The living room was cleared as the two witches began the preparation
for their spell.  Spike helped them move furniture out of the way and
then went over to Giles.  "So when were you goin' to tell me about
this Katra spell?" he demanded.  "I was worried sick about Buffy you
know, thinkin' some nasty had taken up residence."

"We weren't sure that was what happened, Spike," the Watcher informed
him stiffly.  "And the last thing I needed was for you to tear out of
here running off to LA.  You almost did as is was, remember?"

Buffy looked at Spike and asked, "You were going to come to LA?  Why?"

Spike looked uncomfortable for a minute and then said, "We found out
that was where those Watcher bastards had taken Faith.  I wanted to
find her so I could beat some answers out of her."

Buffy looked confused for a moment.  "You knew where I, or rather
Faith, was being held?" she asked her Watcher hesitantly.

Giles glared at Spike.  "No, we did not.  Spike was apparently going
to look under every rock in Los Angeles in an attempt to track Faith
down."

Buffy smiled tenderly at Spike and brushed a kiss across his lips. 
"You know, honey," she teased, "we've talked about this lack of
patience thing."

Spike pulled her close to him and nuzzling at her neck murmured for
her ears only, "Oh, I think you've benefited from my patience a time
or two, Slayer."  Buffy blushed profusely, and Giles turned away not
wanting to know what the vampire had just whispered in the Slayer's
ear.

***

Angel felt a rumbling emanate from his chest.  How could Buffy be
involved with Spike?  He knew Spike, much better than Buffy ever
could.  He knew exactly what the vampire was capable of.  Hell, he'd
been the one to teach him.  Did she really think that just because he
claimed to love her that he would refrain from the mayhem that was
his trademark?  Angel had given Buffy up, left town just so she could
have a chance at a normal life and what had she done?  Fallen into
bed with Spike just months after he had left.  Angel hadn't given
Buffy up just so she could get together with another vampire,
especially not Spike.  Spike, who reveled in chaos, was
unpredictable, impulsive, vicious and deadly.  Spike, the one he had
never been able to control. 

As he watched Spike and Buffy together, he had to dig deep down into
his reserve of self-control.  Every kiss, every caress was a stake to
his heart. 

He remembered the pleasure he had taken when he had fondled Drusilla
in front of a paralyzed Spike.  That was what this was all about. 
Payback for taking Dru from him.  Well, Dru had never really been
Spike's.  He had just been a means to keep Drusilla busy when Angelus
didn't feel like playing with her.  She had always been Angelus'
property.  And Buffy belonged to Angel.  He may have given her up,
left town, but he had known that she would take him back with open
arms had it been possible for them to be together without the threat
of unleashing Angelus.  And now Spike was fondling Buffy in front of
him, receiving her caresses, shoving it in his face that he could
give Buffy physical pleasure when Angel could not.

Buffy was being a fool.  Spike was going to turn on her sooner or
later.  Pay her back for all the humiliation she had laid at Spike's
door.  All the times she had defeated him.  It was her fault that
Spike had ended up in the wheelchair, paralyzed and helpless while
Angelus fucked Drusilla right in front of him.  Spike's hatred for
Buffy would be strong.  His need for revenge great.  Angel understood
this.  Angel had lived it.  And apparently the boy had learned
patience sometime in the last century.  He had never known Spike to
put off the kill for so long.

Didn't Buffy understand the danger she was in, the danger she was
putting her friends and mother in?  Didn't she remember what had
happened when Angelus had been released?  Didn't she realize that
without a soul, Spike wasn't really capable of love? 

No, Spike was playing some kind of game, luring her into a false
sense of security; then when she was most vulnerable, he would
strike.  Angel knew what Spike was doing.  It was just a refinement
on one of Angelus' favorite forms of entertainment.   

Spike was evil, a demon, just as Angelus was.  And Angel knew very
well just how incapable a soulless vampire was of actually feeling
love, or kindness, or even friendship.  So Spike was acting the
lover, the friend.  He was pretending that he could be good, do
good.  For a while, maybe.  For a while he would play at being a good
boy, until he got bored, until he couldn't wait any longer to
strike.  And when he did, there would be pain and blood and death. 

Spike needed to be destroyed before that happened.

***

Xander watched his best friend and her girlfriend as they started the
conjuration spell.  From what he gathered from Giles' explanation,
they hoped to be able to make another one of the doohickeys that
switched Buffy and Faith.  And frankly, that couldn't happen soon
enough.  Seeing Faith cuddled up against Spike, talking like Buffy,
acting just like Buffy, was giving him a serious wiggins.  Not to
mention the whole uncomfortable aspect of having known that body in
a, well, biblical sense.  And then there was the whole
Cordelia/Willow vibe.  They had never been good friends, but after
the Spring Fling, Cordelia looked daggers at Willow every time she
saw her and Willow had gone all guilt-tripy.  And he didn't even want
to think about the Angel/Buffy/Spike triangle.  Angel looked as if he
was going to go all Angelus any second now.  Xander seriously didn't
want to be around when that happened.  No way, no how.

As far as he was concerned, the sooner that Buffy got back in her own
body and Faith was removed from the picture, the happier the Xanman
would be.  Then maybe they could concentrate the Willow's vampire
look-alike.  He shuddered at the memory of seeing his oldest friend
in full vamp face drinking from her victim.

Grabbing another jelly doughnut from the box, he leaned back in his
chair and wished that he were home in his miserable basement sleeping
the sleep of the blissfully ignorant.  Sometimes he really envied the
average citizen of Sunnydale.

***

Joyce felt overwhelmed.  Since finding out that Buffy was a Vampire
Slayer she had learned to accept many things that she had always
believed existed only in fiction: demons and vampires, witches and
superheroes.  And she'd done pretty well, she thought.  But now she
had to adjust to the fact that her daughter was in a different body,
the body of a girl who had committed cold-blooded murder.  If they
didn't find a way to reverse the spell, there was the possibility
that Buffy would end up in prison for Faith's crimes. 

