Chapter 12: Loyalty Proved
*****A Few Days Later*****
Buffy was feeling restless. Dawn had returned to school the day before, and she was trying to keep it together. Daniel had moved into the house and the Mitchell guy was staying with Teal'c at his apartment. Buffy was grateful for their father's presence. She didn't know how she'd handle it without him. It still seemed unreal. Her mother was dead. If Daniel had not appeared into their life, Buffy would have had to step up and be guardian to Dawn. She'd tried calling Hank and got nowhere. It was such a relief that Daniel was their biological father. She and Hank had been so close once. Buffy was always a daddy's girl more than her mother's growing up. Yet it was her mother and not Hank who changed her entire life to bring them to Sunnydale and start over. It was her mother who had supported Buffy entirely when she'd found Buffy was a slayer. She'd welcomed all Buffy's friends. She'd even welcomed Spike—a feat not even Buffy could do with grace.
Buffy missed her mother terribly. It was an ache inside of that seemed to grow daily. Nothing seemed to distract Buffy from the pain of her loss. She went to the Magic Box to speak to Giles.
"It's Buffy!" Anya called out. "How are you?"
Buffy could tell that she was uncomfortable being alone with Buffy. No one seemed to know how to act around her since her mother died. "I'm okay. I figured I'd do some training with Giles. Is he in the back?"
Anya nodded. "Yes. Yes, he is. Training is a good thing. Training will keep you from sinking into the black hole of despair that Xander is afraid you might fall into," she said.
"I'm the Slayer, Anya. I don't have time to fall into despair," Buffy said flatly. Then she walked past the counter in search of her Watcher.
She found him at his desk. "Whatcha doing?" she asked, peering down at the desk.
"Attempting to balance the books," he grumbled.
"My mother used a computer program to balance the books at her gallery. Maybe you should get Will to hook you up," she suggested with a knowing grin.
"Then I'd be forced to use one of those infernal contraptions! No thanks," he said, taking off his glasses and polishing them.
Buffy smiled fondly at Giles. God bless his predictability. "You could always get Anya to keep the books. She loves money and the thought of counting profits will make her very happy," Buffy suggested.
Giles brightened. "That is not a bad idea," he said.
"See, I can have ideas! I have another one," she announced.
"What's on your mind?" Giles asked, focusing on her. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm worried, Giles. We haven't seen any sign of Glory or her minions in days. I know I've been distracted since Mom died, but I went patrolling last night. I saw no signs of her. It's making me anxious," Buffy said.
"Yes, it is worrisome. Teal'c and Spike mentioned it last night when they checked in. It's too quiet," Giles said.
"Do they patrol together a lot?" Buffy asked, curious.
"Yes. I think Teal'c has been a very positive influence on Spike. He has a companion that doesn't abuse him but is still one that he can respect and look up to," Giles said.
"I like that he's not constantly following me around anymore," Buffy said brightly.
"He has his uses," Giles acknowledged.
"I know. And it's been good to have someone with his strength, but he doesn't have a soul. Dawn is too attached to him, and it worries me," Buffy shared.
"I'm not sure there's much you can do about it, Buffy. Your father has a very tolerant view of other species," Giles remarked. "In fact, I don't know that I've ever encountered a man who would probably lead a campaign for demon rights if an opportunity presented itself."
Buffy laughed. "Yes, he is a bleeding heart. I'm pragmatic—more like Mom. It's obvious Dawn takes after Daniel," Buffy said.
"He's a good man. I know that things would be much worse on both of you if he wasn't here now," Giles said.
"I know. I know I wouldn't have gotten through any of this without him," Buffy said as she started stretching and loosening up.
"You are stronger than you know, Buffy. If you didn't have your father, you'd rise as you always do," Giles said with a reassuring smile.
"I don't know. I have no idea still how to defeat Glory. The fact that we haven't seen any of her goons or her lately is making me nervous," Buffy said. "I feel like we should do something!"
