Nocturnal Bravura

Let The Lessons Begin





The next night William patrolled the cemetery with Willow.



“Will you have been awfully distant lately.” Willow said.



“Sorry Red, I have had a lot on my mind.” William said smiling at his friend.



“You’ve been thinking a lot of Lizzie.” Willow said quietly.



William stopped his face turned paler than normal.



Willow put up her hands.



“Oh Gosh no I haven’t been up in your noggin or anything I just can tell. You always think about her around this time of year.” Willow explained.



William sat down on a stone bench.



“You guys were awfully close.” Willow said.



“She was my... she was my best friend.” William said.



“I know Will. She was my friend too. Sometimes I wonder if she hadn‘t died what kind of Scooby would she have been.” Willow said.



“NO!” William snapped.



“She would have never been a Scooby. She didn’t know. She would have never known.” William said standing up.



Willow looked at her friend a bit afraid.



“Calm down Will.” Willow pleaded.



William closed his eyes.



“I’m sorry.” He said calmly.



“You don’t think you could have trusted her Will? I mean you trusted Dawn.” Willow argued.



“It’s not that Red. It’s just Lizzie. She was different....fragile.” William whispered.



“I know Will. Everyone did in the end.” Willow said biting her lip.



“Spike never wanted her to know. It was the one thing we actually agreed on back then.” William chuckled.



“It was weird back then. You guys were either at each other’s throats or huddled in a corner somewhere conspiring.” Willow teased.



William laughed.



“I know....”



FLASHBACK



__________________________________________________________________



THWACK!



“Oh BLOODY HELL!” Spike yelled grabbing his nose.



William stood there his fist in the air.



Jenny looked at Spike and frowned.



“What just happened?” She asked.



Spike and William relaxed.



“I over compensated. Lost my balance, Will got a good shot in.” Spike answered.



Jenny nodded.



The three of them stood in their basement. Now a fully equipped Slaying training arena. The Council had agreed to reinstate Rupert as Spike’s Watcher they knew the boy had a volatile temper anyone they would have sent he would have disregarded. Not that his relationship with his father was the best either. In fact the only person he really listened to was William. William however was still being groomed for his role as a Watcher. So with the help and knowledge of his mother Rupert began to teach Spike about his role.



Spike was a quick learner. He adapted to his role well physically but mentally he lacked focus. He was too impulsive and emotional at times. A few times Rupert worried what would have happened if William had not accompanied him on patrol.



William for his part adapted quite well to his role. He had always been patient and disciplined. He took to his lessons with enthusiasm at times going so far ahead that Rupert would have to have William train with his brother in order to get a lesson plan together.



“All right enough sparring today.” Jenny announced.



Spike looked relieved while William looked concerned.



“We have not been going at this very long.” William said.



“Speak for yourself. I didn’t get home until 4:00am in the morning last night then I had to go to school. I’d say I have had quite enough.” Spike announced sitting down.



William shot his brother a knowing glare.



He knew although Spike had not gotten home until 4:00 am he stopped patrolling at 2:30. He knew because that was the time that his clock said when he watched his brother climb into Lizzie’s window.



William never said anything to his parents. Mostly because Spike was a very efficient Slayer we would dust rising vampires easily. He was very in tuned with his Slayer senses. He always got the job done and quickly.



William also did not say anything to his parents also because he knew his brother was still ill at ease with his role and when he was with Lizzie he was happy and at peace. So was she. It killed William but he knew that was the way things were.



They heard someone running upstairs.



“JENNY!” They all heard Dawn scream for above them.



Spike bolted from his spot first. William watched as his brother blurred past him. Before Jenny and William turned around Spike was already up the stairs.



Spike opened the door to the living room only to see Dawn shaking.



“What’s wrong Bit?” Spike asked.



“My.. my Mom she just had a seizure.” Dawn explained.



“Lizzie is with her we are waiting for the paramedics.” Dawn said breathless.



