Part Four

Rupert roared on past the car and brought his motorcycle to a halt behind a mountain of shipping containers a hundred yards down the dock from the bow of the "Westfall Blue".

"Why all the way down here?" Willow asked as he cut the engine.

Giles slid off the bike and tossed his head toward the leather saddlebags which held all they deemed necessary. "Don't want them to question our baggage and..." He stopped, pulled his smokes out and lit one.

"And what Lover?"

"And, it's just to be on the safe side. I'd imagine that Buffy is a bit brassed off at he moment and it's better not to have all our means of escape in one basket, so to speak." He made a "cluck" noise and motioned toward Wesley and Rita who were waiting for them beside their vehicle. "Well, let's get moving before we end up having to listen to another sermon."

Willow began to mock Rita's critique of her kill. "Yeah, I heard enough of that tonight - 'next time just break the mark's neck and toss him in a closet'. Yeah right. She says I'm 'impressive' but it drew too much attention. Keep it simple stupid."

"She said 'simplicity is the keyword' and you must admit there was quite the circus unfolding there in front of the hotel."

"Who's side are you on?" Willow grumbled.

"Ours." Giles said with a toothy grin and an unexpected grab around her waist.

"Put me down." She yelped.

Rupert hoisted her over his shoulder and spun around a few times. "Say 'please'."

In answer she reached backward and gave him a not to gentle smack on the side of the head. "What if I say - 'you're sleeping alone for the next hundred years'?"

"Then you would be telling a lie." He laughed as he ran his hand up her leg.

"You're awful happy."

"Well Luv, it is a happy night!" He exclaimed giving his half smoked cig a flick onto the ground. "We... as in you and I, thwarted their ambush then rubbed their noses in it and within an hour or two we'll be on our way to Vancouver. For the first time since my rising I feel totally liberated." Giles took a fast glance over toward the other two and bent over to put Willow back down. He wrapped his arms around her and brought his mouth down onto hers.

With a shiver of delight Willow molded up against him, her hands searching down his back in a serpentine motion and sliding into the back pockets of his jeans. Giles growled through the kiss as she curled and rubbed her fingers across the one layer of cloth which separated her fingertips from the skin of his arse. She pulled her lips back a fraction of an inch from his and asked in a voice accented with sensual hunger. "You sure you want to stay here and be the moving guy?"

"What I want is.." He began and then finished the statement with the touch of his hands and a second fiery kiss.

"Rupert, Willow - over here." Wesley called out as he approached.

Neither paid the first bit of attention to The Acolyte until he standing directly beside them. "That's quite enough, or must I turn a fire hose on the both of you?"

"Splendid idea, hurry off and get it and take your time." Giles sniped back.

"Watch you tone." Wesley warned holding out a cell phone.

As she reached out for the device Willow flagrantly rubbed her body across Rupert's which induced a small shivering groan. Taking the phone in her hand she ran her tongue seductively along her upper lip. "Anybody want to call for a pizza... delivery guy?" She asked in plural but her attention was directed only toward Giles. "Or you want something else?"

Rupert's eyes blazed. "You know what I want."

"Enough!"

Willow's lip curled at the command. "Wes, you're no fun."

Wesley halfway bared his human teeth in threat. "Give him the phone then you come with me and I'll show you 'fun'. In matter of fact I'll take you the first time right there on the gangplank."

Willow bristled but Giles stayed outwardly calm as he took the phone from her hand. "Wesley.." He stated as he stepped into Wyndam-Pryce's personal space. "...you ever touch her again and I'll twist your fucking head off and then write my name in your dust."

"Thank you for the warning, I do appreciate it." Wesley acknowledged as he casually reached out and straightened the collar on Rupert's black leather jacket. "You will stand guard. If you see anything just push 'redial', it will ring into Mistress's phone."

Rupert brushed the hand away. "I will destroy you."

"Follow orders." Wesley said with rising ire. He gave his head a toss toward the "Westfall Blue" turned on his heel and left with a simple "Come along Willow".

"Willow." Giles called out softly, his voice not betraying the storm within. "I will put the bike keys back into the ignition. Use it if you have to."

"What are you talking about Lover?" She whispered.

"Damn it Willow! Hurry up!" Wesley shouted back over his shoulder.

"Just in case you have to go somewhere until things cool off." Rupert answered with a thin smile. "Just in case he is truly a fool." He brushed a fingertip down her cheek. "Go on."

A glimmer of worry appeared in her voice. "Rupert?"

"Go on." He said as he stepped back into the shadows cast by the dockside mass of shipping containers and machinery.

As Giles watched her step lightly over the crane tracks and join up with Wesley he felt a strange, heady mix of jealousy, desire and anticipation. His smile became a bit broader as he noticed that Wesley was keeping his hands to himself. "Perhaps I won't have to thrash him into dirt." He commented to himself as he lit another cigarette which he smoked in silence as he mentally sorted out the events of the past two days.

He knew that there would be hell to pay over the death and destruction of Buffy's beloved ones. That was both a given and now the paramount reason that they should leave L.A. as his wounded pride took the back seat. Giles inhaled an unessential breath just to hiss back out. "I wish this night was over."

******

"They just boarded the boat." Xander said, handing off the binoculars to Buffy.

"Willow and Wesley." She commented without emotion as she focused in.

Rees peered toward the "Westfall Blue" trying to pick out movement. There seems to be someone up on the third or fourth level."

Buffy swept her gaze upward. "Yeah.. some woman, looks like she's waiting on them." She pursed her lips and watched Rita. "...now she's leaning over the rail and talking to them... and she just went through a door on the.... uh, third floor up."

"Any sign of Giles?" Cordy asked as she picked through the suitcase and came up with a short sword in one hand and a stake in the other.

