Reconciliation, Retribution and Redemption

Title: Reconciliation, Retribution and Redemption

Author: SES

Rating: No worse than the shows themselves except this has more blood. Some swearing.

Content warning: Character Death.

Disclaimer: All the characters and settings belong to Joss and his employers. I have borrowed them and promise not to misuse them too badly. It's all done in the best possible taste.

Archive: No problem, but please tell me first so I can see my name in lights.

Spoilers: Up to the end of season 4 of Buffy with mention of details in Angel season 1.

Summary: This picks up where season 4 of BtVS left off.

Feedback: Yes please. - Simon@jasminect.freeserve.co.uk

All dangers must be anticipated;
Otherwise they become mortal.
And the greatest of all hazards
Is the risk of man himself.
( Paul Linebarger )

Chapter One:

They were all assembled in Giles' living room. Willow sat next to Tara, no longer shy to show her affection. Buffy knew that she was happy with the one she loved and glad that it was all in the open. She mentally made a note to devote some time to her friend. To talk about the relationship. The only reaction she had given so far was on the first day Willow revealed her affections for the shy girl, who had attached herself to her and followed her everywhere like a devoted puppy. There had not been time since then to talk. She had to make time, though. The last year had seen the gang distance themselves from each other. It had not been intentional on any ones part, but it had happened.

Buffy could not help but smile inwardly as she looked from one friend to another. Xander and his vengeance demon made her smile. The latter was trying unsuccessfully to hide her boredom by stroking her boyfriend's leg. Whilst Xander was undoubtedly enjoying the sensation he still had that wide-eyed look of someone who was trapped in a gilded cage. Buffy did not know whether to feel sorry for him or to laugh at his predicament. Anya made Cordelia seem like Willow. The bulk of Xander's attention, however, was taken up with Giles who, with a patience bordering on the noble, was trying to explain some principle of something to the young man. Buffy had to admit that she had lost track of the conversation long before. She started another mental note to herself; she must confide in Giles more.

She was ashamed to admit that she had mishandled the whole Initiative affair. Giles, in fact all her friends, had advised her she should investigate more before becoming a member of the demon-hunting club. Again, she had put her friends on the edge of her life. Side lining them and only bringing them into play as substitutes whenever she felt the need for their input. In doing so she had overlooked Willow's need for reassurance, Xander's need for a role in life and Giles' isolation from what he had devoted his life to; namely the guidance and protection of a slayer.

"Is that tea going to arrive, I wonder," Giles said, looking over his glasses at Buffy.

"I'll go and assist the maid," Buffy offered.

She entered the kitchen to find Riley looking at the instructions on a packet of loose-leaf tea. He was a picture of concentration and indecision and entirely out of his element amongst pots and pans. She knew that Angel could rustle up a three-course dinner for a party of five if he had to, but Riley was unable to decide whether to put two or three spoonfuls of tea into the pot. Her eyes glazed over briefly when she thought again at how she had nearly lost him the week before.

He stood there looking tall and helpless. Buffy walked up to him and took the tea from his hands and placed it on the worktop. She then embraced her boyfriend and lover and kissed him passionately. The embrace expressing a need that spoke of the fear she had of losing him. They had not had much time alone together since the confrontation with Adam and the destruction of the Initiative. Although the need to be with all her friends outweighed her desire to be alone with Riley, she could not deny that desire existed.

"Buffy," Came a desperate cry from Xander, "Giles is talking analogies again."

"Don't worry, Xander. You're safe until he starts drawing Venn Diagrams," she shouted in response relaxing her hold on Riley slightly, but not her eyes from his.

"The tea, Buffy," Giles added desperately.

Buffy quickly came to her senses and switched the kettle back on. It had boiled several minutes ago whilst Riley was reading the instructions on the packet. When it clicked back off she poured some in the pot and swished it around before emptying it in the sink. She then put the correct amount of tea in the pot and poured the remaining water up to the level of the spout. Riley watched in awe as she set up the tray with cups, saucers, spoons milk and chocolate biscuits. She gifted him a smile of satisfaction and placed the tray in his arms.

They both re-entered the living room and sat amongst the others. For the next few hours the group of friends chatted. Their conversation drifted from topic to topic. Nothing important was discussed and the next day they would be hard pressed to recollect anything that was said. It was, rather, the type of evening where friends just relaxed and allowed the world to tick by.

Towards the end of the evening Buffy yawned. She looked around contritely. "I'm sorry," she said.

"The undead keeping you out late the last few days?" Giles offered.

"No, Actually, I haven't come across anything at all, which is weird considering the number of demons that must have escaped the lab that night"

"They're probably in hiding still," Xander added. "They'll come out to play soon."

"I can wait. The rest has been... sublime. I've been able to spend time with Mum and feel like... a normal person almost. I actually went clothes shopping with her yesterday," she continued quietly as almost to herself. The others regarded her thoughtfully, knowing that she craved normality above anything else. Buffy looked up and blushed slightly at the attention. "So, I can wait a while before jumping into the breach again," she added with a smile and change of tone to lighten up the proceedings.

"You should take a holiday with Riley whilst college is in recess," Giles suggested.

"Yeah," Xander perked up "Anya and me and Willow and Tara could come as well."

"I don't want to go," Anya butted in.

This caused everyone to laugh and the evening continued in a similar vein until they all decided it was time to relieve Giles of the responsibility of being host.

"Next time you can all come to our place," Buffy offered. By that she meant hers and Riley's. With his house in need of much repair he was going to secretly move in with Buffy in her dorm whilst Willow would share with Tara.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"All dangers must be anticipated else we will perish like wheat before a scythe," the leader of the assembled crowd spoke to his brethren. "The greatest hazard of all is Man. He will hunt us down like before and, as helpless as we were then, we will cease to exist. So, I say to you, take special care when you walk amongst them. Avoid them if at all possible. And avoid the others as well. The time for fighting our old enemy is over; we must re build."

"Why not join with them?" A voice challenged anonymously from the crowd. "We have a common enemy..."

"No!" The leader attacked. "Let both antagonists fight it out amongst themselves. In the meantime, we will live out lives. We will devote ourselves to what is important; our families our desires. By doing so, we ultimately win; the normal mundane life is sweet when compared to the need to constantly be on our guard and fighting a war that no one can win."

The crowd expressed their agreement to the speech. The speaker afforded himself some self-congratulation. He was relieved beyond words to express such. They had come so close to mobilising against those that they saw as being their enemies. Whilst he agreed that such emotions were justified and certainly addictive, he also knew that to answer such desires would be the end of everything they had achieved.

The crowd gradually dispersed and everyone went about their business; rebuilding their lives after being released from the underground laboratories, renewing the bonds of family and, in so many cases, giving themselves time to mourn the death of their friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was not a real medieval castle, but a nineteenth century reproduction. The building reeked of Victorian excess; the way it draped itself over the landscape like a black cloak; hiding its true self and convincing people not to seek out the reality. Inside the structure a dining room was occupied, laid out for its guests. If rooms could speak it would boast of its importance amongst its fellow rooms; relaxing in their company wearing its wood panelled walls like a uniform showing its rank amongst them.

The occupants sat around its large circular dining table. Their cigar and cigarette smoke rose up and created a layer concealing the intricately carved ceiling. The carving depicted demons being slain by a lone warrior. Alone except for a choir of elders watching the scene. Some scribed the battle. Others directed it as a conductor does an orchestra. The smoke lingered between the contours of the carving as though a mist rose from the ground of the carving.

"Our sources say that the US military have closed the Project," one of the room's occupants spoke.

"Wisdom at last," added another. "The Initiative was a foolish attempt lacking in the subtlety and thought"

"The very name of the organisation spoke the arrogance of the Americans in thinking they could use force of numbers where stealth has always sufficed for centuries."

"Mind you, it took some initiative to decide to close the project."

The group gathered in the dining room allowed themselves a few moments of humour at the last remark. If the room could feel it would have glowed with pride at being the host of such a gathering of learned and noble men.

"One has to admit, however, that they served a purpose. Though it pains me to say this, we all know that we have been poorly served by our own weapons. One of whom is incarcerated and the other under the illusion she can act without us,"

"Like a common vigilante!"

"Guided by a deserter to the cause!"

"Come now, her Watcher was banished."

"We must regain control if we are to be in a position to be of power when the Event occurs. The question is how do we regain the initiative? No pun intended."

"We must instil the need to rejoin the ranks to our wayward friends."

"Why not just rid ourselves of them for good and replace them?"

"The training of a new slayer will take too long. She has the experience and the local knowledge to still be of use to us. Her Watcher should also be welcomed back since he has her confidence. A Slayer without a Watcher must not be allowed."

There were murmurs of agreement from the others around the table.

"How do we persuade them to rejoin the fight and what about the other slayer?"

"We will approach them meekly, as though contrite at what has occurred between us in the past."

"If that does not work?"

"Then, we will have to resort to other methods even if it means consorting with those we seek to displace."

"I ask again, what of the other slayer?"

"Let her rot behind bars. The ones she is imprisoned in and those she has built for herself"

"It is agreed then; we make a humble approach for reconciliation to the slayer and her guide." He looked around the table and registered the nods of his colleagues. "So be it. I will inform our office in America. Come now let us continue the evening. Jeremy, will you please pass the port."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The couple sat down on a bench. They had spent the evening swaying hypnotically to the sound of a local band playing at the hall in the grounds of the college. The evening was mild with a welcoming breeze that chilled the perspiration they had built up in the humidity of the concert. They held each other and explored the passion that had welled up inside them, exploiting the discovery of a mutual desire. After some time they broke off the revelling and looked each other in the eyes. They asked and answered the same question in unison without speaking a word and stood up with the aim of acting out their intentions somewhere more private. They found themselves confronted by a group of four tall men standing in a small arc blocking their way forward. The couple were momentarily embarrassed at being discovered. Before they had time to feel afraid, however, they were grabbed from behind by two others and pulled to the ground in a frenzy of blood and torn clothing. No sound escaped into the night; such was the efficiency of the kill.

From the melee one attacker stood up. The ivory of his fangs were almost luminous as a nearby lamplight played shadows over his demon-contorted face. He looked into the sky at the moon flickering through branches of the trees that swayed in the cool breeze.

"It's good to be in the open again; to hunt and feel the fear and the blood lust. It's been far too long since we have been allowed to roam freely and kill when we so desire. Get up," he ordered dragging two of his comrades up from their revelling. "We have a war to win. A war to start"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The girl looked and felt unsure of herself. She hated feeling this way. Life was better when she had a meaning to live it. In truth, she had always needed someone to tell her what to do. She would baulk at following orders but secretly relish her part in life, even if someone else dictated it to her.

Everything had changed. He had brought her to her senses and made her see the error of her ways and told her that her life was her own. Her senses, however, were acute. She felt directionless, guilt stricken and so lonely.

She knew that he would have welcomed her into his home. An angel in more than just name. She was still too ashamed to take up such an offer, though. No, she had unfinished business elsewhere; a task that she knew had to be undertaken or else she would never be able to rest or be dispel the past and start anew.

With the last thought, she turned her back on Los Angeles and boarded the bus to Sunnydale. Her only belongings in a haversack strung over her shoulder.

Chapter Two:

Buffy patrolled the campus. The deaths of the students two nights earlier had necessitated a return to her duties. Despite that, her heart was not really fully engaged. The few days of normality had ingrained themselves onto her psyche. Not even the success of killing two vampires the night before could lift her spirits. All she could think of was that she had vampire dust in her hair again and that dull ache behind her eyes that only the lack of sufficient sleep could induce.

She was awoken from her mood by the sound of violence being inflicted on someone, exclamations of contempt and the familiar sound of exertion. She ran to the focus point of the disturbance and stopped several yards from the scene of two demons fighting. Both were conveying a viciousness that caused even Buffy to wince at each blow they inflicted on each other. Her fights seldom got as desperate due to her skill at avoiding such close contact. She was short but could always keep demons at arm or leg length. She had a momentary feeling of doubt at her own ability to beat either of the protagonists in front of her, but dispelled it and instead decided to observe and learn. Her inquisitiveness, however, was interrupted by a very human scream from the opposite end of the campus. Affording one final glance at one of the demons, a vampire, being thrown against a tree, she left the scene.

Buffy ran at full speed in the direction of the scream. Seeing the vampire in good time she maintained her momentum as she rammed it away from a student. The latter wasted no time in escaping, leaving her rescuer to follow through with her attack. The vampire was severely stunned and would have died at the end of Buffy's stake in seconds if it were not for his colleague, who levelled a kick to her stomach strong enough to lift her off her would be victim and push her to one side of it. She looked up at the second demon. "Where the hell did you come from?" She asked incredulously.

