Catching Up: Spike stood stiffly behind the Buffy ghost and scanned the room with squinted eyes. He put his hand forward and shot it through Buffy's chest, but he felt nothing. Buffy charged towards Spike and kicked him hard in the face. His head snapped back and blood started dripping from his nose and mouth. He chained her by the fists first, dodging her kicks only barely, and then moved to shackle her ankles. The hell god wanted Buffy to prove her need for her friends, with the catch that her friends couldn't hear or see or feel her.

A/N: Alright, sorry for the long pause. Here's my next chapter. Reviews please? I would LOVE to have some constructive criticism from my readers. See that little button at the bottom? Let's find out what happens when you click it. ;) R&R please, I hope you like this chapter!

Reality vs. Illusion.

"You should leave." Spike whispered to Tara once Buffy had slummed down and calmed. He brushed his fingers against her cheek and almost smiled when she leaned her face into his palm.

"I don't know Spike, something's wrong. Maybe you shouldn't be alone with her, it's dangerous." Tara answered watching Buffy's sad face.

"Leave, I don't need you here to get in my way." He didn't look at Tara when he addressed her. But she got the hint. His fingers lingered on the shackles and she knew he intended to get them off of her.

Buffy whined quietly like a lost puppy and rolled her head forward, chin resting against her chest.

"Go Tara." Spike whispered again. She hesitated, but against her better nature she did leave with a rueful face.

When Spike was sure that Tara was safely out of the way, he bent down and lifted Buffy's chin, forcing her to look at him. "Alright pet, let's get these off of you." He gripped the shackle on her right hand and was about to unlock it when she muttered something disapproving. When he ignored her she tried to pull away.

"Buffy…" Spike buried his hair into the crease of her shoulder, her hair gently caressing his face. His hand didn't leave the steel bracelet though.

The only sounds that filled the air, a faint heart beat, and quick shallow breaths, disappeared suddenly. The shock of the lack of sound didn't really set in until the skin beneath Spike's cheek felt cold. Cold like death. His lip trembled, she was gone.

Spike choked on his sob as he undid the restraints and pulled her into his arms. He didn't know how long he stayed there holding her, but it must have been a while. When he stood to lay her on the bed, the candle had melted down to the point where flame went out. What was this? Was this just another trick from hell, or was Buffy gone? He needed help. He couldn't sit there and wait any longer. He needed answers. He thanked the heavens when he heard foot steps approaching, and a heart beat. Who cared who it was? They could get help. Anyone could help.

It was Anya. "Well, Tara told me what happened. I'm pretty sure none of those bunch will be coming here any time soon." She smiled proudly to herself. When she saw Spike's grief stricken expression her smile faltered. "What, what is it? Spike tell me." She pouted.

"She has no pulse." He chocked out. "She's not breathing. She has no pulse." He rocked back and forth holding his head. "She's not… She's not…" He gasped for breath.

Anya sat down on the bed slowly, disturbed on some level, but mostly confused. How much had happened since Tara had left them here? She thought for a second that maybe Spike had accidentally killed her. But his hysterics proved otherwise, hopefully.

"Get Tara, or get Willow, or Giles or anybody. I want to go inside her mind, I have to find her, and I have to bring her back. She's still there, she's still in hell. I have to bring her back. I have to find her." He whispered through his ragged breathing.

Anya silently obeyed and hurried out of the crypt. Spike closed his eyes and leaned his head against the small body beside him. He clenched his fist, and let out one loud agonized cry to the world that seemed to cruel to exist in.

After what felt like longer than his own existence, Anya returned with Tara and Willow.

"Oh, god." Willow gasped putting a hand to her mouth. "Buffy…" Apparently she hadn't been completely filled in. "Oh, god."

"You have to do a spell." Spike said hardly without taking his eyes away from Buffy. He was half sitting up now, but still holding onto her. "I want to go inside her mind."

"Spike," Willow began, "The spell, it's risky. If I bring you in I don't know if I can get you out. I've never tried to put someone else into a person's mind. The only time I've ever done it was that time Glory took Dawn." She pouted open mouthed at her friend. "How – How long has she been like this?"

"Since the night she disappeared." Tara answered.

"Do it." Spike said. "I don't care what the risk is. Do it." His words were as hard and cold as his eyes. His expression was filled with anger.

There was no way Willow was going to get through to him like this. She sighed in resignation, and moved towards the two. She put one hand to each of their heads, and began to mumble an incantation. She girl was getting good. With one last look at Buffy, Spike closed his eyes.

"Spike! We surely didn't expect to see you here! We would have arranged for a chamber." The hell god smirked at Spike.

"Oh looky here. Spike's in hell again." He rolled his eyes to the ceiling before returning his gaze to the god. "Where's Buffy?" He sighed.

"Oh she's doing her time. I set her free you know, it was her choice to come back." The god said in a nonchalant tone as if he and the vamp had been life long friends.

"Oh really now, and why is that?" This was a test to Spike's very short temper.

"Maybe being here was less painful for her?"

"Or maybe it was because something was making her attack her friends against her will?"

"You caught onto that? Really William you are much more brilliant than you let on." The hell god smiled appreciatively.

"Just show me to her." Spike sighed again.

"What's the magic word?" The hell god taunted.

"Please, please can you show me to her?" Spike growled through his teeth. The hell god only ticked response, but pointed to a little cave in the wall not too far off from where Spike was standing.

Buffy was curled in a ball at the far wall of the cave, shaking with wide eyes, and little balls of sweat beading on her forehead and neck. Her tortured soul broke his heart. He approached her cautiously, raising a hand to calm her when her head snapped up with the most fearful expression he had ever seen on her. She shook her head quickly back and forth without stopping. She mumbled continuously under her breath, and even with his excelled vampire hearing he had to strain to hear the constant 'no, no, no' escaping her lips. He wondered for a brief second if she even knew she was saying anything.

"Buffy, it's alright." He cooed gently to her. "You can come back with me now love, you don't need to be here." He crouched down in front of her, and she hesitated for barely a second before continuing her irregular head shaking and mumbling.

A/N: R&R PLEASE! Hope you enjoyed this! Will post again soon if I get lot's of reviews and hits etc. I NEED constructive criticism! :D Thanks!