Hide And Seek
Disclaimer: Same as before.
Summary: Spike's still not there, time for a little hide and seek.
Reviews: Yes, please, they rock my world and inspire the muse. Reviewers RULE!
A/N: This little mental vacation is lasting longer than I thought it would. What a stubborn little vampire he can be.
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Dawn sat on the sofa watching television with Xander again. He was unusually quiet. After his 'chat' with Spike, he'd seemed upset and tense. She gave him her patented glare and demanded he talk.
"What's wrong with you? What did Spike tell you?" She questioned.
Xander drew her into a hug. "He'll tell you when he's ready. For now let's just forget about it. Okay? Please?" He looked at her with pleading in his dark brown eyes.
She realized the seriousness of the request so she gave in without further fussing. She realized with a grin that it was time for her nightly talk with Spike. Giving the comedy on TV only half her attention, she waited for him to open the link. And waited. An hour later she as still waiting and getting more upset by the second.
"Are you sure he was okay when you talked to him last night?" She demanded.
"Yes, I'm sure. I don't know why he hasn't linked yet. Maybe he's busy." Xander told her.
She hit him in the arm. "He's never too busy to talk to me." They both jumped when the phone rang. Xander was closest to it and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Xander, I'm so glad you answered." Giles said with relief.
"G-man, what's up? We were just sitting here wondering what was keeping Captain Peroxide. He's late for his nightly chat." Xander tried for light-hearted but failed miserably.
There was silence on the overseas line for long seconds. "That's the thing. Spike won't be contacting Dawn tonight."
"Really? And why would that be?" Xander tried to keep all hint of concern from his voice, failing miserably.
Giles cleared his throat. "Spike went into severe catatonia yesterday. Dealing with Buffy's treatment of him overwhelmed him to the point that he withdrew completely. It's the same as Buffy was when Glory took Dawn although he seems to have retreated even further than she did. Willow had no trouble reaching Buffy. The telepaths here at the coven have been trying to reach him but so far haven't been able to. We may have to bring Dawn here but I would like to spare her seeing him like this if it can be avoided."
Xander closed his eyes. "Oh, God. This is my fault."
"Don't ever say that. He had to deal with it sooner or later. We just have to try to pull him out of it. The longer he stays catatonic the less chance he has of coming back." The former watcher said.
"How did this happen? He seemed fine when we broke the link last night." Xander was puzzled.
"I called him and he hung up on me so I came to see him. I made him face the trauma Buffy had inflicted on him. Dear God, Xander, he's a master vampire, the Slayer of Slayers, part of the Scourge of Europe. His name invokes fear in the Watcher's Council. He's one of the most powerful wizards known to exist and he was on his knees begging me to make it stop hurting. He begged me to stake him and I refused. I just... couldn't." The words were increasingly unsteady, Giles sighed heavily. "Then he collapsed."
Xander was silent with shock. "Oh God." It was all he could think of to say.
"I don't know what to do." Giles sounded defeated by his situation.
"What about Angel? He and Spike have some sort of connection thing. Have you called him?" Xander wanted to know.
"They don't seem to be on speaking terms at the moment. Because of Spike and Buffy's, for want of a better word, relationship." Giles explained why he hadn't called the master vampire about his Childe.
"Gotcha. So how can we help?" Xander asked. He had a teenager pounding on his arm to get his attention and find out what was going on. He slung the abused arm around her to still her actions.
"I'm not sure yet. I wanted to let Dawn know that Spike wouldn't be linking with her tonight. I don't know how much you should tell her. She might try contacting him." The former watcher suggested.
Xander gazed down at the teenager snuggled next to him wondering how he was going to explain this without destroying her relationship with her sister. "We'll try that. Do you want us to call you back?"
"Please. Use this number. It's Spike's room." Giles read off the number written on the new phone he'd had installed in Spike's room shortly after he'd realized the vampire wasn't coming around right away. Xander wrote it down and stuffed the number in his shirt pocket so Buffy wouldn't find it. That would be all they needed, Buffy calling Spike's room. They'd never get him back. They disconnected the call.
Xander turned to face Dawn. The fear was evident in her crystal blue eyes. "Dawnie, Spike won't be contacting you tonight." He said gently.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" She demanded.
