The Summers Residence, Sunnydale, 2000 hours.
Joyce Summers, the mother of both Buffy and Dawn Summers, was sitting at the dining table with her mouth open as she stared at Giles, Buffy, Tara and Willow. With Dawn in her room doing her homework as ordered to by Joyce after the others had come back home from Giles' apartment, they then sat down and told Joyce what happened with Major Carter.
"Hold on" said Joyce, not believing what she was hearing, "you're telling me that the Watcher's Council stole Faith from her mother when she was a baby? And then gave her to… what? The first people they found in a phone book?"
"That I can't answer" said Giles as he put his glasses on the table, "I knew that the Council would take babies who were identified as potential Slayers so that if they do get activated as a full fledged Slayer, then the military does not use them as a weapon."
"Like the Council you mean?" asked Joyce as she looked at Giles, and then at Buffy, "so your telling me that they don't see Buffy as a weapon even if she's my daughter?"
At this, Buffy sighed and leaned back on her chair.
"But I'm not their weapon, mom" said Buffy, "I don't work for the Council, not since they…. Well, since they refused to help Angel."
"What?" asked a surprised Joyce at hearing this news, news that she knew Buffy hadn't told her, "why would they want to help Angel? What is it that you're not telling me?"
"Mom" said Buffy, "please, not now."
Joyce just looked at her daughter before sighing. She then looked at Giles and repeated the same question earlier about Buffy being the Council's weapon when she was working for them.
"Joyce" said Giles, "I don't agree with what they did, I really don't. However, having the military train a Slayer and use her to not only fight demons, but also possibly kill enemies of the government is something that the Council is very much afraid of."
"But it's still not right, Mr. Giles" said Tara as Giles nodded his head.
"I never said it was" said Giles, "but I never thought that Faith would be one of those girls."
"I'm sorry about Faith" said Willow as she looked up from her laptop, "but she still killed two people, right Buff?"
"Willow? Buffy?" asked Joyce confused, "who did she kill?"
"Remember Finch? The police who came by and questioned me about him?" asked Buffy as Joyce looked on and nodded her head, "and remember that article about the Professor who was stabbed, and then had his throat cut?"
"That was Faith?" asked Joyce as Willow and Buffy nodded their heads.
"She tried to pin it on me" said Buffy as she looked at Giles, and then back at her mother, "I tried to talk her into turning herself in. I told her that she killed someone and that there had to be a price to pay. But she didn't want to and… and maybe if I forced her to go to the police and turn herself in or…"
"We were discussing it in my office" said Giles as he recalled the day that Faith came to him and said that Buffy was the one responsible, "and.. and I guess Wesley overheard us. He called the Council and a Special Operations Team tried to forcefully take her back to England that night."
"Tried?" asked Joyce as she looked on calm, however she was angry on the inside that this was the first time that she was hearing about all this.
"She escaped" said Buffy, "we went to look for her.. and… well, I found her. She was at the port getting ready to leave the country. I tried to bring her back but we were attacked; long story short, she saved my life."
"But she joined the Mayor soon after" said Giles before he looked over Joyce's shoulder at the main door. Joyce turned around as well when she heard the sound of someone knocking. Getting off the chair, Joyce walked over to the door with Giles and the others close behind her. Remembering that the Scoobies had told her not to welcome anyone she hadn't seen into the house, Joyce opened the door and saw a dark haired man who looked to be in his early forties wearing a black suit and trousers smiling at her. Taking a quick glance to the left of the man, she saw a young dark haired woman who was about seventeen and wearing a pair of jeans, a red T-Shirt and a blue jacket with her hands on her hips.
"Yes?" asked Joyce as she looked back at the man.
"Joyce Summers?" asked the man as the woman nodded her head, "my name is Richard Atwood from the Watcher's Council of Great Britain, I was wondering if you…."
It was then that Atwood saw Giles appearing from behind the door, as well as Buffy, Willow and Tara.
"Ah, Mr. Giles I presume" said Atwood as he looked at the older man.
"Yes" said Giles.
"I was by your apartment to talk, but since you weren't in… I thought that you would be found here."
