The usual disclaimer: All characters belong to he who is Joss Whedon.
 
Thanks for the encouraging reviews!
 

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Spike had no concept of how long they drifted together. Buffy was still barely coherent. Her thoughts were unfocused, and the possibility that she might be permanently insane crushed his heart. The thought of Drusilla and the century of conversations with invisible spirits came to him. The idea of Buffy reduced to that state was inconceivable. Being helpless while that bastard savaged his mate had been the worst torture he had ever endured – and he had lived with Angelus for 20 years. He had to bring her back.
 
He looked across the room. Her body had nearly healed of its wounds. His own head ached with the effort of keeping both of their minds together. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep this up. It was the mental equivalent of holding someone by the wrists, dangling over a cliff. If Buffy didn’t regain some degree of control over herself soon, he was going to lose his grip on both of their minds. He could already feel himself slipping a bit – thoughts becoming hazy, momentarily forgetting things. He needed her back – right now.
 
He probed at her gently. Buffy? Slayer? I need you to focus, love. Can’t keep this up much longer. No response. In desperation he increased the intensity of his thoughts. Look, Summers, don’t you fucking quit on me. You’re not getting off that easy. You’re not some shrinking convent girl like Drusilla was. You’re the fucking slayer and you will get a hold of yourself, or so help me I will bloody well kick your ass!
 
At long last, he got a response. His words had the effect of a slap in the face to a hysterical person. Buffy slowly started to form coherent thoughts again. Spike? What’s going on? What happened? She was still muddled, but things were starting to come back into focus.
 
You were raped, Buffy. No sense sugarcoating here – he needed her back and fully aware. I pulled you into my mind to keep you safe. He’s gone, and you’re gonna be ok. But you’ve got to get a hold of yourself. Your body’s healed love. Can you take control again?
 
Buffy cringed back from that idea. No. Can’t go back there. He’ll hurt me again. Let me stay here. Her thoughts started wavering on the edge of madness again.
 
We’re both going to go over the edge here! Spike desperately tried to get her to understand. Please. If you need to escape later I’ll pull you back but I am so tired… The effort was getting to be too much. You know I love you, Buffy. You know I will always come for you. But you need to get control.
 
Something in his tone reached through her haze. Buffy made a supreme effort to focus. Buffy. I am Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she said to herself. I’ve saved the world a couple times.
 
That’s it love, Spike’s thoughts encouraged her, You are all that. You’re Dawn’s sister and Joyce’s daughter. You’re the woman I love. Nothing can defeat you for long. You fought Glory and the First, you can fight Satan.
 
A memory popped into Buffy’s consciousness. She remembered standing up, bleeding from an abdominal wound, surrounded by chaos and death, and facing down the primordial evil bearing her own face. That was who she was. Her body could be beaten, stabbed, broken, but she was the Slayer. All those Slayers, down through the generations were contained in her. She would not let go of that.
 
With an effort, she decoupled her mind from Spike’s and regained control of her own mind and body. Her body was sore, but mostly healed. Her mind was still reeling, but her thoughts and memories were her own. She knew who she was, where she was, and who this man was who had brought her back. Spike. You brought me back. I don’t know how, but you brought me back. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for that.
 
Spike hung exhausted in his bonds, but managed a small smile. You thanked me already, love. You held on. Spike closed his eyes and rested from his efforts. Buffy closed her own eyes, secure in the knowledge that whatever came next, Spike would have her back.
 
****
 
Satan hummed to himself as he came back to his office. He had enjoyed driving the Slayer completely over the edge. As the master of hell, he could have the pick of any soul he wished to satisfy any desires he could dream up. But to completely break a Slayer, a creature of light who normally would never even come near his realm – now that was a dream come true. He couldn’t help rubbing his hands together as he muttered the incantation to view his new favorite toy.
 
Buffy and Spike were still there, in their bonds. He noted that her body had healed again, which would make her ripe for another go. But then he noticed that her eyes were open. They were focused, and aware, and looking at her mate. They were silent, but clearly they were communicating. Spike occasionally smiled slightly, and their eyes never left each other.
 
Satan roared in frustration. He had broken her. He knew he had broken her. She had been completely catatonic when he left her. How could she possibly have come back from that?
 
