It took Buffy long seconds to get her temper under control. She knew Spike was alive now and that was a plus in her book; she could always kill him later for allowing her to be caught up in a situation like this. ‘Spike is alive!’ rang through her head and suddenly the sappy smile she had been forcing for the Immortal wasn't fake anymore.

The rest of the ride was accomplished in silence, for which Buffy was grateful - even if the perpetual smile on her face taxed her facial muscles. It gave her time to come to grips with things. Like Spike being alive. And, the fact that Giles’ machinations had gotten them embroiled in yet another problem – this one of epic proportions.

When was everyone going to realize that messing with Buffy’s life equaled bad things happening?

She sighed heavily, and looked guiltily up at the Immortal, figuring she’d blown her love-smitten cover. When he just smiled fondly down at her, she gifted him with another infatuated smile, and for good measure she fluttered her lashes just a bit. He seemed to buy her performance and went back to looking out the window, no doubt working on his nefarious plot to take over the world, complete with a bunch of expendable women soldiers to guard his back.

~*~*~*~*~

Angel was becoming annoyed. Everyone but him, it seemed, had one of those handy dandy ear comm units. If he hadn’t been standing close to Spike or Shayera he wouldn't have been able to hear anything. He could have tried standing next to that “Bat” guy, but truthfully the guy gave him the willies… and that was saying a lot given his demon status.

Another thought occurred to him then. He’d taken over Wolfram and Hart to topple the senior partners. Now with Spike, or Green Lantern as he was referred to now, and the JLU on his side he had a much better chance of succeeding and at the same time would be able to keep his own people alive.

Shayera didn't seem to be warming up to him, but there was that Amazon that ran around in star-spangled panties. She was a real looker and might just be his type. Not that he was looking at all…

Angel was jarred from his silent musings by an elbow to his gut. “What?” he hissed.

“We're tryin’ to plan here. Think you can pull your mind out of the gutter long enough to join us, or do I need to fly you back to LA?”

“Sorry,” he muttered. “What did I miss?”

“The Immortal has just left Buffy Summers’ residence. We were debating the merits of revealing our presence—”

“Oh, there’s no point in debating,” the Slayer practically growled. “Please, feel free to come in and join me. You too, Spike.”

“Bloody hell.”

Spike preceded the group, figuring that if the Slayer was gonna kill him he might as well get it over with. He entered her home freely since she’d already invited him in and the door was unlocked. As he crossed her foyer he saw her there, her arms folded across her chest, looking like a cross between a pouty two-year-old and an angry avenging angel. He stopped suddenly unaware of what he should do.

Buffy took care of his indecision, crossing the room in four quick strides, grabbing him by the ears and kissing him soundly. Just as he was relaxing into the kiss, she broke it suddenly and…

*BAM*

“Ow ow, ow!” Buffy nearly screamed, holding her fist in her other hand. “What the hell?”

“It is the ring,” Shayera said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It protects its wearers from most bodily harm.”

“Well then take the damn thing off because I got a lot of bodily harm planned for Spike,” Buffy informed her.

“Now, luv...”

“Don't you ‘love’ me. Dammit, Spike! I’ve been pining here. Pining! Thinking you were dead. And now I find out you’re alive and part of some freakish—”

Hawkgirl made to step forward, objecting to the blonde’s name-calling.

“It’s alright, Shayera. Slayer’s just ventin’ is all.”

"Dammit, Spike! I thought you'd DIED!" Buffy went on like Hawkgirl hadn’t just threatened her.

"Well... I did die, luv. Just managed to come back.” He moved back to her side and carefully pulled her into his arms. “Was a bit ghostly at first, and tied to Wolfram & Hart. Just got my body all solid today, as a matter of fact. Then this whole thing with the Lantern...” He sighed. “It's a long story, pet. How bout we get comfortable and I'll fill ya in, yeah?"

"You know yellow would work," Angel said almost as an aside. At Buffy's quick look at him outside her door he finished. "If you still wanna beat on him just use a yellow club."

Buffy's eyes narrowed at Angel’s words and her voice smoothed to almost a purr. “Why don't you come in and join us, Angel, and explain how even though you knew Spike's death was killing me and we talk on the phone every few days, you never decided to tell me he was back?"

Shayera's grin returned. "I would most definitely like to hear this answer myself."

"But you said you were cookies..." Angel began. "And Spike has always hogged the sweets...."

