Stepping into Darkness

Part 7

~~~~~*****~~~~~

Willow glanced around the room. They had been researching for over three hours and no one had found anything. Spike had left the room moments earlier to check on Dawn and she watched as he reentered. He was staring at Fliq, well technically, it was Buffy he was looking at... Willow groaned and sat back in her chair, watching as Spike caught Fliq's eye and signaled to the hallway.

"Excuse me," Fliq stood and turned to Giles, "Where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hallway." Giles replied absentmindedly, pointing her in the right direction. Fliq nodded and followed Spike around the corner, away from the group.

"So, you and the Slayer switched bodies?"

"You already knew that, Spike, that's not why you wanted to talk."

"No, but while we are talking about it, lets start with you being a stupid prick."

"Excuse me." Fliq's fingers twitched as she resisted the urge to stake him.

"Astral projection is dangerous for you, pet," he continued in a less aggravated tone, "I thought you learned your lesson the last time."

"I had to do it, for the reason that you're stressing. Just let it drop, Spike...and I'm not your pet."

Spike sighed and nodded, continuing to stare at her. He knew Buffy was alive again but looking at her face made it all more real, even if it was Fliq that was in her body. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do more, throw her against the wall and shag her on the spot and to hell with everyone in the next room, or just smack her upside of the head, hoping it would make everything fine. The main problem was, who would he rather do what with. There was Fliq in Buffy's body or Buffy in Fliq's body, what a choice.

Luckily for him, he decided on neither. Having two pissed off Slayers and their friends, gunning for him, not to mention his Sire, wasn't his idea of a good time, his idea of a good time would be what got him into the situation in the first place.

"So," he asked quietly, "what happens now?"

Fliq sighed, "You stay out of my way, I won't stake you."

"I can't kill anyone."

"No."

"No, I mean I can't kill anyone."

Fliq frowned, "What?" Spike sighed and began to explain.

"So you're impotent?"

"I wish people would stop bloody saying that!" Fliq smiled at him, the first he'd seen her smile in a long time, in either body, and he couldn't help but smile back, "So, what about the great poof? What does he know?"

"Everything."

"Are you mad?"

"Look, Spike, he has a soul and he's not likely to go telling anyone."

"I'm surprised he hasn't staked me yet."

"Me, too, actually." Spike's eyebrows shot up, "Don't worry, he won't." She closed her eyes and paused for a moment, "Just stay out of my way, William."

"Luv, if nothing else, I saved your life."

Fliq's eyes opened in rage. "You ruined my life!" she spat out.

Spike sighed, "Can't we..."

"What? Can't we what? Ignore it? Pretend it didn't happen? Well you might be able to do that but I can't."

"Fliq?" They both turned to face Buffy as she turned the corner, "What's up?"

"Nothing." Fliq glared once more at Spike and left walked to the bathroom. Spike sighed and leaned back into the wall.

"Spike? What's going on?"


"Like she said, pet, nothing." Spike gave her a tight smile and wandered back into the main room, leaving Buffy standing in the hallway in confusion.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

There was a gentle murmur of conversation throughout the house. Both Tara and Anya had gone to the magick shop to collect some ingredients they might need and Cordelia and Gunn were in the kitchen. The rest of the group was discussing possible ways to switch the Slayers back as Spike sat on the stairs watching.

"Buffy?" Spike looked up the stairs at Dawn, who stood in shock, staring at the people in the room, "What's going on?"

"'S okay, little bit." Spike said, standing up as Dawn walked down the stairs.

"Is... Is that Fliq?" she asked tentatively, her eyes never leaving her sister's face.

"Yes, I'm Fliq." The girl said, stepping forward, "You must be Dawn." Dawn shrank back a little as the girl reached out to her, but Spike placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. Reaching out to touch Fliq, she smiled a little.

Suddenly, Fliq collapsed on the floor, clutching her head. Spike crouched down, trying to see whether or not she was unconscious while Angel, Wesley and Willow crossed the room.

"What happened?" Angel asked, brushing her hair from her face. He frowned as he followed Fliq's gaze and his eyes rested on Dawn.

"Energy." Fliq said softly and Dawn fell back onto the stairs, her eyes widened in shock.

"You...you can see me?" Dawn whispered as tears filled her eyes.

"Yes." Fliq pulled herself up, holding onto Angel and Spike, "You must be the key."

"Fliq, how did you know that?" Spike asked as Buffy and the others surrounded Dawn.

"The Watchers. They were in a big fuss about what the key could be, but they had no idea it had been made human." She stepped towards Dawn, glad that no one tried to stop her, but noting the looks on everyone's faces, "You are very powerful, Dawn. But you have to take care that no one finds out what you are. If the Council gets wind of this, your life will never be your own ever again. Take it from someone who knows."

Dawn nodded and stood up, accepting Fliq's offered hand. The group dispersed as everyone took their seats again, this time Spike and Dawn joining them in the center of the room.

