Severed Ties
Chapter 21
Melee
May 20th, 2002
"Bollocks!" Spike shouted as he picked himself off the ground again. The first ten minutes of the fight speed had been his weapon and he used it to stay away from the monstrously powerful…well, monster. But even with that distinct advantage, he could only outmaneuver it for so long, thus the 'get up 'n go back after 'im' strategy he now employed. Although the demon looked no smarter than a soddin' Pez dispenser, it adapted to Spike's style uncomfortably fast. It didn't help that flesh-on-flesh contact made Spike's skin feel alive in a decidedly bad way.
Shaking the haze from his mind, Spike looked up just in time to see the freak demon of the week bringing down a cross-shaped headstone towards his platinum head. The vampire rolled to the side just in time, and he breathed a sigh of relief when the edge of the weapon slammed into the ground with a resounding thud.
"Missed me, you sod," he said and smashed his fist into the demon's lower back. The purple-skinned beast howled, automatically slinging its arm backwards. Spike ducked under the blow and returned one of his own, the heel of his hand colliding with the demon's chin. He finished off the combo with a reverse side kick, and his own demon chanted excitedly when he felt something in the monstrosity's chest give.
"Hurt, don't it," Spike taunted as the demon held the spot where it had been kicked. Its head was lowered as it gasped for air. Not wasting any time, Spike dropped to the ground and, using his left arm as a pivot, swung his right leg around and into the demon's jaw. The satisfying crunch of bones shattering buoyed the vampire's spirits even further and Spike glowered at his fallen enemy.
"See there, Peaches," he called over his shoulder to the still unconscious brunette, "that's how it's done." Smirk firmly entrenched on his face, Spike gave a last disdainful look to the downed beast before sauntering towards the dropped headstone. Squatting down, he ran his hands along the sharp edges of the makeshift weapon.
"Impressive piece 'o hardware you got here, Barney," he said over his shoulder, "right nice for cavin' a bloke's skull in. Though, considerin' the thickness of that melon dome of yours, not sure if it'd make a dent in the old cranium." Spike cocked his head as if in deep thought and shrugged. He wrapped his hands around the thinnest part of the headstone and hefted it across his shoulders.
"Well," he said, testing its weight, "only one way to find out."
Spike turned around, ready to pummel the downed creature to death but a hand around his neck made the vampire lose his grip on the concrete marker and it fell harmlessly to the ground.
"You're wrong, Vampire," the beast murmured, its fetid breath washing over Spike's face and the platinum blonde felt the beginnings of an incredible agony starting where the creature held him around the neck.
"This," it said and smashed an overly large fist into the vampire's ribs, shattering three upon impact, "is how it's done." The creature ushered Spike to his feet but held his gasping form firmly around the biceps, its talons ripping through leather and flesh. Spike had the chance to see the beast open its maw inconceivably wide before dropping his head.
Bugger, he thought and felt the sharp teeth brush against his forehead and chin, what an unbelievably embarrassin' way to go.
~~~
Buffy led the other two slayers through the fourth cemetery in fifteen minutes. Jay's dire warning, as well as Buffy and Cordelia's simultaneous premonitions, had thrown the three women into immediate action. They hadn't had an opportunity to load up per usual but each woman managed to grabbed a couple stakes as well as a secondary weapon. Faith had opted for the repeater crossbow, Jay twin daggers, and Buffy a short sword ideal for close-quarters combat. Although the temperature was mild, all three women were sweating heavily, and their breaths came in sharp pants.
"Where the hell is he?" Buffy asked aloud as they swept across the western part of the Heberly cemetery.
"We'll find him, B," Faith said, and when they came to a stop, laid a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder.
"Yeah, Mum," Jay added, "we'll find him."
"And then the two of you can start back up on your Olympic sex-a-thon."
