Betaed by Maria and Flight Of Fancy.

”Hello? Giles, where are you?”

”I’m here, Joyce.” Giles emerged at the top of the stairs.

”I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in? I rang the bell a couple of times.”

”No, that’s quite all right. I was on the phone. Let me help you with your coat.”

"Have the others arrived?"

”No, not yet. Everyone else is running a little late. Would you like a cup of tea, or maybe something stronger?”

Joyce looked at him curiously. ”Are we celebrating, or do you have something bad to tell us?”

Giles had turned his back to her, occupying himself with her coat.

”Judging by your behaviour, I’m going to guess that it’s something bad.”

”Other than offering you a drink, I don’t see how my behaviour towards you has changed.” He turned around to face her, a little befuddled.

Joyce smirked at him. ”You always hang my coat up quickly. Today you’re stalling, and won’t look me in the eye.”

”I’m sorry, Joyce. It’s been so short a time, but you already know me so well.”

”I’ll forgive you, Giles, if you tell me what the trouble is.”

”That’s why I have called this meeting today, instead of waiting until the weekend is over.” The Watcher led her to a chair. ”If you don’t mind, I would like to wait until the rest of the group arrives before beginning my explanations.”

”Okay, I’ll wait.”

”Can I get you that drink now?”

”Thank you,” Joyce said with a smile.

They talked lightly about everyday things, and slowly sipped their drinks until the others arrived.

Xander, as usual, couldn't keep his mouth closed. “Oh no, Giles has hit the bottle. Whatever’s happening, it must be really bad.”

”Is it that bad, Mr. Giles? Am I going to die?” Kendra asked fearfully.

”We are all going to die at some point. Some earlier than others.” By now he had his glasses off. ”You could die tomorrow or live for years, Kendra. For that matter, any of us could die tomorrow, or not.” They all sat in silence for a moment, even Xander, contemplating the fragility of life.

Giles was shaken from his silent reflection by the arrival of the last member of the party. “Would you like a drink of this fine, single-malt scotch, Angel?” Giles raised an extra glass.

”Will I need it?”

Giles poured him a glass. ”That’s the problem, isn’t it? I don’t know. However, I have a bad feeling that something is coming; something that is going to change everything. It’s not the first time I’ve had this feeling, either.”

”What happened before, when you felt like this?” Willow asked.

”I have had this feeling several times, in fact, and every time my instincts have proven correct and there has been some kind of change. Not small daily changes, because we know those happen all the time, but instead big, life altering changes.” He sighed deeply. ”The last time I had this feeling was when the Master was supposed to kill Buffy.” He looked apologetically at Joyce.

She sent him a small forgiving smile.

”Have you discovered anything new?” Willow asked. "Maybe the meaning of the prophecy?"

”I have tried to find out what it means. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Finally, this morning, it came to me. I believe the second prophecy might hold the solution to the lines we don’t understand in the first prophecy. We know that we have to translate that one too, and I’ve discovered that there are some elements translated in the first prophecy which can also be found in the second prophecy. Maybe together we can discover more. We are in agreement that the slayer with dark skin who is from an island is Kendra, right?” They all nodded.

”That line, ‘Came out of sleep‘... It must mean that Kendra is here because Buffy is sleeping,” Willow hurried to say. She didn’t like to be left out.

Giles spoke up again. ”What I don’t understand is:”

Work together.
With The Eternal Light.
Close to the changeling.
The slayer is dead.
Long live the slayer.

”I have an idea for the last part.” Xander held up a hand. They all looked hopefully at him. ”I remember watching a movie where a king died. When the new king took the throne, the people said 'The King is dead; Long live the King.'”

”Why didn’t I think of that? You might be right, Xander. Maybe it means that the slayer line runs through Kendra now. It would be logical, now that Buffy is in a coma. Good job, Xander. Now, if we assume that it is correct, then what we don’t understand is:”

Work together.
With The Eternal Light.
Close to the changeling.

The members of the group were just gazing at each other, hoping that someone else would suddenly have an idea.

”I’ve carefully compared the prophecies and have discovered identical words used in both. In the prophecy we haven’t yet translated, I found the words: Eternal, light, too, together, with, and work. They are scattered all over the prophecy. It doesn't make any sense.” There was silence for a little while, before Giles continued. ”I think we need help to translate the second prophecy. At our current rate, it could take months and, if I’m not completely wrong, which I rarely am, I think the whole book is important.” Everyone knew at least one of the prophecies was about Kendra, and they silently wondered if solving the puzzle would bring welcome news.

”What now, Mr. Giles?”

”I don’t know, Kendra.”

The calm voice of Buffy’s mother was heard. ”May I speak?”

”Of course, Joyce, any help will be appreciated,” Giles assured her.

”I’ve heard you talk about somebody you call the Powers That Be. To me, it seems that they are at the center of everything we’re dealing with here. They call the Slayers. They write the prophecies, and so on. Can’t you ask them for help?”

”Your logic is amazing. Of course, that’s what we’ll do. Angel, you once told me that you were contacted by a demon who works for the Powers That Be. Can you arrange to meet with him directly?” Giles had turned to look at Angel, excitement and hope written on his face.

