Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Many thanks to my beta Leon Stryfe who stepped up when I was stuck and helped write more than a few chapters with me. For all your help you have earned the title of Co-Author for this story and my sincere gratitude. Thanks to my wonderful friend Sweetprincipale who listens to me and encourages me. And the wonderful ending was all her idea!

I have played with the time-line a bit in this story. The Angel episode “The Trial” actually aired a week after the Buffy episode “Shadow”. For the purposes of this story “The Trial” happened first. I have taken quite a bit of dialog from a few episodes of season 5. Shadow written by David Fury, The Trial written by David Greenwalt, No Place Like Home by Doug Petrie, Checkpoint by Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie, Blood Ties by Steven DeKnight, Spiral by Steven DeKnight and Intervention by Jane Espenson.

I hope you enjoy the story. This is the longest piece I have ever done and hopefully I did it justice.

A welcome sight greeted Spike as the elevator doors opened; the slayer and her band of white hats were charging the doors, armed to the teeth. With a sigh, he dragged himself out of the elevator.

“You do not insult Glory by escaping,” Murk announced as he came up to Spike. The opening of the front door makes him turn. “Slayer!” At his yell the other minions come running and they began attacking Buffy and her friends.

Spike closed his eyes in relief and fell back against the wall. Xander grabbed one demon by his ax, holding him steady long enough for Buffy to shoot the demon with her crossbow. Seeing how dangerous she was with the weapon, Murk kicked the crossbow out of Buffy's hands and punched her.

Buffy retaliated by kicking Murk in the leg, sending him crashing to the floor. She ducked a punch from another demon, laying him low with a punch of her own, before spinning to kick a third.

Xander battled two minions on his own. Using the ax he had just taken as a staff, he hit one demon while slicing open a second. Taking two punches for his trouble, Xander managed to duck a third and nailed the attacking demon on the chin with the handle of his weapon.

Buffy blocked a kick from the now-standing Murk, kicking him in the face. The two exchange a flurry of punches.

A minion grabbed Xander from behind as Giles, Willow and Anya enter the building.

“Buffy, we're here,” Giles said as he loaded his crossbow just as Buffy delivered a kick that sent Murk flying.

Giles ran to help Xander, who was still struggling with a demon who had grabbed him around the neck. The two were then jumped by a second demon, sending Giles and Xander falling to the floor. Giles yelled for Buffy as one of the demons turned a crossbow towards his chest. Buffy sprinted over, kicking the crossbow-weilding demon off to the side.

Anya and Willow had managed to avoid most of the fighting and made their way over to Spike. They tried to help him stand but his legs would not hold him up.

One last flying kick from Buffy had all the minions running from the fight. Once they had returned to Glory, they began desperately trying to explain to the hell Goddess why they failed to recapture the vampire.
“The slayer was there!” They hurriedly spoke over one another in their attempt to avoid punishment. “A lethal fighter.” “She had friends!”

“And where is my vampire?”

Jinx and Murk looked at each other before stammering in unison.

Xander and Giles moved towards Spike. They take him from Anya and Willow and carry him out of the building covered in a curtain they took from the lobby of the building. As they walked out the front door, screams could be heard from the penthouse apartment.

Trying not to injure the vampire further, Xander and Giles managed to get him in the back seat of Xander's car.

“Where to, Buffy?”

“Bring him to my house. I need to find out what he told her.”

“Do you think he spilled the beans about Dawn?” Xander asked as everyone piled into the car.

“I don't know. But I need to find out. Either way, I'm not sending him back to his crypt where that hell bitch can get at him to try again.” The car pulled up in front of 1630 Revello Drive.

“Wait here, I'm going to open the door first.” Buffy told the group as she exited the car.

“Mom? We're back.”

“Buffy? Did you find Spike?” Joyce came in to living room wiping her hands on towel.

“Yeah. We found him. We're going to bring him down to the basement.”

“Is he hurt badly? Does he need anything?”

“I'll take care of it, mom. Let me just get him inside, okay?” At her mother's nod, Buffy went outside and helped Xander and Giles carry the unconscious vampire downstairs.

Buffy quietly walked down the stairs to her basement. Spike was laid out on the cot but turned his head towards her as she approached.

“Why did you let Glory hurt you?”

“She wanted to know who the Key was.”

“Did you tell her?”

“NO! Glory never finds out from me who the key was.”

“Why?”

“Cause anything happens to Dawn, it'd destroy you.... and your mum. I couldn't live, both of you being in that much pain. I'd let Glory kill me, nearly bloody did, before that happens.”

Buffy just stood there for a moment, her mind flashing back to what Dawn had said a few days earlier... 'Because he loves us.' She leans forward and places a gentle kiss on Spike's lips and walks away.

