Chapter 13

The young man emerged from his room, all his bags packed. He briskly walked to the lobby, set his bags down by the magazine rack, and searched behind the garbage can. There it was! He bent down and picked up the wooden box that had been stashed behind the can on the floor. The young man smiled as he slowly lifted the lid and found the syringe nestled inside. The amber liquid within the syringe sparkled in the sunlight filtering in from the windows. He smiled again, pleased that his accomplice had come through as planned. He gently slid the box into his coat pocket, picked up his bags, and went over to the front desk.

There was no line, thankfully. He hated to wait, but especially now with the syringe at the ready. He was anxious to complete his mission. He set his bags down and flexed his fingers as he spoke to the elderly man behind the desk. "I'd like to check out. Room 45."

The deskman tapped on his keyboard, gazing into the computer. "Name please?"

"Riley Finn."

* * *

The phone rang in the lab, jarring Fred out of her discussion with Giles regarding the possible origins of Spike's box. She snatched it up, "Hello?" Without saying another word, she quickly hung it back up. "Angel has the tape. We're to meet him back in his office."

"Wow, that was fast." Buffy said. Giles nodded his agreement as they headed out the door, meeting Knox in the hallway. "Where did you run off to?" Fred asked.

"Geesh. Do I have to ask for permission before I visit the men's room?" He asked shyly. Fred turned pink. "No, sorry. It's just that you vanished."

"Sorry, bad breakfast I guess." Knox rubbed his stomach. He did look a little green, Fred thought.

Knox returned to the lab. Spike was already getting out the deck of cards. "You don't want in on the action?" Knox asked him, pointing towards the vanishing group.

Spike shuffled the deck, never lifting his eyes. Finally, he shrugged. "Doesn't matter what I want. If I haven't learned anything, I've learned that. Now, you want to play, or not?"

Knox looked around the lab at all the work he should be doing, then he grinned at Spike and fell back into his chair. "Deal them up, my friend."

Buffy noticed that Spike hadn't joined them. She had also noticed how Spike and Giles had kept a safe distance from each other while in the lab. That was another reason why she couldn’t wait to get back to England with Giles. She didn't blame Spike or herself anymore. It was over and done with. But she knew it was still fresh to Giles. She didn't want Giles to hurt anymore because of her. Buffy had hurt Giles enough in her two lifetimes.

Giles glanced down at Buffy. Her sudden silence concerned him, and he noted the frown on her face. He took her hand in his. "Buffy? Are you okay?"

She squeezed his hand, and smiled at him. "Yeah, I'm okay. I was just thinking how I can't wait to get out of this place."

"I understand, Buffy. I feel the same way. But I feel it would be remiss of us to leave right now."

Buffy nodded. "I know. We should see it through. But, Giles, I've had enough of these adventures. I'm retired now, remember? I should be home making you mushy peas or something."

He laughed. "Mushy peas? You hated those."

She joined his laughter. "Yes, I did. They're gross. But, I'd make them for you. I didn't say I'd eat them though."

His laughter continued, and he bent down, brushing her lips with his own.

The moment was broken as Fred cleared her throat. "Sorry, but, Angel wanted us there right away?"

"Quite right. My apologies." Giles and Buffy quickly followed Fred down the hall toward the stairs.

When they reached Angel's office, Harmony flagged Buffy down. "Buffy? There's a note here for you."

Buffy frowned. A note?

"Who's it from?" But Harmony just rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Geeze, I'm not your secretary, you know. It was just sitting here on the desk."

Buffy snatched the note out of her hand. Her name was on the front of the sheet of folded paper. The handwriting seemed vaguely familiar to her, but she couldn't place it. She glanced up at Giles as she opened it, and he read it over her shoulder.

"BUFFY, PLEASE MEET ME IN THE HOTEL LOBBY ACROSS THE STREET. IT'S ABOUT SPIKE. COME ALONE, OR I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW. COME SOON. I WON'T WAIT LONG. A FRIEND."

They read it again.

"What's with the cryptic and the secrecy?" She frowned.

"I don't like it, Buffy." Giles told her. He took the note from her and scrutinized it. She giggled at him. "Giles, it's just a piece of paper."

Angel poked his head out of his office. "Are you two coming? Lorne should be bringing the tape down any second."

"You mean you don't have it yet?" Buffy asked him.

Angel shook his head. "No, but Lorne said he was coming right down. I wanted us all to view it together."

Buffy glanced again at her Watcher. He shook his head. "No Buffy, don't. Or at least let me come with you."

"It says come alone. This could help us."

Angel walked up and read the note in Giles' grasp. "I agree with Giles, Buffy. It could be a trap."

"A trap, in the middle of the afternoon in a busy hotel lobby? And hey, I’m the Slayer."

"Yes, and your impulsive behavior worked so well in the past. Remember the trap set for you when they wanted to bring the Master back?" Angel argued with her. Giles knew that was the wrong tact, and he could see Buffy digging her heels in.

She turned and headed towards the door. "I'll be back soon. Don't wait for me if the tape shows up."

"Buffy, please?" But Giles' pleas were lost on her deaf ears.

Harmony tsked under her breath. "She'll always be a selfish brat. Why can't Spike see that?" She whined. Giles glared at her, and Harmony was amazed she didn't burst into flames by the anger in his eyes. She grumbled some excuse and hurried off.

"You should go after her." Angel said to Giles.

Giles debated with himself. Then he reluctantly shook his head. "No, I need to trust her judgment. She's usually right in the end." Usually, he thought.

Lorne was finally coming down the stairs, tape in hand. Angel ushered him into the office, and Giles followed, with one glance back at the entrance of the lobby. The doors were still swinging shut from Buffy's abrupt exit.

As they entered Angel's office, Buffy was making her way across the street. She never made it to the hotel lobby, however. And she never saw Riley sneak up behind her, and plunge the needle into her shoulder. She was out cold before she could hit the pavement, Riley scooping her up in his arms, and carrying her around the corner.

Chapter 14