Many thanks again to Patrick for getting the modem running and to Sebastian
for getting the computer working correctly. Couldn't have done it without
you guys!
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In the ensuing chaos Buffy dimly saw Spike avoiding the crowd, headed towards eye of the storm. She grabbed Willow's arm and dragged her along behind, trusting her Slayer strength to keep Willow close and untrampled. The crowd was thinning except around the exits. There was another crackle of lightning and she watched Spike and two others get thrown about twenty feet backward into the wall. Something reflected off Spike's neck as he hopped back up. Then something hit Rack and knocked him back.
Buffy appraised the situation, then went wide to approach Rack from the side. Frontal assault by two people wasn't going to win this battle. Willow freed herself. "I have to set up for the spell—I'll be right there." Buffy felt something crumble under her feet and looked down to see a desiccated body. She moved off it very quickly and tried to watch both where she was going and where she wanted to be. She was very glad for her Slayer enhanced vision and hoped Willow had some sort of witch version of this as well. She carefully made her way up the side of the stage, remembering Lucas and the Harvest as she did. This particular stage had seen a lot of fighting action. She saw some broken glass sparkle dimly on the floor and tried to avoid it.
She saw Spike jump back on stage, visible only by his bright blond hair. He seemed to be holding his own in the fight against Rack. She waited until he had the demon distracted, then rushed in from the side. Just then a hole ripped in the fabric of the universe and something large and multilegged stepped through the hole and onto the stage. "SPIKE!" He turned and saw the creature and redirected his attack to it. She could barely see him past it-- that thing had to be the size of a Clydesdale. Fortunately for the good guys, Rack's bodyguards still seemed to be more worried about the bouncers and the rest of the crowd than the three of them. Considering that the numbers were against them, this was a good thing.
Now if Willow would just show up and kill Rack, the others would probably just go away. No sense bodyguarding a dead demon. Where was Willow? It was her mess. She was the one who could take care of this menace. Buffy scanned the crowd, looking for her friend. There she was, being held back by someone. Okay, have to go back to get Willow. Buffy hopped off the stage and headed into the lower level of the fray. Horse-sized many-legged demon or not, Spike was on his own. Rack was the objective and Willow was the key to eliminating him.
"So, are you a magic junkie or did you just get caught in the crossfire?" The guy holding Willow just stared at her. Great, he was obviously being controlled. She tried to figure out the best way to free Willow without hurting her. She finally decided that direct action was her safest bet. She ducked out of his sight and picked up a barstool. She brought it crashing down on his head. As he started to slump to the floor, she grabbed Willow by the arm and headed back to the side of the stage. "C'mon Wills. Spike's on his own and isn't able to fight more than half of what we're facing. Let's finish this." Willow pulled the sheathed dagger out of her bag and went up the small set of stairs with her.
"Believe me, nobody wants this over as much as I do." Willow took the dagger out of the sheath. "So, any way you and Spike could hold his arms so I can do this without getting seriously hurt?"
"What exactly do you have to do to him anyways?"
"Third eye, then heart. I have to stab him once in each spot while saying a portal incantation."
"Third eye? I only saw the two."
"Mystical reference. What it will look like to you is forehead and heart."
Buffy nodded. "Okay, let's see how Spike's doing. I'll need the help. Rack's a lot stronger than he looks." She ran behind Rack on the stage, avoiding the body of something large with not quite so many appendages, now. The house lights came up, and she could see three of the bouncers heading towards the fight now that they could see it. Spike was nowhere to be seen, but there was a writhing mound of bodies and he was no doubt at the bottom of it. She reached into the pile and started flinging bodies. Since they were fixated on whoever was at the bottom, they didn't seem to pay attention to her until they were in mid-flight. When she got to the bottom of the stack, Buffy was disappointed to find it was one of the bouncers unconscious on the stage. "SPIKE!" She looked around. He shouldn't be that difficult to locate. Just then, there was a thump against the stage and she saw Spike in the grip of two vacant-eyed men. Wonderful, he was facing humans and was probably going to get dusted. She went past Rack and started throwing people around. She heard a crackling noise and then felt a slight jolt. No pain, though. She'd have to remember to thank Xander for getting the lightning rods made--if they survived this fight.
