FF: Rewrite Season 6, part 9 - Rated R - W/T B/? F/?

["carrkjar" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Rewrite Season 6, part 9
Angry Again

Author: Frau Hunter Ash 

Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Acknowledgments: Note: Plot collaborated on by Hunter Ash and Dark 
Gremlin 
Suggestions from many people and many boards. A special "thank you" 
to them.

Another special "Thank You" to Joan the English Chick 
(pisces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) for her transcripts.  

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, 
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. No harm intended.  
The character of Maggie Doyle belongs to whoever created ER and I'm 
just borrowing the absent character.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship 
between people of the same gender and opposite gender. If this 
offends or is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back when you 
are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws. 

Spoilers: In my universe here, Season 6 is happening again! Starting 
with Bargaining and taking off from there. Things will be different 
here.  

Rating: R (US), 15 (UK) MA (Aus)  Warning: Attempted sexual 
assault. Pairings: W/T, X/An

Summary: Riley is back with a wife and he's after a Scooby member.  
Spike is not taking rejection well.  

* * *

"Riley?" Buffy repeated, stunned.

Riley bent down and whispered in the ear of the female he was with 
and Buffy stood up slowly, moving out of her chair.

Riley and the woman approached Buffy slowly as well.  

"Buffy," Riley said calmly. "I thought we'd run into you but I didn't 
think our first morning in Sunnydale."

"Riley, uh, I&" Buffy stammered. 

"Sam, this is the famous Slayer, Buffy Summers," Riley said softly, 
his eyes pained, looking into Buffy's eyes. "Buffy, this is my wife, 
Sam."

"Wife?" Buffy whispered, blinking in confusion.

"Pleased to meet you, Riley's talked about you," Sam said calmly, 
extending her hand.

Buffy shook the offered hand numbly.

"Can we sit down with you?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, sure, you can tell us about being back and&and&come sit," 
Buffy stammered. "We're having breakfast."

"Breakfast? Keeping vampire hours? It's late afternoon," Riley asked 
with a small smile as he and Sam pulled up chairs to join the group.

Handshakes and hugs were exchanged all around.

"We were up all night with a crisis," Xander said softly.

"Vampire get in a good right cross?" Riley asked, taking in Xander's 
bruised face.

"No, my father did," Xander mumbled and Riley lost his 
smile. "Sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault," Riley said firmly. "What was the 
crisis? Faith's escape from prison?"

"Faith?" Buffy asked, dropping her fork. "What?"

"Someone presented the prison officials with official papers and 
walked out with her," Riley explained. "We keep a close eye on her 
and the Initiative was impressed with her prison record. It really 
looked like she was making a major effort and now this."

"Faith is out?"

"Yeah and she has some kind of help," Riley nodded.

"You could have just called," Giles pointed out as Buffy sat looking 
at her food.

"The Initiative knows how dangerous a Slayer is and we have no idea 
who is helping her or why," Riley explained. "They thought it best to 
send me and Sam since I know Sunnydale and you."

"Riley, I&things have happened," Buffy said slowly.

"I figured that," he nodded.  

"Okay, who starts where?" Xander quipped.

"Sam, tell me how you ended up with Riley?" Anya demanded. "And got 
him to marry you. Xander won't marry me yet, we're engaged but he 
won't set a date."

"Anya!" Xander snapped.

The next hour was spent eating and catching up. Learning about 
Riley's assignment in South America and then the next one to the 
Balkans where he had met Sam. A fast romance and marriage had 
followed.

Buffy's eyes narrowed at how Riley's face softened and his eyes lit 
up while Sam talked. The Slayer felt a pang of past grief and pushed 
it down. Riley didn't know that she had chased his helicopter; the 
soldier didn't know she had been willing to try. Buffy saw Xander 
watching her, his eyes concerned and she smiled slightly at him.

Then came the decision whether to tell Riley about her death and the 
fight with Glory. A subtle shake of Buffy's head kept the others 
quiet but Giles frowned.

