Not Beneath Me - Chapter 22 (Traitors, Friends and Gods)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: The Council left the Magic Box, and now the rest of the Scoobies are trying to figure out where to go next. Anya heads to the hospital to see Xander, and Dawn's key status will be revealed to the majority of the Scoobies. Cordy gets out a few frustrations. Angel will discover a secret that he doesn't even realize the importance of.

*REPOSTED on 12/6/05 to adjust for a continuity error that was pointed out for me. I have slightly adjusted the section where Buffy tells Willow, Tara, and Wesley about Dawn being the key.*

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

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"Where's Wesley?" Angel stretched out his arms to both sides of his body and then back behind him. It was a bit early for him to be waking up, but he had too much on his mind to sleep all day. When he came downstairs, he was surprised to find only one heartbeat in the mansion.

"He's researching those herbs he found." Cordelia Chase kept her gaze on the book she was reading. "I think he took a small sample of the potion too."

"What would he need that he couldn't bring here?" Angel questioned. He wanted to question Wesley about his findings. "He has all his research equipment right here." He pointed to the various instruments, books, and specimens on the table.

"He seemed fairly excited when he left." Cordelia shrugged. She was still mad about Angel's attitude. She got a certain delight in what she said next, "He said something about a meeting with Giles at the Magic Box. They're probably comparing notes right now."

"WHAT? You let him leave to meet Giles?" Angel's fist smashed into the back of the couch, punching a hole in it. "Am I surrounded by imbeciles or just traitors?"

Cordelia threw the book down on the table. She marched over to Angel, slapped him hard across the face, and then plunged a crossbow bolt laced with enough tranquilizer to knock the large vampire out.

"Cord ..." Angel's voice trailed off, and his body plopped to the floor unconscious.

"That's much better." Cordy tossed the bolt back into a jar full of liquid tranquilizer near the table in case the bolt was needed again. "You were really starting to get on my last nerve oh brooding one." She tossed the remark at Angel's unconscious body after a little kick to his shin. She left him there on the floor and went back to her research. She hoped Wesley had a more enjoyable afternoon than she was having.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya ducked out of the Magic Box about ten minutes after Travers' party left. She was still shaking from the emotional upheaval and worries that she faced when the room was full of "demon hunters". She ran along the Sunnydale streets. She had one destination in mind, and she was going to get there as fast as possible ... Sunnydale Memorial.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh magnificent, Glorificus, we have some news." Two of Glory's minions rushed into the room.

Glory swayed back and forth from the power rush of the mind she just sucked dry. "Oooo ... this one had power." The heavily disfigured faced man fell to the floor in a babbling heap. She turned to her minions. "I hope it is good news, Jinx."

"Yes, oh glorious and beautiful one." Jinx groveled at Glory's feet. "A large group of men visited the magic place where the girl spends her time."

Glory half listened to Jinx while she tried on and tossed away several pairs of shoes.

"They seemed to be withholding information from Buffy Summers about you. Perhaps these men know where your key is."

Mention of the key grabbed Glory's attention quickly. "Oooo ... more beings to torture and suck energy from." She bounced on the back of her high heels. "You did see where they headed too right?"

"Yes, Mistress. I can take you there now."

Glory started to walk to the door. Before she made it halfway there, she grabbed her head and screamed. "Noooo! Not now!" She stomped her foot into the floor in anger and frustration. "I'm so close. I want my key!"

A female scream turned into a loud male moan, and a man dressed in Glory's dress fell to the floor. Ben pressed the heel of his hand against his head. "I am really getting sick of that." He stood up, ripped the dress off, kicked the shoes across the room, and headed for his dresser. "I have to get back to work."

"But Sir, Mistress Glorificus wanted us to locate the ones who might know about ..."

"I don't care what she wants." Ben poked a finger at Jinx. "When I'm around, I do what I want." He grabbed his work bag and slammed the door behind him.

Jinx sighed in resignation. He walked over to his fellow brethren. "Sometimes the sharing is so inconvenient." They all nodded in agreement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya poked her head into Xander Harris' hospital room. The monitors beeped and chirped around him. She slowly stepped into the room and closed the door. "Xander?"

Xander heard Anya, but he wasn't in the mood for another argument. He was emotionally and physically drained. What seemed like a good idea originally was turning out to be one of the worst mistakes he ever made. He kept his eyes closed and mimicked being asleep. Everyone was angry at him, even Willow and Anya. He felt so alone.

Anya pulled up a chair next to Xander's bed. She reached for his uninjured hand, and she held it softly in her hands. "I know I should be telling you this when you're awake, but I have to say this to someone right now." She sighed. "I'm worried about you."

