By Ldynwaitin
Chapter Three
"Sorry Spike, but I told you a jobs a job," Evan said.
"Yeah, we paid you good money to make him pay for what he did to us," Benjy growled.
"What did you do to him?" Buffy shouted. Her eyes were twisted in anger.
"A little something I picked up while in South America," Evan replied. "It's from a frog called, Muerto Rojo."
"Red death," Giles gasped.
"What is it?" Buffy asked him.
"A poison that can kill a 'uman so fast, they don’t even know wot 'it them." Evan said. "Plus with a spell placed on it from a local witch, it can even kill a Vampire."
"Yeah, but slowly, you said it would kill him slowly," Benjy said.
"Isn't there anything we can do for him Giles?" Buffy said. Giles could hear the desperation in her voice. She cradled Spikes head in her lap, as he clutched his chest in pain.
"There may be a way," Evan said.
"Wait a minute, you're paid to kill him, not save him," Benjy growled.
"I did me job, our contract is done," Evan said. "What I do afterwards is me own affair."
"I don't think so!" the black Vampire called out. Evan spun around, he saw Anya held tightly in the Vampires arms.
"Don’t hurt her!" he shouted.
"Don't let go of her Calvin," Benjy shouted. "Seems our assassin demon may have a thing for this human."
"Hey, watch that!" Anya shouted as Calvin's hands began to rove across her body.
"I like it when they're spunky," Calvin purred. "They taste so much sweeter."
"Don't you dare hurt her," Xander shouted.
In response, Calvin ripped her blouse open. Four rivets of blood began to form from his nails, as he dug them into her shoulder.
"Xander!" Anya gasped. She saw something in his eyes she hadn't seen in a long time. She saw a look of caring.
"Get over with the rest of the humans, or I'll play tic tac toe on her neck with my nails!" Calvin hissed.
Xander slowly shook his head. His eyes remained focused on Anya.
"You're playing with her life here," Calvin growled. His arm came around her neck, she let out a gasp as he pulled it tight.
"Stand back," Evan ordered Xander.
"I don’t think so," Xander said. He took a small step closer to Calvin. "Stupid human, once Spike dies, I'm going to enjoy tearing your lungs out."
"Not going to happen," Xander said. He shoved his hand deep into his coat pocket.
"And what makes you think a weak human like you can stop me?" Calvin said.
"Maybe not this weak human, but how about…" Xander quickly pulled out something from his pocket. Opening it, he threw its contents at Calvin. "…a bottle of holy water!"
Calvin let out a howl, as Xander splashed him with the contents of the bottle. Releasing Anya, Xander grabbed her, and ran to where Giles and Buffy were standing. Evan blocked the other Vampires from stopping them. Calvin began to claw his eyes, he suddenly stopped. He let out a loud growl.
Xander shouted to Calvin, "That wasn't holy water, just simple bottled water. Who's the stupid one now?"
"If you want to save Spike, he needs one thing," Evan quickly told Buffy.
"What is it, I'll do what ever it takes," she said.
"Only the blood of a slayer will help him."
"We're not going to let that happen!" Benjy shouted.
"You take care of Spike, I'll take care of them," Evan said.
"Why should we trust you?" Giles said. "You are the one that tried to kill him?"
"Me word is me bond," Evan said. "Spike 'as always been me best mate, but 'e suddenly became part of me job. I fulfilled on the contract, now it's up to you to save 'im. Do wot you can to 'elp 'im. I'm goin' to 'ave some fun with me former clients." Taking out his jackknife, he suddenly dissapeared.
"Circle guys, if we separate we die," Benjy shouted.
Buffy turned her attention to Spike. He already began to look paler than normal. "Spike, listen to me. There is a way to save you."
"I heard," he softly said. "But I can’t do it, not to you luv."
"Spike you have to!" Buffy pleaded with him.
"Better this way," he mumbled.
"No Spike, I don't want to lose you," Buffy said.
Spike slowly opened his eyes, he saw Buffy staring at him, her eyes were actually wide with fear. "Please don't do this to me," she said. "Not you too?"
"I'm not good enough for you, I've realized that," Spike sighed.
"Damn it!" Buffy shouted. "Why do the men in my life do that to me?"
Xander held Anya tightly to him, as he watched Evan one by one pick off the Vampires. They did not die quickly, Evan was making them pay for hurting Anya.
"The men in my life are always doing things that they think is good for me, without asking how I felt," she cried out. Her voice was breaking with emotion. "My father left for my good, but he didn't ask how I would feel with him out of my life. Angel left me, because he felt we were no good together, but he didn't ask me how I felt about it. Riley, he left because he felt he wasn't strong enough for me. If only he would have talked to me, let me tell him how I felt, but no! They all left me for my good, each time I felt my heart break a little more. Until I was afraid to open it to anyone else."
She took his hand, it felt ice cold to her. "That’s why I used you," she told him. "I felt the more pain I inflicted on you, the less chance I would have of loving you, and of you…"
"Leaving luv?" Spike softly said.
