Title: Earthquake
Author: HarleyAngel
Rating: R (bloody stuff)
Distribution: Here there, ask me if you want it!
Disclaimer: Joss owns all. Damnit.
Summery: An earthquake turns the Scooby gang's life upsidedown when Willow is hurt.

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                                 Earthquake


	She felt the slightest trembling underneith her feet, not at all 
enough warning before the entire house started to shudder violently. 
The warm, newly dried towels in her arms went flying down the stairs as 
she abandoned them for the staircase railing in her parents house. 
Gasping, Willow only had seconds before she saw the roof fall in and 
blackness took her sight and she slipped into unconsiousness.

*****
	Xander and Anya stood in the doorframe to the apartment clinging 
to the frame and each other as they watched things fall and shatter around 
the apartment. Anya was scared as was Xander, but they had to keep their 
heads. The ground shook violently for a long while it seemed before 
quietness and still became dominant. In the distance, car alarms could 
be heard and voices of concerned patrons echoed down the hall. Xander looked 
at Anya before pulling her close to hug her to him. He only hoped his 
friends were alright.

*****
	Buffy dashed upstairs. "Mom??!" She searched around the room 
finding Joyce huddling Dawn close in a closet frame. Sighing, Buffy 
walked up to them and enveloped them in her arms,
thankful that 
her family was safe. For a Hellmouth, there sure were few earthquakes, 
but when they came, they came hard. Dawm was sobbing softy, not 
remembering having been through anything that intense before.
	"I'm gonna call Giles, mom and see if he's ok." Buffy said as 
her mother nodded. The girl started downstairs.

*****
	Pressing the cold compact to his minorly bleeding forehead, 
Rupert Giles made his way over to the ringing phone which now seemed 
ten times louder than before. Grabbing up the receiver,
the british watcher 
sighed before answering in his accented tone. "Hello?"
	On the other end of the phone, Buffy's concerned voice could be 
heard. "Giles? Are you ok? That was scary over here, did it hit you hard?" 
she asked.
	"Yes, it's me, I'm fine, Buffy, just got hit on the head by 
random flying objects, nothing big and yes, it hit pretty hard over 
here. No, no, don't come over.....yes, alright, you call Xander and make 
sure he and Anya are alright, I'll check on Willow. ....Yes, alright, 
I'll call you back.....Goodbye, Buffy."
	Hanging up the phone, the Giles dialed the number for Willow's 
home, knowing that she had decided to take care of the house for her 
parents this weekend. He was more concerned for
her, knowing 
that an old house like that wasn't very stable.

*****
	Somewhere in the back of her mind, like waking from a dream, 
Willow could hear a ringing. It was very persistant and very loud. Groaning, 
she tried to move to answer it, but found that movement of any kind brought 
extreme pain to her entire being. A sob escaped her dry, bleeding lips, 
not just from the overwhelming pain, but from the helplessness of 
the situation she had been trapped in. Crying softly, Willow let the 
pain take her body back into bearable unconciousness.

*****
	Spike stumbled out of the crypt, having hidden in a stable 
cement stoopway for the remainder. Having nowhere else to go, he 
started off towards Giles' house. Looking down the
familiar street 
on the way, he stopped to stare in shock at the damage. Most of the 
houses on this street he knew were fairly old and not built to handle 
stuff like earthquakes well. But why did this section of rubble look so 
familiar.
	Spike gasped as the realization hit him. This was the street 
that Willow's house was on. He had overheard her talking about staying at 
home that weekend. Bloody Hell. Almost no houses were
left standing!
	Sprinting off down the street, he frantically started his 
search for her house, praying silently to anyone that she wasn't home 
when it happened, or was safe and sound and unharmed.

*****
	Spike stared in mute shock at the pile of bricks that used to be 
the Rosenberg house. Quickly getting over his shock, Spike carefully made 
his way into the damage.
	"Willow?!!" he yelled out. She had to be here. She just had to 
be ok. He didn't know what he'd do without the witch he'd become so 
fond of.

