Chapter 9

"William's a good boy. Carries her water, carries her sin. Supposed to get easier, isn't it. Supposed to help to help, but it doesn't. Still so heavy." Spike mumbled.

Buffy, Angel, Faith, Conner, and Dawn followed Spike through the woods. Xander had decided to stay at his house and work on some building plans for one of his clients. Buffy had gone to the High School and found Faith sitting in a corner watching Spike pace his little room in the basement. Faith had gotten Spike to take them to wherever the demon was hiding out at. As soon as Spike found the demon's lair, Faith was taking him back to the High School. Spike refused to go back to their apartment, so Faith was forced to see him in the basement.

"Should've put a leash on him." Angel said.

"Yes, let's tie ourselves to the crazy vampire." Buffy said.

"You really think it's gonna work?" Conner asked.

"It's pretty easy. Spike follows the exciting smell of blood, and we follow the fairly ripe smell of Spike."

"It's smellementary. Also, I'm sure there's tons of stuff like this. You know, procedures we can use that don't involve magic spells. Just good solid detective work. And we can develop a database of tooth impressions and demon skin samples and I could wear high heels more often." Dawn said.

"Wow, that was so close to being empowered."

"Everybody loves a slender ankle."

Spike had stopped walking. He was standing still, staring through the bushes at a rock cliff. The group caught up to him. "That's it. End of the line. Everyone off." Spike turned to Angel. "Keep your ticket, you'll need that."

"That's a rock cliff." Angel said.

"Well, give him a break, Dad. Maybe it's a vicious skin-eating rock cliff." Conner said.

"There's a cave in it. Look." Spike pushed the bush aside to reveal a little crevice in the rock. He turned to Buffy and said, "I'm insane. What's his excuse?"

Spike started to walk away and Faith turned to Buffy. "I'll catch ya later B. Sorry I can't stay for the fun."

"Oh, it's ok. I'm sure we can maim a demon without you." Buffy said, watching Faith walk after Spike.

Angel took Buffy's hand and the group walked up to the cave. After standing at the opening for a second, Buffy climbed in. Conner, Dawn, and then Angel followed. The cave was large and water dripped somewhere off in the dark shadows.

"Dark and dank. I was hoping it'd be dark and dank." Angel said.

"Shh! Do you hear that?" Buffy asked.

"Now I do."

"Something's moving in here." Conner said.

"Guess we're in the right place." Buffy said.

"Look at the shorn lamb. See how she trembles. Is it the cold wind? Or is it that the flock is nowhere to be seen?" a creepy, Hannibal Lector voice said. "Poor little lamb all alone."

"You guys hear that, right?" Conner asked.

"Yup." Angel said.

"It's echoing. I know it sounds close, but I don't think.." Buffy was cut off by Gnarl jumping out and slashing Dawn on the abdomen before jumping away. "Dawn! Are you ok?"

"I guess so." Dawn said. She sounded weak and then she uncovered her stomach to show a large gash across it. "Poison paralyzes."

Buffy and Angel caught Dawn before she fell. "Dawn. Ok, we need to get her out of here. We'll deal with him later. Seal him in." Buffy said.

Conner got out of the cave first and Buffy and Angel shoved Dawn through. Angel shoved Buffy though then he scrambled out himself. Conner held Dawn up while Buffy and Angel worked to close the opening to the cave. Their strength had returned enough that they were able to work fast moving the heavy rocks. As soon as they were sure that the opening was closed enough, Buffy and Angel took Dawn. Each took an arm and put it around their shoulders. Conner walked behind them making sure no one tripped.

"The computer. That thing aunt Dawn was reading might have an antidote for the paralysis." Conner said.

"Um, Buffy?" Dawn asked, her lips not moving because of the paralysis.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"I'm really sorry."

"Oh, it's ok."

"You couldn't help it. It had paralyzing fingernails." Angel said.

"Just like you said it would, so good on you."

"Yeah team me." Dawn mumbled sarcastically.

"We're just gonna get you home and, you know, lay you down."

"Whoopie."

