I thought this story would have fourteen chapters and a brief epilogue. This hasn't worked out, though, and I feel a more complete concluding chapter is necessary. I'm sorry for the delay, but it'll take me a couple weeks to get it properly written. The story is almost over, though. Thanks for sticking around.

"Tell me, lovey." Drusilla paced in front of Buffy. "Do you enjoy it?"

Buffy turned her face to the side, resting against her arm. She'd hoped she would have passed out a long time ago, but Drusilla was apparently skilled in this particular art. Learned from Angelus, no doubt.

"Taking my own?" Drusilla continued. She tapped the cattle prod against the palm of her hand. "Angelus fell for your tricks and lies, too. Caught in the wave to drown."

A jab at Buffy's side sent electric shocks pulsing through her body. She would cry out, but she was past screaming. Instead, she grit her teeth together and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to subside.

It never went away, entirely. The shocks began to ripple until they joined the existing pool of a dull ache that plagued her body. Not even her slayer healing powers could cut through the agony.

Too much agony to count lately. So this was physical pain. She could deal with that. She'd been dealing with the much more substantial emotional pain in the past months, hasn't she? Finding Spike, losing Spike, finding Spike again, losing him again, rescuing him, losing him. Spike was like a bad penny, just not bad and she kept losing him, not finding him. So not like a bad penny at all. Like something good she really wanted but just couldn't have no matter what she did although if Drusilla turned her into a vampire, she'd still be able to be with Spike and that wouldn't be so bad, would it?

Buffy opened her eyes at the soft touch of Drusilla's hand against her cheek. Drusilla gazed at her with wide, dark eyes. "Poor dearie. Soon you'll be where you ought."

Drusilla's eyes were like wells. Deep wells that didn't end. They kept on going right through the center of the Earth like in that Alice in Wonderland movie. No, that was a rabbit hole. Drusilla's eyes weren't like rabbit holes at all. Buffy's mind was going round the bend thanks to the torture.

She let her heavy eyelids droop, closing her eyes in an attempt to reset her mind. When she opened them again, Drusilla was gone. In her place was...

Spike. Standing before her as if he'd been there all along. Buffy blinked, but he didn't vanish.

He stood in a familiar slouch, watching her with wary eyes. Had Buffy fallen asleep? Was this the rescue?

"Spike," Buffy said. She jerked at her chains, quickly coming back to her senses. "Help me."

"You do need it, don't you?" Spike's eyes wandered up and down her body.

"Spike, it's Drusilla. She's here, and she's working with this warlock guy. The other girls are dead - "

Spike raised his eyebrows. "Drusilla?"

"Yes."

He stepped closer to her. His hand hovered over her bloodied shoulder. "She to thank for this?"

"Yeah, Spike, she's right outside. We don't have time to commune."

He lunged forward, hands on either side of her head, callous stare directed at her. She shrunk back despite herself.

"Scared of me, Slayer?"

"What are you - ?"

She never finished her question. In the next moment, his lips crashed down on hers. She put up little resistance, succumbing immediately to his passion. His touch was harsh as he paid no attention to her wounds. She didn't care. She'd missed this. All of this. She'd missed Spike. Pain or no pain, she was willing to lose herself in his frantic kiss, his hands tangling through her hair, pulling her arms against the chains that still bound her.

Her entire body slammed back against the wall as electricity jolted through her. She screamed in surprise. Over the buzz of the shock she heard Drusilla's joyful cackle.

"Ooooo....gullible little pigeon! Eats up all the pies."

When the buzz settled, Buffy slowly opened her eyes. No Spike. Only Drusilla.

Drusilla's mind tricks. Buffy must be pretty far gone if Drusilla were able to get to her like that. Even as she accepted reality, her heart ached for the fantasy of Spike she'd had for those few brief moments.

Drusilla leaned forward, tapping Buffy's lower lip with her pointer finger. "You taste like fire."

Buffy shook her head away and pulled against her restraints. Drusilla positioned the tip of the prod at Buffy's wrist. The chains bent her arms outwards so the tender skin of her inner arm was exposed. Drusilla made contact, dragging the prod slowly down Buffy's flesh.

Flashes of light burst before Buffy's eyes, through her body, in her head. Her arm felt like it was being destroyed in a sequence of explosions, each one more brutal than the previous. Her arm was coming apart. She closed her eyes, though she knew doing so wouldn't block out the pain. She could pretend, though, in that darkness, that this was all a dream.

Whatever Drusilla's next move might have been, she was interrupted by a banging on the shed door.

"Witch! Come out, witch!"

That was Lance. Drusilla cocked her head. She patted Buffy's cheek.

"Perdon. Have a dream, love."

Drusilla left Buffy alone for the first time.

