In Thrall by Frau Hunter Ash

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices. "Buffy vs. Dracula" Written by Marti Noxon, directed by David Solomon.

Author's Note: A Special "Thank You" to Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com) for her transcripts.

Summary: Adam has been defeated and the gang are recovering. In this one Willow uses her magick to help things along with major consequences for two couples and there's a 'guest' appearance here.

Tara was running for her life. She and Giles had made it in the back door with no problems. Apparently Dracula thought his security system was good enough that everyone forgot to lock the doors.

Tara wasn't sure if the easy entrance had been a godsend as she dived over a table in the kitchen and through a door into the hallway with two werewolves right behind her.

She also had no idea where Giles was; he had disappeared through a doorway in the kitchen.

Tara had already shot two werewolves when she fell over a chair, dropping her gun. The witch had screamed and ran.

The blonde witch reached a door and dove through it, slamming it shut just as two bodies hit it on the other side. Tara quickly turned and locked it as they began to pound and kick. The door was solid but they were werewolves and Tara had no illusions that the door would hold out for long. Her eyes darted around, looking for weapons.

Tara noted that she was in a library and Willow was lying on the floor, curled up and twitching.

"Willow!" Tara cried and sank down to the wooden floor next to her lover. She drew Willow into her arms as the door began to crack.

Giles moaned and tried to raise his head but fell back onto the stone floor. He managed to finally raise his head and saw through the light coming in through the open door above that he had fallen into a cellar. The stairs had been cut away, a perfect trap in the dark.

Giles reached for his cross and found it missing, having fallen somewhere into the shadows with his fall. The Englishman's heart began to pound when he sensed movement all around him.

"Oh, ladies," he mumbled as three female vampires approached him from the right, left and at his feet. "You must be the three sisters, yes?"

Giles felt frozen in place as they began to crawl over his body, two of them kissing his cheeks and the other rubbing his chest.

The sisters ripped open his shirt, one kissing him, another running her tongue over a nipple while the third reached for his belt.

"Hey, tickles!" he protested until claws raked down his chest. He felt his belt and trousers being undone. "Oh dear God!"

Anya proved to be an excellent shot with the crossbow, taking out three vampires that attacked them before they even found a way into the castle. Brad's silver bullets took down a werewolf and a human servant but the area was filling with bad guys as the two hunters moved back to back, moving in a circle.

"Stay away from me!" she said, pulling out her favorite stake, Mr. Pointy. "I'm like so not under a thrall thing."

"Okay," Buffy agreed and put the stake down. The Slayer looked at her hand in surprise. "Oh boy. I did that….I did that because I wanted to."

"Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing," Buffy whimpered, looking around for any kind of help.

Dracula leaned against the mantle of the fireplace and watched the Slayer and her confusion.

"Why?" Dracula grinned. "Afraid I'm going to bite you?" The vampire Prince moved closer to the girl. "Slayer, that's why you came here!"

"Not even for Willow's life?" Dracula countered and Buffy frowned. "You took a curse for her once, you were willing to accept that darkness. Why do you fight your fate?"

"They are here, I can hear gunshots and screams," he confirmed. "They will not find us. We are alone."

"Always alone, Slayer," Dracula said in a hypnotic voice. "That's where a vampire and a slayer always end up, alone."

Buffy frowned as he circled around her and pulled her into his arms. He could feel her breathing increase as he wrapped his arms around her and began to nuzzle her neck.

"Just think, eternity with your witch," he promised. "Your fangs sinking into her neck just at the moment when you take her to orgasm. She is beautiful when she goes over, isn't she?"

Tara fell backwards onto her bottom as Willow sat upright, staring at the door. As boards began to break inward, the red-haired witch turned and looked at her lover.

"Help…Buffy…now…." Willow growled around the fangs growing in her mouth and turned to face the doorway.

Tara scrambled to her feet and ran to the back of the library. She turned back and saw a red werewolf launch itself at the two grey werewolves coming through the doorway.

Tara sat down on top of one of the tables and closed her eyes, trying to send herself into a trance as screams, howls, growls and ripping sounds filled the library.

