Title : Realization Hits

Author : Madd13

Rating : T - M for language

Disclaimer : All credit goes to Joss Whedon for the creation of BTVS

Characters : Buffy and the Scoobies, Spike, Angel and others

Summery : Set in an AU Season 6 where Spike's chip has ceased working, a little magic is worked on the gang, offering much to think about.

The red headed witch frowned, blinking at Angel. Willow had been the first to be informed about the sudden vision of badness that had been sent Angel's way. She understood why the older vampire was here, ready to ride to the blond Slayer's rescue, but she didn't understand why there was so little information and why aforementioned vampire was staying.

She let out a small sigh, leaning closer to Tara as the gang tried to mull over both the danger to come and the cranky vampires shifting uneasily around the edges of the group. Having a surprise research party hadn't been in the cards the night Angel had breezed into Sunnydale. In fact, it had taken a couple of days for things to get organized and enough books gathered since Giles had been out of town. He said business but a couple of the gang highly suspected there had been a very different kind of business than what the watcher implied.

"This does make little sense. Typically, there is some kind of hint, at least, as to what will be arising. I-I just don't understand why there would be so few details." Giles stood, the Englishman beginning to pace near the front door. He fell into deep thought, the ear piece automatically going between his teeth. "I've never heard of a vision being that unhelp-y myself," The witch said, a concerned look on her face. "Maybe what ever big beastie is coming can keep anything from really detecting it. Or .. Or whoever had the vision just wasn't powerful enough to get full reception?"

Willow started to look hopeful. If it was at least a weak powered seer, she was certain she could boost that person's ability to receive the messages from the Powers That Be. If it was the former, then … well, she wasn't sure what she could do but she was damn sure that she and Tara could figure out a way to circumvent this things ability to remain obscure.

"The seer is actually pretty powerful. She's had a few years to get the hang of her power now," Angel said, deflating Willow's hope that the easy option would be the logical one. What he didn't tell them that it was Cordelia that was having the visions and sending him here to warn them. Actually, she had told him to just call, but given the vagueness, he had to come in person.

Xander frowned, reaching for his third slice of pizza. "So, we have some unknown thing coming at us, with an unknown level of power, that can hide itself from anyone that can peek into the future, and brings you to town?" He started. The frown turned into a false bright smile. "Good! I would have hated to get a detailed manual with the instructional DVD in the mail. This is so much better." Anya patted his knee comfortingly. "Actually, this is a lot worse. We'll most likely be killed by some other displaced god."

A collective shiver ran through everyone save Angel. The memory of Glory was still all too fresh and Spike was the one to show the most reaction. His mild fidgeting in the corner got worse. He also moved closer to the Slayer, blue eyes scanning the windows as if waiting for something to just burst through them. Angel was only spared the remembered pain of the entire ordeal as he had never showed his face. He had visited Buffy's grave once while no one was around and had sent Dawn flowers. It had meant nothing to anyone.

Angel refused to admit that he should have been a little more present here when he knew that those Buffy considered family suffered. If he loved her, he should have been here to take care of them. He forced himself to be blind to the fact that that was exactly what Spike had done. Spike, a vampire without a soul, had stood shoulder to shoulder with these people, helping them night after night. Not only did he take care of the super-human muscle they needed, but he had looked after Dawn as well.

But that wasn't the problem at hand. The problem was finding out what was going to be causing them some kind of pain. They were all prepared for that. There had yet to be an apocalypse that hadn't injured them all. Buffy, of course, had the worst time of it all, followed perhaps by Spike. A few of the Scoobies had needed attention at the hospital, but nothing worse than Buffy dying. And then, Spike had been the only one that had gotten the worst damage from Glory this last round. Tara had needed a cast and lost her memory, but she hadn't had her very own, special torture session with the god.

Spike had needed serious recuperation time after that and had gone through the pain of it by himself. He had yet to be considered a true part of the team even though he didn't let the metaphorical cat out of the bag. He still didn't feel like he was part of the group even with all that he had done. He stuck to his crypt when the chip had started going haywire, causing him massive pain at random. A week after it had given him a random zap, he and Harris had gotten into an argument. Unfortunately, his impulsiveness had gotten the better of him and he punched the whelp. He had been prepared for pain but received none.

