Title: The shell without Humanity
Rating:PG-13
Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!
Summary: AU on Grave. During, not after so it's more original than most.

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First thing Buffy notice was that there was no heat. Except for the body draped over her at the moment. She figured Giles had thrown himself on her to keep her safe from the flames. At least that's what she hoped he did. Anything other than that boarder lined on creepy. Giles noticed that they were not burning, then the position they were in and quickly stood up. Automatically going to clean his glasses which weren't on his head. Buffy got up to dust off her pants of debris, but found none. That was strange considering the state the shop was in.

That's when they both noticed the state of the shop. It was new, nothing was misplaced or damaged. Everything was there and untouched as if nothing had happened. The only thing out of place was the catatonic witch on the floor and the bewildered Anya excitedly looking around.

She was twirling happily examining every corner as if to check that everything was there. Her eyes landed on the vampire in the doorway. In an instant she was hugging him tightly. Spike seem to hesitate for a moment, as if this was something he had never done before, but then wrapped his arms around her giving her a good hug before releasing her and stepping back. She just looked at him and smiled.

"Thanks Spike."

That brought a smile to the vampires face. But it seemed shadowed, or hollow. Just a reaction no true feeling to it. Buffy suddenly knew what her smile for the last year looked like. When his gaze turned to her the smiled faded and all that was left was the icy blue eyes that said nothing, and everything. With that he left, strolling across the street with the sun on his back.

Anya turned to face a few shocked faces. But before anything could be said Anya's gaze shifted from them to something behind them. Their focus turned to the redhead lying on the floor. They stood for a moment, trying to decide what to do. What should they do with someone they loved but had betrayed them, further more tried to kill them all.

Buffy was at a loss. Around her heart she had a wall which she let a few through. Willow had been pushed out when the threat had reached her sister. But Spike had done something to her. Now she was in a catatonic state. Buffy had been at one point, so she reasoned she owed the redhead. Making her decision she turned to Giles. He had obviously come to something of a similar solution and was looking for hers.

They both moved to pick her up. Taking Willow into the back room and laying her down. Buffy noticed what Giles had earlier. The witches arm was twitching still and clutched the black marble she had seen form in the vampires hand.

She went down to pick it up when Giles surprisingly strong hand caught hers.

"Buffy I don't know if Spike was telling the truth but I don't think anyone should touch that."

She looked at him then back to the seemingly harmless marble. Trying to think of something she grabbed a dusting cloth that rested on the table. Giles was about to protest when she went back to pick it up.

"Giles we have to get that away from Willow."

Giles agreed but still didn't know what boundaries the magic in that marble had. Problem was the authority on magic was currently unconscious.

"Alright. But let me do it, I'll be able to counteract the magic better than you can because of the powers the coven imbued on me."

She was hesitant, not wanting to risk someone else. But in the end nodded and handed him the rag. They both held their breath as he picked the marble out of the hand of the witch. When nothing happened to Giles they both breathed easily. The twitching had stopped in the witches hand. Her eyes also completely closed. But the grimace of pain stayed so it looked more like a fitful sleep than anything else. They both jumped when they heard a squeal behind them. Turning to see Anya behind the register dancing her capitalist dance. She opened her eyes to catch them staring at her dumbly. She stopped for a moment obviously pissed at their attention.

"What? Can't I be happy my money is still here. Without it I'd go broke."

They still stared at her for a moment. She looked as if she was going to resume her dance when she shouted.

"OH jeez the stock. I've got to check. I hope he replaced those too!"

With that she ran down to the basement. Buffy and Giles just looked at each other for a moment and soundlessly laughed at the absurdity of it. With that they moved apart to their own tasks. Finding a jar, Giles dropped the Marble in carefully to examine it better. The marble was swirling with dark magic. No light escaped it. And even the shine seemed to dull because of it. This thing was made by a very dark magic. And the fact Spike possessed it didn't ease the wariness.

Turning his attention back to his slayer. Buffy was silently staring at willow, kneeling beside her, absently straightening her limbs to make her more comfortable. When the job was done she leaned back and closed her eyes. He could almost see the tear creeping down her cheek. Hating the fact he had to do this he walked next to her and gently touched her shoulder. When she looked up at him his heart almost broke.

"Buffy we have to figure out what happened to Spike."

Whatever crack in her heart that was already there got wider at the mention of his name. He was so different. No emotion to him and none of the love she once saw in his face when he looked at her. What scared her more was the fact she believed his threats. She did believe that if he wants them dead, it will be slow and painful. For the first time in all of her existence she wished she had the old Spike back.

"Giles, what did Willow do?"

He seemed to think over it for a bit.

"Well, it seems she sent him to another dimension. Spike said the word Balthrass I don't know if that's where…"

"Why would anyone want to go to Balthrass?"

They both jumped at Anya's voice. Both looked at her as she absentmindedly fingered a strange unknown artifact. Giles spoke first.

"We don't want to go there. We believe that's where Willow sent Spike."

That caught her attention.