Chapter Three ~ Not the Hilton

As soon as Nessie left the room, promising to return shortly with something to eat, Buffy turned to Spike and studied him. She followed his gaze around the small, dimly lit room. There were no windows, and just like every other section of the underground, the walls were made of hard-packed dirt. The bed, big enough for two, was situated in the corner. Spike approached it, but instead of sitting on it, he reached for the glass goblet filled with glowing blue liquid situated on the bedside table.

"How did she get it to glow brighter?" Spike asked as he flicked the clear container. "Did you see her do it?"

Buffy approached the small table and slid open a drawer. "Yeah, she took a stone from here and dropped it in the glass." She reached in to grab a stone, only to hiss in pain when her skin came in contact with one. Concerned, Spike grabbed her hand to inspect the tiny blister now forming on the tip of her index finger. "I'm okay. Those stones are sizzling hot, though."

It wasn't the only thing sizzling hot. Buffy dropped her gaze from where their hands met as Spike took his time releasing her.

"Uh, I guess that's what these tongs are for?" He took the tongs from the drawer, picked up one of the marble-sized stones and dropped it into the glass. The liquid went from neon blue to almost white and washed the room in brighter light. "Huh. Sort of like a reverse dimmer switch."

They both inspected the sparsely decorated room now that the corners were well-lit. A couple of low, benches were off in one corner and a taller box was in another.

Buffy shrugged as she took in the dirt floor and walls and the absence of color save for various shades of brown. "Well, it's not the Hilton, but at least there's a bed. I hope it's comfortable."

He avoided making eye contact by turning to face the bed. "Yeah, it's not b-" Spike whirled around, on full alert.

"Wha-?"

"Shh!" His gaze honed in on a spot by the curtain-covered door. "There."

At first she didn't see it, but within seconds the thin plume of black smoke became visible. She gasped, having seen it before, just days ago. Taking a step back, she stood in front of Spike and put her weary hands up in a show of strength she didn't really have at the moment.

"Go away! You're not getting inside me."

The smoke twirled until it morphed into a form, and then Nessie was standing there with a tray of food.

"Sorry," she said, though her mischievous grin told them that she didn't mean it one bit. "I've brought yer vittles."

Stunned, Buffy watched the demon intently as she moved about the room, setting the tray on the tall box and dragging the smaller ones to it. This is what was inside of her? One of these creatures? Or at least the essence of one. Eyeing the smooth red skin, Buffy managed to smile. At least she knew where her love of red leather came from now.

"I guess that's why you're called Nessie?" As he spoke, Spike helped the demon remove the food items from the tray.

"I don't understand." Nessie's frown shifted into admiration as she got a her first good look at Spike. Almost as if she was mesmerized, she stared into Spike's eyes and let the corners of her mouth turn up in appreciation.

While he talked about the elusive Loch Monster in Scotland, Buffy turned away from them and busied herself by putting the tongs back in the drawer. She had to do something about this jealousy that seemed to rear its ugly head any time a female paid attention to Spike-Anya, Faith, and now a demon, of all creatures.

Spike wasn't her property. They weren't even officially a couple. They had a deep friendship at best. Her hands balled into tight fists. He didn't even think she really loved him.

"And your Laird, he eats these things?" Spike asked Nessie, who nodded.

Deciding she was being stupid, she approached the table and inspected the food. "Looks like mushrooms, potatoes, and some sort of meat."

"Yes," Nessie said. "The corvain meat is very tender. Comes from the herds of Lavidnast. The best there is."

No matter how hungry she was, Buffy was still hesitant to try the food, but she was grateful that she had been given something. "Thank you, Nessie."

With a clipped bow of her head, the demon walked towards the exit and pulled back the brown curtain.

"Wait!" Spike headed for the doorway. "I'm not all that comfortable with the idea that anything can walk in here while we're sleeping. Is there something we can put in front of this opening to keep things out?"

Nessie stared at Spike as if he were bound for the nut house. "Just put the barrier up."

Hidden by the curtain was a small panel to the left of the opening. Nessie gave it a good push and the curtain moved as if a wind had picked up. With a flat palm, she hit her hand against an invisible barrier. "See."

Like an old pro, the demon removed the barrier and left, promising to come back in what she called a night's rest time to show them around.

Buffy moved the curtain aside and pushed the panel. Together, they tested the barrier.

"Does it feel like that when you don't have an invitation?" Buffy asked Spike.

"Exactly. Now, quit fooling around and go eat."

Buffy eyed the table with trepidation. "I will, if you will."

A few minutes later, they sat across from each other, staring at their uneaten portions. Spike had poured himself a cup of corvain blood. And even though it was a nice, deep red like any other blood, he eyed it suspiciously. Buffy had moved the gray mushrooms around with the utensil that came with the plate and had poked at the meat, but she still couldn't bring herself to try it.

Buffy's stomach growled. "We're being ridiculous."

"Yeah." He raised the cup to his lips, but didn't tip it back. He put it back down. "It smells okay… I'd try the mushrooms first. They grow in the dark back home, so I'm sure they're fine to eat here."

She grinned at him, finding the fact that he was trying to coax her to eat when he was clearly concerned about his own fare amusing. "Chicken."

"I am not!" With a challenge in his eyes, he picked up his cup. "On the count of three?"

