Love Through Touch

Disclaimer: See Part 1

____________________

When everything had calmed back down, and a serious search for Faith had stared, Tara relaxed. The backlash from their psycic/astrial voyage began to take it's toll on her body. Jean remained thankfully asleep, and Tara was relieved that the little girl wouldn't feel it. There was a bizzing in her head, leftover's from the power that Jean possesed coupled with that which was Hyatt's.

Tara had been the one to ground their essence and keep their spirits from joining the void that was the Astrial plane. It was worth the after affects. The ringing she heard in her ears, seemed to travel behind her eyes. It made her want to open up her head and scratch. She sighed and leaned against the wall tiredly.

"Do you think we'll get outta here?" Cordy asked from her spot leaning against the front of her cage. She was blindfolded and her arms were tied behind her back.

"I know we will. Buffy and Willow won't leave us here" Tara reassured her. She adjusted Jean's position in her lap slightly making it so her head was at a lesser angle.

Cordy sighed "Angel doesn't even know I'm gone. He sent me away. Said there was some kinda danger"

"It's possibly he unknowingly sent you into it" Madison said as she came around "Sometimes the vision's come backwards"

"Oh Maddy are you okay?" Cordy's voice had a worried edge to it that surprised all three of them.

"Yeah. I'm good. What's wrong with you?" Madison could hear the helpless quality that Cordy's voice had taken when she'd been bound and blinded.

"She's blindfolded. She killed the gaurd that hit you" Tara said softly."Oh"Oh my god" Madison pressed her face against the glass and attemtped to see around to Cordelia's side "You killed for me?"

"You took that test for me" Cordy shrugged though she knew her answer was cheesy at best.

"It would've killed you" Madison said softly "They didn't know that but I did. You didn't owe me"

"He hurt you" Cordy would've crossed her arms if they hadn't been tied. She settled for a pout "I couldn't allow that"

"She's in love" Drusilla said banging her forehead lightly against the glass "She found temperance in a nymph. What wild sex they'll have"

Tara blushed and turned away covering Jean's ears as well.

Madison's eyes widened, and Cordy frowned in the general direction of Drusilla's voice.

"I'm straight" she stated flatly.

"Such a pity" Madison laughed "I could make you rethink that statement when we get out of here. If you willing that is?"

Cordy smiled but remained silent.

"Oh what hot monkey love" Drusilla turned her face from side to side, causing her forehead to distort against the glass.

Giggles from the nearby cages caused them all to blush.
________________________________________________

"The spell end's here" Willow shook her head "It's impossible. There's nothing inside there"

Buffy squinted and moved closer, cmong from several different angle's as she moved closer "I'm not so sure of that Will"

"I can smell the magic here" Mycah commented.

"Well it would be nice if we could've brought Anya. She might've known something about all this" Xander said for the fifth time.

"Someone had to watch the kids" Buffy said without turning.

"So you left them with an 1100 year old sex crazed ex-deomon" Xander nodded in mock understanding.

"Sex crazed?" Mycah turned "if my daughter comes back to me asking about orgasms I'm gonna kill her"

"She won't. Even if she did it wouldn't be Anya's fault. Star's just as bad" Buffy chuckled.

"Can we please pay attention to the task at hand?" Giles said bringing everyone's attention back to the clearing.

"So the trail, just terminates here. There's gotta be some kinda door" Buffy said walking forward cautiously. Something was sending her spidey sinse wiggy.

Mycah walked around studying everything from the tree's to the way the wind was blowing. There was something out here, something magical.

"Buffy!" Willow sounded panicked.

Everyone turned to see that the Slayer hust ust disappeared.

"What?" Buffy asked.

They heard her voice but they couldn't see her.

"Where are you?" Xander asked.

"In the Gazebo thingy" Buffy waved her arms "I'm right here Xander I know you can see me"

"Actually we can't" Giles said adjusting her glasses "Come here Buffy"

"Okay" Buffy didn't sound convinced. She reappeared suddenly making everyone jump "What?"

