Chapter Six - Respect

Buffy breezes in to the Magic Box, determination on her face, not daring to address Giles until she takes care of this one very simple task.

"Anya? Need a vase. Got one?" she asks as she uncups the perfect rose from her palm.

"Er, no. Well, I mean we have plently for sale, but..." Anya looks a little flustered at Buffy's behaviour. "Hello? Evil afoot? All the signs? Clouds gathering? Ring a bell?"

"Vase first. Talk after." Buffy walks over to the display of ornate vases and scans the shelves carefully. There, behind all the elaborate creations she spots the perfect vessel for this perfect rose. It's a simple earthen vase, elegant in it's shape, curving beautifully in an upswept fashion. It had been fired with a deep red glaze, thin lines of the glaze having dripped down the side. It isn't large at all, wouldn't do for holding many flowers, and she thinks that it's perfect, because all it has to do is just hold this one. She carefully lifts it and looks at the price.

"A hundred and fifty five dollars?" her mouth hangs open... "A h-hundred and f-fifty five dollars?"

Giles steps in, "Well, um, you see... it is from eastern Europe. And it is rather old. I'd say that was quite a bargain actually."

"Alright then. Put it on my tab." Buffy walks to the back room to fill it with water, dropping the price tag at the till where Anya is standing, suddenly staring daggers at Giles once again.

"Tab? She has a tab?"

"Not now, Anya." Giles shoots her a look.

"Xander!?" Anya goes in for back-up.

"Not now, Anya." Strike one up for the Xan-man.

Giles follows his Slayer into the back room. "Buffy? Everything alright?"

"Three days, maybe four. That's all I have."

"Pardon?" Giles sees her preoccupation and wonders what this is all about.

"N-nothing. Let me just put this in water, Giles. Be right with you."

Giles arches an eyebrow and gives her a questioning look. "Buffy?"

"Go on... I'll be right there. I just have to make sure I do this right."

"Buffy it's just a rose."

"That's the second time I've heard that," she says a little sharply. Lowering her voice to just above a whisper she adds, "It's not just a rose... it's much more than that."

Giles doesn't want to debate the obvious so he reluctantly leaves her to tend to the flower.

~~*~~

In a deep, dark cavern, somewhere beneath Sunnydale, a group of demons gather. They kneel before an elaborate altar and wait patiently for their leader to emerge from the tunnels, bringing them news on the impending arrival of the Great One.

They chant in a language older than any known to man and crumble the earth before their knees with their claws, raking through the dirt in a rythmic fashion... everything in unison, all movements and sounds echoing in a sickening harmony.

Suddenly the movement and sounds stop and all heads turn up at once to regard the opening to the tunnels. They all peel back their hoods as he steps down into their sacred area and appreciative smirks adorn all their faces. He looks pleased. He's bringing good news.

"My brothers!" he shouts, "Arise! I come with great news!"

Seventeen ugly, wrinkly demons arise, uttering statements of 'welcome news!' and 'well done!'...

"Silence!" shouts ugly #18. "The deeds are done... the elements obey! Three days, my brothers. Three days and we will bring Him back to us. It has been so long without Him, has it not? A trying, difficult wait we've had, have we not?"

Shouts of aggreement fill the cavern and ugly #18, Durmok, raises his hand to silence them once again. "Tonight you'll release the foulest air. Tomorrow you will let loose your pestilence on all the lesser amphibians, and when night falls, we'll capture the perfect sacrifice. She must be a pure young woman, my brothers. Remember this, and serve me well. It will be your greatest reward when He rises, and cleanses this land of all it's filthy inhabitants. What say you?"

"Yes, lord!! We will do as you ask!" They all shout, and Durmok nods his head in approval.

~~*~~

"OK, so what have we got?" Buffy asks as she joins them all at the table.

Giles takes off his glasses and gives them the usual wipe. "I don't really know, to be honest. So far, we have a sudden drop in temperature and an unusual, evil looking type of cloud cover."

"You know, Giles..." Xander's gonna just lay this out, just incase anyone hadn't considered it. "Sometimes clouds are dark. And sometimes clouds aren't pretty. How can you tell they're evil clouds, as opposed to plain old storm clouds? I mean, couldn't this just simply be a bit of bad weather?"

"Xander, I'm not saying the clouds are evil, I'm saying there's evil behind the weather. Do play along nicely now, will you?"

Xander's smirk slowly turns to an appologetic look and he quickly nods that indeed he'll be good.

"Now, I have been researching this type of phenomena and I can only say that so far, it seems to be just the beginning of an even greater series of events. Exactly which series of events is what I'm stuck on, you see, as at this stage of the lunar cycle this could be the precursor to anything from to the return of a Gallormic demon to an earth-swallowing apocolypse. I need more evidence, more signs... then I can make a better judgement."

"So what, what should we look for?" Buffy asks, hoping that there might be something she can hunt for, and preferrably with Spike.

"Well, there are several things to look for actually. And I'll list a few so that we can hopefully narrow this down by tomorrow." Giles shuffles through his papers and holds the list out. "Uh, a rancid smell might fill the air, rather like rotting flesh… We need to see if any fish are washing up on shore, because in one of these events, the fish are the first to go. Um, check for other signs like a sudden overabundance of frogs, perhaps? And oh, yes... this one in particular would be rather nasty if it was the case of course... watch for rather large swarms of Deltochilum gibbosum. They are terribly partial to carrion. And I might add that this particular plague applies to two of the events listed here." He looks up and realizes that he appears to have lost them at some stage… perhaps at the Deltochilum gibbosum.

"English, Giles." Buffy just hates it when he goes all librarian on her.

"Dung beetles." There's the glasses-wiping thing again.

"OK then!" Xander chirps. "Buffy, why don't you take the plague of pestilence... Willow, Tara, you take the plague of frogs, and Anya and I will search for plague of poop collectors."

"Xander, it's not about the poop. These particular dung beetles like carion. As in dead meat. Points to potential mass slaughter."

"Actually, scratch that, Willow, Tara, you take the beetles, Anya and I've got the frogs."

"Xander! You know I hate frogs!" Anya rolls her eyes...

Buffy gets up and walks over to the counter and takes a moment to smell the rose as the others break out into a bit of the usual friendly argument. Giles leaves the table and joins her, blocking out the noise in the background.

"It's lovely Buffy. I didn't know you liked roses."

"I didn't either." She turns to him and smiles. "I'll take Spike and we'll check out the waterfront, see if there's any fish washing up, stuff like that."

Giles hesitates but at the strange forlorn look in her eyes, he backs down from his usual caution. "Alright, Buffy, if you think it's best."

"I'll take your cell phone, that way, anything comes up you can ring me. We'll come back here then, OK?"

Giles goes to his jacket and unzips the pocket, and pulls out the phone, accidentally dragging one of the poems out with it. He watches in horror as it falls to the floor at Buffy's feet. Time seems to slow down for Giles as he watches her reach down and pick it up.

"You dropped your paper," she says as she hands it to him, without the slightest glance to see what it is, and in that moment the colour drains from Giles' face. "You OK? You don't look so good."

He quickly folds the poem back up and shoves it in his pocket, zips it up and rests his hand on it, sighing in relief that he wasn't caught out, and kicking himself for keeping something that clearly belongs to Buffy.

"We'll meet back here in the morning. Call me on the cell if there's anything strange tonight though, OK? I'll be at the waterfront."

"Alright Buffy, and do be careful."

"Always." I'll be safe, she thinks, and smiles.

~~*~~

The air in the house is so cold, Buffy's teeth chatter when she enters. She goes up to her room and puts the vase on her night table and then runs back down to turn on the heat. It's gotten so dark outside she thinks that she might be able to get Spike to come out with her even earlier, and therefore get to spend more time with him. It suddenly hits her then that if Spike can come out to play at this time of day, the others of the fanged brigade will probably be doing the same thing.

She decides to do a sweep of the area before she heads over to the lair.

~~*~~

Spike stands at the entrance of the lair and takes it all in. This would have been the perfect opportunity for him back in his early days. He woulda cut down the population of Sunnydale quite nicely, or whatever other little town he might have been in. Him and Dru of course. Funny now, but he doesn't really feel any regret over not being able to do that, and he wonders if he's turned into a complete ponce. Maybe he has, but it strikes him suddenly that he wouldn't change anything. He wouldn't do anything differently, except maybe the whole chip thing of course. He has absolutely no doubt in his mind that chip or no chip, he would still be in the same position, in love with the Slayer, unable to harm her, or her precious gang.

He remembers those opportunities he had when they first knew one another, when during their battles he would be amazed that if he'd been given the choice to punch her or kiss her, he would have kissed her nearly every time. Had he been given the choice. He wonders if she would have been more attracted to him if he was still able to hurt her, because then he was an equal, and he could give her as good as he got. Maybe she would have liked him better then. Right now he's convinced that she pities him, and nothing more, and that gals him.

