Numb and Number: Chapter Thirteen

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Thirteen

Things were tense around the museum. Spike seemed to be enjoying Angel’s new position as enemy number one, but he acted appropriately grieved for Wesley and what he’d been through. Giles mostly worked on finding out the specifics of their quest. Angel brooded, Wesley didn’t talk very much, and Oz didn’t know what to do.

It was a quiet day. Word had come to them through a local Slayer that there was a huge demon uprising
nearby, though out of the too quiet city of Rome. Angel and Spike had gone to help so there was considerably less
tension.

Oz helped Giles as much as he could and, in case it might happen, kept Wesley from slipping into another
catatonic state. He poured some juice from their fridge, “borrowed” from Buffy’s old apartment, and carried it over to
where Wesley was going through some old notes.

“Thank you.” Wesley accepted the glass and took a sip before placing it beside him.

“I’d like to understand what happened,” Oz said, sitting next to him.

“It’s rather hard to explain.”

“What isn’t?”

Wesley chuckled dryly.

“Not much I suppose. Well, you know what my life was after I left Sunnydale. You know that I joined up with
Angel and Cordy and we fought evil in Los Angeles.”

“With you so far,” Oz concurred.

“Angel had a son,” Wesley said quietly. “It’s impossible, I know, but since when has that stopped anything?
He’s Darla’s child, Connor, I mean.”

“So that’s why Angel’s so protective of him.”

“Exactly. Connor was taken from Angel when he was a baby.”

“By you,” Oz supplied softly.

Wesley smiled grimly.

“For a good cause naturally. But as a result Connor grew up in a hell dimension, raised by Angel’s enemy, and
we met him again three weeks later when he was a teenager.”

“I thought Dawn was strange,” Oz said.

That brought a genuine laugh from Wesley.

“Kids don’t seem to get normal childhoods anymore. Well, Connor was vastly confused and hated his father. I
was completely estranged from the group at this point, though later, I was forced back into it.”

“Where was Fred in all this?”

“With my friend Charles. Or just there. Everyone was a little distant from each other at the time. But, to cut it
short, at the end of a battle against something called Jasmine, Connor had lost most of his moral faculties. Angel
cut a deal with Wolfram and Hart, who had been trying to make him evil for years, and Connor’s memories were
erased. So were ours.”

“Sounds like something I heard Willow did one time,” Oz said quietly.

“I think Angel and Willow have more in common than they let on,” Wesley mused. “But everything I've been
thinking about leads me to only one conclusion, that though I have done things that were terrible and so has Angel,
this one we can’t come back from.”

“Why not?”

“Because he didn’t just do it to me. He did it to her, he did it to all of us, without thinking, without hesitating.
He erased all of us. What I did to him, I did for him. What he did to me, he did for him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. But all I can do is get this over with as fast as possible. Maybe there’s a life for me somewhere. I
don’t know.”

“I’d like to think so, but you know, I can’t be sure,” Oz replied.

“I think it may be over faster than you think,” Giles interrupted them suddenly.

“What have you got?” Oz asked.

Giles sat down next to them and showed them his notes.

“I’ve been trying to figure this out and I am positive moon tamer refers to you, Oz.”

“Good guess.”

“I believe that the biter and bitten refers to Spike and not Angel. This is more of a hunch than anything, but it
says something about the graves of home and since Spike is from England and Angel is not…”

“Spike’s more likely,” Wesley surmised. “What else is there?”

“I think the other is you, Wesley,” Giles said. “It was your comment on knowing many things, but Angel made
you empty that made me think of it. You certainly had an empty head, but also wisdom.”

“An odd pairing,” Wesley commented.

“Yes.”

“So we’re going to England to this Deeper Well place where Illyria was buried before?” Oz asked.

“Not quite to the Deeper Well. It does have significance since it’s connected to her, but that whole area is
riddled with mystical energy. I believe I’ve narrowed it down to the place where you should find this thing.”

“Don’t suppose you got a clue as to what it actually is?” Spike asked, coming in, spattered in demon gore.
Angel followed behind him, glowering, and equally drenched.

“Just the reference to a diamond,” Giles answered, politely turning his head from the stench.

“Got it, we’ll get cleaned up,” Spike said sarcastically. “So, who’s going?”

“You, me and Wesley,” Oz answered.

“Just who I wanted.” Spike grinned. “The old guys can stay here and drink.”

“I should stay with you,” Angel said to Giles, sounding reluctant. “Illyria may try something while they’re gone
and I want to do something.”

“What a good idea,” Giles said, equally reluctantly.

“When are we going?” Spike asked while he fished around in the cupboards. Oz got up and silently handed
them both a towel.

“As soon as possible,” Wesley said firmly.



***



They were on the airplane and Spike was nervously shying away from the early morning light about to peek over
the horizon.

“Why won’t the bloody plane land already?”

“Because there was an accident, Spike,” Wesley answered calmly. “Just try and relax, we’re in line and I have
a blanket here.”

