"It'll never work." Spike tried again. "She's not interested in the Watcher."
"Listen, Spikey, I told you to shut up!" Angel roared, hurling his glass at Spike's head.
"And I told you it won't work."
"Do I have to explain everything to you? The only reason I do is because I know that there isn't a damned thing you can do about it! I know that Bryn doesn't care about Mr. Giles, but Buffy does. If Bryn is going to earn the Slayer's trust, then she'll help get the Watcher back. Now, shut up!"
"It won't wo-ork." Spike nagged melodically.
Angel started laughing then. "I get it now!" he exclaimed. "You think I'm going to kill you, right? And you're trying to annoy me for as long as you can." Angel's grin melted away, and he strode toward Spike, a crazed look in his eyes. He grabbed Spike's hair and pulled. "Well, here's a different angle. See, you're going to live through this, Spike - barely, but alive - so that you can remember for all your eternity how I broke you. You and I both know that Buffy will come for Giles, succeed in saving him, probably take down a few of my minions. Bryn will come here for you, bla bla bla. Happy ending for the good guys, while the bad guys sit at home, watching cable, and whining about how their perfect plan blew up in their faces. The only difference is that I intend to remove at least one player from the good guy's side of the game board. Do you understand?"
"I think so. What you're telling me is that you're a selfish lunatic that believes too much in typical fairy tales."
Angel shrugged nonchalantly. "And that's exactly why my plan will work." he turned away from Spike, and headed toward the stairs.
"No, Angel. That's why your plan will fail."
Angel kept walking, grinning to himself.
"Xander, I need to talk to you." Cordelia told him when they were alone.
Buffy was upstairs, Willow had gone home, Dahle, Sven, and Bryn had left, but not specified as to where they were going.
"Sure," Xander agreed.
"It's about us," she began. He arched his eyebrow. "Actually, it's about the complete lack of us. I mean - admit it! There is almost no us-ness in this relationship."
"That is not true!" Xander protested.
"Let me finish!" Cordelia ordered, calming herself down. "Look - and this is the truth - Harmony and her boyfriend know each other so well that they can predict what the other is thinking, or about to say, that sort of thing."
"Most couples can - when they're together for a long time." Xander cut in.
"Yeah, I know, but, well, I...When I think about knowing you that well...I shudder 'cause I don't want to know you that well. You see where I'm going with this?"
Xander nodded, his anger and frustration showing on his face. "Yeah, I get it. You don't like me - you never have. You felt left out because all of your friends had boyfriends and you didn't. So, you decided to nab the closest, most gullible guy you could - me."
"No, that's not it, I - "
"Oh, please, Cordy. You see, unfortunately for you, I have been paying attention to you. I do know you that well." he used his fingers as quotation marks when he said 'that well'. "And I know that you've been using me all along. You know, Cordy, you were right - I am gullible, most of the time. But most people don't use it to their advantage."
"Xander, I'm sorry. But listen to yourself. You're right - it never would have worked. Let's end this charade, and get on with our lives." Cordelia said.
"So, that is all it's been for you: a charade? I'd hoped you might snap out of 'Must-Fit-In' mode, and accept me for me, but now I know better. You never could accept me, no matter what I did to try. In your eyes, I'm not worthy of you - it would be like a queen being in love with one of her servants. Well, forgive me, Your Highness, for stepping on your train." Xander scoffed, bowing.
"Xander, stop it! That's not true at all!" Cordelia protested.
"Yeah? Then what is?" he demanded furiously.
"I..."
"That's what I thought." he spat, walking past her.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to use the Facilities," then, he bowed again, and said, "with Your Highness' permission, of course?"
She nodded, not knowing what else to say.
"I don't understand, Keth." Dahle finally answered. "What would Angelus want to destroy this dimension for? Hasn't it ever occurred to him that he'll be bored in Hell?"
"Obviously not," I answered, throwing another rock into the water.
Dahle just sat there in silence, watching me watching the lake in front of us.
"Quit staring at me." I ordered, turning my head to face him.
Dahle smiled at me. "Did I tell you that I missed you?"
"Probably," I shrugged, turning back to the calm waters before us.
Dahle moved closer to me. "Well, I did."
"I know."
Dahle sighed in exasperation. "I know that you know. I just - I wanted you to hear me say it."
"I know."
"Stop that! I know you're just trying to bug me now. Come on, Keth. I'm trying to be romantic, here."
"Don't."
"Why not? Because of Xander? You and I both know that he's not - "
"In love with me? I know that, too. And he won't be. It's not him, I know that now."
"You're lying. It is him, he's just different. Well, I'm still here, Keth. Whenever you need me, I'm right here."
"I - " I sighed, then grinned, "know."
Dahle smiled, and put his arm around me.
"Don't," I ordered, pushing him away.
