The girl slept in a small ring of sweat. Her body warm to the touch do to the slight fever that ran through her. Willow finished filling a small face towel with ice cubes, pressing the pile upon her damaged head.

Buffy paced up and down the hall in front of her room. Pike sat against the wall near the door, watching her. Finally a medium sized group of people rounded the corner of the hall. Giles and Angel in lead, quickly walked to the worried friends. In relief to see that everyone made it back okay, Buffy sighed. Without speaking to one another Giles walked past Buffy and Pike, opening the door already clued in to what was going on. Staying behind the group watched Pike follow him in, shutting the door behind him. Pike stepped out of the room, seeming even more frustrated from which he had before he went inside. The silence had to be broken. "What's going on?"

Looking to Buffy, Pike lifted his head acknowledging her question. "He thinks I should wait outside. He says I seem a little too edgy for me to be around him. I didn't know I could get on anyone's nerves that fast." Still being serious he tried to smile. The wait was killing him quicker that anything else would.

"You have no Idea." Buffy tried to relate with his attempt to cheer things up in order to deal, but she knew not to go to far with his patients. "Now, can I get some answers?" Even though unexpected it was still inevitable.

Contemplating to himself he looked at a small stain on the carpet below him. He wanted to put it as delicately as possible. Drawing breath to speak, he was quickly interrupted.

"I mean why is she here and not at a hospital? Those cuts look pretty bad. She's unconscious, Pike. Why here?!" Buffy's voice raised with each sentence. Willow and Giles joined the group, overhearing the conversation, wanting to know the answers as well.

Sitting down once again to his spot against the wall he slowly replied. "I didn't know where to take her, besides I can't take your kind to the hospital. Not with all the questions anyway. It would screw up the whole operation." He rubbed his face with exasperation.

"My kind? What do you mean, my kind?" More confused then before.

"She's a-"

"Slayer." Finishing for him without warning, the young girl stood by the now open door, leaning on the knob for support.

"Caela!" Pike stood quickly.

"Aid me not. I stand on me own." Snapping sharply, giving Pike no time to argue. "And I presume that you too are the Slayer. Buffy? Am I not correct?" Her Irish accent was thick. Seemed as if she had only learned it a few weeks ago.

"Yeah. What do you mean you're the slayer?" Standing relatively close to the wobbling girl ready to catch if she happened to fall.

"I am the replacement for whom you call Faith." Taking a deep breath. "I come to deliver a message and tha tis'all." Checking to see if everyone was paying attention. "The Powers That Be? Is that what you call them, Angel?" Receiving a nod. "Someone is toyin' with your destiny's. All of youse. People who know of the Dark Kind are being cheated of their own planned deaths." Thinking of what she had told to the edgy group. "Pike?" Her voice had become more soft with the change of conversation. "I would like to go home now." He walked slowly to her side and cupped her head with both of his hands.

"You cannot go home, Caela. Remember? I was only meant to protect you through the journey here, that's all." His tone was gentle, making sure he was clear and yet kind.

"Please?" Her voice cracked. Tears now clouded her bright blue eyes. "I can now longer stay here. I have done what they ask of me. Grant me my wish, my only wish. To go home." The dame that held back her tears broke with that said.

"You're not safe in Ireland, Caela." Replying as he scooped her up into his arms and returned her to the bed.

She had cried herself asleep, with Pike at the side of the bed. Everyone had waited outside, allowing the shocking news to sink in.

"I don't get it. Faith isn't dead. How can she be replaced?" Although Willow explained, her and Buffy shared the same question.

"Caela was moved up in line do to the fact that Faith is no longer a rightful Slayer." Stepping in, Pike was opened to all of their questions of which he could possible answer. Riley stood behind Buffy, who seemed to be a little too preoccupied to even reach for his hand. Riley was dying to get a debriefing of the background stories. But for the moment he knew that his friends were just as lost as he was.

"And what happened in Ireland that you two had to come all the way over here to get away from?" Giles began his questioning as well.

"Her Watcher and I were friends. He told us both that Caela was reincarnated." Waiting to release the mother of all bombs for the night.

"By who's spirit?" Giles began to cooperate more fully into the conversation.

"A Goddess named, Gabriella. Apart of your Powers That Be, Angel." Upon hearing his name and the reference of the PTBs he cracked a half smile. "Since being the host of this Goddess's spirit she has the PTBs on her side when it comes to dying before her time. This Power that is messing with our death certificates is working against the PTBs themselves." Everyone now sat in Hallway.

Hearing an hourly watch beep Xander inspects the time. "What time is it, Xan?" Buffy asked for the group.

"4 o'clock." Glancing back and forth between Buffy and Angel, he tried to get a point out without saying anything.

"Yeah, right. Ummm. Angel? Do you have a car?" Everyone followed her action as she stood up.

"Yeah, its parked in the student parking. Why?"

"We'll need transportation. I need to get you, Pike, Cordy and Caela to my mom's before sun up." Knowing right away that Angel would understand where she was going with the idea that was running through her head.

"Okay, I'll go down and pull it up as close as I can." Jogging off from the group he turned the corner to carry out his mission.

"Pike? You got her?" Noticing that Pike had already assumed his job. Without hearing an answer she let it go.

"Willow, I need you to hook up with Giles as soon as you can. I know you have class today, but try and work as much as possible around it." Moving on to the other's jobs as she watched Willow already heading for her book bag and coat. "Xander, you work with Riley and go to the library and figure out as much as possible about who this Goddess Gabriela was. Okay?" Looking around the room for any objections.

"What about me?" Buffy had nearly forgotten all about Wesley. He had been so quiet all this time.

