Banner by Selene

Chapter 21

Giles began getting the room ready for the spell. He set up the sacred circle and began lighting candles for protection. Dawn helped by lighting incense and setting out the healing crystals that would be placed on Buffy’s body once she was inside the circle. When everything was set up as it should be, Giles turned to Spike.

“Spike, I need you to place Buffy inside the circle.”

Spike nodded and carefully lifted the Slayer out of bed and into his arms. He moved to the circle and knelt before it.

“Careful, Spike. You can’t disrupt the circle,” Giles reminded him.

Spike fixed the watcher with a glare but once more bent to his task of getting Buffy inside the circle. The circle was large enough that it enabled Buffy to lie inside it without disrupting the protective barrier. When he had her settled comfortably on her back, Spike slowly stood up and backed away. Dawn stepped forward then, the crystals in her hands, and began placing them on Buffy. One for her head, one for her heart, one for each palm, and one for each foot. When she was finished, she rose and went to stand by Giles. He nodded at Dawn to let her know she did a good job, then picked up the book that contained the spell. With a clear, deep voice he read out the incantation seeking healing and restoration for his slayer. The crystals began to glow a bright green then faded to amber as he read. When he finished, the crystals once more returned to their natural, non-illuminated color. It was done.

With a sigh, Giles closed the book and set it aside. Spike took that as he cue to retrieve the Slayer and return her to bed.

“It doesn’t hurt as bad,” she murmured, awed, as Spike knelt down and lifted her in his arm. Even as she said it, her color appeared to be getting better; she wasn’t quite as pale as before.

Spike got the Slayer settled in bed and Buffy was soon joined by Dawn. When Buffy’s stomach growled suddenly, both girls laughed.

“Dawnie, you think you could make me a bowl of soup? I guess I must be a little hungry,” Buffy laughed.

“Sure! I’ll be right back.” Dawn practically bounced her way out of the bedroom.

Buffy smiled as she watched Dawn leave then turned her attention to Giles as he drew near.

“Thanks, Giles. I can’t tell you…” she began.

Giles interrupted her before she could finish. “Yes, well,” he stammered. “No thanks are necessary, Buffy. I just wish I could do more. I don’t know how much this will help. Or, how long it’s going to last. I still need to do research on this attacker…”

This time Buffy interrupted him. Taking his hand, she said, “Giles. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll figure it all out. And I do feel better, honest.” As if to confirm her words, her stomach growled again. A blush slowly worked its way up her cheeks. “See. I’m hungry. A sure sign I’m getting better.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to eat then. I’ve got some more books I’d like to look at before I turn in,” he said. He patted her hand affectionately, then let go, heading towards the door. “Eat and rest, Buffy.” He gave Spike a pointed look before leaving.

Spike turned to Buffy and told her, “I’m gonna see what’s keeping the ‘Bit. I’ll be right back.”

Buffy smiled and nodded her assent. Spike smiled back and followed after the watcher.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike noticed the watcher’s bedroom door was still open when he stepped out into the hallway and pulled the Slayer’s door closed. He poked his head in the doorway and made eye contact.

“How long do you think it will last?” Spike asked.

“I’m really not sure, Spike. I’m going to grab a few books and head down to the office. Hopefully, Wesley will have sent some information by now.”

“I’ll see what’s keeping the Niblet then join you.” Spike heard his agreement and backed out of the room. He paused, then stuck his head back inside. “It’s good that she’s hungry, right, Rupert?”

Giles looked up from gathering his books. He saw the concern on the vampires face and sighed. He didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, he didn’t want to encourage Spike too much. But on the other, he didn’t want Spike to give up hope. In the end, he couldn’t dash Spike’s hope, for to do so, would kill his own. “Yes, Spike. This is a good sign.”

Spike nodded and left the room to search out Dawn.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike found Dawn in the kitchen. Well, at least he thought it was the kitchen. Every available surface space was covered by vegetables, spices, pots, and other paraphernalia. Dawn was running hither and yon in an attempt to make, what? He didn’t know.

“Dawn, what the bloody hell—?” Dawn stopped in her tracks and looked at Spike.

“I just— She wanted some soup,” she stated, gesturing to the stuff on the counters, “I was trying to…”

Spike sighed and walked over to her.

