Ashes In the Wind
Note: Takes place sort of during Spiral but Tara never got brain sucked.
Part 1
She stood on the bow, the air whooshing around her, her fingers held up what was left and it sifted through her fingers, out on the wind. The bright sunlight made it glitter as it scattered. Turning around she climbed back towards the center of the boat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm coming!" Buffy climbed up out of the cabin and almost got a face full of mast.
"Sorry." Willow laughed from somewhere in front of her. The mast was tied back.
"For still being in a life threatening situation you're chipper." Buffy scowled.
"It's the ocean. It just makes your problems go away." They stared out for a moment at the vast blue before them and to where they thought they had left the coast behind.
After realizing that they couldn't run from the Knights of Bezantium by land Spike had come up with the idea to go by ocean. That way they would have a chance. And Glory wouldn't be able to follow them quite as easy. All they had to do was to wait her out, and then the worst danger would be past. Giles was lucky enough to know someone with a large yacht who was willing to rent it to them for awhile.
They had packed up the essentials and set sail with Spike telling them the main things they needed to do from the safety of the cabin. Everyone had grumbled about following his orders but they had gradually quieted as they all set into a peaceful rhythm.
"It's strange. We've lived on the water our whole lives and we never really went on it. Over it yes. But we never felt the waves pounding and saw the depths." Xander said to Willow. He looked tan and strong from having been outside all day today and yesterday.
"Turning into a poet Xander?" Willow giggled.
"No. I'm a tough sailor." He puffed up.
"Yeah sure you are. Hand me that rigging." Buffy pointed to some ropes. Xander yanked but to no avail. "That's what I thought."
"Do you think we'll meet pirates?" They turned to Anya. She slid her glasses down her nose and looked at them. "I don't mean the yo ho kind. I mean the kind who hold up ships that go into international waters."
"Oh. I hope not. Can't say that we won't." Giles looked at them tightlipped. "I'm afraid we've run out of choices."
"Don't be so chipper about it. Oh wait. I forgot. The British hate sun and adventure. Two things that we're definitely having."
"I think we should break for dinner. I'm tired." Dawn whined. They all agreed. Checking the steering wheel Giles followed the crowd downstairs. They had stocked up on numerous foods full of preservatives, mostly canned.
"I hope we don't get scurvy." Anya muttered eyeing the array of foods. "I cursed a guy with it once. Very icky disease. Your bones dry up."
"They do not Anya. Do stop with your stories." Giles ripped at the top of a can with a can opener. Spike looked at them.
"You can at least eat that. Do you know how gross old blood is? It's like eating mold."
"No one asked you Spike." Buffy cut in.
"Why do you always put me down. You all need my help. You should treat me as an equal."
"Don't see that happening in the near future."
"Well then I won't watch the boat tonight. Perhaps I'll sit here and watch the telly." The yacht had come equipped with a small tv. It relieved them to have a small bit of home on the boat.
"Don't make me pull out the stake. I'm tired." Buffy rolled her eyes. Spike screamed in frustration.
"Out here, no one can here you scream."
"Xander, that's creepy."
"Just doing my every scary movie ever made impression."
"Yeah. Impressive." Anya rolled her eyes.
"Willow did you finish that protection barrier?"
"Yes Giles. It should hold for a couple days. Hopefully by then we'll be home and this whole thing will be of the past."
"I'm going upstairs. Goodnight." Spike was fed up. As soon as the last ray of sun disappeared over the horizon he bolted upstairs. Everyone settled down to sleep except Buffy. Once she made sure Dawn was asleep she followed Spike back outside.
It was cooler out, the water was choppier, but it wasn't unpleasant. "What do you want?" Spike didn't turn around. He continued doing whatever he was doing.
"Fresh air."
"You were outside, in the sun, all day."
"Then maybe I wanted to talk."
"About what? We have nothing to say."
"Maybe I do. Maybe I just wanted to say, I know this is hard for you. Really hard. Thanks." She leaned over the boat letting the spray lap at her face.
