Disclaimer: Mutant Enemy, the great and powerful spreader of good things,
owns them: I don't.
Chapter 11: Thrall
Spike lowered Buffy onto the hospital bed. Dawn, who was awake by now, was leaning heavily on Angel. "Is she okay?" She asked, her words a bit slurred.
"She'll be fine." Said Spike, his voice soothing. "Just a bit of rest, some good food. That's all big sis needs."
Dawn moaned, rubbing her eyes. "I can't remember anything. First the bus was flipping over. . ."
"Yeah, I know." Said Spike.
Buffy's eyes flipped open, and then closed again. None of the three noticed.
Dawn shrieked as Buffy sat up, her eyes flying open. "No!" Yelled Buffy. Her eyes closed again and she collapsed backwards.
Spike and Angel shared a glance. "Thrall?" Asked Angel.
"Shouldn't last after Dru's death, should it?" Asked Spike.
"Buffy!" Said Dawn as Buffy came up again. This time she punched Spike, sending him flying. Angel moved to restrain her and she kicked him, sending him crashing to the floor. Dawn moved back, afraid, and Buffy glanced at her.
"Don't trust the vampires, Dawnie." Said Buffy in a low, rumbling voice. Then she got up and ran.
Spike slowly eased himself to his feet. "What was that all about?"
Dawn glanced at Spike and Angel fearfully. The pain had driven them both in their demon face, and her sister's words caused a momentary panic. She turned and run.
Angel and Spike exchanged a glance. "I'll get Dawn." Said Angel.
"I got Buffy."
They followed.
--
Riley and Xander searched through the mansion several times, searching for the former occupant. There was no signs of any life there, but several signs of occupation.
"I don't understand." Said Riley.
"I do." Said Xander grimly. "Somebody has been planning this since before Spike escaped hell. They knew he was going to run away on them—they had to have known."
Riley eyed him. "Escaped hell?" He asked skeptically.
"I was there!" Said Xander. "I saw it happen! Every night..." He frowned. "I wasn't the only one."
"What?" Said Riley.
"Drusilla must have seen that coming too. That's why she was part of this. She's the one with the visions, with the magic powers."
Riley frowned. "So somebody gave her that amulet, then?"
"Or told her about it." Said Xander. "Somebody's going to a lot of trouble—why?"
Riley shook his head. "Maybe you're asking the wrong questions." He offered.
"What?" Said Xander.
"Think about it." Said Riley. "Not the trouble they're going to. Have they been trying to kill Spike?"
"Ye—no. No, they haven't." Said Xander.
"Who have they been targeting?" Asked Riley.
"Angel. Drusilla. Buffy. Dawn." Said Xander slowly.
Riley frowned. "I don't see a pattern." He said. "Maybe—"
"No, there's a pattern all right." Said Xander, rubbing his eyepatch. "They're all people connected to Spike. People they might expect him to go to. People they might expect him to help."
Riley swallowed. "Spike said she took Angel's soul. Why?"
"Because Angelus knows Spike very, very well." Said Xander. "They're not trying to kill him; they're trying to corrupt him."
"And Buffy?"
Xander eyed Drusilla. "I think we need to find Spike." He said.
--
Giles opened the door. "Andrew? Anya?" He called.
Anya wandered into the entry way, holding a steaming mug in both hands. "Giles." She greeted him. "Andrew's been showing me the workout areas. You know, I'm not entirely sure I want to be here when dozens of young Slayers with no idea that I'm a good vampire show up."
Giles forced a smile. "A good vampire?" He asked skeptically.
She glowered at him. "You know what I mean." She complained.
"There's no such thing as a good vampire." Said Giles.
"Be that as it may." Sniffed Anya. "In my entire time as a vampire, I haven't killed a single human. Or drunk any human blood."
"Then why not get a soul, to make sure?" Asked Giles.
"Because it wouldn't really be me. It'd be a human in my head taking over from me." Said Anya. "I want to prove that I, a demon, can do good."
