Lost in the Dark, Cleansed in the Flame

Chapter 2 - Pain

Xander tried to force the panic he was feeling down into the pit of his
stomach. He'd followed the doctor to a room at the end of the hall.
Once there the two guards had strapped him down into what looked
like a dentist chair and then all three had left him alone.

{Spike!} Xander's mind screamed.

It was the waiting that was really getting to him. His own imagination
was running wild and the images he created were anything but
comforting.e woe worst part was he wasn't sure what had happened to
Spike. Had they gotten him too? Why wouldn't he answer Xander's
call? Was he unconscious somewhere? Or worse yet. Was he
dust? Xander refused to believe that.

Xander closed his eyes and tried to concentrate his will. He'd never
had to really focus when trying to reach his mate. Normally Xander
could feel him there all the time, buzzing in the back of his mind. All
he had to do was think about Spike for the connection to snap
forward and communicate his thoughts to his lover. But this time
Xander focused his whole being on making that connection. He
began to take deep breaths counting each one until he felt his
muscles relax.

With each breath he brought forth a different detail about Spike. The
feel of his cool hands, the tickling of his breath, the sight of his ice
blue eyes. Until all of Xander's being was focused on the mental
picture of his mate.

Tentatively he sent out a querying thought, {Spike?}. No answer. He
tried again. And again. Until finally he was just repeating a pleading
chant in his head. {Please Spike. Please Spike.} Begging for
reassurance that his lover was whole and safe.

Xander almost cried out in relief when he felt the first soft whisper of
Spike's mental touch.

{Xan?}

***

"Fuck all Buffy! I don't bleedin' know!" Spike screamed for the tenth
time that mng. ng. "Do you think if I'd heard anything, or seen any
signs of danger I would've left Xan alone?!"

Buffy placed her hand gently on the vampire's shoulder. Turning him
until their eyes could meet. "Spike. I know you would never have let
anything happen to Xander if you could help it. I’m not accusing you
of anything. I'm just trying to see if there's something that you hadn't
noticed as strange at the time, but now…" She trailed off.

Spike slumped onto the sofa, defeated. "No." He shook his head
wearily. "Nothing."

When he looked back up at her there were tears in his eyes. "Why
can't I feel him? I can't hear his voice anymore. He's gone." The
words left his mouth in a whisper as the first tear fell.

Buffy was by his side in a second, one arm wrapping around his
waist, the other moving up to bring his head down onto her shoulder.
"There maybe plenty of reasons you can't feel him right now. Maybhe'she's unconscious. Or maybe they drugged him and it's messing with
his head." She felt Spike's growl at the offered explanations.

"Don't worry Spike. We'll get him back. And then we'll make
whoever's taken him pay." She vowed as she continued to soothe
the troubled vamp.

Suddenly Spike stiffened. Buffy tensed as she saw the play of
emotions running across his face.

{Xan?}

{Spike?! Thank God! I thought you were dust!}

{Luv, what's happening? Where are you?}

{You have to get out of town Spike. Hurry. They'll probably be
looking for you next.} Xander tried to imbue his thoughts with
urgency.

{Not leaving without you luv. 'Sides, the Big Bad doesn't run scared.}
Spike answered. {Now where are you?}

{Don't know Spike.} Xander was torn. He desperately wanted Spike
to save the day and rescue him from whatever mess he'd gotten into.
But he was also afraid. He knew what the Initiative had done to Spike
the first time, and was scared of what they'd try this time around.

{Who is it Xan? Who took you?} Spike demanded.

When Xander didn't answer Spike was afraid they'd lost touch once
more. But no, he could still feel the slight buzz in his mind that told
him his lover was still there. {Xan?} He prompted.

{It's the Initiative Spike.} The words sounded hollow and far away
making Xander's mental voice seem scared and alone. Something
he'd never heard from Xander before, not since they'd taken up
together.

{Bloody wankers! Don't worry Xan, we'll get you back. And then we'll
make the bastards pay.}

Xander's concentration began to falter. He could hear the tap tap of
someone's steps coming closer to the room. {He's coming back
Spike.}

{Who luv?}

{The doctor.}

{What doctor luv?} Spike felt his own panic rising. He'd had his own
experiences with Initiative doctors, and knew that whatever they'd
planned for Xander couldn't be any better.

