TITLE: ESCAPING FROM THE DARK 3/?

AUTHOR: SARGE

E-MAIL: SARGE2525@HOTMAIL.COM

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, OR ANGEL. JOSS WHEDON, DAVID GREENWALT, FOX AND THE WB DO.

SUMMARY: CORDELIA AND THE OTHERS ARRIVE IN SUNNYDALE, BUT IT MAY BE HARDER THEN THEY THOUGHT TO GET BUFFY TO COME WITH THEM.

RATING: PG-13

"So this is Sunnydale?" Gunn asked when he parked the car in front of a nice looking house on a calm street. "Are you sure this is more dangerous then LA?"

"Yes, to both your questions." Cordelia answered. Then Cordelia climbed out of the truck followed by Wesley who was shaking his leg in order to regain feeling in it. "Now we have to talk a Slayer into leaving her hellmouth. She should. Commando boy can handle it. at least that's what Angel said when he came back."

"I see." Gunn answered as he knocked on the door. "And how do we know Buffy will be here?"

"She needs a place to live." Wesley answered. "She has a little sister Dawn for sure she'll be here, and she can tell us where Buffy is."

Dawn had been watching the TV when she heard someone knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" Dawn yelled at her sister who was in her room getting ready to see Giles about a dream she had just had, and to tell Giles that Riley had left. Patrol would be done alone form now on. Dawn opened the door. "Hello?"

"Hi Dawn." Cordelia said smiling falsely. "Can we talk with Buffy?"

"Is it about Angel?" Dawn asked. "Because if it is take it to Giles."

"Dawn this is very important." Wesley said sternly. "Now we need to talk to your sister."

"Look my sister already has enough to do without having to bring the Angel ordeal in again." Dawn answered. "If its important take it to Giles, and Giles will tell us if he thinks it's necessary."

However, Buffy then walked up behind Dawn assuming that Dawn was trying to get a door to door salesmen to go away. She was quite surprised to see Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn standing at the door to her house glaring at Dawn who glared right back at them.

"Ah, Buffy." Wesley said in surprise. "How are you?"

"Don't ask." Buffy answered flatly. "Why are you here and what do you want?"

"It's a long story." Cordelia answered. "Can we come in?"

"Define long." Buffy replied. "I have somewhere to be, and someone to yell at."

"It won't take that long." Gunn promised. "I take it your Buffy? I'm Gunn. Pleased to meet you."

"Yeah, I'm Buffy also known as the Chosen One/Slayer." Buffy answered." Come on in. I'll give you 15 minutes."

"How kind." Cordelia said sarcastically as she sat down. "The world could be ending. Do you care?"

"If the world ends because I don't listen to you then I'll consider myself stupid." Buffy answered. "However, you only have 15 minutes so talk."

"Well as you may or may not know Angel has a pesky law firm that protects demons." Cordelia started. "Well they raised a vampire that's been dusted."

"There's a reason that Angel can't kill this vampire right?" Buffy interrupted. "Because as far as I know they still go poof when you steak them. I just got a gang of six of them last night."

"They raised Darla." Cordelia said suddenly. "Only she was human, and she had a soul."

"So what?" Buffy asked starting to get mad at them. "you came all the way here to tell me that Angels dating his human sire, and its over between us. How is this a world ending event? Did they....Angelus?"

"Not yet." Wesley told her. "It might be helpful if you let Cordelia finish."

"Darla was dying of syphilis before the Master changed her, and when she was brought back she started to die again." Cordelia went on wrinkling her nose in disgust. "However, she had Angel wrapped around her little finger. Plus her soul was really weighing on her and all."

"I hate to break in again, but I'm still not hearing and end of the world scenario." Buffy told them. "Nice to know that Angels so forgiving. Darla tried to kill both him and myself."

"Darla came to angel because she wanted him to change her back into a vampire. Angel wouldn't do it. Didn't want to have to kill his nightmare again I guess." Cordelia went on a very displeased look on her face. "He had started slipping away before. A little at a time, we protested his Darla obsession, but he wouldn't listen."