The red werewolf hit the two larger werewolves as they entered through the broken door. She had the advantage of surprise and catching them crammed in the door but it was a short-lived advantage as the three of them tumbled back into the library.

Red werewolf slashed out with fang and claw as other claws and fangs attempted to reach her. The red werewolf howled as fangs sank into a leg and she slashed down, catching the other werewolf across the left eye and cheek.

The other werewolf rammed his claws into her shoulder as she lay on the floor as they attacked. Willow wolf screamed in pain and bit at the arm, sinking her fangs into the muscles of one werewolf as she kicked out with her clawed feet, catching the other werewolf in the chest.

The werewolf hit her across the muzzle, causing her to release her hold on his arm.

All three werewolves gained their feet under them and faced each other, blood dripping from all three mouths.

Willow werewolf reached out mentally and felt Tara's surprise but welcoming energy. The red werewolf drew in some of Tara's humanity and thought process.

Instead of attacking outright, like a werewolf normally would, the red werewolf rolled forward in a Slayer taught move, ducking under the raking claws of one werewolf and avoiding the snapping jaws of the other.

Willow werewolf dived between the legs of one werewolf and slashed upwards as she went past. The werewolf howled a piercing howl and dropped to his knees as he grabbed for his mutilated body part. Werewolf Willow got to her knees behind him, grabbed his head from behind and ripped his throat out, silencing his howls.

The red werewolf barely dived out of the way of the second werewolf as he launched himself at her with a howl of rage.

In human life, the other werewolf was a huge male and in a lycanthrope state, he had weight, height, and strength advantage and Willow was tiring quickly.

Werewolf Willow swayed on her feet and she saw the other werewolf's eyes narrow as he judged her strength. Willow dropped her eyes and the other werewolf grinned through his muzzle in victory.

Red werewolf dropped to her knees, her arms falling to her side as she bared her neck in submission to the other wolf.

Giles blinked and tried to focus. He was still confused as Anya helped him sit up. He looked around and saw two piles of dust near him and the third female vampire hissing in the shadows, in a corner.

"Come on, Giles," Anya growled, trying to get him to his feet. "Zip your maleness back up and let's get out of here."

"What?" Giles tried to ask. He continued to blink as Brad lowered a ladder into the cellar space and Anya shoved the Englishman towards it.

"Xander attacked us outside," Anya said. "Can you believe that? He attacked us! Was ranting something about going through him to get to his dark master! He was so pathetic! And hurt, oh Giles, he was so hurt."

"Well, Brad just hit Xander once and knocked him unconscious; we killed the other vampires, werewolves and bad guys. We came in and saw Tara's gun near the door," Anya explained as Giles began crawling up the ladder slowly. "We looked in and saw you having sex with the three vampires."

"It was sex," Anya said simply and Brad nodded as Giles reached the top of the ladder. The police officer helped his friend into the kitchen with Anya following behind him. "One was riding you like a pony, one was playing with your nipples and feeding from you and the third one was feeding from your neck."

Giles felt his neck with horror and glanced down at his abused nipple and moaned when he saw fang marks.

"You both seemed to be enjoying it," Anya shrugged. "I was really quite impressed, actually. I thought you were going to buck her off, you were thrusting so hard."

Buffy frowned as Dracula played his fangs over her throat. She could feel her body responding to his touch and fought against it.

"There is so much I have to teach you, about your power, what your body is capable of," he whispered. "You will have an eternity discovering yourself. Just accept and take it."

Dracula rolled up his sleeve in front of her and slashed open his wrist with a long fingernail. "This is what you fight for, Slayer. Accept it and discover what it is."

"You think you know…what you are…what's to come. You have no idea. Find your true nature in the darkness," he urged.

Buffy took the wrist offered and began to drink. The Slayer cried out as Dracula sank his fangs into her neck again and they began to drink from each other.

The gray werewolf circled around the red werewolf kneeling at his feet, in order to approach her from behind. Clawed hands went to Willow's shoulders as the muzzle began to lower to her neck.

Werewolf Willow closed her eyes and kept her body relaxed and submissive until she could feel his hot breath on her neck.