Joyce remembered when Buffy had been just a sweet, ordinary little
girl.  Taking another sip of the tea that Giles had provided her,
Joyce found herself almost wishing she were once again ignorant of
her daughter's calling.  Things had been so much easier then.

***

The two vampires were aware of the coming dawn by the time Willow and
Tara were ready to start the conjuration spell.  Sitting in the
center of a circle made of sand with pure beeswax candles providing
the only illumination, the two young women clasped hands and started
the incantation.  Everyone stayed perfectly still as the spell was
cast, and Spike felt as if the hairs on the back of his neck were
standing straight up.  As the chanting droned on, he had to keep a
tight reign on his usual nervous energy.  He would do nothing that
might impede the girls from getting the device that would transfer
Buffy's spirit back into her own body.

Willow and Tara felt as if every nerve in their bodies was
electrified.  Though not in pain, they were uncomfortable, jumpy and
finding it hard to maintain the concentration necessary to cast the
spell.  When they at last chanted the last verse, they opened their
eyes to find...nothing.

"There's nothing here," Willow cried in distress.  "Giles, there
nothing here.  Shouldn't there be something here?  Did we do the
spell wrong?"

Giles had been paying close attention to the chanting, as had
Wesley.  "No, no, you did the spell correctly, Willow.  I don't
understand why it didn't work."

"Well you better bloody well find out why it didn't work, Watcher,"
Spike's tense voice cut through.  "We need that thing."

"You are not telling me anything I don't know, Spike," Giles
snapped, "and unless you have something of use to add, please just
shut up!"

Spike stiffened under the Watcher's rebuke and started to step
forward, but halted by the soft touch of a hand on his arm.  Looking
over, he saw Buffy give him a small shake of her head.  Closing his
eyes and breathing deeply to control his anger, he nodded in
acquiescence.  Opening his eyes again, he happened to catch a
sympathetic look on Xander's face.  The boy had felt the sharp edge
of Giles' tongue more than once himself.  He knew what it felt like.

"I don't mean to insult," Wesley was saying diffidently, aware of the
tension in the room, "but perhaps the two of you aren't powerful
enough for a spell of this magnitude."

Willow felt insulted and was about to make a sharp rejoinder when
Tara said nervously, "I think that may be the p-problem.  Willow is
very powerful, but I-I think that we just aren't s-strong enough."

"Perhaps adding a third to the circle?" Wesley suggested.

As glances were exchanged around the room, Willow cried out, "Oh! 
Anya!"

"Anya?" Giles asked.

"Yeah.  We did that spell yesterday, and, okay, it didn't work, but
she seems to know what she's doing so if we ask her to help, maybe
our spell will work."

"Anya did a spell?" Buffy asked.  "What for?"

"Something about a lost necklace," Giles answered.  Looking
thoughtful he nodded in agreement.  "Yes, that's a very good idea,
Willow.  We need to ask Anya if she knows anything about that vampire
double of yours anyway, so..."

"Vampire double?" Buffy asked surprised.  "What vampire double?"

Willow and Xander began filling Buffy and the others in on that part
of last evening's entertainment while Giles went to the telephone to
place a call to his shop assistant.  He felt rather embarrassed that
he had completely forgotten the oddity of Willow's vampire
doppelganger.  They really must concentrate on that just as soon as
Buffy was back in her own body.

***

Anya wasn't happy about getting a call at five a.m.  Snatching up the
receiver she snapped, "If this is a wrong number, you'd better like
oozing pustules because..."

"Anya," Giles cut in, "I'm so sorry to wake you this early.  This is
Rupert Giles."

"Oh, Mr. Giles," Anya was immediately the polite, enthusiastic
employee.  "It's quite all right for you to telephone me even though
it is not yet the time I usually awaken.  Is there something that I

can do for you that will add it my income?"

"Uh, actually, Anya, I was calling to ask a favor from you."

"A favor?"  Anya's voice was less enthusiastic now.

"Yes.  Willow told me that you and she worked a spell last
evening..."  Before he could continue, Anya interrupted, "Yes.  I'm
sorry I used your premises without your express permission; however,
I do have receipts for every item I used during the casting of that
spell.  If you want..."

"Anya," Giles cut in again, "we can discuss your spell later.  In
fact, there is something important that I need to ask you about it. 
But right now, I need your help in casting a different spell.  Could
you come to my apartment right away?"

"Now?" Anya asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Anya," Giles said patiently.  "I do believe that is what 'right
way' means."

Anya was silent for a few seconds and then said, "This isn't
inappropriate employer-employee sexual harassment, is it?"

"Absolutely not!" Giles snapped offended.

"Oh, very well then," Anya replied unfazed by Giles' affront.  "I'll
be there as soon as I can."  With that she hung up the telephone. 
Giles looked up to see nine pairs of eyes staring at him
curiously.  "She'll be here a soon as she can," he told them with as
much dignity as he could manage.

Thirty minutes later Giles opened the door to an amazingly well put
together Anya.  "Thank you for coming so quickly, Anya," Giles told
her as he stepped back allowing her to enter.

"You are my employer," she said in her usual plainspoken
manner.  "And even though it is many hours before my customary
working day is scheduled to begin, I am willing to aid you if you
deem it necessary, although you have not offered additional
compensation to me for the disruption of my normal routine."

Giles sighed and bowed to the inevitable.  "I will, of course, pay
you for the extra hours this morning, Anya.  Unless you would prefer
to have time off in lieu of payment?"

Anya looked at him with a little frown of confusion wrinkling her
forehead.  "I cannot make a commission on goods sold if I am not at
the store to sell goods."

"Of course," Giles murmured.

Having settled the issue of her compensation Anya looked around the
room for the first time.  Her gaze was impassive until it landed on
Cordelia.  Then it froze.

"Hi, Anya.  It's good to see you again," Cordelia told her
brightly.  "I didn't know you were working for Giles."

