by Rob Sorenson

Faith glowered at the two demons as they circled. Still hobbling slightly from the Slayer's fierce kick at their unprotected private areas, they were clearly making an effort to attack from opposite sides.

"Everything ok, boys? You look a little pale."

They responded by charging as one. Faith, anticipating this, ducked to one side.

She set her foot and delivered a spin kick that Peter reached out and caught in both hands. He formed a point with his elbow and began to bring it down upon her knee with great force.

Unfortunately for him he was a split second late as Faith brought her free leg up and slammed her shin upside his head. He dropped Faith's leg unceremoniously toward the concrete and staggered back. She managed to get one leg under her, thereby saving her body from full impact as she went down. Propelling herself up quickly she rushed toward him to press the advantage. He swung out of pure instinct, but barely glanced her shoulder as she tackled him, the back of his head cracking against the cement. Faith rained lefts and rights on his face even as they skidded on the wet surface after impact.

Paul had lost his footing when the Slayer had ducked away. By the time he regained his balance Faith had already left her feet to tackle his "brother." He rushed toward her blind side, preparing to wrap his hands around her head and twist.

Faith didn't know how she felt the enemy's presence, but she knew better than to question it, preparing to turn and defend herself as best she could from her position straddling Peter's chest.

Fortunately for her, she didn't have to, as a pale apparition in black literally flew from beside the onrushing Paul and propelled him into the side of the rented Mustang face first.

Faith shook her head.

"Took you long enough."

Angel snapped his head her way, yellow eyes blazing in the night.

"Got thrown."

"Yeah. That's probably gonna leave a mark."

"Like the one you have?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"I don't have a--"

From beneath her, Peter mustered up the last of his strength and fired a fist at Faith's open mouth, causing her head to snap back.

"Now you do. You really should pay attention."

Peter went for another swing, but Faith caught his fist this time, checking her mouth with her free hand, finding blood. Her eyes widened in fury.

"You asshole!"

She whaled away on his face with primal grunts puncuating each swing. Angel winced and regarded Paul, who was regaining his feet.

"I hate to tell you this, but now she's going to hurt your brother before she kills him."

Paul rushed Angel. The vampire sidestepped his opponent neatly and drove a knee into his belly. As the blue-eyed demon bent over, the vampire chopped him on the back of his neck, sending Paul to the turf. Angel leaned down to finish him, but was surprised as Paul thrust the back of his head into his face, sending the vampire reeling. The demon hybrid rolled over quickly and regained his feet.

They stood facing one another again. Angel flicked his eyes over to Faith, who was still pummeling Peter mercilessly.

"I think you got him, Faith. Little help over here?"

She paused a moment, breathing hard.

"You need help with one measly demon?"

"I want to get out of this rain."

Faith shrugged and casually reached down, snapping Peter's spine. Paul's eyes widened in horror.

"No! NOOO!"

He rushed toward Faith, but the animal scream quickly died in his throat as Angel quickly stepped in his direction, clotheslining him with an extended forearm. Paul was nearly flipped completely over, landing awkwardly; the full weight of his body was brought to bear on the back of his neck. Faith stood with a smirk.

"He really should watch where he's going."

A sound of slowly clapping hands could be heard in the howling wind. Angel and Faith turned toward the source and saw Inge casually leaning against a railing, one foot crossed over the other.

"Very nice. You have no idea how happy you two are making me. This is truly a glorious night."

Both Slayer and vampire looked left and right, searching for Spike.

"You're looking for your friend, I take it? No need to fret. He lives...for the moment."

Faith and Angel started toward her. Inge held up a hand and pointed.

"Paul appears to be coming around. I always thought he was a little tougher than his brother."

Angel stopped and looked back. Indeed, Paul Travers was slowly trying to get back to his feet. Faith addressed Inge with a puzzled expression.

"How can you tell which demon is which? They look exactly the same."

"Why, their scent, of course."

"Right. I keep forgetting the vampire thing."

"Actually, that isn't necessary. Peter wore Old Spice, while Paul was more of a Lagerfeld man."

"Oh."

Faith addressed Angel, keeping her eyes on the Slayer Vampire.

"Finish off the good smelling one. I'll be over here."

Inge smiled and began to walk backwards, maintaining her gaze as Faith started to make her way down the path.

*************************************************************

Winifred Burkle sat at her desk, engrossed in Halpern's 3000 Solved Problems in Physics when the phone rang. She sighed unhappily, hating it when she was interrupted during the most exciting parts.

"Angel Investigations."

(Fred?)

She beamed happily.

"Willow! Hi! I haven't talked to you in ages. Are you coming back to LA any time soon?"

(Maybe. Kinda busy at the moment. Fred, I need your help. Fast.)

Immediately she closed her book and leaned forward.

"What's up?"

(I need to borrow something.)

"Sure. What do you need?"

Fred's eyes widened as Willow elaborated.

"Oh, no! Is Ang--"

(He's fine, Fred. This is something else. I'm really sorry, but I don't have time to explain.)

"Right. I'll get it for you now. What else do you need from me?"

(A specific location.)

***************************************************************

Dawn's eyelids fluttered as Martineau squeezed with all the strength he had left. Her struggling had lessened considerably, and her body began to sag. The Colonel chuckled in her ear.

"Getting tired, little one? Not fighting so hard. Just go to sleep. It will all be over before you know it."

Dawn desperately tried to think. Raining. It's...raining. I'm slippery. She could barely register her own thoughts, but she heard them nonetheless. She planted her feet and stopped struggling to escape; now she simply began to rotate toward him as much as possible.

Martineau was confused. Not only was the child still clinging to consciousness, she was actually moving, yet...not to escape. What the Hell was she playing at? Finally his grasp on her neck lessened just enough for Dawn to turn. Instead of facing directly away from him, her head was pointing to one side. She was now able to glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

Utilizing the space she'd created, Dawn put her left fist into her palm and jammed her right elbow into his ribs. He grunted and leaned over slightly. Before he could straighten Dawn reached over her head, fingers extended into claws. Desperately she strained, finally locating the area she was looking for.

Martineau roared in pain as she dug her fingernails into his swollen eye with all her strength, using his grip to her advantage; his own resistance only served to deepen her attack. Finally he released his hold and slammed the heel of his hand into the middle of her back, sending Dawn sprawling as he staggered, clutching at the severe wound.

"You fucking bitch!"

He went to one knee as the blood poured out of his eye. Dawn had made her way to her hands and knees, coughing and gasping. At last she crawled to the rail and hauled herself up, using it for support as she turned to face him. Martineau removed his hand, revealing a grotesque mask of blood that even the rain couldn't wash clean.

Silence reigned for nearly thirty seconds as they simply stared at one another, thunder and lightning crackling from above. At last Dawn had her breath back and stepped away from the rail, practically hopping on one leg. The other had stiffened considerably from the punishment she'd taken. His voice burned with hatred.

"My eye. You ruined my fucking eye."

She looked at her nails, then back to him.

"I think some of it was in here, but the wind got it. Sorry."

He said nothing, now trembling with rage. Dawn smiled softly and raised her fists, motioning him toward her.

"Now who's still standing?"

******************************************************

With all the power I have, it's really amazing that I still can't seem to keep myself entertained.

After a long, generally uneventful night at the Bronze, she'd finally located what could loosely be considered a suitable man...but just barely. Most of them, in fact, had been pretty run of the mill. Worst of all, they'd been NICE. She hated it most when men treated her decently. What fun could they be, really?

No....she liked 'em nasty. Cruel, even. These were the types that gave her the most pleasure. Unfortunately, even that sort was beginning to tire her as well. Whatever would she do when men no longer provided her even with a momentary rush?

"What would you like me to do?," the guy said numbly, standing stiffly before her in nothing but a black thong she'd ordered him to put on.

"At the moment, I'd like you to shut up."

"Yes, ma'am."

She grinned. Making them utterly subservient was still a treat. Truthfully, it was the last part that remained enjoyable...those moments when she could feel the power she had over them.

This particular Tool-the term she'd grown fond of using when referring to her nightly conquests-had called her a cold bitch when she'd politely declined to kiss him after several slow dances.

That had been an unfortunate choice of words for him...but a perfect one for her purposes. One hour later he was standing in the living room of her family's creepy little A-frame with a dead look in his eyes and very little clothing to speak of.

Still...it was growing tired. She'd been called things like bitch, slut, whore, dick-tease (she'd at least given that one points for creativity) and various other names for a woman who wouldn't, to use the archaic term, "Put Out." She found herself growing immune to the insults; it was as if her pent-up bitterness and rage was spent.

Yeah, right.

