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tamingthemuseThe final chapter; there's an epilogue to come.
Title: The Missing Piece
Rating: PG-13 this chapter
Prompt: #103 - Temptation for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tamingthemuse
Pairing(s): Buffy/Angel/Spike
Chapter: Twenty of Twenty
Summary: There's a secret that fate wanted kept secret, and for many years, it was. Until it fell into the right hands of a Slayer who figured it out. As she searches for the missing piece to prove her point, there's a lot of people out there who want her dead because of it. Because this secret is going to change everything.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas in my head.
Wordcount: 2,490
Previous Parts Here or Here
Pretty by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sanity_oasis
Previously in The Missing Piece:
Buffy spun around to see Stephen standing where she'd fallen, a crazed look in his eyes. “Your god is dead, or thus spoke Zarathustra. Of course, Christine said the same thing, or something close to it, when I found her and that filthy vampire.”
“You didn't even bury her?” Buffy demanded, feeling sick to her stomach.
“The Council left me to do that, and understood completely why I had to leave the Council. After the loss of my Slayer, it was just too much.” His grin was wide and sick looking. “She may not be the only Slayer down here, but she's certainly the prize of my collection.”
Buffy glanced back, backing away rapidly, staring in new horror at the corpses seated against the altar. “Oh god,” she whispered.
“You'll just be another Slayer to add to my trophies,” Stephen said, and she turned back in time to see him step forward.
The connection, the calling, whatever it was, it led them to this: a small cave that led down at a sharp angle. From outside, it didn't look impressive in the slightest. The only hint that this wasn't part of the usual landscape were wrought iron holders for torches.
That, and the two black cars right outside the entrance.
“You feel anyone?” Angel asked. Spike pursed his lips, straining his hearing forward. No heartbeats, though he could feel the the last remnants of heat from the car engine fading away. They'd been here awhile.
He settled his attention back to the two vampires beside him. “No, nothin'. We gotta get in there.” They'd tried to reach out to Buffy again, pinpoint the connection exactly. They'd only been shoved back by the wall hard enough to make their heads ring.
They crept slowly out from behind the rocks they'd hidden near, then down a small foothill to the ground. Spike glanced around, in the cars, then into the darkness of the cave. Nothing; no breath, no heartbeat. The only sounds he could hear were their footsteps as they made their way in.
It sloped down for some time, then flattened out. On the walls further in, Spike could make out what could only be human bones. They weren't scattered; they were placed, carefully, in little alcoves in the walls. The further in they went, the more abundant the bone population.
From up ahead, Spike could hear the soft murmur of voices. He reached out, hearing the faint heartbeats growing steadily closer. He felt Angel tap him on the shoulder once to catch his attention, then point ahead to the left, where the wall jutted out slightly. Perfect hiding spot. He nodded his agreement, then made his way over, tucking himself in. Angel and Erig moved forward, glancing cautiously around the corner, then further down the hallway.
Spike closed his eyes and pushed forward, intent on invading Angel's mind for a brief moment. He was surprised when what felt like a door opened easily for him, allowing him access. From here, he could see three men, all in black suits, all carrying guns.
Don't they understand we're vampires? Spike broadcasted to Angel, and he could feel the older vampire grinning.
I think it just makes them feel better, though you're right: they'd have more luck pinning us down with wooden stakes. There was a pause as worry filled Spike's mind, and Angel's tone accompanied his feeling. I can't feel Buffy. Which way are we supposed to go?
The one they're guarding. Wait! They could be tryin' to throw us off.
Disgruntled anger from Angel. That one Spike knew he was feeling himself as well. “We don't have time for this,” Angel growled, then shot down the hallway with Erig. Spike stayed behind, waiting.
Shouts were heard, a shot fired. Then, footsteps running towards Spike, panting breath echoing in the hallway. Just as he turned the corridor, Spike lunged out and grabbed him, shoving him up against the bony walls by his shirt. “The others are unconscious,” Angel said, coming up from behind.
