Buffy looked at her hand as she walked through the cemetery, her skin throbbing as her hand replayed the moment it connected to Spike’s cheek. “Is he going to die?”

She sighed and shook her hand to relieve the tingle.

He had really pushed her tonight but she needed him. He was the only one that could help her find Riley. He knew the initiative caves better than anyone did. She knew if she gave him the cash, he wouldn’t do anything. So she ripped the paper in half and thrust against his chest.

Spike smiled to himself as he threw his duster against his shoulders and thrust his arms inside. All he had to do was find ‘Wonder Boy’ and let the slayer know.

Well it could bloody wait, he thought as he fished out the bills from his duster pocket.

Buffy carried on through the cemetery dusting a fledgling on her way. As if life wasn’t complicated enough. Dawn was a pain, Riley had gone missing and now she needed her sworn enemy for help.

The fresh ground moved beneath her feet, she stepped back as a fist punched through the soil breaking free of the underground restraints that kept them there.

Spike walked out into the dark night when he heard the scuffle; he turned to the noise and watched as the slayer fought the vampire. She fell backward and smacked her head on the gravestone momentarily dazed.

Spike ran forward and kicked the vampire in the face knocking him back.

“Don’t you idiots ever learn. You’re dealing with the Big Bad here.” Spike grinned, as the vampire looked confused.

“Oh I’ve heard of you. You was once a major player that is until you’re girlfriend left you.”

Spike’s grin vanished as he growled he vaulted knocking over the vampire. The branch of a tree piercing through to his heart, Spike was pulled back as the vampire exploded into dust.

He turned to see who pulled him free only to find Buffy still holding on to his arm. Blood trickled down the side of her face where a small cut was visible.

“Slayer are you alright?”

She looked up to his face .He didn’t get an answer as she lost her balance. Picking her up in his arms he walked back to his crypt. Setting her down on top of the sarcophagus, he went to fetch a first aid kit.

He stood holding the box, Why was he helping her? This would be the perfect opportunity to kill her? But it wouldn’t be much fun having a fight one sided. He reached over and tucked a strand of her golden hair behind her ear.

He began to clean the cut on her head, making the occasional glance down her body.

Riley had wandered through the initiative caves, his incoherent mumbles echoing through the cavern. His hand slamming into the brick repeatedly.

“Ow.” Spike turned around to see Buffy touching her forehead.

“I see your awake then.” She raised herself on her elbows and stared at him.

“What happened?”

“You decided to headbutt a gravestone. Did a good job too.” He sat on the end of the sarcophagus.

She swung her legs over to the side and jumped onto the floor, swaying she grabbed onto the edge of the sarcophagus.

Her hand reached out and found Spike’s , he looked down as her hand gripped tighter. He had an overwhelming sensation to help her.
“Okay, I’ll go to the bloody caves and bring the rookie into the hospital.” Buffy smiled up at him as she shifted on her feet.

“But I’m telling you this I’m taking you to the hospital as well, you might have bloody concussion.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek as unconsciousness took over.

He stood their shell-shocked the slayer in his arms; his cheek still tingled when her warm lips pressed against his cold skin. This was turning out to be one hell of a day.

Getting them both to the hospital was a hard task, when he got to the caves Riley had taken it upon himself to beat his hands to a bloody pulp. Riley looked up and saw the slayer in Spike’s arms and thought the worse.

Riley stood there his hands clenching and un-clenching in anger causing the blood to drip on the cave floor. Spike placed Buffy on the floor and stood waiting, it was gonna be worth the headache just to wipe the smirk of Soldier Boy’s face.

Eventually arriving at the hospital, they admitted Buffy with concussion. Riley had gone up to the special emergency room. And Spike sported a black eye and a cut lip.

Spike decided it was enough he need to get rid of this chip. He wandered through the hospital till he found the fourth floor. The doctor was busy cleaning up his equipment; not noticing the doors had opened.

“So I hear you can fix things doc, so here I am fix me.” The doctor turned around and stared.

“Fix what exactly?” Spike rolled his eyes in frustration.

“The little piece of metal in my noggin you twit.”

“And what makes you think I’ll do it?”

Spike smiled as the bones in his face shifted, his vampire countenance in view.

“Just a feeling.”

Riley had finished buttoning his shirt up and made his way from the bathroom. The door to the emergency room was open. Frowning he passed them and peered through the window.

Spike was laying on the operating table the doctor sewing the back of his head. He pushed the doors open and startled the doctor; Spike turned to see who was at the door.

“Great.”

“Get up Spike.”


Buffy’s eyes fluttered open as she took in her surroundings; She sat up in the hospital bed and looked around for her clothes. Steadying herself she moved towards the door and looked out.

Spike was thrown back against the operating table scattering the instruments on the floor. He stood up and growled jumping on top of the table and vaulting himself to land on Riley. Punching him repeatedly in the jaw. His head ached with pain as he reared his head back to bite him.

