Part 40:

The details of the spell had been worked out. Angel had all the ingredients needed, which turned out to only be two white candles and an object from the retriever. The retriever was the person sent to collect the object. In this case Buffy. All she would need to do was to touch the book and it would appear in front of the spell casters. Normally a retriever would not be needed. However, Willow and Tara were not advanced enough to simply visualize the book. They needed physical contact. Therefore, Giles was the Slayer's anchor. He had taken the necklace Buffy wore as her anchor to him. Clutching the simple silver chain and cross in his hand he silently prayed to whatever spirit protected slayers to watch out for Buffy. A demon would pose no challenge for the Slayer. But humans trying to take over the world-now that was something to worry about.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew so much about magic?" Buffy asked Spike. The vampire had insisted on accompanying her when she retrieved the book. That's why the pair stood outside the town's magic shop where the Mayor and Professor Walsh were setting up to perform their spell.

"I have many hidden talents love," Spike said softly, his voice low and dangerous, sending shivers through the Slayer.

"Really," Buffy said. She was about to continue when Spike signaled for her to listen to what the mayor was saying.

"I think that's everything Maggie. Before we begin. Well gosh, I just want you to know how amazing you've been. I know that we've had our problems. The mishap with the slayer and vampire was unfortunate. But I'm just so overwhelmed by how everything came together," Mayor Wilkins said. Professor Walsh smiled slightly before turning her attention back to the task at hand.

"We should begin the ritual," She said.

Buffy looked at Spike, concern marring her features.

"We'll have to rush them as soon as the ritual begins," The vampire said, answering the question that the Slayer dared not ask. Buffy nodded and allowed Spike to envelop her comfortingly into his arms. The brave face she put on gave way to worry and fear as Spike held her tightly, hoping that holding her close would transfer his strength to her.

"Demon come forth," The mayor spoke, his normally chipper voice booming, reminding the vampire and Slayer that he, no matter how human, was the enemy. "Come forth and do my bidding."

Professor Walsh lit the candles that surrounded her and the mayor before taking her place inside the circle.

"Demon come forth," She spoke. Those simple words triggered a reaction and the ground shook. A light rumbling was all that came at first. However, it quickly escalated (crescendoed isn't a word…although it should be)and soon a large hole appeared where the Mayor and Professor Walsh were sitting. They jumped up in time to avoid falling into the crevice.

"We must continue the ritual!" The mayor screamed. Buffy didn't even look at Spike for confirmation. She simply rushed through the store window, which had broken due to the rumbling of the Earth. Ignoring the shouts of the Mayor and Professor the Slayer grabbed the book that the mayor was reading out of, which appeared to merely be the papers that were in the folder she and Spike had stolen all stapled together. She barely had time to close it before it disappeared from her hands. At first, thinking she had dropped it, the slayer looked around frantically, until it registered that the spell must have worked, the book must be safely in Angel's apartment. Buffy was broken from her reverie at Spike's scream, which overpowered the noise of the earth rumbling.

"Run!" The vampire screamed. Buffy leaped over a crevice and made her way towards Spike, only to fall unconscious to the ground. The earth had broken underneath a bookshelf, and the shelf had fallen on top of the Slayer. Spike stared at Buffy, unable to move. It was as if the noise of the magic shop falling to ruins was miles away. All he saw was Buffy's limp form. The sounds of the earth splitting blocked the sounds of Buffy's heartbeat and Spike had no idea whether or not she was alive.

Back in Angel's apartment Giles suddenly fell to the ground, unconscious, Buffy's cross still clutched in his hand. The Scoobies tried, with no avail, to wake him.

Spike rushed into the magic box, ignoring the Mayor and Professor Walsh, who stood in the corner of the shop, staring at a large crevice in the center of the shop where something appeared to be emerging from. All Spike cared about was reaching Buffy, which he did. The vampire set to work on clearing wood and books off the slayer, still not hearing her heartbeat.

The first sign of life the Mayor saw from the hole in the ground was a claw. Pale and covered in green white slime it resembled something from a horror movie-the perfect demon for world domination. The creature finally fully emerged. Large and completely coated in white slime in looked at the mayor and Professor Walsh, immediately recognizing them as his masters. The creature looked at Spike, immediately recognizing the need to protect his masters from Spike. However, this need was replaced within seconds from him reaching earth as he watched silently as a bookshelf fell atop Professor Walsh and Mayor Wilkins. The demon would have stopped the shelf, it was just that his eyes were focused on Spike who had managed to clear books off the slayer and looked so relieved when her eyes fluttered open slightly…

In Angel's apartment Giles awoke suddenly. The Scoobies looked at him with questioning glances. However, he couldn't speak, his eyes had turned black and he found that he was no longer looking at the Scoobies, but at a picture of Spike and Buffy. Giles saw the demon walking towards Spike and Buffy, both who looked unaware of the demon.

"Behind you!" Giles heard his inner voice screamed, and was surprised when Spike turned, as if responding to his shout, and saw the demon coming towards him. Buffy rose shakily to her feet and pulled two knives from her waistband, handing one to Spike. The demon came towards them and was immediately assaulted as Buffy threw her knife straight into his eye. That was all it took. The earthquake that had been raging stopped and the demon immediately melted into a puddle of white goo. Buffy and Spike shared an amused look. There was something insanely funny about watching a mighty demon melt into nothing after a simple wound. However, their look turned to pity when their gaze fell on the corner of the magic shop where Mayor Wilkins and Professor Walsh lay dead, underneath a tall bookshelf.

"Let's go pet," Spike whispered, pulling a slightly distressed Buffy from the scene., "We need to check on the Scoobies."

Back at Angel's apartment Giles eyes turned back to their normal color and he let go of the Slayer's cross and chain. Willow and Tara blew out the white candles they had used for the spell and all the Scoobies shared looks of happiness.

"What now?" Xander asked.

"We saved the world," Willow said.

"Party?" Cordelia suggested.

Jack: What would you do if I kissed you right now?

Melanie: You wouldn't kiss me.

Jack: But what would you do if I did?

Melanie: Do you want to kiss me right now?

Jack: I wouldn't have mentioned it if I didn't.

from One fine Day