A/N Part 3! Hope you you enjoy!

The drive home was simple though Aisling couldn't help but feel as though she was being tailed. She took a few wrong turns to try and shake the tail. She tried to shake the feeling of someone following her, but she couldn't.

Eventually, she parked three blocks from her house and pulled out her cell phone, but before she could she was distracted by the sound of someone knocking on her window.

Aisling gasped at seeing her. She knew who it was. Hadn't seen her since Halloween but… she'd hoped that she still had time before-

Sheila rolled her eyes and motioned with her to roll down her window.

"Oh relax. If I wanted to kill you glass wouldn't stop me" Sheila giggled her voice muffled through the glass. "I have something for you."

Aisling glared at her, "What makes you think I want anything from you?"

Sheila reached into her backpack and pulled out a book. "Mistress says that you'll need this to save her hurt Knight."

Aisling glared at her.

"Du Lac's book," Sheila said. "You want it don't you?"

Aisling stared at the book in Sheila's hands, longing for the thing that would save her father.

Sheila grinned and tossed it at her Aisling caught it reflexively and stared at the book, eyes wide and terrified as the answers stared in front of her, she looked up to see Sheila running off her laughter in the air.

She wanted to chase after her. But…

Aisling stared at the book in her hands, she closed her eyes placed the book in her backpack and continued on her way.

"Found something," Aisling said as entered the apartment. She pulled the book out of her backpack and handed it to Spike.

Spike stared at it and then looked up at Aisling. "Du Lac? Didn't—"

"She, say something about Du Lac during parent-teacher night?" Aisling nodded and sighed. "Yeah." She leaned back at the wall and sighed. "I don't want to believe a single word she says but…"

"The trouble with Drusilla is she always gives you just enough of the truth to make you want todoasshesays."

"Yep." Aisling said, "And…"

"I don't like this Aisling." Spike said, "We don't know where she got it."

"I do." Aisling sighed, "Giles had this in his library. Sheila must have stolen it and then gone to give it to me."

"But we don't know why."

"Oh, I think the why is obvious. She wants her family back together. Think it can be safely assumed that after your body is healed, she'll be going after your soul next."

Spike sighed, "Aisling—"

"I could have stolen the book myself last week. Just before Halloween." Aisling said, "But there were witnesses…" She sighed, "You're not getting better. Not really. I think…"

"Aisling."

"There's no harm in reading it is there?" Aisling said. "No harm in just… figuring out the knowledge the book contains?"

Spike looked at her. "There might." He said. "Given that if you find the knowledge, you'll be tempted to use it." He looked away. "I know you, Ash. You'd do anything to protect me. Even if goes against your moral code."

"Right now, all my morals are telling me is that saving you is important," Aisling said. "And… we don't even know if the Du Lac books hold anything bad. Just that a Watcher was holding it."

"You should give that back to Giles."

Aisling scoffed "And when he asks where I got it?" She said, "He'll think I'm in league with vampires with Drusilla."

"Keep the book and you are."

"I'm not." Aisling said, 'I'm just… using her for the moment."

"Ash." Spike said, "This is a dangerous game you are playing."

"And you're getting weaker," Aisling said. "The time for playing around passed a long time ago."

"Maybe…"

"No." Aisling said, "No. I'm not… no. No, you don't get to just die on me. Not after everything we've been through. I've lost my parents. I've lost friends. I've lost my mental fucking health. I'm not losing you as well."

Spike looked down. "Fine." He said. "We'll see what the book says." He looked at Aisling, "But I just don't want you to risk you're mind or your heart for me… or… or your soul. They're precious to me and they should be precious to you too."

Aisling smiled. "I love you too."

"Aisling!"

Aisling paused as she walked up stairs to class. "Ford." She said surprised. "Hi… what can I do for you?"

"Just… you want to hang out later? Thinking of showing you to someplace." He said. "It'll be cool."

"I don't know," Aisling said. "My dad…"

"It'll be completely safe." Ford insisted. "How can it not be with the Slayer around."

Aisling gave a forced smile. "I'll see." She said.

