Sometimes a hot shower helped. Sometimes. She'd turn sideways in the shower and let the boiling hot water blast against her temple. Sometimes it helped to soothe the pain away. Sometimes.

This was not one of those times.

Next she used the blow dryer. Circular motions with the hot, massaging air again against her right temple. Every centimeter she moved her head caused Carolee a searing pain. It ripped through her frontal lobe, pressing behind her eyelids until she thought they'd explode out of her head.

She needed complete darkness, complete silence and sleep. When a migraine like this one struck, time was the only thing that would be healing.

Darkness she thankfully had. She was sleeping in the basement, in Spike’s old bed. He was currently in the guest bed, next to Allison. The beds were pulled apart again, just like when Carolee and Allison shared the room. But Allison had wanted to keep an eye on him. Spike? Howard? According to Willow, they were one in the same.

“No, it’s not Howard inside of Spike.” The red head shook her head, slumping onto the living room floor. “It’s like Howard and Spike’s essences blended together.”

“How do we make this right, Willow?” Xander gaped at the passed out Spike/Howard, the blonde head resting in Allison’s lap. Allison nodded at Xander’s question. Her fingers ran through the blonde locks of hair on her husband’s head. At least, she was told it was her husband.

“I don’t know. I mean, according to this book the only way is to destroy one of the core souls, leaving behind the other.” Willow flipped through another page, her lips pulled down in a frown.

Xander gave her an enthusiastic nod. “That sounds fine. Go ahead, get rid of Spike!” Willow looked at him sharply, smacking him on the shoulder. Even Buffy glared at him, but it couldn’t match Allison’s blazing look.

“That’s not an option.” Giles said. “There’s no way to know which soul would be destroyed.”

Willow agreed. “Not only that, but the souls are mingled. I don’t think I could differentiate one from the other.”

Further research was needed, and so they had dispersed for the night. Carolee had willingly climbed down into the basement. The pain was just beginning to bore into her temples. Maybe if she could fall asleep soon, she could chase it away with her dreams.

But that hadn’t been the case. Now she lay in the bed, moaning and clutching her head. Slowly she dragged her legs over the edge of the bed, still pressing her temples with her hands on either side of her head. She needed some water. She glanced up the stairs. So many stairs. Such a long way up. She exhaled sharply, closed her eyes, and stood up.

Then promptly fell to her knees. Her stomach churned and her head exploded. She tried to concentrate on her breathing. “Don’t throw up,” she said to herself, a soft mantra. After what seemed like days, but was certainly just minutes, Carolee got back up to her feet. Keeping her head down, she slowly padded over to the stairs.

She’d have to take it one step at a time. Water would help. Maybe there was medicine in her purse, which she had left in the living room. Those little Imitrex pills, certain to fight off a migraine. Or so they said, but only worked half of the time. She really hoped this would be one of those times.

One step. Breathe. Fight off the dizziness. Step number two, repeat breathing process and steadying of head.

Nineteen steps later she made it to the door. She rested her sweating brow against the cold wood. It felt nice, until the pain ripped through the front of her brain as if to say, “Yes, I’m still here!” Carolee cracked open her eyes and found the door knob, turning it slowly. It opened into the dark hallway.

Leaning against the wall most of the way, she slowly walked down the hall that emptied into the kitchen. She was more determined now, because she was so close. With a lunge she found herself in front of the sink. She grabbed for a glass on the counter and turned on the water.

Out in the living room, Giles had fallen asleep at a desk. His head was pillowed by a book, his glasses askew on his face. Sounds from the kitchen woke him out of his light sleep, however. He took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes before placing them back on his nose and squinting at his watch. It was still late, or very early depending on how one looked at it. Who could be up? Was that a groan?

He got to his feet and went to the kitchen where the sounds were coming from, flicking on the light. Carolee grimaced, throwing a hand over her eyes. “Please, turn off the light.” It sent pain ricocheting around her head. Giles knew that look. He had felt that way plenty of times himself. He quickly turned off the light and hurried over to her side. “Are you quite alright?”

Carolee kept her head down and her eyes closed. Breathing slowly she finally spoke. “Headache. I…get them…sometimes.” Giles nodded sympathetically. His hands found her neck and he gently rubbed at the tense muscles there. “Me too.” He turned her in his arms and held her close, running his hand up and down her neck.

“That feels nice,” Carolee whispered, leaning into his chest. Giles was concerned, but knew that only time and relaxation could really help her at this point. After a few more minutes of holding her close and rubbing her neck he looked down at her. Her eyes were closed tightly. “Do you think you can walk?”

Carolee inhaled and exhaled one more time before gathering herself. “Okay.” Giles had to smile at her will and determination. She pulled out of his embrace but he kept an arm around her waist. “Lean on me.” He started to lead her out of the kitchen. She didn’t know where he was taking her, and she didn’t really care. All she knew was the pain. “Thank you,” she gasped. Giles merely gave a concerned nod.

