Chapter 7:

“What kind of surprise?”

“If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it?”

“Buffy and surprises are un-mixy things…”

“Well you’d better get used to it Luv, I plan to spoil and surprise you every day of your life.”

“Spoiling is good…”

“Yes…now…be a good little kitten and I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and smiled. As soon as he left the room she started removing her clothing…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What? I can’t believe she got involved with another vampire. Especially Spike. That’ll end well.”

“Come on Xander. He makes her happy. She’s in love with him.”

“When is she going to learn? He’s an evil soulless demon.”

“So was your fiancé. For over a thousand years. Give it a rest. I don’t really care what you think, he’s good for her and if you think for one second that you are going to say anything to hurt her you better think again Alexander Harris. Buffy is finally happy. Don’t mess that up for her ok?”

“Do I get to say I told you so?”

“No. You don’t. Spike isn’t like that anymore…and you know it Xander…cut the crap already. You know just as well as I do that he has changed.”

“He doesn’t have a soul.”

“He doesn’t need one, he loves her. He loves her so much that he changed EVERYTHING in him to be a better man, to be a man that she could love. Xander, he stayed after she died…he didn’t have to…he did because he is in love with her…and he wanted to be there for Dawn…that doesn’t sound to me like someone just waiting for an opportunity to turn on her…he had no idea we were gonna try to bring her back….and he still stayed…”

“Ok…I get it…I really do Will…but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“No…you don’t have to like it…but honestly….did you really like it when I announced that I was a lesbian? I mean honestly…”

“Honestly…it gave me the wiggins…but I gave Tara a chance cause I love you Will…I just want you to be happy…”

“With all that Buffy has given up by being the slayer…don’t you think she deserves that too? I mean she is the slayer…and she’s been IN LOVE with not one but TWO vampires…maybe it’s just the way slayers are made…sure there’s nothing in the council’s books…but I’ll bet she’s not the first slayer to have…”

“But why wouldn’t they put it in the diaries?”

“Do you really think that’s something the council would be proud of? Have you met Quentin Traverse? Even if it was in there I could see him having them all re-written to take any mention of slayers and Vampires out…How do you think they knew about the poison when he tried to kill Angel?”

“Merciful Zeus…I forgot all about that…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ok Luv…I’ve got…” Spike stopped. Stopped everything, thinking breathing, moving, talking. He froze with his mouth hanging open and his eyes bugging out of his head.

“Aren’t you going to join me?” She smiled seductively, running her fingertips over her breasts, her eyes automatically drawn to the bulge in his jeans.

“Uh…”

“I saved some room for you.” She said softly, patting the couch between her parted thighs. “It’s not the same without you…” She slowly inserted two fingers into her pussy. “But it makes me hot when you watch…”

“Buffy…”

“Spike…come a little closer…don’t be shy…”

He took a tentative step towards her. Buffy moaned and arched her back, giving him a perfect view of her wet fingers gliding in and out of her pussy. He just stared.

“I’m being rude… want a taste?” She held her fingers out towards him.

“Oh…god…Buffy…” He gasped as he knelt beside the couch. He leaned forward and grasped the hand she held out to him. He licked each finger clean and then leaned over and kissed her hard on the lips, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth.

She opened and granted him access as his hand trailed over her taut stomach. He bent his head and captured one pert nipple in his mouth and sucked softly causing it to pucker against his tongue.

He bent to her core and inhaled her unique scent. Leaning forward he expertly licked her moistened nether lips. She moaned in satisfaction and rocked her hips against him. Spike dipped two fingers into her quim and found that magic spot, when he touched her there her hips bucked wildly, searching for more friction.

Spike took her throbbing clit into his mouth and sucked gently. Buffy screamed in ecstasy, rocking her hips faster and faster. She was so worked up already it didn’t take her long. “I’m gonna cum Spike...”

He kept his mouth on her sensitive bud and looked up to watch her face as she shattered. Spike growled against her when he felt the warm gush of liquid expelled from her quivering pussy.

“Oh Spike…god that was…Wow…”

“Nothing like the taste of you luv. You are amazing, bloody perfect.”

