Chapter 4
By 6:30 everyone started getting up. The boys were first to get up and were already running around like wild animals. Angus was the only one of the dogs that played with the boys. He was young enough to take all of their rough handling but in turn though he wasn't disciplined if he growled at one of the boys for hurting him. The boys understood that he was allowed to give as much as he took.
Later when everyone was sitting around after breakfast Kathleen reported on the condition of the boulder. "It looks like Daddy's idea is working Connor. When Sean and I were sitting up there and watching the Sun come up I could feel the boulder continuing to crack. If you go up there Willow and Tara you can hear it crack once in a while. I think we put it deep in the middle of the boulder so we won't see it for awhile, hopefully before we leave."
"Since this is working how are you going to take care of the building across the street?" Wesley asked. "Before Willow and Tara go home we'll go into the building and cause a crack to start in all of the supporting pillars inside of the building first then the outside supporting pillars. Then we'll sit back and wait." Kathleen said. "But those pillars are more than concrete Kathleen. What about the steel beams inside the pillars?" Connor asked. "Daddy said that the crack we start will start in the center of the pillar which will be the steel beam. That way when the beams are checked after the building comes down they will all show a crack just as though they were made incorrectly. The problem though is that the building across the street is old but the Wolfram & Hart building is relatively new in comparison. What I need is for someone to check out the blue prints on the building downtown, check out anything that will give us information on how the building was built and who supplied the materials. I need something to focus on in those pillars. It doesn't have to be complicated it could be the rivets that hold the steel beams together. It could be something about all buildings built before a certain date that have a problem whenever we have an earthquake. I'm going to be busy with school so I won't be able to help much Connor so everyone will have to pitch in and research this."
"The power to do this is coming mainly from you Kathleen so why do you need Tara and I to help you?" Willow asked. "Yes the power is coming mainly from me but you and Tara are giving me that extra boost of power that I need. You are helping me to channel all of that power to precise points and I give you what you need in turn." "Why don't you just destroy the building?" "I could do it if I wanted to but the innocent people in the building won't have a chance to get out and too many questions would be asked afterwards that would expose the family to too much danger and repercussions from the Senior Partners. My biggest problem will be in getting into the building and around the outside. Half of the outside of the building is behind steel fences. Also when I go anywhere near Wolfram & Hart their warlocks are going to know I'm in the building so I have to work at learning to mask my mind so that they can't recognize me."
Sean was worried that they might do damage to Kathleen's mind if they should discover her. "Can they hurt you if they find out that you're in the building?" Sean asked. "No, they are no match for me. I can destroy them with a mere thought. Willow and Tara have to use words to perform their magic but I only have to think of doing something." Kathleen turned to Sean when she heard him. She knew that he was afraid for her. "Sean, my power comes from God. I was born for the specific purpose of destroying Wolfram & Hart. Don't be afraid for me because Christ is my teacher. Because of Him I often choose childish things to do to prevent anyone in the family from being hurt. The only time that I really permanently hurt anyone was when Connor and Daddy were attacked by demons and Vampires that were working for Wolfram & Hart. When their Warlocks tried to destroy me and send me into an alternate dimension I turned the tables on them and sent them there then sealed the portal shut. I did all of this even though they opened the portal right under my feet. The rest of the demons and Vampires I flung aside so that they were thrown into the side of the buildings around us."
"And here you thought you had just found your Beloved." Connor said with a smile. Everyone laughed. The rest were used to Kathleen's power because they had seen her increase in power as she grew up.
"Can you make things like a mug of blood for me?" Sean asked. "No because blood comes from a live person or animal. I can make things look exactly like the original but I can't make it taste the same. Here I'll show you." Kathleen held out her hand and a small glass of blood appeared in her hand. She gave it to Sean. He tasted it and quickly spit it out. "It looks and smells just like blood but it has absolutely no taste." "That's because I can duplicate everything about blood but I can't replicate taste or what makes blood, blood. I can't reproduce exactly anything that is derived from plant or animal life because only God can create life. All of the ladies became very excited when they found out I could reproduce a Hershey chocolate bar but there smiles disappeared when they found out that I couldn't reproduce the taste and in fact it had no taste. The main ingredient in chocolate comes from a tree which of course is created by God." "Rats and I love chocolate." Sean said.
"Let's go for a ride so the boys can get used to their horses." Connor said. They all got up then and started to help with the horses. Sean and Connor showed Nicky and Mike how to saddle their horses. They had brought Aunt Bee for Joyce to ride while David and Bobbie, the Price boys, were happy to stay at camp with Connie and Joaquin. They had spent one month with their grandparents in Texas during the summer and had just started to learn to ride. Even though they had started out early for their ride it quickly became hot in the desert so they didn't stay out long the first time out. Sean especially was quickly developing a sunburn with his light skin and by the time they got back to camp the dogs tongues were practically dragging on the ground. The rest of the day was spent playing cards and sleeping since it was too hot to do anything.
As the day turned into evening the dogs started chasing animals again and could be heard barking in the distance. Connor, Wesley, Kathleen, Willow and Tara walked over to the boulder and put their hands on it. They could feel a small vibration going through the rock and occasionally hear the sound of the cracking taking place in the middle of the boulder. After a while they removed their hands and smiled at each other then started back to the camp. Wesley walked close to Connor and Connor whispered to him. "I'm going to have to take Kathleen down a peg or two before her head swells to big." Connor lagged behind and quietly changed into a wolf. He crept up behind Kathleen and nosed her in the behind. "I'm going to get you Connor Martin." She quickly changed into a wolf and slid out of her clothes and ran after him. She was a full grown wolf now with a hint of a red coloring to her hair. She was Connors equal in height now but more slender in build. They ran through the camp and Connor went running to Lou and sat down between her legs as she sat on a log with their son Daniel nearby. They already knew that he could change into a wolf but Lou didn't want him to play with the rest yet since he was still practically a baby and could get hurt out here. Daniel knew who the wolf was and went running to him and hugged him. Connor licked his face from one ear to the other.
