Chapter 2

Decisions Decisions

"I don't get it," said Dawn for at least the fifth time, "They want Willow to what?"

"They need her to bring someone back…like she did with me." Buffy explained to the rest of the people on the bus. Willow sat glumly in the corner, averting her eyes. They were still in the parking lot of the motel. They were discussing what was going to happen. Everything was different now.

Faith looked puzzled.

"But why? I'm with Dawn here…I'm still confused," she turned to Wood on her left, "Are you confused?"

Wood shrugged and looked at Buffy. "Explain to us again. What's going on?"

Buffy took a deep breath and began again.

"Giles just called me. He needed to talk to Willow. He said he got a call from a friend, from his Ripper days, a guy called…erm…" she paused for thought "…Remus I think. Remus just lost a friend, and Giles must have known the guy. He said it was vital that this man was brought back. For someone else's sake. He says there is a lot to explain about a boy, and this war he mentioned, but it barrels down to Willow. They need her help."

Buffy stopped and glanced at Willow. Willow remained motionless, studying the pattern on the seat, determined not to glance at anyone. Since she had received the call from Giles, she felt…well…she didn't know how to feel. When she had brought Buffy back from the dead she had been chastised…and now Giles himself wanted her to bring back someone else?

"Willow…please…this boy…his name is Harry Potter…he lost his god father and at this time he needs him there to fight a huge battle…he cannot do it alone…"

And then there was the sickening thought that if she did this, there may be a repeat of the last time she used magic that…that intense…something might go wrong. And what if she got addicted again? She couldn't go through what she had been through again. Willow looked up at Buffy again and her eyes met an equally unsure Buffy's.

"Will…" Buffy asked uncertainly, "Are…are you ok?"

"I-I don't know…" she trailed off. Just looking at Buffy she sensed that the slayer had picked up all her worries. A thick silence fell over the company. After a few minutes Xander spoke up.

"Well we should get moving…head on to the next airport…and...well…yeah…" and he headed over to the driving seat and revved up the engine setting the vehicle in motion. They drove on for at least an hour. The silence thinned a bit but not much was said on the situation. Until Andrew…who had been sat frowning for the time, piped up the question bubbling around most people's heads…

"How did he die?"

"Andrew!" spat Dawn in disgust, "Don't be so…so you…"

"Hey! Hey!" the nerd replied defensively, "I just wondered…"

Willow looked at him.

"I…we don't know." She finished.

And the silence fell thickly over them again.

They drove for a lot of the day and stopped on the side of the road for the night, unable to find another motel to stay in. There was an aura of unrest in the gang, and Buffy sat around the back of the bus gazing. She watched as Dawn, Andrew, Xander and Kennedy sat around a small campfire a little off to the left. Faith and Wood stood separate to them, conversing to themselves, the occasional nod coming from both of them. Willow remained alone in the bus with her thoughts. Buffy remembered what they had been through, what they had lost…and contemplated what was to come. It was all so much and there was more? She was still recovering from losing Anya and Spike…and now another battle faced them. It was an exhausting prospect.

After a few minutes, Faith appeared beside next to her.

"B…can we talk?"

"Sure." said Buffy, uncurling herself and standing up stiffly. She walked quickly around to the front of the bus and looked at Faith expectantly.

"What's up?"

Faith sighed, worried her lip a little and began.

"Buffy…Robin and I have been talkin' and…and it's not like we wanna leave…but…we don't wanna travel all the way to England…we wanna go on to Cleveland. Start a new life and not get involved in anyone else's. Do the whole save the world thing there…sort out the new slayers. I…I don't want you to think we're abandoning you but…we thought we should go our own way…you get what I mean?"

The darker slayer stared solidly at Buffy, tilted her head, waiting for a response, still worrying her lip slightly.

Buffy had half expected this but now it was actually being asked and not just run through her brain, the response she had prepared seemed weird.

"No, of course…I understand," she replied smiling, " You do that. This isn't your problem. We'll leave you guys the bus when we get to…wherever, and you go on."

Faith grinned and nodded.

"Thanks B! We were kinda worried…" she smiled again and turned to leave, but turned back again. "Thanks Buffy…we'll…we'll try as best we can to live up to you…and what you've done." Then she turned and hurried back to the others who all stood laughing around the fire.

Buffy watched her go. She felt torn. She was sad that Faith would be leaving when they had just began to get on better than they had before…and Robin Wood was a nifty guy to have around, but she understood where they were coming from. And it was also a relief to have two less people to worry about. She sighed and headed back around to the door of the vehicle. She and Willow needed to talk.

Willow sat alone, still pondering the prospect of the task ahead of her; and the journey they had yet to travel. She looked up as Buffy came in.

"Hey…"

"Hey…" Buffy smiled and sat down on a seat a little away from her.

"You ok Will?" asked the slayer; knowing the answer before it came.

"No." Willow said honestly with a huge sigh. She turned to look at her friend. "I mean…you get why I think this is so tough right?"

Buffy nodded and sighed too. Then she looked at Willow.

"Willow…can I just say? Remember why you brought me back? You…you needed me…and I'm oh so grateful and that…but…think…Harry needs this guy…just like we need each other…" she paused, thinking the rest through before continuing.

"…And so…maybe…I don't know…" she looked away unsure what else to say, then turned back to Willow.

Willow's eyes continued to stare at her, now full of understanding. Then she smiled slightly.

"You're right Buffy. We need each other, and so…you'll help me with this?"

"Of course!"

Willow smiled wider and genuine.

"Let's do this…"

Spike turned and regarded the man next to him. It wasn't hard. He was a contrast to the garish glaring white background that endlessly surrounded them. The man turned and looked at Spike, a slightly puzzled look playing on his once handsome features.

"I'm dead aren't I?" he asked with a small amount of amusement in his deep tone of voice.

"Yeah. You are mate…sorry?" Spike shrugged awkwardly and looked away hastily. He'd seen many pass through here and break down at this news before disappearing to god knows where. But Spike always remained. And it was hell. But instead of disappearing, the man stayed…and merely laughed with obvious bitterness.

"Brilliant…" he muttered and then sighed, "Any idea where we are?"

"Hell?" tried Spike.

The man laughed once again. Then held out his hand in greeting.

"Sirius Black…"