When Eternity Lies In The Balance

By Jericho TGF

Chapter Two

It was over. The dimensional walls were back in place. The Scooby Gang shuffled slowly toward the body of a fallen friend, tears in their eyes and pain in their hearts.

No one was sure what had happened. The world hadn’t ended, so Buffy had succeeded in preventing the apocalypse, but at what cost? Losing Dawn, as they knew they must have – there was no other way to close the walls to the dimensions once open - was bad enough. But losing Buffy, not knowing how or why, that tore each and every one of them apart.

Spike, with one look at the broken body of the woman he loved, pressed his hands over his eyes and sobbed out his failure. He had been given a job, he’d made a promise, and he had failed. Dawn was gone. Buffy was gone.

He’d promised to protect Dawn until the end of the world. The world was still here, she wasn't. And he had lost Buffy, too. He had failed utterly. And he was riddled with self-loathing and despair.

She was wrong to treat me like a man, he thought. She should never have trusted me with it. She should’ve bloody well known better. She might still be alive, at least. And Nibblet, I'm so sorry, pet. It should have been me, not you, not big sis. It should’ve been me.

Dawn, tears in her eyes, stepped away from the metal edifice that was supposed to have meant her death and moved in jerky paces to the body of her sister. Her savior. She didn't notice the gasps of surprise and shock as the gang saw her approach. She was oblivious to their muted relief that she was, in fact, still alive against all odds.

The gang held back, stunned disbelief and grief holding them in place as the reality of what must have happened slowly started to sink in. Buffy was dead. The Slayer had made the only choice she could once the walls had fallen. She had been a true hero. She had found a way to save them all.

Moving into a shaft of early morning sunlight, Dawn kept her eyes trained on the body of the person she had loved most in the world.

It's too hard, Buffy, she thought to her sister. I can't do this without you. How can I live as you asked, how can you expect me to?

Swamped by guilt and overcome by grief, Dawn collapsed at her sister's side and wept.

How long has it been since I was made human, she wondered. Nine months? A little less? And look what my existence has caused. Death, pain, war. None of this should have happened.

Giles watched Dawn and ached for her. He ached for them all. There were no words to express the loss he felt at the death of his Slayer, his Buffy. She had meant more to him than even a daughter would have, and the only thing he knew now was that this world didn't deserve to survive if it continued to ask such sacrifices from such pure souls.

The Watcher realized that against everything that was written, Buffy had found a way to keep her sister alive and save the world at the same time. Of course she would, how had he ever doubted it, she was the Chosen One.

Here they were, all of them save one. Alive…hurt but alive…and all because of Buffy's strength of character. It would be up to him, now, to guarantee that her sacrifice had not been made in vain. They were a family, Dawn's only real family, and Buffy would want each and every one of them to watch out for her sister.

She had sacrificed her life for Dawn, for all of them, and now it was their time to give a little back for that gift. The feeling of responsibility didn't lessen the pain - it hurt so very, very much - but it allowed room for direction and purpose.

Dawn felt the gentle pressure on her shoulder and she raised her tear-stained face to the gentle and compassionate gaze of the Watcher. Despite the false memories the monks had given her, memories of a father's love, Dawn knew that the man standing over her had been more of a father to her than anyone else. And she knew that even with Buffy's real history with their dad, Giles had always been more of a father to her as well. That's when she remembered the words, the last words her sister spoke to her before she had done the unthinkable.

Dawn rose on shaky legs and took a step back from Giles' now questioning gaze. There was purpose in her expression and determination in her posture. Wide blue eyes scanned the group, stopping on each one in turn, until she came to the huddled and sobbing form on her far left.

Spike. She ached to comfort him, ached to be comforted by him, because Dawn knew that he above all others had loved Buffy as much and as desperately as she herself did. And she knew that he was just as alone now, as well. But it wasn’t time yet. There was a message to be told.

The sun kissed her shoulders and turned her long, dark hair into spun gold. The group, with the exception of Spike, who was so wrapped in his own agony he hadn't noticed Dawn's approach, watched in awe as the pain of losing a sister was transformed into determination. With Buffy's last words waiting to be spoken, Dawn had become, not the weakest amongst them, but the strongest.

"She had a message for all of us," she said, her voice strong and clear despite the loss she was feeling. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Spike's head jerk in surprise at her voice as he noticed her standing there for the first time.

"She told me it was the work she had to do. She said to tell you, Giles, that she figured it out, and that she was okay. She loved all of you; she wanted you to know that. She loved me, too. Buffy said we have to take care of each other, and that I have to be strong - but I think we all do. She said the hardest thing in this world was to live in it. We need to be brave and live. For her."

No sooner was the message given then Dawn broke down once more. She was instantly blanketed in Giles' warm embrace and she sobbed out her pain in his arms. When she felt the drops of wetness hitting the top of her head she knew he, too, was grieving tearfully.

