Double Trouble Chapters 11

Chapter 11

The black convertible sped along the freeway. Angel and Buffy were in the front and Cordelia and Wesley were in the back, sound asleep. Buffy's head was feeling better after a couple aspirin and some food. She was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open, but whenever she shut them, they just popped open again.

She hadn't said anything yet to Angel about her and Spike, which she knew was so not a good idea. She needed to let him know before they got to Sunnydale. She just wasn't sure how. And it certainly wasn't because she was ashamed of her relationship with Spike. She loved the younger vampire, but at the same time she still cared for Angel and didn't want to hurt him.

Finally gathering her courage up she said, "Angel, there's something else you need to know before we get to Sunnydale."

"What's that, Buffy?" Angel asked gently. He felt terrible about everything the girl he loved had been put through the last few hours. He'd do whatever was necessary to help her.

"Uh, it's about me. And Spike."

Angel frowned. "Spike? What about him? Oh. Did you dust him?" Angel's voice was gentle, understanding. "I'm not happy to hear that, of course. He was a part of my family after all, but I understand, Buffy. You're the Slayer, he was evil, so..."

"Uh, no, Angel," Buffy interrupted. "I haven't dusted him."

"Then what, Buffy?" Angel asked, more than a little confused.

"Spike and I are...together," Buffy said, looking anxiously at the large, dark-haired vampire.

The car swerved across two lanes of roadway almost plowing into the guardrail on the far side of the highway. Cordelia and Wesley slid across the backseat coming awake with grunts and exclamations.

"What do you mean, 'together'?" Angel asked through gritted teeth, getting the car back under
control. "Tell me you don't mean in a romantic sense. Please tell me that."

Buffy swallowed nervously. Man, this was every bit as hard as she had thought it would be.

"Yes, I mean in a romantic sense. Spike and I love each other, Angel."

"What?" two voices from the backseat screeched. "Buffy, you cannot be serious," Cordelia protested. "Spike? You're in love with Spike? Crazy stalker, tried to kill you a dozen times Spike?"

Buffy twisted around to look at her friend. Nodding her head she said, "We've been together since, well since before Thanksgiving last year."

Looking at Angel, she said, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner to you, Angel, but I wasn't sure exactly what to say."

"Yeah," Cordelia snarked. "Plus you wanted Angel to help you which maybe he wouldn't have done had he known you've been getting all horizontal with Spike."

"That's enough, Cordelia," Angel said coldly. "Who Buffy sleeps with is obviously her own business. We'll just take her to Giles and then head back home. I'm sure Spike is more than man enough to give her any further help she needs. That is if he's not too busy killing and terrorizing the citizens of Sunnydale."

Now Buffy was getting angry. "He doesn't kill or terrorize or feed or any of the other nasty things you're thinking," she snapped. "He's done nothing but help me since he returned to Sunnydale last November."

Angel took his eyes off the road to stare at her. "He's just been back in Sunnydale since November and you were involved with him by Thanksgiving? What took you so long?"

"Angel, road!" Cordelia snapped as the convertible almost drifted into the car in the next lane. Angel returned his attention to his driving, but Buffy could feel his seething anger.

"Angel, please," Buffy said trying to be conciliatory. She knew that he was hurt, and she knew that there was no way he could ever understand. Hell, she and Spike had been together for months now and they still didn't understand. "I didn't tell you to hurt you, please believe that. But I'm not ashamed of my feelings for Spike, everyone knows about us, and I didn't want you to be blindsided by it. I know I should have told you back at your office, and I was a coward not to. Please just try to understand."

Angel was silent for a long time. "I'd like to say that as long as you're happy, I'm happy, Buffy," he said at last, "but I will never be happy for you as long as you're with Spike. He's evil, pure and simple. The biggest favor I could do for you is kill him as soon as I see him."

"Try it, Angel, and you'll be dust before the stake ever gets near him."

Angel looked at her in surprise. He had never heard Buffy speak to him in such a cold, calm voice, not even when he had been Angelus. One glance into her eyes and he realized that she was deadly serious.

"Very well, Buffy. It's your life and the lives of those you love you're putting in jeopardy. When he turns on you, don't say I didn't warn you."

The rest of the trip was made in silence.

***

A loud pounding on his door awakened Giles. Rising from the couch he went to open it aware that Xander and Spike were right behind him. Flinging open the portal, he was surprised to see Angel standing there.

"Angel? What?" Before he could say anything else, Angel stepped aside to reveal Faith standing behind him. "Faith!" he said in astonishment. She started to step into the apartment only to be met by the demon visage of one very brassed off vampire.

"You bitch!" he growled grabbing her roughly. "What've you done to Buffy?"

Angel reacted instinctively, pulling Spike off of Buffy, throwing him against the wall and lifting a stake pulled from his pocket. Before he could even begin to make the downstroke, he found himself being thrown across the living room. Looking up, he saw Buffy standing in front of Spike, a murderous gleam in her eyes. "I warned you, Angel," she ground out.

Spike was staring in astonishment at his grandsire, lying in a tumbled heap in the middle of the living room floor, then turned his attention to the infuriated Slayer standing so protectively in front of him. He took in her stance, the way she held her body, the tilt of her head and said, "Buffy?"

Buffy turned to him, her eyes shining with joy. Spike stepped forward, grabbed her head in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Sweetheart, is that you?" Buffy nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face as her lover gathered her to him in a crushing embrace. "God, baby, what did that bitch do to you?" Spike asked tremulously. Pushing her back again and looking closely at her he said, "Are you all right? Did those bastard Watchers hurt you? I'll kill them, love, I swear I will."

Buffy just laughed and cried and hugged him to her again. Spike knew her! Without her having to say anything to him at all, he knew her.

***

Giles had never had so many people in his house before. Cups of tea and coffee were on every available surface. Xander had made a doughnut run and Angel and Spike were drinking mugs of warmed pig's blood. Angel watched stony-faced as Buffy curled up tightly next to Spike, his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulder. Joyce sat on Buffy's other side, clasping her daughter's hand and the two witches sat on the floor in front of her eagerly listening to Buffy's story.

Giles had wanted to place a call to Quentin Travers to let him know that Faith, or at least Faith's body, was in Sunnydale, but Buffy had been adamant that she didn't want him to know anything about her, or Faith's, whereabouts.

"He was going to have Faith killed, Giles. No trial, no hearing, just an execution. I'm not saying that Faith doesn't deserve punishment for the murders she committed, but she deserves a trial first."

"Not only that, Watcher," Spike interjected, "but what's to stop those wankers from sending their murder squad to Sunnydale to take out Faith while she's still in Buffy's body. I'm sure it doesn't matter one whit to them, just as long as they get their new Slayer."

That argument, more than any other, kept him from the phone.

As Buffy finished her tale, Willow looked to Giles and said, "So we were right. A Draconian Katra spell."

"A Drawhoian Catnip spell?" Buffy asked.

"A Draconian Katra spell," Wesley lectured pedantically. "Katra, taken from the ancient Egyptian word 'Ka', meaning spirit or life force, although perhaps in this case personality is closer. The Ka in Egyptian mythology was believed to be able to enter a double, thereby animating it. This spell exchanged the personalities of you and Faith including all memories and mannerisms, everything that makes up a person's individuality. Quite fascinating really. I'd love to study the two of you together once we've caught up with Faith."

Buffy just looked at him without expression and then said to her Watcher, "So, Giles, how do we undo this? No offense to Faith's body, but I prefer my own."

Spike nuzzled into her neck and said, "So do I, pet."

Giles ignored the vampire's by-play and said to the two witches, "Do you feel rested enough to try the conjuration spell?"

Willow and Tara exchanged glances and nodded their agreement.

"Excellent. Let's get started then."

Chapter 12

The living room was cleared as the two witches began the preparation for their spell. Spike helped them move furniture out of the way and then went over to Giles. "So when were you goin' to tell me about this Katra spell?" he demanded. "I was worried sick about Buffy you know, thinkin' some nasty had taken up residence."

"We weren't sure that was what happened, Spike," the Watcher informed him stiffly. "And the last thing I needed was for you to tear out of here running off to LA. You almost did as is was, remember?"

Buffy looked at Spike and asked, "You were going to come to LA? Why?"

Spike looked uncomfortable for a minute and then said, "We found out that was where those Watcher bastards had taken Faith. I wanted to find her so I could beat some answers out of her."

Buffy looked confused for a moment. "You knew where I, or rather Faith, was being held?" she asked her Watcher hesitantly.

Giles glared at Spike. "No, we did not. Spike was apparently going to look under every rock in Los Angeles in an attempt to track Faith down."

Buffy smiled tenderly at Spike and brushed a kiss across his lips. "You know, honey," she teased, "we've talked about this lack of patience thing."

Spike pulled her close to him and nuzzling at her neck murmured for her ears only, "Oh, I think you've benefited from my patience a time or two, Slayer." Buffy blushed profusely, and Giles turned away not wanting to know what the vampire had just whispered in the Slayer's ear.

***

Angel felt a rumbling emanate from his chest. How could Buffy be involved with Spike? He knew Spike, much better than Buffy ever could. He knew exactly what the vampire was capable of. Hell, he'd been the one to teach him. Did she really think that just because he claimed to love her that he would refrain from the mayhem that was his trademark? Angel had given Buffy up, left town just so she could have a chance at a normal life and what had she done? Fallen into bed with Spike just months after he had left. Angel hadn't given Buffy up just so she could get together with another vampire, especially not Spike. Spike, who reveled in chaos, was unpredictable, impulsive, vicious, and deadly. Spike, the one he had never been able to control.

As he watched Spike and Buffy together, he had to dig deep down into his reserve of self-control. Every kiss, every caress was a stake to his heart.

He remembered the pleasure he had taken when he had fondled Drusilla in front of a paralyzed Spike.

That was what this was all about. Payback for taking Dru from him. Well, Dru had never really been Spike's. He had just been a means to keep Drusilla busy when Angelus didn't feel like playing with her. She had always been Angelus' property. And Buffy belonged to Angel. He may have given her up, left town, but he had known that she would take him back with open arms had it been possible for them to be together without the threat of unleashing Angelus. And now Spike was fondling Buffy in front of him, receiving her caresses, shoving it in his face that he could give Buffy physical pleasure when Angel could not.

