His Slayer

CHAPTER 11

Xander braked abruptly in front of the emergency room entrance. Faith jumped out of the passenger side door, pulled the Buffy to the edge of the seat, then picked her up. Xander ran ahead towards the ER. "Hey! We need a doctor here!"

The nurse and the security guard behind the triage desk in the lobby stood as Xander burst through the doors. As the nurse saw Faith carrying the wounded Slayer, both covered in blood, she picked up the intercom and paged the trauma team.

After a few moments a gurney and three more hospital staff came through the double doors from the fast track side. They were moving quickly enough that the automatic opener didn't have the doors completely clear, and the gurney slammed them out of the way. The nurses helped Faith set the blonde Slayer on the gurney, then wheeled her out of sight. Xander made a motion to follow, but the doctor blocked him.

"I'm sorry, but you can't go back there right now. Can you tell me what happened?"

Xander shook his head to clear it, then took a deep breath. "Yeah. We were out at the junkyard...

"Just havin' fun, ya' know," Faith supplied.

"Yeah, haviun. un. Anyway, Buffy... slipped. From on top of a pile of junk and must have landed on a sharp piece of metal. God, there was a lot of blood. Is she going to be okay?"

"Well, you brought her here. That was the right thing. Does she have any allergies, previous injuries, anything we need to know?"

Xander shook his head.

"Well, then I'm going to go and help your friend." The doctor turned and headed back through the double doors to the trauma rooms.

"Thanks, doc!" Xander called after the departing figure. Xander turned as a young woman came through another door behind the triage desk.

"Hi, I'm Tina. I'm going to need patient information. The patient's name?"

"Summers, Buffy Anne."

"Insurance?"

Xander looked at Faith. "It's in her purse," Faith said.

Xander answered the rest of the questions while Faith went out to move the truck and get Buffy's purse.

Faith returned with Buffy's insurance card in time to hear Tina ask "And your relationship to the patient?"

"Friend of the family," Xander replied. "But when will we get to go in to see " "

"I'm sorry, I don't know. Do you know whom we should contact for Ms. Summers? We really need to contact an adult relative--"

"I'm her step-sister." Out of the corner of her eye Faith saw Xander's jaw drop. "Faith Summers." When Faith saw the secretary start to look skeptical, she added "You can look me up in your files, I'm sure. I was in this place long enough." She handed Buffy's insurance card to the secretary.

"Okay. The doctor will be out as soon as he can to let you know your friend's condition. It might be awhile, though. There are vending machines just outside, and the pay phones are down that hall. I'll bring the card back as soon as I've photocopied it." Tina turned and walked back through the door behind the triage desk.

Faith turned to look at Xander, who was still regarding her with a look of amazement. "What, didn't you know? When I was here in a coma they put me under B's last name so you guys could stay informed."

"No, I didn't know." *Or remember, anyway. I tried to do a lot of repressing of all things Faith after she tried to kill us.* "I've gotta make some calls. Could you..." he gestured with his head.

"Sure, Xan. I'll wait in here in case they need us."


* * *

Dawn dozed on the couch. Spike rummaged through the box in the closet looking for any videos that might actually be worth watching. *Resident Evil? I figured the Slayer would find that too close to home. Maybe she thinks it's a comedy.* Spike couldn't figure why they kept casting the scrawny girl from 'Dazed and Confused' as some great female warrior. *That bint's got nothin' on Buffy.*

The phone rang in the kitchen. Spike looked at it just as the front door splintered in. *Bloody hell! The Slayer'll have my guts for garters if the place gets trashed again. Demons got no respect for leisure time, or private property.* Later Spike would reflect back on the moment, and realize that in that instant he had been domesticated. But for now, Spike grabbed his axe out of the closet and launched himself at the seven-foot tall greenish thing with horns and pincers that was approaching Dawn.

"Kill slayer girl. Kill for master," it growled.

*Bloody amateurs. No originality.* "Oi, goat-boy, that ain't the Slayer, you nit!"

The creature took another step into the house, it's clawed tea tearing through the rug into the wooden floor. Dawn screamed. The hell-beast looked from Dawn, scrambling back on the couch, to Spike. Then back at Dawn. It was all the time Spike needed. Spike swung the axe one handed. It caught the monster's outstretched left arm below the elbow. The thing's left forearm, crab-like claw inclu flo flopped to floofloor.