She looked up at Spike and smiled. “I’ll bet I know one thing you’d want more…” She said suggestively brushing her golden hair away from her neck. “I want you to really taste me…”

“Oh…Buffy…god…Luv, I’ve dreamt of this…of you giving yourself to me completely…I just don’t think now’s the time…I don’t think anyone is ready to see my mark on you…”

She smiled and nodded. “I want you in my mouth…” She didn’t take his words the wrong way, she knew exactly what he meant, until she could wear his mark without repercussion he could wait. It only made her love him more to know that he thought of others before his own needs.

She helped him remove his jeans and shirt, he was wearing nothing underneath not surprisingly. She took his shaft in her small hand and stroked him lovingly. “Yeah…luv, just like that…” He moaned softly, stroking her hair and rubbing it through his fingers.

She leaned over and took him into her mouth. “Mmmmm Love you…” She licked and kissed the tip and took him all the way in again, rubbing her tongue against the sensitive flesh under the head of his throbbing cock.

“Bloody hell Buffy…stop…want to come inside you luv…”

She looked up at him through her lashes. “Anything you want my love…”

“Want you now…”

She turned around and bent over the couch. Presenting him with her perfect ass. Spike positioned himself behind her and rubbed the head of his cock against her slick opening.

She cried out and pushed back against him “Yeah…like that….harder…oh yes…” Spike grasped her hips with bruising force and pounded into her. “Oh yes…grab me like that…”

She flipped her head over so the back of her neck was completely exposed to him. “There? Will you bite me there…please Spike…I want to feel your fangs inside me…”

Spike, buried inside of her and having her beg him to bite her almost made him lose control he almost did it without thinking.

“Buffy…”

“I’m sure Spike…please…no one will see it…please…” She couldn’t explain why she wanted it so bad, she just knew it was something she needed to have happen right now. She reached back and pulled him flush against her, pulling his face into her neck.

He bit into the back of her neck as she arched into him, his fingers reaching around and rubbing her clit at a dizzying pace. She started panting.

She felt immense power as the most intense and satisfying orgasm she had ever had washed over her.

He pulled his fangs out gently and lathed the wound with his tongue. He murmured a few words softly to her. “Potior praebeo desiderium votum praesto presto rogo consisto Levamentum obtineo” Roughly translated. “You are mine. I have shown myself to you. I need and desire you, I vow to be responsible for you and to you, I am asking for you to depend on me and take comfort in me. You belong to me.”

She was just coming down from her orgasm and heard his whispered words.
Buffy pulled slowly out of his embrace and turned to look at him she replied softly. “vester vestra vestrum” “yours”


At Spike’s shocked looked she replied. “What? I took I took latin in school.”

“sulum alius” We belong to each other. Spike murmured softly with tears in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close savoring the moment.

“sulum alius” We belong to each other. She sighed contentedly in his arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Where’s Buffy?” Dawn asked seating herself at the table and pouring a bowl of cereal.

“At Spikes” Willow replied. “Dawnie, you’re going to ruin your dinner.”

“No. I won’t. I’m starving…so she stayed there?”

“Where?”

“Spikes?”

“No. She came back…but she…I think she should tell you herself…”

“Tell me what?”

“Dawnie…I can’t it’s not my place…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Buffy…are you sure you’re ok with this? I mean…there’s no going back…It’s forever what we’ve done here…”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” She whispered softly, leaning forward to kiss him, their naked bodies fit so perfectly together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn picked up the phone and dialed the now familiar number.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike reached around her for the phone, picking it up on the third ring. “’Lo?”

“Spike? It’s me…I need to talk to Buffy…”

“For you Luv…It’s the bit…” Spike said handing her the phone.

“Hey Dawn…what’s up?”

“What’s going on Buffy? Something’s up…and Willow’s being all secretive…”

“It…It’s Ok Dawn…I talked to Spike…Things are going to be better…I promise. I’ll be home soon and we can talk at dinner…Ok?”

“Ok. See you soon…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So what did she say?”

“She talked to Spike and things are going to get better…she said she’d be home for supper and we can talk then…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Will you come with me?”

“I’d follow you to the ends of the earth Luv.”

“Spike…I want you to know…no matter what anyone says or thinks I don’t regret what happened. I am totally in love with you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life…”

“I know that now luv. I can feel it…” He pulled her hand towards himself and placed her palm flat against is chest. She could feel his heart beating faintly.

“Oh god Spike…oh my fucking god! Your heart is beating…”

“T’s not going to last Luv…It’s your blood that’s doing it…it’s…I can feel your love coursing through my veins.”

