Cretian Escape

A/N: Thanks go to Evilawyer for beta-ing.

Here is the update - finally. Sorry that it wasn’t yesterday, but I was sick (in the head maybe? ; ). Enjoy the chapter.
hapthapter 13 - Images

The next day, after every Scoobie and vampire alike slept, all gathered in the dinning room for a late lunch. They ate, talked and made some general plans for Buffy’s rescue, leaving specific planning for after the meal. It was decided that Xander and Dawn were to borrow the landlord’s car, find a map, and learn every inch, every curve, every twist, and every turn of the area between their villa ahe mhe mansion housing the portal leading to and, more imporly, ly, back from the auction. Cordy was ecstatic to be assigned another shopping spree for the auction, and when finished she would tag along with Xander and Dawn the last couple of days. Angel, Spike, Giles and Willow were to be the planners of the escape, planning down to the minutest details.

When the eating was done and assignments finalized, but no one had yet left the table, Spike sat back, surveying the room. “So, let’s have some Q and A, shall we? I am sure you lot have a question or three or thirty. Let me see how well I am psychically connected today. Rupert wants to know if I still have that bleeding medallion. Yes, and yes, you can study it.” Relief crossed Giles’ face as he acknowledged Spike’s accuracy with a nod. “Red wants to know what the spell was that the prats cast to bring me back. I don’t know the exact spell they used, Red. It was in Latin, but that wasn’t the probfor for me; the problem was, since I didn’t arrive until the end, I only heard the end, but I’ll write that bit down for you.” He accepted her thanks before turning to Dawn. “Nibblet wants to know how long I have been back and where the hell I have been all this time. I’ll tell you all, sweet bit. Have patience. Now last but not…Well, last, the carpenter wants to know how good the food is on this island and where he can find the beach with the birds in bikinis. I will gladly show you both – after the escape.”

“Thanks. And can we make it topless bikinis?...wait a sec. I’ve been thinking.” All attention turned to Xander.

“Does it hurt?” Raising both eyebrows, Spike mimicked shock.

For once wanting to stay focused, Xander settled for flipping him off before speaking again. “You are the one that started the Spike rumors in the beginning of 2004.”

“Sorry to burst your tooty fruit bubble gum bubble, whelp, but those rumors were already going when I came back in the summer of 2004. But it was nice to be remembered.” Spike left it at that. He just wasn’t ready to explain that he used the rumors to stay hidden. It was one thing to discuss it with Angel who truly understood keeping a low profile or staying hidden altogether, but with the Scoobies…? That could wait until after Buffy’s escape and he figured out if he would ever again want to use the rumors to blend back into the wood work.

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The next day would be a flurry of activity. After two days of attempts, Dawn finally caught Spike alone out on the balcony.

Spike blew out a stream of smoke before greeting her. “Nibblet, nice out here, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, this is a great place.” Dawn looked across the scenic landscape. “I hope we can stay for a few days after saving Buffy and hsomesome fun.”

“Sounds good, pet. I would enjoy some play in the sand time myself.”

Smiling, Dawn looked him up and down. “And you’ve been sunbathing lately?”

“Beaches are open at night, too, Miss Smarty Pants.” Spike couldn’t keep his thoughts off of the auction and escape. “Find your way around the city yet?”

“Yes, my middle name is now Mapsco. Dawn Mapsco Summers.”

Suddenly concerned, Spike glanced over at her profile. “You do drive better than your sister, don’t you?”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “An elephant squeezed in Min Mini Cooper would drive better than Buffy.”

They both chuckled, and she closed the distance and leaned her head on his shoulder. They just enjoyed the moment. He had forgotten how freely she handed out touches as opposed to her withdrawn stand offish sister.

“Spike, I didn’t forget you…I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“A lot.”

“Me, too, bit.” He wrapped his arm around her.

Without turning around to look, he could tell that many of the others had quietly wandered out the the balcony. Spike dropped his arm from Dawn’s waist so that they could turn around to face them.

Dawn thought for a moment. “Spike, you’re not exactly known for your restraint, are you?”

“Nibblet, you wound me.” Theatrically, Spike placed his hand over his heart.

“Did you miss me so much that you called me back in May?”

Dropping his theatrics, Spike chuckled. “Always said you were a smart little bint.”

“What was the name you used?”

The vampire turned and looked at the watcher. “Randy Gileton.”

Giles groaned and Xander had a great fun retelling the memory loss incident when Willow cast a spell on everyone in the Magic Box. He caught Angel and Cordy up and took great enjoyment in describing Spike’s suit that day and the father/son hug Giles and Spike shared.

When Xander wrapped up the tale, Dawn gained Spike’s attention again. “Spike, you do know that we know your real name now, don’t you?”

Not even hesitating in his consideration, Spike spun around and glared at Angel. Willow, however, came to Angel’s defense. “Spike,” she walked over and put her hand on the blonde vampire’s arm, “Angel only told because Buffy wanted to have a marker made for you.” She wasn’t surprised when his whole demeanor changed.

Giles cleared his throat. “Yes, the marker. That’s where I found her and subsequently told her you might be here in Crete.”