"Yes," Anya answered, her attitude strangely reserved.  "I've been
working for him for about a month now.  He is a satisfactory
employer."

"Well, that's good to know," Giles muttered.  "Anya," he continued in
a normal speaking voice, "Willow and Tara are attempting a
conjuration spell, but it appears that a third may be needed in order
to complete it.  Are you willing to assist us in this?"

Anya frowned slightly and asked, "What type of conjuration spell?"

"We're trying to bring forth a Draconian Katra," Willow answered
brightly.  "Tara and I almost had it, I think, but then it just
fizzled.  Wesley thought that another witch would help."

"Well first of all, I'm not a witch," Anya stated, frowning
slightly.  "And secondly, why would you want a Draconian Katra?  In
the wrong hands, those are extremely dangerous devices."

"Yes, we are well aware of that," Giles answered her.  "Anya, that is
Buffy," he stated, pointing at the dark-haired girl standing next to
Spike.

"Oh.  Very well, I will attempt to assist you."  Exhibiting no
further curiosity, she stepped forward, checked the alignment of the
spell components, made a few minor adjustments, relit the beeswax
candles and then sat down looking expectantly at the two witches. 
Willow and Tara immediately joined her in the circle, joined hands
and began the spell invocation. 

Magic filled the air again as the three young women chanted in
unison.  The sense of power was far greater than it had been on the
previous attempt.  And this time when the last word of the spell was
spoken, there was a loud pop and in the exact center of the circle a
device glowed in the candlelight.  They had their Draconian Katra. 

They also had two unconscious witches.

***

"Willow!" Both Buffy and Xander leaped forward towards their friend. 
Giles also hurried forward and checked first Willow and then Tara. 

"They appear to be all right physically," he stated.  "I believe
however that the spell completely drained the last of their
reserves."  Looking into Buffy's worried face, he added, "They should
be fine after a rest.  I'm afraid this has been a very long night for
all of us."  Standing up, he addressed Spike and Angel, "Would you
two carry them upstairs and put them to bed?  In fact, I think all of
us should rest some more.  Once the girls are rested and awake, we
can discuss how to find Faith and reverse the spell."

Turning to his shop assistant, he asked, "Anya, would be mind opening
the Magic Box by yourself?  I doubt very seriously if I will be able
to come in at all today."

"Certainly, Mr. Giles.  I will be happy to take complete charge of
the store," the girl answered, thoughts of not have to share any
sales running through her head.

"Thank you, Anya.  Now let us..."

"Uh, Giles," Xander interrupted.  He had turned back to the
conversation after watching the two vampires accompanied by a very
worried Slayer carry the motionless young women upstairs.  "Weren't
you going to ask Anya about Vamp Willow?"

"Ah yes, Xander, thank you."  Giles didn't notice the brief flash of
uneasiness that crossed his young employee's face.  "When you and
Willow performed your spell last evening, Willow said that she saw
visions of a battle between vampires and humans.  One of the people
she saw looked exactly like her.  Did you also see these visions?"

Anya relaxed.  Good, he hadn't asked the right question, so she
didn't have to worry about being caught in a lie.  "No," she told him
honestly.  "I saw no visions at all."

Giles was disappointed but apparently whatever had happened involved
Willow only.  "Very well, Anya.  Thank you for your help this morning
and for opening the shop today.  I hope to be in at the regular time
tomorrow."

Giving a brisk nod, Anya hurriedly left the apartment.  Once outside,
she breathed a sigh of relief.  She was human now, but worried what
might happen should the Slayer ever discover her Vengeance Demon
past.  An angry grimace crossed her face.  She wouldn't have to be
worried about this if it wasn't for that stupid Willow.  She should
have known that Willow would screw the spell up in some way.  The
girl had plenty of power and innate ability, but her control sucked. 
The only time Willow had ever been halfway competent was when she had
been a vampire in that other Sunnydale.

Perhaps she should consider leaving Sunnydale once she had saved
enough money.  The thing was however, she wasn't sure just where else
someone of her abilities and background would fit in so well.  A
hellmouth may not be the best place for a human to live, but it was
perfect for the ex-vengeance demon.  Well, there was always the
hellmouth in Cleveland, she supposed.  But it was Cleveland!  Anya
shuddered at the thought.   Walking quickly, she headed back to her
apartment and a good, solid breakfast. She hoped that she would have
a busy, economically fruitful day.

***

Because there were now so many of them, it was decided that Buffy and
Joyce would take Cordelia and Wesley and return to the house on
Revello Drive to rest.  The approaching dawn prevented the vampires
from making the trip and this worried Buffy.  Walking up to Angel,
she said quietly, "I know you're still upset about me and Spike, but
I'm trusting you to not fight with him.  I really don't want to come
back here later to find a dusty pile, okay?"

Angel nodded brusquely and walked away from her.  Buffy sighed and
turned away to see Spike staring at her, head cocked, eyes narrowed. 
Going up to him she wrapped her arms around him and said, "I just
asked Angel to behave and not fight with you.  Now I'm asking you the
same thing."

"No need to worry about me, pet.  I'd just as soon ignore his
existence," Spike answered her with a snort.  "Wish I could go home
with you though.  Don't like the idea of you being away from me with
both Faith and those wankers from the Watcher's Council on the loose."

"I'll be okay.  There's no way the Watcher goons could know I'm back
in Sunnydale and I can take Faith.  Besides," she grinned, "Wesley's
a big ole rouge demon hunter now.  He can protect me."

Spike took one look at the thin, bespectacled Englishman and gave her
one of his classic smirks.  "Oh yeah, Slayer.  I'm feeling all
reassured now."

Buffy laughed, kissed him goodbye and left with her entourage.

***

Smith watched as Collins placed the weapons in the trunk of the
sedan.  "What are you up to?" he asked. 

"I going after that bitch, that's what I'm up to," Collins told his
companion coldly.

"We were told to back off temporarily," Smith reminded him.  "Travers
said..."

