Title: Chapter 18 Destined By Fate – Journeys
Disclaimer: Oh look this again!
Notes: Frotesh knows which bit is for her though it was a bit of challenge to write so I chickened out and just decided to let you come up with the image instead.
That night
"So this is the bill for the rent of the property," the landlord handed Spike a piece of paper. "This is the bill for damages." He gave Spike another piece of paper.
The first was a reasonable number but, if his heart beat, it would have killed itself when he saw the number on the second paper. He reigned in his temper before he killed the man… On second thoughts…
"Asara?" Spike called.
She walked slowly into the kitchen, one hand on the wall but successfully navigated the room without bumping into anything.
You want to kill him don't you?
What gave you that idea?
Asara smiled and shrugged,
"It's a little typical of you honey."
"You mean I should think of something different to do?" Spike asked.
"Yes," Asara found a chair and sat down. "Be inventive."
Spike pursed his lips as he stared at the man who shifted a little nervously but kept relatively calm. Business men nowadays were worse than ever before. So he couldn't kill him which meant terrifying him into letting them off was out of the question too, even if it was just on the principles of dignity. That left him with trying to rip the man off or actually paying and Spike flatly refused to do the latter and he doubted anyone who pay for them.
Suddenly he grinned,
"Can I make a call first?"
"Sure," the landlord nodded.
Spike crossed to the phone, picked it up, dialled a reverse charge number and asked for Angel Investigations, L.A.. Asara caught on and laughed,
"He'll love you for this!"
Spike grinned before turned his attention back to the phone.
"Angel Investigations. If you're looking for Wesley he's out right now," a voice told him.
"And why the hell would I be looking for that tosser?" Spike snorted.
"Because he's the one with English contacts," the male voice was slightly patronising.
"Not quite," Spike resisted the urge to smack the phone. "Look is tall, dark and forehead there?"
"Angel? Sorry honey he's out too," the voice was still horribly cheerful. "Anything I can help you with?"
"Not really," Spike sighed. "Just tell him I'm forwarding him a lovely pressie cause he should make some contribution to family life considering he is a great granddaddy now."
"Angel's got tiny kiddies?" the voice sounded mildly confused.
"Who the hell is this?" Spike frowned.
"I could ask the same question of you pumpkin," he answered. "I'm Lorne."
"Well I'm Spike so you can bloody well tell my poofter of a grandsire that he will help!"
"Spike!" Lorne exclaimed. "Last I heard you were stuck in some alternate dimension."
"As much as peaches would like that I'm happy to disappoint," Spike said snidely. "Look you gonna take this thing or not?"
"What is it?" Lorne asked suspiciously.
"A bill!" Spike said, exasperated.
"You reckon sweet cheeks here will actually pay it for you?" Lorne laughed.
"Make it his contribution to family life!" Spike snapped. "Tell him I haven't spilt any blood."
"I take it you mean literally," Lorne sighed. "You vampires are all about death and blood."
"'Ta mate," Spike put the phone down and turned back to the landlord. "He'll pay your bill for you."
Spike grabbed a spare piece of paper, wrote Angel's details down; number, address, everything and shoved it back at the man. He looked a little distrustfully at it and Spike growled at him.
"Ok," the man stood hurriedly. "Good, fine. I'll be leaving now."
And with that he hurried away.
"You really know how to sweet talk people," Asara commented.
Spike growled at her and she chuckled lightly. He felt so ludicrously grateful for the sound that he grinned like an idiot and yet again Asara caught him.
"I just know you've got that smile on your face."
Spike didn't bother to deny it,
"How do you do that?"
"Practice luv," she mimicked his accent.
Spike chuckled,
"Now I know you've been practicing that."
Asara stood up and held out her hand. Spike took it, raised it to his hand and kissed it.
"Time to go," she murmured softly.
Spike's eyes glinted,
"I like the Dodge Viper down the street."
"What colour?" Asara asked.
"Black," Spike grinned.
Asara tugged at his hand,
"What you waiting for?"
Spike laughed and led her to the car. They broke in using an old metal coat hanger and Spike killed the alarm, gunned the engines and roared down the road. Asara relaxed into the seat as Spike pushed the car to a hundred miles per hour, racing down the winding country roads, heading towards the motorway down to London. Once on the M1 Spike was soon doing twice the speed limit as he drove at nearly two hundred miles per hour, wanting to go faster but he'd hit the cars limit.
Asara trusted him explicitly to keep them safe. He had the reflexes to drive at this speed, smoke, yell at the other drivers and fiddle with the radio. Hell so could she but not being able to see was a definite downside to her driving. She actually felt better as she got to listen to some classics she hadn't heard in years and Spike was echoing her feelings by belting them out.
