We feel that we are greater than we know.’
William Wordsworth.
As the plane touched down in L.A., Buffy felt the tingling in her palm start up again. She was tired from the long flight, but excited and enthusiastic about the task that lay ahead. For the first time since they’d left L.A. she felt like she finally had her Slayer mojo back. She felt strong, assured, in control and filled with a sense of purpose and hope. Last night’s dream had shifted again, in the best way possible. This time, as she’d left the cavern, Spike had turned and called out to her,
“I’ll be waiting for you pet. Come and find me.” His beautiful face had glowed with trust and confidence in her before he’d turned back to finish off the Hellmouth. She’d awoken immediately, leaping out of bed, eager to be on the road. It was fortunate that Giles had managed to book early flights or she would have driven everyone around the bend with her impatience.
Matthew had driven them to the airport the following morning. In the interest of trying to be more with the sharing, Buffy had told everyone about her dream shift. They had all agreed that it was an encouraging sign and it started up some discussion about whether Spike could be aware of their intentions, making the dreams psychic or whether the dreams were merely symbolic Slayer dreams.
That discussion had lasted throughout the trip to Gatwick, during check-in and for a while after the plane had taken off. After that, most of the team had dozed during the flight, but Buffy had been too excited and keyed up to relax. Even the few special research texts she’d borrowed from Ashdown’s library couldn’t hold her interest. She kept picturing the look of love and amazement on Spike’s face when she found him.
Coming in to land at LAX, the plane had banked into its final approach. The familiar sight of the Los Angeles skyline had overwhelmed Buffy with a sense of nostalgia. The light of the setting sun slanted through the window, washing the sky clear with a pastel palette of lilacs, pinks and peaches, throwing the dark silhouettes of steel and glass towers and feathery palm trees into stark contrast. From a distance, the city looked beautiful and benign but in order to rescue Spike, Buffy knew her crew would be forced to confront the mayhem and malignancy that lay beneath LA’s shallow face.
They were standing near the luggage carousel in LAX, Giles and Xander in charge of spotting their luggage and the custom made leather case that contained the Scythe, when Buffy heard a voice call out Willow’s name. She turned around to see the redhead dash over and embrace someone. As she pulled back Buffy could see that it was Oz. She made her way over to them, adding her own hug when she got there.
“Heard about Sunnydale. Bummer. Glad you guys made it out. The others?” Oz asked in his usual laconic way.
“Well Xander and Giles and Dawn all made it out okay. But Spike didn’t, or actually he did but we didn’t know. Anyway that’s why we’re here. It’s all a big story,” Willow babbled, “but basically we’ve come to search for him and to rescue him.”
“Hmm, weird, rescue mission for a vampire.” Oz raised one eyebrow in a gesture, for him, of shock.
“Oh no, Spike had changed. He had a soul, and he was good and he saved the world. He and Buffy were in love with each other and she’s having their baby,” she said, all before taking a breath.
“Okay, big changes. Need help, remember wolfy senses here, here’s my number. I’ll be in town a week or two. Nice seeing you Willow, Buffy.” With that he swung his bag over his shoulder, picked up his guitar case and sauntered off.
“Wow that was a coincidence huh?” Buffy smiled at Willow. “Hey, look at you, you’re all flushed and glowy. Hmm, you’re still keen on Oz aren’t you?”
“No, of course not.” Willow protested, “I mean I’m with Kennedy now, a-and hello, gay! It’s just that he’s still so cute and I think there was still some sparkage,” she mused wistfully. “Anyway looks like the boys have got all our gear. Let’s go.”
They stepped out into the warm L.A. night, caught a shuttle to a downtown hotel and got settled into their rooms. Rowan was sharing with Buffy, the two girls keen to try another locator spell now that they were in L.A. Once everyone had unpacked and ordered room service, they made their way through to Buffy and Rowan’s room. Willow had the salt and a large map of L.A. with her and Giles the scythe with him.
They set up quickly and confidently, the three girls taking their places and beginning the ritual within minutes. Rowan’s hand hovered uncertainly over the map, her browed furrowed in concentration as she tried to make the connection. Minutes went by before finally, she placed her whole palm in the middle of the map, and sagged wearily. Opening her eyes, she looked around her.
“I’m sorry guys, but I couldn’t get through.” Rowan frowned. “There’s some sort of powerful ward blocking the way. Someone’s using major, major mojo to shield us from Spike’s energy, thick, dark magick. That someone doesn’t want us to find him. All I can tell you is that the magick emanates from somewhere in the downtown area. I don’t even know what direction though,” she apologised.
“Not to worry Rowan,” Giles soothed, “It makes our job a little more difficult but not impossible I’m sure. It might be possible to isolate the sorcerer’s signature and use our contacts here in Los Angeles to try and identify him. Buffy, tomorrow we shall have to contact Angel. He and Wesley may be able to help us. Now everyone get to bed and get a good night’s sleep.”
Flattened by this sudden, unexpected disappointment, the others quickly left their room and Rowan and Buffy got ready for bed. They chatted for a while, both trying to think of any magickal practitioners they’d heard of in the area, but Rowan had never been to the States before and Buffy usually let Giles or Willow take care of the research side of things. Having reached a dead end, they headed off to their beds.
Buffy read through the dream journal again. It seemed to relax her and fill her with optimism. When she finally settled down to sleep, the dream came to her quickly. Spike’s love echoed through her heart as she stood linked to him, the heat flooding her body with life. They clutched one another’s hands more tightly as they both looked down towards her belly. Spike looked back up, his face glowing with pride and astonishment.
