Chapter 13: Old Friends Unite

******Stark Industry*******

After connecting with Jane and Dr. Selvig, Willow had been trying calculation after calculation, trying to figure out a way to open a portal to Asgard. She'd finally relocated to Tony's lab to work. Tony and Dr. Banner were assisting her. Banner was doing the math while Tony worked at the science and Willow the magic. However, Willow found all of Tony's many questions more than a little frustrating. Tony finally stopped asking questions when Willow froze him with her magic for a solid ten minutes. Banner had been enjoying the peace and smirking at Tony in amusement when Pepper came in. JARVIS had tattle-taled. Willow released him only after he promised to quit distracting her with dumb questions.

Although Tony found it a bit insulting to have his inquiries referred to as dumb, he knew Willow was trying not to panic over Dawn's fate. If it was Pepper Thor had nabbed, Tony knew he'd be just as upset. Buffy and Xander were pacing outside the lab.

"Buffy, I need to tell you something," Xander said, finally working up his courage.

"What?" Buffy asked distractedly. She didn't stop her pacing. Xander grabbed her hand. She looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"

"You mean besides the obvious?" Xander asked with a smirk. Buffy rolled her eyes. "I need to tell you something. Something Dawn and I should've told you sooner. We were just waiting for the right time."

Buffy frowned. "What do you mean? Tell me what?" she asked.

"Dawn and I...Well, we're sort of dating," he said, bracing himself for her reaction.

"Sort of dating? You're sort of dating my sister?" she asked in a raising voice. She immediately called out, "Willow! Willow!"

Willow hurried to the doorway. "What's up?"

"Xander just told me that he and Dawn are sort of dating. Did you know anything about that?" she wondered.

Willow looked surprised. "Seriously? You and Dawnie? Since when?" she asked, stepping into the hall.

"About six months," Xander confessed, looking guilty.

"You've been dating my sister for six months and you just now are telling us?" Buffy demanded, outraged.

"I'm sorry! We didn't know at first if it would last. Then we didn't know how to tell you," Xander said.

"How much dating have you done?" Willow asked.

"You're having sex with my sister!" Buffy exclaimed as she realized the implication.

Xander looked guilty. "Well, it's been six months," he said.

Buffy clinched her fists, resisting hard the impulse to slug him. "How could you not tell me?"

Willow gave him a hurt look. "How could you not tell me?" she asked. "How could Dawn?"

"It was weird! I mean she was like my sister. Then she suddenly wasn't. I was a little freaked out," Xander admitted.

The three long time friends stood there looking at one another in silence a moment. Finally, Xander said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. We fell in love. I love her."

Willow's romantic soul gave a sigh, and she moved to hug him. "You should've told us," she scolded. But she was happy for them. When she looked up, Buffy was gone.

Xander looked disappointed. "I guess she's not okay with it," he said.

"She's not okay that her sister and her best friend saw fit to keep something like that from her," Willow said knowingly. "She'll come around."

Buffy went up to the lobby. Kennedy was coming in. "Any change?" she asked Buffy.

"With the portal, no," she said glumly.

"What's wrong?" Kennedy asked.

"Xander just now saw fit to inform me that he and Dawn are a couple and have been the past six months!" Buffy said crossly.

Kennedy winced. "Ouch. Well, at least your sister is dating someone you approve of this time," Kennedy pointed out.

"So not the point," Buffy grumbled. "Did Giles' witches uncover anything that could help?"

"No. Giles did suggest that you call Angel. His friend Illyria may be able to help," Kennedy said.

Buffy's eyes widened. "Why didn't I think of that? Illyria. Of course!" she exclaimed, getting out her cell and hitting #5 on her speed dial. No matter the changes in their relationship over the years, Angel was still someone she knew she could always call when a need arose. They didn't always agree. Angel saw the world in grays a bit too much for Buffy's taste. She still didn't get how he and Spike had remained together all these years. When Spike came back to life, he never came to Buffy. He'd been given to Angel by some mystical powers. When Angel's team had succeeded in bringing him back, he'd stayed with Angel. Sometimes Buffy wondered if things might've been different if he'd joined her in Europe. However, she rarely wasted time on regret.

"Hello?" Angel said.

"Angel, it's me. I need you," she said, drawing comfort from the sound of his voice. No matter how much things had changed, she still drew strength from him.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"New York City. Stark Industry," Buffy shared.

