CHAPTER FIVE

"I think she's finally coming around."

Buffy cracked open her eyes then squeeze them shut again as the light stabbed at them. Still, light was an improvement over the grayness of before. She listened, hearing at least three people moving around her. A floral scent hung in the air, heavy and sweet. There was an oddly comforting feel to it.

When had she last felt comfortable? She couldn't remember but she knew she had good friends back home, wherever that was. She couldn't remember their names, or even her own for that matter. Faces stood as cruel blank spots in her mind. She could remember broad shoulders and cool skin. The man those shoulders belonged to made her feel wanted and loved. A girl, shiny as sun on the water, that was her best friend. She could remember that much. Another one was so much laughter and silliness, why couldn't she remember his face? The smell of dust, like a library, and a soft, well-worn feel, those were the calling cards of the man who meant more than her father. She had a sister, too, something about sunrise but that made no sense to her.

She shivered, causing pain to ripple through her body then ran a hand over her stomach. She was cold but worse, something was missing. She was naked. She peeled her eyes open slowly, getting used to the light. The room, small and cramped, felt suffocating and cloying with perfume. A large wooden tub filled one wall. She was across from it, lying on a thin mattress.

Her three companions were not like her. They were short and twiggy with grayish skin mottled with green undertones. All three appeared to be female with uniform hair, mouse brown, no bangs, straight locks hanging to their shoulders blades. Yellow eyes gleamed out from their sallow faces.

"Don't give her quite so much this time," the oldest-looking of the three females said.

"Better too sleepy than too bucky," the youngest said, filling a syringe with a noxious chartreuse syrup. She came over to Buffy and put the tip of it into her mouth.

Buffy tried to fight but her limbs felt like they weighed more than her whole body. The syrup flowed down her throat, sickly sweet and numbing. The room spun. She knew what they were doing to her but couldn't rouse herself enough to care or try and stop them.

The beings rubbed perfumed oils into her flesh despite her soft groans of pain. They kneaded and plucked her pale skin until it flushed pink where it wasn't covered in purple bruises. The creatures slathered her with something that hid the mottling from her injuries.

Buffy allowed them to stand her up and drape her in lavender sheaths of gauzy material designed to highlight her body rather than hide it. All her visible hair was combed through with sparkly amethyst powder mixed in yet another perfumed oil then twisted into thin coils tied off with strings of pearls.

Two of the women sat her back down, holding her upright as she bobbled from the drugs while the youngest of them rouged Buffy's lips and cheeks then did her eyes in yet another shade of purple. The middle-aged one took over, dripping strands of pearls over Buffy's bare neck and slid bracelets up her arms. She decorated Buffy's brow with violet gems rosined on one side, arranged in a starburst pattern. The women stepped back purring and murmuring in approval.

"Absolutely lovely work, Ingab," the eldest said.

"She'll fetch a handsome price on the handmaiden market," the middle-aged Ingab said.

Handmaiden? That didn't sound good. Buffy felt the stirring of fear deep inside her. Why was she being prepared as a handmaiden? Didn't she already belong to someone? She thought she did. She remembered men fighting over her.and wasn't there one who pined for her all the while knowing she didn't want him? Who could want to buy her? Where were her friends? She could remember saving them time and again even if she couldn't recall their faces or her own name. Surely they would repay the favor. Where were they?

The youngest of the creatures took her hand and the others helped her to stand. The one holding her hand guided her along. "Come along now, dear. It's time to show the men your beautiful face."

Buffy followed meekly along. Market, was that what they had said? There was another word with that one but it had fled her mind already, the drugs robbing her of reason. Maybe her friends didn't know where she was any more than she did. Maybe they would arrive too late. The creature took her out into the bright light of day, which burned away the remains of her hope.

* * * Dawn shivered. The ropes that held her arms behind her back cut into her wrists. A gag bound her mouth. If she closed her eyes, she could hear Glory's voice taunting her, could see the portal opening and Buffy running towards it. She couldn't close her eyes. Open, she saw two vampires, a delicate, pretty blonde and a lovely, narrow brunette. Darla and Drusilla. She'd heard of Drusilla before but Darla was a new name to her. A strange name, though Spike knew them both.