"Buffy, what if whoever got Faith out of prison is the same one that 
attacked Willow? We don't have access to the Council research but 
Riley is part of the government," he argued.

"I&I don't know," Buffy hesitated. "How the hell do I describe what 
happened to me?" 

"How about, Buffy fought Glory but died when she dove into a portal 
to stop it and Willow brought her back to life?" Anya suggested.

Riley dropped his glass of orange juice and Sam caught it with 
amazing reflexes.

"Died?" Riley squeaked.

Buffy frowned and nodded.  

"Willow was attacked during the spell and almost died," Giles 
continued. "Some kind of sorcerer changed her spell so her life force 
was being drained as long as Buffy lived."

"How did you stop it?" Sam asked, curious.

"We&we let Willow die," Dawn said softly, her eyes wide. "Then Giles 
and Buffy brought her back."

"She's weak but the spell connection was broken," Giles continued.  

"Thank God," Sam muttered.

"Where's Willow now?" Riley asked with a frown.

"At home with Tara," Buffy said calmly.  

"You aren't keeping an eye on her?" Riley continued frowning.

"Why?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

Riley now looked confused. "The levels that required! The power! You 
don't have her under watch? How long were you dead?"

"A couple of months," Buffy muttered.

"That's impossible! No one has that kind of power these days," Riley 
protested. "No one can harness that much power and stay sane and 
pure."

"Riley, man, you're talking about Willow," Xander protested. "She did 
fine! No evil stuff."

"Unless you mention the choking, bleeding and snakes," Anya added and 
Xander looked horrified.

Riley's eyes narrowed. "You said Willow almost died because of evil 
magic."

"Willow is fine!" Buffy protested. "No evil stuff!"

"Look, Buff, we got word that a major magic power spike hit here a 
couple of nights ago, Faith escaped with help and now you tell me 
Willow actually brought you back to life?" Riley demanded.

"Easy, Ry," Sam urged.

"Easy? Willow's obvious the magic burst we charted off the damned 
scale!" Riley said loudly. "She's why we're here!"

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Run that by me again!"

"We're a strike team, Buffy," Riley said flatly. "No one can handle 
that kind of power and we will contain it."

Buffy turned red and her eyes narrowed.  

"I may have died for awhile but I'm still a Slayer, Riley, and I can 
kick your ass if I need to!" Buffy growled. "You're talking about my 
best friend! My friend who was willing to give her life and soul to 
bring me back! You are not touching her!"

"Quiet! All of you!" Giles snapped before Riley could 
respond. "Riley, you're out of your league here. This isn't a demon 
you can contain or a vampire your can stake. This is a young woman 
not even 21 yet. I have been a sorcerer and I can tell you she's not 
dangerous!"

"We have to be sure, Giles," Riley said calmly.

"Why? Who the hell put you in charge?" Xander snapped.

"The President, actually, at the end of the Chain of Command," Riley 
said flatly.

"So what?" Xander muttered. "This is Willow, our friend, my best 
friend. This is our business, Slayer business."

"I want to talk to her," Riley said firmly.

"You can't right now!" Dawn squeaked. "They're having snuggle time. 
Willow almost died last night, they need bonding time!"

Riley looked impatient and Giles could tell Buffy was about to 
explode.

"Enough!" he snapped loudly. "Riley and Sam can come by the house in 
an hour, alright?"

The rest of the breakfast/lunch was spent in an awkward silence and 
finished quickly.

* * *

"Ry?" Sam questioned as they got into the black Land Rover. "That 
was a little more than uncomfortable."

"Yeah," Riley nodded with a frown. "Buffy and I never saw eye-to-eye 
about demons, vampires and werewolves. She really believes that 
they're a supernatural occurrence, not genetic problems or DNA 
screwups, or evolution off shoots. She believes in the evil, hell, 
God thing."

"Then what did you fight about?" Sam asked.

"She sees things in lots of shades of gray," Riley admitted. "Buffy 
thinks some demons are okay and some werewolves are okay except for 
three nights a month."

