Olivia sat behind the wheel of her car, marveling at this topsy-turvy worldview that she had embraced in short order. She looked over to the passenger seat.  Dawn had her feet pressed against the dashboard, a large book of what Olivia had been told were spells and incantations resting against Dawn’s knees.  Her head was bent over the book, her long hair hanging straight down, hiding most of her face.  Olivia looked down, realizing with horror that she had pulled a pencil out of her bag and had begun to sketch Dawn.  She knew it was her picture that somehow played a role in Rupert’s current difficulties, but not knowing exactly how, she was paranoid about drawing anyone with any medium.

 

Olivia stared into the rearview mirror, studying the passengers in the back seat.  The woman.  What was her name again?  Ended in ‘lee’.  Something-ah-lee.  Emily…  Cecily…  Hallie.  That was it. Hallie.  She sat there humming as she brushed an emory board along her already perfect half-moon fingernails.  Rayne was in the other seat, bound and gagged.  Yet he still managed to have a smirk about him that she wanted to peel off his face.  She tried to stay satisfied with the memory of how green he’d looked when Spike had brought him in tow to their flat.  With Dawn’s reassurances, she accepted his explanation and assessment of the situation, knowing she would believe in unicorns if it could bring RG back.

 

“Hey,” said Dawn, looking up from the book.  “This is interesting.”

 

Halfrek leaned forward and tapped Dawn’s arm with her file.  “Don’t say anything that he’ll overhear, dear.”

 

Dawn nodded.  “Take a look at this then,” she said, handing the book back to Halfrek.  “Do you think I could do this part?” she asked, pointing to a passage.

 

*****

 

“Why would Hallie agree to baby-sit Rayne?” asked Anya.

 

Spike shrugged, “We came to an understanding.”

 

Anya gave him a puzzled look and then smiled.  “Of course.  Given Dawn’s relationship with Giles, Hallie would be drawn to her pain and willing to stay close by for the second opportunity to grant her a vengeance wish.”

 

Spike shrugged again.  Buffy cut in, “The hows and whys aren’t important anymore.  We need to get to them now.”

 

“They are important,” exploded Xander.  “Spike, you left Dawn with the vengeance demon who locked all of us in Buffy’s house?  Granted, you earned a Get-out-of-Jail-Free card for saving Anya.  But you lost out on collecting $200 when you let Drusilla go.  If what you’re saying is true, she may not be the one responsible for Giles’ situation.  But she’s still a crazed killer on a spree!  You shouldn’t have let her go. We wouldn’t have.   And now Halfrek’s joined the game?  Go to Jail.  Go Directly to Jail.”

 

Anya’s hand rested on the car door handle.  “What are you saying Xander?  You’re suggesting, with a metaphor from my favorite game mind you, that Spike should have let me get injured or killed as long as Drusilla was taken?”

 

Xander stood with both his mouth and the driver’s side door open, finally he mustered out, “What you heard wasn’t what I meant, even if it was what I said.”

 

Anya rolled her eyes and dropped into the backseat, sitting behind the driver’s seat with her arms crossed, planning to bore her eyes into the back of Xander’s head as he drove.  Turtlelike, she poked her head out of the window.  “And why do you have a woman’s slip wrapped around your hand?” She pulled her head in, not waiting for an answer.

 

Anya’s question prompted Tara to provide a few quick ministrations.  She gave his hand a squeeze and him a gentle smile before circling around.

 

The rest had pooled on the other side of the car, glad for a buffer from another Anya and Xander post non-wedding interaction.  Willow climbed into the middle of the backseat and leaned in to Anya saying in a low voice, “It’s my slip.  When we were looking for you, Xander burned his hand.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Buffy climbed into the front passenger seat and closed the door, but Spike caught it mid-slam.  Opening it back up, he leaned in.  “Not so fast Slayer.  You need to make room for one more.”

 

“We’ve got a very lovely trunk in just your size,” said Xander as he adjusted the mirror, trying to see Anya.

 

“Out of the question.  Need to be up front to give you directions, James.”