Giles shook his head, sighing. "You can't expect us to trust you." He said.
"Nope!" She agreed. "Did you guys get Buffy and Dawn back?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, we did." Said Giles. "Xander dusted Drusilla."
Anya grinned. "Doesn't that just take the cake!" She said happily. "Nice to know he's good at some things." She thought about it for a second. "Well, I mean, he's always been good at sex. But other things."
Giles sighed, taking his glasses off to clean them. Yes, he hadn't missed this in the slightest. Maybe he had missed Anya, but her 'refreshing bluntness?' He could have lived forever and honestly never missed that.
--
Angel glared at Spike. "You lost her."
"I figured, we needed to handle this first." Said Spike.
"When you first came to Sunnydale, you know what I told the Scoobies? I said, 'Once he starts something he doesn't stop until everything in his path is dead.' I mean, whoopee. I said you were worse than anything they'd ever faced. And you just gave up?!"
"I figured out what's going on." Said Spike. "With Xander's visions."
"You're a Champion of the Higher Powers?"
"Yeah. All night, every night." Said Spike wearily. "I think it's another lie, maybe Dru messing with his mind."
"Spike, Cordy's visions came from the Powers That Be, for me. She was my Seer. They even made her part Demon for the job! A Champion needs a Seer." Said Angel seriously.
"What?"
"That medallion you wore. It was for a Champion, wasn't it?" Asked Angel.
"I suppose." Said Spike warily.
"You are a Champion, Spike. Xander is your Seer." Said Angel seriously.
Spike laugh raucously.
"No bloody way! Even when we were working together to save Buffy, we didn't get along. And he's arrogant, hates demons,--"
"Cordelia." Said Angel seriously. "She was a shallow, self-centered person who hated me. But she became my Seer. It changed her, for the better, I think."
"Forget it! I'm no Champion! I was supposed to be in Hell!" Snarled Spike.
"But the Powers That Be broke you out." Said Angel. "Don't you see the pattern, Spike?" He glared at Dawn. "You tell him."
"I'm saying nothing." Said Dawn stubbornly. "She said not to trust you."
"Eh, bit." Said Spike diffidently. "Help us settle the argument, will you? Tell him there's no way I could be a Champion. I mean, come on, your sis said not to trust me! That's a powerful indictment."
"She said not to trust me too, and I AM a Champion." Said Angel.
"Okay, but I don't have a soul." Pointed out Spike.
"You were the one telling us you're a good person without a soul." Said Angel.
"Sod it, Angel, I am not a champion!" Sputtered Spike.
Dawn shook her head stubbornly. "Not talking, not talking, not talking." She muttered.
"Shut up, Bit!" Said Spike harshly. "Can't you see we're fighting, here?"
Her jaw dropped. "You told me to shut up!" She said, shocked.
"Hey, soulless, okay!" He snapped. "No conscience, right?"
"But I'm your friend!" She wailed.
"You said you'd light me on fire!" He growled.
"But that was after Buffy! Over Buffy! That was different!" She wailed again.
"Oh, lighten up! I thought you weren't talking!" Said Spike savagely.
"D-didn't our friendship mean anything to you?"
"Yeah, it did, but it's over, so boo-hoo! No use crying over spilt milk, bit."
She stuck out her lower lip in a pout. "I never stopped being your friend. There were just other things going on that were more important."
"You threatened to kill me!"
"I was upset!" She shrieked. "I, I cried for you, when you died! We mourned you, you big jerk!"
Spike's jaw ticked, and he frowned at her. "No, you mourned William." He said flatly.
Buffy, who'd snuck into the room without being noticed, thanks to the rather noisy fight going on, slammed a fist into Angel, sending him flying across the room to crash into the wall, slumping to the floor.
"Run, Dawn." She commanded.
Dawn hesitated, but then Spike growled, and she changed her mind.
"Buffy!" Said Spike, assuming a defensive position.
"Oh, cut that out." She said. "I just wanted to get rid of the bystanders." She grabbed him by the front of his leather duster and pulled him closer, kissing him. He pulled back.
