Once a Slayer...

Chapter One

Steve and Jaime sat attentively in front of Oscar's desk, waiting to find out why they'd been summoned, but Oscar was in no hurry. He sat back in his chair and smiled warmly at them.

"So – how's married life treating you?" he asked.

Jaime sighed affectionately. She could read their boss like a well-loved novel. "Oscar, married life is wonderful – exactly as wonderful as it was a week ago, when you took us out to celebrate our anniversary. You're stalling." She raised her eyebrows and looked at him expectantly.

Oscar glanced at Steve, who shrugged his shoulders, and both men began to chuckle.

"What?" Jaime asked, looking at her husband. "You wanna know as much as I do. We hardly ever get to work together anymore; must be a biggie." She turned back to her boss. "Where are you sending us, and what are we doing?"

"Right now," Oscar replied, "we're waiting for the third member of your team." A young, female voice chirping 'hello' to Callahan grabbed everyone's attention. "And here she is," Oscar concluded.

Buffy Summers practically danced her way into the office. "I'm here, Mr. Gol...Oscar," she said cheerfully. When she saw Jaime and Steve, she squealed with joy, rushing to hug them. "Are we working together? Cool!"

As Buffy settled into a chair, Jaime grinned at Steve. "When was the last time we thought it was cool to 'get the call'?"

"Did we ever -?" he replied, only half joking. All three operatives turned their attention to Oscar.

"Have either of you ever heard of Sutcliffe Academy?" Oscar asked the Austins.

Jaime and Steve looked at each other blankly. "Not ringing any bells," Steve answered for both of them.

Buffy was nearly bouncing out of her chair. "I have!" she said excitedly.

Oscar smiled. "Go ahead."

"It's a look-down-your-nose school for rich kids, up in Sacramento. Fat cat parents stroke their egos by making their kids compete for Snob of the Year," Buffy relayed proudly, forcing a chuckle from Oscar's stoic lips.

"Daniel Sutcliffe and I were in the Service together," Oscar explained. "From there, I went into Intelligence and he spent several years as an overseas diplomat. Once he'd decided to start a family, he saw a need and filled it, founding a boarding school for the children of foreign diplomats and ambassadors. It enabled him to remain Stateside with his own children. Over the years, I suppose it has grown somewhat elitist, so yes, Buffy, you are absolutely right." Oscar winked at Steve and Jaime. "You two might want to watch out for this one."

"And you called this little meeting...why?" Jaime prodded in a pleasant voice.

"A handful of these parents are slated to attend the International Peacekeepers conference in London next week, and numerous intelligence sources report plans for trouble at the school – kidnappings, or worse. If they can't stop the conference altogether, they'll try to cast blame on the other participants and throw the meetings into chaos."

"Not that I'd advocate their methods," Steve puzzled, "but wouldn't it be easier to attack the actual conference? Why the school?"

"The meetings have been moved to an undisclosed location -"

"And any parent is most vulnerable through their child," Jaime added.

"That's right," Oscar confirmed, "and that's exactly why Sutcliffe will be getting a new pupil."

Buffy bounced again. "Me?"

"I have no doubt you can pass for 16," Oscar told her.

"Are we going as bodyguards?" Jaime wondered.

Oscar eyed her briefly. He was sure Jaime wouldn't like her role quite as much as Buffy did. "Actually...you and Steve will be her parents."

"Excuse me?" Jaime's eyebrows shot up. "Uh...you do know I'm only ten years older than she is, right?"

"I've made Buffy a few years younger," Oscar explained patiently, "and you and Steve a few years older. I trust with your experience and skill, you can pull it off."

Jaime scowled for just a moment. "Doesn't mean I have to like it." She looked at Buffy. "No offense to my daughter-to-be."

"None taken...Mommy."

- - - - - -

Jaime had refused the gray streaks Steve had helpfully offered to put in her hair, but they both played their parent roles to the hilt, smiling indulgently at their new daughter as they sat in Dan Sutcliffe's office to register her for boarding school. Oscar hadn't told his old friend he was sending operatives to the school. He regretted not filling Daniel in on their plans, but he was treading very carefully in this case, for the sake of the Conference as well as the school.

"I'm sure Jennifer will be very happy here," Jaime affirmed.

"Her grades are as impressive as your credentials," Sutcliffe said with a wide smile. "We're happy to have her, and rest assured that she'll be completely safe while you attend your...meetings."

"Be sure to let us know immediately if she causes any problems," Steve added in a stern paternal voice.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Sutcliffe told them, not seeing Buffy playfully sticking her tongue out at 'Dad' when the Director's back was turned. "She'll be settled in before you know it. Of course, you'll be attending our mid-term orientation tomorrow."

Jaime nodded. "Of course." She bent down to kiss her 'daughter' and patted her head lightly for good measure. "Be good, dear, and we'll see you in the morning."

- - - - - -

Oscar's office phone rang at 2:05pm the next afternoon. "Things change, and no one bothers to inform me?' the strident young voice on the other end demanded.

"Well, hello, Jennifer," Oscar answered, amused. "You're sounding more like your mother every day."

Buffy didn't laugh. "What's going on? Why am I suddenly on my own? I mean, not that I can't handle that, but what the -"

"Slow down; what are you talking about?" Oscar asked.

"My 'Mom and Dad' never showed up for orientation."

"Where are you now?"

"My dorm room," Buffy told him.

"Stay there, and do not open your door for any reason. I'll be there in a few hours."

"Shouldn't I start looking for 'Mom and Dad'?"

"I'll get teams on that right away. I want you to lay low until I get there."

"But -"

"Not by yourself; this is too big – and too dangerous."

"I could -"

"Do not open your door," Oscar ordered.

Unfortunately, they didn't take into account that one person did have a master key. The door flew open as Buffy hung up the phone. Dan Sutcliffe silently closed the door, then pulled a gun from the pocket of his suit coat and leveled it at Buffy. His voice was soft and even, but the threat was serious.

"Jennifer," he said, advancing toward her, "you and I need to talk."

- - - - - -