Connor was pacing up and down on the terrace. Although he could not see past the barrier, he could hear the sounds of fighting accompanied by other worldly howls. He shivered inadvertently as he imagined what his father was going through.

He reached out to the wall, his hand hovering barely inches away but already feeling the pull of the darkness on the other side. He wanted it to take him, he wanted it to let him help his father.

He pulled his hand back and swallowed hard. Somehow he would get there. He had to.

Illyria's eyes fluttered open and she stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, trying to remember where she was and what had happened. A slight pain in her stomach reminded her.

Slowly, she sat up and found Spike was at her side, watching her with mild concern.

"How you feeling, pet?"

She cocked her head to one side as she considered the question.

"Someone performed magic on the shell. I was wounded."

Spike nodded.

"Yeah, Red fixed you up with a bit of hocus pocus. Eve stabbed you."

"It will not happen again."

He laughed.

"You're right about that, love. I got the girl tied up in the office. She's not giving us much in the way of info I'm afraid. But I have to admit, she's pretty good with the insults."

Illyria got to her feet, her eyes scanning the full length of her body as she stretched and twisted her muscles. Confident that she was fully functional, she marched over to the counter where the main group were huddled over, discussing plans.

Willow glanced up at her and beamed.

"Hey, you're ok!"

Illyria gave her a curt nod.

"You performed the magics that fixed me."

She paused, her head tilting, before she felt unfamiliar words in her mouth.

"Thank you."

Willow looked slightly taken aback but smiled.

"You're welcome. If you feel up to it, we're trying to figure out how to help Buffy and Angel. And, you know, stop the whole End of Days thing."

Illyria stepped forward, quickly scanning the notes laid out on the counter. Although she still considered herself superior to these lower beings, she found herself wishing Wesley was there to advise her, to tell her how and who to fight. Ignoring the thoughts, she looked Giles straight in the eye.

"Where are Angel and Buffy? Are they in peril?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yes I suppose peril would be one word to use. They are stuck on the other side of the protection spells where everything is becoming a hell dimension."

Illyria felt a strange flutter in her chest. If the Ancients were returning, perhaps she could once again walk the face of the earth as a God. For some reason, she quickly realised that the idea did not appeal to her as much as in the past. Perhaps the shell had affected her. It was certainly part of the reason as to why she felt such pain for Wesley and concern for Angel's safety. She nodded, ideas of how to help forming in her mind.

"There must be a rift to allow the demons to enter here. I am sure The Powers That Be are battling its effects on the higher planes but we must seal the one that is here."

Xander raised an eyebrow at the creepy yet bizarrely attractive blue woman in front of him.

"Any suggestions as to how?"

Illyria stayed silence and Xander turned back to the group.

"Guess that's a no then."

Illyria didn't hear the chattering between the others as she mulled the facts, creating and rejecting various hypothesises. Eventually, she turned to Willow, unaware that she was cutting the witch off mid-conversation with Oz.

"You can not lower the protection, it is helping to bind the actual reality to the planet and people."

Willow blinked rapidly and then nodded, casting a confused glance in the direction of the others.

"Yeah, we know that."

"But you conjured the protection. You are the one who can alter its existence."

The others exchanged confused looks as Willow frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You can allow beings to leave but not enter. This would serve to help me fight and reduce the drain of power the magic is upon you."

Willow looked slightly indignant.

"It's not a drain, I'm fine."

Illyria cocked her head to one side.

"You are not. Your spells will last no longer than an hour. They will take your life force."

Willow's cheeks flushed as everyone stared at her in disbelief. Xander stepped forward.

"Will, is that true? Is this going to kill you?"

She looked like a deer in the headlights as she answered.

"I'll be fine, Xander."

He did not look convinced and she turned her eyes to Giles who looked back at her, a mixture of concern and anger on his face.

"I'm sorry but I had to. It was the only way."

Xander pointed in Illyria's general direction as his good eye bored in to his oldest friend.

"So do what she says, make it easier on yourself."

Willow looked back at the former God.

"What are you thinking?"

"That you are all foolish lower beings ruled by your pointless emotions."

Spike chuckled to himself.

"She meant what's your plan, but fair point."

Illyria nodded.

"You change the structure of the spell. It will not allow others to enter but it will allow me to leave and you will last longer."

Everyone stared at her. Xander's eyebrows looked like they were about to shoot through the roof.

"That's it? That's your plan?"

"Yes."

"You're just gonna go out there and fight an army and seal a rift you have no idea how to close and save the world. All on your own."

"I was once a god."

Oz cleared his throat.

"Once a god. Not now. You already got stabbed by a regular girl."

Illyria glared at him and he just shrugged, returning to the book he had been reading. Giles removed his glasses and started to polish his glasses, a far away look on his face.

"If Illyria goes outside, she can take weapons and our ideas for closing the rift with her. Surely, any help for Buffy and Angel would be useful."

Willow nodded.

"Ok, I'll start work on altering the spell but you've got to find a way to close it. Xander, get some weapons together from downstairs. There should be some in the basement."

The group dispersed, leaving Spike staring at Illyria in the middle of the lobby. After a few moments, he spoke up.

"Why are you doing this, pet? If the Ancients come back, you've got a chance of being a god again."

She turned her powerful eyes on him.

"The shell informs me of things I did not know. She is why I mourn Wesley. She is why I now feel concern for the well being of these mortals and of Angel."

Spike's gaze was drawn in the direction of the destroyed rooms upstairs. He nodded himself.

"Fred's drawings… Angel was her knight in shining armour."

Illyria looked slightly puzzled by the phrase but nodded. Spike just shook his head in disbelief as he walked away.

"How does that boring broody old lump always get the girls?"