Chapter 26

Buffy was sitting on the back porch going through her weapons' chest and taking inventory. She really loved her birthday present. It was large but the wheels made it easily portable, which had certainly been an advantage tonight. It was Wednesday night, Dawson's Creek was on and Buffy's boyfriend and little sister were firmly ensconced in front of the television. There would be no patrolling with Spike until it was over.

Once Dawn had found out that Spike watched Dawson's Creek, she had insisted that he watch it with her every week. So there they were comfortably settled on the couch, snarky comments flying fast and furious, teenaged girl and century-old vampire. Best friends. The oddest of odd couples.

This was another manifestation of the difference between Spike and Angel. Angel had always seemed completely bewildered whenever Buffy or her friends made reference to pop culture. Spike was completely up-to-date. Well, except for the punk look, but since the look worked for him, Buffy didn't complain. And Angel had never been comfortable around Joyce or Dawn. Spike had loved them both before he'd ever loved Buffy.

And perhaps that was one of the biggest reasons she lo... Her mind shied away from that thought. Best return to the task as hand. She had started going through the chest in the living room, but choruses of "Keep in down, Slayer. Trying to watch my story here." And "Gee, Buffy, noisy much?" made her give up and remove to the chilly
outdoors.

Finishing her inventory - she'd need to carve more stakes soon - she closed the chest and brought it back into the house. The final credits were rolling when she wheeled the chest into the living room. Spike was headed for the closet to retrieve his duster when the front door opened and Xander walked in followed by Anya carrying a Magic Box shopping bag.

"Hey, Buffy," Xander said stiffly as he stepped into the living room. "Getting a little careless leaving weapons on the front porch, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

Xander lifted up the ornate sword he held in his hand. "This was leaning against the side of the house next to the front door."

Buffy stared at the sword in confusion. "I've never seen that sword before, Xander," she said. "Spike, did you leave it outside?"

"No. I've never seen it before either."

Buffy reached out and took the sword from Xander. As soon as her hand touched the grip, a red mist shot from the blade, swirled around the room and disappeared into the wall. At the same time, the front door, which had been standing slightly ajar, slammed shut hard enough to rattle the windows.

"This can't be good," Dawn said shakily.

***

"So, the doors and windows won't open and the phone won't work. We're trapped."

"'Fraid so, love. Whatever it was came out of that sword got us entombed in this house."

"Entombed?" Dawn said in a scared little voice.

A contrite look immediately crossed Spike's face. "Now don't you get all upset, Niblet. We'll figure out what's going on. Willow, Tara and Anya are workin' out what that thing is and how to get the door open."

Dawn nodded and tried to smile bravely. Spike gave her an awkward pat on the back, but he remained close to the girl. Whatever the hell it was that had them trapped and was now banging around the walls like a clumsy poltergeist wasn't going to get near Dawn; Spike would see to that.

Buffy noted that Spike was guarding Dawn and so she felt free to concentrate on the puzzle of the sword. There were runes carved on the blade and Willow and Anya were trying to decipher them. The task was made more difficult since they were also cut off from the Internet. Books were spread out over the dining room table, but so far they'd found nothing to help. Most of the books they needed were at The Magic Box.

Tara was attempting to locate a spell they could cast that would counter the force that kept the doors and windows sealed. She hoped that a general release spell would do the trick, but feared they'd need something much more powerful. And although they had many spell components here at the house, including the ones that Anya had delivered tonight, Tara was sure that they had nothing on hand that would help. She swallowed nervously and glanced at her girlfriend. Tara was never comfortable around the black arts whereas they fascinated Willow. Any spell strong enough to break the binding force on the house would have to come from the dark side of the spectrum. Tara hated the thought of Willow casting a black magic spell. She hoped they would find another solution. Feeling helpless, she returned to searching through the spellbook.

***

The first attack came after Buffy decided to check on Dawn. The younger girl sat curled up in an armchair, her body language screaming out the tension she felt. Spike sat next to her on the armrest, his predator's senses stretched to their fullest.

Buffy stepped away from the table and towards her sister. As she passed near a wall, a demon lunged passed her. It was large and red, had several horny protuberances along the sides of its head and was ugly as sin. It pushed her to the side, catching Buffy by surprise.

It grabbed at the sword but Buffy was able to knock it aside and beat it to the weapon. Before it had a chance to wrestle it from her, Spike was there knocking it back with a powerful punch in the face.

The demon flew back and disappeared again into the wall.

"You alright, love?" Spike asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Spike. Where the hell did that thing come from?"

"The wall," Xander answered excitedly. "It just popped out of the wall and then back in again after Spike hit it."