No...there was still plenty of ebony juice in her tank. She just needed a new outlet. Something more inspiring. Rack would have found a way. How she missed him; there was a guy who had a genius for coming up with ways to feed the need. Instead, she was alone in Sunnydale with no one to run with. Well, there's one, she thought sadly, but she doesn't swing my way any more. Too bad, really. Oh well...I suppose I should turn my attentions back to the ole' Tool here.

Just as she was about to put on some appropriate music for the occasion, the phone rang. She sighed with annoyance and put the CD on pause.

"Hello?"

(It's me.)

"Willow? Did your finger slip on the speed dial or something?"

(I need you to do something for me.)

Amy Madison stared at the phone for a moment...then laughed out loud. This should be interesting.

"Do you? Well, since we have such a close relationship these days..."

(Amy, I don't have time to play games with you. This is important. Believe me, I'd never call on you otherwise.)

"Is the great holier-than-thou Rosenberg actually drained? You need to be careful...it's not a long trip back over to my neck of the woods if you keep doing such things."

(If your forest still contains guys dancing naked for you against their will, I'll stay over here...and no, it wouldn't matter if it was a girl, so don't ask.)

"Hey now. Someone's been keeping tabs on me."

(Someone has to.)

"You're not going to run off and judge me, are you, killer?"

(If anything more was happening other than dancing, you would've heard from me sooner.)

"Eww. Gross, Willow! You think I'd actually allow the Tools to touch me? You really are sick."

(Can we cut the bullshit, please?)

"Whoa. This really must be something serious for you to use such language, Rabbi."

(I need you to do a spell for me.)

Amy raised her eyebrow at the phone.

"And I would do this for you because...."

(Well, I could state the obvious by telling you it'd be good for your long term health.)

"I'm not the one who's drained, tough girl."

(I won't be drained forever. Look, as I said, I don't have time for this. What will it take to get you to do this?)

Amy grinned as she did her best Dr. Evil impersonation.

"One...MILLION....DOLLARS!"

(Fine. It'll be wired to any account you want by Monday.)

There was silence for a moment. Willow began to worry about losing her connection in the terrible weather.

(Amy? Are you still there?)

"You're serious."

(How many times do I have to say I don't have time? Of course I'm serious. Will you help me or not?)

"You'd really give me--"

(Amy, if you've been paying attention at all you know I mean what I say. You'll get your money. I've never lied to you yet, have I?)

"Wow. I mean....wow."

(Come on, Amy. Yes or no?)

In the end it wasn't a decision at all. Willow was just too much of a goody two shoes these days to lie...and a million bucks was a million bucks.

"What do you need?"

(Teleportation. L.A. to Lake Buena Vista, Florida.)

"That's a long one. You have some clothes on hand, I hope. Popping up in the nude can have a long term effect on someone's psyche. Believe me, I know."

(It's not a person. It's an object.)

"Oh...well Hell, that's easy."

(Easiest million you'll ever make. Got a pen?)

"Hang on." Amy looked over at her desk. Normally she'd raise her hand and send it floating over. In this case, however, she was going to need all the reserves she had to make this happen, no matter how confident she'd been with Willow.

"Tool!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Grab me that pen and a piece of paper from my desk drawer."

"Yes, ma'am."

(Do they ever say anything else?)

"Not as a rule."

(Wouldn't that get a little tedious?)

"You know, it's funny. I was just thinking about that when you called. Could you possibly have any ideas? 'Cause in your day you were really an animal, you know? I don't have your level obviously, but it's really about creativ--"

(Amy!! Do you have the pen and paper yet?!)

"Yes. Why are you yelling?"

The blonde witch heard a deep sigh.

(Quit rambling and write this down).

Willow proceeded to give Amy the specific locations necessary to perform the spell accurately.

"Ok, I've got it. This will take a few minutes, you know."

(You have ten.)

"Kinda pushy, aren't you?"

Silence. Amy cleared her throat nervously and spoke again.

"Right. Ten minutes."

(Thank you. Oh...one more thing.)

"Yeah?"

(Screw with me on this and you'll be back in that Habitrail faster than you can twitch your whiskers...and this time I'll buy a nice big box of D-Con to go with it. Clear?)

Amy laughed.

"See, now THIS is fun."

Willow had already hung up. Amy sighed and quickly went to work preparing the spell.

**********************************************

Xander looked sympathetically at his oldest friend as she carefully put the phone down on the console.

"You ok?"

"Did I mention that I hate this?"

"Yeah. She pushed a few buttons, I take it?"

"She knows where they all are."

He leaned close to her, his face gravely serious.

"You wanna smack me around some? Might make you feel better."

She smiled against her will and gently pressed on his forehead to move him back.

"It probably would, yes...but I have things to do."

She reached under the cubicle for her laptop.

*********************************************

"Don't you want to know where your friend Spike is?"

"Gotta admit I'm curious. On the other hand, I figured I should focus on you. You seemed pretty quick earlier."

Inge's smile widened.

"That I am, Faith. That I am. I'll make you a deal.. You can have ten seconds to look. I'll give you a hint."

She pointed toward the water to her left. Faith couldn't stop herself from looking, trying to keep her face from showing the feeling of dread gnawing at her stomach. Keeping her eyes trained on the German, she moved over and stole a glance into the water. Immediately her eyes began to widen in horror.

"Spike! Oh, Jesus!"

"Your ten seconds are up."

"What did you do to him?"

"As I said earlier, Faith, he's alive...at the moment. You should have seen it, really. There was the most wonderful slingshot effect...wait a second. Perhaps it would be better if I just did the same thing to you. You could get the full effect that way. What do you think?"

The Slayer stiffened.

"I think you should try."

Inge shook her head sadly.

"Oh, honey...I hate to say this, but you don't have what it takes to make me try."

"Let's find out."

Faith charged toward her with an animal roar, throwing a left and right that Inge blocked effortlessly before she put her hand against Faith's forehead and shoved. The brunette Slayer was propelled backward at an alarming rate, slamming her back into the railing.

"That was about one third of what I can do, Faith. How are you
feeling?"

Added to the efforts of the Travers boys to draw and quarter her, the pressure on her trick shoulder was finally too much, causing it to dislocate again. Gritting her teeth, Faith slammed it against the railing to restore full range of motion. Blocking
out the intense pain in her back, she got to her feet.

"Feeling pretty loosened up now, thanks."

Inge shook her head again.

"I gave your friend Spike a free shot, you know. Right in the face. Do you see any marks on me?"

She tilted her head back and forth to display her unblemished skin, shining in the night.

"What does that tell you, Faith?"

"What I've always known. Spike hits like a wuss."

Inge laughed out loud.

"Remarkable. I like you too. I think I might have learned to like
all of you."

"That's funny. Not feelin' the love over here."

"Spike is still undead because I liked him. Take that as a sign of good...faith, to coin a phrase."

Inge looked over Faith's injured shoulder.

"Good news for your side. Angel appears to be doing quite well."

Faith glanced over her shoulder. Before she could respond Inge covered the distance between them in a second, now clamping tightly on the Slayer's throat as she whispered.

"Made you look."

She hammered three punches into Faith's unprotected side and threw her even further than Inge had tossed Angel a few minutes before. Faith's body skipped on the wet concrete twice after impact before her back thudded into the unforgiving steel of the fence that bordered the lake. Inge slowly
walked to her side, head tilted.

"I did tell you I could hurt you worse, didn't I?"

Faith willed herself to move, but her bruised spinal cord couldn't process the message. She tried desperately to get her wind back, but the stabbing pain of her imploded ribs only allowed for the shortest of breaths. The German knelt at her side.

"Since I like you, I promise to make all your deaths quick. In fact, I would've finished you already, but it seems your friend Angel is preparing to sneak up behind me and leap on my back, so if you will please excuse me..."

**********************************************

Paul Travers was in a bad way. He knew it. In a panic, he shot a leg out, attempting to catch Angel with an unexpected side kick. The vampire slipped to one side and spun, firing a backhanded blow to the demon's cheek. Blood, sweat and rain went flying as Travers fell face-first to the concrete. For the second time Angel knelt down, but this time he anticipated the back head butt. As expected, the fatal mistake was made. Angel caught his head as it thrust back toward him.

"Didn't the Council ever teach you to avoid using the same move twice?"

With a fluid motion, Angel snapped the demon's head around. Paul lay motionless on the concrete, his face maintaining the same blank expression in death as it had in life.

Two of the mad experiments of Quentin Travers were no more. One to go, Angel thought as he turned his attention to Inge and Faith.

The first thing he saw was Faith's body literally hydroplaning against the concrete like a flattened rock on a river. He winced at the crunching sound of impact against the railing and headed toward her at full speed. Spotting Inge making her way toward her, he skidded to a stop and hesitated, making sure she didn't pick up his movement. Once he was certain she was turned away he moved in to blind-side her.

