New beginnings

Chapter 10


Spike became aware of something warm pressing firmly against his nose and he snorted irritably. The snort brought with it the scent of his Slayer and as he began to wake he sensed her beside him, so without opening his eyes he shot out an arm and she gave a startled squeak as he yanked her down beside him, hooked a leg over hers and nuzzled into her breast. He cuddled her close, using her as a pillow, and tried to go back to sleep.


He was quickly forced to accept that this was not going to happen when she started playing with his nose and ears, taunting him with quiet teasing words. “Come on sleepyvamp, time to wake up and smell the coffee. Except not really, ‘cos we haven’t got any coffee. Which is a shame ‘cos I’d really like a cup of coffee right now. Would you like a cup of coffee? Except it’s a bit pointless asking ‘cos, you know, coffeeless.


Spike pouted, tried to burrow into her breasts and sulkily growled, “Sleepin’. Go ‘sleep.”


Buffy chuckled, then murmured fondly, “No I’m not gonna go to sleep, and neither are you, Spike. Come on, wake up. We’ve sat and rested and had something to eat and now I need you to tell us what you’ve found, ‘cos I know you found something.”


Spike sighed and opened his eyes, discovering that it was only mid-afternoon. “Can’t do anything ‘til sundown, Buffy. There’s this cave. In the cave there’s a tunnel. The Bit’s in there somewhere, but so are loads of soddin’ demons.”


Buffy pouted, “Oh. That’s not good. Why is it always caves and tunnels?” She shrugged and sighed, “Oh well, we’ll think of something. We always do.”


Spike kissed her and smirking, asked, “Did you dream last night, sweetheart?” He raised his scarred eyebrow and tucked his tongue behind his top teeth as he wondered whether she would tell him about her erotic dream.


Buffy blushed. “What makes you think I had a dream?”


Sniggering, Spike prompted, “Go on… tell me.”


Buffy looked away from him, made an ‘innocent little me’ expression and shrugged saying, “There may have been a certain amount of dreamage.”


Slipping a hand up under her raggedly cropped tank top to cup a warm breast he persisted, “Tell me.”


Offhandedly she told him, “We were sparring in the training room at the Magic Box.”


“Yeah? And what happened?”


In full avoidance mode Buffy continued, “Sparring. Just lotsa sparring. You know. You and me. Sparring with fists and feet and stuff.”


Spike pushed up her tank top and nibbled her breast then slid his hand down to stroke up her thigh under her skirt to cup her bottom and pull her against him. He chuckled and accused suggestively, “Got you hot didn’t it? Then what?”


Buffy relaxed in his arms and her tone became confiding. “Well it was weird. You know how in dreams you jump from place to place and things don’t always make sense?” When Spike grunted his assent she continued, “We were suddenly outside. We were in this big field in the moonlight, and we weren’t just sparring, we were really fighting, like we used to, you know? I had a stake and it felt as if you were really trying to kill me.”


Concentrating on the sensation of his hand stroking her silky flesh as he suckled her nipple Spike murmured, “Always loved fighting you… Go on, you were enjoying yourself weren’t you?”


Dropping her voice to a low whisper she sighed, “Oh yeah… Next thing we were sort of wrestling on the ground. There may have been touching…”


“This sort of touching?” Spike asked, moving his hand to dip between Buffy’s thighs and cup her mound, one long finger sliding into her heat.


“Yuh huh.” Her hand abandoned its task caressing his chest and began to stroke him through his jeans, “This sort of touching too.”


Spike panted, “Go on…”


“Well I got you pinned with my stake over your heart…”


Spike huffed, “Never gonna happen, darlin’”


Buffy sniffed irritably, “Well it did! Anyway... that’s when I realised you were naked…”


Spike looked up at her crimson face and sniggered, “Oh yeah? Fighting in the altogether? That sounds like fun!”


Looking away in embarrassment Buffy added, “’Course when you did that flippy thing and tossed me off onto the grass and then landed on top of me, I noticed I was naked too…”


Spike moaned in approval. “Then what happened?”


Shrugging in mock innocence Buffy just said, “Stuff.”


Spike raised an eyebrow at her and teasingly asked, “Good stuff?”


Curling around him, one hand still stroking the bulge in his jeans as the other played with his hair she kissed him, rubbed herself harder into his hand and murmured into his mouth, “Amazing stuff.”


Spike urged her, “Go on…”


Frowning slightly as she undid his belt and buttons and pushed his jeans out of the way so she could stroke his erection, Buffy gasped breathlessly, “Well that’s when it did one of those jumps again and you were lying on the ground on the other side of the field leaning against a tree, and you were doing... stuff…”


Spike chuckled into her breast, “More stuff?”


“This sort of stuff…” Buffy gripped him firmly and began pumping him slowly, rubbing her thumb over the head on each upstroke.


Groaning softly, Spike whispered huskily, “And what were you doing while you watched me doing… stuff?”


