Xander was on his knees behind Spike's head. Around him were pillows and blankets of different sizes and textures. He'd chosen three that would fit the purpose of getting Spike up in a position to be able to drink. It didn't do to use the biggest ones as he'd first thought. Spike would be in too much pain before Xander would have finished arranging the other two and Xander could not bear the thought of causing Spike any more pain at all. And the couple of cylinder shaped throw pillows seemed too soft to give enough leverage. He had to settle with the three medium sized ones taken from his bed covers. They were throw pillows too, but they felt more solid. They should work.

"I'm gonna lift up your right arm now, and place a pillow under it, all right?"

Spike nodded.

Gently, he lifted Spike's arm, supporting lower and upper arm with his hands while carefully pushing a pillow into position using his knee. Spike grunted a bit but didn't say anything else. As Xander let go of Spike's arm, Spike exhaled the breath he had obviously been holding.

"Are you okay?" Xander asked.

"Yes. Doesn't hurt."

Knowing that statement had to be stretching the truth, Xander was still pleased with the fact, that the action hadn't seemed to cause Spike any unbearable pain. He told Spike to brace himself, and repeated the procedure with the other arm. Grabbing the last pillow he said, "And now it's time for your head and back. Are you ready?"

"Yes," Spike replied and clenched his jaw, breathing in through his nose obviously preparing himself for the unwanted painful movement.

Xander began to lift Spike's back up, all the while saying stuff like "I've got you. Getting there. Just a little bit further," and finally "There!"

Xander felt triumphant as he managed to slide the pillow in under Spike's straining back. He lowered Spike slowly, and shifted the pillow a bit until Spike looked comfortable.

"You still okay, Spike?"

"I'm fine. It's good. Better. Thank you."

Xander scooted around Spike's arm and picked up the mug. Dammit, it wasn't warm anymore.

"Umm, Spike, this has gone cold, you want me to heat another one for you?"

Spike groaned before giving a barely visible shake of his head.

"No, it's fine. Please…. Please just give it to me, yeah?" He all but pleaded.

"Of course." Xander felt like a fool for having asked. Anybody could tell that Spike was starving.

He lifted the mug to Spike's mouth and tilted it slightly.

As soon as the blood hit Spike's lips, Spike let out a groan of pure hunger. "Oh god," he said and began to drink in earnest.

Xander watched in mesmerized fascination as Spike swallowed mouthful after mouthful of blood, looking for all the world, like he was a drowning man who'd just hit surface. The mug was empty in mere seconds. Xander removed it, feeling oddly embarrassed at having witnessed Spike in such a desperate need.

He turned back to look at Spike and saw the vampire's exhausted eyes staring back, his expression so grateful that Xander felt his face heat. Spike sighed and closed his eyes.

Xander swallowed with some difficulty.

"I'll go get some more," Xander's voice came out in a rusty hush.

Spike's eyes fluttered open.

"Would you? That'd be… lovely, pet. Thanks." His eyelids fell shut again.

Xander heated up three more bags and poured the content into a thermo this time. When he got back, Spike appeared to have fallen asleep although his chest was still moving up and down.

Xander placed the thermo next to the mug on the floor and picked up a thick fleece blanket. He'd forgotten that the two of them were still naked, his only focus having been to get Spike something to eat. He began draping the blanket over Spike's body and the motion caused Spike's eyes to flutter open.

"A blanket," he whispered in wonder. "So bloody soft," before closing his eyes yet again.

Xander's eye blurred. He managed to whisper "Yeah, only the best for you, pal," and he had to blink rapidly, as he finished tucking Spike in.

Clearing his throat, he whispered "Are you ready for some more food?"

Spike smiled but his eyes never opened.

"Yeah. T'is such a nice dream, pet. Such a nice…" His voice trailed off never finishing the sentence. The ghost of a small smile lingered on his lips.

Xander reached out and touched Spike's forehead. Spike made a low content noise of approval. His eyes moved slightly behind his closed lids.

Xander leaned down close to Spike's ear and whispered. "It's not a dream, Spike. It's true. You are safe and I'll take care of you."