In just a little over an hour they had reached the outskirts of London and Asara knew that had been the shortest journey down to the capital that she'd ever been part of. Spike couldn't keep the top speed up through London's tight, busy streets but was still haring along them at breakneck speed. London wasn't a wise place to cut people up in. Spike got them shot at before someone called the police on him but Spike took little notice of them. Asara listened to the sirens and then the engine in front of them.
"Spike you do realise we're almost out of petrol," she waved her hand over her shoulder at the chasing cars. "They'll catch us if we just grind to a halt."
Spike glanced down at the needle hovering over the empty sign on the dashboard before back up at the approaching red light.
"Let's see if this doesn't stop them," he burnt rubber and raced up the wrong side of the road.
Just as he passed the traffic light he wrenched the steering wheel round, spinning them, missing the cars squealing around them as they tried to avoid them, before yanking it back. The Viper straightened and continued on its way with a scratch on its body, Spike howling his joy, Asara laughing at him. The sound of crunching metal and tinkling of glass came from behind them. The junction behind them was a mess of strewn cars. The other drivers had ploughed into each other and then the police had been travelling to fast to stop in time, adding to the confusion.
"Time to see a bloke about getting home," Spike weaved his way to Hyde Park.
Pulling up alongside the Park Spike climbed out the car and looked around. The street was clear of walking humans so Spike whistled a short tune and waited. Soon another whistle answered him and a long legged green demon came out to meet him.
"Spike!" the demon exclaimed, recognising him. "Long time no see."
"Need to talk to Tetra Pak," Spike got straight down to business.
"You've been away a long time," the demon answered. "It's Tetra Rex now."
"He's moved up in the world then," Spike accepted the change. "Still need to talk to him."
"See what I can do," the demon eyed the car. "What you got for me?"
"The car," Spike patted the roof. "Out of petrol and stolen."
The demon shrugged,
"Never bothered me."
Spike nodded,
"Deal then?"
"Deal," the demon agreed.
Spike opened the passenger door that he'd been leaning on and helped Asara out. She sniffed at the demon before moving past him, silent, leaving this up to Spike. The demon watched her carefully but when she made no move towards him, he turned back to Spike.
"Who's that? Last time I saw you, you were with that crazy bitch."
Once upon a time Spike would have killed the demon for talking about Drusilla that way but now he simply raised an eyebrow and replied,
"That's my mate."
The demon gaped a bit before turning to get a better look at Asara.
"Nice enough body for your tastes I suppose but she's blind," the demon snorted.
Suddenly he found himself pinned by Spike, back bent over the roof over the low slung car and Spike vamped out.
"Unless you've got something constructive, useful or complementary to say don't say a bloody thing," Spike growled.
"Whoa!" the demon held up his hands. "Didn't mean to insult anyone."
Spike glared at him but let him up.
"The police are coming," Asara spoke up.
"Alright," the demon pointed into the park. "You know where to go. I'll see you in a few hours after I've secured this baby."
Spike watched the demon drive the car away,
"I'm gonna miss that car."
Asara smiled at him,
"So where we going?"
"Special place just for Tetra Rex's customers," Spike answered, leading her through the trees.
-
"You guys stink," the demon told them as he pushed the door open.
"Thanks mate," Spike said dryly.
"He ain't going to like that," the demon tsked.
"Haven't had access to anything remotely resembling working showers for five days, walked across moors, fought, bled. I think we have every right to smell," Spike folded his arms.
The demon just pushed open a door and gestured to the room beyond,
"Go clean up. I'll talk to Tetra Rex."
Spike pulled Asara up with him as he stood and led her through to the next room. It was a huge, lavish bathroom suite with a large corner bath in one corner, a shower in another, a toilet and sink in the back corner. It was all decorated in a pale, soft blue tiles and thick, fluffy towels hung on the radiator. Piles of clothes were stored in the shelves running above the toilet.
"You've come up in the world too," Spike commented.
"Tetra Rex likes people to be clean when they come and see him," the demon explained. "I clean them up before I send them, he likes them and me more, therefore I get more work and benefits. I'll see if I can find some proper bandages for your mate."
"Thanks," Spike let the door swing shut behind him.
Asara had already started pulling off her filthy, torn clothes and Spike joined her, hanging up both dusters. She finished first and found the edge of the bath on her own. Turning the taps she tested the heat of the water as Spike put the plug before filling the bath. Spike found some bubble bath and oils and happily filled the water with them. The bath was big enough for both of them so Spike joined Asara in the foamy hot water, kneeling in the water so he could reach the improvised bandage. He unwrapped her eyes and bit his lip.
