A/N: Hey, guys! Surprised to see me? Me too, honestly. I didn't expect to be posting anything else today.

This is just a teensy little one-shot, but way too long to get shoved into WWCSM, so it's getting posted on its own. :)

Episode: None

Rating: K+, maybe a /very/ low T

Warnings: Injury, nongraphic, Spike's insults, and a lack of any real plot.

Inspiration: I've been reading scribbler123's Family Matters, and their Spike and Chase interactions are really interesting. It kind of spawned this. Plus, I always like exploring Spike, who's an interesting concept, despite being pretty much THE LARGEST PLOT HOLE of the entire show.

Be the reason someone smiles today! :D And if you have a moment, please review. I'd really appreciate it. :)

Chase lay on the ground, staring up at the industrial ceiling. He honestly wasn't sure what had happened, but he was in his mission suit. Urgency hovered on the edge on his mind. But he was so tired, so numb. He couldn't move a muscle. All he wanted to do was close his eyes, never open them again.

Not yet, ladyfingers.

Chase sighed. Go away, Spike, he thought, sluggishly. I'm tired.

I know you're the weaker side of the coin, but you need to move. He's coming back around, and this time, he will kill you.

Chase sighed again. Madman?

Unfortunately.

Do you remember what happened?

Some. He hit us with an energy ray of some sort. Had some power behind it, not that it would take much to take you out.

Chase nodded, instantly regretting the motion as his head spun. He dragged a hand up to his face, and pinched his forehead. Adam and Bree?

Unknown.

How are we doing? Chase asked. He'd noticed Spike had a better idea of their limits than he did, and tended to trust his judgement.

You probably can get up, and find them. I wouldn't... fight, though. You're even weaker than usual.

Chase knew how much it took to make Spike advise against getting into a fight, so he knew his priorities. Now, if he could only find the energy to get up...

Come on, pipsqueak, Spike scoffed. You wanna die here? It pains me to admit it, but your capabilities do actually exceed this. Use your limited talents, and stand up.

Growling at the other personality sharing his head, and yes, it sounded weird to even think, Chase struggled to his feet. If he'd been a little more alert, he might have noticed how Spike's insults lacked their usual brutality, and how the annoyed tone actually bordered on worried.

As it was, though, he managed to enter the battle between the psycho and his siblings just at the right moment to distract the man, while Adam and Bree took him out. He even managed to make it back to the house before collapsing, and scaring his siblings half to death. It turned out the energy weapon had only been intended to stun him, but had reacted badly with his bionic network. He'd nearly died, and if he'd drifted back off lying there on the warehouse floor, he almost certainly would have. Spike, in his own rude way, had saved his life.

Thanks, he mutters mentally as he's about to drift off, exhausted from a visit from Leo. He knows Spike will know what he's talking about.

Just don't make me do it again, pug breath.

Chase smiles, knowing Spike isn't nearly as gruff as he'd like to pretend, and falls asleep.