Buffy knew she couldn't be useless. It may be futile, but she was damn well gonna try to fight this. She wasn't one to be duped by Drusilla's games, and she wasn't going to helplessly submit to a torture session from the crazy vampire.

Buffy attempted to bend the chains. Her strength was minimal at the moment. Her prolonged adventures with the cattle prod had weakened her muscles. Her efforts at bending the chains seemed to have no effect so she began to work against the wall of the shed, itself. She had succeeded in making a small curve in the metal when he appeared.

She grunted in frustration and let her head fall back to rest against the wall. Spike was in front of her again.

More mind tricks. She was not falling for this again.

She closed her eyes. "Go away."

"Buffy," Spike said. "We may not have much time."

Buffy sighed. "Oh, now you want to talk." When she opened her eyes, Spike was still there. "Guess Drusilla has a way of knowing what you really want, huh?"

"Drusilla?"

Buffy wasn't sure how to deal with the new figment. Would it go away if she ignored it? She hated that it was standing there in Spike's image looking as concerned as she had wanted him to look for the past month. It wasn't fair.

"Love, you need to let me know what's going on so we can plan a rescue. Dawn's using some magic to do something with the claim. Bunch of nonsense to me, but it works. How...how badly are you hurt?"

His voice softened. His eyes were wide. They weren't a deep well or a rabbit hole. His eyes were the limitless sky with promises of flight. Buffy bit her lip to keep the tears from coming. This is just what she'd wanted.

"I'm not falling for it this time, Drusilla," Buffy said.

Spike was looking around the shed. "Drusilla's here? What about this Lance bloke?"

Buffy laughed. This was such a surreal conversation. Of course, Drusilla was nuts so it made sense that the figments she created would be nuts.

The not-Spike moved closer and reached a hand as if to touch her. He paused a few inches away from her skin, though.

"Buffy, I know you think that Drusilla's playing some trick on you, but she's not. Only you can see me cause of the claim. Please, love. Tell me what you know."

She met his gaze. "I've managed to keep myself from becoming a vampire this long, I can do it a bit longer. I'll rescue myself, thanks."

Not-Spike drew back as if slapped. Buffy closed her eyes again, resolved to let her aching muscles rest for a while.

She startled when cool fingers touched her cheek.

"I promise, love. I'm coming to get you."

Then the hallucination was gone.

*    *    *    *    *

It was like somebody had flipped the switch inside his head. All of his ambivalence and apathy vanished and all he knew was that he had to get to Buffy.

He'd been coasting for a while, hadn't he? He'd given up after Angel had taken away his blood rites. He'd had a good run, and he was ready to face the end. Despite Buffy's claiming of him, he hadn't really emerged from that mindset. This past month had him still surrendered to failure, even in the face of hope. This changed now. He'd make it change.

Spike's heavy bootsteps echoed down the hallway. "She's going to try to turn Buffy," he said. Dawn had to gallop to keep up with his quick pace.

"Wait, why? And wouldn't turning Buffy kill her? Which would mean killing you? Drusilla does know you two are claimed, right?"

Spike flung the door to the armory open and stepped inside. Axes, staffs, swords, and more lined the walls. Spike considered them, taking the time to decide how best to do the deed.

"Ordinarily, yeah, killing Buffy would dust me. Claim's got a nice little loophole in it, though. If the slayer gets turned, then we both get to remain in one piece."

"So why's Drusilla doing this again?"

He sighed. He didn't have time to explain all this. He turned to Dawn. "Drusilla and I lost our familial link when Angel yanked away my blood bond. Seems Dru's not happy with that. Turning Buffy would link the two of them and, by extension, me since I'm linked to Buffy. It's her way of getting me back as family."

Dawn frowned. "You vamps ever consider The Jerry Springer Show?"

Spike snorted. Some things didn't deserve an answer.

Decision made, Spike reached for an old classic: the battle axe. Hadn't let him down thus far.

Dawn grabbed Spike's arm as he snatched up his weapon. "Spike, what's your plan?"

"Go in, get Buffy, kill Dru. I'm flexible on the order."

"What about Lance? Seems Dru's teamed up with some major warlock, and last I checked, you don't have the magic powers to go up against him."

Spike had already turned to head for the castle exit. "Figure that out when I get there."

"Spike!" Dawn ran around in front of him, impeding his progress. He glared at her. "I want Buffy back as much as you do, but you're just gonna get yourself killed. And you know what'll happen to Buffy then."

He paused for the first time. Knowing she was right, not wanting to admit it. Every bone in his undead body was screaming at him to save his mate.

Dawn spoke in a calmer voice when she saw that she had his attention. "We'll get her," she said. "I promise. Let me work out a plan first, okay?"

"One hour, niblet. You get a plan by then or I'm going on my own."

