"Seven years, working with the Slayer. Seeing my friends get more and more powerful. All of them. And I'm the guy who fixes the windows. They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie. To be the one who isn't chosen, to live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes because nobody's watching me."

-Xander Harris

Chapter 26

The copper tang of blood in the air woke him, the muffled sounds of struggle clear as a bell to his ears. He rose and took a single moment to look at his surroundings. It was long enough to tell him Drusilla was no longer with him and was, certainly, the cause for the ruckus downstairs. A deep sigh escaped him even as he strode down the hall towards the stairs. As he moved he stretched his right arm, still stiff from the wound Spike had given him. Anger rushed through him at the knowledge. William had always done things to the extreme it had been irritating, so much that Angelus had seriously considered killing the young one often and at great length, but it was part of his charm. Unlike the women Spike had been a breath of fresh air and Angelus had, once, imagined that the two of them could kill with such artistry the Gods would weep in envy. Pity he'd never amounted to anything more than a common brawler who'd managed, miraculously, to kill two Slayers in his lifetime.

This one belonged to Angelus. She'd be his masterpiece, surpassing even Drusilla. That this might be the act that finally broke Spike was an added benefit. So he wasn't, entirely, surprised at the scene that awaited him at the bottom of the stairs. The Slayer was dangling in the air, curtsey of Dru, hands clawing at her throat.

"Breathe."

The Slayer inhaled as if her life depended on it. Which, it very well might have. He could appreciate this picture; William bloody and writhing on the ground, Slayer struggling and clawing, his beautiful masterpiece proving just how perfect she was. It was a shame to have to put it to an end.

"Enough." He spoke softly, with the assurance of centuries of obedience. Drusilla didn't so much as glance at him, instead choosing to shake the Slayer like a rag doll who was still gulping in huge quantities of air. Spike, alone, stirred.

"Drusilla I said enough." This time his voice cracked out like a whip. Dru dropped the Slayer, who fell in a heap onto the floor. She took a few careful steps away from the Slayer, eyes fixed only on him, before hissing into the silence, "Stop breathing."

A strangled sob came from the Slayer, white-hot anger flashed through him. In one smooth motion he was on her, pushing Dru's cold body hard against the wall.

"Stop Drusilla, if anyone's going to kill her it will be me."

"You don't want to kill her, you want to turn her. Just like you turned me but it's too late now. Too late for the both of us."

She spoke coherently; it was enough to make everything within him freeze. His Dru, his masterpiece, was incapable of this. He'd made her to be so, for her insanity to exist forever as testament to his glory. He pressed her ever harder against the stone wall, pressed with crushing force, growling in anger. She laughed, once cherished hand reaching up to cup his cheek.

"She's already chosen." With her incredible force she managed to turn his head. Held him there as he watched Spike crawl to the Slayers side, coaxing the blue-faced girl with half-mumbled words filled with as much insanity as Dru's once had.

"Breathe." The whisper came and the Slayer drew in a deep breath, Spikes name exploding out in the exhale. Her shaky hands rising to the half-mad vampire, desperate kisses pressed in between ragged breaths. Fury roared through him. Again and again she chose the lesser. Again and again she compounded her crime. It was not enough that she had made him feel human; she had then denied him for William. Stupid, foolish, crass William. Drusilla's soft chuckle reminded him of her presence, and of her sin. She'd become sane, no matter how brief this stain could never be removed. She no longer mattered.

All it took were three quick, powerful, slams against the stone to cause the she-vamp to crumple to the floor, trash to be dealt with later.

He should be nervous, shaking, scared but he wasn't. Xander Harris had known fears beyond count; His childhood more tragic than a Disney movie minus the happy ending. Meeting Buffy and being introduced to her world had been full of its own terrors, nightmare-inducing terror. He'd been scared all those times but not this time. This time there was something...different. A tickle in the back of his mind, a purpose that had crept to the forefront. Buffy was in trouble and she needed them, needed him.

Jesse cast a casual glance to the side, took note of the hardening in Xander's eyes and smiled. They'd never done this before. They'd gone against the Master and had won only because they'd caught them by surprise (and a certain blond with a penchant for fire). True they'd had training since, and taken out more monsters than he cared to count but none of them had known they were coming. Angelus didn't just know they were coming, he wanted it. He was also three hundred years strong and, for all intents and purposes, pure evil. If that wasn't enough there was Drusilla, insane childe of Angelus, who was, possibly, even more dangerous than Angelus himself. The coup de grace was that they held both Spike and Buffy, who were in God only knows what condition.