She had tears of happiness in her eyes as she pulled him towards her for another searing kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TBC……?
 

Chapter 8:

“Spike…I want you to know…no matter what anyone says or thinks I don’t regret what happened. I am totally in love with you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life…”

“I know that now luv. I can feel it…” He pulled her hand towards himself and placed her palm flat against is chest. She could feel his heart beating faintly.

“Oh god Spike…oh my fucking god! Your heart is beating…”

“T’s not going to last Luv…It’s your blood that’s doing it…it’s…I can feel your love coursing through my veins.”

She had tears of happiness in her eyes as she pulled him towards her for another searing kiss. They made love over and over, re-affirming their commitment to one another.

“Sun’s setting Luv, we should get going…”

“Yeah…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn smiled happily when Buffy and Spike entered holding hands.

“Ok…We need to talk…everyone take a seat…” Everyone was there, awaiting the blonde couple’s arrival.

“What is going on Buffy?” Giles asked as he distractedly polished his glasses.

“I have some things to say.” She smiled at Spike and squeezed his hand for reassurance. “I am in love with Spike.” She glared at Giles when he looked like he was about to speak.

“I am not finished. Spike has been in love with me for a long time now. I chose to ignore it, thinking he couldn’t possibly have feelings…Sorry Spike..” She glanced at the shocked Vampire.

He hadn’t been expecting her to tell them all right there and then…at the first opportunity. “’S no problem Luv. As long as you love me now…” He smirked.

“Anyways as I was saying…all of you had the chance to see him when I was…when I …died. He has changed for good…He is a better man, soul or no soul he has real feelings and he makes me happy. Any objections…to bad. I will not listen and neither will Spike. And I WILL NOT tolerate anyone saying or doing anything hurtful to him. We are like one now. I mean that literally…Attack Spike…you attack me, I’d take it as a personal assault...last person I defended with my life, like I would Spike, is my sister…any questions?”

She glanced around at the shocked faces staring back at her and smiled. “Good. I’m glad we understand each other on that one.”

Spike pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her. “You amaze me woman.” He whispered softly in her ear.

She leaned closer to him, smiling at his comment. She turned back to the assembled group. “Ok, on to the next thing…”

“Buffy…can we have a moment to…process what you’ve just said?” Giles asked quietly.

“Ok. Need a few minutes…no problem. Spike and I will go and make dinner.” She pulled him by the hand behind her into the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Does she mean what I think she means?” Dawn asked.

“It means she’ll kill …anyone…who goes after Spike…”

“I didn’t know he meant that much to her…” Xander said softly. “Even after our talk today Will…I just thought it was something she was going to get over…”

“You knew? You bloody well knew and none of you told me?” Giles ranted.

“Would you have listened Giles?” Willow piped in. “Besides…I’m her best friend and she didn’t tell me until this morning.”

“How long has this been going on?” Giles asked polishing his glasses heatedly.

“A while…Kinda since she came back…” Dawn answered.

“And nobody knew?” Giles questioned “Until today I mean?”

“I found out last night that she was going to talk to him…”

“Must have been a brilliant bloody talk…”

“That’s not fair you guys…none of you know what she’s been through since she’s been back. None of you. You can’t pass judgment on something you don’t understand.” Tara spoke clearly.

“And you do?” Xander snarked.

“It doesn’t matter what I know…all that matters is that she has told you now and she wants you all to be a part of her life…so if you don’t want to lose her…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Dinner’s ready…” Buffy said, poking her head in from the kitchen door. “You guys go sit…we’re going to bring it in.”

They sat talking quietly until everything had been brought in and served.

“So…there was something else you wanted to mention?” Giles asked.

Buffy told them of her conversation with Mrs. Sheilds from the bank. Declining the offer’s from Giles and Xander for money, she told them that Spike was taking care of it. Each and every one of them kept their mouths shut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’m gonna go and do a quick patrol so you can get ready ok?” Spike pulled her close and kissed her softly on the shoulder. They had made plans to go to the bronze.

“You just going to meet us there?” She licked a path over his jaw and into his mouth.

“Mmmmmhhhhmmmm” He moaned into her mouth.

“Kay…love you…see you soon…” Buffy broke the kiss and went to get ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike didn’t even make it to the first cemetery. He was walking along, looking for a demon to fight when suddenly there was searing blinding pain in his head forcing him to grab his head and fall to his knees screaming in pain, blood pouring from his nose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh god…NO!!!” Buffy screamed as she ran for the door. She almost knocked Xander down in her haste to make it to her mate’s side. She felt the agony he was in.

