Title: Army Men (The Peacemaker Prophesy, pt 11)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes, please
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.
Summary: Buffy calls a meeting to share information. Spike meets his team. Angel makes a life-threatening mistake.
Army Men
Buffy walked into the house carrying Emma, Xander towing the line with an empty stroller. Despite having to part ways, an entire day alone with Spike was like breathing again. A little smile played on her lips. Even Emma seemed more content, if that was possible. The circle was complete.
"Dawn?" Buffy called.
"Yeah," Dawn called back from the kitchen. Buffy made her way in. Time for a bottle warming anyway.
"Hi," Buffy chirped, nearly floating to the fridge.
"Hi," Dawn said, drawing out the word and grinning broadly. "Nice day?"
Buffy blushed. "That transparent?" she asked, popping a bottle into the
microwave.
"If you want to count the grinning from ear to ear and blushing subtle,
then..." Dawn quipped, grabbing Emma and cooing at the smiling baby.
"Sorry," Buffy said, still smiling and blushing.
"No," Dawn retorted. "Good smiley blushy Buffy. Happy Buffy, good Buffy."
"See you've inherited my talent for words."
"How's Spike?" Dawn asked.
"Good," Buffy answered, testing the bottle and handing it to Dawn.
"Very...efficient."
"Efficient?"
"All businessy-Gilesy."
"And that would explain the blush."
"Don't make me poke you."
"Holding prophesy baby. Back!" Dawn joked, sliding the bottle into Emma's mouth.
"Lucky for you," Buffy quipped. "Tara and Will around?"
"Tara is at her apartment. Willow is in class. Both are coming by for
dinner."
"What should I make?" Buffy asked, opening the fridge.
"Ordering pizza," Dawn snapped, pushing the fridge door shut with her
backside. Buffy shot her sister another warning glance.
"Well," Buffy began, "Anya will be over after she closes at eight. Xander's here. We need to have a meeting so I can fill you in on Spike's info." She was quiet for a second. "Where's Angel?"
"Slept most of the day, but he's up taking a shower."
"Guess that's good that he got some rest. I have an icky feeling about
tonight."
*****
The sun had barely set over the horizon, it's last rays sinking below the line of Earth, when a sharp rap came at the crypt door. Spike hoisted himself from the couch, flicking off the television and strode over to the heavy wooden barrier. When he swung it open along its thick metal hinges, he was taken aback by the sight.
Six burly vampires, all older, all very fit and dressed in game face, all wearing exactly the same black cargo pants, black turtlenecks, black boots as if they were some sort of covert mortuary army unit. They stood in formation on Spike's front step.
"Spike?" an older, raven-haired vampire said, stepping forward.
"Yeah," Spike stuttered. Don't like this at all.
"I am Pwyll. One of the masters men. Simon sent us."
"Right," Spike said, nodding and stepping aside. The vampires filed in.
Pwyll sniffed the air like a bloodhound.
"She was here," he stated, fire in his eyes. "Faint, but I smell the
Slayer."
"Used to stay here, mate," Spike said casually. "Damn smell sticks to
everything." The army men relaxed a bit.
"Have a seat," Spike gestured. "Wherever."
"We are here to hunt," Pwyll replied.
"Slayer doesn't start her rounds until at least nine," Spike said
authoritatively. "She's what I'm after. You need to warm up, go on then." It was a hopeful attempt at getting rid of them, but they began to sit along the periphery of the room.
"We will wait then," Pwyll answered.
"Do whatever you bloody well want," Spike snapped, flicking the telly back to life.
*****
"Right, so Spike seems to think this is going down soon then?" Xander asked, shoving a piece of pizza into his mouth.
"Gut reaction," Buffy answered.
"Moon," Angel said, thoughtfully. All eyes stared at him. Angel shrugged, leaning on the banister. Buffy noticed Angel was a lot shyer of eating in front of them. If it had been Spike, he'd have been alternating pizza and sipping a mug of blood without even thinking about it. Not sure if that was a good thought or not. She smiled anyway.
"Regardless, we need to be on our guard," Buffy said. "Tara, can you
reinforce the spell?"
"Sure," Tara chirped.
"If you can, step it up a notch. Only humans. Clem will have to wait."
Buffy looked over at the Vampire standing near the stairs. "Make that human souls."
"Right," Tara answered, winking. "What about the fairies?"
Buffy thought a moment. The rest stared at them oddly. "They can stay."
"Fairies?" Xander asked.
"Long story," Buffy sighed.
