The next day, I went downstairs to see how the prisoner was doing. I figured he was probably thirsty, or starving, or both, though I wasn't sure why I cared.
It took me a few minutes to unlock the door to the little room, and he looked up as the door creaked open. He couldn't see, though, because he was blindfolded.
"It's okay," I told him, moving behind the chair, and taking off the blindfold. He craned his neck, trying to see who was behind him. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." I replied, untying his hands.
The first thing he did was rip off the duct tape. "What do you want?" he demanded.
I shrugged. "Company."
He sat silently, pondering over what I'd just said. "Why?"
"I'm not a vampire, if that's what you're worried about." I told him.
He nodded warily. "That was part of it," he conceded. "So, if you're not gonna eat me, then what do you want?"
"I told you: company. Immortals get bored, too, ya know." I said, peeking outside. The hall was empty, not too surprising, actually, since it was mid afternoon. "C'mon," I told him, going out into the hall.
"Where are we going?" he asked me.
"Upstairs,"
"Why?"
"My house is up there." I replied, leading the way. "Oh, by the way," I stopped. "I'm Bryn - for today anyway."
"Xander," he replied. "Always," he added.
I nodded, then continued up the stairs. When we reached the top, I said, "The fridge is in there, but it's pretty empty." I pointed out all the rooms. "My bedroom, and the washroom's down the hall."
Xander nodded quietly, and I went into the kitchen.
Xander went straight to the washroom. I can't say that I blame him.
When he came out, I told him we could go out for pizza.
"Exactly what time is it?" he asked.
"Almost two. C'mon, it'll be fun."
"What about Spike?"
"What about him?"
"Well, he probably won't be mad at you, but he'll beat the shit out of me." he replied.
"You're right," I sighed, thinking. "We could order in," I suggested.
"Could we?" he asked, following me into my bedroom.
I shrugged. "Of course,"
"That would be cool, but I don't think the guy'd find us."
"Don't be silly. We're not out in the boonies, ya know." I told him, glancing around the room.
"What are you looking for?" Xander asked me.
"The phone," I replied, running my fingers through my hair. "Oh! I know where I left it!" I exclaimed. "Be back," I replied, going into the kitchen.
I ordered the pizza, then returned to the bedroom, where I found Voqtul checking out a terrified Xander. I put the phone back on the wall, where it should have been, before telling Voqtul to leave him alone.
She did as she was told, even though she knew that he shouldn't have been there.
"What the hell is it?!" he demanded, not moving.
"She is a Komodo Dragon and her name is Voqtul." I told him.
"Voq-what?"
"Voqtul," I repeated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, getting up, and taking a few steps toward me. He backed up again as Voqtul lumbered across his path.
"It means to have faith in hope. Don't worry. She won't hurt you." I added.
Xander nodded, watching the Komodo Dragon warily. "So, what did you order? On the pizza, I mean."
"Pepperoni,"
He nodded. "No veggies?"
"Nope," I said, shaking my head.
"Good," he sighed.
"I know,"
"How?"
"I just...do," I shrugged.
Xander didn't say anything for a while, staring at the TV that I'd left on earlier. I offered him the remote control, then laid down on my bed.
He flipped channels for awhile, before turning it off. "This is going to sound silly to you," he said, turning to face me. "But I feel like I've seen you before. Like, in a dream or something. I dunno, somewhere, anyway."
"Really? Why do you say that?" I asked as casually as I could.
"I don't know, exactly. It's just this...feeling." he shook his head, as the doorbell rang downstairs.
"I'll be right back - oh, I wouldn't recommend trying to escape. I'm not threatening you, I'm warning you. Hang on," I went downstairs to retrieve the pizza.
When I came back up, Xander was no longer in my room. I reached out with my mind to find him. Luckily - for him - he was only out on the porch. I took the pizza out to him.
"Hey," I said. He didn't say anything. "What are you thinking about?"
"How long are they gonna keep me here, before they kill me?" he asked, fear in his voice.
