DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters nor anything else Joss created, just the rampant plot bunnies.

SO FAR: It looks like Spike, but it's not him...

A/N: I'm going to apologise if this is the last chapter for a couple of weeks, we have had a family bereavement and I have numerous other events going on for the rest of August. I will try my hardest to get another chapter out to your guys as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support and reviews.

SURFACING

Dawn tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for something to happen. She'd been stood here for an hour, arguing her case. She knew she was needed elsewhere; they said she wasn't ready to go. And naturally, as powerful as she'd recently discovered she was, she couldn't disobey them.

Stupid Powers That Be.

They'd explained the whole situation to her, and how it would go down, if it went down correctly. Dawn had pointed out the tendency of things to completely bypass the plan and fuck up (and boy, did they ever not appreciate her language) but they had assured her it would end as they predicted. But only if she remained calm and returned to the earthly plan at the opportune moment.

At which point she had huffed and told them to get out. Now she was stood alone, watching the events in the Hyperion with growing concern. She could see whoever she wanted, but she couldn't say anything or do anything about it and as a Summers' woman, that was driving her batty beyond belief.

Spike was gone. Well, not gone, he was in his body somewhere, just not in the drivers seat. They had told her that he still had a part to play in the fight, but did not elaborate any further. Buffy had somehow been sucked into the staff to talk with Gaea, who, from what Dawn understood, had had a part in her original creation as the Key. Not as Dawn Summers; that had been entirely the monks making. They'd drawn on the two strongest warriors known in the world and those warriors were Buffy and Spike. The monks had no clue just how integrated the two blondes' destinies were at the time.

They attributed it to pot luck.

Dawn tried not to think of it as Spike and Buffy being her parents, because that was a little squick. Whilst she knew which memories were fabricated, as far as she was concerned, Buffy was her sister, Joyce was her mother and Spike was the psuedo-brother who had eyes for her big sister. It made her happy that he was actually her blood family after all, but if she thought about it too much, it became a bit too confusing for her to handle, no matter how great her capacity for knowledge was right now. She knew full well that once she returned to them, her abilities would be greatly reduced from what they were here, but she was okay with that. Just being back in her normal (ish) life with her family and friends would make her happier than anything.

But she had to wait. And watch.

How boring.

Gaea watched the Slayer carefully, waiting for any sign that she had understood what he had said so far. Her mouth was hanging open in the most adorable fashion, and he found it completely easy to accept exactly what his host saw in her. He could see the raw power curling through her aura, and it was intoxicating. No wonder Spike's demon had fallen to her so easily.

A few moments passed and she fell to a seated position in the sand, her eyes wandering up to his face. He looked so much like him. He is him...technically. Aside from the creepy-ass black white eyes, she could fool herself that nothing had changed. Until he spoke and Spike's roughened Cockney accent didn't come from his mouth, but that emotionless, over-enunciating voice that sounded like Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

'You understand what is happening here?' He asked, looked down at her with what looked like amusement on his face.

Buffy stared at him and then swallowed, finding her voice again. 'Let me see. You're Gaea, the other half of The First Evil and only you can push her back into her hellish prison, which was apparently the dimension she had twisted to her needs that was my not so pleasant vacation a few days ago. You've already trapped her once before, millions of years ago, until a imbalance before my birth allowed her to get free and start building up her forces again. My death tipped the balance completely and then Spike's death in the hellmouth let her get the final pieces of power she needed, which allowed her to be corporeal and cause all this chaos. You and Spike combined is the only way to defeat her. And I'm the only one who can defeat her vessel, which you think is Angel, based on Spike's memories.'

Gaea nodded, waiting for her to continue.

'You have to trap her, because she can't be destroyed right? How do we do that?'

'I have to weaken her. You cannot destroy the First Evil. Without evil, there can be no good. She is the darkness to the light. As I am the light to the darkness. We are opposites of the spectrum. Just as Spike is the darkness to your light.'

'But Spike is good now.'

'Yes, but he will always be a dark being. He has no soul.'

'The soul doesn't matter.'

'And I'm glad you acknowledge that, although it took you long enough.' Gaea grinned at her and Buffy shuddered a little. It looked wrong, like Gaea didn't know how to manoeuvre in the body he had. 'However, acknowledging that the soul does not matter is not the same as accepting it. You cannot truly love Spike until you do and until you do, you cannot become the powerful unit you could be.'

'Unit? Do I look like a piece of machinery to you?' Buffy got to her feet, an indignant look on her face. Gaea chuckled.

'Forgive me. It is difficult sometimes to adjust to the language of these times. Slang is very new to me. I'm having to glean most of it from Spike's memories.'

'And yet you haven't said "bloody" once.' Buffy smiled a little and put her hands on her hips, looking around. 'Well, I doubt very much that we can fight the First from in this little holiday spot of yours, can we actually get out of here?'

