Buffy stood in the sewer. She knew she was close to the Wolfram and Hart access tunnel, but that wasn't going to save Lurconis. Nothing was going to save him. She glanced down at the sword she was holding. The tip was resting lightly against the floor tiles, and she experimentally raised it. Her arm shook, and the blade wavered uselessly in the air. She scowled and let it rest back on the floor. Quiet hissing got her attention, and her head came up as she stared down the dark tunnel that was only illuminated by the led light at her feet. Lurconis came into view, and Buffy shakily moved to block him.
"I know I'm not what you had in mind," she watched as the large snake raised its head with interest, "but surely you can spare me a little time can't you?" It leaned down so its head was just inches from her, and she took a deep breath and dropped her sword as she watched it. "I won't fight," she murmured as she watched him arch away, and then strike forward. One fang slid into her throat and the other entered just inches from her breast. It *hurt*, but satisfaction ran through her when she felt both of them hit the sewer floor, and then she blacked out.
Angel hadn't left the room the babies were being kept in. He'd watched them through the night and into the next day. Watched as they'd been moved closer to the sewer access tunnels. He'd paced restlessly when the snake had been late for the meeting, but Lurconis had shown up, and now he watched as it wove intricate patterns in the air and examined the offerings.
"I take it they meet with your approval?" An older man standing across from Lurconis asked.
Lurconis stared at him, the demon's tongue flicking out to check the air before he lunged forward to catch the first baby in his fangs. A moment later, he tilted his head back to let it slide down his throat.
Angel walked out of the room, his eyes flickering with gold as he closed the door quietly behind him and looked over the somber faces of his waiting childer. "The first one's dead," he informed grimly. "She would have shown by now if she was going to."
Silence fell.
"I *am* sorry sire," Giles stated quietly after a few seconds.
"We were all hoping she'd show tonight," Wesley spoke up.
Angel rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. "I suppose Xander's taking care of Cordy?"
"Yes," Wesley answered. "You don't have to worry about her."
He nodded. "Good. I feel like killing something." He turned to walk away, and they started to follow before stopping when he suddenly turned back. "I feel like doing it *alone*," he stated firmly as he looked them over with threatening gold eyes.
They all lowered their heads and listened to the sound of his footsteps as he continued down the hall.
Buffy woke to sharp pain in her chest and throat... both from the physical damage of Lurconis's fangs as well as the massive amounts of venom that had been pumped into her. She tried to swallow and winced before looking over the unfamiliar room. She didn't have a clue where she was.
Any rational thought she had disappeared a few seconds later as the vision of the first baby being killed blazed through her, and she gasped and twisted in revulsion... and something else... before falling limply back to the bed as she tried to understand what was happening. Lurconis was dead... Wasn't he? Fresh tears filled her eyes as she realized she should be too. She knew she would be if she were human, but she wasn't, and a wave of despair washed over her before she jerked helplessly as the second baby's death tore through her.
She opened pain filled eyes before pushing herself off the bed. The third death hit, and she crashed to the floor, just managing to cut off the cry she knew would badly hurt her already damaged throat. The death ended, but not the vision, and she took deep painful breaths as she stared at the floor with sick tear filled eyes.
The door opened, and it exhausted her to lift her head. "Dawn," she breathed hoarsely in relief before lowering her head weakly back to the floor. "Are you okay?"
Her sister walked over to stand beside her. "I'm fine, but you don't look so hot."
"It's the vis..." Buffy started before breaking off as another baby died. She closed her eyes for several long moments before opening them to see Dawn had dropped to her knees beside her. A cool hand brushed hair and tears off her cheek.
"If you weren't filled with venom," Dawn told her with a low growl. "I'd be getting my first taste of slayer blood right now."
Buffy drew her head back as much as she could as a different kind of pain filled her. "What?"
The brunette gave a nasty smile as she slid into game face. "Oh god..." Buffy breathed hoarsely as fresh tears filled her eyes. "Did... Was Angel the one that..."
Dawn snorted. "Angel's too noble to even *touch* me Buff... not that I would mind," she almost purred.
Lurconis's fangs sank into another baby, and this time Buffy didn't try to stop the hoarse desperate scream that ripped at her already torn throat before she took deep pain filled breaths.
Someone entered the cell, walked over, and Dawn was jerked to her feet. "I told you not to come in here *alone* Dawn," James hissed before roughly pushing her away.
Buffy glanced up at him, and he smiled unpleasantly down at her. "We're going to offer to give you back to your lover... if he'll give us our strength back and break the barrier spell. We think he'll take the deal. What do you think?"
"You're all vampires?" she managed to get out, her voice cracked and broken as she stared up at him in shock.
"Of course. It was always the plan that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Angel always could."
"Then I..." Fresh tears fell. "I could have killed humans?" she asked in a voice that was almost gone.
"That's always a possibility," he answered with amusement. Her chest heaved in distress, and he crouched beside her. "Humans are insignificant," he murmured in a low almost intimate voice. "The little girl you saw in the warehouse? We called her mouse by the way." He grinned as he met her fever bright eyes. "Her body's in the ocean right now."
The last death came, and she gave another hoarse scream. It ripped at her venom filled throat and was only slightly louder than a whisper. She collapsed in exhaustion afterward, and he reached down to shift blonde hair off her face.
I think he'll make the trade..." he murmured almost absently as he looked her over, "but if he doesn't," he jerked her chin toward him as they locked eyes, "we're going to send him bits and pieces until he changes his mind."
"Kill me," she pleaded shakily, her voice almost nonexistent.
"Even if he doesn't agree to a trade, that can't happen... but just about everything else can," he warned as he got to his feet and pulled Dawn out of the room.
Lindsey opened the door and smiled at the brunette on the other side. "So... how's it going at Wolfram and Hart?" He pulled the door open wider, let Eve step into the apartment before closing it and turning toward her. "I suppose there's quite a stir now that they have Buffy back."
She looked at him for a long moment before giving a shake of her head. "Lurconis killed the children 5 hours ago and cast a blessing on the Senior Partners. Angel doesn't have her."
Lindsey's forehead creased with confusion. "But she was headed for Wolfram and Hart when she left. Marcus said everything was arranged."
Eve sat down and poured herself a glass of wine from the bottle already sitting on the table. "Angel's childer are walking around him on eggshells... Believe me Linds, they don't have her."
"Then who does?"
"Don't know," she picked up the glass and took a sip, "but I suppose she'll turn up." He didn't say anything, and she looked up curiously before giving a shake of her head. "I really hope you haven't become attached to her Linds... believe me, that would not be a good idea."
He gave a slow nod. "I knew that from the start, but..." he broke off uneasily before running a hand through his hair.
"You worry too much. The Senior Partners will make sure she ends up where she's supposed to."
"Suppose so," he agreed absently.
Eve put her feet on the coffee table before looking up to study Lindsey's worried frown for several seconds. "I bet Angel would love to know about your concern for his girlfriend."
Lindsey forced a smile as he turned to look at her. "Think he'd be upset about that?"
She settled back into the sofa. "If I were you I wouldn't want to find out."
"They want to do an exchange sire," Willow stated quietly. "They'll give us Buffy if we're willing to break the spell over Los Angeles."
Angel gave an unpleasant smile as he looked up from the paper he was reading. "And if she's dead? Would we just get her body?"
