Caleb was in a happy mood. His latest quarry had a head start but that was okay. He was looking forward to this one. She was a real hellion stealing a car to try and get away from him and his boys. It was no doubt the latest in along stream of sins that she needed to be punished for. Stupid bitch hadn't even waited till the guy had filled it up before taking it from the petrol station. It was a shame that his God, the only real God, wanted to make an example of this one, to let her live to announce his arrival to this Slayer and her heathen friends. At least he got to stick his blade into her first, before dumping her with a note at the hospital. Besides who was he to judge the divinity of its ways?

He looked up at his rear view mirror when he heard the sound of a motorcycle behind him. Naturally his first thought was to wait till the guy had pulled up alongside and then give him a good old tap with the side of his truck. Deciding it was best to be cautious and not risk the bike sliding under and catching something he begrudgingly slowed down and moved to the left to let the guy pass.

As the bike begin to move pass Caleb got the sudden feeling something was wrong , very very wrong. He looked to his right as the rider came up beside him. Time seemed to slow as the two looked at each other side on. The rider's face was hidden by the helmet but for a second Caleb saw two flames appear where the eyes should be. Immediately he tried to swerve into the bike but it had already sped past him down the road.

Preying to the First that he could catch up, could atleast cut into the distance his opponent needed to do whatever he was planning to do, Caleb put the foot down. Prayers turned to curses that he hadn't been able to steal something better.

About hundred feet ahead the bike turned around and Caleb could see its rider unsling something from around his back. The bike reared up on its back wheel and then charged. Caleb aimed straight at it, maniacal grin on his face. If the fool wanted to play chicken with him he was more than game. The abilities he had been blest with would allow him to survive whilst his opponent would be road kill. He figured if he moved the wheel slightly at the last minute the worst case scenario would be the guy crashed through the windscreen on the passenger side

But then his opponent burst into flame, quickly followed by the bike, and all thoughts of bravo went out the window. Instinctively he swerved to the right, ducking as he saw a line of flame coming towards him. He heard the glass break and felt his hair singe as it swung through the front windscreen.

Getting back up he straightened the truck on the road and was about to look back when he smelt metal burning. Looking to his left he saw the end of a burning chain wrapped around the cab's frame. To his horror the other end didn't seem to be dragging along the ground but running parallel to the truck. He looked through the back window to see a flaming body standing in the truck's slate! Caleb scrambled for his seat belt, all thoughts of driving forgotten. He just got it undone when a hand smashed through the back window. Burning fingers clawed at his face as he scrambled to the driver's door and flung himself out of the moving truck.

He rolled on the concrete and gingerly got to his feet. The out of control truck had swerved to the right and was half way up the bank on the other side of the road. But his pursuer had already jumped off the back and was calmly walking towards him. Taking off its helmet it dropped it to the ground and started to stalk towards him, burning chain still in its right hand.

Its head was a skull.

Its head was a burning skull.

And it was grinning at him.

"Now just hold on a second." Caleb put his hand out; trying to figure out what in the name of the First was going on here. "I don't know what you are but you should know I am a big deal. Could even say I am a high priest. My God..."

"I don't care about your god. I care about your soul."The creature continued to stalk forward, the chain leaving scorch marks in the road.

Caleb did the only thing he could think of and ran straight at the abomination. Tackling it around the waist he picked it up and slammed it skull first into the concrete. Quickly he reached into his jacket and pulled out his blade. Caleb started to jam it into the demon's side but he found his wrist being wrapped up in burning bone.

He heard himself scream in pain as bones started to break and skin to sizzle. With a frantic pull he found his hand free and he was able to roll off and stagger to his feet. He looked at what was left of his ruined hand in horror and disbelief. This shouldn't be possible, he was empowered by the First itself. No fire should be able to do this to him.

Looking up Caleb saw his opponent getting back to his feet so he did the only thing he could think of. He ran. First he went straight back down the road only to take a sharp right into the trees when he saw the riderless bike slowly righting itself and roll towards him.

