We Need You: We Need You
by Spikes Queen
WE NEED YOU
Buffy went upstairs, to where Spike was still unconscious in her room. It had been three days since she rescued him from The First. The moment Buffy laid him in her bed, her passed out.
Buffy rarely left his side. The potentials had begun staying at Xander's since Spike came home. Buffy was grateful for that.
When Buffy brought Spike home, Dawn broke into hysterics. Buffy didn't until later, when she was laying next to him. She didn't know how much he meant to her. She just her tears flow, every minute praying he'd wake up.

One night, Buffy's prayers were answered. She was sitting next to Spike watching him, and her groaned loudly. It startled Buffy for a moment and tears welled.
"Buffy?" Spike choked, as pain lanced up his body.
"Shhh... I'm here," Buffy said, pushing wild curls away form his forehead.
Spike closed his eyes and relaxed. It took him a few minutes to realize he wasn't wearing a shirt and he was in Buffy's bed. Spike couldn't contain the whimper that came from his mouth.
Buffy instantly because worried. "I'll go get you some blood." She ran downstairs.
"Dawn shot up form the couch. "Buffy? What's wrong?"
"He's awake. Give me fifteen minutes so I can feed him, then you can come up and see him," Buffy said.
She ran to the kitchen and put some blood in the microwave. She heated up four packages before she was satisfied.
Buffy headed upstairs and helped Spike sit up. She climbed behind him and let him lean against her. She fed him all the blood and he was getting a little better.
She felt how tense he was and couldn't blame him. Buffy pulled him closer so he could lean on her shoulder. Spike hesitantly buried his face in her neck. Buffy leaned her head on his and just cuddled with him. Buffy brought her hand to his hair and petted him softly. He visibly relaxed and drifted into sleep.
Dawn came up the stairs slowly. She peeked in Buffy's room and there was Spike, in Buffy's arms, sleeping like a baby. She took a shaky breath and walked toward the bed.
Buffy looked up and smiled. She motioned for Dawn to climb in. Dawn didn't hesitate. She climbed on the other side and Buffy pulled Dawn closer to Spike. She settled down with them and slept peacefully.

