Chapter Seven: Hast All the All of Me...

Luna looked up as Buffy entered the hospital room, an expression of exhaustion and sadness written on her features. She glanced away as the Slayer sat down beside her, saying quietly, "How's Dawn?"

"They're putting a cast on her arm right now," Luna said politely as she tucked her legs beneath her. "Spike's with her. We said she'd fallen down the basement steps and that Spike was her brother-in-law. He's married to you, not me. I'd never date anyone who bleaches his hair."

Buffy smiled slightly and Luna said, without looking at her, voice calm, "I take it Willow's moving out?"

"Yeah," she sighed wearily as she shoved her hands into her hair, leaning forward slightly to prop her elbows up on her knees. "God, what was she thinking?"

"She wasn't," Luna said matter-of-factly. "Look, Buffy, I don't know Willow. I know your memories of her, how she was when you first met and I'm betting she's not used to being powerful. She did spells that no novice witch should try. This was just going to happen eventually and isn't it better that it happened now instead of later?"

"I don't know," Buffy said quietly. "I don't know if it'll ever be better."

"Buffy?" Tara rushed into the emergency room, her eyes filled with worry. "I got Luna's message. How's Dawn? Where's Willow?"

"Dawn's fine," Buffy said reassuringly as the white witch sat down beside them. "Willow...she..."

"Was out of control," Tara said quietly as she leaned back in her chair. "I know Buffy. Dawn's not the only victim."

Luna looked over at her and Tara smiled wanly as she said, tapping her brow, "She blocked a fight we had over some stuff. Guess she thought I shouldn't know about it..."

"God," Buffy whispered. "What are we going to do?"

"Get a good night's rest," Luna said calmly as she saw Dawn and Spike heading towards them, the vampire holding the girl up gently as she stumbled sleepily. "And pray that this is the end of it all." She got to her feet as did the other two and thought, 'Although I have the feeling it isn't...'

--

Luna yawned wearily as she stopped in front of the Summers's house, smiling as Dawn mumbled sleepily in Spike's arms. Carrying the girl into the house, the bleached vampire sniffed the air and said gravely, "Willow was here. She's gone now."

"Good," Buffy said as she entered, Tara waving towards Luna who returned the favor before vanishing in a flash of silver light. "I don't want her here."

"What happened?" Spike asked as he went up the stairs to Dawn's room, Buffy following. Tara paused at the stairs but took a deep breath before going to her bedroom. Opening the door, she listened to the rumbling of Spike's voice as Buffy explained what had transpired between her and Willow. Shaking her head, Tara looked around and tears slid down her face as she saw the empty spaces where Willow's things had been.

Suddenly, fear overwhelmed her and she rushed over to her magic chest, throwing the lid open and gasping as she saw the missing items. Falling to her knees, she whispered, "Oh, Willow..." as the tears began anew but this time they were tears of fear.

--

Glory watched as Caleb broke the young girl's neck carelessly, cut her wrists and throat swiftly before tossing her onto the seal. Shaking her head, she said, "Why do you insist on killing females? Is there something wrong with the males?"

"We need pure blood," he returned as he smiled charmingly at a young girl around the age of four. Taking her head in his hands, he snapped it with crack, chuckling at the glazed look in the little girl's eyes. Glory rolled her eyes as she filed her nails, her troll-like followers scurrying around with the shovels and pails as they finished packing in the dirt so it wouldn't fall onto the seal.

As she watched Caleb cut the girl open, the boy materialized behind him, saying, "Where is the vampire?"

Caleb sighed and turned to the First, saying, "He's a bit harder to capture now. The Seer has him under her protection."

"You show fear," the boy said coldly. "That is unacceptable Caleb. You are my vessel."

"I am your most loyal follower," Caleb insisted as he throw the body onto the seal, the light revealing two Turok-Han that snarled as they inhaled, throwing their heads back in glee. Glory arched her brows in amusement as one of the Turok-Han snapped at her minions and tossing her hair back, she said, "I want my Key. Where is it?"