"Eww, Faith, gross. Please don't put images of my parents' naked bodies in my head…" Jay started and trailed off. Her eyes scanned the grounds and when Faith turned to Buffy she saw that the petite blonde was doing the same thing. Faith was startled when the other two women jumped, met each other's gazes and darted off into the night.
"God, you guys," Faith said as she sprinted after them, "give a girl some warning why don't ya."
No more words were spoken as they tore through the cemetery, hurdling tombstones and ducking tree branches with a casual ease. As they ran further into the graveyard, Faith felt the familiar stirrings at the back of her neck that warned her that a demon was close. She tightened her grip around the crossbow, finger stroking the trigger in anticipation. Her heartbeat quickened even more at the prospects of battle and she smiled, confident that they were ready for whatever it was that was…
"What they hell?" she said when she rammed into other two slayers. "B, Jay, why'd you stop?" She glared at the two women and was taken aback at the horrified looks on their faces. It wasn't until she followed their gazes that Faith saw what it was and the unfamiliar pang of grief shot through her at what was about to happen.
Sixty yards away the giant demon had Spike immobilized and the vampire's head was almost completely enveloped by the creature's mouth. She saw the creature's head swivel slightly towards them and Faith would have sworn it smirked.
"No!" Buffy screamed and raced across the grass. Faith knew she'd never get there in time and the brunette slayer had the horrible feeling that they were about to watch Spike get dusted.
"No," she whispered as anger swept away the blind panic that had coiled in her belly. Working on instinct alone, Faith raised the crossbow, said a momentary prayer, and fired.
Her only thought was that she hoped her aim was true.
~~~
Dawn paced nervously across her room, glancing at the clock once more. He should be here by now, she thought and peered out her window. When Buffy had told Dawn and the others to stay, only taking Faith and Jay with her, Dawn had refused to stay put, even if it was only in her mind. When she had left the room, CJ had followed her, translating her eye roll into what it was; an 'escape' attempt. He had told her that he lived no more than ten minutes away on foot and would pick her up on his motorcycle and they would search for the others together.
That had been almost twenty minutes ago.
"I knew I should've went with him," she muttered. The truth was that Dawn knew that, in his condition, it would take CJ a lot longer to get there and back but that didn't make the wait any easier. "Stupid boys."
The scowl she proudly wore disappeared when the distinct rev of a motorcycle engine sounded outside. Reaching under her pillow, Dawn pulled out the stake and holy water and stuffed it into her waistband. She started for the window but stopped. She turned around and entered her closest, rummaging around for several seconds before she found what she was looking for. Smiling at the weapon, she stuffed it in her (or Buffy's--she was just borrowing) boots.
Straddling the sill, Dawn peered out at CJ on his bike. A faint smile crossed her face before the scowl reappeared and, without a second thought, jumped off the roof.
It took half a second for Dawn to right herself before she ran to the bike. She took the proffered helmet and got on, wrapping one arm around CJ's waist. He glanced over his shoulder and flipped up the visor.
"Remember that truck I told you I got hit by?" he asked, and his voice betrayed the pain that he was in.
"Huh?"
"Remind me never to get hit by it again."
Dawn rolled her eyes and smacked him in the back of the head. "Jokes, later, rescue Spike now."
"You know where he is?"
"Heberly."
"You sure?"
"There will be a question and answer session later for your convenience but for now, just freakin' drive!"
Dawn caught the amused gleam in his eyes before he nodded and slammed his visor back down. Putting on the helmet in her hand, Dawn squeezed him slightly when she was done. Without another word, he hit the accelerator and they speed down the street, intent on saving Dawn's best friend.
Please God, don't let us be too late.
~~~
It was one of those things she knew with perfect clarity but refused to believe. She had often done that during her tenure as a slayer fighting the inevitable. Her record was immaculate, all the proof one needed was to look around, see that the world was still around. She had gone against insurmountable odds, prophecies dating back to a time before civilization, never giving up, never admitting defeat. So she had fallen a few times; the important thing was that she got back up, dusted herself off and proceeded to kick major ass, and look quite the sexy hot momma doing it.
