Chapter 19: For Whom the Bell Tolls (Part Two)


I kid you not, Mr. Spike, Colin assured the vampire. How embarrassed you must be right in this moment, knowing that your enemy was right underneath your nose. Colin smirked at Spike as he pushed the hood off his face. You never had an inkling, did you?

Spike tightened his grip on his sword as his foe took a step forward. No, I didn't. I thought Leila had better taste in men. Resorting to his predatory instincts, Spike began to circle Colin, who in turn copied the vampire's movements. How do you feel, the big man who brainwashed a child?

I never brainwashed her, Colin spat. We were always honest with each other.

Spike snorted. 'Cept for the part where you were planning to kill her.

The Watcher shrugged. 'Twas a necessity.

Of course it was. Killing your fuck buddy is always a necessity.

Colin's hands shot out sending a silver beam into Spike's chest. Spike flew back and smashed into a petrified demon.

Bloody hell, he mumbled as he rose to his feet and slowly made his way back to Colin. The Watcher packs a punch.

That he does, Mr. Spike, that he does. I will be up to full strength very shortly. Of course, you'll be quite dead by then...but, Buffy won't be.

Spike growled at the mention of his love. His mind briefly flitted to Buffy; was she all right? Did she get to Leila?

I've decided to keep the Slayer around for a spell. She'll need someone to turn to once you're gone.

And since everyone in existence will be dead, that leaves you? Not bloody likely.

Spike roared as he swung his sword at Colin. The young man just chuckled, again raising his hand.



Spike's hands and feet stopped moving on command. Oh, fuck, his mind screamed. How was he going to fight this guy standing still?

Colin reveled in the fear that flashed through the vampire's now saffron eyes. Now, Mr. Spike, if you don't mind, I've got very pressing matters to tend to. Colin raised his hand higher; Spike's body followed the same motions. A force field formed around him. Spike grunted as the pressure inside the bubble began to increase against his body. The buildup was steady, the air thick. He was glad he didn't need it to survive. He tried to maintain his strength, not buckle underneath the invisible hand squeezing him.

A rumble of thunder grabbed both their attentions.

It's time. Colin turned to the wooden altar. Leila just made it to the top. She looked down at him; she didn't seem to care about the floating Spike, eyes totally fixed on her lover. He gave a reassuring smile only to have it fall away when he saw Buffy come up behind her.

Panicking, Colin yelled to the monks. The barrier now!

The monks joined hands, combining their energies as they said another incantation. The earth began to shake as they cast their spell.

Spike quickly looked up to the Slayer. She was pounding her fists into the air. Above her, the clouds were gathering, thunder was more frequent; she had to get out of there now.




You think you can get rid of me that easily? Buffy asked Leila who was standing stock still.

He has him.

Buffy barely heard her soft, constricted voice.

Leila continued to stare down, unflinching. Colin has Spike.

she exclaimed. Buffy moved to her side. Down below she saw her lover dangling in mid air and next to him was Colin Travers. It can't be. Stuffy Colin Travers is the Big Bad? she thought to herself. She was about to laugh at the idea when she saw Colin yell into the wind. What's going on? she asked Leila.

Leila turned her complacent gaze to the Slayer. She could feel the fear radiating off of the woman. I need to go now. I suggest you get a good look at him while you can. Leila turned away from her and looked up into the rain, the drops stinging her eyes, but she still felt no pain. Or you can run down there, either way.

Buffy stepped towards the girl. I've had enough. You're coming with me. Buffy tried to grab Leila's arm, but she hit something...or nothing. It was a barrier, an invisible one. She pounded on it several times, but it didn't give way. She heard another yell, this time it was her lover's cry. She looked and saw Spike calling out to her.

Buffy spun on her heels and ran down the stairs. She was a few levels below Leila when she heard a crack followed by a guttural cry. Buffy's feet moved faster as she continued down the stairs.




It all happened so quickly. Colin ordered the barrier up and almost immediately it was up. Spike saw Buffy run back down to him. He needed to get down and stop Colin before he changed his mind and hurt Buffy and the baby. He needed out of his restricting prison.

Hey, Travers! he called, trying to keep the pain out of his voice.

Colin glared at the vampire. The vampire would be crushed shortly, a proper death, wrenching the unlife out of him. Is it time for your final words?

She knows, he confessed through his teeth. Colin cocked his eyebrow. Leila knows your going to kill her.

Colin let out a hard laugh. No, she doesn't. If she did, why would she still be here?

Destiny. That and she is still hiding behind that smokescreen of yours. She loves you, you git. And she's going to let you do this because she believes it was meant to be. Spike gasped for the unneeded air, but his chest was ready to collapse.

Colin frowned as he briefly pondered the words of the vampire. He quickly shook it off. I do not believe you. Why should I?

