Title: Of Magic and Machinations (11/?)

Author: Jeffrey Patrick

Type: B/X… you silly!

Description: Giles has been taken hostage by a vampire posing as a cabbie. Xander and Buffy are dealing with personal issues. Meanwhile, Angel continues to… No, that would be telling.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but a cigar band (which is going to Bluerose… wink, wink) and penchant for puns, which makes me very annoying. Buffy and all related characters are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I just keep writing about them so my favorite ladies (Zus, Bluerose, J.A.I.T., and athena) don't gang up on me!






Giles waited until the cab began rolling to a stop before kicking hard against the passenger door. It flew open with great force, and he was off down a dark street. They had been driving for hours. He had no idea where he was. He did, however, have a good idea as to who his kidnapper worked for. He looked back over his shoulder to see that the vampire cabbie was not following him. He turned his attention back to the street. There were no lights on anywhere, as though the entire block was deserted.

"Damn," he thought. "Not much chance of a rescue then." He then cursed himself again for not taking Buffy's advice by investing in a cell phone.

The Watcher in him decided it best to break into one of the storefronts or apartment buildings in search of a working phone. The plain old Rupert Giles in him wanted to keep running. In the end, his Watcher training prevailed. He kicked in the door of a furniture store and made a beeline for the counter. There was a phone, but it had no dial tone. He set the receiver down and cursed under his breath. That was when he saw the yellow eyes glaring at him from the mattress room. Giles quickly ran to a beautiful bow-backed chair and threw it to the ground. With one good kick, a leg of the chair was transformed into a makeshift stake.

The creature was on him in a heartbeat, but Giles was ready. The stake found its target quickly. The vampire erupted into a cloud of dust. Deciding it best not to stick around, Giles made his way back into the street. What he saw there was certain to give him nightmares for the rest of his life. From nearly every window lining the street, demonic yellow eyes bore holes through him. He looked down at the stake in his hand. It wasn't going to be of much use. It was then that he heard a familiar voice.

"Sorry, Ripper. End of the line."

Giles whirled to see an all-too-familiar face. "Ethan Rayne. I shouldn't even be surprised."





Buffy quickened her pace. She wasn't walking to get anywhere. She was walking because she was angry. Angry at Angel for his deception. Angry at Xander for not being more angry. But most of all, she was angry at herself. She knew that Xander and Willow were right. She knew her daughter would have to come first. But if there was ever a time she wanted to be selfish it was then. She felt betrayed by Angel's actions. It was as though he negated every wonderful thing they had ever shared by lying to and manipulating her. Xander had been right. It hurt because she loved and trusted Angel. When she thought that he was dead, she had mourned for him. But he was alive that whole time, pretending to be the man she loved… making love to her in a body that wasn't his. She felt cheapened by the truth. Her heart and body had been manipulated so he could have the life he felt he deserved. There was no way that she could ever forgive that. Unfortunately, it wasn't a simple question of forgiveness. It was about Dawn and what was right for her. That area was far more gray.

Buffy was jarred from her thoughts by a strange feeling in her gut. Slayer instinct had kicked in. She stopped in her tracks and listened for sounds in the distance. She heard nothing. Even as it crawled up her spine, she knew what the feeling meant. It meant death. It meant pain. It meant that the world was getting ready to turn upside down. The last time she had felt it this strongly, Xander was missing and Angelus was secretly murdering her friends. Buffy cursed beneath her breath.

She traced a path around the bushes and shrubs lining the cemetery walls, already knowing she would likely find something gruesome. It wasn't long before she smelled death. It hung in the air like a curtain of darkness. She was far from helpless, yet it never failed to make her a little nervous. She glanced down into the shrub and saw a foot. With her gloved hands, she parted the shrub and peered behind it. It was a dead body, just as she had feared. She pulled out the small flashlight she kept in her jacket pocket and shined it on the face. All of her breath left her body as she quickly closed her eyes to shut out the image. The victim was someone she knew.





"Tell me why we're doing this at night?" Oz asked. "Not that I'm complaining…"

"Oh, uh… I promised Dawn I would build her a sandbox. I'm trying to earn points here," Xander explained.

"I get the whole earning of points thing. It's the night thing I'm not clear on."

"Well, Buffy is still, you know…"

"Sorting out her feelings about Angel's part in Dawn's life?"

"Yeah, and it's really…"

"Making you nervous?"

"Exactly. So, I thought I would…"

"Expel said nervous energy by building. Got it."

"So what do you think?"

Oz looked the sandbox over. "It's looking quite playful."

"No, I mean the Angel thing."

"He's definitely not my favorite person these days. But that isn't really the point, is it?"

"No. I just… I don't want to be Dawn's father at the expense of her never knowing the truth. If she found out, she'd hate me. Lying leads to nothing but stuff like the crap we're already dealing with."

"True. But I see how Buffy would feel the way she does," Oz said, helping Xander set a large beam in place, forming one of the sandbox's four sides. "She's spent three years of her life with someone she thought was you. That's bound to spin anyone's head. Add into the mix the close relationship she's always shared with Angel, and you get…"

"I know. Highly combustible Buffy."

