Title: Hello Goodbye Part 2 of 12

Author: Jeanny

Summary: The PTB are sending the Scoobies on mysterious and dangerous quests; Buffy's future hangs in the balance.

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, and Mutant Enemy rule the world - or at least these characters. I'm just doing my part in the universal Dance of Joy surrounding them.

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A few minutes went by in complete silence, everyone lost in his or her own thoughts. Probably thinking about Buffy and what she meant to them, and what they might be able to do tonight, Willow thought. She was thinking about that too, but she was also having a silent freak-out. She felt Tara's hand on her shoulder and knew her girlfriend had figured her out, not that she was known for her poker face.

"Willow, are you okay?" she asked softly. Willow nodded with fake enthusiasm.

"I'm good. I'm great. We're gonna help Buffy, so, yay, it's just that...I wish we knew what kind of test it's gonna be. Cause, you know, I do pretty good on tests, but that's when I study, and I feel like I should be studying or something, only I can't because I don't know what I'm supposed to know, you know, for the test that I'd be studying for." Giles smiled at her indulgently.

"I don't expect we're facing that manner of test, Willow. Although the entire matter is distinct from any situation documented by the Watchers' Council to my knowledge, it appears somewhat closely related to some rite of passage rituals I've read about from a few Native American tribal cultures. Warriors are sent to prove their worthiness by retrieving some object of ritual value and along the way attain visions from the gods."

"I seek the Grail," Xander threw in, and Willow heard Dawn giggle, but she was still scared beyond the capacity for humor. She looked at Dawn and saw that she was a bundle of nerves as well and tried to give the girl a reassuring smile. She was pretty sure it hadn't come off very well.

"The interesting and alarming part," Giles continued, ignoring the interruption, "is what Cordelia said about the risk. We risk losing what we seek to gain."

"To gain for Buffy," Dawn corrected quietly.

"Where is Angel?" Cordy muttered to no one in particular. Willow looked at her watch, saw that it was almost midnight and felt Tara's grip on her shoulder tighten. She gave her a quick smile and struggled to listen as Giles continued his summation. She was hoping against hope that there would be some knowledge in there, some tidbit that she could use. She had to pass the test, she had to. Deep in her heart, she was already afraid that her recent delving into dark magick would be used against her, that she would be found unworthy.

"Yes, of course," Giles replied to Dawn, then continued to the room at large. "No matter what is going to happen, we really must be on our guard at all times. I believe that the mystic forces we are dealing with may be forces of good, but they can still be quite dangerous. It is also unclear if the failure of one of us will affect the group as a whole. There could be dire consequences, perhaps for all of us." Dire consequences. Willow felt like she was going to hyperventilate. She wished that the ground would swallow her then and there, until she realized in a moment of panicked clarity that it just might happen. She had no way of knowing what she was about to face, but she was terrified. What if she failed Buffy? What if she failed everyone? She saw Anya move in closer to try to take Xander's hand, her face every bit as afraid as Willow's. For some strange reason she found that comforting. Xander didn't seem to notice her movement. He was too busy berating Giles.

"That's it, Giles, from now on you don't get to make the big pre-battle speech, because you're"

Willow blinked. She had been sitting at the table, now she was standing in a familiar yet shocking corridor. Sunnydale High, not the exploded shell she remembered, but just as she'd known it in high school. Moonlight shining through the windows and emergency lighting was the only illumination. There was enough light for her to tell she was alone. She could still feel the warmth on her shoulder from where Tara’s hand had been moments before. Willow shivered.

“Oh. Kay,” she said. “Of course, this is the test, and I’m back in high school, land of many tests taken...although I am in college now, I take tests there, too, but I’m not complaining, I can do the test here.”

“Willow,” a warm voice interrupted, and Willow jumped. She whirled around and gasped in astonishment.

“Miss Calendar? Is it you?” The petite dark haired woman smiled at her, and Willow grinned. She ran to give her a hug, stopping only at the last possible moment. “Oh, am I allowed? To hug you?”

“I’d be pretty upset if you didn’t,” Jenny smirked. “And Willow, you’re not a teenager and I’m not your teacher anymore, please call me Jenny, okay?” Willow put her arms around her teacher and mentor carefully, as if she might break or disappear, and was relieved to feel her solid warmth. She was real, and she was...

“Alive. You’re alive!” Willow whispered, almost reverently. Tears were shimmering in her eyes as she pulled away, and Jenny shook her head sadly.

“No, Willow. I’m simply here by the will of the Powers. I’ll have a role in the trial that‘s coming.”

“T-trial? Miss Ca--Jenny, I d-don’t understand about the trial,” Willow stammered. Just being in the presence of her teacher again made her feel indescribably young. “I need to pass some kind of test or we can’t get Buffy back, right?”

