Working Title: Cold Day in Hell

Author: automatic_badgirl

Email: automatic_badgirl@yahoo.ca

Chapter Three: Shelter



Chapter three: Shelter



The penetrating cold jolted Buffy out of her reverie. She could barely make out the pale gleam of Spike's hair in the gloom; by now the sky had completely clouded over. He appeared to be watching her intently but it was hard to tell; then Buffy heard the deep rumble of his voice.

"You're goin' to shake the flesh right off yer bones if we don't find some way to get out of this, and into some shelter."

Wordlessly she looked at him. It was obvious to both blondes that the situation was dire; there didn't appear to be any signs of civilization, demonic or otherwise anywhere close by.

"Right then, s'pose it's up to me innit? I say we follow this ridge until we find a cave or something we can hole up in and then--well let's hope Red's assembling the rescue squad right now."

"Lead on Mac Duff," Buffy gestured to Spike and they started trudging through the snow. At least the wind has gone down. Buffy thought, but the bitter cold seemed to settle into her bones; her face hurt and her hands were growing numb despite being stuffed into the pockets of Spike's coat. The only sounds were the crunching of their footsteps and the soft exhalations of Buffy. Must be nice not having to breathe, she thought, every time I do, my insides get icier, she twitched her nose. And I won't even mention the whole booger freezing thing. He'd probably just laugh. After about half an hour, they reached a rocky canyon. The rocks rose up higher and higher until Buffy could only see a slightly lighter patch of dark where the sky was. The snow had drifted due to the funneling effect the canyon had on the wind, and she was struggling through the deep snow. It was slow going; several times Buffy slid and stumbled. Finally Spike, reached over and held her by the upper arm.

"I don't need your help. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be in this mess!" she snapped.

"Suit yourself, Slayer," he backed off and kept walking. Silently, Buffy watched his back for a few moments.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to be a bitch. It's just I--" Spike held up a hand to silence her. She was about to utter an angry retort when he said, 

"I can smell something…Eugh, whatever it is, bugger doesn't wash enough." He cast about for the scent, crouching down to the ground. Buffy squatted beside him; whatever he was staring at wasn't apparent to her non-vamp senses. 

"What is it?"

"Some kind of animal track, bastard has some big feet if this is real,"

"Well it's a safe guess the rest of Bigfoot probably isn't too small either, or about to be making with the warm, sloppy kisses when it finds us." She sighed, "Why couldn't I have gone to the "fuzzy bunnies and cute puppies" Hell dimension?" 

"Probably 'cause that one's reserved for Anya,"

Despite herself, Buffy smiled, picturing Anya in a Bunny Hell dimension.

"Yeah and there's absolutely no money and they've never heard of capitalism there, either,"

Spike flashed her a quick grin. There was the Buffy he knew and loved, joking in the face of certain doom. He had been getting worried about her during the walk; worried enough to offer her help just because he knew it would piss her off, wake her up. But what was up with the apology, he thought, could it be, Buffy was feeling…Naahh, never happen.

"C'mon it leads over here," Spike stood and indicated a small crevice in the canyon wall. Quickly they realized the crack widened into a tunnel. Spike peered into the murky hole.

"Well, I've stayed in worse. Just let me go in first to make sure our friendly neighborhood hell beast isn't home,"

"Ooo---Check out Mr. Macho. Someone call "Mutual of Omaha: Wild Kingdom" and tell them they can fire Jim!"

"You wanta go crawling into a dark hole, risking a nasty bite in yer little arse-Go right ahead Slayer. I'm not the one with the frozen boogers." Spike smirked and stepped back.

"How did you know?" she blurted before she could help herself. She clapped a hand over her mouth and looked furiously at Spike.

"Thought so." He bent and crawled into the passageway. Buffy could see his butt as it disappeared down the tunnel, --I should kick him sooo hard--, her leg actually tensed with the thought. A few moments later Spike called out the a-okay to Buffy and she bent and crept inside.

Buffy stood up in pitch, blackness; she had the impression of a vast echo-y space and she could hear water dripping in the distance.

"The Batcave it's not,"

"Hold a sec, Slayer" Buffy heard Spike fumbling with something,

"Here catch,"

She acted instinctively and caught the small object Spike had thrown at her. She could tell by touch it was his lighter, Thank God, clean living never appealed to him, she thought and flicked it on. By the flickering light she could see Spike and the cavern. The vast space disappeared beyond the reach of the feeble light cast by the lighter. The walls were runneled and grooved by countless centuries of erosion and she could see water shining wetly on some of the rocks. A thick carpet of lichen covered parts of the cavern floor. The air was slightly damp but warmer than the air outside. She said,

"We'd better try to start a fire, do you see any wood or anything"

"Nope, but what's this?" Spike kicked at a small mound of what appeared to be furry odds and ends. The pile shifted and slid down a slope into a shallow depression. As it rolled, they could see the mellow gleam of bone in the light. It came to rest against a fair sized heap of bones, scraps of fur and the occasional odd looking skull.

