Double Trouble by Sandy

Chapter #1 - Chapter 1

A/N If it appears that some of the situations and dialogue are familiar, that's probably because I "borrowed" from various episodes. ~~~ February 2000 Buffy and Willow watched the last of the trucks haul away the debris from the now demolished Lowell House. It had been almost two months since the events of Christmas Eve and things had happened quickly. Riley had been gone for a couple weeks when Buffy received a phone call at her dorm asking her to meet him for coffee. It had been uncomfortable and awkward for her, but it was also something she knew she needed to do. "I'm sorry that I used you like that, Riley," she told him after they had settled at a table, "but if I had to do it over again, I'd do the same thing." She looked into his sad eyes and then down into her coffee cup. "You must understand, I have a duty. It's my job to help keep this world safe from the forces of darkness. In this case, the forces turned out to be a crazy scientist and a bunch of Frankenstein demons." Riley nodded. "I understand about duty, Buffy. I really do. It's just, well, I grew to care for you. A lot. It hurts to know that you never really cared about me." He hesitated a bit and then asked, "This guy, this vampire, you and he are together?" Buffy nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't something I was expecting to happen. Especially with Spike." An ironic smile formed at her mouth. "Slayers in general aren't supposed to have any kind of personal life. And they certainly aren't supposed to fall in love with a vampire." She shrugged. "It just so happens that I've met two extraordinary vampires in my life." Riley looked shocked. "Two?" "Uh yeah. Long story." She decided to change the subject. "So did you get into a lot of trouble with your superiors?" Now it was Riley's turn to shrug. "Enough. On the one hand, I stopped a cold-blooded murder. On the other, I helped destroy a long-term research project into which millions of dollars had been sunk." He took a deep breath. "So I was given a choice. I could leave the service with an O-T-H discharge..." "O-T-H?" Buffy interrupted. "Other Than Honorable," Riley answered. "Oh. God, Riley, I'm sorry." Buffy exclaimed. "It's okay, Buffy. The other choice was to take a reduction in rank and join another squad in South America. There's been an increase in demon activity down there, and they've dispatched a squad on a search and destroy mission. So I'm off to Belize later tonight. I just came back here to gather my stuff, tie up some loose ends." He looked at Buffy when he said the last. "Oh." Buffy lowered her eyes to her mug again. "What's going to happen with that lab?" she asked after an uncomfortable silence. "It's going to be announced that Lowell House has Radon and is being demolished. The land around it will be paved over to prevent any further gas escaping into the area. The men will all transfer to other colleges." "And Professor Walsh?" Riley shrugged. "I was assured that she would be "taken care of" whatever that means." Standing up Riley shrugged into his jacket. "Look, Buffy, I have to go now. You take care of yourself, okay?" "You too, Riley. And again, thanks for everything you did for me. For us." Riley nodded and left. True to his words, the announcement that Lowell House would be demolished was made shortly thereafter. The men disappeared, but hardly anyone noticed. Now that the building was cleared, the paving would begin the next day. "Do you think all this is actually over?" Willow asked. "Or do you think they just moved operations somewhere else?" Buffy gave Willow a concerned look. "Good question, Will. I hope that we've seen the last of this, but who knows. Riley said the government had sunk millions of dollars into this project. Somehow I don't think they'll just forget about it." Willow and Buffy had been rebuilding their relationship slowly but steadily. Mostly it had come about because of the changes Willow herself had been going through. After working with Jenny's coven, she decided that she'd like to find a coven of her own to work with and learn from. Unfortunately the Wiccans at Sunnydale University were a group dedicated more to bake sales and female empowerment than magic. However one girl, Tara Maclay, was a true witch. She and Willow had become friends and to Willow's shock, she found that she had stronger feelings for Tara than she had ever had for another woman. Buffy had been a little freaked when she learned about Willow's change in orientation and was voicing her misgivings to Spike one night when he put it all into perspective for her. Kissing her lightly on the shoulder he simply said, "We love who we love, pet." Since she was lying naked snuggled up with an equally naked vampire with whom she had just been making love for the past hour, she got what he was saying. Her acceptance of Tara had been the beginning of her and Willow's reconciliation. The reconciliation with Xander came about in an entirely different way. Spike had taken patrol alone one night when Buffy was working on a paper. During a sweep in the area around The Bronze, he heard the sounds of a fight and upon investigation found Xander Harris being attacked by three human muggers. He had been holding his own until one of the men hit him in the back of the head with a length of wood. Once down, the men started hitting and kicking the defenseless young man. Spike leapt into the fray throwing the men away from Xander, frightening them off with his game face and then helped the injured boy to his feet. He had taken him to the hospital where Xander received several stitches and pain medication and then taken him home making sure he had everything he needed before leaving. Neither man ever talked about the incident, but Xander's entire attitude changed with regard to Spike. They weren't best buddies, but a wary friendship was beginning to develop. The biggest surprise since Buffy told Spike she loved him was how her mother had reacted to the news. Gathering their courage, they sat Joyce down one evening and informed her of their relationship. "Well I wondered if you two were ever going to tell me," she said calmly. At the surprised expressions on their faces, she merely shook her head and said, "Buffy, I realize I might not be the most observant of mothers, but even I could tell something was up between you two on Christmas Day." Sighing she frowned slightly. "I'm not going to say I'm thrilled about this. Quite frankly, Buffy, I'm worried." Joyce looked directly into Spike's eyes and told him, "Spike, I like you personally, you know that. But you're a vampire. I just don't think it's a good idea for you and Buffy to be romantically involved. I want her to have the chance to have as normal a life as a girl in her position can have. Being with a vampire is not normal." "I understand that, Joyce. Believe me, we two," he nodded in Buffy's direction, "are well aware that this is a very bad idea." He smiled a little before continuing. "Unfortunately, as much as we've tried to deny it, we can't. As much as we've hoped our feelings would go away, they haven't. But I promise you, Joyce, I'll do everything in my power to make Buffy happy. I'll do everything in my power to help her do her job and keep her safe. I love her with all my heart." And so Joyce had reluctantly and with misgivings given them her blessing. The only one that was still vehemently opposed to their relationship was Giles. No amount of discussion changed his mind. He tolerated Spike, barely. But there was never a minute when Buffy was with Giles that she wasn't aware of his censure. It was causing a schism between the two of them that tore at Buffy's heart. And she knew that the only way to fix things between them was for her to break up with Spike, preferably by staking him. That was never going to happen. On the day that Giles informed her that he was returning to England, she had simply gotten up and walked out of Giles' apartment without saying a word. She didn't come by Spike's crypt that night or the next. When he went to her dorm to find out what was wrong, no one was there. By now he was getting frantic with worry and called Xander. "Giles is leaving and Buffy's closed down. She's not talking to me and Willow says she's not talking to her, but we didn't know she wasn't talking to you either. You'd better find her, man. She shouldn't be alone in this condition." Spike searched all their patrol areas and finally found her fighting two demons in one of the cemeteries. She was unleashing all of her fury against the two so Spike just held back, available if she needed help but otherwise staying out of her way. When she finally dispatched them, Spike came up to her, put his arms around her trembling body and held her despite her protests, curses and shoves. At last Buffy gave in and clutching at his shirt she sobbed into his chest like a lost little girl. He took her back to his crypt and kissing her gently, he began to slowly undress her, offering her comfort in the way he knew best. At first Buffy just stood there unresponsive to his touch but as his hands caressed her tenderly, as his lips slid sensuously over her flesh, her breathing began to quicken and she began to lean into his touch. Spike unbuttoned and slid her blouse down her arms, placing kisses along her shoulders and across her chest to the top of her bra. Reaching behind her he unhooked and lowered the bra and then took one exposed nipple into his mouth. Buffy moaned softly as he tugged at the swelling flesh. His tongue swiped across the sensitive nerve endings causing Buffy to press closer to him. Switching to the other breast, he sucked and teased while his hands swept over her back, hips and buttocks. Reaching in front of her, he undid the button on her slacks, lowered the zipper and pushing the waistband down slightly, slid his hand down her taut, flat belly. He slowly lowered himself to his knees kissing his way down her ribs, stopping at her belly button and inserting his tongue into the small indentation, then moving across her body to kiss her belly and hipbones. Pushing her slacks down a little more, he kissed right above the soft curls between her thighs slipping his tongue under the waistband of her panties to give her clit the tiniest of licks. By now, Buffy had her head thrown back and her hips pressed forward to his questing mouth. Spike pushed the pants down farther, following their progress with his mouth. First one thigh and then the other were lavished with lips and tongue and blunt human teeth. Buffy held onto his head as he lifted one foot removing the shoe and pushing the trouser leg off and then repeating with the other leg. Pushing her legs slightly apart, he worked his way back up kissing the tender flesh of her inner thighs. He could smell her arousal and his shaft rubbed painfully against the rough cloth of his jeans. Pushing his face upward, he inhaled deeply of her scent at the crotch of her panties. Sticking out his tongue, he licked at the wet patch that appeared there. Buffy's grip on his hair was painful now, but Spike ignored it, too lost in her taste, scent and feel. Hooking his fingers in the waistband of her panties, he pulled them down, exposing the soft wet curls. He drew the tiny scrap of material all the way off and then eagerly pushed his face between her legs. Buffy cried out when she felt his vigorously lapping tongue. The hard point flashed back and forth over her clit and in and out of her opening causing her to keen at the sensation. Sucking gently he drew the sensitive nub into his mouth brushing it with the flat of his tongue, then released it and thrust the pointed tip of his tongue deeply into her, then out, then in again. When he began sucking at her clit again, Buffy's legs trembled and she wasn't sure how much longer they would support her. Sensing her weakness, Spike gave her one last twirling lick and shooting up to his feet, swept her up in his arms and laid her on his couch. Pulling back from her, he ripped his own clothes off and covering her completely with his body, he began kissing her deeply with ever-growing passion. Buffy spread her legs and tried to take him in, but he had other ideas. Once again he began to work his way down her body, stopping and exploring each erogenous zone on the way. He nuzzled her neck and then moved up to nibble on her earlobe and huff a gentle breath into her ear causing Buffy to shiver from the sensation. Lowering his head, he took a nipple into his mouth, sucking and nipping at it, pulling it into his mouth and then sliding his tongue across the engorged tip causing her to moan and push her breast further into his mouth. Moving further down her body, he kissed and licked his way down her ribs and across her stomach and then bypassing that sweet-smelling area between her legs, he lowered himself to her feet where he began sucking each toe, kissing the soles of her feet and gently rubbing them. Buffy spread herself even wider, offering herself to him, needing him, begging for his attention. Spike ran his hands up her inner thighs and back down again in an erotic massage flicking one finger across her clit with each upstroke. Buffy's hips were thrusting up and down now and she was crying his name over and over, begging him to enter her. She was so wet her thighs glistened. Spike's own need had become increasingly painful. He had not allowed Buffy to touch him and his flesh craved contact. Once again moving up her body, he fitted himself to her and slowly entered, shuddering in pleasure as her heat scalded him. Buffy's arms and legs wrapped around him immediately, holding him to her, locking him in place. He began to move in a slow, steady rhythm all the while kissing her mouth and her neck, murmuring his love for her into her ear. As the pressure built and their climaxes neared Buffy clasped him tighter to her moaning, "Oh god, Spike, I'm gonna, I'm gonna..." Spike thrust harder in response, whispering to her, begging her to come for him. Buffy turned her head to the side and Spike responded to her invitation. Slipping into game face he sank his fangs gently into her neck. It had been weeks since he last bit her and her reaction was instantaneous. A mortal man would have been crushed in her embrace, but Spike reveled in it. His pace increased as her blood filled his mouth, his thrusting coming ever harder, faster and more demanding. Buffy grabbed his head keeping his mouth in place on her neck and answering him thrust for thrust came with a howling scream. The clenching of her inner walls encased Spike, pulled him in and he followed her into an explosive climax. Buffy fell asleep wrapped in Spike's arms. He held her close to him, watching as she slept and imagining a dozen scenarios for the slow painful death of one Rupert Giles.

Chapter #2 - Chapter 2

The next day, despite a clear, sunny sky, Spike made his way to Giles' apartment. Huddling in the shade hiding under his blanket, he knocked on the door and waited impatiently for the Watcher to answer. Opening the door, Giles glared when he saw who was there. "Let me in, Giles, before I burst into flames." Giles had worked an uninvite spell on his home the night after Christmas and Spike had not been allowed in since. "Should you burst into flames, I shall rejoice in your demise," Giles told him coldly. Spike tilted his head to one side and said, "You know, I'm supposed to be the evil one here, but you're the one destroying your Slayer." Giles' eyes flashed in fury. "How dare you!" Spike said as calmly as he could while trying to evade the encroaching rays of sun, "I dare because I'm right and you know it. She loves you, Giles. You're the closest thing she has to a father since that pillock Joyce was married to scarpered off. And now you're going to abandon her too? Ow! Son of a bitch." This last was said as the sunlight hit his hand. Giles watched in satisfaction as the vampire swiped at his smoking flesh and then with a sigh of resignation stepped back and said, "Come in, you sod." Spike entered speedily and heaved a sigh of relief as the door was closed against his certain, painful death. Giles walked past him without saying a word, went into the kitchen, poured a couple drinks and returned, handing one to Spike. Spike looked at the drink in surprise, but took it and nodded his thanks. "I'm not leaving to hurt Buffy or punish her, Spike," Giles told him. "I'm leaving because I'm of no use to her anymore. She relies on you, not me." "Bollocks, Giles. The girl needs you. Hell, we all need you. You're the one with all the knowledge. Yeah, I know some stuff, but you have the research material and you have the training. Plus," Spike added staring somberly at Giles, "the girl loves you." "She loves you too, Spike, and that I cannot tolerate. It was bad enough with Angel, but he at least had a soul. What do you have?" "A heart full of love for her," the vampire told him seriously. Ignoring Giles' grimace of distaste, he stood up and started to pace. "I know that you don't think I can love her without that precious soul you're always nattering on about, but consider this. You never have to worry about me waking up one night and turning evil. I'm already evil, so no surprises there. You don't have to worry about me trying to kill you all in your beds, because the chip prevents that. And you don't have to worry about me suddenly falling out of love with her and hurting her. After all," Spike grinned, "the last relationship I was in lasted over 100 years and I didn't feel a fraction for Dru that I feel for Buffy." Spike stopped pacing and dropping the grin told the Watcher. "Stay, Giles, she needs you." Giles looked into the face of the vampire and wavered. It had never been his intention to hurt Buffy. Had he been too pig-headed? The relationship was wrong, but he knew that she was happy. Spike was a strong fighter and fiercely loyal to her. Willow and Xander had even started to accept him. "I'll think about it some more, Spike, that's all I can promise." Spike nodded his acceptance. Getting up, he picked up his blanket and prepared to return to his crypt. It was a start. He knew Giles would never truly accept him, but as long as the Watcher remained in Buffy's life, he would put up with the man's dislike. He didn't care about that one way or the other. He cared only about Buffy. Giles watched the vampire run from shadow to shadow until he disappeared into the sewers. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew he needed to find a new place for himself. The truth was he was bored stiff sitting around all day in his apartment. Perhaps it was time to look for another job. Picking up the morning paper, he opened it to the classified section. *** Buffy listened to the message on her answering machine with growing trepidation. "Buffy, this is Giles. Please call me as soon as you receive this message." What more was there to say? Had he already bought his airplane ticket? Didn't he need time to dispose of his belongings first or was he just going to give it all away? Buffy stared at the phone for a long time before, drawing in a deep breath, she picked it up and placed the call. "Giles, it's Buffy. You wanted me to call you?" Giles noticed right away the flat, restrained tenor of Buffy's voice. Spike had been right about one thing; he had hurt his Slayer deeply. "Ah yes, Buffy. I wanted to let you know that it appears I won't be returning to England after all. I've bought The Magic Box and intend to become a shopkeeper." Silence. "Buffy, did you hear me? I'm not leaving." Buffy quietly hung up the phone, sat down on her bed, placed her head in her hands and began to weep. It was this scene that Willow walked in on when she returned to the room after class. Hurrying to Buffy she asked anxiously, "Buffy, what's wrong? Did something happen to Spike? Or, or is it your mother? Please, Buffy, tell me what's wrong." Hiccuping and sniffing Buffy told her friend, "I just t-talked to Giles and he said he's not leaving." Buffy looked into her friend's joy-filled face and they fell into each other's arms hugging and laughing. Wiping the tears from her face Buffy exclaimed, "God, I haven't cried this much in, well, forever." "Oh," Willow cried, "we'll have to tell Xander. I know he didn't say much but he was really upset too." Buffy nodded and then getting up she said, "I'm going to go over to see Giles. You want to come with?" Willow eagerly agreed and the two girls hurried out of their dorm room *** Giles was depressed. He didn't know what he had expected when he called Buffy today, but it certainly hadn't been being hung up on. Maybe it had been a mistake to listen to that ridiculous vampire. Buffy had resigned herself to his leaving and now she didn't even care if he stayed or not. As he sat there wallowing in self-pity, the door burst open and two laughing, happy girls entered. Looking up in surprise, he realized what a fool he had been. The three looked at each other for a long second and then Giles' arms were filled with his surrogate daughters. "I knew you wouldn't leave us, Giles, I just knew it," Willow babbled happily. The three sat down and Giles explained his business plan. "I looked over the books and was amazed at the profit margin for that place. The location is excellent, I can build up the inventory and there's even a large room in the back that we can make into a training room for you, Buffy. And, although I hate to say this, there's even access to the sewers so that that idiot boyfriend of yours and come and go in relative safety." Buffy looked at Giles in surprise. "You're going to allow Spike to come to the shop?" Giles gave Buffy a look of resignation. "I don't approve, Buffy. I will never approve. However, it appears that you've made up that stubborn mind of yours in this matter so I'll have to accept it. Unwillingly, mind you, but I'll accept it." When Buffy's face began to blossom into a smile, Giles leaned forward and said very seriously, "Understand this though, Buffy. If I learn he's feeding from humans, if I learn he's doing anything that will put you or any of us in harm's way, I will take it upon myself to stake him. "The chip," Buffy began, her smile fading. "We've discussed this before," Giles stated firmly. "The chip stops him from killing. It does not stop him from feeding or committing any number of other horrors, physical violence being the least of them. I do not place great trust in the chip's ability to hold him in check, nor do I trust his good intentions. You may believe him capable of reason, Buffy, I do not." Buffy looked directly into her watcher's eye and said just as firmly, "And you understand this, Giles. If I feel you're trying to harm Spike without absolutely solid-gold proof of wrong-doing, I'll stop you by any means necessary." Watcher and Slayer looked into each other's deadly serious face and nodded understanding of each other's position. "So, Giles," Willow chirped in trying to break the tension, "tell us more about the business. When are you planning on opening it up? Because we really need to get that store open soon. Tara and I are having a terrible time practicing some of our spells because we can't get the right ingredients around here." Giles and Buffy relaxed having made their points and entered into the conversation regarding The Magic Box. "Well I want to do some remodeling before I open as well as order inventory. You could be helpful there, Willow, by letting me know what things you and Tara need. I thought of hiring Xander to help me with the building of shelving and storage cases. He's become quite capable with a hammer since he started working construction." "Maybe you could hire Spike to help too," Buffy chimed in. At Giles' look of disbelief she added, "Look, Giles, he's super strong so that'd be a help with lifting and stuff, plus Magic Box shopkeepers seem to have a limited shelf-life. He could be like your bodyguard or something. And it would be a legitimate way for him to earn some money." "It would also mean I would have to be around him all the time. If you remember correctly, Buffy, that was not something I enjoyed tremendously when he was staying here." Buffy grinned, "Yeah, but you'd be his boss and could order him around and he'd have to do as you say." Giles did not look convinced, but promised that he'd consider it. Good grief, Spike as an employee. The mind boggled.

Chapter #3 - Chapter 3

Opening day at The Magic Box was chaotic. It started out quietly, but soon escalated into full-out pandemonium. By the time closing time arrived everyone, including a reluctantly employed vampire, was exhausted. "My God," Giles groaned, "I think I'd rather face an apocalypse than another day like this. I had no idea that business would be so brisk opening day." Willow lifted her head wearily from the table around which they sat. "I told you, Giles, this place was closed too long. Everyone was out of everything unless they wanted to drive all the way to LA." Spike had Buffy's feet in his lap and was rubbing them gently. "I'll tell you right now, Rupert, if this keeps up you'd better hire a shop assistant because I'm not waiting on that lot. You have no idea how many times I wanted to bite those pillocks today." Giles glared at him and then looked at Buffy and said with exasperation, "This is exactly why I didn't want to hire him. Now he's threatening to eat my customers." "He's not going to eat your customers, Giles, but he has a point. I think you need to hire an assistant. You can't be here all the time, and Spike really isn't salesclerk material. Put an ad in the paper. Surely there's someone capable of working in a magic shop in this town." *** The ad was duly placed and the very morning it appeared an attractive young woman with dark-blonde hair entered the shop. Looking up, Giles frowned slightly trying to place the girl as she marched up to him, laid the newspaper down on the counter with the ad circled and stated, "You should hire me. I would be an excellent employee. I'm honest, intelligent, good with money, punctual and have a pleasing personality." "Do I know you?" Giles asked. The young woman stared at him for a minute and said, "Yes. I graduated from Sunnydale High School where you were the librarian before you blew it up." Giles blinked at the girl's forthrightness. Searching his memory he finally dredged up a name. "Of course, it's Anya isn't it?" "Yes, Anya Christina Emanuella Jenkins. Now, do I get the job?" "Uh, well you see, uh, Anya," Giles began. "Oi, Rupert, where you want this lot?" Spike entered the shop carrying a large box of scented beeswax candles. Noticing the girl, he stopped. "Oh, didn't know you had a customer." He started to turn back when the girl stated bluntly, "Did you know that that man is a vampire, Mr. Giles?" Both men stared at her in surprise. "You could tell Spike is a vampire just by looking at him?" Giles asked in astonishment. "Of course, can't everyone?" the girl asked. "I mean just look at him. No one has a complexion that pale unless they're dead, and since he's walking around that means he's either a zombie or a vampire. He's not shuffling and he can talk intelligently, so that means he's not a zombie. Of course he could be a Revenant, but Revenants are very rare. Therefore, he's a vampire." Giles was staring at the girl in amazement. She had stated her observation as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And since it was not the most natural thing in the world, the world being determinedly blind when it came to the supernatural, it meant that there was more to Miss Jenkins than met the eye. Spike was looking at the girl with his eyes narrowed. He too had come to the conclusion that there was something not quite right here, but all of his senses told him that she was fully human. "As you can see, I'm also observant. You should hire me. I can start right away." "Um yes, well if you'll complete this application I'll certainly give you all due consideration. However, as this is the first day the ad's been in the paper, I believe I should allow others to also apply." Shrugging, Anya took the application Giles handed her, went to one of the tables and began filling it out, completely ignoring the two staring men. When she had finished, she brought it back to Giles stating, "I'll be waiting for your call. You won't find anyone nearly as excellent as I to fill this position." And with that she strode from the shop. "Odd bird," Spike noted. Giles agreed and then coming around the counter proceeded to show Spike where to set up the candles. Over the next three days, an assortment of people came into The Magic Box to apply for the clerking position, and Giles made an interesting discovery. When one owned a magic shop it appeared that only odd people applied to work there. For the most part, they were young, female, black of hair and black of clothing, with bits of metal attached to various parts of their anatomies. Occasionally the female would be older and looked to be a member of the Stevie Nicks fan club. One applicant, a young man with wild eyes, claimed to be the reincarnation of Aleister Crowley. Giles tore his application up as soon as he left the shop. None was in the least bit suitable. On the evening of the third day of taking applications, Giles gave in and called Anya Jenkins. She started work the next morning. And true to her word she was an excellent employee, well versed in the arcane merchandise handled by the shop, able to answer numerous questions without hesitation and eager to ensure that anyone who entered the shop made a purchase. "I'm afraid I can only pay you minimum wage to start, Anya," Giles had informed his new employee. "However, you will receive a commission on each sale you make." At the end of the first week her commissions nearly equaled her salary. There had been a little friction between Buffy and Anya at first. Buffy picked up on the fact right away that Anya found Spike attractive and was putting out semaphore-sized signals that she was interested. Buffy let it quickly be known that Spike was in no way available and if Anya valued her hide she'd stay well away from Buffy's vampire. Spike found it all very amusing. Buffy found it necessary to increase her training time and was at the shop whenever her school schedule permitted it. Spike kept finding places for them to sneak off to. Giles gritted his teeth and threatened staking, beheading and death by flame-thrower if the trysting vampire didn't quit using the store as his own personal love nest. Spike found even more places to drag Buffy off to. *** The Magic Box became Scooby central with all manner of research taking place there. At first Anya wasn't a part of the group, but little by little she added insight and advice that proved surprisingly helpful. Her knowledge of demons was truly impressive. Willow and Xander felt uncomfortable around the girl, however. She had come to Sunnydale High shortly after the disastrous Spring Fling and had hung out with Cordelia for a short while. It was at the Spring Fling that Cordelia and Oz had caught Willow and Xander acting upon a sudden and unexpected attraction. While searching for their significant others, they had found the two friends locked in an embrace, kissing passionately. Cordelia had been deeply hurt and humiliated, as had Oz, but Willow and Oz had been able to work through it. Cordelia had never forgiven Xander and had moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduation. For some reason Willow felt that there was more to their discomfort around Anya than the fact that the girl had been a friend of Cordelia's for a few short weeks. Even Tara felt that there was something different about Giles' new employee. "She's human of course, there's no doubt there," Tara had said one night while the two girls cuddled in bed. "But her aura is strange." "Strange how, baby?" Willow had asked. "It's old, Willow. Really old. Older than Spike's even." "Spike has an aura?" Willow had asked surprised. "I thought only humans or, you know, living things had auras." "Well Spike is living, in a way," Tara had answered. "He's animate and sentient and vibrant. Spike definitely has an aura and a strong one at that. His is strange too. Most vampire's have auras that are all black, and Spike's is too when he's fighting or angry, but most of the time there's a lot of blue and red in his." "From the chip?" "Maybe, but I wouldn't think the chip could change his aura." Tara shrugged, "But since it's a behavior modification device, maybe is does have an affect. But to get back to Anya, her aura feels many times older than Spike's, as much as 10 times older, which makes no sense. That would mean that she's over 1000 years old." "Weird," was all that Willow could add to the conversation.

