Title: The Outcasts
Author: FerretGirl
Pairing/Characters: Wesley/Spike, Faith, Willow.
Rating: PG13 to NC-17
Disclaimer: They boys and girls are not mine, I'm just playing with them.
Summary: A second chance, a new beginning?.
Spoilers: AtS S1 to 4, BtvS S3 and S5/6 I guess. At the beginning S4 of AtS and S7 of BtvS, Joss and I go our separate ways
again.

A big thanks for my beta's miniera, and eloise_bright for their help and encouragement.



The Outcasts



Leaning against the wall of the alley entrance, Faith and Willow tried to look casual. Willow had her back against the entrance and couldn't see the guards, but she could hear them. "What are they doing?" she whispered to Faith.

"Looking around," the Slayer whispered back. "How are they doing?" she asked, nodding her head back to where Spike and Wesley were.

Willow glanced over the other girls shoulder and blushed. "Uhm...kissing?"

"What?" Faith asked, eyes growing wide. She resisted the urge to turn around and look, because a Guard chose that moment to enter the alley. She tried to relax her tense body and gave him her best innocent look.

"You there," the Guard asked gruffly, pointing at the girls. "You sssseen anyone run passst here?"

Both girls shook their heads, trying to look afraid and intimidated. Which was fairly easy, since they were afraid. But not because of the Guard, they both knew that if they needed to, they could take him out. They were worried about their friend, who was possibly bleeding to death right behind them, while the Guard was asking stupid questions.

The Guard, a purply lizardly looking man, narrowed his yellow eyes at them. "You are sssure?" he hissed, his long thin tongue snaking in and out of his mouth.

Faith and Willow nodded again, mumbling that they hadn't seen anyone come by. Silently willing the man to go away as quickly as possible.

The lizard-like man huffed and was about to ask another question when another Guard appeared at the entrance of the alley. Faith froze as she saw that this one was in the company of a swine-dog. Several other soldiers ran past the alley entrance,dragging their swine-dogs along. "Come!" the man called to his colleague, "There's a big fight going on in another bar, it has priority!"

The Guard, who had been questioning Faith and Willow glanced past them at the couple farther away in the alley. He moved to walk toward them. Both girls held their breath and tensed, ready to attack the man if needed. But then he turned around quickly and left the alley without another word. The girls let out a sigh of relief and quickly turned around toward the men...who were still kissing.

Or rather, Spike was kissing, Wesley was doing his best to stay conscious.

"Spike, he needs to breathe at one point," Faith said, unable to hide a small grin.

At the sound of the Slayers voice, Spike pulled back and turned to look at them. His arms being the only thing keeping Wesley upright. "Is the coast clear?" he asked urgently. They needed to get the Watcher to their rooms and stop the bleeding fast.

"Yeah," Willow answered, "They've been called to something else. We got lucky. Let's get back to our room and take care of Wes," she urged.

Spike nodded and slung Wesley's arm over his shoulder. "Let's get going Wes," he muttered at the rather dazed looking Watcher. Carefully Spike walked in the direction of their rooms, pulling a staggering Wesley with him.

"Wow," Willow started, "That was..."

"Hot," Faith finished.

"I was going to say, a strange diversion tactic, but hot works too," Willow nodded.

They quickly followed Spike and Wesley. Willow hovering on Wesley's other side, in case he would fall. Not that she would be able to do anything, but she felt better where she could keep an eye on him.

Faith ran ahead of them, making sure no-one would take notice of them, or if they did, wouldn't get in their way.

It took them about half an hour to get back to their rooms. Once there they carefully lowered Wesley to the bed.

Spike gently removed the bloodied tunic. Wincing along with Wesley as the crude fabric scraped the wound. The wound itself was still bleeding sluggishly, the vampire had to hold back from the intoxicating smell of the blood that was invading his nostrils.

Wesley pushed himself further up the bed to sit against the pillows. He groaned loudly and his hand automatically clutched his side. He pulled a face when he felt the blood sticking hotly to his hand.

"Shit, that looks bad," Faith said, peering at the wound. "We should have looked into doctors or whatever around here. This was bound to happen sooner or later."

Wesley had turned his now ruined tunic into a ball and was pressing it to the wound. "It's not so bad, Faith," he said with a strained voice. "I'll be alright once the bleeding stops."

That remark earned him several snorts and a few raised eyebrows.