“You’re awfully relaxed for all that just happened afore we left,” Spike said grumpily. Wesley stiffened but didn’t
answer. “Wes,” Spike said, glancing over at the sleeping Oz, “Wes, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t mention it,” Wesley said coldly.

“No, I mean it. And not just for that, but I’ve been making light of the whole thing since it happened. It’s my
way of dealing, I don’t know. It just makes me happy to see Angel down. But I know he hurt you.”

“I know you and Angel have always had a rather tempestuous relationship, but he was my best friend, Spike.”
Wesley's face softened.

“Had to be hard to do.” Spike had a hard time thinking anyone could be friendly with Angel easily.

“Well, circumstances didn’t help much, but it was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Like eating breakfast,”
Wesley answered. He thought for a moment before asking, “Do you feel like the three of us have a destiny?”

“Don’t want to,” Spike said sharply. “Destiny means trouble.”

“I know your feelings on the subject, but do you think all of this was meant to happen somehow? Since the
three of us are in this prophecy or spell or whatever it is? How else could we all have come together without these
tragedies?”

“Reminds me of a dream I had,” Spike said slowly. “Dru, she told me light was crueler than the dark. I guess
evil likes to take without reason, but good makes you give it up and keep going.”

“And keep going?”

“To wherever it wants you to go.”

“I’m too numb to go there,” Wesley said, sounding exhausted and Spike supposed he was. They all were.

“You’ll only get number.”

“Spike, even you should know that it’s more numb.”

“I never claimed to know anything about bloody proper grammar,” Spike retorted.

“Your era would suggest otherwise,” Wesley stated and then they fell silent.



***



They rented a car and drove to the middle of nowhere. Nowhere according to Giles’ coordinates.

Parking, they got out of the car and made sure it was well concealed behind some bushes just in case anyone
should come out there and yell at them for trespassing.

Wesley read from the notes in his hand with the flashlight Oz held.

“We need to head in a more northerly direction. I believe about five hundred feet. We should see an unusual
stone of some kind.”

“This is all too sad,” Spike said. “Quests are bloody stupid.”

“If you die,” Oz put in. “I think when you get whatever it is you’re looking for people generally make a movie
about you.”

“Just my desire,” Spike answered sarcastically.

They went the required five hundred feet and Oz spotted an unusual rock. Actually the only rock.

“Now we’re to go the direction it points.”

“I think it points north.”

“Really? Looks west to me,” Spike argued.

Wesley rolled his eyes.

“It’s pointing northwest,” he said, holding up his compass. The other two silently followed his leading.

This led them to a cliff face about fifty feet high. The face was almost smooth and would not be climbed easily.
A few trees stood against the edge, but there was nothing else there.

“Now what?” Spike asked Wesley pointedly.

“Look for the dark line,” he answered. Spike raised his eyebrows, but made no comment and started to look. It
was difficult in the dark, but it was Oz who found the crack in the wall running from top to bottom.

“What’s that gonna do us?” Spike inquired.

“Maybe it opens somehow,” Wesley mused. “Let’s try to pull it or something.”

“Stand back,” Spike said and, using his considerable vamp strength, heaved on the cracks. Nothing
happened.

“Maybe both sides need it,” Oz offered. He pulled on one side and Spike on the other, but still nothing
happened.

“Three lines form one,” Wesley muttered as he read, trying to figure out the way.

“Let’s all try,” he said finally, rolling up the papers. He took a place beside Oz and together, they all pulled at
the rock. This time, it shifted and jerked and grated and they actually opened a door.

“Spike, your eyes will see best,” Wesley said, stepping aside.

“Don’t forget his nose,” Spike jerked a thumb at Oz.

“Rear guard,” Wesley said smugly. Oz nodded and entered after the other two.

They walked in darkness for a long time. But after awhile, Spike saw something up ahead and signaled the
other two. They entered a cavern, but the floor was covered in springy turf and there was a natural light coming from
somewhere. There was a shimmering curtain hanging over the back of the cavern and that was likely the resting
place of whatever it was they were looking for.

“Challenge me!” boomed a voice as they stopped walking. The voice was disembodied, but Spike met it
squarely.

“If there’s a challenge it’ll be made by me, O Booming Thunder-Man; come on out.”

A slow chuckle resounded off the cavern walls.

“As agreed.” There was a loud bang and some creature appeared from somewhere.

Was it a giant furry ape? Was it a misshapen werewolf? The questions rang through Spike’s mind.

“I am the Guardian and you are the Challenger. Come forth.” The creature beckoned him forward and Spike
stepped out boldly. “None but he may challenge me,” the unknown told Oz and Wesley. “You will remain.” He threw
something at them and though they struggled they found themselves unable to move toward Spike.

“Come on then,” Spike muttered, “I’m getting bored here.”

“You must kill me,” the hairy beast replied, “or your quest is in vain.”

“I can do that.” Spike smiled.

Wesley and Oz watched. It seemed to last for days, but at the very most, it was hours.

Spike held his own at first; the creature did not seem to be anything but his match in speed and strength and
skill. But the vampire did tire though he did not breathe and their fallen blood soon made the trampled grass slick.