*****
	Somewhere in the back of her mind, someone was calling to her. 
It was a man's voice, someone familiar. She had no idea who though. She 
couldn't think, all she knew was it hurt and she
needed help. So 
mustering up all the strength she had, finding a voice that she thought 
had been lost with the destruction of her home, she screamed.
	"help..." it came out as more of a squeak than a scream and she 
coughed, then sobbed and tried again. "Help!" this time it was loud 
enough to cause a minor headache.

*****
	Spike spun around towards the voice. It was very quiet. At first 
he thought maybe he had imagined it until it came again.
	"Help!" it was definatly Willow.
	"Pet!" his voice had a scratchy fearing tone to it. "Willow, pet! 
Hang on, sweetie, I'm coming!" he yelled back and began to dig with his 
hands through the rubble over one section. Then
he saw it.....flesh. 
It was a hand, bloody and broken, but it was a hand none-the-less. And 
even better, it was moving. Reaching out toward him. He took it and heard 
a soft cry, then loosened his hold, but held her hand briefly to let 
her know he was there.
	Pulling up more and more debris, Spike quickly uncovered more 
and more. An arm, a shoulder and finally, that beautiful, though 
blood-covered face. 
	"Oh, pet." he moaned mornfully at the damage that had come to 
her small form. She was breathing shallowly and her fingers were 
pretty much the only thing moving, twitching now and
again. She had 
gashes all along her lithe form and her clothes were torn and shredded. 
She had a very nasty looking cut above her hairline and was bleeding all 
over her face and the debris around her.
	Spike gathered himself and bravely began to pull off the debris from 
the rest of her, his eyes never leaving her body.

*****
	There was light. It wasn't bright, but the darkness that had 
covered her eyes was gone and a lighter dark was there. And air. Precious, 
beautiful air. She had it, but her lungs were refusing to take much of 
it in. It hurt to try and breathe harder than she was, so Willow lay 
there, letting her body take over her functions. There was also red. Red 
covered her eyes and she could feel it all over her body, just like 
liquid pain. Pain was all she could feel. She felt a hand hold hers, 
and though it hurt, it was comforting. Then she heard him speak.
	"Oh, pet." he seemed so upset to see her hurt. She could feel 
him pulling more and more heavy rocks and pieces of house off of her. 
She desperatly wanted to open her eyes. She wanted to
open them and 
look up into the night sky, to marvel at the brightness of the stars, 
to see the trees blowing gently in the wind, but most of all, she wanted 
to see him. She knew him, but she needed to see him, to see comfort that 
he could give her.
	Forcing herself to be strong, Willow pulled up on her eyelids, 
pressing her muscles to work. She not only wanted, but she needed to see.
	She moaned as her eyes were tinged by red blood. Forcing herself to 
ignore the pain, Willow pushed her eyes slightly open. No more blood 
seeped in, it ran around her eyes and never in them again. Looking up, 
she gave a small sigh as she caught sight of the stars, however they 
were spinning, they were still there and that's all she needed.
	She gasped softly as a face appeared above hers like an angel 
fallen from above. His face covered in concern for her. She still couldn't 
tell who, but she knew him and she knew he would
take care of her. 
She just knew. He gently stroked her face, then she realized he was 
actually wiping the blood from her face with his red shirt.

*****
	Spike gently wiped the blood from her face. He had shed his red 
overshirt and duster when he had started to dig, not wanting them to 
get in his way.
	Spike watched her unsteady eyes. He had to make sure she was ok. 
"Pet", he said softy, gaining her attention for a moment. "How many 
fingers am I holding up?" he asked, placing three fingers in the air.
	Willow looked up and seemed to be concentrating, before letting 
out a pitiful sob. "I-I dont know...." she whispered harshly, her voice 
rough and dry before another sob wracked her body and
she moaned in pain.
	"Oh, god, pet...hang on, Willow. Dont move and try not to shift 
if you can help it. I will be RIGHT back." he whispered, kissing her 
forehead, licking the blood from his lips before running off into the 
night. All he could think was 'Giles, must get Giles.'

