Title: Fluffy Graduation

Author: Nebula

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 1 of 3

Pairings: Spike/Buffy, Willow/Oz, Spike & Scooby friendship

Summary: A redo of the two part 'Graduation' episode (the season
three finale).  Some good Fluffy Spuffy for all.

Disclaimer: Fire bad.  Spike pretty.  Buffy not mine.  Joss owns.

NN: Emphasized words and italics are 'in these'. 

< --- >

  Angel wasn't at his mansion.  There was nothing there to indicate
that he even lived in Sunnydale anymore.  Great.  NOW what the hell
did she do?
  Buffy sighed miserably and stared into her glass, wishing it was
alcohol for the hundredth time.  The empty mansion had been just
another painful reminder that Angel was gone for good.  When she'd
needed him the most, he'd turned and done a runner.  And Buffy was
pretty sure he wasn't coming back.
  Now they got to face the Ascension by themselves.  Joy of joys. 
Angel would've been a big help in the fight.  Why hadn't he at least
stuck around for that?
  'Maybe he took Faith up on her offer, decided to go shack it up
with her,' an irritating voice in her head sneered.
  "He wouldn't do that," Buffy murmured softly.
  'You're not any better than she is, and you know it.  If anything,
she's more than you could ever be.'
  "Any guy would be lucky to have me," Buffy said out loud again,
trying to convince the voice and herself.
  As if to prove her wrong, Faith herself chose that moment to
appear on the dance floor.  Buffy tensed and automatically reached
down into her pocket for her stake.  The Bronze was packed with
people, though, and she couldn't do anything to Faith.  It would be
considered manslaughter.  Murder.  Was she even capable of killing
another human being?
  Faith oozed sex, and soon had men turned to view her as she moved
provocatively on the floor.  She wasn't without a partner for long,
but Buffy's eyes widened even more so when another familiar face
joined the throng.
  Spike.  Was this her bad luck night or something?  Two of her
fiercest enemies in the same building as her, and she couldn't do
anything about it. 
  Faith had also sensed a vampire in the house, and had turned, her
eyes widening in surprise as she took in Spike.  Her eyes raked up
and down his form, before she glided towards his spot on the floor,
leaving her partner behind.
  A horrid feeling crept up into the pit of Buffy's stomach.  For
some reason, Faith charming Spike was making her feel sick.
  Once the other Slayer was convinced she had the vamp's attention,
she began to sway on the floor, her entire body language
screaming 'You know you want me, so come and get me'.  It was only
when Spike headed towards Faith that Buffy finally stood, hurrying
out into the night, wondering what Faith had that Buffy didn't. 
Sure, she didn't want Spike attracted to her or anything, but the
fact that Spike had shown interest in Faith and not Buffy
just...'hurt'. 
  She continued on home, tears streaming down her face.

< --- >

  Spike watched in shock as a familiar blonde tore out of the
building, and was even more surprised to see tears turning her eyes
red.  She'd noticed him, he knew, and she'd noticed the dark-haired
guy magnet in front of him.  Something warned him to be careful
around her, and Spike realized with a start that she, too, was a
Slayer. 
  That still didn't explain Buffy's tears.
  He shook himself, reminding himself that he really didn't care one
way or another.  Or really, that he SHOULDN'T care.  For some
reason, he felt a twinge of concern for the upset blonde.
  He headed over to the dark-haired Slayer, watching her lick her
lips at him.  "A vampire with good dress sense," she purred.  "Now
that's new.  Lovin' the look on you, hun."
  Spike allowed a small smile.  "A Slayer, eh?  Thought this town
already had one of those."
  The girl continued to smile, but her eyes smoldered with hatred. 
Obviously not on the same side.  "Who, B?  She's a bitch, she really
is.  Doesn't know when to have a little fun."  She leaned close and
whispered in his ear, "I bet you know how to have fun.  Wanna have a
little fun with me?"
  Spike chuckled as she pushed her chest forward.  "And who would I
be havin' fun with?"
  "Faith," Faith said with a smirk.  "Yours?"
  "Spike."
  Faith's grin widened.  "My lucky night; tell me you came about the
name from how I'm hopin' you came about it."
  "Think you know your history, pet," he said, watching her wink at
him.  Yeah, she was hot, no doubt about that.  But she definitely
wasn't giving him any electricity. 
  Faith nodded.  "Hell yeah; you're in the same family as Angel,
huh?  If you came to have a family reunion, you're a few days late. 
Angel ran out on B, leavin' her heartbroken.  She couldn't handle
the fact that he wanted a real woman," she leered, pointing at
herself.
  Suddenly Buffy's tears made a whole lot more sense.  "He actually
ran off on her for you?" Spike asked.  "Doesn't seem the type to do
that."
  Faith snorted.  "Didn't come runnin' to me; just ran off. 
Period.  If B thinks he ran to me, I'm not gonna change her mind. 
Not with payday too close."
  "Payday?" Spike asked, confused.
  For the first time that night, Faith wasn't wearing a smile.  "I
think you're asking way too many questions," she hissed.  "So lemme
do what I do best, and we'll be done, 'kay?"  She quickly reached
down for her stake.
  Spike was quicker.  With a punch he sent her head spinning,
letting him hurry out without her knowing where he'd gone.  He
continued to run to Angel's old apartment, deciding to hide out
there.  Then, he'd figure out his next move.
  Angel wasn't there to kill anymore, but Buffy was.  Strangely
enough, Spike really didn't feel like killing her anymore.  Not
after Angel had just left her, much like Dru had left Spike before. 
He felt sympathy for the young girl, knowing what she was going
through.
  "Right then," Spike muttered, "Next move.  Talk to the Slayer, and
figure out this 'payday'."

