Author's Note: First, another serious thanks to all the reviewers. I'm having fun, and it appears you are, too. Always dangerous. Wackiness can ensue. But for real, thanks to all of you. Acknowledgement makes me giddy. And, in case you're wondering, we're not even close to done. I'm churning 'em out as fast possible though.
Second, my confession: I love my chapter titles and hate my story title. I didn't realize I needed one until the story was up, and just came up with generic garbage. Ditto the Summary, but I can live with it. Sadly, I'm completely stumped, still, after 35 chapters. I flirted with the idea of calling it 'Shades of Grey' but don't like that much. I would be much obliged if someone would just think up something brilliant and send it my way in a review or email. Even less brilliant but still workable titles are appreciated. Much thanks offered. 40
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"You're sure about this?"
"For the last time, Willow. I can handle it. I'm sure the bloodshed will be minimal." He kissed her hard on the mouth. "If I haven't changed my mind in two days, I won't now."
"Okay. Just be careful. And …"
"What?" She stopped, her face halfway between concern and laughter.
"Xander and Buffy will probably threaten you. Show Xander your lightsaber. And tell Buffy that I said that yours are good arms to have."
"Huh?"
"Xander will be distracted. And Buffy, well, it's kind of a code. She'll know what I mean." Completely confused, he simply nodded. "Be careful." She kissed him again.
Across the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Giles were discussing the trip.
"I appreciate you going along, Harry. I don't think there will be any danger, but in Sunnydale, you never know. You must be cautious."
"I will, Professor Giles," Harry replied. He had learned the details of defending himself from vampires earlier in the semester, and Professor McGonagall had taught him some basic combat magic spells that utilized fire. He was going along because Grey could not use the floo system alone and Willow could not be involved.
"See that you do." Giles had asked Dumbledore to temporarily attach the fireplace at Buffy's house to the floo network. She had agreed earlier to bring Tara to the house for the impromptu conference. Xander and Dawn would be around as well, 'just in case,' according to Buffy. Giles knew it was to evaluate Grey.
Grey pulled away from Willow and motioned for Harry. The two of them climbed into the fireplace, Grey's hand on Harry's shoulder. With his other hand, he checked to make sure that he still had the packet from Collin Creavey.
"Good luck, gentlemen," Giles said solemnly. They nodded. Harry tossed down the floo powder, said the words, and they were gone.
The Slayer's living room looked like any other American muggle living room. Grey and Harry stepped out from the fireplace to see a group of three standing in front of a large picture window.
"Hi, I'm Dawn," said a girl slightly older than Harry. She came up and shook their hands. She had straight brown hair, enormous eyes, and from the look Grey saw on Harry's face, beauty that carried great weight with young men. "That's Buffy," she pointed to a small blonde woman, "and Xander," and a dark-haired man. Both were Grey's age. Both wore a serious scowl.
"Nice to meet you," Buffy said, shaking their hands. "You're Grey, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"And you must be Harry," Buffy smiled at him. Xander introduced himself as well, and the five of them stood uncomfortably for a few moments.
"Umm… not to be rude," Harry said finally, "but aren't we supposed to meet Willow's friend Tara?"
"We have sort of a problem there," Buffy said. "Here's the thing…"
"So she's simply vanished," Grey said after hearing of their exhaustive search. He had to admit that it sounded thorough. They knew their business.
"Pretty much. And this being the Hellmouth, the usual suspects come in many unpleasant varieties," Xander said. He had been staring at the lightsaber. "Say, is that thing … y'know, real?"
"Oh please, Xander. How could it be real?" Buffy said.
Grey chuckled.
"What?" she said.
"I get it now. The scowling. Besides Tara, I mean. You saw a man appear in your living room, purporting to be your best friend's boyfriend, and you think he's wearing a toy lightsaber. That would be something to scowl about."
"Well … yeah," she said. "Kind of."
"It's real." He drew it as proof.
"Whoa!" Xander said. Buffy's eyes went wide.
"I used to be an auror," he said. He explained the auror/Jedi connection. They visibly relaxed.
"That is so cool," he said. "Say, Willow wrote me and said that you have a room full of toys. Do you have any of the…" Buffy cut him off.
"Not now, Xander. We need to focus. Find Tara, remember?"
"Umm, yeah, of course. Mortal danger first, toys later. What do you think, a trip to Willy's?"
"It's our best bet, probably."
"Would someone take her? Ask for ransom?" Grey asked.
"Could be. But the problem here is, they could have taken her as a sacrifice or something lame like that, which would mean no ransom."
