"She's not here, pet."

Spike could only sense three human heartbeats. The thrum of the two kittens' rapid hearts were a low counterpoint to the girls'.

Tara opened her mouth and then paused. Worry etched her normally calm face.

Dawn snorted and swept off into the kitchen to open up a tin of kitten food and to get some milk out of the fridge, cooing softly at her ginger fur ball.

Buffy frowned up at Spike.

"Where could she be? She was here just before I headed out." She paused. "Wait. No. She wasn't studying. She must have gone out while Dawn and I were talking."

Spike shrugged. He pulled off his duster and dropped it over the banister, stretching his arms towards the ceiling with a feline grace.

'Yum,' Buffy thought, as she watched the thin strip of pale flesh that appeared at the join of his black jeans and t-shirt. A fine down of dark hair disappearing into his waistband flashed at her for a split second.

'Pointing the way to paradise!' Buffy mentally smacked herself. 'Down, girl! You can get some special Spike luvin' later.'

His spine and shoulders cracked loudly, breaking the worried silence.

'Okay, not so sexy. Yuck!' Buffy mentally winced.
Before any of them could say anything, the telephone rang. Dawn's voice could be heard from the kitchen.

"Hey, Xander... What? No, Buffy's here. Yeah, hang on. I'll get her." Dawn ducked her head round the kitchen door.

"Buffy, Xander wants to talk to you. The alarm's gone off at the Magic Box. He is heading over there..." Buffy grabbed the phone from her hand.

"Hey! Rude much?"

"Xan, what's wrong?" Spike and Tara watched the Slayer as she twisted the telephone wire around one of her thin fingers. A small frown creased her forehead.

"No, it's ok. We'll meet you there. No. Wait outside in the car until we get there."

"What's up, luv?"

Buffy turned to the black-clad vampire.

"We have to go. Someone or something has triggered the wards Anya had set up at the shop."

She turned toward the kitchen and spotted Dawn stroking the two kittens. "But, I can't just leave Dawn..."

"I'll stay here with her. You and Spike, go help Xander." Tara offered. She picked up Spike's duster and handed it to him.

"Go on, we'll be alright. Just call me once you've checked the shop. I can reset the wards from here."

Buffy smiled her thanks to the gentle Wiccan.

"Spike, weapons." She nodded to the chest that sat in the corner of the hall.

"On it." He reached in and pulled out an axe and a couple of stakes. Deftly avoiding the crosses that littered the chest, he threw a small hurling axe over to Buffy and then pulled on his coat.

"Buffy." Tara touched the slayer's arm to get her
attention. "Something happened out there tonight. I... I felt something dark drawing power from somewhere." She paused, looking over her shoulder to ensure that Dawn was preoccupied with the kittens. Spike had moved closer to the two girls, concern etching deep lines around his mouth.

"Glinda, what was it?"

"Spike, it was cold and it felt terrible. I don't know what it was, but the surge came from close by." She paused for a second trying to recapture the feeling of the moment. Then, she realised something. "It was cloaked, sort of muffled. But still I felt it!" She shuddered. "It felt dirty and dangerous. Both of you, please, please be careful!" She looked at the two black-clad warriors, who were watching her with concern. "I'll watch over Dawn. Don't worry about us. Just be safe. Please." She whispered a few words of protection over the two of them.

Buffy was a bit taken aback by the intensity of Tara's warning, but there was nothing that could be done. She had to go. That was her job.

"Dawn back in a bit! We have to check the Magic Box with Xander."

"Okay, see yah."

"Tara is staying with you, just order in. Get some extra for us, we'll warm it up when we get back."

"Yes! Go, Buffy. I'll be fine. Spike, just take her and go." Dawn smiled over at her friend. She trotted over and gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks for Anne." She grinned at her fish-mouthing sister and bounced back to the kittens.

"Come on, Anne. Let's go." Spike smirked at the fuming blonde and held open the door for her.

*********

"Oh Goddess, it hurts..."

Willow curled into a tighter ball. Her slender frame was wracked with uncontrollable shakes. Small, red sparks shot into the air and she moaned. Her head was spinning and there was no way she could sleep.

She vaguely wondered if it would ever stop hurting.

She wanted.

No. Needed the rush...

The high she had attained with Rack was now a distant memory. She needed to get back to him, now!