He knows he could go out in this weather, walk around town and maybe scare a few of the townsfolk. He could do all sorts of things like visit the Quickmart and buy smokes, instead of having to wait for tonight. He is out of them after all, and hankering for a bit of nic. He could walk into that exclusive men's shop on Gilmore, the one that's never open when he's able to walk around freely, and buy himself that black pair of pants he's been after for ages, and a bunch of new black shirts, silk ones and cotton ones, and some tees, maybe even that cobalt blue silk dress shirt the window dummy was sportin' the other day. Yeah, that was quite a number. Back when he was eviler he would have just smashed in the window and grabbed what he wanted, but he doesn't do things like that anymore. Much.

He decides that the blue shirt is just calling him, begging to be bought. And those black pants too. He walks back in and grabs a wad of cash from beneath his new mattress and heads out into the darkness of the day. He's sure the clouds won't suddenly open and let the sun fry him. The evil that's about is gonna stick around till its played itself out. That's just the way these things work. If he's lucky he'll get a couple days to play in the daytime, if he really wants to do that of course. He counts his cash and discovers that he has the grand total of one hundred and twenty big ones.

Blue shirt it is.

~~*~~

Katherine sits at her desk in her shop, going over figures for the month, shivering under her shall. She takes a sip of her tea, warming her hands on the small china cup, and wishes she'd poured a mug, but there's just something about having tea in a proper tea cup. The bell on her door jangles and she looks up to see Giles approach.

"Mr. Giles…" she closes her eyes and tries again, "Rupert. How are you? Everything alright with the bed?"

"Hello Katherine. The bed is just fine, thank you. Actually, I came to see how you were holding up in this…" he gestures to the air around them, "… weather."

"Oh," she smiles, touched by his concern, "I'm freezing, but I've made a nice cup of tea, and I've got this… this excuse for a shawl. I guess I'll survive."

Giles notices that she's drinking tea from an actual tea cup and smiles. Decent woman.

"Would you like a cup of tea? It's just made actually. There's more in the pot."

Oh, she has a pot too. "That would be lovely, thank you." Giles watches her as she pours him a cup of tea, thinks that she's such a lovely person, and how did she ever end up on the Hellmouth? How did any of the residents really, but it was, on the surface, just another town.

"Have you always lived in Sunnydale, Katherine?"

"No actually. I came here ten years ago, from upstate New York. My sister met her husband here, got married, decided to stay. Had those two lovely boys." Her expression then looks distant, sad. "She died, she and her husband… one night they were attacked, by a gang, we were told. And I loved those boys, you know? Couldn't let them be split up and go to different, distant relatives. So I moved my business here, and became their guardian." She looks at Giles then, a little embarrassed to tell him things that maybe he didn't really need to know. "Oh, I'm sorry… I shouldn't be telling you all that. You asked me a simple question and I gave you the extended, PG version of what should have been a simple answer."

"Not at all… don't apologize." He gives her a warm smile, and takes a sip of his tea, then looks down. "I'd like to hear more…" looks back up, right into her eyes, "… about you, that is, if you want to… I mean, I know you don't know me from Adam, but…"

"I'd like that…"

~~*~~

Five obvious fledglings, three minions and four extremely ugly demon thingies later, Buffy cuts through town on her way home. She decides it might be a good idea to stop off at the music shop and pick up some of that crappy music Spike likes, for their excursion later, to what she's decided will be the beach! Sure, the weather is atrocious, but she figures they can sit in the jeep and watch the waves roll in from there. They'll surely see any dead fish wash up. She decides to get a little flask too. Fill it up with bourbon so that she can be a proper host and offer him a drink. She wonders of that would be too obvious. He might just outright laugh at her if he thinks she's actually making it into anything resembling a date. He might treat her the exact same way she treated him, when he took her on the fake stakeout-slash-date those months ago.

She heads into the smoke shop and picks out an interesting flask, then over to the liquor store for a single of bourbon. Satisfied that the beverages are looked after, (she'll bring a can of diet coke for herself), she makes her way up the street to the music shop. As she approaches Giancomo's Menswear she notices someone take a blue shirt off a mannequin and stops to watch. She always thinks it's rather funny when they dress the dummies in the window. Only this time, nobody's dressing the dummy. Her breath catches in her throat as she sees him. Her feet lock to the spot as she watches him hand his duster to the salesman, and slide his arms into the most stunning blue shirt. Her mouth goes dry as she watches him smooth one of his hands down over the silk, sees his eyes close a little as he obviously enjoys the feeling of it, wishes like crazy that it was her touching him instead.

She gets so close to the window that her breath fogs the glass and she has to arch around the foggy bit to keep watching him. God he looks glorious in that colour; absolutely magnificent. She places a hand on the window to steady herself. When did she ever react to anyone like this? When did she ever let herself feel so swept away? It had been similar to this with Angel, but this… this was something she'd never felt before. Only thing that really came close was 'the spell'. She tears herself away from the image in the window. The heat she feels all over her body makes her forget about the weather. Buffy undoes her coat and lets the cool air envelop her and as she stands there on the sidewalk she closes her eyes and imagines that his cool skin is on hers, quenching the fire that she feels inside. She pictures his strong, cool hands caressing her skin and smiles…

~~*~~

Spike thanks the salesman and walks towards the door, his brand new eighty-five dollar shirt nicely wrapped and boxed, and in a particularly flashy black and silver paper bag. He's pleased with the bargain and grins wickedly as he reaches the door, only to stop dead in his tracks when he sees her. She's standing there with her coat open, her eyes closed, and she has the most sensual look about her. Makes him instantly hard. God he'd love to be someone else right then. Someone worthy of her. Doesn't know what to do then. Should he run? Should he turn around and go out the back door? Should he hide behind the display of fine leather jackets? Spike decides that he shouldn't be a ponce and hide. He should come right out and face her, give her his best grin and get on with it, take off for the lair and put it behind him. He cautiously walks out to see her, still with her eyes closed, as if she doesn't sense him at all.

"Slayer?"

Oh... Busted.

Buffy opens her eyes and gives him such a terrified look then and he wonders what the hell her problem is. "Spike."

"You alright? You look a little… I dunno… everything OK?"

She tries desperately to hide her thrill at seeing him, closes her coat quickly again, fights the urge to do exactly what she wants, and that's to push him up against the glass and kiss him like there's no tomorrow. She shakes her head a little… "Spike. H-how are you?" She looks at the bag… Oh, blue shirt, wear the blue shirt tonight.

"Hey, this here's paid for, in case you're wondering… didn't knick it." He rolls his eyes.

"Oh, I wasn't…"

"So what's up with the weather Slayer? I'm sure you and the Superfriends have been hard at the research over this strange turn of events, am I right?"

"Uh, yeah… well, Giles has a few theories. Of course, we need to look for a few more signs before we can narrow it down."

"Like what?"

"Well… Xander and Anya are off in search of any sudden increase in the frog population, and Willow and Tara will be looking for a plague of shit beetles."

"Dung beetles."

"Yeah, those… and well, we're supposed to go and see if there's any dead fish turning up at the waterfront."

"We?"

"Yeah… Uh, I was gonna come by and ask you, actually, if you know, you might wanna come with me? Because, hey, you never know, could run into Mr. Nasty and the gang and you're so good with the slayage…"

"'Cept when it counts, of course," he whispers.

Spike looks a little uncomfortable but rights himself quickly. Mustn't let the Slayer see him pause.

"What?"

"Nothin'. Alright. I'll meet you back in town at sunset, or you know, that time, and we'll head down to the docks then."

"How 'bout I pick you up? At the lair? I'm taking the jeep tonight. Keep us out of the elements as much as possible anyway."

Spike considers her behavior rather strange. She's not being particularly cold. She's talking to him with an air of something that strangely sounds like… respect.

"See you tonight then Slayer. Sundown. Meet you outside the lair." Spike says as he walks away. Doesn't want to look at those beautiful eyes any longer than absolutely necessary. There's only so much pain a bloke can take. And this behavior of hers. He wonders if maybe the evil's behind more than just the weather.

Buffy watches him walk away and smiles. Oh she's got to make this good. Quickly she heads to the music shop two doors up and walks in, determined to get what she needs. She doesn't waste time looking for it, just walks straight up and asks the young man behind the counter.

"Ramones."

"Which one?"

"Don't know… something about being sedated."

"Bitchin'! Say no more." He heads over to that particular area and picks out the tape and the CD.

Buffy pushes the CD away. "Tape," she says and hands over the cash.

"Enjoy!" the young guy with purple hair says…

She gives him a grin. "Ooh yeah. Plan on it. Thanks!"

