Chapter 11: Only Hope

Disclaimer: Don't own anyone just the ones I make up and I don't own the song.

-----Three days later-----

      Time was running out, they had less then a week to find the Kahlmar demon plus both Jasper's and the sewers were a dead end. Patrol was such a waste tonight since all the vampires had better places to be and better things to do then eat. She was looking for some action and as if on queue a scream broke out, Alexis ran towards the scream and saw that the verbal part of the ritual was complete all the Kahlmar had to do now was kill the girl. Alexis didn't see Brin or any vampires protecting the demon, so she couldn't help but think if this was a trap; from where she was standing she flanged the Kahlmar demon into a sharp pipe, then made the sword come to her. Finally when Alexis got the sword in her hand she undid the ropes that were tied around the girl's hands with her telekinesis, then she yelled for the girl to run which the girl did and Alexis had no trouble doing it herself knowing that even if she had the sword she couldn't take the Kahlmar on.....yet. 

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      Max was sitting on the bench she and Zack had once put Brin on and let Manticore have her, Krit and Syl had left last night and once again she was alone. Zack was gone, only god knew where Brin was, Krit and Syl had gone back to their homes wherever that maybe, the others were somewhere on this continent. Sure she wasn't alone literally, she did have Logan and Original Cindy but it wasn't the same as having one of her siblings around. Her face was in her hands when a small voice brought her out of reverie.

Brin: Maxie? 

Max (looking up with her tear stained face, not knowing either to hug her sister or fight her): Brin?

Brin: It's me Max.

Max (looking into her sister's eyes and realizing her sister was back): Oh my god it really is you.

      They both hugged one another and started to cry. After their little cry fest Max took Brin to Gunn's, when he opened the door shocked couldn't even describe how he felt. Max left them alone and went home, Gunn had pulled Brin into a hug he was afraid to let go at the fact that if he did she would go away and that would have meant that all of this was a dream. Then Evie had run into the room and she jumped with joy when she saw her mom, while running into her arms she yelled, "Mommy, mommy!" Brin picked her up and held her tight.

Evie: Mommy please don't go away again.

Brin: I promise babe never again. I'll always be here with you and your dad.

      Brin walked over to Gunn, caressed his face, while he gently touched her hand, and they both whispered 'I love yous' to each other. She was finally back, in some ways Manticore didn't win since they never got to her family. In other ways it did win because they had gotten to her and she had let them get to Tinga, she had been weak when they turned her; Tinga wasn't since she wasn't sick. In some way Brin blamed herself for Tinga's death and the fact that her son would never really know her, but by god as long as her and the others were alive both Case and Charlie would know about her life and know how beautiful a person she was on the inside as well as the outside, not that they already didn't.

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      There was a knock at the door, Wyatt opened it, and standing in front of him was Alexis holding the sword of Kahlmar.

Wyatt (stepping aside so she could come in): You got the sword of Kahlmar.

Alexis: Ya. Was their any doubt?

Wyatt: Well, actually, yes.

Alexis: So I guess you would rather have Kahlmar standing here holding my limp body, then me holding his sword.

Wyatt: No not really. So tell me how it happened.

Alexis: Well I was on routine patrol and---

Wyatt: Patrol? But it's early.

Alexis: Ya well I have a prior engagement and besides it doesn't really matter what time it is, sun down usually equals dinner bell. Anyway a few blocks down I heard a scream, so I ran to it and naturally the Kahlmar was ready to use the sword on the girl. I fought the Kahlmar, wounded him, untied the girl, took the sword, and ran.

Wyatt: How exactly did you do it? I mean did you sneak attack him, come up from behind, what?

Alexis (trying to ignore the subject at hand): Does it really matter?

Wyatt (getting annoyed): Yes, it does to me.

Alexis (giving up): Fine, there is no easy was to say this, so I'm just gonna say it. Wyatt, I'm telekinetic.

      Alexis looked at Wyatt and his eyes showed a lot of doubt, so Alexis did the only thing she knew to prove it to him. He was holding a mug of coffee and Alexis concentrated on the cup really hard with her eyes and the next thing you know the mug that was previously in Wyatt's hand was now floating over to Alexis.

Wyatt (taking off his glasses): Astonishing.

Alexis (relieved): I'm glad you think so cuz the first time I found out, I considered myself a total freak show. So I guess this means you're not mad at me from keeping it from you?

Wyatt: Oh no of course not. I understand you were scared, so naturally you hid it, but does anyone else know?

Alexis: NO! You're the only one and for the time being I'd like to keep it that way.

Wyatt (still amazed): This is remarkable do you know how many more vampires and demons you can slay with this power? How many more lives you can save?

Alexis: I know that's what I thought the first time but the thing is when I fight I can't seem to use my powers. So I was wondering after this whole 'let's kill the slayer and bring her back as my wife' thing is over maybe you can help me master that while I fight.

Wyatt: Ya I can try.

Alexis: The weird thing is I felt that I was being set up today when I heard that scream. I mean no vampires, any sort of demon, no trace of single security, why would it be so open and out there if it knew that I would be looking for it? This makes no sense.

Wyatt: That does sound rather odd. I've been doing more research trying to find the demon's strengths, weaknesses, anything that can help you but so far I haven't found a thing so I'm gonna keep trying on that. The Kahlmar might have thought that he could take you but it didn't expect for you to have those powers. Um, did you find as to where it might be staying?

Alexis: No, but their might be someone who can help me... (Looking at her watch) and it's gonna have to wait cuz I gotta go. (Grabbing the sword) see you later.