Buffy giggled suggestively, “Stuff…” She pressed herself into Spike’s hand and breathlessly added, “Good stuff.” They both paused for a while as they kissed and teased each other to further heights of arousal. Just as Spike was coming to the point of wanting to take control of the situation Buffy nudged his hand away and shifted to guide him into her heated channel. They both moaned in pleasure as they were joined and Buffy breathed warningly, “Gotta be quiet, they’re only a few yards away.”


After a few seconds as they rocked against each other she added, “When I saw you… you know… I did too.” She sniggered as she tightened her inner muscles around him. “Then I woke up and found Xander had been trying to wake me ‘cos I’d been moaning in my sleep and he thought I was having a nightmare…”


They didn’t speak again for a while as they lost themselves in the moment, only soft grunts and gasps escaping their lips as they brought each other to the brink. Then they crushed their mouths together in a bruising kiss to muffle their soft cries as they slid into their mutual release.


As they recovered, still pressed tightly together sharing gentle affectionate kisses, Spike admitted, “When I felt you dreaming it really got me going sweetheart, and I had to stop chasing those bloody demons.” He chuckled wickedly, “And you know what you dreamt I was doing? That’s what I really was doing!”


Buffy blushed again and buried her face in his neck. Spike grinned, she was so adorable. She guiltily breathed, “It’s just as well Xander couldn’t see what my hand was doing under cover of my coat!” She bit her lip self-consciously, “You weren’t the only one...” She shook her head in disbelief and gave a snorting laugh, “and I was doing it in my sleep!”


She looked up again and their eyes met as they both descended into helpless giggles of pure mischief. Buffy managed to gasp out, “This Bond…”


Spike finished for her, “…Bloody brilliant!”

******

While they had been occupied the sun had lowered in the sky, so when Buffy and Spike strolled hand in hand over to where Xander and Tara were reclining gazing out over the grassy plains they all began to get ready to set out.


As he brushed most of the remaining dried mud out of his hair and off his chest and arms and got dressed in the clothes that the Scoobies had brought for him from the campsite, Spike explained his experiences of the night before, including his close shave with the flying dragon. He warned them to keep an eye open for demon hunting parties coming their way because if they returned home at sundown it was logical to assume that they set out at sunrise.


They walked quickly, each of them scanning the horizon for threats. Spike guided them through the long grass well off to one side of the demon’s track. Now he knew where he was heading he didn’t need to risk discovery by keeping to the path, however he made sure that Xander and Tara knew that if either he or Buffy told them to get down they’d have to take cover quickly.


Spike reckoned they were about a quarter of the way to the cave when they encountered the first crowd of demons. There were at least a hundred hulking figures marching briskly towards the forest, presumably several hunting parties all setting out together. The four companions watched warily from their position lying on the ground until the coast was clear, then as they stood and set off again Tara asked thoughtfully, “Do they all look like that? All big and grey and muscly with the crests?”


Buffy nodded, “Yeah, all the ones we’ve seen so far, anyway. It looks as if the leaders of each group have those leather belt things across their chests.”


Tara frowned and murmured thoughtfully, “Okay… I think I can work with that…”


When Buffy asked what she meant, Tara shrugged modestly, “It... It’s just… I may be able to do something to help. Let me think about it for a while, okay Buffy?”


A little while later Tara stumbled, prompting Xander to start complaining about it being too dark to see where he was going. Like the previous night only the smallest moon was in the sky this early in the evening, although away from the forest canopy Spike didn’t need to vamp out to be able to see clearly. They ended up with Spike leading Tara by the hand and Buffy leading Xander, an arrangement that Spike wasn’t altogether happy about. He didn’t mind holding the hand of the shy wicca whom he was beginning to think of as a friend, but he most certainly did object to Buffy walking hand in hand with Xander. He didn’t say anything though, since he realised the only other option would be for him to hold Xander Harris’ hand, and there was no way that would be happening.


They had to dive for cover several more times before they reached Spike’s viewpoint of the night before, just as the large second moon cleared the horizon and made it a lot easier to see what was going on. They lay in a row on their bellies, peering down through the long grass at the cave entrance.


As before, there were six demons standing guard, and as before they weren’t being very conscientious about their duties. They crouched in a loose huddle over to one side of the shadowy opening, evidently playing some sort of gambling game. They occasionally all leaped up and started shouting at each other and exchanging small items before resuming their positions concentrating on something they were doing on the ground.


It was Xander who asked the awkward question. “So… what’s the plan?”


Buffy looked to each side of her at her companions and realised they were all waiting for her to tell them what to do. She gave a good impression of a deer caught in headlights and whispered defensively, “Plan? There has to be a plan now?” She shrugged and said nervously, “I thought we’d go in and start Slaying demons until we found Dawnie, and then we’d bring her out, she’d make a portal and we’d all go home.”


Xander looked very doubtful. “How many of these things are there? We’ve seen hundreds of them go out hunting, the cave must be massive! We have to assume they’re bringing food back for the ones who don’t go hunting, so there may be thousands of them in there!”


Tara hesitantly added her opinion. “Do you think we should just start killing them? We don’t know anything about them, what if they’re not evil? They might not be hurting Dawnie, they may be helping her.”


