A/N: Here is the next chapter of Here is Gone. It's almost done now. I hope to have it finished soon. Y'know, I started this fic back in June of 2002 and it seems ironic that it's taken me almost 7 months to get this far. It's 252 pages in MS Word and still has a little bit to go.

Some of you have asked in your comments that I give an update on how my life is going (for those who didn't see it, a while back I posted a note about why it was taking me so long to update). Life is going okay. Still no jobs for either me or my husband, but we're not in critical danger yet. We have a new dog we got for my adopted son and she is doing wonders for him. My son is healing, although it will take years for him to recover and I doubt he will ever fully be 100%. We're building trust and he's learning that he has a safe place where people love and care about him.

Thanks everyone who sent me comments. J It's great to know you like Here is Gone. And now, without further delay... I give you a cliffhanger.  And no, I won't post more today because I'm taking my son out to an art exhibit. :P *evil grin*

*******

Buffy was pounding away on the bag, trying to burn off energy when Giles entered the training room.

"You sure you're not going to tire yourself out?" he asked softly.

"I'm sure," she replied, not missing a beat.

"We're still working on ideas. Time's short, but it's best to wait 'til the last minute. If we go in too early and she takes us out, there's no chance of getting her to miss her window."

"So we wait," she said sending one last punch. The chain snapped and the bag flew a few feet before hitting the ground.

"I imagine you hate me right now," he sighed.

She turned to face him. "Little bit. But I understand."

"I love Dawn," he assured.

"I know."

"But I have sworn to protect this sorry world, and sometimes that means saying and doing... what other people can't. What they shouldn't have to."

"You try to hurt her, you know I'll stop you," she warned.

"I know."

They stared each other down for a moment, then Buffy crossed to the couch and sat down. Giles sat beside her.

"How many apocalypses is this for us?" she asked casually.

"Well, six, at least. Seems like a hundred."

"I've always stopped them. Always won."

"Yes," he answered simply.

"I sacrificed Angel to save the world. I loved him so much... but I knew what was right. I don't have that any more. I don't understand. I don't know how to live in this world, if these are the choices, if everything's just stripped away then I don't see the point. I just wish... I wish my mom was here," she admitted, tears in her eyes.

Just then Xander ran in, skidding to a hasty stop. "Buffy... Willow and Spike, they just woke up!"

She nodded at him and stood. As she was starting to leave, she turned back.

"The spirit guide told me that Death was my gift. I guess that means a Slayer really is just a killer after all."

"I think you're wrong about that."

"It doesn't matter. If Dawn dies, then I'm done with it. I'm quitting."

With that, she walked out of the training room, leaving Giles alone with his thoughts.

She spied Spike, Willow and Tara on the floor where she had left them, only Spike was sitting up now and shaking his head. Willow was saying something to him and urging him to stand.

Buffy clenched her fists and stalked over to them.

"Where is she?" she demanded. "Where's my sister?!"

She raised her fist, prepared to strike Spike if need be, but then Willow amazed her by stepping in-between them.

"I won't let you hurt him, Buffy," the witch said defiantly, her 'resolve face' firmly in place.

She blinked at her friend, surprised by the hard glint in Willow's eyes.

"He's been through a lot and he needs a few minutes before he can get up," Willow continued.

"We don't have a few minutes," Buffy countered.

Spike reached up to grasp Willow's wrist.

"Get the 'Bot. We'll need her," he said businesslike.

"Oh! She's in the basement. We put her down there after... after we rescued you from Glory. One of Glory's scabby minions shorted her out."

"Fix 'er. She'll come in handy as a diversion," he told her.

"Oh, great idea!"

Xander nodded. "I'll bring her up. We found her down there when Anya and I were ... looking for the Dagon's Sphere."

"Great," Willow answered.

Spike looked at Buffy. "Do you have the Troll Hammer?"

"Uhh... yeah," she replied, confused.

"Good." He turned to Tara. "Glinda, go upstairs and get the Book of Darkest Majick."

"Darkest Majick?!" the witch exclaimed. "Oh... oh no..."

"There's barrier spells in there. Good ones that'll work against the Hell Bitch."

Tara shook her head. "No. I couldn't. Those spells ..."

