“No waiting.”

Kendra and Buffy - ‘What’s My Line Part 2’

****

“What’s going on down there?” she asked bluntly, her attention returning to the crowd outside.

“The arena has been set up for your friends’ second task,” Ethan answered, moving to stand behind her.

“Which is?”

“A joust,” he told her with a smirk, peering over her shoulder at the scene below.

Dawn turned around sharply to face him. “A joust? Like with horses and lances?”

“Very good Dawn,” Ethan mocked her with a cruel smile. “Do you like it?”

“Who will they be jousting against?”

“Each other,” he told her casually, but the look on her face forced him to elaborate. “Each team will choose one member. They will compete against one another. The winner claims the prize.”

Dawn felt ill, but refused to be cowed. “What’s the prize?”

“You can come and see for yourself if you want?” he offered and the teenager nodded, following him out of the room and down the spiral staircase of the tower.

“They won’t die will they?” she asked, fearing for the lives of her sister and friends. “I mean, they’ll have all that armour and…”

“No armour Dawn,” Ethan corrected, leading the way along a gloomy corridor and down another flight of stairs. It was getting colder, but Dawn didn’t know whether she was shivering because of the castle or Ethan’s words. “And of course it will be a fight to the death. Did you expect anything else?”

“I expected that you’d have more sense than to try and kill Buffy or anyone she cares about,” Dawn shouted angrily. “You know you’re never getting out of this alive don’t you? Darla and Drusilla will kill you as soon as this sick little game of theirs is over and if they don’t Buffy, Spike or Giles will. You’re such an idiot.”

She heard a chain rattle and turned her head sharply in that direction. “Hello? Who’s there? I, I’m not afraid of you.”

As her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room, she saw the outline of a figure huddled in a corner. Cautiously she approached the figure, hoping that the chains held whatever it was out of reach. She knelt down next to the human shaped body and peered closely at it. It seemed familiar to her. “Um, do I know you? I’m Dawn. Do you know me? Dawn Summers?”

Wesley felt sick. He held tightly to the dragon’s back as its soared across the sky, fervently ignoring Willow and Tara’s ‘ooo’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ as they watched the scenery fly by.

“Are you ok?” he heard Buffy ask from her seat beside him and opened one eye to peer at her.

“I’m flying on a dragon’s back in the middle of the night, to God knows where, with a Vampire Slayer, a Vampire Master and two witches, while trapped in a game set up by two evil and insane vampires with the hope of killing us all. Yes Buffy I’m fine.”

“How much longer do you think it’s going to take?” she shouted up to the dragon, seeing that Wesley had gone decidedly green and taking pity on him.

“We’re almost there Princess,” the dragon replied, swooping low along the ground. “Five minutes and you shall be inside the castle grounds.”

“Why can’t we just fly up to the tower and Dawn can hop out to us and we’re done?” Spike asked, and Buffy and the dragon both answered simultaneously.

“There are magicks in place around the castle, protecting it.”

“We need to get the others. We can’t go without everyone.”

“Faith?” Dawn squeaked in surprise and the brunette Slayer smiled again at the youngest Summers.

“Glad you remember me Dawn.”

“How could I not?” Dawn asked with a roll of the eyes. “I’m even more glad that you remember me.”

“How could I not?” Faith repeated and then raised her eyebrows as Dawn snorted derisively.

“It’s a long story. What are you doing here?” Faith shrugged. “Well, how did you get here?” Again the Slayer shrugged and shook her head.

“I have no idea. One minute I was in my cell. The next this one. So which demon did this and how long do you think it’ll be before big sis busts us outta here?”

“Hey, look Dawn. Don’t get upset ok. Buffy and her super-friends have been in way worse situations than this. Everyone will be fine,” she paused as she considered what to say next. “Look I haven’t seen you in so long. Why don’t you tell me everything that’s happened this past year? How’s you mom?”

Dawn looked sharply at Faith, wondering at her cruelty before she realised that the Slayer had been serious. “Oh my God. You don’t know.”

