Hold Fast

by
Tabaqui

4 Exposed

Another meeting at the Magic Box.  I think I've had about enough of these.   Xander sat in his truck, looking unenthusiastically out at the shop.  He could see Anya inside, and Willow bent over a book.

I know, love, Spike thought, and Xander pulled his key out the ignition.  Spike had been here for half the day, helping Anya wrestle some stock around and keeping Dawn entertained when she got out of school.  He was pleased with his new freedom to roam Sunnydale via the tunnels and sewers, and Xander had asked Tara to put a warding spell on the underground entrance down in their cellar, just in case.

Wonder what Giles will say?  Do you think - he won't bring Ethan, will he?

Might do.   Spike came out of the training room and walked as close to the windows as he could, staying back from the last, slanting light of the setting sun.  Come in, love.  Miss you.

Yeah...coming.   Xander slid out of the truck and locked it, then went slowly inside.   Spike slipped his arm around him and kissed him and his mouth was warm and sweet from the cherries he and Dawn had been sharing.

She can get the stone right into the bin, 'bout every time.   Xander broke away from him, laughing.

"Is that what you spent all afternoon doing, teaching Dawn how to spit cherry pits?"

"I got her to admit that Siouxsee can sing.  We read some, too."  Spike's tone was aggrieved but his eyes danced with laughter and Xander had to pull him in for another kiss.

Taste good.  Have to get some of those for home.  

Mmmm...yeah...    The link went X-rated and Xander scratched his nails down Spike's back - pulled away again as the doorbell jangled.  An older woman and her daughter edged around the two, eyeing them with something that looked like disgust and Xander felt the blush coming over his face.

"Can't wait to get you home," Spike said, loud and clear, and the woman jumped a little and shepherded her daughter away.  Xander tugged at Spike's waistband and they both walked down the short flight of steps to the table where Willow was scowling over a thick book.  Its pages were spotted with black spots of mildew and she handled them with the tips of her fingers.

"This is so gross.  Giles needs some sort of - of air-tight box for these books.  Or one of those rooms like they have in those cigar shops?  Oh!  Maybe we could make an air-tight bubble around one of the bookshelves..."  Willow stared off into space, obviously contemplating some sort of spell and Xander settled uneasily next to her.

Probably suck us all into a vacuum or something, Spike grumbled, and Xander grinned at him.

"Can you two please not engage in foreplay during business hours?" Anya scolded, coming out from behind the counter.    "As a rule, Magic Box customers are open-minded and tolerant, but we still get the occasional anal-retentive homophobe."   Behind her, the woman who'd given them the eye stiffened and shot a narrow-eyed glare at Anya.  The ex-demon, oblivious, turned around and smiled brightly.

"Hello!  And how can I help you spend your money today?"  Spike snickered as she bustled away, herding her customers towards the other end of the shop.  He leaned on the back of Xander's chair, his hands in Xander's hair with that familiar, comforting touch that Xander loved best.  He sighed and smiled, feeling his eyes close just a little, and Willow shot a considering look at him.

"Do you know why Giles wanted to have a meeting, Xander?"

"Hmmm?  Oh - not...not really, Willow.  Why?"

"Just wondering.  He hasn't been around much lately.   I tried calling him yesterday but he wasn't answering...  Do you think he's all right?"

"I - think he's fine, Willow.  I mean - this has all been pretty hard on him but I think he's...getting better."

"You mean, getting over Buffy being dead."  Xander sat up at that and looked at Willow, who had an odd expression on her face - something between anger and excitement.

"I don't think he's - well, maybe he is, Wills, but -"

"Man has a right to live his life, Red.  He can't be in mourning forever."

"What do you know about it?  You didn't even care when she died -"

"Of course he did!"  Dawn stood in the doorway to the training room, her expression one of shock and anger.  "He didn't cry or - or make a scene but he was sad!"

"Dawn - I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."  Willow's look was pleading, but then she glanced back at Spike and it hardened.    "But Spike -"

"Don't finish that, witch."  Spike's voice was cold - very soft - and Xander reached back and found Spike's hand - gripped it fiercely.

Don't, don't - Spike-love, don't...  

"Or what, Spike?  You'll - you'll bite me?"  The hiss that came from behind him made Xander go cold and he stood up fast.

"Guys -"

"I won't touch you, witch - you're Xander's and you’re the Bit's and they come first.  But you're pushing them away with your...jealousy."  Willow's eyes went wide, but her face flushed a dull red, and Xander winced inside.  Fuck, he might be right...    The bell jangled - someone coming in or the customers fleeing, Xander couldn't tell

"Jealous?  I'm not - not jealous of you, Spike.  I just don't trust you!   None of us should.  I don't care what Xander says he can see in you - you're just a demon!  Buffy never -"   Dawn was striding over from the training room, her mouth open in shock but her hands bunched into fists.  Anger sorrow, in the link, strong and sharp.

"Willow?  What's wrong, honey?"  It was Tara that had come in, bag of books over her shoulder and an expression of confusion on her face.  Willow turned sharply at her voice and seemed to slump, deflating.

"Oh, Tara, I - I just...  Things are just so...  They wouldn't be like this if - if Buffy were here."  Willow sank down into her chair, the tears finally flowing, and Tara stepped up to her, bending down and hugging her, whispering in her ear.  She glanced up at the others, puzzled, and Xander shook his head - turned and shooed Spike and Dawn away, back to the training room.  Anger still, from Dawn, but it was fading, replaced with sorrow - with confusion.

"What the hell was that about?" Xander asked once they'd gone into the training room.  He turned a questioning look on Dawn and Spike.  Spike just shrugged and crossed to where his duster was hung over the horse.  He pulled out his cigarettes and lit up, and Xander looked at Dawn.

"She's just been - really on edge, lately.  She thinks Giles is going to go back to England and - it's really bugging her."  Dawn glanced over at Spike, Hurt fear in the link.  She lowered her voice, but Xander knew Spike would still be able to hear her.   "And she doesn't like me spending so much time at your house."

"Why fucking not?  Nothing wrong with you comin' round - you've got your own room an' all! What's that bloody girl thinking?"  Spike bristled instantly and Xander sent calm through the link.

"What's wrong with you being at our house, Dawn?"  Dawn looked at the floor, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"She says...that...I should spend more time with..."

"With what, Niblet?  With her?"  Spike had come up and put his hand on Dawn' back, rubbing gently, and Dawn glanced up at him, her eyes bright with tears.

"Don't get mad, Spike!  I don't want you guys to fight, please?  I hated it when Mom and Dad fought and - you guys are the only family I have anymore and if you can't be friends I - I don't know what I'll do!"  Fear again, and something like panic, and Spike looked to be at a total loss, rubbing Dawn's back but glancing at Xander for some sort of help.  He pinched his cigarette out, putting the butt in his pocket.

"It's okay, Dawn - I promise that we won't fight," Xander said, shooting a look at Spike.  No fighting!   "Don't worry about what Willow said, okay?  We'll talk to her about it.  It's not your problem."  Dawn sniffed - rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes.

"I just - she said I should hang out with...regular people."  Spike's hand stopped its soothing motion and rage flared in the link, strong enough to bring the hyena up and out.  Dawn was staring at Xander as he fought for control - fought the hyena back and grabbed Spike's arm as he strode past.

Spike -do NOT.  You can't - do anything.   It was the demon that turned back, snarling, and Xander yanked him even closer - wrapped his arms around Spike and just held him.  Don't, don't love - don't think about it, don't do anything.  Dawn's freaking out, just calm down.   Spike's arms came up and hugged back, and the vampire put his face down into Xander's shoulder.

Want OUT of here, love - want to go.  So sick of this place, Xan, please...   Xander hugged harder, shocked.  Leave?  That was something they'd never really talked about and now -.  Xander saw Dawn's face - white, tear-streaked and miserable - and he held out an arm to gather her in.  She came with a small sob and Spike freed an arm as well, holding her close.

Just pack the Bit up, get the wolfling...  We don't have to be here, we can - teach her and...it's hurting her to be here, love, it's - hurting all of you.  Let's just go, just -

How can we?  Spike - I don't know -    There was just sorrow sorrow sorrow from Dawn; a mix of things that just felt sad, and shuddered through them both.  

"Please don't be mad at Willow, Spike, please?  She's just - really upset about Buffy still, she doesn't - doesn’t mean it -"   Spike drew back a little, human again, laughing in a rather stilted way.

"Now, poppet, don't you fret.  Me and Red aren't mates but I won't do anything - or say anything.  I promise.  Chin up, now.  Meeting'll start soon, you don't want to be all - squishy, do you?"  Dawn sniffed, wiping her face - smiled at Spike.

"Okay.  Okay, I'm...   Thanks, Spike."  Spike reached out and smoothed her hair, grinning at her, and she sniffed again.  "I'm gonna go wash my face."  Dawn smiled over at Xander as well and went across the training room to the bathroom, shutting the door softly.  Spike leapt, furious, and hit the heavy bag with fists and feet.  It took him exactly three solid hits to send it crashing into the wall, the broken chain rattling, the thick leather split open and spilling out wads of filler.  Spike stood over it, snarling, and delivered a final kick.

"Got it all out now?"  They both spun around, startled by Oz's soft voice at the back door.

"Fuckin' witch..."  Spike muttered, going for another cigarette and Xander gave Oz the details, fast through the link.  Oz frowned and walked over to the old couch, slumping down.

"That seems a little...extreme," he said finally, and Xander had to laugh.  He crossed over and flung himself down next to Oz, running his hands back through his hair.

"Jesus.  It's all just - crazy."

"Did you mean it?  About leaving, Spike?"  Oz was looking troubled, and Spike sighed - came over and settled on the floor between them, leaning back so that Xander's leg on one side and Oz's on the other were pressed into his shoulders.  Family in the link, and Pack and for a moment they all needed the contact.

"I've stayed places for longer.  But this bloody place - it's bad luck for all of us.  Bad memories.  We don't have to stay - nothing keeping us here, right?   We can just go - Bit'd be over the moon to travel, all the stories I've told her..."  Spike's voice trailed to silence, and Xander reached out and ran his knuckles up the back of Spike's neck - kneaded tense shoulders and Spike sighed.

"I think...  Manny's son has a company, up in Seattle.  He's told me if I ever want to relocate, I'd have a job just for the asking..."

"Seattle's a cool place.  Good energy up there..." Oz added, and the three of them lapsed into silence.   Xander bent over Spike, kissing his temple and forehead, resting their heads together for a moment.

"Listen...  I think Dawn would like to finish school here - finish with her friends.  And I don't know if she'd really want to leave Tara and Willow for real...  But - if Giles tells us he's leaving - if he really is going back to England, then...  We'll talk about it, okay?"   All right, love?  Is that - enough?

Never thought you'd even consider it, pet.  It's more than all right.

You game, Oz?   Oz shifted on the couch - put his hand out and let it rest with Xander's on Spike's shoulder.  

Derio'd go.  And I like to travel.  Yeah, I'm game.   The surge of happiness and relief from Spike made Xander kiss him again, sorry in the link, feeling bad that Spike had felt so - trapped.  Should have said something, love.  Should have told us.

Didn't want you to be unhappy.  Didn't want you to think you had to leave your friends.   There was an undercurrent of sadness to it all, though, because the three of them knew Tara would never come along.  It would be hard, to leave part of the family behind if that's what they decided to do.  They stayed like that until Dawn came out of the bathroom, smiling again and looking as if she'd never cried a tear, and then Spike got up and told her to get a stake and try a few moves - see if she remembered what he'd shown her earlier.  He hit 'play' on the boombox in the corner, wailing woman's voice pouring out and they started sparring.  The look of intense concentration on Dawn's face made Xander smile, even as he felt a little pang of loss in his heart.

Looks like Buffy, when she does that.

Yeah, she does,   Oz agreed.  They looked up when Tara came to the doorway.  Spike and Dawn were too busy to stop, but Spike glanced at the blonde and gave a small nod to show he saw her.

"thrown back again to drown
kinder with poison
than pushed down a well - or a face burnt to hell
feel the cruel stones breaking her bones
dead before born
words fall in ruins - but no sound
she's dying of your shame - she maimed by your paw

he gives birth to swimming horses..."  

               

Xander caught a brief image from Spike; the singer, Siouxsee, up on stage, heavily lined eyes glaring out at the crowd, the press of bodies all around, smoke and alcohol and pot.  Spike shot him a quick grin.  

She's a looker, eh?

If you like that kind of thing, Xander smirked.

"Hey, Tara - is Willow okay?"   He had to yell a little over the music and Tara skirted around the other two and joined him and Oz on the couch, looking tired.

"I think so.  She's been - r-really on edge, the past couple of w-weeks.  She's having a h-hard time dealing with...all thi-this."  

"Yeah...  How about you, Tara?  You okay?"  Xander touched the back of her hand gently and Tara smiled at him.