They had healed a bit in the day since their wounding but not enough to be able to tell whether they would ever heal properly. Spike picked up a sponge and gently cleaned her face, taking care with the three healing, broken lines running from temple to temple. The top line cut through her eyebrows and was the only unbroken one. The bottom one ran closely under her eyes, over the tip of her nose before starting again on her right cheek. The middle one dug deeply through her eyes, affecting her left more, burst the eyeballs and slicing up the lids. Her face was bruised around the wounds as well as swollen but Asara didn't know any of this. She could guess from the pain roughly what state she was in but the exact details escaped her so she found Spike's free hand.
Spike felt her fingers curl round his before she asked,
"Show me?"
He swallowed and let her see what he saw. Asara was silent as she regarded her face through her Spike mirror prior to turning in the water and giving Spike her back. He understood and pressed his fingers her shoulders, checking the stability of the bone underneath and Asara didn't wince.
"Well at least we don't have to worry about that any more," Spike tried to keep his tone light.
Asara inched herself backwards into his arms and let her head rest on his shoulder. Spike curled round her, arms round her waist, legs running down the outside of hers. They stayed like that for some minutes, holding each other in silence, offering and taking comfort from the other's presence, trying not to think.
"How do you know Tetra Rex?" Asara broke the silence.
"Old alliance," Spike answered. "I helped him with an enemy one time. Does a lot of teleportation round the world, big with the magicks but it comes at a price. He owes me a favour but I told him to hold it."
"So he can teleport us back home?" Asara began washing her feet and Spike's.
"Not exactly," Spike shook his head, washing Asara's bent back. "He only transports to places of the same name from where you started out. Something to do with magickal channels."
"Is there a London in America then?" Asara questioned.
"Somewhere I think," Spike frowned, thinking. "Just stops us worrying about money and the sun on commercial flights."
Asara nodded,
"Get us that bit closer."
She took a breath and ducked her head under the water between her legs, wincing as the soapy water ran over her wounds. Asara came back up with dripping hair and sighed happily, feeling clean before shuffling forward so Spike could dunk his head. He did it backwards, not being as flexible as Asara but they each got clean, helping each other with hard to reach places.
I wish I could see him. Asara thought, remembering what Spike looked like dripping wet, covered in bubbles. She ran her hand down his back that she was cleaning, fingers tracing each vertebra under the skin and Spike automatically and unconsciously arched into her hand. Smiling Asara inched forwards until her nose hit his back and she copied her fingers movements with her lips. A soft squelch could be heard as Spike squeezed the sponge in his hands, eyes shutting. Asara stopped when she hit the water line on his lower back and Spike whimpered slightly. Going back to his neck she repeated the whole process again with her tongue and by the time she got down to the water line again Spike was panting.
He'd thought she'd stop there but her tongue continued downwards, head disappearing under the water. Her hands grasped his hips for balance and Spike mashed the sponge into a small useless ball as she found his crack. Spike twitched when Asara blew bubbles at him under the water before she surfaced.
"I couldn't reach anymore," she whispered in his ear.
Spike spun round, slopping water out of the bath, caught her up and kissed her. His tongue delved into her mouth, finding hers and starting a battle that ended when Spike pulled her onto his lap. He wrapped his hands around her hips and lifted her up. Asara slid her legs either side of him and her back arched as he slowly impaled her on his hard length, no real foreplay. They both needed the feeling of each other too much. Spike hissed and gathered himself before lifting her again. Asara helped by putting her hands on his shoulders and rocking. She sank lower onto him and they both moaned in pleasure.
"So beautiful…" Spike panted.
Asara shuddered, fingers digging into his shoulders as she heard his words. She began to ride him, head thrown back, making her neck and breasts strain towards him. Spike ran teeth down her neck as he palmed her nipples and she could feel the heat building in her.
"Spike!" Asara gasped.
"Show me pet," Spike ground out.
"I…" Asara ground down once more before her world shook.
Spike was tipped over the edge by the sight of his mate shaking in pleasure and her grasping heat around his cock. He vamped out, calling out her name, but refraining from biting her bared neck. There was no way he'd let himself do that because it might detract from her healing and then she'd have less chance to heal her eyes.
"You two finished making a mess?" a voice said from the doorway.
Spike growled making the demon roll his eyes and step into the room, around the large puddle on the floor. Spike cradled Asara possessively to him, watching the other male put the bandages down on a chair.
