A/N: Hey everybody. It's been a while I know. Not really much more to say then enjoy this chapter. Oh and this () signals a thought. Once you read the chapter you'll understand what I mean.
Chapter 19:
The house was quiet. There were no signs of sound anywhere. It was eerily quiet for a Slayers home. No signs of forced entry anywhere which was eerie by itself. It meant they had a key or something. The house wasn't trashed like it should have been.
It wasn't like you see in those movies where everything is thrown everywhere. Things were neatly placed to the side and nothing was broken. It was almost as if things were merely pushed to the side in search for ones keys. No, that wasn't why things were disturbed and out of their place. There was a bigger reason.
"Where are they?" Dawn, being the bravest one to break the eerie uncomfortable silence that fell over the group upon stepping inside the house, said.
"They could have escaped. I mean it's a definite possibility. It could happen." Xander said with false optimism.
"Either that or Spike, Angel and that nice green demon are being dissected by the government." Anya said.
The group turned to give her death glares.
"What I'm merely stating that it could happen. We should be prepared for the worst." Anya said defensively.
"Anya, however untactful and bluntly said, may have a point." Giles said.
"So we go to wherever the Initiative guys are and attack. Guns blazing. Whatever it takes." Faith said.
"It's not that simple. We don't even know where the Initiative has set up camp. And what if we go there and they don't even have Spike, Angel and Lorne captive. We'd be playing right into there hands." Wesley said.
"Wesley's right. We don't have any idea what these government guys have in store." Fred said.
"Right now would be a good time for you to have one of those ever so helpful visions, Cordy." Gunn said.
"I can't just turn them off and on. They don't work that way." Cordy said.
"Well we're running out of ideas here. I could probably track dad's scent, but its guesswork. Especially if they took the sewers." Connor said.
"Buff, what are we going to do?" Xander asked watching Buffy stare transfixed at one of Spike's shirts.
She seemed lost which was understandable. To have Spike back and then to lose him in mere hours had to be devastating. Suddenly Buffy turned around, walked purposefully over to Maddy and grabbed her by the neck.
"Where are they?" Buffy asked with a menacing glare and anger clear in her voice.
"I don't know." Maddy chocked out.
"Don't lie to me."
"Hey you think I would lie to someone who's chocking the life out of me." Maddy said and Buffy let go of her.
Maddy's hands went to her neck and she rubbed the tender flesh softly.
"I seriously don't know where they are. I can't tell where they went. Simple locator spell could figure it out. Didn't need to go chocking me." Maddy said.
"Why were you talking to the enemy? That looks suspicious." Buffy said.
"Brian maybe our enemy, but he's still... ... ..." Maddy wasn't sure what to say.
Technically he was still her husband and on some level he was still a friend, but what was he actually.
"He's still what." Buffy asked.
"He's still somewhat of a friend." Maddy said.
"Buffy's right. You're friends with the enemy. That does look suspicious." Xander said.
"I'm sure Maddy's got a good reason." Connor said feeling a weird surge to stick up for the only real friend he had. Maddy smiled slightly at him.
"It's okay Connor. Story of my life's a bit tangled and long. You sure you want to get into it right now or do you want to find Spike, Angel and Lorne." Maddy asked.
"How about just the cliff notes version. Just so we know we can trust you." Dawn asked.
"Dawn I hardly think the coven would send us Maddy if she wasn't trustworthy." Giles said.
"Yeah but do they know that for sure. Buffy said she was talking with the guy who knocked Spike out in the first place. Doesn't sound exactly right." Xander said.
"Okay you want to know. Fine I'll tell you. Brian used to be part of my coven and we were friends. He just... ... ... he was telling me goodbye." Maddy said.
Buffy looked at her for a few minutes before saying, "Okay if you say so. So you should do the locator spell. It's been awhile and the Initiative could still be after them." Buffy said.
"Got any supplies."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Nice place you got here. I thought you guys said we were going to a crypt." Lorne said after sitting down on one of the many couches in the mansion.
It still looked and smelled the same. The exact same it was almost weird.
"We lied. The house could have been bugged." Angel said.
"Oh well at least you were thinking ahead of time. You know just in case. Why did we have to take the sewers again?" Lorne asked.
"Won't see us if we take those. Peaches car is a lil' less then inconspicuous." Spike said glancing outside every once in awhile.
"Spike will you sit down. You're making me nauseous. I don't think they followed us." Angel said sitting down on the couch himself.
"You don't know the bloody Initiative like I do. They got those lil' do-hickeys that can sense a vampire's near. 'S been over a year since I seen 'em last and they still had the gadgets." Spike said sounding a little too paranoid.
"They didn't get Buffy or anyone else. They wouldn't harm humans." Angel said.
"Not everyone in that group was human." Spike said.
"Well besides the thrilling fact that everyone might be dead, how long are we going to stay here, because I don't know about you but I could use a Sea Breeze." Lorne said.
"Gettin' pissed sounds like a bloody great idea, but we might be 'ere for awhile." Spike said.