"Don't mention it. Don't have much else to do." He turned the wheel and fiddled with a compass. The radio buzzed lightly filling the silence.
"We're heading into international waters now." Buffy pointed to the bobbing buoys that signified their transition.
"Yo bloody ho."
"I would think you'd be happy. You can get away from all those other vampires who make fun of you for awhile."
"That's right. Cos I don't still have you doing it. Let me tell you Slayer. It's worse when you do it. Because I can at least beat them up." He pulled out a cigarette.
"Don't light that here."
"Why not?"
"Cos you could set the boat on fire."
"You did not just say that when we are floating on the biggest fire truck in the world?" He grinned at her in disbelief then snorted. "Dumb blonde."
"As if! You're blonde too!"
"But I'm not dumb."
"You so are." For a moment she looked indignant then began to laugh at the silliness of the situation. "Go on to bed. I've got this in control."
"Goodnight... Spike." She added his name as an afterthought. She made her way into the boat and fell asleep to the gentle rocking.
The next day was easier because they were getting used to the boat, but people were also getting more irritable because of the small size and the crowding.
"Give me the money."
"Anya, honey, we're only playing with paper money."
"I don't care. My cards won. Give me the money."
"You can't exchange it for goods and or services ya know?"
"So? It represents money you owe me. I fully intend to collect if we survive."
"We will survive." Buffy turned around and looked at her friends.
"No collecting money we don't have. That's not fair." Willow said huffily.
"For god's sake, no more poker!" Giles snapped.
"Think if we sail long enough we'll hit Hawaii?"
"No Dawn. That's almost 2000 miles away from the coast of California."
"We might be sailing that long."
"No. We won't. We're going to go back when the day comes that you aren't being hunted anymore."
That night Spike took over again and Buffy had joined him. The wind had picked up and she wore a sweatshirt.
"What's up?"
"Not much." He eyes her. "What do you want?"
"I dunno. Answers."
"What are the questions?" He stepped away from the wheel and joined her.
"I'm not sure. If I knew then I would understand what I'm supposed to do."
"Isn't this is? Protecting Dawn?"
"There has to be more. Glory will still be there when we get back."
"Sh. Slayer, do you see those clouds over there?" It was silent now. They were out of range of any radios, and any help.
"Yeah. Do you think they might be trouble?"
"Yeah." His eyes stayed riveted to the horizon for a minute, then he turned to her, with a worried look on his face. "I've been on the sea since I was a child. I've sailed across oceans. I know a storm when I see one."
"What do we do?" Her face betrayed her. Panic etched the forming lines. She was tired and worn. His heart sunk in his chest with pain. "I don't sail. I don't know. Could it be bad? We should wake them up. Shouldn't we? They're exhausted though..."
Spike licked his lips. He thought for a moment. "Don't wake them yet. The storm isn't here. I'm gonna start preparing. Put on a life vest. I'll do the same." He tied the wheel and jumped on top of the cabin and began yanking down the mast. He tied it then hopped back down. The water was choppy and he had to grip a side rail. He looked up to the sky again. It was a coal gray, gone was the pretty blues of the clear night of the past few days.
"Spike. Buffy woke me. What's wrong?" Giles stumbled up the small stairs and put his glasses on. He looked around. "Oh dear."
"Take this." spike tossed him a life vest. "This is going to get rough." Just then a huge wave slammed into the boat causing Giles to fall. He cried out, but Spike couldn't get to him right then. Spike grabbed the radio and yelled into it, just in case then he tied his vest and headed for Giles.
"You ok?"
"I think so." Giles sat up. His pants were torn. "Go, get the others prepared." The others were already up but Willow was down below, getting sick from the rocking.
"This is like the storm on Dawson's Creek." Dawn told them as she buckled her vest. She didn't seem at all upset, only excited.
"Sit down." Spike shoved her down as he yanked on the wheel.
