Foreword: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and/or David Greenwalt. Also, I think I've gone crazy, because this is not something that I normally write. Anyway. This takes place in Buffy's seventh season, and Angel's fourth, up through both's third episode, (except for where Cordelia comes back and Angel's in love with her, because I don't like her) which is as far as I've seen. Old characters will be returning. The pairing situation is complicated, so I'll leave it a surprise. Enjoy. Shouldn't be too many spoilers, if any at all. Also, events from the Buffy books do factor in.

Special thanks to my Watchers, Jessica and Kathy. Jess for naming my demons and looking others up. Thanks to Kathy for proofreading and making me skinny and graceful (not weighty and awkward). Thanks to Kit for being the Buffy expert and helping me out when I need info.

The Darkest Hour before Dawn

Three

Rupert Giles reclined in a chair in the gardens of his home, a book spread open upon his lap. He turned the pages absently, completely lost in thought. He felt strangely preoccupied, though he wasn't quite sure why. It could simply have been the product of years spent watching over the slayer, then the time spent with Willow.

He sighed and removed his glasses, rubbing his forehead lightly. He stared up into the turning leaves of the trees and let his mind drift back to Buffy, and to Willow and the rest of those he had known back in Sunnydale.

He sighed and slid the glasses back on. He slipped the ribbon hanging off the end of the book into place and slowly closed it.

"Rupert," someone behind him said quietly. Giles slowly turned. His mouth fell open, and he stared.

"J-Jenny," he said, startled. "That can't be you."

"But it is me, Rupert," the pretty Gypsy told him, stepping forward. "I've come back for you."

"Jenny, you died so very long ago. It cannot possibly be you." Giles said, standing, holding the book tightly against his chest, over his racing heart.

"Come on, Rupert. Come with me," she took a few more steps forward, until she was toe to toe with him. She reached out a hand to brush over his cheek. He dodged back.

"You are not Jenny Calendar," he said.

"But Rupert…" she said, and the voice distorted. The skin began to run with a thick green liquid, and suddenly, it wasn't Jenny Calendar.

"Oh my," Giles said. He searched through his mind for a teleportation spell, or something else that would send the demon far, far away from his home.

"All will die," the demon said, its voice thick. It sounded as though the same liquid that ran over its body and dripped onto the ground filled its throat.

A few words spoken in an ancient language and the demon disintegrated. Giles released a breath that he had not meant to hold. He frowned at the ashy mess that now marred the stones of his garden.

Then he turned and strode quickly into the house to call the group that resided on the Hellmouth and see if they were experiencing any difficulties.

~`~

The phone on the desk in the front lobby of the Hyperion rang. Barefoot, Fred raced the last few feet down the stairs and over to the phone.

"Angel Investigations," she said, lifting her tone and trying not to sound out of breath.

"Is Angel there?" Buffy asked. She was still skeptical about this woman that answered the phone. She still carried a fire within her for the man that she had once loved.

"He's out slaying some demon. I can't remember its name." Fed replied. "But I might be able to help."

"I guess…" Buffy said, then sighed. She'd just gotten off the phone with Giles, who had had an encounter with one of the shape shifting goo demons. He had sounded decidedly rattled. She was sure that she would have too, if someone she loved the way Giles had loved Jenny Calendar appeared to her.

"Buffy?" Fred asked.

"The demons are only appearing to us," Buffy told Fred. "Or so we've been able to find out. No deaths other than the usual vampires, which are being kept to a minimum, lately. No other demons. Anyway, the one that appeared to one of my friends told him that things are changing in Sunnydale."

"Okay," Fred said. "I understand that, but what do you want us to do? There's so much that we have to do here…"

"LA went for a long time without Angel, it can cope for a little while. I want him to come to Sunnydale. With Wes, and anyone else that can help us." Buffy said.

"I'll talk to him, and—hold on." Fred said. Angel walked through the door, a bit bloody. "Angel," Buffy heard the other girl say, "Buffy requests that you and Wes go to Sunnydale."

"Are things getting bad?" Angel asked. Buffy waited impatiently.

"I don't know," Fred said. "Maybe you should talk to her." She held out the phone, which Angel took.

"Buffy?" he asked.

"Yes?" she asked.

"What's going on?"

Buffy explained the whole situation, what Giles's theory was, and what Oz had told her. Angel remained silent as she explained.

"So I figured, if you guys come to Sunnydale, it'll be easier to deal with the goo demons." Buffy finished.

"I'll see what I can do. I might be able to make it by dawn tomorrow, at the earliest. It's too late to start driving for Sunnydale now."

"No car with blacked out windows?" Buffy asked.

"I rather like my car and don't want to ruin the windows. Plus it'll be a little difficult motivating Wesley." Angel said.

"Why?" Buffy asked.

"Because we're not on the best of terms right now. But I will speak to him, conveying the message. Are you sure Wesley and I are all you need?" Angel asked.

"Actually," Buffy said, then was silent for a moment, before speaking again.

"We kind of need all the help we can get."