Buffy heads home to get ready for her 'not-a-date' date, her loot in hand and a bit of a spring in her step. Doesn't matter about the weather, she really couldn't care if there was a blizzard barreling down on them at that moment. She's going out with Spike. And that's all that matters.
 

Chapter Seven - Ready?

"It's not a date. Not. A. Date." Buffy repeats the mantra several times as she sits at the kitchen table, freezing her buns off in her barely heated house. "It's a mission... is what it is. Not. A. Date." She bows her head in her hands then, defeated. "It's SO obviously a date." Lifting her head slightly she peeks between her fingers to survey the goods she'd packed nicely in a convenient, insulated picnic pack. She has, of course, the flask full of bourbon, two cans of diet coke, a dozen spicy buffalo wings which she'd just heated to a piping hot temperature in the microwave, a bag of carrot sticks, a tub of ranch dip for said carrot sticks, a bag of low-fat crisps, a bag of pig's blood, and to top it off, two little individual cheesecake squares. And in the handy pocket on the front of the bag sits the Ramones tape. Oh yes, it is so obviously a date.

To say Buffy has the tummy tumblies would be an understatement. She has the all out terrors. What if he laughs at her? What if he totally ridicules her? On the other hand, what if he's so impressed he makes a move? Oh, moves=good.

Oh god! tummy tumblies!

Swallowing her fear, Buffy finally picks up the keys and the handy picnic pack and heads to the Jeep. "Live a little," she tells herself, "Life's too short." She smiles then and thinks of all the positive ways the evening could go and drives off towards the lair… Oh yes! She's ready!

She pulls back into the driveway three minutes later.

"Ranch has garlic! ARGH!"

Well, she's almost ready.

~~*~~

"So Clem, you'll watch the place while I'm gone?" Spike asks his best pal.

"Sure thing... Do you mind if I invite a few friends over?"

"Don't care, mate... just keep 'em away from my stuff."

Clem looks over at the box by the bed that contains all of Spike's special possessions. "You know, man... you should really keep that stuff someplace safe."

"Don't have anywhere safe. 'Cept here." Spike turns around and spreads his arms, as if to say, 'Ta-da!'.

"Wow! Dude! You got the shirt!"

"Yeah, took advantage of the perma-dark and went nuts. So, good?"

"Oh, good... I wonder if they have one in my size?"

Spike gives Clem an appraising look, complete with head tilt, "Don't really think it'd match your eyes, mate... maybe something in red."

"Yeah, you're right. But I always had a thing for blue. Totally doesn't suit my skin tone though. I think earth tones are more for me."

"Uh, right. Anyway, don't know how long I'll be," he says as he starts to remove the shirt.

"Hey, what are you doing? Leave that puppy on! Don't you want the Slayer to see you all decked out and dashing?"

"Not particularly, mate. She's taking me down the waterfront to kill things. I don't wanna get demon blood on my new shirt."

"Oh, don't be silly! There's this great dry cleaners on Mercer St. Gets the grit out every time! I use him regularly." Clem gives him a big grin, "Go on... wear the sexy shirt."

"Clem, you don't get it. Last time I dressed up, she thought I was takin' 'er on a date. Not makin' that mistake this time."

"And were you?"

"Were I what?"

"Taking her on a date?" Clem sports a cheesy grin.

"Well, yeah... but she wasn't supposed to know that." Spike shakes his head, "Totally backfired on me o' course. Felt like an absolute wanker afterwards. Chained 'er up. Wasn't the best move."

"Wow... but hey, she's being nice to you now isn't she?"

"Strangely enough... but I think she might be under the influence of a spell or somethin'... it's the only explanation."

"Wear the shirt, Spike."

 

~~*~~

Buffy pulls onto the dirt path that leads through the woods... she's not sure how far away she should park, but sees a bit of a clearing and pulls in, thinking she'll walk the rest of the way. She kinda wants to see where Spike is living, have a good look at his new digs, as Giles had been less than forthcoming about Spike's circumstances. She just wanted to see for herself... Before she even has the chance to get out of the Jeep the passenger door swings open and Buffy jumps.

"Spike!"

"Let's roll."

"You scared me!"

"Sorry, Slayer... just didn't wanna hang around is all. You ready?"

Buffy swallows hard and gives him a long look. "Ready as I'll ever be."

She watches as he settles into his seat, moulds himself right in with his elbow up against the window, his forehead resting lightly against his knuckles, his fine legs comfortably apart. His duster falls open as he adjusts himself and she sees it then, just barely with the lights on the dash, but oh, that's it alright... the blue shirt. Wants to open her door so that the light will come on and she can have a good look at him...

Buffy licks her lips and lets out a deep breath.

"You alright Slayer? Let's get a move on, shall we? Don't wanna be hangin' around all night."

Apparently English is a difficult language to grasp when one is in the throes of a lust-filled moment.

"Slayer?"

"Right. Driving now."

"Want me to drive?" Spike raises that eyebrow, wondering if she's altogether there.

She heard 'want', and she heard 'me'. It took a few moments for the rest to register. "Oh! No, I'm good." She turns to look at the road finally, and adds, "Might wanna buckle up though."

"I'll take my chances, luv."

melt

~~*~~

Giles and Katherine sit at a particularly beautiful dining room set toward the back of her furniture store, a floor lamp with a very ornate dark cover provides the only lighting. Her nephews had left over an hour ago. She's long since turned the sign on the front door over to let everyone know the shop's closed, but there's nobody really about anyway. Probably all taking shelter at home.

Katherine smiles at Giles and then looks away shyly. "I think I've talked your ear off."

"I did my fair share of the talking..." he says, and smiles, bends his head down a little to try to make eye contact with her. Something about her warms his heart, makes him feel at ease. She's so... normal. She doesn't appear to have any demons, quite literally, in her closet, and for the first time in a long while, Giles wishes that perhaps some things were different about his life. He'd love to be able to tell her he's really just a librarian, a historian with an appreciation for fine old books and interesting pieces of furniture, nothing more, but he doesn't want to lie to her. It's not exactly a lie, but it only scratches the surface of what he really is, what he does, how he lives. He feels a little unsure about being so taken with this small, gentle, beautiful woman, as if he should be denying himself this simple pleasure, but he mustn't let himself think that way. There has to be room to learn and accept, and adapt. He wants to open his heart to the possibilities, and wonders if she would as well... if she'd want a taste of how he lives, wonders if she could live with the flavor. But he's getting ahead of himself, and he mentally backs away from the issue for the moment. He decides to just enjoy her company a little longer, and when and if the danger is passed, he'll see where this takes them.

"Katherine, are you hungry? I could murder a B.L.T." The way he says it has Katherine in a fit of giggles and he can't help but chuckle... oh, he'll have to keep a close eye on this one.

"Josie's around the corner makes a killer B.L.T. And you could go all out British and have a pint!" Katherine says with a glorious smile, and Giles feels himself fall, just a little.

She unwraps her shawl and he helps her put on her coat, and she smiles as he opens the door. She thinks he's the perfect gentleman. Giles, despite the evil broiling around them, despite the possible impending apocalypse, or perhaps because of it, will take a little time to be with this lovely woman.

 

~~*~~

"Xander, isn't it a beautiful night?" Anya asks, smiling brightly at the angry looking sky.

"Well, I suppose it is, in a fire and brimstone sort of way." He squeezes her hand a little, loves his Anya for all her little quirks. He imagines the stories their grandchildren might tell their great-grandchildren one day about Anya and her little oddities. She can appreciate the beauty of a hell-driven sky, just as much as she can appreciate the beauty of a sunrise. He thinks that a thousand years must really teach a person a thing or two about patience and acceptance. Although the theory is a total wash when he considers bunnies. The jury's still out on that one.

"Honey, I don't see any frogs around. Maybe we should try another park."

Well, the patience theory could also be up for debate. "Not done here yet, Ahn. There's a pond up around the bend, remember? By that phone booth?"

Anya remembers. Phone booth. One of her many 'must-do's on her list of interesting places to have sex. She grabs Xander's hand tighter and drags him along.

"Anya? What is it?"

"Gotta make a call."

"Now?"

"Oh yeah."

He knows that tone of voice all too well. She's not thinking of frogs or apocalypses, but one thing, and one thing only. "But, but… now's not a good time!"

"Yeah? Tell me that again when I have my fingers wrapped around your caped crusader."

Xander manages a "Ungh!" and follows obendiently.

 

~~*~~

When the Slayer passes the second opportunity to turn towards the docks Spike starts to wonder. She's heading away from town.

"Slayer? Where we headed?"

"Oh! Uh… well I thought that the best place to watch for dead fish would be the beach, you know? Because hey, lotsa water, lotsa fish… waves rolling in, lotsa opportunity for lotsa dead fish to roll in on those waves. Seemed like the best plan."

Whereas peeking over the edge off the docks would be ever so difficult. "I see… I think."

