Betad by Carol and dawnofme


Banner by dawnofme


Disclaimer: the characters do not belong to me - they are used purely for fun and not fiancial gain









Chapter Forty


They’re Out!


Matt took Dawn back upstairs and into her bedroom where he’d slept that night. He’d kept his arm around her shoulder as they’d walked up the stairs, and he had to admit he’d liked the way she leaned in to him.


“Everything will be all right, Dawn,” he said as they sat on the bed.


“But, poor Giles! It hurt Spike badly and he’s so much stronger than him.” Dawn sobbed. “I can’t believe Willow has done it on purpose. It must have just been a mistake; that’s why he woke up too soon.”


She turned and rested her head on his shoulder. Matt put his arms around her and tried to soothe her.


“Spike said Giles will be okay, and I know I haven’t known him long, but I don’t think he’d lie to you Dawn, I really don’t.”


“I know, but it’s just that we’ve all been through so much. I really thought it would be over. That the pain was over for everyone.”


“It’s tough, Dawn, but be strong. Things will get better,” reassured Matt.


Dawn looked up at him, eyes huge and still glistening with tears. “I hope so.”


He stared at her. God, he wanted to kiss her so much, but now wasn’t the time. Not only did she barely know him, but also it would be taking advantage of her distress. He stood up abruptly.


“You must be hungry. Stay here and I’ll go and get us some breakfast and a hot drink, okay?”


He left the room before she could reply.


“Come on, Matt – get a grip – it’s not like you’ve never seen a pretty girl before, for God’s sake.”


He looked in at Giles and Spike.


“How’s he doing?”


Spike looked up at Matt. “Holding his own, I think. It’s hard to tell.”


Matt looked at Giles who, although still trembling, was now silent. “He’s quiet now. That’s got to be a good thing, right?”


Spike shook his head, “Not so sure. I think that the poor git’s too exhausted to make any sound.”


“How long will it last before the bug’s out of him? Is it really a bug?” Matt grimaced.


“The pain will last for about an hour once the Bug has been expelled. That should be happening any second, I think. Yeah, it’s a beetle-like creature called a Lorac Bug. Apparently the thing comes out alive and kicking; Buffy stamped on the one that came out of me.”


“God, this is so weird. I still can’t get my head round it,” said Matt.


Spike smiled at him. “Hang around here long enough, mate, and you’ll get used to it. Can you let me know how Buffy’s doing before you go back up?”


“Yeah, will do,” said Matt, leaving the room. He could hardly look at the prone figure on the floor. He couldn’t believe he’d been part of an organisation that was capable of such things. He hoped that he and Spike had managed to close the place down.


Willow was sitting on the stool near Buffy when Matt got down into the basement.


“Everything okay? Spike asked me to find out how Buffy is.”


“Yes, she’s fine, Matt,” Willow replied.


Matt looked at Buffy curiously – it was the first time he’d seen Dawn’s big sister. They weren’t really very much alike, he thought, as he stared at her.


“Um…well, I’ll go and let Spike know and get Dawn something to eat,” said Matt, hurrying back upstairs. He didn’t know which was creepier, watching poor Giles suffering or watching Buffy in her magically induced sleep. He’d just got back into the kitchen when he heard Spike shouting.


“What the f—? Bleeding hell!


Matt raced to the room just in time to see Spike fall over.


“Quick! Get it!” yelled Spike pointing to the floor several feet in front of Matt.


Matt’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the Lorac Bug scuttling across the carpet. He leapt towards it bringing his foot down on it as hard as he could.


“Ugh!” he groaned as the creature squelched beneath his bare foot. “Jesus,” he said with feeling when he lifted up his foot and it was stuck to the sole. He flicked it off with his index finger.


He looked at Spike, who was still on the floor, then glanced at Giles.


“Oh, my God!” He rushed towards him. “Spike, look!”


Spike turned around and saw blood pouring from the wound on Giles’ neck. He crawled quickly to him, features morphing into his demonic ones as he lunged at Giles’ neck.


“Spike! What are you doing?” yelled Matt. “Christ, he’s out of control! He’s going to eat him!”


Spike glanced back at Matt and snarled, mouth covered in blood. Matt took an involuntary step back then gritted his teeth and grabbed Spike by the shoulders and pulled him away. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but to his relief Spike’s face was normal again. Before he could speak Spike pointed to Giles. Matt looked at the wound in amazement – it had totally sealed over – not even a drop of blood was now leaking out.


“Vampire saliva,” said Spike. “Useful stuff.”


Matt’s eyes returned to Spike.


“Um…er…sorry about that…I…er…thought you were…um…” His voice trailed away.


“’S okay. I know what you’re thinking but I didn’t have time to tell you first,” said Spike.


“Are you all right? You didn’t hurt your leg when you fell?”


“I’m fine. Wish that Willow had warned me that the little sod was going to jump up in the air when it came out,” replied Spike, taking the offered hand and getting to his feet.


He tested his injured leg and was pleased that it felt no worse.


“I’ve got to get to Buffy. Her Bug must be ready to jump out, too.” He limped as quickly as he could to the basement.


“What about him?” asked Matt, pointing at Giles who was laid trembling on the floor.


“I think he’ll be okay for a minute. Go back to Dawn and don’t tell her about the bleeding, it’ll only make her afraid for Buffy.”


Ooooooo


Willow couldn’t meet Spike’s eye as he stood next to the two girls. It suited Spike fine, as he really didn’t know what to think of her just now. Buffy moved in her sleep, body tensing.


“Get ready, Willow, it’s gonna…”


The creature emerged from Buffy’s neck. Willow caught it neatly about a foot away from its exit wound. She threw it to the floor and squashed it with the head of an axe.


“…come out.” finished Spike.


He lowered himself next to Buffy and licked the rapidly bleeding wound. A thrill went through his body as he once more tasted his lover’s blood. He concentrated on the job at hand and closed the wound. He heard Willow gasp as she saw him at Buffy’s throat, and he looked at her still in vampire mode, daring her to say anything about it.


“How did you know it was going to bleed like that?” she asked.


“Giles,” answered Spike succinctly, letting his features fade. “Least you got the expulsion part right.”


Willow paled. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”


“Not me you need to apologise to,” said Spike. “Let me know when she’s awake. I’d better get back to Giles.”


“You stay here,” said Willow. “I’ll watch over Giles.”


“Just let me know when she’s awake,” repeated Spike, and he returned to the lounge.


To be continued…