to take any chances with Spike's life.

"I'll need to talk to Willow.  She would have all of the ingredients more readily available than I would."  Giles explained.

"She just walked in."  Joyce handed the phone over to Willow.  "Giles needs to talk to you."

Willow took the phone.  Tara sat down in the chair near Dawn's.  Both Dawn and Tara watched Willow while she talked on the phone.  "Yes, Giles?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy ran her fingers through Spike's mussed curls.  "I'm so sorry, Spike."  Tears fell down her face to drop on Spike's cheek.

Spike blinked in amazement at the tears in Buffy's eyes.  "Shhh ..."  He cupped her face with his palm.  He still lay in Buffy's lap.  His body ached too much to move yet.  Even the Slayer blood Buffy gave him before wasn't healing him as fast as he should be.  "Angelus can be a right bastard when he wants to.  Don't listen to him."

Buffy half smiled.  She turned her face to kiss Spike's palm.  "I meant what I said to him, Spike.  I'm not giving you up."  She kissed each fingertip then entwined their fingers together in clasped hands.  "I'm yours even without the claiming, Spike."

Spike closed his eyes.  He was beyond amazed to hear the words the first time.  Hearing them again elated his entire being.  "Every ounce of pain Angelus has ever given me was worth it to hear you say that, pet."

Buffy's smile brightened.  "Just remember you are mine too, vampire."  She mock chastised him.  "None of that Alpha Male crap.  Been there done that.  Equal partners."

Spike laughed.  "Always yours, Buffy."  He held his aching ribs with his free hand.  "Not going to be anywhere but by your side."  He worked himself into a sitting position.  "Unless I'm over that sweet body of yours making sweet love or having passionate animal sex with you."

Buffy's skin flushed.  "No fair to talk like that when you are injured this bad.  I don't want to hurt you."

"No pain, no gain."  Spike teased.

Buffy slapped his arm playfully.  "Heal first.  Sex later."  She stood up and helped Spike stand the rest of the way up.  "Actually sleep first after you get another dose of your medicine."

Spike wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist.  Together they walked up the stairs slowly.  "Medicine?"

"Yep, Slayer blood.  So potent it is only available by prescription from Dr. Buffy."  Buffy teased.  They walked together to her bedroom.

"We are going to have a talk later about you weakening yourself this much."  Spike sat down on the bed followed by Buffy.  "You have to be careful, especially if I am unconscious."

Buffy kissed Spike tenderly.  "I trust you, Spike."  She nestled her face against his cheek when they both laid down on the bed together.  "Your demon loves me too in his own way.  I know it."  She traced circles on Spike's chest.

"I don't want you to ever be proven wrong, luv."  Spike moved Buffy's golden tresses off her neck.  He licked sensually along her jugular.  Her blood pumped closer to the surface, calling to him.  "I wouldn't want to live one day longer than you if you were wrong."  He sank his canines into Buffy's neck swiftly.  He kept his bite shallow, and he drew the smallest amount needed with each pull on her life’s blood.

Buffy clutched the back of Spike's head.  She purred and moaned in pleasure.  Every time he bit her it turned her on more than the last time.  She didn't know how she ever lived without the connection that she got when bitten by Spike.  It wasn't this way with Angel or Dracula, and it certainly wasn't good when the Master bit her.  She felt one with Spike whenever he took her blood into his own body.  She felt loved.

Spike listened to the fluttering beat of Buffy's heart.  The rapid pacing and pounding was from arousal not weakness.  He was careful to keep track of her entire body's reactions to him.  It pleased him to know that she wasn't scared of his demon.  Instead she welcomed him.

Buffy moaned at the loss the moment Spike's fangs left her neck.  Her body tingled while he licked the wounds clean and sealed them.  She scooted down a little bit in the bed.  She buried her face in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.  "Sleep my love."

Spike's demon was both thrilled and satiated.  He loved the taste of Slayer blood, but it was even more precious because it was Buffy's blood.  The Slayer willingly gave him blood again.  His demon roared inwardly in triumph.  His broody assed Sire had no place in his soon to be Mate's life anymore.  Every taunting word Angelus sent his way over Drusilla was erased.  He had something so much better … A woman who loved him as much as he loved her.  Buffy was his now.

Spike closed his eyes with a smile on his face.  His weakened body called out for the rest it needed, and for now he would give in.  He drifted off to sleep happier than he could ever remember being before.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles relayed the events of the evening to Willow.  She had been downstairs checking on Xander's status when he called the hospital the first time.  After he finished he told her, "Do not, under any circumstances, allow Xander to get near Angel.  I fear what those two would do together."

"But Xander hates Angel, Giles."  Willow wondered why Giles was worried about Xander and Angel working together.

"But they have a common goal to destroy Buffy and Spike’s relationship."  Giles sighed on his end of the phone.  "Common hatred leads to strange bedfellows, Willow.  Please do what you can.  I don't care if we have to follow him around Sunnydale."

"Xander doesn't have the benefit of Slayer healing."  Willow remembered how Xander looked when she peeked in on him earlier in the night.  "When I talked to the doctors, they said he’d be here at least a week before they will discharge him."

"That long?"  Giles found that out of the ordinary.  Usually the Sunnydale hospital wanted people out of there as quickly as possible.

"The doctor said something about complications and security.  Whatever that means."  Willow rolled her eyes.

"So long as we know where he is at then."  Giles' nerves eased up a little bit.  At least he wouldn't have to worry about the problem being compounded by having Xander added into the mix.  "I need to go check on Buffy and Spike.  I should be back at the hospital in a hour or two.  I want to make sure they are both settled."

"All right, Giles.  I'll let Mrs. Summers know.  We're going to bring Dawnie home now.  She's pretty tired."

"That sounds fine, Willow.  Don't dawdle.  Buffy is not up to taking on a Hell God right now."

"We'll be careful."

The phone line clicked after both parties hung up.  Willow returned to Tara's embrace for a supportive hug.  Giles slipped up the stairs to Buffy's room to watch over his sleeping charge and her vampire lover.

Buffy and Spike held each other snugly.  Both sported equally possessive looks on their faces and arms over each other to reassure themselves of the other's presence.

With a sigh, Giles closed Buffy's bedroom door.  He swore he'd seen Riley jab a needle into Spike's arm before he went weak.  He wanted to head to the cemetery to check out the scene again.  Maybe he would be able to find some answers as to what happened to the vampire.  If there was a drug that reduced supernatural senses and strength for a vampire, must like there was one for a Slayer, perhaps they would be able to use it against Glory.  It was worth checking out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel paced around the mansion's living room.  He was livid.  How dare she not only protect Spike, but she admitted to having sex with him and wanting to be mated to him?  "Over my undead body."  He growled.  He picked up a vase and threw it at the wall next to the fireplace.  The vase shattered from the force it was thrown with against the hard surface.  Bits of china embedded themselves into Angel's coat and hands, but he didn't seem to care.

Cordelia Chase and Wesley Wyndham-Price finally arrived from L.A. as Angel stormed into the mansion.  The both looked at each other.  Neither one of them wanted to be the one to talk to Angel first.  They were in Sunnydale, however, and that gave Cordy a good indication that Buffy had something to do with Angel's mood.

Wesley drew the short blade of grass.  "Bloody Hell."  With a sigh he entered the mansion first.  He walked tentatively closer to Angel.  "Hello, Angel."  He wished he had a tranquilizer gun with him.

Angel swirled around in a blur of black.  "What took you guys so long to get here?  You have no idea the Hell I've been living in the last day.  This whole town is under a spell or enchantment.  They're all insane."

Cordy followed in behind Wesley.  She kept her distance from both Wesley and Angel.  She was ready to bolt back to the car if necessary.  Why hadn't she thought about bringing the crossbow with her from the car?  'Probably because you didn't think you'd need it against Angel, you ninny.'

"Insane?"  Wesley queried.  Cordelia's visions were quite vague, but he figured something like a while town being under a spell wouldn't have slipped by Cordy's perceptions.  "Did you find Drusilla and Spike?"

"Find them?"  Angel laughed haughtily.  "Dru's dust along with her new Childe.  You'll never guess who that was ... Riley Finn."

"Buffy's boyfriend?"  Cordelia was the one to speak up with a question this time.

"Apparently they aren't dating anymore."  Angel started his pacing again.  "You'll never guess where Spike is though.”  He barreled on in his tirade without letting them answer.  “He's safely ensconced in Buffy's house because he is her NEW boyfriend."

Wesley and Cordelia gasped in shock.  That was something neither of them expected.  "He wasn't trying to kill her then?  He was trying to protect her?"  Cordy tried to sort out the various images from her vision.  She knew Spike was fighting someone in them, and she'd seen Drusilla as well.  Had they assumed wrong, and Spike wasn't the one trying to hurt Buffy.

"He has them believing that he wants to protect her.  Her Watcher even stood in defense of Spike.  He shot me in the shoulder with a crossbow bolt."  Angel threw his hands up in the air.  "They're all insane.  It has to be a spell.  I want you both on this right now!"

Wesley and Cordelia both nodded.  Wesley dared to make a comment that he knew his employer wasn't going to like.  "It is possible that Spike has changed in the time that you've been gone."  He stepped away from Angel to make it harder for the vampire to reach him.  "You always said that he acted a bit too human for Angelus' liking."

"I will NOT accept that Spike gets to claim Buffy."  Angel stared darkly at Wesley and Cordelia.  "He doesn't deserve her or the reward of her love."  He snarled in hate.

"Angel," Cordelia spoke up to gain Angel's attention.  "What upsets you more?  The fact that Buffy moved on like you told or to, or is it the fact that she wants to be with Spike?"  Her voice held the seriousness in it that her body language mirrored.  "You've never been good with accepting that you and Buffy will never be together again."

Angel launched himself in Cordy's direction.  He stopped just a couple feet short of the former cheerleader.  "Just find out what is going on.  I'm not leaving this town until I know how to stop this."

Cordelia rolled her eyes.  "Hell isn't freezing over any time soon, Angel.  Just admit that you've lost her and move on."  She turned and walked out of the mansion to get their bags from the car.

Angel turned to Wesley.  "You and I are going to investigate where the fight took place.  Spike seemed weak, and Buffy muttered something about an injection when she was carrying Spike up to her room."  He headed towards the door as he talked, expecting Wesley to follow him without question.

Wesley gave no argument.  He kept his position a couple steps behind the vampire while they walked.  His research told him that Drusilla was a seer and had an inclination towards magic, but he doubted she was powerful enough to cast a spell on the entire town.  He planned to bide his time, do his research, and then hopefully talk some sense Angel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 
(To Be Continued)



Not Beneath Me - Chapter 20 (Meeting Of Minds)


By Tasha


Chapter Summary: Angel, in true jealous fashion, insulted Buffy and Giles while he assumed that they were all under a spell to like Spike. He was rude and obnoxious going so far as to attack Spike and slap Buffy. Giles stuck by Buffy's side, and he got just a bit too much pleasure out of holding Angel at crossbow point ultimately shooting him in the shoulder with the bolt as a warning to back off. Spike was still weak, but he's had a few infusions of Slayer blood now. Hopefully he will get better. Giles left to head back to the cemetery before he headed to the hospital. Wesley and Cordelia arrived at the mansion shortly after Angel returned there. Angel and Wesley are also headed to the cemetery where the fight took place. Joyce should be heading home in the morning.

Author's Note: The timeline for Season 5 isn't going to be exactly the same in my story here. I have tried to keep a lot of canon straight, but the timing needs to be different pretty much from here on out. Some things are going to happen sooner or not at all. I believe I said this before, but just reminding and informing everyone. That way I don't get a bunch of reviews telling me I screwed up the timeline for Season 5. {Chuckles}

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.


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Giles walked around the main area where the fight took place. He adjusted his glasses several times in the hopes that he'd see something. "It has to be around here somewhere." He crouched down as best he could to search the ground. Wherever the hypodermic ended up, he didn't want to kneel or press his hand onto it. If it weakened Spike that much, he worried what it would do to a human.

Giles tried to remember the placement of each person during the fight. He walked over to the tree where Buffy was tied up. Nothing out of the ordinary was there except for the remains of the ropes Drusilla used to tie her up with. He gathered a few lengths of the rope to examine. They must have been enchanted with magic or they never would have held Buffy for more than a few seconds.

Giles sighed in frustration. The moon danced in front of and behind clouds faster than his eyes adjusted to the darkness around him. A flickering light seemed to be coming from a crypt near the battlefield. He headed to the door with a stake out and ready.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Angel, please stop and think about this for a few minutes." Wesley pleaded with his employer to slow down and think about his actions. Angel practically ran all the way from the mansion to the cemetery across town. "If this were a game, Spike never would have let you dust Drusilla. No head game, even in Angelus style, would have been worth more to Spike than Drusilla. You've told me that yourself."

"I don't care that it doesn't seem to make sense." Angel twirled around, his coat billowing behind him, to face Wesley at the edge of the cemetery. "Maybe he assumed I wouldn't dust Dru. So now, he's on his own and winging it."

"Listen to yourself," Wesley argued. "This is a bit obsessive even for you. We are out in the middle of the night in a cemetery looking for something that we don't even know exists!"

"There has to be a needle somewhere unless it dusted with the boy." Angelus growled. They reached the area of the battle. "I want to know what was in it, even if it is only to be able to use it against Spike to kill him." He started searching the area in full game face to take advantage of all of his senses natural and supernatural. "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

"I am on the side of truth." Wesley stood next to a headstone. "Rupert Giles and I may not have been friends in any way, but I do still respect him as an elder Watcher. I didn't realize it at the time, but I do now." His foot accidentally kicked a large pile of dust. He looked down at the dust. He wondered whom it belonged to. "If he's being influenced by demonic powers, I want to find a way to stop it, but Mr. Giles is a smart man. He wouldn't be easily fooled by anyone, especially a vampire, after what happened."

Angel's shoulders slumped forward. He knew what Wesley was referring too. With every day that passed, Angel tried to force the guilt of Angelus' actions to the background of his mind. Seeing everyone in Sunnydale only festered a wound that never seemed to seal itself. "That's one reason why I believe a spell is involved. Giles would never trust another vampire again especially one without a soul. Now look for the needle."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles ducked into the crypt just as male voices grew louder and came near him. He was thankful not to find anyone still in the crypt. He revealed evidence of several minions who sat in the crypt for a decent amount of time. He sifted through several little bags of herbs. He mentally jotted down what each one seemed to be while he listened to the conversation outside.

Giles wasn't surprised to distinguish Angel's voice as the loudest of the pair outside. 'He just doesn't let go when he thinks he's right.' He shook his head back and forth. 'Arrogant fool.' He listened to Wesley's impassioned plea for Angel to forget about it. He stood up straight when he heard Wesley talk about Giles with such respect and admiration. 'Guess he isn't as much of a pillock as I thought he was.'

Giles never knew that the upstart of a young Watcher held anything but disdain for him. It was refreshing to hear that even if they hadn't gotten along, Wesley grew enough to realize Giles' worth as a Watcher. 'Maybe I can get Wesley to understand what is really going on in Sunnydale right now. Perhaps he would understand.' He wasn't sure about Wesley's readiness to hear about Spike's road to redemption, but Giles really didn't have anything to lose in trying.

Giles blew out the candle. Obviously Angel and Wesley hadn't seen it yet. He needed to get Wesley's attention without gaining Angel's. As his hand rested against the sarcophagus, his fingertips tipped over a tiny glass vial of liquid. He caught it before it rolled off the stone slab. 'Now what do we have here?'

The door to the crypt burst open. Wesley, stake raised, walked into the crypt. Out of the corner of his eye he'd noticed the flickering and then extinguishments of light coming from this crypt. He swept the beam from his flashlight back and forth over the contents of the crypt. His eyes widened at the startled form of Rupert Giles on the far wall. "Mister ..."