Even Batman couldn't help chuckling at the vampire's petulant tone.

~*~*~*~*~

"So, lemme see if I've got this straight,” Buffy told Spike, once more ignoring Angel; his whining tone reminded her of Dawn, though his was much deeper – thankfully. “You've been a ghost for the last few months, until today, when a mysterious box shows up. Then suddenly you're you again. But, before you can do anything about it, a green energy swirls around you and takes you to the dying Green Lantern. You become him, and now you're part of a not-so-secret organization of superheroes..."

"Does seem a bit farfetched," Spike allowed.

The Slayer went on like he'd not even commented.

"Then you try to avenge the death of this other guy, and discover the Immortal is involved. My Immortal... well, not 'mine' mine... oh, you know what I mean."

"Small world?" he asked hopefully.

“You then went by Council headquarters and Giles implied that I had moved on... so your revenge was to let this Vandal Savage paw all over me?" Buffy asked with a sickly sweet smile.

"Rubbish!" Spike ground out. “If the bloody ponce had been pawing all over you I would have ripped his hands off of ‘im."

"Soooo now, not only am I an ex you are angry at, I'm a little girl that needs protecting?" Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow. "And you felt the need to drag Angel along because what??? You seeing the Immortal humiliate me wasn't enough?" Buffy was getting wound up now. “What? Afterwards are you two gonna fly back to LA and sit around and talk about poor, pitiful Buffy?"

Buffy wasn't truly angry, not really. But Spike and Angel's faces as she laid into them was just too good to let it alone.

"Trust me, pet. I'm far from thinking of you as a little girl." An exaggerated eyebrow wiggle punctuated the point.

"Ok, way too much information for me," Hawkgirl announced, eyes bouncing back and forth between the two blondes.

"Who asked you?" Buffy growled.

Batman interjected again before things got out of hand - well, he tried to anyway. He went to put a reassuring hand on the Slayer's shoulder and was suddenly flying through the air. Only his keen reflexes prevented him from getting hurt.

"Enough!" Spike bellowed. He glared at the Slayer. "Sit!"

Then, he turned to Shayera. "And, you, back off... or... or I'll sick Angel on you." He turned to the Caped Crusader. "You all right, Batman?"

"Fine. Your girlfriend's got quite the grip," he mumbled under his breath as he massaged his wrist.

Spike smirked. "Yeah... she does."

"Girlfriend?" Buffy asked from her seat upon the couch.

"Uhhhhhhmmmmm… well yeah, love." Spike said, instantly losing his street cred with his suddenly bashful look. "I mean I was hoping, ya know."

"Hmmmmm…" Buffy seemed to ponder with a sly grin. "There would have to be flowers, and chocolate and poetry, definitely poetry."

"Can we get back to the mission?" Batman interjected. "We need to figure out what to do with Savage."

"Simple." Shayera said. "We capture him and beat him up until he tells us everything."

Spike silently agreed but was sure Batman wasn't impressed with the idea.

"Points for the direct approach," the Slayer announced. And for once the two women weren't staring daggers at each other. "Can I get a second? Angel? Er... Batman?"

Angel shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just along for the ride. But, I'm not opposed to roughing up the Immortal a bit."

He and Spike shared a look; the two had a score to settle.

"And why is that Angel?" Buffy asked guilelessly.

Angel looked around hoping for an out but everyone including Spike was just staring at him… waiting. "HesleptwithDarlaandDru," he mumbled.

"He what?" Shayera asked him.

"He slept with Darla and Dru," the Bat clarified for her.

“Well, hasn't everyone?" Buffy asked

Spike rolled his eyes at his grandsire. "Can you be any MORE of a git?"

"What...? She asked!” Angel whined.

"So lie..."

Angel's lips compressed into a thin line of disapproval.

"Anyway... movin' on." Spike stopped suddenly, his nostrils flaring at the unexpected scent of another.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Buffy got up to answer it.

"Oh... hello."

"Miss Summers. I'm J'onn. I’m... uh... a friend of Spike and the others... from the Justice League."

"Well, come in... we're just discussing our plan of attack."

Batman and Hawkgirl nodded a greeting as J'onn walked into the room, Buffy behind him. Quick introductions were made with Angel; Spike had already met the man.

"Ya know, Gramps?" Spike pointed out suddenly. "He does have a bigger forehead than you! But you still win in the Neanderthal department."

Buffy rolled her eyes before semi apologizing for Spike.