"No. The spell would only work if she were alive."
He looked at her almost threateningly. "She doesn't have a heartbeat now," he growled. "How will the spell know if she's dead or alive?"
"Sire," Giles broke in. "We can fix it so the spell *would* be able to tell the difference between a dead body and an animated one. If she were truly dead, the exchange would not go through."
Angel stared at them with angry gold eyes.
"The incantation would have to be agreed upon by both parties," Willow stated quietly, "and would take 2 spell casters to activate. I could do our half of it, and they would have to choose someone to read it for them. Once it was done, demons would receive their full strength, the boundary would disappear... and we'd get her back."
"Why?" Angel breathed... "Just so we can lose her again?" He turned and rammed a fist into the wall before slowly pulling it out and looking at the bloodied hand with some interest. A moment later, he was licking the blood off as he stared at his nervous childer.
"Sire," Giles started. "You... you said yourself Buffy asked what time it was. It's highly likely the original spell to change her and Cordelia's bodies was meant to break at midnight on that particular night."
Willow nodded. "I agree. I think if we could get her back we'd have a good chance of keeping her this time."
"And how do we let them know we agree?" Angel asked in a low dangerous voice.
"Magic," Willow answered. "We're to cast a spell over Wolfram and Hart that only supernatural beings can see. If our answer's yes, their mage will contact us."
"Then it's 'yes'", Angel answered grimly, "but I want it in the spell if we lose her again the deal's off, and they're right back where they started."
Willow nodded. "Yes, sire."
-Twenty-four hours later-
Willow and Marcus read the agreed upon spell as power built in the room. A white mist started to form at Angel's feet, and he watched it with hard interested eyes. There was a flash of power, Buffy appeared, and they all waited expectantly for her to move, but when she didn't, Angel gave an angry growl and dropped at her side. Her heartbeat soothed him and stung him at the same time as he gently shifted her onto her back. "Buffy?" he asked as he took in the red swollen wounds on her neck and chest.
She took a couple of hitching breaths and looked at him with fever bright eyes. "Will," he murmured as he stared into them.
Willow moved closer, pressed her hands against the large angry puncture marks on Buffy's shoulder and throat as she murmured a spell. Poisonous venom drained and torn flesh healed, but Buffy still didn't try to move. "Buffy?" Willow murmured as the rest of the family gathered around the slayer with concern.
"I assume our business is concluded?" Marcus asked as he watched with a hint of amusement.
Angel looked up with gold eyes. "What's wrong with her?" he growled.
"She had a vision about 24 hours ago... Children being eaten alive. It was a nasty business," he murmured. "I'd give her a couple of days and see how she is after that."
"She's still getting Cordelia's visions?" Angel growled as he stood to look at the mage threateningly.
Marcus smiled. "Visions are a tricky business. They can pass from one person to another."
Angel stepped around Buffy and started toward the mage. He stopped when he came up against a barrier before giving a dangerous smile. "Leave, and *pray* I never get the opportunity to do to you what I badly want to."
Marcus eyed him before suddenly disappearing, and Angel stared at the space he'd been standing in before turning to look back at Buffy. His childer had surrounded her, their heads lowered as their fingers slid through her hair, across her cheek, arm... knee... He growled, the sound instantly causing them to move back, and Buffy slowly started to shift away from them. She stopped when Angel moved behind her, his arm sliding around her waist as he pulled her tightly against him. "Start the spell," he ordered quietly.
Chanting started, and more sickness welled in her stomach as she felt a strong steady pull that sent her spiraling into oblivion. The waiting orb began to glow, and silence fell as they took in the implications that this truly was Buffy.
"Give her back her soul," Angel ordered as he turned away from the glowing orb and looked at Wesley. "You have my 11 o'clock appointment?" Wes nodded, and Angel picked Buffy up as she started to stir. "I'm taking her to her cell. If you need me that's where I'll be."
She barely moved when he placed her on the bed a couple of minutes later, and he climbed in beside her before working with the covers and then tugging her back against him. "I love you," he murmured.
"Don't," she ordered flatly before tightly closing her eyes and pushing her head deeper into the pillow.
Silence fell, and he placed a firm kiss on the top of her head before momentarily tightening his hold. "It's going to be alright. We're going to make it through this."
Her breathing hitched, and she lifted her head to stare sightlessly at the opposite wall. "No... I need to leave."
"You're not going anywhere, Buffy. You belong with us."
She stiffened, a fine tremor running through her as she took deep breaths trying to control the sickness. "You can't keep me here."
"I can," he answered quietly.
She laid still a moment more feeling him hold her, his arms beginning to feel like restraints before she started to mindlessly struggle. He let her go, and she hit the floor before beginning to dry heave.
"Cordy's visions are something she had to get used to," he stated as he got out of bed and joined her on the floor. "It's..." he broke off for several seconds. "They're from the Powers Buffy. Every vision we make come true saves lives." He paused as he watched her shake her head. "Sometimes it's about the lesser of two evils... one dead instead of four. Sometimes it's about killing a murderer before they can kill."
She sobbed in distress before lowering herself to the floor and curling into a ball. "Kill me," she ordered, her voice so low he could barely hear it.
"No," he stated firmly even as he watched with concern. "You belong with us." He forced a smile. "We're still good Buffy. That hasn't changed."
"Everything's changed," she breathed in distress, her voice quivering. "Don't know you." She took several labored breaths. "Don't want to know you."
He was silent for several moments before his eyes flecked with gold. "Things might be a little different." He reached down to tuck a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear. "I've healed a lot in the last few years. It's... freeing Buffy, but I've never stopped loving you."
She didn't respond, and he slowly got to his feet. "I'm going back to work. Try to get some sleep alright?"
She didn't respond, and he frowned before turning to leave the cell.
She didn't know how many days had passed, but she couldn't make herself care when Angel pulled her into his arms and slept beside her. For the most part he was silent, but once in a while he'd talk about the past or what he hoped for in the future. His hand splayed over her stomach, bunching up and then smoothing the silky nightgown she was wearing.
"They're worried about you," he stated quietly after several long moments of silence. "Why don't we go visit them?"
She didn't reply or protest when he lifted her out of bed and set her on her feet, helped her into a robe before taking her hand and starting to lead her down the hall.
"Buffy," Willow breathed a few minutes later as she got up from the sofa.
The slayer glanced up and met four pairs of vampire eyes before looking into Cordelia's angry brown. She took a breath. Cordelia had a right to be angry, she acknowledged dully, she'd stolen her body... and now shared her visions. Her stomach rolled sickeningly, and tired resignation settled over her as she fought an urge to throw up.
"Buffy," Giles greeted before walking over to pull her into his arms. She hesitated uncertainly before slowly giving him a weak hug. A hand came down on her shoulder and she shifted away from Giles to look at Xander.
"Hey," he greeted as he studied her intently before wrapping her in his arms. She froze before twisting away as the nausea in her stomach intensified.
It was too much, and she mindlessly began to back away. She bumped into tables and chairs before coming up against a wall, her breathing was deep and labored when she looked up and noticed Angel moving slowly toward her. "Shhh..." he soothed. "It's alright. It's going to take time." His hand came to rest on her hip, and she shoved him away before putting a few feet of distance between them.