Giles rushed forward to Wesley. He covered Wesley's mouth with his hand. "Shhh ..." He poked his head out the door. He noticed Angel was still looking at the ground in concentration. Confidant that Angel was none the wiser to Giles' presence, he shut the door. "I really don't want to deal with that bastard again tonight," Giles whispered before he removed his hand from Wesley's mouth.

Wesley acquiesced, "I understand. From what I've heard it's been quite an evening." He tucked his stake back into the waistband of his jeans under his belt in the back.

"That it has, and that isn't even the half of what we're dealing with." Giles took in how Wesley looked. In dark denim jeans and a button down cotton shirt with the top couple buttons left open, he was a stark contrast to his former tweedy self. Giles smiled warmly. It seemed that Wesley had indeed begun to "grow up".

Wesley nearly blushed under Giles' perusal. He felt strangely on display to his former colleague. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "You realize Angel believes you are all under some enchantment. He is determined to break whatever it is."

Giles sighed. "Yes, I know. He wouldn't listen to our explanations. We didn't even get a chance to tell him all that is going on." He tucked the glass vial into his pocket.

"What was that?" Wesley questioned. He tried to make out what Giles had in his hand, but it was gone before he could get a good glimpse at it.

"Hopefully a means to an end," Giles cryptically explained. Even after a couple ingestions of Slayer blood, Spike still hadn't fully recovered from the injection. Something that powerful had to be helpful against Glory. He needed to get the vial home to break down the compound.

"Mr. Giles ... Rupert ... please." In those few words Wesley conveyed his pursuit of the truth and knowledge. Even if Angel was his employer, he vowed the day the Council fired him to never follow any organization blindly again. Something wasn't right here, and he strived to find out what was wrong.

"It appears to have a liquid compound in it." Giles held up the vial into the beam of Wesley's flashlight. "I'm hoping it's the same compound that was injected into Spike. I need to determine if there are any long term effects."

"Why do you care what happens to Spike?" Wesley's voice wasn't vindictive but one of curiosity.

"Because Buffy seems to be in love with him, and it is obvious that he is love with her. He treats the rest of the Summers' females as his family to protect. He's also been helping with her patrols for a while." Giles clutched his fingers around the vial. "I might be able to use this liquid to help us with the true evil in our lives right now, and it has nothing to do with Spike. We could use a break."

"You are willing to accept the claim of William the Bloody, a soulless demon, that he loves your Slayer?" Wesley may have been a replacement Watcher for Buffy Summers, but he knew that he was never truly considered Buffy's Watcher in the Slayer's eyes. Giles always knew Buffy better than Wesley ever could.

"That soulless demon has shown more restraint, love, caring, protective and possessive spirits than most soulful humans I know." Giles' voice had a hard edge to it. If this turned out to be an argument with Wesley, he was prepared to knock the young man unconscious to make good his own escape. "He willingly went up against the woman he cared for and loved for over 100 years to protect and save Buffy from her."

"Cordelia Chase has visions, and she saw Spike fighting someone while Drusilla was there. I can only assume that it was Spike fighting Drusilla and her Childer in the hopes of taking them both out." Wesley started to piece together various pieces of the vision Cordelia shared with him. "We misinterpreted the vision originally. We thought Spike and Drusilla were the threat to Buffy."

"Spike placed a familial blood claim on Buffy and her sister Dawn to keep any Aurelians from being able to harm them." Giles leaned back against the wall to support himself. "That would be stupid to do if Spike wanted to be able to harm Buffy. I've checked the ritual in my books, and he did indeed perform the right ritual. Spike can't physically harm Buffy."

"He willingly bound himself to two humans in such a protective manner?" Wesley was amazed. "I believe part of the ritual includes the desire for the initiator and others from the family line to seek to protect those in the familial claim."

"Exactly. Drusilla had to be very twisted with hate to fight the protective instinct," Giles answered.

"So he is protecting her only because he feels compelled to then?"

"No," Giles muttered in frustration. "He performed the ritual out of the need he already had to protect the woman he loves and her family."

"Ah, I see. Highly irregular." Wesley removed his glasses. He rubbed and wiped at the lenses in a nervous habit. Everything sounded so bizarre, but he wanted to listen to everything. Angel had been acting very strange lately, and he would not take everything Angel said as fact. He would make his own hypothesis. To do that he needed all the information he could get from both sides.

Giles smiled at Wesley's habit. It mirrored his natural tendency to do the same. He was growing used to the whole situation, and he wasn't cleaning his glasses quite as often anymore. "I'm gradually realizing just how irregular Spike is for a vampire. He is truly unique. He goes against everything we've ever been taught."

"Do you think these changes are inherent to William the Bloody or might other vampires also be this way?" Wesley chewed on his inner cheek. "We can't spare every vampire on the hopes that they will be like Spike."

"Unless I see otherwise, I will assume that Spike is the exception. Heaven knows I've seen that vampires can be evil and sadistic." Giles tucked the vial back into his pocket. He gathered the various herbs lying on the floor. He stuffed them into a bag before he handed them to Wesley. "I have jotted down the types mentally for my research. Take these with you, and see what you can come up with."

Wesley nodded. "Angel has Cordelia and I looking for a spell. So, he shouldn't question me while I work on the herbs."

"Good. We need to know as much as possible if we are going to defeat Glory. She's unlike any demon we've encountered, but something tells me that she is so much more than we think." Giles peeked out the door of the crypt. "See if you can get him out of here. I need to get back to the hospital."

"Hospital?"

"Joyce Summers had surgery for a cancerous tumor." Giles voice was laced with the sadness he felt in his heart. "She's been in the hospital for days of tests, two surgeries and recovery." He ached when he was apart from her like this. They'd lost so much time already. He had no desire to waste any more of their lives that could be spent together.

"You really do have a full plate right now, don't you Rupert?" Wesley felt sorry for Giles. In L.A. their battles with Wolfram and Hart grew, but he had no personal ties to the problems at hand. Of course Angel did with the reappearance of Darla, but other than Wesley's conflicted feelings where Cordelia was concerned, he was relatively safe from emotional attachments to those in L.A.

"And growing every day." Giles considered their next course of action. He figured that he'd better inform Wesley of one other kink in things. "Xander Harris is in the hospital because he tried to kill Spike but Buffy stepped in the way. If you see him, keep him and Angel away from each other."

Wesley understood why the two needed to be kept separate. He remembered how much Xander spoke out against Angel and anything demonic. He was also one of the two kidnapped by Spike when the vampire returned from South America. Despite the boy's hatred for Angel that would make a person unconcerned, Wesley had the foresight to realize that Xander and Angel might work together to get at Spike. "I'll try to keep Angel as isolated as possible. You all could use a break from another disturbance."

"It would be most appreciated, Wesley." Giles sighed with relief at the young man's understanding. "I need to get back to Joyce."

Wesley heard the emotion in Giles' voice. He was sure more was going on with Joyce Summers than being Buffy's mother. He nodded, headed out the door, and headed straight for Angel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel completely concentrated on his task. He never noticed that there were two human heartbeats in the cemetery. He scoured the ground in his search for the needle used to inject Spike. He spent 15-20 minutes deep in his search before he noticed the white plunger tip sticking out right next to a headstone. 'Yes!' He thought to himself.

Angel bent down to retrieve the small object. Several cc's of liquid remained in the main chamber. He tipped it upside down, needle pointing upwards, to make sure no more of the liquid had a chance to leak out. He hoped the liquid would either tell him what was going on or give him a weapon of torture against his Childe.

Angel turned in a circle to search out Wesley. He headed for the crypt Wesley emerged from. "I found the needle."

"Good." Wesley held up the pouch holding the various herbs Giles located. "I found what could be the ingredients to make your little potion or what's in that needle."

"Excellent. The night isn't a total waste then." With almost a bounce in his brooding self's steps, Angel headed back to the mansion. "Let's see if we can't figure out what these do."

Wesley followed Angel. He was glad the vampire was so engrossed in his discovery. It would make Giles' escape more easily unnoticed. Before he left the crypt, they agreed to meet at the Magic Box the next day in the afternoon. He hoped he had some answers for Giles by then.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quentin Travers stepped off the Council jet parked on a small Sunnydale airstrip. The sunrise was a couple hours ago. Even though the head of the Council slept some on the plane, he was tired. He felt a nap was in order before he tackled the problem that was Miss Buffy Summers.

Several council members, secretaries, and other personnel exited the plane behind their leader. Various briefcases, duffle bags, and other equipment were distributed between each member to carry to the cars waiting for them. The entire group was silent, lost in their own thoughts about the task ahead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy finished getting ready to meet Giles at the hospital by 11 a.m. They were supposed to do a couple more tests. Then they were going to let Joyce come home. Buffy wanted to bring her mom back here as soon as possible. She knocked on Dawn's bedroom door. "Are you ready, Dawnie?"

There was no answer. Buffy knocked again, but she was still met with no response. Just when she was ready to burst through her sister's bedroom door she heard the sound of Dawn's laughter from the kitchen. She ran down the stairs.

"That has to be the grossest thing I've ever seen." Dawn cringed while she laughed. "I'm glad I finished eating because I so could not eat after seeing that."

Spike huffed in mock indignation. "Don't knock it until you try it, Bit." He looked down at his blood covered pancakes. "On second thought, you shouldn't ever try it." He leaned over the counter to pinch Dawn's cheek. After receiving another small dose of Slayer blood in the middle of the night, and then one again this morning, Spike finally felt back to his normal self.

"No worries there, Spike. I'm not requesting that on the Summers' family menu." Dawn rinsed out her glass. She set the dishes down in the sink. She was glad to see Spike up and laughing. After what Giles told them last night, she was pretty worried about Spike.

Buffy stared at the two interacting back and forth. It made her smile to see the easy camaraderie that the two shared with each other. 'How could I have missed that for so long? How did I not allow myself to see this side of him?'

"Hello, luv." Spike walked to Buffy. He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Want some breakfast?" He ran his fingers through her partially damp hair. "I made pancakes."

Buffy gazed up at Spike with the love she felt radiating in her eyes. She pressed another quick kiss to Spike's lips. "Yep, just a couple. You can leave the blood off of mine too unless you are providing the tap." She teased.

Dawn and Spike stared blankly at Buffy. They'd never seen Buffy tease about such a thing. Had Buffy actually teased about Spike using his own blood for her pancakes? Spike and Dawn shared a look before they looked back at Buffy.

"It was a joke, guys. Sheesh." Buffy playfully slapped Spike on the shoulder. She was so happy to see him moving around freely and jovially. One dose of her blood cured Angel of a deadly poison. It took at least 4 or 5 times for Spike to recover. She gave him a considerable amount each time too.

"Fine, but don't insult my tastes. You put that brown maple stuff on your pancakes because you like it. I happen to like A negative." Spike shrugged.

Buffy leaned close to Spike, scraped her fingers over Dru's marks and whispered, "Maybe you'll let me get that sample I've been wanting to have to remove those marks from your neck." She snarled low in Spike's ear to show her desire. "I know you tasted sweet when I nibbled on your cut lip."

Spike gaped at Buffy dumbfounded. Dawn looked back and forth between Spike and Buffy. It was amazing what a difference a week or two could make. Life was much better this way. "Isn't it time we left to meet Giles?" She hated to interrupt, but she was anxious to get their Mom back home again.

"Yes, Dawnie." Buffy grabbed a plain pancake from a plate on the counter before she stepped away from Spike. She felt the love he held for her. She felt the snap of worry course through him in the next moment.

"I still don't see why you won't let me go. I can't protect you from the house." Spike grumbled.

"It is day time out, Spike." Buffy rubbed Spike's arm. "Sun equals dusty boyfriend, and I am not through with enjoying you yet."

Spike growled, pulled Buffy's body tight against his, and spoke, "You'll never be through or rid of me as my Mate." He bent down to nibble on his marks from the familial claiming. "You'll be mine for eternity," his voice trailed off into a purr until he moved away from Buffy to the sink.

Buffy inhaled and exhaled quickly. She fought to keep her racing heart calmer. Everything about Spike was full of life in ways that a dead being should not be able to do. She loved it when he was acting all feral and passionate. "We'll be fine. It's daytime, and we're going to take the Jeep. Mom will fit more comfortably in there than Giles' little car anyways. So, it is probably a good thing his car broke down."

Spike raised a brow at Dawn over his shoulder. "You are a brave one, Bit."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know." Dawn grabbed her purse from the counter. "Let's get this over with."

"No picking on my driving. I'm nervous enough as it is." Buffy called out to Dawn while she followed the teenager out the front door. "Love you, Spike." She called back to Spike. She knew if she went back to give him another kiss, they wouldn't be leaving until the afternoon.

Spike chuckled. He knew why she didn't come back. He shook his head while he washed the dishes. He wanted everything to be clean and ready for Joyce's return. He had to get the dining room all fixed up. It was still in shambles after the incident with Xander.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn burst into Joyce Summers' hospital room. "You have got to get her more driving lessons." She panted. Her complexion was pale. "I'm too young to die." She thought about being the Key. "Okay this body is too young to die, yet."

Buffy hung her head as she walked in much slower behind Dawn. She handed the keys to Giles. "No dents, but it wasn't a fun time." She echoed Dawn's sentiment. "Why can I kill demons, disassemble and reassemble crossbows, wield a sword, and see things other can't see in the dark but I can't see stop signs and red lights in broad daylight?

Joyce covered her mouth to hide a laugh. She never understood why Buffy was such a horrible driver. She assumed part of the reason was because Buffy was scared of driving. Perhaps it was time to get Buffy more driving lessons.

Giles chuckled softly. Buffy's lack of driving skill was well known amongst the Scoobies. It was considered taking your life into your own hands if you drove with her, but today it was necessary to get the jeep to the hospital. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Buffy."

Buffy slumped down into one of the hospital chairs. "It's okay. You didn't ask your car to break down on the way here last night."

Joyce slid out of bed. She was fully clothed in her regular attire. She held a couple prescription slips in her hands and what she had affectionately been calling her "jail release" papers. "As much as I want to console you Buffy, I want out of this hospital more."

Buffy brightened at the prospect of having her mother at home again. "They still agreed that you can go?"

"Yep." Joyce waved the papers around. "These say I can get out of jail and go back home." She chuckled.

Giles smiled warmly. Joyce was so full of spunk today. After seeing her so worn out ragged for the last few days, he was pleased to see her more like her old self. The worry lines of pain around Joyce's eyes told him that part of it was a cover for the pain she was in, but Joyce was indeed happy to be going home.

Dawn wrapped her arm around her mom's. She hugged Joyce with the other arm. "Spike is excited about you coming home too. He's fixing the place up."

"He didn't have to go through all that trouble." Joyce didn't want to put anyone out. She didn't expect special treatment. The looks on the faces around her told her that she was going to be getting a lot of attention and treatment.

"It was a pretty big mess, Mom." Buffy sighed. "We weren't able to clean up after the mess with Xander. You don't need to see that."

Joyce's mama bear side emerged. "He will pay for anything he broke, and he'd better not even think of coming around unless it is for some major apologizing."

Giles wrapped his hand around Joyce's free arm to escort her out of the room. "We shouldn't have anything to worry about where he is concerned for a while."

The four of them walked to the elevator. Ben met them at the door. "Congratulations on going home, Mrs. Summers."

"Thank you, Ben. I'm looking forward to being in my own place again. The prescribed bed rest part I'm not too thrilled about."

Buffy glared at Ben. Something wasn't right. She tried to shake it off, but she couldn't. Ben had been nothing but nice to them at the hospital. Why was every instinct inside of her now telling her kill the man? She was confused.

Ben smiled genuinely. "You need to follow the doctor's orders. He's very good at what he does." He backed away from Buffy a couple steps. Something in the woman's eyes was scary, almost demonic. "He only tells you to do what will be the best for your recovery."