Kathleen had run to Sean in invitation to join them. Lou left Daniel in Connie's care then quickly changed into a wolf in Kathleen's tent. Nicky and Mike had already gone into their tent to throw their clothes off and were outside as wolves within seconds while Sean did the same and they all went running out of the camp. Sean was a large wolf with slightly red hair as an undercoat. He had a deep chest that added to the impression he gave of a large powerful wolf. His legs were so long that he towered over Connor. All of the others acknowledged him as the Alpha wolf and came to lick his face. Everyone noticed how he played roughly with the male wolves but was gentle with Kathleen and Lou. After chasing each other around for awhile they all went running off into the distance. Toby, Vicky and Angus went running with them so that the pack was rather large.
"You better start the fire pits up Joaquin so we can have enough charcoal to bake potatoes for everyone. I think they will be pretty hungry when they get back so were having steaks tonight." Joaquin, Wesley and Junior started the fire pits up and put some large rocks toward the center so they could put grills over the fire. By the time the artificial pack came back the potatoes had been in the ground for an hour and the steaks were ready to be cooked.
All of the wolves came back into the camp with their tongues hanging out. "Before you get comfortable you all need to take a bath. We don't want any fleas and dirt in the bedding. The adults can use the showers in the trailers and Mike and Nicky can use the makeshift shower on the other side of the trailers by the porta potties." Fred said before they could get comfortable. Since Fred was the boss of the Hotel she was accepted as the boss of the camp. Everyone dutifully went to do as they were told.
By the time they were done all of the food was ready. Sean was so hungry that he drank his mug of blood in two gulps before he even touched his steak. After everyone was done they all just sat back and relaxed. The dogs had caught more snakes and Joaquin had skinned and cooked them. Everyone was so tired from all of the activity that Kathleen just looked at the dirty pots and pans and they all became clean and put away. All of the women just clapped for her. The next day went pretty much the same way and the crack in the boulder could now be seen on the outside and traveling to the top. Sean's hands were becoming stronger with all of the unusual exercise they were getting. At the beginning of the 4th day the crack in the boulder was all of the way at the top and would have fallen apart if Kathleen hadn't used a small tornado to pile dirt against the other side of the boulder to support it.
"I guess we have a way to bring down Wolfram & Hart now. We can go home now everyone." Kathleen said. With that said everyone started to break camp. Everyone was anxious to get home and back to modern conveniences and Vince was had just arrived to drive the horse trailer back to South El Monte. As they pulled into the back parking lot everyone looked at Kathleen expectantly.
"What?" she said as she started to feel everyone's eyes on her. "We were kind of tired and we're hoping you would you know?" Connor waived his hands in the air then put his finger to his nose and wiggled it like on Bewitched. Kathleen laughed at her brother. "Just this once." She looked at the trailers and other vehicles and pretended she was Barbara Eden in Genie. She crossed her arms in front of her and blinked her eyes once for each vehicle then everyone went in. Hunter and Mike were waiting along with Lucinda.
"Now, now Kathleen you know your Mother and Father told you not to use your magic for the simple things so that you wouldn't have to work." Hunter said with a smile. "It's not my fault Aunt Hunter; they were all tired and asked me to do it." "Okay we'll let it go this time. Shame on all of you, especially you Wesley. You know how Angel and Cordelia felt about using magic like that, especially after what happened to Willow when she tried using it for even the simplest tasks." Wesley looked down on the ground and acted like a child that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Yes Aunt Hunter." Wesley's ploy did the trick and everyone was laughing.
Everyone picked up their own things and took them upstairs. Hunter and Lucinda helped Connie put away what was left of the food and utensils. After everyone had a chance to put their things away and take a shower it was 6:30 at night. Connor told Connie to take the night off and to order enough Pizza for everyone.
Before everyone sat down with their favorite type of pizza Sean went to Hunter. "Here is your ring Hunter thank you for letting me use it. I haven't had that much fun since I was a child." "You're welcome and anytime you need it just let me know."
"Tomorrow Sean I want to start you out on an exercise routine and in two weeks Junior and I will start teaching you what we know of the Martial Arts." Connor said. "Why do I have to do so much training?" Sean asked. Kathleen squeezed Sean's upper arms. "Because these are more or less artificial. You are strong because you're a Vampire. But even Daddy exercised regularly and knew a lot of the Martial Arts and in fact we all do it. We all have to be able to defend each other and our home. The only ones that don't have to exercise and fight are Connie, Lucinda, Joaquin and Mike." "But I thought you loved me for me and the way my magnificent body looks now." "I do sweetheart but don't you know that women get so turned on by finely chiseled muscles. Don't you want me to be proud of the way you look and can defend me and the rest of the family?" Kathleen ran her finger lightly around Sean's ear. "Stop that you're going to drive me crazy. Okay Connor I guess I can spare a few hours a day."
"Well now that we know what we can accomplish Willow and Tara would you like to go over to the building across the street tomorrow and do the dirty deed?" Kathleen asked. "Yes let's do it tomorrow morning because Tara and I want to leave by noon." "Okay then I have some studying I would like to do because my first class is tomorrow at 1 in the afternoon. Goodnight everyone."
