Rating: PG-13ish-maybe a little worse in the swearing dept than the show.
Credits: All disclaimers were made in parts 1, 2 & 3-so I think that suffices.
Feeback: welcome-please-pretty please! pm or email: jarment@us.ibm.com
Wake and Rise, part six
"Buffy, you are not going to walk to Giles' store. Get in the car." Cordelia said.
Buffy looked at Spike.
"Get in, Spike." Angel said.
"Spike, you can sit next to me!" Cordelia said.
"Oh, really? Can I?" Spike answered sarcastically, just a little irritated that Buffy was sitting between Angel and Wesley.
"So how many miles to the gallon does the Angelmobile get?" Spike asked.
"Angelmobile?" Cordelia asked, and had to chuckle slightly.
"I just want to say right now that I like him!" the Host said, "Of course, you've got some pretty big obstacles to overcome. Not the least of which is the hair. But I'll skip ahead. See what I don't have pegged here is how you fit into this whole scheme. I mean it's pretty obvious you've been stymied by something."
"The chip?" Cordelia asked, helpfully.
"No.it's something else." the Host continued, "or should I say someone else? Whoa there Stud!" Angel's foot pressed harder on the accelerator.
"Listen, this chip? Doesn't keep me from pummeling demons." Spike lashed out angrily.
"Hey!" she yelled at him, "Don't talk to our friends like that, kay? Cause that chip, may not keep you from hitting Angel or Lorne? But it keeps you from hitting me and Wes. And I think that gives us a pretty good chance."
"Please, I get pummeled by that one [pointing to Buffy] nightly. As if you could-ow! What is it with you bleeding women anyway?"
Cordelia leaned over to Spike and whispered, "That didn't really hurt did it?"
"No," Spike whispered back.
Cordelia smacked him hard, "Don't patronize me!"
"Buffy!" Spike yelled.
"Shut up." Buffy answered. They were at the Magic Box.
*****
Buffy walked inside. "Where's Giles?"
"He's in back," Willow answered, "Xander and Anya should be here any sec."
Buffy walked to the back room. "Giles?" she called, and then seeing him, "Are you drinking?"
"What? Oh, it's one bloody drink!" Giles snapped back.
"Giles. What is it?" Buffy asked, even more alarmed.
"It's bad. It's very bad, Buffy. Is everyone here? We all need to discuss what's happening."
"Giles, what is it? I need to know. Whatever, or whoever, it is, it has Dawn!" Buffy said.
Just then they heard the bell from the front door.
"Everyone's here." Buffy said.
They walked into the front room. Everyone was standing mutely.
"Okay, Willow. We're here. Now please tell us what's going on?" Xander asked.
"Good, everyone's here. Buffy, I received a call from Quentin Travers just moments after you called me about Dawn. Buffy, it's serious. The Council learned that a Gnothos demon has been summoned here."
Spike looked quickly at Anya, but she held up her hand just slightly to stop him from speaking.
"Angel, your friend, was he half Gnothos demon?" Buffy asked. Angel shook his head. Buffy continued to Giles, "Then Giles, I don't understand what this has to do with Dawn."
"Buffy, the Gnothos demon is very powerful and there are virtually no written accounts of any human encounter with one. They are, on whole, peaceable demons who choose to avoid contact with humans. However, they can be summoned to do one particular task. These demons' power resides in their ability to know things about other beings around them. It's almost like mind reading but its.how do I say it.its more whole than that. It's like collective conscious." Giles explained.
"Giles, I still don't understand what this has to do with Dawn." Buffy said, her anger rising.
"The Gnothos demon can be summoned to determine the exact nature of any spell or ritual that has been performed.and then undo it."
The color drained from Buffy's face and her nostrils flared. "It's going to undo Dawn. How do I kill it, Giles?"
"And this is what you summoned, Anya?" Spike yelled, outraged.
All eyes turned to Anya. "Anya, do you want to tell us something?" Xander asked.
"Well, it's really not like it sounds!" Anya started, "Okay. A couple of nights ago I got pretty angry with Xander because he wouldn't.anyway. I was thinking some really nasty things I could have done to him, if I were still a vengeance demon, when-"
"Ahn, are we getting close to your point?" Xander asked.
