Part 10:

There was a loud crack as Angel's fist made contact with Brian's head. The boy fell to the ground and Buffy rushed forward to grab Leigh Anne.

She reached the girl and knew by taking one look at her that she was in bad shape. Leigh Anne recognised her though and Buffy took that as a good sign.

"Buffy?" Hearing her name whispered from dry, cracked lips Buffy leaned forward and stroked Leigh Anne's hair.

"Yeah, it's me Leigh Anne. Everything's gonna be ok. We're gonna get you out of here.

Leigh Anne nodded and Buffy was reminded of the first time they met. She smiled softly and walked over to where Angel was bending over Brian.

"He's out of it."

"Good." Buffy replied. "He deserves it after what he did to Leigh Anne."

"Buffy he didn't…I mean, he…"

"Shhh…" Buffy said, turning to face Leigh Anne, who had spoken. "You can explain it later, when we get home."

"I don't think that will be happening!" Came a voice from the doorway and Buffy spun around in surprise.

"Oh really? And why do you say that?" Buffy asked, watching the tall dark man in the door carefully as she moved into a fighting stance.

"Because I intend to stop you." The man replied, entering the room, followed by Samson and another man, a younger looking man with a scar cutting across his face.

"Oh yeah? You and what army?" Buffy said sarcastically as she spun around and kicked the nearest guy in the head, the young guy with the scar. He fell to the ground and Samson charged at Buffy, only to be thwarted by Angel. And a very angry Angel at that.

Game face on, Angel grabbed Samson's arm as he tried to throw a punch and twisted behind the man's back. Samson yelled out in pain and fell to his knees.

Meanwhile, Buffy had grabbed the younger man up again and threw a punch that connected with his jaw and a painful crack filled the room. The man fell to the ground and a hand clamped on Buffy's shoulder. She grabbed the man's wrist and flipped the tall dark man who had entered first to the ground. He was up in a flash and threw a punch, which Buffy expertly blocked.

Angel knocked out his opponent in one simple punch and ran over to help Buffy. Creeping up behind the tall guy he punched him in the back of the head, causing him to fall forward. Buffy jumped back so as not to get trapped underneath him and almost fell over the younger guy with the scar who was creeping towards Leigh Anne.

"Not so fast Scar Face!" Buffy cried and grabbed him by his hair, pulling him to his feet. She gave him a roundhouse kick to the head, causing his neck to snap with a sickening crack and he fell to the floor. Buffy spun around to help Angel, only to find him on the floor. She ran over to him and he shook his head.

"Quick! Before he gets away!" Buffy turned to the door, just in time to see the tall man's jacket flap out of sight. She began to chase him but stopped as a siren filled the air.

"There's no time!" Buffy called to Angel. "This place will be swarming with guards and second. Get Leigh Anne and let's get out of here!"

Angel nodded and raced over to Leigh Anne who had fainted again in the fight. He picked her up gently and placed her over his shoulder. He raced out the door and Buffy went to follow but as she went to walk out the door, a moan echoed through the room, barely heard above the sirens.

She turned back to see Brian clutching his head in agony and after a moment of thought she raced over to him and pulled him to his feet.

"Come on!" She said roughly. "You're coming with us."

And with that, the Slayer raced out the door, Brian behind her, Angel and Leigh Anne in front of her.****************

Part 11:

The group hid, breathless, in the bush outside the Council headquarters, the only sound they made was the rapid intake of breath. They could see the guards racing around the courtyard looking for them and Buffy looked at Leigh Anne nervously. One hand still clamped warningly on Brian's shoulder; she leaned towards Angel, her voice little more than a whisper when she spoke.

"We have to get her out of here. Now."

Angel nodded and motioned for Buffy and Brian to follow him. He crept silently through the bushes, away from the building that loomed above them in the darkness. They continued until they reached the main road and Buffy looked around in despair. They were quite a while from the headquarters now but we're they would head now was unknown.

"Where to now Angel?" Buffy cried in despair, breaking the silence that had followed them since she last spoke.

Angel didn't say a word, just pointed towards a building in the distance and they slowly starting trudging towards it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What? Damien! How could you let this happen? That girl is a disgrace to this Council and Watchers over the world! How could you let them get away?"

"Well if the guard hadn't fallen asleep we'd all be right, wouldn't we?" Damien snapped and immediately regretted it. The Chairman for the Watcher's Council spun around and the tall, dark kidnapper saw the anger in his eyes.

"I'm sorry sir. It's just been so frustrating! That Samson was strong, but a complete airhead! It was so difficult working with him. And the Slayer and her friends have taken the girl under their wing and are not going to let us get her back without a fight."

"The Slayer and her friends!" The Chairman shook his head. "That's another problem. A Slayer isn't supposed to have friends! That girl might be the strongest Slayer yet, but all she does is cause problems! Her interest in that vampire is even worst."

Damien nodded his head, a look of disgust on his face. Who ever heard of a Slayer in love with a Vampire? It was disgraceful.

"As for her Watcher, don't even get me started on good old Ripper!" The man turned and gazed out the window, a look of deep thought on his face. "And the girl, do you have any ideas on getting her back?"

Damien opened his mouth to speak and was interrupted by the door swinging open and a cockish young man strutting in.

"I believe you won't have to worry about her anymore. I have just heard some news that will surely make you extremely happy Father!"