"You walked in there and disappeared. You did the vanishing Buffy thing on us again" Xander rubbed her hands together "I wanna do that"

"Again?" Giles asked not understanding.

"It's a long involved story" Buffy said not wanting to explain.

"I'm sure you'll give me the abridged version later" Giles said "Was there anything in there?"

"It's a cave. Recently used too. The boot prints are farm fresh" Buffy said stepping back inside and vanishing.

Willow reluctantly followed. Mycah bravely went behind her. Xander adn Giles glanced at each other and followed the women through.

Buffy was right. It was a cave. There's were boot prints and tire tracks on the loose dirt. Even a little of what appeared to be blood.

Everyone ignored that knowledge.

"So let's find this super computer thing and get them out of here" Buffy said.

Everyone agreed.
__________________________

Outside in the shadow's Spike watched as the literally vanished into thin air.

"Well that's bloody strange" he moved towards where he'd seen them disappear and stuck his hand out.

It vanished.

"Well isn't this interesting" he went inside.

He noticed the Slayer's distinct footprint and gate.

He followed.
___________________________

Faith turned a corner and snapped about around it sharply. Someone was coming towards her.

She could hear hushed voices but couldn't make out words.

But she could tell that there were five of them. Two males, from the heavier footfalls.

She crouched ready to attack.

When a dark figure came around the corner she jumped on it.

She was unpleasantly surprised when the person she'd attacked flipped her expertly and landed her flat on her ass.

"Faith?"

Faith froze at the sound of Xander's voice.

"You gotta be shittin' me"

That was Buffy.

"This really isn't the time" Faith said quietly "They have Red's girl friend, and they're testing on Hyatt right now. Not to mention all those little kids"

"Well this is definitely unexpected" Giles pulled off his glasses and began to clean them.

"Look I know we're not all hunky dory with each other, but we have a common cause right now" Faith said when Buffy opened her mouth.

"Show me the computer" Willow said simply.

"With pleasure I even cleared a way" Faith said offering for Willow to walk in front of her.

Willow declined and nodded that she'd follow.

Faith shrugged and lead the way to the computer room.

Every tech inside was unconscious. But all were breathing, Buffy knew because she checked.

"I made sure I didn't kill 'em" Faith said rolling her eyes.

"Just double checking. Now where's Hyatt?" Buffy said wanting to get this over with and get away from the other slayer.

"She's in Exam 6. That's the hell room. Electro shock, Bizzy Pills-" Faith ticked off on her fingers.

"Bizzy pills?" Xander and Buffy asked at the same time.

"It's what we call the Drugs they give us. The make you hallucinate, real bad trip" Faith explain.

"I want her out now!" Buffy stated flatly "Willow you mess with that thing until you can figure it out. Mycah come with me. Giles stay with Willow just incase, and Xander do whatever you want"

Xander nodded "I'll follow you. You know watch your back and stuff"

"Okay. Faith you lead. Show me to this 'Exam' room" Buffy said.

Faith saw the seriously pissed look on her face and lead the way from the Computer Lab.
______________________

Hyatt's eyes snapped open when she felt Buffy enter the compound. She was 3 or 4 stories above her yet if felt as if she were right there next to her.

Hyatt searched for Willow and found her at a computer console.

/Willow?/ she sent the thought.

Willow was startled at first by the voice in her head.

"Hyatt?" she said out loud.

"What's wrong?" Giles said looking away from the door.

"I think Hyatt's trying to contact me" Willow opened her mind /Hyatt?. Where are you?/

/Below you. Pull up the spects for the compound. I'll get them to Buffy/

Willow obediently did as she was asked. She could 'feel' Hyatt in her head. She could tell the girl was in pain. She rushed through the top floors of the specs and onto where they had entered and where she though Faith would have led the Slayer.

Hyatt recieved what she needed to know and released her connection to Willow's mind.