Buffy looked at the sword in her hand. "Do you think that's what the red mist was that came out of the sword? That demon?"

"Either that or you've got the world's largest termites, love," Spike answered. Buffy smiled a little and then looked over at Anya. "Know what kind of demon it is, Anya?"

The ex-vengeance demon shook her head. "This one's new to me, Buffy. I know of a few demons that can walk through walls, but I've never seen or heard of one like that one before. I'd guess it's tied to the sword somehow, so that at least helps in our search." She turned to Willow. "Do you still have that demon catalog?"

Willow nodded and went to fetch it. Anya sighed as she looked at the books spread around her. "If we don't find it there, I don't think we're going to find it or a translation of the runes in these books. They're pretty general. We really need Giles' research material at The Magic Box. Or better yet, Giles."

"Neither of which we can get to," Buffy said in frustration. "Okay, well keep searching. Maybe we'll get lucky. In the meantime, everyone stay away from the walls."

"And I think you should stay close to that sword, Buffy, in case the demon makes another grab for it," Xander said. Buffy nodded in acknowledgement. Things settled down again with only the noise of the demon in the walls and the soft murmur of conversation from the research group.

Tara went into the kitchen to brew some tea for everyone and returned laden with a heavy tray. Just as she reached the table, she stumbled slightly. Without thinking, Buffy jumped up to help her friend. As soon as her back was turned, the demon emerged from the wall again and this time was successful in grabbing the sword. It thrust the blade out and only Buffy's quick Slayer reflexes prevented her from being skewered. Kicking out, she managed to hit the demon solidly on its chest sending it flying back into the living room. Xander had been nodding off in a chair and leaped up as the demon landed at his feet. Before he'd had a chance to move more than a couple steps back, the demon bounded to its feet and swung the blade in a powerful arc right at Xander's unprotected body.

Xander found himself soaring to his right as someone pushed him out of the way of the blade. A loud cry of pain immediately followed and Xander looked over in time to see Spike collapse to the floor. Blood was pouring from a deep slash that went from sternum to belt buckle.

"Spike!" Buffy cried out rushing forward. Reaching the demon she ducked under as the demon swung the blade at her, reached up and tore the sword from its hands. The demon once again sought refuge in the walls, but this time Buffy shoved the sword into the wall after it. A scream reverberated from the walls and the sword glowed bright red as the demon was sucked back into the blade. Buffy pulled the sword from the wall and broke the blade over her knee. Immediately, her ears popped as if there had been a change in air pressure. From everyone else's reactions, they had experienced the same phenomenon.

Buffy threw the broken sword to the floor and knelt beside her wounded lover.

"Spike?"

"'m all right, love. Just a scratch," Spike gasped out.

"Dawn!" Buffy yelled. "Go get some towels. We need to try to staunch the bleeding." Looking up at the two witches who stood white-faced nearby, she asked, "Do you guys have a spell you can use to seal this wound?" The two girls exchanged glances and Tara answered. "I know a spell to help seal small cuts, but nothing that big. A-and besides, I don't know how a healing spell would work on a vampire. T-their bodies aren't really, uh..."

"Not really alive, pet?" Spike finished for her.

Tara blushed and nodded uncomfortably as if ashamed her healing spells seemed discriminatory.

"'t's alright, luv." Spike gasped out. "Vampires don't need healing spells. I'll be fine."

Tara gave him a small smile and blushed shyly. She felt terrible that she had no comfort to offer him. He was obviously in great pain though he was trying his best not to show it.

"We need to get this wound closed," Buffy said as she pressed the thick towels Dawn had brought into the deep laceration. "He's losing all his blood." Looking once again to the gentle witch she said, "Tara, I think you're the best one here with a needle. Can you sew him up?"

"Now wait a minute, Slayer. I don't want anyone muckin' about with needles and thread. It'll seal on its own."

"And how long will that take? And how much blood will you loose in the meantime?"

"No sewing!" Spike insisted.

"Spike..." Buffy began to argue.

"We could staple him," Dawn offered. "I saw them use staples on The
Learning Channel."

"No!" Spike shouted and then grimaced in pain. "No staples either. What is it with you people and piercing my flesh?"

"Damnit, Spike, stop being such a baby," Buffy snapped as she tossed a blood-soaked towel into the plastic bag Dawn was holding and pressed another one to the wound. "We have to do something." Buffy noticed that Spike's eyes were starting to glaze over as he continued to lose blood and it was scaring her. He may not die from blood loss, but Buffy wasn't sure what damage it could cause him either.

"Ooh!" Willow said. "How about glue? I read an article where doctors are using Super Glue to seal cuts together."