Both men turned to face the young man and the Chairman smiled at the sight of his son. He was very proud of him; he had the makings of a fine Watcher.

"And what might this news be young Gerald?" Damien asked, a look of jealousy crossing his face.

"Lithos. He is after the girl. He is the one who killed Alyssa, the young girls mother."

"We know who Alyssa is Gerald!" Damien said. "She was a Slayer remember!"

Gerald nodded and turned to his father. "There is no way she will survive if he attacks her. We have been after this demon for centuries and no Slayer has ever come close to killing him. He will kill her and we shall not be blamed!"

The Chairman nodded a smile creeping over his face. "Well done Gerald! Who would have thought that a demon might actually be helpful to us? We shall be rid of this disgrace once and for all!"

**************

Part 12:

The pain in Leigh Anne's head was almost unbearable and she moaned in agony.

"She's coming around."

The voice echoed in her head and she cried out again. She felt something cool touch her hot forehead and she almost smiled in relief. Her eyes flickered painfully opened and everything appeared as a blur. She registered the fact that someone was bent over her and as her eyes adjusted she realised it was Buffy.

"Hey sleepy head. Finally decide to join us huh?" Buffy's voice was light hearted and friendly but laced with concern. She spoke in a whisper, realising how much pain Leigh Anne must be in and she looked up at Angel who looked back at her with a solemn face. She was in bad shape and there was no way they could get her back home tonight; in this condition the spirits of the Ghost Roads would surely try to keep her with them.

"I need my beauty sleep!" Leigh Anne said, her voice cracking and tears in her eyes. She made an attempt to smile and Buffy reached over to gently hug her, trying not to squeeze her too hard. As her own eyes filled with tears, Buffy could only imagine what this poor girl had gone through.

"Hey Buff," Angel said, his voice quiet. "I think Leigh Anne needs some oxygen."

Both girls try to laugh and failed miserably and Buffy pulled away from Leigh Anne just as there was a quiet rap on the door. Buffy looked at Angel in surprise.

"I thought you arranged it so we wouldn't be disturbed?"

"I did." Angel said and headed towards the door. After opening it he found an elderly lady there, a Mrs. McDoug, who he recognised as the lady he spoke to the night before. "Mrs. McDoug! Good Morning."

"Good Morning." She replied, her face lighting up as she looked approvingly at the polite young man. Being an elderly, old-fashioned woman, she wasn't used to finding someone who lived up to her expectations of young people but when she did she let them know she approved. "I was wondering if you needed anything? I noticed last night that your young friend was injured. Now I'm not meaning to pry, how she got hurt is your business but I thought you might need some of this."

She held out a tray she had been holding and on it was a small bowl full of soup and another full of cool water. With his vampire sense of smell, Angel realised it was salt water and there was a bandages and other supplies on the tray as well. Angel smiled appreciatively at the old woman who gave him a friendly nod back.

"Thank you so much ma'am." Angel said as he took the tray but a look of surprise crossed his face when the woman kept a strong hold on it.

"If you don't mind," She said in a quiet but firm voice. "I'd rather clean up the young girl myself. She looked really bad and I am used to these kinds of things. May I?"

Angel nodded and the lady walked into the dark room, the vampire following. She placed the tray at the end of the bed, barely noticing the curious looks Buffy and Brian sent her way.

"First of all," The old woman said, her eyes flicking to the closed drapes. "We need some light!" She walked over as if to open the curtains but she stopped at the sound of Buffy's cry.

"NO! Umm, I mean, my friend here has a really bad headache and the sunlight will hurt her eyes."

The old woman nodded and without turning around she spoke, but it was so quiet that it seemed like she was almost talking to herself.

"Mm hmm. I thought so."

Buffy looked at Angel with a look of concern on her face and Angel smiled at her as if to say 'Stop worrying so much Buffy!' Yeah, stop worrying so much. Right-o! I have a vampire, a kidnapper, an old suspicious lady and an injured Council enemy all in the same room. Everything is peachy-keen! Buffy thought without humour.

Mrs. McDoug walked over to Leigh Anne who had closed her eyes again, the many pains over her body overwhelming. She began to clean the cuts on Leigh Anne's face and the young girl flinched as the cold salt water touched her face.

"There, there Miss, everything will be okay. It will only sting for a moment."

Buffy moved closer to Leigh Anne and held her hand, which was squeezed hard almost straight away, as the cool cloth touched her face again. Buffy looked towards Angel and motioned with her head for him and Brian to leave the room. Angel nodded and got the hidden message in Buffy's request. She wanted him to find out as much as he could about what had happened to Leigh Anne.

Angel walked over to Brian and motioned for him to stand up. The boy did so, fear in his eyes, for he had seen Angel's demon side in battle and didn't dare disobey him. They left the room, the door swinging shut behind them and Buffy caught Brian taking one last look at Leigh Anne. The look on his face was a mixture of pain, hope, sorrow and longing, all which confused Buffy. But she did not have time to dwell on it as her hand was squeezed yet again by Leigh Anne and a whimper pasted through the young girl's closed lips.

Mrs. McDoug finished cleaning Leigh Anne's many wounds and Buffy sighed in relief. Many of the cuts and bruises looked nowhere near as bad as they had and Leigh Anne had gotten a little colour back. The old women left the room, taking with her the dirty cloths and water and promised to return in a minute. Just as the door was about to swing close behind her, a hand pushed it open and Angel entered the room again, Brian being pushed in front of him.

