"Perhaps we should take this somewhere more private?"
Buffy agreed. The last thing she wanted was for Dawn or Willow to walk in on them. She crawled off of Giles, grabbed the clothing in her left hand, and took one of his hands in her right, and slowly and sneakily led him up the stairs and into her bedroom. He quietly yet firmly shut the door behind him, and turned to her.
She threw the clothes on the floor as he pulled her to him, engaging in a long hard kiss. She could feel him pressed against her. After he broke the kiss, she whispered in his ear, "We need to get rid of the rest of these clothes, don't you think?" He smiled at her, as she peeled off his shirt. They had both already been barefoot, so it was easy for him to slide her jeans down her legs. Buffy slowly unsnapped his jeans, and pulled them down his lean hips. He was so handsome, and in such good shape. Her breath caught as she released him from his white boxers, and held him in her hand.
"Ah, Buffy…" he groaned in a strangled breath. "Much more of that, and we won't get very far." She tilted her face up for another lingering kiss from him, and he pushed her back and down onto the bed. In quick fashion he dispensed with her panties, and then they were hot slick skin against skin. They both touched everywhere, felt everything, tasted each other, lost in love and sensations. Their bodies quivered and fireworks exploded as they joined and became one, with Buffy hoarsely whispering his name over and over in his ear, "Giles, Oh Giles, Giles…" It took all that was left in her to not scream his name at the top of her lungs, and he finally quieted her with his mouth on hers as they both reached their release.
They rested in each other's arms, Buffy cradling him on her chest. Neither had ever felt more at peace, or more relaxed. "I wish we could stay like this forever, Giles."
"Me too, love. Me too." And then they slept.
A little while later Buffy awoke to hot breath on her chest. Giles was gazing at her breasts, and when he noticed that she had awakened, he cupped them in his hands and lightly teased the nipples.
"I never knew you were so into breasts, Giles" Buffy teased him.
"I'm not." He answered. "I'm into you, Buffy. All of you. I love you here," he said as he pressed his lips to her forehead, "and here" kissing her right temple, "and here" kissing her left temple, "and here" placing a kiss on the tip of her nose, "and here" he said breathlessly as he kissed her throat, "and yes, here" as he lightly tasted each nipple, "and down here" as he ran kisses down her stomach, "and most assuredly here," as he found her very center.
She writhed beneath him, and he felt her clench and climax all around him. Then he rolled her on top of him, and she impaled herself onto his throbbing manhood. He lifted her up, and down, up, and down, up and down, faster and faster, until she grabbed the headboard and they both crashed into climax together again. She fell spent against him, both asleep in each other's arms within moments.
"I can't believe you were at Woodstock and I didn't see you!" laughed Spike. "Because I would have remembered your ethereal beauty." He quirked his eyebrows at her and grinned. Allison giggled into her hand.
Suddenly, Allison realized that the same song kept coming from behind the training room door. A coldness pierced her, and she stood up. "Something is wrong!" She ran to the door, with Spike at her heels. He reached the doorknob first and yanked it open. No sooner did he have the door ajar when a dart hit him in the bicep. "Bloody Hell!" he exclaimed in surprise, before falling to the ground. "What the…" and then he lost consciousness.
"Grab her!" shouted Quentin Travers to the men that surrounded her. She could barely see anything beyond their bodies crushing her in, tying her up.
"Why don't we just give her the tranquilizer too boss?" asked one of the minions.
"Because it won't work on her, idiot. Just do what I say, enough with the questions!" he growled. "Hurry up, let's move. We have to get out of here now." He led the men that held Deidra's unconscious body out the back door and into a dark van parked in the alley. They locked Deidra, Spike, and Allison to a bench with chains hanging from the ceiling of the van. Deidra and Spike leaned against each other in their unconscious states. Allison knew they must have been poisoned with the paralyzing formula. Deidra could die from it, if not given the antidote soon. Spike would eventually recover. As a vampire, it would effect him differently and eventually wear off.
What a failure she was as a guardian! How could she have let this happen? She had been distracted, thinking of herself and enjoying the company and enchanted by the souled vampire. She had let her guard down, and now Deidra would pay for it. Perhaps the entire world would pay for her selfishness. Why hadn't she insisted that they place protective wards on the Magic Box? What had they all been thinking about, to be so distracted and to let this happen? Allison burst into sobs as two men jumped into the van's front and drove away into the night.
Buffy woke first as the sunlight streamed over the bed. She was lying on her right side, facing Giles. His arms and legs were still wrapped around her, holding her tenderly. She planted soft kisses on his lips as he awakened, and they stared into each other's eyes.
"Good morning, lover." Buffy softly whispered to him. He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Good morning, love."
"Promise me something?"
"Anything Buffy."
"Promise me that from this moment on we will always wake up together like this, in each other's arms?"
"Whenever it is in my power to do so, I promise we will."
He stretched lazily, rolling onto his back and pulling her to his chest. "One more hug, and then I should jump in the shower downstairs before we are...uh...discovered here."
For now it probably was best if this stayed between the two of them. It was a private matter, a secret connection for now. In time they would tell the others. It's not that they wanted to hide, but there were too many other things to focus on now. Besides, it was new and fresh to them, and they weren't ready to let anyone else in the circle yet.
Eventually Giles got up out of the bed and threw his jeans on, clutching the rest of his clothing in his arms. He bent down and softly kissed Buffy on the mouth. "You look so beautiful just lying there."
"You're pretty handsome yourself. I wish I could join you in the shower."
He smiled at her, and told her not to tease him. "We have plenty of time for that later, love."
"Well, you better hurry, before the natives get restless. I should make sure Dawn is awake soon anyway."
Reluctantly Giles turned and opened the door. After careful inspection of the hall, he reasoned it was safe and crept downstairs to the main bathroom off of the living room. He hated to leave the cocoon of love that Buffy's room had provided, but the smile didn't leave his face, regardless. He still couldn't believe that his dreams had come true. Buffy did return his love. No matter what the future held, his heart would always remain warm because of that fact.
Buffy pulled on her robe and went to wake up Dawn before jumping in the upstairs shower herself. As she dressed and went downstairs she heard Willow and Giles talking warmly in the kitchen. Giles was making tea, and Willow was putting on her tennis shoes.
