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-------------------------------------

Willow stared silently out the livingroom window. It was only 2 hours
before sunset. Spike couldn't stand it! He hated every second of this
whole predicament. Here he was, bad ass master vampire, hiding out in
his…what?…lover's home waiting for a sorry group of human's
to save
his ass from a very pissed off werewolf. What the bloody hell had
come over him in the past few days. What they should be doing is
making sure they take Willow and hide her out somewhere safe and let
him deal with the mongrel his own way, the demon way. Of course that
would require someone making him some silver bullets. Spike sighed,
even as he thought the words he knew that the scene that played out
in his mind would never come to pass. Oz was the gang's friend, and
Willow doesn't want him dead. He also knew that he would in fact need
their help if he didn't expect to get torn apart. Spike watched
Willow stare blankly out the window. She seemed different somehow, at
peace in a strange way. She was keeping something from him. It was
time he found out what exactly it was. He walked up behind her and
slipped his arms around her waist. Resting his chin on her head he
said, "What are you thinking Pet?"

Willow embraced his arms and leaned into his strong body, "Just about
a dream I had." She smiled.

"Oh?" Spike said interested, "What's it about then?"

Willow rolled her eyes playfully and said, "Oh you'll just think it's
silly."

"Will not! Now spill it."

"I just had this dream that some woman in a white dress gave me some
advice about today. Said that I had to prepare for a fight. Then she
walked off and disappeared with a raven."

"A what?"

"You know, a raven, they're supposed to guide a soul from the spirit
realm to this one. It's all mythology. Almost every culture has the
raven as some ominous creature of impending doom. But I didn't get
that feeling though." Willow turned to look at Spike and smiled. "And
she said she was a friend of Giles'. Cool huh? I mean if it's some
kind of link and not just a dream. Ooh! And, she had fang marks in
her neck. Lots of symbolism in the whole thing."

Spike studied Willow briefly before the phone rang. Willow looked up
hopefully at Spike before picking up the phone on the third ring.
Spike turned toward the window as the sound of Willow's conversation
revealed that the slayer had come up empty handed.

"CAW!"

Spike watched a huge raven perch itself on a nearby tree. It watched
Spike knowingly and Spike felt an icy chill ripple through his body.
He heard Willow hang up. "Willow?"

"Yeah?"

"Did this woman in white have a name?" he knew the answer before it
even escaped her lips.

"Yeah, Zelynn, isn't that an odd name?" Willow joined him at the
window just as the raven flew away.

Spike's mind was reeling. He remained calm, "Yes Pet, it is an odd
name."

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-----------------------------------

Everyone was assembled in the livingroom. Doors were locked and
boarded and windows were blocked with whatever tall furniture they
could find. Of course there was no way they could wolf-proof the
whole house so they had tried to make it so Oz could only enter
though one way. If nothing else they could contain him. There was 1/2
hour left of sunlight. Willow and Giles had performed a protection
spell for the group but no one was terribly confident. There were
three dart guns at the ready. The only weapon they had brought.
Willow had made sure of that. There was also a clear way to the
basement should they need to run and hide somewhere. There was
nothing else to do but wait in silence. Willow heard something coming
from the window. She looked outside and saw a large raven staring
back at her. She smiled to herself; her guide was with her. A sense
of confidence came over her; they would get through this. Then
tomorrow morning they would explain the situation to Oz and keep him
locked up for the rest of the cycle and then redo the whole talk
thing.

Spike also heard the raven's call. Glancing over at Willow a sudden
sense of fear attacked him. Had Zelynn come back to seek her revenge
on him? Had she somehow sent the wolf to find him? He moved toward
the watcher, giving him a signal for a private talk.

Giles watched Willow with concern; the poor girl was obviously in
shock from the whole ordeal. He saw Spike give him a slight head nod,
prompting him to walk over to the vampire. What did he want now?
"What is it Spike?"

"I think we may have a little trouble on our hands mate." Spike said
nervously looking around at Willow who was still holding vigil with
the raven through the glass.

Giles sighed, "You're just gathering that now?" His hair on the back
of his neck began to stand on end the longer he studied the blonde.
Realizing that something was indeed worrying the demon Giles became
serious. "Spike, what's going on?"

Spike glanced again at Willow and took a few steps further away from
the rest of the group. "It seems that Willow was visited last night
by a spirit guide telling her how she had to prepare for a fight and
all. The spirit vanished with a raven. See Willow? She happens to be
staring out the window at a bloody raven. I think her spirit guide is
here."