"They'll find us." Angel said.
"How? Sorry Angelcakes, but even with Connor's nose we took the sewers. I doubt he'll be able to track us." Lorne said.
"Even so it probably's best that they can't find us. Might put everyone in danger." Spike said.
"You really think Buffy's going to back off when she knows you might be in trouble. Doesn't seem like Buffy." Angel said.
"Well the best thing we can do is wait and see what happens. She'll probably get the littl' witch to do some sort of spell." Spike said.
"Yeah so there's nothing to fear. They'll find us soon enough and things will be great. I mean what's the worst that can happen." Lorne said.
Angel and Spike groaned loudly and Angel lightly tapped Lorne on the arm.
"Ow, what was that for." Lorne asked.
"Rule numero uno for life on the Hellmouth: never ever say 'what's the worst that can happen'. It's the biggest jinx ever." Spike said.
"You do realize you just sounded like Xander Harris, right." Angel asked.
"Yeah and it's a good thing I can't throw up." Spike said.
"Oh come on that can't be as bad as you say it is." Lorne said.
"Ever live on the Hellmouth, mate. Bad things always happen when you think it can't get any worse. Murphy's Law or some bloody bullshit like that." Spike said.
"It's a pretty bad thing to say Lorne." Angel said.
"So if anything bad happens we'll jus' blame you." Spike said with a big grin plastered on his face.
"Oh lucky me."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You got everything set up." Buffy asked leaning over Maddy's shoulder and dubiously watching her every move.
"I would if you allowed me a little more room to move." Maddy said.
"Sorry for the overcautious attitude, but it's a must." Buffy said.
"Yeah I bet it is. Sure I got everything set up. Going to need something of Spike's, Angel's and Lorne's." Maddy said.
"I don't remember locator spells entailing some much detail." Wesley said watching from a corner of the kitchen.
Everyone was a bit hostile towards Maddy.
"It's not your basic locator spell. Something with a little more oomph." Maddy said pouring a green powder into the bubbling pot.
"As long as it gets the guys back I'm cool with it. Who knows where they are." Cordy said.
"In a few minutes, I will. Stuff." Maddy said.
"Right well I found something of Spike's and something of Lorne's although I don't think he's going to be to happy about us ruining one of his shirts. Angel doesn't seem to have that much clothes." Fred said holding up to shirts that contrasted greatly.
"Angel has to have clothes. I mean he knew he was going to be here awhile." Xander said.
"You'd be surprised how often he can wear the same thing for days." Cordy said.
"I didn't want to ruin what little clothes he had." Fred said.
"Just give my Spike's shirt. Spell won't work on Lorne 'cause... ... ... it won't. Still need somethin of Angel's." Maddy said. Fred handed her Spike's shirt.
"Well can it work with just the one things. I mean you don't have to do the oomph. Just a regular spell would be nice for once." Dawn said.
"Connor come here for a sec." Maddy said.
"Huh, why?" Connor said a little confused by Maddy's sudden change of the subject.
"Just do it."
Connor, grudgingly, made his way over to the stove.
"Okay so what?" He asked.
Maddy lifted her hand and pulled out a few strands of his hair.
"Ow that hurt more then it should have." Connor said.
"Sorry, need something of Angel's." Maddy said throwing the hairs into the pot along with the shirt.
"Oh I know what you're doing. Question is why are you doing it?" Anya asked.
"I like to be overcautious." Maddy said.
"For those of us who have to use magic for dummies what is she doing?" Xander asked.
"Simple spell really. It's more of a potion. God it's been awhile since I've seen a potion. It's really rare too. Simple but rare. Only upper level witches or powerful demons can manage to pull it off right." Anya babbled.
"Okay we got it. It's beaucoup de'mojo. What the hell does it do." Faith said.
"I was getting to that part. It's a spell that was made up by some demons as a counter-counter spell. See it's for the counter spell to the 'Essence of the demon'." Anya said.
"Sounds like a really bad cologne." Gunn said.
"Essence of the demon. I remember that. I got to read minds. The counter spell involved the no-mouth demon's heart. There's a counter spell to counter spells?" Buffy asked.
"There's a rumor that such spells and potions exist, but I've never seen one actually performed." Giles said taking off his glasses and beginning to clean them.
"So how does this thing, potion, spell whatever work. I mean this cologne thing sounds a little weird." Gunn said.
"It's not a cologne. You gain something from the demon if you come in contact with its blood." Wesley said.
"Ew like horns." Fred said.
"No you get the ability to read minds. Or at least that's what it was last time." Cordy said.
"Wait if this little potion needs demon hearts or whatever where are we going to get that. I mean they don't show up in magic stores do they." Xander asked.
"No it won't need the heart. Little blood from the spell caster maybe, but no hearts. See the demons use this potion to communicate with those that are lost. Their telekinesis can only go so far." Anya said.
"So what they drink the potion and they can read the person's thoughts. That's slightly intrusive." Fred said.
"It works both ways actually. It's like that thing Willow used to do with us when we were fighting demons while Buffy was dead." Anya said.