"Did you have something in mind?" Giles asked.
"I was thinking we should discover more about my power. Where does it come from? Is there a way I can be more than I am now?" Buffy asked.
Giles considered. "It is true there is so much we don't know," he said. "A vision quest might help you communicate with your slayer side. Find out what she will reveal to you."
"So I should tell Dad I'll be gone for a day or so?" Buffy suggested.
Giles nodded. "Yes, we'll make a night of it," he said.
Buffy was relieved to have a plan, something else to focus on.
While Buffy was getting things ready, a certain hell god was throwing a hissy fit several miles away.
"What kind of minions are you? Why can't you find my key?" Glory whined to acolytes.
"It's the slayer. She's crafty. We know that she has it somewhere, oh magnificent one," minion #1 said.
"Your brother told me it was human. I am most positive, oh illustrious Glorificus!" minion #2 said.
Glory looked thoughtful. "If the slayer is protecting the key and it's been made human, she'll keep the person close," she murmured. Then she ordered, "Follow the slayer's friends. Find out who's new. Who she protects the most."
Her lei-ach demons scurried off to do her bidding.
******The Summers'******
Daniel was trying to read a book after Dawn went to bed. Buffy had left on her retreat with Giles. He hated that the threat of Glory was still hanging over their heads. He hadn't been able to save Joyce. If he couldn't save his daughters, he didn't know how he'd live with himself.
Depressed, he shut the book and tossed it on the table. "Joyce? Are you listening? Please, honey, come home to me! We're miserable without you!" he begged, looking around. He knew that she might be watching. Hope that she would return like he did was all that kept his misery at bay. Of course, focusing on his daughters helped.
The room was quiet. Nothing flickered. He didn't feel her presence at all. Daniel went into the kitchen and poured himself a drink. When he got to the bottom of the glass, rage filled him. It shouldn't have happened! He'd lost his wife. Why did he have to lose Joyce, too, when they had just begun to love? Angrily, he threw the glass into the sink, shattering it.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed. What was he doing? He went to the sink and began picking up the glass.
"Dad?" Dawn asked, turning on the light. He hadn't bothered. Darkness suited his black mood.
"I'm sorry I woke you," Daniel said, throwing the broken glass away.
"Are you okay?" Dawn asked, looking at him in concern.
"I'm fine. I just broke a glass in the sink," he said, feeling guilty.
Dawn approached and gave him a searching look. She saw devastation in his eyes. He'd been so strong, so amazing that she'd not considered the price he was paying or what he'd lost. Without saying a word, she moved and put her arms around his stomach, her head on his chest.
Daniel was immobile for a long moment. Then he hugged her back. It didn't take long before his body shook with sobs.
"I miss her," he mumbled.
Dawn's own eyes filled with tears as she nodded against his chest. "Me, too," she said. Nothing was going to make the pain go away, but knowing that it was shared eased it just a bit.
*****The Next Night*****
Mitchell was patrolling with Teal'c. He found the quiet man more than a little intimidating. He'd tried breaking through the guy's stalwart silence. However, nothing seemed to stick. Teal'c just gave him that unblinking stare or a one-word answer. Although Mitchell was living in the apartment temporarily with Teal'c, he didn't seem any closer to getting the alien to trust him. Ever since Mitchell first learned about the stargate and SG Command, the exploits of SG-1 had become a near obsession with him. Earning the privilege of having a stargate team of his own to lead was a dream come true. However, the dream wouldn't be complete without the team that O'Neil led. They were the best—true heroes. They were the ones Mitchell wanted on his six. He had known that Daniel would be the hardest to win over. Teal'c was supposed to be the easy one.
Mitchell stopped. "Okay, I gotta know! When this situation in Sunnydale is dealt with, what are your intentions?" he asked. "Are you going to join my team back at Stargate Command or what?"
Teal'c gave a slight nod. "If my duties to the Jaffa people allow it, I would be honored. I have neglected them of late as Daniel Jackson has needed me here," he said.