 

Buffy bit her lip.  To her dismay the back seat of the very European compact couldn’t hold a forth. And she had filled the trunk with Giles' weapons.  She was going to have to share the bucket seat with Spike.  Buffy was shaken from her reverie as Spike began climbing into her lap.  An elbow to the chest sent him tumbling to the ground.

 

The smirk reached to his eyes as he said, "So you’ll be sitting on my lap, then."

 

She sat with her back to the window and Xander’s ear her focal point.  She was as far out on Spike's lap as she could manage without falling off, which meant jamming her left hand against the dashboard and gripping the doorframe with her right hand.  She had no idea his knees would be so bony, but no force on earth to induce her to move an iota closer.  It would lead to things it shouldn’t lead to.  Whatever else, don’t make eye contact, she told herself.

 

Spike casually reached up to pull the seat belt across his chest and his hand brushed her wrist.  He was pleased to feel the nearly imperceptible shiver move through her body, but it was a short-lived pleasure as she won’t spare him even the slightest glance.  He had crossed an ocean to protect her, to risk his life for someone she loved and she would rather die than just look at him. All he wanted was for her to look at him.

 

As they tooled down the road, Xander looked over at her and said, “We’re all tense Buffy, but you should try to relax.  Conserve your energy for later.”

 

“Listen to the lad.  Conserve your energy.” Spike deadpanned.  “For later.”

 

Tara spoke up, trying to break the tension coming off of Buffy in waves, “Spike, uh, why don’t you fill us in more on where we’re going and, um, why Dawn and Olivia are waiting somewhere in London for us?”

 

Spike complied, sharing how Ethan had given up the name of a particular book of magic before he passed out from the blood rushing to his brain as Spike had held him by his ankles out his own balcony window.  With the book in one hand and Ethan over his shoulder, he had gone to Giles’ flat.  Where they had not been.  With Dawn’s help, they had found the spell Rayne had used, but it was a one way spell.  As Dawn read the criteria for a more complex spell that that included an exit plan, Olivia had identified a place in London that would fit the bill.  Since everyone and everything was in London, he decided that they should get on the road and figure out the details on the way.

 

During the narrative, he occasionally stopped to direct Xander.  Often he leaned in toward Buffy as he pointed out a turn, within a hairsbreadth of touching her.  Close enough that she couldn’t ignore the smell of soap and ash and leather.  After the fourth left turn, Buffy was ready snap.  Before she did, Spike said, “Here we are, Cannon Street, former home of St. Swithin’s Church.”

 

A pair of headlight flooded Olivia’s car.  “Spike must have found them!” Dawn said gleefully, jumping out of the car.

 

“Dawn, wait,” Olivia called after her, extracating herself from the driver’s seat.  She was relieved that the people emerging from the car like circus clowns were indeed Spike and Giles’ former charges.

 

Dawn waved Tara and Willow over.  She set the book on the trunk of Olivia’s car and they poured over it.  Spike hauled Ethan out, asking as he removed the gag, “Been behaving yourself while I was gone?” 

 

“If I tell you I’ve been a bad boy, will you spank me?” Ethan retorted.

 

Xander rolled his eyes.  “He couldn’t do that even if he wanted to.”  Ethan gave Xander a quizzical look.  Xander returned the look.  “You didn’t know about the chip?  He can’t hurt humans, even one as yellow-bellied as you, without the uber-migraine.”

 

“Really?” replied Ethan.  “You mean to tell me I gave the book up for nothing but trumpery?”

 

“I should make proper introductions,” said Xander as he turned from Ethan to Spike.   “Mr. Trickster meet the King of Tricks.”  Spike’s smirk caused the one of Rayne's face to slide off.

 

Buffy grabbed Rayne and spun him around, slamming him against the side of the car.  “I can provide you with your daily allowance of hurt, however, so tell us how to get to Giles.”

 

“Tell me what torturous action you wish to take and I’d be happy to make it happen,” offered Halfrek rubbing her hands.

