Disclaimer: Only the story is mine – "For What It's Worth" belongs to Buffalo Springfield (and is also the second-best protest song ever), and of course Buffy and the gang belong to Joss and the WB.

Rating: PG-13, for a little bad language and adult themes, and a whole lot of angst.

Author's Note: Chapter 4. All of this is strictly A/U, of course, as Better Angels was A/U to begin with. Sorry for the long delay in getting this one up, folks, but between moving into my dorm and starting classes, it's been nuts. Also, I was struck with an idea for how this story should go the other day, and it necessitated a complete rewrite of this chapter. Sorry for it being a short one, but this one is kind of the bridge between the last couple cliffhangers and the meat of the story where they'll be answered!

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Tellin' me I got to beware

"For the last time, Xander, I will not tell you where Willow has gone. She will be found when she chooses to be found, and not before. Goodbye."

I knew I should never have got this bothersome mobile. The only calls I've had on the blasted thing since I got it were from Xander. Not that I would tell him where Willow was – even if I did know. The boy simply assumed that since she had come to me before she disappeared, I would know where she went. In truth, I hadn't the slightest idea. All she had told me was that she simply couldn't cope with Buffy's death and Angel's dropping off the face of the earth (a sentiment I shared) and that she was going somewhere to get her head straight. I did not – could not – ask where she was bound, and that was the last I had heard of her.

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right when everybody's wrong

The mobile rang again, prompting dirty looks from those around me who were visiting their loved ones. With an apologetic smile, I picked it up and shouted "Dammit, Xander, I don't know where she went!"

"Giles? Rupert Giles? You're a difficult man to find."

"Who is this?"

"Sir Anthony Fredericton the Third."

"And should that name actually mean something to me, or are you calling to sell me better long distance?"

"I'm with the watcher's council, Rupert. There's something you need to know. Your work isn't done."

"I don't think I've ever met you, sir, but just in case no one told you I don't work for the council anymore. With…the passing of my slayer, my duties to you are ended. I thought I had made it perfectly clear that as far as I'm concerned, the lot of you can sod off."

"Rupert, listen to me. Something is coming to Sunnydale. Something I can't even begin to describe to you over the phone. Suffice it to say, it must be defeated."

"And how do you propose I go about that, you stupid git? Should I research it to death, or maybe pretend Buffy's alive and hope it believes me when I tell him to leave before she gets back from her walk? I saw that work on Star Trek once!"

"That's why I'm calling, Rupert. The new slayer has been called, and she's in Sunnydale right now. This thing is after her, and she needs to know. Given that the council is rather short-staffed at the moment, we're requesting that you take on the position of her watcher. If you head for Ms. Summers' house, I believe you'll find her there. We're not sure why she's going there, but we have reliable reports that she is. The slayer's name is Faith, and she'll be traveling with a younger sister, whose name is Dawn."

"I…"

"She needs you, Rupert. She has no idea who she is, and she has no clue about what's after her. Without your help, this may be over before it even begins."

Without waiting for my reply, he ended the call. My mind was racing out of control. Could I really go through all this again? I thought that part of my life was over when Buffy died. My soul went with her when she left. I was her father – well, as close as she had – and I never expected to have to say goodbye to her. When she needed me most, what could I do? Nothing - absolutely nothing. Could I be an effective watcher to another slayer? Of course not – if I could be, I wouldn't even be asking the question. And yet, here I was getting ready to go and meet this poor girl. A new slayer who - if Sir Anthony was correct - already had this new big bad after her. I couldn't help her.

Finally, I reached the spot I had been looking for when Xander rang me. The place I went every day, without fail. I knelt next to the gray slab bearing her name, and laid down the flowers I carried. "Good afternoon, Buffy," I said. "It's me again."

"We all still miss you. None of us has truly been the same since the day you left us. I wish you were here to fill the holes we all seem to be carrying in our hearts – and to find Angel. I worry that he's done something – well, something that he cannot take back. And if the watcher's council is right, we may find ourselves in great need of him soon.

"Or rather, the new slayer will have need of him. As for me – I can't, Buffy. I just can't. It's shirking my duties, I know, but I'm not capable anymore. I lost you, Buffy, and I can't lose another. It has to be someone else that takes up my post. I'm going to call the council and tell them I won't do this."

I planted a small kiss on the stone, as I did every day, then pulled the mobile from its clip and began to dial – and then I heard a quiet voice from behind me.

"S-She says you c-can't do that."

A thousand people in the street
Singin' songs and carryin' signs
Mostly say hooray for our side

I whipped around fast enough to give myself whiplash. There was a mousy-looking blond girl there, one I had never seen before. "What? What was that?"

The girl shook her head. "S-She says you c-can't abandon your p-post. That you c-can't give up."

"Who are you?"

"My name is T-Tara, but that's n-not important. She says her name is B-Buffy, and she has a message you h-have to hear – she s-says she doesn't have much time."

As much as I wanted to get up and walk away, my curiosity got the better of me. "All right, then, what's this message?"

"I'll t-try and get this r-right, because s-some of what she's s-saying is – "

Suddenly the girl's head snapped back, then forward again – and she was a different person. Her body language exuded confidence, and her voice had no stutter.

"Giles? Finally – this girl is the only one I've found who had a close enough connection to the spiritual that I could communicate with her, and through her. I've got to talk fast, because I'm not sure how long I can stay here – it's kind of a short-lived gift.

"You need to get the Scoobies back together. What's coming – well, what's coming is trouble. None of you can stop this thing alone, and you're going to need each other. You need to see to the new girl in town – Faith. She and Dawn are going to need your help – all the help you can give them. Be their father – like you were to me. You're also going to need a base of operations – something quiet and out of the way. I have a feeling the library's not going to last much longer."

"What about Angel? Do you know where he is?"

The girl's face darkened. "No. I can't see him, but I don't understand what that means. Please try to find him, though – you'll need him on your side too. This is bad Giles, easily worse than anything we ever faced together. You need to get started."

"But what is it? Can you tell me anything?" Before I could even get the last word out of my mouth, the girl – Tara – collapsed in a heap. I rushed over to revive her, but she was getting up even before I got there. "Can I take you home, Tara? Is there someone waiting for you?" I asked.

"N-No. S-She asked me to h-help you if I could, so I g-guess I'm going where y-you're going. S-she told me it w-would be dangerous, b-but her spirit was so g-gentle and kind – I n-need to help you."

I took the girl around the shoulders and helped her to her feet. We turned around to find the man I wanted to see least in the entire world standing between the two of us and the exit.

"Hello, Ripper."

Author's Note: I know, I know, another cliffhanger. But like I said up top, this chapter's the bridge. From here on, I promise to start answering some questions. Thanks for reading!