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Not Beneath Me by Tasha
 
Chapter 27 - Letting Cats Out Of The Bag
 
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Not Beneath Me - Chapter 27 (Letting Cats Out of the Bag)

By Tasha


Previous Chapter Summary: Joyce awakened, and she was filled in on what's been happening. The group at the Magic Box worked to get the potion and spells done. Everyone went home for the night to rest except Angel and Cordelia who headed to L.A. for the last ingredients needed to cast the spells. Spike and Buffy shared a passionate night together and completed a mutual claim

Chapter Summary: The aftermath of Spike and Buffy mating. The Scoobies prepare to head to Glory's house just to be sure that Ben is gone. Will the Scoobies get the potion done in time? Will Glory get a hold of Dawn? If so, will the Scoobies save her in time without Buffy having to die?

NOTES: The place of the portal opening has changed for my story. We're going to assume that Glory's minions were a little smarter, and they picked a place for the house to be built that was where the portal would be. Instead of building a tower, the portal will open outside of Glory's third story window. Also there are no Knights. You might have noticed that I didn't mention them when the Council showed up even though they were in that episode.

(Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed in the Prologue of this story. Thank you ahead of time for reading and accepting or abiding by them.)

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.




Dawn groaned, rubbed her eyes with her hands, and yawned. Light streamed into her room through a crack in the drawn curtains. Her body ached, and for some reason she felt really drained and worn out. She stretched out her whole body from her toes to the tips of her fingers.

'Those were some freaky dreams. I felt like I was living Spike's life with him.' Dawn shivered. Her body felt like she'd been pulled through the ringer of her nightmares. 'I guess hospitals don't have the best chairs to sit in all day.' She passed off the sore muscles as fatigue from sitting in the hospital for so many hours the day before.

What Dawn wasn't able to comprehend was that her powers as the Key were used all night long to literally travel through the shadows of time with the two lovers in the next room. The claiming bond was strengthened by her supernatural presence, and the circle of their familial bond was made even stronger.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike awoke to one of the sweetest sensations he'd ever known. He felt the complete love from his mate who was nestled in his mind and arms. No longer would his insecurities be allowed to reign. The mating bond he shared with Buffy was strong. Her love radiated to him and through him. He still had some doubts, but he felt happier than ever before.

Buffy was wrapped around Spike's body with her chest pressed to his. They'd switched positions during the night, but his cock was still encased in her heat. The heat surrounding him brought Spike a measure of peace and rightness in the world.

Spike splayed his fingers out into Buffy's golden tresses. He delighted in the silkiness that slipped through his fingers and back onto his chest. 'So beautiful,' He thought.

"You're not half bad yourself," Buffy's half muffled voice answered Spike's thoughts. Her waking mind mingled her memories of the night before with the nightmarish images she dreamt.

"Good morning, luv." Spike rubbed his hands in circles on Buffy's back. "Sleep well?" He'd dreamt all about Buffy's life. He watched her grow up, and he knew what her life in L.A. was like when she became the Slayer. He'd felt her pain and frustration during those first days of training and her first kills. He was angered to live through her "fabulous" Angel days, but he plunged through it all. He feared that if he experienced her life during the night, she might have experienced his. The least he could do was deal with her Angel memories if she dealt with his previous life.

"Actually I'm exhausted." Buffy pressed her hands on Spike's chest to lift herself up high enough to look him in the eye. "It was ... I dreamed ... You know what I dreamt." She sighed. There were many things about Spike's vampire days that she felt like vomiting for after she witnessed them. She'd grown to hate Angelus even more during her foray into William and Spike's life. Though she wouldn't place all the blame for how Spike turned out on Angelus, he was a big part of why Spike became who he was.

"Yeah, I can figure out what you saw." Spike sighed. "I lived through your life as well last night. Quite the little valley girl in your early days."

"Not like you have stayed the same either, Spike." It amazed Buffy how much love and humanity William still had after he was turned. She viewed the turning of his mother, which at first revolted her, but she realized the love behind why he did it. She felt the gut wrenching pain when he'd dusted her as well. "I'd have to say you had the more drastic changes, several times even."

