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Spoilers and Timeline: Buffy up to season 2 "Passion"

Only Two

Chapter 3

The rest of the short time before the children were let out of school, was spent relatively uneventfully. After Giles and Ms. Calendar concluded their physical but chaste affections, Giles got himself cleaned up. He looked askance at the bed as he passed by, the image of Jenny's posed dead body would be fixed in his memory for a while yet.

They mostly made small talk, filling up the time until school let out. Jenny had told Giles how foolish it was for her to work late into the night in a public building. For the importance of the spell she was working on, she realized she should have gone home, where whimsically murderous vampires were unwelcome.

This gave Giles the idea to call the school and speak to Willow. He asked her if they could all meet at her house. She readily agreed, she was excited that her home was safe again, and that there would be a slayerette meeting, they never met at her house. She was bubbling with ideas of snacks and beverages and what occult books they would need from the library. Giles had assured her, there was no research to be done, just a simple chat and a simple spell. At the mention of the spell Willow become frantically excited and babbled about getting the orb, what Cordelia had derisively called "a giant marble" and the disk.

Giles reasoned that there should be as little movement as possible. Instead of his original plan to have everyone come over to his apartment for an explanation of what happened the previous night, that would happen at Willow's with the restoration ritual following afterwards.

If everything went to plan, by the night's end, the gang of three infamous vampire would be reduced to two. The key was to make sure that Jenny remained dead in the perception of those vampires. Giles had put Jenny in the backseat of his car. He asked her to keep out of sight on the drive over to Willow's, It wouldn't do to have someone tell Angelus she was alive. He hoped and prayed that it worked.

That vampire was having a rather strange day. Drusilla's incessant whining about the dead teacher and Watcher had driven Angelus to stay away from her. He figured that since he wasn't invited anywhere he wanted to go, he would have to kill someone before they got inside the safety of their house. There were so many options, Buffy's remaining friend's would be fun to kill, although Spike's earlier warning about a "brassed off slayer" might actually come to pass. He needed to kill someone who was close to Buffy, but the loss would crush her so much that she would be unable to retaliate. Angelus hit upon the perfect target, her mother, he would bide his time, wait until she got home from her job. Buffy would still be reeling from the loss of her watcher, and then to watch her dear mommy die by his hand right in front of her. It's those moments of anguish that would make him happy for years to come.

Spike was glad his grandsire was staying away, he much preferred the soul-having Angel, at least that version wasn't taking Drusilla to bed every chance he got. And rubbing Spike's face in it in the process, sometimes literally, as Angelus took a pride in showing Spike just who was in charge. And what was worse, Drusilla enjoyed the attention she was getting, never seeming to give her former lover a second thought. He knew Dru was right with her cryptic messages, he really did hope the slayer and her pals were successful in bringing the soul back, It turned Angelus into a poncy, broody, 'oh woe is me' whelp of a demon, but at least Spike wouldn't have to deal with the sadistic and obsessed version anymore. He would keep Angelus in the dark as long as he could. Oh, he would tell Angelus and see that he went to the right place, but only after it was too late. He would have Dru again, and once he was free of this bloody wheeled contraption, they could have that coming out party he promised her when they first came to this blasted town.

The core group of the Scoobies were in Willow's living room. Their significant others were also present. Along with Giles and Ms. Calendar, who were standing in the middle of the room, there was Buffy, who was sitting alone in a chair to their right. On the couch to the couple's front were crammed from left to right Willow who was next to Oz, keeping her and Cordelia separate, who took up the rest of the couch with Xander sitting on its arm. Introduction's and niceties were out-of-the-way. Giles and Jenny were preparing to tell the rest of the group what had occurred the previous night.

"Buffy, you and Xander are familiar with mine and Jenny's whereabouts this morning. Her presence in my apartment is due to a single fact. Jenny died last night." Giles glanced around the room, taking in the reactions to this last revelation.

Cordelia leaned forward, gesturing to the woman in question "She doesn't look dead."

