Future Written in Blood ((Complete))

*** Very soon this story is going to leave the R realm and enter the NC17 zone. So you can all my fic, uncensored, at www.sunnydale-tales.com along with Isis’s current story. I just finished the first version of the site, and would love to know what you think.

*** The rest of my notes to the readers are at the end of the story : )


Chapter 7, Burr:


When Spike helped Buffy clear the door out of the arena into the more private tunnel, he felt her legs give way, “Spike…”

“I’ve got you, Slayer. Nor worries, luv, just relax.” At first he thought she had relaxed, but then he heard, or more like felt, her breathing even out. To be exact, she had passed out. Sebastian met them half way up the tunnel. The vampire was surprised to see what looked to be genuine concern on the Procurer’s face. “Spike, how is the Slayer?”

“Much better than that last lizard bloke is now, him being dead and all. If these buggers have a problem with that…”

“No, no problem at all. Any type of weapon used was a clear violation of the rules that had been laid down before the match. You will be treated as the victor that you are. That you both will be.”

As Sebastian gently brushed some hair out of Buffy’s face to have a good look, Spike had to bite back a protective growl. “Thanks for the concern, mate, but I need to get her somewhere where she can be taken care of. Now.”

Sebastian motioned towards one of the muscle bound escorts. “Here, let Furio take her for you…”

“No,” Spike was especially swift with his reply, tightening his hold on the Slayer, “We just need to get back to our room. Just get us some medical supplies and have a doctor meet us there. Like yesterday!”

“Of course, Spike. I will have Clara provide you with all the supplies you will need, and she will fetch a physician as quickly as possible.”

When Spike headed up the tunnel, he was pleased to see Clara already heading out of the arena to obey Sebastian’s orders.

*****

As Spike carried Buffy back to their suite, he kept looking down at the petite girl in his arms. Here she was, draped over his arms, dripping blood, but still a beauty. The realization had never before struck him just how small Buffy actually was. She had always given off such an air of power and strength. Not to mention, her small stature and youth easily slipped his mind when that spitfire was busy kicking his own dead ass. For such a ferocious warrior, she now looked like a broken, little waif. A little one that needed someone to take care of her, even if that care was provided by an evil vampire.

When he finally made it back to their suite, Clara was only a few minutes behind. Following her was an older woman, who Clara introduced as Sebastian’s personal doctor, explaining that the doctor was not at their disposal.

Spike led the doctor into see Buffy, who was just coming awake. “Slayer, this is Doctor Swendt. Doc here is going to…”

“No.”

Stopped in his introduction by a small two letter word, Spike looked back down at the slayer, startled, “Huh?”

“No strange doctor.” Spike felt his exasperation climbing until Buffy turned her eyes on him, and reached out for his hand hanging down close to her.

“Can’t you do it, Spike?” She must have been taking lessons on how to make puppy dog eyes from her little sis because he found himself taking the medicine bag from the doctor as he escorted her out of the suite.

*****

Later, Spike estimated that the Slayer had over twenty cuts on various places on her body, in varying depths. Cleaning up all the blood and securing bandages took over an hour. Not to mention, he suspected, she had a couple of broken ribs from that scaly asshole’s tail knocking her about, and bruises were sprouting up all over her.

In the past, he had taken care of Drusilla on various occasions, but this was somehow different. It was that difference that kept him wondering for a long time after he finished his nursing task. Kept him sitting on the side of her bed, watching over her, holding her small hand, and occasionally using his free hand to brush wisps of hair out of her face whether they needed to be or not.

Finally tucking the sleeping slayer more tightly into her covers, he stood up and absently stretched all of his own sore and stiff muscles. He made it as far as the doorway of her bedroom, but couldn’t bring himself to go to his bedroom. Bugger, it was a long way away, clear across the suite. No, just too bloody far away. Resigned, Spike dragged one of the sofas from the sitting area into Buffy’s room, and positioned it so he could keep an eye on this patient. That’s all, he assured himself until he was reminded again of how she looked like a beautiful, golden girl in need of care. Nonetheless, Spike knew the slayer would not want to feel dependent for his help, but everyone needed someone to watch their back. And was being to realize just how happy he was to watch her lovely back.