One by one the rest of the gang stepped forward to hug her and tell her how much they loved her. They told her they would each be there for her and for each other. They were a family, united in the dying wish of their friend. There was no blame, no recriminations. Grief, yes, they were all pounded relentlessly by grief, but they also had their love for each other.

Except for Spike. He held back, was held back by the glare of the morning sun. He couldn't go to Dawn. He couldn't really believe she was still alive. Somehow it seemed that he was being given a chance to redeem himself to Buffy by following through on his pledge to protect her sister until the end of the world. The end hadn't come last night, and now he had an undead eternity to as he promised. The agony of losing Buffy was in no way lessened by the gift, but he wasn’t quite so raw.

Shuffling his feet in aggravation, he cursed the inability to get near her. He had to watch as each of the gang got to ease a small part of their suffering by the blessing of contact with all that was left of the Slayer. Not him, though, he stood alone. He had always been on the outside, alone and lonely, when it came to these people. There was no comfort to be had for the monster.

Dawn leaned in and kissed Tara on the cheek, thrilled that whatever magick Willow used had brought one of her favorite people back to them. It was bittersweet but real. She turned to Giles, who was leaning over Buffy, getting ready to carry her out of there, when she saw Spike.

The naked longing on his face told her everything she needed to know. He raised a hand to her, a tragic wisp of a smile on his lips but he came no closer. She frowned, not understanding at first why he held himself back when it was so obvious he wanted to be included on this small session of grief therapy. Then she remembered. The sun. He couldn't come any closer, how stupid of her not to realize.

With a sob she stepped around Xander, who was supporting Anya's weight after letting her down from his arms to hug Dawn, and threw herself into the shadows. Into the arms of the vampire.

Spike was stunned by the effusive display. He hadn't known what to expect, but was overwhelmed by her obvious affection. It was more than he had ever hoped to have.

Wrapping tight arms around the girl, he whispered in her ear so the others couldn't hear. "I was afraid you didn't make it, Nibblet. I was so afraid you didn't make it."

His voice cracked and tears were threatening to fall again but he continued. "I can't believe she's really gone. I loved her so much. I lived for her, ya know? Would have bloody well died for her and she's gone. I don't know what to do, pet, tell me what to do."

Dawn squeezed him tightly, gaining comfort as she gave it. She pulled back slightly and stared into his eyes. She saw the torment in them and new that it mirrored her own.

"We do just what she asked us to do, Spike, we live." With a gentle touch she traced her finger down one bloodied cheek. "You did everything you could, Spike. I saw it. I know it. There was nothing else you could have done. Buffy would have known it too. She would have been grateful."

The smile he gave her was wry and self-doubting. "Nice thought, pet, and I appreciate the effort. There won't be a day that goes by, though, that I won't think of her and know I could have stopped Doc from doing what he did to you. And if I had, she'd be alive. That's my bloody cross to bear."

She shook her head at him, wanting him to understand that there was no blame to be had, no guilt that should be felt for his actions but he reached up and gripped her head gently in his hands.

"It's okay, Little Bit, don’t worry ‘bout me. I have to tell you something." He took a deep breath that he didn't need just to calm down.

"Buffy told me somethin' last night. Told me she was counting on me to protect you. I gave her my word that I would, until the end of the world. Now, it wasn't last night like we thought, and you're still here." He looked away in embarrassment briefly before continuing. "I guess what I'm bulloxin' my way through here is this...what I pledged to Big Sis I now pledge to you. Until the end of your days or the end of mine, I will be here to protect you from anything that could pop up. Seein' as this is good old Sunnyhell, I'm sure there'll be bad brewin’ soon ‘nough. Nothin', and I mean nothin' is ever going to get to you. Or if they do, they'll have to go through one mightily pissed off vampire to do it."

Dawn trembled at the intensity of his words. She had nothing to say, and was stunned by the ferocity he showed at even the thought of someone trying to hurt her. It made her feel safe; it made her feel protected. It made her feel special. But then again, she was special, wasn't she? She was the Slayer's little sister. And with Spike around she would never be alone.

Smiling gently at him, she turned, grabbed his hand, and dragged him through the shadows and around to where the group now stood watching them. Spike noticed their curious stares and the surprising absence of the hostility that was so common when dealing with him, but his eyes were drawn to Buffy's limp form being cradled in the arms of the Watcher. Even in death she was beautiful.

For you, luv, he thought to her. Everything I do and will do is for you. Don't worry about Dawn, I will always protect her. You have my word.

Giles spoke as the two joined them. "It's time to go. There are...arraignments to be made."

No one questioned him; they knew what he was referring to. They turned, walking in four sets of pairs, Tara and Willow supporting each other, Xander carrying Anya once again because she was too weak to stand for long on her own, Giles with the body of the Slayer in his arms, and Dawn and Spike, hands gripped tightly against their shared pain. They walked away from the scene of so much horror and headed home.

