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Unreal Together by dawnofme
 
Good To You
 
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a/n: This and the previous chapters were beta'd by two amazing ladies. Slaymesoftly and Spikesdeb. I am so grateful for all their help with this.

Unreal Together

Chapter Six: Good to You


Faith peered out the window, careful not to open the grungy curtains too wide. The sun was still up and she was starving. She had no money and wondered if Spike or Buffy had any. She turned and looked at them asleep on the bed. They both slept on their backs, fully clothed and on top of the comforter. What had her scratching her head and made her gag at the same time with the sweetness of it, was their hands. They were holding hands while they slept. Yeah, nothing's going on between those two.

She sat on her bed and bounced a little. It was better than the crap thin excuse of a mattress she had in her cell. She gazed at the door and sighed. She could be out there in the sun right now, soaking up the rays. She was as free as a bird, with no one looking for her except maybe more Council thugs. Instead, she was stuck in this room with two sleeping vampires, who gave her the creeps because they didn't breathe. The sound on the TV was muted, but the guests on the Jerry Springer show were shouting and throwing things. She could do Steve's job. She cracked her knuckles.

Faith glanced over at the other bed when she heard movement. She smiled when Spike looked down at his hand entwined with Buffy's; then snorted when he snatched his hand away and scowled at her.

“You got any cash?” Faith asked. “I haven't had anything to eat in a while.”

“Yeah.”

Not yet fully awake, Spike ran his hand through his hair. Without the gel cementing it in place, pretty curls had sprung up. He didn't look dangerous that way. Fumbling around, he searched the jacket and dumped two hands full of quarters in her lap.

“That should do. Go get a bite.” He checked the clock. “You've plenty of time; we leave at sundown.”

~*~*~*~*~

They had maybe fifteen minutes before they would arrive at Buffy's house. Spike stole a glance at Buffy sitting beside him in the passenger seat. She had been awfully quiet for most of the long drive back. He looked in the rear view mirror and noted that Faith had been silent for most of the trip, too. She had spent the better part of her time in the back scratching at the chalky black paint on the windows. His attention was drawn back to Buffy as she wrung her hands in her lap while straining to peek through the paint before giving up and leaning back in her seat again.

“You okay, pet?”

She looked behind her but Faith was ignoring them as she scratched at the paint. “I'm worried about Dawn.”

“She'll get on alright. She's strong like you.” Dawn would probably adjust fine, but it was her initial reaction and what it might do to Buffy that concerned him. He wanted to reach out and squeeze her hand, but he was ever mindful of their passenger in the back. “I need to get this car back to Xander, but if you want, I can stay in the driveway for a few minutes.”

She reached over and placed her hand on his knee. “No. I want you to go in with Faith and break the news to them first. I don't want to just shock them with this.”

He looked down at her pale hand and forced the warmth that he was suddenly feeling to go away. “I'll do anything you want.”

The remainder of the ride was quiet, with each of them wandering in their own thoughts. He turned on to Revello drive and spied Xander standing on Buffy's front porch. When the man spotted his car, he jumped back and ran into the house. Spike was grateful for the blacked out window that blocked Buffy's view. He parked and exchanged looks of dread with both girls before nodding that it was time. Faith and Spike got out at the same time. He rolled his head to crack his neck and tugged on his jacket. He could do this.

Faith knocked and Dawn opened the door. “Hey kid,” the slayer said as she brushed past Dawn.

The girl watched her walk in, with hostile eyes before turning to Spike with a glare. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Nibblet.” He tested the doorway with his hand and stepped into the house when it was clear that no disinvite spell had been done.

Giles narrowed his eyes and took a step back as Spike swept into the living room. He kept an eye on Spike, but addressed Faith. “It's good to see you alive and well, Faith.”

“Yeah, well the cavalry showed up.” She motioned to Spike.

Xander came fumbling into the room from the other direction and tossed a wooden cross at Spike. He ducked in alarm and watched Dawn catch it behind him. She held it to her chest and continued to glare at him. His attention was drawn back to Xander as he tossed a cross to Giles and clutched one for himself in one hand and a small bottle of holy water in the other.

Spike backed out of the room giving Dawn a wide berth. She backed up with him into the entryhall and went up a couple of stairs.

He held out his hands in supplication. “Look, I'm not here to cause trouble. Just droppin off the Slayer for you - and I've got some news.”

Hearing his words, the rest of the gang crowded into the small space. Faith stood close to Spike and gave him an understanding look. He guessed she knew what it was like to be an outsider with this group. He reached back and opened the door wide trying to ignore their glares.

“'m glad you're here, Harris.” He tossed him the keys to the car. “Saves me a trip.” Xander dropped the bottle to catch the keys and it shattered on the wood floor.

Dawn looked past Spike and her eyes got big. “Buffy!”

Buffy took a step towards her sister and bounced back in shock. She rubbed her face and put her hands out in horrific wonder. It was a tragic mime routine and Spike's heart broke for her.

“She needs an invite, 'Bit.”

“Oh, dear Lord!” Giles clutched his cross to his chest while stumbling back a few steps. Buffy's eyes were wide and wet, but she held back the tears.

Xander's shoulders dropped. He hung his head and leaned on the wall for support.

Faith hopped on one foot and then the other, looking ready to bolt. “Invite her in, Dawn. She's your sister, for God's sake.”

“Wait!” Giles said in alarm.

Buffy looked imploringly at Spike and then at her sister. Dawn went down the steps and stood by Spike; the fear of an unchipped vampire forgotten in her shock.

