Changing Lives by Mabel Marsters

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Chapter 45

Pain.

Everywhere.

Spike was dimly aware of the sound of running feet. He fought to try to stay conscious but it was a battle he was losing. He was laying face down on the sidewalk, blood pouring into his mouth from a cut on his tongue caused when his jaw snapped shut from the force of the blow. He gagged a little on it. He tried to move but couldn’t get any of the messages through to his limbs and finally gave up and just succumbed to the beckoning oblivion.

Ooooooo

“Oh my God! Xander! You’ve got to help me! Do you know where Spike is?” the voice screamed.

Xander pulled his cell phone away from his ear.

“No need to shout, Cordy. What’s so urgent?”

“It’s Angel, he’s just been here. My Dad had to throw him out. He’s really angry that I wouldn’t accept his Christmas presents.

“Okay, but what has this got to do with Spike?” asked Xander in confusion.

“He thinks I’m seeing him!” she wailed, “I’ve tried to call him at home but there’s no reply.”

“Look, calm down. He’s been staying at Buffy’s. I still don’t know how Angel thinks you’re with Spike though?”

“I told him!” said Cordelia, bursting into tears.

“For God’s sake, why?” shouted Xander.

“Because he knew I was seeing someone else and I didn’t want him to come and find you and beat you up. I knew he would if I told him we were together.”

Xander rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation, “And I like her because…?” “So you just sent him after Spike? You don’t do that to people, Cordy. You’re unbelievable!”

“I’m sorry, I just panicked,” sobbed Cordelia, “Please don’t be cross with me.”

“I’m not, I just wish you’d think things through sometimes. I’ll call Buffy and warn Spike.”

“Can I come over?”

“Sure, see you in a few.”

Xander dialled Buffy’s number. It rang and rang until finally Xander hung up in frustration.

Ooooooo

Cordelia’s red car screeched to a halt outside Xander’s house. He met her on the driveway.

“Did you tell him?” she asked anxiously.

“No, there was no reply.”

“Oh God!”

“Shall we go over to the house? They might not have heard the phone,” suggested Xander.

“Yes, hurry up!” said Cordelia.

Xander held onto the car’s door handle in terror as Cordy raced to the Summers’ home.

“Why are you so worried? Surely Angel won’t really do anything. I mean, Spike beat him up a few weeks ago.”

“You don’t know what Angel’s like when he totally loses it. He just explodes, Xander.”

She leapt out of the car and was rushing to the house before Xander had even opened his door. He rushed to catch up with her. Cordelia hammered on the door. After a few minutes Buffy opened it, hair still wet from the shower she’d taken after Spike had left.

“What’s with the banging on the door? Why don’t you just break it down - it’d be quieter?”

“Where’s Spike?” shouted Cordelia, looking into the house over Buffy’s shoulder.

“Why do you need to know?” asked Buffy. She looked at Xander, “Why does she want Spike?”

“Is he here, Buff? Angel’s out looking for him and Cordy thinks he means big trouble.”

“Oh God,” gasped Buffy, “He left here about a half hour ago. He’ll be home by now.”

She ran to the telephone in the kitchen and quickly dialled the number. Her face paled as it went unanswered.

“He should be there! What have you done now?” she snarled at Cordelia, “I know you made him go to that dance with you. Where do you get off messing with people’s lives?”

“We haven’t got time for this right now, Buff,” said Xander, “Do you know what route he normally goes?”

Buffy nodded, “Let’s go and see if we can find him.”

They all piled into Cordy’s car and were almost at Spike’s apartment when they saw the ambulance.

The paramedics were putting a stretcher into the back of it and Buffy caught a glimpse of bleach blond hair.

“Stop the car!” screamed Buffy.

Cordelia slammed on the brakes. Buffy jumped out and ran to the paramedics.

“Let me see him!” she yelled, trying to climb in.

One of the paramedics blocked her path.

“I’m sorry, miss. We have to get him to the hospital.”

“But I need to see him. I just need to see if it is him!”

He stood aside so she could see Spike’s face.

“Do you know him?”

Buffy nodded, unable to speak. Spike was deathly pale and covered in blood.

“It’s Spike, er, James Norman. He’s her boyfriend,” said Xander, putting his arm around Buffy.

“Danny, we’ve got to go – now,” called the paramedic tending to Spike in the ambulance.

“I can’t let you ride in here because you’re not family. Look, I’ve got to go,” said the first medic, rushing to get into the driver’s seat.

Buffy stood there frozen to the spot as she watched the ambulance speed away, lights flashing and siren blaring.

“I’ve got to go to be with him,” said Buffy, her voice a monotone.

“I’ll drive you,” offered Cordelia.

Buffy turned to face the tall brunette, “Damn right you are!” she growled as she slapped Cordelia’s face.

Ooooooo

Buffy used Xander’s cell phone to call her mother.

“Spike’s been hurt!” she blurted as soon as her mom picked it up, “He’s being taken to the hospital.”

“Oh no! What happened?” asked Joyce.

“I don’t know,” said Buffy, starting to cry, “Xander and Cordelia are taking me there now.”

“Don’t cry, honey. I’m closing the gallery now and I’ll meet you there.”

Buffy handed the phone back to Xander.

“Buffy, I’m sorry, I…” started Cordelia.

“Just shut up!” snapped Buffy; “I can’t talk to you right now! God, I hope Spike’s okay. He’s got to be okay!”

Cordelia fell silent. Xander gave her knee a little squeeze. She glanced at him and he smiled at her, trying to reassure her that everything would be all right.

They arrived just moments after the ambulance, Buffy once again catching a glimpse of his inert body as he was wheeled through some doors. She tried to follow but was stopped by a nurse.

“I’m sorry but you can’t go through there,” she said gently.

“I’ve got to see him,” wailed Buffy.

“Just let the doctors do their work. Why don’t you give his details at the desk and then wait in the chairs? I’ll come and find you as soon as we know more, okay?”

Buffy nodded. Xander came up to her and led her towards the desk. They’d just gotten there when Joyce arrived at a run.

“Oh, Buffy,” she said when she saw her daughter.

“Mom!” Buffy flung herself into her mom’s open arms and burst into fresh tears.

“Xander, go and sit over there with her,” she said, nodding to the seats, “I’ll see what I can find out.” She untangled herself from Buffy and walked to the desk.

“Hello, I’m enquiring about a boy who had just been brought in. His name is James Norman,” Joyce asked the man behind the desk.

“Are you a relative?”

“No, but he’s been staying with me while his guardian is out of the country. He’s not due in until late tonight so I am responsible for him,” she explained.

“Oh, okay, let’s have a look.” He tapped the keyboard of his computer. “I haven’t got any real details yet. He’s only just been admitted but he’s listed as having head trauma…”

“Oh goodness! Not again,” gasped Joyce.

“What do you mean?”

“Six months ago he was in a bad car wreck in England. I don’t know his exact injuries but I know he was unconscious for several days.”

“I’ll get that information to the doctor working on him. Please take a seat and I’ll get someone to see you as soon as they can.”

“Thank you,” said Joyce. She walked over to the others.

“Hey Lisa, can you let Dr. Harper know that the kid he’s working on had a major head injury six months ago?”

“Sure thing, Rob,” replied Lisa, and she rushed away to inform the team.

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