It had felt so good. But now it hurt. She needed to get another hit.

'Just one more visit. That'll be enough.'

She rolled onto her knees and began to crawl slowly towards the door. Another spasm stalled her slow progress and she fell face forwards onto the wooden floor, unconscious. Her red hair fanned over her face, which twisted in agony as black veins appeared. Her ashen skin contrasted briefly with them until they receded.

*********

The two black-clad figures of Buffy and Spike stalked down Revello Drive, their bright hair a counterpoint to the darkness.

"Tara seemed power freaked, didn't she?" Buffy queried her silent companion at arms.

"Eh? Sorry, luv. Was miles away... What did you say?"

"Tara, power freaked. Chanting at us. What was that all about?"

"Something is up. She can sense things. Haven't you ever watched her? She sorta phases out and then, wham, she's back." He clapped his hands together to emphasise his point.
"What? No. I mean I never saw her do anything like that. How do you know she does that?"

"Luv, she's real special. There's a power in her. I guess my demon senses it." Spike pondered his statement for a second.

"She's a lot more than Willow's girl. But then again, maybe that's all she wanted people to see her as. Now? Well, now, there isn't that element to her and..."

"Maybe she's more confident?" Buffy queried.

"Yeah, there's that and she... Damn it! I can't put my finger on it." He growled, frustrated, raking his hands through his bleached hair, curls springing up haphazardly.

'Aww! He looks so cute when he is frustrated. Makes me want to cuddle him, stroke his hair and tell him it will be alright!'

"What? Tell me!" One thing Buffy knew about Spike was he could read anyone and any situation within seconds.

'For example Poop-head Parker, gah! Not going there. Do I have sucker tattooed on my forehead?'

She knew that if Spike sensed something then it was there. But what did he see in Tara?

"Luv, its like this. She glows." He stopped and smiled. 'Effulgent,' he thought. "I mean all of us just saw her as Willow's quiet, shy bird. But look at her now, she stood up to Red and called her on the magic. None of us saw that comin'."

"Yeah, it's like once she realised we were her family she felt safe." Buffy grinned remembering Dawn last year, in bitch mode and ready to pull hair and take names!

"Yeah, I guess." He shrugged.

"But after I realised the crap her father and her son-of-a-bitch brother had put her through, I started to watch over her and then..." He lit a cigarette and pulled hard on the filter.

'Yup, that's her Spike. Once he bonded with someone, they were his. With Tara it took a gentle pop to her nose and then Spike claimed her as his. Not in a sexy way, more of a family way. A clan thingy.'

"I guess that's when I really saw her. When she hid behind her hair, I knew that she was hiding something from you Scoobies."

"Hey!" Buffy interrupted him. "You're a Scooby as well, and don't you forget it." She poked him gently in the ribs.

"Luv, tell that to the others."

"I don't need to. I know, Tara and Dawn, too. The others can just bite me!"

"I thought that was my job?" He smirked at the blonde bombshell next to him.

"Stop it!" She looked coyly up at him, through her lashes. "Maybe later, if you're good! Tell me what you think about Tara."

"You know I'm always good!" He curled his tongue over his teeth. He winked at her his cerulean eyes twinkled with humour.

She tried to ignore the innuendo but couldn't resist messing with him, so she gently bit his bicep.

Spike jumped. He looked down at the minx hanging onto his arm. His erection twitched in response. He subtly reached down and tried to adjust himself.

But a small hand got there first.

"Something bothering you, honey?" Buffy smirked up at him. Her hot fingers massaged him gently, kneading his crotch like a contented cat.

"Luv, not helping, and you're distracting me." Spike gently caught her wandering hand and pressed a kiss to her palm.

"Where was I? Oh, right. I started watching her and then I saw it. Power, simmering under the surface, waiting to come out. She's almost there but I think the best is yet to come."

"Oh, well. I guess that we'll have to be there for her." Buffy worried her lip between her teeth.

"That we will, luv. That we will." Spike drew on his cigarette and then flicked it away. Smoke curled around his head, like a halo.

*********

"Tara? What are you doing?" Dawn slid around the door and into the sitting room.

Tara was seated on the floor, surrounded by a wide circle of cornmeal and small bundles of sage tied together with fine strands of wheat. Dotted in the cornmeal were several different crystals, which were glowing brightly.

