Ashes in the Wind
Part 3
Eventually night came and as soon as the last ray of sun disappeared Spike was up with Buffy combing the beach. They walked up and down and waded into the water looking at pieces of wreckage. She had to trust him and his night vision to tell her what was going on.
"What you want to eat Slayer? I can gather you some bananas or pineapples."
"You see them? Up in the trees? Aren't they a little high?"
"Not so high."
"Go for it." He went over and climbed one of the trees. He fell a few times and scraped his arms and legs before he got the hang of it.
"You should see this! I can see over the trees! This place is pretty big. We should take a walk around."
"I wish I could see it." He came down and handed her a bunch of bananas.
"Fresh from the tree."
"They smell strange."
"Cos they haven't been processed. All natural." He walked away. "Night's pretty. Big round moon and all that. We should probably build a shelter."
"We're gonna be here that long?" Her face crumbled.
"Didn't mean it like that. But I can't sit under a tree all day tomorrow."
"That's true. I can help you. We don't have tools but I've seen Peter Pan a couple times." He shook his head. "And Swiss Family Robinson."
"Paradise, ain't it? Fancy pirate fights?"
"Maybe we can find one of those here."
"One of those what, Slayer?" They headed into the bushes, Buffy peeling her bananas and Spike picking up sticks and vines to use for his hut. He was trying to push the idea out of his mind that he was all alone with the Slayer and she completely depended on him. It brought a rush of to many emotions, some of which he was trying to keep immersed deep, with the dark side of himself.
"One of those cool waterfall slides." They walked for awhile, deeper and farther away from the water. Buffy would need some fresh water soon, Spike realized. Not just that but a lot of other things. Finally they came out at a landing. There was an opening in the trees where the moon shone down on them. A small stream ran by them.
"Right here. Stop Slayer."
"What is it? Do you see someone?"
"No. It's just a good place to build my hut."
"Oh." He put the stuff down and leaned towards the water. He cupped some in his hands and tasted it.
"There's some clean water here. By your feet. I'm gonna start working. Why don't you sit?" He turned around and busied himself with the sticks. He tied some together and they slipped apart. He worked for a little while but they didn't stay together. He growled.
"Do you need some help?" Buffy stood up and cautiously came over.
"No. It's ok." She leaned over and felt out the sticks then picked them up."
"Come here." She reached out with one hand and took his. Then she put her hands on his and guided them. The sticks stayed. He breathed in her scent as she stood pressed against him. "See you need my help."
"That's not all I need." He said, barely a whisper.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"No. No I didn't."
"I need you too." she responded in a breathy moan. With that she turned and let go of the frame. She wrapped her arms around Spike and stood on her tiptoes. He bent forward and let her kiss him. Then she slipped out of his arms. "We need to finish this." She felt around for the frame and continued. Spike handed her the sticks until she had made an impressive little house frame. "Did you get some leaves? I can tie them on."
"Let me do that." He hesitated to leave her then walked away back into the trees. He began yanking on bushes and pulled some leaves off.
"Spike? Spike?" At the first sound of his name Spike began running back. Twigs snapped in his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh. I just wanted to tell you I caught you a mouse?" He was suddenly embarrassed that he had reacted so, He was glad though, that she couldn't see his face.
"Thanks." He took it from her and gave her the plants. He went back and drank the vermin greedily. It tasted impure and he quickly tossed it aside.
"There you are." She smiled as she finished it. "A house fit for the king of vampires."
"It's very good." It would barely cover him.
"Let's go for a walk. We still have some of the island to search. And I know there's still some night left...Vampires aren't the only ones who can sense it." She held her hand out for him and he took it. Back in Sunnydale he would have thought all of this was another one of those dreams, but he understood how distraught she was, and any comfort at all she was lapping up.
They walked along and he guided her around brush, she was getting better though and adjusting to her lack of eyesight. "We should probably go to the edge of the island." Buffy suggested cutting through some plants. Spike followed and had to grab her before she fell off the edge. They had come out at the edge of a waterfall. Spike had been to busy making sure she was alright to notice the roaring sound. Now it was quite loud.
"Is that my waterfall?"
"You bet it is love."
"Is it big?"
"The biggest."
"Beautiful?"
"Very." She sprang forward and he snagged her. "What the hell were you trying to do?"
"Jump." She said very matter-of-factly once he had her back on solid ground.
"Why?"
"I'm blind, all my friends are dead, and I'm stuck here with you."
"Now see here, you will not jump! You're not bloody blind for good I bet and neither are your friends dead. And it's not like I asked to be stuck here with a helpless Slayer when I'm neutered."
"You don't think they're dead?"
"No."
"Not even Xander?" He snorted.
"No."
"And you think I'll see again?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry for scaring you."
"Good, you should be." He jerked her arm and pulled her back. They finally made it to the beach, but it was on the other side of the island from where they landed. "You've been a bit psycho since we left Sunnydale Slayer. Anything on your mind, since we're bonding and all?" She walked to the water and waded around ignoring his question.
