Not Beneath Me - Chapter 19 (Out Of The Mouths Of Fools)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Riley and Dru are dust after they attacked Spike and Buffy in the cemetery.  Angel showed up in time to actually help.  Riley injected Spike with something that sucked his supernatural strength from him.  Buffy had to carry him back to Giles' car and into the house.  Spike is still unconscious, and Angel is waiting downstairs at Buffy's house for some explanations.  **If you really love Angel, you might want to close your eyes.**

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story.  Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story.  "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

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Buffy sighed sadly.  Her finger twisted through Spike's bleached curls.  She quickly learned that the reason Spike slicked his hair back was to hide the mass of naturally curly locks.  The rain dissolved the gel that had held his locks down.  She sat on the side of her bed.  Her heart willed him to wake up, but his eyes remained closed.

Other than a few incoherent bouts of consciousness during the ride how, Spike remained silent and still since she'd dusted Dru.  He was lost within his own mind.  Multiple chaotic images criss-crossed over themselves.  None of it made sense, but the bombardment to his brain forced his psyche to retreat inot the farther recesses of his mind.

Buffy bandaged her wrist.  It concerned her that Spike hadn't woke up as soon as she fed him a bit of her blood.  What was going on in his system?  She was scared for the man she loved.  She hated feeling helpless.

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"I'll let you know as soon as anything changes.  I'm sure he'll be fine, Dawn."  Giles hung up the phone in the kitchen.  He walked out into the living room with a cup of tea in his hand.

Angel paced from one end of the living room to the other.  He was bombarded with the scent of Buffy's blood, what he thought was Xander's blood, and arousal.  The various scents agitated him.  He tried not to breathe, but his demon itched to follow the scent of Slayer blood to the source.  The only time he sampled Slayer blood was when he was poisoned and Buffy forced him to take her blood.

Giles heaved a sigh.  "Will you sit down before you break something?"  Angel's pacing was what forced Giles into the kitchen in the first place.  He understood the vampire's nervousness or confusion, but he was driving Giles insane with his muttering and shuffling around.

"How can you be so calm about this?"  Angel whipped to face Giles, and he growled.  "How long is she going to be up there?"  Buffy promised answers once they got Spike home.  It had been 45 minutes with no sign of the Slayer.  "If she doesn't come down soon, I'm going to drag her down here."

"I'm sure that will make her more willing to talk to you, Angel."  Giles' sarcasm laced every word he spoke.  "Pillock."  He muttered under his breath.

"It's just Spike," Angel said as if that statement alone held all the reasons needed to explain his agitations.  "She shouldn't be wasting her time on him."

"I know she would disagree with you on that point."  Giles straightened his position on the couch.  After everything he'd seen this last week he added, "As do I."

"But ..."

"Spike is worth everything I can give to him."  Buffy interrupted the conversation from her place on the stairs.  She'd listened with pride on the upstairs landing while Giles defended Spike to Angel.

Angel walked over to the stairs.  He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and watched Buffy descend.  "I don't know what kind of spells Spike has worked over on you to get you to help him, but we'll figure a way to break it.  I won't let him hurt you."

"Hurt me?"  Buffy laughed tersely.  "Spike wouldn't hurt me.  That's your job."  Her nerves were on edge.  Spike was saved from the dusting her dream predicted, but he wasn't really unharmed.  Instead she had a weak, comatose vampire on her hands.  Was he still going to end up dust?

Angel placed a hand on Buffy's arm in an offer of comfort.  Her words stung, but he chalked them up to a spell influencing her.  "I know you're confused, Buffy.  I'll stay to help you get rid of him."

Buffy pushed Angel away from her.  "Help me get rid of him?"  She stormed past Angel into the living room.  "That vampire upstairs was willing to give his unlife to protect me.  He fought to keep me safe."  Her chest heaved with the quick inhalations of air she breathed in to try to calm herself.  "He even used a familial claim to keep any Aurelians from harming me."

"You can't honestly believe that Spike cares about your life."  Angel huffed in anger.  "I can't believe you let him bite you."  He knew what was required to complete a familial claim.  His demon was enraged that Spike touched Buffy in that way.  "He has no soul.  Killing Slayers is what he does best."

"You don't know anything, Angel."  Buffy slapped Angel hard across the cheek.  "How dare you waltz back into my life and assume that you know what's going on.  You ignorant asshole."

Angel vamped out in anger.  He grabbed Buffy's arms and shook her.  "You are acting like an irrational and foolish child.  I won't let you endanger yourself this way.  Your blood is already all over this level.  So something big is happening that isn't good for you."

"Let go of me, or I swear when I get free your heart will meet the pointy end of my favorite stake."  Buffy struggled to break free of the enraged vampire's grasp.  Unfortunately she was still weakened from the earlier battle and her blood donation to Spike.  The emotional drain affected her physical stamina as well.

"How can you say you are fine when you are threatening to kill me, Buffy.  I'm not Angelus.  You love me."  Angel pleaded with Buffy to see reason.

The high strung thwap of a taunt string being pulled into place to ready a crossbow brought all attention back to Giles.  "Let her go, Angel."  He held his ground firmly and seriously.  He tried not to focus on the past, but a part of him would take great pleasure in dusting the creature responsible for Jenny's death.

Angel threw his hands up in the air, stepped back from Buffy, and leaned against the wall.  He hadn't missed the glare or glint in Giles' eyes.  It reminded him of the night Giles stormed into the factory to kill Angelus.  Angelus may have taken pleasure in the pain and anger that radiated off the Watcher, but Angel merely seethed at Buffy's betrayal and took a more neutral stance to avoid a confrontation.

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Spike awoke to raised voices coming from downstairs.  He was unable to decipher most of the words, but he surmised the three voices belonged to Buffy, Angel and Giles.  His body shook from the effort it took him to get out of bed.  He forced himself to stand on wobbly legs.  Whatever Dru and Riley knocked him up with, it was wreaking havoc on her supernatural senses and strength.  He should have been able to hear every word they were saying downstairs from his position on the bed.

Spike rolled his eyes at the various comments Angel made that he was able to make out.  Spike used the wall to lean against as he moved from Buffy's room into the hallway.  He wasn't able to fully support his weight yet.  'Stupid wanker.'  He growled at the verbal assault thrown at Buffy.

'It's a shame familial claims can't mute the family from insulting as well.'  Spike knew the power of words.  A few well placed insults or doubts had a stronger effect than a punch to the jaw.  Three little words, "You're beneath me", sent him out into the darkness to meet his first death.  Those same three words from Buffy almost caused him to take her life in his anger and pain.

Spike fought for the progress of every step.  Even though he wouldn't be able to physically protect Buffy from Angel, he needed to be by her side to support her.  If the warmth in his body was any indication, Buffy wasn't in the physical form to fight either.  He needed to have a talk with her about the timing of her blood gifts.  He was worried that she'd weakened herself too much for his sake.