"Ok, he isn't normally this rude," she told J'onn before thinking about what she’d just said. "Well… he is, actually. But, he’s normally much ruder, so he must like you."

J’onn smiled.

"Can I get my ear piece and shots now?" Buffy asked, trying to change the subject.

J'onn must have had a calming influence on the bunch, because they all took seats around the Slayer's living room. Ideas were thrown out and either accepted or rejected. It was like a Scooby meeting - only better. Super, even. With heroes and such.

Buffy couldn't help but grin. She had three superheroes, four counting Spike, sitting in her living room. It was the first time in forever that she didn't feel like a complete freak, that she actually fitted in somewhere.

The group planned late into the night before Batman finally stood and told them they should be off, that the sun would be up soon, and along with it, the return of the Immortal. Hawkgirl, J'onn, and Angel all stood and made their way to the door with the Caped Crusader. Spike was the last to rise... wanting a moment alone with the Slayer.

"You know it was easier when we just ripped off their heads."

"Yeah, I know," Buffy replied with a bit of longing, taking the vampire’s hand in hers.

"We could just shuck the plan and I could stay here and you and me kick his arse when he shows up." Something he was all for, since he didn’t want to leave.

"But then how would we catch this guy Sinestro?" Buffy asked him gently, knowing that the Immortal was only part of equation.

"Bein’ a bloody do gooder, bloody well sucks," he complained.

"Yeah, but afterwards we can celebrate… ok?" Buffy replied.

"I hate this."

"Me too."

There was a discreet cough from the hallway and Spike sighed and reluctantly pulled away.

"I'll be close, pet, if you need me."

"I know."

Buffy watched as he turned and slipped out her front door, quietly pulling it closed behind him. She hummed softly as she walked into her bedroom.

With the others gone, the adrenaline that had kept her going into the wee hours of the morning seemed to leave her in a rush. She wanted nothing more than to take a shower and collapse into bed for a few hours sleep. A thought suddenly occurred to her.

“Uh… Spike... Is this thing waterproof? I want to take a shower."

A muffled groan was her only response. That and a strangled, "You're bloody well killin’ me here, luv."

Shayera finally answered her question, informing her that, yes, the earpiece was completely waterproof, so that she didn't have to take it out to shower.

Buffy's face suddenly broke into a wicked grin and she asked. "Shayera? Does this thing have a one-on-one conferencing mode?"

Even as the other woman laughed the Bat broke in with an emphatic, "NO!"

"You are so not of the fun," Buffy mumbled.

After asking for and receiving an explanation for Batman’s outburst, for once, Angel was glad he didn’t have an earpiece.

~*~*~*~*~

Dawn Summers was nearly home when the weird crimson breeze hit her. After late night study session at a friend’s and an early morning exam and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. One minute she was only a block away from the house she shared with Buffy and the next second she was on the other side of Rome. She came to a rather quick stop and felt like she was going to be sick.

"What the hell?" she squeaked, gasping for breath.

"Just a bit of super speed, sexy." Flash, the barely twenty-year-old Leaguer answered her, carefully setting her down on her feet in front of him.

"Can we do it again?" Dawn begged, her arms still grasping his shoulders. Broad shoulders, she noted with satisfaction. Her eyes traveled south, taking in the skin-tight costume and how it molded to well-defined muscles.

Flash started to leer, then faltered. 'Wait... was she flirting with me? Usually get a smack upside my head by now.' "Uh... sure," he replied hesitantly. "Where do you wanna go?"

"BIT!" Spike snarled at the twosome, stepping out of the shadows.

Dawn spun around at hearing the nickname only one bleach blond vampire graced her with. "Uhhhhmmmm, Spike?" Then louder. “SPIKE?!?!"

The youngest Summers closed the distance to her best friend in a rush hugging him so tightly that if he had been human she might have cracked his ribs.

"ASSHOLE!" she suddenly yelled, and leaning back, hit him as hard as she could. "Owie, owie, owie! That hurt."

"Her I like," Shayera said with a grin.

"Bloody hell!" Spike growled. "What the hell was that for?"

"Because you... you..." Dawn's eyes widened as they took in his outfit. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"Doesn’t bloody matter what I'm wearin’, Bit. Why are you flirtin’ like some trollop?"

"Trollop!" Dawn screeched. "Trollop!"

"Bloody hell, Bit... the ears! Have a heart!"

"You call me a trollop and expect me to have a care for your ears, you spandex wearing... neon... freak!"

