Title: Who Needs to Dream? (10/13)
Author: Sandra Pascoe
Disclaimer: Giles doesn't belong to me - I'm only borrowing him. Can I keep him, please?

< >indicates thoughts

<There is another way.>

"What other way?" Giles frowned as a variety of emotions flooded through him. "And why does it worry you so much?"

Quentin glanced at Henry and held up a finger for silence. Henry nodded and then stared intently at Giles.

<It worries me because it could carry a great risk - and because I believe you will want to attempt this.>

"Well I won't know until you tell me."

<You share blood with this demon. You are of his line. I can use this blood link to find him.>

"And what else?"

<He used to be human - he was therefore cursed in some way. The name he uses suggests that. Demons of this sort do not usually reside here. He would be on another plane - another "realm" so to speak.>

"Ahhh," Giles smiled slightly. "And you can get me to wherever Sceleratus is?"

<It is possible. However, as I said, there are risks. I cannot enter another realm - you can. I can create a bridge to allow you to pass through. Your body would remain grounded here and your mind would travel to confront the demon. We would still be linked, but it would be a tenuous link. I would be unable to assist you - I could only keep the bridge open for your return. You would, in essence, be alone.>

"I've been alone before," replied Giles. "As long as you can get me there, I can deal with it from then on."

<You do not understand. Should you die there - your body here would die as well.>

"Yes, I realise that."

<What you do not realise is that should you die there, I will be unable to return to the Sphere. I will be trapped between planes. I will be alone.>

********

<I KNEW you wouldn't let me down, Rupert. You start slowly - you can be a bit of plodder - but eventually you get there. And it would seem that I don 't have to do anything as crass as "plant" the spell where you will find it.> The Hooded Man giggled. <So you've arranged your own transportation, Rupert? Good - I wonder if you have any conception of what will happen when you're there? Jumping dimensions isn't like catching a number 9 bus, you know. There are rules - laws you cannot break. You can't win - not this time. Whatever you do - you are bound to fail. You will die alone, Rupert.>

**********

"You're out of your mind!" Quentin stared incredulously at Giles. "You seriously expect me to let you go in there alone? To walk into an obvious trap?"

"There's no other choice," replied Giles quietly. "This is our only lead - we HAVE to pursue it."

"We could wait - do some more research. Find out MORE about this."

"We don't have time," Giles sighed. "How many more deaths will there be if I wait?"

"Well YOUR death is practically certain if you don't," replied Quentin urgently. "This has obviously been well planned. Whoever is behind this WANTS you to go there - it all adds up: the demon being one of your ancestors; making sure we take a good look at him; your friends being targeted. A trail of breadcrumbs has been left and you're blindly following it."

"Not blindly. I know it's a trap - the problem is I have no choice but to walk into it with my eyes open. We need information and this is the only way."

"Rupert, look," Quentin took a deep breath. "What if our mystery man has found a way to retrieve Vulcan's Bane from the void? What then? What of the consequences - for ALL of us?"

<That IS a concern - however whilst you live, I am connected to you and this cannot be severed. Should you die our connection would cease and I would be at extreme risk.>

"So what do YOU suggest?" Giles turned away from Quentin.

<I suggest you stay alive.>

Giles couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. "So despite all the risks - you're willing to do this?"

<We are partners. We work together - in everything. We are building trust and faith between us - this will need to be unshakeable. I am willing to do this - as an expression of trust - and of faith in your abilities.>

Quentin glanced at Henry. "I think we just lost the argument."

"Actually," replied Henry, "I happen to agree with Rupert. IF this story you two are spinning is true then his friends are being threatened and this is the only lead that anyone has come up with. So unless you plan to lock up every one of Rupert's friends and acquaintances in an impenetrable bunker whilst you investigate further, I suggest you support his decision and do whatever you can to help."

Giles turned back to face Quentin and Henry, a determined expression on his face.

"We're going ahead with this."

"Yes," sighed Quentin, "I gathered that. When do you propose to make the attempt?"

<Not now. You have had a long day - you are tired and emotional. You need to be rested - you will need all your strength for this. You also need to let go and move on. Your friend is never far from your thoughts - it is a distraction you do not need.>

"Tomorrow? After the funeral?"

"Fine," replied Quentin. "We'll go to the Retreat after the funeral and you can do it from there."

"In that case," said Henry calmly, "I'm coming with you."

"Oh, liberty hall," snarled Quentin. "We'll just let anyone in off the street."

"Well, you two have landed quite a story on me," replied Henry. "I want to see this for myself. I want proof of the pudding before I accept what you' re saying."

"Wasn't the demon proof enough?" Quentin glared at Henry, who looked back with a smile.

"To play Devil's Advocate for a second - with the technology available today, it is entirely possible that the demon was somehow 'fake'. I'm not saying it was, but." Henry shrugged, "in my line of work you have to explore ALL possibilities."

"Henry," smiled Giles, "you've believed far more incredulous theories on much flimsier evidence than this."

"Yes, but that was somewhat sterile. Merely carvings on stone, paintings on cave walls. It all seemed so distant.so untouchable. Those theories are not walking, talking or trying to throttle the life out of me." Henry briefly touched his neck. "It makes a big difference."

"Yes, I suppose it does."

"And I AM coming with you tomorrow." Henry glanced at Quentin. "I have no wish to argue with you, but I've been attacked once by this 'demon'. I'm involved in this whether you like it or not and besides, Rupert is a friend and I want to help."

"Help?" Said Quentin incredulously. "You'd be a hindrance not a help."

You will need someone you trust to watch your body whilst you are not in this realm.

"You've told Henry all about it, Quentin," replied Giles. "I don't see how you can keep him out of this. Besides - I'd like him to watch over me when I'm away."

**********

The Hooded Man stepped back from the scrying glass and clutched the table, steadying himself. <Deep breaths - take deep breaths and be thankful that at least it doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I can wait a day for you, Rupert - hell, I could wait a few weeks if you were so inclined but no longer than that. I really think I'm beginning to run out of time here. My body weakens whilst my mind remains strong. Will there be an end? Will this deterioration stop - or will it keep going until, until I have nothing left? Even my magic is affected - spells weaken me further but I can't stop now - not when I'm SO close. It's so near - I can almost TASTE your death, Rupert. So sleep well tonight. Awake refreshed and ready to face your final day - and it WILL be your last - I can promise you that.>

**********

Sceleratus stood up and began to pace up and down, the landscape changing and colours swirling around him. <Why now? Have I earned this? Have I satisfied you enough that you allow me a glimpse into my past? IS it my past? I'm presuming it is - but what is it? What does it mean?> Sceleratus sighed and stopped pacing. As he did so, the colours ceased their agitated changing and swirling, settling once more into their slow and almost casual meandering through the air around him. He sat down, closing his eyes and concentrating upon the picture that had drifted unexpectedly into his mind. <A human female - staring at me with what appears to be affection, even love? Was I loved? Did I love? And what of the other? The human child that stands next to her - and stares up with such serious eyes - familiar green eyes. What memory is this? What does it mean? Can it be that my release is near? Have my pleas for forgiveness finally been heard? We shall see. Should Rupert Giles find his way here then I will have my answer - one way or another.>

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