"I'm sure that's true, Ben," Giles wondered about Buffy's reaction. He felt Buffy stiffen next to him when Ben met them. For a brief moment he swore her eyes even changed color. He'd be sure to ask her about it later. "If you'll excuse us, I want to get Joyce home before she is too tired out."

"Of course. Have a good trip." Ben turned on his heel, shook his head, and walked away. 'That is one strange family.'

Dawn watched Ben leave as the doors to the elevator closed. When they walked into the elevator Buffy's body was between her and Ben. Dawn was tall and limber enough to see around her sister. She felt something make her shiver when Ben was around this time. She wondered what it was. She would talk to Buffy about it later. Buffy was acting like she was protecting Dawn from Ben, and Dawn wondered why Buffy felt that was necessary.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike tilted his head to the side a little. The glass and mess in the dining room was all cleaned up. He reframed the lithograph that fell to the floor in the struggle. They would need to get a new piece of glass later, but it still hung in the original frame.

Spike wiped the dining room table again. He repaired the hole in the wall and some of the broken boards. Dust settled on everything in the dining room. So, he had to dust and wipe everything down. He wanted the house to be perfect for Joyce's homecoming.

Spike heard the shutting of car doors outside. He turned on the stove to heat up the kettle filled with water. He brought out a tray of various snacks that he found in Joyce's cupboard. He set it down on the living room table. He turned around in time to see Joyce walk in the door. He stepped back to avoid the sunlight.

"Home, sweet home." Joyce sighed happily. She walked over to Spike and hugged him. "Thank you so much for cleaning up. I'm not sure I would have been able to do it."

Buffy, Spike, Giles and Dawn all gasped. "There will be no cleaning of any sort for a while, Joyce." Spike was the first to speak up. "Buffy asked me to move in, and I've accepted. Between the three of us, we'll get all the housework done."

Dawn started to grumble but stopped when Spike shot her one of his "you'd better do it" looks.

"I'll take care of most of it since I don't really have any commitments outside of you all." Spike explained. He looked at Buffy with encouragement. "Buffy was even talking about looking into catching up on her college classes."

"Is that true, Buffy?" Joyce hugged Buffy when she saw the nod. "That is great. I've been so worried because of all the time you missed taking care of me."

"Family comes first." Buffy hugged her mother in return. "You take of those you love before anything or anyone else." Her gaze landed on Spike as she spoke.

Spike would have blushed if vampires could. The love and desire in Buffy's eyes still amazed him to have it directed at him instead of someone else. He was a very lucky man.

The five of them sat down in the various chairs and couches in the living room. Each one talked about any ideas they had concerning the little tiff the night before. They shared glasses of tea, milk, soda, and various snacks while they talked for the next couple hours.

Giles shared some of his findings on the herb list he compiled. He said that he left a portion of the vials liquid with a friend of his at the hospital to analyze for contents. "I was unable to find a specific potion that used the particular combination of herbs I discovered."

"Maybe it was influenced in more than one way?" Spike sat back on the couch with Buffy. He wrapped his arm around the back of the couch and down her shoulders. "What if it is actually comprised of two separate potions or even a potion and another spell?"

"You could be right." Giles jotted down some notes. "I'll have to broaden my search." He sighed. "It's going to take longer to figure out, but Wesley is looking into his own sources as well."

"Are you sure that it is wise to trust this Wesley again?" Joyce asked. "After all he does work for Angel, and he is here with Angel too."

"I overheard them speaking last night, and I am fairly confidant that he can be trusted."

"Fairly confidant? You'd bloody better be positive, Watcher." Spike countered.

"You can never be 100 percent certain of anything, Spike." Giles closed his notebook. "I trust him to be straight with me on his findings. He didn't sound too convinced that Angel wasn't just seeing things that weren't there."

Spike nodded, and Buffy sat up on the couch. "If he crosses the line, I'll handle him like Angel." She wasn't trying to threaten anything. Another piece of dynamite in the powder keg shed was not what they needed. "He never cared much for me. I was too much of a rebel."

"I think you will find certain changes in Wesley to be to your liking." Giles explained Wes' appearance and sense of confidence that he carried with him.

"That's cool. When are you seeing him again?"

"In a hour at the Magic Box." Giles stood up. "Which reminds me, as much as I am pained to admit it, I need to get to the shop."

"It's fine, Rupert. I understand." Joyce stood up in front of Giles. She took his hands in hers. "You've spent so much time with me already. You have other responsibilities."

"I would spend every moment with you, if I could." Giles kissed the top of Joyce's hand.

Spike, Dawn and Buffy headed for the kitchen as soon as Joyce stood up. They wanted to give the two adults some privacy. Dawn rested against the island with her elbows out behind her and her back against the ledge of the island. "It's just so sweet."

"You're such a romantic, Nibblet." Spike teased.

"And like you aren't?" Dawn turned around with a raised brow directed at the vampire.

"Yeah ... well ... um ... I'll never admit it." Spike humphed in a "so there" sound.

Buffy chuckled. "Give up while you're ahead, baby." She nestled into Spike's side to hug him. "You're secrets are safe with us, but you can't hide your Inner William from us. We know all about him."

Dawn jumped to the other side of Spike to share in the hug. "Yep, you're doomed when it comes to Summers' women. We are your weakness."

"Nope." Spike hugged both Buffy and Dawn tightly. "You are my strength."

The front door clicked behind Giles' exit. Joyce stepped into the kitchen. "Thank you."

"No problem, Joyce." Spike moved around Buffy and Dawn to reach the woman he considered as much his mother and friend as he did his biological mother. "You look a bit tired. Would you like a hand to your room?"

"Thank you, Spike. I guess coming home wore me out a bit more than I expected it too." She walked slowly up the stairs next to Spike.

Buffy followed behind the pair. She and Dawn helped settle their mom into her room. Spike left while the women took care of the changing and tucking in. When they were content of Joyce's well being, they all headed back downstairs to sit on the couch.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With a slight bounce in his step, Giles exited the jeep. He parked it in a spot near the front of the store. After all of the upset of the night before, it was nice to have his day going so well. His wonderful day ended the moment he stepped into the Magic Box.

The color drained from his face at the large amount of men and women dressed in tweed crowding his shop. They were standing everywhere, checking things out. Sitting at their research table sat a man he hoped he wouldn't have to see again, Quentin Travers.

Anya rushed over to Giles. "You have to make them go away, Giles." She whined in frustration. "They've been here for hours, and they are scaring the customers away." She pointed to Quentin Travers, "Especially that one. He glowers."

Giles would have chuckled at Anya's assessment of Quentin Travers, but he was too annoyed to find Quentin's presence in his shop.

Quentin pulled an antique timepiece from his vest pocket. He clicked it open to look at the time. He snapped it shut, and without looking up at Giles he spoke, "Do you even know the meaning of work and productiveness anymore, Rupert."

Giles refused to let the older man rile him. "I know exactly where my priorities lay. I am not accountable to you any more." He no longer worked for these pillocks. He wasn't at their beckon call any more. "Whatever you want, Quentin, you can't have it." He walked over to the cash register to go over the sales book for the day.

"Perhaps we have something for you." Quentin offered in a token explanation for their presence.

"I highly doubt you'd be offering us anything since we no longer work for you." Giles spoke up without a glance in the direction of Quentin Travers.

A man of India based origins spoke up in anger. "The Slayer will always work for the Council. She can't get rid of us!"

Giles snapped the book he was reading shut. The pop of the heavy book snapping shut startled a few of the Council members. "Yet, she has quit the Council." He moved around the counter to face Quentin again. "Unless I hear a very good reason soon, we will have nothing more to say to each other aside from get out of my store."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wesley entered the Magic Box with his head buried in one of the books he studied all day. "I think that I might have a ..." He stopped mid-sentence and looked up at the sound of a clearing throat. Giles stood in front of a table. Wesley started to speak, but then he noticed all of the other people just standing around the shop. He raised his brows in question. Last he heard Giles was fired from the Council like Wes. What would the Council be doing here now?

"Don't look at me. I didn't invite them," Giles grunted in response. He'd thought about contacting the Council to find out more information on Glory. He never got to it because of Joyce's sickness. Now the Council was here on his doorstep, uninvited. That didn't bode well for their little group.

Quentin Travers looked over Wesley. He reassessed every aspect of the former Watcher in that glance. His judgments mainly stayed the same as his previous ones, but he took note of the changes in stance and appearance. "Nice of you to join us, Wesley." The condescension that was always apparent when Travers talked to someone he didn't like was out in the open when he uttered Wes' name. "Perhaps you can enlighten us on what's been happening lately to warrant the presence of 2 ex-Watcher's since Rupert here doesn't seem inclined to."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)


Not Beneath Me - Chapter 21 (Intervention Of The Stuffy Kind)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Angel found the hypodermic, and Giles found the vial of liquid used on Spike.  Wesley and Giles had a chat, and Wes has agreed to help and listen to both sides of everything.  Joyce is home now.  Buffy and Dawn seemed to sense something off about Ben when he met them before they left the hospital.  The Council has arrived from England, and they have firmly planted themselves in the Magic Box much to Giles' dismay.  Wesley walked into the Magic Box shortly after Giles arrived.  Both are shocked to see the Council there, and neither seems inclined to give any information to the Council.  Travers is full of threats now, but will he really go through with it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Um ..."  A quick glance at Giles told Wesley to keep their quest close to the cuff.  He shook his head, closed the book he was carrying, and tucked it close to his body.  He made sure the empty back cover was all that could be seen.  "I don't believe I will, Mr. Travers.  I am no longer under your employ and therefore not obligated to share information with you."

"You both do realize that I could have you deported with one phone call?"  Quentin accentuated his threat with a wave of his hand to one of the secretaries.  She placed a leather briefcase on the table and snapped it open to reveal a mobile phone center.

Wesley gasped in surprise.  He had no desire to return to England at the moment.  He rather liked having an ocean between him and his overbearing and disapproving father.

Giles' face remained stoic and calm.  He knew Travers had the power to do as he threatened, but it seemed like Quentin was fishing for something.  This wasn't about getting rid of Giles.  Travers wanted something.  "Sending us back to England won't get you the answers you seek."

Quentin Travers watched as Giles advanced on him from a few feet away.  He calculated that both of them would have capitulated under the ominous threat of deportation.  He hadn't wanted to pull his ace out so quickly, but he was beyond the point of tolerance and patience to deal with Buffy Summers and her blatant disregard for her duty.  So he cut right to the quick of it.

Giles stopped moving when he was toe to toe with the head of the Council.  He towered over the man who stayed seated at the research table.  "If you think taking me away from my Slayer will force me to cooperate, you are sadly mistaken."  His voice held every edge of his inner Ripper.

Wesley watched Giles interact with Travers in amazement.  He never saw anyone dare to speak to their former leader that way.  For once, Quentin Travers looked uneasy and concerned.  He silently cheered Giles on.

Quentin forced the hard lump in his throat down.  He was well aware of Rupert Giles' checkered past before he started training with the Council.  He was certain that he was being threatened.

"That would be the worst thing you could do, Quentin."  Giles threatened Travers in a counter offensive, "I would never tell you a thing, and I would rip my way through anyone necessary to get back to the family I care for."

Several of the Watchers stared in shock at Rupert Giles with gaping mouths.  What surprised them more was the ashen look on their leader's face.  They'd never seen him flinch or shirk away from anyone.  Normally he responded to threats with a laugh or counter-threat of his own.  It worried them to see Quentin Travers sitting so still in the face of adversity.  A few of the Watchers tried to edge their way towards the training room door.

Wesley caught the movement in the room before Giles.  "If I were you, I'd stay right there."  He evened his stare on the retreating men and women.  "I'm sure we can all have ourselves a little chat to see what brings the all mighty Council to our doorstep."

Confident that his point was embedded in Quentin's mind loud and clear, Giles backed away from the man to stand next to Wesley.  "I'm curious myself, but there will be no more threats from you Quentin, or it will get ugly.  You're in my backyard now."

Deciding that going after Wesley was an easier path to take, Quentin directed his attention at the young former Watcher.  "Your father would be so disappointed in you, Wesley.  He'd never approve of your refusal to assist me."

Wesley's eyes hardened.  He realized what Travers was trying to do.  It wouldn't succeed because he'd made his peace that what he was doing was the right path to take, even if it wasn't the path his father would have chosen for him.  "My father doesn't approve of my life, as it is.  I doubt he cares about anything concerning me at this point."

Giles was proud of the way Wesley stood up to the head of the Council.  Wesley was nothing like the sniveling and whining Watcher who came to take over Buffy's training a couple years ago.  Before him now was a man he could learn to respect and be friends with.

"Perhaps we should get to the heart of the matter."  Quentin was further disappointed that the attempt to rile Wesley failed.  'What is this world coming to when Watchers and Slayers refuse to obey as they should?'  He thought to himself.  He removed a large manila envelope from a pocket of another briefcase.  "It seems you have a problem on your hands."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike, Buffy and Dawn were enjoying some together time on the couch in the Summers' home.  After much debate a movie was chosen by two-thirds majority vote.  That meant, of course, that Buffy and Dawn outvoted Spike.  So instead of watching an action adventure or classic movie, he was stuck watching a movie called "Ghostbusters".

"You've got to be kidding me."  Spike laughed, but he shook his head as well.  "They can't seriously think that some scientific doo dad would keep the ghosts from getting out?  Besides ghosts aren't like that."

Dawn punched Spike's upper arm.  "It's fantasy, Spike.  Shut up!"

"Yeah, Spike.  If I wanted realistic demons and ghosts, I'd find them during patrol.  I wouldn't watch them on TV."  Buffy buried her hand in the bowl of popcorn they were sharing.  "That's why I don't watch any of those martial arts films.  They are too close to Slayer training."

"If you used those to train with I would have killed you in less than 5 minutes, luv."  Spike rolled his eyes.  "You ever watch how none of the moves actually hit anything, and they are so sloppy that a fledgling could block them."

"Enough about work already."  Dawn whined.  "Giles gave you the day off to be with Mom.  We so don't need to be talking about Slayage and training."

"Bit's right.  Sorry, pet."  Spike looked at Buffy apologetically.  "No more shop talk."

"Yep, no more shop talk.  The shop is closed."  Buffy snuggled against Spike's side.  "Just the three of us enjoying some family and snuggle time."

"I'll take the family time cause the snuggle time ... ew ... I'm not macking on your boyfriend."

Spike laughed and tousled Dawn's hair.  "Silly, Bit."

Buffy laughed too.  She was happy at the moment.  Such moments were fleeting and rare in her life.  She hoped they had a while to enjoy it before the real world crept in again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles wondered which problem Quentin referred to.  He wasn't about to list each of their problems to find out what one Quentin meant.  It would give Travers too much information into what was happening in Sunnydale.  "What ever do you mean?"

"Don't play games with me, Rupert.  I know you're hiding something."  Travers slapped his hand down on the table over the envelope.  "We've heard several conflicting reports about Miss Summers' loyalty to her duty.  Before I give you the information on a bit of a problem I know you are having with a woman named Glory, Miss Summers is going to have to complete a series of tests."

"Tests?  You're joking, right?"  Giles huffed.  "Why wouldn't you want to share the information with us?  If Glory is as powerful as she appears to be, she is a threat to everyone."

"I am not going to hand over volatile information about Glorificus, and bringing her down, to a group of people who might be in league with her."  Quentin knew he was bluffing about the information on bringing Glory down, but he needed every edge to stay ahead of Giles.

Giles choked.  "Surely you aren't suggesting that we would join with Glory to end the world?  Buffy was almost killed the last time she faced this woman."

"It isn't out of the realm of possibilities, Rupert.  Miss Summers partnered herself with a leading member of the Scourge of Europe before, and it led to her "quitting" the Council.  If rumors are correct she's doing it again."  Quentin explained their reservations.  Although his attitude was pompous, there was a valid point in making sure the Slayer hadn't switched sides.