Spike lowered his gaze. He feared her rejection. Even though they were mated now, he was worried that she would hold his past against him. "I warned you about ..."

Buffy didn't let him finish his downward spiral into reliving the pain of his past. "I knew that it wouldn't be pretty, Spike." She raised his chin with the tips of her fingers to draw his gaze back to hers. "If Drusilla wasn't already dead, I would be finding her and staking her myself. I still can't believe you never left her after all she taunted you with."

Spike grinned. "Love's bitch, pet. Remember?" He twisted some of Buffy's hair around two fingers. "I don't leave the woman I love."

Buffy nestled herself against Spike's chest once more. "I'm glad." She sighed happily. "It is so strange to feel you in my mind. I can feel your love so strongly it burns into my heart."

"Likewise, mate of mine." Spike danced his fingertips down Buffy's spine. Every emotion, pain, and thought will be shared unless we try to block each other out. Thoughts only happen with the closer bonds, but you heard my thoughts as you woke up."

"Really?" Buffy perked up her attention. "Let's try it out again." She smiled warmly. 'If Angelus even thinks of hurting you again, I will dust him without a second thought.'

Spike's mouth dropped open in awe. 'Do you mean that, luv? He was your first love after all?'

"Of course I mean it," Buffy said out loud. "He hid all of that from me, but he was still trying to use your past against you to get me to leave you. He can't have it both ways."

'Thank you, luv.' Spike nuzzled his cheek against the side of Buffy's head. 'That means a lot to me.'

Buffy and Spike drifted off to sleep. Each one basked in the feeling of love and protection that radiated from the other one. They slept for another couple of hours.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia Chase was followed into the Magic Box by a slightly smoking Angel. She rolled her eyes at the others already present. "If you hadn't made the stop at the Hyperion, we would have made it in plenty of time to keep you from getting crispy."

Ever since the kiss they shared earlier in the night, the only time Cordelia said anything to Angel was to chastise him or tell him to hurry up. "I told you that I needed to get something," Angel said in exasperation. "Besides, we had to wait for that one shop to open."

Willow and Tara noticed the tension between the two brunettes. Tara whispered to Willow, "Their auras are all jumbled in a mass of confusion about whatever they are feeling or thinking."

Willow acknowledged Tara's observation by squeezing Tara's hand. They arrived around 8 am to begin work on some of the spells. Wesley arrived about a half hour after that. A call to Anya and Xander brought asked them to bring in snacks and drinks because it was going to be a long day.

Anya and Xander strolled in a little after 9 am, shortly behind Cordy and Angel. "So what's the what?" He emptied the bag of groceries onto a separate little table near the research table.

"We're working on the potion," Wesley answered without looking away from his work. "Then, we're going to pay a little visit to Glory."

"Sounds good to me." Xander shoved half of a doughnut into his mouth. "How can I help?"

Willow handed him several bags of belladonna, and Xander crushed the herb into tiny bits for the spells.

After suggesting that the spell casting be taken to the training room to keep it a secret, Anya opened the store to customers.

Buffy and Spike arrived around 11 am, and they were immediately confronted by Angel.

"Angel, please don't." Cordelia called out. She was worried that Angel would tear off Spike's head when he saw him.

Angel's eyes narrowed on Spike and Buffy who held hands. He glared at the reddened scars on both of their necks before his gaze lingered on Spike. "Be happy that I've had quite a few hours to calm down since I felt it."

Neither Spike nor Buffy had any doubts about what Angel must have felt happen. Buffy squeezed Spike's hand tighter. He'd warned her that Angel might try to challenge the claim. Buffy told Spike flat out that she would refuse any advances Angel made towards her.

"It wouldn't matter either way." Spike was ready to push Buffy off to the side to fight Angel if he had to. "Buffy already told me that she would refuse your claim, if you challenge me."

"Don't even think of challenging it, Angel." Buffy stood up straight and strong. "I've made my choice, and I had the dreams. So, I know what he's done, and I know what you kept from me." She glared at her first love. "So don't try to play innocent with me about your part."

