Spike lay still, staring at the ceiling above him in the darkness. They had agreed to give Willow a couple of hours to find out as much as possible from the Initiative's computer files, before coming up with a plan. She had insisted that they all spend the time resting, so they would be as alert as possible when the time came to take action. They had all done as they were told, but Spike was finding it impossible to rest.

They were almost there. They had found Buffy. Now they could actually do something. Put an end to this hell of inaction. He wondered what the bastards had done to her.

His sharpened hearing picked up noises from the kitchen. Was Willow done already? In a single movement, he slipped off his bed and made his way downstairs. No, not Willow. It was Tara in the kitchen, pulling food out of the fridge. She jumped when Spike silently appeared in the doorway, then relaxed and smiled sheepishly.

"I couldn't sleep," she said softly. "I thought I'd make some soup, so we could all have something to eat before we head out." She held up a stick of celery.

"I couldn't sleep either," he replied in the same quiet tones.

"Me either." Dawn stood behind him, clutching Mr Gordo. "And I'm pretty sure Anya and Xander are awake too."

"Oh well," said Tara, "Resting was a good idea. Since you're here, Dawnie, you can peel some potatoes for me."

"What's going on?" All three turned guiltily to the door at the sound of Willow's voice.

"We - we couldn't sleep," Dawn replied.

Willow moved into the kitchen, grabbing a celery stick to munch on. "Ooh, yummy. Are you making your vegetable soup?"

"Willow." Tara's voice was firm. "What have you found? Have you finished already?"

"Yes." Willow's voice was halting. "Dawnie, why don't you get Xander and Anya? I might as well tell you all at once."

****

Spike could feel a red rage, the hot blood, rising in him, and it took a conscious effort to tamp it back down. He caught Xander's eyes and managed a tight smile, letting the other know that he had it under control.

Those bastards. I'll kill them for hurting Buffy. If they've damaged her ...

He couldn't finish the thought. No, Buffy would be fine. She was strong. She would be able to fight against this.

He refused to let himself think of an alternative - Buffy unhinged, allowing them to play with her mind. Weakened. Manipulated. Destroyed.

Once again the rage threatened him, and he stood abruptly, seeking movement to help maintain his control.

"How do we get in?" he asked brusquely.

'The only entrance I can find on the map is by the caves. But it's heavily guarded," Willow said.

"Are you sure there's nowhere else we can get in?" Dawn asked.

Willow shook her head. "There only seems to be one entrance. I suppose there must be more, but I have no idea where they could be."

"Then we go in by that entrance," Spike said.

"Okey dokey," said Xander. "So I have a little question. How the hell do we do that?"

"We'll have to fake it," Spike replied. "Willow, is there any other useful information you found?"

"Oh, oh!" she cried excitedly. "I think so! They do a nightly patrol ... let me go check!"

****

"... through the checkpoint, then we leave the van and make a run for this control room here." Spike tapped a finger on the map print-out. The Scoobies were all gathered round the dining-room table, going through the plan. "Once we're there, Willow will jam any alarms or surveillance equipment, and locate exactly where Buffy is being kept. We get her, and get the hell out."

He paused and looked around the table. Willow, Tara, Dawn, Xander, Anya. They all nodded, serious looks on their faces. It wasn't a team he would have chosen, that's for sure. But somehow, he knew that they would do whatever it took to get the job done. Each one was willing to put their lives on the line to save Buffy. If anyone could do it, it was this motley crew of ex-demons, witches, and humans. And one handicapped vampire.

He gave a small smile. "Right then. Let's go."

****

"Go, go, go!"

The voice in his earpiece was authoritative, and Lieutenant Hughes obeyed instantly. Sensing rather than seeing Santos at his side, he slipped from the back of the van and moved through the shadows of the cemetery. He could see his prey now, a peroxide blonde vampire, dressed in leather, strolling casually past the gravestones. He must have heard something, because he turned in their direction, game face on. Hughes still wasn't used to the sight, but he didn't falter as he moved forward, in a perfect pincer movement with Santos.

"Hello, gentlemen," the vampire smirked. "I've been expecting you."

Hughes raised his gun, ready to fire the laser, but was distracted by a movement to his right. What was that? The system had only picked up one vampire in this area ... His head moved slightly to the right, and that was the last thing he knew before something heavy landed on the back of his head, and he pitched forward into darkness ...

"Good shot, Dawnie," Willow panted, standing over the other soldier boy. Dawn looked up proudly, brandishing her baseball bat.

As Spike joined them, they dragged the two soldiers into the shadows, stripping off their uniforms and tying and gagging them securely. All three whirled as they heard a noise behind them, but it was just Tara, running up to join them.

"We got the van," she said, out of breath. "There was just the one doctor. And also a medical bag ..."

She held up a syringe triumphantly. "Anaesthetic. Well, that's what it said on the label. It should keep them out cold for the rest of the night, don't you think?"

She injected both the soldiers as Xander and Anya appeared, dragging the doctor. Anya was already dressed in the medical outfit, and Xander and Tara quickly pulled on the two army uniforms. Even with her hair tucked up under a hat, Tara still looked far too feminine, but there was little they could do about that, Spike decided. As long as Xander did all the talking, they should be okay.

They all went back to the van, Xander, Anya and Tara getting into the front, and Spike, Dawn and Willow arranging themselves on the stretchers in the back. Spike looked across at the other two girls. They were dressed to the nines in some of Buffy's favourite leather outfits, and had gone completely mad with the eyeliner and dark lipstick, having decided that this was the way that vampires looked. He had to admit, they were pretty authentic. It was terrifying how grown-up Dawn looked, all of a sudden ...

With a lurch, they were away, Xander taking a few minutes to get used to driving the van. He made his way confidently to the entrance of the Initiative's headquarters, having studied the route several times before leaving the house. He realised that there was a clear track leading through the woods towards the cave.

"How come no-one has noticed this before?" he wondered out loud.

"People in Sunnydale are pretty good at turning a blind eye," Anya said. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She looked really sexy, dressed up in that white coat. Maybe he should get her one of those little nurse's outfits ...

Concentrate, Xander, he berated himself. This is it. We're off to save Buffy.

****

Buffy screamed in pain as the electricity surged through her body. At least, she tried to scream, but a leather wedge was forced between her teeth, so that she couldn't bite herself during the electric shock treatment. So nice of them to look after me, she had thought sarcastically when they had first done it. Now, it was no longer funny. Nothing, any more, was remotely funny.

She was trying so hard to keep it together. But it was getting so difficult. It would be so easy just to slip away, to give in to it all. Then she would be at peace ...

There is no peace.

She didn't know where the voice came from, but it commanded her attention.

Be strong. Be sure. You know what you must do.

The shocks came again, but this time they didn't seem so bad. Something was numbing her, protecting her ...

We are always here with you...

A sense of warmth flooded through her.

... all of us are here together. We will help you.

She felt the tingle in her fingertips. Very slowly, strength began to seep into her.

Each of us passes on a part of ourselves to the next. We are always here. We will always help.

As if from outside herself, she sensed her friends, felt that they were close. That they were coming for her.

We will always help...

Without really being aware of it, Buffy realised that the medical staff were removing the electrodes from her, removing the leather strap, half-heartedly wiping the sweat from her face. She waited, motionless, until they had all left the room.

Slowly, Buffy drew on all her strength; then, flexing her arms, she strained at the straps restraining her, until she felt them give.

TBC