Chapter 23 - Plans for the Watcher
I had her. I had her, in my sights, and she .. just .. disappeared. They all just disappeared. I'm standing here, with my gun in my hand, and there's no one to use it on.
I can't imagine how she did it. There was something, a demon, behind her. It's a sign of how far she's fallen, how far she's willing to go in her love for demons.
I never understood it. I never understood how she could be the Slayer, have a mission to protect humans from demons, and yet be with them. It's all Angel's fault, I suppose. He took an innocent child, and warped her. That's the only reason I can think of. The only reason that she could allow Spike to touch her. The only reason she could trust that .. whatever .. that helped her to disappear. How can she not see that it's wrong? How can't she see she's betraying her own kind, all of us, by behaving like that?
I'm not in control now. I haven't been for a while, not really. The energy, it's in charge, but it's as confused as I am. It's using my knowledge, my memories, to plan how to achieve its objective. I've got no explanation for what happened, so it has none.
I know that underneath, I'm disappointed that I'm free. I believed that they were trying to find a way to get this infection out of me, even if it was only because I might be able to help find Spike. I know that, once I'm free, I can make Buffy see what's happened to her. I think I did before - when I came back with Sam. I made up the 'doctor' thing, or at least Spike's involvement in it, but there's bound to be something real that he's up to. Once I'm back, once I know Spike's weaknesses, he'll get what's coming.
This thing that's controlling me, it's found a way to keep my emotions in check, with one exception it would seem, without stopping me from thinking. So, I know I'm scared shitless, and I know that I'm angry, but I don't feel it. Curiously, I notice that I still hate Spike. The other emotions are tamped down so that I can think clearly. It feels like it's worked out a lot about me while I was trapped in the mansion.
I was released by another subT. Tall, reddish, dressed in the loudest clothes I've seen since, well since Xander when I was with Buffy. It didn't seem to do anything, just walked into the mansion, and the spell dissipated. It just fell away, and the energy was back in control. It didn't say anything, just walked away. It's obviously part of whatever's got me, but how it fits in, I have no idea.
I'm coming to the conclusion that they're not coming back here. So, it's back to the beginning. The most obvious place to find them is back at the Magic Box. The problem with that is the witches. They're probably still there, but maybe I can watch until one of the others leaves. Then, maybe, I'll have another chance. Much as I'd like to keep this information from the energy, I can't. It's another of those things that adds to the anger that I know is underneath, even if I can't feel it.
So, it's back to watching.
*-*-*
We've treated Jacob's injuries. They're really quite extensive, and I'm impressed with the way he's stood up to our treatment. Rebecca has explained that their species is able to block out pain up to a point. Despite what she's said, it's obvious that she felt that Jacob had gone well beyond that capability. He's suffered a lot of pain in order to avoid giving the Initiative full control of his device.
He's told us that they're no longer calling themselves the Initiative. I suppose that's not surprising given the rather ignominious end of their operation in Sunnydale. Now they're called the Defenders of Humanity.
Still, at least they're still limited to our world. The prospect of letting them loose on other worlds .. it causes me to shudder.
When Jacob's comfortable, we share our stories in more detail. It's obvious that Spike told him quite a lot of our background while they were confined together. The suggestion of a mythical group intent on carrying on the work of Blar is chilling. That there could be a group intent on destroying all life on the earth, probably by destroying the child we came to know as Dawn, makes a kind of sense that I really don't want to consider. We never did get to the bottom of who was responsible for Willow's latest attempt on Dawn's life. She has no memory, but something filled her with magic.
Buffy hasn't heard anything we've said. She sitting, cradling Spike in her arms. She's rocking him as if he's a child, and talking to him, begging him to waken. From what Jacob's told us, there's nothing I can think of to do for him. Well, that's not exactly true. Not long after we got back, Buffy asked us to get him some blood. There's certainly some evidence that the ingestion of blood speeds their healing significantly, but whether or not it can repair a damaged brain? I haven't mentioned my doubts, because I don't think she could take it. I called Clem, and he's going to pick up some blood - human - because Buffy thinks that'll be more effective. I've no idea how she thinks she's going to get it into him, but we'll work that out when it's here.
