Links
by Invisible Sun
Disclaimer: Joss owns 'em. I'm just borrowing'.
Spoilers: Never Leave Me and possibly even future eps.
Keywords: Angst, S/B (possibly)
Rating: PG-13, maybe R
Summary: Post-Never Leave Me. Buffy finds Spike. Story continuation is dependent on reader response.
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Spike was ripped from peaceful unconsciousness when he felt the unfortunately-all-too-familiar feeling of razor-sharp incisors on his, oh, guess it decided to go for his neck this time. He gasped in pain and disgust and the creature, the "real vampire," reopened wounds on his neck. Lifting his eyes, Spike saw himself, smirking. God, why couldn't this thing kill him already?
"Oh, don't worry, mate. Only a couple more days until he's strong enough to hunt on his own," Spike's ghost told him.
Spike just watched him as 'Nosferatu' drank his blood. He had been trapped here a week. And every second he was here, he was losing more and more hope of ever getting out. He sighed in relief when he felt the monster release him. He leaned his head against the stake behind, suddenly too weak to hold it up. Spike wasn't sure what was going on, but, ever since 'Nosferatu' had risen, he felt different. Weaker. His first wounds should have been healed by now.
But they weren't.
He knew it was stupid but he felt as if his life was slowing slipping away. It had to be a ridiculous thought, because he *was* a vampire, immortal. Right? He couldn't be dying. Not like this.
But it felt like it. Oh, did it feel like it.
He felt a hand caress his face. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Buffy stood in front of him, concern marring her features. Spike wanted to believe it was really her, but he knew better. Whatever it was that was here, reveling in his torture, was responsible. This was a constant source of entertainment for it. Pretending it was really Spike's Slayer and was there to rescue him. The first time he fell for it, but he refused to let himself be the butt of the thing's joke again.
"Buffy" pretended she was reached to untie him, "I'm getting you out of here."
He didn't respond, instead keeping his gaze straight ahead. She noticed and sighed, dropping her hands back to her sides.
Stomping her foot, she exclaimed, "Come on. It's no fun if you don't play along."
If she had been his Buffy, he would have found her child-like behavior adorable.
"Sorry, pet, don't feel like playing," he responded, trying to remain as emotionless as possible.
She stepped back, smirking. And she was no longer Buffy, but, instead, Drusilla.
The change surprised him. The thing hadn't morphed into his sire since...since the basement.
"My precious William. We can be a family again. But a new family." She looked at the real vampire with what appeared to be love. "He can be our child. Haven't you always wanted one? One to teach our ways. One to follow you in your footsteps?" She stepped closer to Spike, "I want us to be a family, my William."
He stared at her, no doing anything else.
"We can be together, for all eternity, my love," 'Drusilla' whispered against his ear. "Don't you want it? Tell me what you want."
Spike knew he would probably pay the price but he couldn't help but be cocky with his answer, "Well, personally? I want a house on the beach with, oh, maybe a couple of skylights. Also wouldn't mind a Jaguar or maybe a Rolls Royce. I hear those are nice."
'Drusilla' stepped back and morphed into 'Spike.' He growled, "You dare defy me?"
Suddenly, a harbinger grabbed a knife, ordered by 'Spike' telepathically, and approached the captured vampire. "You'll find that I don't like that very much."
Spike screamed as the blade plunged into his stomach.
Buffy sighed when she took a seat at her desk. A week. He'd been gone a week now. And all the possible leads to his whereabouts led to one giant brick wall. No one had seen or heard anything. It was almost as if he had disappeared off the face of the planet. But she refused to believe he was dead. She swore she would know, feel it, if Spike died.
But one week. No idea where he was. The Scoobies had all but given up.
She was startled out of her thoughts when she heads someone ask her something.
"Huh? What?"
"I just wanted to know if I could talk to you, Ms. Summers," a young man asked. The backpack flung over his shoulder yelled out 'student.'
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. What can I help you with...?"
"I'm Kevin," the boy said as he took a seat.
"...Kevin," she finished, smiling.
He looked nervously at the principal's office door. "I heard you were the one to talk to if I saw or heard anything...weird."
"Weird how?"
Kevin stole another glance at the office door, "Please don't tell Principal Wood anything."
"I can assure you anything you saw will be kept in the strictest confidence."
Kevin nodded, feeling slightly more relaxed, "Yesterday, during second, I...decided to go down to the basement instead..."
Buffy nodded, letting him know he could continue.
"Um, while I was down there, I heard these screams, right? So, I followed them, right? Make sure no one needed help or anything."
"Go on," Buffy said when Kevin halted his speech. She couldn't contain a feeling of trepidation that entered her as he told her the story.
"Anyway, I found this room, right? And I saw this guy. And he was...strapped to this big ol' cross-looking thing, right?"
"What did he look like?"
"Um, I think he had...blond hair? I do remember blood. Lots of it."
"Is there anything else?"
"Um, there was a lot of these guys with robes chantin' and stuff. Oh, and, um, there was this...never mind. You'll probably think I'm insane, if you don't already."
"What? What is it?"
He hesitated.
"I promise, whatever it is, I've probably seen worse."
"Okay,...I was going to sneak in, try to help the guy, but...this...monster came out of nowhere. Scared the hell out of me. Ugliest damned thing I ever saw." He fell quiet for a moment before asking, "Can I go now?"
She nodded, "Yeah, go ahead."
He left.
Buffy say quietly, replaying Kevin's words in her heard. Was that Spike he was referring to? And, if it was, she needed to help him. She wanted more than anything to rush down there and get him out there. But she knew that she wouldn't be to take on The First's harbingers by herself and possibly even this monster. She needed manpower.
