Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything. Everything belongs to Joss Whedon, except Jessica and all other characters that you do not recognize throughout the story. Those are mine.
Chapter 1: The Third Slayer
Jessica snuck a glance at the rearview mirror watching the three fifteen year-old potential slayers sleep, she was so glad that they finally fell asleep. After the stop at Starbucks Jessica thought they would never calm down. After she was sure the potentials weren't going to wake up, Jessica looked at the retired Watcher in the passenger side of the black 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. He was still awake reading an old looking book. What a surprise.
"Giles, do you believe we'll win this fight?" Jessica asked quietly. This question was out of the blue, but it needed to be asked. Giles looked up taking off his glasses and started cleaning them. Never a good sign.
"We have three Slayers, a little less than two dozen potentials and a handful of others." he started.
"But..."
"But the odds are against us. It's to soon to predict the outcome of this fight." Giles ended. Jessica rolled her cool grey eyes in annoyance.
"I didn't come here to listen to 'the odds are against us' crap. The odds are only against us if we choose it to be that way. And I, for one, am not giving up without a fight. I'm not one to back down from anything." Jessica spoke a little anger creeping into her voice. Giles looked over at her shock written over his face.
"I didn't mean it that way." he said placing his glasses back on.
"Yeah, whatever." Jessica answered. Suddenly four Bringers jumped into the middle of the road, Jessica hit the brakes stopping the car before it hit them. Not like that would be a bad thing, but she didn't want to damage her car. Jessica hit the steering wheel mumbling, "This is just great. Fuckin' great."
"Hey. What's goin' on, ya'll." Sarah, one of the potentials, said moving so she could look out the windshield. Bringers were advancing toward the car. Jessica sighed unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Giles, you take them the rest of the way. I'll take care of this." Jessica said leaving no room for argument. She opened the door and was about to get out when, Jackie, another potential, grabbed her arm.
"You'll be alright, right?" Jackie said.
"Yeah, kid. I'll be fine." Jessica replied and shut the door. The Bringers walked towards Jessica wielding their traditional knives. Jessica tucked a strand of her slightly wavy black hair behind her ear waiting for one of the Bringers to attack. She didn't have to wait long because one lunged trying to slice her head off. Jessica ducked, crouching down and swept her leg under the Bringer, she grabbed his knife and plunged it in his heart. She rolled backwards just in time to avoid being stabbed by another Bringer.
For blind people they're very mobile. Jessica thought blocking another attack. She could feel one of the Bringers coming up behind her. The one in front of her went to attack, she blocked it grabbing his wrist, twisting it so she could kick the knife out of the hands of the Bringer behind her. Jessica broke the Bringer's wrist, elbowing him in the face. He fell to the ground allowing Jessica to stab him in the heart. Suddenly another Bringer grabbed her by her throat pulling her into a standing position, he was trying to slice her throat, but Jessica was holding that hand away from her. The another Bringer was walking up to her, when he was close enough Jessica kicked him in the face. Jessica elbowed him in the gut giving her enough time to get out of his hold. She did a handstand wrapping her legs around his neck, she then twisted, throwing him forward. He landed on his back with Jessica's feet on either side of his neck, she quickly twisted her feet breaking his neck.
"Three down, one to go." Jessica whispered smirking at the last Bringer, who was running away. Jessica shook her head, bending down to pick up a knife, then she threw it. The knife soared through the air embedding itself in the last Bringer's back. Jessica looked up and down the street, running a hand through her hair making it fall in waves to the middle of her back. She started walking down the street her black three inch stretch knee high boots clicking on the sidewalk. Jessica reached into her tight black leather jacket pocket pulling out a packet of cigarettes then pulled out a black metal Zippo with angel wings on it out of her back pocket on her tight jeans, that were tucked into her boots. Jessica lit a cigarette, briefly closing her eyes inhaling and holding it before exhaling the smoke. She place the packet of cigarettes back into her jacket pocket and putting the Zippo away. She unconsciously pulled her jacket tighter around her covering her plain black cami top. Soon Jessica could see the Summers' residence up ahead, she sighed taking a couple more drags from her cigarette before dropping it and crunching it under her boot.
"Now to meet everyone." Jessica said exhaling the smoke before jogging across the street and up the driveway, passing her car, to the Summers' porch. She rang the doorbell, a loud commotion could be heard from within the house then the door opened to reveal Faith.
"Jessica? Girl, look at you!" Faith said enveloping her in a hug, which she returned laughing.
"Nice to see you, too." Jessica replied. As they pulled back Jessica noticed that tons of teenage girls and a group of adults were standing around staring. "Well, hey everybody. God, is there a lot of you."
"Yeah, that's the way to greet someone." Faith said joking. Jessica rolled her cool grey, almost silver, eyes.
"Your one to talk." she replied.