Buffy looked dubious. "I don't know, Willow, this is a pretty big cut. I don't think Super Glue would work."

"I have a glue gun in the car," Xander offered hesitantly. He'd been silent since Spike had pushed him out of the way of the attacking demon.

Spike looked up at Xander. "Yeah, glue," he said, his voice weaker than it had been just minutes earlier. "Glue's good."

"You think it'll work, Xander?" Buffy asked.

Xander shrugged. "We can try it, Buffy. We fix the leak, we can start topping him off again."

Buffy nodded and Xander went to the front door. Hesitating for a second, he warily reached out and grasped the doorknob. Twisting it, he sighed in relief when the knob turned easily in his hand and the door swung open. "Well, that answers that question anyway," he said before walking out. "The seal's been broken."

He was back just minutes later with a small case in his hand. Kneeling beside Spike, he lifted the lid and removed the glue gun. Holding out the cord he requested, "Plug this in at the outlet there, would you Dawnie?"

Spike's eyes flew open. "Plug it in?"

Xander smiled apologetically. "It's a hot glue gun."

Spike sighed in resignation. "Of course it is."

When the gun was ready, Buffy held the skin together as Xander applied the glue. Spike hissed in pain as the hot glue made it way down his torso. When they were finished, everyone watched tensely to see if the glue would hold.

"It's working," Buffy said in relief. "You just need to keep still until your healing takes effect and you'll be good as new."

"Great," Spike ground out. "I'm going to be layin' here on the floor
for a couple days then, am I?"

"Oh. No, that wouldn't be good. I guess we'll have to carry you up to my bedroom and hope the glue holds. If not, Xander will have to redo it."

"Bugger."


Chapter 27

Buffy and Xander helped the weakened vampire up the stairs and into Buffy's bedroom. As they laid him gently on the bed, they were all relieved to see that the seal held.

"Good job, Xan," Buffy smiled at her friend.

"Hey, it's how I make my living, Buff," Xander said with a small smile.

"Buffy," Dawn interrupted handing Buffy a glass. "This is all the blood we have in the house."

"I'll go get some more," Xander offered.

"Thanks, Xander," Buffy said in gratitude. She didn't want to have to leave Spike right now. "Martinelli's should still be opened for the late night crowd." Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a bill. "Here," she said holding the money out to her friend.

"I got it, Buffy," Xander said refusing the cash. As he started to leave the bedroom, Spike opened his eyes and said, "Since you're buying, pick me up a bottle of Jack, too." At Buffy's stern gaze, he said imploringly, "Come on, love, I need something to help dull the pain."

"And an aspirin won't do?" she asked dryly.

Spike just looked at her. Sighing she turned to tell Xander it was okay to bring the whiskey but he was already gone.

***

After Spike drank the glass of blood Dawn had brought, Buffy washed him carefully. When she had finished, she removed his boots and then unfastened and pulled his jeans from his slim hips. She was surprised to see that he was more than half-erect. Reaching out, she gently caressed him and he immediately became fully erect. Startled she snatched back her hand and looked up to see Spike's roguish look of amusement.

"How can you do that?" she asked in amazement. "You hardly have any blood left in you."

"Don't need blood," Spike said, his eyes gazing into hers. "Just need you lookin' at me, touchin' me." He smiled at the surprised look on her face. "Don't you get it yet, love? I always want you. You're life to me, Buffy, not the blood."

Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat. Pulling the blankets up to cover his hips, she sat on the bed beside him, cupped his face between her hands, leaned in and placed a kiss on his forehead. Moving down his face, she rained soft kisses over his eyelids, nose, cheeks, chin and mouth. The kiss deepened and Spike entwined the fingers of his right hand through her hair as his left found and cupped her breast. The bedroom door opened and Xander walked in carrying a sack from the butcher's shop and the bottle of Jack Daniel's. He stopped when he took in the intimate moment. Buffy sat
up instantly, her face a fetching shade of pink.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt," he said uncomfortably.

Spike just smirked. "Did you bring my drink?"

"Yeah. Blood and booze," he answered trying to sound off-hand and not as embarrassed as he felt. Handing the packages over to Buffy, he backed out of the room, eyes resolutely averted from Spike's nether regions. "I'll be downstairs if you need me, Buffy."

***

Xander hurried back down the stairs wishing with all his heart that he could get instantaneous amnesia. Seeing the kiss and the groping hand was bad enough, but seeing the tented bedclothes, well that was just wrong. And how a guy who'd just been nearly gutted could even get in that condition was beyond Xander. Just part of the whole undead gig, Xander assumed. Nothing to be jealous about.

