Rescue Me

The Story

Spike was in complete shock. He stood there staring at Buffy, motionless, in the middle of a convenience store unable to wrap his mind around the bomb she'd just dropped.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, whatever I did or didn't do –what did I do?" she asked him.

He sighed. He couldn't lie to her, on the other hand, how could he tell her? She was obviously distressed by the fact that she couldn't remember him, how would she react to the truth of what had happened between them? It would definitely upset her.

"Buffy," he started hesitantly.

"Don't lie to me please. No matter what it is, you have to tell me the truth or I'll never be able to rebuild my life and one day remember."

His eyes snapped to hers. "God Buffy that sounds so awful," he breathed.

She grinned warily. "It does, doesn't it?"

"Is there anything I can do—please, I want to help."

"You can tell me your name," she smiled.

"William Knightly. I go by Spike though."

She raised her eyebrows. "If I had my memory, I doubt I'd forget a name like that. How'd you get it?"

"I used to be an Attorney. In the court room, they referred to me as ‘like a pit bull named Spike'."

"Used to be an Attorney?"

"I quit."

"Why?"

"Wasn't happy. Decided to take a chance and make a change."

"To?"

"Teaching."

Her eyes widened. "That is quite a change. Less money too."

"I don't care about that part."

"Less cut throat I imagine and less stress."

"Exactly."

"You could probably still bring your pit bull tendencies to the classroom depending on what
grade you teach."

Spike chuckled. "Very good point. I was thinking college level. I don't feel at my age I'd have
the patience for a younger crowd."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty – six."

She smiled, "You're still young. You could do it."

"I guess I like the idea of my students being more responsible."

"Just because they're in college doesn't mean they're more responsible," she pointed out.

"True, but, most of them want to be since they're paying for it."

"Or on a free ride from their parents and don't care."

"Gotta take the good with the bad I guess."

"Don't I know it," she said wistfully.

"How did it happen?" he asked carefully, not wanting to upset her.

"I fell down the stairs," she replied, meeting his eyes.

"Do you remember at all?"

She shook her head. "No. And my brother asks me at least twice a day if I do."

"It must drive you crazy."

"You have no idea."

"I remember you mentioned a brother when we met," Spike said thoughtfully.

"Can you tell me how and when and where?" she asked hopefully.

"Buffy, I don't think I can," and it pained him to say it.

"Why?" she asked, a hard edge to her voice.

"Because I don't want to put any undue stress on you."

"If you don't tell me then I'll just wonder and then stress anyway. So you might as well tell me to
give me peace of mind. It might not look it, but I'm made of tough stuff here."

He grinned, "I don't doubt that."

She looked up at him hopefully. "Then tell me?"

"We were close."

"How close?"

His eyes met hers. "Close enough."

"Were we – were we dating?"

"You could say that."

She sighed heavily. "Impossible."

His eyes narrowed. "How is it impossible?"

"Because I have a boyfriend."

He wasn't sure how much more he could take. "For how long?" he asked incredulously, and a bit
louder than intended.

She took a step back, frowning. "According to what I've been told, for the past three years.
According to my timetable, one month."

Spike sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "You never told met that when we—you
never told me."

"I'm sorry."

"Just part of the mystery that is Buffy Summers."

"Tell me about it," she said dryly.

"Christ, I can't say anything right!" he exclaimed in frustration.

"It's all right. I'm learning to roll with the punches. I didn't mean to be so skittish when you tried
to talk to me, it's just that it gets hard when people know who you are, but you have no
recollection of them." She sounded tired and weary and it made him want to just gather her in his
arms and soothe her.

"It's like you're famous," Spike tried to joke.

"Without any of the perks," Buffy added wryly. "I just hate disappointing so many people when
they start talking to me and bringing up things I don't know anything about . . . its hard to see the
hurt expression on their face."

"You care," Spike said, almost in awe. It wasn't just her she worried about; it was others.

She nodded. "Look, I don't really know what to tell you right now . . . "

"Buffy, you've been through a lot and I'm not asking for anything—"

"Which is good because I can't give you anything."

"What about your friendship? I'm thinking of relocating to this area and I could use a friend."

"Spike, I don't know you at all and if what you said is true—"

"It is."

"I have a boyfriend," she reminded him.

He ignored that comment. "You do know things about me. You know I used to be an Attorney,
that my nickname is Spike, I'm 36 and I want to be a teacher."

She started to laugh. "Okay, okay, stop."

"So you'll be my friend?"

"Can I think about it?"

"I don't want to lose you again Buffy."

"You'll have to stop saying things like that."

"What? The truth?"

She sighed. "All right then. Fine. I want to know more about our relationship then."