Silence fell before Cordy broke it with a laugh. "Doesn't look like you'll be 'getting what you want' Angel." The seer eyed him viciously before turning to look at the slayer that was staring at the floor. "They all want you, you know," she murmured in a low voice. "They want you even though you're not 'little miss goody two shoes' anymore. You've got blood on your hands when you released your serial killer sister... and the number of deaths in L.A. has increased since Angel made the deal to give demons back their strength."
Buffy looked at Cordelia through a veil of tears and took deep breaths before turning to look at the large windows a few feet away. It was dark out... she could see the lights in the nearby buildings... people were living their lives out there, and suddenly she wanted out, needed it. She was moving before she knew it, everything blurring as the energy she'd been lacking the last few days returned in a desperate bid to escape. They were several stories up, and she'd have to go through a pane of glass, but she'd be free. The barrier she ran into knocked her to the floor. Her head snapped back and hit the tile painfully before she blacked out.
Two days later, she sat with her back to the wall, her knees drawn up and her forehead pressed against them. Angel hesitated after he'd closed the cell door before sitting down when he was still a few feet away. "I've talked to the Powers and the Senior Partners," he stated quietly. "They can't stop your visions Buffy, but they can change them." She didn't say anything, and he continued, "They've offered to give you the visions that used to go to Cordy. The ones where we kill demons," he clarified. "There are no promises on what they'll do to you, but there's a good chance you'll be able to handle them."
Buffy took a shaky audible breath. "I don't want them."
"It's better than what you have now," he answered quietly, "and I could use the help. With two sets of visions, we can save more lives. We can even patrol," he murmured as he watched her intently. Silence fell, and he climbed to his feet with irritation when she didn't respond. "You don't even have to stay in the basement. You can move in with me. All you have to do is sign a contract."
She slowly lifted her head, looked up with dull eyes. "Sign a contract?"
"Yes. I'd need to know about your visions," he answered quietly. "You'd have to stay close. The contract would only state that you couldn't leave the building for longer than a couple of hours before being returned to it, not without someone with you anyway."
Her fists clenched, her stomach churned, and she dropped her head back onto her knees. Silence fell. "Or you don't have to sign anything," he murmured casually. "You can have the new visions and stay in your cell."
She didn't say anything, and he slowly walked over to crouch beside her. "I'm offering you choices. And I know you're not thrilled with them, but right now, it's what you've got." He paused. "If you have counteroffers I'm willing to listen."
Her arms tightened around her knees. "Let me go."
"We're good Buffy. You don't have a reason to run away from us."
Buffy lifted her head and eyed him warily. She still shook, her stomach still rolled with sickness whenever she thought too much about her situation. She was having trouble eating and sleeping... and she studied the man that was seemingly willing to give her options. She took a deep breath and then another. "I don't want her visions," she stated quietly.
Silence fell. "Buffy..." he broke off with a frown, rubbed at his forehead, looked back up. "The visions are attached to you... trying to change that could be dangerous."
"I don't care."
"I do."
"You shouldn't," she answered grimly as she shot him a hard look.
He shook his head. "You can have Cordy's old visions," he restated quietly. "We can patrol."
Silence fell for several seconds. "If I sign a two hour contract, can I patrol alone?"
"A two hour patrol isn't that long Buffy. I can go with you and we can walk for hours if you want."
It appealed... well, walking for hours did. She craved getting out of the cell and feeling normal, she craved freedom and an end to the sickness. She took a breath. "I don't want her visions."
"I know. Do you want me to talk to the Powers?"
She nodded and looked up at him with tear filled eyes. She'd have Cordy's old visions. Her stomach rolled at the thought of agreeing to accept them.
"Alright," he agreed quietly. "And are you interested in patrolling?
She nodded again, and he gave a faint smile. "And food? Anything in particular you'd like?"
She took a breath. She didn't have much of an appetite, but she knew she was going to have to start eating more than ice cream. "Pepperoni pizza," she answered as she stared sightlessly at the bars of her cell.
"I think I can handle all of that," he murmured before standing to his full height and turning to leave.
"Will..." Angel stepped into her office. "Thank you."
"For?"
"For stopping Buffy from jumping."
She nodded and sighed. "She really doesn't want anything to do with us."
"No," Angel agreed, "but maybe in time."
She hesitated. "Have you had any luck with her?"
"I told her she could have Cordy's old visions, and she wants them. I'll have to start killing demons again."
She nodded. "Changing her visions should help her heal." A moment later, she shook her head. "She's not doing very well, and she's losing weight."
"I know. That's why I thought it might be good to get her out of the basement for a while." He glanced back at the redhead. "I offered to let her patrol, and she's interested."
Her lips twisted into a smile before she rolled her eyes. "I guess if it makes her feel better..." Willow broke off and watched with interest as Angel's lips twitched up, his eyes glinting with gold sparks before he shrugged.
"She's a little more work than I thought she'd be a few weeks ago, but I think she's worth it. Don't you?"
"Yes. If we can heal her up some, maybe bring her upstairs once in a while, she ought to be entertaining." A moment later, she tensed and slowly raised her eyes to his as she waited to see if she'd gone too far.
He met them with a neutral expression before turning away. "Well... I just wanted to thank you. Right now I've got to talk to the Powers about changing her visions, and I need to get a pizza."
Her eyes glinted with gold at his easy-going attitude before she thoughtfully settled back in her chair with a smile.
Angel glanced over his assembled childer with a curious frown. He'd told them he was taking Buffy on her first patrol tonight... but hadn't expected *all* of them to show up. He lifted an eyebrow as Buffy shifted uneasily beside him. "Who's staying with Cordy?"
Wesley shrugged. "Will put a spell on her so we'd be notified if she has a vision. We could be back in seconds if she needs us."
Buffy felt a residual sickness at the mention of the visions, and the sex Cordy had when she experienced them. Trying to distract herself she looked over the dark city. There were lights, cars, noises... there was a slight breeze... and she gratefully took a deep breath of air as she did her best to ignore that the little bit of freedom Angel was offering was putting her in closer proximity to his family than if she'd stayed in the cell.
Angel was still looking at Wesley and Xander, and when both of them looked at him casually he gave a slow nod as he acknowledged their interest in the girl at his side. "Alright," he agreed slowly before lightly touching Buffy on the back and giving a faint smile when she looked at him. "Ready?"
"Yeah," she answered before heading down the stairs and then down the street. Ten minutes later, the almost constant nausea bubbled up again when she noticed they were surrounding her. She stopped abruptly, and so did they.
"Buff?" Angel asked.
She stared at Xander who was the closest and watched as he shifted away. "This isn't patrolling," she hissed as she turned to look at Angel.
"Alright," he agreed easily. "Then maybe you should show us what you want." There was a glint of gold in his eyes that she eyed suspiciously.
"Do you really want me to?" she challenged. "Because I'm not sure you're up to it."
Angel's lips twitched up. "We like games, Buff. We'll play."
She stood still for a moment before suddenly bolting into a nearby alley, a blonde blur luxuriating in whatever freedom she could find. She was up the fire escape of the building she'd been running alongside of, and then onto the roof a few seconds after that. She didn't hesitate when she jumped off, but she did wait for them to join her on the ground. It wouldn't do if they thought she was trying to escape.
