Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Joss and ME
Chapter 19
Sunday morning - England
It had been 3 days now and Elizabeth still had not returned. Giles was at his wits end. Since Willow was rescued there had been no further attempts from Angelus to accost her. Giles had placed wards around the perimeter of the house so that there would be no chance for anyone to get in. They were all gathered in the library. Xander's ankle had healed and thanks to the ointment he had been applying to her back, Willow was not finally strong enough to be out of bed. Giles had not wanted to ask her to perform any magic until he was sure she was strong enough, but they could wait not more.
"Willow, do you think you are well enough to do a locator spell?"
"To find Buffy?" Giles nodded, "Well or not, I'll do it. Xander can you get me the ravens dust over there on the shelf and the map?" Xander went and got her the items she had requested, and placed it on the table in front of her. Giles lit two candles and placed them on either side of the map. She sat back in her chair and poured a little of the dust in her hand. She closed her eyes for a moment and began her evocation:
"Goddess Thespia, find the lost among us, recover our strength, and let her be known to us again, I ask thee to show us the way."
She blew the powder over the map. The powder had gathered in one place and began to glow. It was covering the location of St. Vincent's Chapel. They looked at one another disbelief, and then looked at the map.
"Willow are you sure this is correct?" Giles asked.
"This is a basic spell. I don't see how it could have gone wrong." Willow questioned herself for a moment, but then felt sure that the location was correct.
"Giles, what if Angelus got her in there somehow. Maybe he has her in a room, like.." Xander looked at Willow and shuddered. She noticed his voice falter and took his hand.
"Xander is right Giles, who knows what he could be doing to her. We need to do something. We need to get into that chapel and get her out of there."
"There is no way any one of us can go in there. We will be stopped before we can even get passed the front doors. If she is in there it is most likely being watched by Angelus' men." Giles sat down and put his hands on his head.
"There is one person among us that Angelus has never seen." Said Xander. Giles looked at him. He had thought the same thing before, but shuddered at the thought of anything going wrong and something happening to Jenny. But Elizabeth was missing, and it was true that neither Angelus nor his men had ever seen Jenny.
"Giles, she won't be in any danger." Said Willow. Giles walked out of the library. He knocked on Jenny's bedroom door and asked her to come to the library. Giles motioned for her to sit and then he began pacing.
"Jenny, we believe we have found Buffy." Jenny smiled, but then got serious when she looked at the worry on their faces.
"Where is she?" she asked and looked at all of them.
"We think she is in St. Vincent's chapel." Said Giles and began to describe what he hoped would be a good plan.
"We need for you to go there. Its Sunday so there will be quite a few people there. Angelus has no idea you work for me, so no one will harm you. There has to be a room somewhere, or perhaps there is some sort of a dungeon accessible from a door in the floor."
"All right, but I don't know how I can look for her without calling attention to myself?" Jenny wanted to help any way she could, and she knew that Giles would not put her any danger, but it was true. How do you look for someone, when you don't know where you're looking, and what you're looking for, without looking suspicious?
"I have an idea," Willow practically jumped out of her chair. "Jenny, can I have your cross for a moment?" Jenny took off her cross and handed it to Willow. "I need something that Buffy wore recently." Jenny got up and ran to Elizabeth's room. She was going to do laundry today, and had put some of her clothes on her bed. She took a blouse and ran back to the library and gave it to Willow. Willow then took the blouse and covered Jenny's cross with it.
"Locate." She whispered with her eyes closed. She unwrapped the cross and gave it back to Jenny.
"When you get close to where she is, the cross will begin to get warm." Jenny put the cross on and started to walk out of the library. Giles walked behind her and grabbed her arm. She turned.
"Jenny, please be careful." He pulled her close to him and touched his forehead to hers and whispered, "If you see that nothing is happening just come back." She kissed him softly on the lips.