“It’s okay, Niblet,” he spoke soothingly as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I think some canned soup will be fine. Maybe we can save this for another day?” She nodded reluctantly and gave him a tremulous smile.

“Why don’t you get a can out of the pantry while I start cleaning this mess up.”

~*~*~*~*~

Back in Buffy’s room, Dawn set the tray carefully on Buffy’s lap. The smell of food had Buffy’s stomach growling once more and she picked up the spoon and started to eat while Dawn looked on. Spike leaned against the door jab and watched for a moment.

“I’m going to take the girls out for a quick patrol,” Spike spoke from the doorway. “Dawn can stay here and keep an eye on you while I’m gone.”

Buffy stopped eating to look at him, concern evident on her face. Spike met her gaze and spoke again, “They can’t sit around here and do nothing. I’ll keep an eye on them. Promise.”

Buffy gave a short nod.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Giles is downstairs in the office if you need him.”

Spike pushed away from the doorjamb and went to round up the girls for patrol.

~*~*~*~*~

Patrol was uneventful. There was no sign of Buffy’s attacker, although Spike had looked. They encountered a few newly risen fledglings that the girls were easily able to make quick work of. Frustrated, he trudged his way back home, the girls following behind.

~*~*~*~*~

Entering the darkened house, the girls departed to their rooms to sleep. Spike walked to the office to tell Giles that he was going to check on Buffy and come back downstairs to help with the research. Giles muttered something that sounded like an “ok” and continued reading from the book on the desk before him.

Spike walked into Buffy’s room to check on her. She was sleeping peacefully: slow, steady heartbeat; deep, even breaths. There was no sign of Dawn. He left the room and walked down the hall to Dawn’s room; he turned the knob and peeked inside. She, too, was sleeping. He pulled her door shut as well and went downstairs to help Giles.

~*~*~*~*~

With a frustrated sigh, Spike plopped down in one of the two chairs that were situated in front of the desk. “Anything?” he asked.

Giles looked up from the text he’d been reading and leaned back in his chair. He pulled the glasses from his face, whipped out his handkerchief, and started wiping the lenses as he spoke. “Not really. I was hoping that I would have received word from Wesley by now, so I could start cross-referencing some things. But, nothing as yet, had come across the fax machine.”

Spike frowned.

“How’s Buffy doing?” Giles asked.

“She’s sleeping. The ‘Bit, too. I tried to see if I could find any trace of Buffy’s attacker while we were out patrolling, but nothing. It’s like he just disappeared without—” He stopped abruptly, and stood up. Giles took one look at the serious concentration on Spike’s face and stood up as well. Walking to the cabinet behind him, he reached in and grabbed an evil-looking axe, prepared to do battle. He hefted a sword at Spike. Spike grabbed it and left the office, headed for the front door.

A soft knock sounded just before he reached it to throw the front door wide open. The building was protected by a spell, so he wasn’t too worried about who was outside. But someone knocking on the door at eleven o’clock at night could not be a good sign. With a quick glance at Giles to make sure he was ready, he threw the door open, sword extended menacingly at the figures standing just beyond the door.

Fred’s wide eyes started back at him. “Spike?”

Relaxing his battle stance at the familiar face, Spike pulled the tip of his sword away from her neck and pointed it towards the ground.

“Sorry, pet.” His eyes landed on the faces of the other two people with her. “Hi, Wes… Angel.” Wesley mumbled a hello. Angel didn’t say anything.

“Wesley?” Giles asked, moving closer to the open door.

“Hello, Rupert.” Spike moved aside and allowed them to enter, then rushed up to the second level. He bypassed Buffy’s room and went to Dawn’s. He opened the door and crossed to the bed. then tried to gently shake her awake. “Dawn? Dawn, I need you to wake up for a minute…”

Moaning in her sleep, Dawn attempted to roll over and snuggle deeper into her pillows. Spike picked her up and carried her downstairs.

“Spiiike? What are you doing? Put me down.”

“Sorry, Niblet. We have a guest,” he said. Finally put her down by the front door. “Mind inviting him in?” She threw an exasperated look at Spike, then turned to look at the man standing in her doorway. “Come in.” she grumbled.

A half-smile came to Angel’s lips and he stepped over the threshold as Dawn moved out of the way.

“Can I go back to bed now?”

“Sure, Niblet. Thanks,” Spike replied.

Grumbling, half-asleep, Dawn made her way back upstairs to bed.

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