The guy's eyes had to be as wide as saucers, and any other time, Spike would've been highly amused. Didn't they know that they had souls? Today, though, there wasn't anything funny about this. “Where is she?” Spike growled, leaning in closer. When the man didn't respond, only stared in fear, Spike let his fangs slip through to remind him of just who he was dealing with.
“D-Down-n...D-D-D-D-”
He raised a trembling arm, pointing to the right, where they hadn't been camped out. “'Preciate it,” Spike said, before he landed a punch in the center of the man's face. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Then they were taking off at a run, hurrying through the practically black passageways. Little hills tried to trip them, throw them off, but there was no deterring them now. Spike pushed himself forward, trying to reach out and hear a heartbeat, her heartbeat and then-
There.
Spike paused for a split second at the sound, then hurried down even faster, following the heartbeat. The connection probably wasn't working, but his vampire senses couldn't be dampened, and he'd know that heartbeat anywhere.
Even if it was a little fast for his liking. It was still beating, and that was enough for him.
“You heard-”
“Yeah, it's her,” Spike finished for Angel, and the three slid down a small hill before reaching walls made of stone. Up ahead, he could hear voices, and Spike slowed, taking one of the walls as cover. Angel went to the opposite side, Erig right behind him. They crept forward, into the lightened stone area.
The hallway opened suddenly, into a large, cavernous room below them. Pillars dotted the landscape of the long room, and to their right, down below, was a large altar of sorts with bones scattered on it and around it. To their left, he heard a snappish tone that made Spike want to growl.
And directly in front of them, down a small drop, was Buffy.
Alive. Scraped and bruised slightly, hair a dirty tangle, dirt ground into her arms, but she was alive, and Spike felt part of his chest release in relief.
“You didn't even bury her?” Buffy was demanding of whomever was in front of her. She looked sickened and angry, but slowly, underneath it all, Spike could hear the fear.
No. He could feel it. The connection. His eyes widened as he glanced over at Angel, who was rapidly coming to the same conclusion. If the connection came back by their being closer, it could distract Buffy, keep her from fighting at her top, get her killed. They had to move fast.
“The Council left me to do that, and understood completely why I had to leave the Council. After the loss of my Slayer, it was just too much. She may not be the only Slayer down here, but she's certainly the prize of my collection.”
Spike frowned, trying to place the voice, when suddenly Erig stiffened. He vamped out suddenly, shaking in fury. Angel turned in surprise, trying to catch his attention. “Erig?” he breathed.
“Stephen,” was all Erig uttered, teeth clamped hard enough to hurt. Spike stared in dawning horror, then turned back as Buffy began to step away, fear evident now.
“Oh god,” she murmured, her back to the altar now.
“You'll just be another Slayer to add to my trophies,” the voice, Stephen, said, and moved into view. Spike's eyes widened even further, and he knew Angel was staring in much the same way. The man who'd interviewed them at Wolfram and Hart: that had been Stephen? Why hadn't they felt he was a vampire? He had to be; nothing else made it through time in one piece like that.
Buffy was trapped and knew it, but she wasn't backing down. Time to play their hand. Ready? Jump with me.
Angel gave a mental nod, as as one the two flew down, landing directly between Stephen and Buffy. Buffy gasped and flew backwards, even as Stephen's eyes widened.
Vampire. Definitely a vampire. “You sick son of a bitch,” Spike seethed. “You murdered Christine for lovin' a vamp, and then you became one?”
“For her,” Stephen hissed. “I did it all for her, and even after I became the monster she craved, she still wanted him.” He pointed beyond them, in Buffy's direction, and Angel growled a warning. “She'll be laid here to rest with Christine for her crime,” he swore.
The bones on the altar. Spike grimaced at the sudden knowledge, even as Buffy whispered, “Angel? Spike?” Awe, confusion, grief but steadily growing hope. It was faint, but the feelings were growing in intensity again to where they'd been before.
Spike glanced back briefly and reached out to her with the connection. We're here, luv. Hold on. Her eyes widened in surprise, tears sliding down her cheeks. Grief, pain, separation, hope, love-
The barrier slid up again, and Spike could've cursed. Buffy looked as if she'd been slapped, and even Angel shuddered. “I will not let this continue,” Stephen said, and a voice from above answered him.