Buffy senses his pause. "Oh hey, you know I brought some great driving music. That is if you wanna listen to music… you know, while I'm driving." She reaches into the back seat and grabs for the picnic bag.

"Lemme get it," Spike offers and as he reaches back her hand brushes against his and he hears Buffy sigh ever so slightly. Spike dismisses it. "Whatcha got in here, Slayer? I smell wings!"

"Right! I brought us some snacks. I kinda thought we might get hungry while we wait."

"Wait for what?"

"Dead fish."

"Right."

Spike checks the front pocket of the bag and finds the tape. "The Ramones? You brought… the Ramones?"

"Dontcha like it? I thought you liked the Ramones."

"Well, yeah… I thought you hated that type of music."

"Oh, nope, not me! Love it… great driving music."

Spike notes that it's still wrapped, along with price tag and everything. Could it be she's actually thought about him for once and is actually trying to make him feel at ease? He's not sure he can really grasp the concept, but somewhere in the back of his mind he's glad he wore the blue shirt. Maybe she'll notice it… maybe she'll see something other than a monster tonight. Still, he can't take the chance that she isn't under the same evil influence that has taken control of the skies. He has to play this very carefully. Wouldn't do to play along with this merry little charade if the Slayer was to wake up the following morning and realize whom she'd spent the evening with. Best to play this all down and act casually. It's the only safe way to go. He puts the tape back.

Buffy watches Spike lean on the window a bit, staring out at the ocean that they're now coming up to. Soon she can turn off the road and head down onto the beach area. She loves this beach… it's so often the backdrop for her best dreams. None of which had ever involved Spike. She thinks rather grimly that on top of cheating herself in real life, she's somehow managed to cheat herself in her dreams. Buffy would love to dream about Spike on the beach, but in the moonlight. She doesn't think about what it would be like for him to walk about the beach in the day, or what it would be like if he had a heartbeat. These are not the things she considered at all when she realized she was falling in love with him. There isn't a 'things I'd like to change' list when it comes to Spike, because when she really thinks about it, it's the man sitting beside her, all his quirks and faults, and talents and qualities that she loves. This man that once loved her so much that he would have died for her… and she hopes that he loves her still.

They pull into the beach parking lot and before the Jeep is even in 'Park' Spike practically leaps out of the vehicle, leaving Buffy stunned. "But… but, the wings…" she whispers, watching him walk towards the water.

Despite the cold she gets out to join him, stopping short though when she sees him close his eyes and take in a lungful of air, a look of such utter contentment on his face. She doesn't think she's ever seen anyone so beautiful then, and wishes she could appreciate something so simple as the sea air as he does.
 

Oh, Buffy… thanks for bringing me here… he thinks.

All too soon he opens his eyes and starts scanning the shoreline as the waves roll in. The headlights from the Jeep light up a fair bit of the beach and it's very obvious that other than a few bits of driftwood and a couple of aluminum cans, the beach if so far dead fish-free.

"Looks like the sign of dead fishes is out, Slayer. Old Rupert can cross that one off his list."

"Well, maybe we should hang around a little, you know, incase the evil hasn't manifested yet? I mean, the night's still young, isn't it? Loads of time for fishies to croak it and wash up?"

Spike raises the eyebrow and tilts his head just a little. "Yeah, alright. I get that. I guess."

"Can we sit in the Jeep? 'Cause it's freezing out here."

Almost reluctantly Spike walks back to the vehicle with her and casually gets in. There's something so uncomfortable about this whole thing. He can't quite put his finger on it, but it feels strangely akin to a ruse of some sort. He wishes he was back at the lair, because then he'd know what was what. Clem would probably be bringing over the other lads and they'd be placing their bets. Here, with the Slayer, his dream woman, his golden goddess, he's absolutely and utterly uncomfortable. He would love to give himself a really swift kick because of all the times in his unlife he'd wished for something very much like this scenario, except the only thing they'd be watching for was shooting stars, and he'd have driven, and taken her here because she deserved it. She still does. But this is just too unreal for him to fathom.

Buffy looks at Spike and wishes for the old Spike back, the one before the terrible fall at the tower. He was so confident and cocky once, and he wore his heart all over his face, never mind his sleeve. She always knew where she stood with him, whereas this one breaks her heart. He's not saying anything, not giving her any indication that he's content or impressed, or even pissed off. If he was angry he would have told her before, now she can't gather anything from his incredibly blank expression and it completely unnerves her. She decides to get with the eating part of the da… no. Stakeout.

"Wings?" She offers him the spicy chicken that she knows he loves and he takes it with a small smile. Aha! Got a reaction!

Buffy grabs the bag of carrot sticks and the low-fat yogurt dip she made in a hurry and gladly digs in.

*CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH*

Buffy stops chewing. Damnit! Why did she have to pick a loud food? Coulda picked something soft and unintrusive sounding! But no… had to go for carrots!

Spike fights back a grin and offers her a wing. Gladly, she accepts.

They sit in relative silence then, neither of them saying a word, but munching happily on wings. Buffy looks at him often and he occasionally glances at her, and she thinks that this has the makings of the most incredibly disastrous date… no! Stakeout! that she's ever been on.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Buffy reaches over his knees and into the glove box. As her hands brushes his knees she hears his gasp a little and it thrills her immensely. She rests her arm on his knee then and pretends to root around in the glovebox, when clearly the item she's looking for is right before her eyes.

God she's touching me… oh, don't stop touching me… actually... please stop, you're tormenting the unlife out of me…
 

To Spike's utter shock and secret joy Buffy reveals the flask. "Knew it was in there somewhere."

"What you got there Slayer?"

"Oh, I thought you might get thirsty you know, after the spicy wings, so I brought you a little something to wash it down with. Here!" Buffy fiddles with the cap of the flask instead of just handing it to him, which would have been so much simpler. No, she was going to be a great host and open it and everything. Why she even had a little plastic cup if he wanted. Fumbling with the cap still, she gives it one good yank and a large splash of bourbon flies through the air, right at Spike's brand spanking new shirt.

"Christ! My shirt!" Spicy, sticky fingers fly down to swipe at the offending liquor, only to mash Buffalo sauce into his precious shirt, infuriating him further. "Bollocks! Clem better come through with that dry cleaner! I just bought the fucking thing!"

"Oh! Oh! I'm so sorry! Here, lemme…"

"No! That's alright, Slayer… just… just give me a cloth."

Buffy reaches for the bag and horrified, discovers that she's left something very important behind. "Um, Spike? I kinda forgot the tissues."

~~*~~

Giles is having the best time with Katherine. The pub is practically empty, what with the impending evil something or other and all, and they have the fireside seats all to themselves. The waitress brings over another pint for the watcher and a glass of red wine for his friend.

"You're right," Giles says as he pats the sides of his mouth with a colorful folded table napkin, "That was the best BLT I've had in ages. Reminded me of home."

"Guess the pint kinda helps too," Katherine replies with a smile. She notes that Rupert has the kindest eyes, but speculates that there's a bit of a devil somewhere behind his expression. That prospect gives her chills of excitement and he seems to notice her sizing him up like this, so he gives her one of his most charming smiles.

"I'll just finish this pint and then I'll walk you to your car."

"Actually, I usually walk to work, my place isn't far from here. I bought one of those lovely new apartments over on Vine."

"Then I'll walk you home."

"You don't have to. I mean, I'd love that… but I'm sure I'd be alright on my own."

Giles knows that she most certainly would not be alright on her own. "Let me walk with you then. Just see you to the door. Then I'll get back to let the others go home."

"Those people I saw at your shop the other day… are they your family?"

Giles smiles at that. In a way they really are. He considers each one of them as so important to him. Especially Buffy. "No, they were my students at one time. We sort of formed a bit of a club you see, to study old texts and mystical things. They love all that. I must admit I enjoy dabbling in the ancient texts myself." That's quite enough, he thinks. "They work at the shop with me mostly, but one of them I consider to be like a daughter."

"I think that's wonderful. I must admit I love reading about magical, mystical things. Always have."

"Well I think I've had enough, shall we?" Giles gets up from his seat and reaches a hand to Katherine.

She smiles and bats her eyelashes a little and Giles falls just a little bit more.

~~*~~
 

As Giles and Katherine walk up towards Vine Street, neither of them are aware of the warty, hobbled demons that emerge ever so quietly from the manhole behind them. They gather in the shadows of the alley nearby and begin their chant.

"From the depths of Hell below
And steeped in death and pain and rot
Let none escape thy putrid wrath
Let none escape our valiant plot
For when the candle burns away
And darkness cloaks us once again
The stench of Hell will overpower
And in their air it will remain"

Six ugly demons huddle around a very small candle.

"That the smallest candle you could find?"

"That was it."

"Guess it'll do. How long will this take?"

"Another couple of minutes. Be patient, my brother."

"I want to get back in time for Leno."