"Good morning Buffy." Willow smiled as she tied up her laces. "Did you sleep good?"
"Never better." Buffy said, and smiled with a wink at Giles. He smiled back, looking into his tea cup as a blush crept up his face. That made Buffy giggle. Willow looked up at her friend and was about to ask what was so funny when the front doorbell rang. "I'll get it." She said, leaving Buffy and Giles in the kitchen.
"Tea?" Giles asked with a smile.
Buffy snorted and poured herself a glass of juice instead as Dawn bounded in. "I'll take some of that too Buffy."
Willow was still contemplating the looks between Buffy and Giles when she opened the door, and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth gaping open.
"Hey," said the young man on the porch.
"Oz? Oz! Is it really you?"
He smiled. "Yup, in the flesh."
Willow squealed and pulled him in for a hug. He hugged back. "Willow, do you think I could come in?"
"OH! Sorry, please, do come in" and she dragged him into the kitchen. "Look, Oz is here!"
The group exchanged hugs all around and greeted their old friend enthusiastically.
"It's great to see you, Oz!" Said Buffy, pouring him a glass of juice. "What brings you back our way? Whatever it is, it is wonderful to see you."
Everyone nodded their approval as Oz swallowed his juice before answering.
"I was in L.A. and stopped in to visit with Angel. He told me about Tara, Willow."
The group got silent and contemplative, and Willow looked at her shoes. "Oh" she said almost inaudibly.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay." Oz said. "You look good. I mean, Angel told me everything that has happened and he said you were doing great now, but I just had to see you for myself."
"I'm doing fine, Oz. Thanks for your concern. But really, my friends here have been really supportive. And, you know, Hellmouth and all, keeps us all pretty busy."
She know sooner said that then the doorbell rang again.
"That must be Xander. I'll get him." Dawn exclaimed and ran out to let him in. He too greeted Oz warmly. "Are you here to help us with Deidra?" he asked.
"Deidra? Who's Deidra?" Oz asked.
"We'll fill you in on the way to the Magic Box." Buffy said. "Where's Anya, Xander?"
"She's waiting in the car with the donuts. We better hurry if we want any jelly ones."
"Race you!" Buffy quirked at Giles, and raced for the car, the rest of the gang following closely behind.
Dawn headed out to stay with her friend for the day. The last thing she wanted to do on a beautiful summer day is sit around reading out of books. Homework was for school, and she was on summer vacation. She told the gang goodbye and ran down the street to Janice's.
Willow went with Oz in his van, while Buffy and Giles took the back seat in Xander's car. Anya held the donuts on her lap, vowing to not open the box until they all reached the Magic Box. The fighting over the jelly donuts would just have to wait.
"Oz sure has good timing, eh Buff?" Xander asked as he pulled into the street heading towards downtown Sunnydale.
"Do you think Willow will no longer be gay?" Asked Anya. "I mean, she enjoys sex with women now, right?"
"Thanks for the visual." Xander said with arched brow.
"That's enough." Scolded Giles, as he rolled his eyes. He faced out his window, and began to smile when Buffy began to play footsies with him.
"Well, I for one thinks it's great that Oz is back. He'll be good for Willow. She could use someone in a couply fashion...I mean...she's seemed lonely, and especially with everything that has happened with Tara." Buffy pondered. "Any time would have been good timing for Oz. They both really cared for each other. Maybe they are meant to be." She glanced at Giles, caught his eye, and he smiled back at her before resuming his gaze out the window. She wondered what was so interesting out there.
"No one has answered me." Anya blurted out. "Is Willow still gay, or not?"
"Anya, honey, it's not that kind of decision for Willow, I think. It's not like a faucet you just turn off or on or anything."
"Well, I'm confused. I hate being confused." Anya fiddled with the top of the donut box and sulked.
Buffy decided to try and answer. "Well, Willow once told me that it wasn't about an orientation or anything…it was just about the person. Willow did love Oz, and she most definitely loved Tara. It wasn't a female/male thing or a female/female thing I don't think. It was just the person she fell in love with. Love is like that. You don't necessarily make the choice. It just happens. Love crosses all bonds. I mean, look at you two. Anya, you were a demon, and Xander…well, you're just Xander. But you love each other, even if you won't admit it." This was turning out to be quite a speech for the Buffster, but she felt all these truths becoming clearer and clearer. "Love conquers everything, including genders. And differences in ages." She added, glancing down at her and Giles entangled feet.
"Yeah," said Xander. "Like you and Angel. He was a vampire, and a century or so older than you. That must have been true love."
Buffy started. That was not what she meant at all. She looked at Giles but could only see the back of his head as he still looked only out at the passing scenery. His foot had stilled beneath hers, however.
"Angel is my past. That is over. And I was very young then." She didn't know what else to say, but she wanted to reassure Giles. She took her hand and placed it on Giles' knee. He kept his face down, but looked at her hand upon him. "A lot has happened since then, and I've grown up a lot. I've changed for the better, and realized what and who is important to me."
The Magic Box was coming into sight and Xander pulled into a parking space out front. Oz parked the van right behind them.
Anya opened her door to emerge from the car. "I still don't understand any of you humans. I hope Willow has plenty of sex with that Oz though. She needs sex." She said, as blunt as ever.
As Xander climbed out of the car Buffy squeezed Giles knee and he turned his face to look up at her. "I do love you," she said softly. He smiled at her. "I know. And I love you too. And the jelly donut is mine!" She laughed as they got out and walked over to enter the shop.
Willow and Oz walked over, but Buffy pulled her best friend aside. "Well? How is it going? Are you okay?"
Willow coyly smiled as she watched Oz holding the door open for her. "I'm good. It's all good."
"Details," Buffy whispered as she entered behind Willow. "I want details later girl!"
As soon as they all entered, they knew instantly that something wasn't right. The door to the training room gaped open, and a song was playing on the radio player.
"Where is everyone? And that's my CD player going on in back." Xander slowly walked into the training room, reached down, and quieted the music player. It was eerily quiet.
"This isn't good." Buffy said, and glanced at Giles. "Where are they? Where is everyone?"
Willow ran back into the apartment and looked around. The suitcases had been unpacked, and everything looked clean and orderly. However, it looked like to Willow that the beds had never been slept in at all.
