A/N: Sorry that I haven't been doing many updates. I have up to chapter 27 of this story drafted. Hopefully I'll find the time to finish it because it's got great potential. I don't know when the next update will be but bug me enough times and I might get my lazy ass to post it.


NOTE: This chapter is un-betaed so forgive errors and all that crap.


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Chapter 21 - Not the End but the Beginning

… the next night …

Niko emerged from the kitchen with a fresh cup of tea for both Willow and the Watcher and two mugs of blood for himself and Caden. He was glad that he was able to convince Buffy to get some sleep because if there plan was going to work, she had to be at a 100% or as close to it as possible.

“Any luck?” he asked Merrick as he set the tea in front of him.

“Almost I guess. The Council tried to bury the incident but I think Willow has found a reference somewhere.”

“A little bit more and I know I can find it.” Willow said giving Niko an appreciative look for the cup of tea.

“Well I hope we find it soon. I don’t fancy Spike being under Angelus care for any period of time.”

Caden smiled. “You sound like you care Niko.”

Niko let out a smirk. “Only because it’s more fun to tease the ever living shit out of mister bleach boy compared to you.”

**

Spike was tired. Every single muscle in his body was complaining but for different reasons. The feeling of pain was universal but he could pick out different degrees strewn across his body. When the effects of Slayer blood final wore off, Angelus was so pleased that it seemed like he found a new source of energy as the lashes and cuts came deeper and faster on his skin. Ache. Soreness. Stinging. His Sire had found his amusement and took it out on him. He taunted him with various promises, some about his freedom. Others about sparing Buffy from his initial plan and still others about how he was going to make it better by showing him what it meant to belong to family. He had tempted him with Sire blood but Spike knew better and refused. He knew his body needed it, for Sire blood would surely make all the pain go away, but he didn’t want any excuse for Peaches to enter him and take control.

He wondered if he was ever going to escape from this. If Buffy came, there would be no way for him to help her not that he could in his current condition. He tried to focus his eyes and saw the place that all of the night before Angelus bragged would be the Slayer’s final resting place. He needed to find a way to break free. He couldn’t allow this to happen. He had to save his mate. He didn’t understand how and why Angelus was acting the way he was but those details didn’t matter to him. His demon was furious for so many reasons. He had to find a way to free himself and protect his mate at all costs.


**

“Spike?” , a soft feminie voice said coaxing the unconscious vampire back to reality. “Please, Spike.. please be okay.”

“Wot?” his voice was weak and hoarse. He barely had time to open his eyes when he felt soft lips pressed against his own.

“Shhhh… I’m here now. Everything’s going to be okay.” Buffy said working on the chains to free him.

Spike slumped forward, his tired form resting against Buffy’s.

“Drink.. quickly, “ she said baring her neck to him. “I need you strong enough to be on your own two feet if we’re going to get out of here. And don’t give me any buts or complaints.. just do it.”

He let out a smile before sinking his teeth into her soft smooth neck, lapping hungrily at her blood since he had been denied any type of food for the past three days. He held on to her, happy that she was in his arms and happier still when he heard that moan that escaped her lips as he drank. He knew that now was not the time for such things but he appreciate her body language nonetheless.

“And what do we have here? My errant child and my disgusting daughter-in-law? I had a feeling that they seemed to be taking their time up there… Though I must say the glamour spell you did on one of your guards to pretend that he is you was quite ingeneious.” Angelus called from across the room.

The blonde pair looked at the source and each gave him a menacing glare.
“And look, you freed good ole William. Tsk. Tsk. You had the best view in the room to see the Slayer offer her life for the Hellmouth.”

“I won’t let you do such a thing, mate.” Spike said pushing Buffy behind him.

“No Spike. Let me handle him. You’re too weak, even with what I have given you.”

“Stop this useless talking it’s making me bored.” Angelus said as his vampire features show through. He lunged for Buffy, wanting to push her towards the opening to the Hellmouth. The Slayer defended herself and as Spike was about to help his mate, three minions came from behind him and attacked.

If he hadn’t been beaten and tortured, the three minions wouldn’t have stood a chance. Unfortunately, Spike had been beaten and tortured and though Slayer blood coursed through his veins, he didn’t drink enough to mend all his broken bones and brusied muscles. He tried his best to focus on his own fight instead of worrying about Buffy, but it couldn’t be helped. Even though Angelus was still techinically his Sire, he was a different personality. That meant that whatever Buffy knew about Angel’s fighting still might not necessarily apply to how Angelus fought.