They landed at her side and that was all the time she allowed them before she was running again, her feet pounding as she took deep cleansing breaths that seemed to help her put her ordeal with Cordy's visions in the past. When she finally slowed she didn't bother to look behind her as she started stalking through the night. They'd followed without using magic. It was something she'd wanted to know, and she started looking for something to kill.
Wesley laughed a few hours later when they were sitting in the lounge. "She's not boring."
"No," Giles agreed with a smile. "There was a time or two I thought she might get away."
"And there was a time or two I wanted to use a spell," Willow stated grimly.
Angel punched the microwave on. "She was testing us," he murmured as he waited for his blood to heat, "seeing what she could get away with."
"She never did like following rules," Giles answered. "How did she take being returned to her cell?"
"She just walked in." Angel took the mug out of the microwave before taking a thoughtful sip.
"So," Xander started, "are we putting her on a regular exercise schedule or what?"
Angel glanced up with a faint smile. "I think it would be good for her, and might even make her more willing to spend time with us." Silence fell, and he watched as they looked at him with cautious hopeful expressions. A moment later, he finished off the blood before rinsing the mug in the sink and stretching. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to call it a night. I mean, it's been a while since I've had that kind of a workout." He grinned before turning to wink at them. "It's not the kind I had in mind, but as long as it's good for her..." he broke off at their soft laughter before heading for his rooms.
It was the second time they'd allowed her to patrol, and Buffy stepped out of Wolf Ram and Hart without stopping as she made her way down the street.
"Buffy," Angel called, and she stopped and turned to him with narrowed eyes even as she tensed and waited for what he was going to say. "We can do what we did last time, or you can tell Willow where you want to go, and she can do a transport spell."
Buffy stared at him before suddenly bolting into an alley, up the fire escape, and onto a roof before jumping over the edge. She waited for them to join her before beginning to walk again. Xander came up beside her, and a few minutes later Willow slowly moved up to her other side. She almost instantly stopped walking. "Buffy?" Giles asked as they all watched her.
"Don't pen me in," she hissed a moment before she turned to look accusingly at Angel.
"Alright," he agreed even as Willow and Xander shifted away, dropped back to where the rest of them were following.
Buffy hesitated before turning to Willow. "I want to go to the old warehouse district."
Silence fell, Willow glanced at Angel. Something was said in such a low voice Buffy couldn't make it out. Xander answered, the only thing distinguishable the faint sound of his voice. She crossed her arms and waited.
Angel glanced up. "Not there."
"Why?" she ground out.
He shrugged. "We don't kill marrows, Buff."
She paced herself this time as she broke into a run, and went through alleys, up on roofs, jumped down only to repeat the process a few minutes later. It was a punishing pace that went on for a good thirty to forty minutes before she finally went still and let them catch up with her. Still taking deep cleansing breaths, she stepped onto the sidewalk and made it a few feet before a vision hit, the suddenness of it was a shock to her system, and she dropped to a knee and watched as the vision played out, a demon pulling a struggling girl through an alley. Nausea ran through her at the suddenness of it, but that was all.
"Buffy?" Angel asked worriedly as he shifted down beside her. "What's wrong?"
"Vision," she breathed even as she continued to watch it, got the information she needed to stop it. She looked at Angel when it was over even as it dawned on her how close his family was. She abruptly stood, and relief ran through her when they backed away before she gave Angel the information he needed.
"Alright." He nodded before looking down at his watch. "Looks like I've got a couple of hours. Would you like to go home now?"
She gave a shake of her head. "No. I want to help."
"The visions are my responsibility," he answered quietly.
"Yes," she agreed, "but having backup isn't a bad thing."
His eyes glinted with gold even as he gave a slow nod. "Okay." He glanced at his watch. "We can... patrol for another hour and twenty minutes or so and then Will can transport us to the alley. Is that alright?"
She nodded and started to walk down the street before turning into the nearest alley she could find.
Several minutes later, Willow did the transport spell, and even though Buffy had been ready for it, the sudden distortion caused nausea to build and she staggered, her arms going around her stomach as she doubled over and tried to stop from dry heaving. Hands shifted through her hair, touched her back, her hip... soft sympathetic murmurs had her lifting her head. When Willow touched her cheek, she mindlessly backed away. They moved, shifted, let her through, and she hit the bricks of the building behind her before going still. Silence fell, and Angel looked at them with a carefully neutral expression before turning away to sit on the steps of a fire escape.
"Transportation spells can be disorienting. Wesley offered. "It's something you have to get used to."
"Yeah," Xander agreed as he watched Angel before turning back to Buffy. "I'm still not used to them."
"I don't like to be transported myself," Willow agreed as she ran a hand through her hair before turning to study Angel. He looked back calmly, and she gave a sly smile before walking over to join him.
Buffy lifted her head and watched them darkly. She looked away when Giles, Wesley, and Xander moved to join Willow and Angel on the steps across from her.
"Well this is fun," Xander broke an awkward silence a few minutes later.
Buffy looked at him. She'd moved slightly away so they were no longer directly across the alley from each other, but she hadn't wanted to test them by moving too far too fast. Even as she thought it though she edged away a few more steps.
"Oh I know," Willow exclaimed. "Let's play the quote game."
"Or maybe truth or dare," Xander broke in with a smile. Willow looked at him with interest, and Xander turned to Buffy. "You in Buff?"
Buffy looked at them. They were all watching her, and she scowled before giving a shake of her head. "I don't think so, but if you guys are bored..." she broke off and shifted away from the wall, centered herself in the alley, and reached for her sword. It hissed quietly as she drew it out of its scabbard. "We could spar if you want."
Silence fell, and Angel slowly got to his feet and moved across from her. His sword hissed just as quietly as hers when he drew it out. "Just try not to dust me," he stated quietly as they watched each other. "In about 25 minutes we're going to have company."
"Company I can take care of."
"I know," he answered as he stared into challenging green eyes. A moment later, she lunged. Swords clashed. The constant quick movements and counter movements went on for several minutes before Buffy backed away and sheathed her sword. "It shouldn't be much longer now," she stated before doing her best to blend into the shadows.
Angel watched thoughtfully before doing the same. She hadn't tried to kill him, but she hadn't been playing either. The hard jarring his arm had taken when he'd blocked her attacks had surprised him, and he couldn't help but wonder how she'd managed to keep it up for as long as she had. His eyes glinted with a fresh burst of interest. They hadn't had sex since she'd taken the kondra venom, and he didn't want to push it, but he did want her.
She led the way back to Wolf Ram and Hart a couple of hours later, her reluctance to be transported giving Angel all the incentive he needed to allow her to walk back. When they reached the building she entered before they did and walked over to wait at the basement door.
"It's Saturday," Angel stated as he studied her with interest. "We have the day off. Want to go upstairs, eat pizza, and see if we can find a good movie?"
Buffy hesitated before almost cautiously turning to look at him. She was hungry... starved actually, but the thought of spending time with them in a room... She took a couple of breaths as nausea gathered in her stomach. "Pizza sounds great," she finally answered, "but I think I'd rather have it in my cell."
"No reason to," he answered casually. "You could have it in the lounge. And if a movie doesn't appeal maybe a research session. Giles has been trying to find a spell allowing us to automatically kill any demon trying to harm a human."
Buffy frowned and looked at Giles. "Do you think it's possible?"
