His Slayer

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs

A/N: Hi all. Sorry for the long delay I've been real busy in RL. Anyway thanks for the nice reviews. Hope you enjoy. Skyz.

~*~

Chapter Eight:

Joyce studied the map of Sunnydale University.

"They keep going into Lowell House," she muttered with a long sigh. They'd only been at this an hour and already she was overwhelmed.

Willow peered over her shoulder and tapped the map with her forefinger.

"I bet that's where they hold their super military meetings," she said excitedly.

Xander cleared his throat.

"They wouldn't have them out in the open like that," he spoke with a confidence he never usually felt.

Both Joyce and Willow sent him surprised glances.

"What?" he asked affronted. "I know stuff," he added with a silly grin.

Willow grinned back at him.

Joyce turned her attention back to the map.

"Question is how are we going to get in there? We've got to know for sure this is actually their head quarters," Joyce said with frustration.

She wondered how Buffy could do this. Day in day out to save the world? Her respect for her daughter went up ten or so notches.

"I've been in Lowell House before," Oz spoke up from his seat in the corner.

Willow hurried to him. Looking him over suspiciously as if he'd sprouted sudden wounds.

"How? Why? Did they hurt you baby?" she demanded as she tried to run her hands over him.

"And?" Joyce asked with an arched brow.

Oz captured Willow's hands and sent her a smile.

"I played there," he remarked. "And they have some kind of elevator that leads underground. Under the dorms," he added.

Xander stared at him a moment.

"And you're just telling us this now?" he asked incredulously.

Oz gave a shrug.

"I didn't know it was dangerous. I thought it had to do with their fraternity crap. I'm tellin' you now though," was Oz's mild reply.

"Under the dorm? And no one knows about this? How can that be possible?" Joyce asked in wonder.

"This is Sunnydale Joyce. The town that sits on the hellmouth of denial. Even if they did notice they'd just ignore it," Willow remarked with a small laugh.

"There has to be a way into their ranks," Joyce fiercely muttered.

"They capture demons and stuff… So the obvious thing would be to use me as bait," Oz stated squeezing Willow's hands as she started to protest.

"No," was Joyce's immediate response. Shaking her head she rose and began to pace. She didn't like the idea of using Oz as bait.

God only knew what would happen to him if they couldn't take the commandos down.

"I've got some military knowledge. I can haul Oz in. Willow could hack her way into the computer and give me a whole new identity," Xander began.

"But…" Willow's small voice was over ridden by Xander's excited one.

"This could actually work! If I'm in with the guys I could learn the lay out. We could destroy them in no time-"

"What about Oz?! They don't like demons and other supernatural things. They torture them, use them as lab rats! What about Oz?" Willow demanded shrilly.

"Willow," Oz began quietly looking her in the eyes. "It's not your decision to make. I want to help Buffy. And that's the only way. So I say let's do it. Don't you want Buffy back?"

Willow couldn't help but pout.

"But why does it have to be you?" she wondered sulkily.

"I have to have something worthwhile to bring to the table Will. If I want to stand a chance," Xander tried to explain as best he could.

Joyce listened with half an ear.

It seemed whether she liked it or not Xander's plan was a big possibility. She just might have to use the boys to save her daughter's life…

~*~

As far as plans went his was extremely simple really.

Get in. Get out.

Nothing else to it. Nothing was going to stop him from achieving it either.

Except maybe for one little thing.

Bloodlust.

Resolutely Spike had kept underwater on his swim back to land. And though the sun was out he was far enough down that it wasn't direct sunlight.

He didn't know how long he was down there nor did he really care.

The only constant was the thought of Tate and Buffy.

He knew Tate was safe with Wesley, and that gave him a small amount of peace.

Thinking of Buffy though…

He was very angry with her.

She'd deliberately left him to go back to London.

He didn't understand why.

She had left him and Tate who he knew she loved.

There wasn't a good enough reason in the world for that, or so he had thought.

And if anything happened to her…

He couldn't even finish the thought.

All the atrocities Maggie Walsh had put him through raced through his mind.

He wouldn't let the same fate come to Buffy.

He would destroy anyone who harmed Buffy.

Anyone.

~*~

Buffy was sure now why she was the Slayer.

