I Wish I Felt Nothing

Spike smirked as the younger vampires moved out of his way. He instilled fear in them all. The only other vampire who did that was Angelus. He frowned. And Angelus did it well. Unfortunately, that is where Spike had gotten it from. Of course, Dru had been known to scare the hell out of them as well. He smiled sadly at the thought of his love, who was now dust. Ms. Edith had told her to go out and see the sun one day. Of course, she had listened.

"Well, Spike, how do you like my place?" the slightly younger vampire asked.

"Well, you've yourself a nice little army here, mate. What are you going to do with it?"

He laughed. "No plans. We just go about instilling fear, as usual. Every now and then, cause a little extra trouble. But I wasn't lucky enough to be in the same town as the slayer, now am I?"

"Yeah, well if I was you, I wouldn't want to be in the same town as the slayer. I've had enough of her."

His friend just laughed. Michael was an old acquaintance. They had become friends after Angelus gained his soul. After that, Spike was free to do whatever the hell he wanted. Michael was one of those vamps that took everything as a joke. Probably the only thing that could bring him down was a stake in his heart. He was fun. Always willing to go cause trouble with Spike. And that's what Spike had wanted when his sire had gone soft.

"You had anything to eat tonight?" Michael asked.

"No, I was driving the whole time. What ya' got in store?"

Michael also always had a nice collection of humans laying around to snack on whenever possible.

"Ahhhhh. Well, it depends on what you are looking for. I got it all." He smiled cockily. "Hey watch where you're going!" Michael yelled at a passing vamp. He looked down and dusted his jacket off.

Spike laughed. Michael was also very neat. He sported a blue silk shirt with a black jacket and black pants. Spike and Michael compared to each other were total opposites. "You usually did have it all."

"Yeah, but the only problem is that they make a mess. These asses gotta let their blood squirt all over the place. I had to stake one the other night. Blood had got all over me. It was an expensive shirt too," he said seriously, becoming angry thinking about it.

Spike laughed. Michael was a character.

"All right. Here we are. Michael's all day buffet," he said, opening a door.

"Hmmm." Spike nodded impressed. He really did have a big variety. His eyes passed over the scared humans. Some big, some small. Some trashy, some virgins. There were those with brown hair or blond or black. But one stuck his eye. She was the only one chained to a wall. And she was the only red head in the room. She peaked his interest. "Why's that one chained to the wall?" he asked curiously.

"Oh that." Michael smiled proudly. "A couple of weeks ago, I had send some boys out to go shopping and they caught this one. She staked one of them. One of my better one's at that. She had a cross and holy water on her too."

"So why you kept her around?" Hell, he would've killed her right off.

"Ah, Spike, that's where you and me differ. You go strait for the kill. I think. They brought her back here. And I got to thinking, what was she doing with a stake, holy water and a cross? She must have known about us. And I'm thinking of finding out how that could be useful."

Spike had to admit, he was right. "So why is she still around?" Spike asked, advancing on the girl. He couldn't see her face. Her head hung low in defeat and her read hair had been obviously chopped off unceremoniously.

"Well, that also gained my interest. She refuses to tell us anything. The only thing that she has said is that when her friends find her, we're gonna die. Well, and she said a few other colorful words," he said as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Spike smiled. He would love to have a go at this one. He slipped into game face. He took a step closer to her and grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head up.

Willow defiant eyes stared back at the familiar face. She had recognized the voice. And she loathed it. Only because he represented the animals that held her here.

Spikes eyes held nothing but surprise. It was that little witch. The one that was supposed to do the spell for him.

"She had looked better when they brought her in." Michael spoke up, not noticing the looks from the two faces. "But she tastes good."

Spike tilted her head to one side and the other. He eyes trailed down her small form. She had a few bites on her neck and probably at least a dozen covering her body. It wasn't a pretty sight. None of them had healed very well. Some where inflamed with infection and others where just gaping holes on her body. Without the proper amount of food and liquids, they would take forever to heal. If a human had been looking at her, they would have puked. Her skin was pale and clothes torn. She had a few bruises covering her body. Her hair had been cut messily at some point over the past couple of weeks. But her eyes still glared back at him with anger. The sight repelled him and angered him at the same time.

He was to the point now in his un-life that torture held little enjoyment. Only the kill and causing trouble what was what he was about. Sure Angelus loved it. But Angelus had been crazy. It was obvious, though, that Michael hadn't out grown the torture yet.

"Let me have a try at her," Spike said with a stern tone in his voice.

"A try at what?" Michael questioned.

"Getting her to talk." He released her hair and turned to Michael. He smiled evilly. "And making her scream."

