Chapter 44 -27 July 2004
The past couple of days have had a routine of their own. Spend a couple of hours searching for Slayers, then rest for a few hours and start again; the little facts of daylight or night have been irrelevant. We've found all but three, but so far, Gus' Fiona isn't among them. Half have been hospitalised, but with Slayer healing, they're all doing well. Their stories range from languishing in a cage to being forced to fight in some sort of weird demon circus. One - the second one I found - was even a bodyguard to a prince in the world she was in. She, Delia, got her injuries protecting him from a monster, but they had no idea how to heal her. We're doing a bit better - they eventually found an antidote to the poison, and her healing has kicked in. One girl died just after we got her back. That one hit me hard, and I'm still trying not to dwell on it. Since then, we've brought back another eight, but it's still there, in the back of my mind, that if I'd been quicker, … I didn't want to stop last time. I knew there were just three more, and I wasn't feeling too bad, so I was annoyed when Willow insisted we stop. Still, I've had a few hours sleep and I'm raring to go. Willow's being slow, insisting I haven't rested for long enough.
"I'm ready, Willow. And if we go now, maybe we can finish this - get them all back again."
"Maybe," she agrees. "What do you think, Buffy?"
She looks worried, and while it's great that she cares enough to worry, I'm getting tired of being told to rest for longer. She looks at me for a moment before answering.
"It's Spike's call. He knows how he's feeling."
I can see it cost her to say that. She's been used to making decisions for everyone for too long to be able to give up that power easily, and yet she's giving me the chance to make my own decision. I put my arms around her and kiss her hard.
"This is it, Pet. I know it. Last time. Once all the Slayers are back, we can have some time to ourselves - maybe get away for a few days. "
"That sounds good. Then again, actually spending a whole night in bed sounds good. I must be getting soft."
"You, Love? Never."
I stare at her. I don't think that'd ever get boring, just watching her. I'm interrupted by a cough.
"Spike, if you're going to do this, we might as well get on with it." Willow hands me a mug of Slayer blood. Having had so much of that lately, I'm at least able to minimise my reaction to it. Whatever euphoria's left, I swallow down as I take my seat opposite Willow. I close my eyes, and almost immediately, I'm back in the waiting room and the train's pulling to a stop on the platform outside.
The routine is familiar by now, and no instructions are needed. Instead, we move quickly out into the void that separates all the universes. I feel a little like Captain Kirk speeding through the cosmos at warp 9, except all the specks of light are actually different dimensions. Well, and Kirk didn't sit in a train carriage.
I find the first Slayer quickly. The signal is strong, although as we get closer to her, I sense fear. Moments later, I lose her, but a glance at Willow's smiling face confirms that she's safe.
I continue the search, but I'm not getting anything. I increase the range that I'm sensing, stretching it, taking in as many possibilities as I can, but there's nothing. I consciously try to relax. There're only two girls left and an infinite number of worlds where they might be. I'm trying too hard, and I'm tense.
"You ok?" Willow asks.
"Yeah. I'll try again in a minute."
"If you're tired, we can go back."
"After just one? Not on your life. I'm fine, just trying too hard."
"Ok," she agrees. "Take it easy."
Once I've consciously relaxed as much as I can, I extend my senses again. And again, there's nothing obvious, so I steer us in another direction.
It's been a while. Willow's getting agitated, but I'm ignoring her. I'm fighting the panic that's rising, telling me that I'm not going to find anything, but at last, there it is. Another faint one - I hate that. Faint signals mean the girl's in a bad way. Still, with the practice I've had of late, following it is easy enough, and I'm trying hard not to feel her pain. A moment later, and it's gone.
I feel cold. Odd, given that I'm a) a vampire and b) not even in my own body just now. Willow's looking at me, and I mentally stretch my body, trying to shake off the feeling.
"Last one," I remind her.
"And she can wait if you've had enough."
"I'm fine. Let's see what we can find."
"I don't know, Spike. You're tired again - I can feel it."
"And we've done this before. I know I'm ok for a bit. If Buffy trusts me, then you should."
"Ok, Spike. We'll give it a while longer."
Again, there's nothing. Still, that's how it started last time, so I hold onto that thought. I start to move, trying to be systematic in the search. As time goes on, I can feel Willow's rising concern. I'm concentrating on keeping my thoughts from her, building a barrier so she won't spot the fact that I am getting a bit tired. It's just one more, and the prospect of going back without her …
And then, there's a familiar signal. Not a Slayer, though, it's Angelus. And there, buried below that, is a Slayer signal. I hurry towards it, desperate to find her. Every fibre that I am is trying to get to her, and suddenly, I'm there, but this time it's different. I feel like I'm actually inside her; I can see through her eyes, feel her terror. And what I see is more than enough to cause terror. It's Angelus, and he's got that grin on his face that always meant a world of pain for whoever it's aimed at. I call out for Willow, warning her to get the Slayer back quickly, but Willow's gone.
There's no train, no carriage. Nothing. Apart from Angelus and a terrified Slayer whose body I currently seem to be sharing. Somehow, I'm lost, and I don't have the faintest idea how to get back.
