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Chapter 10


Spike led both Caitlyn and Buffy out of the crowded theater the next night
to the street outside. Caitlyn had a firm hold on his hand while his other
arm was securely wrapped around Buffy’s waist. They had a great time
watching the movie and throwing pieces of popcorn at each other. Spike made
sure to buy Caitlyn anything her little heart desired, much to the
exasperation of her mother. Both simply ignored Buffy’s looks as she filled
her little tummy with as many sugary and gooey substances as she could
handle. Buffy made empty threats that when she woke up sick in the middle
of the night, she would be calling Spike to come over and take care of her.
Spike had simply smiled and nodded in agreement to pacify the woman whom he
was growing more and more attached to.

Spike stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as he felt Caitlyn’s hand grab
his in a tiny, forceful grip. Looking down at the little girl, he saw a look
of terror on her face before he followed her line of vision. Standing five
yards away was a bulky, fuming man with his hands clenched into fists.
Spike shot a look to Buffy and saw her mouth set in a tight line. “Riley.”

Understanding dawned on Spike as he leveled his eyes back to the man. Spike
quickly sized up Riley Finn and found him sorely lacking. Yes, he was big
and broad, but he clearly spent all his time pumping weights and no time
actually working out. Cautiously, Spike tugged on Caitlyn’s hand and pulled
the frightened little girl behind him, shielding her from the man who was
slowly advancing on them.

“So, what’s this?” he asked, directing his question to Buffy, never
leaving Spike’s watchful stare. “One big, happy family out for a night on
the town? Gotta hand it to ya, Buff. I never thought you’d land anyone
famous, but then, you always did have your talents in the bedroom.”

That did it. Spike took two long strides to the man in front of him before
letting his fist fly to land squarely in his gut. Relishing the grunt of
pain as Riley doubled over; Spike grabbed the back of the man’s hair and
jerked his head up to look him in the eye and spoke in a low, menacing
voice. “Keep the hell away from MY girls.”

Bringing his knee up to Riley’s face, Spike let him drop to the ground,
delighting in the fact that the man hadn’t even managed to get a swing in.
Turning back to Buffy and Caitlyn, he watched as Buffy was crouched in front
of her daughter, gently soothing her fears. Walking over, he swiftly bent
down to scoop the little girl into his arms. “Everything’s okay, Little
Bit.”

Caitlyn smiled at his soothing tone and wrapped her little arms around his
neck. Ignoring the growing crowd of people surrounding them, Spike grasped
Buffy’s hand in his and led them away from the curled up form of Riley Finn.

* * * * *

Later that night, after Caitlyn was tucked safely into her bed, Buffy
carefully applied an icepack to Spike’s bruised knuckles.

“You shouldn’t have hit him, you know,” she stated.

“Maybe not, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with talking to you like
that.”

“Spike-“

“No, Buffy, I already did it, and I’d do it again, so don’t tell me I
shouldn’t have.”

“I was going to say thank you,” she said quietly. Spike looked at her for a
long moment before pulling her closer and sliding his lips over hers.

Buffy gasped at the sudden kiss but eagerly wrapped her arms around his
neck and deepened it. Spike dropped the icepack and enveloped her in his
embrace. Breaking away after a few minutes, Spike looked deep into her
eyes. “We shouldn’t do this tonight.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Giving her one last kiss, Spike pulled away and stood up with Buffy
following him. Holding her hand, he turned around to face her when he
reached the door. "I’ve got to go to L.A. for a few days and finish up some
voiceover work on my latest movie. I’ll be back by Wednesday. Will you go
out to dinner with me?”

“Like a date?” she asked with a smile.

“I figured it’s long past,” he replied.

“It’s a date,” she said with a bright smile. Spike brought her hand up to
his lips for a gentle kiss.

“I’ll see you in a few days, luv.”

* * * * *

Spike gave Gunn a call on his way home a few days later.

“’Lo?” Gunn said with a yawn.

“Hey, man, how’s everything going?”

“Actually, Spike, it’s a little unusual. Buffy dropped her daughter off
with a friend of hers last night. A woman named Winifred Burkle, goes by
the name Fred. Anyway, Fred owns the daycare center Caitlyn goes to, and she
also has a daughter that’s about a year older, but the strange thing was,
Caitlyn spent the night last night, went to the center with Fred, and then
went back home with Fred later today. I’m outside the house right now.”

“Where’s Buffy?”

“I gave her a call, introduced myself, and asked her if everything was okay.
She said she was just not feeling well today. I asked her if Riley was
there with her and told her to just give me a yes or no answer. She said he
wasn’t, so I’ve been keeping an eye on the kid. I think there was something
wrong, though, Spike.”

“I’m on my way over there,” he said, disconnecting the phone.

Knocking on Buffy’s door a few minutes later, Spike waited impatiently on
the other side. When she didn’t answer the door, he tried the doorbell.

“Buffy, it’s me!”

He saw the living room curtains move and then the sound of locks turning.
When the door was flung open, Spike had to grab the doorframe to keep
upright. Buffy hurled herself into his arms with fresh tears streaming
down her wounded face. Spike took a moment to comfort her before leading
her into the house and shutting the door behind them. Away from prying
eyes, Spike pulled away and gently touched her battered cheeks.

“Luv, what did he do?” he asked softly.

Buffy simply shook her head, trying to turn away from him. Spike wrapped
his arms around her waist and stiffened at the sharp cry. Tentatively,
Spike pulled off the extra-large sweatshirt she was wearing, revealing inch
after inch of formerly tanned skin. The bronze color was now tinted a dark
purple, cuts in various places on her back. The discoloration only stood out more against the stark white contrast of her bra. Turning her around, Spike tasted the bile in his mouth at the bruises that covered her stomach and the discolored skin of her chest. Upon closer examination, Spike noticed what he assumed were teeth indentations in the soft skin of her breasts. Swallowing hard as he looked back to her face, he tried
to pull Buffy’s hands away from her crying eyes.

“Buffy, luv, tell me,” he whispered comfortingly.

When she didn’t respond after a few moments, Spike cautiously hooked his
fingers on each side of her baggy cotton pants. Slowly, he began to drag
them downward to inspect the rest of the damage done to her, but froze
when he felt Buffy’s body go rigid against his touch. Seconds later, she
shoved Spike hard against the front door and curled herself into a fetal
position, burying her face in her knees and wrapping her arms protectively around
herself. “NO! No, don’t touch me…I don’t want you to touch me!”

Spike stayed where he was for a few minutes, his heart aching for the
distressed woman before him.

“Luv, please tell me,” he said softly, slowly inching his way toward her
cowering form. With a soft caress, he gently stroked her hair, “Please.”

Buffy looked into Spike’s eyes, seeming to remember who he was, and for
the second time that night, launched herself into his waiting arms. Spike
lightly held her, not wanting to harm her anymore, and planted tender kisses
along her shoulder and neck as she cried.

“H-he r-raped me,” she whispered quietly.

Spike felt anger cloud his vision as images of Riley Finn’s broken body
entered his thoughts.

“That son of a bitch! I’m gonna kill him!” he yelled, jumping to his feet and heading for the door.





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