Cretian Escape

Chapter 15 - Above all the others we'll fly

In the auction hall, the chaos calmed down, and the pieces from the cases were being sold off. Actually, Spike was rather proud of how much the sword and leather duster associated with him had fetched, even if the wankers erroneously thought they were real. In fact, the secondmotimotion of the evening began after the duster sold, caused by the guards instead of Willow’s magic. Two guards raced into the room from the direction of Buffy’s cell, and Willow and Spike watched as the guards reported to the black-haired vampire. Spike could feel Willow’s hand on his forearm, her nails digging into his muscles. “Don’t worry, luv. This is just the beginning of our escape.” What he didn’t say was that he was very concerned about the new wild card in the game --- Vassilious. The vampire may have helped Buffy escape, but he could always betray Willow and Spike.

Why would Vassilious help Buffy escape anyway? The only thing Spike could think of was that he was in love with her. Join the club. Consequently, Vassilious would be looking to take any rivals for Buffy’s affections out. Spike knew that was how he would handle the competition. If Vassilious knew Spike was back, he undoubtedly knew that Spike loved Buffy from old Sunnydale rumors that kept circulating thanks to the fake Spikes. Accordingly, Vassilious would want to eliminate Spike as riv rival, and this certainly would be a good opportunity to take him out. If that were true, Spike just hoped that Willow would be spared.

As even more guards entered the room, Vassilious stepped up on the dais and simply stated that the slayer had been injured by an unknown somebody and would not be auctioned that night. The already disappointed crowd became indignant when he announced they would be searched before being allowed to pass through the exit portal.

Spike had expected the searches, but not the announcement that Buffy was injured. He had to give the vampire his due; it was a good move on Vassilious’ part to hide the humiliation of the escape for his mistress’ sake. What he hadn’t expected was that he and Willow would be searched after their covers had already been blown.

Spike pulled Willow’s hand through the crook of his elbow and walked her over to the edge of the crowd. With great patience and subtly, he maneuvered Willow and himself close to the front of the line to leave. Just before entering the small domed room containing the portal, Willow gulped in a deep breath and let Spike guide her to the guards in front.

The feeling of being trapped was really starting to get to Spike, and he was starting to get as edgy as Willow bec becoming nervous and exhausted. Not being trapped in the hall, but the feeling he had of being kept away from seeing Buffy. All he was able to glimpse earlier was one alligator-looking demon carrying another one. Not the least bit satisfying to Spike. Vassilious or no Vassilious, he had to get to Buffy.

Startling Spike out of his thoughts, a vampire to their left spoke up, “May I see your invitation? These guards,” he indicated the two on the right, “are going to search you as I look it over.”

Spike was unperturbed by either an inspection of the invitation or their persons as long as the black-haired vampire was absent. Willow had a crystal that she had used to help the slayer escape that would be found, but it was non-descript and unlikely to arouse suspicion. His only worry was that Willow was getting too nervous and too tired to keep up her disguise. However, fate in the form of Vassilious stepped into the small room. Bloody hell, the proverbial other shoe had just dropped. Now Spike and Willow would know just what side this vampire was on, at least for this night.

The guards froze when their superior stepped into view. The blacked-haired vampire addressed the vampire looking over the invitation. “Serat, these two are fine. I will personally vouch for them.” Vassilious turned to Willow and Spike. “Thank you for joining us, and let me apologize for the anticlimactic, unfortunate end to the evening. I hope we can make it up to you some other time.” As he talked, Vassilious put his hand on the small of Willow’s back in a gentlemanly gesture and guided her into the portal.

Before Spike stepped through, he looked Vassilious in the eye. “No need to apologize. We were able to obtain what we came for.” The look between the two vampires held for a few seconds more before Spike stepped through the portal.

When Spike finally guided Willow into Xander’s car, Willow was exhausted. Cordelia’s image faded away, leaving Willow’s true façade. Spike sat in the back seat with her, her head resting on his shoulder, which was convenient since she passed into unconsciousness before Xander had driven one hundred feet from the mansion.

Xander glanced into the back seat. “Is she alright?’

“Think so. Red’s probably just exhausted.” Spike looked down at her and brushed her hair out of her face. “Did the slayer and Peaches make it away?” He pro proud of himself for not yelling the question.

“Yep, Dawnie whisked them away, and we will be with them at the villa in a few short minutes.”

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When they arrived at the villa, Spike handed Willow off into Giles’ waiting arms before racing up the stairs to the room that had been set aside for Buffy. He found Dawn and Cordelia there fussing around his love. Dawn was making sure the bed was perfect, and Cordelia was putting a glass on the bedside table along with a pitcher of water. Trying to stay out of the way but still concerned, Angel was hovering just inside the doorway. Spike nearly ran him down in his haste.