"You must be Jessica. Angel told me a lot about you." Buffy said stepping forward.
Jessica raised an eyebrow and held up her hands in defense saying, "Whoa, whatever he said about me ain't true."
"He only complimented you." Buffy replied. Jessica looked a little taken back and confusion shone in her eyes.
"Hmm... Really? Now I'm kinda worried." Jessica said smirking. "And you must be Buffy. So this is everyone?"
"Yep. These are the Potential Slayers," Buffy said pointing to the group of girls. "And this is Dawn, Willow, Spike, Xander, Anya, Andrew and you already know Giles."
"Sup everybody. Giles, do ya have my car keys?" Jessica asked. He coughed looking down at the floor for a second before meeting Jessica's eyes.
"Um no. Cassandra drove." Giles answered. Jessica glared at him for a second before switching her gaze at Cassandra. She held out her hand and Cassandra immediately dropped the car keys in Jessica's outstretched hand.
"I didn't put any scratches on it." Cassandra said in her own defense. Jessica raised an eyebrow clearly not believing her.
"That's good to know." Jessica said her words dripping with sarcasm. She pocketed the keys in her jacket pocket with her cigarettes. Jessica glance at all the potentials who were still staring at Jessica whispering to each other.
Faith noticed this and said, "Uh B, maybe you should send the wannabes downstairs."
Buffy looked around and nodded. She turned to Kennedy and said, "Take them downstairs and train."
After all the potentials disappeared the adults walked into the living room Faith and Jessica leaned against either side of the doorframe.
"So." Faith said directed at Jessica, who lazily tipped her head towards Faith allowing some of her hair to fall in her face.
"So what?" Jessica countered, a lazy smile settling on her face. Faith sighed angrily rolling her eyes.
"Where is it?" Faith questioned. Jessica shook her head.
"What makes you think I brought you anything?" Jessica said humor dancing in her eyes. Faith stood away from the frame a smirk on her face.
"It's in the car. Isn't Jess?" Faith said. She didn't even wait for Jessica's replied before she took off out of the house. Jessica didn't move from her spot.
"What was that about?" Willow asked. Jessica turned her gaze to Willow and shrugged. She was about to say something, but Faith's call interrupted her.
"I betta go before she breaks somethin'." Jessica said turning from the living room and headed outside. Faith was leaning against the car. Jessica hopped lightly off the porch and took a seat on the hood. She pulled out her cigarettes, keys and lighter. Faith took the offered cigarette, lighting it and taking the keys from Jessica. Jessica lighted her cigarette before putting her lighter and packet of smokes away.
"Where's your stuff?" Faith asked taking a drag.
"Trunk." was the answer. Faith nodded and headed to the back of the car to unlock the trunk. She pulled out two black gym duffel bags, one was slightly larger than the other.
"Why did you bring two?" Faith asked.
Jessica took a drag before answering, "The smaller bag's yours. Clothes, necessities and the weapon you were so desperately looking for."
Faith shot Jessica a rare genuine smile handing the bigger bag to Jessica, who just dropped it next to her on the hood. Faith placed her bag on the hood in front of Jessica's crossed legs, unzipping it and pulling out a plain wooden box. Faith trailed her fingers over the box before flipping the latch and opening it. She pulled out two twin daggers with stainless fantasy style blades that were engraved with a Celtic knot work style design, Faith's name was etched on near the top of the blade. The handles were wrapped in black leather. Faith twirled them in her hands, testing them.
"These are great. So light!" Faith said. Jessica smiled stretching her arms over her head.
"Yeah. They're pretty great." Jessica replied sliding off the hood taking her gym duffel bag with her. "So, are we gonna join the troops?"
Faith placed the knives back in the box, tracing the edges of the lid as she closed it. She holstered her gym bag, grabbed the box holding the knives and headed up the driveway. Both women dropped their cigarettes and stepped on them before continuing inside the Summers' house. They entered the house quietly shutting the door behind them. In the living room the Scoobies, Spike and Dawn were having a conversation about Jessica. Well, Spike and Dawn were just listening not really participating in the conversation. None of the Scoobies noticed that Faith and Jessica had returned, so they continued with their conversation. Jessica leaned against the doorframe holding her bag, Dawn glanced at her and opened her mouth to stop the conversation, but Jessica held a finger to her lips smirking and lightly shaking her head. Suddenly Jessica dropped her bag as it hit the floor the Scoobies lightly jumped turning their heads to the sound of the noise. Seeing Jessica and Faith standing there in the doorway Buffy stood up.
"We weren't... Um... it isn't..." Buffy sputtered trying to find a liable excuse.
"What? Look like your talking about me behind my back?" Jessica said cutting Buffy off. She kept her face expressionless, but inside she was laughing. The look on Buffy's face was so funny. Jessica glanced at Faith from the corner of her eyes noticing she was smirking.