 

“Uh thanks, but I don’t think that will be necessary,” said Willow looking up from the book.  “We can do this without being all vegeancy.”

 

“Well, if my services are no longer needed, I must be on my way.”  Halfrek turned to Anya, “Anyanka, since you don’t have father issues with this Giles, should we leave the adventuring to this group and continue our holiday?”

 

“Thanks for the offer Hallie, but I think it is time to end our vacation.  Just because I don’t think of Giles as my daddy doesn’t me he isn’t important to me.  Besides, I have the most experience with hell dimensions.”

 

“Very well.  Be careful.  You too Dawn,” she said as she gave the girl a hug.  She turned toward Spike.  “Spike.”  He nodded.  With a sweep of her arms, she was gone.

 

“That woman.  Just disappeared,” noted Olivia.

 

“She couldn’t do her job without the ability to teleport.  Vengeance is like Christmas,” commented Anya “as the wish fulfiller, you’re expected to be everywhere at once.  It can be quite exhausting.”

 

“Huh.  Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped believing in Santa Claus,” said Dawn.  Then she nudged Willow, “Tell them what we found.”

 

Willow tucked the book under her arm and began to explain.  “To open this particular hell dimension portal, the spell requires oolite.”  Willow noticed the rows of raised eyebrows.  “It’s a type of limestone.  I think Ethan somehow mixed ground up limestone into the paints.”  Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Rayne.  “I’m not quite sure how he pulled off the rest of it.”  She shrugged and then pointed to something in the building wall with an iron grille in front of it.  “Olivia, you knew about the London Stone?”

 

Olivia nodded.  “I recalled how RG had brought me here on what he claimed was an ‘off-the-beaten-track sight seeing trip,’ but I knew he was doing research.”  They smiled with her as she said this.  Her smile disappeared and she added softly,  “The St. Swithin’s London Stone is a solid block of oolite used by the Romans.  This one was probably used as a highway milestone.  The church is gone, but they’ve kept the stone here.”

 

Willow picked the narrative back up, “There are three other necessary components.  A talisman, blood and someone to cast the spell.”  Willow down at her hand as she ran it along the edge of the book cover.  “It calls on some pretty dark magic.”

 

“Willow?” asked Spike, “you’re not thinking of…”

 

She looked up, “Me?  Oh no.  I mean, for Giles I would, but I, well I haven’t done any magic in quite a while.  And this is a heavyweight spell.  ‘Kabloey’ comes to mind if I tried it.”  She then smiled at Tara.  “But there is someone…”

 

Tara swallowed and spoke, “I told Willow I could do the spell.  As for the talisman, usually I’d suggest a gemstone, but I don’t think we have what we need handy.” 

 

As Tara paused, Anya spoke up, pulling a chain out from under her blouse with a ring looped on it, “I, I have the engagement ring.  Would that work?”

 

“You’ve kept the ring with you?” asked a stunned Xander.

 

Willow looked upward as she tipped her head to the left and right.  “Hmm, if we just needed to get one person in, maybe.  And that’s a huge maybe.  But we need something much bigger, more powerful.”

 

“We also need blood,” added Tara.  “Human blood is best.  It has more zest.”

 

“Zest?” asked Xander.  “Like the soap?”

 

Tara blinked a couple of times.  “Um, no.  Zest,” she said as she pulled her hands out her sleeves to talk, “is a measure of life spirit.  Reptiles tend to have a small amount.  On a scale of one to five, maybe a one or two.  Humans are about a five.”  She looked at Buffy, “I’d guess for Slayers you could double that.”  Tara and Willow exchanged a look.

 

Willow fixed her eyes on Dawn, not daring to look at Buffy.  “Tara just ran a test on Dawn.  The energy of the Key is still in her.  Latent, but potent.  Not only is she a twenty-five on the zestiness scale, but she has a quality that would make a gemstone unnecessary.”

 

“Is it dangerous?” asked Buffy.

