disclaimer in part 1
Buffy ran through the streets of Sunnydale, searching for any sign of Drusilla. From what she'd been able to piece together from overhearing Oz's conversation with Giles, Drusilla had gone after her mom. Thank god Oz had happened by! But from what Spike had told her, she knew that with her mother safe, Drusilla was likely to go after Willow or Cordelia. And with Willow being in a wheelchair, she would be ripe for the picking.
She headed down Willow's street toward her friend's house. That's when she heard the squeal of the tires. She continued running until she was halfway down the street. Then she saw Cordelia's car gunning forward, then back into reverse. It looked like she was trying to hit something... or someone. She continued forward, trying to see what was going on. It was then that Cordy peeled out and headed off down the street in the opposite direction, leaving her target behind.
Buffy slowly approached the figure standing in the street. It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, but when they did, she smiled to herself. Ahhh- Drusilla. Exactly the vamp she was looking for. Buffy charged full force at her enemy, who was watching Cordelia's car speed off down the road. She tackled Drusilla, knocking her hard to the street.
Buffy stood and backed away from Drusilla's unmoving body, pulled a spare stake from her pocket, just in case, then flipped the vampire over slowly, using her foot. She appeared to be out cold, a bump forming on her forehead from where her head must have struck the pavement. Now, thought Buffy, decisions, decisions. I could dust her, or bring her back to Spike and hope he can control her.
She figured Spike had taken enough chances with her lately, she could take one with him. She scooped up the undead unconcious waif on the ground and threw her over a shoulder, heading in the direction of the mansion.
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Oz practically carried Mrs. Summers into the Library, seating her at the main table next to Xander.
"Hi everyone!", she slurred. "Is this where you do all your little slayer and friends planning?"
Giles leaned away from her as she spoke, finding the smell of alcohol on her breath distasteful. "I'll go make some tea," he offered.
Spike and Xander stared at Joyce with unconcealed disbelief. Neither could believe the state Mrs. Summers had worked herself into. Oz sat next to Spike and sighed. He looked at her strangely as she began to mumble incoherently again.
Xander looked at Oz. "Has she been doing that a lot?"
"Yeah", answered the wayward guitarist. "A few minutes ago she was going on and on about how she had just seen Buffy, and how Buffy said she would be back someday. Man, she is totally out of it. If I hadn't gotten there when I did..." He turned to Spike. "Let's just say that your girlfriend definately would have had an extremely pissed off Slayer on her hands when Buffy gets back."
Spike nodded, realizing that Joyce probably had in fact seen Buffy, and if so, Buffy knew Dru had gone after her mother. Damn, he thought. I hope Buffy doesn't do anything rash.
It was then that they heard the telephone ring in Giles's office. They heard the librarian pick it up after just one ring. A minute later he came bustling out into the main room.
"That was Cordelia. Apparently Drusilla tried to attack she and Willow."
"Are they okay?" came the immediate response in unison from Xander and Oz.
"Yes. They're fine. Willow's legs were re-injured and Cordelia suffered some cuts and bruises, so they headed to the hospital."
"Well, c'mon, let's go!" Xander said, jumping up at the thought of his best friend and girlfriend being hurt.
Oz jumped up as well, and grabbed Mrs. Summer's arm, Giles taking the other. As they headed out the door, Giles turned back toward Spike. "Aren't you coming?"
"No, I'm afraid a hospital would be too big a temptation to resist. You know, all the weak patients just dying to be put out of their misery. Nevermind the blood packets. No, I'll go look for Dru. If they got away from her, she's probably hurt, so she should be easy to find."
"All right. But if you do find her, let us know, so we'll know everyone's out of danger."
"Sure thing mate," said the blond as the other men carried Joyce out to Oz's van.
Spike watched them go, then making sure he was alone, strode over to the computer on the main table. Before he went anywhere, he had to find something. He just hoped the slayer would keep up her end of the bargain if she found Dru first.
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Buffy got to the mansion and threw open the door. She stumbled inside and dropped Drusilla to the ground. That girl was a lot heavier than she looked. She really needed to lay off the blood!
Buffy sat down, hoping that Cordelia and Willow, as well as her mom, were safe. It had taken her more than a half an hour to walk back to the mansion, due to the fact that she was carrying about 125 pounds of extra weight. She hoped Spike would figure out where she was and come to collect his little prize soon. What she wondered was how he was going to keep her from running off again.
Her question was answered about 15 minutes later as Spike strode into the mansion smiling widely. "I thought I'd find you here."
"Yeah, well you figured right. So go on, take your honey and run. Just make sure she doesn't come back."
"Well, that's what I need to talk to you about. I'm going to need your help with one more thing." He slowly reached into his coat pocket, pulling out what appeared to be a computer printout.
"What's this?", asked Buffy.
"There's only one way I can think of to make Drusilla lose her bloodlust for you and you friends." Buffy looked at him quizically, then her jaw dropped as he reached into his other pocket and produced an orb of Thessulah.