Laney Jacobs swung her axe and watched the head of the last demon who stood her before slide from its body. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look for her sister. Her gaze swept over the piles of the fallen, their twisted and ugly bodies even more so in death. Her sharp eyes fell upon a pale hand, the silver band on its middle finger glinting in the pale light of dawn. Laney wrenched a demon with black skin and red eyes away from her sister. It was dead, fallen upon Angie's sword. She knelt, her jeans soaking up blood.
"Ange" she whispered. She touched the side of her sister's throat. "Oh Angie"
Swallowing she slid her arms beneath her sisters body and lifted her away from the slain. Laney walked through the archway that she and her sister had been defending. Stepping over bodies and sliding in their blood she made her way to the Great Hall.
The five longest surviving, and most powerful, of the Slayers were there. They were the first line of defence.
Laney smelt it first. Blood, evil and pure, combining in sickly sweet. Then sweat, fear, adrenaline. And as she drew closer, urine, faeces.
She swallowed again and paused, clasping her sister to her chest. Closing her eyes she strained for sound. But there was none. Laney lay her sister outside of the hall, finding a spot that was slightly freer of blood. She slowly stepped inside.
The bodies of their enemies were piled higher here, a testament to the skill of those who had fought them.
Laney scrambled over them, tossing them to one side, sobbing out names. She slid on blood and went down, slamming her head on the floor. She lay there stunned for a moment then pushed herself up. Closing her eyes she opened up her other senses. This was how she'd been taught to track, to hunt.
She had lost count of the number of punches to the face she'd taken whilst Faith taught her how to fight blind.
"I have a scent Laney, I disturb the air, I breath, I move. Follow me"
It was her tutor, and closest friend, she found first. Faith did have a scent. Tobacco, strawberry shampoo and leather. Except now it was undercut with urine. When Faith's neck had been snapped her body had emptied itself. She carried Faith to her sister and returned to the hall.
When she finally carried Buffy out she knew she wouldn't find anybody alive.
Laney wasn't sure how long she had been here. She was certain there had been times of darkness and of light.
She had found a field where only a few demons lay dead. It had poppies and daisies growing in it. Ridding it of the demon bodies she went looking for a shovel. She had used three of the five she had found before she was done.
Looking out over the field 134 graves looked back at her. 134 silver rings weighed heavy in the weapons bag at her feet.
"What am I going to do now?" she whispered.
No one answered.
Jack opened his door. He nearly didn't recognise her, she was covered in old blood that even the rain couldn't wash away, her jaw was swollen, her right eye blackened and closed. He could smell sweat and death, he swallowed, and sewerage.
"Jack" She whispered.
"Shit, come here honey"
He grabbed her bag and dropped it on the floor, pulling her into a hug. He tried to close his nostrils.
She huffed against his chest "Jack, I smell bad"
"Yeah, I know hon"
"They're all gone Jack"
He tightened his arms.
The first time Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Lt Colonel John Sheppard met Laney Jacobs they didn't know her name. They didn't know why she was there, curled into a chair next to General Jack O'Neill, while he briefed them on their following days mission. She didn't speak, didn't look up from the book she was studying, except to smile her thanks at Jackson when he placed a coffee in front of her. They noticed the angry bruises around her throat and along her jaw, the line of stitches across the top of her eye. And when she wrapped her hands around the mug of coffee they noticed the cuts and grazes.
As they walked down the hall after being dismissed Cameron murmured "Know the girl?"
"Nope"
"Must of hurt like a son of a bitch"
"Yep"
"You're a man of many words Sheppard"
"Yep"
It had been four weeks since Vala had evaded them and disappeared whilst off-world. They'd known she was getting itchy feet again but it hurt that she hadn't said goodbye. Teal'c had left two weeks later to spend time with his people and sit in on their council. Daniel Jackson was officially banned from going off-world for the foreseeable future, General O'Neill tiring off his habit of frequently going missing and/or dying.