"Giles let's go" Willow said entering some last minute comands into the Main Computer and gathered the few weapons that Buffy had left with them.

Giles checked the hall, then followed where Willow led.
______________________

Tara began to sense something.

It was apparent that she was transfering whatever it was to Jean, when the little girl stirred.

"I hope that's a good thing" she whipsered as she sat up slowly so as not to bump her head on Tara's chin.

"It's Willow" Tara smiled and her eyes brightened.

"Who's Willow?" Jean asked.

"Your soulmate?" Madison cut in.

"Yes" Tara moved closer to the glass. She breathed onto it heavily and wrote a quickly spell in the fog she made.

A little blue orb of light appeared.

"You have 'got' to teach me how to do that" Cordy said as the orb flew away down the hall so quickly the saw it like the tail of a comet.

"Maybe I will" Tara smiled "but it'll lead them right to us"

Cordy frowned "I didn't see that. How did I know it was there?"

"Maybe you sensed it?" Madison offered.

" Oh sweet freedom" Drusilla sang out.

"Shhh. You idiot, do you want to get them caught" Jean hissed at the woman though she couldn't see her.

"Little girls should mind they're manners" Drusilla pouted.

"Tara?"

The all jumped at Willow's stage whisper.

"I'm right here" Tara pressed herself against the glass banging lightly to attract attention.

Willow and Giles walked down the line of cages. Peering into some and outright staring at others. Most of them we're occupied.

Willow recognized, several peaceful demons, and assorted magical and mystical creatures. Most of them human in appearance.

"Cordelia?" Willow and Giesl exclaimed in unison.

"It's a long story, with a guy named skip and some hell dimension" Cordy shook her head.

"Okay, right" Giles said "How do we open these cages?"

"With a key" Cash said entering into the Main holding chamber.

Willow turned and her eyes narrowed. She was getting major bad vibes off this woman. "I don't need a key" she said in no uncertain terms.

"Oh really? What do you need then?" Cash pulled out a small dart gun and aimed it at Willow.

Willow smiled and glanced down at her watch "About 10 seconds"

The sounds of screaming began to come from the Exam rooms.

Cash reflexively turned to face them and Giles took advantage of her inattention.

He launched himself at Cash knocking her to the floor, the gun skittered several feet out of her graps.

The screams grew louder and suddenly the lights dimmed and all the cages swung open.

The inhabitants immediately swarmed out filling the holding chamber quickly.

Cash realized she was outnumbered and began to fight dirty.

Unfortunately Giles was too much of a gentleman to hurt her.

She caught him harshly in the groin and ran, disappearing out of the nearest doorway.

Madison quickly vacated her cell and unblinded Cordelia. Their eyes met and they shared a smile.

"I hate to break up all the lovey dovey but we gotta jam here people"

They all turned to face the now recovering Giles.

Willow and Tara stepped quickly apart breaking the passionate kiss they'd shared.

"Yeah. Let's get the hell outta dodge" Cordy agreed.
_____________________________________________

Buffy kicked through the door of Exam 6 just as the lights dimmed.

There was a guttural scream then the sound of crashing from a nearby room drew Faith away as Buffy rushed into 6.

Hyatt was tied down on one of the tables and was struggling to break free.

A frightened tech, and Doctor stood off to the side staring in disbelief as the little blonde that had kicked down a 2 inch thick steel door.

"What? You thought *that* little thing was gonna keep me out?" Buffy quipped.

They both fled without answering.

Buffy rushed to Hyatt's side and began to help her rip at the bonds.

They embraced after they were all torn away and Hyatt leapt free.

"I wanna out of here so bad" Hyatt growled. She didn't stay long in Buffy's embrace.

"Yeah let's go" Buffy reached for her elbow and they both ran from the room.

Faith was standing with Jordan in the hall.

"I told you so" The dark slayer growled before grabbing the woman and shoving her ahead.

