Throughout S4 and early S5, Spike had helped the Scoobies in exchange of money and blood. But then it kind of seemed to stop, I read a cut dialog from Checkpoint (episode where the council arrived to Sunnydale):

BUFFY
I need an answer. Now. In or out, Spike?
(beat)
You're... the only one strong enough to
protect them.

Spike's eyes narrow.

SPIKE
What's in it for me? Mind, I've seen
what your gratitude's like. I still
prefer the Benjamins.

BUFFY
I'll find the money.
(then)
I can't handle this alone.


I guess they cut it because of the time and they expected that fans would keep in mind that Spike is gonna get paid for it. But paying Spike money was never mentioned in S6, unless the dialog was also cut, when do you think he stopped asking for money? And shouldn't that have affected the way the Scoobies think of Spike?

I suspect he stopped asking for money as soon as he realized he was in love with Buffy - or , even more likely, once he knew that she knew. His pride would probably keep him pretending he was helping her for money up until that point.
I don't think it gets mentioned again because she wasn't paying him once he'd really begun helping.  It's possible that the Scoobies or Giles were paying him in between seasons when he patrolled with them, but I can't remember it ever being mentioned.  Maybe by that time it was just assumed he would be.

I'd really love if there was a scene in S6 before Buffy was brought back where Giles would hand Spike the money and he would just brush it off, saying that he's not in it for the money anymore.

That would have been a nice touch.

That would have been a nice touch! Too bad it didn't occur to anyone...

Though "Triangle" precedes "Checkpoint," I'd say he'd seriously stopped asking for money around then.

From Checkpoint:

_{BUFFY: Spike ... why did you do that?
SPIKE: Not for money, if that's what you're thinking. Your heartfelt gratitude's plenty. (stops grinning) I expect I'll be getting that any moment.
BUFFY: Gratitude. For getting in my way?
SPIKE: Ge-getting in your way? I saved you.
BUFFY: I was regrouping.
SPIKE: You were about to be regrouped into separate piles. You needed help.
BUFFY: I didn't need you. I never need you, Spike.}

and then

_{SPIKE: (surprised) So, what's with the family outing?
BUFFY: (quietly, walking up close to him) I need your help.
SPIKE: Great. I need your cash.
BUFFY: I'm serious. (even more quietly) You have to look after them.
SPIKE: Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere. What's the matter, Slayer? You're not feeling a hundred percent?
BUFFY: (frowns) No.
SPIKE: (frowns) They didn't put a chip in your head, did they?
BUFFY: No!
SPIKE: Be funny if they did.
BUFFY: (annoyed) Spike, I need an answer. Now. In or out? (quietly) You're the only one strong enough to protect them.
SPIKE: (looks at her for a moment) All right then.}

He mentions the cash at the beginning of this exchange.  I'm guessing the cut dialogue was reworked, cause it wouldn't make sense for him to mention it twice.  Especially since he tries to put emphasis on his whole "just being there to help" is really just, well, being there to help.  I think when he asks her for money in "Checkpoint," he was clearly joking about it.  Or trying to save face.  He didn't care about it.  Well at least, he didn't care about Buffy's money.  And, I don't think he really patrolled with them until after Buffy's death....

and in "Triangle,"

_{BUFFY: What are you doing?
SPIKE: Making this woman more comfortable. (looks up at Buffy) I'm not sampling, I'll have you know. (looks around) Just look at all these lovely blood-covered people. I could, but not a taste for Spike, not a lick. Know you wouldn't like it.
BUFFY: (amazed) You want credit for not feeding on bleeding disaster victims?
SPIKE: Well, yeah.
BUFFY: You're disgusting. (Walks away)
Spike looks after her in disbelief.
SPIKE: (to himself) What's it take? (sighs, continues helping the injured woman)}

He's still worried about Buffy "holding grudges," as he tells Xander.  He's a fool in love, not worried about money.   And then later, he's trying to win the Scoobies over again, after the "Crush" incident.  I doubt he'd still be bugging them about money, especially during (or post) the whole Glory debacle.

BUFFY: (quietly, walking up close to him) I need your help. SPIKE: Great. I need your cash.

I believe that's the last time money is mentioned.  If I'm wrong, please correct me; I'm too lazy to pour through the transcripts right now :-P  But, if I'm right, notice that the last time Spike mentions money is the first time that Buffy goes to him specifically for help.  She'd just found Glory in her house, and she's freaked out about protecting Joyce and Dawn.  She goes to him so that he can protect them when she has to be elsewhere.  This is before "Crush," so she doesn't yet know that he's in love with her.

...which means that Spike was still shacking up with Harmony...Why am I just now realizing that?  Why the HELL would Buffy take her family to Spike when there was a chance that Harmony would show up?  Anybody else think that's weird?  I mean, Spike has a chip, so he couldn't hurt them even if he wanted to; but Harmony has nothing hindering her, other than her own incompetence, that is.  The only one that could stop Harmony in Buffy's absence would be Spike.  Why would Buffy assume that he would?  Obviously, she trusts him to a certain extent at this point, but exactly how much does she trust him?  Just seems odd to me.

:shakes head: I think about this show waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

:shakes head: I think about this show waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.
You're not alone clearly, lol.

And you bring up a good point.  Buffy clearly trusts Spike.  Sure she's all lone wolf when she patrols, but when it comes to her family, she's always knocking down his door.  I think she realizes he has a fondness for her mom and Dawn, so it's not too surprising.  As for Harmony, well yeah, Spike would put her down if she tried to mess with Dawn and Joyce in his presence, no question.  But the thing of it is, she had no real interest in hurting Dawn when she did have her in her clutches.  All she wanted to do was use her as bait.  Personally, I don't think that Harmony would hurt them.  Why?  :shrug: but it just doesn't come off as her style, as strange as her style is..

Also, I found it strange that in "Blood Ties," when they were searching for Dawn, that she paired herself with Spike.  I mean, wouldn't it have been a good idea to split up the two strongest people and trackers in the group?  Just saying...

Also, I found it strange that in "Blood Ties," when they were searching for Dawn, that she paired herself with Spike. I mean, wouldn't it have been a good idea to split up the two strongest people and trackers in the group? Just saying...

I watched that episode just the other day, and I TOTALLY had the same thought!  I suppose she figured Spike didn't get along with anyone else as well as he did with her, which admittedly, was the kind of along that was not.  But, hey, it was still better than, say, with Xander or Giles.  Also, if she hadn't paired up with Spike, we wouldn't have gotten that touching moment where he's all supportive and "You'll find her."  I love that part :happy:

Also, I found it strange that in "Blood Ties," when they were searching for Dawn, that she paired herself with Spike. 

Spike just appears in the Magic Box.  Why is he there?  Obviously Buffy went to get him and brought him there.  No one else would have gone to get him. 

Also, I don't think Spike asks for cash after Buffy brings him her mother and Dawn to protect because she butters him up a little, tells him he's the only one strong enough, etc., and makes him feel a little bit worthy and needed for once. 

Spike wouldnt want to take money from Buffy after he had started courting her. Like he said, her gratitude was enough.

and it doesnt seem like he needs them either, he had his own ways of making money. I suppose his daily income would come from mugging poeple, like he tried to do to Anya. And who knows if the time Buffy caught him in AYW was the first time he had been into fetching and selling dangerous commodities?