Glancing into the dining room, he saw that Anya, Willow and Tara were still trying to track down information on their visitor. He doubted he'd be able to tear Anya away anytime soon. She hated it when a demon showed up she didn't recognize. She seemed to take it as a personal affront.

Walking into the living room, he saw that Dawn was seated on the floor, legs drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She was staring at the broken pieces of sword that were still lying on the floor. She looked up at him as he entered the living room.

"How's Spike?"

"He seemed pretty, uh, up just now," he answered with a slight blush.

"Good," the girl said with a relieved little smile, oblivious to Xander's innuendo. Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, Dawn said, "You know he saved your life, don't you?"

Xander could only nod his head. He was well aware of the fact that if Spike hadn't knocked him out of the way, he would have been the one lying on the floor with his life's blood pouring from a fatal wound. There would have been no gluing him back together. His mind kept replaying the scene over and over. The blade descending, the instant knowledge that he was going to die, and then a blur as he was shoved aside, a scream of pain from Spike, and finally the realization that he was still alive. He owed Spike his life. It was a concept he wasn't yet ready to deal with.

"So what'cha doing, Dawnie?"

"Keeping an eye on this thing until Buffy comes down and takes care of it. I don't trust that the demon's dead."

"It may be awhile before she comes back downstairs."

"Well, what do we do about this thing?"

"Wait and see if the girls find out anything, I guess," he answered sitting down in a chair. Leaning back and closing his eyes, he contemplated life, near-death and randy vampires.

***

After Spike drank his fill of blood and the glassful of whiskey he'd insisted on for the pain, Buffy bandaged him and then stayed by his side, his hand clasped in hers, until his complete stillness assured her he was asleep. After straightening up the bedroom, she leaned over Spike's sleeping form to brush another kiss across his forehead and then headed downstairs.

Xander glanced up from his chair when she reached the bottom step. Their eyes met briefly and then they both looked away. Buffy turned and walked through the dining room towards the kitchen.

"Is Spike okay?"

"Yeah. He's sleeping now."

She continued on into the kitchen followed by Willow. "We've located our demon." At Buffy's inquiring look, she continued. "It's different, I'll say that for it. It's a mercenary and actually lives in that sword. Only comes out when summoned to fight an enemy."

Buffy frowned and put the leftover blood in the refrigerator. "There's that word 'summoned' again," she said, leaning back against the sink and crossing her arms over her chest.

"You think Warren had something to do with it?" Willow asked in a thoughtful voice.

"Think about it, Will. A mysterious sword shows up on my doorstep that just happens to contain a demon that seals us in our own house and tries to kill us all? We're just lucky that Spike was the only one hurt. If he hadn't pushed Xander out of the way..." She shuddered at the uncompleted thought.

"Yeah."

Buffy rubbed the back of her neck in an attempt to ease some of her tension and then gave up. "It's late, but I think I'd better do a quick patrol. I need to work off some aggression anyway."

"Buffy, don't go looking for Warren alone, okay?"

Buffy gave her friend a tight smile. "Now you're starting to sound like Spike," she said.

"He's not wrong."

Buffy glanced over to see Xander standing uncomfortably in the kitchen doorway.

"I'm the Slayer, Xander, I think I can..."

"Get captured by his mind-control device just as easily as any mere mortal."

"I broke his little toy," Buffy reminded him.

"And he's had plenty of time to make a new one. Look, Buffy, we're just saying take backup with you when you go out searching for that guy."

"Well my backup's kinda laid up right now."

"You have other people that can help, and in this case Spike isn't your best backup anyway," Xander answered quietly. "These guys are human after all."

"Yeah, okay." Buffy turned to Willow. "So you up to turning on your witchy powers and coming out with me tomorrow night?"

"Uh, I meant me, Buffy."

Buffy looked at Xander in surprise. "You want to patrol with me?"

"Sure. I wouldn't mind beating Warren up again if we find him."

"'Cause he sent a demon that almost killed you?"

"Buffy!" Willow protested. "That-that isn't what Xander meant. He wants to help like always. Right, Xan?"

"Is that right, Xander? We're one big happy family again? 'Cause I've gotten frostbite from the cold shoulder you've given me these last few weeks."

Xander flushed and then sighed. "Look Buffy, I'm still not thrilled you're with Spike, but your love life holds less interest to me right now than what happened here tonight. Things are getting out of control with Warren and I want to help stop him before someone gets seriously hurt."

"Someone did get seriously hurt, Xander."

"I know that, Buffy, And I am grateful to the guy for saving my life, but Spike will recover. The girls or I and maybe even you wouldn't have. That's all I'm saying."

