Chapter 7

“So he is a good vampire? I mean on a scale of one to ten. Ten being someone who’s killing and maiming every night. One being someone who’s, not.”

Willow – ‘Angel’

****

Angel looked at the door for the tenth time in a minute and Fred stopped talking and simply waited for him to explain what was wrong. “They should be back by now,” he said at length, “Shouldn’t they be back by now?”

The young girl nodded even though he had already moved away from her, and she pushed her glasses more firmly on her nose. “I think…” she began hesitantly but the souled vampire interrupted.

“I should have gone with them. They might be in trouble. They might be hurt. Should I go after them?”

Again Fred started to speak but gave up as Angel started to pace. “I can’t let her get hurt,” he murmured and Fred smiled slightly.

“She’s very beautiful,” she told him, repeating the first thing that entered her brain. Angel started and looked up at her intently causing her to blush.

“What?” he asked, trying to sound casual. It came out abrupt and the young girl winced slightly.

“Cordelia’s very beautiful. And nice. You know what else is nice? Ice-cream. And fish. I mean live fish in the sea or in an aquarium, not fish to eat. Of course that’s nice too but… oh don’t mind me, I’m just rambling. You know how I am, ramble, ramble…”

“Fred,” Angel interrupted once more, “I’m worried about all of them, ok. They’re my friends.”

“Sure,” Fred agreed, nodding vigorously this time, “It’s just that you said her, and there’s only one her besides me, unless it’s the her you talk to Cordy about, you know the blonde girl you used to be in love with, of course you still might be in love with her, I’m just saying that it’s sounds an awful lot to me like…”

The front door burst open and Gunn raced through, stopping Fred in her tracks and making Angel hyper-aware of the fact that Wesley and Cordelia weren’t with him. He didn’t need to ask the question though. Gunn was just as panicked. “We got problems.”

“Where are they?” Angel asked, trying to stay calm, but knowing it wasn’t going to last.

“They vanished. And I’m not kiddin’ Angel. One minute they were there, and the next I’m just standing by myself.”

“Was it the Lautum?”

“No we killed that. Angel, they vanished. Right in front of me. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes… But I swear. They just disappeared. You don’t think I would have tried to…?” Angel stopped his friend, knowing that Gunn would have done all he could to protect the others. But how can two people just vanish? “Oh,” Gunn continued, pulling something out of the pocket of his jacket. “These were lying on the ground where Wes and Cor were standing.”

Angel frowned at the dolls and the pieces of paper pinned to their chests. One of them read FOUR and the other read FIVE.

****

Buffy knew immediately who four and five were. She didn’t know how she knew, but she felt it and there was nothing like Slayer-sense when it came to the weird and not-very-wonderful. She turned immediately to Spike. “Your car,” she ordered, before grabbing Dawn’s hand and leading her towards the exit. Spike didn’t respond but knew it was more than his unlife was worth to disobey. He quickly caught up to them and held Dawn’s free hand, knowing that at least this way, if they were taken, they all went together.

They moved as fast as possible through the town, to the garage where Spike’s car sat waiting for him. All three climbed into the front seat without a word, and Spike started the engine.

“Where are we going?” he asked as he drove slowly to the main road. He had a bad feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.

“LA,” Buffy answered shortly and the vampire sighed. Yeah, he really hated the answer.

****

Buffy pulled open the front door of the hotel and guided Dawn through in front of her. She held it open for Spike who was trailing along behind them, looking less than thrilled. Buffy turned back to face him. “Come on.”

Spike shook his head. “You go on love. I’ll wait here if you don’t mind.” The Slayer frowned at him and he realised she was going to need more than that if she was going to let him stay out of Angel’s way. “We didn’t exactly part on good terms, luv. Last time I saw Peaches he was still sporting the scars my hot pokers had inflicted on hi…” Oops big mistake. He’d be lucky if she didn’t kill him herself now. Better remind her. “That was a long time ago Buffy.”

The Slayer sighed. He was right. She had forgiven him much worse things. And Angel obviously hadn’t been too badly hurt. “Ok. I’m not angry that you tortured Angel. But you are coming in here with us. I’m not losing anyone else. I want you where I can see you.” And that was final. Spike followed her inside and the pair glanced around the spacious lobby.

“Well it’s nicer than the last place,” Buffy whispered to him and Spike also lowered his voice when he answered. “Yeah and a lot more space for him and his hair to practice their brooding skills.”

Dawn stepped closer to Spike and took hold of his hand. He glanced down at her and smiled.

“What’s wrong pet?”

“Nothing,” Dawn murmured back, “Angel just gives me the wiggins that’s all.” Spike gave a shout of laughter and even Buffy couldn’t control her giggle at her sister’s actions.

