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



Wondering why no one else aboard The Cynosure was doing anything, Faith protectively stood in front of Willow, while Spike did his best to keep Wesley behind his back. Wesley, however was having none of it. Holding on to Spike's shoulder for support he limped around the vampire and blinked up at the dragon.

"Extraordinary," Wesley whispered.

The Dragon suddenly blinked confusedly while peering down at the group. It lowered its huge head until it was only mere inches away from them. It glanced at each of then and stopped when its eyes rested on Wesley.

"Holy Mackerel!" It sniffed, warm steam escaping from its nose. "Dude! What happened to you?" It questioned, pointing a claw at Wesley.

Suddenly feeling very exposed, Wesley took a step back into the safety of Spike's arms.

"We ran into some trouble with another ship," Willow timidly explained from behind Faith. "We...uh...took care of it though."

"Hmm," the Dragon hummed thoughtfully. "That wouldn't be that ship that was on fire a week or so ago wouldn't it? That stupid pirate ship?"

"Yes it would," Faith said, glaring at the Dragon, daring it to disapprove.

The Dragon suddenly grinned, showing of its sharp teeth again. "Good for you dudes! I've always hated those stinking jellyfish and their ways." It tapped one finger against the side of its huge snout. "Hey!" It said as if thinking of something suddenly. "Now I don't feel so guilty for pushing those creepy crabholes to that deserted island," it said grinning even wider.

A door crashing open suddenly caught everyone's attention. Captain Traxda strode onto the deck, looking less than pleased.

"What the devil is going..." he started to bellow before he noticed the huge Dragon on the side of the ship. "Oh, it's you."

"Captain Traxda!" The Dragon actually squealed. "It's so great to see you again!" It said, clapping its hands in obvious delight.

"Yes, yes," the Captain grumbled, taking some effort to plaster a polite smile on his face. "It is nice to see you as well, Nestor."

"Like I was just telling these dudes here, good job with The Tormente!" Nestor said, still clapping his hands.

"Yes, thank you," Captain Traxda said. "In fact, it *is* good to see you. I'm on my way to Maxion and meet with the high sea council about the new codes of the sea," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully while looking at Nestor. "I could use some back-up."

"Excellente!" Nestor said while flapping his arms. "I've always said. Dudes! I've said, Dudes! These codes stink to heaven high like rotting fish! Haven't I always said so?" He asked giving Traxda a pleading look.

"Yes, you have," Traxda agreed reluctantly. Obviously Nestor had said it more then once.

"So," Nestor said, folding his shorts arms in front of his massive chest again. 'What's with the sudden change of heart?"

Traxda glanced at the four friends and then back at Nestor. "Let's just say, I had my eyes opened rather brutally."

Nestor glanced at the four, or more specifically at Wesley. He huffed, obviously swallowing a few choice words. "Dude, I'm just glad that we finally see eye to eye. Now the rest will be easy peasy," Nestor nodded, causing the sea around him to ripple and slosh against the ship. "Uh..." he said looking down. "I keep forgetting how tiny you all are," he muttered.

"Yes, well," Traxda said looking rather humiliated. "You'll be traveling with us then?"

"Sure dude!" Nestor said. His beaming grin however was lost on Traxda's retreating back.

"You're an actual Sea Dragon?" Wesley asked, limping toward the beast again. Now that it was obviously not a bloodthirsty creature out to eat them, but a friend, he felt more confident approaching it.

"Yup," Nestor nodded carefully, looking rather smug.

"Are there a lot of your..." Wesley said, looking for the right word, "...species?"

"Oh sure!" Nestor said with childlike eager. "A whole sea full!" He slammed his hands in front of his snout suppressing a giggle.

Willow, Faith and Spike, who had come closer as well had to laugh at the Dragon's behavior. He really wasn't acting like Dragons were supposed to. Not that they had ever met a Dragon, they only knew them from storybooks. But Nestor was nothing like those.

"Now," Nestor said thoughtfully, "Let's talk about you people for a moment." He folded his small arms again and leaned on the railing. The ship lurched dangerously to the right. Willow quickly grabbed hold of the nearby mast, while Spike and Faith grabbed hold of a dangerously swaying Wesley.

Nestor quickly removed his arms from the railing, causing the ship to lurch dangerously to the left again. "Oops!" He said in his high-pitched voice. He reached out with his huge claws and steadied the ship. "Sorry," he muttered, making an apologetic face, which was rather disturbing.

"I don't feel so good," Wesley murmured, leaning heavily on both Faith and Spike. Both heads swiveled around to glare at the Dragon.

"Hey! I said I was sorry! Jeeze, tone down on the death glare!" Nestor grumbled holding up his claws in defeat.

Faith and Spike, carefully lowered their friend and propped him up against the mast. Willow quickly sat down next to him and rubbed his arm in a soothing gesture.