"Nope. But he's there somewhere and he's just as dust as the rest of them." Buffy answered in the same monotone.

Xander made an attention getting noise. "Ahem, Buffy?" You sure you're gonna be okay with this?"

"Yeah. Fine." She slowly lowered the binoculars and eyed Harris. "Why did you ask me that? You think I'll choke?"

Xander looked away.

"Answer me."

"Naaa.. forget it." He mumbled, wishing he had never went there.

Cordelia crossed her arms at the exchange and then blurted out. "You did when Angel went bad."

Tom made a slashing motion with his hands. "Put a cork in it!"

"Well it's the truth!" Cordy added. "She let him run around killing people for months. Theresa and Miss Calendar, that Dr. Perren curator guy and Kendra and who knows how many...."

"Ah... Drusilla killed Kendra." Xander corrected.

Buffy gritted her teeth. "You sayin' that I can't do it?"

Rees stomped his way into the middle of the confrontation. "This conversation is OVER!"

Buffy took a step toward Cordelia and Xander. "No.. I wanna hear what they have to say."

Xander shook his head. "Sorry, never mind."

"Well, you have to admit that..."

"Cor-DELIA!" Rees snapped. "The past has no bearing here!" He swept his gaze over the other three. "So listen to me, we are going up against a Guide, a witch and two highly trained soldiers of hell. These are not your old friends, these are demons who have reanimated their corpses."

"And?" Cordelia asked waving her hands in a "hurry up" motion.

Rees made a terrible noise at being interrupted then gritted out. "May I continue?"

"You don't need to. We've got this whole 'it ain't really them' thing down." Buffy sniped as she patted her pocket for her stake. "Let's go do it."

Cordy ran her hand back through her hair. "Do we have a plan or anything?"

"Man, that's a big ship." Xander mumbled just to keep the topic changing.

Tom's hackles lowered a bit. "Not really, looks like a 1,800 or 2,000 T.E.U. Believe me, they get a hell of a lot bigger. I've seen them over 6,000. Too bad it's not loaded, we would have more cover that way." He stated while he fiddled around unwrapping a stick of gum. "But it looks like they're in for maintenance, doing some work on the bulbous bow."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "English Rees... try again in English."

"It's not really that big and it's sitting empty because they are fixing it." He dryly translated. "How's that pet?"

"Better."

Rees picked up his crossbow and began to load the weapon. "As for the 'plan'... well, we go in as a united force and hopefully corner them in their lair by using the Relic of Saint Blaise." He sighted down the crossbow and nodded. "Then we destroy the bastards. Any questions?"

In answer all collected their weapons and began to move out, keeping to the shadows as they covered the quarter of a mile that lay between them and their prey. Xander fell in step beside a strangely silent Anya and tried to draw her into some tension relieving conversation.

"You wanna go out for a burger or something when were done?"

Anya kept looking straight ahead. "What will it be like to die?"

"Huh?" Was all that Xander could get out.

"I've never though about that before. I've never 'had' to think about that before." She said apprehensively. "What will it be like?"

"Uh.. well Anya, nobody really knows." Xander hedged. "So please, don't think about it."

"Was Riley afraid? Did it hurt?" She continued.

Xander wrapped an arm around her. "It was fast and that's all a person can hope for."

"Keep the chatter down." Tom whispered over his shoulder.

"We'll talk about it later, okay? Over a burger." Xander murmured reassuringly in her ear.

Anya brightened a bit. "I'd rather have sex."

"Then we'll get take out." Xander smiled back. "Come on let's get this over with."

All too quickly the "Westfall Blue" loomed up at their side. While other docks blazed with activity this place seemed eerily deserted. The only sound that came to their ears was a composition of creaks and squeaks as the incoming tide rubbed the massive ship against the rubber docking fenders. The gangway was empty as was the decks and the only light that could be seen came from the oddly spaced walk and stairway bulbs which illuminated their respective spaces with a faint yellowish glow.

Rees went directly up to Rita's car, withdrew a knife from his boot and slashed the front tires.

"Rees... remind me never to get you pissed at me." Xander said with a snort. "'Cause you're a little too good at that."

"Usually I just shatter the windscreen and then take a piss in the driver's seat." Tom truthfully noted as he replaced his blade.

Cordy wrinkled up her nose. "Oh thank you for that mental image! You are such a loser!"

"Like that's news?" Buffy muttered as she looked around. "Hey guys, my spidie sense is going nuts."

Rees joined her in scanning the area, trying to feel out what Buffy sensed. After a few breaths he decided. "Must be because of their vehicle, it is filled with the essence of the undead. In addition to that we are also close to a great evil in the form of Rita."

"So, we just go up and knock?" Cordelia whispered with a nod toward the ship.

"You, me and Anya's going that way." Xander deadpanned, tossing his thumb between the gangway and a huge dockside crane. "Rees and Buffy are going to crawl up that bad boy and Tarzan in."

"We're staying together Harris, so start your ascent and try not to fall." Rees countered as he gave the younger man a quick slap on the back. "I do hope your vine swinging skills are up to par."

Cordy's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "You're kidding, right?!"

"Yes.. I'm kidding. We're going in like normal people." Tom said with a gallows grin. "Buffy, take the lead. Then Xander, Cordelia..."

Buffy stepped around Anya to get a better look at the last twenty yards of dock between them and the gangway.

Thunk.

"Oh."

The two sounds came a heartbeat apart followed by Anya's shuddering moan as she fell to her knees. Her sword fell to the ground with a clatter as her hands went to her chest directly over her heart.

Pandemonium.

Xander rushed to Anya who was staring downward at her chest at the tip of the knife which protruded from the center of a widening blood stain.