Hell gods, ancient vampires, pure demons, scientific Frankenstein monsters; it didn't matter. Buffy Summers faced all comers and always won.
But she wouldn't win this. She would never make it in time.
Still, she refused to acknowledge it.
Although her strides were longer and faster than they had ever been, it still seemed that Spike was getting further and further away. The rational part of her mind had given up, knowing that she would never reach him in time, but the other part of her mind, the irrational part that was home to her passions and hopes and dreams screamed for her to run faster. And she did.
A little more than halfway there, Buffy caught a glance of the creature's eye; the crimson flamed stared through her before it winked. Her heart stopped at that, finally preparing for the inevitable. And despite her knowledge of what was fated for her lover, Buffy still ran, her stride never faltering.
Not even when the bolt pierced the demon's eye.
Algolagniar roared and the power behind the shot jerked its head to the side and its grip on Spike loosened. Evidently still conscious, Spike kicked the demon away before he collapsed to the ground. The woman in Buffy was torn between tending to her lover and the need to seek some major vengeance over the thing that had tried to take Spike from her. Giving her lover a once over, Buffy made the decision without breaking stride. She lowered her shoulder and barreled into the demon's abdomen, taking it to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Mounting the demon's waist, Buffy slammed her fists into its face continuously, ignorant of the searing pain that lanced up her arms with each strike. Her mind was fixated on one thing; it almost killed Spike. I almost lost him today…it almost killed him.
So lost in her maddening rage, Buffy heard rather than felt the impact to her ribs. But the pain of the blow was not far behind and the slayer rolled off of the demon, putting herself between it and Spike and picking up her discarded weapon in the process. When she wrapped her hands around the hilt of her sword, the agony of where her flesh had touched the monstrosity reasserted itself.
"Hurts, doesn't it little girl?" the demon asked, its voice like a painful grate against a bed of nails. "The ache you now feel is nothing compared to what I will do to you and yours."
"Like I haven't heard that before," Buffy replied, trying to block out the flames of pain that licked its way up her arms and ignoring the throb from her ribs.
"See this?" it asked and grabbed the bolt that still protruded from its eye. "My suffrage from this injury is exquisite, rarely have I felt such an invigorating pain. And I have you to thank for it."
Buffy rolled her eyes, covering for the fear the demon's words brought forth. "Are we gonna fight or are you gonna go 'to be or not to be' on me? Cause, not really a big fan of Shakespeare."
Buffy shivered when the beast smiled at her but the moment was short lived when Jay flew through the air, the heel of her boot catching Algolagniar in the eye, snapping the bolt in half.
"Jay, watch it," Buffy called to her daughter, "don't let him touch your skin."
"Got it," the young woman said and elbowed the staggering creature in the nose.
"B," Faith said as she ran up to the slayer, "you okay?"
"I'm…I'm not sure," she replied. "My hands, where I touched him…it feels as if my skin's…"
"On fire," Spike said from on the ground.
"Spike!" Buffy dropped her sword again and fell to the ground, immediately curling Spike's lacerated head into her lap.
" 'm fine, pet," he wheezed, "just a mite embarrassed. Didn't expect for Jaws there to like platinum vampire head."
"B," Faith said and the aforementioned slayer looked up at her sister slayer with watery eyes. Faith cracked a smile before picking up the discarded sword. "You take care of Don Juan here and I'll help Baby Jay kick its Sesame Street ass."
"Don't let it touch you, Shade," Spike said. Faith frowned before nodding, and then she threw herself into the fight.
Buffy turned her attention back to her lover and for the first time she realized that his arms where the creature was holding him were bleeding profusely.
"Yeah," he said after noticing her gaze, "wanker ruined a perfectly good coat."
Despite the circumstances, Buffy laughed. Spike may have been in bad condition but he'd be fine. She graced his bleeding forehead with a gentle kiss before whispering 'I love you' in his ear. Satisfied for the moment, Buffy turned her gaze to the fight as the other two slayers battled the demon that had nearly taken Spike's life.