"Maybe you'd like the Master to spare Leno?"

"Ah! It's almost done!"

They all bend down and give thanks to their gods, for the second phase of their evil operation is almost underway. The only thing left to do is find a pure girl to sacrifice to their god on the third day of the ritual. Then their Master will rise, and all will be well again with their world.

Slowly, the last flickers of the candle fade away and as the wick fizzles and glows orange, sending a small streak of smoke skywards, the demons disappear again into the darkness, and a terrible smell permeates the air.

~~*~~

Just after midnight then, on the other side of town…along the path in the same park that Anya and Xander are presently searching, or were searching, to be precise…

"Vico, pass me the bags."

"Will you get out of the way, Maldron? Your incredibly smelly arse is blocking the hole!"

"Just pass me the bags you mangy excuse for a demon. Wait till I tell the Master what you said to me!"

"As if he cares. Just get your fat arse out of this hole so I can climb up too. It'll take the both of us to perform the ritual."

"Bossy, bossy. You won't be able to boss me when I take my place beside the Master."

"You mean, beneath the Master. You are an arrogant one. Smelly too. Now let's get this done. I want to be back in time for Leno."

The two incredibly ugly demons scurry into the darkness of the trees and begin their ritual. Vico, the smaller one, pours out a large amount of yellow sand into a circle. Maldron, the extremely smelly one, pours a bluish colored sand inside the circle, in the shape of a pentagram. Vico removes a dead toad from the bag and lays it in the center, covering the creature in more sand. Together they chant and ancient chant and then light a long match each, setting the sand covered toad alight.

"It is done."

"So it begins."

"Let all the lesser amphibians come out from their hiding places and converge on the center of this cursed town."

"They will die horrible deaths my brother."

"They will."

"And we'll be one step closer to our Master."

~~*~~

"Oh! Oh god! Xander! Oh… my… GOD!!!!" Anya screams out her climax for all the world to hear. She kisses him greedily and holds him so close whispering in his ear how much she loves him.

Xander pants out his final waves of pleasure, groaning appreciatively… god he loves this woman.

As they both come down from their pleasure-filled highs they rest their foreheads together and close their eyes, just enjoying the feeling of being connected, not really caring who could be out there, just wanting to relish the feeling a little longer.

Xander opens his eyes and smiles at his fiancée noting the beautiful glow she wears under the dim lamplight of the phone booth.

Suddenly Anya frowns, and sniffs the air.

"Oh my god, Harris!! How could you??"

"What?? How could I…" he sniffs the air as well. "Oh, gross! And No! That wasn't me!"

"Oh, it's always you! Pew! Get me out of here! For crying out loud it's a small confined place Xander! Couldn't you have waited till we got outside?"

"Again, it WASN'T me!"

Anya bursts out of the phone booth and covers her nose and mouth. "Well, if it wasn't you, and it wasn't me… who was it?"

"Anya, this smell… it's everywhere!" Xander walks down toward the pond. "Oh my god, it's disgusting!"

"Xander, look!" Anya points to the water's edge. A large group of toads are slowly making their way up to the path, eyes glowing green.

"Hey I think we found our toads. We better get back to Giles."

"I'm sorry I accused you of cutting the cheddar in the phone booth after the amazing sex."

"Cutting the cheese sweetie… cheese, you know, like the stinky ones you like?"

"My cheeses aren't stinky! They're tangy! They're sharp! But they're not stinky!"

"Whatever honey… now c'mon!"

~~*~~

"So who's Clem?" Buffy asks as she wipes her hands on the backseat throw cover.

Spike kicks himself for mentioning him. "He's a friend… Demon, actually. Nobody you'd be interested in at all. I mean, he's harmless."

She hands him the blanket then, thinking, it's washable! "You have a friend?" Oh! Stupid! Stupid Buffy! "I mean, that's so cool! 'Cause you know, everybody needs a friend. Hey I'd like to meet him."

"No, you wouldn't."

"Yes, I would."

"No… you wouldn't."

"Why can't I?"

She has Spike there for a minute. He looks out the window at the tumultuous sky.

"Because he's a good friend of mine, Slayer, and I don't fancy Harris or you or any of the others givin' 'im the universal cold shoulder is all. He doesn't deserve that. You can slag me all you like, but Clem's different." And he's all mine, as far as friends go, so piss off.

Spike's words sting Buffy. The fact that Spike, the Big Bad, would protect his friend from the likes of her and the Scoobies must be a sad statement to their character. Oh she has to fix this before it gets any worse. She wants to drop the stakeout act, there's no dead fish to be found obviously, and she wants to let him in on the fact that he's out here with her for one reason, and one reason only. Because she wants him in her life.

"Spike, I…"

"Hang on, Slayer… do you smell that? Bloody hell that's putrid!"

"What?" Buffy sniffs the air. "Oh god! That's so gross! Oh, do up the windows! Quick!"

"Let's get out of here… it might be coming from the ocean."

"Damnit! OK… hang on." I knew this would be a disasterous date!! Why did I even try? He hates me!

Buffy throws the Jeep into reverse and skids away from the shore, slamming it into drive then and tearing away from the beach altogether. It doesn't improve the smell situation.

"Not getting any better here!" Spike shouts over the internal fan she's switched on.

"It's following us!"

"Is this the sign you lot were looking for? You should go see your Watcher, Slayer. Drop me off near the woods when we get back into town!"

"No… I need you…" she looks at him desperately, "… to come with me to see Giles! You can help."

"A lot of bloody help I'd be," he mutters, but reluctantly nods.

~~*~~
 

Chapter Eight - Rush

As Giles and Katherine approach her apartment the smell hits them. The change in the air was so rapid.

"Good lord… it… it smells like a farm around here. Only worse."

"What could be causing that? The nearest farms are miles away!"

It dawns on Giles then just what might be causing the smell. "Perhaps we should get inside Katherine, it's not safe out here."

He's taken aback by the worried expression on her face, the same one she gave him when he suggested taking her home in the first place.

"Rupert, my place is a disaster, I'm… well I'm redecorating, and there's stuff everywhere." She pauses when the smell makes her want to heave… "Oh but the air, you can't stay out in it…"

"Katherine, I have a better idea then… why don't we go back to my shop." He's pleased when she so quickly agrees, covering her mouth and nodding her head.

Willow can do a spell… oh please Willow, do a spell!

Giles puts his arm around her shoulder as he urges her along the street, as if this simple gesture will keep her safe from the evil surrounding them. He looks down at her for a moment and regrets that he has to bring her with him. He wanted to shelter her from his true nature for as long as possible, until he at least had an inkling one way or the other of how she might react. Too late now. He'll try and keep her away from the 'war table' as long as possible, perhaps Dawn might talk with her for a while out of earshot. He might just have to face the music and gently explain about his 'little club' and what they do. He'll figure it out when they get there.

~~*~~

Xander and Anya burst into the Magic Box, panting for air, that unfortunately isn't any better indoors.

"Willow! Tara! Are you here??" Xander shouts.

"Back here!" comes the muffled response from Willow.

They run to the training room to find Willow and Tara, clad in gasmasks, hunched over a large container. The two masked girls turn simultaneously, staring at them from behind slightly foggy glass, taking in their air in sharp long breaths through the filters.

"Oh god! We found toads! Toads with big green glowing eyes! They were like, Zombie toads or something!" Xander's stomach is turning by the second and he eyes their masks enviously. "Hey, we have gas masks? Since when do we have gas masks? And can I have one?"

"Me too!" Anya says as she buries her nose into Xander's shirt. "Oh, for once, your sweaty armpits smell so incredibly good!"

"Would your toads happen to look anything like these?" Willow points at the toads in the makeshift tank, the demon toads that they had captured that day at Willy's bar. "Look at them, their eyes! And they're trying to get out of the tank!"

"Yeah, ours were just like that… they were all heading up the path in the park, kinda towards town. Now, masks?"

"Down below, top shelf, over the supply of enchanted periwinkles."

"We have enchanted periwinkles?"

"Xander! Don't stall! Just get them! Otherwise I'm going to throw up, and you know how much I hate throwing up!"

Xander dashes down to the cellar leaving the girls to further inspect the glowy-eyed toads.

~~*~~

As Buffy drives like a bat out of hell back to town she's taken over by a fit of coughing. Spike, who thankfully doesn't need to breath, grabs hold of the wheel as she hacks and splutters.

"Slayer, pull over. Let me drive."

"No, no… it's ok, I'm ok."

"No, you're not. I don't need to breathe, remember? Kinda forget that myself sometimes … You get in this seat here, ok? I'll get us back."

Reluctantly she pulls over to the side of the barren road, grateful for the break. She feels like if she doesn't get fresh air soon, she'll pass out. "Thanks, Spike… I think I'm gonna be sick."

