Someone Old Someone Blue

I must state here and now that there are about 8 large chunks of this story but it is not finished and is unlikely to be (but then again if encouraged I might be persuaded to go back to it) Anyway here goes the part that is the first one.

Chapter 1


“Oh its you.”


“Yeah sure it’s me duffus.” Buffy pushed her way past a wearing only his pants and looking hot as hell Spike, ignoring the crossbow he was holding, and swept her way into the crappy Memphis basement he was hiding in without even waiting for an invite. “Do you always greet guests dressed that way?”


“With Wolfram and Harts senior partners many minions hunting the earth for me, wanting to do me very painful harm hell fucking yes.” He was in a rather ragged and slightly bloodstained pair of levis, she was in a very expensive looking trouser suit, the height of Italian fashion if he was any judge, and the bloody gorgeous smelling perfume whafting off her had burned a hole in some ones credit card too. Jealous comments about the Immortal, her whoring for some bloody wealthy Eyetie and Buffy arn’t you ashamed, roared round his brain fighting with not wanting to be smacked round the head and have her storm out. Plus two and a half years since he’d last seen her hadn’t taken the edge off his love, and she’d obviously made this effort for him so what the hell.


“But do you have to live in such a pit of.......” She was suddenly swept round by a hand that not too gently grabbed her right arm, and startled by incoming vampire lips that connected with hers, any protests she might have considered making blocked out by a questing vampire tongue. It took about two seconds for her to decide to go with it her free left hand fastening onto the vampires’ neck even as her left settled on the cold smooth skin of his side. She fought back her tongue wrestling with his till he let her inside in turn. When they broke apart she wasn’t suprised by the spit trail, or embarrassed. “Place....wow what a kisser. So you missed me then.”


Buffy pushed him back towards the wall and pressed her body up against him, throwing plans for easy does it, and work your way to a solid relationship before anything happens out of the window. “Heeeerrrmmm and are you pleased to see me or is that just a big cock down the front of your pants.”


“I’m very pleased to see you kitten.” **Hullo maybe she’s not with the Immortal.** Spike thought as he kissed her again. Letting his hands roam a little, not living in Sunnydale and having a Hellmouth to fret over seemed to have restored some of the curves he’d missed and the way she was gently grinding her lower body into his read plain that whatever was going on with the Immortal it wasn’t monogamous, and knowing his Buffy it meant nothing like that was going on, cause she wasn’t the type to two time anyone. A sense of relief filled him. “I’ve really missed you.”


“You have huh.” Old memories were flooding back to the Slayer, some of them good, some of them not so good, she concentrated on the post soul having Spike memories, the sex and the holding the night before the last battle, that firey hand holding before the point when she had thought him lost. She almost didn’t want to come out with her reply, hoping he wouldn’t think her to be too angry with him. “So then why on earth are you here and not with me in Italy?”


**Oh bugger here’s a conversation that's going to end in a row.** He drew in unnecessary breath. “I’m a bloody dangerous fellow to be around pet, I’ve got about a fifty million dollar bounty on my head....”


“$75,000,000 was the last figure I heard, your worth more than Bin Laden.” She interrupted aware that he wasn’t wrong about what a major walking bulls eye he was. “But what you think I wouldn’t have been able to protect.....”


“Hey I don’t need to be.....” She stepped back breaking contact causing him to hold up a hand and add. “Sorry luv.”


“Help you protect yourself then.” She looked round for a clean place to sit and couldn’t find one. Blood grimed axes and weaponry and the dirty clothing that went with close quarter battles in the darkness littered the furniture such as it was. The bed hadn’t been made and there was an all-pervasive reek of tobacco. “So anyway that’s no excuse all you had to do was drop a dime and call the Council and speak to Giles. After the blow you and Angel struck evil we would have moved heaven and earth to bring you home safe and you know it.”


“Well I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of the Immortal. Avin’ your ex turn up all unexpected.” He started to move his battered chattels of the ‘good’ chair. Bloody hell couldn’t Buffy at least have rung ahead to let him know she was coming. Ok little factors like him not having a cell phone and not being listed aside she had obviously found him, hadn’t she heard of postcards or letters. And how had she found him. “And how did you know where I was, I only ask cause as we’ve discussed lots of evil buggers wishin' me ‘arm an so on. If I’ve left clues somewhere I need to know?”


“Really powerful seers, and that despite apparently you having this major aura that follows you around making you damn difficult to find. Even Willow’s confused by it and its not your soul by the way. We were able to tune into it through having a possession you’d had for years. That old coat you left behind the night you stalked me round Rome!”


“And by the way Aha!” She threw in off his look. “Thought I never knew huh, well I got the full low down on how you and Angel.....” Buffy’s words literally failed her now off how Spike’s face fell, she knew that Angel was gone, but now here before her was someone who to her certain knowledge had been with him when it happened. “How....how did he die, was it quick?”


“Yeah, sort of I guess, but then no cause he took a hell of alot of killin’, took alot of the buggers with him, includin' a giant and a soddin great dragon. It was another reason why I didn’t come.” Spike shrugged and reached for cigarettes then thought better of it off a pout. “I thought it would be hard to tell you and all but I guess it was easier than I thought it would be, and why arn’t you tellin me by now that there’s nothing going on between you and the Immortal and I should ‘ave come to Italy for that reason.”


“I’ve already done my grieving for Angel a year ago that’s why its not so hard I guess. And all I ever wanted from you on that subject is stories and answers on what he really did in that last year.” As Spike finished his chair clearing Buffy settled in it trying to look grateful and wishing she’d gone with a darker less stainable suite. “And the Immortal and I are none of your business as we’re not lovers anymore just business associates. Ok so he was a super fine lay and all but too controlling plus you have to wonder how many exs there were to get that good, and stop smirking I know you’ve only had Dru, Darla, Harmony,Anya and me.”


“That I’ve admitted to and thanks for that detail.” Spike murmured amused and not undaunted. “What business are you doin with the dodgy old spaghetti eater then. ‘E aint a bloke I’d trust?”


“Your wrong, he believes firmly in the balance and he see’s our enemies throwing it out of line. He helps the council out with magic, not himself of course but on the QT he employees a lot of mojo’ed guys, he helped us find you when no one else could. And if you’d ever bothered to call me you could have been told all this on the phone and not been hiding in holes like this.” She looked around the increasingly rank looking dive. Taking in however the dark dim presence of a second bedroom, a tidy clean bedroom with neatly stacked weapons beside the bed. Did Spike have a Roomie?


“Are you on the run alone?”


“That’s the other thing luv, the other reason I kept my distance.” He sat on the bed running his hands through hair that had gotten overlong and wild these days, odds were Buffy wasn’t going to like his next bit of news one little bit. “I wasn’t exactly sure how to explain Illyria to you.”


“Illyria?”


******************************


Illyria walked down the street carrier bags in hand, bags full of cigarettes and foodstuffs that Spike liked and that now even she had learned to consume and enjoy, and bags of blood from a butchers store whose staff had looked at her suspiciously and new clothes to replace Spike’s latest battle damaged day wear. She wore the shells appearance, clothing it in a pale blue tee, black jeans and stilettos. She was aware that Fred Burkle’s physical appearance was so pleasing to the male mortal eye, just as she was also very aware of the looks she was getting from loitering groups of youths and men in passing cars. The shell she knew might have known fear in such circumstances, she knew none. If someone tried to approach her sexually who did not please her Illyria would break him in seconds, if on the other hand the mortal was pleasing, well she had taken her amusements when she felt the need now she had overcome her grief at Wesley’s death.


But she wanted more than casual affairs, she knew that the shell had know long term affection with males. That was what was right to do, she needed to find someone to achieve that with.


**Why must we hide in such places, I am a Queen and yet here I lurk among beggars, how am I to find one who is worthy here, how at all when he will not take me to a suitable place and will not touch me himself......**


She blanked that train of thought out, she should not have to beg for a half breeds love, to yearn for the feel of him, no matter how beautiful he was. Though he showed her every kindness and consideration as a comrade Spike ignored her sexually whether she wore her own aspect or that of Fred. **I have already done everything but throw myself at him, is that what he demands that I crawl naked to his bed and plead for his touch. Never, I will never do such a thing, I am a God I am..... So tired of being alone.**


**Hiding like a coward, when we should have attacked our enemies again and again until we made an end. We hide like craven dogs in hovels rather than...... But I do not want to make an end** It was untrue and unworthy of her to call Spike a coward, just last night they had fallen on a coven of the Fell brethren, putting two dozen off them to the sword as they swept through their hidden dwelling with steel and fire. What a glorious killing it had been, it had been like a song in her heart but all over too quickly.