 

“Well,” replied Willow, picking her words carefully, “overall it would be safer since it’s a perfect match between the blood and the talisman.  It really lowers the overall possibility of spell rejection.  However, it would be a bit… uncomfortable for her during the spell, but no permanent harm.”  She smiled brightly.

 

Buffy stared at Willow.  That smile was a dead giveaway that Will hadn’t told her everything.  “But?”

 

Willow flushed.  “But in order to exit the hell realm, Dawn would need to come with us.”

 

“Absolutely not,” said Buffy, crossing her arms. 

 

“But Buffy,” started Dawn.

 

“What are the other options?” asked Buffy.

 

“Buffy,” repeated Dawn.

 

Willow looked her in the eye.  “There aren’t any.”

 

“You said using Anya’s ring would allow one person to enter and that my blood is pretty potent.  We’ll do that.  I’ll go alone.”

 

Everyone erupted at once, arguing the pros and cons of the plans.  Spike looked at Dawn, who was still trying to catch Buffy’s attention.  He set his tongue against the bottom of his front teeth and blew a sharp, piercing whistle.  They all stopped in mid-yell and looked at him.  “Let’s listen to what L’il Bit has to say about this.  Buffy, she’s as old as you and your pals were the first time we met.   She’s read the spell and had time to think about it.  She knows what is at stake here.”

 

Eight pairs of eyes turned toward Dawn. This never happens, she thought.  Better make it count.  “I’m well aware of the limited risk in the casting of the spell.  And none of us know what’s on the other side.  And that is exactly why we all need to go.  We’ve got to maximize our odds that we’re bringing along the skills that will save Giles.”  She looked to her sister, “Buffy, I know you want to keep me in a total safe zone, but isn’t working.  You might be able to keep me physically safe, but it nearly killed me inside when you took my place last summer.  I don’t think I could live with myself if I knew I had a second chance to make a difference and you were sent instead.”

 

Olivia took Dawn by the hand.  “Giles speaks fondly of you, and often.  I know he would never want you to place yourself at unnecessary risk.”

 

“But this is a necessary risk!  I know he’s fond of us and wouldn’t want any of us to risk ourselves to save him, but too bad because I love him back and there’s no choice in that.”  Dawn bit her lip, unable to say anything more.  She blinked back tears.  Don’t even think about it crybaby, she thought to herself.

 

Xander cleared his throat and said softly, “She’s got a point there Buff.”

 

Buffy was quiet for a moment.  “All right.  You can come along, but while we’re in there you stay with me.  No touching anything.  No running off on your own.  Understood?”

 

Dawn clapped her hands and squealed.

 

“God, this is maudlin,” groaned Ethan.  “This has got to be worse than where I sent Ripper.  I wish I were there.  It has to be far less torturous.”

 

“We don’t need a Vengeance Demon to grant that wish,” said Buffy.  “You are most definitely going with us.”

 

Ethan’s eyes grew wide.  “Oh no I’m not.”  No one even bothered to laugh at him, instead they moved smoothly into action.

 

Buffy turned to Willow and Tara.  “Let’s make this happen before I change my mind.”  Olivia then pulled Buffy aside.

 

Without pause, Willow started to tick off points for the plan.  “Spike, we need the grille covering the Stone removed. Anyone have a knife for drawing the blood?” 

 

Xander produced a Swiss Army knife from his pocket and Spike tossed him his lighter.  Xander frowned as he ran the flame under the blade, “Why do these spells always call for blood?”  Spike and Dawn looked at each other and smirked.

 

“What?  What’d I say?” asked Xander.

 

In unison they replied, “It’s always about the blood.”

 

Buffy heard laughter and wondered what kind of joke Dawn, Spike and Xander could be sharing.  Then she turned her attention back to Olivia.  “I understand your desire to come along, but it’s not a good idea.”

 

“I know I’m not very familiar with this slaying daemons and whatnot, but there is strength in numbers and it’s, it’s…” Olivia’s voice fell silent.