He sees her shivering, trying to calm down from the overwhelming sensations that surround her. He can't ever stand to see her suffer, no matter what she might have said or done in the past, he loves her… and it hurts him to see her like this. He steps out of the jeep quickly and removes his duster, comes around to her side and folds it around her, pleased that at least she'll be a little bit warmer, and then walks her around to the passenger side, helping her in and buckling her belt.

"No, you're not. You're gonna be just fine, yeah? I'll get you back to the others. They'll be able to figure this out."

She looks so vulnerable, and he wants nothing more than to take her far away from here, and try to make it all better for her. He quickly reminds himself that she would never allow such a thing and he kicks his inner ponce. He slams her door and hops in the driver side, and takes off for Sunnydale.

Buffy leans against the seat, watching him drive her back… she can't believe he's given her his duster. She snuggles into the leather and brings the lapels right up around her face, trying to replace the foul odor in the air with the scent of Spike, and through the stench in the air, she can smell him, and it makes her feel infinitely better. She catches him glimpse her way and tries to let him see her appreciative smile, but he looks away again too quickly. Maybe he really doesn't hate me after all.

"Spike…"

Please call me Buffy when you answer...

"Yeah, Slayer?"

Oh... Why won't you say my name?

"Thank you."

He glances at her then and doesn't really know what to say… just gives her a nod and turns again to watch the road. The sight of her snuggling into his coat causes him such torment, and it takes him all his strength not to reach over and touch her… breaks his heart just a little bit more. Having the woman of his dreams, the woman he could never have, be so kind to him is so torturous… maybe when this all blows over he should leave Sunnydale altogether. Put it all behind him. Can't think about it now though, because he'll put up with the pain a little while longer just to make sure she and the little Bit, and even the Scoobies, muddle through this.

I wonder if she'd miss me...

~~*~~

Giles and Katherine reach the shop and he gestures for her to go in without him for the moment.

"I just want to have a quick look around. Go on in, I'll be right there."

"Alright," she says, a little unsure about everything all of a sudden. Here she is at one o'clock in the morning in her apparently barren home town, the stench of a thousand silage sprayers surrounding them, a seemingly unholy cloud cover broiling above them in the skies, and desperately wanting to cling to this wonderful man she's really only just met. All seems terribly surreal to her.

He sees her hesitate and rests a gentle hand on each of her arms, his palms brushing up and down her arms reassuringly, soothing her worries just a little. He then takes a chance, and places a palm on her cheek, gives her a warm smile… "I'll be right there, Katherine."

"Alright…" she says, placing her hand over his, giving it a squeeze. "Don't be long."

"Couldn't bear to be out here more than a few more minutes… I think if we breathe in much more of this air we're likely to pass out. But we'll be alright inside. Now go, I'll be along in a minute."

Reluctantly Katherine turns and walks into the shop… only to be greeted by four gas-mask clad individuals.

"Oh look! A customer! At this time of night? My god, although I'd consider you a champion amongst shop goers everywhere, and I'd be happy to relieve you of your money, I'm sorry to say we're closed! Please take your precious money and go!"
 

"Anya I think I recognize her…" Willow says and approaches the nervous looking woman. "You're Giles' friend, aren't you?" Her words are totally muffled, as were Anya's, but Willow's voice is gentle in comparison, totally friendly, and Katherine relaxes a little.

"He said he'd be along in a minute. He's just having a look around outside," she says through the material of her coat that covers her face clear up to her eyes.

Willow examines her closely, as if she senses something familiar, something strangely comforting. Takes her a minute to figure it out, and then she smiles… She turns to Xander then, "Well, get her a mask, silly!"

"Oh, right! Be right back."

"May as well bring up the whole box. Giles is gonna need one too."

Willow notices then that Katherine is appraising her as well, and soon Tara approaches, sensing the same strange comforting feeling from her. They don't speak, but Willow and Tara smile and gesture for Katherine to come and sit down, and soon Xander's there to offer her a mask. No sooner is she sitting at the 'war table' clad in her mask, than Giles stumbles into the shop, gasping for air. He sees them all safely protected from the outside odors for the moment, and doesn't even have to ask. Xander tosses him his mask and he feels a wave of relief as he puts it on.

"Alright then, what have we got? Have Buffy and Spike returned?"

"Not yet."

"Where's Dawn?"

"She's at Janice's tonight. But I kinda wish she was here. I hate the thought of her out there, you know?"

"We'll let Buffy decide about that. I think there's more to this odor than just annoyance." He looks at Katherine then, not sure if he should go any further in the discussion with her present. "Katherine, perhaps you'd like to take a look around?"

Willow sees the apprehension on Katherine's face and decides to do them all a favor. "Giles, it's alright. Katherine should be in on this."

"In on what?" she doesn't want to intrude… she's not sure what she wants to do… the way that girl looked at her, as if she knew what she was, was so unsettling, and yet oddly comforting as well. What if Giles knew what she was?

"Willow, what are you saying?" Giles looks at Katherine then, a little unsure…

"Look maybe I should just go… got the mask, thanks. I'll be alright."

Giles watches Katherine get up and walk towards the door. He turns to Willow then, who lifts her mask and mouths 'Witch' and his eyebrows practically hit his hairline in an expression of 'Huh?'. How could he have not sensed it? Quickly he snaps out of it and goes after her.

"Katherine, wait! Please… don't leave… you're so welcome here. You're among friends… please. Stay. Willow told me, and you have nothing to be afraid of. You must have felt it yourself… There's nothing to fear."

It's like a scene out of a classic romance movie… only the handsome fellow is clad in a gas mask and the woman he's trying to prevent leaving is as well, her hair billowing around her masked face in the wind rushing through the open door. The others at the table forget the drama of the impending apocalypse then to take in the drama unfolding within the confines of the little shop… and for just a few moments they wish nothing more than for Giles to 'get the girl'…

She takes his outstretched hand and walks with him back to the table. Giles knows there isn't time for explanations, hopefully he'll get the full story later after this has all passed, so he pulls out her chair and gestures for her to join them. "We could use your help, if you're willing."

Katherine looks at Willow and Tara and feels a sense of relief. For the first time in ages she's among people like herself, and she decides that she'll help in whichever way she can. "I'm not a powerful witch. I mean, I've mostly cast protection spells and things like that to keep the boys safe. But I'll do my best to help you." She smiles to herself a little as she thinks that indeed those boys should be blissfully ignorant of the stench outside, what with all the protection spells she's placed around their home.

"Thank you, Katherine." Giles places a hand on her shoulder. "Now, first things first, what can we do about this smell?"

Willow pipes up first. "We can put something like a barrier around the shop… but interfering enough in the magic at work on the entire town is gonna be tricky. I think that between the three of us at least, we could break the mojo. I don't think it would stop the workings of whatever ritual is in force here, but at least we'll get some relief from the smell." She looks down then, "Might give me one heck of a headache though."

Tara takes her hand and gives her a squeeze… "We'll be backing you up, honey, taking some of the burden. And you've been getting so much better… you're gonna be just fine."

Willow smiles at Tara and then turns to Giles. "So, we have an angry looking, ominous sky, zombie toads and a stench to rival even the worst horse farts imaginable. What do you think we're up against Giles?"

"Right! Let me get my list." He rushes into his office and grabs the list from his desk, thinking that perhaps Buffy and Spike should have returned by now, but for the moment he'll focus on the issue at hand.

"Alright, scratch the Gallormic demon. As it is… we're looking at the possible return of a Gromolak. If Buffy and Spike return with news of dead fish washing up on shore, it's much worse… it would possibly signal an apocalyptic interdimensional battle. Pray that's not the case. We can handle a Gromolak so long as we stay out of the spray of his saliva."

"What happens if he sprays us with saliva?" Xander looks wigged.

"The saliva of a Gromolak is said to melt living flesh right off the body of the victim. Eyes melt in their sockets, ooze comes out of every orifice…"

"Thank you Giles! Got the image well and truly and might I add permanently ingrained in my mind. Now if you'll just excuse me, I'd like to see if we have any sterile body suits in the cellar as well."

"What's a Gromolak?" Katherine is completely lost.

"Xander, sit down. We don't have any. The gas masks were the extent of my useful urge to plan ahead. If I'd had any sense I would have ordered the suits as well. Katherine, I'll explain as much as I can a little later, alright?"

She nods... "Well then, what now?"

Giles, still standing behind Katherine gently pats her shoulder, and looks at Willow. "I'd say it might be a good idea to work on that spell, clear the air a little. Other than that we'll just have to wait for Buffy and Spike."

"Let's do the spell for the shop first, guys… kinda wanna get out of this mask. Makes me all sweaty."

The three witches gather the ingredients they'll need and retreat to the training room, past the frantic yet safely trapped zombie-like toads and set up in the middle of the room, intent on at least making the air in the Magic Box tolerable again.

