She had just turned off the water when she heard it.

A cry.

Spike.

Wrapping herself in a towel, she rushed through the adjoining door and into her bedroom. The sight tore at her heart.

Curled on his side, the covers were flung away, his upper body completely exposed. She could see the muscles in his shoulders and neck tensing as his head jerked against the pillow. His movements aggravated the stitches which marked the removal of his chip, and blood started to seep through the bandage. His handsome features contorted in pain and anguish.

‘No, not her. Not, no…B-Buffy.’

She didn’t care that her hair dripped onto the sheets and onto his skin. She sat beside him and gently stroked his forehead, willing away the dreams. She gasped in surprise when his eyes flew open and he grasped her hand with an iron grip.

‘I’m right here, Spike. You’re safe.’

‘Buffy.’

He took in her gentle expression, the soft light from the bathroom creating a halo around her towel-clad body. The warmth and care in her eyes. The love.

Love.

Her touch burned the hurt away. ‘I’ve got you. Everything’s okay.’

He reached up and ran the back of a finger along her delicate jaw. ‘Buffy, you glow.’

She gave him a soft smile, but a stabbing pain through his skull robbed him of the moment. He winced with a hiss.

‘Can I do something, for the pain?’

He returned her smile, voice shaky. ‘You already have.’

Another smile and she bent forward to kiss his forehead, but stopped before she made contact. Instead she stroked his cheekbone and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. She pulled back until just their noses touched.

‘Sweet dreams, my Prince.’



end ~