The next day Connor, after working with Sean, went over to the Wolfram & Hart building across the street along with Wesley, Kathleen, Willow and Tara. They didn't want anyone to see them so they went under the street and through the sewers and up into the building. It took them thirty minutes to begin a crack in each supporting pillar. Wesley was holding a blue print of the building and telling the girls where each supporting pillar was. It took Willow and Tara longer to say the proper words in Latin where as Kathleen only had to think of what she wanted done. By 12:30 Willow and Tara had left to return to Sunnydale and Kathleen had left for her first class. While the girls were taking care of the problem across the street Sean had spent the morning in the gym along with Junior who started to teach him the Martial Arts.
In the evening they all met for a brief time for Supper. "How are you feeling after your first work out?" Kathleen asked Sean. "No problem. I went through all of the gym like a professional gymnast." "Yeah, a gymnast that has just landed on the bar right between his legs." Junior said laughing. "My poor baby are you really hurting that bad?" Kathleen asked. "Heck no…….after I soaked in the whirlpool for an hour I felt fine." Everyone laughed.
"That's okay Sean. After Kathleen was born Angel had put on weight from all of Cordelia's got to have it cravings. The first day he put himself through a rigorous exercise routine he literally came crawling up the stairs and into the middle of his room on his hands and knees. He collapsed and slept right on the floor for the next hour." Fred told Sean. "Why did Angel gain weight when Cordelia was the one having the cravings?" Sean asked.
"Sean you've initiated a link between you and Kathleen haven't you?" Hunter asked. "Yes but it's just a light one so that I can sense her well being." "Well brace yourself my dear Dr. McConnell because when Kathleen gets pregnant you are going to learn what women go through when their pregnant. Not all Vampires can do what you do. Angel could but I can't for some reason. The link that you will establish between you and Kathleen on your wedding night will make you experience all of the aches and pains that comes with being pregnant and best of all you'll experience all of her got to have it cravings and having to pee all of the time in her last trimester." Hunter said. "Don't forget the diet afterwards." Fred said. "Poor Angel suffered not only from Cordelia's pregnancy but he had to endure all of Gunn and Wesley's teasing."
Sean leaned back and looked at Kathleen. "Don't worry my Beloved, I won't go screaming from the Hotel. I'll go through anything to be with you and have the same thing that Angel was given." He gave her a light kiss then. "Well I'll see you later because I have another class tonight." Kathleen gave Sean another kiss on the cheek and left.
"Don't you think she has taken on too much too fast Fred and Wesley?" Sean asked. "Sean that girl has such a high IQ that she probably will be done with her schooling way ahead of time and while she is standing on her head." Wesley said. "You mean our kids might be geniuses?" "Not necessarily. Angel had a high IQ and Dr. Martin did but neither of her Kathleen's brothers do nor does Connor. Dr. Martin said that Genius level IQ's ran in their family but not everyone had it. It seems to skip around. Connor and his brothers have high IQs but not Genius level like Kathleen." Wesley told him.
"I was able to finish with my required classes early but nothing like Kathleen, besides which I had to put a lot of study hours in. On the week of my finals I was so worn out and nervous that I broke out in a rash. On the week of Kathleen's High School finals she went out to a movie, stood guard every night that week and had a vision where she came to help us. You don't have to worry about my sister Sean." Connor said as he took another sip of his coffee and got up from the table. Fred and Hunter got up and helped Connie and Lucinda clear the table then went to their own rooms. They were all still feeling the effects of their outing during their holiday in the desert.
Sean didn't go upstairs though. Instead he took the keys to one of the vans and went to the college that Kathleen was attending. He drove around the campus until he spotted Kathleen's car then parked and waited for class to let out. While he was waiting he saw a car full of boys driving around the parking lot. When they spotted Kathleen's expensive car they stopped and were checking it out. He saw one boy try to open the door and immediately receive an electric shock. He tried again and received another more powerful shock. The others tried it also and received the same kind of shock. Sean heard loud expletives then the boys got into their car and took off. He quietly laughed at Kathleen's way of doing things as he waited for her to come out. In another 30 minutes the students all started to come out and go home for the night. Kathleen didn't come out though until 30 minutes later. He ducked down in his seat so she wouldn't see him.
"I know your there Sean McConnell so you might as well sit up and follow me home." Sean sat up and had the biggest grin on his face. He started the van and pulled up beside her. He got out and walked over to her. "What are you doing coming out so late little girl?" "Talking to the professor." "About what?" "My grandmother." "Oh, I guess that's okay. Let's go home and get you to bed. Or do you have homework to do?" "They didn't teach anything that I don't know already." Kathleen said as she got into her car and started it. "I'm feeling like a Dairy Queen ice cream cone so meet me over there okay?" "Okay." Sean said as he jumped into the van and followed her.
They didn't get back until almost midnight and had to walk carefully through the Hotel and to their rooms.
"There coming back awfully late. Do you think they did anything?" Lou asked Connor as they lay in bed. "No I trust Sean and Kathleen. Especially since he promised Cordelia that they wouldn't have sex until she was 18." "I hope she is as strong as you were. Goodnight." Lou snuggled into Connors arm and went to sleep.
The next morning Kathleen didn't have time to talk to anyone. She grabbed a cup of coffee and an egg sandwich that Connie made for her real fast then ran out the door with several large books.
"She is going to be one busy girl for awhile." Connor said as they all watched her run out the door as she said, Good morning, Goodbye.