“Know what?” Faith asked, perplexed and worried by the pained look that had crossed Dawn’s face at the mention of Joyce.

“Mom died. Earlier this year. She had a brain tumour and…”

Faith stared at Dawn in horror and then closed her eyes against the sick feeling forming in her stomach. “I’m sorry Dawn.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“She was a wonderful person. I can’t… the things I did. The way I treated her that last time, I… I’m so, so sorry.”

Dawn laid her hand gently on Faith’s arm and sat more comfortably next to her. “I know.”

“Hey that was neat,” Xander said, looking around at Anya and Giles. “Do you think we could get one of those at home? ‘Cause it would be so much more useful for getting to work in the mornings.” Everyone ignored him as they looked around the grounds.

“Up there,” Angel said, pointing towards the tallest tower. “That’s where Dawn’ll be. We have to find a way up there.”

“Um,” Anya interrupted pointing over the vampire’s shoulder. “I think we might have to deal with those guys first.” The small group looked in the direction the former demon was indicating and saw a group of soldiers, in traditional armour marching towards them. Xander and Giles stepped up next to Angel in front of Anya and Cordelia who, with a simultaneous shake of the head, moved next to the men.

“My Lord Angel,” the captain of the guards acknowledged as the soldiers stopped. “We welcome you to Tolemac.” The captain bowed. “His highness wishes us to escort you to your place of rest.”

Angel looked round at the others and Giles nodded reluctantly, indicating that they would follow. The small group set off, surrounded by the soldiers, following the captain the short distance to the large red tent, which had been set up just outside the arena.

Inside, the tent seemed as large as Xander and Anya’s apartment, and was furnished with two large beds, a chaise-lounge and piles of cushions and pillows, which were all varying shades of red, pink and purple. Along one side of the room were two long tables, piled high with food and drinks. Xander, Anya and Cordelia gazed appreciatively round and then raced for the food.

“Hey Angel, there’s stuff here for you too,” Cordelia called around a mouthful of bread, pointing at the large jug of blood sitting at one end of the table.

The vampire smiled across at his friend before turning back to the guard. “What are we doing here?”

“I am told someone will come to explain everything to you shortly. Until then I suggest that you make yourselves comfortable and take advantage of this opportunity to rest.” With that the guard bowed deeply once again then quickly exited the tent.

“Ok. This is weird,” Angel said, turning back to Giles. “They were expecting us.”

“Maybe we have to complete another task,” Giles theorised, removing his glasses as he made his way over to the food, and poured himself a glass of water. “The maze got us here. The next task may get us into the castle.”

“Alright,” Angel agreed, trying to relax as he too moved towards his own liquid refreshment. “But everybody stay alert. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”

“I believe the subtext here is rapidly becoming text.”

****

“Yeah,” Tara agreed, picking up from where her girlfriend had left off. “So you should sleep on the chaise. Or else, you’ll have to sleep with Spike.”

Wesley was by no means a stupid man. The look he gave the girls left them in no doubt that he knew exactly what they were up to. The two young witches blushed. Wesley’s lips twitched. “You could have asked me you know. Although I hope we’re not doing anything we’ll regret later.”

The ‘we’ set Willow and Tara smiling again and the together the three of them went to grab some food from the table.

“Um,” Buffy said hesitantly, her eyes remaining fixed on the bed as she addressed the others. “The guard said someone should come by soon with more info. ‘Til then we should relax.”

“Great,” Willow smiled at her friend threw an extra blanket from the bottom of the bed to Wesley. “We should all try and get some sleep. The two witches and former Watcher finished their food quickly and settled in for some rest. Although they had intended it merely to give Buffy and Spike a little privacy, they were all asleep instantly, exhaustion finally overcoming them.

The Slayer and vampire watched as their friends fell asleep immediately and shared a look across the table where they were gathering food and drink.

“Not very subtle are they, your friends?” Spike asked after hastily drinking a mug full of blood.

“No,” Buffy agreed. “They must have been taking lessons from you.”

