DISCLAIMER: Joss is Boss

Ch10…

***

"I thought that getting out on my own meant I didn't have to get babysat anymore. I'm over eighteen, I should be the babysitter!" Dawn complained slamming her Latin textbook closed before reaching across the table for her mythology notes.
"Hey, it's not babysitting when we would have been doing this anyway."
Kayleigh was new to this, the whole babysitting Dawn on a Tuesday thing. Maybe that was why Buffy was being extra antsy; just her luck that this had to happen on a Tuesday.
"She could have at least sent Gunn over here, him I can stand but Spike?" Dawn shuddered. "I'm way avoidy." Her face brightened momentarily "Maybe he could 'accidentally' catch fire?"
Kayleigh looked over at her friend from her textbook taking all of two seconds to abandon it.
"Okay so what's the deal with Spike guy, you've been extra grouchy ever since he showed up, what's the big I mean besides him being a vampire?"
"Well he used to be my friend, looked out for me and everything but that was before he went and tried to rape my sister. I know he has a soul and all now and he did technically die saving the world but I can't get past what he did. He violated our trust."
"Yikes." Kayleigh whistled. "I mean I heard the rumours but yeah, that's worse. So how come you can deal with Angel? I thought he tried to kill you dozens of times?"
"No that was Angelus, without a soul he is a completely different person. Besides Angel is atoning for his sins; he wants to make a difference, to make up for what Angelus did, Spike only got a soul so he could boink Buffy. He just never realized that to Buffy he was always just a stand in until Angel came back. Trust me I know; I read her diary."
Dawn smirked when Kayleigh shoved her.
"I beat that's something that won't be in the Watcher's journals."
"Definitely not."
The twos giggles were interrupted by the shriek of Dawns' mobile blasting out Overprotected by Britney Spears.
"You know if Buffy ever realizes that's her ringtone she'll kill you."
Dawn rolled her eyes, poking her tongue out.
"Yeah well if that happens, I'll just get Willow to bring me back!" Flipping her phone open she answered the call with a very unenthused "Hey."
"Hey Dawnie, everything fine over there?"
"No I'm actually in the middle of being dissected but my captors very generously allowed me to answer this call."
"I knew I shouldn't have let you spend that month with Xander, you came back all sarcastic."
"You get anything out of the vamp yet?" Dawn asked changing the subject, she could hear grunting in the background and the unmistakable sound of Gunn's chuckles; he got to have all the fun.
"Well he wasn't real chatty to begin with but when Angel pulled out the chainsaw he was a little more inclined to talk." She sounded bemused and almost envious which Dawn choice not to dwell on. Her eyebrows crinkled as she heard what she thought was Latin chanting.
"Is someone doing a spell?"
Kayleigh perked up at this, she had been begging Dawn to show her the glamour's Willow had taught her; it made getting up in the morning so much easier.
"Oh yeah, that's just Willow she zapped over to help Angel make this sphere thingie, something about agony, it's really fun to watch this guys face. Have you ever seen a vampire cry with his grhh face? It's hilarious and kind of disturbing."
"A sphere of infinite agonies? Oh no fun. I'm stuck here studying but I already know it all thanks to that month spent helping Giles catalogue the new Watcher's library. Can't Kayleigh bring me over to the apartment, come on I have to be safer with my very favourite sister!"
"Dawn the pout doesn't work over the phone except on Giles. Look just stay there once we get everything out of the vamp I'll get Gunn to come over and pick you up."
Dawn glared at the phone wishing Buffy could see it, she hated when she pulled rank on her.
"If Gunn's not here in the next two hours I'm making my own way there. Just remember it's a Tuesday, if I get kidnapped its your fault!"
As Giles had taught her she hung up before Buffy could protest. Smiling victoriously she turned to Kayleigh who was staring at her.
"I can't believe you just talked to Buffy like that!"
Dawn rolled her eyes sweeping the books from the table into her bag.
"Just cause you're scared of her doesn't mean I am."
All the newbie slayers were scared of Buffy, Kayleigh more so given the frighteningly graphic threat Buffy had given her lest anything happen to Dawn under her watch.
"So sue me, your sister is scary." Kayleigh paused seeming to consider her words. "Except when she's punning, somehow it undercuts the terror when she's teasing you."
"Well if you think big sister Buffy is bad let me give you a little recap about who we're going to visit in a couple of hours." Dawn pulled on Kayleigh's chair bringing it closer to her. "Tell me what have you heard about the Scourge of Europe?"
The look in Kayleigh's eyes made Dawn smile; maybe those two hours wouldn't take so long afterall.