"Not that that wasn't mindblowing, but what's going on?" He asked.
She shrugged. "Well, like Dawnie was saying, we mourned. I missed. I wanted. I have."
She went for another kiss. Spike shook his head. "Prove you're in your right mind."
She pouted. "No."
"Oh," he hesitated, unsure whether that meant she was in her right mind or not. "Let's figure this mess out."
"And gratitude." She added. "You saved me from Dru. She nearly had us, then you saved the world."
He smiled. "That was a bit brilliant of me, wasn't it?" He asked.
"Yes." She smiled. "So, make with the kisses."
He hesitated, then dove in for a quick kiss.
--
Xander and Riley slammed through the door, entering the big mansion. Anya and Giles were standing in the front room, talking.
"Where's Spike?" Asked Xander.
"At the hospital, with Buffy." Said Giles.
Xander rolled his eyes. "We went right by them on the way here!" He said, turning around and running back out.
Anya frowned, and ran after him, racing by Riley. "What's going on?"
"We think that a higher power may be trying to corrupt Spike." Said Xander.
--
Buffy pulled away from Spike suddenly, ending the kiss. She took a deep breath. "Something's wrong." She said.
"Well, you're a bit bonkers. But that's all right with me." Said Spike, shaking his head to try to clear it.
"It's Angel." Confessed Buffy "He's been faking it. He's really Angelus."
"Really?"
"That amulet Dru had? Smashing it didn't restore his soul."
Spike shook his head. "Angelus couldn't fake it this long."
"Hasn't he said anything a bit off? Tried to appoint you champion, or some foolish thing?" Asked Buffy.
"Well, yeah, he did." Admitted Spike.
"Well, there you go!" Said Buffy.
"Oh, right." Said Spike. He glanced around. "Now what?"
"We need to stake Angel. But...I'm still weak. I can't take him." Said Buffy. A worried look passed over her face. "You need to do it. Before he wakes up. Now that he knows I know, he'll try to kill me."
A protective impulse suddenly flared in Spike. "Bloody hell."
"Stake him!" Urged Buffy, handing Spike a stake. He advanced on the fallen Angel.
"Won't work." Moaned Angel.
"Course it will, stupid. It's a stake." Said Spike. "Poof."
"No, not that." Said Angel, irritated. "If you stake me out of good intentions, then the intentions nullify the crime. Therefore, Buffy's plan won't work."
"What?" Said Spike.
Buffy darted forward. "He's trying to distract us!" She growled. She launched herself at Angel, punching him unconscious. She glanced back at Spike. "Uh, I'm stronger than I thought. Quick, let's tie him back up."
--
Xander stopped the car in the parking lot, and looked around. "See anybody?" He asked.
"Nobody." Said Anya.
"Good." Said Xander, getting out. "Riley, you cover the back."
Riley snatched his radio off his belt. "We have a situation at the Cleveland hospital." He said. "That's right, the one on the hill. I need a team outfitted with tasers. Human. Uh-huh." He jogged around the back.
Anya stalked forward, sniffing. "So, what's the theory?"
"Currently? That Buffy or Dawn might not be in their right minds." Said Xander.
"Let's go." Said Anya.
"Right. Go. Back to Spikeland." Said Xander unhappily. "To save his unhappy hide."
Angel came out the front door, holding Dawn. "Spike's gone." He reported. "And Buffy's apparently under some kind of thrall."
"Shouldn't that end when Drusilla died?" Asked Xander, annoyed.
"You'd think so." Said Angel, unhappy.
--
Buffy pointed at the storefront. "That's pretty." She noted. Spike nodded. "I like it. But I'll never be able to pay for it." She watched him hopefully.
"S' just as well, pet. That's not exactly what you want to be wearing in a fight." He replied.
"Oh, for crying out loud" She yelled, going for her stake. "Enough with the hard way, already! Let's do this the easy way!" She adopted an offensive stance.
