~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Whoooooooooooo……
*Grunt*
"Ohhmmmmmmmmm……"
"Go 'way."
"C'mon Spike-y…wakey wakey."
"Damnit, Slayer! What is so bloody important that-Slayer? Buffy?!?"
Spike sits up in bed, glancing frantically around him. He stares in disbelief as Buffy moves out of the shadows towards him.
"Wow. I must say of all the reactions that I've gotten so far, yours is the best. I mean, you just used my *actual* first name."
"But you-you're-dead!"
"You know, I get that a lot."
"What the hell are you? A ghost or something?"
"In a word, yes. I would've done the whole sheet routine for you, but you don't have any white sheets. And I didn't think a ghost clad in black satin had quite the same impact."
He narrows his eyes in suspicion.
"So why haunt me? Why not go visit your one true love, the nancy boy?"
She waves her hand in dismissal. "Been there, done that. I came here because I need your help."
"You need my help? And why would I help *you*? Dead or otherwise?"
"Because you like me. Or should I say liked? I'm really not sure of the correct tenses in a returning-from-the-dead scenario. Anyway, you like me. And you miss me."
"Oh really? And just where do you get such a ridiculous notion from?"
"I saw you, Spike. At my memorial service."
He sputters for a moment before regaining his composure.
"Did you now? I would have thought it difficult to see out from the inside of the urn."
Buffy rolls her eyes heavenward and prays for patience. "I wasn't inside the urn. I was watching from…somewhere…else. And I saw you. You stood among the trees watching the service."
She sits down on the bed next to him. "After everyone else left, you walked to the edge of the cliff and proceeded to tell me what a pain in the ass I was. Then you pulled a lily from inside your duster and tossed it over the side of the cliff."
She reaches out and touches the side of his face. "And you said 'But damnit all to hell, Slayer, I am going to miss you.'"
Buffy leans forward and kisses his forehead. "I miss you too, Spike. It's not nearly as much fun in the hereafter without your miserable hide to kick around."
Spike just stares at her, dumbfounded. Finally, he collects himself and gets out of bed. "What is the world coming to when a man can't even be alone with his thoughts?" He pulls out a cigarette and lights up, inhaling deeply. "I mean, is nothing sacred?"
Buffy continues to sit on the bed, a silly grin on her face. "Apparently not."
"So what do you need from me?"
As Buffy proceeds to fill him in on the situation, Spike continues to pace back and forth, growing more enraged by the second. When she is finished, Spike stops his pacing. He sits down next to her on the bed, lost in thought. Finally, he clears his throat and turns his head to look at her.
"I suppose I don't have any other choice, do I?"
"There's always a choice. But as I seem to recall, you were pretty fond of this dimension. I figured you weren't ready to give it up without a fight."
"Just priceless." He stands up and throws some belongings into a beat up duffel bag. "Alright, I'll go tonight and see how I can help. Are you happy?" He picks up the bag and moves to the door.
Buffy calls after him. "Just one more thing, Spike."
He growls in frustration. "What *now* Slayer?"
She grins widely at him and lowers her eyes.
"You might want to put on some clothes."
* * * * *
Los Angeles
"Drusilla."
Doyle walks into the USC Ancient Folklore Center clutching a computer printout in triumph. Willow and Oz are seated at two computer terminals doing research. Xander, Cordelia and Angel are scanning through various tomes, while Joyce and Giles are plotting the Hellmouth locations on a global map.
"Drusilla what? Because if that's a punchline buddy, you're telling the joke all wrong."
Giles glares at Xander over the top of his glasses. He then turns back to face Doyle.
"What do you mean 'Drusilla'?"
"She's the one you're looking for, boy-o. She's been taking the Hellmouth Tour. Eleven locations in the past six months."
Angel rises from his seat in the corner and moves to read the list of locations Doyle has compiled. "I can't believe it's Dru."
Giles sighs. "Well Buffy did say that you were the key. Knowing that it's Drusilla makes an odd sort of sense. Do we know who she is working with?"
"I'm still trying to find that out. I know that she's traveling with at least one other vampire-"
"Spike."
Doyle shakes his head and frowns at Angel. "No, it's not Spike. I double checked. As of this afternoon, Spike is still in Sunnydale. Whoever she's with, it's not him."
Xander throws down his book in frustration. "Oh great! Just what we need, Drusilla on the loose with a new partner in crime. Trying to bring about the end of the world. Yet again. Can't she get a hobby or something?"
