Part 2:
Southern Discomfort

As Buffy entered the ballroom she was amazed at how attractive the organizers had managed to make it with their limited wartime supplies. Flags, banners and flowers decorated the hall. Booths were lined up along the back selling all kinds of good things to eat and to wear.

Buffy looked around to see Parker leaning up against a column drinking a mint julep and talking to a tall brown haired girl. While in conversation his head turned in her direction and upon catching her eye he smiled warmly. He immediately excused himself from his companion and greeted Buffy heartily.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming or not," he seemed happy to see her.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Buffy beamed. Parker had such lovely brown eyes she noted. They spent the better part of the evening talking and dancing.

"Way to go Buffy," Willow congratulated the blonde girl while Parker went to get them some punch. "I see things are progressing nicely with Parker."

"Yes," Buffy smiled. "They certainly are. I've hardly thought about Angel all night."

"You still haven't heard anything from him?" Willow questioned.

"No," Buffy replied. "But I'm moving on to bigger and better things. My life hasn't stopped simply because Angel Wilkes isn't in it anymore."

"Good for you," Willow congratulated her as a pretty blonde girl walked towards them. "Oh and by the way Buffy, I'd like you to meet my friend Tara."

"Hi," Buffy greeted the blonde girl. "Nice to meet you. How do you two know each other?"

"Oh, um, we share a common interest," Tara explained looking at Willow.

"That's nice," Buffy smiled. "It's good to have interests my mother always says, to occupy you when the men are away. What is it?"

Tara turned to look at Willow and exchanged a knowing glance. "Oh, um, we are both interested in, um, folk dancing. Yeah, folk dancing."

Buffy looked a little confused but accepted the explanation. "You must have a gay old time with that," she decided.

Willow tried to stifle a giggle as she and Tara seemed to be sharing some sort of inside joke. "Well," Buffy chided. "Don't spend all your time on your hobby or else you'll end up a couple of old maids living together with just each other and a cat to keep you company."

Tara smiled at the thought of it. "No," she agreed in mock seriousness. "We wouldn't want that now would we Willow?"

Willow shook her head in mock agreement.

Parker returned with the glasses of punch and after they were emptied requested yet another dance with Buffy. The young couple outshone everyone else on the dancefloor with their efforts.

"Let's go over here and sit down for a little while to catch our breath," Parker suggested after a particularly vigorous jig. He led Buffy into a deserted side room. As they sat down Parker impetuously took Buffy by the hand. Blushing at so bold a gesture Buffy was overwhelmed by the force of his ardour, allowing herself to be kissed by this rash young man. She rejoiced at the thought that she may finally have found what Angel told her she should find. Maybe he had been right. Maybe she could lose herself in this new love and forget Angel ever existed. She could at least try.

A trumpet blast brought the lovebirds to their senses and they hastened back inside to see what the fuss was about. A tall man with a large moustache stood at the front of the hall asking for everyone's attention. It was Colonel Jeffries, a friend of Buffy's father. "Ladies and gentlemen," he called out. "I thank you for your generous efforts towards our worthy cause. I assure you that the war with the demons will be over very soon. We are gaining on them every day. The money we have raised tonight will go towards providing medical relief for those injured in this fight with Sherman's troops."

Buffy smiled up at Parker warmly.

At the front of the hall Colonel Jeffries continued in recognizing local people who had made significant contributions to the cause. "I'd like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to someone who has become a real friend of our efforts by getting much needed supplies to us past the demons. His bravery is an example to us all. Will you come up and take a bow sir?" He gestured to a man at the front but Buffy couldn't see him because so many other people were craning their necks to get a look at him. As the man took to the platform Buffy was shocked to see that it was the blond vampire from the soiree at her father's house just weeks before. "May I present Spike Butler," the moustached man announced.

Parker seemed distracted by something and excused himself for a few moments.