As much as she wanted to jump into the fray, Buffy continued holding Spike. She was the last line of defense between her helpless lover and that acid-trippin' purple behemoth. And though she knew Faith and Jay were more than a match for the beast, a part of her was disappointed that she probably wouldn't get another shot at it. Cause she so wanted to plant the heel of her size six boots on the back of its neck and hear the crunch as she snapped its spine. It would have been music to her ears.
The viciousness of her thoughts shook Buffy but she cast it aside, standing by her silent wishes.
After all, a Slayer's gotta have some aspirations.
~~~
I almost lost him, Jay thought as she continued her assault. Again.
When they had come upon the scene not two minutes ago, Jay had frozen when she saw her father, helpless against the giant beast. She had been vaguely aware of her mother shouting something before running, and then Faith doing…something. But it wasn't until the latter had smacked her that Jay had batted the shock away. By that time Buffy had squared off against the beast and watching her mother wince at some unseen pain had drawn anger from Jay that she had never felt.
That anger was currently directed at the off-balance Algolagniar. Although Jay recognized the danger it represented, her body moved with a fluid grace devoid of any fear. Her strikes were fast and precise, never giving the beast a chance to recuperate, and yet it had not fallen. In fact, if she didn't know better, Jay would have sworn that Algolagniar's swings were becoming faster with each passing second.
"Mind if I join ya?" Faith said and flew in from the left, slashing the demon across the chest with Buffy's short sword. Jay followed up with a kick that slammed against its thigh. It swung a taloned hand at her leg but Jay moved away in time.
"Not tellin' ya how to slay, Baby J," Faith said, and slashed at the creature's other leg, "but I'd suggest usin' those pretty little daggers strapped to your waist there and make with the piñata pokin'."
Jay blinked as Faith attacked, the blade of the short sword slicing through the air, gashing flesh and muscle. Taking a momentary breather, Jay flexed her hands, noticing a dull ache in them but it was not enough to distract her from finishing off Algolagniar.
Pulling the blades from their sheathe, Jay jumped back into the fight. She let her blood carry her, attacking with the tenacity of a vampire. This bastard's goin' down, she thought as her and Faith's blades tore through the cartilage and tendons of the creature's neck. Both slayers halted their attack as Algolagniar fell to one knee. Trading wary glances, they stepped forward, intent on finishing the job.
"So, Junior," Faith said, "wanna do the honors?"
"Sure, why not." Transferring the blades to one hand, Jay took the short sword from Faith and stared at the fallen giant. She raised the blade slowly and, taking a deep breath, brought the blade down.
Only to have her hand caught. She gasped in horror as the behemoth stood, its grip unbreakable. The sword fell to the ground as Jay lost feeling in her arm. She looked to Faith for help and saw the slayer fighting uselessly against the hand wrapped around her throat.
Algolagniar stood, its grip on one slayer's throat and the other's forearm tightening.
"Well, child," it said and chuckled mirthlessly, "looks like the table's have turned." Algolagniar squeezed and Jay screamed when she felt her arm snap. But that pain was secondary to the burn that started traveling up her arm and through her body. She wanted to drop to her knees but the hand wrapped around her arm prevented Jay from falling.
"Not yet, child," it said and leered, "I've still got worlds of pain to show you."
~~~
"Are we freakin' there yet?" Dawn yelled over the drone of the engine and, circumstances aside, CJ bit down on his tongue to prevent from laughing aloud. CJ shook his head and sighed inwardly when Dawn's grip tightened around his waist. Her delicate hands had driven him crazy the entire ride, caressing his abs (well, that was his story and he was stickin' to it) with wanton desire. He had to admit, however, that it may have been his overactive imagination compensating for the full-body discomfort that had only intensified at his dash home. I gotta get a hot tub, CJ thought, especially if I'm gonna be hangin' around these crazy cats.
