Disclaimer:                You've all heard it before; I own nothing, nada, zip.  Everything belongs to Joss Whedon, except for Simon and Jessica, who are mine.

I have just found out that SMG has quit Buffy. 

So I am dedicating this fanfic to all the other B/S shippers out there – it's over, guys.  But the dream lives on.

Into the Dark

Xander was the first to speak, "Well, that's okay then.  We just give Arnie a call and he'll set things straight." Giles glared at him, "Oookay, I'm guessing humour isn't the way to go here."

"When you say the end of days, you're talking about seven seals, angels with trumpets and the final battle, are you?" Spike asked.

"I'm afraid so."

"Um, you couldn't fill me in on what that all means, could you?" Dawn said, raising her hand, "I'm a bit unclear on the whole biblical thing."

Spike turned in his seat to face her, "Revelations says that at the end of the world, the Four Horsemen will rise, the dead will come to life and there'll be a battle between good and evil.  Just who wins is a bit hazy.  There's a whole lot of other stuff as well, but I think that may be the least of our worries."

"And you know this, how?" Xander demanded.

"I was born over a century ago.  Things were different; I know the Bible backwards, forwards and standing on my bleedin' head."

Buffy interrupted them, "But why would a vampire want to end the world?  Seems to me they've got it pretty good the ways things are."

"Maybe it isn't the Apocalypse they want," everyone turned to Willow, "Well, I mean – what if they know something we don't?  What if they know whose gonna win the battle?"

"And what if it isn't the good guys," Xander finished.

Dawn reached out and took Buffy's hand.  Her sister squeezed it back, "It's okay, Dawn; we'll stop this."

"As I see it, our best plan of action would be to prevent the Horsemen rising.  We have to find the vampire and stop her taking another victim," Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "We still have time before sunset.  I suggest we split into two groups and search the town systematically for any sign of vampire activity."

"And if we don't find any?" Buffy asked.

"Then we'll have to hope we can find her when she's hunting."

Willow stood up, "Let's go, then."

"Dawn, you go with Giles and Xander.  Willow, you're with me and Spike.  We'll meet back here at seven; that gives us six hours to find something," Buffy got to her feet and headed into the lounge to sort out weapons.  Giles followed her.

"Buffy, is it a good idea for Dawn to come with us?  Surely she would be safer staying here or going with you and Spike."

Buffy smiled, "I'm sending her with you to protect you and Xander.  I've been training her and let me tell you; she's a Summers," she patted his arm, "Things changed around here while you were gone.  Dawn's not a Slayer, but she's pretty good.  Don't worry about her – just worry about getting yourself back here in one piece – we need your brain."

"I'll do my best," he smiled in reply.  Dawn came into the lounge and took a small axe and some stakes from the chest.  The others were right behind her.

"Is everyone ready?" Dawn asked, pulling on her coat and tucking the stakes into the pockets.  She stuck the axe into her belt and pulled the coat around her to hide it, "Then let's go."

Spike raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at Giles.  He shrugged.  Buffy grinned at their faces, "I told you she was a Summers."  She followed her sister towards the door, ushering the men ahead of her.  Spike shook his head again, "God help us," he muttered.

Simon peered out of the gap in the curtains at the three figures in the street.  They had just come out of the apartment block on the other side of the street and two of them seemed to be having a politely heated discussion.  The sun was starting to dip in the sky.

"What are you looking at, brother?" Jessica was on the other side of the room, carefully staying out of the beam of sunlight.

"Three people.  A blonde woman, another woman; a redhead, and a man.  I think they're searching for something."

"And?" his sister's voice was calm and cold.  It always was these days.  Simon couldn't help but remember her smile, back when she used to smile for joy.  She used to laugh as well.

"I think the blonde is the Slayer," he turned to face her, pulling the curtains closed, "We have to find out what they're looking for.  You lost that boy last night and word might have reached her," Simon went to the kitchen and took the bag out of the bin, "Stay here."

"I'm just saying, you don't generally find vampires hiding out in posh apartments."

"And I'm saying, Mr Smarty Pants, that we have to search the whole town.  And by the way, keep your voice down.  Trying to keep up the whole secret identity thing here," Buffy folded her arms.  Spike gave up; she wasn't going to give in any time soon.  He stepped back and gave a mock bow.

