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"Birthday Girl" Seeking Truth

Spike exited the elevator that morning a bit sluggishly from his hangover. He sauntered past the stairwell and stopped at Harmony's desk to check on the day's events.

"God, you look like hell," she remarked bluntly. Spike gave her a sarcastic smirk in return.

"Illyria isn't around, is she?"

"She's up in the lab," Harmony replied as she handed him his clipboard, and a cup of warm blood. The mug appropriately read, "I've used all my sick days, I'm calling in dead."

"Cute," he remarked as he took it from her. "I'll be in the training center. Whatever you do, don't let Ice-Eyes near me for a couple of hours."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered as he walked off. She let out a sigh and began organizing Angel's notes for his meeting with the Waklauh Shamans.

Just as Spike's white hair was around the corner and out of sight of the lobby, the elevator doors slid open again and a jet-lagged Dawn stumbled out. She took in the breathless sight of the enormous room and a small smile crept across her face. She just caught a glimpse of the reception desk as Harmony bounced out of her chair and ran up to greet her.

"Dawn!" she cried as she gave her a big hug. "How are you!"

"I talked to you yesterday, remember?" Dawn asked in confusion.

"Right. You know, I bet Wesley isn't busy if you want to talk to him," she replied as she interlocked her arm around Dawn's and led her to his office. "He's been a bit out of it lately, but I'm sure you could cheer him right up!"

She knocked loudly on the door of the former Watcher's office. There came a stifled invitation from inside, and Harmony opened the door to allow the teenager to enter.

"Dawn," Wesley began. He rose to shake the girl's hand. "What brings you here?"

"Research gal. Buffy wants some info."

"Is she here?" he asked, alarmed.

"No, she kinda had a last minute thing with, I guess an old friend."

"I see," Wesley said as rubbed the bridge of his nose. The girl looked cautiously upon him, and he gave a slight smile. "Well, how about a tour, hmm?"

"Great, where can I park my stuff?"

"Why don't we find somewhere in the conference room. I wouldn't trust it in here," Harmony suggested as she grabbed Dawn's suitcase and backpack. She led the two out of the room and towards Angel's office, grabbing his notes and cup of blood on the way, not spilling a single drop. Wesley lightly tapped on the door and poked his head inside.

"Angel?"

"Yeah," he answered from behind his desk, his nose buried in an ancient Waklauh text. "Whatcha need?"

"It seems we have a visitor," Wesley stated as he allowed Dawn to pass him into the grand office. Angel looked up to meet her green eyes that reminded him so much of her sister and gave her a warm smile.

"Hello, Dawn," he said elegantly. He rose and moved around his desk to greet her. As he put out his hand, she instead gave him a big hug.

"Sorry," she said as she pulled away, swiping a tear from her cheek. "I kinda needed it. It's just... been awhile."

"So, how's school?"

"Good, graduate next year, but that's not what you really wanted to ask."

"What?"

"She's fine, she's here, she's busy right now, but promises to come by later to see you."

"Oh, well... that's good," Angel stammered. He gave a slight nod to the girl who was uneasily smiling at them. "You just get here?"

"Yeah, Wesley was about to take me on a tour," she said softly. She let out a shallow breath. "It's nice to see you. I'll be back to talk later, you seem to have your hands full now."

"Yeah, come back about two maybe?"

"Sure," she said as she followed Wesley and Harmony out of the office. She looked around the lobby for a moment trying to take it all in. "Boy, this place sure is big," she muttered.

"Yes, well, let's get started shall we?" Wesley suggested. He nodded to Harmony, who scurried back to her desk. "Let's start with the training center and we'll work our way back around and then upstairs." Dawn nodded in agreement and they set off down the hall. They had just passed the break room when Wesley broke the silence between them.

"So, Harmony said you called yesterday."

"Oh," Dawn replied as she looked at the wonders of her feet, "yeah, well, a few things came up and we came out here and... I just thought we could talk in person."

"What about?"

"Buffy wants to know about the amulet," Dawn blurted out. Wesley stopped dead and turned to face her. "She said you would probably be the one to know anything about it, head of research and all."

"What is it that she wants to know?" Wesley asked cautiously.

"The thing is... she thinks that... Spike's alive," she said as they entered the training center. She had entered walking backwards to keep her attention on Wesley. She didn't even notice who was directly behind her as she said that last statement, until Wesley looked past her. She turned, and Spike was standing there, a tear streaming down his cheek in shock.

"You know, of all the places guys have taken me on dates, this has got to top the list," Buffy said sarcastically as she found herself standing with Whistler in a stone cellar beneath the post office. "I just had a strange feeling about this place, but never figured for there to be a mausoleum down here."

"It's not a mausoleum. It's a gateway to the Realm of the Remembered, the Oracles," he replied as he threw colored sand into a fiery pit. The basin shot off green and purple sparks and a light blue smoke poured off the sides.

"Realm of the Remembered. Guess that's not on the Map to the Star's Homes, is it?" she quipped. "What about this present?"

"It's in there. You'll be met by a guide who will take you through the tunnels," he said as an archway emerged from the brick and glowed a brilliant snow white. "Get on then, I'll be here when you return!" he called as she entered the door.

The hall she stood in upon entering gleamed a marvelous white marble with soaring columns and many more doors beyond. It was like nothing she had ever seen before, until she was struck from behind.

Buffy fell to the floor with a thud. She tried to regain her footing, but she was hit again and pinned there by a heavy boot. She tried struggling, but it was no use. She was down for the count.

"About time you got here," came a voice from above her, the accent a particularly thick Caribbean descent.