The poker game was still going strong when Willow finally made her appearance. "Hi. Good party?" Everyone stopped what they were doing. Tara got up and went to see how she was doing. "I'm just going to brush my teeth and take a shower. I feel much better than last night. But I think something furry slept on my tongue. After that we can get started with battle plans."

Dawn looked at the clock. "Hey, it's only midnight. You were supposed to be asleep for a lot longer than that."

Willow shrugged. "I had a dream. She told me she would release me early because I still had important things to do." She shook her head. "I'm not exactly sure what she is, but she really doesn't like demons."

Spike looked around. "So, I suppose this means we're done with poker. Pay up, kiddies."

Buffy looked at him, embarrassed. "Spike, can I see you outside for a minute?" He shrugged and headed for the door. She followed him into the night. After the door closed, she confronted him. "Spike, I don't know why you did it, but I know I'm not that good of a poker player."

"I told you I only cheat when it's important. Nothing life or death going on in there, just a few pals playin' a friendly game." He smiled and shrugged, giving her his most innocent expression.

"Right. I know better. I'm NOT stupid, Spike. These are my friends. I don't know how you did it since I dealt most of the time, but I can't cheat them out of money."

He moved in closer to her, taking her hands in his. "Pet, they all have jobs. They can afford to lose money in a poker game. You have Dawn and no paying job. I am not going to let you starve and this way they don't have to insult you by offering you money. We were just cutting out the middleman. Harris and the witch knew what was going on. That's why he lost almost thirty and she only lost five. In case you didn't notice, nobody objected when I offered to deal. Don't insult them by giving back the money."

Buffy got a pensive look on her face. He opened his arms and she burrowed under his chin, eyes wet with unshed tears. "Shhh. It's all right." He stroked her hair. He could hear her sniffles and feel the jerking of her sobs. The front of his shirt was getting soggy. "Baby, what is it?" She took a deep, ragged breath. Then she let it out and leaned back to look at him.

"I feel like such a loser. I can kill anything that walks, crawls, slithers, or flies. I'm stronger than any human and half the demons I've met. I can plan ambushes or full-blown battles. But I can't keep a job. I can't take care of my sister. I can't even cheat at poker, somebody has to do it for me with the consent of everyone else in the room." She buried her face in his chest and started crying again. Spike held her, rocking her and gently stroking her hair and murmuring gentle nothings until she cried herself out.

"Sweetheart, are you all finished now?" A few more sniffles, then she looked up at him; eyes puffy from crying. "Now, fix yourself up so nobody thinks we've been fighting. Don't want Harris to try and stake me for a misunderstanding." She drew in a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly.

"Spike, why didn't anyone come out to check on us? Or at least watch us fight?"

"Probably because they knew what the fight was gonna be about and didn't want to embarrass you. I reckon there's been a steady stream of eyes at that peephole, making sure we didn't need a referee."

She leaned forward and grabbed him, molding her body against his. Then she kissed him passionately. "There. That'll give them an eyeful. Now let's get back inside so I can repair crying damage." When they made their way back inside, Buffy ducked into the bathroom.

"Is everything all right? There didn't seem to be actual blows exchanged, so we thought it would be less embarrassing for everyone concerned if we just stayed inside." Xander moved closer to Spike. "So, I take it she noticed?" he whispered. Spike just nodded.

When Buffy came back into the living room, Xander wordlessly handed her the winnings. Willow and Tara had the spell components ready to go. "Okay, let's get this going--here's the plan. Xander and Anya are home guard. They're in charge of keeping everybody who needs to be here safe. Dawn, you're to watch Tara. She can't stop concentrating on the spell once it's turned over to her. If she needs water, ingredients, whatever, get them for her. Willow, let's set up the outside one, then strap on our lightning rod thingys." Tara and Dawn got up to help; Xander went along in a supervisory capacity. Spike stayed out of the way, trying to avoid a last minute 'you're wearing this' change of mind by Buffy.

Anya got up and handed an amulet to Spike. "It was extra protection for Xander, but since he's staying here I will give it to you."

Looking surprised at her thoughtfulness, Spike put it around his neck. "Thanks. What does it do and how do I activate it?"

Anya stated, "it's activated by skin contact. It's a reflective shield. It won't absorb the lightning, but it should send it back towards Rack. I thought that perhaps if Rack was dodging his own protections it would be safer for Xander. Don't forget to bring it back when you are finished."

The group came back inside and strapped Willow and Buffy into their protective gear. Willow gave them last minute instructions. "Okay, everyone get ready. I'm going into a trance and try to find Rack. Once I find him, we'll start the spell. Once I hand the spell over to Tara, we have to move fast because she can only hold it for so long. Don't interrupt while I'm in the trance, don't make any noise while we're casting the spell. Got it?" Everyone nodded assent. "Now, turn off the lights and the fire alarm. Dawnie, would you get a glass of water for us?" She nodded and went for the kitchen. Spike got the lights; Anya got a chair and unplugged the fire alarm battery.

The two witches faced each other, concentrating on setting out spell components between them. They looked at each other and nodded. Willow got the glass of water from Dawn and set it down next to herself. Then she began the spell. She poured sand into a bowl they had prepared.

"Earth, shelter me. Solid and stable.

Alter perceptions, no track shall I leave.

Unobserved, overlooked.

None see me or mine lest I will it."

She took a deep breath and blew it across the bowl.

"Air, obscure me. Vapor and shimmer.

Shift recognition, none regard me.

Ignored, discounted.

None see me or mine lest I will it."

Then she lit a candle and placed it in the bowl, shifting the sand so that it stayed in place.

"Fire, shield me. Blazing and brilliant.

Offer deception, blind mine enemies eyes.

Forsaken, Forgotten.

None see me or mine lest I will it."