Buffy nodded in acknowledgement but was fixated on the platform where this vampire who had attacked her was being lauded as a hero. She couldn't believe her eyes. The crowed joined up in enthusiastic applause as the blond vampire stood and bowed to them. This was all too much for her. Buffy decided to get a breath of fresh air and stepped outside onto the balcony while looking around for Parker. Not seeing him anywhere she looked up at the moon. Buffy smiled, reflecting on how well the evening was turning out. Suddenly from below, two voices raised in argument caught her attention. It was a lovers quarrel and the woman seemed to be quite upset.

"I saw you with that girl," she accused. "I came here tonight to be with you and then I find you dancing with some other girl."

"Janice," the man's voice comforted. "She means nothing to me. We were just talking about the war. I don't care about her at all. She's not half as pretty as you are."

The woman's voice laughed at the insult. "Really?" She paused then gave in a little, "You're sure she's nothing to you?"

"I promise," he assured her. "She's been chasing me for weeks now. I've just been nice to her so as not to hurt her feelings. You know, the whole chivalry thing and all, but what I really want is you," his voice became muffled and the sounds of kissing could be heard.

Buffy was frozen in shock. She recognized the voice. It was Parker. As she looked over the edge of the balcony she could see him locked in a passionate embrace with the brunette she had seen him talking with when she arrived. The shock of this latest rejection overwhelmed her. Buffy angrily pushed into the ballroom intending to leave.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked. "Where's Parker?"

"I never want to see him again," Buffy cried out holding back the tears.

"I don't get it," Willow answered in surprise. "I mean, you two were all snuggly wuggly a little while ago."

"That was before he turned into a complete and total creep," Buffy confessed. "You just can't trust any men in the matters of love, can you Willow?"

Willow nodded, looking towards Tara who was helping herself at the punchbowl.

"Buffy, Willow, I've got someone who'd like to meet you," a voice called out. It was Colonel Jeffries making his way through the crowded room.

"Hello Colonel," Buffy greeted with the warmest smile she could muster under the circumstances. "How nice to see you."

"May I present Captain Spike Butler." The crowd parted and Buffy found herself staring at the blond vampire once again.

"How do you do?" he smirked taking Buffy's hand and raising it to his lips in greeting. He affected a slight bow as he lowered his head to meet her hand but his eyes never left hers. Buffy felt a chill go through her at his icy touch. "It seems to me we've met once before," he suggested. "I believe you had broken a vase."

"Yes, I recall meeting you Captain Butler," Buffy acknowledged stiffly. "If I had known you were going to be here this evening I would have brought something I've been saving for you since that night. It's made out of wood, can you guess what it is?"

"I'm sure I couldn't," Spike became a little uncomfortable.

"Spike here has been a lifesaver to us," Colonel Jeffries explained. "Without him I don't know where we'd be at in this war. By getting through Sherman's blockades he has brought us weapons and increased our rations supply. He's made a big difference to Sunnydale. We all owe him a debt of gratitude." A young man in soldier's dress came up and tapped the Colonel on the shoulder. "Would you lovely ladies excuse me for a moment?"

Buffy turned to Spike confused. "This is all very admirable sir. I had no idea you were so committed to the cause. You must believe in it quite strongly."

"I believe in Spike Butler," the vampire came clean. "He's the only cause I know. The rest doesn't mean much to me. I make a very good profit from my escapades and that's reason enough for me."

Buffy shook her head in disgust. "I should have known better than to think that you, a vampire, could be noble. That you could care for something beyond your own evil needs. You men are all alike."

Buffy looked over and out of the corner of her eye saw Parker happily dancing with the brunette oblivious to her.

"Oh," Spike observed. "The boy didn't like what he saw so he's moved on to something better and now you're all boo hooing. Well, it certainly didn't take you much time to find someone new after Angel went away to fight the good fight."

Buffy turned to look at Spike incredulously.

"Eh, this whelp wasn't up to snuff for you anyway," he offered by way of support. Turning to Willow he tried to bring her into it. "Don't you think Red?"

