Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.
Summary: This story follows on from 'Out Of The Darkness' so I'd encourage you to read that before reading this fic. Set two years post NFA, Buffy is a woman on a mission but when that mission forces her back to California and back to the crater formally known as Sunnydale can she face her fears and get the job done?
N/A: Please review :)
CHAPTER ONE
Buffy sank into a hot bath surrounded by bubbles. She sighed contently as her muscles eased and relaxed. She closed her eyes for a moment before a loud knock on the bathroom door jolted her from her steamy retreat.
"Buffy" Dawn called through the door
She sighed heavily "Yeah"
"I didn't wanna disturb you but you've got a call" Dawn said anxiously
"I'll call them back later" she told her sister sinking back into the bubbles
"It's Andrew" Dawn called again
"Damn it, what is it with that geek and his timing" she mumbled getting out of the bath and opening the door.
She quickly grabbed the cordless phone from Dawn's clutches and put it to her ear.
"Ah número uno" he greeted
"Andrew you better have a damn good reason for calling me" she scolded "You interrupted my 'me' time" she whimpered
"I'm sorry" he apologised quickly "I have some news from across the pond I think you might be interested in"
"Go on" she said curiously.
For the past two years, Andrew had been working on a project for Buffy. They'd received news that Angel and his crew had tried to take down the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart from the inside, causing a hell on earth situation. When Buffy and Faith arrived with a group of Slayers, there was no trace of Angel or his friends in LA.
Andrew then proceeded to tell Buffy that he had found out a few weeks before the big battle that Spike was undead and kicking ass with Angel. There was some reference to Gandalf the White, which Buffy didn't really understand or wanted to the only thing that sunk in was that Spike wasn't dust.
Buffy was worried for her two former vampire lovers and asked Andrew to get on the case and try to find them. At first Andrew was apprehensive but soon got into detective mode and began his search. Although it had been two years Andrew never gave up hope of finding, saying that champions like them would never die. Buffy too held on to the hope that one day they may surface.
"I've found a guy Connor Reilly possible links to Angel" Andrew said trying to sound professional
"Angel's son?" She asked
"Could be, from what we can gather it seems like a firm lead"
"Okay where?" She asked
"Stanford"
"Connecticut?" She asked
"No Stan-ford, California" he corrected
"Okay I'll leave as soon as possible" she said
"I'll book your flights" he said hanging up
Dawn looked at Buffy puzzled "What's going on?"
"I have to leave. There's uh something going down in Stanford" she told her
"Connecticut?" She asked making her older sisters mistake
"California" Buffy shrugged
"But you said you won't go back to Cali for all the tea in England!" Dawn reminded her
"It's tea in china... And I have to" Buffy said pushing past her heading to her bedroom
"Well it would make more sense if it was England you know how those Brits love their tea" said Dawn getting sidetracked Buffy signalled for her sister to turn her back whilst she got dressed
"... But what's so important? And why whenever Andrew calls do you jump to go somewhere and when you come back you're... You're sad and mopey?" She asked turning back round being sure her sister was done dressing.
"It's nothing Dawn" Buffy said getting a dufflebag from her closet and filling it with clothing
"No it's something... What's going on Buffy?" Dawn pleaded her to tell all.
Buffy sighed and stopped filling her bag with items, she took Dawn by the hands and they sat on her bed "Look Dawn, you know that Angel and Spike and the rest of the guys from LA are missing right? We only found Wesley's body" she stiffened at the thought of the man who was once her watcher laying there his eyes closed and still.
"So... You and Andrew have been looking for them?" She asked
"Yeah I didn't wanna bug you or any of the guys with it until I knew there was something to bug you with" she said sadly
"And every time Andrew has sent you to investigate you've not found them? That's why you're sad and mopey when you come home isn't it?"
Buffy nodded "I just need to know what happened to them, we've tried looking in different dimensions but there's been sightings of them here and there. I just don't wanna give up on them" she said sadly
"I get that" Dawn said sympathetically "You love them don't you?"
