-Warehouse-
Buffy, Angel, Faith, Spike and Wesley sat bored on the railing. Buffy's head was leaning against the metal, "You know, I like dying better then this and that's way boring."
Spike nodded, "Agreed."
Buffy shook her head and stood up. She stared at Angel, "You guys stay up here. I'll go down and check out below. If he attacks up here then there's more of you and if he attacks me down there then you'll jump down after me."
Angel didn't have time to complain as Buffy stood on the other side of the railing now. Spike laughed along, "I like this new you."
Buffy winked before jumping. She landed easily enough and stood instantly on guard. She looked for a few minutes like that until she got out of fighting stance and sighed, "I'm even more bored down here."
Wesley looked curious, "Look around."
Buffy agreed by starting to wonder around. She got closer and closer to the point where she was out of sight finally which made Angel kind of worried. He couldn't help being quiet anymore, "Buffy... Buffy where did you go?"
Buffy sighed and walked back into everyone's view, "There's no one down here."
Faith answered her call first, "Maybe Lilah lied."
Buffy shook her head instantly, "No way. The second I meet this beast there's a chance I could die. Lilah would never pass up a chance to have me killed."
Spike totally changed the subject, "What's her deal anyway? I mean one second you two are all chummy and the next you're tackling her to the floor."
Buffy shrugged, "Lilah and me are like you and Angelus. We hate each other but we'll use each other when we need help."
Angel didn't like talking about Buffy's past like this so he brought them back to reality, "Back to the problem at hand people."
Wesley agreed with the vampire as he yelled down to buffy, "Maybe you should look for something to weaken him."
Angel continued Wesley's sentence, "Yeah, last time we faced him nothing hurt him. There must be something, a key to killing him."
Buffy nodded and started to look around again. It took her a few minutes but she finally came accross a table with a knife made of rock on it. She was kind of drawn to it which defenitely intrigued everyone on the railing. She stared at it for a while until Faith sighed loudly, "Are you kidding? I didn't even stare at the knife the mayor gave me that long before I grabbed it and it was prettier."
Buffy glared at her sister slayer for a few seconds before attempting to grab the knife. She was interrupted by a voice that echoed the whole place, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Buffy instantly stared up at her friends on the railing but was only met by confused faces. She decided best to answer it, "Why not?"
The voice got louder, "It's not what you're looking for."
Buffy continued to stare up at her friends as she talked aimlessly to the voice, "Well I obviously can't see what I am looking for."
The voice laughed and stepped into only Buffy's view. Her face automatically turned towards the giant rock and she started to back up. Although the beast was not visible to everyone else they knew he was there because Buffy backed up a little bit. The beast stopped laughing and stared at buffy, "You can call your little friends down if you want. I know they're there."
Buffy stared at Angel and everyone else which was basically the cue for them to jump down. Angel landed first, then Faith and then Wesley. Right before Spike was about to jump Buffy winked at him and he stayed instantly understanding the slayer's plan. Angel stared at the beast as the rock sized everyone up.
Buffy looked bored again as she also stared at the beast now, "So are we going to fight or just stand in silence until we all die?"
The beast laughed, "Why fight, I already know the outcome."
Buffy stepped forward confident as ever, "I don't think you know who you're talking to. Plus there's this whole deal where it's written that I kill you."
The beast seemed to know what she was talking about, "Looks like your little friends aren't as brainless as I hear they are. You on the other hand seem to be the brainless one."
"You're calling me brainless when your brain's made of rock."
"You walk into a warehouse where you have brought weapons that won't kill me and you've endangered all of your friends at the same time."
Something finally clicked in Buffy's head as she smiled, "Maybe I didn't need to bring anything." Now the beast looked a little worried as the slayer continued, "The evil always goes where the power is."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Buffy started wondering towards the knife again slowly which made the beast nervous and caused him to walk towards the knife also. Buffy gave a quick glance to Spike who nodded and then she looked back at the Beast. Then in a swift move Buffy had the rock knife in her hands and backed up with everybody else. The beast was obviously freaked as he started getting frantic by wving his hands.
Buffy smiled as she waved the knife in front of his face, "You know the first lesson a slayer learns is to never show your enemy your weakness."
The beast ignored her, "You don't know what you're holding, how much power that has."
Buffy walked a little closer which got Angel edgy, "Careful buffy."
The slayer ignored and continued to walk a little ways towards the beast still taunting him with the rock knife, "You want it back don't you? Well I need a little information and I've always been one to make a deal or two."
The beast eyed the knife as he spoke, "Whatever you need."