"Come on, you fugly bastard! The Big Bad don't need a light saber to lop you to pieces." The creature bellowed in pain and rage. It reached for Spike with its remaining claw. Spike batted the claw aside with the flat of the axe, and called to Dawn. "Nibblet get out of here! Upstairs, quick." Spike glanced over to make sure she would obey. Spike saw the thing charge out of the corner of his eye. He tried to sidestep it, but the coffee table blocked him.

The demon's ram-charge caught Spike in the chest. He thought he heard a rib crack. They landed on the floor, the demon on top, his left leg pinning Spike's right hand and the axe to the floor. Spike's head had hit the floor when he was knocked back; he heard a ringing that sounded oddly like the phone. The thing looked down at Spike through red eyes, and reached for the vampire's neck with the pincer.

Suddenly the monster was knocked off Spike by a blow to the side of the head. Dawn stood over them, holding Buffy's pipe wrench in her hands. "Dawn, get back," Spike roared as he rolled upright. The demon lay on the floor, momentarily stunned. Spike swung the axe in a loop to gain momentum. As it passed overhead, he also gripped it with his left hand. The force of the blow severed the demon's head from its body, and left the head of the axe imbedded an inch into the flooring. Spike sank to his knees, dimly aware that the phone had stopped ringing.


* * *

Xander came back from calling Giles and then Dawn. He'd left a message at the Summers house when there was no answer. *Maybe Spike took Dawn out for a movie. Giles had said he'd swing by to check on his way here.* Xander hoped things were all right. He regarded Faith from across the room where she was flipping through a six-month-old copy of 'People'. She sat sprawled back in the chair. He was reminded of a sleek, dangerous feline. She looked up and met his eyes.

"What's the sitch?" She tossed the magazine back on the pile near to her.

"No answer at B's.'s. Giles is going stop by on the way."

"And Spike?"

"Well, I'm sure Giles'll bring him too. Boy is he going to be pissed." Faith's lips tightened and she looked at the floor. Xander felt a flash of compassion for her. "No, not at you. God, Faith, you saved her! If you hadn't tackled that de...guy, he would have finished her off for sure."

Faith looked up, surprised. "I just thought..

"No, Faith. I admit, I was one of the more concerned ones when you came waltzing back here to Sunnydale, but you're different now. I can see that. I know you're trying. You showed that even before tonight. And for what it's worth, thanks." He squatted down so she didn't have so look up at him. "Thanks for helping us out. Thanks for saving Buffy." He picked her hand off her knee and squeezed in gently.

Faith almost jerked her hand back. She still wasn't comfortable with displays of affection. Screw a guy against the wall in a Burger King bathroom, yeah. Hug someone, hell no. "Look Xander, I never told you before, but I'm sorry about, you know." Xander's face began to change toward resentment. "No, not about fu-sleeping with you, but for kicking you out after. And for busting your balls later about it. It's, you know... You're one of the onlyple ple who ever cared about me, and I didn't give a shit; I hurt you when I had the chance. *Great, Faith. The guy wants shit to be five by five and you go all Women's Network on him.* "But, but I'm so fucking sorry, and I want to try to make it not suck, and I'm going to keep tryin'."

Xander blinked in surprise. That was the most Xander had ever heard Faith speak when it wasn't about slaying or sex. He slid into the chair next to her. "You're doing okay Faith. Just keep it up." Xander smiled at heren len leaned back in the chair to watch the muted television across the emergency room lobby. He still held Faith's hand in his.


* * *

Xander opened his eyes when he heard screeching tires in the parking lot.

"I think Billy-Boy has arrived," said Faith.

Less than ten seconds later an extremely pissed off blonde vampire stalked into the emergency room. He was followed by Dawn, in sweats, running to keep up with Spike's pace. "I'm here for--"

"Spike!" Xander called as he walked towards the two new arrivals. Spike faced him, and Xander could see Spike was so agitated that he was almost in vamp-mode.

"Harris! What the bloody hell is going on here? I thought you were just scopin' the place out. What the hell happened to the Slayer?" He looked past Xander to Faith, standing quietly as though to support Xander. "What happened to Buffy?"


* * *

"I'm Dr. Williams. And which one of you is Bu's s's sister?"

"Well, I'm her biological sister, and Faith's our step-sister." Dawn gave a little nod towards Faith, barely able to hold back tears. "Everyone else here is friends of the family. You say whatever it is to everyone."

Dr. Williams looked around the group of people. He had seen the emotions on their faces on thousands of patients' families before. Fear. Hope. Anger. Familiar emotions to one who deals with life and death every day. He knew things were about to get a lot worse for these people, and his heart went out to them.