"Watch it!" Buffy yelled at him.
"Do you want to be going into the waves like that?" Xander pointed to the bow of the boat which was facing the rolling waves. "Not with it?"
"No you ninny!" Spike yelled back at Xander. "If we go sideways then the water comes over, we capsize and you all drown." the boat rocked violently and they tumbled around. Then the sky opened up and the water spewed down on them, soaking them in seconds and blinding their view. "Everyone stay low! Hold on to the sides."
"Let me help you!" Spike felt Buffy's hand grab hold of the wheel. It jerked in their hands.
"Try!" Lightening lit up the sky for a brief moment before plunging them back into darkness.
"We're going to be hit! We're all gonna die!" Anya shouted. Willow and Tara had been very quiet up until then. But Tara's voice rose above the storm.
"Neptune, save us from this storm! Poseidon the great, save us. Give us safe passage through your world!" The sea calmed around them. The rain turned into a drizzle. Directly above them the clouds sailed away.
"We might live! This is good!" Anya clapped her hands.
"No." Spike shook his head. "Something's not right."
"Don't be pessimistic. We'll be fine. And as soon as we can we'll find land."
"Pessimistic! We're in the middle of nowhere on a little yacht. I'm a bloody idiot for coming. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" They heard a crack. Willow moaned. The sea rose against their little boat. Lightening split the sky, caging them inside a private storm ,even more violent than before.
"It backfired!" Giles yelped incredulously.
"Hold on kiddies. We're in for a wild ride." Spike held the wheel, his muscles bulging until he heard a snap and was flung to the side of the boat. The air lit up and lightening blinded him. "Help!" He grabbed onto the edge as his body dangled over. He felt arms pulling at him and was soon back on board. But the wheel was broken and the smell of smoke was in the air.
"It's over! We lost."Spike sputtered.
"We haven't lost." As if to defy her flames appeared on the top of the boat. Through the rain they crept, as smoke billowed towards them.
"I'm scared." Dawn wailed. Spike took her hand.
"Little bit. You stay with me. I can't drown." Her hand was freezing. Hypothermia was right up there with drowning. Spike was worried. Not for himself but his friends. (In the vaguest sense of the word.)
"We have to go!" Xander ducked a piece of falling debris.
"Grab hold of the side." They jumped out into the water. To Spike's relief it wasn't as cold as it appeared. It was merely the driving rain that stung like ice. The water was boiling in comparison.
One hand held Dawn up and the other held the boat. The vest choked his neck but he didn't have to breath so it was only uncomfortable. He hung there for what seemed like hours, the waves pounding over him until one came that was so enormous it overshadowed the darkness.
Spike was pulled away from the boat and hung on to Dawn with sheer adrenaline. But his grip lessened and she slipped away. He called out to warn the others and dove beneath the water. He couldn't see and the salt water invaded his nose and mouth until he was gagging. Sometime later the water overtook him and he passed out.
Spike awoke with a start, feeling the sun burning his flesh. He screamed in agony and started running. Not realizing that he had washed up somewhere his only thought was to find shelter. He hit a thicket of trees and bushes and dove under them. It was uncomfortable but at least he wasn't burning. He took a deep breath with his eyes closed but then they popped open. He was still alive! Or not dead! And he was on land.
Spike debated with himself for an agonizing moment, he desperately wanted to know if someone else was alive. He rolled his sleeves down (even though it was hot) and grabbed some big leaves. Cursing himself he dashed out back to the beach. The sky was clear and unforgiving. His eyes scanned the beach. He saw a body and ran towards it, knowing that little flames were licking his arms. It was Buffy! He bent down and shook her. She gagged water and opened her eyes.
"Spike?" Her hair lay matted to her head where a bloody bump showed how bad she had it.
"I have to hide!" He wanted to stay and help her but it was to dangerous and his sense of self preservation was high on his list. He immersed himself back in the forest and waited for her. She didn't come right away. He bit his lip in pain as the burns sunk in.