"Not every demon we've run across is evil, Riley," Sam said slowly.

"You know the way it works, human or not, that's it," Riley said 
firmly. "I tried to think Buffy's way. I tried to release a HST, a 
werewolf friend of theirs and I nearly was Court Martialed and 
executed for it."

"Willow looks innocent," Riley said bitterly. "So does Buffy, don't 
let that fool you. Anya is an ex-demon who lost her powers; Giles 
used to do sorcery and was turned into a demon by an old friend of 
his once; Buffy actually had an affair with a vampire who almost 
destroyed the world; Willow is a witch and dated a werewolf!"

Sam frowned. "You act like they're the enemy. You said the Slayer 
was born to protect mankind and it sounds like she's died to do so."

"Yeah and her screwups almost destroyed the world," Riley said 
bitterly.  

Sam decided it was time to become quiet and thoughtful as they drove 
to Buffy Summers' house.

* * *

Buffy frowned as she got out of the car and glanced around with a 
worried expression.

"Buffy? Something wrong?" Giles asked across the roof of the vehicle.

"Thought I sensed something but that can't be, its daylight," Buffy 
said, shrugging the feeling off and heading for the house.

Faith glanced around the leaves of the tree branch she was squatting 
on with a smirk. "Still can tell when I'm around, Summers? Have to 
watch that."

The dark Slayer watched as the Scooby Gang enter the house that she 
almost shared with Buffy and Buffy's mom and felt a pang of regret.  
Faith wondered where Willow and Tara were, probably already inside, 
she decided.

Faith wondered if there was any truth to what Ethan said about Buffy 
being "wrong" and Willow tainted.

The dark Slayer climbed down from the tree and moved to the back 
yard. She figured whatever was going on inside would be happening in 
the front room. Faith climbed the trellis to the balcony and jimmied 
the lock easily.

Taking in the incense, candles, altar, and magic books, Faith 
concluded it was Willow and Tara's room. Not disturbing anything, 
she moved into the hallway, knife in hand until she was halfway down 
the stairs and could hear what was going on in the living room.

"W-What do you mean Riley thinks I'm dangerous?" Willow stammered.  

Faith nodded with a smirk. Willow still stuttered when she was 
nervous.

"I don't know," Buffy complained. "The Initiative tracked a major 
magic power spike when you brought me back. Larger than they've ever 
seen or heard about."

"Of course, I brought the Slayer back to life!" Willow whined. "That 
wasn't like flipping the light switch with magic! We also know I had 
approval from the Powers That Be! I'm not dangerous!"

Faith frowned, even Riley thought Red was dangerous?  

"What&what does he want?" Willow asked, almost too soft for Faith to 
hear and the dark Slayer really wished she could move close enough to 
see the group as they talked but knew that would be too risky.

"They want to talk with you and make sure you're not a danger," Giles 
explained.

"And Riley can go to hell!" Buffy said firmly.

Buffy protecting Willow, just as Ethan said, Faith thought.

"Willow is-isn't dangerous," Tara stammered. "The Powers That Be 
said so!"

Powers That Be? Those things that Angel talked about, Fate or Karma?

"We know that but we also know that Riley isn't going to be 
interested in learning that Powers that are beyond his perception of 
black-n-white," Giles argued. "Or that Joyces' spirit is the one who 
came to us and told us that Willow is alright."

Mom says Willow and Buffy are okay?

Faith waited patiently as the group argued among themselves until the 
doorbell rang.

"Damn, that'll be Riley," Buffy complained.

"Doesn't this ever ease up?" Anya countered. "We bring you back and 
it's a good thing and we should be planning our wedding now!"

"Anya, just take it easy," Xander urged.

"Hello, Willow, Tara," Riley's voice said calmly.

"Riley," Willow squeaked back.

"Okay, how the hell do we prove that she's not dangerous?" Buffy 
demanded. "Shouldn't we be looking for Faith instead?"

Faith almost fell off the step she was hovering on in surprise. They 
knew she was out? How?

