Backfire - Spander Files

comes back, then yeah, restraints seem to be the way to go. But it’s not the itch
that’s gonna kill me. It’s the burn.”
Buffy placed the back of her other hand on Xander’s forehead. “You’re not hot.”
“It’s inside me, Buffy. It’s mystical. You can’t feel it. Just me.”
Oz stood at the end of the bed, hands resting on the footboard. “How will it kill
you?”
“It will melt my insides. All of me, from the inside out. I’ll disintegrate.”
The Watcher removed his glasses to clean them, but his handkerchief was missing.
“How do you know?”
“I don’t know. I just do.”
“Are you in pain?” Willow asked, tears starting again.
“A little, but different than before. It’s not sharp like razors. It’s just a dull heat. If I
wait too long, it will scorch me.”
Buffy’s grip on Xander’s hand tightened. “If you wait too long?”
“It won’t get that bad. I won’t let it. Spike’s gonna kill me.”
*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*
The uproar was to be expected. Giles, Willow, and even Oz began to shout out
alternatives, but each seemed to be along the lines of “wait and see” and “more
research is in order.“ Buffy and Spike remained quiet. They knew.
The argument could have lasted hours, but since it was three on three, and only the
opposition side was doing any of the talking, the fight petered out fairly quickly.
When everyone was finally silent, Xander turned to Giles. “Would you mind calling