Fiction FaGC04- Seeking A Solution

Title: For A Good Cause

Chapter Title: Seeking A Solution

Author: Restive Nature

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to BtVS. They belong to Whedon & Mutant Enemy. Nor do I own any rights to other shows represented through the rest of this fictions. All shows belong to their respective owners. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.

Rating: Various, up to R

Chapter Rating: PG

Genre: Crossover

Type: BtVS/ Various

Pairing: Various

Summary: When threatened by an old foe not their own, how else can the combined forces of the Scoobies and the Fang Gang respond? By having an auction!

Spoilers/ Time line: This is post series for both Buffy and Angel. Other shows and will be discussed within each chapter that it pertains to.

Feedback: Always welcome!

Distribution: Ask first please.

A/N: This is a response to the Twisting the Hellmouth “The Bachelor/ Bachelorette Challenge.

For A Good Cause

Chapter Four

Seeking A Solution

It was easy to make the decision to keep this entire thing, this situation they found themselves in quiet, and completely on a need to know basis. Because really, there were a hell of a lot of people out there that would definitely take advantage of the downfall, as it were, of the slayers and their allies, to make them into slaves. Angel pointed out that if they wanted to resolve this, then they had to deal with it quickly. The sooner the better. The decision was made that everyone, no matter how tired they were, needed to be working on this in some way or another.

Being the ones caught in the trap, there were no protests.

But one looming question was burning in their minds as they sat to decide which books and resources they would need and how to go about getting them.

“So why,” Buffy began, playing idly with her own fingers, her face scrunched up a little, “was Rhona not able to claim Willow. She wasn't in the room when this happened.”

“That's a good question,” Giles nodded and everyone noticed that he didn't have an answer. Illyria made a noise, approximate to a snort. There was some murmurs of the immediate theories playing in their minds and Dawn, seeing the spark growing in the God-King's eyes, recognized an imminent tantrum, from having thrown so many herself, not all that removed from teen hood as she was.

“Um, Illyria?” she questioned hesitantly, and the softness of her voice quieted the others, glancing up. A few of them recognized the same glint in the bodies face that Dawn had. “You've been around for a long time, haven't you? I would be... interested in listening if you'd like to share anything. About the Djinn I mean.”

The woman that had taken Winifred Burkle's body as a shell to pour her own form into, an act not by her choosing, but by that of her now dead Qua'hazon, nodded imperiously. “You seem wiser beyond your apparent years, Dawn Summers.” It wasn't quite a compliment, the way she said it. Dawn exchanged a mystified glance with her sister, and Buffy shook her head slightly. No one had informed Illyria that Dawn's blood or perhaps Dawn herself housed the key of dimensions, a thing, as had once been described, was older than dirt. But maybe she, the God-King still retained enough of her powers to recognize such. “And though it offends me mightily that the lower beings that had only thought to lay claim to me have done so, I will cast my lot with the people of my guide,” she paused for a moment, swallowing heavily, as did Spike and Angel. More so the latter.

“Thank you for that,” Dawn nodded, feeling like Illyria's good will, as little of it as there was, needed a coda. She had already learned the the ancient one was extremely touchy about her status among the humans and reminded everyone of her once and longed for exalted position above them. Although Angel's gang, namely Wesley had found a way to drain much of her power, so that she couldn't destroy their hapless world, she still had knowledge and skills that were a bonus more often than a hindrance. “We welcome you help, if only to save our own skins and yours.”

“Humans were ever selfish,” Illyria noted with a hint of what could be called a smile. “I find that it is a condition that I share, as loathsome as that thought is.”

“You could always call it self preservation,” Xander sighed and Illyria nodded once. “So, your thoughts on Rhona?”

“It is obvious, is it not?” Illyria began, pinning several in her eye line with a supercilious glare. She made another snorting noise. “The girl has power of her own. Therefore, she has no need of another to solve her problems.”

They were all quiet for a moment and then Giles nodded. “That's certainly a viable prohibition to this geas.” He turned to Angel. “You've an excellent memory for things you've heard and seen,” he began, not to compliment, but remind. “Have you-?” he began to ask, but Angel, having just finished scribbling on some scrap of paper, slid said paper across the table to Giles before tossing his pen down.

“That's what the Djinn cursed us with,” he offered tiredly. Vampire though he was, he had been heavily injured and worn out in both body and spirit by the fight and the losses. “Though I'm surprised that he used a modern language. They have their own, you know.”

“He wanted us to know exactly what we were in for,” Buffy sighed. “Which is nice, I guess. Not having the added burden of deciphering the rantings of a madman, or mad jinn.” Angel smiled gently at her, but she pretended not to notice. She was still angry with him to some degree over his behavior the past year, for many reasons and was disinclined to forgive him just yet. He understood that, but the overtures would be made and be constant until he had found forgiveness in her eyes.