Drusilla prowled over, giggling to herself. "Pretty thing," she said, reaching out to stroke Dawn's hair. Dawn rolled her eyes at the vampire, trying to keep her body still. "All glowy, like the stars. I like the stars." She dropped her hand away, letting her eyes shut. "They hum to me." She swayed from side to side, reminding Dawn of a cobra.

"Quiet, Dru," Darla said sharply.

"But Grandmummy, she's brimming with light," Drusilla said, opening her pale eyes and looking at the blonde. "Can't you see?" She made as if to stroke Dawn's hair again but didn't quite touch it. "She shines."

"Probably the Slayer's blood," Darla snapped. "Come here, Dru. Leave the girl alone."

Drusilla left off, prancing back to Darla. "When will Daddy be here?"

"Whenever your little toy manages to reach him to tell him to come, I suppose," Darla said, sighing.

"I've missed my Daddy," Drusilla said sadly. "He never calls any more." She tilted her head towards Dawn. "Soon, that will change."

"Yes, the change will be good." Darla was rubbing her stomach absently, though a frown scarred her forehead.

"Will Angel come with us?" Drusilla asked hopefully. "Do you think we can get him to eat the little star, there, and he'll come back with us?"

"I don't know, Dru. All I care about is getting those books. If he can't reach the Slayer, then it will hurt him. And it's his turn to be hurt."

Drusilla smiled back at Darla. "Ooo, Angelus hurt. I like that."

Dawn winced, turning her gaze from the pair. She'd already been in a worse situation than being held hostage by a pair of vampires, one of them so crazy that Glory would have loved her. She tugged at the ropes binding her arms, hoping her friends wouldn't trade the books for her. They had to get Buffy back. She wasn't important, didn't anyone see that? Buffy was. Buffy took her place when she should have died and that was the important thing. That was the wrong thing. Buffy should have lived. She wasn't even real.

Lowering her head, Dawn stared at her legs, realizing absently that the spots appearing on her thighs were from her tears.

* * * "All right. There are two doors on the ground floor," Angel said. "I'll come in through the garden with the books. Willow, you, Wesley and Tara follow me. Gunn, you, Anya and Xander come in through the other door. The plan is to get Dawn and get out."

"What about me?" Cordelia asked.

"Watch Lindsey."

Lindsey scowled. Cordy folded her arms and made a face at him. "If you try to run, I'll rip off your leg and beat you with it."

"Lucky me, spending time with you," Lindsey said.

"Better me than Darla," Cordelia said.

"I don't know about that. At least I know her bite's worse than her bark."

"Enough," Angel said firmly. "If you want to argue, wait until we've rescued Dawn." He glanced at Spike. "Are you up to this?"

Spike snorted. "I'm up for anything," he said.

Angel thought about calling him on it but the younger vampire believed he'd be able to control Dru. If he could, all the better. Angel doubted Spike would be able to stake Dru, so that left it up to him. He couldn't leave Darla and Dru to attack his friends while he was in the other dimension. "All right. Let's go." He picked up a satchel of books, weighing them in his hand. Leading the way out, Angel watched as everyone piled into the three cars. He, Cordy, Lindsey and Spike went in the GTX, the others divvied up in the two remaining vehicles.

It was a short drive to the mansion, where once he and Buffy would take their time making that walk. He forced those memories aside. He needed to be settled in the now, not the past. Parking the car a block down, Angel swung out of it. He half-carried, half-hauled Spike out after him. "You know what to do."

"Yep," Cordelia said, sliding into the driver's seat. "Be careful."

"Thanks, Chase. I didn't know you cared," Spike said.

Her lip curled. "You can get eaten if it brings Dawn out alive," she said.

"Be careful with her, cowboy," Spike said to Lindsey as he motioned at Cordelia. "She'll have your liver for breakfast."

"Come on," Angel said impatiently, turning Spike towards the imposing building in front of them. Spike managed to walk the distance, falling in behind Angel and forcing himself to pace normally. Angel appreciated that. He'd hate to have to carry Spike out, too, though he knew he would if push came to shove. Right now he needed Spike's strength. Once they found Buffy, it would be another matter entirely.

