After a short while, Xander ventured up the stairs, wiping the dried tears from his face. He stopped when he reached the top, hearing Willow and Tara performing their locater spell in their room. He started into Dawn’s room, expecting to find Giles investigating, but instead found it empty. He frowned and stepped back into the hall, looking up the length of the passage, finding Giles standing outside Buffy’s room. Xander walked along the hallway to his side, staring through the open doorway into Buffy’s room. It was just as Buffy had left it, except for a few things Dawn had felt compelled to keep close to her.
“It wasn’t enough.” Giles said in a whispered tone, his voice full of melancholy. “I did everything that I could, to teach Buffy, to train her.” He leant against the doorframe, cupping a hand over his mouth, his expression full of sadness. “But it wasn’t enough.” Xander could see the tears in Giles’ eyes, and a deep sympathy washed over him. “I killed her.” Giles whispered.
“No, you didn’t.” Xander corrected him. Giles didn’t seem to register, staring into Buffy’s room. Xander leaned inside and pulled the door closed, turning to the forlorn watcher. “Giles, you did more for her than any of us. There’s nothing else you could’ve done for her.”
“Don’t be a pillock Xander!” Giles said harshly, turning his back to the door and leaning against it. “I could’ve saved her.”
“How?” Xander said, a little more offence in his voice then he had intended, ignoring Giles’ insult. “How could you have saved her? You were right there with us, fighting. You gave everything you had, and more.” Giles’ weary eyes came to rest on Xander, his words seeming to be taking some effect. “I know Buffy is gone but…” Xander trailed off, bottling the sadness within him. “You should grieve for Buffy, but right now we have a problem. Think about this: Dawn lost her mom, and then she lost her sister, she is out there somewhere, scared and alone. You couldn’t save Buffy…” Giles’ gaze sank to the floor. “But you can save Dawn.” Giles raised his head, his face expressionless. Xander didn’t know if his words had reached him or not. Giles pushed away from Buffy’s door, starting down the hall with pace, turning and starting down the stairs. Xander called after him, but he heard the door slam as Giles evidently made his exit. Willow and Tara appeared in their doorway, staring out at Xander.
“What happened?” Tara asked.
“Where’s Giles?” Willow added, looking concerned. Xander let out a sigh and turned to them.
“I don’t think we can count on Giles for much help today.” He said, a disappointed look on his face. Willow let out a quiet groan and Tara let her gaze drop to the floor. A moment’s silence passed before Xander spoke. “Did the locator spell work?”
“Sort of.” Willow said lamely.
“It was like there was some magical disturbance interfering with the spell.” Tara explained. “It was coming from around the cemetery.”
“We do know that Dawn is still in Sunnydale, but the disturbance kept us from finding her exact location.” Willow elaborated. “But we can try again.”
“Ok.” Xander nodded, a worried expression on his face.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” Willow reassured.
“I will remember. I will remember.” Dawn sat on her motel room bed, her legs crossed as though meditating. “I will remember.” She told herself over and over. “I’m remembering, I am so remembering.” She continued. She had been trying everything she could think of to recall anything about herself, but after nearly two hours with no results, she was growing tired. “I am remembering. I am… so giving up.” She huffed, falling back on her bed and closing her eyes.
‘This should not be so hard.’ She thought to herself. ‘What did those guys do to me?’ She sat bolt up on the bed, a sudden thought rushing to her. ‘Maybe I suffered a blow to the head when they kidnapped me!’ To test her latest theory she slid off the bed and moved to the mirror, pulling her hair back and checking for any marks or bruises. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, checking the back of her head, but finding no sign of injury, dismissed the idea. Frustrated, she turned and sat back down on the bed, resting her head in her hands. ‘What did they do to me?’
“This sucks!”
It was getting passed five when Willow and Tara emerged from their room, having performed ten locator spells to try and pinpoint Dawn’s location. They moved down the stairs, finding Xander sitting in the living room. He looked up at them hopefully, but their expressions told him that they were having no success.
“Still no luck?” He asked. Willow shook her head.
“Whatever the magical disturbance is in the cemetery it’s throwing our spell off.” Tara explained.
“Maybe we should check out what this magical disturbance is.” Willow suggested.
“No.” Xander shook his head. “I don’t care about some stupid magical disturbance. I want to find Dawn.” He was pacing the room, clearly deeply troubled.
“And we will.” Tara reassured him.
“But we’ve tried everything we can think of.” Willow told him. “We can’t locate her with this magical interference. We should go to the cemetery and find out what’s causing it.”
“Fine, you go do that.” Xander said, taking his car keys out of his pocket and starting for the front door. “Meanwhile I’m going to be out there looking for her.”
“Xander, wait.” Willow protested.
“We should all go and investigate the magical disturbance.” Tara added as Xander opened the front door. Xander was about to step outside but froze, staring out at the figure standing there. Giles stood, clean-shaven and looking much more like himself. He wore a brown jacket over a dark green turtleneck and dark pants, and slung over his shoulder was a cargo bag.
“Giles.” Xander said in disbelief. “You came back.” Giles nodded.
“I couldn’t save Buffy.” Giles said, his expression serious. “But I’m going to do everything I can to save Dawn.”
Xander, Giles, Tara and Willow clambered out of Xander’s car, parked just outside the cemetery gates.
“You’re sure the magical disturbance was coming from here?” Giles asked the girls.
“Definitely.” Tara nodded. “Whatever it is, it’s calling on enough magical energy to disrupt our locator spells.”
Giles took the lead, an axe resting against his shoulder, scanning the darkening cemetery. The sun was beginning to set, casting the cemetery in a dim orange glow. There was no sign of anyone amongst the headstones.
“We can only assume whatever is harnessing this power is dangerous.” Giles insisted. “Keep a sharp lookout.” Willow and Tara walked close together, feeling the magical energy being focused somewhere nearby. Xander carried Giles’ bag of weapons and magical doodads, struggling with the immense weight whilst dragging a sword behind him.
“It’s nearby.” Willow announced, walking further into the graveyard.
“Can you pinpoint it?” Giles asked, searching for anything unusual.
“Over that way.” Tara pointed, gesturing to a small cluster of mausoleums.
“Alright, let’s hurry.” Giles nodded, starting towards the mausoleums, Willow and Tara following behind him, Willow raising a crossbow.
“Hey Giles, wait.” Xander said, struggling to keep up with the massive weight on his back. “I think we forgot your enchanted safe, or magic anvil!” Giles glanced back at him and frowned. “Oh wait.” Xander continued, trying to catch up to them. “No, judging from the hernia I’m getting, I think we got them.” Giles ignored him and continued with pace towards their destination. They went a few yards further before Willow was able to locate the exact spot the energy was being concentrated.
“It’s coming from in there.” Willow pointed to one of the mausoleums, one that the group knew well. Giles let out an angry sigh and stormed towards it.
“Spike.”
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