They were a team of two which meant no going through the gate. They were bored out of their minds already.
As Colonel Mitchell walked into the briefing room he was surprised to see the girl from their meeting three weeks ago. She wasn't curled into herself now, her feet were propped up on the table, hands laced together behind her head, lounging back in her chair. He couldn't see a trace of her injuries.
"You've healed well…and fast"
Her eyes snapped open and she grinned at him "Vitamin E cream and good genes" Her voice was surprisingly deep, a little rough.
"Uh huh" he said doubtfully.
"I'm Laney" Another smile.
"Colonel Cameron Mitchell"
"That's rather a mouthful Colonel. Do you prefer your rank or your name?"
His eyebrows raised "Mitchell will do for now"
She nodded.
"So Laney, do you know why we're here"
She shrugged "Jack calls, I come"
He snorted. Then turned as the door opened. "Sheppard"
"Mitchell. Any idea why I'm here"
"Didn't your Dad explain the birds and the bees to you Shep?"
Laney quirked a smile "And funny too"
Sheppard looked at her "Why do I get the feeling this is going to get really interesting, really fast"
"I think I'm offended"
Sheppard smiled at her and sat down "What we waiting for?"
"Me"
"Good morning Sir"
"Colonels. Laney"
"Hey Jack" Both men raised their eyebrows at the informality.
General O'Neill moved to sit at the end of the table "Laney feet"
She rolled her eyes and swung her legs off the table. "Thank you"
"Oh, my pleasure"
Jack glared at her. Then he cleared his throat.
"You've been called here today because, in your own special and unique way, each one of you is driving me batshit crazy. You're all bored, restless and terrible at finding your own entertainment that doesn't involve a crap load of paperwork for me. Most of it being letters of apology"
Laney snorted. Jack pointed at her "Laugh it up Jacobs but you're the worst"
She smiled "Sorry Jack"
"No you're not"
"I'm trying to be"
"Shut up"
Sheppard coughed "Uh Sir?"
"Right, sorry" Jack glared at the young woman. She smiled back at him.
"Colonel Mitchell, as you know you can't go off-world as a team of two, and your efforts at recruiting more personnel for SG-1 suck"
Mitchell frowned "I'm trying Sir. It just appears that you can become too infamous for your own good"
"No you can't Colonel. You can just get captured and/or shot at too much for your own good. No one is insane enough to go through the gate with you. And that's saying something because this is the SGC"
Sheppard looked at Laney "Um, Sir, are you saying that.." he gestured towards her.
"Yes Sheppard"
"Really"
"Yes"
"Uh, are you sure Sir"
"Hey!" Laney glared at the two men opposite her "I'm not exactly thrilled with the offer either. It sounds like I'd be spending most of my time saving your arse's"
Mitchell snorted "Don't think so Princess. I'm not sure we even have uniforms that'd fit you"
"Princess?! And are you calling me little?"
Mitchell smirked at her "Petite"
She narrowed her eyes "Size isn't everything Colonel"
Sheppard coughed back a laugh.
"That's enough, both of you" Jack rubbed his temples.
"Sorry Sir"
He looked at Laney "I'm not sorry, the mans an arse"
"For fuck's sake Lane, behave yourself"
"I'm not military Jack, I'm here because you asked me to be. If I'm pissing you off I'll leave. There's still 'work' for me out there" She vaguely gestured up.
"On your own?"
"That's how it used to be done"
"Yeah, and it worked out so well for all the others"
She hissed her breath inwards.
"Um General"
"Sheppard"
"With all due respect Sir, could you please tell us what the hell you're both talking about"
Jack looked at the young woman "Laney?"