They entered the garden; Angel glancing over his shoulder to make sure Spike was still there. The younger vampire gave him a shaky thumb's up. Angel nodded once and pushed aside the curtain, stepping inside.

Darla was waiting, a bright smile on her face. He couldn't see Dawn though her frightened scent filled the air. "Hello, Darla," he said, wondering where Dru might be.

"Hello, lover. How happy I am to see you," Darla said. She glided closer. "I understand you've taken something from Wolfram and Hart." She wagged a finger at him. "So naughty of you." Cocking her head to one side in a fetching manner, Darla said, "You knew they'd want those books back."

"I didn't think they'd actually need them, Darla," Angel said. "I was told that room hadn't been touched in years." He smiled slightly. "But it's kind of funny that they're using you as their dog, to hound these books out of me." He lifted the satchel, rattling the texts inside it.

Darla stiffened. "I'm here because I wanted to help them."

Angel let his smile broaden. "Don't lie to me, Darla. I know you could really care less about Wolfram and Hart. You don't owe them anything."

"They brought me back," she said, shaking her mane. "They wanted to give me my Angelus back, too, but you're too stubborn." She drew nearer, tilting her body into his chest. "Aren't you?"

"Darla. Tell me where the girl is, I'll give you the books and the trade will be done."

"Ah, ah, ah," she said playfully, gliding out of his reach. "The books first, then the girl. And be quick. Dru was feeling.hungry."

Angel clenched his jaw. "I'll give you the books when I get to see the girl, unharmed," he said.

Darla pouted. "You never want to play any more, Angelus," she said. "Dru's right. You aren't any fun, since you got that soul." She pirouetted close again. "But we can take care of that pesky thing. All you need to do is eat that girl. And then you can come home. I know how much you want to come home."

"Guess again, Darla," Angel snarled.

She flicked her fingers at him. "Then I guess we'll have to do this the hard way." Shrugging her slender shoulders, she said, "Dru? Bring the brat."

Drusilla appeared from what had been his bedroom, hauling Dawn along with her. Her smiled broadened at the sight of him. "Hullo, Daddy," she said, twisting Dawn around in front of her. "Come to play?"

"He just wants the girl, Dru," Darla said, sounding bored.

The brunette pouted. "But I miss my Daddy," she said. She stroked Dawn's hair out of the way and traced her long fingernails up the girl's neck. Dawn jerked at the touch and Dru licked her lips. "She's sweet, my Angel. So sweet."

"Slayer's kin," Darla purred, easing closer to Dawn. She flashed her teeth at Angel. "Slayer's blood. How yummy. But you'd know, wouldn't you?"

"Let her go," Angel said.

Darla leaned close to Dawn's ear. "Did you know, sweetling, that your sister's boyfriend, my lover, Angelus, nearly drained your sister dry?" She pressed her cheek against Dawn's. "I understand your sister liked it."

Dawn twitched away, begging Angel with her eyes to end this torment. "Here are the books," he said, tossing the satchel so it slid across the floor at Darla's feet. "Set Dawn free."

"All right, the chit can go," Darla said, definitely bored. She wrested Dawn from Drusilla's grip, shoving Dawn at Angel. He leaped forward to catch her before she could fall, knowing he left himself open for attack. He glared up at the two women, smiling down at him. "I hope this hurts, Angelus," Darla said softly. "Hurts like you rejecting me." She grabbed the satchel. "Your cheerleader's gone for good this time."

"No," Dawn cried from behind the gag.

Angel stood her up, tucking her under his arm to keep her steady. "It's all right, Dawn. They aren't going anywhere."

"Is that what you think?" Darla glanced at Dru out of the corner of her eye. "Drusilla?"

Drusilla clapped sharply and vampires seemed to ooze out of every shadow. Slipping her hand into Darla's, she waggled the fingers of her free hand at Angel. "Bye bye, Daddy," she said, blowing him a kiss. Darla giggled charmingly and turned, tugging Dru after.

Angel ripped the bindings from Dawn's arms and legs. She pulled at the gag. "We've got to get those books!" she cried.

