Under the Sun

Author: enigmaticblue

Rating: PG-13

Archive: Sure, if you already have my stuff. If not, just ask.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters herein; Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and other lucky folks do. Of course, I'm not the one making money off of them.

Summary: Set after Avocation in an alternate S4 where many events of canon get thrown out the window. This one won't make any sense if you haven't read the previous story.

A/N: The title comes from Ecclesiastes, which most people know from the phrase, "A time for everything, and a season for everything under heaven." Really, this story is based on the entire book, which is probably my favorite in the Bible. It talks about making the most of what one has now, and while some find it depressing, I love it. If you've got the time, I'd really recommend you read the whole thing.

Chapter 13

"I do not care to talk to you although/Your speech evokes a thousand sympathies,/And all my being's silent harmonies/Wake trembling into music. When you go/It is as if some sudden, dreadful blow/Had severed all the strings with savage ease./No, do not talk; but let us rather seize/This intimate gift of silence which we know./Others may guess your thoughts from what you say,/As storms are guessed from clouds when darkness broods./To me the very essence of the day/Reveals its inner purpose and its moods;/As poplars feel the rain and then straightway/Reverse their leaves and shimmer through the woods." ~Amy Lowell, "Dreams"

Spike gritted his teeth against the pain as they crawled through the ventilation ducts. It was going to take him days, if not weeks, to heal from his injuries. He was still trying to figure out what he was going to do with Harmony when they got out.

He had to believe that it would be when and not if.

Not that he would dust her; that would feel too much like betrayal. Spike wasn't sure he could let her go, though. Not only wouldn't Harmony be safe in Sunnydale, but in addition he didn't want to risk having to stake her for eating someone.

Which left him with no options, really. Spike supposed the whole thing was a futile exercise in making the best of a bad situation.

In truth, he wasn't thinking about the last few days, or even about what the future would hold. Spike knew he couldn't afford to think about any of that. His focus had to be on survival, on getting to Buffy, on making sure the soldiers didn't catch him again. He wouldn't be caught unawares again, Spike promised himself that.

It had been stupid. Spike had been tired after a long trip, and he'd wanted to stop in and see his girl. The taser had hit him in the back before he'd even registered the soldiers' presence. The first thought that had gone through his head was that Buffy was going to kick his ass for being stupid enough to get caught on campus especially after she'd warned him about being careful. Hell, Spike figured he deserved to have his ass kicked.

Waking up in the lab, strapped to the table, Spike had experienced a flashback to his past. Angelus had enjoyed strapping him down as well.

And the possibility of escape had appeared just as remote.

Spike knew he wouldn't have lasted very long in there without going crazy. Even now, the madness niggled at the back of his mind—the memory of endless pain, of being reduced to his base impulses, incapable of anything better or nobler. That's what those soldiers were doing with the demons they captured, and although Spike knew very well that some of them were dangerous, none of them deserved to be used as lab rats. A quick death, perhaps, but not that.

It wasn't important, though. What was important was escaping the underground warren without being discovered.

After that, he would start thinking about taking his revenge.

~~~~~

Wesley's solution was really quite ingenious, in Giles' opinion. What it did was essentially reverse engineer the original charm without disrupting it. After he cast the spell, if all went according to plan, the small compass Giles had purchased would essentially work as Spike's did and would be keyed to its mate. It was a much more complicated spell than either Willow or Wesley had ever undertaken, however, so Giles was the one nominated to make the attempt.

In truth, he was feeling the pressure, because he didn't want to be the one who had to tell Buffy that they wouldn't be able to locate Spike.

Giles kept his words and movements precise, blocking out the presence of the others behind him. They were silent, but he could feel Buffy's worry like a tangible thing.

Not that he could blame her. Giles knew he'd feel the same way if something happened to Joyce.

The bracelet pulsed with a golden light, and the compass began to pulse with the same beat. With the final words of the spell, the light flared and then died away, and Giles took a deep breath, leaning forward to pick them up. The metal of both was warm to the touch, and he held up the compass, watching as the needle spun wildly for a moment before pointing at a direction that was most certainly not north.

Handing the bracelet and the compass to the Slayer, Giles said, "I think it worked."

Buffy clasped the bracelet back around her wrist, and then turned to look at Wesley. "You want in on this?"

"You know I do," he replied.

Willow frowned. "Do you want me to come, Buffy?"

"I don't think that magic is going to do us much good right now," Buffy said, sounding apologetic. "Once we find Spike, it's probably going to be more of a muscle thing."

Giles leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Are you sure, Buffy? You may want to wait."

"I'm going to find, Spike," Buffy insisted. "I'm not going on a suicide mission, but I'm not going to let anything stand in my way either."

"And if what stands in your way is a number of men with guns?"

"Then I make sure they aren't walking home anytime soon if they've harmed one hair on Spike's head." Buffy's eyes glittered. "And they learn what it means to mess with the Slayer."