Gaea looked around and gestured with his arms. 'You just need to wake up.'

Fred knelt beside Buffy and checked her pulse for the thousandth time. It was steady and strong, like it had been every other time. For all intents and purposes, the Slayer was merely asleep. Xander sat beside his unconscious friend, Cordelia asleep on his lap. Spike remained where he had fallen - after Buffy had touched him, no one else was willing to.

She looked over at Wesley. He was in a bad shape, but steadfastly remaining awake, keeping his focus on the books. She swore that with each moment the patch of blood on his shirt grew larger, but when she questioned him, he told her not to worry and squeezed her hand gently. His eyes rang with guilt from what had happened with Gunn and she knew that he felt wholly responsible for the death of their friend, even though it was the infection that ultimately doomed him. One of them was going to die in that street; that much was inevitable.

A noise caught her attention and Wesley looked over as Spike stirred and stood. He blinked a few times and Fred noticed that there was no colour in his eyes and the strange markings on his skin remained, showing through the holes in the battered clothing he wore. The vampire shook himself and moved over to the Slayer, crouching down beside her and touching her arm gently.

'Spike?' Fred whispered, her eyes not quite believing what she was seeing. The vampire looked up at her and smiled.

'Not right at this moment, Winifred.' He looked back down to the Slayer, who opened her eyes and gasped. After a few deep breaths, she pushed herself upright and looked round.

'The Hyperion.' She sighed. 'Remind me that when this is all over, I should never come back here. Ever.' She climbed to her feet and brushed herself down, noticing the staff laying on the floor. 'Don't you need that?'

Gaea looked down at the discarded staff and shook his head. 'It should remain here until we are done. I would recommend you bring your Slayer weapon however.' He looked down at Xander and smiled at the boy, who blinked with his one good eye.

'You're not...Spike...' He stuttered slowly, his movement causing Cordy to awaken.

'No I am not. I am Gaea.'

'Okay.' Cordy pulled herself up off of Xander. 'So where's Spike?'

'He's still in residence.' Buffy said. 'Just not in the driver's seat right now.' Xander eyed her carefully.

'You look surprisingly okay with this.'

'We had a chat.' She shrugged.

'While you were all with the unconsciousness?' The brunette asked, helping Cordelia to her feet.

'Pretty much.' The Slayer replied.

'Buffy!' Willow shrieked, running into the room. 'You're awake!' She embraced her friend and then turned to Gaea. 'Wow. Make over?' She giggled. 'I'm joking. I know who you are. Your aura practically screams it.'

'Gaea, Willow. Willow, Gaea.' Buffy introduced them. Gaea bowed his head at the witch and she smiled.

'Nice to have you on board.'

'So what do we do now?' Cordelia asked, looking between the Slayer and Gaea expectantly.

'I don't know. I know we have to face down the First and Angelus. But where do we find them?' Buffy asked, chewing her lip thoughtfully.

'Angelus is not one to hide from his enemies. He will make himself known eventually.' Wesley commented. Gaea looked at him and nodded.

'Be that as it may, the longer we leave it, the more destruction this world endures.' He said. 'They are in this city somewhere. LA is the biggest culmination of evil that is not located on a Hellmouth. The First will linger on consecrated ground. She likes to mock those who created this world.'

'So a cemetery?' Buffy raised an eyebrow.

'Or somewhere that used to be a cemetery.' Wesley chirped up. 'Wolfram and Hart, from I discovered, was an Indian burial ground. It was consecrated with the blood of a murderer before they built the LA branch there.'

'An Indian burial ground?' Xander exclaimed. 'That's all kinds of Hammer Horror right there!'

'We do not all need to go.' Gaea raised his palms. 'The Watcher is injured, gravely. I would suggest that only myself, the Slayer and the Witch go.'

'And leave us here, twiddling our thumbs?' Cordelia exclaimed. 'What about all those hordes of crazy people?' Gaea shook his head.

'This battle will not involve them. It will simply be us against the First and her consort.'

'Three on two? I like those odds.' Buffy smiled.

'Do not assume it will be easy. You will have to take down Angelus. He is the vessel. Once he is destroyed, it will weaken the First. Not much, but enough. And Willow will be needed to break through the defences that the First will have created. She does not chances. Neither do I.'

'Okay, so we watch the fort? I think on this occasion, I'm happy to sit this out.' Xander said, sighing heavily. 'Although, it's not tradition.'

Buffy smiled at him, reaching out to rub a hand down his arm. 'You've done plenty Xan. Take a load off. We've got this one.' He nodded and looked to Cordelia who shrugged. Wesley resumed his sitting position, rubbing a hand over his sweating forehead. Buffy looked at him concerned. 'Can I suggest that someone take a look at Wes? He doesn't look so hot.'

Fred nodded and moved to his side. 'I said that but he said I was overreacting.'