"Yes," she gasped. "But you didn't go, you took all the pain I gave you, physical and emotional. When I tried to block you out, by telling myself that you were a soulless monster. You did the unthinkable," she sobbed. "You got your soul back. For me…"
She brought his hand to her face, "You've made me a believer in you Spike. You're not like the other men in my life. You've stayed, and you've listened to me, and when I'm near you, you make me feel alive. I didn't realize that that until now."
"It's what I feel around you," Spike whispered. "Its called…love."
"If you do love me, then do this for me," Buffy shouted to him. "Drink my blood, if it will save you do it. For me!" she gasped.
Evan had managed to kill off eight of the vampires. Only Benjy and Calvin remained. "The best fo' last," he growled. "I'll give you a fightin' chance. You'll see it comin'" He stood in front of the two vampires, fully visible. Holding the dusty jackknife in his hands, he waited for Benjy and Calvin to attack. The two Vampires stared in horror at the killing machine that stood before them. Spinning around, they ran down the streets.
"Better than I 'oped fo', I'll be back," Evan said, as he raced after them.
"What do you want Buffy?" Spike said, she barely heard what he said. His blue eyes had turned a pale white.
"I don't want you to leave me," she said. She gently began to kiss his fingers. She leaned down, tenderly kissing his lips. She felt him resisting, she knew she was loosing him. She hugged him tightly, as she whispered into his ear, "I love you."
She closed her eyes in thanks, as she felt him begin to return her kisses. She felt his cold lips on her neck, she gripped him hard, ready for the bite. He was so gentle, she barely felt him as he pierced her skin. She felt his mouth wrap around the small wound. She felt him drawing out her blood. After a few seconds, he drew back, his eyes looking downcast.
She somehow knew that it wasn't enough. "More Spike," she said. "Don't worry, I'll let you know when to stop." Silently nodding his head, he continued to suck the blood from the wound he made on her neck. Once she began to feel lightheaded, she whispered, "Enough."
He quickly pulled back, she already saw his color begin to change. The blue in his eyes began to return. Giles rushed to her, to help her up. "I’m fine," she told him. "How is Spike?"
He helped Spike to stand on wobbly legs. He had not fully recovered, but he was well on his way.
"I see you took my advice," Evan called out. He had returned, from the dust on his clothes, it was a sure bet that Calvin and Benjy had joined their companions.
"Stay away!" Buffy nearly growled.
"Buffy," Spike sighed. "Don't worry, he won't hurt us. Not his job," he panted.
"Spike is me best mate. I wouldn’t do anythin' to 'urt 'im."
"You nearly killed him!" Buffy shouted.
"But 'e ain't dead is 'e?" Evan said with a wink. He walked up to Spike, "I told you, you're me best friend Spike. I 'eard you were 'avin' trouble with the slayer 'ere. You made a lot of enemies, gettin' that shiny soul. Once Benjy paid me to oft you, I figured I could kill two birds with one stone." He smiled proudly as he saw Buffy gazing at Spike with different eyes.
She no longer hid her feelings for him from the others. Once she knew he was dying, she opened her heart and soul to him. She purged the past ghost from her soul, and finally realized that Spike was different. He was not like the other men in her life. They were true soul mates. He filled that empty place in her heart.
Giles felt Spike shift his weight towards Buffy. It was going to be hard for him to accept it, but accept it he had to, for Buffy's sake. For he saw Spike pull back early, when he drank her blood. His love for her was so strong, his only thoughts, even when dying, was for her safety. That is what love truly means, to put their life above your own.
"Anyanka, you goin' to be all right?" Evan asked her. Xander was tucking a torn piece of his shirt over her wound. "I'll be fine Evan," she said. She gave him a small wink. "Don't be a stranger."
Xander quickly spun around, flames nearly spat out of his eyes. Anya glowed, as she saw that old flame of jealously ignited in his heart.
"Don't worry Anyanka, I'll be around. You 'aven't seen the last of Evan." He quickly dissapeared.
"We barely saw you when you were here," Xander shouted.
"That is someone we definitely need on our side," Giles said. He was about to help Spike, until Buffy took over. He saw them walk away, arm in arm. They looked to be the perfect couple. Xander brushed past him, his arm supporting Anya. As she passed by Giles, he saw her grinning from ear to ear. She lay her head on his shoulder, as they followed Buffy.
Suddenly Giles felt very lonely. "I think when this is all over, I'm going to take Willow up on her offer to visit the matchmakers websites."
"Great Giles, I'm sure there is a Ms. Giles out there somewhere," Xander called back.
"I believe there is," Giles said. "I call her mother."
Buffy gripped Spike tighter as she felt him stumble. She gazed up at him, she saw his warm eyes smiling down at her. She hugged him closer, as they walked to her house. Even with him injured, she never felt safer in her life. She silently hoped that the First Evil would appear before them right now. For with Spike by her side, she felt stronger, she felt complete. She didn't know what lie ahead, but whatever it was, the man that she loved would be by her side. Together, she felt they were unbeatable!
The End