Buffy was being a fool. Spike was going to turn on her sooner or later. Pay her back for all the humiliation she had laid at Spike's door. All the times she had defeated him. It was her fault that Spike had ended up in the wheelchair, paralyzed and helpless while Angelus fucked Drusilla right in front of him. Spike's hatred for Buffy would be strong. His need for revenge great. Angel understood this. Angel had lived it. And apparently the boy had learned patience sometime in the last century. He had never known Spike to put off the kill for so long.

Didn't Buffy understand the danger she was in, the danger she was putting her friends and mother in? Didn't she remember what had happened when Angelus had been released? Didn't she realize that without a soul, Spike wasn't really capable of love?

No, Spike was playing some kind of game, luring her into a false sense of security; then when she was most vulnerable, he would strike. Angel knew what Spike was doing. It was just a refinement on one of
Angelus' favorite forms of entertainment.

Spike was evil, a demon, just as Angelus was. And Angel knew very well just how incapable a soulless vampire was of actually feeling love, or kindness, or even friendship. So Spike was acting the lover, the friend. He was pretending that he could be good, do good. For a while, maybe. For a while he would play at being a good boy, until he got bored, until he couldn't wait any longer to strike. And when he did, there would be pain and blood and death.

Spike needed to be destroyed before that happened.

***

Xander watched his best friend and her girlfriend as they started the conjuration spell. From what he gathered from Giles' explanation, they hoped to be able to make another one of the doohickeys that switched Buffy and Faith. And frankly, that couldn't happen soon enough. Seeing Faith cuddled up against Spike, talking like Buffy, acting just like Buffy, was giving him a serious wiggins. Not to mention the whole uncomfortable aspect of having known that body in a, well, biblical sense. And then there was the whole Cordelia/Willow vibe. They had never been good friends, but after the Spring Fling, Cordelia looked daggers at Willow every time she saw her and Willow had gone all guilt-tripy.
And he didn't even want to think about the Angel/Buffy/Spike triangle. Angel looked as if he was going to go all Angelus any second now. Xander seriously didn't want to be around when that happened. No way, no how.

As far as he was concerned, the sooner that Buffy got back in her own body and Faith was removed from the picture, the happier the Xanman would be. Then maybe they could concentrate the Willow's vampire look-alike. He shuddered at the memory of seeing his oldest friend in full vamp face drinking from her victim.

Grabbing another jelly doughnut from the box, he leaned back in his chair and wished that he were home in his miserable basement sleeping the sleep of the blissfully ignorant. Sometimes he really envied the average citizen of Sunnydale.

***

Joyce felt overwhelmed. Since finding out that Buffy was a Vampire Slayer she had learned to accept many things that she had always believed existed only in fiction: demons and vampires, witches and superheroes. And she'd done pretty well, she thought. But now she had to adjust to the fact that her daughter was in a different body, the body of a girl who had committed cold-blooded murder. If they didn't find a way to reverse the spell, there was the possibility that Buffy would end up in prison for Faith's crimes.

Joyce remembered when Buffy had been just a sweet, ordinary little girl. Taking another sip of the tea that Giles had provided her, Joyce found herself almost wishing she were once again ignorant of her daughter's calling. Things had been so much easier then.

***

The two vampires were aware of the coming dawn by the time Willow and Tara were ready to start the conjuration spell. Sitting in the center of a circle made of sand with pure beeswax candles providing the only illumination, the two young women clasped hands and started the incantation. Everyone stayed perfectly still as the spell was cast, and Spike felt as if the hairs on the back of his neck were standing straight up. As the chanting droned on, he had to keep a tight reign on his usual nervous energy. He would do nothing that might impede the girls from getting the device that would transfer Buffy's spirit back into her own body.

Willow and Tara felt as if every nerve in their bodies was electrified. Though not in pain, they were uncomfortable, jumpy and finding it hard to maintain the concentration necessary to cast the spell. When they at last chanted the last verse, they opened their eyes to find...nothing.

"There's nothing here," Willow cried in distress. "Giles, there nothing here. Shouldn't there be something here? Did we do the spell wrong?"

Giles had been paying close attention to the chanting, as had Wesley. "No, no, you did the spell correctly, Willow. I don't understand why it didn't work."

"Well you better bloody well find out why it didn't work, Watcher," Spike's tense voice cut through. "We need that thing."

"You are not telling me anything I don't know, Spike," Giles snapped, "and unless you have something of use to add, please just shut up!"

Spike stiffened under the Watcher's rebuke and started to step forward, but halted by the soft touch of a hand on his arm. Looking over, he saw Buffy give him a small shake of her head. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply to control his anger, he nodded in acquiescence. Opening his eyes again, he happened to catch a sympathetic look on Xander's face. The boy had felt the sharp edge of Giles' tongue more than once himself. He knew what it felt like.

"I don't mean to insult," Wesley was saying diffidently, aware of the tension in the room, "but perhaps the two of you aren't powerful enough for a spell of this magnitude."

Willow felt insulted and was about to make a sharp rejoinder when Tara said nervously, "I think that may be the p-problem. Willow is very powerful, but I-I think that we just aren't s-strong enough."

"Perhaps adding a third to the circle?" Wesley suggested.

As glances were exchanged around the room, Willow cried out, "Oh! Anya!"

"Anya?" Giles asked.

"Yeah. We did that spell yesterday, and, okay, it didn't work, but she seems to know what she's doing so if we ask her to help, maybe our spell will work."

"Anya did a spell?" Buffy asked. "What for?"

"Something about a lost necklace," Giles answered. Looking thoughtful he nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's a very good idea, Willow. We need to ask Anya if she knows anything about that vampire double of yours anyway, so..."

"Vampire double?" Buffy asked surprised. "What vampire double?"

Willow and Xander began filling Buffy and the others in on that part of last evening's entertainment while Giles went to the telephone to place a call to his shop assistant. He felt rather embarrassed that he had completely forgotten the oddity of Willow's vampire doppelganger. They really must concentrate on that just as soon as Buffy was back in her own body.

***

Anya wasn't happy about getting a call at five a.m. Snatching up the receiver she snapped, "If this is a wrong number, you'd better like oozing pustules because..."

"Anya," Giles cut in, "I'm so sorry to wake you this early. This is Rupert Giles."

"Oh, Mr. Giles," Anya was immediately the polite, enthusiastic employee. "It's quite all right for you to telephone me even though it is not yet the time I usually awaken. Is there something that I can do for you that will add to my income?"

"Uh, actually, Anya, I was calling to ask a favor from you."

"A favor?" Anya's voice was less enthusiastic now.

"Yes. Willow told me that you and she worked a spell last evening..." Before he could continue, Anya interrupted, "Yes. I'm sorry I used your premises without your express permission; however, I do have receipts for every item I used during the casting of that spell. If you want..."

"Anya," Giles cut in again, "we can discuss your spell later. In fact, there is something important that I need to ask you about it. But right now, I need your help in casting a different spell. Could you come to my apartment right away?"

"Now?" Anya asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Anya," Giles said patiently. "I do believe that is what 'right way' means."

Anya was silent for a few seconds and then said, "This isn't inappropriate employer-employee sexual harassment, is it?"

"Absolutely not!" Giles snapped offended.

"Oh, very well then," Anya replied unfazed by Giles' affront. "I'll be there as soon as I can." With that she hung up the telephone. Giles looked up to see nine pairs of eyes staring at him curiously. "She'll be here a soon as she can," he told them with as much dignity as he could manage.

Chapter 13

Thirty minutes later Giles opened the door to an amazingly well put together Anya. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Anya," Giles told her as he stepped back allowing her to enter.

"You are my employer," she said in her usual plainspoken manner. "And even though it is many hours before my customary working day is scheduled to begin, I am willing to aid you if you deem it necessary, although you have not offered additional compensation to me for the disruption of my normal routine."

Giles sighed and bowed to the inevitable. "I will, of course, pay you for the extra hours this morning, Anya. Unless you would prefer to have time off in lieu of payment?"

Anya looked at him with a little frown of confusion wrinkling her forehead. "I cannot make a commission on goods sold if I am not at the store to sell goods."

"Of course," Giles murmured.

Having settled the issue of her compensation Anya looked around the room for the first time. Her gaze was impassive until it landed on Cordelia. Then it froze.

"Hi, Anya. It's good to see you again," Cordelia told her brightly. "I didn't know you were working for Giles."

"Yes," Anya answered, her attitude strangely reserved. "I've been working for him for about a month now. He is a satisfactory employer."

"Well, that's good to know," Giles muttered. "Anya," he continued in a normal speaking voice, "Willow and Tara are attempting a conjuration spell, but it appears that a third may be needed in order to complete it. Are you willing to assist us in this?"

Anya frowned slightly and asked, "What type of conjuration spell?"

"We're trying to bring forth a Draconian Katra," Willow answered brightly. "Tara and I almost had it, I think, but then it just fizzled. Wesley thought that another witch would help."

"Well first of all, I'm not a witch," Anya stated, frowning slightly. "And secondly, why would you want a Draconian Katra? In the wrong hands, those are extremely dangerous devices."

"Yes, we are well aware of that," Giles answered her. "Anya, that is Buffy," he stated, pointing at the dark-haired girl standing next to Spike.

"Oh. Very well, I will attempt to assist you." Exhibiting no further curiosity, she stepped forward, checked the alignment of the spell components, made a few minor adjustments, relit the beeswax candles and then sat down looking expectantly at the two witches. Willow and Tara immediately joined her in the circle, joined hands and began the spell invocation.

Magic filled the air again as the three young women chanted in unison. The sense of power was far greater than it had been on the previous attempt. And this time when the last word of the spell was spoken, there was a loud pop and in the exact center of the circle a device glowed in the candlelight. They had their Draconian Katra.

They also had two unconscious witches.

***

"Willow!" Both Buffy and Xander leaped forward towards their friend. Giles also hurried forward and checked first Willow and then Tara.

"They appear to be all right physically," he stated. "I believe however that the spell completely drained the last of their reserves." Looking into Buffy's worried face, he added, "They should be fine after a rest. I'm afraid this has been a very long night for all of us." Standing up, he addressed Spike and Angel, "Would you two carry them upstairs and put them to bed? In fact, I think all of us should rest some more. Once the girls are rested and awake, we can discuss how to find Faith and reverse the spell."

Turning to his shop assistant, he asked, "Anya, would be mind opening the Magic Box by yourself? I doubt very seriously if I will be able to come in at all today."

"Certainly, Mr. Giles. I will be happy to take complete charge of the store," the girl answered, thoughts of not having to share any sales running through her head.

"Thank you, Anya. Now let us..."