A crack of thunder and an eye searing flash spun them around in surprise and they girded themselves for whatever impending catastrophe was on its way.

Giles quickly lay Buffy down and turned, the witches summoned their magicks, and Xander set Anya back on her feet, both moving to battle ready status. They stared in horror as a white light formed before them as if reality was being sliced wide. A vertical tear in the air opened as they watched.

Spike pushed Dawn behind him and threw on his game face, ready to fight to the death for her.

As the light grew and the seam separated, the group squinted against the increasing brightness. The wind picked up, it howled and screamed as if the atmosphere itself was crying out in pain from the wound being inflicted on it. The tails of Spike's duster slapped painfully against Dawn's legs, but she took an instinctive step closer to his back, huddled in fear of what she was seeing.

"What the bloody hell is happening, Giles?" Spike screamed over the wind.

"I-I have no idea." He called back, using his body to shield the Slayer's from further damage. "This shouldn't have anything to do with Glory. Everyone, prepare yourselves."

Right, the vampire thought sarcastically, like I needed the bugger to tell me that.

The seam before them stretched wider and suddenly the gang could see something approaching from within the light. A very large and non-human looking something. The group exchanged confused glances, fear replacing the grief in their eyes. But they were the Slayerettes, the Scooby Gang, and fear was nothing compared to what they had each gone through last night.

Willow grasped Tara's hand tightly, preparing to zap whatever was approaching with her energies, much as she had done to Glory after she had brain-drained her love. She could feel the gathering forces of magicks and her vision narrowed, blocking out all but the approaching evil.

Spike stared, horrified, as the creature stepped out of the light and into their reality. It was huge. A good three feet taller than the vampire himself. And it looked to have spent some serious time working out; it was one walking mass of muscle. Scaly red skin covered the body and it had a face that would stop a clock. He girded himself for a quick and extremely painful encounter and threw himself at the creature.

Willow's mind call stopped him within feet of the thing. “Spike, no! Let me try first! Hit the dirt!”

Spike, still a little weirded out by Willow's ability to get into his head, did as he was told and dropped to the ground. A powerful bolt of electrical energy passed a few feet over him. He could feel the crackle of it in the air. He looked up to see what effect, if any, it would have on the demon standing in front of him.

The demon was big but it moved fast. Reaching up one clawed fist, it seemed to catch the ball of energy and hold it.

Willow's eyes widened in surprise. That was not supposed to happen. She wasn't given the time to try again. It stared at each of them, a sharp tooth grimace - possibly a grin - split its ugly features and it shoved the energy ball into its mouth, chewing slowly and with apparent pleasure.

"Okay, so maybe not trying that one again," mumbled Willow.

Spike leapt to his feet and prepared to attack the creature, a brave but decidedly foolhardy move according to Dawn, who reached out to grab the tail of his duster as he moved. He glanced back briefly, gave her a saucy smile and a wink, and threw himself at the creature. The rest of the gang moved forward as one to help.

Spike hit the creature's chest hard and was caught, quite painfully, in its grasp. It stared down at the vampire and smiled again, or at least Spike thought it was a smile, he wasn't quite sure.

Xander had picked up a discarded ax and swung at one of the legs of the beast, Anya tried to get in a swing with her bat. Willow and Tara were trying to throw together a sleep spell and Giles cocked the crossbow and shot, aiming at the face of the beast.

With the exception of the crossbow arrow, the attacks bounced off the creature. The arrow didn't even get a chance to strike home. The creature lifted Spike a bit and he felt the arrow slam into his right should.

"OWW! Bloody hell!" He hollered.

Giles had the presence of mind to look guilty. "Damn, sorry 'bout that."

Spike struggled against the grip, but the creature didn't lessen it hold. Dawn, trying to help, ran up to them and grabbed Spike by the leg, trying to pull him away from the demon. Fighting against the resistance, the creature flexed its claws, which sent all twelve of its razor sharp talons into Spike's arms, chest, and sides. His holler turned into a bellow of pain.

Dawn jumped back, upset that she had done more harm then good.

A pulse of energy emanating from the creature hit the gang and sent them tumbling back several feet. They tried to pick themselves up but they knew it was too late. The last thing each one of them saw was a struggling Spike, disappearing into the rip in the air, held firmly in a demons grasp.

Once swallowed, the seam repaired itself, the wind died down, and the Scooby Gang stared in horror at the now empty space where Spike had last been.

Dawn, shaken and afraid, stood slowly and looked around. A torturous expression set hard on her face as she turned and looked at Giles. Her voice was ragged and the events of the evening were weighing heavily upon her.

All she could manage was a small, "He's gone," before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted at his feet.

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