Angel looked up at Gunn and Fred at the sound of laughter in the foyer, and they shared a look before the two men each grabbed a weapon and headed out of the office, closely followed by a curious Fred. Angel knew Spike was there before he’d reached the office doorway and ran through the reception to greet his surrogate Childe. He stopped dead when he saw Buffy and Dawn were with him.

“Buffy?”

Buffy, Dawn and Spike turned in unison to the dark vampire and the Slayer breathed deeply before moving down the steps towards him. “Hi Angel.”

Dawn pushed herself slightly under Spike’s arm and the vampire snorted with laughter again, breaking Angel’s gaze from Buffy and directing it at him. “Spike,” Angel spat taking a threatening step towards the blonde vampire. Spike stood his ground and Dawn gave a small squeak of fear, even as Angel found himself blocked by Buffy’s Slayer strength.

“Down boy,” she told him firmly. “He’s with me. And we have more important things to worry about right now than your petty squabbles.”

Spike visibly glowed at Buffy’s assertion that he was with her, while Angel frowned suspiciously at them. “Buffy, it’s Spike.”

“Long story. I’m surprised you haven’t heard it already. We’ll tell it to you later, right now, can you tell me if anyone’s missing?”

Angel stiffened and looked seriously down at her. “Cordelia and Wesley. Apparently they just vanished. There were a couple of dolls left when…” Angel stopped when Dawn gasped and he looked up at her, concerned, to find Spike holding her tightly.

“I’ve told you before nibblet,” the blonde vampire was telling the teenager, “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”

Angel frowned in confusion and looked down at Buffy, but his surprise merely grew when he saw the fond look she was giving them. She felt his gaze on her and looked up at him with a small smile. “Four and five?” she murmured so that only those with vampiric hearing could hear. Her former lover nodded. “Ok,” she said with a sigh, “let’s start at the beginning.”

Chapter 8

“You have a secret and that is not allowed!”

Buffy - 'I Robot, You Jane"

****

Spike and Dawn sat opposite Gunn and Fred in the small office, as the two girls exchanged life stories. The two males divided their attention between sizing each other up and trying to discover what Buffy and Angel were talking about as they sat together on the couch.

“Everything’s been going great. I’m getting back into the swing of things. And then boom, some psycho goes and kidnaps all my friends. And even I know there’s no way it can be Dru. Scary and strong she is; more powerful than Willow? I don’t think so.”

“Why would it be Dru?” Angel asked, the thought that it might be his insane Childe having never entered his mind.

Buffy was at a loss. Apparently no one had filled Angel in on the whole ‘Spike can’t hurt anyone and is working with us now’ scenario, so she had had to explain to Angel the last two and a half years with the blonde vampire. But even she hadn’t gone so far as to tell Angel the real reason behind Spike’s conversion to good. She didn’t want to see her friend and potential boyfriend beaten to a bloody pulp. Again. So how was she supposed to explain why Drusilla was more than usual, pissed off with her?

“The dolls,” Buffy blurted out as she realised she hadn’t spoken for a whole minute. “It was the dolls. Spike thought Drusilla, I thought Drusilla. Dolls and Drusilla.” She gave a nervous laugh and Angel raised his eyebrows.

“You’re not telling me something Buffy,” he said and she looked down, steeling herself to tell him the truth. She wished for a moment that she had Willow’s telepathic capability so that she could give Spike a five minute warning. She opened her mouth to explain but Angel cut her off. “And that’s good ‘cause I really don’t think I want to hear it.” The Slayer sighed with relief. “Now,” he continued, “I think I know where we might be able to get some help with this.”

Buffy followed him as he stood and walked back to the office doorway. Fred and Dawn instantly quieted. Spike and Gunn stood and looked towards Angel. “We’re going to Caritas.”

****

“There’s only one more thing to do,” Darla told Ethan as he finished explaining the rules of the game with a flourish. He eyed her nervously as she continued. “It’s going to be the hardest part, but I’m sure you can pull it off. Of course, it’ll all go so much easier if we have some… protection.”

Ethan nodded quickly. “There’s a spell, should be able to protect you, but you’ll only have time to do what you have to do. There’s nothing left in this world that make a vampire impervious to harm.” He flinched slightly as Drusilla approached and grabbed his arm. “The world spins. Stars telling me how to take back what’s ours.”

Darla smiled cruelly. “Well at least one of them. And if they all die on the way, at least it’ll be interesting.”

Drusilla clapped her hands excitedly. “Such pretty games. Can we go and play?”
“It’s dangerous honey,” the blonde vampiress told her Grandchilde and Drusilla pouted. “It is dangerous isn’t it?”

“What?” Ethan asked, becoming more and more bewildered by their behaviour. “Oh, yes, yes, it’s quite dangerous.”

“Oooo,” Dru squealed in joy, “Then we should add the last piece at once.”

