Disclaimer see Part 1. Chanel was amazing beta.

Chapter 10

Too far away to do anything about the chaos that reigned at the Watcher's secret base, the Serenity was steadily rushing closer. The air seemed colder than normal though that was probably just an illusion because of the crew's stiff temper. Since they had left the Watcher's headquarter Mal sat brooding on the bridge, probably driving Wash mad. Book had gathered numerous books that now lay clattered all over the kitchen table while the Shepherd hung over them like the Sword of Damocles.

Shortly afterwards Simon had gone to Book with the intention not to leave without any information about Rivers whereabouts. But the older man had shook his head and explained in quick words what had happened.

Barely satisfied with it and more than worried Simon had left. Since then he was sitting on the couch, his arms lying protectively over his chest and deep in thought. He'd known River was made a guinea pig in the cruel hands of some overenthusiastic scientists but… she was just a little girl who liked to dance.

How dare these people to affect a young girl like this? How dare them to tamper with her fate? Her future? Her life? She wasn't to be used like a tool when it was needed.

He felt utterly helpless and the last two days seemed longer than their respective 24 hours. His stomach cramped painfully and with an angry shove he hoisted himself from his sitting position to cross the room with several long steps. When he reached the door he turned around repeating his erratic strides thinking about ways to take revenge on them and the Vampire, who had taken her away from so bluntly.

His eyes fell on the book Inara had left lying around and he sat down in front of it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"What spell?" Spike demanded to know and had to quicken his pace to keep up with Willow.

She answered when he'd caught up without looking at him. "I just couldn't leave her alone."

She sounded forlorn and sad. When she didn't go on he carefully nudged her to tell more. "Buffy?"

"Of course Buffy. Kennedy and I, we tried to find a way to get her back. Months and months of futile research. We tried all kinds of locator spells, we even tried a really kinky and not appetizing Resurrecting Spell. Oh…" She sighed heavyhearted. "Remind me to establish a "Save the Puppies & Kitten Foundation" as soon as we've got time for this." She stopped his question with a wave of her hand. "DON'T ask! Bad enough I have to remember." Halting in front of a door she laid her hand against the metal which swung open without any noise.

In the meantime Spike was unsuccessfully trying to wrap his mind around the fact, that Willow Rosenberg, powerful witch and computer nerd, the one with the pink colored teddy bear sweater, was walking next to him. Now. In the 25th century like she had said goodbye yesterday to go to the grocery shop. In her case, she probably had.

"By the way, what date is it?" she asked waiting for him to follow. Spike gulped.

"Uhm... 2518 I think."

"What?" Now the witch stood still looking at the vampire like he had just announced the full moon to be made of vanilla ice cream.

"Hey, YOU're the one who obviously made a mighty swan dive five hundred ago years to get started. You must have been bored to death." He rolled his eyes.

"Of course I wasn't since I was busy keeping the hundreds of slayers calm?"

"Hundreds of..." His face showed his confusion and Willow squinted her eyes, unsure whether the Vampire was pulling her leg.

"Are you serious? 2518?" She run her hand over her shoulder-length hair, pushing it irritated behind her ear. With erratic moves she began walking back and forth, quietly huffing. "Five hundred years. Oh my Goddess! This is not how I wanted this to work out."

"Why? Where have you been all the time if you haven't even realized how much time has passed?"

For a moment he thought she hadn't even listened but after a minute she looked up, her expression changing between exasperation and astonishment.

"The spell connected me to Buffy's soul. Of course it hadn't worked if she had already been dead at this time but...," She giggled and a hint of maddened panic crossed her stoic features. "She wasn't. I wanted her to get out, give her some power to escape from wherever it was they hid her. I don't remember actually how it all started. But we... had some problems." The last word was shaded with a trembling voice and Willow managed an unconvincingly smile.

"Problems?" Spike repeated.

"Uhm, yeah. Slayer problems actually," she said and Spike could have sworn to see her flinch.

"But Buffy was the last Slayer, wasn't she? How could there be slayer problems with no slayers left?"

"That's the question! Uhhmm...," She cleared her throat. "Somehow the power of all the slayers, of all the young girls affected by my spell, was still existent when I cast the spell to search for Buffy's soul. It was like their powers were concentrating on revenge for their deaths. Since it were so many dead girls, all souls sharing the same pains, they kinda... glued to my attempts of seeking Buffy. Like a whole bunch of trampers jumping on a tiny Volkswagen."

"They glued on a Volkswagen," Spike said dazedly.