The demon went for another kick. This time to Buffy's face. Being ready this time, she grabbed his foot with both hands and shoved forward lifting her assailant up and backwards. He fell back several feet but remained standing, balancing precariously on his heels as he hit the ground. Buffy took advantage of this and leapt at him with her stake hitting the target with one fluid motion of her right hand. Dust erupted where previously there had been solidity.

The original vampire grabbed Buffy's arms from behind and gripped tightly causing her to scream with the strain it put on her shoulder blades. She knew, however, that if he maintained his grip the vampire would have no other possible action to make. It had limited its own ability to manoeuvre. Buffy crouched forward in a sudden movement that caught the demon by surprise. He fell forward, his own body weight and gravity causing him to lose control of the situation. Buffy felt his grip loosen and flung him over her shoulder, knowing that she risked breaking her arms if he maintained or re-tightened his hold. Fortunately, he released his arms on impulse reaching them out to catch his fall. Buffy staked him through the heart via his back.

She jumped up and quickly scanned 360 degrees for anything else that may want her dead. Nothing appeared. She was rooted to the spot for what seemed like minutes as the surplus adrenaline pumped round her body. Eventually her limbs relaxed enough for her move. She stopped, however, only a few feet away and sat on a bench. She knew all to well that she had been lucky to win the fight. She berated herself. She was out of practice, too damn careless to be out on her own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I tell you, Giles, I didn't see the second one coming. Hell, I didn't even look." Buffy paced up and down Giles' living room. The small space required her to turn frequently which did not improve her mood.

"The important thing," Giles offered, "is that you survived."

Buffy gave him a disdainful glance on her return trip from the far wall.

"You survived and you know better for the next time, and will you sit down. You're wearing a groove in the floor."

"Giles, it's quarry tiled." Buffy sat down, however, when she saw his expression looked dangerous, and bit her lip to avoid smiling too obviously. Giles' stern look always made him look sweet and vaguely cuddly, in a middle aged way. She frowned. Her thoughts were scary sometimes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The girl looked at her new lodgings emotionless. She had stayed at worse places. It had a clean bathroom and a TV and a bed, which was suffice to suit her needs. It was certainly better than the night before; she had arrived in Sunnydale with no job or accommodation planned. The bus shelter was no substitute. She now had a job, serving burgers in drive through restaurant and now a soft bed to sleep in. Tomorrow she would consider making contact. She was not looking forward to it, but knew that it would be the start of her long climb to redemption. She laid on top of the bed, face looking at the ceiling. Hours later she finally fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Slayer took out two of our group this evening."

"Survival of the fittest. She just rid us of weeds. The crop still thrives," the new self proclaimed leader of Sunnydale's night population commented. He cast his eye over the expanse of the warehouse from his vantage point of the office several feet above. Two score possessed souls mingled amongst each other.

"Never the less," the former pressed, "it has made the others unsure. Months of captivity by the army and a slayer still loose in the world....."

"The former is over, done with. To dwell on the past is a waste of time."

"And the Slayer?"

"Is but one girl." The leader turned to his second in command. "Tomorrow we start our campaign to reclaim this town. By the end of the week every demon from miles around will once more regard this as its premier holiday destination. We'll wipe the smugness from the faces of the descendants of the people who dared to name this town Sunny dale."

Chapter Three:

"So, this party is like... a hippy thing?" Xander asked.

"Yeah. It's supposed to be," Tara confirmed.

"That's cool."

"No it's not," Anya disagreed. "I was at Woodstock. Do you know how smelly several thousand unwashed hippies can get. And the mud was disgusting."

"You were at Woodstock." Willow bounced in front of Anya. "What was it like? That's so cool."

"Woodstock," Buffy repeated, a curious expression on her face.

"Please don't ask her why," Xander pleaded.

"Why Woodstock?"

"A woman wanted revenge on her unfaithful boyfriend."

"What did you do?" Buffy asked ignoring Xander's entreaties.

Anya noticed her lover's expression. "Let's just say," she replied, "that he didn't get any free love after that."

"Ouch," Xander said, his imagination painting a vivid picture. "Ouch ouch ouch," he repeated walking ahead of the girls. "You had to ask."

Buffy, Willow and Tara laughed. Anya just raised her eyebrows innocently.

The party was interesting but not Woodstock.

"So, everyone's a witch here then." Buffy commented.

"No. Just Tara and me."

"But, it's organised by your coven group in college."

"Oh, I know, but by calling themselves a coven they're making a feminist statement... or something. Tara and me once suggested making a spell... do you remember, Tara?" Willow asked her partner.

"Yes. We have a whole corner to ourselves in meetings now."

"Then why do you still attend?"

"They make us laugh." Both girls answered in unison.

"And they get invited to the coolest parties, don't forget that," Xander added.

They all looked round the room for a few moments and found themselves a corner to stand in. After a few minutes a girl broke away from the festivities and approached them. "Oh no, damn," Willow whispered.

Tara turned her back to the girl as she approached. "I would suggest that you don't ask what her name is," she said to the others.

The girl walked up to the gang. "Hi, Willow, Tara. I'm glad you could come. Would you introduce your friends?"

"...ah... this is Buffy, Anya and Xander," Willow offered.

"And you are?" Buffy asked.

"Moonshine, pleased to meet you," the host replied, a friendly smile on her face. Willow turned round to face the wall. "I really must mingle with the other guests," The girl said and rejoined the party.

Buffy nodded her head as though judging a contest. "Seemed like a nice girl. Willow, stop it."

Willow was laughing so hard tears were falling. "I can't. Oh, God I can't," she cried. "I'm sorry," she added seriously before collapsing again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy entered the courtyard in front of Giles' home. His living room light was on and she could make out the hum of two voices. Giles had a guest. She had left the party early to be able to drop in on her Watcher before going on patrol that night. She contemplated not disturbing them, but being inquisitive by nature, she knocked on the door. Giles opened it and stood back to let her enter. She saw his visitor and gave Giles a sharp look.

"Ah... Buffy.this.this is Reginald. He's from the..."

"The Council," Buffy finished for him.

"Very observant, young lady," the stranger said and approached her, his hand out stretched.

"Don't patronise me. It's so obvious you might as well wear a badge."

"Buffy," said Giles trying to avoid a confrontation, "Reginald is here to offer us the opportunity to rejoin the Watcher's Council. Or, rather he's inviting me back and you to resume to.....to receive its guidance," he finished not concealing his own doubts very successfully.

"A peace offering, if you will," Reginald added.

"Why, are we at war? Look, Reg? I've never been a person for joining clubs. The rules and regulations tend to be limiting. So, thank you but no thank you."

"I find it hard to understand your stance on this. The Council has existed for centuries as a guide and a..."

"Why? I'll tell you why..."

"Buffy..." Giles tried to step in between the protagonists. Buffy pushed him aside.

"I'll tell you why," she repeated, "when I turned eighteen you robbed me of my strength, kidnapped my mother and locked us both in a house with a homicidal vampire," she paused for few seconds. "Is there such a thing as a homicidal vamp... never mind? You did it and both of us nearly got killed. Then, when my boyfriend was dying, another of your colleagues refused to provide the help he required. Now, I've forgiven Giles for the former and... well Wesley is on everyone's Christmas card list, but I will not be part of an organisation that does not differentiate between good and bad and... I'm labouring the point here," she ended and walked to the far corner of the room to cool down.

Reginald straightened his waistcoat and tie to present as unruffled an appearance as possible. "I'm sorry that you feel in such a way. I'll convey your... reply to my colleagues in England." He walked to the door. "Our offer to you Mr Giles still stands."

"Thank you but no thank you."

"So be it. As a friendly warning, remember that what has been done once can be done so again," he offered cryptically and left the house.

Giles shut the door and looked at Buffy. "Well, that went well, I thought."

"Poor Reggie," Buffy said with a smile, "I suppose I shouldn't really have shot the messenger," she added approaching Giles. "I only popped round to say that I'm going on patrol again tonight."

"Be careful."

"Oh, I'll be ok. I'm certainly in the right mood to kill something." She stopped at the door. "Giles, if you want to re enlist I wont take offence."

"Thank you but... I'm a bit disillusioned with the whole thing. Besides, the original slayer didn't have a Watcher."

"True. But, Giles I... I couldn't carry on without you. The Council is a dinosaur. Dinosaurs are so yesterday... I mean don't they realise that Spielberg is making serious films these days."

Giles looked puzzled. Buffy's expression lit up with a genuine smile of affection. "Don't worry, Giles. That was probably something Xander would get."

"Please don't start talking in teenage code, Buffy," said Giles with a mock look of pain, "I have enough trying to decipher Xander."

Buffy stood up on her toes and gave Giles as kiss on his cheek. "See you later," she said and left for her nightly patrol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The college student bounced the ball in front of him looking around to see which of his teammates he should pass it to. An opponent ran to him and tried to retrieve it. The former held on to it, and seeing an opportunity open up, passed it to his partner who negotiated his way round the basketball court. There were twelve players in total. They had all been drinking in an impromptu dorm party and had decided to challenge each other to a game.

An eight-foot high fence to prevent balls escaping on to the nearby road and causing accidents enclosed the court. Despite the late hour, the players had no trouble seeing the game; two large banks of floodlights lighted the court.

One half of the party cheered as a friend skilfully deposited the ball in the net. He turned round when he heard hand clapping from off the court. He saw a small group of figures standing outside the fencing. Others were joining them. "Wow, lads. We've got an audience," he said and passed the ball to the centre to resume play. It was intercepted by one of the newcomers as he entered the court. He walked with the ball, bouncing it slowly. The rhythm of the noise it made as leather hit concrete was chilling. The other members of the crowd joined their colleague. Soon the players were outnumbered. The last one to enter closed the eight-foot high gate completing the barrier.

The first visitor smiled at the students. "Thanks for coming, everyone."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy had seen horrors in her life; children, their lives cut short. She had lost friends and had to commit acts that the word traumatic could never do justice to. The scene before her, however, left her numb with shock. For a few seconds she even felt her vision go cloudy as though she were going to faint. She had seen more deaths on Graduation Day, but they had been inflicted on a force on the attack. Victims of a battle against an opposing army. This, however, was a massacre of innocents trying to do nothing but escape.

One victim stood upright against the fence. Buffy could make out blood a few feet above him where he had tried to climb out of the court. The wound he must already have had inflicted on him, however, had weakened him and he had slid down to a standing position. Blood pooled in puddles over the grey concrete. None flowed off the court as though out of respect for the bodies it once inhabited.

Buffy caught sight of a note attached to the fence. It was held in place by being pierced through the fingers of the victim that stood staring at her through lifeless eyes. She walked up to it and read out the short message. "Because the night belongs to vampires."

"Strange," came a voice from behind causing Buffy to curse her inattention for a second time that week. "I always thought the night belonged to lovers," the voice added.

"Faith," Buffy said simply, not able to pass any other comment.

"Hello, B," Faith said. She walked up to the fence, a few feet from where Buffy stood.

"How did you get out of jail?"

"They let me go. Insufficient evidence," she volunteered and faced the court again. "No witnesses. As usual in this town."

"Why did you come here?" Buffy asked ungraciously.

"There was nowhere else for me to go," Faith replied with a faint note of despair. "I tend to burn bridges," she added back under control.

"Then the same question applies; why here?"

"I thought I could... never mind. Are you going back to Giles?"

"No. He'll insist on coming down here and taking pictures for clues. Besides, it'll be on the morning news." She turned to Faith. "Don't bother me and I'll not bother you, agreed...? understood?"

"Perhaps. I would have thought you'd be grateful for some help here. This is a declaration of war," Faith added pointing to the note.

Buffy pocketed it and walked away with no reply. Faith sighed and went in the opposite direction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Faith is probably right," Giles said. It was late afternoon the following day. He and Buffy and the rest of gang, except Riley, were assembled again in his home. "The attack was very public and the message..it all spells a challenge."

"I know. It seems that our spring is over just when I thought we had achieved liberty... of sorts anyway."

"Was it really as bad as the news reports suggest?" Willow asked.

"I haven't listened to them, but worse comes to mind."

"What about Faith's offer of help?" Tara ventured. She had received all there was to know of the other slayer from Willow, but felt the need for the question to be asked. Buffy cast a dangerous glance in her direction.

"It's a good point, Buffy," Xander added, "Goodness knows I'm not keen to renew my relationship with her, but two slayers are better than one."

Before a reaction could be registered Giles' phone rang. He went to the table and answered the call.

"Hello... hello, Faith. What are you doing at Joyce's?"

Buffy shot him a glance. "She's with my mother! What, is she on tour or something?" She spat out incredulously.

Giles passed her the phone. "She wants to speak to you." Buffy snatched the receiver from his hand.

"What are you..." she paused from shouting at Faith when the latter shouted her down from the other end of the line. Buffy went silent and suddenly held on to the edge of the table, the colour draining from her face.