Xander listened as Anya spoke. He felt so disconnected with the world around him. He hadn't even requested a TV for his room because there wasn't anything he cared enough about to watch. He just stared at the ceiling day in and day out, thinking.

"Terrible men came to the Magic Box today." Anya's hands trembled around Xander's. "I wasn't sure at first who they were, but it turned out that they were from the Council. The head guy named Travers scared all my customers away before Giles got there, and then he proceeded to threaten people after Giles arrived."

Xander's ears perked up at the name Travers. Wasn't that the guy who ordered Giles to perform that horrible test on Buffy for her 18th birthday?

Anya rested her head against their clasped hands. "He scared me so much, Xander. He was so full of hatred, anger and disdain. Nothing Buffy or Giles said would change his mind, and he threatened to have her executed Xander."

Xander nearly jerked "awake" when Anya talked about execution. The Slayer was considered the Chosen champion of all humans. 'It would be insane to kill Buffy. She isn't some rogue ...' His thoughts derailed right there.

"That is the only way I can describe the threat he made." Anya continued, oblivious to Xander's inner turmoil. "He said something about needing more bullets to take a Slayer down, but that the Council knew how to take care of rogue Slayers."

'They would consider Buffy a rogue. Maybe not as bad as Faith, but she isn't exactly a poster child for a good Slayer in their eyes.' Xander's dislike for Quentin Travers grew. 'No one threatens Buffy without feeling the wrath of all the Scoo ...' His mouth mentally gaped open. 'Oh my gosh. That's why everyone ... I'm so stupid.'

"I think what scares me more is how close you are to being them, Xander." Anya softly wept against Xander's hand. "You hate all demons because some of them were bad, and they wronged you. You won't give anyone a chance to redeem themselves in your eyes. You've appointed yourself as judge and jury."

Anya dropped her head to rest on the bed. "I don't know if I can live without you, Xander Harris, but I need you to face the reality that I was a vengeance demon for over one thousand years." She sniffled. "Soul or not, it doesn't matter to you. You aren't exactly accepting of Angel either. The only exception in your mind is me."

Xander's heart broke at the sounds of the woman he loved weeping. He wanted to comfort her, but he had a feeling that he should hear everything she had to say first. If he "woke up" now, it might distract Anya enough that she couldn't finish what she needed to get out.

"What if one day you wake up and realize how many men I killed, or how much pleasure I took in doing my job before?" Anya's voice quivered with emotion. "Will you kill me too or worse, will you hate me? I'd rather be dead than see the look on your face directed at me that you had for Buffy when I first visited you here."

Xander gulped. He would never kill Anya for what she did in the past. He loved her too much to do that. Was this the proof he needed to see to realize that he was so jealous of Spike that he let it cloud his judgment? Had he allowed his experiences with Angelus to be the measure for what all soulless demons had to be?

"I know you are a good man, Xander Harris, but the world isn't all black and white. It is shaded with gray, like me. I'm a shaded area." Anya rested her head against Xander's chest carefully. She wasn't sure if he had any broken bones there still. "Don't let yourself become like the Council. Turn around before it is too late and you become that which you profess to hate ... an evil and vindictive creature with no concern for anything but your own goals."

Xander lay still until Anya cried herself to sleep against his chest. With the strain and pain it took for him to move Anya from her chair to his bed, he was surprised he didn't wake Anya up. He wrapped his healing body around her and caressed her arms gently. "I don't know what I have to do, Ahn, but I swear I'll do what I can. I love you Ahn, and I don't want to lose you." He whispered into her hair before the newest pain medication kicked in, and he was truly asleep.

Anya smiled and peeked one eye open. She may not be a demon anymore, but she still had enough sense to tell when someone was faking rest. She meant every word she said to Xander, and her fears were real, but knowing he was awake and listening gave her more courage to spit out the words of her heart. She snuggled back into Xander's embrace and closed both eyes again. Hopefully the world would look a lot brighter when they woke up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Guys, there is something I need to tell you." Buffy looked at everyone seated around the table. While everyone continued the research on Glory, she had been thinking about the best way to protect Dawn. Giles and Spike knew what they were dealing with, but she came to the conclusion that Willow and Tara should know as well.

Giles looked up from the tome he was studying. Wesley pressed a finger in place on a particular page to make sure he knew where he'd left off. Willow and Tara both looked over from the bookcase they'd been searching for a particular book from.

Spike squeezed Buffy's arms in support. He'd seen the "wheels" turning while she thought. "You sure, pet?" He whispered to Buffy. After the Council's appearance, he had a feeling what Buffy wanted to say.

