Tempus de Muto

by Schehrezade

Disclaimer: They ain't mine but I gets to play with them!!
Feedback: As a first time writer, I would love input. It's a drug that I could become addicted to! Drop me a note at
schehrezade_1@hotmail.com
Rating: PG15 for now will vary from chapter to chapter. Will always put in a warning.
Dedications: To Tales, cos I wouldn't be writing without her prodding. You're my muse girl!! Madame Draco my Beta. Thank you for all the hard work and patience. A true gem!

Chapter 17

"If you don't soddin' well hurry up, Slayer, Glinda and I will leave without you!" Spike paced impatiently up and down in the hallway. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"Okay, I'm coming," Buffy yelled as she trotted down the stairs. "Mr. Gordo needs to be packed." She tossed her precious pig over to the impatient vampire, who caught the stuffed animal. He crammed the toy into the top of Buffy's rucksack.

"Ready?" he asked impatiently. Buffy nodded and then disappeared into the sitting room to join Wesley, Groo and Tara who were busy going over last minute details. Spike sighed, 'At this rate, we'll never leave,' rolling his eyes, and joined the others.

"Are you alright?" Buffy touched Groo tentatively on his muscled arm, she eyed the hung-over Pylean. "Spike! What did you make him drink last night?" Buffy crossed her arms and glared up at the blond vampire.

"Nothin' much. Think he had half a pint, that's all." Spike propped himself in the doorway and smirked at her.

"You drank?" Wes turned to the suffering Pylean. "I thought you weren't supposed to? Something about Champions in your dimension keeping your body pure?"

"Indeed. I was not aware that I was drinking anything alcoholic!" Groo rubbed his head tiredly.

"Lightweight," Spike muttered under his breath.

"Spike!" Buffy glared at the unrepentant vampire who grinned at her wickedly. She turned back to Wesley. "So you have the email addresses for us and the mobile numbers?" Spike had found six enhanced mobile phones in the box Clem had given to him, a gift from the loose-skinned demon.

" Yes, I think we have everything. I'll make sure Anya gets her phone as well as the hotmail addresses we set up." Wesley shuffled through his notes. He gazed longingly at the Clavian book, which Tara held in her hands. "I have copies of the book and will keep working on it. Anything I translate I will email to all of you."

Tara nodded. "I'll do the same."

The front door banged open. Anya rushed in followed closely by Xander. "Are we too late to say goodbye?" Spotting Spike and the others, she relaxed. "Good! I really didn't want to miss you guys." She rushed over and patted Tara on the shoulder.

"Hey." Xander waved awkwardly at the gathered group.

"I must say you look extremely well," Wesley commented as he returned Xander's wave. "Anya this is for you." He handed over the mobile and a card with all their details on it. "Keep it safe."

Anya nodded as she tucked it away. "Don't worry."

"Don't I get a shiny new phone?" Xander grumbled.

"Sorry, Clem didn't think about you," Spike needled the recovering Scooby. Xander glared at the peroxide vampire.

"Spike..." Buffy warned.

Spike sighed. "Okay! Clem figured you wouldn't need one cos of the one your bosses gave you."

"Better." Buffy patted her vampire on the arm.

"Right, I'll just get this stuff into the motor." Spike disappeared out into the sunlight, ignoring Xander's exclamation of surprise.

"What? How?" The confused brunette asked.

"I told you he was immune to the sunlight, Xander. I guess the concussion made you forget." Anya turned to face her fiancé and rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh yeah..." Xander sat down on the floor and rested his aching head on the arm of the sofa.

"So listen guys, I don't want any of you taking any unnecessary risks while Spike, Tara and I are in New York." Buffy stood and put her hands on her hips as she continued to lecture those remaining in Sunnydale. "There is a nest of vamps by the docks that I have cleared out a couple of times, but others keep moving into the empty lair. I've made a note on the map." She tapped her finger on the map she'd tacked onto the wall by her mother's writing desk. "Wesley, the older cemeteries seem to be in fashion at the moment for burying fledges, so keep an eye out on them if you can."

"Yeah, have an idea about that." Spike re-entered the house.

"What's that, bleach boy?" Xander snarked half-heartedly at Spike, his head throbbed too badly to really have a real go at his rival.

Spike eyed Xander's slumped figure briefly before turning to Groo and Wes. "I think it's one older vamp turning a bunch of kids every now and then and burying them there. Sorta making a ritual of it. I asked Clem to keep an ear open. If he hears anything, he'll call you lot." Spike turned and picked up Tara's rucksack and disappeared again.

"Right, thanks..." Wesley called after his disappearing back.

"Since when did Spike get the ideas and the contacts?" Xander grumbled. He glared out into the hallway, jealously suffusing his entire being.

"Since he began patrolling every night with me," Buffy replied mildly.

Xander flinched, guilt flooded through him. He tried to remember the last time he or any of the others had helped Buffy on patrol. 'How about never?" His conscience whispered to him. He looked over at Buffy and recoiled from the even stare she gave him. 'Oh man, she's thinking the same as me!' Xander glanced away, unable to keep eye contact. He vowed to himself to do more to help.