"I don't give a flyin' fuck what Travers said," Collins snapped.  "No
woman makes a fool out of me.  She's trouble and I'm takin' her out."

"We don't even know where she is," Smith protested.

"Yeah, well accordin' to Travers, that bunch in Sunnydale's all hot
to find her.  I'm thinkin' they probably will, and when they do, I'll
be there."

Smith frowned.   "Do you think that maybe she was telling the truth? 
About the body switch?"

Collins shrugged disinterestedly.  "So if I take both Slayers out, I
know for sure I got the rogue.  It's not like Buffy Summers is much
better than the other bitch.  She doesn't know her place either."

Smith made a grab for Collins.  "Look, we should wait until Weatherby
gets back from making his report," he said. 

Smith never even saw the fist that knocked him out.

***

Faith awakened and turned onto her back allowing her plans for the
day to slowly take shape in her mind.  Who to kill first?  Xander? 
That might be fun.  She remembered how she had almost killed him the
first time.  If it hadn't been for Angel, Buffy would already be
mourning the loss of a Scooby.  Yes, Xander was a definite
possibility.  Then there was Buffy's vampire lover.  She should have
dusted him last night.  'Need to work out a little with this body,'
she decided.  'Take care of that little coordination problem.' 

Running her hands down over herself, she enjoyed the feel of the
small, tight form she now inhabited.  Cupping her breasts, she
discovered that the nipples were very responsive to the slightest
pressure.  Bringing her hands up to her mouth, she wet her fingers
and then plucked at the rapidly swelling buds, squeezing and pinching
until she brought a moan from her throat.  Raising her knees and
spreading them, she continued stimulating her nipples with one hand
as she lowered the other and pressed it between her opened thighs. 
Inserting one finger in the wet opening, she moved it in and out
slowly and then pulled the slick digit out, sliding it up to fondle
her clit.  As she worked at herself, her hips began to undulate
faster in time with her strokes.  Rubbing harder, she brought herself
off with a small cry of release.  As her heartbeat slowed, she sighed
in satisfaction.  Not as good as being with a man, but it'd do for
now. 

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she padded to the desk. 
Opening the drawer, she took out the only thing she owned that meant
anything to her.  She had reclaimed it from Buffy's weapons chest
before the cops had arrived.  The blade of the large, wicked-looking
knife gleamed in the early morning sunlight.  Watching the play of
light on steel, her mind once again focused on whom to visit first. 
With a small smile, she finally decided on the one that had always
been the most jealous of her; the redheaded bitch, Willow.

It was nearly noon when everyone reassembled at Giles' apartment. 
Buffy was relieved to see that both vampires were whole and unmarked
although they kept as much distance between each other as possible in
the small residence.  Willow and Tara were awake and alert although
both girls were still a little pale.

"So, Giles," Buffy asked.  "What do we do now?  This gizmo won't work
unless I touch Faith with it, right?"

"Yes, that's correct, Buffy," Giles answered her.  "We must find her;
the sooner the better.  I only hope she hasn't left Sunnydale
already."

***

Faith finished her workout in the hotel exercise room.  She felt more
confident in her own skin now.  A quick trip to a nearby shopping
center had supplied her with toiletries and several changes of
clothing, including the shorts and t-shirt she was now wearing.  As
she headed to her room for a quick shower and change, she reviewed
once again her plan for the hunting and killing of Scooby number one.

***

Collins pulled into a parking space several doors down from the
apartment complex where Rupert Giles lived.  Leaving the vehicle, he
carefully made his way to the courtyard and casually walked passed
the front of Giles' flat.  A quick look inside filled him with
triumph.  There she was.  The dark-haired bitch surrounded by far too
many people.  He would have to bide his time, but he had no doubt
that very soon he would see to it that the world had a new Slayer to
protect it.

***

Weatherby returned to the garage where he had left his two
companions.  He had received quite a dressing down from Quentin
Travers for allowing the rogue Slayer to escape, especially since it
appeared that she had performed some type of magic spell on Buffy
Summers.  Although the Summers girl no longer acknowledged the
authority of the Watcher's Council, she was still doing her duty in
Sunnydale and her record of averted apocalypses was quite
impressive.  Plus Weatherby had the distinct impression that Travers
was afraid of what Rupert Giles would do to him if anything happened
to his Slayer due to the Council's mishandling of Faith.

Things were really buggered up.

Pulling his car into the garage, he was surprised when he realized
that the second car was missing.  Perhaps Collins and Smith went to
get something to eat.  Not that he blamed them.  It was almost noon
and he hadn't eaten anything himself since lunch yesterday.  Deciding
he would check for a note, he exited his vehicle and headed towards
the table.  He was halfway there when he heard a thumping noise
coming from the interior of the van.  Taking a gun from the shoulder
holster he now wore, he slowly opened the backdoor and peered
cautiously inside.  With a gasp, he quickly holstered his weapon and
climbed in.  Smith lay there tied and gagged with a large bruise
darkening his jaw.  Removing the gag he asked anxiously, "Dear God,
man.  What happened?"

"Collins happened," Smith ground out.  "The bastard's gone completely
round the bend.  He's taken a rifle and gone to Sunnydale.  Plans to
take out both Slayers just to make sure he gets the right one."

"Bloody buggering hell!" Weatherby cursed.  After unlocking the
chains, he hurriedly backed out of the van and headed for the
telephone.  He had a feeling this last bit was going to put paid on
his career with the Watcher's Council.  That thought made him stop in
his tracks.  If he could get to Collins before Collins got to the
Slayers, no one need ever know what happened.  He was sure Smith
would help him.  His career was on the line just as much as
Weatherby's was.

If it wasn't for the chuffing paperwork, Weatherby would take great
pleasure in just killing that cocksucker Collins.