Giles tried not to laugh at the obviously anxiety-ridden vampire.
"Spike, spirit guides can be a good thing. This may actually help us.
Who knows, you may even live through the night." Giles added with a
mocking smile.

"Ha, ha." Spike said, "Don't you realize that the raven is out there?
Maybe this spirit guide is the one who's causing all this trouble?
Ever think of that, Watcher?"

Giles took a deep breath; "Typically spirit guides are useful in many
ways, especially in times of trouble and chaos."

"But what if this one's got a hidden agenda? Then what?"

"Spike I fail to see the relevance your paranoia of Willow's dream to
the situation at hand. It's just about sunset, if you have a point
then please make it."

Spike eyed the watcher carefully, "Ripper, Willow said the spirit's
name was Zelynn."

Giles head swam at the mention of her name. "No." he whispered.

Spike nodded, "Don't you see, she's come back to avenge herself."

Giles leaned against the wall, the color slowly regaining its
presence in his face, "Stop. She wouldn't endanger all of us just to
get you killed. She wouldn't go back on her word, even after death. I
have to believe that if she is here then she's here to help us."

"Look, Ripper--"

"I told you never to call me that again. I stopped using that name
when the council took me. The day we made the deal I stopped being
Ripper and became part of the Council. Now, you watched me fight
Angelus after he killed Jenny but that anger was nothing compared to
the anger you insist on dredging up lately and I promise you that,
deal or no deal, I will act on it. Now, don't bring this up to me
again. If Zelynn sees fit to turn you into a pile of dust tonight
then so be it. The only thing that I am concerned about right now is
making sure my friends are safe and that everybody with a heartbeat
remains that way."

Spike leaned against the wall defeated. He would have no help from
his old mate. Suddenly consumed with anger himself he turned to
Giles, "Let's not forget who gave her to me in the first place
Ripper, so don't hand me your holier than thou attitude." An evil
smile graced Spike's smug face; "You were my first choice after all.
You are just as responsible as I am for her demise." Satisfied by the
look of self-hate and guilt written on the watcher's face, Spike
sauntered over to Willow and embraced her. All the while glaring at
Giles.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------

"I don't get it." Xander said as he paced the floor, "Where is he? I
mean, he's been a wolf for 4 hours now. What has he been doing?"

"Maybe he thought it over and decided to lock himself up." Buffy said.

"It's possible, of course." Giles nodded.

"Hey!" Xander said, "Maybe he took off. Maybe that's why we couldn't
find him before."

"CAW!" A raven perched itself outside the window. Spike and Giles
exchanged troubled looks.

"He's close." Willow said. "He's just buying his time. Wearing us
down, letting us get tired." She stood and walked over to the window.

"Willow," Buffy called, "get away from the window.

"Luv, don't open the window." Spike rose to his feet and followed
her. Willow didn't seem to hear either of them and unlocked the
window. Spike stopped her just as she was about to raise the glass.
"Willow," he growled, getting her attention, "Do not let that bird in
here."

Willow smiled, "It's okay Spike. She's here to help."

"Guys!" Buffy smacked them both on the shoulders, "Get away from the
damn window!"

Willow blinked as Spike led her away and Buffy returned to her spot
on the arm of the couch.

Suddenly, the room was showered in broken glass as the werewolf
crashed through the window and landed at Willow's feet. It looked up
briefly at her and snarled viscously. Spike pushed her away and
kicked the animal in the face. Xander fumbled for his dart gun, "I
got him!" He cried as he took aim. The werewolf looked up at the
sound of his voice and jumped behind the chair just as Xander fired.
The tranquilizer landed harmlessly into the cushion of the throw
pillow.

Buffy tried to gain its attention so Giles could get a shot at it.
She launched an ashtray at its hindquarters and it spun around
furious at the assault. It leapt at the slayer, knocking her over.
Buffy struggled to hold the mouth shut and screamed as its claws tore
at her flesh, "Now Giles!"

The beast rolled off of Buffy and Giles shot hit home, right into
Buffy's right thigh. "Oh dear God!" Giles cried.

"Giles…" Buffy passed out on the floor.

"Get her downstairs!" Giles yelled. Anya tossed down the third rifle
and she and Xander each grabbed one of Buffy's arms and dragged her
quickly to the basement steps. Xander carried her down the stairs and
Anya shut the door behind them.

Giles dove for the third dart gun but the werewolf got to it first.
It stared Giles down, hovering over the weapon, saliva dripping from
its huge canines. Of all the times Rupert Giles looked death in the
face, he had never before felt so utterly certain that it was
immanent. The wolf advanced slowly until a boot collided with its
underbelly.

