CHAPTER 2-The Heroes

When Buffy got to the graveyard where Spike's crypt is located, she ran into a package-laden Harmony. Harmony gloated about Dawn's kidnapping until Buffy threatened her with her stake. Harmony relented and finally told Buffy about the psykema demons' plan.

As Buffy walked over to Giles', she thought, "But the psykemas didn't kidnap Dawn. I know that. So where is she?" When she got to Giles', Willow and Tara were there, but not Xander.

"Xander said he'd be here around 7:00a.m.," Giles said.

"Did you tell him Dawn's missing?" Buffy asked.

"Of course," Giles said, "But Xander said he had something important to finish, first."

"Anya needs to learn that kidnapping comes before sex," Buffy replied.

"In any case," Giles interjected, "Let's go over what we've discovered."

At 6:45a.m., as the sun rose in the most spectacular display of colors in ages, the gang was still at a loss to explain Dawn's whereabouts.

At 7:10a.m., Xander finally showed up with Dawn.

"Dawn!" Buffy shrieked with joy mixed with anger and worry, "Where the hell have you been?"

"At Xander's," Dawn started to explain.

"All night?" Buffy questioned.

"Yep, that's right," Xander answered. "All night. With me. At my apartment. I had to, uh, save her from some demons. But everything's fine, now. Dawn's safe, and the demons are back in their own dimension, so everything's peachy. Did I miss donuts?"

Buffy looked at Xander, then Dawn, then Giles and Willow. Having no other plausible explanation for Dawn's whereabouts, she decided to accept Xander's. And she said, "I guess you couldn't tell me about this, before, what with the psykemas being all mind-read-y. Xander, I can't thank you enough! But how did you know about the psykema demons' plan?"

"I, uh, don't . . ." he stammered.

"He dreamed about it," Dawn answered quickly. "Yeah, Xander dreamed I was in trouble. And being the hero he is, he came running to my rescue."

"Uh, yeah. Something like that," Xander agreed, sheepishly. He was more than willing to keep Spike's secret. He hated the guy so much for so many reasons. No question, Spike was pure evil. But he had to wonder why Spike had rescued Dawn. He quickly stopped trying to decipher Spike's twisted methods.

When Buffy and Dawn got back home, there was a letter from Riley in the mailbox.

She was afraid to open it. "He left not knowing I tried to stop him," she thought. She took the letter from Riley up to her room to read it in private.

Dear Buffy,

Hi. I hope this letter finds you, your family and the 'gang' all doing well. It's time for me to finally put into words everything I've been thinking about these last two months.

I still love you, Buffy, and I always will. Besides that, a lot has changed. Down here, fighting this major demons' nest, I've found strength I didn't even know I had. I feel like I've been an integral part of the team, here, and that feels really good. After my operation, I was terrified of being just normal. Well, I'm not. No one is, really. I'm learning I have my own strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else, even you.

I'm good at this job and I'm needed, here. I can't tell you how great that feels. In Sunnydale I was always comparing myself to you. And I felt like I could never measure up. I had to get away from you for awhile in order to find out what I have; what I am. And I discovered that you and I are not so different. We both have important jobs to do; jobs we can't walk away from. We're both born to be strong leaders. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I can't be who I was born to be when I'm around you. Sometimes, the one person you feel like you'd die without is also the one person who makes you weak. Maybe, someday, I will be strong enough by myself that I can be with you again, but not now. Spike once told me that I'm not your "long-haul" guy and as much as I hate to admit it, he was right. You and I made each other too vulnerable. I think, in your heart, you've always known that. It just took me a little longer to figure that out.

This mission is almost complete, but there's another one after it. I can't disclose the location or the details, but I feel I have to be a part of it. For now, Buffy, this is where I belong. And you definitely belong there. Just be careful. And don't trust Spike. He may have been right about us; doesn't make him a good guy. I almost want to remove the chip from his brain myself, just so you'll kill him. In any case, he's still not harmless. Never forget it.

All My Love,
Riley



"Spike," she practically choked on his name. "This is all Spike's fault," she said.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Crash! Buffy entered Spike's crypt. Since it was afternoon, Spike was sleeping in his bed. He bolted upright at Buffy's entrance.

"Slayer!" he greeted her cheerfully. "So glad you dropped by. I've got something to tell you."

"I want to hear exactly nothing coming out of your mouth. Not now, and never again!" she screamed.

He looked at her, stunned. What the hell was going on here? This was not part of his plan.

"I just heard from Riley, today," she continued. For once, Spike remained silent. "I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that your plan worked!"

"And what plan is that, love?" Spike asked, starting to get angry.

"The one where you, somehow, convince Riley that he's all wrong for me! So you get all the credit, Spike. You win." Buffy's eyes teared up with rage.

"Slayer, stop for one bloody minute and clue me in on what the hell you are yelling about," Spike said.

"Here," she said, handing him the letter, "Read it yourself. It's a real page-turner. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Spike read the letter. He could see why she was so upset. But he had been right about her and Riley. Why couldn't she see that? "Would you really waste no time in trying to kill me if I got that chip removed?" he asked.

"In a heartbeat," she answered, "Mine, not yours."

Now he was hurt and furious. If she was so hell-bent on being with Riley and too blind to see the truth on the pages, then everything he'd done the past twenty-four hours had been a supreme waste of time.

"Get out," Spike ordered, "Take your bloody letter and your tears and leave me alone!"

Buffy stood there a moment, contemplating. She was shaking with rage and was having trouble holding back her tears. Suddenly realizing how much she didn't want to lose it in front of Spike, and how close she was to doing just that, she turned to go. A flash on the floor caught her eye and she bent down and picked it up . . . Dawn's cross necklace . . .

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