********************************

//Fuck.// Xander silently cursed himself for being a
fool.

//You would have thought that with all this practice
I'd at least be
good at being taken hostage. Oh but no. Dork.//

Xander had been awake for about 30 minutes, although
with the ringing
in his head he almost wished he hadn't been. He woke
unsure at first
where he was or why he was there. Then he'd
remembered.

He wasn't sure how long it had been before he'd moved
after Buffy had
left. He'd started to get cramp in his legs, and his
throat burned so
much from crying. His body still wanting to sob, but
no more tears
would come. He'd dragged himself to the shower and had
soaked himself
there. Still feeling numb.

When the water had begun to get cold, he'd finally
stepped out,
towelled himself dry and put some clothes on. His mind
still in
turmoil from the argument he and Buffy had had. Xander
decided there
was only one thing to do. He needed to see Graham.

He'd just been organising things, was going to leave
him a message,
hoping he'd check that, if all else failed, try and
track him down
himself. Another knock on the door.

Xander's first thought was that Graham was here to see
him, he'd
known that Xander needed him and had come. Something
also let him
hope that maybe it was Buffy, she'd come back and
she'd let Xander
tell her how sorry he was for not telling her.

He quickly moved to the door and opened it anxiously.

//May as well hand out my address around town!//

The next few minutes had been a blur, Xander felt
himself being
pushed backwards, the large bulk of a, well Xander had
no idea what
the hell it was, all he knew was that it was big,
green and smelt
pretty disgusting.

Xander tried to scramble backwards, knocking against
the table in the
room as the demon followed him in. Was too slow as he
felt the bulk
push down against him, expelling all the air from his
body, winding
him, not allowing him to even raise his voice in
protest. One scaly
hand across his mouth. He couldn't move.

Xander, eyes wide in shock, could only stare into the
yellow eyes of
his captor. He could feel it's fetid breath, hot
against his cheek.

`Hello, bait.' A raspy growl.

Xander could feel the hand tighten around his throat,
all he could
see was the toothy smile above him as he faded into
unconsciousness.

Now he was lying, crushed hard against a rock, in what
he assumed was
a cave. Could hear water dripping ahead of him, soft
rhythm that
lulled him awake. Past that he could hear more sound.
Assumed it was
his captor, recognised the smell from this distance.

Xander knew he couldn't overpower the demon, could
feel restraints
around his ankles and hands. So he continued to
pretend he was
asleep, tried to control his breathing, to not panic.
Silently cursed
his inability to remain out of danger.

Unsure what to do, he could only hope that someone
would notice that
he was missing.

****************************

Xander awoke again, rough hands twisting him upwards,
holding him
effortlessly. Grip tight on his sides, the demon held
him before it.

Xander gasped in surprise, hadn't meant to fall asleep
but the
exhaustion must have claimed him. He had no idea how
much time had
passed. He couldn't see past the monster that was
holding him
prisoner.

`Wh-what do you want?' Voice sounded broken, even to
his own ears.
His head still rang, dull throb emanating from the
back. His lips
felt swollen, could taste blood when he spoke.

`You're the bait, her friend. She'll come looking,
then I'll kill.'
Angry guttural grunting sounds, large teeth, jutting
out from the
demon's mouth caused the sound to be distorted.

`Yeah, she'll come and kick your ass.' Xander spoke
without thinking.
Before he'd noticed he'd been dropped back on the
ground, sharp pain
jutting from where he'd fallen on his hipbone. Short
gasp of
exclamation. He could see the demon retreating, now
standing at the
other end of the cave, what Xander assumed was the
entrance. He could
see it breathing in. Assumed it was trying to catch a
scent.

//How the hell can he smell anything else when he
smells like an open
sewer?//

Xander tried to move his hand, he rubbed the spot
where he'd fallen.
Knew he was bruised. Tried to check himself for other
injuries. They
seemed mostly superficial, his face felt slightly
swollen and he
guessed his lip was split. A small amount of dried
blood on the side
of his face. The only other injury seemed to be where
he was
restrained. Could feel the restraints biting into his
skin there.
Tied tight, the coarse rope rubbing the flesh raw,
whenever he moved.

Xander gingerly began to work at the restraints, the
movement only
exacerbated the pain he felt, but he knew if he was to
be any help,
he would need to get free. He gritted his teeth and
continued to try
to get free.

****************************************

Xander could hear movement from where the demon stood.
His attention
drawn to the dark form across the other side of the
cave, lit only by
a fire the demon had set. Xander had been in enough
fights to realise
the demon was preparing for an attack. He felt hope,
he hoped that
his friends would be here to protect him, he also
hoped they would
not get hurt.

Xander was shocked into stillness when he heard a
voice cut through
the relative calm.

`Well, well, well, what do we have here?' Xander's
full attention
now, head shooting up, squinting in the near darkness.
//Spike?//

Xander could make out a figure behind him, assumed it
would be Buffy,
hoped that she was here to save him. Hoped she forgave
him for what
had happened. Then his eyes adjusted, Graham. Could
see his lover
searching, eyes darting round the room, unsure if he
should shout
out, wanted to, wanted to scream out to him that he
was okay, wanted
him to help him. Was scared the distraction might
cause further
damage.

Then their eyes locked. Xander could see the relief
pass through the
man's face. His eyes lighting up in recognition. Both
men's attention
drawn back to the other occupants of the cave.

`Understand you've got a friend of ours here? Don't
take kindly to
that sort of thing mate. Afraid we're gonna have to do
something
about that.' Spike seemed unaffected by the bulk of
the demon that
was standing before him. Only about 10 feet separating
the two. Like
a true predator, the Vampire inched forward.