"Wesley, Giles and Willow will need your line of expertise. Help them find out about these Power people." Receiving a nod from the young watcher she moved on.

"Alright, we'll ron devour back at my place and share information, hopefully Caela'll be able to think clearly by then." Quickly turning around, she left everyone to clear the room as she followed Pike out.

The girl was settled soundly into Buffy's old bed on the top floor. She seemed so small when all of the pillows engulfed her body. Upon finally realizing that the sun was about to rise, Buffy also noticed that Angel was closing the blinds and drawing the curtains to prevent the flow of sunlight into the room. Pike moved Buffy's wooden desk chair to the bed side where he decided to plant himself for the day. But Buffy knew the man had to be beyond exhausted.

"Pike, why don't you take the guest bed. I'll check on here every once in a while for ya. She'll be fine." Taking to much time to reply, Buffy began to worry about his answer. "You're no good to her if you don't get some rest." Opening the door, she led him out of the room through the hallway and into an extra room. The room was just as big as Buffy's and yet it looked bigger do to the lack of wall art.

"Thanks." Pike sat on the bed and began to remove his boots and jacket. Being too deep in thought of sleep and Caela he didn't look up to see Buffy smile in reply as she closed the door to give him peace.

Buffy walked around the house trying to determine where he mother had apparently gone to and when she planned on returning. It wasn't that she was afraid of involving her mother, its just that if she was planning the come home anytime soon, she just might want to know just who was in her house without her specific permission and why.

Scanning the calendar on the side of the fridge, Buffy finally spotted the correct date and month. Everything was blank except for the resent dated box. Gathering her conclusion of her mother's where abouts she felt a sudden rush of energy, but not the kind that was caused by a cup of sugar, but one that was usually caused by the presence of a vampire. Quickly turning, she found Angel scooting in the kitchen to fetch himself a drink of water. He had been sleeping on the couch, while Cordelia took Buffy's mother's bed. Buffy didn't need the sleep as much as the rest of them did. They had all been traveling.

Scratching his head as he looked up to her with a small smile for a greeting, she realized that she still didn't know how he knew that Caela was in town.

"So, how've you been?" Leaning on the counter, Buffy tried to get into the subject.

"I...I've been good. And you?"

"I've had better. There's still that whole Faith on the loose thing, and our hoop of the week demon, Adam."

"Who's Riley?" The question came out of the blue and off topic. Buffy looked a little shocked by the sudden interest change.

"My boyfriend." She knew she couldn't beat around that particular answer.

"Does he treat you okay?" Angel was continuing to shock his ex.

"He's fun, he knows about me. Which is nice of which I don't have to lie to him about certain things. He holds his own pretty good too." She wanted to continue but he stopped her there.

"Do you love him?" Angel was a little too full of surprises.

"He and I can talk to one another. Without having to feel too close." She knew she had hurt him with that but she wanted to get it through to him not to worry and get involved.

"Do you love him?" That still was not the answer nor the question he had asked her.

Turning around immediately she walked out of the room, almost as if she were walking away from the conversation at hand. Instead of pressing the conversation further he only followed her to the living room. Reaching the couch he found her sitting down. Harshly exhaling she relaxed against the soft coushins. Noticing that she was all worked up about things that have been going on he made his way behind her and the couch. He rested his hands on her shoulders feeling how tense she was, he began to massage and loosen her back muscles.

Since Buffy had fallen asleep in his sleeping area he decided to stay awake and go up stairs to check on Caela. Although she still slept peacefully he thought to put on a CD, just high enough to inspire a dream and yet not enough to disturb her slumber. He pulled a chair to sit next to where she slept upon Buffy's bed. Getting bored, Angel found a girl's magazine that sat on the night stand near the bed.

Although Angel tried to keep that music low, it wasn't low enough for the very aware Buffy Summers. Slowly she opened the door, recieving Angel's attention upon her entrance. Smiling instead of saying hello they exchanged looks.

"Ne." A small moan escaped from the bed. The language was not yet famaliar. "Achem. Achem, ne." Caela's moans became strong words. The two of them gathered around her bed trying to calm her. Her words came more rapidly. "Achem, Ti heit tue." Finally she woke herself. "Neeeeee!" Her eyes opened widly to find herself surrounded by the two.

"Shhhhh....." Buffy tried to calm her as she moved to sit behind her head on the bed.

"Caela!" Pike bursted through the door without hesitation, rushing to her. Although she achknowledged his presence she almost naturally turned her head into Buffy's arms and wepted. "What happened? Whats wrong?" His questions were so quickly spoken in panic.

"She had a nightmare." Angel responded

"Is she okay?" Turning his questions to the victum. "Are you alright?" Nothing came from her, not even a shrug in response.

"Does she have these kinds dreams often?" Angel seemed to know more than he was leading on.

"Yeah." Almost forcing his answer. "They got worse as we got closer and closer. She would wake up crying about three or four times a night." He watched her with pain in his eyes.

"Angel?" Buffy and concentrated on Angel's face during the whole conversation. Realizing that he was a little too interested in a mild nightmare.

He didn't speak and nor did he not respond. Reaching over to the nap of Caela's neck he pulled away hair that had plastered itself on her skin revealing a distinct tattoo. "The Half-Moon Eclipse." Breathing out to everyone. "Who gave this to her?"

"The minister that delivered her, or so I'm told. She's had it ever since I met her. Why?" Pike and Buffy were both on the same wave length of curiosity.

"This symbol, it means..." Searching for the best way to explain clearly. "The barer is known as the Kismettin. She's a chosen slayer. The last one that was heard of was over 300 years ago. She is known as a demon's boogy-man. There to haunt you when you sleep. Born to bring all evil to their final destination." Looking to each of them individually. "Hell."

Part Three

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