Spinning, she started to leave the cemetery, only to jump as a figure stepped in front of her. "What are you doing? You want to end up with a stake in your heart?"
Buffy looked unfazed by her anger. "Going somewhere?"
"Yeah. Out of this joint. Find a party. Maybe a guy or two. What about you?"
"Giles said...."
"I know what he said. And since when do you listen to what Giles said?" God how she hated that hurt puppy dog look. Usually because she fell for it.
"I listen to Giles when he's right. Which is most of the time. And that's why I'm listening to him now."
Faith looked down. "I'm sorry. But look, nothing's happening."
Buffy sighed in frustration. "Alright. One more turn and then we both go. Okay?"
"Now you're talking." The slayers separated, Faith retracing her steps. Two minutes later, it happened.
Buffy heard a scream and ran back toward Faith. She was being attacked by several vampires. She'd already sustained injuries. They would kill her in short time. Without thinking, Buffy joined the fray, trying to pull the demons off her fellow slayer. The girls were good, but they were hampered with Faith's injuries, and by the sheer number of vampires.
Faith had been stabbed in the side, and was rapidly losing blood. All she could manage was the occasional low kick at any vamps who tried to take Buffy's blind side. The blonde slayer was tiring. She couldn't keep this up much longer. One vampire lunged, lifting her in a crushing vice. She moaned as she heard her ribs crack. She only hoped they weren't broken. Using her remaining strength, she pressed her palm into his nose, then shoved up. He screamed and released her under the pain. Taking Faith's last stake from her, she dusted him.
The two girls collapsed on the ground, embracing each other as they were surrounded. They waited for the death blow.
One of the vampires screamed before disintegrating. The others looked at where he'd been in confusion, then turned to look behind them. The cavalry had arrived.
Giles stood at the ready, his crossbow already rearmed. He kept his eyes on the vampires, not daring to look down at the slayers. If he did, he knew he'd lose control. He only had a few moments before the vampires attacked. "Angel!"
"Over here." The vampire stepped out of the brush beside the slayers, guarding them. "You guys did well against these two. But do you really want to take on one crazy vampire and a pissed off Watcher?"
The vampires looked at each other before slowly backing away. Neither man relaxed their guard until they sensed the danger was past. Giles hurried over to the girls as Angel bent toward them. "Are you alright?"
Buffy looked at the two of them in amazement. "What ..." By her shortness of breath it was obvious she was in great pain. "What are you two doing here together?"
"Ssh. Don't talk." Giles pressed gently against her sides. At her wince, he lifted his hands. "Her ribs. I don't know how bad they are." He turned to Faith, noting the loss of blood. Inspecting the wound, he prayed they hadn't been too late. "It doesn't appear too deep. But she needs to replace the blood she's lost. We have to get them both to a hospital."
Angel nodded. "Buffy's lighter than Faith. Can you manage her?"
Giles smiled. "I've done it once or twice before. Buffy, hang on. This is going to hurt like hell." He lifted her as gently as he could, but was relieved when she passed out from the pain. It would make the journey to the hospital easier. Glancing across he noticed that Faith too was unconscious. "Let's go."
Joyce ran into the emergency room followed by three very worried slayerettes. She spotted Giles straight away, hardly registering the presence of the vampire beside him. The watcher walked toward her, taking her outstretched hands in his own. "What happened? How are they?"
"It's alright. Calm down."
"What do you mean calm down? Xander and Willow come running over to my place telling me my daughter has been attacked and is in hospital, and you tell me to calm down!" Giles threw the teenagers a look promising retribution. "Now, I want to know how the girls are." If he noticed she discussed both slayers as if they were her daughters he didn't mention it.
"I meant they're both alive, and will be alright. You can see them shortly. In the meantime, why don't we all sit down, and I'll tell you what happened." Joyce reluctantly allowed him to lead her to a seat. The slayerettes joined them, followed by a quiet Angel. "The girls were patrolling. I - sensed something, and decided to join them. Angel had the same idea and we met up. We heard some fighting when we entered the cemetery. Buffy was protecting Faith. There were seven vampires surrounding them. God knows how many they'd both already destroyed. They were both badly wounded though. Angel and I were able to scare the others off." He took a breath, looking at the shock on the faces of the others. "We got the girls here as quickly as we could. Buffy has some cracked ribs, and Faith was stabbed. The doctor has already informed me that, though the injuries are serious, none of them mortal. They'll both be alright Joyce. I promise." This as Buffy's mother began to sob.
