Title: Fluffy Normal Again

Author: Nebula

Chapter: 1 of 3

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Spike/Buffy, Spike & Willow friendship

Summary: A Fluffy, Spuffy redo of the episode "Normal Again" from
Season 6 of Buffy.

Disclaimer: Joss owns the character and my attention.  All I have is
my imagination and my gratitude for Joss sharing his creations.

NN: To see this with all the italics, check out my LJ or homepage:
http://authoressnebula.livejournal.com
http://www.geocities.com/nebula_authoress

Otherwise, all italics are expressed 'in these quotations'.

< --- >

  Buffy hissed as she moved a little too fast for comfort.  That
wound was really starting to bug her.  And the whole mental ward
vision hadn't been so nice either.
  She shook her thoughts away.  The wound would heal, and she would
enjoy her day off from the Doublemeat Palace.
  The side door slammed open, and Buffy immediately reached for a
knife.  She stopped when she saw who the culprit was, and rolled her
eyes, waiting for Spike to stomp out the flames.  "What are you
doing here?" she asked, tapping her foot impatiently.
  Spike finished putting the fires out, then glanced up at
her.  "You tell me.  Thought you were comin' over to my place last
night."  He stepped forward, leering and ready to make an innuendo,
but stopped, sniffing the air.  He frowned, before glancing at where
her wound lay under her shirt.  Buffy shifted uncomfortably under
his gaze, then winced as it pulled on the wound.
  Immediately Spike was at her side, gently pulling on her shirt
despite her protesting.  "What happened?" he asked, his frown
deepening as he stared at the wound.
  "Just a demon last night, no big deal," Buffy said, trying to pull
away.  Spike ignored her, holding onto her arms as he continued to
peer at her shoulder.
  The front door opened, and Willow came in.  "Buffy, are you.oh, I
guess you took the day off after all."  Her eyes caught sight of the
wound, and she quickly hurried over, her small smile
disappearing.  "What happened?"
  Spike shrugged, gently brushing his thumb over the blood.  "Some
demon last night, that's all she."
  Buffy didn't hear anything else.  The moment Spike's thumb had
touched the wound, Buffy had found herself back in the mental ward. 
Two men with restraints came forward, and Buffy screamed and began
crawling away from them.  "No, please!" she shouted, desperately
kicking out at them.  She gasped as the kicks hit the men's shins,
but did absolutely nothing.  She had no strength.
  "NO!!" she screamed as they grabbed her, forcing her down and
plunging a syringe into her elbow.  Her shoulder throbbed once, and
then everything went black.