"Buffy?" Willow was by her side in an instance. Buffy looked at her friend in a desperate hope for reassurance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They pulled up outside Buffy's house and piled out of the car. Buffy was first to the door and was met by Riley. "How did...?"

"Xander called me."

Buffy went into the house to find Faith standing by the mantle piece. She handed her a note that had been left behind. She took it and read the contents. Her hands shaking, she passed it to Giles.

"You know what is required. Your actions will dictate our response," Giles read out loud.

Buffy stepped away and stood apart from the others. "Oh, mother. What have I done?" she cried, her face in her hands. She felt alone and isolated. Enemies on all sides. Riley took her in his arms.

"Don't' worry, Buffy," he reassured, "We'll find her. All of us."

Buffy looked up and realised she was not alone. Not this time. Xander and Anya, Willow and Tara, Giles and her Riley were there. All would move Hell itself to aid her. She turned round and faced Faith. "If you are still willing," she said quietly, "I would welcome your support."

Faith nodded.

"Are the kidnappers the same people we were talking about earlier?" Xander asked.

"No," Giles replied, "these are more close to home."

"What has been done once can be done so again," Buffy quoted from the night before.

Chapter Four:

"What can the council hope to achieve by holding Buffy's mother as hostage?" Willow asked. "It handicaps their only warrior, Faith excepting of course. They can't be oblivious to the trouble that has erupted here."

"They're thinking ahead," Faith said. "There's something coming, something big, and they want to be ready, in charge of the forces for good"

Giles looked at her curiously.

"There's something coming," she repeated. "I sensed the anticipation whilst in LA, when I was being recruited by Wolfram and Heart. Read your books, Giles. I'm sure you'll find something because I don't think this is all to do with a few escaped lab rats trying to take over a small town."

"Where does Buffy or her mother fit into this?" Riley asked keen to keep everyone's mind on the present.

"Buffy is the Slayer. The weapon against whatever is coming. The council want to wield it and to do so they must control it," Xander offered with an insight that impressed Giles.

"Angel has something to do with it as well, I'm sure," Faith added. Everyone looked to Buffy on impulse. She did not seem to respond. "The lynch pin perhaps, I don't know," Faith continued, "but he's a player in the game, all be it probably an unwilling one."

"And this conflict we're going through?" Willow asked.

"Is just a side issue. Irrelevant. If we lose, the Council will call another slayer, all be it reluctantly as they would prefer to have Buffy. If we win... they still have Joyce."

"All this is irrelevant," Buffy spoke up. "Today's problem is the gang of demons butchering at will."

"And your mother?" Willow asked.

"If what Faith says is true she'll be safe until I make my decision."

"I'll look in my books," Giles said, "and see if I can find anything about an event large enough to bother the Council. We don't want it occurring in the middle of a pitched battle."

Giles looked at Buffy to try and fathom her thoughts. She met his gaze, determination holding a few seconds before she had to look away afraid of revealing her anguish. "Right," she said taking control, "Riley and me will make enquiries at Willy's place then we'll patrol. Faith, you can patrol as well. By splitting the two of us up more area is covered. The rest of you help Giles and... be careful. If they want a quick reply from me they may decide to kidnap one of you for good measure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faith negotiated her way round packing crates and boxes piled high in the warehouse. This was the fourth building her and Xander had searched for any sign of vampire occupation. She had calmed down finally and accepted Xander's company. She could have broken a bone forcing him to retire, but that would not have endeared her to the others. Xander had insisted on joining her. He had said it was to keep an eye on her but she knew he just wanted to be useful.

"Why should I stay behind with the girls?" he had said.

"Someone's got to look after you," she had replied.

She was suddenly pushed forward. So unexpected was the act she stumbled forward ungainly several feet. Before she could react she watched, as seemingly in slow motion three large crates crashed down from the darkness above and landed messily on the spot she had been standing previously. She stood up and made herself ready for an attack. Instead Xander clambered over the debris.

"Are you alright?" he asked desperately. "I had no time to shout a warning so thought a shove more appropriate and..." he stopped suddenly and screamed as a sharp object approached his head. He ducked just in time and found himself drenched in dust as a vampire behind him disintegrated.

"Sorry, Xander. I had no time to shout a warning so thought..."

"Yeah yeah, ok, touché," he said and they both carried on down the aisle of crates to make sure their victim was just a lone hunter.

"Thank you, by the way," Faith said.

"Your welcome. Quick reaction by the way," Xander returned.

"I thought so."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following night found Buffy and Riley in Willy's Bar. Buffy strode in as though the place was her regular haunt. Riley followed more cautiously. He was still amazed that such an establishment existed and that the Initiative had never found out. Willy let out an undignified and poorly concealed sigh as two of his most unwanted acquaintances approached the bar.

"I kinda guessed you would visit eventually, but hoped I had a few days grace. Why is it that you always pick on me?" he uttered.

"Because you wear self pity so well."

"Yeah, well I know nothing about your mother's whereabouts." He said defiantly.

Buffy was momentarily shocked and failed to conceal it. Willy jumped at the chance. "You didn't come here for that information, did you? You didn't think I would even know about her kidnapping." He relished Buffy's discomfort for a few seconds but was cut short by Riley's hand around his throat.

"All right then, I'm impressed. Now tell us what you know about it. Tell us!"

"He'd be able to talk a lot better, mate if you released your hold on his voice box."

Riley dropped Willy and turned towards the new voice. A lone figure appeared from the darkness of the room. Tall and threatening against the other denizens of the bar, who sat hunched over as though trying to hide in their drinks, his pale features and the colour of his hair were almost luminous.

"Spike," Buffy said simply. "You're a sore for sighted eyes."

"I've missed you too. It would seem we're living in interesting times... again."

"Do you have anything to tell us or are you hiding from your friends again?" Riley asked contemptuously.

"I know enough to say that you are asking in the wrong places about Joyce's kidnapping. The wrong people as well... in more ways than one."

"You mean that demons kidnapped her?" Riley uttered in disbelief.

Spike laughed. "Well done, soldier boy, that's just what she needed; to have it spelt out loud for her."

Riley turned to Buffy. She was holding her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry at Spike's revelation. He cursed himself for not thinking before speaking and went to put his arm around his partner's shoulders. Buffy broke away, though. "Are you saying vampires kidnapped my mother?" She demanded.

"No!" Spike responded in disgust. "What would we want with a hostage? No, it was a mutual enemy that did the deed, but they were just mercenaries. That's where the Council come into play."

"Do you know where we can find them?" Riley asked.

"Not the kidnappers, no, or their employers. But I can point you in the direction of some of the former's colleagues."

"Why would you want to do that?" Buffy asked suspiciously.

"Because it would give me great pleasure to see you whip them into submission. They're an old enemy. Besides, I kinda like Joyce. She's been very pleasant to me. The instance with the axe not withstanding." Spike laughed, "The look on your face," he said at Buffy's expression of shock. "What's wrong? You didn't think old Spike could have a soft side. I don't know, if I get any more nancy I'll be like Hair Gel Boy"

Buffy giggled and then stopped herself in horror at the act. "You know, Spike, part of me will be sorry to stake you. I actually hope you never get that chip out of your head."

"What a rotten thing to say."

Chapter Five:

Later that night Buffy and Riley returned to her room in the university. Riley made them both a cup of cocoa and they sat on the two beds facing each other. "You look tired," Riley stated.

"Two days without sleep will do that to a person," Buffy countered staring in to her cup. She looked up at him. "Will you still love me if I had dark rings and age lines round my eyes?" she asked with a weak smile.

"Of course I would. It would only add to your beauty."

"Ah, that's so sweet," Buffy, laughed. "Sickly sweet with extra sugar."

"A bit over the top?"

"So way over it's untrue."

"Well then, you'd better get some sleep or I may change my mind."

"Yes, sir," she replied with a salute.

They both got undressed. Riley went for Willow's bed. "What're you doing?" Buffy asked as she settled under her own covers.

"I thought... well." He walked over and got in with Buffy and pulled the covers over them both. Buffy turned over and turned out the light and remained facing the wall, away from Riley. He laid still facing up at the ceiling which remained temporarily invisible until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. A couple of minutes passed before Buffy turned over and lay her head on his chest and wrapped her arms round him for reassurance. She fell asleep shortly afterwards.

Three hours later Riley awoke with a start to loud hammering on the door from the hall outside. He got out of bed. Buffy sat up concern written on her face. "Be careful," she said as her partner opened the door. Willow almost fell into the room, fear and grief etched into her face.

Buffy leapt out of bed and held her friend's shoulders. She looked her in the eyes and, as a mother might ask her child, enquired what was wrong.

"It's Tara," Willow was able to utter eventually. "She wont wake up... she... wont wake up. I've tried everything, but..."

"Take us to her," Riley took command.

Buffy put on her robe and the three of them walked the short distance between rooms.

"Is... is she decent," Riley asked hesitantly before entering.

Buffy gave him an exasperating look. "Sickly sweet," she whispered to him as they both followed Willow into Tara's room. They found her lying on her bed. The room showed evidence of a spell having been tried; extinguished candles and a chalk image were arranged on the floor.

"Willow, what were you both trying to do?" Buffy asked, closing the door behind her. Riley was checking on Tara and Willow stood still, her arms wrapped around her watching him. "Willow!" Buffy shouted to attract her friend's attention.

She looked over at Buffy as though she had just realised she was there. "We... she was trying a search spell... to find where Joy... your mother was being kept. I was there to ensure the candles didn't go out. Riley, is she ok?"

Riley sat back on his legs, his brow showing perspiration. "She's alive and breathing normally," he replied. "Did she faint or collapse...? I can't see a mark where she might have hit her head." He added looking back at Tara.

"She was recounting where the spell was taking her... she was flying, I think... then she got excited, saying she was close and then... she screamed." Willow put her hand over her mouth. "She didn't make a sound but she was screaming as loud as she could inside... I heard her, Buffy. In my head. I heard her scream..."

"It's ok," Buffy hugged Willow as she cried on her shoulder. She looked over her at Riley "Call 911. Then," she added as an after thought, "call Giles and ask him to meet us at the hospital. He may be able to offer some advice and... we'd better clean the floor or there'll be questions we can't answer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Did you keep the candles alight?" Giles asked when they were all gathered in Tara's hospital room. She had not regained consciousness and dawn was beginning to break.

"Yes," Willow said, her eyes transfixed on her partner as she lay in bed. She held her hand tight as though willing her pulse to wake Tara. "Everything seemed to be going fine until she screamed. Giles, what went wrong?"

"I don't know for definite. If the candles stayed lit it should have worked unless..."

"Unless what?"

Giles looked uneasy and wished he had chosen his words more carefully. "If someone had seen her watching... they could have broken the link or lashed out at her."

"Are you saying she may never wake up?" Buffy asked. She knew it was what Willow wanted to ask but was too frightened to.

"No, I'm not saying that. Tara is alive and well. She is just healing herself, I suspect. But, if the link was broken it was probably not pleasant."

Willow was relieved at Giles' words and took them on total trust as always.

"That's good to hear," Buffy said breaking the silence. "Willow, I must go back to the college and get some sleep or I'll be unable to patrol tonight and... thank you for trying tonight but, please don't put yourselves in danger again... I couldn't stand to lose you."

"And Spike told us where we can find someone who may know where Joyce is being kept," Riley revealed.

"But, Buffy I know where she is. Tara found her before she blacked out..." Willow said.

Buffy was shocked into silence and Riley spoke for her. "She actually found the location. Are you sure, Willow?" he asked.

"Yes, it was the last thing she said."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The house was old and detached from the rest of town by a long driveway. The gang drove up to the front of the building in two cars. Buffy Giles and Riley in one, Xander, Anya and Faith in the other. The latter two having been picked up on the way. Buffy was first out. She ran up the steps to the front door and jumped kicked it open. It swung back, broken on one hinge. She looked down the long hallway. Several doors led off it and a steep flight of stairs disappeared into darkness at the end. The others caught up with her during her pause at the entrance. "Riley and me will search down here. The rest of you try upstairs." Buffy's commands echoed eerily through the house.

"I don't think anyone's here, Buffy," said Giles.

"Let's make sure."

Giles searched each room he came to on the second floor whilst the others split up. He came to an open door leading into what was the start of a suite of rooms. He entered the first room. The door to the adjoining room was also opened. He surveyed the former and was rooted to the spot by what he saw.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tara awoke with a scream. This time it was vocal. Willow was scared out of her doze and it took several moments for her to recover. However, she hugged Tara hard as though doing so would prevent her from being dragged away by some unseen threat. "Oh, Tara. I'm so glad your back... I... I was so worried I had lost you..." she added coming to her wits.

"Willow?" Tara uttered her partner's name in a frail voice as though the scream had affected her ability to speak. "And Oz?"

"Xander called him before he left with the others. He thought I might need the company... are you ok...I'll call the doctor..."