“Hey, I can be subtle,” the vampire protested as he followed Buffy to the King size four-poster bed.

“Name one time,” the Slayer answered without turning round. Spike didn’t answer. “Well?”

“I’m thinking.”

“I just don’t like this. Waiting around isn’t really my style. We should be out there doing something.”

Cordelia sighed. “I know. Dawn’s in trouble. But I doubt very much that we’re going to get to her if we don’t play along with these little games. I mean we are talking about Darla and Drusilla. Walking advertisements for the sadistic.”

The vampire joined Cordelia on the bed. “We have to find the others before we get to Dawn,” he told her, staring up at the roof of the tent. She turned her head to look at him and if he’d been looking back, he would have seen a little hurt flicker briefly in her eyes.

“We’ll find her.”

“I know. But we have to find the others fir…”

“No, I mean. We’ll find Buffy.” It was Angel’s turn to look across at his friend while she looked resolutely away.

“Cor…”

“Yeah, yeah. Love of your life and everything. I do understand.”

A smile started to tug at the corners of Angel’s mouth. “Well, maybe if you let me finish…”

“Can we talk about this later?” Cordelia asked turning away from him and closing her eyes. “I’m tired.”

“Of course.” Angel watched Cordelia as she feigned sleep, both of them knowing they would get no rest that night.

Spike and Buffy lay side by side in the dark room, with only the sound of the others’ breathing to disturb them. They both remained completely still beneath the covers, neither daring to move for fear of what the other would think.

“Spike?” Buffy whispered, knowing that he was still awake.

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember up on that hill?”

“Yes.”

“You kissed me.”

“I did.”

“And before that, in the cave.”

“I remember.”

“Well, are you sorry you kissed me?”

“Are you sorry I kissed you?”

“I asked first.”

“Yeah but I’m older than you.”

“Spike!”

“Ok, ok. No I am not sorry I kissed you. I wanted to kiss you. I like, no love kissing you.”

“Really?”

Spike rolled onto his side to face her. “Yes!” Then he saw the real insecurity in her eyes and brought one hand up to smooth her hair away from her face. “They really messed you up didn’t they.” It was more a statement than a question and Buffy didn’t even pretend not to know who he was talking about. “I will never leave you.”

“I know. I know you’re not them. I’m sorry. I just get scared.”

“Shh. Don’t worry about it.” He leaned in closer to her and she raised her head to meet his kiss. It was softer than their previous kiss. More gentle, more loving. They wrapped themselves in each other and clung on tight until Buffy, realising at the last second her continued need for air, pulled back slightly.

“I resent that. Or possibly thank you.”

Xander - ‘Bad Eggs’

****

“If you hurt her I’ll…” Faith’s eyes flashed angrily at him, but Ethan refused to be intimidated.

“Guards!” he shouted and seconds later two guards appeared in the doorway and bowed deeply to him. “Take Miss Faith to change for the joust,” he told them, passing them the keys as he made his way out into the corridor, pulling Dawn along behind him.

“Well my dear, I hope you had a nice time with your friend. It’s doubtful that you’ll see anyone but me for another few days.”

“I hate you,” Dawn spat as Ethan pushed her into her room and slammed the door shut behind her. She banged her fists pointlessly against the door for a few minutes, allowing her anger and frustration to escape her for the first time. When she had worn herself out she walked wearily across to the window to wait for the joust. She didn’t want to watch, fearing what she would see, what would happen. One of her friends was going to die. And there was nothing she could do about it.

“I feel weird,” she said blushing as she turned away from the mirror.

“Don’t worry miss. Everything’ll work out soon enough.”

Faith thought that that remained to be seen, but forced a smile as she followed the maid from the room. According to Dawn, one of the Scoobies Ethan had trapped in this game was not going to survive this joust and then she would have to take their place. She was not looking forward to seeing them. She knew she had done enough to hurt them to ensure that they wouldn’t want to see her. Even Angel had stopped visiting a while ago. He had come to break the news of Buffy’s death to her and found that she already knew.

