Chris's eyelids fluttered open and she felt strong arms wrapped around her. She smelled Clay's cologne and turned over to face him. He opened his eyes at her movement.
"Hey."
"Hey. Are you ok?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I came in here because you were crying out. I came in and you were having a fit."
"I don't remember anything."
"I laid down with you and you calmed down so I figured I'd stay."
"Do we have to go and save the world again? Can't we just stay in this bed forever?"
"Sorry hun, but no. I know having the weight of the world on your shoulders is a lot to bear, but I have faith in you."
"Well, I hope this spell that Willow is going to do works because I don't want to get any of you hurt."
"Chris, don't you know that all of use, even Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordelia would give our lives to help save the world…make it a safe place?"
"Yeah. But, that's my job, not yours. Your job is to be a normal guy, not fight the forces of darkness."
"I choose to help you and work with you because I love you and I don't know what I would do without you."
"Clay, if anything happens to Buffy or Angel or even Giles, their blood is going to be on my hands."
"No, its not. It would be on the hands of those responsible, the Initiative. Plus, they aren't going to die. They're strong. They've been at this for a very long time. Hell, wasn't it you that told me Buffy is the longest living Slayer?"
"You're right. I miss mom."
She started to cry and Clay held her close whispered reassuring words in her ear.
"I wish she was here, or even Dorian."
"What, I'm not good enough?"
She laughed and hit him.
"Ow. Now dry those tears my dear."
"Let's go kick some Initiative butt."
She rolled out of the bed and dragged Clay with her. She stood up and looked in the mirror.
"God, I look like shit."
"You look beautiful."
She looked at her watch. 4:45.
I need a shower.
"Sweetie, will you go out and help the gang finish with the preparations. I think I'm gonna jump in the shower."
"You got it sweet thing."
He kissed her briefly and walked back out into the living room.
The hot water felt glorious on her tired, aching body.
Come on Chris, you can do this. Sure, it's not everyday that you storm a government facility to rescue your friends, but you're very capable of doing this. But, what if something happens. It will be all my fault. No! No negative thinking. God, please watch over Buffy, Angel and Giles. Keep them safe. We're coming guys.
Buffy looked at her watch. 5 pm.
Well, I've been here almost twelve hours now.
"Angel, when we get out of here, remind me to hate the color white."
She heard him laugh softly.
"I'll do that. How ya holding up?"
"Besides being bored beyond belief?"
"Buffy, why do they have us here."
I can't tell him why they need him. But, then if I don't, he won't know what to do if they come and get him.
"Angel, I have some news, and it's not good."
"Buffy, just tell me. It's not like we haven't had bad before."
"Well, they need Giles because they needed an expert spell caster for this spell, and they need you because they need the ashes of a direct descendant of the Master, and well, I'm not really sure why they need me. I think they may have just wanted me out of the way."
She was greeted with silence.
"Angel?"
"Well, I guess we'll just have to get out of here then."
"Well, got any suggestions on how we do that?"
"Pray for a miracle?"
"Chris, good, you're back. Ok, I think I've come up with the final plan."
She smiled.
"I'm all ears my Wicca friend."
"Ok, well, we do the hypnosis spell on Riley and Finn and give them specific instructions to radio back when they have Buffy, Angel and Giles. When they radio back, I cast the spell to shut off the power. That should give Riley and Finn time enough to get them out. Now, if the power outage doesn't work, then they have specific instructions to transport all three of them here. At that point, we keep Riley and Forrest as compensation incase the Initiative tries any funny business."
"Wow Will, I'm proud of you. Sure you're up to all that spell casting?"
"Well, I won't lie to you, it's going to be quite taxing, but I can handle it. It's not like I started practicing last week."
She went back to looking at her books.
"Well, we need to start like, in a few minutes."
"I'm almost ready. I just have to go find one ingredient."
"What's that?"
"Sage."
"I'll go get it."
Xander got up and went to Willow's bag and pulled out oodles of sacks full of stinky and no so stinky herbs. He picked up a sack and threw it to Willow.
"Ok, its ready to go."
She mumbled a few words and Riley and Forrest looked around the room.
"What the hell was that?"
"Get use to it, they do it a lot."
Chris shot Riley her sweetest smile.
"Looks like you boys are goin on a trip."
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh nothing."
"I need complete silence."
Chris went over and sat on the couch next to Clay.
"Your minds I bend, your will be mine."
Willow threw a handful of a brightly colored plant into the bowl in front of her and it flamed for a moment and she looked up.
"Well, lets see if it worked."
She went over to stand in front of Riley and Forrest.
"Cluck like chickens."
Both men started to cluck.
"Let's put it to the real test. Xander, untie em."
