Backfire - Spander Files

“Watch it, Slayer. We had a deal.”
“I know.” Before the final two had arrived, Xander had asked Buffy to promise not
to kill Spike. She refused, and a minor fight had threatened to start until the vampire
and the Slayer agreed that all Spike needed was a head start. Without saying, they
both knew that meant that Spike would leave town. If he ever came back, the rule
book was out the window.
Now, standing at the front door, Spike unconsciously startled when Buffy placed a
hand on his arm. He tilted his head at her, confused.
“I’m sorry about Drusilla.” She spoke softly, not daring for Giles to hear.
Spike’s eyes flashed gold, then cooled and he smiled lightly. Nodding, he reached
across himself and gripped the hand that was holding onto him. “Angel loved you.
It’s wrong that it ended the way it did.”
Buffy took the oddly worded apology for how it was meant. They stepped away
from one another, satisfied that the pleasantries were over, and then punched each
other in the face.
Blood dripping from both their noses, Buffy returned to the couch, and Spike left.
*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*
It was hour ten. Willow hadn’t slept. Oz had been force feeding her and reminding
her to drink water.
Xander’s steady slow pulse had become hypnotic. It was constant, and Willow had
the soft percussion pumping through her brain. She had conjured songs that
matched its tempo and was resting with her head on the bed, humming Crash Into
Me, when the song was interrupted by an sudden change in rhythm.
Her first thought was annoyance. That’s not how that goes. Then she lifted her head
and was met with large brown eyes. “Hi, Wills.”