"It's not our fault. We did try."Wesley protested. "Angel and I had tea."

"Angel went to do this test to make sure Darla would live, but the guy told Angel and Darla that this was her second chance at life, and that she was just going to have to die." Cordelia watched Buffy as she went on waiting for a reaction. The Slayer fixed her eyes on Cordelia. "Angel and Darla decided that they would accept she was going to die. They even started to get some closer I think, but I don't know."

"What went wrong?" Buffy asked. "Something had to have gone wrong. I mean Angel and Darla, aren't here, and you are. Either that or Darla wouldn't let Angel come because she thought I'd kill her vampire for getting a new girlfriend. Go on I still have places to be."

"Lindsey one of the lawyers for Wolfram and Heart also fell for Darla. Lindsey and Angel hate each other. When Angel found out that Lindsey had completed the raising last summer he cut Lindsey's hand off." Cordelia explained thinking that she might as well make sure she knew all the details. "Lindsey broke into the hotel room and got Angel and Darla apart."

"What did he want Darla to die in his arms or something?" Buffy asked. "Why anyone would like her is beyond me though."

"No. They held Angel still and a new player entered the party." Cordelia explained. "Drusilia is back Buffy, and she revamped Darla."

"So wait Darla who sired Angel, who sired Drusilia, who sired Spike just go revamped by her grand vamp daughter?" Buffy exclaimed in disbelief. "Only to me. These things only happen to me."

"On the upside at least Spike didn't come with." Cordelia said relieved. "Guess the psycho ho killed him. About time someone did."

"Well, I'll be sure to let Spike know you still hate him when I drop by and beat him up in a few minutes." Buffy said as she stood. "Dawn! Lets go. Move it. I gotta kick Spike around, and then go train with Giles."

"Buffy Drusilia and Darla are killing people. Twelve are already dead. We need your help." Wesley pleaded. "Plus things are about to get much worse."

"How?" Buffy asked. "Angel can take them. He's fought them before. Dru is a loon she can't be that hard to kill. I'd have done it myself if the whole Acathla mess had gone better."

Dawn came skipping into the room a smile on her face, and her backpack on.

"So you mad at Spike for busting Riley for being a suck toy?" Dawn asked. She made a face at Wesley who gave a surprised look before turning away, and glancing at Cordelia in alarm.

"Not now Dawn." Buffy said softly. "Go wait outside, in the sun."

They all watched as Dawn gave her sister a quick hug before heading outside.

"You got dumped again?" Cordelia asked in surprise. "Sesh girl. What is it that happens?"

"Its not important." Buffy answered. "What's important is that we meet at the magic shop downtown in half an hour. We'll finish then."

"Really we want to finish now." Gunn told her. "Cause if you can't help us we have to get back to work."

"If its as important as you say it is then Giles needs to know." Buffy replied. "Plus I'm upset. If you don't want me to hurt you I suggest you get out of my way and let me punch the hell out of Spike instead of you."

"Spike!" Wesley yelped. "Beat him up? Don't you mean dust him? Buffy you shouldn't fight without more preparation."

"Honestly Wesley has Angel taught you anything?" Buffy asked. "Vampires don't give you time to be prepared. Plus its not like Spike can hurt me. He's chipped. Can only hurt demons. Nothing that's living."

"Sounds like your just going to use him as a punching bag."Gunn observed. "Isn't he Angel's grandchild?"

"Yep." Buffy answered as she walked out into the sun. "Plus they hate each other, I almost wish that he could hit back. Sense Riley left I won't have anyone to train with."

"Lets go!" Dawn yelled grabbing Buffy's arm. "We're going to be late. See if Giles leaves you a jelly donut then. They'll be there."

"Like I said magic shop." Buffy told them before turning and following her sister. Wesley noticed that she watched the shadows and everyone they passed with caution as if waiting to be attacked.

When Buffy got to Spike's crypt he glanced up from the soap opera he was watching in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Spike asked her. "Thought you'd be crying over Soldier Boy."

"In case you haven't noticed Spike I've been doing a lot of crying lately, and I'm sick of it."