"It's useless." Angel said, moving over to where Buffy was seated next to the bed. "He reckons he had nothing to do with it and he was just trying to help her."

Buffy turned to glare at Brian who was standing nervously, unsure of what to do. She saw that he was looking at Leigh Anne again and for a moment she believe his story. But then the image of him bending over the limp body of Giles' daughter, knife in hand, flashed before her eyes and her blood boiled with anger again.

"Why were you standing over her with a knife huh? A knife covered with blood? You were the only one in the room!"

"I was trying to get her out of there! The knife was for untying her and the blood was that of the guard. How else do you think he died?" Brian's voice rose in anger that these people would think that he would hurt Leigh Anne. Buffy opened her mouth to reply but the words that were heard did not come from her mouth.

"It's true Buffy, he didn't hurt me."

All eyes turned to Leigh Anne as she struggled to sit up and Angel ran over to help her and Leigh Anne noticed him for the first time.

"A – Angel? What are you doing here?" Leigh Anne's eyes opened wide with surprise and Angel grinned at her.

"Wow, you've certainly grown since I last saw you Annie!"

Leigh Anne blushed at his pet name for her when she was a child and a grin broke over her face. Angel grinned back, glad that the fire he had known her for was slowly creeping back. She had been around 8 when he had left for LA and he was proud of the young girl she had become. He opened his mouth to say more but saw Buffy gesturing at him urgently and his face became serious.

"If he wasn't there to hurt you Annie, why was he there and how did he know where you were?" Angel stepped back out of Leigh Anne's view so that Brian could be seen. At the sight of the young boy, Leigh Anne's face broke into a grin and she turned to Angel in amusement.

"Angel, I would like you to meet Brian O'Donahue." Seeing Angel's confused look her grin widened and she winced, smiling was painful.

"He's Gregory's son Angel." She explained.

"Gregory has a son?" Angel asked, looking from Leigh Anne to Brian and back to Leigh Anne again. Leigh Anne nodded and Brian stepped forward, his hand outstretched. Angel took it and shook it heartily, stopping when he noticed pain flick across the young boy's face.

"You must be the ever talked about Angel!" Brian said, smiling. "Alyssa never stopped talking about how much you did for them, my father had a lot to live up to!"

At that comment, Angel blushed and Buffy grinned. How he hated compliments!

"Your father is a great man Brian. Where is he? I figured he would be here now that Alyssa…" Angel's sentenced trailed away, partially because of what he was about to say and partially because of the look of sadness that crossed Brian's face.

"He died a year ago, shortly before Alyssa was…killed." He cleared his throat and blinked away tears, not looking the vampire in the eye. "I have taken his place, training to be a Watcher like him and looking after Leigh Anne and her mother."

His eyes roamed towards Leigh Anne who was looking at Angel, watching to see how he took this news.

"Unfortunately I have failed. I let Alyssa die and Leigh Anne get captured and…" Brian's sentence was interrupted by Leigh Anne's angry voice.

"It's not your fault Brian and it never was so stop talking like that at once!" She looked at Brian, her face stern but her eyes full of sadness. "You did the best you could to look after us and if it wasn't for you I would be dead."

"If it was for the fact that I left to become a Watcher your mother would be alive and you wouldn't be in this position!"

"If you hadn't left to become a Watcher you wouldn't have been at the Council Chambers when I needed you most and I would still be locked in their prison!"

The two voice's had risen in argument and Buffy and Angel looked on uncomfortably. It was obvious it was not their right to interfere but something would have to be done soon or the strength Leigh Anne had gained back would be lost. Buffy looked at Angel and he read in her eyes what she wanted him to do. He opened his mouth to speak and for the second time that morning, there was a quiet rap on the door and this time Mrs. McDoug didn't wait for an answer. She walked in, not noticing the scene around her and walked straight over to Leigh Anne's side. She handed the angry teenager a mug full of soup and told her to drink it. Leigh Anne did so, not daring to disobey the old but determined woman.

Mrs. McDoug then turned to Brian and Buffy asking them if they would like some tea. Both shook their head and the old woman tsked and made them a cup anyway then turned to face Angel.

"I seem to be having a rat problem in my roof. Would you go and have a look at it for me young man?"

*****************

Part 13:

"Huh? I mean," Angel coughed. "Excuse me?"

Mrs. McDoug looked around the room at the astonished faces around her and decided not to keep them in the dark anymore.

"I said, I have a rat problem in my roof could you go and have a look at it for me. And be careful, I have some old clothes up there and it would be a killer to get any stains out of them." She looked at Angel and grinned. "Go on! I'll explain when you get back, you must be starving."

Angel nodded and left the room with a bewildered look on his face, a look mirrored on the faces of those around him. Seeing the looks around her, Mrs. McDoug grinned and turned to face Buffy.

"I suppose you are all wondering what is going on aren't you?" Seeing bewildered faces nodding, the old woman continued. "I'm a member of the Watcher's Council."

Seeing Buffy about to open her mouth Mrs. McDoug raised her hand to silence her. "Or should I say, I used to be. My Slayer died about 3 Slayer's ago and I haven't been a Watcher since. I saw the way you reacted to me opening the curtains and I figured your friend there was a vampire. And seeing that he isn't attacking anyone I guessed that either you are all on the side of evil or you my dear," turning back to Buffy. "Are the famous Buffy Summers."

