Getting Over It

“Hey Will, you get stuck at the library again?” Buffy asked as a very tired looking Willow trudged through the door.

“Yeah, these midterms are killing me.”

“You know Will, you never miss a single class, and you were already studying three hours a day. I don’t think you need to add on an extra five hours on top of that.”

“I know, I just really want to do well,” the redhead said slumping into the chair in the corner.

“Great, now that we’re all here, maybe we can actually get some research done,” Giles interjected, handing the girl a large, slightly moldy book.

“Oh goody, more research,” she said sarcastically.

Two hours later they were no closer to finding the secret lair of the Keisley, a particularly nasty breed of demon that spits globs of blue acid at their victims. Buffy, frustrated and bored out of her mind, finally gave up on research, choosing to patrol instead. Xander decided to join her, looking for any excuse to get away, as did Anya, although more reluctantly. She would have preferred to watch the rerun of ‘Three Men and a Baby’ that was showing on TV. She was still getting used to the whole ‘being human’ thing, and didn’t really understand the concept of teamwork, but if she didn’t go Xander would be mad.

Willow wanted to go too, but she was just so tired. She hadn’t slept more than fifteen minutes at a time in the last couple of days. So, leaving the two of them behind, the rest of the Scoobies headed out, while they continued their investigation in silence. Occasionally Willow would glance up to see Giles watching her with a concerned look, but she quickly resumed her reading, not wanting to talk. Finally though, he could hold back no longer.

“Willow, is there something going on with you?”

“What? Umm… no… I mean…What are you talking about?” she replied nervously.

“Well, lately you seem rather distracted,” he started, removing his glasses and cleaning them with his handkerchief, “and the other day, your behavior was quite out of the ordinary.”

“The other day?”

“Yes, when you came over to watch Spike.”

“Oh, right,” she said, looking away, “That day. Yeah, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, but I’m fine.”

“Listen, I know it’s been hard since Oz left, but that’s no reason to…”

“Look, I said I was fine. You don’t have to worry about me,” she said, defensively, resolve face firmly in place.

“Hey, if you two ladies are done with your little snit, I could really use some blood in here,” Spike’s voice called out from the other room, ending the staring match between witch and watcher.

“I’ll get it,” Willow said, hopping up and rushing to the kitchen, thankful for any excuse to be away from Giles’ overly inquisitive nature.

The truth was she didn’t remember the other day. She had done a ‘simple’ confidence spell, hoping it would make her feel better, but apparently something had gone wrong. She had woken up back at the dorm, two days later, looking and feeling like she had been beaten up, and possibly raped. Willow was so freaked, she decided to throw away the rest of her spell ingredients, but discovered that they were already gone. She must have done more casting during her blackout. As she heated Spike’s mug-o-blood, she tried to calm her breathing. Every time she thought about what must’ve happened to her during those missing two days, she felt ill.

The worst part was the deep bite mark on her left breast, which had to have been made by a vampire. The only thing she could figure was that a vamp had grabbed her, raped her, bitten her, and then somehow she miraculously escaped. Willow wanted to talk to someone about what had happened to her, but she wasn’t exactly sure what to say; she was ‘probably’ attacked while she was having a blackout from some dark mojo she was using to get over her lying, cheating, werewolf boyfriend? Oh yeah, that would go over well. The gang was already breag dog down her neck about how she should, or shouldn’t handle her break up, and she really didn’t need them becoming hysterical as well. Willow grabbed the steaming mug from the microwave, trying hard not to look at it, as she headed into the bathroom.

“About time, I was wondering when you’d be coming back,” Spike said, leering at the pale redhead.

“Oh please! It’s only been like five minutes since you said you were hungry,” she replied, not noticing the look he was giving her as she sat on the edge of the tub holding the mug close enough for him to get the straw into his mouth.

Spike continued to eye her as he leisurely drank down his dinner. He hated cold blood, but he took his time anyway, wanting to keep her there with him as long as possible. She looked tired, there were bags under her eyes, and her hand was shaking slightly. Something was wrong. Normally Red was annoyingly chatty, but tonight she just sat and stared at the wall, lost in thought. He figured this might happen. He had known chits in the past who liked to hang around demons, got off on the danger or some rot, but more often than not they would start to get a guilty conscience and split. He hoped that wouldn’t be the case with the goddess before him, but here she was, unable to even look at him. He had to do something, say something.

“So, Red, how’s that bite healing up?” he asked, drawing her attention back to him.

“What?!” she exclaimed, jumping up and dumping the rest of his blood all over him.

“Bloody hell! What’d you do that for?!”

“Is everything alright in there,” Giles called out from the living room.

“Umm, yeah we’re fine. I’ll be out in a minute,” she called back, shutting the door somewhat for more privacy. She stood with her back against the wall, facing Spike like a deer caught in headlights.

“Alright Spike,” she began, her voice trembling a little, “how do you know about that?”

“What do you mean, ‘how do I know,’ I’m the one who gave it to you,” he said with annoyance, his shirt soaking up his dinner. Then, noticing Willow’s look of horror added, “Are you feeling ok, pet, you look a bit peeked?”

“You gave it to me? How? What about the chip? I mean…No…This is ‘so’ not happening,” she babbled, clutching her breast defensively.

“Afraid it is luv. I guess the chip doesn’t work if you want me to hurt you. After you left that night I gave Xander a good smack in the face, just to be sure, and got a splitting headache for my trouble. You’re telling me you forgot about our little tub time already?” he asked, somewhat offended.

“Tub time?!” She was frantic now and had begun to pace back and forth, unable to even look at Spike, “This is not happening. I would not ‘let’ you bite me; I don’t care what kind of spell I did!”

“So that’s what was up with you. I just figured you had been smoking dope with your college mates.”

“What?! No, you’re lying. I don’t know how you know about me getting bitten, but I do know I wouldn’t have let you…I mean…that would mean…”

“That you shagged me rotten?” he inquired with a smirk.

“Oh my god! I think I’m going to be sick,” Willow clamped her hand over her mouth and ran from the room.

“Willow? Are you alright?” Giles asked as the now slightly green girl grabbed her bag and ran from the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

Giles stormed into the bathroom, with a look of murder in his eyes, “What did you say to her?!” he hollered at a still drenched Spike.

“What me? Nothing. I think the chit’s on drugs, she ‘is’ in college you know. Now, could you hand me a towel, she spilled blood all over me.”

“Spike, I swear, if you did something to upset Willow I’ll stake you. I don’t care how much information you may or may not have. That poor girl has been through quite enough already!”

“I couldn’t agree more. Now would you ‘please’ just hand me a towel.”

Giles threw the towel at him in disgust, and stormed back out of the room. ‘Well,’ Spike thought as he tried to soak up some of the blood that was covering his torso, ‘at least things are starting to get interesting around here.’

To be continued…