"Yes! Anyway, when D'hoffryn-you remember him-appeared to me. At first I thought he was coming to offer me back my powers, but he actually came to tell me that someone or something had summoned this Gnothos demon here. Buffy, I'm sorry I didn't come to you, but if the demon had found you.I'm sorry! I knew it was after you or Dawn, but either way, you couldn't go near the thing!"
"So you went to Spike." Buffy realized.
"Yes, that's it, exactly!" Anya said and smiled, "Only, Spike couldn't know what it was really after, or if he encountered the demon, it would know.See?"
"Yes, I think we see." Giles said.
"Spike," Angel said quietly, "When Doyle, or whatever that thing is got Dawn, you recognized each other."
"Yeah, cause I had just met him a couple of hours before.while I was trying to find out about this Gnothos demon.which, by the way, he knew about!" Spike answered.
"Anya, can this demon shape-shift?" Buffy asked.
"No. It doesn't have to." Anya replied.
"Great. This means we have two demons that are after Dawn. Giles, what do we do?" Buffy asked.
"We have to assume that whomever took Dawn is working with the Gnothos demon." Giles answered.
"Buffy, Tara and I will do a locating spell. We should be able to tell you where she is." Willow said.
"If they're still in Sunnydale," Spike said. "Remember? The thing just disappeared."
"No, it's in Sunnydale. D'hoffryn said it was summoned here. It wouldn't leave. It would be here." Anya said.
"No, it's a good plan, Will. Do the spell. Angel, did Doyle have any special abilities.demon abilities?"
"He had visions, what Cordy has." Angel replied.
"Yes, but Angel, he wouldn't still have those powers," Wesley interrupted, "he passed his gift to Cordelia just before he died."
"Okay, so mind-numbing visions not on the menu any longer, anything else?" Buffy asked, clearly distraught.
"He's-he was strong in demon form. But Buffy, he never wanted to be that way. He would rather be beaten up than morph into demon form." Angel said.
"Well I think it's pretty clear that he doesn't have those reservations now." Buffy said.
"Buffy," Cordelia interrupted, "I just don't see how Doyle would be trying to hurt Dawn.I mean, he died-he died to save all of us."
"Cordelia," Buffy answered coldly, "that was the past. We don't know what he is now, why he's here. But if he tries to hurt Dawn."
Cordelia remained silent.
Buffy continued with even calm, "Giles, I need you to find out anything you can on this Gnothos demon. As soon as Tara and Will finish the spell, I'll get Dawn and-"
"That is precisely the worst thing you could do." Quentin Travers said, shocking everyone. "Rupert, Wesley. I see we're all here."
"Giles!" Buffy shouted, "You didn't say he was going to be here." Buffy spat out the word 'he.'
"I called Rupert after I arrived in Sunnydale, Buffy. He didn't know I was Stateside." Quentin replied calmly.
"Okay, and explain to me why I can't go protect my sister? No-wait, explain to me why I am even listening to the Council?" Buffy shouted angrily.
"Buffy!" Giles chided.
"No, she's quite right, Rupert." Quentin answered. "Buffy, you should stay as far away from Dawn as possible if you want to protect her. You are integral to the magic used to create Dawn."
Buffy looked ashen. Then she looked at Giles with such rage and cried, "You told him?"
"Buffy, it was after you.died. At that point we thought the chance to harm Dawn was over, the ritual was over," he implored Buffy to understand, ".and I knew we might need the council's protection should anything else happen."
Buffy just shook her head. Everyone stood silent for a few seconds.
Quentin broke the silence. "If this Gnothos demon encounters you with Dawn, it will have all the knowledge necessary to undo the magic. None of us are safe, really."
Buffy was startled by the fear in Quentin Travers' voice. Then she recovered, "No. That's not true." She continued to Angel, "I wondered why you didn't remember Dawn. Now I know. Angel, you have to protect her-"
Spike interrupted, "Slayer, Dawn needs someone she knows and trusts." Angel nearly attacked Spike again.