Buffy and Angel maneuvered Dawn back to the van and laid her on the floor. Conner sat in the space between the passenger and driver's seat and watched the road. Angel sped home, fishtailing a couple of times on turns. Buffy kept telling him to slow down a little and Angel responded that they had to get back to the cave to get rid of the demon. When they reached home, Buffy and Angel went to the sliding door and opened it. Before Angel could pick up Dawn's shoulders, Buffy whacked him hard on the arm.

"Ow!" Angel yelled.

"I told you to slow down. That damn demon is stuck in the cave. My sister is just paralyzed, not infected with the bubonic plague." Buffy said.

"Sorry!"

"Let's just get her inside." Buffy lifted Dawn's feet as soon as Angel got most of her body out of the van. They walked her up to the door and Conner went in first, holding the door open. "OK, watch-watch the head."

"Gotcha." Angel said.

"Watch my head. Watch my head!" Dawn mumbled through a tightly closed mouth.

"Sofa."

Conner moved some pillows out of the way and Buffy and Angel dropped Dawn down. She landed face facing downwards.

"Face up! Face up!" Dawn mumble/yelled.

"She's right, face up is better." Angel moved her so she could face upwards and breath.

"Ok, I'm gonna check the computer. Find that page. See if there's an antidote." Buffy said.

"It'll be all right. We'll get you fixed up." Conner said.

"You'll be doing limbo in no time." Angel said with a smile.

"Yeah, as a pole." Dawn mumbled.

"No, not as a pole. I promise."

"Oh, got it." Buffy called from the dining room. "It says the paralysis is permanent." Dawn squeaked. "No, oh, wait, my bad. Permanent until the creature dies. Sorry." She got up and walked into the living room. "Guess we have to go back."

"We can't just leave her here like this. What if she vomits?" Conner asked.

"Ew. I won't vomit!" Dawn mumble/yelled.

"Do you think she'll vomit?" Buffy asked Angel.

"Stop talking about vomit!"

"I'll call Anya. She can watch her."

"What about Xander?" Angel asked.

"He's busy. I don't want to bother him."

"Right, Anya'll love being called for vomit watch."

Buffy shrugged and walked over to the phone while Dawn mumble/yelled, "Stop talking about vomit!"

Buffy hung up the phone after a few minutes of talking. "She's on her way."

"Ok. What about Conner?" Angel asked.

"What about Conner!?" Conner asked.

"Yeah, what about him?" Buffy asked.

"Well, I don't want the same thing happening to him that happened to Dawn." Angel said. "That demon is fast."

"And Conner's not? What about me?"

"I don't want you going either, but I pretty much have no choice in that one."

"Of course not."

"Mom! I wanna go with you guys! I wanna fight that demon!" Conner said.

"I know, I know. But maybe your father's right. I don't want to have to be worried about you and fighting at the same time. I'm pretty sure that this Gnarl demon has no taste for undead flesh. Sorry honey." Buffy said to Angel. He nodded back.

"Mom!"

"Hey! You could help Anya watch Dawn." Angel said.

The doorbell rang and Buffy went to get it. "Anya! Thanks for coming."

"Yes, hi. What's going on?" Anya asked. Then she saw Dawn. "Oh!"

"Yeah, oh."

"I bet she's dying."

"She's not dying. She's just paralyzed."

"Oh. Paralyzed how?"

"Paralyzed how? In the not moving way." Angel said.

"Well, there's lots of different ways. Did you try this?" Anya took Dawn's legs and lifted them up ninety degrees, bending her at the waist. Her legs didn't fall back down.

"Hey!" Buffy said, amused.

"Hey!" Dawn mumble/yelled angrily.

"Oh! You're poseable!" Conner said.

"She's poseable?" Buffy asked.

"It's a common variety. Watch this." Anya said. She rearranged Dawn so that she was sitting on the couch, now upright. "Huh. Neat as you please. Hardly a need to undo her."

Buffy popped a few nuts into her mouth from a can. "Where'd you get the nuts?" she asked.

"Brazil. No need to thank me, by the way, for sitting with her. I'm feeling very benevolent today. Helping Willow. Helping you. You might even call it even for that whole worm thing last week."

"Yeah, I don't think we could call.. Wait, you saw Willow?"

"Um-hmm. Oh, she's looking for you, by the way. Decided you might be out in some cave. Sounded pretty tenuous."