***************************************************

Willow and Xander stared at the laptop's monitor. This particular incantation held memories for both, and it was difficult not to get lost in the flowing Latin verbiage as she scrolled down. Snapping herself out of her reverie, she addressed Katzenbach without removing her eyes from the screen.

"Ok, I've got it. We should be ready to start in five minutes or so, assuming Amy comes through. Have you ever tried anything like this before?"

"Not at this level, no."

She turned to look into his bloodshot eyes.

"What level of magical proficiency are you at? On that scale the Council uses?"

He frowned at her.

"We don't use any scale that I'm aware of."

Her eyes widened and she pointed a finger at him.

"I KNEW it! Goddess, you Council guys could be annoying."

"I don't understand."

"Forget it. Old news. My point is, you need some experience to make this happen."

Xander spoke awkwardly. "Ummm...Wills, you hardly had any."

"That's different."

"How?"

"For one thing, I had a certain amount of ability. Most importantly, I had something of an emotional tie to the subject, and that makes all the difference and I'm suddenly realizing that in this case that shouldn't be a problem for you Hans so let's move on."

Xander always got a kick out of a stranger's reaction to the classic Willow run-on sentence. Katzenbach's confused expression was no exception, but Willow plowed on before Xander could reassure him that she was indeed sane. Her mind simply worked too quickly for her mouth to keep up
sometimes.

"You just read what's on the screen. I wish I could be more help,
but..."

This time the old man interrupted her.

"Willow, you have done remarkably well considering the circumstances. I cannot thank you enough for all you've done."

She brought the laptop over and set it in front of him as she spoke
gently.

"The best way you can thank me is making this work."

********************************************

Inge shocked Angel by spinning away. As he was in mid-air, he couldn't change direction and landed directly on an already seriously injured Faith. The slight reserve of air she'd regained went rushing out again as the vampire scrambled off. Inge stood back as he regained his feet.

"She wasn't looking too good as it was. If she dies now, I'd say it's your fault...but that's nothing new for the great Angelus, is it? You've killed those you love before."

He ignored the jibe and moved toward her cautiously. She stood with her hands on her hips in a disinterested manner, waiting for him to make a move. Angel obliged her as he moved in, deciding to fake a left and fire a straight right hand, aimed for the bridge of her nose. With luck, he could
send it straight back into her brain.

Unfortunately, his luck was all bad. Inge didn't even react to the feint; Angel sensed this, but wasn't fast enough to stop the punch even as his mind screamed for him to regroup. The next thing he knew, the inside of his elbow was pointing outward. His mind and body now screamed as one; the
forearm dangled uselessly. Out of sheer instinct he threw himself backward to avoid further danger. Rather than follow up, Inge resumed her previous stance and spoke loudly to be heard over the ever-strengthening wind.

"You should have learned from your surroundings, Angelus! Faith lies next to you. Spike lies at the bottom of the lake. When you attack one at a time, you make it far too easy...though I doubt you would've had much of a chance anyway. Sadly for you, it's too late to ever know for certain."

She was on top of Angel before he could move, slamming him into the concrete. He reached up with his good arm and grabbed her throat. Inge smiled and closed her hand around his wrist. He writhed in pain as the bones gave way beneath her grip.

"You want a matched set? Why didn't you just say so?"

She chopped at his elbow, breaking the other arm as effortlessly as she had the first. Angel tried to block out the pain, thrashing beneath her. She laughed with delight.

"You know, under different circumstances I might find this pleasurable. Right now, however..."

She looked over her shoulder.

"...I have more important business to attend to. Why don't you get some rest until I return?"

She slammed his head into the concrete, rendering him unconscious before rising to her feet.

**********************************************

Dawn took the best stance she could, trying to give her crazed opponent the idea that her injured leg was still functional. God, I'm bleeding so much my jeans would be sticking to me if not for this rain.

Martineau seemed to be gathering himself for one final effort; Dawn watched him closely. Ok, Dawn. Speed advantage is gone. Never had a power advantage to start with. So....now what?

He attacked with a roar that was drowned out by a mighty clap of thunder...but to Dawn it felt like slow motion compared to the racing of her mind.

Get the speed advantage back....right. Even it out. Here he comes. Ok, he's not going to fake, he's just going with a bull rush straight at me. Wait.....wait.....Oh God, this is SO going to smart.....

He was just two steps away when Dawn, putting all her weight on the lone healthy leg, leaped to one side. Just as he passed her, she slammed her foot down with all the force she could muster against the outer portion of his knee, causing popping noises as the ligaments gave way.

Both were now again on the ground; Dawn because she was forced to put all her weight on her bad leg when she landed. Stabs of pain sent shock waves to her nervous system, and she simply collapsed. Martineau was again left howling, rolling from one side of the parking lot to the other,
clutching at his wrecked knee.

This time, though, he utilized his rage to help in his recovery time; slowly but surely he dragged himself to the nearest railing and slumped over for a moment, nearly passing out from the intense pain in his knee and eye. He shook his head and snarled, slamming his hand against the
concrete, sending a splash into the air. With the same hand he clawed at the rail and pulled himself to his feet, now hopping just as Dawn had been a minute before.

Dawn looked over and saw him slamming his hand in anger. Ok, Dawn. One more time. One more ought to do it. She kept his eye on him, giving the pain in her leg as much time as possible to ease. Right. From paralyzing to merely a dull roar. After what seemed like an eternity he began willing himself back upright. She put her good leg--now completely exhausted from bearing all her weight for the last thirty minutes--underneath her and pushed herself upright, watching him hobble as she had been.

"Sucks, doesn't it?"

Martineau said nothing, his mind now racing. He'd suffered one indignity after the other in his long career.

A life in service to his country, only to have it brought down by one little Argentine whore.

Twenty years keeping the world safe from demons, yet forced to bear the insolence of Inge without complaint, for fear of upsetting the omnipotent Travers, may he rot in Hell. Watching nancy boy civilians like Hans Katzenbach get more respect than those who actually did the dirty work. It had been all right, though....a good soldier is a patient man.

Now it was his turn. Now, at last, he would rule the primeval world...it was all within his grasp.

All that stood in the way was the very thing that had begun to ruin his path in the first place. A teenage girl. He took a long look at this child, standing across from him with cold blue eyes....and there it was. There stood the summation of all the indignities, all the things that had gone wrong in his life. All the boots he'd licked, all the moments when he'd followed pointless orders. It all added up to nothing.....nothing! All because of people like this. He began to shudder violently, raising his head to the sky and screaming aloud to the crying heavens.

"No, by Christ. Not this time. Not another BLOODY GIRL!!!"

Dawn was taken aback for a moment. O...kay. Old guy going off the deep end here. It doesn't matter. Focus!! Come on!!

Martineau looked back to her with vacant eyes. Whatever humanity he'd possessed appeared to be gone as he staggered toward her, hands outstretched. His thumbs were curled with murderous intent. Dawn moved slightly to one side, the agony in her leg freshening with every step. Her legs were gone. She
knew it...and Martineau knew it. He was coming for her.

The moments come for everyone, Dawn. Moments when you find out what you're really made of. You practice for those moments here. Hitting the heavy bag ten more times after your arms are begging you to stop. Doing two more leg presses when your thighs are screaming at you. Running another
hundred yards when you know...you just KNOW that your lungs are about to burst into flames if you take one more step. Even when you learn to do that, Dawnie, it only means you're ready to find out...and you don't really find out until the moment comes. That's when you have to do it. Not to a heavy bag...not on a pommel horse...not on a tackling dummy...but a real living, breathing opponent who has one single minded purpose: to END you. That's when the question gets answered. Your body and mind are exhausted. You have one reserve left to call on...your heart. I know you have it, Dawn. I can feel it...but my feelings don't matter. In the end, it's all about how you feel when that critical moment comes. The moment when you ask the big question: what am I made of?

Dawn closed her eyes as he drew closer and asked herself the question. She heard his uneven steps drawing ever closer, accompanied by the pounding rumble of nature's fury...and she knew.

This was her time.

Her eyes snapped open. He was fifteen yards away and closing as rapidly as he could. She waited....

Dawn Summers snarled and took three running steps toward him, unmindful of the plaintive cries in her legs as she took off, launching into a spin-kick that she instantly knew was the most thunderous blow she'd ever unleashed.

She felt little or nothing...which caused her to feel total exultation.

It was like a great baseball player or golfer; when perfect contact is made, one feels only the slightest impact.

Dawn had hit the Sweet Spot. Colonel Anthony Martineau's feet actually left the ground as he pitched backward, blood and teeth whistling away in the night. He thudded directly on to his back, displacing every drop of standing water beneath him.

At last, he lay motionless.

