The Chosen Champion
We are Joined by Bonds of Love-Chapter 2
"Buffy's in trouble" he panted out. "And we've got to help her."
Giles looked mildly at Spike. "Buffy's in trouble? What kind of trouble? And how do you know it?"
"She's been taken over by the First. Long story, mate. No time to tell it all now. Saddle up the troops!" Giles made no movement towards getting up. "C'mon. Time's a wasting."
"And why exactly should I take your word for it?"
Spike was rapidly losing his temper and his patience. "Know you don't like me. Know you don't trust me. But Buffy needs help. Are you gonna let your Slayer die, just 'cause you can't stand me?" Spike stared the Watcher down.
Just then, Xander entered the room. "What's up?" he asked, looking at the tense scene before him.
Willow piped up. "Spike says that Buffy is in trouble."
"So?" Xander replied. "Why are we standing around?"
Spike looked at the young man gratefully. "Right. Get the Potentials. Get Faith. Arm them with every weapon you can find." He turned to Willow. "Red, can you do a binding spell? Something that might bind the First after it gets out of Buffy's body?"
Willow looked uncertain. "I.I think so. But I couldn't use dark magic, 'cause the First would just feed on that."
"Fine. Gather up anything you need and let's go."
Rather reluctantly, Giles got up to help with the preparations.
When all everyone had gathered together, Spike addressed the troops. "Buffy has been taken over by the First." There were assorted gasps and murmurings from the crowd. "It's using her body to open the Hellmouth underneath the High School. We're going to stop that and get her back." He turned to Xander. "You take one-third of the Potentials. Faith, you take another third." Clenching his jaw, he turned to Wood. "You take another third. Kill anything that comes out of the Hellmouth. Willow, you and Giles will do the spell to contain the First."
Dawn piped up from the crowd. "What about me?"
"Yeah, and me" added Andrew, both scared and hopeful of Spike's instructions for him.
"Andrew, Anya, I want you to hang back and keep Dawn safe."
"Keep me safe?" Dawn complained. "I know what I'm doing. Buffy showed me. And she's *my* sister."
He looked at her sternly. "Dawn, keys lock things up as well as open them. You are important, but you have to stay safe until we are ready for you."
Taking a deep breath, he said "Everyone ready?" They didn't look ready at all, but they had to be now. There wasn't going to be anymore training time. "Let's go."
*****
The First watched the Hellmouth start to crack through Buffy's eyes. It laughed with glee at the feeling of power emanating from the ground.
Angel regained consciousness and staggered over to Buffy.
"Buffy, what are doing.? What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong." It replied. "I feel strong, powerful. I'm gonna like this new world."
"Buffy, I love you."
"Oh, you love me. With your poor, tortured soul. You are *so* pathetic. Do you think I could really put up with you? With your whining and your brooding? Angelus is so much more fun." She looked up seductively at him. "Are you sure Angelus doesn't want to come out and play?"
"Buffy, you.you don't really mean that." He knew for certain now that something was drastically wrong with Buffy. She would never want anything to do with Angelus.
The rumblings coming from the Hellmouth now started to fill the whole room, deafening in it's intensity.
Angel tried to grab Buffy, but she shook him off, throwing him once more. He started towards her again, when something caught his eye. Entering the basement was an army of girls. All colors, shapes and sizes. And all heavily armed. And leading the way? Spike.
"Oh look," Buffy said tauntingly, "it's the *other* vampire with a soul." She rolled her eyes with great disdain. "Have you come to save the Slayer? Well, it's too late. The Hellmouth is opening. And I like this body. It's way more fun than Caleb."
Inside, what was left of the real Buffy cheered. Spike had come for her. He would help her. Give her strength. Watch her back.
"Spread out" Spike yelled to the others, hoping he could be heard over the noise. The Potentials, led by Xander, Faith and Wood took positions around the Hellmouth and waited. Spike looked at Angel. "Go over with Red and Rupert. Protect them at all costs." Spike's tone brooked no argument, though he was mildly surprised when Angel didn't argue. Angel merely grabbed an extra sword from one of the Potentials and took up a position in front of Willow.
"Do you really think you can save the Slayer?" The First yelled at Spike. "There is nothing left of her. Nothing at all."
"I don't believe that for a minute." Spike growled as he started to circle around her. "She's still in there, I know she is. And I still love her."
"Buffy" lunged at Spike, trying to take him down. He easily dodged, the new power coursing through his body making his movements fluid.