***

That chainsaw really was loud; Angel wasn't going to actually use it since he didn't want to spend hours getting blood out of the carpet but the restrained vampire didn't know that. Gunn and Connor had filled up water pistols with holy water and were in the middle of a competition over who could make a smiley face on the vampire, Buffy wanted to scold them for being childish but it was too entertaining for her to bother.
"You're either really stupid or just masochistic, but that doesn't matter because you are still going to tell me what you know. Believe me when I say it would be a whole lot better for you if you just told us now."
Angel walked purposefully around the bound vampire keeping his eyes on him, he was a fledgling but was surprisingly loyal well at least until chainsaws became involved.
"That is all I know. The miracle children shall bring forth the battle unto utter desolation."
His voice was raspy from the holy water he had swallowed and he sounded like someone had fried his vocal chord, which they really sort of had.
"You really expect us to believe that was it? Please prophecies are longwinded there has to be more to it than that!"
Buffy was exasperated, she didn't really enjoy the whole torture aspect of the job well not always but right now she was ready to unleash some torture on this guy. There were three things you just don't mess with; her friends, her sister and her boyfriend. This idiot seemed to have stumbled onto all three.
"Angel this is getting us nowhere, sic the sphere on him."
Willow popped her head out from the kitchen area and winked at Buffy.
"It'll be ready in a jiffy."
Angel caught her eye and shook his head slightly.
"Trust me when I say you don't want to spend so much as a second in there, it will be the most excruciating agony you can ever imagine and then some. I've been there, it really puts things in perspective, did you know a vampire can live indefinitely without blood? Oh yeah, you'll hallucinate a whole bunch but you wont die, you'll only wish you had."
Connor looked away while Angel talked feeling the shame, even Gunn avoided his gaze now. The fledgling remained silent and Buffy smiled in victory, now it was her turn.
"There's something you should really know about me." Striding forward she punched the vampire across the jaw satisfied by the crunch. "You don't mess with my family."
She pulled his head back up by his ear taking a small amount of satisfaction in tearing the earrings out of it. Her hand trailed down his chest snaking into the ring through his nipple.
"Now tell me again what it is you do and don't know?"
The vampire only screamed as the metal tore through his flesh. Tossing the ring behind her she could hear Gunn gag, not that she could blame him but after so many years it took a lot to make her sick.
"How bout I go and pick up Dawn?"
Buffy nodded her okay still focused on the vampire who was whimpering in pain.
"Connor go with him, I'll call Spike and tell him to take the tunnels back here." Angel ordered walking them to the door just as the vampire let out another roar of pain.
"I'm sorry I couldn't quite understand that, you're working for who?"
"You may as well stake me, I will never betray my leader!"
"Do you know how many times I've heard that? If I had a nickel for each time I could buy those new boots and the matching bag! Now I'll give you one more chance before I let my friend in the kitchen go all infinite agonies on you. Who are you working for?"
Her fingers tightened around his hand applying pressure to the mangled fingers.
"He'll kill me!"
"I'll kill you worse."
There was no threat in her voice, it was a promise, she slammed a point ended cross through his palm for good measure.
"All sphere's are go!"
Buffy smiled sardonically at the vampire.
"You hear that, unless you start talking in the next thirty seconds, my friend here will-"
"He calls himself the master of chaos, the worshipper of Janis."
"Willow, infinite agonies."
The magic sparked at the redheads fingertips and Latin words fell from her lips.
"Ethan Rayne!"
The Latin stopped, the magic vanished and both former female Sunnydale residents groaned.
"Will that guy ever give up?"

***

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Sorry but I adore the damn idiot. Rest assured next chapter will be very enlightening to all involved. I've finally found my muse for this story, old faces are coming back- do you really think Giles will let Buffy face his nemesis alone?