~~*~~
 

Meanwhile, on the highway approaching the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign…

Spike looks longingly at the ever-familiar sign that has seen so many of his brutal hit and runs. He figures they must put up a new sign every time, and kinda grins at the thought that he's cost the stupid little town a possible arm and a leg in fees. He longs to knock it over again… but as he glances over at the Slayer, he thinks better of it. She really wouldn't appreciate him denting the front of her mother's jeep. And to be honest, he wouldn't like to see anything happen to something that belonged to Joyce. She was so kind to him. Always made him feel welcome, despite the fact he's a 'monster'. She never treated him like one.

He watches the sign fly past and gives it the two-finger salute, as if to say, 'I'll get ya next time!!' And he thinks then that if he does leave this sorry town, he'll make sure to make it a double sign-kill. He'll steamroll the 'Thanks For Visiting' sign, and turn around and steamroll the 'Welcome' sign too. Yeah, that'll be some two-for-one fun.

Spike glances at the Slayer again. Her eyes are closed and she's snuggled so tightly in his duster he thinks she might be asleep. Or passed out. The smell in the air after all is beyond disgusting. He decides to take a chance and touch her. Just a feather light graze of her hair even… he couldn't venture anything more.
 

He cautiously reaches out his hand and lets his fingertips brush over her hair ever so lightly…

THUMP…. Thumpety splat! thump!

Buffy's eyes fly open and Spike's hand shoots at lightning speed up behind his head in a mock scratch!

"Oh hey! What the?" he says, thinking that if his heart could beat it would be screaming it's way right out of his chest.

Thump, thump splat!…

"Spike, what's happening?" She's sitting up now and trying to see out through the windshield.

"Looks like we've found your plague of frogs Slayer!" Thump, splat, thump, thud…

"Eww! Can't you drive around them? Gross!"

"They're all over the bloody road! I can't avoid 'em!"

The soft thumps and thuds, mixed with the disgusting smell in the air turn Buffy's stomach even more, if that's possible.

"Spike, we need to get to the Magic Box, fast!" she says as she shrinks back into the seat, practically covering her entire body with his duster.
 

"Any minute now, Slayer… any minute now."

~~*~~

"Barrier!" The three witches shout, and suddenly Giles, Xander and Anya feel a crackle in the air and a slight, brief tingle over their skin.

Giles is the first to cautiously remove his mask, first only sniffing the air slightly and then, as relief washes over him, taking in a huge lungful of air. Quickly the others join him and all the masks come off.

Willow, Tara and Katherine walk out of the training room, smiling that they've at least tackled this small area, making the shop a haven once again.

"Now if Buffy and Spike would only return, we could get down the business of planning a course of action." Giles says and glances at the door.

As if on cue, Spike and Buffy burst in, Spike looking extremely wind blown and completely different in his stylish blue, slightly stained shirt and Buffy wrapped entirely in his duster. Willow and Tara smile appreciatively.

That's a date shirt if I ever saw one!

She's wearing his duster!

"Good! What did you find?" Giles cuts to the chase.

Buffy immediately feels the relief associated with breathing in the fresh, clean air and closing her eyes, takes several deep breaths. She finally opens her eyes again and looks straight at Spike, as she answers Giles.

"No dead fish, but lotsa dead frogs."

"Toads actually. They've been summoned from their hiding places and I'm assuming will be amassing in the center of town."

"Yeah, well… we squished a lot of them on the way in." Spike tilts his head as he looks at the newcomer, who seems to be eyeing him rather warily.

Buffy sees the other woman staring at Spike and walks up to her, hoping to block her line of sight. "Hi, I'm Buffy… and you are?"

"Buffy, I'd like you to meet Katherine. She's… she's a very dear friend of mine… and also happens to be gifted with the magics. She's just helped Willow and Tara clear the air in the shop, so to speak," Giles explains.

"I'm very pleased to meet you Buffy. I've heard a lot about you." Katherine extends her hand and takes Buffy's, putting her at ease, then she steps over to Giles to stand beside him.

Buffy notes the way Giles looks at Katherine and smiles, hoping that perhaps Giles has finally found someone… the thought makes her look back at Spike as he stands there uncomfortably, looking at the floor. Still clad in his duster she approaches him and, taking a chance, puts a gentle hand on his arm. "Why don't you come down and see the rest of the gang. You haven't been around in ages."

Spike looks down at her hand and swallows hard. She shouldn't be touching him like this, not in front of the others. What's she thinking? "Think maybe I uh, should go back to the lair. Clem's there, and he's probably wondering what the hell is going on. His olfactory glands are very finely tuned, if you catch my drift… this is probably throwing him for a total loop."
 

"Why don't you bring him here?"

"Told you I wasn't gonna do that."

Buffy rubs her hand gently along his arm, a move that is not lost to Xander, who 'ahem!'s rather loudly. Buffy merely ignores him. "Spike, I promise you… he has my, no our... our total respect. I haven't even met him, and I think I like him already."

Spike's too busy staring at her comforting hand to answer. So she continues, loving the fact that at least she's able to touch him like this, even if she's not sure it'll do any good.

Buffy suddenly remembers her sister. "Willow, where's Dawn?"

"She's staying at Janice's tonight, remember?"

"She must be gagging to death with the smell in the air. We need to get her here."

"Buffy, we're gonna try a spell to lift the odor in the air around Sunnydale. It'll take mucho mojo, but hopefully it'll make the air better for everyone."

"Still, I'd rather Dawn was here with us. Who knows what else is going on out there."

Giles turns to the ancient text on the table beside him and speaks then, "Actually, now that you mention it… if it is indeed the Gromolak we've to face, there is one more integral part of their ritual that must be put into place before midnight tonight." He looks rather grim.

"And that is?"

"A human sacrifice must be readied for the ceremony, which will take place tomorrow at sundown. It must be a pure, young woman."

"All the better reason to get Dawn here now."

"Where is she? I'll go get her. Then we'll pick up Clem and head back here." Spike needs to get away… they're all looking at him so strangely… makes him edgy.

"I should come with you." Buffy says, wanting to stay with him despite the elements outside.

"No, the smell will only set you back again. I don't need to breathe remember? I'll be back as fast as I can. Just tell me the address."

She tries to protest but Giles silences her. "We really need you here to help with the plan, Buffy."

"Alright, I guess… she's at Janice's place, which is on Martin Drive, 1285, white house, silver minivan. You can't miss it."

"Right then, back in a few," he says and swings the keys in a simple salute before he disappears quickly out the door.

"Bye," Buffy says, sadly.

"Now, let's get down to the business of ridding the entire town of the odor shall we? While you three tackle that, we'll try and figure out where this creature will rise. There must be someplace very close by, I'd imagine."

They all set about their tasks, hoping to stop this 'ceremony' before it even starts.

~~*~~
 

Spike finds the house on Martin Drive relatively easily and notes that there's no silver minivan in the driveway, and the lights are all off in the house, save the front porch light. An uneasy feeling comes over him then, and he quickly gets out of the jeep to investigate. As he walks up to the front door he tries to extend his senses, trying to pick up Dawn's scent in the air, but he's immediately assaulted by the stench, and a rage wells up within him as he realizes that without his ability to track her, he's working with a terrible disadvantage. He dares to vamp out as he stands at Janice's front door, just incase anyone is about, but hopes that in doing so he can overcome the overpowering smell, and then growls when he discovers that it doesn't really help at all.

He lets his human face return and bangs on the door, taking the chance that indeed she's there, and possibly just asleep, but then, what teenage girl ever sleeps on a sleepover? And how would she be coping with the rot-fest in the air?

After banging a third time Spike storms away from the house, back to the Jeep that's still running. He'll go check the house on Revello and then if she isn't there, he'll get Clem to help.

~~*~~

"Oh! Toadies! Not good! Not good!" Willow sounds panicked.

"What sweetie?" Tara rushes into the training room to see what's the what with Willow and the toads. "Oh no! Razor! Slim!"

"Looks like Beavis too."

The three toads mentioned lie motionless in the makeshift tank, green bubbles emerging from their mouths; little popping sounds filling the air.

"Oh honey, that's so gross. Poor Slim." Tara feels terrible for the toads… looks as if all of them could meet this very same fate.

Buffy runs into the training room, "What?! What's the matter?" She looks down and sees the suffering amphibians. "Are those the demon toads? You kept them?"

"Well, yeah…" Willow suddenly feels a little uncomfortable, as if she's done something wrong, when clearly, she's only caring for helpless creatures. "It's not like they can hurt anyone anymore."

"But… but…" Buffy flounders a little and then frowns as she watches a particularly sick looking one, who would be Marty, tuck his limbs beneath his body and keel over.

"Oh, gross."

"Yu-huh." The witches utter in unison.

~~*~~

"Clem!! Are you here? Clem!"

"Over here man! Unholy gods! The smell! It's overpowering! You gotta get me outa here! Please!"

