Remember Me

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Joss owns it all damn him!

Thanks for reading! Remember Me is up for Fic of the Week at Spuffy Fantasy, www.spuffyfantasy.com if you'd like to vote for me.

If you've read my fics Winning Hand, or Sunnydale Elementary they're both up for awards at Spuffy Awards, www.flesh-for-fantasy.com/spuffyawards/index2.html if you'd like to vote there.

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Chapter 19 - The Run In

Buffy was tired, especially because she hadn't been allowed to get much sleep last night. She smiled at the memory, not minding one bit. Her right hand was clasped in Will's, leaving her free to raise her left and gaze at the ring she wore. She stumbled a bit as they walked up the stone steps, Will catching her before she fell completely.

"Watch it, luv." But he'd known what had distracted her and smiled at her lovingly. "We're almost done for the day. Then we can head back to the hotel and celebrate some more." His smile turned wicked making her shiver.

Spike turned back to focus on their path wanting to get the rest of this day over with. They had just finished meeting with the FBI officials to give Spike's statement and were now heading over to the courthouse to talk with the district attorney. The court date had actually been scheduled quite early, only three weeks away and the DA was anxious to get all the information together for the trial.

Spike turned to Buffy once more when he felt her stiffen and heard her let out a short gasp. "What's the - " Spike's question was cutoff by a familiar voice.

"Why hello there, cutie." Angel's smile was wide. Buffy saw now the crazy glint behind his eyes, something she hadn't noticed before he'd taken her. She didn't answer, only tightened her grip on Will's hand.

Spike's head whipped around and he took a step to place himself directly between Buffy and Angel. "I told you to stay the bloody fuck away from her!" Spike's voice was even and low, his eyes shooting cold blue shards of anger.

"So, we meet again, William." Angel turned his gaze toward his hated nemesis. "This isn't over. You stole what should have been mine! I deserve to have it back!"

Spike lunged for him, Buffy screamed. Suddenly there were restraining hands over both men. Buffy was shaking as she realized that Wesley and the others had arrived just in time. Wesley had hold of Will and both he and Xander were talking him down. Lorne made sure to keep himself between Angel and the girls, who were huddled protectively around Buffy.

Risking a quick glance over at Angel, she noted that there was a man she didn't know holding him back as well. He was in a dark brown suit, his hair nearly black, his face clean shaven. He, too, was trying to speak soothing words, but Angel's eyes never lost their crazed glint. From what she could hear the man was obviously Angel's lawyer, but if he thought Angel would listen to logic and reason he was sorely mistaken.

At just about that time, the DA came flying down the steps to intervene. Angel's lawyer was already herding him down the steps and towards his own car, so Spike whirled on the DA instead. "How the bloody hell did he get out?"

Looking chagrined the DA nonetheless pushed the loose hair from her face and straightened her posture before answering. "I'm afraid he had his bail set today, and was obviously able to meet it."

"Why the fuck would they give that asshole bail?" Tara was surprised at the language and tone her lover used. It was rare that anything got to his sweet nature.

There was nothing the DA could say to that. The old adage innocent until proven guilty, obviously wasn't going to cut it.

Buffy was completely shaken, her eyes wide in her face at the thought that Angel was free to roam the island. Spike swept her up in his arms and held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back. Once she'd calmed, Spike had to relieve some of his own excess emotional energy. He kissed her lightly on the crown of her head, and angled her face so that their gazes could meet.

"Luv, I need some time to think." Spike informed her.

"What? Why? Will - "

"The others will stay with you." He gave each of their friends a stern look, letting them know exactly what would happen if any of them left her alone until he returned.

"Buffy," he kissed her on the lips this time. "I'm just...I'm still so angry. And I feel so guilty."

"Will, it's not your fault!" Buffy wailed, not knowing how to make him see.

"I know that, luv, here," Spike pointed to his temple. "But here," his palm rested above his heart, "it's a completely different story."

"What about our appointment, Mr. Huntington?" Spike had forgotten that the DA had still been standing there.

"We'll have to reschedule it. I'll call you first thing in the morning." He promised her.

"We don't have very much time, if we're going to prepare for this trial properly." She warned.

Spike only nodded as he turned to trot down the stairs. As he passed his friends he whispered a fierce, "keep her safe!" To which they all nodded.

***

Buffy was beginning to get really worried. Who was she kidding? She'd been worried the moment Will had walked off without her that afternoon. Now, almost midnight, he still hadn't returned. Lorne and Xander were currently out in the main suite playing cards, while Wesley escorted the other girls to their own rooms. In an effort to get rid of her bodyguards Buffy had put on her pajamas and announced her intention to go to bed. Unfortunately that did nothing but force her to lay awake listening for Will in the bedroom, rather than sitting out in the main room watching the door. The boys refused to leave, citing Spike's icy glare and quick temper. She heard them now, shuffling the cards and chuckling to each other.

Where was Will?

Just then Buffy heard the soft click of the front door opening and Xander's soft, "woah." She bolted out of bed and through the bedroom door to find a bruised and bleeding Will limping into the room.

"Will!" She ran toward him wrapping her arm around his waist to help him to the couch. "What happened?" Her fingers flew over his body examining every inch of him, making sure his injuries weren't life threatening. "We need to take you to the emergency room." Buffy urged.

