"We've been looking for the past hour, Spike. Can't you find it?"
"It'd be a lot easier if somebody would keep their bleedin' trap shut. I need to concentrate. Not like I just drop in on him all the time. Wouldn't be right with us not being properly introduced and all."
"If you can't do it, maybe we should ask somebody else to--"
"I said I'd find it, if it's anywhere around. Maybe he's off New Year's eve. Maybe the office is closed for business. Not like office hours could be posted on an invisible door."
"Let's go to the hospital and see if Tara has any suggestions. Maybe--"
"Slayer, I SAID I'll find it."
"Spike, back up into the shadows. I think I see someone I know."
"Oh, now I'm not good enough to be seen with--"
"Shut UP!" Buffy hissed. "I think that's Amy over there. We can follow her, I know she knows where Rack is; she took Willow there the first time."
They watch Amy wander for a while with her arms outstreched, then she leaned against a building and started crying. "I know you're there somewhere, Rack. Please don't hide. I need in. Please. I need in-- please let me in. C'mon. C'mon. Rack, I tried. Please don't hide from me."
Buffy marched over to Amy, Spike in tow. "Amy."
Amy looked up and jumped a bit. "Oh, uh, hi Buffy. What are you doing here?"
"We were just about to ask you the same question."
"Oh, I was, uh, looking for a friend of mine. We were supposed to meet up for a party and I think he's, uh, lost. He's new in town and--"
Buffy glared. "Just cut the crap, Amy. I know you're looking for Rack. You're going to help us find him."
"I can't find him. It's almost like he's not answering the calls. I'm not the only one of his people looking for him tonight--I've seen others."
"Slayer, I think we need to go see Red. Something strange is going on here. Rack has only been closed twice that I've heard of. Last time was when there was a turf war going on. He won by burning out an entire coven that was trying to get him to move on."
"Burning out? Like my house?"
"No, burning out like their minds. Remember Glory's little stunt with Tara? Same thing."
Buffy grabbed Amy to drag her along. The last thing she wanted was for the former rat to find Rack and warn him that Buffy was on the warpath.
"Slayer, where are we headed?"
"Back to the Magic Box. I have some spare rope in the training room and we can tie her up and have Anya keep an eye on her."
When they arrived back at the Magic Box, Anya was sorting things and trying to straighten up. "Was she at Rack's? Or did you want to turn her back into a rat and are looking for the ingredients? There's a special vengeance sale if that will hurt whoever made this mess. Doors are difficult to come by and not inexpensive. The police had many helpful suggestions for security. I don't know if I want a dog, but there are several smallish watch demons--"
"Anya, we think Rack's is closed tonight. Will you watch Amy if we tie her to a chair? We're going to go talk to Tara and see if she has any suggestions."
"Yes, certainly. I will watch her. I might also give her a lecture on the cost of things in the magic profession. Nobody else seems to understand the high cost of doing business in a specialty market. Just the other day I was talking to a cust--"
"I'll get that rope." Buffy retreated into the training room and located the rope. She and Spike tied Amy into a chair and headed back out into the night.
"Hospital?"
"Yeah. Uh, Spike?"
"What?"
"Um, sorry about yelling at you when you couldn't find Rack's. I thought you weren't trying."
"I told you I would try. I don't think that you get it, yet."
"Get what?"
"I do know the difference between business and pleasure."
Buffy sped up, unable to come up with a suitable reply.
When they entered the hospital, Buffy noticed Ira Rosenberg and Tara sitting in the waiting room. They both looked anxious and uncomfortable; neither making eye contact with the other. "Hey, Buffy, Spike" Tara murmured.
"How's Willow?"
"Not too good. Um, can we go somewhere more--?"
"Yeah. Willow's mom is in the room with her, I'm guessing?"
"Yes."
Tara, Buffy, and Spike stepped out into the night.
"So how bad was she burned? Is she going to be all right?"
Tara looked down, sighing as she tried to regain her composure. "Willow wasn't burned and it wasn't smoke. Rack beat her up. She didn't want you to know; she's the one that caused the fire while trying to make him stop hitting her. She said it was the only spell she could remember."
