Allison reread the same paragraph over and over again She just couldn’t concentrate on the words on the page. She knew it was vital that she pay attention. The words to rescuing her friend could very well be in this book, on this page before her. But she just couldn’t seem to focus.

She wondered how the rest of the gang was doing on their task. She had wanted to go with them, back to the jetty where she had last seen Carolee, where the sky had opened up and swallowed her friend, and where the spell book now rested between jagged cracks in the stones. Giles, Willow, Buffy, Lorne, and Xander had all gone back out to the beach to traverse the jetty and search for the prophecy book. Since it was the middle of the day, Spike had to stay indoors, and Allison and Dawn had been stuck inside with him. Buffy and the others had agreed it unsafe for Allison to come, and even though Dawn whined about going with her sister, Giles had convinced the young girl that she was needed here with Allison and Spike, researching the spell books for anything they could find about accessing other dimensions. If and until the other prophecy book was found, they probably wouldn’t know where Carolee actually was. Allison prayed her friend was safe, but the chances of that were slim to none.

“Hey... I think I may have just found something here.” Allison glanced up sharply, torn from her maudlin thoughts, to find Spike sitting up straighter.

“Let me see.” Dawn leaned over his shoulder to read the passage his finger rested by. “That just might work,” she said excitedly.

Allison jumped up from her chair and walked across the room to join the two on the bed. “What is it?”

Spike scooted over on the bed to give Allison room to sit next to him on his right. “It’s right here, kitten.” Allison squinted to read the tiny print. Again, not in English. What was it with these dumb tomes?

Spike noticed her consternation and chuckled. “These old stuffy books that Giles has were written a bit before the English language. I’ll paraphrase what it says.”

Dawn jumped off the bed in an animated fashion. “Oh, this will so work... but, can we do it? I mean, isn’t this Willow and Giles’s domain? Shouldn’t we wait for them?”

Spike bristled, a bit on the defensive. “Hey, I’m sure we can do this. We don’t need those wankers. Besides, the time is now. I’m sure Allison agrees, don’t you, kitten?”

Allison didn’t know what to think, and her patience was running thin. “What does it say?”

“It’s a spell,” Dawn began. “One of us can go into Carolee’s mind. We can find her that way. I’m sure of it.”

Allison wrinkled her nose and asked, “Is it like that spell Willow did to get inside Buffy’s mind that time, after you were kidnapped by Glory?” Dawn paled for a moment, and Allison chastised herself for bringing up a bad subject, but Spike nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, it’s like that.” He frowned again. “We won’t be able to bring her back or help her, really, but we can see if she is okay, maybe find out where she is. That can only help the search. Maybe narrow down what dimension she's stuck in, and see if she's safe.”

It sounded like a good thing.

“I still think we should wait for Giles and Willow.” Dawn said.

Spike snarled. “I don’t agree. Time is of the essence here.” He glanced at Allison. “What do you want to do?”

Allison didn’t know what was the right thing. She was torn between doing something, and waiting. What if something went wrong. “Tell me what this entails.”

Dawn took over the explanations, paraphrasing from the book in layman‘s terms so they could all understand it more thoroughly. “Basically, Spike and I would act like an anchor, holding you here. We sit in a circle, joining hands. It says we need to paint a pentagram on your forehead. You’ll go into a trance state once we say the spell. It'll kind of be like astral projection, and your essence will then track her essence. You should be able to find her that way. Do you have anything of Carolee’s? That'll help you focus on her location easier.”

Allison looked down at the Claddagh ring on her finger. “She gave me this..” Tears suddenly sprang in her eyes, but she wiped them away with a furious hand. This was no time to get all weepy. She needed to focus.

“That should work well. So, should we begin? Do you want to do this?”

“You're sure we can do this?”

Spike nodded confidently, and Dawn reread the page before looking back up at Allison with a small smile. “Yes, I think we can do this. It seems pretty basic, really. Willow has shown me a lot, and this should be easy.”

Allison looked down at the ring on her finger. Carolee needed her. She gritted her teeth, looked up at her two new friends, and nodded. “Yes,” she asserted. “Let’s do it.”