"Damn it Buffy. When are you going to learn to hold still?" Rupert's voice taunted from within a tangle of machinery behind them.

Bedlam.

Anya leaned forward, exposing the knife buried to the hilt in her back. She heard Xander calling her name, telling her to hold on, feeling his arms lower her to the ground... then nothing more.

At least it was fast.

"May I have my knife back, please? It's my favorite."

In one motion, Buffy scooped up Anya's dropped sword and went for the mocking voice.

Rees felt his guts twist at the sound of Xander's anguished howl as he came up on his knees covered with Anya's blood. He raged out a curse and followed Buffy into the maze.

Cordelia stood frozen, stake raised in the air as her "flight or fight" instincts battled it out.

A black on black movement within the shadows revealed to them the location of what was once a Watcher. With a Ripperish arrogance, the figure paused to make eye contact and smile before making his escape. He turned and sprinted toward the crane, covering the last fifteen feet with a vampire leap which ended on the gridwork of the main support.

Giles went up the frame like a spider crossing its own web, the latticework of steel blocking Rees's crossbow bolt from all but the most lucky of shots. Behind him and gaining fast came Buffy. She threw the sword away and hit the steel framing, following him upward all the while swearing vengeance.

Rupert reached the crane arm, gracefully jumped out onto the narrow girder and walked out about twenty-five feet. A wry smile crossed his face as Buffy also landed on the beam. He tensed and jumped across eight feet of open space, landing unconcerned on a parallel girder.

"Excuse me." He insincerely said, taking the cell phone from his jacket pocket. "I almost forgot to make an important call." As mocking as his tone was, still his eyes never left the Slayer as he hit redial and held the phone to his ear.

Below his feet a crossbow bolt ricocheted off the steel.

"WATCH IT REES!" Buffy shouted to Tom sixty feet below. She took a deep breath and leaped over to the other girder.

"Hello Wesley. Just thought you might like to know we have visitors. Yes... just look out your window and you'll see." Giles began then added a small apology for the pause as he smoothly returned to the first beam. "Now, what were you saying?"

Buffy gritted her teeth. "Great." She thought to herself. "We're gonna play hopscotch."

"I don't know, stand by and I'll ask." Rupert removed the phone from his ear and gave it a wave toward Rees. "Buffy, we were wondering, what is this thing you're newest Watcher is carrying? I sensed it at the hotel and again when I was getting into position to kill you and I believe it's rather nasty."

"You'll just have to wait and see. But I'm telling you..." She growled as she came back over. "...it's gonna burn you and your ho Guide to hell."

"She's being obstinate, as if that's any surprise. I'm assuming that it's either a talisman or maybe even a Relic. What was that?" Rupert's face darkened at the information being presented. He took a quick glance toward the approaching Slayer and for the third time cleared the space between the beams. This time however, he turned on his heel and began to pace down the steel toward the "Westfall Blue" all the while having a low argument with Wesley.

Buffy cocked her head and strained listen but only caught Willow's name and the fact that Giles was not happy. She tensed and again jumped over to the other beam to follow Giles.

"Jesus Pet! Don't let him draw you into his game!" Rees screamed upward.

"Anya, oh... baby... oh God... Anya... noooo." Xander sobbed, cradling Anya's lifeless form while Cordy knelt behind him rubbing his shoulders, offering what comfort she could.

"Let's go!" Tom ordered to them.

"Please God no... oh Anya..."

"ON YOUR FEET MAN!" Rees bellowed.

Xander's voice cracked. "Give me a second."

"We don't have a second! You can't do anything for her!"

Cordy jabbed a finger toward Rees. "You're a real asshole!"

"I don't have time for this!" Tom snarled as he headed for the gangway. "Both of you, either help with the fight or get the 'ell out!"

"Oh cripe." Cordy groaned. Above her Giles had broken into a fast trot, covered the last fifteen feet of beam and leaped from the end of the crane alighting on his feet on the fourth level walkway of the ship. Her hand went to her mouth as Buffy followed suit and came up short, leaving her in the precarious situation of hanging from the third level railing.

One level above Rupert calmly lit a cigarette and leaned over the railing to address Buffy as she twisted and swung her body up and over to the safety of the walkway. "I would say Xander seems a bit upset." His noted with a faint wave toward the dock. "Hope he can get his money back, since he no longer has any use for that king size bed."

"You..." Buffy hissed out that one word as she scanned the configuration of the decks, walkways and stairs looking for a way to move up a level to launch a surprise assault.

"But then, you are no longer in the market for one either. Well, I must be going.. duty calls and all that nonsense." The sneering voice faded away punctuated by the sound of departing footsteps. "

Buffy spit out a line of blue language and headed for the stairs.

"Is he gone? If he's gone you can help me."

The Slayer froze at the sound of Willow's faint voice.

"Please Buffy... stake me." Willow said as she stepped out of a doorway. "I can't do this anymore, they hurt me, they're mean. I can't be this way, help me Buffy... please."

"Will?" Buffy cautiously asked this meek figure before her. "What are you talking about?"

Willow's expression was one of pure despair. "I didn't keep my magics and... and... Rita said it was because I didn't have a... a, you know, a soul." Her chin began to quiver. "So they did it... they made me like Angel was so I can do the magics."

Buffy lowered her stake a bit. "You have your soul back?"

A single bloody tear flowed down Willow's cheek. "Un-huh. And Wesley cast a spell to make me do bad things. Please Buffy, end this."

Tom's report came flooding back into Buffy's brain - 'the vampire witch made him do it' - and with a growl Buffy raised her stake again. "You killed Riley."