Buffy smiled, "That's what I like to hear. Now tell me Beasty, who's the woman who get's infected with the demon made to deprive people of their choices."
The beast didn't hesitate with his answer one bit, "I...I don't know the exact person but it's someone close. It would need to be protected. It would have to be a girl that went through a recent change, a girl who just had a sexual encounter, she would have knowledge of some magic, she would be rapidly going through a pregnancy and she would be a woman that a man trusts without a doubt."
Buffy kicked the closest box, "It's Cordelia isn't it?"
Angel suddenly realized she fit all the criterie and was about to react in sadness until the beast shook his head slowly, "She's not in L.A."
Buffy stared at the beat curiously now, "Would you lie to me?"
The beast shook his head quickly, "O...Of course not."
Buffy actually smiled, "You know it's kind of funny. I mean a big rock guy full of all the strength in the world and yet you cower at the sight of a threatened knife."
The beast finally looked Buffy int he eye again, "I told you what you wanted..." Buffy started backing away from him and from her friends into a more open space under the railings they were at before, "...Now give me back the knife."
Buffy watched the beast walk right into the spot she wanted him too, "I'm thinking I don't want to. I'm kind of in the mood for a fight."
Everyone finally realized Buffy's plan when they saw Spike ready to hop over the railing. The beast on the other hand got a little angry, "GIVE ME BACK THE KNIFE!"
"On second thought, I'm a little bored, I kind of just want to go home. Don't you Spike?"
Spike finally made himself known, "Oh yeah."
Then before the beast knew what was happening Spike was on top of his head. The beast connected a few harsh blows to Spike's side and face but the vampire held on. Buffy smiled and ran towards the rock guy. He saw her coming so he went to clothesline her but she duck and was soon faced with the back of the beast. She smiled at Spike who was defenitely in pain and then drove the knife into the middle of the beast's back.
Buffy yelled over her enemy's painful cries, "I told you that you would get it back."
Spike was finally thrown off with joy until he hit the wall hard. Faith and Wesley ran to his side as Buffy and Angel shielded themselves from the bright lights. The Beast screamed in agony and while Buffy was still shielding herself the beast managed to fling her accross the room also. He writhes about trying to reach the dagger buried in it's back as cracks start to formall over his body where the light was coming from. Angel ran to Buffy's half unconcous body as the light came together in a coherent beam and shoots out of the beast's mouth and eyes directly into the sky. It slams into a cloud obscuring the sun and annihilates it. Sunlight instantly blazes forth bathing the city in a golden glow once more. All over the city people stood in shock and happiness as the sun slowly started to cover L.A. once more.
Faith and Wesley moved Spike to a shady place but Angel and Buffy were already in one. Since there was no more need to protect Buffy from anything else Angel started looking over her body for more wounds. He notice that she opened the bite marks somehow but with the exception of a few cuts and bruises that seemed to be it.
Her eyes opened a little and Angel smiled, "Cheap shot."
Buffy tried to smile, "I knew it, I knew the knife would work."
You could almost feel her pain in the shallow breaths and deep voice. Angel tried to hide his worry though because on some level he knew she'd be okay, "Since when do you go out with one bang."
Buffy tried the sarcasm she was known for, "Well, you get thrown through a bunch of wooden boxes into a bunch of metal bars and then if you're still concous and not broken I will give you a gold star."
Angel took in the farmiliarity and smiled as he moved some hair out of her eyes and behind her ears, "You know, it's amazing you're still alive with how much you sacrifice yourself."
Buffy tried to sit up, "Well, comes with the territory."Angel nodded and helped her but when she went to go lean on her hand for support shefell tot he ground again in pain. She tried to smile at Angel, "I think I hurt my wrist."
Angel gently took it in his arms and examined it. Despite the fact she was hurt he loved being this close to her again, it felt so right. He handed Buffy's wrist back to her and smiled, "Nothing to big, we'll fix it when we get home."
Buffy took in the words of home and now it was running through her head. She kind of found it necessary to bring reality back into the room, " If I waited until I got home it would be more broken."
Angel suddenly realized what he had said and the truth in Buffy's words. It wasn't her home but it sure felt right to say. He nodded, "I meant the hotel."
Buffy nodded and used her other hand to sit up. She stared accross the warehouse and smiled at the sight of Spike pushing Faith and Wesley away. "Looks like we're going to need the first aid kit again."
Angel laughed while slowly helping Buffy to a standing position, "Is he ever not injured?"