"Don't worry Rupert. I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself." She smiled and left for the chapel. She arrived to find the chapel filled with its usual Sunday worshipers. Jenny dismounted her horse. And walked into the chapel with no problem
She stood near the back doors during the sermon. She had come late so she did not have to sit through the whole service. She had walked from one side of the chapel to the other making it look as though she were looking for a seat. When the services ended it was easier for her to walk about. She slipped into two of the tiny booths used as confessionals, and felt nothing from her cross. She walked along the side and even felt bold enough to open a door that lead to the small office, which was used by the Vicar when he prepared his sermon, and still nothing. Willow's spell did not seem to have worked.
She had walked up and down the chapel and nothing. As she was walking to the side door to leave she saw that the Vicar had dropped his notes. She rushed to aid the old man, and bent down to gather the papers. She grabbed hold of the alter to steady herself and suddenly felt a burning sensation on her chest. She let quickly took her hand off the alter and took hold of her cross.
"Are you all right my dear?" asked the Vicar. Jenny looked at the alter; she hadn't heard the man speak. "Miss, are you ill?" She came back to reality and rose. She smiled at the old man.
"Yes, I'm sorry Vicar, I just lost my balance. Here your notes." She looked back at the alter and slowly reached down and touched it once more. Willow's spell worked, she had found Elizabeth.
"It is beautiful is it not?"
"Yes. Beautiful." Jenny turned and excused herself. She walked as quickly as she could. When she got back to her horse she looked back at the chapel and noticed two very large men standing outside the doors. They had not been there before and they had not been inside during the sermon. They were watching, guarding. Guarding Elizabeth.
She rode back to the house as quickly as possible. She practically dove off of her horse and ran into the house. She immediately went to the library, where she knew they would all be.
"Rupert." Giles stood and walked to her. "Oh my God Rupert, she's there." She was trembling as she hugged Giles.
"Where? Where do they have her?" Giles asked. Jenny looked at him with horror in her eyes.
"She's.." she could barely bring herself to say it, "she's inside the alter." Xander and Willow jumped up from their chairs.
"This isn't happening." Xander threw his hands to his head and started pacing back and forth, his head shaking in disbelief. Willow could not even form words.
"I walked all over that chapel. Then just as I was leaving I went to go and help the Vicar pick up some papers he had dropped. When I put my hand on the alter my cross felt as though it was on fire." She put out her hand where the cross had burned her, "Rupert it was on fire!" Giles poured her some water and gave it to her. She drank the water and calmed herself. "That's not all. As I left I noticed two very large and menacing looking men standing outside. I think they may be guarding the entrance." Giles hugged Jenny. Happy to have her safe in his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you Jenny, for your help." He smiled at her and she kissed him lightly on the lips.
"You don't have to thank me. Just know that I will help in which ever way I can. I'll go fix us all some tea." She turned and walked out. The three sat in silence. Giles felt the guilt of having left her behind. Xander also felt guilt for not being able to have gone to help her fight, and Willow knew that if it had not been for Elizabeth trying to rescue her, she would not have gotten into the hands of Angelus.
"How do we get her out of there Giles?" Willow's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Those men Jenny saw are no doubt there to keep anyone from getting to her. We cannot go there, they will know us and not one among us has the skill and strength to take her by force. Willow you are still not strong enough to use the kind of magic we would need to assist us. We need help." Noted Giles.
"Faith and Wesley are out of touch for a while." Xander said.
"No, I meant professional help. I know a man in London; he's an old friend. He may be able to help, he may know some people. If I leave now I can be in London before Midnight." He stood up and started to walk out of the library then turned. "We'll get her back. I promise." Giles left that same day. He rode until nightfall.
Sunday evening - England
When he arrived in London he went to a small Inn located on Mulberry Square. He asked the innkeeper if he knew of a man named Federico Medina. The innkeeper directed him to the home of Medina. Giles walked down a few streets and found the home he was directed to. He knocked and waited. A small woman answered the door. It was still early enough so that he wasn't being rude by calling at a late hour.
"Yes, may I help you sir." An older woman opened the door.
"I would like to see Don Medina. My name is Rupert Giles. I'm an old friend." Giles smiled and took off his hat. The woman motioned for him to enter and asked him to wait in the hall. After a few minutes he heard the sound of heavy footsteps.
