a sort of dislocate but only a partial, thanks to the hash and the non-controllability of what's about to happen.

Nailed it. At least that's what I felt.

Excellence! Thankee once more, Mme. Editrix.

There's a typo at the end of chap 5 of Matty groves, which has been fixed, and I wrote a bit more, which I'll send in the morning.

Lookee! It's the last segment of Desperate Times! Next stop, for both the story and our fearless heroes--the great big world!

Dinner was quiet at the Summers' house. They didn't discuss what had happened to Tara or the creature that had followed Dawn from school. Buffy watched her mother surreptitiously, trying to gauge if Joyce was up to a trip. She thought about mentioning the possibility of running for cover, but the expected explanations and protests were too much to deal with just yet. Best to have a destination in mind.

Who could she trust to look after her mother? The place had to be far enough away from Sunnydale that Glory wouldn't bother following. The Hellgod was bound to a specific time and location, giving the Scoobies more room to maneuver.

Once they were finished eating, Buffy pulled Dawn aside. "Would you start the dishes and everything? I've got a phone call to make."

Dawn started to protest, but Buffy was wearing the Slayer look. Whatever phone call this was, it wasn't the "hi, let's chat" kind. She nodded and hurried into the kitchen to make sure Joyce didn't do more than put some light leftovers in the fridge.

Buffy took the cordless phone out onto the porch for both privacy and the chance to keep watch. She hadn't dialed this number in over a year, but the Slayer-memory didn't give things up.

"Thank you for calling Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless," Cordelia's professional voice said.

"Cordy, it's Buffy--"

"Your call is very important to us. We're working on several cases right at the moment, but if you'll leave your name and number or a place where you can be reached, we'll make getting back to you a top priority."

Buffy grimaced. Well, it was after business hours--except Angel's typical clientele were more used to the dark. She waited for the beep. "Angel, Cordelia, if you're there, please pick up. Wesley, you, too--either, if you're there." No answer. "OK, I guess no one's there. This is--"

The phone picked up. "Hello?" said a male voice she didn't recognize.

"Hi, who's this?"

"This is Lorne. Can I help you?"

"Um, is Angel there?"

"I'm sorry, Angel's not available right at the moment. Can I--"

"What about Cordelia?"

The very nice voice became preoccupied. "I'm--afraid Cordelia's not in either. If you tell me how we can help you, perhaps ..."

It wasn't something she felt comfortable telling a stranger. "Is Angel going to be back soon?"

"Well, to be honest, Angel and the others are--going out of town on a case. But I can take a message."

"Is he going to be gone long?"

"It could be several days. Can I take a message?"

"No," she said after a moment. "I'll call back if I still need his help. Thanks."

"No problem. Thank you for calling Angel Investigations."

Buffy turned off the phone and stared out into the dark. Part of her was relieved: the thought of sending Joyce off into someone else's protection hadn't made her happy. Still, LA was nice and far.

She looked up as a car pulled up at the curb. Giles' red convertible. With Giles at the wheel, Spike next to him and behind--

"Willow," she gasped. She ran down. "Willow, what are you doing?"

"I told them what happened," Willow said calmly. She took Giles' hand as he got out and held the door for her. "I wanted Giles' help."

Buffy looked at Giles suspiciously. "Help for what?"

"Going after Glory," Willow said unapologetically.

"Willow, I said--"

"When Angel was dying from that poison," Willow snapped, "you tried to kill Faith, then you made him drink from you. Don't judge me for what I'm willing to do for the one I love."

Buffy bit back what she wanted to say. "But you're here instead."

Giles shrugged. "We talked her out of it."

She wanted to ask how, but decided that could wait. "What are you two doing here?"

Spike nodded at Willow. "Red told us about the demon at the shop. I'm here to help look after Niblet and your mum--if you'll have me."

Her first vampire of choice was unavailable, and she couldn't deny an ally with his own grudge against Glory would be useful. She nodded, then glanced at Giles.

"He says there's a way to save Tara," Willow said excitedly. "A magical way."

"What?"

"Do you remember that Knight who said the minds could be restored?" Giles said to Buffy.

"Yeah, he said--he said it was sorcerer's work."

Giles nodded.

Buffy looked at Willow. "How?"

"It's simple, it's a breaking of the link and a rebinding. The only hard part is getting Tara close to Glory."

"Only ..."

Willow shrugged. "I'm willing to try it."

Buffy stared at her, torn. "If Glory got her hands on you ..."

"I know. But it's Tara's only chance." Willow took a deep breath. "I'm not asking permission. But I know you're trying to juggle a lot of stuff, you need to know what I'm planning."

"How long can you wait?"

"Giles says it needs to be as soon as possible."

Giles came partway around the car, obviously trying not to crowd Buffy. "You have a plan?"

Buffy shrugged. "Less a plan, more a panic. Ben at the hospital said I deserved a few days off, and I asked him if Mom was well enough to travel. So I thought--Glory can't do anything without the Key, and if we take the Key out of her reach ..."

Giles nodded slowly. "That's actually a very good plan. Get everyone Glory can hurt out of her reach, put the Key so far away that even if Glory did gain possession that there wouldn't be time to get back here in time for the alignment."

"You do remember that the point of this is to keep--the Key away from Glory, right? That's my first priority." She looked at Willow. "We can't cure Tara if the world's been sucked into hell."

Willow hesitated, then nodded. "But e

Willow hesitated, then nodded. "But even hell might be OK, if I had Tara back," she whispered, too softly for vampires or Slayers to hear.