"I'm fine, Xander.  I'm...  It sounds b-bad to say it but Buffy wa-wasn't my best friend.  I'm n-not as - as torn up as W-willow..."  The guilty look on her face made Xander want to hug her tight, and after a moment's thought he did.

"Hey - it's okay, Tara.  Nobody expects you to just stop, you know?  You've got school and I've got my job...  We've all got lives that have to go on.  There's no - right amount to miss somebody."  Tara hugged back - smiled over at Oz, who was nodding silently.

"I know, Xander.  I r-really do, but s-ssometimes Willow...  She's just so - up-upset.  I don't know what to du-do about it."  There was a long silence then, as the three of them watched Dawn and Spike, each sunk into their own thoughts.  It did seem to Xander that Willow was taking Buffy's death the hardest.   Dawn still had nightmares - still cried over Buffy - but she had come out of her long silence, and was more and more the Dawn they'd all known before.  

There's that 'before' again...  Dawn's doing all right, really - we all are.  Except for Willow and I just don't - don't know WHY.  I miss Buffy...but she's gone.  I can't change that.   Xander watched Dawn fake a punch and go low, getting Spike in the thigh and the vampire whistled, grinning.

"Good on you, Bit!  That was great."

"But she was open on her left."  It was the 'bot, standing in the doorway and looking faintly...displeased?  Willow came in behind it and gave it a little push, motioning it towards the corner.

"What's - it doing here, Willow?" Xander asked as Spike and Dawn shrugged off the 'bots assessment and circled each other.

"Oh, she had a kind of - malfunction, last night.  Got hit pretty hard in just the wrong place.  I had to do some repairs.  I programmed her to come and find me if anything goes wrong, and that worked, at least.  She just needs a little charging up before patrol tonight and I thought it would look good to have her leaving from here sometimes.  Like - like she...Buffy...used to."  Willow bit her lip and followed the 'bot to the corner where a heavy-duty power cable lay coiled.  Willow popped the stomach-plate of the 'bot open and plugged her in, and the 'bot went still.

"So, think she'll be up for orientation next week at school?"  Oz asked, and Willow started to answer him when the front door bell jangled.  A moment later Anya put her head around the corner of the doorway.

"Giles is here.  Time for our meeting."

"Okay then."  Xander wasn't looking forward to the meeting, and he could feel the reluctance from Spike and Oz as well.   Oz turned the music off and they all moved slowly into the front room, where Anya was just locking the door and turning the 'Open' sign around to 'Closed', frowning.  She didn't like closing early.  Giles was leaning on the display counter, looking worn out and uncomfortable, arms crossed over his chest.  They all found places to sit - Tara and Willow at the round table, Oz and Xander halfway up the stairs with Spike right behind.  Dawn chose to sit on the stairs too, and Anya went behind the counter again and started fiddling with receipts.   Giles looked around at them all and then took a deep breath.

"I'm grateful that all of you could come here for this...  I'm - I have some very serious things to discuss."  He paused and took off his glasses - rubbed his eyes.  "I'm sure that all of you remember Ethan Rayne -"

"Oh!  I remember him!  He turned you into a demon, right?"  Dawn looked pleased, and Willow smiled at her, nodding.

"Ah, well yes, yes he did, among other things...  And I - had the Initiative take him away."

"You did?"  Dawn was wide-eyed, and Giles flinched from that a little, putting his glasses back on.  

"Yes I did, Dawn.  At the time I - well, that's not important.    What is important is that...  That he got away from them."

"Oh, no!  What - what should we do?  Is he coming here?  Do we need - some sort of spell to - to hold him or...or drain his magic, maybe?"  Willow grabbed a book at random from the stack that always seemed to accumulate on the table, flipping it open.  Xander saw the wince, when she spoke - the brief look of sorrow that crossed Giles' face.

"No, Willow, that won't be necessary.  He...  He's already here, and he's...  Well, he's really not a threat to any of us, right now."

"What do you mean?"  Giles sighed and rubbed his forehead with his thumb, looking exhausted.  Spike's knee pressed into Xander's shoulder and he leaned back a little, shivering as cool fingers slipped into his hair.

"The Initiative established a base in Brazil, after we destroyed the one here.  They - took Ethan there.  But a - but something happened, and that base was destroyed as well and Ethan managed to - managed to escape and make his way, over several months, back...here."

"Why here?" Tara asked softly, and Giles glanced at her.

"Well, I suppose here because - because we were friends, Ethan and I.  He - he didn't have anywhere else to go."  Behind him, Anya had stopped organizing her receipts and was looking at Giles with a thoughtful, considering expression.

Oh crap.  I think Anya just figured something out.  Think she'll keep her mouth shut?

Doubt it, pet.  

"Okay, so, he comes all the way back here.  What does that mean, though, Giles?  You're not - not helping him, are you?  I mean - after what he did -"

"What he did is - is in the past, Willow.  What he did was nothing - nothing - compared to what the Initiative did to him."

"But he kidnapped Buffy and tried to feed her to that Eyghon guy!  Or god, or demon, whatever!  And - and he nearly got us all killed with that Halloween costume thing, and -"

"Yes Willow, I am aware of these things.  That's really not the point -"

"Seems like a pretty big point to me, Giles!  I mean, he tried to kill us all and you're just - gonna be his friend again?"  Giles was pacing now, head down and a thunderous expression on his face, and he stopped short at Willow's words.

"Friend.  I haven't been his friend...for some time.  But now - yes, now I'm going to try to be. I - I owe him that much, after what I did..."

"Giles -"

"Leave off, Red.  Did you know, way back when me an Angel had a little run-in with some Nazis?  They were collecting us - vamps, that is.  D'you know why?"

"Recruiting you for help with the Final Solution?" Willow snapped, and Xander felt Spike stiffen - felt the demon surge, and Spike ruthlessly push it away.

"No, you daft bint.  They wanted to try and control demons.  They wanted to cut open their brains and make them into an army.  Sound familiar?  That's where the soddin' Initiative got its ideas from.  The bloody Krauts.  That's what Rupert turned his mate over to.  All that meticulous Nazi framework embellished and improved upon by fuckin' Yankee ingenuity."   Willow had gone pale, and Tara was holding her hand, looking between them.  Giles had put his hand to his face, as if to hide his expression or to stop himself from speaking, and they all sat in an uncomfortable silence for a long moment.

"So what exactly does all this mean, Giles?  Your friend is here and you feel all guilty, as you should, but what does that mean to me?"  Anya came out from behind her counter, looking anxious and annoyed at the same time and Giles let out a strangled sort of laugh.

"Yes.  Thank you for once again getting straight to the point, Anya.  What it means to you - to all of you, really, is that...  I'm going back to England."

"What?"

"Oh, Giles -"

"Leaving?"  Willow, Dawn and Anya all started talking at once.  Tara looked sadly at Willow and bowed her head.  

Guess demon-girl was right.  He's off with his mate across the pond.

Nazis?

Yeah - remember?  Xander closed his eyes, letting the past surface - was jolted out of that memory - out of the stale, dead air of a dying submarine and Angel's furious face as he punched a German soldier - by Willow.

"Giles, you can't leave!  You really can't!  I mean - we need you here now that - now that Buffy's gone!  How are we gonna figure out prophecies and apocalypses and - stuff like that?  How are we gonna figure out if Buffy - if she went -"

"I really cannot have that discussion again, Willow!"  Giles actually shouted and they all froze, staring at him.  He stood glaring at Willow furiously, and she glared back, her mouth set in a thin line, her eyes dangerously hard.

"We need to have that discussion!  We need to talk about it and figure it out!  We can't just leave Buffy -"

"Enough!"  That was Ripper darkman demonkiller and they all felt the shockwave of power that flashed out from Giles.  Spike hissed and Oz's eyes flared black, the wolf struggling for dominance.  The hyena reared up as well, fight or flight kicking in hard and only the combined efforts of both Xander and the soldier kept it from launching itself straight at Giles.

"What in bloody hell is going on," Spike growled, and Giles shot a furious look at him.

"It's none of your damn business -"

"Yes it is!  Well, it's not Spike's business but the rest of them have a right to hear this!"

"Willow -"

"No, don't try to stop me."  Willow shot to her feet, her hands twisting together as she agitatedly paced up and back behind Tara's chair.  "When Buffy died - everything was wrong.  She didn't die a natural death, she died in the portal!  And her soul - we can't know where her soul is -"

"Yes we can.  Natural or not, her soul is where it ought to be - where it should be!  We will not be performing some sort of - of obscene hedge-wizardry in the hopes of scrying out her whereabouts!"  Giles voice was trembling with tightly controlled rage but his eyes were like two pits, utterly void of emotion.  Willow flinched from the look he gave her, but turned to the others - to Dawn.

"Don't you see?  What if she's in some - some hell dimension -"  Dawn gave a choked cry, covering her mouth with her hand, and Spike was up, leaping over Oz and Xander, landing not two feet from Willow.  He took her by the shoulders and let the demon out, his lips pulled back in a grimace of rage.   Behind Willow, Tara stood up, her hand going out uselessly towards the two.   When the vampire spoke, it was a sibilant, hate-filled whisper.

"You will shut your gob right now, witchling, if you know what's good for you.  How in fuck could you say something like that in front of Dawn?  If you ever talk about the Slayer bein' anywhere but up with her mum and the fuckin' angels I will personally rip out your tongue and feed it to the first fuckin' stray dog I find.  Do.You.Hear.Me."  He gave her a vicious shake and Willow's mouth, which had dropped open snapped shut, and she jerked herself out of his grip.

Spike - fuck's sake-  

"I've got things to fuckin' kill."  Spike glared around the room - shook his head once at Xander and with a flick of his eyes indicated Dawn, who was crying silently behind him.  Then he was gone.

Well, that didn't go well at ALL,   Xander thought, as he and Oz headed out to patrol.  They could feel Spike like a cruising shark, cutting through the night-time shoals of Hellmouth demons, cold and unstoppable.  He and Oz had left Giles and Willow behind, both tight-lipped and silent, furious.  Anya had called Drake and gone home after Giles had rather testily told her that he was leaving the shop in her hands and becoming a silent partner.  She wanted to have 'celebratory taking-over orgasms', and Drake, apparently, was always obliging.

No - could have gone better.   Oz looked over at Xander with a small smile, and Xander shook his head.  Dawn had tried to be stoic - had stopped crying and let herself be taken home - but they could feel her upset in the link, and Tara had pulled her close and led her inside the Summers' house, whispering comfort in deaf ears.

"What in hell - I mean, if Willow really thinks Buffy is in some - some hell dimension, then what does she think she can do about it?   What - would be the point?"

"Maybe she thinks she could - get her out?"  They both thought about that for a moment, and then Xander sucked in a sharp breath.

"No way is she thinking about bringing her back!  Not after what Dawn did...  She is not that crazy!"

"Fucking hope not," Oz muttered, distaste in the link.  Xander shrank away from the idea with loathing - it was wrong, to do something like that.  To mess with someone's soul.  As much as he hated Angel, the thought of his soul being jerked around, between heaven or hell or limbo on the whim of some pissed-off gypsy...  It wasn't right.  

She's daft enough to try it, maybe.   Spike, somewhere down the street and off to the south, and Xander turned the truck at the next intersection.

No way.  She - I know she's a little...casual about magic sometimes but she wouldn't mess around with stuff like that.

Better hope not,   Spike thought, and then the link rippled with surprise and gleeful interest.

What is it?  

Bunch'a demons - fuck, Hellions.  What in hell?   Xander looked over at Oz, who was sitting up straight, looking back with a frown on his face.

Spike, what d'you mean?  What are Hellions?   Images, through the link.  Demons in leather and chains, a convoy of motorcycles cruising through Sunnydale, heading roughly towards Willy's bar.  And the knowledge of what they were; pirates, who come in and destroy - who take over, for a few days or a few weeks, and then move on when the town they've invaded is sucked dry.

They're pretty wild but they're not big-time.  Usually stick to back-water places with no real defenses.  Only reason they'd be here is if...

They found out about Buffy, Oz finished, and Xander felt a wave of fear go over him.

Wolfling's right.  I'm gonna see what the hell they're doin' - make sure it's...  You get Blondie and the Niblet to our house.  Tell her ward it - make it a fuckin' fortress.  And get Giles and his mage over there - they need to be together.  It's gonna take more magic than Glinda has to keep them out.  And we need to have access to the Underground, just in case...

Is it really that bad?   Xander glanced behind him and swung the truck into a U-turn in the middle of the street, Oz braced against the dash.

Fuck yeah, love.  If they know, then everybody knows.  This place is gonna blow sky-high before daybreak.  We've gotta be ready.  Lock the house down.  I'll be there soon.   Then he was gone and Xander flattened the pedal to the floor, pushing the truck as fast as it would go.  

"This just keeps getting better and better," he muttered, and had to smile when Oz belatedly fumbled his seat-belt on.

