Unmoved
By iyaorisha

Timing: AU S7

Pairings: Buffy/Spike (also Xander/Anya)

Summary: Spike has healed, but doesn't want to leave the Summers' house. Buffy struggles with flashbacks from the attempted rape. Meanwhile, Rack's twin sister seeks revenge for his death. Can Willow defend herself without resorting to magick?

("Unmoved" is the second in a series of four linked AU S7 fanfics I wrote in the summer of 2002.)

Rating/Warnings: R. Violence (including suggested domestic violence), language, F/M, M/M flashback, rape flashback, and torture.

Spoilers: None if you've seen up through S6. References to my fanfics "Relating to a Psychopath" and "Look What Love Gave Us"

Feedback: Brutal honesty is best (I enjoy floggings, I really do), but warm fuzzies are accepted as well. You can post a review here or email me at fanfic_by_iyaorisha@yahoo.com
***
She lay on velvet cushions in a silver boat that sped though a sea of blue silk. The boat had neither sails nor motor, but it skimmed over the water smoothly. It seemed as if she had been traveling forever, as if the sea was not just broad, but endless. On all horizons there was nothing but water. Above only the stars, like Christmas lights flickering against black satin.

She was alone at yet unafraid. It was as if the dread of loneliness had been lifted from her here. Whereever here was.

Dawn knew that she should be worried about the boat's final destination. Or why she was taking the voyage in the first place. But whenever she thought too hard about it, she felt slightly dizzy. And some small part of her mind was aware that she was caught in a dream. Her surroundings were just too beautiful to be real.

So she lay against the cushions and watch the waves go by.

***
Willow could feel the ground reverberate with each step Raven took. The witch was pacing in a tight circle around her. Trapped in the soil, Willow was helpless and her panic soared each time Rack's twin paused and loomed over her. However, it seemed that Raven was unsure of the next step to take. Clearly, she had it within her power to finish Willow off now; but she was holding back.

The redhead knew that she should use this hesitation to her advantage, but she couldn't speak. All the effort she could muster went into breathing. Her head lay above the ground, but the rest of her body was covered with several inches of hardened dirt. It was difficult to force air into her slightly compressed lungs. So, it was understandable that she didn't scream when a sudden gust of power rent the air behind the Raven.

The black-haired witch whirled around just as two figures stepped through the portal. Willow forgot to breathe for a second as she recognized the new arrivals. "Anya! Halfrek!" she cried out.

Raven narrowed her eyes at the two vengeance demons. "Do not interfere."

Anya ignored the warning and darted to where Willow lay buried. She knelt and began digging in the hard soil to free her friend. "Are you okay?"

Willow started to nod, then she called out a warning. "Watch out!"

The 2X4 beam Raven swung narrowly missed Willow's head as it swung through the space Anya had just occupied. The vengeance demon rematerialized a yard away. "Sorry!" she said to Willow before dodging another blow.

Halfrek grabbed Raven's arm and spun her around. Before the dark-haired witch could recover, Anya reached out and grabbed the piece of lumber from her hands. She threw it aside and stepped back. Raven turned and tried to charge her, but Halfrek stepped between them. She shoved the witch backwards to the ground and fell upon her. Raven shrieked as she wrestled with the curly-haired vengeance demon.

While Halfrek and Raven grappled, Anya resumed digging. "Why isn't she using magick to fight us?" she asked Willow. The redhead tried to shrug, but only one shoulder was free. "I'm not sure." She said finally. "I thought she was reluctant to kill me, but now..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered something. "I think she's running down, Anya. I don't think she's used her power this much before."

The vengeance demon freed Willow's left arm before she responded. "If so, how long before she'll need to recharge?"

Willow scraped at the soil with one hand as she answered. "I don't know. It might be a day. Or only a few hours. Less if she finds another witch to drain." Her torso was free now and she sat up.

"Why doesn't she just drain you?" Anya asked.

"I don't know. Perhaps she just hadn't gotten around to it yet. She wasn't expecting to be interrupted." Willow smiled. "By the way, thanks for interrupting."

"My pleasure." Anya brushed the last dirt away from Willow's right thigh and started on the left one. The two girls worked in silence for a few minutes until they had freed Willow completely from the soil. Anya helped her to her feet and the redheaded former witch stood there shaking as they surveyed the damage.

Willow was covered in grime from head to toe. The dirt darkened her hair to a manure-brown hue. She had lost both shoes and her feet were already raw with blisters from the earlier run through the streets of Sunnydale.

"Will you be able to run?" Anya asked softly.

"Maybe." Willow took an experimental step forward and almost fell. "I don't suppose you can just teleport me out of here?"

Anya shook her head. "No, sorry."

Just then, there was a cry of triumph. Willow and Anya looked over in horror to see Raven rise from Halfrek's too-still body. The black-haired witch held a chunk of concrete in one hand. It was dark along one edge and dripping.

"Hallie!" Anya cried. She rushed to her friend's side. Halfrek opened pain-filled eyes in ruined face. She took a deep-breath and the smashed side of her skull filled out. The bridge returned to her flattened nose. Only when her features were almost returned to normal did she try to speak. "Duck." she whispered through still-torn lips.

