Part 13

Willow glanced over her shoulder at Giles who was still talking to the fire inspector. The wizard assigned to the nearest precinct had joined them and Wesley said that a representative of the Council would probably be here within the hour. They were meeting now to discuss the Ethan situation otherwise one would have teleported here already.

The people in this reality may be similar with a few differences but there were major dissimilarities to the reality as a whole that Willow wasn't sure she would ever get used to.

A thought suddenly struck Willow, which caused her heart to speed up. Angel's head swung around to look at her and he quickly made his way to her side.

"What's wrong?"  He had felt her heartbeat and breathing change all the way across the room.

Willow gripped his hand and leaned in to whisper, "The mirror. God, how could I have forgotten about the mirror?"

Wesley noticed Willow's distress and came to stand by her side. "Are you all right?" He had visions of delayed reaction to the explosion and Xander's injuries.

"Do you think the mirror survived the explosion?"

Wesley's eyes widen, "Oh dear lord, I hadn't even thought about it." Rupert had protection spells around the mirror and if it were tampered with Rupert would know. It was how he knew before Willow came through that something was happening with the mirror.

"I don't think the explosion damaged it with the protection spells that Rupert and the coven have on it but Ethan may have used the explosion as a diversion and teleported in to get it."

Visions of Ethan hopping from reality to reality trying to conquer them swam through Willow's mind. She looked over at Giles who was still occupied and back at Angel. "Cover me?"

"What are you going to do, little one?" 

Willow swallowed hard and tears came to her eyes. It was the first time that Angel called her by the nickname of her Angel. God she missed everyone back home.

Angel got alarmed when he saw Willow's tears, "What? What's wrong?"

Willow smiled through her tears, "Nothing. My Angel used to call me little one, too. Sorry, I guess I got sentimental there for a minute."

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, "You're entitled. Now why do you want me to cover you?"

"I'm just going to check on the mirror and don't want the wizard or police for that matter to follow me down."

Wesley squeezed her shoulder, "I'll go with you." He held up his hand as Willow opened her mouth, "No arguments. If Ethan sent an emissary or it's a trap to get to you I don't want you going down there alone. Besides, Rupert would have my head if you went down there and something happened to you."

Willow reluctantly nodded. She didn't really relish going down into the storeroom by herself anyway.

Angel glanced over his shoulder back to where the activity was taking place. He figured now was as good a time as any. He moved over to where Rupert and the others stood, "So? Any ideas what kind of bomb was used?"

Rupert turned confused eyes to Angel but the expression on his face forestalled any questions he might have.

"Umm, we were just discussing what Ethan might have used.  No detonation device was found but the magick forensics team hasn't been here yet."

The magickal forensics swept the area for magickal traces much like their crime scene forensics did for physical evidence.

"Have the crime scene people found anything?"

The detective turned to Angel, "And just why are you so interested?"

Angel looked out of the corner of his eye and noticed Willow and Wesley had already disappeared. He shrugged his shoulders, "Blood, death, and torture have always fascinated me."

The detective's eyes widened and then narrowed, "Is that right?"

Angel rolled his eyes and then turned his game face on.

The detective flinched but didn't move. Angel was very impressed. Not very many people didn't involuntarily step back when faced with a vampire in game face.

The wizard edged closer to Angel, "Y-you're one of the four?" All his life he'd been told stories about the Scourge of Europe that were given their souls and fought for the Council. NEVER did he think he'd ever meet one. Sure there had been rumors that they were here helping Rupert Giles but he suspected it was just an urban legend.

Willow and Wesley owed him big for this, Angel thought as he smiled at the wizard.

~~~~

Willow and Wesley picked their way over the damage as they made their way down the stairs to the storeroom. They both breathed a sigh of relief as they saw the mirror tilted but seemingly in good condition.

"Ethan wouldn't steal it and then put an illusion in its place would he?"

"He might but he wouldn't be able to duplicate the power that you can feel from the mirror. Close your eyes and concentrate, Willow. Feel the ancient power just emanating from it."

This was the first time she had seen the mirror since coming through it and she hadn't really paid much attention to it then. She closed her eyes and just felt. She felt her connection to the Earth, which was stronger since working with Tara and Rupert. A slow smile crept across her face there was ancient power here. Ancient and powerful. Rupert had told her that it was believed that this mirror took Merlin to Avalon. Feeling its power she could very well believe it.

Wesley smiled as he watched Willow experience the mirror. He remembered his first time of feeling its power and knew that it was even more intense for Willow with her strong connection to the Earth.

They turned and dropped into battle stance as they heard footsteps descending the stairs.

"Relax, it's me." Angel came down the stairs followed by Rupert.

"How long have we been down here? Is there like a time warp on the stairs or something? Everyone couldn't be gone by now."

Rupert smiled at Willow as he picked his way through the mess. "The representative from the Council is here and she's taking care of the paperwork and working with the authorities. I've been dismissed to deal with the mirror and Xander."

"Forensics here yet?" Wesley asked.

"Not yet, the Council is holding them off for a bit. They feel the magick from the mirror might interfere with the team." Rupert pulled out his cell phone and dialed Faith, "Is Tara still there with you?"

"Yeah, we were just waiting for your call. Everything all right there?"

"Yes, Council arrived and will meet with us tomorrow. Have Tara do a protection spell around the east room and I'll teleport the mirror there. We can put a more sophisticated spell in place once it's there."

"You got it, G. See you in a few."

Willow felt Rupert's power build and gasped. He usually kept it shielded and she suspected she hadn't felt his true ability. Angel caught her as she staggered under the power of Rupert and the mirror.

"I'm okay, I just wasn't expecting that much power."

White light flew out of Rupert's outstretched hands and surrounded the mirror. The energy in the room crackled and caused their hair to stand on end as the mirror shimmered and slowly faded from existence.

"Nifty." Willow mumbled as she straightened out of Angel's arms.