~*~

Buffy was explaining all she knew about Spike’s disappearance to Angel when Xander burst into the Summers residence.

"Geesh, how long are you going to be on that phone, anyway? Tara’s been trying to get you for at least a half an hour. Willow’s awake and the XanMan Express is ready to ride!", he announced. The smile on the young man’s face was blinding enough to dim the sun. His lifelong friend was going to be alright and suddenly his world made sense again.

"Hang on, Angel, Xander just came in with great news about Willow. She’s going to be okay. ………. Alright …………. Yes, I’ll be up. I’ll leave the door unlocked in case I’m still at the hospital or something. ……. Of course you still have an invitation, don’t be silly! ……. Okay, see you then".

She hung up the phone and ran to Xander, nearly shutting off his oxygen supply with the hug she gave him. "God, this is the BEST news! I knew Tara was right. She always is. Finally things are starting to work right. Everything’s going to be okay, I can feel it. Everyone will be fine, just fine", she whispered.

"Hey, Buff, needing some air here fairly soon", Xander said. He hugged Buffy a bit longer and then said, "Well, come on! What’re you waiting for? Witches are waiting and times a-wasting as they say. Just who are ‘they’ anyway and why are we always quoting them? Is Giles here, cause he’s gonna want to part of the welcome-back-to-consciousness party, too", Xander said in a rush. He was so happy he looked like he could float with joy.

"Giles went to the Magic Box to pick up a couple of books he left there. I’ll call and let him know to meet us at the hospital. God, this is such good news". Buffy felt that at least some of the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders.