"Spike and I already told the others that we'd be gone a few days," Giles said to Buffy. "I knew matters were coming to a head, and I thought--" He smiled. "I hoped we could be of some service."

Buffy studied first Giles, then Spike. The one used to be the person to whom she'd unhesitatingly trusted her life. She had to keep reminding herself that he was almost as big a danger to Dawn as Glory. The other one--all she could depend on him for were uncomfortable declarations of demonic love and the occasional wistful remembrance of bloody days gone by. And the steadfast refusal to betray her.

Finally she sighed and nodded. "Spike, I need you and Willow to stay here and keep an eye on Mom and Dawn. Between the two of you, you should be able to hold off just about anything."

Spike glanced at Willow, who straightened in determination. "We've got your back, pet."

Buffy met his eyes. "If it all goes to hell, the keys to the Land Rover are in the Mexican bowl on the kitchen counter. I don't care where, just take them some place far away." He grimaced, then nodded shortly.

"What are you going to do?" Willow asked.

She shrugged again. "Looks like it's a roadtrip. I told Xander and Anya to pack up and be ready to go in the morning."

"I'm not leaving Tara--"

"We aren't going to. We'll stop by the dorm for your stuff, then at the hospital for Tara. Then ..."

Giles moved up to Buffy's side. "Your mother's Land Rover won't hold that many people."

"I know."

"And a destination would be advisable. We can't wander the hinterlands like the Lost Tribes."

"I know."

"May I help you with both problems?"

She stared at him, remembering years of mutual faith and every lesson about the essential untrustworthiness and self-interest of vampires. "I would be very pleased if you would."

(bouncing) Whee!

Yes, I saw the typo when I copied it to Word. I'll just fix it then in my copy.

I won't be able to get to it till late afternoon. But it will be my carrot to get me through!

Ack--that last was responding to Deb.

Connie, you've got the voices really well. I need to read it again tomorrow when I can focus a bit better. I am anxious to know where it goes from here.

"Ummm...I just left a women's prison - what's with all the girls?" Faith looked pointedly at Willow, who responded with a glare of her own

Love this very much, Teppy. The whole thing.

connie, write more! Write faster! I want to see what comes next!

Connie, story's running like it's on tracks, babe. Only one thing caught me slightly wrong:

too softly for vampires or Slayers to hear.

How many slayers are there in the room? It's nitpicky, maybe, but having just watched Buffy (full of SiTs) and Angel (return of Other True Slayer), I really did blink for a second.

She stared at him, remembering years of mutual faith and every lesson about the essential untrustworthiness and self-interest of vampires. "I would be very pleased if you would."

t squee connie, write more! Write faster! Tell us what happens next!

Okay. Here's the amended version of Faith showing up at the Summers' house. Thoughts?

And does anyone have a title for me? Puh-leeeeeeeze? I'll do a little dance of gratitude...

***********

Two days later, Faith showed up on the Summers' front porch. Vi answered the door, peering curiously at her from under a floppy, garishly striped hat. "Hi. Can I help you?"

"Uh, yeah..." Faith looked around for a minute, checking the address. "This is Buffy Summers' house, right?"

"Yes...do you know her?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm an old friend of hers. I just came up from L.A., because I have some information that I think could help her." Faith smiled, although the gesture didn't reach the steely look in her eyes.

"You mean against the First?" Vi's eyes were wide and hopeful.

"Uh...you bet." Faith looked past Vi into the house. "Is Buffy home?"

"Yeah, she is. Come on in, and I'll get her."

"Thanks, umm...?" Faith trailed off, looking quizzically at Vi.

"Oh, I'm Vi! I'm staying here now, while..."

Vi was cut off as Dawn came around the corner asking "Hey, who's at the door?" Dawn, stopped short, gaping in astonishment at the sight of Faith standing in the doorway, the full moon visible over her shoulder. Then Dawn screamed, backing away quickly. The others came running.

"Dawn, what is it? A Bringer?" Buffy grabbed Dawn's arm, quickly checking to see if she was hurt and then scanning the front hall intently. She stared at Faith in shock.

Xander was right on Buffy's heels, followed by Willow. "Dawnie, are you okay?" Xander held a thick book aloft, brandishing it like an axe. As he caught sight of Faith, he jumped back. "Ngyah!"

"Hey, B, Xander, Willow." Faith attempted a genuine smile. She looked pale, and older than anyone remembered. But then, they were all older. "Look, I...I know you weren't expecting me, but..." Faith took in the looks of shock and horror on everyone's faces. "What?"

"You're...you're dead! I mean, supposed to be. Well, because, there's a new Slayer and everything, which means you died, but you're here, and..." Xander gestured wildly with the book until Willow stepped up and took it away from him.

"Um, really not dead. Because, check me out. Here I am."

"But there really was a new Slayer called. You have to be dead," Dawn said, trembling.

"Look, I think I know why you're all freaking out. I don't expect you to welcome me with open arms, but you're going to want to hear what I have to say. Okay?"

Buffy didn't answer for a moment, assessing Faith carefully. After a minute had passed, she said "At this point, there probably is a perfectly Hellmouthy explanation for this. Fine. Let's go in the living room."

"Thanks, B." Faith followed Buffy, halting at the sight of the potentials gathered around the doorway, trying to hear the conversation in the hall. "Ummm...I just left a women's prison - what's with all the girls?" Faith looked pointedly at Willow, who responded with a glare of her own.