"I'm not good enough for you Buffy, but he certainly isn't either." Angel pointed at Spike.

"That is my choice to make." Buffy refused to back down.

Angel's shoulders slumped. He looked over at Cordelia who watched everything occur. He looked back at Buffy and Spike. "You've made your choice? You want the claim to remain even after all you've seen?"

"Yes, Angel." Buffy nodded. "I want him both Spike and William."

Angel nodded his acknowledgement of their choices. "As elder of the clan, will you allow me add to your familial bond and sanction your mating to avoid any other challenges?"

"That is up to Buffy." Spike wondered if Angel had something else up his sleeve, but there was sincerity in Angel's face that he hadn't ever seen before.

"Maybe after we get through with Glory, we can talk about it." Buffy rested her head against Spike's arm. "I would want it all explained quite thoroughly before I do it."

Buffy and Spike walked over to the research table after they checked with the spellcasters in the other room. Dawn was already seated at the table with Cordelia. Angel walked over behind Spike and Buffy then sat down as well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles arrived at the Magic Box in the early afternoon for a strategizing session. He was reluctant to leave Joyce's side, but he was needed at Buffy's side as well. Xander joined the group at the research table to check out various bits of information that Lydia provided for them from the Council once he was through with crushing herbs.

"We need to figure out the best way to get into Ben's house." Buffy pulled out a map of the area where Glory and Ben resided. She pointed to various entry points where their presence could be concealed by trees and other items. "I don't think he will leave the area."

"Not even after you warned him, Buffster?" Xander queried.

"I am inclined to agree with Buffy." Giles adjusted his glasses. "Ben might want to leave, but Glory's minions are probably going to do all they can to stop him."

"As well as what will happen if Glory breaks through at any time while Ben is fleeing," Angel added his two cents worth in.

"We have to be prepared to face them all." Spike frowned.

"I picked up a few extra weapons from the Hyperion before we came back to Sunnydale." Angel pointed to the bag that sat up against a corner bookcase.

"We brought a bunch this morning too." Spike pointed to the bag he sat next to Angel's earlier. "Should be enough fire power for most demons, but we are dealing with a Hellgod. Any progress on that potion?"

"The right phase of day has begun. They are working on getting everything all settled." Giles informed everyone of the progress from the other room.

Dawn picked through the various weapons in Angel's bag. She knew what weapons her sister and Spike had, but she wanted to see what Angel brought along. Her curiosity got the better of her. She pulled out a very intricate looking short sword. She studied the designs on the hilt.

"Dawn be careful with that." Buffy lightly scolded her sister. She knew that Angel used to keep his weapons pretty clean, but she wanted to make sure her sister didn't get some infection from an unknown demon if she cut herself. She wasn't sure what ailments would affect Dawn's genetics and what wouldn't.

Dawn, startled by her sister's scolding voice, jumped in her chair. The length of the blade slit a clean cut across Dawn's palm when her grip on the handle loosened. It bled down her palm to her wrist.

Glory walked in the door as the scent of Dawn's blood flowed enough to waft through the air. She'd come to taunt and torment the Slayer into giving her the Key. Instead, Glory's eyes widened in delight. "You!" She pointed at Dawn. "You're my Key!"

Buffy, Spike, and Angel jumped up from the table first. Spike and Buffy quickly grabbed weapons from the bags and attacked Glory head on. Angel grabbed Dawn's free arm and pushed her towards the training room. Anya joined Dawn, and they both ran.

Xander, Giles and Cordelia chose weapons of their own and hacked away at the scaly minions who followed Glory in. Angel joined the trio a few moments later when they were overrun with minions trying to get into the training room to Dawn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya and Dawn ran into the training room. Anya slammed the door shut behind her and locked the back door.

"What's going on out there?" Willow stopped the spell she was working on.

"Don't stop!" Anya yelled. "Glory is out there, and she knows that Dawn is the key."