"Are you that stupid?" the boy asked as he turned, morphing into the cocoa-skinned girl from before. Her red lips parted, revealing white teeth as she said, "It is dat which was not here before. What is it that the Slayer protects so zealously?"

A gleam entered Glory's eyes as she breathed, "The sister." She grinned broadly and said, "Oh, this is delicious. I'll just bleed her dry-"

"Wait," Caleb narrowed his eyes. "It can't be that easy." He turned to look at the girl and said, "What are we waiting for?"

"Oh, it's not what," the girl grinned. "It's a who. The little strawberry is going to do som'ting very, very good for us." She laughed wickedly. "So good, the Slayer will be helpless."

Caleb and Glory exchanged glances but smiled nonetheless.

And across town, one redheaded witch finished a spell.

Without realizing that all magic has consequences.

--

The next morning, Luna and Tara entered the Magic Box with Buffy and a subdued Dawn, whose arm was in a cast. Spike had obviously been the first to sign since the name Spike was written in elegant letters with the object standing in for a regular I. She sat down at the table as Anya came out from the back room, shaking her head as she went over to talk to the youngest Summers.

Giles came out from the training room and paused at the sight of a silent Buffy and grim-faced Luna. Removing his glasses, he said, "So, I take it what Xander called me about is true then? Willow did summon a demon and inadvertently hurt Dawn?"

"I wouldn't say that," Luna replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. Spike entered the store then from the basement, Giles and Anya blinking at the sight of the vampire who shrugged and pointed at Luna, saying, "She did it. Still not up to par though. Legs aren't working as quick as I'd like 'em too."

"Give 'em a few days," Luna said off-handedly as she looked at him. "It's not a complete healing potion. Just a mild one."

Spike nodded and Luna smiled wanly in return to his unspoken thanks. Stretching her arms above her head, she said, "Willow thinks magic is her right. She doesn't see it as a gift anymore. It's hers to possess and control." She smiled grimly. "Thing is she's got none of the latter and a lot of the former."

"Willow wouldn't," Tara began to protest but Luna arched her brows at the witch's reaction. The grim and sad expression on the Seer's face made her pause long enough for her to remember that Willow had in fact tried to force magic to bend to her will. She stopped and said softly, "Never mind..." as the others looked at her with concern.

"She scared me," Dawn spoke up from where she sat beside Buffy. "Last night, she used magic like it wasn't important, like it was something convenient..." Dawn's voice trailed off as she struggled with her words. "And I don't want her near me. She's not the same Willow anymore." She looked up at the others, eyes brimming with tears. "And I'm afraid of her."

"Dawn," Giles began carefully as he polished his glasses. "I truly don't think it's necessary to be afraid of Willow..."

"Her arm is broken," Spike said flatly as he straightened up and went over to stand beside the terrified girl and silent Slayer. "Don't tell me that's not a big clue Rupert."

"I'm not-"

"Oh, honestly," Anya huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, scowling at Giles. "All of you are acting as if this is a shock. Willow has always been about control; even in high school. She had to be the best at getting A's and now it's the same thing except it's magic she want's A's at."

"Anya's right," Buffy spoke up, eyes trained on Dawn and Spike, who was speaking gently into her ear. She looked at Giles, sadness written in her eyes as she said, "I asked her to leave my house Giles. If Dawn doesn't feel safe with her than I don't feel right having her there."

"Buffy," Giles said carefully. "Do you really believe that Willow would hurt Dawn on purpose?"

"I'd like to say no," Buffy replied honestly. "But I can't Giles. You didn't see her last night. She attacked me Giles. She tried to assault me when my back was turned and I had to defend myself."

"Good Lord," Giles murmured and Luna's head snapped up, her face turning towards the front door of the store. Xander entered, his face grim and angry as Willow scuttled in behind him, her head bowed.

A snarl rose in Spike's throat but he calmed at the look Buffy shot him and the terrified expression on Dawn's face. The youngest Summers burrowed herself in the vampire's arms and Luna slipped over to her, gently touching her hair and murmuring soothingly as Giles said to Xander, "I told you to wait, Xander."