That was enough convincing for Michael. He let out a whole hearted laugh and clapped Spike on the back. "Whatever you want. But first we eat."

~~~~~

Over the past couple of hours, Spike had taken it upon himself to place food in his room. It had been hard but he had pulled it off. The sun was already up and most of the vampires were sleeping. Michael was among them.

He walked into the room that held 'Michael's all day buffet.' He walked over to where she was still chained to the wall. Her head, once again, hung low. He placed his hand under her chin and lifted it up. Her eyes, half closed, stared back at him. Not with the same defiant and angry look she had had earlier. This one was from weakness. During the past couple of hours, she had obviously been bitten a couple of times.

He took the key that Michael had given him from his pocket and unlocked one of her arms. He placed it on his shoulder and unlocked the other. He was unprepared for the added body weight. She fell forward onto him as soon as the second wrist had been unlocked. He bent down slowly, pulling him with her. He unlocked both of her feet and left with her over his shoulder.

Once he reached his room, he turned and made sure the door was locked securely. He walked over to the bed and placed her gently on the elaborate silk sheets that Michael had on the bed. He left her there and walked into the bathroom.

Willow slowly began the pulling away from the spot she had learned to go every night. But every time it became harder and harder to pull away. But it was the only way. She didn't know how it was she could do it. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was a witch. But if this was going to be the means to her end she would be glad to remain in that safe place in her mind. When she was fully awake, she looked around. The surrounding where different. And she could here the sound of water running. And feel the soft satin against her tortured body. She heard the water shut off and became nervous when she saw him walk back into the room.

Spike came back into the room and found her with her eyes open with the same look from earlier. It reminded his of the look he got from the slayer. He hated that look. It meant trouble. And that was exactly what he was getting himself into now. He sat on the side of the bed and tore the piece of ragged clothing off of her upper body. Her bra was missing and he could see that a few bite marks had been made in her breast. He was becoming more disgusted with his kind with every passing second.

Willow became aware of the position she was being put in and quickly began the process of once again drawing away. It was becoming easier everyday. She liked it there.

Spike had begun to unzip her shorts, when he noticed the girl eyes roll up into her head and her eyes flutter and shut half way. He listen carefully to her heart beat. It was still going at a steady rhythm and was in no danger of stopping. She looked the same way she did when he had unchained her just moments ago. He quickly went back to his process. He pulled down her underwear and shorts together and tossed them to the side. The sight of her naked body didn't cause a spark of lust in his body. It just made him more disgusted. Her ribs where poking out and her legs and arms where unnaturally skinny. They had been only giving her enough food to keep her barely alive.

He stood up and slid his arms under her knees and back. He lifted her light body up and carried it to the bathroom. Spike placed her slowly into the tub.

Willow's senses were awakened at the feel of the warm water. Her eyes popped open. For the first time in a long while, it seemed she lifted up her head. She would never have thought she would have had the pleasure of being in a bath again. She turned her head to find Spike kneeling next to the tub. He's face showed no emotions. She stared at him, not breaking the eye contact. Until it was broken by him. He stood up and walked behind her. She turned her head as far as she could but was blocked by the tub. She tried to push herself up but lacked the strength.

Spike grabbed the wet cloth and rubbed the soap on it. He brought it to her shoulder and touched it slowly.

Willow jumped and tensed. Her head turned and found a washcloth on her shoulder beginning to wash the dirt and dried blood away. She relaxed. She didn't know what his deal was. And if he had more sinister plan in mind, she could always run away back into her mind. She was barely aware of her nakedness. But she couldn't have cared less. The past couple of weeks had made her that way.

When Spike felt her muscles relax and her heart beat slow, he brought the other hand up and lifted her hair away from her neck and began to wash the infected bites. Her body reeked of other vampires. It was disgusting.

Reaching into the water, he pulled one arm out and washed it. Then he did the same to the other. He sat her up and began washing her back, holding her weak body up with the other hand.

Willow closed her eyes and tried to ignore the fact that is was Spike bathing her. But she became well aware of the fact when she felt the cloth slide down to her breasts. She didn't move. It wouldn't do her any good anyway. He could hold her down one handed in the pathetic position she was in.

Spike did his best to ignore the sudden erect nipples, which where most likely the uncontrollable response from her body. He slid the cloth gently around the small orbs and moved his way down to her small stomach. He once again was disgusted by the feeling of the bones sticking through her skin.

Willow took in a deep take of breath, as he bent over her from behind washing her stomach. It was easier when she couldn't see his face. His eyes. He moved from behind her to the side of the tub and glanced up at her. She should be glad his eyes weren't on her body, but it was worse -- making eye contact with him. His eyes soon left her and went back to his job. He reached in the tub and lifted one of her legs out. He bathed every inch of both legs from her feet to the top of her thighs.

When he was finished, he stood up and looked at her. He frowned to himself. That was stupid and he knew it. He walked over near her and kneeled back down to correct his mistake. He brought the cloth up to her face to wipe away the dirt that covered it. When he was finished, he grabbed the cup that was at his side and filled it with water from the tub. He poured it over her head and filled it up again continuing the task until her hair was wet.

Willow relaxed again, as he went back behind her. She closed her eyes as his hands gently massaged the soapy foam into her dirty hair.

When Spike had completed the task of washing her hair and rinsing, he unplugged the tub and grabbed a towel. He pulled her up and held her dripping wet body against him. He wrapped the towel around her and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He brought her back to the room and placed her on the bed. He grabbed the clothes that he had taken off of his choice of dinner that night and went back over to her. He pulled the towel off of her and wiped away the remaining water.

Willow still remained still as he took it upon himself to dress her. She was confused as hell now. He hadn't tried anything on her. All he did was give her a bath. And he couldn't do that with clothes. But now he was dressing her. Leaving her unharmed.

When Spike was through dressing her, he slid the covers out from under her and placed them over her body. He grabbed the blanket that was at the end of the bed and tucked it around her. He looked back into her eyes. He could tell she was confused.

"Go to sleep pet" he said speaking to her for the first time. He got off the bed and went back into the bathroom to take his own bath. When he came back, she was already fast asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Spike woke up, he was well aware that the sun was up. So it would be a few more hours before he could leave. The other thing he was aware of was that the girl was not in the bed any longer. The first thought that ran though his head was that one of the vampires had come in and took her. That thought alone caused anger to rise in him. Something he could not understand. He sat up and spotted her curled up in a chair by the table shoving food down her throat. She went on eating, unaware of his eyes on her. He noticed the bites that had covered her body seemed to be healing gradually. He threw the covers off of his body and stood up.

Willow's head snapped around at the sound of movement. Her eyes watched his slow advance towards her. He sat in the chair opposite her and didn't remove his eyes. She slowly downcast her eyes and went on with the task of eating. But slowly this time. After a while of doing her best to ignore his burning gaze, she looked up at him and stared back. She opened her mouth to speak but the only thing that came out was a scratchy croak. She had given up cursing at the vampire after about four days.

Spike stood up and went to the small kitchen. He pulled out a glass and filled it up with water from the faucet. He walked back over to the table and sat down again placing the glass in front of her.

Willow bit her lip and stared at him before she finally decided to except the glass. She grabbed it and sipped it carefully. The vampires had given her little water and food. The last time she had had anything had been at least four days ago. They would let her loose during the day off and on for a little while. But she usually got more hurt that way. She wasn't really sure what to say. Or if she should say anything at all.

"Feeling better pet?"

Well, at least she didn't have to speak first. She bit her lip and nodded.

Spike watched as a confused look came over her face and she opened her mouth. "You want to know what's going on don't you?"

She nodded.

"Well, against my better judgment, I am going to get you the hell out of here. Now you want to know why don't you?"

She nodded again, slowly.

"I have no fuckin' clue. But seeing the slayers chum chained up on the wall.... I may not like the slayer, but I've never had a problem with you. Hell, you even gave the ass his soul back from what I've heard." He sighed and took a cigarette out of a pack laying on the table. "To make a long story short, I felt sorry for you." He noticed another confused look come over her face. "No more questions."

Willow's smile went unnoticed by him. She hadn't said a thing, but she did have something on her mind. And if Spike wasn't going to say her questions out loud anymore, then she was going to have to actually speak. "How are you going to get me out of here?" she whispered.

Spike rested his hand on the arm of the chair and blew out a puff of smoke. He shook his head. "I have no bloody clue pet. I can't very well just walk out with you. And then there is the problem with Michael wanting information from you."

"You-you didn't tell him?" she asked surprised.

"No. If I would have, you wouldn't be sitting here now would you?" he asked.

She nodded and opened her mouth again to speak.

"Shush. Bloody hell, get you away from all those other vampires and you just won't shut up. Let's get something straight, pet. I am not your friend. I'm getting you out of here because... I don't know why!"

Willow sighed. She had a lot of questions, but she would have to wait. She went back to the task of filling her stomach.

~~~~~

"Now look. This is the deal. I am going out to hunt. And probably won't be back for a while. I made a deal with Michael. I told him that I wanted to keep you here and have fun with you while I was in town. He agreed. Saying that whatever is his is mine and blah blah blah. He always did have to make everything so ceremonious." He noticed the anger in her face. She didn't like being anyone's possession. "But he wants you alive. Which is good since I didn't plan on killing you. I also said that since you were mine no one was to touch you. So you should be safe while I'm gone."

For some reason, being in the same room with Spike had made her feel safe. But the thought of him leaving, made her feel fear. Not safety. She wish she could beg for him to stay, but she knew he would not. She sat calmly on the bed as he walked around grabbing his jacket and cigarettes. Once he was finished, he walked towards the door without a word. But he turned around before he opened it.

"If someone does do anything to you, tell me." 'Because they'll die when I come back,' he added to himself.

~~~~~

Willow's only comfort during the night was that most of the vampires would be out. But she knew there were some that had taken a delight in feeding from her teasing her on a daily basis. They were the ones she was scared of. But if they did get to her, she had an escape.

During Spike's absence, she had taken it upon herself to bathe again and try to wash red bit marks on her body. When she stepped into the warm water, memories of the night before rushed back to her. Oddly enough, she looked back on that as a good memory. Probably because she was comparing it to everything else she had been through lately. But it had been something nice. She did her best to ignore the bad thoughts, as she remembered how gentle his hands felt. Pushing away her thoughts, she growled to herself and bathed quickly.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was both relived and disappointed to find it empty. She went over to the bed, curled up and pulled the covers up over her head. That way she didn't have to see her surroundings. She could pretend she was in her room. That just happened to have silk sheets. And smelled like Spike. She smiled without knowing the reason why.

