Willow stared at the hypnotizing white snow that filled the computer screen from the window that was supposed to be connected to Buffy’s camera, a look of mingled boredom and anxiety on her face. It had been several hours since Buffy had cut the connection, deliberately preventing her friends – or anyone else – from seeing what would go on in the underground room from that point.

That was probably of the good, Willow thought with a little grimace, as she was quite sure that she did not want to witness Spike’s version of justice upon someone who was guilty of as many and as brutal offenses as Riley.

On the unfortunate side – the utter lack of communication with her friends allowed her very active imagination to run wild, concocting all sorts of scenarios of what might have happened once the camera shut off. And it was not only the moral integrity of her best friend that she was worried about, but the physical safety of both Buffy and Spike, as well.

Just because Riley had been subdued at the last moment of conversation she had had with Buffy, did not mean that it was not possible that he could have escaped somehow. And as Buffy had told her, the whole facility was filled with Riley’s men, all looking for Buffy and Spike. There were any number of terrible things that could have happened – and she had no way of knowing if they did – if they had already.

By this point, she was no longer the only on concerned.

“Buffy should have contacted us by now, don’t you think?” Xander said, an anxious frown on his face. “Do you think something happened to them?”

He and Anya had come up behind her, and were looking over her shoulder at the depressingly blank computer screen.

“It’s highly likely,” Anya pointed out matter-of-factly. “Right before Aaron and I left, they were surrounded by soldiers. They just seemed to keep coming and coming…”

“Anya…” Xander began to gently shush her, seeing Willow’s eyes widen in fear.

“But they got away from those soldiers,” Tara reminded her lover quickly, coming up beside her and taking her hand reassuringly. “Right now they’re locked away in a separate room, where none of the soldiers know that they are…”

“But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t find them,” Anya pointed out. “I mean, it *is* a possibility…”

“Anya!” Xander objected more firmly, alarm in his eyes as his best friend appeared even paler and more fretful.

The sharp tone of his voice seemed to silence the room for a moment, each of them lost in their own sobering thoughts. Xander quietly drew Anya away across the room for a quiet explanation of just why her quite accurate observations were inappropriate under the circumstances.

Giles was sitting on the floor a few yards away, surrounded by his trio of vampires, all seeking the comfort and security provided by his presence. He quietly listened to the brief conversation without comment, a thoughtful expression on his face. He watched Willow closely as she rested her head in her hands with a shaky sigh of fearful frustration.

When he spoke, his calm voice rang out clearly in the stillness of the stone room. With a slightly careless shrug, he said quietly, “At least if the soldiers *do* find them – they can use Riley as a hostage.”

The words themselves were sensible, considering the circumstances. A bit more matter-of-fact than Willow might have expected the Watcher to speak regarding that sort of matter, but not in the least bit amusing. What caught her by surprise was the uncharacteristic smirk on his face, the only slightly disguised glee in his voice at the thought of Riley’s being used as a hostage.

In spite of herself, Willow laughed softly, feeling a bit of her tension ease with the very act of laughing. It was going to be okay, she reassured herself. Buffy was the Slayer. She had faced much more frightening things than Riley and a bunch of human soldiers. And with the chips no longer functioning, Spike would be able to help her.

There was really nothing to worry about, she told herself firmly. Nothing at all.

Suddenly, a loud scraping sound of stone against stone drew all of their attention, and Giles rose from his spot on the floor, his hand going instinctively to the pistol he had tucked under his jacket, as all of them froze where they were, recognizing the sound of the hidden door that had allowed them entrance into this place – opening.

Willow managed to think through the panic that came over her, and snap the laptop closed, stepping quickly away from it a few steps to join the others, doing her best not to make the computer look as if it was currently in use. There was no telling who might be coming through that door – but if it was Riley’s men, as her worst fears made her suspect, she did not want them getting their hands on the evidence stored on that computer.

In her panic it did not occur to her that said evidence was also saved on the computers at the governor’s office by this point.

