Title: Past Glory
Author:  Sandy <sp23twop@yahoo.com>
Rating:  NC-17
Pairing: Spike/Buffy
Spoilers:  S5 up to Tough Love, AU after that although elements of S6
will appear throughout the story.
Disclaimer:  Alas, not mine, I just borrow them occasionally
Feedback:  Gives me the warm fuzzies
A/N:  For the purposes of this story, the Knights of Byzamtium,
although suspecting that the Slayer is protecting the Key are not
aware that Dawn is the Key.


Chapter 2

They drove for several hours on a seldom-used state route that led
into the high desert.  Spike kept a close eye on the fuel gage.  The
tank had been full when he started the RV and they had several
gallons stored in gas cans in the storage compartment of the coach,
but he didn't want to put them in the position of running low on fuel
if they needed to make a run for it.

He was sure the cloaking spell would work just as he imagined it
would.  However since coming to Sunnydale he'd learned never to take
anything for granted.  His plans always seemed to get fucked up
somehow.  He could only hope that this plan would work since he was
on the side of all that was good and pure this time.

And wasn't that a thought to make a strong vamp cry, he sighed.

"Just where are you taking us?"

"There's a turnoff not too far from where we are now.  Leads to what
used to be an old mining town.  Not much left now but a couple miles
farther on there's an old mine.  Mine entrance's boarded up, of
course, but I figure we can break it open easily enough.  Should be
enough room there to park the RV inside out of sight of anyone.  We
keep hidden and keep the cloaking spell going, we should be fine."

Giles peered ahead though the tiny opening the vampire was using.
The desert was starting to dry up now that the first blush of spring
was over.  Cacti, rocks and sand were the only things visible for
mile upon mile.  "How do you know about this old mine?" he asked
suspiciously.

"Not the most popular bloke in Sunnydale, am I?" Spike shrugged.
"Come out this way sometimes when I get fed up getting punched in the
nose by the Slayer or dodging demons that got it in for me for
killing my own kind.  Found this place on one of my trips.  Kept it
in mind in case I ever needed a hideout from you lot.  Course now
I'll need to find a new hideout," he grinned.

Giles looked coldly at Spike then turned to join the others filling
them in on the information he'd just obtained from Spike.

He was aware when she moved from her seat the instant her butt left
it.

"How much longer, Spike?"

"Almost there, Slayer.  Turnoff's maybe five miles from here.  Then
it's another fifteen or twenty miles to the old town and couple miles
to the mine.  We'll be there in less than an hour."

"Good."

She stood beside him for a few minutes.  "Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?"

Buffy remained silent and then said, "Nothing," and moved back to her
seat.

'Can't say it, can you, luv?' he sighed.  'Can't tell old Spike
'thanks' for helping you save your kid sis.  But that's all right,
Slayer.  I know how you feel even if you can't say the words.'

The road they turned off onto was little more than a dirt track.
Ruts and rocks caused the RV to sway like a ship on a tempest-tossed
sea.  Xander began to complaint almost immediately.

"Oh god," he moaned.  "Oh, this isn't good."  Holding his stomach,
his complexion turned a sickly shade of green and cold sweat started
to bead on his brow.  "Did I ever tell you guys I get motion
sickness?"

Willow calmly handed him one of the empty plastic bags that had held
groceries.  "Here, Xander, just in case."

By the time they finally reached the mine entrance, Xander had thrown
up into the bag three times.  Everyone was exceedingly happy to leave
the confines of the motor home for the fresh air of the desert.  The
mine entrance was in deep shade so even Spike was able to exit the
vehicle and stretch his legs.  When Xander went to throw the plastic
bag on the ground, Spike snarled, "Bury it, Harris.  We don't need
anyone spotting your bag o' puke and sussin' out where we are."
Xander glared at the vampire but covered the white bag with dirt and
rocks until it was completely invisible.

Going up to the mine entrance, Spike began to pull the boards away.
It wasn't as easy as he hoped, but between his and the Slayer's
strength, it was soon uncovered.  While everyone moved out of the
way, Spike backed the huge vehicle into the mine and out of sight of
interested eyes.  It was a tight fit and there wasn't much room left,
but they all heaved a sigh of relief when the motor finally turned
off.

Exiting the vehicle once again, Spike went over to Willow and
asked, "How's the spell holding out, Willow?"

"Okay for now," she answered checking the crystal that pulsed in her
hand.  "I think if we give it a boost after we eat dinner we'll be
okay again until morning.  It'll be easier now that we're not moving."

For the first time that day, Spike really looked at Dawn.  She looked
worn out, poor kid.  Wandering over to where she and Buffy stood he
asked, "How you holdin' up, Niblet?"

"Okay, I guess.  You sure she won't be able to find us here?"  Her
voice trembled a little, a combination of fear and fatigue.

"Yeah, we'll be snug as bugs here.  No hellgods, no scabby minions,
maybe a few mine rats but you're too tough for the likes o' them, so
you got nothing to worry about, right?"

Dawn smiled at him and stepped forward as if she were going to give
him a hug.  Spike stepped back in panic.  He was the Big Bad,
damnit!  He did *not* get hugs from little girls.

Buffy smiled as if knowing what was going through his mind.  Running
her hand through her sister's hair, she said, "I'm hungry.  How about
you?"

"Yeah.  I think I could eat something now."

Willow handed the cloaking crystal to Giles and she and Tara went
with Buffy to help prepare something to eat.  Everyone else wandered
around stretching legs and just enjoying the chance to relax for the
first time in what seemed like years.