"I will endeavour to clear both areas when I patrol, Slayer," Groo promised.

"Thanks." Buffy smiled over at Groo in gratitude.

'Okaaay, suck up!' Xander thought resentfully. "Don't worry, Buffster, we'll all patrol for you."

"For her?" Spike asked incredulously. Everyone jumped. They had not heard the light-footed vamp return. "How's about doing it for the safety of Sunnydale? Puppies and Christmas?"

"Yes indeed," Wesley interjected. "We will all ensure that the excellent level of patrolling that the two of you have maintained continues," he promised.

Anya watched the myriad emotions cross Xander's face. She held her tongue, aware that Xander was treading a fine line. She turned to Wesley. "So what about Amy?" The three had visited the unconscious Wiccan before they had left the hospital with Xander.

"I have contacted the Eistied's leader and he has agreed to come and see if there is anything he can do to help her. Don't worry, Buffy, we will keep you informed about her progress."

Buffy nodded her thanks. She turned back to the map, running her fingers over the deserted High School. "We also swing past the Hellmouth every night on patrol to check no idiots are trying to open it."

Wesley smiled briefly at her and made a quick notation.

"Time to go, luv." Spike wrapped his arm around her slim shoulders.

"But there's so much more to tell them..." Buffy worriedly whispered.

"We'll muddle through, Buffy, don't worry." Wesley stood.

Xander snorted.

"What's wrong, floppy boy?" Spike glanced over at Xander and sneered.

"Isn't anyone gonna say her name?" Xander asked as he rubbed his recently healed legs.

"Xander, don't..." Tara mumbled as she huddled into herself. The shock of hearing that Willow had returned and healed Xander's injuries, in spite of her fumbled attempt at healing Dawn tore at the blonde. 'She really never learns! Magic is not something she can use to right her wrongs.' Tara closed her eyes, she was exhausted. She had tried to sleep for a couple of hours, but images of Willow's dark eyes had stared back at her.

"Sorry, Tara, but everyone seems to be avoiding talking about Willow." Xander levered himself up and stood, glaring around the room in self-righteous indignation.

Buffy shook off Spike's arm and stalked over to Xander, prodding him in the chest. "What do you want me to say about Willow? She unmade Dawn? Well we all know that! Willow came back and used the same spell on her so-called best friend, not caring that she could do the same to you? We all know that, too! I'm angry about her actions? Well guess what? We all are! So, anything to add, Xander?"

"How about what are you're going to do to her when you find her?" Xander retorted.

"Nothing."

"What?" he yelped.

"Nothing, we are going to get Dawn back and that's it." Buffy folded her arms across her chest. "If you've got any suggestions?"

"Um, well... are you bringing her back?" Xander asked.

"If we can. But Xander, she may not want to come back." Tara interjected.

Xander looked over at Tara, he struggled not to tell her about Rack and the other guy Willow had hooked up with. He was revolted by the images that had flooded his mind all night. But before he could say anything, Spike stepped up behind Buffy.

"So whelp, if we manage to drag the Queen of the Damned back to Sunnyhell, what are you gonna say to Red about the mental mind fuck she gave you?" Spike raised his scarred brow in question.

"Buffy! You told him?" Xander demanded, aghast that she'd broken his confidence. "What, a little pillow talk for you guys to indulge in?"

Buffy's eyes widened at the angry tone. "No, Xander, nothing like that! I was worried. Spike wanted to know why, that's all..." She reached over and took Xander's hand. "I was scared that she had hurt my best friend. That's all."

Xander squeezed her slim hand. "Sorry, Buff, it's just all too much to take in. I mean, this is Willow! Now she's one of the bad guys, it just doesn't make sense."

"None of this does, Xander," Anya whispered sadly. "But we have to just try and make it all better."

"Thanks, Ahn," he mumbled tiredly. "So you will try to help her? Cos she's still Willow under the Blair Witch makeover."

"We will," Buffy promised. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Cool." Xander grinned half-heartedly. "So, time for you guys to hit the road?"

"Yeah," Spike agreed.

Buffy turned and hugged Anya goodbye. "Keep them safe, please, and call me whenever you need to talk, okay?"

The ex-demon nodded and squeezed Buffy hard. "I will, be safe and bring Dawnie back, please!"

"I will," Buffy promised. She turned to Wesley and Groo. "What can I say to you guys?"

"Nothing, it is our honour to help the Slayer. Please return to us soon." Groo took her hand and placed a kiss on it, ignoring Spike's possessive growl.

Wesley reached over and shook Spike's hand. "Keep them safe, please."

"Will do, ready pet?" Spike sauntered over to Buffy and tapped her on the shoulder. "Come on, let the whelp go!"

Buffy reluctantly released Xander from a big bear hug. "If I can, I'll bring both of them back, I swear!"

"I know you will, cos if anyone can do it the Buffster can. Be safe, okay?" Xander gazed worriedly at the small blonde girl. Without taking his eyes of her, he spoke to Spike. "Keep them both safe, fangless. Okay?"