"I was worried about her last night so I went to the college and looked for her car and just parked where I could see her car but not so close that she could easily see me when she came out. While I was sitting there a car load of kids were going around the parking lot and looking for a car to steal. They spotted Kathleen's car and tried to steal it. That girl had put a spell on the car so that when they went to touch it they were shocked with electricity. It took them several attempts before they got it through their thick skulls that it was protected. They all jumped back into their car and took off when people started coming out." "Where did you two go last night? We heard you come in just before midnight." Connor asked. "They were making out in the back of the van kissing." Nicky said. Sean saw the mischievous look in his eyes and ran after him. Nicky ran up the stairs and to the second floor. Sean jumped up to the balcony and landed in front and surprised him. "Tell Connor you were lying Nicky." "Sean wants me to tell you that I was lying Connor." Nicky looked at him with a smile. Sean grabbed Nicky and turned him upside down and swung him over the balcony. "Tell him the truth Nicky." "I did tell him I was lying." "You know what I mean." "Alright, alright. I really was lying Connor." "And?" "I have no idea what they were doing Connor, honest. Tell him to put me down, please." Nicky said plaintively. Sean saw Connor come and stand under the balcony so he let go of Nicky. Connor caught him easily but it scared Nicky so bad that he peed in his pants.
Nicky was so scared and embarrassed that he started hitting Connor to make him let him go. "Whoa hold on their Nicky. You're the one that started it. Sean didn't know that you couldn't jump like he's seen Kathleen and I do. He just saw me here below you and he let go." "He should know by now that there are only two freaks in the family." Both Wesley and Gunn got up when they saw Connor's old temper flare up at Nicky's remark. "Connor he's just a boy, be careful." Nicky got scared when he saw the look on his brother's face. He knew he had gone over the line. Connor grabbed Nicky by the arms and took him over to the couch in the lobby and threw him at it. Nicky was almost as tall as Connor yet he was able to pick up Nicky easily. Connor took a deep breath as his grandmother had taught him to do whenever he let his temper flare.
"Is that how you think of Kathleen and I Nicky?" Nicky didn't answer. "Don't you love us Nicky. Your sister and I have loved you and Mike from the time you were born. Why did you say that you think we are freaks? Is it just because you wanted to hurt me?" Nicky didn't answer at first. "You and Kathleen inherited so many special powers from Daddy but Mike and I didn't get anything. All we got is that were stronger then kids our age and we can run faster." Wesley came over and joined Connor; they sat on chairs across from Nicky. "You're wrong Nicky you've inherited a lot from your father. In fact you inherited more from your father then either Kathleen or Connor. Do you know what that is Nicky?" "No." "You're a carbon copy of your father. Do you know what a carbon copy is?" "No." "Carbon copy is how they used to make copies of typed letters. When you wrote or typed something and you wanted a duplicate of it you took two sheets of paper and placed what is know as a carbon paper between the two sheets and anything you wrote on the top paper copied onto the second sheet. You Charles Nicholas Martin are a carbon copy of your father. Not the Vampire Angelus but a carbon copy of Angel Liam Martin. When you are older and someone forgets what your father was like all we will have to do is look at you. You talk like him, you walk like him and you even get into trouble like he did." Mike had come over to join his brother. "What about me? Am I a carbon copy too?" "No Mike your not a carbon copy of your Dad but you have inherited everything that was good about your father and your Mother. You will be the one to help Nicky control his temper. You will be the one that will help him run Angel Investigations if he decides to follow in your brothers footsteps. You Mike will be the rock that holds Angel Investigations together just like your mother did." Wesley said. "I guess were special after all." Mike said to Nicky. "I guess so. I'm sorry I called you and Kathleen a freak Connor. I just wanted to get back at you." "Apology accepted." Connor shook Nicky's hand then hugged him.
"You know Kathleen most likely heard what you said." Connor said. "I know I felt her sadness after I said it. I think I made her cry." "Poor Nicky when we men hurt a woman's feelings they make us pay for it for a long time afterward." Wesley leaned forward and whispered to Nicky and Mike. "I know from experience." "What happened?" Mike asked. Wesley just looked at them and shuddered. "It's too horrible to say. Those were bad memories for me." He put his head down and made like he was crying and wiping his eyes. Nicky just looked at his Uncle Wesley and had a disgusted look on his face. "I think someone is trying to pull the wool over our eyes Mike and his name is Uncle Wesley. Aunt Fred would never do anything mean to him." Wesley looked up with a smile. "You two are getting too smart for me." "If I were you I would start thinking of what I am going to say to her to make up for it. Doesn't school start for you next week?" Connor asked the boys. "Yeah so we better make sure that all of our clothes are ready and we look over our books to get ahead of them." Nicky and Mike got up and dragged themselves upstairs.
"Anyone want to go with me to buy a car tonight?" Sean called out before the boys disappeared upstairs. Nicky, Mike, David and Bobby all yelled. "Me, I want to go." "Okay well leave as soon as the sun goes down and we'll go out for dinner if it's okay with your parents and Connor. Wesley, can you drive us to a car dealer? I already know where I want to go." "Sure, if you don't mind Fred and I will come along." "The more the merrier. I'll see you later. My task masters are calling me to the gym." Sean could hear the boys say "Rats" as they went into their rooms.
Kathleen was back at the Hotel by 3:30. The Lobby and dinning room area was empty so she went up to her room and started doing her homework. By 7 o'clock she was done and came down for Supper. Right away she noticed that Sean and the boys weren't there. "Where is everyone?" "Sean wanted to buy a car tonight and invited the boys to go along. They needed a ride to the dealer though so Wesley and Fred took them and they all went out to Supper." Lou answered her.
"Kathleen, did you hear what Nicky had said about us this morning?" Connor asked. "Yes, what caused him to say that?" "What do you mean by that?" Connor said a little more forcefully then was needed. "He wouldn't say that unless someone said something or did something that made him say such an awful thing in order to get back at someone." Kathleen looked directly at Connor.