"Possibly," he answered as he watched her carefully. "I could use the help if you're interested."
"I can research it in my cell if you give me the books," she countered.
"Sometimes one book doesn't give the whole picture," Willow broke in. "It helps to have a group working together."
"Yes," Wesley spoke up. "Where one book might be lacking, another might fill in the gaps."
She frowned and looked at Angel. He was watching with an unreadable expression. "Alright," she slowly agreed and watched as he smiled.
"Pepperoni pizza Buff?"
She nodded, and Willow smiled. "Deep dish or thin crust?"
"Thin," Buffy answered as she eyed her warily.
"Anything else on it?"
The blonde shook her head before walking toward the doors leading into the main part of the building, and Angel expectantly pulled one of them open as she neared.
Ten minutes later she was looking over the books Giles and Wesley had set on a table in the lounge. She picked out a couple and took them to the farthest table she could before walking over to the kitchen area and filling a glass with water. When she was done, she picked up a plate with a couple pieces of pizza on it and headed back to her table.
Silence fell as they watched her before they all went over to pick out a book.
Several minutes later, Willow looked up from the ancient writing in front of her and over to where the slayer was sitting. "You know we need to do something about your wardrobe Buffy. I can recreate your clothes from high school if you want."
Buffy slowly lifted her head from the text she was reading and looked at the witch. "Didn't know you were into fashion Will."
"I'm not really, but all you've got is a nightgown, robe, and the clothes you're wearing." She shrugged. "I just thought you might like to have more."
Buffy looked away as she reached for her glass and took a sip. Willow wasn't lying, and it would be nice to have her clothes. She set the glass down and looked at it before running a hand through her hair. "Yeah Will. Maybe a few pairs of jeans and some shirts would be nice."
"Maybe an outfit or two to go out in?" the redhead asked.
Buffy snorted. "No." A moment later, she went back to reading her book.
Willow murmured a spell, and Buffy glanced off to the side when a large duffel bag that looked full appeared at her feet. She stared at it for a long moment before taking a deep breath and starting to read again.
She looked up tiredly an hour and a half later when she couldn't concentrate on the text anymore. "Can I take the book back to the cell?" she asked before getting to her feet and stretching, walking over to pick up the last piece of pizza and take a bite.
Angel glanced at Giles who shrugged and nodded. "There's no reason why she shouldn't sire."
Angel nodded. Next time he'd be more involved in the book selection, but he'd have to trust Giles and Wesley this time. "Alright," he murmured as he got to his feet. "But you don't have to go back to the cell, Buffy. You can stay in my apartment if you want."
Nausea started to build, and she put the slice of pizza back on the plate before walking over to add the book to her bag of clothes. "Wouldn't want to inconvenience you," she stated flatly as she threw the strap over her shoulder. "The cell's fine.
"It's not an inconvenience."
"Sire," Giles broke in. "We do have a spare set of rooms for guests."
Angel looked at him before looking at Buffy when she started toward the door to the lounge. "I think I'd rather be locked in the basement than locked upstairs," she stated honestly, tiredly, without thought as she headed out of the lounge, and after a couple of seconds, Angel followed.
A few days later Buffy was digging through the duffel with a frown. She recognized all of the clothes in it, and up until she'd ended up in Angel's basement, hadn't had a problem with them, but now... She rubbed at the back of her neck. Now there was something about all of them that made her uncomfortable. None of them were tight, especially after her weight loss, but they all had something going for them, either the color, style, or texture. She shook her head with irritation before reaching for a fitted t-shirt and a pair of jeans and going to take a shower.
An hour later, she had a sword strapped to her back and was leaning against the side of the cell waiting for Angel. Steps sounded, and she walked to the bars expectantly.
He studied her, his gaze sliding over her outfit thoughtfully. It was a little too large, but it was still attractive.
"I'm ready," Buffy stated in a cold voice, nausea building as she watched him. His eyes instantly went up to hers.
"It's raining. I think we'll have to cancel tonight."
She looked forward to her one night a week out. The thought they might be playing mind games with her... She looked at him mistrustfully as a dull ache of disappointment built. "Are you sure about that?"
"It's raining," he murmured. "We can walk to the doors if you want."
Buffy nodded, and he opened the cell door and waited for her to take the lead before following. Even the short walk out of the basement was a freedom to be savored, and she did, but her stomach dropped and she stopped abruptly when she saw they were *all* standing in front of the doors leading out of Wolfram and Hart. They looked at her, looked at Angel, slowly parted to let her through, and she walked to the doors and watched the raindrops run down the glass. A streak of lightning was followed by a loud boom of thunder, and she opened the door and took a couple of deep slow breaths of rain washed air. "Why couldn't I hear it?" she asked as she extended an arm out, felt the cool drops of rain run over her skin.
"Five or six years ago we had a banshee," Xander answered. "We only had it a couple of days before deciding we needed to soundproof the basement."
"None of us could sleep," Willow added, "and it scared off some of our clients."
Silence fell, and Buffy's eyes narrowed as she stared out at the rain... turned her hand so the drops hit her palm.
Angel watched before touching Willow's arm, bumping Wes and Xander, motioning off to the side. His childer took the hint, and they all moved to line up against the same wall he'd moved to. "Patrolling might be out, but we can still have a pizza and do some research," he stated.
Buffy slowly shook her head. "Stew, roast beef, potatoes, carrots, onions," she answered almost absently as she continued to watch the rain. Pepsi," she added.
"Alright," Willow agreed with a smile before her eyes narrowed when Buffy slowly reached to pull her sword. Silence fell, and the slayer continued to look outside for a long moment before letting the door close when she walked over to stand in front of the witch.
"You know Will, the only one of you I've sparred with has been Angel. "Do you fight?"
"A little, but I'm not very good at it," she answered as they locked eyes.
"Too bad," Buffy murmured before sheathing her sword and looking over the line of vampires. None of them commented, and she took a moment to look back longingly at the doors leading out of Wolfram and Hart before heading upstairs.
She'd just entered the lounge when a large bowl of stew appeared along with a cold can of Pepsi. A loud crash of thunder had her looking toward the wall of windows, and she picked up the food and moved over to put her drink down on a table near them.
"You know," Willow started as she turned away from Buffy to look at the others. "We've been researching this spell for at least three weeks... I'm not sure I want to tonight."
"It is getting old," Xander agreed.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take a break," Giles answered.
"What's hard about it?" Buffy asked without looking at them.
"The vagueness of it," Giles answered. "The variety of demons, the number of attacks, the large area we'd be covering. I'm beginning to think it might not be possible."
Buffy gave a humorless smile as she stared out the windows, stirred her stew. "I suppose fixing it so some demons can get by with it might pose a problem as well."
"You know," Xander started. "Why don't we watch a movie?" He looked thoughtful. "Something like 'I Know What you Did Last Summer'?"
"Perfect," Willow agreed before she threw up a hand and a large screen tv appeared on the wall. A moment later, the lights dimmed. "Anyone want popcorn?"
Xander grinned. "Sure. Extra salt and butter Will."
A large bowl appeared on a table near him, and he walked over and sat down.
The opening credits were running when Buffy set her bowl down and reached out to try to open a window.
"They don't open," Willow stated without turning away from the tv. "I'm pretty sure they've been painted shut."