"CJ, there it is," Dawn said and the young man turned to see the entry gates for Heberly cemetery slightly ajar. Slamming on the brakes, CJ ground the bike to a stop a few feet in from of the gates. He didn't even get a chance to put his foot to the ground, however, before Dawn was off the bike and pressing past the gate.
"Dawn, wait!" CJ called out as he took off his helmet but by the time he looked up she was gone. The only signs that she had been there was the spinning helmet on the ground and a faint emerald mist that disappeared into the night.
~~~
Buffy had been amazed at the fluidity and precision that her daughter and Faith fought with. Algolagniar had been off balance the entire contest and the slayer released the breath she had been holding when the creature fell to its knees. Thank God, she thought and turned her attention back to Spike, never imagining that her praise was quite premature.
"Jay!" Spike yelled, astounding Buffy as he leapt to his feet. But surprise turned to horror when Buffy saw what had alarmed her lover.
"No one moves," Algolagniar said as Buffy started to run towards it, "unless you want to watch me snap this slayer's neck."
Both slayer and vampire stood, their bodies full of tension as they obeyed the demon's commands. Buffy saw that Faith's arms had ceased struggling and limply hung at her sides while Jay's arm was bent at an obscure angle and the latter whimpered, barely able to keep her footing.
"It's his touch," Spike said, his blue eyes fixed on their daughter, "some wicked mojo that fires up all the pain receptors in your body. Bloody painful."
"What do we do?" she whispered where only Spike could hear.
"Guess is as good as mine, sweets, but we can't just sit 'ere while--" Buffy watched Spike close his eyes and sniff the air. When he opened them, a grim smile colored his features and he turned to Buffy.
"Looks like we're bout to get rescued by the Green Ranger and her kiddie sidekick."
Buffy frowned. "Green ranger? Spike what are you…?"
An ear splitting scream pierced the air and Buffy swung her head just in time to see her enraged kid sister jump on the back of a very surprised monster. Faith and Jay fell from its grasp and Buffy dashed forward, catching Faith's head before it hit the ground, with Spike doing the same for Jay.
When she was sure that Jay was okay, Buffy turned her attention back to her sister, ready to jump into the fight. But when she glanced up, Buffy was amazed to see that Dawn was in…control of the fight? And glowing green?
Shaking her head, the slayer picked up the fallen short sword and, kissing Spike on the cheek, she told him to watch over the downed slayers. He nodded begrudgingly and Buffy made her way towards Dawn and Algolagniar, glancing at a slowly rising Angel before turning all her attention on the fighting pair.
"Nobody messes with my family," she said, and raised the sword over her head, "nobody."
~~~
Dawn raced through the darkness with a speed that, if she were conscious of it, would have never suspected she possessed. She hurtled countless headstones with a gymnast's finesse, following the call to her blood. All her sense were hypersensitive yet nothing touched her flesh, not even the wind as soul and gazelle-like strides carried her closer to Buffy and Spike.
Spike, she thought, and the fear for her best friend propelled her even faster through the cemetery. When she saw the eerily familiar back of the demon, she never slowed. Adrenaline pumped through her veins and without another thought, Dawn leapt onto the back of the unsuspecting creature. It staggered forward and she slammed her forearm into the back of its neck several times before it reached back to hoist her off. But Dawn was quicker and she vaulted over its shoulders, landing without a sound, her body coiled for battle.
What happened next was a blur. Algolagniar sprang forward and began to attack. Its blows were fast and accurate with no quarter given. It didn't matter. Dawn was a step ahead of it, parrying each strike while delivering one of her own. She gave no thought to her seemingly newfound abilities or the others around her. It was just her and Algolagniar fighting to the death and though each hit she landed, regardless of the strength she knew was behind it, only made the creature's blows more difficult to dodge. And it was with that knowledge that she knew.