Having more than he could take of share time, Spike left and headed for his room. The thought of Buffy missing him, mourning him, when he had only been on the other side of the Atlantic, pierced his soul.

Undaunted by Spike’s withdrawal, Dawn followed him. When she found him sitting in a chair next to the window, she sat down at his feet. She held her breath, waiting for what he might say in response to the revelation about Buffy’s desire for a marker. This was so important to him, her sister, and Dawn that it was worth the wait. If Spike was quiet, which was rare, he was contemplating, trying to come to a satisfying answer to the question of what it all meant.

Trying to help with an explanation, Dawn spoke in a quiet voice, just above a whisper. “She was going out and hunting down your impostors, hoping each time it would be you, but was only ever disappointed. All it was doing was killing her. When she came back from what she said was her last try, we had the marker made.” Dawn put her hand on his knee. “I was glad she let me help her with the gravestone. I thought it would help put some finality to her pain, but it didn’t. It just gave her a place to mourn. But I can’t talk. It was the same for me. No matter what, Spike, she missed you so much and is going to go nuts when she sees you again. Be ready for hugs, kisses, and happy tears.”

Running his hand through his hair, he slowly shook his head. “I don’t know what to think. I thought Buffy was with Angel. Cordy told me that Buffy and Angel decided it was a no go, and I can see how haphe phe poof is with Cordelia. But … that doesn’t mean…there will be an us. A Buffy and Spike all tied up in a pretty red bow.”

“Are you kidding me?” Dawn turned her brown eyes to his blue. “She uber missed you.” Judging from the emotions flitting across Spike’s face, Dawn thought he looked hopeful but she could still see uncertainty in hiprespression. “Storms were the worst times. She told me once that they reminded her of her relationship with you.” Dawn smiled when Spike laughed softly, and she felt the tension dissipate. “Enemies or allies, never at a complete peace, just like the elements in a storm, raging against each other. So during storms, Buffy would rage back. She would walk out to where there was no shelter, set her feet, fling her arms wide, tilt her face up to the sky, and yell her heart and head off.”

She tried to control her emotions, but Dawn couldn’t help but get choked up. When she felt Spike’s hand stroke her hair, she leaned into his hand for comfort. So many times they had done this the summer that Buffy had been dead, and he had looked out for her. She used to think of him as her very own, comfy vamp. And here they were, choked up with emotions again while talking about Buffy. “She always started out raging against the Powers That Be, yelling at them for taking you away from her. Then, with her fist shaking at the sky, she would yell at you for leaving her and yell about how much she needed you. And last, with her arms to her sides, she would rage at herself. She would start with calling herself a selfish bitch and go from there. I hate to say it, but I think she was right about that one.” At that, he tugged her hair, but she just chuckled. “Then she would end up on the muddy ground. All anger spent, just love and sorrow left. I know because by then I would be there with her. She would apologize to you over and over for things she did to you that I had no idea about. She apologized not only for the physical beatings she gave you before you had a soul while you were trying to change, but she also apologized for how she treated you as a man.” She looked up at him. “You saw them kiss?”

Spike nodded. He didn’t have to be told that Dawn was referring to Angel. Buffy must have talked about kissing the brood boy before the big fight in Sunnydale.
wn swn scrunched up her nose. “Yuk.”

“Double yuk, Nibblet.” Spike tried not to picture that suck face spectacle.

“Anyway, she even apologized for the last few days in Sunnydale, that she still was drawing strength and love from you but that she had kissed Angel. I had no idea a lot of this stuff ever happened, but I do know and you should know that she is sorry for her mistakes and for not showing you how she felt.”

“If I had known any of this, bit, I would have been in Cleveland as fast as I could hijack a plane. But I thought she was happy. That was the whole point.”

Smiling, Dawn nestled back against Spike, and sighed when he started stroking her hair again. “All that matters now is that we missed you, and I am glad your back. And Buffy will be glad, too, when we get her back. Actually, glad is an understatement for both of us. Nuff said on my part. Angel must have wigged when he found out you were back. Can we say big, neon lights ‘surprise’? Tell me about when you hooked up with Angel and don’t leave out any of the juicy parts.”

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Aaahhh, it was so good to finally stretch her legs, to walk in the open air. Buffy made a mental note to thank Vassilious again for giving her this gem of an opportunity to get out of her cell. Yet again, the vampire was quite the enigma or…maybe it was like fulfilling a last request or something, Buffy thought with a hollow laugh.

The day was overcast, but she felt like the sun was shining on her. The large square courtyard Vassilious made available to her was straight out of one of the grand old, black and white movies. Holding up the portico arches were ornately carved pillars surrounding the courtyard. Ivy grew up the stone work tying in the greenery of the tiered manicured bushes out in the open area. In the center was a stone fountain as a focal point with an edge wide enoughuse use as a bench. Enchanted by the romantic feel of the setting, Buffy sat down and trailed her fingers in the cool water. Then she felt it. The indefinable “it” that a person feels when she is no longer alone.

“Hello?” Buffy called softly.

“Buffy.”