"I - I don't know."
He looked down at the empty parking lot. "I have to get out of here."
"You can't. I've seen what Spike does to prisoners that have escaped. It's a lot worse than just staying."
"I think I'd rather take my chances." Xander retorted.
"No, you wouldn't," I shook my head. "Trust me on this one, Xander. You'd be dead faster than you could blink."
"That's not so bad. At least he wouldn't be able to torture me first."
"Please stop. This is serious. Besides, Spike won't hurt you unless he has a good reason."
"Like if Dru dies?" he countered.
"She won't. She wasn't hit in the heart, it can't kill her. The only one you really have to worry about is Angel, but if he so much as looks at you Spike'll know."
"Oh, great. I feel so much better now. I don't have to worry about a guy known as William the Bloody, I just have to worry about an obsessive-compulsive psycho!"
"I'll tell Spike to leave you alone, and to keep Angel away."
"Yeah right. Like he'll listen." Xander scoffed.
I didn't tell him that he had a point. Instead, I suggested eating the pizza before it got too much colder. At first, he didn't want to, but I suggested that it would take his mind off the present situation. Reluctantly, he asked for two slices to start with.
"What are we going to do? We can't just leave him to their mercy - especially since they don't have any!" Willow shouted angrily.
"Calm down, Will. We'll think of something." Buffy assured her. "Won't we Giles?"
"Wh-what? Oh, yes. Yes, of course." Giles nodded.
"No, we won't! He's gonna die, and it's my fault!" Willow exclaimed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"It's not your fault, Willow. It wasn't any of our faults." Buffy tried to assure her.
"You two have to leave now. Mr. Giles needs his rest," the nurse replied, fluffing his pillow.
"Buffy, do remember to go to school tomorrow." Giles said.
"I promise," she told him, squeezing his hand.
He smiled, and they left.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Buffy asked Willow, as they walked down the hall to the elevator.
"Believe what?" Willow countered.
"That it's not your fault about Xander." Willow didn't respond. "Will, there's nothing you could've done to save him. If either of us had tried anything, Spike would've killed him right then and there." Buffy tried to convince her.
"Get off my back! It doesn't matter! He's probably already dead!" Willow took the stairs, and didn't say another word to Buffy.
The next day, after school, Buffy found Cordelia waiting in the labrary. She stood up when Buffy entered.
"Where is he?" she demanded. "I thought he was just skipping, but I called him yesterday, and-and his mom said she hadn't seen him. And - "
"Spike's got him prisoner." Buffy sighed, running her fingers through her hair nervously.
"What do you mean? How could you let Spike get him? My God, Buffy! Are you nuts? W-You want him dead, is that it?"
"Cordelia, calm down. Spike would've killed him if we tried anything." Buffy explained.
"Bullshit. You just - "
"Giles is in the hospital because of what happened!" Buffy cut her off, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks.
"What? When? How?" Cordelia demanded.
"Tuesday night - two days ago - we went down to the docks - like we said we were going to - and it turned out to be a set up. Whatever the reason Spike was there for, it wasn't a weapon. Giles was attacked by Spike after he'd stabbed Drusilla. After we took Giles to the hospital, I went back to the dock, to look around. This was all I found." she took a palm-sized black rock out of her pocket.
Cordelia took it from her, and held it up to the light. "What is it?"
"I don't know, and neither does Giles. He said to check in any books he had about ancient rocks, but, well, I can't find anything. What you see is all I've got."
"So, it's a rock." Cordelia handed it back to Buffy. "What would Spike want with a rock?"
Buffy shrugged. "The rock's not exactly at the top of my 'Worries' list."
"And Xander is?" Buffy nodded. "Good. He should be. Buffy, you got him into this mess, you'd better get him out of it in one piece." Cordelia snarled.
"Why? So that you two can hide in the broom closet? So that you can deny it afterwards? I hate to admit it, but whether you like it or not, Xander really likes you. I don't know why, and it's none of my business, but if you're just using him, you should tell him, before it gets out of your control."