Spike rushes over to find Clem huddled on his bed, the blankets held tightly around his head. "Clem, you gotta come with me. I need your help! The little Bit's gone a missing see? I need you to come with me, OK? Gotta find her man."

"Oh, but I can hardly breathe Spike, the stink, it's suffocating! I… I got these glands, you know? I gotta get away from here!"

"I know someplace that's safe… c'mon mate." Spike helps Clem unbundle himself from the covers and guides him out to the Jeep. "Just gonna drop you off with the Scoobies. They're workin' some serious mojo to rid the air of the stinkies, see? You'll be alright there till they work the spell."

"Oh, thanks man… I'm sorry I'm so useless. I wish I could help you."

"Not useless, mate... far from useless."

Spike gets him in the Jeep and drives away towards Revello Drive. He figures he'll make that one quick stop before he drops Clem off. Five minutes couldn't possibly kill him, he 's got to find Dawn, she has to be safe.

Within minutes they pull up to the Summers' home and Spike jumps out. "Two more minutes, mate… just two more minutes."

Clem squeezes his eyes closed and nods, painfully and Spike runs to the front of the house. He bangs loudly at first on the front door, then runs around to the back. There's no answer. He climbs the tree near Buffy's room and jumps in through her window, searches the house as quickly as he can. Dawn is most definitely not home, and he climbs down the tree again and runs back to the Jeep.

"Clem, taking you to the others now. Listen; don't pay any heed to what they might say about you, or me for that matter all right? Just sit still, breathe in the fresh air and wait for me to come back. I've gotta find the Nibblet."

"Don't… don't worry about me, man… been picked on all my life. I'm over all that crap. There's nothing they could say could hurt me."

Spike grins then. That's my pal, he thinks. "Good on you mate."

As they head back into town they pass the Cineplex, and Spike sees a silver minivan parked out front, on the virtually barren street. "Gotta make another stop! Hold on tight!" He slams the brakes and swerves the Jeep into a sharp U-turn that on any normal day would have net him a ticket, points and a possible suspension (if he actually had a licence) and crosses over the concrete barrier to get through the parking lot. Up ahead he can see a person lying on the pavement, a girl, but not Dawn, and in the van a woman is slumped over the steering wheel.

The Jeep comes to an abrupt halt and Spike jumps out, heading first for the girl on the ground. He feels her cheek and notes that she's very much alive, just overcome, and makes his way then to the woman in the minivan. She's also alive but unconscious. As he leans the woman back in her seat to free up her airway the girl on the ground begins to mumble. Quickly he kneels down beside her.

"Dawn? Where'd she go?" Janice mutters.

"You were with Dawn?"

"We wanted to see a late movie…" she tries to focus a little better on his face, "hey… you're that guy… that guy from the graveyard. You… y-you're h-hot, man."

Spike ignores the compliment. "Where's Dawn?" He gives her a bit of a shake when she closes her eyes.

"She was here one minute… with me… and then there was this really gross smell." She sniffs the air and makes a face. "In fact, it's still here… the smell."

"What happened to Dawn?" He's growing very impatient with the girl, but tries to keep it cool. "Janice, listen to me, I need to find Dawn."

Janice smiles. "You know m-my name. Uh, anyway… there were these really ugly guys and they were grabbing at her, and one of them must have hit me, because everything went black... and she's not here anymore, is she?"

Spike feels such rage that anyone would lay a finger on his Little Bit then, after all she went through with Glory, to think she's a victim again! He's got to find her… Can't fail this time. Have to rescue her properly and not bollocks it up! Have to!

"You're coming with me, pet. You and your Mum. That is your Mum, right? In the van?"

"Oh, is she alright? She doesn't look so good. Oh it smells so bad out here. I think I'm gonna pass out now."

"You do that pet." Spike carries her to the Jeep and plops her into the back and then goes and collects her mother out of the minivan, props her up beside her daughter, having made sure he's secured her car.

"Clem, I'm gonna drop you at the Magic Box now, alright? I want you to take these two inside and see they get some help, yeah?"

"OK," Clem gasps as he peeks out from behind the blanket… "Just get me some fresh air…"

"Stay with me, mate, just another minute."

~~*~~
 

"You fools! Why have you brought the sacrifice so soon! We can't offer her until midnight tomorrow! Now we'll have to feed her and watch her… and if she wriggles we'll have to bind her tighter and gag her, and the Master won't be pleased."

"But she was right there, Brother. And she's so pure… smell her yourself. We couldn't pass her up!"

Dawn struggles as the head demon approaches her for a sniff. "Eww! Rude much! God you're ugly!"

"Silence, child! You are not permitted to speak."

"Oh yeah? We'll see about that. I got lots to say… for one, it freaking STINKS down here! And this place is a hole!" She looks around… "Well, I mean, it's a hole anyway, but it's a HOLE of a hole!"

"Shut your mouth, insolent child!"

"Make me! I get this you know, the whole sacrifice thing? Been there! Done that!"

Durmok's eyebrows would have risen clear off his head if he'd had any. "What? But you're pure!"

Dawn thinks about Spike then… oh, what was it he used to say?? Oh yeah! "You think so? Well I'm as pure as the driven yellow snow!"

Durmok turns a very unappealing shade of purple. "Silence this child!"

"Not a child."

"Silence!!"

"Bored now." Dawn smirks.

Durmok storms away from her. He can't injure the Master's gift. She may say these things about being impure and knowing of sacrifice, but he knows she'll be prefect. In fact, if he didn't know any better, he'd almost think she was too perfect… and how could that be? There's just something about her.

"Take her down below and give her water! Nothing more!"

Dawn glares at him as he walks away. C'mon Spike… C'mon Buffy… come get me! Please!

~~*~~

"Where's Spike? He should be back by now. Something's up."

"I'm sure their fine Buffy. The sacrifice isn't supposed to be captured till the eve before the sacrifice."

"I'm not so sure they're fine. So tell me, how long have we got till this ceremony is performed?"

"Looks like less than twenty four hours. It says here that the sacrifice will take place at the beginning of the third day. The creature must rise before the sun does."

"And what does this 'creature' look like?"

Giles hands Buffy the book and her expression immediately turns to one of disgust. The Gromolak is fearsome looking, with horns all over its body and slime dripping down it's elongated chin. It has razor sharp claws and sharp hook-like blades on its elbows. It's mouth is it's most disgusting feature… it's tongue, in the picture, hangs down between it's fangs, and it's covered in small, sharp little spikes. Must be kinda painful to chew... flossing must be a total bitch!

"How tall is this thing? Gotta know what I'll be up against."

"Buffy, if we can find the demons trying to summon it, you won't need to worry about its height. But, just so you're prepared, it's roughly eleven feet tall."

"Great. And what do the demons look like? You know, the ones summoning Mr. Smiley here?"

"They're much more manageable. Average human height really, no real defensive capabilities. They remain as hidden as possible, until the ceremony is complete of course, and their Master is risen. They believe then that he'll grant them exceptional powers."

"And will he? Doesn't seem to look like one who'd share on the playground."

"No, the Gromolak will cleanse the entire area. He won't stop until he finds the burial ground of the next Gromolak, and by that time he'll be so powerful he'll be able to raise the others like him, by himself."

"You're assuming it's a 'He'. What if it's a 'She'?"

"I know it's a 'He' Buffy. Says so in the book."
 

Before Buffy can offer a 'But…' they hear the loud screech of a vehicle's brakes, followed by the sound of two doors slamming.

"That must be them!" Buffy shouts as she runs for the door. She swings it open expecting to see Spike and Dawn, and possibly Clem too, but instead only sees a very hunched over individual leaning against the Jeep, gasping for breath. "Oh my God, Giles! Xander! Help!"

She braves the stench and runs out to whom she can only imagine must be Spike's friend. "Clem? Are you Clem?"

"Yes…" he gasps. "Let me in, please…"

As Giles and Xander attend to the people in the Jeep Buffy helps Clem inside. "Where's Spike?"

Clem takes deep breaths of the wonderfully fresh air and quickly regains his composure. "He's… he's gone looking for her."

"For who?" She turns then and sees Giles and Xander carry in Janice… and Janice's mother? "Oh my God… Dawnie," she whispers and tears fill her eyes. "Oh, not again."

"Spike's gone to look for her. He drove us here and then took off on foot. He's so pissed off! I've never seen him so angry!"

Buffy goes over to the weapon's cabinet and takes out the biggest axe she can find, then grabs a mask off the counter by the register.

"Buffy," Giles starts…

"Giles, I'll try to go as long as I can without the mask. Please get that spell done so I don't have to use it at all. It'll just get in my way.

"Buffy…"

"Giles, I have to find her," she says as she opens the door, "I have to find both of them."

And before he can say another word, she's gone.
 

~~*~~
 

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