"Wha..." Anya said just as the chunk of concrete smashed into the back of her head. She fell unconscious across Halfrek. The curly-haired vengeance demon looked up into Raven's smiling face. "I told you not to interfere."

Halfrek swallowed. "I had to. I know your family. I could have stopped your brother years ago. I didn't. But I will stop you."

"No, you won't. " Raven's voice was cold as she raised her arms. The chunk of concrete glittered in the moonlight as she brought it down with terrible force.

Halfrek threw her arms around Anya and disappeared seconds before impact.

Raven and Willow both looked around, but the vengeance demons did not reappear.

"No!" Willow fell to the ground.

Raven turned at the redhead's cry. "They have abandoned you."

***

Buffy picked the last strand of wilted shredded cabbage out of the fish taco and stared at the mess on her plate. While Xander and Spike fought, her reheated dinner was languishing in the oven. The corn tortilla was burned in spots, soggy in others. The fish was dried out beneath a hardened coating of guacamole, white sauce, and salsa. No spritz of lime was going to resuscitate it.

She sighed and pushed the food away. Looking across the room, she caught Spike staring at her. She waited for him to say something; apologize for the ruined taco or try to convince her to follow her own advice and eat it for the sake of her strength. But, the vampire simply turned away.

Now it was her turn to stare. Spike sat on the arm of the sofa, his back ramrod straight beneath the black leather duster. He held an unlit cigarette lightly in his left hand. She watched as he put it to his lips, remembered he couldn't smoke in the house, and let the hand fall again. Buffy knew that Spike would repeat the gesture endlessly -his version of nervous fidgeting.

Part of her wanted to go to him and admit that she knew he hadn't tried to attack her just now. But she couldn't do it. The panic attack and the flashback that triggered it were too recent. And then, there was Xander.

The construction worker was quietly seething. Despite Buffy's assurances that she was going to be okay, Xander was more convinced than ever that Spike was a clear and present danger to the Slayer. Buffy wasn't sure what prompted the post-crisis showdown the two men alluded to upstairs, but she knew that she couldn't let it happen. If the fight upstairs was any indication of the damage they were willing to do to each other, someone would die.

For the zillionth time since the long night began, Buffy wished Giles was back from his trip. He would know if the spell Xander discovered would free Dawn from her magickal sleep. And he would figure out a way to keep the guys from killing each other.

But the former Watcher was thousands of miles away. Somewhere in the rainforests of Southeast Asia where cell phones and laptops didn't work. There was no way to reach him save telepathy. And the one Scooby Gang member capable of that method had vowed to never resort to magick again.

Buffy knew that Willow was serious about making her recovery work this time, but she hadn't realized until now that the ex-witch wouldn't use her powers to save herself. Willow might die because she refused to fight fire with fire.

The only hope was the Clem's shield. If it was what Spike's friend claimed, the shield could save Willow from Ravessa's revenge.

Waiting wasn't helping things. She had to go get the shield now.

Just as Buffy stood up, a bright light filled the living room. She threw up an arm to shield her eyes. Was Ravessa attacking them?

Then she heard Xander's horrified exclamation. "Oh, God! Anya!"

Buffy dropped her arm and saw her friend cradling his unconscious girlfriend. "She'll be fine in a minute," a female voice said. Anya's friend, Halfrek straightened up and strode forward to meet Buffy.

"We were attacked. I had to teleport us out of there." The curly-haired vengeance demon reported. "I'm sorry. I had to leave Willow behind."

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. "Ravessa hasn't killed her yet."

"Ravessa? Oh, that's what she's calling herself now." Halfrek sneered. "Her real name is Raven. She's Rack's sister."

Buffy nodded. "We figured as much."

"Then you know she's here for revenge." The ringleted demon gave a wry smile. "I'm not sure that D'Hoffryn will approve of this, but I'm going to help you."

"We could use all the help we can get." Buffy said gratefully.

"Buffy?" Anya's voice was weak as she called to her friend, but with Xander's help she sat up. "Raven was fighting us physically. Not using magick. Willow said that she was running out of power. We may have a while before she recharges."

"Time enough to plan how we're going to fight her?" Xander asked.

"Maybe." Anya signaled to Xander to pull her to her feet. She winced with the effort, but felt stronger -well, at least less helpless once she was standing. "Willow said it could be hours before Raven recovers. Or she could simply drain another witch. For all we know she might be siphoning Willow's power right now."

No one wanted to imagine a vengeful witch with Willow's full power but sans the guilty conscience.

"No time to plan." Buffy said grimly. "We need to move now. Xander, I need you to drive me to Clem's to pick up the shield."

"Shield?"

"I'll explain later. Anya, please stay here with Dawn. She's under a sleeping spell. Xander thinks he found the reversal spell, but it's in Latin. See if you can figure out if he's right. If it's the right one, use it. I don't want Dawn under Ravessa's, I mean Raven's power if we fail."

"We won't fail." Spike spoke up from his perch on the sofa arm.

Buffy shook her head. "You can't know that Clem's shield will really do what he claims."

"It's not the shield that I have faith in. It's you. You'll find a way to beat Raven. You always do."

Buffy stared at the vampire. Somehow, she knew that his words were more than a pep talk. Spike honestly believed that she would beat this foe. Looking around the room at the faces of her other friends, she saw the same confidence in her. She wished that she felt so assured.