"One problem at a time," Riley said firmly and Faith risked moving 
further down the stairs on her stomach until she could see the gang 
but didn't think they'd notice her in the shadows on the stairs.

"I'm a problem?" Willow snapped and Faith saw a bit of the confidence 
that would have been necessary to perform such high level rituals.

"Very likely," Riley said, his jaw tightening and Faith felt her eyes 
widening as Willow's eyes shifted from their typical green to yellow.

"I don't see how I can prove or disprove I'm dangerous?" Willow 
complained.

"We have a testing center in the Nevada desert," Riley suggested.

"Area 51?" Xander squeaked. "You are so not taking her anywhere near 
that place!" 

"You aren't taking Willow anywhere!" Buffy added.

"We have ways of testing magical abilities and danger levels, like we 
did with that friend of yours that turned you into a demon, Giles," 
Riley said flatly. "What was his name?"

"Ethan Rayne," Giles grumbled. "We knew he was dangerous. He did 
dangerous and evil things, most of the time just to cause mischief. 
Willow hasn't done anything to make us think that she's evil."

"Except raising the dead?" Riley countered.

Faith was stunned. Ethan Rayne was an enemy of the Scooby Gang? He 
was a sorcerer captured by the Initiative? Suddenly things began to 
make sense and Faith was quickly figuring out that she was on the 
wrong end of things again.

"It was an extraordinary event and circumstances," Giles 
growled. "The Fates deemed that it was necessary for Buffy to 
return."

"We were called her to neutralize the threat of the one calling on 
that level of magic," Riley said firmly.

"Go to hell!" Buffy growled. "It was a one shot deal. Willow won't 
be using those levels again."

Willow was frowning and holding hands with Tara, tightly.

Faith smiled, at least two relationships among the Scoobies seemed to 
be working out, she thought.

"Buffy, this is National Security stuff and I can arrest every single 
one of you if you interfere," Riley threatened.

"I've kicked your ass before, Finn, and I'll do it again!" Buffy 
countered.

"We seem to be at an impasse, ladies and gentlemen," Giles said 
wearily.

"Riley, have you ever seen a magic user or witch after they went in 
for testing?" Dawn asked softly and Riley frowned.

"No, I'm in charge of a strike team, we don't see the end results."  
Riley explained.

"Like when you captured Oz and let those science types torture him?" 
Buffy demanded.

"I tried to help him!" Riley protested. "That could have cost me my 
life!"

"You only tried to help him because he was connected to Willow and 
you could actually see he was human," Buffy countered. "You never 
could see that not all demons were bad and some werewolves tried to 
fight back and not take human life."

"You think I'd let them hurt Willow?" Riley demanded.

"You'll turn her over and move onto your next assignment," Buffy 
countered. "You probably won't even remember her in a month."

"That's not fair! I never forgot you&I mean, any of you," Riley 
complained.

"We're just going in circles here, people," Giles grumbled. "We're 
not letting you take Willow and Riley won't see she's not a danger."

"We're at am impasse," Sam agreed. "I suggest that we stay in 
Sunnydale and help you look for Faith and return her to prison. We 
can also keep an eye on Willow until we're sure she's not a danger."

"H-How do we do that?" Tara asked softly.

"That type of power is irresistible," Sam said slowly. "Most cases 
we've seen of this, the sorcerer gave in within two weeks."  

Willow blushed and frowned. "No irresistible force here! Only do 
good!"

"I hope so, Willow," Riley said flatly, standing up.  

Buffy's face flushed with anger.

"I don't want your help, Riley," she growled. "We'll find Faith and 
whoever is helping her and I don't want you around Willow!"

"As always, have to do it yourself," Riley said bitterly.

"I blew it with you, Riley," Buffy admitted, standing up and facing 
him. "I didn't run fast enough that night. Okay, I admit it! But you 
are not taking out your anger on Willow!"

"Ran fast enough?" Sam questioned with a frown.

"Nothing important now," Buffy snapped, seeing comprehension in 
Riley's eyes. "Just leave us alone!" 