"Willow is sorry," Xander said angrily. "Isn't that enough? I mean, c'mon Buffy, she's your best friend!"

"Xander-" Buffy hesitated but Tara interrupted her with a horrified cry. She threw her chair back, Luna spinning around as Tara said her voice trembling, "Oh God, Willow, what have you done?"

The others watched in confusion as Tara trembled, her hand at her throat as she stared at Willow. The redhead lifted up her head, confusion written in her eyes and everyone let out a gasp as the green flickered black briefly before returning to its regular color.

"Tara?" Willow said meekly as she stepped foward, hand outstretched, pleading written on her face. Tara shook her head, her hand coming up to clutch at her throat and she whispered, "You did it. You've let Glory know." She swallowed convulsively and said, "She's coming for us. For all of us..."

"What did you do?" Luna hissed as she spun to look at Willow, her eyes flaring silver. "What spell did you cast Willow?"

"It was just a small spell," Willow insisted as she stepped back, her eyes widening. "I just wanted to help. I thought if we could find out Glory was on her way to attack-"

"You opened the channel," Luna whispered horror written on her features. "You opened the bond between her and Dawn, didn't you?"

"What?" Buffy cried alarmed as she stepped forward, grabbing Luna's arm. "What did you say?"

"Dawn was created with our blood," Luna said not taking her eyes off Willow. "But she was originally created for Glory, by Glory. They are connected but the connection was severed when Dawn was sent here..."

"And now," Tara whispered as she stared at Willow, who grew more pale with each word. "Now, it's been recovered. Now, she only has to feel for Dawn and she'll know."

Buffy stared at the two girls before turning to Willow, her hazel eyes brimming tears and anger and hatred. "Dawn and I are running," the Slayer said her eyes not leaving Willow's face. "We're running as far away as we can and we're not coming back until she's gone." She looked at Spike, who held up his hand and said, "I can get transportation. Meet you here in thirty minutes?"

She nodded and stiffened as Willow said timidly, "Buffy, I'm-"

"Don't!" the Slayer's voice was like a whip as she whirled to look at her former friend. "You do not get to apologize or grovel. You caused this, Willow. You thought it would help, letting Glory know who the Key was? You thought that I would be okay with it? Nothing you say will ever make me forgive you for this. Nothing."

"We need to move," Luna spoke up, touching her sister's shoulder gently, her face grim. Buffy nodded and Dawn rushed forward, grabbing her two sister's hands. Buffy looked at the others and said, grimly, "Thirty minutes. That's all you're getting."

Luna reached out with her free hand and Tara took it, pain and jealousy flickering across Willow's features as the white witch refused to meet her gaze. Luna closed her eyes and then in a flash of light, the four of them were gone.

--

"Oh," Glory breathed as she stopped in her tracks, causing Caleb to look at her. "Oh, delicious..."

"What now?" the dark priest asked, bored and the Hell God giggled as she tweaked his nose lightly, saying, "I know where my Key is. Oh, it's fabulous..."

Caleb eyed her for a moment before saying dryly, "Uh, you're kinda..."

Glory looked down at her body and groaned as she suddenly shifted. Caleb arched his brows as Ben staggered, narrowing his gaze at the red dress that decorated his form and chuckled as the intern said wearily, "I hate this..." as he snatched the bag the priest held. Rolling his eyes, Caleb said snidely, "Well, well, Doctor, what's your ailment?"

"Get the hell away from me," Ben snapped as he changed into his clothes quickly. "I'm not doing anything with you."

"Oh, but your better half is," Caleb smiled charmingly as he reached out and picked the doctor up by the throat. "And, son, you are no match for me."

Ben clutched at the fingers, stumbling down the sidewalk as he gasped for air as Caleb walked down the street, smiling pleasantly. "Too much alcohol is bad for you," he scolded as they crossed the street, other people sidestepping them and eyeing them strangely. "I've told you that a million times, brother."