“All right,” Giles glanced up from the paper he had been studying. “This gives us the direction to go in. Dawn, let's go collect the books we have here in the library. I'll contact Moyer about sending me the others from my library in Bath. Kennedy, take Willow somewhere quiet and private and get the coven on the line. Don't give them all the details, just tell them that a sorcerer has laid a geas on her and she needs to know what she can do to ease her discomfort until it can be lifted. Xander,” he turned to the other male that he had grown closer to over the past year, “do you think that the Aborigine council or tribe might have further information about this?”

“I doubt it,” Xander spread his hands wide on the table. “If they'd known, they might have hidden it from me, eager to get rid of it. But I don't think... I think they just sensed it was bad without knowing precisely what it was. But I can always ask.”

Giles nodded to give him the go ahead. He then turned to the instigator of the chain of events that had led them here. “Andrew, we do appreciate what you were trying to do, feeding us and such. Would it be possible for you to um...?”

“Of course Mr. Giles,” Andrew jumped to his feet, relief shining on his face that he wasn't quite in the dog house as it were. “I have plenty more food downstairs. I'll just go get it. Gonna need fuel to research, right?”

“It would be much appreciated, thank you,” Giles nodded wearily. He gestured at the table at large. “Perhaps a little assistance.”

“I'll ask one of the girls downstairs,” Andrew waved away the offer. “You guys are worn out. Just sit and- and save your strength for what matters.” With a slightly sick grin, he whirled and then, reminding himself, slowed to calmly move to the door. He disappeared through it, as the others that had been tasked, rose to go about said tasks. But before they could get far, Faith came breezing back in, leaving the door open for Spike to follow.

“Hey Xan, you might wanna break out the tool belt,” Faith announced. Xander, with a groan, let his head fall into his hands.

“What now?” he demanded, his voice muffled.

“Some of the girls got fractious,” Spike informed them. “Got into a shoving match, guess they forgot their new strength. Broke what, two walls?” he turned to Faith for confirmation. She nodded.

“And busted out one of the windows in that back room down stairs,” she added. “The one that looks like a mess of storage.”

“Oh of course,” Xander snorted contemptuously. “Just forget Xander's advice. Don't use the bathroom before a big fight. Don't let Andrew near the urn. Don't forget your strength and fight in the house.” He pushed away from the table and wearily stood. “Not like good old handyman Xander has nothing better to do.”

“If your task is too great mortal,” Illyria snorted from her still position, perched on the edge of her seat, “could you not set the task to your Slayer?”

“Buff's too tired...” Xander began but then realized what the blue God-King meant. He turned to Kennedy, who was staring, slightly mutinous as it seemed Illyria had been about to call her a slave. But Illyria's preservation skills actually were alive and well. “Huh,” Xander grunted. “There's a thought. It would take care of things quicker.” He shook his head though immediately after. “Too bad there isn't the money to get the supplies. This old house is nice enough, but there's just too much that needs replacing. Sorry Giles,” he offered to the older man that had procured the building.

“No offense taken,” Giles sighed, removing his glasses and tossing them to the table before his place at it. He rubbed at his eye sockets this time instead of the other objects as was his wont. “Speaking of that, I do um... have a line on a bed and breakfast. Much larger, with more facilities.”

“I sense a 'but' there,” Buffy groaned.

“Well, as Xander was hinting,” Giles continued, “there's not much money and several of the buildings would require some depth of restoration to make it habitable. Purchasing it wouldn't be a problem with some combined resources, but afterwards...”

“Yeah,” Xander sighed after a moment. “It's too bad we couldn't use this spell thingy to work to our advantage. I mean, we've got the labor. We just need the money.” As the group around him nodded, he turned away, musing on what he had just said. Slave-slayer labor was top notch, having seen that proof himself when Buffy had worked on one of his building sites. If it hadn't been for the Trio, or which Andrew had been one, attacking her with phantom demons, she could have turned it into an actual job. And he probably would ask Kennedy or one of the others for help. Like he'd said, it was just too bad they couldn't turn this into a way to raise funds. A fund raiser. And then, his hand on the door, he knew exactly what they could do.

“Oh oh!” he grunted, his eyes going wide as he whirled back around. “Brain idea. Big idea!”

“What?” Willow whimpered where she was rising from her seat with Dawn and Kennedy's help. “What's your idea?”

“Something huge,” Xander uttered, leaning over the table, bracing his hands on the wood and looking around the room, at each and every one of the gang present. “And you all are going to ab-so-lute-ly.... loath it!”


Chapter Five- Solution Found