"I will, whelp," Spike vowed. He turned to Tara who was hugging Anya goodbye. "Come on, Columba, it's time to go, luv."

Tara slipped over and stood by the black-clad vampire, Buffy joined them.

"Okay. This is it, be careful okay?" she ordered.

Spike opened the car door and ushered Tara in. Before Buffy got into the car, she turned to Wesley and Groo. "Keep our kittens safe."

"We will," Wesley promised.

Spike slid over the hood of the car and got in. Gunning the engine, he peeled away from the curb. Buffy and Tara waved goodbye to the four figures on the curb until the car turned the corner and headed for the freeway. 

***********

"So, did you call the Poof?" Spike pulled the car onto the freeway. He reached out and flipped off a trucker who was honking angrily at him for cutting him off.

Buffy bit her lips and gazed out of the window. She watched the landscape flash past at an amazing speed. The small blonde ran her fingers over the clean glass. It had taken them a few minutes and a lot of elbow grease to get the paint off. She wasn't used to being able to see what a kamikaze driver Spike was. Behind her, Tara gasped at another near miss and grabbed hold of the back of the seat to anchor herself.

"Luv?" Spike glanced over at her.

"Eyes on the road, lover!" Buffy yelped.

"What? Oh sorry..." Spike pulled the car off the grass verge and floored it.

"I called but the machine picked up. I left a message." She reached into her purse and pulled out her new phone and began to dial. Flipping it shut, she groaned. "I hate answering machines!"

"Not there?" Tara leant over the seat.

"Weird that? Seeing as Peaches lives in..." Spike frowned at the road ahead wondering what the hell would be waiting for them in LA.

***********

"Spike, I really need to pee!" Buffy whined.

"Me too," Tara added shyly.

"Women!" Spike moaned as he span the car off the next exit. He headed for the Dairy Queen and pulled the Desoto to a stop. "There you go, my ladies! Would madam like any ice cream?" he asked sarcastically.

Buffy shot out of the car followed closely by Tara. They vanished into the Dairy Queen, Spike following at a leisurely pace. "Vanilla frozen yoghurt, please! Tara?"

"Um, chocolate ice cream in a cone," The Wiccan yelled as she disappeared into the restrooms.

"As you wish," Spike grumbled, as he headed for the counter.

By the time the girls scrambled into the car, Spike was halfway through his coffee and juggling two rapidly melting cones.

"Eat up, girls, and no more water. We're not making anymore stops!" Spike propped his half empty cup on the dashboard and rejoined the traffic. "What is it with birds and butterfly bladders?" he complained.

"Spike, you also forgot to complain about girls going in twos to the bathroom!" Tara teased, as she licked her way around the cone.

"Naaa, worked that one out a few years back." Spike grinned at Tara and then flicked his eyes back to the road.

Buffy sat forward. "So spill. What's your theory?"

"Nope, not telling, gorgeous," Spike drawled.

"Fine, next time you've got bed head I won't tell either." Buffy pouted.

**********

"Finally!" Buffy groaned as Spike pulled up outside the Hyperion.

Tara looked out of the window and gasped. "Angel lives here?"

Spike looked over at the imposing edifice. "Yeah, he's always been one for a big show. All hat and no... well you know." He shot out of the car and ran around to the other side to open their doors. He pulled Buffy out and then held a hand out for Tara to take.

"William!" Buffy teased as she trotted to the trunk to pull out her slaying bag.

"Oi, none of that, Anne!" Spike retorted. He cupped Tara under the elbow and led her into the courtyard.

Tara paused by the fountain and ran her fingers over the water. "It's very beautiful here."

"Yeah, come pet." Spike squinted up at the sky, his skin was tightening. 'Wonder if I'll freckle?'

"Hello?" Buffy stepped into the hotel. "Anyone here?"

Spike and Tara stood behind her. The Wiccan looked around the foyer in awe. "It's really lovely here. But there is something, I can't pinpoint..." she trailed off at the sight of a green faced demon sauntering down the stairs, humming. "What's that?"

"That's Lorne," Spike explained. "Oi, where's your boss, gorgeous?"

"Hey, cream cake, you're back and you brought another pretty girl with you." Lorne came over and pecked Buffy on the cheek. He reached over and took Tara's hands in his. "Aren't you a peach?" Lorne paused and then peered closely at all of them. "Hey what's with the green eyes, kids?"

Spike flopped down onto a sofa and propped his feet on the coffee table. "Long story, mate. How's about you get the Slayer to hum you a tune?"

Lorne glanced over at the blond vampire, startled. "Hey! How did you know?"

"Been to your club a few years back. Must say, the sight of a bunch of Fyarls singing 'What's Love Got to do With It' was hysterical!" Spike lit a cigarette and puffed away happily. He hadn't smoked in the car out of deference to Tara.

"You went to Caritas?" Lorne asked.

"Yeah, on my way back from Mexico," Spike explained. He flicked ash onto the marble floor and gestured to the centre of the foyer. "See you got rid of the finger painting."

