Chapter 14 Are We Safe?
Angel kept his eyes on the road and occasionally would glance to Buffy and to Connor. The drive was so quiet no one wanted to talk not after what happened during the night. Angel then reached over and grabbed Buffy's hand and felt her squeeze it. But the sun would rise soon. Angel then reached for the walky talky and clicked it.
"Guys?" He asked and he got Xander's voice and Spike's as well. "We're going to need to turn in soon."
"Copy that Sire." Spike said but Angel didn't want an argument he wanted to know where they could. Was there anywhere safe? Xander was driving the van and Giles was looking at the map. They should stay away from towns and the woods were not all that safe anyways but they needed to stay hidden. But Giles kept his eyes fixed one spot that he noticed when they made a left hours ago. Giles took the walky talky from Xander and clicked it.
"Angel?" Giles asked and Angel responded. "In two miles you're going to see a turn to a back road take it." Giles said and in the Jeep Angel and Buffy looked at each other. "Once you take it keep following it. Angel agreed and kept an eye out for the back road and found it and took the turn.
"Giles now what?" Angel asked in the walky talky.
"Follow it until you come to a dead end." Giles answered and Angel nodded and did as he was told. They came to the dead end just as he was told. Angel stopped the Jeep and three of them got out. Connor couldn't help but wrap his arms around his mom to comfort her as she hasn't spoken since Dawn's death. Buffy seemed so distanced right now, pale and cold. Giles and the others all got out of the cars and looked around.
"Got us at a dead end now what?" Spike asked as he lit up a cigarette.
"It's an illusion," Giles said and everyone looked around confused as Giles looked to the thick underbrush. "Just have to speak the password."
"Password?" Kennedy asked looking at the wall of brush and trees. Giles then said something and the trees and brush moved. Giles headed back to the van and everyone slowly went back to their vehicles and drove on the path. They then came up to a huge house with a barn.
"A farm?" Connor asked as Angel parked and the three of them saw an older man come out to the porch that wrapped around the huge house. Followed by the older man came two young girls and an older woman. The gang got out of their cars and stood around as Giles walked up to the man and Buffy waited making sure everything was safe.
"Rupert Giles?" The man asked and then he smiled a little.
"Marshal Walker," Giles held out his hand and they shook. Buffy lowered her defense a little and then Giles turned to Buffy telling her to come forward. "Marshal this is Buffy." Giles introduced them and Marshal nodded.
"Buffy I've heard quite a bit about you. The strongest, the oldest and the fastest slayer it is an honor." And Marshal held out his hand and Buffy shook it. "You are welcomed here." Marshal then looked to the rest of the group and then looked to Angel. "Angelus?" He asked and Angel stood there as Marshal walked down the steps slowly. "The great Angelus, the demon with an angelic face, the most ruthless vampire." Marshal looked at Angel eye to eye. "As a former Watcher this is a high point to be standing one on one with a vampire such as yourself. If you weren't ensould I would stake you where you stand." Marshal then heard a gun being cocked and turned around and Buffy had a pistol pointing at him.
"He's with me so back off." Buffy warned him. Marshal looked to Angel and nodded and then headed back up to the porch.
"Better get inside the sun will be rising soon." Marshal informed the group and they headed back to their cars grabbing some things and headed inside. Marshal showed Angel and Spike to the basement where they would be safe from the sun's light as they slept. Upstairs everyone set their stuff down and Buffy looked around the home. It was old but beautiful. She then walked to the kitchen and dining room seeing the long table and her feet when walking on the wood floors echoed and creaked. Buffy then saw through a window Marshal standing outside on the porch and Buffy found a door that led outside and saw the old man standing there. He was old maybe in is sixties. He had white hair that was balding on top.
"It's pretty here." Buffy broke the silence looking around as the sun was rising and the fog on the farm hovered over the ground. Buffy crossed her arms hoping to block out some of the cold.
"One hundred acres of land and at least five miles to the next house." Marshal said and leaned against the railing of the porch and Buffy looked out to the early cold morning. The leaves were changing colors to their pretty oranges, reds and purples. It was truly Fall and Buffy wished she could enjoy it like pumpkin carving and the feeling of Halloween and seeing kids dressed up. That wouldn't happen this year there would be no pumpkin carving, no trick or treating, no costumes nothing like that.
"You're a Watcher?" Buffy asked.
"Was." Marshal answered and looked to Buffy. "I used to train slayers a long time ago. It was a sacred duty and slayers then were treated differently. One would die and was honored by it with a great service. A slayer was treated with great respect well until the new Council was placed." Marshal finished.
"You mean Travens?" Buffy asked and Marshal nodded.
"He came in and the honoring and the respect stopped. His notion was slayers are everywhere and we'll always have one. A slayer will always show up." Marshal explained. "It was no longer a holy mission but just a job and if the slayer died then oh well a new one would show up I couldn't live with that. Slayers earned and deserved more than that." Marshal looked to her. "The Council I felt was corrupt and I left after a slayer of mine died and only I was there to bury her." For some reason Buffy wanted to cry. "Until I heard there was one slayer who went against system even quit the Council." He then turned to Buffy and she nodded. "Now you've changed it there are no longer potentials and one slayer but thousands of slayers everywhere."
