Authors Note : Thanks for all of those reviews guys, I couldn't do this story without them. Now to answer some questions. To Allen Pitt, no Faith isn't dead and she has her own thing going on right now. There's also a reason why I deliberately kept Wolfram and Hart out of this story and it's for the same reason I didn't put people like Lorne or Cordelia in the story. I didn't want any side, good nor evil, to have an unfair advantage. I want both sides to be on a quote unquote even playing field. But be expecting some surprise people to pop up every now and again.

To Angel's girl, yes the apocalypse will and has changed both Glory and Buffy in ways that will both help and hurt them. You'll see what I mean as this fic goes on. Thanks for your review Noah and thank you for keep reviewing. To weirdstoryreader, I actually don't know how long this story is going to be. I have certain events planned out in my mind but I honestly can't say how long it'll be. Anyway thanks to everyone who has been reviewing and I hope to see more people join in.

Chapter 6

Trojan

Well over four and a half months had passed since Buffy and Dawn had moved into Hotel California with their new family. Even after the danger they had encountered in Sunnydale, Gunn and most of his gang had went back to the small town with trucks and had taken nearly everything that they needed to survive from certain sections of the city.

Soon after, the motor inn had turned into a nice little community. Buffy was training Dawn and Gunn's gang on how to do martial arts and Judo. Fred had gained more of her sanity back and along with Anne had become a teacher to the few children that lived in the inn. Jonathan and Amy practically ran the community now and were vastly improving it. It seemed that the little nerd had a knack for running a community so the children nicknamed him the Mayor.

In an effort to secure the facility even more Jonathan needed to do a spell that he believed would help unlock hidden powers that would keep everyone at the inn safe.

Hotel California

Jonathan's Private Study

Fred, Dawn, Buffy, Gunn, Amy, and Gwen all sat on the floor in a circle as Jonathan finished drawing symbols on the wall and lighting candles.

"You sure you know what you're doing Mayor Mc Hard-buns?" Gwen asked as she playfully slapped Jonathan on the butt as he walked past her.

Sitting on the floor, he swallowed hard and started to rapidly blink at her antics. He'd never know why Gwen liked flirting with him but he liked it, no matter how nervous it made him. "There... there's nothing to worry about."

"Don't worry guys, I checked what he did myself and everything's cool." Amy told the group. After turning herself into a rat and after talking to Jonathan, she decided to slack off on the magick side of her life, at least for now.

"Let's... let's begin." Jonathan said as he started to chant. "The power of the soul and all who yield it. Last to ancient first, we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain and primal strength. Accept us in the power we possess and what we seek to have. Make us mind and heart and spirit and joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will." as he said that he handed Dawn a card.

"Acutus... focus." the younger Summer's said aloud.

Jonathan then handed a card to Buffy.

"Robur... strength." the blond said as Jonathan handed out yet another card.

"Potestas... power." Gwen said as yet another card was handed out.

"Timor...fear." Gunn said.

"Veneficus... magick." Amy said as she looked at her card.

"Sophus... mind." Fred said nervously.

"And Manus..." Jonathan added. "We implore thee, admit us, make us thy vessel, take us now."

The lights started to flicker and the candles then blew out. Standing to his feet, Jonathan flicked the light switch on.

"Did it work?" Buffy asked as she looked to the others.

"I... I don't know." Jonathan replied as he looked down at his hands. "Does anybody feel different?"

"No." Gunn said for everyone as he stood to his feet. "I told you all this magic crap don't work."

"Nice bonding exercise, Jonno." Gwen said as she stood to her feet as well. She really hoped the spell would work because it would've been a way to control her powers so she wouldn't hurt others. "Better luck next time."

"I don't know what went wrong... I..." before Jonathan could complete his sentence the group all heard a fly annoyingly buzzing in the room.

Following the sound, they saw the pest land on the wall. Taking her knife off of her belt, Dawn threw the projectile with pinpoint accuracy and the group watched as it went right through the fly and embedded in the wall. With wide eyes they all looked back at Dawn.

