Intervention
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Joss would never be as evil as my muse has decided to be.
Summary: I ain't telling.
Reviews: YES, PLEASE. Readers rock but reviewers RULE.
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Giles moved through the abandoned Magic Box slowly, shaking his head over the thought that Anya would just up and leave their investment. He knew she'd been devastated when Xander had left her at the altar but to ditch her source of income as she had surprised him. He'd called a meeting and felt that they would be less likely to be interrupted here, the place of so many prior Scooby meetings. He decided he needed to look into getting someone else to run the shop. It would provide a tidy little income that he could funnel into Buffy's accounts. Today's meeting was not your normal run of the mill Scooby meeting. In fact, the only Scoobies invited were Tara, Dawn and Xander, the boy being the only original member of the little gang. Angel and Cordelia were the first to arrive. Cordy, who'd never been in the shop was impressed with the layout and décor.
"Did you have any trouble getting away?" Giles asked Angel as they watched the seer wander around the shelves.
The dark vampire shook his head. "Wes and Gunn decided to go back to LA. They're pretty mad at Spike. They think he cast some sort of spell over Fred. They went back to research how to break it."
Cordy snorted. "The only spell the bleached menace cast was charm. Do you know he sent her a rose last night? I know some guys who could take lessons." She got a cloth and began wiping dust from the research table.
Angel grinned. "So that's what he was doing." He muttered. At the puzzled looks from his companions he continued. "We were talking and he just stopped paying attention. That must have been when he did it."
While they were laughing, Tara and Dawn arrived. "Buffy thinks we're shopping and going to the movies so we have several hours." Dawn said in a rush. "What's so funny?"
Giles shook his head. "Nothing much." He said smiling. Xander blew through the door with a familiar white box.
"I come bearing donuts." He announced. "It's a research meeting right? Can't do it without sugary pastry goodness." He finished with a grin. "So, what's the looming threat?"
Giles cleaned his glasses. He cleared his throat. Pocketing his handkerchief and replacing his glasses, he looked around the small group who'd taken seats around the table. "We have to decide what to do with Buffy. She could be a threat to Spike and Fred's safety. Her jealousy could destabilize her enough that she may try to harm one or both of them. We cannot let her get to that point."
Xander closed his eyes. A frisson of fear chased down his spine. He really didn't want to see his best friend going down that destructive path again. The way she'd treated Spike before brought images to his brain that made him sorely wish for a drink. He gulped audibly and opened his eyes. The realization that he was the center of attention had him groping for a donut. He looked at it and laid it down on a napkin without tasting it.
"We so totally don't want her taking her temper out on Spike." He whispered.
Cordelia nodded her agreement soberly, earning a puzzled look from Angel. She shot him a look and mouthed the word 'visions' at him. He grimaced his understanding.
Dawn noticed the seriousness that everyone was treating the matter and began to fear for her brother and her sister. She'd harbored hopes that they would eventually get together but had come to realize that Buffy would never be quite willing to completely trust Spike.
Tara gazed around at the group. "Did you know that Spike has his soul?" She asked.
The only one who didn't look shocked was Angel. He'd sensed the difference and hoped that the reemergence of his Childe's soul would not give him the century of torment that had plagued him. A small part of him was jealous that the younger vampire might not go through the suffering; the blond pain in the ass always seemed to land on his feet without the accompanying problems. A tiny Spike-sounding voice make itself known in the back of Angel's mind. 'And just what do you think he's been going through the past few days, you ponce?'
Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had suspected something of the sort, given how prone the blond vampire was to all-too-human emotions. He cleared his throat.
"Yes. I can certainly see how that could be. But that shouldn't make a difference. He's still the same Spike who's annoyed us for the past several years. Now we need to figure out how we're going to keep him safe from Buffy. She's not going to suffer what she sees as his betrayal with Fred lightly. Even with a soul, she'll make his life miserable. We need to find out when he plans to go to back to England. That may be the only way to keep him from injury. Then we need to ensure that Fred is also protected. She should return to Los Angeles as soon as we get Spike shipped off to the coven. I really don't want to separate them but for the time being, it might be our only hope of keeping them safe and Buffy from doing something irreparable." He slipped his glasses back onto his nose.
They bounced various ideas around for several hours. By noon they were no closer to an answer than when they started.
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Secure in the knowledge that Dawn and Tara would be out for a while, Buffy had no qualms about going to the Espresso Pump for coffee when the unexpected invitation was issued. She spent quite a while chatting and venting while she sipped her coffee. She was happy to spend time with her friend and catch up. It gave her the chance to let off some steam about Spike and his fickle heart.
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Spike sat upright in his bed. The snap of a violently severed link had woken him. Shaking in fear, he opened each link. Three of them were there and intact. One was not. Terror made him scramble back to the wall. His scream was silent and echoed through his mind and the three minds he was linked to.
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In the Magic Box, Xander was the first to clasp his head in pain. Dawn grew pale and her blue eyes glazed over. Angel leapt up and paced, waiting for his Childe to calm down enough to tell him what was wrong. He couldn't understand the problem and settled for convincing Spike to transport there and tell them what happened. The blond vampire materialized and the group instantly knew something very serious had happened. He was barefoot and shirtless. He had his pillow clutched tightly to his chest and as soon as he appeared he scrambled to the nearest wall and huddled there rocking and crying.
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Fred rolled over and yawned. It had taken her quite a while to fall asleep. She'd thought about Spike for several hours and the tingles she felt whenever she remembered the kisses they'd shared gave her a warm glow. She stretched her slender arms above her head and smiled happily. She would see Spike again soon. It slowly sank into her scientific mind that something wasn't quite right. She opened her eyes… and screamed.