Giles stopped them to consult the vampire's book again, the maze of damp stones difficult to traverse even with their makeshift map. Jesse took the moment to consider their options. Amy was still muttering spells under her breath, dagger gleaming at her side. Xander had claimed the other dagger and Giles had contented himself with the crossbow, in his hand the weight of the sword was a cold comfort. The weapons evened out the playing field but just barely, Angelus knew they'd had training. Angel had been with them often enough to know what they could do, what each of their strengths were and that knowledge now belonged to Angelus. Jesse doubted the vampire had chosen to ignore that tactical advantage. He saw Xander reach for a can of Sterno, tossing it from hand to hand until Giles began moving forward again.

With a careless smile Xander ripped a strip from his shirt, an expert move with his hands left the sterno lid lying in the dirt. He dipped the cloth into the sterno and then pushed the can into Jesse's hands. Jesse watched as Xander coated his dagger with the stuff. He found himself chuckling; count on Xander to come up with a perfectly ludicrous way to tip the odds in their favor. He held his hand out for the rag.

"Just push the damned thing over Oz."

Jenny's voice cracked out like a whip but the teen didn't jump, just turned his head to look at her with a smile before tipping over a heavy oak table onto its side and against the stacks. It hadn't taken long to get to the school's library but every second counted right now. She was scared, horrified but it didn't matter, couldn't. Willow was setting herself up in the middle of the room, desperately trying to find her center. She knew the witch was worried; she'd never done a spell this powerful before. Still, she had a few more minutes to collect herself.

When she'd first been told that one of their numbers, an old crone who'd guarded the secrets of their clan for a very long time, had the spell she had been ecstatic. Finding out that it would need to be translated had sent her heart plummeting, it could take weeks to translate and they didn't have the time. Thankfully, by the grace of gods, the crone had a grand-daughter that was hell-bent on copying, translating, and guarding those same secrets. She'd translated the spell "Ages ago." and had, hopefully, already e-mailed the translation. She made her way towards the computers, turning one on and moving to the printer on the far end of the room as it booted, sighed when she realized that Giles hadn't refilled the paper. Two sheets might not be enough.

"Oz go get some printer paper from the cabinets in the back. Behind the stacks, third to the right." She moved as she spoke, back to the computer, pulling up her e-mail. Relieved to find that she had a new message. A quick double click and there it was.

Found out from Granny that the spell works best in its native tongue, figured you had a young witch to work with. I hope she's powerful enough, Granny says you should help out. Some of us don't have magic but just putting your energies in will make it easier on her. The translation's to make it easier on her too huh? She must be something. Good Luck!

Quod perditum est, invenietur.

Nici mort, nici al fiinţei,

te invoc spirit al trecerii.

Gods bind him; cast his heart from the evil realm.

Te implor, Doamne; nu ignoră aceasta rugăminte.

Lăsa orbită să fie vasul care-i vă transportă sufletul la el.

Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporul meu de a conduce.

Redă trupului ce separe omul de animal.

Aşa să fie cu ajutorul acestui magic glob de cristal.

Aşa să fie! Aşa să fie!

Acum! Acum!

What is lost, return.

Not dead, nor not of the living,

Spirits of the interregnum, I call.

Gods bind him; cast his heart from the evil realm.

I call on you, Lord; do not ignore this request.

Let this orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.

It is written, this power is my people's right to wield.

Return to the body what separates man from animal.

So shall it be with the help of this magic crystal globe.

So it shall be! So it shall be!

Now! Now!

Oh, and Jenny?

If you're using this on who I think you are... Hurry!

She set it to print, whispering a soft "Thank You." to the heavens and to Nadya, promised to invite her over some time to meet them all. To get to know the people she had just helped save.

"Oz the paper!"

She hit print.

"Oh, sorry guys this is an invitation only party." It was all the warning she had before Oz came flying out of the stacks and into the wall. He landed in a heap. She reached the stake strapped to her side, pulling it out as she turned to look in the direction of the intruders. There were five of them, vampires. One of them, the biggest of the lot, turned its head towards her, its yellow eyes narrowing.

"How?"

