They parted ways outside the Magic Box. Willow wanted to return to the hospital to sit with Tara, and Buffy was reluctantly headed for Spike's crypt, to see if he'd heard anything about a demon with a grudge against Anya. She rapped on the door once, twice, no answer. She pushed the door open. The TV was on and the candles on either side of the couch were lit.

"Spike? Dammit. I don't want to play hide and seek."

She took a few steps into the crypt, then whirled around, stake in hand, when she heard a noise behind her. She was showered by the popcorn that a very surprised Clem was carrying in his hands. He let out a shriek and scrambled backwards. Buffy swore.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I-I-I thought you were Spike!"

"Well, duh! Aren't demons supposed to have better eyesight than that? Where is Spike anyways... and when did he get a microwave?" She picked a piece of warm popcorn out of her hair and popped it into her mouth.

"I don't know. I was supposed to meet him here. Poker night, you know." Clem's smile faded when Buffy raised her eyebrows and made a silent 'Ew'. "We were supposed to be there a couple of hours ago. I guess he must have forgotten. Is there something I can help you with?"

Buffy frowned. "No. Yes. Well, maybe. Have you heard anything about someone or something planning a raid on the Magic Box? Or maybe a demon with a grudge against Anya?"

"Anyanka? Ooh, no way... she's scary. Besides, all the demons I know already know she hangs around with you and the witches. They'd think twice before going after her, even if they wanted to. Did something happen?"

"Yeah, someone broke into the store when Anya wasn't there." Buffy frowned. "If you see Spike, tell him.... tell him I want to talk to him. And if you hear anything, tell me, ok?"

"Sure thing!"

---------------------

Buffy left the crypt and headed home. She couldn't figure it out... if Anya wasn't the target, then why? There was no money missing, no obvious theft of any magical items, as far as she could tell, although she and Willow planned on going over Anya's inventory sheets tomorrow. It would have been much easier if they knew where Anya herself was - she had a photographic memory where the source of her profits were concerned, and she'd be able to tell at a glance whether anything was even a fraction out of place. Of course, if Anya was there, she'd probably be the one in the hospital.

She turned the corner and frowned when she saw the lights on in her house. It was a school night, Dawn shouldn't be up this late.....

"Oh shit. Riley."

She looked at her watch. It read 3:15.

"Shit. Shit. Shit."

She broke into a run. She reached the house, opened the door, ran in, and saw Riley sitting on the couch, with Dawn dozing against the cushions next to him, and an empty pizza box sitting on the coffee table in front of them. He hit the mute button on the remote control, and Dawn sat up, startled, when she heard Buffy's running footsteps.

"Riley. I am so sorry. Something...."

"It's ok, Buffy. Slayer business. At least I hope it was Slayer business that made you forget all about me." He smiled at her.

"Sort of. Someone broke into the Magic Box tonight."

Dawn sat up straight. "Ohmigod. Was Tara there?"

"Yeah, she was. She's in the hospital. She's got a concussion."

"Is she gonna be ok?"

"They don't know yet, Dawn. Willow's with her."

"I want to go see her!"

"We can't tonight, Dawny. She's in the ICU, and they only allow one visitor at a time. We'll go in the morning, and Willow will call us if anything changes."

"What happened?" Riley's voice was calm, but concerned. Buffy gave him a quick rundown.

"And nothing was taken? Are you sure?"

"Not as far as we could tell."

Riley frowned. "I think you're on the right track with Anya. Girl's got a lot of enemies."

"Yeah. Maybe. I don't know." Buffy closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You're exhausted. You should get some rest, and Dawn too, if you're going to the hospital in the morning."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry again about our 'date'"

"You don't need to say anything."

Riley got up, and Buffy followed him to the door. They paused just outside.

"I do expect a raincheck, however."

"Absolutely." Buffy smiled, and looked up into Riley's eyes. He leaned in, and kissed her. Buffy sighed, and ran her hands through his short hair. He slipped one hand around her waist and ran the other gently up the back of her neck. She shivered, and their lips parted.

"Cold?"

"No, happy. Your hands were cold last night but now they're warm. It's nice."

"Good." He smiled, and kissed her again. "I'd better let you get some rest, though."

"Yeah, ok. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Absolutely. Here." He pulled a pencil and a small pad of paper out of his jacket. "Here's the number I'm staying at, and here's my pager number. Call me if you need anything, or if you find out anything about who hurt Tara."

"Ok." She took the slip of paper and watched him go. She ran her fingertips across her lips.... they tingled. She smiled, and went back into the house.

---------------------

"So, how did it go?"

"All according to plan. Well, almost. The bitch isn't dead - yet, but she's in no shape to tell anyone what she saw."

Riley's minions looked around uncomfortably, glad that none of them had been the ones to leave "the bitch" alive. One of them spoke up.

"And the Slayer? You left her body someplace?"

Riley shook his head. "Mitchell. That's why you'll never get anywhere. You have no patience. No appreciation for subtlety."

"Subtlety?" Mitchell looked confused. "Does that mean you're not going to turn her?"

Riley rolled his eyes. "No, Mitchell, that means I'm waiting until the time is right. You only get one chance at something like this. I want it to be special for her. Candles, flowers, moonlight.... romantic. Something she'll never forget."

The minions looked even more confused. Riley sighed.

"Tomorrow night. After she gets another dose of the Aphrodite Elixir."