Chapter 27 – Glasgow, 6 July, 2004

The first thing I notice is that everything's changed. What seems like seconds ago we were in a room which was bright with plastered walls and a standard, vinyl-covered floor. Now, I'm in a gloomy cave. The next thing I spot is the fact that Spike's lying a short distance away, apparently unconscious. I jump up to go to him, belatedly considering the possibility that I might be injured, but the lack of pain seems to put paid to that idea.

As I approach Spike, he moves slightly, and emits a groan which, considering the amount of blood I can see on his clothes, seems to be one of pain. I crouch beside him, and he opens his eyes.

"Buffy," he murmurs, before sitting up.

"You're injured," I comment, ignoring the fact that he must realise that.

"Yeah," he agrees. "Not as badly as I was, though. Any sign of trouble?"

I belatedly take a look around, although my Slayer sense has been quiet.

"No. No sign of the other Slayers either, though."

He sits up straighter, checking around him as if expecting to find that I've missed them.

"Where …?"

"No idea. I don't even know where we are; although I'd hazard a guess we're underground."

He looks around again, then slowly, and what looks like painfully, pulls himself to his feet.

"You're right. We're underground. But I think I know exactly where we are."

"What? Don't tell me this just happens to be one of your underground lairs?"

"Simpler than that. It's just that I think this is where we went through the portal in the first place. Of course, since you were snoozing at the time, I don't suppose you recognise it."

"I was not snoozing. And if you know where we are, then you must know how to get out of here."

"That would be this way," he says smugly, as he limps off to my right.

It soon becomes obvious that he's still badly injured. Of course, the fact that he's swaying on his feet is a bit of a give-away, and I rush to help him support himself. He tries to shrug me away, but I don't let him.

"You need help, or we're never going to get out of here. I just wish I had my cell phone with me - I'd call someone."

"Wouldn't do you any good," he comments, taking his own from his pocket. "No signal down here."

"How soon till we can get to ground level?"

"Shouldn't take too long, but I won't know where we are in relation to what's above. I reckoned we walked a fair way south, and I don't know this part of the city that well. No idea if there's somewhere out of the sun where we can get out."

"Don't worry about that. A bit of sunshine doesn't bother me, and if we can get Gus to come, we can probably work around the sunshine thing, can't we?"

He shrugs at that, or at least, he starts to shrug before giving it up as a bad job. He's obviously in a lot of pain, and I think the short walk so far has really taken its toll on whatever reserves he had.

He tries again to move away from me.

"Spike, stop it. Just lean on me."

"But you're not up to strength. You won't last …"

"Wrong. I won't pretend to understand what happened with that crystal, but I'm pretty sure I'm back to Slayer standard in terms of strength and stamina. Maybe even better than before, although we'll have to wait and see on that score."

"You sure?"

"Absotively. Now, while I'm not at all averse to comparing notes on what happened back there, I'd feel a lot happier if I knew we were somewhere clean and more comfortable." I don't add the rest of my thought – that somewhere he could lie down and have his injuries tended seems like a good idea too.

He nods at that, and allows me to take some of his weight. He seems to be coping, but I'm relieved when we quickly spot what seems to be a way out. I get him as comfortable as I can, then take his cell phone and climb up. As I reach the cover, I hear his voice from below telling me that Gus is on speed dial no. 2. I listen carefully for the telltale sound of traffic but it all seems quiet above, so I push open the cover and take a peek.

When there's nothing obvious from that, I push the cover aside and take a proper look. The cover's in a narrow passageway between two industrial-looking buildings, and there's no one around that I can see. I climb out and hit 2 on Spike's phone.

As I give Gus the barest details of what happened, I take a look around, trying to get my bearings. I eventually manage to pick up a couple of signs on the building opposite, and Gus manages to turn that into a location with the help of the phone book. He estimates it's going to take him about half an hour to get here, so I go back down to keep Spike company, only to find that he's lost consciousness again, and looks worse than ever.

It's the longest twenty-five minutes of my life as I sit watching Spike, but at last, I go back to the surface, unreasonably annoyed to find that Gus still hasn't arrived. I stay there, though, watching out for the car he described, and heave a major sigh of relief when he finally arrives. He has some trouble with a security guard who's manning a parking lot gate, but at last, he makes it as close to the opening as the road will allow. He's got a tarpaulin, and between us we get that down to Spike, get him wrapped in it and haul him to the surface and into the back of the car. The fact that he's unconscious during that is probably a good thing.

