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Duncan woke up and checked on Dru to make sure she was okay. She was starting to stir, so he got her another glass of the special drink that he had bought for this occasion ready. This time when he approached, he noticed that she didn't move away from him. He helped her up, noting that she was still not quite as strong as he had hoped she would be by now. As she finished the drink, he waited on her to decide whether or not she wanted to talk to him. He was sure that she would still be very angry with him because of what happened. He was surprised when he heard her call his name quietly. He pulled a chair over and sat down near the bed. "How are you Drusilla? The way you feel now is the way you will continue to feel. If the spell took the soul you accepted, then you would know it by now. I need to know your choice for your life. Do you want to return to Spike, or do you wish to continue on the path to being a slayer? The decision is now in your hands. I have noticed that you are still quite weak, so I won't leave til after you are with the ones that you wish to be with." He watched Dru. "Duncan, I made my choice already. You were right, it didn't take the soul that I accepted. I don't know why I'm weak right now. I was hoping you did. I want to continue to be a slayer. I won't be returning to Spike. He's just going to have to accept that. I don't know how Buffy and Angel will react to you being there with me, but I will keep them from harming you. I hate Drusilla now too. I go by just Dru. It allows the changes to be a bit easier to accept. I'm sorry for the trouble Spike is causing you. I hate the way he is reacting. He just won't give up. I would love for him to leave me alone though. This is hard enough without the added problems of him being after me and trying to force me to be bad again. The pain was bad, but it will remind me of the struggle that I have ahead of me. Thanks for not letting Spike take me with him. When can I leave and return to my partner and friends?" Duncan smiled. "Not just yet Dru. You can give them a call here shortly. I would like to see you a bit stronger before I take you back to them though. The weakness you are experiencing has me a bit worried. It isn't normal. I will stick around Sunnydale for a while, at least till it goes away. It could be that you just need time to relax. I'll check on you again in a few hours. I'm going to go get something for me to eat, and see if I can't find out where your friends are. Get a bit more rest Dru, you need it." Duncan got up and headed over to the door. He opened it just enough for him to get out and not let to much daylight in. Dru laid back down, and fell asleep again shortly after Duncan left.
Buffy called her mom as soon as she woke up. It was late, but her mom understood since her daughter did make a late patrol the night before. Joyce asked if there had been any information on Dru, and Buffy told her that there was nothing yet. She still had to call Willow and tell her. Buffy was dreading that call. As she hung up after talking to her mom, she tried to figure out what to tell Willow. Buffy dialed Willow's number about 5 minutes after hanging up from the call to her mom. She wanted to get it over with, knowing that her friend would be very upset. Buffy dialed Willow's number, and waited til she answered. At the sound of Willow's voice, Buffy decided that she just couldn't tell her over the phone. She asked her to stop over instead. Willow said that she would swing by the mansion in and hour. Buffy said that would work and told Willow that she would be waiting. After the call, Buffy noticed that she was no longer alone in the room. Angel had walked in and was sitting near her. He quietly asked if she had told Willow yet, and she shook her head as she told him that Willow would be there within the hour. The phone rang, and Angel answered it. Giles asked if he minded a visit from the watchers. He told him to stop over to await the decision time with them. He said that he would be there as soon as he picked Kris up. Angel hung up and told Buffy that there would be more visitors soon. She nodded and leaned back against him as he wrapped his arms protectively around her.
About an hour later, everyone was at the mansion. Buffy and Angel explained everything that had happened, including the fact that the spell had been started by the time they arrived. Kris looked down, and got really quiet. Willow sat back against Oz. "She is ok, isn't she Buffy? Dru is still our friend right? She never gave up, so she has to have her soul. That's what you said Giles. It means that Spike has really lost her this round. Why isn't she here, with us right now? Didn't this guy know that she would need you and Angel when she woke up? Buffy, say she'll be here soon. Please?" Oz hugged Willow close to him. She was upset and for once he couldn't save her from it. "Willow, you told me that you felt Dru was stronger than the demon within. I'm sure she will be just fine. The guy that's with her would know how to deal if problems arose. We'll just have to wait till we hear from her or him." Oz held Willow and tried to reassure her that things would be just fine. Buffy got up and went over to where Willow was sitting. She took a seat near her. "Willow, Dru will be ok. If she's not, I promise that Spike will pay for this. We will have her back in a few hours. That's a promise even if I have to go find her myself." Willow nodded and had a slight smile on her face. Buffy started back over to where Angel was when she heard a knock on the door of the mansion.