Chapter #4 - Chapter 4

The vampire attacked and Buffy was thrown against the wall with enough force to drive her breath from her body. Rolling quickly, she narrowly evaded a kick to her head. Flipping to her feet, she swung around, kicking out, but the vampire ducked and came back with a strong right cross. Buffy blocked the punch and returned one of her own that connected, knocking her opponent back several feet. A series of punches, kicks, flips and rolls followed. An opening presented itself and Buffy jabbed a stake at the demon's heart. It was quickly deflected and the stake was knocked out of her hand. Grabbing and throwing her with all its might, the creature sent Buffy hurtling back into the wall once again. Her head hit hard enough to daze her and the vampire was on her instantly, grabbing her hair and yanking her head to the side exposing her neck. Sharp fangs descended eager to pierce the flesh and allow her enemy to drink the precious Slayer blood. Thrusting her arm up, she flat-handed the creature in the mouth as hard as she could, dislodging it enough that she was able to knock it off and away from her. The vampire landed in a heap, its hand going to its bloodied mouth. "Ow! Fuck, Slayer, I think you broke my fang," came the plaintive wail. Buffy went over and kneeling down said, "Here, let me look." Pulling back his lips, she carefully examined the damage. "It's not broken, you big baby. Your lip's pretty torn up though." Spike looked at the blood on his hand and began licking it clean. "Oh for God's sake, Spike, must you do that? It's disgusting." "Yeah, well, Watcher, in case you missed the memo, I'm a vampire," came the sardonic reply as Buffy helped Spike to his feet. That remark earned him a blistering glare. "All right, Buffy, let's critique today's training session, shall we?" Giles asked ignoring Spike completely. Spike merely snickered as he went into the restroom to wash the blood from his face. When he returned, Buffy had pulled on sweats and was preparing to leave. "Spike, you have to take patrol alone tonight, okay?" she informed him. "I have a study group session, and last time we didn't finish until after midnight." "All right, luv. Coming to the crypt after?" he asked, pulling her into his arms and nuzzling at the spot he had just recently tried to bite. Buffy wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the feel of his lips and teeth on her sensitive skin. "Not tonight, honey," she answered somewhat breathlessly. "Early class tomorrow." Pulling back she kissed him gently on the side of his mouth that wasn't bruised and swollen. "Make it up tomorrow night. Promise." "Oh you will, my girl, you will," Spike growled giving her a heated look. Pulling back, she kissed him lightly once more, called goodbye to her Watcher and left by the back door. Sighing, Spike returned to the stock room to finish unpacking the latest shipment of charms and amulets. When closing time came, Giles completed the bank deposit and prepared to leave. Spike had already left and only Willow and Anya remained in the shop. "Uh, Willow, were you planning on remaining?" Giles asked. "If you don't mind, Giles. Tara and I are working on this new spell. We're hoping we can conjure a ball of sunshine. Figure it would be useful if we ever face a large number of vamps." Frowning at the texts surrounding her she continued, "So far though it's been really unstable. We don't want to take a chance on it going out of control when Spike's around." Looking up at the Watcher she added with a twinkle in her eye, "And don't say that that would be fine with you, 'cause you'd be lying." Her only answer was a "Harrumph!" as Giles headed for the door. "Well, just don't forget to lock up when you leave." "I'll stay with her, Mr. Giles," Anya offered perkily as Giles closed the shop door. "You don't need to, Anya," Willow muttered, less than happy at having the shop assistant stay. "I don't mind. In fact, I've been wanting to ask you for your help with something." At this Willow looked up curiously. "Oh, what's that?" Fluttering nervously, Anya sat down across from Willow and explained, "Well, you see, I, uh, had this necklace. Well actually it was my Great-Grandmother's necklace. And it was, uh, stolen from my apartment. And I really want to get it back. So I thought that maybe you could help me perform a spell that would transport it back to me. "A teleportation spell?" Willow asked eagerly, eyes lighting up. Anya immediately relaxed. This was going to be easier than she had thought. "More like a temporal fold; brings it forth from the time and place it was lost. I have the spell and the ingredients--paid for, of course--but I needed someone else to help me perform the spell. You're a much more powerful Wicca than Tara, so naturally I thought of you." Willow couldn't help but be a little flattered by the compliment and she was always eager to try new and powerful spells. Without a second's hesitation, she agreed. Going into Buffy's training room, Anya showed Willow how to place the items in preparation for the spellcasting. When they were ready, Anya lit the candles, and clasping hands with Willow and closing her eyes she began chanting, making supplication. Everything seemed to be going well until a pillar of energy appeared over a plate containing a painted image of the lost necklace. Willow snapped open her eyes, startled by the dark energies pouring forth. Strange visions played before her eyes and just as Anya started to pour sacred sand over the dish, Willow started back, a cry escaping from her lips. She had seen an image of The Master and a battle raging between her old school friends and dozens of vampires. Jerking her hand, she inadvertently placed it under the pouring sand seeing even more images including one of herself, or someone who looked just like her, being pushed back by Oz and Larry. As she watched, her doppelganger disappeared. Breaking contact with Anya, she skittered back away from the circle. Gasping for breath she cried, "What was that? What was I seeing?" "Look what you've done!" Anya cried in distress. "You've broken the circle and destroyed the spell. We have to do it over again." "No way, lady. I don't know what kind of spell you were doing there but there's no way I'm helping to do it again." Getting up and brushing the clinging sand from her hands, she rushed from the training room. Anya looked down at the empty dish and in a fit pique, smashed it. *** In an old abandoned factory on the outskirts of Sunnydale, a Goth-clad Willow appeared from nowhere. "This is weird," she said. *** It was several hours after leaving the shop before Giles returned home. Just as he inserted the key into the lock, he heard the telephone ringing. Entering his apartment, he set his groceries down on the sofa table and picked up the receiver. "Rupert Giles here." As Giles listened to the voice on the other end of the wire, his face paled visibly. Hanging up, he immediately placed a call. She wasn't there, of course, so after leaving a message on her answering machine, he hung up and went to pour himself a Scotch. His hands shook slightly as he lifted the glass to his lips. *** Buffy was relieved when the study group broke up early. Returning to her dorm room, she noticed the blinking light on the answering machine. After listening to the message, she hurriedly placed a return call to Giles. *** Joyce Summers finished her nightly ritual of locking up before heading off to bed. Just as she turned to climb the stairs, a knock sounded at her door. Approaching it, she called out, "Who's there?" The force of the door being kicked open knocked her down. Shocked, she looked up into a frighteningly familiar face. "Hi, Joyce. Long time no see," Faith smirked.

Chapter #5 - Chapter 5

Buffy was pacing up and down Giles' living room. "How come it took them twenty-four hours before they let us know she came out of the coma?" she demanded. "Apparently it took that long for the paperwork to get to the right desk," Giles explained. "You must go out looking for her, Buffy. I can only assume that she will attempt some sort of revenge tactic once she learns that we managed to destroy the Mayor." Buffy froze, her eyes wide as a horrible thought came to her. "Mom," was all she said. Without another word, she raced from Giles' apartment. *** Joyce's hands were tied in front of her and she was seated on her bed. Faith was taunting her that Buffy never came by; that she had forgotten all about her now that she was in college. Joyce remained calm. "You know nothing about Buffy, Faith," she said. "We're closer now than we've ever been, and she's going to kick your ass when she gets here." "Is that right, Joyce? And when's that going to be, huh?" In answer to her question, Buffy crashed through the bedroom window, knocking Faith across the room. "Hi, Mom!" she quipped cheerfully. "Hi, honey. Good timing." The fight between the two Slayers was furious, ending up with them rolling down the stairs and into the dining room. Buffy stood up facing Faith. "You are so going back into a coma." "Don't think so, B. I got other plans." Lashing out, she grabbed Buffy by the hand. An energy discharge flashed around them just as the distant sound of sirens reached the house. The two Slayers looked at each other in shock and then Buffy punched Faith as hard as she could, knocking her out. Joyce came down the stairs and told her daughter, "I've called the police. That must be them now." Searching her daughter with anxious eyes, she asked, "You all right?" "Yeah, all thing considered," Buffy answered looking down at a strange device in her hand. "What's that?" Joyce asked. "Some kind of weapon," Buffy answered. Dropping it to the floor, she smashed it with her foot. "Doesn't matter now. It didn't work." *** Mother and daughter watched as the disoriented rogue Slayer was cuffed and placed into a squad car. "She'll be taken to jail and held for the murders of Deputy Mayor Finch and Professor Wirth," the police detective was telling them. "You won't have to worry about her bothering you for a long, long time." As the cruiser pulled away, Joyce turned to Buffy and said, "Honey, I think you should call Giles and tell him what happened. He should know about Faith." "Yeah. I'll stop by his place on my way back to the dorm. See you later, okay?" And without another glance back at her mother, Buffy walked off into the night. *** Willow and Tara were at The Bronze and Willow was telling Tara what had happened with Anya. "It was really creepy, Tara. You never saw The Master, but we're talking scary with a capital scare. And then to see me, or someone who looked like me, all skanky and Goth-looking, it was really bizarre." "Well, sweetie," Tara scolded gently, "You shouldn't have tried to do a spell you weren't sure you could handle. I keep telling you, you're going too fast, trying too much too quickly." Willow felt a faint rush of resentment at the chastisement. The fact that it was deserved didn't help matters. Before she could say anything she would later regret she heard Tara exclaim, "Buffy! I thought she was going to be with her study group tonight." Willow looked to where Tara was pointing and standing up, waved until she got her friend's attention. She thought she saw a faint flash of irritation cross her friend's face, but when Buffy joined them, she seemed normal, if not enthused. "Hey, Buff." "Willow." She looked at Tara without a trace of recognition in her face. "Hi, Buffy," Tara said, looking at her intently. "I thought you were with your study group tonight." "Yeah, well I decided to go out instead. Look, I'm going to go get something to drink and see if I can't get some of these cuties to dance. See you guys later." With that she casually walked away. "Now that was strange," Willow exclaimed. "Buffy's going to ask some strange guys to dance?" Turning to Tara with wide eyes she asked, "Do you think she and Spike had a fight or something?" Tara swallowed nervously and said, "It-it's worst than that, Willow. That wasn't Buffy." *** Spike carefully tucked his winnings into his jeans pocket. He'd completed a quick sweep of the cemeteries and then come to indulge in the one vice that he still hid from Buffy. Kitten Poker. He was well aware that his Slayer would not approve of this. It wasn't as if he ate the kittens, he mused as he started for the back door to finish patrol. But he did sell his winnings to demons he knew did eat them. Well, he wasn't responsible for what happened to them once they left his custody, and he'd be damned if he was going to feel guilty about it. He was still EVIL, damnit. And besides, just how bad was it? It wasn't as if he was mugging old-age pensioners, or engaging in illegal arms sales, or chatting up birds in a bar somewhere. And that last, he thought with a chuckle, would really get him into trouble. Not one for sharing was his Slayer. Walking out the back door, his thoughts filled with Buffy, he jumped when he almost ran directly into her. "Buffy? What are you doin' here, sweetheart? I though you had to study tonight." Faith looked at the gorgeous Englishman standing in front of her and a rush of lust swept through her body. "Something came up," she answered the platinum-blond hottie. Looking him up and down, she added, "So what happened to your mouth? Did someone clock you in there?" "Uh, you did this to me today while we were sparring, remember?" Spike looked at her and cocked his head a little to the side. Something about her bothered him. Her body language was different, her vocal cadence off. "You all right, luv?" he asked in concern. "You don't seem yourself." Faith's eyes narrowed slightly, but she answered casually, "Yep, everything's five-by-five. So, what's up with you? Why're you here?" Spike tried not to look guilty. "Oh, you know. Patrollin' through Willy's, making sure the monsters are behavin' themselves." In an effort to change the subject, he moved closer to Buffy and said in his deepest, sexiest voice, "So, Slayer, you want to come home with me tonight after all?" Faith smiled a predatory smile, licked her lips and coming close to him said, "Yeah, I think that can be arranged." Pressing her body into his and claiming his mouth with a demanding kiss, she became instantly aware of two things--Buffy's latest lover was another vampire, and he was hotter than a two-dollar pistol. Spike pulled Buffy close to him, his mouth opening under her lips, tongue entwining with hers. And three seconds later he pulled back and pushed her away, eyes narrowing as he examined her. "Somethin's not right here," he growled. "What's wrong with you, Slayer? You feel different." "Nothing's wrong, baby," Faith insisted. It'd been too long since she'd had a man, being in a coma and all, and this man...well vampire...was not only hotter than hell, he belonged to Buffy, so bonus. Pressing her body into his again, she wrapped one strong hand around the back of his neck and pulled him into another kiss. Spike hardened when the scent of her arousal reached him. Growling deeply in his chest, he pulled her up tight against him, grabbing her ass and pushing his erection against her belly. She opened an eager mouth to him, twirling her tongue around his and sucking it into her mouth, all the while grinding herself up against him, grabbing, groping, pulling, hurting. Spike felt a haze of passion envelope him, but also a sense of unease. He'd made love to Buffy too many times in too many ways and in too many places to not notice that she was responding differently, more wantonly, all need and no love. Even at the beginning when they'd been burning uncontrollably for each other she'd never acted like this. Her responses bothered him and he couldn't figure out why. Pushing her back again, he gasped out, "Buffy, what's going on? There's something wrong with you. I can feel it." "There's nothing wrong I tell you!" she insisted. Slamming him back against the door she forced herself on him again, almost wild and out of control. Spike felt a sense of panic begin deep inside. Pushing her back once again, he snarled, "Buffy, knock it off. I don't know what's up with you tonight, but I'm damn well going to find out." "Yeah? You think so? It's really too bad you noticed a difference. I think we could have had a good time tonight." With that, she pulled a stake out of her waistband and lunged at Spike. Two things saved Spike from an instant dusting. He was an elder vampire in his prime who happened to train almost every day with one of the most formidable fighters he had ever come up against, so his reflexes were blazingly fast. The second thing was that Faith was unused to Buffy's body and her coordination was slightly off. As it was, she did manage to stab Spike in the chest just to the right of his heart. Crying out in pain, Spike managed to kick her legs out from under her and toss her across the alley. Sprinting as fast as he could with the wound, he escaped from her. A sewer entrance was close by and he made for it. Ducking in, he ran a zigzag path, taking tunnels he knew like the back of his hand. After he had run several miles, he realized that the false Buffy was no longer pursuing him. Collapsing to the floor, he drew in great gulps of air in an attempt to control the pain that was radiating through him. He was badly wounded and had bled profusely which seriously weakened him. When he finally had the pain somewhat under control, he pushed himself upright and made his way slowly down the tunnel in the direction that would take him to Rupert Giles. The Watcher would know what to do.

Chapter #6 - Chapter 6

Giles had been waiting impatiently to hear from Buffy and had just decided to call Joyce when an urgent knocking sounded at his door. Rushing over he opened the door to find two very distraught young ladies standing there. "Willow, Tara, what's wrong?" he asked anxiously. "Giles, it's Buffy or, or not Buffy, I'm not sure. Tara, you tell him." Willow babbled. Tara fidgeted nervously, hating to be the center of attention, but said, "Mr. Giles, we saw Buffy at The Bronze, only we don't think it was Buffy. I mean, her aura was all off; it wasn't Buffy's aura, but it looked like Buffy and sounded like Buffy. But we're pretty sure it wasn't Buffy." Giles looked at the two girls in confusion, gestured them in and said, "All right, please calm down and tell me everything." "Well, we were at The Bronze and Tara spotted Buffy and so I waved her over, you know? And she seemed okay except she was kinda stand-offish and then she said she was going to get a drink and ask some guys to dance." "Ask some guys to dance?" Giles asked astonished. "See? That's crazy, right? Buffy hasn't even looked at another guy since Spike, so I thought they had a fight or something but Tara said that it wasn't Buffy." Stopping just long enough to catch her breath, Willow continued. "So we watched her for a while and she danced and flirted with a whole buncha guys and then she just left. We tried to follow, but, you know, Slayer speed, she lost us, so we decided to come here and tell you all about it." "Well, I don't know what to say," Giles admitted. "When she was here a few hours ago, she was herself." "Here?" Willow asked. "Why was she here, Giles?" Giving the young witch a concerned look, Giles said hesitantly, "I received some disturbing news this evening, Willow. Faith has regained consciousness and escaped from the hospital. Buffy went in search of her." "Oh, no!" Willow wailed, sinking down into a chair. "Do you think Faith did something to Buffy then?" "I don't see how she could have, Willow. She's been out of hospital just a little over twenty-four hours and the Mayor is gone so she's lost her connection to the demonic underworld. Perhaps when you saw Buffy she was searching for Faith and just didn't want to worry you." "Oh come on, Giles, you know Buffy better than that," Willow insisted. "Do you really think she wouldn't tell us that a crazy psychopath like Faith was on the loose? And what about the flirting with all those guys?" Willow hesitated and then said in a tremulous voice, "You know, Giles, that was more like Faith behavior than Buffy behavior." Giles ran his hand through his hair in agitation. "Tara, is it possible that the Buffy you saw was actually a Glamour?" Tara considered carefully before answering. "It's possible, I suppose. But I didn't feel any magic field around her, and I think there would have been with a Glamour." Walking to the telephone, he picked up the receiver and said, "I'll call Joyce. Buffy feared that Faith would attack her mother in retribution for the Mayor's death. Perhaps she can tell us if Buffy was acting normally when she saw her." Before he could dial more than two numbers, his door flew open and an exhausted, dirty and badly wounded vampire stumbled in. "Spike!" Willow exclaimed, hurrying over to help him to a chair. "What happened?" Spike turned anguished, pain-filled eyes to the Watcher and said, "Giles, somethin's happened to Buffy. Somethin' bad. I think she's been possessed." Swallowing he concluded, "She did this to me." *** Willow was carefully cleaning Spike's wound while Tara handed him a mug of heated blood. Luckily for the vampire, part of the groceries Giles had picked up before coming home had been blood to take to the shop with him in the morning. "And so, I was comin' out of Willy's and there she was. I was right surprised to see her seein' as how she said she had to study tonight," Spike was telling the group. Giles was sitting, elbows on knees, head down, glasses dangling from his fingertips as he listened to the tale. When Spike got to the part where Buffy staked him, Willow put her arm around his shoulder and Tara gently patted his back in comfort. "I didn't want to hurt her. Whatever's happened to her," he continued, "that's still Buffy. Her body at least. Her smell and her taste were right." Giles was unable to control a small grimace of distaste at these words, but sighing he looked up at Tara and said, "So it appears you were right, Tara. Whatever has happened, it is not a Glamour. Nodding, the young witch agreed, "It was her aura that was off, not anything else I could detect. Except..." "Except?" Giles prompted. "Well, she didn't move right. Almost as if she wasn't comfortable in her body." Spike's head snapped up at Tara's remark. "Yeah, you're right, pet. Giles, you know Buffy. D'you think there is any way our Slayer could have missed her mark as close as she was to me? I should be dust blowin' down that alley, not here talkin' to you." Nodding, Giles stood and once again headed to the telephone. "I think it's time I completed that call to Joyce. Although if she was aware of anything wrong, I'm sure she would have called me by now." As he once again started to dial, Willow picked up the soiled towels she had used to clean up Spike's wound and took them into the bathroom while Tara went into the kitchen to fetch Spike more blood. It was while they were out of the room that the next round of shocks began.

Chapter #7 - Chapter 7

Once again Giles' door flew open, this time revealing a distraught Xander. It was evident that he had been crying and his voice hitched in a sob as he wailed, "Oh God, Giles, she's dead!" Giles looked at the boy in shock and fear. "Who? Who's dead, Xander!" Spike had stood up again when Xander burst into the room, his own face mirroring his fear. Xander noticed the vampire for the first time and rushing to him began choking him. "You! It's your fault. You and your filthy kind." Before Spike could push his attacker away, Giles was there pulling him off. "Xander! Xander, control yourself. What's happened?" Xander lowered his head into his hands and sobbed, "It's Willow, Giles. I saw her. She's a vampire." "What?!" The sound of three shocked, confused voices sounded at the same time. Looking up he saw Tara standing by the kitchen. Wiping his face, he started towards the young witch. "I'm so sorry, Tara. But I saw Willow downtown and she's...she's..." Before he could complete his sentence he heard, "I'm what, Xander?" Xander's eyes almost bugged out of his head seeing his best friend before him so unexpectedly. Spotting a crossbow lying on top of the weapon's chest, he lunged for it and turning it on Willow cried, "You damned creature! You're not gonna hurt anyone here!" Even with his injury, Spike was preternaturally fast. Speeding forward he managed to deflect Xander's aim causing the bolt to hit the wall a couple feet above Willow's head. Wrenching the crossbow out of Xander's hands he sent the young man flying across the room to land in a heap by the window. "What the fuck's wrong with you, Harris?" the vampire shouted. "Have you gone completely 'round the bend? That's Willow there." Xander turned hate-filled eyes on Spike and spat out, "Is she yours? Did you sire her, Spike? Is that why you're protecting her?" Willow and Tara were clinging together shocked and frightened. Giles came and stood between the two men, trying to inject some semblance of sanity into the room. "Xander, I assure you, Willow is Willow. She's not been turned by Spike or any other vampire. Why on Earth do you think that she's a vampire?" The tiniest bit of doubt began to show on Xander's face. Standing up and looking intently at Willow he said, "I saw her downtown, Giles. Only," he began to look confused, "she was dressed differently." "Dressed how?" Giles probed. "Uh, she had on this tight black leather outfit, real sexy. I thought maybe it was some new lesbi...uh, I mean, witch outfit." "Tight black leather outfit?" Willow asked in a squeaky voice. "Uh, kinda Gothy looking?" Xander nodded vigorously, "Uh oh," Willow said. "Uh oh?" Giles asked. Swallowing nervously, Willow turned to Tara and said, "Just like in my vision." "Vision? What vision are you talking about, Willow?" "Oh, uh, well, you see, Giles, after you left the shop tonight Anya asked me to help her do a spell to retrieve a necklace she lost. While we were doing it I began to have these, well, visions, I guess you'd call them. Of The Master, and Oz and Larry and uh, me in that outfit Xander described." As everyone watched the young witch intently, she explained exactly what she saw in her vision. "So you say you saw this other you and then she just vanished?" Giles asked. He was beginning to look as if he had nearly reached his breaking point. First Faith awakening and escaping custody, and then Buffy perhaps possessed, and now a vampire Willow running around town? Too many things too quickly, he thought. Willow nodded. "What do you think it means, Giles? Did Anya and I somehow conjure that skanky Willow?" "I don't know, Willow, but we'll have to wait and deal with this after we've found out exactly what's happened to Buffy. That must be our priority right now." "Hear, hear, Watcher," Spike cheered approvingly. At Giles' look, Spike exclaimed, "What? I watch Parliament on C-Span." "Wait a minute," Xander interrupted. "What about Buffy? Something's happened to Buffy too? Or I guess not too because Willow, not a vampire, so there's no too to be too...uh, to," he trailed off. Sighing Giles said, "You explain it to him, Willow. I am going to try, once again, to call Joyce." Staring apprehensively at the telephone, he starting walking towards it as Willow began to explain. Spike sighed and sank back down into his chair, closing his eyes in exhaustion and leaning his head back. He was frightened and worried about Buffy. He didn't know this Faith they all kept talking about, although Buffy had told him enough about her for him to know that she was bad news. He swore to himself that, chip or no chip, if that bitch had harmed Buffy in any way, he'd kill her. He felt a presence and looked up to see a contrite Xander standing before him holding out a mug of blood. "Here," the young man said awkwardly. "Tara warmed up some more blood for you." "Ta, mate," Spike said, reaching up and taking the mug. As he sipped, he watched as Xander twitched uncomfortably before him. Finally Xander said in a rush, "Look, I'm sorry I attacked you like that. Kinda out of my mind because of what I thought happened to Willow." Spike shrugged. "Don't worry about it," he said disinterestedly. "Just one piece of advice though. The next time you attack a vampire try to remember that choking doesn't hurt us. We don't breathe." Xander blushed, dipped his head and moved away. Spike smirked at him, but was torn between being hurt that Xander had even considered that he would have harmed Willow and touched that he had bothered to apologize. Giles had been talking for some minutes to Joyce when Spike heard him say, "So she just walked away? And she seemed all right?" A pause. "Well, we believe that something's happened to her. No, we don't know what exactly, but I think it best if you pack an overnight bag and come stay here tonight." A pause. "No," Giles said exasperatedly, "this has nothing to do with band candy. I just think it best if you don't stay at home alone tonight. I'd send Spike over to stay with you but we need him to help search for Buffy, plus he's been injured. No, he'll be all right. What? What device? A weapon?" A pause. "Very well, bring that too; it may be important. I'm sending Xander over to pick you up. We'll see you shortly then." Hanging up, Giles faced the others. "Faith showed up and tied Joyce up. Buffy arrived, they fought, Buffy knocked Faith out, Joyce called the police and Faith was taken into custody. I'm going to the police station to see if I can see Faith and get information from her as to what she did to Buffy. Xander, I want you to go get Joyce and bring her here. Willow and Tara, I want you to check in Skolcraft's Compendium and find a healing spell for Spike. We cannot afford to have him at less than one hundred percent." With that the Watcher grabbed up his car keys and left the apartment. Xander followed after and Willow went to the bookcase to find the text to search for a spell to speed up Spike's recovery. Spike was less than happy with the idea of being on the receiving end of one of Willow's spells. He'd seen enough of her attempts go arse-up that he was leery of the whole idea, but if it helped him heal quicker, he'd let her have at. Nothing was more important than his ability to help Buffy.