'He has internal injuries. He requires medical attention.' Gaea stated and Fred frowned, looking down at Wesley who looked sheepish.

'You are such a fibber.'

Angelus paced the floor, his anger palpable. "Darla" watched from her perch against the far wall of the office, smiling at him.

'You're too tense, darling. I thought that Slayer would have taken the edge off.' He glared at her and she rolled her eyes. 'Look, your eye is healed so your pretty face isn't damaged. You killed one of their friends in front of them, which I thought was genius. You've brassed the Slayer off, good and proper. She's going to be so all over the place, she'll be easy for you to-' She stopped abruptly, hissing and clutching her head. Her form shimmered and Angelus paused in his pacing to look at her. He was not concerned for her well being, more for his own.

'Problem?' He asked as "Darla" disappeared and took the form of a woman he'd never seen before. She was his height, with long raven black hair and eyes that were pools of darkness. She still wore the Catholic school girl outfit that "Darla" had been wearing, but the skirt was slightly too short for her long slender legs. Angelus waited for her to speak, as she glared at him. 'Another dead girl?' He asked.

'No, Angelus. This is my original form. The staff has been activated. I was hoping it would be too late, but this creates a problem. You did not do as I ask and kill William before he could accomplish this.'

'I was a bit distracted.' The vampire spat.

'They found the answer sooner than I anticipated. But no matter. I've amassed enough power. I can easy defeat Gaea when he comes for me.' She strode to the window, looking down over the ruined city. 'He does not have the power alone. And it will be easy to manipulate the vampire's mind so he can be destroyed.' She turned back to Angelus. 'But you must kill the Slayer. It is imperative.'

Angelus scoffed. 'Easy enough done. She's pretty wrecked by now I imagine.'

Buffy strode along the street, her scythe in her hands and her face set in determination. Gaea walked slightly ahead of her, and Willow was by her side. The witch nudged her friend and nodded in Gaea's direction.

'He's kinda...'

'Wiggy?' Buffy replied. Willow nodded. 'I know. I miss Spike. I miss the old Spike. The one who never shut up. I mean, torture by the First aside, he was different before his body was invaded by an ethereal being.'

'But we've got a better chance with the ethereal being right?'

'I hope so. He seems fairly confident. And he has done this before.' The Slayer replied, swinging the scythe lazily. 'Are we anywhere near where we're going? LA is hard to navigate with all this...destruction. Do you think it'll have to be rebuilt after this?'

Willow shrugged. 'Probably.'

Gaea stopped suddenly and looked to his left. Buffy and Willow watched as his eyes seemed to shine for a second and then he moved, heading down the street with a quicker pace than before. The two women looked at each other and followed, almost running to keep up. For three blocks he kept at a ridiculous pace and by the time he stopped, Buffy and Willow were both panting. They paused for a second, catching their breath as they looked up at the Wolfram and Hart offices.

'So...it doesn't look like it's been damaged at all.' Willow said, her eyes roaming over the exterior of the building.

'It's pretty deserted though.' Buffy said. 'It was bustling with people when I was last here.'

Gaea grimaced. 'She is inside. The consort too. I suggest we proceed ahead with caution.'

'Really? I was gonna run in, guns ablazin'.' Buffy said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. He looked at her, cocking his head to the side as Spike did. She shuddered. 'Yeah, your plan is better.' He smiled thinly and moved towards the building, waiting briefly at the doors for the two females to catch up. He moved swiftly and silently into the building, his blank eyes darting to every shadow.

'You sure this place is empty?' Buffy whispered and Willow and Gaea both nodded.

'I can't sense anything.' Willow whispered back. Buffy's eyes darted to the stairwell and she frowned.

'I can sense Angel.' She said, raising the scythe.

'I thought you said this place would be protected?' Willow asked Gaea and he nodded.

'It will be. She wants us here, but she will not make it easy.'

'They never do.' Buffy scowled, gripping her weapon tightly. 'Let's get this wagon rolling huh?' She took the lead, Gaea close behind and Willow trailing nervously. Despite her power, her fear was palpable. This was a fight she knew she wouldn't be forgetting in a hurry.

Silently they crept through the halls and stairwells, Gaea's white skin and hair almost glowing in the blackness. Around the fifth floor, he stopped, hissing at Buffy to halt. 'The roof. The consort has separated from her. They intend to split us up.'

'Figures.' Willow muttered. She tensed. 'The next floor up. There's a barrier.'

'Can you break through?' Buffy asked. Willow closed her eyes concentrating for a moment. After a few moments of silence, she opened her eyes, her pupils larger and blacker than they had been before.

'I can't tell from here. I need to be closer.' The Slayer nodded at her friend.

'Then let's move.'

On the roof, the First held her hands out wide, summoning every ounce of power she could possess. She inhaled deeply and looked down at the world she had almost conquered.

'They're here.'

A cruel smile split her face, and she turned to face the door access, waiting for her foe to appear.