"I guess your little spell worked for one of us." Gwen said as she put a gloved hand on Jonathan's shoulder. "Now aren't we a band of misfits?"

"How are you feeling, Dawnie?" Buffy asked as they all stood to their feet and gathered around her.

"Like I drank a dozen red bulls." Dawn answered with a smile. "Now let's go and kill stuff."

"Dawn." Buffy admonished.

"Well I was going to send a group out to go on a run to Sunnydale today." Gunn spoke up. "Skills like that can come in handy."

"How long is this spell going to last, Jonathan?" Buffy asked as the short man started to fidget.

"A day... a week... maybe forever." he mumbled the last part out.

"Come on kid, I'll teach you how to use a sniper rifle." Gunn said as he started to lead her out of the door.

"Wait... don't you think our group needs a name?" Dawn asked.

"What you got in mind?"

Looking past him, Dawn focused on a comic book on Jonathan's desk and smiled. "What about the Suicide Squad?"

Sunnydale Mall

Buffy, Dawn, Amy, and Gwen walked through the malls parking lot armed to the teeth, making sure to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. Still deep down inside of her Buffy was a valley girl and still wanted to know about the latest gossip.

"So ummm... I heard a rumor that you and Jonathan were starting to date." Buffy whispered over to Amy, who chuckled.

"I think Jonathan has a little crush on me but that's it." was all Amy would say on the matter. "But what about you and Gunn? You two seem awfully chummy lately."

"What Gunn and I have is strictly professional." Buffy replied as she suddenly started to smile. "Do you think he likes me?"

"I think you two would make a cute couple." the witch said as her eyes lit up. "He's handsome, charming, and a fighter. If it means anything, he's already earned the approval of your sister."

As Buffy looked back at Dawn, she saw the girl giddily bouncing up and down ready for a fight. "I don't know if there's time for love."

"These are the end of days Buffy." Amy told her firmly. "And you've found somebody that can love you back. You need to take that opportunity before it's too late."

"Are you saying this for my benefit or yours?" Buffy asked as Amy's cheeks turned a bright red. As they neared the entrance door of the tiny mall, Gwen loudly pounded on the door. Waiting for several minutes no zombies came to the door. "All right, just remember that we're here to gather a few supplies and that you all have your lists of things to get." Buffy started as she looked at the other girls. "Just remember that this is an in and out mission. We get what we need and go. If any of us run into any trouble just call on our walkie talkies." she said gesturing to her earpiece. "Does everybody know what they have to do? Good... Gwen..."

Taking off her glove, Gwen sent an electrical charge through the sliding doors that made the entrance open. Gathering their flashlights and empty duffle bags the girls quietly walked into the mall. Happy that the skylight gave off enough illumination to stay mobile, Buffy still didn't want to get comfortable and drop her guard.

"All right, I know I'm breaking a horror movie rule by saying this but let's split up and... Dawn." Buffy whispered as she noticed her sister wasn't behind her. "Dawn." she whispered into her earpiece. Hearing shuffling behind her, Buffy turned to see a zombie, arms outstretched, walking towards her. Before she could bring up her gun, a bullet whizzed by her head and blew the walkers skull to a million pieces.

"I'm close." Dawn said into her earpiece. "I'm at a good vantage point so I got you guys covered."

After about an hour of scavenging for the things they needed, Buffy and the others emerged from the mall with full duffle bags. As they crossed the parking lot to get ready to leave they suddenly heard a man shouting. Looking up they saw an elderly man running quite slowly from some zombies.

"Help... help me." the man cried out weakly. Using her sniper rifle, Dawn picked off the man's would be attackers. "Thank... thank you." he said as he bent at the waist and started to wheeze in front of them.

"Are you okay, Mister..."

"Grey." the man answered. "Dr. Joel Grey. My friends call me Doc."

"A doctor?" Buffy asked. "God, we need one of those right about now."

"I remember you." Dawn said as she eyed the man carefully.

"Yes." Doc replied with a smile. "How did everything go with your mother?"

"What are you two talking about?" Buffy asked with a frown.