Chapter #8 - Chapter 8

She awoke to the feeling of motion. Shifting slightly, she heard a metallic rattling and opening bleary eyes she looked around what appeared to be the inside of a large van of some kind. Sitting up, she realized that her wrists were shackled to the walls by thick chains. "Oh no," she moaned, "Not chains again. Where's Spike when you need him?" At least this time she had enough play in the chains that she could move around a bit. As her head cleared, she realized that the van was slowing down, then stopping. She could faintly hear the voices of men and then the van started backing up, the irritating clang of the backup warning signal ringing loudly. The vehicle once again stopped and the engine was shut off. She could hear the men coming around to the back and decided that playing possum was probably her best strategy, at least until she knew for sure whom she was dealing with. "Check on the bint while I call in." She wasn't sure, but she thought she recognized the English-accented voice. The back door of the van was opened and Buffy lay perfectly still regulating her breathing so that it appeared she was unconscious. "Still out," another Englishman said. "She should be out for a couple more hours yet, the dose we gave her." "Yeah, well she's a Slayer," the first voice said. "Don't trust that'll hold true." The door was closed again and Buffy relaxed. She had an idea now who had her. Last year the Watcher's Council had attempted to take Faith back to England for counseling after she had accidentally killed the Deputy Mayor. But instead of helping Faith, they had only made matters worse with the end result that Faith turned rogue and eventually ended up in a coma in the hospital thanks to Buffy. Now it seemed the Council was back at it, once again trying to expatriate Faith to England. Well this was just great, Buffy thought. She wasn't sure how she was going to convince these guys that they had the wrong Slayer, but she knew that she had to get back home as quickly as possible. She didn't know exactly what Faith had done to her, but the fact was Faith was now in Buffy's body and the harm she could do terrified Buffy. The men were coming close to the van again and Buffy heard, "All right, lads. We have the go ahead. Let's get this over with as soon as possible so we can pack her up and ship her off. I want her dead before she has a chance to wake up." Buffy's heart started pounding in her chest. Dead? They were just going to kill her? Not her, she thought, Faith. They were going to execute Faith. Buffy didn't think that any amount of talking was going to save her. She wouldn't believe her, so why would they? Lying perfectly still, she waited while the door was once more opened. This time she felt the rocking of the van as someone carefully entered. All senses alert she waited until she felt the hand on her arm and then using all her Slayer strength and speed she sat up and in one rapid movement wrapped her legs around the man's torso holding him restrained while she simultaneously wrapped a part of the chain around his neck. Shocked eyes looked in at her and her captive. "Unless you want to be minus one buddy," she ground out, "I suggest you throw me the keys to these chains." The man in the doorway narrowed his eyes looking from her to her prisoner. "You kill him, we still kill you," he said coldly. "You'll gain nothing. Let him go." "No," Buffy said. "I know you won't believe me, but I'm not Faith, I'm Buffy Summers. She did something, switched our bodies somehow. Let me go and I'll help you capture her. After she's switched us back." The man laughed at her. "I'll give you this," he sneered, "You've got a rich imagination." With eyes gone flat and cold, he repeated, "Let Smith go. You let him go, we kill you easy. You kill him, you'll die slow and painfully." "I'm not letting him go, and I'm not letting you kill me," she hissed. "We'll see about that, bitch," the man said as he closed the door. "Collins!" the man cried out, but there was no answer from outside the van. "Looks like you friend doesn't care too much about you," Buffy said coldly. "Let me go," Smith said in a shaking voice. "You don't want to mess with Collins. He will make you pay, believe me." "Yeah, yeah," Buffy said. "I heard him. I don't suppose you have a set of keys on you, do you?" she asked. When Smith shook his head she shrugged and said, "Hope you don't mind if I check it out for myself. Oh, and I think it'll be easier if you aren't awake to fight me." With that she unwrapped the chain from around his neck, moved her arm in its place and then squeezed. He fought against the pressure, but soon slumped forward unconscious. Buffy checked through his pockets coming up with a syringe. Shuddering, she slammed the needle into the floor of the van, breaking it and then tossed the syringe away, careful to not get any of the liquid on her. True to his word, there were no keys on his person. Shoving him aside, she carefully looked over the chains, trying to find a weakness. She suspected they were magically enhanced, just as the Gr'Racka's had been, which meant that she couldn't break the chains. But maybe... Getting up on her knees, she twisted around and looked at where the chains were attached to the van walls. Wrapping the chains around her hands, she began pulling with all her strength. If she had been in her own body, Buffy was pretty sure she would have had no problem pulling the chains from the wall. Stupid men. What good were magically enhanced chains if you just hooked them up to regular steel? Breathing heavily, Buffy rested a moment before pulling again. Faith's body was weakened from her long coma, but even a weakened Slayer was someone to be reckoned with and mere steel didn't stand a chance. Little by little the steel hook pulled free until at last it popped from the wall of the van causing Buffy to fall over. With her arms free, she started pulling on the hooks that held the chains attached to her legs. She quickly had them free as well. Gathering the chains up in her arms she quietly moved up to the end of the van and looked out the narrow window in the door. Two men, Collins and someone Buffy didn't recognize, were seated at a table loading a rifle. "Shit!" Buffy hissed. Looking back over her shoulder, she quickly made up her mind. Scurrying back to Smith as silently as possible, she grabbed him and dragging him forward she placed his body in front of hers. Reaching for the door handle, she threw it open and then jumped out using Smith as a shield. Collins sprang to his feet aiming the rifle and firing only to have his aim knocked aside by his companion. "Don't shoot Smith, you son of a bitch!" the other man exclaimed. With a curse, Collins swung the rifle back towards Buffy, but it was too late. Throwing Smith aside, she sped forward swinging the chains in an arc. The links wrapped around the rifle jerking it out of Collins' hands and she spun around using the chains on her legs to knock the two men down. Leaping forward she quickly knocked both men out in a flurry of rapid-fire punches. Sitting back on her heels, she again caught her breath and then searched Collins for the keys to the chains. Finding them, she unlocked the manacles. Heaving a sigh of relief, she dragged the two unconscious men over to where Smith lay. One by one she loaded them into the van and chained them together in the back. Jumping down from the back of the van, she shut the door and locked it. They'd be okay for the time being. Once she was back home, she'd have Giles call the Council to let them know where their bullyboys were. Right now though, she needed to find out where she was exactly. She looked over at the phone that sat on the table, but decided against calling Giles. There was no way he would believe her. She had to get home and hopefully find someway to convince him that she wasn't really Faith.

Chapter #9 - Chapter 9

The two girls were chanting, incense burned, and Spike was surrounded by a warm blue glow when Joyce and Xander walked into the apartment. Joyce's eyes opened wide at the sight. Although she was aware of Willow's powers, this was the first time she had ever seen her in action. Spike's head was thrown back and he was breathing in short, shallow gasps. After a few more minutes, the two witches stopped chanting, the glow faded and Spike slowly sat back up, eyes blinking rapidly. "Well," the vampire panted, "That wasn't too bad. Thanks, ladies." Willow and Tara grinned at him and then Tara leaned forward pulling back the bandage on his chest. The wound was almost completely healed. Spike stared at it in amazement. He really hadn't believed it would work, but, by damn, they really had done it. A couple more mugs of blood, and there would be no sign that he had been staked this night. "Spike, what happened?" Joyce asked. Spike looked down, then at the girls, then down again. How could he tell Joyce that Buffy had tried to dust him? How could he tell Joyce that Buffy was possessed? Taking a deep breath, he began to fill Joyce in on the night's strange happenings. *** Giles' face was a mask of cold fury as he left the police station. He had spoken with Detective Clark and had learned about Faith's abduction by masked men driving a large van. He had a suspicion who had taken her, and as he jumped into his car, he had to forcibly restrain himself from speeding off in a cloud of burnt rubber. Reaching his home far quicker than the law would have approved, he threw open the door and marched directly to the phone. All conversation stopped as everyone stared at the furious look on his face. Punching a string of numbers into the phone's keypad, he ground out, "There was an accident on the way to the police station. According to witnesses, the cruiser hit a lorry, three masked men jumped out, knocked out the police officers, and dragged Faith out of the back of the police car taking her with them." "What!" Spike yelled jumping up. "You telling me she had help escaping? We need to find her, Giles. We need to find her now!" Giles gave Spike a cold look and said, "I'm well aware of that, Spike. Hello? This is Rupert Giles. I need to speak to Quentin Travers. I don't care if he's in a meeting. This is of the utmost importance. It concerns Buffy Summers." "Quentin Travers?" Willow exclaimed. "Isn't he the head of the Watcher's Council? The one who hates you and Buffy?" Giles ignored her as he spoke once more into the phone. "Quentin, what the hell are you doing now? Did you send your goon squad to Sunnydale to kidnap Faith?" Giles listened with growing impatience. "Do not try to fob me off, Quentin. This stinks of the Wetworks Squad. Did you have her kidnapped?" Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth he ground out, "I'll tell you why I'm concerned about it, you daft old bugger! She's done something to Buffy, caused a demon to possess her or something of the sort. We need to talk to Faith to find out exactly what she's done. Now where the fuck is she?" Willow and Tara gasped slightly at hearing Giles use such profanity. Spike only became more agitated. If the Watcher was resorting to foul language, things were really in a cock-up. As they watched, Giles suddenly deflated, his face turning a frightening gray. "Dear God, Quentin. How could you order that? Call them back immediately and call if off. Yes, yes. I'll be right here." Hanging up, he looked at the anxious faces with shell-shocked eyes. "Quentin ordered Faith terminated." "Terminated?" Spike growled, "You mean killed? That bastard ordered his own Slayer killed?" Running his hands through his hair, Giles sighed, "She's rogue, Spike. It's...it's not unknown for the Council to terminate an unsatisfactory Slayer in order for a new one to be called." Spike just stared at Giles and then said coldly, "And you people call me evil." *** Buffy walked down the street totally lost; she had no idea where she was. When she had left the garage where the van was parked, she found herself in a warehouse district far from any houses or stores. There didn't even seem to be newspaper vending machines around so that she could find out what city she was in. She had to rest often, her body nearing the end of its resources, but she didn't want to sleep until she felt safer than she did now. At long last the area began to change. Warehouses and old abandoned factories gave way to closed-up shops and boarded up buildings. A few more blocks and signs of life finally came into view. It was a flyer tacked up on a telephone pole that told her where she was. It also told her where she was going to go. *** The redheaded vampire ran her thumb along the corner of her mouth catching the blood that pooled there. Sticking out her tongue, she carefully lapped at the few droplets, licking the thumb clean. She was confused; nothing was right here. Too many humans, not enough vampires. Not that she was really complaining about the too many humans part. She hadn't eaten this well in months. Rubbing her belly, she stepped over the bodies of the two teenagers she had just drained. Stupid girls. Even if The Master hadn't taken over this Sunnydale yet, there were still vampires. You'd think the people here would be smart enough to stay in after dark. Shrugging, Willow continued her explorations. This was definitely Sunnydale. She had gone past a now destroyed Sunnydale High where she had been a student before The Master had turned her. Her and Xander. Xander. She had seen him tonight, but he was human again. That wasn't good. She wanted her Xander back; they had so much fun together. He'd run off after he'd realized she was a vampire and Willow, who'd been busy feeding, hadn't bothered chasing him. She'd find him eventually. She entered The Bronze, but as with everything else, it wasn't the same. It was filled with human boys and girls dancing, laughing and partying. A couple vampires were in the crowd but Willow ignored them. They were weak; she could tell that right away. Definitely not made by The Master. The vampires in The Master's line were strong. Especially the puppy. Willow smiled coldly at the thought of the puppy. He was so much fun to play with. She hoped he was still around. She loved to hear him scream. *** Faith took the keycard from the registration clerk. "Your room is 615," the girl told her. Nodding her head in acknowledgement, Faith sauntered over to the bank of elevators to the right of the lobby. A long hot shower and then bed. She was grateful to The Mayor for providing her with funds and a passport. He had really cared for her; something on one else had ever done, especially not Buffy or her precious Watcher. And they had killed the closest thing Faith had ever had to a father. Payback was really going to be a bitch. *** Willow, Tara and Giles were examining the pieces of the apparatus that Joyce had brought with her, discussing it quietly between them. Joyce sat looking frightened and confused and Xander watched as the vampire paced back and forth and back and forth, growls intermittently rumbling from his chest. When the phone rang, everyone jumped and stared at the instrument as if it had turned into a demon. Taking in a deep steadying breath, Giles reached for the receiver placing it to his ear. "Giles here," he said softly. Silence as he listened. "Where did they call you from? Do you have anyone nearby who can check? Good. And, Quentin, you'd better hope that they haven't disposed of Faith yet. Yes, that was a threat." Replacing the receiver he looked up and said, "Quentin called the team but there was no answer. He's sending someone from the LA office to check." Willow looked at Giles. "There's an LA office of the Watcher's Council? How come we never knew about it?" Giles looked uncomfortable, "Because it wasn't necessary that you know, Willow." Sighing he continued, "The Watcher's Council has people in place in every major city of the world. Sometimes it's a whole office, sometimes just one person." Spike started heading for the front door. "Spike! Where do you think you're going?" Giles snapped. "I'm going to LA, Watcher. That bitch is there and I'm bringing her back." "And just where exactly in LA are you going to find her? Quentin didn't tell me where the Wetworks Squad had her, so I couldn't tell you where she is even if I wanted to." Spike looked at him in frustration. "Maybe I should go out lookin' for Buffy then. Bring her here so that we can fix whatever's wrong with her." Giles shook his head. "And I think it best that we wait until we know for sure exactly what's wrong with her. You said you don't want to hurt her, but she certainly won't come willingly with you, so you'd have no choice but hurt her. That is if she didn't just dust you first." Spike growled again and then flung himself down into his chair. "I hate this just sittin' around waitin' and doin' nothing." "Yes, well I'm not happy myself, but going off half-cocked is not the answer, Spike." Turning away from the vampire, he returned to the two witches and their examination of the mysterious smashed device. *** Buffy stepped out of the cab and paid the driver. She had felt a little bit guilty stealing the money from Collins, but not too guilty. Entering the building, she looked for the office number printed on the flyer. Finding it, she took a deep breath and then entered. *** The vampire started drifting back to the old factory. She had grown bored walking around Sunnydale, her belly was full, she couldn't find The Master or any others of her family, and Xander was nowhere to be seen. She'd look for him again tomorrow night. Things would be better once she had Xander with her again. *** Faith stretched comfortably on the bed enjoying the feel of the crisp linen sheets against her naked body. Sighing deeply, she snuggled up to the spare pillow and drifted off to sleep. Morning was soon enough to start killing off Scoobies.

Chapter #10 - Chapter 10

Cordelia Chase looked up with a smile as the office door opened. The smile didn't last long. Jumping up, she hurriedly backed up yelping, "Faith! What...what are you doing here? I thought you were in a coma." "Cordy," Buffy said, holding out her hand in supplication. "I'm not Faith. Please, where's Angel? I need his help." Buffy was so intent on trying to reassure Cordelia that she didn't even hear the door open behind her. The blinding pain that flashed through her as something solid met the back of her skull was the last thing she knew before darkness engulfed her. *** It was quiet in Giles' apartment when the telephone once again startled everyone into wakefulness. Joyce had fallen asleep on the couch and Xander had been snoring peacefully in one of the armchairs. The two witches had been studying a text intently. They finally had a notion as to what the device was and were looking for verification. Giles had been making another pot of tea and Spike had just been standing in the doorway smoking yet another cigarette. As Giles hurried to answer the insistently ringing telephone, everyone waited tensely. "Giles," he snapped. He listened for what seemed an interminable length of time before he said, "Well thank God for that anyway." Everyone immediately relaxed. It appeared that Faith wasn't dead. "And you've no idea where she could have gotten to? There was no sign of her in the area? Yes, yes, I know Los Angeles is a large city, Quentin. Very well, keep me informed. Oh, and Quentin, please be sure that your agents know that she isn't to be harmed." It wasn't a request. Looking at the anxiously awaiting faces, he shook his head as he told them, "She got away from the bloody idiots. Chained them up with their own chains, stole their money and disappeared. She could be anywhere by now." Willow and Tara exchanged a look and Willow said, "Uh, Giles. Maybe we can find her." "How, Willow? Quentin has his entire team looking for her, but to be honest, chances are they won't find her. She could be in Mexico by now." "Well, maybe we could do a location spell. All we need is something of hers. Maybe we can get something from the hospital that she left behind." Giles looked at the two girls and for the first time in hours smiled. "Yes, excellent idea, Willow." Turning to the two men in the room he said, "Spike, Xander. Go see what you can get." He didn't need to speak twice. *** Throbbing pain lanced through her head as she slowly regained consciousness. When she found out who had hit her, she was going to tear them a new one she promised herself. Moving slightly, she felt the chains on her wrists. God, not again! Slowly opening her eyes and blinking rapidly to clear her vision, she saw first Cordelia, then Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. Struggling, she managed to push herself back along the wall to which she was chained until she was sitting upright. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Look guys, I know I look like Faith, but please believe me, I'm Buffy, not Faith." "Oh!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Of course. I knew that. Just because you look and sound exactly like that ho Faith and nothing at all like Buffy is no reason for us to not believe that you're not Faith." "Cordelia, please, let me handle this," Wesley said pompously. "You look like Faith. Why should we believe you are Buffy?" Cordelia rolled her eyes. "That's just what I said, Wesley." Buffy closed her eyes in frustration. "Look, where's Angel? Let me talk to Angel, okay? He'll be able to figure out that I'm really Buffy." "Angel in out on a case right now, so I'm afraid you'll have to deal with me," Wesley said, drawing himself up to his full height. Buffy rested her head against the wall, shoulders slumping in defeat. "Great," she muttered. "I'm doomed. I just know it." *** Xander and Spike got out of the car and hurried into the hospital. Going to the floor where Faith had been cared for, Spike told Xander, "Look, just let me do the talking, all right? I can get what we need out of these nurse birds easier that you can." "What, you think I can't charm a few nurses?" Xander protested. Off Spike's look he ducked his head and mumbled, "It's that damned British accent, that's all." Spike snickered, "Yeah. That and the fact that I'm ten times better looking than you." "Jeez, Spike. Conceited much?" Spike just smirked at him and then sauntered up to the nurse's station turning on all his Big Bad charm. Xander watched in awe as the middle-aged nurse in charge turned into a prepubescent girl right before his eyes. Fifteen minutes later, they left the hospital with Faith's personal belongings. *** Cordelia and Wesley were off in a corner of the room whispering together. Buffy had refused to say anything more after telling them she would talk only to Angel. She hoped that the Watcher's Council murder squad didn't track her here. She had no faith at all that Wesley would protect her. He'd probably be glad to turn her over to them and wash his hands of her. Stupid Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. *** Tara and Willow had prepared as much as they could for the location spell. They waited only for Xander and Spike to return from the hospital and Giles to return from the Magic Box with a few additional ingredients. The items from the Magic Box were not only for the location spell, but also for a ritual that they had discovered in the text. Tara was certain that it would reveal exactly what had happened to Buffy. *** Buffy was studiously ignoring Wesley. He had attempted several times to get her to speak to him, but she had refused to acknowledge his presence. Cordelia had returned to the office above to wait for Angel. It had been over an hour and Buffy was hungry, thirsty, her head ached and she had to pee. If Angel didn't show up soon, she was going to rip the damned chains out of the wall, thump Wesley with them and go to the bathroom. The sound of the elevator moving brought both of them to attention. As it slowly descended, Buffy felt her heart start to pound. She hoped it was Cordelia and Angel. The doors finally opened and Buffy looked up into the dark eyes of her former lover. She felt like weeping in relief. "Faith," Angel said coldly. "Buffy," Buffy answered. "So Cordelia tells me. Want to tell me how Buffy came to look just like Faith?" Taking a deep breath, Buffy said, "I really need to go to the bathroom." *** The map of Los Angeles County was spread out before the two girls as they cast the location spell. It wasn't working. The pendulum they'd made by tying Faith's ring to a long cord swung erratically over the map, seeming to settle over one area but then skittering off to the edge of the map in the direction of Sunnydale. After ten minutes of concentration, the girls conceded defeat. "Perhaps it didn't work because you're too tired," Giles said, exhaustion evident in his own voice. "I think it might be best if we all take a break and get some sleep. Try again in a few hours." Protests abounded, but Giles was adamant. And so the three women went upstairs to sleep in Giles' bed while he bunked down on the couch, Xander draped himself over an armchair and Spike curled up on the floor. Spike didn't think he would be able to relax, worried as he was over Buffy, but he was asleep two minutes after lying down. The room settled into the soft sound of snores. *** Buffy finished telling her story to Angel, Cordelia and Wesley. Stony looks of disbelief gave way to exclamations of shock when she got to the part where the men had tried to kill her, and then back to stony looks of disbelief again. And so she brought out the big guns. Every single secret that Buffy knew about the three with her was revealed. By the time she got to the night she and Angel had made love, everyone believed. "So what do we do, Angel?" Cordelia asked. "I agree with Buffy. There's no way Giles is going to believe this over the phone." "Then we go to Sunnydale," Angel answered.

