Chapter 11

Giles called back about an hour later and Wesley was talking to him while Spike, Dawn, and Alex descended the stairs. "Are you quite serious?" Wesley asked into the phone. "Yes, of course. I know you wouldn't lie about something like this." Everyone then came into the lobby to see what Giles knew. "Yes, it's worth a try. I'll let you know if it would succeed or not, goodbye." With that Wesley hung up the phone.

"What was that about? Did Giles find anything?" Xander asked, anxious to save his friend.

"Well, Giles did have more on the demon than we did. He also managed to find a cure." They all seemed happy after that.

"That's great, what is it?" Willow asked.

"Well, it was a bit interesting. It turns out that the cure is...true love." Everyone was looking at him like he was crazy.

"Are you serious, mate?" Spike asked, not quite believing it.

"Yes, it just so happens that these demons don't just kill. They are also responsible for finding true love. I know it is a bit farfetched, but the only way to save someone that has been taken victim by the demon's venom is by true love's kiss." Wesley told them all.

"Okay, that sounds like some messed up fairytale." Gunn replied and everyone agreed.

"Yes, I told you it was farfetched. In a way, the demons help someone find their true love. Sometimes two people don't know when they are meant to be together, they don't realize that sometimes their soul mate is right under their nose the whole time. The demon's venom brings a person near death so that only true love's kiss could wake them and that way they would realize who their true love was." Xander rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, or the person could just die." Wesley nodded.

"Yes, that has happened several times. They are still demons, they may help people find love, but they also don't care if they kill anyone in the process." Tara who was quiet the whole time spoke up.

"So, is this the only way to save Buffy?" Wesley nodded.

"At the rate we're going, Buffy probably only has a few hours left. This is the only way that we know of to save her." Xander nodded.

"So, who will be the one to do it?" They were all quiet until Gunn spoke up.

"I'm thinking Angel. We all know how much he still loves Buffy; you would have to be blind not to notice. I've known the guy for a few years now and most days she is all he talks about." Everyone seemed to agree except for Spike. He just stood there in silence.

"Where is Angel?" Cordelia asked, finally speaking up.

"He decided to handle the patrolling alone and I think he just wanted to get out of here. He didn't say when he would be back." Gunn said and Cordelia nodded.

"I'll try his cell phone and get him to come back." She picked up the phone and tried to call Angel. After a few seconds she hung up. "Great, he doesn't have his phone on." Wesley sighed.

"There won't be enough time to go out and look for him and by the time he gets back it could also be too late. I just wish we had another option." Wesley stated, upset.

"We do." Dawn replied as everyone looked at her wondering what she was getting at. "Spike could do it." No one seemed convinced and Spike just stared at her.

"I think they were right about it having to be Angel, nibblet. I don't think it would work if it was me." He told her, everyone else remaining silent.

"Of course it will. I know how much you love Buffy. We've all seen it, why wouldn't it work?" Spike took an unneeded breath.

"I do love her, but you're forgetting one thing. If I know anything, I know that true love works both ways. Not only do I have to love her, but she has to love me in return and we all know that she doesn't." Dawn sighed.

"You have to at least try, Spike. I know that you can save her, I just know it." Alex came up next to Dawn.

"Yeah, I believe you can too. It's worth a try; you can't give up on her." Spike looked at them and then at the faces of the others, then he headed up the stairs. Everyone watched him go up and then without saying anything, they followed him.