Distro: Mystifying Dreams, WWOMB, WLS, RedsSoulmates and others
Spoilers: season 5
Pairing: Spike/Willow
Rating: PG
Summary: Something is offered.
A/N: Thanks to Jennillu and Kat for the beta.
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Glory took him.
That skanky ho' took him and. goddess he's so broken. Giles and Xander dropped him off at his crypt earlier, not too concerned about him healing. They never are as long as he can take the next beating for us.
So I find myself sneaking through the graveyard, yet again, to make sure he's okay. Sometimes I wonder about my friends.
I don't bother knocking since I'm pretty sure he can't make it to the door without a lot of pain. Besides, he knows I'm here. I've discovered that his vampiric senses are a lot keener than we understand. He actually smells the blood inside us, can tell the difference between us by that scent, hears heartbeats a block away and a lot more weird stuff.
I go in and close the door. He's laying on that sarcophagus and tilts his head to see me.
"Now's not the best time, Red. Not really up to entertaining." He grunts, moving to sit up.
Rushing to him, I drop my bag and place my hand on his shoulder, gently urging him to lay back down. "Shhh.don't get up." One eye is swollen completely shut and he's cut and bruised and bleeding in so many places. I turn away so he doesn't see the tears, and although I know he smells them, we can pretend.
"First I'm gonna do a healing spell. I don't know if it'll work on you, but it won't hurt, okay?" I look at him for a sign that he will argue, but he's pretty agreeable right now.
I do the spell, concentrating on his internal injuries, and then try to clean him up. It's frustrating going down that ladder and bringing up fresh water and after the second trip I make up my mind.
"Can you walk?"
"Rather not," he sighs.
I fidget, shifting from foot to foot. "I.we're going to my parents' house."
He turns to look at me. It's easier, but clearly not easy.
"What's with the pronoun confusion? I'm staying right here and you're going to toddle off to your witch."
I can't help the frown that spreads over my face. "No you don't! You don't get to play martyr and be all miserable and alone. It doesn't affect them, doesn't make them feel guilty or bad or anything!" I shout, pacing. "In fact I'm pretty sure they get some satisfaction out of it, which doesn't speak well of them, I know, but I'm being honest here, okay?"
He rolls his eyes and slides up into a sitting position, dangling his legs over the edge of his bed.
"It only bothers me!" I admit, and feel some of my anger flee from me. It's a relief, but I'm hoping I don't need it to convince him. "I get all sad, in here, when you are." I place my hand over my heart and his head tilts as he watches. "So you're coming with me.now.a-and who sleeps on cold concrete anyway, Spike?"
~~~*~~~~
Getting him to my parents' house proved difficult and annoying, but he is here now, soaking in a hot bath of herbs and oils.
I pick up the phone and make the call that I have been dreading, mostly because I am going to lie.
"Hi, Sweetie." I try to sound cheerful.
"Willow, hey... where are you?" She sounds worried.yippie, I sigh.
"Oh, I'm, uh, at my parents'. I forgot, they asked me to be here in the morning and sign for a package. It's supposed to be really important and I."
"It's okay, Willow. D-do you want me to come over, hang out with you?"
"No, I'm all right. I'll have some reading to do anyway. But I'll see you in lab, right? Or do you wanna meet for lunch first and then go?"
"Okay, lunch sounds good.in the DC?"
"I'll be there by 11:30, okay?"
She agrees to this and we exchange telephone smooches before hanging up.
"Are you two always that sweet, Red? I'm feeling a diabetic coma coming on."
I nearly jump out of my skin and whirl around on him.
"Spike!" He is grinning. "It's soo not funny." Anything else I am gonna say dies in my throat. He's only wearing a towel and I think I'm staring.
"We forgot to bring me a change of clothes." That explains his near nudeness, not that I required an explanation. I just wish I could stop with the staring.
The bruises are still there, deep purple, and several gashes are healing, but not close to gone. Aside from that I really, really like the package.
"I don't have blood," I manage to say something and it's goofy and stupid and so not the subject.
He tilts his head and leans in to look in my eyes. "Actually, you do, pet."
I stare back, lost in icy blue darkness for a few seconds, shaking my head a little to clear the fog. Was that thrall?
"Ohhh, but I meant, you know, no bags, or butcher's blood." He chuckles and steps back, giving me space. And gosh, it's so hot in here!
"No worries, Red. You've done enough for me. I feel better already." He walks out of the kitchen and into the family room. It's not with his normal cocky gait, but a slight limp, and I frown as he settles into the blankets I laid out for him.
"But could you do it? I mean, if I let you, or wanted you to, could you?"
He's frowning, clearly having moved on from a topic in which I got stuck. "Could I what?"
"Drink? From me?"
The End