"Shh, sweetie. Hold on a second." Tara, raised her hands above her head and then placed her left one, palm down, on the floor to ground herself.

"Earth Mother, Gaia, I invoke thee.
I create this sacred circle, here and now, in your honour.
May the power I raise here protect this home.
The power I call on, Mother, is for the good of all life.
Shelter us all and protect us from all that wish to harm us."

As the Wiccan chanted the final words of her invocation there was a shimmer of golden light that illuminated the entire house briefly.

Tara bowed her head in reverence to her goddess. Her golden hair fell forward, covering her peaceful face.

"So mote it be."

She raised her athame and plunged the ceremonial knife into a silver bowl of water to cleanse it. With the tip she pricked the index finger on her left hand and let three drops of blood drip onto the nearest wand crystal. A clear bell-like tone rang out.

"Wow." Dawn's jaw dropped as she felt the power flow through Tara and then into the room.

Tara exhaled, then paused, gathering her strength. The use of her power drained her momentarily. Then, she relaxed her muscles.

"Hey, sweetie. What's up?"

"Tara, I felt it! What have you done?"

"I've umm p..put a blessing on the house and all of us. Just a p...protection spell. Something is happening and I want all of you to be safe."

"Can I sit down?" Dawn asked shyly, a little in awe of her surrogate mother.

"Sure, come over. You can come in now. I've finished." Tara reached up and pulled the gangly teen down into the circle.

"Can I touch?" Dawn's hand hovered over the now quiescent crystals.

"Sure, sweetie. Go ahead. They're safe."

"What are they?" Dawn poked tentatively at one of the round balls.

"Agate, malachite, tiger's eye and wand crystals. They're for protection. I use them to channel and their power helped me to focus my energies." Tara's stutter vanished as she picked up the various crystals and dropped them into Dawn's out-stretched hands.

"Yipes! They're warm."

"Yes, they'll cool down, but this one..." Tara lifted the bloodstained wand crystal and cradled it in her hand.

"This has to be buried under the house. Do you want to help me?"

"Sure. How deep? Shall I get a shovel? We can put it in the basement. There's earth under the boiler." Dawn pulled the Wiccan girl up and headed for the kitchen.

"There. It's done." Tara brushed the earth from her hands and looked over at the brunette teen.

"Don't you have to do or say anything?"

"Nope we're all done. Pancakes? I can make funny shapes."

"What about the take out?" Dawn asked. She really loved Tara's pancakes and didn't want to miss them.

"We can have both."

"Yum. Blueberries too?"

"Sure."

Tara pulled Dawn to the stairs and they headed up. Neither of them saw a faint crimson glow that appeared under the boiler and then faded away.

*********

Spike looked over at the determined girl trotting beside him, her shorter legs working to keep up with him. He slowed slightly and then grinned.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, luv. Bit's a sharp one, isn't she? Anne." He quirked his scarred eyebrow at her.

"Hmph..." She tucked her free hand into the crook of his leather-clad elbow and leaned into him. As he looked down at her in surprise, she reached up and pecked him on the lips.

"What's that for, Luv? Not that I'm complaining but..."

He pulled her hard against his body and lifted her slightly, his lips searching for hers.

"Spike, I told you. I love you! Can't you just enjoy?"

"Shh, Pet. I get it! Just not too sure where I stand? I mean I heard what you said on the porch, but, I can't help waiting for the other shoe to drop. I keep thinking that you're going to turn round and say it was all a joke. As I said before, not too sure where I'm at, is all."

"Right next to me." Buffy paused and peeked up shyly through her lashes at him.

"Uhmm. That's if you..."

She was flustered, not used to being honest with him. She was terrified that he would turn on her. She knew she deserved it after all she had done to him. She knew, that after all the crap she had thrown at him, the few words they had exchanged earlier were not going to be enough. Not enough to repair the damage they had both done to each other

Spike froze.

If his heart had been able to beat, he was sure it would have been pounding.

He was terrified. He clenched his jaw. A muscle ticked betraying his nerves.

But looking down into her uncertain eyes.

Time for a change!

"Now, where else would I want to be, luv?" His voice cracked with unrestrained emotion.

Buffy's eyes filled with tears of relief.

'Thank god, he's going to let me back in. This time it's
going to be different.'

"Good..."

