I took Giles and my bags. Buffy, as ever, insisted on doing things the hard way and carried her own. Then all three of us went through the portal to Cairo.

It was night in Cairo. Anyanka had been considerate. We were in an empty alley beside the Hilton and just over the road from the Egyptian museum. Points to the demon for sound planning.

We went through the heavy doors and the porters relieved us of the bags. There were swarms of 'em. Can't be many tourists about. Not surprising really, things being as they are news-wise.

So check-in. Two twin rooms, and I'm sharing with Giles? Well back to the Odd Couple. What happens when Anyanka comes back? I saw her face, she'll be back. Bawdy french farce? Room hopping? It's not a Jerry Springer eppy anymore it's gonna be more of a "When did you last see your trousers" West End Farce. But all in all it's probably for the best. Buffy and me, we gotta lot to sort out. Got to get her fixed too. Can't dive back into the maelstrom. Not if we're gonna make something real out of this. Something whole; something not agonisingly painful. Well, we're gonna do it, and if I have to share a room with watcher-boy that's a small price to pay.

10 minutes later watching him sorting out his laundry and cataloguing his travel battered laundry before sending it down for cleaning, I reserve the right to change my mind on the whole it's worth it bit.

He had to make some calls to his mate. So I knock on the room next door and invite Buffy down to get a drink and some food. She can't have eaten much today, and it's been a hard one for all of us. We all desperately need some sleep, but I know none of us, or the others back in Sunnyhell, are gonna sleep easy tonight. A nice drink, and if I can get her to eat something, should help both of us sleep a bit better.

She surprises me. She comes down. She's had a shower and changed clothes into a peasant blouse. Thankfully not that foul purple one. She looks knackered, far too thin, and still a bit shell-shocked, but a bit more at peace than she's been since she came back. At least she knows now what's wrong with her now, I guess.

I order a nice cold draught beer. Not quite "Ice Cold in Alex" but bloody welcome none the less. She has a diet coke. I insist she needs building up, and remind her she's wasting away, and could she at least have a fat coke. She surprises me again. She doesn't fight and agrees. Good! Real coke tastes better anyway. I get us both some nice fat chips. She orders an omelette. At least it's not rabbit food.

Then, silence. You know. The sort when there is so much to say that neither of you know where to start. There's lots to look at though. The hotel overlooks the Corniche - the road by the Nile - and the bar had a great view of it. Course it's night, so the river is just a pitch black ribbon with the skyscrapers mingling with the minarets. So we both admire the view. It's changed since I was here last. No skyscrapers last time. Hopefully not so many mummies this time either. Can well agree with that bloke with the floppy hair in The Mummy - I hate mummies.

We're rescued from having to discuss "the relationship" by Giles joining us with a beer. Just this once I don't think I'm up to it. Give me a good nights kip first. Been through some stuff. He looks parched for it as well. What a couple of days! He slumps into the comfy chair and sups up.

"Calls and laundry all sorted mate?" Not going back 'til they are.

"Thankfully. I am meeting Khalid tomorrow morning at 11 at the museum, and the concierge assures me I should look presentable by then."

"So, no problems with getting the statue then?"

"Not that fast, you know that. Not the way things are done here. We'll talk about that tomorrow, not right now. You should both be able to see something of the town in the meantime."

"I never thought I would ever see abroad. Died twice and still never left the US of A. I can't believe I'm here. Will Willow be OK? Can your friend really help her? Not that I'm not grateful for all that you all did to help us with her. I thought.I thought.I thought I'd have to kill her. I'm still not sure I could have. Not again! It's all my fault. If I'd taken things seriously.Tara." She burst into tears. Thankfully even a travel-worn Giles always carries a hanky.

Giles gathers her up in a big fatherly hug. I want to do it. I was good at soothing Dru. But an easily distractible lovely loon can be easily hushed with promises of treats and kisses. Haven't had much experience with humans. People didn't hug when I was one, not the done thing at all. I mean I'm better than I was after the practice with Nibblet. But it's less complicated coming from him, and he's making all the right shushing noises. So I order us all some more drinks.

He's holding her hands and saying all the right words I wanna say to her. God, this hurts. "Willow will be fine, eventually. Samuel is the ideal person to help her. He helped me after Eyghon. And that was before he even became the Guardian. He's helped Spike here too. If he can help him."

"OY!"

"Sorry. I think she still has some good left in her, so I am sure he can reach her. I'm sorry you had to go through that. We all miss Tara. She was a lovely and gentle soul. It's not your fault she died. You didn't kill her. An evil person did. We can't control others, even if Willow tried. We can only be liable for our own acts. We all made mistakes and we'll all make further ones. But, we are only human."

"OY"

"Sorry, fallible? Fallible beings. We all underestimated the danger. We all bear some guilt."

"Do an all pet. Feels horrible too. Not used to it yet. Does anyone get used to it?"

"No, but we learn to live with it. Or un-live in your case."

"So, Buffy. I'm glad you didn't have to kill her, for your own sake. I know what it would do you. But you didn't have to. We're here for you. All of us. Now blow your nose. Eat up and drink your coke."

"Yeah, we can see the treasures of King Tut tomorrow right? And get Nibblet some prezzies. Souk shopping.much more fun than a boring old mall any day. Biggest souk in the world if I remember right."

"Yeah, shoppage. That'd be nice. But money?"

"No worries pet. All changed into the local stuff. Dollars go a long way here too. All above board too, so no fussin'. Sup up it'll be a long but fun one tomorrow"

So we ate, drank, watched the deep black of the Nile, and had a well-earned kip. Or at least I tried to. Hope Anyanka doesn't mind the snoring. It was muffled from the bathtub. In the next bed.and with vamp hearing. Major karma points to the blond un-chipped vampire! Time was anyone snoring like that would be just asking to get eaten, or worse. But to have somebody sleep soundly knowing you could tear their throat or tongue out, it's a good feeling.

So I forebear. Quite proud of meself really.

But tomorrow should be fun.