Dawn of Destruction

By:  Morrigan & Blacknblue2


A/N:  Well, once again, we have taken longer than we wanted to get this one out.  But, between work, school and all those other little irritating responsibilities, it couldn't be helped.  Hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Oh, and thank you all again, who have reviewed.  Your feedback is wonderful!

Disclaimer:  Joss is the MAN!  'Nuff said. *hehe!*




"So, when you said you had money, you weren't kidding," said Xander, sounding impressed.

"I get by," Spike answered.

"Don't try for modesty, Spike, it doesn't suit you," Xander replied.  "Also, you rented a jet!"

Spike chuckled.  "Had to be sure we could travel at night, didn't I?" he said.

The entire Scooby gang sat on a newly-rented jet, flying toward a new portal in Laugaras, Iceland.

"So where's this portal again?" asked Dawn.

"It's about 80 miles from Kirkjubaejarklaustur," answered Spike.

"Okay, now I know you're just making that up," said Xander.

"Are you?" asked Dawn, causing Spike to wink and smile enigmatically.

"Hey, wait!" Xander stood from his seat as the realization really hit him. All that time you kept pocketing my money at The Bronze, and stealing my wallet and swiping the change from the dryer in my parents' basement, you already had money?!"

Spike frowned across the aisle at the newly enlightened chap, and nodded.  "Well, yeah...  Evil!"

Xander shook his head, slowly, while he sat back down in his seat.  "And I had to ask, why?" he mumbled to himself, turning his back to Spike while he peeked into his wallet to make sure his newly acquired credit card was still in its place.

---

They touched down in Iceland and quickly prepared to leave the jet.

"How do we know Riley and his men won't be here, already?" asked Xander.

Willow looked a little sheepish as she answered, "It's possible Giles, Tara and I did a really big concealing spell to hide the portal."

"Besides, they'll be busy with the one in India," added Spike.

"What was the city for that one again?" asked Dawn.

"Varadayyapalaiyam," answered Spike.  At Dawn's snicker, he added, "That's the last time, Bit, I won't sodding well say it again."

Dawn pouted, but had an evil gleam in her eye.

"Has...  Has anyone talked to Buffy?" Tara asked, looking around the cabin at the others, who were busily gathering their things.

"Not since she ran to the bathroom, last," Anya answered, shaking her head.  "I never would have thought a girl her size could throw up that much.  It must be a slayer thing."

"Yeah, well," Dawn began, walking to the end of the cabin to the bathroom door.  "You haven't seen her raid the fridge, right after patrol then.  My sister can be a real pig!"

Leaning against the doorframe, Dawn rapped lightly on the door.  Buffy?  Are you okay?  We've landed, and we're all ready to go."

A few seconds passed before the door opened, and a very pale and shaky Buffy stepped out into the cabin to join the others.  Holding her stomach, she smiled wanly at her sister, and the others, and said, "You know, I think me and flying are very un-mixy things."

Spike moved next to Buffy, and subtly moved his hand behind her, gently rubbing circles over her lower back.

Buffy leaned imperceptibly closer to him, reveling in the soothing motion.

Dawn slyly moved between the pair and the rest of the group, effectively blocking them from view.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" she asked, "Let's go see what's happening with this portal."

Spike leaned toward Buffy, and murmured quietly, "Feeling okay, now?"

"Yea," she answered, "but my mouth tastes disgusting."

Spike winked at her, then handed her a miniature bottle of whiskey.

"Oh, thank God," she sighed, before drinking the whole thing in one quick swallow.

Spike smiled fondly, watching while she scrunched up her face, predictably.

"Blegh!"

"I'll never understand what it is you like so much about that stuff, she said, chucking the little bottle into the trash as they made their way out the door, behind the others.

Spike shrugged, taking one of her bags from her hand and hefting it over his shoulder while they walked.  "I'll admit it's an acquired taste," he said, "But it beats the devil out of vomit."

"Heh. You're not wrong," she answered.

---

The first pink clouds were appearing on the horizon, indicating that the sun would be rising soon and since none of the group had slept during the trip, and they had planned to do most of their research under the cover of darkness, to avoid panic, not to mention Spike's sun allergy, their first stop was at the nearest hotel.

Once they were checked in, they all separated to find their own rooms. When Buffy opened the door to the room she was to be sharing with her sister, she was startled to see a rather green looking Dawn standing just inside the doorway, blocking her entry.

"What's up, Dawn? You look... bad," said Buffy.

"Sick," she replied, tersely, "You'll have to bunk up next door.  You can't get sick; they will need you when they look at the portal."

"Oh, okay," Buffy replied, slightly taken aback. "Ummm...who's next door?"

"Don't care," Dawn replied, looking even more ill, "Some Scoobie. Uh, gotta go."

The door slammed, leaving Buffy staring bemusedly at the numbers to her room. She quickly moved next door, pushing the already ajar door completely open with her shoulder while she carried her stuff inside.

"Sorry about this, but I'm afraid we're gonna have to bunk together," she called into the room without looking around.  "Dawn's sick."

Buffy heard the shower running, and figured she would just set down her bags and watch some TV until her roomie emerged.

She figured it must have been Giles, because there weren't enough bags for it to be Willow and Tara's room, and not a thing was out of place.  Giles was the only person she knew who would make tidying away their belongings at a hotel first priority.

Noting the single bed, she was thankful that she had thought to bring an extra throw blanket and a pillow, since it looked like she was going to be camping on the floor.

Rummaging through her bags and pulling out her bedding for the night - or morning, as it were - she was unaware of the water turning off, or of the person who was now, casually leaning against the bathroom doorframe, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist as he watched her.

"Well, if you wanted to see me in the buff, Slayer, all you had to do was ask."

Buffy spun around to face Spike, then just as quickly turned away again when she realized just how small the towel Spike had on was.

"Dawn's... uh, sick," Buffy said, staring diligently at the far wall.  "I can't share a room with her."

Buffy could hear the rustling of fabric, then Spike said, with a chuckle, "Okay, you can turn around, now.  Wouldn't want to offend the Slayer's virtuous sensibilities."

Still blushing, Buffy glanced behind her, before turning slowly back around, tucking her hair behind her ear as she did so.

"That's not fair," she pouted playfully, "I wasn't offended, just... surprised."

Spike smiled down at her, enamored with her shyness, the way her eyes danced back and forth from his face then the floor and the pretty flush which still colored her cheeks.

"Oh, well, in that case..." he purred, stretching lazily, enjoying the way she ducked her head, slightly, trying to hide the way her eyes traveled along his lean, well muscled frame.  "I expect it was a good surprise."

Buffy frantically looked around the room, looking for something to inspire a topic change.  "So, only one bed," she said, then mentally slapped herself when Spike simply leered at her.  "I can't believe I just said that," she mumbled to herself.  "Way to change the topic, Buffy."

"Uhh, you do realize I can hear you?"  Spike interrupted her self-flagellation, causing her to blush brightly.

"I, uh...  shower!" Buffy said, pointing and running toward the bathroom.  "You know how it is," she shouted out the bathroom door, "travel, dirty, you get the picture."  She then slammed the door and turned on the water, signifying the end of the conversation.

Meanwhile...

In the next room, a not-so-sick Dawn Summers stepped away from the wall she had been leaning against while evesdropping on Spike and her sister's conversation.  Heading quickly to the center of the room, she flopped down on one of the queen sized beds, buried her face in the pillows and giggled, hysterically.