Dawn cried harder. The pain of her wound was nothing compared to the fear in her being that she was going to die. All the hard work they did to hide her identity, and her stupid accident with a blade gave Glory all the information she needed.

"Oh bollocks." Wesley sped ahead a couple pages in the tome to work on the next spell. They had two more to go before everything would be ready. They needed every second they could get to complete the process.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Glory knocked the weapons out of Spike and Buffy's hands during different attacks they made on her. She forced them to resort to fists instead.

Spike punched and kicked at the Hellgod. He switched back and forth with Buffy to keep Glory occupied for as long as they could. Neither of them were able to gain the upper hand. Glory took turns knocking Buffy and Spike into walls, bookcases, and shelves. They were destroying the Magic Box in the process of the fight.

"You do know how to end this right?" Buffy and Spike landed a few punches before Glory pushed them back. "It really is an easy solution." Glory blocked Spike's advances. Then she threw him up to the ceiling. "Just give me my key, and I won't bother you again."

A few scaly minions of Glory's fought against Angel, Cordelia, Xander, and Giles who guarded the doorway to the training room. They tried to buy their colleagues the minutes they needed to complete their work. They were afraid that it wouldn't be long enough because they were pinned against the door by a couple dozen of the little robed devils.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow, Tara, Anya, and Wesley worked on the various spells for the ingredients. They worked as quickly as they could, but magic was not something that should be rushed. One of the spells backfired and nearly exploded a hole in the table.

The back door's lock was broken through. The door burst open to reveal more minions of Glory. Dawn, who was hiding near the back of the training room, shrieked when she was grabbed from behind and drug out of the Magic Box. Wesley tried to run after them, but he was stopped at the closed door with several minions on the other side using their weight to keep it closed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I believe that sound tells me that my work here is through. Doesn't mean I can't have a little fun before I go." Glory buried her right hand into Spike's stomach. "You can't strengthen me, but I do love the sound of your screams." She twisted it around in his gut while the vampire screamed out in pain.

Buffy attempted to dislodge Glory's attack, and she kicked Glory in the back. Unfortunately, she only succeeded in burying Glory's hand further into Spike's gut.

Glory kicked Buffy away from her with a side kick to the temple, knocking the Slayer to the ground unconscious on the other side of the room.

Glory pushed the flat of her palm in a punch at Spike's jaw with enough force to throw him off her hand and into several bookshelves, breaking them and burying pieces of wood throughout his body. She ran out of the Magic Box with a girlish giggle of delight at the sight of all the destruction she caused.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Angel carried the unconscious and wood pelted vampire back into the training room. Xander and Cordelia followed with Buffy in their arms. Giles went to work removing every piece of wood he could find. He was careful not to jostle the vampire too much in case there was a piece underneath his shirt that he didn't see.

Buffy and Spike awoke simultaneously a half hour later. Both of them groaned in pain from their various injuries. Already Slayer and vampire healing were taking place, but they still needed more time to heal.

Buffy started to wail when she realized that Dawn wasn't in the training room. Spike crawled over to his Mate, cooing the entire time. He drew Buffy into his arms and tried to soothe her.

"She's gone. I failed." Buffy repeated over and over. "She's gone. I failed." Her eyes took on a lost look to them. She started to drift into a catatonic state, but Spike mentally slapped Buffy before she went totally under.

"Buffy! Stay with me!" Spike yelled at Buffy. He forced Buffy to look into his eyes. He felt the swirl of pain and emotions from his mate. He needed to stay strong for her, and she needed to stay strong for Dawn. "We'll get her back."

"But ..." Buffy felt lost. She nearly lost it completely. If it hadn't been for the flow of Spike's presence and love for her through their bond, she wasn't sure what would have happened.

"We'll get her back." Spike reaffirmed again.

Willow, Tara and Wesley slumped down on a bench in the training room. Their faces wore frustrated and guilt filled expressions.

"If we stayed last night, we could have finished the preparations faster." Wesley was the first to speak up.

"This isn't your fault," Giles answered. "From what Spike and Buffy told me earlier, you were all dead on your feet. You needed the rest."