Sometime later he saw Buffy coming. "Spike? Where are you?"
"I'm in the bushes." She sunk to her knees in front of him. She looked even worse.
"I didn't find anyone else." Her lip trembled. "Oh god. Do you think their dead? It's all my fault!"
"I'm sure they washed up somewhere else Slayer. We don't know anything about this place. If we survived then maybe they did."
"But they aren't like us Spike. You know that." Their eyes met. Then she blinked and shook her head.
"You ok Slayer?"
"Yes. Well my eyes have been blurry since I woke up. Like the last I remember was you yelling after losing Dawn then the big wave. I was pushed under and slammed against the boat. I hurt my head. I remember swimming and swimming and touching sand then passing out."
"I think you should rest. You don't look good." He examined her eyes with a panic withheld. She didn't need the extra worry. Her eyes looked black and blue, especially the one closer to the bump and he saw a long scratch that he hoped didn't extend into her actual eye. It was hard to tell. He wasn't feeling so good himself.
"Alright." She must have been really bad if she agreed. Normally she would charge out for her friends. She collapsed into the dirt and rolled up into a ball. Spike didn't know what to do to help. He shifted a little, careful of the sun and slipped her head into his lap. She didn't make a move.
Even when his lap started to ache he dare not move a muscle. Buffy moaned and yelped in her sleep. He bet she was dreaming of the nightmare they had just endured. He was hot all over and he desperately wanted the night to come. He wondered briefly what he would eat but he shoved that disturbing thought out of his mind.
Buffy awoke later. "Spike?"
"Right here."
"Where?" His eyes flew open, as did her unseeing ones. "I can't see you. I really did go blind!" She reached out and grabbed him. Her fingers wrapped around his arms and squeezed with panic.
"Buffy. Stop right this moment." He jerked away and held her down. "You're going to listen to me." She squirmed, her head bobbing around. "If you fall apart then we die. But if you work with me and use your skills we can make it through. We can't do it alone." She stopped moving. "Will you work with me?" She nodded.
"Is it still day?"
"Yes."
"Oh. I wanted to go and look for pieces of the ship. Or call for the others." Her lip trembled.
"Don't you dare cry." Spike snapped in his deep guttural vampire tone. Her initial reaction was to break out in tears but she pulled herself together which he gave her credit for.
"Yeah. Won't help anything."
"If you walk straight you can at least go wash some of the sand and dirt off your face." He helped her stand up and she clumsily walked through the bushes. He hoped her eyes heeled fast. She came back awhile later and Spike's jaw dropped.
"Does it look alright?"
"What did ya do Slayer?" Her outfit was severely lacking in the material department.
"It's so hot out. Here's the other material. Put it on your burns." She bent down near him and felt him out. Then she put the cool pieces of fabric on his skin. It burned and he yelped. "Don't be a baby."
"Thanks." She sighed and sat down. "You hungry?"
"Kind of."
"I'm sorry I can't help you right now."
"Don't."
"Huh?"
"Don't feel sorry for me. I can hear it in your voice."
"Like hell I do! You may not be able to see but I'm getting burned every time I move an inch. Do you know how scary it is to be outside during the day time? I could be a puff of dust any second if a breeze starts up. Not to mention I look horrible in shorts. Who wants to see my pale skin?"
"That's one thing I won't miss." She laughed at his attempt at humor. "Where do you think we are?"
"I'm not sure. I'm guessing somewhere near the Hawaiian Islands. But not close enough to swim. If you're getting that idea."
"I knew we were that close! Maybe some boat will come by and rescue us. Maybe someone else got rescued and they are searching for us! I bet they're coming right now." She perked up for a minute. "Hold me?"
"What?" Her shoulders shrank and she shivered.
"They aren't coming. We're the only survivors." She leaned over into his lap and intrusively rested her head.
"Hey there." He said pointedly. Then he leaned back to compensate and put his hand on her back.
