~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SPIKE: Uh, Buffy...

She turns back to him. Spike lifts his hand in a little wave. Buffy frowns, still not getting it.

SPIKE: If you wanna just hand them over the threshold, I'll...

BUFFY: Come in, Spike.

Spike looks surprised and pleased. He takes a slow step over the threshold, smiles.

SPIKE: Hmm. Presto. No barrier. Um, won't bother with the small stuff. Couple of good axes should hold off Glory's mates while you take on the lady herself.

BUFFY: We're not all gonna make it. You know that.

SPIKE: Yeah. Hey. Always knew I'd go down fightin'.

BUFFY: I'm counting on you ... to protect her.

SPIKE: Till the end of the world. Even if that happens to be tonight.

BUFFY: I'll be a minute.

SPIKE: Yeah... I know you'll never love me. I know that I'm a monster. But you treat me like a man. And that's...

Buffy gazes silently at him.

SPIKE: Get your stuff, I'll be here.

~"The Gift"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SPIKE: You don't come near the girl, Doc.

DOC: I don't smell a soul anywhere on you. Why do you even care?

SPIKE: I made a promise to a lady.

~"The Gift"