"Cave?" Angel asked.

"Anya, listen. This is really important. Did Willow go to that cave?" Buffy asked.

"Mm-hmm. Last time I saw her, that's where she was headed." Anya said, turning to Dawn. "Shall I make her salute? That'd be very cute."

"Angel, she could be there right now. Willow could be trapped with the Gnarl." Buffy said.

"Uh, it's not 'The Gnarl', just 'Gnarl.' Oh, wouldn't it be tragic if you were here being kinda silly with your comically paralyzed sister while Willow was dying?" Anya asked.

"Anya, you know about this creature?" Angel asked.

"Uh-huh, sure."

"You're coming with us. Conner, stay here and watch your aunt." Angel handed the battle-axe to Anya, who looked it over. Anya finished posing Dawn in a two-finger salute, patted Dawn on the head, and walked off. Dawn grunted with displeasure. Buffy and Angel walked out as well, but Buffy ran back in to place the remote in Dawn's posed hand before leaving again. Dawn squeaked and Conner took the remote from Dawn. He turned on the TV and asked Dawn what she wanted to watch.

Buffy, Angel, and Anya sped down the roads, heading back to the cave. Angel went slower this time, but Buffy smacked him on the thigh and told him to go faster. He grunted with annoyance and sped up. They reached the woods where the cave was and took off running.

"Anya, you gotta keep up." Angel called.

"Uhhh! I'm out of shape. I've been teleporting for months!" Anya complained.

"Hurry!" Buffy yelled.

They reached the cave and started to remove the rocks. As soon as the rocks were clear, Angel dove in and helped Buffy and Anya through the hole. Buffy looked around, but Willow was nowhere to be found.

"What's going on? Where's Willow?" Buffy asked.

"She's right here. Can't you see her? She's hurt!" Anya said. She was bending over a spot and acting like she was touching something.

"What? Where?" Angel asked, feeling around with his hand. "There's nothing here."

"Your hand, it's going right through her. What's going on?"

"I don't know, but I'm starting to get why we haven't seen her." Buffy said.

"Because we haven't seen her." Angel said.

"I have this feeling that whatever's causing this invisible thing is a whole separate issue from the skin-eating monster."

"Behind you!" Anya called.

Buffy turned and Gnarl tried to scratch Buffy, but missed, getting only her shirt and not her skin. "Close one!" Buffy said.

Gnarl had a sword now, and Buffy had a dagger. They fought, alternating swipes at each other. Angel jumped in a tried to slash Gnarl in the back, but Gnarl turned and slashed at him. He got Angel's silk shirt and Buffy yelled, "I just got that shirt for him!"

"Remember what I said. Get him in the eyes." Anya said. "Willow, I'm here. Wow, you're really hurt." Anya paused as if listening to someone then said, "Buffy's fighting the demon over there, see. But if they get too close, I'm gonna have to run." She paused. "But they're here. Buffy and Xander." Anya paused again. "No, they didn't leave you. They can't see you." Pause. "Good. You're doing really good."

Buffy, Angel, and Gnarl were still fighting. Gnarl leaped over Buffy's head and landed behind her. She turned and stabbed his foot with her dagger when he landed, pinning him to the ground. He screeched and flailed, throwing him off guard. Angel grabbed his head with both hands and plunged his thumbs into Gnarl's eyes.

"Ew. Ew. Thumbs? I can't believe you did that!" Buffy said.

"Oh, Buffy killed the demon. It was gross." Anya said, not to Buffy and Angel though.

Buffy ran over to where Anya was and looked down. She was still not able to see Willow. "Willow? Are you here?"

"Where is she? Is she alive?" Angel asked.

"She's right here. Ok, stand back. You're getting your feet in her." Anya said.

"Willow?" Buffy asked.

"She's hurt really bad, you guys. I'm gonna go get help." Anya got up and left the cave.

"I think she's sort of here-ish." Angel said, gesturing with his hand.

"Willow? W-we can't exactly see you, but we're really glad that you're back. I-I don't know how badly you're hurt, but.." Buffy stopped when she noticed a golden shimmer on the ground. "Is that Willow?"

