The foursome arrived at Spike's crypt as a force to be reckoned with. They quickly bust into the mausoleum, Xander grabbed Spike's arms, Willow pointed a crossbow at his chest and Dawn poised a stake as Giles walked in last. Slowly. Deliberately.

"What the-bloody hell, Giles," Spike smirked as he watched Giles polish his glasses and walk towards him. "Look, she didn't tell-"

Giles didn't say a word, but silenced Spike with a quick blow to his right cheek.

"Hey! What's this, now? What the bloody-" Giles raised his fist again and Spike closed his mouth.

"Better. Where is Buffy?" Giles asked.

"Not here. I sent her out days ago. After she-" Suddenly Spike looked embarrassed and angry, and Giles decided this was acceptable to exploit.

"After she what, Spike?"

When Spike looked reluctant to reply, Giles issued a swift strike to Spike's gut. "Damn you, Rupert - you have no idea, do you?"

"I'm waiting, Spike."

"She loves you, you idiot!"

Xander's grip lessened as the group registered the outburst. Spike took advantage of this moment to free himself, but Dawn still held her stake high and at the ready. "Playing big girl, are we, bit?" Spike gave her a small smile that Dawn forced herself to not return.

"She what?" Willow was the first to speak.

"She's been seeing you..." Xander tried to process the situation, clueless.

Spike sighed. "Well, yeah, can't blame her, really. But sadly, she may have given her body to me, but I didn't get to catch her heart. That, Rupes old boy, that you have."

Giles' confusion was replaced with elation. Buffy loved him! She was just using Spike...but she loved Giles! But where was she? Buffy was still in danger - right? Or was it avoided now that Spike sent her out?

Giles shook his head, hoping the thoughts would sort themselves out. "If she's not here - where is she?"

Spike just shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Don't know, and frankly, don't care. If I'm not seeing any action, I don't keep tabs on the bird." Giles stepped closer to Spike, a Ripper-glare boring through Spike's lack-of-soul.

"What do you know about Rejer?"

"Rejer? Ho ho! He back in town? Haven't seen him since the first time I was run out of this miserable town. Rej and I had some good times, we did."

"And now?"

"Haven't seen him." For good measure, Giles grabbed Spike by the neck and dragged him up against the crypt wall.

"Are you sure?"

"I swear it! Haven't seen or heard from him in years. He liked the magicks, that's all I can tell you. But lately, I've been a bit busy, you know, with-" Giles clocked Spike again, hard enough to knock him down and out.

"That's better." Giles smoothed his coat and headed towards the door.

"Who's Rejer?" Xander stepped over Spike's crumpled form, following just behind Giles.

"A vampire who's here, preparing for something, we just don't know what. Heard about him from the Council, but no details."

"Maybe Buffy's fighting him now," Willow offered.

"Or she's stuck in a spell he's doing," Dawn commented without thinking. Upon seeing all the worried looks on her friends faces, Dawn backtracked. "She probably just went out."

"Right. Well, where would she go?" Giles hoped Dawn was right.

Willow and Xander exchanged looks. Together, they replied, "The Bronze."