The red werewolf growled in anger and rammed her clawed hands upward, into the underside of his muzzle. Werewolf Willow felt his body twitching in protest and his claws digging into her shoulders. She turned and twisted, pulling him over her shoulder onto the floor in front of her, her claws still in his muzzle. Willow howled and moved before he could slash out with his claws. Werewolf Willow ripped her claws downward, reaching his throat and slashed in opposite directions. The gray werewolf twitched in death throes as the red werewolf snapped her own muzzle down and bit through what was left of his neck, severing his head.

Tara, unable to take the tension of the howls, opened her eyes and looked at the red werewolf holding the other werewolf's head high in victory.

Buffy felt herself becoming light headed again and clung to Dracula's arms to stay upright. The vampire bent his knees, letting both of them sink to the floor, Buffy in his arms as they both fought to continue feeding.

Tara tried to not let her fear overwhelm her as the red werewolf turned and noticed her. The werewolf dropped the other werewolf's head and staggered towards her. The blonde witch wasn't sure what to do; the werewolf approaching her was Willow, her Willow. Tara knew she could never fight back against her.

Werewolf Willow sank to her knees and doubled over in pain. She threw back her head and howled in agony.

Buffy raised her head. "Will?" she asked softly and cried out as her body jerked again with pleasure.

Tara opened her eyes and saw a naked and blood covered Willow huddled on the floor. The red-head looked up and Tara's eyes widened. Willow's eyes were green and aware. Tara jumped off the table and ran to her lover.

Dracula slowed his feeding, finally pulling back as the Slayer lay limp in his arms, barely coherent.

"Now is the time, Slayer," he said softly. "Reach out and sever that tie with the white witch and join me."

"Hurry, or you die," Dracula urged. "Another Slayer who falls to a vampire, your lifeless body left for your friends to find. Your Watcher Council will barely remember your name a year from now."

Buffy was rocked out of Dracula's arms as visions of the First Slayer filled her mind. The primitive being of the First Slayer fighting the first vampires. Then more visions of Slayers, each of them fighting with every ounce of their being against hundreds of vampires over the ages. The visions of Slayers falling to fangs, demons, or violence and always another girl stepping forward.

Then the pure energy of love hit the Slayer, jerking her body. Buffy saw the intensity of the love pouring from Tara and Willow into her and cried out as the light flooded her being. She could feel the love from Giles, Anya and Xander nearby as well and the absolute trust and friendship from Brad.

From a distance she felt Cordelia leading Angel, Carson, Spike, Wesley and Joyce in a circle, sending out their own support of love and encouragement.

Buffy wasn't alone and nothing could compare to the light coming from Willow and Tara as they extended their love to her. Buffy felt Willow's energy beginning to sag and slip away from them, she whimpered in pain and worry. The Slayer was surprised when she felt Carson's energy strengthen the lines, merging with Willow's and pulling her energy back up.

Buffy sat up slowly and reached out to the table to support her as she got to her feet. The Slayer knew she had been drained almost to the point of death but the light from her friends, family and lovers, was holding her up.

"That was…rather gross," she said and snapped her hands out, hitting the vampire in the center of the chest. Dracula went flying across the table. The vampire jumped to his feet.

"You know," Buffy quipped. "Looks like the thrall has gone out of our relationship. I want to thank you for opening my eyes up a little."

The vampire Prince growled in anger and lunged at the Slayer only to have Buffy flip over his head. Before he could turn, she whirled around and kicked him, throwing the vampire off balance. As he tried to turn, the Slayer landed two more punches and kicked him again, this time sending him into a wall.

Dracula, regaining his balance, spun around and grabbed the Slayer by the arm. He managed to twist and fling her across the table and Buffy ended up on the table on her back.

Buffy rolled off the table as Dracula's claws reached for her. Dracula growled and he jumped up on the table. Buffy grabbed up a chair and smashed it against his arms as he landed off the table.

Buffy rushed the vampire and they fell to the floor with Dracula on top. He managed to strike Buffy twice but the Slayer grabbed his vest and shirt and flung him over her head, following him and ending up on top. Buffy gave him back the blows he had just struck but the third punch was caught by Dracula catching Buffy's fists and throwing her off him.