"So if you come out with me to hunt for Warren, are you going to try to lecture me about my relationship with Spike?"

"No lectures."

"Are you going to be all cold and distant and disapproving?"

"Nope."

"Okay," Buffy sighed stepping away from the sink. "Meet me here tomorrow night at dusk. We'll patrol and then check out the final dozen or so addresses that're left."

"What about tonight?"

Buffy shook her head. "Tonight's patrol is going to be fast and dirty. I want to get back home to Spike as quickly as possible."

As she left the kitchen to gather her weapons, Willow looked steadily at Xander. "You know she's got it bad for him, don't you?"

"Yeah," Xander sighed, "I know."


Chapter 28

As Buffy had told her friends, she made quick work of patrol that night. All she wanted was to finish and get back to Spike to check on him, make sure he was okay. She knew she was being silly. The wound he'd sustained wasn't mortal for a vampire but he was in pain, and Buffy wanted to be there for him in case he needed her.

She was aware it wasn't just the wound itself that ate at her. It was the knowledge that she had come very close to losing Spike tonight. If the demon had swung the sword across instead of down... Buffy flinched as she envisioned the blade slicing through Spike's neck, a look of surprise on his face just before he crumbled to dust. She pushed the thought away once more, chiding herself for melodramatic imaginings. But she quickened her footsteps nevertheless and hurried home.

When she got home, she took a quick shower and then slipped into bed next to Spike. She curled up beside him being careful not to jostle him.

"How'd patrol go, love?"

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

"No, I've been awake for awhile."

"You in a lot of pain?" Buffy asked in concern.

"A bit, but I'm all right."

"You want some more blood?"

"You're all settled in bed, love. I can wait till morning."

Buffy slipped from the covers and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I'll be right back."

Spike watched as she left the room and then closed his eyes as another wave of pain flashed through him. He knew she'd worry if she realized just how much he hurt so he was trying his best not to let her know. But he couldn't hide it completely and it warmed him that she'd picked up on his discomfort right away.

She was back in short order with two large mugs of warmed blood. She helped him to sit up enough to drink them and then poured him another large glass of whiskey to help dull the pain. When he was finished, she took the mugs and glass into the bathroom to rinse out and then returned to bed. Spike could barely open his eyes as she slipped in beside him.

"Goodnight, love," he mumbled as he tipped over the edge into sleep.

"Goodnight... love," Buffy whispered.

***

Spike was much improved by the next evening to the point that he was sitting up in bed supported by pillows. All four women had been very solicitous of him, making sure he had a steady supply of blood to help aid the healing process. He was especially pleased by Buffy's concern. She'd skipped school leaving the house only long enough to pick up some clothes for him from his crypt and to buy more blood and even another bottle of Jack Daniel's. He'd slept most of the day away, but by evening he was restless.

"You need to stay in bed, Spike. What if your wound reopens?"

"Buffy, you saw for yourself when you changed the bandage, it's already knit together. I need to get out of this bed before I get bedsores. You ever see a vampire with bedsores? No," he answered before she could respond, "you haven't because vampires don't stay in bed!" He finished his statement a little more forcefully then he'd intended, but he was bored to tears and a bored Spike was a cranky Spike.

"Fine, Spike. You want to get up and split open your wound and bleed all over my house again, that's just fine. And when you're lying on the floor all hurt and bleeding and helpless, I'm going to get Tara to sew you up with a knitting needle. A wooden one!"

Two stubborn, set faces glared at one another angrily when the bedroom door opened and Dawn stuck her head in. "Hey, Mrs. McGinty down the block just called and said keep the yelling down. It's scaring her cats."

"Ha ha, Bit," Spike said sarcastically. "I'm tryin' to talk some sense into your hardheaded sister. I just want to get out of this bloody bed. I'm gettin' permanent creases on my bum."

"Thanks for the visual, Spike," Dawn said dryly. Turning to her sister who was standing at the foot of the bed with arms folded and toe tapping, she said, "Look, just let him get up for a while. It won't kill him."

"He's going to hurt himself, Dawn."

"I'm not going to bloody hurt myself. I've been taking care of myself for a hundred and twenty years, I know how to bloody well take care of myself."

"So now you don't need me taking care of you?" Buffy looked at him with huge hurt eyes. Dawn rolled her eyes, shook her head and left the room.

"Now that's not what I said, love," Spike told her instantly contrite. "I love you takin' care of me, you know that." He held a hand out, coaxing her to come to him.

