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Chapter 25
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Andrew pored over the news items from 1969, trying not to miss anything that might be of importance in the song clues to the Senior Partners’ dimension. "Hum, I missed that one. Anton LeVay published the Satanic Bible in 1969. That’s gotta count as evil, ‘cause, you know, Satan." He was talking out loud to himself while working late in the main research library.

"What! Who’s here?" Xander had fallen asleep behind the stacks and was startled by Andrew’s voice ringing through the silence of the library.

"Not to fear, Xander. It is just I, your fellow researcher, Andrew. I think you fell asleep, bro. Are you just tired or did the subject matter put you out?" Andrew looked at the open volume titled ‘Banking and Politics in the City-State of Florence, Italy 1500 – 1600’. "I think I’d go to sleep, too, man."

"I hadn’t really even started on that." Xander closed the book and put it on the side table against the wall. "I doubt if I’ll find the way to kill Eduardo in there anyway. Geesh, I wish I could do something a little more useful, you know? I always sucked at the whole research thing. Mostly I got the donuts and tried to hide the latest X-Men comic in the book to look like I was in research mode. I was always more of a ‘give me and axe and point the way’ kinda guy. Now I’ve got the whole pirate vibe going with the eye patch, but my buckle won’t swash. At least, no one wants my buckle swashing. I feel useless!"

"Don’t despair, my friend, you have plenty of uses. You’ve always been more than comic relief, not like me. Even Spike has mentioned how brave you’ve always been. Me, I’m just a loser who got lucky enough to survive Warren’s plans and help out in that battle at the Hellmouth. I know everyone just feels sorry for me and lets me hang around, but sometimes I get to really do something that does help and that makes it all okay. You’ve already paid your dues. You’ve been a knight in the army of good. Just because you aren’t charging in with your lance out doesn’t mean you aren’t valued." Andrew blushed slightly at the ‘lance out’ line, realizing how his colleague might take that comment.

"Thanks, Andy. You know you aren’t just kept around as a joke, don’t you? I mean it! Giles is Mr. Business. He wouldn’t go to the trouble of keeping you around and training you if he didn’t think you had the right stuff. You’re a funny guy, true, but that’s okay. The constant fight against the big bad meanies needs a court jester to help keep everyone’s sanity. I used to be the joke boy, trust me on this." Xander felt a sense of near brotherhood with the young Watcher wannabe.

"I guess the research will be valuable if we get the right information. I mean if we can figure out how Spike can kill these dudes and get back safely with Buffy, that’s as good as if we’re actually in the fight, isn’t it? Besides, I think there’s still a lot of people who want you to swash your buckle." Andrew smiled encouragingly at Xander.

"Oooookay. Maybe I’ll not use that phrase again." Xander rolled his one good eye. "How about we work on these research projects together? Keep each other awake that way. Not like it’s a date or anything, ‘cause, REALLY not my type, but comrades in arms and all."

"Great! I’ll get the donuts this time!" Andrew had a smile from ear to ear as he left the room in his quest for yeasty goodness.

~~~

"What does this mean, Giles?" Willow was looking at the blood ritual the Oracle had given that would permit Spike and Buffy to leave the Wolf, Ram and Hart dimension and return to their own. "It says ‘the blood of the beasts must be cast upon the jewels of light. Blood that was taken at the end of the fight’ I understand it means Spike has to use blood from the Wolf, the Ram and the Hart, but what’s this ‘jewels of light’ thing? Didn’t the Oracle give you a clue?"

"No, he did not. I sometimes think part of the purpose of these emissaries of the Higher Powers is to make all their help as murky as possible. I’ve spent most of my adult life struggling to decode one prophecy or another. Usually it only makes sense when it is happening. Not a lot of good in that if you ask me. Might as well go in blind if it makes no sense until it’s all over." Giles was every bit as frustrated as Willow at all the leaps of faith they were going to have to take on this mission.

"You’d think HE’D be a bit more forthcoming at least. After all, he had to struggle with this nonsense just as I have. His promotion shouldn’t have made him forget that!" Giles wondered why the ex-Watcher hadn’t been more clear in his assistance and instruction.

"What did you say, Giles?" Willow hadn’t heard all of what her friend had muttered. "Do you know this guy?"

"No, I don’t suppose I do", Giles answered. He consoled himself that he wasn’t really lying to the girl. He had never really spent enough time with Wesley, even when the young Watcher came to Sunnydale to replace him with Buffy and Faith. He knew very little about him on a personal level. It was clear that Wesley had changed quite a bit during his years with Angel, but Giles didn’t really know the man.

~~~

Spike feigned a move to the right, catching Illyria off-guard for a change. He managed to land a fairly powerful blow to her rib cage before she returned to her commanding position in the fight. "See there, Blue, you’re not all invincible-like after all!" Spike was grinning in spite of the trickle of blood
running from his brow down his face. Being able to land any blow on the demon god was an achievement to celebrate.

"You have learned to use trickery well, Pet. This will be a good skill to use in your battles with the impostors. When you are fully prepared, you shall grind them into the dirt in my stead. You shall wear their entrails as ornaments and gift me with their spines." Illyria looked determined.

"Sure thing, Bluebell. Happy to bring you the bony prezzies, just help me be all non-dustable by Larry, Curly and Moe and they’re all yours." Spike had been sparring with Illyria every day since the plan had been laid. Some days they sparred more than once.

At first, Angel joined them more often than not and there was a certain satisfaction that Spike had been able to best his sire on more than one occasion. In fact, he was winning more times than not against Angel, a fact that explained his sire’s not joining the warriors on a regular basis any longer.