"Uh, yeah, we did. Well, Connor and Angel did, because manual labour is not really my bag." Lorne laughed. He looked over at Buffy who was pacing anxiously by the reception desk. "Hey, sweet cheeks, what's wrong?" Concern coloured his kind eyes.

Buffy looked up at the green-skinned demon. "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream..." she trailed off at the sad expression on Lorne's face.

"Oh, cotton candy..." He reached over and pulled her into a hug.

"Well, did you see anything?" Spike demanded.

Lorne looked over his shoulder at Spike and Tara, who was now sitting on the couch with her legs, folded Indian style. He nodded. "Yeah, but the end was a bit weird, water and opium..." he trailed off.

"Water and opium?" Spike frowned. "Tell that's a boatload of nothin."

"Sorry." Lorne smiled sheepishly then turned back to Buffy. "Oh honey, I'm sorry about the key lime pie."

Buffy frowned at Lorne. "Huh?"

"Nibblet," Spike explained.

"Oh..." Buffy's eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, none of that, my petite choux." Lorne wiped her tears with a purple, silk handkerchief. "It'll be an epic journey, but you have your friends here to help."

Spike stood abruptly and pulled Buffy into his arms. He pressed his lips to her forehead and kissed her gently. "Anymore info, mate?"

Lorne paused for a moment. "Nope, sorry..." He grinned sheepishly.

Spike nodded his thanks. "So, where's Peaches?"

"Not too sure, he went to, uh..." Lorne glanced at Buffy. "Well, to meet with Cordelia last night for some private time and, well..." the green horned demon trailed off, he was unsure how much Angel would want revealed about his budding relationship with the seer.

Spike frowned. "Wot? He and the cheerleader found a way round the curse?"

"Weeeell..." Lorne hesitated.

Buffy pulled out of Spike's embrace. "What!" She began to pace. "Jesus, what if they got pelvic?" She stopped in her tracks, confused at her lack of worry over her ex and Cordelia together. Her only worry was the possible consequences of Angel making love. Buffy looked over at Spike and smiled. "Wow, how weird it is that I'm not upset over the idea of him and Cordy?"

Spike relaxed at her words and soft smile. He had tensed immediately, worried about how the Slayer would react. Then he frowned. 'Christ, Peaches' elastic soul!' Before he could say anything, Tara rejoined them. She placed a tentative hand on his elbow. "Shouldn't we be worried about Angel losing his soul?" Voicing the blond vampire's own thoughts.

She had heard the stories of how Angel's moment of pure happiness with Buffy had resulted in disaster. 'If Buffy's right, Angel and Cordelia could've made love. That could only lead to one thing!' Tara worriedly looked over at Buffy. From the expression on Buffy's face, she had jumped to the same terrifying conclusion.

Lorne, twitched. "Jeepers, the thought never crossed my mind." He shot around the desk and hit speed dial. The anagogic demon tapped a well-manicured hand impatiently as he waited. Eventually, Lorne hung up. "Angel's not answering. Okay, now I am worried!"

"Where's Connor?" Buffy hesitantly asked.

"In his room?" Lorne suggested.

"Have you even checked on the lad?" Spike snarled angrily. Turning on his heel, he shot up the stairs, followed closely by the others.

"Hey, how did you know where Connor's room was?" Lorne panted, once he finally caught up with the Sunnydale visitors.

"Vampire, mate." Spike tapped his nose with one black tipped finger. Scanning the sparsely furnished room, he frowned. "Bed's not been slept in." He whirled to face Lorne. "Also, Peaches too tight to buy the kid anything?"

Lorne shuffled his feet. "We haven't really had much time, though..." The demon scanned the room, noting the complete lack of possessions. "... well Cordelia did take him shopping a few times."

Tara pulled open the closet and scanned the sparse amount of clothes. "What for?"

Lorne shrugged.

Buffy stepped in front of Lorne. "Not the point right now. Lorne, think, when did you see Connor last?"

"Why?" the Pylean asked.

"Cos you nit, Angelus always goes after his family first!" Spike bellowed.

"And those who connected him to the human world," Buffy added. "Uh, where're the other two?"

"Gunn and Fred?" Lorne supplied. He frowned. "Aren't you all jumping to the worst conclusion? We don't have any solid proof that Angelus is back."

Spike rolled his eyes at the naivety of the green demon. "Come on, mate, use your noggin. He and the cheerleader, what did you call it? Private time. I'm sure they were only playing checkers!"

"Angel and Cordy both know that it would be foolish to do anything," Lorne replied angrily.

"Yeah, I'm sure hormones and the whole 'I'm in lurve' thing would be the brakes on!" Spike snarked at the demon. "Christ, Peaches has hadn't had any... well, since Darla." He turned to Buffy. "Sorry, luv..."

Buffy shrugged. "s'okay. It's why I love you, Spike, you cut straight to the heart of the matter."

Tara hesitantly stepped forward. "Lorne, we've got to consider the possibility."

Lorne sighed loudly. "So, what do we do?"

"Find him, you git!" Spike yelled in frustration. "Where the bloody hell is your crack team of detectives, or should I say defectives?"