Chapter #11 - Chapter 11

The black convertible sped along the freeway. Angel and Buffy were in the front and Cordelia and Wesley were in the back, sound asleep. Buffy's head was feeling better after a couple aspirin and some food. She was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open, but whenever she shut them, they just popped open again. She hadn't said anything yet to Angel about her and Spike, which she knew was so not a good idea. She needed to let him know before they got to Sunnydale. She just wasn't sure how. And it certainly wasn't because she was ashamed of her relationship with Spike. She loved the younger vampire, but at the same time she still cared for Angel and didn't want to hurt him. Finally gathering her courage up she said, "Angel, there's something else you need to know before we get to Sunnydale." "What's that, Buffy?" Angel asked gently. He felt terrible about everything the girl he loved had been put through the last few hours. He'd do whatever was necessary to help her. "Uh, it's about me. And Spike." Angel frowned. "Spike? What about him? Oh. Did you dust him?" Angel's voice was gentle, understanding. "I'm not happy to hear that, of course. He was a part of my family after all, but I understand, Buffy. You're the Slayer, he was evil, so..." "Uh, no, Angel," Buffy interrupted. "I haven't dusted him." "Then what, Buffy?" Angel asked, more than a little confused. "Spike and I are...together," Buffy said, looking anxiously at the large, dark-haired vampire. The car swerved across two lanes of roadway almost plowing into the guardrail on the far side of the highway. Cordelia and Wesley slid across the backseat coming awake with grunts and exclamations. "What do you mean, 'together'?" Angel asked through gritted teeth, getting the car back under control. "Tell me you don't mean in a romantic sense. Please tell me that." Buffy swallowed nervously. Man, this was every bit as hard as she had thought it would be. "Yes, I mean in a romantic sense. Spike and I love each other, Angel." "What?" two voices from the backseat screeched. "Buffy, you cannot be serious," Cordelia protested. "Spike? You're in love with Spike? Crazy stalker, tried to kill you a dozen times Spike?" Buffy twisted around to look at her friend. Nodding her head she said, "We've been together since, well since before Thanksgiving last year." Looking at Angel, she said, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner to you, Angel, but I wasn't sure exactly what to say." "Yeah," Cordelia snarked. "Plus you wanted Angel to help you which maybe he wouldn't have done had he known you've been getting all horizontal with Spike." "That's enough, Cordelia," Angel said coldly. "Who Buffy sleeps with is obviously her own business. We'll just take her to Giles and then head back home. I'm sure Spike is more than man enough to give her any further help she needs. That is if he's not too busy killing and terrorizing the citizens of Sunnydale." Now Buffy was getting angry. "He doesn't kill or terrorize or feed or any of the other nasty things you're thinking," she snapped. "He's done nothing but help me since he returned to Sunnydale last November." Angel took his eyes off the road to stare at her. "He's just been back in Sunnydale since November and you were involved with him by Thanksgiving? What took you so long?" "Angel, road!" Cordelia snapped as the convertible almost drifted into the car in the next lane. Angel returned his attention to his driving, but Buffy could feel his seething anger. "Angel, please," Buffy said trying to be conciliatory. She knew that he was hurt, and she knew that there was no way he could ever understand. Hell, she and Spike had been together for months now and they still didn't understand. "I didn't tell you to hurt you, please believe that. But I'm not ashamed of my feelings for Spike, everyone knows about us, and I didn't want you to be blindsided by it. I know I should have told you back at your office, and I was a coward not to. Please just try to understand." Angel was silent for a long time. "I'd like to say that as long as you're happy, I'm happy, Buffy," he said at last, "but I will never be happy for you as long as you're with Spike. He's evil, pure and simple. The biggest favor I could do for you is kill him as soon as I see him." "Try it, Angel, and you'll be dust before the stake ever gets near him." Angel looked at her in surprise. He had never heard Buffy speak to him in such a cold, calm voice, not even when he had been Angelus. One glance into her eyes and he realized that she was deadly serious. "Very well, Buffy. It's your life and the lives of those you love you're putting in jeopardy. When he turns on you, don't say I didn't warn you." The rest of the trip was made in silence. *** A loud pounding on his door awakened Giles. Rising from the couch he went to open it aware that Xander and Spike were right behind him. Flinging open the portal, he was surprised to see Angel standing there. "Angel? What?" Before he could say anything else, Angel stepped aside to reveal Faith standing behind him. "Faith!" he said in astonishment. She started to step into the apartment only to be met by the demon visage of one very brassed off vampire. "You bitch!" he growled grabbing her roughly. "What've you done to Buffy?" Angel reacted instinctively, pulling Spike off of Buffy, throwing him against the wall and lifting a stake pulled from his pocket. Before he could even begin to make the downstroke, he found himself being thrown across the living room. Looking up, he saw Buffy standing in front of Spike, a murderous gleam in her eyes. "I warned you, Angel," she ground out. Spike was staring in astonishment at his grandsire, lying in a tumbled heap in the middle of the living room floor, then turned his attention to the infuriated Slayer standing so protectively in front of him. He took in her stance, the way she held her body, the tilt of her head and said, "Buffy?" Buffy turned to him, her eyes shining with joy. Spike stepped forward, grabbed her head in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Sweetheart, is that you?" Buffy nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face as her lover gathered her to him in a crushing embrace. "God, baby, what did that bitch do to you?" Spike asked tremulously. Pushing her back again and looking closely at her he said, "Are you all right? Did those bastard Watchers hurt you? I'll kill them, love, I swear I will." Buffy just laughed and cried and hugged him to her again. Spike knew her! Without her having to say anything to him at all, he knew her. *** Giles had never had so many people in his house before. Cups of tea and coffee were on every available surface. Xander had made a doughnut run and Angel and Spike were drinking mugs of warmed pig's blood. Angel watched stony-faced as Buffy curled up tightly next to Spike, his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulder. Joyce sat on Buffy's other side, clasping her daughter's hand and the two witches sat on the floor in front of her eagerly listening to Buffy's story. Giles had wanted to place a call to Quentin Travers to let him know that Faith, or at least Faith's body, was in Sunnydale, but Buffy had been adamant that she didn't want him to know anything about her, or Faith's, whereabouts. "He was going to have Faith killed, Giles. No trial, no hearing, just an execution. I'm not saying that Faith doesn't deserve punishment for the murders she committed, but she deserves a trial first." "Not only that, Watcher," Spike interjected, "but what's to stop those wankers from sending their murder squad to Sunnydale to take out Faith while she's still in Buffy's body. I'm sure it doesn't matter one whit to them, just as long as they get their new Slayer." That argument, more than any other, kept him from the phone. As Buffy finished her tale, Willow looked to Giles and said, "So we were right. A Draconian Katra spell." "A Drawhoian Catnip spell?" Buffy asked. "A Draconian Katra spell," Wesley lectured pedantically. "Katra, taken from the ancient Egyptian word 'Ka', meaning spirit or life force, although perhaps in this case personality is closer. The Ka in Egyptian mythology was believed to be able to enter a double, thereby animating it. This spell exchanged the personalities of you and Faith including all memories and mannerisms, everything that makes up a person's individuality. Quite fascinating really. I'd love to study the two of you together once we've caught up with Faith." Buffy just looked at him without expression and then said to her Watcher, "So, Giles, how do we undo this? No offense to Faith's body, but I prefer my own." Spike nuzzled into her neck and said, "So do I, pet." Giles ignored the vampire's by-play and said to the two witches, "Do you feel rested enough to try the conjuration spell?" Willow and Tara exchanged glances and nodded their agreement. "Excellent. Let's get started then."

Chapter #12 - Chapter 12

The living room was cleared as the two witches began the preparation for their spell. Spike helped them move furniture out of the way and then went over to Giles. "So when were you goin' to tell me about this Katra spell?" he demanded. "I was worried sick about Buffy you know, thinkin' some nasty had taken up residence." "We weren't sure that was what happened, Spike," the Watcher informed him stiffly. "And the last thing I needed was for you to tear out of here running off to LA. You almost did as is was, remember?" Buffy looked at Spike and asked, "You were going to come to LA? Why?" Spike looked uncomfortable for a minute and then said, "We found out that was where those Watcher bastards had taken Faith. I wanted to find her so I could beat some answers out of her." Buffy looked confused for a moment. "You knew where I, or rather Faith, was being held?" she asked her Watcher hesitantly. Giles glared at Spike. "No, we did not. Spike was apparently going to look under every rock in Los Angeles in an attempt to track Faith down." Buffy smiled tenderly at Spike and brushed a kiss across his lips. "You know, honey," she teased, "we've talked about this lack of patience thing." Spike pulled her close to him and nuzzling at her neck murmured for her ears only, "Oh, I think you've benefited from my patience a time or two, Slayer." Buffy blushed profusely, and Giles turned away not wanting to know what the vampire had just whispered in the Slayer's ear. *** Angel felt a rumbling emanate from his chest. How could Buffy be involved with Spike? He knew Spike, much better than Buffy ever could. He knew exactly what the vampire was capable of. Hell, he'd been the one to teach him. Did she really think that just because he claimed to love her that he would refrain from the mayhem that was his trademark? Angel had given Buffy up, left town just so she could have a chance at a normal life and what had she done? Fallen into bed with Spike just months after he had left. Angel hadn't given Buffy up just so she could get together with another vampire, especially not Spike. Spike, who reveled in chaos, was unpredictable, impulsive, vicious, and deadly. Spike, the one he had never been able to control. As he watched Spike and Buffy together, he had to dig deep down into his reserve of self-control. Every kiss, every caress was a stake to his heart. He remembered the pleasure he had taken when he had fondled Drusilla in front of a paralyzed Spike. That was what this was all about. Payback for taking Dru from him. Well, Dru had never really been Spike's. He had just been a means to keep Drusilla busy when Angelus didn't feel like playing with her. She had always been Angelus' property. And Buffy belonged to Angel. He may have given her up, left town, but he had known that she would take him back with open arms had it been possible for them to be together without the threat of unleashing Angelus. And now Spike was fondling Buffy in front of him, receiving her caresses, shoving it in his face that he could give Buffy physical pleasure when Angel could not. Buffy was being a fool. Spike was going to turn on her sooner or later. Pay her back for all the humiliation she had laid at Spike's door. All the times she had defeated him. It was her fault that Spike had ended up in the wheelchair, paralyzed and helpless while Angelus fucked Drusilla right in front of him. Spike's hatred for Buffy would be strong. His need for revenge great. Angel understood this. Angel had lived it. And apparently the boy had learned patience sometime in the last century. He had never known Spike to put off the kill for so long. Didn't Buffy understand the danger she was in, the danger she was putting her friends and mother in? Didn't she remember what had happened when Angelus had been released? Didn't she realize that without a soul, Spike wasn't really capable of love? No, Spike was playing some kind of game, luring her into a false sense of security; then when she was most vulnerable, he would strike. Angel knew what Spike was doing. It was just a refinement on one of Angelus' favorite forms of entertainment. Spike was evil, a demon, just as Angelus was. And Angel knew very well just how incapable a soulless vampire was of actually feeling love, or kindness, or even friendship. So Spike was acting the lover, the friend. He was pretending that he could be good, do good. For a while, maybe. For a while he would play at being a good boy, until he got bored, until he couldn't wait any longer to strike. And when he did, there would be pain and blood and death. Spike needed to be destroyed before that happened. *** Xander watched his best friend and her girlfriend as they started the conjuration spell. From what he gathered from Giles' explanation, they hoped to be able to make another one of the doohickeys that switched Buffy and Faith. And frankly, that couldn't happen soon enough. Seeing Faith cuddled up against Spike, talking like Buffy, acting just like Buffy, was giving him a serious wiggins. Not to mention the whole uncomfortable aspect of having known that body in a, well, biblical sense. And then there was the whole Cordelia/Willow vibe. They had never been good friends, but after the Spring Fling, Cordelia looked daggers at Willow every time she saw her and Willow had gone all guilt-tripy. And he didn't even want to think about the Angel/Buffy/Spike triangle. Angel looked as if he was going to go all Angelus any second now. Xander seriously didn't want to be around when that happened. No way, no how. As far as he was concerned, the sooner that Buffy got back in her own body and Faith was removed from the picture, the happier the Xanman would be. Then maybe they could concentrate the Willow's vampire look-alike. He shuddered at the memory of seeing his oldest friend in full vamp face drinking from her victim. Grabbing another jelly doughnut from the box, he leaned back in his chair and wished that he were home in his miserable basement sleeping the sleep of the blissfully ignorant. Sometimes he really envied the average citizen of Sunnydale. *** Joyce felt overwhelmed. Since finding out that Buffy was a Vampire Slayer she had learned to accept many things that she had always believed existed only in fiction: demons and vampires, witches and superheroes. And she'd done pretty well, she thought. But now she had to adjust to the fact that her daughter was in a different body, the body of a girl who had committed cold-blooded murder. If they didn't find a way to reverse the spell, there was the possibility that Buffy would end up in prison for Faith's crimes. Joyce remembered when Buffy had been just a sweet, ordinary little girl. Taking another sip of the tea that Giles had provided her, Joyce found herself almost wishing she were once again ignorant of her daughter's calling. Things had been so much easier then. *** The two vampires were aware of the coming dawn by the time Willow and Tara were ready to start the conjuration spell. Sitting in the center of a circle made of sand with pure beeswax candles providing the only illumination, the two young women clasped hands and started the incantation. Everyone stayed perfectly still as the spell was cast, and Spike felt as if the hairs on the back of his neck were standing straight up. As the chanting droned on, he had to keep a tight reign on his usual nervous energy. He would do nothing that might impede the girls from getting the device that would transfer Buffy's spirit back into her own body. Willow and Tara felt as if every nerve in their bodies was electrified. Though not in pain, they were uncomfortable, jumpy and finding it hard to maintain the concentration necessary to cast the spell. When they at last chanted the last verse, they opened their eyes to find...nothing. "There's nothing here," Willow cried in distress. "Giles, there nothing here. Shouldn't there be something here? Did we do the spell wrong?" Giles had been paying close attention to the chanting, as had Wesley. "No, no, you did the spell correctly, Willow. I don't understand why it didn't work." "Well you better bloody well find out why it didn't work, Watcher," Spike's tense voice cut through. "We need that thing." "You are not telling me anything I don't know, Spike," Giles snapped, "and unless you have something of use to add, please just shut up!" Spike stiffened under the Watcher's rebuke and started to step forward, but halted by the soft touch of a hand on his arm. Looking over, he saw Buffy give him a small shake of her head. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply to control his anger, he nodded in acquiescence. Opening his eyes again, he happened to catch a sympathetic look on Xander's face. The boy had felt the sharp edge of Giles' tongue more than once himself. He knew what it felt like. "I don't mean to insult," Wesley was saying diffidently, aware of the tension in the room, "but perhaps the two of you aren't powerful enough for a spell of this magnitude." Willow felt insulted and was about to make a sharp rejoinder when Tara said nervously, "I think that may be the p-problem. Willow is very powerful, but I-I think that we just aren't s-strong enough." "Perhaps adding a third to the circle?" Wesley suggested. As glances were exchanged around the room, Willow cried out, "Oh! Anya!" "Anya?" Giles asked. "Yeah. We did that spell yesterday, and, okay, it didn't work, but she seems to know what she's doing so if we ask her to help, maybe our spell will work." "Anya did a spell?" Buffy asked. "What for?" "Something about a lost necklace," Giles answered. Looking thoughtful he nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's a very good idea, Willow. We need to ask Anya if she knows anything about that vampire double of yours anyway, so..." "Vampire double?" Buffy asked surprised. "What vampire double?" Willow and Xander began filling Buffy and the others in on that part of last evening's entertainment while Giles went to the telephone to place a call to his shop assistant. He felt rather embarrassed that he had completely forgotten the oddity of Willow's vampire doppelganger. They really must concentrate on that just as soon as Buffy was back in her own body. *** Anya wasn't happy about getting a call at five a.m. Snatching up the receiver she snapped, "If this is a wrong number, you'd better like oozing pustules because..." "Anya," Giles cut in, "I'm so sorry to wake you this early. This is Rupert Giles." "Oh, Mr. Giles," Anya was immediately the polite, enthusiastic employee. "It's quite all right for you to telephone me even though it is not yet the time I usually awaken. Is there something that I can do for you that will add to my income?" "Uh, actually, Anya, I was calling to ask a favor from you." "A favor?" Anya's voice was less enthusiastic now. "Yes. Willow told me that you and she worked a spell last evening..." Before he could continue, Anya interrupted, "Yes. I'm sorry I used your premises without your express permission; however, I do have receipts for every item I used during the casting of that spell. If you want..." "Anya," Giles cut in again, "we can discuss your spell later. In fact, there is something important that I need to ask you about it. But right now, I need your help in casting a different spell. Could you come to my apartment right away?" "Now?" Anya asked hesitantly. "Yes, Anya," Giles said patiently. "I do believe that is what 'right way' means." Anya was silent for a few seconds and then said, "This isn't inappropriate employer-employee sexual harassment, is it?" "Absolutely not!" Giles snapped offended. "Oh, very well then," Anya replied unfazed by Giles' affront. "I'll be there as soon as I can." With that she hung up the telephone. Giles looked up to see nine pairs of eyes staring at him curiously. "She'll be here a soon as she can," he told them with as much dignity as he could manage.

Chapter #13 - Chapter 13

Thirty minutes later Giles opened the door to an amazingly well put together Anya. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Anya," Giles told her as he stepped back allowing her to enter. "You are my employer," she said in her usual plainspoken manner. "And even though it is many hours before my customary working day is scheduled to begin, I am willing to aid you if you deem it necessary, although you have not offered additional compensation to me for the disruption of my normal routine." Giles sighed and bowed to the inevitable. "I will, of course, pay you for the extra hours this morning, Anya. Unless you would prefer to have time off in lieu of payment?" Anya looked at him with a little frown of confusion wrinkling her forehead. "I cannot make a commission on goods sold if I am not at the store to sell goods." "Of course," Giles murmured. Having settled the issue of her compensation Anya looked around the room for the first time. Her gaze was impassive until it landed on Cordelia. Then it froze. "Hi, Anya. It's good to see you again," Cordelia told her brightly. "I didn't know you were working for Giles." "Yes," Anya answered, her attitude strangely reserved. "I've been working for him for about a month now. He is a satisfactory employer." "Well, that's good to know," Giles muttered. "Anya," he continued in a normal speaking voice, "Willow and Tara are attempting a conjuration spell, but it appears that a third may be needed in order to complete it. Are you willing to assist us in this?" Anya frowned slightly and asked, "What type of conjuration spell?" "We're trying to bring forth a Draconian Katra," Willow answered brightly. "Tara and I almost had it, I think, but then it just fizzled. Wesley thought that another witch would help." "Well first of all, I'm not a witch," Anya stated, frowning slightly. "And secondly, why would you want a Draconian Katra? In the wrong hands, those are extremely dangerous devices." "Yes, we are well aware of that," Giles answered her. "Anya, that is Buffy," he stated, pointing at the dark-haired girl standing next to Spike. "Oh. Very well, I will attempt to assist you." Exhibiting no further curiosity, she stepped forward, checked the alignment of the spell components, made a few minor adjustments, relit the beeswax candles and then sat down looking expectantly at the two witches. Willow and Tara immediately joined her in the circle, joined hands and began the spell invocation. Magic filled the air again as the three young women chanted in unison. The sense of power was far greater than it had been on the previous attempt. And this time when the last word of the spell was spoken, there was a loud pop and in the exact center of the circle a device glowed in the candlelight. They had their Draconian Katra. They also had two unconscious witches. *** "Willow!" Both Buffy and Xander leaped forward towards their friend. Giles also hurried forward and checked first Willow and then Tara. "They appear to be all right physically," he stated. "I believe however that the spell completely drained the last of their reserves." Looking into Buffy's worried face, he added, "They should be fine after a rest. I'm afraid this has been a very long night for all of us." Standing up, he addressed Spike and Angel, "Would you two carry them upstairs and put them to bed? In fact, I think all of us should rest some more. Once the girls are rested and awake, we can discuss how to find Faith and reverse the spell." Turning to his shop assistant, he asked, "Anya, would be mind opening the Magic Box by yourself? I doubt very seriously if I will be able to come in at all today." "Certainly, Mr. Giles. I will be happy to take complete charge of the store," the girl answered, thoughts of not having to share any sales running through her head. "Thank you, Anya. Now let us..." "Uh, Giles," Xander interrupted. He had turned back to the conversation after watching the two vampires accompanied by a very worried Slayer carry the motionless young women upstairs. "Weren't you going to ask Anya about Vamp Willow?" "Ah yes, Xander, thank you." Giles didn't notice the brief flash of uneasiness that crossed his young employee's face. "When you and Willow performed your spell last evening, Willow said that she saw visions of a battle between vampires and humans. One of the people she saw looked exactly like her. Did you also see these visions?" Anya relaxed. Good, he hadn't asked the right question, so she didn't have to worry about being caught in a lie. "No," she told him honestly. "I saw no visions at all." Giles was disappointed but apparently whatever had happened involved Willow only. "Very well, Anya. Thank you for your help this morning and for opening the shop today. I hope to be in at the regular time tomorrow." Giving a brisk nod, Anya hurriedly left the apartment. Once outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was human now, but worried what might happen should the Slayer ever discover her Vengeance Demon past. An angry grimace crossed her face. She wouldn't have to be worried about this if it wasn't for that stupid Willow. She should have known that Willow would screw the spell up in some way. The girl had plenty of power and innate ability, but her control sucked. The only time Willow had ever been halfway competent was when she had been a vampire in that other Sunnydale. Perhaps she should consider leaving Sunnydale once she had saved enough money. The thing was however, she wasn't sure just where else someone of her abilities and background would fit in so well. A hellmouth may not be the best place for a human to live, but it was perfect for the ex-vengeance demon. Well, there was always the hellmouth in Cleveland, she supposed. But it was Cleveland! Anya shuddered at the thought. Walking quickly, she headed back to her apartment and a good, solid breakfast. She hoped that she would have a busy, economically fruitful day. *** Because there were now so many of them, it was decided that Buffy and Joyce would take Cordelia and Wesley and return to the house on Revello Drive to rest. The approaching dawn prevented the vampires from making the trip and this worried Buffy. Walking up to Angel, she said quietly, "I know you're still upset about me and Spike, but I'm trusting you to not fight with him. I really don't want to come back here later to find a dusty pile, okay?" Angel nodded brusquely and walked away from her. Buffy sighed and turned away to see Spike staring at her, head cocked, eyes narrowed. Going up to him she wrapped her arms around him and said, "I just asked Angel to behave and not fight with you. Now I'm asking you the same thing." "No need to worry about me, pet. I'd just as soon ignore his existence," Spike answered her with a snort. "Wish I could go home with you though. Don't like the idea of you being away from me with both Faith and those wankers from the Watcher's Council on the loose." "I'll be okay. There's no way the Watcher goons could know I'm back in Sunnydale and I can take Faith. Besides," she grinned, "Wesley's a big ole rogue demon hunter now. He can protect me." Spike took one look at the thin, bespectacled Englishman and gave her one of his classic smirks. "Oh yeah, Slayer. I'm feeling all reassured now." Buffy laughed, kissed him goodbye and left with her entourage. *** Smith watched as Collins placed the weapons in the trunk of the sedan. "What are you up to?" he asked. "I going after that bitch, that's what I'm up to," Collins told his companion coldly. "We were told to back off temporarily," Smith reminded him. "Travers said..." "I don't give a flyin' fuck what Travers said," Collins snapped. "No woman makes a fool out of me. She's trouble and I'm takin' her out." "We don't even know where she is," Smith protested. "Yeah, well accordin' to Travers, that bunch in Sunnydale's all hot to find her. I'm thinkin' they probably will, and when they do, I'll be there." Smith frowned. "Do you think that maybe she was telling the truth? About the body switch?" Collins shrugged disinterestedly. "So if I take both Slayers out, I know for sure I got the rogue. It's not like Buffy Summers is much better than the other bitch. She doesn't know her place either." Smith made a grab for Collins. "Look, we should wait until Weatherby gets back from making his report," he said. Smith never even saw the fist that knocked him out. *** Faith awakened and turned onto her back allowing her plans for the day to slowly take shape in her mind. Who to kill first? Xander? That might be fun. She remembered how she had almost killed him the first time. If it hadn't been for Angel, Buffy would already be mourning the loss of a Scooby. Yes, Xander was a definite possibility. Then there was Buffy's vampire lover. She should have dusted him last night. Need to work out a little with this body, she decided. Take care of that little coordination problem. Running her hands down over herself, she enjoyed the feel of the small, tight form she now inhabited. Cupping her breasts, she discovered that the nipples were very responsive to the slightest pressure. Bringing her hands up to her mouth, she wet her fingers and then plucked at the rapidly swelling buds, squeezing and pinching until she brought a moan from her throat. Raising her knees and spreading them, she continued stimulating her nipples with one hand as she lowered the other and pressed it between her opened thighs. Inserting one finger in the wet opening, she moved it in and out slowly and then pulled the slick digit out, sliding it up to fondle her clit. As she worked at herself, her hips began to undulate faster in time with her strokes. Rubbing harder, she brought herself off with a small cry of release. As her heartbeat slowed, she sighed in satisfaction. Not as good as being with a man, but it'd do for now. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she padded to the desk. Opening the drawer, she took out the only thing she owned that meant anything to her. She had reclaimed it from Buffy's weapons chest before the cops had arrived. The blade of the large, wicked-looking knife gleamed in the early morning sunlight. Watching the play of light on steel, her mind once again focused on whom to visit first. With a small smile, she finally decided on the one that had always been the most jealous of her; the redheaded bitch, Willow.

