RE-INFORMING (1.02.02)
Angel's talking to Giles on the phone. "Right, I understand." Hangs up. "Gunn, I need you to do a sweep. Buffy's missing here, in LA."
"Two problems with that scenario, one... I have no idea what she looks like. And two... she's dead."
"Not anymore."
"Have Spike do it." Illyria suggests. Over the years she's come to think of Spike as a friend. Someone who you can always rely on. Just then Spike comes storming down the stairs.
"Spike, good. Buffy's missing, she came back again."
"I'm not going out to looks for her if that's what you mean, poofter." Spike snarls at him.
"Just do a quick sweep."
Spike goes back to his room and finds Buffy sitting on his bed. "Thought you'd've left."
"Didn't have anywhere to go."
"Know the feeling." He lights a cigarette, "So, why are you here? Last I heard you were dead again."
"Same to you. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Didn't want to make a big deal about it." he shrugs. "That and I didn't want to admit it."
"Admit what?"
"That you didn't need me."
"I do need you. All of you, the whole gang... I just don't think I can handle it all at once." She pauses for a second, "I was sent back by this girl. In a dream, a prophetic one... I'm pretty sure. That's how I knew you were back. And I know you won't want to tell me... but I have to know everything you know about Autum."
Spike's face gets extremely paler. "Autum? She's dead."
"Death apparently doesn't mean as much as it used to, Spike."
"I don't know much about her... Angel probably knows more. Order of Aurelius and all that... She was his Childe, I think. But there's more to it then that. If you really want to know it all... we'll need to wait for everyone to get here. And this group, even with the Scoobies won't be enough to stop her."
"I know at least someone who can help. I haven't seen him in over a decade... but he'll come."
Buffy and Spike go to the hotel lobby.
"Buffy!" Angel says as he hugs her. She stands there, doing nothing.
"I have something to tell you about... Giles, Willow, Xander, Andrew, Faith, and Dawn are coming here. But before they get here I have to tell you guys everything that you need to know. Angel and Spike, possibly even Illyria will have to prepare for the meeting. you're the best sources we have. Two big bads are coming. One goes by the Essence, the other by Autum." Angel gasps, "I know what you're thinking, Angel, but if there's anything I know it's this. She's alive, she's evil, and she'll do whatever it takes to bring me down a notch or two. And if we don't stop her, she'll find a way to rebuild Sunnydale... Hellmouth and all."
Angel puts an arm on her shoulder, "We'll stop her. But what about the Essence?"
"She's bent on destroying the world. She somehow has a relationship to Illyria... I think. She's ending the Slayer line."
"Wasn't that the First's gig?" Spike asks.
"She undid Willow's spell. They all died in battle. Faith and I excluded."