Part 23

Buffy and William were tightly bound and being carried aloft by the demons that had apprehended them. Buffy's mouth was gagged and the ropes that bound her hands and feet had been magiked. She couldn't break them or even work them loose. She assumed that William was in the same predicament.

William had given up struggling with his bonds. Doc had planned his attack well, but had still managed to make at least one mistake. Buffy wasn't the only one who hadn't been aware that the chip was non-functional. The little lizard man had sent humans to capture him. Humans! Spike spared a split second to thank the Powers for having the foresight to take care of that particular problem. Still, he had no clue about what was going to happen now. If he lifted his head enough, he could see Buffy still wriggling and squirming. She was a fighter to the end, that one. It was no wonder she'd lasted so long as a Slayer. He'd been a stupid prat to even believe he could take her on all those years ago. Together they would figure out a way out of this mess. He had faith in her.

The rabble carrying them was slowing down. William glanced over to see where they were. Of course Doc would want them brought here. He'd known somewhere inside himself this that had been the destination all along. The wreckage from the old metal tower was still strewn all over the ground. He looked at Buffy to see if she had noticed. Her widened eyes told him that she had.

*****

Giles sat at the table with Willow and Xander. Dawn was standing by the door looking outside while she sipped a cup of hot chocolate that Willow had made for her. Giles rubbed his forehead. "I'm really quite. flustered about all this. I thought that whatever Doc was doing involved only demons. I never would have anticipated he would attack the school."

"None of us did." Xander told him.

"Let's go over this again," Willow said. "I just know that there's something we're missing."

Xander snapped his fingers. "What about that dream Buffy had?"

"Right," Giles thought for a moment. "We've already discussed his reward."

"But what else did he say?" Willow asked.

"There was talk about getting it right this time." Giles continued to fight down the panic he felt rising in his chest. He would do Buffy no good if he didn't keep his wits about him. "Let's go over exactly what went wrong the last time."

"OK." Willow took a deep breath. "Doc went up on the platform to cut Dawn. I saw him up there and sent Spike up."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Xander said. "And Doc blew him off like a pesky mosquito."

"Right," Willow said. "Then he cut Dawn and Buffy pushed him off, then closed up the fissure herself."

"So we know that Buffy was his biggest obstacle." Giles replaced his glasses and shook his head in confusion. "But what was it that Buffy said about the knife?"

"It was bloody," Dawn muttered, then turned to face them. "It was covered with blood and he told Buffy it was tainted."

"Was it covered with your blood Dawn?"

Dawn stopped and here eyes widened. "No! The blood was Spike's."

*****

Anya was exhausted. When she had reached the school gymnasium pandemonium reigned. There were terrified teenagers and teachers everywhere, but no sign of William or Buffy. She and Halfrek had their hands full granting the wishes of all the people who just wanted to be home, safe and sound. One particularly brilliant teacher had even wished that the fire would be gone. Hallie had taken care of that in quick fashion. Now, not quite an hour after the two vengeance demons had arrived on the scene, nearly everybody had been evacuated.

"Hallie, have you seen any sign of them?"

"No, Anyanka. They aren't here."

"I need to go back an tell the others what's happening."

"You go ahead. I can take care of what's left." Halfrek wrung water out of her curly dark hair. "I hope somebody wishes this water away!"

"I know this isn't what our powers were meant to be used for." Anya looked at her friend gratefully. "Thank you for helping them."

"It's all right." Halfrek told her. "Good grief, this is Halloween. I had nothing to do but my nails anyway."

Anya waved goodbye, then vanished.

*****

Giles whipped off his glasses again. "Spike's blood? Are you quite sure?"

"I was there, Giles," Dawn told him defensively. "I remember. He stabbed Spike in the back before he threw him off the tower."

"And this was before he cut you?"

Dawn nodded.

"Tainted!" Willow exclaimed. "He. he said that the blood was tainted, but he would fix it this time."

"Willow," Giles leaned toward the former witch. "Exactly what was to happen when the Key was used?"

"All of the dimensional barriers would be broken."

"And what happened when Dawn was cut with that knife?"

"A big tear in the wall of."

"A tear?" Giles looked around excitedly. "There was only a tear."

"But it was huge!" Dawn told them. "And growing."

Willow's eyes flashed in discovery. "But it was relatively small, considering we are discussing the breakdown of every dimensional boundary."