--

Luna watched as her sisters and Tara all brought down a backpack, smiling to herself as she held up her own bag and guitar case to the white witch's unspoken question. At the surprise and curiosity on Dawn's face, she said, "I'm always ready to run Dawn. Sometimes that's the best way to fight an enemy."

She slung her bag over her shoulder with ease and held out her free hand, Dawn stepping forward and clutching it tightly. As they all disappeared with a flash of light, the dark haired boy stepped out of the shadows and smiled as he murmured, pleased, "And it starts..."

He looked around the room and walked through the walls, up the stairs, into the bedrooms. Pausing in Dawn's room, he studied the pack of cigarettes left on the dresser and murmured, "I don't think this family will last Luna..."

A malicious smile spread across his face.

"In fact, I know it won't."

--

"An RV?" Buffy said dumbfounded and Spike shrugged as he finished shoving tinfoil in the windows, saying, "S'big enough for all of us and it's got a bed in the back so you and the Bit can catch a few winks. Look, Slayer-"

"It's fine," she interrupted with a weary sigh. "It's fine, Spike. Thank you."

He nodded in silence and Buffy turned to the others who were settling down. Giles took the driver's seat and they were off. Luna opened her guitar case and pulling out the white bowl she had taken from the house. She murmured under her breath as she pulled out a small knife, slicing the palm of her hand and letting a drop of blood fall into the white light. Ignoring the glances from everyone else, the Seer closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, her hand glittering silver before the cut healed before them all.

Xander and Willow huddled close together, Anya keeping her arm around Dawn as the youngest Summers trembled, her hands pressed together as she looked at the others. Buffy stiffened as Xander spoke up, his voice filled with distaste as he spat, "Why is he here, anyway?"

"He found the transportation," she said coldly, refusing to look at him. "And that's it."

"He doesn't belong here-" Xander began but was cut off by Dawn's shriek of, "Shut up Xander!"

Everyone's eyes widened as Dawn shot to her feet, tears spilling down her cheeks as she spat, "You and Willow don't belong here either but you're here! If it were up to me, I'd let Glory have that stupid witch because she's the reason I'm going to die! So, why don't you take your stupid hate of Spike and shove it up your-"

"Dawn."

The voice was quiet and soothing, the youngest Summers deflating into tears as Luna opened her eyes and held out her arms. The gangly teen took the offer, pressing her face into Luna's lap as the Seer hummed quietly, fingers weaving through her hair gently. Buffy's face tightened at the sight of her two sisters and she looked at Spike, who nodded. Turning to look at her two oldest friends, the Slayer said, "No more, Xander. Got it? No more."

Then, she turned and shut herself in the back room.

Spike sighed and sat down, smiling in thanks as Luna motioned to Dawn. The Key lifted her tear streaked face to meet Spike's warm blue eyes and whispered, "I'm scared."

"Don't be," he replied quietly. "I'll protect you Bit."

"Promise?" she asked like a child and he smiled, touching her cheek gently. Pressing his forehead to hers, he whispered fiercely, "Till the end of the world."

--

Ben stumbled into the Magic Box and looked around as Caleb entered, grinning as the dark priest let out a grunt of irritation. "No one here," the intern said as he turned to walk out and the priest said without looking back, "Do that and I break an arm, and a leg."

"You know," Ben sputtered as he spun to face the other man. "I didn't ask for this! I just want to be normal!"

"We play the hand we're dealt," Caleb replied calmly as he studied the room. "I was chosen to be the follower of the greatest being in existence and you..."

"Nothing's mine, is it?" Ben asked helplessly. "This life, this body, it's all infected."

"I prefer the term," Caleb said as he turned and walked out of the shop. "Enlightened. You should be pleased, you know. Of all the beings on this Earth, the Hell God chose you."

"I don't care!" he replied angrily as he followed the priest. "I don't want this! I want to be a doctor and witness people's lives-"

"And deaths?" Caleb turned to look at the silent man. "Deaths are part of life, son. And you, you may be a doctor but you are also a vessel. Get used to it."

