Chapter 3

DAY 4

"This is a lot worse than we thought, Rupert," Spike said. He was sitting on Giles' couch, a blood-soaked bandage held to his side.
"I know it looks bad, Spike," Giles said, uncharitably, "but I'm sure it will heal by the end of the day. And the burns on your hands are your own fault, really. You shouldn't go out -."
"I'm talkin' about this day," Spike interrupted. "It's the same bloody day for the fourth time and now it's even worse because Glory's back!"
Giles gave Spike a blank look.
"Spike. . . ."
"She's back, Giles. We gotta' find her." He tried to stand. "She's runnin' around out there, probably gonna' go after Dawn again -!"
Giles pushed him back and stared at him, sadly. He was clearly delusional, probably having nightmares about the night Buffy died. He'd been in bad shape most of the time Buffy had been dead, but he seemed to recover over the last few weeks, especially since she was back. He'd been through a lot, obviously more than they realized. Maybe he'd finally snapped.
"Spike," Giles began, gently. How does one talk to a delusional vampire? Perhaps reason. "You've been dreaming, reliving that night at the tower. You've got to realize -."
"We weren't at the tower, Rupert, it was a bloody alley beside a video store," Spike interrupted, fiercely. "And I am not bloody insane!"
Giles stared at him, considering his next words carefully. "Spike, I want you to try to calm down," he said, quietly, trying not to excite him.
Spike threw his head back against the sofa. "Tried to kill the deranged bint," he said, closing his eyes.
Giles stood and went to the phone.
"Kept hittin' her in the head with a big, bloody axe, but she just wouldn't go down. . . ."
"Buffy . . . ? Yes, I know . . . 7:15 . . . yes, it's early . . . No, it's not another apocalypse." Giles sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Buffy, please . . . yes, all right." He paused. "Spike is here and. . . ." He looked at Spike, who was still mumbling to himself.
" . . .tried to get to the Niblitt . . . got lost in the soddin' rain. . . ."
"He's been injured, Buffy . . . I'm not certain. Just get here when you can."

Spike sat in the Magic Box, his chair propped against the wall, a cigarette hanging from his fingers. It was burning down, the ash fluttering to the floor unnoticed. He'd been staring at the table for twenty minutes.
Xander was sitting at the table, his head in his hands, a book in front of him, and fingers laced together through his hair. Periodically, he would let out a sigh and sit up and rub his eyes. This produced remarkably little relief and he quickly went back to his brooding.
Giles was lost in the bookshelves, pouring over book after book, stopping only to ask Xander if a particular volume had been perused the day before.
Willow sat next to Xander, trying to get through the massive tome before her.
Buffy paced in the front of the store, restless and unable to do what she did best, attack and slay. She didn't know whether to believe Spike and Xander or not, but she couldn't afford not to.
Spike's chair clattered as he got to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Xander asked.
"Out."
"That's really gonna' help, Spike."
"I don't see you doin' any helpin', Harris."
Xander stood and leaned over the table. "If we come up with something I don't want to have to go find you."
"Why would you need to find me?" Spike asked, bitterly. "You've said plenty of times how you don't need my help."
"You're right, Spike, we don't," Xander said, angrily. "Why don't you go find a nest of vamps to slaughter again. You can feel useful for a day."
"Hey," Willow said, wearily, "be nice. You two can't keep fighting like this."
"She's right," Giles called from somewhere behind them. "It's not productive."
Buffy joined them at the table, annoyed and ready to give them both a good scalding. Before she could open her mouth, Spike brushed past her. They watched as he jerked his duster over his head and exited the shop.
"You want me to bring him back, Giles?" Buffy asked.
"No," he sighed. "Let him go. Xander, you could probably use a break, too. Why don't you go get some lunch?"
Xander nodded.
"I'm gonna' check on Dawn," Buffy said.
They'd stashed her at Xander's apartment, knowing Glory didn't know where he lived, but she was still worried. She didn't like leaving her alone, so she'd spent her day going from the Magic Box to the apartment.

"You could just call," Giles suggested.
"No, I need to get out of here, too."

