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Author's Chapter Notes:
Betad by Carol and dawnofme :)
Chapter Thirty-Six

Waiting for News

“No!”

Buffy’s desperate scream made Rich leap into action. He raced to where the girls were standing, rigid with shock. He didn’t let his mind dwell on the sight before him. He bent down and put his hands under Spike’s armpits. He dragged him as quickly as he could to the SUV.

“Help me!” he yelled as he struggled to get the limp and smouldering body of his best friend into the rear seat.

Tara was the first to react and helped Rich shove Spike in. Rich and Tara looked at each other in horror.

“Oh God, Tee,” gasped Rich. “What the hell is happening to him now?”

“The sun – it must have been the sun,” said Tara with a sob.

She suddenly realised that Buffy wasn’t with them. She turned around and saw her slumped on the gravel drive with her head in her hands, body racked with silent sobs. Rich went to follow Tara as she moved to go to Buffy but Tara stopped him with a squeeze of his hand.

She shook her head. “Stay with Spike,” she said softly.

“Buffy?” she said, kneeling beside her.

“Oh, Tara,” sobbed Buffy. “I can’t take any more. I thought he was going to…I…” Her words were lost as she began to cry uncontrollably.

“Shh, Buffy.” Tara wrapped her arms around her. “He’s okay.”

Tara glanced at Rich to make sure that what she was saying was true. Rich’s face was pale with shock, but he nodded and managed a ghost of a smile.

“We need to go,” he said. “I’m not sure how safe he is in there.”

“Buffy, sweetie, we’ve got to go. We need to get Spike to my house. He’ll be safe there,” said Tara, gently coaxing Buffy to her feet and supporting her as they made their way to the car.

Buffy managed to get her emotions under control and insisted on sitting next to Spike on the rear seat. She cradled his head on her knees and stroked his hair softly. The right side of his face was covered with burns and she could see that the same was true of his hands.

“Oh, baby,” she whispered as tears fell slowly from her eyes.

“Thank God that this tank has darkened windows,” said Rich, as Tara slipped the SUV into gear and pulled away from the side of the road. “Do you think that it’s enough protection?” He glanced over his shoulder to look at Spike. “He’s stopped smoking now.” He had to bite back a hysterical laugh “He was smoking! My friend was about to fucking spontaneously combust!”

Tara’s hand touched his knee. As always, he drew strength from her.

“I think so, but let’s get home as quickly as we can,” said Tara.

The journey was silent. After about fifteen minutes, Tara turned into the driveway of her little house. Rich glanced at her with relief when he saw that the drive and the way to the side door were in deep shade.

“Wait until I get the door unlocked before you bring Spike out,” she said, leaning over and kissing Rich. Then she climbed out of the SUV and hurried to open the door.

Between them, Buffy and Rich hauled Spike into the safety of the house. Tara ran around, pulling all the drapes shut. They lay him on the couch, managing to keep him on his side so that he wouldn’t be pressing on his burnt hands.

“Surely we can undo those cuffs now,” asked Buffy.

She sat on the edge of the couch, fingers resting on Spike’s arm, needing to touch him and wishing that she could hold him in her arms.

“I was thinking the same thing,” replied Rich. “But we’ve got a problem. Angel never gave us the key.”

“Oh, God, Rich. He’s hurt. We have to do something.” Buffy turned to Tara. “Do you have anything that could cut them or…or could you do a spell?”

Tara walked across the lounge room and put her hand on Buffy’s shoulder.

“I don’t have any tools. I’m a ‘get someone in to do the job’ kind of a girl and I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything that could unlock the cuffs using magics.”

Spike chose that moment to stir. All three watched anxiously as he moved on the couch. His eyes flew open when he rolled over and lay on his hands. He had a moment’s panic as he tried to move his arms from behind his back and then cursed softly under his breath as he remembered what had happened.

“B…Buffy,” he whispered, turning to look at her.

“I’m here. You’re okay,” she soothed.

“Am I still alive?” asked Spike, his brow furrowed with worry.

“Sure you are,” replied Buffy with a smile before kissing the top of his head.

Spike struggled into a sitting position. “No,” he said urgently. “I mean do I still have a heartbeat? Tell me that I’m not like him.”

“Hey, mate. Calm down a bit, yeah? You’re still alive – properly alive.” Rich reassured him. “You’ve just got to use factor ten million sun cream.”

Spike managed a small smile. Tara had slipped quietly to the kitchen and returned with a glass of water.

“Here, drink this.” She held it to his mouth. “Take it slowly.”

Spike winced a little as he put his lips to the glass. They were chapped and sore. The right side of his face felt stiff. His hands were throbbing.