"On the plus side, she's crazy about you… even in this new body."

"Go figure. The shakes may be gone, but I'm literally only half the man I used to be. This was one scrawny kid."

"It should suit Angel," Oz said with a smile.

"Yeah. Once we switch back, I plan on hitting him again… several… hundred times… with a brick… or possibly a Buick."

"Violence never solves anything," Oz reminded.

"Says the last guy that decked him."

"I didn't say it wasn't fun. It just didn't solve anything."

"Ah."

"So when do you unveil the sandbox?"

"Tomorrow. Buffy's gonna leave Dawn with me for a while… let us play in the sand. Nothing builds friendship like dirt. Now we just have to finish it, so I can get the sand in."

"Agreed. YOU seem to be adjusting well."

"That's the thing about being dead," Xander said with a grin. "It gives you a great sense of perspective."

"One would imagine."

"So DAD… You think I'll be able to cut it as a father?"

"No one could possibly understand the mind of a child better than you," Oz said flatly.

"Thanks, man. I… Hey!"








"What?" Anya asked.

"That's it," Willow said. "I translated the last portion of the spell. We can switch them back tomorrow."

"You're sure?"

"Positive. I'll need Oz's help for the incantation since Giles is gone, but the spell itself is ready to roll."

"Xander will be excited."

"Yeah. Wonder how Angel will feel about it? Not that we're gonna give him a choice…"







"Come with me," Buffy said, bursting into Giles' apartment.

Angel stood there, obviously surprised by the dramatic entrance. "Where to?"

"To see a dead demon. One we both know."

It was clear from the look on Angel's face that he knew who she meant. She read him like a book.

"You knew Whistler was here?" she asked.

"He... came to find me. He said the Powers weren't through with me... something about it being a crucial time for all of us. He said that there was something I needed to do."

"Something you needed to do? Like what?"

"He didn't say. I told him I was done working for the Powers, and that he could go to hell. Didn't think he'd take me so literally."

Buffy grabbed him by the collar and shoved him into the wall. "This is not funny. God! What happened to you?"

He smiled at her... a smile that didn't belong to him. She punched him hard and pulled a stake from her jacket. For a moment it looked as though she would strike. Angel laughed and slid down the wall.

"You can't stake me, Buffy. You may hate me. You may want to stake me, but you won't. I'm not a vampire anymore. Remember?"

"You," she said, pulling him to his feet, "will always be a vampire to me. Whatever happened to you all those years ago will never excuse what you've become. Angelus was evil because he was made to be that way. You chose who you are, which makes you even more pathetic."

"I owed the Powers nothing," Angel said. "I owed Whistler even less."

"I want you out of town, and out of Dawn's life. As soon as Xander is back in his own body, I'm buying you a one way ticket. You come back here..."

"Yeah?"

"You come back here, and I will kill you... human or not. You'd better believe that." The Slayer turned and left Giles' home. Angel simply closed the door behind her.

"I do, Slayer," he whispered. "I do."








Sarah Potts was exhausted. For the past six years, her life had been utter chaos. From vampires to demons of every sort, Sarah had learned the hard way that she was not alone in the darkness. That very night had seemed to last forever. She had faced six vampires in three hours. It was a new record for her. She was on constant alert... her body singing to her of her enemies' movements long before they were made. Whatever force she was a part of was a wellspring of energy and power. She had learned over the years to let it carry her away. It moved her... pulled her strings... helped her survive. So when the middle-aged man stepped out from the alley, she knew immediately the truth of the situation.

"I have looked long and hard for you, Sarah." he said. "My name is Timothy Danvers."

"You're a hunter," she said, "like me?"

"No. I am a Watcher. One of many, who for centuries have trained the Slayer... prepared her for her war against the darkness."

"The Slayer?"

"The Vampire Slayer. It is a mantle of great importance. You have been chosen to represent humanity... to stem the tide of evil that constantly crashes against the shoreline of the just... to vanquish..."

"Could we skip to the summary? Because I gotta say... you're a little long winded."

"Yes, well... I was sent to tell you that you should make your way to Sunnydale, California to seek out Buffy Summers... Harris, now, I believe. She is the only other Slayer... your sister in arms. We were pleased to learn you were already back in the states. I have been following you since Istanbul."

"That was you, huh?"

"Yes. I have watched you for many nights. I must say, you are quite remarkable. Your abilities rival that of Ms. Summers... er, Harris. That is amazing considering she had years of experience before you were ever called."

"You know what I find amazing, Mr. Danvers?" The Slayer approached him slowly.

"What's that child?"

She pulled a knife from her pocket and buried deep in the elder man's chest. She smiled at him... her sweetest smile. "I'm amazed that you actually thought I would listen to YOU. I have business in Sunnydale, for certain, and it will likely involve this Buffy person. But I'm on my own. Shame on you for trying to play me."



To Be Continued...