***

Thanks to the entry in Joyce's address book Faith had found when she
looked through it the evening before, she knew where Buffy's dorm
room was.  She couldn't believe her luck when she realized that Buffy
and Willow were roommates, although it really shouldn't have
surprised her.  Willow had always been so far up Buffy's ass, it was
a surprise Buffy could even sit down.  No one was there when Faith
arrived, but she found Willow's class schedule.  Once she located
her, she'd simply follow her until the opportunity arose to introduce
her to Faith's favorite toy.  The thought of the look on Willow's
face when her good friend Buffy slid the knife into her gut and
twisted it made Faith damp.

As soon as this was over, Faith needed to find a man. 

She was approaching the building where Willow's most recent class was
held when she heard a voice calling, "Buffy!  Hey, Buffy, wait up." 
Turning in the direction of the hail, she saw a young, dark-haired
man loping towards her.  "Buffy, have you seen Willow?" he asked.

Faith shook her head, "Nope.  I'm looking for her myself, as a matter
of fact."

"Oh," the young man said in disappointment.  "She wasn't in class
today and I wanted to return her notebook to her.  Would you do me a
favor and give it to her when you see her?"  The boy grinned good-
naturedly.  "You can tell her that I didn't get it dirty, or mark it
up, or spill coffee on it, or dog-ear it, okay?"  Shoving the
notebook into Faith's unwilling hands, he smiled his thanks and then
loped off again.  Faith looked down at the pristine notebook, walked
up to the nearest trashcan and dumped it in.

***

Everyone waited with baited breath as for the third time that day the
two witches worked the location spell.  And for the third time, it
failed.  It had been a long, tiring day.  The two girls had required
rest after each attempt, neither having fully recovered yet from the
conjuration spell. 

"I'm sorry Giles," Willow said wearily.  "It just doesn't seem to
work at all.  I think it's confused because Faith's body is here and
her spirit is elsewhere.  It doesn't know what to do."

"Well it's obvious that we need to refine the spell," Wesley
stated.  "Giles, do you have a copy of the Espesian Grimoire?  If
memory serves, I believe there is a more powerful spell listed there
used to track down the most powerful mages during the Spanish
Inquisition."

"NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Xander declared loudly.  At
the irritated looks he received, he ducked his head down and
muttered, "Jeez, just trying to lighten things up a little."

Giving Xander one last irritated glare, Giles turned back to Wesley
and said, "Yes I do believe I have a copy at the shop."

Wesley looked shocked.  "You have such a rare text for sale at your
shop?"

"Of course not.  It's just that I keep most of my rarest texts
there.  We do the majority of our research at the shop."

"Ah," Wesley nodded understanding.  "Then I suggest we remove to your
shop."

As everyone started preparing to leave, Angel said, "What about Spike
and me?  Are we to just stay here until sunset?"

"Well you can if you want, peaches," Spike mocked.  "I'm going to the
shop too."

"I suppose it's too much to hope that you'll burst into flame on the
way?" Angel glared.

"Angel," Buffy intervened, "Spike goes through the sewer tunnels. 
There's an opening into the shop basement.  You can go with him and
meet us there.  And," she added firmly, "I expect both of you to meet
us there without any bloodshed.  Understand?"

Both vampires nodded understanding; Angel with a scowl, Spike with a
smirk."

As the group left, the two vampires ran under cover of blankets to
the nearest sewer entrance.  The sun was low enough by now that there
was plenty of shadow to hide in, which made their journey easier. 
Once the humans were assured that they were safely in the tunnels,
they piled into various vehicles for the trip to The Magic Box.

***

Collins sat up in attention as he saw the group enter several cars. 
Starting the engine of his own vehicle, he carefully followed the
cortege.  Perhaps their destination would afford him with the
opportunity to take out the dark-haired Slayer.

Fifteen minutes later, Smith and Weatherby arrived in Sunnydale and
proceeded to Rupert Giles' apartment.

***

Faith was really getting pissed off.  She had had no luck so far in
tracking down Willow.  The redhead had not been at any of her classes
or at the library.  On a hunch, Faith headed into town to the
Espresso Pump.  She remembered that it was one of the gang's favorite
hangouts, but hadn't any luck there either.  The waitress informed
her that she hadn't seen Willow for a couple days now.

Sitting at a table and drinking a cup of coffee, Faith tried to
decide what her next move would be.  Was it possible that somehow
Buffy's friends had tumbled to the body switch?  Faith couldn't see
how.  The vampire maybe? 

Faith thought about this and then dismissed it.  No, if there was one
thing she knew about Miss Buffy Summers it was the fact that the girl
loved her secrets.  And screwing another vampire would be high on the
secrets list, especially after the mess her one-night stand with
Angel had caused.  No, there was just no way that anyone would know
about the vampire lover so there was no way the vampire could tell
them that her attacking him was anything other than the Slayer doing
her job.  Finishing her coffee, she decided to head back to the house
on Revello Drive.  Maybe "mom" would have an idea where she could
find Willow. 

And if not, maybe she'd just have to revise her timetable and kill
Joyce first, instead of last.

Willow was bored.  There was nothing to do, no one to talk to, and it
was all burned and dirty in the old factory.  She had slept all
morning and late into the afternoon in one of the few rooms untouched
by fire, but now she was awake and hated being stuck here. 
Listlessly roaming around she noticed what appeared to be a trap door
under some debris.  Moving the rubble aside she found an entrance
that opened into tunnels.  Willow smiled.  The Mayor of her Sunnydale
had tunnels running throughout the length and breadth of town so that
his vampire minions could move about with relative ease.  Of course
that was before The Harvest.  After that, the Mayor was pretty much
dead and the minions all belonged to The Master. 

Looked like this Sunnydale had tunnels too.  Willow dropped down and
headed in the direction of town.  With any luck she'd find some city
workers working in the sewers.  She was a little hungry again.

***

Spike and Angel hadn't gone very far when Spike found himself thrown
up against the brick wall of the sewer tunnel.  Angel pressed his
full weight against the smaller vampire holding him in place with an
arm across his throat, his eyes gleaming gold in the dim light. 