"You do realize I don't work for the Council anymore" said Buffy, "so I don't need another Watcher."
"Miss Summers?" asked Atwood as Buffy nodded her head, "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, I'm not your Watcher."
"He's mine" said the young woman as she looked over Buffy and shook her head, before looking at Atwood, "this is the Slayer?"
"Excuse me?" asked Buffy as she looked at Willow and Tara, and then looked at the young woman.
"Miss Buffy Summers" said Atwood, "meet Kennedy Roberts, the new Slayer."
Joyce then looked at Giles who was fixing his glasses on the bridge of his nose as Buffy came and stood next to him while looking at both Atwood and Kennedy.
"May we come in?" asked Atwood.
Giles then asked Willow to grab the holy water to make sure that the two people on the front porch weren't vampires. Once Willow gave the bottle of holy water to Giles, he then sprayed it on them. He saw the new watcher close his eyes, and the young woman next to him complain that the water was getting her designer jacket stained; however, their bodies were neither smiking or bursting into flames. Giles then nodded at Joyce who invited them in.
"Thank you" said Atwood as Joyce showed him to the living room while Kennedy walked in and raised an eyebrow at Buffy before she looked over the two girls standing behind her. Pushing past the older Slayer, Kennedy approached Willow while biting her bottom lip.
"Hello" she said.
"Hi" said Willow as she gave Kennedy a little wave, "I'm Willow and this is Tara."
"Hi" said Tara as the newest Slayer glanced at her, and then back at the redhead.
"I think I'm going to like staying in this town" said Kennedy as she looked at a confused Willow before Buffy tapped her on the shoulder.
Sighing, and rolling her eyes at Willow, Kennedy turned around and faced Buffy who asked her what she meant by 'staying in this town.'.
"Buffy" called Giles from the living room, "could you come in here please?"
"You'll see" said Kennedy as she looked at Buffy, and then at Willow before winking at her. Kennedy then turned and walked to the living room before being followed by an ever confused Buffy. With Tara and Willow left alone in the foyer at the foot of the staircase, the redhead looked at the blonde with and asked her what just happened.
"I think she just hit on you" smiled Tara as she looked at the wide eyed expression on her face, the same expression that she herself told herself was cute. However, she kept on telling herself that Willow was with Oz, who right now was in Seattle performing with his band, "I.. I think we should go too."
Tara and Willow walked into the living room and saw Atwood and Kennedy seated next to each other on the couch, while Joyce and Giles sat on the armchairs while Buffy was standing behind her mother with her arms folded over her chest. Having no other place to sit down, Tara and Willow leaned against the wall as the new Watcher started to speak.
"As you know" said Atwood as he leaned forward and looked at Giles and Buffy, "Miss Summers has already relinquished her role as the Slayer, and…"
"No I haven't" said Buffy, "I just don't work for the Council anymore."
"Yes" said Atwood as he looked at Buffy, "but now, you don't have every resource that the Council has behind you, but Kennedy does. And given that she's the Slayer that's recognized by the Council… you, and respectfully Mr. Giles are not to interfere in her official Slayer duties and…"
"No" said Buffy.
"Excuse me?" asked Kennedy as she looked at Buffy with derision.
"No" said Buffy as Joyce looked back at her, "the Council knew what was going on with the ascension even before I quit, didn't they?"
"That's not the point" said Atwood as Buffy interrupted him.
"They knew" she said, "I know Wesley told them and they did absolutely nothing to help. One of our strongest warriors was down, and they refused to help."
"The Council does not help vampires and…"
"I'm not done" said Buffy calmly as Willow and Tara looked on, "we managed to save him in the nick of time before…"
"BY killing Faith?" said Atwood as Joyce widened her eyes in surprise before looking at Giles who looked back at her at closed his eyes. She then looked back at Buffy who had locked her jaw in anger before she looked at her mother, "so Mrs. Summers… you didn't know?"
"I did what I had to do to save this world" said Buffy as she caught a glimpse of the disappointment in Joyce's eyes while glaring at Atwood, "and you know what? People died, but we beat the Mayor. Don't come to my city and tell me that I don't interfere in your so-called official Slayer."
