Buffy and Xander walked together in silence, Xander a few steps behind Buffy. Buffy walked as if she were a robot and her feet moved by themselves, without thought. Her face wore a stunned expression.

Xander frowned. He hoped he hadn't hurt Buffy too much. He didn't want to hurt her at all, but he had to tell her the truth one way or another. She had to know the truth and face it.

Buffy walked up the small steps to the front door of her house and stopped. Still facing the door, she spoke. If you love me then you will let me deal with this on my own. Dawn and Willow don't need to know.

Her mind spoken, Buffy opened the door and walked in leaving her friend outside staring behind her.

Xander shivered, not from the winter air, but from the cold in Buffy's voice. It had been cold, hard, full of contempt. She had spoke so that only Xander had heard her words, and he barely had at that. But there was something else behind her voice, something that chilled Xander to the bone.

She hates me. Xander whispered to himself before walking into the house behind Buffy.

Willow, Dawn and Buffy were standing in the living room talking when Xander walked in. Buffy glanced at him, the previous emotion was wiped off her face and she was now in slayer mode. She acted as if nothing had happened.

Xander, Anya's on her way to watch Dawn. You and Will are coming with me.

Okay....where are we going?

The Initiative caves. Buffy walked over to the weapons trunk and pulled out a large moon-bladed axe and a crossbow.

The Initiative caves? How do you know that's where Spike is?

Willow answered this time. In order for the demons to receive Spike's power they need to be away from anything living. Trees, grass, animals, any living thing will receive the power. That means the demons won't receive enough to be invincible.

So why the caves?

The caves are made of rock and dirt. Those things are not alive so they cannot absorb the power.

But how do you know that's where they are? I mean how do you know they aren't in an abandoned warehouse somewhere? You know how many evily bad things Buffy finds in those buildings--maybe they're in one of them. Did you get Willow to do a locator spell?

It's too risky. A human could pass by at any moment or a rat or a mouse. It's hard to find an abandoned building that is really abandoned.

Okay then, the caves it is. Xander nervously wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and walked over to grab a weapon.

The door opened and Anya walked in. Okay, I'm here. What big bad creature do you want me to help you slay this time? she sighed.

I just need you to stay here with Dawn while Willow, Xander and I go get Spike. Buffy closed the trunk and moved for the door.

What? Why can't I go too?

Because I need you here, Anya.

Buffy, I don't need a baby-sitter. Dawn spoke quietly but with defiance.

I'm not doing this right now, Dawn. Anya is staying with you and that's final. Buffy turned to Anya to finish. You are completely human now. I can't risk getting you killed.

Willow and Xander are human!

Willow is a strong witch and we need her powers. Xander is the only one who seems to help Willow control her powers if she digs too deep, which she may have to do in order to live through this.

Silence washed over the room. Nobody had forgotten how close Willow had come to bringing about her own Apocalypse. Xander had been the only one to get through to her and make her stop.

Anya slowly slipped out of her jacket and placed it on the arm of the couch in silent surrender. What a way to spend Christmas Eve.

Xander frowned. Merry Christmas to us.

Buffy started towards the door again. Let's go.

***

Spike slowly opened his eyes moaning softly. He had drifted in and out of consciousness all day and his head pounded. His body ached as he tried to lift his head and Spike wondered what the demons did to him while he was out.

Row'thsa and three blue demons dressed like him stood in front of the vampire. The demons wore green hooded cloaks that apparently had no fasteners so hung open over their preppy attire.

Spike scoffed at the demons' bad color taste. A blue demon wearing a green cloak was unheard of in the demon fashion world. Do I get a pretty cloak to then? Spike grinned and tried not to show his pain.

The Source is not required to wear a cloak. All that is required of The Source is death by bleeding. Now, if you be a good vampire and die quickly, you will have little pain. However, if you die slowly the pain will be unbearable. Row'thsa stopped and smiled. I recommend the first option.

Spike whimpered. Terror flashed in the vampire's eyes and he tried to pull back away from the blue demons.

Row'thsa pouted slightly. Come come now, William. There is nothing you can do about it, no point in denying it. The time has come for you to die.