"What is it?"

Dr. Williams immediately focused the young Englishman with bleached hair. He looked more angry than the rest put together. *Boyfriend of the patient? Hope the fellow doesn't take a swing at me...* "Well, the good news is that we repaired the vascular damage from the incision. It actually nicked the left renal vein. That was responsible for most of Buffy's blood loss. We have that wound cleaned and sutured. The various other contusions suffered by Ms. Summers were not as serious as we first thought when she was admitted."

"And the bad news?"

This from an older Englishman. *The boyfriend's father? He seems more calm than the rest, as though he’d seen people in and out of bad situations before. And this one is bad.* "I was hoping you could tell me more about the accident. You see, the impaling object introduced some kind of toxin into the wound. It has been circulating in Ms. Summers' blood since the injury.is cis causing serious problems with her circulatory system, particularly her heart."

"No!" This from the other young man.

Dr. Williams continued. "So you see, we'd really like to recover the object so we can do an analysis of the toxin. It could be vitally important."

"How important, mate?" The blonde's words were pitched dangerous and low.

"Ms. Summers is currently in the Toxicology ICU. Her condition is critical. We're doing a blood work-up on her to try and determine the specific toxin. But, as I stated, having the object itself would give us traces of the pure toxin to identify."

"We'll get it." The step-sister spoke. "I'm outta here. Spike?"

"Yeah, pet. Let's motor. Rupert?"

"Yes, I'll be at the shop researching."

"Xander and I will stay here." The younger sister concluded.

*Good Lord! Who were these people that responded to a life and death situation as quickly and calmly as a trauma team? They acted like they'd done this hundreds of times before.* "I want you to know, we're doing our very best for Buffy."

"That's a good thing, mate, a very good thing." The implied threat from the boyfriend was almost palpable.

Dr. Williams was relieved when the boyfriend and the step-sister strode out of the waiting room. Dr. Williams could take care of himself in a fight, but he had no desire to try conclusions with those two. The older gentleman followed them out. The doctor turned to the little sister and friend. "Now, hospital visiting hours are over, but I assume you are not going home?" Both shook their heads. "Well, the hospital cafeteria is open 'til midnight. And you're welcome to stay here in the waiting room. I'm sure the triage nurse would get you some blankets from the warmer, if you'd like. Can I do anything else for you?"

"No, doctor, yout got go help my sister. And please, let us know as soon as she can have visitors."


* * *

CHAPTER 12

It was technically morning when Spike and Faith stepped out of the DeSoto at Jimmy's Auto Recycling. Spike had his favorite axe dangling loosely on his hand. Faith clipped an enormous sheathed hunting knife into the back of her jeans where her denim jacket concealed it. Spike opened the trunk, and she pulled out a crossbow.

"Well, Slayer?"

"Let's do it, blondie."

The building proved deserted. They swept through it with a precision that would have gotten the approval of any tactics instructor. The only sign of the earlier battle was a pool of drying blood from Buffy. Spike went into game face when he smelled it. "I'll rip his bloody eyes out and feed them to him. I'll rip his heart out and piss in the hole--"

Faith interrupted what looked like it might be a long rant. "You kiss B with that mouth?"

Spike immediately got his rage back under control. With the help of his keen vampiric senses Spike was able to track the demon from where it had stabbed Buffy, out to a storm drain that emptied into the dry wash a hundred yards behind Jimmy's. He turned to Faith. "You sure you don't need a torch?"

Faith tried to lighten the mood. "No, here in the first world we actually have flashlights."

*Stupid bint.* "All right, then stay behind me; make sure that bloody bastard don't try to sneak up from behind."

Faith flashed him a grin. "It'll be five by five, Billy."


* * *

Faith had lost track of how long they had been down in the storm drains. She wasn't sure if Spike was still really tracking the demon that had stabbed Buffy, or if he was just continuing out of dogged determination. And Faith didn't want to ask him which. She was watching their back trail just as much as she was watching where Spike was going. So when he stopped suddenly, she did not bump into him as a less competent person might have.

"See the glow, ducks?" Spike's voice was so low and soft that Faith could barely make out the words when he put his mouth near her ear. She looked down the tunnel, saw nothing. Then Faith turned her head to look out oe coe corner of her eye. Her more light-sensitive peripheral vision picked out the faint glow Spike had described. She nodded her head rather than speaking.

