Just so you know, although there will be a pairing in this story there will be absolutely no fluff. So if I don't write your preferred pairing, maybe you could just give this story another chance since it wont be terribly 'shippy, Again: no fluff! Anyway on with the story...
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Chapter 14
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Willow sat up and yawned, eagerly looking forward to her third week of school. She reached over and turned her alarm off, ignoring Cordelia's muffled groans of primitive waking times. She glanced at Buffy's bed, tilting her head curiously when she found it empty. She thought that was strange considering Buffy's routine of waking ten minutes before class began. She shrugged it off with the belief that she was probably training, or studying with Giles.
However, her curiosity turned to worry when Buffy hadn't turned up during breakfast, and worry soon turned to panic when the blonde Slayer was still missing during second period. Xander had noticed his friend's absence and the two of them were debating whether or not to alert the teachers. They didn't want to get Buffy in trouble if she was only skipping school for the day, but then again, they didn't want to leave her alone if she was in trouble.
It wasn't until they had told Cordelia and Oz of their dilemma that they finally came to a decision. They decided to wait until school finished for the day, and if Buffy hadn't appeared by then they would take it to Angel. Confident with their solution, Willow concentrated on her studies, soon losing herself in the work. It was only when Faith, who made Willow want to cower and run past, asked about Buffy's whereabouts in the corridor did her growing fears return.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Faith asked incredulously once Willow answered.
"W-we haven't seen her since last night," Willow replied nervously. "She hasn't been to any of her classes."
Faith stared at the redhead girl. "She hasn't been here all day, and you didn't think you should let someone know? Are you INSANE?"
"I-I thought that maybe s-she was just skipping classes. I didn't want to get her in trouble..."
"In trouble?" Faith snorted. "She's the Slayer! She's probably already dead! Obviously she didn't come home from patrolling."
Willow's eye widened in surprise. "Buffy patrols?"
"You didn't know?" Faith's voice softened a bit, and she sighed. "Fine, sorry Will, ain't your fault if you didn't know." She began to hurry down the corridor and called over her shoulder, "Hurry up."
Willow rushed after her, confusion etched in her face. "Where are we going?"
"To tell Angel, you idiot."
Xander glanced up from the water fountain as Willow rushed by tailing a girl he never thought Willow would even talk to, let alone follow. Curiously, he gestured to Cordelia and Oz and the three of them pursued the hurrying pair. Once Faith and Willow reached Angel's office Xander and the other two caught up.
"Will, what are you doing?" he asked, sending the brunette a quick glance.
"We think Buffy's in trouble," she replied, her fright evident in her tone.
"But I thought we agreed to give her another hour," Xander said.
"Yeah, and in that hour she could be killed, or worse, tortured until she wished she was dead," Faith retorted angrily.
"Hey, not so much with the morbid details, okay?" Cordelia said, shuddering at the imagery.
"What, can't take it?" Faith sneered.
Cordelia turned on the potential Slayer angrily. "No, I just don't..."
"What?"
The four bickering students jumped at the fierce voice from behind them. They turned to find Angel standing behind them and Oz by his side.
"Sorry guys," the werewolf shrugged. "But I thought I'd better let Angel know since you didn't look like finishing any time soon."
Angel nodded tightly. "You should have come sooner. I've already sent the alert out and the staff is dismissing the students. Everyone is forbidden to leave their dorms until further notice and our residentWitches have secured the building. Nothing will get inside. You five better get upstairs now," he said, his eyes filled with seething anger that stopped any of them from saying the protests that came to mind. They hurried off, frightened by the fear they saw overwhelming the anger.
Angel watched them go and turned back to his office. Fred entered the office breathlessly a moment later, her small frame shaking from her sprint. Within a minute all staff was confined in the large office, wondering what emergency called for the complete shut down.
Angel turned to face them and took a deep breath. "Buffy Summers is missing. She wasn't in her bed this morning and hasn't attended any classes." There was a still silence as everyone absorbed the information.
"What do you mean," Giles stepped forward and said extremely slowly, "missing? How the hell can a student disappear when nothing or no one can get within a mile of this place without us knowing?"
His question hung in the air and every person present heard the note of fear in his voice.
"Obviously the insolent brat went out by herself," Gwendolyn snapped, irritated by the Watcher's refusal to see clearly.
"I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from insulting my charge," Giles replied calmly, his tone hinting that it was a command rather than a request.
"Stop it, both of you," Wesley stepped forward, "This isn't helping anyone and it especially isn't helping Buffy." He turned to Angel and asked, "Angel, what do we know?"