~~~~~

Between the place of sleep and awake, Willow was aware of her surroundings. The first one pulled her out of her sound sleep. But the second one caused her to retreat. She retreated from the real world as quickly as she could. Inside the little place that had become her home over the past couple of weeks, she felt herself losing it. This only protected herself from the physical part. Not the mental part. She could feel him. Touching her. It wasn't like before. Before they just bit but now they where touching. And she wept. She pulled away as from reality as quickly possible. She couldn't face it any longer. Until finally it was gone. She wasn't sure if it was over or if she was far enough away. But now that it was over she didn't want to leave. It was safe here.

~~~~~

Spike pulled out the key and pushed it into the lock. But before he could turn it the door creaked open. A deep growl surfaced inside of him and he pushed the door open and walked inside carefully preparing for an attack. The only person he found was the one sleeping on his bed. But he smelled. He could smell the disgusting stench all over the room. Her blood mixed with the scent of other vampires. He walked quickly over to her. Her heart beat was slowed beyond that of what it should have been when a human slept. But it was steady. He pulled the sheet away and there he saw the damage. Her shirt had been ripped down the middle. It was blood soaked from the few bites that covered her breasts and stomach. His demon surfaced angrily. His yellow eyes traveled down her body. She had scratches along her legs. Blood covered her legs and ran onto the sheets. The rage in him had built up to a point that he could not control. He let out a loud angry growl that echoed through the halls promising that someone would die tonight.

Spike's thoughts of revenge soon fell away when he noticed her eyes rolled back into her head again. He sat on side of her and sat her up. Her head just fell back as if she was dead. "Willow wake up!" he yelled and shook her roughly. Her head just bobbed back and forth, then fell forward. He remembered how the other day she had awakened when she had been placed in the tub. He ran into the bathroom and dropped her into the tub. He quickly turned on the water. He turned back to her and stripped her blood soaked clothes off.

When he was through, he looked back up at her face to find it the same as it had been before. He knew this wasn't normal. Whatever it was she was doing, slowed her heart down and was possible the only thing keeping her alive. But a lot good it would do him if he couldn't pull her back out of wherever she was. "Shit." He kneeled over her and slapped her hard on the face. Her head only flew to the side. "Willow wake up!" He did it again.

~~~~~

Michael and the other vampires that crowded the room halted at the sound of the angry growl. He stood up and walked slowly down the hall that the dangerous sound had come from. He checked in every room he walked passed until he came to Spike's. When he looked in the scent of blood almost knocked him over. It was all over the room. The next the he noticed was the sound of water and the loud sound of skin coming in contact with skin. He walked into the bathroom to find Spike kneeling over the girl slapping her across the face yelling at her to wake up. He was confused. Usually, Spike had more inventive ways of torturing. He walked closer into the room. Spike obviously wasn't aware of him. He went to open his mouth to speak but was stopped by the words that came out of Spikes mouth.

"Willow wake up!" Spike yelled for what seemed like the millionth time. Her face was red from the number of times he had slapped her. He was at a loss at what to do. She wasn't dying he knew. But her blood was all through the water and she couldn't lose anymore. He stuck his arms into the tub and lifted her naked body out of the red water. When he turned to walk into the bedroom he ran smack into Michael.

"What is going on here?" Michael asked clueless.

Spike growled and pushed him out of the way.

~~~~~

Willow broke away from her fear and pulled out slowly. She again was only aware of the mental part. She thought they where gone but was still not sure. She mustered up all the bravery she had and went a little closer to reality. What she did feel was cold and air. And her face hurt. She could hear something. She wasn't sure what it was. But what she did know is that for some reason it made her want to come back out.

~~~~~

Spike placed her on the bed and wrapped a blanket around her shivering body. He sat on the bed and pulled her into his arm. He cradled her and did his best to warm her up. But with his cold body was no easy task.

He noticed her heartbeat start to quicken and her eyelids began to flutter. He pushed the hair out of her face and held her head in his hands. "Willow, wake up. Come on, Willow." He grabbed her shoulder and shook her. "Wake up, Willow! Come on, Willow. I promise you, if you come out, I'll take you home."

Willow heard it. That word. That beautiful word. Home. Home wasn't New York. Home was Sunnydale. Where Xander and Buffy and Giles were. She opened her eyes and the most wonderful reassuring sight she had ever seen. Spike.

When her green eyes stared back at him, he silenced. He placed one of his hands behind her head. "Willow, what happened?"

"I didn't want to leave," she whispered. "I was safe there. And it hurt so bad out here," she sobbed.

"Willow, who did this?" he asked sternly.

"I don't know," she cried. "I was sleeping. And I ran to a safe place before I could wake up. I was too scared to open my eyes."

"It's okay. I'll find them," he whispered to her.

Michael couldn't believe his eyes. Spike was coddling the girl. And she excepted him without fear.

Spike laid her down on the bed only to have her scream and cling to him. He turned to find the object of her fear. Michael. But it wasn't Michael. He didn't hold her scent and she didn't hold his. "Willow, calm down." He untangled himself from her and placed her on the bed. He stood up and turned to Michael. "Watch her. I trust you. But if I come back and she is dead not only will you get no answers but you will die." Spike said and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Michael called after him. When Spike turned back around he was in game face.

"I am going to find who did this to her. And kill them."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike walked with deadly grace down the halls. He picked up on the scent of each vampire. He was going to find the two vampires that assaulted her. Not only because they had hurt her, but because he had been disobeyed. He walked into the main room, growling like an animal. He could smell her. Whoever attacked her was in this room.

And he didn't care if he had to stake everyone one of them.

~~~~~

Willow wrapped the blanket tightly around her. She did her best not to pay attention to the other vampire and stood up. She walked shakily to the bathroom. She reached behind the door and grabbed the robe. She dropped the blanket and wrapped the robe around her. She headed out of the room slowly, trying not to use to much energy.

"Where do you think you are going?" Michael asked.

"I want to see this," she said and kept walking.

He had to admit, he was a little curious himself. He followed the girl out of the room.

~~~~~

Spike stalked slowly around the main room, taking in the scent of each vampire. The smell of Willow's blood became stronger, until finally he knew where it was coming from. Their features were enough to tell who was to blame. They were most likely less then 5 years old. And very foolish.

The two vampires looked at Spike with fear. They hadn't thought it would have mattered. Why would he ever care for her? But they foolishly lied to themselves when he went back to his human face. They thought it was over.

Spike shifted back to his human face and turned his head. There she was.

Clothed in only a robe and holding her frail body up on a chair. She couldn't have cared less about the other vampires around her. Even if they where looking at her hungrily. She was obviously not scared. He noticed the angry look set on her face. She wanted to witness their execution.

He walked over to her and placed his hands on her waist. "Pet, you should have stayed in your room. You don't want to see this. You're weak."

"You think I can't handle this?" she laughed. "Give me a break, Spike. Half of these vampires wouldn't have lasted as long as I have, if they had been through the same things that I have been through over the past few years."

He had to admit it, she was probably right.

"It's them," she pointed over to the two vampires Spike had been in front of before.

"How do you know?" She had told him that she didn't know who it was.

"Because they liked to hurt me," she said as if she were a child.

She was right. He could tell there scents were the same as the ones that he had detected on her body before. He pulled out the large chair that Michael usually sat in and helped her to sit down. That gesture on it's own was enough to show that Willow was important. He turned away from her and went back to game face. Spike walked back slowly to the bastards. He wanted to give them time to build up their fear.

"So, Willow here says you haven't been very nice to her, mates."

"What are you talking about?" the stupider of the two said.

Spike growled. He slammed them both into the wall. "Do I look stupid to you! I'm 227 years old! What the hell gave you the idea that you could go over me?! You shouldn't have bit her."