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"Vampires can make one way claims with humans that leave them as nothing more than a slave to the vampire."  Angel lectured Buffy on the carelessness of her choices.  "He could have recited that ritual instead, and you wouldn't have known the difference until it was too late.  He could even have drained you completely."

"Giles and Dawn were in the room with us.  He knows all about the rituals."  Buffy countered Angel's argument.  "Spike even made sure Giles was armed with a stake in case he lost control."

Angel looked at Giles for confirmation of both facts.  He was astounded to see Giles nod in the affirmative.

"Even with all that Slayer blood at his disposal, he never lost control of his demon or himself."  Buffy grinned with pride.  She sent another barb Angel's way, "I never even felt woozy when the soulless vampire bit me, but I seem to remember a soulful one almost killing me.  So who should I really be worried about?"

Angel hung his head in shame.  He hated the power his demon had over him when he bit Buffy a couple years ago.  It was hard to fathom that the younger soulless demon had more control over his bloodlust than he himself had.  "His sense of survival probably kicked in because he knew Giles would stake him."

"I think you're grasping at straws, Angel."  Giles entered the conversation again in Spike's defense.  "He never gave any cause for concern during the ritual.  He only remained in his demon mask long enough to bite and satisfy the ritual's need for vampiric family recognition."

"And because of that you trust him not to drain, Buffy?"  Angel turned back to face Buffy instead of Giles.  "You just got lucky."

"I trust him because he loves me, all of me.  He doesn't put me on some pedestal of virtue.  The man and demon accept me as I am, faults and all."  Buffy nearly growled the words out at Angel.  He was really starting to tick her off.  It was almost like he wasn't listening to a word she said, and she hated being ignored.

"He's playing you, Buffy."  Angel was extremely frustrated.  What was going on in Sunnydale that Buffy and Giles were both so accepting of Spike in this way?  It was wrong, all wrong.  "He'll gain your confidence and then destroy you."

"Head games are your gig, Angelus."  Buffy emphasized the name Angel used for his soulless state.  The more time she spent with Spike the more she wondered just how separate the demon and man were.  Spike seemed to be blended in all aspects human and demon.  It was true that oftentimes one part of him was in the dominant role, but even then the other part would still fight through when needed.

"That's not fair, Buffy.  You know that I would never ..."

Buffy held her hand up to stop Angel from continuing.  "That's right.  That was my fault for fucking the soul right out of you."

Giles cringed at the harsh words Buffy threw Angel's way.  His inner Ripper delighted in every barb thrown at the vampire.  Every bit of pain that he noted on the vampire's face made him feel that he'd gotten back a bit of himself that he'd lost when Angelus killed Jenny.  "Buffy ..." His fatherly side placed a warning hand on Buffy.  He was worried about how far Buffy could push before Angel snapped.

"No, Giles.  I'm tired of this crap."  Buffy stepped closer to Angel.  "You gave up all your rights for this protective crap when you left for L.A.  You don't get to tell me who I can date or have in my bed."

Angel growled low.  Just the thought of his unruly Childe sharing a bed with the woman Angel loved made him mad.  His demon was enraged that Buffy allowed his unruly Childer to take his place.

"That's right.  In.  My.  Bed."  Buffy emphasized each word.  "Get used to it because he isn't going to be kicked out of it anytime soon.  You see, he is quite the lover, and he's actually still there when I wake up the next morning."

Angel pushed off the wall.  He stood right in Buffy's face.  He towered over the petite Slayer, and he faced her in fury.  "I swear I will kill him myself if you don't give up this nonsense."

Their height difference didn't matter.  Buffy stood her ground against her first teenage love.  "The last person to try that ended up in the hospital."  She poked Angel in the chest.  "You will not touch my, Mate."

"Mate?"  Giles jumped into the conversation in shock.  "I was unaware that you two had formally completed the claiming and mating ritual."  He wondered where they found time to finish that one.  'Perhaps it was when I took Dawn to the hospital after the familial ritual.'  He pondered the different times Buffy and Spike were alone.

"We haven't, but I want to."  Buffy blushed shyly at Giles.  "I wanted to ask you for one of your books, and then I was going to talk to Spike about it."  She shifted her weight from one foot to another.  "I want to make sure that it is something he wants too."

"Something I want?"  A shaky voice from the stairs carried into the living room.  "Cor, Buffy.  I want that more than anything."  Spike held onto the railing at the bottom of the stairs to keep himself steady.

Angel vamped out in rage.  He stormed over to Spike, grabbed him by the throat and held him off the ground.  "How dare you think you can claim what is mine, boy?"

Spike hung from Angel's grasp.  He tried to kick out, but his strength was still reduced to practically nothing.  He gazed in pain at Buffy.

The twang and swish of a crossbow being fired and the bolt flying through the air to embed itself in Angel's shoulder echoed through the room.  Giles hastily reloaded the weapon when Angel turned with Spike in his grasp to face him.  Giles aimed the reloaded crossbow at Angel's chest.  "The next one will not miss, Angel.  That is your last warning.  Let.  Spike.  Go."

Angel threw Spike to the floor in a heap at his feet.  He twirled away to the front door.  "This is not over, Buffy.  I will find out what the Hell is going on to make you do this."

"Nothing is making me do anything!"  Buffy screamed at Angel from her kneeled position on the floor next to Spike.  She cradled his head in her lap.  "I love him, damn it!"

Angel opened the front door, and it slammed into the half wall behind it.  "I refuse to accept that."  He disappeared out the door into the remainder of the night.

Giles finally relaxed when the door snapped closed on it's own behind Angel.  He lowered his crossbow.  "I'll go call Dawn and Joyce.

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"Pumpkin Belly," Joyce tried to get Dawn's attention.  The teenager's nervousness was starting to agitate her.  Between the pain in her head, the worry over Buffy, the fear for Dawn, and now the worry over Spike ... she was quite near the end of her rope.  "Please stop doing that."

Dawn looked up from her seat.  She stilled the hand drumming its fingers on Joyce's table.  "Sorry, Mommy.  I'm just so worried.  Nothing has ever done that to Spike before.  Well, if you don't count the time Buffy dropped an organ on him."

Joyce nodded.  "I am sure that Buffy and Giles can handle things."  She was trying to be understanding of her youngest daughter's feelings.  "He said that he would call as soon as there was a change."

Dawn sighed.  "He also said Angel was there.  I'm scared he'll do something to Spike, and Spike won't be able to fight back right now."

"Buffy won't allow that to happen."  Joyce was interrupted by the ringing telephone.  "Hello?"

"Hello, Joyce."  Giles started with his return to the living room, and he conveyed everything that happened to Joyce.  He sighed, huffed and let his anger out during various parts of the conversation. 