"I wondered when you'd drop it and get to business." He replied, not shifting his stance.
"You knew?!" She demanded.
"About the time you hit Angel." He replied. "I could smell Angel's soul on him. Trying to tell me it wasn't there, that was just...pathetic."
"Why were you playing along?" Asked Buffy, puzzled.
"Been hoping you'd explain the master plan." Said Spike. "And you've done a job of that, haven't you? Angel had you pegged back at the hospital. You're trying to get me to do something wrong, get me off the straight and narrow."
"Give the vampire a prize!" She growled, charging forward.
He disarmed her easily. "Still weak from bloodloss? Aw. Too bad." He punched her in the face. "Now, just how to get this to wear off?" He asked her body as she collapsed to the ground. "Ask the Watcher, of course." He mumbled under his breath.
-–
Giles watched Spike carry Buffy to the front door with a feeling of dread. "Just like Sunnydale." He muttered. "Come in Spike."
"Thanks, but I've already been invited in once." Said Spike, entering. "Now, let's talk, shall we? About Buffy being under thrall still, or something."
"Yes, let's." Sighed Giles. "Let's try the old thrall trick first, shall we? Put her under thrall, see what happens." Giles waited a beat. "I mean, you should put her under your thrall, and see if that breaks out the last thrall."
"Uh, no." Said Spike.
"Why not?" Snapped Giles.
"I can't." Said Spike. "I mean, I never learned how. That's something ponces do."
"Spike!" Said Giles, exasperated. "A vampire without a soul, without thrall, without anything!"
"Well, besides the ability to bite you if you keep carrying on instead of helping Buffy." Said Spike. "Now, come on, let's do this."
"Put her on the sofa, there." Said Giles, sweeping the game controllers off the sofa. "Let's wake her up."
"Might want to tie her up first." Said Spike.
Anya, Xander, Angel, Riley and Dawn burst in the front door. "Giles!" Yelled Xander. "Buffy is, uh, trying to . . ."
"Kill Spike?" Suggested Spike. "Great timing, by the way."
"Spike." Said Angel sourly. "Good work."
"Uh, yeah." Said Xander, even more upset than Angel had been by the sight of Spike being the hero.
"Angel, go talk to Xander about Seers and Champions." Said Spike sourly. "Gah!" He turns away. "I have a sour taste in my mouth now." He noted.
Angel chuckled. "Look on the bright side. I fell in love with my seer, lost my soul over her once, had my son fall for her, had him get her pregnant, and had the baby try to enslave the world. No chance of that with your seer."
"What?" Said Xander.
"Ew!" Said Spike. "You're twisted, old man!"
"Xander, why don't we talk about these visions." Said Angel, putting a hand around the younger mans shoulders.
"Uh, okay."
As they left Spike turned on Giles. "Well?"
"Well, now she's tied up." Said Giles. "Try waking her."
Spike nudged her. "Up and at em, pet."
"Uhhh—Spike?" She moaned.
"That's the one!" Said Spike.
"Ew!" She yelled.
"What?"
"What?! What?! Have you been kissing me while I was unconscious?" Spike's eyes widened. "What, you thought I wouldn't taste the cigarettes?"
Giles coughed sternly, glaring at Spike.
"No! No!" Said Spike. "She kissed me while under thrall!"
Buffy leaned back, thinking. Suddenly her eyes widened. "The Master!" She said.
"What?" Said Spike, tense suddenly.
"The Master!" She repeated, insistently.
"The Master?" Asked Anya. "Wasn't that the vampire who kept yelling at you, Spike?"
Spike nodded reluctantly. "I remember." He said.
"He's back." Said Buffy.
"I thought you said nobody else was getting out the way you got out?" Demanded Giles, turning on Spike.
Spike glared at him. "He must have left before us." He said unhappily. "Remember when you brought Buffy back from the dead—?" Giles nodded. "Remember there being, uh, side effects?"
"And your side effect just happens to be your great-great-grand-Sire?" Asked Giles sarcastically.