"I'm thinking that this *is* her hobby." Willow pushes her chair back from the desk and looks at Angel thoughtfully. "Now that we know who is doing this…"
"We need to figure out how to stop her." Angel finishes grimly.
"I think that's where I come in." An all too familiar voice drawls. Everyone turns to face the doorway.
"Spike?" Angel asks in disbelief.
"That's it!" Xander shakes his head. "We're doomed."
End Part 12
"What? Aren't you happy to see me? Not going to break out the fatted calf to welcome the prodigal son home?"
Angel glares at him. "Not that we're not thrilled to see you, Spike. Well, actually we're *not* thrilled to see you. But what are you doing here?"
Spike saunters into the room and drops his bag down on the table. "Got an early afternoon wake up call from the dear departed spirit of our Slayer."
"Buffy came to see you?"
"Joyce! Didn't know you'd be here." Spike takes Joyce's hand, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. "And looking lovely as ever."
Giles moves to stand between the two of them and retrieves Joyce's hand from Spike's grasp.
Spike raises his eyebrows at the couple. "So that's the way of it now?"
"Let me get this straight. First, she comes to see Angel, which I can understand. Then she goes to see Giles and Mrs. Summers, which makes perfect sense. But now Spike? Why Spike? Why not *me*? I was her best friend."
"Willow-"
"No, Angel. Don't. I need a few minutes alone. If you'll all excuse me…" She stands up and storms out of the center. Angel stares after her bleakly, uncertain of what to say or do.
Spike watches his sire for a long while before slowly beginning to chuckle. Everyone turns to look at him. "You…and the little witch! Oh, this alone was worth the trip." He glances around him and realizes no one else is seeing the amusement in the situation. He sobers up quickly.
Doyle glances around and decides it would be a good time to excuse himself. "I'm going to head back to the office and see what else I can find out." He beats a hasty retreat from the tense atmosphere.
Giles gestures towards the desk in the corner of the room. "Perhaps you and I and Angel should discuss what Buffy had to say to you. The rest of you continue to research. There has to be something in one of these books that can be of some use to us."
The three men retreat to the corner and begin to compare notes. The room grows silent, save only for the sound of pages turning and Oz's typing.
Xander thumbs through the volume in front him, not seeing anything useful. Suddenly, another book is thrust in front of him. "Try this one. You might have better luck with it."
Absentmindedly, he reaches out and takes the book. "Thanks, Buff." His gaze shoots up to the slender ghost perched on the edge of the table. "Buffy?"
The library erupts in pandemonium as everyone jumps up from their seats. They crowd in on Buffy, alternating between shooting rapid-fire questions at her and hugging her tightly.
"Guys, chill! I can't stay long. Places to go, people to haunt."
"Who else is there to haunt? We're all here."
Buffy smiles at Xander and ruffles his hair, making him look more like the disheveled boy she first met. "Oh, there's one or two people that I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to." She turns to face the others. "You've got five minutes. I'll tell you what I can."
Xander begins. "What's in the book?"
"The book describes the ritual and it's consequences. It's never been attempted. I guess no one was crazy enough until now."
"Why is Drusilla doing this?" Oz interjects.
"I think you can all figure out the answer to that one."
"Me."
"She thinks if she brings the demons to this dimension she can get Angelus back and bind him to her for all eternity."
"Why Spike?" Cordelia questions.
"Who knows Drusilla better? He has insights the rest of you don't. Besides he's fought beside you guys before. You need him. He can help you."
"Can it really be stopped?" Giles asks in obvious concern.
"Yes it can. But you have to work together. All of you. One weak link and she wins."
Angel frowns in concentration. "What did you mean when you said not to play by the rules?"
"You'll see. Just don't let normal logic interfere with your decisions. You guys are going to have to go with the flow a little more."
"How much longer will you be able to come visit us?"
Buffy smiles at her mother. "I'm not sure, Mom. I think that I can keep coming back until Drusilla is defeated. After that, I'm probably gone for good. Speaking of which-"
"You're leaving? But Willow isn't back yet. She's already pretty upset-"
"Sorry, Angel. I just can't see her yet. Not here. Tell her…tell her I'll see her soon." Buffy turns to Spike. "Did you do what I asked you to?"
"Yes, Slayer. It's all been arranged. I took care of it before I left Sunnydale. I'm expecting the call any minute now. Though how you know--"
"Me. Ghost. All knowing. All seeing. Any of this ringing a bell?"