Willow and Tara's eyes filled with tears. They watched their friend break down into gut wrenching sobs. The look in Buffy's eyes was so cold and distant. It broke their hearts to witness her breakdown.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lydia and several other Watchers stepped over the remains of the Magic Box's door. Two of the Watchers on one side rushed into the shop to search for survivors. They were both relieved and concerned when they located everyone in the training room.

"Glorificus?" Lydia asked about the destruction with only the one word uttered from her lips.

"Yes," Giles answered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Glory danced around Dawn. She caressed Dawn's cheek with her hands. "Such a pretty Key."

"Don't touch me." Dawn kicked out at Glory. Her foot connected with Glory's knee.

Glory yelled out in pain, "Jinx!" The scabby minion rushed in and bowed at his Mistress' feet. "Tie her feet too." She turned back to Dawn who fought against Jinx to keep her legs free. "You are going to get me back home. I will have my revenge on those who sent me here."

"My sister is going to kick your ass, bitch." Dawn spat in Glory's face. Glory ran from the room squealing to go clean up. Dawn smirked. 'I hope Buffy gets here soon.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I don't mean to sound rude, but why are you here?" Giles asked Lydia directly. He knew the Council wasn't pleased with Buffy's recent actions. So why would they send any Watcher's to them.

"There are those of us who don't agree with Travers' stand on the Slayer." Lydia gestured to the other men and women with her. "We want to help against Glorificus."

"Why should we trust you?" Wesley beat Giles to the question at the forefront of both of their minds.

"She's the one who gave us the folder on Glory." Buffy stuck up for the female Watcher. "Among other things she gave us information about claiming between Slayers and vampires that the Council had hidden."

"Hidden?" Giles removed his glasses and cleaned the lenses.

"Yes, although it forgot a few details." Spike smiled at Lydia. "I would think the little fangs would have been worth mentioning."

"Fangs? Oh good heavens." Lydia was astounded by the information she was being given. "You were turned?" She hoped her information hadn't resulted in the Slayer being turned into a vampire.

"Nope, still all with the heartbeat." Buffy picked up Lydia's hand and placed it on her chest. "It only happens when I want to bite, Spike."

"Fascinating," Lydia exclaimed.

Willow and Tara did their best to finish the spells as quickly as possible. Spike and Buffy shared with the other Watchers and ex-Watchers about what happened during the claim. Angel, Cordelia, Anya, and Xander arranged the weapons on the research table for selection.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Sun's set. Let's go." Spike called out to the group. "We have an apocalypse to stop."

Weapons chosen and potions made, hypodermics were filled with the fluid for each person present. Giles put all of them into his bag. He headed for the door. Everyone else followed out to the various cars they would use to get to Glory's place. Buffy was a few steps ahead of Angel and Spike.

"Spike," Angel's voice stopped Spike on his way to the door.

Angel opened his hand over Spike's palm. A small cold object fell from the elder vampire's hand into the younger one's. "Don't make me regret it, Spike, or I will have no qualms in cutting your entire hand or arm off to get it back."

"But ..." Spike looked up at Angel completely stunned. "I thought you destroyed it."

"I lied." Angel turned and walked away from his bewildered family member before he snatched the prized object back from him.

Spike gaped at Angel's retreating form. He started to slip the band onto his finger when Buffy ran back to him. The ring dropped into a pocket of his duster.

"What did Angel want?" Buffy asked. "He wasn't giving you a hard time, was he?"

"No," Spike turned to face Buffy with a smile on his lips. "He wished me luck in his own way."

"That's good." Buffy softly kissed Spike on the lips. She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and they headed out to Xander's car.

Spike fiddled with the ring in his pocket. 'Why didn't you just put it on? He gave it to you. Though I'm still not sure, why.' The demon within him raged at being denied the ring for so long after all he went through to get it in the first place.

'It would remind her of unhappy times. Besides the git was supposed to have destroyed it,' William reasoned with the demon. 'If Buffy knew that Angelus didn't, it would raise a lot of issues that no one needs to deal with right now. She has enough on her mind already without facing more betrayal from the brooding one.'