They regained their feet and both were grinning. Again they met and went to the floor, neither at an advantage until Dracula, getting a leg under the Slayer, kicked her into the wall. Both heard something crack as Buffy cried out in pain and slid to the floor.

"I may have lost your heart but you'll lose your soul when I turn you," he promised.

Buffy growled and kicked out with her feet, sweeping his out from under him. The Slayer bit her lip against the pain and grabbed a torch. She spun around and slashed at him with it. The vampire barely rolling out of the way of the flames.

Dracula growled once more and disappeared into a cloud of fog. Buffy, her eyes narrowing, followed the fog as it moved across the room.

The Slayer, with her own growl, dropped the torch and jumped on the table, sliding down the length of it and grabbing Mr. Pointy along the way. Buffy hit the end of the table, rolling up onto her feet and stabbing at the air as Dracula materialized.

The vampire Prince stood for a moment and looked down at the stake in his chest with a stunned expression. His blue eyes sought out Buffy's.

"How do you like my darkness now?" she demanded just before he exploded into dust.

"Alright!" he shouted. "Where is he? Where's the creep that turned me into a spider eating man-bitch?"

"Damnit!" the young man shouted, dropping the torch into the fireplace. "You know what? I'm sick of this crap! I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and who gets funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over! I'm finished being everybody's butt-monkey."

"Well, at least you weren't making time with Drac-babes like Giles," Anya said calmly.

"I was not making time with them!" Giles protested, pulling his ripped shirt closed. "I was, uh, just about to kill those loathsome creatures when Anya and Brad interrupted me."

"Right," Anya smirked. "What were you going to do? Nuzzle and sex them to death?"

"Sex them?" Buffy asked, raising her eyebrows and making Giles extremely uncomfortable.

"Listen, guys," Buffy said. "Go find Tara and Willow and let's get out of here."

Giles looked at his Slayer and then nodded. "Alright, let's get the rest of our family and get out of here."

The rest of the group followed the ex-Watcher out the door as Buffy collapsed into a chair. A moment later and she was diving across the room, leaping over a small stool.

Before the fog could totally materialize again, a hand shot out with the trusty stake. Dracula gasped again and fell into dust at the front of the fireplace.

"You think I don't watch all your movies?" Buffy demanded, rolling her eyes. "You always come back!"

Giles shook his head as Anya and Brad tried to get him to sit down in the hospital waiting room. As usual, everything happened too quickly once the paramedics had arrived. By that time Brad, Anya and Giles had finished off any stray vampire or werewolf they had missed the first time through the castle-like mansion.

They found Tara in the library with an unconscious and naked Willow in her arms, barely breathing. Buffy was also unconscious when Brad returned to check on her. They had moved Buffy into the library with Willow.

After his initial burst of energy and anger, Xander had collapsed into tears in Anya's arms when he saw Buffy and Willow's unconscious forms. Giles rummaged through the castle and found a closet with blankets and sheets and had covered both girls.

Then he and Brad began moving the werewolf bodies, throwing them down into the cellar where Giles had been trapped. Brad had to work at not throwing up when they removed the werewolf corpses from the library and he noticed Giles glancing over with a worried expression at Willow as the ex-Watcher picked up the severed heads and tossed them onto the blanket with their bodies. Brad empathized, sweet, young and shy Willow had ripped the heads off two very large male werewolves.

When the medics arrived, Brad waited upstairs until he saw them placing Willow, Buffy and Xander into ambulances before setting fire to the place.

The last thing they needed was werewolf and human bodies found and it also had the bonus affect of destroying Dracula's coffins.

Once at the hospital, Xander, Buffy and Willow had been whisked away by trauma teams, leaving Giles, Brad and Anya to wait impatiently.

Anya looked up when she noticed someone in a suit approaching them and hissed. Brad glanced up and knew that the man wasn't a police officer and didn't think he was a government agent either but he had an arrogant air about him.

