Showdown: Part Six
by Eletia
Spike turned to take one last look at the hospital, he smiled as he saw Cordelia's car swerve to a stop and the occupants jump out. * Good * he thought to himself, * Niki will have her friends there when she wakes up. *

Niki slowly opened her eyes taking in all the concerned faces surrounding her. * I feel like I've been run over by a bloody truck * she thought as she tried to figure out where she was. * Hospital!? What the hell am I doing here? * "Where, How did I, Who...?" Niki asked turning to face Buffy. "I mean, How did I get here? The last I remember was after I slit my... I passed out... how did I... Buffy, who brought me here?" she asked, beginning to get frantic. * Please say Buffy found me and brought me here. Please say it was you guys * "Oh shit. she muttered as she looked took in the emotions clearly painted on everyone's faces. "Angel, how did I get in here?" she calmly asked.

"The nurse at the front desk said you were brought in with your fiancé after he placed a 911 call to the paramedics."

"Fiancé" she barely got out.

"A Mr. Spike Williams." Angel calmly told her.

"Niki, Spike brought you in here, you've been treated for an animal attack." Giles interrupted.

Niki looked at her now carefully bandaged arm.

"We spoke to your doctor and he said that you'd lost a lot of blood, they had to give you a transfusion. The good news is that your arm should heal well."

"Spike? Spike brought me here?" Niki spoke as she tried to get a grasp on the information she'd just been given. "An animal attack? But I sliced my wrist with a kitchen knife? Why would anyone think that was an animal bite? But my arm should have healed, before... Oh my god. He got me and he slashed my arm so that there would be a reason for my needing a transfusion, he, he, he got into my house." Niki instinctively raised her arm to check her neck for any tell-tale I've-just-had-a-visit-from-a-vampire marks.

"Niki, calm down. It's all right, aside from the scratches down your arm he hasn't hurt you. The nurse said he waited until you were out of surgery and sat with you until just before we arrived." Buffy said, trying to calm Niki down.

Just then the nurse entered, telling the occupants of the room that they would have to leave so that Niki could get some rest. She didn't notice that one of Niki's friends stayed behind, out of her sight.

"Xander, you can come out now, she's gone." Niki whispered once she was sure the nurse had gone. "Thanks for staying, I...I couldn't stand to be alone right now."

"Not a problem. You just get some rest. I promise I won't leave you."

Niki looked up into his eyes, "Xander, I did what I did tonight because I didn't want you guys to be hurt."

"What you didn't think losing you would hurt us at all?"

"No, it's just that, well I was hoping my arm would heal a little better on it's own. I figured I'd pass out, but that after an hour I'd be back on my feet like normal. I hoped you guys wouldn't even know what I'd done. Xander don't be mad, please?"

"I'm not mad at you Niki. Sure if I ever hear of you pulling a stupid stunt like that again..."

Niki cut in "Xander, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was the only way I could keep Spike away from Dru. Deep down I just knew that if I was hurt he wouldn't be able to leave me."

"Shhh, it's okay. You're going to be fine and Druscilla's gone. Now lie back and get some sleep. I'll be here if you need me."

"Xander, sleep with me. I know it'll be crowded but I need to know you're there. I can't... I'm afraid to be alone."

Xander crawled into the hospital bed beside her, wrapping his arms protectively around her as he did. "It's okay, I'm right here with you. Now go on and get some sleep." He lay awake beside her for about an hour, listening to the comforting sound of her breathing, before he too fell asleep.


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