At that same moment, Dawn was feeling the most intense pain she'd ever experienced. The last of her adrenaline had been spent; the only thing keeping her conscious now was the searing pain in both legs, especially the one she'd just forced even more blood from with the enormous pressure that had been exerted upon takeoff.

She hadn't felt a thing at the time. Huh.

It was the only thought she had the strength to express.

"My goodness! That was positively breathtaking! Well...I have no breath, but if I did..."

Dawn looked up into the happily dancing eyes of Inge.

********************************************************************

Xander squinted his eyes as the brilliant flash lit up the room for two seconds.

"OW! Dammit Will, why didn't you say something?"

"How am I supposed to know when someone three thousand miles away is about to finish a spell? My eyes hurt too. Hans, are you ok?"

"Fine. Is this it?"

Willow and Xander's eyes, now readjusted, focused on the object at his side. The Wicca slowly nodded.

"Yes. That's it. I never thought I'd say this, but all credit goes to Amy."

She glanced sideways at Xander.

"Well, she's going to get some cash to go with the credit, but..."

He waved his hand.

"Whatever works. So...Hans, are you ready?"

He took a deep, painful breath.

"Yes."

Xander approached the window and immediately shouted.

"Oh my God!"

He slumped against the glass, momentarily numb.

Angel lay in a heap.

From his vantage point, he could clearly make out a shock of blonde hair atop the red rocks at the bottom of the lake. That could only be Spike. And then....

"No."

He shook his head violently. Faith was motionless on the concrete.

"Oh, Jesus...Faith...."

He couldn't tell if she was breathing.

Xander turned, reaching under the console for his weapon.

"Xander, what is it?"

Willow was standing by the desk, giving Katzenbach last minute instructions. Her best friend shook his head and quickly began making his way out the door. The redhead's eyes widened.

"No. Xander, you can't."

He ignored her, continuing to move with deadly purpose. Willow spoke again, this time feather soft.

"Xander, I'll stop you if I have to."

This tone finally gave him pause. He turned toward her, his own voice was equally quiet in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

Willow didn't bother repeating it; the meeting of their eyes told him everything he needed to know. After a moment he shook his head.

"You wouldn't."

"I think you know I would...and you know why."

"I only know what I just saw."

"Xander, Buffy and Dawn were right. We need--"

He utterly lost it.

"I don't care if they were right!! I don't give a shit what's right or wrong any more!! Willow, I swear to you that I'm going to walk out that door."

She shook her head ever so slightly.

"Please don't try. Even if I use the slightest bit of magic, it might be enough to keep us from stopping this storm. Can you live with that? What would Buffy say?"

Xander's face paled as he tossed the weapon back where it had been.

"Ok. I guess you're right. I should know better than to argue. You guys know best. Ok, since we're just killing time here, you wanna go watch our family get murdered before our eyes? Just for kicks?"

"Xander, stop it."

"Afraid I can't Wills. You and Buffy and Dawn said no. I have to stay up here...but let's look on the bright side! We've got a helluva seat. Come on."

He moved toward her and grabbed her arm, tugging her over to the window.

"Xander, I said stop!"

"Sorry, my quota for taking orders just ran out. Now I get a turn."

He roughly continued to drag her, even as she resisted. Katzenbach stood up as Willow pleaded.

"Xander, you're hurting me! Please...stop!"

He froze, staring at the hand on her arm, then into her glistening eyes. He began breathing hard as he let her go, staggering toward the window without her.

"Look. Will, just look. Please."

He stared out the window, again gripped by sheer panic. This time he swallowed hard and smacked his hand against the glass. At last, Willow joined him and gasped.

"Oh, no....Dawnie..." Her hands trembled as Inge approached the youngest Summers. Xander nodded toward Faith.

"What if that were Tara? Would anything stop you from moving Heaven and Earth to try and save her?"

Willow gazed at him, eyes widened. It was Xander's turn to give her an uncompromising stare in return. At last Willow took a deep breath and responded.

"You're probably right, Xander. Considering that I tried to move Hell, I figure Heaven and Earth is a reasonable possibility."

He broke his stare and looked at the floor as she continued.

"On the other hand...I know where she is now, don't I?"

She put her finger on Xander's chin to lift it.

"So do you."

He slumped into a chair, head in his hands.

"They're all going to die. It's ov- what the Hell?"

Willow turned around, following Xander's eyes.

Hans Katzenbach was gone.

*******************************************************

"You would be Dawn Summers, yes? I'm deeply impressed. My latest information was that you were human."

Inge looked down at the thoroughly beaten Special Forces Colonel.

"This is just.....cool. Very nicely done."

Dawn was trying to find the strength to rise, but it simply wasn't there. She'd given all there was to give. Inge shook her head and held up a hand.

"Little one, it's best that you remain where you are. You are very brave, I'll grant you that...but look around you."

Inge gestured expansively. For the first time Dawn took her eyes away from Martineau's prone form and focused on the rest of the bridge. She gasped.

"Faith! Angel!"

Dawn renewed her efforts to rise. Inge sighed.

"Dawn, Dawn. Did you truly miss the point?"

"You're the one that misses the point."

"All I ask is for you to stay still. Judging by your condition, this seems like a wise course of action anyway, no?"

Dawn slumped back to the concrete. She just couldn't move. Inge nodded appreciatively.

"Excellent. I'll be with all of you in a moment."

Inge dropped to her knees as Martineau regained consciousness. He eyed her and stirred immediately. She put a hand on his chest and held him in place.

"Tony. You really don't look well. Little girls can do quite a number on you, can't they?"

He exhaled in an attempt to talk, only spitting foamy blood and bits of shattered enamel the first time around. Inge ran her fingers soothingly through his hair.

"Just relax. Take your time."

Martineau's eyes cleared slightly, focusing on Dawn. He nodded slightly in her direction, then back to Inge.

"Kill..."

"Don't worry your pretty little head about that, Tony. I most certainly will. First, though, I have the most wonderful news. Would you like to hear it?"

He coughed before he could speak again. Her eyes lit up.

"You would? Excellent. You're going to love this. You see, many years ago, a son of a bitch with an ego the size of the Soviet Union decided he would murder a Slayer and make her into the ultimate weapon. Stop me if you've heard this before."

Martineau's eyes now reflected annoyance and frustration. He looked at Dawn again.

"K-Kill....girl..."

"Yes, yes, we covered that. Please let me finish. Where was I? Oh yes. Ultimate weapon. Killing machine. He'd use whichever bombastic term that pleased him on a particular day. Funny man, was our Quentin. His boys were funny too. The operative term being WERE."

She leaned close, whispering directly in his ear.

"You see, they're dead. All three of them. It really has been a difficult few weeks for the Travers clan, hasn't it? This Slayer and her friends killed them all. Three of my masters, dead in such a short period. Now...here comes the best part. Ready?"

He stared directly at her now, Dawn momentarily forgotten.

"Old Quentin was never really the trusting sort. Always wanted the power in his hands...and his alone. That must have bothered you, Tony. I'm ever so sorry. But I digress...Quentin's boys meant a lot to him, as you know. He only truly trusted them due to their unquestioning loyalty. Well...that, and they may have been the only beings on this planet who were more deadly dull than he was. Again, however, I digress....

The mechanism that controls me was voice activated. In short, that means those involved in the original programming could control me. Travers gave you the power to give me orders...but as I said, he wasn't a very trusting soul. He must have thought you would go for the old palace coup if you had too much power. Therefore, upon the death of the three members of the family, all restrictions in my programming are gone. Every....last....one. Isn't that wonderful?"

Her smile lit up the night as Martineau seemed to be trying to grasp this revelation. She spoke louder now.

"Not long after you came aboard our team, Quentin made me aware that you would be my control officer...but primary control would always lie with him. I was to be the ultimate bargaining chip should you attempt to seize power. Now that he and his backups--that being his boys--are gone, I am free. Free to go where I choose, kill whomever I wish. This is my Independence Day from the British, Tony. I feel like celebrating. I think I'll begin by indulging myself a bit."

She leaned back on to her haunches and morphed into her vamp face.

"I've always wanted to know how you taste."

She dug her fangs into his neck and began to suck violently....then pulled out, looking at a now-terrified Dawn as she lifted him to his feet.

"Hmmm. Just like shepherd's pie."

She spit contemptuously into his face.

I HATE shepherd's pie."

She snapped his neck with a flourish and threw him into the air as hard as she could. Martineau's limp body sailed high into the night. At last he landed on top of the fountain halfway across the lake with a sickening thump, momentarily blocking the flow of water. Seconds later, however, the water pressure forced him off, dumping his lifeless form amidst the bubbles that surrounded it.

Inge looked at Dawn again.

