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Chapter 54

When Willow and Xander walked into the library several hours later, Giles had to refrain from doing a victory dance, of sorts, in front of them. He’d found the spell to bring Buffy back about an hour ago, and debated calling the children to tell them the good news. But, his common sense prevailed and he’d decided to wait until they arrived – it would have been rather difficult explaining to their respective parents why the school’s librarian would be calling them at such an early hour… and on a Sunday, no less. Instead, Giles spent the time returning the unneeded books to their proper location and then settled in with another cup of tea while he waited for the children’s arrival.

“Hey, G-man, where’s all our stuff?” Xander asked, confused at seeing the table clear, and the watcher lounging in a chair.

One hand still holding his cup aloft, Giles lightly patted the solitary book lying on the table’s surface with the other.

“You found it!” Willow guessed. She grasped Xander’s arm with both hands, tugging excitedly. “He found it,” she told Xander needlessly. Her smile was infectious and the other two males grinned in response at her antics. After a moment, Giles coughed, sobering, leaning forward in his seat so that he could stand.

“Indeed I have,” he told them both, setting his cup aside. He gestured to the book, opening it to the page he needed while continuing. “And, it’s a rather simple spell given the use of the Janus statue. No wonder Ethan was able to do it alone.”

“Giles, that’s great!” Willow squealed, then started babbling questions about when could they perform the spell, what was needed, and if she could help. Xander just looked down at his friend and smiled goofily. Buffy was coming home and they could finally put this mess behind them, get back to the usual Hellmouth horrors like apocalypses and such, rather than having to deal with Buffy being sucked back in time.

“Yes.” Giles smiled for a moment more before his face became serious. “Willow, I’m going to need something of Buffy’s. Are you able to get inside her place?”

The redhead nodded. “Sure. Buffy keeps a spare key with me. Ya know, just in case…”

“Good. Xander, see if you can locate Angel. When I bring Buffy back, I’ll have no idea as to her condition, and whether or not Spike will be brought back with her. I think it’s best to be safe. Both of you meet me at the warehouse Buffy disappeared from in two hours. I need to gather a few things from home and make a stop by the local magic shop as well.” He glanced at his watch. “They should be opening shortly.”

“Come on, Xan,” Willow urged, still tugging on the boy’s arm in excitement. “You can walk me home before looking for Angel.”

Xander grumbled under his breath about not being able to find the vampire during daylight hours, but he would give it a shot. Like Giles had said, they may need the tall, broody one.

~*~*~*~*~

Giles found that both his hands were shaking as he set everything up in preparation of bringing Buffy back from the past. He’d had Willow and Xander remain near the back wall by the opened door, just in case they needed to make a quick getaway. Angel, surprisingly, had shown of his own accord, giving no reason behind his sudden appearance. The dark-haired vampire had met him near the shaded entrance to the warehouse, and a glance over the other’s shoulder had revealed to Giles the sewer grate that had been shoved aside from where he’d no doubt appeared.

Now the brooding vampire stood pacing back and forth several feet behind him. Strange, actually. Angel was never one to display any unnecessary movements, more content to stand unmoving when others were about.

“Will you stop that incessant pacing?” Giles finally snapped in irritation. “I’m trying to concentrate.” He continued with his preparations, not bothering to turn around after he’d barked out his command. When he was finished placing everything just so, he grabbed his book, using his thumb to skim the pages until it opened to the marked spot. Kneeling down before the chalked circle, he began to chant the text written on the page. He concentrated on only that, repeating the lines over and over without relent.

The wind came out of nowhere, creating a vortex near the crate where Buffy had disappeared. When it was gone, two prone figures lay in front of it. It was Buffy, at least he assumed it was his Slayer in the long plaid, her blonde hair in one single plait down her back. The other person had to be Spike, although with his head turned away it was hard to tell. His attention turned back to Buffy and his ears perked; she was mumbling something.

“Dear Lord! Is that Gaelic?” Giles stammered, flabbergasted when her words became less garbled.

There was a blur of movement as Angel raced passed him and knelt down at Buffy’s side.

“Bastard’s bit her,” Angel growled, and he stepped over the semi-unconscious Slayer to pick up his errant grandchilde and throw him into a far wall and as far away from Buffy as he could. Growling erupted throughout the warehouse and caused Angel to stiffen in surprise – he’d been unaware that anyone, or anything, lurked in the darkened corners. The other three just looked at each other in confusion at the sudden noise.