'Let's just remember to put it on later, all right?' The demon chided.

'I don't fancy becoming dust anymore than you do when we have everything that we ever truly wanted: love, passion, a wife, and hope for the future.'

'Yeah yeah.' Spike's demon rolled his eyes. 'A good shag, passion, tasty blood, and a warrior mate all rolled up in one Slayer sized package.'

'Such a romantic.' William laughed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Everyone ready?" Giles took in the whole of their army against Glorificus. He prayed that they would all make it through this battle alive or undead respectively. He watched each person nod his or her head to indicate their readiness.

Giles handed each person a hypodermic filled with the serum that could be used to end the battle with the Hellgod. "If you see an opening, use it." He put a capped hypodermic in his pocket. "Make sure you have a clear shot to reach her and catch her off guard."

The little band of warriors listened to every word their leader spoke. Giles continued, "Try to work in pairs for the best chance of success. We need to reach Dawn to keep the ritual from being started." He motioned for Lydia to give her input.

"All indications in our research say that as long as we can keep Glorificus from opening the portal between 15 minutes from now and an hour from now, we are home free." Lydia looked down at her watch. "That isn't much time, but hopefully it will be enough."

"Any questions?" Buffy stepped in front of everyone. "Thank you for sticking by us in this." Her facial expressions hardened as she tried to keep her emotions under wraps. "No matter what happens, thank you."

"I think it's time to send one Hellgod back to Hell, Scooby style." Xander hefted his axe onto his shoulder with one hand. In his other hand he saluted Buffy with the capped hypodermic.

"Let's do it." Buffy ordered.

The group split up into several pairs and smaller groups. Each group or pair headed for another section of the house to enter through doors or windows.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inside the house Ben and Glory fought back and forth to be in the foreground. Ben even tried to release Dawn to escape, but Glory had returned too soon. In the end he gave in to his alter ego in the hopes that after Glory left, he would be free.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fights broke out all over the house on every level of the three-story building. Minions came out of the woodwork to battle the Scoobies, Fang Gang, and Watchers. People crashed through windows, various doors, and came up from the basement.

Glory ran down the stairs to see what was going on. She jumped into the fray of battle. She wanted to take the Slayer out herself. She left another loyal follower upstairs with Dawn who could perform the ritual in her absence.

Buffy raced headlong into Glory's path. The two clashed back and forth, fighting their way up the stairs back to the level where Dawn was being kept. Buffy twisted around Glory. She jumped onto Glory's back and tried to get the hypodermic into her neck. Before she was able to press the plunger down to inject Glory with the liquid, she was thrown to the ground.

"You surprised me once with your needles." Glory smacked the hypodermic out of Buffy's hand. It stuck, needle first, in the wall. As she spoke she advanced on the Slayer, "You won't get so lucky twice." She wrapped her hands around Buffy's throat and squeezed hard. "This time we do it my way."

Buffy turned her head to see Dawn in the steely grip of a little man with shockingly white hair. She fought and twisted around in her captor's arms, but she couldn't break free.

"DAWN!" Buffy yelled out.

Spike looked through the masses of brown robed demons that stood between him and the rest of his family. An inhuman roar echoed throughout the entire house and front yard. Scaly demons flew out in all directions away from Spike as he plowed through the group on the stairs to get to Dawn. He made it to Dawn in no time, a path parted for him in his fury and the other Scoobies' battles.

"I do believe you have something of mine, mate." Spike stepped up close to the little demon that held Dawn tightly in his arms. "Why don't you hand her over, and I won't make it hurt when I kill you." His golden demonic eyes practically glowed from the power and anger pulsing through Spike.

"They do say that possession is nine tenths of the law here in America, chap." The little man sneered. "So, I'd say she's mine to do with as I please." He raised the long blade high, and he brought his hand back down in the direction of Dawn's arm.

"SPIKE!" Dawn yelled and closed her eyes seconds before the world went black around her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)
 
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