Ford grinned and then looked off when he saw Buffy. "Let me know soon." He said before he hurried off to Buffy.

Aisling's smile slipped from her face and she sighed.

"Buffy," Willow exclaimed as they waited for some steps. Buffy stopped and turned around. "Did uh Angel…?"

"He told me everything."

Aisling looked up at Buffy, "So you know?"

"That a bunch of innocent people were promised to be turned?" Buffy nodded. "Heard you were instrumental in getting the secret from them."

Aisling shrugged, "I know how to speak the language of the misguided." She said as she stood. "Considering in some ways I'm one of them."

Buffy looked at Aisling worriedly "You don't believe vampires are good do you?"

Aisling gave a soft smile. "Not as such. No. But… I do have friends that others would consider dangerous. And they are… from a certain point of view. But they're not bad." Aisling looked down. "I've entered a few of those clubs from time to time. Not my thing. But… it helps to know how to speak like them. People tend to shut down when you come at them in a judgmental tone. But if you come at them from a more sympathetic route..."

"I get it," Buffy said he was not really in the mood for a lecture.

"When Angel came to my room, he was just really concerned for you." Willow said softly taking the subject back onto topic, "He didn't want to say anything in case we were wrong."

"Did you find out what Ford was up to?"

"I will."

"Good." Aisling said, "Because Ford asked for my presence at 9." Aisling said, "Three guess who he made the deal with?"

"Drusilla." Buffy looked at Aisling, "I'm sorry for what Angel did to Drusilla."

Aisling looked away. "It's… I'm healing." She said. "I'm not good. But I'm healing."

Buffy took a deep breath, "You don't have to come."

Aisling laughed. "I think you and I both know that I do." She said. She looked at Buffy and sighed, "Bring Angel too."

Buffy blinked "Why?"

Aisling looked down, "Angel won't kill her. But Drusilla acts strange around Angel. If you bring him there all her attention will be on him. IT will make it easier to do what needs to be done. Especially if you use him as a hostage."

"How do you know all this?" Xander asked.

"I was Drusilla's hostage for 1 year." Aisling said, "You learn a lot of things in that time. And the amount of times I heard her crying about her daddy. About how happy he'd be when…" Aisling paused took a deep breath and looked away. "Just…. Trust me. Even with a soul Angel is a chip you don't want to leave behind."

Buffy looked down. "I don't know if I trust him right now."

"Either that or if you can, threaten to stake her. Drusilla doesn't want to die, if you can somehow corner her and be able to threaten her… it might be enough to get her to let everyone go."

"You think that'll work?"

"No," Aisling said. "But it's best to go in with a plan in case everything goes south." Aisling looked at Buffy. "Since there's every possibility that Ford will not listen to reason."

Buffy looked down, "Yeah." She said.

"Going out again?"

"Yeah." Aisling sighed.

"Ash," Spike said warningly. "Your heart is racing."

Aisling turned to Spike and gave a grin. "Having a bad time." She said, "Anxiety is…" Aisling shook her head. "It's just not good today."

"Ok.' Spike said standing up, "Then why don't you stay home today."

Aisling gave a forced laugh though inside she'd have been delighted if that was the case. She wanted to stay home she didn't want to have anything to do with Drusilla's crazy plan. "If I stayed home every time, I felt anxious. I'd never do anything fun." She said. "I'd be back to the scared 7-year-old I used to be."

"I loved that 7-year-old."

"I know," Aisling said with a soft smile. "But I need to grow," Aisling said. "Besides. There's nothing to be afraid of. Buffy will be there. Angel will be there. And if I happen to run into Her you know the kind of hold Angel has on her."

Spike sighed and hugged her as tightly as he could. "I love you." He said. "OK?'

"Even when I'm a depressed mess, and I can't even get out of bed?"

"Even then," Spike said he pushed hair from her forehead and gave it a kiss.

Aisling smiled and stood back. "We'll deal." She promised. "You'll be in full health one day. And… I don't know if we'll vacation in England." She said. "Overcast all the time. You'll be safe."

Spike laughed.

Aisling smiled and hugged her dad, "I love you." She said then she hurried out the door.