"Just hope the army works." Buffy added and Marshal looked out to his land.
"I found peace here and a family." Marshal explained. "I knew the war would come back. I swore an oath and no matter how far I run it'll always find me."
"This maybe the last war." Buffy said and sighed.
"I'm not sure how much of a help I'll be." He then turned to Buffy. "I'll have the blackout curtains brought out and we'll place them accordingly throughout the day for Angelus." He said.
"Angel," Buffy corrected him. "His name is Angel." Marshal nodded.
"And the boy?" He asked and Buffy looked up at him.
"Connor, Connor is mine and Angel's." Buffy answered and Marshal nodded.
"Seems that nothing is impossible these days." Marshal added and now he's seen it all. "I don't want to give up on hope but if there is none after the day has passed when you leave then your boy is what you need to protect and he will be all that matters." Buffy nodded as Marshal went back inside and Buffy remained on the porch in the Fall morning. She then walked over to a huge couch type swing and sat down on it. Just then Willow came outside.
"I like it here." Willow said as Buffy began to get the swing going. "You think it's safe?" Willow asked and Buffy shrugged and Willow walked over to her and joined her on the swing. "I'm so sorry about Dawn." Buffy hasn't had time to morn her sister's loss. "I think if I keep moving I won't think about it."
"But when I stop moving my baby sister is gone." Buffy added as the two swung on the swing kicking their feet together to make the swing rock back and forth.
"You have Connor though." Willow reminded her and Buffy was about to ask how did Willow know about Connor. "You look at him long enough I completely see you. You and Angel made one good looking kid." Buffy managed a small smile.
"He deserves a better life. More than what Angel and I can give." Buffy then had tears fall and Willow wrapped her arms around her long time friend.
"He has his mother now ok." Willow assured her and Buffy nodded as she began to sob. "He has his mother and father." Buffy nodded again and hugged her friend.
Inside the house everyone was setting up shop for the day. Buffy walked into the house and found her place next to Connor. There were some spare rooms upstairs where Angel and Buffy could take as long as the blackout curtain was there. Spike wanted the basement. Giles was given a room and everyone else found a spot. In the kitchen breakfast was being made and Buffy felt her stomach growl.
They all gathered around the table for breakfast and Marshal thought mimosa would good for them. A little alcohol never hurt anyone. At first breakfast was quiet but once the alcohol of the half orange juice and half champagne settled everyone was looking more lively now. Buffy ate her bacon with delight as the group chattered and laughed a little.
"So," Xander started meaning it was time to get serious.
"Xander let's have a breather man." Faith insisted.
"We all know what's happening." Xander added. "We need to figure something out like should we stay? Should go back to the bunker?"
"Marshal you have any idea what happened?" Giles asked because no one actually knew it just all went to the four winds. Marshal shook his head no leaning back in his chair.
"It was like being blindsided I mean," Marshal paused looking around. "Quarantines were in place people fled."
"They were dropping a-bombs in streets." Kennedy added and Marie's eyes widen.
"We lost TV almost a day or two after the first wave whatever they call it, no radio." Marshal continued so it meant it was bad everywhere.
"Well there are people." Willow added. "We've come across some." She was hoping that would bring the mood back. Everyone looked around each other.
"Well I've spoke with Giles briefly and I concur it's the Book of Revelations." Marshal stated.
"Ok we know that," Xander jumped in. "But it's there like a timeline or something?" And Giles shrugged. "How can you not know?"
"Have you even tried to read the book?" Giles asked Xander. "Aside from you being so demanding lately have you any comprehension what that book holds? The meaning behind each trumpet? Behind each scroll?" Giles looked hard at Xander. "It's a complex book and just theologians alone have taken years to interrupt it. And yet we still don't know." Xander said nothing as he sat there and the light mood was gone.
"You're such a buzz kill man." Faith added taking a sip of her mimosa. Buffy sat in silence now looking around.
"I just want to know what we're trying to do and how do it. I mean we're all forced here right?" Xander asked and for some reason that just struck some nerve in her. She still hasn't had time to process Dawn's death and now when they've found a safe haven for a moment Xander wants to go in blaze of glory style.
"You were forced in?" Buffy asked Xander and he looked up. "Since when?" Buffy asked.
"High school." Xander replied. "You, me, and Willow." Buffy shook her head no.
"No you were not there are only a few here at this table who forced here and you are not one of them." Buffy corrected him. "Marshal and Giles swore an oath like Wes did. An oath to protect this sorry world that should have gone to Hell years ago. Me, Dawn, Faith and Kennedy we were born with this burden. Angel took his own oath to atone and you know what for all intensives purposes he did atone for his past sins and Angelus is gone. Spike sought his soul and Connor was born into this and has vampire strength he didn't choose it. You and Willow and Cordelia, Riley all of you never had to stay ever. You were allowed to leave and guess what you can still leave." The table was quiet now.