Spike frowned. "And the family gets even more complicated." He complained.
Chapter 11: Thrall
Spike lowered Buffy onto the hospital bed. Dawn, who was awake by now, was leaning heavily on Angel. "Is she okay?" She asked, her words a bit slurred.
"She'll be fine." Said Spike, his voice soothing. "Just a bit of rest, some good food. That's all big sis needs."
Dawn moaned, rubbing her eyes. "I can't remember anything. First the bus was flipping over. . ."
"Yeah, I know." Said Spike.
Buffy's eyes flipped open, and then closed again. None of the three noticed.
Dawn shrieked as Buffy sat up, her eyes flying open. "No!" Yelled Buffy. Her eyes closed again and she collapsed backwards.
Spike and Angel shared a glance. "Thrall?" Asked Angel.
"Shouldn't last after Dru's death, should it?" Asked Spike.
"Buffy!" Said Dawn as Buffy came up again. This time she punched Spike, sending him flying. Angel moved to restrain her and she kicked him, sending him crashing to the floor. Dawn moved back, afraid, and Buffy glanced at her.
"Don't trust the vampires, Dawnie." Said Buffy in a low, rumbling voice. Then she got up and ran.
Spike slowly eased himself to his feet. "What was that all about?"
Dawn glanced at Spike and Angel fearfully. The pain had driven them both in their demon face, and her sister's words caused a momentary panic. She turned and run.
Angel and Spike exchanged a glance. "I'll get Dawn." Said Angel.
"I got Buffy."
They followed.
--
Riley and Xander searched through the mansion several times, searching for the former occupant. There was no signs of any life there, but several signs of occupation.
"I don't understand." Said Riley.
"I do." Said Xander grimly. "Somebody has been planning this since before Spike escaped hell. They knew he was going to run away on them—they had to have known."
Riley eyed him. "Escaped hell?" He asked skeptically.
"I was there!" Said Xander. "I saw it happen! Every night..." He frowned. "I wasn't the only one."
"What?" Said Riley.
"Drusilla must have seen that coming too. That's why she was part of this. She's the one with the visions, with the magic powers."
Riley frowned. "So somebody gave her that amulet, then?"
"Or told her about it." Said Xander. "Somebody's going to a lot of trouble—why?"
Riley shook his head. "Maybe you're asking the wrong questions." He offered.
"What?" Said Xander.
"Think about it." Said Riley. "Not the trouble they're going to. Have they been trying to kill Spike?"
"Ye—no. No, they haven't." Said Xander.
"Who have they been targeting?" Asked Riley.
"Angel. Drusilla. Buffy. Dawn." Said Xander slowly.
Riley frowned. "I don't see a pattern." He said. "Maybe—"
"No, there's a pattern all right." Said Xander, rubbing his eyepatch. "They're all people connected to Spike. People they might expect him to go to. People they might expect him to help."
Riley swallowed. "Spike said she took Angel's soul. Why?"
"Because Angelus knows Spike very, very well." Said Xander. "They're not trying to kill him; they're trying to corrupt him."
"And Buffy?"
Xander eyed Drusilla. "I think we need to find Spike." He said.
--
Giles opened the door. "Andrew? Anya?" He called.
Anya wandered into the entry way, holding a steaming mug in both hands. "Giles." She greeted him. "Andrew's been showing me the workout areas. You know, I'm not entirely sure I want to be here when dozens of young Slayers with no idea that I'm a good vampire show up."
Giles forced a smile. "A good vampire?" He asked skeptically.
She glowered at him. "You know what I mean." She complained.
"There's no such thing as a good vampire." Said Giles.
"Be that as it may." Sniffed Anya. "In my entire time as a vampire, I haven't killed a single human. Or drunk any human blood."
"Then why not get a soul, to make sure?" Asked Giles.
"Because it wouldn't really be me. It'd be a human in my head taking over from me." Said Anya. "I want to prove that I, a demon, can do good."
Giles shook his head, sighing. "You can't expect us to trust you." He said.