Chapter #14 - Chapter 14

It was nearly noon when everyone reassembled at Giles' apartment. Buffy was relieved to see that both vampires were whole and unmarked although they kept as much distance between each other as possible in the small residence. Willow and Tara were awake and alert although both girls were still a little pale. "So, Giles," Buffy asked. "What do we do now? This gizmo won't work unless I touch Faith with it, right?" "Yes, that's correct, Buffy," Giles answered her. "We must find her; the sooner the better. I only hope she hasn't left Sunnydale already." *** Faith finished her workout in the hotel exercise room. She felt more confident in her own skin now. A quick trip to a nearby shopping center had supplied her with toiletries and several changes of clothing, including the shorts and t-shirt she was now wearing. As she headed to her room for a quick shower and change, she reviewed once again her plan for the hunting and killing of Scooby number one. *** Collins pulled into a parking space several doors down from the apartment complex where Rupert Giles lived. Leaving the vehicle, he carefully made his way to the courtyard and casually walked passed the front of Giles' flat. A quick look inside filled him with triumph. There she was. The dark-haired bitch surrounded by far too many people. He would have to bide his time, but he had no doubt that very soon he would see to it that the world had a new Slayer to protect it. *** Weatherby returned to the garage where he had left his two companions. He had received quite a dressing down from Quentin Travers for allowing the rogue Slayer to escape, especially since it appeared that she had performed some type of magic spell on Buffy Summers. Although the Summers girl no longer acknowledged the authority of the Watcher's Council, she was still doing her duty in Sunnydale and her record of averted apocalypses was quite impressive. Plus Weatherby had the distinct impression that Travers was afraid of what Rupert Giles would do to him if anything happened to his Slayer due to the Council's mishandling of Faith. Things were really buggered up. Pulling his car into the garage, he was surprised when he realized that the second car was missing. Perhaps Collins and Smith went to get something to eat. Not that he blamed them. It was almost noon and he hadn't eaten anything himself since lunch yesterday. Deciding he would check for a note, he exited his vehicle and headed towards the table. He was halfway there when he heard a thumping noise coming from the interior of the van. Taking a gun from the shoulder holster he now wore, he slowly opened the backdoor and peered cautiously inside. With a gasp, he quickly holstered his weapon and climbed in. Smith lay there tied and gagged with a large bruise darkening his jaw. Removing the gag he asked anxiously, "Dear God, man. What happened?" "Collins happened," Smith ground out. "The bastard's gone completely round the bend. He's taken a rifle and gone to Sunnydale. Plans to take out both Slayers just to make sure he gets the right one." "Bloody buggering hell!" Weatherby cursed. After unlocking the chains, he hurriedly backed out of the van and headed for the telephone. He had a feeling this last bit was going to put paid on his career with the Watcher's Council. That thought made him stop in his tracks. If he could get to Collins before Collins got to the Slayers, no one need ever know what happened. He was sure Smith would help him. His career was on the line just as much as Weatherby's was. If it wasn't for the chuffing paperwork, Weatherby would take great pleasure in just killing that cocksucker Collins. *** Thanks to the entry in Joyce's address book Faith had found when she looked through it the evening before, she knew where Buffy's dorm room was. She couldn't believe her luck when she realized that Buffy and Willow were roommates, although it really shouldn't have surprised her. Willow had always been so far up Buffy's ass, it was a surprise Buffy could even sit down. No one was there when Faith arrived, but she found Willow's class schedule. Once she located her, she'd simply follow her until the opportunity arose to introduce her to Faith's favorite toy. The thought of the look on Willow's face when her good friend Buffy slid the knife into her gut and twisted it made Faith damp. As soon as this was over, Faith needed to find a man. She was approaching the building where Willow's most recent class was held when she heard a voice calling, "Buffy! Hey, Buffy, wait up." Turning in the direction of the hail, she saw a young, dark-haired man loping towards her. "Buffy, have you seen Willow?" he asked. Faith shook her head, "Nope. I'm looking for her myself, as a matter of fact." "Oh," the young man said in disappointment. "She wasn't in class today and I wanted to return her notebook to her. Would you do me a favor and give it to her when you see her?" The boy grinned good-naturedly. "You can tell her that I didn't get it dirty, or mark it up, or spill coffee on it, or dog-ear it, okay?" Shoving the notebook into Faith's unwilling hands, he smiled his thanks and then loped off again. Faith looked down at the pristine notebook, walked up to the nearest trashcan and dumped it in. *** Everyone waited with baited breath as for the third time that day the two witches worked the location spell. And for the third time, it failed. It had been a long, tiring day. The two girls had required rest after each attempt, neither having fully recovered yet from the conjuration spell. "I'm sorry, Giles," Willow said wearily. "It just doesn't seem to work at all. I think it's confused because Faith's body is here and her spirit is elsewhere. It doesn't know what to do." "Well it's obvious that we need to refine the spell," Wesley stated. "Giles, do you have a copy of the Espesian Grimoire? If memory serves, I believe there is a more powerful spell listed there used to track down the most powerful mages during the Spanish Inquisition." "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Xander declared loudly. At the irritated looks he received, he ducked his head down and muttered, "Jeez, just trying to lighten things up a little." Giving Xander one last irritated glare, Giles turned back to Wesley and said, "Yes I do believe I have a copy at the shop." Wesley looked shocked. "You have such a rare text for sale at your shop?" "Of course not. It's just that I keep most of my rarest texts there. We do the majority of our research at the shop." "Ah," Wesley nodded understanding. "Then I suggest we remove to your shop." As everyone started preparing to leave, Angel said, "What about Spike and me? Are we to just stay here until sunset?" "Well you can if you want, peaches," Spike mocked. "I'm going to the shop too." "I suppose it's too much to hope that you'll burst into flame on the way?" Angel glared. "Angel," Buffy intervened, "Spike goes through the sewer tunnels. There's an opening into the shop basement. You can go with him and meet us there. And," she added firmly, "I expect both of you to meet us there without any bloodshed. Understand?" Both vampires nodded understanding; Angel with a scowl, Spike with a smirk." As the group left, the two vampires ran under cover of blankets to the nearest sewer entrance. The sun was low enough by now that there was plenty of shadow to hide in, which made their journey easier. Once the humans were assured that they were safely in the tunnels, they piled into various vehicles for the trip to The Magic Box. *** Collins sat up in attention as he saw the group enter several cars. Starting the engine of his own vehicle, he carefully followed the cortege. Perhaps their destination would afford him with the opportunity to take out the dark-haired Slayer. Fifteen minutes later, Smith and Weatherby arrived in Sunnydale and proceeded to Rupert Giles' apartment. *** Faith was really getting pissed off. She had had no luck so far in tracking down Willow. The redhead had not been at any of her classes or at the library. On a hunch, Faith headed into town to the Espresso Pump. She remembered that it was one of the gang's favorite hangouts, but hadn't any luck there either. The waitress informed her that she hadn't seen Willow for a couple days now. Sitting at a table and drinking a cup of coffee, Faith tried to decide what her next move would be. Was it possible that somehow Buffy's friends had tumbled to the body switch? Faith couldn't see how. The vampire maybe? Faith thought about this and then dismissed it. No, if there was one thing she knew about Miss Buffy Summers it was the fact that the girl loved her secrets. And screwing another vampire would be high on the secrets list, especially after the mess her one-night stand with Angel had caused. No, there was just no way that anyone would know about the vampire lover so there was no way the vampire could tell them that her attacking him was anything other than the Slayer doing her job. Finishing her coffee, she decided to head back to the house on Revello Drive. Maybe "mom" would have an idea where she could find Willow. And if not, maybe she'd just have to revise her timetable and kill Joyce first, instead of last.

Chapter #15 - Chapter 15

Willow was bored. There was nothing to do, no one to talk to, and it was all burned and dirty in the old factory. She had slept all morning and late into the afternoon in one of the few rooms untouched by fire, but now she was awake and hated being stuck here. Listlessly roaming around she noticed what appeared to be a trap door under some debris. Moving the rubble aside she found an entrance that opened into tunnels. Willow smiled. The Mayor of her Sunnydale had tunnels running throughout the length and breadth of town so that his vampire minions could move about with relative ease. Of course that was before The Harvest. After that, the Mayor was pretty much dead and the minions all belonged to The Master. Looked like this Sunnydale had tunnels too. Willow dropped down and headed in the direction of town. With any luck she'd find some city workers working in the sewers. She was a little hungry again. *** Spike and Angel hadn't gone very far when Spike found himself thrown up against the brick wall of the sewer tunnel. Angel pressed his full weight against the smaller vampire holding him in place with an arm across his throat, his eyes gleaming gold in the dim light. "I know what you're up to with Buffy, Spike," he growled, "and I'm not going to let you hurt her or any of the others. You may have her fooled, but I know you better than that. What's your plan, huh? Get her to trust you completely so that when you kill her it's all the sweeter? Well that's never going to happen, boy." Spike gave his grandsire a disgusted look and pushed him away. "Back off," he snapped. "You don't know anything about me. If I wanted her dead, she'd already be dead. I'm not going it hurt her or the others. I know you don't believe it, and I really don't give a buggerin' fuck that you don't, but I love her." "That's impossible," Angel ground out. "You don't have a soul. You can't love anyone." "No, Angel," Spike said coldly, "that's you." Spike found himself thrown up against the wall again, a stake pressed into his chest. "I should dust you now, tell Buffy we ran into trouble in the sewers. She'll mourn for a while, but she'll get over it and then she'll be safe from you." Spike shoved Angel away from him again. "You know what your problem is? You can't have the girl, but you don't want anyone else to have her either. Well too bad. I've got her and I'm keeping her. Keeping her happy too. Real happy." Angel growled and lifted the stake, "You son of a bitch. You keep your filthy hands off of her. She deserves better than an undead monster like you!" "Yeah?" Spike mocked. "Seems you didn't feel that way when you were busy poppin' her cherry when she was still just a little girl." Shifting into full game face, Angel cursed, knocked Spike back up against the wall and plunged the stake towards Spike's heart. Spike blocked the stake and remembering the move that Buffy had used against him, thrust the flat of his hand into Angel's face, smashing his mouth and dislodging him. Sweeping out with his leg, he tripped Angel knocking him to the ground. Kicking Angel's right hand he sent the stake flying across the tunnel floor. With a roar, Angel came to his feet, seizing Spike and throwing him across the tunnel. Searching for the stake, he went to grab it only to be shoved to the ground on his face as Spike leaped onto his back. Reaching forward, Spike snatched a handful of hair and slammed Angel's head into the brick floor. Grasping the stake, he turned Angel over and lunged down with the sharpened wood...right into the ground next to Angel's head, breaking the stake into dozens of small pieces. Jumping away from his grandsire, he hissed, "You're just lucky I promised Buffy I wouldn't kill you, you back-stabbing bogtrotter. Get this through that thick Neanderthal skull of yours. I. love. the girl. I'm not goin' to do anything to hurt her or her Scoobies." And with that, he turned on his heel and continued towards The Magic Box. Angel got up rubbing his head, looked down at the shattered stake, up at Spike's retreating back and slowly followed. *** Willow watched from around the corner of a tunnel. It was the puppy. Staying back so that he wouldn't sense her presence, she trailed after the two vampires. *** Anya looked up, a pleasant welcoming smile on her face when the shop bell rang. The smile faltered when she saw who entered. "Mr. Giles," she exclaimed. "I thought you weren't going to be in today? Was I mistaken?" "No, Anya," he reassured her. "We need to use some of the reference material I have here at the shop. We'll be in the training room so as not the disrupt the customers." Turning to the others he said, "Move one or two of the tables into the training room while I fetch the text we need." As he headed up the stairs to the loft, Buffy and Xander began moving the largest table. "Oof!" Xander exclaimed as they finally set the table down. "Where are the vampires when you really need them. That thing is heavy." Buffy frowned and looked towards the basement door. "They should be here by now, shouldn't they?" "Hey, don't worry Buff. Maybe they just ran into some large sewer rats that needed exterminating," Xander told her reassuringly. "Spike travels those tunnels everyday. He'll be here soon." As if hearing the young man's words, the door opened and Spike entered the training room. A Spike who had obviously been fighting. "What happened?" Buffy asked, rushing up to her boyfriend. "Nothing, luv," he answered casually. "Me and the poofter ran into a bit of bother, is all. Took care of it." The door opened again and Angel appeared. Buffy looked at his face, her eyes narrowing. The bruise on his mouth looked strangely familiar. "Bit of a bother, huh?" she asked. "Yeah, nothing to worry about. Like I said, me and the old man took care of it." Looking over at Angel, a warning glint in his eyes, he said, "Right?" Angel merely nodded and walked over to join Cordelia. If Spike thought that he was going to change his mind about him just because he hadn't tried to stake him when he had the opportunity, he was seriously mistaken. As long as Spike was playing at being Buffy's Knight in Shining Armor he would make sure that Buffy believed him honorable. But Angel knew better. And he was going to make sure that Spike was dust before he left Sunnydale. Giles came in with a large book in his arms. "I've found the text, Wesley. Have you any idea where the spell is located?" As the two Watchers began to search for the appropriate spell, Buffy watched the two vampires. There was no doubt in her mind whatsoever that the "bit of bother" had been a fight between them. Both vampires had survived the fight, but Buffy decided then and there that they weren't going to be allowed to be alone together again. She didn't want to lose either one. *** Weatherby knocked again at the door to Rupert Giles' flat with no success. Smith peeked in through the window. "Don't look like anyone's home," he told his companion. "Where to next?" "Buffy Summer's house," was the reply. *** Well fuck, Faith thought. No one's here either. Doing a more thorough search than she'd had time for the night before, she found an interesting flyer in one of Buffy's nightstand drawers. It advertised the grand opening of The Magic Box. Rupert Giles, Proprietor. Faith had her next stop. *** The sedan pulled up in front of 1630 Revello Drive, and as the two men got out of the vehicle, they didn't notice the young woman crossing the street at the end of the block headed back towards the center of town. *** Collins once again glanced into a window, but saw only a young woman he didn't recognize manning the counter in the shop. Frowning, he searched but his view was limited. Taking a chance he entered the shop. Once again Anya glanced up, a friendly, helpful expression on her face. "Welcome to The Magic Box. May I assist you?" "No thanks, love," the Englishman said. "Just want to look around a bit. See what sort of stuff you offer for sale." Anya's eyes narrowed slightly. She hated browsers. They never bought anything. That is, if she let them get away without buying anything. Collins casually strolled around, picking up various items as if interested in them, but then putting them down and going to the next shelf, always moving deeper into the shop. It was when he was halfway through the shop, that a door in the back opened and Rupert Giles walked briskly to the counter. Handing a piece of paper to the blonde he said, "Anya, please fill this list and bring the items into the back room as quickly as possible." Turning from the counter Anya said, "But I have a customer I must attend to." "No need," Collins answered quickly. "I'm just leaving." Moving at a rapid pace, he left the shop before the Slayer entered the room and spotted him. So they were in there all right, in the back of the shop. Glancing around, he looked at the building across the street from The Magic Box. Heading back to his car, he began to formulate a plan. Anya frowned at the departing customer's back then snatched up the paper and began gathering the items listed there. Once she had everything requested, she carried them to the back room. Once again preparations were being made for a spell casting. Anya felt a momentary curiosity, but quickly suppressed it. She had a store to attend to. Leaving the backroom, she returned to her counter. *** "I do believe we are now prepared to attempt the new relocation spell," Wesley announced after double and triple-checking everything. "Willow, Tara, if you will take your places, we'll see if we have any better luck." The two witches knelt before the map of Sunnydale and began the spell. The results were immediate. A bright glow appeared on the map, moving from east to west. Both witches smiled in relief. As they watched the glow's movement Xander exclaimed, "Hey, is it me or does it look like she's heading here?" *** Collins quietly closed the door that led to the roof of the building opposite the magic shop. Going to the edge, he was pleased to see that his original observation was correct. He had a perfect view of both front and back doors. Settling down, he slipped the safety off the rifle. Eventually she'd leave the shop. That would be when he would strike. He was unaware that just as he stepped onto the rooftop, his other quarry had also arrived at the shop.

Chapter #16 - Chapter 16

The sun was setting and the street deeply shadowed when once again the bell rang over the shop door. This time when Anya looked up she felt a wave of shock flash through her. There in the doorway stood Buffy. Or rather the girl who had stolen Buffy's body. "Buffy!" Anya exclaimed. "Hello, Buffy. What are you doing here today? Are you here to see Mr. Giles? He's in the backroom. Let me announce you." Before Faith could stop her, the young woman hurried across the room and opened the door located at the back of the shop. "Mr. Giles," Anya chirped nervously. "Guess who's here? It's Buffy!" The last was said just seconds before she was pushed aside and Faith entered the room. And stopped. The room was filled with Scoobies, Watchers, Vampires, Joyce Summers...and Buffy. "Fuck!" Faith exclaimed as she turned and ran for the front door. Buffy was fast on her heels followed by Spike and Angel. She caught up with Faith just as the other girl opened the front door. With a tackle, both women landed on the sidewalk, tumbling until they smashed up against the tires of a car parked in front of the shop. Buffy managed to get on top of Faith and struck her several sharp blows to the head. Faith kicked up and wrapped a strong leg around Buffy, pulling her back and off. Kicking at Buffy's head, she once again tried to run only to be caught in the iron grasp of the blond English vampire. "You're not going anywhere, bitch!" he growled, She struggled, but soon realized that it was hopeless. Even if she got away from this one, Buffy and Angel were right there. She was trapped. Once again she had failed. Her hatred of all of them nearly consumed her. "Willow," Buffy said. "Do you have the Katra device?" Faith's eyes widened as Willow handed Buffy a box containing a palm-sized green-glowing sphere. Xander stood to the side holding a tranquilizer gun in his hands. "Get ready, Xan," Buffy said. Taking the object out of the box, she nodded to Spike who let go of Faith. Everyone stepped back as Buffy grabbed onto Faith's hand. A swirl of energy surrounded them and they gasped. It was a little flash of light that caught Spike's attention. Looking around, he saw the glint from the last light of the dying day reflecting off the barrel of a rifle that a man was aiming from the roof of the building across the street. Xander shot the tranq gun at Faith at the same time Collins fired the rifle. Shouting a warning, Spike grabbed Buffy and pushed her down just at the gun went off. The bullet whizzed by and smashed into the doorway of the shop. Everyone scrambled back into the shop with the exception of the two vampires. Spike and Angel sprinted forward in full game face, rapidly leaping up and grabbing onto window frames and anything else that assisted their climb to the roof. Collins cursed, dropped the rifle and fled. Tearing open the roof door, he entered locking it behind him. Racing down the stairs, he hoped to get back to his car before the two vampires were on him. Who the fuck ever heard of a Slayer having vampire allies? It was his bad luck that he stumbled on the uneven stairs of the old building. Pitching forward he fell tumbling down the steep stairwell. His neck was broken before he even reached the bottom landing. *** Smith and Weatherby were turning the corner a block from The Magic Box when they heard the shot fired. Stopping the car, they jumped out and watched in amazement as two men ran across the street faster than possible for humans. Their suspicion as to the men's natures was confirmed as they watched them scramble up the side of the building. The sound of a door being torn from its hinges followed shortly thereafter. Exchanging glances, they got back into their car and pulled up behind a car they recognized as Collins' sedan. Weatherby took his handgun out of the holster and waited for Collins to appear. He never did, but the two vampires soon exited the building and entered the shop across the street. *** Faith was laid out on the floor of the shop unconscious from the tranquilizer dart Xander had shot into her. Buffy was comforting a softly crying Joyce, reassuring her that everything was okay. Spike went immediately up to the blonde Slayer and asked, "Buffy?" Wrapping her arms around him, Buffy lifted her face to his for a kiss. Touching her mouth tentatively, Spike was soon kissing her deeply. He had no doubt that this was his Slayer. Angel looked away, unable to watch the passionate way the two lovers kissed. Joyce gave a hitching laugh, wiped tears from her eyes and said, "Okay you two; break if up. This is no way to behave in front of your mother." Buffy blushed and Spike grinned at Joyce as they came up for air. "What happened with the man that shot at us?" Giles asked. "Dead," Angel answered. Buffy gasped and pulled back from Spike. Staring wide-eyed at Angel she asked, "You killed him?" "No!" Angel asserted, more than a little hurt that she assumed it had been he that killed the man. Apparently Spike had her convinced that he wouldn't kill anyone, not just her Scoobies. "Then what happened?" Buffy asked, looking once again at Spike. "Fell down the stairs and broke his bleedin' neck, mores the pity. I had all kinds of plans for him and that bloody rifle of his." "Who was he?" Xander asked. The two vampires shook their heads but Spike added, "I hate to ask you to do this, love, but I think you should look at him. I have a feeling he's probably one of those Council wankers that kidnapped you yesterday." Buffy shuddered, but nodded her agreement. Leaving the shop, the two vampires and Slayer crossed the street and entered the building. Giles and Joyce watched anxiously and soon a very pale Buffy exited the door, a concerned Spike walking closely at her side. "It's Collins," she told her Watcher as soon she entered The Magic Box. "He's the one that tried to shoot me in Los Angeles, too. Has a real thing for guns apparently." Giles sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'll have to call Quentin Travers and inform him," he said. "Giles," Buffy began. "No, Buffy. I'm sorry, but this is Council business. It's their mess and they'll have to clean it up." "And what about Faith?" she asked heatedly. "We'll take care of her," a voice said from the shop door. Turning to face the front of the shop, Buffy glared at the man who stood there. "I don't think so," she said standing protectively in front of the drugged Slayer. "If you think you're going to take her out of here just so you can kill her..." "No, we have different orders now," Weatherby assured the angry Slayer. Lifting up a small case he continued, "I'm sure Mr. Giles will recognize what I have with me." Opening the lid of the case he revealed several vials of some kind of drug. Giles flushed and looked guiltily at Buffy. "It's the drug the Council uses for The Cruciamentum." Looking away quickly from Buffy's outraged expression he said to Weatherby, "I take it that the Council intends to keep her under the influence of this drug until she is safely confined in London?" Weatherby nodded. "I was given this after she escaped our custody." Turning and bowing to Buffy he corrected, "Or I should say after Miss Summers escaped our custody." "You mean escaped your attempt to murder me," she snapped. Any further conversation was interrupted when Smith entered the shop. "Collins is dead," he told his companion. Weatherby looked at the two vampires, instinctively reaching for the stake tucked away in the pocket of his jacket. "They didn't kill him," Buffy told him coldly. "He fell while running away after trying to shoot me. Again." Weatherby looked questioningly at Smith who shrugged. "Could have happened that way. Or they could have snapped his neck and tossed him down the stairs." Buffy bristled at the accusation, but Spike said calmly, "No, mate, you can believe me this. If either of us had caught up to him, he wouldn't have died so cleanly." "Spike, not helping here," Buffy warned her lover. "We will accept your explanation," the Englishman assured her. "Now, as to Faith," he began and then hesitated. Weatherby and Smith were well aware of the hostility in the room, especially from the two vampires, one of whom, the one the Slayer had addressed as Spike, stood proprietarily close to her. "You must understand," Weatherby tried to explain, "we were under orders..." "Yeah mate," the white-haired vampire remarked, "heard that one before. Now where was it? Oh yeah, Nuremberg." Weatherby flushed angrily, but wisely held his tongue. Once again addressing Giles he said, "If you don't believe that we mean Faith no further harm, I suggest that you call Mr. Travers. He will confirm what I've said." Giles immediately made for the telephone as everyone stood glaring at the Watchers Council's agents. Xander suddenly realized he was still holding the tranquilizer gun. He went to put it down when Angel said, "Here give it to me; I'll go put it away. I need to get away from these guys for a couple minutes." Xander took one look at Angel's face and hastily turned the gun over to him. Angel stalked across the shop and entered the training room. Setting the gun down next to the door to the basement, he removed his coat, walked over to Buffy's punching bag, and began pounding on it. He was having a very hard time containing his demon around those Watchers. They had destroyed whatever chance Faith had for redemption last year and now they had tried to kill her, which because of the Katra spell meant that they very nearly killed Buffy. Buffy heard the sound of the punching bag being pounded. Turning to Xander with a raised eyebrow he shrugged and said, "I think he's working out a few Watcher related issues." Nodding in understanding, Buffy paid no further attention to the sounds coming from the training room, instead concentrating on Giles' telephone conversation. She didn't notice a popping sound or a thud louder than the others. Nor did she notice the sudden quiet.

