"What a horrible night," Giles grumbled to himself as she sat up in his bed. He stood from his bed, the floor creaking beneath his feet. He walked down his stairs he came face to face with a brownish looking demon staring back at him. He let out a scream, and the demon did as well. "Oh dear Lord," he said, watching as the demon's mouth moved as he spoke. "Ethan," he growled aloud, his voice dripping with venom. He grabbed a blanket from his couch and wrapped it around his head and torso. He reached for the door knob and in turn, ripped the door from the wall. He groaned and proceeded to walk to the one person he knew could help: Spike.

He pushed the mausoleum's door open and called out for the vampire. No answer. "Spike?" he called again, looking around the small room. "Perhaps I'm an in the wrong crypt," he mumbled to himself. He looked around until he noticed the television toward the back. He turned to see Spike, asleep in a run-down recliner. He rolled his eyes and gently shook the vampire. "Spike, please stay calm. It's me, Giles."

...

Spike heard a familiar growling as something shook him rather violently. He pulled open his eyelids to see a Fyral demon in his face. Instinctively, he punched the creature, immediately changing into fight mode. "What'd'ya want?" he asked, bouncing around the creature, who was holding his nose.

"Spike! It's me!" the demon said through its massive hands.

"Giles?" Spike said, straightening his stance.

"Bloody hell, yes! Am I, by any chance, speaking English?" Giles asked, checking the tip of his nose for blood. Thankfully, there was none, but there was some mucous.

"No," Spike laughed. "You're speaking Fyral. I just so happen to speak Fyral. Had a couple of them working for me once. They were all 'Me like to crush. Crush now?'" Giles laughed a tad bit at his imitation. "I guess a spell of some sort did this to you?"

"Ethan Rayne," Giles growled angrily.

"What'd he do?"

"Slipped something into my drink, the little git. Last night we went to this pub... I can't remember though," he groaned.

"Hangover, mate," Spike said, walking over to his mini-fridge. He grabbed a bottle of pills and threw them over. "I take four, but given your size, six'll do." Giles tore the lid off, guzzling more than six capsules. "So, where did you two go? D'ya remember the name of the pub?"

"Yes. It was... Oh damn..." he groaned. "It's on 5th Street..."

"Oh, you mean... Damn. Should I call Buffy?"

"That would probably be wise. My flat is a rather big mess. I do believe I tore the door off of the hinges."

"I'll have to take a trip into the sewers. I've got no phone myself, but there's a shop not too far from here."

"Do what you must. I'll... well, I'll be here," he sighed.

Spike gave a small chuckle and dropped into the secret room beneath the crypt. It wasn't long before he was able to get ahold of Buffy and was told of the situation. "Thanks," she said awkwardly on the other line.

Anything for you, he was tempted to say. Instead, he simply said, "yeah" and hung up. He felt so stupid sometimes. He never knew if it was okay to say something and it not mean anything more to her. Simple things, too. So he just kept quiet. Walking back to Giles didn't take long, but it was enough time for Giles to see the uneasiness in his return.

"So, ahem, how are things going between Buffy and yourself?" Giles asked politely.
Spike looked at the man, momentarily wondering if he was in fact blind without his glasses. "Good as ever I suppose," Spike said vaguely.
"Spike, you don't have to lie to me. I see more than any of you realize. I can see the way you steal glances at the other when neither of you think the other is looking. I can see how jealous you get the moment she says a single word about Riley. And, most importantly, I can see how she's faking her happiness with him. Because that is what we expect of her, correct? We want her to be happy; as long as it's not with another vampire. At least that's what I feel she thinks. Frankly, after Angel, I'd be happy that she's happy."
Spike could not help but stare at the Watcher disbelievingly. That didn't sound like the Giles he knew. "So what you're saying is, if she decided to be with anther vampire or demon or whatever else came along, you would be okay with it?"
"Buffy's been through so much. I could care less about the person she is with, as long as he loves her and makes her happy. Now, I have no ill feelings toward this new fellow, but I must say, she's not acting particularly right. Something seems off, and I think it's because of you."
"Me? What did I do?" he asked defensively.
"Well not exactly you. More directly Willow's spell. Willow has told me countless times what she had literally said about every situation, and never once did she mention love. She said, and I quote, "why don't you just marry him?" Love was never uttered from her lips, so why then, did Buffy react the way she did? She told you herself she loved you that night, am I right?"
Spike thought about that as hard as he could. Yes, they had whispered sweet nothings to each other. They had discussed invitations, and cake toppers, and even a few details of the wedding night. But she had never said she loved him, even though he had. "She never did. I told her a few times, but she never said she did."
"Are you sure?"
"Giles, I have an extremely good memory." especially of that night. "Yes, I'm sure."
"Oh," was all he could say. The two sat there in an uncomfortable silence. Spike had finally gotten seated in his chair, while Giles had sat atop a nearby sarcophagus. "I dunno then," he said after a few minutes.
"I don't think she understands. What she felt for Angel is minuscule to what she's feeling now."
"How can you be certain?"
"Red's told me a few things," Spike said. "I told them I didn't want to know. I told them to just keep it to themselves, but they won't listen. Don't you realize I know Buffy is in pain? Do you think I'm not? She's the woman I'm in love with, and now that she may love me too, I can't have her! We're years apart, and I don't mean age. This Buffy hasn't had to go through as much as... The other one. She's still young and carefree. She needs more than I can give her. Both of them do. I can't tell her that I love her, here, because it could muck up the future. I'm not supposed to be here. I need to get back to the other Buffy..."