"Nope!" She agreed. "Did you guys get Buffy and Dawn back?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, we did." Said Giles. "Xander dusted Drusilla."
Anya grinned. "Doesn't that just take the cake!" She said happily. "Nice to know he's good at some things." She thought about it for a second. "Well, I mean, he's always been good at sex. But other things."
Giles sighed, taking his glasses off to clean them. Yes, he hadn't missed this in the slightest. Maybe he had missed Anya, but her 'refreshing bluntness?' He could have lived forever and honestly never missed that.
--
Angel glared at Spike. "You lost her."
"I figured, we needed to handle this first." Said Spike.
"When you first came to Sunnydale, you know what I told the Scoobies? I said, 'Once he starts something he doesn't stop until everything in his path is dead.' I mean, whoopee. I said you were worse than anything they'd ever faced. And you just gave up?!"
"I figured out what's going on." Said Spike. "With Xander's visions."
"You're a Champion of the Higher Powers?"
"Yeah. All night, every night." Said Spike wearily. "I think it's another lie, maybe Dru messing with his mind."
"Spike, Cordy's visions came from the Powers That Be, for me. She was my Seer. They even made her part Demon for the job! A Champion needs a Seer." Said Angel seriously.
"What?"
"That medallion you wore. It was for a Champion, wasn't it?" Asked Angel.
"I suppose." Said Spike warily.
"You are a Champion, Spike. Xander is your Seer." Said Angel seriously.
Spike laugh raucously.
"No bloody way! Even when we were working together to save Buffy, we didn't get along. And he's arrogant, hates demons,--"
"Cordelia." Said Angel seriously. "She was a shallow, self-centered person who hated me. But she became my Seer. It changed her, for the better, I think."
"Forget it! I'm no Champion! I was supposed to be in Hell!" Snarled Spike.
"But the Powers That Be broke you out." Said Angel. "Don't you see the pattern, Spike?" He glared at Dawn. "You tell him."
"I'm saying nothing." Said Dawn stubbornly. "She said not to trust you."
"Eh, bit." Said Spike diffidently. "Help us settle the argument, will you? Tell him there's no way I could be a Champion. I mean, come on, your sis said not to trust me! That's a powerful indictment."
"She said not to trust me too, and I AM a Champion." Said Angel.
"Okay, but I don't have a soul." Pointed out Spike.
"You were the one telling us you're a good person without a soul." Said Angel.
"Sod it, Angel, I am not a champion!" Sputtered Spike.
Dawn shook her head stubbornly. "Not talking, not talking, not talking." She muttered.
"Shut up, Bit!" Said Spike harshly. "Can't you see we're fighting, here?"
Her jaw dropped. "You told me to shut up!" She said, shocked.
"Hey, soulless, okay!" He snapped. "No conscience, right?"
"But I'm your friend!" She wailed.
"You said you'd light me on fire!" He growled.
"But that was after Buffy! Over Buffy! That was different!" She wailed again.
"Oh, lighten up! I thought you weren't talking!" Said Spike savagely.
"D-didn't our friendship mean anything to you?"
"Yeah, it did, but it's over, so boo-hoo! No use crying over spilt milk, bit."
She stuck out her lower lip in a pout. "I never stopped being your friend. There were just other things going on that were more important."
"You threatened to kill me!"
"I was upset!" She shrieked. "I, I cried for you, when you died! We mourned you, you big jerk!"
Spike's jaw ticked, and he frowned at her. "No, you mourned William." He said flatly.
Buffy, who'd snuck into the room without being noticed, thanks to the rather noisy fight going on, slammed a fist into Angel, sending him flying across the room to crash into the wall, slumping to the floor.
"Run, Dawn." She commanded.
Dawn hesitated, but then Spike growled, and she changed her mind.
"Buffy!" Said Spike, assuming a defensive position.
"Oh, cut that out." She said. "I just wanted to get rid of the bystanders." She grabbed him by the front of his leather duster and pulled him closer, kissing him. He pulled back.