Buffy moved forward slowly as if reluctant to go to him. When she finally came within range, he grasped her hand and tugged until she was sitting down on the edge of the bed beside him. He lifted her chin gently until she was looking at him. "I'm sorry, love. I'm an evil, ungrateful sod. If it makes you feel better, I'll stay in bed."

Buffy's bottom lip stuck out a tiny bit. "I just don't want you to aggravate your wound, Spike."

Spike stared at her mouth and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "Oooh, pouty," he murmured. "Look at that lip."

Buffy's eyes widened as she remembered those words. Spike smiled and eaned forward catching her lip between gentle blunt teeth. "Gonna get it."

Buffy giggled as he nibbled at her lip. "Oh, stop."

"You always tell me to stop," Spike teased, "when you know you don't mean it."

Buffy smiled, kissed him and then leaned her head on his shoulder. "Are you sure you'll be okay if you get up?"

"Positive, love."

Buffy ran her hand gently down over his bandaged stomach and sighed. "Okay, I guess you can get up for a little while. I have to go on patrol, but the girls can help you if you want to come back to bed."

"Of course, love."

Buffy stood up and went to gather his clothes and Spike gingerly sat up on the edge of the bed. A wave of pain flashed through him but he'd be damned if he'd let Buffy know. If he had to stay in this room one minute longer he was going to go completely barmy.

Buffy and Spike were halfway down the stairs when the front door opened and Xander entered.

"Wow, that was a quick recovery," Xander said in surprise as he spotted the slowly descending couple.

"He's not recovered, Xander," Buffy said with just a touch of asperity in her voice. "Just stubborn."

"I'm fine. I keep tellin' you, I'm fine," Spike hissed back through pain-clenched teeth.

"And they're off again," Dawn observed from the living room.

"Huh?"

"They've been arguing for the past hour over whether or not Spike should get up," Tara informed Xander with a small smile.

"Not an argument, pet," Spike said to the young woman. He stopped momentarily at the bottom of the steps as if suddenly unable to walk and talk at the same time. "We were just having a bit of a difference of opinion."

Buffy eyed him anxiously, ready to physically carry him back up the stairs if he appeared to have caused himself injury. When he began to walk into the living room, she stayed right by his side until he was seated. Once she had assured herself he was all right, she turned towards Xander. "I'll be ready in a minute, Xan."

"Okay, good." Turning to Spike he said, "Uh, I brought you some more blood and another bottle of JD. Thought you might be ready for a refill."

Spike looked at the young man with appreciation. "Well now, I wouldn't say no to a glass," he said reaching for the sack in Xander's hand.

"You just ate," Dawn said surprised.

"He means a glass of whiskey," Buffy said dryly. "You have an open bottle upstairs."

"And now I'll have an open bottle down here. Convenient, eh?"

"Yeah, convenient," Buffy answered with a roll of her eyes. Turning to Dawn she said, "Don't let him drink too much. He'll just end up with a pain in his head to go with the pain in his gut."

"Hey!"

"Behave yourself, Spike. I'll see you when I get home." Leaning over, she brushed a quick kiss across his lips and left the house with Xander.

***

They had just finished checking the second house on their list when Buffy said, "I think I should find a payphone and call home. See how Spike's doing."

Xander looked over at Buffy and said with just a hint of exasperation, "You know what I think? I think we should just give it up for tonight. You go on home, make sure Spike's okay and then tomorrow night we take my car, put Spike in the backseat where you can keep an eye on him and then maybe we can get the rest of that list checked out."

Buffy stiffened. "I'm sorry if my concern for Spike is annoying to you, Xander."

Xander sighed. "I'm not annoyed, Buffy. Well okay, I am annoyed, but only because you've made reference to Spike about every five minutes since we started out tonight."

"Do I have to remind you that Spike got hurt saving your life?"

"No, you don't have to remind me. I haven't forgotten. But geez, Buffy, Spike's a vampire. He's already up and out of bed. I just don't get why you're so worried."

"I'm worried because, yeah he seems okay, but what if something happens," Buffy answered sharply. "What if I'm out here patrolling and something happens to him and I come home and he's worse or he's even... even..." She choked on her words and it was then that Xander understood.

Taking his friend gently by her shoulders, he said, "Buffy, Spike isn't Joyce. He isn't going to suddenly die on you."

Buffy looked at him in shock. She opened her mouth to answer but no words came out. Xander smiled gently at her. "Come on, Buff. Let's go home. I meant what I said. We'll just bring Spike with us tomorrow night. He can't fight, but maybe he can use that nose of his to sniff out Warren if we find the right house."

Buffy nodded, still incapable of speech. With Xander's arm draped casually over her shoulder they turned in the direction of Revello Drive.