*****

Shortly after lunch, Clara collected Spike and Buffy to join the rest of Sebastian’s entourage. After handing out thick coats to everyone, Sebastian led the way through a new portal to the next dimension. When they arrived, the coats almost didn’t seem enough. As opposed to lizard land, the new dimension’s landscape was covered in ice and snow; everyone seemed to be freezing. However, the cold was nothing compared to the fright Spike received upon stepping into the new landscape. Landscape by sby sunlight. Sebastian was instantly at Spike’s elbow explaining that the sun in this dimension would do very little harm, as long as he did not sunbath for an extended period of time. It was daylight, sort of.

In between shivers, Buffy wished her slayer healing powers would work just a little faster. She was still a mass of bruises, the cuts were healing nicely, but her ribs still felt cracked, which still made it somewhat painful to breathe. While looking around this new locale, Buffy worked hard at avoiding Spike’s inquiring glances. Now the overbearing vampire was keeping a close eye on the Sr, kr, keeping her always in his sights. When had the obnoxious vampire become such an attentive nurse maid?

Thinking back, Buffy remembered little after passing when she and Spike had left the lizard arena. However she did vividly remember waking up earlier in the suite she shared with Spike. As her eyes had focused that morning, her first clear vision had been of Spike sprawled out, sleeping on a sofa at the foot of her bed. It had been the thought of how boyishly cute he looked asleep that had brought her fully awake. She had never noticed how curly his hair actually was. In fact, he looked so adorable that she hated to wake him. She had made a futile attempt to get out of bed, but spent most of her energy trying to suppress her groans. Waiting for the pain in her ribs to subside had been a good excuse to watch him sleep a little longer, wasn’t it? Finally, though, the strong, insistent call of nature and a relaxing, hot shower drew her towards the bathroom.

Solely focused on reaching the bathroom without incident, Buffy never saw the vampire’s crystal blue gaze admiring her retreating form. Spike cocked an eye open when her back was turned, pleased to see that the slayer was able to walk, and from the sounds of it, take a shower on her own. When that particular mental image came in focus of a naked slayer under a hot stream of water, Spike closed his eyes and laid back on the sofa to enjoy a spot of fantasizing. Ummmmm. Slick, wet, subtle but strong slayer body. But, ow, that beauty had some enormous thorns. On the other hand, Spike bet all that trouble could be worth all the pain in one hot steamy shower with his body rubbing up against her sudsy body. Bloody hell, what was he fantasizing about? Shaggin the slayer? Man, had he finally gone around the bend? Maybe some of Dru’s insanity had worn off on him, after all. Picking himself off the sofa, Spike headed towards his own bathroom and a nice, COLD shower.

Bringing both Buffy and Spike out of their respective adult-rated memories, they were soon met by a welcoming committee consisting of a large, distinguished gentleman who exuded authority. After a few more words with Spike, Sebastian made a beeline for the obvious leader. Much hand shaking and back slapping commenced, giving Buffy and Spike time to survey their new surroundings, and their inhabitants. To the left was a wide, frozen river and behind was a harsh, winter wonderland. In the front of them, Spike could make out a strongly fortified, walled city, that reminded him of York. Meanwhile, Buffy examined the people and one word came to mind over and over: purple. These people were every shade and variation of the color purple. Skin tones ranged from alabaster with a tinge of lavender to a deep shade of grape. Their hair varied from pale colors with shots of purple running throughout to deeper shades of violet.

After the initial glad-hand pumping subsided, Sebastian introduced the city mayor, Feltok, and his younger daughter, Leilor. Feltok was a tall, handsome and self-assured gentlemen, while his daughter was a tall, true beauty who didn’t hesitate to look Spike eye to eye, as well as up and down. With a wave of Feltok’s hand, he indicated his older daughter, Shardra, bringing a toddling granddaughter along a path following the edge of the river.

As they waited for other relatives to arrive, Buffy studied Leilor a little closer. The daughter looked to be about Buffy’s age if not a year or two older, but Buffy had never before thought the color violet particularly beautiful. That was before he met Feltok and Leilor, with her bright, violet eyes and hair several shades darker. Spike agreed judging by the charm he turned on when introduced to her. For some reason, Buffy felt the sudden urge to show Spike just how pointy her elbow could feel in his ribs. Leilor wasn’t *that* pretty. Buffy huffed as she caught Spike’s blue eyes following Leilor’s shapely figure.