"After you, love."

For Willow's benefit, Buffy folded her arms and tossed her head, shouldering him out of the way, but Spike had seen the smile before she could hide it.  It was good to be out patrolling with her again, even if they were patrolling in the wrong place.  And Buffy felt it too.  He followed her towards the next block.

"I think Spike might be right, Buffy.  I mean, look at this place.  Not really the usual smelly old vamp hideout, is it?  Y'know, with the dust and the mould and that funny kinda smell," Willow's eyes widened slightly and she turned to Spike, "No offence."

"Nah, you're right, Red.  Most of my hideouts have been pretty crap.  Goes with the territory."

The main door opened and a dark-haired young man stepped out with a trash bag in his hand.  He glanced at the three of them.

"Giles told us to search the whole town and this is in our half.  Do you want the world to end just because we didn't think vampires enjoy interior decorating?" Buffy pulled the door open and stood back to let the others in, "We'll just have a quick look around for any traces, then we'll go to the graveyards.  Okay?" She closed the door behind them.

Simon threw the bag into the bin and let the lid drop.  He followed the three into the building, fumbling in his jeans for the keys.  They were about a flight ahead of him on the stairs.  Calming his breathing, he silently prayed that they wouldn't knock on any doors and if they did, that Jessica wouldn't be stupid enough to answer it.  He reached the top, glancing around as casually as he could.  They were at the other end of the corridor, knocking on the neighbour's door.  Simon saw the man with the bleached hair look up at him and watch as he went to his own apartment.  He unlocked it and stepped inside, throwing another cautious glance behind him as he entered.  He wasn't being watched any more.  Closing the door, he leaned up against it, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"What's going on?" his sister demanded.

"It's the Slayer and two others.  They're looking for us and they'll be here in a minute.  Get into the bedroom and keep out of sight."

"I don't like hiding, Simon; it's not me," Jessica pouted, "Can't I just kill them?"

He grabbed her shoulders, turned her around and shoved her unceremoniously into the bedroom, "Well, you're hiding this time.  I need you and getting yourself staked is not the kind of help I want."  As he closed the bedroom door, there was a knock from behind him.  He checked his reflection, flicked the hair out of his eyes and opened the door.

"Hi," Buffy treated him to a dazzling smile, "I've lost my cat and I was wondering if you've seen him."

"Uh, what does he look like?" Simon was aware of the sweat dripping down his back.

"He's small and grey and he has a little blue collar with a bell on."

"No, I haven't seen him.  Do you have a number in case I do?"

Spike stepped forward, "It's okay, mate, he can't have gone far.  We were just wondering if you'd taken him in," he took Buffy's arm and started to guide her towards the stairs, "Come on, love.  We'll try the next floor down."

Simon closed the door slowly, checking that they were leaving.

"What did they want?" Jessica's voice said in his ear.

Simon spun around, "Christ, Jessica!"

She smiled slowly, her eyes still cold.

"They said they were looking for a lost cat," Simon sat down in an armchair, "we'll have to be careful tonight."

Jessica shrugged.  She didn't care about her brother's plans, as long as she got to feed.  And as long as she got to wreak havoc when the last battle started.

"A cat?" Spike asked Buffy incredulously as they left the building, "You actually went in there and asked six people if they'd seen your lost cat?  Couldn't you think of anything better than that?"

"You didn't even describe the same cat, Buffy.  It was grey, it was a tabby, it was black with a yellow collar, a red collar," Willow added her opinion.

Buffy turned on them, "Look, there is yet another Apocalypse on the way and I don't have time to come up with a detailed cover story.  I just wanted to see if I could sense anything in there."

"And did you?" Willow asked hopefully.

"Yeah, I did.  I couldn't pin it down, though.  The vamp's probably been there for a while; I couldn't tell which apartment she was in.  And it wasn't anyone we were talking to," Buffy frowned.

"Let's go back in, then."

Spike shook his head, "No, we can't just bust into people's homes and rip the place up looking for one vampire." Willow and Buffy looked at him, "What?"

"Back in the day, you wouldn't have thought twice about it," Buffy told him.

"Yeah, well, things have changed.  I reckon we should go get the others, set up a watch here and follow anything that comes out after dark."

