Chapter Eight
~Glory's a what...? ~
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. I own nothing...sigh.
Morning fell upon the Summers' house as Buffy tried to roll over on her back. She was stopped by a cold object. A smile crossed over her face.
"Mmmm, good morning." She murmured as she grabbed Spike's arm which had already made it's way around her waist.
"Mornin' luv." He nuzzled her neck.
Buffy giggled lightly and gently pulled away from him. She got up out of bed and pulled her house coat on. A look of melancholy crossed over Spike's face.
"Don't pout. I have to check on Dawn. Make sure she's okay." She pulled her hair into a ponytail and made her way to the door. She turned back to Spike as her hand reached the doorknob. "I love you."
"I love you." Spike returned with a smirk.
Buffy left the room glowing. She reached Dawn's room and knocked on her door.
"Dawn?" Buffy knocked again and quietly opened the bedroom door. When the door was fully opened she found...nothing. Dawn was nowhere to be found. Buffy began to panic.
"Mom!?" Buffy rushed out of Dawn's room and down the hall to her mother's room. Joyce opened the door to Buffy's call.
"Mom! Where's Dawn?"
"She's at school as far as I know."
"What day is it?" Buffy asked, confused.
Spike came out of Buffy's room, fully clothed and came quickly to Buffy's side.
"It's Monday." Joyce replied.
"Pet? Are you okay? What's going on?"
"Dawn wasn't in her room. I panicked. I'm losing track of days."
"Buffy why are you so worried?" Joyce asked curiously.
"We told her. Last night, Giles, Spike and I told everyone, including Dawn about her being the key. Needless to say she was a little freaked."
"Oh I see. Well that explains it then." Joyce mumbled.
"Explains what Mom?"
"It explains her behaviour this morning. Buffy she's never acted out like that before. I was speechless. I didn't know what to do."
"The best thing t'do Joyce, would be to treat her like normal. Right now I bet the Bit is feeling lost and empty, she needs to feel like she's still a part of the family."
Buffy gazed at him adoringly. Spike questioned her look with one of his own.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm just loving having a boyfriend who is so smart. That's all." Buffy answered coyly. "Come on. I need to get dressed and we need to get to the Magic Box to research Glory."
Can't we just stay here and leave the research to the book-types?" Spike complained as he snuggled into Buffy's hair from behind her.
"Ahem."
"Spike, my mother is right. This is not the place or time. We are off to help the others with research. Maybe we could do some 'training' too?" She winked.
"Training eh?" His eyebrows rose. "I could be up for that. Let's go then." He grabbed Buffy's arm and dragged her into her bedroom to change.
Joyce walked back into her room shaking her head.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Buffy and Spike collapsed on the mats, both gasping for air.
"So you REALLY meant training. I never would have thought." Spike remarked still catching his breath.
Buffy rolled her head to the side. "Why do you breathe?"
"What's that luv?"
"Well, I mean vampires don't need to breathe but you still do it. Whenever you smoke, after we...uh...you know. You don't have to, so why do you?"
"Second nature I guess. Something I just never wanted to give up. Makes me feel like the demon's not totally in control all the time, you know?"
"So, can Angel breathe?" Spike winced at the sound of his grand-sire's name.
"'Course he can." He said quickly.
"Oh." Buffy's face fell and she rolled her head back away.
"Something wrong Pet? Why'd you ask about the poofter?"
"it's just when the Master drowned me, Xander had to give me CPR because Angel said he couldn't. Why would he lie about that? What if Xander wasn't there?"
"Shhh. Pet C'mere. Some vampires forget about things like that. He's been un-dead a lot longer than me remember, so he's had more time to let the demon control his human aspects. He just probably doesn't have it as a second nature anymore."
Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes and smiled. She began to giggle uncontrollably.
"What's so funny Pet?"
"Do you realize you just defended him? The person you detest the most, you just defended."
"Yeah well as long as none of this gets back to him then it's just our secret."
Suddenly the door to the training room burst open with a worried Giles standing behind it.
"Giles? What wrong? Is it Dawn?"
"No Buffy. Dawn is fine. I'm afraid there is some information about Glory."
"Afraid? I thought information on her would be a good thing."
