Title: Afterglow 49/57 (not a WIP)

Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

Rating: Rated R most chapters for violence and Language, some are NC- 17 for sexual content

A/N I'd like to thank my Beta Reader Hawera And muses Michelle Branch, Robbie Williams and Evanescence

Afterglow Chapter 49 London's Calling

Xander lay awake. They were going for her tonight, well in the early hours of the morning. It was because Mia had implied that the creatures slept during the day so that would be the best time to attack. He pulled her pillow to him and curled around it. He had a bad feeling. Xander had been scared before a fight in the past, but he'd had Buffy there. This time neither of them was even going. It had been decided that because the things hated to be touched by vampires only Spike and Angel should go.

This scared feeling he had made him sick to his stomach, and his chest hurt. They might not even find her and then what?

He heard a whisper.

"Xander?"

He sat up and there she was, misty and transparent but it was her. "Mia, baby"

"I don't want anyone to come."

"They have to come get you, honey."

"I told you I would always try to come home but this time, I can't. People could die, and I don't want to be responsible for that. Do you understand?"

"It's just Spike and Angel."

Mia gave him a small smile. "I love you."

"Then come back."

"Xander, please try, I…" Her voice broke.

"No, don't cry honey. I'm sorry. I'll tell them, but I don't think they'll listen. You'll still try to come home, won't you?"

"I promised you. Yes if I can, without anyone being hurt, I will. I promise."

"That's all I need, your promise."

"But if I can't, keep yours."

"What?"

He watched her fade. "Mia! Mia. Wait. I love you, I didn't tell you. I love you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike turned over and looked at Buffy. The clock told him they had twenty minutes before they had to get up. Spike thought how at one time he'd never believed he'd be here, like this. He brushed his hand down her hair. It roused her and her eyes opened. She turned to face him.

"Is it time?"

"No, love, it's just, I…" He leaned in and kissed her. "I was …."

"Do we have time, do you want to…."

"Always want to, but right now, I'd rather just…." Spike smiled and put his hand to her cheek.

"Spike, what can I do for you? I remember one night how you gave me the strength I needed, what can I …."

"This is what I need, Slayer…Buffy. He held her to him, his chin above her head with arms tightly around her and waited for the alarm."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The bag of weapons sat on Mia's desk. Spike went through it to be sure that everything they needed was there. He started opening drawers in her desk. Threw her fags and lighter in, held the vodka up, thought about it being glass and put it back. It was then he saw the CDs. He pulled them out and recognized his Sex pistols, Ramones and The Clash's London Calling CDs. He thought about it: the last time he'd seen them it was the trip to Paris. Spike dropped them on the desk. That was the drive when she had said nothing to him the whole way. He had cranked the music so high that it had nearly hurt his ears.

"Bloody hell…you bitch." He picked up her mug and threw it against the wall and gave a laugh filled with stress. "I'm bloody well not clearing this mug up nor buying you a new one either." He shook his head and squared his jaw.

Picking up the CDs again, without a thought he threw them in the bag. He hummed the first track of the Clash's CD and sang a bit.

"`London calling to faraway towns, now war is declared and battle will come down, London calling to the underworld, come out of the cupboard you boys and girls… Bleeding prophetic that is, innit." He zipped the bag.

"Hey Blondie bear. You ready for the big spells o' senses? Little witch, isn't she cute as a bug's something, and the rest are waiting for you."

"Sent you, Lorne?"

"I lost the draw."

Spike snorted.

"Well, lemon chiffon, you are a bit tense of late."

"That should bleeding change, spells and such go right." Spike threw the bag over his shoulder and walked out.

Lorne followed.

The group of them stood in a rough circle in the center of the room. There were candles in a pentagram drawn of sand, and a dagger lay next to a stone bowl in the middle. Spike dropped the weapons on the first bench of the bleachers. Willow motioned him over and sprinkled sand around the two of them.

"OK, I need your hand for some blood."

Spike held out his hand and she cut it. The blood flowed into the bowl until the shallow cut closed up.

"Oh great Hecate, we call upon you: we are in need, one of ours is in peril. Through the senses of one let us find her. His blood runs in her, her blood runs in him. They are one."

Willow put something in the blood. The candles sparked, as did the blood in the bowl. She used her thumb, smearing the blood on Spike's forehead; the blood disappeared.

"The head,

She brushed it across his nose and mouth and it disappeared again. "the senses…"

"….and the heart." She took an entire handful of the blood, lifted his shirt and pressed it to his chest. When she pulled away, both her hand and his chest were completely clean.

Willow let out a breath. "That's it. You can step out."

"The one for Angel is different. I need more of your blood, Spike."

"Fine." He stuck out his hand and she cut it again, gathering his blood in a chalice.

Angel stepped into the circle. Willow said something in an archaic language, then cut his hand draining it into the chalice. "Blood that ties, blood that binds, that is his, that is hers, that is yours. Your senses be filled. Willow dipped her hand in the blood and put the whole thing to Angel's face. "From tongue to veins filled, so all will be known." She handed the chalice to him. He looked at her.

"Drink it,"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"No, really, mine and Spike's?"

"Drink it."

Angel drank the blood. He felt a little dizzy.

"That's it for the spell," said Willow. "Here." She reached in her pocket and pulling out a baggie, she handed him a wet wipe.

"What? Spike gets the magical disappearing blood and mine is still there?"

Willow nodded.

Angel started wiping. "Big hand print on my face?"

Willow looked at her hand. "Wouldn't say big."