"Your not the only one that's sick of it." Spike muttered. "So why are you here?"

"Couldn't find anyone else that I could just beat up until I felt better." Buffy answered.

"So I'm just supposed to flop around while you beat me into vampire pulp?" Spike asked as he turned off the TV and stood up facing her. "Forgive me for not jumping right into your fist."

"K,"Buffy answered as she snap kicked his legs out from underneath him. "Not like I care what happens to you."

Spike caught Buffy's fist before it hit him and shoved her off rolling until he straddled her and held her to the ground where she desperately tried to get free.

"Now Slayer." Spike said disapproving. "That was sloppy pet. Another vampire might have killed you. Now is Soldier Boy worth getting yourself killed over? I sure as hell don't think so."

"You just got lucky." Buffy snarled as she tried to punch him again. It failed miserably because he now held her both her hands in a vise grip above her head. "Let go."

"No, no Slayer." Spike answered leaning down and breathing lightly on her neck. "Not until you promise to play nice with me."

"Me be nice to you?" Buffy asked sarcastically as she tried to ignore how close he was to her vein. "I think you hit your head when you fell Spike."

"I think someone is cranky." Spike answered. "Really Slayer think about it. if it wasn't for this chip I'd have killed you."

"If you didn't have that chip do you even think you'd have gotten this close to begin with?" Buffy asked as she tilted her head back to look into his eyes. They were amazing eyes, but he really needed to get off of her now. She didn't want to deal with this. "Off Spike."

Spike gave Buffy an amused smile as he settled back on her legs still holding her hands. "Sorry lov, can't do that. You'll just beat me up. Not until you promise you'll play nice."

"Spike, I don't have time for this." Buffy said wiggling underneath him. "I might have to leave Sunnydale."

Spike gave her a shocked look, and almost let go of her hands. Then he looked at the door that Dawn had just walked through.

"Bloody hell!" Spike yelled in anger as he looked down at Buffy. "Don't take any chances do you Lov?"

"Get off." Buffy ordered. "I have to go talk to Cordelia and Wesley. Something happened in LA."

"LA is Peaches territory." Spike reminded her. "Last time you went to visit he told you to get lost."

"Yeah well I guess he didn't count on what's happened." Buffy answered as she started to wiggle underneath him once again. "Plus I only got part of the story, so I have to be going now."

"Alright." Spike said standing and allowing her to stand as well. Both Dawn and Buffy were glaring at him anger apparent in their eyes. "What she can beat me up, and I should let her?"

Dawn shrugged. While she didn't like Spike she knew Spike did like Buffy. However, Dawn also knew that Buffy would have to be six feet under the ground and never to rise again if she didn't want to feel something for Spike. Dawn knew there was someone better out there to dance with Buffy. Better then Riley, Angel, or Spike.

"Thanks Dawn." Buffy answered. "You want in on it? You can get to the magic shop through sewer tunnels."

"If you go will you take me with you?" Spike asked.

"What for?" Buffy asked. "Someone has to stay and protect Sunnydale. I can't leave it defenseless."

Actually Buffy was trying to talk him out of it because of Drusillia. Who knew what would happen if he found out where she was, and what she had done with Darla and Angel.

"I thought that was what your friends were for?" Spike asked as he watched Buffy walk away from him and closer to Dawn, the door, and sunlight.

"Not without Riley." Buffy answered. "I couldn't have something happen to them."

"I'll see you there and the group can decide." Spike answered. Then he gave Buffy a wicked grin and with a slight pur added. "Next time you have tension Slayer we'll find a new way to deal with it. no more beating Spike into a bloody pulp."

"Yes, but it's so much more fun that way." Buffy answered. "The punching bags don't yell in pain."

"Bitch!" Spike yelled as she opened the door, and walked out guarding Dawn already. Spike hadn't been informed why Buffy felt a new level of protectiveness towards Dawn, but he wanted to find out. He also didn't want Peaches anywhere near his Slayer. If that happened she might come back and kill him on principal. Plus he had sensed that she didn't really want him to go to the meeting. He pulled open the sewage cover, and jumped in before he gave it another thought.