"Tetra Rex will expect you to wear these robes when you meet him," the demon fingered some of the clothes in the shelves.
"So we got an audience with him then?" Spike raised an eyebrow. It had been quicker than he thought.
"Yes. This evening as you can't get there without going above ground and it is day time now," the demon told them on his way out.
Spike let Asara go when the door clicked shut and she climbed, a little unsteadily, to her feet. He left her standing next to the bath as he pulled the towels off the radiator before wrapping the largest one around her, using the corner to softly wipe her face dry. Asara wrestled it off him and Spike knew she was beginning to feel caged by his gentle protectiveness but he didn't apologise. You didn't say sorry when you didn't feel it inside.
Asara could feel the water around her feet and moved out of it so she could dry her feet. Having some idea about where the shelves were she made her way across the room, one hand out in front of her. She found the edge of the unit and traced it along until her fingers touched a piece of fabric but she knew she'd never be able to work out what was her size. Asara hated herself for her dependence on Spike. When she had fallen in love with him she had become dependent on him, craving him, needing his presence to stop her falling apart but this was different. Now she physically needed him to help her with the basic things she had mastered nearly four hundred years ago and it wasn't something she had ever wanted to give up.
Spike watched her pause in front of the shelves and knew that she knew that she couldn't do it without him. He caught a little bit a hate and despair from her before she clamped down on it and Spike wanted to kill something, painfully. Knowing that asking for his help would hurt her more Spike quickly crossed to her and searched for her size in the holes. He found it and pressed it into Asara's hands.
She accepted it and at that moment, for the first time, hating the fact that Spike could tell when she couldn't manage without a word from her. Dropping the towel to the floor she ran her fingers over the seams, slowly making sense of the material. Asara felt a separate piece drop out of it and land at her feet but she left it there whilst she worked on the part in her hands. Finally Asara figured it was a tunic of sorts and pulled it on over her head and got her arms out their designated holes. Bending down she picked up the other piece, guessing it was trousers of some sort and allowed herself a small smile when she was right.
Spike had dressed a lot faster and gathered the towels up before checking to see what medical provisions they'd been brought. A long white bandage lay curled up next to some soft cushion pads and pins to fasten it all together. He waited until Asara had slipped the soft cotton trousers on before saying,
"Come sit down luv. I need to bandage your eyes up properly."
Asara made her way over, kicking the chair slightly as she found it but Spike let her sit by herself. He picked up the pads and positioned them over her eyes. Asara held them still while Spike wrapped the long strip around her head, trying to avoid covering her ears too much. She slipped her fingers free before they were trapped and Spike pinned the bandage together. His fingers rested on the sides of her head for a moment.
"You done?" Asara asked.
"Yeah," Spike said roughly, straightening.
Asara stood and slowly made her way to the door, where the coats were, leaving Spike staring sadly at her back. He followed her through to the other room where the demon sat, watching Asara and Spike was about to tell him to take his eyes off his mate when he looked at her. Asara's attitude screamed hopelessness and defeat. The demon turned his gaze to Spike,
"She's going to have to change her manner. Tetra Rex will never do anything for you if she's like that."
Spike saw Asara stiffen at his words.
"He owes me a favour," Spike growled. "He'll do as I tell him."
The demon regarded him with thoughtful eyes.
"I brought you dinner," he gestured to the table.
Asara was already at the table as there was nothing wrong with her sense of smell and Spike joined her quickly. A large glass of fresh, warm human blood sat on the table next to Asara's plate of meat which very rare, bleeding as she bit it. Both ate in silence before Spike turned back to the demon,
"Anything we ought to know before striding into the lion's den as it were?"
"In general be polite, no swearing of any sort, try to refrain from being sarcastic."
"Oh joy!" Spike interrupted sarcastically.
"Yes," the demon nodded.
"You said in general," Asara said quietly. "So there are specifics?"
"Do not under any circumstances touch him or his Consort and I mean really," the demon eyed the pair of them. "Immediate death sentence."
"But if he asks or starts it?" Spike queried, stifling a yawn.
"Do what he says then," the demon laid out the rules.
Asara yawned, making a little burping noise as she did so and Spike blinked sleepily. He turned to look at Asara. Her head was dropping forward, her eyes effectively already closed.
"You drugged us!" Spike exclaimed, swinging to face the demon. "You bastard!"
The demon smiled,
"Nobody is allowed to know the way in to his lair."
Spike pointed at him, blinking hard,
"I'm going to kill you."
"Before you fall asleep?" the demon's smile grew. "Unlikely."