"I have to make sure-" Jordan said pulling in the opposite direction "I didn't mean....the lights went out and-"

"There's nothing you can do" Faith said and shoved her none to gently ahead.

Buffy and Hyatt peered into the room as they passed. There was a pool of blood coming from behind one of the overturned tables.

Hyatt froze for a second, then kept movign forward her face set in a grim scowl.

"We gotta find Willow and get everyone out" Buffy said as Faith conitnued to push the Doctor forward.

"No one's getting out"

Buffy turned and met Cash for the first time.

"Everyone is getting out" Buffy said readying herself for a fight.

"I see I underestimated you. Never again" Cash smirked "But that'll be because your dead. No one ruins my plans and gets away with it"

"You really should've up on your Prophecies"

The group turned back around to see a little girl standing with her hands on her hips and her eyes firmly on Cash.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Cash said exaperated.

"Your toying with a Champion. Fate doesn't like that"

"Ainsley!" Hyatt scooped the little girl into her arms "Why are you helping her?"

"She's going to die down here. It's not as if I'm telling her all the secrets" Ainsley shrugged her tiny shoulders.

"Correction little one. 'Their' all going to die down here" Cash said backing away and vanishing into yet another door.

Faith launched herself after the hated woman only to come into resistance that was a wall.

"Is she magic?" Buffy asked meeting Faith at what seemed to be a solid wall.

"No there are several small passages throughout this entire compound" Willow said as the group reunited "There's also another holding chamber"

"Let's free those people and get the hell out of here" Faith said roughly grabbing Jordan.

"It's this way" Jordan said helpfully. Her heart was heavy but she knew she had to let these innocents out.
_____________________________

Spike jerked back behind a corner when he saw a woman walk out from a slide away wall.

"Oh and where's this pretty bird going?"

He followed her to what seemed to be an Armory of some sort.

She grabbed several guns and a sash and vest. Along with several small boxes that she shoved into her pockets.

Spike could smell gunpowder and Memrick.

"She's going after a witch. Maybe I should stick around for this one"

Cash turned when she felt eyes on her only to find nothing amiss.

She rechecked her personal stock and left the room, locking it behind her.
______________________________

Jardan quickly tapped in the command that opened the second holding chamber.

It's inhabitants rushed out, many stopping to thank her and the slayers. Most of them knew Faith.

Some recognized Tara, Hyatt, and Madison from testing.

"Okay we need you all to pay attention" Buffy yelled over the din "We know a way out. But it's 4 floors up, and there are gaurds on the way"

"Why are there still gaurds?" Faith hissed.

"Because we didn't want them to know we were here before we got as many of them free as we could. Missing gaurds would alert that" Willow snapped.

Tara sucked in a breath "Where are the little ones?"

"The whats?" Buffy, Willow, Giles, and Xander asked.

"There are children. There are more than we have here" Tara said looking over the small amount present.

Jordan too studied them "They might be in the 'Light Room', there were some test for that sched-"

Faith jerked the woman harshly "Just get us to them"

Jordan nodded mutely.

"I'll go with her" Xander offered trying to peel Faiths hand off the poor woman "I'll make sure we get them all"

Faith reluctantly let go, she could feel the anger rise in her and knew it wouldn't be good for the woman to be around her when it burst forth.

Xander and Jordan took off quickly.

"Ok, as for the rest of you. We need fighters in the front and back. The children and the weaker ones will be in the center. We'll work our way up together" Buffy instructed.

"Do I take the front or the rear?" Faith asked wanting Buffy to know she was on her side this time.

"Either" Buffy shrugged accepting Faiths help.

"I'll take the back" Faith nodded "Keep all the stragglers with the group"

"Good call" Buffy nodded towards Willow and Tara "Protect them no matter what" she said softly.

"You'll make it out" Faith argued "But I'll do my best"

"That's good enough"
_______________________

Jordan and Xander stood before the door to the light room.

It was partially open and neither of them were sure if the missing children were still inside.

"Wouldln't they leave if they had a chance?" Xander asked moving towards the door.