"I thought spirits were supposed to be serene and peaceful. You're even more of smart ass now than when you were alive."
"And you wouldn't want me any other way." She reaches up and kisses him on the cheek. "Behave yourself. I'd hate to come back tomorrow and find you'd been sucked up in a DustBuster."
She walks over to hug Oz and Cordelia. "You guys take care of yourselves."
She wraps her arms around Xander's waist and stands on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "I'm really proud of you."
"Proud? Of me?"
"I know what a friend you've been to Angel. And how great you've been to my mom and Giles. And basically how much you've done to keep everyone together. You're quite the human, Xander Harris."
He squeezes her tightly. "I miss you Buffy."
"I miss you too. There's no one around to make me laugh."
"Come back more often. I promise to have lots of material for your next visit."
She kisses him softly. "I love you Xander. Be happy."
"I love you. And I think I am."
She smiles up at him and glances in Cordelia's direction. "I think you are too. Don't blow it."
She turns to face the others. "I'll be back. So, let's not make this a big production, okay? I'm just saying all this stuff in case I forget to say it later. I love you guys ." She quickly hugs her mother and Giles.
She walks over to Angel and takes his hand. "Just tell Willow…it's alright."
He looks at her in surprise.
She gives him a wry look. "No, I thought you were sleeping on the floor of her living room because you have chronic lower back pain."
"Buffy, I-"
"Don't. I told you to find happiness and you did. Let Willow know I'm not mad. Really. I'm just not ready to see her yet, okay?"
"Okay."
She steps away and moves towards the bookcases. She waves and then slowly vanishes. The group stares in silence at the now empty space. Everyone jumps in fright when the doors swing open and Willow re-enters the room.
"What? Did you guys have too much coffee or something?"
Angel approaches her slowly. "Willow, I don't want you to get upset."
"Why would I get upset?" She looks at the faces of the others. "She was here, wasn't she?" Her voice drops to a soft whisper. "She knows and she doesn't want to see me. She *hates* me."
Angel pulls her into his arms. "No. She said she understands. And it's okay. She said to tell you that she'd see you soon. She just didn't want to do it *here*."
Willow looks up into his face, desperate to believe him. "Really? She said that?"
"She said that. She wanted you to know she's not mad."
The shrill ring of the telephone breaks the tension. Giles goes to answer it. Bits and pieces of the conversation can be overheard. Giles' voice gradually rises, in shock and disbelief. Finally, he murmurs, "Yes. Thank you. We'll be by later." He places the receiver back on the cradle and stares at it, appearing completely unnerved.
"Rupert? What is it? What's wrong?"
"That was Cedars Sinai. They wished to let me know that their new patient had arrived safely from Sunnydale. They are pleased to report that she seems to be adapting well to her new surroundings. In fact, she has regained consciousness and is asking for us."
"I'll be damned! Buffy was right."
"What are you talking about? Buffy was right about what?" Willow asks Spike. Getting no response, she turns to Giles. "Who was the hospital talking about, Giles? *Who* regained consciousness?"
Still stunned, Giles dazedly turns his attention to the group and answers her.
"Faith."
End Part 13
The reaction is instantaneous. All hell breaks loose. Everyone gathers around Giles bombarding him with questions.
"What?"
"Are you insane?
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"That's not possible!"
"Is this someone's idea of a joke?"
"SILENCE!"
Everyone freezes in stunned silence and turns to stare at Willow. She smoothes down her hair and smiles encouragingly at Giles. "That's better. Now Giles, maybe you could tell us *exactly* what was said."
"Well…that was about it. The hospital called. They asked if I was Rupert Giles. I said yes. They told me that Faith Wilkins had been transferred to their facility."
Xander breaks in. "Wilkins?"
Angel nods his head in affirmation. "When Faith was admitted to the hospital, Wilkins was there. He had her admitted as his daughter."
"Um…then they said that she seemed to be adjusting quite well to her new surroundings. She was awake and alert and asking for us."
"Just like that? I mean she's in a coma for half a decade and suddenly, poof, she's awake. Shouldn't she be a cabbage or something?"
"Well, Cordelia I would have to say that this 'miracle' or whatever you wish to call it, is rather unusual." Giles sighs. "I suppose the only way to find out what is really going on, is to go to the hospital."
"All of us? I for one have no desire to see psycho slayer *ever* again."
Willow shakes her head. "All of us, Cordelia. I don't want to be there anymore than you but at least there's safety in numbers."