Angel grabbed her before she got far. "Stay with me," he snapped, taking hold of her wrist. He twisted his other hand, shooting down the stake he had secreted in his sleeve. Four vampires approached, hissing, their teeth bared. Angel snarled back, hoping his friends were in place.

"I want to watch," Drusilla said, glancing over her shoulder as Darla led her outside.

"We don't have time, Dru," Darla said, irritated. She only wanted to be away from Sunnydale. Too many bad memories. The only good thing was the fact that Angel wouldn't be able to rescue the Slayer.

"Maybe you should make time," a strange voice said, pulling the pair of vampires up short. Darla stared, wide-eyed, at the pair of crossbows pointed at her and the young black man, threatening Dru with an axe.

"Oh," Dru said smiling, "party favors."

* * * Spike staggered into the great hall. "Bloody hell," he muttered, wishing he was up to full strength. At least eight vampires surrounded Angel and Dawn, though possibly more lurked within the room.

Angel whirled suddenly, grabbing the shirt of one of the demons behind him and throwing him into two others. He pushed Dawn back. "Get into the fireplace," he said, firming up his stance, another stake appearing in his free hand as Dawn complied.

"Angelus," one of the vampires hissed. "What a prize, to be able to kill the vampire with a soul." She was curvy and almost as tall as Angel, with spiky black hair and a dog collar around her neck. "We'll drink you dry then turn the Slayer's sister. She'll run with us 'til the end of time."

"Sounds like you're trying to psych yourself up for the battle," Angel said. "Let me help." He moved, a sudden, frightening thing, like a flicker of a shadow on a wall and one of the vampires crumbled into dust.

"Spike, what's going on?" Willow appeared next to him, her face worried. She clutched his arm when she saw. "Help him!"

"I've got a gut full of burn," Spike snapped. "You're the wicked witch. You help him. I'll get Dawn." He tugged away and forced himself across the room, grabbing one of the vampires by the shoulders and staking him. Two down, six to go. "Little bit! I'm coming!"

"Spike?" Dawn peered out from behind Angel's reassuring bulk. "Spike, get the books! I'm not important!"

"The hell you say," Spike growled, facing another vampire. The stranger smiled, running his tongue over his teeth. "Oh, put those away," Spike said, smashing his fist into the vampire's nose. When he staggered back, Spike thrust the stake home.

Two vampires jumped Angel, catching his arms. The tall woman sauntered close, all but purring as she leaned close to his neck. "You smell delicious," she said. Angel head butted her and when she staggered back, used his captors' grips to keep him upright as he kicked straight out, knocking her into one of Spike's opponents. They both went down in a heap. Spike scooped Dawn out of the fireplace, hustling her across the floor.

A crossbow bolt tore through the chest of the vampire holding Angel's right arm. "Thanks, Wes," Angel said as he punched the other vampire in the face, cutting his knuckles on the fangs. It was an awkward move and he didn't really have any power behind it but it was enough to loosen the second vampire's grip. Angel pulled free, grabbing the vampire by the head and twisting. Dust rained down as he ran to Spike and Dawn, looping an arm around Spike to haul him out of there.

Three vampires charged them and Angel made ready to attack but the trio was brushed aside, slamming back into the walls. "Red," Spike gasped.

"Handy, having her on our side," Angel muttered.

"Angel!" Dawn shrieked and he transferred Spike's weight to her, stepping in front of them both. The vampire was huge, one of the largest Angel had ever seen. He wondered where he had been hiding, since his bulk almost rendered him impossible to disappear.

"Angelus," he sighed, a smile curling his lips away from his teeth. "I've been waiting some time for this."

"Sorry, I don't have time for it today," Angel said. "Maybe I could pencil you in next week."

"Next week's good for me," Spike coughed.

"The Scourge of Europe and William the Bloody. My death is complete. I shall dance on your bones, my friends," the behemoth said. "And next week isn't good for me."

Angel shrugged. "Then let the girl go. She's not a part of this."

"The Slayer's sister?" The huge vampire looked Dawn over. "Skinny little thing. Not even enough blood for an appetizer." He gestured grandly. "She can go."

"Spike," Dawn whispered, tightening her grip on his jacket.

"S'okay, little bit," Spike said, gently untangling her fingers. "Red'll get you outta here. Me an' Angel, we'll dust this bloke and meet you outside."