Joyce shared in Giles' anger, and she asked Giles if they could have a disinvite spell done.  She didn't want to take any chances with Spike's life.

"I'll need to talk to Willow.  She would have all of the ingredients more readily available than I would."  Giles explained.

"She just walked in."  Joyce handed the phone over to Willow.  "Giles needs to talk to you."

Willow took the phone.  Tara sat down in the chair near Dawn's.  Both Dawn and Tara watched Willow while she talked on the phone.  "Yes, Giles?"

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Buffy ran her fingers through Spike's mussed curls.  "I'm so sorry, Spike."  Tears fell down her face to drop on Spike's cheek.

Spike blinked in amazement at the tears in Buffy's eyes.  "Shhh ..."  He cupped her face with his palm.  He still lay in Buffy's lap.  His body ached too much to move yet.  Even the Slayer blood Buffy gave him before wasn't healing him as fast as he should be.  "Angelus can be a right bastard when he wants to.  Don't listen to him."

Buffy half smiled.  She turned her face to kiss Spike's palm.  "I meant what I said to him, Spike.  I'm not giving you up."  She kissed each fingertip then entwined their fingers together in clasped hands.  "I'm yours even without the claiming, Spike."

Spike closed his eyes.  He was beyond amazed to hear the words the first time.  Hearing them again elated his entire being.  "Every ounce of pain Angelus has ever given me was worth it to hear you say that, pet."

Buffy's smile brightened.  "Just remember you are mine too, vampire."  She mock chastised him.  "None of that Alpha Male crap.  Been there done that.  Equal partners."

Spike laughed.  "Always yours, Buffy."  He held his aching ribs with his free hand.  "Not going to be anywhere but by your side."  He worked himself into a sitting position.  "Unless I'm over that sweet body of yours making sweet love or having passionate animal sex with you."

Buffy's skin flushed.  "No fair to talk like that when you are injured this bad.  I don't want to hurt you."

"No pain, no gain."  Spike teased.

Buffy slapped his arm playfully.  "Heal first.  Sex later."  She stood up and helped Spike stand the rest of the way up.  "Actually sleep first after you get another dose of your medicine."

Spike wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist.  Together they walked up the stairs slowly.  "Medicine?"

"Yep, Slayer blood.  So potent it is only available by prescription from Dr. Buffy."  Buffy teased.  They walked together to her bedroom.

"We are going to have a talk later about you weakening yourself this much."  Spike sat down on the bed followed by Buffy.  "You have to be careful, especially if I am unconscious."

Buffy kissed Spike tenderly.  "I trust you, Spike."  She nestled her face against his cheek when they both laid down on the bed together.  "Your demon loves me too in his own way.  I know it."  She traced circles on Spike's chest.

"I don't want you to ever be proven wrong, luv."  Spike moved Buffy's golden tresses off her neck.  He licked sensually along her jugular.  Her blood pumped closer to the surface, calling to him.  "I wouldn't want to live one day longer than you if you were wrong."  He sank his canines into Buffy's neck swiftly.  He kept his bite shallow, and he drew the smallest amount needed with each pull on her life's blood.

Buffy clutched the back of Spike's head.  She purred and moaned in pleasure.  Every time he bit her it turned her on more than the last time.  She didn't know how she ever lived without the connection that she got when bitten by Spike.  It wasn't this way with Angel or Dracula, and it certainly wasn't good when the Master bit her.  She felt one with Spike whenever he took her blood into his own body.  She felt loved.

Spike listened to the fluttering beat of Buffy's heart.  The rapid pacing and pounding was from arousal not weakness.  He was careful to keep track of her entire body's reactions to him.  It pleased him to know that she wasn't scared of his demon.  Instead she welcomed him.

Buffy moaned at the loss the moment Spike's fangs left her neck.  Her body tingled while he licked the wounds clean and sealed them.  She scooted down a little bit in the bed.  She buried her face in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.  "Sleep my love."

Spike's demon was both thrilled and satiated.  He loved the taste of Slayer blood, but it was even more precious because it was Buffy's blood.  The Slayer willingly gave him blood again.  His demon roared inwardly in triumph.  His broody assed Sire had no place in his soon to be Mate's life anymore.  Every taunting word Angelus sent his way over Drusilla was erased.  He had something so much better . A woman who loved him as much as he loved her.  Buffy was his now.

Spike closed his eyes with a smile on his face.  His weakened body called out for the rest it needed, and for now he would give in.  He drifted off to sleep happier than he could ever remember being before.

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Giles relayed the events of the evening to Willow.  She had been downstairs checking on Xander's status when he called the hospital the first time.  After he finished he told her, "Do not, under any circumstances, allow Xander to get near Angel.  I fear what those two would do together."

"But Xander hates Angel, Giles."  Willow wondered why Giles was worried about Xander and Angel working together.

"But they have a common goal to destroy Buffy and Spike's relationship."  Giles sighed on his end of the phone.  "Common hatred leads to strange bedfellows, Willow.  Please do what you can.  I don't care if we have to follow him around Sunnydale."

"Xander doesn't have the benefit of Slayer healing."  Willow remembered how Xander looked when she peeked in on him earlier in the night.  "When I talked to the doctors, they said he'd be here at least a week before they will discharge him."

"That long?"  Giles found that out of the ordinary.  Usually the Sunnydale hospital wanted people out of there as quickly as possible.

"The doctor said something about complications and security.  Whatever that means."  Willow rolled her eyes.

"So long as we know where he is at then."  Giles' nerves eased up a little bit.  At least he wouldn't have to worry about the problem being compounded by having Xander added into the mix.  "I need to go check on Buffy and Spike.  I should be back at the hospital in a hour or two.  I want to make sure they are both settled."

"All right, Giles.  I'll let Mrs. Summers know.  We're going to bring Dawnie home now.  She's pretty tired."

"That sounds fine, Willow.  Don't dawdle.  Buffy is not up to taking on a Hell God right now."

"We'll be careful."

The phone line clicked after both parties hung up.  Willow returned to Tara's embrace for a supportive hug.  Giles slipped up the stairs to Buffy's room to watch over his sleeping charge and her vampire lover.

Buffy and Spike held each other snugly.  Both sported equally possessive looks on their faces and arms over each other to reassure themselves of the other's presence.

With a sigh, Giles closed Buffy's bedroom door.  He swore he'd seen Riley jab a needle into Spike's arm before he went weak.  He wanted to head to the cemetery to check out the scene again.  Maybe he would be able to find some answers as to what happened to the vampire.  If there was a drug that reduced supernatural senses and strength for a vampire, must like there was one for a Slayer, perhaps they would be able to use it against Glory.  It was worth checking out.

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Angel paced around the mansion's living room.  He was livid.  How dare she not only protect Spike, but she admitted to having sex with him and wanting to be mated to him?  "Over my undead body."  He growled.  He picked up a vase and threw it at the wall next to the fireplace.  The vase shattered from the force it was thrown with against the hard surface.  Bits of china embedded themselves into Angel's coat and hands, but he didn't seem to care.