Then, Satan suddenly remembered that old prophesy. He was up on all the prophesies that involved him. Most of them were bullshit; as the Prince of Lies, he was well aware that people were forever coming up with elaborate stories to explain how they wanted things to happen. But he was also aware that some of these prophesies did actually come true. The one he was thinking of involved a creature of light and a creature of shadow. If they got out, he was never going to get anything done in the earthly realm. Right now, he had them trapped. But he was concerned. Everything he tried to break them failed. They were extremely strong. Could they actually overthrow him? In his realm? Not yet, but given enough time to figure out all they were capable of? Fear was not a sensation that Satan was particularly familiar with, but it was starting to creep into a small corner of his mind. It was clear these two needed to go.
 
He stroked his chin. There was one final punishment that he rarely used. It was more fun to torment souls indefinitely than to remove them from the equation. But in this case, he might make an exception. He smiled to himself. Dissolution. No escape from that, my friends. No escape.
 
*****
 
The blond couple was enjoying their rest. After an unknown period of quiet drifting, they were both recovered somewhat from their ordeal. Buffy opened her eyes to see Spike gazing down on her with a small smile at his lips. What? she inquired, gazing back.
 
Just like looking at you, pet, Spike replied. A thing of beauty is a joy forever, as some poet once said.
 
Flattery will get you nowhere, Buffy replied, but she smiled while she did. He always had this way of making her feel like she was the only thing in the universe. She frowned slightly.
 
Problem love?  Spike tilted his head curiously.
 
Regrets, I guess, Buffy thought. A lot of wasted time.
 
How so?
 
Buffy struggled to voice her feelings. You have this amazing love to give. I could have had it any time, but instead I pushed you away. Punched you in the nose after you gave me the most amazing orgasms of my life. Beat you to a pulp when you tried to keep me from doing something stupid. Kissed Angel after all you had done for me those last few weeks in Sunnydale…
 
Rather not be reminded of that, thanks, Spike interrupted. I could have been less of an ass sometimes, love. Don’t make me out to be a saint. I hurt you plenty over the years. That night… in your bathroom. He swallowed, shuddering a bit at the memory of what he almost did to her. I should have dusted myself rather than come to that.
 
I forgave you for that long ago, Buffy soothed.
 
Not sure you should have, but thanks, pet. He would have given his fangs just to be able to get out of these bonds and hold her again. I don’t deserve you.
 
Sure you do. Remember, you have sins to atone for. I think being bound for all time to a moody Slayer who spent the last couple years kicking your ass is a perfect penance, Buffy quipped.
 
No amount of mayhem is worth this abuse, Spike pouted. Buffy laughed. Ironic that she had been laughing more in hell than she had on earth for quite a while.
 
“Still enjoying our hospitality, I see.” Satan was back. Instantly they jerked to attention. Buffy’s eyes widened and she shrank a bit in her bonds. Steady, love. I’m here, Spike soothed. Although they had managed so far to survive all the torture hell had dished out, they knew they were not in control here. Spike found himself literally unable to even conceive what worse punishment Satan could come up with.
 
“The two of you have been much more trouble than you are worth,” said Satan, glowering.
 
Despite her fear, Buffy couldn’t help but snap, “Well, as I said before, just let us out of here, and we’ll trouble you no more.”
 
Do shut up, there’s a good girl, thought Spike. He didn’t think that further antagonizing Satan was a winning prospect. He eyed the Prince of Lies warily, ready to do whatever he could to protect his mate if the bastard attacked her again.
 
Satan fixed both of them with a look of pure hatred. “Do you know what happens to souls who cause us too much trouble?”
 
“Never gave much thought to it, truth be told,” Spike responded.
 
“It’s an option I rarely use,” Satan continued. “Frankly, I’m much too much of a sadist to let my guests leave. Most of the time.”
 
Gotta agree, the Marquis de Sade has nothing on this guy, Spike mused. He really wished Satan would get to his point. Unless his newest torture was to talk them to death.
 
“So we’re special. What’s your point?” Buffy spat out. She was getting really, really tired of this guy. Buoyed by Spike’s support, she was rapidly progressing from fear to fury.
 
“Souls that cannot be reformed are dissolved,” said Satan, smiling cruelly. “Do you know what that means? Your soul, your essence will cease to be, for all time. It will be as though you never existed.”
 
Their eyes widened. The implications of that were sinking into their minds with a sickening finality.
 
“Don’t worry,” said Satan. “You’ll be together. And it will take a nice long time. You’ll be able to feel yourselves slipping away, bit by bit, memory by memory. But you’ll be together, just like you wanted. Never fear.” Then grinning from ear to ear, Satan snapped his fingers once more.
 
TBC