Willow nodded her head and whimpered. "I couldn't help! When you guys got here they took the casting off and left me here to remember what I did.. just to make me suffer... just so you will stake me. Oh Buffy, I'm so sorry!"

Buffy lowered her weapon. "Who destroyed Angel?"

"Rita." Willow perjured. "She did it... she is the worst." The vampire locked eyes with Buffy and her tone became deadly quiet. "Want me to show you where she went? I'll help you if you help me. Would you like that, like you want me to help you?"

"Yeah.. that, that's a good idea." Buffy said hesitantly as a fog began to form in her brain.

Willow took a step closer. "First you must listen to me and look at me... look at me and listen carefully and let me help you."

Buffy blinked once and she found herself saying. "Help me Willow."

"You're thirsty... so thirsty... from all that running."

An intense dryness welled up in Buffy's throat causing her to drop her stake and croak out an affirmation. "Yeah, th-thirsty."

"You want something to drink... drink good." Willow's hand went to her pocket and she pulled out a capped plastic bottle. "Lookie... something for you to drink.. 'cause you're thirsty." She held it out, smiling as Buffy's fingers wrapped around it. "Drink Buffy.. it's good stuff... you won't be thirsty anymore... drink it... drink well and long and..."

The sound of Rees pounding up the metal stairs caused Willow to pause in her mesmeriziation. Her lips formed into a snarl. "Hurry Buffy... don't be a slowpoke... drink up."

The cap fell to the floor with a metallic "ping" and Buffy raised the bottle to her lips.

Rees charged through the stairwell hatch like a mad bull. Willow morphed and made it a bare two steps before the power of the Relic tore through her. Tom sidestepped around the screeching, quivering creature and swatted the bottle from Buffy's hand sending it spinning down the walkway. Willow whirled around, stumbled and fell through the lair door, her only thought being escape from the torture brought about by a Sainted Presence.

"You cursed, damned, red-headed, hell whore!" Tom raged as he U-turned away from the spellbound Slayer and went after Willow. She managed to pull herself halfway up to her feet and let out a hiss of defiance before the stake ripped through her blackened heart.

The hypnotic spell holding Buffy vanished in the same instant that Willow went to dust. Her body jerked to the side bringing her hard up against the cold steel of the ship. She leaned against it as her mind retold the tale of Willow's attempt to poison her.

"Pet?" Tom panted out to her as he came out of the lair. "Are you.. did you drink any of that?"

Buffy shook her head. "I was just about to." Her eyes searched out the bottle. "Thanks Rees, I think you 'nick of timed' it."

Rees scooped up the container, held it to his nose and took a sniff. "Smells like drain cleaner."

"You staked her." Buffy's inflection not showing whether it was a statement or a question.

"Yes." Rees confirmed watching closely as Buffy gave a barely perceivable nod and turned away. He let out a loud sigh and rubbed his hand back through his hair and gave her the rest of the bad news. "Anya is dead and I think that Xander and Cordelia have had enough."

Buffy's mouth moved in a silent petition for it to end.

"Not that I blame them." Rees added grimly.

"Yeah." Buffy said without conviction. She pointed upward. "They're up there somewhere, let's go."

Tom nodded toward the open door to Rita's sanctuary. "First we search their lair. I know Cordelia's painting is in there and there might be something else we can find in a fast sweep."

She gave him a indirect glance. "Cordelia's what?"

"What she saw in her vision." Tom clarified, pointing into the cabin. "Come here and take a look."

Buffy followed her Watcher into the shipboard lair, both of them making a wide arc around the starburst pattern of dust which lay just within the doorway. Buffy drew in a sharp breath and asked "What was that thing called again?"

"Last Call."

Neither in size or content was this the kind of painting one would hang over their sofa in the family room. A narrow, unframed rectangle of canvas, twelve feet by four it portrayed a 1920's cabaret in the small hours of the morning. At first glance it seemed to be a slightly overblown period piece, heavy on the art deco details of a moment frozen in time as a score of merrymakers closed down a bar. But something else, something dangerously baneful quickly seized the viewer and caused the hair to raise on the back of the neck.

The bartenders seemed to be the focal point as one calmly handed a drink to an inebriated customer, his gaze not meeting the drunk's face but instead focusing on the throat. The other barkeep was shown at the register as if he was counting out the night's take but his true concentration was on the laughing woman who sat at a table with her friends.

To the left and right of this pair were scattered groups, each engaged in their own drama. A tuxedoed Wesley stood near the door in the company of a dark haired woman, her full features unrecorded in the quarter view, and a few paces from them a man seemed to be locking the door in response to their command.

Clustered around the piano, a jazz quintet consisting of Rupert, Willow and three unknown men were engaged in a conversation. All four men seemed to be amused by something Willow had said as she sat on the piano bench with one arm draped over Rupert's shoulder and their attention followed her veiled hand motion toward a cavorting group of party-goers seated beside the stage.

Buffy's hands tightened into fists at the sight of what this pair who were once her best friend and her mentor had become. Rita had shown them as lovers by placing his hand well up on her thigh and upon their faces was displayed for all to see the evil anticipation of the coming kill. Buffy swore and picked up a desk chair with the intention of battering the scene into ribbons of canvas.

Rees stopped her with a shout. "NO!

"Why not?!" Buffy shouted back. "It sucks! It rubs our face in it!" She stepped around Rees and raised the chair.

"It's too valuable!" He barked, latching on to the chair legs. "There's more to it than meets the eye. We need to send it back for the Council to study."

The desk phone began to ring.

"Study it?" Buffy asked skeptically. "What's there to study?"

"Remember Angel's notes? He found that Rita puts hints of the truth in all her work. The cipher of the Guide might be in this, her final artwork!"