That night they patrolled for only thirty minutes before Spike's patience evaporated.
"Why the bloody hell are we out here?" Spike asked, waving his arms around.
Buffy sighed in annoyance. "Because it's what I do, Spike. Go home if you want."
"I think we should be lookin' for Glory -."
"If we don't take care of your little fan club, they'll probably just get in our way, Spike."
"Which is why I think we should just go now."
"Just because we haven't stumbled on any of them yet doesn't mean they aren't out looking for you, Spike," Giles said.
"Okay," Xander interrupted. "I realize I'm agreeing with Spike again, but he's right. I say we give up the vamp hunt and search for Glory."
Buffy sighed. "We really have to get things back to normal before you two go all Butch and Sundance on us."
"Huh?"
"You know . . . the movie?" Buffy prompted.
"Those poncy wankers got shot to bits down in Peru. Are you sayin'-?"
"It was Spain," Anya said, rolling her eyes.
"Bolivia," Buffy said. "And, besides, that's not what I meant. I -."
"I haven't seen this movie," Xander said.
"They're outlaws," Buffy explained, patiently. "It's the original buddy movie."
"I don't see what that has to do with us gettin' shot to pieces by a bunch of soddin' Peruvians," Spike said.
"Bolivians," Buffy said, shaking her head.
"Same thing."
"I DON'T think so."
Spike and Xander stared at her, perplexed.
"Never mind," she sighed. "Let's go."
It was purely accidental that they stumbled upon one of Glory's minions. They followed him and fifteen minutes later arrived in the parking lot, staring at the building.

"The mall?" Buffy said, incredulously.
"What would a demon want at a mall?" Anya asked.
"Well, they have to buy those oh-so-fashionable cloaks somewhere," Xander said.
"It's after hours," Willow said.
Xander scoffed. "They're demons." He glanced at Spike. "Like they'd bother paying for anything."
"Hey!" Anya said. "There's another one."
The group looked. The minions entered the building through a back entrance.
"Let's go," Buffy said, and headed across the parking lot.
Inside, they quickly realized they'd lost their targets.
"Now what?"
"I can find them," Willow said, "just give me a minute to -."
"They went this way," Spike said, and started walking.
Five minutes later they found themselves in the main hall near the front entrance.
The minions scurried around, making preparations for something, while a young woman stood, off to their far right, bound to a pillar. They could just see her arm and the edge of her dress.
"I count twelve," Xander said. "Not very good odds."
Giles frowned. "I'm not certain what they're trying to achieve. Willow?"
Willow sidled up next to Giles and peered at the scene. "They must be trying to bring Glory back, and the girl is her host body." She shook her head. "I can't make out all the symbols, but it looks like a binding spell of some sort."
They stared at the scene for another minute. "I don't see the point. Maybe they're not performing the ritual correctly."
"We know they succeed eventually," Willow said.
"Well, maybe we could sit here and discuss it some more," Spike said, "or, we could go in there and kick their heads around until they just tell us."
"Okay, I hate to agree with the Evil Dead, here," Xander said, "but he does have a point. We need to stop them, whatever they're doing."
"Agreed," Giles said. They all looked at Buffy.
"Willow, we're gonna' need you on this," she said. "There are just too many. You feel up to it?"
She nodded. "How about a floating spell?"
Spike scoffed. "Think you could come up with somethin' a little more tame, Red?"