There he was, being held down while two other guys pummeled him. Buffy jumped off the stage and went to talk to the bouncers. "Hey!" One bouncer looked at her, then seemed to remember that she had been helpful before. "If you get the blond guy loose, he can help break up the fighting--he's a martial arts expert." He went over and threw one of the guys across the room, helping Spike get free. He ran to her side, bloody but still bouncing eagerly.
"So, luv, how do we help Red get rid of that guy?"
"You and I hold his arms, she stabs him twice while reciting an incantation." There was another crack of lightning and one of the bouncers went flying off the stage.
"Great. What about the bodyguards?"
"He's draining them, there shouldn't be too many left."
"I always knew I go in a fight with the Slayer. Never thought it'd be fighting on her side. C'mon pet, let's finish this."
"You go right, I'll go left. Grab his arms and whatever happens, hold on to Rack." Spike grabbed her and kissed her. Then he vaulted up on stage. She looked around. Willow was standing off to the side of the stage, eyes closed. She ran over to Willow, who opened her eyes as Buffy approached. They were completely black. "Uh, are you ready?" Willow nodded. Then she started chanting.
"Spirit of the light I invoke thee.
A portal demon has been loosed.
Aid and assistance I desire.
To defy and defeat this creature."
She drew the dagger and held it up.
"Spirit of the light I invoke thee.
My blade is willing, my soul is ready.
Infuse this blade with my power,
That I might defeat this monster."
The dagger started glowing a golden color. Buffy headed for Rack. She wasn't sure how long Willow's spell would last, but was pretty sure it wasn't going to be long. She could see Spike and Rack were fighting, and some of Rack's bodyguards and the bouncers were mixing it up pretty good both on and offstage. She reached for Rack's arm and tried to bring it behind his back. Spike got the other one and they held him as still as they could. CRACK. Another lightning bolt. She was pretty well undamaged, but Spike seemed shaken. Then there was another loud 'crack' and lightning went from something around Spike's neck back towards Rack. Her hands felt tingly and her hair was standing on end. She looked around to find Willow. "We've got him! Hurry up, we can't hold him too long."
Willow advanced on Rack. CRACK. A lightning bolt hit her with no visible effect. She kept advancing, dagger held outstretched. CRACK. Another lightning bolt. Buffy saw one of Rack's minions fall to the ground, withered. Willow kept advancing, chanting over and over. "I act as sword of justice. I offer my self as balance." Buffy saw police coming in the doors.
"Spike, we have to turn him around. The police can't see what we're doing, they wouldn't underst…" Spike nodded and tried to turn Rack around, but it was too late. Willow had already stabbed him in the forehead and was aiming for his heart. Buffy could see the police officer on his way up to the stage, gun in his hands. She watched him aim his gun as Willow stabbed Rack in the heart. Rack exploded in a blinding flash of light. Buffy was knocked off the stage and the last thing she remembered was flying through the air and landing under a table.
"Pet, are you all right?" Cool hands grasped hers and Spike helped her up. She wobbled a little, but with his help managed to stand.
"Where's Willow?"
"In a police car right now. We were thrown far enough away that we weren't linked to the onstage activities. The official count is two bouncers down, one dead. Four civilians drained. Rack exploded. Two people trampled, most likely dead. Several trampled and badly injured. At least four arrested, including Willow. Oh, and the cop on the stage with us is out for the count, so at least there won't be a witness who can swear to things in court. Not for a while, anyways. Maybe by the time he comes around the witches can mess with his mind so he doesn't recognize Red." Buffy started towards the exit. "Where are you going?"