Xander cleared his throat and looked down, unable to meet her gaze. "He's... ah... taking a little mental vacation. He and Buffy, they had a sort of relationship and she broke up with him. It hurt him a lot but he'd been denying it, to himself and everyone else. The pressure just kind of got to him and he retreated into himself. He's sort of... catatonic. Giles wants you to try to open the link from your side to see if you can reach him. They've had telepaths trying to get through to him but they can't."
Dawn looked at him in disbelief. This couldn't be happening. Spike was her big brother, her anchor. She couldn't loose him. She sat back and closed her eyes desperate to reach him. 'Spike.' There was no answer.
'SPIKE!!' She tried again, hoping her mental shriek would get through.
'Dawn.' The word was faint. She had to strain to catch it.
'Yes, it's me. You have to come back. I need you. Please.' She pleaded, tears running down her face.
'Niblet. I love you. I'm sorry.' Then the connection was severed.
"NO!!" She screamed both mentally and verbally.
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In England, Giles sat by the bed anxiously watching the motionless vampire. They had moved him from the floor to the bed. He'd let them lay him flat in the bed and cover him up although vampires didn't notice temperature changes. A fluffy pillow cushioned his platinum head. He hadn't moved since.
Giles was startled to see a single tear rolling slowly down the pale face. The sapphire eyes were still wide open and unfocused; there was no other sign that he was anything more than just a pale shell. He snatched the phone up before it could finish the first ring. He could hear Dawns sobs over the line.
"What happened?" He asked Xander.
"I'm not sure. She said she talked to him for a second. He said he loved her and he was sorry. Anything happen there?" Xander spoke softly so he wouldn't upset the crying teen further.
"I'm not sure. He hasn't moved, blinked or showed any other sign of life. There was one thing..." Giles trailed off.
"What? What thing? Come on throw us a bone." Xander's voice reflected his desperation.
The older man removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "A tear. Just one."
"Oh God." Xander breathed a prayer. "He's giving up. We have to find something to make him fight back."
"I know." Giles whispered. "But I don't know what. I don't know if he can hear me. I've been with him for over twelve hours and that tear was the first sign that I wasn't talking to a corpse."
"We have to think of something. But now I have get Dawn calmed down before Buffy comes home. I'll call you when I get home. Okay?" Xander told the older man.
"Yes, that will be fine. By all means take care of Dawn. I'll try to figure out what to try next." Giles said and hung up.
Walking over to the silent vampire, he shook his head. "Spike, you have to come back to us." He said as he sat in the chair he'd barely left in the last twelve long hours.
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In the depths of darkness, the essence of the vampire known as Spike drifted along aimlessly. His wanderings had been disturbed briefly by a female voice screaming his name. He'd responded but was uncertain as to just what he'd told her before drifting away again. Sadness had accompanied him when he'd drifted away from the girl but there was nothing he could do. Since he'd felt the hands moving him from the floor to the bed, he hadn't felt anything. Which was just fine with him, he'd had enough. He'd sat back and watched with little interest as the coven's telepaths attempted to contact him. Each time they'd gotten close to him, he'd backed away avoiding their efforts. He could hear the human who'd taken up residence at his bedside but could not generate enough interest to return to his body and respond.
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Xander had his hands full of sobbing teenager, desperately trying to calm her down before her volatile sister came home. "Dawnie, listen to me. You have to stop crying. Buffy will be home soon. You don't want her finding you all weepy do you? What will she think? She'll try to take it out on Spike again if she thinks he made you cry. Please calm down."
Suddenly she stopped crying and looked at him with anger in her eyes. "She did this to him didn't she? What did she do?" The tears were still damp on her face as she hissed the questions.
"She hurt him Dawnie. That's all I can tell you. I promised Spike I wouldn't tell anyone what she did. He just couldn't deal with it and took a little mental vacation. He'll be fine. We just need to figure out how to get him to fight back. Try to concentrate on that, what would make Spike mad enough to come back to us?" Xander tried to get her to focus her energy on getting her vampire back.
Unfortunately Buffy and Willow chose that moment to come home. They immediately started fussing over the upset teenager. Dawn shocked them both by repulsing their efforts.
"I don't know what you did to him but I'll find out and make you sorry." The teenager shrieked at her sister.
Buffy was stunned. "Did what to who him? Xander, do you know what she's talking about?"
The brunette avoided her eyes. "Um... Yeah, I do. I can't discuss it."