"How'd we get in?" The big one rasped. She nodded her head, heard Oz stumbling to his feet.

"Formatia trans sicere educatorum." It took a few casual steps away from her, the others stayed put. The big one was the leader, the one to watch.

"Enter all ye who seek knowledge." She translated, a sense of déjà vu filtered through her as the silence stretched before her. Then, suddenly, a soft whirr broke the silence. The Big vamp jumped towards her, she ducked and rolled just as the computer hit the ground. Oz let loose a bolt from his crossbow, clearing her way to the printer. She managed to grab one of the sheets before something collided with her back, sending her sprawling to the ground. She was quick to jump up, ignoring the pain in her back. The big one was right behind her, her eyes searched frantically for Oz and Willow. The girl was still sitting in the center of the library, eyes unfocused. Too deep into her meditation to be of any use, Oz was a swirling beast around her. Keeping the other three vampires at bay. His eyes found hers "GO!" they said. She bolted, the Big one just missing the tail of her shirt as it lunged at her.

She was out of the library and running down the hall in record time, big in hot pursuit. She'd run deeper into the school, coming across one infuriatingly locked door after another. Scared, determined and so worried about Giles and Oz and Willow and all the rest. Too worried. Something pushed her, she went sprawling. Was back on her feet in seconds, turning to punch big right across the face. There was a sick cracking sound and the vamp howled with rage. She'd broken its nose, good. She didn't stick around, turned heel and ran.

He caught up to her at the cafeteria. She slid under one of the tables as he came barreling through the doors, both of them exploding outward. She crawled, searching desperately for a weapon. A hand wrapped around her ankle, she didn't let herself think. Turned her body and slammed her free foot into the large vampire's leering face. His grip loosened and she pulled her foot free, slamming that same foot against his face. He tumbled backwards, off-balance; she rolled out from under the table, snatching a long shard of broken door as she hoped to her feet. Rushing forward she offered another swift kick to his head, the vamp growling in anger and pain chest exposed. She slammed the make-shift stake into his chest, realized too late that it wasn't strong enough to break through vamp skin. Big caught her arm, pulled her upward, her feet dangled in the air, shook her hard enough to make the world spin.

"No one hurts me like that. Guy said we should bring you to him. What do you think pretty thing?" He leered at her, shook her again, "I think you're mine pretty girl. Haven't had a pretty girl in a long time, wife too fucking straight to let me have any fun. Showed her, I'll show you too."

She struggled, tried to kick out, but his reach was long. She couldn't connect, he smiled up at her, and yellow eyes flashing as he reached up to cup one breast in the palm of his hand. Jenny froze.

"Now you get it. Gonna make you pay for what you did, gonna tear you in half while I bleed you dry." He pulled her close; inhaling the air around her like a wine critic would a glass of the deepest red. She'd be damned if she let it happen, this thing would never touch her. With all her strength she shot out a kick to his groin, taking satisfaction in the howl of pain that erupted from him, even as his beefy hands wrapped around her throat.

"BITCH!" She felt something pop.

Big dropped her body unceremoniously to the ground, still clutching at himself in lingering pain. With a vicious grin he tore the paper from her lifeless hand, not bothering to read it and took off out of the school and into the night.

Oz was terrified; Willow wasn't moving, trapped in her own meditations, and the three vamps were gunning for her. He'd planted himself in front of her, dagger glinted silver as he spun and twisted slashing at the vampires like a human whirlwind. Kept them at bay but he was no Slayer, he was tiring and all he could think was that Willow was defenseless behind him. That if he fell they'd get her, hurt her. Pain flared from his leg, one of the fledglings getting in a lucky shot and leaving an inch wide gash across his foreleg. His hand lashed out instantly, dagger cutting into the side of the vamps neck. Pushing all his weight into his the weapon it ground through bone and vampire dust went flying.

Took him too long to regain his balance.

He was pulled forward, the force of the vamps knee smashing into his stomach enough to crack ribs. He gasped in pain, sent sprawling backwards once again, head hitting Willows motionless form. His struggle to rise halted by a soft hand against his shoulder.

Willow pushed him back down, eyes examining him with black ice. The two vampires rushed towards them and Willow did nothing more than raise her right hand before her, palm flat as if resting it against a wall. With a small push the two vamps went flying backwards, one of them landing just right on one of the upturned tables and disappeared in a cloud of dust. The last fledgling scampered backwards until his back touched the far wall. Without warning his dagger, lost in the melee, slashed through the air thudding into the wall and through the quickly dusting vamp.