"Police station. I've got to help Willow."
"Think for a minute." He tried to slow her down. "You're still a wanted woman, remember?"
Buffy shrugged. "I've gotta get that cleared up, too. I'm not leaving Willow alone at the police station. She's never stabbed anything that didn't turn to dust immediately and is probably feeling pretty rotten about it right now." Spike followed behind her, trying every argument he could think of to dissuade her from going.
When they got to the police station, Willow was quietly sitting there in handcuffs. There were at least three other people there in the same situation. There were police at the doors preventing anyone from leaving, but it appeared that the station was so busy that they were having trouble processing all of the detainees. Willow looked up at them, eyes full of unshed tears. "Hey guys. Have you seen the dagger? I dropped it during the explosion and Tara will probably want it back." Buffy moved over to hug her distraught friend. "Uh, Buff, I'm wearing handcuffs. It's kinda hard to hug when one of the people hugging is wearing handcuffs." Buffy backed off a bit.
"Wills, we're going to do whatever it takes to get you out of here. Don't worry."
Willow looked up at Spike. "Take care of her when I'm gone." Spike nodded solemnly.
Buffy looked at the two of them. "What do you mean 'when I'm gone'?" Buffy asked somewhat hysterically. Willow just looked at her sadly as Spike put an arm around her.
"Willow Rosenberg?" The friends looked up at the officer standing in the doorway.
"Um, that's me." Willow looked up nervously as she spoke.
"Come with me, please."
Willow rose and gave Buffy an awkward hug. While within whisper range she made a request, "please get Tara's dagger. She might be able to help if she has the..." With a sobbing sigh, she calmed herself, "murder weapon."
"Miss Rosenberg, please come with me." The voice was a little less patient, a little more 'don't make me come and get you'.
Willow went towards the door. Buffy asked the officer, "how long will this take, anyways?"
He looked at her, none too interested in small talk. "At least three hours. Probably more." With that, he took Willow by the shoulder and walked her back into the bowels of the police station.
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In the ensuing chaos Buffy dimly saw Spike avoiding the crowd, headed towards eye of the storm. She grabbed Willow's arm and dragged her along behind, trusting her Slayer strength to keep Willow close and untrampled. The crowd was thinning except around the exits. There was another crackle of lightning and she watched Spike and two others get thrown about twenty feet backward into the wall. Something reflected off Spike's neck as he hopped back up. Then something hit Rack and knocked him back.
Buffy appraised the situation, then went wide to approach Rack from the side. Frontal assault by two people wasn't going to win this battle. Willow freed herself. "I have to set up for the spell—I'll be right there." Buffy felt something crumble under her feet and looked down to see a desiccated body. She moved off it very quickly and tried to watch both where she was going and where she wanted to be. She was very glad for her Slayer enhanced vision and hoped Willow had some sort of witch version of this as well. She carefully made her way up the side of the stage, remembering Lucas and the Harvest as she did. This particular stage had seen a lot of fighting action. She saw some broken glass sparkle dimly on the floor and tried to avoid it.
She saw Spike jump back on stage, visible only by his bright blond hair. He seemed to be holding his own in the fight against Rack. She waited until he had the demon distracted, then rushed in from the side. Just then a hole ripped in the fabric of the universe and something large and multilegged stepped through the hole and onto the stage. "SPIKE!" He turned and saw the creature and redirected his attack to it. She could barely see him past it-- that thing had to be the size of a Clydesdale. Fortunately for the good guys, Rack's bodyguards still seemed to be more worried about the bouncers and the rest of the crowd than the three of them. Considering that the numbers were against them, this was a good thing.
Now if Willow would just show up and kill Rack, the others would probably just go away. No sense bodyguarding a dead demon. Where was Willow? It was her mess. She was the one who could take care of this menace. Buffy scanned the crowd, looking for her friend. There she was, being held back by someone. Okay, have to go back to get Willow. Buffy hopped off the stage and headed into the lower level of the fray. Horse-sized many-legged demon or not, Spike was on his own. Rack was the objective and Willow was the key to eliminating him.