"Hey!"

"Well, you started it." She folded her arms over her chest and glanced around at the others, and how they were all biting their lips to keep from laughing outright. Her own twitched started to twitch in amusement as well.

"Are we sure she isn't a metahuman?" Wally interrupted, hiding behind Dawn to avoid being in the direct path of her voice. "Because I think that screech could shatter crystal."

Dawn turned slowly to face the guy who only seconds ago she had thought was an uber!hottie and said, "Screeched? Screeched? Let me guess you really don't like girls much?" She turned back and pinned Spike with a look. “Does Buffy know you're alive?"

"Was her idea to get you here, and away from Savage." Spike informed her.

"Savage? Who's Savage?"

"It's a long story. Go with the boy in the red suit, and if he lays one improper finger on you... I wanna know about it, ok?"

"Uh, yeah... sure... Where am I going?"

"Fancy a trip in space, pet?"

Dawn's eyes widened to saucer size. "You guys’ve got a space ship? How about little green men?" She was bouncing now.

"Well it’s a space station, I guess you could call it, that’s orbiting Earth, and J'onn our token Martian isn't quite that little," Wally teased.

"Oh. My. God!" Dawn squealed enthusiastically. "Willow, Xander, Andrew.... are so gonna hate me for this."

Spike rolled his eyes at Dawn's exuberance. He should have known that the girl would be the least of his troubles. "Bloody geek squad," he muttered under his breath, then louder to the boy, "See she doesn't get hurt, or you'll be answerin' to me, Boy."

"Boy?" Wally squawked and was about to object when he saw the hard look in the vampire's eyes.

"We're supposed to be a team here, Lantern," he grumbled as he led the leggy brunette away to the transporter tube.

"Come on... we've got work to do," Spike barked at Hawkgirl and the others once Flash and Dawn were safely away. When Angel would have objected to his grandchilde's abrupt high-handedness, a calming hand on his shoulder stopped him; it was Batman.

"He's worried. Leave him be."

"Worried? What has Spike to be worried about?"

"The Immortal is evil in his own right and I know you guys have a history.... but Sinestro... well... that's Lantern's only weakness now. He’s the only thing that can really hurt him."

~*~*~*~*~

"What do we bloody do now?" Spike asked the gathered heroes. They were tucked away in a building not far from Buffy’s apartment.

"Now we wait." Batman said and walked off without a backward glance.

“I hate waiting…” Spike grumbled.

“Until Savage calls, that all we can do,” Superman, the voice of reason, informed him. Spike nodded reluctantly. It was all part of the plan they’d come up with as a group; it didn’t mean he had to like it.

In the next few hours, Spike got to hear the greatest heroes of the world getting their "letters home." For Batman it was Alfred, Dick, and Tim he spoke to in hushed tones that no one except Spike, Angel, and Superman could possibly overhear. For Superman it was Lois somebody or other. The others all had similar talks either with family or loved ones as they waited for Savage to call, but Spike himself couldn't talk to Buffy without possibly giving away the game away, and his nervousness just got worse with every passing second.

Spike paced... and paced. When he went to pull out a pack of cigarettes to ease his nerves, he found that he didn't have any. Which irked him even more. Knowing he wasn't fit company, he moved off from the others while the sun rose steadily higher in the sky.

‘Just bloody call already!’

Fuck, he hated waiting. He finally stopped and sat, staring off into space, concentrating on the soft breath of the Slayer as she slept on - barely heard by his comm unit. So caught up, he didn't hear Shayera walk up and place a hand on his shoulder in a show of comfort. "She's a strong warrior. She'll be ok."

"You don't know that, luv. We— I should have never agreed to this. You know, the entire time I was a ghost I tried every day to get to her. I made it to the end of the property the law offices sat on, then I was back in my grandsire's office... only to start over again. I can't... I can't lose her now."

"She has risked herself her whole life. Do you think she would want this from you?" Shayera said setting down next to him. "I loved John very much, but I am a warrior like your slayer and if he had tried to keep me from the fight I would have left him. I live for the fight, like you... like your lady love."

Spike barked a short laugh. "The worst part, luv? The bloody worst part is I love her warrior side. She is bleedin’ beautiful in a fight. And the Immortal? Oh yeah, I almost feel sorry for the bloke."

"She will be alright. You’ll see. Batman... Superman... everyone will look out for her, out for each other. It's the way of the Justice League..."