"Seattle's sounding pretty good about now," Oz replied, and Xander felt exactly the same.  They drove on, heading for the Magic Box and hoping that Giles would still be there.  This was going to be a long, nasty night.

Spike prowled the Sunnydale streets, watching the Hellions - do their thing.  There were at least twenty, and they'd gotten into a kind of rhythm, going from store to store downtown.  Not to the Magic Box yet, but getting there.  He debated whether or not he'd defend the store but decided, with a snort of silent laughter, that he wouldn't.

Demon-girl'd probably get more money outta insurance, anyway...   The Hellions loved the smash-and-grab, but they weren't very neat and they weren't very thorough, and Spike had a pillowcase - liberated from a wash-line - that was gradually filling up with...bits.   Never have too many movies, never have too much music, and that pawn shop out by the highway gives damn good prices.   On principle, Spike wouldn't do any smashing himself - that would smack of allying himself with the Hellions and traditionally, those demons and vamps didn't get along.  But he'd take advantage of the chaos.  Other Hellmouth dwellers were taking advantage as well, and the night was shaping up to be something like all right.

And the Watcher's mate is probably eatin' this like candy.    

He'd followed Xander and the wolf's progress through the link; getting Dawn and Tara from the Summers' house, going to Giles' flat and convincing him to come, as well.  The mage had looked fevered and a little out of it, but he'd grinned at Xander and asked him how 'the beast' was faring.  Xander had been hard-put to stop 'the beast' from knocking him unconscious and Spike had told him, through the link, to shut his particular brand of 'come get me' down or he'd come over there and shut the mage down personally.  Giles had proceeded to get the man drunk, which apparently blunted Rayne's abilities to project magic of any sort - at least, in the weakened state he was in.  Which was a bloody good thing, in Spike's opinion, because the man was a fuckin' beacon to anyone with the slightest bit of magical sensitivity.  And Hellions had that in spades.

But Glinda-witch needs what Giles can give her - she's strong, but she's not as adept.  And we might need that chaos-git in the end, if things get bad.  He'd make good bait, at least.  

There seemed to be a fight up ahead, and Spike strolled closer, trying to see.  True to form, a number of the demons had lit fires - heaping up smashed store-front bits in the street, or filling trash barrels with scraps.  The lurid firelight made the scene reminiscent of - well - a lot of Spike's past, and for a moment he felt a twinge of nostalgia.

Fifty years from now, Xan won't care one way or another...show him a bit of what it's like to travel the world with a Master...  That thought made him grin, and he lit up a cigarette with a flourish.  The Hellions were surrounding something now - chattering and laughing and Spike looked around - saw a high, deeply silled window just inside an alley.   He jumped, hanging from the sill by one hand and jammed his pillowcase of loot up against the window for safe-keeping.  Then he dropped back and sauntered up to the edge of the demon circle.  If there was a fight to be had, he wanted to be in on it.  What he saw made him stop and stare.  The 'bot was in the middle of a circle of demons, looking a bit frazzled.

"I have to find Willow," the 'bot said, and the demons closed in.  The 'bot managed to fight her way free of the demons and took off running, and with a roar the demons were after her, mounting up on their customized Harley's and zooming away up the street.  Spike contemplated the situation for about five seconds before he grinned and took off running.  The demons were following the 'bot, who was sticking to the sidewalk.  If he ran through here - and climbed this...

Perfect, yeah.   Spike leaped down onto the sidewalk and watched the 'bot and then the demons flash by.  He stood in the middle of the street, waiting.  One demon was a little behind - he'd had a moment's trouble getting his bike started - and Spike watched him coming up the street, engine wide open.  The demon saw him - grinned nastily and aimed straight for him.  Spike grinned back, and at the last minute leaped high into the air.  The steel toe of his boot connected solidly with the demon's head and he flew backwards, skidding over the asphalt and crumpling against a light-pole.  Blood welled out from under the still form and Spike laughed.  He took a last drag off his cigarette and flipped it away - trotted over to the bike and righted it.  It seemed all right - was still running, even - and he climbed aboard and kicked it into gear, following the now-distant sound of the rest of the demons.

What's going on, Spike?

Dunno.  The 'bot's chasin' after Red, so I'm gonna see what happens.  She there?

No - not at home, nowhere.  We can't find her.  Tara's going to try a spell.

Right...  Keep safe, love.

You're one to talk.  Watch yourself, vampire-mine.  There's a lot of them.

Just enough, pet.   Xander was laughing, but Spike could feel his worry - could feel Oz, who wanted to loose the wolf and come join him.    But he was staying with Dawn, helping her calm her nerves with a dose of sugar and cheese.  They'd cooked frozen pizzas and half-drowned her with soda, and she was starting to get mouthy with Rayne - asking pointed questions that the mage appeared to want to answer but that the Watcher wouldn't let him.

That's my girl, Spike thought, grinning.  The demons were on the outskirts of town now, headed towards...  Fuckin' woods?  Breaker's Woods.  What in hell is the witch doin' out here?  Or is the 'bot just fucked up...   The motorcycles were circling - tires spinning and faltering in the damp leaves and uneven terrain under the trees, and a couple had gone down, pinning their luckless riders beneath them.  Spike charged ahead, bouncing heedlessly over the rutted track.  Something - someone - was screaming.

That's not the 'bot - don't think she's got it in her...oh fuck.   It was Willow - it had to be, and Spike revved the engine higher and broke through into a clearing.  Four bikes were weaving a circle around the 'bot and Red, who was slumped on her knees, looking dazed.   She had something cradled in her arms, and there was mud and blood smeared on her face.  The bot was fighting but she'd obviously taken several hard blows already, and random sparks of blue electricity were sparking over her.  A moment later, one Hellion drove straight into her and rode her down.  He leaped off his bike with a roar of triumph and gathered the dazed 'bot up - slung her over his shoulder and climbed back on his bike.  Spike drove his own bike straight into him, knocking them all to the ground.  He leaped free of the wreckage and ran for Willow, snatching her up and jerking her unceremoniously towards the trees.

"No!  Nooo, we have to go back!" Willow shouted, pulling against him, and he turned around and snarled into her face.

"If we go back you're most likely dead - or a bed-warmer for one of these boys.  Want that?  Time to fly, pigeon."   Willow's eyes were wild, and she looked desperately back over her shoulder.

"But - but Buffy -"

"What in fuck are you talking about?  The 'bot's knackered."   Spike turned and jerked her to a stumbling run, diving into the trees in the hopes that the Hellions wouldn't be able to follow.  Willow tripped and fell, sprawling, and something flew from her hand - hit with a crack of shattering pottery against a tree-trunk.

"Oh no, no, no!  It can't be broken!"  Willow scrambled towards the tree, groping the dimness for whatever she'd dropped and Spike leaned down and jerked her to her feet.

"We don't have time for this, Red!  What the fuck are you doing?"

"The urn!  Urn of Osiris, it's the last one, the last in the world -"   Willow's eyes were full of tears and horror and pain, and Spike wanted to slap her - cold-cock her and toss her over his shoulder, get home before something happened.  He felt uneasy up here - looked around and took a sudden hard breath, finally recognizing where they were.

"What in bloody hell were you doin' up here, witch?  Why are you at the Slayer's grave?   What fuckin' idiotic thing were you doing -"

Spike!  Get out of there!  Get home!   Xander and Oz both in the link, fear making them loud.  Spike shook his head sharply.

What is it?  What's happening?

Don't know, but Ethan and - and Giles are - just get home!   Image, suddenly - the Watcher looking panicked, the mage grinning like a rabid dog, his eyes rolling up white in his head.   'Chaos is loose in the world, children!  Something has happened - something has broken free.  Better run!'   The man looked demented, but even at one remove through the link Spike felt - afraid.  There was something - he turned and started to run, dragging Willow behind, letting the demon out and trying to pinpoint what it was he was sensing.  He caught a whiff of wet earth - rot - but it was blotted out by exhaust from the bikes and the stink of the demons themselves, and he shook it off - plowed down the hill, crashing through underbrush and trying to get as many trees as possible between himself and the demons.  

The roar of the bikes faded after a bit, and he slowed warily, giving Red a breather.  She was crying now, sniffling and coughing and gasping for breath and he finally stopped in the lee of an outcrop of stone, letting Willow sink down and crouching beside her.

"Now tell me what the fuck is going on, Red."  Willow wiped her nose on her sleeve - looked up at him with red, streaming eyes and Spike had a sudden, horrified thought.  "Were you - Jesus fucking Christ, Red, tell me you weren't -"

"I had to do it, Spike!  I h-had to!  I couldn't leave her in some - some hell-dimension, I couldn't -" Spike stared at the trembling, crying girl - stared while his mind ran furiously over and over everything he knew about...

"Resurrection.  Bloody hell, witch.  You don't know what you've fuckin' done."  Willow shook her head and pushed herself to her knees, shaking.

"It doesn't matter.  The urn - the urn's broken and - and those demons stopped me.  I don't - it didn't work, Spike.  I...failed."

"Be fuckin' glad you did."  Spike stiffened suddenly.  Something was there, in the brush just behind him.   Creeping stealthily towards them.  He lifted his head, scenting, and almost gagged.  Wet, moldering earth, the stink of corruption - of death.  He spun, rising to his feet, ready to take on whatever was lurking.  Green eyes stared at him - a tangle of filthy hair, a white, mud-streaked face.  Rags of cloth were clutched around equally filthy shoulders, and bare feet and legs showed cuts and bruises.  The reek of decomposition was so strong Spike pushed the demon away, and the figure swayed, staring at him.

"Slayer?" he whispered, and it - she - jerked and looked wildly around.  Then she turned and was running, the rag of cloth - Burial shroud, oh FUCK that's the quilt we wrapped her in - snagging on a bush and fluttering to the ground.  It was streaked with fluids and dirt - crusted with rot and Spike shuddered, imagining Buffy waking in that filthy hole - waking surrounded by the rotting remains of the coffin and her own clothing and the mire of worms and beetles...waking alone -

"S-ssspike...  Spike, was that - w-was that -"

"Yeah.  That was your Slayer, witch.  Or what's left of her.  Fucking hell."  Spike turned around and grabbed Willow - flung her unceremoniously over his shoulder and started to run for all he was worth.

Got to get home, got to...bloody hell, don't have a fuckin' clue.  Is she - still herself?  Is she even sane?  You've outdone yourself with this one, Red...fuck, fuck, fuck!   Xander!  Xan-love...  I've got the witch - come meet us.  Got some news, love...



­­­­­­­­­­_____________________

Siouxsee and the Banshees - Swimming Horses

5 Awake

Spike was waiting behind the Magic Box, pacing up and down the alley, cursing and smoking.   Xander parked his truck at the alley mouth and he and Oz got out.  The link was like coming into a hive-full of bees or something - swarming, darting thoughts, barely coherent.  Rage and fear uppermost, with the fear tapering once Xander and Oz were physically in sight.  

Did you tell them?

No, just said you found Willow and we were gonna come get you.  What the fuck could I say?  Spike - what are we gonna do?

Don't know, love...

Dawn... Oz thought, and they all flinched at that - at what this would do to her.

"Where's Willow?"  Xander asked, coming up the alley and the demon snarled - was pushed away and then flickered back.  This time Spike let it stay and he jerked his head in the direction of the shop.

"She's in there.  Couldn't take any more of her wailin'."   Xander nodded, but he didn't move towards the shop, and neither did Oz.  

"Did you really...is Buffy...?"  Spike sighed, flicking his cigarette away.  He looked tired and angry, and Xander reached out and sank his fingers into the short hair behind Spike's ear - cupped his hand around the back of his neck and pulled him closer for a soft kiss.   After a moment Spike relaxed, shifting the demon away, and Xander leaned against the shop wall and Spike leaned with him, one arm loosely around his waist.  Oz stood in front of them, arms crossed, watching Spike.

"It was her, love.  Christ, it was -"   Spike sent it through the link again, this time slower, with as much detail as he could.  Xander flinched a little from it - looked over at Oz who looked troubled.  "We need to get Red back to the house.  See what the Watcher has to say.  She might not be - right.  The Bit... she can't know, Xan.  Not if her sis is...wrong.  She can't know."  Xander knew that - felt that urge to protect Dawn  protect pack! , but...

"How can we keep it from her?  I mean - she has a right -"

"Sod it all, Xander, we can't!  Don't you see how much it'll hurt her if the Slayer's just...a body?  If her blood and bones came back but not her mind?  That'd be worse then her bein' dead."  Xander heard the pleading in Spike's voice - felt it, felt the truth.

"Damnit...I know, it's just -   It sucks to hide this from her."  Xander let his head rest for a moment on Spike's shoulder - felt the vampire slowly getting out another cigarette.

"Better that she doesn't know.  I'll tell her - I'll figure somethin' out, love.  You don't have to lie to her."   Anything to keep her safe, anything to keep her happy, and if that meant lies, then so be it.  Spike didn't care - he could justify any means, if he tried hard enough, and Xander felt a guilty relief at not having to find some story to tell Dawn.

