Not Beneath Me - Chapter 21 (Intervention Of The Stuffy Kind)
By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Angel found the hypodermic, and Giles found the vial of liquid used on Spike. Wesley and Giles had a chat, and Wes has agreed to help and listen to both sides of everything. Joyce is home now. Buffy and Dawn seemed to sense something off about Ben when he met them before they left the hospital. The Council has arrived from England, and they have firmly planted themselves in the Magic Box much to Giles' dismay. Wesley walked into the Magic Box shortly after Giles arrived. Both are shocked to see the Council there, and neither seems inclined to give any information to the Council. Travers is full of threats now, but will he really go through with it.

(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.

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"Um ..." A quick glance at Giles told Wesley to keep their quest close to the cuff. He shook his head, closed the book he was carrying, and tucked it close to his body. He made sure the empty back cover was all that could be seen. "I don't believe I will, Mr. Travers. I am no longer under your employ and therefore not obligated to share information with you."

"You both do realize that I could have you deported with one phone call?" Quentin accentuated his threat with a wave of his hand to one of the secretaries. She placed a leather briefcase on the table and snapped it open to reveal a mobile phone center.

Wesley gasped in surprise. He had no desire to return to England at the moment. He rather liked having an ocean between him and his overbearing and disapproving father.

Giles' face remained stoic and calm. He knew Travers had the power to do as he threatened, but it seemed like Quentin was fishing for something. This wasn't about getting rid of Giles. Travers wanted something. "Sending us back to England won't get you the answers you seek."

Quentin Travers watched as Giles advanced on him from a few feet away. He calculated that both of them would have capitulated under the ominous threat of deportation. He hadn't wanted to pull his ace out so quickly, but he was beyond the point of tolerance and patience to deal with Buffy Summers and her blatant disregard for her duty. So he cut right to the quick of it.

Giles stopped moving when he was toe to toe with the head of the Council. He towered over the man who stayed seated at the research table. "If you think taking me away from my Slayer will force me to cooperate, you are sadly mistaken." His voice held every edge of his inner Ripper.

Wesley watched Giles interact with Travers in amazement. He never saw anyone dare to speak to their former leader that way. For once, Quentin Travers looked uneasy and concerned. He silently cheered Giles on.

Quentin forced the hard lump in his throat down. He was well aware of Rupert Giles' checkered past before he started training with the Council. He was certain that he was being threatened.

"That would be the worst thing you could do, Quentin." Giles threatened Travers in a counter offensive, "I would never tell you a thing, and I would rip my way through anyone necessary to get back to the family I care for."

Several of the Watchers stared in shock at Rupert Giles with gaping mouths. What surprised them more was the ashen look on their leader's face. They'd never seen him flinch or shirk away from anyone. Normally he responded to threats with a laugh or counter-threat of his own. It worried them to see Quentin Travers sitting so still in the face of adversity. A few of the Watchers tried to edge their way towards the training room door.

Wesley caught the movement in the room before Giles. "If I were you, I'd stay right there." He evened his stare on the retreating men and women. "I'm sure we can all have ourselves a little chat to see what brings the all mighty Council to our doorstep."

Confident that his point was embedded in Quentin's mind loud and clear, Giles backed away from the man to stand next to Wesley. "I'm curious myself, but there will be no more threats from you Quentin, or it will get ugly. You're in my backyard now."

Deciding that going after Wesley was an easier path to take, Quentin directed his attention at the young former Watcher. "Your father would be so disappointed in you, Wesley. He'd never approve of your refusal to assist me."

Wesley's eyes hardened. He realized what Travers was trying to do. It wouldn't succeed because he'd made his peace that what he was doing was the right path to take, even if it wasn't the path his father would have chosen for him. "My father doesn't approve of my life, as it is. I doubt he cares about anything concerning me at this point."

Giles was proud of the way Wesley stood up to the head of the Council. Wesley was nothing like the sniveling and whining Watcher who came to take over Buffy's training a couple years ago. Before him now was a man he could learn to respect and be friends with.