"I'm just here for moral support," Willow admitted. "Although I think that Buffy shouldn't let a bad experience with Parker ruin her fun here tonight. She's fallen off her horse, she should just get back up on it again."

"Not a bad idea, what do you say about a whirl around the dance floor pet?" Spike offered Buffy.

Buffy raised her eyebrows in surprise. "With you?"

"Sure, why not?" he attempted to take her hand but she pulled it back. "Oh come on. All this fighting we've been doing is nothing more than a dance without the music. You can see how well matched we are. You noticed it when we fought, just like I did." He took a step closer to her speaking slowly close to her ear. "Every move perfectly matched. We understand each other you and I." He smiled a little while staring intently into her eyes.

Buffy gulped, suddenly uncomfortable with his proximity to her. She was so aware of his body and the power it wielded. She tried to force it from her mind, affecting a semblance of boredom. "What do you want from me anyway?" she demanded haughtily.

"I'll tell you Buffy O'Hara, if you'll take that Southern California glazed look off your face," Spike was through playing games. "I want you to say to me the words I heard you say to Angel: I love you!"

Buffy laughed in his face," That's something you'll never hear from me, Captain Butler, as long as you live."

Spike wasn't thrown off by her dismissal. "You know you want to dance," he whispered cockily jutting out his chin implying more with his looks than with his words.

"Say I do want to dance," Buffy countered, a look of disgust growing on her face. "It wouldn't be with you. It would *never* be with you." Buffy turned and strode out of the ballroom leaving the wonderstruck vampire looking after her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy's training and preparations for her imminent meeting with Sherman continued. Giles was determined that she would be ready when the time came. One evening Buffy was interrupted in her training as one of the servants came to alert her that there was a young gentleman to see her.

When the door opened Buffy was disappointed to find it was Spike Butler. Ever since the Monster Bazaar he had gotten into the habit of dropping by unannounced offering her tidbits of information about Sherman. She made no secret about her distaste at seeing him again.

"I don't know why I let you come to visit me," she wondered aloud. "I'm a slayer and you're a vampire. Vampires are evil. It's not like we're supposed to be friendly and all."

"I know why you've let me come to see you," Spike explained. "It's because I've brought you a very nice present. All the way from Los Angeles."

"What is it Spike?" she asked looking curiously at the large green box, animosity all forgotten.

"Well, I don't know if I'm going to give this to you or not now since you weren't happy to see me," he teased until she made such a fuss that he gave in to her.

Opening the box she exclaimed with great pleasure, "Oh Spike, it's beautiful." Raising the battleaxe out of the tissue paper she read the card aloud "You tear my heart out with your beauty."

Spike smiled at her obvious enjoyment of the gift. Buffy took it over to a practice dummy to try it out. Smiling back at him she decided to play a little joke. Holding the axe backwards she whacked at the dummy clumsily, throwing herself off balance. "How did I do?" she asked with false innocence.

"Awful," Spike uttered in pure disgust. "When a girl like you doesn't know how to use a battleaxe properly the war has stopped being a joke." Spike came over and put his arms around her in order to show her how to hold the battleaxe properly. She stiffened at his closeness, the tension between them rising.

"Here, let me do it," Buffy laughed, spinning the axe around deftly and proceeding to aim it at the dummy's head split it in two. "It's very kind of you to bring me such a lovely present," she added.

"I'm not kind. I'm just tempting you," Spike hissed. "I never give anything away without expecting something in return. I always get paid."

Buffy choked back in surprise. "If you think I won't slay you simply because of my shiny new battleaxe you've got another thing coming."

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm not afraid of you," Spike responded.

"Well, I won't *dance* with you either," Buffy brandished her weapon. Spike stepped forward and took Buffy in his arms removing the battleaxe and dropping it to the floor. She struggled at first and then gave in to him. He placed his arms around her in an intimate dance pose; his firm hands on the small of her back, while staring deeply into her eyes. There seemed to be a song playing that only the two of them could hear.