The Hellmouth started spewing out demons, Turok-Han, creatures dark and evil. As scared the little Slayers were, they bravely waded in and started attacking. Cutting down anything that climbed out of the mouth of Hell.
"Love," the First scoffed. "The Slayer knows nothing of love. You think she wouldn't toss you over for the next good thing that comes along?" Buffy's body threw a hard punch into Spike's stomach. He flew across the basement floor, landing near the wall. "She dumped you the minute that useless hunk of Iowa farmboy showed up. She dumped you for that Principal. She launches herself at Angel every time he deigns to reappear in her life."
She hit him again. "She."
Punch.
"Doesn't."
Kick.
"Love."
Slam.
"You."
Spike roared like a wounded animal and slammed "Buffy" into the wall. "Doesn't matter." He hit her with all his strength. "I love her. I love the woman." He swept his leg out and she landed on the floor. "I love the Slayer. I love bitchy Buffy." He kicked her hard and she rolled a few feet away. "I know you're in there Buffy. Fight it! Fight the evil. You can do it."
The real Buffy did start fighting back. Pushing, shoving, a gigantic smackdown inside the Slayer's body.
"Nooooo." The First screamed.
"Yeah. That's it Slayer. Fight it off." Spike continued to fight. He felt bad about hurting Buffy's body so, but knew he had to.
Buffy could feel herself grow stronger. She did love. She loved Angel. She loved her mom. She loves Dawn. And Giles. And Xander. And Willow.
And she loves Spike.
Buffy fell on her back, collapsing as if she were a puppet with no strings. Then she started convulsing, heaving. A black mist spewed from her mouth and rose towards the ceiling.
"Red! Now!" Spike yelled across the basement.
Willow started chanting, drawing on the power within the earth. Trying to control the First without letting it control her. The black cloud swirled and danced, trying to escape the Wiccan's binding spell. Trying to find a new home.
"Hurry, Spike! I can't hold this for long!" Willow yelled back.
"Buffy, you all right now?" Spike helped her up as quickly as he could. The Potentials were losing ground to the creatures coming out of the Hellmouth. "I've got to get Dawn. She can close the Hellmouth."
Buffy nodded, feeling her strength come back.
Spike fought his way over to where Anya, Andrew and Dawn remained sheltered from the battle. "C'mon Niblet, s'your turn now."
Taking her by the hand, he hacked and slashed through the demons until he reached the crack in the basement floor. He took his sword and held it to the teenager's hand. "Sorry, Dawn, don't wanna hurt you. Got no choice." He looked miserable at the mere thought.
Dawn got a determined look on her face. "No, Spike. I'll do it. I'm okay." She took the sword in her right hand and pulled it lightly across her left, gritting her teeth against the pain. As her blood dripped into the Hellmouth, the rumbling increased, knocking down everyone, humans and demons alike.
With a loud crack the Hellmouth snapped shut.
After the overpowering roar of the clash, the silence that filled the room was eerie.
Giles looked around to assess the damage. Scoobies all accounted for. Faith, Angel, Andrew-all still standing.
But the Potentials. Dear Lord, the Potentials. What a massacre. What a bloody waste. At least ten dead. Hard to tell with all the demon corpses littering the place. And looks like Principal Wood died too.
Spike picked up Dawn and carried her over to Buffy's side. "You did it Slayer. You stopped The First," he said softly.
"We did." She replied. Buffy wrapped one arm around Dawn, and used the other to pull Spike against her side. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Willow came up and put her arms around Spike and Dawn. Then Xander encircled Buffy. Soon Anya, Giles and Faith joined in the group hug. Even Andrew managed to get a little snuggle in.
Angel hung back, knowing he wasn't really a part of this group anymore.
Finally, after several moments of just holding on to each other, they broke apart. Buffy was back in charge. "Faith, take the girls who can still walk, home. Patch them up. Xander, call an ambulance for the girls who need more serious attention." Tears started to run down her face as she truly realized the carnage that had taken place. "We need." Her voice faltered and she had to take a deep breath to try again. "We need to bury the girls who died. Or get them to their families somehow. And Robin, too."
Giles spoke up. "Let me take care of it, Buffy. You've been through enough." He looked directly into Spike's eyes. "Spike should take you home. Let you rest."
Spike felt shock as the words sunk into his brain. Rupert was trusting him with Buffy. He nodded, then slid an arm around her waist and led her home.
tbc
"Buffy's in trouble" he panted out. "And we've got to help her."