Darla nodded. “At once.”

****

“What’s Caritas?” Dawn asked Spike as they trailed along behind the rest as the group made their way to the bar.

“Caritas means sanctuary, pet,” Spike told her, before adding with a grin, “It’s also a karaoke bar.”

Angel stopped in his tracks and turned to face Spike. “You’ve been there?”

“Once or twice,” the vampire murmured and smirked at his Sire. “Please tell me you’re going to sing. That’ll just make my year.”

“You sing?” Buffy asked the dark vampire with interest. Spike snorted in amusement while Gunn tried to disguise his own laughter with a cough. Angel glared at them.

“Look it’s a long story. The main gist is, I have to sing to get the information I need.”

“The Host is psychic,” Spike explained, “but only when you sing.”

“You’ve done it?” Buffy was even more intrigued.

Spike shrugged. “Once before the Gem of Ammara business, and then again after…” He trailed off as glanced at Angel.

“Ok,” Dawn interrupted, sensing the tension between the two vampires, “I for one cannot wait to hear you two. But we have to get there first so…” Dawn stopped as she felt something surround her. A look of horror crossed her face and she reached for Spike and Buffy. The vampire noticed her fear and tried to grasp hold of her but she was pulled just out of reach. “Buffy!” Dawn screamed and her sister moved towards her but the teenager continued to stay at arms length.

“Buffy,” a voice called from the shadows of an alley on their right. “It’s been a long time.”
Angel and Spike immediately stiffened, the blonde vampire throwing an accusing glare at the older man before stepping closer to the Slayer.

“Darla?” Buffy whispered in disbelief as the blonde vampiress stepped out of the alley. She turned in confusion to Angel whose face was a mask of anger.

“What are you doing here Darla?” Angel asked tightly, stepping closer.

“Oh, you know. Having a little fun with some old friends. Right now though it’s not really you I’m interested in.”

Buffy felt the same force that had surrounded her sister surround her and she was pulled to the other side of Darla. “I’m having fun boys, but I’m not ungenerous. William you get to choose. Your girlfriend,” she offered gesturing at Buffy, “or little sis. Which is it to be?”

Spike looked between Buffy and Dawn, knowing what he had to do but reluctant to give her up. He caught Buffy’s gaze and although she didn’t speak he knew exactly what she wanted.

“Dawn,” he said, his eyes still firmly locked on his love.

“Good choice,” Darla told him with a cruel smile and Dawn was immediately released. She ran to Spike’s side and he held her tightly as continued to look at Buffy.

“I’ll find you,” he told her firmly and she smiled at him, trying to force back her fear.

“I know,” she replied before the white light surrounded her as it had Willow and Tara and she was gone. Tearing his eyes from the Slayer’s last position he looked towards where Darla had been standing. But she to had vanished.

Chapter 9

“Xander was right. It worked like a charm.”

Giles - 'The Puppet Show'

****

The sun was shining brightly on her face as she awoke and looked around her. Immediately she knew something was wrong. “Spike?” she shouted but something inside her knew he wasn’t going to answer. He wasn’t there. She was alone.

Anya sat up and looked around her. She was surrounded by green, the fields and mountains in various shades made brighter by the sparkling sun. She stood slowly and forced herself not to panic. She had, after all been in far worse situations. She’d been the cause of many of them. But Buffy and Xander had always saved her and she had no doubt that right now, they were on their way to rescue her.

She saw something move in the bushes at the far side of the field and considered whether or not she should approach. It could be a demon. But then again, it was probably just an animal and Anya was in no way afraid of animals. She made her way towards it, taking in the surrounding countryside. She had never seen anything like this before. Not in this dimension at least. She raised her face to the sun and smiled. There were worse places to be trapped.

She leant over, peering through the bushes for whatever was there. It had always seemed more sensible to Anya to find out what those things were that startled you, instead of sitting in a corner cowering. At least if you faced it you would know. It was the not knowing in her experience that caused most of the fear.

Except in this case, when the former demon would have much rather been left in the dark. Not a demon no. It was much, much worse. It was a rabbit.

****

Xander opened his eyes and quickly shut them again. The last thing he remembered was trying to help the child find his mother. But it had been nighttime. And they had been in an alley. In Sunnydale. He cautiously opened one eye, hoping that he would at least find himself in some dark dank corner of his hellish town.

It wasn’t Xander’s day. He gave in and opened his eyes properly, standing as he looked around the forest he found himself in. “Great,” he muttered to himself. “Just perfect.” He took a deep breath and tried to relax. He repeated one sentence in his mind while he calmed himself down. ‘Buffy will save me.’ Not for the first time Xander was thankful that he was best friends with the Slayer. If he hadn’t been he would surely be dead by now.