"I doubt it" Jordan said swinging it open.

The kids were all huddled together in the furthest corner.

"Hey guys we're here to take you home" Xander said dropping to his knee's and scooting closer "But I need you all to follow me and the lady"

"She's a bad lady. She gave us shots" a little blonde girl said pointing at Jordan.

"She's good now. She's on our side" Xander said glancing back at Jordan.

She stood just inside the door sta in in surprise at one of the children.

"What's wrong?" Xander asked.

Jordan shook her head.

Xander was distracted when the smallest boy ran to him and touched his brow.

"He's telling the truth let's go" the kid ordered his friends.

The rose as a group and rushed towards the door.

Jordan was out of it first and started ushering the kids as they ran down the wall towards the stairs and hopefully their freedom.

Xander ducked belatedly when something behind them in the room erupted into flames. A few minutes more and those kids would've been dead.

He turned and hauled it after the kids, slamming and sealing the door behind him.
__________________________

Cash ran to the 'Light Room' hoping to find the kids still there. They may be something she could use against the Slayer and her band of goonies.

The room was empty and in flames.

She heard the stairway door slam and he in in that direction.

"Shit" she growled. It was sealed.

She hurried further down the hall and entered another sliding wall.
__________________________-

There was an explosion at the bottom of the stairs.

Buffy turned and looked down and saw Xander only feet in front of it.

"Xander!" she yelled terrified that themes mes licking at his feet would catch him.

"I'm okay!" he yelled back moving faster up the stairs. The kids were several landings above him.

The flames licked up the walls climbing nearly as fast as he was.

"It's the way the stairs are built. Some airducts feeding it" Willow said worriedly when she too saw how close Xander was to being cooked.

"Xander hurry!" Tara yelled then changed completely "RUNT! RUNT!"

"What?" Xander called back.

"Runt!" Buffy joined when she too saw what Tara was pointing at.

There was a little boy several stairs behind Xander. The flames were past where he was curled up.

"Crap!" Xander rushed back down and scooped him up.

The kid clung to him as they rushed up the stairs.

There was another large explosion that rocked the stairwell causing the landing Xander had just vacated to collapse.

"Everyone keep going" Buffy instructed.

Willow and Tara went ahead with the group. Faith tried to stay back but went on when Buffy gave her a pleading look.

Hyatt ran to the rail and looked down squinting through the flames "There something off here"

"What?" Buffy turned and realized she was there.

"Someone else is doing this. It's not Cash" Hyatt shook her head.

Buffy helped Xander out of the Stairwell. She noticed a few burn marks on his and the little boy's skin.

"We need to get you to a hospital" she said studying his wounds "those look like 2nd degree burns"

"The feel about medium rare" Xander joked.

They ran through the hall two floors below where they needed to be.

"We can't use the elevators we can't use the stairs" Faith questioned how the hell do we get outta here!!"

Buffy opened her mouth to answer when she was hit by a human projectile.
____________________________

Anya dug through the many stones and charms at the Magic Box. She couldn't find what she needed.

"Anya we have to go. This is a public place" Star begged nearly in tears.

Kolby sat silently at the table staring at the closed door.

"I know I just need to find this thing" Anya said digging through it all faster.

Star's head snapped to the side facing the front door as well. She turned and met Kole's worried gaze then grabbed the gun from where Anya had set it on the counter.

She moved so that she stood a few feet inside the store.

Moments later the door was kicked in and Pryde stood re hre her.

"I thought you'd come here" Star said and fired.

Pryde looked down at the small dart that protuded from her chest, then collapsed when the tranquilizer took effect.

Anya looked up startled and saw the woman drop to the ground.

"Nice shot" she nodded to Star.

"I throw knives too" Star smiled.

"Let's hope you don't have too" a strange voice said from outside the door.

Kole and Star turned and their faces split into larger smiles.

"Max!"