 

“It’s Giles,” finished Buffy.  “Here’s the bottom line.  If we don’t come back, someone needs to be here to try to round up new troops.  The Watcher’s Council wasn’t interested in providing assistance to rescue Giles.  But if they find out their only functional Slayer is MIA, they might come through,”  she sighed, “but don’t hold your breath.”

 

“Given the tales Rupert has shared, I reckon that will not be necessary.  However, if you do run into trouble, never fear, I am on the case.” Olivia’s smile and eyes were tight, “If they know what’s good for them, the Watcher's Council will not mess with me.  I have been fighting with harpies and harridans of the art world for years, the Council is no match for me.”

 

Willow and Xander joined the two women.  “Olivia,” said Willow, “I’m not sure about the whole proximity thing, so could you drive around the block and wait at least 20 minutes before returning?”

 

“Certainly.”

 

“And to be extra sure, if you’ve got an extra piece of tinfoil, I’d put in on your head,” suggested Xander.

 

Olivia nodded and then stared intently at Xander. “This must be were Giles picked up a bit of that odd American sense of humor, yes?”  Xander rewarded her with a grin.

 

“Buffy, we’re ready,” called Tara.

 

“That’s your cue,” said Olivia.  “Break a leg, Buffy.”

 

She gave Olivia a bemused smile, “Thanks.”

 

They joined the group gathered in a half moon around the stone.  Willow and Xander moved to stand on each side of Buffy.  Anya held open the book for Tara, who was reviewing the last few lines.  She looked up and addressed them, “When I’ve completed the spell, the portal should just appear.”

 

“And then what?” asked Xander.

 

“We go through,” replied Buffy.

 

Tara tucked her hair behind her ears, took the knife from Xander and then furrowed her brow as she looked at Dawn, who was standing between her and the London Stone, “Are you ready?”

 

“As I’ll ever be.”

 

“Spike?” asked Tara.

 

Spike stepped up, the muscles on the sides of his jaw dancing as he clenched his teeth.  Buffy squinted her eyes and wondered what Spike’s role in this was.  Xander and Willow took Buffy by the arm and turned her away.  Willow glanced back at the spellcasters.  In a low voice she said, “Dawn asked that you not watch. And I should keep my distance too.”

 

“Will, if it’s something I can’t watch, then I’m pulling the plug,” said Buffy.

 

“Honest Buffy, it isn’t really dangerous, it’s just the yuck factor’s a bit high.”

 

Xander chimed in, “Besides, at least a couple pairs of eyes should stay fixed on the annoying petty man.”  Rayne made a face back and wiggled the fingers of one of his bound hands at them.

 

“I don’t like this,” said Buffy, both Xander and Willow were relieved when she didn’t pull away. 

 

Behind them Dawn took a deep breath and then opened her mouth.  Spike grabbed her jaw in one hand and placed the thumb of his other hand against the bottoms of Dawn’s front teeth.  Tara’s knifed hand moved toward Dawn’s open mouth.

 

At first all Buffy could hear was the sound of so much ragged breathing.  It was followed by Tara’s gentle voice chanting something in Latin.  Then a gagging sound and Spike making oddly comforting clucking and shushing sounds as Tara’s chants continued.  When the words stopped, there was the sound of someone spitting out mouthfuls of… blood.  Listening was far worse than seeing what Dawn was going through.  She shook off Xander and Willow and turned around.  Spike had stepped away and Dawn was placing her left hand flat on the front of the stone.  She reached her right hand out to Tara, who clasped both of her own hands around it.  Tara looked over her shoulder to the book and resumed chanting. 

 

Dawn sucked on the insides of her cheeks and looked up, trying to quell the growing nausea.  She squinted at the sky.  The lampposts grew dimmer and the stars brighter.  The sky began to rotate.  No, not rotate.  The stars were shifting, scrambling.  Which did not help the nausea.  She closed her eyes and waited for it to be over.  The chanting stopped.  Dawn opened her eyes and saw that the stone was glowing and then pulsing.  She heard Tara yell, “Now!” and Dawn moved to pull her hand away, but it wouldn’t release.  She tugged some more.  “Tara, it won’t let go!”  Buffy moved forward, but Spike grabbed her in a bear hug, immobilizing her arms and lifting her feet off the ground as Buffy struggled, trying to kick free. 

