Chapter 22

They moved silently through the graveyard. Divided into groups of four the air around them was filled with fear and loathing. Their objective was simple; find, follow, and destroy. Anything that got in their way was dispatched with such swiftness that it almost seemed that they hadn't even attacked.

Dawn was glued to Sam's side, and it wasn't entirely by choice. Sam was so focused on keeping Dawn safe that she couldn't even reach him through their connection, and it was starting to freak her out. Dawn's heart was heavy with Spike's betrayal. She knew instinctively that Sam's vision was not wrong, but she couldn't help but feel that there had to be extenuating circumstances. Spike had always been her friend, and his betrayal was causing a storm of turmoil with her emotions.

Sam wasn't doing much better. He was under more control now then he had been at the mansion, but he was still hanging on by a thread. He could feel Dawn's concern and sadness beating against him like waves against the shore, but he could do nothing about that right now. Sam was afraid if he let loose right now he'd destroy everything around him, whether good or evil, and Sam wasn't going to take the world with him when he went. It just wasn't his way.

Buffy and Dean weren't doing much better, but could still claim to be in better shape then Sam and Dawn. Mainly because both of them knew that it was up to them to be the rational ones this go around. It was out of character for the two impulsive people, but this day was just full of changes and surprises so far, so they just went with it.

As they neared Spike's crypt the tension continued to mount. Motioning for the other's to stay back, Giles and John began to approach the crypt from the back. Before they could get within ten feet Spike came storming out and cussing up a storm.

His loud mumbling was difficult to decipher as it was filled with English slang but the intent was clear. "Bloody bint, thinks she can humiliate Spike does she? I'll show all those wankers they're fucking with the wrong vampire." Spike was so upset as he marched out of the cemetery he paid no attention to his surroundings. He was a vampire on a mission. The problem was there were men and women on a mission following close behind.

Giles couldn't help flashing back to a favorite film of his staring Bette Davis called "All about Eve." There was a classic line from the film that was appropriate for their situation. "Hold on boys, it's going to be a bumpy ride." The Grande dame Davis says, and boy was that true about tonight.

As Spike weaved his way through the underbelly of Sunnydales demon district his humiliation pushed him forward even as his heart tried desperately to pull him back. It was too late though and Spike was on a collision course with destiny.

Walking down a back alley Spike approached a door at the far end and began knocking. In a few minutest the door opened and there stood the guy from Sam's vision.

He was a short man who looked to be in his early sixties. He had very little hair left, but he moved with a fluid grace that seemed odd for someone of his apparent age and stature. It wasn't till you got closer that you saw is eyes were black and when he turned around there was a long dragon like tail coming out from beneath his bed jacket.

"Yo, Doc, about time what am I chopped liver." Spike spat his anger palpable in the air around him.

"Ah William, what can I do for you this fine evening." Doc, voice was lilting with only a small hiss at the end.

"You still looking for info for Glory on how to defeat the slayer?" Spike hesitated slightly as if even he couldn't quite believe he was doing this.

"Do you have information that would benefit her most Glorious?" Doc's eyes narrowed and his posture tensed as he glided towards Spike.

"I might." Spike offered beginning to feel very uneasy about the situation he was in. "What's in it for me?" He taunted reverting back to old habits.

"The gift of serving her most highly and exalted Glorificus." Doc his reverently, his eyes half closed as he hummed with pleasure.

"Yeah well, I'm going to need a bit more then that." Spike spoke up looking at Doc warily obviously repulsed by his devotion to that crazy hell-goddess.

"What is it that you seek William?" Doc closed in on the suddenly nervous vampire. He would get the information out of William. Of that he had no doubt, but if the he could appease the silly vampire, well he was in a generous mood.

Sifting from foot to foot, Spike couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this uncomfortable. He was used to being the who did the scaring, not the one being scared. "I want this bloody chip out of my head. I'm sick of being treated like a fucking pet. The slayer wants to see me as an animal that's fine, I'll show her an animal." Spike growled out his anger once again bubbling too the surface.

Doc hummed quietly and contemplated Spike's request for a moment before answering. "I see no reason that we can not satisfy your request William. Now what information do you have to benefit her Most High?"

"You want to stop the slayer go after the niblet. I don't know why, but the slayer protects her like she's the key to the whole damn shebang." Spike muttered having no idea of the chain of events that he is now initiating.

The Doc stilled not moving a muscle for a moment before tilting his head and in a soft voice tinged with joy and insane glee said, "The key you say? Hmm very interesting William. Yes I do believe for that information you will be rewarded." As he finished the Doc began to glide back into his store.

"Hey what about me?" Spike shouted at the Doc's back.

"Don't worry William you'll get what's coming to you." The Doc replied softly.

"Dude you ain't whistling Dixie." Came Sam's voice from the opening of the alley. Before the Doc could retreat to the safely of his building the door slammed shut and he and Spike were lifted in the air and pinned to the alley wall.