"Yeah, you're right Cor, what's going on Giles, she's not a zombie or something, is she?" Xander agreed with his girlfriend.

Giles ignored the look Willow was giving to the couple, her animosity towards the other girl clear "Indeed not you two, she is now alive, that does not change what I said, she died."

"No Rupert, I was killed, Buffy, I'm sorry, but Angel hunted me down at the school." Jenny rubbed her neck absently.

Buffy was quick to ask "If that's true, why are you still alive?" She was happy to see Giles not alone anymore, her own single status very clear in the room. She still resented the teacher for her hidden identity and betrayal though.

"It was Rupert, he brought me back." Jenny gave the man a quick kiss, eliciting sounds of disgust from Buffy and Xander.

Cordelia rolled her eyes "Oh come on, you two, it's what couple's do, take note Xander, what was it, Ms. Calendar some clichéd romantic mojo?"

"It is kinda cute and sweet though. If that's what happened. It was magic wasn't it?" Willow looked sharply at the other girl. It was a given, If Cordelia was for something, then Willow was against it.

Giles glanced from one girl to the other, still mystified by the politics of Sunnydale High teenagers, Willow was easier to understand however, as Cordelia had been a merciless detractor of anything Willow for a while before Buffy's arrival in town "Very good, yes it was magic, though it was not of the romantic variety." Giles told them how he found Jenny's body. How everything was set up for a shock effect to force an emotional whiplash from Giles.

Buffy remained stoic and silent, she knew Angel had changed, but his true nature hadn't been shown, now it had. Xander stood up, looking ready to launch into a vindicated rant about Angel, Oz was comforting Willow as she dealt with her own emotions, she latched to a question to steady her nerves "Ms. Calendar, you know about that stuff right? Bringing you back from the dead, that's a big deal, I thought it was dangerous?"

"It's real risky, Rupert told me it was a simple trade-off spell, whatever he got from me, he would take on himself." Jenny had moved from Giles side to kneel in front of her red-headed student."

Oz interjected "But you died?"

"Yes, She did, and I thought, given the nature of the spell, that the trade would happen right away." Giles would have said more but he was suddenly confronted by an angry slayer.

Buffy was completely incensed, she so badly wanted to punch Giles, but she knew she would probably knock him out again "You didn't think to call! Giles, I can't do this alone." She moved the hug her watcher, her own feelings swirling.

"I know you can't, that's the reason Jenny and I wanted you all here, Angelus killed her for a reason, she was going to return his soul." Giles was released from the nearly bone-crushing hug of his charge. She looked at him with hope and wonder.

Buffy looked at Ms. Calendar with equal hope "Can you do it?"

"I can, tonight." Jenny's response was met by something akin to a cheer from the teenagers, except for Xander who looked about to object, but he was warned off by Willow shaking her head 'Not now, Xander.'

Angelus was hiding in the shadows surrounding Buffy's house. He had come here as soon as the sun had set. The house was eerily quiet, that was to be expected, he didn't think Buffy would up for much with what had happened last night. He figured her friends were there, keeping her company in her and their own grief. Such a sweet sensation, grief, not nearly so good as fear, but it would tide him over for now.

Joyce Summer's car pulled into the driveway and Angelus' thoughts were of the 'It's show time.' variety. She had left the car and had almost reached when the vampire moved up behind her "Hey Joyce, is Buffy around, I really need to talk to her."

"Oh, it's you again, just stay away from my daughter, your feelings are unhealthy, I swear I'll bury you if you don't go away." Joyce was startled by the boy's sudden appearance.

Angel smirked at her choice of words, moving towards her as she went to unlock the front door "But Joyce, she's everything to me."

Joyce turned back around, noting how close he had gotten to her "I'm warning you, Angel, stay away, you'll regret it." She turned back around and was about to open the door when she was grabbed from behind, she struggled and shouted "Let go of me!"

"Um, No, and your wrong, I have no regrets, where's Buffy?" Angel almost snarled, he was excited by the fight she was putting up, she had no chance of getting away, he could see why Buffy was so spunky.

