The
Death
Written by Belle_Joy
Rating: M15+
Pairings: Buffy and Spike
Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing, especially the characters in this story. I'm merely borrowing them for the pure pleasure of messing with their lives.
Buffy (screams): DAWN
Spike whipped his head around when he heard her screaming. He sensed a distinct fear in her voice. In turn this chilled him to the bone with his own fear. He didn’t hesitate any longer when he saw her go running after the police car toward her house; he followed her at a steady pace, but just far enough away so that she didn’t know he was there.
When they reached her yard he saw the police car in the driveway. He stopped cold. She continued into her house. However, from his vantage on the lawn he could see that Dawn was in fact, safe. She was sitting on the lounge staring at the policeman that was talking to her. When Buffy walked in Dawn threw herself into her sister’s arms.
Spike: I wonder what that is all about?
Inside the old hotel it was clear to see that everybody was bored. Both the men were sitting on the couch talking, but not really. The pretty brunette was at the desk seemingly reading but really filing her fingernails. All of a sudden the short, more casually dressed man started to hit himself on the forehead. The other two look up at him in surprise.
Cordelia: Hey, what do you think you are doing? You made me lose concentration; I have now forgotten which finger I was up to.
Angel sent Cordelia a withering look.
Angel: What’s wrong? Have another vision?
Doyle: See, that’s just it. I haven’t had a vision for 2 weeks now, and you can’t tell me that there isn’t evil out there. ‘Cos I know there is, I seen it before.
Angel: Maybe there is nothing going on that is important enough for the Powers That Be to deal with.
Cordelia: And like bashing your skull in is going to help anyway. The PTB aren’t going to respond to torture.
Suddenly Doyle fell backward off the couch and screamed in agony.
Cordelia: Oh, great. I only had one more nail to go to.
In Doyle’s vision we see flashes of Sunnydale. The art gallery where Joyce works, Joyce’s car and then a sudden blinding light and Buffy running home.
Angel leant down toward Doyle and gently lifted his head up. He looked Doyle in the eyes. He didn’t say a word. But from the look on Doyle’s face Angel could tell there was especially bad news.
Doyle: Go, she needs you, her mother is in trouble.
Angel: Will you be ok here by yourself?
Doyle: I am sure me and the princess can handle it.
Angel: Cordy?
Cordelia (still filing her nails): What? Oh, yeah go we’ll be ok.
Angel: I’ll be back as soon as possible
He turned on his heel, grabbed his car keys off the desk and marched out of the room.
Doyle: So princess you wanna go somewhere and have something to eat?
Cordelia: And who would I go with? Oh you. Erm, no I think I’ll paint my nails now.
Doyle looked away hurt.
Back in Sunnydale Spike was still standing outside the Summer’s house. He watched as the policeman spoke for 30 mins to the girls then left. He watched as the girls held onto each other for dear life. He then watched as they fell to the floor sobbing. He watched as Dawn fell asleep in Buffy’s arms exhausted by her tears. It was when Buffy stood up and went into the kitchen and leaned on the bench with her face in her hands obviously crying that he could take it no more. He walked up to the back door that lead into the kitchen and knocked on it quietly so as to not wake the sleeping child.
Buffy sighed. Who the hell could this be? She wondered to herself. If it’s another policeman, she thought, I will not be held accountable for what my actions. Slowly she raised her head and walked to the door. She opened it gently with her eyes closed. Gradually she opened her eyes to face whoever it was on the other side of the door. When she saw who it was, she nearly slammed the door back in his face. He was too quick for her though and stopped it before it shut. He walked in and she took a few steps back. He looked deep into her eyes and she felt he was reading her. Reading everything she was thinking and feeling. She quickly turned her head away.
Buffy: Spike, I am not going to beg you to help me fight the new Demon so please just leave.
Spike: I saw you with the old bill and I was just wondering what the fuss was about.
Buffy: It’s none of your business Spike.
Spike: Then do you care to tell me why you got such red and puffy eyes? Or is that taboo as well?
Buffy: You’re right that is taboo. And you are leaving.
Spike: I heard you in the cemetery screaming for the Nibblet. She alright?
The honesty behind his concern shocked Buffy for a brief second.
Buffy sighed
Buffy: Yes Spike. Dawn is fine. You can see for yourself she is asleep on the couch.
As if he didn’t believe her Spike walked straight past her and checked the place Buffy had said that Dawn would be. Of course he knew she was there but he just had to satisfy himself that she was ok. She looked rather peaceful when he did spy her, well except for the furrow in her brow. He furrowed his own in unison. Before turning around he spoke.
Spike: well if the Nibblet’s all right. What is the problem?
Buffy: I don’t want to talk about it Spike.
Spike: Maybe I can help. I’ve been known to in the past.
Buffy: You never help Spike. You just happen to be there when the good things occur.
Spike: Ok, be like that. Was just offering my help is all.
Spike turned to head out of the house when he spied that the drive way was empty. Confused he turned back around to Buffy.
Spike: Where’s Joyce? Wasn’t she home with Nibblet?
Buffy: Dawn was waiting for Mum to get home. Yes.
Spike raised his eyebrows at her to suggest she hadn’t answered his question. Buffy sighed.
Buffy: Well Spike, she obviously isn’t home. Is she?
Spike: This much I know.
Buffy (yelling angrily): She is not here ok? She just isn’t here. She will never be here. Ever again. You get it now? She is gone. Always. Now will you please leave me alone?
Spike (almost in a whisper): No. Now tell me where she is.
Buffy (screaming): SHE IS DEAD. OK. DEAD.
