Part 25
Buffy tried to work her body free as Dawn screamed. It was useless. Doc was going to drain and kill her sister as she stood and watched. Clem had noticed the disturbance and moved to intervene. He was stopped by two black shrouded demons holding scythes. They chanted in unison with an inhuman tone. Clem froze on the spot. He couldn't move a muscle.
Buffy turned her agonized gaze to William, whose jaw was clenched tightly as he pulled against the ropes with all his strength. Buffy was afraid he would pull his arms off if he continued to tug.
"William?" She whispered.
"Don't give up, Buffy," he told her firmly. "We've made it through tougher trials than this."
They both renewed their fight against the magical bonds. William stopped short as he heard a familiar male voice speaking softly behind him. "Harris?" He asked. There was no answer, but the chanting continued. The ropes holding his arms loosened and fell into a pool on the ground. He looked over and saw that Buffy was free too. She bent over to pull her feet free, then scrabbled around to come up with some small broken boards. They were wooden and sharp, and that was all she needed. William kicked his feet loose, then immediately turned to Dawn. None of the demons present were paying them any heed. All attention was focused on Doc, whose hands were glowing with an eerie green light as he held Dawn's head.
"Now!" Buffy yelled and they sprang into action. Xander's arms were extended before him and demon bodies were flung out of the way. Buffy charged through with William on her heels. She was cut off by a group of Zombies who reached out toward her with dead arms and empty eye sockets. She spun around and kicked one. Its head fell off, but its body continued to march toward her.
William tried to hurry to help, but was overcome by a gang of humans. They were armed with stakes and torches. He smirked at the leader, who stood twirling the piece of sharp wood in his fingers. "Thought you blokes were supposed to keep me alive for the big plan."
"We're not really planning on using these," the man in the bandanna told him. "We understand that you can't do anything to us anyway."
"Is that right?" William nodded to the gang leader, than to each of his lieutenants, just before he kicked the man in his kneecap, effectively shattering it.
As he lay writhing in agony on the ground, William turned to the others. "Next one up for some serious pain? The line forms right here."
They all looked at each other before dropping their weapons and scattering. One of them paused just long enough to throw his torch at William before disappearing down the street. William jumped a second too late and found the leg of his costume on fire. "Blasted straw!" He muttered as he attempted to put out the flames with his hands.
"Exstinguere!" Xander said, and the flames disappeared.
William reached down to pick up some stakes, the hurried to help Buffy. She had already defeated most of the Zombies. He turned his attention to the black clad demons holding Clem. He knocked the scythe free from the first and buried it deeply into its back. Both demons fell to the ground dead. "Come on," William yelled to Clem. "We've got some work to do!"
Buffy had finally managed to reach Doc, whose arms and chest were now glowing green. Dawn was pale and limp. Buffy grasped Doc by the back of his neck and pulled him off of her sister . He flew up into the air and landed fifteen feet from where he had stood just a few seconds before.
William was on him with fangs bared, pummeling him to keep him from regaining his senses. "You're not going to sneak away this time!" he told him, then turned to drive a long stake through his tail, pinning him to the ground.
Buffy turned her attention to the vampire that held Dawn. It was the same one who had captured her. Before he could take a step to escape, Buffy attacked, jamming her stake into his back. Dawn fell limply to the ground as he dissolved into dust.
The other vampires and demons, disoriented from the sudden turn of events, began to disperse. A few of the braver ones attempted to crash through the invisible barrier that Xander had erected, but were instantly repelled. Buffy fought feverishly, killing anything inhuman that dared to approach her prone sister. Buffy knelt beside Dawn as the last remaining creatures fled. "Dawn!" she cried as she lifted the younger girl's lifeless body.
Xander approached her.
"I think she's dead," Buffy cried. "I didn't make it in time."
Xander turned to William. "Bring Doc to me," he stated in a firm voice.
William grabbed the unconscious man by the back of his collar and yanked him off the ground, staked tail and all.
Clem flinched. "Aw, that had to hurt!" He said.
William dragged Doc over to where Dawn lay and flung him on the ground. Xander knelt between the two bodies and placed one hand on each of their heads. He whispered an ancient incantation and the green energy left Doc's body, flowed through Xander, and re-entered Dawn.
"Come on, breathe!" Buffy begged her sister.
Dawn lay still and silent, then gasped suddenly. Her eyes flew open. "Wow!" she said breathlessly. She looked up to see the concerned faces of Buffy, William, Clem and Xander peering down at her. "That was cool!"
"Are you all right?" Buffy asked.
Dawn sat up slowly and nodded. "I think so." She looked around. "Where did everybody go?"
"The ones who aren't dead are hiding. for now." William said.
