Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures where the First is involved. In order to prevent the end of the world, Buffy asks Willow to do a spell that's supposed to fix everything, and Spike goes along for the ride.
Rating: PG-13
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Giles put the receiver down and took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose wearily. Eamon had been clear that Travers was unwilling to call off the Council’s wet works team, particularly after Faith had killed one of them. They would be sending a replacement, and then they would be continuing their pursuit.
Giles had argued that Faith had merely been defending herself; Spike had said as much, so there was a witness. The Council wasn’t inclined to rely upon the word of a vampire, and Eamon had no answer to the problem of the Initiative.
Now it appeared as though they would be forced to fight a war on two fronts.
The phone rang, and Giles picked it up absently, his mind still preoccupied with the call to Eamon. “Hello?”
“Rupert, it’s Spike. I just got done talkin’ to one of the soldiers.”
“Which one?” Giles asked.
“Graham, the one Buffy liked,” Spike replied. “Not a bad bloke.”
Giles’ eyebrows went up. That was high praise coming from Spike. “Is he going to call the soldiers off?”
“Already done.” Spike sounded pleased with himself, with good reason. Making sure that he and Buffy weren’t going to be pursued by the Initiative was a significant improvement to the situation, especially with Buffy in the hospital. “It was Walsh who wanted us, an’ she’s dead, thanks to Adam. Not that I like bein’ grateful to that pile of junk.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Giles said mildly. “Perhaps we could simply be grateful that Walsh was fated to die.”
“Yeah, that’ll do. Heard anythin’ from the Council?”
“I just got off the phone,” Giles admitted. “They’ll continue pursuing Faith. I’m not sure what would convince them to leave off. They have no words of wisdom concerning the Initiative. I’m not sure what you want to do.”
“Buffy’s idea is lookin’ better an’ better. We’ve got a man on the inside now, yeah? Have him spread the word that we’re lockin’ the place up tight, an’ then do it.” Spike’s tone gave nothing away as to how he felt about that option.
Giles sighed. In a way, it was an elegant solution. Letting all of the demons loose would only cause Buffy more grief down the road, and it had been the Initiative that had created the problem in the first place.
Of course, the soldiers involved believed that they were doing their job, and it seemed wrong to place them in danger for that. He remembered how many soldiers had been killed the last time.
“I still think we need to explore our other options,” he finally said. “Such a course of action could result in a high death toll.”
“For Initiative soldiers,” Spike observed. “Not breakin’ my heart, Watcher.”
Giles cleared his throat. “Perhaps not, but I’m still loath to take such a step unless we have to. If we could disable Adam—”
“Leaving the Initiative still operating?” Spike snorted. “Then what? You know they’ll just go back to their old ways.”
Spike was probably right. There didn’t seem to be any way to shut it down for good without going to extremes, and that meant that people would die. This was the part of the job that he hated, having to make decisions that would end in bloodshed and death.
“You may be right,” he acknowledged. “But that decision is some time down the road. The Council’s pursuit of Faith seems to be our highest priority at the moment.”
“I don’t think we can choose priorities,” Spike said. “We’re going to have to deal with all of it at once, most likely.”
Giles knew the vampire had a point, but it tended to complicate matters. “Perhaps, but it’s not a decision to make today. How’s Buffy?”
“Sleeping now,” Spike said. “Think she’ll stay under for a while with what the doctors gave her. I figure I’ll run a quick patrol. You may want to go over to my place an’ see how Faith an’ Angel are makin’ out.”
He bit back a groan. The last thing he wanted was to deal with Angel, and he certainly didn’t want to be faced with the two of them at once. It didn’t seem as though they had much choice, however. “I’ll go over there now.”
“Thanks, Rupert. We’ll talk later.”
Giles put down the phone and rested his head in his hands, mustering up his strength. He’d wanted to go to the hospital to see his Slayer, but he’d had to make his call to Eamon. Now, it would have to be put off in favor of visiting Faith to see what she knew and of what help she could be.
If any at all.
Tara’s glimpse of the future indicated that they needed the other girl, but there was no guarantee of that. There was also no guarantee that they would succeed in destroying Adam, even with two Slayers on hand.
“Once more into the breach,” Giles finally murmured, rising and straightening his spine. There was truly no rest for the wicked.
~~~~~
Faith looked over at Angel when the knock on the door came. “You gonna get that?”