"Stop it, both of you." Buffy said calmly, then to Spike, "Spike, I know Dawn trusts you. It's not that. You have the memories the monks gave us all. That's part of the magic." Spike realized where Buffy was going with her line of reasoning. "If this Gnothos demon finds you, or any of us. Spike I need you here to protect the others, in case."
"Giles?" Angel asked, "where do you keep the weapons?" Giles led Angel off to the arsenal.
"Buffy," Xander started, "what do we do if this demon finds us?"
"We kill it." Buffy said. "We do not let it get to Dawn." Everyone nodded.
"Buffy!" Willow shouted, running out of the back room, "Tara and I located her. She's at your house!" For a moment, everyone just stood agape.
"What?" Buffy asked, incredulously.
"The d-disappearing act?" Tara began, "It's a spell. We can trace it's entire path-he and Dawn went from the road and straight back into Dawn's room."
"You mean-" Wesley started, "we were right there-"
"And we didn't even know she was." Buffy finished.
"That's not all!" Willow interrupted, "the spell? Doesn't teleport anyone very far and it leaves a distinct trace!"
Buffy, getting with the new information said, "Okay. New plan. Spike and Willow, you go with Angel. Stay outside while Angel goes in, that way if Doyle tries to do the poof-zip thing again, you can get to him."
"Wait, guys. Send Tara. She saw the spell trace, not me." Willow said.
"What's going on?" Angel asked, carrying a particularly deadly-looking axe.
"You tell him, Red. Don't think he'd fancy it coming from me." Spike said.
*****
Angel drove back to Buffy's house. Tara and Spike sat silently.
"Angel," Spike began somewhat tentatively, "do you think maybe we should park a couple blocks away?"
"What, you think Doyle's got some sort of magical ability to spot us in a car?" Angel asked, quite irritated.
"No," Spike answered sarcastically, "just thinking that with the guy having worked for you for six months he might recognize the car."
"Oh," Angel said, a little chagrinned. "Good point."
"Spike, where were you when Doyle and Dawn disappeared?" Tara asked.
"About three blocks up the street from the house. Why?" Spike answered.
"Chances are that's where he'll try to teleport to, if he gets the chance." Tara answered.
"Think we got our parking spot figured out then." Angel said.
Angel parked the car at the place Spike indicated. He opened the trunk to reveal more weapons.
"Holding out on us, eh?" Spike asked, looking through the trunk, "And what's up with all the luggage?"
"Shut up, Spike," Angel said, "Okay. You guys stay here. If this guy tries to teleport, I can call you."
"With what?" Tara asked.
"You mean you guys don't have cell phones? Even I have a cell phone." Angel said disbelievingly.
"Oh. Willow can talk to us telepathically." Tara said proudly. Spike just looked disgusted.
"Bloody hell!" Spike said, "Enough already. Angel, just get the kid out. And don't go all tearful-reunion with this guy."
"Don't tell me how to do this. I have been doing this a lot longer than you." Angel hissed.
"Maybe," Spike replied, "But you got a soft spot for that guy. Me? I got a soft spot for not getting staked by the Slayer if little sis gets hurt."
"You're disgusting." Angel said, as he walked towards Buffy and Dawn's house.
After he was gone Spike turned to Tara and said, "Hope you're right about this teleportation spell not taking them that far. Cause if they end up on the other side of town, there's going to be hell to pay."
"You're scared for her." Tara said.
"Shut up." Spike listened as Angel ran up to the house and broke through the door, "Guy just doesn't know anything about a subtle entrance."
"You're lecturing about subtle entrances, Spike?" Tara asked. "Did you hear that?"
"No, I didn't hear anything." Spike said.
"That's my point. We should have heard something.sshh!" Tara said. Tara pivoted away from Spike. Spike moved to see what she was looking at. He didn't see anything and turned to ask what was happening when he saw that her eyes had rolled up in the back of her head.
"What's up with you witches and your eyes?" Spike muttered to himself. He then heard Buffy's door slammed, turned and saw Angel running down the street.
"He vanished!" Angel shouted.
"No shi-" Spike started, but was interrupted.