Note: Takes place sort of during Spiral but Tara never got brain sucked.
Part 1
She stood on the bow, the air whooshing around her, her fingers held up what was left and it sifted through her fingers, out on the wind. The bright sunlight made it glitter as it scattered. Turning around she climbed back towards the center of the boat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm coming!" Buffy climbed up out of the cabin and almost got a face full of mast.
"Sorry." Willow laughed from somewhere in front of her. The mast was tied back.
"For still being in a life threatening situation you're chipper." Buffy scowled.
"It's the ocean. It just makes your problems go away." They stared out for a moment at the vast blue before them and to where they thought they had left the coast behind.
After realizing that they couldn't run from the Knights of Bezantium by land Spike had come up with the idea to go by ocean. That way they would have a chance. And Glory wouldn't be able to follow them quite as easy. All they had to do was to wait her out, and then the worst danger would be past. Giles was lucky enough to know someone with a large yacht who was willing to rent it to them for awhile.
They had packed up the essentials and set sail with Spike telling them the main things they needed to do from the safety of the cabin. Everyone had grumbled about following his orders but they had gradually quieted as they all set into a peaceful rhythm.
"It's strange. We've lived on the water our whole lives and we never really went on it. Over it yes. But we never felt the waves pounding and saw the depths." Xander said to Willow. He looked tan and strong from having been outside all day today and yesterday.
"Turning into a poet Xander?" Willow giggled.
"No. I'm a tough sailor." He puffed up.
"Yeah sure you are. Hand me that rigging." Buffy pointed to some ropes. Xander yanked but to no avail. "That's what I thought."
"Do you think we'll meet pirates?" They turned to Anya. She slid her glasses down her nose and looked at them. "I don't mean the yo ho kind. I mean the kind who hold up ships that go into international waters."
"Oh. I hope not. Can't say that we won't." Giles looked at them tightlipped. "I'm afraid we've run out of choices."
"Don't be so chipper about it. Oh wait. I forgot. The British hate sun and adventure. Two things that we're definitely having."
"I think we should break for dinner. I'm tired." Dawn whined. They all agreed. Checking the steering wheel Giles followed the crowd downstairs. They had stocked up on numerous foods full of preservatives, mostly canned.
"I hope we don't get scurvy." Anya muttered eyeing the array of foods. "I cursed a guy with it once. Very icky disease. Your bones dry up."
"They do not Anya. Do stop with your stories." Giles ripped at the top of a can with a can opener. Spike looked at them.
"You can at least eat that. Do you know how gross old blood is? It's like eating mold."
"No one asked you Spike." Buffy cut in.
"Why do you always put me down. You all need my help. You should treat me as an equal."
"Don't see that happening in the near future."
"Well then I won't watch the boat tonight. Perhaps I'll sit here and watch the telly." The yacht had come equipped with a small tv. It relieved them to have a small bit of home on the boat.
"Don't make me pull out the stake. I'm tired." Buffy rolled her eyes. Spike screamed in frustration.
"Out here, no one can here you scream."
"Xander, that's creepy."
"Just doing my every scary movie ever made impression."
"Yeah. Impressive." Anya rolled her eyes.
"Willow did you finish that protection barrier?"
"Yes Giles. It should hold for a couple days. Hopefully by then we'll be home and this whole thing will be of the past."
"I'm going upstairs. Goodnight." Spike was fed up. As soon as the last ray of sun disappeared over the horizon he bolted upstairs. Everyone settled down to sleep except Buffy. Once she made sure Dawn was asleep she followed Spike back outside.
It was cooler out, the water was choppier, but it wasn't unpleasant. "What do you want?" Spike didn't turn around. He continued doing whatever he was doing.
"Fresh air."
"You were outside, in the sun, all day."
"Then maybe I wanted to talk."
"About what? We have nothing to say."
"Maybe I do. Maybe I just wanted to say, I know this is hard for you. Really hard. Thanks." She leaned over the boat letting the spray lap at her face.