She stopped startled at the end of the street on which their hideout lay. There was a very large black car parked out in front of it, one of a type which the shell’s memories told her was a limousine. There were three black suited men stood around it and vans behind them filled with more mortals. Some of the hidden troops were female and empowered in some way. She knew not who they were or what was there purpose but there were no screams and no smell of blood or cordite, Spike was a warrior far too fell to be taken without a fight. Where these mortals perhaps then friends?


Quickly now she began to walk towards the basement she called home. Excited to see who had come to visit Spike?


********************************************


“So you’re living with a queen of hell!” Buffy was experiencing some difficulties with regards to Spike’s choice of travelling companions. In her experience Hell God equalled Glory and Glory equalled pain and death and all of them were therefore bad news. “A hell god who infected and killed a beautiful and well liked friend of yours and who you Angel and Wesley were too soft hearted to kill due to her appearance. You just spayed her effectively, drawing out her mojo and leaving her weakened and pissed off. But who still decides to fight with you, and who you’ve now been on the run with for some eighteen months. And your sharing cramped little dives like this with her for all that time with nothing going on, despite her being both beautiful and powerful and so your thing. And because of this nothing going on, you, declined to come see me for all this time because I wouldn’t understand the nothing going on, and would be jealous and unreasonable. Is that the ghist?”


“Approximately but your reading too much into it luv.” Spike was reflecting on how he should have followed through on the kiss rather than getting involved in all this conversation plus accompanying trauma, if he’d straight off asked Buffy if she fancied it she might be naked and happy and post orgasmic now and more likely to accept he had been behaving with Illyria. “And behold also the reason why I felt that way. You don’t seem happy pet, I assure you though that not a thing ‘as been going on, I just kept me an blue away because I didn’t want to ‘urt your feelings and I didn’t want hers ‘urt by you an yours rejectin’ ‘er.”


“Rejecting ‘er, I mean her!” **I have not come here to fight, I have not...Say it slowly and be calm.** “She’s a fricking hell god Spike, I don’t know or care what kind of games she’s played with your mind but she is not playing them with mine.”


“Kitten if it weren’t for her I would not be sat here, yes I did my share of the killin’ the night we destroyed the black thorn circle but she did a lot more. Only reason we broke free of that mob was she felled about a thousand of them. I’m sorry pet but I’m a souled vampire of my word. I’ve promised ‘er that I’ll look after ‘er and so I will. So don’t be thinkin’ now that I’m just goin’ to abandon Blue, leave ‘er here alone.”


“What abandon the power depressed Hell Queen and leave her by herself and feeling blue.” She smiled a little evilly at the joke. “Leave her just sat here waiting for demons to realize what she is and maybe rally round her, maybe enough for her to get back that old conquering feeling. No our choices are do her in or take her with and as I’m certain you won’t agree too killing her I guess.....”


“She’s been my blood comrade in arms so of course I won’t.....” He could hear footsteps. “She’s comin' Buffy please be nice.”


“Arn’t I always.” Buffy whispered before assuming a smile for the Hell Queens benefit.


The girl who entered the room was pretty and not hell god like at all. Smiling herself and looking excited, with bags of shopping in her hands. What scene of domestic bliss was this she was interrupting Buffy thought, the gal shops for him. All the same there was power there, she didn’t know what things must have been like before Illyria had been drained of her energies but there was still enough there to get the spider sense more than tingling.


“Spike, how exciting a guest, arn’t you’ all going to introduce me to your friend.” She spoke like Fred but she felt like growling a warning, this one had power, a lord like degree of it, mortal but only just, needing only the intervention of some power to cross the line into immortality, in fact, Illyria looked again, yes someone had already begun to take the steps needed, obviously this woman had friends with great abilities. She really did not need to be introduced to her, Spike’s history had been told to her often enough on nights when he drank and rambled on about Sunnydale for Illyria to know who this must be. Illyria knew fear then, fear of being left alone.


“Fred this is Buffy Summers, Buffy meet Fred Burkle.” Spike decided to preserve the illusion for a while since Illyria had used Fred’s voice rather than her own. “Buffy is the Slayer than I told you about kitten.”


“The great warrior who defeated the First Evil.” Dull monotone on those few words but then. “Wow, I have heard so much about you Buffy, I’ve wanted to meet you for years too but you never used to drop round to see Angel while I was there.”


“Well there were all those issues it was nothing personal.” Buffy rose and extended her hand. “Lets be friends Illyria, Spike has told me all about you.”


There was a flash of blue as Fred disappeared leaving the demoness standing there in her place dressed in skintight leather. She looked pissed but at Spike Buffy noted, calculating that if looks could kill Spike would be a pile of dust. “You do want to be my friend don’t you Illyria?”


**Why had he told her, why could he not.....But of course she would have known me so it would have done him no good to lie.** Blue eyes snapped back towards Buffy, the extended hand meant an offer of friendship, how was she to respond, just to take the hand or should she do more. She searched the shells memories.


Spike felt genuine fear about how this might go. Illyria had treated him to a second or twos worth of very angry stare. Before something else had crossed her face, understanding perhaps. And then she had switched back to Buffy. He had a mental image of what was going to happen if Illyria didn’t play and came out with anything concerning foolish mortal how dare you, Buffy would lose her temper and it would go off, probably with him being picked up and used as a club by one or the other party. **Bugger, why couldn’t she ave turned up at night when I could ave at least ‘ad the option of runnin’..**

Then stunned amazement gripped him as edging forward, Illyria the Queen of Hell, I who led armies years before you were born yada yada, not only shook Buffy’s hand but also to the Slayers amazement planted a kiss on first her left and then her right cheek. “Buffy, I’m so delighted to meet a hero of the light such as you, you offer me friendship in good faith and I accept that which you offer.”


**Now that was weird.** But when in Rome and what the hell. Very fleetingly she kissed the demoness back, trying hard not to cross her fingers behind her back as a mild fear that Illyria might be a little Sapphic in her sexuality crossed her mind. No actually Fred was straight according to information gleaned from Andrew so hopefully. “Thanks, that’s very nice of you. I look forward to working with you in this spirit of friendship and so on. And with that Spike do you fancy throwing your stuff together and taking a ride out of here to a far far nicer place, with sun proof windows, and showers and clean clothing and air freshener. That way you and Illyria and I can talk properly in better surroundings?”


A more house proud Spike might at this stage have accused Buffy of turning into a right bloody snob, not being happy to be in his company here despite all the quite frankly crappy places they’d even done it in down their time together. But he’d been on the run for too bloody long, and what she described sounded like heaven, a few days of high life wouldn’t do him any harm. “Sure pet, If Illyria wants too......”


“Yes, why not Spike.” Fred returned, clad now in a black jacket, black skirt and white blouse. He felt the stab of pain that always stung his heart even now whenever Illyria made a special Fred effort. Trust an old one to know how to put the knife in and twist it without even careing she was doing it. “Why don’t we leave here right away Buffy has a limousine parked outside.”


**I will not be left alone, I will go with this warrior and with this half-breed to whatever place she wishes. She has the power to make my life different. Oh how I have fallen that I need this mortal to make my life different.** Once she would have felt rage at such an insult, now she felt relief, someone even someone with a life as fleeting as this cared enough to want to take her along. There would be battles, enemies to fight worthy of her strength, and heroes, heroes who might want her to give her what the Shell had had before. “I have no need to pack, I do not really even need the weapons, my bodily strength is enough, and I can adapt my outer covering to show any form of dress.”


“My shits pretty scattered, there’s one good sword and axe, a crossbow and some bits. And how the bloody hell can you afford a limo.” From a corner of the room Spike retrieved a battered rucksack, His life had taken a bloody nosedive of late he was all too well aware. He knew that he should have felt resentment of Buffy for just turning up and taking over, but Also that the emotion clawing at him right now was relief, gratitude that she had turned up and taken over, cared enough to do that. “Been raiding the petty cash have we?”


“Hard nosed none salary paying skin flints that they were the council were sat on a lagoon of money.” The Slayer herself had never really cared about it but now the purse strings had loosened so what, why not live a little. “And with the Immortals help Giles has more than quadrupled it, so even with all those Slayers to run we have plenty to go around. Plus the cars a rental anyway, I needed something big and transporty, and I figured you’d appreciate a little luxury for once.”