"But what if this isn't the one we were looking for?" Willow pointed out.

"I don't think so.  If someone in that block is hiding a vampire, there's a reason they haven't been eaten yet."

Buffy nodded, "He's right.  Let's get back and tell the others," she checked her watch, "They'll be back in an hour."

The three turned and headed for home.

Giles, Dawn and Xander arrived back at Buffy's house half an hour after the others.

"Hey guys.  Did you find anything?" Xander asked, heading for the kitchen.

"Yeah.  We think there's a vampire holed up in one of the apartment blocks on the other side of town," Buffy answered.

Giles frowned, "What makes you think that?"

"Buffy felt something when we were there.  Someone in one of the apartments is harbouring a vamp, which can't be good," Willow explained.

"It sounds like the sort of thing we were looking for," Giles agreed.

"What about you?  Did you come across anything?"

Xander came back in with two cans of soda and handed one to Dawn.  He put an arm around her shoulders, "Dawn here dusted two vamps.  She was like, eat stake, bloodsuckers!"

Dawn pushed him away, "I didn't say that."

"Well, no, not those actual words.  But the implication was there.  She was a total bad ass tonight, Buff," Xander grinned.

Dawn sat down, blushing a little, "Giles got one, too."

"Hey, bit, well done.  We'll make a Slayer of you yet."

Xander started to describe the fight in detail to Willow and Spike, while Dawn sat and looked half proud, half embarrassed.  Giles took Buffy to one side.

"I noticed that Dawn fighting style is more defensive than your own."

Buffy nodded, keeping half an ear on Xander's story, "I figured that she hasn't got my strength, so I'd be better off teaching her how to defend and look for an opening."

"Well done.  We'll make a Watcher of you yet," Giles smiled, "I'm assuming we'll be going to track the vampire as soon as the sun sets?"

Buffy nodded, "We'll settle in where we can see the front and back doors, then we wait for someone to leave.  I just hope that whoever's helping that vampire didn't figure us out."

The door of the apartment flew open and Jessica swept into the room.  The old woman cowered in her armchair in front of the television, clutching the crucifix that hung around her neck.

"Simon," Jessica called.

Her brother followed her into the room, glancing around.  He crossed over to the terrified victim and snapped the necklace, throwing it away from him.  Jessica stepped up behind him, "Go and watch at the door, brother, this won't take long." She bent to the woman's neck and licked the skin gently, her hand around her victim's throat.  She could feel her shaking.  Jessica smiled and looked into the woman's eyes, "Now this is going to hurt."

Simon hurt the muffled cry behind him, his eyes flicking up and down the corridor nervously.  After a few minutes, his sister called him and he returned to arrange the body.  Jessica stood wiping her lips delicately.

"Next time, choose a younger victim; she was stale." She left the apartment and stood waiting in the corridor.

Simon finished drawing the symbol on the carpet and stood to leave.  He paused for a moment as he noticed the framed photographs hanging above the sideboard.  Her family.  Simon reached out and turned them over so that they faced the wall.

"Simon!" the sharp voice snapped him out of his contemplation and he left the apartment, closing the door softly behind him.

Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her sleep.  Spike glanced over to check she was okay, then went back to watching the apartment block.  He jumped as Willow placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Christ, Red!"

"Sorry," she grinned, "Time to change over."

Spike handed her the binoculars and moved quietly back to where Buffy was lying.  He pulled his duster around him and settled down with his arm under his head.  It had been a long day and he was asleep in seconds.

Buffy woke up to Willow shaking her.  For a moment, she couldn't work out why it was dark and why she was on the ground.

"Your turn to watch," Willow whispered, "But I can carry on if you're comfortable there."

Buffy came to her senses and realised that she had her head on Spike's chest and his arm was around her, holding her protectively.  She blushed in the dark.  She could see Willow smirking above her.  Moving slowly, so as not to wake Spike, Buffy slipped out from his embrace.  He murmured something in his sleep.  Buffy gave Willow a quick slap on the arm and slipped forward to take her turn watching.

"Willow."

She was back in their room at Buffy's house and there was a smell of roses.

"Willow."