"No, that's ok...where's Buffy?"

"She's gone to the address you mentioned last night before..."

"Willow, you must go to her. You must... she'll need you..."

"Why? What are you... oh no... Tara, don't say."

"I saw them... I was there when they." Tara broke down in tears, but regained control. "Please, Willow I'm fine. Go to Buffy," she repeated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giles stood in the doorway to the adjoining room, briefly too shocked to say or do anything else. Despite seeing worst horrors in his career, he was floored by the scene before him and, ashamedly, by the repercussions that were bound to result. Suddenly, he was dragged out of his inaction. "Buffy!" She was standing only a few feet behind him having just entered the first room with Riley. The others were already there, having followed Giles in. "Don't come in... Riley, hold her, don't let her forward"

"Giles, what's going on?" Buffy asked confused. Realisation hit her. Her face morphed into fear and horror. "Giles, what... no, please no," she said in a quiet almost controlled voice. "Let me go!" She shouted at Riley and pulled away from his grip. She ran past Giles, who still stood in the doorway. Taking no care to avoid him, she pushed him to one side. He reacted quickly, however, and grabbed Buffy's arms from behind as she caught the horror of the room. He held her, all his strength needed as Buffy screamed in anguish. A long, agonising keening sound, that would stay forever in everyone's memory, escaped her.

The draining effect of the instant grief left her too weak to release herself from Giles' hold. Realising she could not break free, she collapsed to her knees screaming and shouting, her head lifted up as though she were damning Heaven itself. Everyone else standing outside the room remained rooted to the spot.

Minutes later, with Buffy's grief reduced to sobs due to exhaustion, Willow made her way through her friends. Oz stood back. She found Buffy still kneeling with Giles' arms wrapped round her. She took one clinical look at Joyce's body and at Giles' worried glance at her. Willow knew what he was thinking; they had to get away. Too much depended on them being able to defeat the demons and their sponsors. The kidnapping had been a side issue. Willow felt bile rise at the clinical way her mind was working. She would make a fine watcher, she thought. No wonder Giles had a low opinion of himself. Willow knelt down to Buffy's level and let herself drown in her friend's tears when she hugged her. Giles stood up, relief written on his face at being able to share his burden.

Xander picked up the courage to walk into the room. "Shit," he eloquently uttered. He looked at Giles. "No holds barred now. They've crossed the line and we damn well better leap across and meet them."

Giles nodded in agreement. The resolve of Ripper wiped the years of librarian from his appearance. Xander bent down and lifted Buffy into his arms. He held her close as she held on tight. Then he left the room with Giles and Willow close behind. The others: Riley, Oz, Anya and Faith stood reverently aside as the four original members of the crusade against the darkness that invaded Sunnydale filed pass them.

Chapter Six:

Hours later they were all hold up in the ruins of Sunnydale High. Buffy went from quiet tears to short moments of crying out loud in anguish. Riley entered the broken library. He knew why they had chosen this particular room; it being the representation of a former stability in the lives of the others. The irony that the room was in ruins did not escape him either. He had been told that the world had nearly ended twice where he stood which reinforced his feelings that this was not the most appropriate pace to be. Of course, he thought to himself, both threats had been prevented, so there was a kind of logic.

He had been to Buffy's room to fetch his medical case. All the Initiative had been given one. It was about all he had left of his tour of duty in the former organisation. He loaded a syringe with a strong sedative and approached his partner. Buffy was oblivious to his presence, lost in her grief. He knelt in front of her, affording a questioning glance at Willow, who held her. She returned his look, her eyes red from sharing her friend's sorrow. He took a gentle hold of Buffy's arm. She came alive to his touch and the realistaion of his intentions.

"What're you doing?... no way!" She struggled away from Willow's embrace and Riley's hold and backed into a corner. "Giles, I don't need sedating. I don't want... you stick me with that needle," she snapped at Riley as he approached her, "and I'll break your arm." He stopped in his tracks and turned to Giles.

"Giles," Buffy continued, a look of entreaty "please. I need to be fully awake and aware. I can't do what I have to if I'm drugged up to my eyeballs."

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Giles said quietly and gestured to Riley and Xander.

Buffy looked from Giles to her friends then back again. "If you... think it's wise," she said resignedly to her Watcher as though trusting him with her life. She kept her gaze on him as Riley applied the sedative.

The formula was fast acting and it wasn't long before the combination of chemicals and fatigue allowed Buffy to relinquish hold on consciousness. The others gathered together to decide their next course of action.

"The police need to be told."

"And Buffy's father."

"We need to follow up on Spike's directions."

"We have to maintain patrols, to prevent any further massacres."

"To predict where the gang will strike again."

"I'll visit the place Spike spoke of tomorrow night," Faith offered. "Xander can come along with me," she added casting him a glance. Anya noticed and a daggered look was aimed at her.

"I'll come along as well..." said Riley.

"No," Giles interrupted. "I'll go with Faith and Xander. Buffy will need you when she has to deal with the police. You can stay with her until her father gets here." They looked at Buffy's sleeping form. "When he arrives," Giles continued, "you can start patrolling with Faith. Willow, how is Tara?"

"She's awake but... she saw it happen, Giles..."

"Then she may be able to give us some leads," Giles interrupted. Willow was momentarily offended that he shrugged off Tara's distress so quickly, but realised that they needed to know as much as possible.

"Giles," Xander spoke up. "From what Spike told Buffy and Riley, it wasn't vampires who kidnapped Buffy's mother. If they also killed her, it means a war on two fronts."

Giles had nothing to add.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giles, Faith and Xander stood spaced apart amidst the aftermath of a battle. A score of non-human forms lay in various twisted guises of death around them.

"Ok, I'm confused," Xander commented.

Faith knelt down and gripped a handful of fine powder. She let it sift through her fingers.

"Vampires?" Xander questioned.

"It would seem we are not the only ones fighting on two fronts," said Giles.

"It's damn annoying," Faith uttered and stood up. "As much as they've saved us from getting our hands dirty, we needed them alive. Shit! We're back to square one," she said kicking at one of the corpses.

"Perhaps Willy knows where the rest went," said Xander hopefully. "I mean, there must be more of them.

"I doubt that he knows anything or he would have told Riley the other night."

"That may be so," Faith added enthusiastically. "But we can get him to spread the word. The message that we're mad as hell as we're not going to take any more," she quoted.

"To force them to come out and confront us." Giles pondered her suggestion. "Yes, it might just work."

Chapter Seven:

Two days after the death of Buffy's mother her father arrived. He turned up at Giles' apartment and was led to his daughter. Buffy sat on the sofa prepared for his arrival.

"Buffy, I'm so sorry. How are you?"

"Hello, father." Buffy stood up to greet him.

He hugged her. Buffy paused briefly before wrapping her arms around him. "I'm ok. Did you have a good flight?" She asked breaking the hold.

"Yes, yes. Fine. I booked first class to avoid too much disturbance. The cab ride was a test of endurance... let's sit down." They both sat alongside each other. He took hold of Buffy's hands. "What do the police say?" he asked awkwardly, trying to think of something to spark a conversation. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other and he felt distanced from his only child.

"A kidnapping gone wrong, a homicidal maniac... they don't really know much and have less hope of catching anyone"

"I'll organise the funeral arrangements...."

"No worries. Giles has found a nice cemetery in the next town. The inquest should be done in time."

"You don't want her buried in Sunnydale?"

"No," Buffy replied with more heat than she intended. "Away from here. That way I won't have a reason to return again." She looked to the window. "This town can fend for itself when all this is over."

Hank regarded her curiously. "Is there something I should know, Buffy? Your mother said once that you had a secret that was... she didn't say what, but I got the feeling that things had changed between you. She didn't get to see you so much."

Buffy gave him a quick look at the last comment. She looked away just as quick. Guilt playing with grief. "We've all been absent the last couple of years to some extent," she said by way of a not so subtle jibe at her father, hoping but not succeeding in blocking her self reproaching thoughts.

"I'm just saying I've learnt a few things, believe it or not, in my life. If you need to confide in me or ask me some advice."

Just then, Giles walked in with a tray of tea. Buffy looked up at him affectionately. He was about to leave again when there was a knock on the door. He opened it to discover Spike standing in the doorway hugging the shade like a lover. He pushed pass Giles and threw off the heavy leather coat he had been holding over his head. He stood up straight and stretched his arms out wide. "That's better. If I had stayed bent over any longer I could have auditioned for Quasimodo in that flaming musical. Hello folks," he grinned his pure white teeth which caused his cheekbones to rise to their razor like intensity. Buffy briefly wondered how he could remain imaculate despite being dead and all.

"This is not an appropriate time," Giles offered.

"I beg to differ, I feel it very appropriate. Who's the guy in the wool suit He's not another damn Watcher is he?"

Buffy took the opportunity to stand up. "This is my father, Hank. Dad, this is... William,"

"Pleased to meet you... Hank," Spike accentuated the H. "Call me Spike."

Hank raised his eyebrows.

"Best not to ask," Giles advised.

"Why are you here?" Buffy asked.

"To offer you my help in killing the killers." This produced another questioning look from her father.

"Why?" Buffy asked again.

"As I said before, Joyce was alright. I had a lot of respect for her." There was silence. Spike looked from Giles to Buffy and Hank feeling as though he should say something more. "She made good cookies."

Buffy smiled despite the situation. "Tell me one thing though; if you didn't have that chip in your head you'd be out there with the gang that's rampaging through the town at night, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would. I'd be bloody well leading them. Don't get me wrong, slayer," Giles made a pained expression at the title. Spike saw and also noticed Hank's confused look. "Best not to ask," he directed to the latter. "Don't get me wrong... Buffy, whilst I have no love for my fellow kind, after all they're mostly ignorant Philistines, ultimately it's what I am... not the ignorant philistine bit. You ask Xander's little demon what she would most like in the world and I guarantee she'll say the return of her pendant."

"As long as we're clear... under no illusions. I accept your offer... with the same graciousness." Buffy approached Spike and held out her hand. He hesitated for a few moments, feeling awkward, before he linked his hand.

"Agreed, no illusions. If I lose the chip it's back to the bad old days."

"Mr Giles, what is all this about. I feel I've stumbled into a secret society with code and secret handshakes," Hank asked feeling increasingly out of the loop.

"It's... complicated."

Spike put his coat back over his head. "Come on then," he said simply.

"Where?" Giles asked.

"To find the killers or at least some of their friends. Sorry, didn't I say? I know their hiding place."

"Damn you , Spike. We're only five minutes into our pact and you're already pissing me off. How do we get there?"

"I bought my car."

"The banger with back windows?"

"Would you rather the Citroen?"

"Your car will do fine... sorry, Giles," Buffy glanced over at her Watcher guiltily.

Giles put on his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Hank demanded.

Buffy had forgotten he was there and was sufficiently ashamed at neglecting him. "Dad, we've got to... follow up a lead. Stay here..."

"Like hell I will and what about the police...?"

"No! I mean, they're of no use in this situation, believe me. Please stay here," she almost pleaded.

"Buffy, I'm coming like it or not. There's something going on here, and if you're not going to explain then I'm going to stick by you until you do tell me or I find out by default."

Buffy rubbed her eyes wearily whilst looking as though she were weighing up her options or the lack of them. She discarded knocking her father out and tying him up in favour of conceding his wishes.

"Ok, dad, but I want your promise here and now that you will not jump in front of me when you think I'm in danger and....don't question my actions."

"Whatever."

"Ah, folks," Spike said impatiently from the doorway. "All this family bonding is really sweet, but can we get going. It's a long run to the car and the sun has gone behind a cloud."

Chapter Eight:

They pulled up outside a farm on the edge of Sunnydale. Riley arrived shortly afterwards with Faith and Xander as passengers. Buffy had called them up on her new mobile phone during the journey. Spike had been surprised when Buffy had produced the device from her inside pocket.

"What's wrong with you?" she had asked when noticing his expression. "You never seen one before? You talk in this end and listen from the other."

"Sod off. It just doesn't seem right. I mean I can't imagine you with a stake in one hand and that in the other. What do you need it for?"

"Slaying's hungry work. It means I can order pizza when I've finished."

"You got here quick," Riley commented. "I thought we'd beat you to it."

"I phoned on the way."

"She used a mobile," Spike added.

"A slayer with a mobile. That doesn't click," Faith said. She walked up to the entrance to the farm and leant on the low wall that ran round the perimeter.

"She says she gets hungry after a kill."

"Funny, I get horny."

"And homicidal," Xander added, "If I remember rightly."

Faith walked up to him and stroked his cheek, resting a finger on his lips. "But, it's more fun that way; will she or wont she strangle me."

"Touché."

"Shall we?" Buffy butted in impatient at the banter.

They walked through the gate and up to the door of the main farm building; a large converted barn. Buffy kicked the door in unceremoniously.