"That's right, you two are pets of the Slayer. What a downfall," the behemoth said, shaking his head. "Protecting humans when you should be preying on them." He pointed at Angel. "You, with the soul, I almost understand. It's wrong that one of the great predators should fall that way but," he shrugged, much like Angel had, "leaves more for me." With that, he rushed forward, surprisingly agile for something that huge.

Spike shoved Dawn towards the two witches and Wesley, who was coolly fitting a bolt into his crossbow. "Get her outta here," he shouted, flinging himself onto the back of the behemoth. He was flung aside like a torn shirt. Angel leaped from the path of the vampire, crashing right into the curvy demon who'd been drooling on him earlier.

"You've come back to me," she said, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Her teeth ripped at his neck, cutting through his flesh.

"My prey," the behemoth shouted, hauling Angel out of her grip. An arrow appeared in through his shoulder and he stared down at the bolt, uncomprehending. Angel grabbed the arrow point and yanked. The behemoth screamed in agony as Angel pulled the bolt from his shoulder, twisting it around to shove it right back into the vampire's heart.

The behemoth looked from the bolt to Angel. "Oh, shi-" He exploded, his dust littering the floor at Angel's feet.

"Mine," the curvy vampire shouted, leaping at him. Something shoved her back again, more of Willow's magic. Angel plucked the bolt from the floor and threw it, piercing the vampire's chest. She burst into dust with a wail. A third crossbow bolt took out one of two vampires menacing Spike and Angel ran to help him. Spike thrust off his opponent, pulling a stake from his pocket and neatly dispatching the other vampire.

"That's that," Spike said, dusting his hands.

"There're those three there," Angel said, indicating the three remaining vampires, huddled in a defensive knot in the corner of the room.

"Psht. Newbies." Spike bared his teeth at them. "Get out of here, out of Sunnydale if you wanna live."

One snarled feebly.

"You're not just letting them go," Wesley said. "Someone will have to hunt them later on."

"Yeah, and I don't want that someone to be us," Willow said, keeping an arm around Dawn's shoulders.

"You kill 'em, then," Spike said, stumbling to the fireplace and sinking onto the ledge in front of it. He wanted a smoke, a beer and a few pints of blood, as well as a long rest. He'd been through enough tonight.

"Incendi," Willow said, pointing at one of the vampires. A fireball seemed to launch from her fingertip, igniting the vampire. The fire spread to the other two, who shrieked in surprise. Angel leaped back, half-shading his eyes with his forearm, turning away as the trio burned.

"Wow," Dawn said shakily.

"Y-yeah," Tara agreed, glancing at her girlfriend, a frown knitting her forehead.

"It's just a little spell I looked up," Willow said, smiling in satisfaction.

"Where's Darla?" Angel asked, glancing around.

"And the books. We need the books," Dawn said, grasping Willow's arm tightly.

"We'll find them, Dawn." Willow met Angel and Spike's eyes firmly.

Angel nodded once, heading for the other entrance to the mansion, the others falling in behind him. Spike went the other way through the gardens. He didn't see Angel, Wesley, Willow, Dawn and Tara grinding to a halt as more vampires spilled into the mansion through the front.

"Just what we didn't need, reinforcements," Angel groaned then leapt into the fray.

* * * "I know you," Dru said, peering at the dark-haired boy, holding a crossbow. "I loved you once."

"Is this a Sunnydale thing?" the black man next to him asked.

The boy shifted his shoulders as if to rid himself of something noxious. "It was a spell."

"Magic," Dru sighed. "I like magic." She showed her teeth, her eyes glowing golden.

The black man raised a crossbow and pointed it at her. "Finally," he said, "I get to actually dust a vampire again."

"Handsome, handsome man," Dru purred. "I can see my future in your eyes."

"And it's going to be a short one." Gunn pulled the trigger to his crossbow but Darla moved at the same time. She yanked Dru off target and the bolt creased the insane vampire's arm.

Dru wiped at her blood. She raised her fingers, letting blood drip into her mouth. "Naughty boy."