"I'll be alright," Wesley said, giving his friends a weak smile. He took a deep breath, "It was just the sudden movement."

This time three heads turned to glare at the Dragon.

"Stinking Starfish!" Nestor exclaimed, "over protective much?" He said glaring back. Suddenly he looked at them seriously. "Which is of the good," he nodded, "You'll need to protect each other."

"You know about us," Wesley observed. "How?" He wanted to know.

"Oh Dude!" Nestor flapped his short arms. "The mystic drums are beating loudly about you lot in the mystical under world...err...above world...err...whatever." He peered down at them again. "None of you is from this dimension."

Spike and Faith sat down next to the other two, looking confused. "There goes our big secret," Spike grumbled.

"Naw, don't worry. It's just the Higher Beings and us mystical creatures that know about you dudes," Nestor assured them.

"You wouldn't happen to know why we are here?" Willow asked hopefully.

"Nope, sorry kid, you'll have to ask The Visionaries about that," Nestor shrugged.

Figures, Wesley thought, that would have been too easy. "So," he said, waving toward Nestor, "Dragons?"

"Oooh right!" Nestor said delighted again. "There's a lot of us," he said. He held up his claw and began ticking off species. "There's Sea Dragons, Land Dragons, Air Dragons, Mini Dragons," he looked up. "And there are some Fire Dragons left, though not many," he ended sadly. "They were the mightiest among us."

"Are they all as...friendly as you are?" Willow wanted to know.

"Well, friendly, friendly," Nestor said, looking doubtfully. "Some are, some aren't. They won't attack anyone without provocation though. The Mini ones are mischievous. And some are rather grumpy, especially the old ones. Thousands of years of routine and all the crap."

"How old are you?" Faith asked bluntly, not noticing how the others winced at her tactlessness.

"Oh, I'm only nine hundred and eight," Nestor said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Damn! You're old!" Faith said in awe.

Nestor put his short paws in his side and looked at her insulted. "I am *not* old!"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Faith grinned at him.

"I'm *not* old!" Nestor tried again looking at the other three with what passed for a puppy dog look.

"No, no, of course not," Wesley said, poking his elbow in Faith's side, hoping she'd get the hint.

She did, though couldn't seem to stop giggling. Willow quickly looked the other way, obviously trying to hide a grin as well.

"How rude!" Nestor squeeked in his high pitched-voice.

"Eh, don't mind them. They're girls," Spike explained in a conspiratorial tone. He shared a grin with Nestor.

The vampire frowned when he heard Wesley sigh again and noticed how the other man was rubbing his temples. "I think you've been up long enough, Pet, time to call it a day," he told the Watcher sternly, getting ready for another argument.

The fact that Wesley didn't argue but glanced at him rather defeated, told Spike exactly how tired he really was. He also noticed Wesley was looking rather pale again and was trembling slightly.

Nestor pursed his lips and looked at Wesley thoughtfully. "You know what you need Dude?" he asked. "Dragon blood ointment," he nodded.

Wesley blinked at him confused. "What?"

The Dragon let out a frustrated noise. "Dragon Blood," he said again. He slammed his fists against his chest for emphasis, "Me Dragon," he said. "I can give some of my blood to the doctor, he knows how to make it," he shrugged.

"Is this usual medication?" Willow wanted to know.

"Oh no," Nestor said, waving his claw. "But I like you guys, so I'm going to make an exception here. He looks like he needs it too," he said, pointing at Wesley.

"That he does," Faith said getting up. "And right now he needs rest." Together with Spike she helped Wesley up, holding him steadily as he swayed on his feet.

Spike slung one arm carefully over his shoulder. "Come on love, let's get you to bed."

Wesley nodded tiredly and turned his head toward Nestor. "It's been nice meeting you...err...Sir. And thank you for your help."

"My pleasure dude!" Nestor smiled. "Go rest, I'll have the doctor make you some of that stuff. He can teach your Witch how to make it, so you have some reserve." He nodded. "Something tells me this little group will need it."

Wesley nodded again, giving the Dragon a weak smile. Then he let Spike help him downstairs.

"That dude always so polite?" Nestor asked Faith and Willow, who were watching the retreating backs of the men with some worry.

"Yes, he is," Willow said softly.

"Hey don't worry," Nestor spoke, "he'll be fine, especially with the Dragons Blood," he nodded, looking pleased with himself.

"What I'd like to know is why you're talking like some Californian beach bum," Faith wanted to know.

"Eh," Nestor said, "I've been around. Though we can't get to your world anymore. Pity though, I liked it there. Especially when you humanoids still believed in us," he said sadly.

"Nestor! Pestor! Poop!" Jeremiah suddenly shouted, flying around the huge dragon"s head.