Spike stood protectively in front of Giles, who backed away as fast
as he could. "You came here for me mutt, now let's see what you got."
Spike allowed his demon to come forward. He was vaguely aware that
Willow was huddled in a corner somewhere and had no intention of
letting the werewolf get to her.

The wolf circled Spike once before leaping at him. Spike roundhoused
kicked it in the gut in mid-leap. The wolf yelped as it was knocked
to the ground. Immediately it got to its feet and advanced again.

"Come on!" Spike screamed, enjoying the intensity of the fight. He
met the wolf halfway kicking and punching at it. He got in about
three good hits before the werewolf grabbed hold with its powerful
claws and began snapping its jaws at Spike's throat. Spike screamed
in agony as the talon-like claws ripped through his flesh. The mighty
jaws clamped down on Spike's arm and struggled to tear it free from
its body. Spike howled in pain so fierce that it brought tears to his
eyes.

"NO!" Willow shrieked. The werewolf flew against the wall with a
crash. It rose to its feet and returned to its attack on the vampire
before it was flung across the room against the far wall away from
Spike. "You can't have him!" Willow seethed.

Giles finally rose to his feet and went over to help Spike. He helped
him sit up and they both gaped at Willow. Her hair appeared to be
blowing about her face and she was surrounded by and aura of orange
light. Behind her stood the glowing form of a woman in white. "My
God." Giles whispered as tears came to his eyes. "Zelynn."

"I told you, you bloody twit." Spike tried to stand but fell weakly
back to his knees. His strength was draining. He needed to feed to
heal himself. The room began to swim and he continued to watch
Willow's apparent attack on the werewolf.

Willow stared intensely at the creature in front of her, yelling at
it, to leave. Every time it charged at her, and every time it went
flying violently against a wall. Blood began to drip from Willow's
ears and nose. She seemed not to notice, but continued her own
assault on the demon of her ex. "You won't destroy us!" She screamed
at it, sending the beast crashing into the coffee table. It rose
weakly to its feet, not giving up. With every mental push from
Willow, blood poured more freely from the orifices of her face.

"Willow!" Spike yelled, "Stop! You're bleeding!" He grabbed the
watcher who was still staring at the apparition behind Willow. "Get
the bloody gun!" Spike yelled, angry with himself for not being
strong enough to act. Giles couldn't take his eyes off of Zelynn.
Spike pushed the watcher's head to the side and sunk his fangs into
his neck, enduring the splitting pain in his head from the implant.
He drank just enough to make himself strong enough to move and then
threw Giles to the ground. Spike dove for the gun, took aim and fired
the loaded dart just as Willow launched the werewolf against the
wall. The dart hit home and the creature collapsed instantly.

Spike threw the gun aside and glanced at Giles who was holding the
wound on his neck and getting to his feet.

Willow glanced over at her lover, "Spike." She whispered before
collapsing to the ground. A raven flew into the room through the
broken window and perched on the fireplace mantel.

Spike and Giles both ran over to her. "Get away from her!" Spike
screamed at Giles, pushing him to the floor. He cradled Willow's
bloody head in his arms, raining kisses over still face. "NO! NO! NO!
NO! NO! NO! NO!" He chanted as he rocked her quiet body. He lifted
her into his lap and screamed, "ZELYNN! Where are you now you BITCH?!
Don't you leave her like this! She believed in you!" Tears streamed
down Spike's face, "She believed in me." He cried, sobs rocking
through him as he pleaded, "Willow? Please Willow, please come back
to me. Don't leave me here to go on without you. I need you. Please
Willow. Please! Willow…I love you! Please come back to me. My
love,
please, I love you, Willow please." Spike continued to rock Willow's
body as he cried. "NOOOO!" He screamed to the ceiling.

"William?" Zelynn knelt across from Spike.

Spike looked up, pleading, "Please help her Zelynn, please. If you
ever cared for me, help her."

Zelynn looked from vampire to watcher and then to the silent body of
the girl lying in Spike's arms. She caressed Willow's face once, then
turned to the raven and faded away.

"Spike?" Willow whispered.

Spike pulled her onto his lap and embraced her. "Willow! Don't ever
leave me again." He held her face in his hands; "I love you Willow."
Tears continued to roll down his face. "I. Love. You." He repeated.

Willow smiled up at him sleepily, "I know." She rested her head on
his shoulder. Spike continued to rock her gently.
 

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