Giles snorted. "Those windows are sealed so well it would take magic to get through them."
Buffy frowned before turning to look at them. They all had their backs to her. Her eyes narrowed before she slowly picked up her bowl and took a seat at the table she'd picked out earlier.
The movie was half over when she got up and moved back to the windows. It was still raining, and she stared out at the lighted town below before closing her eyes. "Let me go."
Angel turned to look at her. "You're my seer Buff. I can't let you go."
"We both know that's not true."
"What's not true about it?"
"I'm not your seer," she hissed. "And as for the visions, I can take care of them."
Silence fell before Xander suddenly laughed. "You know this is my favorite part of the movie.
"Yeah," Wesley agreed, "but the ending's good too."
"I think I like the sequel better," Willow spoke up. She turned to look at Buffy. "Do you want to watch it next, or wait for a different time?"
"I'm not sure there's going to be a 'different time'," she answered. Silence fell, and Buffy watched as they glanced at each other. Willow threw up a hand, the movie stopped, the lights brightened, and they all turned to look at her.
"You don't like the movie?" Xander asked. "You can pick the next one."
She didn't answer, and he slowly got up and walked to within fifteen feet of her before stopping. "You know we could play a board game or cards... There's six of us, we could pick partners."
"The movie's fine," she answered as she turned back to look out the window. She wanted to tell them she was going back to her cell, but she didn't want to leave the lightning... thunder, the sound of rain hitting the windows. "I was thinking maybe I could do a quick patrol."
"It's supposed to rain all night," Angel answered. "We can patrol tomorrow if you want."
She stared out at the rain. "Alright." She took a breath before turning to look at him. "Giles said you had a spare set of rooms... Can I stay in them tonight?"
"Yes."
"Can I stay in them without having to see any of you until it's time to patrol?"
Silence fell before Angel shrugged. "I can bring you something to eat Buff, and I'm not sure if it's fully stocked so maybe..."
"Have Harmony do it," she cut him off.
His eyes glinted with gold but he nodded. "Okay."
She glanced back out the window before reaching out to touch the cool glass.
"I can give you some more clothes if you want, some shampoo... some other stuff," Willow offered. "That way you can have them at both places."
Buffy nodded and picked up the duffel that appeared at her feet a few seconds later. "I think I'll go to my room now."
"I'll take you," Angel agreed.
A few minutes after entering the apartment she carefully brought up a hand to touch the barrier that barred the door. The windows wouldn't open either, but she could see and hear the rain, and she sat on the sofa and curled into a ball as she let the sounds lull her to sleep.
The vision came an hour later. A slime demon in an alley. A girl fighting against it... Buffy stared sightlessly into the darkness as she realized what this could mean for her. She got to her feet before throwing open the door to her rooms. The hall was empty and quiet, and she started yelling Giles's name. Doors along the hallway opened, and she did her best to ignore that Angel, Xander, and Wesley were only in sweat pants, Willow in short black silk... Cordelia angrily stepping out in dark green satin. She centered her attention on Giles when he walked out wearing a flannel shirt and pants.
"Giles," Buffy called hopefully. "Can we talk?"
He took a few steps toward her before stopping and looking at Angel. "Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Giles," she started again as she continued to look at her ex-watcher. "Can we talk? Please."
"Alright," Angel agreed as he looked at her curiously before *all* of them except Cordelia started toward her door.
"No." Buffy shifted to block them. "Just Giles."
Angel's eyes narrowed before he moved out of the way and motioned her ex-watcher forward.
Buffy pulled the door open wider, Giles entered, and she closed it in their faces before turning to look at him. "I don't want her visions," she stated animatedly, "and I was thinking maybe you could do a spell to send them to dvd... like you do for Cordy."
"Cordelia's visions go to her and the dvd at the same time. I don't think we can bypass you getting them."
"That's not what I'm suggesting," Buffy answered. "I don't care if I get them. I just don't want to realize I'm getting them. I mean, I don't want to know a thing about them, Giles."
Silence fell, and he frowned thoughtfully. "It might be possible," he started slowly. "It would take a couple of spells. One to weaken them, or make them somewhat invisible to you, and another to put them on dvd."
She nodded, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "I'll help research."
"Tonight?" he asked with surprise.
"Yeah. I mean, if I can get out of the room." She threw open the door and found them all waiting. "I need the barrier taken down," she ordered.
"Sire." Giles turned to Angel. "She would like..."
"Giles." Buffy made a swift movement with her arm before turning to him challengingly. "I asked *you* for help, not them." She locked eyes with him pointedly. "Is that a problem?"
"No," he answered slowly as he looked at her intently.
"Good, because I've got to tell you... I'm getting more than a little tired of being told what I can and can't do," she breathed quietly. "Now will you help me or not?"
He nodded slowly. "Of course Buffy. Why would you have to ask?"
She studied him before turning back to Angel. "I want the barrier taken down," she stated coolly. "Giles and I are going to do a little research. We don't need help."
Xander and Wesley's eyes lit with amusement, and Angel raised an eyebrow."What kind of research Buff?"
"You're good, Angel, right?" she threw his words back at him in a hard challenging voice. "I mean, we're on the same side. Why would you need to know?"
His eyes glinted as he looked at her before looking at Giles for a long moment. "Alright," he agreed. "Come on out."
Buffy stepped into the hall and looked at Giles. "Where do we start?" she asked as he joined her and they started to walk toward the stairs.
"Giles," Willow called. "Can we help?"
He stopped walking and turned back, his lips twitching into a smile as his eyes glinted with gold. "I think this is something I can take care of."
"Giles," Buffy called impatiently as she looked suspiciously at the four vampires they were walking away from.
"Excuse me," Giles glanced at his annoyed sire with a faint smile before following Buffy when she grabbed his arm and started pulling him down the hall.
The slayer was avidly reading an old text an hour later. "I think I found something that might..." she broke off as Wesley and Xander walked into the room. They were both dressed, and she watched as they walked over to stand behind Giles and glance at the book he was reading.
"Memory spells?" Xander asked curiously before looking at the slayer thoughtfully.
"That's not really what we're looking for," Buffy stated before turning back to look at the spell in her book. It looked right. "Giles," she started quietly. "Can you..." she broke off uneasily when Willow came into the room. "Where's Angel?" she asked as she watched the redhead with a sinking feeling.
"Probably in his rooms," Willow answered.
"No, I'm not." They turned to look at him, and he looked at Buffy. "Did you want something?"
"I had a vision an hour ago, and we've got a little over an hour to try to stop it." Silence fell, and the slayer got to her feet and looked at Giles. "I think I found something."
He frowned when she didn't offer him the book before getting to his feet and walking over to take a look at it. "Yes," he agreed. "That looks like it might work."
"So you can do it tonight?"
Giles looked at Angel and hesitated before shrugging and turning to her. "I don't see why not, but Buffy there's no guarantee it will work."
"I know," she said lightly, "but I want to try."
"Try what?" Xander asked.
"Will," Buffy looked at the witch. "I left my sword upstairs. Can you get it for me?" Willow waved a hand and Buffy's sword was on her back. "We uh... we need to..." Buffy broke off and ran a hand through her hair. "The attack will be at 3458 Helprin... There's an alley across the street from Walgreens. It'll take place there in about an hour."