The phone kept on ringing.

"Don't yell at me!" Buffy sniped as she picked up the phone. "Yeah? What?"

"Hello Buffy."

Her hand tightened on the phone. "Hi Wes, how 'ya doing?"

Wesley's voice had an almost bored quality. "Mmmmm... very well thank you for asking."

Buffy's hand went to Mr. Pointy. "I'd love to chat Wes, but I have to find you and.. oh, I don't know, stake you to the wall maybe?"

"That's nice." Wesley said dryly. "Allow me speak to Willow."

"Willow is in hell."

"Pity. I figured as much when you answered the phone, but I had to confirm that tidbit. Wesley underscored the news with a huffing noise then asked. "So Buffy, would you be kind enough to allow me to speak with Mr. Rees?"

"He wants to talk to you." Buffy said giving the phone a toss to Rees.

Rees put the phone to his ear and acknowledged his presence with one word. "Rees."

"Hey man, it's bad." Xander's voice came over the phone.

Rees paled. "Xander?"

Buffy stiffened.

"Listen up." Harris began. "They got us both as soon as we came on board. If you don't toss that box overboard they'll turn us and..."

The phone was pulled away from Xander and a woman came on the line. "Hello Watcher."

"Mistress Rita I presume?" Tom ground out through gritted teeth.

"Very good. You know what? Rupert asked the same question at his rising." Rita commented in an offhand manner. "I do hope you have a more original line in mind for when you rise tomorrow night."

"Thank you so much for sharing your delusions." Rees snotted. "Do you have anything else to say?"

The Guide went straight to the point. "I know you have a Relic of Saint Blaise. You will destroy it and exchange yourself for these two."

Rees took a covert glance at Buffy as logic, odds and the inherent drive for self preservation collided within him. In the end the logic won. Tom knew that there were a dozen men who could take his place as Watcher, but she had lost too many old friends to add two more to the list. He was expendable, the mental state of the Chosen One was not. With a resigned sigh he asked Rita. "Where? When?"

"Starboard, main deck toward the stern. Three minutes. Without the Slayer."

Click.

"So? What's going on?" Buffy questioned.

"They have Cordelia and Xander and if I give up the Relic so the odds are evened up a bit they will release them."

With a rough shake of her head Buffy offered her opinion. "Bullshit!"

"I know." Rees said grimly. "But they are only giving me three minutes to comply. I don't have time to argue with you."

Buffy hissed out a breath and asked. "You got a plan or anything or are you just going to walk into a trap?!"

The Watcher was already on the move. "No time for any strategy sessions so listen to me." He said as Buffy joined him on the walkway. "All I can tell you is wait here for five minutes and then come down to the main deck starboard side." He pointed to the stern and then toward the harbor. "I'm going around that way, you come in via the opposite direction. And for God's sake Pet, wait for five so everything will be in motion." Rees handed her his watch and his crossbow. He swallowed hard to try to keep his voice from cracking as he finished up. "One other thing Pet, if this goes tits up don't let me rise..."

Buffy waved her hand in a "stop it" motion. "Don't jinx yourself."

"...because my magics are dark and I would be more dangerous to you than Willow ever was." He drew a finger across his throat. "Just decapitate me before you go."

"Rees.." Buffy groaned. "...this is sounding like you're holding out on me."

"Just being cautious pet. Covering all the possibilities." He shrugged, gave her a sad smile and left.

******

"Well Cordelia, I hope you have been brushing up on 'your' groveling abilities because you will soon have use for them." Wesley dryly said as he leaned on the rail.

"Cordelia Chase does not 'grovel'." She spit back.

"How about 'scream, cry and bleed'?" Wesley offered, motioning toward the enraged scene playing out fifteen feet away as Giles took his anger and sorrow out by kicking the hell out of a deck equipment chest. "He seems a little agitated and a spot of senseless torture might be just what the doctor ordered."

As Wesley's attention came fully back to them, Xander quit straining against the duct tape that bound his hands to the railing. "He seemed pretty happy until you got off the phone. So what did you tell him, that the pizza place doesn't deliver out here?"

"I told him that Buffy destroyed Willow." Came the emotionless reply.

Rita snapped the phone shut and eyed Rupert with a small twisted frown as she approached the group. "That's enough of that, now come with me." She commanded as she swept past him and joined Wesley.

Imprinting his motion with a string of profanity Giles picked up the tool chest, all 300 pounds of it and sent it sailing overboard as if it was a paper airplane.

"Control yourself! Focus the wrath within so it can be used!" Rita barked.

"This is your fault!" Rupert shot back. He let out an animal howl and jabbed a finger first toward Wesley and then toward the captives. "You lied to me! You didn't need my help to take those whelps! I could have stayed with her!"

"He said what I told him to." Rita countered. "Willow agreed to the deception and she failed, end of story." Her eyes narrowed into slits. "And now you have learned one of the hardest lessons - we 'do not' love."

"She was MINE!" He raged back. "And you had no right to send her against a Slayer!"

Xander nudged Cordelia and when she glanced his way he made a barely perceivable motion toward her bound hands and mouthed the words. "Pull hard." He glanced back at the commotion and leaned forward putting all his strength and weight against the bindings. Cordelia nodded in understanding and followed suit.

"She was not 'yours'." Rita hissed. "She was only loaned to you because together the two of you served us well with magics." The Guide's expression became vile. "And the two of you dared to love. I knew it would eventually destroy one of you and it's for the best that we got it out of the way so soon."

The poison words snaked through Rupert igniting a trail of malevolent fire in his being and he made a threatening movement toward Rita.

With a lightning quick motion she slapped him across the face. "Now change your expression, focus you anger and prepare to destroy the enemy!"