Kathleen was just like Cordelia, she could make you afraid of her even though she couldn't physically hurt you. Connor thought he had better tell her the whole story before he started shaking in his boots and embarrass himself.
When he was done Kathleen just said "Thank you for telling me Connor. I'll know how to handle him now." "Kathleen, Nicky said that he could feel your sadness at what he said and he thought he had made you cry, did he?" Connor asked. "Yes he did hurt my feelings. I didn't know that he felt like that about me. I think I'll go to bed early tonight I want to get up early in the morning and do some exercising in the gym. Good night everyone." Lou got up and followed her to the steps.
"Kathleen, are you okay?" "Sure Lou I'm just a little tired. I think I'll give Nicky the silent treatment for awhile and act like nothing is wrong. It will drive him crazy until he comes and apologizes to me also." She winked at Lou with a smile and turned and went upstairs.
At 9 o'clock the troops came back. The boys went right to their rooms as did Wesley and Fred. Sean went to Kathleen's room and listened at the door. He could hear her heart beating slowly which told him she was sleeping so he just continued on to his own room and let her sleep.
The next morning Sean got up early to exercise so he could get some work of his own done today. Before Willow left she had gone over his credentials with him so that it would pass close inspection from anyone who was interested so he could get a license to practice in the United States and California. In order to get that license he had to take a test which was scheduled for today. Once again he would have to borrow Hunters ring but he would go in heavily covered and use the same story that all Vampires used that they were allergic to the sun light. As soon as he received his license he would go to the hospital that Hunter occasionally worked at whenever they needed help. Sean realized that he needed to update his skills since there were so many new procedures and available testing equipment. He was especially interested in the MRI.
Sean found Kathleen already in the gym when he entered. They greeted each other and Kathleen continued with her exercises while Sean warmed up. After two hours they both jumped into the pool to cool off and finish with their exercises for the day. Kathleen just had enough time to take a shower and get dressed before she had to be at another class.
At 2:15 the phone rang in the Lobby and Fred answered it. "Angel Investigations we help the hopeless." "This is UCLA may I speak to Connor Martin?" "Yes hold on and I'll switch you over to him." Fred put the person on hold and called to Connor who was in his office recording his expenses for the last job that he did. "Connor, pick up the phone it's UCLA." Right away his heart started beating faster. "This is Connor Martin." "Mr. Martin this is Diane Simmons I am one of your sisters professors. She passed out in my class." Connor got excited. "Is she alright? What happened?" "Calm down Mr. Martin she's awake right now. She said she hasn't had anything to eat today and I think her sugar was just too low. I've already given her some juice to drink and she is doing okay now but I don't think she should drive and she needs to go home for the rest of the day." "Okay thank you Ms. Simmons we'll be there as soon as possible." As soon as Connor hung up he yelled for Hunter. "Hunter I need you right now." She came running out of the clinic. "What's wrong?" "It's Kathleen she fainted at school. Her professor thinks her blood sugar just went too low. Can you come with me to pick her up?" "I'll be there in a second." Hunter said as she ran back into the clinic. She grabbed a blood glucose monitor to check Kathleen's blood then ran out to Connor's van. As she stepped out into the sun she started smoking and jumped back into the shade. "Connor I can't go I lent my ring to Sean today. I'll get Fred to help you." Hunter ran back in and gave the monitor to Fred and told her what to do.
Traffic was already starting to get busy so it took them forty five minutes to get there. They both went running into the Administration building where they were directed to the nurse's office. As soon as they saw her they both hugged her. "I'm alright, I'm alright I just passed out for a moment. I'm feeling much better now." Fred tested her blood right away. "Missy your blood sugar is still too low." "Can you walk or do I need to carry you after I take a moment to strangle you for scaring us so badly?" "I'm sorry I promise I will always make sure that I have something in the morning." Kathleen got up and had to reach out for Connor when she swayed after standing up. Connor picked her up in his arms and quickly took her out to his van while Fred talked to the nurse then followed them outside.
When Connor started up his van Kathleen reminded them that her car had to be taken home. "Don't you have another class tonight?" "Yes." "Well someone will bring you to school and you can pick up your car right now I am going to a restaurant where you can get something to eat." "Yes Connor." "Good girl." Connor said then pulled out from the parking lot and drove to the nearest restaurant he could find.
By 4 o'clock they walked into the hotel where Sean was standing and tapping his foot. Kathleen knew right away that she had to put on the poor me sympathy getting act.
"What do you have to say for yourself Ms. Martin?" "Please don't be mad at me Sean I'm a little tired after eating the big meal that Connor made me eat. I'm going to go and take a nap so I can be alert for my class at 7." She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek then went upstairs. "Saturday morning Miss Martin I don't want you to eat or drink anything so we can test you." Sean yelled up at her. Kathleen leaned over the 3rd floor balcony and yelled "Yes Dr. McConnell." Fred showed him the monitor. "This was taken as soon as we arrived and she had already had an orange juice." The monitor read 65. Sean shook his head. "As so many of us have done when we went to school we often forgot to eat. I know I almost passed out a few times when I didn't make sure that I drank some blood before going to class." "How did you get to classes during the day?" Fred asked. "Fortunately I went to school in Scotland where it was very cold in the winter and I could bundle up enough so that I wasn't exposed to the sun." "What about your internship and residency?" "Same thing, my only problem was when I had to go and help bring a patient in. Whenever possible I would try to get someone else to help bring them into the hospital." Sean took the monitor from Fred then and went into the clinic to enter this incident in Kathleen's medical file.
