TITLE: Blaze Of Glory; Come Back To Me

RATING: R
PAIRING: Angel/Spike
SUMMARY; Sequel to Blaze Of Glory.

SPOILERS: Buffy Season 5, Angel Season 2 episodes 19 to 22 didn't happen, sorry no Fred. Also Joyce did not die.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters; they belong to Joss
FEEDBACK: Always wanted and adored.

WEBSITE:

A/N: Cause you all asked so nicely, many moons ago, and Setting Things Straight is kicking my arse and I've got itchy fingers!!! Thank you to Belle for giving me the idea for this fic. Thank you to Mera Haven for all her advice and badgering without which this fic would still be sitting in my head, and thank you to Ely my beta for all her hard work she is the queen of commas. Poem originally by Wilbur Skeels, adapted by Mary Frye and adapted again by me!!!

A/N 2: I wrote this a while ago and have only just started sorting it out not stuck on StS any more and I would like to thank the queen of commas my beta Ely.

Part 6

The sun was slowly setting as they all walked towards Spike's grave.

As they approached, Willow produced a knife. "Right, who wants to be first," she said with a sly smile.

Everyone started to back away.

"Just how much blood do you need," Cordelia asked cautiously eyeing the knife suspiciously.

"Just a bit that's all," Willow said trying to sound reassuring.

"Oh for crying out loud," Buffy said stepping forwards arm extended, "Just do it. The sooner we get this show on the road, the sooner we can move on with our lives."

Willow carefully held the urn under Buffy's wrist while she cut a small slash, watching in fascination as the blood slowly trickled drop by drop. Tara stood near by with a bandage.

Once everyone had donated their blood, Xander making a lot of fuss about it, Willow produced three black candles and handed one to Wesley, one to Tara and kept the last for herself.

"Hey, why don't I get a candle," Xander asked rubbing his bandaged wrist.

Willow sighed. "Because you don't have any magical bone in your body and it would be pointless."

"Just stop whingeing Xander," Buffy snapped.

"I need Tara and Wes to kneel either side of the tomb stone," Willow said as she positioned herself directly in front of the stone so that they formed a triangle. "The rest of you need to hold hands and form a circle around us. Do not break the circle until the end of the spell."

Everyone nodded and settled into their positions.

"Are we all ready," Willow asked, "This is your last chance to back out."

They all nodded in agreement. It was time.

Willow took a deep cleansing breath and silently prayed to the goddess that all would be well.

"Then lets begin," Willow said in a steady calm voice devoid of all emotion. "Illume," Willow muttered and the candles lit instantly. "Osiris, keeper of the gate, master of all fate, hear us, " she said as she dipped her fingers into the urn and smeared the blood first onto her forehead then on each cheek. "Before time and after. Before knowing and nothing," Willow chanted as she poured the rest of the blood onto the grave. "Accept our offering. Know our prayer."

A wind slowly began to rise, buffeting the group as the outer circle fought to stay standing.

"Osiris! Here lies a warrior of the people. Let him cross over," Willow yelled above the noise of the wind.

In the Warehouse across town

"Tonight, my friends, we take over the Hellmouth. The Slayer is vulnerable and Angelus is incapable. Tonight, my dears, we bring the fires of hell to earth." The voice rang from the shadows, filling the ears of over fifty Hellions who were cheering and clapping in anticipation of what the night had in store. "Go now, wreak havoc upon this land."

The Hellions cheered as they vacated making a deafening roar as they started up their motorbikes and rode into the centre of town.

"Will this work," asked a quiet voice from the shadows.

"Why, of course my dear. Never fear, Darla is here to make it all better and we will both have our vengeance." Darla smirked at the slumped figure.

"God, I need a brain," the slumped form said.

"Why just any brain? Why not the slayers brain," Darla suggested laughter ringing out around her.

The Summers Residence

Dawn and Joyce were curled up on the sofa watching some teen move Dawn had badgered her mum to watch. Suddenly the sounds of motorbike engines rumbling, tires screeching, and crashing noises interrupted their viewing. Dawn jumped up and ran to the window, peeking out and gasped at the scene that met her eyes. Demons were smashing windows, setting fire to houses and dragging people from their homes.

"What's going on," Joyce asked as she pulled back the net curtain to see. "Oh my, what are those things?"

"Hellions, road pirates. They come to town cause havoc and then leave," Dawn answered without thinking.

"And how do you know this young lady," Joyce demanded.

"Umm," Dawn said turning round, "well, you see, it's a long story really."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere." Joyce stood arms crossed looking expectantly while Dawn walked over to the weapons chest and selected a sword. "Put that down," Joyce insisted.

"Mum, we can't stay here. We have to go somewhere safe," Dawn said swinging the sword around with practiced ease.

"We are not leaving this house young lady. Now put that sword away before you hurt yourself. Buffy and Spi..."