"Now THAT....was beautiful, was it not?"

Dawn said nothing. Inge snorted.

"Come now, I saw some of that fight. You two beat each other to a pulp. Don't you wish I'd come along sooner?"

Still Dawn didn't respond. Inge's eyes hooded.

"You're not as much fun as the others. I think I'll kill you first."

A familiar voice spoke up behind Inge.

"I think you'll step away from my sister."

******************Two Minutes Earlier************************

You think anyone could've bothered to tell me where it is? Noooo, of course not. Just leave me behind with no car and all the soldier boys, then turn off the radio and assume I'll find the place. Who am I, Park Ranger Buffy?

Buffy was pumping her legs as fast as she could make them go...which was very fast indeed. Unfortunately, all the foot speed in the world meant precisely nothing if one didn't know where to go. After a few futile minutes trying to re-establish radio contact, she'd been left with no
choice. The Slayer had zipped back to the hotel to find a map and directions. She felt sort of bad that she'd treated the front desk clerk like Willy The Snitch when he resisted giving them to her...but in fairness, the guy actually looked like him a little bit, and she hadn't actually hit
him. Just...persuaded him in a somewhat aggressive way.

The one thing that HAD gone well was the fact that she'd been downwind on this sprint across Disney property. Strong as she was, running against sustained winds of 50 miles per hour would've slowed anyone considerably. Finally she reached the parking lot, spotting the Mercedes and Mustang that they'd all piled into. It had been only a few hours, but it felt much longer.

Then she stopped dead in her tracks. Carnage was everywhere. Two dead demons-hurray for our side, she thought-lay on the concrete nearest to her with heads pointing at that unnatural angle Buffy knew all too well.

The next thing she saw, however, chilled her to the bone. She rushed forward.

"Angel! Oh, God...Angel!"

His shattered arms caused her stomach to roll; Buffy swallowed hard to hold off her nausea. He was motionless...but he existed. The fact that he was flesh before her was testament to that, at least.

"B...."

Only her Slayer hearing allowed her to pick up the faint call, but she'd know it anywhere. Spinning to check around her, she saw her sister Slayer lying helplessly on her side. Buffy's eyes widened; a helpless Faith seemed like an impossible thing to witness...yet there she was. Buffy practically leapt across the stone bridge to her side.

"Faith? How bad is it?"

The brunette Slayer was breathing in short, hitched rasps, eyes wide as she summoned up the will to whisper hoarsely.

"Ain't...good. B...get outta here. Find the others and..."

"No. You know I can't do that."

Faith shook her head violently and managed to speak in close to normal tones.

"Don't try to be a friggin hero. Look at us...you're gonna need more than just you..."

"I am not leaving you here. You know better than to ask me that."

The brunette Slayer chuckled, but it changed into a moist cough; blood began to ooze out of the corner of her mouth as she moaned with pain. Broken ribs, Buffy diagnosed accurately. She didn't have Willow's medical knowledge, but she'd seen more traumatic injuries in her short life than most EMTs would in their entire career.

"No worries, B...they'll call ya another one...they always do, right?"

Buffy leaned in close, eyes wide. "Don't say that! Don't you even think it, understand?"

A tear began to escape from the side of Faith's eyes.

"Tell...Xand...."

She lost consciousness. Buffy reached down and tenderly removed the hair from Faith's eyes, then scanned the remaining expanse with a scowl.

The first thing she picked up on was the astonishing sight of a human body cutting through the air in a majestic arc. Unable to look away, her eyes followed his flight...until he landed with an audible thud that no wind or thunder could drown out, causing her to wince. Squinting slightly, she was able to make out enough of his mangled form to realize it was Martineau.

Can't say my heart's breaking over that one, she thought as she finally tore her eyes away. The next thing she saw made her heart stop.

Dawn, clearly injured, lay helplessly on the concrete. Buffy covered the remaining distance between them in seconds.

"You're not as much fun as the others. I think I'll kill you first."

Buffy stiffened.

"I think you're going to move away from my sister."

Inge turned with a smile. My God, she's beautiful, Buffy thought.

"At last. You must be Buffy Summers."

"You would be Inge, I presume?"

"You presume correctly."

They moved slowly to the center of the bridge, roughly twenty feet apart as Inge continued speaking with a sunny smile on her demonic features.

"Did you get here in time to see Tony flying through the air with the greatest of ease?"

"Yeah, I caught the show."

"You can thank me any time."

"I'll send you a card."

"I sent one when Rupert died. Did you get it?"

Buffy froze. Inge was no longer smiling as she went on.

"Buffy, how much do you know about my beginnings? My history?"

"Hans told me everything."

"Oh, did he? Everything, you say? That's fascinating to me...considering he knows virtually nothing. Oh, he knows about my Cruciamentum, of course. He and Rupert sealed me in that house and left me
to die."

"They didn't--"

"Are you actually going to defend them? Am I hearing that correctly?"

Buffy shuddered involuntarily. Where did that come from?

She shook off the feeling and refocused on Inge.

"No. I'm not going to defend them. Not about that."

"I certainly hope not. You're supposed to be morally righteous and true...and all that other rubbish. I remember that much about my human Slayer days. On the bright side, I've come to appreciate the ruthlessness of the old ritual; picturing a helpless Slayer in danger makes me tingle in the nicest way. However, that wasn't my point. I apologize; I'm rather giddy, and it makes me talk too much."

Inge moved a step closer to Buffy.

"Hans and Rupert didn't know they'd locked me in with no fewer than six vampires that day. SIX. Tell me, Buffy...could you have eliminated six without full Slayer powers? Don't bother answering. I already know. I killed the first one. Just normal human Inge. Then the others came and changed me forever. Most of the rest you probably already know...I allowed Hans to see me on the way over, and he isn't a stupid man. Still, you haven't heard it from my point of view. They made me into something
magnificent, Buffy. No creature on this planet can match the power I have. Yet I couldn't use it until I was ordered to. I couldn't Slay....couldn't feed...couldn't even lay a finger on another being with hostile intent without being commanded to first...by a simple human. They took what I
was...made me into something greater, then put me in chains. I went from Slayer to Vampire to slave."

Her voice resounded with fury.

"SLAVE!!"

Buffy took an involuntary step back, something she couldn't ever recall doing before. Inge resumed speaking in casual tones.

"On the other hand, we always were slaves, weren't we? It's not as if we had free will. We were little girls, told of a great purpose by a bunch of men who simply could not stand the fact that all the power didn't lie with them. They actually didn't control something...so they formed a little club a millenium or two ago. For the most part, it worked. Until recently, that is."

She smiled once more.

"In recent weeks, everything has changed. As of this moment, the Watcher's Council is no more. You and I have destroyed it...and no one can hold me down again. I'm very nearly finished here, Buffy. All that remains is you."

Her stare became feral.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for the chance to kill you...along with everyone you love. I know every member of your little band. The moment I learned that the Slayer belonged to Rupert, I literally begged Quentin to let me have you. I'd done everything he'd told me for twenty years...in all that time I hadn't asked for a single thing. That bastard waited for me to grovel like a dog... then he refused me with a smile. I wonder if he was smiling when he took his last breath. I'd have given a lot to see that."

"I'm sorry."

Inge raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What did you say?"

"You didn't deserve what happened to you. I realize that rings hollow, but it's true. I wish things were different. So does Hans."

"Hans." She spat the name out as if it tasted bad.

"Yes. Look, I understand what it means to be pulled in different directions like a puppet on a string. I just wanted you to know that...because I can't let you keep doing this."

Inge laughed incredulously. "Oh, you can't? YOU can't let me? Did you not look around as you came in? No one here can stop me. Your friends, your sister, your fellow Slayer...your lover."

Buffy suddenly felt cold inside. No. Spike...where's...

Almost on cue a trembling pale hand gripped the top of the railing next to her. Buffy looked quickly from the hand back to Inge. The Slayer Vampire took several steps back and waved toward the rail.

"Please...see to him. I WANT you to."

************************************************************

Xander's first reaction to Buffy's appearance had been enormous relief...quickly followed by dread.

She had no chance whatsoever. He could feel her fear, and it fed his own terror as he watched helplessly. In the back of his mind he heard Willow re-enter the room.

"He's not in the bathroom."

Xander looked at the table.

"He left your laptop."

"Yes...but he took everything else."

Xander had nothing to say to that. From his vantage point he could make out Inge speaking to Buffy, apparently quite pleased with herself. Momentarily he seethed with rage...

Buffy shuddered.

Xander had just made Buffy shudder. He watched her visibly shake off the feeling and continue speaking to Inge.

He took a deep breath and remembered.