"You've never stopped dancing with me," he pointed out tracing his left hand up her arm and cupping her chin. He leaned down as though to bite her neck. Buffy closed her eyes in fascination at what he was doing, half resisting and half willing it to take place. "But no," he decided stopping himself. "I don't think I will bite you - although you need biting badly."

Buffy pulled herself away from him repulsed by his obvious attraction to her and her realization at the way in which she herself had responded. "And you think that person is you? Why I wouldn't let you bite me if you were the last man on earth." Buffy stormed out of the room to the sound of Spike's laughter.

As Buffy flew down the hallway she bumped into Ethan Wilkinson who had been spying on her.

"What are you doing?" she demanded angrily. "Were you eavesdropping?"

"Just checking out the competition," he answered slyly.

"What do you mean "competition"? Buffy asked, perplexed.

"It's not just demons who are heralding the arrival of Sherman you know," he explained. "There are those of us *humans* who stand to benefit from his plans."

"You've been spying on me to help the demons?" Buffy was stunned. "That's despicable. Get out of my house right now."

Ethan smiled mysteriously but left the house according to Buffy's orders.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning Buffy made a beeline for the library looking to prove herself with some industrious studying. "So, what's on for today?" she asked her Watcher. "Anything important?"

Giles turned to look at her, startled by her early morning appearance. He reached back to close the door to his office. His hair was disheveled and he looked like he had been up all night with his books. "Yes, rather," he agreed. "I've just uncovered some rather startling information about Sherman. Let me just cross-reference a few of these translations and then I'd like to speak with you regarding this a little later. Why don't you go and do your studies in the garden this morning and I'll come for you when I've finished."

"Ok," Buffy shrugged, feeling like he was trying to get rid of her. "I'll go do the homework thing." Buffy made her way to the back lawn and settled herself down on a blanket, her books spread out before her.

"Watcha doin' Buffy?" her sister Dawn asked, sitting down beside her.

"Homework. What does it look like?" Buffy replied, clearly annoyed.

"So I guess you aren't interested in seeing Angel then?" Dawn smirked, happy to be getting the better of her older sibling.

Buffy dropped her book in her lap. "What did you say? Angel, here?" she couldn't believe what she had heard.

"Yeah, I saw him in the library talking with Mammy a couple of minutes ago" Dawn explained. "I think he's been here since late last night because I know Mammy was here all night doing research. Jeez, if you weren't so busy pining after Parker Abrams you might have noticed."

Buffy would have heard this last cutting comment if she hadn't already made a mad dash for the library. Angel was here, in her house. Buffy was ecstatic at the thought of seeing him again. As she opened the door to the library she could hear their two voices deep in conversation inside Giles' office.

"So she doesn't know?" Angel asked.

"I've only just discovered this myself," Giles was responding. "I'm not sure if I'm going to tell her or not. I don't know how it could help."

"Knowing that you're going to die has to be a pretty scary thing to deal with," Angel acknowledged. "I don't know if she's strong enough to have it not throw her off her fight."

"But the prophecy says that she will face Sherman and that she will die when she does," Giles pointed out with concern in his voice. "I just want to check this reference again. Maybe I'm wrong about this."

Buffy dropped her books in shock. The two men, alerted to her presence emerged from the room.

"Buffy," Giles was surprised to see her. "I didn't realize you were out here. How long have you been…" He recognized the look of horror on her face. "Oh, I see."

"Hello Buffy," Angel greeted her. This was the first time he had seen her in six months.

"So, you've come to see me before I die," Buffy angrily taunted him. "How thoughtful of you."

"Buffy, it's not like that," Angel looked down. "I didn't want to alarm you unnecessarily," Giles explained. "I'm rechecking my sources. I hope that I may have mistranslated this."

"I'm sure you haven't," Buffy assured him. "You wouldn't look this worried if you thought you had. So when is all this supposed to happen?"