"Hey guys. I don't think they slept here. This is bad, very bad. I feel it."
There didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle.
"I thought Spike was watching them? Where is he?" Buffy knew he wouldn't have just abandoned his post. "Something must have happened to them."
Giles was beginning to panic. He ran out to the shop and looked at one of the bookshelves. They had hidden Sulu's book amongst the other dusty volumes shelved there. It was still there. He pulled it out with some relief. "It's still here."
"Well, that's one good thing then." Said Buffy. The gang all sat down around the table to try and figure out what had happened. What were they going to do next?
Oz looked around at the faces of his troubled friends. "Willow, can't you do one of those locator spells or something like you used to do? Couldn't you find them that way?"
All eyes turned towards her. "I guess so…I could try. It's just that, I get scared when I use the magic now."
"Yeah, " said Xander to Oz. "You didn't see her. Big time scary evil. And Veiny. Not fun."
Oz looked at his ex and smiled. "I know you can do it. We're all here for you. I only know what you told me in the van about this Deidra, but that was enough to know you need to find her."
Willow took a deep breath.
"Yes, Willow. You can do it. We believe in you." Buffy got up and hugged her friend. "Deidra needs you now. She needs us. We can't fail her. I know you'll find her."
"Ok. Ok. I'll do it." She put on her resolve face and concentrated. The group watched her closely, and tensed, trying to prepare themselves for anything. The donuts sat on the table, untouched by all.
Spike opened his eyes and was greeted by darkness. It took several moments for his eyes to adjust to his dank surroundings. His arms were chained up above his head, and they ached horribly. He seemed to be chained up in some kind of basement disguised as a dungeon. Just like in Buffy's basement, he surmised. Only this wasn't Buffy's basement.
He pulled and yanked on the chains, but they wouldn't budge. They were held firmly in place, bolted into the ceiling. Oh this was so not good, he thought. He wondered how long he had been out, and remembered he had been shot by some dart gun. A man had been bent over Deidra. She had been lying on the floor. Then he had been hit by the dart. That's all he remembered.
Allison! Where was she? He struggled and pulled on the chains again. "Bloody Hell!" He screamed and yelled and roared, vamped out and used all his strength to free himself from his bondage, but nothing worked. He had to get out of here. He had to get to Allison. If they hurt her….
Suddenly he heard someone outside the door. A key in the lock. The door opened slowly, and a man dressed in a dark suit stood in the entrance. It was not the same man that had bent over Deidra. That man had been older. This man was younger. He sort of looked like that ponce Wesley, only more confident, Spike thought. If Spike didn't know that the Watcher's Council had been wiped out, he'd have bet kittens that this man was a Watcher.
"Well lookie here, it's a fancy ponce in a suit paying me a visit." Spike leered in his best vamped out face. "Lovely accommodations you've got here. Pity I won't be staying long."
"I don't know why the boss didn't let us just stake you while we had the chance." The man said in his stiff British accent. He took a step towards Spike.
"I'd like to see you try, berk." Spike sneered.
The man softly laughed. "I could pull out a crossbow easily and dust you right there if I wanted to. Actually, I do want to, but it's not up to me unfortunately."
"Who is it up to then?" He went out of vamp face, and went for the charming grin instead. He wanted to keep him talking, learn what he could, and bide his time. He had to get to Allison as soon as he could. Then they'd probably have to find Deidra. Buffy was going to kill him.
"You mean to tell me that the famous William the Bloody doesn't know who Quentin Travers is? I would think your little, what do you call it, 'Scooby gang' would have informed you." His eyes flashed with amusement at Spike's ignorance.
"I thought you looked like a Watcher Man. Thought all you ponces blew up? But I guess that would have been too tidy for us all." Spike relaxed for the moment, trying to ease some of the aches caused by his bondage.
"The Watcher's Council did blow up, and most were killed. Travers, however, protected himself with the magics. He ran his own underground group all these years right under the noses of the Council. Now I guess he has free reign."
"I don't know how you berks do it. Me, I have to be my own man, do what I want, when I want, with who I want. Don't want no one tellin' me what to do. Yet, here you are following some old guy's orders. How do you sleep at night with that tale between your legs?" Spike was hoping to rile the guy up, catch him off guard, and get him to make a mistake.
But the man just smiled a sad smile, pushing his hands into his pockets, and leaned against the wall. "I don't do it willingly. You'll learn in time. Quentin Travers is not a man you want to cross."
"Oh, sod off, Watcher. What did you come down here for, to torture me with your sad story? If it's not to kill me, then what?"
"Like I said before, the boss does not inform me of all of his plans. However, you are still alive because you have killed two slayers. Travers wants you to kill a third. I'm here to see that you do just that."
Spike looked at the man coldly, but didn't say anything.
"I know you won't do it willingly, but you have been controlled before. Not by a mere chip in your brain this time, or any material that functions like a trigger. Travers has his ways, and his reasons."
"And where is this Travers? Why does he send you to do his bidding?"
The Watcher shrugged. "He's preparing Deidra for tonight."
That got Spike's attention. Tonight? So soon? Was that prophecy thing coming to fulfillment tonight? "Preparing her for what?"
The man laughed. "Don't be coy. You know for what purpose. She is the Forgotten One, after all. Seems like you all did forget about her. Picking her up was too easy." He pulled his hands out of his pockets, and held a small dart gun in the right. He fired and hit Spike in the shoulder. "Get some more sleep, vampire. When you awaken, your true destiny will begin, and we'll all be rid of that pesky slayer."
Spike strained in his chains as he met the darkness once again.
"It's not working." Willow said. "Where ever they are, there must be protective spells around them or something. My magic is being blocked." She laid her head down on the table in frustration.
They all looked despondent. Giles opened up Sulu's book to try and find something, anything that could help them.
"Maybe I should go and search around town? Maybe I could find some clues or something?" Buffy stood as if to leave.
"No, Buffy." Admonished Giles. "You can't just go wandering around without a plan. They could be anywhere. Don't be rash."
She scowled at him, but realized he was right. She sat down and opened up the donut box. She picked up a glazed, looked at it, then set it back down. She had no appetite. That didn't seem to be the case for Xander though. He took a donut in each hand and started taking huge bites of both.