"Not that that wasn't mindblowing, but what's going on?" He asked.
She shrugged. "Well, like Dawnie was saying, we mourned. I missed. I wanted. I have."
She went for another kiss. Spike shook his head. "Prove you're in your right mind."
She pouted. "No."
"Oh," he hesitated, unsure whether that meant she was in her right mind or not. "Let's figure this mess out."
"And gratitude." She added. "You saved me from Dru. She nearly had us, then you saved the world."
He smiled. "That was a bit brilliant of me, wasn't it?" He asked.
"Yes." She smiled. "So, make with the kisses."
He hesitated, then dove in for a quick kiss.
--
Xander and Riley slammed through the door, entering the big mansion. Anya and Giles were standing in the front room, talking.
"Where's Spike?" Asked Xander.
"At the hospital, with Buffy." Said Giles.
Xander rolled his eyes. "We went right by them on the way here!" He said, turning around and running back out.
Anya frowned, and ran after him, racing by Riley. "What's going on?"
"We think that a higher power may be trying to corrupt Spike." Said Xander.
--
Buffy pulled away from Spike suddenly, ending the kiss. She took a deep breath. "Something's wrong." She said.
"Well, you're a bit bonkers. But that's all right with me." Said Spike, shaking his head to try to clear it.
"It's Angel." Confessed Buffy "He's been faking it. He's really Angelus."
"Really?"
"That amulet Dru had? Smashing it didn't restore his soul."
Spike shook his head. "Angelus couldn't fake it this long."
"Hasn't he said anything a bit off? Tried to appoint you champion, or some foolish thing?" Asked Buffy.
"Well, yeah, he did." Admitted Spike.
"Well, there you go!" Said Buffy.
"Oh, right." Said Spike. He glanced around. "Now what?"
"We need to stake Angel. But...I'm still weak. I can't take him." Said Buffy. A worried look passed over her face. "You need to do it. Before he wakes up. Now that he knows I know, he'll try to kill me."
A protective impulse suddenly flared in Spike. "Bloody hell."
"Stake him!" Urged Buffy, handing Spike a stake. He advanced on the fallen Angel.
"Won't work." Moaned Angel.
"Course it will, stupid. It's a stake." Said Spike. "Poof."
"No, not that." Said Angel, irritated. "If you stake me out of good intentions, then the intentions nullify the crime. Therefore, Buffy's plan won't work."
"What?" Said Spike.
Buffy darted forward. "He's trying to distract us!" She growled. She launched herself at Angel, punching him unconscious. She glanced back at Spike. "Uh, I'm stronger than I thought. Quick, let's tie him back up."
--
Xander stopped the car in the parking lot, and looked around. "See anybody?" He asked.
"Nobody." Said Anya.
"Good." Said Xander, getting out. "Riley, you cover the back."
Riley snatched his radio off his belt. "We have a situation at the Cleveland hospital." He said. "That's right, the one on the hill. I need a team outfitted with tasers. Human. Uh-huh." He jogged around the back.
Anya stalked forward, sniffing. "So, what's the theory?"
"Currently? That Buffy or Dawn might not be in their right minds." Said Xander.
"Let's go." Said Anya.
"Right. Go. Back to Spikeland." Said Xander unhappily. "To save his unhappy hide."
Angel came out the front door, holding Dawn. "Spike's gone." He reported. "And Buffy's apparently under some kind of thrall."
"Shouldn't that end when Drusilla died?" Asked Xander, annoyed.
"You'd think so." Said Angel, unhappy.
--
Buffy pointed at the storefront. "That's pretty." She noted. Spike nodded. "I like it. But I'll never be able to pay for it." She watched him hopefully.
"S' just as well, pet. That's not exactly what you want to be wearing in a fight." He replied.
"Oh, for crying out loud" She yelled, going for her stake. "Enough with the hard way, already! Let's do this the easy way!" She adopted an offensive stance.
"I wondered when you'd drop it and get to business." He replied, not shifting his stance.