On Saturday morning Sean, Hunter and Kathleen were busy running a blood sugar test. By 3 p.m. they finally let her eat something. At Supper that night they gave her and Connor the results. "Mary Kathleen Martin you are hypoglycemic. Do you know what that means?" "Yes my blood sugar has a tendency to get to low which means that I always have to make sure that I eat three times a day and carry around something to eat." "Very good I hope that this means that I'll never have a problem with you not doing what you know is the right thing to do. Am I correct on that assumption?" "Yes Dr. McConnell I'll do everything that I have to do because I have too much depending on me." Sean pulled Kathleen into his lap and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't ever do that again Kathleen or you'll make me grow gray hairs." He put her on her feet and took a swat at her behind as she left.
This was the last problem that they had with Kathleen not eating. As usual Kathleen's word was her bond. Two months later another member of the family became gravely ill.
The Scooby gang had come to L.A. for Thanksgiving and the hotel was full once again. Peter Kepa and his daughter Leilani had come for the holiday. Peter had graduated and was now working at a law firm in Hawaii to get experience. Leilani was only going to be staying for the weekend then flying home because she had school on Monday. Peter wouldn't return for another week so that he could work with Wesley and Gunn for awhile. On Thanksgiving day Joaquin was in the back and tending to the barbeques and as usual all of the men were gathered around the barbeque and assisting. Giles was with them as well. Sean of course had to stay under the cover of the patio so Giles came over to sit with him.
As they were talking Sean noticed Giles rubbing his chest. "Giles are you experiencing pain in your chest?" "Yes and it's the main reason why I wanted to come over this weekend. I thought I would let you check me. I've been experiencing shortness of breath and pain in my chest frequently." "Let's go into the clinic because I can't hear your heart with all of this noise around and I'll check you." Giles followed Sean into the clinic and they were gone for about 15 minutes.
When Giles came back he was more relaxed and didn't seem to be in any pain. He returned to his seat on the patio except Giles refrained from any alcohol. As usual, when they all sat down to eat, everyone stuffed themselves and wanted to do nothing but lie around and sleep. As usual though the women were up and putting food away and cleaning up while the men took a nap. When the women were done and had joined the men on the patio Giles took Buffy and Spike to the side.
"What did you want to talk to us about?" Spike asked. "I'm not going to be able to train with Joyce anymore. It seems I am getting to slow for her to practice with me. I can continue to train her in controlling her thoughts and emotions while fighting but I will have to leave the physical training up to you two. I've been experiencing a lot of pain in my chest since last week when I was helping her to practice her Martial Arts. Sean examined me and took an x-ray of my chest. It seems that the last time I worked with Joyce my attention lapsed and she hit me in the chest and cracked a couple of ribs. Sean wants me to go into the hospital so that they can go in and remove a piece of my rib that seems to be pressing on my left lung." "Why can't he do it here in the clinic?" Buffy asked. "He wants to do it in the hospital where he will have the equipment he needs just in case he finds something that he can't see on the x-ray, and then theirs my age. I wanted to tell you two before I talked to Joyce so that you'll know what to expect from her." "That's okay Giles Buffy and I have often talked about you leaving her training up to Buffy or me but we were afraid you would blow a gasket." They all laughed at the truth of it.
"I'm glad that's over. Sean is calling the hospital to set up time in surgery but he said most likely it will be tomorrow and he told me to take it easy until I go in tomorrow. At times like this I envy your ability to heal fast." Giles said with a smile. Giles was quiet for awhile. He looked up at Spike. "Spike, I really would appreciate it if you would break the news to Joyce." "Sure Giles don't worry about it." Spike said as he got up and went looking for Joyce. Buffy continued to sit with Giles for a few minutes.
"Daddy do you want us to take any extraordinary measures to keep you alive if something should happen during the surgery?" Giles was quiet for a few minutes while he thought about her question. "No, let me go Buffy. I miss Mary and I want to go to her. She visits me at least once a month but I can't touch her. I know that you, Joyce and the boys will be fine with Spike. He's turned out to be a good husband and father for you and your children and I have no more worries about you. Wesley will be able to take care of the Watchers Council and when he needs to step down Tom will be ready to take care of everything." Giles looked up into Buffy's eyes then. He saw the tears trailing down her cheeks and he reached for her and they hugged for a long time. After awhile Giles let her go and went up to his room to take a nap and rest as Sean had said.
That evening Sean let Giles know that he was to enter the hospital tonight so that he could have various tests done before his surgery at 10 a.m. the next morning. Sean also gave him a DNR (do not resuscitate) form. Sean made several copies, one for Giles to carry with him, one for the hospital and one for Giles medical records that Sean now kept on him. Giles packed right away and Sean, Buffy and Spike took Giles to the hospital since it was dark already.
The next day at 10 a.m. the visitor's room was loaded with people from the Hyperion Hotel. Since Giles was the patriarch of the family he had a lot of people concerned about his well being. Joyce was sitting with Kathleen. They were still close to each other and at times like this they leaned on each other just as Willow and Buffy had leaned on each other through the years.