A thump sounded from behind them as Asara fell off her chair, asleep. Spike frowned. Grab Asara and run or… kick the crap out of the… the little shit that… drug…ged… us… He swayed slightly.
"I'm going to kill you," Spike promised.
"Like I said before, unlikely," the demon shook his head at Spike.
Spike bent down to pick Asara up and blood rushed to his head. His legs wobbled and he collapsed to his knees. Spike yawned, fought the urge to lie down and grabbed one of Asara's arms.
"It's a trifle sunny outside vampire," the demon calmly pointed out.
Spike frowned. He'd forgotten that it was day time. It was like trying to swim through a dark sea that was slowly thickening and dragging you down into its depths. Spike sprawled his length on the floor before giving one last pointless struggle and raising his head,
"You never told me your name."
"Oye," the demon replied but Spike was already asleep.
"They never believe me," the demon sighed, staring at his sleeping charges.
-
"I believe Div'lity has won that bet," was the first thing Spike heard as he woke.
Keeping his eyes closed Spike tried to work out who was in the room with him. He could feel Asara's heat on his left but he could hear at least fifty heartbeats around him.
"Come Spike we know you're awake," the same voice said.
Spike mentally sighed and opened his eyes. A blood red carpet greeted his eyes before he raised his head to see Tetra Rex. He was just as he remembered except maybe the air of easy authority. The rule suited him well. Spike checked Asara's deep breathing and assured himself she was alright before he turned to the demon sitting on the large carved chair at the end of the room. They regarded each other for a moment before Tetra Rex relaxed back slightly as if assured Spike wouldn't do something stupid. Spike on the other hand gave himself time to full come round, mentally rubbing away the last traces of the drug in his system. He casually glanced around the room, assessing the threats before finishing by letting his gaze rest on Tetra Rex's Consort. The female was reclining in a throne just like Tetra Rex's and according to his species ideas she was the epitome of breath taking beauty. Breath taking stink more bloody like Spike thought, remembering not to actually say it.
"So," Spike stuffing his hands in his pockets. "You got the throne then."
"It is what I deserved after all," Tetra Rex replied. "So Spike, tell me, what is it you want from me?"
"I've come to claim the favour you owe me," Spike stated.
"And what would you ask of me?" Tetra leant forward.
"Teleportation to America," Spike answered calmly.
"I gather you mean from London to London in that case," Tetra gathered the details.
"For the both of us," Spike narrowed his eyes.
Tetra Rex raised an eyebrow ridge,
"Do you really think your favour covers the teleportation of two people half way around the planet?"
"Yes," Spike refrained from arguing.
Spike heard Asara take a deep breath before her breathing returned to normal but Spike knew she was awake now. He crouched down at her side and ran his fingers across her cheek.
"C'mon luv," he whispered. "I know you're awake."
Asara raised her head and slowly sat up. Spike watched her silently.
"You would rather have the pair of you teleported to London than heal your mate's eyes?" Tetra Rex's voice interrupted their actions.
"You can heal her?" Spike asked, straightening.
"I would need to inspect her eyes before I could answer your question," Tetra Rex replied before swinging his gaze to Asara. "Step forward."
Asara stood and walked steadily up the red carpet, senses on overload so she didn't trip over unforeseen objects on the floor. Her foot came into contact with a step and she stopped walking, feeling Spike close behind her. She heard Tetra Rex stand and make his way towards her. His long bony fingers fiddled with the pins on her bandages, pulling them free before starting on the long white strips running round her head. She felt air brush over her wounds as they were revealed.
"Aspanine," Tetra Rex called.
A smaller demon appeared on the steps at his elbow.
"Tell me what you think," Tetra Rex stepped back to give him room.
The demon stood a step up from Asara, making him a touch taller than her. Grasping the sides of her head he tilted it back slightly and Spike could see the tension in Asara's body. Tension that doubled and curled like a spring at the small of her back when Aspanine firmly prised her eyelids open. He poked around her eyes and carefully inspected her eye sockets before letting her go.
"Her optic nerves are still attached so there is every possibility that she will heal herself but shifters, whilst they heal naturally, also need to put a certain amount of will power into it. The healing may take over a year on their own but then again they may never heal if Asara doesn't believe they will," Aspanine explained.
"But you can help her heal faster," Spike stated.
Aspanine nodded.
"Do it then," Spike waved his hand.
"Wait!" Asara exclaimed, turning to Spike and grabbing his arm. "That'd mean we'd travel on commercial flight and that's too dangerous for you! I won't have it!"