She was great with the smash and kill aspects of Slaying. In fact if she said so herself, she was pretty damn good at it.

But strategy and actual thought out plans weren't a part of her repertoire.

A small smile twisted her lips at that thought.

That's why she had Giles and the gang. To help make with the plans.

Her plans were usually impulsive and non effective.

Her main concern at the time had been to get Spike and Tate out of harms way.

Which she had and was forever grateful to Wes for his help.

After that she had only figured on getting Maggie's attention. Thus going to the Council had seemed appropriate.

Now with a grimace Buffy realized this was a very bad idea.

A huge mistake.

She tested the steel manacles that bound her to the cold metal table she lay on.

They didn't budge.

"If you remain calm it will only take a few more minutes," the woman Buffy had dubbed Ms. Perky spoke up.

Buffy glared at her.

"It's merely a physical." The plump and sweet faced woman went on to say.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Tried the binds again.

This was nothing like any physical she'd had before.

For one she was strapped to the table. She couldn't move her hands or her feet. She wore some kind of see through hospital gown.

And finally she was more than pissed off.

Scowling Buffy wished for once she'd listened to a Watcher.

Wes had explicitly told her what might happen if she were caught.

It appeared he was right.

"How's our patient?" Maggie's voice coming from the over head speaker was cause enough for Buffy to groan.

"She's in perfect health Dr. Walsh," the perky woman answered.

"Good. Good. How are you feeling Buffy? Comfortable?" Maggie asked.

I'll be comfortable once you're dead, Buffy thought with a silent snarl.

"Peachy with a side of keen Doc," she mocked facetiously.

"Well once your physical is over, you'll be moved to your quarters. I hope you enjoy your accommodations. Tomorrow morning though you'll be up bright and early. We start testing at 5a.m. sharp. So sleep well. Good day."

Buffy was tempted to attack as soon as her manacles were released. The only thing that stopped her was the armed guards.

And though she was a Slayer bullets would kill her just as dead as any demon or vampire.

"Could I have a robe or something?" she asked suddenly self-conscious of her near naked state.

"Of course," perky woman chirped up.

Buffy slipped on the robe and gripped the edges together as it was missing a sash.

"You'll really enjoy your room…" the woman began and Buffy tuned her out.

She wondered what Spike would do once he realized she was gone.

She had been hesitant about drugging him. She thought it might remind him of his capture and torture at the hands of Maggie.

But the other alternative had been for her to leave while Wes distracted Spike. Which would never have worked.

She was sure by the time Spike woke they'd be too far from land for him to do much of anything.

That was one of the reasons she'd decided on the boat trip to America. There was no way he'd try anything stupid.

Her thoughts abruptly shifted to Tate.

He was such a cute little baby which if you thought about it was odd.

After all he was the baby of two vampires.

Not unattractive vampires but still…

She was curious.

Wondered if he'd grow into his fangs and bumpies. Or was he really a human baby?

But it didn't matter.

She'd fallen for the little man.

And it seemed Wes had too.

He doted on the baby. She knew Wes would do everything in his power to keep both Tate and Spike safe.

"…sleep well."

The woman's voice roused Buffy from her thoughts.

She blinked as she found herself in front of a non descript door.

With guards behind her she reached up and opened the door.

Stepping in she jumped a little as the door automatically shut and locked behind her.

"Buffy…"

Buffy frowned at the voice and felt irritation that she'd suppressed bloom.

Turning she faced the man hiding in a corner.

"Angel," she muttered flatly.

She wouldn't show him her relief yet. He shouldn't have come after her. If he hadn't, she wouldn't have been here.

"So much for me rescuing you," Angel offered with a tentative smile.

Buffy stared at him and slowly shook her head.

 "Yeah. So much for that," she remarked dryly.

"So much for you rescuing me huh?" Angel tagged on awkwardly.

Buffy gripped the edges of her robe tighter and stared at him curiously.

"Why don't you come out into the light? I want to see what Maggie's done to you. We've got to figure a way out of here. I doubt anyone else will come to get us out," Buffy muttered defeatedly.

Angel stepped from the shadows and into the light.

Buffy's mouth dropped open.

A laugh escaped.

"What has she done to you?" she gasped out.