“You cannot stop love, Stephen. Anymore than you could stop me and Christine.”
Erig stepped into view above them, Stephen whirled around in shock, and the distraction was all Spike needed. Angel stood firm with him as they shoved the connection forward, sliding past the weakened barrier to Buffy.
They all inhaled sharply as the connection slid home once more, grasping even more tightly than before. Buffy stumbled forward, caught by Spike's firm arms. She glanced up at him, then at Angel, swallowing hard. “You're really both okay,” she whispered, a small smile finally on her face. “Oh god. I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd lost you both.”
“We're all right, Buffy,” Angel promised softly. “We're here, and we're all leaving, I swear.”
“That's not how it's going to go tonight,” Stephen said, and as all three turned back to him, a small portable crossbow was already in his hand, and the shaft released, aimed straight for Spike's heart.
Even as Buffy pulled and Angel pushed, Spike knew he wasn't going to move in time. The connection was filling his mind, too new for him to react fast enough, and the only thing he had any time for was to close his eyes.
The shaft sank into flesh, piercing through and out the other side, a perfect shot. Buffy cried out as Erig sank against Spike, panting heavily. Spike stared down at him in shock, even as Erig gave a weak, grieving smile. “I've lost my chance to live,” he whispered, looking beyond Spike to the altar. His grip felt unsteady, crumbling to ashes, but he still reached, hand shaking, for the remains of his beloved. “Christine,” he whispered, before the shaft fell to the ground amongst his ashes.
For a moment, there was silence. As one, the three moved their gaze from Erig's remains to Stephen. His eyes were round, stunned by the sacrifice. Then his gaze moved up to them, and there was fear in his eyes.
He covered it with anger, throwing the crossbow to the side. “I'll finish you myself!” he shouted, before he surged over.
Now, Angel commanded, and the three split, Buffy pulling back towards the altar, Angel and Spike to the sides. You ready?
I'm running, Buffy told them, right before she turned, as if in fear. Stephen roared and gave chase, and Spike doubled back fast, reaching out and catching Stephen's arm. Stephen cursed and slid from momentum, other arm rearing up to punch. Buffy rolled around him and caught him by the elbow, keeping him immobilized. As one the two tossed him backwards, where Angel was waiting, the crossbow in his hands.
He tossed it to Spike as Buffy dove for the shaft, letting Angel easily catch Stephen with a sharp uppercut that had him sprawled. A sense of urgency from Buffy, and Spike turned to see her reaching out for the crossbow. “Please,” she asked, and Spike handed it to her.
The temptation to finish Stephen himself was strong. He wanted to rip his head off, tear him to pieces for not only hurting and destroying the love of two people years before, but for putting Buffy in harms way, for even making her think they'd been dead.
Instead, he moved over to Angel and hauled Stephen up, sending him sprawling with a long kick against the wall. Stephen began to move again, unsteadily with painful jerks, but stopped when Buffy aimed for his chest. She stared at him, long and hard, finger steady on the trigger. Angel and Spike backed away, flanking her on the sides.
Stephen's eyes slid over all three of them, then focused on Buffy with a glare. “Nothing left but dust,” she whispered, and Stephen's eyes widened in immediate fear and recognition.
“Ch-Christine?”
“Speaking on her behalf,” Buffy said quietly. “It's what I've been doing for months, years now, and didn't even know it. I'm speaking, breathing, living, loving, on her behalf, because of her. Now? I'll finish her story with a glimmer of a happy ending.”
The shaft was released, and Stephen's fearful gaze disappeared into ashes. Silence fell on the small room.
The crossbow broke the silence as it was dropped onto the stone floor, and then Buffy was tugging at them both, pulling them close and wrapping her arms around them. You'reokayyou'reokay-
“We're fine,” Spike whispered out loud, her mantra echoing through his head. “We were worried about you.”
She pulled away, staring at them both with a frown. “But...I don't understand. The connection-”
“Blocked by magic,” Angel explained, glancing at the wall where Stephen's ashes hung. “From the way Erig distracted him and let the barrier down, I'd say he was responsible.”
