Chapter Three: Unexpected Aid

The sun had just set and the Scooby gang was gathered in Giles' demolished living room. Willow sat on the couch next to her new girlfriend Tara. Xander was in a slightly torn easy chair with Buffy standing beside it. Lounging against the wall, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth, was Spike. Xander had run into him on the way to Giles' apartment and told the vampire what was going on. Spike had simply come along, not bothering to explain why. It seemed likelier that he wanted the chance to beat up on demons than that he was here to repay the Watcher for whatever aid had been administered when Spike had escaped the Initiative with a computer chip in his brain.

Buffy started things off by explaining why she figured Giles had been kidnapped. It didn't take long. The destruction of the living was plain and the Slayer hadn't bothered to clean up anything. The weapons and dust were still where they had fallen. The story they told was rather self-evident, especially to the experienced demon hunters (and one demon) who were gathered in the room. Tara listened carefully but the few questions she had, she whispered to Willow who answered the same way.

Frustrated that this small bit of information was all they had to go on, Buffy asked if anyone had any ideas. Surprisingly, Spike was the first to speak up.

"This was obviously a rather large group of vamps, pet. And you said you'd found some weird-acting minions the last few nights. Thought they were searching for something. Well, the past few weeks, there've been a bunch of new vamps in town. Rumor is that a new Master Vampire has moved in."

Before he could finish, Buffy whirled on him, eyes blazing. "You knew there was a new nest in town and you didn't tell us?! A Master Vampire could be serious trouble, especially if he's looking for something."

Xander nodded, "Yeah, usually, when one of these guys sends out search parties, it means some kind of end of the world party. What's this guy looking for, the perfect mate? Why don't we just give him Spike?"

The vampire in question had a look of disdain on his face as he puffed smoke. "Oh, ha bloody ha. For your information, I don't have the slightest idea what this guy wants. And why should I have told you about him, Slayer? Be consorting with the enemy it would. But if he hasn't found what he's looking for yet, and it sounds like he hasn't, then that's my bet on why ol' Rupes was nabbed. He figures out tons of stuff for you lot. Maybe this guy figured he'd use that knowledge."

Buffy visibly calmed herself down and thought for a second. "You're right, that sounds like as good a reason as any that they grabbed Giles. Better than most. And if it's true, they'll keep him alive, at least for a bit, so that's gives us time to find him."

Spike snorted, "They'll keep him alive until he's of no use to them. After that, he's just a snack."

Willow nodded, a small smile on her face, "Yes, but this is Giles. He'll be able to outthink a bunch of vamps, at least make them think he's helping them until we can get to him."

Buffy grinned, "You're right, Will! Now we just have to rescue him before he stops fooling them. Spike! Where is this Master Vampire holed up. Is his lair in a cemetery, the sewers, what?"

Spike shook his head, "Sorry, luv, don't know. This one's kept his head down and none of his minions are talking. All I knew was that he was in town, not where he shacked up. Can't help you there."

Buffy glowered and then took a deep breath and nodded to herself. "All right. Looks like we do this the hard way. We start canvassing the town and I'll shake down any vamps and demons we meet. Maybe we can find one of this guy's minions to lead us to his hideout."

She turned and strode decisively towards the door. Throwing it open, she was suddenly stopped by an unexpected barrier. A man, with his hand poised to knock, to be specific. Buffy's eyes grew wide with surprise and her pretty mouth was now sporting the start of a snarl. "Ethan?! What are you doing here? If you had something to do with this, I swear you'll regret it!"

Ethan Rayne, wearing jeans and a long sleeve silk shirt, simply smirked and pushed past the angry Slayer into the room. "Really, Miss Summers, Ripper must work with you on coming up with some original dialogue. Vague threats are just not in fashion any longer. Besides, is that any way to treat someone who's come to help you?"

Buffy glowered, shut the door with a bang, and turned back to the room, her arms crossed over her chest. "What do you mean, you're here to help? You never help, you're always the problem."

Ethan inclined his head in a gracious nod, "Yes well, I am a Chaos Magician. That is what I do. But I'm quite serious about helping, young lady. Ripper's in trouble. I've come to help him get out of it."

Xander stood, looking confrontational, ready for a fight. "Why should we believe you? You've always tried to hurt us, hurt Giles. And how'd you know he was in trouble already unless you're behind it?"

Ethan rolled his eyes and spoke as if he were talking to very young children. "Ripper is an old friend. What we do with that friendship is between us. But I don't want him hurt. Not like this."

Buffy snorted, "Not unless you're the one to hurt him you mean?"

Spike flicked his cigarette stub to the floor and ground it out with his foot. It wasn't as if it would create more of a mess than was already there. "Oi! Bloody hell, people! The man's loyal to his old mate! He's a magician and he wants to help you. That's exactly what you need unless you want to follow the Slayer's plan of searching the Hellmouth for a demon who might possibly reveal a clue to where your Watcher is. Just except his help and fight later."

Tara said something softly to Willow and nodded and then faced the group. "Spike has a point. We could really use Ethan's magic. He might know some spells to help us locate Giles. The fact that he's known Giles for so long will help the spell."

Ethan smirked again. The expression, it seemed, never left his face for long. "You are correct, young ladies. In fact, there's a scrying spell that would be perfect for this. I can focus it on Ripper and not only will we see where he is, but we might find out why he was taken."

Xander frowned, "You still haven't told us how you found out about that. Buffy only found the apartment like this a few hours ago and she called all of us. Giles hasn't been missing for very long and suddenly you show up, all ready to help!"

Ethan cocked an eyebrow and simply regarded the boy before him for a moment. "Ripper and I were very close. We sharedmagics, quite often. Sometimes I can feel him, such as when he's in trouble. The reverse is also true I'm sure, though I doubt he ever mentioned that aspect of his past to you and your friends, young man. Now, why are we wasting time? Let's find Ripper!"