"Yes, I don't know how to describe it. They were... just there."

"How?"

"I have no idea. But I bet my bank savings the Powers That Be had their fingers in the pie – do I still have a bank account? Oh, whatever - There must have been something they're good for – the Powers that be I mean. I only just woke up some hours ago. And my timing was good enough to save you out there." Now she stood again, stemming her fists on her hips and shooting daggers from her eyes. "What have you been thinking anyway? Getting yourself caught like a greenhorn." She shook her head. "Don't tell me the future made you soft."

"Hear who's talking," Spike grumbled, hastily changing the subject. "Fine, whatever. Where's Buffy?"

"We… uhhm... we should probably follow the tracks of mayhem and demolition," Willow said looking up.

They had reached the far end of the tunnel where a dusty latter went up into the ceiling to a trap door. Recent feet had stirred up the dirty steps and a fine powder hung in the air. The door was open and a persistent thread of red liquid was dripping on the floor. The unmistakable smell of blood rose up in Spikes nose and he could feel his game face rise.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"What do you mean – she's not alone?" Gordon whispered, not daring to speak out loud. He saw River standing in front of them, her concentration drawn to the door. Suddenly a sound behind his back made him jump and over his shoulder he could see three persons coming in the dim light forming a line. They were wearing odd clothes, suits that looked expensive and like they belonged to an official Alliance gala. But what disturbed him most: Their hands were blue.

"Two by two, hands are blue," he mumbled aghastly.

"Aren't they pretty?" River said, obviously not yet aware of the blue men. "Too much rage and feet and glory to run away. Like little heroes lost in one soul."

Finally the door swung open and Gordon had to protect his eyes behind his arms to escape the painful brightness. Through his middle- and forefinger he squinted into the light but couldn't make out more than a vague silhouette of a body surrounded by ethereal, nearly translucent strings. Like long hair in the wind they billowed around her, caressing her features and wrapping her in a warm blanket.

Gordon gasped, the blue men forgotten. River never wavered in her stance as the silhouette turned out to be the body of a girl. She looked small, delicate with slender legs and arms. Her hair was long and reached down her back.

He realized the blue men had came alarmingly close and he turned around willing to bite and nail his way through them to get out River and the girl he suspected to be Buffy. Next to him Mika did the same. She held her hands in front of her as if to break someone's nose with a good punch.

The three men came closer and Gordon tried to keep an eye on both parties. Various voices whispered in his ears, making his hands twitchy und sweaty. He couldn't understand what they were saying since their tongues stumbled over each other, swirling into a mix of hundreds of languages. Still, undoubtedly, they were angry.

A small soundless explosion made him crouch, pulling Mika down beside him and a pleasant warmth flooded his back from behind. The light spread fast all over the corridor and struggling sounds could be heard from where the three blue men stood.

"What's going on?", Mika cried and stood up when the light vanished. Two of the three men had fallen, lying unconscious or dead – Gordon really didn't want to know – but one of them was still standing. His face was contorted in an angry mask and there was blood running freely from his nose and ears. With a grunting noise he attacked Gordon, who was standing closest. Gulping down his panic, Gordon realized a small knife in the hands of his adversary. By stepping aside he avoided being sliced open and turned around as fast as possible, grasping the blue man's hand and bending it towards the ceiling. A mix of spittle and blood splattered in Gordon's face as the man gave a guttural scream, ramming his other fist into Gordon's stomach so that he stumbled a few feet backwards. Only now the young man realized the voices were still existent and seemed to grow in intensity and volume. They echoed from the walls, hissing and shrieking like mad.

Meanwhile Mika forgot about her terror and when she saw their opponent nearing Gordon again she jumped on the man's back without second thought. Granted, not one her finest moves since the guy shook her off his back like she was nothing more but an annoying fly. Both, she and Gordon, were lying on the floor, struggling to get up fast. But there was no more time. The blue man obviously assessed neither as an imminent danger and stalked to River, his eyes never wavering from his goal. But Buffy moved with a breathtaking speed causing the light around her to blur and positioned herself between River and her assailant. The small woman lifted her hand and the man bounced against an invisible wall, flying backwards with enough force to damage the solid wall where he hit it. The sound of breaking bones was quite satisfactory in Gordon's eye but there was not time to feel victorious. Through the open door that Buffy had destroyed more people came running, shouting orders and fastening their steps to reach the three intruders and the Slayer.