All eyes turned to Spike, which made him very uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to his opinion being sought. He was also uncertain about the feasibility of Buffy’s suggestion. He knew they would very likely be greatly outnumbered and although he enjoyed a good fight he did like to have at least a chance of coming out alive… or rather undead. He shrugged, “Last night I snuck past them,” He indicated the guards, “and got as far as the tunnel. Couldn’t we try being sneaky? We may be able to get in and out with Dawn without them even knowing we’re there.” He continued thoughtfully, “In a way it’s a shame demon girl didn’t end up here with us.”


Xander immediately took exception to that sentiment and hissed angrily, “What would Anya have been able to do that we can’t? Why can’t you get it through your thick bleached head she’s not a demon any more?”


Spike regarded the young man with disbelief, “Are you really such an idiot, Harris? Just because she’s lost her powers doesn’t mean she’s lost a thousand years of experience! She pointed us at this soddin’ dimension, so presumably she’s been here before. She did say that as far as she knew there weren’t any dangerous demons here. She might be able to tell us a lot about those blokes down there.” He pointed down at the demon guards who were having another argument, “She may even speak their language well enough to ask about Dawn!”


Xander sneered, “I doubt it.” In a very self-righteous tone he added, “Besides, Anya doesn’t like to talk about her time as a demon.”


Spike reached over Buffy and swatted Xander upside the head. “You bloody fool! You don’t know the woman you claim to love at all, do you? She’s always…”


Buffy intercepted Xander’s hand that was reaching out to belt Spike in return and forestalled the young man’s angry response. “No, Xander. Anya loves talking about her time as a demon, she’s very proud of her achievements. You’re the one who doesn’t like her talking about her past. You like to pretend it doesn’t exist, that she’s just another girl you met in high school. You’re always shutting her up when she starts telling her stories. That upsets her, so now she usually only lets herself reminisce when you’re not around.”


Xander fumed in resentful silence and Spike watched him warily until Tara’s quiet voice intruded. “Um… I’m with Spike, I vote for sneakiness.” When everyone turned to her questioningly she added, “And… and I think I may be able to help with that. I have so much power here… I… I think I can create a glamour to make us all look like them.” She indicated the demon guards. “Then perhaps we can just walk in and wander around looking for Dawnie?”


Buffy’s eyes widened in hopeful interest. “That might work, Tara, as long as we don’t have to try to talk to any of them. Do you really think you can?”


When Tara nodded shyly and began rummaging through her pockets looking for something they got up and retraced their steps through the long grass until they were well out of sight of the guards.


When they reached a suitably remote position Buffy turned to Spike, “Remember, Spike. Your first priority is to find Dawn and get her out of there. Xander and I’ll be protecting Tara while she concentrates on the glamour and the Tinkerbell thingy.”


While Spike nodded in acknowledgement of his primary responsibility Xander spluttered, “What? You’re trusting Spike to save Dawn? Why…?”


Spike swatted him upside the head again. He was really beginning to appreciate being able to get his own back for all the casual blows and hurtful words the young man had directed his way for the past few years. “Shut yer gob you pillock. I’m The Bit’s Protector aren’t I? ‘S‘only right I’m the one who has to make sure she’s safe!”


Xander rubbed his head sullenly, “Okay! Okay! I get it… Spike’s the Great Protector!” He froze in sudden realisation, and pointed a shaking finger at Spike. “Er… Buffy… Spike hit me and he isn’t going ‘Aaargh!’ and holding his head!” His voice rose to an unmanly squeak, “The chip… it doesn’t work in this dimension!”


Buffy caught Spike’s eye, smirked, and offhandedly asked, “What chip?” She turned to wink at Tara who grinned back at her before closing her eyes and inhaling the aroma of some herbs she had crushed between her hands. After taking several deep breaths she began her soft chant to create the glamour, sprinkling the herbs over all their heads.


They all pointedly ignored Xander’s very creditable impression of a fish out of water.

******

Spike felt uncomfortable in his own skin. It didn’t fit right, and when he looked down his legs and feet were far too bulky and the wrong colour. He saw a tanned animal skin draped around his otherwise naked body but he could still feel his precious duster. It was all very unsettling. Judging by the embarrassed giggles from the girls he wasn’t the only one feeling ill at ease, so he shrugged and decided to be stoic and ignore it.


He was however disgruntled that Xander had been the one who got the crossed belts making him the apparent leader of their little group. Tara said that it was to do with him having almost the right body mass so less ‘tweaking’ was involved with his glamour, making it easier for her to add the embellishments to Xander’s appearance. The inescapable logic behind the explanation didn’t make Spike feel any better about it.


They unobtrusively joined the track and nervously marched along. As they walked Buffy whispered the story of the chip’s removal to a very apprehensive Xander. When they came in sight of the cave they affected a confidence that none of them felt and continued down the slope, straight past the demon guards unchallenged, and into the shadowy entrance. As soon as they got safely into the cave and knew without doubt that the glamour had worked, the three humans heaved huge sighs of relief. Buffy fervently whispered, “Well done, Tara!”