*    *    *    *    *

Drusilla had been gone a long time. Of course, Buffy didn't have any way to keep track of how long it was. It's not like Drusilla had been helpful and left a watch or anything. But she could tell by the sheer boredom that came with being held captive. Boredom and frustration, actually.

Though she'd managed to make a decent sized dent in the wall of the shed, nothing had come of it. She had decided to rest her exhausted muscles for the moment. The shock of the cattle prod had weakened her substantially.

Her eyes remained fixed on the body of the old woman on the floor across from her. Scenario: Old lady is Lance's mother. Drusilla arrives in town, senses out Lance's amazing magic power, decides to use him to get Buffy's attention. In doing so, she kills the mother and puts Lance under a thrall. Lance does what Lance does. Drusilla sits back and waits for Buffy to come to her, killing any extra slayers sent to her in the meantime.

How many people had died because of her relationship with Spike now?

Before her thoughts could continue, the door of the shed opened and Drusilla entered with a cryptic smile.

"He comes," she said.

"Who comes?" Buffy asked.

Drusilla shook her head while walking towards her. She smiled. "Must be ready, doll."

She trailed her finger down Buffy's neckline. Buffy jerked away. Vampires going for the neck only ever meant one thing.

"Drusilla, wait!" Buffy said in hopes of stalling.

It suceeded. Drusilla cocked her head and paused. "What?"

Buffy hadn't thought much beyond that immediate moment, though. She scrambled. "Why do you even want Spike now that he has a soul? I'd think you wouldn't like that."

Drusilla blinked. She grabbed Buffy by the hair, yanking her head up harshly. Her vampire features came to the fore as she leaned in close to Buffy. "He's all I have left," she said.

Right. Cause Buffy had killed Angel. Probably not the best subject to bring up.

Drusilla scowled at her. "So greedy."

The vampire forced Buffy's head to the side and buried her fangs in her throat. Buffy cried out, physically pulling her neck away as best she could. Drusilla gripped her tight, though, and Buffy only succeeded in pinching the skin around where she was being bit. Buffy tried to kick her away, but her strength had long ago been depleted. She couldn't do more than struggle futilely as Drusilla began to drain her.

*    *    *    *    *

Spike hadn't given Dawn the full hour. After only fifteen minutes, he'd been out the door and on his way to Kennedy's position near the house. Patience had never been his strong point. Dawn had called after him that he needed a plan, and she was right. He did need a plan. So he came up with one. He knew Dru better than anyone, and he was sure to know how to get her away from Buffy.

He never was a cocky bastard. That was a trait he'd had to learn after becoming a vampire. After a time, his persona had become as natural as a second skin. It was something he could easily affix in place at a moment's notice. The soul had made it more difficult. It had ripped his confidence apart, struck at all his vulnerability, and rendered him incapable of assuming his familiar mask.

Well, that had been when he'd first gotten his soul. Now, his devil-may-care attitude had regained its place in his arsenal. He had to utilize it this time. No. It wasn't something he used. It was something he fell into, surrendering to the promise of freedom it had once granted him. Spike let it use him.

He lit a cigarette while approaching the cottage. Once at the door, he didn't knock. Instead, he threw the door open and strolled in, confident that there would be no barrier.

There wasn't.

He stood in the middle of the den, axe leaning against his shoulder. The backdoor was probably through the kitchen. Before he could move in that direction, a young man came down the stairs.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked.

Spike exhaled smoke while appraising the resident. This must be the warlock, Lance. Looked like a scrap of a meal. Drusilla must've done a number on the kid.

"Name's Spike," Spike answered. Lance stopped once he reached the landing. He looked confused. "Drusilla's expecting me."

Lance frowned. "No, no, no! No, your clock is off! This is - "

Spike stepped towards him, coming within a few inches of the boy. Lance was taller than him, but that didn't prevent Spike from staring him down.

"Only thing 'off' is your nuttery. Now go get the lady of the house. Tell her I'm here." Better to confront Drusilla away from Buffy. That way Buffy couldn't be used as a hostage.

Lance shrunk back, obviously intimidated by Spike's cavalier attitude. He scrunched his brow. He looked about to protest again, but he clamped his mouth shut. With a nod, he disappeared towards the back of the house.

Spike turned back to the den. Old lady magazines lay on the cozy coffee table along with a book on cats. Spike casually picked up the book and started flipping through photos of tabbies and maine coons.

He felt it then like a ball of pure panic sitting in his stomach. He dropped the book. Buffy was dying. The claim cried out as his mate faded away. He couldn't wait. Drusilla was doing it now, and he needed to stop her.

Without waiting for Lance to return, Spike ran in the direction he'd left. A screen door led out to the backyard. Lance stood in front of an aluminum garden shed.

Spike crossed the distance. He pushed Lance aside over his protests and yanked open the shed door. Inside, at the far end, Drusilla whirled around in surprise. Her lips were bloody, and she was still in her demon face. Buffy hung from some chains, barely conscious.