"Perhaps we should get to the heart of the matter." Quentin was further disappointed that the attempt to rile Wesley failed. 'What is this world coming to when Watchers and Slayers refuse to obey as they should?' He thought to himself. He removed a large manila envelope from a pocket of another briefcase. "It seems you have a problem on your hands."

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

Spike, Buffy and Dawn were enjoying some together time on the couch in the Summers' home. After much debate a movie was chosen by two-thirds majority vote. That meant, of course, that Buffy and Dawn outvoted Spike. So instead of watching an action adventure or classic movie, he was stuck watching a movie called "Ghostbusters".

"You've got to be kidding me." Spike laughed, but he shook his head as well. "They can't seriously think that some scientific doo dad would keep the ghosts from getting out? Besides ghosts aren't like that."

Dawn punched Spike's upper arm. "It's fantasy, Spike. Shut up!"

"Yeah, Spike. If I wanted realistic demons and ghosts, I'd find them during patrol. I wouldn't watch them on TV." Buffy buried her hand in the bowl of popcorn they were sharing. "That's why I don't watch any of those martial arts films. They are too close to Slayer training."

"If you used those to train with I would have killed you in less than 5 minutes, luv." Spike rolled his eyes. "You ever watch how none of the moves actually hit anything, and they are so sloppy that a fledgling could block them."

"Enough about work already." Dawn whined. "Giles gave you the day off to be with Mom. We so don't need to be talking about Slayage and training."

"Bit's right. Sorry, pet." Spike looked at Buffy apologetically. "No more shop talk."

"Yep, no more shop talk. The shop is closed." Buffy snuggled against Spike's side. "Just the three of us enjoying some family and snuggle time."

"I'll take the family time cause the snuggle time ... ew ... I'm not macking on your boyfriend."

Spike laughed and tousled Dawn's hair. "Silly, Bit."

Buffy laughed too. She was happy at the moment. Such moments were fleeting and rare in her life. She hoped they had a while to enjoy it before the real world crept in again.

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

Giles wondered which problem Quentin referred to. He wasn't about to list each of their problems to find out what one Quentin meant. It would give Travers too much information into what was happening in Sunnydale. "What ever do you mean?"

"Don't play games with me, Rupert. I know you're hiding something." Travers slapped his hand down on the table over the envelope. "We've heard several conflicting reports about Miss Summers' loyalty to her duty. Before I give you the information on a bit of a problem I know you are having with a woman named Glory, Miss Summers is going to have to complete a series of tests."

"Tests? You're joking, right?" Giles huffed. "Why wouldn't you want to share the information with us? If Glory is as powerful as she appears to be, she is a threat to everyone."

"I am not going to hand over volatile information about Glorificus, and bringing her down, to a group of people who might be in league with her." Quentin knew he was bluffing about the information on bringing Glory down, but he needed every edge to stay ahead of Giles.

Giles choked. "Surely you aren't suggesting that we would join with Glory to end the world? Buffy was almost killed the last time she faced this woman."

"It isn't out of the realm of possibilities, Rupert. Miss Summers partnered herself with a leading member of the Scourge of Europe before, and it led to her "quitting" the Council. If rumors are correct she's doing it again." Quentin explained their reservations. Although his attitude was pompous, there was a valid point in making sure the Slayer hadn't switched sides.

"Did you think she would jump for joy when you refused to help her save the man she loved?" Giles retorted angrily.

"We've tolerated her insubordination now for years. The timing is crucial for her to return to the fold now." Travers sat unwavering in his demands, "But we have to be sure where she stands."

"Do you honestly think she will return to the Council?" Giles shook his head back and forth. Was Quentin really that delusional to think that with a word from him, Buffy would go back under the Council's control? "I doubt she would willingly return under the Council's thumb."