Letting go of his roasted hand he frantically reached into a pocket for his Sling ring. He heard the sound bike behind him and it seemed to be closing. Risking a look behind he stumbled over a root. Automatically he reached out with his hand to the nearest tree to steady himself but unfortunately it was his burnt hand. Whatever fading use he had of it was lost on contact with the tree. Already off balance he landed on the ground screaming in pain, the Sling Ring momentarily forgotten.

Looking up he saw the rider was back on his bike and coming towards him through the trees. The beginnings of a forest fire growing in its wake. Frantically he looked around for the Sling Ring, realising it was his only chance of escape.

He saw something shine in the light provided from the approaching flames. Half rising he lurched towards it, grabbing the device in his left hand he desperately tried to push his fingers through the holes. But he could hear the engine approaching and his right hand hurt so much.

Elation filled him as he got his fingers full through. Getting to his knees he tried to concentrate on a destination, any destination, but his right hand was all but gone and he couldn't seem to stop praying to the First.

He was just starting to see sparks appear when the bike stopped behind him. Suddenly he felt the burning chain wrap around his neck and was yanked to his feet. As the sparks died he was swung around and found himself facing the flaming skull. Putting his remaining good hand on his damaged neck he croaked out the only question that mattered. "What in all hells are you?"

"He's called the Ghost Rider and he works for me." Caleb looked to his right to see an elderly gentleman with a cane looking at them both. "And there has been somewhat of a misunderstanding between your master and myself."

The man (though Caleb seriously doubted that was what he was) turned to look at the Ghost Rider directly. "Put the man down Mr Cage. The three of us have much to discuss. Similar objectives if you will."

Caleb felt the hands on his shoulders lessen and he started to sigh in relief. But then the hands pressed hard into the side of his face and he could feel his skin begin to burn. Two small pits of flame looked down at him. "Look into my eyes. Your soul is stained by the blood of the innocent. Feel their pain." He wanted to yell that they weren't innocent, that no women was, but all he could hear was screaming and all he could see were flames ...

The First watched as its self proclaimed champion had what was left of his soul burned out of his body followed by the body itself disintegrating into ash. It had already called out to its nearest followers to cease chasing the nearest girl and they were on their back. There were was not enough of them to take this thing down but maybe they could injury this 'champion'. And because of the changes its Harbringers went through they didn't have Sling Ring of their own to do exact teleportation because they couldn't use them. It had needed Caleb for that ability to teleport them. "How did you know I was not Mephisto?"

"That is not for you to know."

With a small smile the First took the form of Barton Blaze. "Tell me Johnny do you think you're father would be happy at what you have become?" It cackled when Johnny's whip sliced through its projection. "I will take that as your answer to my question. Though I confess I wasn't sure how much of you was still in there in this form. I thought I would be speaking to Zarathos. "He tilted his head to the side. "You do know who Zarathos is don't you? It is his abilities that allow you to do what you just did. To be so much more than a glorified monkey performing for the crowds. You're nothing more than a thief like the Slayers."

"Are you done?"

The First smiled "Oh I'm just getting started."

Hearing a noise behind him Ghost Rider turned around. For the first time he saw the damage he had done as the fire began to spread. In the smoke he could make out five hooded figures, knives out and at the ready. To their credit they did not come at him one on one, they spread out into a semi circle and then charged. But he was faster, charging right back he used his strength to literally pick up one of the Bringers instead of merely barging over the top of it. Without pausing he snapped it's neck with one hand and through it to the side, using the breathing room to un-sling the chain wrapped around his torso.

Running back a couple of more steps till he was in a thicker patch of trees he turned around swinging the now burning chain as he did so. The end slashed the face of one Bringer before wrapping around the neck of another. Grabbing the chain with his second hand Ghost Rider redirected the Bringer into a tree to his left, destroying its head in the impact. The Bringer with the slashed face stabbed out towards him but seeing it he blocked the blade with the chain between his hands. Wrapping the chain around the knife he kept one hand around the chain whilst placing his other one below the Bringer's and shoving the knife through its throat.

He dropped the body and took half a step back as Bringer number 4 over committed to a slash at its face. Ghost Rider first grabbed hold of the Bringer's shoulder and then its lower back and in one smooth motion picked the former human up to his shoulder level and brought it down onto his knee. The corpse rolled of his knee in time to get in the way of the last Bringer coming at him. Stumbling forward it was all too easy for Ghost Rider to disarm the Bringer and put the knife through the side of its neck.