Suddenly the bell over the front door rang. All heads turned. They had failed to lock the door behind them earlier.
"Holy Crow." Gasped Buffy. "It is Indiana Jones!"
But it wasn't actually Indiana Jones. Not exactly.
The vampire slammed the door shut behind him and stalked over to the group.
"Who? What? How? Who?" Xander stuttered.
"You're Magna." Said Buffy. "Deidra told us all about you. How did you get here? It's sunny and all?"
Magna was furious. It was truly amazing that he hadn't vamped out. "Sulu sent me. He protected me. What is the matter with you people? I know you've saved the world several times over, and Sulu and Deidra had all this confidence in you. But she's not gone from me a day and you all lose her!" He glared at all of them, turning their insides to jelly.
Giles stood and faced the vampire. "I understand your anger….we…I…we'll find her. I promise you."
"Yes!" exclaimed Buffy, standing up beside Giles. "We'll find them, safe and sound."
"You are the Slayer and Watcher." Magna looked them over, up and down. "You are so small." He frowned at Buffy.
She stood up straight. "I could hit you into next week, Indiana Jones or not!"
"Buffy." Giles admonished.
"It's okay, Watcher. She's a spitfire, and that's good. And what is this Indiana Jones you talk of?"
Willow had to add to the conversation. "Oh. He's this handsome hero that saves the world from the Nazi's." She got a moony look on her face, then realized where she was and what was going on, and slunk back down in her chair.
"Willow tried a locator spell, but it didn't work." Buffy told Magna.
"I know where they are." Magna looked at the group. "They are being held at this place called the 'Sunnydale Arms' by Travers."
Buffy paled. Giles placed an arm around her shoulders to help support her. "No" she gasped. That was one place where she never wanted to return, the place of her 18th birthday trial. She should have thought of it. "Travers has used that place before." She steadied herself and looked up into Magna's eyes. "He isn't dead then, with the rest of the Watcher's?"
"Several of them survived, all of the one's in Travers' control anyway. We must go there and bring Deidra and Allison back safely at once. The longer he has them…well, the prophecy is looming over us. We need to stop them."
"And Spike." Anya added. "We should find Spike there too."
"Who is this Spike? Another Indiana Jones?" asked Magna, confusion on his face.
"Another vampire with a soul." Answered Xander. "How many of you soulful demons are running around these days anyway?"
Willow had been glancing at Sulu's book that Giles had abandoned on the table with Magna's entrance. Suddenly she thought she had discovered something. She re-read the passages carefully. "Ohhh" she exclaimed, and excitedly started up and down in her seat. "I think I found something."
The others turned towards her and Giles came to stand behind her. "What is it Willow?"
"Right here," she pointed. "It says something about the closing of the dimensions. It talks about Glory, and how 'death was the Slayer's gift' and how the 'Watcher will now do the same.' Oh, that doesn't sound good."
Buffy and Giles locked eyes wordlessly. Buffy started to shake her head back and forth.
"But wait, there is more, I think." Added Willow. "It also says something about the end of the Hellmouth will come with the bonding of the Slayer and Watcher, and that the Forgotten One will bleed. Geesh, none of this sounds good, does it?"
They all sat in silence for awhile to take it all in. Magna paced nervously around, like a lion hunting his prey. "We'll have to figure out what it all means later. We need to get her back." The emotion strained his features, and Buffy realized for the first time what Deidra meant to this vampire.
"Ok, everybody. Let's head out. It's time for us to save the world again." Buffy glanced at Oz. "Can you drive us in the van?"
Deidra opened her eyes and was greeted by Travers steely gaze. She was strapped to some chair, and not at all comfortable.
"That was quite stupid of you, daughter, to come back to Sunnydale of all places. Didn't you think I would figure that one out quickly? Now, last time we met and you jumped through the portal, now that was impressive. But this?"
Deidra had no words for this man. She closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself. She fervently hoped Allison and Spike were alright, but she had her doubts.
As if he had read her mind, Travers spoke of them. "And it was quite brilliant of you to bring the vampire to me. He will be quite useful. I have grand plans for him and that Slayer. Allison, on the other hand, will pay for what she took from me. I am not a patient man, and these years have been long in coming. She will pay for that."
Deidra tried to move, and found that she couldn't. That darn drug again. All she could do was open her eyes. Breathing was difficult, and now she realized that she probably couldn't talk even if she wanted to.
"It won't be long now. We just have one more short trip to make." He got up and motioned to someone outside the door. Two men in dark suits came in and lifted her out of the chair and onto a gurney. They wheeled her out of the room and down a long hallway. At the end of the hallway, a door was opened and she realized that she was being pushed through an underground tunnel.
"Have you ever seen a Hellmouth before, daughter?"
The man approached Spike, who was now hanging limp and unconscious from his chains. He pulled out a syringe from another of the many pockets in his tweed suit, and emptied it's contents into the vampires neck. Then he unlocked the vampires chains, and left the room, leaving the door opened in his wake. "Say goodbye to the Slayer for me, as you drain her blood." He smirked, and then went down the tunnels to find his boss and to tell him his plan was in motion.
Awhile later, Spike stirred. He opened his eyes and shook his head. His mind was a fury. "Kill the Slayer. Kill the Slayer," were his only thoughts. He stood. He had to find the Slayer, and kill her. He struggled out the door, sniffed in the air, and turned left down the dark hall. He couldn't smell her. Yet. But he would find her. He would kill her, drain her of every ounce of blood. And then his brain would quiet.
Oz parked a block away from the Sunnydale Arms. The sun was behind the clouds, thank goodness. Magna would be able to throw the blanket over himself and make a run for the shadows of the hotel. They decided to break up into two groups. Magna, Giles, Xander and Anya would search for Deidra. Magna had a sixth sense for Deidra, and Giles might prove helpful with her when and if they found her. Buffy and Willow and Oz would try and locate Spike and Allison, and then they would all try to join up and take Travers out. Other than that, they really had no plan. Buffy told them all not to worry however. "We have defeated many foes before on impulse and instinct. I mean really, how many plans have we formed and actually followed through with?"
"Yes. Like the plan to get that box from the mayor, when Faith ended up kidnapping me." Frowned Willow. "That didn't exactly go to well."
