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~~ Healing Powers ~~
It was daylight as Buffy entered Spike’s crypt one week after the night of drinking and talking. Spike was sitting on top of the stone coffin where Harmony was hiding, still thinking that Buffy was out to kill her. “What do you want, Slayer?” Spike said, trying to hide his relief of her visit. Harmony wanted to play 20 questions again and Spike wasn’t up for it. He pointed down to the coffin to indicate that Harmony was inside.
“Relax, Spike,” she said nodding. “I’m not here to kill anything, I just need some information about--vampires.”
“You’re the Slayer, you should know all about us,” he said. “But if your blondeness has finally affected your memory, why don’t you go ask ol’ Ripper?”
He wasn’t making this easy for Buffy. Even though they had somewhat of a truce, they still exchanged quips, especially in the presence of others. The ‘friendship’ reminded Buffy of Xander and Cordelia’s peculiar romance. *That would never happen,* Buffy thought to herself. *Spike’s just...ick!*
“Spike, I came here in peace, don’t make me leave you in pieces,” she threatened for Harmony’s sake. “Now get your sun-proof blanket and we’ll go to the magic shop where it’s less creepy.”
“Fine, if it’ll get you off my back.” he said sighing in pretend aggravation.
He grabbed his blanket and held it over his head as they left the crypt and went to Buffy’s house. “People are staring at me,” Spike said quietly. “I hate walking around in the day.”
“I’m sorry, I need company though,” she admitted sadly. “Willow and Tara are out buying ingredients for their spells, Xander and Anya are on a picnic and Giles is working in the store. They all wanted me to keep busy with them, but they just remind me of how lonely I am.”
“But Giles doesn’t have a girlfriend, why not him?” he said as they reached her driveway.
“He’s over-sympathetic and talks about boring things.” Buffy replied. “He tries to keep my mind off of Riley but I can’t help thinking how much I wish he was there with me.”
“And how is it different with me?” Spike asked hiding the happy tone from his voice. He was still very attracted to Buffy and he hoped that maybe she was attracted to him. They entered her house and sat in the living room, Buffy on the couch and Spike in the armchair.
“Because you’ve had your heart broken too,” she explained. “And when I’m around you I don’t feel so single ‘cause you know what it’s like. Everybody else has other things to do.”
“And I don’t?” he asked.
Buffy sighed. “Like being in your crypt with Harmony?”
Spike shuddered. “No bloody way,” he replied. “Another game of 20 questions or hide and seek and I’d go crazy.”
“Hide and seek now?” Buffy asked incredulously.
Spike chuckled. “Well only once since I didn’t bother to look for her after she hid in the coffin.” Buffy laughed lightly. “She must have stayed in there for nearly an hour before she gave up and found me asleep on the couch.” Spike smiled as he listened to her laugh. She had lightened up slightly over the past week, getting over Riley day by day.
Buffy’s laughing ceased and she looked down sadly. “Spike, I have to ask you something.” she said softly. Spike nodded and waited for her question. “Why did you show me what Riley was doing?” she asked, looking over at him.
“Well you wouldn’t have believed me if I told you.” he replied.
“No, I mean why did you do it at all? I would’ve thought that you’d want Riley to kill himself there.” she said, tears forming in her eyes.
“I don’t know,” Spike lied. He knew exactly why he’d done it, and he even admitted it to Riley. He loved Buffy and he had to try anything to increase his chances with her. “He’s a selfish jerk that needed to be brought down from the pedestal you put him on.”
“Well according to him, I didn’t make him feel needed,” she explained as the tears fell down her face. “He actually believed that those vampires needed him. All they needed was a free snack with tips.”
Spike looked at Buffy. He handed her a tissue from the box on the coffee table. “Dry your eyes, Slayer,” he said. “I didn’t come here to watch you cry.”
“Well I have to,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “It’s my fault--”
“No it’s not!” Spike argued. He moved from his armchair to the couch where she sat. “Buffy, you have to realize that he should’ve just told you what he was feeling. You said he was so open with you, but he kept this a secret for God knows how long. You’ve been strong throughout this whole week, don’t start sliding back into your shell.”
She nodded slightly in agreement. “I guess you’re right, but I still--did you just call me Buffy?” she asked suddenly.
If Spike could have, he would have blushed right there. He had been careful to call her Slayer to her face but he’d accidentally let her name slip. He’d covered all the clues of his attraction to her. This past week had been enjoyable, talking to her, drinking with her, escaping from Harmony and the dusty crypt with her. But he had let his guard down while trying to ease her guilt.
“Yeah, I did,” he admitted nervously. His mind raced, searched for a cover for his blunder. “I figured if we’re going to act all chummy, I’d stop calling you ‘Slayer’ since you don’t go around calling me ‘Vampire’ or ‘Demon’.”
Buffy seemed to approve of his answer because she didn’t make any move to throw him out of her house. “Well, do you want to patrol with me tonight?” she asked hopefully. “There was a car accident yesterday and some vamps decided to feast on the people in the cars. I need to make sure that they don’t rise tonight and I can always use a little company.”
“Sure, I can always use a little violence,” he said smiling. Buffy looked up at him and smiled back.
“Thanks, Spike,” she said. “For keeping me company and listening to me mope and whine. I’m sure everybody else is tired of me...how do you put up with me?”
“I guess I’m immune to whining since I have to listen to Harmony while you’re in class.” he said chuckling.
Buffy cupped Spike’s chin and kissed him on the cheek, blushing immediately afterwards. Spike just stared at he with a shocked statement on his face. “I’m sorry, I--”
Spike interrupted her with a soft kiss on the lips. He expected to wake up from this dream any minute but it didn’t happen. He pulled away from her. “So am I.” he said. He stood up and grabbed his blanket, leaving Buffy sitting on the couch in silence. “See you tonight.” he called as he closed the front door behind him.