Never Come Back

Chapter 27


"We know that you know where they are, now please Miss, just tell us so that we can..... "
"So you can bring them back and do tests on them? I won't tell you"

Christian had had enough, the red haired friend was as stubborn as an ox.He pulled her hair back and stared into her eyes.

"Ow .. ow.... " Willow took a deep breath and gritted her teeth against the pain.
"It don't matter none, we have this" the shorter watcher said as he held Willow's laptop up. "Just boot it up and this nice little bit of kit, will show us any and every conversation that she's had over the last .. well , ever. It'll also show me any web address and any purchases that she made on here too. Neat huh?"

Christian looked back down at Willow and smirked "Seems we don't need you after all" . He let go of her hair and stood beside the other watcher,who was now typing furiously.

Willow smirked, she did love it when people underestimated her.

"Bugger!"
"What? What's wrong? Is it supposed to do that?"
"No" short watcher replied "The bitch must have put up a firewall and encoded the hard drive " He rubbed at his forehead and slammed his fist down on the table. "This is unfortunate, but not impossible to fix.I'll have the info for you soon, just give me a few hours"

Christian nodded and the watcher took the laptop and left the room.Willow watched as Christian paced .Willow had no idea what time it was, but she hoped that it was late and that Buffy and Spike were on the flight. She also hoped that she had bought them enough time to land and to get somewhere before the Council broke through her firewall and code.

Christian walked back to Willow and back handed her across her face, her head snapped back and silent tears began to roll over her cheeks. Willow swore under her breath and stiffen her lip against the pain. Her eyes focussed on her laptop and sparks shot out the back before a metallic fizzing was heard and the laptop became engulfed in flames. The short man shot away from it as blue green flames grew larger and licked at his face.Christian was less than happy and rushed to him, pushing him out of the way and tried to put the flames out.

"Don't just stand thee you idiot , help me put the fire out"

Willow smirked at his frustration and closed her eyes .She focussed on the third watcher and whispered "Somn ". The watcher staggered and then fell to the floor asleep.The shorter man pointed at his comrade.

"It's probably the fumes from this you prick, go over and make sure he's still breathing" Christian yelled .

He did just that and was relieved to find that he was okay, still, he put him into the recovery position.He looked up and saw that Willow now had eyes as black as night.His own eyes widened just as Willow spoke again "Congelo". Instantly ,he froze on the spot.The only movement came from his chest and eyes.Fear and panic gripped him and yet, there was nothing he could do but stand there panting.

Christian watched and narrowed his eyes.

"You're good little girl, but did you not think that I would be prepared for this? " he moved to the stricken Watchers side "Purus sibimet".

Both watchers that had fallen under Willows spells stirred. Christian took a step back as he saw the inky swirls return to Willows eyes.Her red hair began to darken at the roots , though Willow remained unaware of the changes taking place.She hissed something and wind rushed at the Watchers, it swirled around her, somehow untying her bounds .Willow rose up from her chair and hung mid air, still chanting at the men below her. She narrowed her eyes and held up her hands,lightening bolts shot from them, hitting each man in turn.The Watchers fell in a heap , unconscious. Willow turned her focus on the locked door, with one last bolt of lightening , the door blew out and shattered. Without casting a look back, Willow left the confines of the room she had been held in. She just hoped that she wasn't too far from home.

Giles had gone up to bed but was far from sleep.His mind not giving him a seconds peace. He knew that Buffy and Spike were more than likely on the plane to Miami now. He let out a deep sigh and felt the start of a plan to get Willow home safely. He sat up quickly and swung his legs over the edge of his bed.
"Yes, yes , that's it"
He shot out of bed and opened the bedroom door , whilst still trying to put on his robe. He hit the light switch and ran downstairs. He opened a huge compendium and flicked through the pages as fast as he could.Once he reached the page he wanted he ran a finger down the page. His face was full of concentration as he read the paragraph that he needed. Once finished ,Giles ran into the kitchen and grabbed the salt cellar. He poured a circle on the wood floor and stood inside it.

"Mistress Iyana , Guardian of the lost, help me find the one I seek and free her"

A gentle voice whispered to him , no shape or form took shape, but Giles knew she was there.
"The one you seek is no longer captive, she has gained freedom herself. As we speak ,she is making her way here. Be careful , there is darkness consuming her."