Buffy growled "he's going to pay for that. He had no business in my home in the first place. He had no reason to beat up my friend in the second place. And in the third place--I can't think of a third place, but I think the first two deserve some serious slayage. I need to see Willow. Let's go back inside."
Tara followed, "you're not mad at her?"
"I'm seriously pissed at her for telling Rack where I live, but self defense isn't a crime in my books. Well, unless you're a demon or a Hellgod."
They eventually made their way back to Willow's room. Willow looked pale and defeated. Her mother glanced up and started collecting her things to leave. "Let me know when you're done talking to her, and then go FIND the man that did this."
Spike put his hand on her shoulder and said "nobody's gettin' away with this. I don't care much for a bloke who'll hit a helpless woman."
Mrs. Rosenberg smiled faintly at him and left. Buffy turned around with a dubious expression on her face. Spike grinned and asked "Slayer, when have you ever been helpless?"
"Willow, do you know of any reason Rack might hit the Magic Box? What did you talk to him about?"
"We really didn't talk. He kind of read my mind and then--Oh! The Bronze. When he was reading at my magic, I saw the Magic Box, the Bronze, and then I ended up back in my room. I don't remember how I got there. Buffy, the big New Year's party; what if he goes there?"
"We're on it. C'mon Spike. We're going to a party. Let's see if he hits the Bronze tonight."
The Bronze was crowded almost to capacity. Everyone was orbiting; looking for friends, a spot to sit down, or some space on the dance floor. The line at the bar was impressive. "Spike, I'm going to go clean up a little- I went straight from patrol to a fire and I smell like vamp dust and smoke and the rest of me is probably a disaster. Would you get me a Coke and then try to find us a seat upstairs?"
"Yeah, I can probably manage that."
Buffy left and Spike headed for the bar.
Fifteen minutes later, Buffy came out of the bathroom and headed up the stairs. Looking around for Spike, she finally noticed him sitting at a table almost right over the door. "Nice spot--we should be able to see him from here." She took a large drink of her Coke, and seated herself on the barstool.
"So, just curious, have you ever seen Rack before? Because I have no idea what he looks like."
"Can't you sense him? You said he was into the big bad and I thought--"
"Maybe. I hope so. Don't know for sure. Maybe we should've gotten a description from Red or the Rat. Or we can wait until he starts trouble."
"Yeah. I suppose that's what we'll have to do."
Uncomfortable silence ensued. Buffy kept playing with the ice in her Coke and avoiding all eye contact with Spike. Spike was trying to think of something, anything to say that didn't sound like he was trying to initiate contact. "You know pet, that's where I saw you for the first time."
"Where?"
"Right there on the dance floor with Xander. You were teasing more than you were dancing--rubbing up against him like a--"
"I was trying to thank him for saving my life. He gave me CPR when the Master drowned me."
"Some thanks. He probably still has dreams about it."
"Spike, I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay, another subject. You choose this time."
"Um, do you know anybody who has an apartment for rent? Because I seem to be homeless at the moment."
"You could stay with Xander."
"Eeewww, just what I want to hear all night long. Xander and Anya sex. I have a teenager to keep from getting ideas. They aren't going to help."
"Tara?"
"Studio apartment. No room. Children's services won't like that one bit."
"Your father?"
"Still in Spain. Or maybe somewhere else. With his favorite secretary."
"Have you ever thought about trying to get child support from him?"
"Mom tried before he left for Spain. We never heard back and now that he's international dad, it's not going to get any easier."
"Sorry, luv. Didn't mean to bring up past nasties. Do you want to pick another subject?"
"Yeah. Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? What's going on?"
"I just thought you had enough on your mind that you didn't need more aggravation. Not to worry, as soon as this is over and you're all settled, I'll be back to my old annoying self."
The music stopped and the owner of the club stepped up on stage and announced "one minute people, then it will be 2002. Everyone got a partner? Gotta give your first kiss of the New Year to somebody special!"
Buffy looked up at Spike like a deer caught in headlights.