"She's only a human," the other vampire said, obviously having the same stupidity level as the other one.

Spike brought his face closer to them. "But she is my human. You do not touch what belongs to me." Spike growled lowly.

One of the vampires decided it would be nice to rebel against Spike and growled at him. "She is human. They deserve to die. She should have already been dead after what we did to her. And you should die with her for betraying your own kind."

First he tells Spike that she should be dead. Then he says that Spike should die. Spike didn't take well to threats. His demon broke any control he had been hanging on to and latched on to the vampires throat with his sharp teeth. With an animalistic growl he yanked it out. The vampire (and his throat =)) turned to dust. Without a thought, he grabbed the other vampire and broke his neck.

Willow watched in awe at the site. She felt her stomach begin getting queasy as Spike ripped the throat out. After he snapped the other neck, fear began to sink in. Spike didn't look like he had much control, she realized as she saw growling at other vampires ready to stake another. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She pushed herself up off of the chair and headed over to Spike. When she reached him, she laid her hand gently on his shoulder.

Spike growled and spun at the touch. When he saw the body attached to the hand, he quieted. But he was still too worked up to go back to his human face.

For some reason, the fear she should be harboring toward Spike, wasn't there. Instead, it was replaced by the feeling of protection. And even odder affection. She brought her hand up to his face and slid it over the wrinkles in his forehead. His yellow eyes flashed at her.

Spike felt his control start slipping back into place and the demon start to draw away. All of this from a humans touch. She gently touched his face and gave him the faintest smile. Her eyelids started to close and she began to sway. Spike reached out and grabbed her before she could fall. He swung her into his arms like a baby, knowing her legs wouldn't be able to support her. Spike turned to face Michael, back in his human face.

"We are leaving," Spike said firmly.

"What?" Michael asked with the disbelief obvious in his voice. He couldn't understand why he was protecting the girl.

"Don't stand in my way, Michael. I will not let you hurt her. She is too good for this." He looked down at her. Her eyes where closed and there was a serene look on her face.

"You want to leave? I want answers."

Spike sighed, impatiently. It was going to be light in a couple of hours. Unfortunately, he had promised answers. He looked around at the other vampires. Well, might as well scare the shit out of them.

"All right, answers. Fine." He hefted Willow up higher. "I knew her before I came here. Her name is Willow. She is a friend of the slayer."

"And you kept this from me!" Michael yelled angrily. "This was the kind of information we needed!"

"What for? To get yourself killed!?!" Spike yelled back. He wasn't in the mood to be yelled at.

"She is the only slayer that has lived this long. She defeated the master. She stopped an accension. Hell, even Angelus couldn't defeat her when he lost his soul. I couldn't defeat her. Let's not mention all the other numerous demons she has killed over the years. You think she would have any trouble putting a stake through your heart?"

"She wouldn't dare do it if I had her." Michael said and pointed at Willow who was beginning to wake up.

"Are you listening to me! She will kill you. Along with her friends, her watcher, and Angelus. Look, I have learned over the years the only thing worse then a slayer is a slayer with friends. The only thing worse than that is a slayer who loses one. So the question is Michael do you really want her to put a stake in your heart? Of course, I'll probably do it before she does if you don't let me go," he told his possibly dead friend. He looked down at the moving body in his arms. Her face was turned towards Michael.

"She will kill you," Willow stated simply. "Why do you think I told you you would die?"

Michael did his best to control the inner battle in him. He knew Spike was right. But how could he just let them go. The girl had no fear of them. If she got like that from the slayer, she had to be worse than what Spike was saying.

"Get out," Michael said and turned to leave the room.

Spike didn't waste a second. He walked out of the room and headed for the door. Not one of the vampires tried to stop him.

~~~~~~~~~

Spike jumped inside the stolen car quickly, escaping the pouring rain. He looked over at Willow, who was still sleeping. Spike started the ignition and brought the car around to the room he rented. He looked at his watch. There were only twenty minutes left of darkness. He slipped off his duster and wrapped it around Willow. He pulled her into his arms and opened the car door.

"Bloody hell," he cursed at the rain splattering down on him. He kicked the door shut and ran to the over hang, which hung over the hotel doors. He pulled the key out of his pocket and slipped it into the lock. It clicked and the door opened. He stepped in, pushing the door closed behind him. Spike placed Willow on the bed and went to the task of putting blankets over windows.

~~~~~

Willow yawned and stretched at the feel of the comfortable bed. She looked around at the unfamiliar room. "Spike?" she called into the emptiness.

"Right here love," he said, toweling his spiky blond hair as he came out of the bath room. Appealingly, he was dressed in only a pair of black boxers.

Willow bit her lip as she tried to think of something to say.

"How are you feeling?" he asked and threw the towel on a chair.

"Well, I'm not as weak, but when I sit up, my stomach hurts. And if I bend my neck it hurts." Her eyes widened as he walked over. He gently tilted her head to the one side, then to the other.

"They're healing. Not very fast, though. Lay down."

"Why?"

"I need to look at your stomach."

"B-but I only have a robe on," she stuttered as she laid down. There was no way she was untying it.

Spike sighed. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to her waist. He went on to untie the robe.

Willow grabbed his hands and stopped him. "I'll do it myself." She untied it slowly and pulled both sides out taking special care that her breasts stayed covered.

"Pet, I've seen it all already," he said and smirked.

Willow opened her mouth to respond but closed it immediately. A light blush covered her cheeks.

Spike kneeled down next to the bed and slid his hands lightly across her stomach. He felt her shiver but chose to ignore it. If he did bring it up, she would turn beet red.

Willow bit her lip as his cold hand glided over her stomach inspecting the wounds. She felt a shiver run up her body and goosebumps spread all over.

"Willow."

"Hmmmm?"

"Some of these are bad. We need to get you something for it. Right now. I am going to call the desk and get someone to run something over. But you need to answer the door okay?" he said as if he was talking to a child.

Willow nodded.

~~~~~

"Spike, you can come out," Willow said as she moved towards the bed.

Spike emerged from the bathroom. He walked over and took the medicine from Willow. "All right, lay down."

Willow repeated the same process as before, getting under the covers and sliding the robe away just a little.

"Stop biting your lip," he scolded as he rubbed the medicine on.

Willow yanked her lip from between her teeth quickly and smiled shyly.

Spike let out a sigh and looked up at her. "Those aren't all the bites and I know it."

"But-" Willow started to protest

. "Do you want to get sick because these got infected."

Willow shook her head quickly. She hesitantly pulled the robe away to reveal her chest.

Spike kicked himself silently. What the hell was he doing? She could have very well put the medicine on herself. He almost bit his own lip while he was in deep thought. Damn girl. But he went against what he was telling himself and preceded to rub the medicine on the bites marring her breasts. He almost cringed. He knew some of these where going to leave scars. Which was a shame since she had a beautiful body.

Willow instead bit the inside of her lip. But this time, she bit hard. She was doing her best to control what she was feeling. It wasn't like this when he gave her a bath. Probably because she had still hated him then.

Spike did his best to control the groan that almost escaped him as he saw her nipples harden. But what surprised him was that she wasn't stopping him.

Especially since, he had rubbed the medicine completely in. Oh well, he thought and rubbed his hands over Willow's hardened nipples.

Willow let out an uncontrolled whimper and unconsciously arched her back.

Reality hit Spike hard as Willow reacted. He his hand away and was positive when he did, there was a disappointed look on Willow's face. He quickly covered Willow with her robe and went over and sat on the chair, resting an elbow in the arm of the chair and putting his head in his hand.

Willow sat up, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and pulling the robe tightly around her. She stood up, wrapped her arms around her stomach and walked into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.

Spike growled and slammed a fist onto the arm of the chair.

