Protective Instinct


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She woke after a restless sleep and started when she felt the arm locked around her waist. Coming round, she quickly remembered where she was and she let out a little sigh of relief. She had shifted in the night and Spike was now behind her, his arm wrapped tightly around her, his breath stirring the back of her neck. She did not want to think about the way it was making her heart race and so she very delicately pulled out of his embrace and scooted to the edge of the bed. She sat up and let out a long shaky breath, wiping her eyes and wondering what time it was.

“Buffy?”

She jumped at the sound of Spike’s voice and whirled to face him, giving him a shaky smile.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“S’okay,” he murmured, stretching as he sat up slightly, “You alright?”

“I’m okay. I was just wondering what time it is. I feel like I should probably get home.”

“Don’t think it’s morning yet,” he answered, seeming to be concentrating hard.

“You can tell?” she asked curiously, looking around at the thick, dark walls of the caves. There seemed to be no source of light except for the candles which had burnt low in the night.

“Must be a vampire thing,” he murmured with a shrug.

“Oh. Guess that’s quite useful. Means you don’t just stumble outside when the sun’s out.”

“Guess so.”

There was an awkward silence and she turned away, fiddling with her hands.

“You gonna be heading back then?” he asked hesitantly.

“I guess I have to at some point,” she answered with a sigh, “Before they send out a search party.”

He chuckled and with another sigh, she scooted out from under the covers and got to her feet.



She turned back to him and smiled softly.

“Thank you...for last night.”

“No problem.”

She smiled again and ducked down to slip her shoes on. She straightened when she had finished and met his soft gaze again.

“You okay?” he asked gently.

She nodded and gave him a wry smile.

“Time to face the lions, huh?”

He smiled and sat up, locking his arms around his knees.

“So...erm...I guess you’re going to be here all day?”

“Once the sun comes up, I’m stuck.”

“Oh.”

She fell silent, thinking, and then raised her eyes to his once more.

“Maybe you could come back with me.”

He tilted his head, his eyes seeming to burn into her and making her suddenly flush red.

“Well, I mean, if you wanted to... I just don’t like the idea of you being alone all day... and-“

“And the real reason?” he asked with a half-smile.

Her eyes widened and then she gave him a sheepish smile.

“I kinda want the back-up.”

He smiled and began to shift from the bed.

“I don’t want it to be like I’m forcing you or anything…”

“I’m coming, Buffy,” he remarked, flashing her a wide smile, “Can’t leave you to run the gauntlet alone, eh?”

She gave him a small smile and stood waiting as he pulled on his heavy boots and retrieved his long jacket.

“At least you’ll be around if they decide to share their findings.”

She saw his expression darken ever so slightly but he gave her a jerky nod.

“Let’s go then, before it gets too late for me.”



They reached the house in no time and she lingered on the porch for a long time until they had finally ascertained that nobody was up yet and snuck into the house just as the morning sky was starting to be tinged with light. They sank down onto the couch and Buffy let out a long breath, trying to work some of the tension out of her stiff body.

“Why don’t you get some more sleep, pet. It’s still early.”

“I guess,” she murmured, glancing at the couch.

She could feel her body screaming at the idea and with a small smile she sank back against the cushions, curling up into a ball. Spike smiled and leant back at the other end, stretching out his long legs.

After a pause, he turned and picked something from the floor and when he righted himself, she saw he was holding the blanket she had slept under the night before. He handed it to her with a half-smile and she took it gladly, draping it over herself as she got comfortable against the cushions. She kicked off her shoes lazily and curled up once more, her toes just inches from his legs. She shifted her head, already feeling her eyelids fluttering, threatening to close.

“You not sleeping?” she asked sleepily, a sudden yawn seizing her.

“I’ll be fine. Nocturnal and all that.”

“Oh right,” she murmured, nodding.

He chuckled and she gave him a sleepy smile, settling her head against the cushions as her eyes fluttered closed.