"I'll try to see what I can dig up on the Master Line," Willow chimed in, albeit quietly.
"Good," Buffy answered, smiling reassuringly. It was nice to be getting
Willow back.
"I'll stay with Emma," Dawn said, assigning herself her rightful place.
"Alright," Buffy agreed, "but stay with someone please. I don't want anyone alone."
"Right," Dawn answered. She knew better than to fight with Buffy when it came to either Emma or Spike.
"And keep your eyes open for anything odd. Anything," Buffy pleaded.
"Oh," Dawn said, looking down.
"What is it, Dawnie?" Willow asked, looking at the girl.
"I meant to tell you that a Watcher came by this afternoon."
Everyone in the room was silent. Buffy could feel the anger welling, but forced it back the best she could. "And you are just telling me this now, why?"
"B...because..." Dawn stuttered.
"Who was it?" Angel asked, trying to break the tension between the sisters.
"Said his name was Gwydion. He knows Giles. He's helping him with the
prophesy. Came to talk to you and check for some... mark... on Emma."
"Mark?" Buffy snapped.
"A star."
"There's no mark."
"That's what I said."
"We'll check when she wakes up, but no mark. Dawn, did you let him in?"
"Yes," Dawn answered quietly.
"Angel, where were you?" Buffy said as it occurred to her that this was
precisely the reason he was here. The anger began to bubble to the surface.
"A..asleep, I guess."
"Vampire hearing?"
"Didn't hear anything that sounded..." Angel argued. "Look, I'm sorry." He said quietly.
"You are here for one reason," Buffy said, flatly. "Because we asked you to help protect Emma. Don't *ever* let this happen again." Buffy glanced at her watch. Nine thirty. Patrol needed to be done. The rest would have to wait.
"Anya?" Buffy asked, swinging her head toward the woman.
"Yeah."
"Can you call Giles and ask about this.. Gwydion guy?"
"Sure," Anya chirped in agreement.
"And can you guys look Emma over when she gets a bath. See about this
mark?"
"I know a lot about ancient ritual markings," Willow contributed.
"Good. Just take a look." Buffy said. "Angel? Ready?" Her eyes were
still full of fire
"Ready," he answered.
"*No one*," Buffy said as she stood, grabbing her coat, "*no one* comes in. And I would appreciate it if no one leaves."
"We won't, Buff," Xander answered. Buffy grabbed her cross bow. She felt as if she might need something extra. Angel sheathed a sword under his coat.
"Please watch her. Every minute." Buffy pleaded.
"We will," Dawn answered, starting up the stairs. Buffy swung the door
open, striding into the night. Angel followed at her heels.
*****
"What the *hell* were you doing?" Buffy raged at Angel as they moved out of earshot of the house.
"I heard the knock and got up, but something told me she knew him..." Angel stuttered. It was true. He'd heard the door and the voices, but for some reason, he didn't move to check it out. Didn't sense any danger. He wasn't quite sure why himself.
"So what, you're psychic now?" Buffy snarked, striding down the street.
"No, Buffy," Angel answered. "I'm sorry. It just.. it sounded like she
knew him. It won't happen again."
"It had *better* not," Buffy hissed, stopping in her tracks and spinning
toward her former love. "That was my little sister. If anything happens to her.... What if Emma *had* been there?"
"I understand Buffy. I'm sorry. I know that Spike would..."
"Spike," Buffy snapped, "would be a prom date compared to what I would do to you." She tried to relax. To breathe. She knew Angel hadn't meant to harm them, but the fact was, that was her family and he had endangered them. She took a deep breath and settled herself. "Look, just don't let it happen again," she sighed.
"I promise, Buffy. I'm sorry."
Buffy turned and continued walking down the street, this time toward the
docks. Just felt she needed to avoid the cemetery for a while. Together they walked in silence.
*****
"Well, Spike," Pwyll said with obvious dissatisfaction, "looks to be about eleven and no sign of your Slayer. We were told you knew her patterns."
Kind of wondering that myself, Spike thought. "Relax," he said, hopping up on a headstone and lighting a cigarette. "Slayers go where they are needed. Must've gotten some mystical call or some other sodding malarky."
"Master controls everything on the Hellmouth now," Pwyll responded.
"Would've informed us if there was to be an uprising."
"Well," Spike answered, "she's a fickle beast. She'll be here."
Pwyll leaned back against a headstone, waving at his men to stand down.
They instantly relaxed. Mindless Wankers, Spike thought.