"Stay away from my sister," Buffy screamed and slashed the sword across Algolagniar's back. The creature roared and swung its fist back at Buffy, clipping her on the arm, sending the slayer staggering backwards. Taking advantage of the lapse, Dawn pulled the dagger from her boot and slammed it into the beast's sternum with all her strength.
A blinding light poured from the spot where silver and flesh connected and Algolagniar roared. Dawn wanted to cover her ears but she had the implicit knowledge that this was the only way to defeat it. The pain that radiated through her body was incomprehensible as she experienced Algolagniar's entire existence in mere seconds. The rest of the world became insignificant as visions clouded her mind. Visions of a past she had never known and a future she could never have conceived. It was simultaneously the most beautiful and hideous moment of her life and Dawn smiled. She felt something awaken within her, something more powerful than anyone had ever known and would ever know. In that moment, she was the All, the Only…the One.
And just like that, the solace and tranquility was gone as light poured from her skin. It enveloped both her and Algolagniar and she joined his cacophonous yells with earsplitting shrieks of her own. Something exploded within her and before the blackness swallowed her, Dawn made out unfamiliar words being spoken with a precision that defied nature coming from her own mouth.
~~~
The jagged throbbing in his head must have clouded his vision. Angel watched as Buffy staggered back from a glancing blow by the demon only to see Dawn ram a dagger into its chest. But it couldn't be Dawn, could it? Power radiated from her form and an iridescent emerald light crackled from where she pierced the belly of the beast. The light temporarily blinded Angel and he shielded his eyes. His hands went to his ears when the inhuman bellow shattered the air. Quickly on the heels of the creature's howl was another, more human cry of pain and confusion (and was that joy?) that sounded too much like Dawn for Angel's liking.
Shaking the cobwebs as best he could, the vampire hobbled towards the glimmering energy, one hand covering his eyes. The closer he came the more his body was warmed by the energy rippling from off of Dawn.
"Dawn," he called over the silent waves. Although no sound was generated, the vampire felt as if he was witnessing a hundred train wrecks all at once. The kinetic buildup was unbearable and Angel fell to his knees. His arms broke his fall, holding his body up just enough for him to brave looking into the light and when he did…
The emotional pain he has suffered for decades lifts as unmistakable eyes stare at him. He knows who this boy, this young man, is. And though Angel knows not how it has come to pass, he does not care. Connor stands before him as a man.
His son has been returned.
Forgotten is the joyous message Spike has left about he and Buffy's new daughter. All that Angel sees is his own progeny, standing before him.
He embraces the man who is a mirror image of him, save for the dirty blonde hair, a relic of his mother. Angel does not notice that Connor does not return the hug; he only knows that after years of searching and praying, he holds Connor in his arms.
He does not feel the man's body vibrate with tension, only the warmth of his flesh, the strong beat of his heart.
He does not sense the unholy magic that flows through his son's veins; only the strength of character that is before him.
But he does hear his son's voice, whispering to him in a language never uttered in this plane. And for the first time since he has laid eyes on Connor, Angel is wary. That is when everything comes into focus. Something is not right.
As he pulls away and sees the maniacal gleam in his son's--his fading son's eyes, he knows it is too late.
He doubles over from the pain, one that is too great to verbalize. Unseen hands hoist him up, however, casting his arms out in crucifixion. And for the first time he is able to look at his son and he screams.
There is no feeling behind those eyes. No love. No anger. No resentment. Not even hate. There is only apathy.
Apathy and the craving for destruction.
"Relax, Father," Connor says, spitting out what should be an endearment as if it is the most vile word imaginable, "I will not leave again. Soon we shall be together forever." He touches Angel's chest and the decibels of the vampire's scream triples.
There has never been anything like it before. Soul and demon, Angel and Angelus unite for the first time, screaming as they are raped of their will, shackled within their own body, slave to the will of a mad man, a destroyer.
An Archangel.