"Where is the vampire? His feeble efforts at least afforded a distraction to hone your skill in fighting against multiple enemies." Sometimes it was almost scary that Illyria seemed in tune with Spike’s mental process.

"Figure Pops got tired of me comin’ out on top. Bloody wanker never did like a fight he might not win. Liked to do his ‘art’ on nuns and orphans and such. Now, me…I always did like a real bit of rough and tumble against someone that had it in ‘em to turn me into somethin’ to vacuum up. More of a challenge, yeah? Angel’s off pouting somewhere, that or playin’ alpha dog with Wolf Girl."

"Or maybe being useful by relating to Giles that vision given to me by the Higher Powers." Angel stood in the doorway with his arms folded in front of him. He was glaring angrily at the two super-powered fighters.

"Let’s see how tired out you are, boy." Angel did a spin that was so fast as to be nearly invisible and connected his foot with Spike’s chest. Spike flew to the wall and let out a wild cry as he surged to his feet and engaged his sire in battle. The real anger lent a power to Angel’s blows that wasn’t always present. It was a good session.

~~~

Nina was patching up the cut on Angel’s cheek when she had an idea. "Honey, remember how you always use human blood to heal faster?"

"That’s okay, Nina, I’m not that knocked around. Spike can’t do that much damage to me. Plain cow with a dash of otter will be fine."

"Yeah, I know. That’s not what I mean. I remember the story you told me about how sick you were with some poison and Buffy made you drink from her because slayer blood was the only cure."

"Yes." Angel looked quite puzzled by Nina’s train of thought. "So?"

"Well, what if a vampire had a steady diet of slayer blood BEFORE going in to battle? Wouldn’t that be like using premium gas in a race car or something?" Nina tilted her head and nearly glowed with excitement.

"I don’t think anyone’s ever tried anything like that. Most vampires get dusted before they get a drink from a slayer. Usually if you get to drink from a slayer, it’s after you’ve killed her in battle, so the fight’s already over." Angel still wasn’t sure where this was going.

"What if we started to feed Spike nothing but grade A, certified pure, slayer blood from now until he goes in after Buffy? That might make him extra hard to beat and even protect him from that poison. He might even heal right away if they slice him up, too." Nina was excited to have thought of another way she could contribute to the cause. "I think I’ll mention this to Mr. Giles right away."

"Well, there is the issue of getting slayer blood. I can’t imagine them lining up to donate for Spike’s supper." Angel sounded almost surly. "He sure isn’t going to be drinking it from the tap."

Nina left in search of Giles while Angel was still grousing about the dangers of an all-slayer diet to a dangerous vampire like Spike.

~~~

The girls currently living at Council headquarters all agreed to donate to ‘Project Feed the Vamp’ once it was explained to them. It had been harder to convince Spike than it was to get the volunteers.


His new diet was causing the blood to sing in his system. Spike felt more powerful than ever before in his unlife. He was even able to defeat Illyria for the first time in a match-up. He wasn’t sure how happy he was going to be going back to a pork diet when this was all over, but Spike was enjoying the effects for the moment.

"Excuse me, excuse me." Angel had to work his way past the line of slayers as they queued up to donate to the cause. He was headed to the workout room and seeing the parade of teenage food bank donors actually caused a change of facial expression on the vamp to one of high irritation.

"Sure, like Spike deserves all this slayer blood. He killed two of them before he decided to turn all good and try to be like me." Angel was more irritated with the fact that neither Giles nor a single slayer offered a solitary complaint or sign of irritation at the request for their life’s blood. If anything, there was an air of pleasure in donating to the vamp. "It’s like a blasted church potluck down here." Angel was not a happy vampire.

"Is there a problem, Angel?" Willow heard his muttered complaints and noticed the alarming difference in expression on the usually placid vampire.

"Come on, Willow! You can’t actually feel right about this! I mean what better way to turn Spike back to the dark side than a steady diet of slayer blood. He’s liable to latch onto Buffy’s neck when he sees her instead of getting her out of there. He’ll drain her! You have no idea what slayers’ blood does to a vampire!" Angel looked deadly serious.

"That’s true. I’m not a vampire, so I can’t know what it would do. I do think I know Spike though. He didn’t drink from Buffy before he got his soul, when his chip didn’t work. Spike’s got a lot of self-control. He didn’t hurt her without the soul and he won’t hurt her now that he has the one he fought to get." She gave Angel her best resolve face. "This is the best idea anyone has had to help Spike be ready to take on these guys. Don’t get all broody over this and put ideas in anyone’s head. You have Nina; you need to just let go of Buffy. Get over it."

"That’s not it. I’m just worried about her. I know Spike. I know vampires. I know the power of Buffy’s blood. You can’t control that." Angel was adamant.

"I remember you nearly draining Buffy. I saw the results, remember. You had your soul back then, too. Buffy said you turned her down, but she hit you a few times and then you went all fangy and drank. You almost killed her! I also know that Buffy beat soulless Spike nearly to death and he didn’t even fight back, much less try to take a nip. Spike knows why he’s getting the good stuff. He also knows it will end when he doesn’t need it any more. You say you know Spike, but you’ve only spent a few months with him since you got your soul, way back before the previous century turned. I think we know him better than you ever did." Willow stalked off leaving Angel with his mouth gaping open.

"Has everyone gone crazy here?" Angel asked no one.

"Maybe not everyone. I don’t think we’ve met." The handsome stranger extended his hand to Angel in greeting. "Faith and I just got here to help with Project Rescue Buffy. Nice to meet you. My name’s Robin Wood."