“Giles, get Willow and Xander and get the hell out of here and into the sunlight!” Angel ordered, turning in a circle to try and determine where they hid.

“Angel—”

“Just do it! I don’t have time to explain. Now go!”

As they others ran from the warehouse, Angel carefully stepped in front of Buffy determined to save her from this latest threat. The growling seemed to intensify, and he tensed in preparation of an attack – though from where, he was unsure. He eyed the distance to the door and wondered fleetingly if he’d have enough time to snatch Buffy up in his arms and make it there before he was descended upon by an indeterminable number of vampires.

Groggy mutterings from Spike drew his attention, and he glanced over to see him rise unsteadily to his feet. He spoke again, this time more authoritatively – but in a language Angel failed to recognize – and the noise abruptly ceased. Seeing his chance, Angel reached down and pulled the Slayer in his arms and bolted for the safety of the door. Outside the warehouse, he singed his hands passing Buffy off to Giles, since the watcher happened to be standing in direct sunlight, and his demon made itself known as he vamped and hissed in agony.

“Go!” he growled, snatching his hands back from the sun’s deadly rays.

“Angel, what is it?” Giles asked.

“I don’t know. But, whatever it is, you’re not safe here.” At the watcher’s wary look, he shook his head, and fangs and ridges melded away. “Look…take Buffy home, or wherever. Just get into sunlight and away from here. Hurry! I’ll meet you back at the school after I take a look around.”

Angel leaned back against the brick building and waited until the four were gone from sight. Only then did he venture back inside the abandoned warehouse.

It was deserted. He knew it right off, but took a quick circuit just to be sure. Even Spike had disappeared. The only proof that both he and Buffy were back…. the pink pig lying on its side within the chalked circle, a few herbs and other ingredients also placed strategically within the sphere.

Shaking off his unease, he walked back out to the manhole, careful to remain in the shadows, and jumped down into the sewers. Bringing forth his demon, he could detect nothing amiss in either direction, and resigned, started off towards the high school.

~*~*~*~*~

Giles glanced in the rearview mirror as he sped away from the warehouse to see Xander looking down at Buffy with concern, her head resting on his lap. He snatched the handkerchief out of his pocket and waved it at the boy. “Here, use this to stem the blood flow. The bite marks didn’t look too deep, but it’s probably going to leave a scar.”

Xander grabbed the white cloth out of Giles’ hand and pressed it against the wound in Buffy’s neck, silently vowing to get even with the vampire that had bitten his friend. He saw her wince in her sleep and lessened the pressure just a bit, not wanting to cause her further pain.

~*~

Buffy heard the loud noise, felt the vibrating seat beneath her body, and struggled not to panic. She lay there unmoving to prevent the others from guessing she’d wakened. Their hushed whisperings sounded vaguely familiar and she concentrated on their words and mentally clicked over to translating their conversation; it had been a long while since she’d heard her native tongue spoken so that they’d nearly finished before she got the gist of what they were saying.

They’d brought her back, and she was riding in Giles’ car. They were going to take her home to let her rest and then go back to the school and talk with Angel.

The car finally stopped a while later, and as the engine shut off, Buffy managed to lift her head from Xander’s lap and sit up. She opened her mouth to speak and clamped it shut again after the first word. ‘English, Buffy, English,’ she silently admonished. Clearing her throat, she started again.

“Hello.” It came out more like a rasp, as if her mouth had been sucked dry and shoved full of sand.

“Buffy! You’re awake!” Willow gasped in surprise, swiveling around in the front seat to face her friend. “We were so worried!”

“I am… fine,” she replied haltingly, concentrating on her grammar. “Just…just tired. Maybe some sleep? I… I mean, I will feel better after I sleep.”

“Oh. Oh… we can do that. Here…” Willow opened her door and climbed out of the front seat to open the back one, allowing Buffy to step out of Giles’ car. Xander had already gotten out on his side and had come around to stand next to Willow.

Buffy took a tentative step out of the vehicle and would have collapsed if Xander hadn’t caught her. Her body was still dealing with the aftereffects of the spell that had been cast, and she was feeling rather weak.