She poured a small amount of water into the bowl.

"Water, harbor me. Liquid and changing.

Extend concealment, none have passed here.

Untraceable, unnoticed.

None see me or mine lest I will it."

She and Tara grasped hands and chanted in unison.

"Earth, Air, Fire, Water. By the four elements, we beg protection.

Conceal us from our enemies while we perform this ritual.

Let none with harmful intent see or interfere.

By our will, with your strength, let none pass."

They dropped hands and Willow focused on the candle flame.

The Scoobies waited. Buffy looked around. Xander had his arm around Anya and she was leaning her head against him. Dawn was watching Willow and Tara, fascinated by the spellcasting. Tara was looking at Willow, obviously waiting to pick up her part of the spell. Spike had her hand in his and was observing her, obviously enjoying the view. He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss against her knuckles. She smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I can see him. Business district. Third street between Elm and Maple. I-I think he's trying to call me. He looks mad. He's tearing up his office." She looked back up at Tara, frightened. "We need to do this spell NOW because he's gonna come looking for me tonight." Tara nodded and moved the bowl with the still lit candle in it off to the side. They started quickly and started lining up spell components for the next spell. Tara crumpled some herbs into another bowl and put in what looked like wood chips. Willow lit a match.

"Pine for cleansing. Fennel for strength.

Elm for protection. Mint for success.

Fire for purification. Steel to convey.

By this assistance, with one goal.

A foe has been found.

My enemy has been named.

Rack is my adversary."

Willow lifted a dagger and passed it through the smoke.

"As my will is channeled, such is my intent.

My power through this vessel, burnished steel.

This to be the instrument of Rack's destruction."

Not for myself alone do I do this.

I do this for the others who have suffered.

Not for myself alone seek I vengeance,

I seek this for the others who have died."

Then she nicked her hand on the dagger and squeezed until she bled a few drops into the bowl. She handed the dagger to Tara, who also cut her hand and bled into the bowl.

"Blood to blood. Mind to mind."

Tara put the dagger down and clasped hands with Willow.

"Hand to hand. Soul to soul.

To Tara now I yield control."

They dropped hands and Tara sat cross-legged, staring at the candle. Willow got up and wrapped the knife. She walked over and gave Dawn a hug. "Take care of her, Dawnie. Now, let's go." Willow headed out the door, Buffy and Spike on her heels.

"This is Third street. There's Elm; there's Maple. Now where is his office? I don't see it anywhere."

Spike looked at Buffy. "Can't see it. That's why Red is walking there with her hands out. You find it by feel." Buffy looked at Willow, whose hands shimmered and disappeared.

"Found it," she said unnecessarily. "Get close, I don't know if he can deny anyone entry or not but it's best to stay close just in case." Willow took a deep breath. "Well, here goes." Then she disappeared. Buffy and Spike followed her. They looked around. It was a dingy looking waiting room with two doors, one behind them and one in front of them. "Ready?" Everyone nodded, so they went in. The next room had been trashed. A couch was ripped to shreds, what other furniture there was had been smashed and thrown everywhere. There was a desiccated body on the floor. "Now, where did he go?" Willow looked around.

"I need to trance, so I can find him. Can you bring one of those chairs in here?" Buffy went out to get one. Willow looked at Spike. "I'll need your lighter and something to burn." He took stuffing out of the couch and flipped the table over, putting the material on the flat side.

"Gonna have trouble with fire control, Red."

"I don't care. I'm planning on burning his office down after I find him again," she replied savagely.

Buffy brought a chair back in. "Where do you want it?" Willow pointed and Buffy placed the chair. "What's with the…you're gonna search for him in the fire, aren't you?" Willow nodded. Spike lit the bit of stuffing and then took a stand opposite Buffy just inside the door, protecting Willow while she searched. Willow was silent for a while, then she took a deep breath and stood up. Her face was deathly pale.

"He's gone back to the Bronze. He's pissed, he knows I can see him but he can't find me. I think he's just gonna start draining people." Buffy moved towards the fire to smother it. "No, let it burn. He's NEVER coming back to this office. I won't let him." With that, Willow started piling furniture by the smallish fire she had been scrying into. "Spike, light it up. I want to see it all burn!" Spike looked over at Buffy. She shrugged, handing the decision over to him. He lit more of the couch innards and Buffy grabbed the body under the armpits. She dragged it out to the sight of Willow's chair leg torch setting fire to everything it touched. She lugged the body out through the door and set it down in the shelter of a nearby building. She turned around to go back in and was almost knocked over by Spike and Willow's rapid exit. Flames curled up around them.

"How did things catch fire so quickly?" Buffy was pretty sure nothing in the office was that combustible.

"I had a feeling she'd want to do this. I know I did. I had some accelerant in my coat pocket. Part magical, part lighter fluid. Things got out of control pretty quick." Spike looked at the two of them, grinning. "So, ready for more mayhem, ladies?" They rushed towards the Bronze.

When they approached the familiar building, they noticed the commotion. People were running out of the Bronze. "Why do I feel like we're going the wrong way?" Buffy complained.

Spike grinned at her. "Because sane people are. But when has that ever stopped any of us before? C'mon luv, ready for some rough and tumble?" He squared his stance and rose to the balls of his feet. Then he plunged through the doorway. Willow and Buffy looked at each other, then ducked in after him.

Buffy stopped just inside the doorway; then moved aside to some more people out. She couldn't see over the mass of plunging humanity, but could hear the crackle of electricity and screams coming from ahead. "I think he's by the stage." Willow didn't appear to hear her, and Spike had already thrown himself headlong into the fray. The crowd had started to thin by this time, so she jinked her way up towards the stage. Just then there was a huge SNAP and a blinding flash of light. Several spotlights shattered, then the whole place went dark.