Aisling stopped a couple of blocks from Revello and waited patiently for Buffy to knock on her passenger window. She didn't have to wait long, after about five minutes Buffy knocked on her window.

Aisling unlocked the door and Buffy slipped in.

"Hey." Aisling sighed.

"You ready for this?"

"Nope," Aisling said as she turned the key in the ignition, and they started down the road. "Let's get this show on the road."

"I'm sorry about this."

Aisling looked at Buffy and then sighed as she turned back to look out the road. "Not your fault." She said. "It is what it is." Aisling said, "Honestly… it's my fault. Had I not insisted that we go to Prague, Spike wouldn't have been injured, and we wouldn't have come here in the hopes that he would be cured, and Drusilla wouldn't have followed us here."

"It's not your fault," Buffy said.

"We hoped that by coming here it would make her hesitant to get too close to the slayer." Aisling sighed and she turned to Buffy. "I guess we were wrong."

"Yeah." Buffy said, "But… you know… you were just trying to protect someone you love. You can't fault yourself for the actions of others."

Aisling looked out the window as she made another turn. "You could make the argument that I'm to blame for Drusilla kidnapping me," Aisling said.

"When you were seven?" Buffy asked in disbelief.

Aisling gave a grim smile.

"OK… how? I don't see the picture."

"I was so scared and overwhelmed I ran off," Aisling said. "Right into Drusilla's waiting arms."

"Of course, you were scared." Buffy said, "You were seven."

"My house was burning to the ground. And I couldn't see mummy and daddy. And Drusilla was there… and she seemed nice and kind. And said…" Aisling sighed as she made another turn. "I love da'" she said. "But…" Aisling parked at the car. "There's Angel." She said. "Let's go."

"I don't need help."

"There's probably going to be lots of Vampires." Aisling said, "And believe it or not. Angel is a good bargaining chip. She'll be focused on Angel, meaning you can focus on the twenty other vampires without worrying about her messing with your mind." Aisling said. "I know… I know you hate the idea of relying on others. I do too. But sometimes… sometimes it's good to have help."

Buffy sighed and nodded. She gave a nod to Angel, her expression flickering with unease. "Hello, Angel." She said her tone was all business.

"I have to say I don't like this."

"The best way to save all those idiots." Buffy said, "By actually being in the building."

"Yep," Aisling said leaning against the wall.

"Fine." Angel sighed, he turned to Aisling. "You stay close to me."

Aisling laughed, "You are going to be drawing Her to you. I'm staying as far away from you as possible."

Angel stared at her. "You—"

"Yep," Aisling said with a grin. "You made her. You deal with her." She turned to Buffy. "Ready? I don't know about you. But I'm going to have fun."

"You stay out here." Buffy said to Angel as they approached, "Don't want to tip our hand too soon." She said, "Willow told me that you were the one who was able to get the info from the vamp-lovers down there?"

"I know how to speak the language," Aisling said with a nod. "Yeah?"

"Well, maybe you can speak enough of the language to…"

"Get them out of the room?" Aisling sighed, "I'll do my best."

"I need them to bless me." They heard a female voice shout as she and Aisling entered. Buffy and Aisling looked at each other.

"It's gonna be fine!" The boy shouted.

"No," Buffy said standing on the balcony. "It's really not."

"It's kinda drafty in here," Ford told some guy in a cloak.

"Aww Ford," Aisling said as she blocked the guy from coming up the stairs. "Let me guess? Your friend is about to do somethin' to lock us all in right?"

Ford gave a grin. "You're smart."

Aisling chuckled as she blocked the guy from moving. "Sorry," Aisling said as she punched the guy in the face, dropping him like a clock. "But lockin' us in a club feels so very cultish to me. I prefer the idea of letting people leave when they want, you know?"

"I'm sorry Ford," Buffy said coming down the stairs while Aisling stayed up top to stop anyone from trying anything with the door. "I just couldn't wait till tonight. I'm rash and impulsive. It's a Flaw"

"We all have flaws."

"I'm still a little fuzzy on what exactly yours is." Buffy said as she reached the last step and started walking toward him, "I think it has to do with being a lying scumbag."

