Chapter 11

It was sheer luck Spike was in the kitchen when the phone rang.

"Yeah?" he said into the phone, opening the fridge to grab some blood.

"Hi, Spike." The vampire in question stopped what he was doing.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah, it's me," she responded.

"Why are you calling?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could do us a favor…"

"What do you need?"

"Do you know where Giles's old books are?"

Spike frowned. "In your basement?"

"Do you think you could find a demon for us?"

"Aren't you in LA?" he asked.

"Yeah," Buffy responded, sounding confused.

"Doesn't Peaches have his own books?"

"Who?" she asked.

"Angel," he told her, getting thoroughly grumpy.

"Why did you… Never mind. Anyway, we know the demon's in one of those books, and you're basically the only person in Sunnydale."

"Fine," he told her. He would do anything for that woman. "What's it called?"

"We don't actually know?"

"What do you know?"

"Um, it sucks out 'demonic essence'."

"...That's it?"

"Uh, yeah. But we know it's in a book just about demons!"

Spike sighed. "Alright."

"Thank you, Spike." It was no wonder he couldn't say no.

"Why do you need to find it?"

"Possible possession," she said matter-of-factly. "Thanks again! Bye."

"Bye, luv."

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"I don't know if it's going to work."

"Angel…" Buffy said.

"It's just… We don't know what we're dealing with, even if Spike can find the demon," he told her.

"Then we research. Figure it out."

Angel sighed and he started towards the office. "Come on," he said. "The books are in the office."

"Angel?"

"What?"

"We should probably ask Wesley for help."

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

When 'Cordelia' heard a knock on her door the second time that night, she was a little more hesitant to answer.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Connor," he replied from behind the door.

'Cordelia' opened the door. "Connor!" she said.

"Hi." He hesitated. "Can I come in?"

'Cordelia' opened the door wider.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Good," she told him. "The spell worked like a charm. How was your night?"

"Good,"he told her. "We… It was good."

"Did you like Dawn?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. She's nice."

"Good," she said. "Are we sticking around here?"

"Um… Maybe a little longer," he told her.

"Why?"

"I… Well, maybe we could hang around. You probably want to talk to everyone now that you remember them."

"It's fine. Really. We can leave."

"No, it's okay," he told her. "I don't mind staying."

Mentally, 'Cordelia' cursed. Somehow, everything had gotten a bit more complicated.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"Hey, guys," Dawn said as she came down to the lobby. She stopped short at the sight of all the books."What's with the research party?"

"Hey, Dawn," Buffy said, before looking up. "Demon."

"Of course. Need any help?"

"Not yet," Willow said. "But we'll let you know."

"How long are we staying?"

Buffy shrugged. "Not sure."

"Okay, then," Dawn said as she started to leave. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"I'm sure," Buffy said. "Now, go… Watch TV or something."

"Bye."

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

Wesley had just finished his glass of scotch when he heard the knock on his door. He set it down before making his way over, unsure about who in the world would be out there so late.

"Angel," he said in surprise.

"Wesley."

"What are you…"

"We think Cordelia's been possessed," he said, getting straight to the point.

"And you want my help?"

"If you're offering."

Wesley nodded.

"Come in."

Angel looked around as he entered Wesley's apartment.

"What do you know?" Wesley asked.

"Lorne's reading picked up something wrong. Willow did a spell that showed she was more than a normal amount demonic. Xander said she's acting weird."

"So she's probably possessed."

"Right."

"Why are you asking me?"

"We need all the help we can get."

Wesley stood up and went over to his bookshelves. He picked up a backpack and started loading it up with books.

"Is Buffy staying to help?"

"And Willow and Xander."

"Dawn?"

"Buffy's not going to let her get involved too soon."

Wesley nodded. He had only seen Dawn a few times back in Sunnydale, but he immediately had seen how protective the Slayer was of her little sister.

"Let's get started, then."

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

Buffy was about half way through her almost-impossible-to-read book when Cordelia came down. Or, rather, Fake Cordelia.

"Hey, guys," she said. "What's with the book explosion?"

"Demon," Willow answered.

"Need any help?" she asked.

"Um… We're fine," Buffy told her.

"Seriously," Fake Cordelia said, "I know it's been awhile, but I can still research."

"And we're still okay on our own," Buffy said.

'Cordelia' was about to respond when Dawn came down the stairs.

"Buffy, do you have a toothbrush?"

"Did you pack yours?"

"Um, maybe? I can't find it."

"I don't have an extra."

"So I can't brush my teeth?" she said.

"I wouldn't recommend it" Buffy responded.

"Well, what can I do?"

"I've got an extra," 'Cordelia' interrupted.

"Really? Thanks, Cordy," Dawn said.

"Come on," she said, leading Dawn back upstairs.

After they went back up the stairs, chatting, Buffy went back to her books, never being more grateful her sister had forgotten her toothbrush.

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 11! This one was quite short, but at least it was on time. And the story's really moving along. Fred and Gunn weren't here, but they'll probably show up next chapter.