Angel looked up briefly. “You’re thinking of Whistler.” He didn’t continue, just looked down again and sat there brooding.

It was Xander that had the least patience with Angel. ”So, what about this guy? Whistler?”

Angel looked irritated. That boy is an annoyance. That he would dare to interrupt my thoughts is...

”Yes, what about him?” Now it was Joyce who interrupted him.

He sighed heavily, giving in to their questions. ”Demon, he is a demon. He works for the Powers That Be, as Giles just said. When I was in L.A., he took me to see Buffy and told me that I could redeem myself by helping her. I haven’t seen him since, and I don’t know how to get in touch with him.”

“Given what happened to Buffy, I think it’s safe to say you haven’t been much use,” exclaimed Xander, with venom in his voice.

Nobody corrected him. Nobody looked at Angel. It was all very telling.

”Hmm.” Giles got their attention. ”Is there any other way to make contact with Whistler, or the Powers That Be, or anyone who works with them or for them?”

”I don’t know of a way to contact the Powers, or any person or demon who works for them. Sorry.” The grumpy vampire rumbled.

”Could you try to find out?” Giles asked.

”I’ll go out tonight. Visit the demon bars. Beat up Willy. See if I can’t scare somebody into talking.”
He started to get up. ”I’ll be very lucky if I find somebody who knows something.”

”Are you actually going to beat somebody up?” Joyce jumped in.

They both turned to her.

Giles tore off his glasses and started to massage his forehead with two fingers. ”Well, Joyce, you see, Willy runs a demon bar. Beating him up is the only way to get him to talk to us. Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as it sounds.” He turned to the vampire. ”You’d better go. The sooner you get started, the better. I will expect to hear from you tomorrow after sundown, or even sooner, if you get a lead.”

Angel nodded his consent and was gone.

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Drusilla was whimpering, when she wasn’t wailing. ”The time is almost up. Soon you will not be mine.”

”I’ll always be yours, Dru.” Spike tried to calm her, by rocking her like a child.

”No, you were just on loan. My dark knight will soon be no more.”

”Am I going to die, Dru?”

”To me, you'll be dust.”

”What do you mean, Dru? Either I’m going to die or not. Tell me, Dru. What do you know?”

”It’s too soon for you to know it all.” She smiled sadly at him. ”All in the right time, my Spike. All in the right time.”

----------------------------------

They didn’t hear from Angel before the time they had agreed to meet again. When he finally came in, shortly after sundown, he looked more tired than he had in a long time. Giles served him a drink without asking. ”A long night?”

Angel nodded.

”Well, speak up. We are waiting.”

“I bet he hasn’t found a single clue, and just won’t admit it. He’s probably trying to come up with some lame excuse for failing again.” Xander couldn’t seem to keep his bitter comments to himself any longer.

”Xander!” Willow almost yelled at him.

They all starred at Xander. He looked down, his lips squeezed together to stop himself from saying something that would get him thrown out.

Joyce broke the embarrassing silence. ”So, Mr. Angel, did you find a way to contact the Powers?”

”Yes, Angel, did you find anything?” Giles jumped in.

Angel finally looked up. “I didn’t learn a lot, and what I did find out was confusing. If I understand it right, there are several beings who work for the Higher Powers. They’re all over the world.”

”That’s good. Right? Why do you seem so troubled?” Giles looked puzzled. "It should be a good thing that there are more people who work for the Powers."

I thought that I was someone special, working for the Powers That Be. I thought that Buffy was my destiny, my soul mate. A warrior so young that I could shape her into a companion worthy of standing beside me, the Champion for The Powers That Be. Who am I? Just one warrior among many, alone, now that Buffy is gone. ”Yes, Giles,” he lied through his clenched teeth.

”Did you also happen to find a way to contact the Powers?”

”No, but I was told that I might get some answers if I head to a particular club in L.A.”

”Do you have a name and an address for the club?” Giles had his pad ready to jot the address down.

Angel reached into his pocket. ”I had Willy write it down.” He held the note out to Giles.

”Willy? The guy you wanted to beat up?” Joyce asked.

”Don’t worry. I didn’t hurt him that much...just slapped him around a little. We needed the information.”

”And that makes it okay?” she asked, clearly agitated.

Giles sighed in weariness. First Xander with his dislike of demons, such a strong dislike. And now, Joyce. ”Please, Joyce. Can’t this wait for another time? I believe we have more important things to take care of right now.”

”Who says that it’s more important? Maybe it will only be important in a thousand years. I’m a bit tired of this. Xander says that Angel is evil, and you all say that vampires are evil. Then I see that he’s a vampire who helps us, and I start to believe that vampires can be good. But, suddenly, it all changes again. Now you talk about beating a man as if it’s something you do every day.” Joyce looked utterly confused. ”I don’t know what to think anymore.”