The tranquil feeling of Iyana left Giles and he stood, shaking , but grateful to the priestess for letting him know that Willow was safe. Although her warning had him worried. Didn't they have enough to cope with for now?

Willow felt completely exhausted, her body ached and her head hurt from the spells she had cast earlier. She rested her head on the window of the bus that she had caught back to Sunnydale, grateful that she hadn't been too far out of the towns limits and that transport was easy to find. The cool glass helped a little , but the fumes from the bus along with the smell of old food, drink and stale hot bodies did little to help with the queasiness. Her hair was still jet black but her eyes were now a dark inky blue, her look still gaining glances from other passengers.

As the hydrolic brakes let out a hiss and the bus came to an abrupt stop , Willow groaned and hauled herself up out of the bench seat. It was now getting dark and the last few minutes of daylight clung to the pavement ,as if trying to put off the night.Willow shouldered past a bulky man and didn't turn to apologize, her focus being trained on getting back to Giles and keeping safe. Finally ,she made it back and never had she thought she would be so grateful to see the carved wooden door that now stood in front of her. She knocked and waited the short time it took before it opened .

"God , Willow"

Giles caught her around her waist as she slumped inside .Giles kicked the door shut and helped the girl to the couch.Once sat comfortably and sipping some herbal tea, Willow relaxed and could let out everything she had bottled up.Giles took her cup and cradled Willow until her sobs subsided.


Buffy looked out of the planes small window and sighed, catching Spikes attention.

"What is it pet? "
"It's just, I don't know how to explain it , it's just ...."
"Your Mum?"
"No , yes, maybe she's a part of it but it's everything. " she turned to face him and lowered her voice " Giles said that it wasn't safe for us and he and Willow got everything ready for us to run away. You spoke to Willow and she said that the Watchers Council bought the fact that I'm dead."

Spike nodded

"So why are we still staying away? We could keep a low profile for a while and then go back. Why do we need to start a new life away from Sunnydale and everyone we love?"

Spike took her hand from her lap ,where she had been toying with her lap belt and kissed her palm "Pet, we don't know what is going on there. For all we know the Watchers are staying and will have the newest slayer put to work there.Until we know for definite ,we're safer going to Miami as planned. And hey , wouldn't you at least like a holiday? A break from all the death and chaos that comes with living on the hellmouth?"

Buffy smiled at him,albeit a small one "I guess"
"Well then " Spike kissed her lips tenderly " I can't wait to see that swimsuit I saw in the bag, yeah, midnight swims with my girl wearing that "

Buffy smiled fully at him and swatted his shoulder "Perv"

As much as he had tried to put her thoughts and fears to rest, they kept forming.Buffy looked back out over the ocean .Somehow she knew all wasn't right back home, she just didn't know how she knew or what was wrong.


Giles finally managed to calm Willow and sat back, her head still against his chest while he played with her hair.

"I could feel the anger boiling inside me and I couldn't control it any longer. Before I knew it , I'd killed them"
"I doubt that you had killed them , it's just not in you to do that Willow."

She took a deep breath and sat up, pushing herself away from Giles and the comfort he offered. "Yes, it is. You didn't see me ,Giles. It was scary, worse than anything I have done before.I still don't know how I knew what I was doing or how I knew the spells I used"

Giles pondered over what he had just heard, "I'm sure you just injured them enough for you to escape, I bet they have taken themselves back to England to report back"

"No!" Willow said sternly "I.KILLED.THEM! I know I did. I thought that they wouldn't stop until they had Buffy and Spike , I knew that they would have to report back and that's why I did it"

She broke down again and hesitantly,Giles took her back in his arms. As he held her, he thought about how this whole situation was getting out of control. How the situation was changing everyone involved.

"We have to get them home again, we can't defeat the Council without them"

Willow sat up and their eyes met, Giles hardened his posture , determination set on his face. Willow looked away .

"But you can't.They would have landed by now .We have no way of knowing where they went. When we set this up, we didn't provide them with a place to stay , just the plane tickets and money .They could go anywhere"

"You , you gave them a laptop ,right?" Willow nodded "Then we send a message and get them to come home immediately"

The hotel had been a forty minute drive from the airport and when they finally got to the room, they both collapsed on the bed exhausted .