In single file they moved into the tunnel following the tiny light that bobbed along before them. As in the entrance cave the only illumination came from the dimly glowing bowls set in the walls every twenty feet or so. Xander, their apparent leader, led with Spike and Tara following and Buffy taking the rearguard position.


Their course twisted and turned and undulated constantly, although the general trend was ever downwards. They passed places where the tunnel branched and places where it opened out into caverns, most of which were inhabited by groups of demons occupied in a variety of activities. Several times they came to places where a cool draught signified an opening to the surface nearby.


Occasionally they had to splash through cold shallow streams and several times came to crude little wooden bridges over wide cracks in the floor. As they crossed they could hear below them one of the bubbling watercourses that seemed to weave their way through the tunnels at random, and always there was the constant echoing background noise of dripping water.


From time to time they encountered more demons moving through the cool passages, both singly and in small groups. Each time it happened they held their collective breaths in anxious anticipation of being unmasked, but each time the demons completely accepted their presence and gradually they penetrated deeper and deeper into the labyrinthine network of caves and tunnels following Tara’s guiding light.


Eventually they reached a massive cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites, some of which had met in the middle to form pillars of glistening rock. Little streams trickled across the floor, all heading for a still, dark pool off to one side. Here there were fewer glowing bowls of light but scattered among the throng were small bright fires each with its own cooking pot or spit and its circle of attendant demons. There were hosts of them filling the space, and the hum of many quiet voices echoed from the invisible roof along with the constant tinkling drip drip drip of water.


Spike took in a deep breath to test the air and whispered, “We’re getting close. Niblet’s scent is faint, but fresh. She’s definitely here.”


Buffy mimicked his action and then sagged against his side and let out a little whimper of relief. “Oh, thank God.”


While visibility was poor in the crowded centre of the cavern where the fires clustered, around the edges the shadows were so dark as to be impenetrable. They drew to one side of the tunnel entrance for a couple of minutes to assess the situation. After a few moments Buffy edged up to Spike and whispered, “I need you to vamp out so we can see into the shadows.”


Spike hesitated then whispered back, “Not so sure that’s such a good idea, Slayer. When I vamp out here it feels different. The demon gradually kinda takes over and it gets a bit hard to think. Seem to be reduced to acting on instinct.”


Buffy chuckled and said, “I noticed.”


Her voice was soft enough that Xander’s sarcastic muttered comment was clearly audible. “And that’s different from normal, how?”


Buffy dug her elbow into the young man’s ribs and scowled at him hissing, “Now’s not the time, Xander.” She turned back to Spike, sighed and considered for a second, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully, which looked really weird on the glamour’s coarse demonic features. After a moment she nodded to herself and repeated her instruction to Spike, “Go on, vamp out.”


Shrugging as if to say ‘you asked for it’, Spike brought his demon forward. When he nodded to indicate he’d shifted Buffy grasped his chin firmly and drew his face down to hers, capturing his gaze. In a quiet yet compelling voice she commanded, “Spike… you only have to remember three things. One: find Dawn. Two: protect Dawn. Three: get Dawn to somewhere safe. Don’t worry about the rest of us, we can look after ourselves and if we get split up you know I’ll be able to follow our scent trail out of here, and then we’ll find you. Got it?”


Spike confirmed, “Yeah, got it Slayer, but times getting on. Don’t forget if it’s daylight when we get outside you gotta watch out for that bleedin’ great dragon!”


Buffy nodded, “Okay.” Then she took a deep breath and ordered, “Right, then. Off we go!”


A weary Tara flicked a finger to set the hovering light back into motion, and they moved further into the vast cavern. They wove around the neat, almost smokeless little cooking fires, noting in passing that they were occupied by what looked like family groups. In places gangs of youngsters sat together with one or two adults, apparently being taught or listening to stories. In other places smaller juveniles played together, or lay sleeping in heaps of animal skins.


At one point Xander nudged Buffy, pointing off to one side. When Spike looked to see what had caught his eye he saw a side cave lit by a several bright torches as well as the ubiquitous glowbowls and a small central fire. Around the rock walls were large wooden chests and shelves stacked with curious objects, and roughly made stools and tables were scattered about.


The demons in that area were different. Although at first glance they had a very similar overall appearance, upon closer examination they were taller and less muscular and far paler than the others. Instead of a deep blue crest they had a shock of light blue hair down the centre of their otherwise bald heads and they wore pale knee length tunics and dark cloaks over one shoulder rather than the primitive skin coverings sported by the other demons.


They were also behaving very differently. Two groups were poring over what looked like large scrolls, and others were taking part in a heated discussion.


Buffy whispered, “Different species?” The only response was a series of shrugs as nobody knew the answer.


They continued on for several minutes before Spike suddenly caught a strong whiff of a familiar scent. He paused and inhaled again, flaring his nostrils to check he was correct and whispered, “Dawn.”