*****
	Rupert Giles jumped startled by the frantic knocking on his 
door. He had been pacing after moments ago not being able to reach 
Willow's house. The lines were down. He had been planning on going 
over there to check on her, when the banging began.
	"I'm coming!" he yelled and yanked the door open. His eyes 
went wide at the sight of Spike covered in blood, standing on his 
doorstep. "Spike! What happened to you?!" he asked, trying not to
let concern show for the vampire who seemed out of breathe.
	"W-Willow...must....help....she's-"
	"Willow?? What happened? Oh dear god, is she alright? What's 
wrong? Is that her blood? Spike, did you...oh god!" he started, his mind 
racing though so many options.
	"NO!" Spike growled."Get your bloody car, mate. Willow was in 
her house when it caved. I got there, but..."
	"Oh god...."
	"Yeah."

*****
	The stars were getting brighter. She didn't know why, but they were 
and they seemed to be melting togather. She couldn't feel anything 
anymore, which she was thankful for. She knew what
was happening.
	'This is it, Wills. Your dying. Who would have known it. Not 
by a vampire or demon or other nasty of the Hellmouth...but an earthquake, 
one of the most natural events in the world. Your going
to die.........
and I'm scared. Where is he? That man that was here? Why is it so bright? 
I dont' like it so bright, it's-'
	"Willow! No! Don't go to sleep, baby. Come back to me." she heard 
his voice and the stars suddenly refocused, causing a migrane to start. 
She moaned pitifully. He had come back for her.
She knew he would. 
She didnt know how, but she did.
	"Hang on, pet. Medics are here, get you fixed up right and proper 
he said quietly to her."
	Willow pulled her strength and smiled the smallest smile 
in the world, but it was enough for Spike.

*****
ONE WEEK LATER....

	"Knock Knock." a soft voice said from the doorway. Willow 
smiled over at Buffy. She had come everyday from the minute that Willow 
was in the hospital. She had stayed over night the first
two nights in the 
waiting room. She had brought flowers again. Willow was starting to hate 
flowers.	
	"How are you feeling?" Buffy asked, placing the flowers down and 
sitting next to the hospital bed. She still had trouble seeing her friend 
like this. She had a cast on her leg and hip and
one all the way 
up her arm from her right wrist. Tubes came from every hold she could 
imagine.
        Willow was still having trouble breathing and so a tube was kept 
down her throat along with the small ones down her nose. She had iv's from 
her hand and left interior elbow.  Two bags dripped
liquid down into 
the tubes and a finger heart monitor was on her left index finger. 
She was bandaged on her head and stomach, as well as her chest. She had 
had to endure nearly 14 hours of surgery before she could be considered 
stable. If it weren't for Spike, she would have died. Five minutes too
late and a grave stone would have been her memory instead of lying 
on a hospital bed.
	Willow sighed to let Buffy know that she was as well as could be 
expected. Buffy nodded and gently took her free hand. "You just hang in 
there, k? Dawn says that she and mom are going to come by and see you 
tomorrow and Giles says he'll be here later. Xander and Anya are
downstairs in the giftshop. Anya wouldn't give up on the human customs 
thing, and so she's making Xander get you a bigger bear than he did." 
Willow rolled her eyes at that and Buffy laughed. "And
Spike....Well, 
Spike hasn't left the hospital since you arrived here." Willow's eyes 
softened. Buffy had explained what had happened.
	Spike had insisted on riding in the ambulance with her and 
holding her good hand the entire time. He had stayed, pacing outside 
the emergency room while she was in surgery and demanded
to see her only 
hours after surgery. He couldn't of course, but was allowed to stay 
near the room all night. Despite the doctor's protests, Spike had slept 
every night in the waiting room in the ICU, then
switched to the PCU 
with her that day. He was still in the waiting room. The cafetieria and 
nursing staff had come to know him by name, talking to him every now 
and then. He would come into the room, often when she was alseep and 
talk to her. He had talked to her while she was unconcious for the 
first three days. She remembered hearing a comforting voice the entire 
time and was suprised to find out that it had been Spike. And that 
he had been the one to save her.
	"I'm still suprised. I thought he'd be the type to just walk 
away after wards or even before, but here he is......he cares so much for 
you, it's amazing." Buffy whispered and Willow managed a
small smile.  
"Well, they only gave me a few minutes today, but I"ll see if Spike can 
come in for a little bit." Willow paused, then nodded. Usually she would 
try to shake her head. She wasn't ready to face him then, but it had 
been a week, a week of waiting and knowing that he was just down the
hallway and now she was ready. And he deserved to see her awake and 
wanting to see him. After all that he had done for her.
	Buffy smiled one last time before kissing her best friends 
forehead and walking out.
	A few minutes later, Willow could hear the hard clunking of 
Spike's boots jogging down the hallway. She stifled a smile, remembering 
how much they hurt. Spike rounded the corner to the
door and stood 
there for a moment as if deciding whether or not to go in before walking 
quickly to her side. And for the first time in a week, when he looked 
back down at her, she looked back up at him. He gave her a soft smile before 
sitting gently on the side of the bed. Concern was written all over 
his face as he looked down at her.
	"Pet?" he asked quietly. "Are you ok? Do you need anything? 
If you do, I could...." he left the rest unspoken and simply looked at 
her. She had the happiest face he had seen on her in a
while. There wasn't 
a smile, but there didn't have to be, simply the look in her eyes showed 
him that she was happy he cared. He didn't know why he did, but he 
didn't care anymore.
	