Buffy blushed at that and Leigh Anne looked at her in amusement.

"Oh so you're famous are you Buffy?"

Mrs. McDoug chuckled and Buffy went even brighter red. The old woman turned to Leigh Anne and smiled kindly at her. "Seeing the state you're in, I gather you are the escapee that we have all been put on the alert for which means that you," she turned to Brian. "Are Gregory O'Donahue's son."

Brian nodded and Mrs. McDoug looked around at the strange group gathered around her spare room in amusement.

"Well you sure are a group of mischief makers aren't you? The Council has sent out a notice about you and everything. You had better get out of here as soon as possible. How did you get here from America so fast anyway?"

"Ghost Roads." Buffy said and all three looked at her in surprise.

"The Ghost Roads?" Brian and Mrs. McDoug cried at the same time.

"Yeah…The Ghost Roads…is there something wrong with that?" Buffy replied.

"What are the Ghost Roads?" Leigh Anne asked quietly.

"The Ghost Roads are the roads between this world and the next, sort of a limbo area. They lead to Hell, Heaven and the Otherworld and there are breaches to them all over the world." Brian said and the ex-Watcher looked at him in approvement.

"No one has ever travelled them and survived." Mrs. McDoug added and turned to Buffy who was sitting with a smirk on her face. "Until now."

"Well I hate to break it to you." Buffy said as she stood up. "But we have done it many times!"

The door opened and Angel walked in looking sheepish. "Hey guys."

"Welcome back vampire." Mrs. McDoug said, enjoying the confused look on Angel's face. "You must be the famous Angelus though I hear that's not what you go by nowadays."

Angel nodded. "It's Angel." He muttered and turned to look at Buffy.

"They're on their way here, we better get going."

"But how?" Buffy cried. "Only ones touched by the supernatural can travel the Ghost Roads unless they are giving Safe Passage and even if we knew the spell for that we can't take Leigh Anne through them like this, they would surely try to keep her."

"I can perform the Ritual of Safe Passage." Mrs. McDoug answered. "I was very interested in the Ghost Roads when I was a Watcher and I learnt all I could about them in case Alyson had to use them one day. She was my Slayer." She explained.

"But what about Leigh?" Brian asked quietly. No matter how much they had fought when they were younger, Leigh Anne was his responsibility and as much as he hated to admit it, he cared for her and didn't want to lose her. Seeing her like this almost tore him inside, he wished she was back to her smart-aleck self.

"If you are given Safe Passage the lost spirits can't touch you. Or that's how it's supposed to work anyway." The ex-Watcher replied and Angel nodded.

"We have to take the chance Buffy, who knows what will happen if we don't leave now."

Buffy nodded and Angel walked over to Leigh Anne who was still looking pretty weak in the bed.

"Are you up to it Annie?"

The 16-year-old nodded, fear in her blue eyes. "Anything to get me away from here."

Angel nodded and turned to face Mrs. McDoug. "Have you got the Ritual here?"

"I believe so." She replied. "Let me check, I'll be back as soon as possible."

She rushed out of the room, leaving the other four in an uncomfortable silence. Buffy cleared her face and turned to Brian.

"I, um, I'm sorry for blaming you it's just…" Her sentence broke off and Brian nodded.

"I know. I'm glad Leigh has friends that care about her that much.

"Brian?" Leigh Anne asked quietly and the 17-year-old boy turned to face her.

"Yeah? What is it Leigh?" Brian asked, his voice worried.

"I found him."

"You found who?"

"Dad. I found him." Leigh Anne said and her bright blue eyes filled with tears. "I finally found him."

Brian quickly looked at Buffy who nodded, smiling, and he ran over to give Leigh Anne a hug.

"Leigh! That's great!"

"I know," She sniffed, half crying, half laughing. "You'll get to meet him."

"How? Leigh, I have to stay here."

"You can't." Mrs. McDoug interrupted, walking back into the room with a big book in her arms. "The Council will punish you severely. You are a Watcher and you helped a prisoner escape."

She turned to Buffy and Angel who were standing near each other but far enough apart that they looked uncomfortable. "We must begin. Now."

Angel nodded and walked over to help Leigh Anne.

"Where's the nearest breach?" Buffy asked.

"Right here believe it or not." The old woman smiled secretively. "That's actually one of the reason's I bought this house but don't tell the Council that. I was meaning to try them out one day but the Council has forbidden anyone travel them."

"Oh well, we break another rule!" Buffy said, a grin on her face. "So, let's get started!"

******************

Part 14:

"They'll be fine Giles." Willow said, her voice strained. "They're probably on their way home now."

"Yeah any minute now they'll be dropping through the roof." Xander said glumly.

Giles just sat there, head in hands glasses hanging from his fingers. Almost in chorus all three of them sighed and jumped up startled as a loud rip was heard from the other room. Running in the direction of the sound they froze when they saw a very tired Buffy and Angel, a teenage boy and a badly hurt Leigh Anne.

"Well they didn't drop through the roof but this is close enough!" Xander said, a grin forming on his face.

"Shut up Xander!" Willow cried as she rushed forward to give her best friend a welcome back hug. Buffy returned the hug then turned to face Giles.