Joyce was becoming scared, he was stronger than she was and seemed intent on her daughter "I don't know! She called and told me she was going to spend the night at Willow's, what are you doing..." Her voice was muffled by a hand clamped over her mouth.

"Oh, Mrs. Summers, that's too bad, I wanted her to see this, your daughter is not what she seems, and neither am I." Angel's face had changed to that of a vampire, Joyce turned her head and saw, her eyes widening in fear. She made a sudden lunge for the door, getting it open before Angel grabbed her again. The door opened to an empty house "Well, I guess she won't see my latest gift until later, she always appreciated the other ones I gave her, Joyce, see ya later." With that he bared his fangs and bit into her, hard, he could feel her body being drained 'Ah, fear and blood, so very fulfilling.'

While he was in the midst of killing Joyce, Drusilla pushed Spike up to the house, the latter vampire was concerned, killing the slayer's mother would a very bad idea "Angelus!" At Spike's surprising outburst Angel dropped the now limp body, Joyce landed partly in the house.

"Spike my boy, it's good to see you out on the town, is Dru taking care of you? She's good at that. What's with the screaming, is it my fault people in this neighborhood work so late?" Angel gestured to the body as if he was making a presentation.

Spike was fuming "Are you completely off your nut! I'm out here to tell you that your gag gift backfired, the slayer and her little friend's are elsewhere, if you could think for a second, you'd know that. And Dru tell's me they're all set to shove your soul back in, if you won't listen to me, listen to her, you have to get over there if you want to stay footloose and fancy free."

Angel felt a current of fear rush through him 'Dru was right, no, no, NO!.' without a word he tore off down the street, heading for Willow's. If it came to it he could always burn the house down, and pick off anyone who escaped the flames.

Spike looked up at Drusilla "You know, I was thinking he would get all long-winded, Dru, luv, what should we do about her?" He gestured to the body in the doorway.

"Thank you Spike, you made daddy see, though you waited too long, bad Spike, my Angel races, but he won't win. We could use her mum, in a bargain, or we could play, I could make a sister for you, would you like that?" Drusilla was looking back with an expression that favored the latter option.

Spike turned his attention to the body, he would have to decide soon, but for now, he would revel in the idea that Angelus would soon be gone.

Spike was on the right track, as, at Willow's the necessary ingredients for restoring Angel's soul were laid out in the living room. They all in their proper place. Jenny was in place to cast the spell while Giles stood looking out the window, if Angelus appeared in the front of the house, Giles would be ready, though his body was protesting with pain and lack of sleep. Buffy was watching the back, while Cordelia, Xander, Willow and Oz, were watching Jenny.

Jenny began the incantation, and Giles glanced at her, feeling and seeing the power of the spell. He marveled at her, this was why she had died. That she was alive due to his grief laden and well-nigh stupid actions left him for the moment, he could only bask in the completion of her work.

The spell was reaching a crescendo, Jenny's voice was ever more forceful, each word laced with intent and vengeance. Angel had killed her and left her for Giles, she wanted him to feel what he had done. 'Even though Rupert set things right, Angel should suffer, I might not be dead, but there is every chance that Rupert has just taken my place.'

Giles turned his attention back to the window, he spied the swift movements of a vampire fading in and out between street light's, he knew who it was. The watcher was concerned for a moment until he heard Jenny complete the curse, her voice ringing out with the last word "Acum!" Giles watched as Angelus stopped and stared at him, their expressions reflecting their feelings, one of pure, murderous hatred and the other of satisfied triumph. Giles smiled as Angelus collapsed, the soul forcing its way back into his body.

Jenny came out of the trance of the spell, and looked around, she first ran her gaze over her student's clustered nearby, the all had expressions of wonder, especially Willow, she could see the fiery intelligence the girl possessed turned to the possibilities of magic. Then as if they had rehearsed it, they all gasped. Jenny whipped her head around to look where Giles was standing, and a strangled cry came forth "Rupert!"

He was no longer standing, his body was on the ground and he was flailing in uncontrollable spasms.