"Why? Why did they....?"
He hesitated. "To either put them out of commission or destroy them. I'm sorry. There is no easy way to say it." He looked at the others. "Something big is happening. Now the slayers are out of the way, I'm afraid it will happen in the next 24 hours."
The slayerettes absorbed what he was saying. If the slayers couldn't stop whatever it was, then they'd have to. Oz was the first to speak. "Tomorrow's the first night of the full moon."
"I know. But I'll need your help during the daylight hours. By sunset, I'm hoping we'll be ready for them."
Angel was next. "What do you want me to do?" He waited for Giles to tell him to go to hell. The watcher looked up at him, knowing what he expected.
"While they're in here, Buffy and Faith will be vulnerable. I need to know they're protected. I need you to do that." Angel bristled at the baby-sitting job. Then he realised what Giles was saying. The most precious things to the watcher, and he wanted Angel to look after them. He looked at the Englishman in gratitude.
"I'll get some things. I'll stop here too."
"No!" Giles softened his tone at Joyce's shocked face. "Angel can't protect the girls and you. The safest place for you is your home. Just don't invite anybody in. Alright?"
She nodded as a doctor walked up to them. "Mrs. Summers?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Doctor Green. I'm looking after your daughters. If you'd like to come this way, I'll take you to them."
"Thank you." She looked at Giles, curious at the mention of daughters. He shrugged, letting her make the choice. As she moved off with the doctor, she made her contribution to the next twenty four hours. "My daughters rely on each other. Is it possible to put them in the same room?"
Giles sighed in relief, then looked at the others. Willow was gnawing her lip, Xander was fidgeting, and Oz didn't look quite so cool. "They will be alright. And, with your help, so will we."
"What are we going to do?" Willow stepped into researcher mode.
"We're going to destroy Trick and his followers. And then, we're going to seal the Hellmouth forever. Let them play their games elsewhere."
As soon as the sun rose, the gang went into action. Giles had Oz ferrying cartons from the library to his apartment. He didn't explain why, just that there were things he thought might be safer there. Willow and Xander sharpened stakes, prepared crossbow shafts. Giles spent most of his time on the 'phone. Again, he didn't say to whom or why, just mentioned reinforcements.
Around mid-afternoon they had a visitor. "Hello?"
"Amy!" Willow walked to her fellow witch.
"Amy. What are you doing here?" Xander couldn't keep the concern from his voice.
"Mr. Giles called me. Said you guys might need me."
"Ah. Amy, thank you for coming." Ignoring Xander's questioning look, and Willow's piqued one, he took Amy's hand. "Come with me. I'll explain what we're up against and why we need you. Then you can decide what you want to do."
Three hours before sunset, Giles decided they were as ready as they could be. He left the others assembling a temporary cage for Oz at his apartment while he went to the hospital. He stepped quietly into the room, nodding a greeting to Joyce. The girls were both hooked up to monitors. Faith looked pale against the white pillow and bed-linen. She'd obviously lost a lot of blood, although they'd given her a transfusion as soon as she was brought in. Her eyes were closed, and he assumed she was resting.
Buffy, on the other hand, was very colorful. Her face was bruised where she stopped a few vampiric fists, and her left eye sported a true 'shiner'. Her breathing was shallow, but not as labored as before. Her slayer metabolism had already kicked in. "How are they?"
"Well, if by they you mean us, Faith is crabby at being kept in, and I'm ready to leave, but they won't let me." Buffy sounded sulky, and he couldn't help but smile. She was going to be alright. "Now, why don't you tell me what's happening?"
He hesitated a moment, then stepped toward her bed. He couldn't lie to her. She'd see right through him. "I think Trick and the others are making their move. Last night was about either taking you out or taking you down. Fortunately for us, it tipped their hand."
"There you go with the half-full glass again." She sat up straight, wincing as the movement jarred her ribs. "You'd better get me out of here, so we can get ready."
"No!" Joyce's denial was vehement.
"Your mother's right. You're in no state to take on even a minor demon, never mind Trick or Spike. No, I want you to stay here. Faith will need protecting." He hoped to sway her with that argument. Otherwise she'd go stubborn on him.
Buffy hesitated. She knew he was trying to appease her, but she realised he was right. "You think they'll come after us again?"
"I'm certain of it."
"Then I want my Mom out of here."
"Already arranged. We've also organized for you to be in a fairly isolated part of the hospital. This will protect you to a certain extent, but should also protect the civilians."