Shyly Willow sat down next to him. "I...uh...I can help you," she started. "I...I don't know how...how much I can do with this planets energy, b-but I know I can stop the bleeding."

She wrung her hands together. This would be the first time she had tried any major mojo. Thus far it had only been a bit of practicing, flower blossoming here, a bit of transportation there. Willow had found that the elements were very important in this dimension and she could use them to her advantage. But this was important; she would be toying with the life of her friend. And she didn't want to toy with it; she wanted to know what she was doing.

"I..I mean I won't go too far, just what I know I can do. And...and I can stop the bleeding I know that, and probably repair some internal damage. But I don't know if it'll hurt or not, or if you'll need rest or..." a finger on her lips stopped her babbling. She looked up into Wesley's pain-filled blue eyes.

"It'll be fine, Willow," he said removing his finger from her lips to touch her cheek. "I trust you, you'll do fine," he smiled at her.

Willow turned around nervously to look at Spike and Faith. Spike nodded at her encouragingly. Faith smiled. "You can do it Wills," she said.

Willow nodded and toed off her soft leather moccasins, so she could be in more direct contact with the earth. "Right...uhm...," she moved toward Wesley again and her hands hovered over the wound. "Try...try to relax," she advised.

Breathing deep, Willow concentrated on the powers around her. She could feel the elements of the earth seeping into her system, giving her strength. Placing her hands on either side of Wesley's wound she closed her eyes and concentrated on the healing. A yellow glow enveloped her hands and then grew wider to cover the entire wound.

Gasping for air, Wesley did his best to relax. He could feel heat spreading around the wound, a tingling sensation at the center of it. The pain became less and he felt better every second it lasted. He watched amazed as the wound closed slowly and the bleeding stopped.

Willow opened her eyes and the yellow glow faded away. She looked at where the wound had been at Wesley's side. It was gone, only a huge bruise was left. "That's...going to be sore for a while I think," Willow said, giving the Watcher a nervous smile. "But...but I think I repaired most of it."

"Wow!" Faith looked at the redhead impressed. "That was wicked cool, Willow," she said, obviously in awe.

"Thank you," Wesley said softly, tugging on her hand. Willow leaned closer, hugging him. "You're welcome," she blushed. "You're so very welcome," she whispered. She'd been scared to death doing this. But she had been more scared at the thought of losing Wesley.

"You're getting better at this," Spike said. He looked at Wesley relieved, glad that the eminent danger now appeared to be over.

Wesley slid down the pillow to lay down, exhaustion clearly visible on his face. "That was awfully close," he started, "I don't think this city is very safe." Not that LA or Sunnydale had been safe, but at least they knew what to expect there.

"Maybe we need to get out of the city, see what else is going on in this dimension," Faith offered.

"Yeah," Willow said, "We're not getting any answers here. We've been trying to find some for weeks now."

Spike nodded his agreement. "Those Guards are getting closer to us. There's no way to tell what they'll do when they find out that we're not merely from out of town, but from out of dimension."

"So we skip town as soon as we can?" Faith asked.

They all turned toward Wesley for answers. The man in question however, had fallen asleep on the covers of the bed, exhaustion finally catching up with him.

"I'll guess we'll talk more about this in the morning," Spike grinned.

"He needed to rest anyway," Willow said. She gently removed the moccasins from Wesley's feet and then looked at the covers. The nights may not be cold here, but she would feel better if Wesley was under the thin blankets, the man was recovering after all.

She was helped in her predicament by Spike, who carefully lifted Wesley up a bit, so Willow could turn back the covers, and pull them over the sleeping man after Spike put him down again.

"I wonder what he's going to say in the morning?" Faith mussed.

"About what?" Spike asked, "leaving town? I don't know."

Faith smirked at him. "No you moron, about the kissage. You've been dying to do that haven't you?"

Spike grinned back. "I would have preferred a different situation though," he said turning serious.

"Well, you'll know more when he wakes up," Willow said, opening the door. "We'll see you guys in the morning."

"Good luck," Faith winked and followed Willow out the door.

~*~*~*~


When Spike woke up the next morning, he could tell Wesley was awake, by the rate of his heartbeat. He chanced to open one eye and glanced over at the man.

Wesley was lying on his back, hands under his head, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts apparently a million miles away. Spike's eyes gazed down to look at the spot where yesterday had been an ugly knife wound. He was relieved to see that all that remained was a huge bruise. Slightly painful maybe, but not, thank god, life threatening.