She waved a hand at him "Go ahead. I got bored with the spiel after about the hundredth time"
He sighed and looked over at the two men. "Laney is a Slayer"
"Slayer"
"Yes Mitchell. Their existence has been a closely guarded secret for hundreds of years. They are still only myths even among some of the things they hunt"
"Hunt"
"Stop interrupting Mitchell"
"Sorry Sir"
"Slayers are always female. Chosen at birth, their powers mature at fifteen years of age. For many centuries there would be only one Slayer at any given time. When she died the next would be called"
"Harsh system"
Jack looked at Sheppard. "Yeah it really sucked. But ten years ago the rules changed, every chosen one who was aged fifteen received her powers. Since then no new Slayers have been chosen or called, even upon the death of another. The general belief was that nature was asserting itself, trying to correct the balance. But then it was discovered that the Slayer line had become a blood line. A girl born to a Slayer would become one. Only two children have been born into the line since then, both are boys"
He snuck Laney a concerned look but she seemed unmoved, idly twirling a stray strand of hair round her finger "Four weeks ago every Slayer was recalled, news of an imminent threat causing them to gather at one location. The battle was won but..." Jack paused, licking his lips.
"They all died, apart from me"
The two men looked at her and she met their gaze "I'm the last surviving Slayer"
Mitchell blinked "Shit. I'm still confused as hell but, I'm sorry"
"Don't be, you didn't kill them"
There was an awkward pause.
Sheppard cleared his throat "So what exactly does 'powers' mean?"
Laney ticked off her fingers "Strength, speed, stamina, heightened senses, high pain threshold, fast healing all thrown in with a high probability of dying before you hit your twenties"
"And how old are you?"
"Twenty-five"
"Right… shit"
Leaving his god-daughter curled on the sofa watching Scooby-Doo reruns and working her way through his brownie stash, Jack drove over to Cameron and John's apartment.
"Mitchell"
"Um, Sir, is everything ok?"
"Can I come in Cam?"
Mitchell raised his brows "Of course Sir"
Jack waved a hand at him as he walked in. "Drop the sir Cameron. Got any beer?"
"Um, sure S..Jack"
Sheppard scrambled off the sofa "Sir?"
"For fuck's sake sit down John. And it's Jack"
Sheppard frowned, then nodded "Ok"
"Sit John, you're making me nervous"
"I'M making YOU nervous"
Jack laughed and took the beer he was offered "Thank you Cameron"
He took a seat in a recliner and looked at the two men. "You don't believe me about Laney, about the Slayers?"
"Of course we do Si…Jack"
"Then you think I've finally lost it and she's brainwashed me to gain access to the SGC?"
"What?! No Si…Jack. Shit"
"Then what is it? She could be a valuable asset to your team guys" Jack scrubbed his chin "Wish we'd had her on board for the whole Ori fuck up. She'd have laughed in their faces and then found new and exciting ways to kill them"
Mitchell cleared his throat "It's not that we don't believe you S..Jack"
Jack rolled his eyes.
"It's just kind of hard to, you know, um, picture it"
"Picture what"
"Well she's so, well.."
"Petite" John smirked at him.
"Shut up Shep"
"I'm pretty sure you've encountered pretty young things that could take you down before Cameron" Jack pointed at John "What was the name of that chieftains daughter, um Kaylee, Kristen?"
John snorted "Kahlan. And she totally whaled on you Cam"
Cam flipped him the finger.
"Yeah, that was it" Jack grinned at him. Then his expression turned serious. "Look, I don't blame you, when she first told me I laughed at her, a lot. Then she held my kitchen table over my head with one hand until I apologised. There's nothing like being threatened with your own furniture by your fifteen year old god-daughter to make you believe in shit. That was ten years ago and the longer a Slayer lives the stronger she gets"
"So what, now she can threaten you with your three-piece suite?"
"Don't be a smart arse Cameron"
"Sorry Sir"
Jack glared at him "Sorry Jack"
"So she was the oldest at this fight? The most powerful. That's how she survived?" asked John.
Jack sighed "No. There were others stronger than her. They were the first line of defence. Five of them, including Laney's trainer and best friend"
"Shit"
"Yeah. Laney was on the second wave, which also included her sister, Angie"
"She lost her sister too?"