"Oh, well, so why use it now." Xander asked.
"That's what I was trying to figure out." Anya said.
Everyone turned his or her attention to Maddy who was currently making a deep cut in her palm and squeezing the blood into the pot.
"This place has a magic force around it. They can hear us." Maddy said.
"Oh now you tell us." Dawn said.
"Sorry, but I was trying to concentrate on how to make this potion. It's been awhile." Maddy said.
"So you don't know if it's going to work." Buffy asked.
"Should work just right. Just been awhile." Maddy said.
"Okay so there's a magic force around us. Still doesn't explain the over use of magic. I mean why can't we just do the locator spell. It would be faster." Dawn said.
"Because the magic field around us can tap into the magic used..."
"Being able to tell that we did a locator spell and follow us or tap into the spells core using it to find the guys themselves." Anya said.
"Potion's really the only way to go. Can't tap into the magic. And what makes you think that if they didn't magic this place they also didn't use the magic of science to bug it or put up little video cameras." Maddy said.
"Okay so we're basically sitting ducks. Why go after Spike, Angel and Lorne. We've got some pretty powerful people here." Gunn said.
"They're the Initiative. They go after demons." Xander said.
"No, that can't be it. There has to be a reason. It doesn't fit." Buffy said.
"Okay, B, don't bite my head off for suggesting it, but maybe they went after them to get to you. I mean they could use Spike as leverage to get you to agree to let them help." Faith said.
"Faith may be right." Wesley said.
Faith flashed a proud smile.
P
"Then why go after Angel and Lorne at the same time." Xander asked.
"Because they were here." Cordy said.
"No, that would be too messy." Buffy said.
"Messy, but practical if need be. I mean it would be hard to get Spike separated from the group. Three people are easier to take on then a whole group." Anya said.
"But why wait until Spike was alone with someone as strong as Angel. Angel wouldn't have any problems taking on humans." Gunn said.
"Maybe they have some super enhanced vampire formula that could disable them quickly so they were confident that they would be able to take Angel out." Fred said.
"Could be although I've never heard of anything like that." Wesley said.
"They knew Buffy would stop them so they waited until Spike was alone with just two others. Makes sense. So they might have them." Dawn said.
"Goes along with the it might be a trap theory." Xander said.
P
"We don't know what the situation is. I suggest that we just do the spell and figure out the rest later." Giles said.
"But it's still possible they want to use Lorne, Spike and dad as some sort of science project. We don't know why they went after them so let's just stop making all these crazed stories and just find them already." Connor said in an aggravated voice.
"How's the potion coming along?" Buffy asked.
"It's done. Just a few sips and we see if it worked." Maddy said.
"You going to drink it?"
"No I can't. My blood was poured into it so there's like a consequence if I drink it. It's got to be someone else." Maddy said.
"Someone else was to drink the maybe fatal potion. I don't think that's a job I want to sign on for." Gunn said.
"I'll do it." Buffy said.
"Yeah see I'm confident but not so confident. Maybe someone who's not super chick should drink it. You know, just to be sure." Maddy said.
"I'm not going to let someone else die if it's fatal." Buffy said.
"Not so much fatal as paralyzing. Quick fix, but the potion takes a week or so to make. Seriously someone else should do it." Maddy said.
"We could draw straws." Dawn said.
"No straws for you Dawnie. Too dangerous. Besides you have to go to school." Xander said.
"Okay the adults can draw straws." Dawn said.
"I'll do it." Connor said.
"I'm not sure I want to incur Angel's wrath by poisoning his son." Maddy said.
"So straws it is. Dawn and Connor won't do it though." Cordy said.
"Okay I'll get the straws." Dawn said walking over to the drawers.
"Well, good luck to everyone. I hope that one of you draws the straw that might lead to devastating paralysis." Anya said.
"Way to rally the troops." Faith said.
"I try."
"Okay so here are the straws. Everyone draw." Dawn said holding the straws out to the group of people who could drink the potion.
"Woo okay I didn't get the short one." Gunn said after the group had already grabbed all the straws.
"Yeah me neither." Fred said.
"Safe to say I didn't." Wesley said.
"Nope not here either." Cordy said.
"No short straw here." Faith said.
"Good neither did I." Anya said.
"That leaves…"
"Me." Xander said holding up the short straw and looking at it as if it were a bomb.
"Oh that... well that sucks." Faith said.
"Tell me about it. Okay so I guess I get to drink the potion of devastating paralysis." Xander said taking a gulp.
"Xander you don't have to do that. I could still..."
"No Buff, it's okay. I can be a man about it." Xander said.
"If you're sure." Buffy said.
"Definitely. Hand me this potion Maddy." Xander said with false bravado.
Maddy handed him a cup of greenish bluish liquid.
"Here goes nothing." Xander said pressing the cup to his lips and gulping down the liquid.
The instant the potion hit his throat Xander felt a weird warming sensation. Not burning like when he drank his first shot of tequila. This was a nice warm tingling feeling that went through his head. It didn't hurt one bit. In fact he felt a little glowy, but not in the radioactive sort of way.