But her fears and precautions proved unfounded and unnecessary, when the intruders appeared through the door. Soldiers, yes – but not Riley’s men. Their uniforms were different, and the vampires in the room visibly relaxed at the notable absence of the scent that marked Riley’s soldiers.

At the sight of Giles’ drawn weapon, however, they drew theirs as well.

“Drop the gun,” one of them ordered calmly. “You are not in any danger. Drop your weapon.”

“You *would* say that,” Xander snapped in a tone of fearful agitation. “So you can eliminate all of us potential witnesses without losing any of your own men!”

“Xander,” Anya’s hand on his arm was calming, as she spoke with unusual calm and softness. “These aren’t Riley’s men. These aren’t the same men who kidnapped me.”

“Identify yourselves and give me some reason to believe your claim that we are in no danger, and I might be persuaded to put down my weapon,” Giles replied coolly to the soldier who had addressed him, ignoring the comments of the others. “Otherwise it would be foolhardy to willingly place my trust in you with no reason to do so.”

The man who was leading the group smiled, respect dawning in his eyes for the older man, as he lowered his weapon. After regarding him a moment longer, considering, he tossed the gun down in the center of the room, holding eye contact with the Watcher the entire time.

His hands raised in a universal gesture to indicate that he was not a threat, he slowly approached Giles, who appeared very surprised by the soldier’s actions. Keeping his hands raised, he nodded toward his breast pocket, explaining easily, “Identification’s in my pocket. I’m a marshal with the California state militia. I’m in no way affiliated with Riley Finn or his organization.”

His tone still cool, his weapon still aimed as he reached cautiously into the man’s pocket, Giles asked, “And how exactly do you know that that would be my suspicion?” As he spoke, he removed the id card, scanning it with a scrutinizing frown.

“Because your friend Mrs. Finn told me,” the soldier shot back, drawing Giles’ sharp, surprised gaze. “She also told us this is where we would find you.”

Giles replaced the card, lowering his gun slowly, as the soldier went on, “She didn’t want you all to attempt to leave here on your own, without all of Finn’s men accounted for yet – and she didn’t want you to have to stay here all night, either. She requested that until every single one of the soldiers affiliated with his organization is accounted for, you all would be under our protection.”

There was a sound of truth to the man’s words, and he seemed trustworthy, meeting Giles’ eyes with confidence and honesty. He found himself inclined to believe him. “And why has Buffy only sent you here to get us? Where is she herself? Is she safe?”

“She is quite safe. We found her relatively unharmed in one of Finn’s secret training facilities. She sent us instead of coming with us because she is currently on her way to the governor’s mansion for a private audience.”

That stunned the group into silence – but was a claim that was too far-fetched to be a lie. Giles slowly replaced his gun under his coat, further reassured when the soldiers lowered their weapons as well, and none of them even suggested that he actually give his up.

“We’ve secured several hotel rooms for you to stay in until it’s safe, and we’ll be guarding them to be sure that you’re safe. Mrs. Finn will join you once she’s finished with her meeting with the governor,” the soldier explained. “Let’s go.”

When Giles cautiously moved forward to follow the man toward the door, all of the others followed him – almost.

“What about Spike?” Tara asked suddenly, her clear, soft voice ringing out with concern, as she stopped just before they reached the door. She met the eyes of the marshal squarely as he turned toward her questioningly, a bold question in her own eyes. “Is *he* all right?”

The marshal frowned, shaking his head in confusion and an utter lack of recognition.

“The vampire that was with Buffy. Spike. Is he okay?” Willow clarified for the man, aware that most humans, even those who would find Riley’s activities repulsive and abhorrent, still did not think of vampires as having anywhere near the status of humans. The well-being of the vampire accompanying the prominent lady currently being escorted to the governor’s mansion had probably never crossed their mind.

Indeed, the marshal *did* appear surprised when he realized what the question was. “Yes,” he replied without hesitation, however. “The vampire’s with Mrs. Finn, on the way to see the governor as we speak. He’s fine.”