The drive to the hospital was filled with Xander nervously cracking jokes and telling Willow stories from his many years of memories. Buffy was so caught up in his good mood that she couldn’t help but feel her own spirits soar in regard to all the problems she was facing. Willow was going to be okay, Angel was on his way to help find Spike, and Spike was just fine out there somewhere. Soon he would be home too, and the world would be right again.

~~~

Tara was beaming when she greeted the pair outside of Willow’s room. The hospital had transferred Willow to a regular room on the neurology floor. They were scheduling her for a series of tests to be certain there was no leftover damage from her "accident".

There may not have been as many questions about damage if it had not been for the "amnesia" that kept Willow insisting that she didn’t have a sister.

Tara hadn’t had a chance to explain the lie to her lover. Willow had regained consciousness while Tara was taking a much needed trip to the cafeteria for coffee and the doctors had not let Tara in the room when she had returned to resume her vigil.

Tara had laughed to herself when told about the staff’s reason for concern. The doctors had pronounced Willow in excellent form with that one glaring exception. As soon as Tara had told Willow, the girls had both laughed and decided to just let the
lie stand for now. They had expected the tests anyway and no harm was done. If the truth were revealed, the hospital might restrict Tara’s visits to regular visiting hours instead of giving her the open access available to next-of-kin. Buffy and Xander had to agree with the logic of keeping knowledge of the "problem" and the lie that lay at the root of it to themselves.

Giles arrived only five minutes after Xander and Buffy. The entire group was in the mood to celebrate. It was clear to anyone who knew her that Willow was doing just fine. She would need rest and physical healing, but the fine, sharp, mind they all had taken for granted was intact.

It hadn’t been easy, but Buffy and Willow finally convinced Tara to leave the hospital and forsake her bedside vigil. Tara had planned to go home for a rest and change of clothing, but Buffy convinced Tara to come home with her instead.

"Family needs to be together, Tara, and you’re family, remember", Buffy said.

And so it was that the Scoobies, minus Willow of course, were all at the Summers home when Angel arrived a few hours after sunset.

The knock on the door reminded Buffy that she hadn’t said anything to the rest about having called Angel or the reason for the call.

"I’ll get it Buffy", said Tara. She opened the door and felt she had seen the man at the door somewhere before, but couldn’t place him. "Um, can I help you?", she asked hesitantly.

"Hi. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m a friend of Buffy’s. Angel", he introduced himself.

"Oh, that’s why I feel I’ve seen you. Buffy has a few pictures of you from when you, er, lived in Sunnydale", Tara said.

Buffy was in the entryway by that time and smiled a greeting at her former love. "Angel, thanks for coming. It didn’t take you long to get here. You must have left just as the sun set". She met him at the threshold and hugged him in greeting. "We’re all here, except Willow, so come on in", she invited.

"Buff, what’s Dead Boy doing here? I didn’t think he cared about Will that much, seeing as how he killed her fish", Xander said with venom. He had never forgiven Angel for his actions when he’d lost his soul so long ago.

"Xander! Angel is a guest in my house. I invited, no, asked him to come", Buffy chided.

"Why? What do we need him for? I thought he was the LA hero now and we handled the Hellmouth. Just FINE without him, I might add", Xander said.

"Look, why don’t we all go in the living room? Now that Willow is going to be fine, we need to have a Scooby meeting. This time Angel is going to rejoin the Scooby group. We...I need him here. He can help", Buffy said.

"Help with what, exactly? Is this about the Spike problem? I thought we discussed this last night and came to the conclusion that Spike was most likely laying low until this demon calling itself The Doctor is no longer seeking revenge", said Giles.

"No,YOU came to that conclusion. I decided that I needed to call Angel to see if he can help us find out what happened to Spike so we can bring him home", Buffy replied.

"Home? Just what home are you talking about Buffy? ‘Cause I’m starting to think about that little talk we started to have a few weeks ago and I’m getting a bit nervous about why Willow wanted me to make nice with Spike", said Xander. "Please tell me you mean Sunnydale in general, or better yet, that Angel’s going to take Dead Boy Junior to LA. Throw me something here, Buff, cause I’m starting to lose that happy feeling I had just before your first vampire mistake walked in."

Tara decided that even though she was still on the fringes of the group, she needed to step in at this point. Willow would have done it and she had to act on Willow’s behalf. Besides, Tara had a soft spot for Spike.

"Xander Harris! You promised Willow to keep remembering that Spike has saved your life on more than one occasion and that he is changing. Besides, no one has the right to tell Buffy who her friends should be! I think it’s good of Angel to come to help", she stated.

She then gathered her courage and walked closer to Xander, allowing her to nearly whisper to him., "You really need to learn to forgive others, Xander, if you want others to forgive you."

Xander understood fully that Tara meant his behavior towards Anya and his desire to make that situation right again. He blushed under her gaze.

"Yeah, you’re right. Past is past and Spike probably needs his ass saved, as usual. Hey, Angel. How’s Cordy?" Xander was trying his best impression of Mr. Manners, host with the most.

"Speaking of exes, Cordy’s fine, Xander. Thriving, in fact. LA and working with us really have brought out the best in her". Angel gave a hard stare to the young man who had annoyed him endlessly over the years they had worked together helping the Slayer. Angel had never really liked the boy but did admire the fact that the virtually helpless human had joined in the dangerous job of backing up his supernaturally enhanced friend. The lad had courage, even if he lacked tact. "Where’s your other ex, Anya, wasn’t it?", Angel continued. The dig was just too good to pass up.

"We’re not seeing each other anymore, so I don’t know", Xander reluctantly replied.

"Hmm, heard as much. Well, she’ll probably do fine, just like Cordy. Move on and really make something of her life. I’ll have to give her a call, see if she’s planning a move to the big city. Always room at Angel Investigations for good people", he couldn’t resist adding.

Xander looked as if he wanted nothing more than to ram his fist into the glowering face of the vampire. He really needed to learn when to avoid taunting the demon population! Plenty of Anya’s friends were still angry with him without adding the vampire with the shaky soul to the list.

"If you two are finished peeing on the furniture, come on in and let’s figure out how to find Spike", Buffy said. She was glad that Giles was acting the part of mature adult around Angel. Of all of them, Giles had the most reason to hold a grudge against her former lover. Buffy was just glad he had taken his own
advice and learned how to forgive.

~~~

Riley entered the small, dark hole that was Spike’s new cell.

Spike was manacled to the wall by his wrists as he sat on the dirt floor of the tiny enclosure. Finn wore a particularly nasty grin on his face that did not bode well for his captive.

"You know, Spike, I’ve been thinking. You’re a sociable kind of guy. Doesn’t seem fair keeping you all solitary like this. Now me, I’m a decent person. I hate to see you pine away here. I may plan to dust your ass, but I’m a man with a heart, after all is said and done. Hey, I remember how concerned you were about MY love life, after all. You know, wondering if I was fulfilled, happy. It was touching, really. So I’ve decided that you deserve a date night. Okay, I can’t let you out, or loose, but I think you’re up to a bit of lovin’", he said.

Spike looked at his captor, trying to follow the direction the meeting had taken. He had no idea what Soldier Boy was talking about. The only date Spike wanted was Buffy and he highly doubted that Finn was about to produce her.