"There are persuasive means to make her return," Quentin delighted in the possibility of removing Buffy Summers as the Slayer. He longed for simpler days when Slayers followed their orders without question. "We've dealt with rogue Slayers before. Our methods can be quite effective. Miss Summers is not impervious to bullets, bolts and arrows. It just takes more of them to get the job done.

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

Willow and Tara walked along the streets of downtown Sunnydale. Classes were done for the day, and Joyce was back from the hospital. After a quick check on Xander's condition, they trotted off to the Magic Box. Giles called earlier in the day to ask them both to attend a meeting and research "party" there.

Hand in hand, the lover Wiccas walked to the back entrance of the shop since they were coming from that end of town. Both reflected on their own thoughts, and they weren't talking out loud either. So, no one heard them quietly open and close the back door that led into the training room.

Willow and Tara stepped into the training room tentatively. They never knew when Buffy might be training, and it was dangerous to break into a session when Buffy had weapons.

Willow and Tara reached the inner door in time to hear the tail end of the conversation. They both sucked in a tight breath. The inner door flung open, and the two girls were grabbed and drug into the shop.

"Let them go!" Giles rushed over to Willow and Tara. He pushed the Watchers away from them. He helped them both stand back up since they'd ended up on the floor when released.

"Where did they come from?" Quentin stood up. He never liked the feeling that his back was exposed. "You were supposed to check for other entrances," He barked in anger at those he considered his underlings.

"I don't know how we missed it, Sir." One Watcher edged towards the training room door. "I'll take care of it." He headed into the training room and out the back exit of the Magic Box. He was happier to be outside anyways. The tension inside was palpable. He needed a break from it.

Wesley helped Willow right herself while she dusted herself off. "Hello, Miss Rosenberg."

Recognition lit across Willow's face. "Wesley? What are you doing here?"

"That explanation was to be part of the meeting," Giles directed his words to Willow while he made sure Tara was all right. "But when I got here, they were here instead." He pointed around the room.

Willow nodded. 'With all that tweed, I'm betting on it being the Watcher's Council.' She thought to herself. The unhappy look on Giles' face confirmed her theory. She leaned in to whisper into Wesley's ear, "I take it Angel is around here somewhere?"

Wesley nodded and whispered back, "He is at the mansion."

"Not good," Willow said louder. "Does Buffy know they're here?"

"I haven't had a chance to inform her yet. Why don't you go call her?" Giles motioned his head towards his office phone. The farther away from the Council Willow was, the more freely she could talk.

"All right. I'll see if she's home."

"You should catch up with the times, Rupert. The girl should have a cell phone." Quentin felt secure enough to sit back down. "She should be at your beckon call."

Tara giggled at the thought of Buffy at anyone's beckon call. "He does ... sss ... n't know Buffy very well, does ... sss he?"

Wesley and Giles both hid smirks of mirth. The pair headed over to the research table. Tara hung back by the ladder to the upper level. It kept her closer to Willow, and something told her to keep an eye on Giles' books.

Willow tapped her fingers on Giles' desk. "Come on, pick up." She fidgeted nervously. When she heard Buffy say hello on the other end, she hurried to get out the reason why she called, "Buffy, I'm at the Magic Box. We have a serious problem."

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

Buffy grumbled at the ringing of the phone. All three of them jumped up to get the phone before it woke Joyce. Instead of reaching the phone in the first few rings, the simultaneous movement of Dawn, Spike and Buffy rendered them immobile on the floor.

Spike recovered first, and he helped Buffy to stand again. Buffy headed over to the phone, and Spike extended his hand to Dawn to help her up.

"Summers' residence. This better be good because I'm all bruised now." Buffy's voice was curt, but a bit of humor lay beneath it. All of her friends knew not to call the house today. They'd all agreed that it would be best for her mom to rest without distractions.

Spike smiled. "I hope it isn't your da."

Dawn snorted, "As if he'd care enough to call and see how we are doing."