***

When Buffy came in the back door after bidding Xander goodnight by his car, she was surprised to see Spike there.

"What are you doing?"

"Just fixing myself a little late night snack."

"Why didn't one of the girls fix it for you?"

"Because they're all in bed, love. It's late. I wasn't ready to go back to bed yet and told them I'd be fine. And I am," he added insistently seeing the frown form on Buffy's face. "I wish you'd stop fussin', love.

"Men!" Buffy said in frustration as she went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water for herself. "They get worried you don't love them if you don't pay enough attention to their hurts and when you do they get all macho and 'I'm fine, love. I wish you'd stop fussin'.'" Her imitation of Spike's accent was truly horrible.

The microwave beeped but Spike made no move towards it. He stood staring at Buffy. Buffy glanced over at him and then stopped when she noticed the look on his face. "What?"

Spike swallowed. "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"What you said."

"What did I say?"

Spike only shook his head, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, and turned away from her to open the microwave door. Buffy thought back to what she'd just said. Men get worried you don't love them if... Oh.

"Oh."

"'t's all right, love," Spike said, his eyes lowered to the swirling contents of the mug he was rotating in his hand. "It's a figure of speech, I know that."

He was lifting the mug to his lips when he heard her say in a barely audible voice, "Not this time."

He lowered the mug to look at her, afraid to say anything. She came to him and cupped his face in her hand. "The words aren't easy for me to say, Spike. But the feeling, it's here, in my heart."

Spike smiled, put down the mug and pulled her to him. They held onto each other, neither speaking. Buffy wished she could say the words. He deserved them. But at least now he knew how she really felt. And
perhaps that was more important.


Chapter 29

Spike had wanted to make love when they went to bed, of course, but Buffy had insisted that he wasn't healed enough so they'd ended up just cuddling and kissing and touching and holding each other until sleep overcame them.

Spike felt just fine the next day. His happiness knowing that Buffy did love him mixed with his rapidly healing body made the vampire hyperactive and almost giddy. Buffy couldn't get near him without his reaching out to touch her, stroke her arm, take her hand, steal a kiss or drape an arm around her. She permitted the excessive PDA's simply because she was feeling a little giddy herself. She'd passed a major hurdle in her relationship with Spike last night. She may not have completely verbalized her feelings, but she'd acknowledged them both to Spike and to herself. She felt ridiculously happy.

She hoped that tonight they'd finally run Warren to ground. She wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do about him once they found him. Maybe she'd just e-mail Riley. Ethan Raynes had certainly ceased to be a problem once Riley's group had arrested him. Buffy frowned at the thought. Did she really want to place another evil genius into the hands of The Initiative or whatever they were calling themselves these days? Maybe Giles would have a better suggestion.

Anyway, once they took care of that problem, Buffy thought it might be nice for her and Spike to get away for a couple days, just the two of them. Sunnydale would survive if she took a few days off.

***

"Are you ready with that spell yet?"

"Almost. Don't rush me, okay? If I make a mistake we may never find what you want."

"What we want, Short Round. You're in this too, remember?"

Jonathan glanced nervously at Warren. "Why won't you tell me what we're going to do once we get there?"

"I did tell you. There's a lot of cool stuff there, just ripe for the taking. We take what we want, sell what we don't need."

"Nothing that will hurt anyone."

"Don't worry about it, Gandhi."

Jonathan turned away with a frown. He was worried. Warren and Andrew were still keeping secrets from him, only telling him part of the scheme. He needed to find out exactly what they were up to. And he had a plan as to how to find out. He just needed a little time alone.

Finishing his preparations, he began to cast the spell. A map of Sunnydale lay on the floor and as Jonathan passed his right hand over a talisman he held in his left, a beam of fragmented light erupted from it, arched over the map and landed on several spots illuminating them. One spot glowed brighter than the others.

"That's the best place to enter," Jonathan said unenthusiastically.

"Good," Warren said with satisfaction. "We'll investigate tonight. Take a break, Obi Wan. Andrew and I will make the final preparations."

As Jonathan watched Warren walk away he began to mentally make preparations of his own.

***

Xander was perhaps lucky in that by the time he showed up, the lovey-doveyness had morphed into bickering over what Spike's role was going to be that evening. As the three got into Xander's car, Buffy made sure that Spike was comfortably settled in the backseat and then climbed in next to her friend.

Turning around in her seat she reminded Spike, "You are here as an observer only. Do not help. Do not fight. In fact, do not get out of the car. Got it?"

Spike gave her a disgusted look. "Yeah, Slayer, I got it. I got it the previous three hundred times you told me. Can we just go now?"

