"Willow," Spike leaned over and brushed the bloodied hair
from her face.
"Baby, open your eyes. Come on, luv."
He caressed her arm, and Willow moaned softly. As her
eyes fluttered
open, Spike released the unneeded breath he'd been holding.
"Spike," her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"I'm here, baby," he replied.
She tried to sit up and gasped at the pain behind her
eyes. Spike coaxed
her back onto the soft cushions of the sofa.
"Be still, pet," he said.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"At the warehouse. It was the only place I could think
of. Besides, I
think the slayer and soulboy have had enough for one
night."
Memories began to rush back to the weakened girl, "They
were there, at
the house."
He nodded, "I had to get you out of there."
"Xander? It was Xander who did this, wasn't it?"
"He was coming after me, luv. You should have stayed out
of the way," he
told her.
"I couldn't," she said. "He was going to--"
"I know," he took her hand and squeezed it. "A mortal,
risking her life
for a vampire. That's one for the watchers' tomes."
"You're not just any vampire," she smiled.
"And you're not just any mortal. You're mine," he answered.
***
Silence drifted through the books on the shelves and
wrapped itself
around the young people who were sitting around the library
table.
"It isn't your fault, Xander," Buffy finally spoke. "You
couldn't have
known what Willow would do."
Xander's eyes were red-rimmed and had the distant look of shock.
"Willow has been my best friend since--forever," he said.
"Murdered by
her best friend.
"Stop it, Xander," Giles' clear voice snapped. "No one
here blames you
for what happened. Self-pity will accomplish nothing."
Xander shoved the chair back with enough force to send
it toppling over,
"Self-pity! Is that what you think this is? You unfeeling
bastard! She's
dead--because of me!"
The words stung, but the watcher was relieved to see color
return to the
young man's face.
"Take it easy," Angel said. "The last thing we need is
for us to start
fighting with each other."
"Where's Oz?" Giles asked. "Is he all right?"
"He went home," Buffy answered. "He didn't say much, but
he's really
hurting."
"He must hate me," Xander whispered.
"It was an accident. No one hates you," Buffy was beginning
to feel
exasperated.
Xander looked at her sadly, "I'm sorry. This is just all
so--I don't
know how to deal with this."
"I know," the slayer's voice softened, and she reached
out to embrace
him. "We'll find a way to get through this. Just hang
on."
***
Willow cried out as Spike dabbed at the wound above her
ear.
"Sorry, pet," he said softly.
"It's okay," she smiled.
"Almost finished," he promised.
"They always seem to know where you are, don't they?"
Willow asked,
referring to the minions who had arrived a few minutes
ago with the
medical supplies Spike would need to tend to her wound.
He grinned, "They'd better, if they know what's good for them."
Willow flinched as he gently pressed a square of gauze
against her head
and taped it into place. He set the rest of the dressing
aside and moved
back onto the sofa, pulling Willow against him. He wrapped
his arm
around her and kissed her.
"You need to get some sleep, baby," he told her. "Let
me take you to
bed."
"It's still here?" she asked in surprise.
Spike chuckled, "We're like the Boy Scouts. Always prepared."
"Boy Scouts with fangs. Interesting concept," she replied.
Spike lifted her and carried her into the bedroom. He
undressed her and
helped her into bed. Then he shed his own clothes and
moved in beside
her, settling her carefully against his naked chest.
"Is this ever going to get easy?" she wondered.
"I wouldn't count on it," he answered.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
"Now, we get some sleep," he told her. "And give you a
few days to
regain your strength."
"And then?"
"And then we go talk to the slayer," he said.
"What!" she exclaimed as she lifted herself up on his chest.
"Sleep, Willow," he ordered, pulling her back down.
Sighing, she surrendered to his insistent arms as they
held her firmly
against him.
"You're crazy. Completely insane," she whispered as sleep
began to claim
her senses.
"Yeah, but you love it," he stated.
"Yup. I do," she agreed.
End.