"What should we do?  Do we really want to talk about this at home?" Oz asked.

"We have to.  Not gonna split everybody up - it's not safe.  And we need to get going, loves, because these Hellions are in a bloody ugly mood and things are only gonna get worse."  Xander glanced over at Oz, who nodded agreement.

I'll get Willow, and the werewolf walked into the shop, mentally bracing himself.

"I can't believe she'd do something like that - behind our backs...  What the fuck was she thinking?"  The anger that Xander had been holding in check for the past half-hour was boiling just below the surface and he knew that if he wasn't careful he would let it go - and probably lose Willow as a friend for life.  But god, he was so angry!

"Watcher's gonna make her sorry, pet - you don't have to."  There was a flash of white in the gloom of the alley - a malicious, fang-edged smile - and Xander shivered.  If Giles didn't make Willow sorry, Spike would, and Xander didn't actually want that, no matter how angry he was.

"Yeah.  Fuck, I don't want to be around for that."  The door to the shop opened and Oz stepped out - turned and made a gesture and Willow came through the door, hesitant.  She looked at Xander and opened her mouth and Xander held up a hand.

"Don't, Willow.   Let's get back to the house.  I just - can't, right now."

"Xan -"

"Don't, Willow.  Please?  Can we just...go?"  Xander turned on his heel and walked shakily to his truck, hearing Willow's smothered sobs, hearing Oz murmuring something to her.  Spike stalked beside him and when they got to the truck he swung himself into the back.

"I'll just ride back here then, right?  Keep an eye out."  

Yeah.  Thanks, Spike...love you...

Love you.  You okay, wolf?

Probably.  Maybe.  I'll - tell you soon.   The ride to their house was mostly silent, and Willow didn't try to talk to Xander or Oz.  There were tell-tale signs of the Hellions here and there, gradually tapering off as they neared their own neighborhood.  

Thank god.  Think they'll come out this far?

Downtown ought to keep 'em busy for a while...we're probably okay unless the 'bot brings 'em here, chasing Red.

Where IS the 'bot?  You saw them taking it, Spike?

Yeah, wolf, I did.  I guess - they must still have it.

None of that was comforting and they got silently out of the truck and went inside.  Xander felt the wards - like a prickle of icy claws down his back as they crossed the threshold - and behind him he heard Willow gasp.

"What is - who made that?"

"Tara and Giles did," Oz said quietly, and Willow looked at him - nodded.

"It's - it's strong."  That seemed to upset her somehow, and they walked through to the kitchen.  Dawn was still at the table, eating a last bit of pizza.  Tara was sitting with her, looking tired, and as they came in she got up and went to Willow - pulled her into a hug and just leaned there, her face in Willow's hair.  Willow hugged her back, stroking her hair, whispering something that made Tara shiver in her arms.  Ethan was slumped over in a chair in the corner, looking out of it.  Giles was pacing and when they came in he looked up sharply.

"Oz.  Your - your friend called.  Derio.  He said to tell you he's fine - he's safe - and he'll see you in the morning."  Oz nodded, a small smile crossing his face, and a subtle bit of tension went out of the link.

"Hey Dawn, it's getting late - you really need to get to bed," Xander said softly, and Dawn looked at him, fear and anger and disappointment all careening through the link.

"I don't think I can sleep, Xander.   I mean - it's pretty scary out there.  Can I just - can I go watch a movie?  I don't want to be alone upstairs.  Please?"  Xander didn't know what to say, and stood there for a minute, watching Tara pull back from Willow and tug her over to the table, getting her to sit down and scooting her own chair close, Willow's hand locked tight in hers.

"Course you can, Bit," Spike said, getting his flask out of his duster pocket and opening it.    "You go get your nightclothes on and clean your teeth and I'll come watch with you, right?"  Dawn nodded - wiped furiously at her eyes and stood up.

"Yeah, okay.  Thanks, Spike."

"Anything for you, poppet," he said softly, then took a long drink from the flask.   Dawn gave Tara and Willow a little smile and picked up her plate - took it over to the sink.

Thank god - Xander thought, but suddenly Ethan stirred, straightening abruptly, his eyes going wide.

"Oh, little girl, do you have any idea what you've done?" he rasped, and Giles whipped around, striding over to him.  

"Bloody hell, Ethan!   No one wants to hear your ramblings!"

"You'd best hear it, Ripper my dear, you had best listen.  Do you have any idea what she's unpicked, this little tailor?  What seams she's ripped out and done back up again?  Weren't even looking at the pattern, were you, girl?"  Ethan shoved at the hand Giles had on his shoulder - stood up with a grimace and wobbled over to the table - leaned there.  Willow and Tara both recoiled, and Tara looked questioningly at Willow.

"Honey - what -?"

"Best stop right there, mage," Spike interrupted, his voice cold and level - hateful.   "You don't have enough magic in you to stop me ripping your heart right out of your chest."  

Not pack not pack flooding the link from all of them and Xander saw Oz lift his head, his eyes black.  Spike was demon-faced, unmoving but tense in the doorway of the kitchen, and Dawn was cringing against the counter.  Tara kept looking at Willow and Willow met Ethan's eyes squarely, with something fierce and defiant in her gaze.

"You shut up.  You've haven't done anything but try to hurt us!  I was doing - I was helping, I was making things right.  Saving her -"

"Saving her from what, little seamstress?  From eternity?  From her fate?  You're not the one who chooses, love; you're not the one that gets to decide.  Do you have any idea what bargains you've unraveled?  What ripples you've caused?  They'll come back to you like a fucking tsunami, little witch."  Ethan's gaze - wild and rather glassy - roved over all of them, and he gave a short, barking laugh.  

"Ethan -" Giles said, pleading in his tone, and Ethan reached and touched the Watcher's cheek - fleeting touch like a butterfly.  

"Don't you know?  The dead aren't meant to come back to us, child, unless they give up something..."  Ethan's eyes flickered to Spike then, and Xander felt the surge of fury from the vampire - felt the coiling of power from Ethan, the hideous sub-sonic whine that was his power.   Chaos infinite endingbeginning cold cold cold   Janus - the balance of all things - was where Ethan drew his magic from, but he was out of balance - too ill to control it - and Tara and Willow both gasped as they felt the flaring of his power - the out-of-control surge that threatened them all.

"What is he talking about?  What dead?  Why is - Willow, what's going on?"  Dawn's voice was shrill and cracking and Spike moved in the blink of an eye - had Ethan up against the wall, his hand tight around the skinny throat.

"You'll shut up or I'll have your bones for soup, you hear me?  Turn it off, mage - you're like a fucking charnel house and the carrion crows are circling in, you fuck."  Ethan's eyes were wild, but it wasn't with fear.  A rusty, strangled chuckle forced its way out of his throat and Spike snarled.  

"Spike!"  Giles grabbed his arm and pulled, but he couldn't budge Spike's arm and the vampire turned his head and growled at the other man, snapping his fangs in the Watcher's face.  Giles glared back,  darkman demonkiller flaring off him like black fire.

Oh fuck, DAMNIT - Spike, STOP, let him go, for fuck's sake, this isn't helping!

Not pack not pack don't hurt him, NOT PACK   The wolf was going schizophrenic in it's need to protect Spike and Oz's need to protect Giles and Xander could feel the hyena straining against his control - could feel the soldier as well, ready to take Giles down if he moved against Spike.

"Stop it, god damnit - Giles!  Please - Spike, let him go, we have to - calm down -"  Xander was crossing the kitchen as he spoke - was getting between Spike and Giles, was making Spike look at him, making him let go his hold on Ethan's throat.  And then Oz was there too, pulling at Spike, confusing the demon enough that it backed off - let go and let its family calm it - distract it.

"Stop it, please!  Just stop!"  Dawn cried, and Spike forced himself to calm down.

Scaring the Bit, damnit, gotta...  Pet, I'm all right, I -   "Tell him turn it off, Watcher.  Make him shut it down."  Ethan was sagging down the wall, his ravaged body exhausted, his chest heaving in ragged, wet-sounding breaths.  Giles got a shoulder under his arm - got him up and back to his chair, murmuring to him.  Ethan seemed dazed - seemed a little lost - and he put his hand up to Giles' face again, touching it lightly and looking at the other man with wide, wondering eyes.  And then his own eyes rolled up in his head and he sprawled loosely, unconscious.  Oz moved to Giles' side and helped him lay the man gently on the floor - grabbed Giles' suit jacket off the back of a chair and folded it into a hasty pillow.  Giles took it with murmured thanks and tucked it under Ethan's head - said something else and Oz went away into the living room.  He came back a moment later with a blanket and they tucked it around the still form.  

For a moment Giles crouched there, the backs of his fingers on Ethan's cheek, his eyes so very weary.    Then he stood up slowly, his gaze flickering over Spike and Xander.  Xander tightened his hold around Spike's waist - moved to get between the two.  Then Giles turned deliberately to Willow.   He crossed the kitchen and leaned down, hands flat on the table.  Willow stared at him, her eyes wide, her mouth set in a hard line.  Her fingers were twined with Tara's, white and shaking, and Tara was looking at Willow with a dawning expression of horror on her face.  Dawn was frozen by the sink still, her hand over her mouth, looking fixedly at Willow as well.  Giles took in a hard breath and then spoke, and they all jumped at the deadly tone of his voice.

"Willow.  Tell me - what you've done.  Tell me all of it.  Right now."

Willow spoke, slowly spelling out her actions and her fears and her justifications.  Spike leaned briefly into Xander, scenting deeply of the warm fragrance that gathered at the juncture of throat and shoulder - that was held by his hair.  Then he moved around the room and wrapped himself around Dawn, holding her close and feeling her heart pound and pound against his chest - feeling the  fear want fear that was pouring off  her.  She was sobbing quietly and Spike doubted she heard half of what Willow was saying.

Willow's voice finally faded away altogether and there was a long, long silence.  Spike looked over at Xander, who was standing shoulder to shoulder with Oz, their hands twined together.  Xander had tears in his eyes and he wiped them away - took a deep breath.  Tara had pulled her hand out of Willow's and was staring at her girlfriend.  The Watcher pushed himself away from the table and turned his back on all of them - went over to Ethan and crouched down.  He stroked the tumbled, dark hair off the man's face - briefly felt his pulse and then snugged the blanket up a little higher around his chest.

"If it isn't her...  If you've brought back something...else, Willow..."  Giles stood up, and when he turned to face the witch again he was Ripper, and they all flinched from that.  "You, and you alone will be the one to send - it - back.  And deal with - whatever is left.  Do I make myself clear?"  Willow seemed to be frozen under his hooded gaze but after a moment she nodded jerkily.   "Right now...we need to find - it.  Her.  We need to...know..."  Giles stopped talking, and his look was, for one moment, utterly lost.  Then his expression hardened and he cleared his throat.

"We need to do a locator spell.  Tara, I'm going to need your help."  Willow stirred at that - looked pleadingly at Tara, who shook her head.

"Giles, I can -"

"No, Willow, you can not."  He moved away, into the living room and Tara gathered up a backpack from under the table.  She touched Willow's shoulder gently and then followed Giles.

"I - I want to understand," Dawn said, her voice high and wavering, and Spike stroked her hair.

"What do you want to understand, poppet?" he asked softly, and she took a step back, wiping her eyes.

"What did Willow do?  Why is Giles so - angry?   I don't -"   She sniffled and reached past Spike for a paper towel - blew her nose and wiped her eyes.

"Niblet..."  Spike looked over at Xander and Oz, wishing this didn't have to be said.  Then he took Dawn's shoulder and guided her over to the table - got her to sit down.

Fuck, fuck...  Why did that bloody mage have to spout off...

You want - want me to tell her, love?

No, I'll do it...   Spike smiled faintly at Dawn, and took her hand.  Oz moved slowly over to the chair Tara had vacated and sat down, putting his feet in the seat and his chin on his knees.

Protect pack pack, faint but constant, and Xander echoed it, as did the demon.

"It's like this, then.  Red here thought - that your sis was in Hell.  That when she died it was all - wrong - and she was trapped in some hell dimension."  Dawn's eyes were huge, and she turned to Willow.

"Was she?  I mean, how did you know?  Did you do a spell, did you - did you see her there?"  Willow looked at Oz - at Spike - and slowly shook her head.

"No, I - I couldn't find a spell that would tell me, Dawnie.  But - but she was!  I mean - she d-died in the portal, and everything was wrong because of - because of the monks messing with everything - I couldn't leave her there!"

Bloody hell.  Absolute fucking rubbish -   "Tell the truth, Red, you don't know anything for sure -"

Spike, please love -

Yeah, okay, I'll...  Yeah...   Spike leaned back in his chair, getting out a cigarette, struggling to control the demon and himself.  Refraining, minute by minute, from reaching across and snapping the witch's neck.   Xander moved over behind his chair, settling his hands lightly on Spike's shoulders and rubbing his thumbs up and down Spike's neck.  Spike relaxed into the touch, shutting the anger down.

