Entropy and Order

“It might be possible to pull them back to our reality,” Giles told the anxious group.

“How?” Spike asked.

“Using the claim you have on Buffy. By itself it isn’t strong enough, but since she performed the sister claim, it may be possible,” Giles explained.

“What about the Buffy and Spike from where ever ours were sent?” Willow asked.

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. That was something he had been giving a great amount of consideration himself.

“I don’t bloody well care,” Spike said, “I want my Buffy and Faith back.”

“We all do, Spike,” Giles said softly, “However, dimensional travel is a very dangerous power to meddle with in the first place. We do not want to upset the balance.”

Spike nodded and grabbed Travers once again, “So, tell me, mate. How do we make this dimensional thing work?”

“We must first establish that you can reach either girl through the claim, Spike,” Giles interrupted.

“Right then,” Spike said as he dropped Travers.

Willow and Cordellia walked over to Spike and took hands, forming a small circle.

“Either one of you bints starts chanting, the whole thing’s off,” Spike mock threatened.

Both girls saw his comment for what it was an attempt to ease off some of the tension…it worked.

Spike closed his eyes and focused all of his energy on connecting to Buffy through the bond. With the enhanced bond through the two girls it was easier, but still more difficult than he would have wished. On the very edge of his awareness he felt her presence. It was weak, meaning that she was very far away and in no danger.

‘Buffy, luv?’

He held his unneeded breath as he waited for her to respond. He’d never claimed anyone, and had never heard of a vampire using the bond across dimensions.

‘Spike?’

‘I’m here, pet. We’re going to bring you and Faith back. We have the Council wankers here and they’re going to help us do it. We’re going to use the bond to pull you from that dimension into ours.’

‘So, this is another dimension? Creepy. There’s a you here, and well a everyone else here. I have a sister here, too!’

‘Dawn.’

‘How’d you know?’

‘Had a dream night before the Council showed up.’

‘Oh. So, I really miss you. This place is just too weird. How’s this going to work?’

‘Not exactly sure yet, kitten. I do know that you and Faith need to be touching, like you were when you were sent to wherever in the bloody hell you are.’

‘Ok. Can you give me a bit of warning before you whisk us back home? I want to be able to say bye to Dawn and this Spike.’

‘Sure, pet.’

‘Do claims nomally work this well?’

‘Not that I’ve ever heard, but this isn’t exactly a normal claim, luv. Three super powerful beings, a witch and a human.’

‘Point taken.’

‘Gonna get back to beating the wankers for info. I love you, Buffy.’

‘Love you, Spike. Bring us home.’

‘Promise.’

“That was intense,” Willow commented.

“You were able to communicate with her?” Giles asked.

“Yeah, she’s fine, Watcher,” Spike answered.

“Thank God,” Giles replied.

“Now,” Spike said as he turned to Travers, “Tell me what I need to know before I start removing limbs.”

Travers nodded his head. He wasn’t keen on the idea of loosing any limbs. Plus, there was no guarantee the spell reversal would work properly. He always liked to look for the bright side in all situations.

“’M not a very patient vamp, mate,” Spike gritted out.

“Yes, I’ve noticed,” Travers said dryly, “I’ll need fresh supplies and someone to perform the spell.”

“Give Red your list,” Spike ordered, “She can do the mojo.”

Willow looked wide-eyed at the vampire. She wasn’t anywhere near powerful enough to perform this spell. She’d barely been able to work the soul restoration spell for Angel.

“It will need to be someone with more magical experience, Spike,” Giles said as if reading Willow’s mind.

“You help ‘er then,” Spike said.

Giles nodded his head. He knew they couldn’t trust any of the Council members to perform the spell properly. He would have to make sure to properly train Willow in the Arts. She was powerful, there was no doubt to that, and because of that she needed to be closely watched.

“Willow, you and Cordellia go to the Magic Box and gather the supplies. Quentin will tell me how to prepare for the ritual,” Giles ordered.

“I really don’t like you,” Cordy told Travers while Willow snatched the paper away from him.

Travers grinned at the girls. Truth be told, he didn’t really care if he was liked. That wasn’t important to him. The only thing that mattered to him was duty. Duty at all costs, even if that cost was the Slayer. That was the nice thing about them; there was always another one to be called.

“Am I the only one who thought Buffy seemed pretty happy where she was?” Cordy asked Willow as the walked to the shop.

“At least she wasn’t in danger, well, more so than normal,” Willow said.

“Maybe she wants to stay there,” Cordy said absently.

“Right. You heard the same longing in her voice that I did. She misses Spike, her Spike. I think she was just relieved to be somewhere vaguely familiar,” Willow said.

“Probably. It’s weird though. Buffy’s gone, but now, it doesn’t seem like she’s so far away. We’re still connected,” Cordy said thoughtfully.

“Takes some getting used to,” Willow added.