He couldn't even taste the potion, which he had thought would have a really foul taste according to its color. It was as if air was passing through his lips and the only way he could tell he was drinking something was the wet feeling it left. Xander drank until the whole thing was gone and then carefully placed the empty cup on the kitchen counter.
"So did it work." Xander asked.
"I think so. You were giving off a little light." Maddy said.
"I felt glowy. Is that a good thing or not?"
"Well, considering you're not paralyzed I'd say it was a good thing." Anya said.
"So what now?" Xander asked.
"You concentrate on hearing either Spike or Angel's thoughts. Shouldn't be too hard. It should be as loud as if they were in the same room with you and they were talking." Maddy said.
"Okay I think I can handle that. I mean it should be no problem. So here I go." Xander said shutting his eyes and trying his hardest to concentrate on anything that sounded like Angel or Spike.
It only took a few seconds before he heard something. Maddy was right. It was as if they were in the same room and they were yelling.
God if Spike doesn't stop pacing right now, Sire bond be damned, I'm going to stake him. How many times have I told him to stop it? How am I supposed to think when he's pacing around like that. It's distracting.
Peaches looks right pissed. Maybe I should stop pacing. I can't though. Why 'aven't the Scoobies sent off a warning signal yet? Are they okay? 'S only common courtesy to send some sort of message. Great I'm gonna go bloody insane.
Geez he's like the energizer bunny. He just keeps going and going and going...
And then what if Buffy's hurt and they're captured by Red and the whole world ends...
And going and going and going and going and going and going and going...
Or what if the Initiative wankers 'ave 'em held hostage and I'm not there to kill them.
"Okay how do I turn them off." Xander said.
"You have to get into their minds. Think something and they should here it." Maddy said.
"Yeah something like this is Xander Harris and I'm just wandering where you guys are. If you get this message think back the answer." Anya said.
"Helpful very helpful." Xander said sarcastically.
"Just think something they wouldn't normally think. That way they don't think they're crazy or that it's their thought." Cordy said.
"Okay here goes nothing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Spike I'm really serious about the pacing. Cut. It. Out." Angel said.
"'M nervous. Don't blow up on me."
"Then stop pacing."
"Guys let's chill a little. No time to get testy." Lorne said.
"Yeah right. Lorne's right." Angel said.
Spike nodded his head and went back to his pacing.
"Oh for the love of Pete. Stop pacing."
"I can't 'elp it. I pace when 'm nervous."
God I'd kill for a mocha judge sundae the thought appeared in both of the vampire's heads.
What the fuck? both vampires thought at the same time.
Good I've gotten your attention. Now there are no scenarios of death and no talk about energizer bunnies. This is Xander Harris. Now the both of you're probably wondering why Xander Harris is in your brains, well let's just say I drew the short straw and get stuck with the messy work. Just think about where you are and we'll come get you.
"Spike do you hear that too." Angel asked.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure I understand it." Spike said.
"What are you two crazy vampires talking about?" Lorne asked.
"Apparently Xander Harris is in our heads because of something to do with straws." Angel said.
"Well that's not unheard of." Lorne said.
Hello, guys we don't have forever. Now where are you?
"Okay this is totally weird." Spike said.
"Just go with it Spike." Angel said.
"You do it. We both don't need to go exploring the mojo at work here." Spike said.
"Okay I can do it if you're afraid." Angel said.
He closed his eyes and thought about what he'd say.
Xander we're at the mansion. The Initiative guys were after us so we took off. Should we just stay where we are or come back?
"That wasn't so hard. He should reply back in any moment." Angel said.
"Explain to me how the whelp being inside our heads is a good thing." Spike said.
"Drawing a blank right now, but I'm sure it's better then sitting here watching you pace all night." Angel said.
"Yeah and then I won't have to listen to you two bicker. So did Xander say anything yet?" Lorne asked.
"No they're probably arguing over what to do." Angel said.
Okay here's what's going to go down. Wes and Buffy are going to drive over there to pick you guys up. In fact they already left with Buffy dragging Wesley by the arm. Looked a little harsh. They should be there any moment. Then we'll have a chance to regroup.
Okay, one question. And this is Spike by the way
Hey Deadboy Junior.
Don't push your luck Harris. No chip anymore remember.
You wouldn't hurt me. Buffy would hate you and then you wouldn't be getting any. Ever again. So ask away
When does this neat little parlor trick end?
After about five minutes or so of not answering Spike and Angel started to get worried.
"Okay he's taking a while to answer. That can't be good. This is all you're fault." Spike said pointing to Lorne.
"Me, what did I do." Lorne asked.
"You kind of jinxed us." Angel said.
Hey guys don't get mad at Lorne. Everyone was putting in their input on the subject and it got a little overwhelming. Well it seems that the potion goes until the spell plays out.
And when is that exactly? both vampires thought at the same time.
I have no idea
A/N: Okay now I know you wanna post a review. Do it because it's the right thing to do. Do it also to get the next chapter. Just post a review. I'll be so thrilled if you do.