"While I was fighting my clone I had something pass through me. Something dangerous...and incredibly powerful. I couldn't feel any pain, no matter how hard she hit me. I was hitting twice as hard as I normally do. All I could feel was...rage. I've never been stronger than I was at that moment."

Willow was staring at him. "Xand?"

"Will? I have to do something...and I need you to hear me out on this, ok?"

"Xander, my answer is the same. We can't go down--"

"I'm not going to leave this room."

************************************************************

Spike's hand was sliding off the railing as quickly as it appeared, but Buffy caught him just before he sank back into the lake. Without thinking she hauled him over the railing and laid him on the walkway. He cried out as pain sliced through his spine. Buffy took one look at his shattered face and began to breathe heavily, tears springing out of her eyes.

"Spike. Oh, God...Spike."

She cradled him to her chest as he parted his lips to speak.

"Buffy. Run, luv. Get out of it. No use...."

She shook her head violently.

"No. No way."

He willed his shaking fingers toward her cheek, brushing gently at her tears.

"Please, Buffy...I...need you to live. For me."

She removed his hand gently and kissed his palm.

"I already do."

She placed his palm over her heart, speaking to him one last time.

"I'll be right back, ok?"

He'd lost the will to argue after she'd kissed him. He merely nodded, hoping his eyes conveyed what words couldn't.

"Not so pretty any more, is he?"

Buffy's eyes remained locked with Spike's as Inge chuckled.

"Forgive me for being so forward, but I can't help wondering if you'll still want to fuck him without that beautiful face to look at."

The Slayer's eyes closed as Inge rolled on without mercy.

"Personally, I find his body so enticing his face is irrelevant. Once I've killed you and all of your friends and family I do believe I'll find out what that body of his can do..then I'll kill him, of course. You don't mind, do you?"

Slowly Buffy turned her head to face her enemy, green eyes hooded.

It was terrible to see. For nearly thirty years, Inge the Slayer Vampire had stared down all manner of creatures, great and small.

This was the first time she'd ever been the first one to blink.

**************************************************************

Willow's jaw dropped like a rock.

"You're insane. No way."

"It worked before. It can work again."

"It was a freak occurrence! You can't recreate those circumstances, Xander. Not until we know more about what we're dealing with."

Xander pointed without raising his voice as Buffy was rushing to fish Spike out of the water.

"I think you can see what we're dealing with."

He moved to his desk and retrieved what he needed. Willow caught her breath.

"Xander, no. I'm saying no here."

"Not your decision."

"Do I have to remind you that I can stop you if I want to?"

Yet again their eyes locked. This time, though, Xander shook his
head.

"You gonna play that hand again so soon, Wills? Because I did what you asked the first time. Haven't set foot outside that door.You never said a word about what I could do in here."

"Xander, please don't make me--"

"Nope. Not this time. I'm calling your bluff."

"I wasn't bluffing."

"You are this time. Some part of you understands I have to try this."

"Hans is trying--"

"Hans could've choked to death on that blood he was coughing up earlier. Don't look at me like that, you know it's true. We can't depend on him even if he's alive."

He walked to the window. Willow followed him and spoke harshly.

"Dammit, Xander, I mean it."

"You won't do magic on me in here for the same reason I wouldn't leave. You won't risk draining yourself."

Suddenly he was thrown violently into the wall. Willow jumped.

"Xander!"

"Ugh. Aah," he gasped, eyes wide and blinking quickly.

"Xander what's wrong?"

He looked out the window.

"Buffy."

Willow frowned as she looked outside with him, catching a glimpse of Buffy as she rose from her knelt position next to Spike. The redhead didn't have to look in the Slayer's eyes to recognize her best friend's emotions at that moment. Body language was more than enough. She turned back to see Xander
staring at her, then back down to Buffy.

After five long seconds Willow released a deep, shaky sigh and rubbed her hand against her face. She slowly turned away from Xander and sat down in the chair nearest to the window.

Nothing more needed to be said. Xander simply nodded toward her and began to remove his shirt.

****************************************************

Thunder rumbled ominously as Buffy slowly began to walk. Inge was smiling softly.

"Is everything all right, Buffy?"

Silence was her answer. The Slayer's pace gradually increased, moving ever closer.

"I ask because you're moving with such purpose."

Buffy's breathing got harder with every quickening step.

"Really, did I do something to upset-"

Inge's sentence was interrupted by a scream of rage and a fist in her mouth. Buffy had sprinted the remaining distance between them so quickly even Inge hadn't been able to react in time. She held her fingers to her lips and, to her amazement, discovered blood.

Buffy had drawn first blood. The blonde Slayer danced back and spoke softly.

"I have something for you."

Almost like a magic trick, she reached behind her back and cleanly whipped out a stake, eyes never leaving her foe. Inge tilted her head and grinned.

"I take it that means we're finished chatting, then?"

Inge was gone before Buffy could begin her attack. Before she knew it she felt a crushing blow to her back that sent her aloft. The wind actually saved her from impact with the railing, but the Slayer still plummeted toward the cement face first. She landed hard, sliding like a water ski all the way to the end of the bridge. By the time she rolled to her feet with a groan, she realized that she'd wound up next
to Dawn.

"Hey, Buffy."

"Hey. This chick is good, huh?"

"I'm better than that," Inge said as she backhanded Buffy into the railing. She knelt down and caught Buffy's throat in her hands, lifting her as she struggled.

"I'm unstoppable."

Inge swung around and propelled Buffy head-first through the glass door next to the one Martineau had broken through.

*******************************************************

Willow thought she just might be on the edge of losing her mind. Below her, her best friend had just been sent skidding painfully down the concrete. Then, like lightning, Inge had flung Buffy through the door so hard she actually HEARD it from the fourth floor during a tropical storm. Worse still, Willow had more than enough power at her fingertips to help. Inge could be reduced to half-speed, giving Buffy a fair chance. She could utilize the storm and create convenient gusts of wind to force Inge's punches and kicks to miss.

Next to her...her other best friend was doing something unthinkable, in a desperate effort to help. Soon he'd be in trouble as well.

All she could do was sit, wait...and watch.

Willow Rosenberg did not like to watch.

She settled back in her chair and brought steepled fingers up to her lips as Xander spoke one more time.

"I need you to stay quiet for me...I don't know how this is going to work, exactly. The only thing I know for sure is this: your voice is the last thing I need to hear in this particular case. Once it's over outside--one way or the other--then you come tell me, ok?"

Willow said nothing.

"C'mon, Wills. I need you."

It was all either one ever had to say.

"Ok."

Xander took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He then activated the taser and jammed it hard into his stomach.

**************************************************************

Buffy lay on the tiles, racked with pain. The impact through the thick glass had been damaging enough. Even worse, however, was the landing on the Italian marble flooring. Her forehead had hit solidly; on some level she knew that unconsciousness should've been the result. She was still
enraged, however; there was enough adrenaline flowing through her to keep her awake.

The bad news was, being awake meant being awash with agony. She gingerly checked herself over. Mercifully, her body had avoided major lacerations. She moved to her face, and her hand froze.

There was a 4 inch chunk of glass buried in her forehead. Just touching it sent shock waves through her that put her back on the edge of blacking out.

I have to get it out. Inge's coming. Get it out...

Gritting her teeth, she applied pressure on each side with her thumb and forefinger and ripped it loose.

Four floors above, Willow heard the terrible harmony of Buffy's scream merged with Xander's.

Inge's voice filtered through the doorway.

"Oh Buffy? Can you come out and play?"

Ok...good news. Glass came out reasonably clean. Bad news? Feels like I just blew up the Hoover Dam on my face.

She tried to blink away the torrent of blood running into her eyes, but it was useless. We've got ourselves a gusher.

Shaking her head slightly--sending flying droplets in two directions--Buffy cleared the cobwebs from her head as best she could and regained her feet, willing herself to remain steady. She took a deep breath and decided to run instead of walk, in hopes of avoiding an ambush in the doorway.

She needn't have worried. Inge was nowhere to be seen. Dawn cried out in horror as Buffy looked around frantically.

"Buffy! Oh, my God. Are you ok?!"

"Where's Inge?"

"I...I don't know. She moves so fast...Buffy, your face!"

The Slayer's visage now a grotesque mask of crimson. She tried to reassure her sister.

"It's not that bad."

Inge came swooping down from her perch on the ledge of the second floor, drop-kicking Buffy violently against the rail next to Dawn. As she bounced back toward Inge, she caught Buffy's arm and flung her into the opposite rail. The Slayer now lay in a boneless heap. Inge walked over and knelt next to her, her voice dripping with mock concern.

"Are you sure? It certainly looks bad."

*********************************************************

Xander held the taser, convulsing. The familiar pain racked his body...he concentrated. Dad.