~~~~~

Willow sighed and leaned against the bathroom door. That was very weird. She dropped her hand to her side. When she opened her eyes, the robe had fallen open and she staring into the bathroom mirror. Her eyes widened at the sight. She let the robe slide off her shoulders and catch at her wrists as she walked closer to the mirror. Her eyes watered at the sight. She had no idea.

No idea what so ever.

~~~~~

Spike heard a soft whimper come from the bathroom. He groaned. He was doomed for life to coddle women. He pushed himself up off of the chair and headed to the bathroom. When he opened it, he found Willow crying in front of the mirror with the robe to her waist. He didn't understand what the hell was going on.

"Willow, what is the bloody problem?" he asked, a little more spiteful then he intended. He was irritated with the whole sexual tension thing.

"Look at me!" she screamed and let the robe slide off not caring about her nudity.

Just wonderful Spike thought. Now she's naked.

"I didn't know! There where no mirrors. How was I supposed to know?" She touched her neck and let it slide down to her breasts, to her stomach. "I look like a monster. I have bones sticking out. I'm pale. My hair is chopped off and my body is covered with bite marks."

She cried harshly. Tears started to run down her face, but she didn't care. Everything was coming back at her now.

"Pet, it'll all go away. I promise," he said, as he bent down to pick up the robe. He went to her and started to wrap it around her, but she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Spikes mouth fell open. He wrapped his arms around her, but his thoughts were more below his boxers than on her crying. The only thing separating them now was his boxers. He could feel her breasts pressed firmly against his bare chest. He rubbed her bare back slowly with his hands. He was going to die of this sexual tension, if it wasn't relieved soon.

The inner battle inside of him was tearing him apart. He finally got to the point that he didn't care anymore. Yeah, he liked the girl. So what! And yeah, he was a vampire and she was human. He wanted to shag her right now but who the hell cared? She obviously didn't. He pulled away and raised her chin to meet his gaze.

Willow swallowed. He was just staring at her. He wasn't saying anything.

Except she was aware of the fact that they were getting closer and closer until their lips met. It was a sweet kiss, at first. It gradually became needy, as Spike opened her mouth with his tongue. She willing excepted him.

Spike picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He opened the door and walked back into the room.

Willow pulled away from the kiss, taking in a deep breath. She put her hands on the side of his face and leaned down to kiss him.

Spike met her kiss with, equal need and laid them on the bed without breaking the kiss.

Willow slid her hands down his back lightly, until she came in contact with his boxers. She pushed them down as far as they would go. Spike pulled away and yanked them off, throwing them to the floor. He leaned back over her but did not meet her lips. His lips came in contact with her nipples.

Willow ran her fingers through his blond hair, pulling him closer. She let out whimper as he bit lightly on the one nipple and pinched the other. Willow grabbed his head and pulled it up to her. She stared at him, not knowing how to say what she wanted.

But Spike could tell. It was evident on her face. He lowered his head and kissed her swollen lips. He entered her with one sharp thrust, causing Willow break away from his kiss and gasp. He moved in and out of her slowly but was soon Willow met each thrust completely.

Willow wrapped her legs around Spike, as the pace started to go faster. She let out small gasps every time he sunk into her, making her complete.

"Spike," she whimpered at the desperate need building inside of her. "Please."

Spike was never one to disappoint. He slammed into her hard three more times before he felt her start coming. He growled as he could smell the blood in her neck. It was only a couple of inches away and he was trying his best not to bite her.

Willow was barely away of the teeth scraping against her neck and the low growling as her orgasm led to his. She held on as long as she could and grabbed his head and pushed it into her neck.

That was all the invitation Spike needed. He sank he teeth into her throat and came at the same time she did.

Willow screamed as her walls shut down around him and clung to his shoulders as the orgasm it her in full force. The next rational thought that went through her mind was of a large body on top of hers Spike licking her neck and growling lowly.

"Spike?" He didn't answer. "Spike!" she said a little louder and pulled his head away.

Yellow eyes stared back at her. He blinked a few times then went back to his human face. The growling halted and he rolled over onto his side. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his stomach, continuing to lick the wound.

Willow decided against talking and just closed her eyes letting the precious sleep come to her that she so desperately needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing Spike saw when he opened his eyes was red. Willow's hair was in his face. He pushed her hair away and looked down at her neck. His mark was still there. But it was his mark. She didn't smell of the disgusting vampires that had eaten her body up. She was his. Not theirs.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. They were going to have to leave tonight. But first he would need to get her some clothes. Maybe a haircut.

"Spike?" asked an unsleepy voice. She must have been awake the whole time.

"Yes, pet?"

Willow turned around to face him, inches from his face. She brought her hand up to his chest, running her fingers over it. "Where are you going to take me?"

"Where are you living?" he asked. That was one thing he didn't understand. What was she doing in New York?

"I go to college here. I left Sunnydale after my second year of college and came here. I've been here for a year. I decided to stay here and not go back to Sunnydale for the summer." She looked up at him. "I want to go back now."

"Why would you want to go back there of all places?" he asked incredulously.

"I never got kidnapped on the hell mouth. Well, except by you." She smirked.

"Sorry 'bout that, luv," he replied.

"I'm safer there, which sounds unbelievable. Buffy is there and so is everyone else."

"Are you expecting me to go back to Sunnydale and be near that bloody slayer again?"

Of course, she was. For some reason, the thought of her going back and him staying in New York didn't fit well with him. Besides, his presence would probably not be appreciated by other New York vampires, now that he saved Willow.

"No, I wasn't expecting you to." She smiled. "I was hoping that you would."

"You think that sweet routine works on me, do you? Well, guess what? You're right."

Willow smiled happily and threw herself on him, knocking him on his back with her on top of him.

"Thank you."

Willow kissed him. She pulled only slightly away to take a breath and then bent down to kiss him again more passionately.

Spike responded to the kiss. 'I could get used to this,' he thought, as he flipped them over.

~~~~~

"All right. Here you go," he said, dropping the clothes on the seat as he got in.

Willow pulled the various items out of the bag she had instructed Spike to get. "I don't wear this kind of stuff," she said incredulously, as she looked at the shorts and the tight shirt.

"You'll live. Anyway, I thought it would look good." He started up the car and headed to the airport.

"And what is this all about?" she asked in disgust as she held up the see through black underwear and bra.

"Well, you wanted them, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but-"

"I'm not going back to return them. So just change." He had liked the underwear and bra. He couldn't understand why she didn't.

Willow frowned and undid her robe and proceeded to put on the clothes. "I still have all my clothes back in my apartment. How am I supposed to get them?"

"I'll get someone to send them to Sunnydale."

Willow was about to ask who, but she decided it would be best if she didn't. "Spike when we get to Sunnydale, what are we going to say?"

"Well, one thing's for sure. You better tell them the truth about being kidnapped. I don't want to be staked because they think I hurt you. And you are going to have to tell them what happened between us. Because there is no way they would think that I would be coming back with you to be nice."

Willow sighed. "All right."

~~~~~

Spike was drawn out of a sound sleep by a soft whimpering. He rolled over to face the side of the bed and found Willow curled up in a ball. The lights from outside shined on her face revealing her eyes to be slightly open. He sat up and pulled her into his arms. She continued to be limp in his arms. Almost unaware of his presence. Her heart beat thumped slowly in his ear. He flipped on the lamp and his fear was confirmed. The whites of her eyes showed through the slits of her eyes. He had no idea of how to help her. Unlike the other times, when her heart beat was at a slow yet steady pace, this time it was slowing down.