"There!" Tara shouted, her voice ethereal. As soon as she closed her mouth, Doyle and Dawn appeared just by a tree, not 50 feet from where Spike and Tara stood.
Dawn looked frightened, but unhurt. Doyle was obviously exhausted by the teleportation spell. He started to run to Dawn, but Angel was already running and reached her first. Angel grabbed her and held her protectively behind him, shielding her from Doyle, or whatever he was.
Spike, now at Doyle, was seething. He had been scared for Dawn and also completely pissed that it had been Angel who had gotten to her first. Turning his aggression on Doyle, Spike hit him with all the force he could muster.
"Aaaaarrrrrrrgggggg!" Spike shouted, recoiling in sheer, blinding pain. "Human!" Spike said, still doubled over from the agony, "he's human."
"Half human." Angel called out.
"No!" Spike shouted, "he's all human. Not a drop of demon blood."
Doyle morphed from his demon form to human form. "Quite right there Spike."
Dawn struggled to free herself from Angel's grasp. "No," Angel said, "It's okay. We're here to protect you from him."
"I don't need protecting from him!" Dawn cried and finally broke free from Angel. She ran over to Doyle and asked, "Are you okay?"
Spike, Angel and Tara stood dumbfounded for a moment. "Huh?" Spike asked.
*****
Spike, Angel, Doyle, Dawn and Tara all sat in the living room.
"So let me get this straight," Spike said, "you were trying to protect her? From me? Well, I got news for you buddy. I am not a threat to l'il bit."
"Spike," Dawn said, going to sit beside Spike, "it's not just you. I can't be near any of you because of the magic used on all of you."
Doyle spoke up, "I met you at Willy's, looking for the Gnothos demon." Doyle was obviously suspicious of Spike.
"So when you saw him here you took Dawn," Tara added, starting to piece it together.
"Right." Doyle answered.
"So you went parading around in that demon-y getup, what, hoping you'd just run into whoever summoned this Gnothos guy?" Spike asked, equally suspicious of Doyle.
"That's part of it. You didn't summon it?" Doyle asked.
"No. I didn't. But I'm starting to wonder if you did, mate. You did seem to know an awful lot about what I was after. Not to mention the part about your being dead already," Spike said.
"He's not Doyle." Angel said, as if answering all questions.
"What? You just spent twenty minutes telling us how this was Doyle, how he was some big hero, how Cordelia had a vision. Am I missing anything?" Spike asked Angel.
"No. But that's not Doyle." And turning to Doyle, "Are you?" Angel asked.
"No. I'm not." Doyle said. And as if a veil had been lifted from everyone's eyes, they saw the man in front of them. He was plainly dressed, around forty and had close-cropped hair around the side of his head; the top of his head was shaven.
"Y-you're one of the monks!" Tara said.
"Yes. And you all should leave if you want to protect her." The monk said.
"So you're here to protect Dawn?" Angel asked.
"I am. The Gnothos demon-if he finds us-he can." the monk began.
"Yes, we know, we know!" Spike said, "Listen, not to sound all judgmental, but where were you guys when it all went down with Glory? We protected her then and we'll protect her now."
Angel looked at Spike for a moment, stunned.
"It's not as simple as that." The monk said.
"It is that simple. Demon comes and well kill it. That's what we do." Spike said, as if reciting lines.
"No!" the monk cried, "If the demon finds us he will undo the spell. It's not just the danger to Dawn. It will be like the spell never happened. All of the suffering will be unpreventable. The Slayer's death will be for nothing. Nothing will change and everything will change."
"Yeah? Well the Slayer's back!" Spike said triumphantly, "And if she could rout Glory, she can rout this guy."
"The Slayer's back?" the monk asked.
"Yeah.bloody get with the program." Spike said.
"Shut up Spike." Angel said, concern washing over his face, "listen, do you know where this demon is?"
"I know he's close. He's here in Sunnydale. He hasn't made his move, so we must not have been detected."
"No," Tara said, "Your spell was easily traceable. Willow and I found you in a few minutes."
"Which means-" Angel started.
"This demon's not after Dawn!" Spike finished.
"Buffy!" Angel cried.
