Cheekbones {a btvs Spike story Buffy}

Chapter 23 - Breaking

Giles fires an enchanted arrow directly at Glory's heart. It is cursed with an immensely powerful spell that Willow and Tara took great measures into perfecting. Giles's non-stop research has paid off. The arrow pierces her skin with a sickening sound. Her body disappears in a roar of flames. Of course, a hell god wouldn't just fall limply to the ground. She should be banished to another plane of existence forever - hopefully a deserted one. 

The Scoobies on the ground sigh in immense relief, but it's not over yet. Xander is on his knees next to Anya's comatose body. Blood trickles down her temple. Xander yells at Giles for help and the men bandage her head carefully.  

Buffy surveys all the damage they did - dead bodies are strewn absolutely everywhere. Tara and Willow are panting, attention fixed to the fight going on above them. It's hard to make out, but they see a shadowy figure pummelling Spike. Then Spike keels over and the girls are up there alone. 

Tara screams and Buffy yelps out in surprise and terror as they watch Amber and Dawn plunge down towards them. They gather speed, dresses flapping in the wind. A fall from that height would surely kill them both. Or maybe just Amber if she broke Dawn's fall. 

It was looking as if she would. Amber's body was pressed firmly against Dawn's back - her own back heading straight for the concrete floor. 

Willow.

Willow stretches her arms out in front and focuses all her energy into a spell. A spell to slow them down, like she did to Glory. A mighty howl bursts out of Willow's lips as Dawn and Amber's speed eases. They look as if they had dived into a pool and were lazily sinking down. The witch's eyes turn black with power as Dawn and Amber crash into the floor. 

Amber had broken Dawn's fall. And definately a few bones.

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Spike coughs. Then coughs again. The pain where the knife had hit is blinding. Doc was nowhere to be seen. Bloody bastard. His stomach turns as he looks over the edge of the tower. No.

He runs down the steps as fast as his numb legs will carry him. 

He pushes everyone out of the way and collapses at Amber's side. Her face is blank, eyes closed. Spike doesn't care that the others will see him cry. Tears fall effortlessly, one after the other. He holds his shaking hands to his face and almost laughs. Spike - William the Bloody - blubbing like a baby. 

It was the shock. He knew she was alright - no dust. The certainty he felt when she had leapt off that building, that she would die... She would be ok. They would be ok. 

He would be ok.