Cordelia entered from the hallway, closely followed by Gunn. She looked around the room, "Well, as glad as I am to have witnessed the Slayer family reunion, I think it might interest you to know something."

"What?" Angel turned to look at Cordelia, confused.

"Ahh!"

Angel, Gunn and Wesley were at Cordelia's side in an instant. Fliq peered closer and everyone exchanged glances as the former cheerleader collapsed into Angel's arms.

"Was that what you were trying to tell us?" Fliq asked as soon as Cordelia seemed to have regained her senses.

"Yes!"

Angel helped Cordelia to a chair and everyone crowded round, "What did you see?"

"I told you before! A big bad ass vampire!"

Angel sighed, "I didn't think those vampires quite fitted that description."

"Well, I knew they didn't but Psycho Bitch here wouldn't listen."

Fliq pulled back a little, "Maybe if you could describe the vampire, we might get somewhere. Just because..."

"I think you should try to calm down, short stuff," Fliq turned to look at Spike, who stepped back a little at the look in her eye, but he raised his eyebrows and she relented.

Fliq turned back to face the group as Buffy frowned, "Short stuff?"

"Don't ask."

"Hello?" Cordelia interrupted, "Huge migraine with pictures here."

"What else did you see, Cordelia?" Angel asked, absentmindedly rubbing her shoulder as the girl struggled with her pounding head.

"It was underground, in the sewers I think. There was a girl, and she was opening a giant swirly thing..."

"A giant swirly thing?"

"Is that like a technical term?"

Cordelia looked from Fliq to Buffy, "I think I liked it better when you two didn't know each other."

"Well, what do we think?" Gunn asked, looking at her, "Should we go looking now, or is this a 'we have enough time to research' flash, like the others have been lately?"

"I think this is a future flash again, I'm not sure."

Angel squeezed her shoulder, "It's okay. We'll figure something out."

"Agreed. It's nearly morning and it'd be best if we all get some sleep." Giles sighed, "Return in the morning and we'll see if we can't figure out what this...'giant swirly thing' is." There was a gentle murmur of agreement as everyone moved to leave.

Cordelia pulled herself to her feet with Angel's help, only to collapse in pain again. Everyone exchanged worried glances as Angel, Gunn and Wesley tried to stop the girl from clawing at her head. Her cry was agonizing, her head, not yet clear of the previous vision, was now being flooded with another.

Dawn was shaking as she stared at the older girl. She felt Spike's hand tighten on her shoulder, "She's gonna be okay, right? She'll be alright, won't she?"

"She'll be fine." Buffy said squeezing her hand in reassurance before exchanging a worried glance with Willow.

A few minutes later, Cordelia stopped crying out as her senses returned to her. She turned into Angel sobbing, clutching at his sleeve, her eyes still unfocused. Fliq walked slowly towards her and crouched down, offering the tablets she had rushed to collect from the kitchen.

"Thank you," Cordelia whispered, taking them, "There's trouble in LA." she said, looking towards Gunn and Wesley, "I think you two should be able to handle it, though."

"We're as good as gone." Wesley said giving her a small smile. He turned to Gunn and they nodded, a silent agreement to leave as soon as they could. He quickly exited the room.

"Hey, Cordy," Gunn smiled, hiding the worry they were all feeling about her increased pain, "You gonna give us anything to go on, or we just gonna blow up LA?"

She smiled slightly, "Lindsay."

"Lawyer Lindsay?" Gunn asked frowning.

"Yes, he's back in LA and Wolfram and Heart are after him, but for some reason or other the PTB seem to think we need him."

Angel snorted and Cordelia turned to frown at him, "Sorry." he replied sheepishly.

"Okay." Wesley had returned with their coats and Gunn stood as Angel helped Cordelia to her feet, "You need us and we'll be here as soon as, and to hell with the damn lawyer."

Cordelia smiled as the two quickly said good bye and walked out of the door. After a few moments, the group moved to leave again.

"Spike?"

Spike turned in surprise to face Angel, "What?"

"Do you know anywhere we could stay?"

"Well, your old apartment has been ransacked."

"How do you know?"

"'Cause I ransacked the bloody place."

Angel sighed as the others grinned, "So, do you know of anywhere we could stay?"

"There should be enough room at mine for everyone." Buffy said, "I think we should go on a quick patrol first. If there really is danger about, it might be a better idea."

"I'll take Cordelia back to my place," Willow said taking hold of Cordelia's arm, "I think I have a few things that might help your head."

"Oh, God, yes." Cordy smiled as they turned to leave.

"You can take my car." Angel offered, giving Cordy a small smile.

"Dawn, why don't you go back to bed and someone will collect you in the morning."

"Okay." Dawn quickly said good night and wandered up the stairs, giving Fliq another glance before she disappeared.

"I think I'll keep researching. Wesley seemed to think he was on to something, I'd like to continue looking."

"Okay." Buffy smiled as Giles walked back to the settee. She turned to the others and, after making arrangements for the patrol, the group dispersed and made their way into the night's silence.

"Where's my car?"