"We'll be close, Buffy," Riley said firmly. 

"Don't call us, we'll call you," Buffy snarled. "Nice to meet you, 
Sam."

Sam looked at the two witches and angered Slayer and then at her 
husband with a frown.

Faith moved back up the stairs and snuck into a hall closet as Buffy 
stood up and began pacing restlessly.

Not hearing anyone heading up the stairs, Faith went back to the 
window and snuck down the trellis with a worried expression. She 
didn't know what to believe anymore. Buffy was overly protective of 
Willow and didn't want the military types near them. Buffy also 
wanted to find Faith badly.

Did Buffy fear Faith finding out the truth or was the Slayer being 
cautious because of Faith's past.

Speaking of her past, was Riley correct? Did Faith break out of 
prison? No one would ever believe that she had been tricked out of 
prison without her knowledge.

"Damn, this sucks, Slayer," she muttered to herself.

* * *

"Riley, I didn't sense danger from Willow or her girlfriend," Sam 
said slowly as they headed for the hotel.

"You know the level she was handling hasn't been in centuries," Riley 
protested. "No one can handle that much power without being tainted. 
Especially someone as untrained and as young as Willow." 

Sam frowned as Riley swore under his breath.

"We'll hang back and see what develops," Riley growled.

* * *

Willow curled up on sofa with Tara, crying softly.

"I'm so tired of everything going wrong!" Willow whined.

"It's not going wrong, baby," Tara said gently. "We just have to deal 
with the consequences of that spell." 

"I don't feel like playing with that kind of magick," Willow 
complained. "I just wanted Buffy back, the Powers That Be wanted 
Buffy back."

"I know, baby," Tara cooed. "We'll get through this."

Dawn, watching the two witches frowned and looked at the address 
Riley left on the coffee table.  

The teenager slipped out the door, unnoticed by anyone.

* * *

Faith spun with a stake in one hand and a dagger in the other. 

"Who's there?" she snapped, the dark Slayer knew that it wasn't a 
vampire but there was someone standing in the shadows of the 
graveyard wall.

Ethan Rayne stepped into the light with a smile.

He didn't even flinch when Faith grabbed him by the collar and 
slammed him against the wall.

"Why the hell is some government type is telling Buffy and the gang 
that I escaped from prison?" Faith demanded.  

"It was the only way to get you out," Ethan said calmly. "I wouldn't 
walk into any cops any time soon."

"Damn you! I was doing okay in prison! Parole looked good in a year!" 
Faith yelled, slamming him against the wall with each sentence.

"Now you're stuck, Slayer!" Ethan grinned. "I can make those papers 
official. All you have to do is the original plan. Buffy and Willow 
are evil and must be destroyed. Do that and you'll be free, fail and 
you go back to prison as an escaped convict."

Faith thought about smashing Ethan's head against the stone wall but 
held back and dropped the Englishman.  

"I will hunt you down when this is over and kill you," Faith 
growled. "Someday when you think I'm old and gray, I'll find you."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Ethan grinned. "Don't think about 
telling Buffy and her friends either. One, they won't believe you; 
two, I'm an old sorcerer friend of Giles and I will fry you; three, 
I'll turn you in."

"I kill Buffy and Willow and you give me a new identity?" Faith 
demanded.

"Yes, totally legal," Ethan nodded.  

"Then you've got one dead Slayer and witch," Faith growled.

* * *

Buffy glanced around the living room and headed to the kitchen. She 
came back in with a frown, noticing Xander holding Anya and Tara 
holding Willow. Each couple seemed lost in their own problems.

"Anybody see Dawn?" the Slayer asked and knew the answer when four 
sets of blank eyes looked up at her.  

Tara looked at the coffee table with a frown.

"Where's Riley's phone number and hotel room number?" she asked 
softly.

Buffy looked down and growled.  

"Damn! She's gone to convince him that Willow's not dangerous!" Buffy 
snapped, rushing out the door. It was getting dark in Sunnydale and 
her sister was only sixteen.

