Chapter 18: "Knock three times"

Willow knocked politely on the shiny red door, looking warily around her. The busy London street was still moving – the time-freeze, or whatever it was, hadn't spread this far yet.

Behind her, Spike paced nonchalantly from side to side, hands deep in anorak pockets. He analysed the iron railings which surrounded the front of the building, as if they were something fascinating, but really, Willow knew, he was just trying to be casual to hide his anxiety. Not about the world freezing in time, but about Buffy.

A really nasty thought popped into her head, and she batted it away. Now was not the time to be sarcastic and malicious, especially when you skinned guys in trees, and brought your best friend back from heaven. Cos that would be hypocritical.

Sighing, Willow tried the knocker again. She was assuming this was the correct address. She'd debated doing a Locator spell, but realized that, with them being the Watcher's Council, they'd probably have a shielding spell in place. Plus, if she was connected to everything, delving into magic might mean she would be contaminated by whatever was causing the freezing. So instead, herself and Spike had questioned the people of London, asking if there was a building to which many tweed-wearing individuals visited. Turns out that there was, and this was it, and, surprisingly, none of the locals thought the questions a tiny bit strange. Tourists, Willow supposed, had probably asked a lot crazier questions than that.

Still, it would help if someone answered the door. She was just about to look through the letterbox, when the blind twitched in the window to her left. Then suddenly the door was being unbolted, and opening before her, to reveal a smart, severe looking woman, clutching a paper file in her hand and a mobile in the other.

"Yes?" She snapped, her voice more clipped than if someone had had a bad accident with a pair of garden shears whilst cutting their toenails. Willow smiled nervously, and she heard Spike come and stand behind her.

"Erm…I was wondering if you could help us" The witch began tentatively. "I'm erm…I'm aware of the..the ev.."

Willow stopped when she realized the woman wasn't listening, and was instead staring enraptured over her shoulder. At Spike.

Of course, she realized, it was always about Spike.

"William the Bloody?" The woman inquired, a tremor of excitement in her voice. Spike took a drag on his cigarette, looked her up and down and replied, casually

"Who wants to know?"

"My name is Dr. Roberta Scone"

She glanced briefly at Willow, then back at Spike. "May I ask what you're doing at the London branch of the Watcher's Council?"

Willow gave a small smile.

"We're once evil do-gooders. And the streets are freezing in time"

Dr Scone gave her a dubious look.

"I tried to end the world last year…" Willow offered.

"Yeah – and I've eaten loadsa people. We know about this stuff" Spike added. He moved into the best cheekbone-highlighting light he could find in the dark, before smirking (sexily) at the Doctor. Willow physically saw her legs turn to jelly.

"Well, you…you better come in then" The Doctor could barely stand she was swooning so much.

The two moved into the building.

"We, we need to speak to Quentin Travers, or, or someone in charge" Willow told Dr Scone as they marched through the carpeted corridors. Suited British types walked past, staring curiously. "It's urgent. You, you are aware that London is slowly freezing in time?"

"Quentin Travers is currently holidaying in Bournemouth"

"Oh" Willow frowned. "Well, can we speak to the second in command?"

"Uhuh" Dr Scone was fixated on Spike who was trying to swagger seductively in his anorak. Willow shook her head. He should be grateful he wasn't wearing a Tesco's uniform.

"You do know about the freezing, don't you?"

Dr Scone gave her a glance. "We are aware, yes"

"Well – are you trying to stop it?"

The Doctor blinked. Then she indicated to an oak door. "Mr Rok-Cayke will provide any service you require"

Her gaze turned to Spike, and her voice dropped an octave. "Well, almost…" Her tongue twitched across her lips, and she gave a half lidded blink.

Then she turned smartly on her heel, and walked back down the corridor, hips swinging. Spike smirked, until he was pushed forcefully towards the door.

"We are not here to ogle" Willow told him. "We're here to help stop the freezing"

Spike rolled his eyes.

"You think the Watcher's Council are going to help us?" He muttered. Willow paused.

"Yes"

Spike sighed. "Red, you've killed a man, and got so magicked up you had to buy a new wardrobe, and yet you're still so bloody naive!"

"I am not naïve"

"You are"

"I'm not"

Spike gave her a look, then smartened his anorak. There was no point arguing with her.

With a self-collecting nod, Willow turned, knocked on the door, and opened it.

"Welcome to the Watcher's Council" Spoke a disembodied voice. The room gaped, vast and looming in front of them, dark panels, dark candles and flickering shadows over Georgian furniture.

"You are now under our control, and will be assimilated. Resistance is Futile. You will be assimilated"

And then the door slammed shut behind them.