“Yeah, but it’s so cool. It’s like, having another family. Knowing that they’ll be able to help you,” Willow said.

Cordy nodded her head. It was nice to feel like part of the family. Things at home had started to get bad, in a major sense. Her dad was spending more time at the office and her mom was out almost every night. She wasn’t a complete child, she knew her parents weren’t exactly living in marital bliss, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Seeing the relationship Buffy had with Spike and Willow with Oz gave her hope. Hope that she wasn’t doomed to live the life of her parents. She would strive to make things work with Xander. She was beginning to have serious feelings about the boy. Ones she wasn’t ready to admit yet.

“The list is pretty long. Must be a complicated ritual,” Willow said with interest.

“Doesn’t that make it more dangerous?”

“I think so.”

The girls split up the list to make their trip shorter. Neither was exactly happy to be so far away from Spike. It was bad enough to have Buffy and Faith gone.

“This is very powerful magics,” the shopkeeper told Willow.

“I know. It’s a very serious ritual,” Willow answered cryptically.

The shopkeeper could feel the young girl’s untapped power and nodded her head.

“Thanks,” Willow said cheerfully as she took the bags.

“Took bloody long enough!” Spike exclaimed when the girls entered the library.

Willow and Cordy looked at each other with smiles before bursting into laughter.

“What is so funny, Red? Cheerleader?” Spike asked.

“You,” they answered in unison.

Spike shook his head and mumbled something about ‘bloody women’.

“I think we’re ready to prepare for the ritual. Were you able to get everything?” Giles asked the girls.

“Uh, yeah,” Willow answered.

Giles took the bags from the Willow and scattered the contents onto the large table.

Spike walked over to Travers, “This is your last chance, mate. If this doesn’t work, or if you’re not bein’ straight with me, I’ll drain you drier than the Sahara!”

“I’ve already told you, this should work. It is exactly what I would do if I wanted to bring them back,” Travers answered coldly.

“IF?” Spike roared.

“Yes, if. I don’t particularly want them back. Miss Summers has been a pain in my side since the beginning, and the other one is following in her shoes,” Travers said disgustedly.

“I bloody well hope she is,” Spike retorted.

“This really isn’t helping,” Giles said.

“So?” Xander smirked.

“I agree with the Whelp,” Spike said smugly. However, he relented and turned to glaring at the man instead.

“What can I do?” Cordy asked.

* * * * * * * * *

Spike’s mind was still reeling as the group walked back into the Magic Box. Normally his sexual quips were answered by ‘You’re a pig, Spike.’ Not this time, no this time Buffy had to go and make him even harder. It was so hard for him to remember that this was not his Buffy. This Buffy belonged to a him somewhere else. Sometimes the bloody Powers were just right bastards.

“How was patrol, Dawnie?” Willow asked.

“I missed,” Dawn pouted.

“That’s ok, You’ll get ‘em next time,” Xander encouraged.

“I don’t think me and next time will ever meet,” Dawn said.

“Course you will. Come with me,” Buffy said to Dawn, who eagerly followed.

They walked into the training room and Buffy handed her sister a rubber stake.

“Rubber?” Dawn asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t want you to accidentally make him go ‘poof’,” Buffy said.

“Him?” Dawn asked.

“Spike?” Buffy called, “Come help.”

At first he wanted to say something about not being her lap dog, like the Poofter, but he refrained.

“Yeah?” he asked in what he hoped was an uninterested tone.

“Don’t give me that. I’m going to have you be the dummy,” Buffy said cheerfully.

“Come again,” Spike said.

“Dawn is going to use you as a practice vamp,” Buffy said.

“That’s how you’re going to dust me, then?” Spike asked with wide eyes.

Dawn held up her stake, “Rubber.”

Spike opened and closed his mouth several times. This was new. Buffy really did just want to teach the Bit. “Alright.”

Both girls let out identical squeals of delight.

“Bloody women,” Spike mumbled with a smirk.

“Don’t tell me the Big Bad is afraid of a little rubber stake,” Buffy taunted good-naturedly.

“I’m not afraid of anything, Summers,” Spike said.

“Prove it,” Dawn challenged.

Spike raised an eyebrow at the young girl. She was spunky. A lot like her big sis, a lot like this version of her big sis. His Buffy wasn’t this laid back. Knowing the limitations of the chip, Spike faced an attack at Dawn. She avoided it, barely.

“Lesson the first,” Spike began, “Watch the eyes. The eyes tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about your opponent.”

Dawn nodded mutely. She wondered what her eyes told her opponents. Could they see the fear that danced in them? Could they see the worry? The pain? The loneliness? She shook away her thoughts and assumed the fighting stance Buffy had taught her earlier.

She watched his eyes as he moved around her smoothly. She watched as they flickered over to Buffy. That was her chance, she took it.

Spike was completely caught off guard. Dawn knocked him to the ground easily and had the stake positioned directly over his heart.