Together they waited in silence.
To be contd.
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes, please
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing.
Summary: Buffy calls a meeting to share information. Spike meets his team. Angel makes a life-threatening mistake.
Army Men
Buffy walked into the house carrying Emma, Xander towing the line with an empty stroller. Despite having to part ways, an entire day alone with Spike was like breathing again. A little smile played on her lips. Even Emma seemed more content, if that was possible. The circle was complete.
"Dawn?" Buffy called.
"Yeah," Dawn called back from the kitchen. Buffy made her way in. Time for a bottle warming anyway.
"Hi," Buffy chirped, nearly floating to the fridge.
"Hi," Dawn said, drawing out the word and grinning broadly. "Nice day?"
Buffy blushed. "That transparent?" she asked, popping a bottle into the
microwave.
"If you want to count the grinning from ear to ear and blushing subtle,
then..." Dawn quipped, grabbing Emma and cooing at the smiling baby.
"Sorry," Buffy said, still smiling and blushing.
"No," Dawn retorted. "Good smiley blushy Buffy. Happy Buffy, good Buffy."
"See you've inherited my talent for words."
"How's Spike?" Dawn asked.
"Good," Buffy answered, testing the bottle and handing it to Dawn.
"Very...efficient."
"Efficient?"
"All businessy-Gilesy."
"And that would explain the blush."
"Don't make me poke you."
"Holding prophesy baby. Back!" Dawn joked, sliding the bottle into Emma's mouth.
"Lucky for you," Buffy quipped. "Tara and Will around?"
"Tara is at her apartment. Willow is in class. Both are coming by for
dinner."
"What should I make?" Buffy asked, opening the fridge.
"Ordering pizza," Dawn snapped, pushing the fridge door shut with her
backside. Buffy shot her sister another warning glance.
"Well," Buffy began, "Anya will be over after she closes at eight. Xander's here. We need to have a meeting so I can fill you in on Spike's info." She was quiet for a second. "Where's Angel?"
"Slept most of the day, but he's up taking a shower."
"Guess that's good that he got some rest. I have an icky feeling about
tonight."
*****
The sun had barely set over the horizon, it's last rays sinking below the line of Earth, when a sharp rap came at the crypt door. Spike hoisted himself from the couch, flicking off the television and strode over to the heavy wooden barrier. When he swung it open along its thick metal hinges, he was taken aback by the sight.
Six burly vampires, all older, all very fit and dressed in game face, all wearing exactly the same black cargo pants, black turtlenecks, black boots as if they were some sort of covert mortuary army unit. They stood in formation on Spike's front step.
"Spike?" an older, raven-haired vampire said, stepping forward.
"Yeah," Spike stuttered. Don't like this at all.
"I am Pwyll. One of the masters men. Simon sent us."
"Right," Spike said, nodding and stepping aside. The vampires filed in.
Pwyll sniffed the air like a bloodhound.
"She was here," he stated, fire in his eyes. "Faint, but I smell the
Slayer."
"Used to stay here, mate," Spike said casually. "Damn smell sticks to
everything." The army men relaxed a bit.
"Have a seat," Spike gestured. "Wherever."
"We are here to hunt," Pwyll replied.
"Slayer doesn't start her rounds until at least nine," Spike said
authoritatively. "She's what I'm after. You need to warm up, go on then." It was a hopeful attempt at getting rid of them, but they began to sit along the periphery of the room.
"We will wait then," Pwyll answered.
"Do whatever you bloody well want," Spike snapped, flicking the telly back to life.
*****
"Right, so Spike seems to think this is going down soon then?" Xander asked, shoving a piece of pizza into his mouth.
"Gut reaction," Buffy answered.
"Moon," Angel said, thoughtfully. All eyes stared at him. Angel shrugged, leaning on the banister. Buffy noticed Angel was a lot shyer of eating in front of them. If it had been Spike, he'd have been alternating pizza and sipping a mug of blood without even thinking about it. Not sure if that was a good thought or not. She smiled anyway.
"Regardless, we need to be on our guard," Buffy said. "Tara, can you
reinforce the spell?"
"Sure," Tara chirped.
"If you can, step it up a notch. Only humans. Clem will have to wait."
Buffy looked over at the Vampire standing near the stairs. "Make that human souls."
"Right," Tara answered, winking. "What about the fairies?"
Buffy thought a moment. The rest stared at them oddly. "They can stay."
"Fairies?" Xander asked.
"Long story," Buffy sighed.
