DISCLAIMER: All BTVS characters belong to Joss, I'm just borrowing them. Couple of OC's in there that are mine.

I-E-H

The Mayor was by far one of the least favourite Big Bads she'd ever faced. He was creepy. Beyond creepy. She didn't think there was a word to describe the creepiness that was Richard Wilkins III.

Nothing could encompass his evil.

But this wasn't him. This was whatever remnants of Riley had decided to infiltrate Spike's brain and play la-la-land with his insides. Spike didn't seem overly intimidated by the Mayor, but Buffy knew that if Masquerade-Mayor was anything like the real thing, they would be in for a world of trouble before they got out of here.

'You two look so cute together.' Wilkins said, clapping his hands together and clasping them tightly as he leant against the cupboard by the door. 'Not that it'll last. Spike knows that, don't you Spike?' The vampire in question glowered, not showing any fear, probably because he didn't recognise the fear that this guy usually instilled in people he tried to intimidate. Buffy just hope this particular scenario wouldn't end with a giant snake.

Wilkins laughed, seemingly sensing her trepidation. He shook his head, standing straight. 'No, Miss Summers. I'm not the one you have to be worried about. I've got something to keep you entertained however, something I know you'll relish especially. I've got plenty of time whilst your vampire's brain melts to goo. He can't die like that, but he certainly won't be getting out of whatever bed you've got him rotting in.' Spike growled, and Buffy paled. She hadn't figured that they could do that. If Spike had been doing this over and over for six days, would he be able to heal from the damage. 'Your blood gave me a run for my money, trying to fix everything. But he won't get out of here. You're free to leave. I don't need to hurt you. I will, but I don't need to.'

The Slayer looked to Spike, who seemed more angry than anything. Wilkins gauged their reactions for a moment then smiled, cocking his head to the side as footsteps came from the corridor behind him.

'Ah, it seems our guest of honour has arrived. She will be so happy to see you.'

She? Oh god not…

'Hey B, long time no see.'

Buffy's eyes narrowed. 'Faith.' She snorted. 'This is the best you could come up with? I sliced her up once before, I'll do it again if I have to. What the hell will this accomplish?'

'Well, if I can't rule the world like I intended, then I'll have to settle for causing the unending misery of your soul.' Faith grinned, evil like Buffy hadn't seen in her before glinting in her eyes.

'He wants to kill me. My essence. It'll cause you intense pain, pain you won't be able to bear. You'd probably go crazy before finally doing yourself in. He's using the claim against us.' Spike muttered under his breath.

'Clever boy.' Faith smiled, walking over to him. 'I can see why you'd pick this one, B. Pity he's vampire scum.' She spat, in a voice not entirely her own. The real Faith would have purred and made a crude remark about having her own way with him. Whatever part of Riley this was, he hated vampires beyond reason. 'I'll enjoy making him squeal like a stuck pig.'

'You won't get the chance.' Buffy kicked out and knocked Faith clean across the room into the Mayor, then grabbed Spike's hand. They ran past the collapsed figures on the floor, ignoring the echoing sound of Faith's laughter.

'We can't outrun them here Buffy. He controls this place.' Spike yelled, watching Buffy ahead of him as she turned and twisted through corridors. But as it appeared, they were literally in a maze. She stopped, picked a door and kicked it open, running inside and pulling the vampire behind her. She shut the door quickly and turned to him. He eyed her, a loss of hope in his eyes as she shook her head.

'No. You're stronger than this.'

'He's going to find us.'

'This is your mind, Spike! You're king here. You need to start changing things and fighting back.' She shrieked, grabbing him by the shoulders. He sagged.

'I can't.' He said, miserably. 'I don't see the point. He's stronger and he's going to win.'

'That's what I thought in that lab. Then I dragged his head out with me.' Buffy snarled, punching him in frustration. His head snapped back, and when he looked back at her, blood dripping from a split lip, his eyes held resignation.

'And this is where we end up.' He sighed. 'You're better off without me. I can break the claim, surrender you, it'll save you from whatever happens to me.'

'Don't you dare.' She ground out. 'Don't you dare pull an Angel on me. Don't tell me what I am and aren't. I love you, I chose you.'

'Lack of options.' He whispered and earned himself a slap.

'I don't know what he's been feeding you all this time, whatever he's done to you, you know deep down, that what we have is worth fighting back.'

'You left me.'

Buffy froze. 'What?'

'Hundreds of times. He showed me. All the ways you'll hurt me. Angel is waiting out there for you. It's only a matter of time.'

'Would you listen to yourself?' She stared at him in disbelief. 'This isn't you. He's got so far into your head that you're believing the tripe he's fed you. I will never leave. I couldn't. I love you, you dolt, and we are getting out of here. But we can't do it unless you believe it.'

'What if I can't?' He asked desperately, and she knew from the look in his eyes that he didn't believe what she was saying. 'What if…what if everything he's said is true?'

'IT'S NOT!' She shouted, pushing him. She knew that resorting to violence was not the way to solve this but it was the way she always went. She wanted to hurt Riley, wanting to pull him apart, but she'd already done that. This was a battle of the mind, and Buffy knew she couldn't do it without Spike. She stopped for a second, and their gazes locked, before she threw herself into his arms, kissing him furiously. He didn't respond for a few seconds, and then he grabbed her and kissed her back.

'I will,' She breathed in between desperate tastes of him, 'never, ever leave you. I would never want to. I love you, Spike. More than I've ever loved anyone.' He kissed her hard and then let go.

'I couldn't put into words how much I love you.' He whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, as she began to cry.