"Don't mention it. Don't have much else to do." He turned the wheel and fiddled with a compass. The radio buzzed lightly filling the silence.
"We're heading into international waters now." Buffy pointed to the bobbing buoys that signified their transition.
"Yo bloody ho."
"I would think you'd be happy. You can get away from all those other vampires who make fun of you for awhile."
"That's right. Cos I don't still have you doing it. Let me tell you Slayer. It's worse when you do it. Because I can at least beat them up." He pulled out a cigarette.
"Don't light that here."
"Why not?"
"Cos you could set the boat on fire."
"You did not just say that when we are floating on the biggest fire truck in the world?" He grinned at her in disbelief then snorted. "Dumb blonde."
"As if! You're blonde too!"
"But I'm not dumb."
"You so are." For a moment she looked indignant then began to laugh at the silliness of the situation. "Go on to bed. I've got this in control."
"Goodnight... Spike." She added his name as an afterthought. She made her way into the boat and fell asleep to the gentle rocking.
The next day was easier because they were getting used to the boat, but people were also getting more irritable because of the small size and the crowding.
"Give me the money."
"Anya, honey, we're only playing with paper money."
"I don't care. My cards won. Give me the money."
"You can't exchange it for goods and or services ya know?"
"So? It represents money you owe me. I fully intend to collect if we survive."
"We will survive." Buffy turned around and looked at her friends.
"No collecting money we don't have. That's not fair." Willow said huffily.
"For god's sake, no more poker!" Giles snapped.
"Think if we sail long enough we'll hit Hawaii?"
"No Dawn. That's almost 2000 miles away from the coast of California."
"We might be sailing that long."
"No. We won't. We're going to go back when the day comes that you aren't being hunted anymore."
That night Spike took over again and Buffy had joined him. The wind had picked up and she wore a sweatshirt.
"What's up?"
"Not much." He eyes her. "What do you want?"
"I dunno. Answers."
"What are the questions?" He stepped away from the wheel and joined her.
"I'm not sure. If I knew then I would understand what I'm supposed to do."
"Isn't this is? Protecting Dawn?"
"There has to be more. Glory will still be there when we get back."
"Sh. Slayer, do you see those clouds over there?" It was silent now. They were out of range of any radios, and any help.
"Yeah. Do you think they might be trouble?"
"Yeah." His eyes stayed riveted to the horizon for a minute, then he turned to her, with a worried look on his face. "I've been on the sea since I was a child. I've sailed across oceans. I know a storm when I see one."
"What do we do?" Her face betrayed her. Panic etched the forming lines. She was tired and worn. His heart sunk in his chest with pain. "I don't sail. I don't know. Could it be bad? We should wake them up. Shouldn't we? They're exhausted though..."
Spike licked his lips. He thought for a moment. "Don't wake them yet. The storm isn't here. I'm gonna start preparing. Put on a life vest. I'll do the same." He tied the wheel and jumped on top of the cabin and began yanking down the mast. He tied it then hopped back down. The water was choppy and he had to grip a side rail. He looked up to the sky again. It was a coal gray, gone was the pretty blues of the clear night of the past few days.
"Spike. Buffy woke me. What's wrong?" Giles stumbled up the small stairs and put his glasses on. He looked around. "Oh dear."
"Take this." spike tossed him a life vest. "This is going to get rough." Just then a huge wave slammed into the boat causing Giles to fall. He cried out, but Spike couldn't get to him right then. Spike grabbed the radio and yelled into it, just in case then he tied his vest and headed for Giles.
"You ok?"
"I think so." Giles sat up. His pants were torn. "Go, get the others prepared." The others were already up but Willow was down below, getting sick from the rocking.
"This is like the storm on Dawson's Creek." Dawn told them as she buckled her vest. She didn't seem at all upset, only excited.
"Sit down." Spike shoved her down as he yanked on the wheel.
