[Reviews - 243]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 4911 times

- Text Size +




"Are you trying to say that my daughter's coma is psychologically induced?" Joyce asked Dr. Rayne, feeling an urge to go hit him for even suggesting it.

"No, Mrs. Giles, I'm gathering all the information I need so that I can do everything I can to treat your daughter correctly and safely," Ethan tried to explain to her.

"She's not crazy!" Xander exclaimed rather loudly, causing other people in the ICU waiting room to give them a mixture of sympathetic and dirty looks.

"No one has said she is," Ethan said calmly trying to keep in mind that they were worried about their loved one.

"Then why ask if she was under a lot of stress? Like this could be why she’s in a coma," Dawn accused him as she stood with her arms across her chest and glared at him.

"I treat the brain, and I've found it works in mysterious ways. Ways we will never learn the meaning of or understand, no matter what. During my time of treating patients I have learned never to leave a stone unturned," Ethan said trying to reassure the family his intent was only to treat his patient to the best of his ability.

"When you have ruled everything physically possible then come and ask me again, Dr. Rayne," Joyce firmly told him as she turned to walk toward the window.

"May I speak to you in private?" Giles asked the doctor, knowing Joyce would be mad at him.

"Certainly, Mr. Giles, you can," Ethan relaxed, feeling a connection with his fellow compatriot. "If you would come with me, we can go to the staff lounge."

Joyce turned and glared at her husband's back. A part of her realized he had Buffy's welfare in mind, where the other part felt betrayed. She refused to believe her oldest daughter to be so weak minded to do this to herself.

*******

Hank knew he should tell Spike about Buffy's other condition, as well. He just couldn't bring himself to be the bearer of more distressing news, especially since he didn't know how the babies were doing. The more he watched Spike interact with his son, the more he came to realize what a good man William Bledsoe really was.

"Can I have a puppy?" Nigel asked as he looked up at his father's face.

Spike took his time to answer, thinking how much he had wanted a pet when he was younger. "I think when you're five years old, it would be a good time for you to ask me again."

"Why?"

"Because I think you'll be old enough to help take care of a puppy by then," Spike explained, leaving out the part of them knowing more about their future.

"Can I pick it out?" Nigel asked, wishing he were five years old now.

"What kind of puppy do you want?" Spike asked. Talking like this with his son was a wonderful way to get to know him more and to take his own mind off what was waiting for him in Sunnydale. Dru never gave him much father-son alone time with his boy.

"Big and black," Nigel told him.

Spike chuckled at how this young version of himself reminded him of when he was a child. He had wanted a big black dog as well, one that would growl and keep the big nasty monsters from under his bed.

"What would you name him?" Spike asked, as he looked down at the excited young face looking at him with so much love and trust.

"Black," Nigel answered.

"I like that name," Spike said, chuckling as he ruffled his son's hair.

Nigel's face lit up at his father's words. He climbed upon Spike's lap sideways facing the window, leaning against his father's chest and said, "Don't lose me. Mummy said you lost us once."

"Never, Poppet. I won't lose you I promise," Spike quickly reassured his son as he hugged him close and silently vowed to make Dru suffer for lying to and mistreating his son.

Hank reaffirmed his promise as well. There would be no rock he'd leave uncovered if Dru got away. He would find the bitch and make her pay for all the trouble she had caused with her selfish blackmailing schemes.

Candice sat silently on the other seat and knew Ms. Downing was never going to see her son again. Normally she'd feel bad about it, but not this time. She was doing her version of the happy dance inside her head.

*******


Buffy again found herself watching her past self bring her memories back. This one was the first of many with Spike. The first most important one, other than the night he gave her his number, of course.

"Hello, Pet," Spike said in greeting when he approached her table with a soft glance and an easy grin.

She had broken down and called him with Lorne's firm encouragement. He had answered with a bored tone to his voice that had become more alert and excited when he heard it was her calling. She had asked if they could meet for coffee Friday evening and he had quickly said yes.

"Hi, yourself," Buffy said as she tried not to let him see how nervous she was.

"I have to say I'm glad you called," Spike said as he took the seat across from her. "I was getting ready to start phase two of my plan."

Buffy couldn't help but smile as she asked, "Phase two of what?"

"Part of the mission was to get Buffy to ask me out for coffee," Spike replied with a straight face.

"Okay, what would you have done if I hadn't called you?" she couldn't help but ask because she was dying to hear what utter nonsense he was going to tell her.

"Oh, I had planned on skywriting it over campus, 'Buffy call me, 678-4440, Spike'," he said with a shrug of his shoulders and a sparkle in his eyes.

"And if that didn't work?" she asked, watching his smile grow.

"Then I would write it on the black board on all of your classes," he replied, with a mischievous grin on his face.

"You seem to have this all figured out," Buffy said as she leaned back feeling intrigued and frightened at the same time.