"Buffy" said Giles as he looked back at the blonde, and then at Joyce before looking at Atwood, "we have two Slayers in this city, and more than enough demons and vampires to go around. Coupled with potential apocalypses because of the Hellmouth, we'll need both of you working together."
"Very well, I believe the Council will agree with that" said Atwood, "but all Council intelligence comes through me. If I deem any information pertinent to whatever it is that Kennedy faces, then I'll relay it to you."
"We have our own ways of gathering information" said Giles as he looked at a smiling Willow and Tara.
"Ah yes" said Atwood as he stood up with his hands in his pockets, "we've heard about the help you provided Miss Summers. But from now on, everything that you find goes through me and Kennedy, and…"
"No" said Buffy as she walked towards Willow and Tara, "you don't get to come into my home and make demands. You don't want to share Council intelligence, so be it. But don't expect us to…"
"Buffy" said Joyce.
"No mom" said Buffy as she looked over her shoulder and then back at Atwood, "how about this? Any intelligence I get from my friends; if any of them are… what was it you said… pertinent to you or Kennedy, I'll make sure you get it."
"Let's everyone calm down" said Giles as he stood up and walked towards Buffy before pulling her back. He then looked at Atwood and told him that he can't expect to give them only bits and pieces of information on whatever threats they face, and one the other hand.. expect them to hand him every single piece of information that they come across.
Atwood just looked at Tara and Willow before sighing and stepping back. He then turned to Buffy and told her that Kennedy will accompany her when she goes patrolling. It wasn't long before Atwood asked Giles for another meeting the next day to which he agreed, while Kennedy approached Willow and asked her out for some coffee the next morning.
"Ummm…" said Willow as Tara stood by next to her while Atwood was now talking to Buffy, "I.. I'm sorry but I already have someone and…"
"Just coffee" said Kennedy.
"Tara" said Willow as she looked at Tara with her eyes wide open, "coffee?"
"Sure" said Tara as she caught a glimpse of Kennedy's aura.
'Ok she's pissed off' thought Tara to herself before the two of them left the Summers home, leaving Buffy and the others with more questions that were swirling in their head. And then, one the door had closed, Joyce turned to Buffy and asked her point blank what Atwood meant when he said that the blonde Slayer killed Faith.
VIP Room, SGC, 1100 hours.
Faith slowly opened her eyes to find herself in a strange room. It didn't take too long for the Slayer to realize that she was in the larger room that she was brought to last night, the same room that Major Carter had revealed who she really was; that she was Faith's mother, and that the Slayer was the daughter she thought had died. Closing her eyes again tightly, Faith hoped against hope that what happened the previous night really happened, that she had a real mother.. a real family. Turning in the bed to look at the other side, she was hoping to find the Major… however her face fell when she realized that she was alone in the bed. She slowly sat up and looked at the floor, hopeful that maybe she was sleeping in a sleeping bag… Faith found no one there. Even the table where they had kept the pizza was empty.
'Maybe it was just a dream' thought Faith to herself as she brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, 'I'm supposed to be the tough Slayer.. take no B.S.. but then I fall apart in a dream? Maybe.. maybe that why I know it's a dream… the way I fell apart was… was so unreal.'
Faith looked around the empty, but furnished room, and settled her eyes on a piece of paper that was laid against the phone.
Reaching for it and picking it up, Faith opened it before breaking into a smile at the contents.
Ellie,
The base Commander wanted to see me about an issue with one of our satellites. I didn't want to wake you since you seemed to be sleeping peacefully. I'll be back as fast as I can.
With love,
Mom (or at least I hope you call me mom.)
P.S: My dear Ellie, I got back about an hour ago (1000 hours/10 a.m) and you were still asleep. Still not going to disturb your rest. Heading to the bank, I have a surprise for you. Be back soon. Mom.
