1 **Note: When Giles returned from England, we just decided to have him move back into his old apartment. We didn't really feel like taking the time to get him moved into somewhere else. He just kept his apartment as a second home.**

DISCLAIMER:

Kelley: My goodness, Shelley! If you're gonna make a fort, do it in your own room!

Shelley: (looking from her pillow fort) I have to be close to the computer! Not only are we writing, but I have to email La Resistance!

Kelley: Well, Shelley, seeing that have overturned our bunk beds, stolen every pillow in the apartment, not to mention your Evil Dead pictures, and had a bathroom installed . . .

Shelley: You know THIS is for protection, Kelley!

Kelley: (sighs) You are so full of shit!

Shelley: Oh yeah? What about the numbers?

Kelley: (looking nervously in Shelley's direction) Joss and Co. still own it all. Yadda yadda yadda. Maybe we can sneak Spike and Xander in here!

Shelley: The numbers! They're still showing up in our story, aren't they?

Kelley: Um, yeah. (turns to Shelley) You think my computer cord will reach all the way over to the corner?

Shelley: Not a problem. I even have an extra pith helmet for you!

Kelley: (smiles) This could be kinda interesting. (gets up and moves to the fort with Shelley) Yay! Pith helmets!

2

3 Part XXVIII

Giles slowly opened his eyes and groaned. He put his hand up to his forehead and rolled his head to the side. "Oh . . . ow. My head --- wait. My head isn't hurting. Funny, I remember being knocked out, and from my experience people usually wake up with a splitting headache after being knocked unconscious, even if it was with a large bat or a magic spell. And the splitting headache always miraculously subsides or does not interfere with the person who is having to fight back. I'm awake aren't I?" He smacked his forehead. "Oh yes. I'm awake. Why doesn't my head hurt?"

He looked around the room and noticed Anya, who was still unconscious. He thought 'I wonder what kind of spell that was. Anya is still out of it. She looks like she is sleeping though. Wow, she looks really pretty when she is sleeping . . . not that she isn't always pretty. Actually, she's more than pretty. She's . . woah there Giles! Where did THAT come from? You don't love Anya, remember? Wait, why not? Because you look like her father, Ripper and her patterns of thought are pretty disturbing at that. Disturbing thought processes can be a good thing though. Bad, bad Giles!' He continued to fight with his inner Ripper and then looked away suddenly. "Ok, that was a very disconcerting inner monologue."

He looked to the other side and noticed Tara, sitting in a chair, her head bent down. Giles furrowed his brow. He definitely never saw Tara coming . . . well, her attack or whatever that was. He always thought she had been so sweet and not evil. Why the sudden change of heart?

At that moment, Tara looked up. She had been crying. She wiped her eyes quickly and all emotion was erased from her face. Giles frowned and looked at Tara thoughtfully. Something was off. And it wasn't just the fact that Tara had suddenly gone psycho on her friends . . . something else seemed off, as though she were completely torn in two.

"Tara? What's going on?"

Tara bit her lip then whispered. "Oh, Giles. I - I am so . . . so sorry. Please don't ask anymore questions."

"Tara, don't do this. At least let Anya go."

A tear trickled down her cheek. "You don't understand! Please, Giles! Don't ask anymore questions! Don't ask me anything!" She grabbed her head and started to cry again. "Stop it! I haven't said anything! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

Giles was distracted suddenly when he heard Anya begin to stir. Tara regained her composure. "Giles. Don't think about trying anything! They'll know! They'll find out!" She began sobbing yet again. "I'm not going to let you get away with this!"

Giles became more confused, unsure of who she was speaking to at the moment. Anya opened her eyes and looked around. Tara was upset and Giles appeared to be utterly lost. Suddenly she remembered what happened. She jumped up and ran towards Tara. "You bitch! What are you doing?"

Giles screamed out in alarm. "No, Anya, don't!"

Tara looked up quickly, her eyes glowing once again as Anya was thrown backwards by an invisible force. Anya cried out and Giles ran to her. "Anya, are you all right?"

She blinked rapidly for a few seconds. "What is going on here?"

"I don't know. Tara's been acting strangely ever since I woke up"

Anya rolled her eyes. "Ya think?"

Giles continued. "One minute she is apologizing and the next she is threatening me or crying. It's bizarre."

"Silence!" Tara's eyes glowed with anger. "Not one more word from you two!"

Anya glared and shook her head slowly. "Oh no! She did not just tell me to shut up!"

Giles grabbed Anya's shoulder. "Anya, shush! I'm not sure how dangerous she is!"

"Oh goddess!" Tara grabbed her head. "Make it stop!" She looked up, eyes glowing once more. "If you want to see your dear Anya alive you will remain silent, Ripper!"

Giles eyes widened and he looked at Anya who was visibly shaking. Giles silently pulled her into a hug and rocked back and forth. Anya suddenly remembered Dawn. "Where's Dawn?" she whispered.

Giles tensed up and stopped rocking. He looked at her, knowing she was as worried as he was. He had no idea what to do and said nothing out of fear of something happening to Anya.