Chapter #17 - Chapter 17

The slender vampire dropped the dead weight to the floor of her makeshift bedroom. "You're very heavy, aren't you, puppy?" she said in the slightly bored drawl with which she habitually spoke. After first stripping off his shirt, she reached up and grasped the chains that hung from the wall attaching them to the wrists of the still unconscious Angel. Satisfied, she stepped back and examined her prize. At last she would have something to keep her entertained until she reclaimed Xander and found a way home. *** It had been a very heated discussion, but at last Giles was satisfied with the assurances he received from Quentin Travers. Addressing Buffy he told his Slayer, "Quentin assures me that everything will be done to rehabilitate her. She will receive the most expert psychiatric care. If she responds, in time she may be allowed to resume her duties." Buffy frowned not sure that she liked the idea of Faith being permitted to resume Slayer duties. While she didn't want to see Faith killed, neither did she trust the young woman enough to want to see her free. "Are you sure we can trust Travers to keep his word that she won't be killed, Giles?" "We really don't have much of a choice, Buffy." "If we turn her over to the regular authorities..." "Buffy, you know that really isn't an option. No regular jail cell could hold an unwilling Slayer." Flashing Wesley a cold glance she said, "The thing is Giles, the Council didn't do too good a job with Faith last time they tried to "help" her." Wesley stiffened at this reminder of his failure with the girl who had been his first responsibility as a Watcher, but before he could say anything Joyce stepped forward and put her arms around her daughter. "Honey, I know you feel bad about how things turned out last year with Faith, but you did everything you could to try to help her. She made the decision to try to blame you for the Deputy Mayor's death and she chose to join with the Mayor." Buffy looked up at her mother with tears in her eyes. Gently pushing her daughter's hair back from her face, Joyce continued, "Mr. Giles believes that the Council is the best equipped to help Faith. Let her go with them." Buffy rested her head on her mother's shoulder and then pulling back nodded reluctant agreement. Although she certainly didn't trust the Council, she realized that she really had little choice than to turn Faith over to them. As Giles had said, no regular jail or prison could ever hold an unwilling Slayer, so the only other option was for the Watcher's Council to take her, confine her and help her as best they could--which Buffy didn't believe would be much. Very well," Weatherby said, trying his best to sound confident and in charge. "I'll inject her with the dampening drug now before she wakes up." Placing the case on a nearby display table, he opened it up and reached for the first vial. As sometimes happens when there are a large group of people in a room, nobody was watching the thing that needed watched assuming someone else was doing it. Faith had awakened and was slowly gathering her strength. When she attacked, she took everyone by surprise. Leaping up, she grabbed the person nearest to her to use as a shield. Pulling the Mayor's gift from where she had it concealed, she placed the sharp blade against Tara's throat. "I don't think I'm going to go to London or anyplace else with you two," she sneered. Moving towards the door and pulling Tara with her she said to the Watchers, "Toss your car keys here." Pushing the blade of the knife a fraction closer to Tara's neck she warned her, "And you better catch them unless you want your throat cut." Smiling wickedly, she relished the soft cry of pain from her hostage as a thin stream of blood ran from the shallow cut on her neck. "Cut deeper, that is." Willow saw the blood and something inside of her snapped. She was aware of shouts of protest, of Giles trying to reason with Faith, of Spike's rumbling growl. She was aware of all of this, but it was only background noise. Summoning a spell she wasn't even aware that she knew, her eyes turned black, her arm shot forward with finger pointing and she cried out, "Pain!" Faith stiffened as her mouth contorted into a rictus of agony, the knife dropping from nerveless fingers. Spike leapt forward and pulled Tara away from the silently screaming Slayer as Buffy tried to get Willow to stop the spell. "Willow!" she cried, shaking her friend, "Willow, stop it!" Tara rushed to her lover, grabbing her and begging her to release the spell. It was Tara's voice that finally broke through Willow's rage. With a shudder, she slumped into Tara's arms, knees buckling from exhaustion, blood pouring from her nose. Faith crashed to the floor once again unconscious. Weatherby and Smith stared in horror at the young witch, shocked at the raw power she possessed. This was certainly something that needed to be brought to the attention of the Watchers Council. Cordelia felt her flesh creep as she remembered the way she'd treated Willow for years. She looked around for Angel, wanting to ask him how soon they could leave. It was then that she noticed that he had not returned from the training room, even with all the commotion that had just gone on. Frowning slightly, she made her way to the back room only to find it empty and the back door standing wide open. Crossing the room to the open door she called, "Angel? You out here?" The alley was as empty as the training room with the exception of two cars. Wait a minute. Two? Looking around she realized that Angel's black convertible was missing from where Wesley had parked it at the end of the alley. Why would Angel have left? Returning to the training room she at last noticed Angel's coat thrown across the pommel horse. Entering the shop, she walked up to Wesley and said, "Wes, Angel's missing." *** Angel came awake to the sensation of his face being hit with a methodical series of stinging slaps. "Wake up, puppy." As he groggily regained consciousness, he realized that the voice calling to him was familiar. "Willow?" "Yes, puppy, it's Willow. Did you have a good sleep? Are you all rested now?" Her voice sounded strange. Opening eyes that at first refused to focus, he gradually became aware that he was hanging from chains and that the Willow he faced was not the Willow he had been with just moments? hours? days? before. Pulling at his chains earned him a headache when Willow roughly shoved his head back into the wall, nearly fracturing his skull. "Naughty puppy," she scolded. "Puppy tries to break his leash, he's gonna be punished." Pushing her face closer to his, she opened her mouth and ran her tongue up the side of his face. "Does puppy like to be punished?" she asked in a sultry tone. Angel's head was throbbing painfully from both the tranquilizer drug and the blow to his skull. When his eyes were again able to focus he realized that he recognized where he was. "This is the old factory," he said before he could stop himself. Willow pouted. "Yes, but it's not as nice as the one I'm used to. It's all burned up and nasty. Do you know why it's all burned up, puppy?" "There was a fire." Willow banged his head into the wall again eliciting a grunt of pain from the big vampire. "Puppy thinks he's funny. I don't like funny." Between the head bashing he had received from Spike and now this, Angel felt as if his brains were going to start dribbling out of his ears. As his tormenter moved away from him, he took in a deep breath of air in an attempt to control the pain. When the pounding ache subsided a little, he asked, "How did I get here?" The young vampire had been picking through a few items laid on top of an old broken table. Turning to him with a wicked grin she held up a set of keys and jingled them at him. "I like your car. Xander always liked your car too. It was fun. He used to love to ram it into things. Did you know that people make the best speed bumps?" "Xander?" Although the pain in his head was making it hard to concentrate, Angel was beginning to suspect that this vampire Willow was not just a double, but actually Willow from a parallel dimension. Just how she had gotten here, he had no idea. "Yeah, Xander. You know Xander, don't you puppy? I saw you with the other one, the live one. I don't like him; not right now anyway. But soon enough he'll join me and then we'll all have fun playing together. Wanna play, puppy?" As she walked back towards Angel, he saw the thin sharp knife in her hand. *** Weatherby finished the injection and then, pulling her arms behind her back, locked handcuffs onto Faith's wrists. Standing up he addressed Giles, "If I may use your telephone, I'll make sure that our transport is notified that we're on our way." At Giles' nod of permission, he hurried forward to make the call. Buffy walked over to Smith and with a cold expression on her face told him, "I'm going to want to talk to Faith on a regular basis, just to make sure she's still breathing. You make sure Travers knows this." Swallowing nervously, the Council agent stammered acknowledgement. Weatherby's call was short and soon he was back by his partner's side. "By the time we return to Los Angeles, our plane will be ready to take off. Miss Summers, I personally guarantee Faith's safety until such time as I turn her over to her caretakers in London." "And then what?" Buffy asked, "You wash your hands of her?" "Miss Summers, please." Weatherby wasn't sure exactly what the Slayer expected of him, but Buffy merely turned and walked away. She could hardly stand the sight of either of them and just wanted them and Faith gone from her town. The sooner the better. Smith took the case that contained the dampening drugs and left the shop to get the car and bring it closer to the front of the shop. "Ah, guys?" Xander inquired diffidently. "What about your dead buddy across the street? You just gonna to let him lie there?" Weatherby glanced across to the building where Collins had so foolishly lost his life. He wasn't sure if he believed the Summers girl that her vampires hadn't killed Collins, but it hardly mattered. The man was now dead and the mess would be covered up. The Council would see to it. "No need to be concerned, young man. We will take care of everything. No one here will be disturbed." By now Smith had returned to the shop so the two men lifted Faith up and carried her to the backseat of the large dark green Ford now double-parked in front. Weatherby climbed in behind the driver's wheel as Smith returned to the sedan that Collins had driven. With no further acknowledgement of the people crowded around the shop doorway, they drove off into the cool California night. When the cars were no longer visible on the street Buffy and Spike went back inside. "Giles, Spike and I are going to take mom home, okay? She's exhausted." "Yes, of course, Buffy. I think all of us could use a decent night's rest. Xander if you would be so good as to give..." His words were cut off as Wesley said from the training room door. "I'm afraid we have another problem."

Chapter #18 - Chapter 18

Blank faces stared at Wesley after he had made his pronouncement. "Now what," Spike snapped tiredly. "Angel's missing," Wesley told the group. "His coat is here, but he and the car are missing." "Yeah? Well maybe he suddenly remembered he ran out of that hair gel he likes so much and wanted to get to the mall before it closed," Spike snarked disinterestedly. Buffy glared at her boyfriend and turned back to Wesley. "Do you think something happened to him? I mean, what could have happened? Maybe he just felt the need to get away for a bit. Xander said he was having Watcher issues." Cordelia shook her head. "Look, maybe Spike runs out on you without warning, but Angel wouldn't do that to us, not when we may need him." Buffy shot Cordelia a withering look, but ignored her comment. "Did you guys look for a note or anything?" Entering the training room closely followed by Spike she stopped and looked around. Nothing seemed disturbed with the exception of Angel's coat haphazardly thrown across her exercise horse. Xander had followed along more out of curiosity than concern and noticed the tranquilizer gun lying on the floor by the basement door. Going over to it, he picked it up and headed to the cabinet where it was usually kept. Breaking it open, he went to remove the unused dart. The gun was empty. Turning, he looked over the area where the gun had lain, but saw nothing. Opening the cabinet, he checked the supply of darts remaining. "Uh, Houston, I think we have a problem." Four faces turned their attention to him. "What, Xander?" Buffy asked, walking towards him. "We're missing a tranq dart," he told his friend. "I loaded the gun with another dart just to be on the safe side, you know, in case one didn't take Faith down. I only needed one, which means there was still one in the gun. Now there's not. And it's not in the cabinet. We had exactly twelve darts, and there are only ten here now." "Okay, everyone look to see if Angel unloaded the gun and dropped the dart somewhere." Buffy carefully checked the pockets of Angel's coat as the others conducted a thorough search of the room. Meanwhile, Spike was sniffing around, scenting the air. Something wasn't right here, a smell that was slightly off. Going to the training room door, he yelled out, "Willow, come here a minute." Tara helped a wobbly Willow into the room and over to the vampire. Willow jerked back a bit when Spike lowered his head and inhaled deeply. "Hey, what're you doing?" she asked, taken aback. Ignoring her question, he turned on his heel and walked back over to the basement door. Sniffing lightly, he moved around the area slowly, then opened the basement door and stepped inside. By now everyone had stopped their own searches and watched the vampire's odd actions. The sound of Spike first descending and then ascending the steps was followed quickly by his reappearance. He then went to Angel's coat, picked it up, smelled it, made a face of disgust, "Angel b.o.," he snorted and then went back over to Willow and smelled her again. Finally finished, he turned to Buffy and asked, "You remember Xander tellin' you about the vampire he saw that looked just like Willow?" At Buffy's slow nod, he said, "Well, she doesn't just look like Willow, she smells like her too except for the scent of old dried blood, and she was here." *** Angel's head was thrown back and a grimace of pain distorted his features as the young vampire drew the knife blade down his body. "Why are you doing this?" he gasped, trying hard to control the pain. "Lots of reasons," she drawled. Leaning in to lick at the welling blood, she said, "I'm doing it because it's fun." Another cut, another lick. "I'm doing it because you tried to fight against The Master." Another cut. "The Master's dust," Angel ground out. "Buffy dusted him and then pounded his bones into sand." She shoved the knife straight into his stomach and twisted. Angel cried out at the agony. "Not where I'm from," she snarled. "He owns Sunnydale and everyone in it. Including you." Pulling out the knife, she leaned into him whispering, "He lets me play with you all I want." Drawing the blunt side of the knife down his body and past the waistband of his trousers, she held the point of the knife to the bulge of his semi-hard cock. "But you wanna know mostly why I do this?" she purred. "It's because you're an abomination." With that she shoved the knife through the material of his slacks and straight into his penis. Angel screamed and passed out. Standing back away from her victim, Willow slowly licked the blood from the knife and then once again began methodically slapping him until she had brought him back to consciousness. She didn't want him to miss a second of the pain she brought him. Thirty minutes later, she stepped back and wiped the blood from her mouth. With a sigh, she droned, "Bored now." As she turned and walked away from him, Angel let his head fall forward trying his best to control the waves of anguish that radiated through him. He wondered now that she was tired of her play if she would just stake him. Somehow, he didn't think he would be that lucky. She took too much pleasure in his torture. Turning back to look at him, she said, "This just isn't as much fun as it is when Xander helps me." She grinned at Angel, a malevolent gleam in her eye. "He hates you even more than I do." Walking slowly back over to him, she leaned close, reached up, grabbed his chains and gave a strong tug. The chains stayed firmly attached to the wall. Angel knew they would. He had placed them there himself. "I think it's time I found Xander," Willow said. "You behave yourself, puppy. I'll be back." As soon as she was out of sight, Angel began pulling at his chains, but all he accomplished was splitting open the half-healed cuts on his chest. Hissing in pain, he could only hope that Buffy would find him before Willow's return. And he hoped that Xander stayed close to Buffy. It was the boy's only hope. *** "Are you sure, Willow?" Buffy asked anxiously. Once again the young witch had performed a location spell, this time attempting to find the missing vampire. "You can see for yourself, Buffy," Willow answered, indicating the glow on the Sunnydale map. "He's somewhere in this area." Spike looked at the map and declared, "That's the old factory." Buffy nodded. She wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but was positive that Angel was in trouble. The missing tranquilizer dart coupled with the scent of Willow's twin spelled bad news for Angel. Although why Willow, even a vampire Willow, would kidnap Angel was a mystery. "Okay, Spike and I will go to the factory and see if we can find Angel. The rest of you might as well go home. Cordelia and Wesley can go with mom, and..." "I'm coming with you," Wesley interrupted. "Look Wes," Buffy said. "I know you're worried about Angel, but Spike and I can handle it on our own. We..." "No, Buffy," Wesley replied firmly. "I'm afraid I must insist on accompanying you." Buffy's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to baby-sit you, Wesley," she stated coldly. "You don't need to worry about Wesley," Cordelia interjected. "And if Spike is going, Wesley should go too. Just to make sure that Angel doesn't accidentally fall on a stake." "Hey!" Buffy protested. "Let it go, pet," Spike said. "And if we're mounting this rescue mission, can we get on with it?" "Worried about Angel, Spike?" Cordelia scoffed. "Don't give two flips about Angel, luv," Spike told her. "But the sooner we find him, the sooner you lot can leave. Then everyone's happy." Turning away, he headed for the shop door. Buffy shook her head at her lover's remark and followed him out of the shop. "Don't worry, Cordelia," Wesley told the brunette. "We'll find him." Taking the tranquilizer gun and darts, he too left the shop. "Okay," Xander said, "What say we take Buffy's advice and head home." Making a sweeping gesture, he indicated the doorway and bowing slightly said, "Ladies." Joyce, Cordelia, Tara and Willow filed out of the shop. Since Spike had borrowed Giles' car to get to the factory, Anya had offered to drive Giles home. After checking to see that everything was locked up, Giles and Anya also left. *** Willow was just driving down the street as everyone left the store. Pulling over out of sight, she decided to follow Xander. At some point she was sure she would be able to get him alone. She knew better than to try to take on the White Hats on her own, but Xander by himself wouldn't be a problem. Once she sired him, things would get interesting again. Everything was more fun with Xander.

Chapter #19 - Chapter 19

Spike pulled up as close to the old factory as he could get without being spotted and stepped out of the car. Buffy and Wesley followed and then watched as Spike once again sniffed the air scenting for Angel. Nodding that he'd caught the scent, they followed as he led them around to the rear of the crumbling building. He opened a door being careful not to make any unnecessary noise and entered. Casting about, he made his way swiftly and silently through the factory. Buffy and Wesley followed as quietly as they could and when Wesley stumbled over some of the debris littering the floor he received glares from his two companions. They had passed through the large open manufacturing area and were approaching the office area when Spike stopped suddenly. Turning to Buffy he said softly, "He's here all right. I can smell him. And I smell blood." "Blood?" Buffy asked worriedly. "His or human?" "His. Smell the vampire Willow too. She's been here. Don't know if she still is though" Buffy pulled her stake from the waistband of her jeans as Spike shifted into game face. They weren't sure what they were going to encounter inside, but they wanted to be prepared for anything. Wesley followed their lead and held the tranquilizer gun at the ready. Moving forward once more they warily opened the door in front of them. "Dear God," Wesley whispered as he looked into the room. Buffy gasped in alarm when she saw Angel hanging limply from chains attached to the wall, his torso a bloody mess. She hurried forward, while Spike and Wesley scanned the room for any sign of the young vampire. Once they were certain the Willow wasn't around, the two men joined Buffy. "He's unconscious and I can't get these damned chains off," Buffy said anxiously. Wesley looked around and spotting the table full of odds and ends went to it and searched for a key. "There's nothing here. It looks as if you'll have to pull the chains from the wall. We'll worry about removing them once we get him out of here." As Buffy reached up to grab the links, Spike put a stalling hand on her arm. "Hold off, love. Let me check something first." Turning away, he left the room. Buffy looked around for something with which to clean the blood from Angel, but there was nothing except his shirt. Grabbing it up, she began to gently mop up the blood that was still sluggishly seeping from a few of the deeper cuts. With a groan, Angel began to regain consciousness. "Buffy?" "God, Angel, I'm so sorry this happened to you," she told him gently. I promise you, that bitch is dust just as soon as I catch up with her." Spike returned to this tender scene and a wave of jealously and anger flashed through him that he quickly suppressed. Of course Buffy would be concerned for Angel. It was a fact of life that Spike would have to accept as long as he wanted to be with Buffy. Buffy loved Spike, he had no doubts at all about that, but she would always care for Angel. He had no doubts about that either. Getting himself under control, he came forward and began to unlock the manacles at Angel's wrists. "Where'd you get the key?" Buffy asked. "Had spares hidden away," Spike answered. "Angelus loves his chains and shackles. I learned a long time ago to keep copies of keys to his toys." "Angelus put these chains up?" Buffy asked, looking disturbed. She glanced at Angel and saw a grimace of discomfort on his face that she didn't think was entirely due to his wounds. "Yeah," was all Spike said. When Angel had lost his soul, he had been even more vicious than before, making up for all the years the soul had held him in check. Spike wanted to tell Buffy how Angel had chained Dru up, whipped her, fucked her and humiliated her. How he would bring human victims in, rape them, male or female, children or adult--it didn't matter--and torture them for hours and days on end just for the pleasure of hearing them scream, often not even bothering to feed from them. But he knew that he could never tell Buffy about this side of Angel. The fact was that although he himself wasn't into torture, not without good reason, it had never really bothered him what Angel did to the humans. And Dru had enjoyed it. So he kept it to himself. Just as he kept his own past deeds to himself. Buffy would never allow herself to be with him if she knew the full truth about him. Pettily informing Buffy about Angelus' actions during that period would probably end up hurting him more than Angel. If he wanted Buffy, he knew he had to act like a man not a vengeful monster. And he wanted Buffy. Once Angel was freed, Spike and Buffy supported him as Wesley began to lead the way back out of the factory. Angel had managed only a couple steps before crying out in pain and nearly collapsing. "Angel?" Buffy said in concern. It was while looking down at his legs that she noticed the bloodstain on his trousers. "Oh my god, Angel, what did she do?" Spike's eyes tracked hers and he shuddered. "Christ, Angel, did that bitch castrate you?" He heard Wesley gasp at the question. "No," Angel managed to gasp out. "She stabbed me. I'll be okay. Hurts like hell, though." Suppressing another shudder, Spike lifted Angel a little higher taking the weight off the larger vampire's legs. Buffy helped as best she could, but the size difference made it awkward. Angel had relapsed back into semi-consciousness and so he barely heard it when Buffy said, "We'll take him to my house. Xander should have dropped Mom and Cordelia off there by now." "Xander," he gasped. "Shush, Angel. It's okay. We'll have you home soon," Buffy told him in a concerned voice. "No, Buffy, listen," Angel forced out though pain clenched teeth. "Xander's in danger. Willow is out to get him, wants to sire him." "Fuck!" Spike snapped. "We've got to get going, pet. Let go of Angel." "Spike," Buffy began only to draw in a surprised breath when Spike scooped Angel up in his arms like a baby and began to sprint out of the factory. The jarring run spread waves of pain throughout Angel's body, but he merely held in his cries. They had to get to Xander before the vampire did or the boy would be lost. *** Willow parked the large black convertible several blocks away from her destination. Slipping through backyards, she made her way to the Harris house and disappeared into the shadows. She had realized where he was heading after dropping the last two women off and had sped through the streets to arrive ahead of him. She hoped he wouldn't take long getting home. She hated lying in wait. It was boring. *** Xander watched until Joyce and Cordelia entered the house and closed the front door before pulling away. He had already dropped Willow and Tara off at the University and could hardly wait to reach his own home. It was still relatively early, but the few hours' sleep he'd caught in Giles' armchair had not really been conducive to rest. He heard the sweet siren song of his bed calling to him. *** Buffy was terrified for Xander and kept urging Spike to drive faster. "That bitch is double dusted if she's hurt Xander," Buffy promised flatly. "Don't dust her, Buffy," Angel warned. Buffy turned around in the front seat to look in surprise at Angel. "Why? Look what she did to you, and now she's after Xander. Why shouldn't I dust her?" "I don't think she's just a lookalike caused by that spell," Angel explained, his voice weak and tired. "I think she's from a parallel dimension and if you dust her we don't know what kind of repercussions that may have here in this dimension." "Huh?" "Ah, I think I understand what Angel is suggesting," Wesley interjected. "There are many theories with regard to parallel dimensions. For instance, one posits that if your double dies in their dimension, then you would die here. However that theory obviously doesn't hold true here since our Willow did not die when the other Willow was originally killed. Another theory is that one's double is the exact opposite of oneself. Those who are good here are evil there and vice versa." Spike looked into the rearview mirror at the Watcher and smirked, "Yeah, I saw that episode of Star Trek too. Dru thought Spock looked right cute in his beard." Buffy ducked her head and turned back around in her seat before the look of outrage on Wesley's face caused her to burst out laughing. Spike had a real talent for deflating the biggest egos. God, she loved him. "However," Wesley continued in an offended voice ignoring Spike, "I agree with Angel that since we don't know what connections there may be between the doubles, it would probably be best if we simply capture vampire Willow and attempt to return her to her own world." "Well guess it's a good thing you brought the tranq gun then, huh?" Buffy said. Looking out the car window she added worriedly, "I just pray we get to Xander in time." "We will, sweetheart," Spike reassured her, reaching over and entwining his fingers with hers, squeezing gently. Buffy smiled gratefully at her lover and leaning back in the seat tried to think of anything but the danger Xander was in. If anything happened to him... *** Xander pulled up to the curb in front of his house and got out of his car. A shower, a shave, a Hungry Man dinner while watching a little TV and then bed. Sounded like a plan. He had almost reached the front door when something moved in the deep shadows cast by the bushes that lined the front of the house. A human shaped body separated itself from the darkness and Xander felt his heart start to pound as he recognized who it was. "Hello, Xander. Wanna play?"

