Where Do We Go From Here?

Chapter 12: Time's Running Out

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Summary: See pervious Chapters

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"Maybe you're all being a bit harsh."

Dawn turned at looked at Angel.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you guys did rip her out of heaven and everything, that has to be traumatic."

"How many times do we have to apologize for that!? We were only doing what we thought was best," replied Xander.

"Well couldn't you have done a spell to see where she was first or something?"

"Angel, don't you think we would've done a spell if there was one? If there was a locator spell that powerful, I would've used it," said Willow.

"I know you would've Will, but maybe something got over looked y'know? Maybe there was something just on the next page or a scroll that got knocked behind the shelf. Things get overlooked all the time."

"Whatever makes you feel better Angel."

"Look, we don't need all of this negative energy," said Andrew. "Buffy acts like a bitch and there's really nothing we can do about it, now let's move on and focus on the task ahead of us."

"Andrew's right, we don't have time to waste on anyone's personal hangups right now." Wesley looked the group over. "Time's running out and we need to get ready for this battle."

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I can't believe they think I'm a huge bitch.

After overhearing what was being said downstairs in the lobby, Buffy went back to her room to work through what had been said about her. She couldn't believe that her friends and Dawn would act like everything was fine when really they couldn't stand to be around her. Buffy had been thinking things over for the last half hour and so far she was only raising more questions.

"How am I supposed to help them fight the Senior Partners if they can't stand me?"

"You could try to lighten up a bit."

Buffy's head snapped up at the sound of the voice. She quickly turned around to find the black clad source of the voice leaning in her doorway.

"Oh my god!"

"I prefer Spike, but whatever floats your boat."

"That's not what I meant. You scared the crap out of me."

"Glad to see I haven't lost it all in my transformation from Big Bad to Big Pounce." Spike pushed himself off of the doorframe and walked over toward Buffy.

"You're not a big pounce."

"I'm touched Pet." Spike put his hand over his heart.

"Yeah, well whatever."

"So, what has you all bothered?"

"Everything, there's just too much crap going on right now and half of it doesn't make any sense at all."

"What doesn't make sense?"

"Well for starters, you and Angel." Buffy looked over at Spike. "You guys hate each other and yet here you are getting along and planning a huge battle. What's up with that?"

"Peaches and I had some issues that we needed to work through. We've sorted some things out, but we've still got a long way to go before we're all chummy."

"Look at you, you're all sorted out and with it and here I am all jumbled up and chaotic."

"I'm far from sorted, Pet."

"Maybe, but you've got your shit together, which is more then I can say for myself. You're doing just fine here in LA and you seem really happy. From what I've heard from Willow, you've got your own place and you've got a job and are doing really well."

"I've got a crappy one bedroom apartment and I help out Angel. My most valuable possession is a Nintendo, Buffy."

"Dawn wants an X-Box."

"I've heard those are really good."

"Why are we talking about video game systems?"

"I dunno."

"I just want things to be like they used to be back in Sunnydale."

"And how's that?" Spike looked at Buffy.

"How things' were before everything got screwed up. I should've just told everyone about us in the first place, they would've understood and if not oh well. We could've been really happy." Buffy met Spike's gaze and saw the sadness hidden behind his blue eyes.

"Yeah we could've."

Buffy felt her heart break a little at his comment.

Spike looked at Buffy as tears began to form in her eyes.

"But y'know what they say."

"What's that?"

"You can never go back."

Buffy watched as Spike walked out of the room.

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Buffy was laying on her bed when she heard someone come in.

"You and Blondie get some sort of closure?"

Buffy looked up at Faith.

"He's moved on and I should too. No use clinging to the past."

"Way to go B."

"I seem to have a tendency for bad timing." Buffy sat up.

"Yeah, well ya live and learn."

"You're so laid back about everything. Spike said that I should lighten up a bit"

"I'm of a life's too short type of girl, while you're more of a look both ways before crossing the street type of person. Nothing wrong with being safe." Faith took a seat on the bed.

"Being safe's turned me into a bitch that no one like's."

"So you heard."

"Yeah I heard."

"Well don't take it to personally."

"Why shouldn't I take it too personally? Everyone who I care about just spent the last hour talking about what a bitch I am."

"We're on the eve of yet another apocalypse B. People are on edge and when you're on edge you get all emotional and either cry your eyes out or say things you don't mean. It's just a way to deal."

"A lot of it was true though. I am uppity and bitchy and hypocritical."

"I don't think anyone actually said that you were uppity B."

"Still, hearing what everyone had to say and talking to Spike really opened my eyes up a bit."

"Well that's good, I suppose."

"It is and starting now, I am no longer going to be an uppity hypocritical bitch who judges people with a huge double standard."

"That's great. I don't think it'll matter so much if we all die, but if we live it'll change a lot of things for the better."

