Secrets and ...9

"We have to stop him. He won't know what to do...he could ruin everything. He could open a portal to a hell dimension and things could get even worse around here. If he gets that diary we're finished." Willow was pacing, Xander and Dawn were sitting on her bed.

"His crypt was full of stuff like this. He wants her back...it all makes sense," Dawn said while she was sorting through some of the things she'd brought back from Spike's lair.

"What does," Xander asked.

She didn't want to tell them about the conversations she'd had with Spike the last few times she'd seen him. Though he'd been depressed since Buffy's death, things had changed in him recently. Changed so much, in fact, that Dawn was almost frightened of him. He'd turned into a raving lunatic. Down inside she knew he'd never hurt her, but...he was powerful and he was in pain. "Nothing," she dismissed, silently chastising herself for allowing her guard to slip.

"Not nothing," Xander said, "Obviously it's something. What makes sense?"

"Fine, I've seen him, ok? I've been talking to him since Buffy died but hiding it from you guys because I knew you wouldn't understand. He's been fine up until now but a few months ago he started acting weird," she said, awaiting Xander's backlash. But it never came. He tried hard to control himself. "Weird how," he said, trying to hide the fact that he was seething.

"He just started to withdrawal, you know...keep to himself. He didn't want to talk to me about Buffy or anything, for that matter. I warned him not to do anything stupid and he told me to get out, that he didn't need me telling him what was obvious...that was about two months ago," Dawn said.

"Two months? Spike's been ready to blow for two months and you didn't warn us?" Xander could no longer hide his anger. "You're putting us in danger, Dawnie, and we already have enough. You should have told us, you don't keep things like this to yourself."

"I know! I was just," she couldn't find the words.

"Xander stop," Willow said, "This isn't helping." She wasn't sure whose side she was on, but she knew more infighting would be bad. They had to stick together. They had to work together.

"I tried to..." Dawn paused, searching for the right words, "I thought I could take care of it myself," she said.

"Guess it didn't work," Xander added under his breath, almost an insult.

"Ok, enough!" Willow stood between the two of them and addressed them both.

"Spike's going to get the journals, but he can't do anything without the amulet. Now let's just relax and think about this," she said.

"Think about what," Faith asked from the door. How long had she been standing there? Had she heard anything? Had she heard everything?

The guilty trio eyed one another, each hoping someone would chime in with a good lie. "Spike," Dawn finally said.

"What about him?" Faith casually strolled into the room. "I thought you were going to get him."

"I am," Dawn said. "But he's not in town. He..."

"Left," Xander added nonchalantly. "He left town."

"Right," Willow added.

"Why?" Faith asked, kind of suspicious.

"He probably got bored...and tired of all the fighting. He's so strong that it probably wasn't even a challenge for him anymore," Dawn said. "But I know where he is," she added.

"Great, let's go. Sun's almost down," Faith said, nodding toward a window. "If Giles is ok with it, I'm in."

Willow and Xander looked at each other with wide eyes, hoping they could get out of this. Her conscience was working overtime. If Faith finds Spike and he... it only took a second to realize what a great diversion it would be. If Faith found Spike and told the others about his plan to raise Buffy then he'd take the fall. Willow could bring Buffy back to life secretly and pretend she had nothing to do with it...that Spike must have planned in advance for her return. "Yeah, Dawn, you can't go alone, it's too dangerous...why don't you take Faith to find Spike."

"Are you sure," Dawn asked.

"Yeah, Will, you sure," Xander asked.

"Absolutely. Giles and Angel and the rest of us can handle things here tonight. Go and find Spike...see if he's willing to help us." She turned her attention to Faith. "He means nothing to me. If you think you can't trust him...stake him." There was no way Willow could lose, here. If Faith brought Spike back, she'd have the journals. If Faith killed him, Willow knew Dawn would bring the journals back anyway.

"This morning you were ready to stake him, now you want his help," Faith said suspiciously. "What changed?"

"Nothing...I just realized that the more help we have the better. With you back and our swingin' new plan of action in motion...I kinda feel rejuvenated. And besides, Dawn trusts him, so..." Willow shrugged.

"I've been in jail a long time...wanna know what I learned?" Faith locked eyes with Dawn, asserting her Slayer power over them all. "Keep your friends close...and your enemies closer."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dawn asked.

"Just that having Spike around can't be bad. If he's on our side, great...if he's not..." she shrugged and raised an eyebrow to Dawn.

"He is," Dawn said. But was she sure of Spike's allegiance? Only time would tell.

~~end chapter nine~~



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