"Don't play with him," Darla said, swinging the satchel of books. She hit Xander so hard the strap broke and he collapsed unconscious. Blood haloed his head from the gash in his scalp.

"Xander!" Anya shouted, leaping for her boyfriend. "If you've hurt him, I swear."

"Swear what?" Darla laughed. She whirled the satchel and knocked Anya down. Anya tried to regain her feet but the blow made her too dizzy.

Gunn struggled to load up another bolt. Dru grabbed the bow and tore it from his grasp. Gunn stabbed at her with the bolt but Dru caught his hand. She gestured at her eyes with two perfectly manicured fingers. "Look here, boy."

Gunn tried to look anywhere but in her blue eyes but failed. Caught in that hypnotic gaze, Gunn's features slackened and he swayed on his feet. Dru drew her fingers back ready to slit his throat with her painted claws.

"Dru!"

Hearing the familiar voice Dru turned and gave Spike a beatific smile. She slapped Gunn away and he went to the ground bonelessly. "My sweet boy has come back to me." Drusilla sighed, then withdrew, her mouth curling. "You're not my Spike any more," she said. "You smell," her face twisted, "like them. Like the Slayer. All human."

"Sorry, pet," Spike said, "but you can't expect me to smell all dead when you left me for a Chaos demon. Whatever happened to him?"

Head drooping, Drusilla mumbled, "He wasn't any fun. Didn't like chains or whips at all."

"Don't be an idiot, Dru. He's here to stop you, not help. Quit talking to him," Darla snarled, hoisting the books up by the broken satchel strap.

Spike drew out a crossbow from the folds of his duster, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry, baby. I really am. I don't want to hurt you."

Darla laughed. "Hurt us? You're barely able to stand."

"Maybe so but he's not alone."

Both female vampires half-turned to see Lindsey standing behind them, Cordy at his side. Her crossbow wavered a bit as she was torn between holding the vampires at bay and going to her fallen friends' sides.

Darla cocked an eyebrow at the lawyer. "What are you doing here, Lindsey? You have nothing to do with these white hats."

"Tonight I do," he shot back, giving her an uneasy look.

"Why would you care?" she asked.

Lindsey licked his lips. He didn't have a good answer. "Why are you doing this, Darla?" You owe Wolfram and Hart nothing. They put you through hell just to get at Angel. You're nothing to them, a mere tool."

"I don't give a damn about Wolfram and Hart," Darla spat. "This is about Angel."

"Why? He did his best to help you. You turned on him. You turned on me. I loved you." A haunted look flickered in Lindsey's eyes.

She curled her lip at him. "Lust. That's what you felt for me."

"Whatever. We're not going to argue with you. Just give us the books and we'll let you out of here," Lindsey said, leveling his crossbow at Darla's chest.

"Hey, wait!" Cordy chirped.

"The shark is right. All we want is the books," Spike said then glared at Cordelia when she opened her mouth to protest again.

"Listen to reason, Darla. You won't get past the three of us," Lindsey said.

She smiled, cocking her head to one side. "I like our chances."

"Even if all three of us miss killing you, Angel and the witches-two will have finished those wankers inside. You and I both know they aren't up to Angel's standards," Spike said coughing, feeling something tearing inside him. He only hoped that he could stay on his feet long enough for the bluff to work.

"Grandmummy, I think we should go. The stars are telling me we'll soon be dust riding on the wind." Dru's heart-shaped face took on a decidedly worried look.

"You know enough to listen to Dru's visions, Darla," Spike said.

Darla frowned. "Dru and me for the books?"

"Better hurry. Angel's not likely to be as generous as us. I still care about Dru. Maybe he's still half in love with you." Spike jerked a thumb in Lindsey's direction. "We'll let you go even though we know we shouldn't."

"Damn straight you shouldn't," Cordy said, not believing what she was hearing yet haunted by the memory of how she hadn't been able to kill Harmony.

Darla let the bag fall. She took Dru's hand and they ran.

"We shouldn't have done that," Cordy fretted.

"Just check on your mates, Chase," Spike said then coughed some more. The fit took him to his knees. The coughing grew worse as Angel, Willow and Wesley raced outside. Tara followed helping a shaky Dawn.

"We got the books," Lindsey called.