Rupert's cheek stung from the backhand and his fury blazed higher.

Wesley tensed as Giles slowly brought his face back around and glared at Rita with absolute hatred. He did not even want to know what was going through Rupert's mind as he observed him risk a snap of the fangs before he outwardly submitted to her.

"About time minion." Rita grumbled. "Now, if you're finished being an idiot, let's get this over with." She then blatantly turned her back on Rupert in a sign that he was not worthy of any further consideration.

"Absolutely... Mistress." Giles agreed in a tone that Wesley found extremely un-nerving.

"Rupert.." Wesley cautioned as he stepped up to his compatriot. "...control yourself."

"I'm completely under control." He answered, still in that disquieting voice. "Mistress is correct in that I need to focus my anger and destroy the 'enemy'."

"Wesley! Get over here with me!" Rita called out as she took position to await Rees.

"What a bitcha." Cordelia stage whispered to Xander.

"Yeah, and take a look at Giles. I think he's gonna go postal on her." Harris breathed back, doubling his efforts to twist his wrists loose.

The faint sound of tape beginning to rip free brought Wesley over in a flash to face Xander and Cordy. He was on them in an instant, his cold hands around their throats pushing them back. "Now, now! We'll have none of that!"

Cordelia braced herself against the rail and slammed her knee into his groin. Wesley arched forward with a screech, morphed, twisted her neck to one side and brought his fangs down into her throat.

Xander flung his body toward them and head butted into the side of Wesley's face knocking the vampire to the side. So charged with adrenaline was Harris that his momentum carried him off his feet and for a second he hung by his wrists from the rail before his weight rended the tape and he fell face first onto the steel deck.

Blood gushed from the double "J" shaped slices on Cordelia's neck and poured in a river down her breast. She looked down and whimpered.

At this point Rees rounded the corner. He inhaled sharply at the chaotic scene unfolding eighty feet away. Wesley in full game face swooping down upon Xander as the young man tried to scramble to his feet. Cordelia weaving to and fro as merciful unconsciousness began to fog her senses. Rita half turning to give orders to her followers and then coming back around to defiantly face him.

Cordelia's head fell forward and her body followed as she sank to her knees held half upright by the bindings. Wesley grabbed Xander by the shirt collar and flung him like a rag doll into Rupert's iron grasp. Giles continued the motion, slamming Harris up against the side of the walkway wall and pinning him down without any effort.

"Come forward, slowly." Rita shouted to Tom then in a low voice she told her Acolyte as he drew near. "Wesley, keep an eye peeled for the Slayer."

With a measured pace Rees began to advance down the deck.

Giles put his lips a bare inch from Xander's ear. "Do you remember the night that Angelus tortured me?"

Xander nodded faintly.

"Do you remember how you came to my aid and set me free?"

Another half nod.

"So do I." Giles said, loosening his hold a fraction. "When the time is right, you will go to Cordelia and get her out of here. I can hear her heartbeat and it is strong, she has merely passed out."

Xander's eyes darted between the approaching Watcher and Giles. "Sure." He mumbled then he motioned with his head toward Rita and Wesley. "What about them?"

Rupert put on his vampire face. "Rita, Wesley, Buffy, Watcher - dead.. all dead. And you will be too if you do not take this singular opportunity."

"Wes, Rita - fine; Buffy, Tom - I don't think so." Xander sniped. "And you do realize that this doesn't make us even."

Rupert cocked his head to one side at this. "Here's some advice; cut your losses... boy, because if you dare screw with me you will lose. Angel found that out the hard way." Warning made, he then turned his attention to the others.

Rees had made it about a third of the way when Rita felt the first small prickle of unease. She gestured for him to stop. "No further or their blood is on your hands. Now, show me the Relic and toss it overboard."

He dug the Relic box from his hand and held it up in his outstretched palm.

Rita pointed toward the rail. "Quit wasting time, throw it now!"

A movement caught the Watcher's eye, a sight so incredible that it took his brain a second to process the information... Giles had set Harris free. "Don't look a gift horse.." Rees muttered to himself as he curled his fingers around the box and sent it sliding down the deck straight toward Rita and Wesley.

With a blasphemous oath Wesley jumped back and to the side. Rita, on the other hand found herself rooted to her spot as the Relic spun to a stop five paces from her shoes. She snarled and like a struck out like a viper catching hold of Wesley's wrist and yanking him back around to use as a shield.

A pain like a thousand white hot needles shooting their way out of his body filled Wesley from head to toe and he let out a bloodcurdling scream as he writhed in agony. Behind him Rita screeched out her decree that he sacrifice himself by kicking the box away and before him Rees waited on the outcome with his stake raised.

Without conscious thought Wesley chose his own skin. His free hand went into his inner pocket and gripped the stake which he had taken from Cordelia. "RELEASE ME OR..!" He began to warn but Rita answered him with a rough shove forward and the words. "I OWN YOU AND YOU WILL..."

The word "obey" never left her lips. Instead the Guide shrilled out a damning curse as Giles came up behind her and twisted both arms behind her back. Wesley whirled around and in one motion leaped away from the Relic box and plunged the stake through his Mistress's ancient heart. He stumbled through her dissolving body and came up hard against Rupert.

The hair went up on the back of Rees's neck as he watched these two destroy their Mistress. In ten seconds - tops, the game had changed and he was not sure if it was for the best. These two would not be following the rules... but they were trapped.

As the two vampires backed away from the Relic's force, Giles sneered at the pile of dust. "Now Mistress, in regard to your owning us?"

"I think we have other things to consider." Wesley hissed with a nod of his head toward the bow end of the ship. "We have more company."

Rupert turned and darkly laughed at the appearance of Buffy and Xander blocking their escape.