“It’s time to go kitten.” He looked over his shoulder anxiously. “I’ll be waiting for you, but you’ve got to be careful. He’s very powerful and very dangerous. Don’t forget, I love you Buffy. I love you…”
Buffy’s eyes snapped open, and as she looked around the hotel bedroom, and a sense of determination settled in her empty, slightly nauseous tummy. After a quick breakfast, the rest of the team trooped back into her and Rowan’s room while Giles made the call to Angel. The phone number they had only relayed a recorded message, explaining that Angel Investigations was no longer in operation, but that they could reach any of the members of the A.I. team by ringing the following number.
When Giles dialled that number he was shocked to hear that he had been connected to the offices of the Wolfram and Hart Law Firm. He hesitantly asked to speak to Angel, only to be informed by the rather annoying voice of the receptionist that he was in a meeting. Then the receptionist had politely asked if she could connect him to anyone else and had happily done so when he’d asked for Wesley.
“What the bloody hell is going on there Wes?” asked Giles, incredulous at the former Watcher’s seeming betrayal. “Batting for the evil team now are you?”
Wesley had assured him that that was not the case, but preferred not to discuss it over the phone. Giles knew they needed help but he refused to enter the premises of the evil Law Firm, and asked Wesley if he and Angel could meet them at their hotel that afternoon.
In the meantime, Giles suggested that Willow contact Oz. Kennedy had scowled at that suggestion, but if it came to an out and out hunt, physically scouring the whole of central L.A., then the more bodies the better. Willow tried hard to control her excitement, and then her confusion at her excitement, before she rang. She made the call short and sweet and Oz was happy to come by that afternoon as well.
Just after 2 p.m. Buffy was awoken by a knock at the door. She’d had a little nap after lunch, having worked out that she could keep the worst of her nausea at bay as long as she ate regularly and was well rested. She dashed through to the bathroom to freshen up while Rowan answered the door. When she came out to the lounge, Giles and Xander were there, along with Angel and Wesley.
Angel looked up when she stepped into the room and stood immediately, coming straight over to her.
“Buffy, it’s good to see you. How are you?” he asked quietly.
“I’m good. I mean things have been tough but they’re getting better and as soon as we find…” Buffy paused, uncertain how to break the news to him.
“Sooo, remember when you talked to me about the cookie thing,” Angel began hopefully, “well I wondered whether you could stay here in L.A. for a while and we could spend some time working on your baking,” he grinned. But as he stepped in closer he looked down, cocked his head to the side and frowned. He was about to speak when a knock on the door signalled the last of the arrivals, Willow, Oz, Kennedy and Faith.
“Look who I found outside,” Willow nearly squealed, her efforts to curb her Oz enthusiasm a total bust. Kennedy frowned darkly as she stomped into the room.
“Come in everyone. It’s nice to see you again Oz,” Giles said as he shook the young man’s hand. “Find a seat. Some of you might have to take the floor I’m sorry.”
Buffy quickly turned away from Angel and went to sit on the floor beside Rowan and Xander. Giles had introduced Rowan and Kennedy to Angel, Wesley and Oz. Before he disclosed anything about their mission, he wanted to determine what side of the fight they were on. Angel had quickly explained how and why they were running Wolfram and Hart now, and assured them he was trust worthy.
Giles felt very unconvinced by Angel’s story, sensing there was more to it than his explanation covered. However, they definitely needed the resources and help that Angel and Wesley could provide, no matter that those resources came from Evil Incorporated. Still he felt that the less that Angel and Wesley knew about their search, particularly the prophecy, the better. And if he could keep Spike’s name out of it, that would be preferable.
“Alright Angel, it remains to be seen whether or not you can prove yourself trust worthy, but we shall give you the chance. We need some information, quickly and reliably,” at this he paused, considering the souled vampire again. “We need to know anything you can find out about the amulet you gave to Buffy in Sunnydale, where it came from, what it’s properties are, where it might be now. And secondly, we have encountered a powerful magickal field, being used to block our attempts to locate … someone missing from our team. We’d like you to find out, if you can, the names and addresses of any and all magick practitioners, sorcerers, witches, warlocks in the Los Angeles area.”
“Los Angeles is home to many powerful warlocks and sorcerers. Many of them are human such as Magnus Bryce or Lucien Drake or any of the Order of the Kun-Sun-Dai, while others like Sahjhan are demons. It really would help if you could let me know what this warlock is protecting and why,” Wesley pointed out warily.
“I’d rather not disclose that at this stage,” Giles fenced. “If you can help us without any of your … um colleagues finding out, then I’ll be happy to tell all.”
“Suit yourself then,” Wes allowed as he stood to leave. He paused at the door, turning to face Angel who was crossing the room. “Actually the amulet was acquired by Angel initially. Where did you get it from Angel?”
“Lilah Morgan gave it to me as part of the Wolfram and Hart deal,” Angel admitted. “I’ve got a file on it somewhere back at the office. I’ll dig it out and get Wesley to check both the amulet and the sorcerer info out when we get back.” He strode towards the door, stopping next to Buffy on the way.
“Can I please speak to you in private? Now,” he added brusquely as he put his hand on the small of her back and steered her out the door.
“Angel, I really think that …” Giles began before Buffy interrupted him.
“It’s okay Giles. I’ll handle it,” she grimaced as she stepped out into the hallway.
Angel led her several yards down the hallway before stopping and turning to face her.
“So when were you going to tell me Buffy? Were you just stringing me along in Sunnydale, playing me like a schmuck?” When Angel paused, Buffy stalled for time, not sure of what it was he thought he knew, and not wishing to reveal more than she absolutely had too.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything Angel. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” she offered vaguely.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be able to tell? Well think again,” he ground out, his fists clenched by his side. “I know you’re pregnant Buffy, I can hear the heartbeat. So who’s the lucky chap then? Anyone I know?”