"I'll try to see what I can dig up on the Master Line," Willow chimed in, albeit quietly.
"Good," Buffy answered, smiling reassuringly. It was nice to be getting
Willow back.
"I'll stay with Emma," Dawn said, assigning herself her rightful place.
"Alright," Buffy agreed, "but stay with someone please. I don't want anyone alone."
"Right," Dawn answered. She knew better than to fight with Buffy when it came to either Emma or Spike.
"And keep your eyes open for anything odd. Anything," Buffy pleaded.
"Oh," Dawn said, looking down.
"What is it, Dawnie?" Willow asked, looking at the girl.
"I meant to tell you that a Watcher came by this afternoon."
Everyone in the room was silent. Buffy could feel the anger welling, but forced it back the best she could. "And you are just telling me this now, why?"
"B...because..." Dawn stuttered.
"Who was it?" Angel asked, trying to break the tension between the sisters.
"Said his name was Gwydion. He knows Giles. He's helping him with the
prophesy. Came to talk to you and check for some... mark... on Emma."
"Mark?" Buffy snapped.
"A star."
"There's no mark."
"That's what I said."
"We'll check when she wakes up, but no mark. Dawn, did you let him in?"
"Yes," Dawn answered quietly.
"Angel, where were you?" Buffy said as it occurred to her that this was
precisely the reason he was here. The anger began to bubble to the surface.
"A..asleep, I guess."
"Vampire hearing?"
"Didn't hear anything that sounded..." Angel argued. "Look, I'm sorry." He said quietly.
"You are here for one reason," Buffy said, flatly. "Because we asked you to help protect Emma. Don't *ever* let this happen again." Buffy glanced at her watch. Nine thirty. Patrol needed to be done. The rest would have to wait.
"Anya?" Buffy asked, swinging her head toward the woman.
"Yeah."
"Can you call Giles and ask about this.. Gwydion guy?"
"Sure," Anya chirped in agreement.
"And can you guys look Emma over when she gets a bath. See about this
mark?"
"I know a lot about ancient ritual markings," Willow contributed.
"Good. Just take a look." Buffy said. "Angel? Ready?" Her eyes were
still full of fire
"Ready," he answered.
"*No one*," Buffy said as she stood, grabbing her coat, "*no one* comes in. And I would appreciate it if no one leaves."
"We won't, Buff," Xander answered. Buffy grabbed her cross bow. She felt as if she might need something extra. Angel sheathed a sword under his coat.
"Please watch her. Every minute." Buffy pleaded.
"We will," Dawn answered, starting up the stairs. Buffy swung the door
open, striding into the night. Angel followed at her heels.
*****
"What the *hell* were you doing?" Buffy raged at Angel as they moved out of earshot of the house.
"I heard the knock and got up, but something told me she knew him..." Angel stuttered. It was true. He'd heard the door and the voices, but for some reason, he didn't move to check it out. Didn't sense any danger. He wasn't quite sure why himself.
"So what, you're psychic now?" Buffy snarked, striding down the street.
"No, Buffy," Angel answered. "I'm sorry. It just.. it sounded like she
knew him. It won't happen again."
"It had *better* not," Buffy hissed, stopping in her tracks and spinning
toward her former love. "That was my little sister. If anything happens to her.... What if Emma *had* been there?"
"I understand Buffy. I'm sorry. I know that Spike would..."
"Spike," Buffy snapped, "would be a prom date compared to what I would do to you." She tried to relax. To breathe. She knew Angel hadn't meant to harm them, but the fact was, that was her family and he had endangered them. She took a deep breath and settled herself. "Look, just don't let it happen again," she sighed.
"I promise, Buffy. I'm sorry."
Buffy turned and continued walking down the street, this time toward the
docks. Just felt she needed to avoid the cemetery for a while. Together they walked in silence.
*****
"Well, Spike," Pwyll said with obvious dissatisfaction, "looks to be about eleven and no sign of your Slayer. We were told you knew her patterns."
Kind of wondering that myself, Spike thought. "Relax," he said, hopping up on a headstone and lighting a cigarette. "Slayers go where they are needed. Must've gotten some mystical call or some other sodding malarky."
"Master controls everything on the Hellmouth now," Pwyll responded.
"Would've informed us if there was to be an uprising."
"Well," Spike answered, "she's a fickle beast. She'll be here."
Pwyll leaned back against a headstone, waving at his men to stand down.
They instantly relaxed. Mindless Wankers, Spike thought.
Together they waited in silence.
To be contd.