As one they all stood and ran for the door.
To be continued.
Credits: All disclaimers were made in parts 1, 2 & 3-so I think that suffices.
Feeback: welcome-please-pretty please! pm or email: jarment@us.ibm.com
Wake and Rise, part six
"Buffy, you are not going to walk to Giles' store. Get in the car." Cordelia said.
Buffy looked at Spike.
"Get in, Spike." Angel said.
"Spike, you can sit next to me!" Cordelia said.
"Oh, really? Can I?" Spike answered sarcastically, just a little irritated that Buffy was sitting between Angel and Wesley.
"So how many miles to the gallon does the Angelmobile get?" Spike asked.
"Angelmobile?" Cordelia asked, and had to chuckle slightly.
"I just want to say right now that I like him!" the Host said, "Of course, you've got some pretty big obstacles to overcome. Not the least of which is the hair. But I'll skip ahead. See what I don't have pegged here is how you fit into this whole scheme. I mean it's pretty obvious you've been stymied by something."
"The chip?" Cordelia asked, helpfully.
"No.it's something else." the Host continued, "or should I say someone else? Whoa there Stud!" Angel's foot pressed harder on the accelerator.
"Listen, this chip? Doesn't keep me from pummeling demons." Spike lashed out angrily.
"Hey!" she yelled at him, "Don't talk to our friends like that, kay? Cause that chip, may not keep you from hitting Angel or Lorne? But it keeps you from hitting me and Wes. And I think that gives us a pretty good chance."
"Please, I get pummeled by that one [pointing to Buffy] nightly. As if you could-ow! What is it with you bleeding women anyway?"
Cordelia leaned over to Spike and whispered, "That didn't really hurt did it?"
"No," Spike whispered back.
Cordelia smacked him hard, "Don't patronize me!"
"Buffy!" Spike yelled.
"Shut up." Buffy answered. They were at the Magic Box.
*****
Buffy walked inside. "Where's Giles?"
"He's in back," Willow answered, "Xander and Anya should be here any sec."
Buffy walked to the back room. "Giles?" she called, and then seeing him, "Are you drinking?"
"What? Oh, it's one bloody drink!" Giles snapped back.
"Giles. What is it?" Buffy asked, even more alarmed.
"It's bad. It's very bad, Buffy. Is everyone here? We all need to discuss what's happening."
"Giles, what is it? I need to know. Whatever, or whoever, it is, it has Dawn!" Buffy said.
Just then they heard the bell from the front door.
"Everyone's here." Buffy said.
They walked into the front room. Everyone was standing mutely.
"Okay, Willow. We're here. Now please tell us what's going on?" Xander asked.
"Good, everyone's here. Buffy, I received a call from Quentin Travers just moments after you called me about Dawn. Buffy, it's serious. The Council learned that a Gnothos demon has been summoned here."
Spike looked quickly at Anya, but she held up her hand just slightly to stop him from speaking.
"Angel, your friend, was he half Gnothos demon?" Buffy asked. Angel shook his head. Buffy continued to Giles, "Then Giles, I don't understand what this has to do with Dawn."
"Buffy, the Gnothos demon is very powerful and there are virtually no written accounts of any human encounter with one. They are, on whole, peaceable demons who choose to avoid contact with humans. However, they can be summoned to do one particular task. These demons' power resides in their ability to know things about other beings around them. It's almost like mind reading but its.how do I say it.its more whole than that. It's like collective conscious." Giles explained.
"Giles, I still don't understand what this has to do with Dawn." Buffy said, her anger rising.
"The Gnothos demon can be summoned to determine the exact nature of any spell or ritual that has been performed.and then undo it."
The color drained from Buffy's face and her nostrils flared. "It's going to undo Dawn. How do I kill it, Giles?"
"And this is what you summoned, Anya?" Spike yelled, outraged.
All eyes turned to Anya. "Anya, do you want to tell us something?" Xander asked.
"Well, it's really not like it sounds!" Anya started, "Okay. A couple of nights ago I got pretty angry with Xander because he wouldn't.anyway. I was thinking some really nasty things I could have done to him, if I were still a vengeance demon, when-"
"Ahn, are we getting close to your point?" Xander asked.