< --- >

  "Buffy?"
  A hand caressing her cheek pulled her from the limbo she was in. 
Slowly she opened her eyes, meeting worried blue ones.
  Spike sighed with relief.  "Don't do that again, please. 
Bloody `ell, Buffy."
  "What happened?" she asked.
  "You tell me.  One minute I'm tellin' Red `bout what you told me,
the next you're fallin' to the ground, screamin'.  Wasn't fun to
watch."
  "Sorry," she whispered.
  Spike bit his lip, warring over something in his mind.  He finally
seemed to make up his mind, and placed a light kiss to her
forehead.  "Just scared me is all.  Scared Red too.  She's
downstairs, lookin' up demon texts.  It won't do her any good unless
she knows what to look for.  Mind tellin' me what happened?"
  Buffy sighed and nodded, then launched into the explanation of the
mental ward visits.  By the time she was finished, Spike looked
ill.  He cleared his throat before he started.  "They."
  Buffy nodded.
  "With restraints.?"
  Buffy nodded.
  "And you couldn't.?"
  Buffy shook her head.
  "Bleedin' `ell," he whispered, sitting back.  He swallowed, then
turned back to her.  "You all right?"
  Buffy blinked, slightly surprised.  He hadn't been this soft with
his touches or his voice for a long time.  "A little on the wigged
side, but I'll be okay," she finally said a few moments later.
  "You sure?  `Cause I can stay, but Red should."
  "Know, I agree," Buffy said, giving him a tired smile.  "Go.  The
sooner you guys figure it out, the sooner I don't have to be.
wherever it was."  She thought back to the advancing men and
couldn't suppress a shudder.
  Spike reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, before
heading out of the room.  Buffy watched him go, then sighed.  "You
don't make things easy, do you Spike?" she murmured.
  "Is Spike the vampire?"
  Buffy blinked, glancing around the room.  Her bedroom had become a
white-walled room, and there was someone sitting next to her bed. 
The one she was strapped down to.  "Buffy?  Are you with me?" the
man asked.
  Buffy glanced over at him, her stomach rolling.  His tag read `Dr.
Stevens', and his white coat certainly proved the doctor
part.  "Where am I?" she asked, hating the tremor in her voice.
  Dr. Stevens smiled, perking up at her question.  "You're in the
downtown LA ward for the mentally ill.  It's good to have you back,
Buffy."
  "Back?" she asked, taking a quick peek at her restraints.  Surely
she could pull those away from the bed.
  "Yes, back.  You've been here for almost seven years, Buffy."
  Buffy froze.  Seven years?  What was this guy on?  "You were put
in here by your parents when you continued to talk about a world you
had created, called Sunnydale.  Does that sound familiar?" Dr.
Stevens asked.
  "No," she breathed, swallowing back bile.  This wasn't
happening.  "I-I didn't create Sunnydale.  It's where I live, with
Xander and Dawn and Willow and."
  Dr. Stevens sighed, glancing down at his watch.  "I have to go
now, Buffy, but I'll be back.  You see, your parents would like you
to go home with them, but I can't allow that until you realize that
none of those people exist."  He stood and headed towards the door.
  Buffy could feel the rage boiling within her.  How dare this
prissy excuse for a doctor tell her.  "What are you talking about? 
Those are my friends you're calling non-existent!" she yelled,
pulling at the restraints.  She stared with horror at the straps
holding her down.  They were made of leather and hard plastics. 
She'd twisted chains before.  What the hell was going on?!
  "Buffy!"
  Buffy blinked, and the white room was gone, replaced with her own
bedroom and two very anxious looking faces.
  "Were you there again?" Willow asked, frowning.
  Buffy nodded, her mind still on the doctor's words.  Sunnydale,
not real?  The bed she felt under her was real.  The wound throbbing
in her right shoulder was certainly real.  Spike had touched her
earlier, and that had been real.
  But the bed in the ward had felt real, too.  So had the restraints.
  Buffy glanced back up at her friends, shivering.  "Make it stop?"
she pleaded.