When I glance outside, I can see nothing, but Willow tells me Riley is there, lurking in the shadows outside somewhere. It's just as well we've got tunnel access from the basement. I wrack my brain to try to remember if Riley knows that. I can't think of any way he could, unless Buffy mentioned it to him at some time. Of course, Clem uses that route - at least during daylight. It's not that he's got a sunlight allergy as such, but he does look out of place.
It's been a revelation for me. As a Watcher, I believed that demons were evil. It was black and white. Then there was Angel. Now, I still have some serious problems with him. But, on balance, he seems to be on the side of right, at least for now.
Then, there's Spike. He's still an enigma. I think I could study him for the rest of my life and not come to any firm conclusions. Clem? He's an unknown, except that I'm told that he's one of the gentlest creatures I'll ever meet.
As if thinking of him speeded his arrival, Clem appears at the door from the basement, several bags of blood in his arms. Buffy moves from Spike's side for the first time since they were reunited, and rushes to grab one of them. She applies her teeth to one corner, making a tiny hole, and returns to his side. She pours a few drops onto her finger, and places it inside his mouth. There's no reaction, but she doesn't stop. She repeats the action maybe a dozen times before she's rewarded with a movement. It's not a lot, just a slight movement of his tongue, followed by a small, but definite swallow.
Her reaction is to whisper at us. "He's swallowing, he's swallowing."
I place a hand on her shoulder, trying to show her that I care about what she's doing, but there's really nothing I can add at the moment, so, I approach Anya. She's behind the counter, checking over my totals sheets for the days she was absent. She's clucking irritably at some of my entries, and I know I'm going to hear a lot about my inadequacies in retail eventually, but right now, there's something more important I need to discuss with her.
"Did you find anything?" I ask.
"Of course I did," she replies. "How could you have sold the last of the newt eyes without ordering more? And, you've ordered more sage. There're two boxes of it downstairs. We won't need any more of that for months."
"Anya," I say as gently as I can, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I meant did you find anything to help with Riley?"
She stops what she's doing, looking at me. "Oh, so you're still interested, are you?"
"Yes, Anya, we're interested. It's just that we've had other, more urgent things to deal with. But, if you've got a solution, it could still be useful. Riley's outside, waiting, I assume, for one of us to come out. He still wants to kill Buffy, and while she might be able to defend herself, he had a gun. We've got to assume he still has a gun. If he uses it on her, he might well kill her, and if he doesn't, he'll more than likely kill the baby. We've got to do something. We can't spend our lives looking for him over our shoulders."
She nods, for once without words, and reaches under the counter.
"It's not perfect, but it's the best I could find."
She pulls out a sphere, apparently made of glass. It's a bit like a crystal ball, but it's too dark inside.
"It's a container designed to store magical energy. It's the strongest I could find, but I don't think it'll last very long. It's difficult to guess how long. It could be years, but it could be minutes. It's much stronger than anything available on this world."
"The original sphere," I ask, looking towards Rebecca and Jacob, "that lasted a very long time. Is it available in your world?"
Jacob shakes his head. "I don't think so. There aren't any records of the technology used to make the spheres. I could, perhaps, research and see if I can dig something up, but .. it'll take time."
I sigh deeply. There doesn't seem to be any way out of this. Willow breaks the silence. "How about this?" she begins, sounding less sure of herself than recently.
"I could do the spell to put the energy in the sphere. Then, the sphere could go into a universe of its own. Would that work?"
"It would only work as long as no one ever accessed that universe," Jacob replies. "It couldn't be a universe inside this world. We already know the Defenders have access here. And, it wouldn't be a good idea for it to be a world which was part of our own world. The availability of technology would ensure that sooner or later, the energy would be released."
"There is one possibility," Rebecca suggests, looking to Jacob for approval. "There's a world my father visited. It's got no life at all that's been found, and it's hardly surprising. Going there is extremely dangerous. The ambient temperature is extremely high, and there's extreme volcanic activity. My father visited to gather some data, so it's possible to go there, if you take appropriate precautions, but it should be safe from interference there. And, if it ever failed and was loosed into that world, it couldn't actually kill anything, anyway, well, except the people responsible for releasing it."