“Easy there, Buffster. Here. Lemme help you.” Without waiting for an affirmative, he wrapped one of her arms around his shoulders and hefted her close to his side. Buffy struggled not to flinch at his touch and forced herself to lean against him as he walked with her towards the front door.

“I don’t know, Giles. I think one of us should stay here and keep an eye on Buffy,” Willow spoke quietly to the man as the two trailed behind.

“No!” Buffy stopped abruptly, dragging Xander to a halt beside her. She glanced over her shoulder to see the girl looking at her with a slightly wounded look. “I…that is…I just need to rest. I will be fine. Besides, my mother should be here soon, is that not so?” She hoped that was a valid excuse.

“Yes, I think sleep for all of us might be the most beneficial,” Giles agreed, eyeing his charge carefully. Something about the way she spoke seemed off somehow. “Willow, why don’t you see that Buffy makes it upstairs and into bed.”

Willow bobbed her head, eager to feel useful, and darted around the pair in front of her to open the door using the key Buffy had given to her for safekeeping. Buffy wondered if she’d ever seemed that young and carefree as she watched the redheaded girl let herself in then race up the stairs to open her bedroom door. Xander did most of the work getting her up the stairs, and for once, she was grateful for someone’s assistance. She probably would have collapsed on the couch if it had been just her.

“You sure you’re going to be alright?” Willow asked, her faced etched with concern when Buffy pulled back the covers and climbed into bed fully dressed; Xander had gone back downstairs to wait with Giles once seeing Buffy to her room. “Don’t you want to get out of those clothes and into some pajamas?”

“No!” Again her denial came out more forceful than intended, and Buffy struggled not to cave from the wounded expression she was getting from the girl. ‘Just leave already!’ “I…the cloth is warm, and I am a mite chilled.”

“Oh….ok. Well, you get some rest. We’ll see you in school tomorrow, or maybe not after the whole time travel thing and yeah, babbling now. Sorry. Just sleep, and we’ll see you later.”

“Sleep. Yes. Sleep,” she murmured softly, laying her head back against the pillows and closing her eyes. A moment later she heard her bedroom door shut and then the front door, too, as her friends and watcher let themselves out.

“Spike,” she whimpered softly, drifting back to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike was determined to walk under his own power through the sewer tunnels, but near the end of their journey his legs finally gave out, his body still subject to the magicks that had returned him and the Slayer to this time. Joseph was walking beside him and easily caught him, sliding Spike’s arm around his shoulder. He’d not wanted to leave Buffy behind, but felt it was best to retreat for now; he couldn’t afford to have his childer’s presence revealed. Besides which, he knew where his wife’s mates were taking her, and it was a simple matter of waiting until nightfall before he was reunited with the Slayer, and they could disappear once more. He’d been more concerned with getting away from his grandsire… him and the others.

“Thanks, mate,” Spike muttered.

The vampire grinned but didn’t say anything. In fact, none of them did. Not until they could be assured their words would not be overheard – no matter that anyone who might be listening couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. They were just being cautious. A point ingrained over the years.

When they did manage to seal themselves inside their temporary home, each one of them waited for the question they all knew was forthcoming from their sire. Especially given that the vampire knew his wife’s whereabouts, and could actually see her sleeping soundly on one of the many screens dominating an entire wall in the room. Sure enough, the bolt slid home, and Spike took in the vampires present. The next words out of his mouth caused a few of the assembled to cringe.

“Where’s Renee?”

“She…uh…she’s…” Clayton began.

“New York,” Adam answered, bringing Spike’s piercing blue gaze swiveling in his direction. He quirked his scarred brow, indicating the other should continue.

Beside Adam, Byron muttered, “Woman needs a mate.”

“And I suppose you don’t,” Esme commented from another part of the room.

“I’m just saying… Renee is different.” Byron gestured vaguely with his hand. “She…after Buffy disappeared so suddenly it was too much for her. She needed time.”

“And you didn’t get her before coming here?” Spike asked Byron, ignoring the fact that his childer were talking around him.

“No,” Adam answered for the flustered vamp. “Byron’s right, Spike. Renee… she’s looking for something. When she finds it, she’ll be along.”

Spike nodded, though he was not pleased. He didn’t like the thought of one of his own out there by herself. He wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. The others were all still here, so apparently things weren’t that dire. And, knowing Adam like he did, the other vamp was probably keeping tabs on the missing vampiress.