Buffy nodded. She stared at Wesley for a moment. She contemplated whether or not she should say what she needed to say, in front of him.

Giles answered Buffy's unspoken question, "I trust him, Buffy."

Wesley quickly glanced between Buffy and Giles. He sighed. He always felt on the outside of this little group of people when he was Buffy's official Watcher. Now, it seemed that times were no different. Although they didn't have a reason to truly trust him, he'd hoped that his research for the truth would have helped to show his sincerity. He was warmed by Giles' words of support. He watched Buffy to see if it was enough for her to trust him too.

"All right, Giles," Buffy began. "I know exactly what Glory is looking for."

"That's great!" Willow chirped. "If we know Glory needs, we can get rid of it, right?"

"We are not getting rid of the Key! She can't have it." Buffy stood up suddenly from Spike's lap. "I'm the Slayer, and it's my job to protect it."

"Oh wait ... Key?" Willow looked at Tara. She remembered what Dawn, Spike and Giles told her at the hospital. "Glory wants ..."

A loud crash echoed through the shop. Spike ran for the door that led to the storage room downstairs. He drug a squirming scaly faced man, dressed in robes, back up the stairs. "Look what I caught snooping around."

"Please, don't kill me Slayer. I won't tell the wondrous Glorificus that you know where her beautiful Key is." The robed minion begged for his life.

"I say we snap his neck, and that will make sure that our little secret is safe." Spike shook the little man at the end of his grip.

The robed demon whimpered. Before Buffy or Spike could react he kicked back against Spike, knocked him over, pushed Buffy onto the floor and ran out the door.

Buffy and Spike jumped up off the floor. They ran to the door where Spike stopped after starting to sizzle in the sun. Buffy ran into the middle of the street, but she found no sight of the little man. She slumped her shoulders, closed the door to the shop, locked it, and walked back over to the table.

Spike frowned at Buffy. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, luv."

"It's not your fault. He got past me too." Buffy sighed. "At least he doesn't know who the Key is. Though I wonder what Glory will say about my Slayer status."

"It won't help them any. She won't realize what hit her," Wesley piped up. "You've never been a conventional Slayer, Buffy. Even if she knows what a Slayer is, she will never expect the things that you can come up with to do to her."

Giles beamed with pride and praise. "I'm glad to see someone else realizes this is a positive thing." He was tired of the Council who berated him for allowing Buffy to be her own person. They never understood just why that was a strength in his Slayer and not a weakness.

"I agree with Oxford there." Spike nodded in agreement. "It's one of the reasons I wasn't able to succeed in killing you right off. You definitely weren't following the handbook." He nestled his nose into Buffy's hair, inhaling her scent. "Course now, I don't want to kill you at all, and I'll hunt down anyone who tries."

"This is what you tried to tell us at the hospital, isn't it? About Dawn?" Willow tried not to be hurt by the fact that Buffy hadn't trusted this information to her first, but she knew that Spike and Giles knew whom Buffy talked about. She walked over to the table and sat down with Tara next to her.

"I'm sorry, Willow," Buffy reached across the table to hold Willow's hand. "Giles was the only who knew for the longest time. I decided to tell Spike because I was really worried about Dawn being protected if I wasn't around." She softened her gaze on her friend. "I trust you Willow, but I was afraid of anyone overhearing. Even now, Glory almost found out, and I thought we were safe in here."

"I understand, Buffy. We just want to help too." Tara squeezed Willow's hand in support.

"You'd better start from the beginning, pet. We kind of gave the Wiccas only the highlights, and Oxford here doesn't know any of it." Spike encouraged Buffy to continue her story. He made a sweep of the storage room and training room to make sure no one else lingered. When he was finished checking and double checking, he returned to the table of stunned Scoobies and Oxford.

"Wow," Willow said dumbfounded. "That's just wow. I still can't believe that many years of memories can be fabricated. Imagine the power involved in manipulating that much time across the board."

"They were pretty thorough," Giles added to the discussion. "They made sure that we all remembered both good and bad times with Dawn."

"They took into account all those that might have met her along the way too." Wesley was still shocked because he too remembered Dawn. "I was only here for a brief time in Sunnydale, but I remember her. I'm sure Angel and Cordelia will as well. The monks were very diligent."

"They had to be." Buffy explained. "If they missed anyone, Dawn's position in our lives would be compromised to Glory. Imagine what would have happened if Glory came in and Dawn was here. If they didn't insert memories for you Wesley, you would easily give Dawn away without even realizing it just by not knowing of her existence as my sister."