Cordelia Chase and Wesley Wyndham-Price finally arrived from L.A. as Angel stormed into the mansion.  The both looked at each other.  Neither one of them wanted to be the one to talk to Angel first.  They were in Sunnydale, however, and that gave Cordy a good indication that Buffy had something to do with Angel's mood.

Wesley drew the short blade of grass.  "Bloody Hell."  With a sigh he entered the mansion first.  He walked tentatively closer to Angel.  "Hello, Angel."  He wished he had a tranquilizer gun with him.

Angel swirled around in a blur of black.  "What took you guys so long to get here?  You have no idea the Hell I've been living in the last day.  This whole town is under a spell or enchantment.  They're all insane."

Cordy followed in behind Wesley.  She kept her distance from both Wesley and Angel.  She was ready to bolt back to the car if necessary.  Why hadn't she thought about bringing the crossbow with her from the car?  'Probably because you didn't think you'd need it against Angel, you ninny.'

"Insane?"  Wesley queried.  Cordelia's visions were quite vague, but he figured something like a while town being under a spell wouldn't have slipped by Cordy's perceptions.  "Did you find Drusilla and Spike?"

"Find them?"  Angel laughed haughtily.  "Dru's dust along with her new Childe.  You'll never guess who that was ... Riley Finn."

"Buffy's boyfriend?"  Cordelia was the one to speak up with a question this time.

"Apparently they aren't dating anymore."  Angel started his pacing again.  "You'll never guess where Spike is though."  He barreled on in his tirade without letting them answer.  "He's safely ensconced in Buffy's house because he is her NEW boyfriend."

Wesley and Cordelia gasped in shock.  That was something neither of them expected.  "He wasn't trying to kill her then?  He was trying to protect her?"  Cordy tried to sort out the various images from her vision.  She knew Spike was fighting someone in them, and she'd seen Drusilla as well.  Had they assumed wrong, and Spike wasn't the one trying to hurt Buffy.

"He has them believing that he wants to protect her.  Her Watcher even stood in defense of Spike.  He shot me in the shoulder with a crossbow bolt."  Angel threw his hands up in the air.  "They're all insane.  It has to be a spell.  I want you both on this right now!"

Wesley and Cordelia both nodded.  Wesley dared to make a comment that he knew his employer wasn't going to like.  "It is possible that Spike has changed in the time that you've been gone."  He stepped away from Angel to make it harder for the vampire to reach him.  "You always said that he acted a bit too human for Angelus' liking."

"I will NOT accept that Spike gets to claim Buffy."  Angel stared darkly at Wesley and Cordelia.  "He doesn't deserve her or the reward of her love."  He snarled in hate.

"Angel," Cordelia spoke up to gain Angel's attention.  "What upsets you more?  The fact that Buffy moved on like you told or to, or is it the fact that she wants to be with Spike?"  Her voice held the seriousness in it that her body language mirrored.  "You've never been good with accepting that you and Buffy will never be together again."

Angel launched himself in Cordy's direction.  He stopped just a couple feet short of the former cheerleader.  "Just find out what is going on.  I'm not leaving this town until I know how to stop this."

Cordelia rolled her eyes.  "Hell isn't freezing over any time soon, Angel.  Just admit that you've lost her and move on."  She turned and walked out of the mansion to get their bags from the car.

Angel turned to Wesley.  "You and I are going to investigate where the fight took place.  Spike seemed weak, and Buffy muttered something about an injection when she was carrying Spike up to her room."  He headed towards the door as he talked, expecting Wesley to follow him without question.

Wesley gave no argument.  He kept his position a couple steps behind the vampire while they walked.  His research told him that Drusilla was a seer and had an inclination towards magic, but he doubted she was powerful enough to cast a spell on the entire town.  He planned to bide his time, do his research, and then hopefully talk some sense Angel.

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(To Be Continued)
 

Chapter Summary: Angel, in true jealous fashion, insulted Buffy and Giles while he assumed that they were all under a spell to like Spike. He was rude and obnoxious going so far as to attack Spike and slap Buffy. Giles stuck by Buffy's side, and he got just a bit too much pleasure out of holding Angel at crossbow point ultimately shooting him in the shoulder with the bolt as a warning to back off. Spike was still weak, but he's had a few infusions of Slayer blood now. Hopefully he will get better. Giles left to head back to the cemetery before he headed to the hospital. Wesley and Cordelia arrived at the mansion shortly after Angel returned there. Angel and Wesley are also headed to the cemetery where the fight took place. Joyce should be heading home in the morning.

Author's Note: The timeline for Season 5 isn't going to be exactly the same in my story here. I have tried to keep a lot of canon straight, but the timing needs to be different pretty much from here on out. Some things are going to happen sooner or not at all. I believe I said this before, but just reminding and informing everyone. That way I don't get a bunch of reviews telling me I screwed up the timeline for Season 5. {Chuckles}

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

 

Giles walked around the main area where the fight took place. He adjusted his glasses several times in the hopes that he'd see something. "It has to be around here somewhere." He crouched down as best he could to search the ground. Wherever the hypodermic ended up, he didn't want to kneel or press his hand onto it. If it weakened Spike that much, he worried what it would do to a human.

Giles tried to remember the placement of each person during the fight. He walked over to the tree where Buffy was tied up. Nothing out of the ordinary was there except for the remains of the ropes Drusilla used to tie her up with. He gathered a few lengths of the rope to examine. They must have been enchanted with magic or they never would have held Buffy for more than a few seconds.

Giles sighed in frustration. The moon danced in front of and behind clouds faster than his eyes adjusted to the darkness around him. A flickering light seemed to be coming from a crypt near the battlefield. He headed to the door with a stake out and ready.

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"Angel, please stop and think about this for a few minutes." Wesley pleaded with his employer to slow down and think about his actions. Angel practically ran all the way from the mansion to the cemetery across town. "If this were a game, Spike never would have let you dust Drusilla. No head game, even in Angelus style, would have been worth more to Spike than Drusilla. You've told me that yourself."

"I don't care that it doesn't seem to make sense." Angel twirled around, his coat billowing behind him, to face Wesley at the edge of the cemetery. "Maybe he assumed I wouldn't dust Dru. So now, he's on his own and winging it."

"Listen to yourself," Wesley argued. "This is a bit obsessive even for you. We are out in the middle of the night in a cemetery looking for something that we don't even know exists!"