“Does it hurt?” asked Rich.

“What do you think?” retorted Spike, eyes flashing amber.

“Take it easy,” said Buffy, resting her hand on Spike’s knee. “He saved your life just now.”

“I’m sorry,” mumbled Spike. “It’s just--I’m starting to think that all my future holds is a dusty ending.”

“No way will I let that happen,” said Buffy firmly.

Such was the conviction in her voice that Spike almost believed her.

It was an uncomfortable wait for Angel to arrive. Spike was obviously in some pain and having his hands cuffed behind his back didn’t help. Tara got some healing lotion from her supplies of potions and between them, she and Buffy gently rubbed it on every half hour or so.

Spike wasn’t a happy man. He was terrified of this new development. As far as he could see, he only had the fangs and the stopping of his heart to go before he was totally a vampire. To make matters worse, he could smell that the others were equally worried despite their over-bright smiles and chit chat.

The lotion that Tara used really helped to take the edge off the pain of his burns. Spike leaned back, ignoring the flash of pain as he squashed his hands against the back of the couch. He closed his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep until Angel’s arrival. Spike thought that the big git would turn up, but wouldn’t let himself really believe it until he saw the vampire again.

Tara touched Buffy’s arm and indicated that they leave Spike to rest for a while. She led Buffy to the kitchen where Rich was already sitting at the table. Tara looked at Rich’s face and the red-rimmed eyes told her that he had been weeping for his friend. She went to him and drew him into a hug. Tara felt his body shudder with the effort of holding back more tears. She kissed his forehead and wondered when it had happened that she was the strong one? It seemed a long time ago that she had been sitting in the departure lounge and had met Spike for the first time. She’d been so shy. Tara smiled to herself. Who would have thought that a few weeks later, she would be pivotal in trying to save Spike’s life? She offered up a silent prayer to the Goddess to help her find the solution.

“He’s a good man. He deserves to live a normal mortal life.”

Tara squeezed Rich even tighter. If she failed, she would never forgive herself. Rich would be devastated and she was certain that she’d lose him as surely as Buffy would lose Spike.

Buffy slid into one of the chairs around the table. “How long to sunset?”

Rich wrapped his arms around Tara’s waist and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her neck as she sat on him. He held his hand out to Buffy and squeezed hers when she gripped it.

“Not long now, Buffy,” he said.

They all jumped when Tara’s laptop announced incoming mail. She’d e-mailed the coven as soon as they had gotten Spike settled when they arrived. This was the first response. They stared at each other. This could be it. The solution to Spike’s problem. Or it could be the coven telling them that they had failed to find a way to help him.

Tara had just stood up when there was a sharp rap at the door. Angel.

“You go and check the e-mail; I’ll get the door,” said Rich.

Buffy also stood. “I’m going back to Spike.”

She couldn’t stand watching Tara read the e-mail and trying to work out what she was reading by her expression. Buffy walked back into the lounge as Rich walked into the hallway and to the door. He opened it and was relieved to see that it was Angel. He had been afraid that the vampire wouldn’t turn up, but here he was, standing there holding a large black bag. Rich held the door wide open and gestured for Angel to come in.

“You have to say the words,” said Angel.

“Huh?”

Angel sighed. Yes, he’d be glad to get back to his own world. At least there he didn’t have to keep on explaining what had to be done. “I can’t come in unless you invite me.”

Rich grinned and slapped his forehead. “God, can’t believe that I didn’t think of that! All the movies I’ve seen has that in them somewhere.” He bowed and dramatically waved an arm. “Angel, please come in.”

Angel smiled back. It was hard not to like Rich and he felt bad about decking him. He took a large stride to cross the threshold and hit what felt like a brick wall. “Crap!” he said. “You don’t live here, do you?”

“What? No, I don’t.” Rich smile got even broader. “Not yet anyway.”

“Can you go and ask Tara to invite me in – it has to be someone who lives here.”

“Okay.”

Rich walked quickly down the hall and moments later Tara appeared.

“Come in, Angel,” said Tara.

Angel walked into the house. He’d lost count of the number of times that he’d been denied access to homes over his couple of centuries of existence, but it still amazed him that a few words could make the impregnable barrier disappear.

He inclined his head. “Thank you, Tara.”

“I’ve just gotten an e-mail from the coven. I’m going through it now; it’s a long one. Spike and Buffy are through there.” Tara pointed to the door to the lounge. “He got burned before we got him back to the car. I hope that you brought the keys to the cuffs. I’m sure that he’d be more comfortable with his coat off and his hands free.”