Giles looked mildly at Spike. "Buffy's in trouble? What kind of trouble? And how do you know it?"
"She's been taken over by the First. Long story, mate. No time to tell it all now. Saddle up the troops!" Giles made no movement towards getting up. "C'mon. Time's a wasting."
"And why exactly should I take your word for it?"
Spike was rapidly losing his temper and his patience. "Know you don't like me. Know you don't trust me. But Buffy needs help. Are you gonna let your Slayer die, just 'cause you can't stand me?" Spike stared the Watcher down.
Just then, Xander entered the room. "What's up?" he asked, looking at the tense scene before him.
Willow piped up. "Spike says that Buffy is in trouble."
"So?" Xander replied. "Why are we standing around?"
Spike looked at the young man gratefully. "Right. Get the Potentials. Get Faith. Arm them with every weapon you can find." He turned to Willow. "Red, can you do a binding spell? Something that might bind the First after it gets out of Buffy's body?"
Willow looked uncertain. "I.I think so. But I couldn't use dark magic, 'cause the First would just feed on that."
"Fine. Gather up anything you need and let's go."
Rather reluctantly, Giles got up to help with the preparations.
When all everyone had gathered together, Spike addressed the troops. "Buffy has been taken over by the First." There were assorted gasps and murmurings from the crowd. "It's using her body to open the Hellmouth underneath the High School. We're going to stop that and get her back." He turned to Xander. "You take one-third of the Potentials. Faith, you take another third." Clenching his jaw, he turned to Wood. "You take another third. Kill anything that comes out of the Hellmouth. Willow, you and Giles will do the spell to contain the First."
Dawn piped up from the crowd. "What about me?"
"Yeah, and me" added Andrew, both scared and hopeful of Spike's instructions for him.
"Andrew, Anya, I want you to hang back and keep Dawn safe."
"Keep me safe?" Dawn complained. "I know what I'm doing. Buffy showed me. And she's *my* sister."
He looked at her sternly. "Dawn, keys lock things up as well as open them. You are important, but you have to stay safe until we are ready for you."
Taking a deep breath, he said "Everyone ready?" They didn't look ready at all, but they had to be now. There wasn't going to be anymore training time. "Let's go."
*****
The First watched the Hellmouth start to crack through Buffy's eyes. It laughed with glee at the feeling of power emanating from the ground.
Angel regained consciousness and staggered over to Buffy.
"Buffy, what are doing.? What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong." It replied. "I feel strong, powerful. I'm gonna like this new world."
"Buffy, I love you."
"Oh, you love me. With your poor, tortured soul. You are *so* pathetic. Do you think I could really put up with you? With your whining and your brooding? Angelus is so much more fun." She looked up seductively at him. "Are you sure Angelus doesn't want to come out and play?"
"Buffy, you.you don't really mean that." He knew for certain now that something was drastically wrong with Buffy. She would never want anything to do with Angelus.
The rumblings coming from the Hellmouth now started to fill the whole room, deafening in it's intensity.
Angel tried to grab Buffy, but she shook him off, throwing him once more. He started towards her again, when something caught his eye. Entering the basement was an army of girls. All colors, shapes and sizes. And all heavily armed. And leading the way? Spike.
"Oh look," Buffy said tauntingly, "it's the *other* vampire with a soul." She rolled her eyes with great disdain. "Have you come to save the Slayer? Well, it's too late. The Hellmouth is opening. And I like this body. It's way more fun than Caleb."
Inside, what was left of the real Buffy cheered. Spike had come for her. He would help her. Give her strength. Watch her back.
"Spread out" Spike yelled to the others, hoping he could be heard over the noise. The Potentials, led by Xander, Faith and Wood took positions around the Hellmouth and waited. Spike looked at Angel. "Go over with Red and Rupert. Protect them at all costs." Spike's tone brooked no argument, though he was mildly surprised when Angel didn't argue. Angel merely grabbed an extra sword from one of the Potentials and took up a position in front of Willow.
"Do you really think you can save the Slayer?" The First yelled at Spike. "There is nothing left of her. Nothing at all."
"I don't believe that for a minute." Spike growled as he started to circle around her. "She's still in there, I know she is. And I still love her."
"Buffy" lunged at Spike, trying to take him down. He easily dodged, the new power coursing through his body making his movements fluid.
