Disclaimer: All the vampires are belong to Joss.

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The former Watcher’s statement struck them dumb for a moment. “Giles, what do you mean?” Dawn pleaded. Giles looked at her for a moment, unsure if the teen should hear this. But if she was kept out of the loop she would probably get resentful and do something foolish. Better to break the news to her now.
 
He took a deep breath. “Y’gosoth demons are all male. They use other species as hosts to bear their young. Human hosts are especially prized and are reserved for the ruling elite.”
 
Spike spoke up, “I guess we can assume that a Slayer would be the ultimate prize then?”
 
Giles nodded. “There’s more.” Giles closed his eyes for a moment, then added, “The host is sacrificed after birth to feed the newborn.”
 
The others were stunned. “We’ve got to find her right away!” cried Dawn. The teen rapidly became hysterical. “I can’t go through that again! I can’t, I can’t!” Tara jumped up and put her arms around Dawn, patting her back and trying to calm her.
 
“We’ll find her, Nibblet,” Spike said quietly. “I promise you.” Dawn looked up and caught Spike’s eyes. She was somewhat reassured by the determination she saw. Spike kept his promises.
 
Giles had continued reading about the Y’gosoth demons. “They have a long, elaborate mating ritual – lasts about a week before they actually mate. The gestation period depends on the host. That’s why humans are so valued as hosts – the demons believe that the longer the host carries the spawn, the more powerful the spawn will be.”
 
“That’s great, Giles, but how do we interrupt this demon mating party?” asked Xander impatiently.
 
“We’re going to have to find some way to get to her. We need to find their dimension, and figure out how to get there,” said Giles. “Willow, we’re probably going to need some sort of spell to open an interdimensional portal.”
 
“I’ll start looking into it,” Willow replied. She immediately went to the bookshelves and started scanning titles.
 
“Who’s going after her?” asked Anya. “Because I’m not too keen about visiting the Y’gosoth dimension. I heard of these guys, back in my Demon days, and they were always bad news.”
 
“I’m going after her.” Spike spoke quietly, but with finality in his voice.
 
“Who left you in charge, fangboy?” Xander snapped.
 
Spike stood up, teetered a little bit, but then straightened and looked Xander in the eye. “What are you going to do, whelp? Waltz in there with your mouth flapping and get yourself killed in five minutes? If we all go charging in there together, we’re all just going to die together. This calls for stealth. I’m the only one who has half a chance of getting in there, finding the Slayer, and getting us out without getting caught.”
 
“He’s right, Xander,” Tara spoke up. She so rarely got involved when the Scoobies started bickering that everyone immediately turned to look at her. “None of us are close to strong enough to fight these things. Spike has the enhanced hearing and speed to get in there quick and get Buffy out.”
 
“Well what about Willlow?” Xander persisted. “She’s got enough magic power to just blast them to kingdom come.” Willow looked slightly smug as she heard Xander’s pronouncement.
 
Really must have a talk with her sometime, thought Giles. An arrogant witch is never a good thing. “Willow needs to use her powers to open a door between our dimension and theirs,” Giles said aloud, trying to stay patient. “I have to agree with Tara and Spike, Xander. This is not your battle.”
 
“Whatever,” muttered Xander. He stalked off into the back room to cool his temper, followed by Anya.
 
“I’m going to need some more blood,” said Spike. “I need to get healed up as fast as possible. We need to get to her.”
 
“Dawn and I will go get the blood,” said Tara, grabbing her coat. “Willow and Giles, you can start working on the spell.”
 
“I think I’m going to catch a bit more kip,” said Spike. He made his way back to the training room, moving slowly and carefully, trying not to reopen his wounds. Willow and Giles sat down and started flipping through books once more.
 
*******
 
By the second morning since Buffy’s disappearance, Spike was feeling much better. Although his midsection was still tender, it was healed on the outside. He had joined in the research, surprising Giles with his knowledge of Latin and Greek. When questioned about it, Spike shrugged and replied, “Been to university in my day.” Giles made a mental note to figure out where someday. The thought of Spike as a college student was highly interesting.
 
Xander had resigned himself to the plan as it was and was doing his best to help with the research. Dawn was off at school, after Spike had reminded her that bringing Social Services down on their heads was not going to help Buffy at all. But as the day wore on, and they were still not much closer to a solution, Spike started to get agitated. His mind could not stop thinking about what Buffy must be going through. Granted, she was the Slayer. She could definitely hold her own in a fight. Still, these demons were beyond tough, and she was sorely outnumbered. Hang on Slayer, Spike thought grimly.
 
The days kept mounting up. By the end of the fifth day of work everyone’s nerves were frayed. Spike was pacing restlessly, and bickering with Xander constantly, to the point where Willow threatened to put silence spells on both of them. Dawn was beside herself with worry, barely eating, and clinging to Tara and Spike in turn. All of them were on edge, and ready to snap.
 
Finally, Willow gasped excitedly, “I found it!” The others gathered around. “Their dimension! There is a way to open a portal there. It involves a ritual, and a spell, but it should be doable.”
 
“Hang on a minute,” Spike interrupted. “If we open a portal and leave it hanging open there, someone is bound to see and check it out. How are we going to keep the demons over there, and not traveling back to attack us through our own portal?”
 
“Hmm,” Willow pondered. “What if we just opened it long enough for you to get through?”
 
“Then how do we get back?” Spike did not relish the idea of the witch being in control of when the door opened.
 
“We could teach you the spell,” mused Willow. “But you need something to focus the energy… an amulet of some kind perhaps?”
 
“Work on it, Willow,” said Giles. “You seem to be on the right track. Come up with a way to get Spike there, and a way that he can get back on demand. That should keep us safe, and allow Spike to sneak in without a big portal hanging there giving him away.”
 
Willow took another 3 days to get everything right. There were herbs and rare talismans to acquire, and chants in ancient demonic tongues to learn. Finally, she was ready. They cleared out the training room floor and used the herbs to cast a circle. Tara busied herself with placing talismans in the correct locations and going over the words of the spell.
 
Spike was ready too. He wore his usual outfit of black jeans and t-shirt, blue overshirt, and black duster. He decided to bring a battleaxe – one of his favorite weapons, and one that would even the score somewhat against these demons. He was back to full strength, and more than ready to go. The last few days of waiting had had him crawling out of his skin with impatience. They were taking too long.
 
Tara came up to Spike with a metal disk, engraved with runes, which she tied tightly to Spike’s wrist with a leather thong. “This is what will bring you back,” she explained. She handed Spike a sheet with a chant written on it. “When you are ready to return, speak this chant, and the portal will open, provided you are wearing the amulet, of course.”
 
“So this is my interdimensional bus token then?” Spike said doubtfully. He always had a slight distrust of magic, particularly where Red was concerned. He read through the chant, then carefully folded it and put it in the pocket of his jeans. He tested the amulet’s fit on his wrist, picked up his axe, rolled his shoulders, and faced Willow. “Ready when you are, Red.”
 
“Ok,” said Willow. “Stand in the middle of the circle.” Spike stepped carefully into the ring of herbs. He bounced a bit on his feet, ready to spring. Willow and Tara started walking around the circle, chanting in some unknown tongue. The air began to feel charged with energy. Spike looked out through the crackling air and caught Dawn’s eye. “I’ll find her, Bit,” he promised.
 
Then with a roar and a flash, the portal appeared, like a silver doorway. Spike took a deep, unnecessary breath, and stepped through.
 
 
TBC