"Did you think she would jump for joy when you refused to help her save the man she loved?"  Giles retorted angrily.

"We've tolerated her insubordination now for years.  The timing is crucial for her to return to the fold now."  Travers sat unwavering in his demands, "But we have to be sure where she stands."

"Do you honestly think she will return to the Council?"  Giles shook his head back and forth.  Was Quentin really that delusional to think that with a word from him, Buffy would go back under the Council's control?  "I doubt she would willingly return under the Council's thumb."

"There are persuasive means to make her return," Quentin delighted in the possibility of removing Buffy Summers as the Slayer.  He longed for simpler days when Slayers followed their orders without question.  "We've dealt with rogue Slayers before.  Our methods can be quite effective.  Miss Summers is not impervious to bullets, bolts and arrows.  It just takes more of them to get the job done.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Tara walked along the streets of downtown Sunnydale.  Classes were done for the day, and Joyce was back from the hospital.  After a quick check on Xander's condition, they trotted off to the Magic Box.  Giles called earlier in the day to ask them both to attend a meeting and research "party" there.

Hand in hand, the lover Wiccas walked to the back entrance of the shop since they were coming from that end of town.  Both reflected on their own thoughts, and they weren't talking out loud either.  So, no one heard them quietly open and close the back door that led into the training room. 

Willow and Tara stepped into the training room tentatively.  They never knew when Buffy might be training, and it was dangerous to break into a session when Buffy had weapons.

Willow and Tara reached the inner door in time to hear the tail end of the conversation.  They both sucked in a tight breath.  The inner door flung open, and the two girls were grabbed and drug into the shop.

"Let them go!"  Giles rushed over to Willow and Tara.  He pushed the Watchers away from them.  He helped them both stand back up since they'd ended up on the floor when released.

"Where did they come from?"  Quentin stood up.  He never liked the feeling that his back was exposed.  "You were supposed to check for other entrances," He barked in anger at those he considered his underlings.

"I don't know how we missed it, Sir."  One Watcher edged towards the training room door.  "I'll take care of it."  He headed into the training room and out the back exit of the Magic Box.  He was happier to be outside anyways.  The tension inside was palpable.  He needed a break from it.

Wesley helped Willow right herself while she dusted herself off.  "Hello, Miss Rosenberg."

Recognition lit across Willow's face.  "Wesley?  What are you doing here?"

"That explanation was to be part of the meeting," Giles directed his words to Willow while he made sure Tara was all right.  "But when I got here, they were here instead."  He pointed around the room.

Willow nodded.  'With all that tweed, I'm betting on it being the Watcher's Council.'  She thought to herself.  The unhappy look on Giles' face confirmed her theory.  She leaned in to whisper into Wesley's ear, "I take it Angel is around here somewhere?"

Wesley nodded and whispered back, "He is at the mansion."

"Not good," Willow said louder.  "Does Buffy know they're here?"

"I haven't had a chance to inform her yet.  Why don't you go call her?"  Giles motioned his head towards his office phone.  The farther away from the Council Willow was, the more freely she could talk.

"All right.  I'll see if she's home."

"You should catch up with the times, Rupert.  The girl should have a cell phone."  Quentin felt secure enough to sit back down.  "She should be at your beckon call."

Tara giggled at the thought of Buffy at anyone's beckon call.  "He does ... sss ... n't know Buffy very well, does ... sss he?"

Wesley and Giles both hid smirks of mirth.  The pair headed over to the research table.  Tara hung back by the ladder to the upper level.  It kept her closer to Willow, and something told her to keep an eye on Giles' books.

Willow tapped her fingers on Giles' desk.  "Come on, pick up."  She fidgeted nervously.  When she heard Buffy say hello on the other end, she hurried to get out the reason why she called, "Buffy, I'm at the Magic Box.  We have a serious problem."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy grumbled at the ringing of the phone.  All three of them jumped up to get the phone before it woke Joyce.  Instead of reaching the phone in the first few rings, the simultaneous movement of Dawn, Spike and Buffy rendered them immobile on the floor.

Spike recovered first, and he helped Buffy to stand again.  Buffy headed over to the phone, and Spike extended his hand to Dawn to help her up.

"Summers' residence.  This better be good because I'm all bruised now."  Buffy's voice was curt, but a bit of humor lay beneath it.  All of her friends knew not to call the house today.  They'd all agreed that it would be best for her mom to rest without distractions.

Spike smiled.  "I hope it isn't your da."

Dawn snorted, "As if he'd care enough to call and see how we are doing."

Spike hugged Dawn.  He spent many days and nights talking to Joyce about her ex-husband, her marriage, and taking care of everything as a single parent.

"You're kidding me!"  Buffy yelled into the phone.  "They said what?"

Spike and Dawn rushed next to Buffy.  Both of them strained to hear the other end of the conversation.  Spike was able to pick up little bits here and there.  The word Council was predominantly mentioned.  "Bloody Hell."

"What?"  Dawn looked up at Spike with concern.

"I think the bloody Council of Wankers decided to pay a visit."

Dawn rolled her eyes.  "That can't be a good sign."

Buffy hung up the phone.  She practically slammed the handset back into the cradle.  "It isn't!"  She started pacing between the dining room, entryway and living room.

Spike caught Buffy in the entryway. He stopped her from pacing and turned her to face him.  "What did Red say?"

"It seems the Council has taken over the Magic Box."  Buffy closed her eyes, and she rested the top of her head against Spike's chest.  She butted her head against his firm chest in frustration.  "Willow said they were taunting Giles when she arrived with Tara."

Spike growled.  "Why are they even here?  You don't work for the gits anymore."

"It seems they still feel I belong to them."  Buffy needed the comfort from Spike, and she knew that he was going to hit the roof after her next statement.  "Willow walked in on a conversation about killing uncooperative Slayers."

"Like Hell they will!"  Spike shouted.  He pushed Buffy away from him to lock his gaze with her.  "No one and nothing is going to hurt my mate."

Dawn silently fumed.  She was slumped on the couch.  "Stupid Council," She muttered under her breath.  As if they didn't have enough problems already.

Buffy smiled warmly at Spike's possessiveness.  She would have fought anyone else who made such a claim, but it felt right for Spike to say it.  "We are going to straighten them out, Spike."

"You shouldn't go anywhere near them, if they want to kill you."  Dawn interjected from the living room.

"Willow said Giles really did want me there."  Buffy evened her gaze on Spike, "And I think that I should have company."

Spike nodded.  "Bloody right."

Buffy walked into the living room.  "Do you think you'll be able to handle staying home with Mom?  I don't want to wake her to tell her about more trouble."

"Not a problem, Buffy.  You go kick their asses."

"Language, Bit."  Spike corrected.

"As if you have anything to say mister bloody this and bloody that."  Dawn waggled a chastising finger at Spike.

Buffy laughed.  "She has you pegged."  She tugged on Dawn's arm to stand up.  "Let me show you where I put all of mom's medications in case she needs something."

"Okay."  Buffy and Dawn disappeared up the stairs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"She's on her way," Willow interrupted the conversation after she hung up the phone and left the office.  "She needs to check on her mother before she can leave."  She nodded to Giles to let him know that Buffy knew what was going on.

"I'm sure it won't take them too long to get here."  Giles nodded slightly in return.  He knew Spike would never let Buffy come to the shop alone, daylight or not.

"They?"  Quentin queried. 

"You'll find out soon enough."  Giles moved over to the register.  He unlocked a drawer beneath it and pulled out a journal.  He relocked the drawer before he walked back to the middle of the room.  "Now about Glory," He recited a few facts that they'd gathered in the last few weeks.  It wasn't until recently that they knew the woman's name was Glory or Glorificus, but he'd still jotted down all their observations before that time as well as currently.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

About a block away from the Magic Box, Buffy kissed Spike goodbye.  During their walk from the Summers' house, Buffy and Spike discussed how best to approach the Council.  One thing they agreed on was a division of advancement.  Buffy would enter the Magic Box through the front, and Spike would enter through the back entrance into the training room.

Buffy was satisfied that Spike would behave as best as possible while at the Magic Box.  He promised he wouldn't eat them all.  He told her that all bets would be off if one of them tried to harm a hair on her head.  It was the most she could expect.  She felt the same way about him.  If anyone tried to hurt him, she'd take them out in a heartbeat.

The bell inside the shop door tinged and jingled when Buffy walked in from the outside.  She gave a cursory survey around the room as she walked down the stairs and over to Giles.  She crossed her arms across her chest.  "Quentin Travers," Her normal soft voice was icy and sarcastic, "Just the man I hoped to never see again."

"I'd say it was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Summers, but it isn't."  Quentin met Buffy's sarcasm with his own.  It was evident that neither felt any better about seeing each other again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike slammed the training room door open into the main area of the Magic Box.  A tall man dressed in tweed hung from the end of Spike's grasp.  The man was still kicking to get loose as Spike walked them both into the middle of the shop.

All heads turned as the echo of a door hitting the wall pierced their hearing.  Objects on the wall shook under the strain of the angry vampire.

"I found this wanker blocking the back door.  Fancied himself as some sort of guard."  Spike snorted.  "Couldn't even get his stake out without dropping it.  Do you even train this gits properly anymore?"  He threw the man into the sea of other Watchers standing around.  "Flash a little fang, and he was mush."

Buffy smiled in pride at Spike.  She wanted to laugh in Travers' face, but she figured that would be pushing it.  "Glad you could make it, sweetie."

Spike crossed the room confident and strong.  His demon wanted to tear through the place and leave no survivors except the Scoobies.  This group was a threat to his and Buffy's existence.  From what the Wicca said on the phone they were already threatening Giles and Buffy too.

Buffy's arms encircled Spike's waist.  She kissed him softly on the lips.  Both of them were aware of the looks being sent their way. 

While they kissed, they used their distraction to silently assess the room for weapons, threats, exits, and allies.  Spike's eyes spoke understanding when he stepped back and to the side to stand next to Buffy instead of in front of her.

'Now that takes guts to do that.'  Wesley's respect for Buffy's determination and conviction grew in those few minutes.  He doubted that anyone else noticed how Buffy and Spike kept their eyes open during the kiss.  He stood right next to them.  So, he saw Spike checking things out.  Even in the shared moment of intimacy, Buffy seemed to be on duty.  This time she was protecting those she loved not those she was chosen to save by duty.

"I see our reports were accurate.  William the Bloody is your new partner."  Quentin slumped back against the back of the chair.  "You have indeed switched sides this time."

"William the Bloody is my boyfriend, and he will soon be my mate."  Buffy stated seriously.  She wanted it quite clear that she was firm about Spike's place in her life.

Spike puffed up with pride over Buffy's declaration.  Every time he heard her refer to him as her mate, he couldn't help the sense of satisfaction from bubbling over.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Tara swung their feet over the balcony on the upper level of the Magic Box.  Giles kept his more dangerous and research books up here where customers wouldn't be able to reach them.  Willow and Tara figured that if the Council want to take anything from up here without Giles' permission, the could stop them with a barrier spell.

Willow found amusement in kicking dust particles on the heads of the Watcher's below the balcony.  She watched the Watcher's bat at their faces and run their fingers through the air as the pieces of dust and dirt drifted at them.

Tara stilled Willow's legs.  She leaned in to whisper, "We don't want to make them any angrier than they already are, Willow."

Willow pouted like a sad puppy dog.  If she was more powerful she would have sent Travers and his merry little band back to England on a one way ticket.  She was trying to find her amusement any way she could.  It helped to distract her from the worry over what was Buffy going to do or not do.

Tara kissed the tip of Willow's nose playfully.  She rested her head on Willow's shoulder and listened to the continuing conversation below.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Apparently your sources aren't as good as you thought, Quentin."  Giles delighted in the sickened look on Travers' face.  "Spike has been fighting with us for the last year or so now.  He was the one who switched sides, not Buffy."

Spike grumbled to himself about being considered a white hatter.  It was inevitable that he wear the title because he was helping the Slayer and the Scoobies kill the baddies and keep things safe.  Sometimes his demon just got a little upset about being called "good".

"How is this possible?"  Quentin knew all he cared to know about demons.  Vampires were bloodthirsty creatures of the night.  They weren't fit beings to walk the earth, and he'd made it his life's goal to eradicate them all through his Slayers.

"It started with this nasty little government organization called the Initiative."  Spike growled.

The events of the last year plus unfolded between Spike, Buffy and Giles telling the story.  Buffy and Giles reinforced all of the times Spike helped them.  Spike readily admitted his mistake with Adam, and Giles countered Travers' objections with other instances during the Adam fiasco where Spike helped immensely.

Buffy held Spike's hand tightly.  She needed the reassurance of his presence in what she felt was a battle zone.  She told Travers that even when all Spike wanted was to bag his third Slayer, he helped her save the world from being plunged into Hell by Angelus and Acathla.

Quentin argued that a soulless demon was not able to show or feel emotions the way humans did.  Buffy blew that argument out of the water with examples of how Spike loved Drusilla for over a hundred years.  She told about how Spike watched over Dawn and cared for her mother long before Buffy wanted anything to do with Spike.

They argued back and forth for at least an hour.  Neither side really made any progress.  It seemed that each side was arguing at their own brick wall, and the frustration levels were at their peaks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Joyce Summers woke up a few hours after she went to sleep.  Her mouth was dry, and she her headache was stronger than when she went to sleep.  She sat up in bed and rang the little bell Spike gave her before he left the room earlier.

Dawn ran up the stairs quickly.  In her haste she almost tripped on the last step going up to the landing.  She righted herself with the railing and walked the rest of the way to her mother's room.  "Mommy?"  She peered into the room.  She only opened the door a crack.

"Thank you for coming, Dawn."  Joyce motioned for Dawn to come the rest of the way into the room.

"Did you sleep well?"

"It was a nice little nap."  Joyce adjusted the blankets in her lap.  "I'm afraid I woke up with a headache though.  Would you please get me a glass of water and my pills?"  She would have rather gotten them herself, but the pounding in her head forced her to keep her eyes closed as much as possible and stay stationary.

"Sure.  I'll be right back."  Dawn rushed from the bedroom.  It was a good thing that Buffy made sure Dawn knew where their mom's different types of pills were located.  It would have taken her a long time to find them.  The medicine cabinet in the bathroom was the last place she would have looked.  She picked out the one Buffy told her was for headaches and other pain.

Joyce rubbed her temples in an effort to lessen the pain.  She had to be careful not to press on the incision from the tumor removal.

Dawn ran back into the bedroom.  She set a bottle of water on the nightstand.  She then handed two pain pills and a glass of water to Joyce.  "I brought the bottle in case you get thirsty later."

"That is so thoughtful of you, Dawn."  Joyce yawned.  She hadn't realized that she'd want to sleep so much when she got home.  "Are you, Spike and Buffy watching a movie downstairs?"

"We were, but they needed to go to the Magic Box."

"The Magic Box?  I thought Rupert gave them the day off."

"He did, but something came up."  Dawn tried not to look worried.  "It's nothing she can't handle."

Joyce nodded, but she doubted that the matter was as simple as Dawn made it out to be.  "All right.  I trust her to know what she is doing."  She finished the glass of water and slid back down to lay against the pillows flat.  "I think I'll rest a bit more."

"Okay.  Give me a ring if you need anything else."  Dawn hugged her mother gently, picked up the empty glass, and closed the door behind her when she left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Unless he is willing to be ensouled, we will never accept William the Bloody as a partner for the Slayer."  Quentin hissed.  He might be forced to accept a lot of things, but a relationship between the Chosen One and the slayer of Slayers was a direct slap in the face to everything they stood for.

"You're not cursing me with a bloody soul."  Spike growled.  "I don't need a soul to do right by Buffy."  He was furious that even after all they'd shared with Quentin Travers, the man still thought he had to be cursed with a soul to be considered tame enough to help the Scoobies.  Hell if he wanted to he could eat all of them now, but he promised Buffy he wouldn't.  Knowing right from wrong wasn't based on a soul.