"Lofty circles these days," he said, a smile in his voice. "Spike and I will be there as soon as we get the jet ready."

"Actually, I was hoping you could bring that blue-haired friend of yours, Illyria. I need someone that can travel to another realm. Thor kidnapped my sister and took her to Asgard. Willow's trying to figure out a way to get there, but it's slow going. I'm going nuts!" Buffy complained.

"We'll bring Illyria," Angel said without hesitation.

"I should warn you. The head of SHIELD is involved with this. If you come, you'll be on his radar," Buffy warned him.

Angel chuckled. "Too late for that. He's already tangled with us before. Illyria refused to go with some agents last year who tried to get her to go in for analysis and questions. She wasn't very nice," Angel said.

"She didn't kill any of them, did she?" Buffy asked in concern.

"No. She doesn't usually kill humans," Angel said. "I'll bring her to you."

He said goodbye and looked up at Spike. "We're going to New York City. Dawn's been taken. Buffy needs us," he said.

Spike smiled eagerly. "She does?"

"Go get Illyria. Dawn was kidnapped by an Asgard," Angel said.

"Really? Loki is back?" he asked excitedly.

"No, the other one. Thor," Angel said. He dialed the number to the hanger where their plane was kept.

"Thor? Thor took Dawn? Why?" Spike asked in confusion. Thor was supposed to be on their side.

Angel finished relaying instructions and then hung up. "Does it matter? Buffy needs us. You know how important Dawn is to her," Angel said simply.

"She's important to me, too," Spike said quietly. Dawn had been the first human friend he'd ever had since becoming a vampire. She'd never saw him as a monster even when he was one—only the chip keeping him from ripping out her throat. His desire to have Buffy look at him the same way had compelled him to fight for his soul. But Dawn had saw the potential in him before Buffy. Her simple acceptance had meant a lot to him.

"Then let's go," Angel said, striding out of the room.

*******A Few Hours Later*******

Willow threw up her hands in defeat. "I can't do it! I can open portals in this realm, but I have no idea how to get to a place I've never been to!" she exclaimed in frustration.

"I can't believe you managed to open up a portal to England," Tony said in bemusement. If he hadn't seen her do it, he wouldn't have believed it. She'd brought her friend Giles through to help.

"The problem is our books deal with the supernatural in this dimension. Slayers are created to safeguard humanity on Earth. This is outside our scope," Giles said with a sigh.

"I'm sure Thor will bring her back in one piece," Tony said.

"We don't know that," Giles said. "We know very little about Dawn's history or origin. We don't know if she has some purpose or role outside of opening hell dimensions as the key. If Thor's father is ruler of the nine realms, I'm sure protecting those realms would be a priority over safeguarding the human form of the key."

Tony hadn't considered that. Alarms began to go off in the building. "What's going on JARVIS?"

JARVIS accessed the video feed in the lobby.

Fury had left several of his agents to be on hand at Stark Industry. Three of them immediately recognized Illyria. They had a capture on sight standing order for her. It was their attempt to do so that caused the problem.

Angel sigh in frustration. "Buffy's not going to like this," he said to Spike as they watched Illyria cut through the three agents and a team of security guards that arrived.

"Well, she should've made sure we had a warmer greeting," Spike said. He perked up as a very attractive women began to engage the former hell god. "Don't hurt her, Blue. She's too pretty!"

"Stand down," Natasha ordered. Clint was next to her.

"Your humans attacked me," Illyria said with a haughty sniff. She thew a punch that connected with Natasha's jaw. Clint shot an arrow at her that she easily deflected.

Buffy finally appeared, flanked by Fury and Captain America.

Spike grinned and waved. Buffy fought back a laugh as she saw her two favorite vamps sitting back and letting Illyria knock down anyone that attacked.

"Stop!" Buffy called out in a loud voice. She quickly made her way to Clint's side and pulled his arm. "Those are my friends. I called them here."

Natasha got to her feet. "She's on our capture list," she shared.

"I don't care. I need her. She may be the only one that can help us," Buffy said. She quickly made her way to Angel and Spike, throwing arm around both men.

Tony's voice called out over the PA system. "Back off from our guests. Happy, they are invited guests. Do not engage. Repeat. Do not engage. Buffy, bring your friends down to my lab," Tony ordered. Happy helped a guard to his feet and stepped away, eying the guests warily.

"Who's that?" Spike asked, gesturing up to the sudden voice.

