Two vamps, a girl, and a prophecy

Summary: What happens to Spike after ‘Not Fade Away.’
Rating: NC-17 Explicit sexual descriptions (later on), some language.
Pairings: Dawn/Spike, with a small side of Buffy/Xander.
Feedback: Yes, please. This is my first time posting a fic, so be gentle!
Archive? : Ask me first.
Beta: I need one!
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em. I’m just borrowing them for a while since Joss isn’t using them anymore. If I was making any money off of this, I would own a much better laptop!!!

Chapter 11

Finally regaining a modicum of control, Dawn pushed away from the wall and wandered into the living room. Giles was on the phone, talking spiritedly about some kind of elixir, but put his hand over the mouthpiece when she entered. “Willow needs you.” Dawn murmured dully, not wanting to go into detail. Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and headed for her own room.

When she walked in, Buffy was wrapping a bandage around her wrist. To her surprise, Xander was sitting on the bed beside Spike, with his hand on the vampire’s shoulder. She cleared her throat, and the trio looked up at her expectantly. “Um, Angel’s better. You should go see…” She nodded her head at Buffy and Xander in turn. “It’s, uh, pretty miraculous, I guess.”

“Better?” Buffy raised an eyebrow questioningly. “How much better?”

“Healed,” Dawn shrugged casually. “Completely, I think. Willow is all… beside herself about it.”

Buffy and Xander exchanged bewildered looks, but Spike looked discerningly at Dawn, pinning her with his gaze. “Um, I guess we should go check that out.” Xander mumbled, shrugging questioningly at Buffy.

Buffy cocked an eyebrow at Dawn, but turned and nodded agreeably at Xander, and they left the room without the interrogation Dawn had dreaded. As soon as they were gone, Dawn closed the door behind them, leaning against it and letting out a loud sigh of relief.

“What’s up, Bit?” Spike asked suspiciously. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, and believe me, I’m very well acquainted with that particular expression.” He tapped the side of his nose, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

“Hey, Spike,” She smiled worriedly at him. “How are you feeling?”

Spike sighed. “Not good.” He admitted quietly. “Buffy gave me some more of her blood, but I threw up.”

“Oh no!” Dawn moaned. Sitting on the bed, she felt his forehead and winced. “You’re hot.”

“So I’ve been told,” Spike teased, pressing his tongue against his teeth and wiggling his eyebrows at her.

“Well, you’re still obnoxious, so that’s a good sign,” Dawn winked. Sliding her hand down a bit, she lightly caressed his cheek. She’d always thought his highly defined cheekbones were extremely sexy, but now…now he just reminded her of a documentary she had seen once about an anorexic girl. The girl had died at the end of the show. Shaking her head to clear the image from her mind, she bit her lip sharply, desperately fighting back the urge to throw herself at him and break down in tears. When she felt like she could speak again, she asked, “Did you show…it…to anyone else?” She glanced down at his upper stomach.

“No, Buffy and Xander have been the only ones to come in here, and they were too busy making lovey-dovey eyes at each other to pay much attention to me.” He shook his head slightly, then turned to stare out the window. Which was funny, what with the curtains being closed and all.

Dawn narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. Xander, at least, had obviously spared a moment or two for the vampire before she’d come in. She wondered if Spike realized how obvious he was making it that he was afraid, or if he was still in denial about the seriousness of his condition. “I’m gonna go get Willow and Angel to come try to give you some more blood,” She announced, standing up.

“Angel’s really better?” Spike asked, turning to her and cocking his head to the side. Even in his nearly skeletal state, Dawn found the gesture completely adorable, and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to run her fingers through his messy blond curls. Spike smiled affectionately at her and placed his hand over hers, holding it there as he pressed his head more firmly against her palm.

“He’s all better…good as new,” She confirmed, smiling when his eyes lit up at the news.

“How?” Spike’s eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline in shock. “Bloke was a french fry last night!”