Next, Sebastian’s party was introduced to a couple of more aunts, uncles and other townspeople. As the growing group made their way along the frozen river, heading towards the township proper, Shardra started to call out her daughter’s name. She was frantically turning in circles, looking around with wild eyes for heughtughter, who had disappeared. She was standing a few feet away from an opening in the ice, probably where some people had been doing some ice fishing. As panic started to set in, Spike walked up to the edge of the ice and looked down into the freezing water. The mayor took a step forward, “You can’t. You would freeze almost immediately.”

“What? It might kill me?” With a wink to the Slayer, Spike step off the edge and was gone in a splash. Shocked, the mayor shouted orders to his aids, while Buffy leaned over the edge desperately looking for the blonde vamp. Finally, leaning down, she splashed water and bits of ice to the side, trying to see farther down. “Damn it, Spike. Get back up here…Like NOW!”

Leilor laid a hand on the slayer’s shoulder, “Your boyfriend is probably already dying.”

“Oh, you don’t know Spike. He’s already dead. He’s a vampire, and he is so *not* my boyfriend.”

“Oh, a vampire. We have heard of them here. I would love a chance to get to know him better. Well, that is if he makes it.”

“Spike will. Since I never could get rid of him before, why would this time be any different?”

A shaking hand broke the surface of the water, followed by the rest of a small toddler. The mayor’s aides picked her up out of the vampire’s arms, efficiently divested the child of her wet clothes, and then wrapped her in several blankets before passing her over to her crying mother.

As the men reached back down to pull Spike out, he was knocked back in the water a few feet out of reach. “Bugger it, what in the hell is in this river with me?”

Then they all saw it, a serpentine animal gliding through the water towards Spike. “Why the hell didn’t anyone warn me the soddin’ Loch Ness Monster’s new home was here? Bloody hell. Slayer!” And under he went.

Buffy prepared to jump in until she felt a hand grab her arm. “No, you can’t, Buffy. Think.” Sebastian was at her shoulder, speaking into her ear. “One of you have to survive for your sister’s sake. Besides, you would be no use to him down there. You wouldn’t last 10 seconds at that temperature.”

“Damn it, Spike. Quite playing around. Kill that little snake and get back up here.” Time passed with no movement, and the water calmed. “Spike?” Buffy could barely see through her eyes that had begun to tear up.

Sebastian wrapped an arm around her, attempted to comfort Buffy, but her thoughts were swimming. ‘Who would watch her back, who would make snarky comments during the fights back in Sunnydale, and who would mediate her fights with Dawn? He couldn’t die on her, he just couldn’t!’

Then the anxious spectators heard a splash a few feet down the bank form them, and turned to see Spike laboriously climbing up and out of the river. Buffy felt relief course through her as she watched Leilor rush over to Spike’s side and wrap him in a blanket. Spike was treated like a hero, cheered, everyone wanted to shake his hand. At this point, Buffy couldn’t even get close enough to see e wae was alright, but thankfully heard him refuse to take off his wet clothes. But unlike Buffy, Leilor stayed pressed to Spike’s side, making every attempt to pat the vampire dry. And a few of those pats, Buffy found a little questionable.

Pausing, standing back from the crowd, Buffy looked at the bleach blonde a little differently. How did Spike go from the evil undead to a hero? He the transformation taken place just this day or had she been missing something for a long time?

After a time, all Buffy could do was follow along as Leilor escorted Spike and Buffy, of course to their accommodations. Before they were even half way to their suite, Buffy had already decided that if Leilor coooed or made googily eyes at Spike one more time, she just might puke. The second half of the walk left Buffy wondering if the puke would come out purple. Grrrhh! Purple – Grrrhh Arghhh!

TBC

Thanks to my Beta, Isis, this time: for catching the fact that the person coming out of the freezing cold water needs to strip before being bundled up. Now there’s a great beta who can always think up new ways to get Spike naked. Yummm!

Thanks also to Meri Lee, Vision, Aguila, and Reader (who I would love to know if you write, ‘cause I would read) Buge thanks for the reviews. They make me work so much harder.

And TalesofSpike – thanks for the review, and I have not forgotten you. You will hear from me today : )