"Is it working? I mean, would you be able to tell yet and how will you even know, is it possible to already know?" asked Fred.

Spike didn't say anything but Angel closed his eyes a moment. "It's working." He walked to a place in front of the right side of the bleachers. "I can smell and sense her blood here."

"That would be where she pulled the plastic stake out that Faith accidentally staked her with," said Dawn.

Angel looked at her; he hadn't even realized she was there.

Angel walked around: to a wall, the edge of a mat, the middle of a mat. "Tiny, minute traces here."

Dawn spoke up again, "That would be Spike's help."

Angel stared at him.

"Play," answered Spike.

Then Angel went just to the left of where the ceremony was performed. "More here, several drops. Willow, the spell really works. I sense her anger in it."

Xander crossed his arms. "A little of Buffy's work."

Angel glanced to Buffy. "Yes, I heard about that. Her eyes went really really green that day."

Buffy blushed, shocked. Angel had just insulted her in front of everyone. Of course, he had been right; she had been out of line that day, but everyone didn't have to know. She decided to change the subject.

"Spike, is it working for you?" Buffy asked

"Yes. Let's go."

"How?"

"It just bloody well is."

"Spike," started Wesley. "We could benefit from the knowledge of how this spell works."

"Bloody hell, fine, there is so much of Mia in this place my skin is actually humming. I smell her everywhere, all the blood, the weapons she's touched, where she's stood on the mats, the smoky remains of every cigarette she ever had while in the office, even which bleeding door handle she used the most."

"Every cigarette! I knew it!" exclaimed Xander

"Balls!"

Angel hit him in the chest with the back of his hand. "Smooth."

"I don't get it," started Willow. "Mia smoked?"

Buffy shrugged. "News to me."

Gunn cleared his throat. "Not like the girl had to worry about the big C."

"This green guy figures she didn't want to be the seen as a stereotypical vampire: you know, the bad girl."

Wesley smiled, "Actually, Emma was a smoker before she came to Los Angeles even at her very young age. She stopped after seeing how health conscious and non-smoker-friendly southern California is. When she tried to start again her trainer…" he motioned with his head towards Spike, "wouldn't let her."

Every one looked at Spike. He was reeling from the effect on his senses, and the mention of Emma was almost too much for him.

Xander noticed the look on Spike's face. "Hey, they should get going."

They all walked outside together.

Xander stopped Angel. He handed him Mia's locket. "Give her this; she left it in the bathroom. It'll give her something special to hold on to."

Angel put it in his pants pocket.

"And Angel, tell her I told you to tell her that I love her."

"She knows, Xander."

"She did that astral thing tonight and I didn't get to tell her: she faded before I could. Make sure you tell her for me."

"I will."

"Angel, do you have the stuff for the locks?" asked Willow.

"Packed. Spike has it in the bag."

"Ok, be safe. Good luck."

The others milled around each other making comments to one another about the mission. It seemed strange that they were not all going with them.

Spike put the bag down and pulled Buffy to him. He kissed her, savoring it. He held her close, relishing the feel of her beating heart.

"I love you, Buffy."

"I love you. Promise you'll be careful. I know you're the Big Bad but if I managed to kick your ass all those years….

He kissed her again, cutting her off.

"Find her and bring her back for Xander: he's a mess."

Spike smiled and saluted her. "It's driving you sodding crazy that you aren't in charge of this one, innit?"

She hugged him, "Yes, but only because you're at risk."

"You know me. I'll do what I have to and I'll get it done. Goodbye, love."

"Bye……wait, I almost forgot, this is for Mia." Buffy handed him a couple of hair bands and a small tube of sample perfume. "I know I haven't been... well, just give it to her. She'll get it."

"Perfume? You want me to give her bloody perfume?"

"Better make sure you tell her it's from… me… I don't want her to get the wrong idea."

"Perfume, Buffy? If we find her we are going to do battle with this god thing. This is when you finally decide to take an interest and it's by giving her…."

"Spike, even in battle a girl wants to smell pretty. Besides, you say she has been down there with a putrid smell for 5 days: she'll need it. Plus, look at the name: she'll get a kick out of it."

Spike looked at the card: it read "Eternity". He looked at Buffy with one brow lifted. "You know, I'm starting to sodding believe I just attract them, the crazy women."

"No baby, we attract you. Now what's that say about you? And when you bring her back I'm so telling her you called her crazy."

Spike kissed her hard and deep lingering on her lips a bit then he pulled back and looked at her. "What I want to know is, when have you been spending time with Mia and not told me? That just sounded way too much like her."

Buffy laughed, then kissed him. They pulled apart and Spike just stood and looked into her eyes.

Suddenly he grinned and used his head to motion to Angel. "Go on, love, for old time sake; give him a hero's send off."

"What?"

"You bloody well heard me,"

"No, Spike, I couldn't. It wouldn't be…"

Spike went behind Angel and gave him a small shove. "There you go, mate. Only chance you'll ever have to make me watch. Give her a snog for old time sake."

Angel and Buffy looked at one another, then at Spike. Spike's eyebrow went up. Angel pulled Buffy to him and kissed her like he hadn't in a long time. When they parted Buffy's eyes were wide with shock and she swayed a little.

Spike laughed, grabbed her around the waist and picked her up. He kissed her just as passionately.

"Couldn't let the blighter have the last say, could I."

The two walked off, Spike carrying the weapons bag on his shoulder.

Buffy looked and felt a little dizzy.