Giles’ harsh breathing was the only sound in the old abandoned gas station. The other occupants maintained an eerie silence, all were afraid of what would happen next. They had fled Sunnydale only to be surrounded and forced off the road by the Knights of Byzantium. They had taken sanctuary in this little building, the only thing holding the knights at bay was a thin force field put up by Willow.
Buffy watched Ben, the intern from Sunnydale Hospital, tend to her Watcher. Well, he was more than her Watcher, he was her friend, her confidante. . .her father. Buffy squeezed his hand but Giles was too tired to give her his familiar “stiff upperlippyness”. Instead, he managed a weak smile and then grimaced in pain. His hand gripped hers, it would have been painful if she didn’t have superpowers. Her eyes strayed to Ben’s but his were blank, devoid of expression. “Well?” She asked.
“He’s hurt bad, Buffy.” Ben said quietly. “He’s going to need to go to a hospital. I’m going to flush the wound with some saline and give him some painkillers, but he needs to go. Right away.”
“I understand.” Buffy said, walking away. She turned and said as an afterthought “Thanks. I. . I realize this must seem strange, but. . .”
“It’s okay. I’ve lived in Sunnydale for a while. Strange comes with the territory.”
“Oh.” She turned away once more and pressed a hand to her chest, blowing out a long-held breath. He was out of the woods. Giles wasn’t going to die, at least not right away. “I can do this.” She muttered to herself, trying to psych herself up for battle. Somehow, she had to convince the “Knights Who Say Key” outside to let Giles go.
Buffy walked over to Dawn and slid a hand through her silken hair. It calmed her somehow, touching her sister grounded her to reality. It made her realize what’s important. “Is he. . .is he–“ Dawn began but then her face crumpled and she walked away from Buffy who let her go. Dawn probably needed some time to absorb everything.
Spike flicked a cigarette butt to the floor and crushed it with his boot heel. His gaze ripped holes in the back of Ben’s neck. How could she like this nancy boy? She was passing up the big bad for a pratt with an enormous chin who wears poofy blue pajamas? Just then, the boy turned and ogled Buffy from behind as she walked away from him. Bloody Hell! She’s in pain and he’s thinking about getting in her pants? He might be evil but at least he was sensitive.
Then, Spike watched Dawn walk to Ben’s side. She asked a question, her lower lip trembling. Bigchin mumbled something back to her and she burst into tears. Ben ran a hand through her hair. Why does everyone touch her hair? Then the impudent git brought her into a hug and rested his enormous chin on her head. Spike’s eyes narrowed. Buffy was one thing. After all, she was the taciturn Slayer. One girl in all the world chosen to protect it from demons. Spike, being somewhat optimistic, hoped that she would eventually see reason and give in to him. Take a walk on the big bad side of life. But touching Nibblet? She was his. Not that he really knew what that meant but no one would ever come between himself and Dawn. No discussions about that point. This Ben had to be stopped.
Before he even knew what he was doing, Spike was halfway across the floor. He curled his hand into his fist and punched Ben right under his eye. The man went to his knees, arms wound protectively around his face. Spike clutched his head, waiting for the onslaught of pain. . .but there wasn’t any. No pain at all, just a lingering sense of satisfaction. Ben must be a demon. Spike’s mouth curled into an superior smile.
Everyone had turned to stare at the fight. Well, it was more of a punch and then a sissy boy going down on his knees, Spike thought arrogantly.
Buffy was the first to react. “That didn’t hurt?”
“No. Not a flicker of pain.”
“He’s a demon!” She said, realization blooming.
“Damn right, he’s a demon. You’ve been trying for two weeks to have coffee with a. . .what would you say? A demon. You know. . .someone who’s beneath you.” Spike crowed. “Guess you do go slummin’, eh Summers?”
“Shut up, Spike.” Buffy said. She looked at the dazed Ben in askance as he tried to explain.