< --- >

  Two hours later, Willow found it.  "It's a.well, it's a demon with
a name that's highly unpronounceable so I won't try, but it fits the
bill to a tee."  She handed the book over to Spike, who showed the
picture to Buffy.  "Is that him?" Willow asked hopefully.
  Buffy nodded, absently reaching up to touch the wound.  It still
throbbed, even though it had healed earlier that morning.  "That's
him all right; pointy skewers and all."
  "There's a poison emitted from that pointy skewer," Spike
supplied, handing the book back to Willow.  "The poison makes their
victim hallucinate, and that in turn gives the demon time to
kill `em."
  "The demon's not dead?" Willow asked, turning to Buffy for
confirmation.
  "No, I was a little occupied fending off the men in white coats,"
Buffy grumbled.  "But you guys can fix this, right?"
  Willow nodded enthusiastically.  "Yeah, it's not a problem.  The
antidote is in the skewer, as well as the poison, so we'll just go
out and get it.  Dawnie'll stay with you, and we'll be back before
you know it."
  "Just be careful?" Buffy asked.
  Willow gave her a grin as she stood.  "We will, we promise.  We'll
be back before you know it."  She headed out, then turned towards
Dawn's room.
  Spike stood as well, but his gaze lingered on Buffy.  Buffy
glanced away, clearing her throat.  "Sorry about no last night," she
said, before she frowned.  "Wait a minute.  There 'was' no last
night!  Why did you come over this morning?"
  Buffy watched, surprised, as Spike ducked his head, clearly
embarrassed.  "Well, Nibblet wanted me to help her with her.you know.
then you didn't."  He sighed, staring at his feet.  "Couldn't find
you on patrol last night, and I got worried," he admitted softly.
  Buffy blinked.  She wasn't surprised anymore; she'd gone straight
past that all the way to stunned.  Spike had been worried enough to
risk his unlife earlier that morning, just to see if she was all
right?  But.but what about the girl he'd brought to the wedding? 
She'd thought that he was well over her and back to the `I want
Buffy dead' phase, but apparently not.
  He glanced up, giving her a small smile.  "Be back with the
antidote," he promised, before stepping out of the room.
  "What antidote, Buffy?"
  Buffy almost screamed as her soft-colored walls turned into bright
white ones.  "Buffy, are you here now?  You were mumbling about an
antidote," Dr. Stevens said.
  "Yes, the antidote Spike's getting me, because I want OUT," Buffy
growled.
  "And you believe this Spike?"
  Buffy frowned.  "Why wouldn't I?"
  Dr. Stevens sighed.  Buffy wished she was out of her restraints so
she could slap him.  "This.'vampire' has supposedly tried to kill
you, and has had sex with you, done things to you, and yet you won't
dust him?  Worse yet, you believe him, leave him alone with.Dawn, is
it?"
  Buffy narrowed her gaze.  "Spike's proven himself in the past more
than once.  And he cares about Dawn, just like he cares about me.  I.
want.OUT!!" she screamed, tugging on the restraints.
  Dr. Stevens waited until she'd calmed down before
replying.  "Buffy, I understand your frustrations, but the answer to
all of this is simple.  You've created Sunnydale simply to escape
the pain of the real world.  In Sunnydale, the real bad guys are
easy to spot."
  Buffy stared at him, before she began to shake her head.  "No,"
she whispered.  "That's not true."
  "We managed to pull you out of there last summer," Dr. Stevens
continued.  "You were with us for one hundred and forty-seven days,
before you disappeared again."
  Buffy could feel tears welling up.  This wasn't real, Sunnydale
was real, with Dawn and Spike.
  "Look at your life in Sunnydale," Dr. Stevens said, leaning
forward.  "You have a sister that's a key to alternate dimensions. 
You have witches for friends.  You're a human with super-natural
abilities.  Spike's a 'vampire', for crying out loud."  He paused,
before pointing at the door behind him.  "You can walk right out
that door Buffy.  All you have to do is wake up to the real
reality.  The one with people who really care about you.  The one
where you're not in a destructive up relationship with Spike."
  This.this place had been heaven?  She could go back to this.  If
this was truly heaven, then Dr. Stevens was offering her a way of
returning to it, leaving that damnable world behind.  And he was
right; Spike had gone to the wedding with that girl, not giving a
damn about Buffy.
  'Then why is he so concerned now?' a voice whispered inside of
her, but she ignored it.  She was tired of living in the world she'd
been forced into.  She wanted to go home.
  Buffy turned to Dr. Stevens, nodding.  "What do I have to do?"



 