"You're right Buffy, it is none of your business." and with that, Cordelia left.
Buffy stood alone in the library, fingering the rock she'd found. When Willow came in, she asked her, "D'you think Spike was after this thing?"
"I don't know," Willow shrugged slowly. "With Spike, you never can know." she added.
"Yeah, I-ow!" Buffy exclaimed, dropping the rock.
"What?"
"It-it zapped me!" Buffy exclaimed.
"But it's just a rock," Willow reminded her.
Buffy knelt near the rock, but didn't touch it. Willow did the same. Buffy checked her hand for any marks or bruises from the rock. There was nothing.
Willow nudged the rock gently. "What do you think happened?"
"I-I don't know," Buffy shook her head. "It shocked me - I don't know how else to explain it."
They stared at the rock, unsure of what to do with it.
"You haven't changed much." I told Xander.
We were walking around outside, through the undeveloped land behind the motel.
"What do you mean?" Xander asked, confused.
"Well, there are the obvious things - hair colour, eyes, but other than that..." I shrugged.
"What exactly are you saying? That we have met before?"
I nodded, smiling. "Thelon, Shiro, Oswald, Kevin, Xander. Different names, same soul."
"W-how is that possible?"
"I don't fully understand the ways of the world, but I have learned to accept them, and to get on with it." I shrugged, a hint of sadness in my voice.
"I guess you must have lost a lot of friends, huh?"
"Yeah. That's why, well part of the reason why, I hang with vampires. Not just because Spike's like the older brother I never had, but because they don't drop off as easily as flies, excuse the expression." Xander was laughing. "What?"
"Sorry, I just can't see Spike being someone's older brother." he laughed.
"And why not?" I demanded. "He's not as bad as you think he is."
"Sorry, sorry. All I've ever seen him do is kill. He threw me into a pile of empty crates, and he-mmm," Xander dropped to his knees, holding his left arm in pain.
"What? What's wrong?" I asked, dropping beside him.
"Uh, nothing," he said, standing up slowly.
"No, really. What happened?" I asked again, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine, really," he replied, turning around to face me.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Xander nodded, walking toward the back door of the motel.
I knew he was lying. Partly because there was blood on my hand from when I'd put it on his shoulder, and partly because I just knew.
"It must hurt," I called after him.
He stopped, turned, and walked back to where I was standing. "What?"
"Having a chunk of wood in your shoulder, I mean."
"How do you...?" his voice trailed off as I showed him my hand.
"Come on, I'll get it out," I told him, taking his other hand, and leading him back inside.
"N-I'd rather you didn't," Xander argued.
"Why? If it stays in there it could get infected. That's bad," I added. He nodded reluctantly. "I won't kill you, Xander." I assured him, ushering him into my bedroom.
"That's not what I'm worried about." he replied.
"It's better to have a giant pain all at once than at various intervals." I told him. "Come on," I said, leading the way to the washroom.
"Do we have to?" he whined, following me.
"Yes. Now, sit," I ordered, filling the sink with warm water.
Xander put the seat down and sat on the toilet. "It's not - "
"Shirt off," I cut him off. He just sat there, scowling at me. "C'mon, Xander, please? It's already been in there for two days. Let me take it out before it gets any worse."
Xander looked into my eyes. "Alright," he sighed. He pulled his shirt over his head, then turned his back to me.
I squeezed the excess water out of the cloth, then dabbed at the blood-covered spot on his left shoulder. The wound was still bleeding, but not as much as I'd thought. I could see the cause - a piece of wood, horizontally under the skin, but poking out enough to be fairly easily removed.
"This may sting a little," I warned him. "I have to make sure that if I pull it out it won't bring half your guts out with it, or leave half of itself behind." I waited for him to argue.
"Just get it over with," he sighed, closing his eyes.
"Alright," I agreed, checking the piece of wood as best I could without making him scream. Xander remained surprisingly silent through the whole ordeal. It must be that macho-toughguy act that men are obsessed with.