Chapter 19:
The house was quiet. There were no signs of sound anywhere. It was eerily quiet for a Slayers home. No signs of forced entry anywhere which was eerie by itself. It meant they had a key or something. The house wasn't trashed like it should have been.
It wasn't like you see in those movies where everything is thrown everywhere. Things were neatly placed to the side and nothing was broken. It was almost as if things were merely pushed to the side in search for ones keys. No, that wasn't why things were disturbed and out of their place. There was a bigger reason.
"Where are they?" Dawn, being the bravest one to break the eerie uncomfortable silence that fell over the group upon stepping inside the house, said.
"They could have escaped. I mean it's a definite possibility. It could happen." Xander said with false optimism.
"Either that or Spike, Angel and that nice green demon are being dissected by the government." Anya said.
The group turned to give her death glares.
"What I'm merely stating that it could happen. We should be prepared for the worst." Anya said defensively.
"Anya, however untactful and bluntly said, may have a point." Giles said.
"So we go to wherever the Initiative guys are and attack. Guns blazing. Whatever it takes." Faith said.
"It's not that simple. We don't even know where the Initiative has set up camp. And what if we go there and they don't even have Spike, Angel and Lorne captive. We'd be playing right into there hands." Wesley said.
"Wesley's right. We don't have any idea what these government guys have in store." Fred said.
"Right now would be a good time for you to have one of those ever so helpful visions, Cordy." Gunn said.
"I can't just turn them off and on. They don't work that way." Cordy said.
"Well we're running out of ideas here. I could probably track dad's scent, but its guesswork. Especially if they took the sewers." Connor said.
"Buff, what are we going to do?" Xander asked watching Buffy stare transfixed at one of Spike's shirts.
She seemed lost which was understandable. To have Spike back and then to lose him in mere hours had to be devastating. Suddenly Buffy turned around, walked purposefully over to Maddy and grabbed her by the neck.
"Where are they?" Buffy asked with a menacing glare and anger clear in her voice.
"I don't know." Maddy chocked out.
"Don't lie to me."
"Hey you think I would lie to someone who's chocking the life out of me." Maddy said and Buffy let go of her.
Maddy's hands went to her neck and she rubbed the tender flesh softly.
"I seriously don't know where they are. I can't tell where they went. Simple locator spell could figure it out. Didn't need to go chocking me." Maddy said.
"Why were you talking to the enemy? That looks suspicious." Buffy said.
"Brian maybe our enemy, but he's still... ... ..." Maddy wasn't sure what to say.
Technically he was still her husband and on some level he was still a friend, but what was he actually.
"He's still what." Buffy asked.
"He's still somewhat of a friend." Maddy said.
"Buffy's right. You're friends with the enemy. That does look suspicious." Xander said.
"I'm sure Maddy's got a good reason." Connor said feeling a weird surge to stick up for the only real friend he had. Maddy smiled slightly at him.
"It's okay Connor. Story of my life's a bit tangled and long. You sure you want to get into it right now or do you want to find Spike, Angel and Lorne." Maddy asked.
"How about just the cliff notes version. Just so we know we can trust you." Dawn asked.
"Dawn I hardly think the coven would send us Maddy if she wasn't trustworthy." Giles said.
"Yeah but do they know that for sure. Buffy said she was talking with the guy who knocked Spike out in the first place. Doesn't sound exactly right." Xander said.
"Okay you want to know. Fine I'll tell you. Brian used to be part of my coven and we were friends. He just... ... ... he was telling me goodbye." Maddy said.
Buffy looked at her for a few minutes before saying, "Okay if you say so. So you should do the locator spell. It's been awhile and the Initiative could still be after them." Buffy said.
"Got any supplies."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Nice place you got here. I thought you guys said we were going to a crypt." Lorne said after sitting down on one of the many couches in the mansion.
It still looked and smelled the same. The exact same it was almost weird.
"We lied. The house could have been bugged." Angel said.
"Oh well at least you were thinking ahead of time. You know just in case. Why did we have to take the sewers again?" Lorne asked.
"Won't see us if we take those. Peaches car is a lil' less then inconspicuous." Spike said glancing outside every once in awhile.
"Spike will you sit down. You're making me nauseous. I don't think they followed us." Angel said sitting down on the couch himself.
"You don't know the bloody Initiative like I do. They got those lil' do-hickeys that can sense a vampire's near. 'S been over a year since I seen 'em last and they still had the gadgets." Spike said sounding a little too paranoid.
"They didn't get Buffy or anyone else. They wouldn't harm humans." Angel said.
"Not everyone in that group was human." Spike said.
"Well besides the thrilling fact that everyone might be dead, how long are we going to stay here, because I don't know about you but I could use a Sea Breeze." Lorne said.
"Gettin' pissed sounds like a bloody great idea, but we might be 'ere for awhile." Spike said.
"They'll find us." Angel said.