Everyone begins to gather his or her belongings and head out to the parking lot when a question suddenly occurs to Xander.
"Hey Giles! How did Faith end up here in LA? Who transferred her?"
Giles pauses for a moment, recalling the one-sided conversation. "The person at the hospital… said… it was… my son?"
"Your son?"
He nods at Joyce in befuddlement. "Wait! I remember now! My son…William Giles."
They all turn to stare at Spike, who stands, arms outstretched and a cocky grin across his face.
"Dad!"
"Dear God. What next?"
* * * * *
A tall, attractive brunette wearing a white lab coat over a smart plum business suit, returns to her office at Cedars Sinai Hospital to discover it packed with spectators. "I'm sorry. Can I help … all of you?"
Giles stands to shake the doctor's hand. "Yes. I am Rupert Giles. I spoke on the phone with your assistant regarding Faith-"
"Yes, of course! You're here about Faith Wilkins. I'm Dr. Carla Mendoza." She gestures to Giles' vacated chair. "Please have a seat. I must say I'm impressed by your quick response." She looks around at the crowd gathered in her office. "Not to mention the large turnout."
Joyce leans forward anxiously. "We were all together when Rupert received your call, Dr. Mendoza."
"What can you tell us about Faith's condition, Dr.?" Angel asks as he squeezes Willow's hand.
Dr. Mendoza pulls out a manila folder and leafs through the paperwork. After a long moment, she closes the folder and fixes them with a serious gaze. "I haven't spent much time reviewing Faith's case. She only arrived here a few hours ago. However, what I can tell you so far, is that her file shows she has been making significant improvements over the past several months. Her brain activity has increased and improved steadily." She glances at her notes and then smiles at Giles. "Which I believe you already know. My understanding was that's why you chose to relocate her to this facility?"
Willow jumps in. "Yes! Yes, it was. But no one ever expected such a dramatic improvement. It's a pretty big jump from increased brain activity to waking up and speaking."
Spike smirks at her. He mouths. "Nice save."
Dr. Mendoza nods in understanding. "Yes, of course. Faith's sudden shift is remarkable. There is so much that we as medical professionals still don't understand about the human brain. An event such as this…well, to say it's miraculous would not be understating the case." Her smile fades. "With that said, I don't want any of you to have too great an expectation regarding what Faith will be like when you see her."
"Is there brain damage? I mean, is she like a cabbage or something?"
Xander grips Cordelia's arm painfully. "What Cordelia means is that we're all very concerned that Faith might have long-term side effects from her prolonged vegetative state?"
Xander looks bewildered by the shocked looks he receives. Cordelia mutters under her breath. "Prolonged vegetative state? You've been watching ER reruns again, haven't you?"
"Shhhhh!"
"Yes, you are right to be concerned. Faith is alert and appears coherent. However, it would seem that she has suffered some memory loss. How significant a loss and if this is a permanent condition, only time will tell." She consults her notes once more. "We know for sure that Faith has no recollection of the events leading up to her accident."
"What?"
"She doesn't remember how she ended up in the hospital or what caused the brain trauma. In fact, she appears to have a total loss of memory for several months prior to her accident.
Giles questions her. "Are you certain, Dr. Mendoza? She doesn't remember anything of the days leading to the incident."
"Well, of course *I* can't be certain. I only know what's in these files. But as the people who are closest to her, you're in a far better position to discern how great a memory loss we're talking about." She folds her hands on the top of her desk. "I need all of you to spend some time to Faith. Try reminiscing with her. Discussing old times. See how much she remembers. Is there a pattern to the holes in her memory? Was there some key traumatic event that she's suppressed? Something perhaps she doesn't want to remember. That will be the key to how we treat her."
Joyce takes a deep breath. "When can we see her?"
"I believe she's awake now. Let me check with the nurse and make sure but I see no reason why you can't visit with her for a few minutes before she goes to sleep." Dr. Mendoza rises from her chair and moves to the door. She pauses in the doorway and turns back for a moment. "Oh! Which one of you is Buffy?" She frowns at the suddenly pained and guarded looks she receives. "Uh…can you tell me where I might *find* Buffy?"
Spike looks around at the sad faces and steps forward to speak. "Buffy's dead. She was killed about a year ago."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. My condolences to you all."
"Why did you ask about Buffy, Dr. Mendoza?" Willow's soft voice inquires.
"Faith has been asking for her. In fact, 'Buffy' was the first word she said when she awoke."
End Part 14
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