Spike's eyes bored into the git before him. As much as he wanted Colin to drop him, he wanted the Watcher to suffer, to feel the pain he was inflicting on Leila. Look at her. Look what you've done to her, Spike growled. He knew Buffy would be there shortly and he just needed Colin to drop his guard for a second.

Colin slowly let his gaze travel up to the altar. She was staring at him again; her body was still, but her eyes were shaking with emotion. Even from the distance he saw her violet eyes clear as day. With one final breath, she faced the other way. She knew. She knew what he was doing. Colin felt a weight drop in the pit of his stomach. He felt heavy and empty at the same time. His face grew pale; he never wanted her to know what he was planning, not after everything they went through together.

Colin ran his hands through his hair. Oh, God. His voice shook as he muttered. No, she doesn't know. She can't, he tried to convince himself.

Spike tumbled to the ground as Colin's concentration was now fully on his lover. He quickly took in a breath, his lungs rapidly expanding on their own. His head was pounding and every limb ached. He lifted his eyes to Colin. The man was beside himself; Spike swore he saw tears gleaming in his dark eyes. He took a large gulp of air and shook his head.

Just then lightning broke through the sky, a jagged white bolt headed straight for the altar, straight for Leila. Colin ran to his stone and faced the electric spear.

You're too late, Spike. Nothing can stop me now, not you, not her. She'll be smiling down on me, happy that I will see our vision to its fruition. Yes, yes, she'll be happy!

You are out of your mind, Spike choked out as he slowly tried to make his way to a standing position.

Not at all. Say goodbye, Spike. Soon everything you love will be gone.




Leila's body convulsed as the lightning crashed through her heart. At first she felt no pain, just a slow burning sensation spreading through her body. She welcomed it; this would end her and strangely enough, she was ready. She was dying by her own choice, the only one she had made in a long time. She opened her eyes, hot blood tears flowed down her pale cheeks. Somehow she knew everything would turn out all right. He couldn't be her savior, not that she wanted that of him, but he would save the world. Spike never failed.

The lightning punctured her back. Leila released a blood curdling scream as the warmth turned into a scorching pain, tearing her life from the shell of her body and sending it down to the ground.



Buffy heard the scream. She already knew she was too late; there was no way to save Leila, but she sure as Hell could stop Colin. That right bastard! She ran towards the altar stone when she heard someone yell her name. She stopped and peered into the darkness. She saw Giles running to her side.

he yelled once more. he gasped. We saw the lightning.

O'Malley appeared at Giles's feet. What can we do?

It's already started. We need to get to Colin, Buffy said before she started over towards the two men.

Giles repeated. Good Lord. How is Spike?

Buffy didn't answer just ran.



Spike saw the lightning break through Leila and head towards a waiting Colin. His mind ran a mile a minute. There he saw Leila's shining, vivacious young face; he failed her. He couldn't save her and it pained him. His unbeating heart clenched as he saw her life being pulled from her, ramming into Colin's evil heart. It wasn't suppose to happen like this; they were going to save the day like they always did, like he always did for the past seven years. This was what he did, prided himself for doing, fighting the good fight and winning. It wasn't for his ego or for the fame. He spent so much of his unlife away from the world, consumed by his demon, to only enter the human race to damage it. But, now, he was part of it, the undead part, but a part nonetheless. And he failed to save her life. He vowed not to let her go unavenged.

The vampire moved quickly. He summoned every ounce of strength left in his body and pushed his muscles forward. He didn't think twice. Spike ran towards the Watcher, now impaled to the spot by the bolt. With his remaining energy, he shoved Colin out of the beam's light, sending the young man flying through the air.

Spike screamed when the lightning claimed him. His entire body shook, his extremities thrashed around him. His head fell back and his eyes were blinded by the white light. It was excruciating! Everything inside of him burned and vibrated. Spike tasted blood, his blood, as it flowed from his nose into his gaping mouth, filling it. He couldn't swallow, he couldn't scream anymore. The bolt continued to bore inside his undead body and wreak its havoc.




Buffy couldn't say anything for what felt like five minutes. Somewhere inside she knew it was only a matter of seconds. She watched helplessly as her lover, her Spike, threw himself into the lightning's path. Her heart stopped; it might have disappeared all together because she felt nothing. She heard his pain, saw it etched into his beautiful face.


Then in a flash, it all vanished, the lightning, the blue sparks of electricity, the clouds and rain from above, all gone. Spike collapsed onto the stone, his body sprawled out across the cold gray surface. The night was silent, not a breath was heard, not a blade of grass rustled until-



Buffy ran over to Spike and threw herself beside him. She slowly rolled him over and let out a sob at the sight of his blood stained face. No, no, oh God, please no, she cried, the tears poured out of her eyes. She held the delicate planes of Spike's face between her shaky hands. He was hot, feverishly hot. Come on, baby, open yours eyes. Open your eyes!