"Tony Stark, my boss," Buffy said.

"You work for Iron Man?" Spike asked excitedly.

"You know this woman?" Nick Fury asked, stepping forward and pointing to Illyria.

"I called her here. She's my friend," Buffy said. A time or two the women had fought together. She didn't really know her, but Buffy respected strength as did Illyria. They'd come to an agreement.

Angel stepped forward. "I told you if you didn't rescind your orders regarding Illyria, you'd regret it. She isn't your business. She's mine," Angel said coldly. After the Senior Partners had unleashed all manner of hell beasts on Angel in Los Angeles a few years earlier, they'd come on SHIELD's radar. They'd try to contain Illyria, who hadn't reacted well.

"Your puny humans cannot hurt me," Illyria said dismissively.

"Yeah, well, I have a few that might prove that wrong," Nick said, glancing at Steve.

"Rogers?" Angel asked with a grin. "How the hell are you?"

Buffy glanced between the two men in surprise.

Steve stepped forward and looked amazed to see Angel. "Angel? How are you here? You haven't aged at all," he said. He held out his hand. The two men shook hands.

"Vampire," Angel said, pointing to himself.

"You know Captain America and you never told me?" Spike asked in a betrayed voice.

"We both were in the war, Spike. You just chose the wrong side. He visited my unit once," Angel said. "I can't believe you remember me."

Steve stepped back and glanced warily at Angel. "You're a vampire?"

"Relax. Spike and Angel have souls. They fight on our side," Buffy explained. "Thanks for coming."

"Los Angeles grows tedious," Illyria said with a careless shrug. "The vampires cower and hide from me. There is none to challenge me."

"Her highness is bored," Spike translated.

"Well, I could use your help. Angel told me once that you can open portals and stop time. I need a portal opened," Buffy explained.

"This human vessal cannot contain all of my former glory," Illyria said, pointing to her body. Then she gestured to Angel. "He took most of my powers and reduced me to a fraction of what I once was."

"I had to in order to save your life," Angel reminded her, not for the first time. "You got back some of them."

She didn't look thankful for that fact.

"This woman has hospitalized over a dozen of my agents!" Nick said angrily.

"Your agents were trying to imprison me. I will never allow that," Illyria said with a glare.

Buffy stood facing Nick. "I don't have time for your petty complaints. I know you want to control every thing that happens on this planet, but you can't. The sooner you resign yourself to that fact, the easier your life will be. I need Illyria. I don't have time to deal with your issues with her. Back off now or we're going to have a serious problem!" Buffy threatened.

Pepper appeared. "Is everything okay?" she asked, stepping easily between the opposing groups with a warm, welcoming smile directed at everyone.

"It's fine, Pepper. Fury needs to get that his help is not needed," Buffy said pointedly. "Take your agents and get out of my sight!"

Steve stepped forward. "We'd like to help you," Steve said.

"I appreciate it," Buffy said, giving him a small smile. "But I don't need his agenda getting in the way of finding my sister. I have all the help I need."

Nick knew their relationship was tenuous and too new to insist. He was itching to get his hands on the mysterious superpowered blue-haired woman. However, he knew when a strategic retreat was called for. "Fine," he said. He gestured to his agents. "But Romonoff and Barton will stay." Natasha and Clint nodded.

"Steve, you can stay if you want," Buffy offered. Captain America inspired trust in everyone that met him. Buffy was no exception. He nodded. Buffy watched Nick leave with several of his agents. "Willow is downstairs. Let's go."

They all followed her downstairs to Tony's lab. Willow grinned when she saw Illyria. The two women were friends mainly because Willow looked at Illyria and saw Fred. She hadn't known Fred the way Spike and Angel did. She didn't seem to get that Fred was dead because of Illyria. Illyria had always responded well to Willow's genuine warmth and friendliness.

"You came!" Willow said, stepping forward. She hugged Illyria.

"My powers are yours to command," Illyria said generously.

"Why don't you ever say that to me?" Angel asked her with a grin.

"Hey, Angel," Willow said, hugging him. She stepped back. "I'm glad you guys could come. I'm hitting roadblock after roadblock. I can't seem to open a portal to a place I've never been."

Giles stared at Illyria in fascination. "She pulled me through one of the portals she opened," he explained.

"Good to see you," Angel said, greeting him.

"Tony, these are my friends. Angel, Spike, and Illyria," Buffy said, introducing.