“Um…we healed him,” Dawn shrugged. “It’s a long story. Apparently the Key energy can be used to heal.” She gestured vaguely at herself as she spoke. Sighing she admitted, “I’m not really sure how it works, but Willow suggested we try to heal him magically, and it actually worked really well.”

“Magic? You’re doing magic now, too?” Spike looked at her skeptically. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to get into that stuff? You saw what happened to Red.”

“I didn’t do it, I just let her siphon the energy from me,” Dawn rushed to assure him. “I wouldn’t mess around with that stuff.”

Spike still looked a little dubious for a moment, but then he tilted his head to one side again. “Do you think…do you think you two could heal me, too?” He asked hesitantly.

“I don’t know, but of course I want to try, Spike!” Dawn smiled, lovingly caressing his cheek again. “I’d do anything for you.” Her voice lowered to a quiet murmur as the truth of her own words hit her, and she had to take a deep breath to fight back the tears suddenly blurring her vision. She turned away from him, hiding her face. “I’m going to go get Willow…”

“Dawn!” Spike spoke sharply and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down on the bed before she could walk away. “Thank you. For what you did for Angel. I’ve been so worried about him.” His eyes swam with tears, and Dawn felt her control slipping.

“What’s going on with you two?” She asked quietly, despite herself.

“He’s my Sire,” He shrugged dismissively, swiping a hand across his eyes.

“You said that already. It doesn’t really explain a whole lot,” Dawn sighed frustratedly. She knew that the two vampires’ relationship had been a lot more…colorful in the past than either of them would ever admit, now. She knew as well as the other Scoobies where Giles hid the interesting books…the books with all the really juicy information about various demons’ mating rituals, and the especially revealing journal of a Watcher who had somehow infiltrated a ‘party’ attended by the ‘Scourge of Europe’ a few years before Angel had been cursed. Party…orgy, back then it was all the same to Angelus and William the Bloody, apparently. Part of her desperately needed to know if the two had somehow rekindled that aspect of their relationship; which seemed likely, considering how concerned they were with each other’s well being. Suddenly, she hoped he wouldn’t answer. She couldn’t bear the thought of standing by again, watching Spike fawn all over someone else. Better to put off the inevitable for as long as possible. “Wait, I don’t want to know!” She blurted quickly, trying to pull away.

Spike cocked an eyebrow at her questioningly, catching her eye and gazing intently at her for what seemed like hours. “Why do you care what’s going on with Angel and I, Luv?” He whispered finally, reaching up and cupping the back of her head tenderly.

Dawn stared at him, unable to look away, and wondered if she was imagining the barely concealed emotion in his eyes. Suddenly, Spike leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle, but not entirely chaste kiss. His slightly dry lips brushed across hers repeatedly, before he tilted his head and pulled her firmly against him. Then, his tongue flicked out for a moment, grazing the crease of her lips. “Spike?” She gasped, pressing her fingertips to her lips when he slowly pulled away. “Why?” If he said it didn’t mean anything, she swore she was just going to die of frustration, right there on the spot.

“Sorry,” Spike grinned, looking anything but apologetic. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since you walked in last night.” He ducked his head, then looked up at her shyly. “I was expecting my little Bit, and opened the door to see…the most beautiful woman…you’re so beautiful, Dawn.” He declared quietly, and shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Dawn swallowed hard, her head swimming and her breath catching painfully in her throat. She could feel a ridiculously goofy smile spreading across her face, and Spike grinned in return. “Um, uh…thank you?” Scrambling to her feet, she backed quickly to the door. “I’m gonna go get Willow, and…and…Willow…I’m gonna get Willow!” She babbled inanely, feeling like her face was going to crack wide open.

Spike smirked shamelessly and pressed his tongue to the back of his teeth. “You do that, Pet. I’ll wait for you.” Dawn turned to leave, and he called out, “Dawn…Angel and I are trying to put the past behind us. Bury the hatchet. That’s all.” Dawn turned her head, smiling demurely over her shoulder, and Spike chuckled and winked mischievously. Dawn finally regained full control of her facial muscles. She smirked back at him and shot him a quick wink of her own before she gracefully slipped out the door.

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