Spike's eyes locked with the tiny girl glued to Sam's side and felt a pang of remorse at the look of betrayal on her face. "Sorry niblet." He whispered before a piece of wood from a nearby crate pulled loose and imbedded itself in his heart ending his existence.

Dawn felt tears flowing down her face at Spike last apology "You're forgive Spike." She whispered back as Sam mentally sent the piece of wood thru Spikes heart.

Sam felt Dawn's grief over the death of Spike, but like everything else it was dimmed by the rage that still controlled him. Turning to the Doc, who was looking fascinated by this turn of events Sam said quietly, "Your turn."

"How perfect." The Doc hissed. "The lock and key together again. You will never win you know that correct?"

"Yes we will, because your going to tell me everything you know." Sam answered back crossing to where the Doc hung.

"I will never betray the magnificent Glory." Doc said with an arrogant smile.

"I never said it would be willingly." Sam growled before placing both hands on the Doc's head and closed his eyes.

A second later the Doc began to scream as Sam's fingers began to sink into his skull pulling out the information he wanted. Everyone watched in horror, as Sam's face showed no expression as he mind raped the demon spawn in front of them. It took only a few minutes and when it was over Sam moved his hands away and the Doc fell to the ground in a lump. Not even giving him time to catch his breath Sam focused and the Doc's body exploded into a million pieces.

Turning to face them Sam said, "Let's go, we have plans to make." Before taking Dawn's arm and exiting the alley.

Looking at the carnage Dean said with a certain amount of irony, "So we were basically not needed at all."

"Apparently." Gunn answered reevaluating his opinion of the younger Winchester as the least dangerous.

"Well I guess we should follow." Buffy said with a look of what the hell just happened. "He's not going to stay like this is he?" She asked Dean.

"I sure as hell hope not." Dean answered getting very concerned about his little brother's mental well-being.

He wasn't the only one Dawn was through being scared and was moving quickly towards pissed off. It was one thing to kill the Doc, and she even understood the need to kill Spike, but she was getting sick and tired of being ignored. "When we get back to the mansion you're going to talk to me you know that right?" She practically growled at Sam.

Feeling calmer though still in a state of high alert Sam answered, "Yes, I know."

"Good." Dawn stated before falling into silence still working through her grief over Spike's betrayal.

As the large group finally gathered back in the mansion living room Sam sat on the sofa with Dawn at his side and laid his head in his hands.

Everyone stared at each other, not knowing where to start with what had happened this evening. "Sam." Dawn said at last placing a hand on Sam's arm. "You need to tell us what happened tonight. We need to know that you're okay." Dawn could tell Sam had calmed down some as she was finally able to get a read on him for the first time that night. Of course the waves of anger, guilt, disgust and self-recrimination weren't easing her mind any.

Lifting his head and looking Dawn in the eye Sam's voice choked with tears as he whispered in anguish, "I don't know what happened Dawn. I didn't even know I could do what I did. I had the vision of you dying and everything faded away." Burying his head back in his hands Sam's shoulders shook with sobs as the realizations of his actions that evening came crashing upon him.

"Stop." Angel commanded crossing the room and forcing Sam's chin up to look him in the face. "Sam I know right now you feel out of control, I know you're appalled at your own actions, and confused as to how you could do what you did. But I'm telling you here and now you did nothing wrong. We're getting ready to face off in a all out war, and tonight you might have single handedly turned the tide in our favor. I'm sorry it fell on your shoulders, but I can't allow you to continue to blame yourself for actions that have saved lives." Angel watched as acceptance crept into Sam's face and felt his heart lift that he could be of assistance to this young man.

"Angel's right, Samuel." John spoke up regarding Angel with a look of gratitude. "You did what had to be done, what anyone of us would have done if we'd been in your position. It's time to move past this and tell us what happened, and then you need to get some rest."

Sam nodded gratefully to his dad and Angel and sat back down and took Dawn's hand. Taking a deep breath he began to tell everyone what happened to him this evening. Though Cordelia had filled everyone in on the particulars of the vision Sam explained how it had affected him, which led to his earlier out of character behavior. When he got to his actions against the creature called Doc, he paused and tried to gather his thoughts. "I still don't know how I did what I did, or if I could do it again, but it did work. I was able to take the information I sought directly from his mind."

"What did you get?" Giles asked as he leaned forward.

"Plans within plans." Sam said solemnly. "This is bigger then we thought guys."

"It usually is." Buffy answered.

"The attack is going to take place in 3 days." Sam said without preamble.

"They've moved up the timetable." Wesley said looking shocked.

"Yes, apparently when the Riley plant failed, they decided the safest course of would be to kill us all as quickly as possible to eliminate any possibility of defeat." Sam finished feeling like he'd run the Boston marathon twice.

"What about Dawn? Did we change that future?" Buffy asked her voice laced with concern.

"Dawn's attack was a product of Spike's betrayal eliminating Doc should have made that a null point." Sam voice came out mumbled as his head was still resting in his hands.

"Sam just a few more questions and then you can get some rest." Giles spoke with concern. "How exactly are they going to attack? What type of ambush should we expect?" Giles voice was soft and soothing trying to make the interrogation as painless as possible.

