August 4, 2007 11:49 AM

Buffy knocked hesitantly on the door thinking that it was ironic that now she knocked politely on the door of the house she had once lived in with her mom and Dawn but the house now belonged to Giles and Kate and she owed them that respect. While she waited for an answer she glanced back at the cars that were parked in the driveway and in the street immediately in front of the house. When Dawn had told her that Kate wanted them over for lunch she had said that it was going to be just the three of them but it appeared that the whole family might be there.

“Hi, Buffy, come on in,” Kate smiled at her as she held the door open for the woman who had become like a daughter to her.

“Hello, Kate,” Buffy returned the smile and stepped into the house. Her footsteps moved her to the entrance of the living room so she could see who was there. Anya and Xander sat on the couch, while Willow and Tara sat on the love seat. Josh was sitting cross legged on the floor while Dawn stood next to the fire place. Finally Giles sat in his recliner where Kate was now settling herself on the arm next to him. Knowing she had been set up but not sure why she turned to her sister, the most likely culprit of it, “What’s going on, Dawn? I thought this was going to be a quiet lunch for us to talk things over.”

“It is for us to talk things over but I thought that having everyone here, it would easier for you to see reason.”

“What is it with you people? How many interventions do you think I need in one lifetime?” Buffy gave angry glances at her friends before turning to leave.

“Buffy, we don’t know what’s going on. Dawn just called us here too.” Xander called out to her before she could get too far.

Slowly, Buffy walked back into the room, ignoring the invitations to sit, she came to stand so that she was facing her sister with everyone else in the room between them.

“So, Dawnie, why don’t you enlighten everyone, me included as to why you have all of us here on a Saturday morning instead of at home with our families?” Buffy asked.

Dawn closed her eyes for a moment against the wave of Buffy’s anger because she knew the truth even if Buffy didn’t. Ever since Buffy had wanted to have a baby, Spike was becoming more demon like, and the things he had told her about him being in control, wanting other women, the games they played and now the beating were all evidence of it. Angel agreed with her that if something wasn’t done that Spike could completely lose control and Buffy could be seriously hurt or killed. Spike wasn’t listening to anyone, especially to Angel who knew exactly what his struggles were, so the only one left to try to reach before it was too late was Buffy.

“Buffy, I love you and I don’t want to see you hurt anymore.” Dawn looked quickly around at the others, “I don’t know if you all of you know about the bondage sex they have started to have.”

“Everyone knows,” Buffy interrupted her. Then when no one responded she prompted, “Don’t you?”

“Buffy, of course we know, you came to us for the spell for your room,” Tara answered for herself and Willow.

“Spike told me and Anya and she was the one who gave him the web site addresses to get some of the toys.” Xander responded. “So, we know.”

“And I know because I am her medical doctor. She came to me asking questions about the risks of some of these things.” Kate answered.

“And unfortunately, I know and really don’t want to.” Giles said while rubbing his forehead. “What is your point, Dawn? If it’s about their sexual exploration, I think it is already out of the bag. Quite out of the bag actually. Buffy is even going back to Sara to make sure everything is okay. They are open and responsible about the choices they are making so I don’t see any harm in it.”

“What about the fact that he is now beating her?” Dawn smugly said. They might dismiss the games as harmless but they couldn’t deny the bruises on her back.

“And I told you that bruises were part of the Slayer package, Dawn. Damn it you know that,” Buffy exclaimed turning around as she pulled her shirt up so the others could see the fading bruises on her back. “The other night patrolling,” Buffy pulled her shirt back down and turned to face the others again, “I ran into a gang of demons. There were a lot of them and they were about ready to let loose on a neighborhood so I called for Faith and Spike to join me. It was a horrible fight and we were outnumbered three to one. I got kicked around quite a bit, as we all did. Spike was turning to push one of the demons down when the demon I was fighting flipped me and Spike ended up swatting me instead of the demon he was aiming for. Yes, it is his handprint but it was an accident that happened in the middle of a really confusing fight.”

“There was a gang of demons in Sunnydale?” Giles asked.

“Yeah, there has been a real increase of activity in the last couple of weeks. Unusual migration too. We ran into a family whose car had broken down. They started to beg us not to hurt them but relaxed when Spike got the car started for them and then directed them to the side of town that would welcome them.”

“I wonder if it has anything to do with the Soldiers,” Giles pondered.