'Please, don't leave me.' She sobbed, clasping the lapels of his jacket tightly. Spike pulled her close. 'Don't let him take you away. I can't lose you.'

They stood stock still for a moment, just holding each other in the dark room, silence all around them.

Until a knock came at the door.

I-E-H

'Can't run from me, B. I'm everywhere in here. No getting away.' Faith's voice came from the other side of the door as the lovers embraced. They separated reluctantly and both eyed the door. Buffy looked to Spike.

'I need you to fight this. Change anything. Just will it, put everything you have into it. Use us, use our connection. I know you can do this.' She whispered, taking his hand. Spike nodded and stared at the door, his whole body tense. She could feel his shaking through his hand, and she gripped it harder, wiling everything she had in her to him, giving him strength.

The door flew open and Faith stood in front of them grinning. She raised her fists. 'Come on B, let's go some.'

Buffy smiled as the doorway shook and the walls around them began to crumble. Spike was shaking harder and growling. Faith dropped her stance and looked at him in shock. Then she glared. 'It won't be that easy, Hostile.' She transformed into Franken-Riley as the walls were completely obliterated with an ear-shattering roar from the vampire. All three figures fell, landing on the soft grass of the cemetery that Buffy had landed in when she first arrived. Franken-Riley was first up, but Buffy and Spike followed quickly. The vampire smirked.

'That's right, Jigsaw-boy. I'm back, and I'm a BLOODY ANIMAL.' Spike yelled the last bit and with a gleeful look on his face, he rushed the monster, following his charge with a succession of kicks and punches that had Franken-Riley back against a crypt wall. Buffy felt overwhelmed with joy, watching Spike beat the snot out of Riley, who was feebly attempting to punch back, but not succeeding against Spike, who was in full game face and out for damage.

Her smile faded as scores of Franken-Riley's began appearing from darkness. Spike twisted the head off of his opponent and roared in triumph before looking around. 'Oh balls.' He said, moving back to Buffy's side. They were back to back as the Riley-Army surrounded them.

'No way out.' Buffy whispered. Spike grasped her hand.

'I'm a virus, Buffy. I multiply. You've not got a chance of beating me. Not here.'

'I reckon we've got a shot,' Spike smirked, and he squeezed Buffy's hand. 'My mind, my rules, mate.' Buffy smiled at the cockiness that had returned to his voice, glad he wasn't letting Riley's fake scenarios beat him down. 'Look down, Slayer. Reckon this should give us an edge.'

She looked down and saw the sword that had materialised in her hand. Spike held a similar one and grinned widely. 'I've always wanted to do that Braveheart charge.' Then he turned and charged, sword in hand, rushing the enemy with a yell like no other.

I-E-H

Tara looked at her watch. Buffy had been sprawled on the floor, comatose, for a good three hours. She was getting worried. Her concern only increased when Spike's body began to jerk on the floor. Buffy's followed suit and Tara panicked, reaching for the spell circle, ready to break it when she stilled her hand. Small wounds began appeared on both the bodies, nothing life threatening but still, blood. Blood was never good. Spike would recover from wounds; Buffy would not.

Then, before her eyes, the wounds on Buffy healed up straight away. The witch stood, checking Spike and seeing the same reaction. A small smile turned the corner of the vampire's face and Tara knew she couldn't drag Buffy out. Whatever they were fighting, it was likely the last obstacle remaining between them and getting Spike freed from his prison.

I-E-H

The more Franken-Riley had spread himself out, the weaker he had become it seemed. Buffy was slicing and dicing with no problems and she could see Spike was thoroughly enjoying his hack and slash adventure. But then, he'd never liked Riley. Bodies were falling in front of him like rain, and his gleeful whoops and laughter were music to her ears. She swept her sword round in an arc, taking out five of them, and before long, Spike was facing four Franken-Rileys and Buffy had only one left. The one she had yelped as she brought the sword towards her and she paused with the tip at his throat.

'Fine, you've won. You've done it.' He held his hands up and became the Riley she'd known before the apocalypse. His human form gave her pause and she wilted a little, hearing Spike still fighting behind her. 'But…you know it won't last Buffy. He has no chip. He's evil.'

'And you were peaches and cream, Riley? It didn't take much to make you go to the dark side. You could have fought back, killed Adam yourself, but you embraced what he did to you. That thing you became…it still sounded like you, still had your prejudices.' Buffy spat, not dropping the sword but her grip loosened. Her mind was telling her he was human, even though she knew it wasn't real and couldn't let herself get sucked in.

'Prejudice? I wasn't prejudiced. I was right! He's evil. And you're a slut for going with another demon.' He grew angry and swiped the sword away, grabbing her by the throat. 'I didn't want to kill you. I still thought we could make it work, despite your reservations-' He morphed back into the demon hybrid. '-You would have been happy with me. But I'll be just a happy knowing he's suffering without you.' He squeezed and Buffy felt the pain of a burning airway, needing oxygen. She struggled, tried to push his hands away but could feel her vision fading.

Suddenly the weight was off of her, and she watched, gasping for breath as Spike plunged his hand into Franken-Riley's chest, pulling out his heart and the wires attached to it. He watched as the body went limp and disappeared. The vampire stood up and looked over at Buffy.

'Never cared for that wanker.' He spat.

Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he hit the floor. Buffy shrieked his name and reached out for him, only to find her own vision blackening and the world around her vanished.

I-E-H

A/N: Hope you enjoyed that one. I was going to drag it out a bit longer, but I figured I'd be nice. I always felt in the series that Spike needed to believe in himself a bit more, and not let others put him down. I hope I conveyed his emotional triumph well enough here. Please review!