"I can't believe you're working for the bloody Iron Man!" Spike said with a grin.

Illyria glanced curiously at the human. "I detect no iron on him," she observed.

Willow laughed. "He's not in his suit right now. It's his brilliant brain I'm using right now. This is Dr. Banner. He's been helping, too," Willow said, gesturing to the scientist who had moved back as soon as they came into the room.

"I don't mean to be rude, but I'm going to have to leave. The Big Guy is trying to emerge. He senses a threat from your friends," Bruce said, giving them a wary, apologetic glance.

Tony and Buffy looked alarmed. "We don't have time to deal with the Hulk right now," Buffy said. "Thanks for your help."

Bruce nodded. In spite of his resolve, his face began to morph as the Hulk began to rise to protect him from the sudden appearance of two vampires and another supernatural creature.

"Oh, shit!" Xander said as he came into the room and faced the Hulk, who was now directly in front of him.

The Hulk roared and turned away from Xander to face Spike, Angel, and Illyria. Spike looked freaked as Angel looked wary. Illyria alone remained stoic as she faced the giant green monster. Steve instinctively stepped forward to face the new threat. Sometimes, the Hulk would listen to him.

"Fascinating. The human looked frail and weak. Yet this creature lives inside of him. How is that possible?" she asked, looking at Willow.

"Science," Willow said. "Back away from him."

The Hulk reached out and grabbed Buffy. "Mine!" he roared.

The group was startled to hear the creature speak. Steve shook his head, amazed. He didn't understand the Hulk's reaction to the blonde slayer. She was far from helpless, yet Bruce's alter-ego always sought to protect her.

"These are my friends! Put me down!" Buffy yelled at him.

"That's our girl. Making friends where ever she goes," Angel said with a grin.

"Don't you mean breaking hearts?" Spike said with a snicker.

The Hulk reached out and slammed his fist into Spike, who was closest to him. Spike went airborne and crashed into the wall several feet away.

"Willow!" Buffy called out.

She nodded and chanted something they couldn't understand. The Hulk fell to the ground, asleep. They watched as he turned back into Dr. Banner.

"We had a recent problem with Dr. Banner stumbling into the hellmouth in Ohio. His energy reeked havoc on it and brought out the vamps and demons. He spent a few days there until Faith called me. Willow putting him to sleep is the only thing that seems to work. He is literally indestructible," Buffy explained.

"He comes out whenever he senses a threat to Bruce," Tony added. He looked at Xander and Steve. "Give me a hand. We'll take Bruce upstairs." The two men worked to help pick him up.

"Need a hand?" Angel offered.

"It's best you stay away from him. The Hulk senses your kind somehow," Tony said. Clint and Natasha were in the hall and stepped forward to help.

"For some reason, the Hulk side of Dr. Banner thinks I need protected," Buffy said dryly.

"I think it's kind of cute," Willow said with a grin. "You're own knight in green armor."

Spike laughed.

Illyria frowned in confusion. "Armor? I detected no armor," she said.

"His skin is like armor," Buffy said simply. "Okay, we need to get down to business. Thor met Dawn today and had some kind of melt down. He didn't explain but opened up a portal and took her with him. We're assuming he took her to Asgard."

"Why would he do that?" Angel asked.

"He asked me about her origins and if she'd always been human. When I admitted she hadn't, he took her. I don't know why and I really don't care. I need to find a way to get to her," Buffy explained. She looked at Illyria. "Can you help?"

Illyria nodded. "I can," she said. "Who is this Thor?"

"He's this demi-god from another realm. His father is a king of the nine realms. Earth is one of his realms. Thor considers earth under his protection, so I'm not sure why he took Dawn," Willow explained with a frown.

"We will go to this realm and reduce his kingdom to rumbles until he surrenders her," Illyria pronounced confidently.

"I'm hoping that won't be necessary," Buffy said with a determined fire in her eyes. "But whatever it takes. Whatever it takes."

"That's rubble," Spike corrected. "Reduce the kingdom to rubble."

Buffy laughed as Illyria gave Spike a haughty sniff.

******TO BE CONTINUED******

Thanks to one reader who gave me the idea of using Illyria for this storyline. I hadn't actually planned on using her, Angel, or Spike. For those who are familiar with Buffy but not the Angel spin-off, go to youtube and type in her name. She was a late creation in season 5 of Angel. Thanks for reading!