“Here you are miss,” the maid startled her out of her reverie, and Faith looked warily at the guard the maid had stopped in front of. “He’ll escort you to your seat.”

Faith smiled once more at the young girl and followed the guard outside and into the arena.

“What challenge?” Buffy asked as she faced Dumain, arms folded indignantly across her chest.

“One of you must take part in the joust. The decision on who will take part should not be taken lightly. I suggest that the four of you consider who would be most suited to taking part in the event.”

“Four?” Spike asked, confused.

“Of course. The Princess is unable to take part.”

“You have to be joking right?”

“There is no way she’s going anywhere with you,” Spike ground out dangerously as he stepped towards Dumain. “She stays with us.”

“I’m afraid I cannot allow that my Lord.” He reached forward and took hold of Buffy’s arm. Spike growled angrily and his eyes flashed yellow, as Buffy struggled ineffectually against Dumain’s grasp.

“Let her go!”

“You have five seconds to take your hand off her or you’re going to be short one arm,” Angel growled at Dumain.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Melodramatic much?”

“Not now Cor,” Angel responded, not taking his eyes off the unfortunate messenger.

Xander sniggered at the interaction between the two; while he grudgingly allowed himself to feel a little respect for Angel and the way he was protecting Cordelia. He knew he’d feel the same if anyone tried to hurt Anya.

“Of course,” Dumain assured Buffy as she tried to reassure the vampire.

“It won’t be long,” she told him with a brave smile, and pulled away from the messenger long enough to press a soft kiss to Spike’s lips. “Good luck guys.”

Dumain led Buffy to the entrance of the tent, where he turned and bowed to the others.

“I love you,” Spike said, knowing that if he didn’t he end up hating himself.

Buffy smiled serenely as she answered. “I know.”

“I said date!”

Willow - ‘Surprise’

****

“NO!”

“Anya…”

“Did I not say ‘no’ loud and emphatically enough the first time?” Anya asked her fiancée as she stood in front of him, hands placed firmly on her hips.

Xander stood his ground. “An, do you remember the enhanced strength and speed. This is what I’m here for.”

“You’ll get yourself killed. And then where will I be? Sitting all alone in an overpriced wedding dress I dyed black, for the next sixty years until I die, unloved and unwanted by anyone, with no feeling in my soul from the day my heart was torn out when…”

“I’ll do it.”

“Oh, thank God.” Anya immediately cheered, moving from near collapse to utter relief in one swift move.

“Angel,” Giles asked, ignoring Anya’s outburst, “are you sure?”

“Have any of you ever jousted before?” The others shook their heads, no. “Then I think I’ve got the edge.”

“Where did the drunkard son of a middle class Irish merchant learn to joust?” Xander asked, deciding not to argue with both Anya and Angel. There was no way he would win.

“You pick things up.”

“I will do this you know. I’m not trying to prove anything. I just want to help.”

Angel smiled. “I know.” There was an awkward pause, before he added, “I know you don’t like me. Can’t say I like you that much either. But I know you’ll look after everyone if I can’t. You have to protect them if anything happens to me. You have to find Dawn.” He started forward towards Giles but stopped. “She’s important Xander. A friend of mine told me something would happen and that… well I don’t know what. For a psychic he’s pretty vague at times. But you’ll know when it happens. So you have to protect her.”

Spike stopped his pacing and spun swiftly to face Tara. “What?”

Willow snorted at the indignant expression on his face, causing Tara erupt with laughter once again. The vampire’s expression clearly said he thought Tara had gone crazy and he raised his scarred eyebrow at the redhead.

“Could you be more tense?” she asked, not the slightest bit affected by his demeanour. “Relax or you’re not even going to make it onto the horse.”

“Hey, I’ll be fine,” Spike assured her as he resumed his pacing. “This thing’ll be over before we know it and then hopefully we’ll get inside the castle and find Dawn.”

“Spike,” Willow countered, inwardly wondering when she had stopped looking at him and seeing a vampire and started to worry about him as much as she did everyone else. “Not that we don’t all believe you’re going to win this thing but, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Who else is going to do it? You? Tara? Not bloody likely.”