The drive back seems to take longer than ever, although Gus manages to make me feel a little better by informing me that Moira and Dawn seem to be out and probably don't even know that I was kidnapped. In turn, I give him a reasonably detailed report on what happened. He has a spare set of keys for Spike's flat, and between us we manage to get him inside and onto his bed.

"Has he got a first-aid kit?" I ask.

Gus shrugs, but goes to take a look, returning a few moments later with an old box containing a few bandages.

"Ok, can you get me a basin of water and some cloths? I'll make do with what's here - at least he isn't likely to get an infection or anything, and I just hope I can make him comfortable. When you've done that, can you check if he's got any blood? If we can get him to drink some, his body will be able to start to repair the damage."

When Gus has gone, I start peeling clothes off, ripping the cloth so I don't have to move him more than necessary. I don't know what did this to him, but it's bad. Glory-bad at least, although I didn't tend him after that - another reason for guilt.

When Gus returns with the news that there's only a single bag of blood in the fridge, he offers to go and get more, and it's while he's gone that I hear voices outside the door and realise that Dawn and Moira are back from their day out.

I jump up to let them know where I am, and then have to put up with a myriad of questions from Dawn while I finish bandaging Spike. Moira doesn't say much at all, but goes into her flat and returns a few moments later with a pot of tea and some cups, and she tells me to sit down and tell her what happened.

"Can't a bloke get any peace around here?" Spike's voice sounds weak and rather raspy, but I'm glad to hear it. I rush back towards him, instinctively wanting to hug him but I stop short, remembering that we're not really on those terms any more if we ever truly were. Come to think of it, I don't know what sort of terms we're on, but thinking 'friends', I settle for putting one of my hands on top of one of his.

"Woke up at last, did you?" I'm hoping that by keeping the tone light, I can make my concern seem less extreme. "How're you feeling?"

"Like I've gone ten rounds with Glory. I'll be ok."

I nod, taking that as it's meant. As much to give her something to do as anything, I send Dawn to the kitchen to warm up the one bag of blood, and by the time Spike's finished that, Gus is back with more. Then, over tea, we try to piece together what happened. Gus has heard my side, but Spike hasn't, and no one else knows exactly what happened to Spike.

When he's got the gist of our stories, Gus goes upstairs to call Giles. Within minutes he's back with news.

"The Slayers are back too. Well, we've still got to check they're all back, but they've been turning up all over. Some - especially the early ones - are alone, but some of the more recent ones to disappear are turning up in groups."

"All of them?" I ask.

"I don't know. There's no news about Fiona yet. Why? Didn't you find them all?"

"No, Gus, we didn't."

"Fiona?" That question is directed towards Spike, and he shakes his head sadly as he answers.

"No, mate. But we'll find her. I'll be back on my feet in no time and then I've got some scores to even."

"Me too," I promise. "This isn't over until every one of those girls is back where she belongs. Ok?"

He nods his understanding, but I don't think he quite believes us, and there's probably nothing I can do about that other than make good on the promise.

"Oh," he says, shaking his head as if to change the track of his thoughts, "Mr. Giles said he'd be in touch as soon as he's apprised others of developments. He wants to hear the story from you direct."

"I'll bet he does," I mutter. Just at this moment, the last person I want to chat to is Giles, but I can see that it's for the best. Apart from anything else, the whole business of Phillip Spencer-Kidd got sort of glossed-over while we were giving Gus the basics, and I want to make sure Giles knows who the Council's been employing.

I manage to get Dawn back to Moira's after a while, working on the assumption that Spike needs to rest. She's been fluctuating between silence and nervous chatter for a while, and I know her well enough to know that her conscience is bothering her. She wants to apologise to Spike, but can't quite bring herself to do it. I make up my mind to encourage her later, once I'm sure he's going to be ok.

Moira seems thoughtful too. She hasn't said a lot in response to our adventures, but seems worried about something.

Once they're back next door, I go back to Spike, intending to just check on him. He's sleeping, and I sit there for a while, just watching him. This last day's been one full of surprises - from discovering Spike's really still alive, to finding Dawn, through to the most recent happenings. It's almost too much to believe that it's all true, but the biggest miracle of them all is Spike, bruised and broken but still with us.

Moira comes in then, my cell phone in her hand.

"Mr. Giles just called. He said he'd call back in one minute."

I smile a thank you at her, and, right on cue, the phone rings.

"Hello, Giles," I answer, leaving Spike's bedroom. I've got a feeling this conversation might require me to raise my voice, and I don't want to disturb him.