"Cool," said Faith. "I've never liked the subtle approach." She walked up to Buffy and stood next to her in the doorway. "This'll be the first time we've patrolled together for a long while."

"Nostalgia, Faith. That's not like you."

"I must be getting old."

The others followed the slayers into the house. It comprised one large open room with a gallery running for most of the way round where rooms led off. They split into pairs, Hank kept close to Buffy and Riley. The search was thorough but quick; there was no sign of any life.

"Damn it, Spike," Faith uttered in annoyance, "Your informant sucks. I'm fed up with finding places empty or full of dead things. Has that chip in your head turned you soft or are you just incapable of getting information out of someone?"

"I do just fine, little girl."

"Yea, right."

"You're just sore you haven't been able to kill something today. Why don't you pop over to County Hall? I here the new Mayor's assistant is a pushover."

Faith lunged at Spike, a scream of rage coming from her. Giles stood between them. "Stop it, both of you! Faith, save your anger for when we need it most... and, Spike," he said turning to the vampire. "Your informant does suck."

"Ok, so I'll beat the crap out of him when we next meet."

There followed a brief silence. Every one congregated in the downstairs room and looked to Buffy for what she wanted to do next. She stood silent, staring into the air in front of her. Hank could not stay quiet any longer. "What were you all hoping to find here? Buffy, what are we doing raiding houses with a gang of misfits? Damn it, your mother was murdered barely hours ago..."

Buffy spun round. She grabbed her father by the throat and quickly released him when she realised what she was doing. "Do you want to know my secret, father?" She said eventually, facing him. Hank stood still, a questioning look on his face. She moved up close to him and whispered "I see dead people," she quoted.

The tension was broken by the front and back doors being flung open and two score extras walking in. Riley reacted immediately and took a misguided swing at the nearest to him. His reward was to be thrown backwards. The force of the response was such that he lifted off the ground and landed hard several feet from the group. He landed on his leg that made a sickening click on impact. He lost consciousness. The others formed together and backed up to the wall to afford a view of both entrances.

Buffy saw her lover lying motionless. Fear played across her face. Xander checked on him and gave a sign that he was fine although the leg was broken. Buffy shut her eyes for a few seconds before turning to one of the visitors who had detached himself from the gang and stood in a commanding position.

"I know you," Buffy said facing the leader. "I saw you fighting a vampire a few nights ago... did you win?"

"Yes, my dear."

"I'm glad... that someone lost, I mean. One less demon is a good thing especially if killed by another. Demons fighting amongst themselves is poetic and fun."

The leader walked over to an armchair and sat back in a relaxed pose. "I'm sorry about your friend there. It sounded like a clean break. I'm glad that you found us as I was going to suggest a meeting."

"That's very cooperative for a demon."

"That word again. Why is that Eskimos have so many ways of describing snow, but faced with something non human you stick to a one word fits all stance?"

"Convenience. It's quicker than calling you all non human freaks that deserve death on the end of a sharp object."

"And I'd heard that you were more enlightened. Such a disappointment since it looked so promising; I mean, you turn up with probably the second most notorious vampire of the modern age and have slept with the one that holds the title..."

"Does everyone know about that? Do you all sit around campfires and tell the story..."

The leader laughed. "No, I assure you. Although Angelus was free with the facts before he joined the forces for good."

"So, if you're not demons," Faith said breaking away from the others, "you must be common murderers then..."

"We were not responsible for the death of that woman...! your mother," he added quietly to Buffy. "My kind are not murderers. If you want the killers I suggest you look closer to home... in more ways than one." He looked to Spike.

"Do you deny kidnapping Mrs Summers?" Giles asked.

"No. We are not saints, Watcher. Some of my kind agreed to hold her hostage for payment. The Council pays well. But when the house was raided by the bloodsuckers they fell defending her." He stood up and approached Giles. "They would have beaten off the attackers if the Watchers with them hadn't run away like cowards!" he spat out in disgust. "The Council had her taken and then left her to die." He turned to Buffy. "If you want retribution, slayer you've got the wrong people."

Buffy looked to Spike and Giles.

"So, we go hunting elsewhere," Spike, said shrugging his shoulders.

"There were no other bodies," Giles commented.

"We removed them so we could bury them."

"Have you told the police all this?" Hank demanded. "If you know the whereabouts..."

"Do you know where we can find them?" Buffy interrupted.

"Not yet. The Foe... the vampires will turn up eventually. They have an agenda that will bring them into the open. The Watchers, however... they'll be in hiding if they know what is good for them. We'll find them, though."

"When you do, give us a call."

"It's a deal, Slayer."

"We could do with your help in fighting the... demons," she added.

"Sorry, but no deal there. We have fought each other for centuries and have always come off worse. We are in danger of extinction if we continue."

"They'll turn on you when they're finished with us."

"But, you'll take a few down with you, though wont you. Maybe even the numbers for us."

"Isn't that kind of contemptible?" Giles said, failing to hide his disgust.

"Of course it is, Watcher," the leader replied with emphasis on Giles' title. "Don't think of us as allies. We lost more people to the Initiative in the last six months than we did to vampires in the two years preceding. It is only Mankind's ignorance of our existence that makes you less of an enemy to us."

"The deal stands," Buffy said finally and turned to leave. Xander helped Riley up. He was now conscious and used him as a crutch for his useless leg.

"Farewell, Slayer. I hope we do not meet again."

Chapter Nine:

Buffy sat on one end of the long row of seating in the college common area. She watched students pass her by. Teachers would occasionally thread their way through them, attempting to negotiate their way to class before their pupils beat them to it. She looked up at the clock. Five minutes had passed since she had last looked. She returned her attention to nothing and no one, looking straight ahead. It took her several seconds to notice that Willow was standing in her line of sight. She stood a few feet away as though waiting to be called in. Buffy started as though brought out of a trance and blessed her friend with a smile. Willow took the reaction as an excuse to join her. She sat next to Buffy, but a couple of feet away.

"Hi, Willow. How's Tara?" Buffy asked.

"Fine. They've got her on a protein drip. The spell drained her energy."

"I'm glad... that's she's fine, I mean. And Oz?"

"He's cool."

"Always," Buffy smiled. She laid her head back on the chair and shut her eyes as though sunbathing beneath the large fluorescent lights.

"Are you ok?" Willow asked after some seconds.

"I'm comfortably numb," Buffy quoted in reply glancing over at her friend. "This seems awkward, don't you think?" She added.

"Like walking on eggshells, yes."

"The last year has seen so many changes to all of us," Buffy commented. "Even so, how did we come to the state where we feel awkward to be alone together? I remember that afternoon under the tree where you said you were stopping in Sunnydale as if it were yesterday. Where did it go wrong in between?"

Willow sat up and turned towards Buffy. "It's been a busy year, Buffy and it's not just us. Xander has been walking round with nothing to do like... like a person with nothing to do."

"And, Giles," Buffy added. "Poor Giles has seen his life change completely; no library, no Watcher tie."

"He even took up singing."

"I know! Did you see that one coming?" Buffy asked. The memory of seeing Giles that night, guitar in hand, still fresh.

"No," Willow laughed. "It's probably a mid life crisis thing. It'll blow over."

"Yea, but couldn't he have got a tattoo or something instead."

"Or took up parascending."

"Yea, something... less weird."

Willow edged closer to Buffy. They both passed a couple more comments about Giles' choice of hobby. "Giles and Xander are out there living real life," Willow added. "College is unreal; a limbo between school and the real world. What do you plan on doing after college... during the day that is?" She asked taking Buffy by surprise.

"After college? I'm concentrating on surviving through it. At the moment it's like a tunnel with no light at the end to see where it comes out."

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a sunny, dry day. Buffy stood by the graveside with her father alongside her. She looked over to the other side at her friends; Giles, Willow and Xander. Anya stood by her boyfriend, an expression on her face that, for once, did not show boredom or restlessness. Perhaps, Buffy thought, she had memories of other such occasions. She had probably attended countless funerals in the millennia she had lived. Riley stood awkwardly, his broken leg in plaster. Coping with physical helplessness was not his strong point. He glanced over at his lover and smiled weakly. Buffy returned the gesture. Oz and Faith were there as well. Faith seemed to be taking it quite hard. Buffy guessed she was adding her mother's death to the list of people she had gotten to know and then lost again just as quickly. Or, perhaps she mourned for the relationship she never really had with her own mother.

Angel, Wesley and Cordelia had sent wreaths and their apologies for not attending. They were apparently knee deep in problems. Angel would not elaborate, but Cordelia had let slip that his apartment and offices had been destroyed. Buffy judged it was all part of the Event that Faith had indicated was coming. The main event that was waiting for her when this sideshow had been dealt with. The tunnel just went on, she thought.

The clergyman finished his set piece, which was the cue for Buffy to throw some earth into the hole that lay before her. Hank followed afterwards. They both stood back. Buffy put her arm in her father's and looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she said simply.

"What for, dear?"

"For being mean and angry. For not phoning you for months. For..."

"Don't be silly. You've had a horrific shock and... I've been talking to Mr Giles. He has put me in the picture; he told me what has been happening the last few years."

Buffy smiled. "That must have been a long night."

"Made worse by the fact that I needed a large part of it explained twice. I just wish you had told me. I could have helped you all this time."

"It started when I was sixteen. If you'd known then you wouldn't have let me out of the house. Mum only found out by default two years ago."

There followed a brief silence as the others scattered earth over the coffin.

"Now that I know, Buffy," her father continued, "I want to play a part."

"I know."

Buffy did not object. She had tried to protect her mother from the shock waves that rippled off her life to no avail. "I have a lot of things to do before this is over. You must promise not to try and stop me or protect me, and don't put yourself at risk. I need to be free of worries for what lies ahead."

Hank looked down at his daughter. A lock of her hair fell across her eyes in the warm breeze and he gently pushed it back in a gesture that spoke his love. Buffy put her arms round her father and quietly cried for the years she could remember before she turned sixteen, for the unknown future and for the wasted years in between.

Chapter Ten:

The wake was held at what was now Buffy's house. It was a sombre affair, but there was also a note of determination in the gang: not to admit defeat or be resigned to what pessimists call fate. Buffy approached Giles, Willow and Xander who were standing apart from the others.

"Hi, Buffy," Willow acknowledged. "How are you bearing up?"

"Fine... listen, I want to say something and hear me out before you comment..."

"Of course, Buffy," Giles said. He put his plate of sandwiches down to give her his full attention. Xander and Willow leant their weight against the bookcase behind them.

Buffy shuffled her feet nervously. She looked down as though doubtful of her own determination. "I was wondering... this house is big.too big for just me. There are three bedrooms." She paused and pushed back a lock of hair on impulse. "I thought perhaps the two of you," she looked at Willow and Xander, "could move in with Tara and Anya. Xander, you could finally move out of the basement."

There followed silence. Xander and Willow looked at each other.

"Buffy, I..." Xander hesitated.

"I'd love to," Willow responded with a smile and hugged Buffy.

"Sounds cool," Xander said eventually.

"Good, then that's settled. Giles," Buffy turned to him.

"Buffy... I already have my own place..."

Her face broke into a wide smile that lit her whole face. "Oh, Giles thank you. That was priceless. No, what I was going to say is that Mum had some stocks and shares... there is a vacant shop in town and... well I was thinking on the lines of a book shop."

"Buffy..."

"Wait, hear me out. All of this will be practical and legal: Willow and Xander will pay me rent and you would be joint owner and manager of the shop and... and perhaps we could sell magic stuff," she looked at Willow. "It would be a place we could all meet up... there's a flat above the shop..." She looked at her friends.

"You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?" Giles offered.

"I was going to leave Sunnydale all together, but... well that's never going to happen. This seems the next best thing... at least until you all start doing your own things."

"Buffy, you know that if you stay I stay," Giles said. She smiled in recognition of the fact. "OK," he said finally, "It's a good offer and I accept."

Buffy hugged him and made an excuse to speak to the other guests before they left. Giles looked to Willow and Xander. "Are you both happy with the arrangement?" he asked.

"You kidding," Xander replied. "It sounds great. I finally get to move out of that damn basement and... well we need to bond again after the last year. But..."

"Go on."

"Well, it had a last will and testament feel to it."

"I agree," said Giles. "We better keep close to Buffy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy said goodbye to the last of her relations and closed the door. She leant her back against it and sighed, her eyes shut. She then opened them and took a determined deep breath. She walked into the living room where the gang, Riley, Anya, Faith and her father still sat. They turned to her as she entered. Buffy felt they were all on hold waiting for her to turn off a pause button. "That went smoothly," she said nonchalantly. "Thank you all for coming," she added eventually.

"We should be going as well," Giles offered.

"Yes," Willow added. "I want to pay Tara a visit before it gets dark."

Anya turned to Xander. "We want to go as well, don't we?" she said. Xander put on a pained expression that made Buffy stifle a laugh.

