Discovered

Buffy was now in the clothing she'd arrived in. If all went well she would be Back in Sunnydale before sunrise and she wanted to be dressed for it. Now she helped Sam pack away her clothes in the bags she would be taking when she headed home. "What about this?" Buffy held up a dark blue dress for The older Slayer's scrutiny.

Sam turned from the hole in the floor to see what Buffy was holding. After the boards were pulled up under the palette Sam used for a bed, a store of tools only a slayer would possess was revealed. Crossbows, daggers, swords, only a few of each, but of course the rest of the space was filled with bottles of holy water, a number of stakes and a few crosses.

"That dress? Yes, I do think I will take it as well."

Buffy proceeded to fold the garment and placed it into the bag. Their day was almost over now. Sam had said her good-byes to the last of the people in the area she delivered items to. Some of the people were sad others were filled with happiness knowing Sam would be going home to whatever life she had there.

In all reality, as Sam revealed to Buffy later, she would most likely be back within a months time if she still lives. Somehow she always ended up back in London.

Sam pulled out the last of the supplies she could fit into what looked like to Buffy as an oversized canvas shoulder bag. It was big enough to hold several swords three crossbows and other necessities for any demon fighter.

The blonde slayer finished filling the case with clothing and closed the latch after a few tries. "Done here."

Sam closed the drawstring at the top of the bag and placed the boards back in the floor. "Here too." She moved the palette back into place and was about to suggest they go when a knock came to the door.

Buffy looked over to Sam questioningly. In all the time Buffy had been here, no one had come to Sam's room.

Sam just shrugged and stood before going to the door and opening it. "Mrs. Walsh." Sam smiled and greeted the round woman and invited her in. "Is everything all right?"

The housemother looked over the room to the bags, then to Sam. "Oh yes Samantha dear. I just wanted to tell you how much I am going to miss you."

Sam smiled gently. "Oh, well I'll miss you too." And Sam stepped forward to share a hug with the mother figure.

Buffy sat quietly and smiled at the two when they released each other. Mrs. Walsh held onto Sam's shoulders and looked her over one final time. "Now. Off with you. And be sure you come here first thing if you come back."

"Don't I always?"

"Yes. Well." Mrs. Walsh wiped her hands absentmindedly on the apron she always seemed to have tied around her waist. "I have to get back, but I just wanted to tell you two good luck. At whatever it is you do." And after a quick wink the woman turned and headed back down the hall to the stairs.

Sam looked back Buffy who now held a case in each hand. "Shall we?"

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Giles sat in the den, once again going over elements in each student's project. It was all he could do to keep his mind off of the situation in Sunnydale. One he couldn't be involved in from his place in The Council.

With three students already finished, his load was lighter, but just as overwhelming. As he replaced the papers of a blue folder, Joel came into the room.

"Mr. Giles. We have found him." The boy proclaimed. "He's got a flat. Haden found the address."

Giles stood up and motioned for another young man, Nathan, to go over a few folders until he returned.

With nothing else said, Giles headed out the door and towards the doors that would take him to the surface.

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1943

Quentin walked down the street hurriedly. He had a few hours before anything would happen, but he wanted to be prepared. Once the roof of a building across the street from the place the ritual should take place was set up he headed towards the pub hoping to find and follow the Tomar and gather information on the order itself.

With an almost ritual of his own, he settled into the shadows that grew as the sun descended. Soon he would have everything he needed to complete his project, his thesis, and all would ultimately ensure his rise to Head of the Council of Watchers.

He pulled out his notes and began to jot down the final points on the demons he'd observed with the Slayer and her Vampire. He couldn't find any demons that matched their description in the texts in the libraries, nor could he figure out the connection they had to the Order, but because so many demons associated with the Tomar were yet undocumented, that was not unusual.

What he had found was nothing out of the ordinary. As with much of the Tomar's history, many known demons were present when leaving the pub two nights before. One notably was Drusilla and a new childe the Watchers had yet to put a name to. Highly unusual, considering her mate, William the Bloody, had not been seen.

Quentin had also been able to identify one of the leaders. A demon who's presence almost promised the ritual would succeed. A Multor demon who'd been spotted at the last attempt to open the portal, and who's species was knows for its unrelenting want to do so.

If nothing else, this night would prove to be very insightful.