"Uh, Giles," Xander interrupted. He had turned back to the conversation after watching the two vampires accompanied by a very worried Slayer carry the motionless young women upstairs. "Weren't you going to ask Anya about Vamp Willow?"

"Ah yes, Xander, thank you." Giles didn't notice the brief flash of uneasiness that crossed his young employee's face. "When you and Willow performed your spell last evening, Willow said that she saw visions of a battle between vampires and humans. One of the people she saw looked exactly like her. Did you also see these visions?"

Anya relaxed. Good, he hadn't asked the right question, so she didn't have to worry about being caught in a lie. "No," she told him honestly. "I saw no visions at all."

Giles was disappointed but apparently whatever had happened involved Willow only. "Very well, Anya. Thank you for your help this morning and for opening the shop today. I hope to be in at the regular time tomorrow."

Giving a brisk nod, Anya hurriedly left the apartment. Once outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was human now, but worried what might happen should the Slayer ever discover her Vengeance Demon past. An angry grimace crossed her face. She wouldn't have to be worried about this if it wasn't for that stupid Willow. She should have known that Willow would screw the spell up in some way. The girl had plenty of power and innate ability, but her control sucked. The only time Willow had ever been halfway competent was when she had been a vampire in that other Sunnydale.

Perhaps she should consider leaving Sunnydale once she had saved enough money. The thing was however, she wasn't sure just where else someone of her abilities and background would fit in so well. A hellmouth may not be the best place for a human to live, but it was perfect for the ex-vengeance demon. Well, there was always the hellmouth in Cleveland, she supposed. But it was Cleveland! Anya shuddered at the thought. Walking quickly, she headed back to her apartment and a good, solid breakfast. She hoped that she would have a busy, economically fruitful day.

***

Because there were now so many of them, it was decided that Buffy and Joyce would take Cordelia and Wesley and return to the house on Revello Drive to rest. The approaching dawn prevented the vampires from making the trip and this worried Buffy. Walking up to Angel, she said quietly, "I know you're still upset about me and Spike, but I'm trusting you to not fight with him. I really don't want to come back here later to find a dusty pile, okay?"

Angel nodded brusquely and walked away from her. Buffy sighed and turned away to see Spike staring at her, head cocked, eyes narrowed. Going up to him she wrapped her arms around him and said, "I just asked Angel to behave and not fight with you. Now I'm asking you the same thing."

"No need to worry about me, pet. I'd just as soon ignore his existence," Spike answered her with a snort. "Wish I could go home with you though. Don't like the idea of you being away from me with both Faith and those wankers from the Watcher's Council on the loose."

"I'll be okay. There's no way the Watcher goons could know I'm back in Sunnydale and I can take Faith. Besides," she grinned, "Wesley's a big ole rogue demon hunter now. He can protect me."

Spike took one look at the thin, bespectacled Englishman and gave her one of his classic smirks. "Oh yeah, Slayer. I'm feeling all reassured now."

Buffy laughed, kissed him goodbye and left with her entourage.

***

Smith watched as Collins placed the weapons in the trunk of the sedan. "What are you up to?" he asked.

"I going after that bitch, that's what I'm up to," Collins told his companion coldly.

"We were told to back off temporarily," Smith reminded him. "Travers said..."

"I don't give a flyin' fuck what Travers said," Collins snapped. "No woman makes a fool out of me. She's trouble and I'm takin' her out."

"We don't even know where she is," Smith protested.

"Yeah, well accordin' to Travers, that bunch in Sunnydale's all hot to find her. I'm thinkin' they probably will, and when they do, I'll be there."

Smith frowned. "Do you think that maybe she was telling the truth? About the body switch?"

Collins shrugged disinterestedly. "So if I take both Slayers out, I know for sure I got the rogue. It's not like Buffy Summers is much better than the other bitch. She doesn't know her place either."

Smith made a grab for Collins. "Look, we should wait until Weatherby gets back from making his report," he said.

Smith never even saw the fist that knocked him out.

***

Faith awakened and turned onto her back allowing her plans for the day to slowly take shape in her mind. Who to kill first? Xander? That might be fun. She remembered how she had almost killed him the first time. If it hadn't been for Angel, Buffy would already be mourning the loss of a Scooby. Yes, Xander was a definite possibility. Then there was Buffy's vampire lover. She should have dusted him last night. Need to work out a little with this body, she decided. Take care of that little coordination problem.

Running her hands down over herself, she enjoyed the feel of the small, tight form she now inhabited. Cupping her breasts, she discovered that the nipples were very responsive to the slightest pressure. Bringing her hands up to her mouth, she wet her fingers and then plucked at the rapidly swelling buds, squeezing and pinching until she brought a moan from her throat. Raising her knees and spreading them, she continued stimulating her nipples with one hand as she lowered the other and pressed it between her opened thighs. Inserting one finger in the wet opening, she moved it in and out slowly and then pulled the slick digit out, sliding it up to fondle her clit. As she worked at herself, her hips began to undulate faster in time with her strokes. Rubbing harder, she brought herself off with a small cry of release. As her heartbeat slowed, she sighed in satisfaction. Not as good as being with a man, but it'd do for now.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she padded to the desk. Opening the drawer, she took out the only thing she owned that meant anything to her. She had reclaimed it from Buffy's weapons chest before the cops had arrived. The blade of the large, wicked-looking knife gleamed in the early morning sunlight. Watching the play of light on steel, her mind once again focused on whom to visit first. With a small smile, she finally decided on the one that had always been the most jealous of her; the redheaded bitch, Willow.

Chapter 14

It was nearly noon when everyone reassembled at Giles' apartment. Buffy was relieved to see that both vampires were whole and unmarked although they kept as much distance between each other as possible in the small residence. Willow and Tara were awake and alert although both girls were still a little pale.

"So, Giles," Buffy asked. "What do we do now? This gizmo won't work unless I touch Faith with it, right?"

"Yes, that's correct, Buffy," Giles answered her. "We must find her; the sooner the better. I only hope she hasn't left Sunnydale already."

***

Faith finished her workout in the hotel exercise room. She felt more confident in her own skin now. A quick trip to a nearby shopping center had supplied her with toiletries and several changes of clothing, including the shorts and t-shirt she was now wearing. As she headed to her room for a quick shower and change, she reviewed once again her plan for the hunting and killing of Scooby number one.

***

Collins pulled into a parking space several doors down from the apartment complex where Rupert Giles lived. Leaving the vehicle, he carefully made his way to the courtyard and casually walked passed the front of Giles' flat. A quick look inside filled him with triumph. There she was. The dark-haired bitch surrounded by far too many people. He would have to bide his time, but he had no doubt that very soon he would see to it that the world had a new Slayer to protect it.

***

Weatherby returned to the garage where he had left his two companions. He had received quite a dressing down from Quentin Travers for allowing the rogue Slayer to escape, especially since it appeared that she had performed some type of magic spell on Buffy Summers. Although the Summers girl no longer acknowledged the authority of the Watcher's Council, she was still doing her duty in Sunnydale and her record of averted apocalypses was quite impressive. Plus Weatherby had the distinct impression that Travers was afraid of what Rupert Giles would do to him if anything happened to his Slayer due to the Council's mishandling of Faith.

Things were really buggered up.

Pulling his car into the garage, he was surprised when he realized that the second car was missing. Perhaps Collins and Smith went to get something to eat. Not that he blamed them. It was almost noon and he hadn't eaten anything himself since lunch yesterday. Deciding he would check for a note, he exited his vehicle and headed towards the table. He was halfway there when he heard a thumping noise coming from the interior of the van. Taking a gun from the shoulder holster he now wore, he slowly opened the backdoor and peered cautiously inside. With a gasp, he quickly holstered his weapon and climbed in. Smith lay there tied and gagged with a large bruise darkening his jaw. Removing the gag he asked anxiously, "Dear God, man. What happened?"

"Collins happened," Smith ground out. "The bastard's gone completely round the bend. He's taken a rifle and gone to Sunnydale. Plans to take out both Slayers just to make sure he gets the right one."

"Bloody buggering hell!" Weatherby cursed. After unlocking the chains, he hurriedly backed out of the van and headed for the telephone. He had a feeling this last bit was going to put paid on his career with the Watcher's Council. That thought made him stop in his tracks. If he could get to Collins before Collins got to the Slayers, no one need ever know what happened. He was sure Smith would help him. His career was on the line just as much as Weatherby's was.

If it wasn't for the chuffing paperwork, Weatherby would take great pleasure in just killing that cocksucker Collins.

***

Thanks to the entry in Joyce's address book Faith had found when she looked through it the evening before, she knew where Buffy's dorm room was. She couldn't believe her luck when she realized that Buffy and Willow were roommates, although it really shouldn't have surprised her. Willow had always been so far up Buffy's ass, it was a surprise Buffy could even sit down. No one was there when Faith arrived, but she found Willow's class schedule. Once she located her, she'd simply follow her until the opportunity arose to introduce her to Faith's favorite toy. The thought of the look on Willow's face when her good friend Buffy slid the knife into her gut and twisted it made Faith damp.

As soon as this was over, Faith needed to find a man.

She was approaching the building where Willow's most recent class was held when she heard a voice calling, "Buffy! Hey, Buffy, wait up." Turning in the direction of the hail, she saw a young, dark-haired man loping towards her. "Buffy, have you seen Willow?" he asked.

Faith shook her head, "Nope. I'm looking for her myself, as a matter of fact."

"Oh," the young man said in disappointment. "She wasn't in class today and I wanted to return her notebook to her. Would you do me a favor and give it to her when you see her?" The boy grinned good-naturedly. "You can tell her that I didn't get it dirty, or mark it up, or spill coffee on it, or dog-ear it, okay?" Shoving the notebook into Faith's unwilling hands, he smiled his thanks and then loped off again. Faith looked down at the pristine notebook, walked up to the nearest trashcan and dumped it in.

***

Everyone waited with baited breath as for the third time that day the two witches worked the location spell. And for the third time, it failed. It had been a long, tiring day. The two girls had required rest after each attempt, neither having fully recovered yet from the conjuration spell.

"I'm sorry, Giles," Willow said wearily. "It just doesn't seem to work at all. I think it's confused because Faith's body is here and her spirit is elsewhere. It doesn't know what to do."

"Well it's obvious that we need to refine the spell," Wesley stated. "Giles, do you have a copy of the Espesian Grimoire? If memory serves, I believe there is a more powerful spell listed there used to track down the most powerful mages during the Spanish Inquisition."

"NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Xander declared loudly. At the irritated looks he received, he ducked his head down and muttered, "Jeez, just trying to lighten things up a little."

Giving Xander one last irritated glare, Giles turned back to Wesley and said, "Yes I do believe I have a copy at the shop."

Wesley looked shocked. "You have such a rare text for sale at your shop?"

"Of course not. It's just that I keep most of my rarest texts there. We do the majority of our research at the shop."

"Ah," Wesley nodded understanding. "Then I suggest we remove to your shop."

As everyone started preparing to leave, Angel said, "What about Spike and me? Are we to just stay here until sunset?"

"Well you can if you want, peaches," Spike mocked. "I'm going to the shop too."

"I suppose it's too much to hope that you'll burst into flame on the way?" Angel glared.

"Angel," Buffy intervened, "Spike goes through the sewer tunnels. There's an opening into the shop basement. You can go with him and meet us there. And," she added firmly, "I expect both of you to meet us there without any bloodshed. Understand?"

Both vampires nodded understanding; Angel with a scowl, Spike with a smirk."

As the group left, the two vampires ran under cover of blankets to the nearest sewer entrance. The sun was low enough by now that there was plenty of shadow to hide in, which made their journey easier. Once the humans were assured that they were safely in the tunnels, they piled into various vehicles for the trip to The Magic Box.

***

Collins sat up in attention as he saw the group enter several cars. Starting the engine of his own vehicle, he carefully followed the cortege. Perhaps their destination would afford him with the opportunity to take out the dark-haired Slayer.

Fifteen minutes later, Smith and Weatherby arrived in Sunnydale and proceeded to Rupert Giles' apartment.

***

Faith was really getting pissed off. She had had no luck so far in tracking down Willow. The redhead had not been at any of her classes or at the library. On a hunch, Faith headed into town to the Espresso Pump. She remembered that it was one of the gang's favorite hangouts, but hadn't any luck there either. The waitress informed her that she hadn't seen Willow for a couple days now.

Sitting at a table and drinking a cup of coffee, Faith tried to decide what her next move would be. Was it possible that somehow Buffy's friends had tumbled to the body switch? Faith couldn't see how. The vampire maybe?

Faith thought about this and then dismissed it. No, if there was one thing she knew about Miss Buffy Summers it was the fact that the girl loved her secrets. And screwing another vampire would be high on the secrets list, especially after the mess her one-night stand with Angel had caused. No, there was just no way that anyone would know about the vampire lover so there was no way the vampire could tell them that her attacking him was anything other than the Slayer doing her job. Finishing her coffee, she decided to head back to the house on Revello Drive. Maybe "mom" would have an idea where she could find Willow.

And if not, maybe she'd just have to revise her timetable and kill Joyce first, instead of last.

Chapter 15

Willow was bored. There was nothing to do, no one to talk to, and it was all burned and dirty in the old factory. She had slept all morning and late into the afternoon in one of the few rooms untouched by fire, but now she was awake and hated being stuck here. Listlessly roaming around she noticed what appeared to be a trap door under some debris. Moving the rubble aside she found an entrance that opened into tunnels. Willow smiled. The Mayor of her Sunnydale had tunnels running throughout the length and breadth of town so that his vampire minions could move about with relative ease. Of course that was before The Harvest. After that, the Mayor was pretty much dead and the minions all belonged to The Master.

Looked like this Sunnydale had tunnels too. Willow dropped down and headed in the direction of town. With any luck she'd find some city workers working in the sewers. She was a little hungry again.

***

Spike and Angel hadn't gone very far when Spike found himself thrown up against the brick wall of the sewer tunnel. Angel pressed his full weight against the smaller vampire holding him in place with an arm across his throat, his eyes gleaming gold in the dim light.

"I know what you're up to with Buffy, Spike," he growled, "and I'm not going to let you hurt her or any of the others. You may have her fooled, but I know you better than that. What's your plan, huh? Get her to trust you completely so that when you kill her it's all the sweeter? Well that's never going to happen, boy."

Spike gave his grandsire a disgusted look and pushed him away. "Back off," he snapped. "You don't know anything about me. If I wanted her dead, she'd already be dead. I'm not going it hurt her or the others. I know you don't believe it, and I really don't give a buggerin' fuck that you don't, but I love her."

"That's impossible," Angel ground out. "You don't have a soul. You can't love anyone."

"No, Angel," Spike said coldly, "that's you."

Spike found himself thrown up against the wall again, a stake pressed into his chest. "I should dust you now, tell Buffy we ran into trouble in the sewers. She'll mourn for a while, but she'll get over it and then she'll be safe from you."

Spike shoved Angel away from him again. "You know what your problem is? You can't have the girl, but you don't want anyone else to have her either. Well too bad. I've got her and I'm keeping her. Keeping her happy too. Real happy."

Angel growled and lifted the stake, "You son of a bitch. You keep your filthy hands off of her. She deserves better than an undead monster like you!"

"Yeah?" Spike mocked. "Seems you didn't feel that way when you were busy poppin' her cherry when she was still just a little girl."

Shifting into full game face, Angel cursed, knocked Spike back up against the wall and plunged the stake towards Spike's heart. Spike blocked the stake and remembering the move that Buffy had used against him, thrust the flat of his hand into Angel's face, smashing his mouth and dislodging him.

Sweeping out with his leg, he tripped Angel knocking him to the ground. Kicking Angel's right hand he sent the stake flying across the tunnel floor. With a roar, Angel came to his feet, seizing Spike and throwing him across the tunnel. Searching for the stake, he went to grab it only to be shoved to the ground on his face as Spike leaped onto his back.

Reaching forward, Spike snatched a handful of hair and slammed Angel's head into the brick floor. Grasping the stake, he turned Angel over and lunged down with the sharpened wood...right into the ground next to Angel's head, breaking the stake into dozens of small pieces. Jumping away from his grandsire, he hissed, "You're just lucky I promised Buffy I wouldn't kill you, you back-stabbing bogtrotter. Get this through that thick Neanderthal skull of yours. I. love. the girl. I'm not goin' to do anything to hurt her or her Scoobies." And with that, he turned on his heel and continued towards The Magic Box. Angel got up rubbing his head, looked down at the shattered stake, up at Spike's retreating back and slowly followed.

***

Willow watched from around the corner of a tunnel. It was the puppy. Staying back so that he wouldn't sense her presence, she trailed after the two vampires.

***

Anya looked up, a pleasant welcoming smile on her face when the shop bell rang. The smile faltered when she saw who entered.

"Mr. Giles," she exclaimed. "I thought you weren't going to be in today? Was I mistaken?"

"No, Anya," he reassured her. "We need to use some of the reference material I have here at the shop. We'll be in the training room so as not the disrupt the customers." Turning to the others he said, "Move one or two of the tables into the training room while I fetch the text we need." As he headed up the stairs to the loft, Buffy and Xander began moving the largest table.

"Oof!" Xander exclaimed as they finally set the table down. "Where are the vampires when you really need them. That thing is heavy."

Buffy frowned and looked towards the basement door. "They should be here by now, shouldn't they?"

"Hey, don't worry Buff. Maybe they just ran into some large sewer rats that needed exterminating," Xander told her reassuringly. "Spike travels those tunnels everyday. He'll be here soon."

As if hearing the young man's words, the door opened and Spike entered the training room. A Spike who had obviously been fighting.

"What happened?" Buffy asked, rushing up to her boyfriend.

"Nothing, luv," he answered casually. "Me and the poofter ran into a bit of bother, is all. Took care of it."

The door opened again and Angel appeared. Buffy looked at his face, her eyes narrowing. The bruise on his mouth looked strangely familiar. "Bit of a bother, huh?" she asked.

"Yeah, nothing to worry about. Like I said, me and the old man took care of it." Looking over at Angel, a warning glint in his eyes, he said, "Right?"

Angel merely nodded and walked over to join Cordelia. If Spike thought that he was going to change his mind about him just because he hadn't tried to stake him when he had the opportunity, he was seriously mistaken. As long as Spike was playing at being Buffy's Knight in Shining Armor he would make sure that Buffy believed him honorable. But Angel knew better. And he was going to make sure that Spike was dust before he left Sunnydale.

Giles came in with a large book in his arms. "I've found the text, Wesley. Have you any idea where the spell is located?"

As the two Watchers began to search for the appropriate spell, Buffy watched the two vampires. There was no doubt in her mind whatsoever that the "bit of bother" had been a fight between them. Both vampires had survived the fight, but Buffy decided then and there that they weren't going to be allowed to be alone together again. She didn't want to lose either one.

***

Weatherby knocked again at the door to Rupert Giles' flat with no success. Smith peeked in through the window. "Don't look like anyone's home," he told his companion. "Where to next?"

"Buffy Summer's house," was the reply.

***

Well fuck, Faith thought. No one's here either. Doing a more thorough search than she'd had time for the night before, she found an interesting flyer in one of Buffy's nightstand drawers. It advertised the grand opening of The Magic Box. Rupert Giles, Proprietor.

Faith had her next stop.

***

The sedan pulled up in front of 1630 Revello Drive, and as the two men got out of the vehicle, they didn't notice the young woman crossing the street at the end of the block headed back towards the center of town.

***

Collins once again glanced into a window, but saw only a young woman he didn't recognize manning the counter in the shop. Frowning, he searched but his view was limited. Taking a chance he entered the shop.

Once again Anya glanced up, a friendly, helpful expression on her face. "Welcome to The Magic Box. May I assist you?"

"No thanks, love," the Englishman said. "Just want to look around a bit. See what sort of stuff you offer for sale."

Anya's eyes narrowed slightly. She hated browsers. They never bought anything. That is, if she let them get away without buying anything.

Collins casually strolled around, picking up various items as if interested in them, but then putting them down and going to the next shelf, always moving deeper into the shop. It was when he was halfway through the shop, that a door in the back opened and Rupert Giles walked briskly to the counter.

Handing a piece of paper to the blonde he said, "Anya, please fill this list and bring the items into the back room as quickly as possible." Turning from the counter Anya said, "But I have a customer I must attend to."

"No need," Collins answered quickly. "I'm just leaving." Moving at a rapid pace, he left the shop before the Slayer entered the room and spotted him. So they were in there all right, in the back of the shop. Glancing around, he looked at the building across the street from The Magic Box. Heading back to his car, he began to formulate a plan.