She continued. "Anya, use the spell if it's the right one."

"And if it's not?"

Buffy took a deep breath "If the spell isn't right, and we're not back in an hour, take Dawn and leave town. Go to LA." She ordered.

"And then what?"

The Slayer hesitated. "Find Angel. Do you know the hotel?"

The vengeance demon thought for a moment. "The Hyperion?"

"Yes. Wesley will figure out how to help Dawn and more importantly, you'll be safe there."

"Not necessarily." Spike spoke up again.

"What do you mean, Spike?"

"The Watcher is no longer part of Angel Investigations. If Angel Investigations even exists any more. Last time I was there, the boss was AWOL. The Ice Princess too."

"Cordy?" Xander took a step toward the vampire. "If you hurt her..."

Buffy sighed and pushed her friend back. She turned towards Spike. "Explain."
The Scoobies all stared at the vampire, but he had eyes for Buffy alone. "Nice try, Slayer. I told you all this before."

Buffy lowered her eyes. It was true. She could hardly blame Spike. While the vampire had not been totally forthcoming about his activities between regaining his soul and arriving in Sunnydale, he had warned her that something was very amiss with Angel and his employees. Buffy had just been too preoccupied with her own situation to make the bus trip to LA to check things out.

The Slayer ran her fingers through her hair. "Okay. Still, LA is safer than Sunnydale right now. And maybe Angel's back now. More importantly, if we're all...missing, Giles will head there."

Buffy walked over to the closet and pulled out a cream and tan blanket coat. It was Joyce's, one of the few garments that the Summers' girls had kept after the funeral. It was too big for Buffy and not stylish enough for Dawn, but the sisters held onto the coat because it had been one of Mrs. Summer's favorites. Buffy pressed the soft wool to her face and inhaled deeply. More than a year after the mother's death, the coat still ever so faintly held Joyce's scent. At that moment, the young woman wanted nothing more than to sink to the living room floor and wrap herself in the coat, surround herself with this simulation of her mother's comforting presence.

Instead, she steeled herself and dug into the capacious pockets until her hand closed around her mother's key chain. She pulled it out and tossed they keys to Anya. "Take my mom's car. Xander's been turning the engine over once or twice a week, so it should start."

"There's a half a tank of gas, An. That should get you to LA." The construction worker added.

Buffy knelt next to her sister and kissed her on the temple. The sleeping teen's expression did not change. The Slayer sighed and stood up.

"Halfrek, where did you leave Raven and Willow?"

"They're at the abandoned office complex on the north edge of town. Do you know it?"

The blonde nodded.

"Well, it's not there anymore. Raven destroyed it."

Buffy's eyes widened for second as she contemplated the power the witch must have controlled to bring down a five-story office building. She swallowed. "Okay, the building is gone, but that's where they are."

"Yes." Halfrek hesitated. "At least they were there a little while ago."

"Please go back there. If they're still there, just try to keep Raven distracted. She might not be able to use magick right now, but she could still kill Willow. As soon as I have the shield, I'll come."

"Okay." The vengeance demon raised her arms and prepared to teleport.

"Wait!" Buffy called.

Halfrek lowered her arms. "What is it?"

"Take Spike with you."

***

Raven seemed to be in a stupor, but Willow continued to drag herself away from the witch. Each movement brought fresh pain as she cut her hands on bits of glass and other sharp debris from the building. She was leaving a trail of blood on the ground and she didn't care. Nothing mattered except getting as far from Raven as possible.

Until Halfrek and Anya disappeared, Willow held out hope that she would be rescued by the Scoobies. Now, she knew that she was on her own. It was up to her alone whether she lived or died tonight.

So, she continued her slow passage across the ground, hoping that she might find someplace to hide before Raven regained her power.

***

"So you didn't tell them."

Spike shook his head in disgust. "Do you think I'm mad?"

Halfrek's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you."

The vampire didn't reply.

She stopped walking and looked at him. "I supposed that you're not revealing our little secret was less for my sake than your own."

Spike kept walking. He didn't want to have this conversation right now. Actually, he didn't ever want to have it. For months, he had gone out of his way to avoid the vengeance demon. Now, they were paired together on the mission to save Red. Trust the Slayer to put him in an awkward position.

Halfrek stared at the back of his white blond head. She didn't know why she cared if he told Anya and her friends. What could it possibly change?

Yet, they both were concealing the truth.

It was dangerous choice, keeping secret something that happened more than a century ago. If the truth came to light, it would seem less harmless for having been covered up. Of course, the consequences would not be equally shared. Especially, for the one who came clean first.

Halfrek smiled. If they survived tonight, she might just consider a little heart to heart with her fellow vengeance demon and dearest friend.

***
Clem staggered out of bed. It was only a few short steps to the door, but he managed to trip over his saggy pajama bottoms twice. "I'm comin'. Hold your horses." he called out grumpily just before hitting his shin on the footstool to the recliner. "Owwww!"

The pounding on the door continued.

The floppy-eared demon squinted through the peephole. It was the Slayer and her friend Xander. Clem fumbled at the safety chain and yanked open the door. "What's a matter, Buffy?"

The petite blonde smiled. "Sorry to wake you, but I need the shield, Clem."