"I know what you're up to with Buffy, Spike," he growled, "and I'm
not going to let you hurt her or any of the others.  You may have her
fooled, but I know you better than that.  What's your plan, huh?  Get
her to trust you completely so that when you kill her it's all the
sweeter?  Well that's never going to happen, boy." 

Spike gave his grandsire a disgusted look and pushed him away.  "Back
off," he snapped.  "You don't know anything about me.  If I wanted
her dead, she'd already be dead.  I'm not going it hurt her or the
others.  I know you don't believe it, and I really don't give a
buggerin' fuck that you don't, but I love her."

"That's impossible," Angel ground out.  "You don't have a soul.  You
can't love anyone."

"No, Angel," Spike said coldly, "that's you."

Spike found himself thrown up against the wall again, a stake pressed
into his chest.  "I should dust you now, tell Buffy we ran into
trouble in the sewers.  She'll mourn for a while, but she'll get over
it and then she'll be safe from you."

Spike shoved Angel away from him again.  "You know what your problem
is?  You can't have the girl, but you don't want anyone else to have
her either.  Well too bad.  I've got her and I'm keeping her. 
Keeping her happy too.  Real happy."

Angel growled and lifted the stake, "You son of a bitch.  You keep
your filthy hands off of her.  She deserves better than an undead
monster like you!"

"Yeah?" Spike mocked.  "Seems you didn't feel that way when you were
busy poppin' her cherry when she was still just a little girl."

Shifting into full game face, Angel cursed, knocked Spike back up
against the wall and plunged the stake towards Spike's heart.  Spike
blocked the stake and remembering the move that Buffy had used
against him, thrust the flat of his hand into Angel's face, smashing
his mouth and dislodging him.  Sweeping out with his leg, he tripped
Angel knocking him to the ground.  Kicking Angel's right hand he sent
the stake flying across the tunnel floor.  With a roar, Angel came to
his feet, seizing Spike and throwing him across the tunnel. 
Searching for the stake, he went to grab it only to be shoved to the
ground on his face as Spike leaped onto his back. 

Reaching forward, Spike snatched a handful of hair and slammed
Angel's head into the brick floor.  Grasping the stake, he turned
Angel over and lunged down with the sharpened wood...right into the
ground next to Angel's head, breaking the stake into dozens of small
pieces.  Jumping away from his grandsire, he hissed, "You're just
lucky I promised Buffy I wouldn't kill you, you back-stabbing
bogtrotter.  Get this through that thick Neanderthal skull of yours. 
I. love. the girl.  I'm not goin' to do anything to hurt her or her
Scoobies."  And with that, he turned on his heel and continued
towards The Magic Box.  Angel got up rubbing his head, looked down at
the shattered stake, up at Spike's retreating back and slowly
followed. 

***

Willow watched from around the corner of a tunnel.  It was the
puppy.  Staying back so that he wouldn't sense her presence, she
trailed after the two vampires.

***

Anya looked up, a pleasant welcoming smile on her face when the shop
bell rang.  The smile faltered when she saw who entered.

"Mr. Giles," she exclaimed.  "I thought you weren't going to be in
today?  Was I mistaken?"

"No, Anya," he reassured her.  "We need to use some of the reference
material I have here at the shop.  We'll be in the training room so
as not the disrupt the customers."  Turning to the others he
said, "Move one or two of the tables into the training room while I
fetch the text we need."  As he headed up the stairs to the loft,
Buffy and Xander began moving the largest table. 

"Oof!" Xander exclaimed as they finally set the table down.  "Where
are the vampires when you really need them.  That thing is heavy."

Buffy frowned and looked towards the basement door.  "They should be
here by now, shouldn't they?"

"Hey, don't worry Buff.  Maybe they just ran into some large sewer
rats that needed exterminating," Xander told her reassuringly.
"Spike travels those tunnels everyday.  He'll be here soon."

As if hearing the young man's words, the door opened and Spike
entered the training room.  A Spike who had obviously been fighting.

"What happened?" Buffy asked, rushing up to her boyfriend. 

"Nothing, luv," he answered casually.  "Me and the poofter ran into a
bit of bother, is all.  Took care of it."

The door opened again and Angel appeared.  Buffy looked at his face,
her eyes narrowing.  The bruise on his mouth looked strangely
familiar.  "Bit of a bother, huh?" she asked. 

"Yeah, nothing to worry about.  Like I said, me and the old man took
care of it."  Looking over at Angel, a warning glint in his eyes, he
said, "Right?"

Angel merely nodded and walked over to join Cordelia.  If Spike
thought that he was going to change his mind about him just because
he hadn't tried to stake him when he had the opportunity, he was
seriously mistaken.  As long as Spike was playing at being Buffy's
Knight in Shining Armor he would make sure that Buffy believed him
honorable.  But Angel knew better.  And he was going to make sure
that Spike was dust before he left Sunnydale.

Giles came in with a large book in his arms.  "I've found the text,
Wesley.  Have you any idea where the spell is located?"

As the two Watchers began to search for the appropriate spell, Buffy
watched the two vampires.  There was no doubt in her mind whatsoever
that the "bit of bother" had been a fight between them.  Both
vampires had survived the fight, but Buffy decided then and there
that they weren't going to be allowed to be alone together again. 
She didn't want to lose either one.

***

Weatherby knocked again at the door to Rupert Giles' flat with no
success.  Smith peeked in through the window.  "Don't look like
anyone's home," he told his companion.  "Where to next?"

"Buffy Summer's house," was the reply.

***

'Well fuck,' Faith thought. 'No one's here either.'  Doing a more
thorough search than she'd had time for the night before, she found
an interesting flyer in one of Buffy's nightstand drawers.  It
advertised the grand opening of The Magic Box.  Rupert Giles,
Proprietor.

Faith had her next stop.