~~~~~

They had found her. They had gotten in her head. She kept running and running farther and farther. But they where gaining. She didn't know how they had found her but they did. And no matter how much she called out for Spike but he wouldn't come. He had left her.

~~~~~~

Tree's whizzed by as Spike drove at top speed. He had been left with little choice. Of course, he had no idea where to find them. He had to waste time torturing it out of some vampire. He didn't want to resort to having to turn Willow. He didn't want her as a vampire. Maybe it was some fetish of his, but it seemed like he was always taking care of someone.

He had gotten his information. He strained his hearing over the engine to pick up on her heart. It was slower than it was earlier. It was hardly noticeable. He pushed the gas not caring what fuckin' speed he hit.

~~~~~

"Xander, hand me the damn stake," Buffy said annoyed.

Xander made a face at her and threw it to her.

Amy laughed, as it hit Buffy on the arm.

Buffy picked it up off the floor and sent a murderous glare at the two. "I am going to go find him and stake him. He has caused to much trouble over the past few years. I am going to end this now."

"Buffy, be careful. From what I have heard, something really weird happened back in New York with him. All I was able to find out is that soon afterward, he came straight here and arrived yesterday. That's why I rushed down to tell you," Angel cautioned her.

"I'll be careful. He'll be dead." She spun around at the sound or the door being swung open and slammed against the wall. All she saw was white and red flash by her eyes. When the figures stopped moving, she realized who it was.

"Well, you just saved me the trouble of finding you," she said and grabbed him slamming him against a wall.

Xander ran over to Willow followed by Amy and Giles.

Spike knocked her across the room with a loud fierce growl. He went back over to Willow. "Help her."

Angel grabbed him around the throat. "Did you feed from her?"

Spike growled. How the hell was he supposed to save her if they kept fuckin' concentrating on him. He knocked Angel arm away. "I wouldn't have come here." He turned to the watcher. "She is in some kind of trance. Look at her eyes. It's happened before. We need to get her out. I was able to do it the first two times but each time it got harder."

"This has happened before?" Giles asked, as he opened her eyes.

"Yes. Now enough with the bloody questions. Help her!" he yelled.

"We can't help her if we don't know what's going on." Giles said angrily.

"Look, I found the girl in New York. She was being held by vampires. They had bitten her, hurt her. You can probably notice from the bites that are on her. She wasn't fed and was damn near dying. I brought her into my room and put her in the tub. It woke her up."

"Then why didn't you do that this time?" Giles said, as he checked Willow pulse. He felt his hands begin to shake as he felt the slow rhythm.

"It didn't work the second time. Two vampires got in the room to her and hurt her bad. When I came back, she was like this again. I put her in the water and it didn't work. I even resorted to slapping her in the face. After a while she woke. But each time her heart only slowed to a steady rhythm. Now her heart is getting slower. I woke up and she was like this. Whimpering, " he explained. He dropped his hand to her forehead and slid the hair away.

"I know what she is doing," Amy said pushing through Giles and Xander. "It's a witch thing. She escapes from the outside world. The pain the fear. That was her way out. But if you use it to much it becomes harder and harder to leave." She checked Willows pulse. "The pulse slows down but remains steady. It is sometimes used to keep someone alive." Amy explained. She placed her hand on Willow's forehead. "She's too far in."

"I thought you said it only slowed it down but became steady?" Buffy asked more concerned about her friend than Spike.

"Something is scaring her. She isn't hiding. She is running. The farther you get the slower the heart beats. She keeps going farther." Amy frowned. "We need to send someone in to get her out."

"You mean like into her mind?" Xander asked.

"Yes."

"I'll do it," Buffy and Xander said at the same time.

"Spike, did you save her back in New York?" Amy questioned.

"Yes, I saved her. I tore one of the bloody bastards throats out and broke the others neck." It had been a nice kill.

"No, I mean you got her out of there. Right?"

"Yes, I got her out. I would have killed to get her out of that place," he said seriously to Amy.

"Then you go. She'll know that you'll save her. Plus, you're dead. No matter how far you go, you wont die." Of course, she had never done this before. But she hoped it worked.

"All right," he said decidedly. He didn't care if he couldn't come back. He was going to get her out of this mess she was in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, so what am I looking for?" Spike asked. It wasn't like he made it a habit to go inside peoples minds.

"I don't know. There are rumors. Some say if you are hiding, there are places to hide. If you are running, it's a long strait hallway," Amy said, pulling a chair up. She sat in front of him.

"Okay, well, what if she is running and hiding?"

"I don't know. But you can tell us when you come out of there with her," she said and placed a hand on Willow's head and Spike's. "No one move me. No matter what. If I break contact with either of them, it won't work. Here goes nothing." She closed her eyes and started mumbling unknown words.

Spike gradually felt his eyes falling close. Almost as if he was falling asleep. The next thing he was aware of was a voice.

"Go Spike," Amy's voice echoed through the air.

Spike looked around. It was dim. Almost dark. But he could make out three white walls and an opening. He headed in that direction to be brought to another room that had three doors. "Wonderful. A bloody fuckin' maze." So that's what must happen when you run and hide. Damn Willow and her brain. He picked a random door and took off quickly. It was no use wasting time.

~~~~~

"Shit," Spike cursed to himself. He had been running around for a while without any sign of Willow. So the only thing left to do was to call out to her. "Willow!!!!!" He kept running through the never ending maze. "Willow!"

~~~~~

Willow stopped. She had heard her name. It wasn't coming from the same voices that mocked her when they called out to her. This one was familiar. A comforting familiar. She heard it again. "Spike!!!"

~~~~~

Spike heard his name being called out by Willow. It was desperate. The maze around him changed only leaving one door that led down one long hallway.

Without any other place to go, he headed in that direction.

~~~~~

Willow's eyes searched the room she had stopped in. She had to wait for Spike, but she could hear them. Mocking her, laughing at her, growling. "Spike hurry!" she pleaded. She had no idea what hall he was coming down and therefore couldn't run to him.

"Wiiiiillow," the voice beckoned her.

"No," she said to herself more than to the objects chasing.

"Wiiiiiillow," the voice laughed at her.

"No!!!!" she screamed crazily and covered her ears.

Spike heard her scream and ran as fast as he could. He finally saw her. She was crouched in the middle of the room, rocking back and forth, with her eyes squeezed shut and her hands covering her ears. The whole time screaming no. He grabbed her arms and pulled her up.

"No!" she screamed and tried to pull away.

"Willow. It's me."

Willow looked at his face. She threw herself at him wrapping her hands around his waist, trying to get as close to him as possible.

"Willow, where are you going?" he asked and pulled her away.

"They're after me again. I had to run. Why wouldn't you help me?" she asked like a lost child. "I kept calling for you, but you wouldn't come."

"Pet, I don't know who is after you but it isn't real. Right now you are laying on a table with Buffy, Xander, Giles, that poof, and that witch around you."

Realization started to hit her. She hadn't even realized that she had withdrew. "You came to get me out?"

"Yes. Willow your heartbeat was getting slower and I couldn't wake you. Willow we have to leave."

"But they're after me. They keep chasing me. They're not dead Spike. They're back. And they're going to hurt me," she said in a tiny voice.

The site of Willow reduced to this hurt him. "Who is it Willow? 'Cause I'm going to kill them."

"I-It's those vampires. The ones that hurt me," she stuttered.

"Willow, I killed them."

"No." She shook here head back and forth. "They're back."

"Willow, this is all in your head. It isn't real." He didn't understand what the hell was going on in Willow's head.

"Spike it is." Her head turned to the loudining footsteps and growls. "We've got to go," she pleaded and tried dragging him along.

"No!" he yelled and yanked her back. "Do you even have any idea what you are doing! You are killing yourself! The farther you run, the slower your heart beats. And then it will eventually stop. Meaning you will die."