"How?" Angel asked, heading to Gunn's side.

"Xander!" Willow yelped, rushing to her friend. Anya staggered up, crawling over to join the redheaded witch.

"We bargained the books in return for Darla and Dru's freedom," Lindsey said.

"You what? You had no right," Angel said.

"What's wrong with Gunn?" Cordy asked. "He doesn't look hurt."

Spike tried to stutter out Dru's name but just ended up coughing and gagging until he coughed up a mass of black tissue streaked with blood. He collapsed to his side, panting.

"Ewww, gross," Cordy cried.

"Think..that.was fried lung," he gasped. "Dru.hypnotized him."

"He'll be all right then," Angel said.

"I think Xander needs a hospital. He's got a nasty cut on his head," Willow said, fighting with Anya's protective hands to get a good look at the wound.

Angel nodded and scooped him up. "I can't believe you let them get away."

"I didn't like our chances of beating them, not with two men down and Spike barely standing. It was safer to let them go in exchange for the books," Lindsey said defensively. "You can always hunt them down later."

"True. Cordy, go with Lindsey. Make sure those books are safe. Take Gunn, Spike, Tara and Dawn with you. Willow, Anya and I will get Xander to the hospital," Angel said.

* * *

Angel looked around the living room, feeling like an intruder now that neither Buffy nor Joyce was in the house. He wasn't ready for the Summers' residence to belong mostly to Willow and Tara. Anya had taken Xander home from the hospital. He had a concussion but he'd be all right. Dawn was upstairs asleep at last. He didn't know yet where he, Spike, Gunn, Wesley, Cordy and Lindsey would crash but they needed to and they needed to do it soon.

"At least we got the b-books," Tara said, her eyes ringed with dark circles of exhaustion.

"Giles will be here tomorrow to help," Willow said, forcing perkiness.

"How can I wait that long?" Angel said, fingering the soft leather of one of the texts.

"Unlike you, we're only human and we need rest," Gunn said.

"We know you want her back. We all do but we're running on empty," Cordy said, running a hand through her hair. She grimaced, feeling the sweat and dirt there.

"We can't cross dimensions now, Angel. We need rest even if we knew what spell to use. We can pick up our research in a few hours after we get some sleep. It'll do Buffy no good if we're too exhausted to cast the spell correctly. Who knows what might result if we tried now," Wesley said.

"The toff has a point," Spike said.

Angel looked over at him in shock. He had thought the younger vampire was unconscious as motionless as he was. He never associated stillness with Spike. The blond vampire always seemed to be in motion even when he was sitting still. Spike fidgeted or at least gave that impression even when he wasn't. "I know. Cordy, maybe you can stay here.in Buffy's room." That was all but dragged out of Angel.

"Oh, of course. I should have offered," Willow said, looking sheepish.

"Thanks. Maybe Wesley should stay on the couch here and Gunn could crash on Xander's," Cordy said.

"I'll give Anya a call and ask," Willow said.

"I'm not crashing anywhere. There has to be a hotel somewhere. Don't worry, Angel. I'm not running out on you know. At this point, another dimension might be the only place I'm safe from Wolfram and Hart," Lindsey said cynically.

"Thanks. The mansion will do for Spike and I," Angel said.

"We'd better get there soon, Peaches. I can smell the sunrise," Spike said.

Angel nodded. "I'll keep the books with me, Willow."

"I don't think that's wise. The vampires can enter the mansion, Angel. They cannot enter here and even if they did, Willow and Tara's magic will help safeguard them," Wesley said.

Angel scowled. He didn't want to let go of the books now that he had them back but he knew the ex-Watcher had a point. "All right. Come on, Spike. We'll meet up with you at the magic shop tomorrow, then."

"We'll get her back, Angel," Willow said, conviction in her eyes.

"I know."

Angel hauled Spike up when the injured vampire struggled and got nowhere. He all but carried Spike into the car then into the mansion making sure he was safely out of the sun. The mansion smelled of being shut up too long, of fresh sweat and dust. He didn't think he could sleep knowing that he was so close to finding a way to rescue Buffy but as soon as he stretched out, his body gave in to the demands for rest. Rescue would have to wait a few hours.