Willow held up her hands innocently. “Hey I just want to be the voice of reason here, so that if something does happen to you, I can look Buffy straight in the eye and say, ‘I tried to stop him. Damn stubborn vampire’.”

Spike smiled ruefully at Willow. “Sorry Will. I know you want to do something to help.”

“I do,” she said rising from her seat and walking slowly towards him. “Can we talk? Over here?” Confused, Spike followed her over to the bed he’d shared with Buffy and sat down on the space she’d patted next to her.

“Do remember the last time we were on a bed together?”

Spike’s head jerked up to stare at her with wide eyes. “What? We never…”

“You failed to perform. I remember I was a little upset.”

“I, uh, Willow I don’t…” He saw her eyes were twinkling and a memory surged to the surface. “Oh. Right.”

The young witch chuckled. “We have a history of beds don’t we. The first time we were on one together, you threatened to shove a bottle in my face. The second time you tried to turn me into a vampire.”

Spike winced. “And I wonder why you hate me.”

“I don’t,” Willow told him earnestly. “I’ve never hated you. I was scared of you. And then a little sorry for you. And sometimes I’ve really, really wanted to stake you or burn you or something.”

“Thanks.”

“But I’ve never hated you. I mean you didn’t shove that bottle in my face did you?”

“No.”

“And you tried to make me feel better when I thought you wouldn’t turn me didn't you?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re really, really sorry about tying Buffy up in your crypt and then threatening to let Drusilla eat her aren’t you.”

“Of course I am!” Spike practically shouted and Willow could have sworn he’d be blushing if he were human.

“That’s alright then. The clean slate started when you didn’t tell Glory about Dawn. So I’m going to help you.”

“Help me what?”

“With Buffy,” Willow explained slowly. “Me and Tara, we’re playing matchmaker.”

Spike stared at her.

“You’re welcome Willow,” the redhead whispered and smiled when the vampire automatically repeated it. “I don’t know what Xander’s going to say,” she continued as she slid off the bed. “Maybe we should wait until after your first date to tell him.”

“Will,” Spike stopped her as she started back towards Tara and Wesley. “Do you really think I can do this?”

“I know you can.”

The door opened behind her, breaking her out of her reverie, and she turned her head to see Cordelia enter the box. Faith stood quickly and waited, wondering what the former cheerleader would say.

“Faith?” Cordelia looked surprised for a moment, before she shook her head in defeat. “I don’t know why I bother even trying to act surprised anymore. You get to a point where you accept everything no questions asked.” She sat down wearily. “Were you kidnapped?” The Slayer nodded. “Figures.”

The two young women sat in silence for a long moment as Cordelia looked out over the arena. As the seer opened her mouth to speak, the door opened once again to admit Buffy. “Cordelia? Faith?” The Slayer hugged Cordy warmly, before turning to Faith. “Kidnapped?”

“Yes.” Faith replied shortly, unsure of what to say. Her face remained impassive as she waited for Buffy to speak.

“Ok,” Buffy forced a smile, realising it was best for them all to try to get along while they remained trapped together. “Do you know anything about what’s going on, or why we’re here? Have you seen Dawn?”

Cordelia shook her head, but Faith’s eyes lit up slightly. “I saw her. Ethan brought her down from the tower to see me. She’s fine. No one’s hurt her.” Faith paused for a moment, debating whether to add the next part. “She told me about your mom. I’m so sorry Buffy.”

A slightly haunted expression crossed Buffy’s face at the mention of her mother, but she didn’t say anything. She knew Faith had meant what she said. “Didn’t Angel tell you? About my mom? I thought he was checking up on you?”

“The last time, he came to tell me about you. We didn’t really talk about anything else. Before that, I hadn’t seen him since around Christmas.”

Buffy was nodding absently, trying to remember what Faith had said about Dawn that had made her…

“Wait. Did you say Ethan had Dawn?”

“Now I’m having a wiggins.”