< --- >

  It was the next night when Spike finally caught up with her.  Or,
to be exact, bumped into her.  The two collided head-first as he
exited the mansion's front door.
  "Ow!"
  "Bloody 'ell!"
  Buffy looked up at the English voice and glared.  "What are you
doing here, Spike?"
  Spike glared right back at her, nursing his injured skull.  "It's
an empty place now that my poof of a grandsire took off."
  Buffy's face fell so rapidly Spike was certain she'd passed
out.  "He's not here then?" she asked in a quiet, yet hopeful, voice.
  "No, he's really gone," Spike said gently, watching her lower her
head as her bottom lip trembled.  "Chin up, ducks; he's really not
worth mopin' over.  Trust me.  World's full of other guys that'll
treat you right."
  Buffy nodded, obviously not believing a word he was saying.  "It's
true," Spike insisted, even as he wondered WHY he was trying to
cheer her up.  He supposed it had to do with hating Angel: no one,
not even his worst enemy, deserved to suffer at that ponce's
hands.  "Lotsa guys that are worth your time.  Ones that could be so
much more than he ever could be for you."
  Buffy snorted, trying desperately to stay in control.  The last
thing she needed was to lose it in front of Spike.  "Name one," she
mumbled.
  "Doesn't matter; only name you wanna hear is his right now, so any
name I choose would be a bad decision."
  His blatant truth made her look up in surprise.  He smiled kindly
at her.  "Been there, done that before, pet," he said quietly.
  She nodded, before giving him a small frown.  "What 'are' you
doing here?  This isn't about Drusilla again, is it?  Because if it
is, you're not going near Willow."
  Spike rolled his eyes.  "Been there, done that before, too.  Not
what I came here for.  Thought I'd beat up on Angel for makin' her
reject me.  Gotta start thinkin' 'bout a future with no her.  This
was the best start.  Nothin' else sinister planned, trust me."  It
was his turn to frown.  "Though, seems there's already somethin'
sinister goin' on 'round these parts.  Not often you see a Slayer
battin' for the other side."
  Spike was slightly surprised to see Buffy flinch at the mention of
the other Slayer.  "There's something big, all right: ever heard of
an Ascension?"
  "Ah, so that's what 'payday' is," he said, nodding with
realization.  "Yeah, I've heard of 'em.  By rep only; wasn't around
for the first one.  Who's attemptin' to rise?  Faith?"
  She flinched again.  "What exactly do you want me to call her
then?" Spike asked, starting to get pissed off.  "You can't
stand 'Faith' or 'the other Slayer'."
  "How about bitch?" Buffy said, smiling brightly.  "Though," she
added, her smile faltering, "that's probably her nickname for me."
  Spike thought back to the previous night, to the venomous look she
gave him as she hissed about Buffy.  "Sounds about right.  At any
rate, you didn't answer my question."
  "The Mayor," Buffy answered with a sigh.  "We can't take him by
ourselves; we need help.  That's why I came here: to see if Angel
was still around."
  "Muscle, huh?" Spike asked, folding his arms across his
chest.  "All right, got nothin' better to do: count me in."
  Buffy stared at him as if he'd gone mad.  "Are you mad?!" she
asked, deciding to voice her thoughts.  "You'll...you'll..."
  "Help," he finished for her, enjoying the shocked look on her
face.  "Why the hell not?  Like I said, my earlier plan skipped
town.  'Sides, I fight way better than he does.  Tell me what you
need me to do, and I'll be there."
  Buffy opened her mouth to object, but common sense told her to
think about it.  Spike wasn't normally to be trusted, but he kept
his word.  Besides, she really did need someone strong to help out:
she had a feeling the Mayor wouldn't be going down easily.
  "Okay, you're in," she said, staring back at him defiantly.  "But
that also means you're in for research, not just combat.  We need
all the muscle we can get, and that means all areas.  You still
ready?"
  Spike stared back at her, before he began to grin.  "Count me in."

