The gang glared at Spike angrily and cautiously, waiting for him to say what he had to say. Buffy could tell they were very uncomfortable with him in there, she felt the same. Giles, Willow, Xander, and Cordelia sat at the table together, keeping their distance. Buffy stood close by to make sure Spike didn't try anything.

"Yeah, well, lovely to see you lot again as well." Spike said uncomfortably.

"You're on borrowed time, Spike, alive by our sufferance. Perhaps you ought to skip the pleasantries." Giles warned.

"Right, if that's the way it is. So much for manners, eh Giles? Something tells me you've been in America too long." when no one responded, Spike continued. "Here's the deal. A big bad Old One by the name of Laibach is attempting to build a bridge between his tropical paradise of a demon dimension and our little plane of existence here. He plans to lead an army of demons into this world. Laibach needed the Master's expertise in opening dimensional portals and the Dreamers to alter reality and physically create the bridge to bring back Laibach's boys over to our side."

"And you've been errand boy this whole time." Buffy commented.

"Truth? I'm about as keen on Laibach's little plan as I was on Angelus's plot to let Acathla run amuck. The main reason I'm doing this is because Laibach has Dru in some kind of trance, and if I don't help, he'll take her lovely, fragile dove of a mind and put it through a blender. But I don't like being a lap dog. And since the Master's been back, things have gone from bad to badder as far as I'm concerned. The Master may be my great-great-grandsire, but the guy is a complete tosser and I don't trust him as far as YOU can throw him. Of course it doesn't help matters much that he now gels his hair, if you catch my meaning."

"So now you want to throw in with us, and I'm just supposed to trust you. You're betraying your allies NOW. Explain to me again why that should inspire confidence." Buffy said.

"Best reason in the world, Slayer, because they're the bad guys. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, remember? Look, I'll lead you to the Master's lair and lend a hand with the fisticuffs, and, in return, you help me rescue Dru. Then we'll be off again, out of your hair."

"If I agree, you don't touch Angel either. We're going to exorcise the Master from him."

"Fine with me. But in that case the Watcher and little Willow here are gonna have to whip up a special elixir or something witchy for me and Dru. In Casper mode, the Master has the power to possess any vampire in his bloodline, which includes the both of us, yeah?"

"Willow and I have just completed a spell of protection for Angel that should work equally for the two of you." Giles spoke up.

"See, knew it'll be no problem. Red's got that mojo working overtime these days. So, it's a deal then?"

"I haven't forgotten what happened the last time I trusted you. Double-cross us again, and I'll put both you and your psycho flower-child girlfriend in an urn." Buffy warned.

"Whatever happened to taking a man for his word?" Spike asked.

"You're not a man."

"Anyways, just make sure that protection spell of yours is working. I don't want that ugly sod dancing around in the Big Bad's head."

"Tell you what. As a show of good faith, I'll take point and trounce as many of the guards that I can on the way."

"Works for me, Slayer."

"You'd better not get in the way, Spike." she warned.

"I lend you my expertise in death and destruction, you lend me a hand in getting my Dru back, simple as that."

"Yeah, sure, whatever. But here's what I don't understand. I killed one of the Dreamers. How's the Master going to build this bridge?"

"He and his chum Laibach are planning on creating something called the Deglon Sphere. Way I understand it, it's got something to do with amplifying the powers of the surviving Dreamers."

Not good she thought.

She turned to Giles, who was still sitting at the table with the rest of the gang listening to her conversation with Spike.

"Giles, you know that old saying, "better the devil you know than the devil you don't?" What happens when you know them all, and way too well?" she asked him.

"Distasteful as it is to align ourselves with Spike, it does seem to be the sensible course of action. As long as we keep our priorities straight. The most vital element of our attack must be the disruption of Laibach's spell to augment the power of the remaining Dreamers. Everything else is secondary."

"Everything else?"

"Everything. The rescue of Drusilla, even Angel's safety. Reality as we know it hangs in the balance."

"Doesn't it always?"

She turned to Willow

"So you're with the spell to get the Master out of Angel?" Buffy asked her.

"Angel's probably fighting him already, but he's going to need you to give him an edge."

"Fine, what do I have to do?" she asked.

"Well, okay, it really wouldn't hurt if you, maybe kicked his ass a little? You need to weaken the Master's hold on him."

"Great. So, when we get to the hideout, the four of you will follow Spike, I'll search for the Master." Buffy ordered.

"What are you looking at me for? Haven't I done enough already?" Cordelia protested. "I twisted my ankle, I'm bruised and battered, and I broke a nail. I'm gonna have to sit this one out. And I'm real broken up about it too. Now maybe I can go home and meditate on why I wasted my whole night with you people."

Giles sighed and spoke up.

"Fine, Xander, Willow, and I will follow close behind Spike. Cordelia, you go home. When the moment arrives, we'll help to free Drusilla."

Everybody rose up from the desk. Xander, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up.

"I'm not sure I like this idea, doesn't my vote count?"

"This isn't a democracy, Xander. It's a Slayer-archy." Buffy replied.

"So you're a tyrant now?"

"No. I'm the girl saving the world from the forces of darkness. Which means if you want to help, you follow the plan."

"World, no world…Hmm, seeing the wisdom in the Slayer-archy suddenly. Though still feel the need to object to trusting Spike and to saving Drusilla. Let's not forget, Drusilla and I have a bit of history, I'd hate for her to get the wrong idea or anything. Remember she was jonesin' for me pretty bad there for awhile."

"That was because a witch put a love spell on her, you silly git." Spike said under clenched teeth.

"So you say, but you didn't see the look in her eyes. I'm thinking it was more than magic that night and…"

"Shut you gob, boy, before I rip your throat out." Spike sneered.

Buffy had to stop it before something broke out.

"Hey! Can we just go?"

"I've been ready." Xander said, shrugging his shoulders.

Giles went into the cage and passed out weapons. Buffy took a crossbow and headed out after Spike. Xander, Willow, and Giles followed. There was no way in hell Buffy was ever going to trust Spike, but tonight she had no choice, if she wanted Angel back. She just hoped they all were making the right decision.