Things That Go Bump in the Night

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Chapter Fifteen
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Willow glanced up from the spell book she was studying. Giles and Tara were still absorbed in their own studies, but as far as Willow could tell, all of it was headed nowhere fast.

Everything was all so messed up. The last time things had gone badly, all she'd had to do to correct it, well beyond making it up to everyone, had been to cast a quick reversal spell. She sighed. If only it would be that easy this time.

"Willow?" Giles asked with a worried look.

"I'm frustrated," she exclaimed, suddenly jumping up from her seat. "There's nothing in these books that's going to help? Is there?"

Giles let go a sigh of his own, and with a quick glance to the page number, closed his own book. "No, Willow, I don't think there is."

"So we start from scratch," Tara offered, looking down when both of them turned their attention to her. "I m-mean you altered the spell on your own. It makes sense that we're going to need to do that for the reversal."

"Unfortunately, I believe she's correct, Willow."

A knock at the door had Giles calling out, "It's unlocked."

Willow smiled at his oblique invitation. While it implied an invite to come in, if anyone on the other side of the door still *really* needed one, they'd be stuck.

The door opened, however, admitting Angel and Adam. Willow shrunk in on herself. She hated how she'd messed up his life most of all. **Okay, Rosenburg,** she thought firmly at herself, **time to bite the bullet.**

As the two vampires crossed the room, Willow reached out and lay a hand on Adam's arm. "Can I please speak with you for a moment?" she asked hesitantly.

Adam nodded once and the two of them stepped into the kitchen for what privacy it offered.

**

Methos turned, and leaning back against the counter, folded his arms across his chest. Watching the hesitant young woman fidget restlessly, he suddenly realized he wasn't truly angry with her any longer. Which considering the anger he was constantly feeling, surprised him considerably. No, what he saw was a barely adult woman coming into her power and learning how to exploit that power. She was learning as she went, and from what he had seen so far, it was without true guidance. Giles might be practiced in the arts, but from the interactions he'd witnessed the man wasn't altogether pleased that Willow was following the path of the mystical arts and wasn't really doing much guiding.

"Willow, before you begin, there's something I want to tell you."

"Go ahead," Willow nodded.

"I'm not angry with you anymore," he began, but held up a hand when she smiled brightly. "But, I do want to say one thing. You obviously have a lot of power. That kind of power is . . . seductive. Before you know it, you'll be able to find a way to justify whatever it is you want to do with it. You have to be careful."

"An you harm none, do what ye will," Willow recited, then ducked her head. "It's part of the Wiccan rede. I really didn't intend anyone to be harmed by this. It *shouldn't* have hurt anyone."

Methos frowned. "And you think casting a spell on someone that will fundamentally change their life -- permanently, without their permission, *isn't* causing harm?"

"But," Willow protested, shaking her head vigorously, "the chip had already done that. I was just trying to make it an easier thing to live with . . . well, and I wanted to help Angel, too."

**Help Angel? How?** Methos set that aside for the moment concentrating on the rest of what she'd said. She honestly believed that Spike would be better off after her interference. "How would adding guilt and remorse into his life make not being able to feed 'properly' easier to live with?" He was honestly confused.

Willow's eyes widened. "I never thought of that part," she admitted, guilt coming off of her in waves. "I just knew that he *hated* the chip, and that eventually it'd wear off. After that, he'd just be . . . crazy."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Angel."

"Angel? He said that?"

"No!" Willow exclaimed. "When the gypsies gave Angelus his soul, they didn't think that was enough. They included a clause in it. If he ever experience a single moment of true happiness, he'd lose it again."

**Talk about vindictive!** "I always thought it wasn't good to piss off the gypsies."

"Oh yeah!" Willow nodded emphatically. "He and Buffy fell in love. It was the kind of love you only read about. You know the kind that never really happens?" Willow blushed. "Well, eventually she . . . uh . . . made him happy."

The implications of the gypsy curse sunk in and Methos paled. "Ouch. Um, why isn't she dead?"

"Angel managed to leave her before his soul left. They both think that's why he didn't kill her."

"Why do I think you don't agree?"

"Because he had chances later," Willow replied. "But he was too busy wanting to destroy her world and everything she cared about first. When Angelus returned, he was," she shrugged, "insane. I guess the demon didn't like being caged, so to speak. There wasn't anything rational left in him. Just the need for destruction. Even Spike said Angelus was over the top bad then. Before Buffy had to kill him, he almost succeeded in sucking the world into hell . . . literally."