They snuck up to the Arm's front door. There didn't seem to be any guards positioned, and that disturbed them. Magna lead the way, and tried the front door. It opened easily. He took his group down the stairs into the basement. Buffy and her crew fanned out on the main floors, searching rooms in silence. It was eerily quiet. Where was everyone? Was Magna correct about this? Shouldn't there be Watcher's running around trying to kill them right now? Or demons? Or someone? It was disturbing.
Willow tried to reach out to see what she could feel. Nothing. Whatever was blocking her before was still in place.
Magna lead Giles and the rest of the gang to the basement. They found some empty shackles there. Magna sniffed the air and knew that someone had been there. He could smell it. But it hadn't been Deidra, and that was all he cared about.
While he was investigating the dungeon of a basement, Giles and the others tip toed down the hall. The tunnel seemed to stretch forever. Magna caught up with them, and paused. He placed his hand on Giles to hold him back. "It's the Hellmouth." He whispered. "I can feel it. They've taken her there, down these tunnels."
"I suppose that makes sense, since Sunnydale is full of all these underground tunnels. Why wouldn't one lead to the Hellmouth? I'm surprised there are no big yellow signs pointing, 'Hellmouth this way, one mile!'" Xander quipped. Giles just looked at him and frowned. Anya smacked him on the shoulder. "Not funny." She said.
"Perhaps we should wait for Buffy." Said Giles.
"No. I will not wait." Growled Magna. "Deidra needs me. And if Travers has her, he must be stopped immediately. We don't have time to wait."
They decided that Xander and Anya would wait there, and when Buffy and the rest met up with them, they'd follow Magna and Giles down the tunnels and to the Hellmouth. "Be careful." Xander told Giles. Giles looked at the young man and smiled wanly. "You too. And please, find Buffy. Tell her to be safe." Giles turned and followed Magna down the tunnels. His thoughts swirled of Buffy. He prayed she would be safe, and that everything would turn out okay. He didn't know how all of this was going to end, but he hoped to hold her in his arms, and make love to her again, at the end of this horrible day.
Meanwhile, Buffy and her group approached another room with a locked door at the end of a hall. This had been the only locked room they had found so far in the abandoned hotel. Buffy kicked the door in and saw Allison bound and gagged to a chair. They rushed over to her and immediately freed her. "Are you okay?" The Slayer asked, as she removed the gag.
"I think so." Allison rubbed her wrists, relieved to be free.
"What's been going on? What happened?" Willow asked.
"And where is everyone? Spike, and Deidra, and the bad guys?" Buffy added.
Allison glanced at Oz briefly. He smiled at her. "Hi. I'm Oz."
"Of course." Allison gave him one of her beatific smiles. Then she turned to Buffy. "Last night Spike and I were in the shop talking." She began to cry softly. "It's all my fault. I should have been there for her."
"Shhh" Buffy tried to soothe the Laus demon. "I'm sure you couldn't have stopped what happened. Please, go on, but hold the blame, okay?"
Allison sniffled, and tried to calm herself. "Ok. We were talking, and then this feeling came over me that something wasn't right. And I heard the same song playing over and over from the training room where Deidra was. Spike and I got up to check, and when Spike opened the door a man shot him with a dart. He blacked out. It was Travers and his men. They had Deidra already. She must have been given the knock out drug too because she was already passed out on the floor. The drugs, or whatever, don't work on me because I am not human."
"Spike isn't really human either, how come they work on him?" Asked Oz.
"Spike was human, he's part human. The drug doesn't effect him in the same way as it would Deidra. It wears out of him in time, with no permanent damage. But humans will not recover without an antidote. Eventually their organs shut down."
"So if Travers has given that drug to Deidra, she is in real trouble. How much time does she have?" Buffy asked.
"I don't really know. I don't know anything!" Allison was getting more and more frustrated. "He threw us all in this van, and when we got here to this place, we were all separated. I haven't seen them, or Travers. Some men tied me up in here, and left. I haven't heard anyone all day until you came."
"We've searched most of this hotel, and have found nothing." Buffy shrugged. "Maybe Magna and Giles have found something downstairs."
"Magna is here?" Asked Allison.
"Yeah, and he isn't too happy." Said Willow.
They informed Allison of Magna's arrival, and Willow explained to her what they had determined from Sulu's prophecy.
"It makes sense then that Travers has taken Deidra to the Hellmouth." Said Allison.
"Well, this seemed to be the last room up here to check, so let's head downstairs and see if we can find the others. I guess then we make a trip to the Hellmouth again. So not looking forward to that." Buffy frowned and looked at her friends. They all agreed.
Suddenly a shadow filled the doorway behind them. They turned to find Spike.
"Kill the Slayer. Kill the Slayer." He rushed at Buffy in a rage.
They seemed to walk for days, but Giles knew it wasn't even an hour before the darkness began to fade, and light began to creep in front of them. The light caused by torches, held by sconces on the walls. It wasn't too long after that sight before chanting could be heard. Magna and Giles huddled together to converse.
"Do you know what they are chanting?" Asked Giles.
Magna looked wretched. "Yes. It has begun. That is the chant of the ritual to open the Hellmouth. Once it has opened, Travers will somehow use Deidra to open the dimensions." He looked gravely at Giles. "Then all will be lost."
"We should wait for Buffy and the others now." Said Giles. "If we get too much closer, we might be discovered. We will be of no help then." Magna had to agree.
Travers lead his men in the chanting. They all formed a circle around the Hellmouth, and Deidra had been lain in it's center. She was not bound, but she also could not move due to the paralyzing drug poisoning her veins. Travers held a sword in his hands, and it began to glow as they chanted. The earth began to shake and sway, and Deidra could feel her skin sweating from the heat of the ground beneath her. Soon the Hellmouth's seal would be broken, and flames would shoot out from it's depths to engulf her in it's maw.
"Kill the Slayer. Kill the Slayer." He rushed at Buffy. Her Slayer instincts immediately took over as she shoved Willow and Oz out of the way, and leaped and kicked Spike in the face, landing her feet squarely on his jaw. He went down, but didn't stay down. She circled him, arms up to protect herself. She went into a defensive mode, and not offensive. She didn't wish to attack Spike. He was in some kind of trance, and she focused on breaking him out of it. "Spike! Spike? What is wrong with you!? Spike, it's me, Buffy?!" All shouting seemed to fall on deaf ears. He was in complete vamp face, and seemed incoherent. He punched at Buffy, and she blocked his furious blows as quickly as she could. Then Spike swept out with one of his legs, taking Buffy's legs out from underneath her. She fell onto her side, and Spike stood above her. "Kill the Slayer."