"How? Sorry Angelcakes, but even with Connor's nose we took the sewers. I doubt he'll be able to track us." Lorne said.
"Even so it probably's best that they can't find us. Might put everyone in danger." Spike said.
"You really think Buffy's going to back off when she knows you might be in trouble. Doesn't seem like Buffy." Angel said.
"Well the best thing we can do is wait and see what happens. She'll probably get the littl' witch to do some sort of spell." Spike said.
"Yeah so there's nothing to fear. They'll find us soon enough and things will be great. I mean what's the worst that can happen." Lorne said.
Angel and Spike groaned loudly and Angel lightly tapped Lorne on the arm.
"Ow, what was that for." Lorne asked.
"Rule numero uno for life on the Hellmouth: never ever say 'what's the worst that can happen'. It's the biggest jinx ever." Spike said.
"You do realize you just sounded like Xander Harris, right." Angel asked.
"Yeah and it's a good thing I can't throw up." Spike said.
"Oh come on that can't be as bad as you say it is." Lorne said.
"Ever live on the Hellmouth, mate. Bad things always happen when you think it can't get any worse. Murphy's Law or some bloody bullshit like that." Spike said.
"It's a pretty bad thing to say Lorne." Angel said.
"So if anything bad happens we'll jus' blame you." Spike said with a big grin plastered on his face.
"Oh lucky me."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You got everything set up." Buffy asked leaning over Maddy's shoulder and dubiously watching her every move.
"I would if you allowed me a little more room to move." Maddy said.
"Sorry for the overcautious attitude, but it's a must." Buffy said.
"Yeah I bet it is. Sure I got everything set up. Going to need something of Spike's, Angel's and Lorne's." Maddy said.
"I don't remember locator spells entailing some much detail." Wesley said watching from a corner of the kitchen.
Everyone was a bit hostile towards Maddy.
"It's not your basic locator spell. Something with a little more oomph." Maddy said pouring a green powder into the bubbling pot.
"As long as it gets the guys back I'm cool with it. Who knows where they are." Cordy said.
"In a few minutes, I will. Stuff." Maddy said.
"Right well I found something of Spike's and something of Lorne's although I don't think he's going to be to happy about us ruining one of his shirts. Angel doesn't seem to have that much clothes." Fred said holding up to shirts that contrasted greatly.
"Angel has to have clothes. I mean he knew he was going to be here awhile." Xander said.
"You'd be surprised how often he can wear the same thing for days." Cordy said.
"I didn't want to ruin what little clothes he had." Fred said.
"Just give my Spike's shirt. Spell won't work on Lorne 'cause... ... ... it won't. Still need somethin of Angel's." Maddy said. Fred handed her Spike's shirt.
"Well can it work with just the one things. I mean you don't have to do the oomph. Just a regular spell would be nice for once." Dawn said.
"Connor come here for a sec." Maddy said.
"Huh, why?" Connor said a little confused by Maddy's sudden change of the subject.
"Just do it."
Connor, grudgingly, made his way over to the stove.
"Okay so what?" He asked.
Maddy lifted her hand and pulled out a few strands of his hair.
"Ow that hurt more then it should have." Connor said.
"Sorry, need something of Angel's." Maddy said throwing the hairs into the pot along with the shirt.
"Oh I know what you're doing. Question is why are you doing it?" Anya asked.
"I like to be overcautious." Maddy said.
"For those of us who have to use magic for dummies what is she doing?" Xander asked.
"Simple spell really. It's more of a potion. God it's been awhile since I've seen a potion. It's really rare too. Simple but rare. Only upper level witches or powerful demons can manage to pull it off right." Anya babbled.
"Okay we got it. It's beaucoup de'mojo. What the hell does it do." Faith said.
"I was getting to that part. It's a spell that was made up by some demons as a counter-counter spell. See it's for the counter spell to the 'Essence of the demon'." Anya said.
"Sounds like a really bad cologne." Gunn said.
"Essence of the demon. I remember that. I got to read minds. The counter spell involved the no-mouth demon's heart. There's a counter spell to counter spells?" Buffy asked.
"There's a rumor that such spells and potions exist, but I've never seen one actually performed." Giles said taking off his glasses and beginning to clean them.
"So how does this thing, potion, spell whatever work. I mean this cologne thing sounds a little weird." Gunn said.
"It's not a cologne. You gain something from the demon if you come in contact with its blood." Wesley said.
"Ew like horns." Fred said.
"No you get the ability to read minds. Or at least that's what it was last time." Cordy said.
"Wait if this little potion needs demon hearts or whatever where are we going to get that. I mean they don't show up in magic stores do they." Xander asked.
"No it won't need the heart. Little blood from the spell caster maybe, but no hearts. See the demons use this potion to communicate with those that are lost. Their telekinesis can only go so far." Anya said.
"So what they drink the potion and they can read the person's thoughts. That's slightly intrusive." Fred said.
"It works both ways actually. It's like that thing Willow used to do with us when we were fighting demons while Buffy was dead." Anya said.
"Oh, well, so why use it now." Xander asked.