Spike circled away, giving his muscles a bit of a rest. The monster did not allow him long and lunged forward,
feinting with his left arm, while bringing the other towards Spike’s side, claws fully extended. Spike dodged the left
and saw the right a little too late. He turned with the lunge and the claws only scraped against him instead of digging
their way inside. He brought up his leg with all his might and snapped the creature’s neck to one side. It roared with
discomfort and pain, but it did not stop its onslaught.

Several more moves like this one occurred. Spike almost thought he was done for, but he refused to give up
and held on to the one chance that the beast would slip up and give him an opening.

Minutes later, Spike found himself on the ground with claws raking down his back. He screamed so loud he
thought the echoes would play forever in the cave underneath the ground. But he curled his legs up and grasped the
creature’s neck between them. He squeezed tightly and threw the creature with his legs as hard as he could. The
claws came out of his back and with a gasp of pain, he turned around, quick as a cat and jumped to the creature,
who was just rising. Grabbing the neck between his hands, he twisted it as sharply as any chiropractor and twice as
lethal. The beast was dead and he had won.

“Spike!” Wesley called as he and Oz ran over to the vampire and tried to stop his bleeding and congratulate him.

“No biggie,” Spike said, slumping a little. He’d lost a lot of blood.

“Here.” Wesley handed him a tiny packet of blood brought along for emergencies.

“Thanks, mate.” Spike ripped it open with his teeth and guzzled it down. “Much better that.”

“Good, let’s get on now,” Wesley said, helping Spike to rise.



***



The curtain still hung before them and words could barely be distinguished in the swirling material.

‘Know ye the way to enter here?’

“Well, do we?” Oz asked. Wesley fumbled for his notes.

“Only those who play their part shall come and behold the inner place where the pure ravagers enter and claim
their own,” he read.

“I think these ancient prophecies have it in for people,” Oz commented.

“That made no bloody sense,” Spike scoffed.

“Just let me think,” Wesley said impatiently. Oz could practically see his mind calculating and deleting the
possibilities. “People who ravage without malice. People who aren’t aware they are ravaging. Spike, it is like I said
on the plane, this is destiny for the three of us.”

“Oh bollocks.” Spike obviously didn’t relish the thought.

Wesley turned to Oz.

“A werewolf doesn’t know it’s a ravager. It’s you, you’ve got to go in there and get it. It’s your part.”

“Why me?” Oz asked.

“Why any of us?” Wesley returned. “Come on, Oz.”

“Get in there.” Spike shoved him.

Oz stumbled forward, but went.

“Do I just walk in?” he asked.

“Just walk in,” Wesley assured him. So Oz did. He could have sworn he felt a presence at the time, almost
like he was being cleansed, but somehow he didn’t think he’d be talking about it much.

It was dark inside wherever he was. But he became aware of a small light near to the floor.

It was a wandering firefly. Gently, he scooped it up and walked forward to see what there was to be seen.

A simple stool stood in the center of the room. There was nothing on it but a lump of coal.

“Nice analogy,” Oz whispered as he went to take the coal from the stool.

“Are there booby-traps?” he called to Wesley nervously.

“None that I can see, except that we will stir up the spirit of something or other. Best come back quickly.”

Oz obeyed immediately. He showed them the coal.

Spike looked disappointed.

“Shouldn’t it be shinier?”

“Worth does not lay in wealth,” Wesley said softly.

“Some say,” Spike said and snorted.

“I say,” came a new voice. All three of them started. Besides them and the dead beast, there was now a man
in the room. Or what seemed like a man.

“It’s almost an earthly pleasure to meet you,” he/it said politely. “Viewing pleasures can get old.”

“What do you want?” Wesley asked.

“Why, to congratulate you, of course.”

“And?” Spike led on.

“And to tell you something hard and rich.”

“Which is?” Oz didn’t like words like that.

“You all have been given a gift. You all have used it. Now you all are united in your gifts and you must stay that
way.”

“Huh? Gifts?” Spike sounded confused. Oz and Wesley exchanged looks behind his back.

“We’re bound together in our destiny,” Wesley supplied.

“No bleeding way,” Spike sputtered.

“Wasn’t the dream enough?” the form asked. “Aren’t your circumstances proof? You all have gone beyond
mortality and you ache to finish this fight, to win this way so then you can rest, but you are wrong. There is no rest.”

“Figures,” Oz said almost silently.

“Why isn’t there any rest?” Wesley asked cautiously. “Haven’t we earned rest?”

“Earned and better good are two different things,” said the form. “You must not leave your strings unattached.
You will have need of each other.” Then he/it vanished.

“Light crueler than dark, bah!” Spike grumbled. “Got dark on the run and committing suicide.”

“Let’s get back with our…coal,” Wesley said. “I guess diamonds are there underneath.”

“With our luck?” Spike said, keeping his hand pressed to his arm that was still bleeding.

“Let’s get you fixed first,” Wesley said and he and Oz helped Spike as they left with their prize and the
knowledge that their destinies were tied together forever.