“I can talk to some of my old contacts and see if they have heard anything,” Anya volunteered.

“Excuse me; can we get back to the point of why we are here?” Dawn interjected.

“Dawn, I don’t think there is anything else left to say. Spike and Buffy are fine, just going through a rough spot like any other married couple does at some point. I think if there was something wrong Buffy would tell us.” Giles said.

“Fine, no one wants to listen to Dawn. You all still treat me like a child. But when Spike loses the fight to his demon half and kills her, I don’t want to hear a word.” Dawn announced before heading for the door. Josh stood, smiled apologetically at everyone and shrugged his shoulders before following his wife out the door.

Buffy worn out by the emotional onslaught of Dawn sunk down on the ottoman. “I don’t understand what is going on with her. I know Spike hurt her too when he…when he strayed but it’s like she is out to get him or something.”

Giles leaned forward to take Buffy’s hands in his. “Buffy, he has always been the one that was perfect in her eyes. You failed her, I was the enemy because I took her away from you, everyone else was going through their own problems that year and weren’t as involved as she needed. Spike came riding back into town and in her eyes saved everyone. She was still young and saw him as the hero in it all. Now, for the first time he has stepped off that pedestal and she is having a hard time with it. She wants to blame an entity, the demon, which is an integral part of Spike but she sees them as separate beings and the one being is taking away the person in her world that has never failed her until now.”

“But she is really hurting him. He thinks he has lost her. Do you think they need to talk?”

“I honestly don’t think it would help. I think time is the only thing that is going to mend this. Keep her as involved in the family as possible. Let her see that he is trying to put things right. Love will see her through this eventually.”

The talk returned to the increased demon activity and Anya promised that she would start tracking down what she could that day. Buffy said that she would call Max to find out if he knew anything. With promises of getting in touch later that day to discuss results the family broke up and went their separate ways for the afternoon.

August 4, 2007 10:15 PM

Spike was pouring soap into the dishwasher when the phone rang. Quickly closing the soap container, he reached for the phone with the other hand.

“Hello,” he answered distractedly while locking the machine and turning it on.

“Is Buffy there?” Dawn asked impatiently.

“No, Dawn, she and Faith are out patrolling. Is there anything I can help you with?”

There was a loud sigh on the other side of the line and some mumbled whisperings. Then Dawn was back on the line, “Spike, you need to go find them. Janice and Bobby were found out tonight. The invite was a trap and they barely got out alive. They just called and they said…and they said that they overheard one of the guys at the house say that they were going to make sure that the Slayer bitch died. Find her for me, please.” There was the little girl that was in so many ways still Dawn pleading with him to be her hero again.

“I will. Call everyone. Let them know.” Then Spike hung the phone up. In two seconds he was in the living room where Clem and Raven were watching a movie. “Clem, there’s trouble. I have to go find the girls. Lock the house down, get Elijah, move to the center of the house, Raven use whatever magic you have to protect yourselves. Help is on the way.”

Then he was gone, the scared expressions on his family faces would have to be dealt with later, Buffy was in trouble. And with her was Faith, someone who had become an important part of them.

He was halfway across the backyard when everything changed.

The silence of the night was broken by the sound of a single gunshot.

August 4, 2007 10:15 PM

“So, come on, B, give some info. Are vamps better in bed than humans?”

“Faith, what is your fascination with my sex life?” Buffy flushed slightly but it was from thinking about Spike naked and inside of her rather than from the questions that Faith was throwing at her. It had been five days since Spike and she had made love and she was seriously thinking about just attacking him later.

“Because I don’t have one right now.”

“You could if you wanted. Then you would know if demons are better than humans.” Buffy smirked at the way she had diverted the conversation from her to one about Clem and Faith. Maybe she could get some information on how Faith really felt about Clem.

“I know. I like him a lot. He’s been a really cool friend but there isn’t any attraction on my part. He keeps asking me to play with his ears and I know it’s like this big erogenous zone. Sometimes I think about doing it just to see what would happen.”

“WooHoo, Faith gonna get some demon booty, Faith gonna get some demon booty,” Buffy laughed as Faith started to chase her through the graves.

Then as they rounded a corner they both stopped as their instincts kicked into some sort of danger near them. Immediately they turned back to back as they checked the perimeter around them.

“Buffy, move,” Faith shouted.