"Asara," Spike caught hold of her elbows. "There is every chance I can make a flight with no sodding problems but I am not going to risk you staying bloody blind. Got it?"
"I am not going to risk you on an aeroplane," Asara shook her head.
"Luv you're not gonna win this cause every time I look at you all I see your… face," Spike told her.
Asara chewed on her bottom lip as she thought.
"I can ride cargo. No sun there," Spike reassured her.
"Have you decided on your course of action?" Tetra Rex interrupted.
"No chance you can do both for us on the favour?" Spike looked up from Asara.
Tetra Rex regarded him from his relaxed position on the chair.
"Answer me this," he steepled his bony fingers together. "How did you arrive on this fair Isle and can you not simply go back home that way?"
"No," Spike was reluctant to explain. "We ended up here after some stupid sod messed around with a portal."
"What were you doing around that much potentially dangerous magick?" Tetra Rex asked.
"It wasn't our bloody fault!" Spike exclaimed. "The bloody Powers That Be and Sisters of Fate decided to argue over who would be their Champion and go rescue the sodding Slayer from an alternate dimension."
Tetra Rex straightened at the mention of higher powers,
"You were chosen to a Champion?"
"Not me," Spike glanced back at Asara. "The Sisters of Fate chose my mate."
Tetra Rex sat back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. His Consort stood from her own chair and crossed to his side before leaning into him so no one but he could hear what she said. Tetra Rex kept his face blank but he didn't take his eyes off the pair in front of him. After some minutes he nodded and his Consort sat back down.
"In answer to your question no I will not heal Asara and teleport you both to your desired destination just on the grounds of your favour but," he held up a finger to emphasis his point. "Due to this rather unexpected interference by the higher powers I am willingly to do both for no cost except for the cancelling of my debt to you."
"Why?" Spike frowned.
"By doing both actions I will have done everything in my power to get you safely home," Tetra Rex explained.
"Then you get a foot in the door with the higher powers," Spike nodded his understanding.
"Very astute," Tetra Rex smiled. "Now due to the time zone differences between here and London in Kentucky, North America I should do the teleportation in an hour, leaving Aspanine enough time to heal Asara's eyes."
"Fair enough," Spike agreed.
Aspanine touched Asara's arm before leading her away through the double doors behind them. Spike kept staring at Tetra Rex for a moment until he suddenly turned and followed his mate out of the crowded room.
-
"Pet?" Spike asked tentatively.
He watched as Asara raised her hands to her face and run her fingers over her eyes. She spun to face him, eyes open.
"Spike!" she cried.
Spike stared at the blue eyes that he'd missed except they weren't focused on him and suddenly it hit him as why Asara had cried his name. She knew her eyes were there but she couldn't see through them, was still blind to the world around her. Spike grabbed Aspanine, hauling him off the floor by the lapels of his tunic, shifting into game face and slamming him back against the wall.
"You said you'd heal her," Spike growled, punctuating each word with a thump into the wall.
"She will be!" Aspanine protested. "It takes time!"
"How much time?" Spike pressed his face right into the other demons. "After we've been teleported back home? When we're the other side of the bloody world? When we're too fucking far away to complain? To seek the rightful vengeance for you royally screwing us over?"
Aspanine squeaked,
"No no! I Promise she'll be able to see a little before you leave."
"A little?" Spike exploded.
Aspanine knew it was a bad idea to be pinned to a wall by furious Master vampire out for blood over the injuring of his mate, despite the fact the all he'd done was trying to heal her on his kings orders, but didn't try to escape. He just hung in Spike's grip and waited.
Spike felt a pair of hands touch his back, run round his waist and a warm body mould to his back. The hands rubbed in soothing circles on his stomach and breath tickled his neck as Asara buried her face into it.
"Put him down," she whispered. "I can see blurred images, shapes moving. It'll come back."
Spike dropped his captive, turned in Asara's arms and tilted her head up so he could study her face. The blue eyes blinked at him and Spike hoped he could see slightly more focus in them.
"How many fingers?" Spike held up three.
Asara frowned at his hand or, rather, the pale pink blob that was his hand.
"Three?" she ventured.
Spike smiled then kissed her, pouring his tightly wound emotions into it; his anger at her wounding, relief that she was healing, love, need. When he broke it and Asara she looked thoroughly debauched, breathing heavily, lips bruised, eyes half closed.
"I've missed that look on you," Spike murmured.
Asara blinked, savouring the sensation as she looked up at him. A smile blossomed across her face and it made Spike want to kiss her again but Asara started talking before he could follow his thoughts through.
"Can we go home now?"
"Course luv," Spike nodded.