"Okay, I'm going to try and pull it out. If you really want me to stop, just say so." Xander nodded silently. "Here goes," I sighed, taking hold of the small piece of the wood that was still sticking out. I tugged at it slowly but firmly, and it started to come out. I could hear Xander swearing under his breath, but it was better to ignore him. More blood started seeping out, covering my hands. "Almost got it," I told him.
"Can't you just yank it out?" he growled between clenched teeth.
"Hang on," I replied, putting my other hand against his back, and pulling the piece of wood out the rest of the way.
Xander swore angrily - a string of lovely words that I don't think I could repeat if I wanted to.
I did my best to bandage his wound.
"Thanks," Xander muttered, after I had finished. He turned around, getting up.
"You're welcome, I guess," I replied, washing my hands.
Xander picked up the chunk of wood that had been occupying his left shoulder. "Oh my God," he whispered, putting it down again.
"I'm surprised you were able to ignore it for two whole days," I told him.
"Me too," he nodded, following me to my bedroom.
I went out onto the porch, and watched as the sun sank below the treetops. Xander took my hand in his, and we watched silently. Silently, that is, until we were interrupted.
"Aw, isn't that sweet," Angel replied mockingly. "Bryn, you make me sick."
I turned around to face him. "Angel, you're always sick."
"Thank you," he smiled, coming closer. "Isn't he s'posed to be a prisoner?" he asked, pointing at Xander with his thumb.
"Depends on who you ask," I shrugged.
Angel's arm shot out, his fingers grasping Xander's throat. "I'm not asking."
"Let him go!" I ordered.
"What do you care?" Angel demanded. "He's just another mortal to you."
"I said, leave him alone!" I repeated.
Angel laughed at me, letting Xander drop to his knees, gasping for breath. "You're nuts, ya know that?" he shook his head, still laughing.
"Spike'll hear about this," I warned him.
"Ooh, scary," Angel replied sarcastically.
That's when I realized that something was very wrong. "What did you do to him?" I demanded, furious.
"See for yourself," he shrugged, walking away.
I helped Xander to his feet. "Come on," I said, striding to the door.
"What? Why?" he asked, following.
I didn't answer him. The only thing that was on my mind was finding Spike. I sensed that he was in the room downstairs with Dru, but I wouldn't allow myself to see him.
Xander followed me out of my room, down the hall to the stairs, then down them, across the main room, where a couple of vampires were talking, but ignored us, down another hallway, and to the second stair case.
I opened the door slowly, glanced back at Xander, who was watching me curiously, then I descended the stairs. Xander followed, closing the door behind us.
At the bottom of the stairs was Dru's bedroom. I heard Xander gasp when he saw Dru, asleep on her bed.
I immediately spotted Spike. He was chained to the wall, over in the corner across from where Dru was sleeping. He looked unconscious.
"Oh no," I whispered, jumping over the last steps, and running over to where Spike knelt limply. I dropped to my knees in front of him, and lifted his head. I gasped when I saw the right side of his face. It looked like he'd been whacked with a baseball bat.
"Spike? Spike? C'mon, Bro, wake up. Spike?" I whispered in his ear over and over.
"Pet?" the word was almost inaudible.
"Yeah, it's me," I whispered. Spike smiled briefly. "Spike, what happened?"
He opened his eyes, staring at Drusilla. Spike swallowed. "Angel attacked me," he managed.
"Are you sure?" I asked, stroking his hair.
He pulled away. "You have to get out of here, before Angel comes back."
I nodded. "Where's the key?" Spike closed his eyes, not answering. "Spike, where's the key?" He shook his head. "Does Dru know?" Spike didn't respond. I sighed. "Hang in there," I told Spike, then turned to Xander. "We have to find the key," I told him.
Xander nodded uncertainly, then went into the other room attached to this one.