***

The sedan pulled up in front of 1630 Revello Drive, and as the two
men got out of the vehicle, they didn't notice the young woman
crossing the street at the end of the block headed back towards the
center of town.

***

Collins once again glanced into a window, but saw only a young woman
he didn't recognize manning the counter in the shop.  Frowning, he
searched but his view was limited.  Taking a chance he entered the
shop.

Once again Anya glanced up, a friendly, helpful expression on her
face.  "Welcome to The Magic Box.  May I assist you?"

"No thanks, love," the Englishman said.  "Just want to look around a
bit.  See what sort of stuff you offer for sale."

Anya's eyes narrowed slightly.  She hated browsers.  They never
bought anything.  That is, if she let them get away without buying
anything.

Collins casually strolled around, picking up various items as if
interested in them, but then putting them down and going to the next
shelf, always moving deeper into the shop.  It was when he was
halfway through the shop, that a door in the back opened and Rupert
Giles walked briskly to the counter.  Handing a piece of paper to the
blonde he said, "Anya, please fill this list and bring the items into
the back room as quickly as possible."  Turning from the counter Anya
said, "But I have a customer I must attend to."

"No need," Collins answered quickly.  "I'm just leaving."  Moving at
a rapid pace, he left the shop before the Slayer entered the room and
spotted him.  So they were in there all right, in the back of the
shop.  Glancing around, he looked at the building across the street
from The Magic Box.  Heading back to his car, he began to formulate a
plan.

Anya frowned at the departing customer's back then snatched up the
paper and began gathering the items listed there.  Once she had
everything requested, she carried them to the back room. 

Once again preparations were being made for a spell casting.  Anya
felt a momentary curiosity, but quickly suppressed it.  She had a
store to attend to.  Leaving the backroom, she returned to her
counter.

***

"I do believe we are now prepared to attempt the new relocation
spell," Wesley announced after double and triple-checking
everything.  "Willow, Tara, if you will take your places, we'll see
if we have any better luck."

The two witches knelt before the map of Sunnydale and began the
spell.  The results were immediate.  A bright glow appeared on the
map, moving from east to west.  Both witches smiled in relief.  As
they watched the glow's movement Xander exclaimed, "Hey, is it me or
does it look like she's heading here?"

***

Collins quietly closed the door that led to the roof of the building
opposite the magic shop.  Going to the edge, he was pleased to see
that his original observation was correct.  He had a perfect view of
both front and back doors.  Settling down, he slipped the safety off
the rifle.  Eventually she'd leave the shop.  That would be when he
would strike.  He was unaware that just as he stepped onto the
rooftop, his other quarry had also arrived at the shop.

The sun was setting and the street deeply shadowed when once again
the bell rang over the shop door.  This time when Anya looked up she
felt a wave of shock flash through her.  There in the doorway stood
Buffy.  Or rather the girl who had stolen Buffy's body.

"Buffy!" Anya exclaimed.  "Hello, Buffy.  What are you doing here
today?  Are you here to see Mr. Giles?  He's in the backroom.  Let me
announce you."

Before Faith could stop her, the young woman hurried across the room
and opened the door located at the back of the shop.  "Mr. Giles,"
Anya chirped nervously.  "Guess who's here?  It's Buffy!"

The last was said just seconds before she was pushed aside and Faith
entered the room.  And stopped. 

The room was filled with Scoobies, Watchers, Vampires, Joyce
Summers...and Buffy.

"Fuck!"  Faith exclaimed as she turned and ran for the front door. 
Buffy was fast on her heels followed by Spike and Angel.  She caught
up with Faith just as the other girl opened the front door.  With a
tackle, both women landed on the sidewalk, tumbling until they
smashed up against the tires of a car parked in front of the shop.

Buffy managed to get on top of Faith and struck her several sharp
blows to the head.  Faith kicked up and wrapped a strong leg around
Buffy, pulling her back and off.  Kicking at Buffy's head, she once
again tried to run only to be caught in the iron grasp of the blond
English vampire.

"You're not going anywhere, bitch!" he growled,

She struggled, but soon realized that it was hopeless.  Even if she
got away from this one, Buffy and Angel were right there.  She was
trapped.  Once again she had failed.  Her hatred of all of them
nearly consumed her.

"Willow," Buffy said.  "Do you have the Katra device?"

Faith's eyes widened as Willow handed Buffy a box containing a palm-
sized green-glowing sphere.  Xander stood to the side holding a
tranquilizer gun in his hands.  "Get ready, Xan," Buffy said.  Taking
the object out of the box, she nodded to Spike who let go of Faith. 
Everyone stepped back as Buffy grabbed onto Faith's hand.  A swirl of
energy surrounded them and they gasped. 

It was a little flash of light that caught Spike's attention. 
Looking around, he saw the glint from the last light of the dying day
reflecting off the barrel of a rifle that a man was aiming from the
roof of the building across the street.  Xander shot the tranq gun at
Faith at the same time Collins fired the rifle.  Shouting a warning,
Spike grabbed Buffy and pushed her down just at the gun went off. 
The bullet whizzed by and smashed into the doorway of the shop. 
Everyone scrambled back into the shop with the exception of the two
vampires.  Spike and Angel sprinted forward in full game face,
rapidly leaping up and grabbing onto window frames and anything else
that assisted their climb to the roof. 

Collins cursed, dropped the rifle and fled. Tearing open the roof
door, he entered locking it behind him.  Racing down the stairs, he
hoped to get back to his car before the two vampires were on him. 
Who the fuck ever heard of a Slayer having vampire allies?  It was
his bad luck that he stumbled on the uneven stairs of the old
building.  Pitching forward he fell tumbling down the steep stairwell.

His neck was broken before he even reached the bottom landing.