"That sounds feasible. What sort of precautions would be needed?" I ask.
"Well, I could just bring the things my father used," Rebecca offers, "but it would mean that the sphere would have to be carried by either Jacob or me. None of you would fit into the protective suits. And anyway, we're the only ones who can create the new universe."
"Willow," I ask, "how close would you have to be to Riley to remove the energy?"
"The closer the better," she tells us. "I could probably do it from where he is now, but the risk of something going wrong is much greater than it would be if he were in the room with us."
"I assume he thinks he's safe from Jenna's spell where he is. Is he correct?"
Jenna nods. "I'm afraid so. The spell takes a great deal of power, and the distance would degrade it significantly."
"And we can't approach him because he's probably armed," I add. "And, even without a weapon, we suspect he's a match for the Slayer due to his, well, infection."
"Where is he, exactly?" Anya asks.
"He's in the alleyway across the street," Willow answers. "It's ideal there, because he can watch the front door, and still see the exit from the alley behind the shop if we were to leave that way."
"I could teleport to right behind him," Anya offers. "But I'd need something - some sort of spell, or something, I could release when I get there."
"We know my immobilisation spell worked before," Jenna offers. "If we could contain it .."
"I have the very thing," Anya pipes up. "These jars are very popular right now, and I've got quite a good stock. They're designed to contain a spell - not for long, the limit's probably a couple of hours, maybe less for this one, but they should be more than enough for what you're planning."
"I'm not sure," Jenna apologises. "I've never tried putting a spell into something like that. It seemed, well, a bit like cheating.."
"It's not cheating if it helps defeat evil," I reassure. "Willow, can you help?"
She smiles, genuinely happy to be of use, it seems. "Sure, I'll help. It's not hard, just a question of keeping the spell focussed - and I'd guess you had to do that the first time, anyway."
"Will the spell immobilise me, though?" Anya wanted to know.
"If you're close to him, yes, it will."
"What if I'm not close, I mean, there's a delay? I could activate the jar, teleport somewhere else, then come back straight away." She pauses, looking pleased with herself, then her brow knits as she thinks again. "Some help to get him back here after would be useful, though."
"No problem," Xander pipes up. I think he's glad to be useful too, even if it's only for a bit of muscle.
My eyes are drawn back to Buffy. She's still feeding Spike, a finger-full of blood at a time. It seems he's swallowing more forcefully than before, but I can't see any other reaction. I'm torn between being with her, supporting her, and the need to sort out Riley. Then I realise, I'm not needed in the Riley camp for the moment, so I can give her the support she needs. I leave the others to their preparations, and crouch on the floor beside my Slayer.
"How's he doing?" I ask.
"Better, I think. He's not waking, but if he can feed .."
"Then there's hope," I say, hoping I sound more reassuring than I feel.
"Do you think he'd suck it from a straw now?" I ask.
"Don't know, but it's worth a try," she agrees.
I know I spotted some straws under the counter a couple of weeks ago. Dawn brought them in one time, although I never did understand why. I find them, and return to the floor.
"Can you sit him up?" I ask.
Buffy shuffles until her back is against the wall, then pulls Spike into a sitting position between her legs, his head lolling onto her shoulder. I dip the straw into the blood, then reverse it, putting the clean end into the red liquid. I offer the blood smeared straw to his mouth, and to our relief, he first licks it, then starts to suck.
This method of feeding is much more efficient than the fingers, and it takes only ten minutes until he finishes the bag. Clem came to sit with us just after we started to use the straw, and he offers another bag. This time, it takes only five minutes to empty the bag. There's still no other sign of life.
"Help me to take him into the training room," Buffy asks. "I think he's had enough for now, he seemed to be slowing down towards the end of that last bag. I'll leave it an hour or so, then try again."
I nod my agreement, and we support Spike's inert body into the other room. Once there, Buffy makes him comfortable on one of the training mats, and curls up behind him, holding him close. She's just lying there, gently stroking his hair, which I notice is curled, and dark at the roots. He looks so human. The vampire I once knew is gone. The too perfect, severe hair, and pale skin is gone. Technically, he might be a demon, but what I see is a man.