"And the spell?" Angel asked as he looked at her.
"It's nothing. Just an experiment."
Willow murmured, and Buffy's face went blank. A moment later, she looked at Giles. "What's the spell?"
He shrugged. "She doesn't want the visions. She asked me to send them to dvd and fix it so she doesn't know she's getting them."
"Can you?" Angel asked.
"It's possible." Giles glanced down at the spell Buffy had shown him thoughtfully. "It's just a protection spell. It shouldn't take long to cast."
"Why would she want to keep that a secret?" Xander asked.
"She's trying to get some control," Angel answered. "And in this case, I don't see why we shouldn't give it to her. Although," he added thoughtfully, "it might be better to have the visions go to our cell phones."
Wesley's lips twitched into a smile."So what's your new argument going to be for keeping her locked up?"
"She's one of us," Angel answered. "She belongs here."
There was a loud crash of thunder, and Willow glanced toward the windows. "Do you really want to mess with a vision tonight?" Her nose wrinkled. "The weather's not the best."
Angel grinned and looked at Buffy. "I think *she* wants to mess with it, Will. Just put a spell on her to keep her close to me and we'll be fine."
"I guess I'll go with you," Willow stated with a smile and shake of her head.
"I'll go," Xander spoke up.
"Me too," Wes agreed.
"It shouldn't take long to cast the spells," Giles stated as he studied the text, "and I'll be ready."
Angel's eyes glinted as he looked them over. "Let's give her this one. Let's pretend we don't know what she's trying to do." They exchanged smiles before Willow chanted a spell, and Buffy ran a hand through her hair before narrowing her eyes when she noticed their amused looks.
"We've got just a little over an hour," the blonde repeated before glancing at Giles. "You'll do the spell?"
"Before we leave Buffy," he answered with a smile.
"You're going?" she asked with surprise.
"Yes."
She frowned as she watched him get up and leave the room before turning to Angel. "You know I can take care of it. I doubt you want to get wet, and you can even put a two hour spell on me to have me return."
"No. The visions are my responsibility."
She walked over to the windows and looked out for a long moment. "You know I'd really like to take care of it myself."
"If you had a vision while fighting, it would get you killed," he answered.
Buffy snorted. "Yeah... wouldn't want that to happen." She stared out the window before turning to look at him. "It's really not necessary that everyone go, is it? I mean, it's pouring. Why would any of you want to go?"
Xander shrugged. "We don't mind getting wet Buff."
Wesley grinned, and she looked at them suspiciously before looking up when Giles walked in and began to set up a few items for the spell. "Let's wait outside," Buffy ordered. "Wouldn't want anything to disturb him."
They all smiled, but they followed her. Giles stepped out a couple of minutes later. "Did it work?" she asked.
"The spells were cast successfully. We'll have to wait and see on the rest of it." He looked at her hopeful expression before quietly murmuring a spell that had him fully dressed, his sword on his back. "Are we ready?" he asked as he turned back to his family.
"No," Buffy answered as she looked at Angel. "We don't really need *everyone* going do we?"
His eyes flickered with amusement. "She's right. Anyone want to stay?" Heads shook, and he looked back at Buffy. "I think they're just bored. If they want to stand in the rain for an hour, I guess we should let them."
Buffy frowned before slowly moving to sit on the floor, her legs bent, her arms caught tightly around them as she pressed her forehead into her knees. "I'm ready."
Silence fell as they watched with amusement before Willow did the transportation spell.
Wind and rain suddenly lashed at her, and she lifted her head before getting to her feet and looking over the alley they were in. She took a deep cleansing breath of cool air and closed her eyes for a moment before walking toward the sidewalk a few feet away. Walgreens was across the street, and she glanced off to the right at the alley beside it. A moment later, she dropped her shoulder against the building she was standing next to with a thoughtful frown.
"You look cold Buffy," Willow stated. "Would you like a coat?"
"I want my old army coat Will... The one I was wearing when I broke my ankle."
She felt the weight settle over her, and tried to shift deeper into it before looking over to see Angel standing a few feet away. "You know I might have picked the wrong alley. The demon comes through that one," she motioned across the street, "before getting to this one. Maybe you should be over there, and if you have problems, I can take care of it."
Angel looked at her appraisingly. "You want me to wait over there?" he asked slowly.
"I thought maybe all of you could." She hesitated. "I mean, you can put a boundary spell on this alley, I don't mind."
They looked at Angel. He shrugged. "You want some time alone Buff?" She nodded, and he glanced at Willow. "Put a spell on it, Will." He glanced back at Buffy thoughtfully. "It comes through that alley before getting to this one right?"
"Yeah." She nodded before moving a few feet deeper into the alley and taking a seat on some wooden steps. "Probably have about fifty-five minutes to wait."
They started to walk to the other alley, and Buffy closed her eyes as relief ran through her.
"Okay," Xander started. "That was weird."
Wesley laughed and looked at Angel. "You really should turn her sire. I don't think any of us would mind."
Angel glanced at him. "I think she would."
"It's not like you need permission," Willow answered.
Angel shot her a look. "Buffy's not really family, but that doesn't mean she's a toy Will... at least not one I want hurt."
"I know," she agreed. "But I wish she wasn't fighting us so hard."
Giles's lips twitched up. "You don't think that's fun?" He gave a shake of his head. "I rather like it."
Wesley snorted. "That's because she likes you."
"Yes well... I was her watcher for a few years. I suppose there's a level of trust that was formed."
"That, and the flannel," Willow muttered with a roll of her eyes.
"You didn't like that?" Giles asked as he looked at her with a smile.
Willow snorted before a silence fell, and Angel nodded and looked them over thoughtfully. "If she goes to any of you and wants to be friends, I'm fine with it, but that's where it ends. Buffy's mine. I mean, I've been lenient, and I'll continue to be, but the rules are no blood, and no sex... and if you want to hurt something, look somewhere else."
Xander took a breath. "We haven't forgotten the rules, but Wes is right, you should turn her."
"I know why you want me to," Angel answered with gold sparks of amusement in his eyes, "but I'm fine with things as they are."
"And is she fine with things?" a new voice broke in that had them all turning toward Marcus.
"You know when Buffy told me something would show up in this alley I was supposed to kill, I didn't dream I would be lucky enough it would be you," Angel answered as he looked at the mage with dark eyes.
"I only follow orders, Angelus."
"Is that so?" Angel asked coolly.
Marcus met his eyes. "Yes. But I'm not here to discuss our minor disagreements."
"Than why are you here?"
His eyes glinted with amusement. "She lied to you, about the time, and the alley. You really should check on her."
She wished she had a blow torch... but her sword would have to do. Her blade slid easily through the slime that was holding the girl, and Buffy reached for her, pulled her away, gave her a light push.
"Go," she ordered before turning back to the demon that was now throwing large globs of goo at her. Buffy rolled her eyes with annoyance when they all missed. "I'm standing still," she stated with irritation, "and you can't hit me?" Another glob missed her, and she sighed before abruptly turning when there was a loud curse from the other end of the alley. She gave a quiet one in response before her stomach dropped when Willow's magic put up a brick wall in front of her, and she turned grimly to the globs of slime the demon had thrown, the ones that were melting into a large water puddle. She stared at it for a moment before moving with slayer speed to drop into the mixture, shift to her back, splash it on her face, arms, hair... She got to her feet when she was done, took a deep breath, and reached for Willow's barrier. Her hand started to pass through it, and she pulled it back with satisfaction before moving back to the puddle to pick up her sword and wait.