~~~
Multiple screams chilled Buffy's battered body but her mind was focused on her own torment. Memories that were not, could not have been her own flashed before her and she had no control over them. Her stomach ached as the worst of traumas chewed at her sanity...
They are nearly beaten. Angel's friends dead or dying. Willow and Tara unconscious, Giles and Spike buried in the rubble. Xander and Anya are nowhere to be seen, neither is Dawn. Angel lays in a pool of his own blood, his face battered by M'shi-Dar. And M'shi-Dar before her, laughing as he kicks a downed Faith while Buffy looks on helplessly.
"What made you ants think you could harm me?" he says and laughs as he stalks over to Buffy. "You, Chosen One," he says and sneers, "you and yours shall know the reason that I am the Eater of Worlds."
Buffy watches as Faith rises from behind him. She holds a talisman, something that Giles had said was imperative to M'shi-Dar's defeat. Faith gives her a loving smile.
That is when Buffy knows…
She can do nothing but watch as Faith performs the ritual--it gives the former rogue slayer the time to say goodbye but her screams as she falls into the void with M'shi-Dar will always haunt her. Just as…
She listens, detached as Spike relays the message. Xander and Anya; butchered. She says that she wants to see, has to know but he advises against it; he says their bodies are unrecognizable. She refuses to listen and goes to see the bodies.
The nightmares from what she sees haunts her until a new horror takes its place…
The two witches are surrounded but they have given Buffy and her family an escape. Buffy's heart shatters as Willow and Tara are overwhelmed by hordes of demons and though most die in the assault, there are too many and her last remaining friends are no more…
She holds the stake, tears blurring her vision as cerulean eyes pierce her soul.
"Do it, Luv," he says, "you know it's the only way."
"But I can't, Spike, I can't. I can't live without you…I can't kill you." She drops the stake and dissolves into his arms.
"There now, Luv," he coos, "it will be all right."
"How? Tell me how," she begs him.
"Because, once we are gone, our lil girl's gonna wipe the floor with that soddin' Gabriel."
"But Spike, how? How can I ask that of my daughter? How can I ask her to kill her mother?"
"She knows, Buffy, we've told her…"
"But she wouldn't listen, she won't do it!"
"She will, Buffy, when she understands that there is no other way." He picks up the stake and lays it in her shaking hands. "Buffy Anne Summers, I love you more than life, more than death itself. Wherever I end up, you will be with me, in my spirit, in my heart, in my mind. Nothing will touch me, so long as I know you love me…"
"I do, so much…"
"And that you are happy with your mates. Red and Glinda, Harris and his Bird. Ripper and your Mum. They're waitin' for you, luv." Their eyes meet. "Let me rest, Buffy, let me rest."
Her grip on the stake tightens and she raises it. Her limbs tremble but her teary eyes are determined.
"I love you, my William," she says, "always and forever." The stake plunges into his chest, and the last picture in her mind is Spike, smiling lovingly at her…
"Noooooo!" Buffy yelled and thrashed her arms as if it would beat back the images. She fought harder when cool arms engulfed her body. Only when the dulcet voice sounded in her ear did her flailing cease.
"There now, luv, 'twas only a nightmare," Spike said and his hands caressed the bare flesh of her arms and back.
Bare back? She thought as consciousness reasserted itself. Her body still trembled but Spike's ministrations continued their soothing balm to her sanity.
"Spike?" she whispered and her fingers lightly touched the spot right above his heart.
"Yeah, pet?"
She glanced up at him, the moon casting part of his face in its pale light but the other half was shrouded in shadows.
"Where…where are we?"
"Our room."
"Our room?"
"Well, um, your room, I guess. Why? Don't you remember?"
Buffy hesitated, unsure of what had happened. The memories were fading fast and she could only recall impressions of the horrible feeling that she saw, not the actual occurrences. With a shudder she forced those thoughts away and focused on the events prior to that. There was a blinding emerald light; they were in the graveyard, fighting Algolagniar when…
"Dawn," she said and tried to twist out of Spike's grip but the vampire held fast.
