Soon Buffy woke up. Dawn lied about what had happened. She left out Sam and Dean being there, she didn't want Buffy to know.
"Dawn?"
"Yeah?" Dawn said in a cheery voice.
"Well, your in a good mood" Buffy said smiling.
"Anyway I was wondering, when do I get to leave?"
"Oh today actually. You've been in the hospital for like three days. I honestly don't know how we're going to pay the bill on top of rent and food and... Nevermind" Dawn replied.
"Awesome" Buffy said sarcastically sitting back.
"What about Spike?" Buffy asked after a while.
"He was here yesterday. Ya know at night"
"Oh" Buffy looked down.
The time passed slowly with small talk and frowns, but Buffy was released soon and decided to patrol.
"At least go with Spike!" Dawn shrieked.
"Geez, ok mom. It's not like I do this all the time right?"
"Whatever Buffy. Go get eaten"
"No problem" Buffy smiled and left.
••••••••
"Slayer" a voice said from the shadows.
"Spike?"
"Where've you been? Vamps been takin over this place"
"Hospital. Apparently some big bad got me. Dawn had to explain everything that happened, but I still don't know how we lived"
"Well, I guess you and the little bit were lucky"
"Yeah, I guess" Buffy said looking down.
"You wanna do something?" Buffy said smiling suddenly.
"Like what?"
"Movie? Dinner? I don't know. Anything"
"Yeah let's go to a movie"
"Great" They walked out of the cemetery heading for the movie theater.
**********
Spike stared at Buffy a long while after the movie.
"What?" She said smiling.
"You've never wanted to hang out with me. Not even for patrol. Why do you want to now?"
"I don't know. Life's kinda been crappy and I've drifted apart from Willow and Xander. Dawns the only person I really talk to but talking to much to her is driving me crazy" Buffy said making Spike laugh.
"Well, I'm glad I'm the person you decided to talk to"
"Yeah" Buffy said looking down.
"Are you ashamed that you'd rather hang out with me than your actual friends?"
"I just feel like I'm betraying everyone when I'm with you. Willow, Xander, Dawn, and De-- nevermind"
"Dean? You can say his name, love. I might've hated the guy but I know you cared about him"
"Sorry. I know that you have feelings for me and seeing me with Dean probably wasn't a good time"
"Right. Seeing you with anyone isn't really fun"
"Well aren't you someone?"
"I mean anyone except me" Buffy laughed.
"Hey, Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you walk me home? I mean I'm totally capable of walking alone but I'm not really up to full slayer strength you know? And well you--"
"I'll walk you home. You don't have to explain yourself. As hard as it is to believe I actually like spending time with you"
"That is hard to believe" Buffy replied and they walked home.
**********
"Buffy, where have you been?"
"Patrolling, you should've gone to sleep" Buffy said sitting her keys and jacket down on the table.
"Oh my god, you don't get anything do you?" Dawn said crossing her arms and glaring.
"Apparently not cause I'm not getting this" Buffy walked into the kitchen.
"You'll have to elaborate" she said and smiled smugly.
"We almost died not that long ago and your acting like you couldn't care less"
"Because I couldn't. I'm the slayer. I can take care of myself"
"No you can't because you didn't save us this time did you?"
"I don't know what happened. I don't remember anything. But we're safe aren't we? We're obviously just fine" Buffy left the kitchen and Dawn and ran up the stairs to her room.
She changed into her pajamas and sat at her vanity and took off her makeup.
"Buffy, you can't just keep running from everything"
"I'm not. I'm not the one lying about what happened"
"What do you mean?" Dawn said unconvincingly.
"Sam and Dean were here" Buffy said not looking at Dawn.
"How do y--"
"You really think I'm that stupid? I remember everything. I was in the back of that things van he had been feeding on me. It hurt so bad but I couldn't do anything, he had put something in my blood. I remember Dean smashing a window, it woke me up but not completely. He covered me up and carried me out. I can't believe you tried to hide this from me. I gave you so many chances to tell me and you never did"
"I was trying to help you! We have to let them go"
"Why? Why can't we just travel with them? I mean I'll still be the slayer"
"They said they don't wanna put us in danger"
"Put us in danger?" Buffy laughed harshly.
"Yeah because that works every time"
"Buffy, they're just trying to help"
"Well I don't need help!" Buffy said standing and walking towards Dawn.
"What are you doing!?"
"Closing my door psycho. It's bedtime Dawn, what did you think I was gonna do?"
"I don't know" Dawn said slowly.
"Goodnight Buffy"
"Yeah goodnight" Buffy said confused.