She needed the Scoobies...
Buffy slowly opened the door, hoping that this one was the one Kevin spoke of. Behind her, the Scoobies waited patiently, all brandishing various weapons. She saw Spike, just as Kevin described.
Closing the door, she turned to her friends, "He's in there...Ready?"
All of them nodded wordlessly. She opened the door again and everyone entered stealthy. The room was deceivingly empty. Only Spike seemed to be present. And he was unconscious.
Buffy glanced at the others before making her way to the vampire. She gasped at the sight of his body covered in blood. His blood.
"Spike?"
He stirred.
"Yeah, that's right. Wake up."
He opened his eyes and groaned.
"Hey," Buffy said, a smile appearing on her face.
"Told you I'm not playing any of your sick games, love."
"What?" she asked with confusion.
"I know you're not her, so drop the act, please," the last word had been a whisper.
"Spike, I'm real. I promise you I'm real. And I promise you I'm getting you outta here."
He looked at her, studying her face. Her eyes. Was it really her?
"Buffy?"
She nodded, "Now, what do you say we get you off this thing?"
"Sorry, milady, but I cannot allow that."
Both Buffy and Spike (and the Scoobies) reacted to the voice.
She spun around. The First Evil stood before her. But instead of being Miss Calendar, like the first time she saw it, it was a man dressed in Victorian-style clothing. One look at the man's face and she knew she was seeing Spike before Drusilla got a hold of him. William.
"Why are you here this time?" Buffy asked, crossing her arms.
"I beg your pardon."
"I know you're The First."
Spike's ears perked up at hearing this. What?
'William' smiled and looked at Willow, "Perhaps, if you ask one of your dear friends, she might inform you of what you are inquiring, my dear."
Buffy glanced at Willow, silently asking what he meant.
Willow cleared her throat and looked at 'William,' "Well, I believe you said something about...shedding you mortal coil and...letting it go."
'William' smiled and nodded, "Couldn't have said it better than that. Now...if you'll excuse me, I do have a rather important engagement I must attend. But not to worry, I believe my harbingers will be here any minute to send you on your way."
Suddenly, all the Scoobies were surrounded.
"Well, I guess they decided to arrive early. I really wish I could stay and enjoy the festivities, but I really must get going." He gave a small bow, and, suddenly, he was gone.
The harbingers ran at everyone and the fight began. Like the fight that took place in Buffy's house last week, this fight was rather easy...almost too easy. Every harbinger was dead in a matter of mere minutes. Buffy knew, however, when they faced The First again, more of its subjects would be there. Everyone was excited because the fight was over so quickly.
Buffy returned her attention on the captive vampire. However, his eyes were focused on something behind her.
"Spike? What is it?" The Slayer asked when his eyes widened almost comically.
He didn't answer and she began to turn around to see what he was looking at. What she saw disgusted her. The ugliest...vampire stood before her. It glared at her with piercing inhuman eyes. It almost looked as if it was smiling at her, its blackened teeth showing. Buffy was surprised by its extreme speed as it lashed at her with its long blackened talons, cutting her across the arm. She gasped in pain, grabbing her arm.
Fury suddenly encompassed her and she swung her fist at it, connecting with its chin. Its head snapped to the side, but, otherwise, it remained in place.
"Umm, guys," Buffy called out to her friends, "Get Spike outta here while I deal with this...thing."
"Sure thing, Buff," Xander said. The gang waited for Buffy and the creature to move away from Spike before moving in.
Xander reached down and undid Spike's bindings to his legs before moving to his arms. Unable to hold himself up, Spike began to collapse but was caught by Xander. He mumbled his thanks as the Scoobies helped him out of the room.
When they exited, Xander leaned Spike across a wall.
"You okay?" Xander asked.
"I'll heal. But someone needs to get the Slayer out of there. That thing is more powerful than she believes."
The creature had Buffy pinned to the wall. Across the room, her stake laid on the ground where the UberVamp tossed it when it yanked it out of its chest. Buffy had been stunned when the thing didn't explode into a pile of dust like it should have. The vampire had taken advantage of that surprise and that's how she found herself with her back to the wall and the creature's fangs moving to her neck. She tried to push it away, but it was too strong. Oh, God, this is the end, she thought.
But, before the creature could reach its destination, Buffy heard a loud crack and the monster crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Standing over it was Xander, wielding a two-by-four in his hands.
"Thanks," she said.
"Don't mention it."
Buffy placed the last bandage on Spike's wounds. "So, any idea why the hell that ting was?"
Spike shook his head, "I wasn't given a name, love."
"Any idea where it came from?"
Spike looked away, as if ashamed, "Me. It came from me."
"You? What are you talking about, Spike?"
"There was this ritual. My blood raised the demon."
"How?"
"I don't bloody know," Spike said, his voice raising.
"Sorry...we'll figure it out...somehow."
"How'd you find me?" Spike asked, deciding to change the subject.
"A student just happened to skip class yesterday and take the unguided tour of the basement. Told me where you were."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why'd you get me out of there. Lord knows I'm not your responsibility."
"Because I couldn't just let you stay there. We've been through too much together for me to just forget about you."
"Thank you," he whispered.
She smiled, "You're welcome, William."
The End (or is it? You decide)
AN: This story could just end here or continue. I have an idea for a continuation of this story. But all is dependent on your responses... If I do continue this story, the title will (or could) change to (probably) "Everybody Out Of The Water."