"Shield?" He tried to look puzzled and even scratched the top of his bald head. "What shield?"

"That's what I keep asking." Xander said with more than a little annoyance.

Buffy patted the demon on one saggy forearm. "Nice try Clem, but Spike told me."

Clem smiled. "But I was convincing, right?"

"Yeah," she lied.

The demon's face lit up at the complement. "C'mon in."

Buffy and Xander stepped into the small room. She wondered how Clem could conceal a kitten there, let alone a magickal shield.

"So your friend Willow fell off the wagon again?" Clem called out as he rummaged in the closet.

"No." The Slayer raised her voice above the din of Clem's searching to explain about Rack's sister. She was almost finished when the demon turned around with the shield. He handed it to Buffy with a grin.

Her first thought was how disappointingly small it was -not much bigger than the lid to a good sized garbage can. Then, she realized that it was also incredibly beautiful. Every inch of the metal was ornately chased with figures and runes. At the center, within the span of a single hand, there was an entire battle scene. Wraith-like creatures fought with humans and saggy-skinned demons.

Clem leaned forward. "That's the battle of Moc-ter-hargh."

"Mock...tear...har...guh?" Buffy's throat felt raw just trying to reproduce the syllables.

"Pretty close." Clem laughed.

"What's this battle?" Xander didn't even try to say the name.

"It ain't got a thing to do with the shield's power, but it was a favorite story of my seven times great-grandfather. Moc-ter-hargh was a fortress where the Akinom kept their prisoners during the war of Tangulrox." He pointed to the wraith-like figures. "Those are the Akinom. A filthy, cruel breed."

Buffy started to tell Clem that there was no time for war stories, but some wistful note in the demon's voice stopped her. "Tagulrox was the first war where humans allied with my kind. Sadly, it was also the last. You humans grew powerful afterwards. As your numbers increased, you forgot that not all demonkind was evil. In every battle afterwards, you saw us as foes. The Great Alliance would never happen again."

"Until now, Clem." Buffy said softly.

"Huh?"

"We're allies. You're giving me the shield to fight Raven and maybe you'll come out with us?"

The demon blinked back sudden tears. "Really, Buffy?"

She smiled. "Really."

Clem whooped. "A modern day battle of Moc-ter-hargh! May we prevail as our ancestors did." He grinned at Buffy. "Y'know, the Alliance forces slew the Akinom host and displayed their heads on pikes festooned with the villains' own entrails."

Buffy tried not to make a face.

Clem continued. "Oh, and they freed all the prisoners."

Xander hated to interrupt this warm and fuzzy moment, but he was dying of curiosity. "So what does this shield do?'

"It can ward off magickal blows." Buffy said.

"More than that." Clem said. "It'll absorb a witch's power."

Xander was impressed. He reached out to touch the shield.

It hummed suddenly and the construction worker snatched his hand back. Buffy and Clem stared at Xander. "It bit me." He said incredulously. He held out his right hand for their inspection. His fingers were badly reddened.

"It didn't bite you. That's a burn." Buffy said. "Go run it under some cold water in the sink." The blonde watched him go then she turned to Clem. "Spike said that the shield would burn him because of all the people he's enjoyed killing. Xander hasn't murdered anyone."

Clem stared at Xander suspiciously. "Not yet."

Buffy shook her head emphatically. "Clem, this is Xander. He's my best friend. I know him. He's not going to murder anyone. That's why he left Anya at the altar. He couldn't bear the thought of doing what he saw in the vision. The shield must be broken."

"No," Clem said with certainty. "It's fine, but your friend ain't. He's got murder in his heart."

Xander came back clutching his dripping hand to his chest. "I have what in my what?"

The demon took a step back from him. "You wanna kill someone."

"No you don't." Buffy said as Xander stared at Clem in horror. "C'mon," she ordered. "We're leaving. The shield's obviously broken. We can't use it. We're just wasting time."

"Wait, Buffy. It ain't broken." Clem protested. "Think about it. We both handled the shield. Neither of us got burned. Only Xander."

"Maybe it was a fluke," Xander said and reached forward with his left hand.

This time, Buffy actually saw a blue light arc out to envelop her friend's arm. Xander yelped in pain. She handed the shield to Clem and looked at Xander's hand. It was even more badly burned than the other. Whitish blisters stood out against the angry red skin on the palm.

She dropped his hand in disgust. "You want to kill him. You want to kill Spike."

Xander looked away.

"I can't believe you, Xander. We're struggling to find a way to save Willow from a murderer and you're planning on killing Spike. How do you justify that?"

"How do you justify letting him live?" Xander shot back. "How many times does he have to try to rape you before you put a stake through his heart?"

"Spike didn't try to rape me tonight, Xander. He just came in to tell me that you were back and I wigged out."

Buffy could tell from the look on Xander's face that he wasn't convinced. She shook her head. "I've known you for six years. I never thought that you were capable of murder."

"Um," Clem interrupted. "Now that we know the shield ain't broken, shouldn't we go save Willow."

It made sense. It was the first thing that made sense to Buffy since the shield burned Xander. She nodded. "Let's go."

Xander shook his head. "Sorry, my hands hurt too much to handle the wheel, Buffy. Maybe Clem can drive you."