"There has to be a needle somewhere unless it dusted with the boy." Angelus growled. They reached the area of the battle. "I want to know what was in it, even if it is only to be able to use it against Spike to kill him." He started searching the area in full game face to take advantage of all of his senses natural and supernatural. "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

"I am on the side of truth." Wesley stood next to a headstone. "Rupert Giles and I may not have been friends in any way, but I do still respect him as an elder Watcher. I didn't realize it at the time, but I do now." His foot accidentally kicked a large pile of dust. He looked down at the dust. He wondered whom it belonged to. "If he's being influenced by demonic powers, I want to find a way to stop it, but Mr. Giles is a smart man. He wouldn't be easily fooled by anyone, especially a vampire, after what happened."

Angel's shoulders slumped forward. He knew what Wesley was referring too. With every day that passed, Angel tried to force the guilt of Angelus' actions to the background of his mind. Seeing everyone in Sunnydale only festered a wound that never seemed to seal itself. "That's one reason why I believe a spell is involved. Giles would never trust another vampire again especially one without a soul. Now look for the needle."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles ducked into the crypt just as male voices grew louder and came near him. He was thankful not to find anyone still in the crypt. He revealed evidence of several minions who sat in the crypt for a decent amount of time. He sifted through several little bags of herbs. He mentally jotted down what each one seemed to be while he listened to the conversation outside.

Giles wasn't surprised to distinguish Angel's voice as the loudest of the pair outside. 'He just doesn't let go when he thinks he's right.' He shook his head back and forth. 'Arrogant fool.' He listened to Wesley's impassioned plea for Angel to forget about it. He stood up straight when he heard Wesley talk about Giles with such respect and admiration. 'Guess he isn't as much of a pillock as I thought he was.'

Giles never knew that the upstart of a young Watcher held anything but disdain for him. It was refreshing to hear that even if they hadn't gotten along, Wesley grew enough to realize Giles' worth as a Watcher. 'Maybe I can get Wesley to understand what is really going on in Sunnydale right now. Perhaps he would understand.' He wasn't sure about Wesley's readiness to hear about Spike's road to redemption, but Giles really didn't have anything to lose in trying.

Giles blew out the candle. Obviously Angel and Wesley hadn't seen it yet. He needed to get Wesley's attention without gaining Angel's. As his hand rested against the sarcophagus, his fingertips tipped over a tiny glass vial of liquid. He caught it before it rolled off the stone slab. 'Now what do we have here?'

The door to the crypt burst open. Wesley, stake raised, walked into the crypt. Out of the corner of his eye he'd noticed the flickering and then extinguishments of light coming from this crypt. He swept the beam from his flashlight back and forth over the contents of the crypt. His eyes widened at the startled form of Rupert Giles on the far wall. "Mister ..."

Giles rushed forward to Wesley. He covered Wesley's mouth with his hand. "Shhh ..." He poked his head out the door. He noticed Angel was still looking at the ground in concentration. Confidant that Angel was none the wiser to Giles' presence, he shut the door. "I really don't want to deal with that bastard again tonight," Giles whispered before he removed his hand from Wesley's mouth.

Wesley acquiesced, "I understand. From what I've heard it's been quite an evening." He tucked his stake back into the waistband of his jeans under his belt in the back.

"That it has, and that isn't even the half of what we're dealing with." Giles took in how Wesley looked. In dark denim jeans and a button down cotton shirt with the top couple buttons left open, he was a stark contrast to his former tweedy self. Giles smiled warmly. It seemed that Wesley had indeed begun to "grow up".

Wesley nearly blushed under Giles' perusal. He felt strangely on display to his former colleague. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "You realize Angel believes you are all under some enchantment. He is determined to break whatever it is."

Giles sighed. "Yes, I know. He wouldn't listen to our explanations. We didn't even get a chance to tell him all that is going on." He tucked the glass vial into his pocket.

"What was that?" Wesley questioned. He tried to make out what Giles had in his hand, but it was gone before he could get a good glimpse at it.

"Hopefully a means to an end," Giles cryptically explained. Even after a couple ingestions of Slayer blood, Spike still hadn't fully recovered from the injection. Something that powerful had to be helpful against Glory. He needed to get the vial home to break down the compound.

"Mr. Giles ... Rupert ... please." In those few words Wesley conveyed his pursuit of the truth and knowledge. Even if Angel was his employer, he vowed the day the Council fired him to never follow any organization blindly again. Something wasn't right here, and he strived to find out what was wrong.

"It appears to have a liquid compound in it." Giles held up the vial into the beam of Wesley's flashlight. "I'm hoping it's the same compound that was injected into Spike. I need to determine if there are any long term effects."

"Why do you care what happens to Spike?" Wesley's voice wasn't vindictive but one of curiosity.

"Because Buffy seems to be in love with him, and it is obvious that he is love with her. He treats the rest of the Summers' females as his family to protect. He's also been helping with her patrols for a while." Giles clutched his fingers around the vial. "I might be able to use this liquid to help us with the true evil in our lives right now, and it has nothing to do with Spike. We could use a break."

"You are willing to accept the claim of William the Bloody, a soulless demon, that he loves your Slayer?" Wesley may have been a replacement Watcher for Buffy Summers, but he knew that he was never truly considered Buffy's Watcher in the Slayer's eyes. Giles always knew Buffy better than Wesley ever could.

"That soulless demon has shown more restraint, love, caring, protective and possessive spirits than most soulful humans I know." Giles' voice had a hard edge to it. If this turned out to be an argument with Wesley, he was prepared to knock the young man unconscious to make good his own escape. "He willingly went up against the woman he cared for and loved for over 100 years to protect and save Buffy from her."

"Cordelia Chase has visions, and she saw Spike fighting someone while Drusilla was there. I can only assume that it was Spike fighting Drusilla and her Childer in the hopes of taking them both out." Wesley started to piece together various pieces of the vision Cordelia shared with him. "We misinterpreted the vision originally. We thought Spike and Drusilla were the threat to Buffy."

"Spike placed a familial blood claim on Buffy and her sister Dawn to keep any Aurelians from being able to harm them." Giles leaned back against the wall to support himself. "That would be stupid to do if Spike wanted to be able to harm Buffy. I've checked the ritual in my books, and he did indeed perform the right ritual. Spike can't physically harm Buffy."

"He willingly bound himself to two humans in such a protective manner?" Wesley was amazed. "I believe part of the ritual includes the desire for the initiator and others from the family line to seek to protect those in the familial claim."

"Exactly. Drusilla had to be very twisted with hate to fight the protective instinct," Giles answered.

"So he is protecting her only because he feels compelled to then?"

"No," Giles muttered in frustration. "He performed the ritual out of the need he already had to protect the woman he loves and her family."

"Ah, I see. Highly irregular." Wesley removed his glasses. He rubbed and wiped at the lenses in a nervous habit. Everything sounded so bizarre, but he wanted to listen to everything. Angel had been acting very strange lately, and he would not take everything Angel said as fact. He would make his own hypothesis. To do that he needed all the information he could get from both sides.