Buffy whistled loudly. "Hey! Stop with the yelling, you guys, it's not helping!" She turned to Lorne. "Maybe you should go get Fred and Gunn?"

Before Lorne could turn to leave, Spike bellowed for the two missing AI members.

"Right here, what's with the yelling?" Gunn and Fred stepped into the room. Both had obviously just leapt out of bed. Fred was tying her dressing gown shut. "Hey, back already? Man, you guys just left." Gunn waved hello to Spike and Buffy. "And someone new..."

"I'm Tara, friend of Buffy and Spike's." the Wiccan stepped forward and shook Gunn's hand and waved shyly at Fred.

"Hey, you guys seen Angel, Cordy or Connor recently?"

Fred and Gunn shook their heads. Before they could say anything, there was a crash of doors from the foyer.

"Help..."

***********

Spike vaulted from the balcony and landed with a flourish in the reception area. Buffy and the others clattered down the stairs. All of them screeched to a halt at the sight of Connor collapsed in Spike's arms.

"Oh my," Fred gasped.

Connor was unconscious. He was beaten black and blue, and there was blood pouring from a deep wound on his shoulder.

"Jesus." Gunn squatted down next to Spike and hesitantly reached out a hand. He pressed it hard against the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood.

"Here." Lorne pushed a first aid kit into Gunn's free hand. "We need to get him to his room."

"On it," Spike muttered as he carefully stood, cradling the limp form to his chest. He caught Buffy's worried eyes and tried to smile. "It'll be okay, luv," he promised, aware that Buffy was terrified that Angelus had returned. Connor's battered body presented irrefutable proof that there was something wrong.

She tried to smile, but failed. Turning to Tara he asked, "Can you do a dis-invite spell?"

"I don't have the text..." Tara trailed off. She shrugged helplessly.

"Oh hey, I can help with that." Lorne ran over to Cordelia's desk and began to type. He clicked through the saved documents. "Here." The printer hummed to life and spewed out a page.

Tara took the printout and scanned the spell carefully. "I can do this."

Buffy frowned. "How come..." Before she could complete her sentence, Lorne interrupted.

"Cordy, said it was better to be prepared."

"Good. Columba, get on it with the Bonanza boy here." Spike took the stairs two at a time, followed by Buffy and Fred.

Gunn stood helplessly watching Tara and Lorne preparing the dis-invite spell. "Can I help?"

Tara glanced up at the tall man and smiled gently. She was aware that Angel's friends were probably in shock at the sight of Connor's wounds. "Sure, can you start nailing crosses to the door lintels and maybe find some sage for me to use to cleanse the hotel?"

Gunn nodded and disappeared into the office.

"So do you think we need to go through every room?" Lorne asked. "Cos if we do, it's gonna take a dogs age!"

Tara frowned at the text. "No, I think if I change it here and here." She made some notations on the paper. "Yes, that'll work."

"What about Spike?" Gunn asked, when he reappeared with a handful of crosses, he pushed some sage bundles onto the counter.

"Spike?" Lorne frowned.

"Yeah, won't he be dis-invited?" Gunn asked.

"No, it's a specific spell to keep out a particular vampire, we just need to name Angelus and presto, barrier!" Lorne explained.

**********

"Fred, Right?" Spike looked up at the distraught girl.

"Uh huh." The Texan nodded.

"Can you get us some water and clean towels?" the vampire asked gently.

"Sure, anything else?" Fred disappeared into the bathroom.

"Needle and thread, as well, pet." Spike turned back to Connor's limp form.

The teen lay on his bed. Buffy was carefully pulling his boots off. "I think the clothes are a write off." She frowned down at Connor's bloodied form. "I can't believe he would do this to his own son..."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Course Angelus would do this and worse, if he could." He walked over to Buffy and gently patted her on the shoulder. "Now love, come on, let's get the lad sorted."

Buffy tore Connor's shirt up the front to reveal a bruised torso, she tried not to gasp, aware that Spike was watching her closely. The blonde ran her thin hands gently over Connor's ribs. "I think there are three broken and one cracked." She slid her hand under Connor's neck and gently pulled him against her. Spike quickly pulled the tattered remains of the shirt off the boy. He growled angrily at the sight of the massive bruise covering Connor's lower back.

"Luv, I think we may need Glinda's mojo here," he suggested. Spike gently took Connor's shoulders and tried to ease him from Buffy's embrace. "Pet, let go, please," he begged.

Buffy grudgingly loosened her firm grasp and dashed the tears from her face. "Poor boy."

"Poor Angelus, if Peaches gets in here." Spike retorted. "I will gut him and then stuff his entrails down his throat. Sick bastard."

Fred gagged at the colourful visual, she handed the bowl and towels to Buffy. "I'll go find a needle and thread." Her hand fluttered over Connor's hair for a second before she ran out sobbing. "I can't believe Angel could do this..," her voice faded away as the thin girl ran down the corridor. The sound of her sobs echoed back into the room.

Spike and Buffy carefully cleaned the wound on Connor's shoulder. Buffy steadied Connor awkwardly whilst Spike wrapped his torso in strips of torn sheet. "That'll do until Glinda gets here."