Spike whispered in Faith's ear again. "I 'ear somthin'. I'm movin' closer." He could barely see Faith nod again. *This bird's a bloody wonder. Wish she'd been with us longer. She could teach Buffy a thing or two about sneakin'.* That thought jarred him out of his brief reverie, and he stole forward, silent and nearly invisible in the darkness. He could sense Faith several feet behind him.

The area into which Spike peered was the junction of three smaller tunnels that someone had excavated into a small cavern. In the dim light of a sooty lantern Spike saw a man speaking in a weird dialect to a demon with single large talons at the end of each wrist. Spike knew the language,he hhe held up a finger to Faith when she tapped him on the shoulder. They silently moved several yards back down the tu.
.

"That's the bastard, Spike."

"I figured, ducks. What's your plan?"

"We both hit the big ugly purple bastard that stabbed Buffy as hard and fast as we can, then we take out Brannok. Permanently." Faith looked a Spike, silently daring him to disagree.

"I love the way your mind works, pet. I'd offer a quick shag if I weren't already spoken for."


* * *

Military strategists speak of envelopments or of units attacking an opponent's flank. At the level of the individual soldier it still ends up being a frontal assault. So when their stealth tactics failed and they were detected, the two reformed evil-doers charged across the cavern to meet the demon head-on.

Faith fired the crossbow a moment before Spike came within hand to hand combat range. The bolt caught the creature in the left side, it it howled in pain. Spike swung the axe at the demon's head. It ducked sideways, avoiding the strike. And moved into reach of Faith's blade. It roared again, and swung at Spike with a poison-tipped claw.

They traded blows for nearly a minute before it happened. Spike, circling one way while Faith went the other, stumbled slightly when his boot caught an irregularity in the cavern floor. The demon was on him in a heartbeat. It kicked him in the ribs, then drew back both arms in preparation for a finishing blow with the large claws.

Faith tackled the demon from the side, her shoulder hitting him just above the hip. They rolled to the ground together, and Faith came up on top, knife still in hand. She pinned the demon's right arm to the ground with her left hand, and stabbed it in the chest with her wicked-looking blade.

The demon's left claw raked down Faith's side and she screamed. She pulled her knife from its chest and smacked the pommel into the side of its head. The beast's head rocked to the side from the impact, then it turned its head and sunk its teetto Fto Faith's wrist.

"Slayer, roll left!"

Faith heard the command and instantly rolled, hooking the pommel of her knife around the back of the creature's left arm to roll it with her. She ended up on the bottom, looking up into metallic teeth dripping with saliva. *I really hope Billy know what he's doin'.* The demon leaned down towardr thr throat, then its chest slammed down on her heavily, and its head smacked the ground next to hers. Over its shoulder she could see Spike, both hands on the axe that was buried deep in the creature's back.

Spike pulled the body off Faith, then severed the head from the body with a single blow. Spike straightened up, and eyed the corpse. *Good beastie. Stay dead.* Faith's cry redirected his attention.

"He's getting away!"

Brannok had waited a bit too long to see if his hell-beast would destroy the vampire and the Slayer. After viewing the decapitated corpse, he decided the jig was up. Brannok had just begun to make good his escape down one of the smaller tunnels.

"No you don't, mate." Spike's axe spun lazily twenty feet through the air before burying itself in the back of Brannok's head. The impact knocked him forward, the dead body slid on its face for several feet before it stopped.

Spike picked up Faith's knife from where it lay next to her, and lopped off one of the demon's talons. He wrapped it quickly in a piece of moldy sack from the floor, and tucked it most of the way into a pocket on his duster. He turned and looked down at the wounded Slayer. She didn't look goodith ith was going into shock from blood loss, and he was pretty sure she'd gotten a lethal dose of the venom.

She tried to smile up at him, but her face was contorted by pain. "Just... leave me here, Billy."

"Not a bloody chance in hell, pet."

"You need to... get that claw to the lab...at hospital." She was barely conscious.

"Yeah, luv, and I'm taking you to there, too."

"Just leave...go faster."

Spike knelt and scooped up Faith. "Naw, luv. You're light as a feather, plus I've gotten a bit fond o' you."

"Tell... Xan...Xander...love..."

"He knows you love him, and you can tell him yourself when you see him." Spike looked back the way they had come. *Be bloody daylight before we get back to the auto.* He looked at the three smaller tunnels that led from the room. He hadn't been here before, but he had a pretty good idea of where they were under the town. Spike strode down the narrow tunnel on the left, the unconscious Slayer in his arms.


* * *