"I didn't think I was strong enough, so I ran. And she followed and I don't know what to do. Her time is coming. I don't know if Dawn is dead. I don't have answers anymore. I was never prepared for this." He didn't know what to say. He had no comforting words for that.
"I see something."
"What is it?!"
"I'm gonna go check." Spike splashed by her and dove into the water. If felt good as it burned and stung his raw skin. He began swimming until he hit it. He found a big hunk of boat and a few pieces of equipment bobbing around. He dragged it back to the beach with him. "Just some boat and equipment. Probably ruined by the water." She bent over and started to feel it over and figure out what it was. He stood there awkwardly admiring her.
"We have one of the storage boxes with blankets and clothing and one with food stuffs."
"We have food and clothes? Blessed be that bastard God!" Buffy laughed. "It's good to hear you laugh."
"It's good to laugh." She turned around to him and smiled. He wanted to pull her to him but he noticed the very first rays of sun below the horizon, threatening to spill over.
"I have to go. It isn't safe here."
"I'll be fine."
"You can't be alone."
"I'm a Slayer. I still can Slay. I'm used to being blind. Please? I have to search for them."
"You call if you need me. I have excellent hearing." The sun was making him nervous. They parted. Buffy walked along the beach, staying in the tidal zone, occasionally stepping and stumbling. She called until her voice was hoarse and she could feel the sunburn on her skin. She walked back the way she came trying to understand the island through the changes in light patterns.
After awhile she became worried. She called hoarsely for Spike but her voice was weak. Her head was swimming so she sat down in the shade. "I'll just rest a little while." She told herself. She fell asleep and woke up with a pounding headache. It was dark and bugs buzzed in her ears. "Spike? Can you hear me?" It was cool out. Buffy wished she hadn't ripped her outfit. She heard trampling nearby and drew her knees up.
"Buffy. That you? What are you doing." Buffy sighed in relief. The voice was a comfort. "I thought I told you to be careful and call for me if you needed me."
"I'm hoarse." She whispered in a gravelly tone. "I got lost. And my head hurts."
"I shouldn't wonder. You're as red as blood." She moaned at the comparison. "You must be dehydrated."
"What's that?"
"You haven't had much water have you?"
"No." She felt his arms go around her and pick her up. His cool skin felt nice against her burning skin.
"Slayer if the storm didn't kill you you'll kill yourself."
"Where are we going?"
"To get you some water."
"You don't have too. I'll be fine."
"Here we go."
Part 3
Eventually night came and as soon as the last ray of sun disappeared Spike was up with Buffy combing the beach. They walked up and down and waded into the water looking at pieces of wreckage. She had to trust him and his night vision to tell her what was going on.
"What you want to eat Slayer? I can gather you some bananas or pineapples."
"You see them? Up in the trees? Aren't they a little high?"
"Not so high."
"Go for it." He went over and climbed one of the trees. He fell a few times and scraped his arms and legs before he got the hang of it.
"You should see this! I can see over the trees! This place is pretty big. We should take a walk around."
"I wish I could see it." He came down and handed her a bunch of bananas.
"Fresh from the tree."
"They smell strange."
"Cos they haven't been processed. All natural." He walked away. "Night's pretty. Big round moon and all that. We should probably build a shelter."
"We're gonna be here that long?" Her face crumbled.
"Didn't mean it like that. But I can't sit under a tree all day tomorrow."
"That's true. I can help you. We don't have tools but I've seen Peter Pan a couple times." He shook his head. "And Swiss Family Robinson."
"Paradise, ain't it? Fancy pirate fights?"
"Maybe we can find one of those here."
"One of those what, Slayer?" They headed into the bushes, Buffy peeling her bananas and Spike picking up sticks and vines to use for his hut. He was trying to push the idea out of his mind that he was all alone with the Slayer and she completely depended on him. It brought a rush of to many emotions, some of which he was trying to keep immersed deep, with the dark side of himself.
"One of those cool waterfall slides." They walked for awhile, deeper and farther away from the water. Buffy would need some fresh water soon, Spike realized. Not just that but a lot of other things. Finally they came out at a landing. There was an opening in the trees where the moon shone down on them. A small stream ran by them.
"Right here. Stop Slayer."
"What is it? Do you see someone?"
"No. It's just a good place to build my hut."
"Oh." He put the stuff down and leaned towards the water. He cupped some in his hands and tasted it.
"There's some clean water here. By your feet. I'm gonna start working. Why don't you sit?" He turned around and busied himself with the sticks. He tied some together and they slipped apart. He worked for a little while but they didn't stay together. He growled.
"Do you need some help?" Buffy stood up and cautiously came over.
"No. It's ok." She leaned over and felt out the sticks then picked them up."
"Come here." She reached out with one hand and took his. Then she put her hands on his and guided them. The sticks stayed. He breathed in her scent as she stood pressed against him. "See you need my help."