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The Scoobies along with Sam, Zeek, and the newest generation all waited impatiently for 6:00 to roll around. Anya paced as much as the rest, nearly biting the heads off of several customers. Eventually Xander suggested she close the store before she scared any customer out of ever coming back. It was enough to prompt her to turn the key, but not calm her.

Dawn and Michelle weren't in much better shape. Neither was sure exactly how all this would go down. Just sitting and waiting was more work that the fight they'd had planned to stop the Tomar.

Willow and Tara still discussed the events of the day prior, working out what spells they could work tonight if needed.

Christian listened to them and tried to add what he could.

Zeek shared last minute information he had on the other demons that may be helping that the books didn't hold. Easiest way to dispatch each species once the blonde pair came through.

Sam told them that Buffy and Spike would be coming right after a fight, and stand back in case it took them a minute to realize where they were. And to let them know the fight wasn't over.

The only question Richard had was how they were going to get the crystal back from the Tomar once the spell was used.

And that was the question no one had an answer to.

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Sam led Buffy this time. They dropped down into Ashton's home and walked to the pair going over final plans. They put Sam's bags off to the side. The bag holding the weapons was laid on the ground next to the chair Ashton occupied. When the ladies settled into the seats surrounding the crates still in place from the night before they found a simple diagram of the area they expected the vortex to open drawn out on a sheet of paper.

"Ooh, pictures." Buffy smiled and looked over the paper. "Why do we have pictures?"

Spike turned his head to her. "How far's your radar reach?"

"Huh?" Buffy raised her brow.

Ashton clarified. "How far out can you sense a demon?"

"Oh," Buffy nodded and thought before shaking her head. "I don't know, depends on the demon."

Spike pointed out an area across from the ally in question. "About here's where I need to be. So Dru doesn't know I'm abouts."

Again Buffy nodded, then wondered why it wasn't further. "Well, I don't know if Dru has ever been able to tell I'm close, just alive." She smiled at the crew before deciding. "That should be far enough though."

Ashton looked back to Sam and explained. "Spike believes once the ritual starts, Drusilla's mind will be to busy focussing on the energy forming the vortex to sense them, but before it. that's when we could run into problems."

Sam ran her fingers over the hair pinned neatly to the back of her head. "Then what about us?"

"Well you're same as Buffy here. A Slayer. She can sense that, always has." Spike explained.

"So basically, we need to get Dru out of the way to even get in there?" Buffy asked.

"But we can't kill her, and Dustin can't be too close either." Ashton answered. "He's only kin, but he'd be able to tell if another of his clan was close."

"And I don't look so different he wouldn't recognize me." Spike added.

Sam took the paper from Ashton and pointed out the ally adjacent from their target. "If Ashton and I wait here until they begin, then go in hard and take those two out first, you two can come in right after and get to the vortex."

"What about the Tomar?" Buffy asked. "We can't let them just walk away."

"We'll take out who we can, before we go through." Spike pointed out. "Once it's open, it won't close. We just have to hope Emerson's notes here were right."

"And it'll take us home." Buffy finished.

"Then we'll get it closed." Ashton promised and shared a glance with a nodding Samantha.

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Hemphry looked around again, hoping to see any of the beings she called friend. Word had been passed on that Ashton and the Slayer, along with the two newcomers, would be going against the large group of demons now gathered in her pub.

She herself had to put up with the loud group for three nights now. They sat for hours going over their plans. Over and over, arguing and arguing about the best way to go about it. It wasn't the noise that bothered her, it was the idea of what they were doing. The fact that if they were successful she would be forced to leave behind everything here. Her husband, her life, possibly her children. Their blood carried hers, but she couldn't be sure if they would be pulled in or not. She herself was only half demon, and they only a quarter.

She stood behind the bar trying not to let her face show her reservations and again walked to the large red demon who seemed to be heading up the Tomar these days. "Can I get you anything?"

"Not a thing. I think we're all set." The thing spoke familiarly with her.

She smiled and left him just in time to catch the eye of the Dark haired vampire sitting, once again, alone at a table studying the red wine in her glass. "Bits of pieces, not at all as it should be. Too many here, not enough there. All wrong for us." The woman babbled. "All wrong."

Hemphry shuffled over to the woman. "Did you need another drink, Miss?"

Dru looked up with glassy eyes. "You knew, didn't you? All the bits were here?"

Hemphry looked back at the crowd of demons who began to hoot and holler at their amazing plans, then back to the sad looking woman.

Drusilla shook her head. "No, none knew. All my playmates have gone. A new game."