Xander - ‘Innocence’

****

“Remember what I said Xander,” he told the younger man firmly, inhaling a needless yet calming breath. Xander nodded carefully and stepped back, unsure now of what to do or say.

“Try not to kill Spike,” Anya pleaded and he smiled comfortingly at her.

“Don’t worry about it Anya. We’ll both be fine.”

“Right then,” Giles said nodding once at Angel before drawing the others away to the sidelines as Angel lined up to begin the joust.

“Oh! Pity!” Darla drawled as she watched the dust settle. She glanced at her companion. “Dru?”

“Spike.” Drusilla felt the slightest twinge of something pass through her. She stared at the spot where her Childe had been just seconds before and tried to grasp hold of that feeling inside. Pain? Anger? Loss? Love? “Spike,” she murmured again, a frown creasing her brow as she willed herself to feel.

“Yes it’s a shame,” Darla stated casually. “But you can’t have everything. Don’t worry love, we still have Angelus to play with.”

The feeling escaped Drusilla as her tormented mind turned its attention from her Childe to her Sire and all sorrow or regret was instantly forgotten. “Daddy. Yes, we still have daddy.”

“Remember. You’re supposed to be a weak little girly girl like the rest of us.”

Willow - ‘Phases’

****

“Faith?” Willow exclaimed aloud, causing everyone to turn and stare at the younger Slayer. The young brunette had no idea what to say so she remained silent, allowing everyone to once again focus on the present problem.

“Buffy,” Giles addressed the Slayer, kneeling down in front of her. “I am so very sorry.”

‘No, you’re not!’ was what she wanted to shout at him. ‘You don’t care if he’s dead or alive. He’s just another vampire to you.’ Instead she raised her head and, looking directly at her former Watcher, she forced a small smile. “I know.” Knowing that she had to go on, that she had to find Dawn, Buffy sucked in a deep breath and stood. She would take charge; she would get everyone home. Then she could grieve. “Ok. No more splitting up. If one of us goes somewhere, we all go. Our only priority from here on out is Dawn.” She turned back to Giles. “Faith says that Ethan has her.”

“But you’re not a rat. So call it an up-side.”

Oz - ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.’

****

The young girl stopped. “Ok, you know my name. But I don’t know yours so, don’t you think you’re taking advantage? Who are you? Where am I?”

“You are at the beginning Dawn.”

“The beginning of what?”

“Everything.”

“Vague much?” Dawn muttered as she looked around for the source of the voice. “Look I’d really like to know who you are.”

“We are the Powers. Who are you?”

Dawn frowned. “Dawn. But you knew that.”

“We know who you are. Do you know who you are?”

“I’m Da… Oh,” Dawn’s face fell. “Well, I’m the key I guess.”

“The key. But who are you?”

“Will you stop with the Alice in Wonderland questions already? I’m Dawn. The fifteen-year-old sister of the Slayer. Or I’m an ageless key to opening dimensions. No one did a really good job of explaining to me what I am.”

“Not what. Who?”

“Huh.”

“You are not the Slayer’s sister Dawn. You are the key. You open the gateway between worlds.”

“You want me to guess what you’re talking about don’t you? Well I’m not going to. If you want me to know something, you’re going to have to stop with the cryptic and spell it out for me.”

“It is not our place to say.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Spike,” the vampire corrected automatically, looking around him for the owner of the voice. “Who’s there?”

“We are the Powers William.”

Spike frowned. “The Powers?”

“Yes William.”

“What am I doing here? With you? I died. Stake through the heart. Shouldn’t I be in hell?”

“You are here to learn William. It is vital that you understand your role. It is vital that you discover who you are. Of what you are part of.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We are offering you an opportunity William. But you must work in this dimension until it is time for you to return.”

“Return?” Spike asked, hope filling his voice. “I get to go back?” He’d see Buffy and Dawn again. That one thought made him ready to face anything that was to come.

“Once you have completed your task.”

Spike sighed. A task. He was quickly becoming annoyed with the vague references. “What task?”

There was no answer.