No longer needing the Tinkerbell light to guide him, Spike broke into a run and overtook it. He swerved past a group of arguing demons, around a thick stalagmite/stalactite pillar and up a steep slope and found himself at the entrance to another small side cave. Here only the light from a tiny fire and a couple of glowbowls broke up the intense darkness. There were three of the cloaked demons sitting speaking quietly by the fire and behind them crouched two of the hunter demons with the bowls placed beside them, apparently playing the same gambling game as the guards outside had been.


He took a few slow tentative steps into the cave, puzzled at not being able to see the girl he could definitely smell in there. His uncertainty caused him to resume his human face as he tried to concentrate. The guard demons looked up and casually noted his presence, then turned back to their game. As one of them adjusted its position Spike’s attention was drawn to the pile of skins in the shadows behind them, which had shifted slightly. As he heard the panting Scoobies coming up behind him Spike took a couple more paces forward, and the pile of skins suddenly came into focus and resolved into Dawn, curled up asleep in a tight ball on a makeshift bed against the wall.


Confident that Buffy and the others had his back, Spike strode purposefully around the fire and past the two guards and crouched down beside the sleeping girl, gently shaking her shoulder.


Dawn grunted as she woke and rubbed her eyes, then with what she saw as a demon looming over her she sat up and flinched away from the vampire, muttering angrily, “Get your disgusting paws off me… I’m not your pet, you hear me? My sister’s so going to kick your asses when she finds out you’ve got me chained up in here to gawk at!” She sighed dramatically and slumped down again, continuing mournfully to herself, “Oh who am I kidding? You haven’t a clue what I’m saying and nobody knows where I am… I’m so screwed.”


Realising his mistake, Spike took Dawn’s hand and laid it on his shoulder, stroking it against the collar of his duster as he whispered, “Sshhh It’s me Niblet, let’s get you out of here, yeah?”


Dawn’s blue eyes suddenly went as big as saucers and she squeaked in surprise. “Spike? Is that really you?” She tentatively felt the familiar soft leather then, reassured, she flung her arms around him crying, “Oh you found me! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!”


Spike held her close, stroked her hair and murmured soothingly, “Got you now, kitten. Come on, quiet now, let’s get you safe. Big sis is here too, we’ve just got to get out past all these fellas and then you can take us all home.”


After a few moments Dawn drew back and made a visible effort to pull herself together, brushing tears of relief from her cheeks with her fingers. Taking a deep breath to steady herself she turned around and felt in among the skins she was lying on and brought Spike’s attention to a long chain that was fixed to the rock wall at one end and to a thick band clamped around her ankle at the other. She whispered, “Get this thing off me will you? It’s really heavy.”


Spike tugged hard at the chain and it came away from the wall easily. Angling themselves to take advantage of the best of the limited light they bent to examine the shackle on her ankle just as there was a scuffle and a shrill scream immediately behind the vampire. He half turned to see Xander Harris standing swinging his axe and jerked back in shock, reflexively reaching for his sword. Then he noticed the spear wielding demon lying dead on the ground with a deep gash in its neck, just inches away.


He nodded at the grinning young man in appreciation, “Nice one, Harris.”


Glancing around, Spike saw that Buffy was rolling to her feet from where she’d taken out the other guard, Tara was slumped by the cave entrance clutching her kukri, and the three robed demons were standing huddled against the wall gaping at them.


With a start Spike realised that Buffy Tara and Xander were all now wearing their own faces, and that his arm was clothed in his own black leather. He looked up again and raised a questioning eyebrow. Xander explained, “Tara needed a rest from the magic. Hurry up and get Dawnie free, we’ll keep watch.” He smiled down at the startled girl and greeted her cheerily, “Hi Dawnie!”


Dawn responded with a bemused little wave and, “Hey Xander,” before returning her focus to her unwelcome anklet. Xander joined Tara and they peered anxiously out into the main cavern, while Buffy stood glaring at their hostages, her axe raised threateningly.


It wasn’t long before Xander straightened up and quietly called, “Buffy…”


She turned to look at him, “Huh?”


He warned, “Company coming.”


Buffy swore softly, “Crap.” She looked over to where Spike and Dawn were having less than spectacular success in removing her handicap. “How’re you guys doing over there?”


Dawn called back, “Not good.” She looked up into Spike’s eyes, “I was going to tell you I wanted to take the chain with us anyway. Perhaps we should just pick it up and go as it is?”


Spike raised an eyebrow and asked in disbelief, “You wanna weigh us down with this?”


Dawn shrugged, “Yeah?” Seeing his doubtful expression she added, “Trust me, you won’t regret it.”


That’s when everything went nuts.


A good dozen of the hunter demons came charging up the slope into the cave, spears and knives at the ready. Buffy abandoned her threatening position before the robed demons and ran to help Tara and Xander. Spike made to get up and join them until Buffy took a second to yell back at him, “Spike! Get Dawn out of here!”


Under his breath he grumbled as he helped Dawn to her feet, “Impossible bloody woman. How can we get out of here when there’s a bloody battle going on in the doorway?”


He was coiling the heavy chain over his shoulder when Dawn looked past him. Her eyes widened and she squeaked, “Spike!”