"So, are you a magic junkie or did you just get caught in the crossfire?" The guy holding Willow just stared at her. Great, he was obviously being controlled. She tried to figure out the best way to free Willow without hurting her. She finally decided that direct action was her safest bet. She ducked out of his sight and picked up a barstool. She brought it crashing down on his head. As he started to slump to the floor, she grabbed Willow by the arm and headed back to the side of the stage. "C'mon Wills. Spike's on his own and isn't able to fight more than half of what we're facing. Let's finish this." Willow pulled the sheathed dagger out of her bag and went up the small set of stairs with her.
"Believe me, nobody wants this over as much as I do." Willow took the dagger out of the sheath. "So, any way you and Spike could hold his arms so I can do this without getting seriously hurt?"
"What exactly do you have to do to him anyways?"
"Third eye, then heart. I have to stab him once in each spot while saying a portal incantation."
"Third eye? I only saw the two."
"Mystical reference. What it will look like to you is forehead and heart."
Buffy nodded. "Okay, let's see how Spike's doing. I'll need the help. Rack's a lot stronger than he looks." She ran behind Rack on the stage, avoiding the body of something large with not quite so many appendages, now. The house lights came up, and she could see three of the bouncers heading towards the fight now that they could see it. Spike was nowhere to be seen, but there was a writhing mound of bodies and he was no doubt at the bottom of it. She reached into the pile and started flinging bodies. Since they were fixated on whoever was at the bottom, they didn't seem to pay attention to her until they were in mid-flight. When she got to the bottom of the stack, Buffy was disappointed to find it was one of the bouncers unconscious on the stage. "SPIKE!" She looked around. He shouldn't be that difficult to locate. Just then, there was a thump against the stage and she saw Spike in the grip of two vacant-eyed men. Wonderful, he was facing humans and was probably going to get dusted. She went past Rack and started throwing people around. She heard a crackling noise and then felt a slight jolt. No pain, though. She'd have to remember to thank Xander for getting the lightning rods made--if they survived this fight.
There he was, being held down while two other guys pummeled him. Buffy jumped off the stage and went to talk to the bouncers. "Hey!" One bouncer looked at her, then seemed to remember that she had been helpful before. "If you get the blond guy loose, he can help break up the fighting--he's a martial arts expert." He went over and threw one of the guys across the room, helping Spike get free. He ran to her side, bloody but still bouncing eagerly.
"So, luv, how do we help Red get rid of that guy?"
"You and I hold his arms, she stabs him twice while reciting an incantation." There was another crack of lightning and one of the bouncers went flying off the stage.
"Great. What about the bodyguards?"
"He's draining them, there shouldn't be too many left."
"I always knew I go in a fight with the Slayer. Never thought it'd be fighting on her side. C'mon pet, let's finish this."
"You go right, I'll go left. Grab his arms and whatever happens, hold on to Rack." Spike grabbed her and kissed her. Then he vaulted up on stage. She looked around. Willow was standing off to the side of the stage, eyes closed. She ran over to Willow, who opened her eyes as Buffy approached. They were completely black. "Uh, are you ready?" Willow nodded. Then she started chanting.
"Spirit of the light I invoke thee.
A portal demon has been loosed.
Aid and assistance I desire.
To defy and defeat this creature."
She drew the dagger and held it up.
"Spirit of the light I invoke thee.
My blade is willing, my soul is ready.
Infuse this blade with my power,
That I might defeat this monster."