"Buffy. I'm so glad you're ok. You are … ok, aren't you? Gus didn't mention any problems."

"I'm fine, Giles. Spike's been pretty badly beaten, but I expect he'll be ok in a while."

"Spike. Yes, well. About that, Buffy."

"I don't want to talk about that. There's nothing you can say to me that will justify the fact that you kept his survival from me, so just don't waste your breath. So, what's happening? Any word on the other Slayers?"

There's a longer pause than seems altogether natural before he continues.

"Some forty-six girls have been returned, and from the testimony of those girls, it seems that all those you released from the cages have been accounted for. They were all returned to the point they vanished from, or somewhere very close to it. We're finalising a list of those still missing, and I'll fax it to Gus as soon as we do."

"Ok."

"There's one thing I don't understand, though. How were you taken? Gus said something about being drugged, but he didn't elaborate."

"What do you know about Phillip Spencer-Kidd?"

"Phillip? How do you know him? And what has he got to do with this?"

"He introduced himself in LA before I left, then offered to upgrade my ticket when I flew over here. Then he called me this morning and said you'd asked him to bring me up to speed on the Slayer disappearances. And then he stuck me with a needle, and handed me over to some Fyarls. And if it hadn't been for Spike, right now, I'd be in a cage in another universe somewhere."

"Buffy, about Phillip. I'll have to get back to you. I've had a message to contact him, but, in light of everything else that's been happening, it seemed singularly unimportant and I've ignored it. To be honest, he's one of the Watchers I inherited from the previous regime and I don't take him seriously. I'm going to get in touch with him now and see what he's got to say. To be blunt, I can't see him being behind all this. He just hasn't got the … well, anything - intelligence, imagination, vision … to pull this off. There's got to be something else going on. A shape-changer, perhaps?"

"Whatever it is, it didn't give me any demon tingle, but there is something about him. He … my reaction to him wasn't right. Or consistent. The first time I met him, it was like … he was the most attractive man I've ever seen. Then on the flight over, he was just your regular guy. This morning, I knew my reaction to him was off, but there wasn't anything I could do."

"His whole involvement makes no sense anyway. How would Phillip know you were coming over when I didn't until I saw you at the service? He's been in Brunei – sent there because his one talent is being able to rub shoulders with people who have money."

"He said he had someone who kept him informed. Er … Penny? No. More English than that. Penelope - I think."

"It's not that unusual a name, but there's only one Penelope I know who'd have access to such information."

"Let me guess. Young, easily impressed …"

"No. A mature widow who's been the PA to the Council's finance director for over ten years."

"No one else?"

"Not that I can think of. Penelope fits the bill though - she'd have access to anything that had money involved - like assignments, and of course, Moira's budget for the memorial service."

"That's not what I imagined, though. I saw him on the flight over, and mature wasn't the type he went for. Unless … If he can turn the charm on like he did with me …?"

"I'll investigate whether there's any link between them." There's a sigh on the other end, and I wait for him to speak again.

"Let Spike know I'll be in touch with him and that he'll be paid up to the end of the month. He's broken our agreement, and considering that I promised to send some Slayers after him if he contacted you, I'm sure he'll realise he's getting off lightly."

"Giles, listen to me. Leave Spike alone. He's done the Council's work today, and he's a bleeding, broken mess because of it. And I don't care what agreement you had with him, but he didn't contact me. Moira set us both up."

"I can't believe she would do such a thing without being … pressured to do so."

"Have you met Moira?" I demand. "I don't think you could 'pressure' her. And believe me, Spike's not a good enough actor to be able to manufacture the surprise on his face when he saw me. If you fire Spike, you'll have my letter of resignation by return mail."

"Buffy, I understand that you're feeling emotional just now, but when you calm down, I'm sure you'll realise that I acted in your best interests. And please remember that I was following Spike's wishes in not informing you of his survival."

"And you've always been so scrupulous about following Spike's wishes, haven't you?"

The silence at the other end is enough to let me know that he's starting to realise that he's not going to talk me round on this one. When it's over, he's fallen back on a typically male response.

"We'll talk again when you've calmed down. I won't take any action as regards Spike in the meantime."

"Giles, as far as this is concerned, I'm not going to calm down for a very long time."

And then, he's gone. I just hope he puts Spike out of his mind and concentrates on finding out what Phillip's been up to. Right now, I suspect he's the only link we've got to the missing Slayers.