Tara sniffled. "She's safe." She began whispering. "She's with everyone else, but they're heading back here! No! They're waiting for them to return from L.A. They don't know about them, unless the spell I cast on Xander worked. I don't know. Something doesn't seem quite right."

Anya's head was spinning. Tara's mindless babbling had confused her. Who knew and didn't know about who or what and what in the world was she just talking about?!? "Who's waiting for who? What did you just say? It made no sense."

Tara whipped her head towards Anya. "Quiet! They know when you are talking! They know what's going on! One of them is psychic!" She grabbed her head yet again. "Aaaaugh! Giles will die if you don't quiet down. Got it, Anya?"

Anya looked Tara directly in the eyes. "What did you do to Xander?"

Tara just grabbed her head and curled up in pain. After a few seconds, she gripped the sides of her chair until her knuckles turned white and she met their gazes. "It wasn't meant for him. I sent out a cry for help. I - I thought that Willow would get it c - cuz we're so close. Or Cordelia because she gets visions from the P - Powers that Be. I don't know why, but I think Xander got it. A - at least that's what it looked like when I saw them in the cauldron." Suddenly her eyes grew wide in fear. "Oh no! They're coming!"

Anya turned her head slowly to look at Giles. "Who's coming?" She looked at Tara again. "What are you talking about?"

Immediately the door of their prison burst open.

"Tara, my dear witch, you've been a naughty girl."

Giles watched the two figures that had just entered and understood the magnitude of Tara's hysteria.

4 Part XXIX

Everyone prepared to head out the next night right after sunset.

"I am NOT riding anywhere with Spike," Angel said indignantly. "Knowing him, that car hasn't been cleaned in decades."

"Eew! I'm with Angel on this. I don't think Spike's car would make it more than a few blocks." Cordelia went and stood next to Angel.

"Hey, don't say that!" Spike glared. "You'll hurt her feelings."

Cordelia let out a quick laugh. "You named your car?"

Xander smirked. "Christine?"

Spike smiled. "That's only her pet name. When she's being a bitch, I call her . . . Buffy."

Buffy smacked his arm. "Hey!"

Spike laughed. "Sorry, pet. Couldn't resist."

Buffy raised her eyebrows and smirked. "Well, your car is the only thing you can kick around with that chip in your head."

"Chip? What chip?" Angel was suddenly very interested in what had been going on in Spike's unlife for the past couple of years.

Xander shook his head quickly. "Long story. Don't ask. We might tell ya later. I just wanna get going so I can sleep all the way back to Sunnydale."

After much arguing, threatening of bodily harm, and whining, everyone finally sorted out the driving arrangements. Cordelia, the Host, and Willow were in Angel's car . . . the Host called shotgun (he would), leaving Cordelia and Willow to share the back. Buffy, Dawn, and Xander were left to the mercy of Spike's car. Wesley, Gunn, and Fred decided to stay behind.

Buffy climbed into the passenger seat after Dawn and Xander climbed into the back. Xander laid his head in Dawn's lap. Xander sighed. "Yay, sleep!"

Dawn giggled. "Hey! No fair! I'm tired too! Hello, I was up all night driving."

Xander grinned. "Yeah we know. And we love you so much you little kleptomaniac."

After awhile, Xander and Dawn both fell asleep; Xander's head in Dawn's lap and her head resting on his back.

"Aww! That's just SO adorable. I think I'm gonna heave!" Spike snickered.

"Aw c'mon! They're CUTE! I still can't believe they actually fell asleep with you driving like a maniac."

"Like you could do any better, Slayer. You don't even have a license."

Buffy glared. "Well neither do you!"

"Do too!" Spike grinned evilly. "I stole one."

Buffy rolled her eyes and changed the radio station. The Backstreet Boys blared through the speakers. Spike winced in pain and almost hit a car. Xander and Dawn remained completely oblivious. "Is that REAL music? Or is it a new form or torture?"

"Oh yes! Designed just to torture you, Spike!"

Spike clenched his jaw and began drumming his fingers on his steering wheel. He scowled when he realized his drumming matched the beat of the song. "Bloody hell! I hate this kind of music! It gets stuck in your head for days."

Buffy laughed in wicked delight.

Meanwhile, the occupants of Angel's car insisted on bugging the Host about Xander's aura.

The Host shook his head. "It's not the time to tell!"

Cordelia pouted. "Spoil sport! You just want to keep us in suspense forever, don't you?"

The Host smiled. "No, of course not. I think Junior should hear it first."

Willow raised an eyebrow. "You don't know, do you?"

The Host turned to look at the red haired witch, then turned back to the front of the car. "Not a clue. That boy is confusing."

Angel nodded. "I coulda told you that. Look at who he's best buds with all of a sudden . . . my favorite childe."

"Tell me about it," Cordelia agreed. "I guess he hates you way more than he hates Spike."

"Thanks Cordy. Thanks a lot. Your sympathy is really amazing."

Willow interrupted. "Say, did you guys hear that really cheesy music the other day?"