Just then the brunette vampire Hemphry now knew was Dusting leaned over Drusilla's shoulder. "A new game is right. Are you ready?" He took Drusilla's hand and lead her to her feet. "You'll like the game tonight."

The dark vampiress followed him and leaned into her step. "For tonight, I will like my game."

AS if it was a signal, all the demons filed out the pub's door. Hemphry went to work cleaning up the tables and picking up the currency left behind. Her mind still reeled at all the possibilities the next few hours would bring.

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The demons followed Dru through the ally's and empty streets. She was their compass this night. She would read the energy's strength and lead them to their salvation.

On the heels of the group, a man followed as silently as his watcher training would allow him.

It seemed, these demons had not gone to the trouble of using calculations as the human trailing them had to determine the spot the ritual needed to be done.

Once they found their way to the ally Quentin had known was their destination, he made his way up the stairwells of an old building where he had set up earlier for taking notes and waiting.

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Sam got into place beside Ashton. From their vantage point, they would be able to see when any one entered the ally. Unfortunately they couldn't see Spike or Buffy who were three buildings over. Nor could The blondes see the ally entrance. They were counting on the pair's super senses to let them know when the Vampire and the Slayer were moving to the entrance.

Sam could feel her heart beating fast. A fight was coming and her body knew it.

"Are you alright?" Ashton asked and placed a hand on her shoulder.

She reached up to his hand, still with her back to him, and looked over her shoulder. "I'm ok. I just want this to work."

He nodded confidently. "It will."

She smiled and looked down. Before glancing back to the ally. "Ashton. Here they come."

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"Slayer's heart's gonna pump itself right out'a 'er chest she isn't careful." Spike observed as they listened for signs of movement from the dark pair.

"I know the feeling." Buffy sighed. "I'm so nervous, I smell tea." She looked back to Spike curiously. "Why would I smell tea?"

But spike was looking up. He was a practiced vampire, and knew how to use his senses well. On instinct he'd opened them all up full force for any signs of change from the human a less than a block away. Instead he sensed another human, and he was a familiar one. "Can't be." He whispered.

"What is it Spike?" She asked following his gaze. "Some one's up there." She stated when she heard the beat of another heart above her.

Spike looked back down at her. "Stay here. We still have some time."

"What? Stay here?" She asked.

"This once, Buffy. Do what I ask, and stay here. We may have another problem." With that he ran further into the ally and disappeared.

Buffy crossed her arms. "I'm the Slayer. why should I stay?"

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Spike jumped up to a ledge jutting from the side of the building and once again to the roof, landing quietly on his boots. The duster he was so used to along with his normal street clothes had given him back his normal swagger, and he made his way confidently to the man crouched down looking through binoculars to the ally down the street.

This close up there was no mistaking the scent of the old man, who was a boy before him. So trained was this man that he didn't even know someone was behind him only a foot away. Spike glared at the man's back. Here was his chance. Getting rid of the man who'd cause all this was his first thought, before he realized that this man was responsible for several of the good things in his life. Including the fact that he had a life now.

Reluctantly Spike decided killing him wouldn't be beneficial, but the re was nothing he could think of that would give him a reason not to hurt him a little. So the once Master Vampire leaned down and came within inches of the man's ear. "Quentin!"

Spike lurched back when Quentin lept up and fell backwards on the hard cement of the building. His head cracked hard.

Spike was ready for a little scrap and was standing at the ready when he realized Mr. Travers wasn't getting up.

After listening again, the former vampire came to the conclusion that the watcher had knocked himself out. "Well this is bloody priceless." He shook his head and went to walk away then saw the folder with papers spilling from them sitting on the ground beside Quentin's still body.

Spike cocked his head and made out a few words on the pages before deciding to take a look for himself. He quickly skimmed a few pages and looked back at the breathing man. "Well then, looks like you've been doing your homework."

He pulled out several pages and stuffed them in his jacket. Then he set the folder back down and gave the man a mock salute. "Fare the well, or not."

He took off back down the building to find Buffy still standing in place with her arms crossed. "Have fun."

Spike pulled the pages out for her to read, and smiled. "Found an old friend of ours. Maybe you remember him. Goes by the name of Quentin."

Buffy was still reading the pages when he said that. "I am not a demon." She looked back at Spike. "Please tell me you didn't kill him."

"Na. Wouldn't want to run the chance of him not being around messin' things up. Was tempted."

"Hold on." Buffy interrupted.

"Yeah, their on the move."

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