< --- >

  Willow and Spike returned triumphant, if not a little gooey. 
Buffy watched in silence as they mixed and poured, before Willow
held up a mug.  "We got it!" she cheered, giving Spike a high-five. 
Spike looked amused but accepted it.
  Willow hurried over to Buffy, handing her the mug.  "Drink that,
and don't ask what we did to get it," the redhead warned, grinning
sheepishly.
  Buffy nodded numbly, raising the mug to her lips.  Satisfied,
Willow headed out, Spike right behind her.
  Immediately Buffy pulled the mug away from her mouth, then dumped
the liquid into a bowl standing by.  She glanced down at the now
empty mug, before turning her gaze to the door.  She began to smile,
setting the mug down and heading for the door.
  Willow and Spike were discussing something in Willow's room, and
Buffy easily slipped past them.  She hurried down the stairs, then
turned her attention to the person on the sofa: Dawn.  Slowly she
made her way over to the teen.
  Dawn never took her gaze away from the television.  "I take it
you're feeling better?" she asked, smiling slightly.  She turned to
tell her sister that she was glad, but never got the chance. 
Buffy's hands shot out, effectively pressing her thumbs against
Dawn's neck.  The teen went limp in Buffy's arms.
  Silently she carried the girl down into the basement and tied her
up.  Only two left now.  How could she do this?
  "Buffy?" Willow's voice called from the kitchen, and Buffy
grinned.  Apparently, this would be easier then she'd thought.  She
made her way upstairs, finding Willow rinsing out the mug.  Buffy's
grin broadened.
  Willow turned, giving Buffy a smile.  "Good to have you back," she
chirped, before setting the mug down with a frown.  "Do you know
where Dawn is?"
  Buffy nodded, stepping over to her friend.  Willow's frown
deepened slightly, and she couldn't help taking two steps
back.  "Buffy?" she asked, her voice unsure.
  "Dawn's downstairs," Buffy said quietly, before her hands reached
out to knock Willow out.
  Willow was quicker than Dawn, and managed to avoid the
hands.  "Sp." Willow started to yell, only to have Buffy's hand
clamp down on her mouth.
  "Now, now, Willow, we don't need him down here yet," Buffy said
cheerfully, dragging the redhead down into the basement.  She ripped
off a strip of duct tape and placed it over Willow's mouth, then set
about tying her up next to Dawn.
  Buffy headed back upstairs to grab number three.  This was more
fun than she'd thought it would be.
  She headed into the living room to wait.  Her eyes caught sight of
the weapons chest, and suddenly she had a new idea.  Whistling, she
bent down to retrieve what she wanted.
  "Buffy?  Everythin' all right?"
  "Of course.  Why wouldn't it be?" Buffy replied, not pulling away
from the chest.
  "I thought I heard Red," Spike said, and she could hear the frown
in his voice.
  Buffy shrugged, smiling as she found what she'd been looking
for.  "How about I show you where she went, and then you can ask her
for yourself?" she said, standing and turning to Spike, who looked
completely bewildered.  His eyes landed on what was in her hands,
and the bewildered look gave way to a horrified one.
  Buffy gave him a feral grin.  "But I thought you 'liked' playing
dangerous games?" she said, before she started towards him.  Spike
quickly spun around and ran the other way, and with a laugh she
began to pursue him around the house.
  Spike slid past the kitchen table, calling out for Willow.  With a
quick kick Buffy sent a chair flying in front of his path.  Spike
instinctively jumped away from it, before realizing that his move
had pushed him back into the corner near the side door.  Buffy
stepped forward, and with a grin shoved the cross in his face.
  Spike cried out, pushing back into the corner as far as he could
go.  "Buffy, please," he begged, eyes starting to burn from the
cross.  Buffy ignored him, instead grabbing him by the lapels of his
duster, cross still in hand.  Spike hissed as she threw him towards
the basement.  The door was still open, and he tumbled down the
stairs, hearing a muffled cry as he did so.  He landed at the
bottom, stunned.
  Buffy calmly took the stairs one at a time, then grabbed him by
his duster once more and threw him towards Willow.  He skidded to a
halt in front of her, the two exchanging terrified glances.
  Before he knew it, Spike was tied up beside Willow.  "Buffy, why?"
he asked, watching as she headed over to a nearby shelf.  She
continued to keep her back to him, and she hummed as she pulled
things down.  "Buffy!" he yelled desperately.
  Buffy stopped, before slowly turning to regard him.  "Buffy?" she
said, her lips turning up into a cruel smile.  Spike froze at her
next words.
  "Buffy's not here anymore."

< --- >

  Buffy pulled desperately at her restraints, yelling curses after
the doctor.  That son of a.
  He'd told her to end her make-believe world.  To destroy
those `figments'.  To basically kill her friends and family.
  She'd told him, as nicely as possibly, no way in hell.
  He'd stared at her, shocked, then had stood, spitting, "You're a
fool, Ms. Summers.  You'll always be here now.  It's your fault." 
He'd turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
  Buffy growled.  How long had she been gone in her world?  Too
long.  She wanted to go back to Sunnydale, but funnily enough, she
couldn't go back.  She'd tried enough times to know.  She was stuck
in the mental ward.  With a cry she threw herself upwards against
the restraints.
  Which promptly ripped from the bed.
  Buffy stared at her freed wrists, then quickly reached down to
undo her ankles.  All four restraints were done, and then the straps
against her body, or what was left of them after her pull, were
ripped away.  She was free.
  She glanced around, searching for something, anything, to keep
herself safe from the nuts.  The real nuts, the goons in the white
coats.  She was sick of this world.  She wanted to go home, and she
wanted to go home now.
  She found nothing.  She'd just find something on the way then. 
She headed over to the door, and was pleased to find it unlocked. 
About time something was going her way.  She peered out into the
corridor, and when she didn't see anyone, hurried out.
  Noises from the left quickly sent Buffy scurrying to the right. 
She wasn't really sure what she was searching for, besides a way
home.  There wasn't really a portal to do that with, though.  Or was
there?
  She made her way down the halls, making turns here and there. 
Everything was so white and clean, and her bare feet made little
noise on the tiles.  At least, she hoped they did.
  Two shadows appeared on the wall, and Buffy froze for a split
second.  They were coming towards her hall.  Glancing around, she
ran to the nearest door and opened it, closing it seconds before the
nurses turned the corner.
  With a sigh of relief Buffy turned away from the door, blinking
with surprise at the room she was in.  The records room.  Filing
cabinets were everywhere, and she had a sudden idea.
  It didn't take her long to find the drawer with the patients with
last names starting with `S' on it, and she quickly dug through the
papers.  "It has to be here," she muttered.
  She stopped, then began to grin as she pulled out a file. 
SUMMERS, ELIZABETH.  Perfect.
  She flipped the folder open and began to read.