"That's what I was trying to figure out." Anya said.
Everyone turned his or her attention to Maddy who was currently making a deep cut in her palm and squeezing the blood into the pot.
"This place has a magic force around it. They can hear us." Maddy said.
"Oh now you tell us." Dawn said.
"Sorry, but I was trying to concentrate on how to make this potion. It's been awhile." Maddy said.
"So you don't know if it's going to work." Buffy asked.
"Should work just right. Just been awhile." Maddy said.
"Okay so there's a magic force around us. Still doesn't explain the over use of magic. I mean why can't we just do the locator spell. It would be faster." Dawn said.
"Because the magic field around us can tap into the magic used..."
"Being able to tell that we did a locator spell and follow us or tap into the spells core using it to find the guys themselves." Anya said.
"Potion's really the only way to go. Can't tap into the magic. And what makes you think that if they didn't magic this place they also didn't use the magic of science to bug it or put up little video cameras." Maddy said.
"Okay so we're basically sitting ducks. Why go after Spike, Angel and Lorne. We've got some pretty powerful people here." Gunn said.
"They're the Initiative. They go after demons." Xander said.
"No, that can't be it. There has to be a reason. It doesn't fit." Buffy said.
"Okay, B, don't bite my head off for suggesting it, but maybe they went after them to get to you. I mean they could use Spike as leverage to get you to agree to let them help." Faith said.
"Faith may be right." Wesley said.
Faith flashed a proud smile.
P
"Then why go after Angel and Lorne at the same time." Xander asked.
"Because they were here." Cordy said.
"No, that would be too messy." Buffy said.
"Messy, but practical if need be. I mean it would be hard to get Spike separated from the group. Three people are easier to take on then a whole group." Anya said.
"But why wait until Spike was alone with someone as strong as Angel. Angel wouldn't have any problems taking on humans." Gunn said.
"Maybe they have some super enhanced vampire formula that could disable them quickly so they were confident that they would be able to take Angel out." Fred said.
"Could be although I've never heard of anything like that." Wesley said.
"They knew Buffy would stop them so they waited until Spike was alone with just two others. Makes sense. So they might have them." Dawn said.
"Goes along with the it might be a trap theory." Xander said.
P
"We don't know what the situation is. I suggest that we just do the spell and figure out the rest later." Giles said.
"But it's still possible they want to use Lorne, Spike and dad as some sort of science project. We don't know why they went after them so let's just stop making all these crazed stories and just find them already." Connor said in an aggravated voice.
"How's the potion coming along?" Buffy asked.
"It's done. Just a few sips and we see if it worked." Maddy said.
"You going to drink it?"
"No I can't. My blood was poured into it so there's like a consequence if I drink it. It's got to be someone else." Maddy said.
"Someone else was to drink the maybe fatal potion. I don't think that's a job I want to sign on for." Gunn said.
"I'll do it." Buffy said.
"Yeah see I'm confident but not so confident. Maybe someone who's not super chick should drink it. You know, just to be sure." Maddy said.
"I'm not going to let someone else die if it's fatal." Buffy said.
"Not so much fatal as paralyzing. Quick fix, but the potion takes a week or so to make. Seriously someone else should do it." Maddy said.
"We could draw straws." Dawn said.
"No straws for you Dawnie. Too dangerous. Besides you have to go to school." Xander said.
"Okay the adults can draw straws." Dawn said.
"I'll do it." Connor said.
"I'm not sure I want to incur Angel's wrath by poisoning his son." Maddy said.
"So straws it is. Dawn and Connor won't do it though." Cordy said.
"Okay I'll get the straws." Dawn said walking over to the drawers.
"Well, good luck to everyone. I hope that one of you draws the straw that might lead to devastating paralysis." Anya said.
"Way to rally the troops." Faith said.
"I try."
"Okay so here are the straws. Everyone draw." Dawn said holding the straws out to the group of people who could drink the potion.
"Woo okay I didn't get the short one." Gunn said after the group had already grabbed all the straws.
"Yeah me neither." Fred said.
"Safe to say I didn't." Wesley said.
"Nope not here either." Cordy said.
"No short straw here." Faith said.
"Good neither did I." Anya said.
"That leaves…"
"Me." Xander said holding up the short straw and looking at it as if it were a bomb.
"Oh that... well that sucks." Faith said.
"Tell me about it. Okay so I guess I get to drink the potion of devastating paralysis." Xander said taking a gulp.
"Xander you don't have to do that. I could still..."
"No Buff, it's okay. I can be a man about it." Xander said.
"If you're sure." Buffy said.
"Definitely. Hand me this potion Maddy." Xander said with false bravado.
Maddy handed him a cup of greenish bluish liquid.
"Here goes nothing." Xander said pressing the cup to his lips and gulping down the liquid.
The instant the potion hit his throat Xander felt a weird warming sensation. Not burning like when he drank his first shot of tequila. This was a nice warm tingling feeling that went through his head. It didn't hurt one bit. In fact he felt a little glowy, but not in the radioactive sort of way.