< --- >

  "Count me out, I'm beggin' you!"
  "Hey, you signed up for the whole gig, buddy.  Not my problem: I
warned you what you were required to do if you decided to help."
  "Bloody 'ell, woman..."
  Buffy snickered but said nothing, mentally agreeing with her
sullen partner.  After telling the Scoobies that Spike was back in
town and willing to help, they'd gotten over their horror and
decided he WOULD be useful.  Xander and Spike had had a quiet
conversation concerning Angel, she was sure, and had come back to
the group as grinning comrades.  She rolled her eyes at the memory. 
So long as they weren't at each others throats...
  Giles had then told her about a colleague of his in town that had
a few books and files on the subject of Ascensions, and would she
please go down and retrieve them?  Buffy had sighed, then as a last
second thought grabbed Spike and hauled him with her, him protesting
the entire time.  He may be helping them, but she wasn't about to
leave him in a library with her friends when she wasn't there.
  Spike trailed behind her, reminding her of a forlorn child that
hadn't gotten its way.  That thought brought on a fresh case of the
giggles, and his glare earned him an out-right laugh.
  "Sorry," she said, not looking contrite at all.
  Spike raised his eyebrow at her, about to argue with her.  He
stopped at a sudden wrenching feeling in his gut.  He glanced up at
Buffy, who was smiling at him.  "What?" she asked, looking slightly
perplexed at his thoughtful stare.
  He shook himself, glancing around at the area.  No one in sight. 
He was getting too hyped up over nothing.  "Nothin'," he
said.  "Nothin' at all.  C'mon; we've got papers to get."
  15 minutes later found them staring at a dead man.  "Guess the
Mayor was one step in front of us," Buffy said with a sigh,
searching for the books needed.  "He took everything.  Great.  Dead
end yet again."
  Spike followed her out of the apartment building, listening to her
mutter under her breath about stupid Mayors and Ascensions.  Once
outside, she continued on, but Spike wasn't listening anymore.  He
was too busy concentrating on that wrenching feeling, which had
returned once more.  What the bloody 'ell did it...?  He stopped his
train of thought as his vampire senses honed in on not one Slayer
nearby, but two.  Faith.
  He followed his senses, glancing up at the top of the apartment
building.  There was the dark Slayer, hair whipping around her face,
smirking.  In her hands she held a crossbow, her gaze turning from
him to her target.
  Buffy.
  Spike had a split-second to think before Faith fired her shot.  He
jumped, landing on top of Buffy, trying to cover her as best he
could.  She gasped as they tumbled to the pavement, Spike still on
top of her.
  "What are you doing?!" Buffy yelled, attempting to push the
literally dead weight off of her.  When he made no smart-ass
comment, however, Buffy frowned.  "Spike?"
  "Present," came her response in a weakened voice.  Buffy's frown
turned into a look of surprise upon hearing his tone.  Weak? 
Spike?  Those two words didn't exist in the same sentence.
  She managed to pry herself away from him, despite his feeble
protests.  "Stay under me," he rasped.
  "What?  Why?  Spike, what's going..."  Her voice trailed off as
she caught sight of the arrow in his back.  It hadn't hit his heart,
but it had pierced his skin a few inches below.  She pulled the
arrow from his back, earning a grunt from the vampire.
  "Get out of sight, before she reloads," he hissed.
  "Who reloads?" Buffy asked, glancing around for anyone carrying a
weapon.  Her eyes drifted over to the apartment building, catching a
glimpse of dark hair moving fast.  Faith.  She turned back to Spike,
swallowing at the realization.  Faith had a killer aim.  If she'd
meant to hit Spike, he'd be dust by now.  But instead, it had hit
him in the back, lower than where his heart was.  Where Buffy's
heart would've been.  Spike had taken the arrow for her.
  Ignoring the million dollar question of 'Why?' that popped into
her head, Buffy handed the arrow to Spike, who was trying to stand. 
Effortlessly she pulled him into her arms, before heading back to
the school.  "We'll get you cleaned up in no time," she told him,
only to find herself talking to an unconscious vampire.  She
quickened her pace.


 

Chapter 2:

 
< --- >
 
  "He's shivering."
  "I don't think that's a good thing."
  "Oh, he has a fever!"
  "There's some blankets in the corner, Wills."
  "Give me a second, and I'll go get them."
  "What are you trying to do?"
  "I think she's trying to help, Cordelia."
  "Xander, where's Giles?"
  "He's getting the stuff to find out what's going on with bleach-
boy here."
  "Why, what do you need him for?"
  "Nothing really, just so someone can watch Spike while we're
getting supplies."
  "I think Buffy's doing that already."
  "You gonna be okay with Spike, Buffy?  Buffy?"
  Buffy didn't respond, merely staying in her seat by Spike's
bedside.  The Scoobies looked on, worried for the both of them.
  Buffy had hurried to the mansion, before calling Giles and giving
him a brief update on how things stood.  Less than ten minutes later
the Scoobies had arrived, having to let themselves in when Buffy
didn't respond or greet them.  Buffy hadn't spoken since her phone
call with Giles, opting instead to stay by Spike's side.
  Spike had gone from bad to worse, winding up with a case of the
chills, a fever, and dizziness.  His right hand trembled in Buffy's
palm, but the Slayer refused to let go, gently brushing her thumb
over his knuckles.
  Xander sighed when she didn't answer him.  "I think she'll be all
right, Xander," Willow said softly.  "What we need to do right now
is get supplies, and figure out how to cool him down."
  "You can't," a voice said from the doorway.  Buffy looked up and
into the eyes of her Watcher.  He stood, grim-faced, holding a
single book and the arrow.  "The arrow was tinged with poison,"
Giles continued, moving into the room.  "A poison that will
eventually kill Spike.  It makes the blood boil, and the person dies
a very slow and painful death.  It's usually used as a torture
device on vampires, though it does work on humans as well."
  "How do we stop it?" Buffy asked, surprising the others by her
sudden ability to speak.
  Giles sighed.  "Buffy, if I tell you, you're prone to do something
you'll regret later..."
  "Giles, 'please'," she pleaded.  "I need to know."
  Giles glanced down at where her hand was joined with Spike's. 
Spike whimpered, and Buffy's hand tightened around his.  "You don't
need to do this out of sympathy or a debt," Giles reminded her.
  "I know," Buffy said.  "I just...I genuinely want to help him, and
I know that sounds crazy.  But it's true."
  Giles placed the book and arrow down on the nearby table, before
removing his glasses to wash them.  "The cure..."  He swore softly,
unable to look his charge in the eye.  "The cure is Slayer's blood,"
he mumbled.
  Buffy stiffened, glancing down at the vampire whom days before had
been her adversary.  "How much?" she asked, her eyes never leaving
Spike's pained features.
  Xander's jaw dropped.  "Buff, you can't be serious!"
  "I gotta go with Xander: this is insane," Cordelia agreed.
  "I don't care!" Buffy said loudly, silencing them.  "I don't
care," she repeated in a softer tone.  "He saved my life at the cost
of his.  If he really hated me that much, he..."  She shook her
head.  "No.  This isn't because I feel like I have to: this is
because I want to.  I want to help him.  Giles, tell me how much
blood is needed."
  "Enough to make you pass out," Giles admitted.  "Possibly kill
you; the book is very vague."
  Silence descended on the group.  "Fine then," Buffy said, her eyes
sparkling.
  "We'll use Faith."

