Title: BENEATH ME
Synopsis: What happened after Spike revealed his secret to Buffy. A post-"Beneath You" episode fanfic.
Rating: PG
Date Written: Tuesday, 01 October, 2002
Author: † The Resident Vampyr © 2001-2002.
Credits: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the property of Joss Whedon and the powers that be.
Note: Partial script from "Beneath You"
Characters: Buffy † Spike

***

The sound of a brittle wood against a concrete floor echoed as Buffy dropped the stake she was holding from her hand.

It was now making sense. The sinister laughter. The mindless insanity. The mysterious conversations.

In the darkness, she could only hear lurching sobs from the vampire not far away. The smell of flesh burning lingered in the musky air. There was nothing she could do. She felt paralyzed upon hearing the once secret that Spike held.


*

"Why? Why would you do..." she asked him. The answers, she could not begin to comprehend.

"Buffy, shame on you. Why would a man do what he musn't? For her. To be hers. To be the kind of man who would never...to be a kind of man." Spike walked towards the cross in the middle of the masoleum.

*


She looked at the figure in front of him ---shaken, defenseless, and vulnerable; qualities, she never knew he possessed, until now.

"Spike.." said Buffy as she slowly approached him.

He did not answer. Instead, he continued to wrap himself on the cross.

Buffy carefully reached out for his shoulders wanting to keep him away the cross that slowly burning his skin. "Spike," she repeated.

"Don't touch me," Spike said finally and moved his arms away from her.

"Let me help you, please," she begged.

Her pleading fell of deft ears. Spike continued to talk to himself, "teeth, must choose sides..."

"Don't do this, I can help," she said as she tried to release his grip from the cross.

Spike paused momentarily. He could feel his skin burning. He looked sideways and quickly moved away from her, confused. "I don't want your pity." His eyes filled with tears as he spoke.

Visibly hurt by what he said, Buffy unconsciously found herself on the verge of tears. Seeing Spike tonight reminded Buffy of a former love who suffered that same fate as his. Only this time, it was a whole different situation. Spike was not someone she would consider a soul mate. Spike was an enemy. A monster.

However, Buffy couldn't explain the concern she had for him. A part of her wanted to comfort him and tell him that everything will be alright. How could she feel that way? After all that had happened between them?

"I never meant to hurt you," Spike finally spoke.

Buffy didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Deep down, she believed him.

Spike started to sob. He bow his head down and shouted to his side. "I said my speech! Happy now?!"

Buffy darted a confused look in the same direction, hoping to find the one Spike was talking to. But she knew there was no one behind the shadows. It was only Spike and his mind playing tricks on him. She realized how the burden of guilt was driving him insane. Seeing him this way broke Buffy's heart, this has got to stop, she said to herself.

Spike suddenly laughed, then paused. "Blondie bear is home. Small, twisted wires, sparkling inside." He fell on his knees.

Buffy slowly knelt down beside him and tried to soothe him. "Spike, it doesn't have to be this way," she whispered.

"I'm done. Over. The Pain, piercing..."

"Sh--," said Buffy as she touched his bleached blonde hair.

"H-help. Help... me..."

Without hesitation, Buffy moved closer and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm here..."

*

And she shall look on him with forgiveness and everybody will forgive and love. And he would be loved. So everything's okay, right.
Can we rest now? Buffy...can we rest?

*


***

Also by The Resident Vampyr™ † Vampire Seasons™ - a compilation of season 6 BtVS post-episode fanfictions & The Vampyr Pentateuch & Other Stories™. Visit http://www.vampyrslayer.cjb.net for more.