The dagger started glowing a golden color. Buffy headed for Rack. She wasn't sure how long Willow's spell would last, but was pretty sure it wasn't going to be long. She could see Spike and Rack were fighting, and some of Rack's bodyguards and the bouncers were mixing it up pretty good both on and offstage. She reached for Rack's arm and tried to bring it behind his back. Spike got the other one and they held him as still as they could. CRACK. Another lightning bolt. She was pretty well undamaged, but Spike seemed shaken. Then there was another loud 'crack' and lightning went from something around Spike's neck back towards Rack. Her hands felt tingly and her hair was standing on end. She looked around to find Willow. "We've got him! Hurry up, we can't hold him too long."
Willow advanced on Rack. CRACK. A lightning bolt hit her with no visible effect. She kept advancing, dagger held outstretched. CRACK. Another lightning bolt. Buffy saw one of Rack's minions fall to the ground, withered. Willow kept advancing, chanting over and over. "I act as sword of justice. I offer my self as balance." Buffy saw police coming in the doors.
"Spike, we have to turn him around. The police can't see what we're doing, they wouldn't underst…" Spike nodded and tried to turn Rack around, but it was too late. Willow had already stabbed him in the forehead and was aiming for his heart. Buffy could see the police officer on his way up to the stage, gun in his hands. She watched him aim his gun as Willow stabbed Rack in the heart. Rack exploded in a blinding flash of light. Buffy was knocked off the stage and the last thing she remembered was flying through the air and landing under a table.
"Pet, are you all right?" Cool hands grasped hers and Spike helped her up. She wobbled a little, but with his help managed to stand.
"Where's Willow?"
"In a police car right now. We were thrown far enough away that we weren't linked to the onstage activities. The official count is two bouncers down, one dead. Four civilians drained. Rack exploded. Two people trampled, most likely dead. Several trampled and badly injured. At least four arrested, including Willow. Oh, and the cop on the stage with us is out for the count, so at least there won't be a witness who can swear to things in court. Not for a while, anyways. Maybe by the time he comes around the witches can mess with his mind so he doesn't recognize Red." Buffy started towards the exit. "Where are you going?"
"Police station. I've got to help Willow."
"Think for a minute." He tried to slow her down. "You're still a wanted woman, remember?"
Buffy shrugged. "I've gotta get that cleared up, too. I'm not leaving Willow alone at the police station. She's never stabbed anything that didn't turn to dust immediately and is probably feeling pretty rotten about it right now." Spike followed behind her, trying every argument he could think of to dissuade her from going.
When they got to the police station, Willow was quietly sitting there in handcuffs. There were at least three other people there in the same situation. There were police at the doors preventing anyone from leaving, but it appeared that the station was so busy that they were having trouble processing all of the detainees. Willow looked up at them, eyes full of unshed tears. "Hey guys. Have you seen the dagger? I dropped it during the explosion and Tara will probably want it back." Buffy moved over to hug her distraught friend. "Uh, Buff, I'm wearing handcuffs. It's kinda hard to hug when one of the people hugging is wearing handcuffs." Buffy backed off a bit.
"Wills, we're going to do whatever it takes to get you out of here. Don't worry."
Willow looked up at Spike. "Take care of her when I'm gone." Spike nodded solemnly.
Buffy looked at the two of them. "What do you mean 'when I'm gone'?" Buffy asked somewhat hysterically. Willow just looked at her sadly as Spike put an arm around her.
"Willow Rosenberg?" The friends looked up at the officer standing in the doorway.
"Um, that's me." Willow looked up nervously as she spoke.
"Come with me, please."
Willow rose and gave Buffy an awkward hug. While within whisper range she made a request, "please get Tara's dagger. She might be able to help if she has the..." With a sobbing sigh, she calmed herself, "murder weapon."
"Miss Rosenberg, please come with me." The voice was a little less patient, a little more 'don't make me come and get you'.
Willow went towards the door. Buffy asked the officer, "how long will this take, anyways?"
He looked at her, none too interested in small talk. "At least three hours. Probably more." With that, he took Willow by the shoulder and walked her back into the bowels of the police station.