But, Spike didn't move. She grabbed him by the shoulders, shook him, yelled at him, still nothing. She couldn't breathe through her crying. Her throat was thick and her chest was ready to explode.



The woman didn't look at her father; she rested her forehead against the man she loved. The heat radiating off of his body was oppressive, but atleast he wasn't dust. Giles, we need to get him home now, she whispered.

Buffy, I-

Buffy whipped her head around, the sight of her swollen, red face shut him up. He's not dust, he's not dead, she reasoned. Giles bowed his head and gave a slight nod.

someone groaned.

Buffy turned to see where it was coming from. A few feet away she saw a figure slowly roll onto his back. It was Colin; he was still alive. The Slayer rose and went over to the fallen man. His face was ashen, his eyes were blood shot and his mouth paler than his skin. He blinked several times before focusing on the distraught woman above him.

he croaked.

Buffy bent down and grabbed Colin by the shoulders forcefully. What did you do? What the fuck did you do to him?! she screamed, shaking his battered body mercilessly. Tell me, you sick fuck! What happened to him???!! Answer me! God damn you! she cried. God damn you. Colin couldn't say anything through his coughing fits as he tried hard to breathe. Give me a reason not to kill you, Travers; how do I fix him?

Buffy, dear, O'Malley whispered to her. He laid his hand on her arm, willing her to release the half dead Watcher. Darling, look over there.

Buffy's glassy eyes followed O'Malley's direction. Over on the ground at the bottom of the wooden structure was a body. she murmured. She must have fallen.

Colin opened his eyes as wide as he could. He turned over and sat up and peered through the dark night. he called out to her. He made another attempt to rise, to go to her, but Buffy pushed him down.

Don't even think about it. You can't touch her ever again. With a quick glance back at Giles and Spike, Buffy and O'Malley went to check on the young girl.

Buffy placed her hand on her soft white cheek; she was ice cold, colder than a vampire. Her once brilliant, hypnotic eyes were open, glazed, vacant and sadly gray. Her beautiful face was now sickly, a shadow of what it once had been. Her red tears were now dry as was the blood that split from her mouth and nose. Buffy began to cry again. She slid her hand over Leila's eyelids, closing them forever.

She's gone, she announced. Buffy turned her hate filled eyes on the girl's murderer. She's gone. You killed her and what do you have to show for it? Nothing! Buffy gently lifted Leila's body into her arms and brought her over to Giles.

Leila, baby. Let me see her, Colin begged. Buffy paid him no mind. Please, Buffy let me see her! His dark brown eyes filled with tears as Buffy continued to carry his lover away from him.

You don't want to see this, Buffy told him, cupping the girl's head into her shoulder.

Colin collapsed once more into the cold grass and wept. He had nothing, Leila was gone and he had no power, no part of her he could carry inside of him.

Buffy placed the body on the ground beside Spike. We'll bury her, she said. Some place nice. Spike will know where.

Giles sighed. How was he supposed to answer her? I don't know-

I do, she stated firmly.

How is Colin?

Buffy snarled. He'll live unfortunately. Luckily, I think he'd rather be dead right now. Let him suffer, I don't care. Why don't you go get him? Knock him out and we can get out of here.

Giles stood and held his Slayer's eyes for a moment. They were deep, dark green coated in a glassy sheen, but filled with determination. As Giles walked over to the broken Watcher, he couldn't help the smile that bloomed on his lips. Quentin was going to be right pissed off when he found out about his wayward son.

Buffy sat beside her lover and was about to touch his still form when he suddenly began to convulse. Giles! Help! Now!

His entire body jerked about uncontrollably. His pale skin began to redden and his blue eyes rolled into the back of his head. Buffy tried to still him, but there was too much power behind his muscles. He knocked her backwards as he continued to seize. Giles was at their side in seconds, Colin's unconscious form hanging off his shoulder.

What is happening? he wondered. He looked to the wise man at his feet. O'Malley, what is going on?

O'Malley shook his head. I don't know what to tell you, he confessed.

As abruptly as it came, the seizure passed. Buffy cradled Spike's head in her lap. He was burning up, beads of sweat lined his forehead and ran down the sides of his face. His eyes, which had taken an almost white color, were closed. She ran her fingers over his peroxide hair. Spike? Baby, it's Buffy. I'm right here. We're going to get you home, okay? She held his hand tightly in her own as she kissed his knuckles.

Something moved. It was very slight, but persistent. She gripped his hand tighter and waited. She felt it again! Buffy gasped when she realized what it was.

Giles asked. Buffy, we've got to move him now.

Buffy looked at the men around her. She laughed through a fresh batch of tears. She shuddered from the mirth filling her body. He's alive. Giles, he's really alive. She held out his hand to the Watcher. He has a pulse.