"M’ love life’s been just fine of late, thanks. Buffy’s one hell of a woman, but you remember that, don’t you? Don’t mind the solitary, been alone before. Buffy’s a hard act to follow, if you get my meaning. Thanks for your concern though. I never knew you cared.", he said with a bravado he didn’t feel. "So, why don’t we get on with the staking and pass on the whole Dear Abby rot. Whatever you’ve got runnin’ through
that wee mind of yours isn’t happenin’. I’m a one- woman man and she’s not here. You got some bird to push off on me so you can run and tell Buffy how unfaithful I am, you can forget it, ‘cause I have more control than you ever had, boy."

"Well, you’re only partly right, Spike. Of course, it won’t matter what kind of control you may or may not have. You ever heard of a Mh’Crejshamroyken demon, Spike? We came across one in a small village in Peru. Nasty bastards! Half of my men were sick for a week with what they saw. Those poor people still alive were begging to be put out of their misery. I don’t think there’s another demon species like them, the way they kill, what they do. Doesn’t seem to matter if the victim’s male or female either. They are kind of equal opportunity, if you get my drift. Well, not really equal when it comes to pain and pleasure, I guess. Gotta’ give it to them for stamina, however. That one Mh’Crejshamroyken had killed six and left two barely living in the one day. Impressive, really", Finn taunted.

Spike refused to show the fear that was coursing through him. He had never met a Mh’Crejshamroyken, but was well aware of what they were and what they did. They were the demon’s own boogyman, the thing biggest bads avoided. Few survived an encounter; few wanted to. He was, frankly, shocked to hear that any human had survived an encounter. Usually only the strongest of demons stood a chance. Spike found it hard to believe that Finn even had one of the creatures. Surely he was only playing a game. The vampire did his best to put on a brave face and asked the human, "That where you got the limp, Nancy? Tryin’ to pawn another ex-partner off on me? You bloody well better hope it kills me, ‘cause if it doesn’t, I’ll make sure you wish you’d married it", he promised.

Fury registered on Riley’s face at the implications of what Spike had just said. Remembering the position the vampire was in, however, Riley laughed. "Oh he’s going to love you! For such ugly bastards, they DO like pretty partners. Wait till he finds out what a big mouth you have. He’ll have a great time showing you ways to use it, too. Get pretty, Spike. I’ll just go get your date. I promise we won’t interrupt your good time until we have to. Don’t want you dusted too soon. I have to have my fun, too". Colonel Finn turned and left the chained vampire.

Spike stared at the soldiers’ cold eyes. They’d flashed with a light greenish glint momentarily and Spike wondered if he was slipping into another hallucination. Where was old Virgil when you really needed him? If ever Spike wished his phantom guide
would show up to escort him the hell out of there, it was now. Even a rosary by Dante wasn’t going to help much now, much less a prayer.

Spike renewed his frustrated struggle to break the chains that held him in place and frantically tried to come up with some way to get out of this situation.