She turned to the floppy-eared demon. He shook his head, "I never learned how to drive. The people at the DMV freaked out every time I came in for a permit. Sorry, Buffy."

"It's okay, Clem. I can run." She picked up the shield and headed out the door. Suddenly, she turned, "Go back to the house. See if Dawn is okay."

Xander and Clem watched her blonde ponytail disappear down the stairs. Then they were alone.

"So you wanna kill Spike." Clem said in a low, menacing tone that Xander had never heard before.

"Um..."

***

Dawn started awake as the boat shuddered. She opened her eyes to see Anya seated across from her. The vengeance demon smiled. "Good, you're awake. The spell worked. No need to thank me. It was really quite easy if you know Latin."

The teen sat up. "What happened?"

"Raven put a sleeping spell on you and then she chased Willow through the streets of Sunnydale. Right now she's run out of power, but if she finds a witch to drain, she kill Willow and then come back to finish the rest of us off. We probably have a few hours left to live."

For once, Dawn was glad for Anya's characteristic bluntness. She was about to ask about the others when Anya continued.

"We're not supposed to worry though because Spike went to stop Raven while Xander takes Buffy to get a magickal shield from Clem."

"What?!"

"I said, 'we're not supposed to worry..."

"No, about Spike and Buffy! They're alive?"

"Of course."

To Anya's dismay, Dawn burst into tears and fell into her arms.

"There, there," the vengenance demon said awkwardly. She made an attempt to stroke the teen's hair, but Anya's comforting skills were rusty from a millennium of disuse.

"Ow!" Dawn cried and pulled away after one exceptionally hard pat on the head.

"Why did you think your sister and Spike were dead?"

"Raven said she killed them. She tricked Buffy into taking Spike back to the crypt and she blew it up." Dawn took a long, sobbing breath. "Are you sure they're okay?"

"Yes. Well, at least they were when they left here a half an hour ago. Hey! Where are you going?"

The younger Summers was at the front door. "I'm going to help."

Anya shook her head. "No. We're supposed to stay here if I woke you up."

"What if you hadn't?"

"Buffy said to take you to Angel's hotel in LA."

Anya's words sent chills down Dawn's back. Buffy never turned to her former love for help. Dawn didn't understand her sister's reticence. Angel might have made a crucial difference in the Slayer's battles with Glory and Willow, but she never gave him a chance. In fact, she often bristled at the suggestion that they call the brooding vamp. It added considerably to Dawn's alarm that her sister would call upon his aid now.

"So, it's sit here and wait or go running to Angel?" The teen asked miserably.

Anya nodded.

"Great."

The look on Anya's face echoed the sentiment.

"So, how do want to while away the time while we wait to see if we live or die." Dawn said bitterly.

Anya brightened. "We could color your hair. It only takes 10 minutes."

Before Dawn could nix that idea, there was a sound on the porch. Footsteps.

The girls looked at each other fearfully as the door swung open.

"Xander!" Anya flew into her boyfriend's arms. "What are you doing back? Where's Buffy? Was the shield a fake?"

"No," a familiar voice chuckled. Clem stepped into the hallway. "It works fine, right Xander?

The carpenter held up his bandaged hands. "I ran into a bit of trouble. I can't drive so Buffy took the shield and went off on foot."

Anya gingerly unwrapped the gauze on Xander's left hand. She stared in disbelief at the burn. "What happened?"

The construction worker looked sheepish, but Clem stepped into the breach. "He wanted to kill Spike so the shield burned him."

"Huh?" Dawn stared at Clem.

"I'll explain later," Xander said. "Meanwhile, I need you to drive."

"Are we going to find Buffy?" Dawn asked.

"No. I mean, we are, but you have to stay here. It's too dangerous." He said firmly.

The teen stamped her foot. "It's not fair! Everyone gets to help, but me."

"I know how you feel, Dawnie." Clem said soothingly. "I was gonna go with your sister and fight at her side. It wouldda been a new Great Alliance. Another battle of Moc-ter-hargh. Then Xander decided to murder Spike so now, I'm gotta stay with you."

Dawn blinked. "Again, huh?"

***

Raven stared sullenly at the approaching figures. Her lip curled in disgust as she realized that the taller individual was the vampire she thought she'd killed. She tried to summon the energy to send one of the many nearby shards of wood flying his way, but she was too drained to attempt it. So, she settled for standing up and glaring at him evilly.

Spike ignored Raven as he walked toward a large pile of debris. Judging by the marks on the ground, the vampire suspected that Willow had managed to drag herself into a little hiding space created by debris from the fallen building. If so, the battered and exhausted girl had concealed herself so cleverly that even Spike's excellent vision might have missed her. Instead, the vampire relied on the smell of fear and Willow's unique scent. He carefully pulled aside several large pieces of fallen sheetrock to reveal her. The redheaded former witch was curled up with her badly scraped knees pressed to her forehead. She shuddered.

The vampire squatted and spoke in a soft voice. "Hey, Red. It's safe to come out."

Willow shook her head. "You're just a trick. A ghost or a glamour. Raven killed you and Buffy."

Spike laughed, but his voice was serious. "She tried. Blew up the crypt, but we weren't in it."

Willow lifted her head and looked at the vampire. "It's really you? And Buffy's okay?"