“Woah Buff…what’s wrong?” He saw the tears streaming down her face.

“Spike…” Was all she could say before she ran from the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike tried to stand. He used a nearby tree for support; leaning against it he clutched his head moaning in agony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘I’m coming Spike…hold on…hold on for me baby…’ She thought as she ran towards him. She could feel him, feel where he was and briefly wondered if it was due to him biting her. ‘The claiming? Cause I did accept it…maybe this is part of it? Maybe that’s why I can feel that he’s in pain…’

Xander was chasing her, following behind, but he kept her in his sights. Unsure what was going on he wanted to make sure she was ok.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Spike…Oh god…what happened?” She asked wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close to her.

“Buffy?”

“Yeah…It’s me baby…what happened?”

“Donno…one minute I was walking along…the next…the chip is firing and I’m on the ground.” He looked into her eyes with tears of pain in his eyes.

“What’s going on?” Xander asked finally reaching the couple.

“Spike …the chip. We have to get him to my house…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She made Spike comfortable in her bed, she brought a bowl of water and a cloth to clean the blood from his face. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She murmured when she had finished.

Spike only nodded, keeping his eyes closed tightly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey. How is he?” Willow asked as Buffy entered the kitchen.

”It’s bad Will…What am I gonna do?”

“We’ll find something Buffy…maybe it was just this once…are you sure he was alone when it happened? That he didn’t…you know go all “GRRRRR” on someone?”

Buffy glared furiously at her. “Look Will…you may not trust him fully, but I do. He wouldn’t…do that…not now…not when…”

“I’m sorry Buffy…I just had to ask…you know…”

“I know…Will, how much do you know about the chip?”

”Spike's chip? Well, I remember trying to dig up stuff back then, when they put it in but, you know, turns out, when a secret government agency studies vampires and puts chips in their brains that keep them from hurting people, they don't really build websites.”

”Something's wrong with it. And I don’t know how to fix it…I love him so much…I can’t lose him because of this…what if it goes off again? What if it k...k…kills him?” She asked fearfully. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“The chip is misfiring all on its own. Well this'll be fun.”

”Remember when things used to be nice and boring?”

”No.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy took a mug of blood up to him, leaving the scoobies to research.

“Spike? I brought you some blood, figured you could use it…” She called walking in through the door. She set the mug on the bedside table and sat on the bed beside him. She took his hand in hers and studied him; his eyes were closed as if in concentration.

Suddenly he ripped his hand out of her grasp and clutched his head screaming in agony, blood trickled from his nose, not as much as last time…but enough. Buffy sat helplessly, tears streaming down her face.

Just as quickly it was over and his blue eyes opened to regard her. “Popped another blood vessel, I think.”

She picked up the cloth she had used and cleaned him up again. ”There's gotta be a reason why the chip is going all wonky.” She said tears lacing her words.

“Or maybe I wasn't meant to last this long. One more thing you and I have in common, eh, pet?” He smiled softly at her.

“Don’t…Spike…don’t joke about this…I could lose you…and I can’t let that happen…not now…I have the guys researching.”

”Good. Tell them to try Behavioral Modification Software Throughout the Ages.”

An idea popped into her head. “OK. You're right. Not a book thing. It's a phone thing.”

”Who you gonna call?” She looked at him. “God, that phrase is never gonna be useable again, is it?”

“Doubt it. I’ll be back Ok? Drink your blood.” She leaned over and kissed him softly on the mouth. “I love you.”

“I’m never going to get tired of hearing that Luv. In fact…if you don’t tell me quite often…I may forget…quite old here you know…may be going senile…”

She smiled. “I love you. I love you. I love you. There that should get you through the five minutes I’ll be gone.” She turned and started for the door.

“Pet?” He waited for her to turn and look at him. “I love you.”

“I know.” She blew him a kiss as she left the room and shut the door softly behind herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She picked up the phone, glancing at the small piece of folded paper she dialed. She waited for it to be picked up on the other end before speaking softly. “Yes, Agent Finn, Riley.”

”I’m sorry miss, this is a florist shop…there is no ‘Agent Finn’ Here…”

”No, no, Finn is his last name. Yeah. Well, did he used to work there and then he got transferred?”