"Chris, are you su—"
"I said untie them."
Xander walked over and removed the ropes from both of the men.
"Stand up."
Both men stood.
"Now, listen carefully."
Willow proceeded to "program" Riley and Forrest for their "mission."
"Hey Angel, maybe we can bust out of here."
"Buffy, what are you talking about?"
"Well, we only have this shocker shield thingy in one place, so what's to keep us from busting out through the back walls?"
"We're underground?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I heard some soldiers talking about it earlier."
"Hmm."
"What?"
"Nothing, I was just 'Hmming' to myself."
"Oh."
"Angel, we have to find a way out of here. I am not going to loose you. Not again, and not like this."
"Buffy, have faith in Chris. They're going to get us out of here."
The couple listened as a voice came over the loud speaker.
"Attention all personnel, agents Finn and Forrest have returned."
"Shit. How did they get away? This cannot be good."
"Calm down Buffy. I'm sure there's a logical explanation."
"Yeah, like the gang is lying in the mansion dead and we're next."
"Buffy, calm down. You're over reacting."
"Well, I have the right to over react. My friends could be hurt, dying somewhere."
The door to the chambers opened and two soldiers walked through with Giles. They put him back in his cell and locked and activated the barrier.
"Buffy, my god, what are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too Giles."
"Well, yes, but I would rather be seeing you on the other side of this barrier getting us out of here instead of in a cell yourself."
"Where have they had you?"
"I've been studying some kind of spell they expect me to perform. I'm afraid things are looking very grim."
"Giles, why do they need Buffy?"
He looked to Angel and frowned.
"Giles, tell me."
"They need your ashes and Buffy's blood."
"Hey, they can have a little of my blood, but they are not killing my boyfriend."
"Buffy, they need all of your blood."
"Oh, well, then they can't have any of my blood and they can't kill my boyfriend."
"Riley, Forrest, I'm happy you two are back."
"We're happy to be returning to the facility."
"What happened?"
"The Slayer and her friends captured me and Forrest, but, after casting spells on us to find out information about the spell and retrieving information from us, they figured our usefulness had come to an end and let us leave. I think they thought we wouldn't come back because we had betrayed you, but we're ready to help in any way we can."
"Well, there's not much more to be done."
"Could we be of service transporting the hostiles?"
"Yes, of course."
"We will report to the holding chambers and prep the prisoners for transportation."
Both men turned and walked out of the room.
"I want them watched, carefully."
"You've got it Professor."
Two men took off after Riley and Forrest.
Buffy looked up from her position on the floor when she heard the door open.
"You."
She watched as they deactivated her cell wall.
They sure aren't acting all "High Risk Prisoners." Wonder what's goin on.
"Where are my friends?"
Buffy got in Riley's face as he came in her cell and attempted to put handcuffs on her.
"I said," she punched him hard in the face, "where are my friends?"
She hit him again, this time he fell on the ground, out cold. She saw Forrest come in after her and hit him a couple of times. He didn't go down as easily as Riley. She kneed him in the groin and kicked him hard in the jaw. He fell over motionless. She heard the doors open once more and saw two soldiers enter.
"What's going on in here?"
They approached Buffy's cell and were surprised to see Riley and Forrest lying in the floor, unconscious.
"You are in violation of government code 112."
"Oh, guess I forgot to do my homework."
She kicked the first one in the jaw and backhanded him hard across the face. The second soldier went for his radio, but she kicked it from his grasp.
"Nu uh uh. We can't have you calling for backup before me and my friends can get out of here."
She punched him a couple of times in the face and he fell out. She grabbed Riley's security card and deactivated Angel and Giles's cells. She hugged Angel tightly.
"Ok, we've gotta find a way out of here and fast."
"Easier said than done."
"I have an idea."
"Why haven't they radioed in yet Will?"
"Maybe they ran into a problem. Walsh may have figured us out."
"They'll be here soon. I'm sure."
Chris paced the floor.
"I hope so."
Angel, dressed in fatigues, held both Buffy and Giles by their forearm.
"Soldier, where are you taking those prisoners?"
"I have orders from Professor Walsh to take them to the site of the spell."
"Can I have your clearance?"
"Sure."
He punched the soldier hard in the face and watched as he crumpled to the floor.
"Hopefully this will get us to the exit. We can't take out many more guards without being noticed. They've probably found Riley and Forrest and those other two guys by now."
"Well, we'll just have to make a quick exit."
The power suddenly went off and the three were enveloped into complete darkness.
"What the hell is going on?"
"I don't know, but let's go."
Angel grabbed Buffy's hand and Buffy grabbed Giles's arm and Angel maneuvered them through the facility.
"We're close to the entrance."
