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.