Buffy nodded. "We'll get 'em."
"Xander?" Dawn looked up at the carpenter. "Your nose is bleeding."
"We need to go" he said.
"Let's get you back to the Magic Box." Buffy helped Dawn to her feet. "We'll explain it all there."
"What about him?" William nudged Doc with his moccasin.
"He's mine," Buffy said grimly. She moved to pick up the abandoned scythe, and in one swift motion, decapitated the Time Wizard. His body shimmered briefly, then dissolved.
"Do you think he's really gone this time?" Dawn asked.
"He's gone," Xander told her. "His energy has disappeared."
"Thank you Xander!" Buffy embraced her best friend. "I don't now how you did this, but thank you."
William tapped her on the shoulder. "Let's go, Love."
Buffy nodded, and with an arm around Dawn, turned to walk to the Magic Box.
*****
"They're coming," Willow whispered. "They're all OK and they're coming back here."
"Thank God!" Anya breathed in relief. She closed the large volume she held and turned to Giles. "You can stop now, honey."
Giles stopped his soft chanting, and the far-away look in Willow's eyes vanished. She smiled joyfully. "It worked! I was able to give Xander all the knowledge and words that he needed, and he was able to save them."
Giles sighed tiredly, "I guess that's two for him, isn't it?"
"Three," Willow said. "Remember, he brought Buffy back the first time."
"That's right," Giles agreed. "Three for Xander. I guess we can't say he hasn't met his quota."
"Xander had a quota?" Anya asked. "Does everybody have a quota?"
*****
The bell above the door rang as Xander, William, Buffy and Dawn walked through. Everybody was exhausted, but happy.
Dawn glanced up at the bell guiltily. "I guess you figured out what I did," she said.
"Dawn," Giles began sternly. "You really ought to."
"I know, I know," she said. "Buffy already gave me the lecture during the walk back." She looked at Giles and arched her brow. "And she is a lot better at it than you are!"
Giles' face relaxed in relief. "That's good to know."
"Is anybody else hungry?" Buffy asked.
"Ohhhh!" Xander moaned.
"Still with the headache?" Dawn asked him.
Xander clutched his head with both hands. "Yes! Willow, is this how you used to feel?"
Willow grimaced on his behalf. "Yes. I really can't say I miss that part. Come and sit down." She pulled out a chair for him. "Anya, do you have any water and headache medicine?"
"Coming right up." She said, then went into her storage room.
"Buffy, I know you're hungry," Dawn said, "but I'm feeling sort of... drained." They all smiled at the imagery. "Could we go home?"
"Sure," Buffy told her. She turned to William. "Will you come? We can pick up some burgers on the way home."
He nodded. "Just as long as you order mine rare."
They waved goodbye and left.
Anya reentered holding a bottle of water and a vial of pills. "Here." She handed them to Xander, then leaned over to peer into his face with concern. "What you did was very brave. You didn't know it would work, and you could easily have been killed."
Willow moved to help Giles tidy the shop and allow the former lovers some privacy.
"I know An." He took a sip of water and tossed a few tablets into his mouth before taking another swig from the bottle. "But I had to do something."
"I never really understood before why it was so important for you to help your friends."
Xander looked at her sadly. "They're really all I have."
"I know," she nodded in understanding. "I'm learning that it's our relationships with others that make us who we are." She sat back, thinking. "That must be why there are so many rules regarding socially acceptable behaviors."
"And I tried to cram them all down your throat."
"Shh." She touched the side of his head. "Just relax and try to feel better."
Xander nodded toward Giles. "So, is it serious with him?"
Anya turned her head to look at the older man. Her expression warmed. "It is for me." She turned back to Xander. "He seems to like me, and he only lectures when he really thinks I don't know something. But..." her face clouded with sadness, "there's still this thing."
"The demon thing?"
She nodded.
"It's a pretty big issue." Xander conceded.
"I don't know what I can do."
Xander took her hand. "Anya, if you want something bad enough, you'll figure out a way."
"Thank you, Xander." She kissed him on the forehead, then moved away.
"Hey, Willow," he called. She moved over to him. "What say we blow this popsicle stand? I could use a ride home. I'm not in much condition to drive."
"Sure," she agreed. "I'd kinda like to keep an eye on you anyway, make sure you don't go all power-mad on us."
"Don't worry," he said. "It was fun while it lasted, but carpentry sounds pretty darn good right now."
After they left, Giles slipped his arm around Anya's back. "Are you ready to go?"
"Whenever you are."
Giles stopped to pick up a bag.
"What's that?" She asked.
"It's, um... it's a change of clothes."
She hugged him. "I love you, Rupert Giles."
He blushed, then smiled.