"You knew?!" She demanded.
"About the time you hit Angel." He replied. "I could smell Angel's soul on him. Trying to tell me it wasn't there, that was just...pathetic."
"Why were you playing along?" Asked Buffy, puzzled.
"Been hoping you'd explain the master plan." Said Spike. "And you've done a job of that, haven't you? Angel had you pegged back at the hospital. You're trying to get me to do something wrong, get me off the straight and narrow."
"Give the vampire a prize!" She growled, charging forward.
He disarmed her easily. "Still weak from bloodloss? Aw. Too bad." He punched her in the face. "Now, just how to get this to wear off?" He asked her body as she collapsed to the ground. "Ask the Watcher, of course." He mumbled under his breath.
-–
Giles watched Spike carry Buffy to the front door with a feeling of dread. "Just like Sunnydale." He muttered. "Come in Spike."
"Thanks, but I've already been invited in once." Said Spike, entering. "Now, let's talk, shall we? About Buffy being under thrall still, or something."
"Yes, let's." Sighed Giles. "Let's try the old thrall trick first, shall we? Put her under thrall, see what happens." Giles waited a beat. "I mean, you should put her under your thrall, and see if that breaks out the last thrall."
"Uh, no." Said Spike.
"Why not?" Snapped Giles.
"I can't." Said Spike. "I mean, I never learned how. That's something ponces do."
"Spike!" Said Giles, exasperated. "A vampire without a soul, without thrall, without anything!"
"Well, besides the ability to bite you if you keep carrying on instead of helping Buffy." Said Spike. "Now, come on, let's do this."
"Put her on the sofa, there." Said Giles, sweeping the game controllers off the sofa. "Let's wake her up."
"Might want to tie her up first." Said Spike.
Anya, Xander, Angel, Riley and Dawn burst in the front door. "Giles!" Yelled Xander. "Buffy is, uh, trying to . . ."
"Kill Spike?" Suggested Spike. "Great timing, by the way."
"Spike." Said Angel sourly. "Good work."
"Uh, yeah." Said Xander, even more upset than Angel had been by the sight of Spike being the hero.
"Angel, go talk to Xander about Seers and Champions." Said Spike sourly. "Gah!" He turns away. "I have a sour taste in my mouth now." He noted.
Angel chuckled. "Look on the bright side. I fell in love with my seer, lost my soul over her once, had my son fall for her, had him get her pregnant, and had the baby try to enslave the world. No chance of that with your seer."
"What?" Said Xander.
"Ew!" Said Spike. "You're twisted, old man!"
"Xander, why don't we talk about these visions." Said Angel, putting a hand around the younger mans shoulders.
"Uh, okay."
As they left Spike turned on Giles. "Well?"
"Well, now she's tied up." Said Giles. "Try waking her."
Spike nudged her. "Up and at em, pet."
"Uhhh—Spike?" She moaned.
"That's the one!" Said Spike.
"Ew!" She yelled.
"What?"
"What?! What?! Have you been kissing me while I was unconscious?" Spike's eyes widened. "What, you thought I wouldn't taste the cigarettes?"
Giles coughed sternly, glaring at Spike.
"No! No!" Said Spike. "She kissed me while under thrall!"
Buffy leaned back, thinking. Suddenly her eyes widened. "The Master!" She said.
"What?" Said Spike, tense suddenly.
"The Master!" She repeated, insistently.
"The Master?" Asked Anya. "Wasn't that the vampire who kept yelling at you, Spike?"
Spike nodded reluctantly. "I remember." He said.
"He's back." Said Buffy.
"I thought you said nobody else was getting out the way you got out?" Demanded Giles, turning on Spike.
Spike glared at him. "He must have left before us." He said unhappily. "Remember when you brought Buffy back from the dead—?" Giles nodded. "Remember there being, uh, side effects?"
"And your side effect just happens to be your great-great-grand-Sire?" Asked Giles sarcastically.
Spike frowned. "And the family gets even more complicated." He complained.