 

Maintaining contact with their right hands, Tara stepped behind Dawn and laid her hand over Dawn’s hand, pushing Dawn’s fingers apart.  Tara curled her fingers under the webbing of Dawn’s hand until she broke the suction, pulling her hand free. 

 

There was a burst of brightness like Spike hadn’t seen in over a century, momentarily blinding them all.  They blinked, trying to clear the dots of light dancing across their eyes.  Through the blind spots they could see the portal.  Great, a rim of fire, thought Spike.  That’s just what I was hoping for in a doorframe to hell.

 

Before they could step through, something large enough to need to duck its head stepped out.  It straightened to its full height and proceeded to stretch its neck to the left and right with several audible pops.  Then it turned to address them.

 

"Hi. I'm Skip."

 

All gaped at the sight of the huge demon. Horns, wings, and skin like scaly gray armor. Scanning the group, he fixed on Buffy.

 

"You're Buffy Summers, right? The Slayer?"

 

Startled, Buffy answered," Yes, but I think I'd remember it if we'd met."

 

"We have mutual friends," said Skip, "but that's another story."

 

"I take it we were expected?"

 

"Well, not expected, exactly. They weren't sure you would get this far, but they thought it best that I be here if you did."

 

"And 'They' are...?"

 

"The Powers That Be. That's who I work for."

 

""If The Powers think they're going to stop us from going after Giles..."

 

"Calm down, calm down. They're not trying to stop you. Having a human cast unjustly into a Hell dimension upsets the natural order. They don't approve of it. They can't take him out themselves, but if you want to go get him, I'm here to guide you."

 

Buffy was taken aback. The Powers That Be offering help? This was something new. "Do you know where he is?"

 

"You'll have to do the searching. I can only show you where to search. And keep you safe while you're doing it. But first, how did you open the portal. It's important that I know how."

 

Dawn spoke up. "It was through me. I'm sorry if it ripped a hole in reality or whatever, but we were desperate. There wasn't any other way."

 

Skip shook his head. "Don't be silly. You're a human child. You haven't the power to do anything like that."

 

"I know that's what I look like, but I'm really The Key. I can open doors between dimensions."

 

"Yes, yes, " said Skip impatiently, "I know all about that. That's what you were. You're completely human now. A lot more than him, probably." His eyes lighted on Ethan.

 

"Am I being singled out?" said Ethan. "How flattering."

 

Skip frowned. "You think you'll like it here, don't you, sorcerer? You won't." He spoke in a tone that sent a chill through the group, and Ethan's smirk faded as he tried to hold the demon's gaze.

 

Skip continued. "A Hell portal can only be opened by..." He halted, then said in an amazed voice, "Anyanka? Is that you?"

 

Anya smiled and waved. "Hey, Skip. How's it going?"

 

"I don't believe this," said Xander. "Another ex-boyfriend?! Olaf the troll-god wasn't bad enough, and now this guy!"

 

"Stop it!" said Anya. "It wasn't like that at all!"

 

"So what was it like, then?"

 

"She introduced me to my wife."

 

"That's right. How is she?"

 

"Oh, just fine. She was just talking about you the other day, wondering why we don't see you anymore. I told her it's only natural after you get married to lose touch with your single friends."

 

"Yes, well, my life has changed a lot, too."

 

"I can see. That's a new look for you."

 

"Human."

 

"No. Blonde. It works."

 

"Guys. I hate to break up the nostalgia-fest," said Buffy, "but you were saying about opening the portal?"

 

"Yes, of course. Sorry. A Hell portal can only be opened by a power that comes from the darkest magic." He looked at Willow. "I would have said it was you. You have the power, but haven't exercised it."

 

"That's right," said Willow. "I-I can't. Dark magicks affect me...badly."

 

"They affect everyone badly, some worse than others."