They seemed to walk forever. Carolee kept her head down and her eyes barely opened. Eventually they came to a door and Giles pushed it open and led her over to a bed. It wasn’t the basement, Carolee thought. “Lie down.” Giles helped her down to the bed. She sat down, and he lifted her legs over so she was lying in the center of the big bed. He kicked off his own shoes and climbed in beside her. “Now, come here.” She rolled onto her side so that she was cradled against his chest. She felt his soothing touch on her neck and brow. Soon her breathing slowed and found an easy rhythm, and then she slept.

* * *

The pale morning sunshine was falling onto the bed when Carolee awakened. She came back to reality slowly. Her head was not resting on a pillow, but on someone’s chest. She could hear his heartbeat beneath her ear, feel his cotton shirt on her cheek, and feel his warmth. Then Carolee realized her headache was also gone. She snuggled against his chest, not wanting this moment to ever end. She sighed, and only then did she hear him lightly chuckle. She tilted her face so that she could look up at him. He was smiling at her, his hands moving lightly up and down her back. “Good morning.” Giles said. “Feeling better?”

Carolee smiled back at him. “Yes, thanks to you.” Part of her brain told her that they didn’t know each other well enough yet for such intimate contact. They were just beginning down this path of a relationship. But the other side of her brain knew she had loved him before she ever met him, and that this was right. This was the man she’d been waiting her entire life for. And? He didn’t seem to be pulling away.

Giles tucked her head underneath his chin and just continued to hold her. He didn’t remember the last time he had held someone like this. Maybe he never had. It felt so right. He gave a contended sigh.

They both stayed that way for awhile, floating in between those stages of wakefulness, and not quite. They rode the waves of dreamland until sounds from inside the house made them stir. No matter how much they might want it, they knew they couldn’t stay there. The day had begun, and with it, work should be done. Unconsciously they both groaned. And then they both chuckled. Giles turned onto his side, causing Carolee to fall off of him, but he didn’t let her go. His eyes locked onto hers in mirth, and then his irises darkened and his face descended onto hers. She closed her eyes when his lips found hers. It was gentle and light at first, but then his kiss became more firm. His tongue tickled her lips apart, and Carolee opened herself to him fully. His body pressed into hers as his tongue explored and plundered her mouth. Her hands found their way to the nape of his neck, playing with the small hairs there. She was lost in the feelings he was provoking in her. It was the most sensual kiss she had ever experienced.

From far far away, a voice echoed through the room. Xander, out in the hallway yelling about a donut run or something. She felt Giles stiffen and then pull away from her with an apologetic smile. He wasn’t sorry for the kiss, however. He touched her face softly. “We should get up.”

She nodded, resting her forehead against his for a moment. “Thank you,” she whispered once again. His lips brushed hers one more time. “No, thank you.” He braced himself on an elbow and then got up out of bed, holding a hand down to help her up. She placed her smaller hand in his and let him pull her out of the bed. He chuckled as she gave him another little hug.

“Wait a moment.” He smiled at her and then went over to the door, cracking it open and looking out. The coast was clear. It wasn’t that he cared whether anyone saw who had shared his bed last night, but he didn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression and hurt Carolee in any way.

Carolee joined him at the door, placing a light hand on his elbow. His arm soon snaked around her. “I don’t care who knows, but…” Carolee shushed him, nodding. “I understand.” She smiled and then with a final little peck on the cheek, she dashed down the hall and back to the basement.

Carolee found some clothes, grabbed her toiletry bag, and then climbed back up the stairs to the guest bathroom. The door was open and she found that Allison was already dressed, brushing her hair. She looked tired. “Hey, are you okay?” Carolee asked her friend, placing her small bag on the counter.

Allison nodded, but Carolee could tell she wasn’t real sincere. “I’m okay.”

Carolee frowned. “Is…he…awake yet?” Allison shook her head. “No, but I’m sort of glad, you know? I wouldn’t know what to say, or how to explain, or even who I was talking to!”

Carolee didn’t know what to say. It was all very confusing. “I’m sure Willow and Giles will figure something out soon.” She pulled her friend in for a hug. Carolee wanted to tell her all about Giles and the kiss, but knew that this wasn’t the time.

Allison gave her friend a small smile. “I’ll let you shower. I don’t want to be away from him too long in case he wakes up.”

“Okay. I’ll be out soon.” Carolee started the water in the shower and Allison nodded, closing the door and leaving her to her shower.

Allison went into the guestroom across the hall. Spike/Howard was still unconscious on his bed, but his breathing was steady. For the hundredth time since it had happened, Allison placed her hand on his chest. A heartbeat. Warmth. Flowing blood. He looked like Spike, but he felt like her husband. What was she going to do?