"Hey Wes!" Buffy yelled as she raised her crossbow. "You screwed up and missed all the important stuff! Cordy's coming back around!"

Rees raised his stake. "Stellar! Now let's send these bastards to hell!"

"Batter up!" Xander chimed in as he raised a length of metal pipe. "Your head's are heading for the left field cheap seats!"

"Pet! You take Giles! Harris and I will..."

"We both go for Rees." Giles whispered as the commentary began to fly. "I'll take him down, you keep going. You'll have to take my bike because that bugger slashed your tires."

Wesley shook his head. "And leave you here to have all the fun?"

"The keys are in the ignition. Damn you, don't argue with me!" Giles growled.

"I didn't think suicide was in your makeup." Wesley said as his head swiveled back and forth checking for the sign that the attack was to begin.

"As if I give a damn anymore!"

A gallows grin appeared on Wesley's vampire face and he took his glasses off and stuck them in his pocket. "Well, if you think I'm going to allow you to single-handedly recreate the Battle of Rourke's Drift..."

The corner of Rupert's lip twisted up in a smile. "Very well, stay then." He reached out and gave Wesley a fraternal smack on the shoulder. "On three..."

"See you in hell Rupert."

"One..."

Covertly Wesley gave Giles a sidelong glance.

"Two... Thr..."

Wesley barreled into Rupert, knocking him backward into and over the railing sending him plummeting into the harbor with all the graceful motion of a dropped brick.

Buffy fired her crossbow sending the bolt whizzing past Wesley's face as he dived over the rail following his compatriot into the black water.

"SHIT!" Rees spit.

Buffy leaned over the rail sweeping her crossbow back and forth over the places they had went under. "Well this really sucks!"

Xander tossed the pipe onto the deck. "So Watcher guy, now what?"

Rees shook his head. "Not a damned thing. Unless you can figure out how to drain the ocean they will most likely make their way under the docks and come up somewhere safe." He rubbed his forehead. "First things first, we need to get Cordelia to the hospital."

"And Anya..." Xander interrupted. "...We can't leave her here."

"We'll come back for her." Tom said after a moment's hesitation. "Like I said, first things first. Let's go."

Wesley was halfway up the dock ladder when Rupert surfaced and directed a string of blazing profanity in his direction. The Acolyte grinned at the barrage like the Cheshire Cat and called down to Giles. "Enjoy your swim?"

"YOU BASTARD!"

"Without a doubt!" Wesley gleefully shot back as he continued his ascent. "Now hurry up, we have to do a runner before we're cornered again."

Giles swam over to the ladder and heaved himself up onto it, reaching the top in the same instant as the motorcycle roared into life. Wesley swerved the cycle over, coming to a stop directly in front of Giles. "All aboard."

"Why?!" Rupert snapped. "Why in the hell did you do that?!"

Wesley glanced up at the "Westfall Blue". "They've spotted us."

Rupert clenched a fist and raised it toward Wesley. "Answer me!"

"Because she would have wanted you to live to enjoy your revenge." Wesley gunned the engine. "Now get your arse in the saddle."

"As if I give a fuck about what Rita would want!" Giles snarled.

Wesley let out a vampire hiss of displeasure. "I'm talking about Willow, not Rita you idiot! Now for the last time get on this beast!"

Rupert's voice almost cracked as he repeated her name. "Willow." He unclenched his fist and grimaced. "Oh.. Willow." Then with a slow nod he seated himself behind Wesley. "You're right."

"Bet that hurt." Wesley snotted in regard to the conceding remark.

"You have no idea."

The motorcycle engine screamed and they took off like a shot down the dock running parallel with the "Westfall Blue".

Rees came running down the gangway fumbling with the crossbow trying to get into position. Ahead of him Buffy raced full tilt with short sword in hand, and came to a screeching stop at the point where the vampires would pass by. She raised the weapon in a two handed grasp and braced herself. Rees raised his crossbow and aimed for Wesley counting off the lead time to make his shot before the pair reached Buffy.

Wesley let out a shout and swerved over the crane tracks and without slowing down one iota, shot down a narrow towmotor path that led through the crane area. The machinery blurred past them and with a tremendous jolt they went straight over a stack of pipe and were in the clear.

The motorcycle tires squealed in protest as Wesley came to a sliding stop a quarter mile out of crossbow range.

"That wasn't half bad." Rupert said dryly as he absentmindedly dug his cigarettes out of his jacket. He curled his lip as they squished into a soaked lump between his fingers. "Blast."

"Thank you for your endorsement, faint that it was." Wesley said with semi-mock indignation. "Now that I've saved your skin twice in one night.."

Rupert snorted.

"Be that way." Wesley laughed then muttered under his breath. "As if you can be any other way."

Rupert shrugged. "Nature of the beast. And speaking of the same, I'm in the mood to go kill something."

"Me too." Wesley agreed. "I say we do it in such a horrific way that it makes the front page of the paper if and when the remains are found."

Giles stretched and then resettled into his seat. "Splendid concept, but first we stop somewhere for cigarettes."

And with that, they left Los Angeles.

****** Epilogue ******

September 16, 2044

Daniel crossed his arms. "Who knows? I think it's because it was free."

"Maybe. But it could be just their way of saving on the food expense." Eric theorized.

"What do you mean?"

Eric waved his hand toward the dining hall painting. "Simple mate, we have to look at this thing and we lose our appetite."

"Or maybe it's to remind you of what can happen when the darkness wins." A woman's voice pointed out.

The two Watcher candidates exchanged a look of dismay as Buffy entered the room. Both fidgeted a bit and greeted her. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Rees."

You're both second year, correct?"