“No miss as I’ve said this is a florist shop…you have the wrong number.”

“Oh, is this actually a flower shop, or is this one of those things where I'm supposed to play along to show that I know it's really secret ops? Oh, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Oh, OK, right. Well, if some guy named Finn shows up to buy flowers…can you tell him we’re having a problem with Spike’s chip?”

“No problem miss…Thank you and have a great day…”

“Yeah. Thanks.” She hung up the phone dejectedly and glanced at the assembled group. “Wrong number. Or a giant government conspiracy, one or the…” She was interrupted by a scream from upstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Spike?” She ran into her room. She was so intent on getting to him, she didn’t notice all of them following her up.

”This one seemed easier than the others. See? Probably just gonna fade…” He screamed, holding his head again. He started going into convulsions. When those stopped he moaned “Gonna toss Luv…” She grabbed her waist basket and held it for him.

She smoothed his hair back gently. He lay there panting when it was over, not even enough strength left to open his eyes.

Buffy started to cry, heart wrenching sobbing gasps. It was torture for her to see him this way. “I…can’t…lose…you…please…” She laid her head on his silent chest, trying to calm herself with his presence.

“So weak…” He murmured. He placed a gentle hand on her head, sliding his fingers through her hair.

“I know…I can feel it…I can feel you…you need blood…”

“Doesn’t help…”

“I mean…” She leaned over him pressing her throat to his mouth. “I mean my blood…”

H shook his head and tried to turn from her. ‘Not like this. Not cause you have to.’

She pressed her throat harder against him. “It will help…please Spike…” Spike, the man, nor the demon, could refuse her. He opened his mouth and let his fangs descend. He bit down gently, sucking softly at the blood flowing into his mouth.

Everyone stood there wide-eyed and slack jawed. Xander, furious at seeing Buffy offer her blood to him and Spike take it, started to push his way into the room to stop him from draining her dry.

Giles hand on his arm stopped him. Giles silently shook his head ‘no’ as spike withdrew his fangs.

Spike lathed the wound with his tongue, sealing it. He turned his head from her neck. “Lay with me awhile Luv?”

“Anything baby…I’m just going to wash away your bloody nose, then I’m yours.”

“You already are luv.”

She smiled at him and turned to get the cloth. Buffy saw them all standing there, meeting each of their gazes she dared them to say something. None of them spoke a word to her about what they had seen. They all made their way downstairs to find a way to help her vampire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy finished cleaning his face again, softly, tenderly, and lovingly. When she was finished she crawled up onto the bed and into his arms. She placed her head on his chest and listened to his faint heartbeat, the one she caused by giving him her blood. She let the soothing rhythm lull her into sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TBC…?
 

Chapter 9:

Buffy finished cleaning his face again, softly, tenderly, and lovingly. When she was finished she crawled up onto the bed and into his arms. She placed her head on his chest and listened to his faint heartbeat, the one she caused by giving him her blood. She let the soothing rhythm lull her into sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Willow sighed and opened the box containing the trio’s belongings. She remembered the things that they had found in their lair contained some things on Spike’s chip. Warren must have looked at it at one time.

Giles watched her carefully, waiting to see if there was anything of value in it’s contents.

“Oh my god! He had everything here. He looked at the chip. I can use this…I can totally use this to test his chip…” she looked up at Giles with excitement shining in her eyes. “We’ll be able to tell what it’s doing! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.”

“Well at least you thought of it now…shall we wake them?”

“No. I think we should let them sleep. Buffy needs it. And I need to enter some stuff into my computer, so that I can run the tests…that might take a little while, better to let them sleep while I do that.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Agent Finn, this is unacceptable. We cannot send Dr. Angleman to Sunnydale to deal with hostile 17. We need to just let the chip deteriorate.”

“But Sir that would kill him.”

“Yes. It will. You know it wasn’t made to last Agent Finn. These creatures were only meant to be captured for a short time.”

“Believe me sir, If it were anyone else…if it were *for* anyone else I wouldn’t ask…but these are special circumstances.”

“I cannot condone this…I do not understand why this hostile is so important to you…Did you run into him when you went back there to hunt the Suvolte?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point. It’s for her…”

“The Slayer?”

Riley nodded. “Yes Sir. He is important to her.”

“Why would a vampire be important to the Slayer?”