< --- >

  "Does she ever shut 'up'?" Buffy said, but it wasn't really
Buffy.  Spike could tell, just from the scent of her, that the
Slayer he knew and loved wasn't housed in that body anymore.  Her
attitude might have been a big giveaway too.
  In the corner, Dawn was choking back sobs, staring at the body of
her sister with fear-filled eyes.  Willow was frozen beside her.
  "About as much as you do," Spike replied, glaring at the body-
snatcher.  "You got a name?"
  Buffy grinned.  "I thought it was Buffy."
  "Your 'real' one.  Somethin' long and complicated.  You demons are
always the same."
  Buffy laughed, and Spike shivered.  She was really creepy
sounding.  Of course, the sight of her with a huge knife casually
hanging from her fingers wasn't helping matters.  "It's Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth Summers."
  Spike stared in growing horror.  "No, it bloody well is NOT. 
Where is she?"
  Elizabeth sighed, spinning the blade.  "I'm getting really tired
of these questions.  Can I just cut you open now?"
  "Where's my sister?!" Dawn suddenly yelled from her corner.  Spike
turned to see tears still rolling down her face, but her eyes were
filled with rage instead of terror.  'Atta girl,' he thought proudly.
  "Your `sister' is in a mental ward," Elizabeth said, stepping over
to Dawn.  "Most likely dead by now.  They were getting really tired
of me last time I looked.  No hope for me or whatever."
  Spike frowned, before his eyes widened in realization.  "You're
the mental patient that belongs in that ward, not Buffy!  You've
been switchin' places!"
  "Not bad, Holmes.  But she adapted faster to my world then I did
to hers.  Besides the fact that when she blanked out, so did I.  Not
fun, but you take the escapes when you can."
  "Escapes?" Spike asked, a bad feeling tingling in his gut.
  Elizabeth slowly began to grin.  "Yeah.  Escapes.  I got tired of
being force-fed pills daily.  Wanted out.  And then, suddenly, I was
out.  In a world where this other me is a weirdo, granted, but
she's 'free'.  So I figure, we could do the Freaky Friday thing. 
Except I'd like to stay switched for good."
  "What does killin' us accomplish?" Spike asked, smirking at her. 
She was too close to Dawn, he had to draw her away.
  Elizabeth stepped over to him, and he gave an inward sigh of
relief.  Mission accomplished.  Now all he had to do was get
out.  "Well, it'll keep you guys from trying to bring her back.  And
while I take care of you, the good doctors in LA can take care of
her.  There's not much she can do against them; I'm the one with the
super strength now.  Which, by the way, is awesome."
  Spike stared at her, gritting his teeth.  Buffy was stuck in a
hospital with no strength, being hurt and practically tortured.his
heart wrenched for her.  He had to get her out.
  "But killing you guys'll make me feel better, and give me a fresh
start, no strings and whatever," she continued, grinning at him.
  Spike said nothing as she headed towards him, blade raised.  He
ignored Dawn's shrieks and Willow's muffled cries.  He focused
instead on his wrists, which weren't exactly tied as tight as they
could've been.  He could get them loose.
  And then he could get Buffy back.


 

