Disclaimer:All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Buffy, and Angel the series.
Synopsis: a sequel to Step it Up, PTB, the First is coming and it's all hands on deck!
Chapter Ten
Giles had no idea what he'd find when he arrived. He could only hope that it had not yet touched Buffy. That she was safe. He couldn't even take the chance of contacting her. Running constantly with the potentials, it was his duty, and his alone now, to keep them safe. They left the plane and grabbed their carry ons. No one had enough to check and so as the refugees they had become, they headed into town, to Buffys house.
It was bright, early, the sun barely made it's way over the horizon, yet when he knocked, nervously hoping to get off the street with the now 13 girls he had found and saved, someone answered the door immediately. Dawn opened the door and waved them in.
"Hurry! We don't want them knowing you're here already!"
Giles stammered, unsure how she knew anything was going on or how much of what was going on they did know. Still he stepped back and waved the girls inside. Dawn quickly shut the door behind them and locked it.
"There's food in the dining room. We're running out of rooms but we set up what we could for beds in the living room and downstairs. Buffy and Faith are still sleeping and Willow went to get some things for a spell. I said I'd keep watch."
Again Giles was confused but nodded to the girls to get food, as they were starving. Then in a tell tale action, he took off his glasses and went to clean them.
"Er, you seem to have been expecting us."
A knock at the door again and Dawn checked the peek hole before letting Willow in. Willow smiled and hugged Giles before pulling him into the dining room and playing catch up. Which left a relieved Dawn to meet the slayer potentials. Glad enough that she wasn't the one playing catch up. It was a lot to go over and she only knew the major points.
AA
By the time Spike and Angel had risen, the others were all up and Lindsey and Xander had even joined them. Fred handed warm blood over for them both and apologized for it not being the same as when Cordy made it. Angel offered a warm smile and drank it happily. Spike did the same with a nod.
"So, any more news?"
Angel started and Wes cleared his throat. They all looked to him happy enough to let him take over this part. No one was content to wait considering the dire circumstances and the missing memberes of their now family. So of course as soon as they were up, Wes and Fred had started researching and Fred had been in touch with Willow and Dawn.
"Yes well, we finally found something on the Restorer. Giles has arrived with approximately a dozen potentials and they will be here soon. We thought it best to go over what we've found once we are all together. Have you, er, heard anymore?"
All eyes shifted to Angel and he looked worried for a moment before setting down his mug.
"Just once, earlier. I, tried to contact Cordelia and she sounded, weak. The kids are still fine but the best she could do was to say they are underground, guarded by these demon monks. She gave me directions."
A sense of relief flowed through them all and they started to clean up the kitchen. Fred smiled and agreed that they should wait for the others before going any farther or making plans.
AA
Once Giles had all his answers, even if he didn't understand them all, he agreed that they somehow had to get all the girls and themselves, to the mansion out of town. It wasn't an easy fete but they had done it and Buffy and Faith were up and ready to greet them all when they arrived. The girls all took seats along the floor as the others found space on couches, chairs and arms of chairs and couches to breif each other. Taking the lead was Wes, which felt horribly uncomfortable to him with Giles there, nonetheless, he knew that he had the most information to inpart.
With a classic clearing of his throat and adjustment of the glasses he began.
"Right, well, what we have found was not so much about Sahjan or the slayer line. We decided to search more on The First. What we found was, not good, but there is a glimmer of hope. It seems that the First is prophesized to rise again and destroy the slayer line as well as the council. This, before being beaten back again. That's where the children come in."
Fred grabbed her book and jumped as if shocked when Wesley nodded to her.
"Oh! Right. Um well it seems that the Destroyer never meant Sahjan. He got false information. The Destroyer, refers to either destroying the slayer line for good, or the Bringers. Which are the bringers of the First. The Restorer restores the line. Well, Willow thought about a spell that would help, and we um, sort of have a plan."
And so it went around. Angel had instructions for finding the children and the plan was debated, tweaked and revised. Until finally Buffy and Faith brought up to the potentials what their part would be, how their lives would change, possibly end, and gave them a choice. So it was set. Willow stayed behind with Lorne and Cordelia's body, ready for the spell.
The potentials went for a quick training session with Buffy, Faith and Spike. Wes and Giles compared notes and word was sent to Cordelia. What none of them knew was they weren't the only ones with a plan.
AA
Caleb walked in and motioned the cloaked demons away as he came over to the children. Calm as they were he knew that meant the seer was around.
"Well well, these are my little weapons. Now now, no need to get upset Seer. We are well aware of your presence. Are you aware that you are running out of time to return to your body? Tell you what, I'll make you a deal. Since I'm sooooo anxious to meet you. I'll make sure the children aren't touched, not a hair on their shiny little heads. You return to your body and come straight here. Alone. In exchange for a little face to face time, I'll let one of them live, hmmm?"
Cordelia would have sucked in a breath, if she could. Not only did she have no body to do so but she was weak. She admitted this, and she knew time was short. The only thing she could think of is that this might actually help the others. Maybe she could distract Caleb, she knew not much of him but she knew the others weren't expecting him. With a last brush along the kids faces she started to retreat. The kids began fussing immediately and Caleb grinned.
"Excellent."
AA
Training session over, the girls were refueling and washing up when Willow cried out. Slayers, vampires, immediately took the stairs two at a time. Freezing at the doorway, only Angel stepped forward, slowly. Lorne was holding Cordelia's hand and trying to help her up.
"Is it, is it her?"
Buffy wasn't sure what was going on since this wasn't the plan. Angel reached for her and helped her to sitting. He glanced up and nodded.
"Get her some water. Cor?"
Cordelia was exhausted. She tried to keep her eyes open and licked her lips, too dry, as she tried to talk. When they tried to shush her she shook her head, took the offered water and drank it before lifting a hand.
"Right, well, I know this wasn't your plan but there's something you don't know. There's, another player I guess. A priest and he offered a deal. I, I sort of took it, but I was kind of hoping that we'd find a way out of it."
Spike's eyes narrowed.
"A deal? Think maybe ya shoulda mention'd that earlier luv?"
"He wants to meet me, face to face. Said if I come alone, he won't let anyone touch the kids and, he'll let one of them live."
Her eyes roamed the faces, and Spike looked livid and Angel took her arms to shake her, until Faith stepped in.
"I get it. Evil makes a deal and if it thinks you're willing to deal it thinks it's winning, meanwhile, we have a few minutes basically to come up with our own plan. While you play distraction. Right?"
Cordelia nodded quickly and looked at Angel.
"I can't choose, I figured worse case I could, could -"
"Sacrifice yourself until we get there. Not going to happen Cor. We have some time. We'll, think of something."
Angel lossened his grip on her, understanding what she had done and why. Knowing he'd do the same, had offered the same. He glanced to the others and they nodded. Buffy looked at Spike and nodded.
"Right, we'll get the others. We need to adapt, and quick."
With that Spike and Buffy left, Faith grabbed Willow, who looked drained, and offered Lorne a much needed drink. Angel left with Cordelia finally pulled her into his arms and picked her up. He wanted to make sure she was well enough for this all before they headed downstairs. Time was running out, and they had a war to win.