"Yes, well. Maybe you should come out here so I can tell everyone together. Dawn should be here soon and then we'll get started."
"Giles! You're scaring me. Why don't you just tell me now?" Buffy said standing up.
"I don't want to have to repeat it. And besides, I'm not the one with the information. We have to wait for them to arrive."
"Them?"
"The council." Giles stated.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Everyone sat in the closed Magic Box. No words were being spoken. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
"So Mr. Travers. We meet again. I hear YOU have the info on Glory. So spill."
"Well Miss Summers it seems we have more than just information on this Glory. We also have information on the key that Glory seems so anxious to get a hold of." Quentin Travers explained leaning forward in his chair.
"The key? What do you know about the key?" Buffy began to panic.
"Easy luv, let him talk first." Spike pulled her down on his lap and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Miss Summers we know a great deal about a lot of things. We know about Glory, what she is and we know about the key and what it does. Are you ready to listen?"
Buffy nodded giving Dawn a reassuring smile and then returned her attention to Quentin.
"Now this Key you speak of, we have made a trip to the Oracles and it has been revealed that it is a very powerful being."
"Being? What do you mean?" Xander popped in the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Well you see. The Key is not a thing. It is a Higher Being, capable of opening dimensional portals. This is why Glory wants it, er, them. She needs the energy from the Being to return to her dimension. In order for her to get the energy from the Key she must combine her blood with that of the Being. The portal opens and she returns home."
"So that's it? She's putting up a huge fight over a few drops of blood? What's the big deal?" Anya complained.
"What I forgot to mention was the other element, the other ingredient to sending Glory back to her world."
"Cut to the chase already, Mate."
Quentin Travers took a deep breath before continuing. "The ritual also requires the bool of a vampire. It requires the vampire to be drained completely."
"So what's the big deal? We find a fledgling and drain him, then we go on our way and send Glory on hers." Spike spouted.
"You speak too soon William. The ritual requires the blood of a vampire yes, but it requires the blood of a vampire with a soul. Not just any vampire."
"Right. So we go to L.A. get Angel and bring him here to send Glory back. Problem solved." Spike said clapping his hands together. As he did this, Buffy stood up and stared at him. She turned and walked out of the Magic Box.
"Hey! Slayer! Come back here!" Spike jumped up and ran out after her.
"Slayer!" Spike grabbed her arm and swung her arounf to face him. He didn't expect a fist to come his way as well.
"Bloody Hell! What was that for?"
"It's as easy as that is it?" Buffy screamed.
"What? Oh, you mean the Angel thing."
"Yeah. Do you hate him that much?"
"No. Well actually yeah, I do. And besides do you know any other vampires with a soul? He is the only way to open the portal!"
"There has to be another way." Buffy said firmly.
"Well there isn't. And if you weren't still in love with him you would see that!" Spike shot back.
"How dare you! Don't tell me what to see and what not to see."
"Well I can see you aren't denying it. Is this just a game to you? Do you get a kick out of playing me? You still love him! I see it whenever his name is mentioned. Tonight just made it more apparent to me. Tell you what. You come find me when you've made up your mind about Glory and Angel. You know where to find me. But I'll tell you I'm not waiting around to get my heart crushed." With that said Spike made his way down the street to his crypt.
Buffy stood there for what seemed like forever when Willow came outside to get her.
"Buffy? Are you okay?"
"He left me. He promised he would never leave me and he did." She broke down in Willow's arms.
"I'm so sorry Buffy. What happened?"
"I got upset about Angel being the element to the ritual and Spike told me what he thought and left. I can't breathe Willow. Why do they always leave?"
"Oh Buffy. I don't know what to say. But I do know that the Council still has more information, so maybe there's another way."
"You're right. Let's go back in." The two got up and made their way back into the shop.
"So Mr. Travers, you still have yet to tell us what kind of demon Glory is."
"Well Miss Summers, she isn't a demon of any sort."
"Well then what is she?"
"Glory is a God."
A/N: Thank you everyone for being so patient in the almost year it took me to get this one up and running. I have been super swamped with University this year. I will try to get things up on a more regular basis when I am not swamped with Midterms and Papers to write. ~A.J.~
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. I own nothing...sigh.