Duncan had gone to Willy's and had a nice talk with Willy. He told Willy that he was trying to locate Angelus for a friend. Willy didn't realize that he was talking about Angel til after Buffy was mentioned. Willy explained how to get to Angel's mansion quickly. Duncan thanked him and followed the directions he had been given.
He approached the mansion and knocked on the door. He was greeted with a brassed off slayer once she recognized him. He remained calm and started a short conversation with her. "Is everyone here? Or are you still at your separate places?" Buffy crossed her arms defiantly. "Unless you have got Dru with you, get out!!" Duncan smiled. "I can see why she wants to talk to you before tonight. I'm just trying to find out if everyone she wants to talk to is here." Buffy relaxed a little. "You know where she is? Is she ok? Will she be coming back to us? Have her call us, and soon." Duncan could see Buffy's concern. "I'll have her tell you. It'll put your mind at ease more than anything I could ever tell you. You should hear from her soon. Goodbye." He turned to leave as Buffy closed the door. She went back to where everyone was. She told Angel about Duncan's visit in a hushed voice. Angel nodded when she asked if she could be the one that answered the phone and if she could take it privately.
Duncan returned to the room and told Dru that he had found them at the mansion. Dru gave him the number and Duncan dialed it as she tried to work her way over to the chair unaided. Buffy answered on the second ring. "Hello. I need the slayer please?" Buffy became angry when she heard Duncan's voice. He did say that Dru would call and not him. "You have her, now where's Dru?" Duncan handed the phone to Dru. She had made it to the seat near the desk. Dru took the phone from him. "Hello, Buffy? You there?" Buffy smiled as she recognized her partner's voice. "Yea, how are you? Is he treating you ok?" Dru laughed. "I'm fine, just a little tired that's all. Duncan's taking real good care of me. How's everyone there?" Buffy sat down on the bed. There was a question that was playing on her mind, and she had to know the answer to it. "We're ok Dru. That spell that he did, did it take you from us? Will you be going back to Spike?" Dru smiled. She knew that would have been a big concern and the fact that Buffy asked it showed just how much she cared. "I'm not going back to Spike, unless it's to slay him. I'm still the same soul-having Dru that I was before the spell. As for taking me from you, that depends on whether or not you still want me as a partner. I would like to come back, if I'm still welcome." Buffy smiled. "You betcha, I want my partner. I can't wait to see you again. Our friendship hasn't changed in one day, well.... maybe it got a little stronger. When will you be coming back? After sundown?" Dru set the phone down in her lap and asked Duncan. He explained that he could take her there through a gate that was magical and she would be safe from the sun if she wanted to go right then. Dru picked the phone back up and told Buffy that she would be there soon. She also told her that she would the gate he was using would open up into Angel's lobrary. The girls said their goodbyes and hung up. Dru started getting ready to return to her home with Duncan's help. Buffy returned to the front room and found everyone arguing with Kris. Buffy walked over and faced everyone. "Now, just what is going on here?!? I left to answer the phone and it was quiet. Now you are all fighting. This is not needed right now!" Angel went over to Buffy. "Kris said she was going to leave. We were trying to stop her." Buffy looked from Angel to Kris. "Well, is it true? You were going to leave?" Kris nodded. "I have to be prepared for the worst. You said that the spell had been started when you got there. What if she isn't out Dru now? I can't allow time for her and Spike to get enough backup to place Sunnydale in danger. I have to find her and now. Buffy, you should understand that. After all, you have faced the two of them before." Kris studied the slayer. Buffy just shook her head. "And here I am thinking you are a watcher. Is this how you watchers think? When my slayer had a problem, I have to run from it? Boy, I'm glad I have a watcher that cares. At least if *I* have a problem, he's there for me. Dru is strong, you said that yourself. She can make it you said. But durring the first test of this, you are ready to slay her without another thought." Giles started to say something to Buffy, and she looked at him. "Giles, please let me continue. I have to get this out into the open now. If I don't, there could be problems later." Giles looked at Buffy. He wasn't sure the outburst was necessary, but he did know that there was some reason for it. He nodded and she continued. "Kris, Dru never gave into the pain the spell caused. She never once said that she gave up. The guy that did the spell said that she had a choice to make. He wouldn't let us bring her here, but Spike wasn't allowed to take her either. He sent Spike home alone. I think he knew that it was done with a binding spell. Dru wasn't able to say who she wanted to be with. She wasn't awake, Kris! How could she say? She fought to keep her soul. If you want to give up on her, fine! Go ahead and leave, I don't care! But I'm not! She is my partner after all."