Chapter #20 - Chapter 20

The old Citroen sped down the street in the direction of the Harris house. Wesley stared out the window as the scenery flew by in a blur. He was concerned for Angel who was in obvious pain, and he was concerned for Xander who was in deadly danger. He was so deep in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice the car as they raced by, and they were well past it before he made the connection. "Angel's car!" "What?" Spike snapped. "Back there a bit. Angel's car." "You sure?" "Positive." Somehow, Spike managed to get a little more speed out of the small car. Tires screeched as he whipped around the final corner and turned onto Xander's street. *** Xander stared in horror as the vampire Willow started to stalk him. Fumbling in his jacket pocket, he managed to pull out a stake and with trembling hands he grasped it tightly. "Stay away from me," he told her, his voice shaky. "I'll dust you if I have to." "You don't want to dust me, Xander," she smiled sultrily. "Not when we can have so much fun together." Reaching forward, she casually shoved the stake aside and ran her hands up his chest. Leaning into the young man, she brushed her lips against his, increasing the pressure when he didn't resist. Xander was lost. He hadn't kissed Willow since the Spring Fling; certainly not since she started dating Tara. And even when he had kissed her before, it hadn't felt like this. His lips parted involuntarily as she flicked her tongue over them. He felt a flash of heat race through him and he hardened painfully as her tongue greedily invaded his mouth. She kissed him wildly and rubbed her hips against his erection drawing a groan from deep inside him. Grasping his hair she pulled his head back and drew her lips across the side of his face and to his neck. Xander knew that he should push her away, stake her, run, something, anything, but he felt caught and helpless. He was shaking uncontrollably with want and desire and need. When he felt her shift into game face, he waited helplessly for the bite that would drain the life from him. Her fangs had barely penetrated his neck when he dimly heard the squeal of tires and his name being called. The vampire raised her face from his neck and he heard her hiss in rage before he was roughly thrust aside. Dazed, he was scarcely aware of falling to the ground until he felt himself being supported in a half-sitting position. Opening his eyes he saw Spike looking at him with concern. "You all right?" Xander nodded weakly. He wondered why he felt slightly disappointed. He didn't want to become an evil, undead thing. He didn't. Spike turned the boy's head and inspected the bite marks. They were bleeding, but Spike could tell that he hadn't suffered much damage. They probably wouldn't even leave a scar. Searching through Xander's coat pockets he found a clean handkerchief and pressed it to the wounds. The blood scent was driving him crazy and he wanted nothing more than to sink his own fangs into Xander's neck, but he kept tight control over his demon. Looking up, he watched as Buffy and the vampire fought. The other Willow was fast and strong, but she was no match for an enraged Slayer. Within minutes, the young vampire was pinned and Buffy raised her stake in preparation to dispatch the creature that had dared to hurt her friends. "Buffy, no!" Wesley's cry caused Buffy to stop a mere fraction of an inch from driving home the killing blow. "We're not going to kill her, remember?" "Then you better shoot her now, Wesley," Buffy said coldly. Coming up to the two women, Wesley carefully aimed the gun, but Willow lurched at the last second almost dislodging Buffy from on top of her. Wesley lifted the barrel of the gun and waited until Buffy had subdued her again and then quickly fired the weapon. Willow screamed in anger, but within seconds was unconscious from the tranquilizer. Standing up, Buffy hurried over to her friend. "Xander, you okay?" she asked worriedly. By now he was sitting up on his own and Spike was standing next to him. "Yeah, I'll be all right. Fang boy here didn't finish the job, so I guess I'll live." Spike just snorted and walked over to help Wesley transfer the vampire to the car. Opening the trunk, they unceremoniously tossed her in and slammed down the lid. "Come on, pet. Let's go before she wakes up." Xander climbed into the backseat, eyes opening wide when he caught sight of Angel. "Holy schmoley, did she do that to you?" As Angel nodded weakly, Xander felt a shiver go through him, and he felt even guiltier for not trying harder to resist Willow. Wesley asked Spike to drive back to Angel's car and when they arrived, he jumped out and entered the vehicle. Willow had left the keys in the ignition so Wesley started the engine and followed the others back to The Magic Box. While Spike opened the trunk of the car to retrieve the vampire and Buffy and Xander helped Angel into the back of the shop, Wesley opened the trunk of Angel's car and removed a heavy set of chains. Spike turned with the still unconscious vampire in his arms and raised one sardonic eyebrow. "We keep them handy for situations like these," Wesley said stiffly. "Sure, mate. Whatever you say," Spike answered in amusement. Did the git really think he gave a shit why Angel kept chains in the back of his car? If Angel wanted to play bondage fun, it made no difference to Spike as long as the big poofter stayed the hell away from him and his. Buffy was making sure that Angel was comfortable on the old training room sofa when Wesley and Spike entered and looked in surprise at the chains in Wesley's hands. She glanced at Spike in question, but he merely shrugged and then instructed Wesley where to hook up the chains. By the time the vampire began to come around, she was securely bound to the wall. After retrieving Giles' First Aid Kit so that Wesley and Spike could attend to the wounded, Buffy returned to Giles' office to call him. "Angel's pretty hurt, but he'll heal okay," she was telling him. "We're going to need more blood though. Anyway, while we were looking for Angel, Vampire Willow went after Xander to sire him. No, he's okay. We got there just in time. I didn't know that hunk of junk of yours could move so fast. No, Giles, Spike didn't wreck it. Anyway, we're all here, including Vampire Willow. Seems that Angel and Wesley are afraid that we'll mess something up between dimensions if I just dust her so they want us to try and send her home." Buffy sighed and twirled the cord on the phone as she listened to her Watcher. "I don't know how, Giles. But Willow and Anya did something that brought her here, so they're the ones that need to figure out how to send her back." Yawning hugely, she added, "Look Giles, I'm beat. We're all going to crash here at the Magic Box and guard the vampire. We'll decide what to do in the morning, 'kay? Just bring blood." After a few more words and more assurances that they were all right, Buffy hung up the phone and then picked it up to call her mom. Cordelia wanted to come back to the Magic Box but Buffy told her flat out that everyone was too exhausted to come fetch her. She hung up in the middle of a Cordy rant and called Willow. Willow agreed to come to the Magic Box first thing in the morning. Buffy returned to the training room to find that Spike had laid the training mats out so they could be used as pallets. Buffy handed Angel a mug of blood she had brought with her from the tiny kitchen area and insisted that Angel remain on the couch while the others prepared to sleep on the floor. Spike took first watch since it was too early for the vampire to consider sleep. Within minutes everyone, including the injured Angel, was sound asleep. Willow stared at him for a while. "Why are you helping these humans? You're not tainted like that one," she said, nodding her head in Angel's direction. "You should let me go. Come with me." Lowering her head and then looking at him through coquettish eyes, she murmured, "We could make this town scream. Make the gutters run red with blood." Spike looked at her with dispassionate eyes. "Tempting, but no. Don't think my lady would approve." Willow's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with fury, "Your lady? She's the fucking Slayer. Don't you know we kill Slayers?" "Yeah, well, I have. But not this one. And I'll kill anyone that tries to hurt her." Willow narrowed her eyes, "You've killed a Slayer?" "Two." "Then why are you this one's lapdog?" "Not her lapdog, her lover." "That's disgusting." "Piece of advice, pet. It's them two want to send you home. The Slayer and I would just as soon see you dust. Keepin' your cake hole shut would be a good idea right about now." Willow looked into his cold, clear, deadly eyes and shut up.

Chapter #21 - Chapter 21

Spike kept watch through much of the night not bothering to awaken either Buffy or the Watcher. He was tired but too keyed up to sleep. He'd sleep after they got rid of the vampire, and Angel and his crew returned to LA where they belonged. It was nearly dawn when Wesley awakened and insisted on taking over the watch. Spike moved to the mat where Buffy slept and laid down next to her. He had given her his coat to use as a blanket and he slipped under it as he curled up around her warm body. Pulling her tightly against him, he breathed in her scent feeling himself harden just from being close to her. It had been far too many days since they had last made love and Spike ached for her. Buffy became aware of Spike's body pressed to hers and slowly awakened. Wiggling back against him, she rubbed against his erection causing a soft growl to escape from deep in his chest. Turning her head she looked into eyes dark with desire and felt her own body answer. Spike slipped his hand up her body to caress her breast, flicking a thumb over her nipple, pinching and rubbing when it hardened. Buffy's breath quickened and she lifted her mouth demanding a kiss. Spike lightly slid his lips over hers and then outlined her mouth with his tongue. "Spike," she whispered hoarsely. "Want you, sweetheart." A slight movement from Wesley reminded them that they weren't alone. Buffy felt a wave of frustration pulse over her until she heard Spike whisper, "Storeroom." Pushing away from him, she sat up and said, "Wesley, Spike and I are going to check the storeroom to make sure that Willow has everything she needs for the spell." Getting up they walked as calmly as possible to the basement door, opened it and stepped in closing the door behind them. The door had barely shut before Buffy had wrapped herself around Spike bringing his head to hers in a hot, open-mouthed kiss. Spike grabbed her ass and pulled her tight up against his erection. "Need you now," he growled thrusting against her, kissing her with desperate need. "Downstairs," she gasped. Kissing, touching, never separating, they somehow made it down the stairs and over to the far wall of the storeroom. Buffy pulled Spike's t-shirt out of the waistband of his jeans and thrust her hands up under it. Shoving the material up, she fastened her mouth on his nipples, licking and sucking while her hands roamed up and down his stomach and back. Spike was able to stand the stimulation for a little while but then he grabbed her by the shoulders and thrust her up against the wall, kissing her savagely, grinding his hips into her, rubbing his hard-on into the juncture of her thighs. Buffy managed to get her hands between them and with shaking fingers began to undo his belt buckle. When it was undone, she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans and shoved her hand inside grasping his penis tightly and bringing a ragged groan from her vampire. Spike pulled back from her and quickly undid the fastenings of her slacks, shoving them down and off. Grasping her thighs, he positioned her legs around him and drove himself into her. A sob escaped Buffy as she felt him enter her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly. Spike braced both hands on the wall on either side of her and touching his forehead to hers he began to thrust in and out of her hot, tight body. Each withdrawal was agonizingly slow; each thrust long and unhurried, bringing cries of pleasure from Buffy. When he could no longer stand the slow pace, he moved his hands down to grasp her legs to support her and increased his tempo, all the while pushing in as far as he could, angling so that he hit her sweet spot, kissing her mouth and neck. As they neared climax, Buffy hands moved into his hair and she pulled his head to her neck. Moving her head in invitation, she begged, "Please, Spike, do it." Closing his eyes and trying to gather some control he gasped, "He'll know if I do, love. Angel. He'll know I've tasted you." "Don't care," she moaned. "I'm yours, not his. Only yours. Do it. Please." Her words enveloped him with such joy he nearly threw back his head and roared in triumph. His thrusts became harder, wilder; his arms held her closer, but he resisted the temptation her sweet exposed neck provided. Buffy was desperate for this connection, this joining that meant so much to them both. Drawing his mouth to hers she kissed him with desperate need and then pulled his head back to her neck once again "Please, baby," she begged. "I need you. I need you in me in every way." Spike could never deny her what she wanted, and, oh god, he wanted it too. Shifting into game face he sank his fangs into her neck as he pounded into her. The waves of pleasure his bite brought her pushed Buffy into a tremendous climax. Spike lasted a few strokes longer and then, a growl erupting from his throat, he poured himself into her. As they calmed down, Buffy slowly lowered her legs but clung tightly to Spike until she was sure her legs would hold her weight. She was in no hurry to move away from him though. As her legs gathered strength, she slid her hands down his back to cup the firm globes of his ass and hold him to her. Leaning against her, he continued to lap gently at the tiny trickle of blood that seeped from the bite in her neck. Then raising his head, he claimed her mouth with his own. At last they pulled back slightly and gave each other slow smiles of sexual satisfaction. Spike cupped her face gently in one hand. "I love you, Buffy." Rubbing her face against his hand, she smiled softly and said, "I love you too, Spike." *** They cleaned up at the small sink tucked into a corner of the storeroom, dressed and returned to the training room. The collar of Buffy's jacket effectively hid the bite mark from view, but as soon as they entered the room, Buffy heard a growl come from the couch where Angel lay. Looking over, she was shocked to find him in game face, standing and moving unsteadily towards Spike. "You son-of-a-bitch," the elder vampire roared. "You bit her. Did you really think I'd let you force yourself on her like that?" Buffy stood in front of Angel and placed a firm hand on his chest. When he winced from the shock of the pressure against his wounds, she quickly removed it again but held her place in front of him. "Angel, calm down. Spike didn't do anything I didn't want him to do," she told him quietly. Angel turned gold eyes on her and snarled, "You wanted him to bite you? Is that how you get off now?" Buffy stiffened and she felt Spike move to her side, more than ready to fight his grandsire. "What Spike and I do is none of your business, Angel," she told him coldly. Angel looked at her in amazement, his face sliding back into his human visage, "I always thought you smarter than that, Buffy. Don't you see that by letting him bite you during sex, you're just making it easier for him to kill you when he's ready to?" Buffy and Spike reacted as if they were using the same brain. Rolling their eyes, they groaned and shook their heads. It was eerie watching them react in so synchronized a manner. "Angel, for the last time," Buffy sighed, "Spike is not going to kill me. Spike loves me. And I love him. You need to accept it." Now Angel shook his head. "Even if that's true, Buffy, even if the impossible has happened and a soulless creature as evil as Spike has somehow fallen in love with you, don't you see how dangerous it is to allow him to drink from you? What if he loses control? What if he drains you because he just can't stop himself?" "He won't," was the simple answer. "Buffy," Angel started again, but stopped when she held up her hand. "Angel, this discussion is over. I trust Spike and he trusts me. What we do together is nobody's business but ours. And Spike never bites me unless I ask him to. I know what I'm doing. He knows what he's doing. So just drop it." Angel looked at Buffy's calm, determined face and realized that he had indeed lost this battle. He was sure that sometime, probably soon, he would receive a call from Sunnydale informing him that Spike had killed Buffy, maybe even turned her. He would feel no pleasure when he was proven right, he told himself righteously. But for now, he washed his hands of the affair. Buffy was determined to throw her life away and there was nothing Angel could do about it except kill Spike. And he was in no shape at present to do that. Shaking his head, he returned to his couch and sank wearily down closing his eyes to hide from the sight of Buffy and Spike together. Unfortunately he couldn't hide from the scent of sex and blood that wafted from them. Xander had awakened when the shouting started. He was surprised when he realized that he wasn't surprised to find out that Buffy allowed Spike to bite her during sex. For the few seconds that the Vampire Willow had had her fangs in his neck, it had been the most erotic thing he had ever felt. If he had a vampire lover that he trusted not to kill him, he couldn't imagine anything hotter that to have her drink from him during sex. Sensing eyes on him, he turned his head to see the young vampiress smiling at him sultrily. He turned away quickly even as he felt himself harden just from her look. He was glad he wasn't alone with her because he wasn't sure he could resist her seduction. Wesley frowned as he listened to the confrontation between Angel and Buffy. He was certain that Rupert wasn't aware that his Slayer was allowing such risky intimacies from her lover. Wesley would take it upon himself at the earliest opportunity to inform Giles of this dangerous practice. Apparently Buffy needed to be protected from herself. That vampire really needed to be destroyed. *** A taxi pulled up in front of the shop shortly before eight o'clock delivering Giles and an anxious Cordelia. Cordelia immediately made a beeline for Angel checking to reassure herself that he would recover, casting hate-filled glares at a mildly amused Vampire Willow. Willow and Tara arrived fifteen minutes later carrying several boxes of assorted doughnuts. As the gang ate doughnuts and drank tea, coffee, or blood, as taste dictated, they discussed exactly what to do to return the vampire to her own dimension. "I'm not sure how we could do it, Giles," Willow was telling the Watcher. "I'm not familiar with the spell that Anya was using, and Tara and I couldn't find anything like it in the books she has in her dorm. I think it's best we wait until Anya comes to work and then we can figure out how to do the counterspell." Glancing over at the prisoner, Willow felt thoroughly creeped out by seeing herself as a vampire. And not a little intrigued. She really did make one sexy vamp. *** As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Wesley cornered Giles to inform him what had transpired that morning. Giles closed his eyes as if in pain when he learned that his foolish Slayer was allowing Spike to drink from her. He was well aware that biting was a common practice between vampire couples, but that Buffy would allow it disturbed Giles profoundly. Buffy realized that Wesley was tattling on her as soon as she saw him talking to Giles. Well, so be it. She knew she was courting trouble when she had asked Spike to bite her this morning, but she had felt the need to reestablish the tight connection the two shared, and she had been aware of Spike's jealousy and insecurity whenever she had talked to Angel. Allowing him to mark her while Angel was there was the surest way she knew to prove to Spike that she loved him completely and chose him over Angel. However she now realized that it had been foolish. They had been so careful that no one suspected he bit her when they made love. Now it was out in the open and Buffy was afraid she had just put Spike in even more danger from her Watcher. She only hoped that she could make Giles understand why she allowed--no, begged--Spike to bite her. Spike watched the two Watchers talking quietly together and immediately knew from the expression on Giles' face what was being said. Well, the shit was going to hit the fan now. He shouldn't have listened to Buffy this morning when they were making love, regardless of how much joy her words had given him, regardless of how much he had wanted to taste her. He knew that Angel would know. He should have known that Angel would be a big drama queen about it too. If he made it through the day unstaked, it would be a minor miracle.

Chapter #22 - Chapter 22

Buffy saw no reason to delay the confrontation with her Watcher so as soon as Wesley walked away she headed towards Giles sparing a glare for Wesley as she passed him. She became aware that Spike was following her and stopped, turning towards him. "Let me handle this, Spike. Okay?" "It's on my head more than yours, Buffy. I shouldn't have bitten you this morning; I know that. Giles doesn't trust me, and he'll think the same as Angel, that I'm doing it to keep you off-guard so that I can kill you easier. He won't understand, sweetheart." Buffy looked into the concerned eyes of her lover and smiled softly. Drawing his head down towards her she kissed him slowly and deeply, well aware that all eyes were drawn to them. "Just wait here, honey. I can handle Giles." Turning back around, she once again walked towards her Watcher. Giles was even more furious and frightened than he had been when he had first learned of their relationship. It had been hard enough for him to accept the fact that Buffy had chosen yet another vampire as her lover, but to be told that she was allowing him to bite her was devastating. It went beyond foolishness. It was suicidal. "Let's go into your office," Buffy told him quietly when she finally reached him. Giles nodded brusquely and entered the office closing the door after Buffy. "So what did Wesley tell you?" "You know exactly what he told me, Buffy. That you are allowing Spike to feed off you when you and he are..." Giles couldn't even finish the sentence. He still tried to blank the thought of Buffy and Spike engaging in sexual relations from his mind. "Not feed, Giles. He doesn't feed from me. Look." Turning her head and moving aside her jacket collar she showed her Watcher that the bite was already healed with only the tiniest bit of pink showing where the fangs had entered. "He doesn't even mark me. The Master left a scar. Dracula left a scar. Angel left a horrible scar. Spike doesn't." Sighing she straightened her collar again and continued. "What we do is make love, Giles." As he turned away in a gesture of distaste, she latched onto his arm pulling him back around. "I know you don't like my relationship with Spike, Giles. You've made that abundantly clear. I've also made it clear that I love him and he loves me. We make love. And part of that sometimes - not often - includes biting. I like it. He doesn't hurt me; he doesn't endanger me. And he only does it when I ask him to. "Giles, please understand." she continued, trying her best to make him see her point of view. "What Spike and I do gives us both pleasure, and I'm never in danger from it. He never takes enough blood to even make me lightheaded. It's a taste. That's all. "And I like it." The last was said with emphasis. Giles looked hopelessly at his Slayer. She would never listen to reason when it came to Spike. She would endanger her life because she was so sure that a soulless demon loved her. And there was absolutely nothing short of staking Spike that Giles could do to prevent it. Still he tried to reason with her one more time. "Buffy, if he should change in his feelings, then you are leaving yourself open to be killed. Or worse, turned. I've told you over and over that he isn't to be trusted. And now this. It's a dangerous game you play, one that could very well cost you your life. Please, I'm begging you now, end this unnatural relationship, and since you obviously can't bring yourself to perform your duty and slay him, at least send him away." "No." "Buffy..." "No! God, Giles are you even listening to yourself? Every time I go out on patrol, I could be killed, but you don't try to talk me out of it. In fact, you've taught me it's my sacred duty to go out knowing that it's possible that I might die every time I do. And now you're all wigged because you think I'm in danger from Spike, the man who loves me?" "Buffy, he's not a man. He's..." "Don't say it, Giles. I know what Spike is much better than you do. Look, I think this conversation has hit a dead end. I told Angel and now I'm going to tell you. What Spike and I do is our business, not anyone else's. So please, just drop this whole thing. I'm in less danger of dying from Spike's love bite than I am of dying from Dengue fever." Glancing out of the office window and spotting Anya coming into the shop, she added, "We have more important matters to worry about right now, like getting Vampire Willow back to where she came from. Okay?" Opening the door to Giles' office she hesitated. Turning her head slightly towards him she said softly, "I hope I don't have to warn you about not attempting to stake Spike." With those final words, she walked out. Giles stood there alone for a few minutes worried but resigned. He could only hope that in the event Spike did loose control that chip would stop him before things got out of hand. Sighing, he left the office also. *** As soon as Buffy left Giles' office, a concerned Willow hurried up to her. "Buffy, is everything okay?" "God, Will, don't tell me you're going to get all preachy on me too," Buffy said with exasperation. "Everything's fine, okay? Spike doesn't hurt me when he bites me. I like it. Get the picture?" Willow looked shocked at this new information. "Spike bites you? Why?" Buffy stared in surpirse at her friend and asked, "You don't know? Didn't Xander or Angel or that big mouth Wesley tell you?" Willow slowly shook her head, eyes wide. "No. Why does Spike bite you?" Buffy looked faintly embarrassed. "Oh, um, well it's when we, uh, you know," she stammered out. Willow looked confused for a moment and then eyes widening in understanding, she blushed and said, "Oh! You mean when you and he, uh..." "Yeah, then." "Oh." "Yeah." Willow looked down at the floor for a few seconds and then asked quietly, "Why didn't you ever tell me about this, Buffy? I thought we could tell each other anything." Buffy looked uncomfortable and then asked her friend, "Do you tell me everything you and Tara do when you're together?" Willow, surprised by the question, blushed deep crimson, gave a little laugh and said, "Point taken. Guess I don't give too many details. It'd be TMI, wouldn't it?" "Yeah, something like that," Buffy smiled. After an uncomfortable pause she asked quietly, "You wigged out about it?" "The biting?" "Yeah." "I don't know. It could be dangerous, I guess, but I know Spike loves you like crazy and I don't think he'd intentionally do anything to hurt you." Buffy smiled relieved that at least one of her friends was taking the news so well and nodded agreement. Willow took in a deep breath and asked, "Do you like it? When he bites you, I mean?" "Oh god, yes!" Buffy exclaimed with a breathy voice and a laugh. "Will, it's amazing." Just then Giles came out of his office. Glancing over at him, Buffy told her friend, "I promise I'll give you full details later, okay? We need to get rid of Skank Willow first before I just decide to dust her." Willow smiled and whispered, "I'll hold you to that. I want all the juicy details." Looking into the training room, she saw Tara looking at the young vampire with fascination. Vampire Willow was looking with equal interest at Tara. Deciding that she should join her girlfriend, Willow hurried back into the room leaving an amused Buffy behind. Buffy watched as Giles walked to the shop door, flipped the sign back to "Closed" and locked the door. Anya looked up in surprise from the cash register she was preparing for the day's sales and said, "Mr. Giles, why did you relock the door? It's time for the shop to be open. If you lock the door we will miss sales." "Yes, I'm aware of that, Anya," Giles said, "but we have another situation today and your assistance is required." Anya looked decidedly nervous and said hesitantly, "What situation, Mr. Giles?" "Come with me please, Anya," he answered walking back to the training room. Anya followed her employer with a certain reluctance in her step. Buffy waited until she had passed before following. Giles entered the training room and waited for Anya to join him. Anya entered and then halted in her tracks as if hitting an invisible wall. "Oh no," she wailed. "Why is she here? I thought Buffy was going to dust her." "Yes, well Angel and Wesley decided that it would be best to return her to her own dimension. Buffy has agreed. We need to know what spell you and Willow were using that brought her here in the first place." Anya felt her whole world dissolving around her. There was no way that the two Watchers would fail to realize that the spell was transdimensional in nature, meant to pull something from another dimension. How could she possibly explain that she was trying to retrieve her "stolen" necklace from another dimension? Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room.