Buffy nodded, then closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Spike could feel her reaching out with the connection, and he met her with it, letting her brush against his thoughts and know he was there.
“Can we get out here?” she asked, and Spike grinned.
“More than ready to. Let's move out,” Angel said, and they made their way over to the way Spike and Angel had come in. They boosted her up, then let her pull them up onto solid ground, and as one they turned for the passageway.
And straight into loaded guns. “Freeze where you are!” British voices shouted, and the three sighed together.
“Buffy Summers,” came a disapproving voice, and Buffy glanced beyond the wall of gunmen to a man in a brown suit, equally brown hair parted in a just-so way. Her own lips turned downward.
“Adrian Travers,” she said, sounding and looking annoyed. “Let us through.”
“I don't think that's a possibility,” he began, before Buffy started forward, ignoring the guns trained on her.
“It's more than a possibility: it's the only option here. I'm not the one who's been listening my vampire of a boss, like you have.” Adrian paled suddenly, lips making small 'but-but-but' motions. “We're not your enemy, Adrian. We're on your side, but that's all up to you. We can work together with you, or we can dismantle the Council. Your choice.”
“Sir?” came from one of the gunmen, sounding highly confused. “Orders?”
Adrian swallowed hard, eyes roaming over all three, before he cleared his throat. “Stephen was a, ah, vampire?”
“Was,” Angel said, and Adrian only looked slightly relieved.
“Erm, right. I, um...” He inhaled deeply, then stood up straighter. “How do we not dismantle the Council?”
Spike slowly began to smile. “Good choice,” he applauded. Guns were lowered, and Adrian offered his hand towards the exit.
The three connected led the way out of the cave and into the waiting vehicles, just before the sun rose.
-----------------------------------------
Epilogue to come, I promise. Thank you for reading and sticking with me.
~Nebula
Title: The Missing Piece
Rating: PG-13 this chapter
Prompt: #103 - Temptation for
tamingthemusePairing(s): Buffy/Angel/Spike
Chapter: Twenty of Twenty
Summary: There's a secret that fate wanted kept secret, and for many years, it was. Until it fell into the right hands of a Slayer who figured it out. As she searches for the missing piece to prove her point, there's a lot of people out there who want her dead because of it. Because this secret is going to change everything.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas in my head.
Wordcount: 2,490
Previous Parts Here or Here
sanity_oasisPreviously in The Missing Piece:
Buffy spun around to see Stephen standing where she'd fallen, a crazed look in his eyes. “Your god is dead, or thus spoke Zarathustra. Of course, Christine said the same thing, or something close to it, when I found her and that filthy vampire.”
“You didn't even bury her?” Buffy demanded, feeling sick to her stomach.
“The Council left me to do that, and understood completely why I had to leave the Council. After the loss of my Slayer, it was just too much.” His grin was wide and sick looking. “She may not be the only Slayer down here, but she's certainly the prize of my collection.”
Buffy glanced back, backing away rapidly, staring in new horror at the corpses seated against the altar. “Oh god,” she whispered.
“You'll just be another Slayer to add to my trophies,” Stephen said, and she turned back in time to see him step forward.
The connection, the calling, whatever it was, it led them to this: a small cave that led down at a sharp angle. From outside, it didn't look impressive in the slightest. The only hint that this wasn't part of the usual landscape were wrought iron holders for torches.
That, and the two black cars right outside the entrance.
“You feel anyone?” Angel asked. Spike pursed his lips, straining his hearing forward. No heartbeats, though he could feel the the last remnants of heat from the car engine fading away. They'd been here awhile.
He settled his attention back to the two vampires beside him. “No, nothin'. We gotta get in there.” They'd tried to reach out to Buffy again, pinpoint the connection exactly. They'd only been shoved back by the wall hard enough to make their heads ring.
They crept slowly out from behind the rocks they'd hidden near, then down a small foothill to the ground. Spike glanced around, in the cars, then into the darkness of the cave. Nothing; no breath, no heartbeat. The only sounds he could hear were their footsteps as they made their way in.