He stepped around her to her side so he could look down at Aspanine on floor. The demon eyed him warily.
"Ta mate," Spike grinned, throwing the demon more.
"You are welcome," Aspanine stood slowly.
Spike led Asara back the way they had come, towards the throne room but this time Asara could add fuzzy shapes to the smells. With his usual attitude firmly back in place Spike propelled both doors open and swaggered through, Asara right at his side. The world was coming back to its normal place, settling back down around them and it made feel Spike feel high.
Tetra Rex allowed himself a small smile at the vampire, noting the difference and remembering the William the Bloody of old. He was back though only in a way. The Spike of the past would have not hesitated to show his feelings but there would not have been such a notable difference in him when he was surrounded by so many demons who could use it against him.
"So I see you are ready to depart," Tetra Rex waved his server to one side.
"Ready and waiting," Spike answered.
"Well then I wouldn't want to keep you waiting," Tetra Rex stood.
Asara fought to focus on him,
"Thank you for all you have done."
"It was all done as a cancelling of debt as you full well know," Tetra Rex replied.
"It was the show," Asara nodded. "That is true, but there is always the subtle manipulations going on backstage."
Tetra Rex accepted that Asara knew he was doing this for his own gain before he raised his hands,
"I invoke Shakti Goddess of Primal Energy, Gilaran Goddess of Travelling and Devi Goddess of Existence. I call on you. I ask for your help. I seek your power to send these two beings through the channels to their destination. Answer my plea. I am your eternal servant."
His hands began to glow with power and the air around Spike and Asara hummed with energy. Asara tightened her grip on Spike's hand as the hairs on her neck stood up and he leant into her. Tetra Rex's chanting became a distant thing as the smells that didn't belong in the room became intense. Spike could smell humans, petrol but beneath that the smell of trees. To Asara the trees smelt more powerful and she could tell the difference between them, taste the wind on her tongue, feel the rock of mountains beneath her feet.
"Whoa," she muttered when it became apparent that there was rock under her feet.
"Christ that's not what I expected," Spike looked around.
They were not actually in the town of London but some distance from it on a mountainside, gazing down the valley towards it. Well Spike was gazing, Asara was squinting at the spots of light.
"So we what?" Spike pondered out loud. "Go into town, nick a car and drive home? Sunlight causes problems cause the car won't be proofed unless we find a vamp car but who the hell would have one in that town? It's bloody unlikely…"
"Spike," Asara interrupted him. "Shut up."
Spike turned to complain but when he caught the amused expression on his mates face he grinned before frowning,
"But we need to deal with these…"
Asara sighed and shut up him up by kissing him. Spike instantly grabbed her, pulling her to him, intending to finish what he'd started in back in England in Tetra Rex's lair. One hand wove its way through her hair and the other splayed across her backside, Asara copying him. He only broke free when he was sure Asara would look like she had before.
"So luv," Spike brushed a stray hair off her face. "Ever had sex in a tree?"
-
"I cannot believe I let you talk me into that!" Asara pick another twig out of her hair.
"Bloody good fun though," Spike surveyed the third car park of the evening. "Even if you do look like the saying dragged through a hedge backwards."
"That's cause I friggin' was!" Asara exclaimed.
Spike smirked and picked out a truck,
"If we disconnect the trailer then I can hide in the back compartment in the cabin during the day."
"Lead on O arborphile," Asara pronounced dramatically.
"What the hell does that mean?" Spike asked as he broke into the truck.
Asara grinned, ignoring him as she found the electrical cables connecting the cab to trailer,
"You clear of the ground?"
"Yeah," Spike answered from within the cab.
Asara yanked the cables free with a savage jerk and sparks bounced around. Spike had got her liking mayhem a little too much. The vampire in question joined her in lifting the trailer straight off the truck base through prenatural strength before they climbed up into the cab and Spike started the engine. The engine roared out its massive power and Spike ran his fingers over the dash,
"Always wanted one of these."
Asara shook her head as she climbed into the back and settled down on the bed. Spike would drive the night stints and Asara would drive in the day. Her eyes would be healed enough for her drive perfectly safely when dawn came.
"Spike?" a sleepy voice called.
"Yes luv?" Spike answered.
"You do realise that the tree was a Shagbark hickory," Asara commented.
Spike was silent for a moment before he laughed,
"So that's what the bark handles were for!"
Asara snorted quietly.
"Asara?" Spike eyed the rear view mirror.
"Yes honey?" Asara sounded half dead to the world.
"What does arborphile mean?" Spike asked casually.