"Well, that's one thing the texts are rather vague on," Giles pointed out removing his glasses, polishing them. "They say that on the Feast of St. Haumia the Slayer will die at the hands of the great demon warrior. Over the years since this prophecy was first written the Feast of Haumia has come to be celebrated on a number of dates by the sects who recognize it, within a weeklong celebration."

Buffy just stood and stared.

"Please don't worry. We'll try to find a way around the prophecy," Giles offered a dim hope. "You know these prophecies, they're not always right."

"So when is this weeklong party scheduled to take place?" Buffy asked.

"By my calculations it began three days ago," Giles disclosed.

"Well, I love a good party," Buffy said flippantly. "But what if I don't take on this Sherman guy. Say I just lay low and don't give him the chance to kill me. How does that sound?"

"If you don't do battle with him then he will destroy the world, killing all who live in it," Giles explained.

"So I don't really have a choice then is what you're saying," Buffy observed. "I'm sorry I even got out of bed this morning." Buffy hiked her skirts up and left the room angrily.

Giles turned to Angel. "Go after her," he ordered.

Angel found Buffy sitting in a darkened room all alone. He sat beside her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Buffy turned and buried her face in his chest sobbing loudly. "But I don't want to die," she cried. "I'm only sixteen years old. I'm not ready to go."

"I know," Angel agreed. "It's not fair. You're so young, you have so much living to do. You should be allowed to do it without any of these hindrances. I went away so you could have a life and now that life is being taken from you."

Buffy pulled away from him. "If you hadn't gone away we could have at least had these past six months. Now all we're left with is regret."

"I don't regret how I feel about you Buffy," Angel admitted. "I don't regret that I want something better for you than me."

"I don't know why you keep saying that Angel," Buffy asked perplexed. "I can't imagine anyone who could be better for me than you are."

"I have to show you something. This will startle you but don't be afraid," Angel cautioned. Turning away he allowed the change to come over him. Turning back, Angel showed her his true face.

Buffy jumped up off her seat letting out a startled little yelp of surprise. "You're a vampire," she stammered. "Oh Angel, I didn't know." Buffy reached her hand up and touched the ridges on his forehead and leaned forward and kissed his troubled brow.

"You're not disgusted with me?" he was confused. "I'm a vampire Buffy. A thing of evil."

"I know you Angel," Buffy pointed out. "You're no more evil than I am."

"So I guess you can see why we can never be together," Angel explained.

"No I don't see," Buffy disagreed. "I love you and I think you love me. That should be all that matters. If this was all that was holding you back from being with me then we're ok now. I don't care that you're a vampire."

"But you should care," Angel struggled to find the words. "And if you don't then I will. I won't ruin your life like mine has been ruined."

"But you wouldn't be ruining it," Buffy argued. "By being in it you would be making it better."

Angel would not be reasoned with. "I can't stay," he told her. "I have to go back up to the front. I have to believe that I can stop Sherman's troops before they can summon him. If I can do that then you may never have to face him."

"Do you think that will happen?" Buffy hoped.

"I don't know. We're losing badly. We have incredibly high casualty rates. My men are barefoot. We have to try but I feel the end of the war is nearing. Once the demons get into Sunnydale they will be able to summon Sherman. There's some location of significance directly over the Hellmouth where they have to go to summon him. That's one of the things that Giles is working on now. He's trying to figure out where that is so we can prevent them from ever attempting it."

Buffy sobbed into his arms.

"You must be brave. You must. How else can I bear going," Angel was trying to be noble. "Oh Buffy, you are so fine and strong and beautiful. Not just your sweet face, my dear. But you."

Buffy looked up into his eyes. "I love you Angel," she declared. "I love you, did you hear me?"

"Buffy, don't say such things," Angel turned from her.

"Then go," she ordered, pushing him away from her. "Go and fight your war." She turned, crying again.

Angel stood and moved as though to touch her but thought twice about the gesture, choosing instead to silently take his leave.

Buffy lifted her head looking after him, "When the war's over Angel. When the war's over."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That evening Buffy was strolling downtown with her friends Willow and Xander when they were approached by a strange woman in a red cloak who had her face covered by a scarf. "I've got something for you," she whispered, looking around nervously.