"Yes! Anyway, when D'hoffryn-you remember him-appeared to me. At first I thought he was coming to offer me back my powers, but he actually came to tell me that someone or something had summoned this Gnothos demon here. Buffy, I'm sorry I didn't come to you, but if the demon had found you.I'm sorry! I knew it was after you or Dawn, but either way, you couldn't go near the thing!"
"So you went to Spike." Buffy realized.
"Yes, that's it, exactly!" Anya said and smiled, "Only, Spike couldn't know what it was really after, or if he encountered the demon, it would know.See?"
"Yes, I think we see." Giles said.
"Spike," Angel said quietly, "When Doyle, or whatever that thing is got Dawn, you recognized each other."
"Yeah, cause I had just met him a couple of hours before.while I was trying to find out about this Gnothos demon.which, by the way, he knew about!" Spike answered.
"Anya, can this demon shape-shift?" Buffy asked.
"No. It doesn't have to." Anya replied.
"Great. This means we have two demons that are after Dawn. Giles, what do we do?" Buffy asked.
"We have to assume that whomever took Dawn is working with the Gnothos demon." Giles answered.
"Buffy, Tara and I will do a locating spell. We should be able to tell you where she is." Willow said.
"If they're still in Sunnydale," Spike said. "Remember? The thing just disappeared."
"No, it's in Sunnydale. D'hoffryn said it was summoned here. It wouldn't leave. It would be here." Anya said.
"No, it's a good plan, Will. Do the spell. Angel, did Doyle have any special abilities.demon abilities?"
"He had visions, what Cordy has." Angel replied.
"Yes, but Angel, he wouldn't still have those powers," Wesley interrupted, "he passed his gift to Cordelia just before he died."
"Okay, so mind-numbing visions not on the menu any longer, anything else?" Buffy asked, clearly distraught.
"He's-he was strong in demon form. But Buffy, he never wanted to be that way. He would rather be beaten up than morph into demon form." Angel said.
"Well I think it's pretty clear that he doesn't have those reservations now." Buffy said.
"Buffy," Cordelia interrupted, "I just don't see how Doyle would be trying to hurt Dawn.I mean, he died-he died to save all of us."
"Cordelia," Buffy answered coldly, "that was the past. We don't know what he is now, why he's here. But if he tries to hurt Dawn."
Cordelia remained silent.
Buffy continued with even calm, "Giles, I need you to find out anything you can on this Gnothos demon. As soon as Tara and Will finish the spell, I'll get Dawn and-"
"That is precisely the worst thing you could do." Quentin Travers said, shocking everyone. "Rupert, Wesley. I see we're all here."
"Giles!" Buffy shouted, "You didn't say he was going to be here." Buffy spat out the word 'he.'
"I called Rupert after I arrived in Sunnydale, Buffy. He didn't know I was Stateside." Quentin replied calmly.
"Okay, and explain to me why I can't go protect my sister? No-wait, explain to me why I am even listening to the Council?" Buffy shouted angrily.
"Buffy!" Giles chided.
"No, she's quite right, Rupert." Quentin answered. "Buffy, you should stay as far away from Dawn as possible if you want to protect her. You are integral to the magic used to create Dawn."
Buffy looked ashen. Then she looked at Giles with such rage and cried, "You told him?"
"Buffy, it was after you.died. At that point we thought the chance to harm Dawn was over, the ritual was over," he implored Buffy to understand, ".and I knew we might need the council's protection should anything else happen."
Buffy just shook her head. Everyone stood silent for a few seconds.
Quentin broke the silence. "If this Gnothos demon encounters you with Dawn, it will have all the knowledge necessary to undo the magic. None of us are safe, really."
Buffy was startled by the fear in Quentin Travers' voice. Then she recovered, "No. That's not true." She continued to Angel, "I wondered why you didn't remember Dawn. Now I know. Angel, you have to protect her-"
Spike interrupted, "Slayer, Dawn needs someone she knows and trusts." Angel nearly attacked Spike again.
