CHAPTER 6

A few hours later, in a motel room, the group is all assembled and eager to hear the news. Giles opens the meeting by briefly reminding everyone of the current situation, then briefs everyone on the "home" front.

"I talked to the realtor, and he's agreed to take a ten percent down payment until the insurance pays out…unfortunately, we can't move in until the balance is paid, so it looks like we'll be staying here in the Grande Suite for the foreseeable future."

Everyone chuckled at his little joke, but they were all very happy to have a roof over their heads, even if it was a Red Roof Inn.

Buffy, however, had other plans. Turning to Spike, she whispered in his ear "Got room for me in the crypt?" A slow smile crept across Spike's face, as he nodded nonchalantly, anticipating a fun night of sex, or at the least, heavy petting.

Meanwhile, Giles was busily cleaning his glasses, and said nervously "Helena? Next item?"

Helena gladly took the spotlight off of Giles, figuring he heard some of the exchange between Spike and Buffy.

"O.K." she began. "I contacted Andrew in England and he gave me some pretty interesting information." She paused as she noticed Spike getting closer to Buffy.

Then Xander spoke up. "Well, don't keep us in suspense!"

Helena was startled out of her staring and continued.

"Andrew told me in his final days, before….." She caught Willow's eye and, realizing she had resurrected some bad memories, suddenly stopped and looked at the floor in embarrassment.

"It's o.k., Helena." Said an equally embarrassed Willow.

"Anyway," continued Helena, "Andrew said that Warren was getting into some pretty powerful magic there near the end.

At this news, Willow scoffed and said "Yeah, right! Like Warren would have know powerful magic if it snuck up on him and bit him in the butt!"

But Helena was ready for that argument, and had already countered it. "That may be, but Andrew also said that Warren was severely depressed toward the end. He was totally obsessed and out of character. Now, get this! He said Warren was seeing a doctor about some real bad headaches also.

Buffy was getting a worried look on her face, as myriad possibilities were swirling about in her mind. She didn't like where all this was leading.

"Willow, I need you to surf the net for me. We need Warren's medical records."

"What exactly are we looking for?" Asked the redheaded witch.

Buffy continued "Let's just say this is all starting to make a perverted sense, and I don't like it at all!

Suddenly, everyone's reverie is broken by a loud crash outside the door, and Buffy runs to the door, pulls it open, and finds a vampire stuck in the 1970's fighting a familiar dark haired girl.

"Delay my meeting, will you?" said the girl, kicking the vampire solidly in the privates, then plunging her stake deep into it, dusting it. Sge turns around and everyone is shocked to see Faith, the vampire slayer. "Hey, B. What's up?"

Buffy just started in stunned disbelief.