The vampire in question was not so very sure of that fact. He sat very close to Buffy in the back seat of the sleek black sedan that was transporting them to their meeting with the governor, warily watching the two men in the front seat. Neither of them was doing anything suspicious – neither of them was actually moving or speaking at all – but that did nothing to ease his tension. In fact, the silence seemed to make it worse.

Buffy was tuned in enough with Spike’s feelings by now to know how nervous he was – even before she felt his leg shaking against hers. She knew he was having a hard time trusting any humans, after all he had been through, and understandably so. He probably was wondering if these humans were really taking them where they said they were – if they were safe, even now. His trembling stilled under the comfortingly firm hand she placed on his thigh, as he realized how obvious his fear was to her.

“Sorry,” he said softly, quiet enough that only she could hear him. “Just a bit – er – tense…what with all the – the -- tension, and…” he began to explain awkwardly. When she turned a sympathetic, reassuring smile on him, he gave up, releasing a deep, shaky breath as he looked away, running a trembling hand through his hair, and admitted in a whisper, “Sod it all, love – bloody terrified here.”

She turned in the seat so that she was facing him, pulling him in unexpectedly for a slow, sensuous kiss that expressed explicitly just what she would *really* like to be doing with her vampire at that moment. Despite his nervousness, he could not help but respond, feeling his desire for her rising as the heat of her kiss began to melt away his tension.

He opened his eyes for a moment, and happened to catch the eye of the driver, staring into the mirror with shock – and fascination. He chuckled softly against Buffy’s lips, closing his eyes again.

“What?” she whispered huskily, her own desire revealed in her voice as she drew back to meet his eyes. “What is it?”

“Givin’ the bloody chauffeur a free show, pet,” he informed her in a whisper that ended in a gasp, as her lips found the pulse point in his throat and sucked gently, heightening his arousal.

“Let ‘em watch,” she whispered, drawing back for a moment, replying between kisses. “They’re the ones intruding on *our* time.” She nipped gently at his neck, and he arched it back instinctively, allowing her better access. “Who wants to meet with a boring…stuffy…politician…anyway?” she asked teasingly, punctuating each word with a kiss.

“Not me,” he gasped without thought, and she let out a soft, throaty laugh, pulling back to meet his eyes again for a moment, her eyes darkened to jade and smoldering with desire.

She pulled his head closer to her and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “After this meeting is over – you know what I wanna do?”

“Wha - *uuggh*…” he moaned softly, caught by surprise when she gently nipped at his ear.

The suggestions she whispered in his ear for the next few minutes, emphasized with kisses and nibbles and not-so-subtle touches, drove all thoughts of danger or fear, all the uncertain questions, from his mind. All he could think about was her, and how badly he wanted her, *now* -- until the car suddenly stopped, and they looked up to see that they were indeed parked in front of what appeared to be a smaller version of the White House – the governor’s mansion.

She pulled back, meeting his eyes with a sparkling smile, satisfaction in her gaze. “See? Safe and sound,” she whispered.

His eyes widened as he realized what she had done, and he tried to look properly outraged, when all he wanted to do was laugh. “You mean you…just to…to keep me from…”

“Worked, didn’t it?” she smirked with affection in her eyes, just as the man on her side of the car opened her door for her, and she slid around to get out.

Following her out on her side, he admitted with a shrug, “I’ll give you that. But I’ll tell you one thing, love – whether you meant it or not, I’m bloody well holding you to those things you said!”

“Oh, I meant it, all right!” she declared with a laugh, reaching out and taking his hand as they followed the two men up the winding walkway leading to the entrance.

Their light banter and laughter was a result of their relief that their trust in the men who had found them in Riley’s basement facility had been well-placed – but it also masked a certain amount of nervousness. They really were at the governor’s mansion, and were going to be given the chance to explain all that had happened.

The moment of truth had come – if only the truth would be believed.