"Literally?"

"Yeah, he'd discovered a spell to awaken the demon Acoufla, and open a portal to the demon dimension. It would have merged the two worlds. Not a good thing, in case you're wondering."

"I kind of gathered that," Methos replied drily. "But you just implied she had to kill him to stop him. He's here. . . ."

Willow laughed humorlessly. "Portal opened, she stabbed him with a magical sword, he got sucked into hell, spent centuries there, got brought back. Long story."

"There seem to be a lot of those."

"With this group? Yeah."

"Anyway, Spike -- he wasn't chipped yet -- knew that what Angelus was doing would destroy everything. He teamed up with Buffy, admittedly it was so he could get Dru away from Angelus as much as wanting to save the world, but he did it."

"Dru?"

"Spike's girlfriend. Long story. I don't suggest talking to him about it though. I think he's still a bit bitter about their break up. It's what led to him to coming back here and ending up chipped."

**Was *anything* with these people simple?** "So, I can see how you get from there, to wanting to help Angel and make his soul permanent. I just don't see how you got to trying it out on Spike."

"That's just it. When I first thought of it, I didn't think I'd ever be able to help Angel, because the whole thing would simply be too dangerous to try . . . especially if I got it wrong. Then, one day, I realized something. I *like* Spike. I've never told anyone this part, not even Tara. I mean it's crazy. As soon as that chip is out, he's going to go back to being the 'big bad', and back to being something we have to kill.

"I realized I didn't want that. Which meant giving him a soul. Which also meant, he was the perfect one to try the spell on."

"See what I mean about justifying what you want to do?"

"You don't understand," Willow said sighing in frustration. "I *did* think about it first."

"Did you think that maybe, and I don't claim to speak for him, he might prefer being dead to getting his soul back?"

"Actually yes."

"And you still did it?!"

"I knew what he'd say if I mentioned it. But I also knew what Angelus thought of his soul. He despised it, and everything it stood for. But, as soon as it was back, Angel was glad of it."

Methos sighed. He didn't know why he'd tried. This kind of thing never worked, which was why he'd made it a firm policy never to 'dispense' wisdom. Well, with the exception of one very headstrong Highlander. It was just as frustrating then, but it was also fun.

"Just promise me two things," he said finally, kicking himself for continuing.

Willow nodded instantly.

"Wait until you find out what they are, before you agree," Adam admonished.

"Go on," Willow encouraged, smiling sheepishly.

"One; when researching this spell, honestly try and find a way that ends with Spike *not* having his soul."

"But--"

"I know it may not be possible at this point, I just want you to try."

"Okay," Willow agreed reluctantly. "And the second promise?" she asked warily.

"The next time you get excited about a spell idea--"

Willow winced.

"--set aside that excitement long enough to *really* think about both the effects it will have, *and* the possible effects."

A relieved smile spread across her face and Willow nodded again. "I promise."

"Fine," Adam replied firmly. "You keep those two promises, and we're square. And other than getting me back where I belong, you don't owe me anything -- including another apology."

"But--"

"No, Willow, I know you're sorry for what happened. That's enough. I'm a firm believer that once it's all out in the open apologies don't change anything and they don't help. In fact, I believe they just string out the pain and awkwardness."

As Methos turned to leave, Willow lay a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"What?"

"Thank-you."

"For what?" he asked, confused.

"For not judging me, for really trying to understand."

Methos shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not in a position to judge anyone, Willow. I'm just a guy trying to get by in the world."

Willow smiled. "That doesn't stop most people from judging, so, thank you."

*****

Methos glanced around the living room as he and Willow returned. Angel and Giles were in quiet discussion with Tara.

"Where are they?" he asked.

"They'll be here, don't worry," Giles replied looking up. "You two were a little early."

"Unfortunately," Angel said, "they haven't been able to make much progress. There's nothing in the books."

The door opened again, this time without a knock, and Spike strode in followed by all the others.

"Nothing in the books?" Spike demanded immediately. "So what's the what?"

"That is what we were just discussing, *Spike*," Giles admonished. "Do take a seat and listen."

Everyone filed in and found seats, some electing to sit on the floor. Once everyone had, Giles continued.

"We've reached the conclusion that we're going to have to begin basically from scratch . . . write our own spell so to speak. The problem--"

"Told ya," Spike crowed, grinning at Methos."

He nodded, conceding the point, immediately returning his attention to Giles.

"The problem," Willow continued where Giles left off, "is that there is no spell to banish a soul from a living body."