~~~~~*****~~~~~

Down in the dark sewers of Sunnydale, there was an almighty scream. An eerie glow emanated from one of the small chambers. The light danced upon the preying shadows as a large swirl of color and magick opened. The girl grinned as she pulled forth one of the key players that would spell the end of the Slayer once and for all.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

Buffy and Fliq walked along the dark roads. The light was threatening to come out as the morning neared. Buffy shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her, breathing deeply. Fliq turned to look at the girl.

"Cold?"

"Always." Buffy shivered again, "I just can't get warm since, well, since I came back. It's like it was when I was in Faith's body. I have to struggle to breath and I feel like there's something pushing me out."

Fliq nodded, "I know what that feels like."

Buffy looked at her own body and smiled, "Yeah I guess you would."

Fliq took a deep breath and smiled, before shaking her head and turning back to Buffy, "I wanted to ask you a question."

"Sure. What's up?"

"That blonde witch that's friends with Willow, how well do you know her?"

"Pretty well. Hey, how did you know she was a witch?"

Fliq shrugged, "I sensed it. I'm Wiccan, having a Slayer's perceptions just helps me identify magick easier, can't you?"

Buffy squirmed a little, "Well, not really..."

"It's probably because I'm not used to dealing with the energies from the Hellmouth."

"Yeah, sure."

Suddenly they both stiffened, sensing a presence. They turned, stakes ready. A moment later Fliq's eyes widened, "Oh God," she whispered. "No."

"What, what is it?"

"Can't you feel it? Don't you know who it is?" Buffy closed her eyes and reached out. A strangled cry left her lips and, as she opened her eyes, a tear began to fall. She looked straight ahead as a figure emerged from the shadows. Buffy watched as it headed towards them. She stared into the face as it slowly changed before her. She looked into the yellow eyes and she felt her heart contract.

"Willow."

~~~~~*****~~~~~

END OF PART 7