Working Title: Cold Day in Hell (if you have a better idea let me know)

Author: automatic_badgirl

Email: automatic_badgirl@yahoo.ca

Chapter Two: Kablooey



The little bell above the door tinkled as Buffy walked in. Anya looked up from what appeared to be a deep discussion with Willow and Tara.

"Buffy, hey" Willow said. Tara smiled and gave a little wave.

"Hey, all." Buffy said.

"Please explain to Willow that Giles frowns on customers running a really large tab, and as the current owner of the magic shop I believe it would be in everyone's best interests if we were to continue this policy." Anya looked imploringly at Buffy.

"Anya, I've always paid my tab!" said Willow.

"Yes, but there are many rare, one of a kind, not to mention expensive items being added to it now."

Willow looked nonplussed.

"And I'd like the money up front, this time. After all, the spell you are attempting can be very dangerous."

"Will, you never said it was dangerous." Tara butted in.

"Not that dangerous, there's some chance of semi-danger, PG-13 kind of danger, anyway I can handle it. Danger's my new middle name now since I brought Buffy back from a Hell dimension." Willow looked proudly over at Buffy, who smiled weakly and said,

"Yessir, no more nasty Hell dimension for me once Will's on the job." Inside a voice piped up Some hellish existence-being safe and warm and peaceful in Hev--, Buffy frowned and mentally shoved that voice into a corner, while Anya, Tara and Willow continued to argue. 

"Here's that"…Xander strolled over while looked in the box he was carrying "Uhh…I'm guessing…enchanted salad bowl…you wanted? It was downstairs by that creepy mummy hand with the attitude problem." He set the bowl down by Willow and looked up and saw Buffy.

"Buffy, what's up?"

"Just waiting on Dawnie, she's meeting me here and we're going to spend some sister-bonding time shopping and junk. No Big…but about that Hell dimension mapping, Will…?" 

"Oh, Uh. Well I thought it would be a good idea to locate the various Hell--"

"Vast and numberless" Anya interjected.

"Anya!" Willow frowned and continued, "Find out where some of these dimensions are, and you know, what they are like, and record their magical co-ordinates. Kind of a Lewis and Clark thing but with Hell dimensions." 

"I don't think it's such a great idea Will', what are the chances of one of us being sucked into a Hell dimension again?" said Tara.

Xander laughed,

"In Sunnydale! Pretty high!" he paused for a beat "And strangely often in February. Huh."

"Willow maybe you ought to lay off the major magic at least until Giles gets here," Buffy said.



Tara and Buffy shared a look; Willow was getting a little trigger-happy with the Magic lately. Willow pouted and continued to organize her ingredients for the spell. Pooh on Giles! She thought, 'cause his British nose is out of joint because I was able to bring Buffy back and not him!

Just then, Spike sauntered in from the back room. He was wearing his usual outfit of jeans, tee and leather duster; Buffy's gaze was drawn to the hard muscles of his abdomen being revealed as he casually stretched and rubbed his belly. Man she wondered, how does such a lazy-ass get such a six-pack? She lingered over the chiseled planes of his face, and ended at his piercing blue eyes. Spike caught her looking at him and smirked and stroked his stomach more sensually, watching for her reaction. Buffy flushed and looked away. Damn vampire! He may be in love with me but it would be a cold day in Hell before he ever saw any action! She thought.

"Slayer," he said "You're just in time. How's about you and me head over to the butchers and you buy me dinner?"

"Sorry Spike," Buffy sweetly said in a not-at-all sorry voice, "Prior plans with Dawn."

"Bring Little Bit with you; it'll be fun for the whole Summers' clan."

"Watching you guzzle pig's blood? I don't think so. What's wrong, haven't got any food at home?"

Spike squirmed, then said,

"I'm having a slight cash flow problem this month but not to worry, I expect to be back in black after tonight's game."

Buffy looked at him with a deadpan expression on her face and said,

"You lose all your money gambling and expect me to feed you-and what kind of cash flow problem? Your currency is kittens!" She rolled her eyes and looked away, dismissing him. Damn Slayer! Spike thought, so I'm a little skint this month, the least she could do, would be to…Hey I think that's a new blouse she has on! He scoped out Buffy's outfit. Meh! S'okay, not as nice as that red silky halter, with the black leather pants. Spike inwardly leered thinking of the Slayer's tight, little body draped in form fitting leather. Then he spent a blissful moment picturing her without the halter and leather pants, his lips curled into a sexy smile. Buffy looked sharply at him, He looks like he's thinking of me without any clothes on! She thought. Spike mentally gave himself a shake and tried again,

"C'mon Buffy I'm huuungry. I'm starving like one of those buggers in the dusty countries in Africa!"

"Spike, I said No!"

"Look, just 'cause you're a skinny little thing and maybe never had to eat in Hea--" Buffy looked at him fiercely "H-ell." he finished lamely 

"N-O!"

"A chap has needs you know." Spike looked lasciviously at Buffy. She whirled to face him, planting her hands on her hips.

"Not those needs. Get yer mind outa the gutter Slayer!" God! Spike loved this, arguing with Buffy was almost as good as…

The bell over the door jingled and Buffy looked away distracted as Dawn walked in bearing an insanely large beverage cup filled with an icy blue substance she was slurping enthusiastically through a straw.

"Hey Gang!" she chirped.

Buffy smiled at her younger sister then frowned and morphed into concerned guardian mode

"Dawn, you know that's going to ruin your dinner! No one should eat that much ice and sugar syrup in one sitting. Or at all for that matter." 