"So you found a spell to - to bring her back?  You brought her back from the dead."  Willow nodded and Dawn looked over at Spike.

"Where is she then?  Why didn't she - why isn't she here?  Or - is she at home?  I mean, why isn't she trying to find us?"  Willow opened her mouth and Oz put his hand on her arm.  Willow subsided, looking hurt.

"She woke up in her grave, Dawn.   She had to dig her way out and she's...a little lost, we think." Oz's voice was calm but the link flared with pity and anger and Spike heard Xander take a hard breath - felt the tremor go through his hands.

"She - out of the ground?  Oh my - god, oh, poor Buffy, oh god."  Dawn shuddered, rubbing her arms, and Spike tried to calm her, thinking rapidly.

"It's not so awful, Bit.  Did it once myself, you know."  The memory of it flashed through the link and Xander's hands clamped down hard and,  oh don't, oh Spike, god... .

"You did?"

"Well, yeah.  But - I had Dru waitin' for me, didn't I?  I wasn't - all alone with those fu- those demons swoopin' around on their motorbikes.  She's just - confused is all, Niblet - she'll be gettin' her head straight soon."

"What did Giles mean?  He said - if she isn't right, if Willow b-brought back something else...  Is it like that time -?"

"Just like that, Bit," Spike interrupted, not wanting to bring up Dawn's own foray into resurrection.   Willow had a hand in that too, didn't she? Xander thought, and anger rippled through the link - anger and a sense of betrayal.

"So - so if we find her and - and she's okay then it'll be - everything will be like it was."  They all exchanged glances and Willow smiled a fragile sort of smile.

"Yeah, Dawn, everything'll be fine.  We just - we need to find her."

"We need something," Giles said, appearing in the doorway and Willow jumped a little.

"What do you need, Giles?" Xander asked, and Giles put his hand up to his face, to rub his forehead and then slide his hand back, over his hair to his neck.

"We need something of Buffy's.   I don't suppose -"

"Can you use a picture?"  Giles shook his head - sent an apologetic look towards Xander.

"No, I'm sorry, it - has to be something more - personal."

"There's me," Dawn said, and Spike looked sharply at her.

"What do you mean, Bit?"

"I mean - Buffy said I was part of her - Summers' blood.  So - could you use my blood?"

"Oh Dawnie -" Willow breathed, but Giles was smiling, just a little.

"Yes, actually, we could.  We'd just need a drop -" Giles added, as Spike growled low in his chest.

"Okay.  I can do that."  Dawn got up, wiping her hand over her face, sniffing once and then pushing her hair back.  Spike reached out and touched her hand.

"You don't have to do this, Bit.  We can find her without you cutting yourself."  Dawn smiled at him - shook her head.

"This'll be quicker, Spike.  It's okay.  I can do this."  Spike nodded, putting out his cigarette and standing up.  Bit's getting so grown up, he thought, and he felt Xander and Oz agree - felt the same tremble of awe and panic that knowledge brought.

"Come on, then."  They all went into the living room.  Tara was sitting on the floor, a map of Sunnydale spread out in front of her with candles at the four corners.  She had a small bowl of herbs in her lap and when they filed in she looked up, solemn and calm.

"Dawn?  Th-thank you.  Can you come over h-here?'

"Sure..." Dawn crossed the living room to sit by Tara,  calm calm calm in the link, as if she were trying to soothe herself.  Spike went and crouched down next to her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm right here, poppet," he said softly, and Dawn nodded distractedly.

"I - I need a n-knife," Tara said quietly, and Spike reached into a pocket and found his straight razor.  He held it out to Tara and she reached for it.

"This is sharp enough to separate two thoughts, Glinda, so you'd best be careful."  Tara's hand hesitated and then dropped back into her lap.

"Maybe you should d-do it, Spike," she said, and Spike nodded.

"We ready then?"  Tara glanced up at Giles - nodded - and held the bowl out.  Dawn put her hand out and it was shaking, and Spike enfolded it in his, holding it still.  He smiled at Dawn.

"Now then, Bit, count to three -"

"One -" Dawn said, and Spike flicked the razor.  Dawn gasped, but Spike didn't let her pull away and a drop of blood trembled on the tip of her finger - fell slowly into the bowl.  Tara picked up a stick of incense and lit it over one of the candles - put the burning stick down into the herbs.  A sudden, rather sulfurous burst of flame leaped up and then died just as quickly, leaving a gritty black ash in the bowl.  Tara shook the bowl once - held it over the map.

"Reveal," she said softly, and tipped the ash over the map.  It fell slowly, glittering, and Spike hissed a little, drawing away.  The power from Tara was nothing like Red's or the Watcher's - nothing like the mage's.   It was warm and soft, but you could feel the old magic of root and vine in it, and there was no doubt whatsoever just how powerful it was.  It was a little like Jack's magic, but the nerve-rasping wrongness that Jack had projected was utterly missing from this.

The ash hit the map and rippled outward, fading, and then one spot seemed to form a miniature whirlpool and then a glow, a tiny pinpoint of light.  Spike bent a little closer, studying the map, and he felt Xander coming down on one knee next to him.

"You know where she is, love?"  Spike asked, and Xander looked up at him - nodded.

"Yeah.  She's - she's at the tower.  Where she died."

It took a few minutes to realize that everyone wanted to go.  Spike was adamant that they not split up, and he didn't, at that point, trust anyone but his pack to watch over Dawn and Tara.  Giles spent a minute or so over Ethan, gently reviving him, and then they all went outside to the vehicles.  Giles, Ethan, Tara and Willow to Giles' car, the rest to the van.  At the last minute, remembering what Spike had seen, Xander grabbed a pair of Oz's sweats, a long-sleeved t-shirt and some socks.

Good idea, love, Spike thought, stroking his hair, and Xander reached up and caught his hand - brought it around to his mouth so he could kiss the cool knuckles.

Do you think she'll be okay?  I wish I knew - why she ran from you and Wills...

Disoriented probably, love.  And terrified.  I'm amazed she got so far.  The drive there passed in silence, and as they pulled up to the site of the tower Xander felt that same clench of sick fear in his stomach.

Never wanted to come back here.  Fuck, I hate this place.

Be all right, softly from Oz, who was looking a little sick himself.  Spike touched Oz's shoulder and moved to open the side door of the van.  Xander climbed out after him and reached for his hand - held it tightly.  He could see Oz doing the same with Dawn and they stood at the foot of the tower staring up.  Giles had left Ethan in the car, and he glanced back once and then twice, making sure of the man.  Willow and Tara stood side by side, and Willow was pale as paper.  The tower creaked ominously, and even to the naked eye they could see it swaying - load-bearing beams beginning to buckle.

"Fuck, that's not - safe at all.  Is she up there, Spike?  Can you see her?"  Xander looked through Spike's eyes - saw what Spike did, which was a pale figure at the end of the tower catwalk.

God, there she is.  What if she jumps?  Jesus -

Gonna be all right, pet.  I'll go up -

"No, not alone."  Xander frowned over at Spike, who scowled back, opening his mouth to argue.  "If she's really - confused she might attack you, Spike.  I'll go up with you - hopefully she won't attack me."

"I should go," Dawn said, staring upwards, and Spike shook his head immediately.

"No, Bit, it's much too dangerous -"

"Don't tell me no, Spike!  If that's really Buffy - if it's her, and she's back - I want - I want her to see me.  I want her to know she - she saved me, and that I'm okay.   I have to, and I will."  There were tears in Dawn's eyes but her expression made it clear she wouldn't budge, and Spike swore furiously.

"Fine then.  But you stay the hell behind us and you don't move if we say 'stop', you hear me?"

"Yeah, I hear you," Dawn said, but she smiled at him.  

Careful, from Oz, and they started up.  They climbed slowly but steadily, Spike in the lead carefully testing hand and footholds, Dawn in the middle.  Xander glanced back once or twice at the receding figures below and then he focused on what was ahead.  As they neared the top they had to clamber up makeshift ladders and once or twice Dawn slipped, once accidentally kicking Xander in the chin.

"Ow! Damn -"    Xander rubbed his jaw and Dawn sent a guilty look over her shoulder, but they were nearly there.  

Wait, Spike - let me get up there, and Dawn, too. Don't - don't scare her.   At the back of the catwalk there was room for the three of them and they all stood there for a moment, just staring.  

Buffy stood on the very edge, where Dawn had been tied.  A breeze plucked at her hair and the rags of her funeral dress, and she stood with her arms wrapped around her, staring out and down, unmoving.  It seemed as if she hadn't heard them coming up - hadn't noticed them at all, and Spike and Xander exchanged worried glances.

"Niblet, you - go ahead.  Take a step or two forward but no more, hear me?  Say something to her."

"O-okay," Dawn whispered, and she took two steps out along the catwalk - froze when the whole structure groaned and shivered.

Fuck, this thing is going to collapse - we can't let this take too long

Too true, pet.  Hope Dawn can - reach her.   Dawn looked back over her shoulder and then cleared her throat.

"Buffy?  Hey, Buffy - it's me.  It's Dawn.  Buffy?"   The motionless figure seemed to flinch, then Buffy turned slowly around, and Dawn gasped.  She was filthy, her hair matted into clumps, and there were streaks down her face that made it obvious she'd been crying.  She had something in her arms, clutched tight, and Xander could see bruises and cuts on her arms and legs.  Her dress was a rag of dirty cloth that barely covered her and her eyes were wide and vacant.

"Oh my god - Buffy?  It's me!  It's your sister!  Buffy, please -"   Dawn took another step and then yelped when the whole tower shimmied, twisting under their feet.  Buffy didn't seem to notice.  Her eyes focused on Dawn and her mouth opened, but it was a moment before any sound came out, and when it did it was a raw, rusty noise from a throat that seemed scarcely to work.

"D-dawn."

"Yes!  It's Dawn!  Do you - do you remember, Buffy?  I'm your sister.  You saved my life!"   Joy in the link, and Xander heard Spike cursing softly beside him.

What, love?

If it's not her - if she's not right - Dawn's heart is gonna be torn to bits.  And I'm gonna kill Red.

Spike, please -

I will, Xan.  I'm sorry.  But I will.  Spike turned his head to look at Xander, his eyes gleaming gold in the hazy, reflected light of the city and Xander shuddered.

Please, just...just don't lose it, Spike.   I don't - I don't know what I'd do.  Willow is -

Is hurting you - hurting Oz and the Bit - hurting my family.  She's selfish, and she's arrogant, and she had no BLOODY right to decide this.   Spike was growling now and Dawn glanced back at him, frowning.

"Stop it, Spike!  You'll scare her!  Buffy - please, will you come over here?  This tower isn't - isn't safe.  I mean, crazy people built it and it's not gonna last much longer."  Buffy blinked and looked around her - looked out over the edge, seeming to drift away.  Then she looked back at Dawn.

"Dawn.  My sister?  You're...my sister."

"Yes!  I am, that's right!  And you saved me, you - you killed Glory and you came up here and you - you told me to live, Buffy and I have but - but now you're back and I need you Buffy!  Please, I need you.  Please come here."  Dawn was crying now but Buffy didn't seem to notice.  She took a step - flinched a little as the tower shook again, girders shrieking.

Dawn?  Is - is this hell?" she asked, and her voice was small and bewildered and full of fear - full of pleading.  Dawn gave a coughing sob and stepped forward again, reaching out.

"No!  Oh, god - no, Buffy, this is - this is home.  You're home!  Xander - please, tell her - Spike, tell her..."  Dawn gestured at them and Xander took a step towards Buffy as well.

"Hey Buffy - remember me?  It's Xander.  This - you're not in hell, Buffy.  You're home.  You really are.  But we - we need you to get down from this tower, Buffy.  It's not safe.  Will you just - come over here to us?  Please?"

"C'mon, Slayer," Spike said, and he moved up next to Dawn.  "I've been watching out for the Bit, just like I promised you.  Now you need to come over here and come down with us.  Dawn needs you, Slayer - Buffy.  She needs you."  Buffy stared at them all - looked up and around, and tears welled in her eyes and streaked down her cheeks, unnoticed.

"This is home.  Home?   I remember...everything...so clearly but then it was - dark, and...  It hurt."  Buffy held one hand out and they all flinched a little from it; from the scrapes and cuts across her knuckles and the torn, broken fingernails.  Buffy folded her arm back around her ribs and Xander finally saw what she was holding and he had to clench his fists tight, digging his fingernails into his palms to stop himself from crying - from falling to his knees and just sobbing.

Love, what -

Mr. Gordo.  She's - holding Mr. Gordo.  God, oh FUCK, Spike, we've got to get her down, now!

"Buffy, I know that - that you're confused right now but - please, you have to trust me!  You're home, and we - we just want to get down from here, okay?  Tara and Oz and - and Giles and Willow are all waiting for you, down on the ground.  We all missed you so much, Buffy.  Please..."  The tower shifted again and Dawn stumbled forward - fell to one knee.  Buffy watched her fall and something crossed her face, some emotion, and she took one and then another step forward.