"Giles, spare bedroom, now. Our little trip took a lot out of Leigh Anne and she needs to rest now." Seeing Giles staring, confused, at Brian she snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Explaining later Giles, spare room now."

Giles snapped out of his little dreamland and looked at his daughter in concern. "Why yes, yes of course. This way, quickly."

Angel followed Giles upstairs while Xander and Willow looked at Buffy expectantly.

"Well?" Xander asked impatiently as Buffy flopped down on the couch.

"Sit down." She said to Brian who was looking nervously around. He did so and Buffy smiled at him then turned her gaze to Xander.

"Glass of water?" She asked, smiling sweetly at him.

Xander growled in pretend annoyance. "You're lucky I like you so much Summers."

Both girls watched as he left the room then Willow turned to Buffy expectantly.

"Oh no Willow! You're not going to get it out of me until everyone is back."

"Damn!" Willow grumbled good-naturedly. "Don't I get special privileges? I'm your best friend after all!"

"Sorry Will, you'll have to wait." Buffy said, grinning just as Xander walked back into the room, glass of water in hand. He handed it to Buffy who sighed in contentment.

"You're a lifesaver Xander!"

"Don't I know it! Your night in shinning armour, that's me!" Xander said, grinning and only half joking. He looked towards Brian and Buffy suddenly noticed that she hadn't introduced him.

"Oh! Sorry!" She said and turned to Brian. "Brian, this is Willow and Xander. You guys, this is Brian. He's a friend of Leigh Anne's."

The two Scooby members smiled at Brian and he smiled back at them nervously. When the door opened and Angel and Giles entered, all eyes turned to them questioningly.

"She's fine." Angel said, speaking to all of them but looking at Buffy.

"Good." Buffy said, looking away from Angel and turning to the others. "Okay guys, you might want to sit down."

***************

Part 15:

"Wow!" For once that was the only thing Xander could say.

"I'll second that!" Willow said, shaking her head as if in amazement. "So what are you going to do now?"

Buffy sighed. "Well first I'm gonna find this demon, Lithos or whatever his name is, and kill him. But before I do that, I need to know how to kill him. Did you guys find anything while I was away?"

Buffy looked pointedly at Giles who had removed his glasses and was rubbing his head. She felt a pang of sympathy for him; he had been through a lot. The past few days must have been hell for him.

"Ah, yes. Yes we did."

"Who did?" Xander asked, a smirk on his face.

Giles smiled tightly. "So sorry, Xander found something."

Buffy sent an amused look in Xander's direction and put on a fake serious face. "Well what are you standing around for? Go get it!"

"Yes sir!" Xander said, saluting then his face became sheepish. "I mean, ma'am."

Buffy grinned. "Just get it Xander!"

The Slayerette nodded and headed off to find where he had placed the book. Buffy shook her head, grinning and turned back to Angel.

"Will she be okay or will she need a doctor?"

"She'll be fine." Angel replied quietly. "She just needs lots of rest and someone to keep changing the bandages on her wounds."

Buffy nodded and Willow stood up quietly.

"Sit down Giles." She said, her voice low. "Do you want some tea?"

Giles smiled at her gratefully and moved to take a seat opposite Buffy and motioned Angel to sit next to the petite Slayer. He did so awkwardly and Giles smiled at how embarrassed the two were around each other.

"Ah yes, a cup of tea would be smashing thank you Willow. I'm rather worn out and I didn't even do anything."

"You worried Giles." Buffy said quietly. "That's enough to wear anyone out."

"Indeed." Giles said, his mind going over the agony of waiting that he had been through the past few days.

Willow left the room after asking if anyone else wanted tea. Everyone had shook their heads and she had left, bumping into Xander on the way in.

"So…" Xander said, flipping through the pages of an ancient looking book. "I found it."

All heads around the silent room snapped up and all eyes focused on the lean, dark headed teen in the doorway. Buffy stood quickly and walked over to stand next to the boy she had come to know as a good friend.

"Well? What does it say?"

***************

Part 16:

"So, to kill him, you need to use his own weapon against him. Right?" Buffy asked, sitting on the arm of the couch looking thoughtful.

Xander scanned the text quickly again and nodded.

"And he's a form of dragon right?" Xander nodded again and handed Giles the book as he reached for it.

"He also goes by the of Typhon, the Child of the Earth." Giles read. " 'His hands are busy with the works of strength and unwearied are the mighty God's feet: and from his shoulders grew a hundred serpents heads, heads of a dread dragon the licked with dusky tongues and from the eyes of his wondrous heads fire flashed beneath his brows and from all his heads fire burned as he glared. And in all his terrible heads were voices that uttered all manner of cries unspeakable.' "

"A hundred heads? Ewww!" Anya's voice broke Giles' recitation and all heads swivelled towards her as up till now she had been silent. "What?"

Xander shook his head and Buffy opened her mouth to speak again.

"Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted by Giles' show of knowledge…" She looked at her ex-Watcher pointedly and he gave her a look that said 'I thought you would need to know that' then she continued. "Because he is a form of dragon all we have to do is use his fire against him, right?" Buffy gazed around the room looking quite pleased with herself.

"In essence, yes, that is pretty much what the text was saying. If he uses fire as his weapon then that is what we need to use against him." Giles admitted, trying to hide the fact that he was pleased and proud of Buffy.

