Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. The characters all belong to their respective studios and creators. I am just borrowing them for my story.

Author's Note: This story is set after the end of season 2 of Roswell (after Tess has already left) and in the beginning of season 6 of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer- after Buffy and Spike have gotten together, but before Willow was addicted to magic and before Willow and Tara broke up. Also, Giles hasn't left yet. Sorry for the confusing time lines, but this worked best for my story.

This picks up a few minutes after where part 9 left off...



Chapter 10 - Playing with Power



Giles had just picked up his book to look through it when a disturbing thought occurred to him. Turning to Willow, he said, "I just remembered something Spike said earlier that worries me a little." At seeing Willow's puzzled look, he continued, "You remember when he crudely said he could 'knock Xander hurt free'? I know that Buffy thinks that Spike is one of the good guys, but what if he's not now, now that's he's inside Michael's body and chipless? Is he still evil or did he truly reform his ways? I mean, Michael is the one that now contains the chip, inside the vampire's body, but what if the demon is with Spike in Michael's body now, without the chip..." he trailed off and looked at her, waiting for her answer.



Willow creased her forehead in thought. "I see what you're getting at. If Spike took the vampire demon with him into Michael's body, there would be nothing to stop him from hurting people. But wait, didn't Spike walk in the sunlight in Michael's body? And Michael had to use the sheet?"



"Yes, but that could just be that Spike's body is already dead, while Michael's is not. But if it had the demon inside of it, it might start to decay his body and kill it. I wonder if that's even possible?"



Willow took on a worried expression. "I don't know. I've never heard of a vampire and a human switching bodies before."



Giles continued, "Neither have I. And come to think of it, which one would be evil? Is Michael now going to become like a vampire because he's inside a vampire's body, possibly with the demon? Or is Spike going to revert to his former ways in Michael's body, because he took his demon with him? Neither Michael nor Spike have displayed any evil tendencies yet, but it could be only a matter of time- time for the demon to adjust to the changes. Anyhow, these are very puzzling and disturbing thoughts. This will need to be researched, along with how to switch them back. We need to be prepared for any possibility."



"Yeah, a little info on this would be good. Do you think we should to call the council to find out what they know? As much as I hate the council, they may have heard of a case like this before."



"It's possible, but I'd rather not. We may, however, have to use them as a last resort. Before that, though, I'll find out what I can myself. I think I'll get started researching that paradox right now."



"Do you need any help," Willow asked.



"No, not right now, I'd prefer it if you would continue looking for ways to switch them back. If we can get them switched back soon enough, this issue may not matter at all. I will start researching it, though, just in case."



"Okay," Willow told him as he got up and made his way into the back, to grab other volumes.



Tara grabbed another book and came over to sit next to Willow. "Hey baby," she said.



Though she was still worried about those questions, Willow smiled back. "Hey yourself." She resolved to put it out of her head for the time being though, and to concentrate on researching how to switch them back. She and Tara both settled down to research.



* * *



A Little While Later.......





Buffy looked up from where she had been restlessly researching with Xander, Anya and Dawn (who had finished her homework a little while ago and been allowed to help). "Where's Spike," she asked.



"Oh I saw him go in the back a little while ago," Anya answered without looking up. She was looking at a picture of one of her demon friends and was quite fascinated with how the artist had portrayed her.



"He went in the back," Buffy repeated.



"Yes, he went in the back," Anya again answered her, getting slightly annoyed.



"Thanks." Buffy got up and went back into the back. Right before entered, there was a loud crash. Looking in, she saw a broken piece of pottery lying on the floor- it had been smashed to bits.



Everyone else came running into the back to see what the chaotic noise had been. Giles looked at the broken pottery on the floor and then at Spike accusingly. "Spike! That was a very valuable piece of Native American pottery used for spell casting. It cost me a good deal to get it shipped here and it just arrived yesterday. What were you doing back here?!?"



Spike looked at the remains of the bowl that was lying in small shards on the ground and then back at the Watcher. "Oh, uh, I was just looking around and I accidentally bumped into that table and knocked it over. Sorry, mate, didn't know it was valuable. If you're pissed, I understand. Maybe I should just get out of here, and out of your way. I don't want to break anymore of your *lovely* and valuable items. I'll be much more useful at home." He was lying to cover the fact that he had been trying out his new powers. After all, he wanted to make use of them, which he couldn't if Scoobies were aware of them. And he wanted to get out of there; it would be so much easier to practice his new abilities if he wasn't under the Watcher and Slayer's eyes, and ears.