He tried to keep a level head and keep the bond between them open, hoping that it would help in giving her that extra push she usually got when he fought beside her.

Buffy was biding her time. She knew what the plan was and she was waiting for the opportune moment to strike. What she had hidden in her jacket pocket was the reason they waited two more days before going after Spike. They found the spell to restore Angel’s soul and it took those extra days to get it ready. She didn’t ask for the specifics of the spell. She didn’t need to know. All she had to do was make sure once Angelus was weak enough, to throw the small sphere containing the spell at him and when the sphere broke his soul would return. It seemed simple enough except for the fact that Angelus was putting up a pretty good fight. She knew she had to concentrate on her fight but she couldn’t help but be worried about Spike as well. She knew that he was careful and didn’t drink as much as he should have.

//Focus! Buffy don’t worry about me.// Spike called out through the claim.

//Well I’m so sorry for caring.//

//Buffy, luv, you know what I meant. You’ve seen what Angelus has done to me. Don’t take this fight to lightly.//

//I just need the right opening … //

Spike broke contact as he felt a minion lunging for him and he twisted his body avoiding the blow. He caught the minion’s head in his hands and twisted, breaking the vampire’s neck, reducing it to dust. He was heaving unnecessary deep breaths. He was still too weak. This fight shouldn’t have caused him any problems. He changed tactics then and instead dropped a few of his defenses to draw his opponent closer so that he could clamp onto something with the intent of draining them. Minion blood wasn’t that nourshing but right now, his body needed blood. He drank hungrily while the last of his opponents watched stunned and in fear. When he was finished, the drained vampire slumped to the ground and with a menacing growl he focused his attention to the frightened minion who promptly took a few steps back then ran, leaving his master to the slayer and his child.

Spike let a satisfied smile cross his lips for a moment before pouring his attention back to his mate. He turned just in time to see Buffy throw the sphere onto Angelus chest. It broke into pieces as it his the elder vampire’s chest, mist enveloping him while liquid soaked into his shirt. A blood curdling scream rolled through Angelus’ throat as he clutched his chest in pain.

Spike rushed to Buffy’s side and pulled her a few steps back unsure and a bit mistrusting of magic. Angelus screamed once more in pain as the smell of burning flesh permeated the air. Yellow eyes burning with hatred focused on the Slayer and her mate.

“You fucking bitch.” Angelus said with seething hatred. He had a mind to be kind enough to make her death not as agonizing as he would have liked but now he wanted to rip her into shreds.

“It’s not working!’ Buffy cried out with worry.

“What the fuck were you trying to do?”

Buffy turned to Spike. “It was suppose to return his soul back. It’s suppose to make him Angel again.”

The dark haired vampire stood up gingerly and started laughing. “Foolish Slayer… Angel is still in here… just sleeping but in here… But if you’re interested in me gaining a soul, why don’t I get yours.” He let out an ominous growl, baring his fangs as he lunged for the pair.

Spike acted quickly and shielded Buffy with his body. He gritted his teeth as his sire’s claws and fangs pierced through his flesh

//Run! Get away from here!//

Buffy shook her head unwilling to leave without her mate who she had come to rescue.

//Damn it Buffy… Just … go … // Spike fought for consciouness but his body wasn’t cooperating.

“Now Slayer, how much do you love your mate? Do as I say and I give you my word I won’t kill him.”

Buffy gave him a defiant look.

“You have no power here Slayer! Open the hellmouth with your blood or else I will kill him.”

“You wouldn’t kill your own child.”

“then you don’t know me at all… or maybe you just don’t love him as much as he claims you do.”

Buffy looked upon Spike’s slumped form, pressed against his sire’s body. She knew he was already weak and the gaping wound that Angelus just inflicted on his neck was making him bleed precious blood from his body. She bit her lower lip in indecision. She oculd hear Spike calling her foolish for even considering this. The mission was important and logically, she should have called Angelus’ bluff and let Spike die, but the sense of protecting her mate was overthrowing her logic. She took a step towards the metallic disc that served as the gateway to the Hellmouth. She could feel power beneath it… a power that her Slayer self recognized. She didn’t know much about magic but there was something inside her telling her that she could prevent the Hellmouth from opening if she could just harness power… Maybe if she could strengthen the wards with her blood instead of weaken it, maybe she can find a way to buy the others enough time to come down here and help Spike.