“B-but. . .I. . .I’m not a demon. . .I. . .I--” Ben clutched his head, as if he were trying to keep something under control.
“Save it, big chin.” Spike said, lighting a smoke. Momentarily, Ben’s face seemed to change, as if it became a woman.
Buffy’s eyes widened in horror. Good God! It was Glory! How did Glory get here! Where’s Ben. . .? What the hell? She looked at the others to see if they were all seeing the same thing she did. It appeared they had. Xander was reaching for a broad sword and Anya picked up the huge metal frying pan she’d beaned a few knights with. Buffy backed up, ready to run with Dawn when Glory wasn’t there anymore. She’d vanished. Had they all hallucinated together?
Buffy decided to address the Ben issue, since he was suddenly standing there once more. “Why are you really here? Are you working with those knights? Or Glory? So help me, if you–“
”Don’t threaten him, pet. Kill him.” Spike said. Nothing like eliminating the competition. “He’s Glory. A demon and a cross-dresser.”
“Shut up. Don’t call me ‘pet’. “ She yanked Ben to his feet. “Now explain to me how you’re connected to Glory.”
“Uh, luv? He IS Glory.” Spike pointed out again, trying to be patient.
“Spike I don’t have time for you.” Buffy threw Ben on the floor at Willow’s feet. “Will, can you do a glamour for me? I’ve just had a really good idea.”
“Sure, Buffy, I guess. What–“
”Make him look like Dawn.” Buffy ordered. “The knights know she’s The Key, so if we give them what they want. . .”
“Good idea. But it won’t last long. Just long enough to get us on route.”
“Fine with me, just do it.”
Willow quickly ran her hands over Ben’s body, leaving a faint trail of red sparkles. “The eye won’t see the real me. To look is to be.” Sparks flew from her fingertips and Ben turned into a Dawn clone.
“Where did you park?” Buffy asked Ben.
“What? I. . .
“Where?!” She said, taking a threatening pose.
“Out back.”
“Good.” She turned to Xander. “Get everyone in his car! Will, you’re with me.” She grabbed Ben and pushed him towards the front door. Willow followed behind and made a hole in the energy barrier around the gas station.
As they appeared, the knights fell to their feet. Murmured whispers of “The Key” were heard all around them. Buffy tried to look tearful. “It’s obvious that I can’t. . .” She stopped, gulped convincingly and shed a few crocodile tears. “Win. There are too many of you. I. . .I can’t go on like this.” She pushed the faux Dawn forward. Ben started to speak but Willow waived her hand and he was silent. Buffy hugged him, blubbering into his pink jacket. “I’m so sorry, Dawnie. So sorry. I--” Then she walked away. “I hope you can forgive me, Dawnie” With that, she and Willow ran inside. . .and out the back door.
Ben stood looking at the knights dumbly. Then, he felt the change start to take place. Glory was coming, he could feel his body shifting. Becoming more feminine. Then that release of tension. All conscience was gone. He smirked and wished he could stay and watch the show. This wasn’t going to be pretty.
**********
“How many more miles?” Dawn asked.
“That’s the third time you’ve asked in twenty minutes.” Buffy said, sighing.
“Yeah, well, things are a little crampy back here.” Unfortunately, Ben owned a mid-sized car. In the backseat, Spike, Willow, and Tara were seated. Dawn sat on Spike’s lap, much to Buffy’s disgust. Giles lay across the back seat. His head rested in Dawn’s lap. Xander was driving, Anya and Buffy were scrunched together in the passenger seat. They were going to L.A. Spike had his coat off and wrapped around him self, and consequently Dawn to protect him from the early morning rays.
“Are you sure you want to bring Angel into this?” Willow asked, aware of how painful that might be for her friend.
“I don’t have a choice, Will. We’re going up against a god who could take me apart without any effort. I need the big guns.”
Spike snorted. “Angel? A big gun? Not so big if you ask me-“
