Inhuman Hearts

Part IX - Spike-Specials

Anya paced around the hospital lounge rubbing her sweaty hands together. She was startled when Willow came from behind and lightly caressed her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be ok.” The Wicca assured. She never knew what to say in these situations, so she resorted to the stereotypic response.

Anya looked at her wide-eyed. She choked back the tears as she tried to speak. Willow padded her on the back and brought her arms around the ex-demon, holding her until the sobbing subsided.

From the long greenl cal came a man dressed in what looked like green pyjamas with a stethoscope around his neck. Anya immediately ran to him, assaulting him with an avalanche of questions and sobs.

The man smiled sweetly. “Don’t’ worry, Mr. Harris will be fine. He suffered a minor concussion, other than that his CAT scan’s normal. He’s conscious now and seems completely aware of his surrounding, which is always a good sign. He’ll have to stay the night and probably tomorrow too, just to be sure.”

“He’s ok? Are you sure?” Anya asked in disbelief. As the doctor nodded she flung her arms around the man’s neck and started giving him light pecks on each check. “Thank you, thank you so much. Can I see him?”

“Sure.”

The doctor entered the room followed by Anya and the rest of the gang. She brought her hand to her mouth at the sight of Xander laying on the bed. He had an IV stuck in her right arm and a bandage around his head.

“Mr. Harris, there is someone here to see you.” The doctor announced.

Xander slowly opened his eyes and looked up at a flushed and teary Anya smiling down on him.

“Hey.” He struggled to speak.

“Hey.” She could hardly get the words out as she tried to fight back the tears.

Xander smiled tenderly and looked behind her to see the whole gang.

“Hi, guys!”

“Hey!” they all greeted him.

“You gave us all quite a scare there!” Willow whispered coming closer to the bed.

“Next time, let me handle the bad guys, huh?” Buffy joked.

Xander laughed but soon regretted it as throbbing pain took over his head.

“Now you see what I have to suffer with this damchipchip in my bloody head!” Spike teased playfully.

“Spike? What are you doing here?” he asked surprised, but deep inside he was sort of happy to see the vampire there.

“They forced me to be here. I didn’t really care.” Spike lied badly.

“Sure.” Xander smiled.

“You feeling ok?” Spike asked, a serious tone taking over.

Xander simply nodded.

“Doctor says you’ll be back on your feet in no time. You’re not getting off research duty that easily.” Willow spoke softly, holding Tara’s hand.

“Thanks, you guys. For being here.” Xander paused and then remembered. “What about ET?”

“We named it It. Isn’t it cool!” Dawn finally spoke. “We left Clem babysitting him, plus Tara did this captivity spell on him. He can’t move more that 10 feet in any direction. It’s pretty c you you should see the little guy walking round and round in circles. He-“ Dawn was forced to shut up when Buffy put her hand over her mouth.

“We’ll leave now. We’ll be outside if you need anything.” Buffy explained dragging her sister with her. The rest of the gang quickly followed leaving Anya and Xander alone in the room.

“Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Again.” Anya started.

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let them-“

She pressed her fingers over his mouth and spoke softly:

“Don’t ever leave me again. It hurts too much.”

Xander’s heart almost jumped out of his chest as she leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

****************************

Buffy and Dawn walked home silently. Behind them, tightly tied with a leash the Khind’Ara demon was dragged by a very discontent vampire.

“Oi, why do I have to take him?” Spike protested.

“Cause if It gets some slime on you, nothing will happen.” Buffy explained for the fifth time since they’d left the hospital.

As they made their way home, the Khind’Ara sneezed, its entire body jolted and in doing so the demon successfully covered the vampire’s right arm in slime.

“Oh, bloody hell!” Spike complained as he walked into the Summers residence.

The two young girls giggled at the sight of the very pissed vampire.

“I’m very fond of this duster and slime-ET over here has pretty much destroyed it.” Spike grumbled.

“Oh, don’t be such a baby, that’ll come off in a second.”

Spike stomped his way up the stairs and headed towards the bathroom cursing under his breath.

“Dawn go wash up too. I’m ordering pizza.” Buffy told her younger sister.

“No, Spike said he’d make Spike-Specials tonight. He promised.” Dawn informed on her way upstairs.

“Fine. I’ll order pizza for myself. Don’t come crawling back when you want some cause you’re not getting any.” Buffy shouted at the teenager at the top of the stairs.

*******************************************

Buffy hung up the phone when she finished ordering an extra cheese and pepperoni pizza.

“Hey, you’re all washed up.” She noted looking at Spike who was now sporting his famous red shirt and black jeans look. “Did it come out?”

“Hum… yeah.” he mumbled pass her and into the kitchen.

“Willow called. Said she’d stay over at Tara’s. Guess they’ve working out their problems, huh?” she asked, trying to start a conversation, but when she had nswerswer from the vampire she added: “Whatcha doing?”

“Spike-Specials.” He answered distracted as he picked the ingredients off the various shelves.