"Yeah... I do" a small smiled crept upon her face "I will always love Angel and care about him"
"And Spike?" She dared to ask
Buffy paused for a moment "He's my champion"
Dawn hugged her sister "I hope this lead turns out to be something Buffy"
"Me too..." She smiled
"So who's in Cali?" Dawn asked now helping her to pack
"A guy named Connor Reilly, it could be Angel's son" she shrugged
"Well that'll be something if he is" Dawn tried to reassure her
"Yeah... We're running out of leads"
"Ever thought they just don't wanna be found?" Asked Dawn
Buffy smiled brightly "This is Spike remember he's not the hide away type"
"Yeah... But whatever happened to them that night in LA could've changed things. I just don't want you to come home all mopey and depressed again... I'm just saying prepare yourself"
"I'm prepared... I think... I hope" Buffy whimpered.
XXXXX
The next day Buffy sat aboard her plane awaiting take off, she got a window seat the first time ever seeing as how Dawn had always called shotgun when travelling with her or someone had already occupied it. She sat there with her seatbelt buckled and listened as the air hostesses pointed out the emergency exits. She stared out of the window at the runway, mentally preparing herself for any and all possibilities.
As she took off and looked at clouds as she flew over the vast countrysides of England she felt her eyes slowly droop and close as she fell into a deep sleep.
*Buffy and Spike are the only ones left in the hellmouth. Spike is still glowing from the amulet, sending rays of light out into the hellmouth. Buffy stands in front of him, staring, still holding her scythe.
"Go on, then" he prompts her to leave
Buffy panics "No. No, you've done enough. You could still—"
"No, you've beat them back. It's for me to do the cleanup" he tells her firmly
The walls are crumbling around them.
Faith calls down to Buffy "Buffy, come on!"
"Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say school's out for bloody summer" he smirks observing his handy work
"Spike!" Buffy says anxiously
"I mean it! I gotta do this" he holds out his hand to stop her
Buffy laces her fingers through Spike's, and they burst into flame together. They say joined as the flames take hold
Buffy looks into his eyes "I love you"
"No, you don't. But thanks for saying it" he says softly
Another earthquake hits and Buffy lets go of his hand
"Now go!" He orders her
Buffy runs up the stairs*
Buffy jolts awake to hear the voice of the Captain "We've already started our descent procedure into San Francisco International airport. We expect to land at 9:05pm, as scheduled. If you want to adjust your watch, it is 8:50pm in San Francisco now.
The weather is warm with clear skies and the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. We wish you a pleasant stay in San Francisco and we hope to see you again very soon. On behalf of all our crew, thank you for choosing our company as your airline today"
Buffy felt a rush of excitement and dread at the thought of being back in California. The place held too many memories of lost battles and even worst fallen soldiers and family members.
XXXXX
She picked up her waiting rental car and headed towards Stanford, The scars on palm of her left hand a lasting memento of her final moments in Sunnydale started to itch on the steering wheel. She turned on the radio to keep her thoughts from running wild. After cheesy pop hit after cheesy pop hit Buffy finally settled on a radio station worth listening to.
"You're listening to SFR 96.2 and here's an oldie for ya" the DJ chirped
As the song began to play Buffy sighed heavily but carried on listening
*There is freedom within
there is freedom without
Try to catch a deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead
many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win*
Buffy drove with tears pricking her eyes.
*Now I'm towing my car
there's a hole in the roof
my possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
in the paper today
tales of war and of waste
but you turn right over to the T.V. page
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm walking again
to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead
barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief
Hey now, Hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, Hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
You know they won't win
Don't let them win
Hey now, Hey now
Hey now, Hey now
Hey now, Hey now
Don't let them win
They come, They come
Don't let them win
Hey now, Hey now (yeah)
Hey now, Hey now*
As Buffy pulled up to the dorms of Stanford University the song began to fade. She wiped her tears and leaned over to her dufflebag and pulled out the piece of paper she'd scribbled Connor's address on.
She slipped it in to the pocket of her denim jacket, with one last look at herself in the rear view mirror she got out of the car and headed up to the dorms.
A/N: Song used in this chapter is Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over