Duncan and Dru arrived in the library. Dru heard Buffy and walked to the hallway with Duncan's help. She was still a bit too weak to even be up and about. But Duncan knew one thing about Dru, she was a very determined vampire. If he hadn't agreed to take her to the mansion, she would have found another way. Dru heard only what Buffy had said after her not being able to say where she wanted to be after the spell was completed. Dru smiled at the fact Buffy had sided with her. Buffy turned quickly sensing another pressense in the area. When she saw it was Dru, she started towards her. Duncan backed slowly away from Dru unsure of what the blonde slayer would do after seeing how weak Dru was. Dru grabbed a hold of the wall to keep from falling without Duncan's support. Buffy grabbed her quickly to keep her from falling. Dru insisted that she was strong enough to handle it alone. Buffy helped her weakened partner despite her protests. Once Dru was safely seated, Buffy shot an "I told you so" look at Kris. Everyone sat down. Buffy motioned for Duncan to join them so that she could keep an eye on him. Willow and Oz said that they would stop back by later on. Oz had to get in before sunset. It was the start of the three days that Willow would be unable to spend the evenings with him. Dru nodded and watched as they left. Kris was quiet, and quite ashamed of her earlier doubts about Dru's sincerity to stay good. Giles and Angel discussed where Dru's training should go to from here considering it looked as though the new slayer was there to stay. The guys tried to get Kris involved in the conversation, but didn't have much luck with it. Buffy, Dru, and Duncan talked about Dru's current weakness and his concerns about her patroling that evening. Dru kept saying she wanted to go, but even Buffy had to side with Duncan when he suggested she should wait for a few days so that she could get a bit stronger. Dru insisted that she would be just fine on patrol. Buffy talked to Dru for a while and tried to get her to agree to hold off on patrol for a couple of days till she fully recovered from the spell. Dru finally agreed but only after they agreed that she could still have her practice sessions. Neither Duncan nor Buffy could see a problem with that as long as Dru took it slow and continued to get stronger. Dru started yawning, and decided to head to bed. Buffy helped her partner to her room. Once Dru was in her bed and resting, Buffy returned to the others.
Once back in the room and seated, she listened as Kris questioned Duncan. "Will she be ok? She is so weak. Is it because we were fighting when she got here? Did we weaken her soul spell?" Buffy, Angel, and Giles looked at Kris stunned. She had been crying, and it showed. The tears were gone, but the signs of redness were there. "She us experiencing some weakness, but it isn't because of the fight. She has been this way since the completion of the spell last night. I won't lie and say that I am sure it will go away soon, because I just don't know. I have been giving her a special mixture to try to counter it. I would like to stay near her, if you wouldn't mind. If I weakened the binding spell or the soul restoration spell, I will fix it. She was quite determined to stay the way she is now. I only did that spell as a favor to Spike. I could have continued it after she passed out and it would have removed her soul, but I didn't. I am truly sorry. I never meant to cause her such pain. I have to return to my room. I will be back with the special drink for her before she wakes up. If you will excuse me?" Duncan started to get up. Kris and Giles offered to drive him to the room. They had a few more questions for him and asked if he would mind answering them. Duncan agreed to give them whatever information they needed to aide Dru. The three of them left leaving Buffy and Angel alone.
Spike was waiting for Dru's arrival at the factory when the sun went down. About an hour after the sun set, he realized that something wasn't right. He went looking for Dru with a few of his minions. He sent a few of his trusted ones to different locations of Sunnydale to find her. Then he continued on towards the cemeteries.
Buffy decided to go on patrol after a short kissing session that started going a bit to far. She remember the happiness clause and pulled herself away. She grabbed her bag after explaining that she needed to cool down before she brought back someone she didn't want. Angel understood and walked her to the door. Buffy said that he should stay with Dru right now. He nodded and told her that just as soon as the others got back, he would join her. Buffy gave him a quick kiss, and then went out for patrol.
Duncan called Angel's mansion to see if he could stay there for a few days while Dru finshed her recovery. Angel answered after a few rings and said that he could. Angel explained that he didn't think Buffy really trusted him at that point. Duncan said that he understood considering what he did to Dru recently. Angel did request that he honor a promisse for him. Duncan asked what the promise was. Angel explained that he wanted to see Dru strong again and that there was to be no more pain caused to her by spells or otherwise. Duncan agreed to keep that promise. Angel said he would wait for him. Duncan loaded everything that he would need to aid Dru into his car. Giles and Kris had left and went to their homes a few minutes after dropping him off. Once the car was loaded, he headed back to the mansion.