"You kissed me," Wesley's voice suddenly came, sounding rough. Apparently getting stabbed had shaken the man more then he let on.

Spike looked at the man startled. The Watcher hadn't removed his eyes from the ceiling, how had he known the vampire was awake? "Yes," Spike said, not coming up with any excuses like 'I was trying to rescue you.'

"You saved my life," Wesley continued, blinking up at the ceiling.

"Thank god for that," Spike answered, "or whatever deity is in charge of that here."

Slowly Wesley turned to look at him, eyes impossibly blue. "Why?" he wanted to know.

Spike blinked. "What?" he asked sitting upright. "You're not serious! You're my friend, our friend. We like you a lot and we need you here. Not just because you're clever and smart, but because you're you. You think we would just leave you there to die? No bloody way!"

Wesley gave him a soft smile of gratitude. "Thank you, but that's not what I meant," he whispered. "Why did you kiss me?"

Gazing into those blue eyes Spike sighed. "Seemed like the thing to do," he shrugged.

"Oh," Wesley nodded. He turned his head again to stare at ceiling. "Well, thank you anyway."

Frowning Spike looked at the man for a few moments. "Oh, bugger it," he muttered, tossing off the covers. He paced toward Wesley's bed and then back to his own again. "Look Wes, it's not just that, it's just...," Spike sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "It wasn't the ideal moment I would have chosen for it okay?" He turned to look at the other man.

Wesley looked at vampire thoughtfully for a moment. Letting this new bit of information sink into his brain. "So...you enjoyed it? The kissing I mean," he asked softly.

"Yeah, very much so," Spike smirked. He sighed and sat down next to Wesley on the bed. "Listen pet, I'm sorry. I was going to take it slow, seduce you properly and all that. Hell, I had already started that."

"I did...notice," Wesley said, clearly uncomfortable. He pushed himself up in a sitting position and looked down at his hands.

Spike waited for him to say something more, but apparently Wesley didn't have anything more to say. "Yeah well, I probably did it all wrong. It's the soul you know, wants to do things right. I probably bollixed things up. Shit, I don't even know if you're into...you know.. men."

"I did go to an all boys school," Wesley whispered, finding his fingernails very interesting. "And that's about as far as my experience goes." He glanced up at Spike and then looked down quickly again.

"So you're not...averse to the idea?" Spike asked hopefully.

"Yes...no...I don't know?" Wesley sighed. This was so confusing. He rubbed his temples. "It's just that...I'm not good at this sort of thing. And we need to be able to depend on each other, and we're going to spend god knows how long together on this planet," he struggled to explain, trying to find the right words.

"So," Spike said again, "You're not averse to the idea?"

This time Wesley did look up. "No?" he tried, holding Spike's gaze for a moment before looking down again.

"Hmm," Spike nodded, trying very hard not to grin. "Maybe I can convince you a little more." He brushed his fingertips over the bruise on Wesley's side. "You okay?" he asked.

Wesley winced slightly, but gave the vampire a tiny smile. "I'm fine," he assured the other man keeping his eyes downcast.

"Good," Spike nodded. He leaned forward, put his fingers under Wesley's chin and tilted his head up. Then he very carefully leaned in, giving Wesley every possibility to move away or stop him.

He didn't.

And a few seconds later their lips met for a long, gentle kiss, that lasted until Wesley felt the need for oxygen. They pulled back slightly, lips mere millimeters away from each other.

Spike gazed into Wesley's glazed over eyes. "How does the idea sound now?" he asked. He knew he was smiling like an idiot, and he didn't care.

"I'm not sure," Wesley muttered against Spike's lips. His hand came up to brush through the vampires blond curls. "I think I might need a little more persuasion," he smiled slyly at the other man.

Spike was only happy to oblige, wrapping his arms around the Watcher, pulling him closer. This was better then he had dared to hope for, this had potential.

They were so engrossed in each other, that neither of them heard the door open, the small 'meep!' from Willow and the door quickly closing again.

~*~*~*~


"They're...uh...busy!" Willow squeaked quickly, turning around to face Faith. She was blushing ferociously.

Faith smirked at her shade of red, almost the same color as the Witch's hair. "Busy huh?" she grinned. Good for them. "So Wes is a lot better this morning?" she asked, worry apparent on her face.

"From the looks of it, I'd say...yes," Willow nodded, a smile gracing her lips. She thought her two friends would make a cute couple. She hoped they could make it work, not knowing how things were in this world.

Then she remembered Tara and smiled softly.