I moved a chair over to the bookshelf, stood on top of it, and felt along the top, trying to thing where else it could be. I tried to see if Angel had it, but whenever I try to see what he's doing all I get is a black hole in the timeline.
"What are you doing?" Drusilla demanded from behind me.
"I found a key, I don't know if it's the key." Xander replied, coming out of the other room.
Drusilla hissed at him, and he stopped.
"Look at what Angel did to Spike, Dru." I told her, but I sensed the betrayal after I'd said it.
Drusilla smiled. "It's time we destroyed the Slayer once and for all. And since Spike can't seem to do it, my Angel will." she explained.
I understood now. "Angel doesn't love you, Dru."
"Of course I do!" Angel exclaimed, coming down the stairs. Xander had disappeared, back into the other room.
Drusilla smiled, as Angel took her hand. "Of course he does," she echoed.
I got down off the chair. "Why are you doing this?" I demanded.
"That depends on what you mean. Why did I chain Spike to the wall? Because I felt like it - and it was Dru's idea. Why am I taking over here? Because I like the feeling of being in charge." Angel explained confidently.
"Who else is involved?"
"Everyone. They all want the run of the place, and they know that I can make their dream a reality." he replied, waving his arms around the room.
Just then, Xander lunged at Angel with a wooden stake he'd found in the other room. Angel grabbed Xander's arm, twisted it behind his back, forcing him to drop the stake, then kicked him to the ground. Xander swore as he hit the ground on his left shoulder.
Drusilla moved toward him. "No!" I exclaimed, trying to get in front of her, but Angel grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"Let's try this again, shall we?" Dru told Xander. He crab-walked away from her. "Oh, come now. Don't be afraid."
"Leave him alone, Dru." I told her.
"Why?" she asked, turning her head.
That was all the delay Xander needed. He tripped Dru, knocking her over, then darted out of her way.
"You little rat!" Angel exclaimed. He pushed me into the bookshelf, and I rolled away just before it crushed me.
Angel had a hold of Xander's hair, and he punched Angel in the face. Angel pushed Xander to the floor, then kicked him in the stomache.
Drusilla got up slowly, watching the struggle excitedly.
"Stay back, Dru," Angel told her, ready to take a bite out of Xander.
I picked up a piece of broken bookshelf, and slammed it down on Angel's back with all my might. He rolled off of Xander, cursing at me.
I helped Xander to his feet, then looked back at Spike. Xander grabbed my hand. "Let's go!" he urged.
"No! We can't leave Spike!" I argued.
"We have to get out of here!"
I felt tears in my eyes as I looked back at Spike. He mouthed go, and Xander pulled me away and up the stairs.
"We have to slow down, act natural." I told him as we neared the main room. "I have to get Voqtul. Then we can take the fire escape, and be out of here." I told Xander as we climbed the stairs to my room.
"Alright, but we have to hurry," he agreed.
I nodded. "You check the bedroom, and outside. Don't forget under the bed," I added.
He nodded, and we set out to find my Komodo Dragon.
I searched the rooms, but couldn't find her. "Xander, any luck?"
"No, she's not in here." he shrugged, meeting me in the hall.
"Where could she be?" I wondered out loud.
"I don't know, but we've got to get outta here."
I made a mental sweep of the whole floor, but couldn't sense Voqtul anywhere. "Angel," I hissed.
Xander took my hand. "C'mon. We gotta go. Now."
I nodded sadly, and we took off down the fire escape. We ran as fast as we could toward the city, eventually slowing to a jog, then just plain walking.
"Where to?" Xander asked me when we reached the city.
"I don't know. This is your area of expertise." I told him.
He nodded, trying to slow his breathing. "Umm, we could go to Buffy's, or Willow's, or Cordelia's, but I wouldn't suggest going to my place." he sighed.
"Which is closer?"
Xander glanced around at our surroundings. "Willow's closer, but Buffy's is safer." he explained.
"I think Buffy should know what's going on, being the Slayer, and all." I agreed.
"Okay, it's this way," he said, taking my hand.