Anya frowned at the departing customer's back then snatched up the paper and began gathering the items listed there. Once she had everything requested, she carried them to the back room.

Once again preparations were being made for a spell casting. Anya felt a momentary curiosity, but quickly suppressed it. She had a store to attend to. Leaving the backroom, she returned to her counter.

***

"I do believe we are now prepared to attempt the new relocation spell," Wesley announced after double and triple-checking everything. "Willow, Tara, if you will take your places, we'll see if we have any better luck."

The two witches knelt before the map of Sunnydale and began the spell. The results were immediate. A bright glow appeared on the map, moving from east to west. Both witches smiled in relief. As they watched the glow's movement Xander exclaimed, "Hey, is it me or does it look like she's heading here?"

***

Collins quietly closed the door that led to the roof of the building opposite the magic shop. Going to the edge, he was pleased to see that his original observation was correct. He had a perfect view of both front and back doors. Settling down, he slipped the safety off the rifle. Eventually she'd leave the shop. That would be when he would strike. He was unaware that just as he stepped onto the rooftop, his other quarry had also arrived at the shop.

Chapter 16

The sun was setting and the street deeply shadowed when once again the bell rang over the shop door. This time when Anya looked up she felt a wave of shock flash through her. There in the doorway stood Buffy. Or rather the girl who had stolen Buffy's body.

"Buffy!" Anya exclaimed. "Hello, Buffy. What are you doing here today? Are you here to see Mr. Giles? He's in the backroom. Let me announce you."

Before Faith could stop her, the young woman hurried across the room and opened the door located at the back of the shop. "Mr. Giles," Anya chirped nervously. "Guess who's here? It's Buffy!"

The last was said just seconds before she was pushed aside and Faith entered the room. And stopped.

The room was filled with Scoobies, Watchers, Vampires, Joyce Summers...and Buffy.

"Fuck!" Faith exclaimed as she turned and ran for the front door. Buffy was fast on her heels followed by Spike and Angel. She caught up with Faith just as the other girl opened the front door. With a tackle, both women landed on the sidewalk, tumbling until they smashed up against the tires of a car parked in front of the shop.

Buffy managed to get on top of Faith and struck her several sharp blows to the head. Faith kicked up and wrapped a strong leg around Buffy, pulling her back and off. Kicking at Buffy's head, she once again tried to run only to be caught in the iron grasp of the blond English vampire.

"You're not going anywhere, bitch!" he growled,

She struggled, but soon realized that it was hopeless. Even if she got away from this one, Buffy and Angel were right there. She was trapped. Once again she had failed. Her hatred of all of them nearly consumed her.

"Willow," Buffy said. "Do you have the Katra device?"

Faith's eyes widened as Willow handed Buffy a box containing a palm-sized green-glowing sphere. Xander stood to the side holding a tranquilizer gun in his hands. "Get ready, Xan," Buffy said. Taking the object out of the box, she nodded to Spike who let go of Faith. Everyone stepped back as Buffy grabbed onto Faith's hand. A swirl of energy surrounded them and they gasped.

It was a little flash of light that caught Spike's attention. Looking around, he saw the glint from the last light of the dying day reflecting off the barrel of a rifle that a man was aiming from the roof of the building across the street. Xander shot the tranq gun at Faith at the same time Collins fired the rifle. Shouting a warning, Spike grabbed Buffy and pushed her down just at the gun went off. The bullet whizzed by and smashed into the doorway of the shop. Everyone scrambled back into the shop with the exception of the two vampires. Spike and Angel sprinted forward in full game face, rapidly leaping up and grabbing onto window frames and anything else that assisted their climb to the roof.

Collins cursed, dropped the rifle and fled. Tearing open the roof door, he entered locking it behind him. Racing down the stairs, he hoped to get back to his car before the two vampires were on him. Who the fuck ever heard of a Slayer having vampire allies? It was his bad luck that he stumbled on the uneven stairs of the old building. Pitching forward he fell tumbling down the steep stairwell.

His neck was broken before he even reached the bottom landing.

***

Smith and Weatherby were turning the corner a block from The Magic Box when they heard the shot fired. Stopping the car, they jumped out and watched in amazement as two men ran across the street faster than possible for humans. Their suspicion as to the men's natures was confirmed as they watched them scramble up the side of the building. The sound of a door being torn from its hinges followed shortly thereafter. Exchanging glances, they got back into their car and pulled up behind a car they recognized as Collins' sedan. Weatherby took his handgun out of the holster and waited for Collins to appear. He never did, but the two vampires soon exited the building and entered the shop across the street.

***

Faith was laid out on the floor of the shop unconscious from the tranquilizer dart Xander had shot into her. Buffy was comforting a softly crying Joyce, reassuring her that everything was okay. Spike went immediately up to the blonde Slayer and asked, "Buffy?"

Wrapping her arms around him, Buffy lifted her face to his for a kiss. Touching her mouth tentatively, Spike was soon kissing her deeply. He had no doubt that this was his Slayer. Angel looked away, unable to watch the passionate way the two lovers kissed. Joyce gave a hitching laugh, wiped tears from her eyes and said, "Okay you two; break if up. This is no way to behave in front of your mother." Buffy blushed and Spike grinned at Joyce as they came up for air.

"What happened with the man that shot at us?" Giles asked. "Dead," Angel answered. Buffy gasped and pulled back from Spike. Staring wide-eyed at Angel she asked, "You killed him?"

"No!" Angel asserted, more than a little hurt that she assumed it had been he that killed the man. Apparently Spike had her convinced that he wouldn't kill anyone, not just her Scoobies.

"Then what happened?" Buffy asked, looking once again at Spike.

"Fell down the stairs and broke his bleedin' neck, mores the pity. I had all kinds of plans for him and that bloody rifle of his."

"Who was he?" Xander asked.

The two vampires shook their heads but Spike added, "I hate to ask you to do this, love, but I think you should look at him. I have a feeling he's probably one of those Council wankers that kidnapped you yesterday."

Buffy shuddered, but nodded her agreement. Leaving the shop, the two vampires and Slayer crossed the street and entered the building. Giles and Joyce watched anxiously and soon a very pale Buffy exited the door, a concerned Spike walking closely at her side.

"It's Collins," she told her Watcher as soon she entered The Magic Box. "He's the one that tried to shoot me in Los Angeles, too. Has a real thing for guns apparently."

Giles sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'll have to call Quentin Travers and inform him," he said.

"Giles," Buffy began.

"No, Buffy. I'm sorry, but this is Council business. It's their mess and they'll have to clean it up."

"And what about Faith?" she asked heatedly.

"We'll take care of her," a voice said from the shop door. Turning to face the front of the shop, Buffy glared at the man who stood there.

"I don't think so," she said standing protectively in front of the drugged Slayer. "If you think you're going to take her out of here just so you can kill her..."

"No, we have different orders now," Weatherby assured the angry Slayer. Lifting up a small case he continued, "I'm sure Mr. Giles will recognize what I have with me."

Opening the lid of the case he revealed several vials of some kind of drug. Giles flushed and looked guiltily at Buffy. "It's the drug the Council uses for The Cruciamentum." Looking away quickly from Buffy's outraged expression he said to Weatherby, "I take it that the Council intends to keep her under the influence of this drug until she is safely confined in London?"

Weatherby nodded. "I was given this after she escaped our custody." Turning and bowing to Buffy he corrected, "Or I should say after Miss Summers escaped our custody."

"You mean escaped your attempt to murder me," she snapped.

Any further conversation was interrupted when Smith entered the shop. "Collins is dead," he told his companion.

Weatherby looked at the two vampires, instinctively reaching for the stake tucked away in the pocket of his jacket.

"They didn't kill him," Buffy told him coldly. "He fell while running away after trying to shoot me. Again."

Weatherby looked questioningly at Smith who shrugged. "Could have happened that way. Or they could have snapped his neck and tossed him down the stairs."

Buffy bristled at the accusation, but Spike said calmly, "No, mate, you can believe me this. If either of us had caught up to him, he wouldn't have died so cleanly."

"Spike, not helping here," Buffy warned her lover.

"We will accept your explanation," the Englishman assured her. "Now, as to Faith," he began and then hesitated. Weatherby and Smith were well aware of the hostility in the room, especially from the two vampires, one of whom, the one the Slayer had addressed as Spike, stood proprietarily close to her. "You must understand," Weatherby tried to explain, "we were under orders..."

"Yeah mate," the white-haired vampire remarked, "heard that one before. Now where was it? Oh yeah, Nuremberg."

Weatherby flushed angrily, but wisely held his tongue. Once again addressing Giles he said, "If you don't believe that we mean Faith no further harm, I suggest that you call Mr. Travers. He will confirm what I've said."

Giles immediately made for the telephone as everyone stood glaring at the Watchers Council's agents. Xander suddenly realized he was still holding the tranquilizer gun. He went to put it down when Angel said, "Here give it to me; I'll go put it away. I need to get away from these guys for a couple minutes."

Xander took one look at Angel's face and hastily turned the gun over to him. Angel stalked across the shop and entered the training room. Setting the gun down next to the door to the basement, he removed his coat, walked over to Buffy's punching bag, and began pounding on it. He was having a very hard time containing his demon around those Watchers. They had destroyed whatever chance Faith had for redemption last year and now they had tried to kill her, which because of the Katra spell meant that they very nearly killed Buffy.

Buffy heard the sound of the punching bag being pounded. Turning to Xander with a raised eyebrow he shrugged and said, "I think he's working out a few Watcher related issues." Nodding in understanding, Buffy paid no further attention to the sounds coming from the training room, instead concentrating on Giles' telephone conversation. She didn't notice a popping sound or a thud louder than the others. Nor did she notice the sudden quiet.

Chapter 17

The slender vampire dropped the dead weight to the floor of her makeshift bedroom. "You're very heavy, aren't you, puppy?" she said in the slightly bored drawl with which she habitually spoke. After first stripping off his shirt, she reached up and grasped the chains that hung from the wall attaching them to the wrists of the still unconscious Angel. Satisfied, she stepped back and examined her prize. At last she would have something to keep her entertained until she reclaimed Xander and found a way home.

***

It had been a very heated discussion, but at last Giles was satisfied with the assurances he received from Quentin Travers. Addressing Buffy he told his Slayer, "Quentin assures me that everything will be done to rehabilitate her. She will receive the most expert psychiatric care. If she responds, in time she may be allowed to resume her duties."

Buffy frowned not sure that she liked the idea of Faith being permitted to resume Slayer duties. While she didn't want to see Faith killed, neither did she trust the young woman enough to want to see her free.

"Are you sure we can trust Travers to keep his word that she won't be killed, Giles?"

"We really don't have much of a choice, Buffy."

"If we turn her over to the regular authorities..."

"Buffy, you know that really isn't an option. No regular jail cell could hold an unwilling Slayer."

Flashing Wesley a cold glance she said, "The thing is Giles, the Council didn't do too good a job with Faith last time they tried to "help" her."

Wesley stiffened at this reminder of his failure with the girl who had been his first responsibility as a Watcher, but before he could say anything Joyce stepped forward and put her arms around her daughter.

"Honey, I know you feel bad about how things turned out last year with Faith, but you did everything you could to try to help her. She made the decision to try to blame you for the Deputy Mayor's death and she chose to join with the Mayor." Buffy looked up at her mother with tears in her eyes. Gently pushing her daughter's hair back from her face, Joyce continued, "Mr. Giles believes that the Council is the best equipped to help Faith. Let her go with them."

Buffy rested her head on her mother's shoulder and then pulling back nodded reluctant agreement. Although she certainly didn't trust the Council, she realized that she really had little choice than to turn Faith over to them. As Giles had said, no regular jail or prison could ever hold an unwilling Slayer, so the only other option was for the Watcher's Council to take her, confine her and help her as best they could--which Buffy didn't believe would be much.

Very well," Weatherby said, trying his best to sound confident and in charge. "I'll inject her with the dampening drug now before she wakes up." Placing the case on a nearby display table, he opened it up and reached for the first vial.

As sometimes happens when there are a large group of people in a room, nobody was watching the thing that needed watched assuming someone else was doing it. Faith had awakened and was slowly gathering her strength. When she attacked, she took everyone by surprise.

Leaping up, she grabbed the person nearest to her to use as a shield. Pulling the Mayor's gift from where she had it concealed, she placed the sharp blade against Tara's throat. "I don't think I'm going to go to London or anyplace else with you two," she sneered. Moving towards the door and pulling Tara with her she said to the Watchers, "Toss your car keys here." Pushing the blade of the knife a fraction closer to Tara's neck she warned her, "And you better catch them unless you want your throat cut." Smiling wickedly, she relished the soft cry of pain from her hostage as a thin stream of blood ran from the shallow cut on her neck. "Cut deeper, that is."

Willow saw the blood and something inside of her snapped. She was aware of shouts of protest, of Giles trying to reason with Faith, of Spike's rumbling growl. She was aware of all of this, but it was only background noise. Summoning a spell she wasn't even aware that she knew, her eyes turned black, her arm shot forward with finger pointing and she cried out, "Pain!"

Faith stiffened as her mouth contorted into a rictus of agony, the knife dropping from nerveless fingers. Spike leapt forward and pulled Tara away from the silently screaming Slayer as Buffy tried to get Willow to stop the spell. "Willow!" she cried, shaking her friend, "Willow, stop it!" Tara rushed to her lover, grabbing her and begging her to release the spell. It was Tara's voice that finally broke through Willow's rage. With a shudder, she slumped into Tara's arms, knees buckling from exhaustion, blood pouring from her nose. Faith crashed to the floor once again unconscious.

Weatherby and Smith stared in horror at the young witch, shocked at the raw power she possessed. This was certainly something that needed to be brought to the attention of the Watchers Council.

Cordelia felt her flesh creep as she remembered the way she'd treated Willow for years. She looked around for Angel, wanting to ask him how soon they could leave. It was then that she noticed that he had not returned from the training room, even with all the commotion that had just gone on. Frowning slightly, she made her way to the back room only to find it empty and the back door standing wide open. Crossing the room to the open door she called, "Angel? You out here?" The alley was as empty as the training room with the exception of two cars. Wait a minute. Two? Looking around she realized that Angel's black convertible was missing from where Wesley had parked it at the end of the alley. Why would Angel have left? Returning to the training room she at last noticed Angel's coat thrown across the pommel horse.

Entering the shop, she walked up to Wesley and said, "Wes, Angel's missing."

***

Angel came awake to the sensation of his face being hit with a methodical series of stinging slaps.

"Wake up, puppy."

As he groggily regained consciousness, he realized that the voice calling to him was familiar.

"Willow?"

"Yes, puppy, it's Willow. Did you have a good sleep? Are you all rested now?"

Her voice sounded strange. Opening eyes that at first refused to focus, he gradually became aware that he was hanging from chains and that the Willow he faced was not the Willow he had been with just moments? hours? days? before.

Pulling at his chains earned him a headache when Willow roughly shoved his head back into the wall, nearly fracturing his skull. "Naughty puppy," she scolded. "Puppy tries to break his leash, he's gonna be punished." Pushing her face closer to his, she opened her mouth and ran her tongue up the side of his face. "Does puppy like to be punished?" she asked in a sultry tone.

Angel's head was throbbing painfully from both the tranquilizer drug and the blow to his skull. When his eyes were again able to focus he realized that he recognized where he was. "This is the old factory," he said before he could stop himself.

Willow pouted. "Yes, but it's not as nice as the one I'm used to. It's all burned up and nasty. Do you know why it's all burned up, puppy?"

"There was a fire."

Willow banged his head into the wall again eliciting a grunt of pain from the big vampire. "Puppy thinks he's funny. I don't like funny."

Between the head bashing he had received from Spike and now this, Angel felt as if his brains were going to start dribbling out of his ears. As his tormenter moved away from him, he took in a deep breath of air in an attempt to control the pain. When the pounding ache subsided a little, he asked, "How did I get here?"

The young vampire had been picking through a few items laid on top of an old broken table. Turning to him with a wicked grin she held up a set of keys and jingled them at him. "I like your car. Xander always liked your car too. It was fun. He used to love to ram it into things. Did you know that people make the best speed bumps?"

"Xander?" Although the pain in his head was making it hard to concentrate, Angel was beginning to suspect that this vampire Willow was not just a double, but actually Willow from a parallel dimension. Just how she had gotten here, he had no idea.

"Yeah, Xander. You know Xander, don't you puppy? I saw you with the other one, the live one. I don't like him; not right now anyway. But soon enough he'll join me and then we'll all have fun playing together. Wanna play, puppy?"

As she walked back towards Angel, he saw the thin sharp knife in her hand.

***

Weatherby finished the injection and then, pulling her arms behind her back, locked handcuffs onto Faith's wrists. Standing up he addressed Giles, "If I may use your telephone, I'll make sure that our transport is notified that we're on our way." At Giles' nod of permission, he hurried forward to make the call. Buffy walked over to Smith and with a cold expression on her face told him, "I'm going to want to talk to Faith on a regular basis, just to make sure she's still breathing. You make sure Travers knows this."

Swallowing nervously, the Council agent stammered acknowledgement. Weatherby's call was short and soon he was back by his partner's side. "By the time we return to Los Angeles, our plane will be ready to take off. Miss Summers, I personally guarantee Faith's safety until such time as I turn her over to her caretakers in London."

"And then what?" Buffy asked, "You wash your hands of her?"

"Miss Summers, please." Weatherby wasn't sure exactly what the Slayer expected of him, but Buffy merely turned and walked away. She could hardly stand the sight of either of them and just wanted them and Faith gone from her town. The sooner the better.

Smith took the case that contained the dampening drugs and left the shop to get the car and bring it closer to the front of the shop.

"Ah, guys?" Xander inquired diffidently. "What about your dead buddy across the street? You just gonna to let him lie there?"

Weatherby glanced across to the building where Collins had so foolishly lost his life. He wasn't sure if he believed the Summers girl that her vampires hadn't killed Collins, but it hardly mattered. The man was now dead and the mess would be covered up. The Council would see to it. "No need to be concerned, young man. We will take care of everything. No one here will be disturbed." By now Smith had returned to the shop so the two men lifted Faith up and carried her to the backseat of the large dark green Ford now double-parked in front. Weatherby climbed in behind the driver's wheel as Smith returned to the sedan that Collins had driven. With no further acknowledgement of the people crowded around the shop doorway, they drove off into the cool California night.

When the cars were no longer visible on the street Buffy and Spike went back inside. "Giles, Spike and I are going to take mom home, okay? She's exhausted."

"Yes, of course, Buffy. I think all of us could use a decent night's rest. Xander if you would be so good as to give..."

His words were cut off as Wesley said from the training room door. "I'm afraid we have another problem."

Chapter 18

Blank faces stared at Wesley after he had made his pronouncement. "Now what," Spike snapped tiredly.

"Angel's missing," Wesley told the group. "His coat is here, but he and the car are missing."

"Yeah? Well maybe he suddenly remembered he ran out of that hair gel he likes so much and wanted to get to the mall before it closed," Spike snarked disinterestedly.

Buffy glared at her boyfriend and turned back to Wesley. "Do you think something happened to him? I mean, what could have happened? Maybe he just felt the need to get away for a bit. Xander said he was having Watcher issues."

Cordelia shook her head. "Look, maybe Spike runs out on you without warning, but Angel wouldn't do that to us, not when we may need him."

Buffy shot Cordelia a withering look, but ignored her comment. "Did you guys look for a note or anything?" Entering the training room closely followed by Spike she stopped and looked around. Nothing seemed disturbed with the exception of Angel's coat haphazardly thrown across her exercise horse. Xander had followed along more out of curiosity than concern and noticed the tranquilizer gun lying on the floor by the basement door. Going over to it, he picked it up and headed to the cabinet where it was usually kept. Breaking it open, he went to remove the unused dart. The gun was empty. Turning, he looked over the area where the gun had lain, but saw nothing. Opening the cabinet, he checked the supply of darts remaining.

"Uh, Houston, I think we have a problem."

Four faces turned their attention to him. "What, Xander?" Buffy asked, walking towards him.

"We're missing a tranq dart," he told his friend. "I loaded the gun with another dart just to be on the safe side, you know, in case one didn't take Faith down. I only needed one, which means there was still one in the gun. Now there's not. And it's not in the cabinet. We had exactly twelve darts, and there are only ten here now."

"Okay, everyone look to see if Angel unloaded the gun and dropped the dart somewhere."

Buffy carefully checked the pockets of Angel's coat as the others conducted a thorough search of the room. Meanwhile, Spike was sniffing around, scenting the air. Something wasn't right here, a smell that was slightly off. Going to the training room door, he yelled out, "Willow, come here a minute."

Tara helped a wobbly Willow into the room and over to the vampire. Willow jerked back a bit when Spike lowered his head and inhaled deeply. "Hey, what're you doing?" she asked, taken aback.

Ignoring her question, he turned on his heel and walked back over to the basement door. Sniffing lightly, he moved around the area slowly, then opened the basement door and stepped inside. By now everyone had stopped their own searches and watched the vampire's odd actions. The sound of Spike first descending and then ascending the steps was followed quickly by his reappearance. He then went to Angel's coat, picked it up, smelled it, made a face of disgust, "Angel b.o.," he snorted and then went back over to Willow and smelled her again.

Finally finished, he turned to Buffy and asked, "You remember Xander tellin' you about the vampire he saw that looked just like Willow?" At Buffy's slow nod, he said, "Well, she doesn't just look like Willow, she smells like her too except for the scent of old dried blood, and she was here."

***

Angel's head was thrown back and a grimace of pain distorted his features as the young vampire drew the knife blade down his body.

"Why are you doing this?" he gasped, trying hard to control the pain.

"Lots of reasons," she drawled. Leaning in to lick at the welling blood, she said, "I'm doing it because it's fun." Another cut, another lick. "I'm doing it because you tried to fight against The Master." Another cut.

"The Master's dust," Angel ground out. "Buffy dusted him and then pounded his bones into sand."

She shoved the knife straight into his stomach and twisted. Angel cried out at the agony. "Not where I'm from," she snarled. "He owns Sunnydale and everyone in it. Including you." Pulling out the knife, she leaned into him whispering, "He lets me play with you all I want." Drawing the blunt side of the knife down his body and past the waistband of his trousers, she held the point of the knife to the bulge of his semi-hard cock. "But you wanna know mostly why I do this?" she purred. "It's because you're an abomination." With that she shoved the knife through the material of his slacks and straight into his penis.

Angel screamed and passed out.

Standing back away from her victim, Willow slowly licked the blood from the knife and then once again began methodically slapping him until she had brought him back to consciousness. She didn't want him to miss a second of the pain she brought him.

Thirty minutes later, she stepped back and wiped the blood from her mouth. With a sigh, she droned, "Bored now."

As she turned and walked away from him, Angel let his head fall forward trying his best to control the waves of anguish that radiated through him. He wondered now that she was tired of her play if she would just stake him. Somehow, he didn't think he would be that lucky. She took too much pleasure in his torture.

Turning back to look at him, she said, "This just isn't as much fun as it is when Xander helps me." She grinned at Angel, a malevolent gleam in her eye. "He hates you even more than I do." Walking slowly back over to him, she leaned close, reached up, grabbed his chains and gave a strong tug. The chains stayed firmly attached to the wall. Angel knew they would. He had placed them there himself.

"I think it's time I found Xander," Willow said. "You behave yourself, puppy. I'll be back."

As soon as she was out of sight, Angel began pulling at his chains, but all he accomplished was splitting open the half-healed cuts on his chest. Hissing in pain, he could only hope that Buffy would find him before Willow's return. And he hoped that Xander stayed close to Buffy. It was the boy's only hope.

***

"Are you sure, Willow?" Buffy asked anxiously. Once again the young witch had performed a location spell, this time attempting to find the missing vampire.

"You can see for yourself, Buffy," Willow answered, indicating the glow on the Sunnydale map. "He's somewhere in this area." Spike looked at the map and declared, "That's the old factory."

Buffy nodded. She wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but was positive that Angel was in trouble. The missing tranquilizer dart coupled with the scent of Willow's twin spelled bad news for Angel. Although why Willow, even a vampire Willow, would kidnap Angel was a mystery.

"Okay, Spike and I will go to the factory and see if we can find Angel. The rest of you might as well go home. Cordelia and Wesley can go with mom, and..."

"I'm coming with you," Wesley interrupted.

"Look Wes," Buffy said. "I know you're worried about Angel, but Spike and I can handle it on our own. We..."

"No, Buffy," Wesley replied firmly. "I'm afraid I must insist on accompanying you."

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to baby-sit you, Wesley," she stated coldly.

"You don't need to worry about Wesley," Cordelia interjected. "And if Spike is going, Wesley should go too. Just to make sure that Angel doesn't accidentally fall on a stake."

"Hey!" Buffy protested.

"Let it go, pet," Spike said. "And if we're mounting this rescue mission, can we get on with it?"

"Worried about Angel, Spike?" Cordelia scoffed.

"Don't give two flips about Angel, luv," Spike told her. "But the sooner we find him, the sooner you lot can leave. Then everyone's happy." Turning away, he headed for the shop door.

Buffy shook her head at her lover's remark and followed him out of the shop.

"Don't worry, Cordelia," Wesley told the brunette. "We'll find him." Taking the tranquilizer gun and darts, he too left the shop.

"Okay," Xander said, "What say we take Buffy's advice and head home." Making a sweeping gesture, he indicated the doorway and bowing slightly said, "Ladies." Joyce, Cordelia, Tara and Willow filed out of the shop. Since Spike had borrowed Giles' car to get to the factory, Anya had offered to drive Giles home. After checking to see that everything was locked up, Giles and Anya also left.

***

Willow was just driving down the street as everyone left the store. Pulling over out of sight, she decided to follow Xander. At some point she was sure she would be able to get him alone. She knew better than to try to take on the White Hats on her own, but Xander by himself wouldn't be a problem. Once she sired him, things would get interesting again. Everything was more fun with Xander.

Chapter 19

Spike pulled up as close to the old factory as he could get without being spotted and stepped out of the car. Buffy and Wesley followed and then watched as Spike once again sniffed the air scenting for Angel. Nodding that he'd caught the scent, they followed as he led them around to the rear of the crumbling building. He opened a door being careful not to make any unnecessary noise and entered. Casting about, he made his way swiftly and silently through the factory. Buffy and Wesley followed as quietly as they could and when Wesley stumbled over some of the debris littering the floor he received glares from his two companions.

They had passed through the large open manufacturing area and were approaching the office area when Spike stopped suddenly. Turning to Buffy he said softly, "He's here all right. I can smell him. And I smell blood."

"Blood?" Buffy asked worriedly. "His or human?"

"His. Smell the vampire Willow too. She's been here. Don't know if she still is though"

Buffy pulled her stake from the waistband of her jeans as Spike shifted into game face. They weren't sure what they were going to encounter inside, but they wanted to be prepared for anything. Wesley followed their lead and held the tranquilizer gun at the ready. Moving forward once more they warily opened the door in front of them. "Dear God," Wesley whispered as he looked into the room.

Buffy gasped in alarm when she saw Angel hanging limply from chains attached to the wall, his torso a bloody mess. She hurried forward, while Spike and Wesley scanned the room for any sign of the young vampire. Once they were certain the Willow wasn't around, the two men joined Buffy.

"He's unconscious and I can't get these damned chains off," Buffy said anxiously. Wesley looked around and spotting the table full of odds and ends went to it and searched for a key. "There's nothing here. It looks as if you'll have to pull the chains from the wall. We'll worry about removing them once we get him out of here."

As Buffy reached up to grab the links, Spike put a stalling hand on her arm. "Hold off, love. Let me check something first."

Turning away, he left the room. Buffy looked around for something with which to clean the blood from Angel, but there was nothing except his shirt. Grabbing it up, she began to gently mop up the blood that was still sluggishly seeping from a few of the deeper cuts. With a groan, Angel began to regain consciousness. "Buffy?"

"God, Angel, I'm so sorry this happened to you," she told him gently. I promise you, that bitch is dust just as soon as I catch up with her."

Spike returned to this tender scene and a wave of jealously and anger flashed through him that he quickly suppressed. Of course Buffy would be concerned for Angel. It was a fact of life that Spike would have to accept as long as he wanted to be with Buffy. Buffy loved Spike, he had no doubts at all about that, but she would always care for Angel. He had no doubts about that either.

Getting himself under control, he came forward and began to unlock the manacles at Angel's wrists. "Where'd you get the key?" Buffy asked.

"Had spares hidden away," Spike answered. "Angelus loves his chains and shackles. I learned a long time ago to keep copies of keys to his toys."

"Angelus put these chains up?" Buffy asked, looking disturbed. She glanced at Angel and saw a grimace of discomfort on his face that she didn't think was entirely due to his wounds.

"Yeah," was all Spike said. When Angel had lost his soul, he had been even more vicious than before, making up for all the years the soul had held him in check. Spike wanted to tell Buffy how Angel had chained Dru up, whipped her, fucked her and humiliated her. How he would bring human victims in, rape them, male or female, children or adult--it didn't matter--and torture them for hours and days on end just for the pleasure of hearing them scream, often not even bothering to feed from them. But he knew that he could never tell Buffy about this side of Angel. The fact was that although he himself wasn't into torture, not without good reason, it had never really bothered him what Angel did to the humans. And Dru had enjoyed it.

So he kept it to himself. Just as he kept his own past deeds to himself. Buffy would never allow herself to be with him if she knew the full truth about him. Pettily informing Buffy about Angelus' actions during that period would probably end up hurting him more than Angel. If he wanted Buffy, he knew he had to act like a man not a vengeful monster. And he wanted Buffy.

Once Angel was freed, Spike and Buffy supported him as Wesley began to lead the way back out of the factory. Angel had managed only a couple steps before crying out in pain and nearly collapsing. "Angel?" Buffy said in concern. It was while looking down at his legs that she noticed the bloodstain on his trousers. "Oh my god, Angel, what did she do?"

Spike's eyes tracked hers and he shuddered. "Christ, Angel, did that bitch castrate you?" He heard Wesley gasp at the question.

"No," Angel managed to gasp out. "She stabbed me. I'll be okay. Hurts like hell, though."

Suppressing another shudder, Spike lifted Angel a little higher taking the weight off the larger vampire's legs. Buffy helped as best she could, but the size difference made it awkward.

Angel had relapsed back into semi-consciousness and so he barely heard it when Buffy said, "We'll take him to my house. Xander should have dropped Mom and Cordelia off there by now."

"Xander," he gasped.

"Shush, Angel. It's okay. We'll have you home soon," Buffy told him in a concerned voice.

"No, Buffy, listen," Angel forced out though pain clenched teeth. "Xander's in danger. Willow is out to get him, wants to sire him."

"Fuck!" Spike snapped. "We've got to get going, pet. Let go of Angel."

"Spike," Buffy began only to draw in a surprised breath when Spike scooped Angel up in his arms like a baby and began to sprint out of the factory. The jarring run spread waves of pain throughout Angel's body, but he merely held in his cries. They had to get to Xander before the vampire did or the boy would be lost.

***

Willow parked the large black convertible several blocks away from her destination. Slipping through backyards, she made her way to the Harris house and disappeared into the shadows. She had realized where he was heading after dropping the last two women off and had sped through the streets to arrive ahead of him. She hoped he wouldn't take long getting home. She hated lying in wait. It was boring.

***

Xander watched until Joyce and Cordelia entered the house and closed the front door before pulling away. He had already dropped Willow and Tara off at the University and could hardly wait to reach his own home. It was still relatively early, but the few hours' sleep he'd caught in Giles' armchair had not really been conducive to rest. He heard the sweet siren song of his bed calling to him.

***

Buffy was terrified for Xander and kept urging Spike to drive faster. "That bitch is double dusted if she's hurt Xander," Buffy promised flatly.

"Don't dust her, Buffy," Angel warned. Buffy turned around in the front seat to look in surprise at Angel. "Why? Look what she did to you, and now she's after Xander. Why shouldn't I dust her?"

"I don't think she's just a lookalike caused by that spell," Angel explained, his voice weak and tired. "I think she's from a parallel dimension and if you dust her we don't know what kind of repercussions that may have here in this dimension."

"Huh?"

"Ah, I think I understand what Angel is suggesting," Wesley interjected. "There are many theories with regard to parallel dimensions. For instance, one posits that if your double dies in their dimension, then you would die here. However that theory obviously doesn't hold true here since our Willow did not die when the other Willow was originally killed. Another theory is that one's double is the exact opposite of oneself. Those who are good here are evil there and vice versa."

Spike looked into the rearview mirror at the Watcher and smirked, "Yeah, I saw that episode of Star Trek too. Dru thought Spock looked right cute in his beard."

Buffy ducked her head and turned back around in her seat before the look of outrage on Wesley's face caused her to burst out laughing. Spike had a real talent for deflating the biggest egos. God, she loved him.

"However," Wesley continued in an offended voice ignoring Spike, "I agree with Angel that since we don't know what connections there may be between the doubles, it would probably be best if we simply capture vampire Willow and attempt to return her to her own world."

"Well guess it's a good thing you brought the tranq gun then, huh?" Buffy said. Looking out the car window she added worriedly, "I just pray we get to Xander in time."

"We will, sweetheart," Spike reassured her, reaching over and entwining his fingers with hers, squeezing gently. Buffy smiled gratefully at her lover and leaning back in the seat tried to think of anything but the danger Xander was in. If anything happened to him...

***

Xander pulled up to the curb in front of his house and got out of his car. A shower, a shave, a Hungry Man dinner while watching a little TV and then bed. Sounded like a plan.

He had almost reached the front door when something moved in the deep shadows cast by the bushes that lined the front of the house. A human shaped body separated itself from the darkness and Xander felt his heart start to pound as he recognized who it was.

"Hello, Xander. Wanna play?"

Chapter 20

The old Citroen sped down the street in the direction of the Harris house. Wesley stared out the window as the scenery flew by in a blur. He was concerned for Angel who was in obvious pain, and he was concerned for Xander who was in deadly danger. He was so deep in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice the car as they raced by, and they were well past it before he made the connection.

"Angel's car!"

"What?" Spike snapped.

"Back there a bit. Angel's car."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Somehow, Spike managed to get a little more speed out of the small car. Tires screeched as he whipped around the final corner and turned onto Xander's street.

***

Xander stared in horror as the vampire Willow started to stalk him. Fumbling in his jacket pocket, he managed to pull out a stake and with trembling hands he grasped it tightly. "Stay away from me," he told her, his voice shaky. "I'll dust you if I have to."

"You don't want to dust me, Xander," she smiled sultrily. "Not when we can have so much fun together." Reaching forward, she casually shoved the stake aside and ran her hands up his chest. Leaning into the young man, she brushed her lips against his, increasing the pressure when he didn't resist. Xander was lost. He hadn't kissed Willow since the Spring Fling; certainly not since she started dating Tara. And even when he had kissed her before, it hadn't felt like this. His lips parted involuntarily as she flicked her tongue over them. He felt a flash of heat race through him and he hardened painfully as her tongue greedily invaded his mouth. She kissed him wildly and rubbed her hips against his erection drawing a groan from deep inside him. Grasping his hair she pulled his head back and drew her lips across the side of his face and to his neck. Xander knew that he should push her away, stake her, run, something, anything, but he felt caught and helpless. He was shaking uncontrollably with want and desire and need. When he felt her shift into game face, he waited helplessly for the bite that would drain the life from him.

Her fangs had barely penetrated his neck when he dimly heard the squeal of tires and his name being called. The vampire raised her face from his neck and he heard her hiss in rage before he was roughly thrust aside. Dazed, he was scarcely aware of falling to the ground until he felt himself being supported in a half-sitting position. Opening his eyes he saw Spike looking at him with concern.

"You all right?"

Xander nodded weakly. He wondered why he felt slightly disappointed. He didn't want to become an evil, undead thing. He didn't.

Spike turned the boy's head and inspected the bite marks. They were bleeding, but Spike could tell that he hadn't suffered much damage. They probably wouldn't even leave a scar. Searching through Xander's coat pockets he found a clean handkerchief and pressed it to the wounds. The blood scent was driving him crazy and he wanted nothing more than to sink his own fangs into Xander's neck, but he kept tight control over his demon. Looking up, he watched as Buffy and the vampire fought. The other Willow was fast and strong, but she was no match for an enraged Slayer. Within minutes, the young vampire was pinned and Buffy raised her stake in preparation to dispatch the creature that had dared to hurt her friends.

"Buffy, no!" Wesley's cry caused Buffy to stop a mere fraction of an inch from driving home the killing blow. "We're not going to kill her, remember?"

"Then you better shoot her now, Wesley," Buffy said coldly.

Coming up to the two women, Wesley carefully aimed the gun, but Willow lurched at the last second almost dislodging Buffy from on top of her. Wesley lifted the barrel of the gun and waited until Buffy had subdued her again and then quickly fired the weapon. Willow screamed in anger, but within seconds was unconscious from the tranquilizer.

Standing up, Buffy hurried over to her friend. "Xander, you okay?" she asked worriedly. By now he was sitting up on his own and Spike was standing next to him. "Yeah, I'll be all right. Fang boy here didn't finish the job, so I guess I'll live."

Spike just snorted and walked over to help Wesley transfer the vampire to the car. Opening the trunk, they unceremoniously tossed her in and slammed down the lid. "Come on, pet. Let's go before she wakes up."

Xander climbed into the backseat, eyes opening wide when he caught sight of Angel. "Holy schmoley, did she do that to you?"

As Angel nodded weakly, Xander felt a shiver go through him, and he felt even guiltier for not trying harder to resist Willow.

Wesley asked Spike to drive back to Angel's car and when they arrived, he jumped out and entered the vehicle. Willow had left the keys in the ignition so Wesley started the engine and followed the others back to The Magic Box. While Spike opened the trunk of the car to retrieve the vampire and Buffy and Xander helped Angel into the back of the shop, Wesley opened the trunk of Angel's car and removed a heavy set of chains. Spike turned with the still unconscious vampire in his arms and raised one sardonic eyebrow. "We keep them handy for situations like these," Wesley said stiffly.

"Sure, mate. Whatever you say," Spike answered in amusement. Did the git really think he gave a shit why Angel kept chains in the back of his car? If Angel wanted to play bondage fun, it made no difference to Spike as long as the big poofter stayed the hell away from him and his.

Buffy was making sure that Angel was comfortable on the old training room sofa when Wesley and Spike entered and looked in surprise at the chains in Wesley's hands. She glanced at Spike in question, but he merely shrugged and then instructed Wesley where to hook up the chains. By the time the vampire began to come around, she was securely bound to the wall.

After retrieving Giles' First Aid Kit so that Wesley and Spike could attend to the wounded, Buffy returned to Giles' office to call him.

"Angel's pretty hurt, but he'll heal okay," she was telling him. "We're going to need more blood though. Anyway, while we were looking for Angel, Vampire Willow went after Xander to sire him. No, he's okay. We got there just in time. I didn't know that hunk of junk of yours could move so fast. No, Giles, Spike didn't wreck it. Anyway, we're all here, including Vampire Willow. Seems that Angel and Wesley are afraid that we'll mess something up between dimensions if I just dust her so they want us to try and send her home."

Buffy sighed and twirled the cord on the phone as she listened to her Watcher. "I don't know how, Giles. But Willow and Anya did something that brought her here, so they're the ones that need to figure out how to send her back." Yawning hugely, she added, "Look Giles, I'm beat. We're all going to crash here at the Magic Box and guard the vampire. We'll decide what to do in the morning, 'kay? Just bring blood." After a few more words and more assurances that they were all right, Buffy hung up the phone and then picked it up to call her mom. Cordelia wanted to come back to the Magic Box but Buffy told her flat out that everyone was too exhausted to come fetch her. She hung up in the middle of a Cordy rant and called Willow.

Willow agreed to come to the Magic Box first thing in the morning. Buffy returned to the training room to find that Spike had laid the training mats out so they could be used as pallets. Buffy handed Angel a mug of blood she had brought with her from the tiny kitchen area and insisted that Angel remain on the couch while the others prepared to sleep on the floor. Spike took first watch since it was too early for the vampire to consider sleep. Within minutes everyone, including the injured Angel, was sound asleep.

Willow stared at him for a while. "Why are you helping these humans? You're not tainted like that one," she said, nodding her head in Angel's direction. "You should let me go. Come with me." Lowering her head and then looking at him through coquettish eyes, she murmured, "We could make this town scream. Make the gutters run red with blood."

Spike looked at her with dispassionate eyes. "Tempting, but no. Don't think my lady would approve."

Willow's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with fury, "Your lady? She's the fucking Slayer. Don't you know we kill Slayers?"

"Yeah, well, I have. But not this one. And I'll kill anyone that tries to hurt her."

Willow narrowed her eyes, "You've killed a Slayer?"

"Two."

"Then why are you this one's lapdog?"

"Not her lapdog, her lover."

"That's disgusting."

"Piece of advice, pet. It's them two want to send you home. The Slayer and I would just as soon see you dust. Keepin' your cake hole shut would be a good idea right about now."

Willow looked into his cold, clear, deadly eyes and shut up.