REPLAY



Author: Heather Martin (SinisterChic)

Rating: PG13

Spoilers: Season 6, Season 7, Angel season 5

Summary: S/B, Learning of Spike’s resurrection Dawn and she venture to LA in search of him. But they are too late. . . Or are they? Is there a way to fix things before they began to get dark?

Archive: Just let me know where







Chapter 23- When it all Comes Together Again



As soon as it became dark it switched to a brilliant white. Buffy moaned and then opened her eyes into slits. She turned her head in protest against the light.



“Buffy’s awake!”



Buffy recognized the voice as Anya. Anya! The Anya that would have been dead if she were still in that fake world. She instantly sat up. She discovered that she was in Xander’s car. They traveled through town, heading in the direction of Revello Drive.



Xander looked back from the front seat. “Buffy, we were worried.”



“I’m so glad to see you guys!” Buffy burst out. She reached around the seat to hug her best friend.



“This is nice, Buff, but I kinda need to drive.”



Buffy sheepishly let go. “Sorry.”



“What happened?” Anya asked. “Xander said that you suddenly fainted.”

Sitting back, Buffy said, “Yeah. It was weird. I was in a world of lies.”



“Lies?”



“Uh huh. We’re going to have to research it. Maybe it’s because of Warren.”



“He hasn’t showed in awhile,” Xander remarked.



“Just about time for him to pop back up,” Buffy said. She leaned forward. “So, what happened while I was out of it? I didn’t miss out on you walking down the aisle, did I?”



Xander glanced at her. “Nah, how could I get married without you? Besides, you became top priority.”



“Yes,” agreed Anya. She grabbed her fiancé’s hand. “I have learned from humans that sometimes others come first. But Xander assures me that eventually we will be the main concern.”



The car pulled into the Summer’s driveway. Buffy opened the door and jumped out. Anya and Xander followed.



Xander came to her side. “Are you okay? Can you manage?”



“I feel fine,” Buffy said.



She got out the keys in her jeans pocket. She went up to the door and unlocked it. She flipped the light switch. All of a sudden she felt Xander take hold of her arm. He steered her toward the couch.



“You should sit down. We don’t know what caused your episode. What if you have another one?” Xander said.



“Xander is wise. You should listen,” Anya said.



Buffy shook her head. “Fine, fine,” she humored them.



She had just sat down when the front door burst open. A blurred figure stomped on a leather coat. After the smoke had vanished he lifted his head. His penetrating eyes found hers. It only took a second for him to reach her side.



“Buffy, luv, are you all right?” His hands searched for any injuries. “I wanted to ride with you but the sun was out. Had to take the Desoto.”



Buffy crushed him to her. She inhaled deeply. He smelled like cigarette smoke and alcohol. Her nose smashed against his hard chest. He was solid, he was real.



“Oh, Spike,” she choked.



The vampire stared down at her with concern. He lifted an eyebrow. She was soaking his red shirt with her tears.



Four more people entered the house.



“We finally got here,” Willow announced. “How is she doing?”



Buffy pulled away slightly from Spike. She turned to find Willow, Giles, Tara, and Dawn. “She’s doing okay.”



Dawn rushed at her sister. “All I could think of was Mom.”



Buffy hushed her. “I’m not sick, Dawnie, I promise. Something mystical is doing this. I was sent somewhere imaginary. It was like something wanted me to believe lies.”



“Well, if it’s demony I can so help,” Willow said brightly. She ran upstairs to fetch her computer.



Giles cleared his throat. “I think I’ll go back to the Magic Box. Technology is unreliable.” He headed to the door but stopped. “Before I uh go . . . Could I have a hug?”



“Ah, of course.” Buffy stood up and went to him. She gave him a tight squeeze.



He winced. “I have no doubt you’re in fine shape.”



“Too much with the slayer strength?”



“Quite so.”



“Sorry.”



He smiled and then touched her face. “I’ll be back as soon as I find something out.”



As soon as he left Dawn addressed the crowd. “How many of you are with me that Willow comes up with something first?”



Everyone raised their hands.



“Poor Mr. Giles,” Tara said.