< --- >

  Faith glanced around her apartment, grinning widely when her eyes
caught sight of the crossbow lying on her sofa.  Granted, she was
supposed to have taken B out, and she'd be sorry to see the sexy
vamp go, but...she shrugged, turning back to the window.  He'd
picked the wrong side.  Wasn't her fault if the moron had chosen,
for some odd reason, to take the arrow for B.
  Her thoughts were broken at the sound of her apartment door being
kicked in.  She whirled around in a defensive stance, only to find
herself staring into blazing green eyes.  She started to laugh,
which only seemed to piss off her intruder even more.  "So, is he
dead yet?" Faith snickered.
  "Well, considering Spike was dead to start with," Buffy said,
clenching her fists.  "But no, he's not gone yet.  And he won't go
at all, if I have anything to do about it."
  "What, you wanna pump me for info, see if I have the cure for the
poison?  Well tough luck B; I don't have it."
  Buffy began to chuckle.  "Actually, I think you do."  With that,
she launched herself at the dark-haired Slayer.
  Faith quickly retaliated with a kick, which landed on Buffy's
shoulder.  As Buffy stumbled to regain her footing, Faith swung
around, dealing a jaw breaking blow with her right fist.  Buffy
tumbled to the floor, blood dripping from her smashed lip.
  "Weren't happy enough with Angel?" Faith sneered.  "One vamp
leaves town, you jump on the next available one that comes through. 
All aboard; train B's about to have herself a ride."
  The smirk on her face rapidly disappeared as Buffy swept her legs
out, bringing Faith down to the floor.  Buffy struck her leg out,
rewarded with a cry from Faith as the blonde's foot landed against
the dark Slayer's ribcage.  A satisfying 'crunch' followed the pain-
filled yell.
  Gingerly Buffy stood, reaching over to grab Faith's wrists.  "You
know, I didn't want to drag you out of here.  Well, okay, maybe a
little.  But I'd rather have had..."
  Whatever she'd wanted to do to Faith wasn't explained as Faith
pushed herself up on her back, her legs a deadly missile.  Buffy was
kicked back out onto the patio, gasping for air from the hit on her
throat.  Faith easily flipped herself over and onto her feet.
  "Don't like it when you can't breathe, huh?" Faith snapped,
glancing around for a weapon.  Her eyes glimmered as she reached
over for the dagger the Mayor had given her.  What a gift it was;
beautiful, forged steel, intricately carved, and all for her to
use.  She hadn't used it yet, but she knew now who she wanted to
kill with it first.
  Blade in hand, she began to walk towards a still gasping Buffy.
  Though the blonde was having trouble breathing, she could still
see.  At the sight of a grinning Faith coming towards her with a
surprise, she began to look around for anything to use in self-
defense.  Nothing.  She glanced back up at Faith just in time to see
the dark Slayer twirl the blade effortlessly.  "Nighty-night, B,"
she cooed.  "So sorry about the vamp."  With a smirk Faith thrust
her dagger-wielding arm towards Buffy.
  But Buffy wasn't done yet.  Something that Faith had said had
sparked a flame inside of her.  Maybe it was the remark that she
would die at Faith's hands.  Or maybe it was the comment concerning
Spike.  The flame roared.  Yeah, it was the one about Spike. 
  With lightning reflexes Buffy grabbed the dagger's blade, which
was only inches away from her throat.  The two struggled, Faith
bracing herself on the floor, trying to push the dagger further
towards Buffy, while Buffy determinedly fought back while crumpled
on the floor.
  Faith was done playing games, though.  B had to die.  With a yell
she swung the blade away and prepared to swing back to slice the
blonde's head off.
  Buffy thought she was trying to stab again, and reached out to
grab the blade once more, ignoring the blood as she pushed the blade
back.
  Faith stopped as the blade sunk deep into its first victim:
herself.  Blood began to seep from the wound in her gut, and the
dark slayer stumbled backwards, trying to pull the weapon out.  Her
fingers were coated with blood, though, and were too weak to lend
her any strength.
  With one last look at Buffy Faith let herself fall to the floor. 
Or so she thought.
  Buffy gasped as Faith tumbled off the patio ledge.  As fast as she
could she hurried over, only to watch in muted horror as the body of
her enemy was carried away by a passing by truck.
  Faith was gone.  And that meant no blood for Spike.  Buffy
swallowed at the thought, before turning back into the room.  What
would they do now?