"Bu-ffy, c'mon dinner's later and 7-11 was having a special on the biggest size. You know you should be proud of me for my thrifty nature." Sensing a potential snack food mooching situation Xander sidled over,

> "Your sister is right. You better leave the consuming of vast quantities of sugar to the professionals--like me. What flavor is it by the way?"

Dawn stuck out her stained tongue and showed him.

"Ahhh Blue. Always an excellent choice." Anya trailed after Xander and said,

"Blue is a flavor now?"



In the interim Willow had begun to lay out a circle of power and set up the candles and equipment she needed to begin her mapping spell. Tara hovered nervously in the background, occasionally adjusting the position of one of the candles. Willow moved back and regarded her work with a close eye; then she nodded, picked up a spell book and began to chant. She stretched out her hand and cast some dirt onto one of the candles. It briefly flared a bright red then returned to normal. Willow chanted,

"By earth and fire, I call on thee"

She turned and took a small vial and pulled the stopper and gently poured it into the waiting bowl. She held up a small amulet and twirled it over the bowl, while blowing gently. 

"By water and air, I bind thee"

She began to recite the magic spell from the book in a low voice. Within the circle a small glow the size of a dinner plate, grew and changed into a golden shimmering whorl; the center shifted and gradually cleared to reveal a small glimpse of landscape and sky. Occasionally bolts of red energy shot out of the center and were absorbed into the golden whirlpool, spinning about it. Willow turned and spoke to Tara,

"See Sweetie, nothing to worry about. Behold the first stop on our magical, mystery dimension tour. I'll get a fix on the co-ordinates and you write them down."

Tara nodded slowly, then her eyes widened,

"Umm Will, it's getting a little big!" She gestured towards the growing vortex. Willow turned back and grimaced slightly.

"Uhh, Don't worry, I just have to…" she trailed off as she flipped a page and muttered and gestured towards the vortex. It shimmered and shrank for a moment then it expanded rapidly. 

"Willow! Do Something!" Tara said urgently.

"Just a second I have to--" she spoke sharply in another dialect and the portal slowly collapsed until it was its former size, slowly settling down to the floor of the circle.

"There! That should be okay-I hit the pause button magically speaking," Willow looked at Tara. Tara bit her lip, like she was holding something back then she blurted,

"You're messing with something that's too strong for you. You should be more than sure Willow, you should be certain! I think we should stop now."

"Baby, relax it's just a minor adjustment. Look let's go over the spell one more time; the vortex will be okay until we activate it again." She went over to Tara and began showing her the book. 

Xander in the meantime had gone into full bore mooch attack,

"C'mon Dawnie…Let your Uncle Xander have some of that sweet, nectar-goodness," He stopped and thought then corrected himself,

"Okay, tell me that I don't sound like the creepy incest-luvin' relative everyone avoids at Christmas!"

"Ewww Xander!" Dawn squealed, "Just for that-I'm definitely not sharing"

"Way to go Cletus!" Said Buffy as she watched Xander's attempts with a grin on her face, then she turned to Spike and the grin disappeared. The bastard was going through her purse looking for money! 

"Spike--You asshole! Get out of my purse!" Spike dodged her fist and thrust the purse at her.

"Calm yourself, it's just a small loan until--" He lurched back as she swung the purse on the strap and whopped him with it. He grinned evilly and ducked the return swing. 

"Whoa-hold on Granny! Stop with the purse swinging, I'm not gonna snatch it from you!" Buffy saw red at the "granny" comment and shoved Spike hard. He stumbled and knocked over one of the candles in the magic circle. The vortex glowed brighter and rose off the floor whirling faster, unfortunately Spike and Buffy were too busy fighting to notice. No one else in the shop did either. Tara and Willow were conferring by the register, heads together and Xander had succeeded in wrangling the drink from Dawn and was gulping steadily. "Xander! I said just a sip!" Dawn screeched outraged. He fended off her attempts to recover it with one arm and chugged faster. Anya looked at the magic circle and said "Should the portal be crackling like that? In my opinion, no good can come of a portal that--"

*WHHHOPP* Buffy had caught Spike upside the head a good one with her purse and smiled with delight.

"OWW! Bitch! Mind yer manners! That bloody well hurt!"

"Not as much as you're going to!" She threatened, lunging at Spike with the purse held high. Quickly he sidestepped and pushed her, away from him into the circle. Behind her the whirling gateway spun busily, sending out bolts of blue lightning. A low keening began to issue from the vortex. Dropping her weapon, Buffy reached out and snatched Spike by the lapels of his coat, intending to give him a sound thrashing. As Spike looked up at the vortex, his eyes widened. "Look out Slay-!" His words were cut short when Xander, attempting to outmaneuver Dawn, stepped backwards, tripped and fell, launching the remains of the Slurpee into the circle. Icy blue goo splattered everywhere, including into the tiny bowl where Willow had poured the water. Willow and Tara's attention was finally drawn by this commotion and Willow stepped forward shouting "No! Watch Out! The portal is-!"

Instantly the vortex grew in size, dwarfing Buffy and Spike standing before it. Roaring winds and snapping threads of eerie light engulfed them. Reflexively, Buffy clutched Spike tighter. She felt an incredible crushing sense of pressure and her vision bled to blinding white. An eye-blink later the vortex disappeared taking Buffy and Spike along with it. In the resounding stillness of the Magic shop Willow finished lamely, "open."


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