~

Buffy walked through the hallways, going over the facts in her head, before running straight into Fritz, a boy in her History class.

"Buffy." He said, a tinge of fear detectable in his voice. He was not supposed to be seen by her.

"Hey Fritz, how's it goin'?" She asked, courteously, taking note of where he came out of. The school surveillance room.

That's wiggy.

"I'm fine. And yourself?" He asked, mechanically.

"Fine. Um, what were you doing in the surveillance room?"

"Mind your own damn business!" He shouted, trying to get past Buffy. Buffy moved in front of him.

"Fritz, do you know something about Malcolm?" She hissed softly.

"Stay away from Malcolm. You do not understand him. His needs." Fritz replied, before slapping his hand onto his mouth and running away.

"FRITZ!" Buffy chased after him, running at full Slayer speed. She grabbed him and straddled him to the ground, ready to go in for a kill.

"You tell me everything you know or I swear I'll -"

"You'll what?" Fritz asked, laughing sarcastically, "Kill me? Not likely, *Slayer.*"

"Yeah, okay. It's official. * Everyone * in this town knows who I am." Buffy said, folding her arms crossly.

"Look, Malcolm is my friend and he likes your friend. And I know you don't trust him, but he's a cool guy, alright?" Fritz bluffed.

"Bullshit. Malcolm's a demon and you know it." Fritz, however, suddenly pushed Buffy off of him, in a moment of her unfocus.

"Stay away. Or you will pay the price." He muttered before running off, zigzagging.

"So not worth it." Buffy mumbled to herself, standing up. She needed to talk to Giles again.

~

"Fritz knows something." She announced, walking into the library and sitting down between Xander and Dawn.

"Who?" Jesse asked.

"Fritz. He's in our study hall." Dawn explained to her boyfriend, "What do you think is up?"

"I'm not sure, but he kept on talking about Malcolm in a freaky way. He was all jumpy and what not. Then he'd be all cool and power-hungry"

"Well, Buffy, you, uh, you must remember that that boy is not, um, sparklingly normal as it is."

"Giles, trust me." Buffy replied

"I-I do! I-I-I really don't know how to advise you. Things involved with a computer fill me with a childlike terror. Now, if it were a nice ogre or some such I'd be more in my element. Well, I-I suppose you could, um, tail Fritz, see if he's up to something."

"In what, a trench coat and dark glasses? Please. I can so figure this out myself."

~

Buffy watched from inside a bush, dark glasses and a trench coat in tow. Note to self: Never mention espionage tactics to Giles.

She caught her breath as Fritz suddenly jumped into a large, white van...the letters CDR written in block lettering on the side. It drove off, leaving Buffy to stand up and shed her disguise.

One more piece added.

~

"Whatever Fritz is into, it's large." Buffy sat down at a study table inside the library, rubbing her eyes, "But it just doesn't make sense. I mean, it seems a little...wonky."

"Thank you for restating that. Gives me a great lead. Now, what was on the side of the van, again?" Giles asked, pacing.

"It said CRD. But, I couldn't get close enough to see what it was."

"Calax Research and Development. It's a computer research lab. Third largest employer in Sunnydale till it closed down last year." Everyone's eyes wandered incredulously over to Xander, "What, I can't have information sometimes?"

"Well, it-it's just somewhat unprecedented." Giles said, cleaning his glasses.

"Well, my uncle used to work there. I-in a floor sweeping capacity." Xander explained.

"But it closed?"

"Yup."

"I guess that's what really doesn't make sense then." Jesse commented.

"Yeah, I mean, what would they need Fritz for?" Buffy asked no one in particular.

"Look, guys, I don't mean to sound like Giles or anything, but let's take an enormous intuitive leap here and factor in that Spike already found out that there's a demon inside the computer?"

The Scoobies, except for Buffy, looked at Dawn with wide eyes.

"You serious?" Xander asked, "Buff, did you know this?"

"Must've slipped my mind." She muttered.

"Slipped your mind?!" Giles asked, his voice rising an octave, "How could it - never mind, let's move on, shall we? Now that we have this exceptionally important piece of the puzzle, we can figure it out much more efficiently.

"So, computer demon, I guess another big jump would be to say that he's the one who reopened CDR?" Jesse responded.

"CRD." Xander interjected.

"Whatever. Now, what else did Spike say about it?"

"Apparently," A voice from the door came, "When Rupert, er, Mr. Giles and I were scanning books into the computers, an occult one got mixed in."

"Miss Calendar?" Buffy asked, bunching her eyebrows.

"You didn't tell them?" Jenny looked over at Giles who shrugged, "Well, fine. I know about demons. I work on them on the internet."

"Slip your mind, Giles?" Buffy asked, smugly, only to receive a glare.

"Spike said all we have to do is get the demon back in the book, somehow. Here's the spell that activates it." Jenny handed a copy to Giles, who quickly read it.

"Moloch. Of course..."

"That rings a bell to you?" Buffy asked.

