"I can't believe you managed to get them all on the same page." Willow shook her head and stared wide eyed at Buffy. "Those demons don't bother humans, but they don't like each other very much."
"They are learning. Common enemies will do that." Buffy sighed. "I'm just glad we've got a safe base set up now. The Kragleth clan rents these houses out to humans for money. They were quite happy to lend me this one for free."
"Spike seems happy about it." Willow watched as the vampire moved around the large space, moving the furniture into proper positions. "Oz just set his guitar down and flopped down on the bed for a nap."
"He's probably wiped. He's been on alert for a while." Buffy smiled. "He's been super and I'll need his help with the shifter community tonight. Let him rest."
"What about Spike? He's been on alert longer." Willow watched as the vampire in question moved the couch for the ninth time.
"He has the vampire equivalent of ADD." Buffy grinned. "He just needs a little redirection every now and then."
"Are you going to be redirecting him anytime soon?" Willow sent her a sly smile.
"No way." Buffy gestured around the room. "He's good at this stuff. It looks comfortable, but the furniture placement is all tactical. We can use it as cover if there's an attack. He's put the bigger pieces where we should hide weapons. It's brilliant. No wonder he was always so damn hard to kill."
Spike looked over at Buffy, locking their gazes, and nodding. His quick smile warmed her down to her toes.
"Even so, you've come closer than anyone else." Spike tilted his head. "Can't prepare for you. Can't outthink you."
"Gotta keep you on your toes." Buffy grinned.
"Prefer it if you kept me on my back, Love." Spike winked at her. "I'm about done here. We need to get your weapons."
"Most of my stuff is at Giles' place. My swords needed sharpening, and it looks funny to the other students to see me taking a whetstone to my claymore." Buffy blushed. "Plus, it makes Giles feel important. We can get my spare trunk from Mom's. It's got five axes, three cross bows, fourteen swords, holy water vials, and lots of Xander carved stakes. Those have to be sanded. I always get splinters."
Spike snickered and shook his head.
"Don't laugh." Willow warned him. "She's an absolute baby about splinters. She cries, refuses to look, and jerks her hand away every time you get the tweezers just right. It's uncanny."
"I'm not that bad." Buffy shoved Willow playfully.
"I've seen her stabbed, beaten, and still punning." Spike eyed his mate. "Her weakness is splinters. Of course it is."
Xander watched Angel sniff the air, trying to follow Buffy's scent. It was creepy. He didn't care if the walking corpse did love Buffy. Deadboy sniffing the scent of her blood was just wrong on so many levels.
Giles grimaced as they moved into a more residential neighborhood. Xander nodded toward him.
"What?" Angel snapped.
"Why would Spike have brought her here?" Giles glared at the vampire. "This is hardly his kind of area. Perhaps we are following a false trail."
"Spike's areas would surprise you. He was always the best at going to ground." Angel shook his head and smiled fondly. "He had to be. He caused the most trouble as well."
"I don't really give a shit what Spike used to be like." Xander shoved himself between the other two males. "Buffy is out there. If she's still alive, we have to rescue her."
"We do grasp the situation, Xander." Giles frowned. "But locator spells aren't working. Angel's senses are our best bet."
"If you are looking for Buffy and Spike, you should try the Bronze tonight." A demon with huge cat like eyes hopped toward them. "You're Rupert Giles. Spike told me to tell you no weapons. Buffy's had enough pain."
"Where are they?" Angel slipped into game face and turned his amber gaze on the smaller demon.
"Angelus." The demon bounced nervously. "Spike said you can suck his most male appendage. He would never trust you to treat a lady right, and you are not welcome in his home."
"Don't hurt it." Giles grabbed Angel's arm. "His kind are mostly harmless, but they vomit a corrosive acid when threatened. It might not kill you, but it would most likely incapacitate you for some time. I believe Spike picked our messenger with great care."
"Spike did not pick me." The small demon smiled. "I am the emissary of the Slayer. She is most wonderful and fierce. She sees the value in us all."
"No, Buffy slays demons." Xander growled.
"A human caused her pain, many humans hurt her. She does not hide this. She came to you and you used her own weapons against her. We will not do such a thing." The tiny demon hit his own chest. "We are her allies."
Xander opened his mouth to argue but saw Giles' quick shake of his head, and stopped.
"Buffy's no fool." Angel grimaced. "He came through the sewers. There's no good way to track him back to her down there."
"Please express my sorrow to the Slayer." Giles bent his head toward the small demon. "I will join her at the Bronze."
The demon smiled and ran down the street, sliding down into the sewers through the storm drain.
"Why did you let the little guy go?" Xander looked at Giles and the older man's face crumpled.
"I shot my slayer. I love that girl more than anything alive, and I almost ended her." Giles ripped his glasses off and began polishing them. "I betrayed her again."