"You - Dawn?  You're Dawn, I remember...  My sister...Dawn!  Dawn -"   Buffy staggered forward and dropped down beside Dawn - reached out towards Dawn's face but didn't quite touch.

"Dawn, oh - I remember, I - oh god -"   Buffy blinked at the tears that continued to well from her eyes - looked up at Xander and then Spike.

"You're here - you're...  Xander?  Xander - help me, please - h-help me."  Buffy stretcher her hand out to Xander and he hurried forward to take it - to lift her to her feet.  Dawn was on her other side, holding Buffy's arm, crying hard, now but smiling as well.  They got her up and started towards the ladder and Buffy stopped short, staring up at Spike.

"You kept your promise.  Spike - you kept it."

"Always do, Slayer.  I'm an honorable man."  The ghost of a smile touched Buffy's mouth.

"Honorable vampire.  Th-thank you."  

"My pleasure, Slayer."  The tower structure groaned loudly and jolted sideways and they all flailed for balance.  "Now it's time to go, Slayer, before this whole bloody thing come down around our ears."  

The trip down was terrifying, with bits of the tower falling off as they climbed, the upper portion swaying and bending, raining debris on the ground.  Xander could see that the others had retreated to safety closer to the vehicles and were watching anxiously.  As they got to the ground Spike took one look up and behind them and snatched Dawn off her feet.

Run, pet!  Grab her and run!   Xander didn't hesitate - he grabbed Buffy in an awkward hold and they ran, eyes fixed on Oz and Tara and the others.  Behind them the tower screamed as girders twisted and over-stressed boards and beams gave way.  The tower collapsed in a great cloud of dust and it was blind luck that made it fall east instead of west and miss them completely.

Jesus, that was too close!

You all right?  Is Buffy -

We're good, wolf.  Slayer is...  Slayer may be okay.  They slowed to a walk and Xander let Buffy regain her feet, breathing through his mouth in an effort to avoid the smell of rot that permeated her hair and skin - that flowed off the rag of the dress.  Spike swung Dawn down and she scurried over to Buffy's side, reaching but not quite touching.

"Buffy?  Are you - okay?  I mean - does anything hurt?"  Buffy looked at her and blinked - looked down.

"My hands and my - my feet hurt.  My throat -"   She coughed - blinked again.  Then she stopped walking and stared, and Xander looked up.

"Oh my - god.  Buffy?"  Giles took a step towards her and then stopped, and Buffy's mouth twitched in something like a smile.

"It's - it's me, Giles.  I - I'm not sure...what happened.  Can you tell me what happened?"

"Oh of - of course, Buffy, I - of course I can but first, why don't we go home, all right?  Take you home so you can - get clean and change into something - else."  Buffy looked down at herself and nodded slowly.

"Wait!  I - here, Buff."  Xander trotted over to the van and pulled out the bundle of clothes - took them back to Buffy.  "Here.  Why don't you just climb in the van and -"   Buffy shivered and took a step back, then stopped herself.

"No.  I mean...  No, I - I'll just step - around here, around the s-side.  I don't - I don't need to get inside there."  Xander stared at her for a moment and *coffin* in the link, flicker of stifling airlessness and utter blackness and he swallowed hard.

"Yeah, okay, that's - here, Dawn, why don't you help her and we'll all stay here, okay?"  Xander handed the clothes to Dawn who smiled at Buffy, and they both walked around the side of the van, out of sight.  Xander closed his eyes for a long moment - sighed in relief as Spike's arms came around him, and then Oz's, a moment's blissful immersion in pack family love before they all broke away.

"Is she - how did she - "   Giles was polishing his glasses and Tara was smiling tremulously.  Willow looked shocked, still - wide eyed, and Ethan hadn't stirred from his slumped position in the  car.

"Seems a bit dazed," Spike said, glancing at Xander.  "Seems - she didn't recognize us at first, but then - she got it.  She might be all right."  Giles let out a harsh, sobbing breath and pressed his handkerchief hard to his mouth - turned away from them, struggling to gather his composure.

"Oh, thank god," he whispered, and Willow finally seemed to relax just a little.  She hugged Tara, who was smiling harder now, laughing even.

"Oh, she's back and she's - she's fine, it's gonna be fine!"  Willow sang, and Spike pulled out a cigarette and lit it - blew the smoke towards the witch.

"Don't get too happy, witch.  She's not gonna be the same person.  Not tonight, not tomorrow.  Don't expect that she'll just - snap right back."

"Stop being so negative, Spike!  She's normal!  She is," Willow insisted, looking around at them.  "She just needs to get cleaned up and - and have something to eat - sleep for a night and - and she'll be just fine!"

"She's been dead, Willow, and who knows where.  A meal and a night's sleep won't...fix it."  Oz's voice was quiet but Willow flinched as if he'd shouted.

"Oz!  Why are you - she's fine, I'm sure she is!"  Oz started to reply but Giles turned around just then, his 'Watcher' face back on, and cleared his throat.

"I'll thank you not to have an argument right now.  The Hellions are still in Sunnydale, and we need to get Buffy home - or back to - to your house, Xander - safely.  We all need to pay attention and not - not bicker about this until we've dealt with the problem at hand."

"Watcher's right," Spike said, and inhaled the last half-inch of his smoke - flicked the butt away.  "Let's get going before the Hellions notice us.  We've got to figure out how to get them out of Sunnydale."

"Is there - is there a problem?"  Buffy and Dawn stepped back around the van, and they all turned to look at her.

"Nothing to worry about, Slayer.  Let's get you and the Bit home, eh?"  Buffy looked over at Spike and frowned a little, but then she nodded and moved towards the vehicles.  Willow stepped in front of her - held her hand out.

"Buffy?  Are you - okay?  Do you - do you remember anything?"  Buffy looked at her for a long moment.

"Willow.  How did - who brought me - back?"  Willow's face broke into a huge smile, and she did a tiny bounce.

"I did, Buffy!  I couldn't leave you there, in hell, I just - couldn't bear it!  I - I found the spell and - here you are!"  Buffy just stared at her and Willow licked her lips nervously - saw Mr. Gordo.  "Oh!  Mr. Gordo!  He's all - Buffy, will you let me - I can fix him up if you'll let me.  Please?"

"Witch, enough magic -" Spike growled, and Giles looked pained.

"Perhaps, Willow, you should -"

"Guys!  I can do this, it's really simple.  Buffy, here -"   Willow held out her hands and Buffy hesitated for a long moment, then gently turned Mr. Gordo over to Willow.

"Okay - first he needs to be cleaned up...Corruptio Expungere," Willow murmured, and the dirt and smears of rotting fluid vanished.  Mr. Gordo was pink and fluffy again, although sadly torn.  "And now, a quick fix on his seams...Suere."  The split seams mended themselves, and Willow smiled triumphantly, handing Mr. Gordo back.  Buffy took him gingerly, looking him over, than hugged him close.

"Okay - I...really want to go...  Giles, can I - can you put the - the top down?  I don't think - I don't want to be...closed in."  

"Of course, Buffy," Giles said, and went hastily around his car and slid in - started it and pushed the button to fold the top away.   Buffy watched it, seeming to lose herself in the low hum and slow, mechanical movement, and she started a little when Tara touched her arm.

"I'm glad you're back, Buffy," Tara said, and Buffy looked at her and nodded.

"Yeah.  Tara.  It's - good to see you."  The top folded away, and Buffy and Dawn climbed into the back of Giles' car.  Buffy gave the sleeping Ethan a puzzled glance and then settled into the seat, looking up at the stars.

"Have to go to our house first, Buffy.  There's - something we need to take care of, okay?"  Xander leaned on the side of the car, and Buffy's gaze slowly tracked to him.

"Sure, Xander, that's fine."  Xander nodded and stepped away, and Giles began to drive slowly off the site.  The rest of them climbed into the van and Oz followed the Watcher.  Xander tugged Spike up close to him, wrapping him in his arms and putting his face down into Spike's neck, closing his eyes.

Love, what is it?  Xan, love -

Please don't - please leave Willow alone, okay Spike?  Buffy's okay, and Willow's - she'll understand, okay?  We'll - talk about it and she'll understand.  Please don’t -  Spike's arms hugged him back, crushingly tight, and Xander felt Spike's mouth on his neck - on his cheek and hair.

I won't, love, I won't.  Promise.  I'm gonna be mad at her for a while, love.  But I won't - touch her.  Promise.  Love you.

Love you too, Spike.  Always.

Always, love.   There was satisfaction in the link from Oz - gratitude and love, and they drove through Sunnydale in silence, wondering what lay ahead.

6 Trouble

Driving back through Sunnydale they were all silent; Willow was huddled in the back of the van with Tara and Spike was cross-legged on the floor between the two front seats, his right hand in Xander's and his left on Oz's thigh.  Buffy was in the link - images and emotion - and Xander turned to Spike after a moment, a frown on his face.

"Remember when Drusilla came to visit?  And she said -"   Angel falling like a star from heaven...don't be sorry for that golden angel...

Slayer, you think?

"I don't - what if she was talking about Buffy?  Do you think - what do you think it means?"  Xander was fitting his hand palm to palm with Spike's - was tracing lightly over the skin of the vampire's knuckles and the back of his hand and Spike leaned his head into Xander's hip.

"She might have been.  Might have been talkin' about something that already happened, too, or hasn't happened yet or that never will happen.  Dru's got the Sight but it's not - 20/20, Xander."

"It sounds like - if it were Buffy -"   Happier being dead, Oz said, and the three of them exchanged glances.

"You couldn't be...  I mean, being dead is..."

"Not so bad, love," Spike said softly, and Xander smiled down at him, squeezing his hand.

"Not quite the same.  Willow thinks she was in - hell.  Do you think - she remembers?  Angel remembered."  Soft snort of derision from Spike at that, and Xander picked a little at the nail-polish on Spike's thumb.

"Here now, pet, you're gonna ruin my manicure.  I dunno 'bout Angel, but wherever the Slayer was, she'll tell us about it when she's good and ready."

Think she ever will be?   Oz asked, and the vacant look - the lost air - came through the link, making them fall silent.

"She was in hell.  She'll be better now," Willow said softly from the back of the van, and Spike turned his head to look at her, his eyes golden in the gloom.

"I wouldn't be so certain, witch.  You've no idea where she's been.  And you'd no business doing what you did." Willow's eyes were hard - fierce - and Xander felt a cold chill down his back.

She's so certain...  HOW is she so certain when she couldn't even know -

"What was I supposed to do, Spike?  Leave her there?  Leave her dead?  None of you even seem to - to care that she died like that - that she died at all!"

"Willow, you know that's not true!"

"Isn't it, Xander?"  Willow crawled forward on her knees a few feet, evading Tara's reach for her arm.  "She died and we b-buried her and then it was like - like nothing ever happened!  You took over patrolling and - and took over Dawn -"

"Don't you drag the Bit into this, Red.  She's nothing to do with this," Spike said, twisting around to face Willow.   Anger was surging in the link - anger and sorrow and fear, and Xander battered at it with calm, calm, knowing that the subsonic hum of power that was Willow was teasing out the worst in all three of them.

"Willow - why?   I just want to know why you didn't trust us.  Why you had to do this - in secret."  Willow's gaze switched from Spike to Xander and her face softened a little - took on a pleading look that Xander knew intimately.

"Xander, I didn't want to but...  For a long time I didn't even think I could do it, and I didn't want to upset anybody - I didn't want to upset Dawn.  I thought it would be better if I just did the research and - and got everything together first -"

"But then you should have told us, Willow," Xander said softly, and Willow bit her lip - looked away.

"I wanted to.  I - I just -"

"You didn't want to tell anyone, Red," Spike said suddenly, cutting her off and leaning towards her - making her flinch back.  "You knew if you told the Watcher or your girl there or Xander or even the Bit they'd tell you no.  They'd tell you to stop and consider and you...didn't want to do that."

"That's not true, Spike -"

"Course it is."  Spike leaned back up - pulled out a cigarette and lit it and regarded Willow through the smoke.  There was something like disgust coming from him in the link, and Xander put his hand out, tentatively - touched Spike's shoulder.  

Oh, Spike...please don't...

"You wanted to show off your power and you didn't give a bloody damn for the consequences.  And there are always consequences, witch.  Every bit of magic you do has a consequence and this kind..."  Spike took a long drag and blew the smoke straight at her, his eyes gleaming gold and his lips curled back in a snarl.  "This kind could hurt all of us."  Willow's magic - or the presence of it - flared sharply, and a sourceless wind sprang up, fanning her hair.  Behind her Tara was wide-eyed, shaking her head.

"That's not true, Spike, I would never hurt Xander or Oz or - or Tara!  You don't know what you're talking about!"  

Spike, stop!  We can't fight about this now -

"Gonna use that magic on me, Red?  Gonna hurt me?"