There had been a few mild tests done on him after that by the group, including him being allowed to vent his frustrations out on Xander to a mild extent. He couldn't say that hadn't been fun, but it taught them all that his chip had failed. The gang had kept their distance from him after that for a while. Dawn had been the sweetest thing though, trusting him without fail. And not once had he even felt the urge to bite into anyone, regardless of how angry they had made him.

Whatever was coming was going to see some fang. Spike wasn't about to let this thing get away with bringing Captain Forehead into town and ruining the first hassle free night he had had with Buffy in a very long time. Giles took in the frustrated vampire's demeanor and quickly came up with the best game plan to appease pretty much everyone. To an extent.

"We should best be looking into this then. See if there are any texts referring to any dates in the near future. Angel, if you would help me with some translations," He started, delegating tasks out, starting with the primary instigator of ill will even if it was unintentional. "Willow, Tara, Anya, if you would start researching in those books there." He pointed to a stack of books beside the couch. It should only take a few hours for them to get through if they could speed read.

Turning to the peroxide blond, he offered the hyperactive man a way to relax himself a little. "Spike, if you would patrol the area for any immediate threats, perhaps make a map of places of interest?" That should give the other Englishman plenty of people to hit and something to keep his mind off the topic of Angel. And to calm both Xander and Spike, Buffy would be kept away from the brooding vampire. "Buffy, Xander, I am famished. I think your famed pizza catering is in order."

"Why am I getting pizza? I should be out patrolling, too," Buffy argued, frowning at her Watcher. Rupert Giles, Watcher extraordinaire and expert in petchulant Slayers, was prepared for such a rebuttal. "If you are to be the focus of this next big attack, then I want you to lay low for a little while. Demons know you're here and that is enough for now. Until we know what this is, I think you should allow Spike to take the foreground in patrolling."

Buffy frowned, rolled her eyes, and gave in. Giles could be almost as stubborn as her and she knew some of the others would agree with him. She didn't feel like fighting that many to get her way. She told herself that it would just be fore tonight.

Then a high pitched voice chimed in from the stairs. "Can I help?" Dawn asked excitedly. Buffy scowled as she pulled her jacket on. "Homework first." The younger Summers girl gave a small huff, pouting at her sister. Spike stepped out of the living room, about to follow the pizza fetching pair out. "You and me can find something fun to do when I get back, Li'l Bit. Even help you with your homework if you haven't finished yet," He said with a small smile. It earned him one back, the young brunette nodded ecstatically and running up the stairs to get started on her homework so she could just spend time with the cute vampire rather than make him do stupid school stuff with her.

Buffy blinked, surprised how a few words from Spike alone could make her little sister eager to math work. The blond eyed the blond skeptically, giving him more consideration. Maybe there really was more to him if she just gave him the chance to prove it to her.

Nah.

She pushed Xander out the door, leaving Spike, having seen the look in her eyes confused to slink out after them. The fact that Buffy hadn't just snapped at his childe made Angel frown. Spike was not endearing and shouldn't be getting any kind of positive Slayer attention, mild as it was. It certainly shouldn't come from his Slayer. Still he remained silent and picked up a book, beginning to thumb through yellowed pages and deciphering what he could.

Across town a man placed his hands on his hips, pleased with the house before him. "Its almost ready, right?" He said, looking at a smaller dark haired man. The second man looked up, briefly pausing in his chant over a circle of candles. "It would be done faster if you stopped asking me when it would be done," He groused. He flinched at the death glare he received in turn. Clearing his throat, he stuttered as he began chanting again, fighting not to move out of arm's reach. He was weak, but he was trying really hard to act tougher.

A dirty blond snickered behind his hand, glad that he wasn't the one trying to work such a complicated spell. He still got a hit across his arm, silencing him. He pouted, knowing he hadn't done anything to deserve that. The standing pair fell silent as the chant grew louder, the house before them beginning to glow a soft red.