AUTHOR'S NOTE In response to one of the reviews, Sari is on of the '09 escapees that I made up. On the show, they only talk about 10 of the 12, so I made up Rhett and Sari to round out the group.

DISCLAIMER Don't own anyone, cept the ones I made up. See list in chapter 2.

Chapter Eleven

Dawn looked worriedly in her rearview mirror at Syl leaning with her cheek pressed against the window. It had been hours since they'd left Vancouver. Willow "convinced" the border patrol that all four of them were fully authorized to cross into Washington and they'd already gone through Seattle. Krit and Syl had been silent through Seattle, not wanting to look at the Space Needle. There were too many reminders there of their dead sister.

Not too long after that, Syl had started crying for no apparent reason. She refused to say why, only that something terrible had happened. Krit didn't push her, knowing that she'd tell him when she was ready. Willow and Dawn also stayed quiet, not wanting to upset the Slayer further.

Washington changed to Oregon and Dawn continued driving toward California. They wouldn't be safe until they arrived in Sunnydale. Until then, they had to be especially wary of any brand of police officer that attempted to stop them. Krit and Syl had explained to them the danger they could be in if anyone working with Manticore caught wind of their presence. Just because Lydecker had had a change of heart didn't mean that they weren't in danger of being found by Renfro and dying at her hand like Tinga.

San Francisco was where Jondy had once lived. Krit and Syl used to visit her there before all of their locations had been compromised. The three of them used to climb up to the top of the Golden Gate, just like Max used to stand on top of the Space Needle. It had been Ben's influence years ago, but for whatever reason, the X5s still felt most comfortable somewhere they could consider the High Place.

"We'll be in Sunnydale by tonight," Dawn told them quietly.

"Okay," Krit replied.

"We'll be staying in my house," Willow added.

"You have a whole house?" Krit asked, slightly impressed. "Wow."

"You'll see that Sunnydale was hardly affected by the Pulse at all," Dawn said. "Real estate has always been cheap there anyway." Her voice turned sad. "And anyway, the house was left to me many years ago. By Buffy."

"Oh. I, uh, I'm sorry you lost her," Krit said uncomfortably. "I know what it's like to lose a sister."

Willow turned to smile at them sadly. "I know. You must miss your sisters terribly. All of your siblings."

"Our family used to be so big," Krit said miserably. "But then only twelve of us escaped. Twelve out of 22! And we lost Ben and Tinga and Max." He shook his head sadly. "Jace managed to escape awhile ago. Max helped her. She told us about her right before we attacked Manticore. But now Zack and Brin are stuck on the inside again. And there's no way for us to get them out again."

"Brin is dead."

Willow and Krit stared at Syl in shock. Even Dawn took her eyes off the road for a minute to gape at the Slayer. "What?" Krit asked incredulously.

"She's dead," Syl repeated, monotone.

"How do you know?" Willow asked.

She shrugged. "Don't know. I can just feel it." She sniffed and looked down at her lap. "I have since last night."

Krit looked completely thrown, trying to absorb the information. "What are you talking about, Syl? What do you mean you can feel it?"

She shrugged. "I just know. She died during the night. Don't know why."

"I'm so sorry, Syl," Dawn said. "I…I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything," Syl said. "You don't have to. I know you understand."

Dawn sighed. "I do. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about Buffy and thank her for the things that she taught me. Hell, she taught me everything I know. She taught me how to be a person. If it wasn't for her, I'd have never survived. I'd have been dead multiple times over."

Dawn wasn't paying attention to Willow. The witch looked extremely confused, then concerned. Sisters often shared a bond, this much was true, but if Syl could feel her sister die then it was distinctly possible that there was some kind of deeper bond between the Chimeras than anyone had anticipated. If only she had access to Manticore's database, then she'd be able to learn everything about the world's newest protector.

Krit and Syl were silent, grieving for Brin, and Dawn and Willow respected their need for quiet. As they drove further and further south, Dawn began to glance nervously between the clock and the horizon. "Oh great," she groaned.

"What?" Krit asked.

"We aren't going to get back to Sunnydale until after dark."

Willow sighed. "Great."

Krit was confused. "So?"

"After dark in Sunnydale means vamp dinner time," Dawn said. "It's always better to be inside safe where vampires can't get at you after the sun goes down. Unless of course, you're the Slayer."

"Then I guess we're all set," Syl added ruefully. "Slayer, right here."

Dawn smiled slightly. At least Syl had accepted it.

She shivered when Dawn drove past the large green sign proclaiming "Welcome to Sunnydale." But she and Krit stared in unabashed awe as they drove through the town streets.

Trees were green all around them. Houses were whole with closely clipped lawns. Every building was free of graffiti. "Oh my God…" Krit whispered.

Dawn laughed to herself. "I know. It's like the Pulse never happened. Even all of the public clocks were fixed. No record that June 1, 2009 was any different than any other day."

"How did Sunnydale ever recover from that?" Syl asked as she stared out the window.

Dawn glanced at Willow. "It's a long story. Let's get home first. Then Tara and Willow and I will tell you anything else you want to know."

They turned down a street called Revello Drive. "Almost there," Willow said. "We just have to find – "

"1630," Syl supplied. "Right? That house I saw Tara at."

Willow grinned. "It's where we live."

Krit and Syl looked at each other. "Where Syl and I will be living too?" he asked.

"Well…" Dawn started. "The Slayer and Sunnydale…they kinda go hand-in-hand. Like peanut butter and jelly. You'll understand everything, I promise. But it's a conversation that needs to happen in the safety of the Summers home."

Willow snorted. Syl looked at her. "What?"

"Oh nothing. Just that given the history of the Summers family, safety was never the number one characteristic of this house."

The two transgenics glanced at each other warily. What were they getting themselves into?

Tara Maclay rushed out of the house as soon as she heard the car pull into the car. "You're back!" she cried happily. She opened Willow's door and hugged her fiercely. "I'm so glad you're here," she murmured into her hair.

Willow hugged her back. "I'm right here, baby." Pulling away, she blinked in confusion. "What's wrong? Why so worried?"

"I don't know, just a feeling I guess. I worry with you so far away."

Willow rubbed Tara's back comfortingly. "Don't worry Tara. I'm home now. And we've brought back the Slayer." She grinned.

Tara looked at Syl standing uncomfortably by her car door and her eyes grew wide. "You're the Slayer," she said.

"Yeah," Syl said. "That's me."

Tara smiled and put a hand to Syl's cheek. "I can't believe it," she said softly. "I never thought it would happen."

Syl turned to Krit nervously. "Thought what would happen?"

Tara looked at Dawn and Willow. Willow sensed the change in her mood. "Tara? Is it really true? Is there really…"

Tara nodded happily. "We have to find the others."