The hunters arrived in the alley behind the bronze. They walked apart, sniffing the air. The one they sought was near. They entered the Bronze and found the music loud and the atmosphere smoky. They glanced at each other and split, approaching their prey from opposite sides.

"Take it or leave it. It’s a fair price." Ethan was bartering with a half demon with a penchant for glittery things. The demon looked to left and right behind Ethan and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Ethan gritted his teeth in annoyance cancelling the glamour spell on the base metal bauble in his hands. He turned on those who had frightened his customer off.

"You cost me a," his voice tailed off as his eyes focused on the couple in leather. One of each, his favourite combination. He smirked.

"Hello…" He purred. "My compliments to you tailor. What can I do you for?" He looked from one to the other as they each took an arm, lifting him from the floor and propelled him out of the back door.

"Ripper sent you didn’t he?" He muttered

Together they threw him back. Ethan hit the brick wall, hard. Pain racked his body. He barely landed on his feet. Although the woman halted in the doorway, the man continued his menacing advance.

"Now, see-" Ethan’s protest was cut off by a punch to his solar plexus. The blow was directed upwards and with such force that Ethan was lifted off his feet and back into the wall.

Before Ethan slumped, the man spun ninety degrees and kicked his lowered chin. Ethan’s head crashed against the wall, his attacker’s foot holding him there.

The fighter dropped his leg at the woman’s silent command and replaced it with a powerful right hand. He increased the pressure, and with an impressive display of power, lifted him until Ethan’s feet dangled just above the ground. He held him up effortlessly. He moved a pace back allowing the woman access to question Ethan, his hand slowly exerting pressure on Ethan’s throat choking him. He struggled, but to no avail, black spots forming in front of his eyes. The woman spoke, deliberately slow.

"Where can we find Rupert Giles?" The pressure lessened, Ethan gasped for air "What?" He stalled. The man ground harder into his throat, before lessening the pressure once more so, he could speak.

"Where can we find the Watcher?" The woman inquired. Ethan stared into her eyes. "Go to hell!"

The man released him abruptly and Ethan fell to his knees rubbing his sore throat. The man scissored his legs. One foot catching Ethan hard on the back of his skull, slamming him down. When Ethan tried to get up the man’s foot pressed down, cracking his head on the ground.

"Enough!" The woman’s command halted Ethan’s punishment.

He kicked Ethan one last time before pulling him up by his hair. The man held him steady, while she produced a small black gun. She pressed it against Ethan’s chest and fired. His body jerked with a sudden, searing pain.

Then he was airborne again. Ethan landed awkwardly on his damaged ribs. He thought of Ripper as he staggered to his feet and despite his injuries started to run.

Ethan lurched down the street from lamppost to lamppost, pausing to heave in a breath, allowing his eyes to focus on a familiar building. He half fell down the steps and hammered on the door.

"Ripper!" He shouted ignoring the grate of his broken ribs. He braced his body against the doorjamb and waited for the door to open. He felt the cloak of unconsciousness dropping over him.

Rupert hastily dragged on his robe, "This had better be good…" Rupert said through clenched teeth. He opened the door and Ethan tumbled unceremoniously to the floor. "Willow, get the kit." She nodded and hurried to the kitchen.

"What happened to you?" Rupert murmured to himself as he surveyed his friend’s injuries. He found something just under Ethan’s skin and touched it. "Not a bullet…" he pondered to himself. "It looks like a thorn." Ethan stirred as a semi clad Willow knelt beside him with a bowl and bandages.

"Willow, my dear, a sight for sore eyes…" Even severe injuries did not prevent him from noticing the turn of a shapely ankle or the upturn of a youthful breast. Willow blushed under the attentive gaze of the older man, her fingers fumbled self-consciously at her hastily refastened robe.

"What did you do this time, Ethan?" Rupert’s tone was accusing but not life threatening.

"Nothing." He wheezed. "Two leather-clad terrorists jumped me at the Bronze. They were looking for you."

He smiled as Willow cleaned off the blood on his face. He felt Ripper staring at him. "They wanted me to tell them where you lived. I didn’t. So after the man kicked the shit out of me the woman shot me … they went…don’t know where."

"What kind of weapon was it?" Rupert asked as he crossed to the bookshelf and searched for a particular volume. Ethan eased himself down into the sofa.

"Oh, it was a gun…" He winced and Willow was beside him again with the washcloth. He took it from her and dabbed at the blood that trickled from his mouth. She was about to tell Giles that Ethan was seriously hurt but he stopped her shaking his head. "Nose in a book again Rupert? Is it going to help?" He asked jovially.

"Aha! Yes, look." He passed the book to Ethan. The page was illustrated the picture showing a couple in hunting garb leaving a burning village.

"Sorry Ripper love, my Latin’s not what it was, care to elucidate?"

Rupert scowled good-humouredly. "You never studied." He muttered, "It says here that in the Middle Ages a Watcher settlement was razed to the ground by two hunters sent by Beelzebub to destroy the Watchers Council of the day. These two had amazing strength and destroyed the settlement by merely linking their hands." He closed the book and placed it on his desk.

"Willow," he asked quietly. She looked up she didn’t like it when he used that tone. "Is there anyone outside the house?" She left the sofa and peeked out of the window.

She saw the couple that Ethan had described. They were standing side be side watching the house. "Yes, it’s them."

"Shit!" Ripper exclaimed. "Willow get dressed. Then get the books on…" He thought for a second and reeled off a list of titles. She nodded and set to her tasks. "Ethan? Watch them, tell us if they move." His friend sighed as he hobbled to the window to take up his vigil.

Giles raced upstairs to get dressed; he had no idea how much time they had before the hunters would strike.

"They’re moving together Ripper…" Ethan warned. Giles nodded and grabbed the bag of books from his desk.

"Come on," He motioned them to follow "Hurry! They’re getting ready!" Giles and Willow supported Ethan between them as they ran unsteadily from the house as though the Hounds of Hell were on their heels.

"Where are we going?" Willow gasped.

"Xander’s" Rupert threw over his shoulder. They were out of the house and away down the street when it exploded.

The man looked into the distance and saw three figures running away. He felt her hands close over his. He glared at her with open hostility. Their hands clasped long enough to destroy the Watcher’s home but no longer. He broke contact first roughly casting aside her comforting fingers. Green eyes locked on brown ones; the former filled with hatred and pain, the latter with love and desire.

End of part 5

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