"I almost did not believe it. Rupert, my friend," Medina came and gave his friend a warm hug. The smiled, laughed and slapped each other on the back several times. Medina lead Giles into the parlor and they sat down.
"It has been quite a long time. How are you?" asked Medina
"It has been quite a while, and I wish my visit was for a more pleasant reason, but I need your help." Medina looked at Giles with concern.
"You are in trouble?"
"No. Well not me. I." Giles sighed, "There is a young woman. She is like a daughter to me, and someone has taken her. I thought you may have kept in contact with some of the people we used to keep company with and." Medina held up a hand.
"Say no more. I understand. It happens that I know what you are feeling. I recently had the same event befall my family. My granddaughter was taken from us. But she is safe now thank the good Lord. I know of two men who can help you, and they are close by." Medina told Giles that he would find the two men that helped him recover his granddaughter at the tavern down the street from the Mulberry square inn. He gave Giles their description, and said they were usually sitting in a booth in the farthest corner of the bar.
Giles thanked Medina and promised a longer visit in the future. He walked to the tavern and as soon as he stepped inside he saw the two men. Just as Medina described. One was small and rather unimpressive, and seemed to be having a conversation with himself. The other man was striking in his appearance, Giles noted, and had an almost otherworldly quality about him. He walked towards the men and stopped at their table. They looked at him.
"Excuse me, my name is Rupert Giles. I am in need of your services and have been recommended to you by Don Medina. " Giles leaned forward and whispered. Andrew held out his hand.
"My name is Andrew Wells, and this is my partner William Boldhaus." Andrew whispered. Spike held his hand out and spoke in a normal voice.
"Spike. Why are you whispering?" asked Spike as he leaned forward to shake Giles' hand.
"Well I," Giles caught himself whispering and then began to speak normally, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was." He sat down next to Andrew.
He was silent for a long while. Spike raised his arm and motioned for the barmaid.
"Harmony, bring us another ale." Harmony came and placed the ale in front of Giles, who drank half of it down in one gulp. Spike raised his eyebrow and looked at Andrew. Andrew moved away from Giles slightly, giving him enough room so that he did not feel crowded, and decided to break the silence.
"What can we do for you Mr. Giles?" Giles finally looked away from his ale and began to speak.
"I understand you find missing people."
"You understand correctly." Said Spike as absentmindedly played with the locket.
"There is someone, very dear to me, that has been taken. I know where she is, however we, I cannot rescue her." he took a small sip. And waited.
"If you know where she is what's the problem in you going to get her back. You said, rescue her. I'm assuming she is being held against her will?" asked Andrew.
"Yes, well, there are special circumstances." Giles could not tell them Elizabeth was a vampire. He would have to hide the truth somewhat, even though he would sound like a crazy man, yet it needed to be done.
"And these special circumstances would be?" Spike felt odd about this situation. There was definitely something strange about all of this. He felt some sort of unexplainable connection to this man, but he could not figure out what.
"Well, the young lady in question is dead." Giles took another drink. Spike and Andrew looked at each other with their mouths agape and eyes wide. Andrew leaned forward.
"You want us to rescue a corpse?" Giles looked at Andrew with daggers in his eyes. "I'm sorry, you want us to rescue a dead young lady?"
"I know it sounds rather odd and perhaps twisted, but, this young lady was like a daughter to me. Her parents were killed not long ago, and I promised to take care of her. I want to bury her along with her parents and she has been taken away by her former fiancé. The man was quite mad." Giles wasn't completely off base in his words regarding Angelus, the man was mad after all.
"Why don't you just ask this man to let you bury her with her parents?" asked Spike.
"I have tried, yet he refuses. He is quite violent and is used to having his way. Please you must help me. I don't know where else to turn. I am prepared to pay any amount you request, just please help me." Giles was pleading. Spike could hear the desperation in his voice, and he could tell that Andrew felt the same way. Spike and Andrew looked at each other. They had been working together for so long they could tell just by giving each other a certain look or nod what the other was thinking.
"All right then Mr. Giles. We'll help you. We can leave in the morning." Said Spike. Giles let out a sigh of relief. He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He finished his ale, and then walked back to the inn with the two men. They had decided to ride back with Giles at dawn.