She hadn’t noticed how thin Spike now looked even if he was still all muscle, blood must have been thin on the ground despite having someone with who could shop in daylight.


Spike packed quicker all the time thinking very hard. Buffy might be saying that it was over between her and the Immortal but all the same it sounded like the git had managed to get himself deeply embedded in all of her and the Councils doings. He was amazed that Giles had let it happen, but then probably the bloke had a lot on his plate. **I need to put that bugger under the hot lights and ‘ave words with ‘im, just to see what e’s up to, make sure this isn’t a bide your time and be good till I can get back in Buffy’s pants thing.**


“So why’s the wanker, I mean the Immortal playing the good Samaritan now pet, he’s been around for eons not exactly fightin’ the good fight. Why come out as a goodie two shoes now. Is it all down to your good influence pet or is workin’ some angle of his own?” Good axe, he looked at the notched edge of the weapon, it had seen better days. Still some comfortable time without having to have its haft near constantly in his hand, time to apply a whetstone to the blade and it could be made as good as new. If not well he was certain Buffy would still have weapons to lend even if she’d become Miss Lap of Luxury, which he doubted was really the case. “Not that I intensely dislike the evil git and might be lettin’ that fact colour me judgement you understand.”


“I would never have guessed or suspected that that might be the case.” Buffy replied deadpan and straight faced. “The Immortal is helping us because he believes the balance of power between good and chaos is tilting to far towards chaos, even with the big increase in the number of Slayers and all the rest things are still slipping, Wolfram and Hart’s loss of the Black Thorn Circle didn’t slow them down for long, the evil reformed. And that’s one of the reasons why I’ve come over to gather you up, we need all the heroes we can get.” She gave Illyria a sideways glance. “All of those beings that have power and can use it for good are being gathered now. There’s a probably knowing my luck not final showdown approaching.”


“Kind of X-Men like scenario then.” Her almost suppressed sigh told him that Andrew and probably Xander had already been all over that one. “Well luv you know me and last great battles, and next to last great battles even, point me towards same, just don’t give me any jewellery to wear before hand this time, also can I not have to be the one who has to rescue the baby.....it was a thing.”


“A thing or a thing cause if the baby was a thing then poor thing....” Buffy looked at her watch wondering how much longer it could take to pack a pile of rags. “Never mind you can tell me it all in the car, Illyria’s all packed so please.”


“Illyria has her entire wardrobe pre-programmed into her armour, you should see her when she gets a new copy of vogue.” Spike noticed a hint of menace in the blue eyes of the Hell Queen but with typical determination to be uncivil ignored it. “And if you don’t believe me just stick a pile of bloody fashion mags in front of her.”


“Sounds like fun I’ll look forward to it.” Finally Spike was doing up the rucksack then pulling on his boots and a shirt. Then a coat that she could smell the demon blood on rank and clear. “You going to blanket your way to the car or do we have to wait for nightfall?”


“No I can see you’re dyin' to get out of my virtually no rent dive, so lets go.”

Chapter 2


It was a quick run to the wide-open side doors of the limo, he was barely even smoking as he got comfortable in the ultraviolet free interior. “Bloody posh car or what.”


As the women followed him in he couldn’t help but notice an actual bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. Buffy had either learned to drink or had been thinking of him as she prepared, in which case beer would have been his idea, or Jack. But it was a good label and not cheap. He popped the cork as the doors closed. “You kittens want to drink with me?”


“I’ll have a small one.” Buffy had been living in a country where a consumption of wine at mealtimes was expected. She could manage it quite well in moderation, plus of course the Immortal had only ever served her up the best. She was startled when Illyria answered also.


“Yes Spike, I’ll have one as well.” Champagne was a drink of celebration, the shell’s memory told her this, and if the warrior had brought some it must show her intentions were good towards them. But was there something for her to celebrate, Buffy might be glad to get Spike back but what of her. And why did she have to clutch at human things, she needed nothing to sustain her existence. She took the glass anyway.


“Oh I wouldn’t have had you down as a drinker.” Buffy’s question broke her train of thought. “Do you have to eat and drink?”


“No, I do it for the same reason Spike does, because I find I can enjoy the taste of food and drink.” **Should I tell her why, because I feel an echoing loneliness, all that I had before I was placed in the well has gone, all I have now are my memories and the shells memories. And Winifred Burkles hopes and dreams died when I ripped her life away, they are my curse now, all is like ash. No do not tell the warrior now, she would loath you, let her see how you fight for redemption first.** “Pleases me sometimes just to enjoy something other then striking down my enemies, without some pleasure all is a dullness to me.”


“Well said luv.” Spike raised his glass. “To pleasure.”


They drank, then Illyria sneezed, and not realizing that she was ripping out Spikes metaphorical heart and trampling it into the carpet said in a way so very Fred. “Bubbles got up my nose.”


“Well I hope you’ll find the catering is a lot better than what you’ve been getting......” She reached into a cooler box and bought out another bottle, this time full of blood. “And I see a vampire who needs fattening up, splash of vodka in it to if you don’t mind.”


“Buffy are you tryin' to get me drunk so you can ‘ave your way with me pet.”


“If you dream right......”


***********************************************


A twenty-minute drive saw them onto the right side of the tracks and then Spike felt the vehicle tilt as it went down a ramp. Then after a minute or so’s manoeuvring the cars doors opened to reveal an underground garage. “Ok this is us,” Buffy declared somewhat unnecessarily as she got out leaving the two war refugees to follow. Spike caught Illyria looking at him as if to ask why so tense, why do you hesitate, He just shrugged and followed, asking himself again how Buffy had wound up with all this, but then of course if Giles was now running the council, Buffy would in fact probably have a good say in it. He’d last seen her on long term vacation in Rome. She’d probably got back to work. Still there was a niggling feeling. He’d seen another old ‘friend’ do deals with people he shouldn’t have and that had ended bloody in an alleyway. “Didn’t know the Watchers Council had a big bloody office like this in Memphis luv.”


“We don’t, this belongs to somebody else we now have dealings with.” Buffy smiled back reassuringly. “But don’t worry Spike its nobody who wishes you any harm, you should know I wouldn’t lead you into danger.”


“I’m not worried.” He flashed her a return grin. “Save by the recollection of the numerous times you’ve led me into danger. And an annoying niggle bout that 75 mill reward. Add in the question over how you afford the limo and even the rent on this place and if it weren’t for it being you there’d be a scream of trap. Your not a robot are you?”


If looks could kill Spike realised he’d be dust.


“Noooo! A world of.”


Spike kicked himself wanting to get in a quick explanation about the robot assassins attack on the Wolfram and Hart offices but then realized he was hoist either way.


“If you had no soul I might be tempted, and if you hadn’t saved the world a couple of times I might also.” They were standing now beside the lift doors waiting for a response to Buffy’s press of the down button. She slipped her arm through him. “And if I didn’t still love you Spike I might be tempted, but I still do so I’m not tempted.”


**Gosh and blimey she still loves me!** Fireworks went off inside Spikes head, cherubs circled him playing electric guitars as his spirits did metaphorical cartwheels up and down the length of the garage screaming. ‘Yeeeeehaaaarrrrh.’ He needed a bath and some barbering, some bloody good cologne too. And then once bathed and oiled to be taken immediately to Buffy’s tent. **Calm down you bloody berk, she may just be talking platonic.** “I luv you too kitten, still and always, but just to reassure me luv whose building is this, the Immortals?”


“No the Initiatives.” The door slid open to reveal two uniformed American soldiers who stepped back naturally enough to let them into the lift. “Their regional office, the council has an arrangement with them these days.”


**Oh bollocks.**


****************************************************


Up to the twentieth floor they went and then out of the lift, leaving the third group of soldiery to join them during the course of their journey behind. They came out into a remarkably plush looking office space full of people working in a very Wolfram and Hart type way. Illyria who had only Fred’s left over memories of the Initiative and thus no actual experience of the bastards didn’t look too troubled in Spikes opinion, just basking, also in Spikes opinion, in the fact that the soldiery had been eyeing her up. Well at least she didn’t openly comment on it anymore when people ‘lusted’ for her. Spike on the other hand had both a sinking feeling and the beginnings of a headache in the approximate area of his brain where the chip had been. Plus what if that blood ponce Riley Finn was here!!!