Nestor planted his small arms in his side, or where his side was approximately and glared at the bird. "Bashing Barnacles! You!" he snarled, "I see you're still alive," he said with a disappointed voice.

~*~*~*~


Spike carefully lowered Wesley onto his bunk, helping him to lie down. "You okay?" he asked as he noticed the other man wincing lightly.

"I'm fine," Wesley automatically replied, laying down, closing his eyes. He opened them when he heard Spike snort loudly. "I'm *fine*," he tried again, "just a little tired."

Spike only raised an eyebrow at him and pursed his lips. He frowned as he saw Wesley toss and turn, trying to find a comfortable position. "Your back still giving you trouble?"

Defeated Wesley looked up at him. Damn, that vampire was far too observant. Wesley thought he'd been hiding it pretty well. "Yes, a bit" he admitted softly.

Turning around, Spike started to rummage in the small cabinet, and turned around triumphantly, holding up a small vial of oil. It was the same oil Wesley had used to sooth Spike's sunburned skin. "Let's see what we can do about that."

Giving the vampire a little smile, Wesley pushed himself up to remove his tunic. Then he turned around and laid back down on his stomach.

Spike climbed into the bunk and straddled Wesley' back for better access. Pouring some oil on the back, he gently started to massage it into the bruised skin. Making sure to be gentle with the still healing cuts criss crossing over the other man's back.

Wesley groaned and sank into the mattress, as cool hands slid over his abused skin. He concentrated on the feeling of those hands, relaxing his muscles more and more.

"You like that, hm?" Spike whispered in his ear, nibbling the earlobe a little.

"Hmmm," Wesley sighed happily, closing his eyes. He could feel himself already starting to drift off to sleep.

Smiling, Spike continued his ministrations. A sudden tap on the little round window made him look up. "Bloody hell!" Startled he jerked back as he noticed a huge eye taking up the whole window.

Confused by Spike's reaction, Wesley looked up. He blinked at the window and let out a small chuckle. "There be dragons," he said, looking over his shoulder at Spike.

"Daft creature," Spike muttered darkly. He moved toward the small window and opened it.

"Hi!" Nestor said cheery. "I just wanted to tell you that your little redhead made the medicine stuffy thingy. I gave her enough of my precious blood to make plenty! It's really easy to make with the right ingredient, which can be found everywhere." The Dragon babbled.

Spike just glared at the mighty sea creature.

"Uhm..." Nestor said, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no, not at all," Wesley quickly reassured the Dragon. "Thank you very much for your help," he smiled.

"Ooh!" Nestor shrieked, causing both Spike and Wesley to take a step back. The steam coming from the Dragons nostrils was rather hot, not to mention wet. "I've interrupted humanoid intimacy time! I keep forgetting that you odd people need those kinds of things," he said, actually blushing. "I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, waving his claws.

"That's quite alright..." Wesley started.

"Bloody right you did," Spike interrupted, pointing at the Dragons huge eye.

"Jeeze dude! I said I was sorry!" Nestor pouted, folding his arms again.

Wesley sighed and sat back down on his bunk as he watched Spike move forward to give the Dragon a piece of his mind. The vampire, however, was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Saved by the...err...knock," Wesley muttered and painfully started to rise to open the door. He froze and meekly sat back down on his bunk again when he received a glare from both Spike and Nestor.

"Stubborn one, isn't he?" Nestor observed.

"You've no idea," Spike muttered darkly. He opened the door to reveal Willow and waved her in. "What can we do for you?"

"Oh nothing," Willow said. She held out a jar with some pink looking salve in it. "This is that dragons blood stuff," she said, moving over to Wesley.

Wesley took the jar and sniffed it. "It has no scent," he frowned puzzled.

"I can add some lavender or something if you want?" Willow said, glancing at Nestor.

"D'oh, it's suppose to be scentless," ," Nestor said as if explaining something to a five year old. Which from his point of view he probably was. "If it had a scent you'd attract you know..." he lowered his voice, "the enemy," he whispered dramatically.

Three pairs of eyebrows shot up followed by several 'oh's' and 'aha's'.

"It also helps against upset stomach, poisoning, stuff like that," Nestor explained. "Just stir a teaspoon of it in some water or whatever. But no milk! It won't work with milk," he shook his head.

Both Willow and Wesley looked at the ointment as if the idea was beyond disgusting, but wisely neither said anything.

"Yeah, thanks," Spike said rather impatiently. He glanced at Willow and then at Nestor.

Willow looked at him confused. Then she took in a shirtless Wesley and the oil lying on the small table. "Oooh, Faith is waiting for me. Call us if you need anything!" she babbled and shot out the door.

