"The Steadfast Plastic Soldier...”
Summary: At the final battle, Spike has a last encounter with one who loves him.
PG-13
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series.
The very early morning of the battle with the Senior Partners at LA.
Brief shadow of a large, wriggling object flying overhead cast as it passes the streetlights on its way to a rather soft but solid thud.
In a vast pile of refuse that constituted a portion of the City of Los Angeles sanitary landfill.
Ahhhhh. A low moan. Then a crash as if something were rolling down part of the manmade hill, striking several large and heavy objects on its way. Then silence.
The faint light of dawn breaking to the east.
But from the thrown-up surface of the landfill, a new sound.
"Ummmmm. Emmerge...Emmergency. Emmergency battery engaged.” a soft voice. "Fif...Teen...min...utes. Power remain. ing.” the voice alternately dragging as it spoke.
"Hello. Ser...Vice... Urg...ently.” A faint sound of refuse being moved. As if something were trying to claw its way along.
"Hello?” a questioning tone. "Who are you? I...Am... Service urgently req...Uir...ed.”
Uhhhhhhh. Another low moan. Sound of something moving in the refuse. A body, feebly moving now. Head lifting.
"Help.”
"....Hello?”
"...Buffy.” a feeble whisper. "Buffy?”
"Spike? Oh, Spike.” a happy lilt. "Where've...You been? Are you asleep? Sorry to wake you but...I...need ser...vice.”
He opened his battered, bloodied eyes to see the head and torso of Buffy Summers moving towards him, one still attached arm dragging it across the pile. The face recognizable, though some of the hair and skin seemed to have been ripped or burned or both off.
"Spike? You shouldn't...here...It's. :32...Near...ly...sun...” the voice trailed off a moment.
"...Buffy.”
"Spike. You're...hurt? Can I help?” an anxious look on the torn and weathered face.