They turned to run as a gunshot rang out around them.

August 4, 2007 10:25 PM

Spike froze only for a moment at the sound then was galvanized into action by the force of Buffy’s fear reaching him. It almost knocked him over from the power of it and then the faint odor of blood drifted on the wind.

“No,” he screamed as he ran to find them. He leapt over the wall surrounding their home and, as he ran through the cemetery he heard her, over and over in his head, “I need you, Spike. Help me.” Anger and bloodlust was heavy in the air as he picked up on the presence of at least two other humans.

He never slowed down or took precautions as he ran to find his mate. Another shot rang out and he felt the bullet graze against his flesh. For a brief second he stumbled to his knees and then using his hands pushed off running again. The stench of blood was stronger, almost overpowering, as he followed it toward a crypt. The door had been kicked in and there was a trail of blood over the doorstep leading inside. He stopped for a second, scared to walk inside, scared of what he would find. Slowly, he walked to the doorway, and his eyes met hers. Buffy was safe and he could see her visibly relax at his presence.

She noted the wound in his shoulder and silently asked him if he was all right. He nodded and sank to his knees beside them. Grasping Faith’s hand he told her he was there. The wounded Slayer was cradled in Buffy’s arms while Buffy held her hand over the wound in Faith’s chest but they knew that it wouldn’t do any good from the amount of blood pouring from her.

“I called 911. They are on their way.” Buffy whispered to him.

“They’ll be too late,” Faith rasped out as her body began to tremble from her injuries. “I’m sorry, tell Clem I’m sorry.”

“I will,” Buffy reassured her knowing exactly what Faith meant. That maybe in time the bonds of friendship would have changed his appearance to her. Faith knew that she couldn’t have found anyone else to love her as strongly as Clem had come to in only a few days.

“Take care of each other.” Then Faith’s eyes fluttered shut as the pain and the blood loss took their toll on her.

Buffy leaned forward to kiss her forehead and Faith knew that it was okay to let go. With Spike helping, Buffy laid Faith down on the floor, her head cradled on a jacket. The sounds of sirens could be heard in the distance.

Buffy walked outside the crypt with Spike following her. His hand reached to grab her arm to try to keep her safe but Buffy shook him off.

“Listen to me,” she screamed out to the night. “I am going to find you. And I will make you pay. Do you hear me? You are nothing but cowards shooting at unarmed people. There is a special hell for monsters like you and I am going to make sure you find it.”

Spike grabbed her around the waist pulling her to the ground as another bullet whistled over their heads. Buffy trembled beneath him, “Make it stop, Spike. Make it stop.”

“Sir, is she the one injured?” Spike looked up to find them surrounded by paramedics and police officers.

“No, she..Faith is in there.” Spike said as he pointed toward the crypt. He slowly made his way to his feet pulling Buffy up with him. She leaned into him overwhelmed by the events of the last half hour. The stench of Faith’s blood covering her made her want to vomit.

“Miss, I’m sorry but did you see the assailants?”

Buffy shook her head.

“They headed that way. I saw them running.” Spike told them softly. He hadn’t seen them but had followed their scent as they had headed out of the cemetery.

As two of the police officers ran in the direction that Spike had indicated, they heard the sound of people running toward them from the direction of the house. They turned to see who it was and saw Xander, Willow and Giles rapidly approaching them.

“What happened?” Giles frantically asked as he saw the blood that was on both Buffy and Spike.

“Oh, God. Oh, God,” Xander cried as they brought the stretcher out with Faith’s sheet covered body on it. Xander unable to handle the sight turned and only managed a few steps before emptying his stomach on the ground. Willow came over to rub his back as he lost to the emotions that filled him.

Buffy turned and buried her head in Spike’s chest as he softly stroked her hair. He caught the attention of one of the police officers, “Can I take her back to the house? Get her cleaned up and then she can answer any questions you have.”

The officer gave their consent and after making sure they could be found the small group slowly made their way back. No one spoke. All of them were overwhelmed by the knowledge that one of them was gone. When they came through the back door Spike directed Buffy to the downstairs bathroom. “Willow, will you get some clean clothes for us and some towels?”

Willow nodded and hurried off to get the requested items. Spike turned the shower on and began to undress his wife. She was clearly in shock, her small body trembling as she stared blankly at the wall. His hands were gentle as he moved her the way he needed. Then once they were both undressed he pulled her into the shower with him and began to wash her hair.