He nodded and she sobbed with relief.

Spike stood and held out his hand for Willow to take. "Come on. Let's get away from the bitch before she finds her strength."

"I can't." She gestured toward her feet.

Spike looked. Willow's feet were dirt-covered, but he could clearly see that they were scraped raw and oozing bloody lymph. The scent of Willow's blood had been present all along, but the sigh of it made the skin across his forehead prickle with anticipation of the change from his human mask. Spike's soul pitied Willow for her injuries, but his demon gloried in them.

Feet bled so much, the vampire thought to himself You could coax torrents from relatively shallow wounds on the soles. Angelus had taught him that firsthand.

As Spike stared at Willow's feet, a fresh trickle of blood made its way from instep to arch. The red streak was muted against the grime. But the vampire could envision it in bright scarlet contrast to clean white skin.

The former witch had graceful feet. Neither too narrow or too broad, with high arches and straight toes. Her second toes were longer than the first, the mark of sensuality and intelligence. The ancient Greeks considered this a sign of great beauty.

Currently, Willow's toenails were chipped and lined with dirt from her ordeal. But Spike had seen them in past clean and neatly trimmed. Once, even polished a translucent barely there pink. They had gleamed innocent yet erotic as they peeked from her sandals..

Yes, Spike's demon whispered, it would be a pleasure to bleed those feet, to do it slowly and with art. Perhaps, prick the balls and watch her life force pool in the ivory cups of her arches.

For a moment, the bloodthirst had Spike in its grasp. Then, he steadied himself. "I'll carry you."

Before Willow could protest, the vampire bent to scoop her up. He figured she'd be heavier than Buffy, but he could easily carry her away from Raven. As a master vampire, he could carry twice Willow's weight and still run an entire night without tiring. He would have too, if the iron bar hadn't connected with the back of his skull.

Spike fell heavily to the ground beside Willow. The redhead looked up in dread. Raven loomed over them. The witch's face was strangely swollen on one side, but she looked better than she had for the entire past hour. Her power was slowly returning. "I had a little pick-me-up." She said in a hoarse, but menacing voice.

The black-haired witch stepped aside and Willow could see a figure lying crumpled on the ground. She could just make out a head of dusty dark curls.

"Halfrek!" Willow cried. The redhead's fear increased. She didn't know that Raven could siphon the power from demons or any non-witches for that matter.

Raven laughed knowingly at the look on Willow's face. "I didn't know that I could do that either. But, necessity, as they say..." The witch's voice was cut off by a sudden whine and loud thud. Raven gasped and clutched her leg. She stared in disbelief at the blood seeping between her fingers. Then she jerked and howled in pain as a second missile struck her on the shoulder.

There was a scrabbling sound from a hill of rubble six or seven yards away. Both Raven and Willow turned toward it and saw Anya standing beside a pile of fist sized rocks. The vengeance demon pulled back the slingshot a third time, but now Raven was ready.

The witch sent a shower of broken glass toward her attacker. Anya teleported just outside the ring of impact and sent the rock spinning toward the black-haired young woman. This one caught Raven squarely in the chest and knocked her down.

While Raven lay gasping for air, Anya stood a safe distance away with the next rock ready. But Xander emerged from a nearby pile of debris. He ran over to Willow and embraced her.
"Oh, God, Wil."

"Runaway, Xander. Take Anya and go. I can't walk. My feet are hurt."

Xander looked at Willow's feet and winced. "I know. I saw Spike staring at them like they were an appetizer."

Willow didn't seem to hear him. "What happened to your hands?"

"Long story. Later." He darted a quick look at Raven. The witch was sitting up now, but she still seemed to have trouble breathing. "Look, I can't carry you in my arms because of my hands, but I can give you a piggy-back ride if you can hold on yourself."

Willow laughed despite herself. "You haven't given me a piggy-back ride in years."

"Then, let's remedy that."

Xander knelt and Willow clambered on. The young man straightened up and took a few experimental steps. "Okay. It's only a short distance to the car. Can you drive?"

"Yeah, it's just my feet that are hurt badly."

"Good. Then, Anya can keep Raven at bay until we're out of here."

Willow nodded, then she cried, "Wait!"

"What's wrong?"

Willow pointed to the unconscious vampire. "We can't leave Spike."

"The hell we can!" Xander roared.

"Xander, he tried to save me." Willow reasoned.

"No."

"Okay, then I'm not going." She let go of Xander's shoulders and slithered down his back to the ground.

Her best friend turned and stared at her in amazement. He expected this sort of behavior from Dawn, even Buffy, but not his Willow. But the look in her eyes was clear. Willow wouldn't budge unless he promised to help the vampire.

"Okay," Xander exhaled. "I'll come back for him after I get you to the car."

The redhead gave him a dubious look.

"Really." He said in the most convincing tone he could muster.

"Get him to safety first."

Xander wished he could just pick Willow up and sling her over his shoulder, but his burned hands precluded the caveman option. He stared at the vampire. "He's still out. I can't pull him up. The best I can do is kick his ass all the way to the car."

Willow rolled her eyes and crawled over to the unconscious vampire. She slapped his cheeks and he groaned as he opened his eyes. The redhead peered at them. One pupil was dilated, but far from fully blown. Satisfied, she sat back. "I think you have some bleeding inside your skull, Spike, but I know your body can fix that."