"Bloody fabulous, looks like we'll be bunking with a Hell beast after all-still it's got to be better than Xander's basement."

"No wait! That stuff all looks pretty old, maybe it doesn't live here anymore."

He looked at her archly, she shrugged,

"We'll it's not like we have a choice, it's too cold outside"

Having no other option she began to search for a means to build a fire. Buffy ripped up some of the deader looking lichen and shredded it into a small mound, Spike watched her,

"Looks like bein' the Caveslayer rubbed off on you,"

"Nope Girl Scouts,"

"You were a Girl Scout?"

"Yes for a while-until the unfortunate incident at camp---" annoyed, she stopped, "never mind that--you could help you know," 

"Yeah, I guess I could." Instead he remained where he was; frustrated Buffy turned and held out the lighter.

"Hold this then if you won't help."

"Sorry, luv' can't."

"Oh, it's beneath you to make fire, too primitive?"

"No."

"Well what then?"

"Me hands are frozen."

"I'm cold too Spike but--"

"No, Buffy…I mean that my hands are slightly frozen, can't move them too well just yet. I may not have a body temperature but I'm still subject to the cold. That's why you don't see too many Canadian vamps-too bloody cold, they'll freeze up like slabs of beef. Don't worry they'll unthaw eventually." 

Stunned, Buffy looked at Spike for a beat. She felt a twist of chagrin, she'd been bitchy to him and in the meantime he'd never made a peep about his condition. It wasn't like Spike to pass up a chance to make her feel guilty. Doesn't matter I feel guilty anyway, she thought. She changed the subject, 

"Does it hurt?"

"No, not really more like they've gone to sleep, but gotta be careful 'cause I won't feel if I've snapped off a finger until it's too late." Shocked, Buffy giggled despite herself, 

"Sorry that was too Monty Python for me!" she changed the subject when she caught his look, "So are there really less vamps up north? Why couldn't I have been born in Alaska?"

> "Yeah I can really see you, munching on seal blubber."

"Eeew!"

She sat back on her heels and admired the small fire she had made; carefully she fed it bigger pieces of fuel, until it was burning vigorously. The heat was welcome as it soaked into her tiny frame. She felt proud of her simple efforts, Kinda forget to be all angsty and tormented when all you have to worry about is basic survival, she thought.

By the increased light they could see more of their surroundings. The cave ceiling was lost in the darkness above but they could see walls sloping down further away from the entrance and eventually disappearing into the distance. Small pools of water had collected at the base of some of the larger stalagmites. Roping skeins of mineral deposits snaked over the walls and glittered in the firelight. The air was rapidly warming as the fire burned.

"Well isn't this homey, add a few drapes, some carpeting, Slayer and you'd have yourself a nice pad here."

"You're welcome to stay outside, Mr. Freeze,"

Damn Slayer always being snotty! Spike grouched, should've given her the gears 'bout my hands when I had a chance. Spike winced as he sat down beside Buffy. She appeared to be lost in thought as she watched the flames of the fire. He said nothing and settled himself more comfortably and observed her closely. Slayer looks like she's got something on her mind, he reflected, well; she'll talk when she's ready. Spike thought about the fact that he and the Slayer, his so-called mortal enemy could share these moments of companionable silence together. S'getting to be like we're an old married couple. He snorted to himself at the thought.

The dancing flames and heat had a hypnotic effect on Buffy. She dimly recalled the last time she had been sitting by a bonfire she had learned that "Death was her gift." Humph, some gift! She mused although I did find peace-a chance to rest-after the battle with Glory. Since then it had been nothing but a struggle to involve herself in the world. I'm trapped the web of responsibility that is my life, bundled and choking on everyday things. In fact the only time when she felt any surcease from the daily effort to care and feel was strangely---now. Her choices had narrowed to move and live or stop and die. But, Sunnydale wasn't one giant episode of 'Survivor: Hell Dimension' the petty minutia of life there had a way of grinding a girl down. God, I wish it could be this black and white there-only time my choices are clear-cut are when I'm fighting. She glanced at Spike, he was as lost in the fire as she was. He understands that, that when you fight-kill something you can forget for a while…just live in the moment. The thud and smack of flesh on flesh fills your world until you just ….are. She paused as it dawned on her the other times the slapping of flesh on flesh had made her live completely in the moment. Blushing she lowered her head, Why was she always thinking about sex around Spike? She peeked at him from under her hair, he hadn't appeared to notice the train her thoughts were taking, Funny, he usually did. She started when he said,

"Thinking some deep thoughts Slayer?"