"Yeah" Jack swallowed the rest of his beer "She spent two days there, from what I can work out, burying her friends and her sister. Then she knocks on my door covered in the blood, piss and shit of pretty much everyone she ever knew, uses all my hot water, demands I open my best whiskey and tells me calmly and cooly what happened. She's tough, they all are" Jack closed his eyes "Were. They were chosen because someone recognised in them the ability to cope, to move on, to keep going. Slayers see and do things that would have the toughest marine fucking calling for his Mommy"
"Fuck Jack"
He nodded "I met their leader once, Buffy, ridiculous name. Suited her though, all little and blonde. She was a cheerleader in high school, fit practice around decapitating vampires. Gave a stirring speech about never giving up. Even when you were broken and bleeding, when your friends were dead, when your best weapons had failed you. Kinda sums up the whole Slayer mentality"
Jack levelled his gaze at the two men "You win her trust she'll go to hell and back for you. And when you're talking about a slayer that's one hell of a gift"
Cameron sighed "Are you sure she's ready?"
"Yes"
"Ok"
John walked Jack to the door "How many" he murmured.
"One hundred and thirty-four"
Lt Col Sheppard and Col Mitchell strolled into the gate room scanning for the newest member of their team. They spotted her across the room, head tilted up, listening intently to something Jackson was saying.
Mitchell elbowed the man standing next to him "You see her pretty much every day Shep" He kept his voice low, he'd already discovered just how good her hearing was. And gotten a dressing down for his trouble.
Sheppard rolled his eyes and whispered back "She looks different today"
Mitchell studied her. "Hmm. More um…"
"Tense" finished John.
"Yeah, shit" Mitchell hoped this wasn't a sign it was all going to go to hell.
They'd been going off-world together for nearly four months now and he'd been pleasantly surprised. Apart from a few smart arse comments Laney had kept her head down and done as she was told. She'd fit in well and quickly adapted to how they worked. Of course, he pondered, they hadn't run into any trouble yet. The defeat of the Ori seemed to have left a quiet calm resting over the galaxy. He couldn't see the potential for any danger in their mission today either. They were heading out to meet with Teal'c and check in with the free Jaffa. It was an overnight trip, the council expecting them to stay for the evening meal and following festivities. It was the anniversary of the death of Apophis.
He watched her finish her talk with Jackson and saunter over to them. "Good Morning Colonels" Her voice still surprised him sometimes.
"Morning Princess"
She scowled at him "Stop calling me that or I'll punch you in the face"
"Haven't done it yet Princess"
John snorted. "Just make sure I'm around when you do Lane"
She smiled up at him "It would be my pleasure"
Mitchell rolled his eyes "Where's your pack?"
She toed a duffel by her feet.
"That's not a pack Laney"
"And I'm not a giant Mitchell. They hit the back of my legs and make walking difficult"
He grinned at her "What happened to Slayer power?"
"I don't remember listing 'ability to make myself 6ft tall' on my CV"
"Well, aren't you on fine form today"
She glared at him and swung her duffel up, sliding the straps over both shoulders. As she walked to the foot of the ramp the two men exchanged a look.
Stepping through the gate they started the short walk to the Jaffa settlement. Laney behind them, eyes hidden by her aviators.
"I'm tense because it's an overnight mission"
They stopped walking. "What did I tell you about eavesdropping?"
"I don't eavesdrop. I scan for information"
Mitchell snorted.
"Why is an overnight mission making you tense Lane?" Sheppard looked at her over his shades.
She sighed "We haven't spent the night together yet" She pointed at Sheppard "Don't say it"
He grinned at her. Mitchell smacked him round the head "Hey!"
"You were saying Princess"
She shifted on her feet. "I um, get nightmares. They're getting better but this is somewhere new" She exhaled "I don't want you to worry if I cry out in the night, and you mustn't come to check on me"
Mitchell's eyebrows rose "Why not"
"Because I'm a Slayer and I don't want to accidentally kill my CO in my sleep"
"That bad huh?"
