Part Four - A Needed Ally

"So, who wants some popcorn?"

"Me!"

Willow smiled as Dawn snatched the bowl out of her sister's hands.

"Hey!"

And the fight was on. The young witch looked out of the window, but all she saw was darkness. They had decided to have a girl's evening, but Tara had to deal with some family affair she didn't want to talk about, and Anya didn't want to leave Xander all alone, so it was just the three of them at the Summers' house. And if the two sisters would continue the evening like they had started it off, it surely wouldn't be boring.

"So, which film do you want to watch first?" she asked, trying to interrupt the ongoing quarrel.

Dawn's head appeared from behind the couch, where Buffy was busy showing her just who the leading Summers woman was, although of course not with full force.

"A love story! How about 'You've got mail'?"

"Nah. That one's just too sweet for me now. Don't we have some action?" the Slayer interfered.

Willow scanned through the boxes. "Uh… 'Rush Hour'?"

"Sounds okay." Buffy decided that it was time for a generous moment. "What do you think?"

"Actually, I think the Jackie Chan is kinda cute, so fine by me," Dawn replied.

"Yeah, you know, all those stunts he does," Willow agreed, smiling broadly. "You can hardly believe how old he is."

"Fine." Buffy put the bowl with the little popcorn that hadn't landed on the carpet on the table. "On we go."

***

Yawning, Dawn opened the door to her room. Buffy had sent her upstairs, and for once she hadn't argued. She had a math test scheduled for the next day, and was feeling rather sleepy after the film. Her sister and Willow were going to watch another, but 'The Net' didn't interest her anyway, so that was okay. The teenager stepped inside the room, turned on the light - and gasped.

"Hello, my little key," Glory said, and smiled at her from her place on the bed.

"B-Buffy!" Dawn screamed at the top of her lungs.

The goddess got up, amusement on her face. "Your sister can't fight me, you know. She's too weak. Come on, you and I have some gates to open." She took one step into Dawn's direction.

"Buffy!"

But the Slayer had already appeared in the doorway, having jumped up in alarm as soon as she had heard Dawn's first cry.

"Get away from her!"

Glory laughed. "Or else? What do you think you could do to me? You're nothing."

Buffy answered with lunging at her, delivering a fast series of punches aimed directly at the god's face. Glory staggered, but then caught the Slayer's fist with one hand.

"You could leave a scar," she hissed, and with a powerful kick in the belly sent her opponent flying across the small room. Buffy hit the wall next to the door hard, and let out a small moan of pain. Then she noticed Willow standing in the doorframe, staring wide-eyed at the goddess.

"Get Dawn out of here!" she ordered, and threw herself once more into the fight. She knew that she had no chance, the few blows she actually delivered having no seemingly effect on her adversary, yet all she could think of was protecting her younger sister. Not the mysterious key, just Dawn. A full force roundhouse kick sent her to the floor, once again.

"Buffy!" Dawn shrieked, her voice filled with fear.

Buffy looked up, panting heavily. Glory advanced her fallen victim, a cruel smile playing around her lips.

"Still!"

Willow's voice was ringing with power as she unleashed her summoned magic. The goddess stopped short, angered confusion spreading over her face.

"Buffy, come on! I don't know how long this will hold her!" the witch shouted.

The Slayer got to her feet, grabbed her horrified sister's arm and ran down the stairs, Willow close behind, and Glory's screams of anger following them. They made it to the street, and ran on, only finally stopping when they knew some blocks to be between them and the hell god. There they just stood for a minute, panting, and trying to regain control over their trembling limbs.

Buffy looked at the others. Dawn was crying, and she didn't like the pale colour of Willow's face.

"Wh- what do we do now?" the witch asked uncertainly.

"You go home and get some rest. I will need your full power when Glory's back in the game," Buffy answered, effectively silencing every protest by adding, "And that will be tomorrow. Now that she knows Dawn's the key, we have to fight her. Before she has the chance to get at her again."

"And what are you going to do?" Willow allowed her exhaustion to show in her voice, knowing she would be able to give in to it soon.

Buffy look at her trembling sister.

"I'm going to get Dawn somewhere safe."

***

With an annoyed scream, Glory finally broke the spell that had been holding her. She prepared to take one confident step forward, only to stumble as her legs wouldn't support her.

"That witch is so going to pay," she mumbled, rubbing her forehead as she tried to make her way towards the door. It had taken her more strength to free herself than she liked to admit, even to herself, and now she was starting to feel dizzy.

"Oh no, you don't!" she moaned, trying to keep control. But she lost, and her mind fell into darkness as her body changed back into Ben's.

The young doctor looked around in confusion, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings along with the broken furniture.

"What the hell has she done now?" He cursed silently as he staggered out of the room, wondering how he should get home without too much unwanted attention when he was still wearing Glory's tight red dress.

Sometimes, he really wished he had never been born.