~~~~~

The ventilation shaft let out somewhere on campus. Spike recognized the landscape, but he wasn't completely sure where he was in relation to Buffy's dorm. The first task, of course, was to get somewhere safe, which would probably mean his own place, or possibly Wesley's. Spike didn't think they knew where he was living, since they hadn't bothered taking his wallet. Spike reached into his pocket, pulling out his keychain with the compass on it. It was still working, which was one piece of luck at least.

In some ways it hurt that they hadn't searched him more carefully, as though they didn't believe vampires—or demons—capable of any kind of rational thought.

"What do we do now?" Harmony asked.

"We don't do anything," Spike replied. "This is where we split up." Harmony's eyes widened, and Spike sighed, hating himself. "Look, Harm, you have to get out of Sunnydale. Find a safe place to hole up for a bit." He hesitated, and then added, "You might want to think about giving up eating people. It's more trouble than it's worth, and you're not very good at it."

"But where am I supposed to go?" Harmony asked.

Spike thought for a moment, wanting to give her some assistance at least. "Go to L.A. There's a demon there by the name of Lorne, runs a bar called Caritas. He'll be able to point you in the right direction." Pulling out his wallet, Spike grabbed a few bills and pressed them into her hand. "Best bet is to get on the first bus out of town. That should do it."

Spike refused to be moved by her wide eyes and trembling lip. He had no intention of telling Buffy that he had let the other vampire go, and the only way he could really justify it was if he sent her out of town. Since Harmony had bitten Willow, Spike had the feeling that the Slayer wouldn't be inclined to give Harmony a free pass, no matter what the soldiers had done to her.

Harmony nodded, bravely trying to keep the tears at bay. "Okay. Thanks. For getting me out of there."

Spike sighed. "You're alright, Harmony. Keep your head down, huh?"

"I'm going to try."

Harmony darted off into the underbrush, and Spike couldn't help but hope that she made it out of town okay. It was better that they split up, though. With more than one target, the soldiers might find it more difficult to locate either of them.