"We didn't mean anything by-" Buffy started, but was cut off by Jessica, who wasn't leaning on the doorframe anymore.
"Please. I don't care what you think about me. You all must hold yourselves in such high regards that you think your opinion about me actually matters." Jessica said calmly like she was talking about the weather. She picked up her gym bag saying, "It doesn't."
The Scoobies were shocked to say the least. Spike was smirking as was Faith, and Dawn was looking towards the kitchen where Jessica was. Buffy took a few steps until Faith stopped her by grabbing her upper arm. "Where are you going, B?" Faith asked. Buffy motioned where Jessica walked off.
"B, really she doesn't care that she found you talking about her behind her back. She just one of those people." Faith explained. Buffy backed off, pulling her arm from Faith's loose grip.
"How do you know her?" Xander asked motioning to where Jessica left. Dawn shook her head, standing up from her seat not wanting to listen to this conversation. She walked into the kitchen. Dawn glanced at Jessica working on her laptop as she went to the fridge to grab a soda.
"Do you want one?" Dawn asked causing Jessica to look over at her.
"Nah." Jessica answered turning her attention back to the laptop screen. Dawn shrugged grabbing a soda for herself before taking a seat at one of the stools across from Jessica. A few minutes passed by until Jessica glanced at Dawn over her laptop.
"Your… Dawn, right?" she asked, shutting down her laptop. It's not like she couldn't work on it later. Dawn nodded taking a sip of soda, watching Jessica place her laptop back into the gym bag.
"So, care to ask your question." Jessica stated. Dawn's eyes widen, putting down her soda then tucking her hair behind her ears.
"I wasn't… I… Well, okay. I do have a question. I was wondering how you know Angel?" Dawn said giving up.
Jessica traced the tiles on the counter top answering, "I was ambushed by a couple of demons and Angel helped me out. He has that tendency to save seemingly helpless girls. You should've seen the look on his face when he found out I was a Slayer."
Dawn quirked a smile at that. She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Faith walking in with her bag slung over a shoulder and holding the case for the knives. Jessica turned her cool gaze towards Faith watching her set the wooden knife case on the counter top.
"I was thinking we should go down to the cemeteries and patrol. I wanna test these bad boys out." Faith said tapping the knife case. Jessica smirked slightly trying to figure out the obvious tension between Dawn and Faith. Dawn was playing with the soda tab trying to break it off, she avoided all eye contact with Faith. Which seemed fine with her.
"Sure." Jessica answered before turning the conversation over to Dawn. "We'll talk later, alright."
"Yeah, whatever." was the reply. Jessica stood up watching Dawn.
"I'm serious. Don't want to spend to much time around Slayers and the Slayerettes. Gets boring. " Jessica said. Dawn looked up, a little surprised that someone was taking an interest in her.
"That'll be great… I mean sure." she replied smiling happily. Jessica nodded picking up her bag while Faith grabbed her knife case from the counter. Then they made their way back to the front door. Jessica had it open and was almost out until Buffy interrupted them.
"Where are you two going?" she asked.
"Patrolling. I'm gonna test out my new weapons." Faith answered. Buffy narrowed her eyes in Faith's direction. Jessica sighed raking a hand through her hair.
"What's the problem. Do you want to patrol?" Jessica asked calmly. Buffy switched her gaze over to Jessica.
"No, but-" Buffy started, but was cut off by Jessica.
"Then, what's the problem? Faith and I want to patrol. Is no one suppose to patrol but you or what?" Jessica said.
"I didn't say that. I meant… Ugh, I don't know what I meant." Buffy said getting a little confused and angry.
"They want to patrol and you've been saying that you wanted some time off Slayer duty. Why not let them, Buff?" Xander stated. Jessica raised an eyebrow at that last statement.
"Look B, we're goin' to the cemeteries and catch up on old times." Faith said. Jessica shook her head at the stupid ness of this argument and just walked out the door. It's not like she wouldn't go where she wanted anyways. And who was Buffy, Miss Holier-Than-Thou, to tell Jessica what to do. She reached into her jacket pocket pulling out the car keys. After unlocking the doors Jessica placed her gym bag in the car, she would come get it after patrolling. Faith caught up to Jessica placing her bag in the car also.
"Commander Buffy is allowing us to go patrol." Faith said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Jessica rolled her eyes as she pulled out her own weapons. Two twin daggers with stainless fantasy style blades that were etched with a tribal vampire skull near the top of the blade right below the handle. The handles were wrapped in black leather with Jessica's initials at the top.
"Oh yay!" replied Jessica shutting the car door. They began walking down the driveway, Faith casually twirling her brand new knifes in her hands. While Jessica inspected her own daggers.
A/N: Review. Good, bad? Tell me what you think.