"In the dark ages the souls of demons were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken, this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds."

"Power equals Fritz." Xander quipped.

"And love equals Willow. What should we do?" Buffy asked.

"Spike said we have to get him into the book." Jenny said.

"How the hell are we gonna do that?" Jesse said, reaching over to Giles' PC, "Here I have an idea. Why don't we just delete him? Now, which file is it..."

"The blank one." Jenny pointed.

"File...Delete!" Jesse sat back as suddenly a demonic face appeared on the screen.

"STAY AWAY FROM WILLOW!" It yelled, "IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

"I guess I was on the right track with the hairy back comment." Buffy said, quickly turning off the computer.

"So much for deleting it." Dawn said, leaning back.

"Guys, are we overreacting here?" Xander asked, "I mean, he's stuck in a computer, what can he do?"

"That's the trouble. He's not just stuck in one computer, he's stuck in every computer with a modem." Jenny explained.

"So...still not getting what he can do."

"How about mess up all the medical equipment in the world?" Dawn offered.

"Or randomize traffic signals." Jesse added, getting it.

"Access launch codes for our nuclear weapons." Buffy said.

"Destroy the world's economy." Giles said.

"I think I capped it with the nuclear weapons." Buffy said.

"Yes, right, yours was best."

"Okay, he's a threat, I'm on board with that. But what does he want with Willow?" Xander asked, worried.

"Let's not ever find out. Now, here's what we-"

"Um, guys?" Dawn called over from the PC.

"Yeah?"

"I just went into Willow's account - she gave me her password once - and there's something you might wanna see." Buffy rushed over.

" 'No more waiting. I need you to see me.' See him where?" Buffy asked, panicked.

"CRD. Yes! Of course! I remember now! Giles, the spell...the binding spell?"

"I have it here, what about it?"

"Do it now. I think you have some time before...I don't know. Just hurry with it. Buffy, Xan, Jess, we'll head to CRD. That's where Willow is now. We can save her."

"Let's move." Buffy said.

~

"Willow."

"Malcolm?" Willow asked, walking around, "Where are you?" Suddenly, a large, black, steel figure moved in on her.

"How good it is to see you...with my own two eyes."

"Oh my God." Willow whispered, taking him in, "You're a robot!"

"No. I am life. I am earth. I am everything. This world is so new, so exciting. I can see all of it. Everything flows through me. I know the secrets of your kings. But nothing compares to having form again. To be able to walk, to touch, to kill." Willow screamed as Malcolm grabbed Fritz from behind him and slowly broke his neck, "Do not be so frightened, my love. For you are my life. I love you."

"No!" Willow yelled, "No! You don't! You can't love!"

"I love you."

"No!"

"You are mine."

"I'm not yours, I'll never be yours!"

Buffy, Xander, Jesse, and Dawn suddenly crashed in through the window.

"Nice job, Dawn." Buffy said, standing up and facing Moloch, "Hello, Moloch."

~

"The circle of Kayless is formed inside the computer. I got a bunch of my group to join in." Jenny pointed at the screen.

"Brilliant." Giles said as he lit the last candle, "Now, do you have the script?"

"Here."

"I'll read, you type."

"Fine."

"By the Power...start now...ahem...By the power of the divine and the essence of the word, I command you. By the Power of the circle of Kayless...Kayless, with a 'K'...the circle of Kayless I command you. Demon, come! I command you! Demon, COME!"

"It worked!" Jenny squealed, "He's out of the 'net!"

"But, he's not in the book." Giles pointed out.

"Huh. Where is he then?"

~

"NOOOO!" Moloch rounded on Buffy, who was in her fighter's stance, " I was omnipotent and you ruined everything!" He laughed mechanically, staring at Buffy. Dawn held Willow back.

"It won't help." She whispered urgently.

"This body is all I have left, but it is enough to crush you with." Moloch yelled, about to charge.

"Buffy!" Dawn hissed, pointing at the electrical box. Buffy repositioned herself in front of it.

"Hit me with your best shot." Buffy said, folding her arms. Moloch reached across and punched. Buffy ducked and Moloch's "hand" went straight into the box behind Buffy, short-circuiting everything, and finally, at last, killing Moloch.

Willow promptly fainted into Dawn's arms. Buffy and Xander rushed over to check on her.

"She'll be fine." Dawn assured them. Jesse kissed Dawn's cheek and Xander scooped Willow up into his arms.

"We'll call Giles and Miss Calendar." Dawn said, "Let them know everything turned out okay."

"Cool. We'll bring Willow back to her place, hang with her a bit. She's gonna be pretty upset." Buffy said, hugging Dawn.

Buffy sighed and nodded, proud of herself. She smiled at Dawn and Jesse before following Xander out of the CRD building.

~

"I just feel like the biggest idiot to ever walk the planet." Willow murmured, as she stuffed her face with ice cream.

"Don't beat yourself up about it." Buffy soothed, running her hand over Willow's hair.