"She's powerful, though, right?" Harry asked. "So whatever took her …"
"Is probably pretty bad ass," Dawn finished. Buffy considered that. Tara would be a bad choice for a random sacrifice. Demons knew she was part of the Slayer's inner circle. If so, they probably would hear something soon, and she needed to be around for that.
"Okay. Xander, you go to Willy's. When you get back, I'll patrol. Dawn, Harry, you guys stay with whoever's here in case something happens. We'll call for backup if we need it. You have your cell phone, right Xand?" He nodded. "Grey, can you back Xander up? Willy's can be icky and not of the fun, depending on who's there."
"Okay," Xander was saying, "I do this all the time. When we get in there, just play it real cool."
"It's a demon bar, right?" They were in the 'Xandermobile,' cruising the streets of Sunnydale. Grey could see the signs of demon activity everywhere in the small town. He much preferred Hogwarts, or even London. Sunnydale struck him as a place he never would have ventured without Jess, back when they were aurors. He thought of Willow growing up here and cringed inwardly.
"Well, yeah."
"This Willy, demon or human?"
"Human."
"Can we hurt him?"
"Buffy can. I'd like to. Does that count?" Grey grinned. "So, you and Wills, you're pretty much … what? I definitely heard the word boyfriend."
Grey considered the question for a moment.
"I would say that we're dating, yeah. She's really special."
"She is that," Xander agreed. "She's my best friend, has been for my whole life. I know you have the lightsaber and all. Do I have to bother with the threats? 'Cuz I'd rather not lose an arm."
"I understand. You know about the message Buffy sent, right?" Xander nodded. "I got it. It was unnecessary, but I would have probably done the same thing. I didn't tell Willow about it." Normally, Grey might not have offered so much, but making a good impression on these people felt very necessary.
"Good. She would have been upset. Willow-yelling? Not fun."
"So I gather."
Xander pulled into a parking lot in front of a dingy bar.
"Here we are. Let's make with the informant squeezing." They slid out of the car and walked in. It could have been a smoky bar in any city in the world, except for the abundance of unnatural colorations and horns. When they entered, several patrons growled. Grey guessed they could smell the humanity. He walked up to Willy, who busied himself polishing glasses behind the bar while waiting for an order. The man, white and seedy-looking, turned to the new customers before he saw who they were.
"I'd like to know where I can find a pilot who can get me to Alderaan," he said to the bartender with a rare burst of panache. Jess would have been proud, he thought irrelevantly. Willy looked perplexed. Xander laughed.
"Actually, Willy, we're all set for flying arrangements," Xander said, "but we need some information before my Jedi friend here gets testy."
"Are you guys serious?" The barkeep's voice bordered on panic. "I told the Slayer: I'm not in that business no more. She shouldn't keep sending her people to talk to me. I'm just trying to make an honest wage."
"Can I cut his arm off?" Grey snarled suddenly.
"Hey hey hey…" Willy said, backing up. "You can't threaten me like that. My patrons might get upset."
"Yeah, right Willy. Which of your fun bunch cares about you at all?" Xander asked haughtily.
"Them," Willy said, pointing. Xander and Grey turned around and came face to face with two burly vampires. Without even thinking, Grey drew the sword; a snap-hiss and two sharp strokes separated their heads from their torsos. Other patrons raced for the exit before the dust hit the floor.
"See," Xander said as he turned around and struggled not to gape, "you made him testy. And we haven't even asked a question yet." The bar was emptying swiftly as Grey watched the crowd.
"W-what do you want to know?"
"Blonde witch named Tara. Friend of mine and the Slayer's. She's missing. Probably something big and bad and you know about it."
"S-sorry. I d-don't…" Grey spun around. The bar behind him sat completely vacant. He glared at Willy, who wilted. "Okay, look, I don't know anything specific."
"But you know something generic," Xander said. Grey liked this guy. He knew he was a normal human and did this work anyway. Just like Grey himself.
"M-maybe. See, the thing is," Willy leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "I heard Drusilla is back in town."
"And?" Despite a serious effort, Xander could feel himself go slightly pale.
"She's mad that Spike is gone, and about him and the Slayer. She blames the Slayer, though, not Spike. That's all I know. I swear."
"Are you sure?" Grey said.
"I heard she might be using my buddy Angel's mansion. That's all. I don't know if she has your friend. If I did, I would say so."
"Willy, we'll be back if this turns out to be a trap. With Buffy. Understand?" The bartender nodded, terrified at the prospect of an angry Slayer. Xander turned to Grey. "She'll have Tara there. Let's go."