Buffy had switch from the arm holding to hand holding in the lift and now as if reading his mind told him conscious that withholding the info in the car had been a little cruel. “Its ok Spike, we’re just here until tomorrow night when I can get flights organised back to England. And no he’s in Egypt helping their army fight an incursion of the late Archduke Sebassis’s legions in the Quattera, the Quattarrar , the whatever depression. That’s one of the reasons why the Initiative are being so helpful in the getting you out of the states situation.”


“What they object to me fightin’ the good fight on their streets.”


“Oh just to aspects of it, like the car bombing of that Lakrathic demon temple in Brooklyn.”


“They were negotiating with representatives of the Fell brethren in there, wantin’ to launch a crusade against humanity. Plus they were doing about six human sacrifices a month.”


“And you stopped the sacrifices, but the demons are still numerous and pissed and the explosion burned down a city block. And wasn’t it you used the same trick in Tucson.”


“Warehouse, Fell brethren supply dump.”


“Richmond?”


“Accommodation block for Sebassis’s boys in an old abandoned factory. Accounted for 150 of the horned bastards at least. They had heavy weapons stored there too.”


“True ok but it’s generally accepted that the one in Miami was overdoing it, you killed some humans in that one.”


“Wolfram and Hart office, with a big group of the Fell Brethren in there for a meeting with their lawyers, most of whom had sold their souls years before. And I nailed the Brethren’s new big cheese.” Spike could see she was about to launch into a list of drive bys that would be even longer. “Am I gettin’ that your not happy with the way I’ve been doing things Buffy, I mean my options was somewhat limited by being on my almost todd and all....”


“Fighting with large explosive devices in vehicles is called terrorism Spike even if you are careful with them. I know you’ve been trying to make a difference on your almost own some against great forces of darkness, but your too loud, too open to your actions being misinterpreted and panic. Hence my instructions to get you gone from US shores before the number of people looking for you got a whole lot bigger.”


“They were plannin’ on takin’ me out if you didnt? Bunch of bloody poofs then in my opinion.” Spikes shrug spoke volumes. “What were Blue and I supposed to do, odds of a hundred to one aint fun, twenty to one we can handle but more than that and the boom option seemed best.”


“Just how did you learn to make your own explosives anyway?” They were heading now down a quiet, unoccupied corridor towards a set of double doors. “I mean I wouldn’t have trusted you near a fuse wire for a second, but if reports I’ve read are right you got really good. What did you do put yourself through a demolition course. I mean I know I blew up a school one time.....” She noticed a really sharp look from Illyria and explained. “Which was empty save for a very large pure demon.”


“Blue here has the memories of a scientific genius crammed in with her memories of being a power in hell. She kept them after unmentionables happened and poor Fred died. But she’s still got all that chemistry for masterminds in there. What to mix, what to use to set it off, how to be along way clear when the boom happens. Ok the gal herself probably never would have dreamed of it but Illyria here’s got no qualms.”


“It is not the way that I would choose to make war but sometimes Spike is right. Sometimes when they were many and we but two then with no one to cover the exits they would simply have fled our wrath.” The shells knowledge had been so great but now Illyria used it simply to destroy. So much good might have been done instead.


“Plus explosions, pretty.” The Slayer joked trying to lighten a very serious mood, a vampire who had been on the run for way too long and a manic depressive Hell Queen, it was going to be a long flight back. She threw both the doors open at the end of the corridor. “Well how bout a little break from all the serious stuff in US tax dollar financed luxury.”


Oak panelled walls, expensive looking furniture and a series of paintings on the walls, the forth west facing was sun proofed glass giving a great mid-afternoon view of the Mississippi as it turned a corner and flowed off towards Arkansas. “The sun proofing's been done at our expense, the Initiative obviously weren’t too bothered about vampires burning up in here.”


“Wouldn’t have though that the Council would be exactly arsed either.” The Mississippi looked very big and brown from up were they where. Spike notice that most of the paintings concerned Civil War actions on it. **Bloody typical of the defence department, ignore natures wonder and just focus on the scrimmages.** He looked around, here was the lap of luxury indeed but he felt tense still ready for battle. **I think I really have been running and fighting for too long, I need to ‘Cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees,’ for a bit. Dear old blighty might be just the ticket for that. See me right again. Specially if its in good company.** “Very plush, good to see all the taxes I’ve not paid ‘ave been spent so wisely. Why the hell have they got this in an office block?”


“Penthouse type suite for people they can’t put up in hotels, they have locations like this scattered cross the country. They need them for meetings with horned or bumpy types.” Off his look she answered. “Times have changed Spike, lot less simplistic black and white views of demons are being used these days, get the grey area guys we can live and let live with onside before it hits the fan.”


**Did I fall I sleep whilst Wolfram and Harts way of doing things took over the world.** “Tell me that Harms not in your bloody secretarial pool.” Buffy’s almost guffaw of laughter sent a shiver of apprehension through Spike. “Oh shit Buffy just tell me it isn’t so.”


“Wait and see,” Was all that the she would reply. “The bedrooms are down that way, I’ll let you go shower and freshen up and Illyria do what she does while I go and make a few calls to let interested parties know mission is accomplished. We’ll eat at seven if that’s ok. Dress informal. Spike your all set up in room three. Illyria you can have room two.”


“I’ll see you later then Pet.” Spike shouted after her, he looked across at Illyria who was still standing by the window. She understood human time keeping now and shouldn’t need her hand holding. “Will you be alright on your own luv?”


“Of course, I have been so for millennia beyond count.”


“Ok no need to be so short about it I just asked.” But she was already turning and walking to her room, gone back into solitary who the hell do you think you are Queen of the damned mode. Well be like that he thought Illyria wasn’t exactly the best of travelling companions. Alternating as she did between lengthy days long silences and other instances where she’d want to spent hours bitterly ranting about her lot or the more disturbing for him Fred moments, the times when she acted like that cute girl from Texas who'd tried so hard to help him.


He shouldered his rucksack. **Oh well she’s Buffy’s problem to sort out now.**


**************************************


In his room Spike was surprised to find that some kind Slayer had shopped for him, there were several new tee-shirts, three pairs of jeans and a couple of jackets. The cheeky bint had also laid out some shoe polish and the necessaries to use same. “Is she suggesting that I have untidy footwear?”


He looked down, ok admittedly they were scuffed and scratched to blazes but that was what happened when you had to engage in the large-scale kicking in of doors, and evil things ribs for the good of humanity, not to mention bootin things that go thump in the night in the unmentionables.


With a sigh he scattered a few sheets from the old newspaper Buffy had also left him on the floor and got to work.


********************************************


Not being expected Illyria had no gifts, but she did find a magazine rack and spent three quarters of an hour trying on dresses the shell might have liked from two fashion magazines left there. And from an Esquire some male former quest had left behind several others which she couldn’t decide if Fred would ever have considered. But then in one set of memories Fred had become different harder and faster than the Fred Angel had had Wolfram and Hart make. “Though why would a man want something so complicated and time consuming to put on and be removed as this thing called basque. And these...suspenders.....chaff.”


Then she slipped back into her own fashion, a one piece leather cat suit that didn’t chaff at all and went to investigate the computer that formed part of the entertainment centre, hoping that there would be some quests to play. She found Tom Clancy’s Rogue Spear and settled down to ensuring the terrorists plans to acquire nuclear weapons failed.


**********************************************


Buffy got on with her phone calls, there were various interested parties who had asked to be advised as soon as ‘the package’ was secured.


“Yes Giles he’s ok, a little worn around the edges, thinner than I’d like and I suspect a little thousand yard stare'ie but ok”


“Now we are certain that nobody on our side has any plans for Spike, no ulteriors?”


“I know I’m supposed to have buried that hatchet and I have its just Spike actually being around.”


“Ok I know you agree that he’s a champion now.”


“Uhu yes still with the loudness and the self centeredness and excessive violence with has been honed to a real sharp edge.”


“Ok I’ll see you soon, oh and Giles whilst we’re in transit I want everything you can find about the Deeper Well, also a former occupant of same called Illyria waiting for me”


“I’ll tell you why when I see you.”


“Yes I’ll give him your best and tell him you sounded like you meant it.”


“Sorry yes ok I will stop with the suspicion.”


“See you in a couple of days Giles.”


Buffy put the receiver down then picked it up to dial a slightly longer distance number. “Hi Dawn, I found him......”