Buffy went to the front door and opened it to bid them all goodnight. She was confronted by one of the non-humans they had met earlier that week. Buffy stood motionless and struck dumb. Giles entered the hallway and saw the visitor. He looked at Buffy and decided he should speak. "Do you have a message?"

"I have a location that you may wish to visit. All has been prepared for you." He passed Giles a slip of paper with an address on it and turned and left. Buffy looked up at Giles, her expression unreadable. He returned her attention. "I'll tell the others," he offered.

Five minutes later everyone except Buffy and Riley were standing by the cars. Buffy finally emerged from the house. She kissed Riley, who ungraciously had agreed to stay behind due to his injury. She walked to the cars. "Sorry I took so long...I had to get something from my room." She looked to her Father. "Dad..."

"I'm coming with you," he read her thoughts. Buffy nodded her head in sad resignation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy drove with Giles, Faith and her father in Giles' car. They got stuck at a level crossing as the other car went ahead. She hit the dashboard in frustration as the long train trundled pass. Giles raised his eyebrows at her and she apologised sheepishly. They arrived at the ruins of Sunnydale High twenty minutes later than the others.

"We just can't seem to get away from this place," Buffy commented.

"I'll park as close to the gym as I can," Giles offered. The note had said that was where they would find the four Watchers. The verbal message that all had been prepared played on his mind.

Buffy pushed the swing doors aside and looked to her left and right as she entered what was the office of the gym teacher. Willow, Xander, Anya and Oz sat around the desk on chairs that had miraculously survived the destruction of the school. "Where are they?" she demanded.

Willow looked in the direction of the gym itself. "Stay here, father," Buffy ordered.

"Why? No, I want to see the bastards..."

"Faith," Buffy gestured to the other slayer. Faith took hold of Hank and prevented him from moving further forward.

"Buffy!" Hank looked to his daughter.

Buffy gestured impatiently to Faith to release him and turned her back on him and walked into the gym. Four men stood against the far wall, their hands tied behind them and to the fixed climbing frames that lined the room. She approached them with an almost serene expression written on her face. Xander, Faith and her father followed her in. Giles stood at the doorway. Buffy stood facing her enemy. She rubbed her eyes and massaged her temples.

"I am so tired," she said eventually. "The energy I've wasted catching up with you could have been better spent. So I do hope you are going to be cooperative."

"Go to Hell!" One of the captives spat.

Buffy pulled a revolver from out of her jeans pocket and shot him between the eyes. The others tried to edge themselves away despite being tied firmly to the frame. "Hell's come to town or had you not noticed?"

"Buffy!" Hank shouted from behind but was held back by Xander. "They must stand trial," he attempted to reason.

"They are on trial," she replied.

"But, don't you see? If you do this your mother's death will just be another unsolved murder and... remember they didn't actually do the killing."

"Irrelevant." She turned back to the remaining prisoners. "You know, seeing you here makes we so anti British. Perhaps we can sell the story to Hollywood. I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson would snap up the chance."

"We could not allow a rogue slayer to dictate to us," uttered one of the Watchers.

"Well you have two now. What is your next plan of action? Are you going to ally yourself with a Master and pay him to take us out or hold us hostage until we cooperate?"

"The last arrangement was purely financial. The outcome was unfortunate."

Buffy screamed in rage and grabbed the speaker by his hair. She yanked his head down and held her gun under his chin. "Unfortunate!" She cried.

"Buffy, please don't," her father begged from behind still held in Xander's grip. She did not respond. "How can you watch and let her do this?" he directed at Xander.

"You seem to forget that I saw the body," Xander replied.

Buffy released her hold of the watcher and stood back a couple of feet. She took several deep breaths. The others held their breaths in anticipation. The entrance of the non-human leader broke the tension. Buffy turned round. "Thank you," she said simply. "You have fulfilled our bargain. They are all yours to deal with." She walked out of the room without looking back at the prisoners.

Realisation hit the captives. "You can't leave us with them... please." But their desperation was ignored. Buffy walked without stopping until she reached the cars outside. The others followed her. Hank approached his daughter. "I'm glad you didn't go ahead with it," he said as she took his hand.

They all heard a chilling scream from the direction of the gym. Buffy smiled triumphantly. "So am I and I thought no one could hear you scream in Sunnydale."

Hank shivered at the thoughts his imagination played out. "At least it's all over," he said weakly.

Buffy looked into her father's eyes, her own eyes sad. "Oh, father. It's just begun."

Chapter Eleven:

They were walking through the third cemetery of the evening. Buffy looked up at her father. Hank had insisted on accompanying his daughter; to see that she got home safely after her nightly hunt, afraid yet fascinated by the life she had been living for the last four years. After three hours, however, he was becoming a bit jaded.

"Is it always this uneventful?" He asked failing to conceal his fatigue.

"You're keen. A couple of days ago you didn't even know about demons and now you can't wait to fight them. I'm impressed," Buffy said with a tone of humorous sarcasm. Her father gave her a withering look that only made her smile, but she thought better of playing him further. "One night out of three is the norm for activity. With potentially large numbers of vampires in town we should strike gold soon."

They continued their patrol. Hank jumped at sounds several times which made Buffy smile at first until she started to jump when he jumped. It became annoying after a while. "You haven't asked me about the other day......in the gym," Buffy ventured. Her father's reaction had played on her mind and she found it important to know what he thought.

"I've tried to forget," he said quietly.

Buffy pressed further. "It happened."

"I know, and when I think about it I feel horror and disbelief that my daughter could cold bloodily kill someone... someone mortal." he trailed off. Buffy looked at her feet, afraid to look her father in the eye. "But," he continued, "When I heard that scream... when I heard that scream I wanted so much to watch, perhaps even to assist in the torture."

Buffy gaped at him, at the compassion for the world her father had lost that day. "Welcome to my life."

"You've been doing this thing for four years, Buffy. How do you stay sane? How do you look at the world in the light of day?"

"Through rose coloured glasses," she replied. "I see the friends I have and know that I am not alone. I greet the sunrise every morning as though it is the first one I have ever seen and savour it as though it is the last one there will ever be. I love with the same intensity..." She murmured.

"Why don't you just stop? Let someone else do the slaying. Let someone else save the world."

"Did Giles not tell you? There can only be one slayer, father. When one dies a new one takes her place."

Hank stepped back in shock at the revelation. He searched in his mind for something to grasp hold of. "What about Faith?" He asked eventually, a look of hope on his face. "She's a slayer as well. That makes two."

Buffy shrugged. "Sometimes there are exceptions. Sort of I before E except after C," she disclosed weakly. Hank forehead bunched in puzzlement. "Faith replaced another slayer... Kendra, who was killed two years ago."

Hank seemed satisfied by the explanation until the obvious came to mind. "But, how did Kendra come about? Who died for her?"

"Me," Buffy answered simply. Before he could react she pushed him to one side. "Keep back!" she ordered. In the same moment she rammed into the approaching vampire sending the demon toppling backwards. It lost it's footing and fell on its back. Buffy drove her stake through its rib cage, which offered no protection. She withdrew the weapon with a flick of her wrist and stood up quickly to avoid getting dust in her eyes. With the quick reaction that was part instinct and part experience she spun round and high kicked a second demon in the face. This sent him several feet back allowing her to deal with a third who had been able to get right up to her. She drove her stake into to it where he stood. The second demon made to return but was thrown back by the force of a crossbow bolt that rammed itself into his chest. It turned to dust not truly knowing what had hit him. Buffy turned round to face her father who stood holding the crossbow. The whole fight that had just occurred transfixed him. Barely two minutes had elapsed from start to finish.

"Are you ok?" Buffy asked worriedly.

Hank came out of his trance and contemplated his daughter. "I... yes. Yes, I'm fine... I think," he smiled weakly.

Buffy put her arm through his. "Come on, let's go home."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander reached the top of the steps that lead to the monument of some long forgotten Sunnydale hero. He was out of breath. Faith stood waiting for him, a smile written mockingly on her face. "You're breathing hard," she cruelly observed.

"It helps me stay conscious," Xander countered.

Faith's grin widened. She turned towards the inscription on the plinth of the monument. "So, who was Jeremiah Wadsworth then?"

"No idea. He probably did something brave and courageous."

"Well, he died for his troubles, it looks like. Jeremiah Wadsworth fearlessly faced his death. His courage is a lesson to us all," she read from the engraving. "Fat lot of good it did him. Stuck on a hill no one climbs and remembered by no-one."

"Courage is the acceptance of fear and dealing with it with intelligence," Xander quoted. "I read that somewhere."

"There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity and he crossed it."

"Why, Faith. You inspire me. I take it you don't want a statue erected when you die."

"I plan to live forever. If Death comes knocking I'll show her a such a good time she wont want to see me go."

"Death is a she?"

"Of course. A Goth chick with an ankh hanging from a chain round her neck. You've not read the comic I take it. There!" Faith pointed suddenly to a group loitering at the base of the hill.

Xander followed her line of sight and saw five badly dressed figures standing by a copse of trees.

"We would have missed them if we weren't up here," Faith said. "See, there's always method in my madness. What do you want to do, charge or walk casually down and beat the dust out of them?"

"I think I prefer the subtle approach," Xander replied.

"Yeah, so do I. If we charge they may get scared and scatter."

Xander rethought his choice. "Perhaps a charge would be better after all."

"Why, Xander, what's up, nervous?"

"Yes. But that's only because I'm scared."

"And I had you pegged for the heroic type," Faith teased as she begun to descend.

"Me? No. I'm so misunderstood."

"What, like Dr Pepper?"

"Yeah, him and me both. Besides, I don't fancy being a statue on top of a hill forgotten by everyone except pigeons."

They both got within ten metres of the figures at the base of the hill and Faith charged them, a stake in each hand. The vampires all turned round at her battle cry. Three were shocked to see the other two of their comrades disintegrate into the night breeze on the out stretched arms of the slayer. Faith broke her charge by sliding in the grass made damp by the night dew. A third demon ran into one of her stakes as she turned to meet his onslaught. The remaining two circled their foe, taking more care than their friends. One tried to lunge but jumped back when Faith countered with a thrust of her arm. Like a gladiator fending off two opponents the jousting went on for several moments; lunge and counter thrust until Faith picked an opening and high kicked in a ballet movement that caused one assailant to lift off the ground and land on its back. Xander took the opportunity to pounce on him and drive a his stake home. Faith toyed with the last remaining demon; kicking with one leg then the other then the first again until the vampire was dazed and teetering on his feet. She walked up to him and drove her fist into his face. He fell on his back half unconscious. Faith sat on top of him. She rested her stake on his shirt above his heart. With the flat of her hand she nailed the point through fabric and flesh. The vampire exploded whilst she watched.

Faith jumped up and flung her arms out wide. "Yes!" She shouted and spun round. "Yes! That felt so good." She faced Xander. "I'm so psyched. B doesn't get it. She would get so much more out of slaying if she let herself go! Don't you feel it?" She addressed Xander.

He looked enigmatically at her.

"What?" She asked.

"It's great to see someone enjoy her work so much," he explained.

"Relish life, Xander. Grab it by the throat and......" She grabbed Xander and kissed him. A long passionate kiss. He still felt her contact for seconds after she broke off. "Mmmm, minty fresh," she said.

Xander blushed a wonderful shade of red. "Let's go back," he suggested finally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One more dark coloured Rover pulled up outside the house. The passenger pushed the door open with force, not waiting for his chauffeur to assist. He strode up the pathway to the ornate oak door and into the hallway. The butler had just enough time to avoid being pushed to one side. The newcomer threw his cost into the servant's arms. "Are the others all here?" He demanded to know.

"Yes sir. They have been assembled for the last twenty minutes."

"Fine. Don't bother to announce me. Shut the door behind me and do not disturb us until one of us ring for you." He entered the wood panelled dining room and closed the door unceremoniously. He afforded one glance at the carving on the ceiling before taking his place at the table with his colleagues.

"Welcome, Nigel. The Council is now in session. What do you have to report?"

"The worse: our operatives were correct. Three Watchers were slaughtered by devil spawn two days ago."

"What of the fourth?"

"Shot. Executed no less."

The attendees expressed their dismay and anger at the revelation.

"Friends!" the member at the head of the table called a halt to the behaviour of his fellow Watchers. "It is clear that we are in an unacceptable position: two rogue slayers and a traitor from our own ranks and the Event getting closer. If we are to stand any chance of being able to control future events it is clear we must rid ourselves of this nuisance. We must cleanse our own house."

"A new slayer must be called; one of the younger candidates in waiting as opposed to one of the older girls that have picked up rebellious habits waiting for the current slayers to die. We do not want to replace one uncontrollable element with another."

"That was the mistake we made when we sent Faith to replace the Summers girl."

