Healing

Part 24

When the sun went down Xander and Spike watched as the rest of the group filed into the shop one by one. Wesley was the first to arrive followed by a very broody Angel.

Since it looked as though they hadn't smoothed things over, Xander called Wes to come over and join him and Spike on the sofa. Angel glared at him briefly before heading toward Giles at the research table.

Angel was standing behind Giles, leaning over his shoulder, reading a passage in a book that Giles had pointed out to him. Needless to say, when Buffy came in and saw them in that position she was drawn to the wrong conclusion.

"You! You stay away from my watcher! You - you undead pervert you!"

Buffy stormed over to Angel and pulled him away from the table, leaving behind a very confused yet stunned former watcher. Angel looked from Buffy to Xander and back to Buffy.

"I don't know what he told you, but this isn't what you're thinking. I'm not after Rupert."

At that remark, both Giles and Wesley’s eyes bugged out and they stared, gaping, at the vampire as he tried to talk his way out of the situation.

"I have no feelings toward Rupert. Buffy, stop and consider the source of your information. Xander and Spike? They aren't exactly reliable."

Xander and Spike meanwhile were holding their sides, collapsed against each other with silent laughter. The only thing keeping them silent was the fact that they wanted to be able to hear Angel try to talk his way out of it.

"So you never, ever, had any attraction for Giles? You never lusted after him? Even as Angelus?"

Angel shifted uncomfortably and started to slowly back away from Buffy.

"Well, there was this one time, but it was Angelus! I swear, I never thought of Rupert that way!"

Giles was on his feet and heading for his weapons chest, he suddenly felt the need to be armed. If an undead psycho vampire was lusting for him he wanted protection!

It was too much for Spike, he burst out laughing, Xander right behind him. Even Wesley couldn't hold back a few snickers. The entire situation was extremely humorous.

Willow, Tara and Cordelia entered the shop at that moment and stopped dead in their tracks. They took in the rooms occupants, Spike and Xander collapsed in hysterical laughter, Wesley sitting beside them giggling softly as well, Giles putting bottles of holy water in his pockets as well as arming himself with a cross and a couple of stakes, Angel who looked both guilty and afraid at the same time, and then there was Buffy.

Buffy stood staring at Angel, she wanted to believe him that it was Angelus, not him, that wanted Giles. But the simple fact that he was involved with Wesley stated otherwise. Besides that fact, she wasn't a naive little girl anymore. She knew that vampires were a lot like their human hosts had been just without the conscience to hold them back. Therefore, Angelus's tastes in men were based on Angel's tastes in men. And wasn't that a thought she could do without.

Willow and Tara silently made their way over to where Spike, Xander and Wesley were sitting. Cordelia on the other hand just marched right up to Buffy and Angel and began yelling.

"What the Hell is going on here?!"

Angel and Buffy both looked at her and then looked at each other.

"You tell her! She's your seer!"

"Why me? I didn't do anything? It was your misunderstanding."

"Fine! Cordy, Angel is a big pervert who has the hots for Giles!"

Buffy stomped off leaving a gaping vampire and a giggling seer behind her. Spike and Xander who had just started to calm down burst out laughing again. Wesley, Willow and Tara joined in. Angel stood where he was shaking his head vehemently.

"I do not have the hots for Rupert!"

Giles who up to that point had been silent, turned and looked at the distraught vampire.

"Well why the bloody hell not? There is nothing wrong with my looks, I assure you."

The entire room fell silent. Everyone was waiting for Angel to say something in reply. Just how would he get himself out of this one?

Angel looked at Rupert, an expression of impatience on his face, and turned heel and walked out. Everyone began laughing again as Wesley stood and walked over to Giles.

"I must say, I have never seen him so flustered. Thank you."

"My pleasure, if I had known he was so easy to wind up, I would have done this ages ago."

The two ex-watchers shared a laugh and then turned to the rest of the group. Giles spoke.

"Now that this evenings entertainment is over, we have a vision to deal with. I suggest we arm ourselves and head over to the high school."


By the time they reached the burnt out school, Angel was already there. He warily approached the others to tell them what he'd seen.

"I slipped inside a few minutes ago, there wasn't anyone there but I could feel a magical signature. Willow? Do you think you and Tara could check it out?"

"Oh, sure! We can do that. Are you guys coming in too?"

"Of course."

The group silently made their way into the old library. Angel, Spike and Xander led the way followed by Willow, Tara and Cordelia. Wesley, Giles and Buffy brought up the rear.

There was indeed a magical signature, a powerful one at that. Something about the situation was off though. The whole thing felt like a set-up.

"Giles?"

Willow whispered, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

"Yes Willow, what is it?"

"This feels wrong. Like it doesn't belong here?"

"How so?"

It was Tara who answered him.

"It's, it's like someone went to a lot of trouble to set up a magical field, one that we'd detect but the thing is, it's harmless."

"Harmless?"

"Yes, like a signature. You know? Something you do to warn others that a powerful witch is near. My mother used to do this, when we travelled, it was a form of protection. A warning to anyone who could feel magics."

Out of the shadows two robed figures emerged.

"Very good little witch, the stars told me you were all shiny and bright. A powerful enemy, but not powerful enough."

Spike and Angel spun around to see the intruders. Spike stepped forward before Xander grabbed him and held him back.

"Dru? What are you doing here?"

Dru began to walk toward Spike, slowly. She stopped a few feet in front of him and smiled.

"My Spike, all twinkly and new. The puppy has played his part well. You are strong again my love, just as I knew you would be. The stars sang to me of pain and death, of blood and life. They told me he was yours, that he would save you."

Xander held on to Spike a little tighter, afraid his lover would leave him.

"Death and blood, family and betrayal. Did it feel good, my pet? To tear them down, to make them bleed? It is what you are, what we are. Join me luv, bring your pet if you must."

The other figure stepped out of the shadow and addressed the vampiress.

"Now Dru, that wasn't what we came here for. You can get your boy some other time. We're here for Angelus."

Giles stepped forward, shock written clearly on his features.

"Ethan?"