********************************************


“Good evenin’ luv.” Spike felt cleaner than he had in months. And Buffy looked good enough to eat as a starter, main course and desert. A tight figure hugging green tee and jeans over knee boots. Again he noted that sans stress of constant imminent death she had a lot more figure to hug. Illyria followed him out in a red blouse black skirt and stilettos, an outfit he’d not seen before suggesting she’d found something to read. She looked good too but he knew what lay under the Fred and didn’t have any urge to go there, good fighter yes but as up herself as it was possible to be combined with weak and self hating as well, making for a domineering/whining clinging combination, no appeal at all to him. Especially not with Buffy before him in all her glory. “So what’s for dinner pet, I’m feeling mighty peckish.”


“We have blood, we have asparagus soup for a starter ,we have spaghetti Bolognese, we also have that traditional Britisher favourite roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. If you want that much real food?”


“I could manage it, I’ll go with the blood, then the soup, the kindly meant roast beef, rare, blood in the gravy, and can I have you for desert?”


“Play your cards right. Illyria I’m going to have the Italian option, would you like to try that?” Treat your guest’s equally nicely Buffy thought ever if you heartily distrust one of them. “Its really good.”


“I’ll have the spaghetti too.” Of course the shell had tried Italian food, she had the ability to order Chinese food in the Cantonese language, why was the Slayer speaking to her as if she was a human child. “I have recollections of its taste.”


**Recollections of a person you killed, a really sweet girl who everyone liked. Oh how fun, how groovy is this demonic baggage O’Spike to be round. I really hope I don’t have to introduce her to Xander.**


The food and the blood were good, served by nervous looking Initiative mess men who had to work around the badness without all the special training and had the nightmares to prove it.


“So why did you decide to stay with Spike on his vendetta trail Illyria.” Buffy asked. “Couldn’t a being like you have put a crew together and been safely set up someplace by now?”


She avoided an attempted kick in the shin from Spike, Slayer reflexes honed to the extent she didn’t need to see it coming. “I mean you’ve led armies in the past yet here you are following Spike.”


“I do not understand your strange world mortal.” Illyria was getting testy, blue argued with Fred as she sought to keep her temper. “Spike understands it and he is brave and true for a half breed. He knows how to find our enemies, he finds their nests and lairs and hidden places permitting me to pursue my vengeance. That gives me purpose Slayer. Now what can you offer me in his place if you become my guide through this world?”


“On usual form frequent near death experiences and all the killing work you can bear.” Well she’s gore orientated and just waiting to be pointed at the bad so she might come in useful, but still....** Maybe if we can get her safety and trigger words like we managed with Dana. But still there’s a temper in there alright.** “More wine Illyria, or should I call you Fred.”


“Fred, Illyria, it matters not what you call me warrior.” It burned in Illyria’s mind to shout out what she saw about the Slayer, to upset her cosy little world by telling her how close she stood to becoming like Illyria, immortal with the power that could go with that. But she said nothing, how would these children react, mocking or scorning her as a liar. Let her find out for herself. “Spike has told me that you once slew a god, how did you achieve that feat of arms?”


“At great cost to myself you see.........”


*********************************************


They got through a good few reminiscences before Illyria claimed tiredness and retired to her room. There deeds were trivial compared to hers, plus she had reached the difficult Omani desalination plant mission which was hard with numerous guards, what was being sociable compared to completing that part of the quest.


“Well cheers kitten you’ve done us proud with the food and also for trying to stir it with ‘er blueness. Am I right in thinking that after the gettin’ to know your not best pleased to see ‘er?” Spike could feel the mood starting to leave the building. “Not that that’s anything that we need to worry over at all right here and now.”


Buffy wanted to tell him that maybe dark demonic powers ought to be put back in the Deeper Well, but that could wait till England couldn’t it. “Do you remember that last night in Sunnydale Spike?”


“Always luv, its kept me going for many a long month on the run.”


A deep breath later Buffy took the plunge. “Well then I guess we could sleep alone in our own separate rooms, lonely and possibly masturbating over said remembrance, or we could take up where we left off in a bigger comfier bed.”


She offered the vampire her hand. “I’ll also demonstrate all the reasons why you should have got on a plane and come looking for me the day you got corporialised.”


**Yeah there was this whole explanation on that but Harm didn’t believe and Buffy won’t either.** Spike got up and took the hand and bending a little kissed his girl long and hard. “I’d give you the explanation but lets just skip it. Me stupid, you gorgeous, and is your bed a double?”


“Very much so.”


“Oh good!”


*********************************************


“Oh Spike, Spike, so good, oh God yes like that!”


“So bloody hot luv, oh bloody hell yes, so wet and oh Buffy....”


Illyria tried not to listen, to forget all about having super powerful senses and hearing. Spike and Buffy were in rut, doing it for the fourth time now obviously reacquainting and putting everything they had into it. Why had Spike never wanted to do these so pleasurable sounding things with her? “Limey bastard.”


“Gosh those two are real uncivilized arn’t they. Going at it that loud when they have a guest in earshot.” Buffy suddenly said from behind Illyria. She looked round sharply to see the Slayer leaning against the wall, even as in the next room the warrior cried out her latest orgasm. “But god you gotta think that Spike must be a Viking in the sack.”


The Hell Queen stared hard at the intruder and it didn’t take more than a few seconds for the penny to drop. “First Evil, do you think me so foolish as to not know you. Buffy has told me how she defeated your plans. So what now is your purpose here?”


“Purpose,” the First started to walk round the room. “Oh just dropping by to check on an old contributor to my power. And this just in the Slayer didn’t defeat me she just set me back a touch. I’m evil eternal she can’t defeat me unless all of humanity goes all happy clappy on me, and picture that happening. Plus cute pretty blond that she is she forgets that no matter what she does while she lives the balance is tilted and I have a chance at success.”


“It is you then.” Illyria knew that there was no way that she could strike the First physically but she could hurt her in other ways. She began discreetly to draw in latent mystical energy from around and below her. “You are the one who schemes to grant Buffy immortality!”


“Moi, help my arch nemesis like that, as if, and why am I even on your list of suspects?” The First looked as innocent as she could. “What about the Immortal who wants to be doing the naked stuff with her again. He might be thinking if there weren’t that whole mortal-immortal divide he’d have an in a century from now. Then there’s Miss One Step from Godhood Willow Rosenberg. Who knows she might want to keep her friends around. Oh and the fun loving powers that be, always with the humour. Shanshued lover gets his mortality just as Buffy gets ‘rewarded’ with the big I.M.M. Plus there’s always room for another immortal hero in the game, say isn’t there a guards vacancy at the Deeper Well?”


“You have to be responsible, you have the most to gain.” To be honest Illyria didn’t know or care, she knew only that Willow had strangely rejected the shell’s friendship, and nothing of the Immortal. But just keep the First talking. “I will tell her that you appeared to me, I will tell her what I suspect.”


“And be laughed at, or mocked, or suspected of being my accomplice, after all your evil.” The First threw her Buffy’s famous half smile. “She’d never believe it, mortals just never see immortality coming before someone gifts them with it. No matter how much mojo they’ve seen its always a big suprise. And why spoil it for the poor thing, pretty soon its going to be gravity and wrinkles, so might as well let her get it while the bods still perky. Plus the dumb ass thinks I’m history despite the whole connected to evil thing. But most importantly you squealing on me will royally piss me off. So no, no telling, your options Miss Exile are help me and get rewarded with enough strength to take a dimension or two, or die bloody with the rest of them when my next plan kicks into play.”


“You cannot harm me, you cannot even fight me. I have the strength to defeat any of those blind creatures who follow you. You yourself have nothing but the ability to cast shadows.”


“No strength!!” Suddenly Buffy was gone replaced by a snarling man in the garb of a human priest. “Little girl I could send an army to this place within an hour strong enough to kill everyone in the building save her. To come in here and put pieces of you into every corner of this room, burn that moronic vampire before her eyes, then gang rape that dirty whore to within an inch of her life just for the fun of it. I am evil incarnate child my followers are legion. Next time it won’t be a few thousand souped up vamps, it will be every demon and evil human in the world. One day soon my power will cause them all to unite and do my will. And on that day bitch the place you want to be is on MY SIDE!!”


“And if you attack you know Buffy would fight like a lion and not submit and with her death your plans would be as nothing. Caster of shadows you would not dare it now tonight.” Illyria did not like this man whoever he was or the way he looked at her body. “Go shadow caster gather your army, I will meet it at the gates of this castle with its soldiers behind me and slaughter it.....”