Willow came back down, laptop in her grasp. She had caught the gist of their conversation. “He wouldn’t be Giles without his musty books.”



No one missed the sweet smiles the two witches exchanged.



+ + +



Spike moved the curtain aside. He peeked out the window to the front lawn. Buffy had a stick and poked the grass. He hardly noticed the obscure behavior. Instead he was wrapped up with the sight of her in the sun. She glowed. She was the definition of effulgent. The rays played with her, dancing around her with color. His chest ached. He had the compulsion to run outside, despite the skin ailment. But then rational thought came back.



There was still a bit of William left in him. He shook his head.



“What is she doing?”



Spike had been so caught up in his Buffy goddess worship that he hadn’t sensed the boy sneak up.



“Is it time for the spring poking already?” Xander continued.



Spike glared at him. “What are you on about?”

“Don’t tell me you hadn’t noticed how she’s poking the ground. Is that a new pastime I haven’t heard of?”



Spike turned back to the window. “It is rather odd.” Not even Drusilla had poked the ground. Buffy was doing it with great concentration too.



“That’s our Buffy, I guess. She’s never of the norm.”



“No, defiantly not. She’s special.”



“No one like her.”



Something suddenly came to Spike. “Hey, are we having a conversation?”



That caught Xander off guard. “No, I’m talking . . . and you are talking back . . . which I guess is a conversation. You know, not all conversations are friendly. Have I mentioned today that I don’t like you?”



“Not yet.”



“Well, I don’t.”



“Mutual. I don’t like you either.”



“Good. As long as that is understood.”



+ + +



“So, Warren hasn’t planted a camera,” Buffy announced.



“Is that what the poking was about, luv?” Spike asked.



“Mmm hmm.”



She stepped up and gave him a kiss. Her tongue slipped inside his mouth and swirled with his. Afterwards she felt dizzy and stumbled backwards. He steadied her.



“You aren’t going to black out again on us, are you?” her boyfriend questioned.



She laughed. “Kiss, silly. Got me all floaty.” She made hand motions in the air.



“In that case . . .” He moved in for another kiss.



“I found something!” Willow announced.



The couple abandoned their private actions and headed into the dining room. Xander, Dawn, and Anya hurried in as well. Tara already had a seat next to Willow.



“It might be a time shifter,” Willow explained. “It can manifest itself when someone attempts to change the past. You see, when someone time travels they not only reset this dimension but all the dimensions that exist. A time shifter propels from one dimension to the next.”



“What about the future?” Xander asked.



“That’s not possible. It hasn’t been written yet. I knew this demon once who tried to go to the future. He ended up erasing himself because there was nowhere for him to go. The future wasn’t there yet. You can only go back and revise what has occurred. Kind of like a manuscript. You can not change things until you have something to change. You can’t go back to before you were born either. Only your essence gets transported. If you have no body you’d just be wandering around as a ghost.” Anya said.



“Ah, I have seen the light.”



Buffy stood to the side. She had a feeling this wasn’t headed anywhere good.



“So this time shifter. . .” Buffy urged Willow to go on.



“Right. The shifter is a nonentity, meaning it has no form. It gets inside people’s heads and manipulates thoughts, making them believe things.” Willow directed her gaze on Buffy. “That would be how you were able to enter that imaginary world. It was all an illusion this thing created.”



“Wait, this can’t be the cause,” Xander said. “Someone would have had to change time.”



Tara fidgeted in her seat. “None of us have. But Warren could have.”



“Not a scenario I like. I really hate that guy.”



Buffy met Dawn’s eyes. They looked as worried as she felt.



At that moment Giles came in. He was out of breath.



“Did you find anything?” Buffy asked.



“Buffy, I need to speak with you privately,” he replied.



“Is it about a time shifter?”



“Y-yes.” The volume of his voice lowered.



Buffy scanned the scene. Dawn gave her a look that screamed ‘We’re in trouble’. They were. It was either outright lie or come clean.



“Giles, you’ve been beaten by Willow. She found the information first. I think there is no way around it. I’m going to have to spill.”



“But I thought . . .”



“What are you talking about?” Spike asked.



She took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.



“Guys, Dawn and I are from the future.”



___________________________________________



More fun on the way.