"Yes Mrs. Rees." Came the twin response.

"Then you have studied this incident, correct?"

Daniel stepped forward. "Yes, the turning of two of our own was covered in..."

"I take it you slept through it?" Buffy asked in a frosty tone.

Daniel's shirt collar suddenly felt a bit tight. "No, mmmm.. no Mrs. Rees, I thought it was.."

"But you're probably not that interested in 'ancient' history, correct?" She interrupted stepping up to "Last Call" and tracing her finger down Rupert's image. "So let's review and bring the two of you up to speed so you can grasp 'current events'."

"Rupert Giles, Watcher turned vampire. Has a genuine hatred for the Council and all it stands for. Over the years he has become one hell of a sorcerer due to his partnership with a demon conjurer somewhere near Tarija, Bolivia. Powerful, intelligent and malicious he is called on by the undead to cast spells which cloak their activities. Thankfully, he is also somewhat brooding and reclusive. But the operative word here is 'somewhat' because when he does travel all hell breaks loose." Buffy caught the candidate's eyes and added a bit of disquieting information. "Three times we have sent wet teams out to destroy him and three times we have buried them."

Buffy then paced down to the other end of the painting and tapped her finger on the figure of Wesley. "And Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Watcher turned by a Guide and taught well by the same. He also uses his skills to thwart the Council in any way possible for he also possesses a pure loathing for us. You could say he's more of a 'man about town' for he has left his mark in over fifty countries in the past forty five years. Coldly cunning to the bone and we have intelligence reports that he has become a sort of diplomatic liaison between vampire masters."

"Apart they are quite the problem." Buffy noted with a wave of her hand toward the renderings. "But when they decide to vacation together chaos rules."

Over the intercom a recording of a tolling bell began to play.

Second year." Buffy said coming up to them. "You've never heard that sound before, have you?"

"Both candidates shook their head.

"You know what it means, don't you?"

Eric nodded. "Yes Mrs. Rees...." He paused and mentally counted off the tolls. "Eight tolls of the bell means both the Slayer and the Watcher have been killed." He visibly paled. "And it means that we must report to the assembly hall."

Daniel cleared his throat. "Mrs. Rees, you said that.. you mentioned that you were speaking of 'current' not 'past' events." He glanced over toward "Last Call" and frowned. "Are you saying that.."

Buffy flung her hand toward the far doorway. "What I'm saying is that you have to get to the assembly. Now go!"

Both young men backed off a few steps and hurried away passing a man in the doorway with only a mumbled "Excuse me Sir."

"Oh pet." Tom sighed, as the two beat a hasty retreat down the hall.

"Idiots." Buffy snapped.

"Young." Tom pointed out as he came across the dining hall. "And so sure that once they are in the field they will be able to whip the devil himself and be back in time for tea." He began to rub her shoulders. "We were like that Pet."

"Never." She sighed, leaning herself into his touch. "So, what's been decided and did you get hold of everybody?"

"I rang up Sharon at her office and warned her. She will be at our place before sunset along with Bill and the grandchildren." Tom then let out a heavy sigh as he reported on their youngest. "Bonnie, seems to have left her messaging gadget laying on the counter... again."

Buffy rolled her eyes heavenward. "Oh great. If that girl had any sense..."

"Don't worry, don't worry." Tom reassured. "Jeremy picked up the message and is running over to the park to tell his mum to get hold of me." He wrapped an arm around his wife and began to lead her toward the bench along the wall. "And I called the Harris's just in case, spoke with Cordelia and she appreciated the warning."

"That was a good idea." Buffy acknowledged. "Now, what about Tommy?"

Tom bit his lip and puffed out an exhale. "Buffy, Luv... Tommy is the new Watcher."

"Are they insane?!" Buffy questioned at the top of her lungs. "Have they lost their minds?! Why don't they just chain him to a tree and hang a 'free lunch' sign around his neck!"

"Now Pet.. don't go into one on me."

"Oh honey... you have never seen me 'go into one'!" She exclaimed.

"I think I have.. just a few times." He muttered under his breath.

Buffy shook her head. "Not like now! The powers that be might have taken away my slaying abilities when I hit thirty but I bet that I can still slap William and Ian into next week!" She began to pace as the image bloomed in her mind of her thrashing the Council chiefs into pulp.

"They know the risk and so does Tommy." Tom said softly.

"'Risk' is not the correct word." Buffy countered. "Wesley and Rupert killed a Slayer and her Watcher almost on our doorstep in the middle of the afternoon!" She pointed in the general direction of the subway station. "Five minutes away from here on the Blackfriars tube platform!" An expression of anguish filled her face. "How do you train someone to beware of that scenario? How do we guard against two demonic murderers who know enough about us to leave a note thanking us for holding our yearly conference at such a lovely time of the year?" She shut her eyes and made a small whimpering noise. "And those pictures, candid snapshots of our children and grandchildren.. Oh God."

Tom wrapped his arms around her. "Two black op squads are down in the tube as we speak. Don't worry pet... we'll catch the bastards and send them on a one way shuttle to hell."

"Right." Buffy said without conviction.

He reached up and stroked her hair. "We have to get to the assembly. Come on, let's get this over with." With that he took her hand and kissed it.

Buffy took a final glance at "Last Call" and with a resigned sigh allowed herself to be led from the dining hall.

******

All told it was just one more day in the battle between two armies of equal strength. It was only one more event to be duly recorded in the Diaries of the Watchers and the Chronicles of the Undead. Just one more bright strand in the warp and dark thread in the weft on the loom of time. It mattered not who won and who lost for the battle is never-ending and the journals are perpetual and the cloth will never be anything but a shade of grey.

And time goes on.

****** End ******