"No, luv, can't let you do that."
"Spike, get off me," she said and tried to push him off, only to find her strength was vastly lacking. But that was second to the condition of her sister.
"The 'bit's fine," he said, and stroked her sweat dampened hair, "just got 'er back to sleep. Worryin' bout you she was."
"She's…she's okay?"
"A bit knackered 's all. Just like the rest of us."
"Angel…?"
"The poof's fine," Spike muttered, "under the tender love an' care of the cheerleader I suppose." On Buffy's look, Spike rolled his eyes. "Other's 're fine, too."
"What…what happened?" Spike shrugged.
"Don't rightfully know. Bit came to our rescue, did some Key-type mojo and, Bob's yer Uncle, Big Bad Barney's no more. Ev'ryone's a bit knackered, though so Rupes suggested we all get some sleep, suss it out in the mornin'."
"So the purple dinosaur…it's gone?"
"Terminated," he said in a horrible Austrian accent that elicited a chuckle from Buffy.
"You are a dope, you know that, don't you?"
"But 'm your dope," he said, and smiled sweetly.
Buffy nearly cried at the beautiful person before her. His eyes shone with love and the smile, devoid of any shields, was a rare one. Buffy wanted to cherish this vision before her and she cupped his cheek with one hand and caught his gaze.
"You are, you know that? Mine. And I'm yours."
"Are you?" he asked and she winced at the hurt and bitterness in his tone.
"Spike, there is no one else for me. Not an Angel, not a Riley…no one." She smiled serenely and slapped him playfully across the cheek. "You're stuck with me forever, bucko."
His baritone chuckle thrummed across her flesh and Buffy leaned against her lover as he stretched out next to her, enveloping her in his arms. "I could think of a lot worse fates than that, luv," he said and though all the doubt was not gone from his voice, Buffy was thankful that he was nearly back to normal.
"So, you sure Dawnie's okay?" she said after a few moments of silence.
Spike sighed dramatically. "Will you shush that pretty lil mouth of yours, slayer. Bit's fine. Peaches is fine, CJ's fine, Faith's fine, we're all fine."
"You don't have to get all shirty about it," she mumbled and poked her bottom into him.
Spike groaned but refrained from assaulting her, though the erection that poked her nude butt sent delicious thoughts of anticipation through her mind. "'Shirty', luv? Looks like someone's been readin' up on their British slang."
"What can I say," she said and burrowed deeper into his arms, "I'm in love with the English undead."
"And don't you forget it." Buffy laughed and took comfort in the strength that engulfed her petite form. Her worries cast aside, she began to drift into unconsciousness until movement slapped her awake.
"Spike," she said and sat up, an edge of panic in her voice, "what are you doin'?"
"Relax, luv," he said and he pulled the curtains closed, "jus' didn't want you wakin up to a big pile of dust." He chuckled but there was nothing funny about it and when he crawled back under the covers, Buffy ravaged his lips with a bruising kiss. Her hands trailed desperately over his chest and her nails bit into his flesh. Her heart raced and relief coursed through her veins at the physical verification of his presence. Forcing air into her lungs, Buffy broke away from Spike and turned away from him, pulling his arm across her body. She sensed his confusion and frustration but he did not press and Buffy was glad. Rarely had she thought this hard about Spike dying, of him being dusted, well, at least not with such clarity. But something...something she couldn't quite grasp nagged at her and Buffy wanted nothing more than to sweep it away. And as sleep claimed her, Buffy shivered once more at the thought that she had seen something terrible happen and that it was gonna happen to Spike and she couldn't stop.
And when it finally did come, things between them would never be the same.
A/N: We're about at the half way point now. The Big Bad Barney's been taken care of so what's next for the gang in the interim? How about fun, frolicking and first dates (plural!) Hmmm…wonder what that means? Well, you'll find out soon enough.