one last chance

chpt 4

A/n so this is the next chapter. I didnt realize pple were reading this. if i get reviews and such i'll keep it up here but if i dont i'll probly stop. 

CHAPTER FOUR LONDON ENGLAND

Spike hurried to catch up to Dawn in the corridor.

"Come on Lil' Bit!" he called, "Wait please!"

Dawn turned on him.

"Why?" she demanded, "like you waited? Do you have any idea what it was like for Buffy? For me? You didn't even call to say you were back. So Spike tell me, why the hell should I wait? So you can explain why it was so hard for you to pick up a phone? Sorry Spike, we're done waiting."

Dawn spit the words out, each one laced with venom. Spike was shocked to see tears in the corner of her eyes. He felt the need to explain to her, try to make it better like he used to with her. But how could he answer her questions when he couldn't even answer his own.

Spike followed a few steps behind Dawn as she climbed the stairs to the top level of the school. Here the main offices were kept. Giles, Buffy, Willow, Kennedy, Xander and Dawn all had their own offices, each reflecting their jobs and personalities. Giles's was covered in book shelves with no computer, Buffy's a small computer sat on the desk with weapons filling the room on racks and stands. Willow's boasted of tools for magic along with spell books and a high tech expensive looking computer system. Dawn's office was a mini Giles with a computer added, books and charts scattered around her computer. Kennedy's a mix of Willow and Buffy, charms and crystals with multiple weapons racks. Xander's showed he still practiced carpentry with a tool belt slung over the chair and a tool cabinet against the wall, the weapons rack alongside a pin map of the world hung next to a bookshelf showed that he was still the general all around guy for the Scoobies. Currently Xander was sitting at his desk holding a picture of Anya in his hands.

He gently ran his hand over the photo frame. Even two years after the battle seeing them together smiling, happy, in love, brought tears to the corner of his eyes. He didn't know if he would ever find another woman to love like he loved Anya. He didn't think he wanted to.

Dawn knocked on his door. He quickly put the picture back on his desk and looked up, "hey Donny, I'm still not done with the report of my trip for the accounts, I'll get them to you when…" he trailed off as Spike came into view. "Donny… what the hell is this."

"Buffy asked me to bring him up here. He can talk to you about it." Dawn said shortly. Spike looked like he wanted to say something but the glare on Dawns face stopped him. She turned smartly on her heel and stalked away in carefully measured paces. She continued down the stairs past the infirmary, the classrooms, and the gym doors.

Once Dawn reached the school's door she ran across the street to the brick row house Buffy, her and Giles shared. Throwing herself on her bed she began to cry. She cried from grief for Anya and the potentials turned slayers who had died. She cried from anger, anger at Spike for staying away so long, anger for Buffy for the unfairness of the whole situation and anger at herself because she wanted to run to Spike and just hug him but couldn't. She also cried from joy at having her best friend back. Spike had been there for her the way others couldn't. Dawn cried for everything that she had lost over the years. She believed in what they were doing but that didn't make it easier. She cried until she slowly drifted off into sleep.

Xander stared at Spike for a minute. After a bit he quickly crossed his desk and wrapped the surprised vampire into a hug. Spike stiffened and than returned the embrace. Once the two men broke apart Xander pulled back his fist and hit Spike squarely in the jaw.

"What the bloody 'ell was that for?" Spike exclaimed.

"Well I'm glad your back. Well as glad as I can be. The punch was for what you did to Buffy. Spike, how could you not call her at least?" Xander's eyes searched him for answers.

Spike looked at the man who had hated him for years. He wondered where the hell this change had come from. Putting off the questions he knew he would eventually have to answer, instead he asked about the change.

"I lost the woman I loved in that fight. I almost lost my friends. You're the reason I still have a family. I know what you sacrificed. You don't know what this has done to Buffy."

The two men stood in silence, contemplating what the past had done to shape their respective future. They heard a distance door slam from down the hall in Buffy's office. Xander sighed at the noise. He had been best friends with Willow for his whole life and with Buffy for almost ten years. If he knew her at all she was throwing things at her door while trying to keep it together. Once she thought everyone was asleep she would head down to the practice rooms and take out what ever she was feeling down there.

"Come on, let's go down to the cafeteria." Xander sighed. "There's some blood in the fridge. Pigs blood but its blood. We'll talk down there."

The two men turned and walked out of the office, both bearing the gate of men bearing burdens.