"No. Had enough of bleedin' hospitals in the past two weeks." Spike answered, to sore to refuse Buffy's help to the sofa. "Just had a small scrape, that's all, luv." He kissed her cheek as he sat.

"A small scrape?" Buffy repeated, incredulous. "Where have you been? Who did this? Was it Angel??"

"No, luv. Haven't seen that tosser since this afternoon." Spike shook his head. He took the glass of water Lorne offered with a nod of thanks before taking a large gulp. "Told you, needed time to think. Rented a motorcycle, took a ride. Went further than I thought, started to rain." He shook his head at his own stupidity. Riding on unfamiliar roads, at night, at the speed he was going he's lucky he didn't do any serious damage. "Took a turn too fast."

"Oh my God!" Buffy's heart leapt into her throat at the thought that Will could have been killed. "Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor? You could have broken something!"

"'M fine, luv." Spike reassured her.

"Well, if you're all right, I'm gonna head on out." Lorne stood. "Tara's probably waiting up for me."

"Yeah, I want to get back before Cordy falls asleep." Xander stood as well.

"Thanks, guys." Spike nodded at them. "I appreciate you staying with her."

"Just don't make a habit of running off half cocked and trying to get yourself killed, okay sweetie?" Lorne answered for the both of theiviniving Spike a wiggly fingered wave as they left the room.

Spike chuckled then decided that had been a bad idea. His side hurt like crazy. He placed a palm over the area in which he knew he would have a very large bruise in the morning.

Buffy was torn between wanting to nurse Will back to health and wanting to knock his block off for almost killing himself. She settled for a quick insult as she strode toward the bathroom to get the first aid kit, "You big stupid..!"
!"

She returned to the main suite still talking, "Why do you always have to do the big brood? And why does it have to be on a motorcycle? I hate the one you have back home, and now you tell me you went out and rented one? Geez!" She blew out an exasperated breath.

She administered to his wounds, not feeling guilty at the sharp intake of breath Will took at the first touch of the hydrogen peroxide doused cotton ball. "Serves you right!"

Through it all, Spike remained silent, letting Buffy vent her worry and anger. Finally when she was done bandaging his cuts he reached for her and pulled her into his embrace. "I'm sorry, luv." He nuzzled his face in to her neck, and breathed in her scent. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Buffy sighed, letting herself relax into Will's arms. "I didn't know where you were, if you were okay. And then you come in and you're all..." she gestured toward him, encompassing his whole body. "Bleedy. It was like a nightmare or something." She whispered.

"Luv, why did you ask if Angel had done the damage?" Spike wondered.

"He's out now." Buffy shrugged. "And you're the one he really wants to hurt. He only took me because he knew it would hurt *you*. I thought...I thought he might have gone after you." Buffy buried her face in his chest. "I was so worried."

"God, Buffy." Spike's embrace tightened. "I'm so sorry, luv. I didn't even think about how you would be feeling. What you must have been thinking after seeing him again." He ed hed himself. "I'm such a selfish git!"

"Yeah, you are." Buffy smiled into his chest. "The girls have been asking me what the heck I see in you." She teased.

"Oh, have they?" Spike raised his scarred brow at her.

"Yeah, when I told them our engagement was real, they were like, 'What? Why?'" Her smile grew wider when she felt Will poke her in the side.

"And what did you tell them?"

"Oh, something about the really cool game room you have at your house." She answered, bursting into hysterical giggles when Spike's poking finger turned into several tickling fingers instead.

"Is that why you're marrying me? For my game room?" Spike demanded.

"Yes!" Buffy cried between gales of laugh

"Oh, really?" A second hand joined in the tickle fest.

"No! Stop! Stop! I give!" Buffy screamed.

"You give?" Spike asked, still letting his fingers wander.

"Yes!"

"Okay, what did you *really* tell them?" Spike prompted.

Buffy waited until her breathing returned to semi-normal. Then she looked up into Will's ocean blue eyes. "That I'm happy. Finally." She leaned forward to kiss him chastely on the lips. "That I love you."

"I love you, too, baby." Spike caught her lips in a kiss considerably less chaste than hers.

When they broke apart Buffy was once more breathing heavily. "Will?"

"Yes, luv?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Be careful." Buffy urged. "You don't know what Angel's capable of."

"I promise, luv. But you don't have to worry about him anymore." Spike leant forward until their foreheads were touching. He closed his eyes and just sat surrounded by her. After a few moments his eyes fluttered open and he moved forward to kiss lightly at the tip of her nose. "Let's go to bed." He whispered huskily.

She nodded and stood, reaching out a hand for him. He clasped her hand in his, tugging her gently toward the bedroom. "You're hurt." She reminded him, as she lay on the bed watching him strip down to his boxers.

"Not *that* hurt." He responded, leering playfully at her.

"Will." She reprimanded him, even while she stifled the wince that came from seeing the new bruises forming on his torso.

Spike's leer turned into a smile as he slid under the covers. "I just want to hold you, luv." He reached for her, slipping her to his side, his arms encircling her slim figure.

"Goodnight, luv
"N
"Night, Will."

He held her close, letting her even breathing lull him to sleep.