"Jesus Christ, boy, I barely touched you. You just can't take your whuppin', can you? You gotta make everything into this big production."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it....I'm sorry...." Xander was rocking back and forth now, shivering and whispering to himself. He took several fast hard breaths and again thrust the taser into his stomach.

Xander cried out in pain.

"I didn't!! I'm sorry, Dad...I didn't!! Please don't...please..."

Willow couldn't look any more as he wept.

Finally Xander dropped the taser down to his side, his breathing ragged and harsh. A sneer began to form on his lips.

"You can do better than that, Dad. C'mon...can't you hit any harder than that? I'm just getting warmed up here. COME ON!!"

He jammed it into his side a third time, screaming with ferocity.

***************************************************

"In fact," Inge continued, "I'd say death is merely a matter of time. Can you feel it?"

Buffy raised her head, eyes wide.

"I don't know. Can you feel this?"

The Slayer shot her leg out and up, cleanly catching Inge in the temple. Taking her opportunity, she quickly scrambled away from her spot against the railing and stood. Inge was staring at Buffy in utter shock.

For the first time in nearly twenty-eight years, she'd been put on her back in a fight. She touched her head. Amazingly, Buffy had made her bleed for the second time. The Slayer backed away, smirking.

"Surprised? Didn't think little ole' Buffy could make the great one bleed? C'mere...I'll make you bleed some more."

Inge spun to her feet and charged. Buffy tensed for the inevitable collision.

For the moment, it didn't happen. The enraged German hadn't even bothered to pay attention to anything or anyone other than Buffy. In a supreme effort of will, Dawn straightened her swollen leg as she streaked by, sending Inge sprawling unceremoniously to the concrete.

Dawn didn't even bother to scream in pain from the contact. She simply passed out. Buffy pounced savagely on top of the fallen vampire and rained three lightning fast punches, opening both cuts even wider and making a fresh one on the bridge of her nose. Inge bridged hard, tossing her enemy over her head. Buffy hit the steel, literally upside down.

Inge kick flipped to her feet and sprinted toward her. No longer was she toying or playing around with this one.

"Looks like I'd better finish you now--augh!"

Whatever she was going to say, it was cut off. Rather than fall headfirst to the concrete, Buffy had caught herself with her hands. After taking a second to get her balance, she brought both feet crashing backward, intercepting the onrushing Inge. The vampire staggered back as Buffy neatly lowered her feet to the floor. It had been a phenomenal display of strength and balance...

And she'd never done it right after crashing into a railing before. Now the Slayer walked sideways, again removing herself from the tight quarters of the water's edge. Inge spoke incredulously.

"What in Hell are you?"

Buffy said nothing, merely inviting Inge for more. She obliged, this time more carefully. Buffy sent a jab toward her opponent, which was easily blocked. Inge countered with an overhand left that nailed Buffy solidly.

She staggered back one step...and no more. Now Buffy decided to speak.

"Is that all you've got? You can do better than that, I hope."

**********************************************************

For the fourth time Xander practically impaled himself with the taser. Willow was sobbing now, desperately trying not to make noise as he'd requested. The redhead hurriedly looked out the window, unable to watch him convulsing any longer.

It was working. The Wiccan had never seen Buffy move so fast...and she'd seen her in action as much as any human being alive. Come on, Buffy. Finish her. Come on...

**********************************************************

Smack!!

Smack!!

**************************************************

Xander was literally wailing as he shuddered, flinging himself bodily against the wall, eyes tightly closed. Willow reached out her hand...and stopped.

She didn't know how much more of this she was going to watch.

**************************************************

Inge moved toward Buffy with murderous eyes as she responded.

"Oh, yes, Slayer--I can most definitely do better than that."

She moved incredibly fast, launching a straight dropkick that Buffy partially blocked, but her shoulder was caught. Utilizing Inge's own strength, the Slayer left her feet and went with the blow, going into a violent spin.

On her first revolution, she extended a backhanded punch that drilled directly into Inge's cheekbone. Both hit the ground hard; both immediately got back to their feet. Again the vampire made the fatal mistake of not knowing her surroundings. Buffy feinted as if she were moving right, getting Inge to move left.

Directly into the trap. Gathering all her remaining strength, Faith released a mighty kick into the small of the vampire's back. Inge, unprepared for this, shot forward.

Right into Buffy's flying drop kick from the opposite side. Inge now pitched back from where she'd come, landing hard and skidding. Buffy paused ever so briefly and looked to her sister Slayer.

"Nice one."

"It fuckin'...hurt. Make it...count, B."

Faith continued to gulp down short, desperate breaths.

Inge was hurt. She hadn't experienced the feeling in so long it was completely unfamiliar...and quite unwelcome. Turning over on to her hands and knees, she prepared to get to her feet, but Buffy was upon her before she could finish, applying an elbow to her back in the exact same spot where Faith had kicked her a second before. Inge cried out, slumping back to the concrete.

Buffy placed her arms around her throat, attempting to literally twist her head off. Out of sheer instinct, Inge threw her head back and caught the Slayer directly on the laceration that spanned her forehead, sending her reeling off to the side.

Inge spotted the railing and crawled painfully toward it.

*****************************************************************

"All those nights you came home drunk, talking about how I ruined your life. Remember those nights, Dad? Huh? Do you?"

Smack.

Spike lay motionless on his back, spotting Inge crawling toward the portion of the metal fence near him. His back, though hurting terribly, was already beginning to heal. He could feel it. Already feeling had returned above his waist.

He took a closer look, trying to think of a way he could help.

Inge was now only three feet away, blinking her glazed eyes as she crawled.

Buffy was moving steadily toward her enemy now. Unable to stop herself, she stole a glance at Spike...and stopped in her tracks.

He'd winked. She nodded imperceptibly and backed up.

Inge finally got to her feet, speaking as she rose.

"You should have taken advantage of me when I was down, Buffy. Not very smar--AAAUUUUUGGGHH!!!"

Spike's fangs were deeply imbedded in the meat of her calf, causing blood to spurt in all directions. Inge thrashed her leg to and fro, but he held on like a wounded pit bull, digging and slicing for all he was worth.

Buffy took two more steps back and ran straight for the railing, leaping at the last second. She thrust her right foot into the metal, using it as a springboard, and hammered the Slayer Vampire with an awesome flying spin kick, the impact of which was so great Spike finally lost his grip, leaving flesh and denim imprisoned within his teeth.

Inge literally flew through the air from the sheer force of Buffy's kick, finally landing face first, tasting the railing for the first time. Buffy landed next to a writhing Spike, his back screaming anew.

"You need a toothpick."

"See how she likes the bloody wall."

Buffy threw him a slight grin and rolled away to her feet.

Suddenly she felt completely spent, legs sagging from underneath her. She lurched to the railing and slid to her knees, all energy gone.

*********************************************************************

The taser went clattering to the floor as Xander slumped against the wall, heaving in mental and physical exhaustion. Willow again resisted the urge to run to him. She'd nearly jumped in the air and squealed when Buffy, with Spike's help, had pulverized Inge with a kick that had been punctuated by a clap of thunder overhead.

At least she thought so. It was possible Buffy's kick actually MADE that sound, it was so hard and fast.

Willow's eyes widened in disbelief as Inge stirred, though incredibly slowly.

Willow looked over and gasped in horror as Buffy collapsed, seemingly without the strength to move any further.

The redhead swallowed hard as she looked at his wasted, shuddering body, taser lying at his feet.

*************************************************

"B! Come on, girl...get up! She's gonna get up if you don't. Finish her."

"C'mon, luv. Just a little more. You've got her now. Come on!"

Buffy could hear Faith and Spike's exhortations in the back of her mind...but she couldn't get her body to respond. She'd run all the way over here, then taken a terrible beating upon arrival. God only knew how much blood she'd lost from the gash on her head.

**************************************************

Inge couldn't feel her left arm; the kick had wrenched her neck badly enough to pinch the nerve. Still, she gritted her teeth through the pain and exhaustion, bolstered by Buffy's obviously weakened state. She got to her feet and limped toward the blonde Slayer, leg bleeding profusely from Spike's gouge.

***************************************************

Willow pressed her hand against the glass, desperately willing Buffy to rise...but it didn't look like it was going to happen. She glanced at Xander...and shook her head violently to herself, re-focusing her gaze on Buffy.

*****************************************************

Buffy heard Inge talking through the wind.

"It's about damned time you wore out. I must credit you; I now understand how you've lived this long...but all good things..."

Buffy lifted her head to the sky, rain briefly clearing the blood from her face as she yelled toward the building.

"XANDER!! DON'T LEAVE ME NOW!! COME ON!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!"

*****************************************************

Willow would never ask Buffy how she knew what window to look into.

Somehow she'd just known. The two women's eyes locked. Willow was no lip reader, but the first word was clear enough.