Spike hugged Dawn. He spent many days and nights talking to Joyce about her ex-husband, her marriage, and taking care of everything as a single parent.

"You're kidding me!" Buffy yelled into the phone. "They said what?"

Spike and Dawn rushed next to Buffy. Both of them strained to hear the other end of the conversation. Spike was able to pick up little bits here and there. The word Council was predominantly mentioned. "Bloody Hell."

"What?" Dawn looked up at Spike with concern.

"I think the bloody Council of Wankers decided to pay a visit."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "That can't be a good sign."

Buffy hung up the phone. She practically slammed the handset back into the cradle. "It isn't!" She started pacing between the dining room, entryway and living room.

Spike caught Buffy in the entryway. He stopped her from pacing and turned her to face him. "What did Red say?"

"It seems the Council has taken over the Magic Box." Buffy closed her eyes, and she rested the top of her head against Spike's chest. She butted her head against his firm chest in frustration. "Willow said they were taunting Giles when she arrived with Tara."

Spike growled. "Why are they even here? You don't work for the gits anymore."

"It seems they still feel I belong to them." Buffy needed the comfort from Spike, and she knew that he was going to hit the roof after her next statement. "Willow walked in on a conversation about killing uncooperative Slayers."

"Like Hell they will!" Spike shouted. He pushed Buffy away from him to lock his gaze with her. "No one and nothing is going to hurt my mate."

Dawn silently fumed. She was slumped on the couch. "Stupid Council," She muttered under her breath. As if they didn't have enough problems already.

Buffy smiled warmly at Spike's possessiveness. She would have fought anyone else who made such a claim, but it felt right for Spike to say it. "We are going to straighten them out, Spike."

"You shouldn't go anywhere near them, if they want to kill you." Dawn interjected from the living room.

"Willow said Giles really did want me there." Buffy evened her gaze on Spike, "And I think that I should have company."

Spike nodded. "Bloody right."

Buffy walked into the living room. "Do you think you'll be able to handle staying home with Mom? I don't want to wake her to tell her about more trouble."

"Not a problem, Buffy. You go kick their asses."

"Language, Bit." Spike corrected.

"As if you have anything to say mister bloody this and bloody that." Dawn waggled a chastising finger at Spike.

Buffy laughed. "She has you pegged." She tugged on Dawn's arm to stand up. "Let me show you where I put all of mom's medications in case she needs something."

"Okay." Buffy and Dawn disappeared up the stairs.

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

"She's on her way," Willow interrupted the conversation after she hung up the phone and left the office. "She needs to check on her mother before she can leave." She nodded to Giles to let him know that Buffy knew what was going on.

"I'm sure it won't take them too long to get here." Giles nodded slightly in return. He knew Spike would never let Buffy come to the shop alone, daylight or not.

"They?" Quentin queried.

"You'll find out soon enough." Giles moved over to the register. He unlocked a drawer beneath it and pulled out a journal. He relocked the drawer before he walked back to the middle of the room. "Now about Glory," He recited a few facts that they'd gathered in the last few weeks. It wasn't until recently that they knew the woman's name was Glory or Glorificus, but he'd still jotted down all their observations before that time as well as currently.

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

About a block away from the Magic Box, Buffy kissed Spike goodbye. During their walk from the Summers' house, Buffy and Spike discussed how best to approach the Council. One thing they agreed on was a division of advancement. Buffy would enter the Magic Box through the front, and Spike would enter through the back entrance into the training room.

Buffy was satisfied that Spike would behave as best as possible while at the Magic Box. He promised he wouldn't eat them all. He told her that all bets would be off if one of them tried to harm a hair on her head. It was the most she could expect. She felt the same way about him. If anyone tried to hurt him, she'd take them out in a heartbeat.

The bell inside the shop door tinged and jingled when Buffy walked in from the outside. She gave a cursory survey around the room as she walked down the stairs and over to Giles. She crossed her arms across her chest. "Quentin Travers," Her normal soft voice was icy and sarcastic, "Just the man I hoped to never see again."