Spinning round Spike saw the three robed demons advancing in a bunch, stubby little knives in hand. Yelling in frustration he drew his sword and swung it in a single graceful motion. “Sod off can’t you? ‘m busy here!”


Three heads went rolling across the floor and Spike calmly wiped the blade on a demon’s cloak, resheathed it, and turned back to his task.


Once the majority of the chain was settled diagonally over his shoulders leaving a loop to allow Dawn freedom of movement, Spike turned and asked Dawn, “Can you run like this, Niblet?”


Dawn was frozen, gaping down at a head that had come to rest against her foot, its glazed red eyes staring sightlessly up at her.


Spike prompted, “Niblet?” There was no reaction. Slightly louder he said, “Dawn?”


The teenager slowly looked up at him and gulped. “You can be real scary when you want to be. You know that… right?”


Spike grinned in gleeful satisfaction, “Yeah?” He straightened his shoulders and puffed out his chest proudly. “Yeah right… I still got it!”


Dawn shook her head and snorted in amusement then bent to pick up one of the demon’s dropped knives and examined it critically. She muttered sulkily, “I suppose this’ll be better than nothing. They took my crossbow. I liked that crossbow!”


They turned together and took a few awkward paces with Dawn hampered by the chain. Once they’d worked out a comfortable arrangement they looked up to watch the fight in the cave entrance, trying to figure out how they were supposed to obey Buffy’s instruction to get out. Then as one they stopped, abruptly entranced.


Xander and Tara had drifted to the side to give Buffy room to manoeuvre. She was spinning and kicking and swinging her axe and demons were falling like flies. Spike sighed in wonder. She was glorious.


It seemed as if only seconds had passed when silence descended once more and Buffy turned to grin around at them. “Wow! That was eathy! You ready to go, Thpike?” He nodded, speechlessly. She turned to Tara, “We could do with that glamour again now, pleathe Tara.” Without exception they stood and gaped at her in astonishment. She frowned in confusion at their lack of response. “What?”


Xander lifted a shaking hand and pointed.


Tara stammered, “B – Buffy…”


It was an excited Dawn who broke the spell. “That is so cool! Love the cute little fangs, Buffy.” She gestured at her sister’s astonished face, “The orange eyes are… original, and the leopard skin look is so in this season. It’s a bit like Jadzia Dax from Star Trek DS9, but different.”


Spike was galvanised into movement and strode across to his Mate, oblivious to the fact that he was dragging a startled off-balance Dawn behind him. He took Buffy’s bewildered face between his hands. With his thumbs he gently traced the exquisite mottled golden markings that were sprinkled over her nose, cheekbones and ears and extended into her hair murmuring, “You are so gorgeous…”


Buffy dropped her forgotten axe at her side and her rich orange eyes gazed up at him in doubt. She hesitantly asked, “Fangth? There are fangth now?”


Spike curled his tongue behind his teeth and grinned in pure delight. He took one of Buffy’s hands in his and lifted it, softly echoing her own words from earlier, “Feel for yourself, Slayer.”


Buffy felt around her mouth, her fingers tentatively tracing the delicate fangs that had replaced her upper canine teeth. Her face crumpled and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh God, I am a demon.” Before any of them was able to comment she backed away from Spike, glared at him and angrily demanded, “What have you done to me? What am I now, Thpike? Have you turned me into thome thort of a vampire?”


Taken aback, Spike stuttered, “Me? You think I…? Bloody Hell!” Hurt by her accusation he clenched his fists at his sides and lashed out angrily, “Well now. Like that is it? Thought we’d got past that whole soddin’ ‘kick the Spike’ game when something happens you don’t like. Guess I shouldn’t have expected anything different.”


Buffy’s expression softened and she held out a hand murmuring apologetically, “Spike…” but he wasn’t to be mollified that easily, despite feeling her immediate remorse for her outburst.


“Looks like Old Perpalla knew what she was talking about when she told Rosie about the Slayer demon. Eh Buffy…?”


Dawn broke in hastily, “I know the designer fangs are fascinating and all, but can we leave the fighting amongst ourselves until we’re somewhere safe? Look!” She pointed out into the main cave, drawing their attention to a large group of armed demons marching purposefully up the slope towards them.


Reverting instantly to her businesslike Slayer persona, Buffy bent to reclaim her axe and addressed Tara over her shoulder, “Tara. Glamour. Now.”


Tara shrugged, “S-sorry, Buffy, I’m tired. I don’t think I can. Not all five of us. Not if there’s going to be fighting…”


Buffy glanced around at them appraisingly. “Right. Just you, me and Xander then? Do you think you can manage that?”


Tara nodded confidently, “Yeah, I can do that.” She took another handful of herbs from her pocket and began the incantation again.


Buffy turned to Spike and curtly ordered, “I don’t care how you do it, just get Dawn to safety. We’ll create a diversion and then catch up with you. Okay?”


Spike clenched his jaw and nodded. He was so disappointed and angry with her he couldn’t find anything to say that wouldn’t have made everything ten times worse.