Several of the Watchers jumped back from the lethal blonde pair.  Spike vamped out in his anger without realizing it, and they were staring straight into the face of one of the most dangerous vampires in Council history.

Buffy squeezed Spike's arm in comfort and support.  "Honey," She made a mock grrr face at him, "Bumpies."  She pointed to his face.  "Not that I don't love them, but you're scaring the children."  She mocked the fear that the supposedly powerful men and women of the Council showed.

Spike shook off his demon.  Now was not the place and time to teach these wankers a true lesson.  William tried to placate the demon within, 'She won't let them harm us, Spike.  She loves us just as we are.'

'I am not bloody well giving up sex because the gits want to curse us.  I already have a damn soul, conscience, whatever.  I deal with you every day.'  The demon huffed back at the remnant of his human days.

Spike rubbed his temples to ward off the headache forming.  He rubbed his hand over Buffy's to show that he was all right when she looked at him with concerned eyes.  "Bit of an argument going on."  During one of their post lovemaking talk sessions, Spike tried to explain to Buffy what it was like in his head at times.  He told her that for whatever reason, he felt his demon and his human sides argue with each other.  Sometimes he even heard physical words being thrown back and forth.

"I'll bet that is one hell of a conversation."  Buffy teased.  She hugged Spike once more before she turned her attention back to a gobsmacked Quentin Travers.

The head of the Council watched the display in disgust.  "You allow this to continue?"  He directed the words to Giles.  "How can you choose to let her throw all we taught you into such disarray."

"It is not Giles' choice, and it's certainly not yours, Travers."  Buffy narrowed her gaze on the aging Watcher.  "I trust Giles more than almost anyone, but I won't give up Spike even for him."  She sent Giles an apologetic look.  "Thankfully, he was willing to give Spike a chance to prove himself for my sake."

Giles blushed and adjusted the glasses on his face.  He loved Buffy like a daughter, and he knew the Council would use that against him in any way they could.  It was why he was fired in the first place.  "I've found that when Buffy makes her mind up about something, you need to stay by her side to see to her safety and care.  If it is a wrong choice, I'll be there to pick up the pieces.  If it is a right choice, I'll be there to celebrate alongside her."

Buffy smiled warmly at Giles.  Her smile turned to a dark smirk before she faced Travers head on again.  "You," She poked Travers in the chest, "Are going to tell us what we need to know with no more talk of ensouling.  I happen to have two powerful witches for friends who would be more than happy to protect Spike.  So don't try it behind my back either."

Willow and Tara smiled from their perch on the upper landing.  It was good to hear that Buffy found them both useful and powerful.  They wanted to support her in any way they could.

Strangely enough, Anya kept her mouth shut the entire time.  The men and women frightened her.  Even though she was a human right now, she didn't think they would care about that.  If they knew she was a former vengeance demon, she feared for her life.  She tried to blend into the background and not draw attention to herself.

"This discussion is pointless."  Quentin sighed.  He stood up, which pushed Buffy back away from him a little.  "You are asking for us to give up too much in exchange for nothing."

Buffy frowned.  'This stupid man is so damn stubborn.  He'll let the world be destroyed just to save his pride.'

"We'll keep our information to ourselves."  Quentin tucked the envelope back into his briefcase.  He motioned for all of the Council, and the others with him, to follow him to the door.  "Perhaps when you've come to your senses, and can prove where your loyalties lie, we can speak again."

"Be realistic, Mr. Travers.  Would you really allow this demon to continue to wreak havoc?"  Wesley interjected his concerns.  "Is the Council that pig-headed and one-sided with their beliefs that they would rather see the world go to Hell than believe one demon is able to seek out his own redemption without a soul?"

"You are young, boy."  Quentin addressed Wesley with disdain.  "One day you will understand just how wrong you are."  With those parting words, Quentin Travers and his entourage left the Magic Box.

Buffy slumped down in the chair Travers vacated a few minutes before.  "Was that as fun for everyone else as it was me?"  She buried her head in her arms on the table.

Spike slipped his arms around Buffy and comforted her as best he could.  He was elated that Buffy stood her ground about her relationship with him, but he knew they needed whatever information Quentin Travers had.  As much as he loved Buffy, he wasn't willing to let others die so he could be happy.  He started thinking of what he could do to get the information from the stuffed shirt.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 22 (Traitors, Friends and Gods)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: The Council left the Magic Box, and now the rest of the Scoobies are trying to figure out where to go next.  Anya heads to the hospital to see Xander, and Dawn’s key status will be revealed to the majority of the Scoobies.  Cordy gets out a few frustrations.  Angel will discover a secret that he doesn’t even realize the importance of.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Where's Wesley?"  Angel stretched out his arms to both sides of his body and then back behind him.  It was a bit early for him to be waking up, but he had too much on his mind to sleep all day.  When he came downstairs, he was surprised to find only one heartbeat in the mansion.

"He's researching those herbs he found."  Cordelia Chase kept her gaze on the book she was reading.  "I think he took a small sample of the potion too."

"What would he need that he couldn't bring here?"  Angel questioned.  He wanted to question Wesley about his findings.  "He has all his research equipment right here."  He pointed to the various instruments, books, and specimens on the table.

"He seemed fairly excited when he left."  Cordelia shrugged.  She was still mad about Angel's attitude.  She got a certain delight in what she said next, "He said something about a meeting with Giles at the Magic Box.   They're probably comparing notes right now."

"WHAT?  You let him leave to meet Giles?"  Angel's fist smashed into the back of the couch, punching a hole in it.  "Am I surrounded by imbeciles or just traitors?"

Cordelia threw the book down on the table.  She marched over to Angel, slapped him hard across the face, and then plunged a crossbow bolt laced with enough tranquilizer to knock the large vampire out.

"Cord ..."  Angel's voice trailed off, and his body plopped to the floor unconscious.

"That's much better."  Cordy tossed the bolt back into a jar full of liquid tranquilizer near the table in case the bolt was needed again.  "You were really starting to get on my last nerve oh brooding one."  She tossed the remark at Angel's unconscious body after a little kick to his shin.  She left him there on the floor and went back to her research.  She hoped Wesley had a more enjoyable afternoon than she was having.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya ducked out of the Magic Box about ten minutes after Travers' party left.  She was still shaking from the emotional upheaval and worries that she faced when the room was full of "demon hunters".  She ran along the Sunnydale streets.  She had one destination in mind, and she was going to get there as fast as possible ... Sunnydale Memorial.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh magnificent, Glorificus, we have some news."  Two of Glory's minions rushed into the room.

Glory swayed back and forth from the power rush of the mind she just sucked dry.  "Oooo ... this one had power."  The heavily disfigured faced man fell to the floor in a babbling heap.  She turned to her minions.  "I hope it is good news, Jinx."

"Yes, oh glorious and beautiful one."  Jinx groveled at Glory's feet.  "A large group of men visited the magic place where the girl spends her time."

Glory half listened to Jinx while she tried on and tossed away several pairs of shoes.

"They seemed to be withholding information from Buffy Summers about you.  Perhaps these men know where your key is."

Mention of the key grabbed Glory's attention quickly.  "Oooo ... more beings to torture and suck energy from."  She bounced on the back of her high heels.  "You did see where they headed too right?"

"Yes, Mistress.  I can take you there now."

Glory started to walk to the door.  Before she made it halfway there, she grabbed her head and screamed.  "Noooo!  Not now!"  She stomped her foot into the floor in anger and frustration.  "I'm so close.  I want my key!"

A female scream turned into a loud male moan, and a man dressed in Glory's dress fell to the floor.  Ben pressed the heel of his hand against his head.  "I am really getting sick of that."  He stood up, ripped the dress off, kicked the shoes across the room, and headed for his dresser.  "I have to get back to work."

"But Sir, Mistress Glorificus wanted us to locate the ones who might know about ..."

"I don't care what she wants."  Ben poked a finger at Jinx.  "When I'm around, I do what I want."  He grabbed his work bag and slammed the door behind him.

Jinx sighed in resignation.  He walked over to his fellow brethren.  "Sometimes the sharing is so inconvenient."  They all nodded in agreement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya poked her head into Xander Harris' hospital room.  The monitors beeped and chirped around him.  She slowly stepped into the room and closed the door.  "Xander?"

Xander heard Anya, but he wasn't in the mood for another argument.  He was emotionally and physically drained.  What seemed like a good idea originally was turning out to be one of the worst mistakes he ever made.  He kept his eyes closed and mimicked being asleep.  Everyone was angry at him, even Willow and Anya.  He felt so alone.

Anya pulled up a chair next to Xander's bed.  She reached for his uninjured hand, and she held it softly in her hands.  "I know I should be telling you this when you're awake, but I have to say this to someone right now."  She sighed.  "I'm worried about you."

Xander listened as Anya spoke.  He felt so disconnected with the world around him.  He hadn't even requested a TV for his room because there wasn't anything he cared enough about to watch.  He just stared at the ceiling day in and day out, thinking.

"Terrible men came to the Magic Box today."  Anya's hands trembled around Xander's.  "I wasn't sure at first who they were, but it turned out that they were from the Council.  The head guy named Travers scared all my customers away before Giles got there, and then he proceeded to threaten people after Giles arrived."

Xander's ears perked up at the name Travers.  Wasn't that the guy who ordered Giles to perform that horrible test on Buffy for her 18th birthday?

Anya rested her head against their clasped hands.  "He scared me so much, Xander.  He was so full of hatred, anger and disdain.  Nothing Buffy or Giles said would change his mind, and he threatened to have her executed Xander."

Xander nearly jerked "awake" when Anya talked about execution.  The Slayer was considered the Chosen champion of all humans.  'It would be insane to kill Buffy.  She isn't some rogue ...'  His thoughts derailed right there.

"That is the only way I can describe the threat he made."  Anya continued, oblivious to Xander's inner turmoil.  "He said something about needing more bullets to take a Slayer down, but that the Council knew how to take care of rogue Slayers."

'They would consider Buffy a rogue.  Maybe not as bad as Faith, but she isn't exactly a poster child for a good Slayer in their eyes.'  Xander's dislike for Quentin Travers grew.  'No one threatens Buffy without feeling the wrath of all the Scoo ...'  His mouth mentally gaped open.  'Oh my gosh.  That's why everyone ... I'm so stupid.'

"I think what scares me more is how close you are to being them, Xander."  Anya softly wept against Xander's hand.  "You hate all demons because some of them were bad, and they wronged you.  You won't give anyone a chance to redeem themselves in your eyes.  You've appointed yourself as judge and jury."

Anya dropped her head to rest on the bed.  "I don't know if I can live without you, Xander Harris, but I need you to face the reality that I was a vengeance demon for over one thousand years."  She sniffled.  "Soul or not, it doesn't matter to you.  You aren't exactly accepting of Angel either.  The only exception in your mind is me."

Xander's heart broke at the sounds of the woman he loved weeping.  He wanted to comfort her, but he had a feeling that he should hear everything she had to say first.  If he "woke up" now, it might distract Anya enough that she couldn't finish what she needed to get out.

"What if one day you wake up and realize how many men I killed, or how much pleasure I took in doing my job before?"  Anya's voice quivered with emotion.  "Will you kill me too or worse, will you hate me?  I'd rather be dead than see the look on your face directed at me that you had for Buffy when I first visited you here."

Xander gulped.  He would never kill Anya for what she did in the past.  He loved her too much to do that.  Was this the proof he needed to see to realize that he was so jealous of Spike that he let it cloud his judgment?  Had he allowed his experiences with Angelus to be the measure for what all soulless demons had to be?

"I know you are a good man, Xander Harris, but the world isn't all black and white.  It is shaded with gray, like me.  I'm a shaded area."  Anya rested her head against Xander's chest carefully.  She wasn't sure if he had any broken bones there still.  "Don't let yourself become like the Council.  Turn around before it is too late and you become that which you profess to hate ... an evil and vindictive creature with no concern for anything but your own goals."

Xander lay still until Anya cried herself to sleep against his chest.  With the strain and pain it took for him to move Anya from her chair to his bed, he was surprised he didn't wake Anya up.  He wrapped his healing body around her and caressed her arms gently.  "I don't know what I have to do, Ahn, but I swear I'll do what I can.  I love you Ahn, and I don't want to lose you."  He whispered into her hair before the newest pain medication kicked in, and he was truly asleep.

Anya smiled and peeked one eye open.  She may not be a demon anymore, but she still had enough sense to tell when someone was faking rest.  She meant every word she said to Xander, and her fears were real, but knowing he was awake and listening gave her more courage to spit out the words of her heart.  She snuggled back into Xander's embrace and closed both eyes again.  Hopefully the world would look a lot brighter when they woke up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Guys, there is something I need to tell you.”  Buffy looked at everyone seated around the table.  While everyone continued the research on Glory, she had been thinking about the best way to protect Dawn.  Giles and Spike knew what they were dealing with, but she came to the conclusion that Willow and Tara should know as well.

Giles looked up from the tome he was studying.  Wesley pressed a finger in place on a particular page to make sure he knew where he’d left off.  Willow and Tara both looked over from the bookcase they’d been searching for a particular book from.

Spike squeezed Buffy’s arms in support.  He’d seen the “wheels” turning while she thought.  “You sure, pet?”  He whispered to Buffy.  After the Council’s appearance, he had a feeling what Buffy wanted to say.

Buffy nodded.  She stared at Wesley for a moment.  She contemplated whether or not she should say what she needed to say, in front of him.

Giles answered Buffy’s unspoken question, “I trust him, Buffy.”

Wesley quickly glanced between Buffy and Giles.  He sighed.  He always felt on the outside of this little group of people when he was Buffy’s official Watcher.  Now, it seemed that times were no different.  Although they didn’t have a reason to truly trust him, he’d hoped that his research for the truth would have helped to show his sincerity.  He was warmed by Giles’ words of support.  He watched Buffy to see if it was enough for her to trust him too.

“All right, Giles,” Buffy began.  “I know exactly what Glory is looking for.”

“That’s great!”  Willow chirped.  “If we know what the Key is, we can get rid of it, right?”

“We are not getting rid of the Key!  She can’t have it.”  Buffy stood up suddenly from Spike’s lap.  “I’m the Slayer, and it’s my job to protect it.”

A loud crash echoed through the shop.  Spike ran for the door that led to the storage room downstairs.  He drug a squirming scaly faced man, dressed in robes, back up the stairs.  “Look what I caught snooping around.”

“Please, don’t kill me Slayer.  I won’t tell the wondrous Glorificus that you know where her beautiful Key is.”  The robed minion begged for his life.

“I say we snap his neck, and that will make sure that our little secret is safe.”  Spike shook the little man at the end of his grip.

The robed demon whimpered.  Before Buffy or Spike could react he kicked back against Spike, knocked him over, pushed Buffy onto the floor and ran out the door.

Buffy and Spike jumped up off the floor.  They ran to the door where Spike stopped after starting to sizzle in the sun.  Buffy ran into the middle of the street, but she found no sight of the little man.  She slumped her shoulders, closed the door to the shop, locked it, and walked back over to the table.

Spike frowned at Buffy.  He wrapped his arms around her.  “I’m sorry, luv.”

“It’s not your fault.  He got past me too.”  Buffy sighed.  “At least he doesn’t know who the Key is.  Though I wonder what Glory will say about my Slayer status.”

“It won’t help them any.  She won’t realize what hit her,” Wesley piped up.  “You’ve never been a conventional Slayer, Buffy.  Even if she knows what a Slayer is, she will never expect the things that you can come up with to do to her.”

Giles beamed with pride and praise.  “I’m glad to see someone else realizes this is a positive thing.”  He was tired of the Council who berated him for allowing Buffy to be her own person.  They never understood just why that was a strength in his Slayer and not a weakness.