Buffy smiled, recognizing Ripper. "You've got a plan."
Giles smiled back. "Yes, I have."
One hour before sunset, Joyce entered her empty home, and prepared for the long vigil ahead. The others gathered at Giles' apartment, where Oz put the finishing touches to his cage.
The bedroom and living area were now covered in packing boxes, with only a six foot circumference in front of the cage clear. Oz looked at the others, then entered the cage. Willow locked it behind him.
"Willow, I need you here to watch over Oz."
She looked at Giles in shock. "But....."
"I'll feel better knowing he's safe and not alone." Before she could argue he turned to the others. "Ready?"
They both nodded. Xander was more than ready. "What do we do? You haven't told us anything yet."
"Amy?" The witch stepped a foot from Xander and started chanting. Giles looked on with no expression.
Xander looked from one to the other. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Ohhhh." Willow started getting fidgety as she recognized the spell. "Tha - That's...."
"Willow! Spit it!"
"It's a containment spell!" She rushed as Amy finished her chanting. Xander looked back at Giles, knowing he'd been betrayed. He rushed at the Englishman, only to come up against a barrier.
Amy spoke. "It stops people getting in and out. It's on a time-lock. 12 hours right?" She looked to the watcher for confirmation. He nodded. "You'll be safe until daylight." She tried to step back, only to find she too was trapped.
"I'm sorry Amy. I extended the circle while you were at the library. Now you're all protected."
"No!" Xander's rage was palpable. "You had no right! What makes you think you can do this by yourself. Why should the great watcher be the hero. You're not superman!"
He looked at them with love. Xander's rage, Willow's tears, Amy's confusion and Oz's acceptance. They were willing to die for Buffy and he. He was willing to let them live. Picking up his duffel bag, he moved toward the door. "Open the chest. You'll find the tools you need for your part in this."
Xander stared at the closed door as the girls moved to the chest at his feet. They opened it, finding a spell book and some ingredients. Willow lifted the book, and it dropped open to a page, as if waiting for her. "Xander. Xander." She finally got his attention. "H-he found a spell to destroy the Hellmouth. For good. Xander, we can get rid of it forever."
Giles looked once more at the clock. Only twenty minutes to go. He was running out of time, and things weren't quite in place. It would have been easier if he'd had an extra pair of hands. "Damn him."
"That wouldn't be aimed at me would it?" A man stepped out of the shadows. "Hallo Ripper."
He looked at his visitor. "You're late."
Ethan smiled. "Sorry. I got tied up. Besides, you know I'm not very good at the manual labor stuff."
Giles threw him a packet. "Well, you better get good at placing that. We don't have long."
"They'll attack at sunset then?"
"Not long after." He stopped, looking at the other man. "Ethan. Thank you."
Ethan nodded. "They just aren't fun. Besides, if they destroy the world, that includes me." The two men resumed their work silently.
Trick looked at his minions. He'd assembled all the vampires he could find. They didn't have a chance.Tonight, the world would be his. He pointed to one group. "You go to the watcher's apartment. Just in case." To the next. "You, my favorites, get to kill yourselves a couple of slayers. They're at the hospital. Defenseless." The eager vampires moved off, not waiting to hear the rest of his instructions. To a smaller group. "Go to the slayer's house. Kill her mother."
"Why?"
He looked at Spike standing behind him. "Because she's the slayer's mother. Want to join them?" Spike stood down, not commenting. He turned to the remaining group. "You will come with me. We're gonna open us a Hellmouth."
The vampires all moved off, leaving a very angry Spike behind.
"Spike?" Drusilla walked up to her lover. "Why are you worried about the mother? She's only human."
He hugged her. "You're right pet." He watched the departing vampires. "She's human."
Angel prowled outside the hospital room. The corridor was empty, but he had a feeling it wouldn't last long. He made one more turn, when he heard the sound of breaking glass. Running into the room, he was confronted by two vampires. Morphing, he smiled and moved toward them.
The girls were chanting. A growl from the cage informed Xander that Oz had changed. He'd made the other boy promise that if the binding spell didn't hold, he'd release the werewolf. That would give them some time.
A banging sound caught all their attention. They could see the door splintering, and the head of an ax coming up and down. He looked down at the others. "Keep chanting. It's begun." He picked up the crossbow Giles had left behind.