"Harmony, is that you?" Xander immediately recognized their former schoolmate.

The woman pulled the scarf down to reveal that it was in fact Harmony Kendall, late of Sunnydale and in fact late due to the fact that she had been turned into a vampire. "Yes, it's me," she hissed. "And will you keep your voice down."

"What, are you afraid that someone will stake you if they see you?" Xander joked.

"No," Harmony disagreed. "I just don't want anyone seeing me talking to such losers as you."

"As much fun as this is," Buffy interrupted. "I gotta ask, what do you want Harmony?"

"I need to talk to you Buffy. Alone." Harmony pulled Buffy off to one side. "I just came to give you this," she held out an object wrapped in a handkerchief. She unwrapped it to reveal a shining dagger with a razor sharp edge.

"Uh, thanks but I'm good," Buffy shook her head.

"Look," Harmony was getting antsy now. "It wasn't my idea to give this to you. It's a gift from a friend. It's supposed to be a really good dagger. You might need it. You can get a lot of use out of it when Sherman's troops get here. Me? I wouldn't care if they sliced you into ribbons but my opinion doesn't really matter."

"Alright, give me the dagger then," Buffy conceded.

Harmony placed the dagger into Buffy's outstretched hand and then turned and started walking away in a dramatic gesture. She threw the one edge of her cape over her shoulder causing her to trip on the hem from the other side.

"Oh, yeah," Xander observed calling out after her. "Nobody makes an exit like Harmony."

Buffy looked down at the handkerchief the dagger was wrapped in to see the initials SB. Buffy became angry at the sight of it. "Oh, if I wasn't a lady! What wouldn't I tell that varmint."

Buffy got her chance a couple of hours later as she ran into Spike on her way home from patrolling.

"I hear Sherman's troops will be making their way in soon. That's when the real fun starts," Spike observed. "Panic everywhere. It's already begun. You shouldn't be here Buffy."

"Where should I be?" she asked.

"With me," Spike answered. "We belong together. Why don't we leave Southern California and go some place else. No sense in sticking around here and watching Sunnydale come down around your ears. Too many nice places to go and visit. Mexico, London, Paris."

"With you?" Buffy countered.

Spike nodded his head in agreement. "Yes ma'am. Someone who understands you and admires you for just what you are. I figure we belong together, being the same sort. I've been waiting for you to get that bloody Angel out of your heart but I can't wait forever. Are you going with me or not?"

Buffy pushed him away from her, throwing him back onto a tombstone. "I hate and despise you Spike Butler. I'll hate and despise you till I die." Buffy stormed off into the night.

Spike followed her with his eyes for as long as he could. Smiling to himself he commented, "Oh no you won't Buffy. Not that long."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy continued her training, preparing for the inevitable while Giles continued trying to find a way of reinterpreting the prophecy. Both knew they were fighting a losing battle but they still carried on. For 35 hours straight, the battered Sunnydale troops hung grimly on, hoping for a miracle. Then there fell a silence, more terrifying than the pounding of the cannon. A frantic knocking on the door awoke Buffy and her family early the next morning. It was Xander.

"Our soldiers have fallen. The demon troops will be entering Sunnydale by nightfall," he warned. "You should all leave town immediately."

Xander and Buffy readied her family but as they prepared to drive off Buffy held back. "I'll go with Xander," she lied, then watched them drive off. This could be the last time she would ever see her family she thought to herself.

"Come on Buffy, let's go," Xander urged.

"I'm not going," Buffy replied.

"You gonna do some of that Slayer stuff?" he asked.

"How do you know about that?" Buffy demanded.

"I came by to see you the other morning," Xander explained. "Your mother said it would be ok if I waited for you in the library and I guess I fell asleep behind the book stacks. I woke up when I heard you all talking. That's pretty heavy stuff."