"I'll do it," Willow interrupted. "I'm more comfortable with the darker stuff anyway."

She moved to head up the ladder to the restricted section.

"Red," Spike called out in a warning tone and she turned back to him, kneeling in front of him and placing a gentle hand on his face.

"I've done it before," she whispered. "You showed me. But you also showed me that things don't have to go the way you think they will. You can change the future."

They stared at each other for a few moments and Spike's eyes grew misty, but then he finally gave her a small nod and she pulled away.

"How are you feeling?" Tara asked Spike as Willow went up the ladder.

The vampire thought for a moment. "Better."

"I was doing some... rejuvenation spells while you were... gone. I hope they helped."

Rising slowly to his feet, Spike gave a grateful nod. "Yeah. I don't feel like I've gone twelve rounds on the business end of Angelus' fist."

Tara gave him a happy smile then ducked her head. "I should go help Willow."

"Yeah. Keep 'er from gettin' too deep into it."

With both the witches upstairs, Anya and Xander in the basement collecting the Buffybot and Giles still in the Training Room, Spike and Buffy were left to themselves. They stared at each other awkwardly until Buffy put her hands in her back pockets and looked away.

"Look," Spike began softly. "I know that you're worried and scared, but you have to trust me. There's things you don't know..."

"Whose fault is that?" she snapped back.

Spike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "We really don't have time for this. You just have to trust me. I am doing everything I can here."

"Do you know where Dawn is?" she demanded.

"Yes," he answered without hesitation.

"Then we need to go get her."

Spike shook his head. "Not yet. We need to go to your place and get clothes for the 'Bot and weapons. We have enough time. Things won't go down until just before dawn."

Buffy looked him over, her hard face softening a little. "Are you up to fighting?"

He paused for a moment then nodded. "I'll hold up. Whatever Glinda did fixed me up enough to do what I gotta do. I'm not good enough to go spin kicking a Gruth'lak demon, but I'll do alright against Glory's midgets."

She gave him a short nod. "Let's go then."

********

Spike held his breath as they began the walk to Buffy's house, following along just a step behind her as they walked the darkened, quiet streets. Fate was with him and she did not try to ask him questions as they made their way to Revello Drive.

Stepping up onto the front porch, he remembered the last time he had been here. This was the night when Buffy re-invited him into the house, where she had showed him the she was willing to see him as something other than a monster. He'd stopped at the door, hadn't even tried to cross the threshold. He even offered that she could hand the weapons out to him instead. She'd also extracted the promise from him, the one he hadn't been able to keep.

She opened the door and they went in. There were no barriers this time.

"Weapons are in the chest by the TV. I'll grab the stuff upstairs..." she told him.

Spike headed into the living room. "Won't bother with the small stuff. Couple of good axes'll hold off Glory's mates while you take on the lady herself."

Buffy stopped him.

"We're not all gonna make it. You know that," she said.

He shook his head. "No, I don't know it. But yeah, it's a possibility. Hey, I always knew I'd go down fighting."

She swallowed and set her jaw. "I'm counting on you, Spike. To help save her."

He looked her directly in the eye and swore on his own soul, "Til the end of the world. Even if that happens to be tonight."

"When this is all over, you're going to tell me everything," she told him.

He smiled at her, a small, sad smile, and tears came to his eyes, then he reached for her and gently took her face in his hands. "When this is all over, I promise I will tell you *everything.*"

She nodded and took a small step back, tears in her own eyes.

"I'll be a minute," she managed and started up the stairs.

"I know I've kept things from you," he began.

She stopped on the stairs and turned to look at him.

"I know it's looked like I've been dishonest. But everything I've done, I've done because I have been trying to protect you and spare you pain. I do love you. Buffy, even if you don't love me, even if you'll never love me, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you and Dawn come out of this alive."

She nodded. "I know."

"Thank you. For treating me like a man, even though I've been a monster. That's..." He stopped, cutting himself off. "Go on. Get your stuff. I'll be here."

She gave him one more long look before going up the stairs. He went into the living room and pulled the axes out of the weapons chest. She came back down with clothes for the 'Bot a minute or so later, and joined him in the front foyer.

"Ready?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"Let's do this then."

"Okay."

He handed her one of the axes and they left the house together.