"You deserve it.  You're killing people!"  Willow's face was white as paper and she twitched when Tara's hand came down on her shoulder - twitched and slid out from under it.

Protect protect, not pack! from the wolf, avoid and attack in the same breath.

"Forgetting something, witch.  Forgetting that my hurt is Xander's hurt.  Gonna hurt him, too?"  Willow stared at Spike, wide-eyed, and then her gaze went to Xander and he felt his heart sink.  Because for a moment there was calculation there.  As if she was weighing the hurt she could cause, and finding the...consequences...acceptable.

"Willow!" Tara cried, her eyes shimmering with tears, and Willow started to turn, to say something, and Oz suddenly slammed on the brakes.  They all rocked with it, Willow falling on her side and Xander putting out his hand to keep himself from going headlong into the dash.  Ahead about two car-lengths was Giles' car, also stopped.  About a block further on Xander could see fire, moving figures, and -

There's the 'bot!  Fuck - Buffy!   Buffy was climbing out of Giles' car.

What in hell is she doing?    Spike sprinted up the street after Buffy, Xander and Oz beside him.  Tara was behind the wheel of the van, ready to drive away if things got ugly.  Up ahead he could see the Hellions and the 'bot.  They seemed to have chained the 'bot's arms and legs to various bikes and were even now preparing to quarter the ragged figure.  Half the 'bots hair was missing and her clothing was torn and dirty.  Wires were exposed along her abdomen and chest, and one arm was askew, as if it had been dislocated.

"Buffy!  Stop!" Xander yelled, and Buffy looked over her shoulder at him, her mouth a little open, her eyes wild.

"That's me!  I have to...   Help me stop them, Xander!  Help me -"   Buffy turned back to the Hellions, running faster now, and Spike cursed.

Bloody stupid notion.  Got to get the Bit out of here...

Get the Hellions out of here - let them know the Slayer is back,   Oz, practical as always and Spike sent him a flashing grin.

Good idea, wolf!   "Oi!  Slayer!" Spike shouted, and the Hellions jerked in surprise, looking wildly around.  They saw Buffy and one stepped up, sneering.

"Take the ringer out, boys!  Then we'll take out the other one and the Hellmouth'll belong to us!"

Idiot Xander thought, and he was grinning now - like Spike was, like Oz and Spike saw the hyena come out in the blink of an eye - saw the glow come up in Xander's eyes and he laughed aloud.  Oz was shifting, half-way to the wolf and he let out a yipping howl of excitement.  Too much tension - too much emotion - and this would make a fine release.  Spike let out the demon and roared, and the Hellions holding the chains to the 'bot kicked their bikes into gear, going hard in four different directions.  The 'bot flew apart with a pop of bluish lighting and Buffy screamed.

"No!"  Then she flung herself forward, straight into the leader and he went down under her headlong assault.  Spike dove in happily, snapping necks and ripping out throats - breaking a leg here or a skull there.  The demons seemed disconcerted by a second Slayer - by a Slayer with demonic cohorts and they couldn't get themselves organized fast enough to make a decent defense.  The leader was down, writhing, and Buffy was spinning and kicking, her matted hair flying out around her but Spike could sense the weakness in her.  Could smell it.  She wasn't up to this, not yet.

Slayer needs help.  We need to leave some alive so they can spread the word, he thought, and Xander and Oz moved immediately to her side.  Spike pounced on the leader and dragged him upright - threw him into the sadly diminished number of his fellow Hellions.  Buffy backed off, standing in front of Xander and Oz and panting a little, wobbly.

"Slayer's here, boys - and she's not giving this town up.  Best go now, before she has your heads on a pike at the city limits."

"Who the fuck are you, vampire?   Since when does the Slayer have a vamp or any other demon fighting for her?"

"Since William the Bloody became Master here, that's when." Xander was grinning - shaking blood off his hands and the Hellion stared at him - squinted suddenly at Spike and then at Oz.

"Werewolf, vampire...and whatever the fuck you are...  Fuck!"

"I heard'a them," another demon muttered, and the leader glared at him - looked back at Buffy.

"Slayer -" he hissed.   Buffy bent down, snatching something off the street and throwing, one smooth motion.  The knife she had scooped up thudded solidly in to the leader's head, between his eyes and he fell backwards in slow motion and lay, twitching, on the asphalt.

"Get the hell out of my town," Buffy rasped, and the remaining Hellions scrambled for their bikes.  In minutes they were gone, the roar of their bikes diminishing rapidly and Oz couldn't help sending a ringing howl after them.  Buffy looked over at him - watched as he shifted back to his human self and a small smile turned up the corners of her mouth.

"You guys - you really kick ass," she whispered, her voice mostly gone, and they stared at her.  

Never thought I'd see the day - Spike thought, and then he was laughing, and Xander and Oz were, too.

"God, Buffy - are you okay?  We really need to get home," Xander said, going forward and slipping his arm around the Slayer's shoulders.

"I - guess I am.  I'm so tired...  Were you tired, Spike?"

"Tired when, pet?" Spike asked, fishing out his flask.  

"When you - after you...dug your way out."  Spike stopped, the flask half-way to his mouth, and looked at her.  

Oh Buffy, from Xander, soft and so sad.

Be all right, love.

"Yeah, Slayer, I was tired.  And hungry."  He flashed a fangy grin at her and took a long pull of the whisky.  After a moments hesitation he held it out to her.  Buffy tipped her head to one side, that little smile still there, just curling her mouth up.  She reached out with her poor, torn hand and took the flask - took a drink.

"Blaaaah!  Oh, god - that's awful!" she squeaked.  Spike just grinned, taking the flask back.

"You're right about that, Buff.  That stuff could strip paint."  Xander hugged her a little closer and there was a little thread of happiness in the link - a blossom of hope.

"Oi!  Finest kind, this.  You just don't have any appreciation."  Spike put the flask away and snaked an arm around Xander's waist, pulling him close.  He could feel Buffy's heat, just there on the other side, and then Oz slipped up, putting his arm around Buffy too, his hand just brushing Spike's where it rested on Xander's ribs.

"I'm with Xander.  I say you can never go wrong with fruit."

"Fruit in drinks is for girls and poufters," Spike declared, and Xander giggled.

"Which am I, then?" he said, and Buffy actually laughed.

"Is everything all right?!"  It was Giles, halfway down the block to them, looking at the sprawled corpses of demons.

"It's fine, Giles!  We're coming!"  Xander tugged a little, slipping his hand into Spike's back pocket and the four of them walked down the street, grinning inanely.

And we're a fine lot of fools, aren't we.  This night is madder than that one, Spike thought, seeing the tower and the portal again, and Xander bumped his hip a little, smiling over at him.

"This is how it's supposed to be, Spike.  The white hats win, and walk away smiling."

"Yeah," Buffy said, looking at Spike too, and Oz made that wolfish little whuff down in his chest, agreement and laughter in one.

"You lot - almost make me wanna trade in my Evil Undead membership card," Spike said, and that made Buffy giggle all the way back to Giles' car.

As they went up the walk to the house Buffy seemed confused, and she finally turned to Xander, frowning.

"Xander, I don't - this isn't the house you lived in before, is it?"

"Oh!  That's right, you -   No, this is a different house, Buffy.  After - you died, we moved here.  We needed someplace that had more bedrooms, so Dawn could have her own room."  Xander stepped around her and unlocked the front door and held it open for everyone to file in.  Giles went first, supporting a dazed Ethan, then Tara and Willow, both looking troubled.  Oz and Dawn came next, and then Spike, who winked at Xander and took a quick little breath as he breached the wards.

Hate those bloody things.

"Does Dawn live here?" Buffy asked, completely confused, and Xander ushered her in, smiling.

"No, she just stays here a lot.  She rides the bus over after school and Spike helps her do her homework."  A snort of amusement from Spike, and a giggle from Dawn.  "Well, okay, that would be a lie.  He pretends to help her do her homework.  Mostly he teaches her how to play poker.  Or if Oz is home he's been showing her how to make stir-fry and stuff."  Buffy smiled briefly at that.  Her own kitchen skills were hit or miss, Xander remembered.  "Then when I get home we usually have dinner and head over to the Magic Box so Dawn can go home with Tara or Willow - they moved into your house.   Or we stay here and Dawn sleeps over."  Buffy looked lost again - a little freaked out - and Xander put his arm around her shoulders, hugging her lightly.

"None of us wanted her to be alone, Buffy.  And we love her.  She's...part of our family too, you know?  She even stayed with Giles once or twice - got some Beginners Latin in."  Buffy just stared at him, then looked around the small living room, her eyes suspiciously bright.  Oz was moving from place to place, lighting the candles they still preferred over electric bulbs.  Ethan and Giles were at the kitchen table and Spike was assembling tea-things, grumbling about being the Watcher's batman.  Tara and Willow were on the couch, curled together, and Dawn was hovering, watching her sister.

Batman? Xander asked, brief image of Spike in tights and something crashed to the counter top in the kitchen.

Bloody hell!  NO.  Batman - bloody servant.  'Do be so kind as to make some tea, Spike, I'm not familiar with your kitchen'...   Xander bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing.

"Buffy?   Do you - do you wanna come have some tea or - or maybe hot chocolate?  Spike makes really good hot chocolate."   Dawn looked encouragingly at her sister, who hesitated.

"Joyce's recipe," Spike said, grinning at Dawn, and Dawn smiled back - moved a few steps closer to Buffy.

"It's the only thing he makes besides tea," Dawn whispered, "so say yes."

"Heard that, Bit," Spike mumbled, but he got a pot out of the cupboard and poured in some milk.

"Umm.  Sh-sure.  Hot chocolate would be - Anya!"

"Huh? Hot chocolate would be Anya?"  Xander stared at her, confused himself, now.

"Where's Anya?  She's not here.  Did she - Xander, did she make it?"

"What?  Oh!  Yeah, she made it, she was fine.  A little cut up.  She's with her boyfriend, Drake."

"He of the endless orgasms," Willow muttered and Tara giggled into her shoulder.

"Oh, that's - that's good."  Buffy seemed to waver for a moment and Xander took her arm.

"C'mon and sit down, Buff.  Have some hot chocolate and then you can get a bath, huh?  And Dawn has some clothes here; you can change into something clean."  Buffy looked down at her smudged and bloody clothes - pushed a lock of filthy hair out of her face and grimaced.

"Yeah.  That's - that's a good idea."  They went into the kitchen and settled into chairs, Buffy setting Mr. Gordo next to the three large candles-in-jars that were in the middle of the table..  Dawn fetched the extra two chairs from the back porch and Oz finished lighting candles and jumped up to sit on the kitchen counter next to the stove.  Spike leaned next to him and the low, contented hum of pack made Xander sigh in relief as he settled into the chair next to Giles, letting go of tensions he hadn't realized were there.

Safe at home.  God.  Everything about tonight was - fuckin' crazy - but I'm so glad to be here.  Glad everybody is here.

Love you, pet.  

Love you... Xander thought, including Oz, and the werewolf smiled over at him - helped himself to a square of dark chocolate from the package Spike had opened.  Spike whacked the back of his hand but also leaned hard into his side, and Xander sighed again, just happy.

"Giles?  Is that - Ethan Rayne?"  Buffy was staring at the thin Englishman with equal parts confusion and horror on her face and Giles looked up at her and leaned his elbows on the table.

"Yes, it is Buffy.  And really, it's a very long story -"

"Just sitting here, waiting on my hot chocolate," Buffy said, raising her eyebrows at him, and Giles smiled at her.

"Yes, you are, aren't you?  Well, to be - succinct, when I...  When I sent Ethan off with the Initiative, they...moved him to a new facility, down in Brazil.  And..."

"And they tried to discover what makes a Chaos Mage tick," Ethan said, his head jerking up on his neck as if a switch had suddenly been thrown.  His dark, sunken eyes roved over Buffy and he made a curious little gesture with his hand.   Spike, Xander noticed, flinched from it a little as did Tara, who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

What, love?

'Nother bloody ward.  Mage is superstitious, what a surprise.  Against - the unhappy dead.

But she's NOT dead -

Yeah, well.  He's not takin' any chances, is he?   Xander frowned, not really liking that.  Buffy meanwhile was staring at Ethan - really looking at him - and there was dawning comprehension on her face.

"Are you saying - they hurt you?  But, you're human!"  

"So were the witches the Church burned.  Humanity is never a 'Get out of jail free' card," Ethan said, smirking just a little.  His lean face was so gaunt it hurt to look at, and Xander wondered what else was wrong, besides exhaustion and starvation.  He seemed -

His magics wonky.  I think - they messed up his connections, so to speak.

How do you know that, Spike?

The way he feels,   Spike thought, and Xander thought of the wrongness that seeped from the man, and nodded to himself.  Maybe it hurt, to be like that.