Giles followed the looks of his friends and his eyes narrowed and went flat as he took in the English suit, confident and arrogant manner of walk and the slight smirk on the man's face.

Giles stood up slowly, trying to keep his ripped up shirt closed and muster what little dignity he had left after the long week.

Giles looked down at the hand and back into the man's brown eyes. The Watcher's eyes flashed in anger for a moment and he withdrew his politely offered hand. "I'm Robert Etheridge, Watcher Council."

"Well, we became aware recently that Dracula was moving his operation to the United States and followed him here three weeks ago," Etheridge began to explain.

"Three weeks?" Giles demanded. "You knew Dracula, the most dangerous vampire in existence was here and you didn't tell us?"

"Well, Mr. Giles," Etheridge smirked slightly. "You and Ms. Summers did make it clear that you wished no help or contact from the Watcher Council. We were honoring those wishes."

"You bastard," Giles muttered, his hands clenching into fists. "What do you want?"

"To help, actually," Etheridge shrugged. "The Council is more than impressed with your little group and your Slayer."

"Really, Ms. Smyth," Etheridge protested, brushing her accusation off easily. "We don't care what Ms. Summers and Mr. Giles do as long as they don't interfere with Council business."

"Anya," Giles stopped his friend. "And how would the Council like to help now that we did the work? What could you offer us and why?"

"Well, let's take those one at a time, shall we?" the Englishman suggested, sitting down.

Giles knew that Etheridge was attempting to defuse the situation by putting himself at the same level as the ex-Watcher and Scooby gang. Rupert Giles, feeling Ripper growling inside, debated whether to stay standing over the man. Instead he sat down and motioned for Anya to do the same.

"We would like to offer the help because there is still a danger and the Council wants to see you recover and get past it," Etheridge began.

"Well, he always comes back but he failed with Ms. Summers and it won't be Sunnydale," Etheridge said easily. "His reputation will suffer quite a blow from this."

"Exactly," Etheridge lost his arrogant smile. "You have a very powerful witch who isn't even 21 years old and basically untrained. Ms. Rosenberg has now been exposed and addicted to dark magick."

"What I would want would be to take her back to England immediately and train the girl properly in her powers," Etheridge snapped. "What the Council wants is to help you through her withdrawals from the addiction and to keep an eye on all of you in the future."

"You touch her and I won't have to hurt you, Buffy Summers and Tara Maclay will do that for me," Giles growled.

"I realize that, so does the Council," Etheridge snarled. "That's why they are offering help. They'd rather see Ms. Rosenberg handled properly as possible and they feel that means staying with all of you."

"What are you offering?" Giles asked as Brad crossed his arms in front of him. The ex-Watcher could tell it was killing Brad not to be able to talk and demand his own answers.

"Full medical facilities installed in the Summers' home for Ms. Rosenberg's recovery," Etheridge explained. "Hospital bed, restraints, IV fluids, doctors, everything you need to get her through the next week of withdrawals and counseling with a witch counselor from the Council."

"You know that no hospital can manage her withdrawals," Etheridge reasoned. "We can taper her off slowly with the help of one of our sorcerers."

"You want her to go through cold withdrawals?" Etheridge asked in a surprised voice.

"He is suggesting that we take Willow through the withdrawals slowly, feeding her enough black magic energy to keep her stable and slowly weaning her from it," Giles explained. "I prefer that it ends all at once."

"'Why the hard way?' Brad is asking," Giles read. "I've been where Willow is. Worse, actually. I put myself there for a lot longer than three days."

"Yes, very black stuff. I was known as Ripper then," Giles nodded. "The Council found me and decided there was hope for me. I was the son of a Watcher and destined to be a Watcher. They worked at tapering me off, slowly."

Giles ran a hand through his unruly hair. "It worked for awhile but I wasn't over it and I went back. A lot of people got hurt and the only way I got through it was to withdrawal completely and without tapering off."

"Yes, and she expended enough of her energy to almost kill herself saving Buffy," Giles agreed. "I still say the hard way, and, yes damnit, it's killing me to suggest this. It's the only way."