Buffy was about to shake her head but ended up wincing at the pain from the open bite marks. She glared at SPike and raised her voice a little bit, "God I'm going to kill that vampire."
Spike heard her and sighed. "I just helped you kill a beast and you want to kill me. God maybe you're the pregnant one miss moody. Oh no wait it can't be you. You haven't gotten any from a human being in two years."
Buffy was about to run for him but Angel stopped her, "He just get's moody when he's injured."
Buffy nodded and calmed down. The place was silence as Buffy actually looked around. She ended up smiling, "So killing the beast does bring back the sun."
Angel shrugged, "It's going to set in like two hours anyway."
Buffy started walking over to the group around Spike and of course Angel followed. She stared down at her blonde vampire friend, "Thanks."
Spike nodded, "You know me, throw me in and we always win."
Buffy looked him over, "You okay to walk?"
Spike shrugged, "Couple broken bones, a few cuts and bruises that will be gone in an hour. I think I might need a little help. What are you leaving with?"
"Open bite marks which are making me feel woozy, a broken wrist and a few cuts and bruises that will be gone in an hour."
Spike winked at her which was followed by Buffy offering a hand to him. He took it and was soon standing. Buffy looked at Faith, "You might need to carry him if we want to get to the car without them both turning into ash."
Faith nodded and Spike glared at buffy, "So, who do you think it is?"
Buffy shrugged, "I say we drop you vamps off, Willow and I go pick up a bunch of pregnancy tests and have every woman we know take one. Then we go from there."
Angel didn't look convinced, "The beast said it was someone from Sunnydale. Why don't we just have every woman in SUnnydale that you know take one?"
Buffy shrugged, "Although I don't think he's lying there's still a chance he was."
Angel nodded, "Then, why don't we make a quick stop on the way home? You and Faith can grab them. It's quicker that way!"
Buffy nodded and then looked at Faith, "So, which one of us is pregnant?"
Faith actually thought about it, "Well seeing as you have a kid and I'm never going to have a kid I think it should be me. It's nice to play pretend."
Buffy nodded, "Alright then."
Wesley looked back and forth between the two slayers, "You do know neithe rof you is pregnant right?"
Faith laughed, "When you buy tests you have t act scared and nervous like you're pregnant. it's a woman thing."
Spike looked curious, "How would you know that?"
Faith shrugged, "I've been in need of buying a few pregnancy tests in my day. Now I don't see why but t the time the scares were...well...scary."
Spike then turned towards Buffy, "How do you know how you act when you buy one of the test things?"
Buffy looked at the ground, "You remember that night when that house was feeding of Riley and me when we..."
Spike instantly held up his hand, "Explained. I do not need to rehatch any bit of that night."
Buffy smiled, "Well, you asked."
Angel didn't know what to think now, "You actually thought you were pregnant?"
Buffy nodded, "It's something normal so I doubted it but I was still worried about it."
Wesley noticed the developing tension and with what happened with buffy and Lilah the slayer already had a lot to talk about with Angel so he kindly changed the subject, "Do you think we should head home now?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah. Willow must be worried sick with the sun out and everything and we still got to make a stop." Buffy stared at ANgel, "Ready to run?" He nodded and the slayer turned to Faith, "You ready to run with the gimp here?"
Spike couldn't retaliate because Faith scopped him up, "Yep."
"Then, let's move."
-Hyperion - 40 Minutes Later-
Conner was actually sleeping on the couch where he was when everyone left while everyone else was researching and doing the book stuff on this infected woman. Willow and Fred were actually in a deep conversation.
Actually Fred was trying to calm Willow down from rambling, "It's been like an hour since the sun came up. What if something happened? What if they're at the hospital? Oh my god, what if they didn't make it to the hospital?"
Fred grabbed Willow's arms, "Calm Willow. I'm positive they're all fine."
Willow shook her head, "But..."
Gunn smiled over at the red head, "No buts Willow, they're fine."
Willow went back to reading her book for a few minutes until she couldn' help herself anymore, "I bet she's doing this purposely. I mean Buffy knows I worry..." This is when Buffy and the rest of the gang walked through the door. They kept quiet as Willow finished her rant, "...She knows I go insane when things take longer then they're supossed to. Even Spike knows that I go pretty much radical when she's gone this long."
Spike made the gang known, "Well it's a good thing we got home before you got radical."
Willow was instantly in front of Buffy, "Where the hell have you been?"
Buffy held up her wrist and drew attention to her neck, "I've been broken and it took them a while to put me back together again."
Willow calmed down, "Because you and Spike are injured I'm going to calm down."