Spike ran over to the Summer’s house with Dawn, Jenny and William followed behind him.



William held Dawnie’s hand.



“Wow he can sure run fast.” Dawn observed.



“Damn Spike watch that.” William thought.



Dawn was very observant. Spike ran so fast that if they were not running to he would have looked like the blur he did in the basement.



Spike got there and saw Lizzie sitting on the floor cradling her shaking mother. Lizzie rocked her back and forth looking up at Spike with fear in her eyes.



Spike walked over to Lizzie and picked up Joyce. He laid her on the couch and then retrieved Lizzie. Lizzie clung to Spike like her life depended on it.



Jenny, William and Dawn entered the house.



Jenny ran over to Joyce checking to make sure she was o.k.



“She’s all right. But I think she should go to the hospital.” Jenny announced.

Lizzie buried her face in Spike’s chest.



Spike felt his shirt dampening from Lizzie tears.



“It will be o.k. Luv.” He whispered.



Both families sat in the emergency room waiting room. Buffy laid her head on Spike shoulder while Dawn laid asleep on her lap.



The doctor walked into the room.



Lizzie tapped her sister awake.



Dawn snapped up looking at her sister.



Both girls stood and walked over to the doctor.



“I’m sorry your mother has another tumor it has settled in head ,the outer part of her brain.” He said quietly.



Lizzie leaned back knowing Spike was standing right behind her.



Spike wrapped his arms around her.



Dawn began to cry. William took her in his arms.



“Wh..what do we do now?” Lizzie asked trying to be brave.



“She’ll stay here tonight. The tomorrow we will go in take a look and try to relieve the pressure.” He announced.



“Can we stay with her tonight?” Spike asked.



“We will arrange for a private room.” The doctor offered.



“Thank you.” Spike said.



Jenny and Rupert exchanged a look.



“The girls can go in and see her now she is resting.” The doctor said.



Lizzie took Dawn from William. She smiled down at her.



“Come on now we have to be strong for Mom.” Lizzie said wiping her sister’s tears away.



Lizzie looked up at Spike.



“I will be here.” He promised.



The two girls left.



Spike watched them then looked at his parents.



“I saw that look. Don’t even think about telling me I have to go patrol tonight.” Spike said.



“Son, I know you want to be here for the girls but we got a report of a lot of demon activity on the east side of town. We think there is a nest.” Rupert explained.



“It will have to wait until tomorrow.” Spike said.



“Really Da you can’t expect him to go tonight. Lizzie needs him here.” William interjected.



“She will need Spike here more tomorrow after Joyce is out of surgery if he goes tonight tomorrow will not be an issue.” Rupert said.



“No I am not leaving her!” Spike yelled.



“Son keep your voice down.” Jenny pleaded.



“The hell I won’t! I told you all of you Lizzie comes first. Before any of this Slayer crap. I will not go!” Spike said.



William thought about his parents logic sadly it made sense.



“Spike, as much as I hate to admit it. They are right. If you take care of this now then we won’t have to worry about it later.” William said.



“This is unbelievable.” Spike said.



“Son you have a responsibility...” Rupert started.



“Don’t go there Da.” Spike warned.



“I’ll go with you.” William offered.



Spike continued to stare at his father.



“No, you’ll stay here with the girls. I’ll handle this and quickly.” Spike said.



Spike walked past his family trying to think of an excuse to give Lizzie for his absence.



Later that evening Lizzie sat next to her mother’s bed.



“I’m scared William.” She whispered.



William sat next to her and put his hand around her shoulder.



“I know Pet. She‘s strong just like her girls” He said.



Lizzie smiled at him.



“You’re the best you know that Will?”



Just then Jenny walked into the room. Her face was white. William patted Lizzie on the back.



“Just be a tick.” He said following his mother out.



William looked at his mother.



“It’s Spike he’s just be brought in.....”