"I couldn't find you guys and I looked everywhere. And the demon said that you left me and.. Oh, there you are. There you are! Don't go away." Willow said.

"We're not going away." Angel said. Then he noticed her wounds. "Oh, God."

"It's gonna be ok, Willow. You're gonna be ok." Buffy said.

"I know. You're here." Willow said.

After waiting almost an hour, an ambulance finally came. They took Willow the emergency room, Buffy, Anya, and Angel following in the van. Anya decided to walk home and she left. Buffy and Angel were there for another hour or so before Willow came out. She had on a baggy shirt that read Sunnydale Medical Center on a breast pocket. She lifted her shirt to show off the bandage around her waist. Buffy hugged Willow and then Angel did. Then the emotions overwhelmed them and the three shared a big group hug.

Willow followed them outside. "Oh! You have a new van!"

"Yeah. Angel bought it. We thought it would be better than the car for traveling." Buffy said. "It has a TV and a Playstation 2 in the backseats."

"Wow. I like it. It's all shiny and silver."

"Yeah. God Wills! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too."

The two girls climbed into the two backseats and started to talk about Willow's down time in England. Angel drove carefully this time and listened to them talk. Buffy had to explain why her scar was so red and opened back up. The three reached home and found Conner and Dawn asleep on the couch. Buffy led Willow up to Conner's old room while Angel woke up Conner and carried Dawn to her room.

"Sorry about the room." Buffy said. "We didn't expect you back so soon and Conner was complaining about how small it was."

"It's fine Buffy. I don't care." Willow said. "I deserve a little room."

"Willow.."

"It's ok Buffy. Really. I don't mind. I'm so tired I don't care where I sleep. Though the couch was really comfortable last night."

"You were here?"

"Yeah, but you couldn't see me and I couldn't see you. We'll talk in the morning. Good night Buffy." Willow walked into the room and shut the door.

"Night." Buffy called through the door.

Angel walked down the hall and Buffy followed him to their room. They slept through the night and woke up early in the morning. Buffy didn't have to go to school that day, but Conner and Dawn did. After Angel left, Buffy went to Willow's room and found her meditating on the twin bed.

Buffy started to walk off, not wanting to interrupt Willow, but the red head stopped her. "Buffy.."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." Buffy said.

"That's all I had left in me anyway."

"I didn't realize meditating was such hard work."

"I'm healing. Growing new skin."

"Wow. That's magic, right? I mean, when most people when they meditate don't get extra skin, right. 'Cause Clem should, like, cut back." Buffy joked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"It's magic. I'm drawing power from the earth to heal myself."

"We're on the second floor."

"You know Giles says everything's part of the earth. This bed. The air. Us."

"Explains why my fingernails get dirty even when I don't do anything." Buffy smiled as Willow leaned back against the headboard, exhausted. "You're wiped out. I-I should go."

"No. Please stay. I missed you so much when I couldn't find you."

"We missed you too. I missed you. Dawn's, uh, working on what caused the mutual no-see-ums, but so far we haven't.."

"I did it."

"You did a spell?"

"I didn't mean to. I-I just remember thinking I wasn't ready to see you guys yet. I was afraid we wouldn't, you know, connect."

"So, you made it happen just by thinking it?"

"Guess I have a ways to go before I master my powers, huh?"

"It's ok. As long as you're all right."

"It's nice to be forgiven. Too bad I need so much of it."

"I have a confession to make. I thought it might be you. With the flaying."

"I know."

"I wanna be the kind of person that wouldn't think that. Xander never thought it."

"He did, a little. Heck, I did a little. Xander has the luxury of not saying it, but you're the slayer. You have to say stuff like that. It's ok. It's ok too if you still don't think I can recover from this magic stuff, 'cause, honestly, I'm not that sure about it either." Willow sighed and sat back up, starting to meditate again.

"I thought you were too tired."

"It hurts too much not to try."

"I'm sorry."

"It just takes so much strength. I don't have that much."

"I got so much strength, I'm giving it away." Buffy said, sitting cross- legged in front of Willow.

"Are you sure?"

"Will it help?"

"Much."

Buffy took Willow's hands and said "Good," as they started to meditate together.