Gunn looked curious though, "Why is just SPike and Buffy banged up. When we fought that thing it was bloody."
Buffy bowed, "I had a plan, SPike helped with the plan, not a lot fo violence needed."
Willow looked SPike who was leaning on Faith up and down, "Well if there was no violence then why does Spike need the first aid kit AGAIN?" She eyed him until a smile spread on the witch's face, "He was the distraction."
Spike sighed, "Just get me the kit and sit me down."
Willow nodded and went off to do as told. Cordelia got down to the real business though, "So who's the woman?"
Buffy looked Cordelia in the eye, "Well at first I thought it was you but I found a way to clear it all up."
Cordelia got defensive, "You thought I was a demon?"
"Well you were evil all throughout high school."
Cordelia couldn't retaliate because Fred interrupted, "So, then how do we ID the infected woman?"
Buffy whipped out a bunch of home pregnancy tests which is when Willow walked in. When she saw the tests she jumped and dropped the kit, "Buffy, I mean not again."
Buffy shook her head, "No, of course not again, it's impossible again."
Willow realized the impossibility of her being pregnant and calmed down. She picked up the kit but then Gunn looked awkward, "What does she mean again?"
Buffy shrugged, "I've just had a scare before. No big deal."
Cordelia perked up, "You mean you actually slept with something that was human?"
Buffy clenched her fist, "At least I was getting some which is more then I can say for you."
Cordelia only glared as Willow interfeared. She walked up to Spike while speaking to Buffy, "So, then remind us all why you have a bunch of pregnancy tests in your hand." Willow walked SPike to a chair and sighed as she once more began to patch him up. She smiled, "You need to remove your shirt."
As SPike did so he winced and then smiled, "If you weren't playing house with the slayer in training I'd think you were coming onto me."
Willow poured too much antiseptic again and SPike winced. Buffy sighed and went on with her explanation, "Every woman in our little group has to take a test. If you are pregnant then you're evil."
Willow paused on SPike for a sec, "We would have to do everyone from Sunnydale too."
Buffy nodded, "The beast said it was most likely someone from Sunnydale anyway."
Faith then took charge, "Buffy and I don't have to take them because well, we can't have children."
Cordelia actually smiled, "You say it like you're happy."
Buffy intercepted, "Everytime you speak I think more and more that you're evil."
Before Cordelia could retaliate Angel spoke up, "So, who's first?"
Fred stood up, "I'll go."
Buffy tossed her a box and then looked at Faith, "Go with her, stand outside the door to make sure the test is legit."
Faith nodded but Fred looked down kind of blushing, "I feel so...violated."
Buffy smiled, "Sorry, but we kind of need to know."
Fred nodded and took off. Faith smiled at buffy before following. Willow was wrapping Spike's midsection when he glanced at Buffy, "I hate to destroy the streak slayer but what happens when we find the evil demon thing?"
Buffy shrugged, "That's research stuff, I don't know how to take a demon out of a woman."
Wesley finally stepped in, "Maybe we could do a standard exocism. I mean it is a demon inside of this woman."
Buffy nodded, "That could work but there's one problem."
Willow continued her sentence, "Pregnant woman are extremely protctive of their children. It's possible this woman doesn't even know it's a demon."
Buffy took it from there, "Plus, we can't make the guarantee the baby would survive so the mommy could get upset. So if this is one of my friends or someone here violence or forced excorcism might be our only way out."
Spike looked at Buffy now, "You willing to beet up one of your friends?"
Buffy turned to stare at Angel now, "Well, I have sent my lover to hell, I have beet up willow, I have tried to lock my sister, Willow, Xander and Tara in a basement with a demon so I'm guessing if it's the only way I'm good."
Angel smiled, "Oddly we all got over it."
Buffy shrugged, "I do what I have to do." She turned towards Wesley now, "I want you to find an excorcism spell that Willow can use." She faced everyone, "I want you all to work on something called the seal of Danthazar, the first and all the potentials dying. We've got a few more duplicating problems in Sunnydale then here."
Willow was just finishing Spike, "What About L.A? Shouldn't we warn them about the tests?"
Buffy shook her head, "The evil person could find a way to disguise it. It's better to do surprise testing."
Willow nodded, "I miss home."
-Sunnydale - Anya's Room-
Anya looked content in her bed just as Xander enetered. He shut the door gently and then lay down beside Anya. He then moved so his head was on her stomach, "How are you Xander Junior?"
Anya giggled and petted Xander's hair, "It's fine, we're fine. We're right on schedule."