“I agree with Oxford there.”  Spike nodded in agreement.  “It’s one of the reasons I wasn’t able to succeed in killing you right off.  You definitely weren’t following the handbook.”  He nestled his nose into Buffy’s hair, inhaling her scent.  “Course now, I don’t want to kill you at all, and I’ll hunt down anyone who tries.”

“So who is the Key, and why didn’t you tell us sooner?”  Willow tried not to be hurt by the fact that Buffy hadn’t trusted this information to her, but she could tell that Spike and Giles knew whom Buffy talked about.  She walked over to the table and sat down with Tara next to her.

“I’m sorry, Willow,” Buffy reached across the table to hold Willow’s hand.  “Giles was the only who knew for the longest time.  I decided to tell Spike because I was really worried about Dawn being protected if I wasn’t around.”  She softened her gaze on her friend.  “I trust you Willow, but I was afraid of anyone overhearing.  Even now, Glory almost found out, and I thought we were safe in here.”

“I understand, Buffy.  We just want to help too.”  Tara squeezed Willow’s hand in support.

“Wait a minute, you said Dawn?  Dawn is what Glory is looking for?”  Willow asked in confusion.

“You’d better start from the beginning, pet.”  Spike encouraged Buffy to continue her story.  He made a sweep of the storage room and training room to make sure no one else lingered.  When he was finished checking and double checking, he returned to the table of stunned Scoobies and Oxford.

“Wow,” Willow said dumbfounded.  “That’s just wow.  It’s hard to believe that many years of memories can be fabricated.  Imagine the power involved in manipulating that much time across the board.”

“They were pretty thorough,” Giles added to the discussion.  “They made sure that we all remembered both good and bad times with Dawn.”

“They took into account all those that might have met her along the way too.”  Wesley was still shocked because he too remembered Dawn.  “I was only here for a brief time in Sunnydale, but I remember her.  I’m sure Angel and Cordelia will as well.  The monks were very diligent.”

“They had to be.”  Buffy explained.  “If they missed anyone, Dawn’s position in our lives would be compromised to Glory.  Imagine what would have happened if Glory came in and Dawn was here.  If they didn’t insert memories for you Wesley, you would easily give Dawn away without even realizing it just by not knowing of her existence as my sister.”

“This is going to make it difficult to track down magical elements related or surrounding all of you.”  Wesley shrugged flat against the back of his chair.  “Any magical trace will show a spell on all of you, including the LA crew.  Angel will never believe that you aren’t being influenced by Spike.”

“As if,” Buffy snorted.

“Hey!”  Spike poked Buffy in the side.

“I meant influenced in a spell way, dear.”  Buffy pressed a kiss to Spike’s cheek.  “You are welcome to influence my life in any way you want, my darling vampire.”

Wesley looked at Giles with a curiously raised brow.  “I can see why Angel thought there was a spell involved.”

“What do you mean by that, Oxford?”  Spike, already having figured out the perfect moniker for the ex-Watcher, asked.

“The Spike who came to LA and tortured his Sire for the Gem of Amara being so lovesick looking at the Slayer, and the Slayer returning it?  It seems far fetched and unreal.”  Wesley adjusted his glasses.  He shirked back at the low rumbling growl from Spike.  “I’m not saying that there is a spell involved.  I’m just pointing out why Angel might have thought there was.  It must be a hard thing for him to accept.”

“Would it help if I allowed him to sample my blood?”  Buffy asked innocently.  She wanted all of this to be solved so they could move on to the protection of Dawn.

“I don’t think that’s wise, pet.  Didn’t he almost kill you the last time?”  Spike questioned with concern.

“I would have to agree with Spike on this point, Buffy.  It would be unwise to give Angel a chance to bite you again, especially since he is so temperamental right now.”

Buffy looked at Spike.  “If we completed a mating claim, would that keep him from killing me?”

Spike stuttered, “Yes, but he’d detect it instantly.  I don’t think that would make the poof all accepting of your feelings.  He would assume that I was controlling you.”

Buffy frowned, huffed, and slumped against Spike.  “It seems that I can’t win.”

“Perhaps there is a way for Angel to sample your blood without risking your life?”  Wesley sat back up straight.  “If you were to create a cut in your wrist, allow the blood to drip into a cup, and then he drink it, that might do it.  Angel and Buffy would both have to be present as it was done.  That way he can’t say that the blood was tainted or changed with magic.”

“What do you think, pet?”  Spike hugged Buffy from behind.

“It’s worth a try.  I’d be willing to do anything to get over this mess.  So long as it didn’t involve any harm to my family, friends, or those I love.”  Buffy turned in Spike’s arms.  She kissed him lovingly.  “I don’t feel that I have to prove anything to him, but we could use his help.”  She hoped that Spike understood her reasons.

Spike nodded.  “If it’s what you want, I can’t refuse you.”

“If that’s settled, I think I will return to the mansion.  It is nearing sunset, and Angel will be awakening.”  Wesley stood up.  He left the book he’d brought, and he gave it to Giles.  “Please let me know what the lab report comes up with.”  He wrote his cell phone number down on a piece of paper.  “I’ll do my best to get Angel to agree to the blood test.  I’ll call you if I hear any news.”

Spike and Buffy stood up shortly after Wes left.  “We should get back to my house.”  Buffy told the group.  “Mom is going to need dinner, and I’d like to spend some more time with her.”

“Okay, Buffy.  We’ll keep at it here.”  Willow spoke with genuine concern and support in her voice.

“Thanks, Wills.”  Buffy hugged Willow.  Then, she and Spike left the Magic Box.  Neither liked the idea of being away from Dawn or Joyce for as long as they’d already been gone.  It was too dangerous.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I trusted you.”  Angel glared at Wesley with contempt.  He pressed the ex-Watcher against the wall as soon as Wesley entered the mansion.  The tranquilizer had worn off a half hour prior to Wes’ arrival, and Cordelia hadn’t stabbed him again.  “How could you go behind my back like that, Wes?”

“I informed you that I was going to investigate everything to determine what was going on,” Wesley countered.  He had received a cell phone call from Cordelia shortly after he left the Magic Box.  He prepared himself for Angel’s arguments on his way back to the mansion.  He refused to let the bulky vampire intimidate him.

“You went to the people who are the most affected by all of this,” Angel argued.  “You can’t trust anything they say.”

“Your hatred and jealousy could be equally as blinding as any spell.”  Wesley knew that he had to stand firm against Angel’s tirade.  “Nothing about their lives is simple right now, and I will find the truth all around.  They are willing to give you irrefutable proof that they are under no chemical or magical influences where Spike is concerned.”

“Why would I believe anything they say or any proof that they could come up with?  It would all be under whatever influence has them,” Angel retorted.  “They would taint any evidence with their view.”

“Not this they can’t.”  Wesley frowned at Angel’s stubborn attitude.  “If you put me down, I might be willing to tell you.  If you continue to act like a brute, I will simply leave.”

“I’m not up for any more games tonight.  Delia already knocked me out once.”  Angel growled in warning.

Cordelia looked up from her work on the table.  “I’ll do it again you big oaf if you keep acting like an ass.”  She threatened.

“Out with it, Wes.”  Angel rolled his and set Wesley’s feet back down on the floor.

“Buffy is willing to offer her blood to you.”  Wesley stated in a serious and monotone voice.

“I will not bite her again.”  Angel’s demon cried out for the taste of Buffy’s blood again, but Angel refused to give it the satisfaction.  It was too dangerous.

“We anticipated any problems that could arise.  She will cut her wrist and drip it into a cup for you to drink from.”  Wesley continued his explanation.  “You and she will both be present during the cut and the sampling.  Once you’ve taken the sample, it will prove that her blood is still pure without being magically tainted.”

“It’s already tainted from the familial claim,” Angel held up a hand to keep Wesley from interrupting, “But I accept.  So long as I only sense a minor amount of his blood due to the familial claiming, and no other influences, I will believe them.”

“Good.  I’ll let Rupert know.”  Wesley pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket.  “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab a bite to eat from the kitchen.  That is if you were able to have something delivered, Cordy?”

“Yes, Wes.  Thankfully they still deliver to this creepy place,” Cordelia answered without looking up from her work.

“I’m going out.  I want to check with a few of my demon contacts to see if I can get any more information.”

“Be careful, Angel.  The Council is in town.”  Wes tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen.

‘Just great.’  Angel sighed and headed out into the night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ben slid into his car after a long day’s work at the hospital.  Jinx, one of Glory’s more loyal minions sat in the backseat of the car.  Ben jumped at the reflection of the scaly demon in his rearview mirror.  “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to pass on some information to you,” Jinx replied.  During the day Glory made a brief appearance at the hospital.  It was long enough for her to be informed of the day’s events.  She gave Jinx an order during the time she was free.  “We have found out that Buffy Summers is the Slayer.”

‘That makes the scene in Buffy’s ER room even stranger.  Why would the Slayer allow her sister to be bitten?’  Ben stared back at the minion.  “Why should I care about that?”

“The magnificent Glorificus wishes you to seek a closer friendship with the Slayer.  Before discovery, we were able to ascertain that the Slayer knows what the Key is.  She is protecting it.”

“I am not going to help you get the Key.  I don’t give a damn what Glory wants.”  Ben gripped the steering wheel tighter.  He knew Glory’s time was running out.  If he could wait out the time, maybe he would be rid of his other half.

“You will not succeed in keeping Glorificus from her prize, Sir.”  Jinx stepped out of the car.  “It would be in your best interest to help in her quest.  It will only bode worse for you, if you don’t.”

Ben locked the doors as soon as Jinx got out.  “Keep away from me.  If I have to tell you again, Glory will be short one minion to kiss her ass.”  He threw the car into reverse and squealed away from the parking lot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel poked his head out from the side of the building.  After beating and interrogating several demons and a couple humans for information about the Slayer, he’d found out that Xander was in the hospital after an incident with Buffy.  He was confused about why Xander would come after his best friend.  So he headed there to question Xander.

Angel hadn’t gotten inside yet when he noticed the human get into a car with the demon.  At first Angel was ready to strike out at the demon to save the human, but it seemed that they were having a conversation in the car.  The human was clearly unhappy about things, but he seemed to be in no danger from the demon.  He was about to turn away when Buffy’s name was mentioned.  Hearing that name stopped him in his tracks.

Angel listened to the scaly fellow inform the man about some plans that someone named Glorificus had for Buffy.  His demon and soul growled at the thought of anyone harming her.  He watched the demon get out of the car and finally walk away.

Instead of going into the hospital, Angel decided it would be best to follow the demon.  Any creature that wanted to harm Buffy was more important to him than anything else.  Xander was incapacitated in the hospital.  He could talk to him later.

Angel followed Jinx to Glory’s residence.  His vampiric ability to blend into the shadows saved him several times from detection.  He walked with silence in his steps.  Nothing moved or was displaced even as he traveled over twigs and leaves that would normally crunch underfoot.

When they arrived at a lush looking house or mansion like place, Angel waited at the end of the drive to see if the demon went inside.  Once he was confident of the demon being inside, he opened the mailbox at the end of the drive.  The name on several pieces was Ben.

Angel placed the mail back in the box, and he was about ready to head to the Magic Box when a set of headlights coming up the road forced him back into the bushes.  To his surprise, it was the car containing the man from the hospital parking lot.  He followed the car up the driveway in confusion.

The same man he’d seen at the hospital got out of the car.  All of a sudden the man, whom he now assumed was Ben, started screaming and holding the sides of his head.  One instant a man was cowering on the ground, and the next instant a long haired woman was pushing herself weakly up off the ground.

Several of the same scaly demons ran out of the home to help the woman.  She cursed at them and pushed them aside.  The whole group went into the house together. 

‘Okay, that is not something you see every day.’  Angel dashed back down the driveway towards the main stretch of road to lead him to the Magic Box.  ‘I may not like it, but this is something Buffy and her gang should know about.’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Not Beneath Me - Chapter 23 (Strengths and Weaknesses)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Angel headed to the Magic Box to share the information about what he saw at the hospital and home.  Buffy and Spike went home to visit with Joyce, and they are now headed out for their nightly patrol.  Giles received the toxicology report shortly before Angel arrived.  Willow, Tara, and Giles worked on using the liquid to their advantage.  Glory, now back in her form, left the house to find the Council in the hopes that they know where her key is.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Buffy checked in on Joyce Summers, and they all ate dinner together as a family with Dawn.  Spike surprised them all with his cooking knowledge and a delicious meal.  After a couple hours of family time, Joyce and Dawn headed up to bed while Buffy and Spike left the house to patrol.  Buffy found that being with her family helped to recharge her strength.  She needed their support.

Spike and Buffy tried joking back and forth to ease some of the tensions they both felt.  Spike shared humorous stories of Angelus’ faux pas from Spike’s fledgling days.

“I wish I could have seen that.”  Buffy tried to imagine Angel’s now well gelled hair being full of wedding cake and gooseberry wine.  “He must have had a fit.”

“Dru and Darla were still trying to kiss up to him a week later because of how hard they laughed at his poncy assed self.”  Spike laughed heartily at the memory.  “Seeing the big git all flustered like that is something I’ll relish for centuries.”

Buffy slowly stopped laughing.  “Sometimes I forget how old you are.”  She wrapped her hand around Spike’s arm.  “You are going to live long after I die.  Why would you want to mate with someone who will be old, frail, and ugly in a few years.”

“You will never be ugly to me, pet.”  Spike stopped walking.  He turned towards Buffy and cupped her cheek.  “Your beauty comes from within and I will not live one sunrise past your death.  Even without the mating bond, I don’t want to live without you.”

“Spike, Slayers have a very short life span.  Are you saying if I died tomorrow, you’d meet the sunrise?”  Buffy knew Spike loved with all of his being.  She’d seen how he cared for Drusilla even when Dru tossed him to the side for Angelus.

“Yes, pet.”  Spike pulled Buffy to him in an embrace.  “I don’t care if it be a day, 2 years, or 20 years.  I will stay with you to the end but not a sunrise more.”

“I think you will find your life expectancy to go up drastically if you mate with William the Bloody, Miss Summers.”  A fairly tall woman dressed in a tweed suit jacket and skirt emerged from a nearby set of bushes.

“What do you want?”  Buffy frowned.  She’d recognize the look and style of the Council anywhere.  She also remembered this woman specifically because she caught the woman eying Spike several times during the earlier exchange at the Magic Box.  Buffy stood protectively in front of Spike’s chest in case the woman wanted to harm him.

“There is no need for such a defensive attitude, Miss Summers.”  Lydia stepped further into the moonlight.  “I mean you and William no harm.”

Spike huffed.  “Not many people are allowed to call me William, and you are certainly not one of them.”  He growled.

“My apologies.”  Lydia extended her hand to Buffy.  “I’m Lydia, and from your stance I see you remember that I was with the Council earlier.”

Buffy looked at the hand with disdain.  Instead of shaking Lydia’s hand, she crossed her arms over her chest.  “I don’t trust anyone from the Council, not anymore.”

“There are many who will always follow Quentin Travers blindly in his endeavors, but I have a particular spot of interest in William the Bloody.”  Lydia looked at Spike with a star struck kind of gaze.  “I did my thesis paper on his life, before and after his turning.”

“Is that right, little Watcher?”  Spike smirked with his natural swagger.  “Had a bit of interest in the big bad?”

Buffy elbowed Spike in the ribs.  “Watch it Big Bad, or you will be big pile of dust.”

“Easy now, luv.”  Spike wrapped his arms around Buffy’s waist.  “You should know better than that by now.  As sad as it is for me to say it, I’m as faithful as a dog.”  He chuckled.  “I remained loyal to one woman for 100 years.  Why would I even think of any woman other than you when I love you more than I ever cared for Dru.”

“I know.”  Buffy sighed.  “I can’t help but see green still when you even look at another woman.”

Spike tightened his arms around Buffy.  “That’s fine, pet.  It’s good to know that I’m not the only one feeling a bit insecure at times.”