"A floating spell is easy and very disorienting. They won't be able to fight like that and, besides, it takes longer to work up an exploding head spell or a blinding potion . . . they'd have to drink that, of course. . . ."
"Excuse me, did you say an exploding HEAD spell?" Xander asked, appalled.
She smiled. "Haven't tried that one yet. Can't really test it out, you know."
"Um," Anya interjected, "if there's going to be a big fight, can you try and keep it away from the bridal shop? I still need to pick out my dress."
"I'll see what I can do," Buffy said.
"Hey!" Xander said, pointing at the minions. "It's that creepy Doc guy from the tower."
"I thought he was dead."
"That bugger's mine," Spike growled.
"Look, Spike," Buffy started, but stopped abruptly when she looked at him. He was clearly beyond the reasoning stage and well into murderous intent.
Spike leapt forward, heading straight for Doc. Everyone but Willow followed, and the battle was quickly engaged.
Buffy plowed through several minions, knocking them around like bowling pins, trying to reach the girl.
Spike, across the room, had surprised Doc and managed to wrestle him to the ground. Doc thrashed around, trying to loosen Spike's grip, but Spike wasn't having any of it.
Xander and Anya were holding their own against six of the minions, while the others went after Buffy. Six to two, however, was not terribly sporting, and Xander soon found himself on his back under a mound of scabby demons.
"Xander!" Anya screamed. She started beating on them.
Spike heard the screaming and looked around. Buffy seemed to be doing okay. He then noticed Anya, then Xander's leg - he was stuck under a pile of minions.
Spike glanced down at Doc. He couldn't help them and keep a hold of the wanker at the same time. He wanted - needed - to kill the demon, but he wasn't sure what would kill the wretched bugger. Maybe twisting his head off would do it. . . .
Anya screamed again and Spike jerked his head around in time to see her throw herself on top of the minions.
Spike groaned and threw Doc away from him. He bashed into a nearby wall and fell to the floor, unconscious.
Spike ran across the room, latched onto Anya, and tossed her aside. "Mind if I cut in, luv?"
Out of breath, she could only nod.
Spike leaned in and started pulling minions off the pile, tossing them across the room.
From his position on the floor, Xander noticed the flying minions, but in his dazed state he couldn't figure out why they were suddenly able to fly. He then caught sight of Spike and groaned. Saved by Spike. Not a good day.
Spike grabbed the last minion, but as he braced himself to throw, he and the minion started floating.
"What the -?"
Xander and Anya looked around. All the minions were floating.
"Hey!" Spike yelled.
Xander leapt up and grabbed his coat. He and Anya quickly pulled him down and held onto him.
Willow ran over to them. "Sorry, Spike. I could either float everyone in the room, which wouldn't be too good, or I could limit it to demons." She gave him an apologetic smile. "I could be more specific, but I'd need to know just what kind of demons these guys are, and . . . it would also take more time."
"It's okay, Red. Just how long does this spell last?"
"About an hour, but if you get outside it's range, you should be okay." She gestured towards where they'd come in. "Over there should be fine."
Xander and Anya guided Spike across the room. He stayed there, watching, while the rest went about collecting minions like stray balloons.
Buffy turned around to untie the girl and stopped. Her mouth dropped open in shock. Before she could speak, the girl's features altered and Buffy found herself facing Glory.
"Well, isn't this a nice little reunion?" she grinned.
Buffy was beside herself with rage. "You . . . you. . . ."
Glory flexed her arms and the ropes fell away. She advanced on Buffy, then stopped and surveyed the area with a pleased smile.
"Say, am I in a mall?"

DAY 5

At nine a.m. the group, minus Spike, was assembled at the Magic Box. Xander spent ten minutes recounting their situation and another ten convincing them that he was not, in fact, insane.
Giles passed coffee to everyone. "Perhaps we should discuss what happened last night?" he suggested, willing to consider all the options if only to mollify Xander. He seemed unnaturally edgy.
Xander groaned and rolled his eyes. "Last night went way beyond bad."
"How so?"
"We didn't get to the mall in time to stop Glory. Her minions brought her back in full hellgod mode, and she was pissed."
"I take it we didn't win, then?" Giles asked.

"It was more of draw."
Giles nodded. "It may be beneficial if you told us what happened so that we might forebear repeating ourselves tonight," Giles suggested.
"Okay, first. . . ." He turned to Willow. "No more ball of sunshine spells, okay? It looks good on paper, but it's just not practical."
"But, I think it's a really good idea -."
"Tell that to Spike. You set his head on fire last night and he spent the rest of the night with his head in a bucket of water."
"Oh."
He turned to Buffy. "And, Buff, I know you have a kind of personal vendetta thing going with Glory, but don't go chasing her into Reptile World. Bad things happen in there, which we'll never speak of again. Okay?"
"Okay," she agreed, uncertainly.
Giles cleared his throat. "You'd think that after four days we'd be able to stop her returning."
"Well, we've only actually known about her for two days," Xander said. "We spent the first two days trying to figure out the spell, but now we know it was Glory's minions."
"Do we?" Giles asked.
"Okay, we're assuming, but right now we gotta' take what we can get."
"Okay," Buffy said, "not ready to accept this whole looping day thing yet - but why don't we just try and figure out when they cast the spell and stop them from doing it? Won't that knock this repeating day spell in the head?"
"I would think so," Giles said.
"I don't know," Willow said. "We may need to actually break it. I'll get to work on that."
"And, you say there's a group of vampires after Spike?" Giles asked.
"Yeah, they're causing a lot of problems."
"Can we simply avoid them?" Giles asked. "Where do they attack every night?"
"Everywhere," Xander answered. "It doesn't matter where we are. I think they must be out looking for Spike, so it won't matter what we do. They'll spend the night searching until they get him."
"That's going to be a problem," Giles murmured.
"Unless we just let 'em have him."
"Xander!" Willow said.
Giles considered for a few minutes, then, "Perhaps we should find where they're hiding and go after them during the day."