"I'll leave that to your discretion, we'll arrange her transfer from the hospital to the Summers' home as soon as she is out of surgery to repair the ripped muscles from that werewolf attack," Etheridge said firmly and stood up.

He froze in place when Brad leaped to his feet, the barrel of his automatic pistol under Etheridge's chin.

"Brad, what are you doing?" Giles asked softly, afraid to make any quick movements.

Brad Santiago, unable to vocalize his intentions, reached behind him and pulled out his handcuffs and snapped one end over Etheridge's wrist and then snapped the other over his own, still holding the gun on the Watcher.

"You're saying not to leave Willow alone with them?" Giles ventured and Brad nodded eagerly.

"You said you would prefer Willow in England and under your control," Giles smirked. "I don't think Detective Santiago trusts you not to kidnap her. I think he's showing excellent insight into the workings of the Council."

"Fine, one of you will be with Ms. Rosenberg at all times," Etheridge said and Brad unlocked the handcuffs.

Two hours later Giles, Xander and Anya were relieved to see Joyce, Cordelia and Wesley walking towards them in the waiting room. Xander had his left arm in a cast and a bandage over his nose but was otherwise fairly healthy considering who he had been serving for several days.

Rupert took Joyce into his arms gratefully. After a few moments of hugs all around, Joyce stepped back and got a look at the three, just like Cordelia and Wesley were doing.

Giles' clothes were ripped, and bloody. Xander had been given a pair of surgical scrubs, once the ER team got his filthy clothes off of him and showered him down before putting the cast on his arm. Anya's face was dirt streaked and there were blood splatters on her clothing.

"Willow and Buffy are still unconscious," Giles began as everyone sat down. "Tara is sitting with both of them."

"Easy, Joyce," Giles said softly. "Buffy sustained three broken ribs on her left side and two on the right. The ribs on her left side punctured her lung and she suffered a massive blood loss from Dracula's fangs."

Joyce whimpered and Wesley held Cordelia's hand as the seer flinched at the description.

"The doctors think she'll be fine but she'll be in the hospital for a couple of days," Giles continued. "Willow….Willow is also unconscious. She…."

"She turned into a werewolf to protect m-me," Tara explained as she walked into the waiting room. She tried not to cry as Joyce wrapped her arms around the young woman. They sat back down slowly. "We were in the castle and I was being chased by two werewolves and found Willow. She changed and killed them but she was hurt."

"Wouldn't those wounds have healed when she changed back to human?" Wesley questioned Giles.

"Normally, yes," Giles agreed. "But she immediately went into a major trance with Tara and expended her energy to Buffy."

"Cordelia had one of her visions and knew that Buffy was against Dracula last night and she'd fail without some help from the good guys," Wesley explained. "We did a circle and Cordelia channeled all the love and light we could send to Buffy. All of us."

"What's wrong?" Giles asked, noticing the expressions and glances passing between Joyce, Cordelia and Wesley.

"We sent our loving energy to Buffy through Tara and Willow," Cordelia explained.

"That's why Willow isn't healing quickly, she gave all her energy to Buffy," Giles tried to explain to Joyce.

"We felt her falling," Cordelia said softly. "We could feel Willow slipping away, Giles. She was giving everything willingly."

"Carson," Wesley said softly. "He felt Willow falling and mentally caught her. He threw more of his energy into the ritual, wrapping his own energy around Willow's, strengthening her."

"When Buffy collapsed after defeating Dracula, the ritual was broken," Wesley continued. "Everyone was a little shook up, a bit of backlash that we weren't ready for. Knocked us on our tails, actually. Carson was struggling to even open his eyes. Angel grabbed him and Carson opened his eyes, smiled and died whispering the name Siobhan."

"I thought so," Tara said softly. "I felt him giving his energy to Willow and reassuring me it was his choice."

"Willow was willing to die for Buffy and Tara last night," Wesley explained. "She willing gave up the last of her life, her life force to feed that light to Buffy. Carson stepped forward and took her place in death."

"I rather agree, Xander," Giles mumbled and sat up to explain the developments with the Watcher Council. He and the Sunnydale gang learned that Spike and Angel were waiting at the Summers' house, out of the sunlight, pacing like restless tigers until they could see Buffy and Willow after dusk.