A soft sob escaped Willows throat and Oz wrapped her in his arms. Brushing soft kisses against her hair, rocking her as she cried.

"It's ok baby. We're ok." It was a mantra of reassurance for the both of them. He struggled to focus, to push himself away from her. She clung to him for a moment and he squeezed her hand hard.

"I've got to find Jenny, Will." Her eyes widened, shined with tears and then pulled back. Nodding her head, breathing deeply, she collected herself. Later would be enough time for a breakdown, their friends were still in danger. Oz took off running and found her, lying there, eyes unseeing and head twisted wrongly. Tears streaked down his cheeks, a wail of anguish held back only because he knew Willow would hear. Even from this distance.

"Jenny." He took tentative steps towards her, "Oh god I'm-" Falling to his knees he pressed a still warm hand against his cheek, "I'm sorry Jenny. So sorry. Giles, he'll be- I'll take care of him ok? I'm sorry" He laid her hand down against her chest, placed a hand gently against her eyes. Blood caught his attention, pooled not far from where he was crouched beside her. A quick glance confirmed it wasn't hers. He glanced back down at her form, a vicious smile curving across his face as he closed her eyes for the final time.

"You made the sonuvabitch work for it." It was the best eulogy he could give. He blocked her out, blocked the pain, and searched but he didn't find the paper she had tried to protect. The vampire had taken it. He came back to Willow clutching a single sheet of paper in her own hands. She glanced up at him, then past him waiting. With a shake of his head he told her what he couldn't say. She paled visibly, thrusting the paper forward.

"I-I I ne-ed the trrranslatioon." She took a deep, hitching, breath, "I can't do it. I can-n't." Oz rushed forward, grabbing her by the shoulders and giving her a little shake.

"You just jedi-ed two vamps into dust. You can do this."

"But I have to know what it means OZ!" Her words verging on hysterical. Oz kissed her, hard, all his faith in that bruising kiss, "You don't need to know what it means Will. You know what it does." He held her eyes with his own, saw the cloud of despair and doubt fade. She straightened under his arms, her right hand reaching up to squeeze his left quickly,

"Help me set this back up; we've lost too much time."

"Yes ma'am"

They'd found Angelus holding Buffy's head under a bucket of water, one hand lashing out as Spike flitted towards him in an attempt to free the blond slayer who was struggling limply. It had been a thing of beauty to watch Giles, eyes burning with protective rage and bloodlust, let loose a cross bolt into the arm that was holding Buffy underwater. Angelus released her with a howl of rage and pain. The glare giving way to a smile.

"Well looks who's here." Spike jumped him from behind and then chaos.

An unseen vampire let out a screech, her body crashing through them to swoop onto Spike. They'd rushed in. Giles and Amy remaining behind to cover the exits, flinging sword and cross bolts towards the two brunette vampires. Spike struggled against Drusilla, all the screams silent for these precious few moments. The demon coming to the forefront, slamming its head against hers and shoving her off with a push without registering pain. He jumped to his feet and launched himself at Angelus again, an elbow cracking down against his unsuspecting face. Angelus stumbled, hand shooting up to his face, eyes flickering over Spike a split-second before unleashing a fearsome roar.

Jesse stabbed him through the gut from behind. Angelus howled as the sword was pulled back, flames licking at his clothes and skin. Spinning around, one fisted hand hitting Jesse across the shoulder and sending him flying backwards, Angelus dove for the bucket of water, the one he'd been drowning the girl in that had been meant only to soothe her thirst. He'd wanted to hear her screams for eternity, upturning the bucket over himself the flames died and he earned another cross bolt to the leg courtesy of a seriously pissed off Watcher.

Spike had made to lunge at him but Drusilla gripped him again, nails leaving bloody trails as she raked them against his cheek. He caught her wrist, pulling her forward and the voices and the memories and the pain back. He raised a leg and kicked her squarely in the stomach. She stumbled against Angelus, took a swipe at his chest as he pushed her slamming his head against hers. She stumbled back but he was beyond thought. Thinking would bring memories back.

Xander had slid into the chaos, straight to Buffy's side. She wasn't moving.