Mitchell was both surprised and relieved. "Well, that's great! Take whatever time you need," Mitchell said with a grin. "Jack told me he was eying Xander Harris for a team one day. Maybe we should get him to join us on patrol. I'd like a chance to see what he's made of."
"He is a completely untrained fighter who survives against larger opponents mostly because he doesn't value his own life and makes reckless choices in battle," Teal'c said.
Mitchell frowned. "I'm not sure that would be a good thing for SGC," he said.
"He is also the bravest young Tauri I have ever encountered," Teal'c said gravely. "His friends have powers to aid them in battle. He has none, yet he willingly faces demons the bravest of Jaffa would run from. I believe he would make a fine member of the team."
"Well, give him a call and have him join us," Mitchell said.
Teal'c pulled out his cell and called Xander, who predictably, agreed to meet them at the next cemetery.
When Xander got the call from Teal'c, he had just popped a bag of popcorn and was about to watch a movie with Anya. She did not appreciate his desire to bail on their time together, so he begged her to patrol with him.
They were chatting and walking along the cemetery when Xander stopped suddenly. "Oh God! My eyes! Make it stop! Please!" he yelled.
Anya gave him a puzzled look. "What? Make what stop?" she asked.
Xander pointed. Anya turned and saw Buffy having sex with Spike on a grave behind a nearby crypt. "I thought Buffy went with Giles?" she asked in confusion.
"We must be under a spell. There's no way that is Buffy! She'd never!" Xander exclaimed, fumbling with words to express his horror and dismay.
"There you are, Xander Harris," Teal'c said from behind them.
Xander and Anya turned and saw Teal'c and Mitchell. He pointed to Spike and Buffy. "Buffy has been possessed or bewitched!" he informed them.
They moved so that they could see. Mitchell grimaced and quickly looked away. "Damn, Harris. How about a warning next time? I don't think Daniel would appreciate us watching his daughter with her lover," he said.
"They can't possibly be lovers! Buffy hates him!" Xander insisted.
"Indeed. Buffy Summers left with Rupert Giles. That is an imposter," Teal'c said, moving forward.
Xander was relieved that there was another possibility. One that had not occurred to him.
"Spike," Teal'c called out. "You are being deceived. That is not Buffy Summers."
Upon hearing his friend, Spike quickly pushed Buffy off him and jumped up. "Bloody hell!" he grumbled. He turned his back toward them.
"Hello. You are my friends," Buffy said with a bright smile at Xander and Anya. "My Spike is a tremendous and amazing lover."
"What is going on?" Xander demanded. The entire scene was wrong on too many levels. Buffy had never smiled so brightly in all the years Xander had known her.
"Who are you?" Buffy asked Mitchell, frowning.
Mitchell frowned. "Uh, I'm Cameron Mitchell. I work with your dad. We've met before," he said.
"I do not know you. But I love my Dad. He's brilliant and kind. Spike likes him a lot," Buffy said brightly.
Xander was getting more freaked out by the moment. "I thought you were with Giles. Why are you here having sex with Spike? You would never have sex with a vampire!" Xander said.
"Except for Angel," Anya added.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Except for Angel," he acknowledged.
"That is not Buffy Summers," Teal'c said confidently. "Where did she come from?"
Spike was humiliated. Of all the people to find him in this position, Teal'c was the last one he'd want. Unlike everyone else in town, Teal'c was his friend and respected Spike. He made Spike want to be better. Spike knew when Warren delivered the bot that he needed to give her back. But he'd be unable to stop himself from trying her out. Then she was just so perfect. He'd given in to temptation.
He opened his mouth to reply when a growl was heard. They all turned and saw a reptilian demon with three heads and a small sail on its back.
"What the hell is that?" Mitchell asked in dismay. A growing horror filled him as the thing charged them.
"It's a ghora demon. Its eggs have power," Spike said. "They must have a nest close by."