"Alright," Dahle sighed. "I'm sorry."
I turned to face him, and leaned closer. "I know you're lying, Dahle. I know you. I don't need any sixth sense when it comes to you. Seven hundred years, Dahle, is a long, long time."
He was nodding as he leaned closer, then he kissed me. At first I was surprised, then I was furious, but I didn't let it show. I stood up, taking his hands in mine, and pulled him to his feet. I leaned closer, as if to kiss him again, but instead I grabbed his shirt at the shoulders, and kneed him in the groin.
Dahle gasped in shock, and fell over in pain.
"Don't try that again." I told him, then walked away.
"Well," Angel began, as he watched the vampire tie Giles' hands behind the back of the chair. "I'm glad I don't have to do everything myself. Now, get lost."
The vampire nodded, and left the room.
"What is the meaning of this?" Giles demanded, trying to sound stronger than he was.
"It's a long, complicated plan of mine, that, for reasons you wouldn't understand, will work out in the end."
"In other words, you don't have one."
"Oh, no, Mr. Giles. The exact opposite. But I don't feel like explaining it to you." and with that, Angel left Giles alone.
"Angel!" Giles yelled, as the door closed, leaving him in total darkness.
"He's gone," Buffy told Xander and Willow in class after their lunch period.
"Who's gone?" Willow asked.
"Giles. I went down to the hospital at lunch, and the nurse told me that he checked out last night." she answered.
"Well, then where is he?" Xander asked the obvious question.
"I don't know, but I think I know who does." Buffy replied.
"Angel?" Willow guessed.
"No," Buffy shook her head. "Bryn."
"Why would Bryn know where Giles is?" Xander asked, confused.
"Because, Duh, she's the one that took him out. Think about it Xand. Bryn used you to get to me, but changed her plans and kidnapped Giles instead. I knew we couldn't trust her."
"Why - "
"Mr. Harris, Miss Somers, is there something you'd like to add to the class discussion?" their teacher cut in.
"N-no, Sir," Xander shook his head.
"Then be quiet."
"Sorry, Sir," Xander said.
After school, Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Cordelia met in the library.
"So, Buff, why do you think Bryn would want to kidnap Giles?"
"So that she can help Spike and Angel kill me."
"Bryn doesn't want to kill you, Buffy." Xander argued angrily. "All she wants to do is get Spike away from Angel before he gets killed. She doesn't care about you."
"How do you know? Because she told you? Why should I believe her?"
"Because," I cut in, walking up behind them. "Angel has your Watcher, Slayer, and he's going to hold him until you try to save him."
"I have no reason to believe any of what you just said."
"Then Giles will die, and it will be your fault." Xander snapped. "What can we do?" he asked me.
"We have to find Dahle and Sven and come up with a plan. Whatever we do, it has to be tonight."
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"Come on," I replied, turning away from them.
"W-wait," Willow said.
I knew what she was going to say. "Don't worry." then I kept walking.
Xander followed me, then Willow, Cordelia, and, although reluctantly, so did Buffy.
"How do we know that Angel's not watching us?" Dahle demanded.
"I think I've figured out how to block out the powers of the other Eye. My powers have been slowly returning, so I think we're alright."
"You think? That's not very reassuring." Buffy muttered.
"Come on, Buffy. What's your deal? She's not out to get you, Angel is. And we have to stop him." Willow said. "Giles is counting on us."
Buffy sighed. "So, what's the plan?"
"We hit the motel at sun up. They won't have a chance in the sun." Dahle said.
"What about Spike?" I demanded. "He can't go out in the daylight, either. And we are not leaving him behind!"
"Oh, yeah. Forgot about him." Dahle realized. "Well, sundown's in three hours, so I guess we'll hit then. What about you?"
"I'm not getting involved, Dahle. Not this time." Sven shook his head.
Dahle nodded. "Okay, that's your choice."
"We're not saving Spike." Buffy retorted.
"Yes, we are. I'll make sure he leaves here, don't worry. You'll never hear from him again, I promise." I told her.
"No deal," Buffy shook her head.
"It's not for you to decide." I shot back.
Buffy glared at me angrily, then said, "I have to go home to get some things before we strike." then she added, "And no promises."
"Just get Spike away from there, before she finds him." Xander whispered to me.
"I'll meet you back here in an hour." Buffy replied, then left.
"I'll go with her." Willow told us, jogging after her.
"Yeah, I should go home for awile, too." Cordelia agreed.
"Fine," Xander shrugged, a hint of resentment in his voice.
She gave him an angry look, then left.
"Maybe you should make sure there's still enough of Spike to rescue - I mean, there's no point in getting there and then finding out that he's permanently inhabiting a jar, or something, right?" Xander asked me.
I nodded. "You're right. There's no point risking our lives for nothing."
Dahle nodded.