Gone was Spike's usual nonchalance, replaced by a
graceful fluidity.
Xander could see Spike was ready to fight, knew he
wasn't as strong
as Buffy, but hoped that he would be strong enough to
kill the thing
that had kidnapped him. Xander momentarily confused by
the fact he
was also worried that Spike might get hurt.

`Who are you?' The guttural voice of the demon. He no
longer seemed
phased by the possibility of attack. `I expected the
Slayer, not a
puny human and one Vampire.'

A deeper roar escaped it's throat as it saw past Spike
to where
Graham was slowly trying to move towards Xander. His
movement stopped
immediately.

`Why are you here? I'm more than a match for one
Vampire and one
human.' The demon unfazed by the two figures before
him.

`How about one Vampire, one human and the Slayer.' A
new voice,
Xander could see Buffy entering the cave, Crossbow
loaded and pointed
directly at the demon. He knew from Buffy's stance
that she was ready
for action.

A large bellowing noise exploded from the demon as it
lurched
forward. Spike, now in game face moved in. A crossbow
bolt flying,
biting deep into the Demon's shoulder, another scream
this time one
of pain.

Through the chaos, Xander sought out Graham, was
pleased to see the
man had stepped back from the fight, now accompanied
by Riley, the
two men moved towards the huddled figure of Xander.

Xander could clearly see the relief in his lover's
face as he finally
reached him. Loved the contact when Graham began to
try and undo the
bonds on Xander's wrists and ankles.

`Fancy seeing you here.' Xander knew from the look on
Graham's face
that he was still concerned for his lover's safety,
the ex-marine
ignoring his glib remark.

`Shit Xan, how are you feeling? You hurt?' Graham
slowly worked one
hand free, moving quickly across to the other. Riley
now devoting his
attention back to the three, fighting in the centre of
the cave.

`I'm alright now that you're here.' Another wrist
free, now the two
men working on the ropes tying his ankles together.

Xander quickly looked up to make sure his friends were
okay. He knew
as little as either of them would like to admit it,
Buffy and Spike
fought pretty well together. The preternatural
strength of the
Vampire and Buffy's natural Slayer abilities seemed to
be taking it's
toll on the demon.

The two circled the green skinned demon, never
allowing it a moments
rest, Xander could see even from this distance the
fierce
determination the two possessed. Buffy silent, knife
in hand. Spike,
snarl on his face, fangs exposed, taunting the demon,
who howled
between them.

Xander was now free, felt Graham's arms around him
supporting him,
helping him to move. Xander crumpled against him, his
legs still felt
numb from the position he'd been kept in. Graham
pulled him closer,
supporting his weight firmly against his hip, worried
look on his
face.

`I've got you.' Graham's smile giving Xander the
energy he needed to
slowly hobble towards freedom.

Loud snarl from the demon, Riley stopped in the
process of helping
Graham carry Xander.

The green skinned demon was down on one knee, no match
for both
opponents. Spike distracted him further, twisting it's
arm, a loud
popping sound could be heard across the room, the
sound of more bones
snapping. Gruesome smile on the face of the Vampire.

That was all the opportunity Buffy needed. Quick
movement and the
madly convulsing body of the demon slumped to the
floor, knife buried
deep in the juncture, where it's neck and shoulder
met. Thick dark
ichor dripped from the large gash the blade had left.

Buffy let it slip from her hand, stepped back.

Xander could hear her panting from the distance that
separated them.
Riley quickly moved in to ensure she was okay.

`Good fight that.' Large smile plastered on his face,
one booted foot
pushing against the now inert form of the demon. `Pity
about the
smell huh?' The blonde Vampire walked past Buffy and
Riley, slapped
Buffy on the back as he passed her. `How's the whelp
doing?'

Xander now rested against Graham, confused as Spike
walked over to
him. `He'll be fine Spike, thanks.' Now Xander was
more confused,
hearing his lover respond to the Vampire.

`What?' Xander looked between the two, both of them
smiling.

`Your man here was worried so I helped him find you,
although can't
question the timing of the Slayer, little bit easier
after she caught
up.' The blonde Vampire still smiling.

`Better get you back, checked up, make sure you're
alright.' Xander
still unable to respond just nodded at his lover's
concern. Felt
Spike support his other side, now being carried
effortlessly by the
two towards the entrance.

`Wait.'

Buffy moving towards him.

`I don't really think now is a good time Buffy.'
Graham was barely
hiding the snarl in his voice. He moved his body so he
was standing
between her and Xander.

`I just.' The girl uncharacteristically silent. `I
wanted to say I'm
sorry Xander, and to you Graham. I haven't exactly
acted like I
should and I'm sorry I said those things to you
earlier and I'm just
really happy that you're still ? you know.' It was
easy to see how
effected the blonde girl was. `I'm really sorry Xander
and when I
thought you might have been hurt, or worse, I realised
that I
couldn't cope without you and I just wanted you to
know that, I ? I
just wish I could change what happened.' Buffy's voice
caught in her
throat, the small girl almost overcome with emotion.

Relief washed over Xander. `I think we can pretty much
say we've both
acted rather badly, I'm just pleased to see all of
you.' Xander
seemed to have recovered, was now standing, now only
leaning on
Graham for support.

`Still friends then?' Buffy asked, her voice almost
silent.

`Always.' Her whole face breaking out in a smile, she
quickly lunged
forward, hugging her friend tightly. A little too
tightly as Xander
breathed outwards in pain.

`Ooh sorry.' She pulled back in embarrassment.

`S'ok, although I think I'll need to forego the hug
for awhile. If
it's okay with you guys I think I'd like to get out of
here.'

Xander now supported by Graham and Spike followed
behind Buffy and
Riley as they left.
 
 

tbc