Anya tilted her head in confusion when she saw the redhead at the door.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Max"
_____________________

Buffy flipped the gaurd over her head and firmly into the wall.

Faith flinched at the cound of his arm breaking on his awkward landing.

"Remind me never to throw myself at you like that" Cordy said when she too saw the man began to writhe in pain.

"Cordy?!" Buffy said seeing her for the first time "Your a demon?" she could sense the demon part of her old enemy.

"Long story"

"Okay change of direction there are mean men with big guns that way" Giles said coming around the corner with the rest of the ex-prisoners.

"How will we get out if they're blocking our exit" Willow said panicking.

"We'll just have to do this the hard way" Buffy said frowning "This is the floor just below the frat house right Will?"

"Yeah" the redhead said not getting where this was headed.

"We'll just have to go out that way" Buffy said as if it answered everything.

"All these people? It'll take forever Buffy" Giles pointed out.

"How many of you are witches?" Buffy asked the group at large.

Many hands raised.

"Can you levitate a person up about 20 ft?" Buffy said looking through the crowd.

A few of the hands dropped.

"That'll help" Buffy nodded "Can anyone fly?"

A few hands.

"We need to get up and elevator shaft" Buffy said to Willow and Tara "and we need witches and flying things. Are you up to it?"

Both witches nodded.

"This way"
__________________________

Anya drove like a bat out of hell.

She was following directions from some woman she didn't know but Star and Kole did.

"Are you sure we need to be there?"

"Yes" Max hissed. She was after all answering the same question for the tenth time.

"Okay" Anya shook her head. Again.
___________________________
hav have been several minutes and only a few of their number had gotten up and out of the compound and into the Frat house.

Tara was topside with a few of the other witches helping some of the weaker of their sisters float people up.

The few who could fly carried two at a time.

There were still too many beneath for Buffy to feel assured.

"Interesting development this is" Cash said coming up behind them.

There were several gaurds as well.

Faith's eye's narrowed as Mycah came up with the group of gaurds.

She could've sworn that Hyatt was with the other side now. But she knew it wasn't true.

Hyatt was topside with Red and her girl.

But there she stood before her.

Mycah lifted her finger to her lips and waved a hand infront of the gaurds face.

He didn't even blink.

They couldn't see her.

Faith smirked and boldly stepped forward "Yes it is. I'm gonna get your ass once and for all"

"Oh your welcome to try" Cash taunted cocking her weapon and pointing it at Faith's chest "This bullet will pass right through you and everyone who's behind you for about twenty feet"

Faith's eyes widened again, as did Mycah's.

But neither girl panicked.

Buffy stepped up next to her sister slayer.

"Well it seems that you have us at a disadvantage" Buffy said tilting her head.

"Yes it does" Cash agreed cockily.

Mycah began to expertly pick her pockets. Cash didn't feel a thing.

Buffy and Faith saw the entire thing and tried not to smile.

When she was done Mycah threw one of the heavy little boxes into the face of one of the back soldiers.

He cried out in pain when the weight and momentum of it broke his nose.

Several of them turned and seemed to be picked up and thrown by an invisible force.

Several more opened fire no where near Mycah.

She'd moved behind Cash and pulled the woman around.

Cash automatically fired and killed 3 of her own men.

The two left standing fled.

Cash dropped the automatic weapon and moved to pull out the magic ingredients only to find all her pockets empty.

Mycan appeared behind her "Looking for these?"

Cash spun back around and eyed her critically.

"How the hell did you get those?" she demanded.

"Skill b*tch" Mycah stated.

Faith smiled proudly thinking that some of her attitude had rubbed off on her sometimes painfully polite and sweetmouthed friend.

"I'm going to kill you Hyatt-" Cash began to say (as all villains do) only to be cut off.

"Oh I'm not Hyatt" Mycah corrected "But I will kick your @$$ for hurting her" she stepped forward prepared to do so.