"This is going to make it difficult to track down magical elements related or surrounding all of you." Wesley shrugged flat against the back of his chair. "Any magical trace will show a spell on all of you, including the LA crew. Angel will never believe that you aren't being influenced by Spike."

"As if," Buffy snorted.

"Hey!" Spike poked Buffy in the side.

"I meant influenced in a spell way, dear." Buffy pressed a kiss to Spike's cheek. "You are welcome to influence my life in any way you want, my darling vampire."

Wesley looked at Giles with a curiously raised brow. "I can see why Angel thought there was a spell involved."

"What do you mean by that, Oxford?" Spike, already having figured out the perfect moniker for the ex-Watcher, asked.

"The Spike who came to LA and tortured his Sire for the Gem of Amara being so lovesick looking at the Slayer, and the Slayer returning it? It seems far fetched and unreal." Wesley adjusted his glasses. He shirked back at the low rumbling growl from Spike. "I'm not saying that there is a spell involved. I'm just pointing out why Angel might have thought there was. It must be a hard thing for him to accept."

"Would it help if I allowed him to sample my blood?" Buffy asked innocently. She wanted all of this to be solved so they could move on to the protection of Dawn.

"I don't think that's wise, pet. Didn't he almost kill you the last time?" Spike questioned with concern.

"I would have to agree with Spike on this point, Buffy. It would be unwise to give Angel a chance to bite you again, especially since he is so temperamental right now."

Buffy looked at Spike. "If we completed a mating claim, would that keep him from killing me?"

Spike stuttered, "Yes, but he'd detect it instantly. I don't think that would make the poof all accepting of your feelings. He would assume that I was controlling you."

Buffy frowned, huffed, and slumped against Spike. "It seems that I can't win."

"Perhaps there is a way for Angel to sample your blood without risking your life?" Wesley sat back up straight. "If you were to create a cut in your wrist, allow the blood to drip into a cup, and then he drink it, that might do it. Angel and Buffy would both have to be present as it was done. That way he can't say that the blood was tainted or changed with magic."

"What do you think, pet?" Spike hugged Buffy from behind.

"It's worth a try. I'd be willing to do anything to get over this mess. So long as it didn't involve any harm to my family, friends, or those I love." Buffy turned in Spike's arms. She kissed him lovingly. "I don't feel that I have to prove anything to him, but we could use his help." She hoped that Spike understood her reasons.

Spike nodded. "If it's what you want, I can't refuse you."

"If that's settled, I think I will return to the mansion. It is nearing sunset, and Angel will be awakening." Wesley stood up. He left the book he'd brought, and he gave it to Giles. "Please let me know what the lab report comes up with." He wrote his cell phone number down on a piece of paper. "I'll do my best to get Angel to agree to the blood test. I'll call you if I hear any news."

Spike and Buffy stood up shortly after Wes left. "We should get back to my house." Buffy told the group. "Mom is going to need dinner, and I'd like to spend some more time with her."

"Okay, Buffy. We'll keep at it here." Willow spoke with genuine concern and support in her voice.

"Thanks, Wills." Buffy hugged Willow. Then, she and Spike left the Magic Box. Neither liked the idea of being away from Dawn or Joyce for as long as they'd already been gone. It was too dangerous.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I trusted you." Angel glared at Wesley with contempt. He pressed the ex-Watcher against the wall as soon as Wesley entered the mansion. The tranquilizer had worn off a half hour prior to Wes' arrival, and Cordelia hadn't stabbed him again. "How could you go behind my back like that, Wes?"

"I informed you that I was going to investigate everything to determine what was going on," Wesley countered. He had received a cell phone call from Cordelia shortly after he left the Magic Box. He prepared himself for Angel's arguments on his way back to the mansion. He refused to let the bulky vampire intimidate him.

"You went to the people who are the most affected by all of this," Angel argued. "You can't trust anything they say."

"Your hatred and jealousy could be equally as blinding as any spell." Wesley knew that he had to stand firm against Angel's tirade. "Nothing about their lives is simple right now, and I will find the truth all around. They are willing to give you irrefutable proof that they are under no chemical or magical influences where Spike is concerned."

"Why would I believe anything they say or any proof that they could come up with? It would all be under whatever influence has them," Angel retorted. "They would taint any evidence with their view."

"Not this they can't." Wesley frowned at Angel's stubborn attitude. "If you put me down, I might be willing to tell you. If you continue to act like a brute, I will simply leave."

"I'm not up for any more games tonight. Delia already knocked me out once." Angel growled in warning.

Cordelia looked up from her work on the table. "I'll do it again you big oaf if you keep acting like an ass." She threatened.

"Out with it, Wes." Angel rolled his and set Wesley's feet back down on the floor.