She shrugged "Sometimes"
"We can't just leave you to it Laney"
"You have to, promise me?"
Mitchell sighed "Fine. But if you manage to wake yourself up will you let us know you're ok?"
She nodded.
"And our tent goes in front of yours"
She scowled. "I mean it Princess"
"Fine"
John Sheppard slammed upright in his tent, reaching for his gun.
"Easy Shep, it's just our girl"
He ran a shaky hand through his hair, remembering the scream that had woken him "Shit"
"Yeah I know"
"Think we should go to her"
"As much as I hate it, no. We promised. And I don't much fancy having my neck snapped by a sleeping Slayer"
"Right" He gave a weak laugh "This sucks"
"Yeah"
They sat in silence, ears straining for any other noise. Eventually her voice drifted through their tent.
"I'm fine"
"Sure Princess"
"Stop calling me that"
"Nope"
Laney sat in her tent, trying to slow her heartbeat and stop the shaking. Shit, that one was bad. She tried to blink away the images of her sister and their friends pushing their way from their graves, reaching for her with decaying hands. She could even smell them. She willed herself not to vomit.
She should have died with them, that's what they were saying. Showing her every time she slept. Part of her wished she had. Laney knew that's why she was here, on a different planet with two of Jack's most trusted men. He didn't trust her out there alone.
Sometimes they would punish her for leaving them there, in the place they had died so horribly. A place where only she could go. After those dreams woke her she would try to reassure herself that they lay at peace, in a beautiful field of poppies and daisies, that saw both the rise and the fall of the sun. A Slayer revelled in the light, knowing the things that lurked in the dark.
Waiting until she heard the steady breathing of the two men across from her she silently stepped from her tent and made her way towards the nearest fire.
"Laney Jacobs"
She jumped, her nerves were shot to shit. She hadn't even sensed him.
"Teal'c I'm sorry. I didn't realise anyone else was here. I'll move on"
"You are not disturbing me Slayer. Please" He gestured to the cushion next to him.
Nodding her thanks she sat, wrapping her arms around her bent legs.
"I heard your cries, are you ok?"
"Yeah, sometimes sleep isn't so inviting after y'know?"
"I understand Laney Jacobs. I too suffered from many disturbing visions when I first left the service of the false God Apophis. They can be unsettling"
"That's one word for them Teal'c"
He handed her a cup of steaming liquid. "What do you see Slayer?"
She raised her eyebrows at him. He looked at her, matching her brow raise.
"Them" she whispered "They hate me for living, for leaving them there. My sister says.." she swallowed "things"
He nodded.
"Tonight they crawled out of their graves. They were rotting, stinking, hissing my name. Reaching out for me. I kept cutting them down and they just kept coming. Forcing me to kill them again and again" A tear escaped and she swore, swiping it away.
He rested his hand on her arm "General O'Neill once gave me a name for this Slayer, he called it Survivors Guilt. You are a warrior; loyal, proud and honourable. Every instinct in you tells you that you should have fallen with your friends, your sister. You should have given your life as they did theirs. This can never be realised, the battle can never be re-fought and you must learn to accept this. They will haunt you until you do and I am sure that they would not desire for you to suffer this way"
She nodded "I shall try"
"Then you shall succeed"
Laney finished her drink in silence, it's warmth spreading through until she gave a surprised yawn. She looked at the man next to her "Do you still dream of him Teal'c?"
"Sometimes. But I no longer fear him"
"And the ones you lost"
"I remember them how I wish to. Their memory is precious"
"Thank you. I wish you happy dreams"
"As I do you Slayer"
As she moved away from the fire she heard him speak again "Let them come to you Laney Jacobs. You cannot hurt them, not even when you dream"
She didn't reply.
Laney dropped her bag in the hall and called out "Honey, I'm home"
"I'm pretty sure that's an inappropriate cliché for your godfather"
She grinned "Hey Pops, I'm home"
"Funny girl"
She made her way into the kitchen where Jack was drinking coffee and reading a paper.