“She won't hurt us?” Her voice was soft and uncertain, her eyes wet as she struggled to deal with the nightmare. Her sister was dead. Evil maybe. The little girl inside her sought reassurance from her one time best friend.

Buffy closed her eyes and one tear escaped. She opened them and stared at Dawn, trying to talk but nothing came out.

“She has a soul, pet. She won't hurt you.” Spike spoke softly, never taking his eyes from Buffy.

“Come in.”

Buffy took one step into the entry hall and Dawn took one step back. Faith pushed past Giles and Xander, wiping at her eyes and mumbling something about needing the bathroom. Buffy stood tall and rigid; her hands clenched in tight fists at her sides.

“You bastard!” Xander said as he pushed against the wall and came towards Spike, pointing a finger and holding the cross out at him. “You did this to her.”

Spike had seen Giles become Ripper a few times, and like most of those times, his fellow Brit's anger was directed at him. “If you did this--”

“No!” Faith said as she pushed her way back into the entry hall. “He has a soul, too.”

Xander still had the cross held out inches from his chest. Spike grabbed it. They all watched as his hand slowly wrapped around the cross. A faint sizzling sound filled the room and the tiniest bit of gray smoke floated away from the wooden symbol. Xander released his hold on it and looked down as Spike used his other hand to pull at the pocket on Xander's flannel shirt and jam the cross in it. The vampire gave the pocket a firm pat before stepping back in satisfaction.

Dawn let out a sob and his moment of triumph was forgotten. Tears rolled unbidden down her face while she pushed a lock of hair behind an ear. “Then who did this to you?”

Buffy's knees buckled and Spike was at her side in a flash to catch her. She buried her face in his jacket and gripped the leather as if she'd float away if she let go. He watched her friends and was relieved to see that each one of them looked concerned for her.

Dawn put her hand out and touched Buffy on the shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Buffy couldn't face her, instead she looked into Spike's eyes and whispered, “I can't- Please, can we just go?”

He nodded and tightened his hold on her. He glared at the group, daring them to protest. “We'll come back tomorrow night.”

Buffy stared at Dawn, with wide eyes. "I'm sorry."

Still embracing Buffy, he turned them, walked out the door and awkwardly stepped down the porch steps. They got as far as the sidewalk before her knees buckled again. He swept her up, and she held on tight as he raced back to his crypt.

When he reached the cemetery, Buffy struggled to get down. Spike kept his arm around her shoulders as they walked the rest of the way to the crypt in silence.

Buffy hunched up in his easy chair with her elbows on her thighs, her head down resting in her open hands. In the kitchen, he poured them both some blood and a couple of shots of bourbon. Spike placed the glasses on the end table and bent down in front of her. She gazed up at him with sad eyes. With determination, he smoothed her hair out her face and gently grasped her head in his hands.

“It's going to be alright. It's going...to be...alright.”

Relief washed over him when she sat up straighter. He stood and handed her the blood. She downed it and held the empty cup out. Spike replaced it with the shot glass and he smiled when she downed that, too.

She watched him drink his cup of blood after he downed his own shot glass. He was feeling a little self-conscious under the weight of her stare. He got up, gathered the glasses, and put them away for washing later. Buffy followed him, and when he turned around, they were only inches apart.

Spike tracked the direction of her hand with his eyes as she reached out and touched his arm. “I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come back when you did.”

“You are amazingly strong and you would have done just as well without me; but I'm glad I came back, too.”

She absently rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “I lost it tonight. I couldn't get it together.”

“You've been through so much.” He leaned in, kissed her on the forehead, and then rested his head against hers. “I want to take it all away for you. Make it better. That or go kill something.”

She let out a short laugh and sighed as she pulled back to look him in the eyes. “Just being here with you makes it easier.”

When she leaned in to kiss him, he thought that he had to be dreaming. The kiss started out tender but, as always, their coming together was electrifying. They were soon pressed together, their bodies straining for more. Her hands found their way inside his shirt, where she ran her fingers eagerly over his bare skin. His head buzzed with the intensity of her obvious need.

Spike pulled away from her with a groan, thinking about what she really needed. “We have to stop.”

Even though the fire was still blazing in her eyes, she dropped her arms to her sides, taking a step back. “You're right. I'm sorry. I understand.”

He pulled her back into his arms and embraced her again. “I don't think you do,” he said into her hair. “I want you so bad right now that it's taking every thing I have to control myself.”

Putting her arms around him, Buffy hugged him back, resting her head on his chest as he spoke on.

“I told you once that I'll always want you, and nothing's changed. 'cept maybe the fact I love you more now than I ever did.”

She leaned back to looked at him and smiled sadly. “Well, I've definitely changed.”

Spike shrugged. “Whether you have a heart beat or not makes no bloody difference to me. You are still Buffy, and I'd still do anything for you. Anything except help you self-destruct. You've been through bloody mayhem and the last thing you need is me taking advantage.”

Buffy snorted. “I'm not self destructing. Hell, I'm a vampire. I think all the destruction has been done.”

“You'd be surprised at how much torture a vampire can put himself through.”

“You mean like falling in love with the one person who was chosen to slay his kind?” she said playfully.

Spike grinned and nodded in acknowledgment. “It's in my nature to go against the grain.” Spike said it proudly and took her head in his hands so he could admire her beautiful face. Such sweet torture. “Will you let me be good to you?”

 
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