“Maybe just a little nap…”



The room was bathed in light when she woke and she stretched lazily, pushing herself up onto her elbows. Before she was even fully awake, she heard voices coming from the kitchen and she focussed on them, their words becoming clearer.

“You got to stop pressuring her. She’s not your Buffy, right? She doesn’t remember you.”

Spike’s voice – and the barely-restrained anger she could hear in it – made her sit up straighter as she strained to hear.

“We’re her friends.”

That was Xander and she swung her legs round and sat up, now entirely fixed on the conversation.

“May well be. But that means bugger all to someone who can’t remember more than two days ago.”

“Look, Spike.” That was Willow now. “Buffy’s our friend and we just worry about her. It’s not like her to stay out all night like that.”

“She just needed a bit of breathing space, alright? Sure you can imagine what she’s going through if you remember back a couple of days.”

“That’s why we’re trying to keep Buffy safe while we try to fix it,” Xander answered lowly.

“Safe? S’that what you call it? Poor girl can barely breathe without having to report back about it.”

“Look, Undead, you’re not a part of this group. We’re only helping you because we’re helping Buffy. Otherwise, you’d be out of here.”

“Xander,” Willow said warningly.



By this point, Buffy had heard enough and she was on her feet, her anger of the night before returning almost instantly. She took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen, more than aware of the tense silence that had settled over the three people in the kitchen.

“Buffy!” Willow piped up as she came into the room and Buffy gave her a weak smile, “How are you feeling?”

She saw Spike give the redhead a sour look and she smiled slightly.

“I’m fine.”

She slid onto a stool close to where the vampire was leaning against the counter and when his eyes finally met hers, she gave him a hesitant smile. She saw the hard lines of his face soften instantly and he relaxed now, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he leant back against the worktop.

“So, what’s the what?” Buffy asked, “Where is everyone?”

“Giles already went to the shop,” Willow explained, “And Dawnie left for school about twenty minutes ago.”

“Oh, wow, it’s Monday. I totally lost track.”

Willow gave her a sympathetic smile that for some reason made her seethe momentarily and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“So, what’s the plan for today?”

“Well… I guess we just hang out,” Willow suggested hesitantly.

“Haven’t you got classes?” Buffy asked pointedly.

“Well, I’m, erm, taking the day off to help you.”

She nodded and glanced at her other friend. He caught her look and smiled widely.

“I’m afraid I’m off to the construction site. No rest for this carpenter.”

“Right. And where’s Tara?”

The two shared an awkward look and Willow turned back to her, her eyes watery.

“She’s staying at her place. She thought maybe you’d like more…more space.”

It was a lie but Buffy nodded anyway, accepting it.



The day was spent doing nothing more strenuous than eating and watching television and once again, being cooped up was not helping her already frayed nerves. When Willow left late in the afternoon, summoned to the shop by a call from Giles, Buffy felt like screaming.

“I feel like hitting something!” she ground out, pacing the floor of her living room as the vampire watched her in a mixture of amusement and bewilderment.

“I hate this! They’re hiding something… more something… and I wish they’d just tell us what the hell is going on because I don’t think I can take this much longer!”

The vampire stepped into her path, stopping her and placing his hands on her shoulders. She raised her gaze hesitantly to his and he smiled softly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Calm down.”

She nodded and took a few long, deep breaths. Spike did not move from his position in front of her, the heavy weight of his hands on her shoulders surprisingly comforting. He slid his hands from her shoulders then and rubbed her arms, drawing her gaze back to his.

“Maybe they’re just trying to protect you,” he soothed.

“Keeping me safe, huh?” she commented and his eyes widened ever so slightly before he gave her a wry smile.

“Heard that, eh?”

“Yeah,” she answered with a nod and a sad smile, “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“Anytime,” he murmured with a soft smile and she let out a little laugh. With a sigh, she leant forward and just rested her forehead against his chest.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she murmured under her breath but she had a feeling he had heard as his hands shifted and he drew her into a loose embrace.