SPIKE: He's a breath of fresh air, isn't he? Thank god I don't breathe. So I think we got a lead. Where's Buffy?

DAWN: She's not here right now.

SPIKE: When's she get back? What? She finally ran off and joined the circus? Always thought she'd be
genius at the old knife throw -- Where is she?

WILLOW: While you were gone we all got together and talked out the disagreements we'd been having. And eventually, after some discussion, Buffy decided that it would be best for all of us if she took a little time off. A little breather.

SPIKE: I see. Uh-huh. Been practicing that lit'l speech long, have you? So Buffy took some time off, right in the middle of an apocalypse. And it was her decision?

XANDER: Well, we all decided.

SPIKE: Yeah, you all decided. You sad, sad, ungrateful traitors. Who do you think you are?

WILLOW: We're her friends; we only want --

SPIKE: That's ballsy of you. You're her friend and you betray her like this?

GILES: You don't understand --

SPIKE: You know, I think I do. Rupert. You used to be the big man, didn't you? The teacher all full of wisdom. And now she's surpassed you, and you can't handle it. She's saved your lives, again and again. She's died for you. And this is how you thank her? This is how you --

FAITH: Hey, why don't you take it down a notch or two? The time for giving speeches is over, Bat-boy.

SPIKE: Is that right?

FAITH
Yeah, that's right. Save your lack of breath.

SPIKE: Alright.

FAITH: You're pretty sweet on her, aren't you? Well, I think it's cute. The way she's got you whipped.

SPIKE: Finally got what you always wanted, didn't you? Where is she?

FAITH: I don't know.

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

SPIKE: There you are. Do you realize I could have just walked in here? No invite needed. This down really deserves none, now does it? I heard. I was over there. That bitch. She's all about smiles and reformation when you're on your feet, and the moment you're down, she's all about the kicking, isn't that right? Makes me want to--

BUFFY: It wasn't just Faith. It was all of them. And it's not like they were wrong. Please leave.

SPIKE: No. This will change you're tune. I came here because I've got something to tell you. You were right. Caleb is trying to protect something from you. And I think you were spot on, all the way, I think it's at the vineyard. So? you were right. Buffy?

BUFFY: I don't feel very right.

SPIKE: You're not fooling me.

BUFFY: What do you even mean?

SPIKE: Well, you're not a quitter.

BUFFY: Watch me.

SPIKE: You were their leader, and you still are. This isn't something you gave up, it's something they took.

BUFFY: And the difference is?

SPIKE: We can take it back.

SPIKE: No?

BUFFY: No.

SPIKE: You mean 'no' as in eventually?

BUFFY: You really have problems with that word, don't you?

SPIKE: You can get them back.

BUFFY: Can...maybe. Should... I'm just so tired.

SPIKE: They'll need you. It's a bloody chaos over there without you.

BUFFY: It is?

SPIKE: Yeah, yeah. It's uh...there's junk, y'know, food cartons, sleeping bags all rolled out. Everyone's very scared, and unkempt.

BUFFY: Sounds dire.

SPIKE: I didn't see a lot. Came...hit Faith a bunch of times, and left.

BUFFY: Really? I mean, not that I'm glad, but--

SPIKE: Oh, you say the word and she's a footnote in history. I'll make it look like a painful accident.

BUFFY: That's my problem. I say the word, some girl dies. Every time.

SPIKE: There's always casualties in war.

BUFFY: Casualties in...? It just sounds so...causal. These are...girls, that I got killed. I cut myself off from them, all of them. I knew I was going to lose some of them...and I didn't...y'know what? I'm still making excuses. I've always cut myself off. I've always...being the slayer made me different, but that's my fault I stayed that way. People always trying to connect to me. I just...slip away. You should know.

SPIKE: I seem to recall a certain amount of connecting.

BUFFY: Please, we were never close. You just wanted me because I was unattainable.

SPIKE: You think that's all that was?

BUFFY: Please, let's not go over the past

SPIKE: Oh, no, no. Let's hold on here. I've gone along with your pity-diddy, and I think I should have the mike for a bit.

BUFFY: Fine. The stage is yours. Tear me up.

SPIKE: You're insufferable.

BUFFY: Thank you, that really helped.

SPIKE: I'm not trying to cheer you up.

BUFFY: Then what are you trying to say?

SPIKE: I don't know. Ill know when I'm done saying it. Something just pissed me off, and I just...Unattainable, that's it.

BUFFY: Fine, I'm attainable, I'm an attain-athon, may I please just go to sleep?

SPIKE: You listen to me. I've been a live a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I prefer you didn't. Don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I've only my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain, so I make a lot of mistakes, a lot of wrong, bloody calls. A hundred plus years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of -- you. Hey, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you, and it has nothing to do with me. I love what you are. What you do. How you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you, and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You are a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy.

BUFFY: I don't wanna be the one.

SPIKE: I don't want to be this good looking and athletic, we all have crosses to bear. You get some rest now. I'll check in before first light.

BUFFY: Spike...could you stay here?

SPIKE: Sure. The diabolical torture device, the comfy chair. It'll do me fine.

BUFFY: No, I mean...here. Will you just hold me?

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