Giles smiled at Wesley's habit. It mirrored his natural tendency to do the same. He was growing used to the whole situation, and he wasn't cleaning his glasses quite as often anymore. "I'm gradually realizing just how irregular Spike is for a vampire. He is truly unique. He goes against everything we've ever been taught."

"Do you think these changes are inherent to William the Bloody or might other vampires also be this way?" Wesley chewed on his inner cheek. "We can't spare every vampire on the hopes that they will be like Spike."

"Unless I see otherwise, I will assume that Spike is the exception. Heaven knows I've seen that vampires can be evil and sadistic." Giles tucked the vial back into his pocket. He gathered the various herbs lying on the floor. He stuffed them into a bag before he handed them to Wesley. "I have jotted down the types mentally for my research. Take these with you, and see what you can come up with."

Wesley nodded. "Angel has Cordelia and I looking for a spell. So, he shouldn't question me while I work on the herbs."

"Good. We need to know as much as possible if we are going to defeat Glory. She's unlike any demon we've encountered, but something tells me that she is so much more than we think." Giles peeked out the door of the crypt. "See if you can get him out of here. I need to get back to the hospital."

"Hospital?"

"Joyce Summers had surgery for a cancerous tumor." Giles voice was laced with the sadness he felt in his heart. "She's been in the hospital for days of tests, two surgeries and recovery." He ached when he was apart from her like this. They'd lost so much time already. He had no desire to waste any more of their lives that could be spent together.

"You really do have a full plate right now, don't you Rupert?" Wesley felt sorry for Giles. In L.A. their battles with Wolfram and Hart grew, but he had no personal ties to the problems at hand. Of course Angel did with the reappearance of Darla, but other than Wesley's conflicted feelings where Cordelia was concerned, he was relatively safe from emotional attachments to those in L.A.

"And growing every day." Giles considered their next course of action. He figured that he'd better inform Wesley of one other kink in things. "Xander Harris is in the hospital because he tried to kill Spike but Buffy stepped in the way. If you see him, keep him and Angel away from each other."

Wesley understood why the two needed to be kept separate. He remembered how much Xander spoke out against Angel and anything demonic. He was also one of the two kidnapped by Spike when the vampire returned from South America. Despite the boy's hatred for Angel that would make a person unconcerned, Wesley had the foresight to realize that Xander and Angel might work together to get at Spike. "I'll try to keep Angel as isolated as possible. You all could use a break from another disturbance."

"It would be most appreciated, Wesley." Giles sighed with relief at the young man's understanding. "I need to get back to Joyce."

Wesley heard the emotion in Giles' voice. He was sure more was going on with Joyce Summers than being Buffy's mother. He nodded, headed out the door, and headed straight for Angel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel completely concentrated on his task. He never noticed that there were two human heartbeats in the cemetery. He scoured the ground in his search for the needle used to inject Spike. He spent 15-20 minutes deep in his search before he noticed the white plunger tip sticking out right next to a headstone. 'Yes!' He thought to himself.

Angel bent down to retrieve the small object. Several cc's of liquid remained in the main chamber. He tipped it upside down, needle pointing upwards, to make sure no more of the liquid had a chance to leak out. He hoped the liquid would either tell him what was going on or give him a weapon of torture against his Childe.

Angel turned in a circle to search out Wesley. He headed for the crypt Wesley emerged from. "I found the needle."

"Good." Wesley held up the pouch holding the various herbs Giles located. "I found what could be the ingredients to make your little potion or what's in that needle."

"Excellent. The night isn't a total waste then." With almost a bounce in his brooding self's steps, Angel headed back to the mansion. "Let's see if we can't figure out what these do."

Wesley followed Angel. He was glad the vampire was so engrossed in his discovery. It would make Giles' escape more easily unnoticed. Before he left the crypt, they agreed to meet at the Magic Box the next day in the afternoon. He hoped he had some answers for Giles by then.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quentin Travers stepped off the Council jet parked on a small Sunnydale airstrip. The sunrise was a couple hours ago. Even though the head of the Council slept some on the plane, he was tired. He felt a nap was in order before he tackled the problem that was Miss Buffy Summers.

Several council members, secretaries, and other personnel exited the plane behind their leader. Various briefcases, duffle bags, and other equipment were distributed between each member to carry to the cars waiting for them. The entire group was silent, lost in their own thoughts about the task ahead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy finished getting ready to meet Giles at the hospital by 11 a.m. They were supposed to do a couple more tests. Then they were going to let Joyce come home. Buffy wanted to bring her mom back here as soon as possible. She knocked on Dawn's bedroom door. "Are you ready, Dawnie?"

There was no answer. Buffy knocked again, but she was still met with no response. Just when she was ready to burst through her sister's bedroom door she heard the sound of Dawn's laughter from the kitchen. She ran down the stairs.

"That has to be the grossest thing I've ever seen." Dawn cringed while she laughed. "I'm glad I finished eating because I so could not eat after seeing that."

Spike huffed in mock indignation. "Don't knock it until you try it, Bit." He looked down at his blood covered pancakes. "On second thought, you shouldn't ever try it." He leaned over the counter to pinch Dawn's cheek. After receiving another small dose of Slayer blood in the middle of the night, and then one again this morning, Spike finally felt back to his normal self.

"No worries there, Spike. I'm not requesting that on the Summers' family menu." Dawn rinsed out her glass. She set the dishes down in the sink. She was glad to see Spike up and laughing. After what Giles told them last night, she was pretty worried about Spike.

Buffy stared at the two interacting back and forth. It made her smile to see the easy camaraderie that the two shared with each other. 'How could I have missed that for so long? How did I not allow myself to see this side of him?'

"Hello, luv." Spike walked to Buffy. He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Want some breakfast?" He ran his fingers through her partially damp hair. "I made pancakes."

Buffy gazed up at Spike with the love she felt radiating in her eyes. She pressed another quick kiss to Spike's lips. "Yep, just a couple. You can leave the blood off of mine too unless you are providing the tap." She teased.

Dawn and Spike stared blankly at Buffy. They'd never seen Buffy tease about such a thing. Had Buffy actually teased about Spike using his own blood for her pancakes? Spike and Dawn shared a look before they looked back at Buffy.

"It was a joke, guys. Sheesh." Buffy playfully slapped Spike on the shoulder. She was so happy to see him moving around freely and jovially. One dose of her blood cured Angel of a deadly poison. It took at least 4 or 5 times for Spike to recover. She gave him a considerable amount each time too.

"Fine, but don't insult my tastes. You put that brown maple stuff on your pancakes because you like it. I happen to like A negative." Spike shrugged.

Buffy leaned close to Spike, scraped her fingers over Dru's marks and whispered, "Maybe you'll let me get that sample I've been wanting to have to remove those marks from your neck." She snarled low in Spike's ear to show her desire. "I know you tasted sweet when I nibbled on your cut lip."

