The Searching
Written by Belle_Joy
Rating: M15+
Pairings: Buffy and Spike
Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing, especially the characters in this story. I'm merely borrowing them for the pure pleasure of messing with their lives.
Spike and Willow had reached the Magic Box just as Xander was about to take Dawn home for the night. They were grateful however when Spike offered to take her home himself. He had to go there anyway so it wasn’t a problem. The other Scoobies said goodbye and headed back to the shop to close up. It was then that Willow remembered she had some news for them.
Willow: “Oh, I nearly forgot, Spike and I came across a nasty vampire tonight”
Tara: “Oh, Baby, are you ok?”
Willow (smiling): “Yeah I am fine. (With pride) Saved Spike’s butt”
Xander: “Spike’s butt was not an image I needed.”
Anya: “It’s not hat bad.”
Xander sent Anya a withering look. This was met by a look of confusion from her. She never did understand what was and what wasn’t appropriate. Giles looked at them all, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. He turned to Willow.
Giles: “Why was there a vampire at Spike’s crypt?”
Willow: “Well we think he was looking for some info on Spike”
Giles: “Did he get any?”
Willow: “Actually we didn’t look. B-b-but I am sure it didn’t. Anyway, I dusted it, so it can’t tell”
Giles: “Did this vampire have anything interesting to say?”
Willow: “Well, while Spike was beating it up, he asked it who it was working for.”
Giles looked at her expectantly.
Willow: “Oh, sorry. He said he worked for a Grant. Josef Grant.”
Willow looked proud of herself. At least until she looked at the horror that had spread over Giles’ face.
Xander: “What’s up G-man? He a scary guy?”
Giles: “You could say that. He is a well known bigwig in the demon world. He likes to think of himself as Boss. He enjoys controlling them.”
Xander: “So, he’s the boss demon.”
Giles: “Well, yes, except that he is a human.”
Anya: “I remember him, although in my day he would take pleasure from making demons, creating them, like an artificial evil”
Tara: “So this guy is either really old or not totally human himself.”
Giles: “Well, it would follow that he put some demon into himself. I suppose it would make him live longer, and perhaps make him invulnerable”
Xander: “So bad guy part demon, very old and not killable?”
Giles: “Yes that is what I said Xander.”
Willow: “Uh, guys I think maybe we should start researching this Josef Grant. Hopefully we can find something and then we can let Buffy know tomorrow, you know give her a heads up.”
Tara: “G-G-Good idea Willow”
Giles: “Yes, in deed. How about you start on the internet Willow. Tara, Anya and I will be able to begin researching my books.”
Xander: “And me? What can I do?”
Giles: “Well, you can get coffee and donuts.”
Xander looks hurt.
Anya: “That would be very helpful sweetheart.”
Willow: “Yeah, I would love a mocha”
Tara: “Can you make s-s-sure you get donuts with sprinkles?”
Giles (with out looking up): Oh, and get me a jelly donut.”
Xander (sighing): “It’s ok, I know my place. Have car, will get food”
The rest of the group set about their tasks with a great enthusiasm. They were sitting for nearly 30 mins when Xander returned with coffee and food. He passed them around to appreciative smiles. Then took a seat next to Willow and began to help her with the internet research. Hours passed and the gang began to look a little worn around the edges. Willow had given up on the net and had joined the rest of them at the books.
Xander: “AHA”
All: “What?”
Xander (sheepishly): “I found my pencil. Sorry”
This elicited loud groans from the rest of the group then they set about working again. Xander picked up a newspaper and began to browse.
More than four more hours passed. The girls had all fallen asleep on one book or another and Giles was pacing behind the counter. Xander however was still searching the newspapers and had acquired a large pile of them around his feet. He flipped to the local section of one paper and his eyes bulged widely at what he read. He motioned to Giles, careful not to wake the girls.
Xander (whispering): “Giles, I think I have found something”
Giles hurried over to Xander, giving the girls a look of pride and fatherly love as he passed them. It really was fantastic the dedication these you people put into fighting an evil that was nothing to do with them. Buffy had no choice, these others did. Giles was prouder than any parent that they kept choosing consistently to be Buffy’s friends and stand by her, even when it got tough and especially when it got horrifying.
Giles: “Yes Xander what is it?”
Xander: “Well, I figured that if this guy is making demons he needs something to start from.”
Giles: “Possibly”
Xander: “So I looked through the death notices. There by the way, is a marked increase in the number of twenty-something aged boys that are dying.”
Giles: “Well that could be attributed to many things”
Xander: “It could, but it’s not. Half of these guys have had their graves robbed”
Giles: “Robbed?”
Xander: “Well not so much as exhumed. The bodies are gone. One family noticed the earth of their son’s grave was a bit soft and on closer inspection, they noticed, no son.”
Giles: “Dear lord”
Xander: “So what do we do now?”
Giles: “Well, there isn’t much we can do. At least not until the girls wake up. I need Willow to check the net for autopsies. I am rather interested in how these young men died.”
Xander: “Should we get Buffy?”
Giles: “No, definitely not. She needs a rest and I am going to give her one. Even if it is only for one evening. When we know more, then we can get her.”
Xander: “Ok, you’re the boss”
Giles walked over to the sleeping Willow and shook her gently. He hated waking her up, but Xander was right, they needed to find out all they could and quickly. Willow stirred beneath his hand and looked up at him with sleep covered eyes.
Willow: “Find something?”
Giles: “I need you to go back on the net for me”
Willow: “Not a problem”
Giles: “I need you to look up some autopsies for me. Some young men.”
Willow: “My favourite subject.”
Giles smiled wryly at her. She grinned back and stretched, standing up and working her way to the computer.
Willow was searching for only a few minutes when she came across something interesting. She checked it three times before she called Giles over, she didn’t want to get his hopes up.
Willow: “Giles come and look at this; I think I found a link.”
Giles looked at the screen. He read it for a little while then he turned a grim face to Willow. He removed his glasses and began to clean them furiously.
Giles: “Good lord, this isn’t good”
Willow looked back at the computer screen and gulped. He was right. This was not going to be fun.