Fred reappeared with Gunn. "Here..." She thrust a sewing kit at Spike before stepping back into Gunn's arms.

"Poor damn kid," Gunn muttered into Fred's hair. Neither could take their eyes off the three figures on the bed.

Buffy dipped the thread into some disinfectant, while Spike sterilized a needle with his Zippo. He handed it to Buffy and she began to efficiently stitch the shoulder wound shut, while Spike pressed the edges together.

"Oh my..." Fred ran to the bathroom and began to throw up. Gunn followed after her.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Lightweights..."

Before Buffy could retort, there was a surge of magic through the room.

"Guess Glinda's done." Spike asked. "Oi, you two, go get Tara and bring her here."

"I'm here, Spike. Oh, goddess..." Tara clapped a hand over her mouth at the sight of Connor's beaten form.

"Can you do anything, Columba?" Spike asked hopefully.

"Let me try," Tara whispered. She came over and knelt on the floor next to the bed.

Lorne appeared in the doorway carrying a smouldering bundle of sage. "Connor? My God..." He shot over to sit on the floor next to the bed.

Tara took both of the unconscious boy's hands in hers and began to supplicate her goddess. Gradually, the room began to fill with a warm golden light. Her eyes shifted to pale silver as she chanted. Connor's bruises began to disappear gradually. Tara slumped forward, her head rested on the blood stained cover. Buffy and Spike pulled her into their arms and checked her ashen face.

"I, o...okay," Tara stuttered. Her eyes fell closed. "Just tired."

"You rest, pet, Spike's got you." He smoothed her fair hair off her face and tucked her head under his chin. Buffy patted him on the shoulder before standing and heading to Connor.

He opened his eyes briefly and caught her worried gaze. "Angel..." he whispered before passing out.

Everyone gasped. His single word had confirmed their worst suspicions.

**********

Xander sat on the porch and stared at his hands. He squinted into the sun and then looked down at his feet.

"Can I join you?" Wes sat down next to the troubled Scoobie.

Xander shrugged. "It's a free country."

Wesley eyed the pensive man next to him. "Are you okay?"

Xander glanced over at the former watcher. "No," he answered tersely.

Wesley sat quietly waiting for him to continue.

"I made a mess of everything." Xander rubbed his face with his hands.

"A mess?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah, I shoulda stopped Willow. I shoulda seen that she was in trouble. And Buffy..." Xander sighed angrily. "I was too worried about the wedding and decorations to see that my best friends were self - destructing in front of me."

Wesley sighed. "Xander, while I believe you are right about Willow's predicament, I feel that Buffy is more than okay. She's a far happier young lady than the one I met when I was assigned as her Watcher." He hesitantly put a hand on Xander's shoulder. He gripped it firmly, not allowing the Scoobie to shrug his touch away.

Xander shook his head. "No, there is something wrong, there is no way she would let that freak touch her, unless she was..." he trailed off when Wes's words registered with him.

"She was what?" Wesley asked.

"Buffy's happy?" Xander ignored Wesley's last question. He turned to look at the scarred man who sat next to him. "Really happy?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, she is." Wesley replied. "Look, I know he isn't probably your first choice of a partner for Buffy, but..."

Xander snorted. "Not even my last choice."

"Yes, well..." Wesley patted Xander's shoulder clumsily and then folded his arms. "I would hate to see the two of you drifting apart over your issues with Spike. Maybe while they are travelling to New York, it will give you an opportunity to get used to the idea. Because I don't see Spike going anywhere."

"Yeah, he's like the cat, he always comes back." Xander leant his forearms on his knees. "He really loves her?"

"Yes, and she does love him."

"That's good." Xander sighed.

Wesley blinked at Xander's sudden about face. "Pardon?"

"Well, one thing you have to say about Spike is, when he loves someone, he really does," Xander explained.

"How did you arrive at that conclusion?" Wesley asked curiously.

"Look at how he adored Drusilla."

"I never observed the two of them together. I only met Spike a few days ago. However, from the texts I researched and a friend of mine's thesis, I would have to agree with you." Wesley glanced hesitantly over at Xander. "So, do you think that maybe..."

"Maybe. But it'll take some getting used to." Xander stood. "You want a beer? I think Buffy kept some in the fridge for me."

"Sure." Wesley stood and followed Xander back into the house.

Xander took a pull on his bottle. "So about Willow?"

"Yes?" Wesley sat at the breakfast bar. He waited patiently for the troubled boy to talk, aware that whatever Willow had done to him at the hospital was on his mind.

Xander hesitated for a second. "She...she..." He looked away and took a deep breath. "She got into my head, and it felt..."

"Like rape?" Wesley suggested.

Xander nodded. "Yeah, but I don't understand why Wills would do that to me."

"I imagine that right and wrong are concepts beyond her comprehension at the moment. She is too lost in her power."

"I can't figure out why." Xander sipped his warming beer.

"Neither can I." Wesley sighed. "There is the possibility that she has been influenced," he hypothesised. "I mean, we really haven't investigated this Rack person."