Buffy turned her attention to her sister. “Stick with Spike and do as he says. He may go all ‘grrr aargh’ but don’t worry, he’ll look after you.” With that she spun back to the approaching demons and with a feral snarl began lashing out with her axe.


Spike drew his sword and grasped Dawn’s free hand. He inched along the cave wall around the frantic action, on the way brushing past Xander Harris who was shielding Tara from the fight while she worked. Out of the corner of his mouth he muttered. “Saved my unlife there, Harris. You do realise that, don’t you?” He waggled his eyebrows mischievously and smirked, “Didn’t know you cared.”


Xander was left spluttering ineffectually as Spike drew a limping Dawn with him out into the main cave.


They hadn’t gone far before it all went wrong.


Dawn tripped over the loose loop of chain and cried out in pain as her sore ankle was wrenched yet again. All the demons that were close enough to hear the unfamiliar sound turned to stare at them, and after a second’s confused hesitation at seeing two such strange creatures in their home leapt to their feet with a guttural cry. They surged forward menacingly, the familiar little crude knives appearing in many hands.


As Dawn squeaked her apologies Spike rolled his eyes and swore under his breath, “Aah bugger.” Then he backed away nervously, pulling Dawn close into his side and brandishing his sword. If he had been on his own or with just Buffy he wouldn’t have hesitated to attack, but he was painfully aware that his goal wasn’t to engage in battle and win. He had to fight his demon’s impulsive violent nature to be able to protect Dawn and get her to safety, which would mean avoiding conflict as much as possible.


All at once, vampire, girl and demons all paused as a metallic clash attracted their attention to the side where the tail end of the fight on the slope up to the side cave had come into view. As they watched, Buffy took a spear in the side and cried out in pain as she sliced off the head of the last demon that had attacked her.


Xander screamed, “Buffy! Noo!” just as Tara’s glamour took effect and the Slayer’s tiny figure blurred and shifted. As she slumped to the ground she became lost in amongst the heap of bloody grey bodies.


Spike vamped out and howled in anguish. His Mate was hurt. She needed him! He started running up the slope to find her but was brought up short by a tug on the chain wrapped around his shoulders and a shrill squeal from Dawn as she was jerked off her feet. He turned back to her in confusion. His overwhelming instinct was to tend to his injured Mate but he also felt compelled to protect this vulnerable human child. He tried desperately to come up with a way he could care for both of them.


Snarling in frustration, he hesitated.


The seconds stretched out silently as every living… and undead… creature present tried to figure out what was happening and waited for some sign, some definite indication of what was expected of them.


Then the pile of demon bodies moved and a single blood smeared figure lurched to its feet. It snapped off the spear head that protruded from its back and with a harsh grunt tugged the wooden shaft out of its midriff and flung it aside.


One of the other demons still standing in the side cave lifted an axe and moved to attack it, but then the wounded demon looked up and met Spike’s eyes. In Buffy’s voice it yelled, “Spike! GO!”


It took a whole second for Spike’s brain to register the fact that Buffy was still fighting fit. That she still expected him to get her sister to safety, and that she was quite capable of looking after herself in the meantime. He took note that the Bond wasn’t filled with the fear and doubt he might have expected from a person with such a serious injury, rather it vibrated with unfailing strength and determination.


He gave her a brief nod of acknowledgement then returned his attention to the grumbling teenager sprawled on the ground at his feet massaging her ankle. With a swift movement he scooped her up onto his shoulder with his right hand and lifted his sword in his left. Whirling the gleaming blade around his head he let out a full throated challenging roar and charged into the crowd of demons that had been menacing him.


They scattered in surprise. Some just got out of the way as quickly as they could. Others fell to the ground minus assorted body parts. As soon as he was in the clear Spike lowered the sword, dug into the reserves of strength lent him by regular infusions of Slayer blood and the mystical power of his sword, and ran.


And ran.


And ran.


And didn’t stop running even when he was out in the fresh air, the first hint of sunrise tinting the sky pink.


Along his path he left a litter of dead and dying demons. Any that had had the bad luck to get in his way… had been got out of his way.


The final six to meet an untimely end were the guards at the cave entrance. More than a century of having to evade persecution by humans and demons alike had fixed one habit in the vampire so indelibly as to make it instinct.


Never leave anybody who knows your escape route alive and able to point the way for others to follow.


So ingrained was this imperative that Spike didn’t take the obvious direct path towards the forest. He didn’t even retrace their previous route through the grasslands. Instead he swerved into the stream and splashed along its course until he was far from the cave, and only then allowed his frantic pace to slow.


Finally, in response to an irritating small fist pounding over his kidneys he staggered onto the stream bank and stumbled to a halt. He gently lowered Dawn to the grass where she crumpled into a sodden panting groaning heap and curled up around her stomach that had been bruised and abused by constant bouncing on his solid muscular shoulder.


Spike sank to the ground beside her, never taking his eyes off their back trail except periodically to scan the sky for signs of the dragon. He didn’t sheathe his weapon. Even with his demon completely in control he retained sufficient awareness to understand that as soon as he loosed his grip on the hilt of the emerald sword the extra energy that it lent him would drain away and he’d be left spent and unable to take another step.