"They want Willow?" Tara frowned and Brad patted his shoulder holster reassuringly. Tara knew what he meant, the Watcher Council would have to get through Brad Santiago and the Scooby Gang before getting a hold on Willow.

The rest of the day was spent seeing over the transfer of Willow to the Summers' home while Joyce and Tara alternated between watching over Buffy and then over Willow until they were both exhausted.

It was early evening when Buffy opened her eyes and smiled at her Mom's worried face.

"Mama," the Slayer whispered as Joyce broke into tears, holding Buffy's hand. Buffy looked around and frowned when she saw that they were alone, no Tara and no Willow.

"Willow is at home under medical supervision," Joyce explained, knowing the question in her daughter's eyes. "Tara is with her."

"How bad, Will?" Buffy whispered as Joyce worked the controls to raise the bed to an inclined position.

"She's still unconscious but the doctors think that's from blood loss," Joyce continued. "Giles says it's from the wounds and expending all her energy to you during your fight with Dracula."

"Yeah, I felt that," Buffy said, taking a sip of the water Joyce handed her. "She's okay mentally?"

"She was her own person," Joyce smiled. "Willow turned into a werewolf to protect Tara."

"You have two broken ribs on one side and three on the other and a punctured lung, that's why the oxygen tube is in your nose," Joyce explained quickly. "As well as numerous bruises, cuts, scrapes and massive neck wounds that almost killed you."

"Yes," Joyce nodded with a smile. "Then she changed back and helped Tara and some of us send light and energy your way."

"I felt the love from all of you," Buffy said softly, trying to smile. "I also saw something when Dracula died and I passed out."

"Carson died, didn't he?" she asked slowly. "I saw him watching me, he shoved me back towards my body and said 'live.'"

"The doctors think in a week, Rupert figures three days," Joyce answered. "They're going to try and get Tara to rest, she hasn't slept yet and everyone is exhausted."

"Dracula? He always comes back," Buffy asked, her eyes growing heavy, her body slipping into healing mode.

"Wesley and Rupert think that he'll move on," Joyce said softly, lowering the bed as Buffy closed her eyes. "You wounded his pride and reputation. You and the gang beat the Prince of Darkness. He'll leave Sunnydale and pretend that he was never here."

Joyce wasn't surprised to find Angel standing outside the hospital room, leaning against the wall.

"No, that's okay," Angel smiled. "I'm staying here tonight. I know Dracula probably won't come after her again but he is an arrogant bastard who just got his head handed to him by a mortal who isn't even 21 yet."

"Yeah, he's always had a soft spot for Willow," Angel grinned. "He thinks he's in love with Buffy but Willow fascinates him."

Joyce shook her head in amazement. "Not only have I come to accept the fact that my daughter is the Slayer, she has two female lovers, her ex-boyfriend is a vampire, but also that some of our friends are vampires instead of the enemy."

"Yeah, pretty strange on our side too," he agreed. "At least I have the excuse of having a soul again. Poor Spike has a chip in his head that prevents him from being a bad guy. Not his thoughts, his soul or his desires, but a modification chip. He hasn't realized yet that he has changed."

"Well, Spike believes that he helps Buffy and all of you because you give him blood, a place to stay when he needs and even protect him now that he's somewhat defanged. He thinks he's acting because of the chip, he doesn't know that he's changed because he's been around all of you."

"Spike thinks he's being a good guy because he doesn't have a choice, because of the chip," Joyce pondered. "You're saying that he's being a good guy because he's becoming a good guy?"

"Yes, in a way," he continued. "He'll never be Xander, Spike will never be totally 'good.' He had a cruel and selfish streak before he was turned."

"Spike'll never act on the feelings as long as Willow, Tara, and Buffy are together," Angel said easily. "Since we know it's a permanent kind of match, he'll be content to keep his distance until he finds his true mate."

"Not a problem," Angel shrugged. "Gunn can handle the office and I want to keep an eye on the girls until they're on their feet again, especially with Carson gone."

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In Thrall

By Frau Hunter Ash

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