a/n A special thanks to Cat, who beta'd this fic for me. She was very kind and patient and had no tolerance for my writing penchants. But was kind in pointing them out and ways to fix them.
Chapter 1 – Discovery
“Willow!” Xander whispered, jumping back as two Bringers ran right past them and out of the cave complex. “Did I ever tell you this invisibility stuff rocks?”
“Tell me later if we’re not dead!” Willow whispered back. “She should be just up ahead according to the spell. Guess the bad guys took the bait. It doesn’t look like there’s anyone else in here. Let’s find Buffy and get out of here before they come back. I don’t think Spike and Giles can hold them off forever.” Willow added a silent prayer to a few chosen deities that the others would all make it through their little bait and trap scenario.
“Oh my God...” Xander stopped short as he entered a large room in the cave.
“What?” Willow asked as she came around Xander and followed his eye line. “Oh Goddess...”
“What.... what’d they do to her?” Xander asked, looking in revulsion at the spectacle before him.
“It doesn’t matter, Xander. Here, give me your shirt,” Willow said as she tugged on Xander’s sleeve.
“Is she...?” Xander let the unfinished question hang in the air as he handed his outer button-down shirt to Willow.
“She’s alive,” Willow said leaning over Buffy. “These chains are magically reinforced. It’ll take me a minute to get them off. Tell me if you see anyone coming.”
Willow tried four different spells before she found one that opened the manacles. She gently bundled the shirt around Buffy while attempting to rouse her. Slowly, Buffy came awake. She blinked a few times and then glanced around, her eyes finally settling on Willow. A tiny smile flashed across her face.
“I like this dream,” Buffy said, weakly cupping Willow’s cheek with one hand.
“Willow, we have company coming!” Xander shouted, running back into the room.
As Buffy fell back into unconsciousness, Willow quickly pulled a small pouch from her pocket and sprinkled the herbs from inside it over Buffy as she chanted the words that would include Buffy in the invisibility spell.
“Xander, you’re going to have to help me. I can’t carry her by myself!” Willow prompted Xander into action. He quickly scooped Buffy up in his arms and the three friends set off through the caves back toward Buffy’s house.
Chapter 2 – Stupid Vampire Senses!
“Willow?” Spike shouted as he and several potentials burst through the back door. “Willow? You here? Did you get her?” Spike called out, racing through the kitchen toward the front of the house.
Willow, Xander, and Giles all came rushing back through the house toward him. Which in and of itself was enough to send Spike in to worry mode. Why the hell would they be rushing toward him?
“Spike! We were starting to worried!” Willow replied, looking visibly relieved. “Yes, we found her, but...” She was cut off by a series of pained screams coming from the living room. A look of recognition and relief flashed across Spike’s face before true worry set in and he pushed past Willow. “Spike, wait. Spike! You shouldn’t go in there...” Willow frantically tried to pull Spike back toward the kitchen by his arm. He easily shook off her hand and roughly pushed through the assemblage, running into the living room.
A very battered looking Buffy sat on the couch, her legs pulled up in front of her with her ankles crossed. From what Spike could tell, she was wearing only a blue button-down. Dawn and another one of the mini-slayers were pulling on her hands, trying to coax her up and getting only determined thrashing and screaming from Buffy. But it *was* Buffy. Here. At home, where she belonged.
He’d been so afraid that the Bringers would kill her before he and the others could get to her. It had taken two days for Spike to heal enough to even move, and another three before he was well enough for them to actually implement their plan for rescue. Yet, here she was. Alive. And, screaming at the top of her lungs in...fear? Something was most definitely wrong.
“What’s going on? You’ve got her bloody well terrified,” Spike said, quickly striding over to the potential, pulling the girl’s arms away from Buffy. He leaned over, reaching out a hand to comfort Buffy, when suddenly it hit him. As Buffy jerked backward screaming, Spike jolted backward. Stumbling in shock, he crashed backward straight into the coffee table, shattering it into tiny pieces.
“God no,” He whispered out, “Oh God, no.” He scrambled back a few feet and looked around to see all the faces in the room staring down at the floor. He glanced back to Buffy who was now whimpering in a little ball on the couch, sobs escaping her tiny form.
“Spike, I’m sorry. I tried to tell you, but...” Willow blurted out suddenly. Everyone watched as the stunned vampire stared at Buffy for long moments. Suddenly, his eyes closed, his jaw tightened and his lips pressed into a thin line as his rage overcame him. With a fierce growl, Spike jumped to his feet and stormed through the front door.
“Spike?” Dawn quickly made to flee after him, but Willow grabbed her arm, preventing her from following.
“Dawn, let him go,” Willow said.
“But, he’s hurting. You saw him!” Dawn said.
Giles came up and put his hand on Dawn’s shoulder. “He needs time, Dawn. There’s nothing you can do to make this better.”
Dawn shook her head. She just hoped he would come back.
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