Giles nodded in agreement. "Spike, I could only imagine how you're feeling. You've been ripped from your home, which is actually still here—"

"It's not the place that makes it home," Spike interjected.

"True," the demon-man said. "So, we've made it easier on you? I mean, we don't dislike you or anything?"

"Oh you all hate me just fine. Except for Buffy and her—" sister "mother. They treat me a'right. You just make it living here difficult. For some reason, you think I'm going to turn on you. Not that I ever would."

"But you have that chip. Even if you tried, you wouldn't be able to," Giles said.

"Heh, yeah," Spike mocked. Giles, instead of saying anything, shut up for the first time in a while.

After many grueling hours of silence and Passions, Spike decided it was time. "Right then. Let's go," he said, dropping into the hole.

"Go?" Giles asked, warily looking down at the hole at his feet.

"Yeah. Gotta get Rayne to turn you back, yeah? Unless you—"

"You're right," he said, struggling to fit through the passage. "Where, pray tell, are we headed?"

"Your flat. We can use your car to get around easier. 'm sure the commandos would notice a big Fyral demon running around Sunnydale. Look how easy they caught me, and I'm human!"

"Oh, yes," Giles grumbled, stumbling behind the younger looking Englishman. "How do you know the sewers so well?"

"From the future, Watcher. Plus, vampire. 's the only way I can get around during the sunny hours."

"Wouldn't you usually be asleep?"

"'less I had more important things to do."

"Like what?"

"Giles. Enough. Please," Spike said, wishing he actually had the willpower to hit him for once.

"I'm sorry, I'm just terribly curious. The only vampire I've been on talking terms with was Angel, and he was exactly comfortable company."

"Oh, and I am?" Spike hissed incredulously.

"Ah, well, in comparison, much more than he. You say what's on your mind, and don't really care what anyone else thinks. He always spent his time brooding and stalking Buffy. But as strange as it seems, I'm—intrigued."

"In that case, ask away," Spike said, reluctantly giving up the silence. "But," he started, turning on his feet to the demon behind him, "none of whatever is said reaches the Scoobies. And no asking about the future!"

"Fair enough," Giles said, holding his hands up in surrender, which allowed Spike to return to taking the lead. "How did you get that scar? The one on your eyebrow?"

"I know which you meant. It's the only one I have. Got it from a Chinese Slayer during the Boxer Rebellion. Sure you could read about it if you wanted to know more."

"Do you have anymore—erm—souvenirs?"

"Wearing it," he said, kicking up the rear of his duster. "Got it in New York about twenty years ago. That Slayer, much more like Buffy. More instinct than precision. But both of them were always concerned on where their weapon was. Never realized how much of one they were themselves."

Giles waited a minute to speak. Spike wondered if he was just trying to digest it all. "But, you've got nothing from Buffy?"

Except a broken heart. "Nothing. Faced her, fought her. She didn't lose."

"Well, um, that's good," he muttered. Spike wondered again if he was thinking about cleaning his glasses.

"Look, if you're wondering if I'm gonna kill her, I'm not. Never even think about it anymore. I don't want to hurt her, or any of you for that matter. I... I've been without her once, and I sure as hell don't want to do it again."

"Been without—dear Lord, you're not saying she-she dies? Again?" Giles gasps.

"Not saying anything." Giles said nothing. Spike assumed he was trying excruciatingly hard not to ask the obvious questions of 'How, when and why?' " I want something," Spike said, intentionally trying to distract him.

"Hmm? Want what?" Giles asked.

"When all this is done, I want your Watcher Diaries. Not the old ones. Just yours."

"Good heavens, what for?"

"I have my own reasons. You'll get it back. Don't worry."

"May I ask what you need with it?"