He sighed and rose while Faith went back to watching television. She was full from the pizza and more than a little sleepy. Although she hadn’t really slept since leaving the hospital, Faith was reluctant to go to bed. She’d lost nine months while in the coma, and she hated the thought of losing yet more time.
“Faith.”
She recognized the voice immediately, and Faith rose from the couch, feeling the need to stand up to face her accuser. Although Giles had always been Buffy’s Watcher first, he’d been decent to her—and she had betrayed him.
“Giles.” She swallowed. “Where’s Buffy?”
“She’s still in the hospital,” he replied, sounding faintly disapproving, although whether that was because he wished her position reversed with Buffy’s, or because he was disappointed the other Slayer had been hurt, Faith didn’t know. “I think it will be another day at least before the doctors release her. Spike is staying there.”
“Figures,” Angel said. “We need to discuss what we’re going to do with the Council and Adam.”
Giles gave him a sharp look. “Spike is aware of that, Angel. Buffy is very vulnerable right now, however, and I cannot blame him for wanting to remain close to her.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Faith asked, not even knowing why she would care, but she did. Maybe it was only because there were unanswered questions, like why Buffy would care to help her. Or why Spike would. It didn’t make much sense.
“In time,” Giles said, his face softening. “I think we should talk, Faith.”
Faith didn’t like the sound of that. “About what?”
“About what our next step is going to be.” Giles took a deep breath. “I haven’t been able to dissuade the Council from coming after you, and I’m not sure it’s possible now that one of their operatives has been killed.”
“That was self-defense!” Faith protested angrily.
Giles held up a hand. “I know that, as do all of us. Unfortunately, the Council has only your word and the word a vampire for that, and they aren’t inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt at present.”
“What can we do, Giles?” Angel asked. “If they’re just going to keep coming—”
Giles shook his head. “Honestly, I’m not sure.” He met her eyes. “Faith, we do need your help with Adam. We must stop him, and we have information that you will be integral to that end.”
Faith shifted uncomfortably. “How do you know I won’t betray you again?”
“We don’t, but Buffy wants to give you a chance, and I’m willing to trust her in this.”
Faith shook her head. “Why? I don’t understand! Buffy hates me!”
“I don’t think that she does,” Giles said carefully. “I don’t know that she likes you very much, but she does not hate you.”
Faith stood and began to pace. “Okay, fine. Say I help you. What am I going to get out of it?”
“Faith!” Angel said, a reprimand in his voice.
Giles shook his head. “It’s a fair question, Angel. What do you want?”
“A ticket out of town,” she said bluntly. “If I’m going to have to run from the Council, I want to have a shot at it.”
“Is that a good idea?” Angel asked. “If they catch up to you, you’ll be alone.”
“I’ve always been alone,” Faith shot back, feeling that truth more than ever before. She looked at Giles. “So? Is it a deal?”
“If that’s what you want, then I will see to it,” he agreed calmly. “It is probably best for you to remain here for now. The Council does not know where Spike lives, and it’s unlikely that they would find either one of you here.”
Angel frowned. “Is there anything you need us to do, Giles?”
“Not at present,” Giles said. “For the moment, I believe that we must simply wait.”
Faith waited until he was gone to announce, “I hate waiting.”
Angel shook his head. “He’s right. Until we have a plan of action for Adam, we don’t have much of a choice.” He looked at her sharply. “Why are you so set on going off on your own, Faith? It’s the fastest way to get yourself killed.”
Faith snorted. “I’ve been taking care of myself a long time, Angel.”
“Then maybe it’s time to accept some help from someone who cares,” he suggested.
She met his eyes, not allowing any of her emotions to show. “The last time I did that, I wound up in a coma.”
“The Mayor—”
“—was the only person who ever cared about me,” she spat, cutting him off. “Even Buffy—all she wants is to survive, and she needs me to do it. If she didn’t, you can be sure she’d be getting rid of me as fast as she could.”
Faith headed back into Spike’s bedroom. He’d said she could use the bed if she wanted, and she thought the best thing to do was to get some sleep, and escape for a while. She just needed to not think, and to not have Angel jabbering at her about redemption and all that shit.
There wasn’t any such thing for someone like her.
~~~~~
“Aren’t we supposed to have a gift?” Anya whispered as they approached the hospital room. “I thought you were supposed to bring something.”
Xander winced. “Probably. We’ll have to come back later.”
“Is she going to be here for that long?” Anya asked. “I thought Slayers healed faster than that.”