Dawn vibrated with rage. "If he doesn't come back, I'll never speak to you again. It's your fault this happened and I don't think I'll ever forgive you."
Buffy rounded on Xander again. "Is she talking about Spike?" She asked in outrage. Willow watched as her two best friends suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of an issue.
The slayer turned back to her sister. "Dawn, you have to understand. Spike's a vampire. Vampires can't love. They have no feelings. They're demons not humans. We're better off without him, he's an evil soulless thing who can't love."
"You're wrong." Dawn spat at her sister. "Spike does love. He loves me. He loved you. You hurt him. He ran away from Sunnydale to get away from you. You and everyone else who decided he wasn't worth having around as soon as you got back. He was good enough to move in here and take care of me while you were gone. He got a job to keep us afloat. He paid bills and did laundry. He was here more than anyone else ever has except Mom. You're not even here for me, when you are here, you're not here. Its like you resent being back and you took it out on him. I don't know exactly what you did to him but instead of dealing with it, he's catatonic. Are you proud of yourself? You destroyed him. Happy now?" Tears pouring down her face again, she turned and ran up to her room slamming the door behind her.
Willow turned to Xander. "What is she talking about? Spike's catatonic? When? How?"
Xander bent his head. "About twelve hours now. He was forced to face his feelings about Buffy and he just fried. Shut down completely. And no, I'm not telling you where he is." He said as he saw Willow open her mouth to ask more questions. "In fact, I'm not saying anything else."
He looked at Buffy and saw her expression. The one that lately was guaranteed to annoy him. The one that said 'I'm right, you're wrong so don't piss me off, I'm the slayer'. He reconsidered.
"Well maybe, just one more thing. I know why Spike's catatonic and all I can say is that if it had been me, I would have eaten a bullet weeks ago. I don't know how he lasted this long. He does have feelings and you stomped all over them. He loved you and you used him." He looked into Buffy's stunned green eyes.
"I don't think I can be here right now. You and Willow are my best friends and I love you both. But, Buffy, I don't like you very much right now." He kissed Willow's cheek and went to the door. Turning back he looked at the redhead. "Tell Dawn I'll call her tomorrow." He slammed the door behind him. Pausing on the front porch, he wiped the tears from his eyes so he could see to drive home.
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A small bed was installed in the corner of Spike's room so Giles could get some rest. He caught a few hours of restless sleep hoping to hear some noise, any noise, from his roommate. A young witch brought him some hot tea and breakfast as soon as he got up. He sat back down in the bedside chair and scanned the pale form for any change. The vampire was just as still, cold and pale as he'd been when he collapsed. He was beginning to show the effects of not feeding in the dark circles beginning to form under the dark blue unseeing eyes. It spooked the former Watcher to see Spike's eyes so glassy and sightless. He'd never realized how expressive the sapphire eyes had been until there was no expression in them. He couldn't recall ever seeing the exuberant vampire so still. He was used to Spike being in constant motion and the noise the young man could make. He shook his head with a slight smile. How one pale slender vampire could make so much noise had baffled Giles more than once. The exception being the week Spike had stayed with him when heartbreak had kept him quiet. But right now, he would give almost anything to hear just a little of that noise.
He sipped his second cup of tea as he thought about Xander's phone call earlier. It seems that long overdue confrontations with the slayer had taken place and the young man was preparing for his second night of drinking to ease the pain. The former Watcher hoped that Xander would realize that nightly drinking wouldn't solve anything.
Giles looked up from his musings to see the high priestess enter the room silently. Her ageless face was saddened to see her most unusual student lying there so still. She'd become fond of the young wizard in the time he'd been there and she knew his destiny was far too important to let him slip away like this.
"Has there been any change at all?" She asked.
"There was a single tear this morning when Dawn tried to link with him. But other than that, nothing." Giles told her quietly.
She nodded her silver head. "At least we know he's still in there somewhere. We must find a way to reach him. The telepaths have had no success?"
He shook his head. "They can't seem to find him. One of them said it felt as if he were hiding from them."
She smiled softly. "He would never make it easy for us would he?"
A reluctant chuckle broke free. "He doesn't believe in easy. That's for sure."
She sobered. "You must find something to make him mad enough to fight. He must come back. Call his Sire."
Giles objected. "His Sire is angry with him. He won't help."
She inclined her head. "Your young friend with the unusual name should be the one to call. He can tell the older vampire more. He needs to let Angel know what his Childe has been through. He doesn't know how his young one has suffered. Angel loves the slayer but his Childe is family, family comes first."