He tried to nod his head and groaned again.

"Xander's going to help you up and get you to the car."

The vampire glared, with the larger pupil giving an even more sinister effect to the angry stare. "I'll crawl first," he snarled.

"Fine with me." Xander said flatly.

Willow looked from man to man, then her expression changed. "Anya! No!"

The trio turned to see Anya set down the slingshot and walk toward the black-haired witch.

"What are you doing, Anya?" Xander cried with alarm.

"Raven's got her under some sort of mind control spell." Willow explained. "You've got to stop her Xander. She'll got to her and then Raven will drain her power."

Xander was already running toward Anya. His girlfriend moved to evade him, but in her bespelled state she couldn't teleport. Soon, she grew frustrated with dodging and hit him. As a demon, Anya was more powerful than her human form indicated, but Xander bore the blow well.

"Stop, honey!" He pleaded.

Her answer was a fist to his ribs.

Xander heard the crack before the first pain. He gritted his teeth and grabbed Anya's arms before she could strike again. The contact made his burned palms sing with agony and he felt as if the skin was sliding off his fingers, but he held on as they grappled.

"Watch yer balls, mate!" Spike called out moments before Anya tried to smash her knee into Xander's crotch. The construction worker twisted away. The movement set them both off balance and they fell to the ground. Xander wanted to take the brunt of the fall, but instinct told him that he could not afford to allow Anya any advantage. So he leaned his weight toward her and used it to help keep the struggling vengeance demon from making her way toward Raven.

Rack's twin screamed in frustration. Then she turned and stared balefully at Willow and Spike. The witch gestured with her right hand. A forest of wooden poles came shuddering our of nearby piles of rubble and stood at attention.

Willow swallowed. "You'd better go, Spike. Run if you can."

The vampire shook his head. "No," he whispered. "She wants me to run so she can kill you."

" No. I don't think she has enough power yet to kill me. Not the way she wants to. Why else would she try to drain Anya?" The redhead swallowed. "But she probably can send those spears your way."

"I'll take my chances." The vampire said grimly.

"Then, we stand."

The pair struggled to stand. Willow clung to Spike, allowing the vampire to support her so that less weight was on her damaged feet.

Raven cupped her hands and the air above the witch's palms seemed to ripple. "You're familiar with this one, Willow." She taunted.

The redhead watched as the distortion took the form of flames. They danced evilly, curling white hot around Raven's fingers without searing her. "The seeking fire," laughed the black-haired witch.

Willow stared in horror. She had sent this very magick after Jonathan and Andrew, not caring if it destroyed Xander and Dawn as well. If the fireball had caught them, the heat would have scalded the flesh from their bones instantly. Perhaps was fitting that it should end her life now. She closed her eyes and steeled her shoulders. "Run, Spike!"

However, the vampire remained in front of Willow. He didn't know if his preternatural flesh was enough to shield her completely from the heat. He just couldn't think of any other way to try to save her. Willow realized his intent and grappled with him, but Spike was strong enough to hold his place in front of her.

In the seconds before the seeking fire hit, when it was so close that he could feel himself beginning to smoke, Spike saw a movement out of the corner of his eyes. It was Buffy. She dashed between them and swung the shield up.

The metal sang with the impact, but true to Clem's word, it held. The flames were absorbed instantly. Buffy dropped the shield with a cry. The metal was vibrating so hard it hurt to hold it. She watched in amazement as the figures chased on the design seemed to move. Buffy could have sworn that she heard the sound of metal clashing on metal amid battle cries. One exceptionally loud shriek rent the air and she turned to see Raven writhing in the dirt.

Bright beams of light shot from the witch's mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. These streams of energy were sucked into the shield which continued to hum and vibrate. Buffy's gaze ricocheted between Raven and the shield, where each frieze of tiny silvery figures waged their miniature melee.

At last, the battle scene slowed its motion and the lights died away. Raven slumped on the ground, weeping.

It was over.

***

Buffy sat on a low pile of debris and watched Anya truss Raven's hands with Xander's belt. The construction worker offered verbal assistance as Willow examined his unbandaged hands.

There was a creaking of the rubble as Spike sat next to Buffy.

"You stood in front of Willow." she said quietly. "You would have died."

"Nah," the vampire shrugged. "I knew you'd save us both."

"No you didn't. I saw your face. You were ready to die to save her."

"You've lost so much." He started to reach out, as if to caress her face and then stopped himself. "I couldn't stand to see you grieve again."

Buffy closed her eyes. "Willow, Dawn, even you. You all could have died because I was so wrapped up in myself."

"You wouldn't have let that happen."

"No?" She made a harsh sound and buried her head in her hands. When her small frame shook, Spike realized Buffy was crying.

"Hey, it's okay, luv. Everyone's okay." He hesitated, wanting to take her in his arms, and then patted her on the knee instead. She sobbed harder and, to his shock, laid her head on his shoulder. "Hey," he repeated.

"Hey," said a male voice.

Spike looked up and stiffened. Xander stood in front of them.

The vampire moved away from Buffy and stood up warily. His head hurt. He was tired. But if it was time to finish things with the whelp he wasn't going to back down.