"Spike is dead Mum – he will not be coming to our rescue and Buffy is probably out there fighting them right now, but she is not here right now so we can either stay here and hide under the bed and hope they don't find us or we can go out there and get to Angel where he can protect us," Dawn yelled.

Joyce looked at the floor thoughtfully. "Alright, we go out and get straight into..."

There was a huge explosion out in the road that made the whole house shake. Both Dawn and Joyce ran to the window and saw there car in flames.

"We don't get into the car," Joyce mumbled.

"Come on Mum, we have to leave," Dawn said as she pulled Joyce to the front door.

"How are we going to get across town," Joyce asked as she was pulled out of the front door.

"Don't worry. Stay here," Dawn said as she ran into the middle of the road before Joyce could protest.

"Stand still feet apart hands loose but firm. This is the same as training," Dawn muttered to herself as she got herself into position, sword held above her head, facing a Hellion on a motorbike like high noon in some cheesy western. The Hellion smiled as he revved the engine and started hurtling towards Dawn.

"Dawn," Joyce yelled as she ran forward.

Dawn ignored everything around her and concentrated on the demon before her. As he neared, Dawn spun on her feet and brought the sword round, cutting cleanly through the Hellion's neck.

Joyce gasped. Dawn lowered the sword and looked at her mum smiling. She then ran to the motorbike and pulled the headless Hellion off yelling, "You do know how to ride one of these things?"

"We will discuss this later in great detail young lady," Joyce said as she hauled the motorbike upright and climbed on. "And of course I know how to ride one of these. Come on."

Dawn smiled and clambered up while Joyce revved the engine. "Hold on tight," she yelled as they sped off down the road.

At the Crawford Mansion

Angel sat quietly staring in to space, brooding, beside a roaring fire. All the lights were off and the fire was making the shadows dance on the walls.

Angel sniffed and caught an unusual scent on the air. Cursing, he stood and went to the door and opened it. He stood there listening, then sniffed again, cursing once more. Angel grabbed his three quarter length leather jacket and swung it round his shoulders as he grabbed a two bladed axe and walked out into the night.

In the Cemetery

Lightening was silently flashing eerily around the group. The wind had stopped thrashing around them and the smell of burnt earth filled the air.

"Osiris, release him," Willow gasped as she was engulfed in a red flaming light.

"Tara? Is that meant to happen," Xander asked nervously.

"Yes."

There came a low rumbling sound.

"Oh God, what next?" Gunn muttered as Hellion on a bike followed by around twenty of his friends rode up and started circling them.

"Hello Slayer," one of them sneered.

Buffy broke the circle and spun to meet the threat. As soon as her hands left contact with Anya's and Gunn's, Willow screamed and the red glow began to change colour, becoming a deep blue.

"Buffy, the circle," Cordelia yelled.

"We can't do both – we either bring him back and die or we fight and try again another time." Buffy said as she prepared to fight, the others following suit leaving Willow, Tara and Wesley kneeling.

The Hellions advanced on their bikes and started herding them into a small group. Suddenly there was a flash of blinding light as Willow screamed, "NOOOOO!" before slumping to the ground unconscious.

"Willow," Tara yelled as she crawled towards her lover.

"What happened," Buffy asked as she dodged a fist aimed at her head.

"They smashed the urn. We didn't complete the spell," Wesley gasped as he struggled to his feet.

Buffy looked around and took stock of the situation. It was hopeless - they needed weapons. "Split up and run for the woods – they will find it harder to follow us. We'll regroup at the Magic Box and get kitted up properly."

Everyone nodded in agreement as Xander pulled Willow into his arms and carried her off with Tara following closely behind. Cordelia and Gunn ran off with three Hellions close on their tail. Anya grabbed Wesley's arm and dragged him towards the woods with Buffy watching their backs.

The earth began to shake as a small rectangular box buried deep in the earth began to grow to the size of a coffin. Inside ash began to swirl round and round, spinning faster and faster until in its place lay a leather-clad figure, motionless. A clap of thunder, deafening to anyone standing near, thumped through the air. The figure arched his back and gasped for air.

Spike looked around wildly, hands feeling the wood surrounding him. "Bloody hell, not again," he gasped as he punched his fist through the wood. Earth tumbled in trying to suffocate him as he smashed his other hand through another section of wood. Over and over Spike punched until his knuckles bled and the earth surrounded him. Slowly he crawled up until, with one final punch, he felt fresh air hit his hand. Spike struggled harder and finally had his head free. He gasped and looked wildly around as he pulled the rest of himself out of the grave.

Spike stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes, then turned, his eyes falling to the stone that held his name. Spike fell to knees and he ran his hand lovingly over the words and the gryphon that he knew so well, knowing that Angel had been the one to carve them.

Spike stood and slowly walked away.

TBC