“Never take you eye off the target, Spike,” Buffy teased.

She suddenly became very still. Dawn and Spike looked at her with concern.

“Buffy?” Dawn asked quietly.

“Faith!” Buffy yelled.

The brunette Slayer was in the training room even as Buffy yelled for her.

“You felt it too?” Faith asked.

“Yeah, like I did after I’d jumped off the tower,” Buffy answered.

By this time, the rest of the group had assembled in the training room. All eyes looked expectantly as the two Slayers.

“They’ve found a way to take us back,” Buffy informed them.

“That quickly?” Giles asked.

“Spike scared Travers into dishin’ the info,” Faith said with a smile.

“Can it be trusted?” Giles asked.

“Spike wouldn’t try it if he wasn’t sure,” Buffy said honestly.

“Hello?” Xander interrupted, “Evil Undead? Or is your Spike a souled vampire?”

“No, Xan. He’s soulless, and chipless, but he’s not going to endanger either one of us,” Buffy said calmly.

“H-how are they going to do it?” Willow asked.

“Reverse the spell,” Buffy answered.

“More mojo, bloody perfect,” Spike said.

“Not exactly my idea of a good time either, but this needs to be done,” Buffy said softly.

“How soon will they be ready?” Giles asked.

“As soon as we are,” Buffy replied.

Silence descended upon the room. Buffy was having mixed feelings about leaving. She would, but not without major missage. She would miss Dawn the most. Having a sister, even for a short while had awakened something inside her. She felt bad for leaving her, especially since in this reality her mom had died. That was something Buffy really hadn’t wrapped her mind around, and wouldn’t.

“We’ll need to be alone when it happens. We can’t take the chance of someone or something getting sucked in with us,” Buffy said.

“Will the Buffy and Faith from here be returned when you depart?” Giles asked.

“They should be,” Buffy answered.

The group, save Spike and Dawn, said quick good-byes and retreated into the shop.

“Dawnie,” Buffy said as she embraced her sister, “Keep practicing. You’re getting really good. I’ll miss you, and remember you…you’re blood, how could I forget you?”

Dawn hugged her ‘sister’ back fiercely. She would miss this Buffy terribly. It was so unfair. “I love you, Buffy.”

“I love you, too,” Buffy answered honestly.

Dawn backed away and allowed Spike his turn to say farewell.

“Must be majorly wiggy for you,” Buffy said.

“Something like that, pet,” Spike replied.

Without thinking, Buffy embraced the vampire warmly, “She’ll come around.”

“How can you know?” Spike murmured into her hair.

“Because, she’s me,” Buffy answered.

The blondes pulled away and looked deeply into each others eyes before Spike led Dawn out of the training room.

“Ready?” Buffy asked.

“Let’s do this,” Faith answered as she grasped Buffy’s hands.

As soon as their hands met, they felt the claim enhance. A moment later, they felt the magic begin to swirl around them. The images began to swirl and both girls closed their eyes tightly to fight the nausea threatening to consume them. They felt the world begin to slip away. Floating. Then, just as slowly, the world came back.

“Wow,” Faith whispered once her feet touched solid ground.

Buffy was about to ask if they were back when strong arms encircled her from behind. She melted against him, her unasked question answered. This was heaven. Spike’s arms, nothing compared. S

“Don’t do that ever again, luv,” Spike whispered into her ear, “Scared me so much.”

Buffy turned in his arms to face him, “Didn’t exactly plan to become disappear girl in the first place.”

At first, the meeting of lips was hesitant. Both were making sure it was real. Even though it had only been a couple of days, it had seemed like an eternity. They each retraced the contours of their mate’s lips, savoring the taste and texture once again. Once they were both satisfied that it was real, the kiss tuned desperate and hungry. Buffy moaned against his mouth and Spike took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her waiting mouth. He was still amazed at the heat that surrounded him, consumed him. Buffy used her tongue to trace along the roof of his mouth, then down to where his canines descended from, earning a growl from the vampire.

Joyce cleared her throat loudly.

Immediately the blondes broke away, but Spike still held her close. Joyce would just have to deal. There was no way he was letting this girl out of his sight let alone his arms for a good long time.

Buffy blushed under the strong gaze of her mother, but did nothing to wrestle her way out of her lover’s arms. For the first time in days she felt completely and utterly safe.

A noise from the upstairs stacks caught everyone’s attention.

“Oops,” a voice mumbled.

Spike raised an eyebrow.

Buffy gasped.

Blood.

Without warning, Buffy dashed up the stairs. She looked at the pile of books that had fallen to the floor. Underneath them, she could make out the outline of a body. Her Slayer radar wasn’t going off, so it must be human. She knew it was human. In fact she knew who it was, but she wasn’t going to admit it.

The pile of books began to move and the body came into view.

Both gasped.

“Buffy?”

Momentarily distracted, Buffy looked to Spike.

“Dawn?”

“Nibblet?”