It took about an hour for Dawn to run into the small town and gather some supplies. Spike and Allison went over the spell again and again, until Allison was confident in what she had to do.

“You can do this, Allison. I have faith in you.” Spike quirked his eyebrow at her and smiled. Allison’s heart beat an extra time at the glint in his eyes. He noticed, and that caused her to blush furiously. He laughed out loud at her embarrassment before pulling her into a friendly hug. “You’ll do well, and we’ll be here for you. Don’t worry, pet.”

Dawn burst in a moment later and the three sat cross-legged on the bed in the formation of a circle. Dawn dipped her fingertip in the scented oils and painted a small pentagram on Allison’s forehead. She then placed the open book in front of her, and the three joined hands. Spike gripped her left hand firmly. Allison found it odd how cold his hand was, yet it’s pressure warmed her, sending tingles up and down her arm. Dawn held her right hand, and told them to close their eyes. She then softly began to speak the words, invoking the spell.

At first Allison didn’t feel anything. She concentrated on the beat of her heart, and she exhaled and inhaled slowly and deeply. Soon, she felt as if she was floating in a sea of darkness. The darkness eventually turned into a tunnel, with a small bright light at one end. Allison felt herself speeding towards it’s mouth, and as she got closer, the temperature seemed to drop. Goosebumps formed on her skin, and her teeth began to chatter. Then she was engulfed in sound. The noises were terrifyingly loud. She covered her ears, but it didn’t help to dim the volume. Her spine even hurt with the degree of the noise. She fought to keep her eyes open as she entered the light.

There was a loud popping noise inside her mind as she entered the light. But it was only bright for a moment before she was engulfed in darkness again. She felt her non-corporeal form whoosh down to the cold floor, and she fell on her hands and knees, stunning the breath out of her for a moment. As she gathered her wits and caught her breath, her hands brushed something on the floor. Her eyes flew open, and there she saw Carolee lying on the cold hard ground. Her friend’s body was clenched in the fetal position, her arms over her head and ears in an attempt to keep out the noise. Allison began to cry as she shook Carolee to no avail. Her friend wouldn’t wake up.

Panic set in. Allison didn’t know what to do. Suddenly she heard Spike’s voice in her mind. “It’s alright, kitten. You're doing fine. You need to focus on her mind. Focus. You can do it.”

Allison quieted herself, and clutched Carolee to her chest. She then tried to find a way inside. Allison mentally blocked out the noise and the darkness, and just concentrated on the love for her friend. Suddenly, a door appeared behind Carolee. Allison hesitated, not sure what she should do. Then she kissed Carolee’s brow, and gently laid her back down onto the ground. She stood and walked gingerly to the door. She didn’t know if she should knock, but then shook herself, trying to find some reserves of strength. Gingerly she touched the doorknob. It felt warm, contrasting with the chill in the air. It turned easily in her hand, and a soft light flowed out. Allison entered the room, and the door closed softly behind her. That startled her, until her eyes fell upon the form of Carolee, asleep on a leather chair. Unlike the body that rested outside in turmoil, this Carolee seemed at peace and relaxed in her slumber.

“Carolee?” Allison gently called her name and slowly approached her sleeping friend. Carolee stirred in the chair, and Allison bent down and grasped her friend’s hand in her own. Carolee’s eyes slowly opened, and a grin spread on her face when she saw her friend. “Allison!” She leaped up from the chair and threw her arms around her friend, sobbing. Allison cried too. They were tears of happiness at finding one another, but also tears of fear and anguish.

Eventually Carolee pulled out of the hug, glancing around and behind her friend. “Where is everyone else? I’m so ready to get out of this place.”

The cast off look on Allison’s face told Carolee that she wasn’t going anywhere yet.

“Oh, Carolee, I’m sorry. It’s just me. I mean, Spike and Dawn are helping. They're all helping, but Spike and Dawn and I did this spell so I could find you, and see if you are okay. Are you okay? Have you been hurt?”

Carolee was far from okay, but she didn’t want to upset her friend. So she put on her strong face, and smiled. “I’m fine. I will be better when you figure out how to get me home. But, I have faith in you all. I knew you would come, and you have. And I now know you’ll come back.”