*****
	Staring up at this man who had saved her life and kept a vigal 
watch over her day and night for the last week, Willow felt her heart 
contract with something she never thought it would again. Love. 
She loved him for everything he had done and for everything he was 
doing. He cared. That was more than anyone had done for her in a long time 
and that simple act made her heart feel like flying.
	A tear formed and made it's way gently down her face.  His finger 
traced it's path and he swiped it up, then ran his palm across her cheek. 
Willow graced him with the most heartfelt smile she could muster.

*****
	He couldn't believe she had just smiled. For him. It was the 
most wonderful feeling in the world. Looking at her made his undead heart 
break. He wished he could take her away from all of
this and make 
it all better and that, his being unable to do so, nearly brought 
tears to his eyes.

*****
	"Willow?" Dr. Wilson knocked on the doorframe. Entering the room, 
he noticed the man at Willow's side. He was amazed at how close they 
seemed. It was one of the rare times he had seen
anyone stay so 
long in the hospital for someone. He had heard the horrible story of 
what had happened and had done the surgery himself. He knew how much 
it had to have hurt to see someone you love so much be in so much pain. 
This couple especially made him glad to be a doctor.
	"I've got some good news. I think we're ready to take that tube 
out of your mouth now." he smiled and could tell that the girl was just 
as excited as the man beside her.
	"Alright," he chuckled." It's gonna feel very strange when I 
do it and you may have to cough for a few minutes afterwards. It's 
going to hurt, but let me tell you, it will be a real releif to get that
out of your throat." he smiled. Willow nodded to the best of her ability.
	Pulling out some cords from a box in preparation, he 
grasped the tube near her mouth. "Alright Willow, when I count to three, I 
need to to take a deep breathe and push and cough it out ok?" he said and 
could  sense her nervousness. He saw her grasp at the blond mans hand 
harder.
	"One....two...three." Willow took a deep breathe through the tube, 
as much as she could and then pushed out. A deep discomfort shifting and 
pain slid through her throat as the doctor pulled the tube's one foot from 
her throat. As soon as the tube was out, the coughing onslaught came. 
She coughed and coughed. Able to stop for a few seconds to sip a little 
bit of water, Willow felt relief as her throat was cleared for the 
first time in a while. Spike helped her sit straiter up as she coughed 
for the next few moments. Finally, she started to breathe well again 
and sat back. Sighing carefully, Willow smiled for the first time in a 
week.
	"Now, I wouldn't try to talk for a few hours if I were you, until 
that throat is cleared up." Doctor Wilson said, then smiled, leaving the 
room.


TBC...