Disclaimer: I've said it before and I'll say it again – the Buffyverse is not mine and never will be. Oh, how I wish I had a talent like the great Joss Whedon.
Feedback: Keep it coming, guys. If you don't tell me what you like, I can't write it.
Distribution: If you wanna, go ahead – just let me know first.
The Clouds
Buffy jerked awake, aware that someone was shaking her. Spike stirred next to her.
"Willow?" She sat up, "What the hell…"
"She's gone!"
Spike groaned and rubbed his eyes, "Who's gone?"
"Dawn!"
Spike swung his legs off the bed and pulled his jeans on. He was on his feet and at the door in seconds, with Buffy right behind him. She raced to her sister's room, slamming the door open and crossing to the bed. Spike swung himself into the room with a hand on the door frame. Everything seemed to be undisturbed. Even the window was still closed and bolted. Buffy sat down on the bed slowly, pulling the pillow towards her and hugging it close.
"They used magicks," Willow entered the room slowly, "Tara told me."
Spike kicked the bed furiously, wincing from the pain, "Why the hell didn't she tell you sooner?"
"I don't know. But I know what we're up against now."
"Red, call the others. Get them here fast."
Willow nodded, "Um, Buffy?" Her friend looked up at her, vaguely stroking the pillow. "You might wanna put some clothes on before the men get here."
Giles opened his notebook and took a mouthful of tea. It was just getting light outside. "I think it's best if we start from the beginning. Why does this Damon need Dawn? She's not the Key anymore."
"Yes she is, in a way." Willow was sitting on her mattress hugging her knees, "It's hard to explain. You know the monks made her out of Buffy? And you know how there's some sort of link between the Slayer and the Hellmouth? Well, Dawn was a sort of inter-dimensional key and that combined with the Slayer bloodline makes her perfect for opening the Hellmouth."
Xander took a large gulp of his coffee and shook his head, "I thought after Buffy jumped into that portal, Dawn couldn't open anything anymore? She can't even open the pickles."
"Normally, yes, but this Damon has his followers and their belief makes his magicks very strong. He sort of feeds on what he draws from them. Tara said he needs Dawn to centre the power."
"So what now?" Spike was pacing around the room, clenching and unclenching his fists. He looked ready to kill.
"Did Tara have anything else? Like how to kill a Hantarctic demon?"
Willow nodded, "She said we're all ready. She said I have to start using magic again; that I'm strong enough to use the power without letting it take over." Giles stood and went across to her, putting an awkward arm around her shoulders. She smiled up at him, "And she said Spike's special too."
"What? The Evil Dead?" Xander almost choked on his coffee.
"Hey!"
"Sorry, man. Old habits, hard to break."
Spike shrugged, "Go on, Red."
"Tara couldn't see it before, but there is a reason for having some of your demon still in you. When you went to Africa, the things Angel calls 'The Powers That Be' thought they could create something the world had never had before. For some reason, they created a male Slayer."
"Whoa, you're the Kwisatz Haderach." Xander looked around at his staring friends. "No, I'm not even gonna try and explain that."
Buffy finally spoke up, "Why would the Powers do that?"
"I don't know," Willow lowered her gaze, but Spike had seen the glance. For a fraction of a second, she had looked at him and there had been something in her eyes – pain, maybe fear? He couldn't make it out, but Red was hiding something.
"Well, I suggest… "
Anya clapped a hand over Giles' mouth, "It's happening tonight."
Giles pulled her hand away, "Anya, you can't just teleport in and interrupt me like that. It's very impolite." He gave her a brief hug, "Welcome back, by the way."
She smiled at him, "Thanks, Giles. I didn't get any kinda welcome from Buffy or Spike. They were too busy shouting at me."
"You appeared in my bedroom when we were… " Buffy caught Giles' eye, "OK, back to the plan."
"I suggest a locator spell to find Dawn. It might not work if this Damon is really as powerful as Tara seems to think, but it's worth a try." He took Willow's hand and squeezed it. "I know you can do this. I'll go and get the supplies."
Willow looked nervous, but she nodded and tried to rearrange her features into her resolve face. Giles squeezed her hand one more time, stood and picked up his jacket from the back of the couch, checking the pockets for his keys and leaving for the Magic Box. For a moment, everything was quiet.
"Breakfast, anyone?" Xander wandered into the kitchen.
Buffy checked her coffee mug, "Gonna need some more of this. You want something to eat, Anya?"
Anya stopped inspecting the furniture and looked up. She nodded and followed Xander.
"Spike? Will?"
Spike shook his head. Willow seemed preoccupied sitting on the couch, playing absent-mindedly with the hem of her shirt. Buffy shrugged and left the room.
Spike sank down next to Willow. "What is it?"
"What?" She avoided his eyes.
"I saw that look, Red. You gotta tell me." Spike put a hand under her chin and raised her head to face him. "I have to know what Glinda told you; it might help me get Dawn out safe."
Willow shook her head, "It won't."
"Then tell me 'cause I'm your friend."
"That's emotional blackmail, Spike." She granted him a wistful smile, "But you've got a right to know. Tara told me why the Powers made you what you are," She sighed. "Because we brought Buffy back, there's two Slayers and the Powers have an advantage. They like that. But they saw that Dawnie still has some power and they knew what Buffy would do to protect her. They made you to be Dawn's protection, so Buffy can do what she has to."
"Yeah, makes sense. So?"
"So, Tara saw what might happen tonight. She's seen the possible futures." Willow looked down at her hands, "And in one, she saw you die."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blah, blah, blah, exposition, exposition. Sorry, guys.
Not such a big build up to the final chapter, but I hope you're still reading.