< --- >

  With trembling hands Buffy replaced the file in the drawer.  That
had been just.just.she shuddered.
  She was a murderer.  An actual killer in this world, one that hurt
people.  Except for the fact that the Buffy that belonged here
killed people because she thought they were demons.  A twisted
parody of her life in Sunnydale.  Her 'real' life.
  And if the Sunnydale Buffy was here, then the mental ward Buffy
was in.
  Buffy froze.  The murderer was in Sunnydale.  With Dawn and
Willow.  With Spike.  Oh shi.
  She turned to the door, then gasped as a doctor came through.  His
eyes widened as he caught sight of her, and he began to yell for
help.  Buffy quickly reached over and hauled him inside, before
slamming his head into the filing cabinet.  He fell to the floor,
dazed.
  As silently as she could Buffy hurried from the room.  She had to
get home 'now'.  The psycho her was going to hurt people she cared
about.  People she loved.  Images of their faces flashed through her
mind, and she admitted to herself that Spike was in that group.  She
cared about him, liked him even.  Loved?  That she wasn't sure
about.  But she'd rather have him undead to find out than dusted and
never really know.
  She was almost down the hallway when the white walls turned red
with flashing lights.  Alarms sounded, and Buffy cringed.  Voices
were shouting behind her, and she knew they were after her.  She
began to run.
  She slid down into another hallway, desperately reading signs as
she ran.  Something, anything to help her get out.  She halted in
front of one that read STAIRS and quickly threw the door open.  The
voices were louder now.
  "Please, please, 'please' lead me out of here," she pleaded to the
stairs as she ran down them.  Her heart was thudding painfully in
her chest, and her breathing was coming in short gasps.  This no
Slayer power thing sucked.
  She hurried through another door, stopping short at the sight of
the dark room and the huge metal pipes.  The basement corridors. 
Taking a deep breath, she turned right and ran as fast as she could,
the pounding of footsteps on the stairs urging her on.

< --- >

  Elizabeth smiled, happy with her work.  "That's a really good look
on you," she said, beaming.  She turned to put her bloodied knife
away and began searching for another tool.
  Spike now sported several cuts, some straight down to bone.  Dawn
was crying again, and Willow wasn't speaking at all.  He glanced
over at the girls, worried for them both.  His wrists still
continued to twist the ropes binding his hands.  They were almost
there.
  Elizabeth gave a triumphant "Ah ha!" and headed over to Willow. 
Spike's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the screwdriver in
the maniac's hands.  Willow whimpered and tried to scoot back.
  "You've been very quiet lately," Elizabeth said, kneeling before
Willow.  "I think it's time you said something.  Of course, I'd
rather hear screaming.  And I know 'just' how to get you to do that.
  Spike pulled frantically at the ropes, knowing his struggles were
visible but not caring anymore.  The screwdriver was inches away
from the witch's face now.and the ropes gave.  With a roar he lunged
at her, tackling Elizabeth to the ground.
  She landed a few good hits to his torso, but in the end Spike held
the upper hand.  He threw her against the stairway, then hurried
over to Willow, ripping the tape from her mouth and undoing the
ropes on her hands.  "Get Dawn out of here," he ordered, before
turning back to Elizabeth.
  He didn't turn quite soon enough.  The screwdriver flew through
the air, landing with perfect accuracy in his shoulder.  Spike
hissed and staggered backwards, reaching up to pull the screwdriver
from his body.
  Elizabeth snarled and jumped at him, only to end up sprawled on
the floor.  Spike smirked, stalking her.  "Can't take it, can you?"
he said, before glaring at her.  "You really thought you could take
over her life?  You ARE pathetic.  Buffy is unique, always has been,
always will be.  Part of why I love her so damn much."
  "You're in LOVE with her?  That's rich," Elizabeth said, before
she began to laugh.  "Must be killing you, having to beat your lover
up."
  "She won't mind," Spike said, and threw himself at her again.  The
two blocked hits, landing a few good ones every now and then. 
Willow had just undone Dawn's ropes, and the two began to creep up
the stairs.
  Elizabeth glared at them, before reaching back for the
knife.  "RUN!!" Spike yelled, running towards her.  If she threw
that knife, he knew exactly which direction it was going in.  He
could survive having sharp things thrown at him, but Willow and Dawn
couldn't.
  He'd almost made it to her when Elizabeth cried out, pulling both
hands back to cradle her head.  Spike frowned, then reached over and
grabbed the knife.  Elizabeth didn't notice.
  With a gasp her head whipped back, and clear green eyes met
worried blue ones.  "Spike?" she whispered.
  Spike stared, jaw dropping.  The scent had changed to a more
familiar one.  "Buffy?" he asked tentatively, stepping forward.
  With another cry her head dropped, and when she raised her eyes
again, there was a murderous intent there.  She howled and charged
him, dodging the knife easily.
  Spike continued to fend her off, but his mind was desperately
trying to form a plan.  Because for those few seconds, Buffy had
been back.