She took another step forward and bend beside the metal disk, she saw one of the shards from the sphere that held magic that they put their hopes on.. now she was hoping she could tap into the slayer inside her to help her do what she needed to do. She cut the fleshy part of her palm and pressed her hand against the cold metal. The metal seemed to drink her blood hungrily and started pulsing with power. She could feel that power connecting to her as it fed on her blood, using her essence to break the wards set upon it. She pulled that magic towards her, tried to reshape it in her head, trying to think of anything that meant seal… she thought of metal bars, a cage… anything to focus the magic she was pulling into herself so that she could seal the hellmouth instead of open it. Suddenly, she was enveloped in a column of white light and the magic she was pulling into her burst forth as she lost some control.

The ground started to shake as if she had focused the energy into the earth itself and it answered with its own rumble. The magic coursing in the air coupled with the mini earthquake was threatening the integrity of the room. Angelus had loosened his hold on his child just as Spike was gaining some form of consciouness.

Spike tried to focus his sight and clear his head at the same time. He shrugged himself lose from his sire’s hold and surprisingly was feeling a lot better than a before he passed out. He looked down at his hands and moved his arms to find that all his bruised musecles were no longer bruised and his ribs were actually healed. What in the wolrd was happening? This couldn’t be Slayer Blood since he didn’t take too much from her. Could it be Buffy’s doing through the claim?

//Spike?//

He looked up to see the bright white light in the center of the room. A feeling of dread coursed through him. The center of the room was the opening to the Hellmouth but he wasn’t feeling anything evil spewing out. He felt warm and strangely at peace.

//Buffy?//

//Are you okay? I called the others. They should be on their way to help you.//

//I feel magic, pet. What are you? … STOP! Buffy stop what you’re doing. I’m fine now. Let go and lets get out of here.//

//I can’t.//

//What do you mean you can’t?//

//The magic was activated with blood. If I don’t stay and make sure the seal is in place, it will take my blood and energy and the Hellmouth will open instead of being sealed tightly.//

//WOT?!// Spike rushed towards the column of light, pressing his palms against it hoping against hope that the magic was not solid even though he already knew the answer to it. He pounded angry fists at the shield that was preventing him from getting to his beloved.
//Hurry, I don’t think this room will last that much longer.//

//The others are close Spike. Get out with them.//

//I’m not leaving you here.//

//Stop being stubborn and listen to me!//

//I’m not leaving you luv. I promised that I will stay by your side always.//

//No I came here to save you and that’s what I’m going to do.//

“BUFFY!’ Spike cried out loud, pounding uselessly on the barrier.

Buffy turned to face him, a sad smile on her face as she pressed a kiss on the barrier. “I love you.” She said as she raised her hand and two beams of light were pushed forth from the barrier, knocking both Spike and Angelus towards the entrance to the room just as Niko and Caden arrived. The foundation started collapsing and Caden quickly grabbed Angelus while Niko pulled a screaming and distraught blond vampire away from the chaos.

The school was imploding on itself as the Vampire Guards rushed to escape. They reached safety just as the second floor of the school crashed down, reducing the entire building into rubble. A single solitary column of blinding white light shot up from the exact center of the school and slowly dispersed into the night sky.

Spike fell to his knees. She was gone. He couldn’t feel her anymore inside his head. He couldn’t even sense her physically. He fought back the tears that he didn’t want anybody else to see and he turned his pain, his emptiness, into anger. Picking himself up quickly he threw a punch aimed at Niko’s nose.

“What the… Spike?!” The dark haired vampire yelled as he nursed his now bloody nose.

“Why in bloody hell did you pull me away from there you fuck? If I had stayed a bit longer I could have saved her.”

Niko bowed his head. “It wasn’t my choice Spike. It felt like she had control of me. She told me to get you out of there.”

“BOLLOCKS!” Spike turned around and was walking towards the pile of rubble, intent on digging her out. She had to be alive. She was alive but unconscious that’s why he couldn’t feel her. That was it. That was the answer. She was alive beneath all that and he had to rescue her.

“SPIKE! Don’t … ” Caden called out.

“SOD OFF WANKERS!” Spike said as he reached the edge of the debris and started lifting rubble out of the way, tossing it behind him.

“Spike, …”

The blond vampire felt the familiar presence of his Sire beside him. “I can’t feel her.” Angel said. He was back to his old self again. The magic Buffy harnessed was able to bring his good side back in control once more.

“Like you even care you bloody ponce! This.. none of this would have happened if it weren’t for you.” Spike turned around, his eyes glowing an angry amber as he shoved his Sire away from him.

Angel looked away in guilt.