"I'd say it was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Summers, but it isn't." Quentin met Buffy's sarcasm with his own. It was evident that neither felt any better about seeing each other again.

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

Spike slammed the training room door open into the main area of the Magic Box. A tall man dressed in tweed hung from the end of Spike's grasp. The man was still kicking to get loose as Spike walked them both into the middle of the shop.

All heads turned as the echo of a door hitting the wall pierced their hearing. Objects on the wall shook under the strain of the angry vampire.

"I found this wanker blocking the back door. Fancied himself as some sort of guard." Spike snorted. "Couldn't even get his stake out without dropping it. Do you even train this gits properly anymore?" He threw the man into the sea of other Watchers standing around. "Flash a little fang, and he was mush."

Buffy smiled in pride at Spike. She wanted to laugh in Travers' face, but she figured that would be pushing it. "Glad you could make it, sweetie."

Spike crossed the room confident and strong. His demon wanted to tear through the place and leave no survivors except the Scoobies. This group was a threat to his and Buffy's existence. From what the Wicca said on the phone they were already threatening Giles and Buffy too.

Buffy's arms encircled Spike's waist. She kissed him softly on the lips. Both of them were aware of the looks being sent their way.

While they kissed, they used their distraction to silently assess the room for weapons, threats, exits, and allies. Spike's eyes spoke understanding when he stepped back and to the side to stand next to Buffy instead of in front of her.

'Now that takes guts to do that.' Wesley's respect for Buffy's determination and conviction grew in those few minutes. He doubted that anyone else noticed how Buffy and Spike kept their eyes open during the kiss. He stood right next to them. So, he saw Spike checking things out. Even in the shared moment of intimacy, Buffy seemed to be on duty. This time she was protecting those she loved not those she was chosen to save by duty.

"I see our reports were accurate. William the Bloody is your new partner." Quentin slumped back against the back of the chair. "You have indeed switched sides this time."

"William the Bloody is my boyfriend, and he will soon be my mate." Buffy stated seriously. She wanted it quite clear that she was firm about Spike's place in her life.

Spike puffed up with pride over Buffy's declaration. Every time he heard her refer to him as her mate, he couldn't help the sense of satisfaction from bubbling over.

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

Willow and Tara swung their feet over the balcony on the upper level of the Magic Box. Giles kept his more dangerous and research books up here where customers wouldn't be able to reach them. Willow and Tara figured that if the Council want to take anything from up here without Giles' permission, the could stop them with a barrier spell.

Willow found amusement in kicking dust particles on the heads of the Watcher's below the balcony. She watched the Watcher's bat at their faces and run their fingers through the air as the pieces of dust and dirt drifted at them.

Tara stilled Willow's legs. She leaned in to whisper, "We don't want to make them any angrier than they already are, Willow."

Willow pouted like a sad puppy dog. If she was more powerful she would have sent Travers and his merry little band back to England on a one way ticket. She was trying to find her amusement any way she could. It helped to distract her from the worry over what was Buffy going to do or not do.

Tara kissed the tip of Willow's nose playfully. She rested her head on Willow's shoulder and listened to the continuing conversation below.

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

"Apparently your sources aren't as good as you thought, Quentin." Giles delighted in the sickened look on Travers' face. "Spike has been fighting with us for the last year or so now. He was the one who switched sides, not Buffy."

Spike grumbled to himself about being considered a white hatter. It was inevitable that he wear the title because he was helping the Slayer and the Scoobies kill the baddies and keep things safe. Sometimes his demon just got a little upset about being called "good".

"How is this possible?" Quentin knew all he cared to know about demons. Vampires were bloodthirsty creatures of the night. They weren't fit beings to walk the earth, and he'd made it his life's goal to eradicate them all through his Slayers.

"It started with this nasty little government organization called the Initiative." Spike growled.