Buffy paused for a second. She took a deep breath and reached up, cupping his face in her hands. Her small fingers traced the sharp line of his cheekbones, relishing the fact that she could touch him freely.

"There's something I need to tell you. It's really important and I..."

Buffy, took a deep breath. Her fingers paused on the curve of his lower lip. Spike's mouth opened and he nibbled on her fingers. A curious gleam in his eyes, he gently kissed her fingertips.

"Go on, luv."

His eyes caught hers. A soft smile curved his lips. He knew that whatever she was trying to say was hard. He didn't want to frighten her or put her off, so he stayed still in her embrace.

Waiting...

"Spike... No, William. I... I... Umm." She paused.

'God, why is this so hard? Just say it, girl!'

"Spike, I love you."

'There! Was that so hard?' her inner Buffy yelled at her.

Buffy looked down shyly at her boots, unable to meet his piercing blue eyes.

Then, she squeaked in surprise. A very un-slayer like noise, but at the same time, totally Buffy.

She was lifted up high and spun around by a laughing vampire. She clutched tightly at his shoulders to keep her balance, threw her head back and laughed.

Spike slid her small form down his body, relishing the contact between them. He rained kisses over her flushed, laughing face, determined not to miss a single inch.

"Oh, my heart, my love, my darling girl!" He paused and stared intently into her hazel eyes.

"You're not yanking my chain are you?"

"Eww!" Buffy wrinkled her nose at him. "That's gross! But if you want me to, I'll do it later."

She smiled impishly at him. A huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She felt like she could fly.

"Spike, I LOVE YOU." She shouted at the top of her lungs. Amazed at how easily the words came to her lips.

"Buffy, I swear I'll never let you regret this. I love you so much, but promise me you won't take this back. I couldn't endure it if you turned your back on me now."  Spike stopped and drew in a shaky breath.

"It would kill me." Anxiety filled his blue eyes. He stared at her, trying to read her mind.

"No. No. Oh, Spike, please! I promise this is real and I'm not going anywhere and nothing will change how I feel. I swear." She kissed his mouth gently and brushed her lips over his closed eyes.

"Sorry, luv. Wasn't expecting you to say that! Say it again, please?" He begged.

"Love you, Spike." Buffy grinned up at him, waiting for the talkative vamp to say something.

"Urgh!" Her breath was squeezed out of her. Spike crushed her small frame to his and then held her face in his hands. He kissed her thoroughly. Buffy's toes curled.

"Wow!" She breathed out slowly, trying to get sensation back to her entire body.

"Xander!"

"Okay, not the response I was hoping for, Buffy." Spike smirked down at her.

"No, doofus! Xander. Waiting for us at the Magic Box. He's alone and what if there's someone there, waiting to chop him to pieces!"

"Here's hoping." Spike laced his fingers with hers and pulled her down the street.

"Hey, he's my friend. There will be no Xander pieces! Anya wouldn't like it." She trotted along with him, swinging their linked hands.

*********
"There you are." Amy leant over Willow's crumpled form and roughly turned her over. She examined her pale face.

"Man, you are a mess." Her top lip twisted in a sneer.

"But, then again, you left me in my mess for quite a few years. Fair's fair." She pulled Willow up by the hands and started to guide the stumbling girl out of the Magic Box. Their shoes crunched over the shards of glass that littered the shop.

'Rack is going to be pleased. He's going to think I'm bringing her back.'

Amy yanked Willow none too gently out the door and pushed her to the pavement.

"What the hell have you been eating, Willow? You weigh a ton." Amy shoved the non-responsive girl into the waiting car. Slamming the door shut she skittered over to the driver's side.

She could feel Rack. She knew he had to be watching.

"Amyyy... That you?" Willow slurred as she flopped her head back.

"Yeah. Come on. We've got to get out of here." She turned the car on and started down the quite street.

"Hhhurtss."

"What? Oh, yeah, Rack will fix you right up. Don't worry." Amy kept her eyes on the road. She didn't want to look at her old school friend. She felt bad about shoving her to the ground, but Rack may have been watching!

"No, bleeding... My hands..." Willow tried to raise her arms. But they were too heavy. Amy glanced over and winced. Willow's hands were pouring blood from where she had pushed her down on to the concrete pavement.

"Yeah. Too bad. They'll heal. Ok?"