"Be careful you don't step too far away from the entrance," Giles
called out to Anya and Xander as they began exploring the area.  The
cloaking spell only has about a fifty-foot range from where the
crystal is located.  As long as you stay within the spell's
parameters, no one or nothing will notice us."  The couple nodded
being careful not to step too far away.  Dawn sat down on a rock
beside Giles and leaned against him.  Giles automatically wrapped his
arm around the girl allowing her to lean into his side.

Glancing over to where Spike stood smoking a cigarette, he told the
vampire, "This is a good place, Spike.  I think we'll be safe here."

Spike merely nodded to Giles being very careful not to show how
pleased he was at the Watcher's words.

A few minutes later Buffy stuck her head out of the RV to let them
know that the food was ready.  The meal consisted of sandwiches,
chips and bottled water.  They had made one stop on the way up here
so that they could purchase groceries, a Coleman stove and lamps and
several ice chests and ice.  It was impractical to keep the generator
going in order to use the RV's appliances.  When Spike joined the
others, he was surprised when Buffy handed him a plastic cup of
blood.  He hadn't expected her to fix him his meal too.  They share a
brief smile before Buffy turned away to join her friends at the table.

"We'll have to carefully ration our food and water the next couple of
days," Giles was telling them.  "And I'm afraid that means there will
be no extra water available for washing up."

"Okay, can I be the first to say 'ew'?" Xander quipped.

Spike snorted, "Yeah, well just be thankful you don't have vamp
senses, Harris.  After two days of you lot stinkin' up the place, I
may be ready to take a walk in the sun."

"Okay, now can I be the first to say 'yay'?"

"Bite me, Harris."

"You wish, Spike."

"Xander, are you developing sexual feelings for Spike?"

"Anya!"

Spike just shook his head and turned to leave the vehicle.  He had
brought them here because it was the only place he knew of that was
isolated and hard to find.  He was sure that Glory or that group of
Monty Pythonesque knights wouldn't be able to track them here, that
Dawn would be safe.  But by all the evil powers of the universe, he
just didn't know how he was going to be able to stand being confined
with the lot of them for the next two days.

He was smoking yet another cigarette when Buffy came and stood by his
side.  "Eastern exposure," she said quietly.

"Yeah."

"Giles tore the aluminum foil off the windows so we could keep an eye
on the mine entrance.  You'll need to make sure you're not near the
front of the motor home come morning."

"Yeah.  I can go back into the mine a ways.  No sunlight will hit me
there while I sleep."

"I guess."  She was silent for a minute then said, "Dawn and I are
going to use the bedroom in the back of the RV.  You could sleep
there too, if you wanted.  If you don't mind sleeping on the floor
that is."

Spike looked at her in surprise.  She shrugged and blushed a little.
"You saved us, Spike."

"Haven't saved you yet, Slayer.  Don't get too complacent and don't
forget how many times you and your Scoobies foiled my every plan
since I came to Sunny soddin' dale."

Buffy grinned and said, "Yeah, but that was me and my friends, not
some, how did you put it?  Oh yeah, tarted up cunt of a god."

Spike looked at her in surprise.  It was the first time he had ever
heard her use a word stronger than "hell" or "damn".  Giving her an
evil grin, he teased, "That's it, pet.  Stick with me and I'll give
you a whole new vocabulary."

"Great," Buffy said dryly.  "Does that mean I'm going to start
saying "soddin" this and "bloody" that?"

"Oh, I know more words than that, luv."

They continued smiling at each other until Willow stuck her head out
of the door.  "Uh, Spike, we could use you for the spell boost now."

Glancing at the redheaded witch he answered, "Be right there."
Turning back to Buffy, he said, "Duty calls.  You staying out here?"

"For a while."

"All right, but stay close to the mine entrance.  Don't want anyone
spotting you while we're doing the spell."

"Okay."

Spike looked at Buffy for a while longer wanting so badly to take her
into his arms, hold her, both give and take comfort.

Instead he turned on his heels and went to help Giles with the spell.

Unsurprisingly there was an argument when Buffy announced that Spike
was to join Dawn and her in the bedroom that night.  Buffy however
was firm.  "He can't stay up here because we're facing east.  He
could get caught in the sunlight.  He'll be safer in the back with me
and Dawn."

"If he's afraid of the rising sun, he can sleep in the mine itself,
Buffy.  There is absolutely no reason why he should share quarters
with you and Dawn."

"I'm not having him sleep in that filthy mine, Giles.  If it weren't
for him, we wouldn't be here.  Glory may already have found Dawn.
He's sleeping with us and that's final!"

Looks of consternation were exchanged all around, but the argument
was dropped.  Everyone recognized the voice of Stubborn!Buffy.  No
amount of argument would dissuade her.

He waited until the girls had changed into their sleepwear and then
joined them in the bedroom.  A murmured threat from Giles was brushed
off with the contempt it deserved.  Did the pillock really thing he
would try to do something to Buffy with her little sister sleeping
beside her and all her friends only a few feet away?  He may be evil,
but he wasn't completely stupid.

Normally he wouldn't have considered going to bed this early, but
with everyone else preparing to turn in, he knew that he really had
no choice in the matter.  He didn't want to hang around outside all
night and watch the stars.  And he was tired enough that he figured
he'd be able to fall asleep fairly quickly.

Entering the bedroom, he saw that both girls were in bed with the
covers pulled all the way up to their chins like virgins in a
Victorian romance novel.  Laying down on the floor at the foot of the
bed, he listened to the rustling as the girls got themselves settled
and then turned out the Coleman lamp."

"Good night, Spike."

"Good night, Niblet.  Good night, Slayer."

"Night, Spike."

He lay there for several hours just listening to the steady
heartbeats and regular breaths of the two most important people in
his world.  At long last sleep overcame him.

tbc...