"They're going to attack at sunrise. They rightful assume it will catch us off guard." Sam smiled at Angel ruefully. "This plan could continue to change, but they're hoping a surprise attack will cause us to reveal the key and then they plan to sacrifice the key on top of the tower and bring about the end of the world."

"They're going to attack us here?" John asked wanting to get all the details now while they were fresh in Sam's memories.

"Yes." Sam closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch.

"Sunrise in three days, we have some planning to do." Giles muttered looking at John.

"One last thing Sam, where is this tower?" John spoke gently.

"I don't know dad? I didn't recognize any landmarks, but it shouldn't be that hard to find, it's a big metal tower in the middle of a field." Sam voice ached and his body felt like it was incased in cement.

"It's okay Sammy. Dawn why don't you get Sam upstairs and we'll get to work down here okay?" Dean spoke up ending the questions.

"Come on Sam, your useless like this it's time to get some sleep." Dawn coaxed.

Watching the two head up the stairs Buffy crossed to Dean's side and said, "What do you say we end this?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." Dean's voice was hard.

"All right people training is over its time to get ready for battle. Everybody grab a few hours of rest and then at sun-up we're back to work. We have a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it in." John's voice echoed with authority.

"Dad?" Dean started only to be cut off by John. "Dean it' been a hell of a evening. We need to recharge. Grab some alone time with your girl and then let's come back to this fresh in the morning." John ordered pulling out a sleeping bag from the closet.

Shooting a concerned glance at Angel who grinned with wry reassurance, Dean elbowed his dad in the gut as he and Buffy walked past him to the couch.

"Ouch, what the hell Dean." John started only to stop as he saw Angel and then grimaced as he realized how callous he had sounded. "Oops." He muttered softly.

One by one everyone found a spot to rest and slowly drifted off to sleep. They were unaware that once again their dreams were going to get very interesting.

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As Sam became aware of his surroundings he couldn't help but let out a "Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me."

"No, no, no." Dean said as he sat up after hearing his brother's exclamation. "Now really isn't the time." He groaned out after seeing they were back in the dreamscape scenario.

"Not to sound ignorant, but for those of us new to the party could you please explain what the hell is going on." Cordelia spoke up looking seriously freaked out.

"We're asleep." Came from Buffy and Dean in unison.

"Fascinating." Came from Giles.

"I thought we learned everything the last go round." Sam asked looking not just a little confused and irritated.

"Scuse me sweeties, Hello! What do you mean we're asleep?" Lorne interrupted looking highly agitated.

"Remember when we told you how we had the shared dream that put all the power in the scythe?" Dawn asked, and then at everyone's head nod she continued. "Well this is where we were."

"So what happens now?" Angel asked scanning the horizon.

"Beats the shit out of me. I thought we were done." Dawn groused.

"Dawn! Watch your language." Buffy snapped, neither girl in the best of moods.

"Well it looks like we're about to find out." Dean pointed out as the wind began to pick up.

Then as before the seemed to be caught in a vortex of wind until at last the man in white was once again before them.

"Greetings." He spoke warmly.

Looking around at everyone's confusion Dean muttered, "Yeah hey, whatever dude could you please tell us what's going on?"

"Dean!" Dawn dropped her head back and looked heavenward for patience.

"What, it's been a long day, I'm tired and cranky, and we're going into battle soon, so excuse me if I don't beat around the bush." Dean shot back his own patience at its breaking point.

Sam looked ready to rip Dean's head off for his tone during that last remark, and Buffy looked ready to kill anybody, just please somebody piss her off, When the gentleman raised his hands in the universal sign for attention and silence.

A calm fell over the group, and it was as if a cool spring was gliding from their heads too their toes easing all their frustrations and exhaustion. It was like getting an hour-long full body massage in 1 minute.

"Okay we're sooo keeping him." Cordy drawled from beside Angel, as she didn't even bother to open her eyes.

"You're going to have to fight me for him." Buffy said with a smile her eyes were still closed as well.

Before the debate could continue the Being spoke, "Welcome back young ones, and new friends. I am here to help with the final preparations before you head into battle."

"Whoa, look out James Earl Jones." Cordy joked as the Being's voice echoed once again like thunder through the desert.

"So what preparations?" Sam asked as he approached the being.

"You used your powers admirably tonight Samuel. Never in previous lives have you come so far so quickly. As the battle approaches take comfort in that knowledge." The beings voice soothed Sam's fears away from his body.

"So how do we defeat them?" John asked always searching for that advantage.

"That is not for me to tell you. I am here to ease fears, and tensions and to ensure that when you awake you will be mentally rested enough to determine the course of your own fate." His voice once again rushed over the group relieving stress that had been there for years. "Now close your eyes and rest faithful few. When you awake the last leg of your journey will commence."

With that, the world went dark.

To be continued.

I know it's short once again, but the battle will be the next chapter, so don't worry the end is near. I want to thank everyone for their continued support of this story. I've had so much fun writing it, and I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it. I hope everyone has a great week, and I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.