“I’m afraid that the stakes are a bit higher than that, Willow. First of all, the task that you’ll be asked to do is not without danger to you. If you fail to succeed...well, it could be bad. But more importantly, you need to understand that the Powers see something of the Slayer in you, in all of those chosen, and they want you to offer it to Buffy to bring her back. The test is more than just the challenge before you, it’s about figuring out what you have to give. If you don’t figure it out by the end, it will be lost to you, and Buffy will be unable to return.”

“So if I give it, I can keep it, but if I don’t give it, I lose it?” Jenny’s nod and wide smile made Willow sigh. “I’ve been on the Hellmouth too long, because that actually made sense in a terribly cryptic and nonsensical way. So, there’s a mission, big hairy danger, and you’re here...why are you, Jenny? Not that I’m not really happy to see you!” Willow added hastily.

“Think of me as a guide, a kind of link to the Powers. But I’m not going to be much help to you, I’m afraid. They’ve made it quite clear that there isn’t much I can do.” Jenny seemed annoyed at that, and Willow had to smile at her. “You and I were close, closer than most teachers and students. I think, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m at least part of the reason you’ve gotten so heavily involved in magick.”

“Well, yes, I mean...m-magick? The trial is about the magick I’ve been doing? I mean, I know some of that stuff is kind of dark and out of boundsy, but I did it to try to stop Glory and to help save the world, I mean, they do understand that, right? I was trying to help!”

“Calm down, Willow. That has nothing to do with what this is about, although I don’t think you’re really being honest with yourself there, and that’s not good. You need to be clear in your own mind about who you are in order to find your gift.” Willow frowned, but before she could protest, Jenny began walking down the corridor. Willow had to walk briskly to keep up as the gypsy continued. “I’m curious, what do you think makes magick possible? Where does it come from?” Willow smiled, she knew the answer to this one.

“There’re magickal energies all around us. If you know how, you can tap into them and use them, and that’s how the magick works. The spells that you use, those are like the ways you manipulate them. Really, it’s just like chemistry with different components.” Willow had caught up enough to see that Jenny was frowning, and she faltered a bit. “I mean, that’s the way I’ve always...but maybe I’m missing something. You invoke the goddess, so the Powers have a hand in it too. I just messed up, didn’t I?” Jenny put her hand on her arm to halt her progress and stop her panicked babbling.

“No, you didn’t mess up. But you need to know that those energies you spoke of don’t exist here, and you will not be able to invoke the Powers while you’re here. Do you understand me?” Jenny looked deep into Willow’s eyes, and the young Wiccan could tell there was something she wasn’t saying, something important. But she had no idea what, so she simply nodded.

“You mean I can’t do spells here; they won’t work.” Willow suddenly looked around and grinned in delight. “Hey, this is your classroom! Oh, is it a computer test? I could...no of course it’s not a computer test, because that would be stupid, and Buffy doesn’t really have any computer skills, I mean she can use a computer, and she has...I mean she had...” Jenny mercifully cut off this latest bout of babble.

“This is where the trial will begin. It’s a very simple task actually. Well, simple to explain, at least.” Willow looked at her apprehensively.

“Okay, simple is good. What is it?”

“You have to save me. Actually, you have to save both of us.” Willow’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“Save you from what?” A soundless shadow passed in front of them, and Willow choked back a scream as she looked up into the mocking smile she still occasionally saw in her nightmares.

“Hello, girls,” Angelus purred. “Miss me?” Before Willow could react he had grabbed Jenny by the hair and thrown her against the wall, her head making a sickening thudding sound as it connected. She slumped against the wall, struggling to keep her feet and consciousness. Angelus backed Willow up against the desk. Willow’s hands flailed, feeling the surface of the desk frantically for something wooden, a pencil, ruler, anything. There was nothing. Angelus’ hands caressed her arms almost gently as he moved his head in to her neck and sniffed. “Will, you smell so good. I’d forgotten. Not so innocent anymore, but that fear...” He pulled back slightly, and she watched him morph into his vampire features. Desperately she brought up a knee and hit him in the groin as hard as she could. He cursed and released her, falling, and she ran at top speed towards the exit, pausing only to grab Jenny’s hand and drag her out with her. The two went hurtling down the corridor, feet fueled by adrenaline.

“You wound me, Willow! Oh well, you know how I love to play with my food...” Angelus bellowed, his voice echoing eerily through the hall.

“How...long...?” Willow panted as they headed towards the stairs. She had suddenly noticed that this Sunnydale High didn’t seem to have any emergency exits. She turned and headed back towards where the library should have been, it was at least familiar ground. And with any luck, there would be weapons.

“How...long...what?” Jenny answered wheezily, blood from a cut over her eye streaming down her face. She was shakily managing to keep up with Willow’s pace.