"Yeah, it could happen to anyone...I'm sure." Xander commented.

"No, just to me. I got in way over my head with this guy. Or demon-guy, I guess."

"A little, yeah. But it so wasn't your fault." Buffy assured her friend.

"Hey, Hagen-Daas, ya gonna leave some for the rest of us?" Xander joked as Willow pulled out another scoopful of ice cream.

"I'm in pain, here, Harris. I get full ice-cream eating privileges." Willow said through her now * mouthful * of ice cream.

"Point dually noted." Buffy smiled at her friends and gave them both a hug.

"What was that for?" Xander asked, confused, yet happy.

"Just cuz. I mean, you do realize we're gonna hafta go through this together, right?" Xander nodded, but Willow squinted her eyes in puzzlement.

"Go through what?"

"Our love life. I mean, remember the praying mantus woman?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.

"And me, my only romantic prospects were Spike and Angel." Buffy said, ignoring the feeling that her heart had just imploded at the mention of Spike.

"Yeah, and now me with Malcolm. Gosh, we're really doomed aren't we?" Willow giggled.

"Totally doomed." Buffy said, smiling as Xander laughed.

They suddenly sobered.

"Yeah..." Xander trailed off, looking nervous.

"Doomed." Buffy repeated, "Never gonna have a normal relationship."

It was then that she made up her mind.

"I gotta run...I have to take care of something." Buffy said, standing abruptly, giving her friends one last smile before turning and running in the opposite direction.

~

Spike looked up from his couch when he heard the sound of spit-fire knocks on his front door.

"Coming! Geez...calm-" He opened the door to reveal an out of breath Buffy, "down." He finished softly, before crossing his arms stubbornly, "Need something?"

"We need to talk." Buffy managed out, pushing her way into his apartment.

"And I need a way to deinvite humans." Spike muttered, closing the door.

"Look, I know you're angry with me cuz of the whole crying incident, but just hear me out, okay?" Buffy inhaled and began the speech she had been rehearsing in her head ever since she had begun running to Spike's, "I don't know you. Not really, anyway. I mean, I don't know much about you. But as I've told you before, I feel like I do. I feel like I've known you for years and I feel like I've cared about you for years. And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you ruin what we might have just because I have a problem crying in front of people. God, the first time I met you, I was prepared to hate you, being a vampire and all. But I couldn't. Instead, I have feelings for you. Major feelings." Buffy began pacing around the room and staring at everything and anything but Spike, "I know it's probably unfair of me to say this, but I'm tired of being upset with you because you ran out after you kissed me. I just...God, I just wanna finish it, ya know?"

"Finish what?" Spike finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"The kiss. And, and I wanna be the person who you get up in the morning for, to see, and I wanna be the person who gets to kiss you whenever I feel like it, ya know? And, and, and I mean, this probably really won't interest you, but I wanna be your girlfriend...or girlfriend type, if that makes you more comfortable." Buffy looked up, never feeling as vulnerable in her entire life than she did at that moment.

Spike stared at the ground for a moment, not sure how to respond.

"It doesn't really matter to me, pet." Spike said, still looking down.

Buffy felt her eyes widen and tears fill them, once again. Not happening...not happening.

"I mean, I guess if you wanna be called my 'girlfriend' that's fine. But 'girlfriend type?' Sounds a bit too pseudo-intellectual for my tastes." Spike finally looked up at Buffy, a playful smirk resting on his lips.

Buffy looked at him incredulously for a moment, before bursting out laughing and lightly crying at the same time. Spike moved over slowly to her and drew her into him so they were only inches apart.

"That was really mean." She said quietly, laughing and wiping away a tear.

"Yeah, but it was fun."

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be? Having fun at my disadvantage?"

"Only occasionally. It'll probably be more like having fun at * Xander's * disadvantage." Spike smiled at Buffy as she slapped his arm.

"Be nice to Xander."

"Can we talk about something other than Xander?" Spike said, resting his forehead against hers.

"We don't really have to talk about anything at all." Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's neck.

"I could live with that." Spike whispered, before placing his lips on hers. Buffy replied by deepening the kiss, moving her tongue gently into his mouth. Spike brought her up against him, holding her as close as he possibly could, before breaking the kiss and allowing her to breathe. He leaned in and left a trail of soft kisses on her neck before nibbling her bottom lip and giving her a short, tender kiss. Buffy sighed happily and leaned into his embrace, holding onto his arm for dear life.

"You alright, pet?" He asked, feeling the pressure from her grip.

"Duh." Spike smiled.

"No, I mean, you're startin' to hurt my arm a bit." He motioned down.

"Oh! Sorry. I was just...I wanted to make sure you wouldn't run again." Buffy admitted, embarrassed. Spike laughed and gave her a hug before pulling away and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I won't if you won't." He said, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Deal." Buffy said, sticking out her hand comically. Spike laughed again, shook it and then pulled her into his arms, once again.

~

tbc...