Picking up the chain he swung it back around his torso and walked back up towards his bike. Summoning it to him it rolled forward slowly, and he jumped on and headed back down hill towards the road, ignoring the growing forest fire it had caused. Once he reached the road and with one final look around he reverted back to his normal self. Idling his bike Johnny looked both ways up and down the road trying to decide which way to go. Mophisto hadn't exactly been clear on what the 'priest' had been or who the blind monks were but was clear that they were in the process of following a girl, which probably meant she was ahead somewhere on foot. Choice made he continued the same way they had been going, checking the sides of the road as he did. He did not have to go far till he saw a young girl frantically trying to wave him down. Thankfully he had not been going at normal speed or he may have overshot her completely. Slowing down she ran up to the bike, practically grabbing his arm as she looked over her shoulder.

"Please you have to help I need help, I mean I…"

Johnny took off his helmet and handed it to her. "Put this on and keep your foot away from the exhaust or you'll get burnt." She nodded her head in thanks, putting it on so quickly and jumping onto the bike, putting her hands around his waist. He started moving slowly, concerned with how fast he could feel her heart beating against his back and how her hands were going from gripping too tight to too loose. "Just take a deep breath and focus on copying what I do okay." And with that he slowly started to pick up speed as they started to head towards Sunnydale.

The next morning

Sandra woke up with a start, her eyes searching for any threats as her mind tried to recall where she was and how she got there. She was alone in a real filthy looking motel room, one that she could vaguely remember getting to last night. The guy on the motorcycle had paid for it, no wait he had paid for two rooms side by side, the one too her… to her right. She got out of bed, thankful she had done so fully clothed and headed to the window that was to the left of the door, carefully peaking out. The bike was still there parked outside the room, which she wasn't sure if she should be happy or worried about. I mean he had helped her, which was cool, and probably saved her from those things but she didn't know the guy. And surely if he was going to try anything it would have been last night, but maybe he was hoping to gain her trust first.

Shaking her head she took one last look through the window then hesitantly went to the door and unlocked it and took the chain off. Taking a breath she stuck her head out the door taking a look to her right she saw it was all clear. "Do you want some corn chips?"

Startled she jumped back into the room, then quickly went back to the door and locked it before stepping back again. Realising she had forgot to do the chain as well she was about to make her way forward again when she saw a shadow through the window. Stepping back she looked for something that she could use as a weapon. Her watcher had given her a stake but she had left it when she had to abandon the car and those things were like almost on top of it when she was trying to get it going again.

A knock at the window rattled her out of her thoughts. "I'm sorry if I'm startled you. I got some food from the vending machine, don't know how old the stuff in it is but from experience the corn chips usually hold up the best." There was a pause and she good see the guy's shoulders slump forward slightly like he was sighing. "Look I don't know what you were doing out there last night but it is pretty obvious you were in trouble and not just because your car broke down. I'm not trying to be a knight in shining armour, it's not my style. And maybe you stayed here cause you didn't want me to know where you're going, got so tired you didn't make a call for someone to pick you up. But if you don't I'll be in my room till mid day watching cartoons if you need a lift." He took a step forward then stopped. "The name's Johnny Blaze by the way, I'll leave a bag of corn chips at the door. And some Mountain Dew, though don't be surprised if it is a bit flat."

She heard something left against the door then silence. After giving it a minute she unlocked the door with her foot and shoulder against it she slowly opened it for an actual bag of corn chips to fall through the gap. Taking a quick look in both directions she grabbed it and reached for the can. Locking the door a bolting it she looked at was in her hand and made slumped back onto the bed. God this was so messed up. She felt a tear start to roll down her cheek; quickly brushing it away she opened the pack and started to wolf down the chips whilst she opened up the can with her other hand. It actually wasn't that flat and the sugar definitely helped.

Holding in a burp she looked at the phone, wiping her hands on her jeans she picked up the phone. Getting the number for the Summers residence she held her breath as it dialled. But it was disconnected, she looked at the number she had written down she tried it again. Same tone, trying not to panic she tried to think. She had double checked the number when writing it down. Maybe she had the name wrong? Maybe it was Summer not Summers? No it was defiantly the latter of the two, her Watcher had made her memorise it before she made her run. Suppressing the memory she took a deep breath and looked down at the address she had been given, a bit surprised they'd actually given it, 49 Rodello Drive.