"How do we rid ourselves of the two slayers?"

"Send an assassin."

"No. Other parties have tried that before. No, I think we should use the weapons at hand. I understand that there is a large collection of demons in Sunnydale at the moment."

"The leftovers of the Initiative, yes."

"What say we secretly supply them with a weapon that will tip the scales further in their favour."

"Ally ourselves with demons!"

"No. Consider it more of a sale of arms by a neutral party. A business transaction. Hopefully both antagonists will destroy each other leaving us to reap the benefits of both their demises."

"I don't like it," said one dissenting voice. His colleagues out voted him and the motion was approved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander walked Faith to her motel room. She had come down from her adrenaline high and they had ambled silently through the streets of the town until they reached their destination by the beach. Faith opened her door and turned to face her companion.

"What would you say if I asked you to stay the night?" she challenged, fixing him a look that was curiously unreadable.

"I'd say you were feeling horny after a fight," Xander replied.

Faith's expression changed. "Goodnight, Xander," she uttered and closed the door behind her.

Xander stood confused. "Faith?" He said. "Faith, what was that all about? Faith!" He persisted.

She opened the door. "What?" She asked impatiently.

"You were serious?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"I... Anya will be waiting for me," he offered as an excuse.

"You have feelings for your little demon... beyond the sex, I mean?"

"The sex is good, I admit. Not to mention often... and varied." Faith gave him a scornful look. "But, it's more than that," he continued. "She is so open. Every thing is new to her and she gives herself completely because she has nothing to compare..." he trailed off unable to put into words what he felt.

"You're a hopeless romantic, Xander."

"Yea, I know. A white knight."

"Mmmm, yes. The title fits you well. Goodnight, Xander." She went to close the door. Xander held it with his hand.

"I could stay the night... if you wanted some company. We could watch a movie..."

"Go home, Xander," she smiled affectionately. "Your little demon will be waiting by the window."

Xander let her close the door this time and started on his walk home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bus was stationary by the side of the road. Its rear wheels rested on the tarmac whilst the front lay on the rough gravel that lay alongside. The steep incline caused the body of the driver to drape over the steering wheel and the front passenger to fall down the steps as the door opened and shut and opened and shut repeatedly. Fortunately it had not been a full bus, only a dozen or so passengers had been travelling that late at night when the driver had stopped to take on a small group standing by the edge of the road. Apart from the aforementioned person lying by the door, all the passengers obediently remained in their seats as though nothing had happened; hideous poses of death as though immortalised on film.

Chapter Twelve:

Buffy sat down on Giles' sofa. Her guide entered the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. She smiled at him; Giles' priorities were wonderful.

"So," he said by way of staring a conversation as he placed the tray on the coffee table. Buffy wondered whether he secretly called it a tea table instead. "What is it you want to talk about?" He looked at her suspiciously. "You don't want to buy me a car, do you?"

Buffy was caught off guard by the question. "Why would I want to buy you a car?"

"Well, you bought me the shop and you've always hated my car."

"I don't hate it. It's a nice car in a slow fuel inefficient way." She giggled.

"There's an auto dealership just off Main Street."

"I'm not buying you a car!" She suddenly went serious. "Giles, the shop... I didn't mean to offend."

Giles held up his hands. "No offence, Buffy. It's a wonderful offer and a practical one, I might add; I need a secure place for my research."

"I thought so, which leads me to why I came here tonight, besides resting from fighting."

"Did you find many?" Giles enquired.

"Yes and no. More than usual but not as many as their should be considering the attacks and the destruction of the Initiative," she added as clarification.

Giles nodded sagely. "What was the other reason for you coming?"

"Oh, yes." Buffy looked down at her hands. Giles offered her a cup of tea. She smiled thank you. "The last year... before Mum... I made some mistakes, forgot my friends." She looked up at Giles. "I didn't follow your advice or ask for it even. I... I want to start over. I want you to be my Watcher again. I desperately need your advice to support me."

"But there's so much of last years that you haven't used yet," Giles teased to lighten the moment. Buffy glared at him although it merged into a smile. "I would be honoured to be your Watcher. In truth, I have wanted to step in several times, but since you broke the link with the Council over Angel and then went to college... well I thought I'd better take a back seat... let you find your feet..."

"Yea, well I did that alright. Then tripped up. Right now, with all that has happened in the last year I feel so unsure of what is going to occur next. My dreams need a code breaker to decipher. Sometimes wish I could jump to your age to gain the wisdom and self assurance it brings."

Giles smiled at her wish. "When I was your age I was just as confused and doubtful of myself and my role in life. I think it was my mid twenties that I was most confident. Of course, by then I was also reckless and irresponsible. Now... well I'm just as confused and perpleaxed as I was as a teenager. You'll find that the period when you are most confident is just a short break in adolescence."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faith sat at a table in a corner of Willy's Alibi Room. The place was dimly lit. Had it been anywhere else she would probably have gone unnoticed, such was the lack of light. However, in this place everyone noticed a Slayer when she walked in.

She stared into a glass of beer. At least she thought it was beer; it had a brownish colour that swallowed any light that hit its surface and had the pungent odour of a brewery. She dreaded the state Willy's cellar. The plate beside the glass contained a doorstop masquerading as a piece of bread. It was balanced on the side of the plate, which contained a stew that competed with the beer for colour and texture. Faith felt Willy had read too many fantasy novels; this place was becoming a cliché of an inn from something out of Feist or Eddings. But, she felt better here than in her motel room. The latter reminded her too much of the cell she had resided in at the LAPD's pleasure. Besides, this was the only place in Sunnydale that would serve her alcohol. "This town has such a twisted sense of priorities," she whispered to herself.

"Why, it's the black sheep of the family," came a voice to her left. Spike stood in the doorway. He saw that groups or pairs occupied most of the other tables. Conversation was mostly muted; no one revelled in his or her surroundings.

"And it's the Eunuch," Faith rebounded.

"What's up, can't find anyone to kill?"

"No. Until now that is."

Spike showed his teeth in what was meant as a smile but which caused a couple of demons on the nearby table to move mistaking it for a threat. "We could spit at each all night," he said, "or I could buy you a drink."

"I'll have a Jack Daniels."

"With beer. You don't want to mix drinks at your age."

"I was contemplating dipping my bread in the beer since it probably has more flavour than the stew."

Spike laughed genuinely and approached the bar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow sat by Tara's bedside holding her hand. Her partner was sleeping. Willow watched as she drew in a breath and then released it again. The regularity of the act was hypnotic and her head slowly drooped forward and then snapped back up when she caught herself drifting off. In the brief moment when sleep had claimed her she caught a vision of a temple: marbled walls surrounding a small courtyard with a fountain in its centre. The memory of it went misty as all dreams invariably do.

"Hello." Willow said quietly to Oz as she spied him in the corridor.

He stood in the doorway as though hesitant to enter the hospital room.

"You have to be going," Willow said simply.

"I have to be..." he smiled.

"Thanks for coming. I did appreciate it... I mean, it was really good to see you again. In fact, must you go so soon?"

"I can't control myself when I'm near you," he answered.

"That's sort of a good/bad thing, depending on what side you look."

"It's a full moon tomorrow."

"I'm still seeing good/bad."

Oz held his hand up in a gesture of goodbye and Willow reciprocated with a sad smile. She held the expression until Oz was gone. It occurred to her suddenly that, with him gone and Riley and Tara incapacitated, their army was getting smaller. Tara gripped Willow's hand as she woke up. "Don't worry," she soothed. Willow looked round questioningly. "I mean, don't look so worried. It might not happen... whatever you were worrying about, that is."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A circle of glasses lay on the table in front of them. Faith rested her chin on her hands. She studied Spike curiously. "Just how old are you?" she asked finally.

Her drinking partner looked in her direction. His eyes looked as heavy as his mood; his head ached with alcohol and cigarette smoke. "None of your business, little girl. Hey!" he shouted at Willy, "two more drinks over here."

"It must be weird to live forever," Faith uttered.

"Weird? It's bloody boring!" Faith raised her eyebrows inquisitively. "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!" He quoted. "Willy!"

Willy brought over two more Jack Daniels. "Hi, Willy great place you've got here," Faith teased. "Three words of advice, though" she gestured him closer and whispered in his ear, "All Bar One."

Spike laughed out loud. "Good one, slayer," he shouted raucously and then held his head in deep regret at the outburst. "Damn you girl. Whose idea was it to get drunk?"

"What's up, William, can't you hold your liquor?"

"Sod off and don't call me William. It's Spike," he said proudly.

"Spike's a cartoon dog. William's far more noble."

"Bollocks to noble. I earned that name. It's short and to the point," he burst out laughing at the unintentional pun which caused him to cradle his head again. He sat up. "I've known demons with names so long that I've fallen asleep half way through pronouncing them. Spike is a fine name feared by demons across three continents. I'm bloody well king of the World, I am."

"Wow, you're chock-full of humility tonight."

"Yea and damn proud of it too. Anyway," he countered, "What about Faith? I can't think of a more inappropriate name for you, Miss turncoat." Faith looked away. "Awww what's up? Did I hurt the li'l Slayer's feelings?" Spike taunted.

"Fuck off"

He laughed again. This time his headache not bothering him. "You slayers think you are so tough with your bits of wood and religious icons. You'd exterminate a whole species if you could. Yet you're so easily offended it makes me want to..."he tailed off. "What are you doing here, Faith? You should be having sweaty sex in a dark room somewhere. What about Xander? He looks like he could do with some physical and I hear you've already tumbled before."

"Fuck off," Faith spat again, through clenched teeth.

Spike was highly amused when he realised. "Unless... oh that's superb. He turned you down, didn't he? So you can't be as good as you think..."

"Oh, William," Faith leaned close and kissed Spike passionately, "I'm always good. Even when I'm bad, I'm good." She stood up and walked passed him leaving him alone in the bar and suitably speechless.

Spike sighed melodramatically. "Well, what are we going to do tonight, Marty? I don't know," he quoted to himself.

Willy sidled up to the blond vampire. "Are you still playing for the other side?" He asked standing alongside him as Faith disappeared from view.

"If there's any fun to be had in it. Why?"

"I heard some careless talk this evening. Seems that our local group of demons have found themselves a new nest." He paused. Spike looked at him dangerously. "A nest of the cuckoo variety," he added.

"Enough of the bloody cryptic... oh, I see. Are we talking a large nest recently abandoned?" Spike stood up and then contemplated his next action. "What the hell, this could be fun." He left the bar following in the same direction Faith went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy was last to arrive at Giles' apartment. She entered his living room to find Faith, Willow Giles and her father sitting down. Xander emerged from the kitchen with refreshments. He was garbed in khaki combat gear. Stakes were placed in convenient pockets of his sleeveless jacket. Buffy stifled a smirk. She joined the others. "Is it true?"

"Well, the news came from Spike who got it from Willy who heard a rumour..." Willow spoke up.

"Pinch of salt anyone?" Xander asked humourlessly from the kitchen doorway.

"Spike said for us to meet him by the cave that leads to 314." Willow added.

"What time?" Buffy asked.

"Tonight, 2am."

Buffy nodded her understanding and took a chocolate muffin from the tray Xander was holding. "Haven't you got any blueberry ones, Giles?"

"I'm English, Buffy. I could get my specials out."

"Oh, please God not the dried biscuits." Xander uttered dramatically.

Giles looked at him dangerously. "Nice costume, Xander. Didn't anyone tell you Tina Turner stopped playing the Thunderdome ages ago?"

Faith and Willow cracked up into tears of laughter. Xander looked to Buffy in desperation. "Don't come to me for help," she admonished, her hands held in front of her. "Giles is at his most dangerous when he's making cultural references."

She and Xander sat down in front of the others. "So," Buffy said eventually, "am I the only one who's surprised that the Initiative has ound new tenants?"

"I thought they had closed it down," Hank spoke up for the first time. "Riley said the Government had given up on the idea of controlling the demon population."

"The army have gone but their base still exists," said Giles. "It's too large a hole in the ground to fill with concrete without everyone noticing the lorries. The entrances would have been sealed, though."

"Except the one from the cave. They didn't know about that or 314," Buffy added.

"Everyone should get some rest. We have a few hours to go yet." Giles suggested as he rose from his seat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faith found Buffy standing by the window peering at the deserted street outside. She caught Faith's reflection and pivoted round.

"Do you think there's a chance there's a telepathic link between slayers?" Faith asked.

"I hope not. Why do you ask?"

"I was just thinking that if I'm going follow you when you slip out unnoticed it would be handy if I knew when you were thinking of doing it." Faith smiled.

Buffy looked at her sister slayer and grinned in return. She faced Faith sadly. "They'll get themselves killed if they joined us," she said.

"And we'll probably be safer without them to worry about."

"I'm convinced."