"Don't know about you pet, but I don't intend on getting up for the next forty eight hours"

Buffy moaned as she stretched out on the bed "I think my body's stuck in an S shape from sitting down too long"
"Come here love" Spike gestured for her to sit between his legs.As soon as she moved into position, he rubbed at her shoulders and back, working on each muscle until he felt them release the pent up tension.
"You are the best ,you know that right?" Buff whispered as she fell asleep,cradled in his arms, her back against his chest.Spike kissed her hair and smiled .He laid down and turned them so that they now spooned against each other before falling asleep himself.


More than twenty four hours had passed and still no word from Buffy or Spike, Giles paced as Willow sat before her laptop.
"They must have settled somewhere by now.Sunlight issues alone would make Spike find them somewhere.The only reason I can think of is that they are staying somewhere without internet access"

Giles stopped pacing and looked over at Willow. "Yes, that must be the reason. It doesn't help us though.The Council could have received any number of faxes regarding our situation and may well be sending another unit here"

He grimaced as he noticed Willow flinch at the thought of more Watchers returning to Sunnydale.

"Sorry Willow, I know that was tactless of me, but it is truth.I promise you that we will be extremely cautious from now on.And I'm confident that Buffy will return as soon as they get the message"

Willow wanted to believe Giles, but after her capture, she couldn't.He could try and convince himself, but he couldn't convince her.

Buffy stretched out and rolled over to lay her head on Spikes chest,absently running her hand over his chest . He took his first breath of the morning and moaned , turning towards her and smiled.

"Morning pet, I could get used to this "
"It's hardly morning Spike, it's dusk" at his amused look ,she rolled her eyes "Okay, so it's morning to the undead populace, so, what do you have planned for us today? "

"First of all love, I've only just woke up, second , I intend to keep you locked up in the room for hours while I have my evil way with you"
Buffy laughed as he rolled them over and bit his way down her body "Sounds interesting baby , what else?"

"Then I thought we could go out and get something to eat , maybe walk along the beach and if we have time, stroll through a cemetery and see what we can find to kill around here."

He came to rest at the apex of her thighs and smiled before tracing her folds with his tongue.Buffy hissed and nodded," Sounds so good " .When he didn't continue , Buffy opened her eyes and looked down at him, frowning ."Why stop? " She wiggled under him.

"Frisky little chit" With feline grace, Spike crawled back up her body, dropping kisses every now and then until he was looking into her eyes. " Do you want something love?"

"You ... inside me now"

Without pause,Spike thrust up and slid inside her, hissing at the sensations that assaulted him.Buffy gasped and clung to his shoulders .The pace he set was furious and bruising,not that Buffy cared as long as he was inside her, making her feel complete.It didn't take much ,and before long both of them were crying out in ecstasy ,panting and laying kisses on each others skin.
"I love you" she whispered, catching his gold gaze.How could she not? He always looked at her as though she had fallen from heaven .
"Love you , love you so much Buffy, my Buffy " he kissed her softly and drew her close as he rolled onto his back.

She moaned into his shoulder and kissed it before she sat up, drawing the sheet around her breast. "We better check in, see if Giles or Willow have contacted us and let them know we're safe"

Without waiting for him to answer, Buffy scooted off of the bed and went to retrieve the laptop.She picked up the bag it was in and bounced back to her spot next to Spike. Once it was opened , Buffy booted it up and snuggled back into Spikes arms.Once it was ready,she logged into the mail center and clicked on the message.

' Dear Elisabeth,
We have had a few problems here .Need you home asap.'

"So much for my vacation, huh?"
"Didn't even get to unpack ,pet.I'll go and pay for the room love, you get yourself sorted and we'll make our way back to the airport.See if we can't get a couple of canceled tickets "

Worry was already etched on her face and he could feel her apprehension through the bond.He sent her calmer feelings back and stroked her face gently. "Everyone will be okay, I promise you.Once we get back, we'll find out what's going on and deal with it all.We're strong, you're strong Buffy, you can beat this"

Tears hung on her lashes and she nodded "Right , let's get home"

A/N:- Sorry it has taken so long to update but my muse has been thinking up new stories and hasn't been focused on NCB. But we're back now and plan to finish this story soon.I'll be updating as regularly as I can.Thanks for your patience and for your reviews.