"Well, I'd rather be out of the entrance."
Buffy listened as the same annoying voice came over the loud speaker.
"Auxiliary power activated."
Very dim lighting came on all around the Initiative. They were a few feet from the door. Buffy looked around and noticed that a group of guards was headed towards them.
"Run!"
Angel looked in the same direction and all three of them broke into a run.
"You know this is the first and last time I should like to see the inside of a government facility."
"Oh, you mean our trip to D.C. is cancelled?"
Buffy laughed loudly.
"Buffy, now is not the time for jokes."
"What, just because we're being chased and if we get caught me and Angel are dead, I can't lighten the mood."
"No," both men said at the same time.
"Uh, men!"
They reached the door to the stairs and Angel held it open for Buffy and Giles. He went through after them and broke off the handle.
That should hold them for about 5 seconds.
He ran to catch up with Buffy and Giles. After scaling flour flights of stairs, they reached the door that led into the fraternity house. Buffy pushed it open to find it surrounded by guards.
"Freeze."
Buffy looked at Angel next to her and nodded. Both went on the attack. She knocked the guns out of two of the men's hands and cracked their heads against one another. She heard a gun go off and turned to make sure that her companions were ok. She took her eyes off of her attacker just long enough for him to get the upper hand. They fought for the gun and it went off. Buffy's eyes went wide. Angel looked in her direction when the shot was fired. He finished off the two guards and ran towards her.
"No. Buffy, hold on."
He watched as Giles took the man's gun from him and shot him.
"Giles, now isn't the time to go psycho on me. We need to get her to a hospital."
Giles reached down to check her vitals.
"She has a strong pulse. If we can get her to the hospital, she should be ok. We need a car."
"It can be arranged."
The two men hurried through the building and into the night. Angel spotted a car a few feet away and nodded to Giles. He ran ahead and opened the back door and climbed in and took Buffy. Angel opened the door and got in the front seat and proceeded to hotwire the car. He could feel Giles's eyes burning a hole in the back of his head.
"You learn a few tricks when you've been around as long as I have."
"Yes, quite right."
He took Buffy's pulse again.
"Angel, we need to hurry. Her pulse is getting weaker."
The car revved and Angel threw it into drive.
"We'll be there in five minutes."
Chris, Xander, Willow, and the whole gang listened in horror as the commando radioed in.
"We've got one man down. The prisoners have escaped. Smith shot the girl. We need some medical attention down here ASAP. Over."
Willow broke into tears and Xander held her close.
"What are we going to do?"
"They'll be heading to the hospital. We need to get there, fast."
Chris thought for a beat.
"Everybody in my car."
"Somebody needs to go get Joyce and Dawn."
"Right. Willow you go with Oz and get them. The rest of you are coming with me."
They quickly abandoned the mansion and climbed into their assigned cars. When they reached the hospital Xander took the lead.
"Funny thing. When you're in this line of work, you spend an awful lot of time in the hospital."
They saw Angel and Giles sitting in the waiting room. Chris ran over to them.
"How is she?"
"The doctors are still working on getting the bullet out. I think she's going to be fine."
She hugged Angel.
"This is all my fault if we had just come and not sent in those dopey commandos, this wouldn't have happened."
He pulled away from her and looked at the entire gang.
"What?"
"Will realized that she could hypnotize Riley and Forrest and they could get you guys out. The power outage was her too."
Angel laughed.
"What is it?"
"Buffy took out Riley and Forrest when they came in to get her. You know it would have been a lot easier if we would have known."
"I'm sorry Angel. It's all our fault."
"No, its not. You guys
did a great job. Speaking of Willow, where is she?"
"She and Oz went to go get Joyce and Dawn."
Giles saw a doctor coming towards them. Angel ran over to him.
"How is she?"
Giles and the entire gang came to stand next to him.
"She's still unconscious, but we managed to retrieve the bullet and there was very minimal damage done to her internal organs. She will have to stay overnight for observation. She's a very lucky girl."
"When can we see her?"
"She should be coming out of the anesthesia at any time. You can go in and see her three at a time. Just stop at the nurses station for the room number."
"Thank you doctor."
Angel shook his hand, as did Giles. Chris saw Willow, Oz, Joyce and Dawn coming towards them. Joyce attacked Giles with questions.
"Where's my little girl? Is she ok? Rupert, tell me."
"Joyce, calm down, she's going to be fine. The doctor said they got the bullet out with minimal damage to her internal organs. They're keeping her overnight for observation. We can go in and see her now, if you'd like."
Chris backed away from the group and ran towards the bathroom. Angel, Giles, and Joyce went in to see Buffy. The rest of the gang hung out in the waiting room waiting for their turn to go see her.