"Buffy wait, we'll go with you!" Xander shouted from the door.

The Slayer stopped at the edge of the sidewalk.  

"You guys take the car, I'll try and catch her on foot," Buffy said 
calmly.

"Okay!" Xander nodded as the other Scooby members crowded around 
behind him, anxious to be going as well.

Buffy knew Dawn wouldn't be stupid enough to cut through one of the 
many graveyard but the Slayer didn't have the same fears and easily 
jumped the fence. She was hoping to catch up with Dawn by taking a 
short cut.

The Slayer was going to really yell at Dawn this time. It was now 
dark and her sister, of all people, should know better than to run 
around Sunnydale after dark without protection!

Buffy jumped the fence on the other side of the graveyard and spotted 
Dawn just down the street. Her sister looked startled when Buffy 
landed on the sidewalk ahead of her and then began to blush with 
anger.

"Dawn, damnit!" Buffy said loudly.

"Buffy!" Dawn screamed as a figure jumped over the fence behind 
Buffy.  

The Slayer spun with stake in hand and caught the baseball bat across 
her forearm. She grunted in pain and dropped the stake and ducked a 
second swing.

"Spike?" Buffy asked, surprised and a moment slow.

The baseball bat caught her across the temple as she tried to duck 
again and the Slayer hit the sidewalk hard.

"Spike, what the hell are you doing?" Dawn screamed, running towards 
the vampire and her sister.

"Stay back, Lil Bit!" Spike growled, tossing the bat aside and 
throwing Buffy over his shoulder. "This is between me and your 
sister. Go home!"

Dawn watched stunned as Spike leaped the wall with Buffy.

* * *

Willow and Tara watched out one side of the car while Anya watched 
the other as Xander drove. 

"Oh Goddess, this is getting ridiculous!" Willow complained. "Riley 
wants to send me to Area 51 with Ethan, Faith has escaped prison and 
is probably plotting to kill us and now Dawn is out at night!"

"I know, baby, I know," Tara muttered, leaning out the passenger 
window.

Suddenly both witches grabbed their heads, causing Xander to jerk in 
surprise and almost wreck the car.

"What?!" he shouted.

"Buffy's hurt and Dawn is terrified," Willow muttered.

"We've got to find them!" Tara added.

* * *

Dawn managed on the third try to get to the top of the fence with the 
bat in her hand. Just in time to see Spike kick open the door to his 
tomb and disappear inside with Buffy still over his shoulder.  

Dawn gritted her teeth and jumped to the ground.

* * *

Buffy moaned and opened her eyes. It took her a moment to realize 
that she was on Spikes' bed and rough hands were pulling at her 
clothing.

She could smell the alcohol on his breath as his body pinned her to 
the bed.

"Throw me over, will you?" Spike demanded in her ear as his hands 
ripped her shirt open.

"Spike? Get off me! You're hurting me!" Buffy cried and began trying 
to fight him but her head was spinning and hurting, making it 
difficult.

"You want to feel something, Buffy?" Spike slurred. "I'll make you 
feel something again! I know you felt it when I was inside of you!"

"Spike! Don't! No!" Buffy cried, struggling against the vampire as 
his hand and leg forced her legs apart.  

"Come on, Buffy!" Spike whined. "Let me in! I love you!"

"Get off of me!" Buffy growled, trying to get leverage against the 
vampire.

Buffy screamed as Spike ripped her underwear away from under her 
skirt.

The Slayer could feel Spike fumbling for his belt and zipper.

"Spike! Stop! You do this and I'll kill you!" Buffy shouted.  

"Let me make you feel, Buffy!" Spike growled, moving his trouser down 
over his hips.

"No!" Buffy screamed as his fangs sank into her throat, she could 
feel him about to thrust against her and bit her lip in rage and 
frustration.

"Get off my sister!" 

Buffy opened her eyes as Spike fell away from her. She saw Dawn 
hovering over her with a baseball bat in her hands. Spike was on the 
floor moaning in pain and holding his head.