Seeing that there were no pursuers on the immediate horizon Spike sat in the sun and waited for his charge to recover sufficiently to continue. He slowly relaxed and almost as an afterthought finally subdued his demon sufficiently to be able to shake off his game face. In the meantime he concentrated on the emotions coming to him through the Bond. While he had been running Buffy had been fighting and thoroughly enjoying herself. Sometime during his mad dash the battle had ended and now she was being sneaky. He smirked to himself. She relished that just as much.


The recuperative powers of the young being as they are, it didn’t take Dawn long to sit up and take notice. After taking a long drink from the stream and finger combing her damp straggly hair out of her face she began asking questions. A lot of questions.


As Spike related the story of what had happened between her opening the portal and her rescue, he slipped off his backpack and passed it over. Buffy, Xander and Tara had been wearing their coats so the provisions had been distributed more evenly between the two packs. Dawn found some chunks of cooked meat and a half empty bottle of Buffy’s orange juice and as Spike spoke she ate and drank voraciously. Apparently her demonic hosts hadn’t appreciated the gannet-like qualities of a rapidly growing teenager’s appetite.


When she’d finished, Spike located two suitable rocks in the stream bed. After padding her ankle with her sweater Dawn braced the shackle against one rock and waited for Spike to smash the shackle with the second.


Spike was taken aback when instead of shattering, the dull brown metal band around Dawn’s ankle just bent. He dropped the rock and rubbed his thumb over the smooth shiny surface of the dent he’d made. Looking up into Dawn’s eyes he hesitantly asked, “Niblet, d’ya think this is…”


Dawn grinned. “Gold?” She wriggled in delight. “Yay me! I knew it was! I think their knives are too. While I was down there everything I saw that was made from metal was the same. I think it’s the only metal they’ve got! I told you you wouldn’t regret bringing it with us!” She lovingly stroked the chain draped over Spike’s shoulder, declaring proudly, “Behold, my college fund!”

******

Their feet swished through the long grass as they followed the course of the stream towards the distant tree line, only leaving its banks to cut across the wider bends. Dawn had insisted on carrying the depleted backpack since Spike still bore her golden chain, but she hung onto his right arm for support as her sore ankle was still troubling her.


Spike marched cheerfully along with the blade of his emerald sword resting on his left shoulder as he listened to Dawn’s tale of landing unexpectedly in the middle of a field of some sort of crops and panicking when she discovered she was alone in a strange place. She had soon begun to bake in the strong sun and seeing the stream in the distance she had set off towards it, but hadn’t quite got there when she had been discovered.


At sundown two of the demons heading out to tend the crops had grabbed her and roughly escorted her into the caves to be presented to the robed demons. At first she had feared for her life, but soon accepted she was not going to be killed. Instead it appeared that the demons wanted to study her.


She joked about frightening them with one of her customary teenage tantrums when they had tried to remove her clothes to examine them… and her. Apparently their ears had deplored her girlish shrieks as much as Spike’s did. They had left her strictly untouched since then, just approaching cautiously every now and then with one wooden bowl of some unidentifiable mush for her to eat with her fingers, and another of fresh water.


When they stopped briefly for Dawn to take another drink from the stream and bathe her ankle in the cool water, Spike suddenly remembered the item he had picked up in the cave. With an assumed air of innocence he commented, “You’re not wearing your necklace, Bit. What’ve you done with it?”


Dawn’s face fell. Her hand went to her bare neck and she explained, “I’m so sorry, Spike. I’ve lost it. I dropped it when they took me into the caves. I hoped someone would find it and figure out where I was. Stupid of me, wasn’t it?”


Smirking triumphantly, Spike slipped it out of his jeans pocket and dangled it in front of her face. “Not stupid, pet. Clever.” Dawn squealed gleefully and put the necklace back on.


They resumed their trek, sometimes chatting easily, sometimes walking in companionable silence, and the forest was getting appreciably closer when Spike began having the uneasy feeling that he was being watched. He stopped, released Dawn’s arm and turned slowly around, his eyes sweeping the horizon, searching in vain for movement.


Dawn asked, “What’s wrong?”


Spike shrugged. “Dunno, pet. Guess it was nothing.” He still felt uneasy though, so for a while afterwards he repeated the search every few minutes.


It wasn’t until a black shadow sped past in a blast of acrid wind and something briefly snagged his ear and the collar of his duster that he remembered the dragon. The dragon that he had been so careful to warn his Slayer about. The dragon that had completely slipped his mind after their first rest stop.


He looked up to see the first creature wheeling to begin a second dive and another flapping its way towards them. He snarled, “Get down, Niblet. Get flat on the ground and don’t move until I say!” As Dawn lay down and twisted her head to watch what was going on he grabbed the sword in both fists and stood over the prone figure of the young girl he had been doing such a poor job of protecting.


In the few brief seconds he had before the dragons attacked he absently thought that he’d have to do a lot better than his recent performance, or Buffy would be looking for another Protector for her sister.


TBC