< --- >

  "Giles?  Giles, where are you?"
  No response.  "Xander?  Willow?" Buffy called out, her voice
hoarse from the bruised throat she was now sporting.
  "Not here," a weak voice answered from the doorway.  Buffy turned,
inhaling sharply at the sight of Spike.  His cheeks were sunken and
hollow, and she could see perspiration on his brow.  He shook so
violently that she was afraid he'd shake apart.
  "You should be lying down," she scolded, reaching out to pull him
to the sofa.  Her eyes widened as her warm skin met his burning one.
  Spike chuckled, though there was no strength behind it.  "Looks
like you're the cold one, pet," he joked softly, allowing himself to
be led to the sofa.
  Buffy glanced around, biting her lip as she searched for the
blankets.  She flinched as her teeth found her healing wound, and
she immediately stopped biting.  She smiled slightly as she saw the
blankets folded neatly in a corner.  Good old Willow.
  She stood to retrieve them, but a hot hand on her wrist stopped
her.  She turned back to Spike to see him staring at her, a worried
frown on his face.  "What's wrong?" she asked.  "Tell me what's
wrong, and I'll try my best to help."
  "You," he whispered.
  Buffy frowned.  "What?"
  "What happened to you?" he asked quietly.  "You're a bloody mess,
luv.  Pun intended."
  "Faith," she answered back just as quietly.  "Went to get the cure
for the poison.  I couldn't get it."
  Spike managed to raise his eyebrows at her, causing Buffy to smile
slightly.  "Watcher told me 'bout the whole thing.  Slayer's blood,
right?"
  Buffy nodded, her face falling.  "Yeah.  I went to get Faith,
figured we could use her.  But nooo, it wasn't that simple.  She had
to fight me, and then..."  Buffy stopped, swallowing.  Though Faith
wasn't a friend of hers anymore, she couldn't help but feel sorry
for the girl.  She was a Slayer, stuck with the same curse as
Buffy.  She'd probably only gone with what she'd thought was right.
  "She's dead?" Spike asked softly, picking up on Buffy's sadness.
  Buffy sighed.  "I don't know.  She was trying to kill me, and then
I managed to swing the dagger around on her, and she fell off the
patio and into a truck that passed by at the right moment."
  "So she's gone," he said, trying not to look disappointed.  The
sharp pains coursing through his body were getting worse, and he was
certain he was burning alive, er, dead.  Faith, he'd been told, had
been his only shot.  He'd known that much from before, really. 
Faith was the only Slayer available that wouldn't mind giving her
blood.  And if she DID mind, well, it was probably for the better. 
Spike was supposed to take all of the Slayer's blood.
  He'd known that Buffy wouldn't even think about giving him a
drop.  Sure, she'd taken care of him, shown him kindness she wasn't
supposed to.  But no, she wouldn't give her life for him.  Spike
wasn't really sure he wanted to, anymore.  The thought of draining
Buffy suddenly became very unappealing.
  Buffy, meanwhile, had picked up on his disappointment.  "We'll
think of something," she said, but Spike merely smiled sadly.
  "Don't bother, luv.  I don't think I'll make it through the next
ten minutes."
  Buffy swallowed at the monotone voice.  He was just giving up. 
There had to be another way.  She wasn't just going to let him die
because...
  She thought back to the real reason.  Spike 'was' her mortal
enemy.  Or, at least, was supposed to be.  But he'd risked his life
for hers.  The arrow had been meant for her to take.  SHE should be
the one on the sofa, not him.  He'd surely known that, seeing where
Faith had been aiming.
  But he'd leapt in anyways, taking the arrow for her.  It could've
hit his heart, and he'd still saved her.  In her eyes, that made him
a hero.  And she didn't just walk away from heroes, leaving them to
die.
  There was another reason she wasn't walking away, but she didn't
even want to examine those feelings yet.  Those were dangerous, and
probably the result of Angel up and leaving.
  A hand on her throat caused her to pull out of her thoughts.  She
hissed as Spike's thumb gently ran over a bruise.  "Really got me
good," she tried to joke.
  "Sorry," he whispered, and Buffy was surprised to see that he
truly meant it.
  "It's not your fault," she started, but he cut her off.
  "Yeah, kinda is.  If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have gone
tryin' to kill her, or drag her over here, or whatever you were
hopin' to do.  S'my fault you're like this."  His own voice sounded
hoarse, his accent rougher.
  Buffy was about to argue the point, stating that he wouldn't have
been in this predicament if he hadn't jumped in to take the arrow,
when Spike shuddered, wrapping his arms around his middle and
whimpering.  Her eyes widened.  In a few minutes, she was going to
be sitting next to a pile of dust.  She stopped, before she realized
what she had to do.
  Spike glanced up, watching in puzzlement as her frown literally
turned upside down.  "Buffy?" he whispered.
  She began to kneel on the floor near his head, pulling her hair
away from her battered neck.  "Faith's not here," she said, "and I'm
really not sure if I want you drinking her blood anyways."  The
feelings she'd tried to quell came back with a vengeance, and she
almost rolled her eyes.  "So since she's not here, the answer is
pretty obvious to me," she said, before tilting her head, baring her
throat to him.  "Drink."
  Spike stared at her as if she'd lost all her marbles.  Maybe she
had.  But she knew what she wanted to do.  "Spike, you don't have
much time left," she said, in a tone that sounded an awful lot like
pleading.
  "Not gonna spend my last minutes arguin' with you then," he said,
before clutching his sides once more.  "Put your neck somewhere
else."
  "You don't want to drink me?" she asked, wondering why she felt
hurt.
  Spike chuckled, wincing slightly as he did so.  "Pet, part of me
is ready and waitin' to drain you dry."
  When he didn't say anything else, Buffy leaned forward.  "Part of
you?"
  Spike sighed.  "Yeah.  Just part of me."
  "Why just..."
  "'Cause the other part of me would rather see you alive, dammit!"
he yelled, before softening his tone.  "The other part of me is sick
at the thought of killin' you, 'cause I'm bettin' you look even more
beautiful in the sun, with your mum, with a damned smile on your
face.  So I'm not drainin' you."
  Buffy stared at him, stunned into speechlessness.  He thought she
was beautiful?  'Spike' thought that she was 'beautiful'?!  The
feelings lurched at her again, not wanting to be denied.  "Then does
it maybe occur to you that I want you here in this world just as
much as you want me alive?" she asked quietly.
  Spike frowned.  "Buffy, why would..."
  "Because maybe part of me wants you dust," she blurted out,
feeling her cheeks turning red.  "But part of me wants you here in
the world, generally being a pain in my ass," she joked feebly.
  Spike gazed at her, a new emotion in his eyes, one that she
couldn't quite figure out.  "Is that all you want me..."  He gasped,
clutching at his chest.
  Buffy swore under her breath as she realized they'd both wasted
his last minutes talking.  He needed Slayer blood, and he needed it
fast.  "Spike, please," she begged, tilting her head again.
  Spike shook his head, and Buffy began to argue.  "Spike, you have
to..."
  "Wrist," he managed to gasp out.  "Your throat's hurt enough as
is."
  She filed that thought away as she thrust her right wrist out
towards him.  Spike's game face came forward, and his eyes glowed at
the sight of her blood pulsing beneath the skin.  He glanced back up
at her, uncertainty clouding his features.  "Last chance," he said,
and Buffy had to smile at that.  He was still offering her an out,
even though his unlife was hanging in the balance, and his salvation
was literally in his hands.
  "Drink," she said again, then gasped as he sunk his teeth into her
wrist.  She could feel the blood pouring from her body and into his,
felt his hands that grasped her wrist lose their unnatural warmth. 
The trembling in his hands disappeared, and his grip on her
tightened as she fought every Slayer instinct she had that told her
to kick him off.
  Then, there was nothing to fight, because suddenly she was riding
the waves of peace, letting them rock her back and forth gently,
carefully letting her slide down into the abyss.  The ache in her
wrist had dulled, and she smiled as she began to feel pleasure
instead of pain.  The tugging of his mouth as he drank her in was
sending wonderful shocks through her entire body.  It was a calming
feeling, and she let it wash over her, not worried in the slightest
as she sank further into the abyss of darkness.
  She felt slight pressure against her back, and after a moment
realized it was two hands holding her up.  Strong and steady, they
gently pulled her up and onto a soft surface.  The tingling
sensations mixed with the surface she was now laying on was a
comfortable mixture.
  She heard a voice in the distance, calming and soothing, yet
demanding her attention.  The gentle pressure of the hands was back,
caressing her face, before gripping her shoulders.  She fought to
open her eyes as she heard someone calling her name.
  Her groggy green eyes met anxious blue eyes.  Relief filled the
blue eyes as the voice told her to rest a bit.  She was safe now.
  Happily she surrendered herself to the waves, yet this time, not
feeling the abyss tugging her down.  She was content among the waves.
  Spike shakily smiled and placed a gentle kiss to Buffy's forehead,
covering her up with a soft blanket before heading to the bedroom
for some well-needed rest.  The Slayer's blood was doing its job,
disposing of the poison.  A good kip would put him back to full
health.