The Hellmouth started spewing out demons, Turok-Han, creatures dark and evil. As scared the little Slayers were, they bravely waded in and started attacking. Cutting down anything that climbed out of the mouth of Hell.
"Love," the First scoffed. "The Slayer knows nothing of love. You think she wouldn't toss you over for the next good thing that comes along?" Buffy's body threw a hard punch into Spike's stomach. He flew across the basement floor, landing near the wall. "She dumped you the minute that useless hunk of Iowa farmboy showed up. She dumped you for that Principal. She launches herself at Angel every time he deigns to reappear in her life."
She hit him again. "She."
Punch.
"Doesn't."
Kick.
"Love."
Slam.
"You."
Spike roared like a wounded animal and slammed "Buffy" into the wall. "Doesn't matter." He hit her with all his strength. "I love her. I love the woman." He swept his leg out and she landed on the floor. "I love the Slayer. I love bitchy Buffy." He kicked her hard and she rolled a few feet away. "I know you're in there Buffy. Fight it! Fight the evil. You can do it."
The real Buffy did start fighting back. Pushing, shoving, a gigantic smackdown inside the Slayer's body.
"Nooooo." The First screamed.
"Yeah. That's it Slayer. Fight it off." Spike continued to fight. He felt bad about hurting Buffy's body so, but knew he had to.
Buffy could feel herself grow stronger. She did love. She loved Angel. She loved her mom. She loves Dawn. And Giles. And Xander. And Willow.
And she loves Spike.
Buffy fell on her back, collapsing as if she were a puppet with no strings. Then she started convulsing, heaving. A black mist spewed from her mouth and rose towards the ceiling.
"Red! Now!" Spike yelled across the basement.
Willow started chanting, drawing on the power within the earth. Trying to control the First without letting it control her. The black cloud swirled and danced, trying to escape the Wiccan's binding spell. Trying to find a new home.
"Hurry, Spike! I can't hold this for long!" Willow yelled back.
"Buffy, you all right now?" Spike helped her up as quickly as he could. The Potentials were losing ground to the creatures coming out of the Hellmouth. "I've got to get Dawn. She can close the Hellmouth."
Buffy nodded, feeling her strength come back.
Spike fought his way over to where Anya, Andrew and Dawn remained sheltered from the battle. "C'mon Niblet, s'your turn now."
Taking her by the hand, he hacked and slashed through the demons until he reached the crack in the basement floor. He took his sword and held it to the teenager's hand. "Sorry, Dawn, don't wanna hurt you. Got no choice." He looked miserable at the mere thought.
Dawn got a determined look on her face. "No, Spike. I'll do it. I'm okay." She took the sword in her right hand and pulled it lightly across her left, gritting her teeth against the pain. As her blood dripped into the Hellmouth, the rumbling increased, knocking down everyone, humans and demons alike.
With a loud crack the Hellmouth snapped shut.
After the overpowering roar of the clash, the silence that filled the room was eerie.
Giles looked around to assess the damage. Scoobies all accounted for. Faith, Angel, Andrew-all still standing.
But the Potentials. Dear Lord, the Potentials. What a massacre. What a bloody waste. At least ten dead. Hard to tell with all the demon corpses littering the place. And looks like Principal Wood died too.
Spike picked up Dawn and carried her over to Buffy's side. "You did it Slayer. You stopped The First," he said softly.
"We did." She replied. Buffy wrapped one arm around Dawn, and used the other to pull Spike against her side. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Willow came up and put her arms around Spike and Dawn. Then Xander encircled Buffy. Soon Anya, Giles and Faith joined in the group hug. Even Andrew managed to get a little snuggle in.
Angel hung back, knowing he wasn't really a part of this group anymore.
Finally, after several moments of just holding on to each other, they broke apart. Buffy was back in charge. "Faith, take the girls who can still walk, home. Patch them up. Xander, call an ambulance for the girls who need more serious attention." Tears started to run down her face as she truly realized the carnage that had taken place. "We need." Her voice faltered and she had to take a deep breath to try again. "We need to bury the girls who died. Or get them to their families somehow. And Robin, too."
Giles spoke up. "Let me take care of it, Buffy. You've been through enough." He looked directly into Spike's eyes. "Spike should take you home. Let you rest."
Spike felt shock as the words sunk into his brain. Rupert was trusting him with Buffy. He nodded, then slid an arm around her waist and led her home.
tbc
