Title: The First Seconded

Author: Falcon-Rider falcon_rider@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13 for Angst and ect. And CD

Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept the plot and Nich.

Authors note: Yay! I updated! Claps…. Ow sore arms… sore arms… sore legs… sore ankles… that's dance for ya.

 TO THE STORY!

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Part Sixteen

Duties

59 days

Tara said the spell and the guards went down letting Nich burst into Quentin's office. The sight before her shocked the seer to the core. The old man, probably Travers himself, stood in front of his desk a shocked expression had appeared on his face when she slammed through the door. A young woman who smelled wrong was just standing up and placing a folded hanker chief in her pocket. She glanced toward Nich and smiled sweetly.

"How wonderful, guests!" She smiled toothily. "Are you in need of a checkup little girl?"

Nich rushed foreword toward Spike her eyes focused on his pale body.

"Little gir-" The woman grabbed her arm her grip strong. Nich turned her head her eyes narrowed glowing as the woman was flung into the nearest wall. She hit the bookcase and slid to the floor knocking over volumes of ancient text.

Nich knelt next to the Slayer and placed her hands on his arm and screamed. Her vision swam as everything she touched began to glow…

*

Tara and the others followed Nich into the room as the seer fell to her knees her hand gripped spikes arms as she began to glow.

"Oh Goddess," Willow gasped from her side her eyes filled with shock. Her legs didn't seem to work as she had just stopped and stood staring at the sight before her.

The room was filled with the bright light that was coming from Nich and had spread to Spike. The witches had no idea what was going on but were rooted to the spot unable to move.

From behind them Giles noticed Quentin standing completely still in front of his desk as the older man stood staring at the unbelievable sight before him. The ex-watcher rushed toward the head of the watchers in order to restrain the power hungry man.

*

What's going on? Nich stared ahead of her at the figure that had invaded her mind. After first noticing the invasion she had let her consciousness fall back into the area of her mind that was occupied, the same area the visions were received in.

I'm saving Spikes life. Came the reply as the young woman turned toward her. The powers couldn't let him die.

Okay then, you were sent by the powers then. Who are you? Nich folded her 'arms' over her 'chest' as she spoke narrowing her eyes at the woman before her.

Cordelia. I knew Buffy and the others when I was in high school… I help Angel out in LA or I did. Before I transcended to a higher plane. Came the reply. The Blonde-Brunette before her smiled slightly. I'm almost done… listen I need you to do something for me, it's important.

Your saving Williams life, we owe you one. So what is it that you'd like us to do?

When I transcended I left my champion behind, he's in grave danger… He's trapped somewhere, under water. I need you to rescue him… and tell him I haven't abandoned him, I'll return as soon as I can. Cordelia's eyes were filled with pain and they pleaded with Nich to do this for her.

The Younger seer nodded and shrugged. Yah, sure… how are we supposed to find your champion… Angel right?

Yah Angel, Cordelia smiled thankfully. You can start at the Hyperion Hotel. Its where I used to work with him, its an investigation group called Angel Investigations.

Nich smiled and reached out toward Cordelia and barely touched the other woman's arm. We'll help him, even if I have to drag William there kicking and screaming.

Thank You. Cordelia smiled as she faded. Tell Angel… I love him.

*

Nich's sight cleared and she fell backwards completely drained. Her breathing came in deep gulps as Tara and Willow hurried over to them. Willow grabbed her arms and helped her up as Tara kneeled next to Spike and touched the pulse point on his neck.

"He's alive." She announced glancing over her shoulder to where Giles held knife to Quentin's throat.

"Tara, if you would please help Mr. Travers take a nap?" Giles said calmly as he stared into the older mans eyes. "I'm sure he has realized by now not to come near any of us again."

"Y-yes I ha-ave… you have my wo-ord." Travers answered him stammering as his whole body quaked in fear and surprise.

"Sleep." Tara whispered holding her hand out toward Travers. He fell to the ground and slumped against his desk asleep. "Giles can you carry William? We have to get out of here."

"Yes of course," The ex-watcher kneeled next to Tara and the wiccan helped him get the unconscious slayer over his shoulder. "Willow will you be able to handle Nich?"

The red haired Wiccan nodded, "Yes I think so." She pulled the teen into her arms and stood slowly. "As long as we don't run into any trouble anyway."

"I'll make sure we don't," Tara told them as she led the way out into the hall.

*

The 'female' robot named Emma McFowell pulled herself up and adjusted her clothing over herself. She smiled broadly as she realized that nothing had been torn. Her head shot up and she surveyed the room with indifference to the fallen books and other debris around her. Her eyes and sensors fell onto Quentin Travers prone body and she shook her head tsking loudly.

"Mr. Travers, why you must be sick!" She walked over and pulled his body up and settled him into her arms. "But don't worry, I'll take good care of you. After all Doctor knows best!"