His next step was going to be stealing a shirt. Spike knew he needed to be a little less conspicuous if he wanted to make it to safety.

~~~~~

Buffy raised her eyebrows when she saw the holster under Wesley's jacket. "Is that a tranq pistol, or is that the real thing?"

"I don't plan on using it unless I have to," Wesley said. "But if it's you or them, I'm going to shoot to kill."

Buffy gave him a strange look. "You're serious."

"How would I be able to face Spike again if I allowed something to happen to you?" Wesley replied.

Buffy tried to suppress a smile. It was sweet of Wesley, really, especially considering the fact that she was the Slayer and more than capable of taking care of herself. At the same time, she appreciated his confidence that they would find Spike. "I could probably say the same thing," she teased.

"Spike is my employer and my friend," Wesley replied. "I could do no less."

Hearing Wesley's words, Buffy suddenly realized exactly why Spike had hired the man. He'd gotten someone who was absolutely loyal and didn't flinch from doing what was necessary—no matter how distasteful.

Buffy glanced down at the compass. It was still pointing towards the campus, so she picked up her pace. Wesley stayed by her side, his face grim, but she had the feeling that he was just a little bit nervous. After all, it wasn't every day that you got ready to raid a secret...something under a college campus to rescue a vampire.

She'd meant what she told Giles. Buffy wasn't planning on doing anything to get herself or Wesley killed, but she had every intention of finding Spike tonight.

"What do you think, Wes?" Buffy asked. "How are we getting him out?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I imagine if we're going to have to break in somewhere it might be better to have a plan."

"Really?" Buffy asked. "Because I've found that just walking in with guns blazing works great."

Wesley lifted an eyebrow. "Have you considered that you might not want them to know about you?"

"You're sounding like Spike."

"Thank you."

Buffy fought back a grin, despite her worry. Wesley's tone had been so dry she had no idea if he was being sarcastic or serious. She had the feeling that it was a little of both. "What do you think this is really about?"

"I don't know," Wesley admitted. "Judging from the scant information Spike's sources were able to give us, as well as the soldier we saw that day in the woods, I would guess that it's a military operation of some kind. It's possible that it's a paramilitary group, but if they're headquartered on the campus, it's more likely that they would have governmental authorization."

"That's what you're worried about," Buffy said quietly. "That if it is the government, there may be no way to fight them. It might be too big."

He nodded with obvious hesitation. "Yes. That's my concern."

"What if they do have Spike? We have to find some way of getting him out."

"I'm not arguing with you," Wesley replied. "But I think you may have to be prepared to wait for a time. Getting in and getting Spike out might take a little more manpower."

Buffy sighed. "I know. I do. It's just—"

"I understand, Buffy."

"Thanks, Wes," she said quietly. "Spike was right, you know."

"Right about what?"

"Hiring you. It was a good idea." Buffy didn't think she was imagining the blush of pleasure that spread across his face even though he didn't reply.

~~~~~

Spike was beginning to feel trapped. He'd managed to sneak into one of the laundry facilities to steal a shirt. He needed to blend in, and the black Megadeth t-shirt was better than running around looking like Frankenstein's monster.

He had planned on getting off campus, getting to his car, and then deciding where to go. Spike wasn't sure if he wanted to risk going to his place yet. Wesley's apartment was one possibility, as was Giles' place or even the Summers' residence. He figured he'd make that decision once he got clear and got a better idea of the lay of the land.

The only problem was that the soldiers were out in full force. Spike kept seeing patrols circling, and although they were trying to blend in, he had their scent now. The antiseptic smell of the underground laboratory clung to them, and they moved differently. Now that he knew what to look for, it didn't take much effort to pick them out of the students roaming campus after dark.

There weren't all that many people wandering around at this hour anyway, and the soldiers walked with a purpose.

Spike didn't know how he was going to get past them, not in his current condition, and fear was beginning to claw at him, clouding his thinking. He felt like a cornered animal, and Spike knew that he couldn't allow himself to be recaptured. He would make sure that he was dust first.