"Someone who gets sexual pleasure from trees," Asara replied faintly.
She missed Spike's big grin as he realised what category he'd put them both in as she was already asleep. Spike drove into the night, heading west and back to their family.
-
Spike saw the sign and grinned. He loved this part. Tradition dictated that he run the damn thing over so just to keep the custom alive and kicking he'd flatten it again. There was a crunch as the front of the truck hit the sign before they bumped over it.
"You know what that means don't you?" Asara glanced over at him from the passenger seat.
"That people will think the sign smashing fairy is back?" Spike answered.
Did my mate and half the Scourge of Europe just call himself a fairy? Asara shook her head. "No. It means that we're home."
"Home," Spike repeated.
His hand snaked across the gap between them and tangled itself in Asara's. She squeezed it and watched the road as Spike turned into their street. They pulled up outside their house but both sat in silence staring at it.
"Why are we sitting here?" Asara asked.
"They're family," Spike tried to argue their case to move. "We've come home. We've bloody missed them so why are we sitting here?"
"In case we failed them?" Asara whispered.
"How would we have done that?" Spike shifted in his seat to look at her.
"Not we then," Asara sighed. "Me."
"Luv you're not making sense," Spike slid across the leather to sit closer.
"I was chosen to be a Champion," Asara tried to explain. "That makes me different… more expectations but I was already different. I shouldn't exist."
"Why does it have to be so sodding difficult?" Spike turned her face to him. "So you were chosen to be a Champion. So bloody what? That shouldn't rule your life, the life you claim you shouldn't have. I, for one, am grateful that the Fates got it wrong. If they hadn't where would I be now? In love with the bloody Slayer!" Spike shuddered. "You were a Champion then when you saved me from that. Just because some high and mighty powers decided to give you the title doesn't change anything."
"Can we go in now?" Asara smiled.
Spike slid back across the seat to his door, dragging Asara with him, opened the door and dropped down onto the pavement. Asara was right behind him and together they walked up their drive. It seemed unusually quiet.
"Isn't there normally laughter and music?" Spike questioned.
Asara looked up at the house,
"Yeah."
Spike pushed the doorbell, having lost his keys somewhere along the way. They heard someone call 'I'll get it' and feet shuffle down the hall towards them. The lock clicked back and the door swung open. Esster'd stared at them.
"Who is it?" Juidon's voice called.
That snapped Esster'd out of her reverie and she lunged at her Alphas. Spike and Asara had to take a step back when she hit them but they hugged her to them.
"You came home," Esster'd muffled voice said.
"We came home," Asara agreed.
Juidon appeared at the end of the hall,
"Esster'd who.."
Asara and Spike looked up and Juidon came running down the corridor. Esster'd shifted to one side to let her in to the group and Juidon huddled into them. Spike and Asara held them for a moment before gently pushing them upright.
"Where is everyone?" Asara asked.
"Oh god!" Juidon realised they'd been hogging them.
"This way," Esster'd grabbed one arm each and led them down the corridor to their lounge.
The whole pack was in there along with the Angel team, who hadn't gone home under Angel's decision he wanted to make up with his errant grandChilde. Esster'd and Juidon went in first and left their Alphas standing in the doorway.
"Hi guys," Asara said in the silence.
Her words caused a small stampede as the pack rushed them, each trying to touch some part of their Alphas in reassurance that they were really there. Spike ended up having to yell for order above the bodies as Asara was pulled off her feet and down into the pack. The pack stilled, each, in some way, revelling in the fact that they had been given an order but gradually they pulled away. Asara sat up on the floor, smiling because two children had fought their way onto her lap. Spike had the other two wrapped around his legs and he rested his hands on their heads, ruffling their hair.
"Asara your eyes," Juidon was staring at her. "They're healed."
"More or less but that's not important at the moment," Asara looked over those she was sworn to protect. "Everyone here is good right?"
"We just missed you," Sasha whispered from her lap.
"We missed you too," Asara drew her closer, tears threatening to spill.
Spike heard the quaver in his mate's voice and shuffled awkwardly to her side, taking all the children to her. They wrapped themselves into a tight bundle and just sat there for a moment.
"We're home now," Spike lifted his head. "And we're staying forever."
"Forever is a long time Spike," Angel broke in.
"What are you doing here?" Spike glared at him.
"I decided that I wanted to get to know my family," Angel replied. "I thought that perhaps you weren't for real here, that maybe Dru had hurt you too much but now I see that you really love these people."
"Forever," Spike nodded.
Angel nodded back before saying,
"Thanks for the bill."
Spike grinned,
"Glad you liked it."