Xander hid his smile as he watched Buffy turn back around in a huff. He had to admit it was funny watching Buffy act all mother-henny over a tough-as-nails wiseass vampire. He did feel kinda sorry for Spike though. A guy could only take so much mothering, after all. Starting the car, he headed towards their first stop of the evening.

***

Jonathan thought he heard a noise and glanced around nervously. Warren and Andrew were out getting supplies and he didn't expect them back for some time yet. Reassured he was still alone, he turned back to Warren's computer terminal. He'd used a spell he'd been secretly working on the past few days to hack into the computer and decode Warren's encrypted file. The first part of it had been little more than a journal detailing their recent activities, but this last part consisted of something entirely different. It outlined Warren's true goal for tonight's outing.

The more Jonathan read the more frightened he became. Scrolling down the page, he began shaking his head, muttering, "No, no, no, no, no." He was so caught up in what he'd discovered that he failed to hear the footsteps coming up behind him.

"It's not polite to read other people's diaries, Bridget," a voice said behind him. Jonathan jumped and swung around to find himself face-to-face with Warren.

"You can't be serious about what I just read," Jonathan insisted, his voice shaking slightly.

"Wrong again. I'm completely serious."

"I can't let you do that, Warren," he said standing up and trying to inch around the taller man.

"And I can't let you interfere."

Warren raised his hand and Jonathan rushed forward and pushed against him, knocking Warren out of his way. He started to run, but hadn't gotten far before he felt a flash of pain rip through his body. And then there was only darkness.

***

They were driving down the street when Spike's sharp eyes caught sight of a black van parked outside a darkened doorway near the far end of a narrow alley. They'd been cruising the warehouse district as the final leg of patrol before beginning the search for Warren.

"Stop the car, Xander," Spike commanded. The vampire's tone caused Xander to immediately hit the breaks.

"What is it, Spike?" Buffy asked, her body tensed and ready for action.

"Back up a bit to the alley entrance," Spike told Xander. Flashing a quick glance at Buffy he said, "I spotted a black van down that alley. Could be Warren's."

By this time, Xander had reached the alley and stopped the car. They all saw it now, little more than a larger, darker shadow among a myriad of other shadows.

"You think it's his?"

Spike rolled down the window and took a deep breath. He shook his head and said with disgust, "Wind's blowing in the wrong direction. I can't pick up any scents except garbage but the model and year's right. I say we go investigate."

"Spike, I want you to stay..."

"No."

"Spike..."

"Forget it, Slayer. If he's there, I'm going with you."

"I told you I didn't want you leaving the car. You couldn't fight him anyway, Spike, even if you weren't already hurt."

Spike's eyes took on a frosty, predator's hue. Buffy looked at his set cold face, his taunt body and realized she'd have to knock him out herself to keep him in the car.

"Fine, Spike. Just try to keep out of the way." Opening her door, she exited the car. Spike followed. Xander backed the car up so that it wouldn't be spotted, parked it and joined his two friends.

"Okay, let's be as quiet as we can. No need to give him warning we've found him if it is Warren."

The two men nodded and all three made their way cautiously up the alley. "It's his van, all right," Spike growled. Buffy nodded and continued leading the way. They stopped abruptly, plastering themselves against a wall, when a door suddenly opened and Andrew stepped out of the building. He headed for the back of the van, opened the rear doors and then returned to the building. It didn't appear that he'd spotted them so they continued moving stealthily towards the now opened warehouse door. Just as they reached it, Warren's voice came mockingly from behind them, "You know you'd think you'd be smart enough to check for surveillance cameras."

They whirled around to see their dark-haired nemesis standing with what appeared to be an automatic rifle pointed at them. "Actually, Slayer, I'm glad to see you. It saves me from having to track you down."

Buffy eyed him coldly. "Gee, Warren, if you'd just left a forwarding address we could have had a reunion sooner."

Warren's smile was equally cold, "I wasn't ready yet. Now I am." While Warren's attention was focused on Buffy, Xander made a dive for the rifle in his hands. Swinging the weapon at Xander, Warren pressed the trigger.

"NO!"

Buffy's cry echoed throughout the alley. Warren was barely able to swing the gun around quickly enough to also take out the Slayer. He was too slow to stop Spike however. A scream of rage erupted from the vampire and Warren's body went flying as Spike crashed into him. A howl of pain followed and Spike was lying helpless on the ground, curled into a ball, hands wrapped around his head. Warren got up shakily and stood over the shuddering vampire.

"Hard to believe that once upon a time you were a powerful vampire," Warren sneered, "and now look at you. Pathetic." Taking aim, he pulled the trigger a third time.