Spike took a deep breath, careful in his approach. He put down the axe. Dru could easily end things if he wasn't careful.

"Drusilla," Spike said in a measured voice. "Thought I felt you."

"Spike!" Drusilla smiled. "Now you've ruined your surprise! Bad luck to see the bride so early."

"What I can't figure," Spike said while sauntering towards her. "Is why you didn't just tell me you were here instead of playing all these silly games of yours, pet."

Dru's expression soured. She looked at Buffy. "You were busy."

"I always have time for you, ducks." Spike was within hand's reach of her. He leaned even closer. "If you'd asked, we could've done her together. Make our own new family, yeah?"

Drusilla nodded. "Always knew me best, my love."

"Course I do. Darla's gone. Angel's dust. We're all that's left, aren't we?" He reached a hand out to brush through her hair. "Time to start our own family." He looked at Buffy. "I get it."

"Have a taste, Spike." Dru urged him on. "When I turn her, we'll be a part of something again."

Buffy's bloodstained neck was offered to him. Spike wasn't even tempted.

This is what Buffy had faced, isn't it? This dead certainty that the past was over. That he was the one she wanted to be with. Even after having tromped through his brain - and what a nightmare that must have been. She hadn't wavered. When it came down to it, she'd chosen him.

Whose hesitation had it been this past month? His or hers? Was he the one who had been creating the distance? Why? Cause he hadn't faced this moment that made everything so very simple.

He loved Buffy. What Dru was offering him...it didn't interest him at all. His old family - Angelus, Drusilla, Darla - they were gone. He'd been cut off from them, but he'd gotten something better. Buffy had taken their place, and...how was this a problem? What was he worrying about?

Spike looked at Drusilla. He put a hand to her shoulder, leading her away from Buffy. He smiled at her. "You won't be alone anymore, pet."

She smiled back at him, bouncing on her toes as she waited for him to finish draining Buffy. Her eyes widened in surprise as Spike drew his stake and plunged it into her heart. She reached her hand out.

"Spike," she cried as she crumpled to dust.

He didn't hesitate.

"Buffy, love," he said as he turned to her. He patted her cheek, trying to get her to wake up. "Come on, pet. I got you."

She didn't rouse. Spike drew his cellphone and sent the all clear to Kennedy's team.

"You!" Spike called.

Behind him at the entrance to the shed, Lance froze.

"Need a key for these chains," Spike said without looking behind him.

"She's gone," Lance said softly.

"No use dwelling. Key."

Lance had curled up beside the body of the older woman. Well, that was a wash. Spike turned back to Buffy. He fetched up his axe.

"Hang on, Buffy," Spike said as he swung at the chains.

*    *    *    *    *

Buffy saw blood when she woke up. Well, a blood bag that was connected to an IV at her arm. Not the first time she'd seen that, and it was a definite improvement over the shed of death and decay she'd previously been in.

She turned her head to the side, mindful of the thick bandage at her neck. Spike sat beside her. Now, that was a pleasant surprise.

He leaned forward as her eyes opened. "Buffy. How do you feel, love?"

Her throat felt scratchy from being asleep too long. "Drusilla?" she asked.

"Gone."

Simple enough. She didn't ask for him to elaborate more. She knew what that meant.

She spotted a glass of water on the bedside table and nodded towards it. "Water?"

Spike fetched it and handed it to her, holding the glass steady as she drank through the straw. The cool liquid soothed her throat.

She lay back when she was finished. "Thanks."

Spike nodded as he put the glass back. "Buffy, I - "

"You're talking to me," she interrupted.

Spike looked chagrined. He sighed. "Yeah."

"It took a near-death experience on my part to make that happen?" She couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice.

"No. Well, yes, I suppose. But not like you think." He sighed. "I was on the wrong side of things."

"Huh?"

"While I was busy playing the damsel, you became more and more certain that I was what you wanted, yeah? So by the end, we're claimed and you're all rarin' to go, except..."

"Except you weren't."

"I wasn't sure," he corrected her. "So much had happened. I didn't know what was what. And then you caught onto that and started using the kid gloves which made me think you weren't as certain so I drew away more and - "

"Okay, I get that."

Spike met her eyes. "You being captured shocked me out of it, yeah. But it wasn't until Drusilla was rambling on about us being together again that I knew...there's no temptation there. It wasn't an agonizing decision, you know? I wanted you. Just you, and Drusilla could go to hell. Well, she did go to hell. And I'm fine with that."

Buffy smiled, thinking about Angel. "Yeah, I know how weird that feels."

"But weird in a good way." He grabbed her hand. "Things are gonna be better now, Buffy."

She squeezed his hand in return. "I'm getting that."