"That's a lot of fire." Angel said quietly. "He has a hundred heads! You're not going to be able to do this alone Buffy."

Buffy ignored him and instead concentrated on what her Watcher had said.

"Admit it Giles. I was right. Gone on, say it! I want to hear you say it, it gives me a happy!" Buffy stirred Giles whose face started to red and didn't notice the hurt look on Angel's face.

"Fine." Giles said begrudgingly. "You were right."

"Whoo hoo!" Buffy cried, her face breaking out in a grin. "There, now that wasn't so hard was it? Why can't you say that more often?"

"Why can't you be right more often?" Giles threw back, a grin on his face. Xander and Willow smiled at each other softly. It was good to see him smile and relax again now that everyone was back safe and sound.

"Okay." Buffy said after her and Giles threw a few more quips at each other and everyone was laughing heartily. She wiped her eyes. "I better go and kill this thing. Tonight if possible."

"I agree." Giles said, suddenly serious again. "Until it is dead it is a threat to not only Leigh Anne but everyone, including all of us."

"Fine." Buffy said. "I'll leave now. Where is your weapons stored Giles?"

"No." All heads swivelled towards the door. "Let me do it Buffy."

*************

Part 17:

No one had heard the door open or notice Leigh Anne approach. She looked so tiny in a white night gown of Buffy's. So pale and fragile that she had the attention of all four males in the room, watching to make sure she didn't collapse.

"You know you can't Leigh Anne." Buffy said quietly, her voice full of sympathy. "You're too weak."

"He killed my mother." Leigh Anne said sternly, her eyes flashing. "I need to do this!"

Buffy noticed the young girl trying to hide back tears and her heart went out to her. But there was no way she was going to let her go to her death in a foolish game of revenge.

"No Leigh Anne."

"You don't understand!" Leigh Anne cried out, her pain obvious in her eyes. "You still have your mother! I don't! He took her from me and she was all I had!"

She suddenly broke down, her whole body shaking with the force of her sobs. Her father and Buffy both rose at the same time but Brian was by her side in a flash and took her out of the room. The silence that remained after they left was filled with a feeling of sadness, sympathy and guilt. Giles left the room quickly, walking out to the kitchen but not before Buffy got a glimpse of the tears in his eyes that he tried so hard to hide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brian held his childhood friend while she cried. When she finally fell quiet and she lifted her head to look at him, Brian saw in her eyes a look that shouldn't belong in the eyes of someone her age. It was a look of pain and suffering that should be in the eyes of someone who is so old they have watched all the friends and loved ones die and just wanted peace now, not in the eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl. He hurt him to see her like this. No matter how many times he had teased and taunted her in the past, no matter how much they had hated each other in their childhood, he had learned to love her and it cut him up inside every time she was hurt, whether it be physical or emotional.

"You know you can't do this don't you Leigh?"

"I have to Brian." Her eyes pleaded with him. "I need to hurt him as much as he hurt me."

Brian sighed. "If you were to go on this errand of revenge you would die Annie. I can't lose you. Your friends can't lose you. And as for your father, he just found you Leigh, don't make him lose you all over again."

Leigh Anne's blue eyes filled with tears again and she turned them away from Brian's sympathetic gaze.

"What can I do then Brian? I need to do something, I…" Her voice suddenly cut out and she went limp in his arms.

"Leigh Anne? Leigh? Wake up!" Brian's voice rose in concern and the door flung open at the sound of it.

"Brian! What happened?" Willow gazed down at the unconscious girl in shock. "Never mind… Xander! Xander get here now!"

She needn't have called. The teenager was by her side before the sentence was out of her mouth. He lifted the fragile frame of Leigh Anne and carried her to the couch. Hearing the commotion Buffy and Giles ran in to find Angel checking her pulse.

"What happened?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*(( Leigh Anne looked around her in amazement. Though the place was unrecognisable to her she seemed to know exactly where she was. When she heard a voice speaking her name in a soft, loving voice she knew who it was at once and spun around at once, her beautiful blue eyes filled with tears and joy.

"Mother? Mama where are you?" She looked around her in expectance but could see no one. "Mama? I need you please…"

"I am here my child. Can you not see me?"

"No Mother, please, let me see you!" Leigh Anne pleaded, her voice choked up with tears. "I…I need you Mama."

"I know you do child, that is why you are here. You seek revenge am I right?"

Leigh Anne nodded, her eyes cast downwards. "For you Mama. I need him to know what he did when he took you from me."

Her mother's sweet tinkling laugh could be heard and her voice was gentle when she spoke.

"He helped us my daughter. By letting me leave the world as you know it, he gave me a gift. And that gift is that I can watch over you. Every second of every day, whenever you feel alone or hurt or like you can't go on anymore I am there for you. And I am able to help you. More then I ever was before. I know you feel like he took me from you but in truth he bought us closer. You must feel no regret, my child, nor seek any revenge. He will be punished and bought to justice in time."

A single tear rolled down Leigh Anne's face and she sank to the ground. "I miss you Mama."

"I know you do, my sweet, and I miss being able to hold you and kiss you and tell you everything will be alright when you are afraid. But I will always be with you Leigh Anne and a part of me survives. In you.

Now, on to this demon, this Lithos as he calls himself nowadays. Your friends are right Leigh Anne, in the fact that he must be killed with his own weapon. But you are the only one who can do it. You must use your wit and strength to outsmart him and destroy him."