The events of the last year plus unfolded between Spike, Buffy and Giles telling the story. Buffy and Giles reinforced all of the times Spike helped them. Spike readily admitted his mistake with Adam, and Giles countered Travers' objections with other instances during the Adam fiasco where Spike helped immensely.

Buffy held Spike's hand tightly. She needed the reassurance of his presence in what she felt was a battle zone. She told Travers that even when all Spike wanted was to bag his third Slayer, he helped her save the world from being plunged into Hell by Angelus and Acathla.

Quentin argued that a soulless demon was not able to show or feel emotions the way humans did. Buffy blew that argument out of the water with examples of how Spike loved Drusilla for over a hundred years. She told about how Spike watched over Dawn and cared for her mother long before Buffy wanted anything to do with Spike.

They argued back and forth for at least an hour. Neither side really made any progress. It seemed that each side was arguing at their own brick wall, and the frustration levels were at their peaks.

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

Joyce Summers woke up a few hours after she went to sleep. Her mouth was dry, and she her headache was stronger than when she went to sleep. She sat up in bed and rang the little bell Spike gave her before he left the room earlier.

Dawn ran up the stairs quickly. In her haste she almost tripped on the last step going up to the landing. She righted herself with the railing and walked the rest of the way to her mother's room. "Mommy?" She peered into the room. She only opened the door a crack.

"Thank you for coming, Dawn." Joyce motioned for Dawn to come the rest of the way into the room.

"Did you sleep well?"

"It was a nice little nap." Joyce adjusted the blankets in her lap. "I'm afraid I woke up with a headache though. Would you please get me a glass of water and my pills?" She would have rather gotten them herself, but the pounding in her head forced her to keep her eyes closed as much as possible and stay stationary.

"Sure. I'll be right back." Dawn rushed from the bedroom. It was a good thing that Buffy made sure Dawn knew where their mom's different types of pills were located. It would have taken her a long time to find them. The medicine cabinet in the bathroom was the last place she would have looked. She picked out the one Buffy told her was for headaches and other pain.

Joyce rubbed her temples in an effort to lessen the pain. She had to be careful not to press on the incision from the tumor removal.

Dawn ran back into the bedroom. She set a bottle of water on the nightstand. She then handed two pain pills and a glass of water to Joyce. "I brought the bottle in case you get thirsty later."

"That is so thoughtful of you, Dawn." Joyce yawned. She hadn't realized that she'd want to sleep so much when she got home. "Are you, Spike and Buffy watching a movie downstairs?"

"We were, but they needed to go to the Magic Box."

"The Magic Box? I thought Rupert gave them the day off."

"He did, but something came up." Dawn tried not to look worried. "It's nothing she can't handle."

Joyce nodded, but she doubted that the matter was as simple as Dawn made it out to be. "All right. I trust her to know what she is doing." She finished the glass of water and slid back down to lay against the pillows flat. "I think I'll rest a bit more."

"Okay. Give me a ring if you need anything else." Dawn hugged her mother gently, picked up the empty glass, and closed the door behind her when she left.

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

"Unless he is willing to be ensouled, we will never accept William the Bloody as a partner for the Slayer." Quentin hissed. He might be forced to accept a lot of things, but a relationship between the Chosen One and the slayer of Slayers was a direct slap in the face to everything they stood for.

"You're not cursing me with a bloody soul." Spike growled. "I don't need a soul to do right by Buffy." He was furious that even after all they'd shared with Quentin Travers, the man still thought he had to be cursed with a soul to be considered tame enough to help the Scoobies. Hell if he wanted to he could eat all of them now, but he promised Buffy he wouldn't. Knowing right from wrong wasn't based on a soul.

Several of the Watchers jumped back from the lethal blonde pair. Spike vamped out in his anger without realizing it, and they were staring straight into the face of one of the most dangerous vampires in Council history.