"We have to get out", Mika spoke out what Gordon was thinking and grabbed Rivers arm to pull her with her. Gordon stayed a moment longer observing the seemingly oblivious slayer. Through the hazy, yellow mist he could see her eyes, white and unblinking.

"We have to go!", he said, feeling rather stupid for stating something that obvious. Carefully he stretched his hand out, hoping for a nod or a glimmer of understanding. But the entity – or whatever the girl was – kept her calm manners and whispered with an urgent undertone "Go! We'll make sure you get away."

"No, I won't go without you," he answered.

She smiled at his stubbornness. "You remind me of someone."

"Gordon!" he heard a scream from far ahead. Mika had reached to door to the staircase and waved her arms frantically. "Come!"

Buffy nodded and the slightest hint of amusement teased the corners of her mouth. "You NEED to go, We'll take care of me. We waited for such a long time." Now Gordon was sure. A wide smirk appeared on her face. "Now we're up to some ass-kicking."

Five minutes later, his chest heaving with the effort of taking three steps at once, Gordon pushed open the door and found himself back on the roof. The small transporter was only a few feet away and he could see Mika helping River into the vessel. His feet made creaky noise on the sand concrete and a mighty sandstorm tormented his ears and his nose. Holding his hands up to protect his eyes, the wind pushed him sideways and he felt like he would be swept away any second. With great effort he reached the door and a hand from the inside grabbed his wrist, pulling him inside and he fell down.

"We have to…" he said and doubled over with coughing fit. "We have to go back. Buffy's is still in there."

"Gordon…" Mika said. "There's no way we can go back in there. Buffy can take care of herself."

Another hand lay down on his shoulder and he looked up in River's intense eyes. She was smiling, the first time that Gordon could remember and a peaceful air seemed to surround her like she "knew". Knew things other people didn't.

"Don't worry," she said and nodded slightly. "No power in the 'verse can stop them."

Gordon opened his mouth to reply but thought otherwise. He'd have to wait.

But waiting was not something he liked very much. Time stretched into eternity. A tingling sensation spread out over Gordon's back and reached his fingers. Trying to loosen the tension in his body he stood up, risking a glance through the front window of the transport over the roof towards the entrance. The door was still open, slamming repeatedly against its frame in the ongoing storm. Buffy was definitely taking her time with her ass-kicking, Gordon thought.

He could feel River's eyes on his back and did his best to ignore them.

"She should be here by now," he complained for the fourth time in the minute. "Shouldn't I…" he started but was interrupted by River. With surprising strength she wrapped her fingers around his arm.

"Look!" she ordered and indeed… seconds later the inside of the staircase was shining with a warm yellow light which intensified until Buffy stepped through the door. Seemingly undisturbed by the chaos around her she walked… no floated closer, finally reaching the vessel. Her hair dancing softly around her face. Mika opened the airlock and the entity entered the ship. A few seconds passed and the whole room was filled with light and joy and an irresistible feeling of power.

"Buffy?" Mika asked quietly, gently reaching out a trembling finger but never touching the Slayer. She pulled back her hand as a voice - or better many voices started to speak, meeting a single tune and the three witnesses felt their teeth rattle.

"No power in the 'verse can stop us!" she repeated Rivers declaration underlined with a daring vehemence and then the light seemed to implode back to Buffy. The Slayer, suddenly without ethereal protection, sank down to the floor, her eyes rolling back in her skull. But before she could hit the floor Gordon had caught her, pressing her close to his chest.

Shocked silence filled the room until Gordon could feel her shaky breaths against his cheek.

"We have to go. NOW!" he cried and Mika took place in the front seat, starting the engines.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two floors below an angry growl emerged from Spike's throat. His teeth sank down in the tender skin of someone's shoulder. He didn't care. The only thing he knew was: He had to get to Buffy.

Willow and he had followed the trail of blood and groans and exploded ceiling lights without meeting any resistance. Whoever had walked this very path was really, really angry. And the only person with a temper like a mad rhinoceros was Buffy, it had to be her.

He had started running shortly after they had found the first puddle of blood, Willow following him and telling him to wait for her. Maybe she was a witch and was able to turn him in a turnip with a flick of her wrist but definitely had to work on her stamina.

They were probably somewhere close to the top of the building when finally armed security staff had crossed their way. A shot of electricity had found its goal and Spike had screamed in pain and frustration. A fireball had ended his torture and Willow had helped him getting the upper hand against his opponents. Until now!

A sharp pain spread from his butt. He turned around, starring at his backside and ripped the protruding injection out.

"Well, that went well," he mumbled and felt his vision swim.

TBC