That left only Nestor. "Gotcha, I can take a hint okay! Humanoid Intimacy time," he nodded thoughtfully. "Never did get that concept," he muttered. "Oh! That reminds me," he continued cheerily. "Would any of you mind if I...sort of ...ate that annoying parrot?"

A stern yes from both Spike and Wesley and several exclamations from above deck made the Dragon slink off. "Jeeze dudes," he muttered, "It's only a stupid, annoying, parrot," he kept complaining.

Spike grabbed a sheet from his bunk and pulled it in front of the little round window. Then he turned around and looked at Wesley. "Now," he smiled, "Where were we?"

Grinning back, Wesley laid back down on his bunk again.

~*~*~*~


Faith and Willow looked back and forth between the two contestants in an fierce argument. Trying not to laugh out loud, since both parties were considered dangerous when angry.

"Look," Nestor said, obviously trying for patience, but failing miserably. "All I'm saying is, it'll take you one or two days to get to Maxion and if I push you a little it'll only be an hour or two. What is your problem?"

Captain Traxda, the other person in the argument, glared at the Dragon. "It isn't proper," he simply said, folding his arms over his chest.

"What's going on?" Spike wanted to know, looking at the girls puzzled.

"Nestor here can get us to Maxion in a few hours, and Traxda wants to do it the old fashioned way," Faith explained quickly. "How's Wes?"

"He's asleep, he should be out for at least an hour or so, was pretty knackered," Spike told them, looking at the argument with interest. "Who's winning?"

"So far it's a tie, neither one is giving in," Faith snorted. "Personally I'm rooting for Nestor. The sooner I can get off this ship the better, I'm getting claustrophobic."

"I'd love to walk on a non moving surface again," Willow agreed. Not that she didn't enjoy the life aboard the ship, but really, enough was enough.

"Let's see if we can speed things up then," Spike nodded. He strode toward the arguing pair and held up his hand. "It seems to me we've already lost time, what with The Tormente and everything. I think it would be good to catch up on that time, no?" he said looking at Captain Traxda.

"Yes, but..." The captain tried.

"And you want to do things differently right?" Spike continued as if he wasn't interrupted, "So I'm thinking, why not start now," he finished looking pointedly at the man.

Traxda looked at Spike, glanced at an intently looking Faith and Willow and then sighed. "Oh alright then," he muttered stalking off to take the helm.

Nestor let out a whoop of joy and splashed his claws excitedly on the water surface, making the ship bounce up and down dangerously. "Oops!" he said, holding his paws up quickly, looking at them sheepishly. "Sorry," he said giving them a toothy grin. He then made his way behind the ship fast and started to push. "Maxion here we come!"

Spike grinned, ran toward the back of the ship and started to cheer the Dragon on. The only thing missing, Willow thought, were some pompoms.

"What the bloody hell is going on now," a familiar British voice wanted to know.

Both Faith and Willow quickly made their way over to Wesley, intent on helping him.

Holding up his hands in defense, Wesley glared from Faith to Willow. "I'm not a sodding invalid," he grumbled.

Both girls backed off a little bit, looking slightly hurt, but kept hovering near by just in case.

Staggering toward the railing, Wesley looked at them both. "I'm sorry," he sighed, "but this coddling is getting rather tiresome. And why are we moving so fast?"

"Nestor is pushing us," Faith grinned. "And Spike is cheering him on," she smirked, pointing at where Spike stood.

Looking over to the Vampire, Wesley quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. "How soon will we reach Maxion?"

"Nestor says in about an hour or so," Willow explained. "Otherwise it would have taken us a day or two maybe. So pretty fast."

"I'll say," Wesley said pleased. "The sooner I can walk on steady ground the better."

"Exactly," Faith agreed while Willow nodded her agreement.

Time almost literally flew by and pretty soon the lookout announced that they were approaching the city of Maxion.

Excited, Faith and Willow made their way up to front of the ship and looked in awe as the city of Maxion appeared in front of them.

"Amazingly beautiful," Wesley said from behind them. Spike walked up to them and snaked an arm around the man's waist, looking on stunned as well.

Maxion was built upon a mountain. The houses were all made of what looked like stone, the roofs were made out of tiles. Unlike Vilnarsy, the colors weren't bright, but more subdued, almost pastel colored. The buildings colors, Traxda explained, had the same meaning as in Vilnarsy. Most houses had entrances made out of pillars. There were small houses, several bigger dwellings and a few huge halls.

The closer they came the more they could see. The streets, as far as they could see, were paved with huge, white slates. The city itself was huge, by far bigger than Vilnarsy. Several roads led in and out of the city. Unlike Vilnarsy there was no defense fort around the city.

"When in Rome..." Wesley muttered.

"It certainly looks very Roman," Willow agreed.

The four of them watched as they sailed closer to the city, with excitement and trepidation. It was the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

2004 by FerretGirl