Chapter 19
Sunday morning - England
It had been 3 days now and Elizabeth still had not returned. Giles was at his wits end. Since Willow was rescued there had been no further attempts from Angelus to accost her. Giles had placed wards around the perimeter of the house so that there would be no chance for anyone to get in. They were all gathered in the library. Xander's ankle had healed and thanks to the ointment he had been applying to her back, Willow was not finally strong enough to be out of bed. Giles had not wanted to ask her to perform any magic until he was sure she was strong enough, but they could wait not more.
"Willow, do you think you are well enough to do a locator spell?"
"To find Buffy?" Giles nodded, "Well or not, I'll do it. Xander can you get me the ravens dust over there on the shelf and the map?" Xander went and got her the items she had requested, and placed it on the table in front of her. Giles lit two candles and placed them on either side of the map. She sat back in her chair and poured a little of the dust in her hand. She closed her eyes for a moment and began her evocation:
"Goddess Thespia, find the lost among us, recover our strength, and let her be known to us again, I ask thee to show us the way."
She blew the powder over the map. The powder had gathered in one place and began to glow. It was covering the location of St. Vincent's Chapel. They looked at one another disbelief, and then looked at the map.
"Willow are you sure this is correct?" Giles asked.
"This is a basic spell. I don't see how it could have gone wrong." Willow questioned herself for a moment, but then felt sure that the location was correct.
"Giles, what if Angelus got her in there somehow. Maybe he has her in a room, like.." Xander looked at Willow and shuddered. She noticed his voice falter and took his hand.
"Xander is right Giles, who knows what he could be doing to her. We need to do something. We need to get into that chapel and get her out of there."
"There is no way any one of us can go in there. We will be stopped before we can even get passed the front doors. If she is in there it is most likely being watched by Angelus' men." Giles sat down and put his hands on his head.
"There is one person among us that Angelus has never seen." Said Xander. Giles looked at him. He had thought the same thing before, but shuddered at the thought of anything going wrong and something happening to Jenny. But Elizabeth was missing, and it was true that neither Angelus nor his men had ever seen Jenny.
"Giles, she won't be in any danger." Said Willow. Giles walked out of the library. He knocked on Jenny's bedroom door and asked her to come to the library. Giles motioned for her to sit and then he began pacing.
"Jenny, we believe we have found Buffy." Jenny smiled, but then got serious when she looked at the worry on their faces.
"Where is she?" she asked and looked at all of them.
"We think she is in St. Vincent's chapel." Said Giles and began to describe what he hoped would be a good plan.
"We need for you to go there. Its Sunday so there will be quite a few people there. Angelus has no idea you work for me, so no one will harm you. There has to be a room somewhere, or perhaps there is some sort of a dungeon accessible from a door in the floor."
"All right, but I don't know how I can look for her without calling attention to myself?" Jenny wanted to help any way she could, and she knew that Giles would not put her any danger, but it was true. How do you look for someone, when you don't know where you're looking, and what you're looking for, without looking suspicious?
"I have an idea," Willow practically jumped out of her chair. "Jenny, can I have your cross for a moment?" Jenny took off her cross and handed it to Willow. "I need something that Buffy wore recently." Jenny got up and ran to Elizabeth's room. She was going to do laundry today, and had put some of her clothes on her bed. She took a blouse and ran back to the library and gave it to Willow. Willow then took the blouse and covered Jenny's cross with it.
"Locate." She whispered with her eyes closed. She unwrapped the cross and gave it back to Jenny.
"When you get close to where she is, the cross will begin to get warm." Jenny put the cross on and started to walk out of the library. Giles walked behind her and grabbed her arm. She turned.
"Jenny, please be careful." He pulled her close to him and touched his forehead to hers and whispered, "If you see that nothing is happening just come back." She kissed him softly on the lips.
