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SPIKE: Yeah? I've seen the bloody bot before. Didn't think she'd patch up--
DAWN: She's kind of-- She's been through a lot, with the ... death. But I think she's okay. Spike? Are you okay?
SPIKE: I'm... what did you do?
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DAWN: Me? Nothing!
SPIKE: Her hands.
DAWN: I was gonna fix 'em. I don't know how they got like that.
SPIKE: I do. Clawed her way out of a coffin, that's how. Isn't that right?
BUFFY: I ... Yes. I had to do that.
SPIKE: Done it myself. We'll take care of you. C'mere ... (to Dawn) Get me some stuff, mercurochrome, bandages.
Spike leads Buffy to the sofa. They sit. Spike reaches for her hands, and we see that his own are shaking. He takes her hands, but he doesn't look at them. Just holds them and looks at her face.
BUFFY: How long was I gone?
SPIKE: Hundred forty-seven days yesterday... um, one-forty-eight today. 'Cept today doesn't count, does it? How long was it for you...where you were?
BUFFY: Longer.
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SPIKE: Buffy? You should be careful. Never know what kind of villain's got a knife at your back.
BUFFY: Your hand is hurt.
SPIKE: Same to you.
BUFFY: Right.
SPIKE: Willow's getting pretty strong, isn't she? Bringing you back. Hard to get a good night's death 'round here. You can sit, if you want. Got furniture. You should see the downstairs, too. Quite posh.
She keeps staring at him. He takes it as an accusation, responds to it ...
SPIKE: I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've had to jump. I want you to know I did save you. Not when it counted, of course. But after that. Every night after that. I'd see it all again, do something different. Faster or more clever, you know? Dozens of times, lots of different ways ...Every night I save you.
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SPIKE: Buffy.
BUFFY: Spike. It's daylight and you're ...
SPIKE: Not on fire? Sun's low. IS shady enough here. I was gonna go in, but I overheard you and the Super-friends sharing "a special moment" and I came over a bit queasy. Say, aren't you leaving a hole in the middle of some soggy group hug?
BUFFY: I wanted a little time alone.
SPIKE: Oh. Right then...
BUFFY: That's okay. I can be alone with you here.
SPIKE: Thanks ever so.
BUFFY: Right.
SPIKE: Buff? Slayer? You okay?
BUFFY: I'm here. I'm good.
SPIKE: Buffy, if you're in-- if you're in pain. Or if you need anything... If I can help you...
BUFFY: You can't.
SPIKE: Well, I haven't been to a Hell dimension just of late, but I know a thing or two about torment
BUFFY: I was happy. Wherever I ... was ... I was happy. At peace. I knew that everyone I cared about was all right. I knew it. Time didn't mean anything, nothing had form... but I was still me, you know? And I was warm and I was loved... and I was finished. Complete. I don't understand about dimensions or theology or any of ... but I think I was in heaven. And now I'm not. I was torn out of there...by my friends. Everything here is bright and hard and violent...Everything I feel, everything I touch...this is Hell. Just getting through the next moment, and the one after that...knowing what I've lost ... They can never know. Never.
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