***

Smith and Weatherby were turning the corner a block from The Magic
Box when they heard the shot fired.  Stopping the car, they jumped
out and watched in amazement as two men ran across the street faster
than possible for humans.  Their suspicion as to the men's natures
was confirmed as they watched them scramble up the side of the
building.  The sound of a door being torn from its hinges followed
shortly thereafter.  Exchanging glances, they got back into their car
and pulled up behind a car they recognized as Collins' sedan. 
Weatherby took his handgun out of the holster and waited for Collins
to appear.  He never did, but the two vampires soon exited the
building and entered the shop across the street. 

***

Faith was laid out on the floor of the shop unconscious from the
tranquilizer dart Xander had shot into her.  Buffy was comforting a
softly crying Joyce, reassuring her that everything was okay.  Spike
went immediately up to the blonde Slayer and asked, "Buffy?"

Wrapping her arms around him, Buffy lifted her face to his for a
kiss.  Touching her mouth tentatively, Spike was soon kissing her
deeply.  He had no doubt that this was his Slayer.  Angel looked
away, unable to watch the passionate way the two lovers kissed. 
Joyce gave a hitching laugh, wiped tears from her eyes and
said, "Okay you two; break if up.  This is no way to behave in front
of your mother."  Buffy blushed and Spike grinned at Joyce as they
came up for air.

"What happened with the man that shot at us?" Giles asked.  "Dead,"
Angel answered.  Buffy gasped and pulled back from Spike.  Staring
wide-eyed at Angel she asked, "You killed him?"

"No!" Angel asserted, more than a little hurt that she assumed it had
been he that killed the man.  Apparently Spike had her convinced that
he wouldn't kill anyone, not just her Scoobies.

"Then what happened?" Buffy asked, looking once again at Spike.

"Fell down the stairs and broke his bleedin' neck, mores the pity.  I
had all kinds of plans for him and that bloody rifle of his."

"Who was he?" Xander asked. 

The two vampires shook their heads but Spike added, "I hate to ask
you to do this, love, but I think you should look at him.  I have a
feeling he's probably one of those Council wankers that kidnapped you
yesterday."

Buffy shuddered, but nodded her agreement.  Leaving the shop, the two
vampires and Slayer crossed the street and entered the building. 
Giles and Joyce watched anxiously and soon a very pale Buffy exited
the door, a concerned Spike walking closely at her side.

"It's Collins," she told her Watcher as soon she entered The Magic
Box.  "He's the one that tried to shoot me in Los Angeles, too.  Has
a real thing for guns apparently."

Giles sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly.  "I'll have to call Quentin
Travers and inform him," he said. 

"Giles," Buffy began. 

"No, Buffy.  I'm sorry, but this is Council business.  It's their
mess and they'll have to clean it up."

"And what about Faith?" she asked heatedly.

"We'll take care of her," a voice said from the shop door.  Turning
to face the front of the shop, Buffy glared at the man who stood
there. 

"I don't think so," she said standing protectively in front of the
drugged Slayer.  "If you think you're going to take her out of here
just so you can kill her..."

"No, we have different orders now," Weatherby assured the angry
Slayer.  Lifting up a small case he continued, "I'm sure Mr. Giles
will recognize what I have with me." 

Opening the lid of the case he revealed several vials of some kind of
drug.  Giles flushed and looked guiltily at Buffy.  "It's the drug
the Council uses for The Cruciamentum."  Looking away quickly from
Buffy's outraged expression he said to Weatherby, "I take it that the
Council intends to keep her under the influence of this drug until
she is safely confined in London?"

Weatherby nodded.  "I was given this after she escaped our custody." 
Turning and bowing to Buffy he corrected, "Or I should say after Miss
Summers escaped our custody."

"You mean escaped your attempt to murder me," she snapped.

Any further conversation was interrupted when Smith entered the
shop.  "Collins is dead," he told his companion.

Weatherby looked at the two vampires, instinctively reaching for the
stake tucked away in the pocket of his jacket.

"They didn't kill him," Buffy told him coldly.  "He fell while
running away after trying to shoot me.  Again."

Weatherby looked questioningly at Smith who shrugged.  "Could have
happened that way.  Or they could have snapped his neck and tossed
him down the stairs."

Buffy bristled at the accusation, but Spike said calmly, "No, mate,
you can believe me this.  If either of us had caught up to him, he
wouldn't have died so cleanly."

"Spike, not helping here," Buffy warned her lover.

"We will accept your explanation," the Englishman assured her.  "Now,
as to Faith," he began and then hesitated.  Weatherby and Smith were
well aware of the hostility in the room, especially from the two
vampires, one of whom, the one the Slayer had addressed as Spike,
stood proprietarily close to her.  "You must understand," Weatherby
tried to explain, "we were under orders..."

"Yeah mate," the white-haired vampire remarked, "heard that one
before.  Now where was it?  Oh yeah, Nuremberg."

Weatherby flushed angrily, but wisely held his tongue.  Once again
addressing Giles he said, "If you don't believe that we mean Faith no
further harm, I suggest that you call Mr. Travers.  He will confirm
what I've said."

Giles immediately made for the telephone as everyone stood glaring at
the Watchers Council's agents.  Xander suddenly realized he was still
holding the tranquilizer gun.  He went to put it down when Angel
said, "Here give it to me; I'll go put it away.  I need to get away
from these guys for a couple minutes."

Xander took one look at Angel's face and hastily turned the gun over
to him.  Angel stalked across the shop and entered the training
room.  Setting the gun down next to the door to the basement, he
removed his coat, walked over to Buffy's punching bag, and began
pounding on it.  He was having a very hard time containing his demon
around those Watchers.  They had destroyed whatever chance Faith had
for redemption last year and now they had tried to kill her, which
because of the Katra spell meant that they very nearly killed Buffy.

Buffy heard the sound of the punching bag being pounded.  Turning to
Xander with a raised eyebrow he shrugged and said, "I think he's
working out a few Watcher related issues."  Nodding in understanding,
Buffy paid no further attention to the sounds coming from the
training room, instead concentrating on Giles' telephone
conversation.  She didn't notice a popping sound or a thud louder
than the others.  Nor did she notice the sudden quiet.