Xander sighed. "I don't know, Giles. I'm starting to think it doesn't matter what we do. We're never gonna' get out of this day."
"Let's not get fatalistic about it. We'll figure this out, and we will stop Glory."
Xander gave him a pessimistic look, but didn't say anything.

"Where's my key?" Glory asked, looking eagerly past her minions.
"Oh . . . Resplendent one, we did not know what you would desire," the minion said, spreading his arms.
"You didn't think I'd want my key?" she spat at them.
"The key cannot be used to return you to your home, oh Magnificent Glorificus, so we assumed. . . ." The minion faltered and took a step back.
"We wished only to rescue you from the hell dimension, Great One," another minion added.
"To do what?" she whispered, stepping toward them.
"Uh . . . we assumed you would prefer to live out your life in this world," the minion said, gesturing extravagantly. "There are many pleasant things here . . . ."
"Entertainment. . . ."
"Restaurants. . . ."
"Shopping!"
They all shouted excitedly and gestured widely, indicating the mall.
Glory advanced on him. "I . . . want . . . my . . . key!" she screamed, jabbing him in the chest with each word.
Doc approached and the minions parted, eager to let him handle their god.
"Glorious one," he said, smiling, "we can have the key here within minutes. Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain to your humble servants your magnificence plans?"
Glory took a deep breath and got control of herself. "We're going to do it the hard way this time," she explained. "If I can't open the portals all at once, I'll just have to do them one at a time." She brushed a strand of hair aside.
"Ah," Doc said. "That will require approximately three hundred years to open each portal, which dictates you acquire a body with a much longer lifespan."
She glared at him. "So? Find me a spell or something," she said, waving at him.
"The only spells that grant life extensions or eternal life are usually quite impractical," Doc explained, "demanding various organs or body parts that most people would rather keep. Frequently, psychological damage is sustained as well." He smiled. "I would not suggest, Glorious One, that we risk your startling intellect more than is necessary."
The minions nodded anxiously.

"Why can't I just change bodies?"
"Unfortunately, your godly essence cannot maintain its cohesiveness by transferring from body to body. You must remain in the body you have."
"So, think of something!"
Doc considered for a moment, then, "We must somehow grant immortality to the body you inhabit."
"You just said -."
"Vampires, Oh Glorious One, are immortal, and anyone can be turned."
"You want me to become a vampire?" she asked, disgusted.
"It is the only way. You would likely have none of the weaknesses of your host body, but we could easily sustain her life for many years."
Glory thought about it, glowering the entire time.
"We will also have to do the same for the key, as it is in human form now."
"All right," she said, finally. "Do what you have to."

"I still don't understand why they're at the mall," Anya said, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the imposing building.
"Glory's pretty vain," Buffy said. "They probably thought she'd want to do some shopping right away."
"Uh-oh," Xander said.
They turned. A group of vampires and demons were converging on them.
"Where'd they come from?" Buffy asked, annoyed.
"Great," Xander said. "Do you have a beacon in your head, too, Spike?"
"I knew we should've patrolled," Buffy said.
Spike tossed his spent cigarette away. "I'll take care of 'em, luv."
"Alone? Are you Clint Eastwood, now?"
"What is this fixation you have with movies lately?" Spike asked. "You know, you're the one who got that whole James Bond argument goin' the other night."
"Like I'd argue about something so stupid," she said.
"Oh, right. 'Cause you'd never talk about anything so banal as pop culture."
"Banal?"
Spike mimicked Buffy. "Oh, James, you're so sexy in your three piece suit and perfect bleedin' hair. Here, let me mix you a martini with my tongue."

"I did not say that!"
"Like you'd remember," Spike scoffed. "He's a soddin' pretty boy."
"Oh, look who's talking," Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "The poster boy for Calvin Klein."
"Hey, guys . . . vampires at six o'clock," Xander said, gesturing.
"Are you sure it's not high noon?" Spike smirked, glancing at Buffy.
"Shut UP, Spike!" Buffy stomped away, heading for the vampires.
He followed her, digging a stake from his pocket. "Or maybe they're off the port bow, Horatio!"
"Spike! If one more word comes out of your mouth. . . !"

Onwards...