The principle of the school dipped his head in recognition of Wesley's professionalism. "So far, all we know is that Miss Rosenburg woke this morning and discovered Buffy's bed empty. When Buffy didn't attend class she believed that she was only skipping class, hence the reluctance to notify staff."
"So the girl must have stole past all the cameras and magic put on this place to protect it," Gunn said, deliberating aloud. "Can anyone tell me how?"
"She's the Slayer," Giles said with a hint of pride, "Of course she would have assured her concealment."
"One question," Gunn said, his arm raised, "Why the hell would she be sneakin' out in the first place?"
"She's the Slayer, and you thought you could keep her away from slaying?"
The room turned to the doorway, where Faith was leaning casually against the wall.
"Faith," Gwendolyn spat angrily, "What do you think you are doing? You were ordered not to leave your dorms!"
"And that's all well and good," she said, "but I think Buffy's whereabouts is a bit more important than that, don't you?"
"What do you know?" Wesley stepped forward shooting a warning glane at the furious Mathematics teacher.
"Willow and Cordelia didn't see her change before going to sleep last night. She's been patrolling since she went home," Faith shrugged at their shocked looks. "You guys wouldn't let her train or patrol with you, so she did it herself. And now look what's happened."
Guilty expressions flashed across the faces of those present.
"Why would she do such a thing?" Giles asked, the question aimed at no one in particular.
Faith snorted, "Maybe 'cause you guys are such stuffy uptights."
"God," Gwendolyn threw up her arms in frustration, "the girl's probably gone and got herself killed!"
"Actually," Faith interrupted, "She's pretty damn good, and I'd know. Dusted five vampires all by herself in the matter of minutes."
"And how would you know this?" Gwendolyn sneered.
"Because B saved my mate's ass from becoming undead right in front of me." Faith replied, glaring at her teacher.
"When would you have had a chance to be saved?"
Faith sighed, turning from her victoriously smirking teacher, "And turning this conversation back to B. She's in trouble, so what are you doing standing here?"
Angel stepped forward, "Exactly. We shouldn't waste anymore time. Wesley, Gunn, we need weapons. Gwendolyn, Fred, sort out the allocated areas for the search. Trisha," He turned to Miss Kirly, "See if you can get onto Tara, we may need her magic in locating Buffy. Giles, Spike, I need to know where the local nests have been hunting. Faith, you get back to you dorm."
Faith went to protest, but Angel cut her off. "Faith, thank you for letting us know, but the best thing you can do now is to return to your dorm." Faith nodded and left.
"Wait," Fred said suddenly, turning the room's attention to herself, "Where's Spike?"
Angel glanced around the room, realizing in surprise that the platinum blonde was in fact missing. He didn't know how he could have missed his presence.
"Where was he last night?" Angel asked.
Fred scrunched her forehead, straining to remember, "He went on his usual sweep, but I didn't see him return."
Angel growled softly, too low for anyone to hear, "Did anyone see him return?"
No one answered. They glanced around the room hopefully, but no one spoke.
"Okay, so we should presume Spike is missing as well," Angel sighed, "Fred, what's the probability of him being taken by the same people who took Buffy?"
"Considering the number of cemeteries and vampire haunts, I'd say slim. But then we have to take in the fact that with Buffy being the Slayer she would most likely be attracted to where the vampires are. And Spike being...well, Spike, so would he. All in all, I think it could be possible."
The occupants of the room stayed silent until Angel spoke. "Well we'll keep the plan the same, only adding in the fact that we're searching for two people. We meet out the front in ten minutes, then spread out in pairs. Right people, move."
As the staff went to depart for their orders, Lorne entered the room with a cheerful swagger.
"Afternoon, sweet cheeks. What did I miss?"
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Two hours later the sun had set over Los Angeles and Angel sent out word to the search team to arm themselves properly. Holding a large sword in one hand, Angel silently searched the cemetery. He could sense a human presence but it felt old, as though they had been here a good few hours before.
Quickly calculating if the ties fit together, he realized that the sensation only felt twelve hours old, which was approximately when Buffy and Spike would have been patrolling. Cursing under his breath, Angel's eyes raked over the graves and mausoleums, searching for hints or clues.
His eyes locked on a displaced object lying beside a grave. Striding over, he knelt down and grabbed the familiar leather duster. As he lifted it from the ground another small object fell to the ground. He drew in a sharp breath as he watched the wooden stake settle in the grass.
"People," he said gravely into his mobile after dialing the connection to everyone's phone, "I think I found something..."