“Is that all you can do? Look the fuck away. That’s the only thing you’re good at isn’t it? Each and every Slayer we protect, when it comes to the end all you can do is look away.” Spike wanted to rip him apart. He didn’t care that Angel was his sire. He was the reason his mate was hurt and unconscious beneath all that rubble. How dare his sire just look away? Every time a Slayer died, all he felt from his sire was indifference, a sort of coldness. No other emotion was evident on his face but that utter indifference. “You told me you wanted to give me everything. You told me you wanted to make me whole. Well Dad! BRING HER BACK! Bring her back to me because she’s the only person in this soddin’ world that made me complete.”

Angel turned his eyes to his child and though his lips remained unmoved his eyes were racked with guilt.

Spike looked around and he saw Nikolai and Caden bow their heads “If you’re all going to gawk and stare then just fuckin’ leave.” He went back to tossing debris out of the way.

Caden put a heavy hand on the younger vampire’s shoulder. “Spike …”

“Don’t say it. Don’t you bloody dare say it.”

“It will be daylight soon …”

Spike shook his head. “Not for me. I’ve lost the sun.”


**

Spike had been awake for over an hour now but he just didn’t feel like getting out of bed. It didn’t seem like there was a really good enough reason to start the day.

He could hear the others bustling about, packing and getting ready for their road trip to somewhere in the Midwest. They were going to leave Sunnydale behind because it was their job to leave Sunnydale behind. The next Slayer has been called and their obligations here were over. He knew he should be packing too. Even though he wasn’t planning on going with them, the council was getting rid of Merrick’s house and they were putting Buffy’s house for sale. He needed to find a new place to stay.

He forced himself to get off the bed, pulling on his shirt and jeans before heading out of his room. He could hear a few sighs coming out of Buffy’s room. It was Merrick, sitting down on the floor and boxing up the rest of his charge’s belongings. It didn’t seem right seeing the middle-aged man on light colored carpet surrounded by dolls, stuffed animals and other girly possessions.

“Oi” Spike said from the doorway.

Merrick looked up and acknowledged him with a nod. Spike made his way inside and headed straight for Buffy’s dresser. Her brushes, make up and other trinkets were still in their cases and the way she left it, it seemed like she was coming back to put things back in order. Spike pushed the lump that was forming in his throat and suppressed the tears that wanted to flood his eyes. He took a seat in front of the dresser, taking in Buffy’s lingering scent.

He knew he was partly insane for a number of reasons. One, for subjecting himself to such torture as to be in her room where everything reminded him of her. Here, he was filled with some hope that maybe she was still alive because the room still held a part of her. It had her clothes, her trinkets, her posters – her life. It held the things that made Buffy uniquely Buffy. Two, he was insane because he wanted to be reminded of her. He wanted to fill his senses of her and pretend that she was still alive. But there was no helping it and his heart was aching. He fell in love with her, there was no denying it even if he wanted to. He claimed her and loved her and for that brief time they were together he was truly happy. After a century of existing, he was finally alive. He blamed himself for not being strong enough. How many times had he sworn to her that he would never leave her side? How many times had he promised he would make everything better? But when the situation called for it, he couldn’t protect her. He was too weak to take care of himself that’s why she had to do what she did.

There was a soft knock on the door. Spike turned around and saw Niko with a solemn expression on his face.

“We’re leaving when it’s dark enough.”

Spike just nodded.

“You’re really not coming?”

“Bah, you don’t need me mate. I’ll keep an eye on the Hellmouth for all of you.”

“So noble of you!” Niko said sarcastically hoping it would lighten his friend’s mood.

“What can I say?” Spike said with a smirk.

“It will stop hurting, you know.” Niko said sympathetically.

“When?”

“I don’t know Spike. I’ve never been in love before.”

Niko said his farewells to Spike and Merrick before he left the room.

Merrick taped up another box full of Buffy’s clothes and was set on starting the next one when Spike stopped him, telling the Watcher that his elderly bones needed a break and that he would take care of things himself. The middle-aged man understood what he wanted and graciously left the room.

Spike locked the door and turned around to survey the room. He took a step towards the bed and placed a hand on Mr. Gordo. An image of her giggling as she squeezed the stuffed pig flitted into his mind. He tried to let that image stay in his mind, to comfort him but all it did was make him realize she was gone. Spike fell to his knees in a fit of tears. His vision blurred and his lips tasted salt but he didn’t care. He had lost her and the warmth he had felt for the past few years was replaced now by … nothing. Absolutely nothing.