Somehow, someway, before this whole nightmare was over, Riley Finn was going to be the first human in several years to have his throat ripped out by Spike. Spike could have kissed the doctor who had removed the chip at that thought.

~~~

"So that’s what we know", Buffy said as Angel was brought up to date.

"Idiot boy. Well, I guess the plan wasn’t so stupid, but Riley bested him? Sad!", Angel said and shook his head.

"Hey, in Spike’s defense, none of us thought there was a set up. It all looked so 007ish that the government HAD to be behind the whole ‘Riley revisits the Hellmouth’ scene", said Xander.

He couldn’t believe he was defending Bleach Boy, but he supposed stranger things had happened.

"Yeah, I get that. Makes you think there had to be more than just payback going on. I don’t think even a secret government demon hunting group would put out that kind of cash just to revenge Finn’s honor. There’s more here that we’ve figured out yet", Angel deduced. "What did Clem say about the real ‘Doctor’, Buffy?", he asked.

"He didn’t know much. Clem never saw him, only heard the drunken demon Argot talk about how he looked human but had a tail. He said the demon liked musicals, but I don’t think that will help", Buffy said sadly.

"Why do you think he mentioned the entertainment tastes of the demon? What brought that into the converstion?, Giles asked his Slayer.

"Clem said that Argot said ‘The Doctor’ looked like the guy in the musical ‘Cabaret’ and Clem said that Ravnar demons liked musicals", Buffy said with a shrug.

"Well, I guess I’m off to Blockbuster", said Xander. He got his keys and turned to the group saying, "Anyone else want to come?"

"I’ll come along. We can stop by Willie’s and ask a few questions on the way", said Angel.

"Do try not to alarm this Doctor demon. I’d hate to have our only lead leave town by getting wind of our interest", Giles reminded them.

Angel and Xander left on their shared mission with Buffy hoping they could stay focused and not get sidetracked by their mutual dislike. Any chance she had of getting Spike back hung in the balance.

"I rather think Angel might have the right of it", Giles’ voice interrupted Buffy’s thoughts. "This is much bigger than some practical joke or hurt pride. You did say that Riley and his wife had a helicopter at their disposal, as well as heavy artillery, correct? Highly unlikely they could justify such an expense merely to set up a vampire in order to ruin his love life".

Buffy flushed at the words "love life". Giles knew! How did Giles know? She looked desperately to Tara for reassurance, only to see her own wide-eyed look mirrored on her friend’s face.

"Giles, where did you get the idea that this had something to do with Spike’s love life … that is, assuming he has a love life". Buffy did her best to sound casual.

"Really, Buffy, do you really think me so blind? I’ve known you for years. I’ve seen you through your first love with Angel and your genuine attempt at a normal relationship with Riley. I can read the signs, even without my glasses. Spike has been in love with you for a long while now and you two have had this strange chemistry from your first meeting".

"I wouldn’t say you love him, but there is something there, some reason neither of you were ever successful in killing the other. Good Lord, Buffy, he’s killed two of the better Slayers of the last century! You are the best Slayer I’ve ever heard of
or seen, but not so good as to be unkillable. You’ve died twice, after all. Had Spike truly wanted you dead, he could have done the deed at any time after you issued that dangerous invitation years ago.

I was appalled to find you didn’t revoke that until he was already chipped and crying love for you. You gave free access to a notorious vampire to your home and he never used that entrée to slip in and kill you as you slept!"

"Likewise, you found excuse after excuse to let him continue to exist. I’m not totally daft, Buffy. There’s always been something preventing both of you from doing your worst to the other. All one has to do is see your face since this entire fiasco began to realize you are worried sick about Spike’s fate. I may not approve, it may even disgust me, but I can’t ignore what I see". With that Giles took his glasses off and, rather than wipe them as Buffy had expected him to do, ran tired hands over his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Buffy, you are a grown woman, legally entitled to make your own choices. I am not just your Watcher, but someone who loves you. I cannot say I am okay with this … this .. whatever it is you think you feel, but I can’t forbid it either. I can only caution you that Spike, while he may indeed be trying to change, is still a soulless vampire and is dangerous. You have already been through this once with the one who just left here with Xander. I don’t think I need remind you how much pain you are courting if you persist", he warned.

"That chip is all that stands between a Spike you can justify keeping alive, or undead, or whatever, and his next meal. I’m thinking of you, Buffy", Giles finished gently.

"I know, Giles. Look, I didn’t even know how much Spike meant to me until he was gone. I haven’t exactly sat down to really think it through yet. I’ve told myself everything you just said and I know you’re right. But, Giles, you don’t know what he’s been like, what he’s put up with, since I came back. He really has proven himself, his love. I know he hasn’t got a soul, but then he doesn’t have one to lose either. I just want him back safe. Then I’ll figure it all out carefully, I promise", she said.

Tara could see that Mr. Giles was far from ready to let the whole thing go and so she said, "Buffy, could you show me where the teapot is being kept now? I think we could all use some, right, Giles?"

Buffy followed Tara to the kitchen, grateful to get out from under the serious, disappointed look on her beloved Watcher’s face.

"Thanks for the rescue, Tara, I owe you one", Buffy said with a sigh of relief.

"Buffy, it’s not my business, but maybe if you told Giles all about you and Spike…" She halted at the panic she saw in Buffy’s eyes. "Think about it, Buffy. Tell Giles what you told me. Giles loves you. He won’t judge you! If he knew that Spike’s chip hasn’t worked on you all this time and yet he never tried to bite you or kill you, Giles might see things a little differently. It wouldn’t hurt to try".

"What about the chip malfunctioning?" asked a horrified Giles.

Looking at him standing in the kitchen entryway, the girls finally understood the expression ‘whiter shade of pale’. Giles sat down hard on the kitchen chair. "I believe we need to talk about this further", he said.