It sloped down for some time, then flattened out. On the walls further in, Spike could make out what could only be human bones. They weren't scattered; they were placed, carefully, in little alcoves in the walls. The further in they went, the more abundant the bone population.
From up ahead, Spike could hear the soft murmur of voices. He reached out, hearing the faint heartbeats growing steadily closer. He felt Angel tap him on the shoulder once to catch his attention, then point ahead to the left, where the wall jutted out slightly. Perfect hiding spot. He nodded his agreement, then made his way over, tucking himself in. Angel and Erig moved forward, glancing cautiously around the corner, then further down the hallway.
Spike closed his eyes and pushed forward, intent on invading Angel's mind for a brief moment. He was surprised when what felt like a door opened easily for him, allowing him access. From here, he could see three men, all in black suits, all carrying guns.
Don't they understand we're vampires? Spike broadcasted to Angel, and he could feel the older vampire grinning.
I think it just makes them feel better, though you're right: they'd have more luck pinning us down with wooden stakes. There was a pause as worry filled Spike's mind, and Angel's tone accompanied his feeling. I can't feel Buffy. Which way are we supposed to go?
The one they're guarding. Wait! They could be tryin' to throw us off.
Disgruntled anger from Angel. That one Spike knew he was feeling himself as well. “We don't have time for this,” Angel growled, then shot down the hallway with Erig. Spike stayed behind, waiting.
Shouts were heard, a shot fired. Then, footsteps running towards Spike, panting breath echoing in the hallway. Just as he turned the corridor, Spike lunged out and grabbed him, shoving him up against the bony walls by his shirt. “The others are unconscious,” Angel said, coming up from behind.
The guy's eyes had to be as wide as saucers, and any other time, Spike would've been highly amused. Didn't they know that they had souls? Today, though, there wasn't anything funny about this. “Where is she?” Spike growled, leaning in closer. When the man didn't respond, only stared in fear, Spike let his fangs slip through to remind him of just who he was dealing with.
“D-Down-n...D-D-D-D-”
He raised a trembling arm, pointing to the right, where they hadn't been camped out. “'Preciate it,” Spike said, before he landed a punch in the center of the man's face. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Then they were taking off at a run, hurrying through the practically black passageways. Little hills tried to trip them, throw them off, but there was no deterring them now. Spike pushed himself forward, trying to reach out and hear a heartbeat, her heartbeat and then-
There.
Spike paused for a split second at the sound, then hurried down even faster, following the heartbeat. The connection probably wasn't working, but his vampire senses couldn't be dampened, and he'd know that heartbeat anywhere.
Even if it was a little fast for his liking. It was still beating, and that was enough for him.
“You heard-”
“Yeah, it's her,” Spike finished for Angel, and the three slid down a small hill before reaching walls made of stone. Up ahead, he could hear voices, and Spike slowed, taking one of the walls as cover. Angel went to the opposite side, Erig right behind him. They crept forward, into the lightened stone area.
The hallway opened suddenly, into a large, cavernous room below them. Pillars dotted the landscape of the long room, and to their right, down below, was a large altar of sorts with bones scattered on it and around it. To their left, he heard a snappish tone that made Spike want to growl.
And directly in front of them, down a small drop, was Buffy.
Alive. Scraped and bruised slightly, hair a dirty tangle, dirt ground into her arms, but she was alive, and Spike felt part of his chest release in relief.
“You didn't even bury her?” Buffy was demanding of whomever was in front of her. She looked sickened and angry, but slowly, underneath it all, Spike could hear the fear.
No. He could feel it. The connection. His eyes widened as he glanced over at Angel, who was rapidly coming to the same conclusion. If the connection came back by their being closer, it could distract Buffy, keep her from fighting at her top, get her killed. They had to move fast.
“The Council left me to do that, and understood completely why I had to leave the Council. After the loss of my Slayer, it was just too much. She may not be the only Slayer down here, but she's certainly the prize of my collection.”
Spike frowned, trying to place the voice, when suddenly Erig stiffened. He vamped out suddenly, shaking in fury. Angel turned in surprise, trying to catch his attention. “Erig?” he breathed.