"Watch it!" Buffy yelled at him.
"Do you want to be going into the waves like that?" Xander pointed to the bow of the boat which was facing the rolling waves. "Not with it?"
"No you ninny!" Spike yelled back at Xander. "If we go sideways then the water comes over, we capsize and you all drown." the boat rocked violently and they tumbled around. Then the sky opened up and the water spewed down on them, soaking them in seconds and blinding their view. "Everyone stay low! Hold on to the sides."
"Let me help you!" Spike felt Buffy's hand grab hold of the wheel. It jerked in their hands.
"Try!" Lightening lit up the sky for a brief moment before plunging them back into darkness.
"We're going to be hit! We're all gonna die!" Anya shouted. Willow and Tara had been very quiet up until then. But Tara's voice rose above the storm.
"Neptune, save us from this storm! Poseidon the great, save us. Give us safe passage through your world!" The sea calmed around them. The rain turned into a drizzle. Directly above them the clouds sailed away.
"We might live! This is good!" Anya clapped her hands.
"No." Spike shook his head. "Something's not right."
"Don't be pessimistic. We'll be fine. And as soon as we can we'll find land."
"Pessimistic! We're in the middle of nowhere on a little yacht. I'm a bloody idiot for coming. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" They heard a crack. Willow moaned. The sea rose against their little boat. Lightening split the sky, caging them inside a private storm ,even more violent than before.
"It backfired!" Giles yelped incredulously.
"Hold on kiddies. We're in for a wild ride." Spike held the wheel, his muscles bulging until he heard a snap and was flung to the side of the boat. The air lit up and lightening blinded him. "Help!" He grabbed onto the edge as his body dangled over. He felt arms pulling at him and was soon back on board. But the wheel was broken and the smell of smoke was in the air.
"It's over! We lost."Spike sputtered.
"We haven't lost." As if to defy her flames appeared on the top of the boat. Through the rain they crept, as smoke billowed towards them.
"I'm scared." Dawn wailed. Spike took her hand.
"Little bit. You stay with me. I can't drown." Her hand was freezing. Hypothermia was right up there with drowning. Spike was worried. Not for himself but his friends. (In the vaguest sense of the word.)
"We have to go!" Xander ducked a piece of falling debris.
"Grab hold of the side." They jumped out into the water. To Spike's relief it wasn't as cold as it appeared. It was merely the driving rain that stung like ice. The water was boiling in comparison.
One hand held Dawn up and the other held the boat. The vest choked his neck but he didn't have to breath so it was only uncomfortable. He hung there for what seemed like hours, the waves pounding over him until one came that was so enormous it overshadowed the darkness.
Spike was pulled away from the boat and hung on to Dawn with sheer adrenaline. But his grip lessened and she slipped away. He called out to warn the others and dove beneath the water. He couldn't see and the salt water invaded his nose and mouth until he was gagging. Sometime later the water overtook him and he passed out.
Spike awoke with a start, feeling the sun burning his flesh. He screamed in agony and started running. Not realizing that he had washed up somewhere his only thought was to find shelter. He hit a thicket of trees and bushes and dove under them. It was uncomfortable but at least he wasn't burning. He took a deep breath with his eyes closed but then they popped open. He was still alive! Or not dead! And he was on land.
Spike debated with himself for an agonizing moment, he desperately wanted to know if someone else was alive. He rolled his sleeves down (even though it was hot) and grabbed some big leaves. Cursing himself he dashed out back to the beach. The sky was clear and unforgiving. His eyes scanned the beach. He saw a body and ran towards it, knowing that little flames were licking his arms. It was Buffy! He bent down and shook her. She gagged water and opened her eyes.
"Spike?" Her hair lay matted to her head where a bloody bump showed how bad she had it.
"I have to hide!" He wanted to stay and help her but it was to dangerous and his sense of self preservation was high on his list. He immersed himself back in the forest and waited for her. She didn't come right away. He bit his lip in pain as the burns sunk in.