Cordelia and Angel both responded quickly. "No!" "What music?"

Willow shook her head. "Uh, never mind."

Cordelia quickly thought of something else to talk about. "You know, Spike and Xander actually being friends is almost as weird as Buffy and Spike's hidden attraction for each other."

Angel looked in the rear view mirror. "What?"

Cordelia smiled. "You haven't noticed?"

Two hours later, Angel was still brooding as both cars approached the city limits of Sunnydale. One driver approached with trepidation, the other with wreckless abandonment. Angel headed straight for Giles' house. Spike took a slight detour.

"What are you doing, Spike?" Buffy watched Angel's car head in a different direction.

"It's a tradition, luv."

Buffy covered her eyes. "Spike, watch out!" She squealed.

Unfortunately, the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign never stood a chance against Spike's DeSoto. Spike smiled to himself. "Home sweet home."

Xander and Dawn awoke right after the collision. Xander looked up. "What? What was that? Did we just hit someone?"

Buffy hit Spike's arm. "Spike just slayed the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign. And he did it on purpose."

Xander sighed. "Dammit, fangless! Now we have to put it back up! Maybe we should set it in a couple of feet of concrete."

"Don't do that, whelp! You'll ruin my fun! I don't go 'round messing with your traditions!"

Buffy spoke impatiently. "Spike! Giles' house! Now!"

"Oh yes. I'm still having a headache from that vision," Xander commented.

Spike rolled his eyes. "All right, all right! I'm goin', I'm goin'!"

When the foursome finally arrived to Gile's house, Angel and company were already removing weapons and spellbooks and other important items from Angel's car. Angel whispered. "Hurry up! We don't have much time to waste!"

Xander mumbled. "Aye aye, Dead Boy."

Spike and Buffy grabbed what was left in Angel's car as quickly as possible. Angel remembered what Cordelia said in the car and watched Buffy and Spike intently. They arrived at the front door and Angel prepared to kick the door down.

"Wait!" Willow squealed. She turned the door knob. "It's open."

Angel thought out loud. "I thought the Watcher locked the door."

Everyone walked into the house except for Angel. Angel frowned when he realized he needed an invite to get into Giles' house. "Um, guys?"

Cordelia spoke quietly. "Angel, not now!"

Angel sighed. "Will someone please invite me in?"

Spike chuckled. "Ha ha!"

Buffy elbowed Spike. "Come in, Angel."

Angel walked in the door, shoved Spike to the ground.

Xander smirked. "Giles is one sick man." Buffy and Angel looked at Xander. Spike chuckled. Xander continued when he realized Buffy and Angel were clueless. "He likes to do those crazy deinvite spells for shits and giggles. He does it to Spike a lot just for the hell of it. Well, that and the fact that Giles' VCR is set to record 'Passions' everyday and he likes to see Spike get all worked up about it. Don't take it personally Dead Boy."

Angel and Buffy pondered Giles' new hobby with disturbed amusement and headed towards the stairs. Everyone split up to search the house for clues.

After awhile, Willow squealed in delight. "Guys! I found a clue!"

Spike looked at the witch. "Well done, Daphne. Would you like a Scooby snack?"

Everyone rolled their eyes at Spike's joke.

Willow bit her lip. "It's a note . . . from Tara."

Buffy waited. "What does it say?"

Willow read the note out loud.

Dear Scoobies,

There's something in the boiler room. Maybe you should check it out.

Tara

PS-If you haven't guessed, this is a trap, so be prepared.

Everyone looked at Willow with confused glances.

Angel shook his head. "What kind of demon admits to setting a trap?"

Willow looked hurt. "Tara's not a demon!"

"How do you know?" Angel asked the witch.

"Clocked her once. The chip fried me," Spike replied.

Cordelia stared at the blonde vampire. "Why'd you hit her? That's low . . . even for you."

Spike rolled his eyes because he was going to have to explain the story. "Her family tried to convince her she was a demon. I proved them wrong."

Buffy thought out loud. "Boiler room . . . boiler room. Do you suppose they meant the one at the old high school?"

Willow nodded. "That's the only one I can think of."

Xander nodded. "Well, let's go then."

Dawn spoke up. "But - but it's a trap."

The Host grabbed Dawn's shoulder. "All the more reason for me and you to stay in reserve."

Angel was confused. "I don't get it. If she's the bad guy, why did she bother to tell us it was a trap?"

"You bloody wanker! She isn't the bad guy!" Spike fumed.

Angel growled. "How do you know?"

Spike spoke to Angel in dragged out words. "The handwriting on top is different from the handwriting on the bottom. Do I have to point out the bleedin' obvious to you, Peaches? You're the one who runs Angel Investigations. Don't you know any detective shit?"

Angel scowled. "How do you know that two different people didn't write the note?"

Willow showed the note to Angel. "That PS is definitely in Tara's handwriting."

Buffy impatiently spoke up. "We're not getting anywhere just by standing here. Let's get a move on it!"

Everyone except for the Host and Dawn left for the boiler room. They had no idea who would be awaiting them when they got there, but they were about to find out.