"Spike's blood interfered with the process!" Giles pounded his fist on the table.

Anya suddenly appeared in the room, exhausted and dripping wet. "They're not there!" she told them, then slumped to the ground as her legs gave way.

Xander hurried over to help her up, but she turned to Giles' waiting arms. "I'll be all right." she assured him. "Just a little worn out."

"Who's not there?" Willow asked.

"Buffy and William. The demons took them and left everyone else there to burn to death."

"Do you need to go back there?" Giles' voice was full of concern.

Anya shook her head. "No. The fire is out and most of the people have been sent home. I don't think any humans died."

"Not yet." Xander said.

"Xander?" Dawn rushed over to him. "Do you think they're going to kill Buffy?"

"I'm sorry Dawn. I shouldn't have said that. If Doc wanted her dead he would have killed her at the school."

Giles helped Anya to a chair. "Can you sense where they are?"

Anya shook her head mutely.

"If Doc is going to go back in time to that night, he probably wants to be physically close to the place where it happened." Willow told them.

"The tower?" Xander asked.

"But why would he want to take them back with him?" Dawn demanded. "One Buffy was able to stop him, so why would he want two?"

Willow touched her arm. "If Doc is successful in taking them back there, there won't be two Buffys or two Spikes."

Giles nodded his agreement, "She's right. If present Buffy collides with past Buffy."

"They will cancel each other out, Willow said grimly. "No William and no Buffy."

"But he needs a power source, right?" Dawn begged Giles for confirmation.

"Well, yes, he said. "It. it would have to be a quite large source if he wanted to. to fuel moving a group of any size - an enormous source if he is planning on taking an army of demons along."

Willow frowned. "But there aren't any sources around that large. I know. I tried to drain everything available after Tara was killed, even." She stopped and looked at Dawn, her eyes wide. "Even Dawn!"

"Me?" Dawn squeaked. "He wants to use me? Then why didn't they take me too?"

Xander threw his hands up in the air. "There were so many kids running around, plus you were wearing that blond wig. Maybe they grabbed the wrong girl."

"Oh no!" Dawn exclaimed. "Chelsea was dressed just like me."

"How would he know?" Anya asked.

Willow glared over at her impatiently. "Know what, Anya?"

"How would Doc know what everyone was wearing? When you all busted in here, I barely recognized you myself, what with all the ratty wigs and gloppy makeup. He must have had a scout to tell him what people were wearing."

Xander and Willow looked to each other as realization set in. "That . bimbo!" Willow sputtered.

Part 24

The demons were dancing around a bonfire as Buffy stood, tied to a post. Next to her was William, tied to another. Sometime during the battle he had lost his hat and most of his straw. His costume was wet and uncomfortable. Most of the makeup had washed off.

Buffy could tell that one of the braids in her own hair had come loose and her apron was torn. Their eyes communicated their confusion to each other. Why were they here and why were they still alive? Buffy could see another post set into the ground across from where she stood, but there were too many scaly and slimy bodies moving back and forth to make out who was tied there. From the corner of her eye she saw William jerk his head up and to the side. She followed his gaze to the female vampire making her way across the wreckage that littered the ground.

She stopped in front of Buffy. "Well, you aren't so mouthy now, are you Slayer?"

"Mmmfffff!" Buffy answered her, snarling through her gag.

"Sorry!" Harmony perked. "I just can't understand you with all those nasty, dirty rags in your mouth. You know, you're really a mess!" She stuck her tongue out at Buffy then sauntered over to William.

"Oh, poor little Blondie-Bear. You're going to be so sorry you treated me bad." Harmony fluffed her hair and pushed her lips out in a fake pout. "I loved you, and that just wasn't good enough for you." She reached out and walked her red-tipped fingers up his chest before reaching out to tug on some of his sandy curls. "And do you see what's happened to you? You've gotten all skinny and your hair needs a touch-up."

William turned his face away, dismissing her.

"What?" She stomped her foot. "You still think you're too good for me?" She smirked evilly. Then maybe I should remind you of all the times you made me dress up like Buffy and pretend to stake you so you could get your rocks off!"

William groaned and rolled his eyes upward.

"Or about the time you came to me, begging me to let you stay because the government put that stupid chip in your head and you couldn't feed." She grabbed his face to make him look at her. "You weren't too good for me then!" She let go of him and walked backward a few paces, stumbling over an I-Beam lying on the pavement. "Oops!" she caught herself. "Well, I'm a liberated woman now, and I don't need a man around to know that I'm worth something."