"Nothing." Dawn replied quickly.

"If it's a doctor that you need, I'll be more then happy to help you." Doc told Buffy with a smile. "It's not like I have anything better to do."

"I have a question first." Gwen started as she walked up to the older man. "Where did you come from? The apocalypse happened and you're still well dressed and you don't have any blood or grime on you at all."

"Well you see my office is just across the parking lot." Doc explained as he pointed to a building across the way. "Several buildings around here have generators, so I've been filling them with gas to keep power running to my building and the dry cleaner, which is how I've kept my clothes clean. The food court is just over there and since it was just me the food lasted for quite some time but it just now ran out. I heard weapons fire over here and I came to investigate. While I was out, I got attacked by those dead heads."

Gwen stared at him for a moment to gauge if he were telling the truth or not. In her line of work as an ex-thief she could always tell if someone was being untruthful, but this was the first time that she couldn't.

"Just because the lights are dim doesn't mean the juice is all gone." Doc said with a smile, misinterpreting her gaze.

"It's starting to get late and the others will worry." Amy spoke as she looked around. "I also don't like being in Sunnydale long, especially before nightfall, so we should get out of here."

"If you have anything you need to get, then get it now." Buffy told the elderly man.

"I only have my medical bag and a few clothes to get." Doc replied as he turned around and headed back to his office.

"Gwen, go with him." Buffy ordered as she turned around and looked at Dawn.

As her older sister looked at her, Dawn couldn't help but wonder what important fact about Doc that she was forgetting. She knew that he was a practitioner of magick but there was something else about him that she couldn't remember.

Hotel California

After making sure Doc got a room, Buffy took a brief walk and later decided to knock on Gunn's door. She didn't know why she was currently knocking on his door but here she was... knocking. Suddenly remembering that she really didn't have anything to say to him, she stared at him wide eyed as he opened his door.

He was standing there looking at her with a half grin, with his shirt off. Staring at him up and down, she had to admit that Amy was right. She did have a thing for him. Concentrating on his face, she looked up at his head and suddenly came up with something to talk about.

"I see that you're letting your hair grow out." she commented nervously. "It looks good on you."

"Yeah, you didn't think that I was naturally bald did you?" he asked as he gave her a look. She had seen him earlier that week with hair and had said nothing about it. Giving her another look, he moved to the side indicating that he wanted her to come in. "What up?" he asked as she crossed the threshold.

"I umm... I just wanted to see you." she answered as she looked around and saw that he was listening to music by candle light. The patrons of the motel often used candles to conserve power.

"What about?"

"Do, I really need a reason to come and see you?" she asked as she sat down on his bed. Seeing that he was giving her a look. "I mean we are friends right?"

"Right." he replied with another smile as he sat next to her.

After a little small talk, Buffy had to ask him a question that had been on her mind all day. "I guess the real reason, I'm here is because I wanted to know... how do you really feel about me?"

With a look of all seriousness in the world, Gunn leaned over and gave her the most softest, passionate kiss she'd ever had since Angel. Pulling away from her, he had a look of apology written on his expression as he tried to gauge how she felt about what he had just done. He was surprised however as she got on top of him and returned the kiss. God their bodies needed this.

As they started to remove their clothing it was at that moment that Buffy recognized the music that was playing in the background. It was Barry White. Damn his music had claimed yet two more victims.

Doc's Room

Smiling to himself as he looked around his room, Doc sat on his bed and took a white crystal out of his medical bag. Mumbling a spell under his breath, Jinx's leprosy riddled face appeared in the middle of it.

"Tell the Master that I've infiltrated the camp of some humans." Doc told the demon.

"Why would that be important?" Jinx asked. "It's been over four months and you..."

"I'm in the Slayer's camp." Doc said stopping the other demon cold. "Tell Glorificus to give me a little more time and I'll have the key." with a smile, Doc closed the communications and his eyes turned black as he laid down on his soft bed. As he started to drift off into a dreamless sleep, he started to play out in his mind how he was going to handle finding the key.

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