Taking the paper she took a deep breath then unlocked the door and went to the next room. Quickly she gave her hair a quick brush and clothes a quick straightening, trying not to let how badly she must smell get to her. She knocked on the door and took a step back, when it opened she swore she could hear Bugs Bunny in the background. Getting her first proper look at her rescuer she relaxed a bit, for a biker she guess he didn't look that bad. He was a lot older then her, probably in his 40s, and had short black hair. He didn't look very muscular but from the way he held his body was probably not in bad shape. "So take it your after a lift?"

She nodded her head "I have an address and a phone number but it doesn't seem to be working."

His eyes, Johnny's eves she corrected herself, narrowed for a few a second then he nodded her head. "I'll grab my keys. Then we'll see if whoever is at reception can give us directions."

Breathing out she gave him a smile then realised something. "My name is Sandra by the way. Sandra Hodgson"

He grinned back "Well alright then."

As they turned into the street the trepidation kicked in, she had made it, she was going to actually meet the Slayer! But as a burnt out house came into view the trepidation turned too horror. Oh no. No! The bike had hardly stopped before she got off, standing in front of the yellow tap she felt numb as she looked at the ruins of her supposed sanctuary in front of her.

"There's a number here."

Sandra turned around to find Johnny had got off his bike and was on the other side of at a tree. Frowning she stepped around to join him to see that in her rush she had gone right past a notice which really had a number on it. But her phone had been in her bag which was back in the car she had stolen, which if the police ever found she would be in soo much trouble but she shouldn't be thinking of that right now as she still needed to contact Buffy, and what sort of name was Buffy? I mean this was California yeah but ... Her internal rant stopped as an honest to god flip phone was put in front of her face. She looked up at Johnny who just shrugged his shoulders, whispering thank you she took the phone and dialled the number."

"Hello Buffy's phone, Dawn speaking…Hello?"

Sandra cleared her throat "Yeah, sorry, my name is Sandra I'm standing outside Buffy's house, or your house, both of yours house, and my … I was told to come here by someone very close to me because I'm in trouble and.."

"You mean there is a bunch of guys with knifes chasing after you. It's okay I'm her sister, we can get someone to pick you up or do you have a ride?" She looked over at Johnny who had gone back to lean by his bike rather than listening in. And seeing what had happened to the house she wasn't keen on waiting around. "Yeah I've got one, what is the address?"

Dawn had been understating thing's when she said it was big. The place was a mansion, with big iron gates which made Sandra feel a lot better. She got off the bike as a young guy walked towards the gates with a rake in his hand, he was kind of cute in a goofy way, wearing jeans and a tee shirt which unfortunately was a bit big so she couldn't get good idea what was beneath. "Hi I take it your Sandra, I'm Xander." He turned to look at Johnny and his eyes widened. "Wait I know you! Your that daredevil type James Blaze! Didn't you, like, try to jump a canyon on a skateboard?"

"It's Johnny Blaze actually, and you're thinking of Homer Simpson. Are you going to let us in or what?"

That got both of them looking at Johnny suspiciously. Xander still held the rake in his left hand but his right slid behind his back. "Her I'm going to let in, no problem. But I'm a little bit unsure what your part in all this is."

Stepping towards the gate Johnny looked the youth dead in the eyes. "I'm the one who took out those things that were hunting her down, plus their boss who was following in a truck after I guess he dropped them off." He looked at Sandra who was slowly moving away from him, something which disheartened him more than he was willing to think about. "I said I didn't know why you were in trouble, not that I didn't know people were after you. Or should I day demons. "

Xander's eyes darted between the two of them. "Okay I'm going to let both of you in the gate, but for your sake I suggest you stay in the driveway here while we get this sorted out. The people inside are the type to not start asking questions till after you wake up tied to a chair."

Trying not to wince when heard the squeak in the gate Johnny wheeled his bike in with Sandra by his side. Looking to the right he saw a mix of cars that at a place like this he would have expected to find belonging to the hired help rather than the owners. "Does whoever own this place know that it is being used as a secret hide out?"