Lydia cleared her throat.  “If I could interrupt a moment …”

Buffy and Spike both glared at the interfering woman.  “If you must,” Buffy answered.

“When I later checked on my thesis in the archives, I noticed several facts were changed from what I originally wrote.  Several pages were missing all together.”  Lydia adjusted her glasses.  “That sent up a few warning flags in my mind about what other things in the Council’s archives might be altered.  I’ve been biding my time until other instances were revealed.”

“Not to be rude, but what does this have to do with the Council being here now?”  Spike questioned.  “That git wasn’t exactly forthcoming with any information.”

“That’s why I’m here.”  Lydia finished closing the distance between herself and Buffy.  She handed Buffy a leather portfolio case.  “I don’t agree with Mr. Travers’ withholding of information about Glorificus.  There is a copy of everything we know about her in that folder.  I think you will be quite shocked at the content.”

Buffy started to open the folder, but Spike held it closed.  “We should get that to your Watcher, pet.  We don’t want any prying eyes seeing us with it out here.”

Buffy nodded.  “Thank you, Lydia.”  She looked at the other woman with a bit more respect and admiration.  “I know how hard it can be to go up against the Council.  If you ever need help, you know where to find us.”

“I just might take you up on that, Miss Summers.  If Mr. Travers finds out about this, I am finished.”  Lydia stepped back towards the bushes.  “Oh, and I also included some information in that folder about vampires and Slayers that you two might find interesting.  There are many things the Council would rather keep hidden from their Slayers.  Good luck.”  She disappeared into the night.

Buffy and Spike darted around tombstones on their way out of the cemetery to the Magic Box.  About halfway through Sunnydale’s streets they noticed some of Glory’s minions searching various places.  Spike tucked the portfolio into a large inside duster pocket, and they both followed the minions to see where they were headed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel knocked on the locked door of the Magic Box.  It was long past closing hours, but the lights were still on inside.  He figured that Giles and the rest of the Scoobies were probably up doing research.

Giles answered the door.  “What do you want, Angel?”  He was tired and his nerves were shot.  He wasn’t up to dealing with an irate vampire at the moment.

“I just want to talk, Giles.  No yelling.”  Angel shuffled back and forth from one foot to another.

“Giles, a fax just came in from the hospital.”  Willow called out from the back of the Magic Box.

“Fine, Angel, but if you start trouble, I have no problems with kicking you out.”  Giles stepped to the side and headed for the back.  “Lock the door please.”  He walked into his office to retrieve the fax.  It contained the toxicology report on the liquid within the vial that he’d asked his friend at the hospital to give him.

Angel walked over to the table.  He waved to Willow.  “Hello, Willow.  Hello … I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“This is Tara, Angel.”  Willow hugged Tara.  “Tara, this is Angel.  Tara is my girlfriend.”

“Wow, really?  Good for you.”  Angel sat down at a chair at the table.  ‘Didn’t see that one coming.  I wonder what happened with the wolf boy.’  He waited for Giles to come back before he spoke again.  “Where are Buffy and Spike?”

“They are probably out on patrol now,” Giles answered without looking up from the sheets of paper in his hands.  He sat down, going over the various figures and percentages.

“Do you have any way of contacting them?  I saw something really weird tonight, and they are probably going to want to know about it.”  Angel continued, “It would probably be easier to tell everyone at once.”

“They have a lot to deal with right now with Joyce’s illness.”  Giles set the papers down in front of him.  He highlighted several columns and continued to talk without looking up from them.  “You can tell us what you saw, and then we’ll decide if Buffy needs to be informed.”

Angel growled inwardly in frustration.  He worked with these people for three years.  So, he went a lot crazy on them for about 6 months, but he’d worked hard to regain their trust again.  He hated feeling like he was being blown off.  “I followed some really scaly and disfigured looking demons to this upscale place on the other side of town after I saw one of them talking with someone from the hospital in his car.”

Willow and Tara looked across the table at Angel.  “Was the demon wearing brown robes, like a monk?”  Willow asked.

“Yes, he was.  Is that significant?”  Angel queried.

“It might be,” Giles looked up from his papers to give more attention to Angel’s story.

“When I got to the house, I checked the mail box.  There were several pieces of mail with someone named Ben on them.  Some of them had a medical reference to them.”  Angel explained.  “Before I left, the same man whom I’d seen the demon with arrived at the house.  When he got out of the car, he seemed to undergo some sort of transformation.  Instead of a man, there was now a woman in his place.  A bunch of the demons came out of the house and helped the woman into the house.”

“Did she have long reddish blonde hair?  About as tall as Spike?”  Giles questioned further.

“Yes, I believe so.  I was a ways down the driveway.  I didn’t get a clear look at her.”

“Ben?  Wasn’t that the name of one of the interns at the hospital that helped Mrs. Summers?”  Tara asked.

“Yes, but I’m sure there are lots of Ben’s that work at Sunnydale Memorial.”  Willow countered.

“Buffy seemed to have quite an adverse reaction to Ben when Joyce left the hospital.  Even Dawn seemed a bit uneasy around him, and Buffy stood in front of Dawn quite protectively.”  Giles pondered the events of the other day again.  He’d meant to question Buffy on the incident later, but with the Council’s arrival it hadn’t been possible.

“Do you think he knows about Buffy and the Key?”  Willow didn’t want to say too much in front of Angel especially with the way she heard he was acting, but she was concerned.

“We never said anything at the hospital.  So, she should be safe.”  Giles answered somewhat cryptically.

“Key?  What Key?”  Angel’s gaze darted between Willow and Giles.

“I’m sorry, Angel, but right now we can’t …”  Giles stopped mid-sentence when he read something of interest on the report.  “Good heavens.”

“What?”  Willow scooted closer to Giles to read the report.

“The vial included heavy traces of sedative and destabilizing agents.”  Giles skimmed his fingers down through his friend’s summation of the liquid.  “It is believed that the liquid attacks various elements or enhancements that would not be apparent in normal humans and “sedates” them for lack of a better term.  It reduces these abilities to human levels causing loss of strength, stamina, etc.”

Angel’s eyes narrowed on Giles.  “You found the vial of what was injected into Spike?”

“Yes.”  Giles sat back in his chair and removed his glasses.  “This explains why it took Spike so long to recover, even with the infusions of Slayer blood.”  He chewed on the end of one of the arms of his glasses.  “Until there was enough Slayer blood to counteract the initial dosage of debilitating drug, Spike would continue to heal at only a human pace.”

“You let Buffy feed Spike continually?”  Angel slammed his fists on the table as he stood up.

“Yes, and this is why we won’t trust you.  You are behaving like a big jerk,” Willow scolded.  “Sit down.  Buffy knows what she is doing, and if you keep acting like this no one will trust you.”

Angel reluctantly took his seat again.  Willow turned to Giles.  “Do you think that what Angel saw was Glory switching forms?  It seems ridiculous, but a vampire does have control over showing its demon or human sides.  Couldn’t Glory do the same thing?”

“It would be easier to tell if we knew exactly what Glory was.”  Giles sighed.  “I think that we need to head to the Council’s hotel to get some answers.”  He closed his books and stood up.  “Even if I have to beat it out of Quentin Travers.”

“I’ll go with you.”  Angel stood up alongside Giles.  “Just in case you run into whatever this thing is on the way.”

“If Glory thinks that the Council knows anything about her, she might head there to kill them,” Tara warned.  “If her minions were watching the shop from the outside, they would have seen the Council come and go.”

“Willow, I’m going to take the vial with me.  Use the ingredients list in the report and make more.  We should have everything here at the Magic Box.”  Giles grabbed the vial from his office.

“If we can make a quick stop at the mansion, I have the hypodermic there.  It will give us a little bit more of the fluid.”  Angel offered.

“All right, but it will have to be quick.  If Glory is already on the way to the hotel, we won’t have long.”  Giles and Angel darted out of the Magic Box to Giles’ car.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Spike followed Glory’s minions up to the Sunnydale motel.  They both looked at each other.  “What the hell would Glory’s minions be doing at a hotel?”  Spike raised a curious brow in question.

“Beats me.”  Buffy shrugged.  They continued to follow them up the stairs where they started hearing an extra amount of grunting, groaning, crashing and British cursing. 

They ran the rest of the way up the stairs.  One of the Watcher’s they saw at the Magic Box earlier flew out a broken door past them and down the hall.

“That had to hurt,” Spike muttered low.  He bolted for the open doorway.  He stopped only a moment before he jumped into the fray of the battle going on in the large suite.  He ducked a few minions who flew over his head from some of the Watchers.  He headed straight for Glory who had Quentin Travers hanging off the floor by her hand around his throat.

“Tell me what I want to know, and all your little boys can go home,” Glory taunted.

“I don’t know where your Key is,” Quentin grunted out past his closing windpipe.

“You were going to tell that nasty little girl about my Key.”  Glory whined in her annoying way.  She clutched his throat tighter.  “You can tell me instead.”

“We …” Quentin gasped.  “We only knew you were a god.”

“At least someone knows just how important I am.”  Glory preened.  “But if you don’t know where my Key is then I don’t need you.”  She was knocked away from Quentin and into the wall by Spike before she could crush Travers’ throat completely.

“I don’t think so, you crazy bint.”  Spike squared off with Glory, circling each other.

Buffy got the rest of the Watchers out of the hotel room as quickly as possible.  She kicked some of the minions in the head to knock them out, and she made her way over to Travers.  “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but give me your hand.”  She pulled Quentin up off the bed and half carried him out of the suite to safety.

Inside the suite Glory and Spike punched and kicked at each other.  Spike fared far worse than the hell god.  He broke his arm when he was thrown through the door into the bathroom to hit the edge of the tub.  Spike barreled into Glory’s chest with his shoulder at full speed to knock Glory into the opposing wall.

“Now I’m mad.”  Glory stood back up to full height.  With determination she stalked over to Spike and rammed her fingertips into Spike’s chest.  “You made me break a nail.”  She said over Spike’s screams of agony.

“SPIKE!”  Buffy pulled Spike away from Glory’s grasp.  She feared for a moment that Spike would dust, but thankfully Glory wasn’t holding his heart.  Spike hit the floor a few feet away from the door.  Buffy was now the object of Glory’s anger, and Buffy slammed into the wall after being thrown by Glory.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel, Giles and Wesley ran through the Sunnydale Hotel parking lot.  People vacated the building left and right.  That wasn’t a good sign.  When Giles noticed several of the Watcher’s bodies on the landings and in the hallway he hastened his pace even more.

Angel pulled on the open door jam to stop himself from flying by it.  He drug Spike out of the room along the wall.  “Crazy Childe.”  He checked him over briefly.  After being sure that no wood pieces were near to his heart, despite the bloodied marks on his chest, Angel headed into the suite.

Giles ran up behind Glory while she headed back over to Buffy to beat her up again.  He buried the hypodermic into Glory’s neck and started to press the plunger down.

Glory swung around with fists flying.  She punches Giles so hard that he crashed into the dresser with a crack.  He slumped to the ground.  Before she could get the offending object out of her neck, Angel jumped on her and pressed the rest of the liquid into Glory’s system.  He pulled the hypodermic out with him as he was thrown away from Glory with the last of her strength before she transformed back into Ben.

Spike’s eyes widened and Buffy growled when they saw Ben.  “Bloody Hell,” Spike growled out from his spot now just inside the door where he’d crawled into.  “Did you see that?”  He said to Buffy, and she nodded.  Although normal humans would forget the change happening in front of them, Buffy already held some of Spike’s blood in her.  It tainted the hell god’s radar, and Buffy was able to remember the change.

Ben staggered up and crawled for the door.  Wesley was about to follow, but the pale look on Giles’ face stopped him.  He wasn’t sure who the escaping man was, but he needed to tend to Giles first.  He wondered where the woman disappeared to and how she got past him.

Buffy dragged Quentin up onto the bed after she brushed it off.  “I think you need to make with the explaining, right now.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” Quentin huffed.

“We just saved your life, mate.  You owe us,” Spike snarled.

“I owe you nothing!” Quentin Travers objected.

“Would you rather we let the bitch come back and finish the job?”  Buffy moved over to make sure Giles was okay while Spike checked on Angel.

“Fine, Glorificus isn’t like any demon you’ve encountered before.”

“I could have told you that.”  Buffy rolled her eyes.  “Tell me what she is.  So, I can kill her.”

“She isn’t any form of demon at all.  She’s a god.”  Quentin said the last bit with a sneer of delight on his face.  His own pride and lust for power satisfied him that even though Glory could end the world, it would finally give the little bitch of a Slayer her just deserves.

“Somehow you guys managed to force her to change.  How?”  Buffy asked Wesley and Giles.

“It was the liquid that Dru injected into Spike.  It is debilitating to the supernatural it seems,” Giles offered in explanation.

“You don’t get more supernatural than a god, I suppose.”  Buffy shrugged.

“Who knew that Dru’s little act of revenge would actually help you, luv.”  Spike cuddled the shaking Slayer close to him.  “Bet she’s turning over in her dusty grave with that knowledge.”

Buffy half chuckled.  She knew Spike was trying to calm her down, and it was slowly working.  Giles was all right.  He had a cold compress resting against his forehead.  He was probably going to need to go to the hospital for x-rays.  Wesley and Angel were off to the side nursing their own wounds.  Quentin Travers was lying on the bed while several of his lackeys worked to reattach the door to the hotel room.

“You do realize that we’re going to have to kill him to kill her, pet,” Spike spoke softly.  “We can weaken her with the injection, but if we don’t kill the human she will come back.”

“I know.”  Buffy sighed.  “I hate it, but I know.”  She buried her face into Spike’s chest.  “What I wouldn’t give for things to be back like the old days where I just see bad and slay bad.  These gray areas are killing me.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ben and Glory bounced back and forth over who was in the forefront of the body they both inhabited.  With the help of their lackeys, they made it back to the house in one piece.

“What did they do to me?”  Glory held her head in her hands.

“I feel like I was hit by a Mack truck.”  Ben buried his head in the pillow of his bed.

The minions looked over their Mistress and Ben for the rest of the day.  All was in a state of confusion because no one knew what to do to fix it.  They tried to bring Glory some humans to suck energies from, but she wouldn’t stay in her hell god form for long enough to complete the process.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You’ll never defeat a god,” Travers choked out the words and clutched his bruised throat.  Although he was surprised that William the Bloody stepped in to rescue him, he wasn’t willing to let go of his preconceptions of all vampires.  “She will come after you and your family and render you weak and defenseless.”

“That is where you are wrong, Mr. Travers.  We know her weakness now,” Buffy smiled proudly.  She wrapped her arm around Spike’s waist.  “Besides the relationships, friendships, and family that I have are my strengths.  They are never my weakness.  Together we can overcome anything you, or any hell god throws our way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)
 
 

Not Beneath Me - (Chapter 24) Mending Fences and Bodies
Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy, Angel and Spike know for sure that Glory and Ben are the same now. The injection worked to confuse and incapacitate Glory in her hellgod form. The groups are unsure as to how long the injection lasts. Travers informed Buffy, Spike, Giles, Angel and Wesley that Glory is a goddess. Some of the group is a bit beat up, but overall they survived the encounter with Glory. Lydia gave Buffy and Spike a packet of information, and she wants to help them against the Council wherever she can. The groups are working together to make more of the potion used on Glory. Joyce has been having more headaches as well lately.

Author's Note: I did some research to be sure that I had the definition of an aneurysm correct. According to healthcentersonline.com one of the definitions of an aneurysm is as follows: An aneurysm is a bulging out of part of the wall of a blood vessel. It forms where the wall has weakened. Left untreated, aneurysms may tear or burst (a ruptured aneurysm). Ruptures are very painful events that cause massive internal bleeding and may result in permanent disability or death, depending on where the aneurysm is located. If an aneurysm bursts in the brain, it could cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Wesley passed tomes and grimoires between the two of them. When either of them found a particular note of interest they would hand off the research to Cordelia, Willow and Tara for their interpretation, confirmation, and notation. All five of them worked in adjacent and overlapping shifts 16 hours a day for the last week.