"He was tortured, Buffy," Giles said softly.    "Experimented on.  Much like your Riley."  Buffy flinched a little at that, and Giles pursed his lips but plowed on.  "When the facility in Brazil was destroyed, Ethan managed to make his way here.  He's only been here a short time, and he's still very ill.  He's staying with me."  Giles looked slightly defiant, slightly sad, and Buffy just stared at him for a moment.  Spike had lit a cigarette and was stirring the chocolate, a subdued sort of laughter in the link.   Laughter mostly at the look on Buffy's face..

Stop that.  He DID try to kill us all.

Oh, that's his job though, innit?  Just like mine   Flash of fangs over his shoulder and Xander just grinned at him.

"What happened down in Brazil?  Destroyed how?"  Buffy asked, and Giles looked at Xander - glanced at Spike and took off his glasses, feeling in a pocket for his handkerchief.

"Well, there were -"

"It was your vampire, there.  He was instrumental in bringing all the little tin soldiers toppling down."  Ethan shot a look of wolfish glee at Spike, who raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?  Okay - first?  He's not my vampire -"

"Got that bloody right," Spike grumbled, and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"So not complaining.  And second?   We're sliding into bizzaro-land, here.  How did Spike get down to Brazil and take out the Initiative."

"Called in a favor or two, Slayer.  T'wasn't hard."

Can we please not brag about this?

Was a good job, pet - nothing to be ashamed of.

Don't play the fool, from Oz, who was staring at Dawn.  The younger girl looked rather shocked and the look she turned on Spike was confused and a little afraid.

"Spike, did you really -"

"I did really, Bit.  And I'd do it again.  Those wankers were puttin' everybody in danger, messin' with things they didn't know how to handle.  Just ask the Watcher there, or your sis.  They were heading for something nasty."   Spike turned his back on the group abruptly, stirring the mixture in the pot, and Oz reached out and rubbed his hand slowly up Spike's arm and shoulder to his neck - kneaded the tense muscles there.

Fuckin' mage should learn to keep his mouth shut.

Dawn understands, Oz thought, and Spike flicked a glance at him.

Don't want her to have to, he thought back, and Xander understood that, but...

Can't keep her in the dark forever.  Better she knows things - she'll be safer in the long run.

They all agreed on that, but none of them wanted to be the one to introduce Dawn to the grimmer realities of life on the Hellmouth.  Well, the grimmer realities she hadn't been forced to live through, that is.

"He's right, you know," Ethan said, sitting up a little straighter and running his hand back through his hair, vain attempt to make it lie down.   "They were mixing magic and science - or trying to.  They were...upsetting the balance.  We're all very lucky the bad thing that happened happened to them, and not...  Well, I can't say us since I was there.  Let's just say the world is a bit better off without them."  Ethan was serious now, looking straight at Buffy and not smiling at all, and Buffy slowly nodded.

"Giles - said something about that, the last time you were in Sunnydale.  He said you'd warned him...  Well I'm - I'm glad you got out."

"No you're not," Ethan said softly, and his hand reached out and touched Giles' hand, and their fingers twined together.  "But I am."  Buffy looked at their hands with narrowed eyes and then looked around.  Tara had come over and sat down in the last free chair and Willow leaned behind her, toying with Tara's long blonde hair and not looking at anyone.

"Okay.  Has everyone become gay since I died?  What's up with that?"  Giles just gaped at her, blushing, and Ethan laughed outright, leaning back in his chair and tugging Giles' hand down onto his thigh.  Spike appeared over her shoulder, fists sprouting mugs of hot chocolate.

"Only common sense, Slayer.  Who'd know better about what to do with you than another bird?"

"Spike!  Gross.   Can't you say 'woman' or maybe just 'girl'?  Now I'm gonna have visions of chickens!"  Dawn looked outraged and Buffy just stared at her - started making these strange sort of snorting noises.  While everyone looked on in confusion she finally slumped down over the table and laughed.  It was a little hysterical but it was a good sound, and Spike and Oz distributed cups and mugs until everyone had something hot to drink.  Ethan, Giles and Spike all took slugs of whiskey in their tea.  Buffy sat up finally, wiping her eyes, and she sipped her chocolate between tremors of silent laughter.

"I have - a lot of questions and..."  Buffy looked around at all of them, her fingers creeping out to touch Mr. Gordo.  "I'm not...really sure I'm awake, or...something.  I just want to get clean and go to sleep and talk about all this -" she waved her hand around her, encompassing them all.  "Talk about this in the morning.  Okay?"

"Of course," Giles murmured, and he suddenly reached across the table and clasped her hand in his, squeezing gently.  "I'm so very - very glad you're back, Buffy," he said softly, and Buffy's calm mask cracked for a moment, showing raw emotion that she instantly shut down.

"I'm s-sorry, Giles, I -"

"No, don't finish that.  You've no apologies to make."  Giles smiled gently at her and she nodded hesitantly, wiping her hand over her eyes.  Oz had leaned down to murmur something in Dawn's ear and she nodded, standing up.

"C'mon Buffy, I'll show you the bathroom and my room - it's so cool, they let me paint it whatever color I wanted!"  Buffy sniffed and then smiled at her sister, standing also and tucking Mr. Gordo under her arm.

"Oh, boy.  Why do I think I'm gonna be sleeping in a room with orange walls and green carpet?"

"Buffy!  I was five when I wanted that!  I've got much better taste now.  And no carpet, but the rug is purple..."  Dawn led her away upstairs and a sort of tension seemed to slip out of all of them and Giles sighed and slumped back into his chair, glancing at his watch.

"Good Lord, it's nearly three!  We really must -"   The rest of his words were lost in a jaw-cracking yawn.

Shouldn't split up just yet, Spike thought, and Xander glanced at him and nodded.

"Giles, you and Ethan should stay here tonight.  We don't think it's a good idea to split up until daylight."

"Oh, no, we really -"

"Ripper," Ethan said, putting his hand on Giles' shoulder.  "Listen to them.   They're right.  Things are still...unsettled."  Ethan flicked his fingers out, and the wards shivered, prickle of static across all of their nerves.  There was pressure, from the outside still - the Hellmouth uneasy as if the very fabric of it had been strained - frayed.

Has, in a way.  Who knows what Red pulled loose when she yanked the Slayer back home?  We'll be patching things for months.   Giles had turned to look at Ethan and they stared at each other silently for a moment, and then Giles nodded.

"All right, then.   We'll - we can camp down here -"

"No, Giles.  You can sleep up in our room.  We still have the fold-out couch, me and Spike and Oz can all fit in it.  Tara and Willow can have Oz's room," Xander said, confirmation and approval flickering in the link, and Giles looked faintly surprised and then grateful.

"Ah, well...  Thank you, then.  That would be - just fine."

"I'll get some clean sheets," Xander mused, standing up and gathering cups and Oz joined him.  Spike was leaning against the counter, smoking, and Tara got up as well, handing her cup to Oz with a small smile.

"Thanks, guys.  I th-think I could sleep for a week."  She turned to Willow and reached for her hand, then frowned.  "What is it, sweetie?"  Willow looked up from picking at the hem of her shirt, frowning a little.

"Oh, it's just...  Buffy didn't seem very happy.  To be back, I mean.  To be out of hell."

"She's just tired, sweetie, she'll - she'll be better t-tomorrow."

"Or she won't," Spike said, and Willow frowned at him.

"It's not like I expect you to care, but she's back!  I mean, there should be a little celebration or something, not all this - doom and gloom!"  

"You mean a little celebration of you?" Spike sneered, and Willow's eyes went wide and then narrow.

Fuck, thought we could get to sleep without this -

Rubs me the wrong way, love, sorry, Spike thought, but he wasn't sorry and Xander knew it.  Oz just shrugged, pack and tired, and Xander felt the same.

"Well, okay, yeah!  I mean, that was some pretty advanced magic and - and I pulled it off!  Without any help!  I kinda think maybe somebody should say 'congratulations'!"

"That is not the word I would choose," Giles said, his eyes glinting with anger.  He pushed to his feet abruptly and leaned on the table, staring at Willow.  "The power you used is primal, Willow - power that very few have the ability - or the sheer bloody audacity to meddle with!  Don't you see, you stupid girl, you're lucky to be alive!"  Giles shouted the last and Willow gasped in surprise - recoiled from him.  And then she leaned forward as well, anger vibrating through her.

"But I did it, Giles!  I did what nobody else could!  I am powerful, and maybe - maybe you don't want to mess with me!"

"Willow," Tara said, and there was - something - in the blonde witch's voice - a whip-crack of power that made them all flinch.  Ethan raised his head like a dog scenting prey, grinning.

"Root and vine, little witchling - even you don't want to cross that line."

"What -"

"Mr. R-rayne, don't," Tara said.  She reached out and took Willow's hand.  "We're going upstairs.  Ju-Giles, I'm sorry.  We'll t-talk in the morning, okay?"

"Yes, I think that would be best," Giles said shortly, then he sighed and took his glasses off - rubbed his forehead and stood there a moment, head down.

"Willow - I didn't mean to shout at you.  But you cannot - cannot dismiss this lightly.  There will be consequences."

"We'll deal with them, Giles.  Buffy's back now and - and everything'll be fine.  You'll see."  Giles just shook his head, looking too tired to even speak anymore, and Willow and Tara said their goodnights, going away upstairs.  Oz followed, calling softly up after them that he'd be up in a minute with clean sheets.

"Yeah, clean sheets all around.  And no alarm clocks!" Xander said, yawning hard.

"Yes, you're right.  I - I appreciate - everything you've done tonight, Xander - the three of you.  I -"

"Sure, Giles.   No problem.  And - Willow - she...  She didn't mean that.  You know that, right?"  Xander still felt the tremor of barely-contained magics vibrating through the room - knew Spike and Oz did, as well.  It made him want to bristle up and snarl, but he shoved the hyena away, determined to smooth things over.

"She is, for all her power, just an amateur, Xander. And an arrogant one at that.  I - my teaching -"

"You can't stop that sort of thing Rupert - you of all people should know that."  Ethan pushed himself to his feet and tentatively wound his arm around Giles' waist.  After a moment Giles returned the gesture and Ethan sighed softly, leaning into him.  "She'll go on her merry way and she'll learn, eventually.  Or die.  You can only put the knowledge in front of her - you can't make her mind it."

"She keeps on not minding it and she'll know what it's like to piss off a Master.  She does anything that threatens my family again and I won't hesitate," Spike said, and his calm, quiet voice held absolute conviction.   There was a moment of silence and then Giles nodded.

"If she continues like she is, she may not survive long enough for you to extract your vengeance, Spike."  Giles shook his head - turned and briefly rested his mouth on Ethan's temple - the first real sign of true affection he'd shown in front of them, and somehow that made Xander feel like Giles finally, truly trusted them all.

"Go to bed, Giles.  We'll fix this tomorrow.  Or, get started on fixing it.  C'mon, I'll get your bed made up."  Giles nodded and they went away upstairs, Oz getting clean sheets for Tara and Willow and sorting out a t-shirt and boxers to sleep in.  Xander did the same, and he paused outside of Dawn's door, listening.  But there was nothing except maybe a faint snore, and he smiled to himself and went downstairs again.   Spike had piled all the cups in a haphazard fashion in the sink and pulled the sofa-bed out, and was sitting moodily on the foot of it, his flask in his hand.  He tipped it up, emptying it, and looked up when Xander and Oz came in.

"Need to go out, love."  Hungry, angry.

Yeah...  Xander slumped down next to him and nuzzled into his shoulder - turned his face up for a kiss and was rewarded with a slow, deep exploration of his mouth, tasting whiskey and smoke and Spike, love you love you curling through the link like a warm breeze.

Be careful, love.

Always.   Spike stood up, picking up his duster and shrugging it on, then standing for a minute, his hand cupping Xander's cheek.

"You all right?" Xander asked softly, and Spike nodded.

"Course I am, love.  Just - anxious, is all.  Too much power flyin' about tonight.  Makes me -" Spike shivered, and Xander nodded.

"Yeah.  Makes me wanna fight something," Oz said softly, and Spike grinned - reached over and pulled Oz into a hug, ruffling his hair up and kissing the werewolf on the temple.

"Wanna come run with me, wolf?"  Oz hugged him back - looked towards the door with a considering expression, biting his lip.  And then he sighed and shook his head, pulling away and flopping down next to Xander.

"Can't.  Well, shouldn't.  I've got to work tomorrow and get over to see Derio first thing..."  

"Yeah.  You two sleep, then - I'll be quiet, coming in."

"No you won't," Xander muttered, but he was smiling and Spike grinned back at him - slipped out the door and into the night.  Oz and Xander shuffled under the covers, Xander stretching hard and relaxing with a soft groan, his back sore from the tensions of the day and long-ignored bruises from the fight earlier suddenly perking up and starting to ache.

"Christ.  I'm so tired...  You okay, Oz?"

"Yeah."  Oz turned in the bed, curling up and pressing his back to Xander's side.  "Just - gonna be weird, these next few weeks, don't you think?"