“Stephen,” was all Erig uttered, teeth clamped hard enough to hurt. Spike stared in dawning horror, then turned back as Buffy began to step away, fear evident now.
“Oh god,” she murmured, her back to the altar now.
“You'll just be another Slayer to add to my trophies,” the voice, Stephen, said, and moved into view. Spike's eyes widened even further, and he knew Angel was staring in much the same way. The man who'd interviewed them at Wolfram and Hart: that had been Stephen? Why hadn't they felt he was a vampire? He had to be; nothing else made it through time in one piece like that.
Buffy was trapped and knew it, but she wasn't backing down. Time to play their hand. Ready? Jump with me.
Angel gave a mental nod, as as one the two flew down, landing directly between Stephen and Buffy. Buffy gasped and flew backwards, even as Stephen's eyes widened.
Vampire. Definitely a vampire. “You sick son of a bitch,” Spike seethed. “You murdered Christine for lovin' a vamp, and then you became one?”
“For her,” Stephen hissed. “I did it all for her, and even after I became the monster she craved, she still wanted him.” He pointed beyond them, in Buffy's direction, and Angel growled a warning. “She'll be laid here to rest with Christine for her crime,” he swore.
The bones on the altar. Spike grimaced at the sudden knowledge, even as Buffy whispered, “Angel? Spike?” Awe, confusion, grief but steadily growing hope. It was faint, but the feelings were growing in intensity again to where they'd been before.
Spike glanced back briefly and reached out to her with the connection. We're here, luv. Hold on. Her eyes widened in surprise, tears sliding down her cheeks. Grief, pain, separation, hope, love-
The barrier slid up again, and Spike could've cursed. Buffy looked as if she'd been slapped, and even Angel shuddered. “I will not let this continue,” Stephen said, and a voice from above answered him.
“You cannot stop love, Stephen. Anymore than you could stop me and Christine.”
Erig stepped into view above them, Stephen whirled around in shock, and the distraction was all Spike needed. Angel stood firm with him as they shoved the connection forward, sliding past the weakened barrier to Buffy.
They all inhaled sharply as the connection slid home once more, grasping even more tightly than before. Buffy stumbled forward, caught by Spike's firm arms. She glanced up at him, then at Angel, swallowing hard. “You're really both okay,” she whispered, a small smile finally on her face. “Oh god. I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd lost you both.”
“We're all right, Buffy,” Angel promised softly. “We're here, and we're all leaving, I swear.”
“That's not how it's going to go tonight,” Stephen said, and as all three turned back to him, a small portable crossbow was already in his hand, and the shaft released, aimed straight for Spike's heart.
Even as Buffy pulled and Angel pushed, Spike knew he wasn't going to move in time. The connection was filling his mind, too new for him to react fast enough, and the only thing he had any time for was to close his eyes.
The shaft sank into flesh, piercing through and out the other side, a perfect shot. Buffy cried out as Erig sank against Spike, panting heavily. Spike stared down at him in shock, even as Erig gave a weak, grieving smile. “I've lost my chance to live,” he whispered, looking beyond Spike to the altar. His grip felt unsteady, crumbling to ashes, but he still reached, hand shaking, for the remains of his beloved. “Christine,” he whispered, before the shaft fell to the ground amongst his ashes.
For a moment, there was silence. As one, the three moved their gaze from Erig's remains to Stephen. His eyes were round, stunned by the sacrifice. Then his gaze moved up to them, and there was fear in his eyes.
He covered it with anger, throwing the crossbow to the side. “I'll finish you myself!” he shouted, before he surged over.
Now, Angel commanded, and the three split, Buffy pulling back towards the altar, Angel and Spike to the sides. You ready?
I'm running, Buffy told them, right before she turned, as if in fear. Stephen roared and gave chase, and Spike doubled back fast, reaching out and catching Stephen's arm. Stephen cursed and slid from momentum, other arm rearing up to punch. Buffy rolled around him and caught him by the elbow, keeping him immobilized. As one the two tossed him backwards, where Angel was waiting, the crossbow in his hands.
