The Trip


Chapter One


Buffy delivered two roundhouse kicks in quick succession then waited until her opponent flung back in, delivering a sharp sidekick.  Her opponent flew off the constraints holding it to the ceiling.  As the offending bag dropped to the floor, clapping resounded around the converted training area at the back of the Magic Shop.   Buffy turned around to face the source of the sound.
"Nice work, love!"  The figure drawled from the shadows.
"You really need to get a new line, love."  Buffy replied as Spike stepped out of the shadows. 
Spike smirked at her.  "So do you!" 
Watching him walk towards her, with sure steady steps, Buffy tried not to let her lusty emotions get the better of her, though he looked oh-so-very sexy.  Mentally shaking her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts Buffy said.
"Why are you here Spike?  I'm training - leave." 
Spike chuckled walking closer still.  "And miss out on the chance to piss you off?  I think not!"
Buffy sighed and threw up her hands in frustration causing Spike to laugh once again.
"Then whilst you're here, make yourself useful."  Buffy said pointing towards the bag, then up to the ceiling hook.  Spike raised a dark brow sardonically at the slayer.
"Too heavy for you, pet?"
In a move too quick for the eye to see, Buffy punched Spike in the stomach, causing him to double over.  Buffy smiled down at him sweetly.  "Yeah, it's too heavy!"
With that she left the training room to go find Giles.  Spike watched her leave then sighing, picked up the bag as if it weighed nothing, and pushing the restraints back into place, locked it on.  He turned as if to leave then delivered a sharp sidekick - reminiscent of the one Buffy had just done - and the bag flew across the training area.  Whistling to himself he left the room by the back entrances.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

"Giles?"  Buffy called out as she re-entered the shop floor.  "Giles?"  She repeated, moving further into the shop.  Giles stood up from under the counter, facing his ward.
"Ah, hello Buffy.  I thought you w-were training in the back?"  He placed down the objects in his hands and looked back up at Buffy.
"I was, then I kicked the thing off again."  Buffy grinned sheepishly.  "Sorry!"  She added in an afterthought.
Giles smiled.  "Would you like…" the phone ringing cut off Giles' question.  He reached over for it and Buffy walked over to the table, which was covered in old texts and rituals about the latest threat to the world, and took a seat.  She sat back and listened to Giles' conversation.
"Hello Magic Shop!"  Giles greeted in an overly chipper voice, a fake smile plastered to his face.  Buffy grinned at the picture, her grin turning to a frown as she saw Giles do the same.
"Well, yes...this is Rupert Giles."  He waited a beat, his frown deepening.  "All with same markings you say?"  Another beat.  "Well yes.... Thank you...good bye."
Giles replaced the receiver and took a deep breath.  Buffy spoke first.
"I guess all's not so quiet on the western front?"
"No.  Quite."  Giles replied.  "That was...a friend from the paper, there have been killings of a distinct nature in the woods near Rotherham Clearing."
"Want I should assemble the gang?"  Buffy asked getting up and reaching for her coat.
"Yes, I believe a...uh...research party as Xander would put it, is our first course of action."
"Okay, I'll round up the troops and be back in half and hour, bye."  Buffy left the shop, the bell tinkling behind her.
"Bye."  Giles removed his glasses and began rubbing the lenses in an oft-repeated action.  It was going to be a long night.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Buffy went looking for Xander and David first as she figured that they would be probably at the Bronze.  She found them at said expected place sitting around a table, drinks in hand.

David was the same age as Xander and Buffy and had joined the Scooby Gang a little after they had started college.  Buffy, though happy a Willow's offer, had forced the hacker to go to the computer college in LA where she could be close to the important software companies and was also able to fight the forces of darkness with Angel, and regretfully Cordelia.
David was brought to Sunnydale, to be trained as a watcher-in-action by Giles - an attempt from the council to get back into Gile's and the Slayer's 'good books'.  Though not immediately accepted, David was now an important part of the group, replacing Willow in internet-whiz department ensuring the groups' link with the nets' information was not severed.  In the short time he had become an important part of the group he became a confidant for both Xander and Buffy.  Even Spike confided in him.

