Fighting For Love

Author's Note: Warnings: Torture, Extreme Language, Rape/Actual, Sexual Situations, Violence (offending chapters will be noted)

Pairings: Riley/Buffy; Spike/Buffy

Challenge Requirements at the end

Chapter 3



Buffy was still in shock from the punch to her stomach to register the open hand to her cheekbone. He'd actually swung on her. Sweet, humble Riley had actually hit her. She was too stunned to form a coherent thought past the fact that Riley really hurt her.



Riley’s anger finally simmered to a low boil. He blinked and focused on Buffy. His vision took in her huddled and shaking form. He saw the bruise forming on her cheek and couldn’t believe he had done such a thing. What had gotten into him? It was like a single thought of any other guy touching her made him crazy.




He held her face between his mammoth hands and kissed her all over. “I’m sorry, Buffy. I didn’t mean to lash out like that. Please forgive me, honey,” Riley pleaded.



She looked up at him in disbelief that he had struck her. Tears began to form in her eyes all over again, threatening to burst down her cheeks. She shuddered and nodded. “It’s ok, Riley. It’s just the strain of my mother’s condition. It’s doing a number on both of us.”



Riley nodded in agreement. He helped Buffy to stand and walked with her to the bathroom. He sat her on the toilet lid, pivoting to turn on the bath for her.



While waiting for the tub to fill, he helped her disrobe and touched the bruising marks on her body. Riley was still in a dazed shock that he had lashed out at Buffy. But it drove him crazy that he couldn’t touch her, couldn’t get close to her like the Scoobies were. He always remained the outsider of the group. He felt like an interloper, or third wheel, that shouldn’t be witnessing their private Scoobie meetings.



Buffy looked down at her hands resting in her lap. Her body was sore all over. Her shoulder hurt from the jarring it took when Riley pushed her against the wall. There was an aching pain in her stomach from Riley’s knee. Muscles she never even knew she had ached so much.



Riley turned the water off, and tested the temperature with his fingers. He stood up and went over to Buffy. He picked her up in his arms and settled her into the warm water. He grabbed the sponge, soaped it up and lathered her neck, shoulders and arms. He didn’t look at her as he helped her wash. He couldn’t look at the hurt and accusation in her eyes. He kept his eyes averted from her face and tried not to see the bruises he’d inflicted on her body.




Buffy laid back and let the warm soapy water soothe her body. She couldn’t even look at Riley. She didn’t think she ever would be able to look him in the eye again after tonight. All she’d see was the silent accusation of betrayal that was never committed. She just wanted to patrol and then go to sleep.



“Buffy. You shouldn’t make me mad. I just go crazy. I can see why Angel lost his soul with you. You’re beautiful and caring. The thought that he has a part of you, and the fact that you won't let me even touch you makes it worse..." Riley whispered.



Buffy was jolted out of her thoughts by Riley as if he had shouted at her. She looked around like a deer in headlights before finally settling into a tense state. She couldn’t even pinpoint where her relationship with Riley had gone wrong. It was like one day it was wonderful and new. The next it was going downhill like a huge avalanche.



Riley stood up to get a towel for her, indicating that she should rise from the tub. Buffy stood in the middle of the water, waiting quietly. He dried her off and helped her to step out of the tub onto the rug that covered the cold tile floor.



“Now, you’re going to get dressed, go patrol and come home to bed.” Riley said, as he wrapped the towel around her.



Buffy shivered, not knowing if it was from the air in the room or the ice in his voice. The tone he had meant that there would be no arguing her side anymore. He was no longer her easy-going friend. She felt nervous around him. She nodded in agreement and went to find something to wear for patrol.