She stopped speaking as the First changed tack and form. Caleb’s spite filled face being replaced by one she had loved. Wesley Wyndham-Price. “Illyria you’re being most unreasonable. The First offer to you is genuine She can restore your power and help you leave this dimension to conquer another for yourself. You hate it here; you wouldn’t have to stay any longer with the cloying reek of humanity around you. And just so we’re clear she’s not going to fob you off with the plane of shrimp. You have no other future, Buffy doesn’t like or trust evil creatures, she is going to take you and Spike to England. There you’ll meet the world’s greatest living witch and the head of the council Rupert Giles. Between them they are very capable of returning you to the Deeper Well. They don’t have the memories of Fred I had, the affection that stopped me doing it, you won’t stand a chance.”


“Spike would not let them......”


“Spike will do what Buffy tells him too Illyria, he is a different creature in her presence, besotted, blind to everyone else. Buffy will probably be able to persuade him to help. And back into your sarcophagus you will go. Giles is formidable in the war against demons also, he won’t let any creature such as you roam around free when you prison is so near and convenient.”


“Take your lies and shadows away from me First they grow tiresome.” Illyria hissed, feeling all the same fear clawing at her heart. “They are false, untrue, Spike would never let anyone harm me!”


“So you say, and you almost sound like you believe it. Well we’ll see won’t we? Remember Illyria you’ll always have my affection whatever he does.” Wesley smiled the way he used to smile at Fred. “Think about what I have said and be ready, and if you ever need my help just call out to me.”


The image blinked out leaving Illyria alone. She let the power she had forgotten to use drain away, the sight of Wesley had made her forget its purpose, and such was the First’s way. **I should tell Buffy now what has transpired, but what if the First is right, could it really do as it claims, it has very great power......**


***************************************************


“Oh I’ve missed this Spike,” Buffy lay on her side almost but not quite exhausted, naked and damp with sweat from their exertions, her right hand slowly and languidly stroking Spike’s cock hoping for one more round. And things were feeling promising. “Can you answer me one question though?”


“Ask away luv.” Spike was feeling the burn from the horizontal exercise plus all those months on the run. As well as the pleasure from Buffy’s hot little hand on his flesh. “A break for a chat would be good.”


“If Fred had survived instead of Illyria would you be in here with me or would you be with her in your room?”


“That’s a very academic one luv, if Fred ‘ad been in the alley instead of Illyria we’d both be dead and nobody would be ‘avin sex with anyone. An’ I was only mates with ‘er anyway, she loved Wesley.” Spike counter attacked moving a hand to capture one of Buffy’s sensitised nipples, rolling it between finger and thumb causing her to gasp with pleasure. “I could ask in reply to that academic question whether if Riley Finn adn’t done a runner would you be ‘ere if I ‘ad a soul or not?”


“Probably not, I might have stopped with the reviling and have thought better of you but I don’t think we’d have wound up like this.” Spike was getting harder and the conversation less interesting. His fingers left her nipple and trailed down across her stomach to the messy with a combination of his and hers secretions junction of her legs. Spike slipped two fingers into her vagina, his thumb brushing the Slayers clit as he worked them in and out. She moaned adding. “Not that it matters at all now lover.”


“No, lots more important stuff luv.” They kissed passionatly. “Like how do you want it this time, cowgirl or reverse cowgirl, underneath or in front, up against the wall or bent over that chair in the corner, or there’s pile-driver or any physically possible way you choose to name?”


Buffy kissed Spike again while she thought about it, she’d been coming two or three each time he’d done her and so lying back and thinking of America sounded easiest. “Straight forward missionary please I’m far too well shagged for the fancier stuff.”


Buffy slid underneath her vamp as they half rolled round to get back into position. She wondered as she opened her legs once more whether the Witchdoctors who created the Slayers had intended the enhanced libido to be part of the package. Then realized how gross were the potential where’s and whyfores if they had planned it. **Kiss Spike and try to put that picture away!**


She broke the kiss with a giggle even as Spike eased his way into her heat again groaning at the sensation. “Not wanted to spoil whatever the funny is luv but is this a good time to tell you this is my best ever sex?”


“Oh Spike.” If Buffy’s face hadn’t so flushed from sweating and great sex sensations she would have blushed at the compliment. “Wow that’s so sweet of you, and with all those immortals to compete with too, oh like that yes, I’ve never felt so much in love with anyone as I do with you right now.”


“Never......” What could he say, nothing. He could thank her for saying it like he had in the cave, he could throw in a but really luv you dont.... Spike just kissed her, years had gone by, Angel was gone who was he to argue with her.


***************************************


Illyria didn’t exactly need too sleep, but Spike had gotten her out of the habit of just standing round in a corner of the room waiting for mortals or half-breeds to wake up. So now she lay upon her bed, eyes closed for all the world resting. Thankfully the noises of lovemaking had stopped. Now she could concentrate.


**Do I tell the Slayer about the First. Its lies are supposed to make you feel fear, to overwhelm you. It schemes to divide comrade from comrade, so it may conquer each in turn. But its words are as empty as the shadows that it casts, oh I hope they are.**


How was she to know if these creatures did indeed have the power to return her to the Deeper Well, she had told the Battlebrand that perhaps she still belonged there. But she did not want to be returned, to sink back into nothingness to have no chance to escape again. No, never, better this existence than that. Unlike the first she could feel, could fight and kill, could perhaps one day experience in the truest sense love, had already known lust. **If the First wins there will be no love just hate and vengeance. I could not bear it. I will fight her with all that I am. But in case they do plan to put me back there perhaps I should not speak of tonight......**

***********************************


Next door Spike was busy changing the fun soiled sheets from Buffy’s bed for the clean ones of his own whilst Buffy dried her hair post their mutual post sex shower. “He was turned into a what!?!”


“A puppet, a ickle cute little puppet person with standy up black hair.” Spike knew incredulity when he saw it on a girls face and went on. “I’m bloody not making it up I swear. ‘E got turned into a puppet by demonic puppets on a kids TV show called Smile Time. A actual tiny puppet just yeah high.”


“Ok, Spike I’m not saying I don’t believe you its just so far we have, soul sucking thing.....”


“That I saved ‘im from.”


“.....Willpower removing stick, chair peeing.....”


“That was so bloody funny.”


“And then you getting blown up in Rome. But the Puppet, either these are just your highlights or Angel had the worst luck.” Buffy stopped drying her hair. “You say that the smack down at the end of the puppet thing was on TV, there any tapes?”


“None that the poof didn’t burn.” Spike finished the bed and sat down upon it. Admiring Buffy’s body as she finished towelling and began to use her hairbrush. He suppressed stirrings of lust, if they started off again they’d probably be at it for the rest of the night. Some sleep was needed whatever their libido’s and physical strengths. A long flight back to England was on the cards for the following night. **Oh God but I’d still like to.....**


Buffy padded barefoot to the bed and slipped under the covers, Spike joined her still suppressing.


“A puppet!”


“Yes kitten, puppet.”


*****************************


Spike woke too a hot wet sensation, a hot wet sensation on the erection that had involuntarily arisen with the dawn. “Oh.”


“Your awake.” Someone tried to say with her mouth full, it didn’t come out to clearly but Spike got the ghist and the sentiment. He opened his eyes to see Buffy on her knees beside him on the bed. Her head bobbing up and down as she fellated him enthusiastically.


“Oh god luv I’m very definatly awake!”

Chapter 3


Standing by the window looking out over the city Illyria thought about humanity. The creatures who had created all these buildings of this city and tamed the great river that flowed through it. They crawled like so many ants upon the surface of what had been her world. Their lives so brief, so unnoticable, but in the culmination of all those lives together they had built so much, should that not be defended. Should she not help with that defence, better that humanity should have this dimension than the First.


“Hi Illyria, how did you sleep.”


The demon knew that the voice was that of the real Buffy as she could feel Spike’s aura also in the room, so familiar to her. It was no surprise to her when she turned round to see the reunited couple holding hands. “I do not sleep Buffy Summers but I have rested.....” There was one of those very disturbing for Buffy transformations into Fred. “My you ‘all both look real happy.”


“Don’t think I’ve ever been happier kitten.” Spike put his free arm around Buffy’s shoulders. “And now we can all go off to Europe where I hope you’ll be happy too.”


“I will try to be, if I am allowed.” But in case the slayers plans lay contrary to Illyria being happy it was best not to tell about last night she suddenly realized. She would stay neutral regarding the First until Buffy revealed her hand.