Chapter #23 - Chapter 23

Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room, only to run smack into Buffy. The move surprised Buffy and she fell back from the impact. Anya gave her a sharp shove and sped towards the front door ignoring Giles' surprised voice calling her name. She almost made it to the door before small, strong hands grasped her and swung her around. "Anya, what's wrong with you?" Buffy asked, not a little confused at the girl's reaction to Giles' request. "I-I can't do a spell to return her to her dimension. I-I don't know what happened. I just want to leave. Mr. Giles," she cried out looking past Buffy to where Giles stood in the training room door, "I'm sorry I've caused such a problem. I resign my position. I'll just get my purse and go." She attempted to step around Buffy to fetch her purse from behind the counter only to find her way blocked by an increasingly pissed-off Slayer. "It doesn't matter whether or not you know a spell to return the vampire to where she belongs. We have two Watchers here, one of whom is extremely smart, and two witches, both of whom are also extremely smart," Buffy explained with forced patience. "Just give them the spell you were using and they'll figure out a way to reverse it." Anya stood before Buffy, twisting her hands nervously. Never since her pendant had been broken had she felt so frightened and defenseless. When the Mayor was planning his Ascension, she had just skedaddled out of town until the danger had passed. But now, faced with such a formidable group, Anya was terrified. What would they do to her? She was human now, yes. But she had been a Vengeance Demon for over a thousand years. She had killed more people and destroyed more lives than she could count. It had been her spell, her endeavor to regain her power source, her desperate attempt to become a demon once more, that had brought forth the vampire. Would the Slayer ignore her now human state and kill her anyway? Tears welling in her eyes, she looked desperately at Giles and begged, "Please, just let me go! Please!" Xander pushed past Giles and walked slowly towards the distraught young woman. Her distress was touching a place deep inside him, and he felt the need to offer her comfort. "Anya? I don't know why you're so upset, but whatever it is, we're your friends. Just help us with Vampire Willow and we'll help you. Okay? Xander's voice was calm and when he reached Anya he ran a soothing hand up and down her arm. Anya looked at him with tear-filled eyes and then breaking down she flung herself into his arms, soaking his shirt with her tears. "Please don't let her kill me, Xander. Please!" Looking at Buffy with shocked eyes, Xander found himself wrapping the weeping girl in his arms and making calming shushing sounds to her. Spike had come to stand next to Buffy and he was watching the current drama with narrowed eyes. When Anya had finally pulled herself together somewhat, he said, "You know, pet, I've felt there was something not quite right about you since the first moment we met. You want to let us in on your secret now?" "Secret?" "Well, there's obviously something not right here, Slayer. For a young mortal woman she knows too damned much about demons and such. She's no family we've ever heard of and from what you've told me, she just appeared at school one day claiming to be a transfer. I'd say there's more to her than meets the eye. Am I right, Anya?" Sniffing and wiping her eyes, Anya nodded her head in defeat. There was no use in pretending anymore. They weren't going to allow her to leave until they had the truth out of her. She could only hope that they would take pity on her now helpless human status. "I'll help you send the vampire back where she belongs," she said with a shaky voice. "Just let me gather up the ingredients, okay?" "Sure," Buffy said coldly. "Just as long as you don't try to leave our sight." Anya nodded again, swallowed nervously, and began gathering up the necessary items, her arms filling up with the supplies. She was surprised when strong hands reached out to take the overflow from her. Xander was standing next to her, looking at her with kind regard. Why hadn't she ever noticed how nice his eyes were? When she had gathered everything she needed, she slowly walked towards the training room. Stopping near the chained vampire, she knelt down and began to arrange the items in a circle. "I'm going to need Willow's help again," she stated softly. "Please explain to us exactly what you are doing, Anya," Giles told her firmly. Taking a steadying breath, Anya replied, "I'm going to perform a transdimensional temporal fold. It's nearly the same as the original spell I cast with the exception that I'll be returning something instead of trying to call something forth." "A transdimen... Are you telling us that you meant to pull something from another dimension when you originally cast the spell?" Giles asked incredulously. Anya looked up at Giles and then looked around for Xander begging him with her eyes for support. He was standing close to her and reached out to squeeze her shoulder comfortingly. "I was trying to recall my pendent," she said in a voice barely breaking a whisper. "Pendent?" Giles asked in confusion. "You lost a pendent in another dimension? How?" Spike was staring at Anya with widened eyes. "Pendent?" he echoed. "I'll be fucked! You're a Vengeance Demon, aren't you?" Anya gave him a startled look, while Giles and Buffy said simultaneously "A Vengeance Demon?" "Sure," Spike answered with a snort. "Knew one once. Name of Halfrek. Had Daddy issues. You know her, pet?" At Anya's nod, he continued. "Vengeance Demons are human women who've been hurt or betrayed in some way. Sometimes by men, sometimes by parents. Doesn't matter really, just so they burn with the need for vengeance. D'Hoffryn, the grand poobah of Arashmahar, recruits these women and turns them into demons. Then they set about wreaking vengeance on behalf of those who summon them. Those pendants they wear are the source of their power." Everyone was staring at Anya. "Are you saying that Anya is one of these Vengeance Demons?" Buffy asked. "She's human, not a demon," Tara insisted. Anya gave Tara a tremulous smile. "I am now, but Spike's right. I was a Vengeance Demon until Mr. Giles broke my pendent and turned me back into a human." "What?!" Giles exclaimed. "I did no such thing. I'm sure I would remember if I had met you in the guise of a demon. I've only known you as a student and now my employee. And I've broken no one's pendent" Swallowing again, Anya explained. "I was a Vengeance Demon when Cordelia summoned me." Cordelia, who had been listening in fascinated silence jerked in surprise and exclaimed, "I never summoned you. The first time I ever saw you was when Harmony introduced us." Anya nodded. "That was after you found Willow and Xander kissing, remember? You performed the proper ritual, I heard your plea and answered it." All eyes now turned to Cordelia who protested, "I never performed any ritual to summon any demon!" "Did you not cut up and burn all of the pictures you had of Xander and did you not weep and wish vengeance against him?" "Well, yes. But-but I wasn't trying to summon any demons. I mean, he had cheated on me with her for god's sake." Cordelia pointed an accusing finger at Willow, who blushed and looked down. "I was just mad and-and humiliated. I did not summon a demon." "I answered the pain in your heart, the burning of your lover in effigy, not your words. You summoned me, Cordelia. I answered the summons." "Xander was never my lover," Cordelia insisted indignantly. Xander glared at her in reply and she glared back. "Well this is very interesting," Giles said, "but just how exactly does all this tie in with your claim that I broke your pendent and turned you back into a human? And just where does this vampire double of Willow come in?" "Well, you see," Anya said, "it all came about because of Cordelia's wish."

Chapter #24 - Chapter 24

"It all came about because of Cordelia's wish," Anya said. "I didn't make any wish!" "Yes, you did," Anya insisted. "Cordelia wished me to be a vampire?" Willow yelped. "Not exactly," Anya explained. "Cordelia wished that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale." "Oh," Cordelia said softly. "What? What did my coming to Sunnydale have to do with anything?" "She thought that hanging out with you made Xander looked cooler than he really was." "Hey!" Xander protested. Ignoring Xander's interruption, Anya continued. "She then wished that you had never come to Sunnydale." "So?" Buffy asked. "I wish things all the time. Doesn't make any difference." "Makes a difference when you wish to a Vengeance Demon, doesn't it, Anya," Angel, who'd been silent until now, said coolly. Anya nodded her head. "I made it so." "Huh?" "I created a reality where you never came to Sunnydale." Everyone except Spike and Angel gasped in surprise. "Good lord, are you telling us that you have that much power that you can completely change the reality of the world?" "Had," Anya asserted. "I had that much power." "So Vampire Willow is actually me?" Willow asked tremulously glancing over to a very amused double. The vampire made a kissy face at her, and Willow looked away in discomfort. Anya nodded. "When I made it so that Buffy never came to Sunnydale, The Master's servant completed the Harvest. The Master and his minions were able to take over Sunnydale. There were very few humans left. Mr. Giles was one of them." "So I somehow figured out that the new reality was false?" "Cordelia still had memories of the old reality. She found you and told you to call Buffy to Sunnydale, that the Sunnydale you knew was different from the one she knew. Somehow you figured out what had happened. You summoned me which, by the way, really angered me," Anya emphasized with a glare at Giles. "You weren't a scorned woman. It was totally against the rules." Giles merely gave her a steady look and she nervously returned to her story. "Anyway you broke my pendent making me human again and reverting the new reality back to what had been at the exact moment the wish was made. I was stuck in the persona I had created to get close to Cordelia." "But if our reality was returned, why does Vampire Willow still exist?" Buffy asked. "Because once something is created it cannot be destroyed, only changed. That reality exists from the time I made it until my pendent was broken. Vampire Willow exists in that reality in that time. As does my pendent." Buffy frowned and asked, "But if we really lived it, why wouldn't we remember that alternate reality? I don't remember anything about it." "No you wouldn't remember it because to you, it never really happened. It's really hard to explain, but the other you wasn't really the you you are. Understand?" "Uh, no." "So you were trying to reclaim your power source so that you could become a Vengeance Demon again, is this correct?" Wesley inserted himself into the conversation for the first time. "Yes, that was my intention." Looking around at all the shocked, disapproving faces, she exclaimed. "You don't understand! I hate being human. I hate being weak and powerless and friendless and dependent on a stupid job in a stupid magic shop for my livelihood. I just want to be what I was." Putting her head in her hands, she began sobbing once again. Sighing, Xander knelt down beside the weeping girl and patting her back gently he said, "You aren't friendless, Anya. We're your friends." Looking up with tear-filled eyes, Anya said, "Are you really?" "Of course we are. Aren't we, guys?" he said forcefully. Everyone obediently if not enthusiastically nodded assent. "See," Xander smiled at her. "You're not alone. You have lots of friends." Anya smiled a watery smile at Xander. "So does this mean that Buffy's not going to kill me?" Buffy looked shocked at the question. "Hey, I don't kill humans," she insisted. "Oh. Good then. I was afraid that since I had been a Vengeance Demon for over a thousand years..." "I knew it," Tara exclaimed. Everyone's attention turned to Tara who blushed and said, "Sorry. Nothing. Sorry." Turning back to Anya Buffy asked, "So how does this work? When she returns to her reality, will she remember us? Anya nodded agreement. "Probably. We're not changing anything about the realities this time, just returning her to where she belongs. It should even be to the exact second from which she was taken." "She won't be able to come back, will she?" Xander asked nervously. Anya shook her head. "No, I don't think so." "You don't think so? Look, Anya, if there's a chance that The Master from that reality can come into ours..." Giving the vampire a cold stare, Buffy added, "Maybe it's best if I just dust her. Remove any possibility of that happening." "Hey!" the vampire shouted. Buffy glared at her. "Oh." "Willow? Something wrong?" "Uh, no. It-it's just that, knowing she really is me, or rather another me, it just seems, you know, kinda ooky to just dust her. I mean, I understand why you're worried. The Master, bad." Turning to Anya she asked, "Do I understand correctly? That reality doesn't exist past the time the spell was broken?" "It shouldn't," Anya answered. "So how much time will, uh, Vampire Willow have once she's returned to her own reality?" "I'm not sure, but not too long I don't think. I was trying to retrieve my pendent from the time right before Mr. Giles smashed it." "See," Willow said with nervous enthusiasm, "she probably won't have time to even tell The Master about us." The vampire started pulling at her chains when she heard this. Buffy walked over to her and pulled out a stake. "Buffy, please!" Buffy looked at Willow and sighed in surrender. "Fine, but can we just get on with it? I'm really tired of all of this and I'd like to take a shower and go to bed sometime this week." "Yes," Anya said. "We can do it right now." Looking at Willow, she said, "I really do need you to help me, okay?" Reluctantly, Willow left Tara's side and went to join Anya in the spellcasting. Buffy moved away from the vampire. Lowering her head she began massaging her temples with her fingertips. Strong, cool hands began rubbing at the tight cords at her shoulders and neck. "You okay, love?" "Yeah," Buffy smiled at her lover enjoying the feel of his strong hands on her tense muscles. "It's just trying to understand Anya's explanation gave me a headache. It doesn't make any sense. That reality existed for a period of time but then the spell was broken and we went back to where we were before it was cast but that other reality still exists for that same period of time. Oh, my poor brain." Spike chuckled and turning her around pulled his Slayer into his arms. "You should know by now that things in Sunnydale don't always make sense, sweetheart. Look at us." Buffy had laid her head on his chest when he had pulled her to him. Now she raised her head and said softly, "Out of everything in my life, Spike, you're the one thing that makes the most sense." Spike swallowed hard fighting to contain the emotions that flooded him upon hearing her words. Pulling her tight against him he lowered his head to rest on the top of hers. Wrapped in each other's arms, they clung together in a cocoon of comfort.

Chapter #25 - Chapter 25

Tara watched with concern in her eyes as Willow went to join Anya. She knew the spell was necessary in order to return the vampire to her proper place, but there was no doubt that it was an extremely powerful one and would drain even more of Willow's energy. "So, I'm a witch here?" Tara looked at the vampire that wore her lover's face and looked away again. "Yes, we both are." "So, you're what? Her girlfriend?" Tara merely nodded. "How come she's doing the spell and not you?" "Sh-she's stronger than I am." "She has power?" Tara swallowed nervously and nodded again. "Bet she enjoys the power." "Wha-what do you mean?" "The spells, the power she wields. Bet she loves it. I love my power." "She's n-not you. You're completely different from her." "Different, but still her. We were weak, and now we're not. I didn't know about the magic. I'd like to have that too. Maybe the demon's wrong. Maybe my reality won't cease to exist once her spell's broken. Maybe I'll experiment with magic when I get home. I think The Master would appreciate a witch-vampire." Flicking her eyes up and down the blonde witch's body, she smirked, "Maybe I'll find you too. Then we can have fun like you and she has, only better. Ever fuck a vampire?" Tara turned to walk away from her taunting voice. "We're really good, you know. Why do you think the Slayer's fucking that one?" At Tara's look of distaste at the her crudity, she gave a mocking laugh that brought Buffy over. "I don't know what you're saying to Tara, but if you want to stay undusted long enough to get back to your own world you'll keep your mouth shut." Willow smirked and said, "Just telling her how much fun a vampire can be, Slayer. You never filled her in on our staying power?" Buffy pulled a stake from her pocket and said coldly, "I think I'll just save the girls all the trouble of doing that spell." The vampire glared at her. "You know, where I'm from The Master killed you. I saw it just before I was pulled into this world. He grabbed your head and gave it a nice twist. The sound of your neck breaking was like music." "Is that right? Well he killed me in this world too. But you know what? I got over it. And then I killed him right back." The vampire's eyes flashed gold at Buffy's taunting words. "Buffy?" Buffy turned in response to Anya's voice. "Yeah?" "We're ready to start now. You and Tara should step away from her." They moved away with alacrity and when they were far enough distant from the vampire, Anya began the supplication. This time there were no hitches. The sacred sand was poured, the power released and suddenly empty chains fell to the floor. Vampire Willow was gone. *** She found herself back in her world, struggling with two of the White Hats, Larry and a short, skinny boy with a wolfish face. They pushed her back and before she could free herself, she felt a sharp piercing in her back. As she felt herself begin to disintegrate she only had time to say, "Fu...". Larry and Oz turned away as the vampire's dust filtered down to the floor of the factory. *** Buffy heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the vampire had disappeared. Looking at Anya she asked, "She's really back where she belongs, right? You didn't just teleport her to another part of town?" Anya lifted a shaking hand to brush a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. "No, she's back in her own reality." Looking down, she noted with disappointment that she hadn't been able to grasp the pendent when the portal had opened up. She had been too afraid to make that part of the incantation too obvious, but apparently her quickly revised spell hadn't worked. Looking back up she found herself staring into smiling brown eyes. "So," Xander said, rubbing his hands together, a huge grin on his face, "Anyone up for pizza?" Though addressed to the room at large, it was obvious he was really asking only one person. Anya smiled and nodded agreement, her disappointment fading away. Xander's smile broadened. *** The shop finally opened for business after everyone had eaten. Anya had insisted that since she was going to remain human, she needed to earn money to live on. Tara and Willow returned to school although both were really too worn out from the last few days to attend class. They weren't too tired however to enjoy a little together time in Tara's dorm room. Xander dropped the two girls off at their dorm and returned to his musty basement apartment for a quick nap. He was surprised that his dreams involved Anya, the chains that had confined Vampire Willow, and the feather duster that Anya used at the shop. Spike insisted that Buffy go home for some rest. She insisted that he return to his crypt and away from Angel. He was happy to comply. Wesley and Giles spent the rest of the day getting reacquainted. Giles was surprised by just how much the younger man had changed. He suspected that given time, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would become a formidable man. Cordelia decided to pay visits on some of her friends while Angel rested and allowed his wounds to heal. *** Evening found everyone back at the Magic Box knowing that the group from LA would leave as soon as it was dark enough for Angel to travel safely. As they prepared to leave, Buffy accompanied Angel out to his car. He was still in considerable pain, but his accelerated healing powers had already repaired much of the damage he had sustained. "Buffy, I know you don't want to hear this..." "Then don't say it," Buffy said firmly. Sighing she continued, "Look, Angel, I know you have concerns. Giles has concerns. Wesley has concerns. They're unnecessary." Looking directly into his eyes she told him, "What Spike and I have is...good. It's not what you and I had. It's not even what you and I could have had if it wasn't for the whole Angelus issue. It's different, but it's good. It's very good. I love him so much sometimes I ache with it. Please try to understand, Angel. And don't sneak back into town to try and kill him." Angel looked into Buffy's eyes trying to find the girl he loved but instead found a woman he no longer knew. She had moved on. Perhaps it was time he did too. "You ever need me, Buffy, you know where I am." "Ditto." As Angel got into the backseat of the big convertible, Buffy turned to the two already ensconced in the front. "Wesley, Cordelia. Thanks for your help." "Sure," Cordelia waved her thanks away. "I haven't had this much fun since graduation day. No, wait a minute, yes I have." Buffy just smiled. Cordelia was Cordelia and would never change. Looking at Wes she said reluctantly, "You really were a big help, Wesley. Thanks." "I'm glad I was of some small assistance, Buffy. I hope this makes up for a least a little of my incompetence when I was your Watcher." "Uh, sure, Wesley." Backing away from the car as Wesley started the engine she gave one more small wave and watched them drive away. When the car had disappeared from view she walked back into the Magic Box to rejoin her friends, her Watcher, and the man she loved.

Chapter #26 - Epilogue

The crypt was lit by only one fat pillar candle. The dim glow was just enough for a Slayer and a vampire to make their way across the well-known space and to the ladder that led to the lower level. After Angel's departure they had left the Magic Box for patrol. It had been unusually busy. The demonic denizens of Sunnydale had sussed out that the Slayer was otherwise occupied the last few nights and had taken advantage of the situation. They now understood that things were back to normal. Making their way to the ladder, Buffy and Spike descended to his bedroom. It too was dimly lit by a single candle. Separating, the two made a circuit of the chamber lighting more candles until the area glowed warmly in the soft light. Coming together again, they embraced and kissed gently. Lips slid softly against lips, arms encircled bodies pressed closely together. Their tongues danced together, tip touching tip then retreating only to come together again. Buffy felt desire growing in her as she ran her hands across her lover's firmly muscled back. Pulling away from him, she slid his duster from his shoulders to puddle on the ground at his feet. He in turn slid her jacket off her arms. Next his shirt, and then hers. She pulled at his t-shirt tugging it from the waistband of his jeans and when it was loose she pushed it up and over his head. Returning to his mouth, Buffy kissed him tantalizingly, nipping at his full lower lip, sucking his tongue into her mouth, then pulling back to pepper his collarbone and chest with light, teasing kisses, stopping to suck briefly on his nipples and then returning to his mouth. Spike reached behind her and unhooked her bra, sliding the straps down her arms and throwing it across the room. Pulling her to him, he crushed her breasts into his chest drawing a moan from them both. They traded long lingering kisses for several minutes until Buffy pulled her mouth from his. Sliding her arms from around his neck she lightly ran her hands across his shoulders and down his chest, rubbing across his nipples and then down to his firm, flat belly. Spike's head dropped back at the wonderful sensations her touch gave him. "You're so beautiful," Buffy murmured as she continued her journey down his body. Kneeling in front of him, she unbuckled his belt and unfastened his jeans. Pulling them down, she freed his erection. "So very beautiful." Her voice was almost reverential as she slid her warm hands up and down his shaft pumping him gently. Gathering his balls into her hands, she massaged them tenderly before she took one into her mouth sucking gently, then switched to the other. Spike's moans were like music to her. Whenever she gave him pleasure, it filled her with such warmth she fairly glowed. Moving her mouth up, she licked along the vein until she reached the head, swollen and begging for attention. She loved this part most of all, she thought as she took the sensitive tip into her mouth lapping at the droplet that awaited her. Running her tongue around the smooth, cool flesh, she slowly began to draw even more of him into her mouth. Sucking deeply, she moved her head up and down the thick shaft, opening her throat to allow in as much of him as she could handle. Spike's hands were wrapped in her hair, moaning out praise to her, "God, baby, that feels so good. Yeah, love, like that, just like that. You've the sweetest little mouth, love. Yeah, baby, god yes, ah, sweetheart." It was when she lightly dragged her teeth along his shaft that he lost control. An animal-like growl emanated from deep in his chest and he grabbed her up, kissed her roughly and tossed her onto the bed. She gave a surprised little "Oof!" when she hit the mattress and bounced. Looking over at him with wide eyes, she saw him lunge for her. He had every intention of ripping her remaining clothing from her body and burying himself deep within her. It was a good plan. One of his best. Unfortunately for Spike, he forgot that his pants were pooled around his ankles. As Buffy watched him leap forward, he tripped and landed flat on his face on the faux Persian rug that covered the floor. As Buffy sat up in concern, Spike pushed himself up cursing a blue streak. Reaching down he tugged at boots and pushed at trousers trying desperately to remove the tangled garments. "Get off, you motherfucker! Goddamnit! Get! The! Fuck! Off!" Buffy tried to hold the laughter in, she really did. But seeing Spike trying to wrangle his way out of his boots and jeans, getting more angry and frustrated as the stubborn clothing seemed to fight him, kicking out with his legs trying to shed the unwanted garment, tugging and pulling while a steady stream of profanity erupted from his mouth was more that she could bear. At first it was just one small snort, then another and then another until she was laughing so hard tears streamed from her eyes and her breath hitched. Spike glared up at her as he at last kicked his jeans off. Jumping up he growled, "Oh you think that was funny do you, Slayer?" This time his leap was more successful. He actually made contact with the mattress. However Buffy had rolled off the bed while was he still in midair. Standing on the far side of the bed she squealed, "Oh no! A big bad vampire is after me! Whatever shall I do?" A light flashed in Spike's eyes and he quickly switched into game face. "That's right, little girl, I'm going to get you. Run all you like. You can't get away from me!" Spike scrambled off the bed and the chase was on. Buffy shrieked and giggled and dodged while Spike chased her all over the bedchamber. Every time he almost had her she would twist out of his reach with a shrill little scream at the last second. Her naked breasts bounced enticingly before him, her squeals and giggles floated back to him. She looked like a golden nymph and he grew harder with each second that passed. His speed was less than vampire fast and when she shoved a chest in his way, he made a great show of falling over it. Buffy took advantage of his fall to remove one boot and throw it at him. As he dodged and stumbled, rolling out of the way of the deadly missile, she removed the second boot and tossed it too. Spike knocked the boot away this time and reaching out managed to grab her by the waistband of her slacks pulling her down to the ground. As they wrestled, he unbuttoned her slacks and when she kicked out trying to get away from him, Spike pulled them off her. Now clad only in her panties she escaped his grasp. Scrambling up, she ran away again only to find herself trapped between Spike and the bed. She jumped in an attempt to leap over the bed, but Spike tackled her as she left the ground and landed with her on top of the mattress. Straddling her, he held her hands above her head. She struggled against his grip, although not very hard. "Got you now, don't I," he growled in mock fierceness. Looking up into his demon visage, she cried out in a high breathy voice, "Oh no, you've caught me! What are you going to do to me, you big bad vampire?" Leaning down, he growled into her ear, "I'm going to eat..." Switching out of game face he trailed kisses down her neck, across her shoulder, and down her chest to her breasts. "you..." Covering one breast with his mouth he licked across her nipple, rolling it around with his tongue, pulling at it as it hardened. Switching to the other breast, he nibbled lightly on the swollen bud, sucking and swiping his tongue over the pebbled tip drawing groans from his captive. Continuing his journey down her body, he kissed his way down her stomach until he reached the waistband of her panties. Tearing the swatch of material from her hips, he spread her legs and settled himself between them. Looking up from his position he held her gaze as he finished, "up." Buffy hips thrust up as he opened her and flicked his tongue over her sensitive button. At her little gasp of pleasure he pulled her swollen clit into his eager mouth and sucked gently. Now it was Buffy's turn to entwine her fingers in his hair and moan as he pleasured her with his mouth. She loved it when he stuck his long, tightly pointed tongue into her, moving in and out and then returning to lap at her clit. His tongue circled and then pressed deeply into the sensitive bundle of nerves causing her to cry out again and again. Spike felt her muscles begin to clench and knew she was close to climax. Crawling up her body, he positioned himself so that the tip of his penis just barely pierced her opening. Buffy stared at him with passion-glazed eyes, wondering why he wasn't entering her. "Tell me you want me." "I want you, Spike. You know I do." He entered her just a tiny bit more. "Tell me you love me" "I do love you, very much." He began pushing his way more deeply into her, all the while staring into her eyes. "In fact..." He stopped moving. "In fact?" Buffy smiled gently and ran a hand down the side of his face running her thumb over his cheekbone, sliding it across his full lips, her eyes tracing the path her thumb took. Returning her gaze to his she said softly, "I not only love you, I like you." Spike blinked. "You do?" "Uh huh." Pulling his head down so that his ear was close to her mouth she whispered, "Don't tell Willow or Xander this, but you're my best friend." Spike looked at her with wonder in his eyes. Never taking his eyes from hers, he slowly pushed himself the rest of the way in. They'd made love hundreds of times in the past few months but this night's was special. They moved against each other slowly, gently allowing the desire to grow but never allowing it to consume. When their climax came, it wasn't an explosion but a melding of essences, a flowing together of two beings until there was only one. Neither had ever felt anything like it. Spike felt as if a warm light was invading him, as if Buffy was sharing her soul with him. The demon in him bathed itself in that light and relinquished a little more of its control, allowing the man that had been to reclaim a little more sovereignty. Spike was a monster. He knew that. But with Buffy he was becoming a man. *** London, England "You're sure she has that much power?" "Sir, my considered opinion is that her untapped potential is astounding. As I said in my report, she cast a very powerful black magic spell without benefit of spoken incantation or preparation. She merely pointed her finger and called out "Pain!" If it hadn't been for Miss Summers and that other young woman, I believe we would have been relieved of our Faith problem right then. "Interesting," Quentin Travers mused. "Very interesting." The End