Buffy shook her head in disbelief. Why couldn't they just put their animosity aside for one night. "Xander," she said warningly.

"I just wanted to say..." Her best friend's voice trailed off. "That is..." He stooped and reached toward the shield at Buffy's feet.

"No!" she shouted and reached out to block him.

But the construction worker was faster for once. Buffy stared in amazement as Xander picked up the shield and held it awkwardly. Though he was obviously in discomfort, the pain seemed to come from his old injuries, not fresh burns.

"Does that mean..."

Xander shrugged. "For now."

She smiled. "Thank you."

He shook his head. "I saw what happened. He earned it." Xander handed Buffy the shield and started to walk away. Then, he turned back and fixed Spike with a hard stare. "For now."
***

Clem's large ears weren't for decoration alone -he heard the car first. But it was Dawn who ran to the door and greeted the returning warriors. Her tears sprinkled each of them in turn, but her embraces were longest and tightest for her sister and Spike.

After everyone had expressed their joy at a safe reunion, the mood turned somber again. "What now?" Spike tilted his head to indicate Raven.

Rack's twin was hunched over, muttering to herself quietly. Once they confirmed that the shield had absorbed all her magickal power, Buffy had untied the black-haired witch's hands. The young woman stared at them now as if they were covered in blood.

Buffy bit her lip in uncertainly. "I think she's harmless for now, but we have to find somewhere to send her."

"Wales," Willow said softly. "We should send her to the Druidic center in Wales."

'She's not addicted to magick, Wil." Xander said.

"I know. But the center isn't just for rehab. They help people learn how not to use their power." The redhead explained. "What do you think, Buffy?"

"I don't know. I wish Giles was here." The blonde smiled sheepishly. "Look, it'll have to wait anyway. It's time we got you and Xander to a hospital."

The two wounded friends protested, but at last Anya drove them away into the first rays of morning light.

Clem offered to help Spike and Buffy guard Raven, but the Slayer sent him home with the shield and many thanks.

Dawn tried to stifle a yawn, prompting a laugh from her sister. "You slept for hours, Dawnie. How can you be tired?"

"I don't know." The teen said sleepily. She hugged Buffy and Spike again before heading upstairs.

Finally, it was just the two of them if you didn't count the gibbering idiot of a witch crouched on the sofa. Slayer and vampire looked at each other silently. For a moment, Spike thought Buffy was going to say something to him. But, instead she moved away toward the stairs. "I'm going to call LA. See if I can find out what's going on. Keep an eye on Raven."

Spike sat down on the easy chair and put his boots on the coffee table, noting with perverse pleasure the clump of dirt that fell off onto the polished surface. He pulled out a cigarette and rolled it between his fingers, debating whether or not to further risk Buffy's ire by smoking inside the house.

"Why not?" said a low voice from the sofa.

The vampire didn't turn his white blond head. "So you were faking."

"Not completely," Raven said. "My powers are gone."

"But you aren't mad."

She shrugged. "I haven't really been sane since Rack killed our mother. Hating someone and loving them at the same time isn't good for your mental health." She smiled cruelly. "I have to remember to tell Buffy that."

Spike glared at the witch. "Leave her alone."

"Or you'll kill me?" It was less a taunt, than a plea.

The vampire didn't answer.

"Why haven't you killed me yet?" Raven complained. "I took the memories from Willow's head. I know that's what you do with your enemies when you defeat them."

Spike ignored the witch as he put the cigarette to his lips. He slumped further in the chair and dug for his lighter.
"I thought that it would bring me peace." Raven said bitterly. "Instead, I'm still seething, still in pain."

Spike "You'll never find peace here. You should have stayed away from Sunnyhell."

She turned haunted eyes to him. "Why didn't you?"

He laughed, a short, angry sound. "Touché."

Raven stopped pacing. "What are they going to do with me?"

Spike shrugged. He honestly didn't know.

"They'll put me behind magickal walls. Perhaps right here on the Hellmouth. Imprison me forever." The dark-haired witch began panting "I can't bear that." She raked her hands down her cheeks, making scarlet marks appear.

For the second time that night, Spike was confronted by bloody wounds. He steeled himself. Buffy would be back any minute. He would have died before she saw him in game face over the blood of this witch.

Raven seemed to sense his struggle. "You're a poor excuse for a vampire. Doesn't blood rouse you anymore." She scratched herself again and the blood flowed freely now.

He turned away.

She laughed. "No one would mind if you had a taste."

No, he thought. They wouldn't at that. In fact, Buffy might be relieved if he tore out Raven's throat. Hadn't she asked as much of him a fortnight ago. The bloodthirst was fully awakened now. But could he do it. Now that the immediate danger was passed, could he bear another soul -no matter how evil-on his conscience?

"Belt up, Witch." He said in a low, dangerous voice.

"Or maybe, it just takes more than a few drops. Maybe a torrent then."

The sound shocked him. Had it been so long since he had heard air escaping from a slit throat? He rushed to put his hand over the wound, but she had managed to cut through both major vessels. "Buffy!" he yelled as Raven's life pumped out between his fingers. By the time the Slayer arrived to see the knife fall from the dark-haired witch's hand, it was too late.

***
Continued in "Unmoved: the Epilogue"