When Spike first woke he had three thoughts, 'Ow, why is Dawn curled next to me, and why is Buffy holding me?' A very loud groan escaped him, causing Dawn and Buffy to stir.
"Spike," Dawn mumbled.
"Yeah, Bit?" Spike said, weakily.
Dawn tried to get closer to him without hurting him.
Buffy unconsciously tightened her arms around him and just held him while Dawn curled next to him.
"Spike, it's okay. You're home. I should get you some more blood," Buffy said.
"I'll go. I'll be right back." Dawn flew out of the room.
"Buffy... It raised some... vamp thing," Spike said, leaning more into Buffy's embrace.
"I know. I killed it. It's gone. I couldn't let anything else happen to you so I never slept until I found you," Buffy said, her head resting on his.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," Spike choked.
"Buffy's brow furrowed. "For what?"
"Making you go through all this. You shouldn't have to," Spike said, stroking her hand, which was on his chest, protectively.
"Don't be silly. I believe in you. I need you. The world needs you," Buffy said.
"Dawn came up the stairs with a few packages of blood. She sat next to Spike as Buffy fed it to him.
"Dawn, you should go get something to eat as well," Buffy said, when Spike finished his meal.
Dawn reluctantly left the room.
"Spike you have to drink me," Buffy said, softly.
"No," Spike whispered.
"Spike, I need you strong and healthy. Please?" She whimpered.
"Buffy, I don't have any kind of control," Spike said, softly.
"Spike, I believe in you and trust you. Please?" She said.
"Buffy, I can't do it. I just can't allow myself to hurt you," Spike said. It hurt his ribs to raise his voice at her to argue.
Buffy reached over to the end table. She pulled a pocket knife out and carefully slit her wrist.
Her blood hit Spike hard. "Buffy, no," Spike whimpered, trying to keep the demon down.
Buffy placed her wrist over his mouth. "Please?" Spike vamped and carefully slid his fangs into her.
Buffy just felt him pierce her. It didn't hurt like she thought it would. It was gentle and caring.
Spike carefully extracted his fangs and licked her wounds closed. He clearly looked a lot better.
"She pulled him closer. "See? All better. I'm okay."
"I tried to be gentle," Spike said.
"You were. Actually it felt like a kiss instead of a bite," She said, kissing his hair.
"That was my intention," Spike said, as Dawn came up.
Dawn curled up next to him and Buffy's blood helped him be able to put his arm around Dawn.
"How you feeling Spike?" Dawn asked.
"A little sleepy, Nibblet, but other than that I'm good." He gave Buffy's hand a slight squeeze and she squeezed it back.
"Um, you worried us half to death. Also Buffy a tornado hit the kitchen," Dawn said. "The girls are back at Xander's, but they'll be back later."
"We're gunna have to come up with some kind of routine for those girls," Buffy said, sighing.
"What girls?" Spike asked.
"The First is planning an attack against the whole slayer line. All potential slayers are coming here. I have to train them for a big battle. That's more of the reason I had to get you back. We have to really train them and take them patrolling," Buffy said.
"Tat's gunna take a lot of work," Spike said.
"Well, being a slayer or being in a slayer's life was never easy," Buffy said, kissing his hair.
Spike's began to subside as his girls coddled him.
"We missed you," Dawn said, quietly.
"That's good to know. It is nice not to have someone pounding on you around the clock," Spike said.
"Buffy rested her cheek against his hair. She hugged him slightly. "No one's gunna hurt you. Not if I can help it."
"How long was I gone?" He asked softly.
"17 days," Dawn and Buffy said.
Buffy decided that Dawn and Spike needed to talk and she need to go downstairs. Carefully, she eased herself out form under Spike and eased him back on to the bed. "I need to check on things downstairs. I'll be up later." She kissed Spike on the forehead and left.
"Spike, we need to talk," Dawn said, squeezing him.
"I figured," Spike said.
"I'm not mad and you. Buffy and I needed you and you weren't here," Dawn said, tears slipping from her eyes.
"Dawn, I couldn't stay here. There's nothing I can do to fix what I did," Spike said, shakily.
"yes there is. Just be here for us. Don't leave," Dawn said, trying to get closer to him.
Spike turned on his side and Dawn curled up against him. He held her tightly and they both slept.

Downstairs Buffy was being bombarded with questions.
"Buffy it's been three days since you've been down here. What's going on?" Xander asked.
"He's okay. Dawn and I are helping him through his pain," Buffy said, stuffing her face full of pizza.
"How's he doing anyway, mentally?" Xander asked.
"I believe the voices are gone. It's gunna take him some time," Buffy said, cleaning up the kitchen.
"Listen, there is someone who can help," Xander said.
"Hey B," Faith said, taking her cue from Xander.
"FAITH!? What are you doing her?" Buffy asked.
"She's helping. I'm taking everyone over to my place so you can have time with Spike and Dawn. It might be easier without a bunch of girls around.
"Thanks, guys," Buffy said, smiling at Faith.
"Well be better get moving," Xander said, rounding up the girls.
"Faith, we'll talk," Buffy said, going upstairs.

Buffy entered to a sitting Spike. He was propped up against the headboard.
"The girls are leaving. It's just the three of us. Xander, of all people, thought it would be better if you didn't have everyone watching over you," Buffy said, siting next to him.
"Remind me to thank him later," Spike said, stroking Dawn's hair. Dawn was sleeping next to him her head against his chest.
"What'd you two talk about?" Buffy asked, mirroring Dawn's position on Spike's other side.
"She told me not to leave," Spike said simply.
"Are you going to?" Buffy asked nervously.
"Do you want me to?" Spike asked.
"No. Not ever. Dawn and I need you," Buffy whispered.
"Then I won't leave," Spike said, as Buffy began to doze. He soon slept with his two girls on either side of him.

This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=4407