"Help me..." With that Willow passed out.

Amy stopped at a red light. She drummed her fingers nervously on the steering wheel.

"Crap!" She flicked the indicator on and spun the car towards her street and her Dad's house.

'Rack is going to kill me,' Amy thought despairingly.
When they finally pulled into the driveway, Amy reached for the keys and turned off the engine. She rested her head on the steering wheel and sighed loudly.

"Amyyyy, where are we?"

"Home. Home, Willow. You can sleep it off here. But you have to keep quiet. My dad'll go nuts if he sees you like this." Amy stepped out of the car and came round to the passenger side.

She gingerly reached in and pulled Willow out of the car. The two girls stumbled towards the garage and the flight of stairs next to it. They climbed up the stairs slowly until they reached the apartment door.

"Come on, you can take the couch. Dad doesn't come up here often. He's too busy with his new family." Amy paused. Bitterness flooded her sharp features and her eyes narrowed.

"I guess I should be grateful he let me rent the garage flat, huh?"

"Hmmm.. Wanna go to Rack." Willow hung listlessly in her grasp.

"No!"

Amy hesitated. She knew if she tried to stop Willow going back, she would get hurt.

'Lie to her, buy some time.'

"We'll go back. But for now sit down. I'll get some Band-Aids." Amy lowered her burden onto the couch and bustled over to the breakfast bar. Pulling out a first aid box, she came back over and swiftly cleaned Willow's cuts and bandaged them.

"Willow, lie back. I'll get you a blanket." Amy disappeared into the other room. When she returned Willow was fast asleep. Tossing the blanket over the redhead, she flicked off the lights as she headed to her bedroom.

"Sleep well, Willow. You'll feel better in the a.m."

She walked quietly round the room, checking her wards. They were strong, strong enough to keep him out.

She headed into her room. Crossing quickly to her mother's old armoire, unlocking the doors, she swung it open. It opened to reveal shelves of magical objects and her Book of Shadows. Skimming through it quickly, she stopped on a page. Amy exhaled, relieved that she had found the right spell.

She knew that a prayer to Artemis was probably their best bet. She searched through shelves, looking for a long thin Artemis crystal. Pulling it out, she ran her fingers over it, praying that her pleas would be heard.

She knew from past experience that the goddess would champion her and hopefully Willow. They were both trapped by Rack's power games. She looked out at Willow's limp form. Willow had wanted to go back. The goddess might not choose to protect her.

She shrugged. It was worth a try. She lit some tea lights. Placing the slim crystal in the centre of the flickering circle, she bowed her head and began chanting.

"Lady of the wild things, wood and hill and dale.
Steward of all freedoms, defender of the frail.
Tender of the forests, empowering the tame,
Protectress of all nature, I ask this in your name.
Protect us both from those who would control us.
Purge his power from our veins.
Let that which is unnatural be gone.
Cloak us from Rack's unclean eyes and power.
So mote it be..."

The crystal flared with power. A warm violet glow appeared in the heart of the clear quartz. Amy relaxed. Her plea had been heard.

She just hoped it would be enough.
*********

Xander pulled up to the shop front and parked. He was still in his pyjamas. Anya had shoved him out the door with strict instructions for him to protect her money.

'Man. What is with her and the money thing? You'd think she would have gotten over that insecurity stuff by now. She must know that I'll look after her and that she is safe.'
Xander looked over at the shop front.

'Nope, nothing wrong there. Maybe a Racoon set the wards off out the back. I'll just go check on it.'

Xander reached for the handle and paused. He remembered his promise to both Anya and Buffy.

He sat back and waited.

'Man, I am whipped! I need more guy friends.' He reached over into the passenger seat and grabbed a huge half-eaten bag of Cheetos.

*********
"Slayer?"

"Hmm. What, Spike?"

"What are you going to tell the whelp?"

"What about?"

She kept her eyes forward, trying not to laugh at him. Her lips quirked slightly, but she controlled herself.

"What about?" he asked, trying to control his temper. "About you and me!"

"Oh. That!" She shrugged, still trying not to laugh.

'Vamp or human they are still little boys, who all need their egos stroked, amongst other things.'

Buffy drew out the silence for a split second, but she couldn't bear it. She could feel the insecurity and hurt pouring off Spike in waves.

"Nothing, luv." Spike sighed.

