((Been a LONG time coming, but here it is! The new chapter!))
Illyria sat in a chair in this new room. She looked up, a strange look crossing her face as she saw Spike. He couldn't tell just what, but Spike knew that something was wrong with her. Angel broke the silence to explain.
"She's been messed up since we got here. Two weeks ago. I have no idea what the delay in your appearance was, but we arrived then. The last thing either of us remember is the fight with the demons Wolfram and Hart sent. Something must have happened to Illyria during the fight, but I don't have the resources to help her."
Just then, Spike saw what he meant. A ripple seemed to pass over her skin, and Illyria changed. She took on Fred's appearance for a brief moment before turning into something...different. Spike couldn't even think how to describe it. And he knew, on some instinctual level that this was a bit of her original form. It was diluted by the humanity of Fred's body, but it was much different than her normal appearance.
"Yeah, I can see that Mate." Spike sighs and moves closer to Illyria, as she regains her normal appearance. "Blue, are you all right?" She looks up at him puzzled.
"I am fine. Why?" Spike shakes his head.
"You don't know?" Again, she studies his face with a puzzled expression.
"Know what?" Illyria stands up, appearing shaky. Spike reaches out to help her without thinking but she pushes him away. "I do not need the help of an insignificant little being like you." She moves away from him.
"Glad to see you're in such a spectacular mood, blue." Spike sighs.
"She's been like this since Wesley." Angel says as Illyria moves to a window in the small room.
"Technically, I am only a Lord by proxy. She's the real leader here. But since she's in no shape to lead," Angel shrugs, "I took over for her. Temporarily, anyway."
"Uh huh. Sure. And when Blue is all better you'll give up that power? Sure, sure Angel." Spike shakes his head.
"I'm trying to find a way to get us all home, actually. What are you doing to help?" Angel practically snarls. The two glare at each other.
"ENOUGH. I am not in the mood to hear the two of you argue. Leave me in peace." Illyria moves back to the chair. Spike looks at her and raises an eyebrow at Angel.
"Lets go, Spike. We can talk out in the hall." Angel turns to leave, and Spike follows him. "So when did it happen?"
"When did what happen?" Spike looks at him confused.
"Well, it's kind of obvious you aren't a vampire anymore." Spike stops walking.
"I...I hadn't even thought about it to be honest. I guess I thought it was a part of being in Hell." Spike shrugs. "I have no idea when it happened. Come to think of it, I don't know anything about the last two weeks. It's all a blank."
Angel raises an eyebrow, but sees nothing to make him think Spike is lying. He sits down in the throne and Spike rolls his eyes at the sight. "So we'll have to figure out where you've been the past two weeks. On top of trying to get home." Angel sighs and shakes his head.
"Bugger that. I don't care where I was. If we can get back to Earth, I'll do just about anything, mate." Spike closes his eyes. Suddenly, he remembers what he had been dreaming about right before he woke up in the rain. He had been dreaming about her. The Slayer.
She was curled up in bed, her arms held close. He could just make out the glint of silver in her hand, but couldn't tell what it was. She sobbed, her whole body racked with grief. In all the time he had known her, he had never seen her look so...SAD. His heart ached, and he wanted to go to her, to comfort her. But he couldn't make his limbs move.
"Spike? Are you listening?" Angel's voice shook Spike out of his reverie.
"Sorry, what?" He looked up and saw a perturbed look on Angel's face.
"I was asking why you're in such a hurry to get back." Spike rolled his eyes but didn't answer. Angel didn't say anything for a while, reading Spike's answer in the silence. "You think she's suddenly going to be more available now that you're human. Right. That's going to happen." Angel shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. We don't belong here. Well, maybe Blue does, but we don't. If not for Wolfram and Hart, we would still be fighting the good fight and all that."
Angel raises an eyebrow at him but doesn't say anything to the contrary. "Okay, lets try to figure this out then." They spent the next few hours catching Spike up on the details of their new location.
:~:~:~:
After sitting with Giles for awhile, I give in to my jet lag. Willow shows me to a room I can stay in and I crash, almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. For a bit, I sleep soundly, but then the nightmare comes.
We're down in the Hellmouth, back in Sunnydale. It's just Spike and I, the others have already gone up. The amulet is burning him from the inside out. I know what's coming, but I don't want to leave him. Not yet. He puts his hand up, trying to get me to leave. I reach for it, intertwining my fingers with his. He looks shocked for a moment. Our hands catch fire. Our eyes meet, and I know. I KNOW. It's now or never.
"I love you."
"No, you don't. But thanks for saying it." Everything rumbles again. I lose my grip on his hand.
"Now go." I rush up the stairs, but I hear him say one last thing: "I wanna see how it ends."