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-----Alexis's Place-----

      It'd been an hour since she got home and in that hour she had taken a shower, made herself look presentable, and cooked dinner. There was only fifteen minutes left for Alec to get there and she was running around trying to make sure everything was perfect, it had been a long time since her last date and she just wanted things to go right for a change. Fifteen minutes later the doorbell rang, Alexis opened it, and standing there was Alec with a bouquet of red roses, she invited him in, and he handed her the flowers, she thanked him and put the roses in some water.

Alexis (walking back to the living room with some wine and glasses): Um, there is a couple minutes till dinner is ready, so I figured we can have a glass of wine till then. Is that fine with you?

Alec: Uh ya.

      She poured him and herself some wine then sat down, she was pondering some stuff to say, as was he. Alec looked around the room and saw some nice things that he figured he could comment on.

Alec: Nice place.

Alexis: Thanks 'lived here all my life.

Buzzer rings out.

Alec: Sounds like dinner's ready.

Alexis: Ya it does.

Alec: Where's the bathroom?  I need to wash up.

Alexis: Down the hall, first door on your right.

      Alec got up and went down the hall to the bathroom to wash up. When he got out he couldn't help but notice Alexis's room so he quietly walked in there and looked around. He saw some photos and jewelry on the dresser, and then he looked at the bedside table and saw the musical jewelry box he had given her for her birthday. He went over to it, picked it up, opened it and couldn't help but smile. Once he heard her call him, he put everything back as it was and slowly crept out of the room.

-----The Kitchen-----

      In the kitchen the table was set and in the middle were two lit candles. Alec sat down and a few minutes later Alexis sat down and they both ate dinner in silence for a little while and then they started talking about themselves and their past but Alec tweaked his past a little.  After dinner Alexis cleaned the table and Alec helped her, when they finished both of them headed to the living room. Alexis asked him if he wanted to listen to some music he told her 'yes' and she turned on the radio. An old pre-pulse hit was playing called "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore, Alec asked her to dance with him and she did.

*There's a song that's inside of my soul.

It's the one I've tried to write over and over again.

I'm awake in the infinite cold, but you sing to me over and over and over again.

So I lay my head back down, and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours.

I pray to be only yours.

I know you're my only hope.

Sing to me the song of the stars.

Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again.

When it feels like my dreams are so far, sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.

So I lay my head back down, and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours.

I pray to be only yours.

I know you're my only hope.

I give you my apathy.

I'm giving you all of me.

I want your symphony.

Singing in all that I am.

At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back.

So I lay my head back down, and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours.

I pray to be only yours.

I know you're my only hope.*

      When the song ended they were still dancing until Alec whispered something in her ear...

Alec: Alexis?

Alexis: Hmmm?

Alec: The music stopped.

Alexis: Do you wanna stop?

Alec: No.

Alexis: Me neither.

      So after that was said they continued to dance for awhile until they heard a loud crash come from downstairs.  Alexis pulled away from Alec and told him to stay put while she went down to check it out. Downstairs one of the windows of the restaurant was broken and she checked the cash register it wasn't missing any of the cash so she figured whoever or whatever broke in was looking for the sword of Kahlmar. She checked under the long loose floor board she had hid the sword under but it was gone. She ran upstairs told Alec what was going on; she changed her clothes, grabbed a few weapons and was out the door. What she didn't know was that Alec was following her.

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      Brin and Max were walking through the park catching up on old times. When all of a sudden they saw four vampires headed there way and one of them was holding a sword. Max and Brin weren't looking for any trouble; they started to walk away when the vampires surrounded them. Two of them went after Max and the one with the sword and the other one went after Brin. While Max was fighting the other two, Brin found a stick and staked the vampire without the sword and she found that the vampire with the sword was a little harder to kill.

      Brin and the vampire fought for awhile as she was fighting him she saw that he matched her every move. When the vampire finally saw a moment of weakness on Brin's part he broke her arm and threw her to the ground. Max saw this but she couldn't help her because every time she knocked one of the vampire's down the other one got up. The vampire raised his sword and was about to behead Brin when he was grabbed by behind and kicked into a tree. The vampire got up and for a minute tried to regain everything when he saw who was standing in-front of him.

Alexis: Kakistos, long time no stake in the heart? I can fix that.

Kakistos (snarling): Slayer, you're dead!

Alexis (ducking the punch): Now that wasn't very nice and you know what else wasn't nice, you taking *my* sword.

Kakistos (throwing another kick): Now, now we both know that sword doesn't belong to you.

Alexis (starting to fight): Finders keepers, losers weepers.

      They fought when Alexis got the upper hand and twisted his arm back, then took the sword from him, kicked him to the ground and chopped off his head, all the while watching his body disintegrate. "It wasn't a stake in the heart but it did the trick." When she turned around the two vampires were still fighting Max and she was holding her own remarkably. Alexis took a stake, aimed for the heart of one of the vampire's and then she threw it, the stake entered straight into the heart of the vamp. The other vampire saw this and ran with his tail between his legs, going to the Kahlmar no doubt.

      Max ran over to Brin and helped her up, Alexis turned back, saw Max and Brin, then walked over to them.

Alexis: You guys ok?

Max: Ya we'll survive.

Alexis (taking a look at Brin's arm): You really should get that checked out.

Brin: Thanks I will.

      Alec saw all this happening while hiding behind some bushes and he was so pissed he couldn't do anything about it. When he saw that she was finally ok, he left and quietly walked home.

Alexis: Do you guys want me to walk you home?

Max: No it's ok, we got it.

Alexis: Are you sure?

Brin: Yes, we're sure.

      With that said Max and Brin walked there way and Alexis walked her way. When she got home, she automatically got into bed. She knew it was wishful thinking on her part to have thought that Alec would still have been at her place when she got back there. All she needed right now was some sleep, in the morning she was going to re-open the restaurant.

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-----TBC-----