“I cannot answer that Sir. All I can say is that he is important to her. I trust her judgment…more than I trust my own. *I* think we should replace the chip, but we should leave it up to her…”

“What if she decides to take it out? What if we do take it out and he…”

“Returns to his former self? He won’t. And if he does…She’ll take care of it. It’s what she was meant to do. She’s done it before…”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Buffy opened her eyes, listening to Spike breathe softly beside her. She got up quietly from the bed and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. “Hey…”

“How is he?”

“He’s…he’s still unconscious…that last one took a lot out of him…any news?”

“Willow found something in the trio’s things…something she can test the chip with…”

“That’s good right?” She looked up at him hopefully.

“I think it is…at least we’ll be able to tell if it’s still firing…you should go back to sleep…we’ll wake you when she’s ready…”

“Giles…what if we can’t…I mean what if…”

“We’re doing everything we can…if there’s a way I promise you we’ll find it.”

“But what if there isn’t? What if…I can’t lose him…” Tears streaked slowly down her face.

“Buffy…” Giles walked over and wrapped his arms around her.

“Giles what if it’s my fault? What if the chip going all wonky is my fault?”

“Shhhh” He soothed rubbing her back softly. “It can’t possibly be your fault…why would you say that?”

“Cause I…Giles I made him bite me…” She felt Giles stiffen with his arms still around her. “I’m sorry, I know you must be disappointed in me…falling for another Vampire…but”

“No. No I am not disappointed in you. A little shocked…granted but disappointed *never*. You can’t help who you fall in love with…and Spike…he deserves your love. He changed…he did that for you. Because he loves you…I didn’t want to admit it before Buffy, all I wanted to see was the demon, the potential for evil within him. Now I see all of the good he has done. Because you made me see it. You are strong, *you* my dear have strength no one can imagine. Now. Go and lay down with your Vampire, I’m sure he’s wondering where you are by now.”

“Thank you Giles…thank you.” She looked up at him gratefully.

“You’re welcome. Now go.” He gave her a little push in the direction of the door and smiled softly at her.

Buffy left the room feeling much better than she had before.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Spike lay in her bed breathing shallowly. He felt her get up and leave, but didn’t have the strength to speak. He felt weak, numb and tired. He didn’t even have the strength to open his eyes.

‘Bloody hell. Just my luck, she admits that she loves me finally, we have a chance at happy and then my chip starts killin’ me slowly.’ He thought bitterly.

He felt her enter the room again and crawl into bed beside him. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, but he didn’t have the strength.

She curled up beside him, pressed firmly against him and pulled his arm over her. She lay her head against the crook of his neck and whispered softly into his ear. “Spike. I don’t know if you can hear me or not…but I have some things I want to say to you…”

She pressed a soft kiss against his temple. “I love you. I love you so much…I can’t lose you. So you better fight this. I swear to god if you leave me I’ll hunt you down where ever you end up and I’ll kick your ass…” He could hear the tears in her voice, he felt hem dripping slowly onto him as she spoke softly.

“I know you love me. I *know* it. So fight this…come back to me…I need you…I need you so much…”

“Buffy…” A tiny whisper. All he could manage.

“Spike?” She almost chocked on the word she was so happy to hear him speak.

“Dying baby…I can feel it…chip’s killin’ me…”

“No. NO! You can fight this Spike…don’t you dare give up…just hold on ok? For me please…please Spike…Willow found some stuff…maybe it’ll help…” She sniffled trying to get her emotions under control.

“Kay…sleep baby…for me…” He knew she needed it. He knew she wouldn’t as long as he was talking. “Tired…so tired…”

“Ok…Let’s sleep…they’ll wake us when Willow is ready…”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It took Willow Two hours to get all of the information and programming into her laptop. “Giles? Giles it’s done…We should go and get them…”

“I’m on my way…” He took the stairs two at a time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Do you think he’s going to be Ok? I’m really worried…”

“I know Dawnster…I promise if there is a way to fix it…they’ll find it. Your sister doesn’t give up, and she’s got Giles and Willow helping, they’re the two smartest people I know…”

“Thanks Xand…” Buffy asked Xander to take Dawn to his and Anya’s place so she could concentrate full on Spike. Dawn had been trying to sleep on the couch, but she couldn’t so she knocked on their bedroom door to talk.