Finally. No “finally” just wasn’t a strong enough word, but it would have to do. Finally, Spike reached out his hand, shaking as it was, and lightly touched Buffy’s hand lying on the coverlet. The last time they had touched was when their clasped hands burned in those final moments in Sunnydale. Her last words to him were “I love you.” What would she say now? He ran his finger tips up her forearm and then down the side of her face. He stopped at her lips, tracing them with the tips of his fingers. Fearing the tears forming in his eyes would start falling, Spike regretfully pulled back.

This time he bumped into Angel as he backed from the room. Incredibly, looking into his grand-sire’s eyes helped. The brunette was the only other being whose love for that small woman laying in that bed could rival his own. Spike knew that Angel was now in love with Cordelia, but a form of his love for Buffy would always exist, and he was alright with that. Cordelia also knew and understood this, but she was secure in her place in Angel’s life. Spike knew that Angel shared his feelings of joy, love and relief, and it helped knowing that someone else understood to such a degree.

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Far in the distance, Buffy could hear voices, … faint but familiar voices. Didn’t they know that she wanted to stay asleep? Who wouldn’t with Spike starring in her current dream? They were lying in bed, and he had run his fingertip across her hand, up her arm, and then down her cheek before lightly brushing a kiss on her lips. Unfortunately, the voices ruined the dream. What would have happened next? Knowing Spike, probably something yummy. If anyone had been looking closely, they would have seen Buffy’s lower lip briefly jut out in a pout before she fell back into a deep sleep.

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Shortly after Spike joined Angel in the hall, Giles rushed up the stairs. He took his turn checking on his surrogate daughter before joining the vampires in an impromptu debriefing.

True to Giles’ style, he polished his glasses as he talked. “I gather all went well.”

“Getting Buffy out went smoothly.” Regardless of the good news, Angel’s voice was skeptical, his eyes were narrowed to slits, and his expression belied his words.

Spike’s expression was much the same. “Too smoothly.”

Stopping his polishing, Giles slowly and precisely put his glasses back on. “Too smoothly? Is there something we should be concerned about?”

Nodding his head, Spike voiced his own concerns. “I’m thinking there is, Wat , c , coming in the form of a black-haired vampire named Vassilious. Even though the Sepatucci Clan may think we’ve taken Buffy and left the island, we need to be careful in our next move.”

And the planning began. The Sepatucci Clan would be squashed. Spike, Angel and the others could call it doing their civic duty all they wanted, but it was revenge, pure and simple. They would give Buffy time to recover, knowing that she would never forgive them for leaving her out of the fight. Meanwhile, they would do their research. Just as Spike had done before the viewing, they would learn all the clan’s comings and goings. They would learn the guards’ patterns, and kill some off, but not enough to scare the core clan enough to flee. Due to Angel’s and Spike’s apprehension, a high priority was given on the surveillance on the second in command, Vassilious.

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‘Ugh!! Why won’t they shut up already?!’ Buffy screamed into her fleeting dream. ‘Well, I am awake for the most part so let’s see what is going on around me. Ugh again.’ Her eyelids felt like lead, but she was able to crack them open long enough to look through the open door out into the hall. There stood Angel, Giles, and Xander. They had come for her. She had been rescued. Tears started leaking out of the corners of her eyes. Just as she was losing the battle against her heavy eyelids, the fourth man glanced her way. Buffy recognized the brunette with the curly hair and sharp cheekbones as the man who had been with Cordelia. That was all her body could stand, and she slipped back into sleep. Her last thought was a fervent wish that what she had just seen was not a dream. She prayed and prayed and prayed that what she had just seen was reality.

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Xander had just joined the triplet of planners to give them an update on Willow. As Giles peppered him with questions, Spike glanced over to Buffy and was shocked to see the slightest slit open between her eyelids. He could see shiny tears ready to fall. Before he could get to her side, her eyes shut again. He contented himself by using is fingertips to gently brush the tears away. He wondered if she recognized him, and he hoped beyond hope that her tears were tears of happiness.

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When consciousness next grabbed hold of her, her right side was especially warm. This time she was able to crack her eyes half open and looked around, which unfortunately just ended up confusing her. No cell, no overly large pillows on the floor, no chains going from her wrists to the wall. Same room as before. Definitely of the good, or maybe just a good dream. But the warmth, you don’t feel temperature in dreams, do you? She looked down the side of her body where somebody was laying with an arm across her waist. Buffy knew that long, brown hair and knew that hand. Dawn. She covered her sister’s hand with her own and threaded their fingers. Maybe this wasn’t a dream after all.