"And bein' an accomplice to Murder!" Aisling shouted from up top.

"We're not going to be murdered." The blonde girl – Chantarelle- said. "We're just going to ascend."

"No vampire is going to happily turn this many people. And if they did a good half of you would be turned into minions. Fodder. Who will be dead within the weak." Aisling turned back to look at the door. Nice one Ford." Aisling said as she went to inspect the door. "You got rid of the doorknobs."

Buffy looked up at Aisling before turning back to Ford, "You thought of everything haven't you?" She said.

Buffy said. "Why. Why are you doing this?"

"Like Aisling said I want to be a vampire."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I know that. But last I checked; Vampires are really picky about who they turn."

"Depends on the vampire actually," Aisling shouted down. "Some are picky. Others just need bodies for a job."

"You know what I mean," Buffy shouted up to her. "Still. It's not like vampires to just give us humans what we want so…" Buffy looked at Ford as realization set in and her expression darkened. "You were going to offer them a trade."

"No SHIT!" Aisling called down. "Why else would he want me here? Some panicked nobody he doesn't even know?"

"I don't think I want to talk anymore."

Buffy grabbed his neck and pushed him back onto a nearby beam. "Yeah, Well I still feel awfully chatty," Buffy told Ford almost yelling her words in her rage. "You were going to sell them to us. Me and Aisling."

"Have to admit," Ford said looking up at Aisling. "I didn't really understand that woman's desire for her," Ford said gesturing to Aisling with his eyes. "I mean you, I get. You're the slayer. But her? She's a nervous wreck of a girl. Killing her doesn't prove anything."

Buffy glared at him before letting him go.

Then punched him in the face.

"My dad's a vampire your dumbass," Aisling said rolling her eyes. "That 'woman' is his ex."

"And outside of that," Buffy said. "Even if she wasn't. She has killed more vampires than you ever will." Buffy said her voice practically brimming with rage. "What do you see at school? What did you see when she was in a panic? That was just proof of how much she had survived. How much she endured and is still standing. Still going to school. Instead of just staying at home and letting the world get to her." Buffy said. "She is stronger than you will ever be." Buffy let go of him and she turned to look at the other vampire wannabees. "You guys want to know what being a vampire is like?" Buffy said. "You guys want to know what being a vampire does?" She said she pointed to Aisling. "That girl has lived with 1 for almost a decade and was kept prisoner by two for a year. She and her father have been hunting them for years. Do you want to know? Ask her."

They all turned to face her.

For a long moment, none of them said anything then the blonde girl Chanterelle stepped forward. "What was it like?" She asked. "Living with one of them?"

Aisling eyed Buffy. "Scary," Aisling said honestly. "Drusilla… when she kidnapped me and hid me away… I was mentally tortured for months."

"But that's just one vampire. Surely not every."

"No not every." Aisling sighed. "Spike… Spike was different. Not in the murder sense. But… he… he can form attachments to humans." She said. "He… he at first didn't see anything wrong with what was happening to me."

"But he did?"

Aisling sighed. "Yeah. But it's been years and I've found that Spike my da' is the only one of his kind capable of that. Capable of changin'." Aisling looked down. "And the only reason he's even capable of raising me now is because he went and got a soul.

"Soul?"

"Yeah," Aisling said. "Vampires don't have a soul. The soul goes on and what awakens is similar in many ways but… you don't have any morals. You are selfish. That's the core of every vampire. Selfishness. They want what they want and will do anything to get it." Aisling looked at Ford. "Even kill a multitude of people. Spike realized after he got me that he couldn't do what was necessary without somethin' to make him a little more human." Aisling said. "So… he got his soul back."

"See," Ford said. "If one Vampire can learn why can't the rest of us."

Buffy had nothing to say to that.

"And my best friend was turned into a vampire and tried to forcefully turn me and his sister into vampires," Aisling said. "Spike was a murderer before he finally had a soul put into him. Is that what you want? To be a ragin' murderer for centuries before you potentially grow affection for a human that might not even happen?"

Those words had everyone staring at each other uneasily.