*

"Oh, what demon bashed my skull in?" spike mumbled as he awoke. He opened his eyes in confusion and rolled his head to the side.

Nich winced at the sound of his voice, "No demon." She replied. "Just a robot… and there wasn't any head bashing either."

Spike pushed himself up slowly into a sitting position. All his muscles ached, as did his lungs, which made it painful to breathe in to deeply. "What happened?"

"You were kidnapped by the council," Willow answered him as she walked into his line of vision with a steaming mug. "Tea?"

"Thanks."

"A robot killed you, but thanks to Nich-"

"Actually-"

"She managed to revive you. She saved your life." Tara said as she took a seat next to Nich.

"Thanks Kat-eyes," Spike smiled appreciatively.

"Actually it wasn't me that did the saving," Nich stared down into her own tea. "It was another seer someone whose transcended to another level."

"What do you mean transcended?" Tara asked.

Nich glanced up and smiled slightly as she shrugged, "I don't know what it means… I think she does things others can't do for the powers. Things that aren't on just this plane."

"Like the spirit realm? And limbo? That sort of thing?" Willow asked.

"Yah, I think so." Nich glanced around. "Her name is Cordelia… she said she knew you guys."

"Cordelia? Isn't that the prom queen that helps Angel out in LA?" Spike asked as he set his mug on the coffee table in front of him.

"Cordelia did mention one time tat she gets visions." Willow glanced over at Tara who smiled at her.

"If it is that Cordelia… and she's transcended or whatever we should figure out a way to thank her." Tara returned willows smile and glanced back between the small group. It was just the four of them since Giles had a meeting with some friends and then later he was supposed to meet Anya at a local restaurant to talk about the 'shops inventory and supplies lists.' He had hated to leave the four of them after such an experience but it couldn't be avoided.

"She said that her champion, the warrior she received the visions for had been trapped under sea somewhere. She asked if we could rescue him." Nich glanced toward Spike. "She also said that his name was-"

"Angel, yah just great." Spike shook his head trying to clear it. "Knew I couldn't avoid the poofter. Well then guess we're going to be saving the king of broodings arse aren't we?"

"He's not the only one who broods." Nich said suddenly dropping the room into silence. Tara and Willow stared at her in shock as Spikes eyes widened as he turned his gaze toward her. "William, you got your soul back after a 120 plus years of petty violence and killing, so? Don't treat it like is a curse cause it not."

"You're right. Its not a curse." Spike answered slowly. "And I shouldn't be treating it like one. I can't just whip everything under the carpet and pretend that noth-"

"Then don't pretend!" Nich replied shortly. "Those people are dead and gone! There's no way you can change that. But you can get on with your life and try to make a difference now, you can't save their life so-"

"I'll save others." Spike finished for her. "I already figured that out Kat. When everything flashes before your eyes and you die you seem to have moments of clarity. And that happened to be just one of the many that I had."

Nich nodded, "So no more brooding?"

Spike laughed, "Can't promise that pet, but I can promise you'll see a lot less of it."

"Good!" Nich sighed and smiled. "Cause you know it was getting real annoying, right?"

"She's got a point." Tara smiled.

"If they think so then I guess I'll have to agree." Willow shrugged and gave Spike a small smile.

"Hey! Why's everyone ganging up on me?"

"Cause maybe if you had gotten a social life none of this would have happened?" Tara asked innocently.

Spike growled and them causing the women to laugh even harder. Life was looking up after all… perhaps when they got home he might even have a chance to redeem himself with the other people he loved. As his new family began to converse and laugh Spike remembered back to his past. This time all the good instead of the bad. Perhaps he just needed a bit of hope to go with his new duties.

"Trying" (blyss aka Lifehouse)

Could you let down your hair
And be transparent for a while
Just a little while
See if your human after all
Honesty is a hard attribute to find
When we all want to seem like we've got it all figured out
I may be the first to say that I don't have a clue
I don't have all the answers
And god I pretend like I do just
Trying to find my way
Trying to find my way the best that I know how

Well I haven't memorized all the cute things to say
But I'm working on it
Maybe I'll master this art for today
I'd I qet all the line off the top of my head
And you'd be
I don't understand all of these things I've read
I'm just trying to find my way
Trying to find my way
Trying to find my way the best that I know how

Well I haven't drawn it or figured out quite yet
But even if it takes my whole life
To get to where I need to be
And if I should fall to the bottom of the end
I'll be one step back to you
I'm trying to find my way
Trying to find my way
Oh, I'm trying to find my way
Trying to find my way

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Author Note: Okay more soon YAY! Other characters as well… still stuck on gunn and fred however so until I write that this is my last update this week… expect one tue or wends or later… this is special update cause I know how evil cliff hangers are and I am not posting due to the anniversary of sept 11th tomorrow.

To be continued in: Mixed acquaintances

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