"Come on, Buff!" Dawn urged, holding the bat over Spike, ready to 
bash the vampire again.  

Buffy stumbled to her feet, took the bat from Dawn and leaned over 
Spike.

"I ever see you again and you're toast, vampire!" Buffy growled and 
shoved her sister towards the ladder to the upper crypt. "Get out of 
town, Spike! We're no longer even acquaintances, we are enemies!"  

The Slayer kicked the vampire in the back, low on the spine and 
crawled up the ladder after Dawn.  

The teenager grabbed Buffy's arms as the Slayer staggered.

"Lock him&in," Buffy muttered, leaning against a chair.

Dawn looked around and slammed the trap door shut. She moved a heavy 
chair over it and helped Buffy stand up.

"Come on, Buffy," Dawn urged. "Let's get out of here."

"Dawnie," Buffy whimpered. "T-Thank you! He&he was gonna&"

"I know," Dawn said softly. "Let's just get home."

* * *

Willow pounded on the hotel door and wasn't surprised when Riley 
opened the door with a pistol in her face.

"Is Dawn here?" Willow demanded.

Riley frowned. "Of course not! No one's been here except the pizza 
guy."

"Damn!" Willow muttered and started to turn away from the hotel door.

"Hey, what's going on?" Riley demanded, stepping into the hallway in 
his jeans and tank top.

"Dawn snuck out to come and see you," Xander explained. "We figure 
she was going to try and convince you Willow is safe."

"It's dark and dangerous," Anya added.

"Why didn't you use a spell to track Dawn and where's Buffy?" Riley 
demanded.

"Magic? Only if it becomes an emergency," Willow frowned.

"You're powerful enough to transport Dawn from wherever she is," 
Riley said bitterly.

"That wasn't me!" Willow snapped. "I was just doing what the Powers 
wanted!"

"We're wasting time," Xander urged. 

"Buffy's terrified about something and hurt!" Tara hissed.

"How do you know that?" Riley demanded as Sam joined him.

"We can sense what's going on with Buffy and Dawn," Willow said 
absently. "We're leaving now."

"We'll follow you," Riley said firmly.

"Whatever," Willow muttered as they moved down the hall.

* * *

Dawn pulled out her cell phone and dialed Xander's number.  

"Dawnie?" Xander squeaked in her ear. "Where are you? Is Buffy with 
you?"

"I've got Buffy here and she's hurt," Dawn answered. "Can you pick 
us up? We're outside the Memorial Cemetery."

"Be right there, Dawnie!" Xander said confidently and Dawn could hear 
Anya protesting about his driving in the background.

Dawn hung up the phone. "Amazing, none of them thought to use the 
damned phone!" Dawn complained as she stood over Buffy, baseball bat 
in hand. Buffy was sitting on the sidewalk with her back against the 
stone wall, her head dropped forward.

"Hang in there, Buff!" Dawn snapped, hoping Spike or any other 
vampire, demon or werewolf didn't show up before Xander.

Dawn sighed with relief when she saw Xander's car turn the corner and 
skid to a stop in front of her. Willow, Tara and Anya stumbled out 
of the car and dashed over to Buffy and Dawn.

"Buffy?" Willow squeaked, taking in her best friend's ripped shirt, 
bruised arms, legs and lack of focus with a panicked expression.

"Spike hit her with this bat," Dawn explained. "He dropped it and I 
hit him back."

"Buffy?" Tara questioned.  

"Conscussion," Xander announced. "Had many of them myself. Do we take 
her to the hospital?"

Tara and Willow frowned as Riley and Sam stopped behind Xander's car.

"Let's take her home," Willow frowned and held up a warning hand to 
keep Riley and Sam back. "She's ours!" 

"We can help!" Sam protested.

"We've dealt with injured Slayers for years," Xander growled, lifting 
Buffy into his arms and turning to the car.

Riley watched, obviously frustrated at being shut out as the Scooby 
gang piled into the car.

* * *