She turned her head and saw Tara beside her.  Beautiful Tara, her blonde hair spread out across the pillow, her eyes sparkling in the morning light.

"Willow, you have to help Buffy."

Tara's lips weren't moving; her voice was in Willow's head, caressing her mind gently, calming her fears.

"I know," she replied, "But I don't know what I can do."

Tara smiled, "You have a new part to play, my love.  And I am your guide."

"I don't understand," Willow reached out and touched Tara's cheek.  It was cold.  Tara sat up and enfolded her in her arms, surrounding her in the scent of flowers, holding her safe.

"I will come to you when you need me.  I can help you, but you cannot ask it of me too often.  That is why another warrior was sent to Buffy.  One who fights out of love, not duty or friendship.  One who will give his life to protect any one of you."

"Spike," Willow murmured, burying herself in the essence of the dream, holding it in her heart.

"Yes," Tara whispered, "I can only tell you what you must do, but he is the one who can give Buffy the strength to do it.  I must go soon."

"No!" Willow looked up at Tara, tears in her eyes, "You can't leave me again.  Why do you leave me every night?"

"Because I must," she smiled, "But I can tell you that tomorrow night you must be in St Michael's graveyard on the east side of town.  The fourth victim will be taken there." Tara smiled gently and leaned down to kiss Willow tenderly on her lips.  Willow closed her eyes.

"Goodbye, my love," echoed in her mind and she woke slowly, the cold touch of Tara's lips still lingering on hers.

Spike was shaking her gently, "Red?  You okay?"

She looked up at him, her heart breaking, "It was Tara again."

Spike put an arm around her awkwardly.  She took a deep breath and leaned against him for a moment, calming herself and clearing her mind.  Then she pulled away.

"I have to talk to Buffy."

They moved quietly over to where Buffy sat.  She turned to them as they slipped into place beside her.

"Buffy, I think the vampire's taken another victim.  I think we're too late," Willow whispered urgently.

"But we've been here all night," Buffy replied, "Do you think the others missed them going out the back?"

"No, I think we missed something."

Buffy watched her friend for a moment.  There was something in her eyes.

"How do you know?" she asked.

Willow dropped her gaze, collecting herself again, "Tara told me."

Buffy nodded, "Let's go."

They made their way around to where the others were hiding around the back of the apartment block.  Giles was on watch and woke the other two when he saw them coming.  Dawn was yawning widely.  Buffy quickly communicated to Giles what Willow had told her.

"Perhaps we have missed something," he said, stretching his back out.

"Um, how many people do you suppose live in that block?" Dawn asked.  They all turned slowly to look at her, the realisation hitting them all.

"Bugger!" Spike was on his feet and heading for the back door, fumbling in his pockets for his knife.  He flicked it open as he reached the door and started to work on the lock.

"I'm not sure you should be doing that, Spike," Giles whispered urgently.

"You tell me another way of getting in without waking everybody in the neighbourhood," Spike gave the knife one last twist and the lock clicked open.  Buffy glanced back and saw Dawn taking up a defensive position behind her with Willow and Xander backing her up.  Spike swung the door wide and slipped into the dark corridor next to her.  Giles followed them.  They spread out slightly, making their way up through the building, checking the apartment doors as they went.  On the second floor, Spike found one open.  Someone had pulled it shut, trying to hide the fact that the lock had been smashed in.

"Dawn, stay back there," Buffy ordered.  Her sister rolled her eyes silently, but stayed where she was, keeping an eye on the stairs.  Spike pushed the door open, peering around the door jam.  He flinched back slightly.

"What?" Buffy whispered.

"Blood."

They made their way in, checking the other rooms.  Everything was quiet.  Giles crouched next to the body, lifting it as gently as he could to check underneath.  Buffy joined him and held the old lady's corpse while Giles copied down the latest symbol.  Spike waited by the door.  He couldn't get the smell of blood out of his system; it used to be so intoxicating, but now it sickened him.  It brought the past back, it brought the guilt back.  He could almost smell it on his own hands.  Xander touched his arm.

"You okay, man?"

Spike shook his head to clear it, "Yeah, I'm all right.  Need a cigarette, is all."

Xander decided not to push it.  He backed out and joined Dawn in the corridor.  Giles joined them a few moments later.