Buffy tried to work her body free as Dawn screamed. It was useless. Doc was going to drain and kill her sister as she stood and watched. Clem had noticed the disturbance and moved to intervene. He was stopped by two black shrouded demons holding scythes. They chanted in unison with an inhuman tone. Clem froze on the spot. He couldn't move a muscle.
Buffy turned her agonized gaze to William, whose jaw was clenched tightly as he pulled against the ropes with all his strength. Buffy was afraid he would pull his arms off if he continued to tug.
"William?" She whispered.
"Don't give up, Buffy," he told her firmly. "We've made it through tougher trials than this."
They both renewed their fight against the magical bonds. William stopped short as he heard a familiar male voice speaking softly behind him. "Harris?" He asked. There was no answer, but the chanting continued. The ropes holding his arms loosened and fell into a pool on the ground. He looked over and saw that Buffy was free too. She bent over to pull her feet free, then scrabbled around to come up with some small broken boards. They were wooden and sharp, and that was all she needed. William kicked his feet loose, then immediately turned to Dawn. None of the demons present were paying them any heed. All attention was focused on Doc, whose hands were glowing with an eerie green light as he held Dawn's head.
"Now!" Buffy yelled and they sprang into action. Xander's arms were extended before him and demon bodies were flung out of the way. Buffy charged through with William on her heels. She was cut off by a group of Zombies who reached out toward her with dead arms and empty eye sockets. She spun around and kicked one. Its head fell off, but its body continued to march toward her.
William tried to hurry to help, but was overcome by a gang of humans. They were armed with stakes and torches. He smirked at the leader, who stood twirling the piece of sharp wood in his fingers. "Thought you blokes were supposed to keep me alive for the big plan."
"We're not really planning on using these," the man in the bandanna told him. "We understand that you can't do anything to us anyway."
"Is that right?" William nodded to the gang leader, than to each of his lieutenants, just before he kicked the man in his kneecap, effectively shattering it.
As he lay writhing in agony on the ground, William turned to the others. "Next one up for some serious pain? The line forms right here."
They all looked at each other before dropping their weapons and scattering. One of them paused just long enough to throw his torch at William before disappearing down the street. William jumped a second too late and found the leg of his costume on fire. "Blasted straw!" He muttered as he attempted to put out the flames with his hands.
"Exstinguere!" Xander said, and the flames disappeared.
William reached down to pick up some stakes, the hurried to help Buffy. She had already defeated most of the Zombies. He turned his attention to the black clad demons holding Clem. He knocked the scythe free from the first and buried it deeply into its back. Both demons fell to the ground dead. "Come on," William yelled to Clem. "We've got some work to do!"
Buffy had finally managed to reach Doc, whose arms and chest were now glowing green. Dawn was pale and limp. Buffy grasped Doc by the back of his neck and pulled him off of her sister . He flew up into the air and landed fifteen feet from where he had stood just a few seconds before.
William was on him with fangs bared, pummeling him to keep him from regaining his senses. "You're not going to sneak away this time!" he told him, then turned to drive a long stake through his tail, pinning him to the ground.
Buffy turned her attention to the vampire that held Dawn. It was the same one who had captured her. Before he could take a step to escape, Buffy attacked, jamming her stake into his back. Dawn fell limply to the ground as he dissolved into dust.
The other vampires and demons, disoriented from the sudden turn of events, began to disperse. A few of the braver ones attempted to crash through the invisible barrier that Xander had erected, but were instantly repelled. Buffy fought feverishly, killing anything inhuman that dared to approach her prone sister. Buffy knelt beside Dawn as the last remaining creatures fled. "Dawn!" she cried as she lifted the younger girl's lifeless body.
Xander approached her.
"I think she's dead," Buffy cried. "I didn't make it in time."
Xander turned to William. "Bring Doc to me," he stated in a firm voice.
William grabbed the unconscious man by the back of his collar and yanked him off the ground, staked tail and all.
Clem flinched. "Aw, that had to hurt!" He said.
William dragged Doc over to where Dawn lay and flung him on the ground. Xander knelt between the two bodies and placed one hand on each of their heads. He whispered an ancient incantation and the green energy left Doc's body, flowed through Xander, and re-entered Dawn.
"Come on, breathe!" Buffy begged her sister.
Dawn lay still and silent, then gasped suddenly. Her eyes flew open. "Wow!" she said breathlessly. She looked up to see the concerned faces of Buffy, William, Clem and Xander peering down at her. "That was cool!"
"Are you all right?" Buffy asked.
Dawn sat up slowly and nodded. "I think so." She looked around. "Where did everybody go?"
"The ones who aren't dead are hiding. for now." William said.