"Stop it, both of you." Buffy said calmly, then to Spike, "Spike, I know Dawn trusts you. It's not that. You have the memories the monks gave us all. That's part of the magic." Spike realized where Buffy was going with her line of reasoning. "If this Gnothos demon finds you, or any of us. Spike I need you here to protect the others, in case."
"Giles?" Angel asked, "where do you keep the weapons?" Giles led Angel off to the arsenal.
"Buffy," Xander started, "what do we do if this demon finds us?"
"We kill it." Buffy said. "We do not let it get to Dawn." Everyone nodded.
"Buffy!" Willow shouted, running out of the back room, "Tara and I located her. She's at your house!" For a moment, everyone just stood agape.
"What?" Buffy asked, incredulously.
"The d-disappearing act?" Tara began, "It's a spell. We can trace it's entire path-he and Dawn went from the road and straight back into Dawn's room."
"You mean-" Wesley started, "we were right there-"
"And we didn't even know she was." Buffy finished.
"That's not all!" Willow interrupted, "the spell? Doesn't teleport anyone very far and it leaves a distinct trace!"
Buffy, getting with the new information said, "Okay. New plan. Spike and Willow, you go with Angel. Stay outside while Angel goes in, that way if Doyle tries to do the poof-zip thing again, you can get to him."
"Wait, guys. Send Tara. She saw the spell trace, not me." Willow said.
"What's going on?" Angel asked, carrying a particularly deadly-looking axe.
"You tell him, Red. Don't think he'd fancy it coming from me." Spike said.
*****
Angel drove back to Buffy's house. Tara and Spike sat silently.
"Angel," Spike began somewhat tentatively, "do you think maybe we should park a couple blocks away?"
"What, you think Doyle's got some sort of magical ability to spot us in a car?" Angel asked, quite irritated.
"No," Spike answered sarcastically, "just thinking that with the guy having worked for you for six months he might recognize the car."
"Oh," Angel said, a little chagrinned. "Good point."
"Spike, where were you when Doyle and Dawn disappeared?" Tara asked.
"About three blocks up the street from the house. Why?" Spike answered.
"Chances are that's where he'll try to teleport to, if he gets the chance." Tara answered.
"Think we got our parking spot figured out then." Angel said.
Angel parked the car at the place Spike indicated. He opened the trunk to reveal more weapons.
"Holding out on us, eh?" Spike asked, looking through the trunk, "And what's up with all the luggage?"
"Shut up, Spike," Angel said, "Okay. You guys stay here. If this guy tries to teleport, I can call you."
"With what?" Tara asked.
"You mean you guys don't have cell phones? Even I have a cell phone." Angel said disbelievingly.
"Oh. Willow can talk to us telepathically." Tara said proudly. Spike just looked disgusted.
"Bloody hell!" Spike said, "Enough already. Angel, just get the kid out. And don't go all tearful-reunion with this guy."
"Don't tell me how to do this. I have been doing this a lot longer than you." Angel hissed.
"Maybe," Spike replied, "But you got a soft spot for that guy. Me? I got a soft spot for not getting staked by the Slayer if little sis gets hurt."
"You're disgusting." Angel said, as he walked towards Buffy and Dawn's house.
After he was gone Spike turned to Tara and said, "Hope you're right about this teleportation spell not taking them that far. Cause if they end up on the other side of town, there's going to be hell to pay."
"You're scared for her." Tara said.
"Shut up." Spike listened as Angel ran up to the house and broke through the door, "Guy just doesn't know anything about a subtle entrance."
"You're lecturing about subtle entrances, Spike?" Tara asked. "Did you hear that?"
"No, I didn't hear anything." Spike said.
"That's my point. We should have heard something.sshh!" Tara said. Tara pivoted away from Spike. Spike moved to see what she was looking at. He didn't see anything and turned to ask what was happening when he saw that her eyes had rolled up in the back of her head.
"What's up with you witches and your eyes?" Spike muttered to himself. He then heard Buffy's door slammed, turned and saw Angel running down the street.
"He vanished!" Angel shouted.
"No shi-" Spike started, but was interrupted.