"Actually it is owned by a friend of mine Buffy but well, lets just say she has some outside financing. It's her home now so it should be able to keep out atleast vampires. Hopefully the gate will help keep out some of the rest. I'm looking to have some cross shaped spikes or something put along the top to try and help with that."

Johnny's eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline for a second as he took in the boys almost off the cuff mention of vampires. Mephisto had never mentioned anything about vampires being real. Was there more he could have been doing to protect people from evil? He looked over at Sandra who seemed to take it all in her stride which didn't see right to him. A girl her age should be doing things like … like whatever girls her age usually do. "None of this bothers you?"

She looked up at him and shook her head. "I admit when my Watcher first told me about who he was and about Slayers and vampires and stuff I thought he was nuts. And when he took me to a cemetery at night I though he was going to like sacrifice me or something, but then I saw one push its way out of the grave and …" she shrugged … "kind of hard not to become a believer if you know what I mean."

Yes he did but at the same time he didn't. Watchers? Slayers? Oh yeah he was going to have a real long conversation with that slippery bastard when got somewhere quiet.

As Xander signalled for them to wait as he went to the door Sandra couldn't help but feel nervous. She was going to meet the Slayer Buffy Summers, the longest living Slayer in generations, the one who had defeated the Whirlwind of Europe, and Kaistods. She paused, was that Buffy or another Slayer? She could have sworn that her Watcher had said that was done by another Slayer. But didn't that mean there was two? But that couldn't be right. The door opened and someone spoke to Xander, she tried to lean around to get a look but he was in the way.

Eventually he stepped out of the way to reveal… a rather ordinary looking blond girl in her 20s who looked really tired and was a lot shorter then she was expecting. "Welcome to the Chateau Summers I take you must be Sandra."

"Yep. I mean yes ma'am. Are you Buffy? My Watcher told me so much about you."

"Good to know at least some of the tea brigade appreciate my handiwork. And please just Buffy." The Slayer's eyes swivelled over to Johnny. "And I must admit you're my first celebrity to turn up on more door step. Even Dracula didn't pay a house call." She took a step out of the door "You like half daemon or something cause I'm getting some really weird vibes."

Johnny was tempted to ask if they had any liquor hidden away. Dracula? Okay now this was just getting ridiculous. "No daemons in my family unless you count a couple of cattle rustlers in the 1900s."

"Not quite what I had in mind but still pretty cool." Sighing she ran her hand through her head, then took a look at the bike and then back at the two of them. "Okay room's a bit tight so Sandra I hope you don't mind sharing a mattress, we've got plenty of sleeping bags. As you for you mister hot shot, we've got a couple of questions and maybe some tests for you before we work your sleeping arrangements. Starting with seeing if you can enter the house without an invite. I'm sure you won't take any offense. "

Putting on his best non crazy looking grin he squared his shoulders and tipped an imaginary hat at Buffy. Slayers, vampires, crazy blind guys with knives? Whatever he had gotten himself into it was definitely going to be one hell of a ride. He was kind of looking forward to it.

I know in the series Caleb comes in after Angel 4x09 Orpheus but I'm bumping it forward so I can introduce Ghost Rider prior to my next chapter 'LA goes dark'. Call it a knock on effect of more of the Potentials etc heading to Sunnydale earlier. I first got the idea fir this fight in my head about 6 months ago and but had to keep bumping it further down as the story developed.

A/N

I have no idea if Ghost Rider's bike can move like this in the comics but way figure it if its is transformed enough times then ... (shrug). Trying to write Nicholas Cage is going to be fun, that cattle rustling bit I just made up.

As for the Sling Ring well you can't have a bunch of blind guys in robes just walking down the streets of a city, breaking into a house and stabbing people. I mean could they drive? Did the First just happen to have Bringers in every city/ town with Potentials? Am I completely over thinking this? (That last one is rhetorical because the answer is yes). Dr Strange has a line in his movie that that to make a Sling Ring work you have to "control it by surrendering control". As Bringers have already surrendered control to the First the logic for this story is they wouldn't be able to use them.