Buffy nodded. "We'll get 'em."
"Xander?" Dawn looked up at the carpenter. "Your nose is bleeding."
"We need to go" he said.
"Let's get you back to the Magic Box." Buffy helped Dawn to her feet. "We'll explain it all there."
"What about him?" William nudged Doc with his moccasin.
"He's mine," Buffy said grimly. She moved to pick up the abandoned scythe, and in one swift motion, decapitated the Time Wizard. His body shimmered briefly, then dissolved.
"Do you think he's really gone this time?" Dawn asked.
"He's gone," Xander told her. "His energy has disappeared."
"Thank you Xander!" Buffy embraced her best friend. "I don't now how you did this, but thank you."
William tapped her on the shoulder. "Let's go, Love."
Buffy nodded, and with an arm around Dawn, turned to walk to the Magic Box.
*****
"They're coming," Willow whispered. "They're all OK and they're coming back here."
"Thank God!" Anya breathed in relief. She closed the large volume she held and turned to Giles. "You can stop now, honey."
Giles stopped his soft chanting, and the far-away look in Willow's eyes vanished. She smiled joyfully. "It worked! I was able to give Xander all the knowledge and words that he needed, and he was able to save them."
Giles sighed tiredly, "I guess that's two for him, isn't it?"
"Three," Willow said. "Remember, he brought Buffy back the first time."
"That's right," Giles agreed. "Three for Xander. I guess we can't say he hasn't met his quota."
"Xander had a quota?" Anya asked. "Does everybody have a quota?"
*****
The bell above the door rang as Xander, William, Buffy and Dawn walked through. Everybody was exhausted, but happy.
Dawn glanced up at the bell guiltily. "I guess you figured out what I did," she said.
"Dawn," Giles began sternly. "You really ought to."
"I know, I know," she said. "Buffy already gave me the lecture during the walk back." She looked at Giles and arched her brow. "And she is a lot better at it than you are!"
Giles' face relaxed in relief. "That's good to know."
"Is anybody else hungry?" Buffy asked.
"Ohhhh!" Xander moaned.
"Still with the headache?" Dawn asked him.
Xander clutched his head with both hands. "Yes! Willow, is this how you used to feel?"
Willow grimaced on his behalf. "Yes. I really can't say I miss that part. Come and sit down." She pulled out a chair for him. "Anya, do you have any water and headache medicine?"
"Coming right up." She said, then went into her storage room.
"Buffy, I know you're hungry," Dawn said, "but I'm feeling sort of... drained." They all smiled at the imagery. "Could we go home?"
"Sure," Buffy told her. She turned to William. "Will you come? We can pick up some burgers on the way home."
He nodded. "Just as long as you order mine rare."
They waved goodbye and left.
Anya reentered holding a bottle of water and a vial of pills. "Here." She handed them to Xander, then leaned over to peer into his face with concern. "What you did was very brave. You didn't know it would work, and you could easily have been killed."
Willow moved to help Giles tidy the shop and allow the former lovers some privacy.
"I know An." He took a sip of water and tossed a few tablets into his mouth before taking another swig from the bottle. "But I had to do something."
"I never really understood before why it was so important for you to help your friends."
Xander looked at her sadly. "They're really all I have."
"I know," she nodded in understanding. "I'm learning that it's our relationships with others that make us who we are." She sat back, thinking. "That must be why there are so many rules regarding socially acceptable behaviors."
"And I tried to cram them all down your throat."
"Shh." She touched the side of his head. "Just relax and try to feel better."
Xander nodded toward Giles. "So, is it serious with him?"
Anya turned her head to look at the older man. Her expression warmed. "It is for me." She turned back to Xander. "He seems to like me, and he only lectures when he really thinks I don't know something. But..." her face clouded with sadness, "there's still this thing."
"The demon thing?"
She nodded.
"It's a pretty big issue." Xander conceded.
"I don't know what I can do."
Xander took her hand. "Anya, if you want something bad enough, you'll figure out a way."
"Thank you, Xander." She kissed him on the forehead, then moved away.
"Hey, Willow," he called. She moved over to him. "What say we blow this popsicle stand? I could use a ride home. I'm not in much condition to drive."
"Sure," she agreed. "I'd kinda like to keep an eye on you anyway, make sure you don't go all power-mad on us."
"Don't worry," he said. "It was fun while it lasted, but carpentry sounds pretty darn good right now."
After they left, Giles slipped his arm around Anya's back. "Are you ready to go?"
"Whenever you are."
Giles stopped to pick up a bag.
"What's that?" She asked.
"It's, um... it's a change of clothes."
She hugged him. "I love you, Rupert Giles."
He blushed, then smiled.