He tossed it to Spike as Buffy dove for the shaft, letting Angel easily catch Stephen with a sharp uppercut that had him sprawled. A sense of urgency from Buffy, and Spike turned to see her reaching out for the crossbow. “Please,” she asked, and Spike handed it to her.
The temptation to finish Stephen himself was strong. He wanted to rip his head off, tear him to pieces for not only hurting and destroying the love of two people years before, but for putting Buffy in harms way, for even making her think they'd been dead.
Instead, he moved over to Angel and hauled Stephen up, sending him sprawling with a long kick against the wall. Stephen began to move again, unsteadily with painful jerks, but stopped when Buffy aimed for his chest. She stared at him, long and hard, finger steady on the trigger. Angel and Spike backed away, flanking her on the sides.
Stephen's eyes slid over all three of them, then focused on Buffy with a glare. “Nothing left but dust,” she whispered, and Stephen's eyes widened in immediate fear and recognition.
“Ch-Christine?”
“Speaking on her behalf,” Buffy said quietly. “It's what I've been doing for months, years now, and didn't even know it. I'm speaking, breathing, living, loving, on her behalf, because of her. Now? I'll finish her story with a glimmer of a happy ending.”
The shaft was released, and Stephen's fearful gaze disappeared into ashes. Silence fell on the small room.
The crossbow broke the silence as it was dropped onto the stone floor, and then Buffy was tugging at them both, pulling them close and wrapping her arms around them. You'reokayyou'reokay-
“We're fine,” Spike whispered out loud, her mantra echoing through his head. “We were worried about you.”
She pulled away, staring at them both with a frown. “But...I don't understand. The connection-”
“Blocked by magic,” Angel explained, glancing at the wall where Stephen's ashes hung. “From the way Erig distracted him and let the barrier down, I'd say he was responsible.”
Buffy nodded, then closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Spike could feel her reaching out with the connection, and he met her with it, letting her brush against his thoughts and know he was there.
“Can we get out here?” she asked, and Spike grinned.
“More than ready to. Let's move out,” Angel said, and they made their way over to the way Spike and Angel had come in. They boosted her up, then let her pull them up onto solid ground, and as one they turned for the passageway.
And straight into loaded guns. “Freeze where you are!” British voices shouted, and the three sighed together.
“Buffy Summers,” came a disapproving voice, and Buffy glanced beyond the wall of gunmen to a man in a brown suit, equally brown hair parted in a just-so way. Her own lips turned downward.
“Adrian Travers,” she said, sounding and looking annoyed. “Let us through.”
“I don't think that's a possibility,” he began, before Buffy started forward, ignoring the guns trained on her.
“It's more than a possibility: it's the only option here. I'm not the one who's been listening my vampire of a boss, like you have.” Adrian paled suddenly, lips making small 'but-but-but' motions. “We're not your enemy, Adrian. We're on your side, but that's all up to you. We can work together with you, or we can dismantle the Council. Your choice.”
“Sir?” came from one of the gunmen, sounding highly confused. “Orders?”
Adrian swallowed hard, eyes roaming over all three, before he cleared his throat. “Stephen was a, ah, vampire?”
“Was,” Angel said, and Adrian only looked slightly relieved.
“Erm, right. I, um...” He inhaled deeply, then stood up straighter. “How do we not dismantle the Council?”
Spike slowly began to smile. “Good choice,” he applauded. Guns were lowered, and Adrian offered his hand towards the exit.
The three connected led the way out of the cave and into the waiting vehicles, just before the sun rose.
-----------------------------------------
Epilogue to come, I promise. Thank you for reading and sticking with me.
~Nebula
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Missing Piece, Twenty/Twenty
Even better the connection is back now. Argh! Gone again. So Stephen is the one causing/influencing it.
Oh Erig... *sniff* Nobel of him. And now he's back with Christine (at last I hope he is).
Glad to see things did end well (and Stephen is dust now).
Looking forward to the epilogue.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-13 11:05 pm (UTC)That was awesome!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-14 03:24 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing this story. I am looking forward to seeing the epilogue.
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Date: 2008-07-20 06:28 pm (UTC)