Xander shrugged. “Well, if she goes home, we can bring her flowers there. Come on.”
Anya followed him inside the room, grateful that Buffy was sitting up and looking much like she usually did. Anya didn’t like the idea of sick people, or getting sick. Both were reminders of her own too-new mortality that she’d prefer to do without.
Xander had wanted to go to the hospital right after it had happened, but Spike and Joyce had told him to stay away. No one except for immediate family was being allowed in to see Buffy anyway, and she was supposed to be resting. They’d had to wait until the next evening after she’d been injured, and Anya was grateful.
Buffy was obviously doing a lot better now.
“Hey, Anya,” Buffy said, looking around her friend. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, but I think I should be asking you that question,” Anya replied. “How are you, Buffy?”
Buffy laughed. “I’ll survive, but I’ll be a lot happier when the doctors let me go home.”
“Tomorrow, sweetie,” Joyce said.
Buffy pouted. “That’s still not soon enough. Is Willow coming by tonight, too?”
Xander shrugged. “She and Tara were supposed to meet us here. I guess they’re running late.”
Buffy turned pleading eyes on her mother. “Do you think I could get a soda?”
Joyce frowned. “I’m pretty sure that wasn’t on the doctor approved diet.”
“The doctor’s never dealt with a Slayer before,” Buffy pointed out reasonably. “Please?”
“Ginger ale?” Joyce offered. “That’s the best you’ll do.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll help, Mrs. Summers,” Xander offered, following her out of the room.
Anya stood there awkwardly. She didn’t know how to talk to Xander’s friends; it wasn’t as if they had anything in common other than her boyfriend. She wasn’t part of their group.
“You can sit down, Anya,” Buffy said. “Is everything okay?”
Anya sat, considering the question for a moment. “I’m tired of being poor.”
“Have you thought about getting a job?” Buffy asked.
“Doing what?” Anya asked. “I’ve tried, but no one wants to hire an ex-demon.”
Buffy’s expression was compassionate. “Have you thought about retail?”
Anya frowned. “Do you know something that I don’t?”
“Giles is going to open a magic shop in a few months,” Buffy replied. “You might ask him if he needs help.”
“That’s kind of a long way off,” Anya replied.
Buffy nodded. “I know, but you can make it that long, and you’ll love it.”
Anya wanted to ask Buffy if being with Xander worked out for her, but she was afraid of the truth. She was so afraid that he would leave her. Anya had never wanted to be in love again.
“He really loves you, you know,” Buffy said softly, as though she’d read Anya’s mind.
Anya looked down at her hands. “I don’t know sometimes.”
“I know.” Buffy was silent until Anya met her eyes again. “Loving someone is hard.”
For the first time, Anya felt as though she and Buffy had something in common. “It is.”
~~~~~
Willow glanced at the clock. “Crap. We’re late.”
Tara looked up. “Not too late. It’s not like Buffy’s going anywhere.”
“I just feel like I should have been there before now,” Willow said. “I know Spike said she wasn’t taking visitors, but maybe I could have stayed there. What if something had happened, or—”
“Breathe, sweetie,” Tara advised her. “Buffy’s going to be fine.”
Willow took a deep breath. “Okay. You’re right.”
The knock on the door surprised both of them, since pretty much everyone they knew was at the hospital. Willow slung her bag over her shoulder and opened the door. “Oz?”
He stood there, looking wonderful. Willow had missed him terribly, but until that moment she hadn’t fully realized how much. “Oz!”
She flung her arms around him, and he held on tightly, one strong hand stroking her hair. “Hey.”
Willow pulled back to look him up and down. “How are you? I wasn’t expecting you back for another week at least.”
Oz shrugged. “I got lucky.” His eyes went to Tara. “Hi.”
“Oh!” Willow gestured to the other girl. “Oz, this is Tara. Tara, Oz.” She gave Tara a sheepish grin. “Which you’ve probably already figured out.”
Tara waved shyly. “Hey.” She looked at Willow. “D-d-do y-you w-w-want m-me to—” She gestured at the door.
Willow shook her head. “No, I need to go see Buffy.” She looked at Oz. “Do you still have the van?”
“I do,” Oz replied. “What’s up with Buffy?”
“She’s in the hospital,” Willow explained, ushering them out the door and locking up behind her. “They ran into trouble the other night. It’s kind of a long story, but I’ll explain on the way over. We’re late.”
Oz shrugged. “I’ll get you there.”