< --- >

  Buffy cradled her head, slowly picking herself up from the floor. 
The yelling was getting even louder, and she forced herself on.
  For a few seconds, she could've sworn she'd been back in
Sunnydale.  Spike had been standing over her, frowning, a bloody
knife in his hand.  She'd called out to him, and the shock on his
face had almost made him drop the weapon.  "Buffy?" he'd asked,
seconds before everything had gone black.
  How had she managed to have gone back?  She'd been reaching to
open another door, and she'd closed her eyes, just for a split
second.  Then the change back to her world.
  Buffy was sure it was because of the psycho Buffy that she was
stuck in the mental ward.  Seemed psycho Buffy had had a taste of a
better life and had kept it.  And because she had the strength to
keep the real Sunnydale Buffy out, they were staying switched.
  But that meant that the other one was getting weaker.  Spike must
be wearing her down.  Buffy gave a small smile.  Spike would get her
out.  She knew it.
  So occupied with her thoughts, she didn't even see the pipes in
front of her.  She managed to stop herself from slamming into them,
then her eyes were darting around for the next turn.
  There was none.
  Buffy's stomach turned.  She was trapped.
  "Ms. Summers, I believe we have to take you back," a familiar
voice said.  Buffy whirled around, whimpering.
  Dr. Stevens stood before her, another doctor and two cops right
behind him.
  "Hurry Spike," she whispered, before closing her eyes.  She'd give
him as much help as she could.  Ignoring the footsteps that were
coming towards her, she began to push against the mental block that
kept her from home.

< --- >

  Elizabeth fell to the floor, panting.  "Give up?" Spike asked, his
grip still tight around the knife's handle.
  Elizabeth glared at him.  "You're insane," she hissed, pushing
herself up for another round.
  "No, I believe that would be you," Spike muttered.  She was
getting more used to his attacks, more comfortable with a body that
wasn't hers.  And Spike wasn't sure he was doing anything that was
helping his Buffy anymore.  She came at him, and he tripped her
easily, sending her sprawling once more.
  But she wasn't getting up this time.  Spike watched as she slowly
began to raise herself up, wincing and clutching her head every now
and then.  An idea began to form in his head, and he quickly dropped
the knife, rushing over towards her.
  He grabbed her wrists and twisted her over, landing her with a
hard 'thud' on her back.  She gasped, the wind temporarily knocked
from her lungs.  To add shock upon shock Spike bent down over her,
pressing his lips against hers.
  She began to push against him, hands clutching desperately against
his chest.  Then her hands relaxed, and her lips parted, kissing him
back.
  He pulled away, and her clear green eyes greeted him once
more.  "Hello cutie," he whispered, smiling.
  Buffy sniffled even as she gave him a watery smile, and he pulled
her from the floor into his arms.  "You all right?" he asked quietly.
  She shook her head against his chest.  "They were right there,
ready with a jacket and tazers and needles and."
  Spike tightened his grip, forcing his growls down.  He'd only
scare her even more, and she needed comfort now.  Even though all he
wanted to do was find a way into this world for himself just so he
could kick their.
  "Buffy!"
  Spike pulled himself from his gruesome yet satisfying thoughts,
loosening his hold on Buffy only so Willow and Dawn could join in
the hug.  The four of them sat on the stone floor, just holding on
to the girl they'd almost lost.

< --- >

  Elizabeth blinked, drawing in a ragged breath.  Damn him!  A
freakin' 'kiss' had.no.  No, no, no.
  She stared at the approaching cops and doctors.  Her scream of
fury and frustration echoed off of the corridors.

< --- >

  Buffy shuddered, handing the empty mug to Spike.  "That was
nasty," she said, shuddering again.
  "But there'll be no more hallucinatin', or different worlds, or
whatever.  You're stuck with us," Spike joked, giving her a smile.
  "You're doing it again," she said, gazing at him.
  Spike frowned.  "Doin' what?"
  Buffy threw her arms up, gesturing towards him.  "You keep being
so nice and soft with your touches and words and."
  "Still in love with you, Buffy," he said, cutting her
off.  "Nothin's gonna change that.  I don't care how many times you
push me away.  Nothin' can change how I feel `bout you."
  Buffy sniffled, before inching her way forward.  "Maybe your
feelings can't change, but mine can," she said quietly.
  Spike blinked, before he realized what she was talking
about.  "Yeah?" he whispered, hope and awe shining in his eyes.
  Buffy smiled.  "Yeah."

THE END