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Thanks everyone for the positive reviews! More chapters to come.
"It'd be a lot easier if somebody would keep their bleedin' trap shut. I need to concentrate. Not like I just drop in on him all the time. Wouldn't be right with us not being properly introduced and all."
"If you can't do it, maybe we should ask somebody else to--"
"I said I'd find it, if it's anywhere around. Maybe he's off New Year's eve. Maybe the office is closed for business. Not like office hours could be posted on an invisible door."
"Let's go to the hospital and see if Tara has any suggestions. Maybe--"
"Slayer, I SAID I'll find it."
"Spike, back up into the shadows. I think I see someone I know."
"Oh, now I'm not good enough to be seen with--"
"Shut UP!" Buffy hissed. "I think that's Amy over there. We can follow her, I know she knows where Rack is; she took Willow there the first time."
They watch Amy wander for a while with her arms outstreched, then she leaned against a building and started crying. "I know you're there somewhere, Rack. Please don't hide. I need in. Please. I need in-- please let me in. C'mon. C'mon. Rack, I tried. Please don't hide from me."
Buffy marched over to Amy, Spike in tow. "Amy."
Amy looked up and jumped a bit. "Oh, uh, hi Buffy. What are you doing here?"
"We were just about to ask you the same question."
"Oh, I was, uh, looking for a friend of mine. We were supposed to meet up for a party and I think he's, uh, lost. He's new in town and--"
Buffy glared. "Just cut the crap, Amy. I know you're looking for Rack. You're going to help us find him."
"I can't find him. It's almost like he's not answering the calls. I'm not the only one of his people looking for him tonight--I've seen others."
"Slayer, I think we need to go see Red. Something strange is going on here. Rack has only been closed twice that I've heard of. Last time was when there was a turf war going on. He won by burning out an entire coven that was trying to get him to move on."
"Burning out? Like my house?"
"No, burning out like their minds. Remember Glory's little stunt with Tara? Same thing."
Buffy grabbed Amy to drag her along. The last thing she wanted was for the former rat to find Rack and warn him that Buffy was on the warpath.
"Slayer, where are we headed?"
"Back to the Magic Box. I have some spare rope in the training room and we can tie her up and have Anya keep an eye on her."
When they arrived back at the Magic Box, Anya was sorting things and trying to straighten up. "Was she at Rack's? Or did you want to turn her back into a rat and are looking for the ingredients? There's a special vengeance sale if that will hurt whoever made this mess. Doors are difficult to come by and not inexpensive. The police had many helpful suggestions for security. I don't know if I want a dog, but there are several smallish watch demons--"
"Anya, we think Rack's is closed tonight. Will you watch Amy if we tie her to a chair? We're going to go talk to Tara and see if she has any suggestions."
"Yes, certainly. I will watch her. I might also give her a lecture on the cost of things in the magic profession. Nobody else seems to understand the high cost of doing business in a specialty market. Just the other day I was talking to a cust--"
"I'll get that rope." Buffy retreated into the training room and located the rope. She and Spike tied Amy into a chair and headed back out into the night.
"Hospital?"
"Yeah. Uh, Spike?"
"What?"
"Um, sorry about yelling at you when you couldn't find Rack's. I thought you weren't trying."
"I told you I would try. I don't think that you get it, yet."
"Get what?"
"I do know the difference between business and pleasure."
Buffy sped up, unable to come up with a suitable reply.
When they entered the hospital, Buffy noticed Ira Rosenberg and Tara sitting in the waiting room. They both looked anxious and uncomfortable; neither making eye contact with the other. "Hey, Buffy, Spike" Tara murmured.
"How's Willow?"
"Not too good. Um, can we go somewhere more--?"
"Yeah. Willow's mom is in the room with her, I'm guessing?"
"Yes."
Tara, Buffy, and Spike stepped out into the night.
"So how bad was she burned? Is she going to be all right?"
Tara looked down, sighing as she tried to regain her composure. "Willow wasn't burned and it wasn't smoke. Rack beat her up. She didn't want you to know; she's the one that caused the fire while trying to make him stop hitting her. She said it was the only spell she could remember."