{I don't know Spike.} Xander could feel the connection fading in and
out. {Spike?} He tried calling out once more. {I'm scared.}

The whispered words cut Spike to shreds. His own reply lost as the
connection was severed. NO! {Xan?! Xan?!} But his lover was
gone.

***

The two men watched their prisoner with detachment. They knew the
moment the connection had been made, the tiny monitoring sensors
going unnoticed by the boy.

"I thought the whole purpose of the drug was to keep them from
speaking." The younger man pointed out.

The older man sighed inwardly. Exasperated at the thought of having
to work with the man next to him. "We only had to keep them apart
for the initial test. Once we establish how strong the connection is
we'll need to bring the other in anyway. His knowing who has the boy
won't change that."

"What if he attempts a rescue?"

"Do you think that you're working with a fool?" The older man spit
out. "I've got a man watching him. If he tries anything he'll just be
making our jobs easier. Instead of having to track him down, he'll
come straight to us." The older man grinned. "If the connection
works the way we think it does, I'd be surprised if he could stay
away."

They watched as the doctor reentered the room, noting how each
muscle in the boy's body tensed. Leaning forward the younger man
turned on his microphone. "Begin the testing for subject X2573. All
recording devices have been activated."

***

Xander screamed as another shock passed through him. He'd lost all
feeling on the left side of his body about 2 hours ago, and was
surprised that his right was still functioning.at wat were they doing?
What were they testing for? Xander tried to pay attention, tried to
figure it out. But his body was exhausted and his mind was weary.
Tears streamed down his face, but he could no longer feel them.
Now he just prayed for the bliss blivblivion that unconsciousness
would bring.

***

Buffy had called Giles soon after the vamp had appeared on her
doorstep. Hearing his car pull into the drive she gently moved Spike's
head out of her lap to answer the door.

"Buffy? What's going on?" Giles asked immediately upon entering
the house.

"Xander's missing. Apparently the Initiative's back, and they've taken
Xan for some reason. He was able to tell Spike, but then something
happened. I'm not sure." Silent tears fell down Buffy's cheeks as she
spoke. "I think they're hurting Xander. Spike…Spike cried out and
had some sort of seizure." She pointed at the limp form on the couch.
"I can't get him to wake up."

"Dear Lord." Giles' face was ashen. What must they be doing to
Xander to cause such a reaction in Spike?

Moving quickly Giles stepped into the house, shedding his coat as he
went. He headed for the kitchen and grabbed a few bags of blood
from the fridge, glad that Buffy still stocked up for Xander and Spike's
visits. He heated each bag before returning to the living room.

"Call Willow and Tara. We're going to need their help." Giles
instructed as he punched a hole in the first bag, letting it ooze into the
mug he'd brought from the kitchen. "Tell them to stop by the Magic
Box and get whatever they need for a location spell. They might also
grab volumes 1 through 4 of the Hentarii text and the trunk in my
office with the Watcher's diaries. They could prove useful."

Buffy sped off to call the girls, while Giles attempted to force feed
Spike the much needed blood. He let out a relieved breath when he
felt the slight suction as Spike began to sip from the straw in his
mouth.

***

Xander was floating. He tried to look around but discovered he was
covered in darkness. Was he dead? This sure didn't feel like
heaven. Of course he'd mated himself to the evil undead, so maybe
saint Peter had revoked his pass. So was this hell?

Either way he was free from the pain. At least for a little while.

***

The phone rang in the small observation booth.

"Yes?" The older man answered.

"He passed out 22 minutes ago sir. And he's still unconscious. The
Watcher arrived and appears to be feeding him blood." The voice
reported.

"Well that wasn't wholly unexpected." The older man stroked his chin
in thought. "Good work. Remain at your post and be sure to notify us
immediately when the vampire goes on the move."

"Yes sir." The voiced clicked off.

The older man turned toward the younger, a small smile of
satisfaction curling his lips. "It's begun."