Inge was drawing closer. Willow tore her eyes from Buffy and took a long look at the unconscious Xander. The oldest, most devoted friend she'd ever known.

Without giving herself a chance to rethink it, she grabbed the taser and pressed into his body.

***********************************************************

Buffy's head raised. It wasn't as much as she'd felt before...but it was enough. She got to her feet and walked toward her enemy to face off one last time. Inge had stopped in her tracks.

"Where do you get this from?"

"You could never understand. Say, Inge? I've got a close friend I'd like you to meet."

Buffy reached into her back pocket. Her eyes widened as she felt nothing there.

"Oh, shit."

Faith gasped from behind her.

"B! Here!"

Keeping her eyes on Inge, Buffy held out her hand and caught Faith's stake as it whistled through the air. She smiled and held it up.

"Get ready to say hi to Mr. Pointy."

Inge gather her last reserve of strength and kicked the stake out of Buffy's hand, sending it rolling down the walk. Buffy responded with a powerful left hand that caught Inge flush on the jaw. She staggered back, then fired a right of her own. Buffy, in turn, dropped back a step before returning fire.

It was a simple slugging match now; all skill had left the arena. From this moment, it was simply a matter of will. They continued to trade blows, toe to toe. Suddenly Buffy heard her sister screaming.

"Buffy! She can't use her left!!"

Inge fired another right hand, but this time the Slayer blocked it and fired a right hand that went completely unblocked. Inge's left arm was limp.

Inge tried desperately to return fire, but Buffy had the range now. She fired a right cross that sent Inge back a step, and quickly followed up with a right hook that moved her back two more. Buffy sent right hand after right hand in quick succession, her fist now a blur.

Finally Inge began to slump forward, and Buffy reached behind her head and hit her with five knee blasts to the face, letting go with the fifth one. Inge stiffened and fell slowly back, like a mighty oak.

Buffy searched frantically, but it seemed nowhere to be found. She quickly made her way to the closest ally.

"Spike, I need a stake. I can't find mine."

"Don't have one..." He broke off, staring into the doorway. Buffy didn't notice, heading for Angel, who was just coming around.

"Do you have a stake?"

"Huh? Oh...no. Sorry."

"Do none of you come prepared any more? Jeez. Fine, I'll just twist her head off or something."

Angel's eyes widened. "Buffy...wait."

"I can't wait. She's gonna come around and--"

Angel, unable to move his useless arms, nodded his head instead.

"Look."

Buffy turned around....and froze in shock.

********************************************************

The moment Inge had fallen Willow pulled back from her convulsing friend, desperately willing away the bile that was gathering in her throat. She threw the weapon across the room as hard as she could and flung herself into him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Xander! Oh God, Xander...I'm so sorry....I'm soooo sorry...."

She rocked him in her arms as he began to come down. She spoke in soothing tones.

"It's ok. It's going to be ok, now. We're going to get you all fixed up. Everything is ok..."

"W-Wills? Is it over?"

"Yes. Buffy got him...you guys did it, Xander. You were right."

He began to breathe more evenly, addressing his oldest friend with a gravelly tone.

"Faith?"

"She's hurt...but I think she'll be fine."

"I'm going down there."

"Xander, you're hurt too. You need to relax for a minute."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"I'm going to get my girl, Willow. Are you coming or not?"

"Ok. Ok. Just go slowly."

"Pass me my shirt."

Willow looked at the burns on his body, trying not to think about the one she'd inflicted.

"Won't that hurt?"

"I don't want her to see me like this."

Willow simply nodded and handed it to him as she looked out the window.

"Xander! Look!"

He leaned over and caught his breath.

"Wills, is it..."

"It's working, yes. Come on."

*****************************************************

Inge wondered why Buffy hadn't staked her yet. She was beaten. She hadn't thought it possible...but she was. Yet she was still flesh. Taking deep breaths she didn't require, the feeling in her arm was returning rapidly, though accompanied by great pain. If the Slayer is foolish enough to give me another opportunity, I won't...

She stopped in mid-thought as she looked at the door.

Hans Katzenbach was taking slow, deliberate steps toward her, eyes dark. She smiled, suddenly feeling a surge of energy and got to her feet.

"Hans. At last, my Liebchen. Hans...."

He didn't respond to her. A flash of lightning illuminated every square inch of his face.

The man looked like Death. Still, he trudged on.

"You've no idea how long I've waited for this moment...darling, who are you talking to? And what is that?"

Katzenbach was chanting softly. Suddenly he stopped dead and held out the object that had been transported 3000 miles.

The Orb Of Thessulah glimmered in the night.

Suddenly his head snapped back, and then forward, blue eyes becoming dark. He spoke in a clear, deep voice that everyone heard.

"Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.

Nici mort, nici al finitei...

Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el.

Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!

Acum!"

Inge gasped; she fell to her knees as the Orb glowed brightly.

Katzenbach sank to his at the exact same moment. He held his gaze toward the Orb until he finally sagged to the ground. The magical crystal rolled gently out of his hand and began moving about in the wind.

Inge the Slayer Vampire was now again Inge Steiner.

She didn't require it, but she began to breathe heavily, sinking against the fence with wide eyes, crying out.

"What...What is happening to me?! I don't..."

Angel looked to Buffy.

"Help me up."

She reached underneath his armpits and got him to his feet. He moved toward her carefully. Buffy was amazed to see Spike crawling toward her as well. Inge looked wildly from one to the other.

Angel knelt next to her.

"Take it easy. It's ok."

She shook her head violently.

"No..it isn't. You don't understand, I..."

"Yes we do," Spike interjected, now willing himself to his hands and knees on her other side.

Inge's mouth was open, but no words came out.

"You have your soul back," Angel said as gently as he could.

"I...did that to you."

She was staring at his useless arms.

"They'll heal."

"So many will not....so many....oh God, I've killed so many...."

Her hand went over her mouth as she began to tremble, tears pouring out.

"They suffered, and I enjoyed it. You don't know...you don't know..."

Spike began to speak as gently as he could.

"The demon lives within you. It's Evil. You're not. Come with us now...with Angel and me. We'll stay with you. We can help you."

Her eyes strayed from Spike as a hand reached up toward her.

"I-Inge..."

She scooted away from the two vampires.

"Hans! Hans..."

"Is it you?"

"Yes. It's...me."

She took his hand, alarmed that it was cool even to her lifeless touch.

"I...I'm.." Katzenbach was too full to speak.

"What? What is it?"

"Sorry..I...never forgave myself. I was so stupid."

She threw her arms around him.

"You didn't know. You didn't know."

"Yes. Yes I did. I...loved you. And I...God forgive me, I killed you."

Buffy was next to Spike now, wondering how such a wasted human body could produce tears.

Inge continued to clutch at him.

"Travers did this, Hans. Not you...never you."

He gently removed himself and reached up to touch her face.

"It's my time now. I stayed as long as I could...don't cry for me, Inge. I do not deserve it."

She shook her head. "Don't talk like this! You will..."

He managed a weak smile.

"I loved you from the first moment I....saw..."

His head fell to one side, eyes staring vacantly. Inge's mouth was agape as she stared.

"Hans....liebchen....Hans....HANS!!"

She clutched him again.

"Nein....nein.....nein nein NEIN!!!"

Buffy couldn't stop her own tears now. Willow crouched next to her and they embraced. Xander had slowly made his way over to Faith and gently helped her to her feet. Dawn had dragged herself over to join them.

Inge at last looked up, eyes falling on Spike first.

"I'm so sorry."

He leaned over as much as he could toward her.

"It wasn't you. You hear? It wasn't....you."

She shook her head, speaking unevenly, eyes now dry.

"Too much. It's..too much. So sorry."

Suddenly she crawled over Katzenbach's body and grabbed what she'd seen only moments before. Everyone's eyes widened, but Spike found his voice first.

"NOOOO!!!"

Inge had jammed the stake into her chest before he could reach her.

Her dust lay on the body of Hans Katzenbach.

Everyone sat in shock for nearly five minutes. Not a word was spoken.

At last Willow looked to the angry sky, and back to the rest. Buffy nodded and the healthiest of the group proceeded to help the most seriously injured members inside.

Once the carnage was cleared, only Willow, Xander and Buffy remained. The Slayer looked at each, but her longest gaze was for Xander, tears again filling her eyes as she wordlessly held out her hands.

Xander and Willow joined her, and the Triangle was again formed. Together they fell once more.

At the precise moment their knees touched concrete a mighty bolt of lightning blew out a transformer a mile away, leaving them in total darkness.

The one remaining pinpoint of light was an Orb Of Thessulah, bobbing in the waves...slowly drifting away.

- End Chapter Twenty-Eight -