He couldn't even taste the potion, which he had thought would have a really foul taste according to its color. It was as if air was passing through his lips and the only way he could tell he was drinking something was the wet feeling it left. Xander drank until the whole thing was gone and then carefully placed the empty cup on the kitchen counter.
"So did it work." Xander asked.
"I think so. You were giving off a little light." Maddy said.
"I felt glowy. Is that a good thing or not?"
"Well, considering you're not paralyzed I'd say it was a good thing." Anya said.
"So what now?" Xander asked.
"You concentrate on hearing either Spike or Angel's thoughts. Shouldn't be too hard. It should be as loud as if they were in the same room with you and they were talking." Maddy said.
"Okay I think I can handle that. I mean it should be no problem. So here I go." Xander said shutting his eyes and trying his hardest to concentrate on anything that sounded like Angel or Spike.
It only took a few seconds before he heard something. Maddy was right. It was as if they were in the same room and they were yelling.
God if Spike doesn't stop pacing right now, Sire bond be damned, I'm going to stake him. How many times have I told him to stop it? How am I supposed to think when he's pacing around like that. It's distracting.
Peaches looks right pissed. Maybe I should stop pacing. I can't though. Why 'aven't the Scoobies sent off a warning signal yet? Are they okay? 'S only common courtesy to send some sort of message. Great I'm gonna go bloody insane.
Geez he's like the energizer bunny. He just keeps going and going and going...
And then what if Buffy's hurt and they're captured by Red and the whole world ends...
And going and going and going and going and going and going and going...
Or what if the Initiative wankers 'ave 'em held hostage and I'm not there to kill them.
"Okay how do I turn them off." Xander said.
"You have to get into their minds. Think something and they should here it." Maddy said.
"Yeah something like this is Xander Harris and I'm just wandering where you guys are. If you get this message think back the answer." Anya said.
"Helpful very helpful." Xander said sarcastically.
"Just think something they wouldn't normally think. That way they don't think they're crazy or that it's their thought." Cordy said.
"Okay here goes nothing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Spike I'm really serious about the pacing. Cut. It. Out." Angel said.
"'M nervous. Don't blow up on me."
"Then stop pacing."
"Guys let's chill a little. No time to get testy." Lorne said.
"Yeah right. Lorne's right." Angel said.
Spike nodded his head and went back to his pacing.
"Oh for the love of Pete. Stop pacing."
"I can't 'elp it. I pace when 'm nervous."
God I'd kill for a mocha judge sundae the thought appeared in both of the vampire's heads.
What the fuck? both vampires thought at the same time.
Good I've gotten your attention. Now there are no scenarios of death and no talk about energizer bunnies. This is Xander Harris. Now the both of you're probably wondering why Xander Harris is in your brains, well let's just say I drew the short straw and get stuck with the messy work. Just think about where you are and we'll come get you.
"Spike do you hear that too." Angel asked.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure I understand it." Spike said.
"What are you two crazy vampires talking about?" Lorne asked.
"Apparently Xander Harris is in our heads because of something to do with straws." Angel said.
"Well that's not unheard of." Lorne said.
Hello, guys we don't have forever. Now where are you?
"Okay this is totally weird." Spike said.
"Just go with it Spike." Angel said.
"You do it. We both don't need to go exploring the mojo at work here." Spike said.
"Okay I can do it if you're afraid." Angel said.
He closed his eyes and thought about what he'd say.
Xander we're at the mansion. The Initiative guys were after us so we took off. Should we just stay where we are or come back?
"That wasn't so hard. He should reply back in any moment." Angel said.
"Explain to me how the whelp being inside our heads is a good thing." Spike said.
"Drawing a blank right now, but I'm sure it's better then sitting here watching you pace all night." Angel said.
"Yeah and then I won't have to listen to you two bicker. So did Xander say anything yet?" Lorne asked.
"No they're probably arguing over what to do." Angel said.
Okay here's what's going to go down. Wes and Buffy are going to drive over there to pick you guys up. In fact they already left with Buffy dragging Wesley by the arm. Looked a little harsh. They should be there any moment. Then we'll have a chance to regroup.
Okay, one question. And this is Spike by the way
Hey Deadboy Junior.
Don't push your luck Harris. No chip anymore remember.
You wouldn't hurt me. Buffy would hate you and then you wouldn't be getting any. Ever again. So ask away
When does this neat little parlor trick end?
After about five minutes or so of not answering Spike and Angel started to get worried.
"Okay he's taking a while to answer. That can't be good. This is all you're fault." Spike said pointing to Lorne.
"Me, what did I do." Lorne asked.
"You kind of jinxed us." Angel said.
Hey guys don't get mad at Lorne. Everyone was putting in their input on the subject and it got a little overwhelming. Well it seems that the potion goes until the spell plays out.
And when is that exactly? both vampires thought at the same time.
I have no idea
A/N: Okay now I know you wanna post a review. Do it because it's the right thing to do. Do it also to get the next chapter. Just post a review. I'll be so thrilled if you do.