Spike nodded. "All for one, huh?"

Shayera seemed confused at first, then she suddenly brightened. "Oh... like your Three Musketeers. Yes. We're something like that... only with superpowers."

"Heads up, guys... Buffy's phone just rang..." Batman interrupted them.

Spike stood, sparked up his ring, and flew back to where Batman and the others stood waiting. It was time to see to Sinestro and Savage once and for all.

~*~*~*~*~

"Van, are you coming over soon?"

“Ah, my love, but you must call me Vandal."

"But Van and Buffy just sounds better, baby."

"Vandal, VanDAL."

"Oh... if you insist, Vandal," Buffy replied sweetly, while inside she was ready to heave. Talk about your nauseating!

"So... Vandal... is there something special I should wear? You haven't really said where you're taking me." Vandal rolled his eyes and wished, not for the first time, that Sinestro had thought to take the dark-haired slayer instead of this one. Though, in truth, the spell he'd woven was probably causing the girl's excess ditziness - grating, but necessary, in order for his plans to work. "I'm sure anything you put on will be fine, Buffy. Just be ready when I get there."

Buffy choked back her nausea and went for broke. "Or, ya know, we could stay here and get to know each other better. I like it rough."

Savage could see the ditzy American toying with the phone cord and chewing her bubble gum in his mind's eye. Not his first choice, of course, but perhaps Sinestro would enjoy the nubile young woman. “Of course, my dear. Is it alright if I bring a friend?”

"The more the merrier, my love," Buffy said, her grin malicious, though none of that projected over the phone. ‘Game, set, and match, dumb ass.’ Finally, after much bubbly chatter she hung up.

"Asshat is on his way, Spike.” Buffy said. “Do you think he will like the way I like to play rough?"

~*~*~*~*~

"She suspects nothing?"

"No," Savage replied. He’d taken a detour on his way to the Slayer’s home and now he and Sinestro sat in back of the limo. "In fact, she seemed rather eager for the ménage... Personally, I think we should have left her for that Faith girl. She showed a lot of promise under the Mayor's tutelage."

"That's old hat. She switched sides again, and I really would rather not deal with her unpredictability."

"And this one isn't? You are aware of her past with the two vampires..." He didn't have to say their names; Sinestro knew they were referring to Angel and Spike.

"Angel's busy running Evil, Inc. and Spike is just a ghost. I doubt they're even aware of what we're trying to do. And the watcher... naive as always. Disappointing really, given his Ripper days. I expected a bit more of a challenge."

"Yes, but it’s perfect for our plans."

"True. Come, let's get this over with. The sooner we have the Slayer under lock and key, the quicker we can put the next phase of our plan in motion."

"I am not one to share." Sinestro said finally.

"By the elder gods." Savage replied. "Have her… she is but one of thousands that I might enjoy.

The two pulled up in front of Buffy's home neither noticing the heroes hidden around it.
They walked down the hallway to the Slayer's door. When they reached it, Sinestro gave a brief rap. It opened almost immediately, and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head at the vision before him. Ethereal came to mind. Garbed in a flimsy white sundress, she looked nothing like the Slayer that had taken on numerous apocalypses and lived to tell the tale. She looked like a princess... a very feminine princess. Helpless.

"Hello," Buffy murmured seductively. "You must be Vandal’s friend. Please, come in."

Never in his life had Sinestro lost composure like he apparently had now. He nodded and stepped over the threshold, Savage right behind him. He took the seat the Slayer offered and sat, in a daze, thanks to the blinding smile she gifted him. "Something to drink?" she asked the pair.

Buffy's smile remained in place having noted the scarlet skin of Vandal’s companion. Her Slayer senses were going haywire, telling her he was a demon of some sort. That they both were – a fact Vandal must have had masked from her somehow last night.

It made her mad, how he’d managed to play her, and not stopping to think about the consequences – or the plan – she slipped the dagger she had hidden in the folds of her voluminous skirt and sliced Sinestro’s neck from ear to ear. Too bad she didn’t realize that nothing but the green of Spike’s ring could harm him.

His yellow ring erupted with power, forming a huge hand that closed around her throat and held her pinned against the wall, cutting off her means of oxygen. At the same time, the Immortal growled his outrage at having been duped by the slip of a girl.

Buffy managed to choke out one name before spots appeared before her eyes and the world started to go dark… “Spike…”

After that, all hell broke loose.
tbc