"Harmony," Doc's soft voice intoned beside her. "are you making my guests feel welcome?"

"Yes, I am. Did I do a good job finding them for you?"

"A very good job. Thank you. You will live as a queen in my dimension."

Harmony smiled happily at his words, then turned to favor Buffy with a smug expression. "Looks like you stole the wrong boyfriend." She reached over to hold Doc's arm.

He slid away from her and waved his index finger in the air. "You know my rules about touching."

"Sorry, I forgot again," she simpered.

"We need to move on with the transference. Will you watch the captives for me?"

"Of course. anything!"

He nodded his head, then turned to walk across toward the other pole. The gyrating horde parted to make way for him and Buffy saw the girl tied there. Her stomach lurched as she recognized her sister. She looked over to William in panic, and saw him shake his head. His eyes motioned her to look back again. She returned her gaze to Dawn, then understood. The girl was wearing a long, blue satin gown and long blond hair, but it wasn't Dawn. It was Chelsea.

*****

"So, now what?" Xander asked.

"Well, since Doc doesn't have Dawn, his plan can't work." Giles paced back and forth, thinking. I don't know what he will do when he realizes."

They all watched him as he moved around the shop. Anya had recovered enough of her strength to offer her own opinion. "Well, we know that he still won't kill them yet."

"That's encouraging." Xander noted dryly.

"Let's put ourselves in his place." She continued. "Willow, when you were running amok, sucking everyone dry, what would you have done if you grabbed the wrong power source?"

Willow frowned. "I would have looked for the right one."

"Thank God we have the Dawnster right here safe and sound." Xander said, then looked around. "Dawn?"

"Maybe she went to the little girl's room." Anya said.

"She couldn't have slipped out, because we would have heard the bell." Xander said.

"What is that stuff sticking out of the bell?" Willow pointed.

"Oh, good lord." Giles strode over to the door and looked up. "Tissues!"

"She wasted my Puffs?" Anya asked.

"Apparently they help make for a. a noiseless escape." Giles sighed.

"One more reason to buy 'em!" Xander joked, then broke off as Willow elbowed him in the side.

"We can't just stand around here!" she exclaimed. "Dawn is off to try to save Buffy, and she'll walk right into the last place she should be."

"Let me try to find her." Anya offered. "I can get there faster. If I don't see her there I'll pop right back and we'll go search other places."

Giles nodded his approval and, once again, Anya vanished.

*****

Doc approached the girl and reached for her with both of his hands. "This will work better without that wig." He said, and pulled at her hair.

"Ouch!" Chelsea yelped.

Doc stepped back in confusion. "This is your hair?"

"Don't touch me, you old creep!" she yelled at him.

He reached out again. "You don't need to scream," he told her calmly. "This really won't hurt a bit." He placed a hand on either side of her head and closed his eyes. After a few seconds his eyes flew open and he turned to the demons standing beside her. "This is not the Key!"

The large M'Fashnik closest to the girl pointed a claw at Harmony and growled.

"Harmony, my dear," Doc called to her in a sing-song voice. "Did you tell this creature that this girl was the Key?"

Harmony rushed over to Doc. "I talked to her. She was dressed like." she pointed. "like that."

"And did you take notice of anyone else that might have been dressed in the same fashion?"

She stammered for a response, not noticing the activity taking place behind her back.

*****

Dawn crept up behind Buffy and tried to work the ropes loose. "Buffy," she whispered, "I can't budge these things."

Buffy shook her head subtly and rolled her eyes to warn Dawn off.

"Forget it. I'm not leaving you." She reached up and managed to loosen the gag.

"Dawn, get out of here." Buffy hissed.

"He's going to kill you. Both of you." Dawn told her.

"And he's going to kill you if he gets his hands on you. He wants to use you to fuel this expedition of his!"

"I know. We finally figured that out." Dawn looked across at Doc. "Did he hurt Chelsea?"

"I don't think so. Dawn, please, leave now!"

"Not until you're both free." Dawn's voice was filled with conviction. She moved over to remove William's gag, then tried to loosen his bindings, to no avail.

"Nibblet, you won't be able to unfasten those. He's worked a spell on them. Now get back to the shop."

"I've got to do something!" Dawn protested. "This is all my fault."

"No it's not," he gritted out between clenched teeth. "We'll find a way out of this, but you've got to get out of here before."