'Mom' thought Faith to herself as she got off the bed with the piece of paper still in her hand. She turned on the light switch next to the door and blinked as the bright light stung her eyes. She quickly rubbed her eyes before opening them again, which was when she saw a wrapped up sleeping bag next to the chest of drawers, 'mom, the last time I said that word… the last time I said it was before I leftthe house to the drunk bitch… stop it! Damn it Faith… you saw the DNA results.. Sabrina Lehane is not your mother… she's not… but… but I'm broken.. I… oh God… what if this mom decides that I'm broken and… no… she doesn't think like that. Does she? No she doesn't… she said she loves me but… I mean… '
As she stood in front of the chest of drawers thinking, she didn't hear the Major knocking on the door; neither did Faith hear the door open as the blonde officer peeked her head in before walking into the room and closing the door behind her.
"Ellie?" asked the Major as Faith turned around and looked at her while holding the letter in her hand.
"I….." said Faith as she struggled to find the words to describe what she wanted to say "I.. I'm so broken."
"Ellie?" said the Major as she walked towards Faith while the latter stepped back.
"I'm so broken that…. That…." Said Faith as she closed her eyes and shook her head before looking ta the Major again with tears welling in her eyes, "that I don't think I can be fixed, and… and if you want the… I mean… I don't know if I can be… what I'm trying to say I'm afraid that you'll let me go when you find out that I'm not the one that you've wanted."
"You are my daughter" said Major Carter as she looked into Faith's eyes and gently held on to both her arms, "no matter what happened, or will happen, we'll deal with it… I… I… I've always dreamed about you, about what I'll do if you were alive. And I may make some mistakes along the way… but that does not mean that I don't want you. Never. If you weren't taken from me, I already told you that I don't know what would have happened.. remember?"
Faith could only nod her head as she dropped the piece of paper onto the floor.
"Something I want to show you" said the Major as Faith looked on while she reached into her jeans pocket and took out a white envelope. She then led Faith to the bed, and sat next to her as she took out an ultrasound picture and handed it to Faith.
"That's you" said the Major as Faith looked at the picture of the scan, and then at the Major again, before looking at the scan again with her mouth open. She then looked at the name on the top of the scan, as well as the date, "you're my daughter, Ellie. Nothing will change how I feel about you. You're the one I want, no matter what your past.. you are the one I want. And no, I'm not going to let you go.. that's never going to happen. You are my blood, do you understand me?"
'My blood without naquada, but my blood nevertheless' thought Major Carter to herself.
Faith looked at the Major and then nodded her head before looking at the scan again.
"Can.. can I keep this?" asked Faith.
"Yes" replied the Major as she kissed the side of her forehead, "of course you can. I… I just hope that I can make you proud of me.. I mean, there'll be times I may embarrass you in front of others and…."
Faith just smiled at the Major before the older blonde stood up, and held out her hand.
"The Mess has some cookies and cake while it's getting ready for the lunch crowd" said Major Carter, "feel up to having a bite? And then we have a meeting with General Hammond, and Major Davis who'll be asking you some questions about what happened in Sunnydale; and I'll be there right by your side. Then after that, I'd like to have a full physical done on you."
"I…" said the Slayer as she looked at the Major who crouched down in front of her.
"We know about what happened to you in Boston" said the Major as Faith closed her eyes and nodded her head, "I'd like a full physical done on you with a full battery of blood tests, and…. and…"
"Alright" said Faith softly as she realized what the Major was trying to say, that they wanted to examine her for any sexual assault, "but… but I can tell you that…. I mean.. most of the damage has been healed and.. yeah."
"I'd still like one done" said the Major gently as she squeezed Faith's hand. The brunette then nodded her head. It was about twenty minutes later that Faith had showered, and changed before the two of them headed for the Mess Hall. The both of them had some coffee and cake while Faith asked about the Major's life. The dark haired Slayer could tell that the blonde was lying about some things in her story, particularly about what she had done at the Pentagon, and in the facility that they were in right now.
It was about thirty minutes later that Faith and the Major finished their snacks before the older blonde led her daughter to the twenty-seventh floor of the SGC. As Faith walked into the briefing room through the hallway, she could see a metal staircase leading to another floor below them, she then saw a huge blast door covering a window, followed by a large red table. At the head of that table she saw General Hammond in his dress blues, as well as another man she hadn't met before standing next to him before they turned to looked at both her, and the Major.