"You miss her," Faith said, noticing the witch's expression.

"Yeah," Willow whispered.

"Tel me about her?" the Slayer asked, thrusting her hands in her pockets.

Willow took a deep breath. Remembering Tara, her Tara. "She was kind, and sweet and very strong," she began. "And much better at magic then I was, she knew how to control it." She wiped away tear that rolled down her cheek as she remembered the girl she had...still did...loved so much. "And she didn't take any crap from me either." She looked up and gave Faith a shaky smile.

"Sounds like someone I would have hurt in the past," Faith said honestly. "Now? Now I think I would have liked her."

Willow fumbled inside her tunic, looking for something. She had hidden it, since she hadn't seen any of those in this dimension either. She took out a small picture. It showed a young blond girl, smiling shyly at the camera. She held it out to Faith. "Tara," she whispered.

Faith looked at the picture. "Pretty," she said. Hesitantly she looked at her friend. Faith was never one for physical comfort, but something inside her just wanted to hug the witch. "Aw screw it," she muttered and moved to embrace the other girl in a tight hug.

Smiling a bit more brightly, Willow hugged back and then put the precious picture back in her pocket. "Yeah, so anyway, those two," Willow said, jerking her finger over her shoulder in the direction of Spike and Wes' room.

"Hot," Faith muttered.

"Hot," Willow agreed.

"But, you're gay. And you think the guys are hot?" Faith was puzzled.

"Yeah so?" Willow huffed. "Doesn't mean I can't admire a handsome piece of...of...manflesh!" She rushed on. "And anyway, I'm Bi," she said, blushing uncomfortably again.

Faith frowned at her for a few moments and then smiled. "Cool," she winked. "So...what are we going to do while the guys are...busy."

"We can go to the market?" Willow opted, glad that Faith was done with the subject of sexuality.

"Sure why not," The Slayer shrugged. "We can talk a bit and you can show me what's so exciting about this market."

Willow grinned and fell in step with Faith, walking toward the market place. "It's just you know, strange and new and unlike our world."

"Everything here is unlike our world," Faith said, "Fuck *we're* different here."

"Yes and no," Willow agreed. "We've all been through a lot in our world and we were being...I dunno...measured? By what we all did. It's like we're getting a second chance here."

"Yeah," Faith muttered, "Can't say I'm against that. I like it here. I like you guys strangely enough. I wonder if we all would have gotten along like this in our world. You know, if we would have met up again."

"I don't know," Willow said thoughtfully. "But I doubt it, there would have been things in the way, other people, constant reminders, stuff like that."

Faith nodded. "I like the sound of a new beginning. If only we knew more about this world and how we got here and why."

"Me too," Willow agreed. "And I like that we're getting to know each other so well. It's like we can be ourselves here, nothing to hide, no one to judge us, just you know....be ourselves. A bit of a dysfunctional family." she laughed.

They entered the, by now, familiar market place. The exotic scents invaded their noses; strange foreign languages buzzed in their ears, and a constantly changing colorful picture painted itself before their eyes.

They walked around the place lazily. Willow eagerly pointing out several things she liked so much, Faith nodding indulgently at her. They were about to go back to their hotel rooms again when a man waved at them and smiled.

They had met this man shortly after they arrived in this dimension. He resembled a small cuddly bear, with orange intelligent eyes that were never open too far. 'Chinese eyes' Spike had called them. His fur was reddish brown and he gave off this grandfatherly vibe. The name he had given them had been unpronounceable by everyone bar Wesley. So they had settled for a crude form of it and called him Mister Lutaos. The man didn't seem to mind this.

Smiling the two girls walked toward him. "Good morning Mister Lutaos," Willow said politely, while Faith nodded at the man.

"Good morning little sorceress," he said bowing toward Willow. "Good morning little dark warrior," he bowed toward Faith. Both girls found themselves doing the same.

"Not your usual companion," Mister Lutaos remarked nodding at Faith.

"Eh no," Faith grinned, "Her usual companion is...busy...this morning."

"But he is alright?" Mister Lataos asked, a worried expression on his face.

Both girls looked at him surprised, eyes widening. "How...?" Willow asked.

"Ah," the man said, eyes twinkling. "There are eyes and ears everywhere here. I heard you had a spot of trouble last night. The little scholar is alright though?"

"Oh yes, he's fine," Willow reassured the man, looking around uncomfortably. Eyes and ears everywhere indeed. "He's with the little...light warrior," she said giggling at the names the man had bestowed upon them.

