Part Seven
"It must have a proximity limit. That's the only explanation." Wesley looked up from the book he had been studying since the younger vampire had brought it down. "The further away Willow got from the cast area, the weaker the hold it had on her."
"But wouldn't she have allowed for that." Cordelia asked as she sat down beside him. "I mean, Willow came up to LA to help out or to get magic stuff all the time."
"Perhaps so, but this last time, Willow left intending to stay with Angel for an extended period. Tara obviously didn't have time to enforce her original casting on Willow and that may have contributed to whatever is going on now." Wesley responded, as he tapped the book thoughtfully. "In fact a time limit as well as or rather than proximity limit."
"Then the question really is can it be broken completely?" Fred moved out of the shadows as she took a place at the table as well. Gunn was close behind her, resting his hands on the back of her chair.
"I really can't tell Fred. To be absolutely honest, I'm not even familiar with this original spell." He admitted as he placed the text on the table. "The only thing I'm really sure of is that it seems to have been specifically adapted for Willow in particular. The precise wording literally shouts it."
Cordelia gave a scornful huff. "I just bet it does."
"Read it yourself if you don't believe me."
"It's not that Cordy doesn't believe you, Wes, she just doesn't want to believe you." Willow's soft voice came unexpectedly from the dining room doorway. Everyone swung round to find her leaning against the dark-haired vampire, Spike and Dawn behind them. The slight redhead was still very pale but there was a familiar glint to her green eyes. "Do you, Cordy?"
"Now that sounds like the Willow Rosenberg we know and love." The Seer jumped to her feet with a broad but still concerned grin. She rushed forward and kissed her cheek. "You're still doing an impression of those two idiots, girlfriend. We really need to do something about that."
"Leave her alone, beautiful. Time is the only thing going to help her there." Lorne came from out of nowhere, grinning broadly as well. "Sweet cheeks, you better get the precious thing off her feet before she falls though."
"If you and Delia get out of the way, Lorne, it would be much easier to do just that." Angel smiled down at Willow as he led her to the seat Cordelia had vacated.
The redhead returned it, placing a small hand over his as he rested his hands on her shoulders. "You do know that Lorne and Cordy just insulted both you and Spike then, Angel."
"And this would be unusual because…" He responded swiftly making her laugh slightly. He ran his finger down her cheek before turning his attention to his team. "Any luck with the book?"
"The first spell was definitely edited with Willow in mind." The former Watcher immediately replied, pushing the book across the table to the redhead at her silent request. "We haven't had time to look for anything else. As Dawn should have told you."
"I did, I just didn't say why." The teenager replied, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Yes, well, thank you for that." In return, he mock frowned at her in return before turning back to Angel and Willow. "To clarify things slightly, we've been warding off Harris and his ex demon. He seems to be under the impression that Spike was holding Willow hostage."
"He really needs to grow up." Cordelia frowned heavily before a broad grin lit up her face. "Dawn actually kicked his shin and told him that."
"He annoyed me." Dawn shrugged her shoulders, a slight grin playing at the edge of her mouth. "And he's been asking for it for a while now."
"That's my girl." Spike pulled a lock of chestnut hair gently, grinning genuinely for first time that evening. "Next time you can do that other thing we talked about."
Gunn also grinned. "And with that, why do I get the feeling he was lucky, Dawn-girl."
Before she could respond to either man or vampire, a sound escaped Willow's lips and all attention was focused on her. Dawn shot to her side immediately. "Will, what's wrong?"
"I know this spell, the original, I'm sure of it." Willow looked down at the book, a pained anguished expression crossing her face before her familiar look of resolve emerged. "Dawn, I need my books."
"I'll go get them." Dawn sprang up, eager to help her surrogate sister.
"Spike, there are some books at the magic shop we might need as well. You know which ones." She looked up at the younger vampire, an almost pleading look in her green eyes, "And you might as well get a complete set of ingredients as well and the spare weapons trunk from out back."
"Yeah pet, I get the picture." He managed to pull Wesley out of his chair before his chip kicked in. "Come on, Watcher, you can keep Xapper off my back."
As they left, Angel moved round to take the empty seat, then raised her gaze to his. "Will, what is it?"
"I really do know this spell, Angel. I just can't remember where." Willow put the book back down on the table, then slipped her hands into his. "But there's this voice telling me it's important."
He tightened his hold on her hands as she paled once more, a further attack of pain passing through her small frame. "I believe you, little one, but are you sure you can continue this tonight?" She nodded slowly. "Then tell me what you want us to do."
"We need to find one of them, Angel. We have to ask one of them face to face what they're up to." She tightened her hold on his hand again.
"Then we'll bring in Rayne for you, little one." He told her simply as Dawn returned burdened with several unwieldy books and the redhead's precious computerised Book of Shadows. "I get the feeling he may be the easier of the two to find."
"You can say that again." The teenager murmured, thanking Lorne with a smile as he took the books from her.
"I take it from that you know where Rayne is, Dawn?"
"Spike followed him to the other side of town into the old centre." Dawn herself gently laid the laptop on the table next to Willow. "You know the part near to Willie's. Said he went into a shop."
"Why do I get the feeling that I know exactly which one too! This is just so typical." Cordelia grouched slightly before turning to the demon fighter and the physicist. "It's time to take a walk down old memory lane, guys. Ready to party?"
"Lead away princess." Gunn grinned as he swung his arms around her and Fred's shoulders. "It's about time we had a tour of this old home of yours."
"Come on, Lorne, you can help me get the things I can't reach… and the snacks." Dawn murmured absently, kissing Willow's cheek. "Angel, make sure she rests."
"Yes ma'am." Angel and Lorne snapped off sharp salutes before the latter followed the teenager out of the dining room into the kitchen.
Left alone, Angel and Willow looked at each other, bemused grins crossing both their faces.
"Is it me or did we say something to make everyone leave?" Willow murmured with a smile as she rose slowly to her feet, only to find herself leaning weakly against his side. "And that girl is so turning into a scary mixture of Giles, Xander and Buffy."
"There's a good dose of you in there as well, Will." He responded as her drew her down onto his lap. With a tired sigh, she rested her head in the crook of his neck, arms around his neck as she let his strength supplement her own weakened state.
"And things almost seem back to normal around here again." She murmured, her warm breath against his neck making him shiver slightly. "I've missed that you know."
"That's because they all have something to do now, instead of just wondering what the heck is going on." There was only the slightest hitch in his voice as he tightened his arms around her slender waist, holding her closer. "And as it is clearly helping you out for a change, they all jumped to it as fast as they can."
"Oh!" She murmured in a slightly puzzled tone as she closed her eyes, a small hand now curled up in his jumper. "That's just strange somehow?"
"No baby, not strange." He murmured into her hair, pulling her closer before rising to his feet. He carried his precious witch into the living room, laying her down on the settee once more. Kneeling down beside her, he gently brushed back a lock of hair before leaving his hand against her soft cheek.
"Not strange at all, just well overdue."
END PART SEVEN