Hours passed companionably enough, Spike and Buffy reminisced and filled in gaps in what they knew about each other’s lives since their last fiery parting. Buffy also struggled to make conversation with the Hell Queen, finding that in Illyria’s withdrawn state she was reluctant to share.


Towards nightfall the trio headed back down to the basement, getting back into the limo. From there they were to drive to a private airstrip south of the city where an Initiative owned jet waited. The limo formed now the middle of a convoy, a humvee, two vans full of guards the limo and then two more security vans.


The US government wanted Spike and Illyria out of the country, expense wasn’t an issue in getting them gone.


*****************************************************


“We’re out of the city.” Buffy wound the window down to get a clearer view of the now night shrouded countryside. A narrow road with fields on either side and beyond them woodland. “Just a few more minutes guys and we’ll be at the plane and then up up and away.”


“To England, home and beauty......”


Suddenly from in front of them there was the roar of an engine then the crunching and rending noise made by one vehicle hitting another hard. The limo veered violently to avoid impact then came to a stop engine idling.


Buffy grabbed up her weapons bag. “Everybody out.”


*******************************************


At the edge of the trees to the East of the road stood black robed figures their faces covered to protect them from sight, they were armed with spears, axes and swords. Their leader who wore a helmet and chain mail raised his sword high. “Brothers we have them, remember as you strike them down what they did, how they took the holy vessel from us. Vengeance, vengeance, for vengeance ATTACK!”


Screaming at the tops of their voices the Tennessee chapter of the Fell brethren swept forward.


***************************************************



Buffy dragged a sword from her holdall as she got out of the car. Around her the road side filled up with the gun armed members of her security detail, soldiers in uniform and to Spike’s surprise quite a number of young women in black fatigues. As he took the axe Buffy passed to him he wondered. **Slayers with guns, bloody hell things have changed.**


“Does Illyria need weapons?”


“No kitten she just uses her fists.”


The Slayer looked up towards the mangled humvee, there was a black car rammed into the side of it, completely black, windows and lights stained from what she could tell of the wreckage. The Humvee crew were staggering out, dazed and maybe injured but alive. There was a demon on the other hand who’d come through the windscreen of the vehicle by way of the steering wheel. **Frickin idiot didn’t even have the sense to belt up.**


“Miss Summers get back in your vehicle and get out of here.” One of the soldiers shouted even as the Fell Brethren charged into view. “Well take care of this you need to....”


“No way.” Buffy interrupted him. “I don’t run from fights.....”


Forty automatic weapons roared into life almost simultaneously, within fifteen seconds twelve hundred rounds had gone out in controlled bursts into a massed target. The brethren were cut to ribbons.


“.....Not that there’s going to be one.”


“Hey couldn’t you blokes ‘ave saved me just one?” Spike protested as the few brethren not dead or maimed and downed started to run. “Bloody sods come back an’ I won’t let ‘em shoot you I promise!”


“Vengeance.” A score of the Brethren had been lying in wait in the fields to the West, cloaked in black. Now as their brother’s attack fell apart this forlorn hope sprang up and charged at the so very obvious Spike.


The leader sprang onto the Limo roof ran across and jumped off sword aimed at Spike’s head. Buffy however moved quicker, the demon came down onto the point of her blade. Death loosened his grip on his weapon the sword glancing off Spike’s shoulder and into the ground.


“Here’s our fight Spike.”


“Oh good.”


Spike caught an inbound blade with the point on the end of his axe, he twisted it away from him then cut back and up taking off most of the demon’s jaw. A second blow took the sword arm off as well. But there were three more attackers behind it.


Buffy had caught up the demons sword and now wielded two blades at once in a whirling circle of steel. The demons might be immortal and veterans of demon wars but they had never faced a champion like this before. Thrust, riposte, parry, slash, and thrust. Chest, face, groin and gut. The blades darkened with demon blood, as did the ground around Buffy’s feet.


Between attacks Buffy did catch one glimpse of what Illyria was capable of. She saw the Hell Queen catch a blade in her bare fist holding her attacker locked in contact while she stepped forward and rammed her free hand through his chest. Then she threw the sword straight as a dart through the head of another demon about to run a spear through Spike’s back.


Then there were no more demons. “Six or so each, not bad for a nights work.”


“They were weak, scarce worth the exertion, all they have done is aroused my wrath” Illyria picked two swords up from the ground holding them ideally as if they were toys. “But look there are others.”


“Oh shit.” Buffy’s eyes widened with fear as from the woods to the west a host emerged, large demons bigger than the Fell with huge horns. Once again the weapons they were carrying were mostly edged but there where some crossbows visible in the front rank. They would stand as much chance against her escort as the Fell were it not for the fact there were so many of them. “There would seem to be hundreds of them.”


“Arch Duke Sebassis’s lads, about a legions worth.” Grimly Spike moved beside her axe held ready. “Well Buffy this might be it, I love you and.....”


“No offence sir but there’s no need for last farewells and please take cover.” A soldier with a radio in his hand had come up behind them. And Spikes vampire sensitive ears suddenly picked up the low hum of helicopter engines in the sky behind him.


As Buffy crouched down she looked back behind her, three indistinct shadows were moving through the night sky. Fully blacked out helicopters with no running lights, their engines specially built to run virtually silently. Black Hawks if she had known it and black indeed. You can’t move a demon legion without someone noticing and the Initiative had good seers, their forces in the area had been on high alert and these helicopters patrolling near the airstrip.


There was suddenly fire in the night sky as rockets sped from pods on the side of the aircraft. The missiles exploded in the midst of demons sending shrapnel ripping through their ranks. And then the door gunners opened up, their mini guns gatling style barrels spinning almost faster than the eye could see churning out hundreds of rounds per burst.


“You know fights with massed demon hordes just aren’t what they used to be pet.” Spike shouted above the noise.


“Your not wrong!“


Explosions where throwing pieces of demon and their weapons up into the air.


“Did we over do the worrying about what might happen if huge demon hordes emerged from the Hellmouth?” Buffy asked.


“Well there seems to be no shortage of ammo you can pour in and compared to that.” Spike had to wonder, Turok-Han might have been hard to kill but against this. There was a lot of screaming going on out there but all of it was moving away as quickly as possible. “Well that was bloody disappointin’.....”


****************************************


“Ok your right it was kind of unfair, but hey not wanting to be overwhelmed by a massed demon attack and cut to peices tonight anyway thank you.” Buffy and her convoy where back on the road, reinforced with extra Initiative vehicles mounting .50 calibre machine guns. “Why do you suppose they didn’t come at us from both sides at once?”


“Probably supposed to but you looking at standard demon alliance crap. The legion hung back expectin’ the Fell to wear us down an’ get butchered in the process, leavin’ them to finish off the survivors and get all the torturin’ captives fun. And if it hadn’t been for airpower.” There had only been two human casualties the two injured drivers, Spike had seen a very large mass grave being started for the demons, even he was shocked at the carnage. “I mean I know you can do alot of damage with air strikes an such but bloody hell I’ve never seen anything like it before, total carnage, no bloody prisoners. And since when did Slayers start using shooters?”


“Since demons and vampires realized how the odds had swung against them, since then they’ve started to wear stake proof body armour and packing heat of their own. I was losing too many girls Spike.” Buffy had been too dozens of Slayers funerals in the last few months, her war was getting no easier. The world was drifting towards a full scale war between good and evil and though good might have gotten out of Sunnydale substantially reinforced evil had shook itself off, reformed its ranks and come out swinging. “My views on a lot of things have had to change, so have the Councils. So we’ve done or reinforced deals with a lot of the worlds governments to increase cooperation with their anti-demon forces and now we’re as you see us.”


“Bout time then to an’ extent. All that ongoin’ medieval crap hitting things with sharp stuff and pointy stuff, crossbows. Did the job but maybe too slowly.” Spike was feeling an overwhelming need for a soothing cigarette. “But helicopter bloody gunships luv, rockets and machine guns chopping demons into kibbles and bits isn’t that pushin' the envelope out way to far?”


“So is war waged.” Illyria intoned, she did not see what all the fuss was about, certainly she would have preferred to tear the demons down with her own hands but they were dead were they not. But when had a fair fight ever mattered in war. Illyria had just heard the First threaten to unleash her hordes on the world, it was good to see that humanity had the means to fight those hordes. But then evil was adaptable too. “In the future they will bring mages to cast fire and bolts of energy at your gunships, and they will carry human weapons against them also. These things you call helicopters are powerful but if spells fry their crews what use are they.”