There was the familiar sound of a slime demon exploding before the wall disappeared, and Buffy cautiously looked at the five vampires facing her. They'd formed a line between her and the slime. "I guess it came through this alley first," she stated quietly.
"Well we all make mistakes," Angel answered tightly, his eyes dark with warning.
"Yeah," she agreed even as she looked at the demon goo strewn across the alley.
"Are you ready for the transport spell?" he asked.
"Not yet." She looked at him with calculation before turning to Willow. "You know Will when I was a kid... I mean, like 10, I used to ice skate. Do you think you can transport us to a rink?"
"I'm sure they're closed," Willow answered, her eyes glinting with anger.
"That's better yet isn't it?" Buffy asked. "I mean, just set us down in the center of it. It's been a long time, and I miss it." She suddenly gave a grin that reached her eyes before giving a slow shake of her head. "It's been so long I'll probably be lucky if I can stay on my feet."
Willow slowly turned narrowed eyes to Angel. He shrugged, and she looked at Buffy. "Are you ready?"
"No." Buffy looked at her ex-watcher. "I doubt you want to go Giles, and I don't want you to suffer through it."
"I wouldn't miss it," he answered.
She frowned before turning to Xander, he smiled back, his dark eyes glinting with gold. She looked at Wes, he was watching with a smirk before it melted, and he gave a slow shake of his head when their eyes locked. "I think we're all going, Buff."
"Oh good," she answered almost to herself before sitting down and drawing up her knees, pressing her head against them. "Okay," she murmured quietly.
A low laugh caused them all to look up. Buffy was on her feet in an instant when she saw Marcus, and she pulled her sword as she started toward him. "Fancy meeting you here Marc. How have you been?"
He smiled. "I've been busy, but every once in a while I like to check on you."
"Do you?" she asked as her sword went up to his throat. "That just makes me feel so special."
He took several steps back. "I'll take that as a compliment."
She nodded before starting toward him again. He backed away, and she stopped and studied him thoughtfully before turning back to look at Angel. "I've got a little unfinished business with Marcus. This won't take long."
Angel lifted an eyebrow and watched as she continued to follow the mage. "Will," he murmured quietly. "I don't want her getting anywhere near the slime." She chanted, and he turned back to watch Buffy with interest.
"My blood was poisoned," she hissed when she got closer to Marcus. "Why didn't Lurconis and I die?"
"Killing either of you was never part of the plan," he answered. "And neither is letting you escape."
Her lips twitched into an unpleasant smile. "You think you can stop me?"
He met her eyes and gave a dark smile of his own. "You may only be one piece of the puzzle slayer, but you're a satisfying one... And no... you're not escaping Wolfram and Hart tonight."
Buffy studied him before starting to turn back to the vampires she'd walked away from. A moment later, she twisted back and threw her sword. It arced through the air and would have cleanly cut through his throat if he hadn't disappeared before it got there. She frowned as she walked over to pick up the blade, and narrowed her eyes when it disappeared as she reached for it. A moment later, she gracefully dropped a knee and palms to the ground. "I'm ready Will," she stated grimly.
Willow glanced at Angel who was watching with narrowed eyes. "How do you know him, Buff?"
She shook her head without raising it. "He's the one that brought me back from the dead, did the spells that saddled me with Cordelia's visions, sent me into your basement, and screwed up my plan to take out Lurconis." She looked up with hard eyes. "Like I said he's unfinished business." She dropped her head to stare back down at the ground. "I'd like to go skating Will. Center of the rink's good."
"I wouldn't do that yet," Marcus's voice rang out, and they looked at him as Buffy got to her feet. He glanced at her before looking at Angel. "Just so you know, it doesn't have to be a thick coat of slime for her to be immune to spells. A thin coat mixed with water from a mud puddle works as well."
Willow started to chant a containment spell, and Buffy tried to bolt out of the alley. Demons appeared in front of her, and her steps slowed as she looked at the 15 huge demons. She pivoted to a fire escape and headed for the roof before Marcus threw up a hand and more demons appeared on the steps she was running up. She jumped over the railing to land on the alley floor.
"Are you done?" the mage asked.
She shot him a look before glancing over to where her 'friends' were waiting. They had swords on their backs, and she didn't. Angel alone would be hard to get past, but all five of them... She looked back at Marcus as an extra burst of rain poured over her. "Sure Marc... Wouldn't want to upset your plans would I?"
He smiled before his eyes narrowed when she ran toward him. He threw up a hand, and more demons appeared between them. Buffy abruptly stopped as she stared at the demons. "Are you done?" he asked again.
"How did you know about my vision?" she countered.
He shrugged. "Let's just say my bosses are powerful."
Buffy shook her head, tiny droplets of water flying off before turning to look at the demons blocking the exits. The only way open was through Angel, and she looked at him with resignation for a long moment before walking over to stand in front of him. "Want to transport?" she asked.
Gold eyes stared at her. "No."
"You know... I think we should patrol... I... um... I'll take the lead if it's okay." She turned toward the only way out of the alley that was still open before scowling when demons rounded the corner to block it. A moment later, she slowly turned back to Marcus.
"You're not leaving this alley until you put on cuffs," he stated before throwing a set a few feet away from where he was standing.
Silence fell, and she turned back to Angel. "Want to take out some demons?"
He didn't bother to answer, and she scowled. "You know when you're on the same side as Marcus, you might want to rethink your positions." She lifted her head, locked eyes with him. "Why don't you let me go?"
"Because I don't want to." He reached out to slide fingers through her soaked hair, brush them along her throat.
Buffy shifted away, turned to Marcus, walked over to look at him for several long moments. "This isn't over," she stated as she picked up the cuffs. He smiled, and she studied him. "You know Marc... You really should worry that someday I'm going to get a hold of you... because I really want to."
"I've been there," Angel agreed. "But I have to admit, I'm starting to like the guy."
She cast him a hard look, and Marcus watched with amusement. "Cuff them *behind* your back."
Buffy slowly looked down at the cuffs before looking over the alley with narrowed eyes. "Behind my back?" she asked almost absently. "You know, that might be a deal breaker, Marc... I mean, you didn't even say please." She turned toward the first batch of demons that had appeared, and slowly started toward them as she carefully studied the gravel she was walking on.
"Slayer," he hissed as he watched her intently. "You're not leaving this alley."
Something invisible clanked against her foot, and she looked down at the gravel before suddenly reaching for the sword she'd thrown earlier, the one that had slime on it, the one he'd used an illusion to hide. She locked eyes with him, dropped the cuffs, and gave a wicked smile before bolting through the closest door she could find. Demons died as she cut her way through them, made it to another window before jumping out into the next alley. She went through the next building and repeated the process before running up a fire escape and onto a rain whipped roof.
They were searching for her on the streets below, vampires mixing with Marcus's demons as they looked through alleys and buildings, and she slid behind a large old refrigeration unit before going still and waiting. It didn't take long before she heard Xander's curse as he looked over the roof she was hiding on. He quickly glanced over it before moving on to the next alley.