Willow and Oz jumped him, but he threw them off like they were gnats swarming over his bowl of soup. He kicked the Slayer over and over again in the stomach, and she was not able to get up.
"Spike!"
He stilled at the sound of Allison's voice. She approached him slowly, never taking her eyes off of his face. Then she began to glow. The glow flowed out of her and over him. His tense body stilled, and the anger seemed to leach out of him. His vamp face morphed back into it's human form. His eyes never left hers. "Allison?" he croaked. "Allison? What's happened?" The glowing stopped, and all was still. He looked down and saw Buffy lying in a heap at his feet. Buffy didn't move. She just looked up into his face. "Spike?"
"Buffy, what are you doing down there?" He reached a hand down to help her up. "What has happened?"
"You don't remember?" Buffy asked him, as she straightened herself out. She glanced over at Allison and smiled. "Thanks!"
"Wow." Said Willow. "That was some glowy magic. What did you just do?"
"I just told Spike how I felt about him, and drained the violence out of him."
"Can you do that to anyone? Because that could really come in handy later." Asked Oz.
Allison's smile faded. "It only works on people that are willing and open to me. So, in answer to your question Oz, no, it won't work on Travers."
"Can someone please tell me what in Cor is going on?" fumed Spike.
"You came in her saying 'Kill the Slayer' like you were in some trance, and then you tried to do just that." Shouted Buffy.
Spike paled. "Buffy, no, I would never hurt you. Well, not on purpose anyway. Not anymore."
"I know. That's why it is so freaky. Travers must have done something to you."
Spike thought for a moment. "No, it wasn't Travers. I've not seen him, I don't think. It was some young poofter earlier. I was locked up in the basement. He shot me with some dart again. That's all I remember, before just now."
Allison put her hand softly on Spike's arm. "It wasn't you. We know that. Now, we have to find Deidra. Have you seen her?"
He shook his head no.
"Let's go downstairs and find the others." Buffy turned and went out the door without a look back. Willow and Oz followed behind her. Spike halted, and put his hand over Allison's. "Thank you, Allison. I don't know what else to say…." She smiled at him, held his hand in hers, and together they followed the rest of the gang downstairs.
They met Xander and Anya at the bottom of the stairs. Xander explained where Giles and Magna had gone, and they all headed after them. Buffy was worried about Giles. She didn't want him to get hurt, and she hated having him out of her sight even for a moment. She couldn't protect him if she wasn't with him. Although, she knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself. He had proven that several times over throughout the years. And Magna must have been very skilled indeed if Sulu had entrusted Deidra's training to him. But things were different now with her and Giles. They were closer than ever before. And that scared Buffy. It seemed like whenever something started to go well in her life, the dark forces would find someway to hurt her or the one's she loved. Would the madness ever end?
No, it won't, she thought. I'm the Slayer. Madness is my destiny. But now I know that Giles will be there with me, always. He must stay safe.
She recalled what Willow had read that morning. Something about the Slayer's gift being death in the time of Glory, and now the Watcher would do the same? That made her shiver. Her death had saved the world. Did that mean that Giles would have to do the same this time? She wouldn't allow that. Not ever. There had to be another answer. She shivered again.
"Are you okay, pet?" Asked Spike.
"Fine. Let's just find them and get this wretched day over with."
The volume of the men's chanting increased, and the glowing of Travers sword became so bright, that the human eye pained to look at it. The Hellmouth was buckling beneath Deidra, and it's edges crinkled releasing hot steam. It was beginning to open. Deidra felt so helpless. There was nothing she could do but just lie there!
All of a sudden, the chanting stopped. Travers reached down with his sword, and sliced open Deidra's right forearm. Her blood drenched the Hellmouth. Travers coated the tip of his sword in her blood, and raised it straight into the air, with the tip extended up above his head. In a loud voice he chanted out another unintelligible phrase in some strange foreign language. The ground shook, and the air crackled. Lightning began to strike, and the tunnel's ceiling swirled into a tornado. The sky above was ripping open. The dimensions were beginning to bleed.
When Travers had taken his sword to Deidra, Magna moved. He threw himself towards Travers, only to be held up by several Watchers. He was much stronger and more skilled in fighting than them, but they slowed him down. He fought and kicked and punched his way towards Deidra, but couldn't reach her in time.
Giles too had reacted in the same manner, but without any weapons, he was powerless against so many. His brain screamed out for Buffy. Where was she?
Suddenly she was there. The Watchers went flying, and Giles was free. There was no time for thanks however. The tornado that had ripped their dimension was growing bigger and bigger.
"Do something!" Magna screamed.
Giles searched his Slayer's face. She knew what he was thinking, and she shook her head vigorously from side to side. "No." She sobbed, tears streaming down her face now. "You can't. I won't let you!" She hung on to his arm with all her strength.
"You heard the prophecy, Buffy. It's the only way!"
The sound was deafening now in the tunnel. Deidra was barely visible lying on the seal, with Travers standing above her with the sword still outstretched in his arm.
Spike could barely make out what Buffy and Giles were saying, but he could see that Buffy was distraught. "What are you two talking about?" he demanded. "What is the only way?"
They either chose to ignore Spike, or didn't hear him. Buffy continued to sob and would not let go of Giles. She fully hugged him to her now. He hugged back, but kept his face on the opening dimensions. It he was going to act, it would have to be soon. Or there would be no saving any of them.
Spike turned to Willow who stood beside him. "What is going on?"
Willow didn't take her eyes off of her two friends clinging to each other on the edge of the Hellmouth, but she did answer. "The prophecy this morning said that the Watcher had to jump into the dimensions to close them, like Buffy did with Glory."
"What?" screamed Spike. "Exactly what did it say?"
"I just told you what it said!" Tears were coursing down Willow's face now too, and she noticed Giles tearing himself away from Buffy. He had whispered something to her, and she had clenched him to her breast fiercely, but was now slowly releasing Giles, and sagging to the floor.