"Don't worry Rupert. I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself." She smiled and left for the chapel. She arrived to find the chapel filled with its usual Sunday worshipers. Jenny dismounted her horse. And walked into the chapel with no problem
She stood near the back doors during the sermon. She had come late so she did not have to sit through the whole service. She had walked from one side of the chapel to the other making it look as though she were looking for a seat. When the services ended it was easier for her to walk about. She slipped into two of the tiny booths used as confessionals, and felt nothing from her cross. She walked along the side and even felt bold enough to open a door that lead to the small office, which was used by the Vicar when he prepared his sermon, and still nothing. Willow's spell did not seem to have worked.
She had walked up and down the chapel and nothing. As she was walking to the side door to leave she saw that the Vicar had dropped his notes. She rushed to aid the old man, and bent down to gather the papers. She grabbed hold of the alter to steady herself and suddenly felt a burning sensation on her chest. She let quickly took her hand off the alter and took hold of her cross.
"Are you all right my dear?" asked the Vicar. Jenny looked at the alter; she hadn't heard the man speak. "Miss, are you ill?" She came back to reality and rose. She smiled at the old man.
"Yes, I'm sorry Vicar, I just lost my balance. Here your notes." She looked back at the alter and slowly reached down and touched it once more. Willow's spell worked, she had found Elizabeth.
"It is beautiful is it not?"
"Yes. Beautiful." Jenny turned and excused herself. She walked as quickly as she could. When she got back to her horse she looked back at the chapel and noticed two very large men standing outside the doors. They had not been there before and they had not been inside during the sermon. They were watching, guarding. Guarding Elizabeth.
She rode back to the house as quickly as possible. She practically dove off of her horse and ran into the house. She immediately went to the library, where she knew they would all be.
"Rupert." Giles stood and walked to her. "Oh my God Rupert, she's there." She was trembling as she hugged Giles.
"Where? Where do they have her?" Giles asked. Jenny looked at him with horror in her eyes.
"She's.." she could barely bring herself to say it, "she's inside the alter." Xander and Willow jumped up from their chairs.
"This isn't happening." Xander threw his hands to his head and started pacing back and forth, his head shaking in disbelief. Willow could not even form words.
"I walked all over that chapel. Then just as I was leaving I went to go and help the Vicar pick up some papers he had dropped. When I put my hand on the alter my cross felt as though it was on fire." She put out her hand where the cross had burned her, "Rupert it was on fire!" Giles poured her some water and gave it to her. She drank the water and calmed herself. "That's not all. As I left I noticed two very large and menacing looking men standing outside. I think they may be guarding the entrance." Giles hugged Jenny. Happy to have her safe in his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you Jenny, for your help." He smiled at her and she kissed him lightly on the lips.
"You don't have to thank me. Just know that I will help in which ever way I can. I'll go fix us all some tea." She turned and walked out. The three sat in silence. Giles felt the guilt of having left her behind. Xander also felt guilt for not being able to have gone to help her fight, and Willow knew that if it had not been for Elizabeth trying to rescue her, she would not have gotten into the hands of Angelus.
"How do we get her out of there Giles?" Willow's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Those men Jenny saw are no doubt there to keep anyone from getting to her. We cannot go there, they will know us and not one among us has the skill and strength to take her by force. Willow you are still not strong enough to use the kind of magic we would need to assist us. We need help." Noted Giles.
"Faith and Wesley are out of touch for a while." Xander said.
"No, I meant professional help. I know a man in London; he's an old friend. He may be able to help, he may know some people. If I leave now I can be in London before Midnight." He stood up and started to walk out of the library then turned. "We'll get her back. I promise." Giles left that same day. He rode until nightfall.
Sunday evening - England
When he arrived in London he went to a small Inn located on Mulberry Square. He asked the innkeeper if he knew of a man named Federico Medina. The innkeeper directed him to the home of Medina. Giles walked down a few streets and found the home he was directed to. He knocked and waited. A small woman answered the door. It was still early enough so that he wasn't being rude by calling at a late hour.
"Yes, may I help you sir." An older woman opened the door.
"I would like to see Don Medina. My name is Rupert Giles. I'm an old friend." Giles smiled and took off his hat. The woman motioned for him to enter and asked him to wait in the hall. After a few minutes he heard the sound of heavy footsteps.
"I almost did not believe it. Rupert, my friend," Medina came and gave his friend a warm hug. The smiled, laughed and slapped each other on the back several times. Medina lead Giles into the parlor and they sat down.