Spike looked at Buffy with shock and pure horror on his face. He went to reach out to her and she pulled away. He was numb. Joyce was dead. He wondered how it happened. How something could happen to somebody so loving and kind and compassionate. He had always held a soft spot for Joyce. Even before the initiative made him all puppyish. She had always treated him with respect and care. And he tried to be the same toward her. She truly was one of this earth’s great miracles.
He tried to reach out to Buffy but pulled his hand away when she looked deep into his eyes. In them he saw a sorrow so sharp it could have sliced him in two. He kept looking into her eyes trying to let her know that he understood. That he cared and even that he was sad. But she seemed to look through him, away from him. Then as if in slow motion sobs began racking through her. They began in her stomach. He had seen the muscles there begin to move like waves. They then travelled up her body through her shoulders and eventually into her throat and face. It was then she could no longer contain them. She began to fall to the ground as her sobbing made her lose all sense of everything. Instinctively he reached out and caught her before she hit the ground. Slowly he encased her in his arms trying to convey to her that he loved her. He loved her. He did. He cared. But he was not getting through; he doubted if she even knew he was the one holding her. He began to rub her back soothingly and whispering calming words in her ear.
Just then Dawn appeared in the doorway. Her eyes too were rimmed red from the crying. She saw the vampire and her sisters kneeling on the floor and a fresh bout of tears entered her body. Spike looked up and saw her; he saw her take in the scene. She watched her sister sobbing uncontrollably. He saw her own tears begin again. He took his hand off Buffy’s back and held it out to Dawn. She ran blindly forward throwing herself into the vampire’s out stretched arm. She felt it close tightly around her and she let go. She cried for what her life was worth. She cried for her mother. She cried for Buffy and then she cried for herself.
Spike looked down at the sisters that he held in his arms. One had come willingly. The other didn’t even know he was there. It didn’t matter though. He was there for them and he would always be. He made himself that promise right then and there. He then turned his head to the heavens and promised it to Joyce. He would look after her girls, with his whole unlife. His everything. It was then that he felt his own grief get the better of him. He felt first one tear slide down his cold cheek, then another. They kept going until the flow of them was much like that of the Summers girls’ consistent, blinding and heart breaking.
Angel watched from the lawn. He had seen Buffy and Spike arguing. He had witnessed her grief. He saw Spike catch her before she fell. And he saw the love in his kin’s eyes. He shook his head. This was not what Buffy needed right now. Another vampire to go and break her heart. He was about to go up to the house when he saw Dawn enter the room. He watched as Spike said nothing just opened his arms to her. He saw her throw herself at him. It was then he realised that Spike was too much in love with not just Buffy, but the sister, the mother, the whole family. It was then that Angel realised he would have to speak to his kin and convince him to leave the family for their own good. Slowly he turned from the scene before him and headed back to his car.
Gradually the tears in Buffy's heart began to subside. She tried to figure out where she was. It was then she heard the soothing voice. It was telling her not to be afraid, that he was there for her, for them, forever. She took comfort in those words. Something wasn’t right though. She began to feel the coolness of his touch through her shirt. She began to panic. She looked up and straight into eyes of the clearest blue. They contained in them the deepest love and compassion she had ever witnessed. She quickly looked away.
Buffy: I’m sorry.
Spike: Now, now we’ll have none of that.
Buffy: Mum was in a car accident. It was instant. She was on her way home to be with Dawnie. Dawn called the police. That’s when they came. She was so scared.
Spike: Shh... Its ok now, pet. I am here. I will look after you. Look after you both.
Dawn: I miss her already
Buffy: It’s ok Dawnie. We will be ok.
Buffy untangled herself from Spike and Dawn’s arms and began to leave. She then looked down as Dawn wrapped her other hand around the vampire’s neck and held him close. She watched as he tightened his grip and closed his eyes whispering gently into Dawn’s ear all the things she needed to hear. It was at that moment that Buffy realised Spike was now in their lives for good. The strange thing was she felt mostly relieved about that, like it took some of the pressure off her. Then a thought struck her. He was a vampire, a soulless vampire. A deep panic began to work its way through her body. She had to get them away from him, and fast. He was not to be trusted. She reached out and grabbed Dawn around the waist and pulled her back off Spike. She looked him in the eyes.
Buffy: You have done enough now. You can go.
Spike: I would prefer to stay.
Buffy: That is not an option.
Spike: What about Nibblet here? She might like me to stay.
Buffy: That is not her decision.
Spike: Nibblet?
Dawn: Buffy?
Buffy: Go Spike.
Spike sighed. He turned around to leave than stopped and looked Dawn in the eyes.
Spike: If you need me. Or if big sis here does, you let me know. You know where to find me. I will do anything you need. I am here for you. (He turns and looks into Buffy’s eyes) You too pet.
With those final statements he turned on his heel and left. Leaving a bewildered Dawn and an angry Slayer behind him. He sighed. What did I take for that girl to realise he wasn’t evil anymore. He didn’t know. All he knew was that he hurt and they hurt and they should all be together. He sighed again and slowly made his way back to his crypt.
Spike managed to make it to his crypt just as the sun went down. Good, he thought to himself, I’ll get to watch a bit of Passions before bed time. When he turned toward his door he found that it was slightly ajar. Quietly as he could he opened the door further and went inside. He pushed his sadness to the back of his mind and tried to call out menacingly.
Spike: Whoever is in there, I have had a tough night and I am really not in the mood to play hide and seek so get out or get dead.
Angel: Well that is no way to talk to your family now is it?
Spike: Peaches, what are you doing here?
Angel: The PTB sent Doyle a lovely little message about Joyce.
Angel emerged from the shadows and walked up to Spike until he was standing merely inches away from his face.
End of part 2.