Giles remembered how fast Angel had responded when Spike had withdrawn after Buffy's death. And the way he'd raced up from LA after being unable to link with Spike during his panic attack. Could the elder vampire overcome his jealousy to once again help his Childe? Would the antagonism between the two be the catalyst needed to drive the younger vampire from his mental exile? Worse yet, would Angel's presence cause Spike to retreat so far into himself he could never find his way back?
She noticed Giles's hesitation. Placing a slender hand on his arm, she drew his attention. "This is a war. We are fighting for Spike's survival. We must use every weapon at our disposal. Angel is what could be referred to as our big gun. He can reach Spike as no one else can. He must be called." She left Giles to consider her advice.
Rupert turned his gaze back to the still form on the bed. "Since I met you, my life has been far from boring. You are coming back, whether you want to or not. You need to fight. And I know just who can make you do it." Quickly calculating the time difference, he decided that if Xander wasn't up yet he should be so he picked up the phone and dialed the number before he changed his mind.
"Hello? It's really early so this better be good." Xander answered his phone sleepily.
"Xander. It's Giles. I need you to call Angel." The older man said.
"I thought you said they were on the outs and that Deadboy wouldn't help." Xander yawned.
"The high priestess said we have to call Angel. He's the only one who can reach Spike now. You have to tell him what happened to Spike. All of it. What made him leave and what made him collapse. Just call him, we need him to at least try. Have him call me if he gives you any argument." Giles instructed.
"Okay. I'm on it." Xander got up and carrying his cordless phone, wandered into the kitchen to make coffee.
"Thanks Xander. Call me after you talk to Angel." Giles said, relieved.
"Will do." Xander hung up and went to look for the number for AI. Finding it, he dialed it. It took him a long time to convince Angel Spike really needed his help. He had to relive once more Buffy's treatment of the younger vampire. Giving Angel the number for Spike's room he suggested the older vampire call and verify what he was saying.
Xander immediately called Giles and gave him an update. He confirmed he'd given Angel the phone number and told the former Watcher that Angel would be calling soon. Then he called in sick to work.
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In LA, Angel hung up the phone after his long conversation with Xander. Contrary to what Spike thought, Angel hadn't completely severed their bond. He closed his eyes and opened the Childe/Sire link. Spike wasn't there. He couldn't sense his Childe anywhere. Fear shivered down his spine. Had Buffy really been that cruel to Spike? He studied the number Xander had given him. It was a London number. When had Spike gone to London? Had he really gone to live in a coven? Something drastic had to have happened for Spike to willingly leave Dawn. Which made what Xander had told him seem frighteningly true. He picked up the phone and dialed the number in front of him. He wasn't overly surprised when Giles answered the phone although Xander had said was it Spike's room.
"Rupert. Is he really catatonic?" Angel asked.
"Yes. He's just not there. The telepaths can't even reach him. We need you to reconnect your bond with him and find him." Giles removed his glasses and rubbed his weary eyes.
"I have to be closer to him. I can't reach him from here. I've already tried it. How do I get there?" Angel explained quietly.
"I'll get the high priestess to teleport you." Giles said. They hung up and Giles made the call to arrange for Angel's arrival. He was sitting quietly, reading one of Spike's books when he heard Angel walk in. Because it was a vampire's home, he didn't need an invite to enter. The dark vampire walked over and sat on the foot of the bed. His brown eyes took in the sight of his Childe, his energetic, exuberant, unlife-loving Childe, lying there so still and pale.
"I haven't seen him so quiet in over a century. Are you sure we have to wake him up?" Angel joked softly.
Giles smiled as he set the book aside. "Yes. I'm sure. We have to. It has been peaceful. But I find I miss the noise."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Angel admitted ruefully. "How did we get to this point? What made him retreat so completely? Seeing him like this makes me believe Xander wasn't lying. It's something Will would do. Let Buffy do anything she wanted just so he could be close to her. He'd do anything for just a crumb of affection, attention, anything but be ignored. He always hated to be ignored." He said almost absently.
"I had noticed that he's very hard to ignore." Giles commented.
Angel smiled. "He is that." A bit of Irish brogue began to show in Angel's speech, an indicator of how upset he actually was. "Now, let's see how much I can piss off my boy, eh?"