Spike was lifted and thrown against the wall he sat there dazed. Buffy pulled Riley to his feet and dropped his hand.

“Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on?” Her hands rested on her hips.

“Buffy he was trying to remove the chip.” Buffy turned to Spike who just shrugged.

“Riley, you just had a major operation. And believe it or not Spike did help us.”

“What… he’s a killer. I can’t believe you’re defending him.” Riley cast a glance towards Spike who was grinning.

“I’m not defending him. But you’re hardly in a position to be moral. You’re trying to hit someone who is defenceless”

“Hey.”

“Shut up Spike.”


“He doesn’t deserve you slayer. I can see you holding back.” Buffy and Riley spun around as Spike took a step forward.

“What would you know Spike, she would never even look at you.”

“I’m right here you know.”

“I need to kill something.” Spike growled and grabbed his duster and stormed out of the room.

“Great. Now I have to follow him.” She moved to walk towards the door. Riley held onto her wrist. She spun around to face him.

“You don’t have to go after him Buffy he cannot hurt anyone with the chip,”

“Riley, he helped me I can’t forget that. God knows what would have happened if he wasn’t there.”

“ I’m blaming this on your concussion.” He walked out of the room leaving Buffy on her own.


Her eyes rolled as she looked at the carnage around her. Her eyes looked towards the operating table.

Yeah Spike was a vampire and he was evil but he wouldn’t necessarily help her? And why am I thinking about Spike all of a sudden?

Yeah so he has a great body? Whoa where did that come from? Okay majorly weird.

She walked the streets of Sunnydale, her legs growing tired. She went to all the hotspots that Spike used even his favourite demon bar. There was no carnage on the streets, to pinpoint him.

She thought of one last place to look for him as she opened the gates to the cemetery. Making her way past the gravestones she halted as she came to his crypt door. Raising her hand she prepared to knock.

Knock you don’t knock Buffy this is Spike! Her foot connected against the wood.


Spike sat in his chair his eyes closed when he heard the banging on the door He slowly stood up as Buffy stormed through the door.

“Should have known it's you. Been nearly six hours.” Buffy continued to walk farther into the crypt.

“Well, it would've been less if I weren’t busy cleaning up your mess.”

“My mess? I just borrowed the doc. The mess is yours, Slayer. Yours and the boy's.”

“I'm done.”

She reached into her back pocket and retrieved a stake holding it tight in her hand.

“Spike, you're a killer. And I shoulda done this years ago.”



“You know what? Do it. Bloody just do it.” Buffy loosened the stake in her fingers as he said it.

“What?”

“End ... my ... torment. Seeing you, every day, everywhere I go, every time I turn around. Take me ... out of a world ... that has you in it!”
Spike ripped off his shirt and threw it to the side; Buffy stared at his chest the way his muscles rippled as he gasped for breath.

“Just kill me!”

Buffy stared at him, his breathing hitched in his chest. He stared in a way that made a blush creep up her neck.

She raised her stake and lunged at him. Spike winced his upper body moving backwards but his feet firmly in place. Buffy suddenly stopped his blue eyes peering into her.
She had never seen such a gaze not even Angel had looked at her like that.
They both continued to stare neither one of them moving. Spike suddenly moved and grabbed Buffy holding her upper arms kissing her hard. Buffy froze for just one instant when she felt his lips crushed against hers.
Buffy broke away and stepped back her hand suddenly touching her mouth. She stood and watched Spike as he stood there breathing hard his eyes trying to focus. The stake was now on the floor all thoughts of impending death were suddenly out of the window.
Her hand slowly fell from her mouth catching her lip. Spike stood there waiting to see what she would do next. She stepped closer her eyes never leaving his, placing both hands on his face she pulled his head down and kissed him passionately.

Spike’s hands moved to her back and moved beneath her top caressing her skin. His lips moved from her lips and kissed across her cheek and moved slowly down the column of her throat.

“Spike ... I want you.” She breathed as he trailed kisses down her throat.

“Buffy, I love you. God, I love you so much.” She moved away from him as the words were spoken.

Spike sat up right in bed his eyes blinking in the dark crypt, His hands shook as he tried to calm down from such a vivid dream He felt movement beside and looked down at the blond beauty asleep.
He moved closer and snaked an arm around her. She mumbled something against his neck and pulled him closer.
“Everything alright love?”
“Yeah, just worried I guess.”
“About what?” She moved away from him and sat up. She moved her hair away from her face and looked at him.

“Well how I’m going to tell Riley. I mean this is not what I expected.” He placed a hand on her back and made circles causing shivers up her spine.

“Do you regret anything?”
She turned to him and saw nervousness in his eyes placing a hand on his cheek she smiled.
“Nope. In fact I can show you.”