"Have I ever told you how optimistic you are?"

"I don't think you have actually," replied Faith with a smile.

"I wonder why?" Buffy smiled as well. "Hopefully the new and improved Buffy will be able to make things right."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine."

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"The universe is shifting, as if it were making way for something."

Illyeria was standing on the roof of The Hyperion with Wesley, Spike, and Angel. It had been a full day since Buffy's epiphany and everything seemed to be running smoothly. Illyeria had insisted that they group go up to the roof to observe their surroundings.

"What do you mean?" asked Wesley.

"There's great unrest everywhere." Illyeria appeared to be getting restless herself.

"It is getting closer to the eclipse. Maybe the PTB are getting antsy," suggested Gunn.

"That's probably it. I'm getting a bit twitchy myself," added Spike.

"The wolf, ram, and hart are gathering their forces, I suggest we do the same."

"What do you mean?" Angel looked at Illyeria. "We've got another day before the eclipse."

Illyeria turned to face Angel.

"Move."

"What?"

"Move!" Illyeria roughly shoved Angel to the ground just as a flaming arrow impaled itself in the spot that had been occupied by Angel only moments before.

Soon many more arrows began to rain down on the roof.

"What the bloody 'ell!?" exclaimed Spike as he dodged several of the arrows.

"A surprise attack, why am I not surprised?" Wesley held an ancient book over his head as a type of shelter as he hurried to hid behind a large air vent.

"Did I not state that the enemy was gathering its forces? It is not my fault that you chose to ignore my warning."

"Yeah, yeah, next time we'll actually listen to all of the mumbo gumbo that comes out of that pretty little mouth of yours, but for right now let's try to make it out of this un-singed," called Spike from his spot next to Gunn.

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I agree with Spike," added Angel.

"Where are they coming from?" asked Wesley.

Illyeria quickly scanned the area before pointing to one of the taller buildings across the alley from The Hyperion.

"How are we going to fight them if they're way up there and we're way down here?" asked Gunn.

"We can't, we have no weapons," said Angel.

"You aren't seriously suggesting that we just wait it out are you."

"Well Wes, what else can we do? They've got us pinned."

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"Has anyone seen Wesley? He was supposed to go over some texts about the Shanshu prophecy with me."

"He went up to the roof with Spike, Angel, Gunn, and that Illyeria woman," replied Dawn.

"Yeah, but that was awhile ago," said Willow.

"Perhaps we should go and check on them," suggested Giles.

"I'll go with." Faith got up from her spot on the couch and headed upstairs with Giles, Willow, and Dawn.

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Willow opened the door leading from the stairwell to the roof just in time to have an arrow lodge itself in the door.

"Be careful Red."

"Spike? Where are you?" Willow looked around the roof, but saw no one.

"Down and to the left."

Willow followed the directions and saw Spike wave around the corner of the small rectangular building made by the door and top landing of the stairs.

"What the hell's going on?" asked Faith.

"We're sort of under attack," called Angel.

"If this is sort of, I'd hate to see full on," replied the Slayer.

"Can you conjure up a shield by chance?" asked Wesley.

"Oh! Sure no problem."

Willow said a short incantation and soon the roof and building were covered by a protective shield.

"I was going to do this last protection spell, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet," stated Willow as the guys came out of their hiding places.

"Well I'm glad you had it memorized." Gunn watched as the arrows seemed to bounce off the invisible shield.

"They should grow tired and give up soon," commented Illyeria.

"Let's get inside just in case," said Giles.

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"Okay, so we can safely say, we weren't expecting a surprise attack the day before the battle." Buffy addressed the group gathered in the lobby.

"Well that's kind of what make's it a surprise," commented Dawn.

Buffy shot her sister an annoyed look.

"You'd think if they were planning on pulling something they would've done it sooner, right?"

"That's what one would normally assume, but perhaps they knew that we'd expect something earlier," said Giles.

"The eclipse starts tomorrow at noon, we need to be ready, because I have a feeling that when they hit us, they're gonna hit hard and fast."

"We need a plan be in case things get too heavy."

"I can whip up a little magical grand finale," offered Willow.

"How little is little?"

"Big enough to wipe out whatever's left when you guys get through with them, but little enough that I don't go all scary eyed on ya."

"We definitely don't want any scary eyedness," replied Andrew.

"So, the plan is we go in full force and whatever we don't get Wills will get with the clean up. Do we all agree?"

"Sounds fine to me," replied Gunn.

"Same 'ere," added Spike.

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To Be Continued . . .

I just got back from Mexico yesterday and I promised an update so here it is. It's almost one o'clock and I should probably get to bed, but I can't sleep, so I'm working on this. I'm working on drawing this fic to a close, but I've got ideas for some other's that I'm going to start as soon as I finish this one. Keep reviewing!