"I will slay it!" the Buffy imposter announced. She attacked the creature, hitting it with furious blows.
"Are we sure that's not Buffy?" Mitchell asked.
"It's not!" Xander insisted even though he had his doubts. She was having trouble adjusting to the death of her mom. Maybe it was a breakdown of sorts?
"How do you kill it?" Anya asked Spike.
He shrugged. "A blade to the heart will do it," he said. Mitchell threw Spike his axe and watched him swing it, killing the thing.
Unknown to the group, eyes were watching them and drawing conclusions.
"I guess we got to bury it or something," Xander said, looking down at it. Then he grinned up at Mitchell. "Hey, new guy. Wanna learn how to bury a demon?"
Mitchell looked startled and then resigned. "Okay," he said.
"Wait. Spike has not yet told us who the imposter is and why he is having intimacies with a woman with Buffy's face," Teal'c said, giving Spike a questioning look.
Spike sighed and looked shame-faced. "She's a robot. The Warren guy made her for me," he mumbled.
Xander's mouth fell open. Not even he had expected that. "A robot? You made yourself a Buffy sexbot?" he asked out in outrage. "Oh. My. God. Buffy is going to stake you good!"
"This is most disappointing," Teal'c said, shaking his head.
Mitchell eyed the robot in fascination. "You're shitting me? That's a robot? No way! That's incredible!" he gushed. He walked around it, looking closely. He raised his hand to touch her face.
"Only Spike is allowed to touch me," she said, giving him a glare.
"Wow! There's not enough words," Mitchell said.
They had brought the robot and the culprit responsible for her to Willow at the Magic Box.
"How about disgusting? Illegal? Evil! Wrong!" Willow exclaimed. They brought the robot and the culprit responsible for her to Willow at the Magic Box.
"She is programmed to please Spike, but she can fight like that girlfriend robot," Xander said.
"How could you do this, Spike?" Willow asked.
"I'm a vampire. I do bad things! Deal with it!" Spike said angrily. Without looking at Teal'c, he stomped out of the shop, leaving them behind. He dreaded facing the slayer when she arrived. Even the look on Dawn and Daniel's face would be awful to endure. What the hell had he been thinking? Did he have no pride at all? Is this what she reduced him to?
Disgusted, he walked down the nearby alley. He was too distracted to notice he was being followed, so he was caught unaware when several of Glory's goon's caught him. Much to his embarrassment, they managed to bind him before he could kill any of them. A short time later, they led him into a room.
"Here he is, oh great Glorificus. We have your key!" the demon announced to Glory.
Glory looked eager for a moment before she got a good look at Spike, who began laughing.
"You idiot! That is not my key!" she insisted in annoyance.
"But she protected him. He was most precious to her! We saw it!" another said.
"He's a vampire!" Glory said in disgust. "He is worthless. I can't even brain suck him. He's an utter waste!"
The minions looked dismay and alarmed. Spike grinned. "No brain sucking. No key. I guess I'll be on my merry way!" Spike announced, turning to leave.
"Not so fast," Glory said. "You know the Slayer. That means you probably know where she hid my key! Tell me or I'll make you hurt."
If Spike had a heartbeat, it would be beating fast. The hell god grabbed his bound hands and began to squeeze. "Tell me!" she ordered.
Spike screamed in agony as she crushed his hands. "I don't know anything!" he shouted.
Glory smirked. "Oh, I think you do. And you're not going to leave here until you tell me everything you know about the Slayer and my key!" she informed him. She turned to a minion. "Hang him up there so I can watch the blood drip down."
Spike gulped. This was bad. At least, though, he didn't have to face the Slayer when she found out about the sexbot.
When the pain hit him, however, Buffy was furthest from his mind. His screams filled the air.
*****Chapter End*****
I am now working about 50 hours a week and am taking 2 graduate classes, so I have little time to write. That means it may be a few weeks or a month between updates. I'll do the best I can. Reviews, though, always motivate me, so take a minute and write one! Thanks for reading!