There was only one place close by that might be safe. Spike would just have to hope that inside the dorms would be the last place the soldiers would look.

~~~~~

Willow felt a trifle glum. It had been good to get out and help Wesley with his locator spell. In the company of the ex-Watcher, working to find Spike, she had been able to forget about missing Oz for a while. Back in her room, alone, Willow found it easy to let self-pity take over.

She just missed Oz so much.

It made her feel guilty to be so caught up in her own pain, though. Willow had no reason to believe that Oz was in danger, and she knew that Buffy was probably beginning to go a little crazy with not knowing where Spike was.

She sighed, wishing there was some way to help Buffy even if she couldn't be out there helping them look for the missing vampire. The knock on the door had her frowning, and she went over to open it cautiously, gasping when she saw Spike on the threshold.

He looked like death warmed over. Willow didn't think she'd seen him look this bad since Faith and her poison arrow.

"Spike!" She quickly ushered him inside. "What happened to you?"

"Got caught by those bastards that have been rounding up demons on campus," Spike replied.

When Willow noticed that he was almost ready to drop, she led him over to Buffy's bed, sitting him down. "Do you want something? I'm sorry we don't have any blood here, but maybe water or juice or something?"

He shook his head. "No. Gotta get out of here. They were starting to close in, and I don't know how long I'll be safe here."

"Buffy's probably on her way," Willow assured him. "Giles did a spell on the bracelet so we could find you."

"Call Wesley then," Spike insisted. "They're coming, and they aren't going to take me without a fight, Red. I'd sooner kill myself."

Willow didn't like the sound of that. "No one's dying," she insisted. "Wesley's with Buffy, so I'll just call him. Do you know his number?"

She dialed the number Spike rattled off and bit her lip as the phone rang. Spike looked a little wild, like he was right on the edge and about ready to go over. Somehow, she was pretty sure she didn't want to be around for that.

"What?"

She let out a sigh of relief when Wesley answered. "He's here."

"We're on our way."

Willow heard him end the connection, and she turned back to Spike. "They're on their way, Spike. It's going to be fine. Buffy was ready to turn the campus upside down looking for you, so it's really good that you're here so she doesn't have to do that."

"Real good thing," he replied.

Willow went to sit next to him on the bed, almost afraid to get too close. "Are you okay?"

Spike's eyes were bright when he looked at her, and she could see both the desperation and the light of madness in them. "I will be. Just need to get out of here. Feels too closed in." He jumped when the door opened, his eyes going gold.

Willow didn't think she'd ever seen Spike this ready to rip someone's throat out before. It was more than a little scary.

His eyes were blue again, though, just as soon as he saw Buffy.

"Spike." There was a wealth of relief in her voice, and she grabbed him in a hug, releasing him when he grunted in pain. "What happened?"

"Got grabbed by those soldiers I'd been told about," Spike replied. "They're looking for me. Couldn't get off campus without running into one of their patrols."

Buffy didn't look satisfied with that answer, but she nodded. "You look like shit, you know. I'm going to want the whole story."

"Later."

"Okay." Buffy sighed, looking around. "I left Wesley outside as a lookout, but—"

The lights went out, and Willow stiffened. "Buffy?"

"Bloody hell," Spike snarled. "It's them."

Buffy's voice was calm. "We're going to get out of here," she said. "Can you fight, Spike?"

"I'll rip their throats out before I let them touch you."

Willow could hear the smile in Buffy's voice. "You say the sweetest things sometimes."

~~~~~

Xander knocked on the front door of Buffy's house. Well, not really Buffy's house anymore. It was Joyce's house, and apparently Giles' as well, since this is where Giles had said he could be reached. The Watcher had said something about helping him out with stocking books for just compensation, and Xander liked the sound of that.

Finding a decent job was proving to be more difficult than he'd thought it would be.

He probably wouldn't have stopped since it was late, but he could see lights, so he knew someone was still up. Joyce answered the door, giving him a smile. "Hi, Xander. What brings you by?"

"Giles said something about seeing him if I wanted to make some extra money stocking books," he replied. "I figured anything would be better than delivering pizzas."

"Come in," she said. "Giles just got back."

Xander followed her through to the kitchen, wondering why his mom couldn't be more like Buffy's. Not that he didn't love his mother, but sometimes it was hard to understand her, especially when she was drunk.

"Xander," Giles said. "What brings you by?"

"Uh, the message you left," Xander replied. "Something about getting paid for my time? Not that I would refuse to help even if there wasn't money involved. You know me. I'm all about the helping."

"Do you want something to drink?" Joyce asked him. "I could fix something."

Xander shook his head. "No, I'm good."

"Where's Anya this evening?" Giles asked.

Xander shrugged. "We didn't make plans, so I thought I'd see if you had anything for me."

"Not right now," Giles replied. "I'm waiting to hear from Buffy, and I'd rather not miss her call."

Xander's ears perked up at that. "Is something going on?" he asked. "Is the Hellmouth spilling over again?"

Giles shook his head. "It appears as though Spike has gone missing."

"Buffy's supposed to call as soon as they know something," Joyce stated.

Xander felt a pang at that. "Did anyone go with her?"

"She took Wesley," Giles replied, not realizing that he was bruising Xander's ego with that news. "They were worried about running into the soldiers."

"What soldiers?" Xander asked. "And why would Spike go missing? And why for the love of God would Buffy take Wesley with her anywhere?"