"Buffy is willing to offer her blood to you." Wesley stated in a serious and monotone voice.

"I will not bite her again." Angel's demon cried out for the taste of Buffy's blood again, but Angel refused to give it the satisfaction. It was too dangerous.

"We anticipated any problems that could arise. She will cut her wrist and drip it into a cup for you to drink from." Wesley continued his explanation. "You and she will both be present during the cut and the sampling. Once you've taken the sample, it will prove that her blood is still pure without being magically tainted."

"It's already tainted from the familial claim," Angel held up a hand to keep Wesley from interrupting, "But I accept. So long as I only sense a minor amount of his blood due to the familial claiming, and no other influences, I will believe them."

"Good. I'll let Rupert know." Wesley pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to grab a bite to eat from the kitchen. That is if you were able to have something delivered, Cordy?"

"Yes, Wes. Thankfully they still deliver to this creepy place," Cordelia answered without looking up from her work.

"I'm going out. I want to check with a few of my demon contacts to see if I can get any more information."

"Be careful, Angel. The Council is in town." Wes tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen.

'Just great.' Angel sighed and headed out into the night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ben slid into his car after a long day's work at the hospital. Jinx, one of Glory's more loyal minions sat in the backseat of the car. Ben jumped at the reflection of the scaly demon in his rearview mirror. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to pass on some information to you," Jinx replied. During the day Glory made a brief appearance at the hospital. It was long enough for her to be informed of the day's events. She gave Jinx an order during the time she was free. "We have found out that Buffy Summers is the Slayer."

'That makes the scene in Buffy's ER room even stranger. Why would the Slayer allow her sister to be bitten?' Ben stared back at the minion. "Why should I care about that?"

"The magnificent Glorificus wishes you to seek a closer friendship with the Slayer. Before discovery, we were able to ascertain that the Slayer knows what the Key is. She is protecting it."

"I am not going to help you get the Key. I don't give a damn what Glory wants." Ben gripped the steering wheel tighter. He knew Glory's time was running out. If he could wait out the time, maybe he would be rid of his other half.

"You will not succeed in keeping Glorificus from her prize, Sir." Jinx stepped out of the car. "It would be in your best interest to help in her quest. It will only bode worse for you, if you don't."

Ben locked the doors as soon as Jinx got out. "Keep away from me. If I have to tell you again, Glory will be short one minion to kiss her ass." He threw the car into reverse and squealed away from the parking lot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel poked his head out from the side of the building. After beating and interrogating several demons and a couple humans for information about the Slayer, he'd found out that Xander was in the hospital after an incident with Buffy. He was confused about why Xander would come after his best friend. So he headed there to question Xander.

Angel hadn't gotten inside yet when he noticed the human get into a car with the demon. At first Angel was ready to strike out at the demon to save the human, but it seemed that they were having a conversation in the car. The human was clearly unhappy about things, but he seemed to be in no danger from the demon. He was about to turn away when Buffy's name was mentioned. Hearing that name stopped him in his tracks.

Angel listened to the scaly fellow inform the man about some plans that someone named Glorificus had for Buffy. His demon and soul growled at the thought of anyone harming her. He watched the demon get out of the car and finally walk away.

Instead of going into the hospital, Angel decided it would be best to follow the demon. Any creature that wanted to harm Buffy was more important to him than anything else. Xander was incapacitated in the hospital. He could talk to him later.

Angel followed Jinx to Glory's residence. His vampiric ability to blend into the shadows saved him several times from detection. He walked with silence in his steps. Nothing moved or was displaced even as he traveled over twigs and leaves that would normally crunch underfoot.

When they arrived at a lush looking house or mansion like place, Angel waited at the end of the drive to see if the demon went inside. Once he was confident of the demon being inside, he opened the mailbox at the end of the drive. The name on several pieces was Ben.

Angel placed the mail back in the box, and he was about ready to head to the Magic Box when a set of headlights coming up the road forced him back into the bushes. To his surprise, it was the car containing the man from the hospital parking lot. He followed the car up the driveway in confusion.

The same man he'd seen at the hospital got out of the car. All of a sudden the man, whom he now assumed was Ben, started screaming and holding the sides of his head. One instant a man was cowering on the ground, and the next instant a long haired woman was pushing herself weakly up off the ground.

Several of the same scaly demons ran out of the home to help the woman. She cursed at them and pushed them aside. The whole group went into the house together.

'Okay, that is not something you see every day.' Angel dashed back down the driveway towards the main stretch of road to lead him to the Magic Box. 'I may not like it, but this is something Buffy and her gang should know about.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)