"Ooh coffee?"
He pointed to the pot on the side.
"You are a God"
He looked at her "Perhaps you could inform the personnel of the SGC of this fact? It would save an awful lot of meetings"
She snorted "People not obeying orders, Great One?"
He rolled his eyes "I'm beginning to get the feeling I'm just there to make the place look pretty"
She snorted again and sipped her coffee. "Mmmm"
"How was your first overnight trip?"
"Great, up until I scared the crap out of the rest of my team by screaming in my sleep"
He frowned "I thought they were getting better hon?"
She sighed "New place, new people. It seems I need your guest bed to sleep well at night. And don't worry I pre-warned the guys. They kept their promise and stayed well away"
Jack looked at her "Why do they have to stay away?"
"Duh, super strength mixed with night terrors is not a good, um, mixey thing"
"Mixey thing?"
"I'm tired"
"Honey, do you trust them?"
"Yes"
"With your life?"
"Yes" No hesitation.
"Then you won't hurt them"
She bit her lip "Teal'c said pretty much the same thing"
"Huh, giving out the same advice as the big guy. I'm definitely getting wiser in my old age"
"Of course you are Jack" She kissed him on the top of his head.
"Don't do that, it makes me feel…"
"Old?" Laney smirked at him "I'm hitting the shower old man"
"This is ridiculous" growled Mitchell, sitting up in the tent.
"Where you going Mitch?"
"To get her, I've had enough of this"
Sheppard raised his eyebrows "If she kills me in her sleep I'm haunting your arse"
Mitchell snorted.
He crouched down in front of her tent. "Princess?"
"I'm fine Mitchell, go away"
"No, get your arse out here"
"Excuse me?!"
"Now Laney"
She appeared scowling "What?"
He reached in and grabbed her sleeping bag. "What are you doing?"
"Getting a full night's sleep. Come on"
"I can't"
"Yes you can, we trust you"
He threw her bag next to Sheppard, and gently shoved her inside. She sighed.
"Fine, but if I punch you in my sleep it's not my fault"
Sheppard quietly snorted.
"Sleep" Mitchell ordered, pointing to the bag.
She crawled inside and lay her head down.
"I hate you"
"No you don't"
Laney closed her eyes and surrounded herself with the scent of her friends, hoping it would be enough to stop her from lashing out.
Then she was standing in a field of poppies and daisies. She groaned.
"Please not again"
"Laney?"
She whirled to face her sister "Ange?"
"We've been trying to talk to you big sis. You keep blocking us out, twisting us, why?"
"I don't know. Survivors Guilt or some shit"
Ange smiled "We're fine Laney, we're at peace, we can rest. We want you to find a little of that peace too. And not by dying" She added hurriedly.
"I live with Uncle Jack now, it's nice. And I have a new team, you'd like them"
"I do, they're hot"
"Ange!"
"What, they are" She winked at her. "But you need to stop blaming yourself sweetie. That's the only way you can enjoy what life has in store for you"
"And whats that?"
"Can't tell"
Laney rolled her eyes. "Does it involve George Clooney and a tub of ice-cream"
Angie snorted "No, sorry sis. But I think you won't be too disappointed about that"
"I miss you Ange"
"I miss you too Lane, I'll be waiting but don't rush ok?"
"Ok, I love you"
"I Love you too sis"
Laney looked out over the field of poppies and daisies, holding her sister's hand and smiled.
The young woman between them shifted. John rolled away, covering his crotch with his hands. Mitchell rolled his eyes at him.
"What?!" Sheppard mouthed.
"Dick" mouthed back Mitchell.
"Exactly"
Mitchell narrowed his eyes.
Laney murmured "Not again"
"Fuck" mouthed John.
"Wait"
Then she seemed to relax, and her breathes evened out. They watched her. A small smile tugged at her mouth.
They grinned at each other and settled back down.