Then movement in the hallway caught her attention as it had the last time she was awake. A man hurried into the room, and when he saw her eyes were open, he stopped short. “Ah, luv, you don’t know how long I have waited to see you again. Actually see those hazel eyes looking back at me again.”

Maybe her dreams had begun again. She knew who he was. How could she not? He was the man that had been with Cordelia…and…sharp cheekbones…and…

Spike kneeled down beside the bed. He picked up her free hand and laid her palm against his cheek.

…and…dirty blonde hair…slicked back…and…it couldn’t be…and the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. “Spike…?” Now she was sure that she must still be dreaming

“In the flesh, pet. Cordelia’s disguise was pretty good at the viewing, wasn’t it?” His eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Buffy could only nod.

Both were speaking in hushed tones so as not to wake Dawn. “But I wish the dye would wash out completely. Bit over there said to just go ahead and bleach it again.” Spike knew he was babbling, but his brain just seemed to have left him, especially with Buffy stroking his face again and again.

How could she not have known? Well, at first she had thought he was Spike, but when she saw the brown eyes, she had lost hope. Buffy berated herself now. How could she ever doubt that Spike would come for her? Wait, he shouldn’t even be on this earth. “Spike…how?”

He knew what she was asking, but that story could wait since he could tell that she was falling asleep again. He leaned into her hand, and when it fell away due to her slumber, he kissed her lips and took his finger tip and traced every part of her face. His slayer was back.

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Buffy fought to wake up again. She had to know that Spike really did exist. She didn’t care how; just that he was really back.

This wakeful period was very different. This time she could hear humming.

Hello my friend, we meet again
It's been awhile, where should we begin?
Feels like forever
Within my heart a memory
A perfect love that you gave to me
Oh, I remember

No, that wasn’t exactly right. Not humming. She could feel someone quietly singing, and the best pars ths that the singer was behind her, a cool chest to her back, and he was holding her secure against him.

When you are with me I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My Sacrifice


She knew that voice and that feel that rumbled through her. Spike. Spike was with her. She didn’t need to see him. It was her Spike.

We've seen our share of ups and downs
Oh how quickly life can turn around
In an instant
It feels so good to realize
What's in yourself and within your mind
Let's find peace there


When he finished the song, Buffy put her hand over his and intertwined their fingers. “I like this dream.”

“Dream?” Buffy couldn’t see it, but Spike smiled. He hadn’t been sure how she would take him holding her like this while she slept. Looking at their hands, he knew she took it just fine. “Well, this bloke aims to please – you.”

“This dream is ranking in the top ten because it is so cuddly. Ok, it’s number one.”

“Conceited bird. Maybe this is my dream. What if you had come in and interrupted a perfectly good wet dream.”

Umm, Spike. Wet Dream. That would be a show. “Wouldn’t I already be in the dream?”

“Well there is that.”

She could feel his chuckle and felt him kiss her hair. Buffy’s thoughts wandered back to the song. She thought how the love part at the beginning should have been true in the past and was definitely now. The rest of the song hit home. “No more sacrifices.”

That took Spike off guard. “What’s that, luv?”

“That song you were singing. We have made enough sacrifices and have left each other enough. From here on out, we’re both staying alive. Or undead in your case.”

“Luv, we will never part again. There are other slayers for that now, aren’t there?” Spike was still unsure of her love for him. He had really thought that she had been fibbing when she said she l him him before he died. Now, he wasn’t sure what to think. After hearing what Dawn and the other told him, he had started to believe in her love for him. But nothing was better than hearing the woman you love telling you she loves you back. Talk of never leaving each other again was getting pretty close to a declaration of love, though.

Buffy broke into his thoughts. “What song was that?”
reedreed’s Sacrifice. An album I listen to frequently.”

“Why?”

“The track before this song is what was playing in the bar where I was waiting to catch a plane back to you, ticket in hand.” His eyes teared up when he thought about it. He was glad she couldn’t see him when he talked about that time. “That’s when I found out that you had gone back to Angel. So…ticket in pieces on the floor.”

With her free hand, Buffy stroked Spike’s arm. “But I didn’t stay long at all.”

“I know that now. The poof…no, actually her highness put me straight…” Spike’s smile was back.

“Did she?” Knowing Cordelia, Buffy knew that would be a good story.

“…After I socked peaches for kissing the princess. No way that ponce was going to cheat on you with Cordelia.”

“You have to tell me more later.” Chuckling, Buffy wiggled a little getting more comfortable. “Sing the song to me again. But remember that we fly above now, not sacrifice.”

“Yes, love, we have, like the song says, found peace.” Spike smiled when she had fallen back to sleepore ore he had finished singing the song again.


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TBC

Ok, happy yet with the Spuffy?!!! Let me know.

Dana