Chapter Thirteen


A/N: Sorry for the slight delay! Hopefully some fluff will make up for it... :-)

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Sometimes, life just had a way of throwing things in the way, of diverting you off on a different course. And life as the Slayer seemed to involve this sort of thing on a daily basis. With reports of new potentials coming in thick and fast, there was barely time to think about a relationship, let alone inform her friends. And she felt bad about it, she really did – she owed it to Spike to come clean.

There just never seemed to be a good time though: there was always some new crisis to deal with. It was either Dawn getting into trouble, or Willow hooking up with one of the Potentials, or – oh yeah – the pending apocalypse. Two days after their reunion of sorts, and she still hadn’t had a chance to talk to her friends. There were two things that made this situation worse: firstly, the fact that Dawn knew and did not hesitate to embarrass her and secondly, the fact that she had to sneak around.

This last was the absolute worst because she had promised Spike – promised herself – that this time would be different and here she was, sneaking down into the basement in the early hours of the morning. Spike was awake and waiting for her as she crept down the stairs and made her way over to the cot, sinking to his side and leaning over to kiss him.



It had been too long already and as soon as their lips touched, she was lost. He reached up and twisted his hand in her hair, drawing her close as she let out a moan. She could feel the desperation in his kiss, mirroring her own and she clutched his shirt, pressing herself close to him. When they finally parted for breath, she clung to him still, savouring his closeness.

“I missed you.”

“Missed you too,” he murmured, brushing his hand over her hair and diving in for another kiss. She clung to him tighter and he dragged her over his lap, lowering her to the bed, his body pressed against hers. He parted from her and his mouth dropped to her neck, causing her to gasp and cling to him even more.

“Spike,” she moaned, her whine drawing his mouth back to hers.

He kissed her passionately, hands skimming over her arms, her shoulders, her waist – driving her mad. With her arms banded around him, she kissed him back just as hungrily, her body yearning for his in a way it hadn’t since they had come together once more.

Their kiss grew feverish and just when she thought she might lose it, he pulled back, supporting himself on his hands and looking down at her with hungry, dark eyes. She touched her hand to his cheek and his expression instantly changed into one of gentle affection, his fingers moving to stroke over her jaw.

“Missed kissing you,” he murmured ever so lowly, a near-pout on his lips.

“I know,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she pressed her forehead to his, her lips grazing his, “I’m sorry.”



He seemed to savour her embrace for a moment, but then he pulled back, shifting to a more comfortable position.

“Nothing to be sorry about.”

“There is!” she protested, “I said I would tell my friends and I haven’t. And now we’re sneaking around and I… I hate it.”

Spike’s cool finger on her lips silenced her momentarily and she was glad to see a smile playing about his lips.

“I hate it too,” he answered softly, his finger tracing her mouth, “You know I do. But it’s not important. I’ve got you, haven’t I?”

His confidence turned so quickly to uncertainty that she almost missed it, but for that look in his eyes – that look she knew so well and had so often ignored.

“You’ve got me,” she whispered, unable to suppress her smile as she leaned up to press her lips to his. She kissed him softly and pulled back to meet his bright gaze. “You should know that by now.”

He raised an eyebrow in protest and she punched him playfully on the shoulder.

“You know I care about you, Spike,” she murmured, blushing with the words.

He made no reply, instead just watching with that soft blue gaze, head tilted to one side.



“Ow,” he murmured a moment later and she frowned in confusion.

“Ow? Well, erm, thanks?”

“Ow,” he repeated, louder this time, his forehead creasing up in pain.

Before she could say anything, he let out a cry, his hand coming to his forehead as he rolled onto his back.

“Spike?” she got out worriedly.

He let out another sharp cry of pain and she sat up quickly, looking down at him in concern as he writhed in pain.

“Spike, what is it?” she got out breathlessly.

“Chip,” he gasped out, a loud scream leaving his lips a moment later as he huddled into himself, the pain ripping through his body. She felt helpless as she watched him in pain and she panicked, not knowing what to do, how to make it better. He let out another cry and she grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly in hers, feeling his weak squeeze in reply.

“Spike?”

Eyes closed, he pinched his nose with his free hand, his forehead wrinkled in pain. The pain seemed to have passed for now and she touched her hand to his temple.

“Are you okay?”

He opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile and she returned with her own, her fingers brushing over his temple.



The door to the basement flew open a few moments later and a loud voice pierced the near-darkness.

“What’s going on?” Dawn called out.

“It’s okay, Dawnie,” Buffy called back, eyes squinting when her sister flicked the light on.

Dawn, it turned out, was not alone and Willow and Xander peered down into the basement warily. Spike let out another cry of pain and Dawn hurried down into the room.

“Is he okay?”

“I’m fine,” Spike choked out after the pain had calmed – but the frown on his face belied his reassuring words.

“It’s the chip,” Buffy explained worriedly, turning her gaze to her friends as they moved down into the basement as well.

“I wasn’t even… I didn’t do anything,” Spike mumbled, his hand held to his forehead.

“So it’s firing by itself?” Willow asked with a frown.

Frowning as well, Buffy trailed her fingers over his shoulder, turning to her friends.

“Will, is there anything you can do?”

“M’fine,” Spike protested, pushing himself into a sitting position, “S’gone already.”

“If it’s messing around, I want it fixed,” Buffy replied firmly, fixing her gaze on his and letting him see her worry before turning back to her friend, “Will?”

“I… I don’t think I could do anything, Buffy. I mean, I don’t know how the chip works and I wouldn’t know how to… how to fix it. It’s way beyond me.”

Obviously seeing Buffy’s disappointed look, Willow chirped up again.

“We’ll find something though. We’ll start looking first thing in the morning.”

Dawn nodded her agreement and Buffy sighed in defeat.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

She threw a worried look at Spike and he forced a smile.



“So, we should get back to bed then,” Xander commented, “Early start on the chip research and all.”

“Good plan,” Dawn agreed with a yawn.

“You guys sleep well,” Buffy replied, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She spotted Xander’s frown when she made no move to leave but thankfully he didn’t comment and after bidding them both goodnight, her friends left. She turned to Spike instantly, her hand reaching up to touch his face.

“Are you okay?” she asked, cutting in before he could answer, “And don’t lie to me.”

He let out a sharp breath and smiled softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Bit of a headache.”

She narrowed her eyes at him but he just smiled and drew her close, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her hair.

“Feel much better already,” he murmured, his voice muffled by her hair.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, sinking into his embrace.

“You scared me,” she mumbled, her face hiding against his chest.

“Sorry.”

She let out a tiny laugh and closed her eyes, relaxing against him.

“Time to sleep,” Spike whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair.

“Sleep is good.”

She slid reluctantly out of his grip and lowered herself to the bed, curling up on her side and smiling as he settled behind her, his arm reaching out to wrap around her waist. She rested her hand on his arm and with a soft smile, let her eyes fall closed.