 

Chapter 3:

 
< --- >
 
  The Mayor entered quietly, his eyes immediately falling on the
sleeping blonde on the sofa.  He clenched his fists.  That little
she-devil had put Faith, 'his' Faith, into what could possibly be an
everlasting coma.  His beautiful Faith, a gaping wound in her gut
now, all because of the dumb blonde.  The blonde he should've dealt
with ages ago.
  Swiftly he moved to her side, his eyes falling on the teeth marks
on her right wrist.  So the vampire was healed, then.  Faith had
told him the amusing story, of another vampire willing to die for
the blonde Slayer.  He'd meant for Faith to shoot Buffy, but oh
well.  Life didn't work out that way sometimes.  He supposed he
would have to be the one to do it now.
  She was pale, but her heartbeat was steady when he felt for a
pulse.  Not dead, then.  At least, not yet.  Placing his right palm
over her mouth, he made sure he had a firm grip on her face before
pinching her nose shut.
  A few seconds later she opened her eyes, awakened by the loss of
air.  Her eyes widened at the sight of him, and she began to try and
fight him.  But blood loss had made her weak, and he easily pinned
both of her hands above her head.
  "It's only what you deserve," the Mayor said conversationally, as
if he wasn't suffocating her.  "I'm not a violent man, but there
comes a time for everything.  You put Faith in a coma, and she might
never wake up.  I'm just here to repay the favor."
  Buffy kicked out, barely making a thud on the sofa.  Her lungs
were burning, but as hard as she tried she couldn't get him off of
her.  She could feel her heart slowing, painfully thudding against
her ribcage.  Her eyes began to drift shut, and she tried to force
them to stay open.  They refused to listen to her, and as her eyes
closed, she could feel herself hurtling down into the abyss, the
waves long gone.
  With a gasp she was pulled back out of the abyss, eyes watering as
she gulped in huge amounts of air.  She inhaled too quickly, and she
began to choke on her own desperation.
  Her ears were ringing, but she could still hear the Mayor yelling
in the background, something about wanting to kill her.  What else
was new?  She blinked away the tears, blearily making out two men. 
One of them, the Mayor, was standing, glaring at her and his
opponent.  The second one, his opponent, was standing protectively
in front of her.  It took a second for Buffy to place the dark pants
and well-sculpted chest, but a quick glance up at his hair confirmed
her guess.  Spike.
  "She might've killed Faith!" the Mayor yelled.  "Her own sister
Slayer, maybe dead now, all because of that blonde bit..."
  "Watch your tongue," Spike growled, his eyes flashing gold as he
glared at the Mayor.
  The Mayor turned his attention to Buffy, who was still gasping on
the sofa.  "When we meet at your graduation, Slayer...I'll make you
pay just like you paid Faith.  She might get a reprieve from death;
you won't.  I'll make sure of that."  With one last glare at both
blondes, the Mayor strode out.
  Spike wasted no time in hurrying to her side.  "You all right?" he
asked, worried.
  She nodded, and he mentally gave a sigh of relief.  He'd been
asleep when he'd felt her heartbeat begin to race.  He'd slowly
begun to wake up, confused by the speedy heart, when that same heart
had begun to fade.  He'd been awake in seconds, racing out to find
the Mayor calmly suffocating Buffy.  He'd stared for a few moments,
stunned, then watched in silent horror as her eyes began to close. 
That's when he'd snapped back to reality, launching himself at the
Mayor with a roar.
  "You okay?" she wheezed.
  Spike stared at her, jaw hanging open.  "You were almost murdered,
and you're askin' ME if I'm all right?!"
  "Yes," Buffy said, sounding exasperated.  "I am."
  "I'm fine," Spike replied, "Told you I would be after some rest. 
Are you sure you're..."
  She nodded, coughing one last time.  "I'll be fine, Spike. 
But...thank you for the save.  And for caring," she added in a
softer tone.
  Spike shrugged, not really sure what to say to that.  He took a
seat next to her on the sofa, rubbing her back as she took in deep
breaths.
  Buffy turned, frowning slightly at him.  "I think we need to
talk," she said, and he sighed.
  "S'pose so.  Where to start, eh?"
  "How about where you said I was beautiful?" Buffy said, her stare
giving him no reprieve.
  Spike glanced away, looking slightly embarrassed.  "Well, there
was that thing..."
  "You didn't mean it, did you?" she asked suddenly, feeling her
stomach begin to knot up.  Of course he hadn't meant it; he'd been
delirious, was being offered her blood, was just trying to be nice...
  "I meant it," he said softly, and the knot disappeared.
  "Why?"
  Spike sighed.  "Why did you offer to save my life?"
  "I asked my question first," she said, giving him a pointed glare.
  Spike glanced up at her, and for the first time Buffy realized how
close their faces were.  Absently she licked her lips, her eyes
never leaving his.  Slowly he leaned forward, and Buffy began to
close her eyes, waiting for the touch of his lips on hers.
  The front door slammed open, and both blondes jumped
back.  "Buffy!  Are you okay?" Willow gasped, looking out of breath.
  "We saw the Mayor leaving in quite a huff, and became concerned,"
Giles explained, before blinking as he finally noticed Spike up and
healthy.  "Where's Faith?" he asked, puzzled.
  "Not here," Buffy said quietly.
  The Scoobies glanced between the two, who were looking anywhere
but at the other.  Xander's eyes widened.  "He took your blood?" he
sputtered.  "But...but why would..."
  "Let it go, Xan," Buffy said wearily.  "We've got an Ascension to
plan for."
  "And here I was concerned about my robes," Cordelia muttered.
  "We found out a little more about what's going to happen, so I
think we'll be okay," Willow said, offering Buffy a small
smile.  "You ready for this?"
  Buffy stole a glance over at Spike, who wouldn't meet her
gaze.  "Yeah," she murmured sadly.  "I'm ready."