Buffy squeezed Spike's arm in comfort and support. "Honey," She made a mock grrr face at him, "Bumpies." She pointed to his face. "Not that I don't love them, but you're scaring the children." She mocked the fear that the supposedly powerful men and women of the Council showed.

Spike shook off his demon. Now was not the place and time to teach these wankers a true lesson. William tried to placate the demon within, 'She won't let them harm us, Spike. She loves us just as we are.'

'I am not bloody well giving up sex because the gits want to curse us. I already have a damn soul, conscience, whatever. I deal with you every day.' The demon huffed back at the remnant of his human days.

Spike rubbed his temples to ward off the headache forming. He rubbed his hand over Buffy's to show that he was all right when she looked at him with concerned eyes. "Bit of an argument going on." During one of their post lovemaking talk sessions, Spike tried to explain to Buffy what it was like in his head at times. He told her that for whatever reason, he felt his demon and his human sides argue with each other. Sometimes he even heard physical words being thrown back and forth.

"I'll bet that is one hell of a conversation." Buffy teased. She hugged Spike once more before she turned her attention back to a gobsmacked Quentin Travers.

The head of the Council watched the display in disgust. "You allow this to continue?" He directed the words to Giles. "How can you choose to let her throw all we taught you into such disarray."

"It is not Giles' choice, and it's certainly not yours, Travers." Buffy narrowed her gaze on the aging Watcher. "I trust Giles more than almost anyone, but I won't give up Spike even for him." She sent Giles an apologetic look. "Thankfully, he was willing to give Spike a chance to prove himself for my sake."

Giles blushed and adjusted the glasses on his face. He loved Buffy like a daughter, and he knew the Council would use that against him in any way they could. It was why he was fired in the first place. "I've found that when Buffy makes her mind up about something, you need to stay by her side to see to her safety and care. If it is a wrong choice, I'll be there to pick up the pieces. If it is a right choice, I'll be there to celebrate alongside her."

Buffy smiled warmly at Giles. Her smile turned to a dark smirk before she faced Travers head on again. "You," She poked Travers in the chest, "Are going to tell us what we need to know with no more talk of ensouling. I happen to have two powerful witches for friends who would be more than happy to protect Spike. So don't try it behind my back either."

Willow and Tara smiled from their perch on the upper landing. It was good to hear that Buffy found them both useful and powerful. They wanted to support her in any way they could.

Strangely enough, Anya kept her mouth shut the entire time. The men and women frightened her. Even though she was a human right now, she didn't think they would care about that. If they knew she was a former vengeance demon, she feared for her life. She tried to blend into the background and not draw attention to herself.

"This discussion is pointless." Quentin sighed. He stood up, which pushed Buffy back away from him a little. "You are asking for us to give up too much in exchange for nothing."

Buffy frowned. 'This stupid man is so damn stubborn. He'll let the world be destroyed just to save his pride.'

"We'll keep our information to ourselves." Quentin tucked the envelope back into his briefcase. He motioned for all of the Council, and the others with him, to follow him to the door. "Perhaps when you've come to your senses, and can prove where your loyalties lie, we can speak again."

"Be realistic, Mr. Travers. Would you really allow this demon to continue to wreak havoc?" Wesley interjected his concerns. "Is the Council that pig-headed and one-sided with their beliefs that they would rather see the world go to Hell than believe one demon is able to seek out his own redemption without a soul?"

"You are young, boy." Quentin addressed Wesley with disdain. "One day you will understand just how wrong you are." With those parting words, Quentin Travers and his entourage left the Magic Box.

Buffy slumped down in the chair Travers vacated a few minutes before. "Was that as fun for everyone else as it was me?" She buried her head in her arms on the table.

Spike slipped his arms around Buffy and comforted her as best he could. He was elated that Buffy stood her ground about her relationship with him, but he knew they needed whatever information Quentin Travers had. As much as he loved Buffy, he wasn't willing to let others die so he could be happy. He started thinking of what he could do to get the information from the stuffed shirt.

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

(To Be Continued)