"But I have no strength Mama! I am at this minute weak and in pain back at home. My friends refuse to let me help!"

"That has all been arranged my child. You will awake refreshed and ready for action. You must remember all that I have taught you and many things you have learnt since then. You must not let him get the better of you. He will try to deceive you and you must see through his plans. Try your best my darling and remember I love you always and I am with you forever."

"Thank you Mama." Leigh Anne whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I love you."

There was a glow of brilliant white light and suddenly there was a delicate necklace around Leigh Anne's neck. It was a small cross, made of tiny blue stones.

"It will keep you safe as much as possible Leigh Anne, do not take it off or let it be taken from you. As long as it is in you possession it will allow you to see through any illusions this monster may use. You must leave now my child. Good luck."

As the image began to fade around her Leigh Anne heard one last thing before she awoke…

"Say hello to your father for me…" ))*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leigh Anne heard voices around her, worried, hushed voices as her eyes flicked open and she sat up slowly.

"Leigh Anne?" Brian asked quietly, his voice full of shock and amazement. "But how…"

Brian's sentence cut off because, there in front of them, Leigh Anne sat as healthy as ever a smile playing across her face and a necklace around her neck that had never been there before.

As she was bombarded with questions, Leigh Anne raised her hand and looked towards her father. The group fell quiet and Leigh Anne's voice was quiet when she spoke.

"Mama said hello."

And that was all she would say on the subject."

***********

Part 18:

"Are you sure you want to do this Annie?" Angel asked quietly. "Buffy can still do it you know."

They were hide behind the bushes in the darken Sunnydale Cemetery, just metres from where Buffy had first seen Leigh Anne battling with Lithos.

"I don't have a choice Angel. I have to do this. And yes, I want to." Leigh Anne's voice was strong and stern and no one questioned her again though they all knew how scared she was, for they were all feeling the same.

Suddenly all their thoughts were interrupted as a bright purple flash appeared against the night sky. There was a sharp intake of breath and the same thought was on all of their minds. This was it. The final showdown.

As Leigh Anne stepped out from behind the bushes, a sword held tightly in her hands, all eyes were upon her. When Lithos saw her he let out a loud roar of laughter, all of his hundred heads threw back and howled.

"You really think that flimsy thing will hurt me child? You are as stupid as your mother." His hundred voices taunted. "I will kill you before the night is through, child, and you will join your mother in death!"

"You wish!" Leigh Anne cried through gritted teeth as she held her chin high and raced towards him, sword displayed. "Come on Lithos, show me what you've got!"

She charged forward just as another laugh split the air and Lithos transform before her. He took on the shape of Samson and he continued to taunt her.

"Remember this face Leigh Anne? I will hurt you a thousand more times then he did child and I will enjoy every minute."

Leigh Anne winced then remembered what her mother told her. She reached up to grasp her necklace and Lithos became his ugly self again.

"Well done child. Maybe you are not as stupid as your mother! But I will kill anyway!" He cried as he lifted his many heads and let out a hundred flames of fire, one from each of his hundred mouths.

"NOW!" Leigh Anne yelled, jumping out of the way. The rest of the gang, having waited patiently for Leigh Anne's signal, jumped out from behind the bushes, each brandishing a large shield. There was a howl of pain as Lithos' own flames struck him in full force, having bounced off each shield to return on the path they had come from. And Lithos lay still.

"Is he dead?" Anya asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"I don't know." Leigh Anne replied and grabbed Angel's arm as he stepped forward to investigate. "No, I will."

As she stepped towards the still body of the Child of the Earth she felt a tremor of dread pass through her body and knew what was going to happen before it did. Lithos' hand sent her flying backwards and she gasped in pain. She pushed herself to sit up and afterwards wished she hadn't. for in front of her stood someone she loved dearly. Her mother.

She immediately reached for her necklace, ignoring the cries of confusion and anger behind her, just wishing this vision to be gone. As her fingers grasped thin air she looked over her shoulder to find her necklace out of reach, the chain broken.

"No…" She whispered hoarsely. "NO!"

There was no way she could do this. Looking at the face of her mother standing in front of her, she knew there was no way she could kill him. It was over.

"It's over child." His hundred voices echoed her thoughts and she stared up at him in dread, frozen to the spot. "It's time for you to die."

"NO!" Leigh Anne recognised Buffy's voice but had no idea that her friend was being held back by Angel. He knew this was Leigh Anne's fight and that only she could end it. "NO LEIGH ANNE! Don't let him do this! He is not your mother! Do you hear me? HE IS NOT YOUR MOTHER!"

Suddenly Giles' words echoed in her head. You must defeat him with his own weapon. This was his weapon. His weapon was her mother.

Leigh Anne closed her eyes and prayed to her mother silently. Come on Mama. You said you were always with me and you survived in me! Well now it's time to show yourself in me and defeat this monster!

Leigh Anne felt herself go limp and something else take over her body.

Well done my child. I am proud of you. Now sleep while I finish this monster forever!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy gasped and Willow lifted her head from Xander's shoulder.

"What is it?"

"She's getting up!" Angel cried in amazement.

The gang watched, memorised as the person they believed to be Leigh Anne got up fighting strong to destroy the thing who had taken the face of her mother. She succeeded and the cheered, tears rolling down their faces, as the monster cried one hundred howls of defeat and went crashing to the ground.