"That's not all I need." He said, barely a whisper.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"No. No I didn't."
"I need you too." she responded in a breathy moan. With that she turned and let go of the frame. She wrapped her arms around Spike and stood on her tiptoes. He bent forward and let her kiss him. Then she slipped out of his arms. "We need to finish this." She felt around for the frame and continued. Spike handed her the sticks until she had made an impressive little house frame. "Did you get some leaves? I can tie them on."
"Let me do that." He hesitated to leave her then walked away back into the trees. He began yanking on bushes and pulled some leaves off.
"Spike? Spike?" At the first sound of his name Spike began running back. Twigs snapped in his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh. I just wanted to tell you I caught you a mouse?" He was suddenly embarrassed that he had reacted so, He was glad though, that she couldn't see his face.
"Thanks." He took it from her and gave her the plants. He went back and drank the vermin greedily. It tasted impure and he quickly tossed it aside.
"There you are." She smiled as she finished it. "A house fit for the king of vampires."
"It's very good." It would barely cover him.
"Let's go for a walk. We still have some of the island to search. And I know there's still some night left...Vampires aren't the only ones who can sense it." She held her hand out for him and he took it. Back in Sunnydale he would have thought all of this was another one of those dreams, but he understood how distraught she was, and any comfort at all she was lapping up.
They walked along and he guided her around brush, she was getting better though and adjusting to her lack of eyesight. "We should probably go to the edge of the island." Buffy suggested cutting through some plants. Spike followed and had to grab her before she fell off the edge. They had come out at the edge of a waterfall. Spike had been to busy making sure she was alright to notice the roaring sound. Now it was quite loud.
"Is that my waterfall?"
"You bet it is love."
"Is it big?"
"The biggest."
"Beautiful?"
"Very." She sprang forward and he snagged her. "What the hell were you trying to do?"
"Jump." She said very matter-of-factly once he had her back on solid ground.
"Why?"
"I'm blind, all my friends are dead, and I'm stuck here with you."
"Now see here, you will not jump! You're not bloody blind for good I bet and neither are your friends dead. And it's not like I asked to be stuck here with a helpless Slayer when I'm neutered."
"You don't think they're dead?"
"No."
"Not even Xander?" He snorted.
"No."
"And you think I'll see again?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry for scaring you."
"Good, you should be." He jerked her arm and pulled her back. They finally made it to the beach, but it was on the other side of the island from where they landed. "You've been a bit psycho since we left Sunnydale Slayer. Anything on your mind, since we're bonding and all?" She walked to the water and waded around ignoring his question.
"I didn't think I was strong enough, so I ran. And she followed and I don't know what to do. Her time is coming. I don't know if Dawn is dead. I don't have answers anymore. I was never prepared for this." He didn't know what to say. He had no comforting words for that.
"I see something."
"What is it?!"
"I'm gonna go check." Spike splashed by her and dove into the water. If felt good as it burned and stung his raw skin. He began swimming until he hit it. He found a big hunk of boat and a few pieces of equipment bobbing around. He dragged it back to the beach with him. "Just some boat and equipment. Probably ruined by the water." She bent over and started to feel it over and figure out what it was. He stood there awkwardly admiring her.
"We have one of the storage boxes with blankets and clothing and one with food stuffs."
"We have food and clothes? Blessed be that bastard God!" Buffy laughed. "It's good to hear you laugh."
"It's good to laugh." She turned around to him and smiled. He wanted to pull her to him but he noticed the very first rays of sun below the horizon, threatening to spill over.
"I have to go. It isn't safe here."
"I'll be fine."
"You can't be alone."
"I'm a Slayer. I still can Slay. I'm used to being blind. Please? I have to search for them."
"You call if you need me. I have excellent hearing." The sun was making him nervous. They parted. Buffy walked along the beach, staying in the tidal zone, occasionally stepping and stumbling. She called until her voice was hoarse and she could feel the sunburn on her skin. She walked back the way she came trying to understand the island through the changes in light patterns.
After awhile she became worried. She called hoarsely for Spike but her voice was weak. Her head was swimming so she sat down in the shade. "I'll just rest a little while." She told herself. She fell asleep and woke up with a pounding headache. It was dark and bugs buzzed in her ears. "Spike? Can you hear me?" It was cool out. Buffy wished she hadn't ripped her outfit. She heard trampling nearby and drew her knees up.
"Buffy. That you? What are you doing." Buffy sighed in relief. The voice was a comfort. "I thought I told you to be careful and call for me if you needed me."
"I'm hoarse." She whispered in a gravelly tone. "I got lost. And my head hurts."
"I shouldn't wonder. You're as red as blood." She moaned at the comparison. "You must be dehydrated."
"What's that?"
"You haven't had much water have you?"
"No." She felt his arms go around her and pick her up. His cool skin felt nice against her burning skin.
"Slayer if the storm didn't kill you you'll kill yourself."
"Where are we going?"
"To get you some water."
"You don't have too. I'll be fine."
"Here we go."