Chapter Thirteen:

Spike approached the vicinity of the cave but stopped short. "Sod that for a laugh," he said to himself and turned back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two slayers spent twenty minutes waiting and watching for Spike.

"Can't say I'm surprised or disappointed, for that matter," Faith said.

They were both jerked out of their thoughts of a certain blond vampire by a large band of replacements entering the clearing in front of the cave. Several charged without the usual smart remarks that were the norm before a fight. Buffy and Faith killed two with bolts from their crossbows. It did nothing to halt the charge of those not affected. The slayers braced themselves in fighting poses and kicked out when their foe reached within distance. Like hitting a solid object at full speed four attackers rebounded backwards and landed on the ground several feet away. Buffy lunged with a stake at another and dodged to her right to avoid the dust in time to high kick one more. Faith chose to use her fists and broke the jaw of a vampire closest to her. She staked him as he tried to refocus his vision after the blow. She then staked another with a backward gesture of her arm when he tried to sneak up from behind.

The four who had been thrown back at the beginning recovered and charged again. This time others from behind joined them to replace those fallen. The slayers found themselves having to kick one demon out of the fight zone for every one they were able to dust. Faith defended with a stake in each hand: stabbing with the left and slashing with the right. The latter to inflict wounds to make the former easier. Buffy relied on her high kicks more as she was not so adept at close quarter fighting with more than two opponents. By kicking one out of play she could quickly cope with one up close before the former returned to fight. After several minutes they realised they were in danger of losing, and picking a brief break in the charge, they fled into the cave.

They rounded a few corners in the near darkness of the labyrinth. The odd light bulb showed evidence that power was still being supplied to the cave system and thus the Initiative ahead. They stopped to regain their breath.

"Rule two," Buffy said between short bursts of breathing, "don't run into a dark cave from your enemy when you know there are more of them ahead of you."

"I'll follow you anywhere, B," Faith said with a smile. "Mind you, only out of curiosity."

They heard voices from the direction they had come. They did not seem in any hurry to catch the slayers knowing as they did that there was only one direction they could take: further into the Initiative. Buffy and Faith resumed their advance.

"By the way, what's rule one?" Faith asked a few minutes later.

"Oh... don't march on Moscow in the autumn, I think."

They reached the rear entrance to room 314. Buffy recognised the place and the destruction she had reaped on it from her last visit. Faith was suitably impressed with both. They picked their way over upturned gurneys and medical equipment and entered the hallway. Buffy contemplated which way to turn, but had the choice decided for her as several vampires set on them. They also heard the voices of those they had just run from.

"Hold this bunch off, Faith, while I try and block this door. It'll give us some time," Buffy instructed.

Faith charged into the latest group of assailants, her arms out wide, and a stake in each hand. One weapon found it's desired home in the heart of its victim. The other wounded in a shoulder. Because the latter did not turn the demon into dust Faith had to waste precious moments extricating the wood from flesh. The intended victim, ignoring his pain, took advantage of the situation by landing a fist to Faith's ribs. She stumbled to the side: shock and pain registering. She quickly recovered by high kicking the demon in the same shoulder. He grabbed the blood stained wound in agony. This allowed Faith time to charge into him. She pushed him to the wall, her left arm rammed under his chin and she drove a stake into his heart with rage brought on by the pain she felt in her ribcage. He disintegrated before her. She turned round and let out a battle cry, half triumph and half daring anyone to take her on. Although shocked by the ferocity of the young woman before them, the others made to charge her. Buffy grabbed her arm. Faith swung round with the aim to hit out but noticed her at the last moment. "Faith, we've got to run again. There's too many here and that door wont hold off those behind us."

With the adrenaline of the last kill still pumping its way round her body Faith took a moment to focus on what Buffy was saying, but soon recovered enough to follow the blond Chosen One as she started to retreat down the corridor to the main part of the Initiative.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hank had calmed down after twenty minutes of rage spaced between moments of despair. Willow sat next to him as he stared into nothingness. He looked round and up at Giles who stood behind the sofa, leaning his weight on the dining table. "We must go after them," Hank said for the fifth time.

"They've been gone too long. Besides, they were right to go alone."

"What, just the two of them! Despite their strength, they're still two teenagers."

"Yes, but with us tagging along they would lose whatever advantage their powers give. No, we can only wait." Giles hated this part. Being a Watcher almost always meant being a waiter as well.

"Can't we go and cover their retreat or..." Xander tailed off.

"I know what we can do. Something more tangible," Willow stood up and faced the others. Giles looked at her questioningly. "We could do the enjoining spell again. Summon the first slayer again."

Giles looked doubtful. "I don't know. We nearly lost ourselves afterwards."

"I'm prepared to take the risk," Xander spoke up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm beat," Faith said letting out an exhausted sigh as she sat down behind a stack of large packing crates. She and Buffy had fought a retreating battle into the cavern of the former Initiative complex. Her ribs still hurt and it gave her no satisfaction to see that Buffy was bruised as well.

"Yea, tell me about it," Buffy commiserated. "Of course, you know we've been led to this point."

"Herded you mean." Faith afforded a glance round their barricade. She quickly resumed her position.

"Well?" Buffy asked.

Faith glanced in her direction, a sick smile on her face. "Did you ever see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?"

"Yea, of course... oh, that bad?" she stated more than asked.

"Take a look for yourself."

Buffy could imagine the scene but morbid fascination made her look anyway.

"Still, I've always been curious what the undiscovered country was like," Faith uttered from behind.

Buffy turned back round puzzled. "What, the crap Star Trek film?"

Faith gave her a disgusted look. "You really are a culture vacuum aren't you?"

"Hey!" Buffy said indignantly. "If we get out of this alive you can... tell me what you meant just then," she smiled.

They both sat with their backs to the crates and savoured the minutes of rest their concealment allowed them.

"We might be able fight our way out. Assuming they don't have automatic weapons, that is." Buffy said with feigned confidence. Faith gave her a sarcastic look. "Come on," Buffy persisted, "do you really want to live forever?" she smiled.

Faith sighed and moved forward to a crouching position by the edge of the crates. She turned round to Buffy, a serious expression on her face. "I'm sorry, you know?"

"For what?"

"For Angel and the whole episode with the Mayor."

"Episode she calls it... I'm sorry as well... for the six inch blade to the stomach, I mean."

They both shook hands.

"Wow, that was a bit deep," said Faith.

"We could hug."

"Let's not... besides, it was more nine inches"

They both stood up and charged into the arena. Stakes in both hands they lashed out causing bloody gashes to the body and face of anyone who came close. For the first couple of minutes they fought side by side until their twisting high kicks caused them to widen the gap. Faith picked up some fallen masonry and threw it over her head into a charging demon. It crushed his ribs and sent him falling back on to a colleague behind. Buffy picked up a four-foot long metal pole and used it as a staff. With the space provided by the underground base it looked as though the slayers might just have a chance.

One vampire broke away from the fight. Buffy observed him light a homemade torch of clothe and paper. He held it up to a sprinkler valve and grinned in triumph as the heat and flame set of the sprinklers all around them. It did not take long for everyone to become soaked.

"What the hell did he do that for?" Buffy shouted above the hiss of the spray and during a lull in the fighting.

"Who knows," Faith responded. "Perhaps they're perverts and like to see girls fight in wet t-shirts. Ugh!" She spat. "I just swallowed some."

The demons resumed their attack. The slayers fought on through a cloud of water and dust. They were slowly getting closer to the exit, but at the same time felt their strength begin to wane. Faith received a kick to her kneecap and doubled over in agony and shock. She balanced her weight on her other leg and lashed out with her fists only to receive a blow to her ribcage. "Buffy! Something's wrong... I can't seem..." She was flung to the ground.

Buffy was experiencing her own problems: her attacks were not gaining the desired effect and she was receiving too many painful blows in return. A sick realisation came to her. "It's the water. Faith!" She yelled at her friend who was getting up off the ground. "They've laced the water!"

"With what?"

"Probably the same stuff they inject us for our 18th birthday present... only in concentrated form."

Faith looked at her confused. "The Cruciamentum? I never went through that. Although I read it in the manual..."

"You had a copy as well!" Buffy was briefly indignant but went pale. "Damn them!" She screamed cryptically. "The Council must have supplied them with the stuff," she explained when Faith showed she did not understand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What about Faith?" Willow asked.

"We must hope she gains some protection by being close to Buffy," Giles responded.

"Powers of the Slayer" Giles, Willow and Xander recited, "and all who wield it. Last ancient we invoke thee. The first of the ones....."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy saw Faith fall backwards down a flight of metal stairs. She afforded one look and saw that she lay motionless in a twisted form at the base, blood leaking from a wound to her head. She turned round and faced the horde before her. There were too many for her alone to tackle. She realised there were probably too many even if Faith was standing alongside her. She frowned resentfully. "This sucks big time." She walked forward, however and made to charge the front rank. Suddenly she stiffened: power infused her. The force of it threw her backwards. She only just missed the gap in the railings that Faith had had been thrown through. When her eyes glowed and her limbs felt charged with electricity she realised what was happening and laughed out in triumph and resumed her charge.

Buffy ploughed a swathe through the demons. Each one she struck was sent flying several feet up and backwards to land in bone crunching form on the ground. She grabbed one by its neck and with one hand twisted it until it broke in her grip. Instead of heading for the exit she opted to remain and retrieving one of her lost stakes, she caused dust to fly. It hovered in the air electrically charged before settling on the nearest surface.

Buffy swung round and caught her reflection in what had been a two-way mirror. Curiosity caused her to pause and look at herself possessed with the power of past slayers. Then her image changed to the girl she had dreamt of the night after the defeat of the Initiative. The savage looking First Slayer stared back at her. "No," the girl mouthed to Buffy. "We fight alone!"

The image changed and Buffy once again saw her own reflection mimicking her. She turned towards her adversaries and made to resume her attack but realised that the former power was seeping from her bones. She smiled sadly. "If you are still there," she said out loud to her unseen friends sitting back at Giles' apartment. "If the bond is still there, know that I love you all. I always have." She smiled dangerously at the approaching demons and charged them. However, force of numbers and the loss of her slayer strength caused her to be taken down after a few seconds. She did not notice the horde of non-humans that joined the fight from behind.

Chapter Fourteen:

"So, one slayer is dead and the other incapacitated. Things went better than expected."

The Council was in session having been told of the events across the Atlantic.

"We can check to see which protégé is called now and ready ourselves for the event ahead, sure in the knowledge that we will control events."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faith looked round the temple of the Oracles. She knew they were dead: Angel had told her. The place had a tarnished, neglected look to it: weeds intruded through cracks in the marble, and a bed of green algae floated on the surface of the water that gathered in the bowl of the fountain. The latter rippled like one entity as water dripped from the fountainhead above it.

Faith lingered there, however. She knew she was there for a reason. In reality she lay unconscious on a hospital bed. The army of non-humans, that had finally decided to join the fight, had discovered her still form at the base of the stairway. After beating off the vampires they had taken her to the hospital. On the way Faith had briefly regained consciousness. During that time she had asked after Buffy and had been told that she had died bravely. Faith had screamed out in anguish at her newfound friend's fate. In her last moments of lucidity she cried out to whatever powers that existed for some alternative.

That was why she was here, she felt sure: that final entreaty had brought her to the only place she knew where wishes had a chance of coming true.

"You know that the Oracles are dead, don't you?"

Faith turned round to where the voice originated. The only visible reaction she showed was the raising of her eyebrows questioning. "I suppose I should be shocked to find you here," she said to the person in front of her. "But, then I always thought you too good to be true."

"The point of relevance is what are you doing here," queried the new arrival.

"You already know why."

"But, still I must hear it from your lips," the other persisted.

"Buffy must live," Faith stated simply.

"I know that already."

"Buffy must survive. If it means I take her place then so be it."

"OK. That's acceptable." The visitor turned and disappeared.

"Wait!" Faith shouted into the space before her. The apparition reappeared. "What do I do now?" She asked.

The other shrugged her shoulders. "Wake up, I suppose. Although you really should get some more sleep."

Faith looked down at her feet. "I thought..."

"Death?" She smiled at the young woman. "Why are teenagers so melodramatic? No, that's not necessary. After all, Buffy was in no danger of dying; she's too vital for what is to come."

"Then what bargain have I just struck?" Faith asked confused.

"I've no idea... yet. Time will probably reveal that eventually. The importance for now is that you were willing to make the bargain.

"Tara?"

"Yes, dear."

"Who are you?"

Tara beamed widely and disappeared again.

In a hospital miles to the south Faith woke up. She stared at the ceiling. After moments of contemplation, she smiled then laughed. Tears followed at the realisation that she was truly happy for the first time. She grabbed hold of the emotion and swore to anyone who happened to be listening that she would never surrender it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the morgue, situated in the basement of the same hospital, Buffy's eyes opened.

Putting Right (As Nature Intended)