“What you did for my mom and Dawn and me, I won't forget it.” Buffy whispered as she walked back up the stairs.

Everyone was still upstairs going over the battle.

“Buffy, were you able to find out if Spike gave Glory any important information?”

“No Giles, he didn't say anything.”

“How can you be so sure? You are talking about Spike, right? I mean, just last year he pretended to play nice and tried to screw us over.” Xander jumped up from his chair as he was speaking.

“I know, alright! He didn't say anything.” Buffy's tone declared the topic closed for further discussion.

“Alright my dear. We shall start researching the snake in the morning. Hopefully we can find out where it came from and what its purpose was.” Giles put a hand on Buffy's shoulder, giving the girl a squeeze.

The next morning Giles was surprised to see Anya already at the counter when he got to the store. Xander, Tara and Willow were at the research table reading through some books. A few customers were milling around looking at various items.

Anya's “Hey! Hey!” Had Giles snapping his head towards the girl.

“Anya, your 'hey's' are startling the customers.”

She held up a receipt and waved it at him.

“You sold someone a Khul's amulet and a Sobekian bloodstone.”

“Yes, I believe I might have.” Giles took the receipt from her and looked it over.

“Are you stupid or something? You never sell these things together, ever! Bad news! Don't you know about the Sobekites?”

Willow's excited voice joined the conversation before Giles could respond to Anya's insult.

“Oh! I do. It was an ancient Egyptian cult, heavy into dark magic.”

Anya nodded at the redhead while Tara added in what she knew.
“And the Khul's amulet, wasn't that a transmogrification conduit?”

“Damn straight!” Came Anya's emphatic reply. “I knew there was something I remembered about that snake!”

“Be that as it may, I still see no reason for concern. I mean, the-the Sobekian transmogrification spells were lost thousands of years ago. And besides, the young woman to whom I sold them would have to have had enormous power-” Flustered, Giles tapered off, realizing just who it was that bought those items. It was obvious by the looks on their faces the rest of them had figured it out, too.

The group became silent and the three at the table went back to reading their books. Giles made a beeline for his office as Anya tended to the next customer. In the relative safety of his office, Giles called Buffy to let her know who was responsible for the snake last night.

“But Giles, how do you know it was Glory?”

“I, I... I didn't know it was her at the time! I mean, how could I? If it's any consolation, I may have overcharged her. Anya was actually the one who brought it to my attention. We don't know what the purpose of the creature was, but whatever it was you killed it before it was able to return to Glory.”

While Spike was healing from the injuries he suffered during his capture, the rest of the gang took turns watching over Joyce and Dawn during the day. On the third day Giles came to the house.

“Spike, can I speak with you?” He asked as he made his way downstairs.

Sitting up slowly as to not aggravate his still healing ribs and leg, Spike pointed towards a chair for the watcher.

“Were you able to learn anything about Glory's plans while you were there?” The watcher inquired as he sat down.

“Other than how handy she is with a knife, you mean? Yeah Rupes. She made it clear that she was gonna start going after the slayer and her friends until she got her key. Reminds me of Angelus. I guess she figures the slayer will crack if enough of her friends get hurt.”

Spike looked right at Giles holding his gaze. “Listen here, Rupert, I know you don't believe me 'cause of the soddin' spell she's got going on but the hell bitch time-shares a body with the doc. Way I figure, the Powers took the chip out for a reason, yeah? Maybe 'cause she's in a human body an' I'm supposed to take 'em out?”

“Yes, well I hadn't thought of it like that. We need to research your claim about them working together in some fashion.”

“Oi, it's not just my claim! Nibblet saw it too!”

“She was traumatized and upset. I doubt we can rely on Dawn to provide an accurate account of what happened in the park.”

“Did you ask Buffy what she saw that night? Even if she didn't see the swap I'm pretty sure she saw the good doctor grabbing Dawn just before Glory made her appearance.”

“She didn't mention it.” Giles tilted his head as he heard sounds coming from upstairs. “It seems Xander is here to relieve me. I will think about what you said, Spike. I agree the Powers must have had a reason for removing your chip. I can't say I agree with your conclusion as to why, but I will think about it.” Pausing at the top of the stairs he turned to the vampire. “I do hope you heal soon, you are needed in this fight one way or another. Other than Buffy, no one is strong enough to go against Glory.”

Spike laid back down with a grimace after the watcher left.

“Soddin' white hats. Still don't trust me.” With an impatient wave of his hand, he continued grumbling to himself. “Takin' the trials, getting a soul stuffed inta me. Lettin' Glory torture me. Pfft.” Pulling the blanket up and deciding to get some kip, Spike was already planning how best to take out the doc on his own.