"Hi. I'm Skip."

All gaped at the sight of the huge demon. Horns, wings, and skin like scaly gray armor. Scanning the group, he fixed on Buffy.

"You're Buffy Summers, right? The Slayer?"

Startled, Buffy answered," Yes, but I think I'd remember it if we'd met."

"We have mutual friends," said Skip, "but that's another story."

"I take it we were expected?"

"Well, not expected, exactly. They weren't sure you would get this far, but they thought it best that I be here if you did."

"And 'They' are...?"

"The Powers That Be. That's who I work for."

""If The Powers think they're going to stop us from going after Giles..."

"Calm down, calm down. They're not trying to stop you. Having a human cast unjustly into a Hell dimension upsets the natural order. They don't approve of it. They can't take him out themselves, but if you want to go get him, I'm here to guide you."

Buffy was taken aback. The Powers That Be offering help? This was something new. "Do you know where he is?"

"You'll have to do the searching. I can only show you where to search. And keep you safe while you're doing it. But first, how did you open the portal. It's important that I know how."

Dawn spoke up. "It was through me. I'm sorry if it ripped a hole in reality or whatever, but we were desperate. There wasn't any other way."

Skip shook his head. "Don't be silly. You're a human child. You haven't the power to do anything like that."

"I know that's what I look like, but I'm really The Key. I can open doors between dimensions."

"Yes, yes, " said Skip impatiently, "I know all about that. That's what you were. You're completely human now. A lot more than him, probably." His eyes lighted on Ethan.

"Am I being singled out?" said Ethan. "How flattering."

Skip frowned. "You think you'll like it here, don't you, sorcerer? You won't." He spoke in a tone that sent a chill through the group, and Ethan's smirk faded as he tried to hold the demon's gaze.

Skip continued. "A Hell portal can only be opened by..." He halted, then said in an amazed voice, "Anyanka? Is that you?"

Anya smiled and waved. "Hey, Skip. How's it going?"

"I don't believe this," said Xander. "Another ex-boyfriend?! Olaf the troll-god wasn't bad enough, and now this guy!"

"Stop it!" said Anya. "It wasn't like that at all!"

"So what was it like, then?"

"She introduced me to my wife."

"That's right. How is she?"

"Oh, just fine. She was just talking about you the other day, wondering why we don't see you anymore. I told her it's only natural after you get married to lose touch with your single friends."

"Yes, well, my life has changed a lot, too."

"I can see. That's a new look for you."

"Human."

"No. Blonde. It works."

"Guys. I hate to break up the nostalgia-fest," said Buffy, "but you were saying about opening the portal?"

"Yes, of course. Sorry. A Hell portal can only be opened by a power that comes from the darkest magic." He looked at Willow. "I would have said it was you. You have the power, but haven't exercised it."

"That's right," said Willow. "I-I can't. Dark magicks affect me...badly."

"They affect everyone badly, some worse than others."

Tara stepped forward. "I cast the spell. I know it was dark magic, but Dawn was right. We had no other choice."

"But there's no trace of it on you. It always leaves at least a trace." Skip gazed thoughtfully at Tara. "Was your mother a witch?"

"Yes. My grandmother, too. Why?"

"There are certain witches, rare ones, who can use the dark magicks, control them, without being affected by them. But it's more than just inheritance. It takes a purity of intention, of character, of soul, even."

Willow smiled brightly at Tara. "Sounds like you've got the right girl, " she said. Tara blushed.

Skip stiffened himself, almost as if he were about to make a formal bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Tara," he said. "Unfortunately, this creates a problem as far as the portal is concerned."

"Problem?" said Buffy. "What kind of problem?"

"Normally, when a Hell-portal is created..."

"Normally?"

"Sorry, poor choice of words. But when it happens, it's created from dark magic. So when the opening is made, it draws its energy from the Hell dimension it opens on. That way, the portal can remain open indefinitely. This portal was created with white magic, but it still draws energy from Hell. The white magic becomes corrupted, and so the portal will eventually collapse. If you don't rescue your Watcher and get back to the opening in time, you'll all be trapped here. With no escape."

Buffy didn't hesitate for an instant. "I came here to get Giles. I'm not leaving without him." She turned to the others, first freezing Ethan with a threatening look. One by one, they nodded agreement. Finally, she reached Spike.

He shrugged. "Always figured I'd end up somewhere like this anyway. Might as well get a head start."

"Well," said Skip, "I definitely would like to meet your friend once you find him. Must be quite a fellow." Then to Spike, "I was a free-lancer once, too. Eventually I made a choice."

"Good for you," said Spike, sourly. "What's that got to do with me?"

"Not much, probably. But then I just work for The Powers. I don't make the decisions."

"And what's that supposed to mean?!  Listen, demon, don't start up with me!  I told you I was willing to stay here, so..."

"Spike!"  Buffy was in no mood for quarrels.  "He's here to help us."

"No offense," said Skip. "Besides, this isn't the type of dimension a vampire would end up in anyway. Hell dimensions are all designed differently, depending on who's sent to them. The typical Hell dimension is for demons and damned souls. It concentrates on physical pain and torture." Buffy shuddered, remembering Angel's state when he returned from Hell. "Most demons are pretty simple. Pain is all they understand."

"Hey!" said Spike, "Watch who you're calling simple, mate!"

"Nothing personal. It's just that this dimension now contains a human whose soul was not damned. Before any physical torment, the idea would be to make him give up, lose hope. Once a human loses hope, he accepts all the punishments given him. If he ever reaches that state, you'll never be able to get him out."

"Giles would never lose hope," said Buffy.

"Not a chance," Xander added.

"Yes, I definitely want to meet this guy. Shall we go?"

Skip made a grandiose arm sweep towards the quivering, fire rimmed oval, "Women and children first," giving the Slayer access to the portal.  Buffy looked at Dawn and when Dawn gently nodded they stepped through.

Willow watched as Buffy determinedly walked through the quivering black oval in front of them.  She was always so confident in her actions, so self-assured.  Willow envied her.  She looked at Tara standing next to her serene and composed even in uncertainty and fear. God how she loved her.  Tara looked at her just then, smiled, and took Willow's hand in hers and together they walked through the portal.

Xander, Spike, Anya and Ethan stood in an uncomfortable cluster, nerves rolling off one another in waves. Skip looked intently at the remaining supposedly heroic band and chuckled at the sometimes-subtle humor of TPTB.  "Room for one more.  Who's it gonna be?"

The motley group looked at each other and then back at Skip.  Suddenly, there was a loud crackle as a surge of fire leapt from the portal, encircled all of them and pulled them in. In a loud echo, Skip's voice resounded, "Well, dag-nabbit!  That wasn't in the briefing!"