At that moment the main door opened suddenly. Giles feared the worst, but it was probably even worse than what he had imagined: Willow and Xander had just come in.
"We're home!" said Willow cheerfully. She was stopped dead on her tracks. Angel was sitting on the floor in the cage. Xander turned towards Willow and protected her instinctively.
"What's he doing in a cage?" he said.
"He came to me because he's in danger of losing his soul again.
- He's in danger? What about us? He comes around and says: "Oh, help me, Giles, help me, I'm going to turn nasty again !" And you invite him around for a game of lock-me-up-and-hide-the-key? What's with you?
- I locked him up because he asked me to. Now listen to me. We're going to find this spell, or else however much you tell me "I told you so" afterwards, things are going to turn very nasty for us. Where are the others?"
Xander saw he was serious and said "They're just behind. Willow and I went ahead because we had to ask you something before they were here. They might come in at any moment so far as I know.
- You make sure they don't. Tell them I needed Willow to stay here because... because I needed her to tell me what I would need to put the library books on computer. Make it sound convincing.
- Giles, It's not convincing at all. You hate computers.
- Well find something, It's dangerous for all of us right now, but especially for Buffy. He's hanging on to his soul but it's slipping through his fingers. You run off and I'll keep Willow here. Is that all right with you, Willow?"
She hadn't said a word since she'd come in the room. She was just staring blank-eyed at the cage. Giles looked at her and saw that she was crying.
"Willow?" He shook her up. She snapped back into focus, but she was in shock.
"Why's he like this?" she whispered.
"It's his spell. It's wearing off. He turned nasty a few minutes ago and I put him in the cage.
- You did?
- Well, almost. But don't worry, he's no danger now. I need your help to find a spell to keep his soul where it should be. I've tried accessing Jenny's files on the computer, but I'm no good with these things. Can you do that?
- Su-- sure, that's easy."
She was still trembling and leant on the desk for support. Giles turned to Xander.
"Go now, and keep the others busy. We'll stay here."
As Xander was walking past the cage Angel lunged towards him.
"Well, hello, there, precious. Walking off, are we? Oh, well, don't worry. I'll take care of them for you." He touched the bars of the cage. The holy water scarred him aznd smoke rose to the ceiling. "Oh, this is sooo nice. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like."
Xander said nothing but seized the large crucifix froim the desk and held it up. The vampire backed away.
"Sorry, you were saying? You don't seem to like these, do you?" and with his free had he sprayed more water on the bars. "I'll tell you something. If anything happens to them I'll put one of those in your coffin and nail the door shut. If I were you, I'd behave." He opened the door and left.
Giles turned to Willow: "Do you think you can find the spell?
- I can try", she said, looking at the cage. She started typing away.