"I can't think about that now," Buffy said avoiding the topic. "I'll think about that tomorrow. Today I'm focusing on stopping the demons from raising Sherman."

"I'll help you," Xander offered. "They wouldn't let me go off and fight for the cause because I'm not 18 yet but I'd really like to do something. Please let me help you. I know everything there is to know about fighting."

"Well, alright," Buffy conceded. "I could use a hand. But if it gets bad promise me you'll get out of the way. I don't want to have to be worrying about you when I'm fighting."

"No problemo," Xander reassured her.

Buffy went upstairs into her room and took her battleaxe out of it's hiding spot.

"Ooh, that's a nice one," Xander admired. "Where did you get that from?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Buffy responded.

Buffy and Xander walked down the deserted streets. It was beginning to get dark and the electric street lamps were starting to come on. Passing by a lamppost, Buffy looked up at it quizzically. "I thought electric lights hadn't been invented yet," she observed.

Just then a troop of demons appeared around the corner. Six or seven of the ugliest demons Buffy had ever set eyes on came rushing towards them. Buffy took on four of them while Xander put in a valiant effort with the other two. Buffy managed to cut off the head of the first one to get to her but the others proved more difficult, moving out of her reach as she attacked them. Looking over at Xander she saw he was in dire straits as the two demons approached him from either side.

Grabbing Spike's dagger she had hidden in her sleeve, Buffy flung it at the one demon catching him square between the shoulder blades. He immediately crumpled to his knees and fell on the ground.

"Hmm, he was right," she observed. "Handy."

Xander then was left with the one other demon. As Buffy continued her fighting she grew more fierce and daring. Xander observed from his position how wild she had become with bloodlust. As she finished off the last one she saw another group heading down the street towards them.

"Xander get out of here," she ordered. "We have to find Tara and Willow. Maybe they can help."

"But we don't have a car," Xander pointed out. "And Tara's place is clear across town."

"Go and find Spike," Buffy suggested. "He would be able to help us. He's probably over at the demon bar downtown. Hurry."

Buffy raised her battleaxe ready for the next onslaught of attackers.

Xander ran all the way to Willy's bar but stopped short of going in. "Hello," he called out. "Hello." He continued until Willy stuck his head outside the door.

"What are you doing out here?" the surprised bartender asked.

"I didn't want to come inside with all the demons but I need to speak with Spike," Xander explained.

"Oh sure kid," Willy nodded. "No problem."

Spike appeared at the door with a half-pint of beer in his hand.

"Buffy needs you to come right away," Xander explained.

"Ok," Spike nodded. "Just let me finish this beer and we'll be off. Come on in, I'll spot you a half pint."

"I can't go in there," Xander was shocked at the suggestion. "There are demons in there. It wouldn't be right."

"Fine," Spike sighed at the irony. "Suit yourself. I'll just be a minute."

Moments later Spike and Xander were on their way in Spike's DeSoto. They stopped and picked up Willow and Tara and then went in search of Buffy. They found her in the middle of a large crowd of demons. Her dress was torn, her hair a mess but she was in a battle frenzy the likes of which none of them could have imagined. She swung her battleaxe skillfully lopping off the arm of one demon who approached her. She pulled it back only to hurl it towards an approaching demon leaving it sticking out of it's head. Now weaponless she was being surrounded by an incalculable number of demon soldiers.

Spike observed the mayhem with glee. "Well, this is all just neat," he chortled.

Xander took the wheel while they pulled up close to where Buffy stood fighting The car parted the crowd of demons in their path. Opening up the door, Spike leaned out and grabbed Buffy by the arms pulling her into the car. She swung around to strike him and he braced for the impact but upon seeing him she collapsed into his arms letting herself be pulled into his embrace as they drove off to safety.

"But I didn't stop them," Buffy cried breaking down after such a tremendous effort. "They'll raise Sherman now. I want to go home."

Spike held her in his arms and said to her in soothing tones, "It's alright darling. All right, now you shall go home. I guess anybody who did what you've done today can take care of Sherman."

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