“Do...I...have...to...keep...us alive?”

“Until...he’s...dead...and...the others...too,” Jenny responded. Willow tripped over her own feet and almost took them both sprawling.

“What...others?” she asked, already fearing she knew the answer. A lithe dark-haired figure appeared at the end of the corridor, swaying slightly.

“Look, Spikey, there are mice in the house...they’re going to have their tails cut off by Daddy’s kitchen knife, no cheese for them...” Drusilla called out in a singsong voice.

“I see them, Dru. Yes, luv, they do look trapped now, don’t they...” Spike’s familiar voice reverberated, and Willow whipped her head around. She couldn’t see him, he was hidden in the shadows, but she could see the burning end of his cigarette. She knew that this Spike was unchipped and not of the good, and she stared at Jenny in disbelief.

“I’m supposed to take on three Master vampires and win? Without magick? Umm, hate to bring this up, but NOT a Slayer!” Knowing they couldn’t stay where they were, Willow continued moving them towards the library, even though their progress was taking them into Drusilla’s vicinity. She had the nasty suspicion that they were being herded there anyway. She could now hear Angelus laughing somewhere behind them.

“Oh, Willow, you are so right. I have to wonder why Buffy had so much faith in you; after all, you did let her down in the end. Couldn’t stop the ritual from starting, so little sis’ blood started a flowing. That never should have happened.” Angelus taunted her. He had caught up with Spike, and the two of them were slowly making their way towards the two women. Not knowing what else to do, Willow ran past a humming Drusilla and into the library...where she was relieved to see the weapons cabinet fully stocked with the usual items. She grabbed a cross and threw it to Jenny, who caught it and held it at the ready, then she grabbed the crossbow. She’d seen Buffy work the crossbow plenty of times, and she’d done target shooting with it. She was sure she could manage it. If she got in close to them, she knew she would die, so distance weapons were their only hope. If only she could use her magick. She could teleport three stakes and kill them all easily, but Jenny had told her that magick wouldn’t work.

Willow shakily loaded the crossbow and aimed it at the doors as they flung open and the three vampires sauntered in. All three of them actually laughed at her tough girl stance, and Willow knew they were right. Even if she got a shot off and her aim was true, the other two would be able to move in on them. Willow stole a sideways glance at Jenny. She was holding the cross down at her side, her eyes pleading for Willow to do...to do what? Willow again was struck by the idea that she had missed some vitally important clue. She racked her brains, running it back over everything that Giles had said, everything that Jenny had told her.

“Little mouse is trapped. Little mouse is blind,” Drusilla sang, spinning around. Spike and Angelus both grinned at each other.

“Don’t come any closer,” Willow warned, wishing her voice sounded stronger.

“Well, pet, that’s right terrifying. I am impressed, aren’t you impressed, Peaches?” Spike said, mock serious. Angelus nodded, but his eyes were amused.

“Terrified. I’m going to love killing you again, Jenny. And Will, I think I’m going to take my time with you. Might even turn you.”

“I said stop!” Willow said more fiercely, and to her surprise all three vampires actually froze. She aimed the crossbow at Dru’s heart. “If you come any closer, she’s the one that will die, Spike.” Spike actually looked alarmed, and Dru started to whimper. Angelus just laughed.

“Will, that might work for the lovesick pup, but you know it won’t stop me. Get ready for me, Jenny. The game’s over again,” Willow fired the crossbow, and the arrow hit Dru in the shoulder. She screamed as Spike ran to her side. Willow mentally cursed herself. They were done for now.

“Willow!” Jenny screamed, and Willow saw that Angelus now had her in his arms. He grabbed her head, looking at Willow the entire time. She knew what he was going to do. She knew she couldn’t let it happen. Determination filled her, and the entire room suddenly began to tremble. Three stakes rose from behind the main counter and flew through the air like heat seeking missiles. Two found Dru and Spike, and they exploded to dust before they had a chance to make a sound. The one that found Angelus was a half-second later, and Willow had a moment to relish his shocked expression. He managed to make an enraged cry, and the sound of it lingered as Jenny was showered in his dust. The three stakes hung in the air for a moment longer, then dropped. Willow ran to her friend and hugged her.

“You did it, I knew you could do it,” Jenny murmured. Willow released her and smiled broadly.

“I figured it out, what you tried to get me to see. I had forgotten; it’s the belief in magick that’s the most important part. I couldn’t let them kill you. I knew I had to do something, and I just believed that I could.”

“Your gift, Willow. You know what it is.” It wasn’t a question, but Willow nodded.

“My gift is hope. My gift is belief.”

“Yes.”

“My gift is spirit.”

“The reason that she’s here,” Jenny added softly, smiling proudly.

Willow knew it was time to say goodbye. She had so many things she wanted to say, but she vanished before she could.