***

As the silhouette of the crypt appeared in the shadows of the cemetery, Buffy could hardly hold back a relieved sigh. She was never going to admit this, but having Spike around made her less afraid of the things that were to come. Sometimes, when she had some spare time, she worried about that. Trusting a vampire to protect your little sister was not exactly what a Slayer would do if confronted with an unknown danger. Yet here she was. She kept on telling herself that this shouldn't surprise anyone. Spike had proven his strength often enough to be a worthy guardian. And for some reason, he had taken an obvious liking to her sister. Well, as much as a vampire could like somebody, of course.

"Buffy, stop dragging me!" Dawn complained and freed her arm from her sister's grip. "I don't know what we're doing here, anyway," she went on. "I thought you didn't like him."

"I don't. But he's strong, he can protect you."

"Well, what makes you think he will help you after how you've treated him?" the teenager asked in a provoking tone.

Buffy suppressed the heartfelt need to yell and turned around, facing her sister.

"He's not helping me, he's helping you," she stated. "And," she added, seeing the girl up to start a quarrel, "I didn't hear you were so friendly to him the last time he came to the Magic Shop."

That silenced Dawn effectively. Buffy opened the heavy door, motioning for the teenager to step inside. As she heard the girl's gasp, she looked into the room. And cursed softly under her breath. Obviously, there had been a fight.

"Spike?" she called, but got no answer.

Great, she thought, just when I need him.

"Buffy?" Dawn asked hesitantly.

The Slayer sighed. "Well, I'll have to get you somewhere else."

"Where? Willow?"

Buffy shook her head. "No. She's weakened from that spell. And it'd have to be somewhere Glory wouldn't look." An idea struck her. "Come!"

"But what about Spike?" Dawn demanded as the two sisters crossed the dark cemetery. "Will you look for him?"

Buffy shrugged. "Guess I'll have to. As much as I hate to admit this, we need him. He's the only one who can protect you when I fight Glory."

"And where are you taking me now?"

"Somewhere safe."

***

The room was a mess. The little furniture Spike actually had lay around more or less broken, the TV seemed beyond repair. Now, looking for clues… Since she didn't notice an unusually big pile of dust anywhere in the admittedly not too clean crypt, the vampire had most likely been kidnapped. And knowing Spike's charming self, it could have been by about everybody he knew. Buffy sighed. First to find out if this was personal or ritual. She carefully avoided every thought of Glory, not prepared to face the slight feelings of guilt that accompanied them. Everything he'd been through, it had been for her and Dawn. And as much as she liked to forget that, she had to admit she was impressed. That was actually… kinda heroic. She shook the thought off, not wanting to go further.

And what is this… Miss Watson on her way. She took up the thick leather-bound book she had spotted next to the broken TV set, and flipped through its pages. Perhaps some magical sect left their spell book and… oh my god! She stared at the page she had in front of her, filled with words in flowing, elegant handwriting, and read.

'Nothing special today. Dru on her merry way with Darla to kill some prophet they heard of. Got bored waiting for her. Slew a family. Little girl had a funny aftertaste, must have been all the coal dust'…

Her eyes widened as she finally realized what she was holding. His journal! Spike has a journal! Somehow, she had expected his writing to be more of a scribble. She turned to another page.

'Darkness and pain: companions

Faithful at my side.

Yet not my heart does know them,

Within yourself they hide.

Lurking inside your shadow,

I know your ev'ry fear.

You never realize, though

I'm always staying near.

The bloodlust in your being,

It sometimes frightens me.

Atrocious and distorting:

What you call fantasy.

Life is for you like ashes

That crumble in your hand.

The beast in you that dashes:

You think it's what I am.

Black angels of desire

Surround you and your fate,

Put out your inner fire

And yet it's me you hate.

Vampiric me you're searching,

An animal to kill.

Don't blame me for your urges,

For it's your soul they fill.'

I didn't know that he still was a poet, Buffy thought for some strange reason. She looked down at the book in her hands, and almost absent-mindedly began to leaf through it again. You are not going to do this, she told herself, but curiosity was stronger. As she reached the last written page, she hesitated. This is not right. Even if he is a vampire, he deserves some privacy. But her gaze was drawn to the page, and she finally gave in.

'She kissed me. I nearly got killed by that bitch of a god, and she kissed me. God, I can still feel it, her lips touching mine, so gentle, tender. Warm. And sodding idiot that I am, I pulled back when I realized that she was not my robot. Stupid. Damn well stupid. I should have bathed in it, drowning in every second that it lasted, drinking in the light that is my Slayer. The only light that is to touch me without killing me, yet hurting so much more than the sunshine ever will. Reaching into me until it illuminates my very heart, without mercy in its splendour. And all I can do is surrender to her, for one kiss, this one kiss that made me feel my love for her even more.'

Buffy stared at the words in pure shock. With a trembling hand, she reached for the nearby chair which had somehow survived the fight. She sat down, her body shivering. He can't love me. He's a vampire. He doesn't know what it's like to feel. He can't love me. The thoughts repeated themselves inside her head. As she stared at the porcelain doll at the far end of the room, she remembered the night Spike had first confessed his feelings to her, and Drusilla's words: We can love quite well… if not wisely. Drusilla… porcelain doll… Drusilla!