"No. Come on. We're here," he said, sneaking up the ladder and out of the manhole.

...

It was after nightfall, and she still hadn't seen Giles or Spike. Spike hadn't told her much, just that Giles had magically been turned into a demon, and that he was going to help. After calling the others, they all convened at Giles' apartment in hopes that sooner or later, their older British friend would make an appearance.

"Will, you said that spells have been going all crazy?"

"Yeah, I tried just floating a rose, and then, zing-zang-zoom all across the room. It was pretty neat," she smiled, imitating the flower's movement with her hands.

"Could that be from someone messing with the magics?"

"Yeah Yes that would draw in a lot of dark energy."

"Okay, you guys stay here if anyone calls. I'm going to the Magic Shop to see if anyone's been buying some supplies."

The trio nodded in response. "Buff, just be careful," Xander cautioned.

"Always," she said with a small smile bouncing out the door. She nearly ran into Riley who was approaching the door. "Oh, Riley. Hi."

"Hey. So, what are you doing here?"

"Um, this is Giles' apartment. He's kinda in some trouble. What are you doing here?"

"911 calls about some strange sounds. Growling and some things breaking. Sounded like a struggle."

"You get 911 calls?"

"We have a tap in the system. Anything that sounds unnatural, we come check it out."

"Oh," she said, running to her path.

"So, where are you headed?"

"The Magic Shop," she said, quickly walking toward the shop.

"Buffy, I've really been wanting to talk to you," he said, trying to make his words sound important.

"Riley, I really can't right now. I've got—stuff—to take care of."

"Slayer stuff?"

"Yeah. Like I said, Giles is in trouble, I have to help."

"Buffy, I will do anything I can to help. The whole Initiative will."

"Thanks."

"Um, is Giles okay?"

"Yeah. Uh... No. Not really. An old friend—"

She was cut off by the annoying sound of his cell phone ringing. "Agent Finn. Yes. I understand." And he closed the device. "That was Professor Walsh. She was attacked by a demon who was in a gray car. A Crioten."

Buffy almost burst out laughing. Giles? Terrorizing Professor Walsh? I wish I could have seen that. "Oh, well, is she okay?"

"Yes. Anyway, you were saying?"

"Oh, right. Giles got paid a visit from an old friend who happen to give him a not so great gift."

"Ah. That's not code for anything, right? I mean, he doesn't have some STD or anything?"

"Ha!" she laughed aloud. "No, not to my knowledge. But no, it's not code."

"Okay. Good," he said, looking suddenly to his feet in embarrassment.

"Look, Riley, I really need to go," she said stopping in front of the shop.

"I'll help you," he blurted. "I mean, if you want me to."

"Fine, but don't get in my way," she said, kicking the door in. "Okay, credit card slips, sale receipts. Help me look."

"You shouldn't have done that to the door," he said, following behind her.

"I do not have time to play by the rules tonight," she said, flustered, automatically digging through the shop.

"I have a master key. It opens every shop on Main Street," he said, tempting to brandish the key as if to prove his words.

"Oh. Well, next time. Absolutely," she said, not feigning a bit of surprise.

"I don't know what I'm looking for," he said, just a few seconds after stepping through the door.

"I do. Ethan Rayne," she said, holding up a credit card slip. Of course. It just had to be him. God, I hate him.

"Who's that?"

"Professional bad guy. He's the one that's... messed with Giles. At least we know who we're looking for."

"Command, are you there?" Riley said, pulling out his phone once again.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"It's Agent Finn. I need a search. Local hotel registrations matching the name Ethan Rayne. R-A-Y-N-E. Call me back," he said, stuffing the phone in his pocket.

"You can do that?" Buffy asked curiously.

"It'll take a couple minutes," he said, confidence radiating from him.

"Oh. Get in the car. It's time to go," she said abruptly.

"Buffy. Earlier, when I talked to Professor Walsh, she gave me very specific orders," he warned.

"Yeah?"

"She said when we located the demon, I—I'm not supposed to bring you along." He looked down briefly.

"Oh," she said, turning from him, dismissing his warning completely.

"Uh, what are you doing?" he asked quickly.

"Going to the car," she replied in a tone that just said "duh."

"Buffy, I can't take you with me," he scoffed.

"You're not taking me with you. I am going, and I'm letting you come along," Buffy said, closing the door slightly. Even though he was several inches taller than her, her demeanor towered over him.

"Buffy, it's not really your call. This is a military operation now," he said, trying not to cower away from her.

"Then call out the troops, because nothing less than that is going to stop me from helping Giles."

Riley huffed in response and followed her lead. It's not exactly like he could say no to her.