Spike gaped at Buffy dumbfounded. Dawn looked back and forth between Spike and Buffy. It was amazing what a difference a week or two could make. Life was much better this way. "Isn't it time we left to meet Giles?" She hated to interrupt, but she was anxious to get their Mom back home again.

"Yes, Dawnie." Buffy grabbed a plain pancake from a plate on the counter before she stepped away from Spike. She felt the love he held for her. She felt the snap of worry course through him in the next moment.

"I still don't see why you won't let me go. I can't protect you from the house." Spike grumbled.

"It is day time out, Spike." Buffy rubbed Spike's arm. "Sun equals dusty boyfriend, and I am not through with enjoying you yet."

Spike growled, pulled Buffy's body tight against his, and spoke, "You'll never be through or rid of me as my Mate." He bent down to nibble on his marks from the familial claiming. "You'll be mine for eternity," his voice trailed off into a purr until he moved away from Buffy to the sink.

Buffy inhaled and exhaled quickly. She fought to keep her racing heart calmer. Everything about Spike was full of life in ways that a dead being should not be able to do. She loved it when he was acting all feral and passionate. "We'll be fine. It's daytime, and we're going to take the Jeep. Mom will fit more comfortably in there than Giles' little car anyways. So, it is probably a good thing his car broke down."

Spike raised a brow at Dawn over his shoulder. "You are a brave one, Bit."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know." Dawn grabbed her purse from the counter. "Let's get this over with."

"No picking on my driving. I'm nervous enough as it is." Buffy called out to Dawn while she followed the teenager out the front door. "Love you, Spike." She called back to Spike. She knew if she went back to give him another kiss, they wouldn't be leaving until the afternoon.

Spike chuckled. He knew why she didn't come back. He shook his head while he washed the dishes. He wanted everything to be clean and ready for Joyce's return. He had to get the dining room all fixed up. It was still in shambles after the incident with Xander.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn burst into Joyce Summers' hospital room. "You have got to get her more driving lessons." She panted. Her complexion was pale. "I'm too young to die." She thought about being the Key. "Okay this body is too young to die, yet."

Buffy hung her head as she walked in much slower behind Dawn. She handed the keys to Giles. "No dents, but it wasn't a fun time." She echoed Dawn's sentiment. "Why can I kill demons, disassemble and reassemble crossbows, wield a sword, and see things other can't see in the dark but I can't see stop signs and red lights in broad daylight?

Joyce covered her mouth to hide a laugh. She never understood why Buffy was such a horrible driver. She assumed part of the reason was because Buffy was scared of driving. Perhaps it was time to get Buffy more driving lessons.

Giles chuckled softly. Buffy's lack of driving skill was well known amongst the Scoobies. It was considered taking your life into your own hands if you drove with her, but today it was necessary to get the jeep to the hospital. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Buffy."

Buffy slumped down into one of the hospital chairs. "It's okay. You didn't ask your car to break down on the way here last night."

Joyce slid out of bed. She was fully clothed in her regular attire. She held a couple prescription slips in her hands and what she had affectionately been calling her "jail release" papers. "As much as I want to console you Buffy, I want out of this hospital more."

Buffy brightened at the prospect of having her mother at home again. "They still agreed that you can go?"

"Yep." Joyce waved the papers around. "These say I can get out of jail and go back home." She chuckled.

Giles smiled warmly. Joyce was so full of spunk today. After seeing her so worn out ragged for the last few days, he was pleased to see her more like her old self. The worry lines of pain around Joyce's eyes told him that part of it was a cover for the pain she was in, but Joyce was indeed happy to be going home.

Dawn wrapped her arm around her mom's. She hugged Joyce with the other arm. "Spike is excited about you coming home too. He's fixing the place up."

"He didn't have to go through all that trouble." Joyce didn't want to put anyone out. She didn't expect special treatment. The looks on the faces around her told her that she was going to be getting a lot of attention and treatment.

"It was a pretty big mess, Mom." Buffy sighed. "We weren't able to clean up after the mess with Xander. You don't need to see that."

Joyce's mama bear side emerged. "He will pay for anything he broke, and he'd better not even think of coming around unless it is for some major apologizing."

Giles wrapped his hand around Joyce's free arm to escort her out of the room. "We shouldn't have anything to worry about where he is concerned for a while."

The four of them walked to the elevator. Ben met them at the door. "Congratulations on going home, Mrs. Summers."

"Thank you, Ben. I'm looking forward to being in my own place again. The prescribed bed rest part I'm not too thrilled about."

Buffy glared at Ben. Something wasn't right. She tried to shake it off, but she couldn't. Ben had been nothing but nice to them at the hospital. Why was every instinct inside of her now telling her kill the man? She was confused.

Ben smiled genuinely. "You need to follow the doctor's orders. He's very good at what he does." He backed away from Buffy a couple steps. Something in the woman's eyes was scary, almost demonic. "He only tells you to do what will be the best for your recovery."

"I'm sure that's true, Ben," Giles wondered about Buffy's reaction. He felt Buffy stiffen next to him when Ben met them. For a brief moment he swore her eyes even changed color. He'd be sure to ask her about it later. "If you'll excuse us, I want to get Joyce home before she is too tired out."

"Of course. Have a good trip." Ben turned on his heel, shook his head, and walked away. 'That is one strange family.'

Dawn watched Ben leave as the doors to the elevator closed. When they walked into the elevator Buffy's body was between her and Ben. Dawn was tall and limber enough to see around her sister. She felt something make her shiver when Ben was around this time. She wondered what it was. She would talk to Buffy about it later. Buffy was acting like she was protecting Dawn from Ben, and Dawn wondered why Buffy felt that was necessary.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike tilted his head to the side a little. The glass and mess in the dining room was all cleaned up. He reframed the lithograph that fell to the floor in the struggle. They would need to get a new piece of glass later, but it still hung in the original frame.

Spike wiped the dining room table again. He repaired the hole in the wall and some of the broken boards. Dust settled on everything in the dining room. So, he had to dust and wipe everything down. He wanted the house to be perfect for Joyce's homecoming.

Spike heard the shutting of car doors outside. He turned on the stove to heat up the kettle filled with water. He brought out a tray of various snacks that he found in Joyce's cupboard. He set it down on the living room table. He turned around in time to see Joyce walk in the door. He stepped back to avoid the sunlight.

"Home, sweet home." Joyce sighed happily. She walked over to Spike and hugged him. "Thank you so much for cleaning up. I'm not sure I would have been able to do it."

Buffy, Spike, Giles and Dawn all gasped. "There will be no cleaning of any sort for a while, Joyce." Spike was the first to speak up. "Buffy asked me to move in, and I've accepted. Between the three of us, we'll get all the housework done."

Dawn started to grumble but stopped when Spike shot her one of his "you'd better do it" looks.