'Back to being a dirty secret. At least she loves me!' He tried to see the positive side.

"Spike, stop it and stop pouting as well!" She patted his arm and then reached up and pulled gently at his bottom lip.

"What am I going to tell Xander?" Buffy tried to keep the smile out of her voice. Then, Spike growled. She realised that her teasing had gone far enough and she had to put him out of his misery.

"Spike. This is going to be hard. Xander isn't going to like us."

"There is a public us?"

"Yes! There is. Dawn knows, Tara as well. So, yes, we are going public. No more sneaking around and if Xander can't deal, then..." Her eyes filled with tears, which then poured down her cheeks.

"Here now, none of that pet." Spike squeezed her hand gently.

"I know I shouldn't care but he is going to say something awful." She wiped her cheeks with her the back of her free hand. For a split second, she looked like a four year old.

"Luv, he'll say what he says and then we'll deal. I won't even try to thump him. I promise." He stopped short and stared up Main Street.

"He's over there. In the car..." Spike paused and sniffed the air. "Yeah, he's eating as usual. Cheetos."

*********

Xander jumped, spilling Cheetos all over his lap, when a face appeared in the windscreen.

"Jesus. Get an unlife, Fangless!" Xander stepped out of his car, dusting off Cheeto pieces and trying to regain his cool.
'Well, what little I had anyway! I really hate Spike. He has that whole I'm the Big Bad thing going for him and on top of that he's got the cheekbones and the eyes! Oookay, Xander. Gay much?'

"So, floppy boy, what's going on?"

"Hey, Buff. Didn't see yah there through the blinding brightness that is Spike's hair." Xander frowned. He looked behind Spike at Buffy.

"Uhmm. Buffy, why are you holding hands with Spike?"  Xander waited, his guileless grin gradually slipping.

"Well, Xander, it's like this." Buffy started to explain when he interrupted her.

"No, forget it. I don't want to know. Not now. Let's just check out the shop and then I am sure I'll wake up screaming!"
"Oi! None of that, you git." Spike snarled, his eyes flashed golden for a split second as he let his demon out.

"Xander, please don't do this." Buffy begged.

Xander walked over to the shop, ignoring both of them and unlocked the door, fumbling with the keys for a second.
'This isn't happening! My worst nightmare! Oh, Buffy, why him? What do I do? What do I say? I feel sick!'

"Xander?" Buffy reached out to touch his shoulder. He shrugged it off angrily.

"Don't! Not now, Buffy!" The brunette pushed the shop door open.

"Xander, stop this. Look, I want you to hear this from me, from us." Buffy caught her friend's gaze and held it. "What do you want most for me in the world?"

"For you to be alive and happy." Xander replied quietly.

"Well look I'm alive and, Xand, I am happy so please just try to accept this."

"Accept what exactly?" he mumbled.

"Spike and I. We are together and I am really happy," she replied.

"Oh, Buffy, not the whole undead loving again, and not Spike. Please!"

"Look, Harris, you want to have a go, then lay it on. But leave Buffy out of it."

Spike stepped closer to the two of them, and placed his hands on the shaking girl's shoulders, to steady her as Xander responded.

"Just stop it, both of you. I don't want to talk about this now. I'm tired and dressed in my nightshirt. I want to check this out and then go to bed. Buff, we can talk this out later, after I have slept, and over coffee tomorrow. Just let me stay in denial a bit longer," he begged.

"Okay, Xand, but ignoring us is not going to make this go away." Buffy gently pushed him aside and stepped into the darkened shop. She reached over and flicked the lights on.

"Oh my god!" she gasped.

"Bloody Hell!"

"Oh, mannn. Anya is going to have a fit!"

The three of them stood there in the doorway and gazed at the destruction of the shop.

*********
Rack sat back on his sofa. He ignored the whining coming from the waiting room.

'Where are they?'

He could feel them out there, but he couldn't pinpoint their exact position. He had followed their power signatures for a while. Then once they had met up they had flared for a few minutes and then were gone.

'Looks like Ratty grew a backbone. Well, I guess I'll have to rip it out for her!'

He stood and strode to the door. Pulling it open, he called out to the three idiots who were waiting for him. He would need them all... if he was going to find his missing Strawberry.

"Get in here, all of you."

They scrambled to their feet.

Rack grinned as he followed them into his den.