Giles placed the pad and the paper with the address down on the table. He took off his glasses, and leaned back in his chair, trying to get comfortable. ”I would rather have waited with this. I don’t want to get your hopes up, Joyce, because it might turn out to be nothing. From the little I could read in the book Kendra found, I know that part of the prophecy is about two Slayers. One dark haired; one golden haired. It is a very strange book. Even the prophecies are like nothing I have ever seen.” He was staring out into space. ”Sorry. I got sidetracked. The point is, the two Slayers. If Buffy wasn’t in a coma, there would be two Slayers right now. Maybe there is hope for Buffy. Maybe she’ll wake up, or maybe there is a way that we can wake her up.”

”Y...you think that Buffy might wake up?”

”Don’t get your hopes up, Joyce. I’m not sure. It is just a possibility.” He looked around at the others. He could see the hope shining from their eyes.

”Maybe magic can wake her up? We should start researching it.” Willow jumped up quickly. She wanted to start searching for a clue in Giles’ books right away.

”Calm down everyone. It’s just a chance. Let's find out if I’m right. And Willow, magic can do a lot of good, but it can also be damaging.” He looked around at the group, recognizing that the mood had changed again, and the excitement generated at the thought of a cure for Buffy had died down a bit. ”If it’s meant to be, it will happen.” I hope I'm right.”Well, let’s move on.” There were no protests. He settled his glasses in place on his nose, and grabbed the note with the address. ”Do you know anything about Caritas, Angel? Other than knowing that it is a nightclub?” He looked over at the souled vampire when he didn’t get an answer. ”Angel?”

”Giles?” Angel suddenly seemed to realize that the Watcher was speaking to him.

”Something wrong?”

”No, I was just lost in my own thoughts. What do you want?”

”I was just asking what you know about this club.”

”I don’t know much, Giles. Just that it’s visited by a lot of demons.”

”Maybe it’s a place like Willy’s?” He fumbled with the note. ”Angel, do you have time to go to the club with me tomorrow?”

”Yes I w...”

Joyce interrupted Angel. ”No. Not on your own. I’m coming too, since we might get some information about Buffy.”

”We want to go too,” Xander jumped in, speaking for himself and the other teens.

Giles looked at each face for a few seconds. ”Okay.” He nodded. ”Friday, after school. Two cars. Oz, would you mind taking some of us in your van?” The boy nodded his agreement. ”Joyce, would you mind if we use your car as well? I have a car, but it’s not working right now.”

”I don’t mind if we take my vehicle, but I’d prefer to have you drive us into the city.”

”Yes, of course, Joyce.” Giles smiled thankfully at Buffy’s mother. ”Okay, we’ll all go to L.A. tomorrow. Pack an overnight bag. If we don’t get what we need right away, it will be easier to stay the night and continue searching on Saturday, rather than making another trip to L.A. at a later date.” He stopped speaking, and looked around to see if the group had any objections. ”There is just one more thing. I have to call the Watcher’s Council.” He hurried to continue before anyone could protest. ”I want to send them copies of the book and see if they are able to translate any additional words or phrases. They might also have other documents which relate to the book or the prophecies, and might provide additional clues to help us understand what we’re dealing with. They have thousands of books, and that’s just in the upstairs library. I don’t know how many they have hidden away in the basement, or in the vault.”

”Do you think they will help, Mr. Giles?” Kendra asked doubtfully. The Council of Watchers really hadn’t been of much help lately. She had been in Sunnydale for months now, and still didn’t have a Watcher of her own. If Mr. Giles hadn’t agreed to step in and temporarily guide her, she would very quickly have been in a situation that she couldn't handle.

Giles knew what she meant. ”It would be in their own best interest to help us. If the world comes to an end, no one would survive. Not even the Council.” His smile was grim.

”They won’t believe you,” Angel stated.

”What won’t they believe?” Joyce asked, puzzled.

Giles carefully picked up the ancient book and started to re-wrap it. ”They won’t believe what’s in this book. They will probably want a copy of the entire book, so I expect I will have a busy day tomorrow, getting the book copied and then faxed to Council Headquarters.”

Willow raised her hand.

”What is it, Willow?”

”I can help you after school, if you’d like. It’s Friday, so we’re out early. Just tell me where you want to meet up and I’ll be there.”

”You’ll need to go home after school and pack an overnight bag.”

“I can pack tonight and just bring my bag to school with me tomorrow.”

”Okay. If you really want to help, I’ll either be in the copy room or the library. By the way, what about your parents?” Giles once again looked at all the teens in the group.“ Won’t they object to you taking a trip to L.A with your school librarian?”

Xander shrugged his shoulders. ”My parents don’t care, and Willow will just say that she is staying at my place. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Oz simply shrugged and said, “It’s cool.”

Cordelia said that her parents wouldn’t even bat an eye about her heading to L.A., once she told them that she was going for a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip.

”I see.” Giles took off his glasses, while searching for his hanky.

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Spike was relieved that Drusilla finally had eaten a little. Maybe the spell to restore her health wasn’t necessary. He watched her dance around, all over the factory. She was singing a self made song about a black knight turning into a white king.

Suddenly, she stopped. ”They are on the right track.” A single teardrop escaped.

”What’s the matter, Dru?” Spike had jumped up when he smelled her tears. He took her in his arms.

”Remember my prince, that I will always be your sire, even when you are like ashes to me.”