“Powerful warding spells protect them for starters. You see Spike I’ve realized how many times I’ve come across all powerful ‘I’m going to destroy the world,’ demons have come unstuck on our technology, remember the Judge?” Buffy eyed Illyria cautiously while she said all this, though the demon who maybe still wanted to rule the world had fought well was she to be trusted, would she turn on them if anything came her way that might restore her power. **Still needing to know what Giles has learned.** “They just don’t seem to grasp the advances we’ve made till they come down on them.”


“Amen to that.” Spike had seen how near Apocalypse was often enough over the past two years. “But they’ll learn from it eventually and they have their own down right nasty bags of tricks. Bloody hell Buffy where’s that airfield so want to be off this continent. If I’m going to cop it in some hell inspired final battle I’d rather die on my own home turf next time.


“Optimist much......”


*****************************************


Spike still wasn’t that used to flying, but at least this time he had Buffy’s hand to hold and the bottles of Jack were real bottles of Jack. He was still shell shocked though at what he had seen, or rather he considered he was shell-shocked at his unlife post dying in the hellmouth. “You know I think it’s a bit much the Yank’s objectin’ to how I was doing my job. Is car bombing a demon barracks any different from mass aerial slaughter. And you have Slayers fightin in Initiative units now. You have no reason to trust em and Giles never did. They’re a right interferin’ controllin bunch of wotsits and always have been, did I ever tell you about Angel and the submarine, no well too long of a story for now. Why the hell is the Watchers council doin’ all this Buffy?”


“Necessity, big hit from the First, personnel resources badly chewed up. Lots of Slayers very few Watchers, we have twenty thousand girls to run....God that makes me sound like a very successful Madam.” Buffy laughed at the irony. “So many girls, so little time. All of them scattered the who knew where around the world with the strength now and the dream imparted knowledge and not knowing what or why. So in our rather fragile state we’ve had to compromise till we can get fully back on our feet. And handy government run organisations there to help, we have a Watcher with every squad to make sure they don’t get sidetracked into taking on law enforcement or military tasks.”


“And in your slaughterers tour of the Americas.” Buffy had dropped into full pep talk mode Spike noticed but let her liking the sound of her voice if not the words. “Did you notice the oncoming Armageddon, the worlds heading towards a meat grinder of a battle Spike and when it hits I need the Worlds governments to be in there with us and swinging.”


“Yeah, Apocalypse, very visible with the coming. I’ve done my best to hold it back in my own small not tie up with international politics kind of way. I mean look at how long it takes the UN to do anything. And the bloody Initiative, they were to build a cyborg/demon army to kill people with remember?”


“The cyborg army was a rogue element kind of thing, and they’re very careful about not letting rogue elements in these days.” Buffy threw up her hands in frustration. “Can we not all move on from that, I trust them, Giles trusts them, Willow trusts them. We’ve had their leaders very fully checked out by very reliable sources. They just kill monsters these days.”


“And you reckon that they won’t.....?”


“What does it matter what they have done, they fight by your side is that not enough.” Illyria threw in. “You forgave me my actions Spike with this great war coming is that not now enough. No leader would turn down worthy allies at this time, no leader who wants to win anyway. Do you expect to defeat whole demon legions with just one warrior?”


“We have a hell of a lot more than one warrior now.” Having a Hell Queen as a cheer leader for your team was off-putting to say the least, as was this very pig headed unsupporting Spike. “Damn it Spike you know what a none trusty person Giles is and he is ok with this!”


“Ok, ok I give up on the Initiative.” Spike was only willing to concede a point though not the match. “You said though that there were other governments, how many others.”


“All of the EU, the G8 and most every none dictatorship, though as ever the Swiss plead neutrality.”


“Got it tied up then luv, by the way which of them uses black uniformed cyborgs armed with chain weapons to kill its demons?” Spike asked all innocent sounding.


“Their a joint venture between Japan and Canada. We call them the Ninja droids for lack of anything more imaginative. Why where did you come across them?” Buffy asked not seeing the trap.


“Oh just a brief run-in in LA.” Spike was really starting to feel troubled now, the cyborgs had been a direct attack on Angel, had Buffy or Giles known about it, sanctioned it even. The cyborgs programmers had after all had full information on Wesley’s father, had that come directly from the Council. Angel had been the CEO of the main branch of Wolfram and Hart an organisation the Council considered a dire enemy, wouldn’t using a deniable outside force be the logical way to try to damage it if they had wanted too?


He hoped that Buffy could not look him in the eye and be so duplicitous as to lie about the matter. But then there was Giles. “They got in our way a few times, buggered up an investigation into arms dealin’ among other things.”


“Well if you don’t coordinate your activities stuff like that will happen. And if most of your activities are evil......” Buffy extended her hand across the aisle for him to hold. “.....Though I know the deciding to work for evil was Angel’s idea and not yours baby, so there were quite a few plans to hit him flying around, that one we didn’t find out about until too late. We stopped all the rest.”


“How very Christian of you, and you knew.” Spike took the hand anyway he was feeling very adrift. “You actually thought Angel was evil enough not to bother tipping him off?”


“Too late, post the event, and hey Wolfram and Hart the centre of the next apocalypse, Angel put the big bulls eye over himself by working for them, I never had anything to do with any of those plans and you did car bomb one of their offices.”


“Well ok then lets not let sentiment or old friendships influence our decisions at all. Kitten we were tryin' our best, and can you believe I’m actually sayin' we. We were there to fight evil and yeah maybe we were gettin played but when we hit back we did it hard.”


“We know this Spike, destroying the Circle of the Black Thorn was beaucoup de asskick too the bad. But at the time things looked really wrong you all being there. Don’t tell me that you didn’t have any doubts about Angel yourself?”


“Alright I can’t say I didn’t, really thought he’d bloody lose plot a few times in fact. But bloody cyborgs Buffy, luv do you actually still remember Adam. Ok maybe no demon in the mix but its still necromancy behind all the wires and microchips. And then on top of all these other new connections there’s the Immor.....”


“Ah I wondered how long that would take,” Buffy threw a booklet in Spike’s direction. “Are we going to spend the whole long flight going over and over this. When you get to England we’ll fully brief you on the where’s and why’s and you’ll see the good we’ve done. Meantime there’s the in flight entertainment menu, pick us a film so long as it doesn’t have Chevy Chase in it.”


Illyria sat silently pondering on it all. **The warrior and her councillors are allying their kingdom with the worlds great powers, But have they chosen wisely, will some seek to usurp their place, is there corruption within their ranks. This Immortal whom the First warned me of, Spike does not trust him. True he is a rival for Buffy’s affections but is that all, if so he is a fool for letting jealousy rule him when really he should fear this fellow playing for the world. And see Spike now as he sits there picking a film, this rebel this constant vocal thorn in Angel’s side tamed with a word and a look from hazel eyes. This Slayer must, as the humans would put it, be some fine lay to have such an effect. Fine protection he will be for me if Buffy does threaten me. “Do they have A Fist Full of Dollars?”


“No luv,” Spike looked up. “Why?”


“It intrigues me, a story of a lone warrior playing two sides in a war off against each other to their ultimate destruction.” Illyria put on her best Fred smile as she quickly added. “Not that you’ all need to worry about me planning anything like that of course.”


“I never dreamed about it for a moment, I’ve got Spike’s word your alright.” Buffy did trust her vamp enough to have brought Illyria along not in magical chains but intended to have some on standby. “You’ll like Italy then its where they made that film.


“Oh look they’ve got Bunny the Vampire Hunter.” Spike said it without so much as a smirk.


“Noooo, you know how much I hate that blond exploiting piece of crap film, and I mean like its anything like my life, and the vampire make ups terrible. And Jess Whoden so not my favourite director for that very reason.”


“Ok, Underworld?”


“No, but did you want it for the outfits or the girl though?”


“Outfit and Ms Beckinsale’s cute.”


“So much nicer outfit in Van Helsing though and cuter male lead, do they have same?”


“No sorry.” Spike was about to throw in more suggestions when Buffy asked.


“Have they got the extended Fellowship of the Ring?”


“They ‘ave but that a bloody long un!”


“Its a bloody long flight so unless anyone massively objects we might as well use the time. The cave scene at Isengard is just so reminiscent of one of my wigginsworthy moments ever. And no offence but no vamps in it either”


**The Sean Bean actor is pleasing to my eyes, as were Wesley and Spike all of whom are from England..I am going to England now, is it possible that all Englishmen are....oh**


End of Part 1