An deep, English accented voice floated through the air just before she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Turning sharply, her eyes landed on the man that had been at the viewing with Cordy. Looking at him now, she felt electricity in the air and heard thunder in the distance. She studied him as he walked along the perimeter of the courtyard watching her. Unlike at the viewing, Buffy was able to study his dark, curly, brown hair, his intense brown eyes, the sexy half smile, and his achingly familiar cheekbones. On his first step into the garden on the far side of the fountain, the sky opened up and large droplets of rain began to fall. Focused on him, she still didn’t move from her spot. Before her eyes, the rain washed away his appearance and revealed his true self underneath the outer visage. White-blonde hair, sparkling, sapphire blue eyes, sharp cheekbones that now fit his face.

“My Spike,” Buffy sighed.

They were both drenched by the time she walked around the fountain towards him. Watching her approach, he smirked the smirk he had always saved just for her. Arrogant but also conveying his love and pride in her as he had so many times in the past. “My slayer.” She knew the timbre of his voice from memory, could feel it deep in her bones. She reached out for him, but the same rain that had revealed her Spike to her continued to melt him away. She knew…she was so sure … that if she could touch him, he could stay with her. She reached for him, but before she could make even the slightest contact, he washed completely away, flowing across the courtyard’s tiles. Clawing at the tiles, Buffy screamed his name again and again.

With a start, Buffy woke up sobbing and sobbed for what seemed like hours. If she had asked her guards, they would also say it had sounded like hours.

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Vassilious could hear her sobs down the hall. Gut wrenching sorrow. Buffy glanced up when he entered and tried to rein in her tears. When he set her food down, she held out her arm for her usual shot, hoping that the sedative would numb her grief.

After the shot, Vassilious sat down, placing a tablet of paper that he had brought with himhis his lap. He waited, allowing Buffy time to collect herself. When she appeared composed and had focused her attention on him, he asked, “Buffy, would you grant me a favor?”

Buffy noticed that the black haired vampire called her “Buffy” instead of “little slayer.” Vassilious had always been courteous, but the use of “Buffy” was much more personal. And asking a favor of her? What dimension was she in? “Depends on the favor.”

Vassilious tilted his head towards her, both acknowledging and enjoying her show of caution. “Would you allow me to sketch you while we talk?”

Placing a hand on the side of her face, she asked a question of her own. “Can you do it so that I’m not Miss Puffy Eyes of 2005?”

Smiling, Vassilious nodded. “No signs of crying. I will draw you with your everyday hazel eyes and beautiful skin.”

Buffy considered for a moment. “I’ll do it if you will do a sketch for me afterwards.”

“Agreed.”

Buffy decided to stick to the more personal feel of this meeting and to use his given name as well. “So, Vass, what do you want to talk about?”

Taking a moment, Vassilious considered the can of worms that he was about to open before committing himself to the discussion with his words. “Change. Redemption.”

“Why, are you ready for both?” Buffy teased him to cover up her shock He He glanced up with a small smile. “You just don’t quit, do you, Buffy?”

“No. Nope. Nada. Not ever.” But Buffy was taken back by his reaction and demeanor. The vampire in front of her appeared…comfortable with the topic? Maybe she was still dreaming.

Not sure where to start, Vassilious ran his hand over his face. The little lady had helped two vampires find and move along the path of change. To tell the truth, he and Buffy had talked about redemption before, and each time he had taken away food, actually a banquet, for thought. Food that he found hard to chew. “So redemption it is, little slayer. My question to you is why? Why do you talk as if you are trying to convert me?”

Buffy paused for a moment looking for the right words, but then gave up. “I can’t think of a lie, so I’ll go with the truth. I like you. And why would a vampire want to redeem himself? You would think I would say that a vampire would seek redemption to do the right thing to be on the side of good, but I don’t think that is exactly true. I think anyone, not just a vampire, needs a reason that is personal to him to improve himself.”

Vassilious made an open handed gesture. “Angel?”

“Angel had his soul pushing him to do the right thing.”

“Spike?”

Pleasure and pain floated across her features. “His love for me started his change, but after awhile, he continued his transformation all on his own.”

“Why would he choose to chase redemption on his own?” Vassilious still had a hard time believing in vampires that choose to hpeoppeople instead of eat them on a regular basis.

“After a couple of years of trying to change, he…he did something to me that was horrible. That was the turning point for him. He looked at himself and didn’t like what he saw. So he sought a better self.”

Still having a hard time accepting Spike’s reasons, Vassilious shook his head. “But a better life for a vampire means blood flowing a plenty.”

“Yeah, right. You are no more an ordinary vampire than Spike and Angel. Ordinary iresires don’t just make with the yummy yums on blood. Sure, they need the blood, but they get their jollies on death. You don’t strike me like that is priority one at this point in your unlife.”

Vassilious thought for a long moment. “Do you remember your dare? You dared me to go without human blood. Buy blood from the butcher.”

“Yes.”

“I took you up on that dare.”

“And?”

“Let’s say that I am still testing out the dare.”

Buffy was so surprised that she couldn’t think of anything to say before he swiftly changed the subject. “So who do you want me to draw. No, wait. Spike. Right?” He smiled as she nodded and began to describe.

“He had these killer cheekbones…”

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TBC