The door broke. Through the fragments stepped a familiar figure. "Hey." Willie turned back to the entry. "Come on in guys. Nothing here to hurt you." The vampires rushed through the door, running straight for the teens. They were pushed back by the barrier. They growled in frustration, then began pushing at the invisible wall in a concentrated effort to break it.
Joyce prowled the room, nervously wringing her hands. She hated waiting. She wished she could be with Buffy right now. But she knew Giles was right. She'd be a hindrance. She stroked the cross hanging on the staircase. It gave her some spiritual as well as practical comfort.
A knocking on the door made her jump. Moving toward it, she peered out. She opened the door in concern, then looked down at the child. "Can I help you?"
"Please, I'm lost. My Mommy didn't pick me up after dance class." She looked so innocent in her ballet outfit. And so scared. "Please. I know my phone number. Can I call my Mommy?"
Joyce took a breath and came to a decision. She turned from the door. "You'd better come in. I'll just...."
"Thanks. We will." She froze, then turned. Three vampires stood leering at her. And the innocent little girl had morphed, and was smiling up at the nice lady. Joyce grabbed the cross, holding it in front of her then ran.
She got as far as the back door when one of them grabbed her. "No! No!" She fought hard as they pulled her away from the door, laughing at her futile efforts. One of them knocked the cross out of her hand.
"Joyce! Invite me in!"
The faint call penetrated her hysteria. She looked through the glass of the back door. He stood there, looking worried for her. She knew what they'd said, but he was her only chance. "Spike! Come in!"
The wood and glass splintered as he dived through the window. He stood up, morphing. He laughed at the others. "Well done. Trick will be pleased." The others looked at each other then at Spike, confused. He moved closer. "I decided to join the fun after all. Joyce and I have a history. Don't we?" He brushed his hand across her cheek, noting her look of terror. "You know how it is. It's us and them." His fist moved quickly, knocking one of the vamps down. The other attacked, only to be floored by a roundhouse kick. "Get behind me!"
Joyce didn't have to be told twice. She scooted behind her rescuer as he went into defensive mode. The vampires stood, one of them whistling. Soon they were joined by two others. Behind them stood Drusilla. "Shit." Now he knew they were in trouble.
Drusilla moved toward her lover. "Spike. Why? What is it about this - human - that makes you turn against your own kind?"
"Well, you see pet, she makes a nice hot chocolate. With marshmallows."
"Marshmallows?" Dru cocked her head to one side. "My Mummy used to make chocolate with marshmallows. Do you use milk or water?"
Joyce knew a lifeline when she saw it. "Milk. And I have shaved chocolate to sprinkle on the top."
"Yum." Dru turned to the other vamps, smiling. "I love hot chocolate with marshmallows." She stepped up to the nearest one. "Don't you?" She snapped his neck, dropping him like a sack before moving onto the next.
Spike smiled and joined her in her battle. Joyce shook her head in confusion, then realised she could only wait. Deciding that wasn't enough, she took a spare stake out of one of the drawers, waited till one of the vamps turned his back, then drove the stake into his heart. "Well done Joyce. Buffy would be proud of you." She smiled, inordinately pleased with the compliment.
The two lovers made short work of the remaining attackers, Drusilla taking great pleasure in destroying the child vampire. She dropped the body, then turned to Joyce. "Can I have my hot chocolate now?"
"Um, soon." She looked at Spike. "What about Buffy?"
He sighed. "You don't expect me to rescue a slayer, do you?"
Angel had been able to dispose of the first two vampires quickly. The trouble was, they were replaced by five others. He battled them long and hard. Soon there were only three. His back was turned fighting one, so didn't see another sneak up behind him. He heard the scream though. Finishing off his kill, he turned. Buffy stood in her hospital gown, a stake in hand. "Welcome back love."
"Thanks. Let's finish these guys off, shall we?" They moved to the final vampire, driving him toward the window and away from Faith. They looked at each other in confusion when he smiled. "Something funny in your death?"
"No. But there is in yours." They turned to look behind them. The room was filling with vampires. Not wasting time, Buffy spun, taking out the original demon, before she and Angel took up defensive positions beside Faith's bed.
"What's this? Starting the fun without me?" Spike smiled in the doorway. "Do you think that's fair pet?"
Drusilla stepped from behind him. "I think they're naughty. Should we punish them?"
Spike considered it for a moment. "Yes, let's." He and Dru waded into the battle, destroying two of the enemy before they realised they were the enemy. Buffy and Angel looked at each other in confusion, shrugged then joined in the fray.
Ethan stood up. "There. That's the last one."