I wake up, tears streaming down my face. For some reason, it was worse tonight then usual. I reach for the lighter again, glad I had thought to bring it. Curling up, I give in to the tears. I let them stream down my cheeks, and let the sobs rack my body. At least here, I don't really have to worry about worrying anyone, or scaring them. It feels so good to give in.
I must have eventually fallen back asleep, because the next thing I know, it's morning. There was a knock at my door, and I groan as I get out of bed. I open the door, and am attacked by a red haired girl. At first, I barely recognize Vi.
"Wow, Vi? You look amazing!" Vi steps away, and grins widely.
"Thanks, Buffy. I owe it all to you. Training with the other Slayers has been great. I never imagined I could some of the things I have." Her enthusiasm is catching. My cloudy mood disappears rather quickly.
"Let me get dressed, and we'll catch up. Okay?" She nods, practically bouncing with excitement. I smile as I close the door behind her. I move to the foot of the bed, where my suitcase is sitting. I find clothes for the day and get dressed before making the bed. The silver lighter tumbles out onto the thick carpet. I bend down to pick it up and am hit with a wave of emotion that is so strong it makes my chest hurt. I give in to the emotions for a bit. It feels good, though the tears don't come this time. After giving myself a few moments to feel, I stand up and head for the cafeteria for breakfast. I stick the lighter in my pocket, not wanting to leave it behind. The others are already there. I recognize several faces, but move to sit with Willow and Vi at a table.
:~:~:~:
Spike's mind was spinning by the time Angel and the others were finished. They had been there for weeks, and yet he hadn't; he had only just gotten there. Was it possible...no, he couldn't bear to think about it. Finally, Angel had Spike shown to a room.
Spike sits on the bed, head in his hand. He had felt different from the moment he had woken up, but until that moment, it hadn't occurred to him that he might have been truly dead. Not just undead, but really dead. Did Buffy know? The thought circles his brain, making his heart ache again.
Spike lays back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. If he had truly died, how had he ended up here? Were they all dead? Spike sighs and rolls over to his side. Closing his eyes, he can see her. Buffy's long blonde hair blowing slightly in the wind. He falls asleep, and dreams of her.
He suddenly becomes aware of voices outside his door. With a sigh, he sits up. It feels like he had only just closed his eyes, but he feels well-rested. Standing up, Spike heads for the door. Just as he reaches for the doorknob, it opens. Two demons move quickly toward him.
"Bloody hell! What the bugger is going on?" Without answering, one of the demons grabs him.
:~:~:~
I had finished lunch with Willow and Vi. I am on my way back to my room when it happens. One moment I am walking down the hall. The next? I have no idea where I am. But I know who I'm looking at: Spike. He's obviously wounded, ad in bad shape.
"Oh Bloody HELL. As if it wasn't enough to be dead, and in Hell, now I'm hallucinating." I move towards him. He watches me curiously. I can't make my voice come out. "Buffy." He stands up, a bit wobbly. He reaches a hand out towards me. I can see that he half-believes he won't be able to touch me. The moment his fingers touch me, we both collapse into each other.
After a few moments, I pull away to look at him. "Where are we, Spike?" He looks up at me, fear in his eyes. For the first time, I take in our surroundings. We appear to be in a cell of some kind. There's one high window, from which sunlight streams in. The sunlight streams over both of us, catching his hair. The sight nearly takes my breath away.
"What...how are you not a big pile of dust?" I study his face and reach up to touch his hair.
"Love, I don't know the specifics, and I don't know how you're here. But this? This is Hell, pet. And Angel messed up. He messed up big time." Spike collapses against me, unconscious, as if speaking took all of the energy he had.
Gently, I carry him to the bed. But the moment I lie down beside him, a strange feeling comes over me. It's like I'm suddenly disconnected from everything. I feel like I am floating. I collapse onto the bed beside Spike, reaching out desperately for him.
A moment later, I wake up. Someone is shaking me roughly, calling out my name. I open my eyes and find myself staring up at Dawn's panicked face. As soon as she sees I'm awake, she hugs me tightly. "Buffy! I thought...What happened?" I touch my sister's face, trying to calm her.
"I'm not entirely sure of the myself, Dawny. Why are you home from school?" Dawn pulls back and studies my expression.
"I'm sorry, Dawny. The date must have slipped my mind." I start to stand up, but Dawn forces me to remain sitting.
"Willow went to get a doctor. She'll be back in just a second." That's when I realize I'm laying on the floor of the hall near my room. I sigh. I know that I can't even begin to describe what just happened, let alone understand it. Dawn sits down beside me, still looking at me worriedly. I sigh again.
"I'm fine, Dawny. I don't know what happened, but I promise I'm fine." I reach for her hand as Willow returns with a doctor. After that, there isn't time for any other thoughts. I don't have a spare second to think about the time I spent with Spike, and because of this, it slips my mind completely.