< --- >

  "Everyone know what they have to do?"
  The Scoobies nodded.  Spike nodded curtly, pointedly not glancing
at her.  Buffy was ready to scream, but merely clenched her
fists.  "All right, then; we've got twenty minutes before show
time.  Battle stations, everyone."
  The Scoobies gave each other one last smile before heading off to
their final tasks.  If they screwed this up, they wouldn't be living
to see their diplomas. 
  Spike turned to follow the Scoobies out, but Buffy had had
enough.  "Spike, get your ass back here.  Now."
  Spike slowed to a halt, before turning back to her.  "Yes, your
highness?" he snarled, and Buffy blinked at the sudden mood change. 
The last time they'd talked, he'd tried to kiss her.  Now he looked
about ready to bite her head off.
  Spike stalked over to her, and Buffy had to remind herself not to
step back.  "What do you want?" he grated out between clenched teeth.
  "We need to talk," she said, meeting his glare with one of her own.
  "No, we don't."
  Buffy was certain she was puncturing her skin with her
fingernails, she was clenching her fists so tightly.  "Yes, we do! 
About what we said back at the mansion.  About us almost..."
  "I know perfectly well what you want to talk 'bout," he snapped,
suddenly in her face.  Buffy jerked her head back in surprise, but
Spike didn't care.  "You wanna talk 'bout me tellin' you that you're
beautiful.  Wanna know if I really meant it, or was I just that
desperate to live?  Wanna know if I really would've kissed you,
right?"
  Spike took a few steps forward, forcing Buffy backwards.  She
bumped into a table, and still he came forward, until she was
breathing on his face.  "Fine then," he fumed, "We'll talk.  We'll
talk 'bout how beautiful I really do think you are, and how much I
don't wanna bite you, 'cause the thought of you dead makes my heart
twist.  We'll talk 'bout how you became my hero 'cause you went out
to fight some girl who could've killed you, and then you offered
your own life to me, and all of it was for ME.  And we'll talk 'bout
how badly I wanted to kiss you last night, and how much I still want
to."
  Buffy's heart was pumping wildly in her chest, and suddenly
everything felt too hot.  She licked her lips, unaware that she was
breathing heavily.  The feelings came back, and Buffy couldn't
ignore them anymore.  She wasn't sure she wanted to.
  Spike swallowed, and the gap between them began to close as they
inched towards the other, their eyes fixed on the other's lips.
  'Bam'!  The library doors slammed open, and the blondes pulled
away from each other once more.  Buffy was almost ready to cry with
the unfairness of it all.  All she wanted to do was kiss him! 
Considering she might not make it through the fight, was that so
hard to ask for?
  "You ready?" Willow asked, unaware of what she'd just put a stop
to.
  Spike said nothing, brushing past the redhead on his way out. 
With an agitated sigh Buffy followed after him.