"Hey," Dawn interrupted him. "Look, I'm not here by myself." She pointed. "There's Clem. He'll help."

William looked up to see Clem looking curiously through the crowd. He saw Buffy, then William and Dawn and made his way over to them.

"What'cha doing here, all tied up like that?"

"Remember your friend, Doc?" William asked him. "Seems he has some dark plans for the Slayer and her little sis. What are you doing here?"

"I went to the school. I heard there was a party with food and punch. I love punch. By the time I got there, everyone was leaving, so I decided to follow the crowd and see what was going on. Who knew?"

William pulled at his bonds and grimaced. "How about a hand?"

"Oh sure. You want me to get you loose."

"Can't. He used magic."

"Oh."

"How about a distraction?"

"You want me to use my power?"

"You have a power?" Dawn asked him.

"Sure. I'm a demon." Clem straightened and prepared to launch into action, but turned back to Dawn. "Now don't you be afraid."

"How could I be afraid of you, Clem?"

"Just watch, Nibblet." William told her.

Clem stepped away from them and into the midst of a group of Chaos demons. They were tall and obscured the wrinkly kitten poker fan. Soon, Dawn saw his head emerge about the heads and antlers of the demon's surrounding him. Next his shoulders appeared. Clem raised his hands and Dawn saw that now his claws were each about a foot long and Clem stood about twelve feet tall. He roared at the demons and slashed at them with his razor sharp talons. The demons turned in terror and tried to get away, stumbling all over each other. Four of them lay dead on the ground.

"Wow!" Dawn said. "I didn't know he could do that!"

"Where did you think all that extra skin came from?" William asked her.

"Dawn!" Buffy yelled. Her warning was too late.

"Aaahh!" Dawn screamed as she was grabbed from behind by one of Harmony's minions.

"Hey, look over here," the vampire yelled to the others. "I think I've found the real deal!"

"Let me go, you smelly blood sucker!" Dawn kicked at him and struggled to free her arms. "My sister is SO going to dust you."

He just laughed at her feeble attempts to get free. "She won't be around long enough to try." he told her.

Dawn's eyes widened in horror as Doc approached her, his arms outstretched and an evil grin on his face.

*****

Xander jumped as Anya re-materialized beside him.

"They've got Dawn!" She told them. Buffy and William are tied up and can't get free. He's using magic to keep them there. She turned panicked eyes to Giles. "What are we going to do?"

"Obviously, we're going to need advanced magic if we are to have any chance at stopping him."

Willow raised her hands helplessly. "I can't!"

"I know," Giles told her. "And we don't have time for me to get an infusion of power from the coven at Devon." He turned and paced. "So what are we left with?"

"Unless someone there makes a wish unwittingly, I'm useless." Anya said.

Xander sat heavily with a sigh. "And I'm useless no matter what."

Willow studied him with a frown, then her eyes gleamed as a thought came to her. "Xander, you've done magic before."

Xander shook his head. "No."

"Yes you have!" Willow sat beside him and took hold of his hands. "Don't you remember when we were sitting around looking at magic books, and you set one on fire?"

"It was a fluke, Willow."

"No. Listen to me. I used to struggle just to levitate pencils." As he continued to shake his head, she squeezed his hands and spoke faster to make her point. "Yes, magic is talent, but it is also desire and will power."

"But I don't know anything. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know what to do."

"I know what to do Xander! I have all this knowledge in my head."

Giles moved to join them.

"What are you suggesting, Willow?"

"That Xander and I do a sort of. a kind of mind-meld, similar to what we did when we defeated Adam." She stood up excitedly. "Giles, you could establish a link between Xander and me so that I could speak to him telepathically. We could send him to free Buffy and the others and give them a fighting chance." She looked back to Xander. "We can do this!"

"I don't know." Giles brushed his hand over his hair and down the back of his neck.

Anya moved to him. "It's worth a try! If anyone has the desire to help Buffy, it's Xander. And Willow's right. Between her knowledge and Xander's will-power, it could work." She patted his arm. "Besides, if you don't do something now, they're all going to be dead very shortly."

"Very well," Giles agreed. "Xander, Willow, come here."

"Do you know the spell?" Willow asked.

"I believe I know a variation that will serve our purpose." Giles squinted in concentration. "It is something that we used to play with back in my. my younger days."

"Then do it," Willow urged him. "Now."