"There!" Tara shouted, her voice ethereal. As soon as she closed her mouth, Doyle and Dawn appeared just by a tree, not 50 feet from where Spike and Tara stood.
Dawn looked frightened, but unhurt. Doyle was obviously exhausted by the teleportation spell. He started to run to Dawn, but Angel was already running and reached her first. Angel grabbed her and held her protectively behind him, shielding her from Doyle, or whatever he was.
Spike, now at Doyle, was seething. He had been scared for Dawn and also completely pissed that it had been Angel who had gotten to her first. Turning his aggression on Doyle, Spike hit him with all the force he could muster.
"Aaaaarrrrrrrgggggg!" Spike shouted, recoiling in sheer, blinding pain. "Human!" Spike said, still doubled over from the agony, "he's human."
"Half human." Angel called out.
"No!" Spike shouted, "he's all human. Not a drop of demon blood."
Doyle morphed from his demon form to human form. "Quite right there Spike."
Dawn struggled to free herself from Angel's grasp. "No," Angel said, "It's okay. We're here to protect you from him."
"I don't need protecting from him!" Dawn cried and finally broke free from Angel. She ran over to Doyle and asked, "Are you okay?"
Spike, Angel and Tara stood dumbfounded for a moment. "Huh?" Spike asked.
*****
Spike, Angel, Doyle, Dawn and Tara all sat in the living room.
"So let me get this straight," Spike said, "you were trying to protect her? From me? Well, I got news for you buddy. I am not a threat to l'il bit."
"Spike," Dawn said, going to sit beside Spike, "it's not just you. I can't be near any of you because of the magic used on all of you."
Doyle spoke up, "I met you at Willy's, looking for the Gnothos demon." Doyle was obviously suspicious of Spike.
"So when you saw him here you took Dawn," Tara added, starting to piece it together.
"Right." Doyle answered.
"So you went parading around in that demon-y getup, what, hoping you'd just run into whoever summoned this Gnothos guy?" Spike asked, equally suspicious of Doyle.
"That's part of it. You didn't summon it?" Doyle asked.
"No. I didn't. But I'm starting to wonder if you did, mate. You did seem to know an awful lot about what I was after. Not to mention the part about your being dead already," Spike said.
"He's not Doyle." Angel said, as if answering all questions.
"What? You just spent twenty minutes telling us how this was Doyle, how he was some big hero, how Cordelia had a vision. Am I missing anything?" Spike asked Angel.
"No. But that's not Doyle." And turning to Doyle, "Are you?" Angel asked.
"No. I'm not." Doyle said. And as if a veil had been lifted from everyone's eyes, they saw the man in front of them. He was plainly dressed, around forty and had close-cropped hair around the side of his head; the top of his head was shaven.
"Y-you're one of the monks!" Tara said.
"Yes. And you all should leave if you want to protect her." The monk said.
"So you're here to protect Dawn?" Angel asked.
"I am. The Gnothos demon-if he finds us-he can." the monk began.
"Yes, we know, we know!" Spike said, "Listen, not to sound all judgmental, but where were you guys when it all went down with Glory? We protected her then and we'll protect her now."
Angel looked at Spike for a moment, stunned.
"It's not as simple as that." The monk said.
"It is that simple. Demon comes and well kill it. That's what we do." Spike said, as if reciting lines.
"No!" the monk cried, "If the demon finds us he will undo the spell. It's not just the danger to Dawn. It will be like the spell never happened. All of the suffering will be unpreventable. The Slayer's death will be for nothing. Nothing will change and everything will change."
"Yeah? Well the Slayer's back!" Spike said triumphantly, "And if she could rout Glory, she can rout this guy."
"The Slayer's back?" the monk asked.
"Yeah.bloody get with the program." Spike said.
"Shut up Spike." Angel said, concern washing over his face, "listen, do you know where this demon is?"
"I know he's close. He's here in Sunnydale. He hasn't made his move, so we must not have been detected."
"No," Tara said, "Your spell was easily traceable. Willow and I found you in a few minutes."
"Which means-" Angel started.
"This demon's not after Dawn!" Spike finished.
"Buffy!" Angel cried.
As one they all stood and ran for the door.
To be continued.