“He got burnt? That’s another new development. Looks like things are speeding up,” said Angel. “I’ve brought the chains just in case.” He held up the bag in his hand.

Angel didn’t want to think of the shop that he’d stolen the bag from – but in times of strife, he just had to quash the protests of his soul by figuring it was for the greater good.

“Go on through; I’ll be in just as soon as I read it.”

Angel watched her walk briskly away. She reminded him, very much, of Willow. He supposed there must be a Willow here somewhere too. He shook his head. This was weird. He’d always thought that other dimensions were totally different from each other but this one was truly a parallel one. All the players in it seemed more or less the same. He grimaced as he remembered that his counterpart was in jail for assault and wasn’t a nice human being. But then, he hadn’t exactly been a nice human being either. He’d relished causing trouble, and it was his womanising ways that had made him follow Darla that fateful night.

He shuddered as he recalled how he’d laid waste wherever he’d gone as a vampire until the curse of his soul had put an end to it. Angel knew that without the soul he wouldn’t have had the strength or – let’s face it – the inclination to stop the killing. Thank God that it had been firmly anchored to him. He could understand Spike’s fears about hurting the ones closest to him. Angel had killed his family as soon as he had been sired.

He pushed the door open and went in. Spike was sitting on the couch with Buffy next to him. The poor kid looked wrung out. The right side of his face was blistered, the redness of it emphasising the paleness of his other cheek. Angel thought that he looked close to collapse. He couldn’t blame him. Becoming a vampire is a painful thing, even when it’s done in one go. The bite hurts like a bitch, and then after a little oblivion, you’re back. It is a strange and excruciating way to wake up. But here, this poor devil was doing it in stages. Angel found himself regarding Spike with respect as he met his eyes. There was quiet strength in the man’s gaze. Angel didn’t know how Spike hadn’t cracked up mentally.

“Hi,” said Angel, putting the bag on the floor. “Had a bit of trouble with the sun, I see.”

“You could say that,” said Spike wearily. He felt exhausted but couldn’t get comfortable enough to sleep.

Buffy fixed Angel with a hostile stare. She just couldn’t bring herself to be nice to him. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that the other Buffy was his girlfriend. She didn’t want to give him any ideas. She smiled inwardly. The knee to his balls might have told him something though.

“Did you bring the keys to the cuffs?” Buffy said sharply.

“Yeah.”

Angel dug into the front pocket of his pants and took out the key.

“He still ought to be restrained somehow,” said Angel.

“Look, mate. I just want to sleep. I’m knackered. If I cause any trouble you have permission to beat the shit out of me, okay?” said Spike.

Angel gazed at him. Would his sleeping speed up the changes even more? Angel wasn’t sure, but he went to Spike and unlocked the cuffs. Spike brought his hands to the front and gasped when he saw the state that they were in. He tried to move his fingers but they felt stiff and didn’t respond. Would he ever be able to play the guitar again? He snorted. The loss of his playing wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing to the outside world – he wasn’t that good.

“What?” asked Buffy as she heard Spike’s snort.

He smiled at her so sweetly that she thought her heart would break. His beauty was not dimmed by the blisters on his face.

“Nothing, love,” he said. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “I love you so much.” His breath tickled her as he whispered in her ear.

Buffy bit her lip. “I won’t cry. I won’t.” “I love you too, baby.”

Angel shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot before he sat on one of the armchairs. He looked around the room to keep his eyes from watching Buffy sticking her tongue down Spike’s throat. Angel licked his lips. Would he get home? Would his Buffy kiss him with such passion?

When Spike finally let go of Buffy, he shrugged off the duster and stretched out on the couch.

“Sorry, pet, but I’m going to go to sleep for a bit, okay?”

Buffy smiled at him. “Course it is. Get some rest.”

She moved from the couch and sat on an armchair. By the time that she was settled, Spike was fast asleep and snoring quietly. She met Angel’s eyes.

“Thank you for coming.”

Angel smiled. “It’s my only chance to get home too. I was always going to turn up. I’m missing my Buffy.”

“Do you know how odd it feels to know that there’s a Buffy out there that is a superhero?”

“I’m pretty sure that Spike thinks that you’re a superhero here,” said Angel. “If he is like the Spike I knew, then he will love you with his whole being.”

“Tell me about vampire Spike,” said Buffy.

She needed to be occupied. If she continually thought of what was happening to Spike, she’d break down for sure.

Angel nodded. He knew exactly why she had asked him to talk. They settled back in their seats as Angel began to tell of the Spike that he knew.

Tbc


Chapter End Notes:
Shame on you if you thought I would have let our Spike dust at the end of the last chapter! LOL! Thanks for reading.



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