Whatever Tomorrow Brings
By Hungry Lucy
Spoilers: AU, after the beginning of S7. Oh, and Willow never went on her crazy rampage, so she and Giles are still around.
Summary: The Scoobies need Spike to come back, and Willow tries a summoning spell, but of course it goes a bit awry and she wakes a certain afro-haired slayer from the 70s…
Disclaimer: Not really mine, though I still do what I please with them.
Rating: I'm not a woman of the ratings, but let's say, no detailed sex, and a few harsh words, so R.
Posting: Just let me know.
A/N: This is originally a one-piece, but I've split it into a few parts for your reading pleasure. I'd recommend listening to some techno type music while you're reading this, as I always find it beautifying the stories) Just a small tip…
Sunnydale, CA
"Buffy?" Willow shouted from the couch, not even bothering to take her eyes of the TV screen.
When she was only answered by a painful groan, she turned around, frowning, and saw Buffy practically lying on the floor, her face almost unrecognizeable, covered with bruises and cuts. Willow could only guess what the rest of her body looked like. She ran to her friend and helped her sit up, causing more groans.
"God Buffy, what happened? Who did this to you? The Rangers?"
Buffy started to nod, but changed her mind and mumbled, as loud as she could manage. "Yeah." Her voice was raspy.
The Rangers were the new demon gang in town, mainly consisting of Gage demons. They'd though that the group was small and pretty powerless so far, but they seemed to have gotten it wrong.
Just then, Dawn came out from the kitchen with a huge bowl of ice cream, saw her sister and shrieked, dropping the bowl and the ice cream all over Buffy.
An hour later, Buffy was bandaged up as well as they'd managed, making her look pretty much like a bad copy of an old horror movie mummy. Willow had done a small rest and heal-spell on her after they'd put her on the sofa, and she was now sleeping soundly while Willow and Dawn sat and tried to plan what they'd do if the Rangers decided to come after them. Gage demons didn't need an invitation, they were strong, maybe stronger than the slayer, and as magic didn't have any effect whatsoever on them, things didn't look so bright.
They decided to call for help.
Half an hour later Giles, Xander and Anya had been added to the group gathered in the Summer's living room.
"We need someone strong. Angel?"
There were a few protests but soon everyone was convinced it was their best shot and Willow went to call him, but returned a few minutes later, looking beaten.
"He doesn't answer his cell phone, and he's out of town according to Wesley, but I could try this light summoning spell that'd kind of creates a magnet-type of reaction to summon him here. Without any screwing aroung with his mind." Willow said hopefully, looking at Giles for some sort of approval.
"Why don't you just do some sort of teleporting spell to send him here right this second?"
"Dawn, I don't think she's ready for that just yet, it would be a very powerful and um, addicting spell." Giles helped Willow out.
"Okay, but he'll still get here pretty quickly, won't he?"
"Well, if he's only a short way from LA, he can't be that long from here. Now, I'll need something that belongs to him."
Everyone looked around, not even sure that they'd ever seen any of Angel's actual possessions, except the clothes he wore.
"That might be a problem. See, when he and Buffy um, broke up, she kind of, threw everything out, and…" Willow's face fell.
"I know!" Dawn beamed and ran off. She returned with a leather bundle in her hand.
"What's that?"
"Spike's duster." Dawn smiled.
"Dawn, I don't see how Spike's duster could possibly help us, I mean, it belongs to Spike, not Angel… Oh!"
Dawn beamed even more.
"No! We are NOT ever again getting ourselves involved with that…that monster!" Xander made his distaste known.
"Dawnie, I don't know if this is such a good idea, maybe we should ask Buffy about it…"
"No! Willow, we can't just wait around for her to wake up! We have to be able to make decisions without her. Besides, she'll understand, I mean, we're doing it to protect ourselves aren't we?"
Willow tried to think of an argument, she was sure that something had happened before Spike left without even saying goodbye, but they really needed him here and Buffy'd just have to overcome their differences and realize it.
"Get the white candles and the purple sand. We're doing it."
When the spell was finished, Willow fell to the floor, drained and breathing heavily. Dawn and Xander rushed to her side.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, this spell just took a bit more out of me than I'd expected, that's all."
Willow tried to hide her worry. It shouldn't have been that hard. The power it had required was frightening, she'd only just avoided getting sucked in. She'd have to ask Giles about it later, when they were alone.
"Dawn I'm fine, stop fussing." Willow stood up on legs she hoped looked steadier than they felt. "All we can do now is wait and see. Spike could be on the other side of the planet for all we know."