"And you finished the casting?"
"Yes." He hated it when people questioned his ability. "Now all we need is the bad guys."
"Well, I do hate to disappoint people." They turned toward the door. Trick and his minions stood looking at them. "So, this is the last stand. Two old men."
Giles and Ethan looked at each other in disgust. "Why do they always think we're old?"
Giles smiled. "Because they're blind." He lifted the crossbow, firing at the vampire nearest Trick.
"It can't hold out much longer." Xander stood in front of the girls, ready to give them a few extra seconds if need be. "You have to hurry."
"We are. We've already finished the first two quadranes. We're just setting up for the last now."
He turned toward the werewolf. "Get ready, old buddy. I hope it doesn't come to this, but we may need your services yet."
Spike dropped the last vampire onto the pile, dusting his hands. He looked up at Buffy and Angel, a smile on his face. "That was fun. We should do it again some time."
"Why this time?" Her suspicion was obvious.
"Buffy?"
"Mom? What are you doing here?"
"Spike brought me." She hugged her daughter. "He and Drusilla saved my life. Are you alright?"
"Yeah. All healed."
"Can we have our hot chocolate now?" The two women looked over at Drusilla. "You did promise. Do you want some hot chocolate Angel?"
"Buffy." Faith's call was weak, but she was obviously lucid. "Hey." She held a stake in her hand. Some dust on the bed showed it had been put to use.
"Hey." She looked at Angel. "Giles is going to need some help." He nodded, moving out. "Spike, can I trust you to look after my Mom and Faith?"
"Well, in for a penny. But, I think Joyce better hurry up with that hot chocolate."
"I'll go make it now. I brought the stuff with me." At Buffy's look. "It was the only way to get Drusilla to come."
Ethan sent another ball of flame into the vampires. He knew that they only had a few seconds more. He looked across at Ripper. His old mate had fought well, but his energy was almost at a zero. They had no more options. "Rupert!"
"I know." He sliced the head off his latest attacker, not waiting for it to change to dust before moving toward the other Englishman. "Run. Now." They made their way to the window, Trick and his minions at their heels. When they came to the edge, Giles turned, then shoved Ethan to the glass.
The vampires broke through the barrier as the girls completed their chant. Xander undid the cage, letting loose a bolt at the same time. An almighty roar halted the momentum of all creatures. They turned to the door, to witness a ball of flames light up the sky. The vampires began screaming as they started to disintegrate.
Buffy and Angel ran up to the lawns of the high school, only to be pushed back by the force of the explosion. They looked on in shock as the library was enveloped in a ball of flame. "Giles!" She ran forward to the man lying prone on the ground.
Ethan got up slowly, protecting his eyes with his right arm. He sensed the others running up to him.
"Ethan. Where's Giles?"
He looked at the slayer with pity. "In there."
"No!!!!!!!!!"
One week later.....
"Buffy." Willow tried again. "Buffy they think they found the body."
The slayer looked up at her friend, the picture in her hands temporarily forgotten. "They found a body, Will. It isn't Giles."
"Buffy, he can't have survived the explosion. Don't you think I want to believe there's a chance...." She stopped, overcome by grief. "You have to accept it and move on."
Buffy stood, walking past her friend to leave her room. They were all downstairs waiting for her. Spike and Dru had disappeared, but promised to return for more of Joyce's hot chocolate. Nobody knew what happened to Ethan. But the rest were there. Even Cordy. They wanted to plan a ceremony for Giles. But she wouldn't let them. She stood at the top at the stairs looking at them all.
"He's not dead. I'd know it. Don't you understand? He wouldn't give up on me last year. I won't give up on him now."
Xander stepped forward. "But last year there was a chance you survived. I'm sorry Buffy, but..."
"Don't say it!" Her scream was on the border of hysteria. "He's alive. And you won't make me believe anything else."
Angel moved to the bottom of the stairs. "I'm staying here. Until, well, until you don't need me any more."
"No." She looked at him with pity. "I'm sorry Angel, but it's best you go. He wouldn't be happy to see you still here."
"What makes you so sure he's still alive?" Xander didn't bother to hide the frustration.
"Because he is." They all turned toward the front door. Ethan had entered without them being aware. "You're right slayer. He's still alive. I can feel it too. Perhaps between the two of us, we can find him."
For the first time since that night, Buffy smiled. She wasn't alone any more. She didn't like Ethan, but he was the most likely person to help her find Giles. And find him she would. No matter how long it took.