“Do you know where you are?” Allison glanced around the room, and then approached the window to peer out as Carolee answered. The view outside was a warm summer day. The sunshine warmed the window pane, and the grass looked freshly mowed. Allison knew with certainty that the view outside really didn’t exist in the reality of this dimension. It was only an image that Carolee’s mind had created in order to comfort herself. Because Allison was now linked inside Carolee’s mind, she knew that Carolee didn’t know where she was, and that she was frightened and alone. Allison didn’t want to leave her, but knew she would have to, and soon. She could hear Spike and Dawn calling to her, their voices small as if crying from a distance. She had to go back, or she would be stuck here too. And in order to help Carolee, getting stuck here with her, in her mind, was not an option.

“No, I don’t know where I am. And I know you have to leave now. But I know you’ll come back. It’s alright. Go, before you can’t return. I need you back there.”

Allison turned and faced her friend. Tears were falling down both their faces. Again they embraced in friendship. “Tell Spike to take good care of you.” Carolee whispered into Allison’s ear. “And tell Giles it’s not his fault. He didn’t let go. I let go. I knew he had to stay there. And tell him... tell him thank you. No one ever thanks him. I know he’ll help to get me home, so tell him thank you for that, and everything else.”

Before Allison could answer, she felt her mind jerk and return suddenly back to her body with a rush. She screamed and rolled off the bed, Spike falling down on top of her, and Dawn sprawling out beside them.

“Bugger!” Spike cursed. He got up off of Allison and helped her to her feet. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? Are you okay?” But Allison was sobbing and incoherent. She hated to leave Carolee in that evil place. Spike held her, rubbing her back with soothing motions, trying to comfort her as best he could. Dawn nodded her head towards the door, grabbed her jacket, and headed out of the room to give them some space.

For some time, Spike just held her, murmuring in her ear that everything would be okay, and that he would take care of her, and that they’d get Carolee back. It would be okay. He kissed her cheek, and her ear, trying to give her comfort. Before either of them realized what was happening, his lips captured her own, and they were lost in a deep and comforting kiss.

The kiss built in passion, each gaining and receiving comfort in each other. Their fears and pain eased, their burdens released as they sought the solace in each other. The rhythm of their hearts raced and pounded as one.

They both broke the kiss abruptly, the two of them realizing at the same time how caught up in each other and the moment they had been. They both glanced down at Allison’s wedding ring at the same exact time, and stepped out of each other’s embrace.

Allison ran into the bathroom and washed her face. She studied her expression in the mirror. She knew she should be ashamed for kissing Spike, but somehow, she just wasn’t. In this place, in this time, she was different. And she was grateful for his concern. He hadn’t been taking advantage of her. It was just a moment that happened, and frankly, she had needed it. She needed him. She would not feel guilty, darn it! She threw the washcloth into the sink and went back out into the main room.

Spike was on the bed watching television. Allison only hesitated for a moment, and then joined him on the bed, lounging beside him. Dawn was still no where to be seen.

They watched in silence for a moment, neither noticing nor actually seeing the show playing on the television. After some time had passed, and the silence had become oppressing, Allison turned her face and looked at the blonde vampire. His eyes were still on the screen, as if he was engrossed in the sappy sitcom.

“Spike?”

He still didn’t look at her. But he did answer. “Hmm?”

“I just wanted to say thank you, and.. and I’m not sorry. I mean, I’m sorry if you are sorry, but...”

He did turn then, and smiled at her. “I’m not sorry either.” His eyes held hers for a moment. “I want to kiss you. I really liked kissing you.”

“I liked kissing you.”

“But?”

“But if I start, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

“That sounds good.”

“Doesn’t it?” She rubbed her eyes with her hand, shaking and trembling, her wedding ring shining in the motel light. “I can’t.” She looked ready to start crying again. Spike gently smiled at her, understanding. He hugged her close again, but not as passionate as before. “I just want to keep you safe.” He whispered. Allison closed her eyes, and soaked in his comfort.

Chapter 13