Buffy growled "he's going to pay for that. He had no business in my home in the first place. He had no reason to beat up my friend in the second place. And in the third place--I can't think of a third place, but I think the first two deserve some serious slayage. I need to see Willow. Let's go back inside."
Tara followed, "you're not mad at her?"
"I'm seriously pissed at her for telling Rack where I live, but self defense isn't a crime in my books. Well, unless you're a demon or a Hellgod."
They eventually made their way back to Willow's room. Willow looked pale and defeated. Her mother glanced up and started collecting her things to leave. "Let me know when you're done talking to her, and then go FIND the man that did this."
Spike put his hand on her shoulder and said "nobody's gettin' away with this. I don't care much for a bloke who'll hit a helpless woman."
Mrs. Rosenberg smiled faintly at him and left. Buffy turned around with a dubious expression on her face. Spike grinned and asked "Slayer, when have you ever been helpless?"
"Willow, do you know of any reason Rack might hit the Magic Box? What did you talk to him about?"
"We really didn't talk. He kind of read my mind and then--Oh! The Bronze. When he was reading at my magic, I saw the Magic Box, the Bronze, and then I ended up back in my room. I don't remember how I got there. Buffy, the big New Year's party; what if he goes there?"
"We're on it. C'mon Spike. We're going to a party. Let's see if he hits the Bronze tonight."
The Bronze was crowded almost to capacity. Everyone was orbiting; looking for friends, a spot to sit down, or some space on the dance floor. The line at the bar was impressive. "Spike, I'm going to go clean up a little- I went straight from patrol to a fire and I smell like vamp dust and smoke and the rest of me is probably a disaster. Would you get me a Coke and then try to find us a seat upstairs?"
"Yeah, I can probably manage that."
Buffy left and Spike headed for the bar.
Fifteen minutes later, Buffy came out of the bathroom and headed up the stairs. Looking around for Spike, she finally noticed him sitting at a table almost right over the door. "Nice spot--we should be able to see him from here." She took a large drink of her Coke, and seated herself on the barstool.
"So, just curious, have you ever seen Rack before? Because I have no idea what he looks like."
"Can't you sense him? You said he was into the big bad and I thought--"
"Maybe. I hope so. Don't know for sure. Maybe we should've gotten a description from Red or the Rat. Or we can wait until he starts trouble."
"Yeah. I suppose that's what we'll have to do."
Uncomfortable silence ensued. Buffy kept playing with the ice in her Coke and avoiding all eye contact with Spike. Spike was trying to think of something, anything to say that didn't sound like he was trying to initiate contact. "You know pet, that's where I saw you for the first time."
"Where?"
"Right there on the dance floor with Xander. You were teasing more than you were dancing--rubbing up against him like a--"
"I was trying to thank him for saving my life. He gave me CPR when the Master drowned me."
"Some thanks. He probably still has dreams about it."
"Spike, I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay, another subject. You choose this time."
"Um, do you know anybody who has an apartment for rent? Because I seem to be homeless at the moment."
"You could stay with Xander."
"Eeewww, just what I want to hear all night long. Xander and Anya sex. I have a teenager to keep from getting ideas. They aren't going to help."
"Tara?"
"Studio apartment. No room. Children's services won't like that one bit."
"Your father?"
"Still in Spain. Or maybe somewhere else. With his favorite secretary."
"Have you ever thought about trying to get child support from him?"
"Mom tried before he left for Spain. We never heard back and now that he's international dad, it's not going to get any easier."
"Sorry, luv. Didn't mean to bring up past nasties. Do you want to pick another subject?"
"Yeah. Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? What's going on?"
"I just thought you had enough on your mind that you didn't need more aggravation. Not to worry, as soon as this is over and you're all settled, I'll be back to my old annoying self."
The music stopped and the owner of the club stepped up on stage and announced "one minute people, then it will be 2002. Everyone got a partner? Gotta give your first kiss of the New Year to somebody special!"
Buffy looked up at Spike like a deer caught in headlights.
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Thanks everyone for the positive reviews! More chapters to come.