Morning fell upon the Summers' house as Buffy tried to roll over on her back. She was stopped by a cold object. A smile crossed over her face.
"Mmmm, good morning." She murmured as she grabbed Spike's arm which had already made it's way around her waist.
"Mornin' luv." He nuzzled her neck.
Buffy giggled lightly and gently pulled away from him. She got up out of bed and pulled her house coat on. A look of melancholy crossed over Spike's face.
"Don't pout. I have to check on Dawn. Make sure she's okay." She pulled her hair into a ponytail and made her way to the door. She turned back to Spike as her hand reached the doorknob. "I love you."
"I love you." Spike returned with a smirk.
Buffy left the room glowing. She reached Dawn's room and knocked on her door.
"Dawn?" Buffy knocked again and quietly opened the bedroom door. When the door was fully opened she found...nothing. Dawn was nowhere to be found. Buffy began to panic.
"Mom!?" Buffy rushed out of Dawn's room and down the hall to her mother's room. Joyce opened the door to Buffy's call.
"Mom! Where's Dawn?"
"She's at school as far as I know."
"What day is it?" Buffy asked, confused.
Spike came out of Buffy's room, fully clothed and came quickly to Buffy's side.
"It's Monday." Joyce replied.
"Pet? Are you okay? What's going on?"
"Dawn wasn't in her room. I panicked. I'm losing track of days."
"Buffy why are you so worried?" Joyce asked curiously.
"We told her. Last night, Giles, Spike and I told everyone, including Dawn about her being the key. Needless to say she was a little freaked."
"Oh I see. Well that explains it then." Joyce mumbled.
"Explains what Mom?"
"It explains her behaviour this morning. Buffy she's never acted out like that before. I was speechless. I didn't know what to do."
"The best thing t'do Joyce, would be to treat her like normal. Right now I bet the Bit is feeling lost and empty, she needs to feel like she's still a part of the family."
Buffy gazed at him adoringly. Spike questioned her look with one of his own.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm just loving having a boyfriend who is so smart. That's all." Buffy answered coyly. "Come on. I need to get dressed and we need to get to the Magic Box to research Glory."
Can't we just stay here and leave the research to the book-types?" Spike complained as he snuggled into Buffy's hair from behind her.
"Ahem."
"Spike, my mother is right. This is not the place or time. We are off to help the others with research. Maybe we could do some 'training' too?" She winked.
"Training eh?" His eyebrows rose. "I could be up for that. Let's go then." He grabbed Buffy's arm and dragged her into her bedroom to change.
Joyce walked back into her room shaking her head.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Buffy and Spike collapsed on the mats, both gasping for air.
"So you REALLY meant training. I never would have thought." Spike remarked still catching his breath.
Buffy rolled her head to the side. "Why do you breathe?"
"What's that luv?"
"Well, I mean vampires don't need to breathe but you still do it. Whenever you smoke, after we...uh...you know. You don't have to, so why do you?"
"Second nature I guess. Something I just never wanted to give up. Makes me feel like the demon's not totally in control all the time, you know?"
"So, can Angel breathe?" Spike winced at the sound of his grand-sire's name.
"'Course he can." He said quickly.
"Oh." Buffy's face fell and she rolled her head back away.
"Something wrong Pet? Why'd you ask about the poofter?"
"it's just when the Master drowned me, Xander had to give me CPR because Angel said he couldn't. Why would he lie about that? What if Xander wasn't there?"
"Shhh. Pet C'mere. Some vampires forget about things like that. He's been un-dead a lot longer than me remember, so he's had more time to let the demon control his human aspects. He just probably doesn't have it as a second nature anymore."
Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes and smiled. She began to giggle uncontrollably.
"What's so funny Pet?"
"Do you realize you just defended him? The person you detest the most, you just defended."
"Yeah well as long as none of this gets back to him then it's just our secret."
Suddenly the door to the training room burst open with a worried Giles standing behind it.
"Giles? What wrong? Is it Dawn?"
"No Buffy. Dawn is fine. I'm afraid there is some information about Glory."
"Afraid? I thought information on her would be a good thing."