Buffy narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him- Spike was being way too polite and apologetic (for him anyway) and seemed way to eager to get out of there. There was definitely something that he wasn't sharing with the rest of the class. Though she did believe that he was a good guy now, he still had that up-to-trouble look in his eyes. She was going to have to watch him to see what was up.



The Podsters all were worried as well. They all knew what he was up to. Spike didn't knock that vase over- he had been trying to use Michael's powers and had probably accidentally blown it up. He would have to be watched VERY carefully.



Spike started to edge towards the back door.



"Wait," Giles commanded. "When we figure out what switched you two, we'll need you to be here to switch you back. You cannot go anywhere yet."



Sheriff Valenti, who knew that Spike probably just wanted to go play with his new powers some more, backed Giles up. "Yeah, you should stay here with the rest of us."



Spike narrowed his eyes slightly. Fine, they wanted him to stay, he'd stay. They had him outnumbered- even with those wonderful new powers. He wouldn't try anything yet, cause he still didn't know exactly what he could do with them and he didn't want to be stuck facing an angry slayer if they didn't work right. He'd be a good boy, for now. "Fine, sure. I guess I'll just take a right little nap back here for a while. I'm a bit tired, what with the switch and the excitement and all," he said as placatingly as he could. (No need to make them even more suspicious). To prove his point, he yawned and stretched out on the floor.



Everyone looked at him a little skeptically as he did so, but they all nodded and went back to the front. Dawn held back. She asked Spike, "Do you want me to stay and keep you company?"



"No thanks, Little bit. Appreciate it, but I need to get some sleep."



"Okay," she smiled at him and went to join the others up front.



Spike smiled to himself. Yeah, he'd be good for now, but just until he figured out how to use these new powers of his. After that- watch out! Not that he meant to go evil again or anything- his love for Buffy had pretty much stopped all those tendencies. But he did mean to have some fun before they shoved him back into that chipped body of his. A sudden thought occurred to him- he had powers in Michael's body, which meant that Michael had powers. Did the other Roswellians? That would bear watching, as if they did, they would be able to stop him, to control him. Although he wouldn't mind it one bit if that Isabel girl decided she wanted to 'control' him. He liked her and her feistiness. She and Buffy had a lot in common.





Meanwhile, back out front......





The Scoobies had all gone back to their research, but the Roswellians gathered in a small huddle to discuss Spike.



"He was using MY powers," Michael whispered angrily.



"We know that Michael," Max said, shooting him a warning look to keep it down.



"What are we going to do about him," Liz asked, worried.



"We're going to have to keep a close eye on him," Sheriff Valenti responded.



"I think I know who should do it," Kyle said, looking at Isabel. The rest all nodded their heads in agreement.



"Me?" she questioned.



"Yeah, Isabel. It's obvious he likes you and if you use your 'womanly' charms on him, it might be enough to be able to keep him under control for the time being, or at least enough to find out what he's up to," Michael stated.



"Way to be encouraging, Michael," Maria said sarcastically, shaking her head at him.



Isabel looked worried. She didn't like that idiot at all, and just being near him made her feel guilty- like she was betraying Alex.



Max saw her uncertainty. "Look Isabel, if you really don't want to, you don't have to. Someone else will."



Isabel shook her head, at first slowly, but then with more resolve. She could do this. She would do this. And she would do it without betraying Alex. "No Max, it's fine. I'll do it."



"Alright then, why don't you go back there now, and make sure he's not trying out his new powers some more. And see what you can get out of him. Remember, we'll all be right out here, and if he starts giving you any trouble, we'll be back there in two seconds."



"Got it, Max. And I won't let everyone down." She then turned and headed into the back of the shop. The rest of the Podsters went back to their dropped books and began to research again; all were keeping at least one ear trained on the back room, though.



Isabel went into the back. Buffy saw her from where she was sitting and watched her head into the back room with troubled eyes. She knew she had to watch Spike (because he *was* hiding something). Now she knew had to watch that Isabel girl as well. What was she up to?



Once back there, Isabel stepped in to find Spike sitting, with his hand out in front of him, trying to *quietly* practice some more. Oh, not a good sign, she thought, it looks like he's trying to experiment with Michael's powers again. Well, I'd better interrupt him now, before he gets any further and learns anything more about them.



She closed her eyes briefly for resolve, and then spoke in her sultriest voice, "Hey Spikey..."



He turned around and there was a brief flash of annoyance in his eyes at being interrupted, but that annoyance soon turned to pleasure when he saw who it was. (Well if he had to be disturbed, he didn't mind being disturbed by that blonde goddess). "Hey yourself, gorgeous."



* * *



Hope you all like the new part! Thanks to all of my wonderful readers and reviewers! You all are the best! And thanks to TD Master for bringing up the Michael/Spike issue.