Suddenly Giles pushed through them and raced to his daughter. She had collapsed and he ran to her side and lifted her head.

"Rupert?" Leigh Anne's mouth asked, but it was not her voice that spoke.

"A...Alyssa?" Giles cried as his throat choked up with tears. "Oh my sweet Alyssa!"

Tears rolled down his cheeks as Leigh Anne's hand reached up to wipe them away.

"Feel no guilt Rupert, it was not your fault. You have been forgiven of everything. No that I love you." Her voice became weaker and her hand fell to the ground. "Take care of her Rupert."

Leigh Anne's eyes closed and Giles' tears cleaned her face. After a few seconds pause Giles composed his self and called to Angel, his voice breaking.

Angel left the group who were standing in shock and ran over to his friend's side.

"Carry her home Angel."

****************

Part 19:

"How did you do it Leigh?" Xander asked in amazement.

"You all saw how I did it." Leigh Anne replied, looking at her father. The gang had believed that it was she who had destroyed Lithos and she had not told them otherwise. It was a secret between her and her father, one she would never reveal

"Okay," Giles broke in. "It's time to let her get some rest don't you think?"

It had been several days since the battle in the graveyard and Leigh Anne was still weak. Buffy and Co. had visited her everyday and Leigh Anne and Giles had used the time together to catch up on everything they had missed. They were quite close now and Buffy couldn't believe the change in Giles.

"Anyway," Giles continued. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

Groans met this answer and Xander and Buffy smirked.

"No classes today!" Buffy cried in delight.

"Well I don't have any classes at all!" Xander answered.

Buffy's answer was to stick out her tongue and Giles grinned. Will they ever grow up?

"Well it's time for you all to leave anyway." Giles looked towards the young man who had been by Leigh Anne's side as often as he could. "Except you of course Brian."

"Hey! Why does he get special privileges?" Xander asked in mock annoyance. The answer was a swat across his head by Willow and a push out the door by Anya.

"Okay! Okay! I can take a hint!"

Leigh Anne, Giles and Brian heard their voices echoing from down the hall and a grin appeared on all their faces. Giles began to leave and as he closed the door he took on last look at his daughter.

"I'll bring you lunch up later ok Leigh?" At his daughter's nod he left the room, leaving the pair alone.

Silence reigned for a few moments until Brian walked over and sat on Leigh Anne's bed.

"So…how ya feeling?"

"Great! I don't have to start school until next term now." Was Leigh Anne cheeky answer and then grin that accompanied it was just as cheeky.

"Good on ya!" Brian said sarcastically as he hit her lightly on the arm. "Do you know what happens to people who are cheeky to the one person who knows that they are ticklish?"

Leigh Anne's blue eyes widened as she saw Brian's fingers start to wiggle.

"No, Brian, NO! You know I hate being…" Her sentence was cut off as Brian's finger connected with her stomached but him managed to finish it for her.

"Tickled??"

Leigh Anne squealed with laughter as Brian continued to tickle her relentlessly.

"STOP IT!! Brian! STOP!"

They landed in a heap on the floor, Brian on top of Leigh Anne, pinning her down.

"Not until you say…" His sentence cut off as he looked into her laughing blue eyes.

"Until I say what Brian?"

Slowly he leaned forward, still staring deep into her eyes.

"Not until you admit you love me."

His lips connected with hers and he was shocked to find she kissed him back with more passion then he ever hoped to dream she could have for him. They pulled away from each other and he grinned at the cheeky look in Leigh Anne's eyes.

"I don't love you Brian."

"Oh yeah?" Brian asked, grinning.

"Yeah, in fact I don't even like you!"

"Bad answer!" Brian said as Leigh Anne's squeals filled the air again. "Next time you know to tell the truth!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy leaned her head against the bricks, her stake twirling in her hand.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Buffy spun around, stake ready but dropped it when she saw who it was.

"A…Angel." She stuttered.

"Glad you still remember my name."

"Yeah well how could I forget? You're the one who left me when I need you right?"

"Don't Buffy."

"Don't what? Don't love you? Don't be mad at you?"

"Don't do this. I just came to say good bye."

Her piercing eyes stared into his and he stretched out his hand.

"Just one dance?"

In spite of herself Buffy felt her hand slip into his as he led her into the Bronze and onto the dance floor. He pulled her into his arms and she almost let herself go, almost let all her emotions out.

As they danced together in the dim light of the Bronze, she focused on the words of the song playing and almost cried when she realised how fitting they were for Angel's good bye…

**If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up, it's not good bye
Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me, 'cause I'll be with you in your dreams…**

Her eyes met those of her Angel's and she could tell he was thinking the same thing. If only this wasn't goodbye…

** If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up, don't ask why
Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me, 'cause I'll be with you in your dreams…
If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up, don't ask why
Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me, 'cause I'll be with you in your dreams…
And though my flesh is gone
I'll still be with you at all times
And though my body's gone
I'll be there to comfort you at all times
If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up, don't ask why
Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me, 'cause I'll be with you in your dreams…
I don't want you to cry and weep
I want you to go on living your life
Cause in your heart you have all of our good times
If I'm gone when you wake up, please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up, don't ask why
Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me, 'cause I'll be with you in your dreams…** .

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