"I'll take care of most of it since I don't really have any commitments outside of you all." Spike explained. He looked at Buffy with encouragement. "Buffy was even talking about looking into catching up on her college classes."

"Is that true, Buffy?" Joyce hugged Buffy when she saw the nod. "That is great. I've been so worried because of all the time you missed taking care of me."

"Family comes first." Buffy hugged her mother in return. "You take of those you love before anything or anyone else." Her gaze landed on Spike as she spoke.

Spike would have blushed if vampires could. The love and desire in Buffy's eyes still amazed him to have it directed at him instead of someone else. He was a very lucky man.

The five of them sat down in the various chairs and couches in the living room. Each one talked about any ideas they had concerning the little tiff the night before. They shared glasses of tea, milk, soda, and various snacks while they talked for the next couple hours.

Giles shared some of his findings on the herb list he compiled. He said that he left a portion of the vials liquid with a friend of his at the hospital to analyze for contents. "I was unable to find a specific potion that used the particular combination of herbs I discovered."

"Maybe it was influenced in more than one way?" Spike sat back on the couch with Buffy. He wrapped his arm around the back of the couch and down her shoulders. "What if it is actually comprised of two separate potions or even a potion and another spell?"

"You could be right." Giles jotted down some notes. "I'll have to broaden my search." He sighed. "It's going to take longer to figure out, but Wesley is looking into his own sources as well."

"Are you sure that it is wise to trust this Wesley again?" Joyce asked. "After all he does work for Angel, and he is here with Angel too."

"I overheard them speaking last night, and I am fairly confidant that he can be trusted."

"Fairly confidant? You'd bloody better be positive, Watcher." Spike countered.

"You can never be 100 percent certain of anything, Spike." Giles closed his notebook. "I trust him to be straight with me on his findings. He didn't sound too convinced that Angel wasn't just seeing things that weren't there."

Spike nodded, and Buffy sat up on the couch. "If he crosses the line, I'll handle him like Angel." She wasn't trying to threaten anything. Another piece of dynamite in the powder keg shed was not what they needed. "He never cared much for me. I was too much of a rebel."

"I think you will find certain changes in Wesley to be to your liking." Giles explained Wes' appearance and sense of confidence that he carried with him.

"That's cool. When are you seeing him again?"

"In a hour at the Magic Box." Giles stood up. "Which reminds me, as much as I am pained to admit it, I need to get to the shop."

"It's fine, Rupert. I understand." Joyce stood up in front of Giles. She took his hands in hers. "You've spent so much time with me already. You have other responsibilities."

"I would spend every moment with you, if I could." Giles kissed the top of Joyce's hand.

Spike, Dawn and Buffy headed for the kitchen as soon as Joyce stood up. They wanted to give the two adults some privacy. Dawn rested against the island with her elbows out behind her and her back against the ledge of the island. "It's just so sweet."

"You're such a romantic, Nibblet." Spike teased.

"And like you aren't?" Dawn turned around with a raised brow directed at the vampire.

"Yeah ... well ... um ... I'll never admit it." Spike humphed in a "so there" sound.

Buffy chuckled. "Give up while you're ahead, baby." She nestled into Spike's side to hug him. "You're secrets are safe with us, but you can't hide your Inner William from us. We know all about him."

Dawn jumped to the other side of Spike to share in the hug. "Yep, you're doomed when it comes to Summers' women. We are your weakness."

"Nope." Spike hugged both Buffy and Dawn tightly. "You are my strength."

The front door clicked behind Giles' exit. Joyce stepped into the kitchen. "Thank you."

"No problem, Joyce." Spike moved around Buffy and Dawn to reach the woman he considered as much his mother and friend as he did his biological mother. "You look a bit tired. Would you like a hand to your room?"

"Thank you, Spike. I guess coming home wore me out a bit more than I expected it too." She walked slowly up the stairs next to Spike.

Buffy followed behind the pair. She and Dawn helped settle their mom into her room. Spike left while the women took care of the changing and tucking in. When they were content of Joyce's well being, they all headed back downstairs to sit on the couch.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With a slight bounce in his step, Giles exited the jeep. He parked it in a spot near the front of the store. After all of the upset of the night before, it was nice to have his day going so well. His wonderful day ended the moment he stepped into the Magic Box.

The color drained from his face at the large amount of men and women dressed in tweed crowding his shop. They were standing everywhere, checking things out. Sitting at their research table sat a man he hoped he wouldn't have to see again, Quentin Travers.

Anya rushed over to Giles. "You have to make them go away, Giles." She whined in frustration. "They've been here for hours, and they are scaring the customers away." She pointed to Quentin Travers, "Especially that one. He glowers."

Giles would have chuckled at Anya's assessment of Quentin Travers, but he was too annoyed to find Quentin's presence in his shop.

Quentin pulled an antique timepiece from his vest pocket. He clicked it open to look at the time. He snapped it shut, and without looking up at Giles he spoke, "Do you even know the meaning of work and productiveness anymore, Rupert."

Giles refused to let the older man rile him. "I know exactly where my priorities lay. I am not accountable to you any more." He no longer worked for these pillocks. He wasn't at their beckon call any more. "Whatever you want, Quentin, you can't have it." He walked over to the cash register to go over the sales book for the day.

"Perhaps we have something for you." Quentin offered in a token explanation for their presence.

"I highly doubt you'd be offering us anything since we no longer work for you." Giles spoke up without a glance in the direction of Quentin Travers.

A man of India based origins spoke up in anger. "The Slayer will always work for the Council. She can't get rid of us!"

Giles snapped the book he was reading shut. The pop of the heavy book snapping shut startled a few of the Council members. "Yet, she has quit the Council." He moved around the counter to face Quentin again. "Unless I hear a very good reason soon, we will have nothing more to say to each other aside from get out of my store."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wesley entered the Magic Box with his head buried in one of the books he studied all day. "I think that I might have a ..." He stopped mid-sentence and looked up at the sound of a clearing throat. Giles stood in front of a table. Wesley started to speak, but then he noticed all of the other people just standing around the shop. He raised his brows in question. Last he heard Giles was fired from the Council like Wes. What would the Council be doing here now?

"Don't look at me. I didn't invite them," Giles grunted in response. He'd thought about contacting the Council to find out more information on Glory. He never got to it because of Joyce's sickness. Now the Council was here on his doorstep, uninvited. That didn't bode well for their little group.

Quentin Travers looked over Wesley. He reassessed every aspect of the former Watcher in that glance. His judgments mainly stayed the same as his previous ones, but he took note of the changes in stance and appearance. "Nice of you to join us, Wesley." The condescension that was always apparent when Travers talked to someone he didn't like was out in the open when he uttered Wes' name. "Perhaps you can enlighten us on what's been happening lately to warrant the presence of 2 ex-Watcher's since Rupert here doesn't seem inclined to."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)
 

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