 

Tara stepped forward. "I cast the spell. I know it was dark magic, but Dawn was right. We had no other choice."

 

"But there's no trace of it on you. It always leaves at least a trace." Skip gazed thoughtfully at Tara. "Was your mother a witch?"

 

"Yes. My grandmother, too. Why?"

 

"There are certain witches, rare ones, who can use the dark magicks, control them, without being affected by them. But it's more than just inheritance. It takes a purity of intention, of character, of soul, even."

 

Willow smiled brightly at Tara. "Sounds like you've got the right girl, " she said. Tara blushed.

 

Skip stiffened himself, almost as if he were about to make a formal bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Tara," he said. "Unfortunately, this creates a problem as far as the portal is concerned."

 

"Problem?" said Buffy. "What kind of problem?"

 

"Normally, when a Hell-portal is created..."

 

"Normally?"

 

"Sorry, poor choice of words. But when it happens, it's created from dark magic. So when the opening is made, it draws its energy from the Hell dimension it opens on. That way, the portal can remain open indefinitely. This portal was created with white magic, but it still draws energy from Hell. The white magic becomes corrupted, and so the portal will eventually collapse. If you don't rescue your Watcher and get back to the opening in time, you'll all be trapped here. With no escape."

 

Buffy didn't hesitate for an instant. "I came here to get Giles. I'm not leaving without him." She turned to the others, first freezing Ethan with a threatening look. One by one, they nodded agreement. Finally, she reached Spike.

 

He shrugged. "Always figured I'd end up somewhere like this anyway. Might as well get a head start."

 

"Well," said Skip, "I definitely would like to meet your friend once you find him. Must be quite a fellow." Then to Spike, "I was a free-lancer once, too. Eventually I made a choice."

 

"Good for you," said Spike, sourly. "What's that got to do with me?"

 

"Not much, probably. But then I just work for The Powers. I don't make the decisions."

 

"And what's that supposed to mean?!  Listen, demon, don't start up with me!  I told you I was willing to stay here, so..."

 

"Spike!"  Buffy was in no mood for quarrels.  "He's here to help us."

 

"No offense," said Skip. "Besides, this isn't the type of dimension a vampire would end up in anyway. Hell dimensions are all designed differently, depending on who's sent to them. The typical Hell dimension is for demons and damned souls. It concentrates on physical pain and torture." Buffy shuddered, remembering Angel's state when he returned from Hell. "Most demons are pretty simple. Pain is all they understand."

 

"Hey!" said Spike, "Watch who you're calling simple, mate!"

 

"Nothing personal. It's just that this dimension now contains a human whose soul was not damned. Before any physical torment, the idea would be to make him give up, lose hope. Once a human loses hope, he accepts all the punishments given him. If he ever reaches that state, you'll never be able to get him out."

 

"Giles would never lose hope," said Buffy.

 

"Not a chance," Xander added.

 

"Yes, I definitely want to meet this guy. Shall we go?"

 

Skip made a grandiose arm sweep towards the quivering, fire rimmed oval, “Women and children first,” giving the Slayer access to the portal.  Buffy looked at Dawn and when Dawn gently nodded they stepped through.

 

Willow watched as Buffy determinedly walked through the quivering black oval in front of them.  She was always so confident in her actions, so self-assured.  Willow envied her.  She looked at Tara standing next to her serene and composed even in uncertainty and fear. God how she loved her.  Tara looked at her just then, smiled, and took Willow’s hand in hers and together they walked through the portal.

 

Xander, Spike, Anya and Ethan stood in an uncomfortable cluster, nerves rolling off one another in waves. Skip looked intently at the remaining supposedly heroic band and chuckled at the sometimes-subtle humor of TPTB.  “Room for one more.  Who’s it gonna be?”

 

The motley group looked at each other and then back at Skip.  Suddenly, there was a loud crackle as a surge of fire leapt from the portal, encircled all of them and pulled them in. In a loud echo, Skip’s voice resounded, “Well, dag-nabbit!  That wasn’t in the briefing!”