*sob* poor Spike.

Another excellent gut-wrenching suck down the emotional drain from the evil writer.

the *monster* who did this to you is never going to get his hands on you again, - you don't really expect us to believe that, do you?

nice job, buffy. and an excellent read, DoS. thank you

So grateful that she's paying attention and helping him put somethings together. It's just so heartbreaking to see him so broken, this proud Master Vampire, so badly broken and you've done a remarkable job of doing just that. Thank you for your marvelous words. I have missed them so much.

Lest I forget.....this (from chapter 1 even before the abuse) is still the most heartbreaking paragraph in the whole story thus far:
*He wouldn’t do it – she wouldn’t like it – wouldn’t approve – wouldn’t…oh – bollocks…wouldn’t bloody well care, now, would she?* he remembered with a sinking feeling in his stomach. *Not the way she feels about me now…not after what I’ve done…Bloody hell – this is no more than I deserve, after…*I’m* the one she’ll never bloody forgive – she barely gave two cents about me *before* -- don’t wager she’s gonna care what he does to me now…*

K

Proof (if Buffy thinks about it) that Spike really HAS changed fundamentally. If he were the demon she always claimed he was the title "bad" would have been a positive and he would have reveled in it even under the circumstances. Let's not even think about his agreement that bad deserves punishment (conscience anyone???).

So terribly sad but it is to be expected. Likely Spike has a BAD case of PTSD and nightmares will be a part of his future for a long while (if not forever.).

Excellent chapter, hon.

Kathleen

It makes sense that he would think that. She called him an evil thing so often that now it's ingrained. She has a whole buch of abuse to make up for.

of course, if she doesn't know who did this, she'll have trouble keeping that promise.

Poor baby hasn't completely escaped his prison yet. Excellent Chapter

well i'm he understands that now. more progress being made. can't wait for more.

Heartbreaking... Can't wait to read more! Update soon pleaseeee

Poor, haunted Spikey. I wonder how he'll feel about what's happened to him if/when he regains the memories of his former self.

Now that was just heart-wrenching - almost painful to read. You did confirm my belief that Spike's tormenter is human with his memories of his toruturer's body heat and hot, damp breath. Still thinking that it's Riley.

Hope Buffy can keep her promises.

GREAT STORY! MAYBE BUFFY CAN MAKE A VENGEANCE WISH ON THE PERSON WHO HURT SPIKE!

you are making me cry with this. How heartbreaking is his fear that he will do something wrong and be sent back to his tormentor. I really hope he can begin to believe Buffy when she tells him he is good and that nothing he does will make her send him away.

Of course, he's going to need reminders every time he has a nightmare, until it sinks into his head. He's had 4 months of nothing but negative information.

Oh god, poor Spike! I love the way Buffy was able to get through to him and even though this has been horrible, he's really getting better with the communication, so that's a plus!
Write more soon!!

oh wow oh wow oh wow!

I LOVE THIS STORY! Well we can COMPLETELY rule out Angel now! He has no body heat!!!!! I still think its Riley! Will have to wait to see! I can't wait for the next update~!!

Ah - more baby steps. I hope she can keep her promise...

awww.. poor spike.. are we going to be hearing from the person that did this to spike soon? cause thats a chapter i'd like to see... :D

glad spike is more able to communicate and that buffy was able to alieve some for his fears and doubts.Really hopeing that spikes attacker does not manage to get ahold of him again.

Oh poor shattered Spike. Breaks my heart. You go Buffy!

I honestly do not know what to say. I just had to wipe my tears away. Oh poor Spike. This chapter just breaks my heart.

oooh boy - I hope Buffy realizes what a promise she just made!!
Another well written chapter, with no offerings as to who our bad guy is.
Thanks for the update!

I never thought I'd see Buffy thinking of Spike as an innocent. Fabulous -- I can't see him getting better anytime soon. And it wouldn't take much to set him back from the progress he's made. Heartrending.

This is just breaking my heart - poor Spike! Please, please tell me someone is going to pay in a way that makes Angelus look like an amateur. Maybe Anya could help - she was a professional!

I'm kinda glad that Spike understood Buffys questions, but the fact that he thinks he deserves to be punished makes me sad.
Great chapter. Keep 'em coming.