"Uh. No. no not really just getting warm." Yeah--down there, she thought embarrassed.

"Few more moments in that meat locker and I would've been a T.V. dinner for some passing beastie, leaving you all by your lonesome to fend for yourself." He stretched his hands out to the fire gratefully then hissed and pulled them back sharply. Off Buffy's look he said,

"Got to be careful not to thaw 'em too quickly…could turn into a bloody flaming torch,"

"Here let me see," She cradled his hands in her own and examined them; a slight frown creased her brow,

"Jeeze, looks like frostbite." Spike tried to jerk his hands out of her grasp but she tightened her hold on his wrists and held on.

"Let me see your feet." When he looked blankly at her she said, "I want to check them too."

> Carefully she undid the laces on his boots and slipped them off, she gently wrapped her hands around his feet and shivered,

"Christ Spike! You feel half frozen." Spike noticed that the cold made her nipples tighten and press against the thin material of her blouse. I can't believe he never said anything, she thought. If Buffy thought consciously about her next choice she might not have made it, but she acted on instinct and the feelings of remorse that were tugging at her. She lifted Spike's feet into her lap, wrapping her thighs tightly around them. When Spike protested she said, 

"Relax, I'm trying to warm you up. Direct body heat is one of the best ways to treat frostbite in an emergency situation."

"And how do you know that?"

"Scouts, remember?" she said brightly. As Spike warmed his hands, she lightly stroked and caressed his feet. 

"What's all this then, doin' the Geisha bit for me? Pet, I'm touched but there's other ways to warm me up." He cocked a brow at her suggestively.

> "Spike, you're a pig!" She made as if to shove his feet out of her lap, but he quickly countered with,

"Now, now pet, remember I risked life and limb for you, least you could do is be grateful."

"You loaned me your coat-Big Deal!" but she did feel a pang of guilt and kept his feet where they were. Ah Ha! Gotcha, thought Spike, now I just need to…

"What's the matter, luv' doing the submissive thing too hard for you. I forgot how much you liked to be the boss-Good thing you've always found spineless poufs to take their matching orders from yer."

"I am sooo not bossy!...Well if I am, it's because,…alright maybe I do tend to take the lead a little…" Spikes derisive eye roll was all the answer she needed. The firm but insistent weight on her crotch was beginning to have an effect on her, as was the bickering. Slow heat was building in her belly. 

"Trouble is Slayer; you always have to have control because you're scared to really let go. That's why you can't be with a man who's a real match for you, who'd stand up to you."

> "Oh! And I suppose you're just the guy. Huh?" She locked eyes with Spike, desire flashed between them. Slowly he smiled and curled his tongue against his teeth, she felt her insides contract pleasantly at the promise contained in that gaze. After a heated moment he rumbled, 

"Just sayin' is all."

Flustered she dropped her gaze, and absently continued to caress his feet. The fire snapped and crackled pleasantly beside them. Buffy's throat felt thick, she swallowed nervously. Her skin felt too tight; she was hyper-aware of the man sitting right beside her. Angrily she thought, Why is he always able to get past my defenses? Riley was never able to affect me like this. Maybe-maybe-he's right; maybe I do always pick the ones I think I can control. Never stepping out of the boundaries I make for myself, always doing the right thing, the right guy…never acting on what I really want. She looked speculatively at the blonde vampire. He thinks he knows me so well, he's got me pegged. Surprise the hell out of that smug bastard if I…

She began to undo the buttons on her blouse. Doesn't matter what happens now, she thought, probably won't survive too long here, anyway.

"Buffy-what are you doing?"

"Body heat" she said simply as she laid his cold hands against her taut stomach. She shivered and Spike caught the faint but unmistakable scent of her arousal. His eyes narrowed, Play your cards carefully here, mate, he thought.

> "So do they do this in the Girl Scouts on a regular basis then?" he rumbled. "Shame, I would've-" he stopped, his feet were beginning to thaw and he felt the heat emanating from Buffy's mound, heat and moisture, as her slick juices began to soak through her clothes. He pressed his heel experimentally against her and she inhaled sharply as the pressure increased on her sensitive flesh. Fuck! He thought as he watched her eyes darken with desire, She's already wet for me, His cock twitched and hardened, forcing itself against the zipper of his jeans.

What she did next caused him to draw an unnecessary breath. She took his hand and brought it to her mouth; Spike watched hypnotized as she flicked her tongue across his palm. Buffy completely abandoned herself to the moment; she moaned and ground against his heel again. Dimly she realized, she was crossing an unspoken line, but she was too absorbed by the sensations her body was feeling. She slowly slid his finger between her pink lips and into her mouth sucking gently. Spike groaned, her mouth was so fucking hot and the sight of his finger coated in her saliva, sliding between her pouting lips was almost too much. She looked at him, challengingly, hair falling across her eyes, then she sucked harder. "Fuck Buffy-what're you doing to me?" His other hand slid up her ribcage and cupped her breast, squeezing gently at first, then harder as she groaned and arched into his grip. His hand was still somewhat cold to the touch and her nipples rose into hard peaks against the lace of her bra.