Willow finally took a moment and considered what she was doing. She knew that this wasn't real. Because she knew she had fallen asleep in her bed. Then the next thing she knew she was aware of being chased. Then out of habit she took off running. But if it wasn't real why was she so scared?

~~~~~

"She stopped," Amy said as she opened her eyes but still kept her hands on their heads.

"Stopped what?" Xander asked alarmed.

"She stopped running. Her heartbeat is slow but it is steady."

They all let out a relieved breath. It had sounded like she meant her heart had stopped beating.

~~~~~

Willow's head flew around at the sound of footsteps. Two familiar figures appeared in the doorway snarling at her. She backed into Spike's chest.

"They are not real," he told her again. "How do we get out?"

"That way." She pointed to where the vampires where standing.

"Let's go." He pushed her to the side of him, away from the vampires and wrapped his arm around her.

Willow watched the two glaring vampires nervously

"Willoooooow. Don't you want to have some fun?" one of them taunted her while the other cackled.

Willow held her breath as they neared them. She noticed Spike seemed to be unaffected by the whole thing.

The same vampire that spoke to her before looked at her angrily he launched towards her.

"No!!!!!" she screamed at them angrily.

~~~~~

Willow's body took in a deep breath and her breath could be heard fast and steady.

Giles placed his hand on her wrist. He let out a relieved breath. "Her pulse has picked up." The others let out their own relieved sighs.

Amy pulled away as she felt Spike leave Willow. She watched both of them for any sign of them waking. Spike eyes where the first to open.

"Bloody hell. That was a trip." He stood up and walked over to Willow. "Why isn't she awake."

"Just give her a moment," Amy scolded.

Everyone watched impatiently for any sign of Willow's waking. They were finally rewarded as Willow's eyes fluttered open.

Willow looked around at the faces surrounding her. She finally stopped on the most familiar one and smiled. "I am on a table."

Spike shook his head, the only one understanding the joke.

Willow groaned as she pushed herself up. She felt like she had been asleep forever. She had went too far that time.

Spike quickly slid his arms under her and lifted her up.

"Dammit Spike. I'm not crippled. Put me in a chair," she said grumpily.

The others stood in awe as Spike carried Willow and she scolded him.

"Just because you keep getting in these near death situations doesn't give you the reason to be bitchy pet. Especially since I keep saving your ass," he grumbled as he placed her in a chair.

Willow gave him a small smile, then turned to the others doing her best not to fuss at him for towering over her even after he put her down.

"Willow what happened?" Buffy asked in sad disbelief as she sat down. This Willow wasn't the Willow she was used to. She was frail and had small puncture wounds on her body. Her eyes where hollow and she looked very well near death.

Willows smiled faded away as reality came back to her.

Willow's smile soon vanished. She couldn't stand to hurt Buffy. She didn't want Buffy to know that she had failed at protecting her best friend. "I was grabbed on night a couple of weeks back. I think I was just a random meal. And they took me as a random meal until I staked one of them. Which unfortunately peaked their interest," she said sadly. At the time, it had seemed like the best. But after a while, she had begun to think if it would have been better to just let them kill her.

"They thought it would be to their benefit to hold me. They wanted to know how I knew about vampires. They chained me to a wall and taunted me, bit me, fed off of me, cut me, hit me. They even cut of my hair." She stood up. Why she felt the need to show them how she had been hurt, she didn't know. It wasn't to make them feel bad. It could be she wanted them to feel the anger she felt.

She walked in front of them all. She held up her freshly trimmed hair revealing the inflamed bite marks. She dropped her hair and lifted up her shirt half way revealing her stomach. The looks on there faces were ones she would never forget. She could see Buffy's eyes start to water. Xander looked as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to cry or be angry. Amy's was of disbelief. And Giles' and Angel's face held nothing but guilt.

"Spike came after two weeks. He didn't know I was there, but when he saw me, he said he wanted to try to get information out of me. He took me to his room and took care of me. But the next night while he was gone two vampires who had especially took enjoyment in hurting me broke into the room. I was asleep. So I ran. Just like I did tonight. They were there tonight to." She sobbed. She had to lock her knees to keep herself from sinking to the ground. She soon felt pressure on her legs relieved as she as she was picked up once again. But this time she was grateful for it.

Spike once again took it upon himself to carry her over and sit her in a chair. But this time it wasn't accompanied by a complaint.

"Willow what happened?" Buffy prodded. Anger and sadness growing in her at the same time.

"I don't know." she sobbed. "I-" she stopped short unsure of what to say. Spike took that moment to cut in.

"By the time I came back they where gone. The only reason she had survived was because of her heart beating so slow. Her clothes where torn and soaked in blood. She had scratches and bites on her body." He clenched his teeth together as he recalled the site of her and the emotions that went through him as he stepped into that room.

"Where are they?" Buffy asked angrily. "Probably swept up and in the garbage by now." he said with a smirk. It had been a wonderful kill.

"You killed them?" Giles asked wanting to be sure. Willow smiled. It wasn't a beautiful sight. But the revenge in itself had been wonderful. She let out a small laughed causing Spike to turn. "He didn't exactly kill them."

He noticed the corners of her lips turn into a smile even though she still looked like she could brake down any second. "It was more like a slaughter."

Relief flooded Buffy. No matter who killed them she was glad they where dead. And from the way Willow was looking it must have been quite a show. "What happened after?"

"We left. It took a little convincing but I was able to walk out of there with her alive. We stopped for a night and then came here the night after. We slept during the day. But when I woke up she was doing that thing that she just did." He had no idea what it was and he truthfully never wanted to deal with it again.

"What happened?" Angel spoke up for the first time. What happened to Willow was bad and if those two vampires were still alive, he'd go himself to New York and take care of them. But the thing that was peaking his interest is the relationship between Spike and Willow which had obviously become something more. From Spike's reaction to her almost dying and the way he touched her he knew something was different.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked confused.

"What happened between you and Spike?" he asked straightforwardly.

"What do you mean her and Sp-. Oh man," Xander said as he realized what Angel meant.

Willow wished at that moment to go back into her mind, even if it meant being near death. The last thing she wanted to explain is the change that happened between her and Spike.

"It's kind of hard to explain," she said nervously.

"When did it happen?" Angel questioned.

"After we got away from the vampires," she answered quietly. She bit her lip as she saw Giles start rubbing his temples and the surprised looks on Buffy's and Xanders face. "I didn't mean to." she looked up at Spike as he gave her look. "It just happened."

"Wait what happened?" Xander asked alarmed.

Willow opened her mouth but only a small sound came out. She couldn't tell them this. You don't discuss your sex life openly. Especially when you did it with Spike. But Spike spoke up for her. Although it wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"None of your bloody business. If we shagged we're bloody well not going to tell you wankers." Spike said in a warning tone. Which pretty much told them all what they wanted to know.

"That's not the important thing right now. Willow you need to go to a hospital." Buffy said and stood up.

"But Buffy I'm okay." Willow said trying to convince her friend.

"You don't know that. Those bites are so infected you could have anything."

"Now how do you plan on explaining this to a doctor?" Spike said and stepped in front of Willow.

"I don't know and I don't care. Do you want her to die because of some infection?" Buffy said dangerously. If getting to Willow meant she would have to beat Spikes ass she would do it.

Unfortunately he knew the Slayer was right. He didn't know what was going on inside of Willow's body. He stepped away.

"Come on Xander and Amy," Buffy said as she helped Willow up. "I'll be back. You stay here," she said to Spike in a tone that she meant business and wasn't finished with him yet.

Spike watched the three disappear out the door before he turned back to face the two pairs of staring eyes. He stared back at them the whole time not faltering. The silent battle went on until the footsteps of a slayer could be heard walking back into the room.

"So no one was killed while I was gone I see." She walked over to stand in-between them. "Well, where do we start?"