“Why don’t you try to sleep some more, we’ll wake you as soon as they call…”

“Ok. I’ll try…I’m just so worried about both of them…”

“I know.”

“Dawn, he loves your sister. He has for a long time…she finally admitted she loved him too…do you think he’s going to go anywhere? He’s a fighter, and now that he has something like Buffy’s love to fight for do you really think he’s just going to let that go? And he hasn’t had a chance to rub it in Xander’s face…so there’s that to look forward to…he’s not gonna die honey…” Anya wrapped her arms around Dawn and gave her a tight hug.

“Thanks Guys…I feel so much better…I’m gonna try to sleep now.” Dawn made her way back to the couch and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Giles knocked softly on the door. “Buffy? Spike? Willow is ready…”

No answer. He knocked again. Suddenly he heard a terrified scream and threw the door wide. Spike had dried blood caked under his nose, around his eyes and coming out of his ears. His mouth was open in a silent scream, his body rigid.

Buffy stopped screaming when the door was thrown open and she sat beside him rocking slowly, her lips were moving but Giles couldn’t make out the words she spoke so softly. “Too late. Oh god…oh god…how could I sleep through that? He’s in so much pain…how could I not have felt that…”

“Buffy? Buffy…snap out of it…” Giles grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently.

She looked up at him with wide terrified eyes. “Giles?”

“I’ll go and get Willow…She’s got the computer ready…”

Buffy nodded. She looked back at Spike and let her tears fall. She grasped his hand and tried to choke back the sobs that she couldn’t stop. Seeing him like this was tearing her apart. In slow motion she reached for the cloth and wiped at the dried blood, trying not to shake as she did.

“Buffy? Buff…you might not want to be here for this…”

“What? What are you going to do to him?”

“I’m going to hook up the computer and find out what I can…see if there’s a way to zap it or something…”

“Ok…” She nodded getting up from the bed. “I’ll be downstairs…”

Willow nodded distractedly as she started attaching electrodes to Spike’s scalp.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Buffy couldn’t breathe, Giles was holding her, rocking her, trying to soothe her. Nothing he tried was working.

“Giles? Let me try…pl-please…” Tara said softly, sitting on Buffy’s other side.

She placed her hand on Buffy’s shoulder and the sobbing girl turned to her. “I-it-it’s been ten mi-minutes…what if…”

“Shh Will knows what she’s doing Buffy, I’m sure it wont be much longer…”

Buffy nodded and let Tara wrap her arms around her. Tara stroked her back softly, letting her calm slowly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Oh god. That’s not good…” Willow glanced at the screen. “I’ll try it again…” She watched the screen again as she typed. “Crap…”

Quickly typing in another command she tried to disable the chip. There was a flash of light and the screen went blank. ‘His chip fried my computer’ She panicked and ran from the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Buffy…Oh…god Buffy I’m so sorry honey there’s nothing I can do…” Willow said softly. “His chip is sending small shocks to his brain constantly…I tried to disable it and it fried my computer…I don’t think he has much longer…”

“I’ve got to…” Buffy ran up the stairs, tears blinding her. They followed behind.

Buffy entered the room and let out a wail. She threw herself at the bad and cupped his face in her hands. Leaning over him she looked into his tortured face. “Spike…”

“Buffy…I’ll try again…I have everything backed up…”

“It’s too late for that now…pass me that knife…” She said tilting her head towards her dresser.

“What are you…”

“Willow, I’m serious. Now is not the time for questions.” The Slayer in her had taken over momentarily. She knew what she had to do. She was in control. Her mate was dying before her eyes. Willow handed her the knife and watched silently.

Buffy made a small slit in her wrist and held it to his mouth. Spike still didn’t move. “Come on baby, just a little…you need to…”

She watched his face. The only reaction he made was that his wrinkles and fangs emerged, he didn’t latch on, he didn’t suck the coppery liquid flowing into his open mouth. He didn’t even close his mouth around the wound. With his mouth filling up, her blood tricked slowly from the corners.

“I don’t think it’s working…he’s not taking any of it…” Giles said softly.

“He will. He has to…” Buffy said softly, stroking his hair with her other hand.

“Buffy please…stop…he’s not…”

“I am *NOT* giving up on him Giles. I am not. I refuse to. He’d never give up if it was me…”

They were so engrossed in the Vampire in her room and the conversation they were having that none of them heard the doorbell ring.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX