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jesterladyficChapter Seven:
“Feed me, Giles, I’m starving.” Faith breezed into Buffy and Dawn’s apartment, dropping her bag on the floor.
“Hello, Faith. Nice to see you,” Giles replied, resigned to Faith’s entrances by now.
“Yeah, yeah, love all around. Where’s the food?” Giles sighed and led her into the kitchen where Dawn and he had prepared some dinner.
“Spike! You look awful! What happened?” Dawn looked anxious and Spike reached down one hand to reassure her.
“Nothing, Bit. Just a couple of vamps looking for a little payback.”
“I’d say they got it,” she said, tracing a cut across his face.
“Nonsense, feel right as rain.”
“Whatever,” said Faith, pushing between them to grab some food off the
table. “Had to nurse him for three days. Lucky I was there to bail out his ass, otherwise his dust would be blowing in the wind.”
“Easy on the gore there, Miss Faith,” Andrew interjected. “Dawn may be an all-powerful, mystic Key, but little Keys have ears too, you know.”
“Andrew, don’t stand up for me,” Dawn told him and he blushed. Oz entered the room with the rest of the bags.
“Key?” he asked.
“I’m human, but I’m also energy used to open portals and I’m not really Buffy’s sister, though I am, because all of our memories were fabricated to make us think I was. So even though I remember you saving my life on occasion, we’ve never actually met. So, hi, Oz, I’m Dawn.”
“Oz,” he replied, shaking her hand. Giles came back into the room.
“Yes, hello, Oz. It’s wonderful to have you. We’ll be only too happy to put you up and help you get situated here.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes, well, in the meantime, you all can get washed up and we’ll have a nice meal before these three head out again. Uh, where are you going?”
“LA,” sighed Spike. Giles frowned.
“You do recall my, uh, having some concerns about Angel’s involvement with
Wolfram and Hart and the wisdom of consulting him at this time?”
“I know, Dad. I feel the same way about the bloody law firm that you do. And I’m betting Angel’s starting to as well. But, we got some business there with his people. This concerns all of them, whether any of us like it or not.”
“Angel better get ready. I’ve a feeling serious fangs will fly upon arrival,” Faith said in anticipation, having never seen the two vampires in action and longing for a good view for her first time.
***
“So, boss, who we dealing with this time around? Things would’ve gone a bit smoother back there if you’d given us the heads up.”
Spike stretched his legs into the aisle and adjusted the huge hat he always wore on the plane to protect him from sunlight, even though they caught as many red eye flights as possible. It distressed his ego, but Faith and Andrew loved giving Spike a hard time about it. In fact, Andrew’s new chief goal in life was to get a picture of Spike in it.
“It’s complicated. Not really sure. I’ll have to give you the whole story.”
“I love stories,” Andrew said, excited. “They’re always so much nicer than real life. Tell us the whole thing.” Faith rolled her eyes but settled in after mentioning that perhaps they could hear about any bad writing during the epic tale.
Spike told them how he had been brought back to Wolfram and Hart as a ghost after dying in Sunnydale and how he’d overheard Knox plotting to kill Fred and bring back an ancient demon to take over her body and when he’d gotten his body back he’d left to go find Buffy, but:
“First, I paid a little visit to Mr. Demon Worshiper and made sure he’d never be able to pull off his surprise guest. Guess some others want to make an attempt though and that they want to make sure I don’t get in the way again.”
“Spike, that’s serious,” Andrew said, stunned. “What are we going to tell Angel?”
“The bloody truth. Time for the poof to get his head out of the clouds and back
down to the business of taking care of his own. If he can’t handle that, then I will. They have to be warned anyway, that someone’s after Fred.”
“Angel can handle this,” Faith said. “He handled all my crap for years. The man can deal.”
“Bloody funny coming from the one person I’ve known he’s never messed up with
and always believed in,” Spike retorted and then added thoughtfully, “Don’t know why it’s you, though. I’d have gone with the cheerleader myself. Girl had spunk.”
“What, you saying Angel’s got a thing for me?” Faith was incredulous. “No way, man. Too twined around with Buffy.”
“Don’t think so. I mean, he says he is and he probably thinks he means it, but
Cordelia got his heart somewhere along the Big Bad and Higher Power way. So, sorry, Rogue, but I think you fall into the good project category.” Faith shook her head.
“I didn’t think he was, ya know. I just…hate playing second fiddle.”
“Well, cheer up; you’re not second fiddle in Andrew’s heart. I mean, just cause you two can’t stand each other and act like bleeding teenagers with me-me-me syndrome, doesn’t mean you don’t care.” Both squawked and tried to hit Spike, who ducked and yelled loud enough for the whole plane to hear, all the while desperately trying to keep
his hat on.
***
“I may not be Angel’s favorite person, but I know this situation best of all, so let me do the talking. I let my personal, seething hatred get in the way, then Rogue can take over, understand?”
“So commanding,” sighed Andrew in admiration. Faith just ignored both of them and focused on adjusting her halter top to better reveal her cleavage and conceal her stakes. The elevator chimed and opened to reveal the main floor of Wolfram and Hart.
“Oh my gosh! Spike, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave and never come back.” Harmony jumped up from her desk and advanced on Spike, pointing her finger aggressively.
“My, Harm, don’t you look just smashing in that skirt. How ever do you manage it, aside from the immortality, of course?” Harmony did the vampire equivalent of a blush and smoothed her skirt.
“Do you really think so, Spikey? Thanks, I got it at-Hey! You’re distracting me. What do you want?”
“Meeting with the Big Boss and his subservients if you don’t mind, pet. Important, very important.” Harmony sighed.
“He’s very busy right now, Spike. And who are these two?” she asked disdainfully, pointing at Faith and Andrew. Faith grinned and moved in closer to Harmony, managing to loom over her, despite Harmony’s heels.
“I’m Faith, the Vampire Slayer. And if you don’t go get Angel right now, I’ll help you to remember exactly what my job involves.” Harmony shrank away.
“Oh, right. Well, I’ll just tell him you’re here then.”
“Harmony! What is going on out there? Didn’t I tell you I wanted some-“ Angel’s voice trailed off as he stepped out of his office and saw who was there.
“Faith…Spike.”
“Greetings, Big Guy,” Faith said, walking closer. “How’s it hanging?”
“Well, Gramps, how’ve you been? Love-no wait, still hate the hair.”
“Faith,” Angel said, ignoring Spike. “What’s going on?”
“We got some bad news and Blondie here is best equipped to tell ya about it.
Andy’s just along for the ride.”
“And for valuable help and assistance,” Andrew put in.
“And for being put under thrall,” Spike muttered. Andrew flushed.
“And to help,” Faith conceded. “But we gotta talk to you and your what’s ems.
Ya know, Gunn, Stick-girl, Wes. And the Green-guy.”
“Somebody mention my name?” Lorne walked up, his ever present cell phone for
once, not attached to his ear. “Sweetie, good to see you back again. And our Blonde-brownie back too. We should have a party.”
“Your last one turned out so well,” Angel reminded him.
“Yeah, well, literally be rest assured. I’ve been sleeping the full nine yards a night lately, Angeline.”
“Angeline?” Faith guffawed. Angel glowered and turned around to stalk back to
his office.
“You wanna talk, we’ll talk. Harmony, get Wes, Gunn and Fred in here, now!” Everybody followed him into his office where shortly the aforementioned three entered on the double.
“Spike! You’re back!” Fred rushed to give him a hug, then returned to Wesley’s side where he put his arm around her. “Hi, Faith.”
“Spike, good to see you back, man.” Gunn offered his hand and Spike slapped it. Angel sat down impatiently.
“If all the touchy-feely, Spike-ness is done, can we get back to why in hell he’s here?”
“Right then.” Spike sank down into a chair and slouched over it, relaxed. “Let’s get this started.” Everybody found spots of one sort or another and Spike started to explain why they were there.
“This here’s Andrew. I believe you’ve all met the delightful Faith before. We three are looking for Buffy.”
“What happened to her?” Angel growled at Spike. “What did you do?”
“Nonsense, not me at all. Why’s everything got to be my fault? She’s missing, without her strength, and my money is on the Immortal as for who’s got her.” Angel’s grip tightened on the edge of his desk.
“The Immortal?” he whispered in horror. Spike nodded.
“I knew you’d understand that anyway. She’s been gone for some weeks now and we’ve been all over this bloody world looking for her. Keep getting these sodding cryptic notes as to where to look and everyplace we end up, we just find another one, that and demons to kill.” Spike touched the barely visible bruises over his eyes. “The last one led us here, but it also brought up other issues concerning you lot.”
“What kind of issues?” Wesley asked, his mind already working on the problem.
“Ones involving your little Queenie there.” Faith pointed to Fred, who recoiled. Wesley tightened his arm around her.
“What’s it got to do with her?” he asked, his voice tight.
“You all remember little science bloke worked for her back during my haunting stage?”
“Knox. But, he’s dead. He was found with his neck broken inside his own house,” Fred whispered faintly.
“Your work?” Angel immediately concluded.
“And proud of it. I was in the lab awhile back listening to him wax on about his glorious plan to kill Fred there and bring some ancient demon to take over her body. You can bet I bloody well killed him soon as I was able.”
“Knox. Evil. Well, yeah, I guess duh.” Fred looked down at her hands. “I guess, I just thought he liked me.”
“He did, Fred,” Spike said gently. “That’s why he was planning on it. Thought you were worthy for his beloved demon god or whatever.” Wesley looked down at her in concern. Fred smiled at him.
“It’s okay, Wes. I’m fine. I still love you best after all.” Wesley kissed her forehead before raising his head to look at Spike.
“But now that Knox is not here to bring this demon, Fred is no longer in any danger, correct?”
“We don’t know. You see, Percy, our little note here says that yes, demon can’t do her song and dance, but there are other followers who want a little revenge on me and may use Science-girl there and/or Buffy to do it.”
“Can’t you do anything, Spike, besides get my people into trouble? My family?” Angel’s voice was exhausted. Spike stood up and moved over to the desk.
“Look, Your High and Mighty Broodiness, it’s not my fault there’s baddies out there. Your problem is you’re too good at wanting to be the only one to decide everybody’s lives for them. You’ve had your share of bad patches, I’ll admit it. But now when they need you, get off your sodding high administrative horse and be the champion of the people you so desperately want everybody to think you are. Fred and Buffy need you. Use your precious resources you love so much and find out from this beast you’re riding in, who these demon-peons are and help me kick the crap out of them. Then you can go back to your brooding over Cordelia and signing checks.” Faith stared at Spike, impressed in spite of herself. Andrew, of course, was leaning against the wall for support in the face of this perceptive declaration.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Gunn said in agreement. Angel would never admit it, but he felt a small spark of fire in his dying hope at Spike’s words and Angel raised his head with new strength.
“Spike, you never give up, do you? Just to get you out of my life.” His voice lowered. “And because it’s Buffy, fine. Everybody back to your departments and give me something, anything on who might be doing this. Fred, someone you trust is to be with you at all times. Faith, Spike, and…uh, Andrew, stay with me and give me the full report. Move it, people. Our family’s at stake.” Everyone dispersed to their separate tasks, Wesley pausing to ask Spike,
“Did you happen to catch the name of the demon that was to be summoned?” Spike thought a moment.
“Illyria? Iyria? Something like that.”
“That gives me something to start with anyway.” Wesley too scurried off to his office.
“Check out the obedience there,” Faith whistled. “Way to muster the troops, Angel.”
“Yeah, big general type you are now,” Spike agreed. “So, what you need from us?”
“Spike, I need you to just sit down and shut up for once. Give me the exact details of everywhere you’ve been and what you know about who’s after Fred.”
“Can’t exactly do that if I shut up, now can I, Gramps?”
“Spike!”
***
Spike wandered down to Fred’s lab for Fred-duty, as Lorne called it. The scientist was busy researching when he arrived and he waited, looking at the things he remembered.
“You here to watch-dog me?” she asked, resigned.
“Yeah, my turn and all. Gotta keep you safe, pet.” She smiled, a little exasperated with her boys and their over-protective streaks.
“I’m not gonna disappear into thin air, Spike. I may have some sort of demon after me, but I’m not a little girl who needs her daddy to keep the monsters away. I’m quite able to save myself now.”
“We all can save ourselves, luv. Sometimes we need help is all,” Spike answered, winking at her. She swatted his hand before moving on to her work while Spike continued his inspection of the room.
“So you and Watcher-boy finally got it on,” he said conversationally. Fred blushed and flustered her way around the counter.
“Yes, not that it’s any of your business, Spike.”
“Just checking, Science-girl,” Spike smiled at her.
***
Faith and Andrew lounged on the couches while Angel was out conferring with an actual devil demon. Horns, tail and everything. Faith thought it a touch ironic.
“This place is so big.” Andrew stared around in awe. “I feel so small and insignificant.”
“Yeah, well, you’re supposed to.” Faith nudged his shoulder. “Kid, places like these are designed to put you down. They’re all about the high-power client, rich and mighty brown-nosers here. You and me, we don’t fit in.” Andrew brightened up slightly.
“We’re the same then?” Faith snorted.
“No way are we the same. We just got common enemies. So buck up your chin. Ole Angel will have our info soon and then we can ride this cult till they drop and get the hell out of town.”
“Good, this place is too much for me and the people here are so…cold.” Faith stared at him.
“Interesting word choice there, Andy. To be honest I’m kinda worried about the sitch here. I mean, here’s this incredibly bad-ass corporation and they just hand over the reins to their arch-enemy like that? Without some ulterior motive, even, and Angel fell for it? Spike’s right that the heat’s turning up. I don’t wanna be in LA when the thing blows up and I don’t think Angel and Co. should be either.”
“Well, go ahead and tell Angel that. I wouldn’t. He’s grumpy,” Andrew stated. “I prefer Spike if I need some vampyre company.”
“Yeah, for company go to Spike. But Angel’s a great guy. He’s just been through a lot lately with Cordelia going evil and all and I don’t think he appreciates the blast from the past fresh with real truths that Spike’s been hammering down his throat.”
“I don’t think he’d appreciate anything anyone tried to do for him,” Andrew muttered.
“Not true there. He totally thanked me and everything for kicking his ass and landing him back in a steel cage. Man’s an appreciation machine.” Faith and Andrew laughed and then they looked up as Angel came through the door, followed by everyone else, including Harmony, who hovered around with a refreshment tray to offer to everyone.
“All right,” Angel said, once everyone had gathered. “We just got a threatening note. Normal day at Wolfram and Hart. Wes checked it out, so why don’t you read it?”
“Thank you, Angel,” Wesley replied. “The note simply offers an exchange. Spike for not hurting Fred. And they say that they can harm her even without being in possession of her and they want no more involvement in their ‘religious affairs,’ as they put it.”
“What’s the plan, Angel?” Gunn asked. “How we stop them from hurting our own?” Angel rubbed his forehead.
“You got any bright legal ideas?”
“Not really, you know I haven’t been so sharp in that area recently. And the price for redo is a little too high for me right now, so unless something happens, I’m pretty much useless to you except as the muscle.”
“Muscle with heart,” Angel replied. Gunn looked honored and tried to cover it up quickly.
“Wes, how about you?”
“I’m afraid not. I believe if we could just obtain their location a simple fight would put an end to this forever. I have also found some more information on Illyria, the ancient Old One Knox spoke of.” Wesley said Knox as if it were a dirty word. “She was a very powerful and influential demon at the time when the Old Ones walked the earth. Even now, some like Knox worship her after thousands of years. Her powers are legendary and awe-inspiring. However, to have her inhabit our time once more would involve the hollowing out of a vessel for her, in this case, Fred.”
“No,” said Angel. “That’s not happening. I won’t let it.”
“None of us would, sweet tart,” Lorne put in. “But we gotta figure out how to stop it before all hell breaks loose and I’m not just talking about my mother. I’m talking scary fire and brimstone, wet the bed, Olivia Newton John kind of hell.”
“What do you know about it, Green-man?” asked Spike inquisitively.
“Heard Knoxy-boy singing, didn’t I? Back when we first took over? Saw some sort of hell bringing in his future. I put that down in my report, didn’t anyone read my report?” Everyone looked around sheepishly. “Point is, cupcake, that I thought it’d been taken care of and you did take care of his share of it. But he’s got friends, ugly mean ones and they want their god back too.”
“Can I make a really bad suggestion?” Fred asked. “Maybe we could talk to Eve and see if we can get the Senior Partners in on this? They could be a big help if they wanted to be and we are on their team now.”
“No, we’re not,” Angel said, rising from his desk. “The last thing we want to do is bring the Senior Partners into this. They have their fingers in too many of our pies as it is. They targeted each and every one of us for something and I know it’s my fault we’re here and being tempted to accept their help, but we won’t go any further than we have to. We run Wolfram and Hart. But anything involving our people, Angel Investigations will take care of on its own.”
“Fine speech there, except for the part where you left out, ‘oh yeah and we just used all our powerful new resources to take care of this on our own,’ ” Spike commented.
“Let’s get technical, Spike,” Angel ground out. “From now on we will use our own resources. Satisfied?” Spike just smirked at him. Angel focused his attention back on everyone else.
“So, we need to find out where these guys are? Did they give us a way to get a hold of them?”
“Yes, actually,” Wesley supplied. “A phone number. I traced it back to a bar about twenty minutes away.”
“Good, then, call and tell them we’ll give them Spike. Preferably gagged.”
“Hold up there just one bloody minute-” Spike began, but Faith interrupted him.
“Angel, your house and all, but Giles did sorta put Spike in charge of this operation. You should confer with him about any delivering of himself over to the enemy.”
“Gee, Rogue, warm feelies all over,” Spike said in surprise.
“Just don’t wanna have to explain your dusty body to the brat,” Faith told him. Spike grinned and replied,
“I’m telling the Nibblet what you called her.”
“Hiding behind a teenager, Spike. What a Big Bad you really are,” Faith replied. Angel clenched his jaw impatiently, unaware of the camaraderie that the three had established over their travels and thinking they were just wasting his time.
“I just thought we could say we’ll send Spike and then kill them all while we’re there. Good plan, O Spike the Leader?”
“My kind of plan anyway,” Spike replied. “Let’s get moving then. Sacrificial lamb to the slaughter.”
They quickly conferred as to who should do what where and it was decided that Angel, Faith, Gunn and Andrew should accompany Spike on his outing to give himself up, while Fred, Lorne and Wesley remained behind, partly to protect Fred and partly for any surprises that might show up.
That done, Wesley left to make his phone call which resulted in arranging for them to bring Spike to an abandoned warehouse that night. In the meantime, Wesley had Fred looking through all of Knox’s files that could be found and Wesley was researching as much as he could on Illyria.
The information was both illuminating and interesting and appealed to Wesley’s scholarly thirst for knowledge. Illyria’s remains had been put in a sarcophagus and placed in the Deeper Well, a resting place for her kind protected by a Guardian. It was foretold that she would one day be a Presence among men again, but the only person who could draw her forth would be the one who could perform certain rites and undergo specific trials to become worthy. And…Wesley’s eyebrow rose as he turned the page…that would take several years to complete.
So they were safe on that front, Knox being dead, until someone new from her sect arose to try and complete the task of bringing her back. There seemed to be some more references to that, but try as he might, Wesley couldn’t find what they entailed.
***
Fred wrinkled her nose in disgust and horror as she found Knox’s notes detailing the events that enabled him to carry the honor of bringing back Illyria. Underneath that shyly awkward, bookish, genius exterior had been a thoroughly sick and fanatical man. Fred shuddered and practically ran to Wesley’s office, bursting through the door without knocking.
“Fred! What’s the matter? Are you hurt? Is something wrong?” Wesley abandoned his books at once and led her to sit down.
“I-I’m sorry, Wesley. I just didn’t want to have to look at that stuff anymore. Demon slime I can handle, but this was-was…”
“Truly barbaric,” he finished for her. She nodded.
“It just is hard to think that, well, that I trusted him. As much as anybody here, I mean. I keep bringing trouble down on us, Wesley.”
“What!” he cried. “Nonsense.”
“People keep having to save me, Wesley. My family. And I don’t want any of y’all getting hurt.”
“We’d never take that into account if it meant you, Fred,” he said softly. “That is what family does. We grow apart as clearly demonstrated by this past year, but at the critical moment, we’ll always be here for each other.”
“I know all that. I just have trouble believing that we could rally around while we’re here.” She looked around his office. “In this place we should’ve never come to.”
“You feel that too?” He gently lifted her chin with his fingers and looked in her eyes. “This will all be over and we’ll save our souls together, I promise you.” She smiled and he kissed her thoroughly before they both went back to their separate work.
***
“Time’s a wasting, boss.” Faith walked into the hall where Spike was pacing impatiently. “Let’s get you all trussed up.”
“Finally,” he snapped as if making him wait to be tied up was an unforgivable sin and stalked to where she, Angel, Gunn and Andrew stood waiting.
“Change of plans, Angel.” Wesley came running out of his office. “These texts about Illyria. They’re very cryptic and random, but I believe there might be a back up spell or something to that effect. I should go along with you in case of any magical surprises.”
“All right, fine. Gunn, you stay here with Fred and Lorne.”
“Just when I get the chance to do some real slice and dice,” Gunn complained, but handed his axe over to Wesley.
“Let’s go,” Angel said and they all walked to the elevator.
***
They entered the warehouse cautiously, alert for any ambush. But all they saw was a group standing in the center of the room waiting for them. There were about twenty figures with a mixture of both demons and humans, but all bore a mark upon their right cheek of blue flame sweeping through a series of endless circles. The foremost spoke and as soon as he did they realized their mistake.
“Impero,” he said simply and each of them watched as if frozen, in horror, while Spike struggled uselessly against invisible bonds as they dragged him toward the Illyria worshipers.
“Reductum,” said the leader and Spike screamed while the others felt control of themselves return once more. They moved into an offensive position, each eying a quarry.
“Fight on; we are prepared to die for Her. But you will not reach him before his death brings Her.” The leader smiled, a human smile over alien features and melted into the group and started to mutter words over Spike as the rest moved forward to guard them.
Then Wesley understood the passage he had read earlier and with growing dismay cried out,
“Angel! This is the spell. If they finish it, Spike will die and Illyria will be brought here and drawn into Fred!”
“Then break the spell, Wesley!” Angel gutted out as he swung his broadsword into an enemy face.
“While we break some heads.” Faith ducked under a knife-thrust and elbowed the man attacking her out cold. Wesley fumbled for the papers he’d brought revealing the incantation to break the spell. He grasped Andrew’s arm.
“Help me! Hold this for me as I read.”
“Okay, but I’m much better at summoning de-”
“Just hold!” Wesley shouted, already concentrating on the pages and starting to utter something in an archaic language.
A silver light had encircled Spike and his tormentor and through it Spike could be seen on his knees, held down by an unknown force, as the leader muttered faster and faster. Spike was weakening as though all his strength were being torn out by the words.
Angel drew off about half of the fighting force to the catwalks above the main floor. Faith battled the rest and prevented them from reaching Wesley and Andrew. Both had tried, without success, to break the barrier between them and Spike.
Wesley gritted his teeth and shouted the final word of the incantation just as Angel felled the last of his foes. With a blaze of light, the barrier vanished and Wesley collapsed just as Spike did also, his stolen power rushing back into him.
A demon gave a cry of rage and rushed toward Wesley to smite him down for the interruption of their ceremony. Andrew cradled Wesley’s head and didn’t see the murderous demon bearing down on them. Faith made a split-second decision to let Spike handle himself and brought her knife down in a curling arc into the demon’s back as he brought his own down toward Wesley and Andrew, who had just now noticed the demon and was starting to jump up.
She turned back toward Spike and saw the leader sneer.
“Choices. Yet it is too late, Slayer.” He held a sword poised over Spike’s
limp head, who was still reeling from the suddenness of his returned strength. “All I have to do is dust him and all your efforts will have been in vain.” And he raised his sword and brought it swinging down.
A sudden noise from overhead caused him to look up as Faith started to run to him.
“Not my family you don’t!” Angel roared as he jumped off the catwalk and landed before him. “Spike may be an annoying nuisance, but he’s blood.” And Angel sent his sword flashing into the man’s belly, pulling it out with a flourish as the man fell and Angel felt a stab of his old self as he did. This was what his life was about. Faith rushed past him to Spike who sat up coughing heavily and looking as if he’d just been
resurrected from a Hellmouth.
“Boss, you gonna make it?” she asked, helping him to stand.
“Yeah, but I think my brain’s gone mental. Did I just hear Angel stand up for me?” Faith smiled and answered,
“Yup. Guess he likes ya after all.”
“Now I know something’s mental, but it’s either your brain or his,” he mumbled.
She chuckled as Angel glared at Spike and muttered something about,
“Ungrateful peroxide pests and he didn’t know what she was thinking,” before stomping over to Wesley who had only just regained consciousness.
“Wait, luv,” Spike said almost incoherently. “Gotta get a clue.”
“Huh? Oh right.” Faith knelt down and rummaged through the dead man’s pockets
before pulling out a blood-stained note that would reveal their next location. Faith supporting Spike and Angel supporting Wesley, they exited the building and headed back to Wolfram and Hart.
***
“Spikey! Blondie-bear! What happened?” Harmony rushed out from behind her desk.
“He’s fine. Harmony, get a medic up here!” Angel snapped and grumbled,
“She’s my assistant as she points out so often. I’m the one she’s supposed to be worried about. But no, it’s Blondie-bear!” Angel shook these thoughts off and strode into his office.
The medic arrived and examined Spike and Wesley in Angel’s office proclaiming them both to be fit and able. Wesley suffered from spell back lash and Spike from having all his insides taken out and then jammed back in.
“They’ll settle soon and be ready for anything they might want to undertake,” the medic said and then glided back to the medical facility.
Wesley rested on the couch and Fred sat beside him, holding his hand.
“Wes, care to tell me what that was back there?” Angel asked.
“Certainly.” Wesley roused himself. “Because Spike had killed Illyria’s Bringer, the powers of the Bringer-the honor, I should say-were transferred to him. This man, in killing Spike, would receive the same benefits only with the added bonus of the spell which would draw out power from Spike to bring Illyria into Fred without the usual steps. Quite ingenious really, but nasty.” Wesley winced, clutching his head. “Glad I was there.”
“Me too, Percy, me too,” Spike croaked.
“Wait up now,” Gunn cut in. “How would they have gotten Fred? She wasn’t even there.”
“Well, because Knox had marked her out for the job, whoever did the spell would automatically use her, whether she was in the vicinity or not, unless he performed the proper steps to appoint a new vessel for Illyria.” Wesley smiled at Fred and kissed the back of her hand. “Happily, the spell was interrupted before it could be finished and secondly, with Spike being still alive, no one else can perform the proper rituals to raise Illyria until they kill him.”
“So I’m gonna have Illyria groupies hunting me for the rest of my immortal life?” Spike sighed. “If it wasn’t you, Fred, I’d-“
“Thank you, Spike,” she said quietly. “You’re a real part of the family to do that for me.”
“Not part of his bloody family!” Spike recounted, pointing at Angel. Angel sighed and looked at his Grandchilde.
“Yes you are, Spike. Whether we like it or not.” Angel lowered his voice and mumbled quickly. “And I have you to thank for helping me remember the importance of family again. I think some definite changes need to happen around here. If it weren’t for Cordelia and Con-” he stopped quickly. “Cordelia, I’d leave here.”
“Take my advice, mate. Leave here anyway. Cheerleader or no cheerleader. You can take care of her elsewhere. Here, she’s just in danger.”
“Spike. It’s my decision. Stop pushing.”
“Fine, whatever. You go your own way and speaking of going, where we going, Rogue?” Faith brought out the bloody paper and read from it slowly, trying to decipher the words.
“Well, if Angel wasn’t such a gory fella, we could find out.
‘No connection, no past,
Nothing to fall back on;
Island nation, New Zealand mast;
Your heritage, where has it gone?’
And still with the four really bad lines. So, I’m guessing New Zealand?”
Andrew practically shot out of his chair.
“That’s where they shot Lord of the Rings! Can we visit Mount Sunday, please, please, please?”
“Cool it, Andy. This is not a geek vacation. It’s a ‘pick up Buffy and try not to get you killed’ trip.” Andrew pouted.
“I’ve been fighting. And I know as well as you what we have to do. Nobody ever said we couldn’t make detours, Miss Dancing At Clubs All Night and Getting Arrested For Indecent Behavior Person.”
“Do we have to be reminded of the painful lesson we learned back in Sunnydale? Cause I ain’t adverse to teaching it again, but it could get a little messy for you,” Faith told him warningly. He gave in with bad grace.
“I’m not afraid of you, Dark One. Our powers are one.”
“Which means?” she asked, clueless.
“None of your business,” Andrew answered.
“If we’re done with this…conversation?” Angel asked. “Get out of my town and do that. Whatever it is.”
“Don’t mind them, Gramps. They like to do that. Gets all that tension out and leaves their minds free and empty.” Faith shoved Spike and he nearly toppled over, his equilibrium still a little fuzzy.
“Spike, the second you hear from Buffy or find her, you tell me. Faith, make sure he does.” Angel glowered extra hard to make sure his point got across.
“Don’t worry, Big Guy. We got people all over we’re informing on B’s status. Giles, the brat, Xander. We’ll put you on the list.”
“Thank you, Faith. You’re really coming through, aren’t you?” Angel smiled at her.
“What? I get my insides ripped out and it’s ‘thank you, Faith for saving all our lives?’ Unlife just will never be fair,” Spike retorted.
“Spike. Get out of here,” Angel gritted through his teeth. “Go, before I decide to smash that pretty head in.”
“So you admit my head’s the pretty one? Anyway, who smashed who last? And we wouldn’t want to muss up our hair gel, would we, Your Broodiness?”
Angel clenched his jaw and then turned to sit behind his desk focusing on his paper work. Spike grinned and made his round of good byes again, parting on much better terms with Wesley and earning another hug from Fred. Andrew hugged everyone and promised to write them long letters detailing everything about the Great Buffy Search. Faith simply nodded to everybody, before the threesome left to continue their search.
***
This time when Buffy opened her eyes she could focus them right away on the hooded figure, seated at a writing table. He was writing furiously, even sometimes biting on his feathered quill as if to think of a certain word or phrase that eluded him. She felt much better, like she had strength to do things normal people could do, though it still didn’t feel natural to her. But if her strength continued to return she would be able to break free, probably in the next few weeks.
That is if Buffy’s mind wasn’t completely caught up in the revelation that Spike was alive. She wasn’t surprised that Faith was looking for her, she was the obvious choice and Andrew, well, nothing he did would surprise her. But that Spike was alive! Her heart hammered every time she thought it and even being chained up couldn’t change the fact that she wanted to sing and dance all over the place.
Buffy closed her eyes again and thought about what her captor had told her. Of how he had concocted a plan to revive Spike from the dead and use her as a means to pay him back for things he’d done over the years. Of how the demon circuits had buzzed with the news and people from all over clamored to be involved and be the one to put an end to William the Bloody for the final time. It reminded her of Slayerfest ’98 and Mr. Trick’s plan to kill her and Faith.
Despite the audacity of them to kidnap her and use her to lure Spike here, Buffy could almost kiss them for what they’d done. Bringing Spike back to her again and with no snatched-from-heaven-feelings to deal with. She couldn’t wait to see him when he came for her.
It wasn’t like there weren’t serious things to discuss with him or that she didn’t have issues about him and guys in general, but she had never come so close to perfect happiness before and no two-bit theatrical villain was going to keep Spike from her. Buffy rattled her chains to get her captor’s attention and to gauge her strength. It was increasing despite the daily injection.
“Well rested, are we?” he asked. “I do hope so as I would feel such a terrible host otherwise.”
“You are a terrible host. Maybe you’re stuck in the Middle Ages, but it is considered impolite to chain up your guests these days. Oh, and they usually prefer to
be asked if they want to come.”
“Very droll, my dear. I must say I am sorry to not be taking a closer interest
in your situation, but I am so fascinated in your friends and their antics.”
“Oh yeah, what’d they do this time?”
“I suppose, bella, it wouldn’t be any harm to tell you.”
“Gosh, do I feel the flattery. Stop, I’m blushing.”
“Sweet girl, you flatter yourself. Your lover was just in LA and everyone rallied around your cause so unanimously, I was quite touched. But now they are on their way again and I am quite looking forward to what’s in store for them soon.”
“Don’t get presumptuous on me now. You might not be here to watch.” He laughed.
“My darling Slayer, you underestimate me and overestimate yourself. I have been here a long time and plan to be here longer still. This is my favorite little spot, you see and I do hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am.”
‘There he goes on again, with the enjoying myself. It’s like he’s so used to swooning females he can’t help trying to get me to join their ditzy ranks even though I’m chained up. I’ve got to stop thinking. It’s turning my brain mushy,’ thought Buffy. Said Buffy:
“Well, this talk has been so nice, I think I’ll go back to sleep now. I’d join you, but, you know.” She lifted her hands for emphasis. “Chains.”
“Sweet dreams, bella,” he answered. She rolled her eyes in response. He got cornier every day.
“Feed me, Giles, I’m starving.” Faith breezed into Buffy and Dawn’s apartment, dropping her bag on the floor.
“Hello, Faith. Nice to see you,” Giles replied, resigned to Faith’s entrances by now.
“Yeah, yeah, love all around. Where’s the food?” Giles sighed and led her into the kitchen where Dawn and he had prepared some dinner.
“Spike! You look awful! What happened?” Dawn looked anxious and Spike reached down one hand to reassure her.
“Nothing, Bit. Just a couple of vamps looking for a little payback.”
“I’d say they got it,” she said, tracing a cut across his face.
“Nonsense, feel right as rain.”
“Whatever,” said Faith, pushing between them to grab some food off the
table. “Had to nurse him for three days. Lucky I was there to bail out his ass, otherwise his dust would be blowing in the wind.”
“Easy on the gore there, Miss Faith,” Andrew interjected. “Dawn may be an all-powerful, mystic Key, but little Keys have ears too, you know.”
“Andrew, don’t stand up for me,” Dawn told him and he blushed. Oz entered the room with the rest of the bags.
“Key?” he asked.
“I’m human, but I’m also energy used to open portals and I’m not really Buffy’s sister, though I am, because all of our memories were fabricated to make us think I was. So even though I remember you saving my life on occasion, we’ve never actually met. So, hi, Oz, I’m Dawn.”
“Oz,” he replied, shaking her hand. Giles came back into the room.
“Yes, hello, Oz. It’s wonderful to have you. We’ll be only too happy to put you up and help you get situated here.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes, well, in the meantime, you all can get washed up and we’ll have a nice meal before these three head out again. Uh, where are you going?”
“LA,” sighed Spike. Giles frowned.
“You do recall my, uh, having some concerns about Angel’s involvement with
Wolfram and Hart and the wisdom of consulting him at this time?”
“I know, Dad. I feel the same way about the bloody law firm that you do. And I’m betting Angel’s starting to as well. But, we got some business there with his people. This concerns all of them, whether any of us like it or not.”
“Angel better get ready. I’ve a feeling serious fangs will fly upon arrival,” Faith said in anticipation, having never seen the two vampires in action and longing for a good view for her first time.
***
“So, boss, who we dealing with this time around? Things would’ve gone a bit smoother back there if you’d given us the heads up.”
Spike stretched his legs into the aisle and adjusted the huge hat he always wore on the plane to protect him from sunlight, even though they caught as many red eye flights as possible. It distressed his ego, but Faith and Andrew loved giving Spike a hard time about it. In fact, Andrew’s new chief goal in life was to get a picture of Spike in it.
“It’s complicated. Not really sure. I’ll have to give you the whole story.”
“I love stories,” Andrew said, excited. “They’re always so much nicer than real life. Tell us the whole thing.” Faith rolled her eyes but settled in after mentioning that perhaps they could hear about any bad writing during the epic tale.
Spike told them how he had been brought back to Wolfram and Hart as a ghost after dying in Sunnydale and how he’d overheard Knox plotting to kill Fred and bring back an ancient demon to take over her body and when he’d gotten his body back he’d left to go find Buffy, but:
“First, I paid a little visit to Mr. Demon Worshiper and made sure he’d never be able to pull off his surprise guest. Guess some others want to make an attempt though and that they want to make sure I don’t get in the way again.”
“Spike, that’s serious,” Andrew said, stunned. “What are we going to tell Angel?”
“The bloody truth. Time for the poof to get his head out of the clouds and back
down to the business of taking care of his own. If he can’t handle that, then I will. They have to be warned anyway, that someone’s after Fred.”
“Angel can handle this,” Faith said. “He handled all my crap for years. The man can deal.”
“Bloody funny coming from the one person I’ve known he’s never messed up with
and always believed in,” Spike retorted and then added thoughtfully, “Don’t know why it’s you, though. I’d have gone with the cheerleader myself. Girl had spunk.”
“What, you saying Angel’s got a thing for me?” Faith was incredulous. “No way, man. Too twined around with Buffy.”
“Don’t think so. I mean, he says he is and he probably thinks he means it, but
Cordelia got his heart somewhere along the Big Bad and Higher Power way. So, sorry, Rogue, but I think you fall into the good project category.” Faith shook her head.
“I didn’t think he was, ya know. I just…hate playing second fiddle.”
“Well, cheer up; you’re not second fiddle in Andrew’s heart. I mean, just cause you two can’t stand each other and act like bleeding teenagers with me-me-me syndrome, doesn’t mean you don’t care.” Both squawked and tried to hit Spike, who ducked and yelled loud enough for the whole plane to hear, all the while desperately trying to keep
his hat on.
***
“I may not be Angel’s favorite person, but I know this situation best of all, so let me do the talking. I let my personal, seething hatred get in the way, then Rogue can take over, understand?”
“So commanding,” sighed Andrew in admiration. Faith just ignored both of them and focused on adjusting her halter top to better reveal her cleavage and conceal her stakes. The elevator chimed and opened to reveal the main floor of Wolfram and Hart.
“Oh my gosh! Spike, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave and never come back.” Harmony jumped up from her desk and advanced on Spike, pointing her finger aggressively.
“My, Harm, don’t you look just smashing in that skirt. How ever do you manage it, aside from the immortality, of course?” Harmony did the vampire equivalent of a blush and smoothed her skirt.
“Do you really think so, Spikey? Thanks, I got it at-Hey! You’re distracting me. What do you want?”
“Meeting with the Big Boss and his subservients if you don’t mind, pet. Important, very important.” Harmony sighed.
“He’s very busy right now, Spike. And who are these two?” she asked disdainfully, pointing at Faith and Andrew. Faith grinned and moved in closer to Harmony, managing to loom over her, despite Harmony’s heels.
“I’m Faith, the Vampire Slayer. And if you don’t go get Angel right now, I’ll help you to remember exactly what my job involves.” Harmony shrank away.
“Oh, right. Well, I’ll just tell him you’re here then.”
“Harmony! What is going on out there? Didn’t I tell you I wanted some-“ Angel’s voice trailed off as he stepped out of his office and saw who was there.
“Faith…Spike.”
“Greetings, Big Guy,” Faith said, walking closer. “How’s it hanging?”
“Well, Gramps, how’ve you been? Love-no wait, still hate the hair.”
“Faith,” Angel said, ignoring Spike. “What’s going on?”
“We got some bad news and Blondie here is best equipped to tell ya about it.
Andy’s just along for the ride.”
“And for valuable help and assistance,” Andrew put in.
“And for being put under thrall,” Spike muttered. Andrew flushed.
“And to help,” Faith conceded. “But we gotta talk to you and your what’s ems.
Ya know, Gunn, Stick-girl, Wes. And the Green-guy.”
“Somebody mention my name?” Lorne walked up, his ever present cell phone for
once, not attached to his ear. “Sweetie, good to see you back again. And our Blonde-brownie back too. We should have a party.”
“Your last one turned out so well,” Angel reminded him.
“Yeah, well, literally be rest assured. I’ve been sleeping the full nine yards a night lately, Angeline.”
“Angeline?” Faith guffawed. Angel glowered and turned around to stalk back to
his office.
“You wanna talk, we’ll talk. Harmony, get Wes, Gunn and Fred in here, now!” Everybody followed him into his office where shortly the aforementioned three entered on the double.
“Spike! You’re back!” Fred rushed to give him a hug, then returned to Wesley’s side where he put his arm around her. “Hi, Faith.”
“Spike, good to see you back, man.” Gunn offered his hand and Spike slapped it. Angel sat down impatiently.
“If all the touchy-feely, Spike-ness is done, can we get back to why in hell he’s here?”
“Right then.” Spike sank down into a chair and slouched over it, relaxed. “Let’s get this started.” Everybody found spots of one sort or another and Spike started to explain why they were there.
“This here’s Andrew. I believe you’ve all met the delightful Faith before. We three are looking for Buffy.”
“What happened to her?” Angel growled at Spike. “What did you do?”
“Nonsense, not me at all. Why’s everything got to be my fault? She’s missing, without her strength, and my money is on the Immortal as for who’s got her.” Angel’s grip tightened on the edge of his desk.
“The Immortal?” he whispered in horror. Spike nodded.
“I knew you’d understand that anyway. She’s been gone for some weeks now and we’ve been all over this bloody world looking for her. Keep getting these sodding cryptic notes as to where to look and everyplace we end up, we just find another one, that and demons to kill.” Spike touched the barely visible bruises over his eyes. “The last one led us here, but it also brought up other issues concerning you lot.”
“What kind of issues?” Wesley asked, his mind already working on the problem.
“Ones involving your little Queenie there.” Faith pointed to Fred, who recoiled. Wesley tightened his arm around her.
“What’s it got to do with her?” he asked, his voice tight.
“You all remember little science bloke worked for her back during my haunting stage?”
“Knox. But, he’s dead. He was found with his neck broken inside his own house,” Fred whispered faintly.
“Your work?” Angel immediately concluded.
“And proud of it. I was in the lab awhile back listening to him wax on about his glorious plan to kill Fred there and bring some ancient demon to take over her body. You can bet I bloody well killed him soon as I was able.”
“Knox. Evil. Well, yeah, I guess duh.” Fred looked down at her hands. “I guess, I just thought he liked me.”
“He did, Fred,” Spike said gently. “That’s why he was planning on it. Thought you were worthy for his beloved demon god or whatever.” Wesley looked down at her in concern. Fred smiled at him.
“It’s okay, Wes. I’m fine. I still love you best after all.” Wesley kissed her forehead before raising his head to look at Spike.
“But now that Knox is not here to bring this demon, Fred is no longer in any danger, correct?”
“We don’t know. You see, Percy, our little note here says that yes, demon can’t do her song and dance, but there are other followers who want a little revenge on me and may use Science-girl there and/or Buffy to do it.”
“Can’t you do anything, Spike, besides get my people into trouble? My family?” Angel’s voice was exhausted. Spike stood up and moved over to the desk.
“Look, Your High and Mighty Broodiness, it’s not my fault there’s baddies out there. Your problem is you’re too good at wanting to be the only one to decide everybody’s lives for them. You’ve had your share of bad patches, I’ll admit it. But now when they need you, get off your sodding high administrative horse and be the champion of the people you so desperately want everybody to think you are. Fred and Buffy need you. Use your precious resources you love so much and find out from this beast you’re riding in, who these demon-peons are and help me kick the crap out of them. Then you can go back to your brooding over Cordelia and signing checks.” Faith stared at Spike, impressed in spite of herself. Andrew, of course, was leaning against the wall for support in the face of this perceptive declaration.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Gunn said in agreement. Angel would never admit it, but he felt a small spark of fire in his dying hope at Spike’s words and Angel raised his head with new strength.
“Spike, you never give up, do you? Just to get you out of my life.” His voice lowered. “And because it’s Buffy, fine. Everybody back to your departments and give me something, anything on who might be doing this. Fred, someone you trust is to be with you at all times. Faith, Spike, and…uh, Andrew, stay with me and give me the full report. Move it, people. Our family’s at stake.” Everyone dispersed to their separate tasks, Wesley pausing to ask Spike,
“Did you happen to catch the name of the demon that was to be summoned?” Spike thought a moment.
“Illyria? Iyria? Something like that.”
“That gives me something to start with anyway.” Wesley too scurried off to his office.
“Check out the obedience there,” Faith whistled. “Way to muster the troops, Angel.”
“Yeah, big general type you are now,” Spike agreed. “So, what you need from us?”
“Spike, I need you to just sit down and shut up for once. Give me the exact details of everywhere you’ve been and what you know about who’s after Fred.”
“Can’t exactly do that if I shut up, now can I, Gramps?”
“Spike!”
***
Spike wandered down to Fred’s lab for Fred-duty, as Lorne called it. The scientist was busy researching when he arrived and he waited, looking at the things he remembered.
“You here to watch-dog me?” she asked, resigned.
“Yeah, my turn and all. Gotta keep you safe, pet.” She smiled, a little exasperated with her boys and their over-protective streaks.
“I’m not gonna disappear into thin air, Spike. I may have some sort of demon after me, but I’m not a little girl who needs her daddy to keep the monsters away. I’m quite able to save myself now.”
“We all can save ourselves, luv. Sometimes we need help is all,” Spike answered, winking at her. She swatted his hand before moving on to her work while Spike continued his inspection of the room.
“So you and Watcher-boy finally got it on,” he said conversationally. Fred blushed and flustered her way around the counter.
“Yes, not that it’s any of your business, Spike.”
“Just checking, Science-girl,” Spike smiled at her.
***
Faith and Andrew lounged on the couches while Angel was out conferring with an actual devil demon. Horns, tail and everything. Faith thought it a touch ironic.
“This place is so big.” Andrew stared around in awe. “I feel so small and insignificant.”
“Yeah, well, you’re supposed to.” Faith nudged his shoulder. “Kid, places like these are designed to put you down. They’re all about the high-power client, rich and mighty brown-nosers here. You and me, we don’t fit in.” Andrew brightened up slightly.
“We’re the same then?” Faith snorted.
“No way are we the same. We just got common enemies. So buck up your chin. Ole Angel will have our info soon and then we can ride this cult till they drop and get the hell out of town.”
“Good, this place is too much for me and the people here are so…cold.” Faith stared at him.
“Interesting word choice there, Andy. To be honest I’m kinda worried about the sitch here. I mean, here’s this incredibly bad-ass corporation and they just hand over the reins to their arch-enemy like that? Without some ulterior motive, even, and Angel fell for it? Spike’s right that the heat’s turning up. I don’t wanna be in LA when the thing blows up and I don’t think Angel and Co. should be either.”
“Well, go ahead and tell Angel that. I wouldn’t. He’s grumpy,” Andrew stated. “I prefer Spike if I need some vampyre company.”
“Yeah, for company go to Spike. But Angel’s a great guy. He’s just been through a lot lately with Cordelia going evil and all and I don’t think he appreciates the blast from the past fresh with real truths that Spike’s been hammering down his throat.”
“I don’t think he’d appreciate anything anyone tried to do for him,” Andrew muttered.
“Not true there. He totally thanked me and everything for kicking his ass and landing him back in a steel cage. Man’s an appreciation machine.” Faith and Andrew laughed and then they looked up as Angel came through the door, followed by everyone else, including Harmony, who hovered around with a refreshment tray to offer to everyone.
“All right,” Angel said, once everyone had gathered. “We just got a threatening note. Normal day at Wolfram and Hart. Wes checked it out, so why don’t you read it?”
“Thank you, Angel,” Wesley replied. “The note simply offers an exchange. Spike for not hurting Fred. And they say that they can harm her even without being in possession of her and they want no more involvement in their ‘religious affairs,’ as they put it.”
“What’s the plan, Angel?” Gunn asked. “How we stop them from hurting our own?” Angel rubbed his forehead.
“You got any bright legal ideas?”
“Not really, you know I haven’t been so sharp in that area recently. And the price for redo is a little too high for me right now, so unless something happens, I’m pretty much useless to you except as the muscle.”
“Muscle with heart,” Angel replied. Gunn looked honored and tried to cover it up quickly.
“Wes, how about you?”
“I’m afraid not. I believe if we could just obtain their location a simple fight would put an end to this forever. I have also found some more information on Illyria, the ancient Old One Knox spoke of.” Wesley said Knox as if it were a dirty word. “She was a very powerful and influential demon at the time when the Old Ones walked the earth. Even now, some like Knox worship her after thousands of years. Her powers are legendary and awe-inspiring. However, to have her inhabit our time once more would involve the hollowing out of a vessel for her, in this case, Fred.”
“No,” said Angel. “That’s not happening. I won’t let it.”
“None of us would, sweet tart,” Lorne put in. “But we gotta figure out how to stop it before all hell breaks loose and I’m not just talking about my mother. I’m talking scary fire and brimstone, wet the bed, Olivia Newton John kind of hell.”
“What do you know about it, Green-man?” asked Spike inquisitively.
“Heard Knoxy-boy singing, didn’t I? Back when we first took over? Saw some sort of hell bringing in his future. I put that down in my report, didn’t anyone read my report?” Everyone looked around sheepishly. “Point is, cupcake, that I thought it’d been taken care of and you did take care of his share of it. But he’s got friends, ugly mean ones and they want their god back too.”
“Can I make a really bad suggestion?” Fred asked. “Maybe we could talk to Eve and see if we can get the Senior Partners in on this? They could be a big help if they wanted to be and we are on their team now.”
“No, we’re not,” Angel said, rising from his desk. “The last thing we want to do is bring the Senior Partners into this. They have their fingers in too many of our pies as it is. They targeted each and every one of us for something and I know it’s my fault we’re here and being tempted to accept their help, but we won’t go any further than we have to. We run Wolfram and Hart. But anything involving our people, Angel Investigations will take care of on its own.”
“Fine speech there, except for the part where you left out, ‘oh yeah and we just used all our powerful new resources to take care of this on our own,’ ” Spike commented.
“Let’s get technical, Spike,” Angel ground out. “From now on we will use our own resources. Satisfied?” Spike just smirked at him. Angel focused his attention back on everyone else.
“So, we need to find out where these guys are? Did they give us a way to get a hold of them?”
“Yes, actually,” Wesley supplied. “A phone number. I traced it back to a bar about twenty minutes away.”
“Good, then, call and tell them we’ll give them Spike. Preferably gagged.”
“Hold up there just one bloody minute-” Spike began, but Faith interrupted him.
“Angel, your house and all, but Giles did sorta put Spike in charge of this operation. You should confer with him about any delivering of himself over to the enemy.”
“Gee, Rogue, warm feelies all over,” Spike said in surprise.
“Just don’t wanna have to explain your dusty body to the brat,” Faith told him. Spike grinned and replied,
“I’m telling the Nibblet what you called her.”
“Hiding behind a teenager, Spike. What a Big Bad you really are,” Faith replied. Angel clenched his jaw impatiently, unaware of the camaraderie that the three had established over their travels and thinking they were just wasting his time.
“I just thought we could say we’ll send Spike and then kill them all while we’re there. Good plan, O Spike the Leader?”
“My kind of plan anyway,” Spike replied. “Let’s get moving then. Sacrificial lamb to the slaughter.”
They quickly conferred as to who should do what where and it was decided that Angel, Faith, Gunn and Andrew should accompany Spike on his outing to give himself up, while Fred, Lorne and Wesley remained behind, partly to protect Fred and partly for any surprises that might show up.
That done, Wesley left to make his phone call which resulted in arranging for them to bring Spike to an abandoned warehouse that night. In the meantime, Wesley had Fred looking through all of Knox’s files that could be found and Wesley was researching as much as he could on Illyria.
The information was both illuminating and interesting and appealed to Wesley’s scholarly thirst for knowledge. Illyria’s remains had been put in a sarcophagus and placed in the Deeper Well, a resting place for her kind protected by a Guardian. It was foretold that she would one day be a Presence among men again, but the only person who could draw her forth would be the one who could perform certain rites and undergo specific trials to become worthy. And…Wesley’s eyebrow rose as he turned the page…that would take several years to complete.
So they were safe on that front, Knox being dead, until someone new from her sect arose to try and complete the task of bringing her back. There seemed to be some more references to that, but try as he might, Wesley couldn’t find what they entailed.
***
Fred wrinkled her nose in disgust and horror as she found Knox’s notes detailing the events that enabled him to carry the honor of bringing back Illyria. Underneath that shyly awkward, bookish, genius exterior had been a thoroughly sick and fanatical man. Fred shuddered and practically ran to Wesley’s office, bursting through the door without knocking.
“Fred! What’s the matter? Are you hurt? Is something wrong?” Wesley abandoned his books at once and led her to sit down.
“I-I’m sorry, Wesley. I just didn’t want to have to look at that stuff anymore. Demon slime I can handle, but this was-was…”
“Truly barbaric,” he finished for her. She nodded.
“It just is hard to think that, well, that I trusted him. As much as anybody here, I mean. I keep bringing trouble down on us, Wesley.”
“What!” he cried. “Nonsense.”
“People keep having to save me, Wesley. My family. And I don’t want any of y’all getting hurt.”
“We’d never take that into account if it meant you, Fred,” he said softly. “That is what family does. We grow apart as clearly demonstrated by this past year, but at the critical moment, we’ll always be here for each other.”
“I know all that. I just have trouble believing that we could rally around while we’re here.” She looked around his office. “In this place we should’ve never come to.”
“You feel that too?” He gently lifted her chin with his fingers and looked in her eyes. “This will all be over and we’ll save our souls together, I promise you.” She smiled and he kissed her thoroughly before they both went back to their separate work.
***
“Time’s a wasting, boss.” Faith walked into the hall where Spike was pacing impatiently. “Let’s get you all trussed up.”
“Finally,” he snapped as if making him wait to be tied up was an unforgivable sin and stalked to where she, Angel, Gunn and Andrew stood waiting.
“Change of plans, Angel.” Wesley came running out of his office. “These texts about Illyria. They’re very cryptic and random, but I believe there might be a back up spell or something to that effect. I should go along with you in case of any magical surprises.”
“All right, fine. Gunn, you stay here with Fred and Lorne.”
“Just when I get the chance to do some real slice and dice,” Gunn complained, but handed his axe over to Wesley.
“Let’s go,” Angel said and they all walked to the elevator.
***
They entered the warehouse cautiously, alert for any ambush. But all they saw was a group standing in the center of the room waiting for them. There were about twenty figures with a mixture of both demons and humans, but all bore a mark upon their right cheek of blue flame sweeping through a series of endless circles. The foremost spoke and as soon as he did they realized their mistake.
“Impero,” he said simply and each of them watched as if frozen, in horror, while Spike struggled uselessly against invisible bonds as they dragged him toward the Illyria worshipers.
“Reductum,” said the leader and Spike screamed while the others felt control of themselves return once more. They moved into an offensive position, each eying a quarry.
“Fight on; we are prepared to die for Her. But you will not reach him before his death brings Her.” The leader smiled, a human smile over alien features and melted into the group and started to mutter words over Spike as the rest moved forward to guard them.
Then Wesley understood the passage he had read earlier and with growing dismay cried out,
“Angel! This is the spell. If they finish it, Spike will die and Illyria will be brought here and drawn into Fred!”
“Then break the spell, Wesley!” Angel gutted out as he swung his broadsword into an enemy face.
“While we break some heads.” Faith ducked under a knife-thrust and elbowed the man attacking her out cold. Wesley fumbled for the papers he’d brought revealing the incantation to break the spell. He grasped Andrew’s arm.
“Help me! Hold this for me as I read.”
“Okay, but I’m much better at summoning de-”
“Just hold!” Wesley shouted, already concentrating on the pages and starting to utter something in an archaic language.
A silver light had encircled Spike and his tormentor and through it Spike could be seen on his knees, held down by an unknown force, as the leader muttered faster and faster. Spike was weakening as though all his strength were being torn out by the words.
Angel drew off about half of the fighting force to the catwalks above the main floor. Faith battled the rest and prevented them from reaching Wesley and Andrew. Both had tried, without success, to break the barrier between them and Spike.
Wesley gritted his teeth and shouted the final word of the incantation just as Angel felled the last of his foes. With a blaze of light, the barrier vanished and Wesley collapsed just as Spike did also, his stolen power rushing back into him.
A demon gave a cry of rage and rushed toward Wesley to smite him down for the interruption of their ceremony. Andrew cradled Wesley’s head and didn’t see the murderous demon bearing down on them. Faith made a split-second decision to let Spike handle himself and brought her knife down in a curling arc into the demon’s back as he brought his own down toward Wesley and Andrew, who had just now noticed the demon and was starting to jump up.
She turned back toward Spike and saw the leader sneer.
“Choices. Yet it is too late, Slayer.” He held a sword poised over Spike’s
limp head, who was still reeling from the suddenness of his returned strength. “All I have to do is dust him and all your efforts will have been in vain.” And he raised his sword and brought it swinging down.
A sudden noise from overhead caused him to look up as Faith started to run to him.
“Not my family you don’t!” Angel roared as he jumped off the catwalk and landed before him. “Spike may be an annoying nuisance, but he’s blood.” And Angel sent his sword flashing into the man’s belly, pulling it out with a flourish as the man fell and Angel felt a stab of his old self as he did. This was what his life was about. Faith rushed past him to Spike who sat up coughing heavily and looking as if he’d just been
resurrected from a Hellmouth.
“Boss, you gonna make it?” she asked, helping him to stand.
“Yeah, but I think my brain’s gone mental. Did I just hear Angel stand up for me?” Faith smiled and answered,
“Yup. Guess he likes ya after all.”
“Now I know something’s mental, but it’s either your brain or his,” he mumbled.
She chuckled as Angel glared at Spike and muttered something about,
“Ungrateful peroxide pests and he didn’t know what she was thinking,” before stomping over to Wesley who had only just regained consciousness.
“Wait, luv,” Spike said almost incoherently. “Gotta get a clue.”
“Huh? Oh right.” Faith knelt down and rummaged through the dead man’s pockets
before pulling out a blood-stained note that would reveal their next location. Faith supporting Spike and Angel supporting Wesley, they exited the building and headed back to Wolfram and Hart.
***
“Spikey! Blondie-bear! What happened?” Harmony rushed out from behind her desk.
“He’s fine. Harmony, get a medic up here!” Angel snapped and grumbled,
“She’s my assistant as she points out so often. I’m the one she’s supposed to be worried about. But no, it’s Blondie-bear!” Angel shook these thoughts off and strode into his office.
The medic arrived and examined Spike and Wesley in Angel’s office proclaiming them both to be fit and able. Wesley suffered from spell back lash and Spike from having all his insides taken out and then jammed back in.
“They’ll settle soon and be ready for anything they might want to undertake,” the medic said and then glided back to the medical facility.
Wesley rested on the couch and Fred sat beside him, holding his hand.
“Wes, care to tell me what that was back there?” Angel asked.
“Certainly.” Wesley roused himself. “Because Spike had killed Illyria’s Bringer, the powers of the Bringer-the honor, I should say-were transferred to him. This man, in killing Spike, would receive the same benefits only with the added bonus of the spell which would draw out power from Spike to bring Illyria into Fred without the usual steps. Quite ingenious really, but nasty.” Wesley winced, clutching his head. “Glad I was there.”
“Me too, Percy, me too,” Spike croaked.
“Wait up now,” Gunn cut in. “How would they have gotten Fred? She wasn’t even there.”
“Well, because Knox had marked her out for the job, whoever did the spell would automatically use her, whether she was in the vicinity or not, unless he performed the proper steps to appoint a new vessel for Illyria.” Wesley smiled at Fred and kissed the back of her hand. “Happily, the spell was interrupted before it could be finished and secondly, with Spike being still alive, no one else can perform the proper rituals to raise Illyria until they kill him.”
“So I’m gonna have Illyria groupies hunting me for the rest of my immortal life?” Spike sighed. “If it wasn’t you, Fred, I’d-“
“Thank you, Spike,” she said quietly. “You’re a real part of the family to do that for me.”
“Not part of his bloody family!” Spike recounted, pointing at Angel. Angel sighed and looked at his Grandchilde.
“Yes you are, Spike. Whether we like it or not.” Angel lowered his voice and mumbled quickly. “And I have you to thank for helping me remember the importance of family again. I think some definite changes need to happen around here. If it weren’t for Cordelia and Con-” he stopped quickly. “Cordelia, I’d leave here.”
“Take my advice, mate. Leave here anyway. Cheerleader or no cheerleader. You can take care of her elsewhere. Here, she’s just in danger.”
“Spike. It’s my decision. Stop pushing.”
“Fine, whatever. You go your own way and speaking of going, where we going, Rogue?” Faith brought out the bloody paper and read from it slowly, trying to decipher the words.
“Well, if Angel wasn’t such a gory fella, we could find out.
‘No connection, no past,
Nothing to fall back on;
Island nation, New Zealand mast;
Your heritage, where has it gone?’
And still with the four really bad lines. So, I’m guessing New Zealand?”
Andrew practically shot out of his chair.
“That’s where they shot Lord of the Rings! Can we visit Mount Sunday, please, please, please?”
“Cool it, Andy. This is not a geek vacation. It’s a ‘pick up Buffy and try not to get you killed’ trip.” Andrew pouted.
“I’ve been fighting. And I know as well as you what we have to do. Nobody ever said we couldn’t make detours, Miss Dancing At Clubs All Night and Getting Arrested For Indecent Behavior Person.”
“Do we have to be reminded of the painful lesson we learned back in Sunnydale? Cause I ain’t adverse to teaching it again, but it could get a little messy for you,” Faith told him warningly. He gave in with bad grace.
“I’m not afraid of you, Dark One. Our powers are one.”
“Which means?” she asked, clueless.
“None of your business,” Andrew answered.
“If we’re done with this…conversation?” Angel asked. “Get out of my town and do that. Whatever it is.”
“Don’t mind them, Gramps. They like to do that. Gets all that tension out and leaves their minds free and empty.” Faith shoved Spike and he nearly toppled over, his equilibrium still a little fuzzy.
“Spike, the second you hear from Buffy or find her, you tell me. Faith, make sure he does.” Angel glowered extra hard to make sure his point got across.
“Don’t worry, Big Guy. We got people all over we’re informing on B’s status. Giles, the brat, Xander. We’ll put you on the list.”
“Thank you, Faith. You’re really coming through, aren’t you?” Angel smiled at her.
“What? I get my insides ripped out and it’s ‘thank you, Faith for saving all our lives?’ Unlife just will never be fair,” Spike retorted.
“Spike. Get out of here,” Angel gritted through his teeth. “Go, before I decide to smash that pretty head in.”
“So you admit my head’s the pretty one? Anyway, who smashed who last? And we wouldn’t want to muss up our hair gel, would we, Your Broodiness?”
Angel clenched his jaw and then turned to sit behind his desk focusing on his paper work. Spike grinned and made his round of good byes again, parting on much better terms with Wesley and earning another hug from Fred. Andrew hugged everyone and promised to write them long letters detailing everything about the Great Buffy Search. Faith simply nodded to everybody, before the threesome left to continue their search.
***
This time when Buffy opened her eyes she could focus them right away on the hooded figure, seated at a writing table. He was writing furiously, even sometimes biting on his feathered quill as if to think of a certain word or phrase that eluded him. She felt much better, like she had strength to do things normal people could do, though it still didn’t feel natural to her. But if her strength continued to return she would be able to break free, probably in the next few weeks.
That is if Buffy’s mind wasn’t completely caught up in the revelation that Spike was alive. She wasn’t surprised that Faith was looking for her, she was the obvious choice and Andrew, well, nothing he did would surprise her. But that Spike was alive! Her heart hammered every time she thought it and even being chained up couldn’t change the fact that she wanted to sing and dance all over the place.
Buffy closed her eyes again and thought about what her captor had told her. Of how he had concocted a plan to revive Spike from the dead and use her as a means to pay him back for things he’d done over the years. Of how the demon circuits had buzzed with the news and people from all over clamored to be involved and be the one to put an end to William the Bloody for the final time. It reminded her of Slayerfest ’98 and Mr. Trick’s plan to kill her and Faith.
Despite the audacity of them to kidnap her and use her to lure Spike here, Buffy could almost kiss them for what they’d done. Bringing Spike back to her again and with no snatched-from-heaven-feelings to deal with. She couldn’t wait to see him when he came for her.
It wasn’t like there weren’t serious things to discuss with him or that she didn’t have issues about him and guys in general, but she had never come so close to perfect happiness before and no two-bit theatrical villain was going to keep Spike from her. Buffy rattled her chains to get her captor’s attention and to gauge her strength. It was increasing despite the daily injection.
“Well rested, are we?” he asked. “I do hope so as I would feel such a terrible host otherwise.”
“You are a terrible host. Maybe you’re stuck in the Middle Ages, but it is considered impolite to chain up your guests these days. Oh, and they usually prefer to
be asked if they want to come.”
“Very droll, my dear. I must say I am sorry to not be taking a closer interest
in your situation, but I am so fascinated in your friends and their antics.”
“Oh yeah, what’d they do this time?”
“I suppose, bella, it wouldn’t be any harm to tell you.”
“Gosh, do I feel the flattery. Stop, I’m blushing.”
“Sweet girl, you flatter yourself. Your lover was just in LA and everyone rallied around your cause so unanimously, I was quite touched. But now they are on their way again and I am quite looking forward to what’s in store for them soon.”
“Don’t get presumptuous on me now. You might not be here to watch.” He laughed.
“My darling Slayer, you underestimate me and overestimate yourself. I have been here a long time and plan to be here longer still. This is my favorite little spot, you see and I do hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am.”
‘There he goes on again, with the enjoying myself. It’s like he’s so used to swooning females he can’t help trying to get me to join their ditzy ranks even though I’m chained up. I’ve got to stop thinking. It’s turning my brain mushy,’ thought Buffy. Said Buffy:
“Well, this talk has been so nice, I think I’ll go back to sleep now. I’d join you, but, you know.” She lifted her hands for emphasis. “Chains.”
“Sweet dreams, bella,” he answered. She rolled her eyes in response. He got cornier every day.