"Mmm-yeah," She licked his palm again then kissed the inside of his wrist. She was reveling in the heat he was making her feel. "Hot now," was her simple thought, "want to be hotter," Spike tugged on her nipple and she groaned and bit her lip. Spike growled and pulled Buffy up his body until she was straddling his hips; he crushed his mouth to hers. Buffy wound her fingers through his hair as his tongue slid into her mouth. She broke the kiss and ground her hips into his; she could feel the rigid length of his cock as it rubbed against her aching clit. Fuck she looks hot… Spike thought incoherently as she writhed on his lap …she better know what she's doing, can't stop now even if I wanted to.

Buffy couldn't believe how quickly her senses had seized control of her intellect. She was a creature of pure instinct now, no second thoughts, no plan beyond having the hard length of Spike's cock inside her, it had become essential…vaguely a tiny part of her brain was yammering about the total lack of control.

"Please Spike-I need--" she sobbed.

"Say it Slayer, I want to here you say it!"

"Ohhh God! Touch me!"

As he fumbled with the fastening on her pants, his other hand cupped her ass and squeezed. Buffy was making small mewling and panting sounds that were driving him half mad with desire and need. Finally he was able to slide his hand down her stomach and through her damp curls to her pussy.

"Christ you're wet!" The feel of her slick folds was exquisite, her scent made him groan. He licked and sucked at her breasts while he rubbed her clit with his thumb and was rewarded when she bucked hungrily against him. He slipped a finger inside her; the heat was unbelievable. Her pussy tightened around him when he pressed his finger up against her and began to stroke her velvet walls.

"Yeah-Spike like that…right there-Ahh Yes, Fuck!" Buffy rhythmically rode his hand as the pleasure increased. She was trembling like a racehorse before the gate crashed open, all taut gleaming muscle and quivering need. Only a few moments more and she'd be over the brink,

"Gonna-come-soon!" she panted.

Enraptured, Spike watched as she came closer to orgasm, Can't believe this is the same prissy bitch who trounced my ass on a regular basis… he marveled at the woman so completely lost to sensation, always knew she be like this if only she could let go, instead of denying- Distracted he never finished his thought, Buffy's eyes widened dramatically and her fingers dug into his shoulders. Spike watched intently for the orgasm to flow across her face; but instead her fingers tightened painfully and a look of panic flashed in her eyes. 

"S'okay Luv' Let go-come for me, I want to feel you come," he soothed.

"Spike NO! We've got company!" she whispered as she clumsily bounced off of his lap and began to struggle with the buttons on her slacks. Her hands were shaking with stifled need. 

Damn well better be the riders of the fucking apocalypse! was Spike's angry thought, I nearly made Buffy come, wanta see that. He growled and leaped up to face the intruder, then blanched. 

Crouching just inside the entrance to the cave was a creature about the size of a pony, but from there on all resemblance to a cute and cuddly pony was lost. If anything it was similar to a hyena but only if the hyena was designed by a homicidal maniac. It was thickly furred with dark shaggy hair, except where slabs of bony armor mottled it, sheathing its legs and massive paws. Hulking shoulders, gave way to a low heavy head. Yellow eyes stared balefully at the pair and foamy slobber dripped from its jaws revealing wicked looking teeth as it snarled horribly.

> "Fucking hell!" was his first exclamation,

"Looks like this cave isn't so deserted after all! Sunshine, over there looks mighty pissed to have company," he hissed to Buffy.

"Shut up! There's only one, we can probably take it."

"With what? Our stellar charm and ribald wit?"

"No, here!" Slowly she backed up. Her thighs were still trembling from the previous encounter, so she carefully reached down, never taking her eyes off the creature. Its gaze followed her as she bent and picked up a long leg bone from the trash pile. She snapped it in two and handed Spike half. The Hell beast began to shift from side to side as if working up the courage to actually attack.

"Maybe, we won't have to fight at all, fucker doesn't look to brave right now--" Spike's words were cut off when the beast threw back its head and uttered three deafening guttural barks. The sound noisily echoed throughout the cave and Buffy clapped her hands over her ears and yelped.

"Was that the demon-hyena fight song or is it trying to scare us? She said. Her question was answered when they heard a scuffling at the entrance and another Hell beast snaked its head out of the tunnel and glared at the blondes. It paced over to its mate, growling thickly in its throat.

"Nope, looks like it was calling for reinforcements, Slayer."

"Lucky us." She said grimly as she tightened her grip on the makeshift weapon.



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