"Tell me exactly what it said, woman!" Spike raged at the Wicca.
"It said, 'death was the Slayer's gift' and how the 'Watcher will now do the same.' Buffy's death was her gift before, so Giles' must be the one to die this time."
Spike swore. Then he paused. "Wait." He turned to Willow, and she could tell he had some kind of revelation. "What, Spike? What is it?"
Spike ignored her, and turned to Allison. He looked her deeply in the eyes. She saw the resolve on his face, and softly touched his cheek with her gentle fingers. He smiled at her, and then turned his full gaze on Travers. He put on his full vamp face, and ran pell-mell through all the Watchers that were also gaping at the maw. He leaped onto Travers, and together they flew up into the air, and were sucked into the abyss. Thunder clapped once, and then the skies were still.
"What just happened!" Screamed Willow.
Allison looked at them all. "Travers was a Watcher. Deidra's blood opened the dimension, and her father's blood closed it."
"Just as Dawn's blood opened Glory's portal, and my blood closed it." Buffy turned to Giles, relief on her face. He held on to her with all his might.
"Where did they go?" Asked Xander. "Are they dead? I mean, Spike of course was already a walking dead man and all but….where are they?"
No one answered, because no one knew.
"Hey guys." Interrupted Oz. "We still have the problem of an opened Hellmouth here."
Oz was right. The Hellmouth was indeed on the verge of being wide open. Deidra still was sprawled on the ground. In all the commotion, the remaining Watchers ran down the tunnel, but Magna still held one fiercely in his grip. It was the young looking chap that had shot Spike earlier in the dungeon. "Give me the antidote for Deidra, NOW!" he screamed in his vamp face. The man blanched, and pulled a vial out of his pocket. He thrust it at the vampire. Magna shoved the man away, took the vial, and knelt down before Deidra. She just looked up at him, not able to do anything else in that moment. He gently held her head, opened her mouth, and helped her to swallow the liquid in the vial.
It burned her throat on it's way down, but immediately she could feel the needles of her nerves stinging her appendages. Magna pulled her up into his arms, and carried her over next to Buffy and Giles.
Deidra licked her lips, and looked up at her old friend. "Rupert." She hoarsely whispered. "You have to close the Hellmouth."
He knelt down next to her. "How? How do I do it?"
She searched his face, and she knew the answer to give him. "It's your destiny, Rupert. It's in the prophecy, 'Bond with your Slayer'. Close the Hellmouth forever. You know what to do." Deidra couldn't speak anymore. She just hoped she had told them enough.
Giles stood up, and looked at the Hellmouth. It wasn't any worse, now that Deidra was removed from it, and the Watchers were not activating it. But it was still not all the way closed. Anything could leech out at any moment if they didn't do something.
"What is my destiny?" He asked the sky. Then he knew. He turned to Buffy. "You, Buffy. You have always been my destiny. You were my life before we ever met. And you are in my heart, always. We have grown together until now we are more than just a partnership against the evil. We are one against it."
Tears were flowing down his face as well as hers now. "Trust me?" he asked her.
"With everything in me." She answered. He smiled at her, and then lead her to the seal. Holding both her hands in his, they stood in the center of the Hellmouth. He hugged her close, and nuzzled her neck, planting soft kisses up her throat, until their mouths joined and melted into one.
The gang all stood mesmerized by the spectacle, speechless and shocked. Then they all held hands, and formed a semi circle around the Watcher and Slayer, including Magna and Deidra, whom he held close to his chest.
As their kiss deepened, the Hellmouth began to glow again, and the ground to shake. Giles and Buffy were oblivious to everything and everyone however. Then Giles broke the kiss, and bent down and picked up a sharp stone lying beside the seal. He took the stone and slashed his palm with it, drawing blood. He looked at Buffy, and she held out her hand. He grimaced as he sliced her palm as well. They clenched their hands together, and their blood mingled as one. It splattered onto the seal of the Hellmouth. The ground shook violently, bringing everyone to their knees except for Buffy and Giles. They held each other up, standing strong in their bondage.
A loud BOOM filled the air, and then there was silence. The Hellmouth dissolved, and then beneath Buffy and Giles' feet was only sand. The Hellmouth was closed. The Hellmouth was gone.
Giles thought they should all go to the hospital and have Deidra checked on, as well as the rest of the gang. It had been one heck of a fight after all. Buffy's Slayer healing had kicked in, and she was fine, but the rest of them were pretty sore. Magna would have none of it however. The antidote was saving her, and a first aid kit would do the rest. Deidra's forearm was the worst, but they could do stitches themselves. Giles had enough experience in that department. In the end, Oz drove them all back to the Magic Box.
Buffy and Giles sat close together in the far back seat, with Buffy in the center. Allison was next to the window. She was very quiet, and kept her gaze out the window. Again Buffy wondered what was so fascinating outside for the second time that day. Giles held her hand in both of his, cradled in his lap. No one spoke.
As they were nearing the shop, Buffy turned once again to Allison. "Are you okay?" she whispered.
Allison smiled tentatively. "I guess so. He was quite a hero, wasn't he?" Buffy smiled. "Yes. Yes he was." She looked at Giles, thankful that he was still there beside her. She owed Spike a lot as well.
In the shop Anya went behind the counter and grabbed the First Aid kit that was kept there. She handed it to Giles and he tended to Deidra. Xander began eating the stale donuts that were still sitting in the middle of the table from the morning. "Anyone else want one?" he chocked out between bites. They all grimaced, and then someone's stomach growled. They all looked around guiltily, but no one fessed up. "I'll order pizza." Said Willow.
Magna was holding Deidra in his arms as Giles finished the stitching. "It is probably going to leave a nasty scar." Giles told her.
"I'll just add it to the rest of them." She said softly. Giles looked into her face, and saw the sadness there. "I'm so sorry." He whispered. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Deidra broke the eye contact. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Everything turned out the way it was suppose to. Besides, now that Travers is gone, I'm free, right?"
Suddenly the shop filled with light and the sound of wind. A portal opened up in the center of the room. When the light and wind left, Sulu was standing in the middle of the room, a huge smile on his face. He clapped his hands. "Well done, everyone. Splendid job. You had me worried there for a bit, but you saved the day just in time."