"And since Spike's soul is in *my* living body, that would create a problem."

"Quite," Giles said firmly as he and Willow nodded. "That however, was not the problem I was going to mention, at least not until we had *something* we might be able to do about it. I was--"

"It's too bad Adam isn't Immortal like Richie," Cordelia interrupted, and through his shock at the statement, he almost laughed at the look of irritation that passed across Giles' face.

"Why?" Methos asked.

Cordelia shrugged.WellWell, duh," she said, "then we could just kill Spike, in Adam's body, long enough to release his soul."

Everyone stared at her open mouthed.

"What?!" she exclaimed looking baffled. "It's not like he wouldn't come back . . . if he was Immortal, I mean."

Clearing his throat, Methos asked, "That's the only stumbling block?"

"No, not hardly," Giles replied. "It is only the largest one to point."

Methos nodded, if it came to it, he was prepared to reveal his Immortality to the rest of the group. For now, however, he would wait.

"The *other* problem, well, other than the need to create the whole bloody spell of course, is going to be the need to recreate the conditions, as closely as possible, that existed in the first place."

Methos stiffened. "Why?"

"Because none of us capable of casting the spells we're talking about, have enough controlled power to offset, the effects of the blood and sex magic that were involved the first time."

"Sex is magic?" Richie asked, shock cracking his voice.

Several people around him laughed.

"Not, directly, no," Giles explained in a hushed tone. "But when it's included in spell casting it increases the available power.

"Oh," Richie began, and Methos rushed to cut off whatever else the young Immortal was going to ask. Now was not the time to get sidetracked.

"What about the innate power of Holy Ground? Would it have had an affect on the spell?"

"Holy ground has power?" Willow asked in astonishment.

Richie nodded. "Yes, it does. Immortals can sense it."

"Really?" Giles asked surprise coloring his voice. "I didn't know that." Then he frowned. "If it does, I suppose, as ambient power, it would affect it."

"So we'll go to the crypt when we cast the spell," Spike replied, grinning smugly.

Methos frowned. "And just what are *you* so smug about all of a sudden?"

"I told you I'd have time to convince you," he replied, smirking now. "It looks like you're going to find out what human blood tastes like after all."

"How do you figure *that*?" Methos asked.

Giles cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm afraid he's correct -- and no I never thought I'd hear myself say that. In order to be sure we don't make things worse than they already are, we need to be as accurate as possible. It was his, well that body's, blood that was spilled, so it has to be that way again."

"So, we use a knife. Spilled blood is spilled blood . . . right?"

"I'm afraid not," Giles replied gently. "I understand your reticence, but it must be accomplished in the same manner as before."

Methos slumped. No, Giles didn't understand. He wasn't at all repulsed by the idea. Combine the blood-lust of the demon within him with the fact that the pig's blood hadn't tasted, as Spike put it, absolutely horrid, made him fear he might enjoy it a little too much.

"Understood," he said without much enthusiasm. Then looked up as a sudden thought occurred to him. How would they keep track of the timing? "Just tell me no one has to be present for the rest of our part in this," his asked, well aware that his voice had taken on a hint of pleading, but couldn't quite keep it out.

"What's the matter, pet?" Spike asked, smirking. "I can't believe you're actually shy. I'm sure you've--"

Methos glared, opening his mouth to cut off whatever Spike might reveal, not wanting to know just what Spike thought he'd done, or why he thought Methos might not be 'shy'. Richie, however, beat him to it, letting out a strangled cough.

"What's wrong?" Methos asked.

"Wrong?" Richie asked, his face turning an interesting shade of red. "Nothing's wrong."

Spike let out a bark of laughter. "I think the boy's just gotten his world view widened a bit," he retorted.

Richie blushed brighter. Then, as Spike groaned, he tensed unexpectedly turning just enough to have a better view of the door.

**An Immortal?** Methos fought down a surge of fear. Nothing could happen here, there were too many people. That was as far as his thoughts reached before chaos erupted.

The door burst open, Richie jumped up, and young Xander stumbled in bloody, bruised, his hand held to his head.

"We have a problem," he exclaimed, wincing.

Methos jumped up from his seat, not stopping until he reached the young Immortal's side. "Richie!"

Keeping a wary eye on the newcomer, Richie half turned toward him.

Methos shook his head minutely, not relaxing until Richie did.

TBC

What's your interest level in this story? There are 30+ Chapters and a sequel in the works. Should I continue posting?
Kiristeen
Kiristeen@kiristeen.com