Ooooooohhhhh, my head is killing me. I open my eyes and realize that Giles has dust bunnies under his couch. In a flash I'm on my feet and looking for the evil monks. They're gone, Giles' front door is wide open and it looks like I've been out for at least a couple of hours.

A weak groan comes from my left and Giles' head pops up over the kitchen counter. Relief sweeps through me as I realize that I'm not going to have to live through Giles getting kidnapped twice in one week. Before I realize I've moved I'm crying in Giles' arms.

"I though they got you! I thought I failed you again!"

I feel a weak pat on my back as Giles shushes me, "There, there, no one's been hurt severely and you've never failed me. Please do remember, however, that I'm recently recovering from a bout of broken ribs."

I let go quickly and smile weakly into his eyes as I translate his stodginess into 'I love you and I'm glad you're okay as well.'

Giles scans the room, "It looks like, whoever they were, they were after Spike's amulet."

I didn't know Liberace had a Goon Squad. Speaking of Spike, it's late afternoon and I think it's time I got home to see how he's doing. My mom's due home soon and I'd like to minimize the time he's alone with her. Of course that complicates patrolling tonight, but maybe I can convince him to follow along. I resolve to ignore the excitement churning in my stomach at the thought of seeing Spike again. Some mistakes should never be repeated. Much.

~~~~~

The house is quiet when I get home. I check the second floor and there's no sign Spike was ever there. Even my bed is made. Huh. Who knew feral vampires understood the complexities of hospital corners.

I hit pay dirt when I reach the basement. Sitting curled up into a ball on the old cot with his head on his knees is Spike wearing a faded old pair of blue jeans and a half buttoned white Oxford that my dad left behind. They're the ones Mom wears when she cleans. His hair's a mess, as if he's been continually running his fingers through it. I approach him slowly so that I don't startle him when he decides not to return the favor.

"What have you done to me, Slayer?"

I don't exactly jump out of my shoes, but I now understand that phrase much better than I ever did before.

"Spike!?!?" Uh oh. My voice broke. What does he remember? I'm blushing before I can even try to get control of my emotions. Houston, we need a diversion! "You're talking. You must be feeling better." If I blush any more my face is going to pop from the pressure.

Spike raises his head and I realize there are tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please, whatever it is you did to make me feel this way. Undo it. Please."

I don't think he's referring to what I'm thinking about.

"What do you mean?"

"All I can see are their faces. Sometimes they're so real I can see them in the room with me. Please make it stop. I can't take the guilt anymore!"

Faces? Whose faces? And guilt? "Spike, I'm gonna call Giles and we'll get to the bottom of this. I promise. In the mean time; why don't you come upstairs with me and I'll fix you something to eat. Mom got you some blood this morning. It's from the butcher shop but it'll have to do. I even have an idea of how long to nuke it for to make it body temperature."

"Two and a half minutes." Spike blanches, "How do I know that? I've never cooked blood before in my life! I think I'm going crazy!"

~~~~~

Slayer's all confused. Whatever's going on I'm not so sure she had anything to do with it. Maybe it was the Watcher or the Poof. Wouldn't put it past either of them.

Things are better now that Buffy's here. Buffy. When did I start thinking of her as anything but the Slayer? Why do I get a warm feeling in my chest every time she bends over me to see how I'm doing? God! I want her. From the scent I can tell she returns the compliment. Maybe that's why I'm feeling better. Too busy being randy as a goat to feel anything negative. I'll take it. Anything to quell these feelings of remorse. At least I think it's remorse. It's been so long since I felt anything like it that I can't be sure what exactly it is I'm feeling.

I'm sittin' on the sofa. After Buffy brought me a cuppa she sat down across from me perching herself on the coffee table. She's leaning forward and suddenly our eyes meet. Bloody buggering hell it's like I've been caught in a bear trap. Her eyes are so beautiful and expressive. I can't drag mine away. Lord knows how long we sit staring at each other. Feels like I'm drownin' in the depths of her sea green eyes.

I hear her heart speed up a bit and I can't help leaning forward to get a better listen. She leans slightly forward as well and her eyes drop to my mouth. A magnetic pull starts between us and we're drifting closer and closer. I can't fight it and I realize I don't want to. I want to know what happened last night. I want to experience it myself. I want ...our lips meet and there's an explosion.

Next thing I know Slayer's straddling my lap, head thrown back and my face is buried in her sweet smelling neck. Never felt anything like this. She's a wild cat and she's makin' me just as wild, not that I had very far to travel. The noises she makes. The whimpers, the sighs, the low throaty growls; I realize they're all for me. I'm makin' her feel this way. I'm driving her crazy with desire.

That thought pushes me over the edge and I feel the demon take over. A growl erupts from my throat and I feel my face change. The small part of my brain that retains conscious thought realizes that my game face may very well snap Buffy out of whatever she's feeling but when she pulls her head back and sees my face she doesn't react other than to dip her head back and kiss my fanged mouth. Lor'! What she's doin' to me! I've never wanted anything they way I want her!

She's layin' beneath me on the couch now. Don't remember how we got this way but m'not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She's pullin' at my shirt buttons tryin' to get them open. I save her the trouble and pull the thing over my head. She's pullin' her shirt off as well. She's so beautiful; she's enough to make a man convert. Hell, maybe that's why I've been feelin' so bad today. She must have fucked my soul back into me last night. Bloody Hell! Her hands have slipped inside my pants. My last cohesive though is if feelin' this way means puttin' up with a soul it's well worth the price.

~~~~~

For the second time today I wake up laying on the floor. This is starting to be a disturbing trend. Spike shifts and grunts beside me and my body flushes as I remember what we just did. I had sex with Spike. Again. Oh! Oh no! I sit up in horror. What have I done!!!!

Spike opens his eyes and for a second I see fear then resignation flash though them. Then I can't see anything at all as my eyes water in dismay.

"Can't say as that's the reaction I expected, Slayer."

"Oh Spike! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to . . ."

His eyes narrow in confusion, "Didn't mean to what? Can't say as I have any idea what you should be apologizin' for."

"Your soul! I took your soul away!"

"My soul!"

"You were feeling guilt earlier! You must have had a soul but then we had sex and now you've lost it!"

"Luv, if what's wrong with me is caused by having a soul then I can reassure you that I still have one."

He stops speaking when a noise from the front door interrupts us. It's a key in the lock. Oh crap! My mom's home!


tbc