Buffy paced through Willow's room looking at the evidence of the battle. They hadn't been able to put up much of a fight. She felt her body start to quake. She had hoped to find them happily smooching, but now, she felt the pain lancing through her body as she thought about what Angelus had done to her, what he might be doing to them.
Spike grabbed her shoulders and rubbed his hands up and down her upper arms. It was comforting and bracing. She leaned back letting her body rest against his chest. She let her eyes close for a moment, trying to find her center.
"Buffy, what the hell are we supposed to do?" Xander shook the drawing Angel had left on Willow's bed. "What the hell is this?"
Buffy opened her eyes and looked at the drawing of her own limp body hanging from the chains and grimaced. "It's a reminder." She pulled away from Spike and wrapped her arms around her middle.
"He wants her panicked and scared." Spike shrugged. "Hell, he wants her back in those chains. He's using them for bait, I'm guessing. They didn't put up much of a fight. He must have brought enough minions to make escape impossible, so he left that to make Buffy weak. He wants her to relive it."
"What do you mean relive it?" Xander glared at Spike.
"That's part of what Buffy went through. I'm sure he has a whole series. He wants her thinking about the pain. He wants her to rush in without thinking in a panicked state. She's weaker then, easier to fight. He's lazy. He likes easy pickings and no risk." Spike shook his head and watched Xander pale. "He loves mind games."
"I had no idea he tied you up and beat you. Buffy, I'm sorry." Xander looked at her with such grief in his eyes that she laughed.
"I wish it had been just a beating." She turned her body around and looked at Spike. He came to her and she nestled into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against the top of her head.
"It's alright, luv. You survived. We'll get Willow and Oz back. I'm rather fond of him. He's the only one of your friends that hasn't been insufferable. Don't worry. We'll get them back and then you can burn that little doodle of his." Spike pressed another kiss to her temple and felt her shudder as she pulled herself back from the pain.
Xander grabbed a bag and put the four books that were magic related in it. He looked around the room and tried to think of what else they might need.
"Grab some sweats and tees. I'm willing to bet they won't have clothes anymore." Buffy pointed at the closet as she took charge of Xander. Spike closed his eyes for a moment and Buffy felt his body tense.
"We don't have time for an elaborate plan. We get in and do a quick grab and dash. We've got to keep the goal in mind. Save Red and Oz. Keep the fighting to an absolute minimum." Spike pushed her back and stared into her eyes.
"We are going to need to do this fast. Did her parents leave a car before they headed off to do the whole Doctors Without Borders thing?" Buffy asked Xander as she pulled away from Spike's embrace.
"Yeah, there's a car out in the garage." Xander watched as Buffy picked up the stake from the carpet and stuffed it up her sleeve.
"Do you know where the keys are?" Buffy asked him and pulled out Willow's drawers and reached into the bottom of the dresser pulling out a tiny blue leather bound book. "She snagged it from Giles a couple of weeks ago. It's probably what she came after."
Spike watched her toss the book to Xander. She stood back up and looked around the room. "How did he get in?"
"She moved out. Her parents have run off. There's no one here to power the barrier. I felt a tingle when I passed through the door, but that's all. I should have thought to warn them about that." Spike stared at the ground feeling his gut twist again.
"You couldn't have known. No one can think of everything." Xander said. "You told us to stay in the houses and tunnels. You provided us a safe place to live, not a guarantee."
Buffy smiled at Xander as she rubbed Spike's shoulder. It wasn't a declaration of acceptance, but as a first step it was impressive. Buffy leaned her forehead against Spike's neck and drew a deep breath. His scent calmed her. She pulled back and surveyed the room again looking for anything she might have missed.
"He's had them for about an hour. He can do a fair bit of damage in that amount of time. Does Willow have a first aid kit?" Spike asked as he started to rummage through the drawers Buffy had left pulled out of the dresser.
"Under the bed." Buffy pulled the kit out. "We need to get moving. Xander's going to have to drive the car while you and I get in and grab them."
"If he's killed them we leave." Spike locked eyes with Buffy. "We can't afford this fight right now. Neither of us is really ready for it. We go in, save them if we can, and get the bloody fucking hell out. Are we on the same page?"
Buffy nodded. "I want to burn his mansion to the ground with his dust inside it, but I get what we have to do. I was thinking the same thing."
"We need to call Giles and let him know we'll be coming back with wounded if this works." Xander grimaced and looked into the bag trying to hide his discomfort. "I mean, I should have told him right away, but, well, I hate it when he looks at me like I'm a disappointment. He's been pretty pissed at us all since dinner. I didn't want to make it worse."
"Well, this is worse, but he'll be fine. I'll call." Buffy patted Xander on the back as she stepped out of the room. "Find the keys, so we can get going."
Spike and Xander trailed after her as she descended the stairs. She felt the rush terror as she took each step. "Xander, you give us ten minutes and then you leave. If we aren't out in ten, we won't be coming out at all."