"Look." Aisling sighed, "Vampires are Selfish. They don't care about anything except what they want and need. Just to convince them to stop drinking blood from humans you have to make it easier and more accessible than the hundreds of happy meals on legs wandering the street. And that isn't always the easiest thing to do."

"We could bag it too."

"Yeah," Aisling said. "But will you want to?"

It had them thinking, and she caught Buffy's surprise.

"I…" One of the vampire lovers said. "I want to go home." He said as he hurried up the stairs. After a moment several other people hurried up and out of the room.

Aisling stood and gave a look at Buffy.

"Now," Aisling said crossing her arms at Ford. "Should I beat you up? Or just kill you."

"I mean I'm already dying so…"

Aisling blinked and she and Buffy looked at each other surprised.

An Alarm sounded out as Ford looked down at it.

"6:27," he said. "Sunset."

They heard the sound of a door closing, and Aisling's eyes widened as she turned back to Buffy. "Shit." She said ran up the stairs and slammed on the door trying to open it herself. "Fuck."

"Guess you didn't convince all of them," Buffy said.

"Nope." Aisling sighed as she pressed her hand against her forehead.

Buffy ran up the stairs and started slamming on the doors. "Shit." She hissed. "Shit. Shit. Shit."

Aisling pulled out her cell phone. "No bars." Aisling glared at Ford "You thought of everythin' didn't you."

"It opens from the outside."

Aisling ignored him. "Can you break the door down?"

Buffy sighed, "If there were maybe three more people with super strength – maybe. But as of right now? No." She started darting around looking for another way out.

"Don't bother it's three-fit thick of solid concrete. There's no way to get out."

"Fuck you." Aisling hissed.

"Ford. These people don't deserve to die."

"Well neither do I!' Ford shouted, "But apparently no one took that into consideration' cause I'm still dying."

"So, you said," Aisling said crossing her arms in front of her chest. Buffy looked at him in surprise.

"I look good, don't I? Well let me tell you something," Ford said for the first time Ford's lost his easy evil grin. " Got maybe 6 months left, and by then what they bury won't even look like me. I'm going to be bold and shrivelled, and I'll smell bad." He looked at Buffy, "No, I'm not going out that way."

Buffy looked at Ford in shock and she turned around.

"I'm sorry, Summers. Did I screw up your righteous anger riff? Does the nest of tumours liquefy my brain kind of spoil the fun?"

"You're very obviously evil plan does," Aisling said. "I'm sorry you dying but handin' over an entire group of kids including her former victim to an insane murderer is still wrong."

"That's putting it mildly Buffy said.

"Ok, Well, you try vomiting for 24 hours straight because the pain in your head is so intense and then… we'll discuss the concept of right and wrong."

Aisling and Buffy looked up at him defiance shining in their eyes. Ford looked down at the remaining people below and pointed at them. "These people are sheep, they want to be vampires because they're lonely, or miserable… or bored. I don't have a choice."

"You do have a choice," Buffy said. "You don't have a good choice, but you have a choice."

Aisling looked at Buffy and then down.

"You're opting for mass murder and nothing you say is going to make that ok!" She said.

"Let us out Ford," Aisling said. "Please."

"You think I need to justify myself to you."

"Yes," Aisling said. "Yes. Yes, I do. Why else would you take the time to explain the reasoning behind your horrifying plan?"

"It's all part of his little fantasy drama. He tells us we're dying, and we feel sorry for him. " She turned to Ford, "Well I do feel sorry for you, and if those vampires come in here and start feeding, I'll kill you myself."

"I'll help her."

"I think you'll be the first one dead."

Aisling laughed. "Or You'll be my first meal after Drusilla turns me as she's been fixin' to do since I was seven."

"You should be happy."

"Fuck you."

"You know what?" Ford turned back to Buffy. "I really did miss you."

Outside tires squealed.

Aisling and Buffy shared a look before Buffy looked up at Ford. "Ford." She insisted. "Please help us stop this."

Ford did nothing just stood there doing nothing. Buffy ignored him and ran past him.