"Yes, well. Maybe you should come out here so I can tell everyone together. Dawn should be here soon and then we'll get started."
"Giles! You're scaring me. Why don't you just tell me now?" Buffy said standing up.
"I don't want to have to repeat it. And besides, I'm not the one with the information. We have to wait for them to arrive."
"Them?"
"The council." Giles stated.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Everyone sat in the closed Magic Box. No words were being spoken. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
"So Mr. Travers. We meet again. I hear YOU have the info on Glory. So spill."
"Well Miss Summers it seems we have more than just information on this Glory. We also have information on the key that Glory seems so anxious to get a hold of." Quentin Travers explained leaning forward in his chair.
"The key? What do you know about the key?" Buffy began to panic.
"Easy luv, let him talk first." Spike pulled her down on his lap and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Miss Summers we know a great deal about a lot of things. We know about Glory, what she is and we know about the key and what it does. Are you ready to listen?"
Buffy nodded giving Dawn a reassuring smile and then returned her attention to Quentin.
"Now this Key you speak of, we have made a trip to the Oracles and it has been revealed that it is a very powerful being."
"Being? What do you mean?" Xander popped in the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Well you see. The Key is not a thing. It is a Higher Being, capable of opening dimensional portals. This is why Glory wants it, er, them. She needs the energy from the Being to return to her dimension. In order for her to get the energy from the Key she must combine her blood with that of the Being. The portal opens and she returns home."
"So that's it? She's putting up a huge fight over a few drops of blood? What's the big deal?" Anya complained.
"What I forgot to mention was the other element, the other ingredient to sending Glory back to her world."
"Cut to the chase already, Mate."
Quentin Travers took a deep breath before continuing. "The ritual also requires the bool of a vampire. It requires the vampire to be drained completely."
"So what's the big deal? We find a fledgling and drain him, then we go on our way and send Glory on hers." Spike spouted.
"You speak too soon William. The ritual requires the blood of a vampire yes, but it requires the blood of a vampire with a soul. Not just any vampire."
"Right. So we go to L.A. get Angel and bring him here to send Glory back. Problem solved." Spike said clapping his hands together. As he did this, Buffy stood up and stared at him. She turned and walked out of the Magic Box.
"Hey! Slayer! Come back here!" Spike jumped up and ran out after her.
"Slayer!" Spike grabbed her arm and swung her arounf to face him. He didn't expect a fist to come his way as well.
"Bloody Hell! What was that for?"
"It's as easy as that is it?" Buffy screamed.
"What? Oh, you mean the Angel thing."
"Yeah. Do you hate him that much?"
"No. Well actually yeah, I do. And besides do you know any other vampires with a soul? He is the only way to open the portal!"
"There has to be another way." Buffy said firmly.
"Well there isn't. And if you weren't still in love with him you would see that!" Spike shot back.
"How dare you! Don't tell me what to see and what not to see."
"Well I can see you aren't denying it. Is this just a game to you? Do you get a kick out of playing me? You still love him! I see it whenever his name is mentioned. Tonight just made it more apparent to me. Tell you what. You come find me when you've made up your mind about Glory and Angel. You know where to find me. But I'll tell you I'm not waiting around to get my heart crushed." With that said Spike made his way down the street to his crypt.
Buffy stood there for what seemed like forever when Willow came outside to get her.
"Buffy? Are you okay?"
"He left me. He promised he would never leave me and he did." She broke down in Willow's arms.
"I'm so sorry Buffy. What happened?"
"I got upset about Angel being the element to the ritual and Spike told me what he thought and left. I can't breathe Willow. Why do they always leave?"
"Oh Buffy. I don't know what to say. But I do know that the Council still has more information, so maybe there's another way."
"You're right. Let's go back in." The two got up and made their way back into the shop.
"So Mr. Travers, you still have yet to tell us what kind of demon Glory is."
"Well Miss Summers, she isn't a demon of any sort."
"Well then what is she?"
"Glory is a God."
A/N: Thank you everyone for being so patient in the almost year it took me to get this one up and running. I have been super swamped with University this year. I will try to get things up on a more regular basis when I am not swamped with Midterms and Papers to write. ~A.J.~