Xander nodded. "Maybe it's something he did?" he asked hopefully. "I know there is much straw grasping by me, but she's my oldest friend, I can't believe Willow would do all this... let them touch her."

"Them?" Wesley interrupted.

Xander flinched. "Yeah, in the hospital she said something about how they made her feel something."

"Interesting. But extremely disturbing." Wesley tapped a finger to the bridge of his nose.

"Disturbing is the polite way of putting it. I was going for 'time to change my pants' and not in a good way!" Xander took a long pull of his beer, trying to get rid of the taste of bile in his mouth. Inspiration struck him. "Hey, maybe the coins that we found belong to Willow's new playmate?"

Wesley nodded. "A sound idea. We really have to find out more about them." He looked over at Xander. "I have to commend you on your discretion."

"Huh? Discretion?"

"Yes, in not revealing the possibility that Willow is sexually involved with two men," Wesley replied.

"Well, I didn't want to hurt Tara anymore than she has been." Xander smiled sheepishly.

The front door slammed shut. Both jumped.

"We found something," Anya gasped. Groo followed her in, carrying a large book.

Wesley rose to his feet. "What?"

"Here." Groo thrust the book into the Watcher's eager hands.

Anya reached over and began to flick through the pages. "I never thought to look anything up in here, I mean it's Giles's old book on vampires."

"That the one he was always trying to get Buffy to read?" Xander shuffled over and peered at the ancient tome. "Well, what did you find?"

"Wasn't me, it was Groo." Anya patted the grinning Pylean on the shoulder.

"I was researching Vampiric practises. Spike suggested that an older vampire was burying his newly turned minions in that cemetery." Groo took a breath. "Well, I wondered if this practise was common. So I began to read this excellent tome, and there it was!"

"What?" Xander asked impatiently. He bounced to the balls of his feet trying to look over Anya and Wesley's heads.

"This engraving." Groo pointed to the now familiar coin.

"Oh! This is excellent." Wesley grinned at the Pylean. "Progress finally."

"Spill already," Xander demanded impatiently.

"Sorry." Wesley began to read. He glanced up at Groo. "This is fascinating. It appears that a vampire during the Crusades was cornered by a group of the Knights of St. John and vanished in a flash of light, leaving only a broken coin in his wake."

Anya tugged the book from his arms. "Here, let me. One of the knights wrote down the invocation the vampire chanted. Here it is!" She pointed to the crabbed text.

I call on Galerus, Guardian of the hidden paths
I humbly beseech you to grant your follower a boon.
With my blood I make an offering.
With my soul I make the pledge.
With the blood of an innocent I bind myself to your whim.

"Soul? But vampires don't have souls. Well, except for Angel. It wasn't him was it? Cos if it was, then he's been a very naughty vampire lying about his age." Xander peered at the text.

"Vampires do have souls," Anya muttered distractedly. She looked up at three shocked faces. "What?"

"Vampires have souls?" Xander gasped.

"That's nonsense!" Wesley exclaimed.

Groo nodded in agreement with him.

Anya rolled her eyes at the three of them. "Not a soul as you Watchers know, a demonic soul. Honestly, what are you taught at Watcher's school?"

"That vampires are evil and soulless?" Wesley offered. Xander and Groo nodded in agreement.

"Well, I agree most of them are evil. Except for Spike, he's different." Anya hesitated, a frown marring her forehead. "Wonder why?"

"Ahn, honey, not the time to try and work out Fangless's psyche. What do you mean demonic soul?" Xander asked impatiently.

"Oh right, well, when the mortal is drained and then turned, their human soul is gone. But something inhabits the body..."

"The demon?" Groo interrupted.

"Yes, but it does have a soul, a corrupted one but there's something there." Anya stamped her foot. "It's hard to explain, demons have something that could be called a soul." She turned to Wesley. "Of all of you, I would have thought you would have read Einhart's thesis, he covers all this more coherently than I am trying to."

"Einhart?" Wesley frowned. "Doesn't ring any bells."

Anya sighed. "I bet it doesn't..." She growled angrily. "I just bet that the Council destroyed all the copies they could get their hands on. Can't have something so sensitive available. They really are corrupt. I mean, if a Slayer read his ideas she may not be so malleable. And we all know that the Council wants to control their girls as much as possible. I just bet that Buffy must drive them nuts..."

"Ahn, breath, honey." Xander eyed her worriedly.

"Sorry, I just get so mad sometimes!" Anya looked up at Wesley and smiled hesitantly. "Not you, of course! You're nice."

Wesley cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Er, thank you. About this thesis, do you have a copy? I would be very interested in reading it."

Anya shook her head. "No, sorry." Wesley's disappointment was palpable. She smiled reassuringly. "Not in this dimension. I'll get Hoffie to send his, he'll delighted to hear that there is at least one open-minded Watcher!"

***********

"He must be wrong, Angel wouldn't have done this to his son!" Fred exclaimed anxiously. She refused to believe that her saviour would ever harm anyone he cared about.

Spike lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. He exhaled smoke through his nostrils. The vampire pulled Buffy close and rested his cheek against her fair hair. "Listen, luv, you've no idea what the poof is capable of." Buffy nodded solemnly.