"Sir" said Major Carter as she gently held on to both of Faith's shoulders, "Major, I'd like for you to meet my daughter, Ellie 'Faith' Carter."
"Ellie" said the Major as she motioned towards General Hammond and Major Davis, and introduced them as the base commander, and the attaché for the Deep Space Telemetry program to the Pentagon respectively.
Faith just nodded at the both of them as General Hammond motioned everyone to take a seat. With the General seated at the head of the table, Major Davis sat on one side next to him while Major Carter sat next to Faith on the other side.
"Ellie" said General Hammond as Faith looked at him, "the reason we're here is…."
"Sir" said Walter as he ran up the metal stairs from the Control Room below and whispered into the General's ear. Faith and the Major looked at each other as Walter stepped back while the General looked up at him surprised and then at Major Davis.
"Major" said the General as he remembered the name of the head of the Watcher's Council, "contact the Pentagon, I want to know who gave clearance to Quentin Travers to come here."
"What?" asked Faith as she stood up with her hands rolled into fists and glared at Major Carter and the others, "you.. you lied to me? Damn it.. you lied to me and I believed it. Stupid!"
"Ellie" said the Major as she stood up and held on to Faith as she looked at Major Davis and General Hammond as they looked at Faith, "Ellie, look at me."
"You faked the DNA test" said Faith as the Major closed her eyes and shook her head.
"No" said the Major, "the picture… Ellie… I gave you that ultrasound image. That was you, I have no reason to lie to you about something like this."
"Walter" said General Hammond after he nodded at Major Davis to call his contacts at the Pentagon, "I want three Airmen to escort Miss Carter back to her room and…"
"N… no" said Faith as she shook her head as Major Carter held on to her. She continued to ask Faith to trust her, that she won't let anyone take her away. She then asked Faith to give her the ultrasound image; and when she did, the Major showed Faith the name on top of the image.
"That's my name, Ellie" said Major Carter as she pointed at the top of the image, "this is you. You are mine, and they will not take you away."
"Sir" said an Airman who came up the stairs after they were informed by Walter who had gone back to the Control Room. The General turned to the Airmen while Faith looked at the expression on Major Carter's face. It was an expression of hurt, mixed with concern.
It was the expression of hurt on the Major's face that broke Faith's heart.
'I'm supposed to be the tough Slayer, the kick-ass Slayer' thought Faith to herself as she felt a pain in her chest.
"No" said Faith softly as she looked into Major Carter's eyes, and then at the General and Major Davis, "I.. I want to stay."
"Ellie" said Major Carter as Faith looked back at her.
"They took me away" said Faith as she looked into Major Carter's eyes, "they took me away and I want to look him in the eyes when he admits that he took me away."
"General?" asked Major Carter as she looked back at the base commander.
"I need you to be calm, Miss Carter" said the General as he saw the young woman's fists get rolled so tight that the knuckles were already white, "we're here to protect you, but we can't do anything if you start attacking him."
"Ellie" said the Major as she looked down at her fists, "I need you to calm down."
Faith took a deep breath before she unclenched her fists slowly. While the Major was telling her that it'll take time for her to trust even her own mother, the General told the Airmen to take position at the top of the metallic staircase. It was then that he received news from Walter that Travers and two other men had already reached the lobby, and at the same time, Major Davis told him that their clearances were legitimate.. that they were allowed to enter the facility.
"What do they know?" asked the General as he took Major Davis to one side.
"Whoever gave his this clearance" said the Major, "doesn't know what goes on here, Sir."
"That lets some people off the hook" said the General, "but I want to know how they got the clearance in the first place."
"Understood" said Major Davis, after which the General asked him to conduct his investigation once they had left the mountain.
"Sir" said Major Carter as she stood next to Faith, "she'll be calm."
"Very well" said the General as they waited for Travers to come down to the twenty seventh floor; and a confrontation with the mother who had her baby stolen from her all those years ago.
TBC.