"Rupie, don't forget the rules. Don't mess with the Guardian! He might hurt you, and then I'd be all sad and everything."

"Not a bloke to let down mate". Not keen for her to go through anything like I did. But if that bloke thinks it's necessary, after what he did for me, we go back to Tanzania.

"Giles, what's the damage with the whole monsoon thing?" from Buffy.

"Rain so hard you'd be drier in a swimming pool, that lasts for weeks. We'll have to do some trekking to get to Shambala, as it's warded against portals or apparating. Rain plus trekking equals leeches. Lots of leeches."

"Ewwwwwwww. Hey, I saw them on your Blackadder tapes. They are mini-vamps right. I could stake 'em!" Really shouldn't have got those tapes out when I was staying with Rupert. Anya's stories about the creative uses of leeches and wishes did not make for a happy pizza session. Even the Whelp only ate half of his.

"For future reference Buffy. Not staking, no pulling them off either. The heads stay in the skin, and cause infections.

"Ewwwwwwwwwww." Do wish Californians had a wider range of words expressing disgust. I mean proper English has shed-loads. Eww does get a tad monotonous.

"Use a lighter, a lit cigarette or salt. All of which don't go well with the monsoon. Poor Ethan, I remember…" All of us were looking at him waiting for more Ripper tales, when he realised he was incriminating himself. So deftly changing subjects Watcher-Boy continued. "Samuel works fast. Shouldn't take long. Nepal might take much longer, and if Samuel thinks it's necessary it is. So, off to Tanzania it is then. If everyone could pack and be back in half an hour. Anya dear would you mind opening a portal?"

"Of course not Rupie. We can go and look at the nice animals while The Guardian torments her. It'll be romantic!" At which he looked somewhat taken aback. But being Rupert he gathered himself together, kissed her forehead, and soothed Buffy, who'd looked scared again.

"Buffy, just an epiphany. No torments. Just healing and what you need, if not always what we want."

"Ok," she said in a small voice.



The girls went off to pack, while Rupert went downstairs to pay the bill. If it was up to me, we'd have played Aussie Rules and just done a runner. Might be re-tuned, but it'd be fun. Guess this new me is a bit of a work in progress. Course doing a runner is still better than eating the desk clerk as a checkout procedure.

Half an hour later I'm carrying the bags out to the alley. Guess Rupert doesn't wanna risk a fire from more singed carpet. Think Anyanka has been buying stuff as well as me and Buffy, coz these bags are definitely heavier.



One portal later we are back in the Shaman's village. Same timezone, or near enough as makes no difference. So still sunny and bloody hot. Still feels strange not to have to duck for cover, but to have the sun touch my skin.



Buffy starts hyperventilating. "Giles, Spike, Anya, I don't think I can do it. I'm not ready!"

Giles looks at her, pats her arm, and says "It'll be ok. I won't let anyone hurt you. You'll be fine, better than you are now." I'd give her a pat too, but my arms are already full with enough shopping to keep Imelda Marcos out of mischief.

"It's not that Giles. I trust you. I trust all three of you." That's brought tears to my eyes, and through the tears I can see it's had the same effect on Giles. Anyanka is looking a bit puzzled. Think this Buffy is a bit of an abrupt change for her, after the way those two have butted heads in recent years.

Buffy continued. "It's not any epiphany. Not scared of that. You think I need it. Hey, you saved my life all of you, not for the first time either. You say I need it I do it. It's…it's Willow. She's here right? Not sure I'm up to that…not right now. Still love her. She's my best friend. But, I saw her skin someone alive! She tried to end the World! She tried to kill me, and my sister. How do I deal with that?"

My turn I guess. I put the bags down, dirt be dammed. Put my hands on her shoulders and looked her in those big eyes. "Buffy, I know this is hard. It's gonna be hard for her too. She's done some unforgivable things. That's bloody hard to live with, know that one. But so did I. You found it in your heart to forgive me. And I thank every deity that may or may not be out there that you did. Most of all I thank you."

She was getting it. I could see that in her eyes. She reached up a hand and rested it on mine, and gave me a half smile. I'm a lucky sod. Know that. But I had to continue, before I lose my nerve. For her sake, for mine, and most of all for Red. God knows I'm in no position to throw the first stone. "Maybe you can do it again, for her. Only when, and if, you are ready, luv. No pressure, no hurry. But when you are ready we'll be there for you. Besides that was top quality mojo. Red might still be out for the count, might not be able to see her. Might be crashed out in a hut somewhere. Anyway, don't need to face her 'til you want to, make sure of that one."

"She patted my hand. "Thanks, maybe later. Bear it in mind. Like the new improved Spike, he's a nice guy." Ok now I'm choking up.

Giles cleared his throat. "Not until you are ready and if you want to Buffy. If you all want to go into the bar I'll go and see Samuel, and work out the arrangements."



So I picked up the bags and escorted the ladies into the noisy bar. Anyanka took it in her stride of course. Probably a nice feeling for her to go somewhere with sensible drinking laws. Girl's been around since an era when babies drank beer, must have been hell to end up in a place where you have to be 21 to drink.

Buffy is back in full-on culture shock mode. There may be some risk of catatonia. The place is the anti-Bronze in so many ways. It's a metal roofed big room, with a concrete floor, a noisy generator powering the beer stocked fridge and the loud local music. Everyone here is local and they're all looking at the return of the prodigal, and the two western girls. At least no Red, so that's on the back burner. So I seat the girls at a rough wooden table and head to the bar. Beer is a truly wonderful thing, and it's safer than the water, so I got us all one.

We were just finishing them when Giles returned. He got swallowed up in the crowd of his mates glad to see him return. After lots of back slapping and friendly ribbing in Swahili he got to our table. "Where's mine, you tosser?"

"Would have got warm Giles. Can't have that!" Well it's true!

"You're buying the next round! Ok, here it is. Spike, you take Buffy to the Shaman. You know where it is. Anya and I will take the bags to the guest hut, as I know where it is. We will set up and meet you back here. Don't worry. Willow isn't at the guest hut or the Shaman's. She is out still, and will be for some time. But she is fine. I looked in on her."

Buffy visibly breathed easier at that. But still looked nervous at going to see the Shaman right now. "S'ok pet. Gonna be fine. Come on. Sooner it's done, sooner it's over." She nodded and stood up.

"See you later Giles." I opened the door for Buffy, and we walked on up the track. Both having too much to think about to talk right now. Only a few days since this was me. Now it's her, and she's gotta be nervous. I am, for her. But got confidence in this bloke. Knows his stuff. Gonna be all right.