Sometime later he saw Buffy coming. "Spike? Where are you?"
"I'm in the bushes." She sunk to her knees in front of him. She looked even worse.
"I didn't find anyone else." Her lip trembled. "Oh god. Do you think their dead? It's all my fault!"
"I'm sure they washed up somewhere else Slayer. We don't know anything about this place. If we survived then maybe they did."
"But they aren't like us Spike. You know that." Their eyes met. Then she blinked and shook her head.
"You ok Slayer?"
"Yes. Well my eyes have been blurry since I woke up. Like the last I remember was you yelling after losing Dawn then the big wave. I was pushed under and slammed against the boat. I hurt my head. I remember swimming and swimming and touching sand then passing out."
"I think you should rest. You don't look good." He examined her eyes with a panic withheld. She didn't need the extra worry. Her eyes looked black and blue, especially the one closer to the bump and he saw a long scratch that he hoped didn't extend into her actual eye. It was hard to tell. He wasn't feeling so good himself.
"Alright." She must have been really bad if she agreed. Normally she would charge out for her friends. She collapsed into the dirt and rolled up into a ball. Spike didn't know what to do to help. He shifted a little, careful of the sun and slipped her head into his lap. She didn't make a move.
Even when his lap started to ache he dare not move a muscle. Buffy moaned and yelped in her sleep. He bet she was dreaming of the nightmare they had just endured. He was hot all over and he desperately wanted the night to come. He wondered briefly what he would eat but he shoved that disturbing thought out of his mind.
Buffy awoke later. "Spike?"
"Right here."
"Where?" His eyes flew open, as did her unseeing ones. "I can't see you. I really did go blind!" She reached out and grabbed him. Her fingers wrapped around his arms and squeezed with panic.
"Buffy. Stop right this moment." He jerked away and held her down. "You're going to listen to me." She squirmed, her head bobbing around. "If you fall apart then we die. But if you work with me and use your skills we can make it through. We can't do it alone." She stopped moving. "Will you work with me?" She nodded.
"Is it still day?"
"Yes."
"Oh. I wanted to go and look for pieces of the ship. Or call for the others." Her lip trembled.
"Don't you dare cry." Spike snapped in his deep guttural vampire tone. Her initial reaction was to break out in tears but she pulled herself together which he gave her credit for.
"Yeah. Won't help anything."
"If you walk straight you can at least go wash some of the sand and dirt off your face." He helped her stand up and she clumsily walked through the bushes. He hoped her eyes heeled fast. She came back awhile later and Spike's jaw dropped.
"Does it look alright?"
"What did ya do Slayer?" Her outfit was severely lacking in the material department.
"It's so hot out. Here's the other material. Put it on your burns." She bent down near him and felt him out. Then she put the cool pieces of fabric on his skin. It burned and he yelped. "Don't be a baby."
"Thanks." She sighed and sat down. "You hungry?"
"Kind of."
"I'm sorry I can't help you right now."
"Don't."
"Huh?"
"Don't feel sorry for me. I can hear it in your voice."
"Like hell I do! You may not be able to see but I'm getting burned every time I move an inch. Do you know how scary it is to be outside during the day time? I could be a puff of dust any second if a breeze starts up. Not to mention I look horrible in shorts. Who wants to see my pale skin?"
"That's one thing I won't miss." She laughed at his attempt at humor. "Where do you think we are?"
"I'm not sure. I'm guessing somewhere near the Hawaiian Islands. But not close enough to swim. If you're getting that idea."
"I knew we were that close! Maybe some boat will come by and rescue us. Maybe someone else got rescued and they are searching for us! I bet they're coming right now." She perked up for a minute. "Hold me?"
"What?" Her shoulders shrank and she shivered.
"They aren't coming. We're the only survivors." She leaned over into his lap and intrusively rested her head.
"Hey there." He said pointedly. Then he leaned back to compensate and put his hand on her back.