"We're leaving," he murmured, "They've gone, whoever they were."

"Wait a minute," Spike whispered, "How did they get out with us watching both doors?"

"How did you used to get to the Magic Box?" Buffy asked grimly.

Giles and Spike looked at each other.

"The basement."

A large hole had been smashed through the bricks in the basement.  It lead straight into the sewers.

"They could be anywhere by now," Dawn said, as she pulled away from the smell.

"Exactly.  That is why I suggest we return to Buffy's house and get some rest," Giles turned and started back up the stairs.

They sat in silence while Willow told Giles about her latest dream in detail.  By the end, Dawn was crying.  Buffy put an arm around her and squeezed her gently.

"Well, good," said Giles, standing up and replacing his glasses, "We have the location of the next attack, so we have a good chance of stopping it and averting the Apocalypse.  Thanks to Tara, tonight hasn't been a complete waste." He smiled at Willow and patted her hand, "I knew she would never leave you."

Willow returned the smile, swallowing back her own tears.

"Okay," Xander broke the mood; "I think its way past our bedtimes, don't you?  Spike, I'll flip you for the couch."

"Nah, s'okay.  I'm getting used to armchairs," Spike replied.

"Okay, so Dawn and I will sleep in the double bed in mom's old room, Giles can sleep in my bed and you two are crashing down here," Buffy threw a couple of blankets to the boys, "Pleasant dreams, children."

Buffy crept down the stairs; she couldn't sleep.  Stealing past the couch where Xander lay snoring gently, she slipped into the kitchen and almost hit the ceiling in fright when she walked into Spike.  He stepped back, his hand over his heart, registering his own shock.  They both got their breath back.

"Couldn't sleep," Buffy mouthed.

"Me neither," he replied.  Spike motioned with his head that they should go outside, holding up a cigarette as his reason.  Buffy shrugged and followed him grabbing a soda from the fridge as she did.  They settled down on the bench in the garden.

"Buffy?"

"What?" she waved the smoke away from her face.

"You didn't forgive me 'cause of my soul, did you?"

Buffy regarded him, "This has been bothering you, hasn't it?"

"Yeah.  I don't want that.  I don't want you all to think, 'oh it's okay now, Spike's got a soul.  He can't hurt anyone', 'cause that's what you thought about the chip.  If you're gonna forgive me, I want it to be because you think I've changed.  Really changed," his voice was shaking.

Buffy turned in her seat so that she could face him properly, "I do think you've changed.  You changed a long time ago; we just didn't give you a chance.  You've earned this forgiveness not just for having the guts to come back here and face us, but before that.  You've saved all of us at one time or another and you protected Dawn when you could have left.  We should have remembered that."

"Thanks, Buffy," he shook his head, "Sounds so crap, doesn't it?  Thanks.  It means more when I say it, okay?"

She smiled, "Okay."

There was a pause as they watched each other.  Spike started to get uncomfortable and fidgeted, turning away and taking a drag on his cigarette.  He searched his brain for something to say, but all he could think of was the beautiful woman sitting next to him, watching him closely.

"So, erm … Tara's still around, then."

"Spike?"

He sighed, "What?" he said, risking a look at her.  She leaned towards him, her hair swinging gently down as she tilted her head.  Spike froze.  Buffy kissed him tenderly, her soft, full lips pressing against his, her mouth slightly open.  His arms came up and held her, feeling her warmth against him.  His mouth opened and the kiss deepened.  His head was spinning too fast; the sensation was wonderful and terrifying at the same time.  He couldn't think; he couldn't stop.  He couldn't stop.

"No!" Spike pushed her away, standing up too quickly and falling backwards to the ground.

"What's wrong?" she was confused; she thought he still wanted her.  Was this some kind of sick payback for what she had done to him?

"I can't, not again.  Buffy, I can't risk hurting you again.  I'm not going to let it happen," he stood up again slowly, "I'm gonna go back to the crypt.  I'll see you tomorrow."

He left quickly, disappearing around the side of the house, his duster swinging behind him.  Buffy looked up at the stars, blinking back tears.  She spoke to anyone who would listen.

"Why would you do this to him?"

And in her heart, she knew that she could lose him, just as she had lost Angel.

Thanks for all the reviews; I really appreciate it.