She picked up her fork and dug into the split potato. "Fine."

"One," Spike said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Two," Buffy said, trying to keep a straight face.

Together they said, "Three."

The potato actually tasted like a potato! It was bland and could do with a little butter and salt, but at least she wasn't gagging. Spike had taken a drink on the count of three, but he hadn't stopped. He was still swallowing. The motion at his neck and the expression on his face awoke parts of her body that she wasn't up to taking into consideration right then. She cleared her throat and quickly took a bite of the cooked meat, which did not taste like chicken or beef. Laird was right. Lamb. Not her favorite meat.

The cup clanked against the box. "That… That is better than pig's blood, but not as good as human." He reached for the jug and poured himself another cup.

After the first quiet meal they'd had in weeks, they were both full and sleepy. Spike admired the Slayer from across the table. Even injured and battle-worn, she was regal and awe inspiring like a goddess. A goddess who was close to falling asleep while sitting up. He stood and held his hand out to her.

"Come on. You need sleep."

Spike tried not to roll his eyes when she stood on her own. Damn independent woman. Instead, he sauntered over to the bed while stifling a wince and shed his duster. He draped it over the bed and sat on the edge, only to jump right back up when he sank into it a little too far.

"What the bleeding hell?"

Still standing by the table, Buffy uncrossed her arms and went to him in alarm. "What?"

He peeled the cover off the bed and tilted his head the side. "This place has no electricity, no carpet, no paint on the walls, but it has a waterbed?"

Buffy leaned over and pushed down on the bed. Sure enough, the blue liquid under a opaque plastic moved languidly.

"I've never slept on a waterbed," she told him.

"Lots of new experiences tonight, then." Spike sat down and took off his boots while Buffy looked on. He stretched out on the bed and took off his belt, not caring where it landed when he tossed it aside. Buffy continued to stand there with indecision clouding her face, as if she were having a heated internal debate. With a resigned and deep sigh, Spike sat up. "I thought you said you couldn't sleep without me, but I'll sleep on the floor if you want me to."

"No!" Buffy ran an agitated hand through her hair. "It's just that…well… You're a vampire and you smell nice all the time. Me, I probably stink now. And you…with your enhanced senses—sorry." She shook her head. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"No you bloody well won't. Get your shoes off…and that little jacket thing too. And then get in bed, where you belong."

He wanted to add "with me" to the sentence, but he thought that might be pushing it a little too far.

"I'd just feel better if I could wash up. Brush my teeth," she said even as she sat down and took her shoes off.

It was such a small thing for him to help her get the thin little jacket off, but Spike felt warm all over as he did it. He enjoyed doing things for her and she rarely allowed him the privilege. Admonishing himself for getting all choked up over something so simple, he forced his lips to form a thin, straight line and hoped his eyes weren't betraying his feelings to Buffy. She seemed lost in her own thoughts though, as she lay down beside him, facing away and on her side. The blanket for the bed wasn't soft enough, so he took his duster and covered them.

Buffy grabbed his arm from behind and tried to wrap it around her, but Spike resisted.

"Your wound. I don't want to hurt you."

"Keep your arm higher up, on my ribcage, and you won't."

Just under her breast. He swallowed hard and repeated the phrase "down boy" a few times in his head until he was smiling and able to relax against her.

"I was fine when I got up during the battle, so I don't understand why it turned so serious," she said under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

"You were running on adrenaline. Plus, I don't think that bone-jarring landing through the portal helped you either. You'll be fine in the morning."

Her hair smelled divine. And there she was worried about smelling awful. Spike was tempted to kiss the top of her head, but he got a hold of himself and held back. She was in charge. He'd thrown away that right a long time ago. The ache in his chest whenever he thought about what he'd almost done to her reared up again. He let it seep into his bones with the rest of the pain he'd been feeling, though the burning sensation had dissipated once he'd gotten the corvain blood in his system. The itching and dull aches were still there. Spike knew he deserved all the pain that came his way-embraced it even.

"I have no idea how we're going to get back home," she said through a yawn.

"We'll get back there. But not tonight. First we rest and then we'll think things through."

"You and I are not exactly the brains of the operation, Spike. We're the muscle."

Buffy sounded so defeated, but he knew it was just the exhaustion talking.

"You're incredible when you think on your feet. No one can strategize better than you. And my plans may turn sour, but I'm quick on my feet too, yeah? I won't stop until we get you home to your friends and family." Spike gave her a gentle squeeze. "Besides, we have our very own watcher-sized brain right here in Helarth."

With a snort, she said, "Yeah. He's been here for over 200 years. I'm sure he's real close to figuring out how to get back home."

"You've got a point. But there's me and you, and we'll figure it out. Plus, Red on the other side. I'm sure she's working on something right now. Powerful mojo, like she used to open that other portal."

She was quiet for a minute and if her breathing wasn't still fast and steady, he would've thought she'd fallen asleep.

"Did they all make it? Faith was the last one out of the hellmouth. Oh, God, what about Dawn! I've gotta know if she's safe. And Giles, Xander, Willow. All those girls…"

"Stop now. You'll drive yourself around the bend with all those questions, when there's nothing you can do about it either way." He scooted a little closer to her and caressed her arm. "I swear, we'll do everything in our power to get you back home."