It had been 2 hours since Giles had gone into surgery and everyone was starting to worry. Spike got up and asked if he could step into Surgery to check with Sean on his progress. The nurse at the surgical desk informed him that Giles had had a heart attack while on the table and that Dr. McConnell would come out and talk to everyone as soon as he was done. Spike went back to the room and sat on the chair across from Buffy. "Buffy Giles had a heart attack while on the table and that's why it's taking so long. Sean said that he'll be out to talk to us as soon as he's done." Buffy just started crying. Joyce came over to her mother and hugged her. "Mama I'm sorry. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have been practicing with Grandpa." Spike took Joyce onto his lap. "Joyce it isn't your fault. Your Mother and I have been discussing the problem of your grandpa helping you to practice. We could see how he tired out faster than he used to but he is stubborn and didn't want to stop. We are lucky that he had the heart attack while in surgery so that he could be helped right away." Joyce wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
"Kathleen, do you think that Grandpa will be alright?" Joyce asked. "Yes, he'll come out of this alright but he'll have to slow down some and take care of himself better. Grandma is angry with him and scolding him right now." Everyone was looking at Kathleen when she answered Joyce. "How do you know this Kathleen?" Spike asked. "I can hear grandma and grandpa talking. Grandpa wants to join her now but grandma told him that it isn't time yet and we still need him here." They all noticed Kathleen was turning a bright red. "What happened?" Joyce asked. "For just a minute I saw grandma and grandpa kissing then grandma spanked grandpa on his bear bottom when he turned away because he was wearing his hospital gown and holding it together with his hand until he kissed grandma." Everyone laughed as they imagined them together. "That sounds like grandma alright." Connor said.
They had to wait another 2 hours before Sean came to them. They all stood up as he approached. "Please, sit down everyone. Giles is in ICU right now. The nurse at the desk told me that you've already been informed that Giles had a heart attack while we had him open. I was able to test him and make repairs to two of his arteries while we already had him on the table. I also, of course, repaired the piece of one of his ribs that was poking at his lung other then that he is doing okay. If everything goes okay we'll be able to take him out of ICU in a couple of days. Kathleen, I don't suppose you have my special drink in my thermos with you?" Kathleen pulled the thermos out of her purse that her mother used to use for her father and gave it to Sean. He drank the contents in two gulps then gave the thermos back to her. "Thank you my dear. I am going to go and clean up then check on Giles. I suggest that you all go home now Giles will be out until tomorrow morning most likely. They've asked me to help out in surgery so I'll be here until late and I'll let you all know how he is doing when I get home. Just in case I don't get home until everyone is in bed I am telling you now that tomorrow I'll only let his family go in to see Giles. When we move him out of ICU then you can all see him if you want." Sean got up and left then.
"I guess we better go then." Wesley said. When Wesley returned home he called the Watchers school and talked to Tom and Giles secretary Peggy. He told her that Giles was doing okay and to let everyone know.
The next day Sean and the Summers family went to the hospital. Giles was still in ICU so Sean went in first. He checked Giles chart then went to the head of the bed and put his hand on his shoulder to wake him up. "How are you feeling." "I have a lot more respect for what Wesley went through when he was in this position." Giles said. "Are you having any pain in your chest?" Sean asked. "Not really, I think what is bothering me are the wires holding my ribs together." Giles said as he rubbed his chest lightly. "Here I thought I was just going into the hospital to fix a splinter and I end up having a by pass." "You're in pretty good shape for a man your age Giles. If you didn't work out with Joyce so much you would have had a much worse time of it so you can thank her for keeping you in such good shape." Sean told him. "Then why did you tell me to take it easy now?" "Because physically you're in good shape but like most humans your reaction time is slower and your response to anything that requires quick reaction is all slowing down because of your age." Sean answered. "I guess when you put it that way all I can do is acquiesce gracefully." "Good decision, I'll go and let Buffy, Spike and Joyce know that they can come in now and I'll leave you alone for awhile." As Sean let the Summers know that they could go in and see Giles for fifteen minutes only he asked Spike to wait for him in case he needed a ride home.
Sean went to check to see if they needed any help in surgery today. He checked the board at the nurse's station outside of surgery to see what was scheduled so he could see if anything interesting was happening but they were all routine this early in the day. He checked on several of his patients then returned to ICU where the Summers family was still with Giles.
"Spike can I see you out here for a minute?" Spike said his goodbyes then went out to speak with Sean. "What's up?" Spike asked. "Spike they are accepting applications for new interns right now. I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to get the training you need. I spoke to the head of the department for interns and residents and he said if you can get your paper work into him ASAP he'll hold a position open for you." "I don't know Sean I'll have to talk to Buffy about it. It would mean uprooting the family and Sunnydale would be unprotected." "Well you have ten days to make your decision and submit your application and credentials. Let's go see if the women are ready to leave yet." Sean and Spike walked back into Giles room. "Are you girls ready to leave now?" Spike asked. "Yes I think Grandpa is ready to go to sleep again." Buffy and Joyce gave Giles a kiss goodbye then left. Sean stopped at the nurse's station and told them that if Giles had a good night then he was to be moved to a regular room tomorrow. He then joined the rest and returned to the Hotel. Two days later the Scooby gang left for Sunnydale and Buffy and Spike had a long talk about the possible move. Willow and Tara were the only ones that had stayed.
After three days Sean released Giles to return home. Giles was disappointed that Buffy wouldn't be there but he understood that Joyce had to return to school on Monday. Connor and Wesley had gone to the hospital to pick up Giles. While they were getting Giles dressed and ready to go Wesley quietly went to accounting and took care of his bill. By the time he returned Giles was waiting in his wheel chair by the nurse's station. "Are we ready to go?" "I presume you took care of my bill?" "You presumed correctly. Let's get you home before the traffic starts. The ladies have fixed up your bedroom with flowers and lots of balloons and Connie is making a fabulous Supper for tonight." Connor left Giles at the front of the hospital with Wesley while he went to get his new van that he had bought just the week before. As he pulled up in front of the hospital Giles got up from the wheel chair with Wesley's assistance. Connor came around and practically picked up Giles and placed him in the middle passenger seat. After getting him strapped in Connor and Wesley loaded up and returned to the hotel.