“Spike, the clothes and towels are out here.” Willow called to him.

“Oh my God, the children, Clem, I have to be there,” Buffy was slowly coming back to reality as she stepped out of the shower with shampoo dripping from her hair. Spike reached for her waist to pull her back in when Willow took a hold of her, first her shoulders then came to cradle her face so she could get her attention.

“Buffy, they are fine right now. They do need you but they need you cleaned up and strong, okay? It would frighten the children to see you like this. Let Spike finish washing you and then you can see everybody.” Willow firmly told her.

Buffy blinked back a few tears and let Spike pull her back into the shower. Willow stayed and dried the floor while Spike took care of her friend. When he had finished shampooing and washing her, he helped her out of the stall so he could get cleaned up. He hurried through the motions while listening to Willow helping Buffy dry off and getting dressed.

Willow handed him a towel that he wrapped around his waist. A washcloth pressed to his shoulder where the wound had opened again. Seeing him hurt brought Buffy further out of her shock and she pulled bandages and ointment out of the cabinet. Her hands shook as she cleaned him up and applied the ointment and bandage. Spike sat quietly on the toilet lid with his hand resting on her leg as she took care of him. After he was bandaged he pulled Buffy down onto his lap.

“You going to be able to get through this, Baby? Just be strong for the kids and then later I’ll take care of you,” Spike whispered to her as he hugged her tightly.

She nodded as she reached out for Willow pulling her into their embrace with her face buried against the redhead’s stomach.

“I’ll be fine as long as you two are there. You are both my backbone and always find me when I am lost.”

“That’s right. We always will too.” Willow told her as her arms wrapped around both of them. They stayed like that for a few minutes while Buffy pulled herself together. Then she stood, “Let’s go take care of what needs to be done.”

As she headed for the door, Spike and Willow exchanged a smile at the thought that Buffy was back in control.

They followed her back to the living room where she hesitated momentarily in the doorway. With quick assessment of who was where and who was taken care of she stepped further into the room while the others looked at her. Dawn was there wrapped in Josh’s arms while her eyes held her gratitude that her sister was okay. Anya held Xander against her while Tara sat alone with Jacob on her lap. Kate and Giles stood together leaning against the doorway waiting to help in anyway they could.

Buffy turned and asked Spike softly to stay with the children and Clem. Raven and Elijah were huddled against the demon and none of them were crying yet. The pain of their loss was still too fresh to penetrate their emotions. Elijah looked at them and silently watched his father come toward them.

“Dawn, would you call LA and let Angel know what happened?”

Dawn nodded her head and headed for the phone. Willow returned to sit with Tara as Buffy gestured for the police officer standing just inside the room to follow her into the kitchen.

“Giles, would you join us, please?” She asked the other person who had always been her strength to be with her during the questioning.

The three sat around the table as Buffy answered the officer’s questions while her hand was held between Giles’ larger ones. She told him as much as she could without revealing the demon aspect of the murder. When he had taken all her information he gave her some good news. That they had found an older woman, Penelope Adams, on the street behind the cemetery that had possibly seen the suspects and had given a good description of the car that they drove. Buffy smiled when she recognized the name as one of the Sunnydale Chickies who was in her class. The thought crossed her mind that maybe she should enlist their help in finding these Soldiers since they always seemed to know what was going on in their neighborhoods.

Then with a reassurance that they would do all they could the officer took his leave. Buffy quickly moved to join her family in the living room. The silence and the grief were heavy in the air and she took a seat next to Elijah on the couch. Her arm reached across him, Clem and Raven as Spike reached the other way so that they were all connected.

“Buffy, Angel and the others are on their way,” Dawn informed her sister wishing that she felt comfortable enough again to join the family on the couch. But she didn’t so she turned to huddle against Josh.

“What do we do now?” Anya asked unsure of how to handle this recent tragedy. The memory of that night when Xander and Tara had been shot was heavy in all their thoughts and the wish that this night could have ended as it did that night.

“We keep going. Tomorrow we get up and we start fighting again.” Buffy told Anya and the others in the room.

Slowly the others nodded their agreement. The need to find these Soldiers had been reaffirmed and strengthened by the tragedy forced upon them. But that night they would take the time to reflect and grieve and share.

TBC