"This city is not safe," the man told them. "You must seek answers soon, the Guards are on your trail. They do not like other worlders."

"How did you know that?" Faith asked surprised. "Those ears and eyes tell you that?"

"Just my own eyes," the small furry man smiled. "Not many will notice. You are good at hiding yourselves. But you also have this knack of having trouble find you. They will notice you sooner or later."

"Yeah well," Faith huffed. "We've been trying to find answers, only to find more questions."

"Ah," the man hummed again. "You do not yet know the workings of this city. You must ask its protector," he nodded toward them.

"And who or what is that?" Willow asked curious.

"I shall give you a hint," the man said, humor tainting his voice. "We are a city of water," he told them, glancing from one girl to the other.

"Huh?" Faith blinked. "What's that mean?"

"Your little scholar will know," the man said mysteriously. "I have to go now, my lady awaits. Good luck on your journey, may you all find what you are looking for." And with that he bowed his goodbye, smiled at them and shuffled away.

"I guess we'll go and ask Wesley," Willow said, watching the bearlike man walking away.

~*~*~*~


"But that makes no sense!" Wesley complained. He was pacing back and forth just outside their room, glasses on his nose, book in hand. He leafed through the book again, muttering to himself. The others looked on, amused, sitting on the bench just under the window of their rooms.

Faith and Willow had come back, telling their friends what Mister Lataos had told them. Wesley had immediately launched into a research session, with Willow's help. Faith and Spike had watched for a moment, before becoming bored. They then had taken up a sparring session just outside the rooms, where no one disturbed them.

Until Willow drug Wesley out into the fresh air and warm sun for a break. That hadn't lasted long, because she had been unable to prie away the book he was currently studying.

"Wes," Spike interrupted the man's muttering and pacing. "Why don't you share with the class what you have right now, we can be your sounding board."

Wesley turned around to frown at his friends. Sighing he pulled his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose. Replacing them again he peered into the book. "Well, according to this, every major city or...or province, has an elemental protector of sorts. This can be water, fire, air, earth, what have you. I'm not sure what exactly the elements all are here."

"We already knew that much," Faith shrugged. "So now what? This is a city of water, do we go to the ocean and ask it what's the what?" she half smiled.

Wesley's head suddenly jerked up and he pointed at Faith, gazing at her.

"What?" the Slayer asked, looking from Willow to Spike confused, pressing herself into the bench.

"Of course!" Wesley snapped his fingers. "Why didn't I think of that? Shrines!"

"Come again?" Spike asked, obviously confused.

Willow jumped up excited. "The little fountains they have everywhere?" she asked, almost sure that was what he meant.

"Exactly, that has to be it," he said. Pushing his glasses inside his pocket, he made his way over to the Inn. The others followed him. Willow excited and with her mind racing. Faith and Spike just confused. But they figured that their two friends were more at home at the gods and goddesses kinds of things, they trusted them to know what they were doing.

Entering the lobby Wesley looked around for the mousy innkeeper. It would only be polite to ask her if they could use her...shrine, at least he hoped that was what it was.

The small furry woman was standing behind her desk, gazing at them with her beady little eyes. "Yes?" she asked.

"Uhm we were wondering," Wesley began politely. "If we may use your..err...watershrine?"

The woman frowned, or at least it looked like she was frowning. "Why?" she asked simply, whiskers bouncing up and down.

"Because," Spike said, ignoring Willow's and Wesley's look of annoyance. Faith hid a snicker behind her hand.

"We would like to ask your town protector a question," Willow answered the woman's question.

Very clever, Wesley thought and looked at the redhead with pride. This way they would indeed find out if the little fountains inside the buildings were shrines of some kind.

The mousy woman glanced from one person to the other. "Okay." She shrugged and pointed at the fountain. "She in good mood today." And having said that, she turned around and got back to work.

No one was sure what the innkeeper meant about the good mood. Herself or the water deity. They just hoped she meant the city protector. They could do with some luck, not to mention some answers. They walked over to the fountain and looked at it.

It was made of some material similar to marble. Painted in bright rainbow colors, it resembled something of a small porcelain sink. Only with a spray of water in the middle. Willow thought that perhaps comparing it to a sink wasn't very polite.

"So," Wesley said, folding his arms in front of his chest and staring at the fountain. "Anyone have a suggestion or an idea how we do this?"

2004 by FerretGirl