Everyone but Magna, Deidra, and Allison stood with mouths agape, frozen in place. Deidra, however, stood up from Magna's embrace, and walked over to Sulu. Suddenly, she was in his arms, and he cradled her close like a child. "Shhh," he quieted her. "You did well, my child. You did well." Finally she pulled back from his embrace, and found her way back to Magna's side. He put his arms around her shoulders protectively.
Sulu turned to Buffy and Giles with a smile. "Both of you performed admirably. You should be proud."
Giles took a step towards the legend. "Sulu. It's an honor to meet you." Sulu just crinkled his nose, smiled again, and nodded. To Buffy he seemed like a child, or a clown, full of mischief and good cheer.
Sulu then turned to Allison and Magna. "It is time for you to come home. Your work here is done. You can rest now, and enjoy your rewards."
Allison almost began to cry. She didn't feel like she deserved any rewards. She had failed in protecting Deidra. If it wasn't for her failures, perhaps none of this would have happened. Sulu sensed her feelings and approached her. "Allison, do you know how important you were to the cause? You are a hero as well." She looked at him, doubt in her face. "You turned Spike into a hero. He loved you, fought for you, became noble in his love for you. You reached him when no one else could. You fused him with your loving light when he was poisoned against the Slayer. If he had not known your love, he would have never came to the conclusion that Travers was the key. Spike pulled Travers into the dimensions, because of your love. He is the champion of this story, and you are his heroine."
The rest of the gang nodded their agreements. Allison smiled and stood up straighter. "I'm ready to go home now." Sulu smiled and turned to Magna. "And you?" he asked with a quirk of his lips.
Magna's face showed no emotion, but his arm tightened around Deidra. "My home is where she is." He said with conviction. Deidra turned her face up to his. A momentary panic crossed his face. "I mean…uh...if that's okay with you?" he stammered. Deidra just smiled up at him and nodded her head.
"Deidra," said Sulu, "You can come too. Your work here is done also. We are your family now, if you want."
Deidra looked at the people around the shop. She didn't know most of them, yet felt them in her heart. Giles wasn't her Rupert anymore. She knew he was happy with his Buffy. She smiled at them both. Then she looked into Magna's face. She saw his devotion there, and her legs almost turned to jelly. That decided her. She had loved Laus, and had not wanted to come back here anyway. She had to do her duty, and now that was done. There was nothing left for her here. But she didn't think being on Laus was possible. What about the age thing? She turned to ask Sulu, but he of course already knew her thoughts. "It's possible." He smiled. "I can fix it."
Deidra smiled, and then a thought captured her mind. "Could you teach me how to clap and make that table disappear now?" Sulu laughed, while everyone else looked confused. "Yes, you have many lessons before you, my child. And Magna will be quite occupied with you as well, I'm sure." Magna and Deidra both flushed at that.
"It is time we are going then. Slayer? Watcher? Be happy and content. Now that the Hellmouth here is closed, you'll have time to relax. Enjoy it. But do keep in mind, evil is always around, and it has a tendency to find and seek out champions." Buffy and Giles nodded gravely. Giles reached out, and shook Sulu's hand. It was a moment he would never forget. Then he held Buffy close against his chest, his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her head. She snuggled closer, and regarded Sulu with kind eyes. "Thank you. Thank for him." Sulu nodded, clapped his hands, and the portal opened, sucking Magna, Deidra, and Allison into the light.
"Wow." Said Xander.
"Yeah. Wow." Said Oz.
Then a knock at the door.
"Pizza's here." Willow smiled and grabbed her purse.
A moment later Deidra found herself in the barn next to her motorcycle, Magna beside her. They were home. She turned to smile at Magna, and found him wide eyed with a shocked look on his face. "What is it?" She asked. Magna looked at her, smiled tightly, and then let go of her hand to slowly walk towards the opening of the barn. It was daylight here on Laus. The sun was warm and bright. Deidra knew that vampires could not go in the sun, but for some reason she felt no fear as Magna went outside, and basked in it. He turned with a beatific look on his face. "Come." He beckoned her. "Come sit in the sun with me." Deidra smiled, and raced into his arms.
Allison found herself in the great hall standing with Sulu. It was good to be home. She breathed in the sweet smells of Laus, and smiled contently. Sulu smiled at her. "It's good to be home, isn't it daughter?" Allison nodded. Sulu put his arm around her shoulder and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Go out to the garden. I have a surprise for you there." He grinned his mischievous smile. Allison gazed up at him, and then walked down the long hall, opening the door at the end and walked out into the garden.
He was there, sitting on the bench in the sunshine. When he saw her, he stood and held out his arms. "Hello Pet. I've been waiting for you." He smiled as she rushed into his arms.
"Spike! Oh Spike. You're here! And in the sunshine!"
He laughed. "Yes. Sulu is good at the reward giving."
After clutching him closely for several moments, Allison and Spike relaxed and sat next to each other closely on the bench. "Tell me, what happened Spike? I thought…I thought you'd be dead. I mean, well, you know what I mean."
He smiled at her. "Yes, I know what you mean. But now I am alive again. Soul intact, demon gone. I'm a man for you now. That's all I want." They smiled at each other, and held hands. He furrowed his brow as he thought to tell her. "It was when Willow told me the prophesy that I realized what to do. We had all thought that Dawn would have to die to close Glory's upheaval, but then Buffy realized that Summer's blood is what did it, so she leaped from that god awful tower. So I thought that Travers' blood is what was needed, and Travers was a Watcher. It just felt right, like divine intervention. So I went for it. I wanted to keep you safe, and make you proud." She squeezed his hand tightly and he smiled. "When I leaped on Travers, all I could see was darkness and my ears were ringing. It was like I was trapped in a bloody volcano. And then, all of a sudden, there was silence, and I opened my eyes. I was in a field of green, in the bright sunlight of day. Your father, Sulu, was standing above me with a smile. I panicked at first. Thought I was going to fry, of course. But then he explained where I was, and who I was, and that you'd soon be coming."
Allison was elated, and hugged him close. "Where is Travers?" She was almost afraid to ask.
Spike chuckled softly. "He's stuck in that portal, forever lost in the darkness and wind. Bloody fitting if you ask me."
The End