Perfect in the Dark

In Shadows Series XIII

Author: FemailoftheSpecies

Disclaimer: Joss is the man

Distro: Mystifying Dreams, WWOMB, WLS, RedsSoulmates, Poetry In Motion, NHA, Writings of the Femail, my Livejournal and others

Spoilers: season 5

Rating: Over 13

Summary: She does what she must

Thanks to Jennillu for the beta.

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It’s a scary and wonderful place to be, under Spike’s protection and the focus of his intensity.  As his eyes travel over me I can feel heat rising and my bloody bubbling and everything we did last night rolls over me in waves as I clench around the ghost of his presence.  But I can’t respond or be satisfied.  We are on the run, in a raggedy old motorhome that Buffy and Spike...procured.  How?  I don’t ask and can’t bring myself to care.

The ride is bumpy and hot and I’m tired already.  Everyone is trying not to blame her, but I know they could and maybe they should.  So I carry Tara’s guilt because she can’t.  She gave Dawn away to Glory.  Accidentally, of course, but the result is the same and we have left Sunndydale.

Spike drives for a while and it’s easier for me because I don’t have to look at him while taking care of my sweet girl.  She is totally unaware of what is happening around her and I have to remind her to eat, but being subjected to his attention while pretending I’m not craving him is more than I can handle.

When Giles takes over behind the wheel, Spike comes to sit on the floor by Dawnie and I pretend to read.  Xander is Xander and makes everything worse, but Spike seems immune to his jibes so I don’t bother intervening.  The blonde is no stranger to a tongue lashing and gives much better than he gets, usually.  Today is no exception, but it’s grating on my nerves and I wish, but never out loud, that Xander would just let it go.   I’m even kinda glad when he looks car sick and runs to the front.  I am such a bad friend.

But at least it’s quiet now.

~~~*~~~

We are in an old abandoned gas station.  Giles is hurt, very much so and after they put him on the counter, I try to do a healing spell on him but he’s not getting better.  Just not worse...yet.

But the idiotic knights keep at it and in the process we capture one.  It ends when I erect a barrier around the building, keeping us safe for a little while.

And now we are waiting...for them to what...get bored and go to the movies or something?   Tara has dozed off finally so I go to him while I have a moment’s peace.    He’s sitting in the gloom, his back against the wall and eyes closed, but I know he’s not asleep.

“Giles won’t make it if we stay here much longer, luv.”  He informs me of this like I just asked him the day of the week, without concern or opening his eyes.  It’s a fact and nothing more.

“Let me see your hands.”

He peeks out from behind his lids and raises an eyebrow, but complies.  “My own Nurse Ratchet?  Planning on spanking me?”

I laugh.  “She was a pig, Spike.  Find a better analogy or I won’t help you heal.”

“Save your magic, pet.  We’ll need it to fight them buggers off.”

“I wasn’t planning on using magic,” I reply and pull down the turtleneck of my shirt, exposing the pulsing vein and the fresh mark from last night.  “This works even faster.”

He swallows and looks around.  Buffy, Dawn and Xander are interrogating the head knight person and Anya is watching over Giles.

“They catch us I’m as good as staked, pet.”  He keeps his distance, but doesn’t want to and his eyes never leave my neck.

“They won’t.  We are the last two people in the world they expect to be involved.  Now take the blood, Spike, while we’re alone.  You need to be at your best if we have to fight.”

“Temptress,” he says teasingly as he stands and pulls me into the shadows with him, his demon face coming into view.

And for a few minutes it is terrifying and perfect here, in the dark, with nothing but the blood between us.

The End

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