"They're here." Bobby yelled down to everyone in the hotel. The Price boys, Bobby and David, had been assigned time to stand at guard on the top of the roof. The adults took the evening hours and all of the boys took the time after school and the two hours before school. Since it was Bobby's turn to be on guard he had to stay upstairs and couldn't come and greet Giles with the rest. Connor had talked to Wesley about putting his brothers on guard also so that Kathleen wouldn't have to take a turn at guard because of her schooling and the strenuous schedule she was on. The only time she stood guard now was Fridays and Saturday evenings.
Everyone was at the back door of the hotel and waiting for them when they pulled up. Cylindia had the wheel chair ready for Giles as Connor and Wesley got out and helped Giles to get down. Kathleen was still at school and wouldn't be home until Supper time so she was the only one missing from the group. Fred and Lou were the first to welcome Giles home. Nicky, Mike and David were next as they gave their grandfather a hug and kiss on his cheek. Jeff, Daniel and Jerry Lee, Cylindia and Gunn's son were next. Sean could see that Giles was getting tired from the day's activities. "Okay Cylindia lets put him to bed so he can get some rest. I believe he has had enough excitement for the day." Gunn took command of the wheel chair and pushed Giles to the elevator and his own bedroom on the fifth floor. Cylindia settled Giles in for the afternoon and took all of his vitals and wrote down everything for Sean and Hunter to see. Everyone else had stayed downstairs so that Giles would get the peace and quiet that he needed.
At 6 o'clock Kathleen came home from the school library where she had been doing some research for a couple of term papers. As she reached Giles door she knocked on the door lightly. Cylindia opened the door. "Can I come in Cylindia?" "Yes Giles is awake now." Kathleen entered and when she saw her grandfather sitting up she went to him and gave him a gentle kiss and hug. "I'm not going to break Kathleen you can do better then that can't you?" Kathleen hugged Giles tighter and gave him another kiss. "I'm so glad that Grandma sent you back Grandpa." "How do you know she sent me back?" "When you were arguing with her that you wanted to join her I saw you for awhile. I heard you two more then I saw." Giles looked down at his hands as he held Kathleen's small but powerful hands. "She said it wasn't my time yet and I had to wait to be with her a little longer. I miss your grandmother so much Kathleen. I envy your father and mother that they were allowed to die together. Sometimes I feel so alone." Kathleen hugged her grandfather again. "You will never be alone grandpa and pretty soon Buffy and the rest will join us here and the hotel will be so busy that you'll be lucky to get any sleep." "How do you know that they will be moving here?" "Grandma told me. I think it will be very soon then Joyce, Junior and I will be together again." Kathleen said with a smile. Her smile made Giles smile also.
Cylindia came over then. "I think it's time for you to get up now and go downstairs to have supper with the rest of us." Kathleen got up then and along with Cylindia helped Giles to get up. "I need to go to the little boy's room before we go down." Cylindia helped him to the bathroom then let him go in by himself then closed the door. A few minutes later they were heading downstairs to the dinning room. Everyone greeted Giles then they sat down. As usual Kathleen tapped her glass for everyone's attention and the thanksgiving prayer. "Dear Heavenly Father we thank you for this wonderful meal that you have given Connie the talent to prepare but most of all Father we want to thank you for letting Grandpa stay with us for a while longer. Amen." Everyone echoed her Amen then started eating.
When everyone was done eating and just enjoying the conversation at the table Wesley tapped his glass for everyone's attention. "Next year our home here is going to be getting very busy. I received a call from Spike today. He explained to me that he has an opportunity to go into an internship at Our Lady of Mercy hospital and he will be coming down tomorrow to submit his request to the Doctor in charge of the internship program. If he is accepted he will be moving in with us and returning to Sunnydale on his days off. In the Fall of next year they will all be moving in with us and Joyce, Tony and William will be enrolled in school over here." The boys all cheered they were so happy about the news. Nicky and David were planning on going out for football next year and they knew that Tony was big enough to try out for the Varsity team also. Tony had taken after his biological grandfather who was a big man. He already stood at the same height as Spike but was much more bulky. He was so big that if Spike had been a normal human Tony looked like he could easily put his father down.
"I guess we better start working on the new suites then. Since we have so much time we can do a lot of the work ourselves." Fred said. "Lets wait to see if Spike will be accepted Fred." Wesley said. "He will be Uncle Wesley. Grandma has told me that all of these things that you mentioned will be done and they will be moved in by the fall of next year. In explanation all she gave was that things will happen that will change Sunnydale forever and the Hell Mouth will no longer exist."
Everyone was quiet for awhile. "Do you know if Buffy and Spike are aware of these events that will take place in Sunnydale?" Giles asked. "Yes, Daddy has told them and I am guessing that that is why they are making the move then instead of waiting for Joyce to graduate in two years." Kathleen said.
"I for one won't be sorry to see that Hell Mouth destroyed but I feel sorry for all of the people that will lose their homes and businesses." Giles said. "Don't worry about it Grandpa everything will work out okay." Kathleen told him. "Don't forget what Grandma always told us Grandpa. God often takes bad things and makes it into something good." "Yes Princess she sure did. I think I'll go back to bed now Cylindia I believe I've had enough excitement for the night now." "Why don't you walk over to the elevator Giles so you can get your evening exercise in for the day?" Cylindia said. Giles got up from the table and held onto Cylindia's arm as she walked to the elevator while pushing the wheel chair in front of her. Everyone watched Giles short steps along side of Cylindia.
"Watching him reminds me of when it was my turn in the wheel chair." Wesley said. "Let's hope that you never have to use it again." Fred said as she gave her husband a kiss then started to get up and clear the table.