< --- >

  Complete pandemonium reigned as the students of Sunnydale High
faced off against the Mayor and his minions.  So far, the students
(and a few parents, headed by Spike) were beating back the vampires
and demons.
  Snyder was long dead, having been the first to taste the Mayor's
wrath after he'd ascended into a snake-like creature.  Buffy hadn't
been able to conjure up any sympathy for the principal, however, as
the Mayor had swallowed him down.  She'd felt sorry for the Mayor,
if anyone: she was sure Snyder would be hard on the digestive
system.  He was hard on 'any' system.
  But things were starting to get out of hand.  Students' screams
pierced the night air, and the Mayor was tossing or eating people
all over the place.  She glanced over at each of her friends, making
sure that they were still alive.
  Oz and Willow were together, with the Archery Club right behind
them, throwing flaming arrows down on the vampires.  Xander still
led the students onto the minions with Cordelia not far behind him. 
The parents were fighting back, and Buffy was slightly amused to see
some of them really getting into it.  She was just glad her own
mother was out of town.  In the middle of it all stood Spike, a
smirk on his face, black duster waving slightly in the wind as he
cut down more minions by the minute.
  Time for her to take center stage, then.  "Hey!!" she yelled,
trying to catch the Mayor's attention before he devoured two teenage
girls.  It didn't work.  "Faith's dead!!!" she yelled louder.
  THAT caught his attention.  His snake head whipped around, letting
the girls run off.  "That's right," Buffy said, sighing
dramatically.  "Seems she wasn't dead from what you told us.  I
couldn't have her maybe waking up one day, you know?"  She pulled
out a dagger, examining the glistening blade.  "So I went in there
and finished the job," she said casually.
  The whine-roar from the Mayor had her looking up into red eyes. 
Uh oh.  Apparently, her plan had worked a little too well.  She
didn't know if Faith was dead or not; she'd never gone over to the
hospital.  But the Mayor didn't know that.
  "Gonna make good on that promise?" she sneered, standing her
ground even as he began to move above her.  "You want a piece of
me?  Come and get it, then," she said, before taking off at a dead
run into the school.  As she had expected, the Mayor was right
behind her.
  'Score one for the Slayer!' she thought as she dashed through the
doors and down the hall.  A crash behind her had her ceasing her
exclamation thoughts: he'd come through the wall, and was gaining. 
A little too fast for her tastes.
  She ducked down another hallway, then took a sharp right.  More
crashing behind her told her he was going through the walls,
ignoring the hallways completely.  "Cheater," she muttered under her
breath, putting on the last of her speed.  She could feel his head
right behind her, waiting to envelope her in his jaws.  She turned
once more, wishing she hadn't taken the long way to the library,
when her foot slipped on the tiled floor.
  She gasped as she went down, the Mayor's roar resounding in her
ears.  She managed to roll away in time to avoid his first swipe at
her with his teeth.  The second swipe hit her side and threw her
down the hall and into a wall.  She shook herself, feeling slightly
dazed.  She could see the Mayor coming at her full throttle, and she
knew she'd never be able to move in time.
  Then suddenly Buffy was being knocked to the side again, only to
be picked up and pushed towards the library.  "GO!" a very familiar
voice yelled, keeping his hand in hers and he practically dragged
her towards their destination.
  Buffy forced herself to keep going, wondering what Spike was doing
in the school.  The Mayor roared again, sounding very pissed
off.  "I don't...think...he likes you...very much..." Buffy panted,
earning a chuckle from Spike.
  "Seems I screw all his plans up, eh?  Let's screw his last one up
for good."
  Buffy nodded, and soon they were pushing their way through the
library doors, trying to not trip over the bags and boxes piled
everywhere.  "Back window," she gasped, when they'd reached the
second story.
  Spike merely gritted his teeth as the crashing behind them became
louder.  The back window was right in front of them.  They continued
to run towards it, gathering as much speed as they could for their
exit.
  A roar was added to the crashing as the Mayor came slithering
towards the library, knowing he had them trapped.
  Buffy gasped as Spike grabbed her arms right above her elbows,
twisting her around, her back firmly pressed against his chest.  The
two crashed through the window and fell towards the ground.
  The Mayor broke through the library doors, coming to a sudden halt
as he took in the bags and boxes before him.  TNT.  "Huh?" he said
in his new growling voice.
  "NOW!!" Spike shouted, giving Giles the go ahead.  The Watcher
pushed down on the handle in front of him, then quickly turned away.
  The school exploded into a fiery blast of cement and metal.  With
his hands still firmly grasping her arms, Spike turned Buffy away
from the blast, shielding her as best he could.
  Once the worst of the blast was over, Giles headed over to find
the others.  The two blondes turned back to the school, watching as
little pieces of ash and sparks came floating down.  "You all
right?" Spike asked, glancing down at Buffy.
  "No sentences!" she groaned, turning so she could bury her head in
his chest.  "Don't make me think."
  "I'll take that as a yes," he laughed.
  Buffy glared at him, before turning back to the school.  "Fire
bad, but pretty," she said.  "That's about as complicated as my
sentences are going to be for awhile.  Got it?"
  Spike rolled his eyes, then glanced down at her to say something
concerning her speech.  He stopped, however, as his eyes met hers. 
Buffy licked her lips once more, and with a moan Spike bent down to
capture her lips with his.
  A few minutes later Buffy pulled away, gasping for air.  "Fire
bad," she panted, giving him a bright smile.  "Spike pretty."
  "Kiss good?" he asked, imitating her way of speech.
  Her smile broadened even further.  "Kiss very good," she murmured,
before leaning down to kiss him again.

THE END