“Thanks.” Willow reached for his hand, relieved when he readily laced his fingers with hers. They still had a lot of talking to do, but now he was home, they had a chance.
That had been all she’d really wanted—a chance.
~~~~~
Angel stood as Spike rushed through the door. “How’s Buffy?”
“Better,” Spike replied. “Her mates are there to keep her company, an’ she sent me back here for a shower an’ a change of clothes.”
“And some sleep?” Angel suggested. “You could probably use it.”
“Probably could,” Spike agreed. “That doesn’t mean I’ll get it. Where’s Faith?”
“Your room.” Angel raised his eyebrows. “Do you really think you can make her happy?”
“I’m not havin’ this conversation with you,” Spike said flatly. “I’ve got better things to do with my time.”
“Well?” Angel asked. He knew that he might not get another chance to talk to Spike alone. The other vampire seemed to be doing his best to avoid him, and Buffy didn’t seem keen on leaving them alone together.
Spike snorted. “Fine. Yes, I do think I can make her happy. She tried normal, Peaches. It didn’t work out. ‘Normal’ boy was jealous of her power, an’ he didn’t like his girlfriend bein’ stronger than him. Me? I don’t mind. Like it or not, we’re together.”
“What happens when she gets old?” Angel demanded.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Bloody hell! I don’t know! Have you looked around lately, Angelus? The chances of either one of us livin’ long enough for that to happen are pretty low. Slayers tend to die young.”
“And when that happens?” Angel asked, gentling his voice.
Spike’s expression grew bleak. “I don’t know. Might be time to meet the sun then.”
“Come see me before you make that decision,” Angel said gruffly.
Spike gave him a sharp look. “What are you sayin’?”
“I’m saying that you can come see me if you need to,” Angel said slowly. “Look, I know why you got your soul, and I know you’ll take care of her. If—if it happens, and you need a place to go for a while…”
Spike looked at him, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Yeah, okay. We’ll see.”
That was all Angel could ask for. In truth, he didn’t even know why he’d made the offer, except that he felt some degree of responsibility for the other vampire. Angel was a large part of the reason that Spike had turned into a monster, and now Spike had sought his own redemption. Angel felt duty-bound to help.
Or at least to offer. If Spike didn’t take him up on it, he really wouldn’t mind. He and Spike might be on the same side now, but he was still a pain in the ass.
Faith came out of the room a few moments after Spike went in. “What’s up with him?”
“He wants to get back to the hospital, I think,” Angel replied. “Are you going?”
Faith shrugged. “I thought we were supposed to be lying low.”
“You are!” Spike’s voice came out of the bathroom. “But we’ll be goin’ the back way.”
“The back way?” Faith asked Angel.
He shrugged. “Probably by the sewers.”
Faith grimaced. “Can’t I just stay here?”
“Buffy wants to see you,” Spike said, poking his head out of the bathroom. “So, you’re goin’. Angel, you can stay or go as you please. We’re goin’ after visitin’ hours are over, to avoid the crowd in the room. Buffy wants to have a word with all of us.” He disappeared, shutting the door again.
Angel glanced at her. “You ready?”
Faith shrugged, trying to look nonchalant and failing miserably. “Yeah, sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because the last time you saw her, you were both trying to kill each other?” Angel suggested. “I know how that works, Faith.”
Faith shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.”
“Not ‘whatever,’” Angel said fiercely, suddenly certain that he needed to reach her before Faith saw Buffy. If she had her defenses up, Faith wouldn’t listen, and Spike was right; they needed her. Not because of Adam, not because she was extra muscle.
They needed Faith because having a Slayer on the other side wasn’t a good idea, and if that’s the direction she was heading, it might be better to let the Council take her.
“You are not bad,” he hissed. “You are not evil. Spike was worse than you; I was worse. You see us? We changed paths. You can, too.”
Faith tried to jerk away from him, but Angel held her fast. “You can change, Faith. It won’t be easy, but I’ll be with you every step of the way if that’s what you want.”
She froze, looking into his eyes. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“You’re still in love with Buffy,” she accused.
“Buffy has nothing to do with this,” Angel shot back. “This is between you and me. And Buffy’s with Spike now.”
She searched his face with her eyes, looking for something, although Angel didn’t know what. “You swear?”
“Yeah.” Angel looked her right in the eyes. “You can do this, Faith.”
He saw a flicker of hope in the depths of her dark eyes. “Okay.”
It was a start.
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