“Either that, or my wife will go get her,” he finally allowed.

“Yeah. Or that.” Adam chuckled, and so did a few of the others, pleased at how well their sire was taking Renee’s disappearance. Then he sobered again, telling Spike, “She’s had a rough time of it. She took both of your abrupt disappearances rather hard. Buffy’s especially.”

Marcus walked up then, clapping Spike on the shoulder. “It’s good to have you back, Sire.”

Spike took the change of subject in stride. “Yeah, well, I can’t say I’m glad to be back,” he told the other at his side, wrinkling his nose at the remembered smell of the sewer. “Was much cleaner back then….and quieter. Bloody hell, I forgot how noisy it was.”

The others grinned at Spike’s complaint. They’d had time to get used to technology’s growth. Spike had gone from the wide-open spaces of the Highlands to the rank smells of sewage and pollution in the blink of an eye.

“Tell me somebody thought to get me a change of clothes,” Spike asked of no one in particular. He fingered the knee-length plaid, taking in the others’ more casual attire.

“Already waiting for you in the bathroom,” Esme told him, adding, “Down the hall, second door on your right.”

“Thanks, luv. Gimme five. I’ll get cleaned up and then you can report what’s been going on in my absence.”

Spike ended up taking ten minutes, having forgotten the luxury of scalding hot water pounding on his flesh. When he emerged, he quickly donned the black t-shirt and jeans left for him then sat on the toilet seat to pull on his socks and boots – not quite what he used to wear, but it would do for now. He did, however, miss his leather duster, but figured it was long gone. The last time he’d seen it was when Doyle had nicked his clothes and smokes and left him in that poncified outfit, and he smiled at the distant memory. Throwing the damp towel over a rack, he left the room and strode swiftly back to the observation area.

When he stepped into the room, it was a signal to the others to gather around the table. Adam started off the briefing, pointing out the various monitors and several listening devices that were recording conversations. Afterwards, the others went down the line giving their assessments, and when Joseph mention Angel visiting Drusilla last night, Spike raised an eyebrow, but gave no further indication that the news bothered him. Finally, Alric spoke, and he discussed the general overview of the Hellmouth, and the goings on of the various demons residing in the city.

Not more remarkable than any other Hellmouth, and certainly nothing more than they’d witnessed before – human or demon-wise. Heck, Sunnydale was a breath of fresh air after some of the things they’d all seen.

“We do have a possible situation though, Sire,” Alric hesitated to add. “There’s a new Slayer in town.”

“A new Slayer? How can that be possible? Only one bird at a time gets that role.”

“I’m not quite sure, but I know what I saw…and what I felt. She’s a Slayer. Fairly green around the gills, if you get what I’m saying. Not even a year into the gig.”

“Well, stay away from her. Just as soon as we can get Buffy back we’ll disappear and she can have the run of this place.” He broke off, his eyes suddenly zeroing in on one of the monitors.

Buffy’s watcher, her two friends, and his poof of a grandsire were talking about the Slayer’s reemergence from the past while they either sat or stood inside the school’s library. But, it was the dark-skinned girl calmly walking down the hallway in a second monitor that held Spike’s attention. His gaze narrowed on the newcomer, cataloguing her movements for any flaws.

“Give me some volume.”

Adam hit a button and the conversation in the library got louder.

“…just disappeared. And so did the others,” Angel was saying.

The doors swung open and conversation ceased, four sets of eyes taking in the newcomer standing inside the door.

“Oh…I say… the library is closed today, er…Miss….”

“Don’t look closed t’ me,” the girl announced, nodding her head in their general direction, her heavily accented voice difficult to understand.

“Yes…well, er…”

“F-faculty-student meeting,” Willow improvised, blurting out an answer in the sudden silence.

“Right…yes. Very good. We’re in the middle of a faculty-student meeting,” Giles elaborated.

The girl just stood there, folding her arms across her chest while she regarded the small group.

“W-was there something you needed?” Giles asked, when she made no move to leave the room.

“I was sent to Sunnydale to meet with you.”

“I say… meet me?” Giles’ brow knitted in confusion. “Who…ah…who sent you…”

“My watcher.”

“Watcher?”

“I’m Kendra, the Vampire Slayer,” she announced.

Spike watched his grandsire take a step back and nearly fall over a chair; he couldn’t help it, he started laughing.

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