"Come on, this isn't the mothership people this is big ugly death come to take you all"

Ford tried to do something to Buffy but Aisling caught his arm. "I really wouldn't do that.'

Ford pushed Aisling away, but the thing about being trained by a vampire who takes enjoyment in killing things that are bigger and stronger than him is that you learned how to hold on and never let go. So that's exactly what Aisling did. She and Ford fought as the vampires came in.

Ford had no idea how to fight, but he did know how to use his strength. Fortunately Aisling knew how to use someone's superior strength against them and unfortunately for Ford, the mess of tumors in his brain wasn't helping.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Drusilla watching the fight with earnestness, she could see Angel coming in and distracting Drusilla while Buffy did her best to handle the enemy.

Down below she could hear Buffy fighting off a few vampires. Dusting multiple vampires.

Aisling kicked and clawed at Ford.

Buffy looked around at all the vampires left realizing there were far too many to stop she jumped up and grabbed Drusilla. Who was speaking to Angel, Buffy grabbed Drusilla.

Ford grabbed Ford to Lapels and knocked her forehead into his nose. She heard a satisfying crunch and then with another punch he dropped to the ground.

Then hurried to Buffy knowing that Buffy had forgotten her necklace.

Drusilla had her.

"Be in me," Drusilla whispered, Buffy stared wide-eyed at Drusilla. Aisling took out her weapon ready to end it once and for all.

Before Aisling could do anything, Angel gripped Drusilla and pulled out his own stake. "Release her." Angel hissed, "Or I'll stake you."

Drusilla laughed. "Little Dolly won't let you." She looked right at Aisling. "I have what you need."

I glared at her refusing to let her know how much I ached to know what she was talking about. Even still I hesitated with my stake.

Angel pressed the tip of the stake into her chest. "Dru" He hissed.

Drusilla laughed but eventually let Buffy go.

Angel glared at Drusilla for a long moment. "Let them go." He hissed. "All of them."

"Stop!" Drusilla shouted. All the Vampires stopped and looked up. Angel kept the tip pressed against Drusilla's chest, as all the captives hurried up and out the door. Aisling and Buffy hurried out the door after a moment Angel followed after then shutting the door behind them.

"What did she mean?" Buffy said to Aisling. "That she has what you need? You didn't make some kind of deal with her, did you?"

"No." Aisling sighed, "I have no idea what she's talking about."

"So, she's being insane?"

Aisling shrugged, but inside she roiled. Drusilla was insane. But that didn't mean that her ramblings didn't have merit. She was precognitive. She could see the future.

So, did she see Aisling needing her help? Or was she just saying things to confuse her?

She didn't know, the thing about Drusilla, the thing about Vampires in general is that they told you just enough of the truth to get you to do what you wanted.

Drusilla could be useful. But that didn't mean that she was the only one capable of giving it.

Angel approached.

"We should go," Angel said. "The vampires you left there are going to figure out how to get there."

Buffy looked back. "We'll come back later."

"For what?" Angel asked.

"The body."

Aisling sighed as she came home, she could feel the bruises already started to grow on her face.

"Ash?"

Aisling looked up and then back down. "Went out. Had a fight." Aisling sighed, "Buffy and Angel were there. I'm fine."

Spike traced the lines on her cheek. "Looks like it hurt." He looked at her. "Did you head but someone in the nose?"

"Buffy's friend turned out to be a traitorous asshole." Aisling leaned against Spike and sighed. "I love you." She said. She looked up at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Aisling looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah." She said, "But first, I want to call Jackson."

Spike smiled. "Ok." He said, "You do that," He looked down at her. "When I'm all better. You and I are going to go out and do something fun."

Aisling hugged him. "Call my friends and we'll just… go somewhere nice for Christmas." Aisling pulled away and looked up at him. "I'm sorry." She said.

"For what?"

Aisling hugged him tightly. "For everything I've ever done that made life hard for you."

Spike said nothing for a long time and then just hugged her back. He didn't need too.

A/N Yep. Aisling now has the Du Lack book. And Sheila from School Hard is still kicking. Hope you enjoyed it. And let me know in a review if you want more.