"Buffy, I just want to spend sometime with you. Get to know you better," Spike explained as he continued, "If all we do is become friends, then that's one more friend we both have."

"So, you wouldn't consider this a date?" she asked.

"Only if you want it to be, I'm willing to take it slow," Spike replied.

"I'm not looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Wrong. I'm not looking for mister anything. I just want to get my degree and establish my career," Buffy explained, telling him up front her life plans.

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Pet?" he asked.

"I want to teach school-age kids art and drawing for now," she said. "Someday, maybe move up to college level or be like my mother and work at an art gallery."

"Sounds fun and exciting having all the little ones to keep you busy teaching them their colors and such," Spike said, his voice not mocking but very serious.

"How about you? What are you going to be when you grow up?" Buffy asked, turning his question back on him.

"I want to run a publishing company one day. I like business as a whole, and I love the written word either used to tell a story or to express one's self in prose."

"You like poetry?" she asked in a pleasantly shocked voice.

"Yes, I do. Why does that surprise you?" Spike said giving her a curious look.

"I just have never met a man who liked poetry before. I find it refreshing," Buffy answered as she started to relax and enjoy his company.

"Maybe one day, when I get to know you better, I might let you read a few that I've written," Spike said as he gave her a shy smile.

"Great, I can't wait to read them," Buffy replied just as the waitress came to get their order.

Buffy knew her time revisiting this part of her past was over as she felt things around her start to blur. She wondered why she was on this time travel reliving her past instead of being in the present and preparing for her future without her William.

*******

Hank had the driver drop them off at the Sunnydale Community Hospital 's emergency room entrance. He figured it would be where he would get some answers quicker. It would be a safe place for Spike and the others to wait until he talked to Joyce. His gut told him that Nigel would be the anchor that Spike needed, when the young man found out everything about Buffy's condition.

"Lindsey, go and grab us a couple of rooms at the Hampton Inn, three in fact," Hank told the agent, figuring he would room with Spike and his son.

"Will do, Mr. Summers. I’ll come back once I have everything settled and will only be a phone call away," Lindsey replied as he watched his boss get out of the car followed by the others.

"Spike, I think it's best if I see Joyce and the others alone first," Hank explained as they entered the hospital.

"I understand. We’ll be waiting over there," Spike said as he pointed with his free hand toward the chairs by the windows.

"I won't be longer than I have too, I promise," Hank reassured the young man, who looked so anxious.

Spike nodded as he led his son by the hand over to the group of chairs by the window. Candice followed quietly, having not been told too much since young ears had been constantly awake and within hearing distance.

"I really do appreciate you coming here, Candice. I trust you to take care of my son while I have some things to take care of," Spike told the younger woman.

"No problem, just let me know what you need me to do and when, and it's done," Candice reassured him. "I can see you love your son very much, and I know there are things going on that you can't talk about. I trust you’re doing what’s in his best interests and that's all I need to know for now."

Spike gave her a weak smile of gratitude as he commandeered a seat that gave him a perfect view for when Hank came to get him.

*******

Drusilla watched the clock anxiously. Her William should have been home by now or should have called to say he was going to be late. Something was not right, and she was beginning to figure out how wrong it was.

She walked to the phone and rang his office’s direct number but didn't get an answer. Then she dialed Candice's cell phone and got the young woman's voicemail.

"Candice, could you please ring me and tell my when you plan on bringing my darling boy home," she faked the concern in her voice, leaving the message on the irritating girl's voicemail.

She then dialed her William's cell phone number and was relieved when he answered, "Hello."

"My darling, I was wondering if you are coming home anytime soon," she cooed, wishing he were here right now so she could remind him how she was the one in control.

"Dru, I won't be home, something's come up," Spike said as he held the phone to his ear and rubbed his son's back with his free hand.

"What do you mean something has come up? Nothing is more important than me, don't forget our deal, Spike!" she hissed into the phone.

"Dru, Nigel is with me and I will be in contact soon," Spike calmly informed her, wishing he had more confidence she was not going to be able to come and take his son away from him.

"You’re there, with her!" she screamed. "He is my son, not hers! I will take him so far away, Spike, you will never see him again. He will hate you when I'm done beating it into him that you are a terrible father."

"Goodbye, Dru," Spike said as he disconnected the call.

Spike closed his eyes and prayed everything was going to work out. If he lost his son to that monster, he would die. If he lost Buffy now, he knew he'd be a shell, and would only live to serve his son.

"Is mummy mad?" Nigel whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"Don't you worry about mummy, you have me to protect you now," Spike promised pulling him up on his lap and hugging him close.

Candice figured now was a good time to go to the bathroom. She figured they didn't need her hanging around at a time they needed to be alone. Not very often did they get father and son time alone because that bitch always hanging around to spoil it.

*******





You must login (register) to review.