"Hey guys!"  Buffy walked up to the table that the boys were sitting at and sat down on the stool Xander kicked out for her.
"Hey Buff, come and join us."  Xander said.
"Sorry Xand, no can do.  Giles wants us."
"Ooo research!  Better get us some weapons of mass destruction!" 
"Would that be the chocolate or sprinkle covered ones?"  David quipped, causing the slayer to smile and the zeppo to laugh saying.
"Come on then Buffster, Dave - on with the research."
"You two go ahead, I have to find Spike first - if he has to help us then...then he has to help us!"  Buffy finished lamely and the three left the Bronze.
"Okay Buffy we'll see you at the Magic Box, try not to beat Spike up too much on the way - he may have to fight later."  David said with a knowing smile.
"Ruin my fun!"  Buffy and Xander chimed simultaneously.  They stared at each other then burst out laughing, stopping at the reprimanding watcher look on David's face.
"Sorry, I'll be good."  The slayer said before giving them a little wave and heading towards the cemetery.
"See ya."  Xander said to Buffy before he and David left in the opposite direction, towards the Magic Box.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Buffy walked through one of Sunnydales' many graveyards hoping to bump into Spike.  He always seemed to find her on patrol.  Ignoring the tickle in the pit of her stomach at that thought, she continued her search.  She had already been to his crypt but he wasn't there.  She had now been looking for him for nearly thirty minutes and although she had staked a fledgling five minutes ago she was becoming restless.  Fifteen minutes later she was about ready to give up and head to the Magic Box, when she saw him leaning against a tombstone, casually smoking.  *God he looks yummy in the moonlight. *  She thought, watching how the light played across the angles of his face.  Then scolded her self.  *NO!  Bad Buffy - Spike equals enemy.  Even if he is sex-on-legs! *
Spike's clearing of his throat brought her from her thoughts.
"You here for a reason slayer?"  Spike asked, slowly allowing his eyes to roam across her body.  She was still wearing the clothes she'd been training in - long, baggy, cream cotton pants with a tight fitting, thick strapped black top.  *God she's so beautiful. *
He heard her heartbeat quicken as she walked towards him and he smiled a purely male smile at her perusal of him.
"Giles wants us."  Buffy began.  "Some big bad on the horizon."
"And you couldn't manage without me?"  Spike said sarcastically, falling into step beside her as she left the cemetery and started up the road.
"We could...but since you hate helping, I want you to you to suffer - I like to torture you!"  Buffy replied with an evil smile.  Spike gave her a sexy grin and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"I'd like you to torture me!"
Buffy felt her face flame up and with a sigh of exasperation she pushed the door tot he Magic Box open, slamming it back in Spike's face.  Chuckling at her reaction, Spike moved to prevent the door from hitting him then pushed it open then walked in.  Leaning back against the counter, he watched the group converse, whilst Giles was retrieving some texts.
"What are you talking about, Xander?"  Buffy asked laughing, absently noting the vampires' entrance.  David sat up and put a hand on Buffy's arm.
"Don't worry about it, Buffy!  Xander's just plain crazy!"  Buffy only laughed harder in response, while Xander gave her a goofy grin.
Spike's jealousy flared as he saw that David hadn't removed his hand from the slayer's arm, but calmed when David caught his glare and, smiling knowingly, removed his hand.  At that moment Giles returned.
"Thankyou for all for coming, I apologise for interviewing your evening but there appears to be a new threat heading towards the Hellmouth."  He began, setting various books down on the table.
"However, we will not be able to wait for it to arrive in Sunnydale.  I'm afraid it has already killed to many and some are still missing.  We shall be heading out to the site where most of the victims have been found - the trail seems to have stopped there.  On the bright side, we shall be staying there for a few nights courtesy of the council.  Buffy, Xander I suggest you both call yourselves off for the week."
"Yeay!  I'm all for kicking some demon ass but a week off college, all expenses paid - there's gotta be a catch."  Buffy said suspiciously.  Giles smiled at his slayer.
"The only 'catch' would be the defeating of the demon, but since you do not mind that part there is non."  Buffy beamed in response.
"Soooo, when do we leave?"  Xander asked
"Tomorrow night."  Giles responded.  "We shall meet here at 8 O'clock.  Spike I'm afraid we shall have to take you car as well."  He said, facing the vampire.
"Fine but I'm not taking the whelp."  Spike replied, glaring at Xander who retorted just as hotly.  "I'm not going with him!"
In an attempt to prevent any further argument Giles spoke quickly.
"Buffy and Gunn will travel with Spike and I shall take David and Xander."  Giles sent a pleading look to Buffy, imploring her with his eyes to agree.  Buffy nodded her head in reply, smiling slightly when she heard her watcher breathe an audible sigh of relief.
"Gunn is coming?"  Xander asked.  "I thought he was staying in LA for the next few weeks."
"Well, though I am unsure of whether he will be back tomorrow, I feel it is best to cover all possibilities."  Giles moved to pick up one of the old books he'd just placed on the table before continuing.  "For tonight I suggest we spend a short amount of time researching and get some rest for tomorrow."
Xander looked at him in mock-horror.  "You mean...c-c-cut down the research?  Nooooooo!"  He wailed, clutching his head for emphasis.
David and Buffy laughed at him, while Spike just rolled his eyes.  Buffy looked up at Giles after her laughter had subsided.
"So Giles.  What are we looking for in these here books?"
"According to my sources all the victims were found with a hole burned in their forehead.  Some sort of blue substance was protruding from the hole."
"Eeew, so burned hole, blue goo.  Anything else?"  The slayer asked.
"I'm afraid not as yet.  I suggest Xander and David stay and research the demon, while you and Spike begin your patrol."  Giles suggested, his eyes flittering over to the vampire, which nodded in approval.
"Okay - back in a bit."  She turned to Spike,  "Come on, fang, lets go kill some of your cousins."  Spike just snorted, and rolling his eyes followed the slayer out of the shop.

Part Two