"I don't care how I came by this body," Ben said stubbornly. "It's mine and I plan on keeping it."

Caleb laughed and patted his shoulder. "You let me know if that works for you."

--

Buffy didn't look at her as Luna entered the room, merely opened her eyes to stare at the ceiling. The Seer leaned against the wall and stared at the ceiling as well, saying, "Something I'm not seeing?" causing a tiny smile to lift the older girl's lips. The Slayer sighed and said quietly, "I haven't said it, have I?"

"Said what?" Luna replied as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

Buffy shrugged listlessly. "Keeping Dawn safe. Keeping everything from blowing up." She sat up and look at her sister, saying, "It would have been worse without you, wouldn't it? This all..." She waved her hand in the air. "Would have been worse."

Luna didn't answer; she didn't need too.

Buffy's shoulders sagged and she said softly, "I'm the Slayer. The Chosen One. All mythic and defender-y. Evil nasties are supposed to flee from me. Not the other way around."

"Fleeing," Luna offered with a twist of her lips. "Is such a strong word. I prefer the term moving at a brisk pace."

"Quaintly referred to in some cultures as the big scaredy runaway," Buffy sighed. "At least things can't get any crazier, right?"

Luna gave her a pained look. "You had to say that," she muttered before her eyes rolled back into her head and she let out a cry of pain. Buffy let out an alarmed gasp and lunged forward, grabbing her sister's shaking form as the door flew open, throwing them both into the floor. Dawn peered over Spike's shoulder as Luna's body spasmed, silver light flickering inside her eyes.

"What the bloody hell?" Spike demanded but suddenly shouted, "Dawn, duck!" as an arrow flew through the window. He peered out and cursed, saying, "We got Knights on our tail Slayer..." as Luna murmured to herself in Latin, Buffy wincing as another arrow flew through the window.

She laid Luna on the floor, shoving her way past the other two and shouted, "Giles!"

"I'm on it!" her Watcher replied and then, everything went black.

--

Ben glared at the Turok Han as they dropped the drained corpse onto the ground, chittering in their own language. Glaring at the body, he turned and marched towards the stairwell, pausing as the First appeared, saying, "And where do you think you're going?"

"Away," he snapped as he walked through it. "As far away as possible."

"Oh, poor deluded Ben," the First tisked as he stopped in his tracks. "You really think you can stop your destiny?"

"This isn't my destiny!" the man shouted spinning to glare the boy. "I didn't want this!"

"And I didn't want this," the First hissed morphing into the Master. "Stuck in this form without tasting or feeling anything? Do you know how maddening it is? I mean, really, it's frustrating not being able to feel the cold flesh of a young, sweet thing or the hot blood of a fresh kill." He sighed dramatically. "I'd kill for some way to feel a neck crack beneath my hands..."

"You're mad," Ben muttered and the First grinned. "No, you are."

Ben shook his head and then stiffened, face grimacing in pain as he began to morph back to Glory. The First grinned wider as it became an elegant black woman, saying, "That's it baby. It's time to play."

Glory groaned as she cracked her neck, looking down at her clothes. "God," she whined. "Why is it I'm always in these stupid rags when I change back!"

"We don't have time for your whining," Caleb snapped as the Turok Han snarled. "It's time to collect."

Glory grinned. "Oh, that's the sweetest thing you've ever said," she purred and closed her eyes.

Miles away, Luna's eyes snapped open and she forced herself to sit up as she turned to look at the sky, above her since the RV's right side had been completely torn off. She swallowed and whispered, "No..." as the sky became blood red. The others stirred and Buffy groaned as she opened her eyes, blood dripping from her brow.

The gasps from the others had her turning her head upwards and she froze as she saw the blood red sky, Luna saying, "It's time."

"Luna?" Dawn said worriedly and the Seer gritted her teeth as she got to her feet, holding onto her side. She looked at the others and said grimly, "We need to move. Now."

Above them, the sky continued to turn to red.

Next Chapter Eight: Kiss Me, Be Kind...