Spike didn't reply. He was already caught deeply in the much needed sleep that his body had finally been allowed to give itself over to. Xander briefly rested his head against Spike's feeling tears in his eye. Before he leaned back up, he placed a small kiss just above Spike's ear.

He remained sitting next to Spike for a long time, watching him as he slept, stroking his short burnt hair, his thumb every once in a while quietly smoothing over a frown of worry, still etched on Spike's brow.

In the very early morning, Xander got up. Spike hadn't stirred. Checking that the blinds were down properly before leaving the room, Xander went out into his bathroom and took a quick shower. He was feeling bone weary. The adrenaline rush of the escape and the after effects of the spell combined with his hours spent in quiet contemplation while watching Spike sleep, had taken their toll. He all but fell on his bed, instantly falling asleep.

The sound of his cell phone ringing woke him up only a few hours later. "Xander!" Willow's voice rang out incredibly loud and he could practically feel her disappointment through the line. "You didn't call, Mister and you had me worried! Are you all right, did it work?"

"Sorry," he answered. "I forgot. It was all pretty intense and I… yeah, it worked. Spike is here with me. He is sleeping in the living room. We're both pretty worn out right now, Wills."

A squeal of delight from Willow caused him to wince.

"It worked! That's wonderful, Xander! I sort of knew it anyway. I mean, I could feel the two of you through the link the whole time. It's just… It's such a relief to hear you tell me that you're okay. I have to admit I was feeling pretty nervous but it worked out and that's what's important. I mean, Iknew that it would, and… It's just so great that you are okay!"

Xander heard what Willow didn't want to say.

"Yeah… You know, Will, there was a fire. We aren't hurt exactly, but we don't have the same haircuts that we used to have. In fact, we kind of lost most of our hair because it burned off. Did you know that something like this would happen?"

He couldn't quite leave out the accusing tone in his voice.

"Oh. Well… I knew there would be some…. heat. Removing two bodies from that amount of distance takes up a lot of magical and natural energy. And energy is, well warm. That's why the main ingredient in the gel was a fire-retardant and…"

"A fire-retardant? Will, Spike could have burned up and it would all have been for nothing! I could have been severely injured. We could have died! Dammit, Willow. Don't you think that you should at least have warned me that something like this could happen?"

"I know, I'm sorry. Maybe you're right and I should have told you that there was a minor risk of a little bit of fire. But you have to understand Xander that I knew you wouldn't get hurt. Seriously! I knew this spell would work and I guess I just didn't want you to worry when it really wasn't necessary. I figured you would have enough on your mind already?"

Xander rubbed his tired eye. Sometimes, Willow could be so goddamn frustrating to deal with. But she was right. He probably wouldn't have been able to focus the way he had, had he known about this potential risk of going up in flames. And she had a point. Losing your hair wasn't serious. It would grow back. And it was too damn late anyway to change what had happened.

"Yeah, all right, Willow. It's okay, I mean. We did get out of there and the hair thing is no big deal, I guess..."

He fell silent for a moment before he continued, "And Willow, I got to say. I am happier than words can ever express that we did this. That place… What they'd done to Spike was…"

His voice broke.

"I can't even begin to describe it," he whispered .

"It was that bad, Sweetie?"

"Yeah, it really was, Wills," he replied brokenly.

"He is… he's in a really bad shape. He´s covered in wounds from multiple beatings, his shoulders are dislocated, he is so fuckingthin and… it's. It was hell, Willow! I'd never imagined how… how much he's been through. Torture… Rapes… I… I just can't. " He was crying now. Couldn't hold it back any longer and he simply sobbed into the telephone.

"Oh baby, I am so sorry. It must have been so hard to witness. I am so sorry, Sweetie. Do you want me to come over? I know I'm really busy right now but maybe I could find the time to…"

"No." He cleared his throat. "No, Wills, it's all right. I don't think there's anything you can do. Besides, I don't think Spike would like you to see him right now. I think what he needs is lots and lots of food and rest. And I can take care of that. I want to take care of that."

"Are you sure, honey?"

"Yeah, I am sure. Look, I'm beat. I'm gonna go back to bed now, okay Will?"

"Okay, Xander. Sleep tight. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

He put the phone down. He really was tired. But he wanted to check on Spike before going back to bed.