"It has been quite a long time. How are you?" asked Medina
"It has been quite a while, and I wish my visit was for a more pleasant reason, but I need your help." Medina looked at Giles with concern.
"You are in trouble?"
"No. Well not me. I." Giles sighed, "There is a young woman. She is like a daughter to me, and someone has taken her. I thought you may have kept in contact with some of the people we used to keep company with and." Medina held up a hand.
"Say no more. I understand. It happens that I know what you are feeling. I recently had the same event befall my family. My granddaughter was taken from us. But she is safe now thank the good Lord. I know of two men who can help you, and they are close by." Medina told Giles that he would find the two men that helped him recover his granddaughter at the tavern down the street from the Mulberry square inn. He gave Giles their description, and said they were usually sitting in a booth in the farthest corner of the bar.
Giles thanked Medina and promised a longer visit in the future. He walked to the tavern and as soon as he stepped inside he saw the two men. Just as Medina described. One was small and rather unimpressive, and seemed to be having a conversation with himself. The other man was striking in his appearance, Giles noted, and had an almost otherworldly quality about him. He walked towards the men and stopped at their table. They looked at him.
"Excuse me, my name is Rupert Giles. I am in need of your services and have been recommended to you by Don Medina. " Giles leaned forward and whispered. Andrew held out his hand.
"My name is Andrew Wells, and this is my partner William Boldhaus." Andrew whispered. Spike held his hand out and spoke in a normal voice.
"Spike. Why are you whispering?" asked Spike as he leaned forward to shake Giles' hand.
"Well I," Giles caught himself whispering and then began to speak normally, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was." He sat down next to Andrew.
He was silent for a long while. Spike raised his arm and motioned for the barmaid.
"Harmony, bring us another ale." Harmony came and placed the ale in front of Giles, who drank half of it down in one gulp. Spike raised his eyebrow and looked at Andrew. Andrew moved away from Giles slightly, giving him enough room so that he did not feel crowded, and decided to break the silence.
"What can we do for you Mr. Giles?" Giles finally looked away from his ale and began to speak.
"I understand you find missing people."
"You understand correctly." Said Spike as absentmindedly played with the locket.
"There is someone, very dear to me, that has been taken. I know where she is, however we, I cannot rescue her." he took a small sip. And waited.
"If you know where she is what's the problem in you going to get her back. You said, rescue her. I'm assuming she is being held against her will?" asked Andrew.
"Yes, well, there are special circumstances." Giles could not tell them Elizabeth was a vampire. He would have to hide the truth somewhat, even though he would sound like a crazy man, yet it needed to be done.
"And these special circumstances would be?" Spike felt odd about this situation. There was definitely something strange about all of this. He felt some sort of unexplainable connection to this man, but he could not figure out what.
"Well, the young lady in question is dead." Giles took another drink. Spike and Andrew looked at each other with their mouths agape and eyes wide. Andrew leaned forward.
"You want us to rescue a corpse?" Giles looked at Andrew with daggers in his eyes. "I'm sorry, you want us to rescue a dead young lady?"
"I know it sounds rather odd and perhaps twisted, but, this young lady was like a daughter to me. Her parents were killed not long ago, and I promised to take care of her. I want to bury her along with her parents and she has been taken away by her former fiancé. The man was quite mad." Giles wasn't completely off base in his words regarding Angelus, the man was mad after all.
"Why don't you just ask this man to let you bury her with her parents?" asked Spike.
"I have tried, yet he refuses. He is quite violent and is used to having his way. Please you must help me. I don't know where else to turn. I am prepared to pay any amount you request, just please help me." Giles was pleading. Spike could hear the desperation in his voice, and he could tell that Andrew felt the same way. Spike and Andrew looked at each other. They had been working together for so long they could tell just by giving each other a certain look or nod what the other was thinking.
"All right then Mr. Giles. We'll help you. We can leave in the morning." Said Spike. Giles let out a sigh of relief. He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He finished his ale, and then walked back to the inn with the two men. They had decided to ride back with Giles at dawn.