Authors Note: I had to whip this up faster then the rest. My mind is all over the place. Hopefully you all like this. Please let me know what you think. Enjoy. I hope everyone gets that Buffy is the one telling the story. Everything is from her point of veiw.

Chapter 2

Night was almost over. As Xander and I walked towards the mansion we could see the light streaming across the sky, slowly rising. I almost wished it was night. Wished I could close my eyes in the dark. Maybe that would make it easier, when it came to killing Angel I mean. But I knew the sun would be in our favor. No vampires could leave the mansion without bursting into flames. That thought made me feel a little better about what we were about to do. I contemplated the best course of action. Get Xander in without being seen. Get Xander and Giles out into the sun. Then kill Angel. I hoped Spike would follow through. Xander was surprisingly calm. Of course he was jabbing his stake through the air at that very moment, pretending the air was a vampire. I knew there was a small chance neither of us would make it out alive.

"Xander," I said with somewhat of a forceful tone. He looked up at me, "yeah Buff?" I knew what I needed to say, I just didn't know how. "You uh…" I decided to stay on point. "Listen. Plan is, you get in…get Giles and Get out as fast as you can, into the sunlight… okay. I'll be too busy killing to make sure you got out." I knew I sounded a little harsh, but he understood and nodded accordingly, "Sure thing Buff…I'm not exactly jumping at the thought to hang around. As much as I would love to see you kick Angel's ass…I'll be out as soon as I can…with Giles." He made sure to say. "Good." I said as I looked at him with loving eyes.

We approached the mansion. I wasn't sure which side was the best entrance. I knew Angel used the back more often then the front. I couldn't believe he actually liked the mansion. But then again he was Angelus now. My guess was Giles was locked somewhere towards the back entrance. Where Angelus knew I wouldn't enter first. Knowing that, that's what I decided to do. Hopefully Spike would have him distracted anyway. Angelus knew I would come sooner or later. It was just a matter of when I made my move.

I opened the back entrance, Xander behind me. Both of us ready to charge in. Just as the door swung all the way back we both heard something. "Help." It sounded like someone saying help…but I couldn't quite make it out. "Help." There is was again. I searched the dark room, making sure not to let my guard down…I knew it could be Angel playing a trick. Suddenly something large fell right on top of me, knocking me onto the floor, taking Xander with me. Still close to the entrance of the back entrance, I quickly got up and looked around; not noticing what or who it was that fell on me. Just searching the room, now that we had made a lot of noise I knew Angelus would be there soon.

Before my eyes adjusted Xander noticed what I didn't. The thing or rather I should say person that fell was Giles. "Buffy, it's Giles." Xander made sure to whisper. He was tied to a chair, with a large white cloth tied around his mouth. He was badly hurt. His face was bruised, large cuts on his brow and fingers. His clothes were torn in several different places. "Giles, oh my god." Giles looked at me in pain and relief. There was no time for hugging. Just as Giles passed out I untied him from the chair and lifted him off the floor. Xander held the back door out of my way as I got Giles out into the sunlight. Moments later Giles opened his eyes again. Breathing slowly he forced a small grin on his face. "Buffy. Xander. What are you…?" He started saying. "Giles…Ssshhh, your okay now." I held his face, and then maneuvered his body to lean against the fence not far from the doorway, as he grunted in pain. Xander was kneeled beside us both. "Buffy…this kinda changes the plan doesn't it?" Xander said with a tad of excitement. "We have Giles. So what do we do now?"

I looked at the back entrance, door still wide open. No one was there. This was all a little strange. We found Giles just a little too fast. Something was wrong. I just didn't know what. I was just glad we got Giles.

"Something is wrong…"I stated, "You don't find it a bit weird that Giles was just right there at the entrance? Angel had to have known we would get to him." I looked around in wonder. "I'm going in. I don't know what the hell Angel is playing here, but I'm going in…I'm going to finish this. Xander get Giles to the hospital and stay there." I said forcefully. Xander started to lift Giles to his feet.

"Buffy…" Giles started to speak slowly, taking large breaths in between words. "Angel…he…he doesn't know. He doesn't know the key to awakening Acathla. He tried to get me to….say…but I didn't. I don't know why he let you find me…" his voice trailed off. "Well that's good then right?" I looked back and forth from Xander to Giles. "Wait…Giles…what is the key? You know what it is? Does Angel have it?" I questioned. His lips fought to form words. "He… is the key…his blood…will open the portal…awake Acathla…we can't let that happen Buffy."

"I know. But if Angel doesn't know that, I have a shot. If I can kill him before he even has a clue."

"That'll be a bit hard love." A voice mumbled from the open door way to the mansion. I couldn't see the man but I knew well enough who it was.

"Xander Go." I shouted turning my glare to the door way. Xander finished getting Giles to his feet, they both started off in the direction away from the mansion, Xander holding Giles up every step. "Spike." I seemed to say with somewhat of a growl. "Where's Angel?" I finished. "In the other room starting the ritual. As soon as I tell him that he is... the key right…we'll be done here…and you'll be dead pet. I just knew poor watcher couldn't wait to spill his guts. Just had to wait for the right moment love." He poured the words out with such disdain. With a big grin on his face he turned and disappeared into the dark room.

He knew. The bastard planned this. Let us save Giles so they could find out what the key was. How I knew this might happen. That whole bit about liking people was bull shit. But I still had time. I would just have to kill Spike as well now. So I followed into the dark room.

Spike was no where to be seen. As I made my way through the mansion I could hear Angel's voice chanting. He had started the ritual. Of course he knew I was coming. I saw the guard, his back facing me, blocking my entrance to where Angel and Acathla were. I seized what moment I had, pulled my sword out as silently as I could. With one swift swing I cut off the vampires head…watching the dust fly out around me. I took a quick glance around the room, sword in the ready position. I saw Angel, holding a small jar of what I assumed to be herbs…hopefully and chanting loudly in front of Acathla. Spike wasn't far behind him, holding Drusilla. Within moments all eyes were on me.

"Hello lover." Angelus smirked. "Right on time. I see Spike helped you find your way here just great." Angelus finished as Spike smirked along with him and Drusilla.

"Actually yeah he did, to kill you!" I retorted. Standing strong with my sword, at that moment not taking my eyes off of Angel. He wasn't bleeding from what I could see, so there was still much of the ritual left to do. Blood just always had to be involved in these things.

Great I thought. Three against one................ hurry Willow, I thought.