The Scooby and Fang Gang went over all the materials and resources. This included: the toxicology report, spell traces, Buffy and Spike's source in the Council, Angel's demon contacts and research into Giles' and Wesley's archives. The groups wanted to be sure they were able to reproduce the liquid needed to incapacitate Glory.

The group's first attempts to recreate the destabilizing drug had proved a disaster. Even though the toxicology report broke the ingredients down, they couldn't be sure of the exact amounts needed. The percentages in the report weren't enough to get the right blend. That led them back into research to seek out relative information and potions.

Glory hadn't been seen or heard from since her confrontation with the Council. Ben also hadn't appeared for any of his shifts at the hospital. Buffy, Spike and Angel tried to explain to everyone about Glory and Ben obviously sharing the same body. Even though Willow, Tara, and Giles knew this information already, they'd forgotten it by the time the wounded group made it back to the Magic Box. It seemed that whatever effect was used to keep humans who saw the switch from remembering it, also worked fairly well to erase a human's memory of being told about it too.

Willow and Giles finally found a spell to enhance memory to perform on the humans in the groups. They added a ward against demon influence for a double boost. That seemed to take care of the memory loss. Angel was grateful for that. He was getting tired of explaining the whole Glory/Ben thing every half hour. If anyone forgot who Glory was again, he simply had to say "Fishy, fishy," and they would remember again. He swore Willow was leaving a hint with that phrase.

After some research and deliberation, Giles decided that Buffy and Dawn were able to sense the difference in Ben as well because they shared their blood with Spike. So there was a little "demon" in both of them. It seemed to be enough to throw off Glory's forgetting influence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Dawn watched "Zorro" at home with Joyce. Dawn's teachers had an in-service afternoon. So, she was free for the rest of the day to spend with her family. Buffy's class schedule was open for the day. So, she was on Mom patrol while Spike slept. On the days that Buffy had classes, Spike napped a little bit at night and stayed up during the day to watch over Joyce.

Joyce, who fought a headache all morning, laid out on the couch. Buffy and Dawn sat on the floor in front of it. The girls took turns holding the popcorn bowl for all of them.

"You can't tell me that if you didn't have Spike, you wouldn't want Antonio," Dawn argued with her sister.

Buffy playfully teased Dawn throughout the movie about how Spike was so much hotter than Zorro. "I can't even think about the what ifs without Spike. He has been fulfilling ALL of my dreams."

Dawn scrunched up her face and yelled out a TMI proclamation.

Joyce, trying to will the pain away, didn't even correct Buffy on her behavior or comment. She rubbed her temples instead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ahn, I don't think I can do this." Xander stopped on the sidewalk that led up to Buffy's porch. His arm was still in a sling, but he looked all right on the outside.

"You need to do this, Xander." Anya offered her boyfriend her full support. "You promised yourself this." By the time Xander was released from the hospital 2 days ago, she was happy to hear him promise to apologize to Buffy and Spike. "I know you are strong enough."

"I don't want to screw this up." Xander lamented over how he should or should approach Buffy and Spike with an apology for the last week. Ever since Anya's visit and speech after the Council debacle, he'd reflected on a lot of his past and present choices. "I doubt I'll get another shot at trying, if I stick my foot in my mouth now."

Anya squeezed the hand of Xander's she was holding. "You are one of her oldest friends. Your narrow minded ways almost destroyed that, but I know we can fix it." She gazed tenderly into Xander's eyes. "The first step is the hardest one to make. Once that link is forged, the next one will be easier."

"Thanks, Ahn." Xander smiled at the woman he loved with his whole heart. "You've really been there for me the last few days to teach me a lot more about demons that I never wanted to hear about before."

"Prejudice, like you had, is common against my kind." To keep their conversations on a personal level, Anya always referred to herself as being a demon or like a demon. She needed to keep Xander's focus on the point that not all demons were evil or still evil. "Your actions towards Spike will matter even more than your words."

Xander took in a deep breath. He walked up the steps. He glanced one more time at Anya, who stood by his side, before he raised his hand to knock on the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Why are we still researching when we have the necessary ingredients and verified portions thanks to the toxicology report and the journals of Phillipe Robeart." Angel pressed the palms of his hands against the table, and he leaned his weight onto his arms.

"The journals we found this morning were indeed helpful," Wesley began the explanation. Even though they agreed to help each other, a considerable level of tension remained between Giles and Angel. "They verified the proportions we already suspected from the reports."

"Exactly," Angel nodded with satisfaction over what he took as Wesley's agreement that they had enough information to try to make the potions again. "So why haven't we broken out the chemistry set to make the liquid? Why are our noses still pressed into books?" He motioned to everyone still seated at the table.

"We noticed minute magical traces were detected in the larger sample we had originally found after out first attempts failed," Wesley continued on as if he wasn't interrupted. "Such evidence suggests to us that a spell or spells are also required on some of the ingredients or the completed potion. The liquid might remain completely ineffective without it." He removed his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. They were all tired and frustrated, himself included.

"Damn it!" Angel pushed off the table roughly. His movements dislodged several books from their stack. "So you're telling me that even with everything we have, and the knowledge it works when done right, it's as if we have nothing!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy answered the knock at the door. After several days of talking and whining on Dawn's part, the little brunette finally relented that it was safer for Buffy to answer the door. Glory wouldn't need an invitation, and it was likely that her minions didn't either. No one wanted to take a chance at them grabbing Dawn when she answered the door.

Buffy opened the door. The door would have shut again right away if Anya's reflexes were slower.

Anya planted her foot over the threshold. She pushed her hand against the door to keep it open. "Please hear us out, Buffy. I promise you that he isn't here to harm anyone."

Buffy glared at her one time best friend. Every day she grew closer to Spike. She wasn't going to allow anyone to interfere in her relationship with him. She switched her gaze to Anya. There was a pleading in Anya's gaze that made Buffy waiver. "All right, but if you so much as point a pencil at Spike I'll throw you out."

Xander gulped and nodded. He walked into the Summers' entryway. He slowly peeked around the corner into the living room.

Dawn stood up quickly at the sight of Xander. She moved over to the stairs and stood there with her arms crossed. "What do you want?" Her voice held no hint of the Dawn Summers who had memories of a crush on Xander Harris. Right now he was the enemy just as much as Glory was. She wouldn't let Xander get close enough to Spike to hurt him.

Joyce Summers looked up from the couch because of all the commotion. "Oh, Buffy," She sighed and closed her eyes again. "I don't think I can handle an argument right now with this headache."

Xander cautiously moved into the living room, avoiding Dawn's position at the stairs. "I haven't come to argue, Mrs. Summers." He hung his head down some. "I just wanted a chance to apologize."

"Apologize?" Buffy gasped in shock. Although an apology wouldn't make up for everything that happened, she knew how hard it was for Xander to apologize for anything.

"I know that I can't take back the pain I caused," Xander kept his gaze roaming between the three Summers' women, "I am sorry that I didn't listen to you about Spike."

"I'm not trying to force anyone into a Spike fan club." Buffy stepped closer to her friend. "What I do want is for people to give him a chance. He's already changed a lot if you take the time to see it."

"Anya told me about how he's been taking care of Dawn, you and Mrs. Summers." Xander unconsciously shivered. "The family bond freaked me a bit until Anya explained the significance and importance of it. I was pretty shocked. He could have faced some serious repercussions from his other clan members."

Joyce, who remained silent for the last 15 minutes, felt she needed to speak up at this point of the conversation, "Spike is a kind and caring man who loves my little girls like his own sister and wife."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upstairs, in Buffy's bedroom, Spike tossed and turned. His usually deep and restful slumber was being disturbed by a nagging sensation that something was wrong.

A particular scent drifted up the stairs, down the hall, and finally into Buffy's bedroom. The scent enticed and repulsed Spike's demon at the same time. The tantalizing aroma of fresh human blood brought Spike's demon face to the surface.

"Joyce!" The realization of whose blood the demon picked up on jolted Spike from his slumber. He jumped out of bed, threw open the door, and raced down the stairs to the living room. He tossed Dawn, who was still guarding the bottom of the stairs, into Buffy's arms.

"Spike!" Buffy screamed at her stark naked boyfriend. She covered Dawn's eyes. "What the hell are you …"

Spike lunged for Joyce as her eyes closed and she fell off the couch. Demon in control, Spike slashed two deep slits near Joyce's surgical area. Before anyone could stop him, he wrapped his lips around the wound and sucked hard.

Xander stood frozen in place in a state of complete and utter shock. He tried to move, but his feet refused to follow the orders his brain gave out.

Anya was unsure about what Spike was doing. She hastily reasoned that if Spike wanted to kill Mrs. Summers he would have gone for the neck not the temple. Although facial wounds tended to bleed a lot, they weren't an effective method of feeding for vampires.

Buffy ran towards Spike. "Spike ... Stop!" She slapped him hard on the shoulder to try to get his attention.

Spike looked up at Buffy long enough to growl, "Ambulance! Now!" He went back to his task of sucking at the wounds on Joyce's temple.

Dawn had the phone in her hand before Buffy was able to reach it. She dialed 911. While she waited a few seconds for the operator, she gazed at her unconscious mother.

"911 emergency," A warm sounding female voice answered the call. "How may I help you?"

"I need an ambulance to 1630 Revello Drive immediately. My mom had brain surgery a short time ago, and she just passed out." Dawn answered a couple other questions for the operator. She hung up the phone with a shaky hand. "Sp … Spike …"

Spike looked up when he heard Dawn's scared voice. He panted needlessly, and his lips were covered in Joyce's blood. The demon and man within Spike were upset that they had to attack Joyce like that. They both felt protective of the woman they cared about.

Buffy cried next to her unconscious mother. Blood ran down the side of Joyce's face. Spike pushed Buffy's hand away when she tried to staunch the flow with a cloth.

"It has to stay open," Spike, still uncaring about his lack of clothing, shifted Joyce to be propped up against the arm of the couch. His human mask asserted itself forward, and he slipped off the couch to stand next to it.

"Why?" Buffy's hands shook from the shock of the last 20 minutes. She pulled Spike's duster from the closet and handed it to him. She noticed Anya's eyes wandering over Spike's naked body. Although she knew it would be hard to not look at such a gorgeous man, she wanted to be the only one to see Spike naked.

"One of the meds that doctor bloke prescribed was to prevent clotting which could weaken the already weakened blood vessels in Joyce's brain to prevent an aneurysm." Spike ran a shaky hand through his head full of tousled curls. He eased his arms into the duster. He finally realized that he hadn't given clothing a thought when he ran downstairs. If he could blush, he would have for showing off his manly bits to the Nibblet.

"What is that?" Buffy asked.

Surprisingly Xander provided the answer, "It is when the walls of particular blood vessels, veins or arteries are weakened to the point that the blood doesn't flow through them right. Instead the blood pools in the weakened area and bulges out until it causes a leak." Xander inhaled deeply. The pain of his grandmother's death still ached within from his childhood. "Most often the person dies from the clots being thrown through the system or from the vessel rupturing to release a larger amount of blood into the body. It is especially more deadly in the brain."

Everyone stared at Xander in amazement. Dawn slipped out the front door because she thought she heard the sirens. Anya hugged Xander in support.

Buffy and Spike shared a look with each other. "Why would you want her blood flowing if the bleeding could kill her?" Buffy trusted Spike, but she was afraid of losing her mother.

"The artery hadn't burst yet," Spike explained. "I'm assuming it started leaking through the internal sutures because the scent of her blood woke me up." He moved over to Buffy to hug her. "I knew what the doctor told us, and all of me knew we had to relieve the pressure before it burst."

Paramedics burst through the front door with Dawn right behind them. Even though lamps lit the room, the EMT's threw open the living room curtains to get more light. They hovered over Joyce and started hooking her up to several machines.

Spike jumped over to the back of the room to avoid the sunlight.

The EMT's looked at the head wound, "Did she cut herself when she fell?" He continued to work on Joyce until he had an IV started.

"No, she she'd been complaining about headaches." Spike remembered getting Joyce some pain medication before he went to bed. "I know a little bit about medicine. When she passed out, I feared she had an aneurysm. So, I did what I could to relieve the pressure at the surgical site."

The EMT's mouth dropped open. He took in the stunned faces surrounding the woman. He also realized how quickly the blonde man jumped back when the curtains were opened. He lived in Sunnydale for the last 10 years, and he served as an EMT for 5 of those years. He heard and saw a lot of strange things during that time, and his gut instincts were telling him that more was going on here than met the eye. "How long has she been having the headaches?"

"She had one or two for the last couple days," Buffy answered. "Today she seemed to have one all day. I know it was getting worse because she asked me to close the curtains an hour ago."

"This has all the signs of a rupture." The second EMT confirmed to the first. "She's ready. We need to load her up and in, stat. Heartbeat sounds weak, but it is constant." He checked a couple other monitors. "Blood loss is minimal, and there is no pressure build up now. Whatever he did, probably saved her life."

"We need to take her to the hospital. She might need surgery to repair the damage and reseal the wound," The first EMT said seriously. "Who is riding with her?"

Buffy clutched Spike's hand tightly. She probably would have broken a human's hand.

"Go on pet," Spike answered Buffy's unspoken question. "The Nibblet and I will find a way there." The EMT's were already out the door.

Buffy nodded to Spike. Xander piped up with an unexpected offer. "I can drive everyone else to the hospital. I have an SUV with tinted windows. Spike will still need a blanket, but it will fit all of us."

Spike blinked in surprise. Anya beamed with pride. Buffy and Dawn both smiled before they enveloped Xander in a big hug.

"Thank you, Xander." Buffy rushed out the door to follow the EMT's.

"That's mighty big of you to offer, Whelp." Spike rocked back on his heels.

Xander cringed at the nickname he hated. "I came here to apologize to you and Buffy, but we need to get some things straight first, Dead Boy Jr."

Anya, worried that Xander was losing his temper, held his hand in hers. She rubbed the back of his hand in slow circular motions.

Dawn stepped next to Spike defensively. She wanted everyone to get along, but she would protect Spike first.

"I am not a whelp or your son. I am also not a dough boy no matter how many donuts I retrieve for this group." Xander stood firm a couple feet from Spike.

"If you want respect, you are going to need to give it as well." Spike lifted his hand. He bent one finger towards his palm for every name he mentioned, "My name is Spike to you. Do not call me Evil Dead, Dead Boy Jr., Bleached Wonder, Bleached Menace or any of those other little names you have floating around in your head. Got it?"

Dawn and Anya watched the two males face off. Both of them wondered who would crack first or throw the first punch.

Xander eyed Spike critically. After several minutes of silence he nodded slowly. "Agreed." He extended his hand out to Spike.

Spike smiled softly, only a touch of his patented smirk on the corner of his lips. "Agreed." He shook Xander's hand firmly. "And apology accepted, but if you hurt one of my girls again all bets are off."

Xander nodded his agreement. "I love them too, Spike. I was only misguided as to who I had to protect them from."

Dawn and Anya sighed in relief. Both of them relaxed next to the men they cared for.

"I'll go get dressed real quick like." Spike turned to Dawn. "You need to call the Watcher, Nibblet. I know he is going to want to meet us at the hospital."

"Oh no! Giles is going to have a break down." Dawn rushed into the kitchen to call the Magic Box while Spike headed upstairs to get dressed.

Xander looked over at Anya. "I take it that is something else I missed during my cold shoulder time?"

Anya nodded. "Yep. I'd say Giles and Joyce are an item."

Xander sighed. "That will take some getting used to."

Anya chuckled and patted Xander's shoulder. "If you can get over Spike and Buffy, I'm sure you can handle Joyce and Giles."

"We'll see about that."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)
 

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