~~~~~~~~

Willow winced as she sat up in the hospital bed. She had felt better going into the hospital than she did now. The bright lights made her squint, but she caught the shine of blond hair out of the corner of her eye. "Buffy?"

"Huh?" Buffy said and sat up. "Hey, Willow." She stood up, walked over to Willow and sat on the side of the bed. "How ya feeling?"

"Hungry," she admitted.

"Well, they had brought in food." She pointed to the disgusting substance. "The only good thing was the jello. And Xander ate that."

Willow laughed. "Did he tell you what he told the doctor when we got here?" She laughed harder thinking of it.

"Yeah. He couldn't exactly say it was vampires though now could he?" Buffy raised an eyebrow.

Willow shook her head and smiled but the silence came over them.

"Willow....." Buffy started unsure of how to begin.

"Well, there's two things to talk about Buffy. What happened to me or Spike? Which one do you want to start with?" She bit her lip as she saw the thoughts run through Buffy's head.

"Um.... Well, after you left, we had a talk with Spike. He told us all about what happened to you. Or at least what happened when he came," she said, hinting that she wanted to know about the previous weeks.

"I can't really talk about it. I don't really want to. I mean, I told you what they did to me. They hurt me and taunted me. That's what my first two weeks before Spike came were like. But you of all people know how it is. Something's are to hard to talk about right away," she said sadly.

Unfortunately, she did know how it was. And unfortunately, Willow knew how it was too. "All right. But there's one thing I can't relate to. Spike."

Willow bit her lip and looked uneasily at Buffy. "What do you want to know?"

"First of all, most importantly, I know that if I were to tell you that you couldn't see him, you wouldn't listen to me. So this is what I want to know. Be honest with me. Can you trust him?"

Willow did just as Buffy asked. She really considered. She took into consideration all of the things that Spike had done. Then they were immediately pushed back by the memories of the way he saved her. And touched her. And protected her. He had risked his life to get her out of that place. He had done it again by going into her mind. Why would he do all of that if he didn't care?

"I think so." She stumbled over the words unsure. "No, I know so," she said with a little more conviction. "Buffy, he put his life in danger more then once and it was because of me. He didn't have to save me. In fact, he could have just told them who I was, but he didn't. I don't know why."

"But Willow why? Why of all people him?" Buffy still didn't understand it. But the same things Willow just said had been running through her mind as well.

"I don't know," Willow said confused. "In fact, I think he felt it before I did. When I first saw him, the only thing I felt was anger. But he helped me."

Buffy pressed her lips together and sighed. The slayer part of her told her to grab a stake and put it through his heart. The friend part, the human part, told her that Willow was right. She wasn't sure if it was for the best or not. But she listened to the friend part. "Okay Willow. I believe you. I'm not sure if I should. But I do."

Willow smiled. "And everyone else?"

"Will get over it." Buffy said sternly as if it came to it she would beat it into them. Another thing occurred to her that she just had to know. The though was too disturbing. Which made her even more curious. "Willow. Did you have sex with Spike?"

~~~~~

"Willow."

"Hmmm?"

"Wake up."

Willow's eyes opened at the cool hand on her cheek and the sound of the British accent. For a reason she couldn't explain, happiness filled her heart and she felt like she could jump up and hug him, if she didn't have all kinds of drugs in her body.

"You're here?" she asked unbelievably, almost as if she couldn't believe it.

"Yes. Unless I got pulled into your mind again. How do you feel?" he asked concerned. It was happening again. What was it with him that he coddled everyone he loved? Love? When did that happen? he wondered. But it had to be something strong for him to like a human.

"Well, I feel like all woozy. And tired. But besides that I think I am getting better. About 50% of my body is filled with drugs now. And they gave me more then enough shots. And let's not even go into IV's that are stuck in my arms, pumping fluids into my body. But you know I'll live." she nodded.

Spike once again was grateful that he was dead.

"So what did Buffy have to say after I left?" she asked curiously.

"Well, you know, the usual. Hurt her and I'll stake you to a cross blah blah blah. But after the yelling and the threatening I think she began to accept it." Then there had been the part where she slammed him into the wall and threatened him with a stake to his chest. But he preferred to leave that one out.

"Accepted what?" Willow asked. She had to know what it was that Buffy accepted.

Spike wondered if she really was that dumb. But there had to be meaning behind the question. And the only thing he could think of was that she wanted to know where they stood. "Us, I'm guessing pet."

Willow looked into his eyes hoping to see honesty but his face was blank. She wasn't sure what to make of it. "So there is an us?"

"Well, that's what I thought we made pretty clear the other night."

"No, it wasn't clear. You are a vampire. One without a soul. You kill people like me. As much as I want to, I find it hard to accept that you would want an 'us' with a human," she said bluntly. She didn't want this thing being dragged out for weeks until one day she found his teeth in her neck. She had to know.

"I don't like being alone," he said simply. It was the truth. Loneliness made him depressed.

"So the only reason you want me is because you don't want to be alone?" Willow asked hurt.

"Dammit girl, don't put words in my mouth." She didn't back down from his harsh reply she only stared at him expectantly. "That's not what I mean. If it was that way, I could go pick any vampire or any human. I'm trying to say is that without you I am lonely. If I was with someone else, I would still be lonely."

Willow turned her head away from him in shame. She should have known better. Or maybe not. You can't tell with vampires. But that meant she was more then just anyone to him. She looked back to him his eyes still watching her. "So you won't leave?" she asked like a hopeful child.

"No. I don't think I could if I tried." He was starting to feel human. Bloody hell. "After all, by staying here, I can irritate the hell out of soul boy and the slayer. " There. That was better. Unfortunately, though he still felt the same. Maybe it wasn't unfortunate; it wasn't that bad that he wasn't lonely anymore. The only bad thing is that she was human. But in a few years he would remedy that situation. With a soul though. He couldn't lose her.

Willow had to admit it would be funny. "So like boyfriend - girlfriend thing?" she asked brightly.

Spike rolled his eyes. She made him sound like some bloody hormonal teenager. "Pet, whatever thing you want."

"All right Willow, time for another shot," the unnervingly cheerful nurse said as she entered the room.

Willow groaned but allowed the women to pierce her with the needle.

"Now this will put you asleep because it is so strong. Your body was very contaminated." She looked over at Spike sitting in the chair. "Who is this young man?"

Willow eyes widened and she smiled brightly. "He's my boyfriend."

Spike frowned and looked at her dangerously. It wasn't something she had to say aloud.

"Ah. Well, he will have to be leaving soon. Have a nice nap," the nurse said leaving behind an annoyed vampire.

Willow turned to him and smiled. "She was nice," she said drowsily.

"Yes. And there was too much of it. She is making me want a snack," he said.

"Spike no!" she jumped up awake once again.

"Calm down, pet. It was a joke." He pushed her back down gently. "Go to sleep. I'll be back in a few so she thinks I'm gone."

"Wake me up when," she yawned, "you get here." She looked at him through slitted eyes.

"Sure pet." He stood up and leaned over her kissing her warm lips.

Willow returned the kiss to the best of her ability. But she felt herself sleeping into a long awaited slumber.

When he pulled away he heard her mumble something even though her eyes where closed. "What's that pet?" she mumbled again but a little louder. Once he registered what she said she was already asleep. "Bloody hell." He frowned and headed to the door. But for some reason on the inside he was filled with happiness hearing those three words from Willow's mouth.

The End