"There is no way that Angel-cakes would harm a hair on his kid's head," Lorne argued.

Gunn rolled his eyes at both of them. "Listen to me, if these guys are right, then the Angel we know is long gone."

"Too right, mate." Spike nodded in agreement with the tall dark man. "Listen to me, all of you. Angelus is a very different animal. He is ruthless, twisted and, above all, a thug. None of you is safe from him. There'll be no confrontations unless me or the Slayer here are with you. She's the only person I know who has survived his mind games, fought him and won."

"So how come you think you can take him?" Lorne asked sceptically.

"Cos, mate, I hate Angelus, and I'll do anything to keep her safe." He squeezed Buffy tight against his body. Aware that the idea of Angelus returning was more than enough to send her into a spiral, let alone being presented with the sickening reality of Angelus.

"Look, you guys, we have to get ready, he'll come back here and once Angelus realises that the hotel is sealed against him, there will be trouble. We need weapons, crosses, Holy water and any good crossbows." Buffy ticked off the list on one hand. "Tara, can you stay with Connor? I need to know he's safe."

The quiet witch nodded, shifted closer to Connor and gently wiped a cool cloth over his forehead. "One of us needs to call the airlines and postpone our flight to New York."

"New York?" Lorne raised a questioning brow. "Why were you going there?"

"To pick up a friend. Guess that reading was a bit vague, huh?" Spike answered quickly, unwilling to share recent events with the AI team.

"What reading?" Lorne frowned, he felt a faint tickling at the edges of his memory and then it was gone.

Buffy frowned up at Spike. He shook his head quickly. "Um, yeah, Willow needs some help getting back here..." she trailed off. She realised that whatever Lorne had read was long gone, a symptom of Willow's magicks and Dawn's disappearance. The Pylean hadn't been present when Dawn had disappeared so his memory was altered as soon as he finished his reading earlier.

"Willow, is she okay?" Fred asked worriedly. She remembered the redheaded Wiccan from her last visit to LA.

Tara bit her lip. "She...she's..."

"Fine," Spike interrupted. "Doing some research in the Big Apple, is all. I figured it'd be a treat for the Slayer to go out there."

"Oh..." Fred nodded, realising it was the end of the conversation. "So Holy Water, I don't think we have any here, should we go get some?"

Gunn squinted out the window. "I think we can get to a church and back before sunset." He turned to Fred. "Come on, Texas." The couple disappeared out of Connor's room.

"I'll go check through the weapons cupboard," Lorne commented as he left.

Buffy turned in Spike's arms. "Why didn't you tell them why we're going to New York?"

Spike caught her pouting bottom lip with his teeth, and then kissed her deeply. Pulling away reluctantly, he gently brushed her lips with his. "I don't want any of them getting caught by Peaches and being tortured. If he hears that a powerful witch like Red is on the loose, he'd be on the next red-eye out of LAX. You know that Angelus would get a kick outta using Red against her friends and the state she's in right now, there's no way she would say no to the big git!" He looked over at Tara and frowned. "Sorry pet."

"No, you're right." Tara took a deep breath to steady herself. "She...she's capable of anything right now." She turned back to Connor and busied herself straightening his covers.

"Oh, Tara, I'm so sorry..." Buffy whispered.

Lorne re-appeared in the doorway. "Um, guys I think we've got another problem."

"What?" Spike groaned.

"There's a message on the answering machine from the LAPD, they've found Cordy's jeep abandoned on the freeway..." Lorne trailed off, his eyes filled with worry.

"Do what?" Spike began to pace. "That makes no sense at all, I figured that Angelus woulda done the cheerleader at her place."

Buffy's hand clutched his arm urgently. "Maybe she got away from him. Cos Cordy has all those powers. Maybe she was trying to get here to warn them?"

"Could've been." Spike turned to the green demon. "They leave a number to call back?" Lorne nodded. "Good, call 'em and get the low down."

"I already have!" Lorne sniped.

"She might be alive!" Buffy breathed hopefully.

"Don't get your hopes up, love, there's no reason to think that. Just doesn't make sense that she'd get out on the freeway. Something could've grabbed her..." he trailed off at the sudden pallor on Buffy's face. He quickly backtracked. "We'll have to see what the coppers say. Sorry, luv."

"The cops said they saw no evidence of a struggle, the door was open, the keys still in the ignition and her purse untouched on the seat," Lorne explained. "They have no idea what went on..."

Tara stood. "Look, we need to focus on one problem at a time, Angel, no Angelus is a big threat. Look what he did to his son." She gestured to the sleeping Connor. "Cordelia, well, maybe he has her and maybe not, but we really need to ensure that Angelus doesn't come after anyone here."

"Tara, do you think you could try and restore his soul?" Buffy asked apprehensively. Spike stood next to her gazing worriedly at Tara.

"I...I really don't know. I never studied the spell," Tara stammered worriedly.

"Also, we don't have the bloody text," Spike snarled angrily.

"He has his soul. I just don't know if they've killed him," Connor's weak voice interrupted. 

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