Buffy leaned on the kitchen sink and watched him in silence. She fumbled with a spoon between her fingers; she couldn’t understand what had gotten into the vampire. He was so… indifferent to her presence. “Good, maybe he’s gotten over this stupid infatuation.” She tried to convince herself, but she couldn’t ignore the gut wrenching feeling brought on by the idea.

Spike moved through the kitchen apparently completely engrossed in his cooking. Buffy nervously tapped her fingers on the table trying to look occupied. As the vampire passed by, she deliberately moved in his way, bumping into him and causing her to loose balance. With supernatural reflexes, Spike snaked his arm around her for support.

As he looked down into her eyes, her chest crushed against his, Spike thanked the gods he didn’t have a heartbeat because, otherwise, the cool and indifferent appearance he was trying so hard to keep up would have been blown to bits. His entire body ordered him to kiss her, but instead, he moved his arm away from her and returned to his cooking without another word.

Buffy just stood there. Shocked. “What?” She felt her heart shrivel up in her chest, while in her stomach a painful battle seemed to break out. She swallowed hard; trying to understand how all of a sudden it looked as if she had absolutely no effect on him. She was brought down to reality by the doorbell ringing.

As she left the kitchen to answer the door, Dawn walked in drying her hair with a white towel.

“Hum, smells good.” She complemented, standing next to the vampire, who was taking an egg from the frying pan into a clean plate.

Spike smiled at her as he started cutting the bread. Buffy walked into the room carrying a pizza box in her hands.

“Who wants pizza?” she asked.

“No, thanks. The Spike-Specials are almost ready.” Dawn replied.

“Bring me those plates over there.” Spike requested.

“Okie-Dokie.” Dawn put the plates in front of him.

“There you go.” Spike said with a huge grin on his face.

“Do you think It is hungry?” Dawn inquired.

“Well, I made an extra one, I’ll go and take it to him.”

“No, let me.” Dawn moved to take the plate from the vampire’s hands but was stopped by her sister’s remark:

“Don’t you even think about it! Let Spike take it. I don’t want you going all wonky because of goo-intoxication.”

Dawn pouted as Spike took the plate from her hand and walked over to the living room.

“Hey there slimy, brought you dinner.”

The Khind’Ara demon immediately started moving around in excitement.

“Food good.” He noted stretching out his long arms.

“Hey, watch the fast movements, buddy. I just got cleaned, don’t want your goo all over me again.” Spike protested jumping back.

The demon looked up at the vampire with large pleading eyes.

“Ok, don’t look at me that way. Here you go.” Spike left the dish on the floor, immediately the demon grabbed it and swallowed the whole thing, plate and all.

“Bugger!” Spike exclaimed opening his eyes wide in surprise.

Buffy half-heartedly munched on her pizza as Spike walked into the kitchen.

“This is absolutely wonderful, where did you learn to cook this?” Dawn asked with a mouth full of sandwich.

“Ah, that’s a secret, little bit.” He winked at her.

**********************************

Buffy dried her hands on her jeans as she put the last plate in the dishwasher. She walked into the living room, from where she heard laughter. Looking over to the sofa she saw Spike throwing a chip in the air. The funny looking demon immediately jumped up and caught the chip in his mouth, swallowing it with a very satisfied face. Dawn was sprawled on the couch holding her stomach as she giggled uncontrollably. Spike soon joined her; the Khind’Ara was just too hilarious. “He’s laughing? Since when does he laugh? He never laughs around me.” Buffy thought. Suddenly she felt evil-Buffy taking over as she ordered her sister:

“Dawn, go to bed, you’ve got school tomorrow.”

“But, Buff-“

“I don’t care. Bed. Now!” she commanded.

“Come on, Slayer. It’s only ten o’clock.” Spike disagreed.

“Stay out of this. Dawn!” Buffy snapped.

“You better go.” Spike suted ted giving her a light peck on the forehead. “Night, bit.”

“Night, Spike.” She replied moving past Buffy without even looking at her.”

“What bit you in the ass?” Spike asked with a cold tone.

“Nothing. Just don’t butt into things that are none of your business.”

“I care about the Nibblet, that makes it my business.” Spike snapped.

“Hey, she’s my sister. I’ve told you; stay. Out. Of. This.” She shouted.

Spike presses lis lips together to avoid saying something he might regret.

“Look, I don’t know what’s got your knickers in a twist, but you’re not being fair to the Nibblet.” Spike argued standing up to face her.

“Stop calling her that!” she shouted.

“No more food?” the demon protested.

“Shut ubothboth Spike and Buffy yelled back at him.

“Ups! Sorry!” It squealed slowly caressing his sore stomach. Probably he had over done it when he swallowed the second plate.

“You’ve got to stop treating her like a kid. She’s fourteen.” Spike said turning to face Buffy again.

“You are not her father.”

“No, I’m her friend.”

“Wake up, Spike! You’re a vampire. You can not be her friend.” She yelled and stormed out of the room without giving him a chance to reply.