"No" Faith called out recovering quickly from the new information "I wanna kick her @$$. Hyatt took some of that pain for me" she walked forward until she was just feet away from Cash and infront of Mycah "I owe her for hurting my friends"

Mycah stepped back and allowed Faith her fight.

Cash assumed the position and attacked before Faith realized she'd moved.

/Thank God for slayer reflexes/ she thought as she blocked a kick headed for her nose.

She dodged and struck out at times. Catching Cash in her jaw and temple.

Cash got in a good kick to her abdomen that pushed her back several feet and almost brought her to her knee's.

Buffy watched grimly, tryto jto judge Faith by her actions. She could tell Faith wasn't trying to kill Cash. She just wanted to beat the snot out of the woman.

Buffy did too. She turned to find just a few people left waiting to be lifted. Just the weaker witches, Mycah, Faith and herself.

She heard Mycah suck in a gasp "She's gonna feel that in the morning" Mycah remarked.

Cash had Faith in a choke hold.

Faith kicked out, flipping over the womans head and wrenching both Cash's shoulder's from the socket.

" Come on Faith time to go" Buffy called hoping Faith would answer by leaving the woman in pain and coming with her.

"Just one more kick B please?" Faith said looking down at Cash in disgust.

"Just one" Buffy said emotionlessly "and make it good, it'll count as mine"

Faith got a good backswing and kicked Cash soundly in the ribs, lifting the woman several feet off the floor.

She landed in moaning heep several feet down the hall.

Faith turned smiling "Now we can go"

Mycah chuckled as the witches lifted them up the shaft "She flew like a rag doll"

"She hurt my foot" Faith remarked when her feet hit the carpeted floor of the frat house.

"We'll see about your foot later. For now let's just get the hell outta this joint" Buffy said rushing towards the door, and the outside where everyone was gathered.
_________________________________

Cash lifted herself painfully and limped towards the shaft.

"I'm gonna kill you Faith" she muttered to herself.

Her hatred had driven her to madness.

"I'm gonna rip of your arms"

She staggered a few feet away from the shaft and caught herself on the way.

"Then I'll cut off your fingers"

She tried to remember what she was doing but didn't care.

All she wanted was to get up to Faith and kill her slowly.

"Your gonna die and I'm gonna laugh"

She stepped into the shaft and became instantly lucid.

There wasn't any floor.

She fell at an alarming speed.

She reached for everything she could possibly grab onto to keep herself to hitt the bottom.

She caught a pipe several feet down.

It disconnected because of the momentum she'd had and began to leak pure gas into the shaft.

"You know this whole place is burning right?" Spike called down the shaft. He would see her because of his Vampire vision.

Cash remained silent. She stared daggers at him.

"Oh well just thought you should know" Spike said flipping her off and looking up the shaft.

The fire it the leaking gas through an ajar elevator door 5 floors below Cash.

She screamed and released the pipe as she began to burn alive. Her flammable clothing not helping.

Spike looked down into the ball of flame coming at him.

"Oh shi-"

He was thrown straight up through the shaft and out of the roof.
________________________

People ducked and turned as the frat house blew.

Many began to run away.

Tara and Hyatt held eachother taking deep breaths, as they watched what had been their prison for the past week go up in flames.

"You think Cash got out?" Willow said coming up behing them.

"I seriously doubt it. But somehow I don't feel all that bad if she didn't" Hyatt said bitterly.

Tara nodded her agreement. Her face a mask of anger.

"Well I-" Willow began.

"TARA!" Star's voice carried through the crowd that had gathered after the intial explosion "Tara! Hyatt! Willow!"

They all turned and made their way to her.

She was in Buffy's arms waving excitedly. She threw herself into Hyatt and hugged for all she was worth "I'm so glad they found you"

"What are you doing here?" Willow asked Anya.

"Max said-" Anya started to explain from Xanders arms. He had yet to put her down after kissing the life out of her.

"Who's Max?" Star interrupted.

"You know Max" Anya said "You knew her. When she came into the store you-" Anya stopped "I give up!"
________________________