The woman’s scream started him and he looked around in the direction it came from. Briefly he considered if going to help was wise. He had tried to help the kid and now he was stuck here. Xander sighed. Of course he was going to help. He ran towards the woman, her screams leading him through the forest. He came to a small clearing and stopped. He couldn’t hear her anymore.

Something crashed into his back and he went flying to the ground, instantly tensing as he felt the woman lying against him. She put her arms around him and started to sob. “Um miss?” Xander mumbled gently, “I don’t want to appear rude but, I’m engaged and I don’t think my fiancée would like it if I…”

“Oh, Xander, Xander thank God. It’s me,” Anya choked out and Xander rolled over to look up at her. Her face was streaked with tears and he felt his heart clench. He pulled her down to him and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“Are you ok?” he asked, closing his eyes as he felt Anya’s presence calm the remnants of fear inside him. Anya too relaxed as he held her and the couple lay like that for several minutes, not moving. Finally Anya nodded against her lover’s chest. “I’m ok. But I don’t like it here. I want to go home.”

“Have you tried clicking your heels together three times?” Xander joked, relieved that at least she didn’t have to go through this alone. Neither of them did. They’d always have each other.

“No,” Anya told him, snapping out of her misery and looking at him, her eyes brimming with hope. “Does that work?”

Xander laughed. “Probably not.” Then he became serious. “Why were you crying? Did something hurt you?”

“There are rabbits here,” Anya announced and Xander tried not to laugh. “This place is truly evil.”

At that the young man did laugh. “There are rabbits back home,” he reminded her and she smirked.

“On the hellmouth. I think my point is proved.” Xander grinned and gave her a quick kiss before standing and helping his girlfriend to her feet.

“Do you know where we are?” he asked, looking around them once more, hoping to find something he had missed. Anya shook her head. “No.”

“Do you know how we got here?” Once again Anya replied that she had no idea. The pair sighed and silently started to walk hand in hand in the opposite direction, away the field with the bunnies.

****

Cordelia pushed her self into a sitting position, her eyes still shut against the pain that overwhelmed her. It was getting harder and harder to even stay conscious after one of her visions. She just hoped Wesley had managed to get her back to the hotel without scuffing her pretty ‘Angel’ shoes. Not that Cordy was as shallowly obsessed with clothes as she had been in high school; she just liked having special new things. And those shoes were special. Angel had bought them for her.

“Wesley,” she croaked, her mouth completely dry, “can you bring me a glass of water and some aspirin please?” Silence greeted her and a shiver raced along the brunette’s spine. She was never left alone after she had had a vision. Especially if she was unconscious. The boys were increasingly worried about her these days and one of them at least was always there when she woke up.

Most often it was Angel. He would sit by her, waiting for her to wake up, not to find out about the vision, just to make sure she was alright. But he wasn’t here now. No one was. That was when she realised she wasn’t lying on a bed, or a couch as usual either. No she was lying on the ground. The cold, hard stone….

Cordy’s eyes snapped open and she wished she were unconscious again. “Why me?” she asked the empty room as she stood and slowly turned around. “I mean out of the whole world, why am I the one that’s always getting sucked into alternate dimensions?” At least she assumed it was an alternate dimension. She had never seen any stone cottages in LA that was certain. She took in the wooden beams on the ceiling, the open fire and the sturdy wood table and chairs, and shook her head. “I swear, if any demon wants to mate with me here, I’m throwing myself off the nearest cliff.”

****

Giles saw the cottage up ahead and gave a grateful sigh of relief. He had been walking for what seemed like hours, without any sign of civilisation. He didn’t know what had happened to him. Instead of waking up in bed he had been roused from sleep by an animal’s cry, to find himself lying in the middle of a meadow. He had no doubt however that something mystical had occurred and had set of immediately to find someone to help him.

The cottage beckoned him, the smoke coming from the chimney inviting him closer. He had someone moving about inside and smiled, raising his hand to knock. He quickly ran a hand through his hair and straightened his pyjama top, knowing this was not exactly the best outfit for wandering the countryside. Still, it couldn’t be helped.

The door opened cautiously and he stared at the woman in the doorway. “Cordelia?”

The young woman’s face broke into a happy smile and she couldn’t stop herself hugging him. “Giles! Thank God.” She pulled away as quickly as she had moved forward, pulling him inside with her and quickly closing the door. “Do you know what’s going on?” she asked, getting straight to the point and completely ignoring the fact that he was wearing pyjamas.

“I have no idea,” he told her, but gave her a small smile in encouragement. He knew Cordelia had changed a lot over the past two and a half years. She had grown from a beautiful young girl into a truly beautiful person both inside and out and Giles new that she would give as much help as she could to getting them home.

“Well,” Cordy continued, her face becoming determined, “at least I know that Buffy’ll be looking us too now. I wonder if we’re the only ones here.”

Part 3