"C'mon Buffster." He pulled her up, twisting her into his arms, "C'mon." It was a fierce whisper. He pressed an ear against her chest, forcing the sounds and the battle out of his mind. Nothing. No heartbeat. Xander felt something inside him clench.

"No. nonononono. Wake up Buffy. Get up." He laid her on the ground, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to figure out what to do. Panic suddenly over-come by icy calm. He took a quick, measured breath.

"Please don't hit me." He whispered desperately and lowered his lips to hers.

Angelus wasn't sure what the boy was doing, his agony held back only by his icy-fury. He marched towards the boy, only for a sword to slash down inches in front of his face. He glance at the would-be hero and smiled viciously, "Ah, lunch." Knocking the sword out of Jesses hand and drawing his attention away from Xander desperately giving Buffy CPR.

Give him back his soul. Make this Nightmare end. He might be an idiot but he's one of us.

"Quod perditum est, mort, nici al fiinţei,te invoc spirit al trecerii."

Willow allowed those thoughts, that conviction fill up her mind. The spell flickering, growing, pushing against some boundary in the depths of her being. She couldn't lose it. Her face remained impassive, inwardly she felt for that which was struggling within her.

Give him back his soul.

"Gods bind him; cast his heart from the evil realm. Te implor, Doamne; nu ignoră aceasta rugăminte. Lăsa orbită să fie vasul care-i vă transportă sufletul la el."

She could feel Oz, his will so aligned with hers. Felt the power rush through her like the river rapids.

"Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporul meu de a ă trupului ce separe omul de animal. Aşa să fie cu ajutorul acestui magic glob de cristal."

Make this Nightmare END!

"Aşa să fie! Aşa să fie!"

He's one of us. Stupid as he might be, he's still one of us.

"Acum! Acum!"

Drusilla felt a shift, eyes breaking away from Spike long enough to look towards Angelus. A boy dangled in his arms, blood falling in little rivulets down his shoulder and neck where Angelus was pressing his face. Saw his body twitch, saw the girl leave her post as she screamed obscenities towards Angelus, tears streaming down her face. She turned back to Spike, angered that she couldn't take him with her. He would fight her now, they had done something to him but she would make him better one day. Just like she was better now. She allowed her guard to drop, allowed him to let loose another devastating kick but she was prepared this time, she jumped up over the kick and ran towards the exit. Spike rushed after her and then stopped as she made her way up the stairs. Like a dog reaching the end of his leash.

What he'd heard was Buffy coughing out a lung-full of water, dry-heaving, heart racing, alive. He turned towards her, for a moment as he had been when he had first seen the bint, and could only smile before the blackness and the memories returned with a vengeance. He collapsed onto the ground.

Amy was screaming, searing the fog in Angels mind. He felt something in his arms, something warm and wet in his mouth. Pulling back in shock and disgust he realized he had Jesse in his arms. Amy was banging against his back.

"Let him go, let him go."

He couldn't think. Couldn't process what he had just done, knowledge warring with a way to make this right. To deny what he had done.

"I can save him. I can." He whispered vehemently, Amy stopped beating against him. The world stopped within the room. Without thought he pressed Jesses head against his injured arm, forcing the boys mouth open and pushing hard enough that the near-dead boy had no choice but to swallow the vampire's blood.

Shouts of protest all around, Giles latching himself to Angels arm in an attempt to pull it away from Jesse. Xander leaving the heaving, gasping, Buffy's side to catch Angels other arm so he could get to Jesse.

"Stop it! Stop!"

"I'm Angel." The brunette vampire mumbled, "I'm Angel." Repeating over and over like a broken record until he, and Jesse with him, collapsed to the ground. Xander, Amy and Giles stood frozen as statues for a breath before the men pulled Angels prone form from Jesses body. Amy flung herself down onto her boyfriend, crying silently against him, peppering kisses against his face. Xander moved down to her side, tears streaming from his eyes even as he pulled Amy away from his best friends body and into his arms. Giles turned away from the sobbing teens and went to Buffy's side.

"Are you all right?"

"No." She whimpered weakly, brain too foggy to understand what had just happened around her. She looked up into her Watchers face before he, like Xander, pulled her into his arms. Hugging her fiercely. Buffy returned the embrace, nearly crushing him when her eyes finally found Jesse lying on the cold ground unmoving.

"What happened?"

Giles sighed wearily, "We lost." He said simply and returned her hold ten-fold.