When Duncan returned to the mansion, Dru was sitting in the library reading. She had made it about halfway down the hall when Angel saw her. He helped her to the library and got the book that she had been reading the last time she was here. Dru thanked him, and started to read as he went to answer the door. Duncan went to the kitchen and got the drink ready. He brought it to Dru. She was starting to look a bit better finally. Duncan was hoping that the effects of whatever was causing her weakness was starting to wear off. She took the drink he offered her, and Duncan took note that she was steadier this round. The shakiness was starting to disappear which was a good sign. Duncan left her to finish her drink and to read the book. He walked with Angel to the door. Angel explained that if he returned to discover anything had happened to Dru, Duncan would answer to him. Duncan nodded, and locked the door as Angel left.
Spike was wandering through the main cemetery when he ran into Buffy. "Hello cutie, out looking for your partner? Did she not come back to you, yet? She's without a soul now you know. I had it taken from her. She's mine now, and there's nothing you or your poofy boyfriend can do about it." He smiled at Buffy. "Oh yea, is that so? If that's the case, where is she Spike? Why isn't she out hunting with you? Or are you out looking for her? Oh that's it, she's still a slayer. She has returned to you yet has she? Maybe the spell didn't work on her and she still has a soul. Boy that would be justice for you. You cause her all of that pain for nothing. I would hate to be you when she discovers who wanted her to feel that pain. She'll probably just slay you without a second thought. I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Angel walked up and hugged Buffy protectively from behind. Buffy looked up and saw his game face. She wasn't sure what was wrong, but she was glad he was there. "Spike, out looking for another slayer to call your own? This one is mine. You keep your hands off of her. You've already tried to get Dru killed with that stupid soul stealing spell. You really hurt her bad. She was so weak afterwards that I doubt she's even still alive. I knew that if I interfered it would kill her, but it wasn't supposed to knock her out like that. If she dies, Buffy won't have to kill you. I will do it for her. Now just take your guys and return to your hideout til one of us finds out how Dru is. I'm sure that Duncan will contact us when *he's* ready to. Now get! Go and wait to find out if you win or lose." Spike stared at Angel. He knew that he was upset about what he had done. Spike motioned for his men to move away from the pair standing there. He turned and left without a fight. After the area was clear, Angel grabbed Buffy by the hand. They returned to the mansion for some rest. On the way there, Angel explained the promise that he had Duncan make. Buffy told him that she didn't trust him with Dru. Angel agreed that Duncan didn't give her much to trust him with, but he had never broke a promise before. Buffy nodded. She trusted Angel, and if he said that Duncan could be trusted, then she belived him. She would keep a close eye on him though.
They arrived as Dru was heading back to her room. She was up and moving around on her own. Buffy walked over to offer Dru a helping hand. Dru told Buffy that she was getting better and didn't need as much help now. Buffy noticed that Dru was at least standing and moving around better, but she still made sure that she made it safely to her room. Buffy walked back and pulled Duncan off to the side. "Duncan, I don't like the fact that you are here, but Dru is getting stronger. I don't know if it will last, but I can promise you this, if I see you hurt her, you're mine. Got it?" Duncan nodded. "Good, now that we understand each other, just what is in that special drink you keep giving her?" Duncan smiled. "Slayer, if I told you that you would like me even less. Let's just say that it is what Dru needs right now to regain her strength. She is a special slayer and needs special food right now. I have made a promise to Angel that I won't try to harm her. I meant that. I just want to see her back to the way she was. If you will excuse me, I do need to get some rest. It has been a long day." Duncan headed down the hall to the room on the other side of Dru's. Buffy walked over to Angel. She hugged him, and he held onto her protectively. He was just walking up when he noticed Buffy being slowly surrounded by Spike's men. She was unaware of the problems she would be facing with that attack. He wanted to put a stop to the attack, so he took the protective stance with Buffy by letting the others know that whoever tried to kill her would answer to him. Angel wasn't sure how long it would last, but he hoped it would be long enough for Dru to recover. He held onto Buffy in front of the fireplace for a long time. When she fell asleep in his arms, he took her to her room and put her in bed. He knew that her mom was going out of town that night and wouldn't mind to much if Buffy stayed where she could be protected. He went to his room and laid down afterwards. He drifted off to sleep glad that Dru was back home.