The breakfast ended with little talk as Marshal went to show everyone around and anything they might need.
"We'll do our best to let you all rest." Marshal assured them. "If anything is needed the girls and myself will be outside getting some work done." The gang all squeezed in the hallway upstairs. "Now there's two bathrooms up here, one on the first level and one in the basement. Just go easy on the hot water ok." And then Marshal left them to do whatever they needed to do.
"Hot water?" Connor asked and Spike nodded.
"That's what he said." Spike added. A hot shower after days of on the road it was needed.
It was nice to shower in the hot water and now it was Buffy's turn and she got in the stall but just as she stood there she lowered in the stall and sat there. She couldn't stop the tears as they mixed in with the water. It felt like no one has cared Dawn was gone. They said their good byes and now they moved on. Buffy sat in the hot water letting her mind go blank and she didn't even hear Angel come into the stall.
"Buffy?" He asked and helped her up. Buffy looked up at him and he just held her not knowing what else to do. "I'm here it's ok." He felt her shake her head no and she pulled away from him.
"It's not ok, ok." Buffy said. "It's gone Angel, it's all gone. Dawn in gone, the world is gone." Buffy said as the water continued to fall.
"We're still here." Angel said and Buffy shook her head.
"Didn't you see Marshal's face? Do you see Giles'? What's left to save?" Buffy asked.
"There has to be something we have to try to Buffy, we can't give up not yet." Angel said softly and Buffy stood there and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
Buffy was in the room and finished combing her hair and made sure the necklace's clasp was not visible.
"I remember that necklace." Angel said and Buffy turned around. She still had the cross necklace from what seemed like a life time ago. "And the ring," She had the ring he gave her for her seventeenth birthday on the chain of the necklace. "You kept them all this time?" And Buffy shrugged.
"They remind me of better days." Buffy answered and looked down. "Are we even safe here?" Buffy asked and Angel shut the door and walked further in.
"For now." He answered and Buffy sighed as Angel stood in front of her. "We should get some sleep."
"Sleep," Buffy scoffed a little. "Can't sleep too tired to sleep." Angel then cupped her cheeks looking at her.
"I'm sorry," He said and she looked up at him. "I'm sorry for everything. For all the pain I caused you. For not giving you Connor like you deserved. I'm sorry I wasn't there when your mother passed away. I'm sorry I couldn't save Dawn," But before he could continue and Buffy cupped his cheek.
"There's nothing to be sorry for not anymore." Buffy assured him. "We just keep pushing and keep Connor close." And then she chuckled a little.
"What?" Angel asked.
"Just a saying I said to the Vargas before we left and I guess we've been doing this for so long. Fight the dead; fear the living." Angel knew she wanted to say something else. "You and him are all that matters so whatever happens whether we save the world again or not you and him are all matters to me now." Connor was on the other side of the door and heard that. It meant when this group will be at their last thread of hope, their backs against the walls and the fires closing in Buffy will get him and his father out after that it didn't matter. Connor left and headed to his little spot to get some sleep.
Buffy and Angel started to kiss and found the soft bed. It was nice to lay in a real bed. There so many things they took for granted and they wished they could have it back. Even if they don't sleep at least they could rest together for a few hours. Angel would never become human but at least he had his soul and Angelus was gone for good. Buffy looked up as him for a moment and then leaned in and hugged him tightly.
"Buffy if we make it through this will you marry me?" Angel asked right out of the blue and Buffy let go and looked up at him. A small smile formed on her face and she put her hand on his cheek and nodded. He leaned in and kissed her and Buffy reached for her necklace and Angel watched her take of the old Irish ring and handed it to him. Angel then reached for her left hand and put it on her ring finger. He made sure the heart pointed towards her and they kissed again.
Giles wasn't asleep he sat out on the porch in a rocking chair hoping to enjoy the sounds of nature. But instead he looked at a picture of Buffy and Dawn. They were so young in this picture it was at Tara's birthday party during the days of Glory. The Watcher removed his glasses and wiped a tear away he couldn't believe Dawn was no longer here.
Spike sat in the basement in the darkest corner and didn't cry but smoked in silence.
"Sorry nibblet." He said softly to himself. "You're better off."
Willow cried and not just for Dawn but for Buffy. Buffy's lost so many people and this wasn't over it would be crazy to think she wouldn't lose more. Kennedy did her best to help Willow and all she could so was just hold Willow. Connor was on the couch in the small den. He sat there knowing he needed to sleep but he thought about Dawn his aunt. He didn't want to lose anyone again it hurt too much and he couldn't help but let the tear that has been fighting to fall roll down his cheek. Faith came down to the basement where Spike was and without a word the two got close and just held one another. Xander sat there alone thinking about everything that has led up until now and he hoped it all meant something. And for a moment he thought about Anya. And then Cordelia entered his mind and he missed her. He missed them both.
Angel held Buffy in his arms hoping that sleep will take over for a little bit. They weren't safe they were never safe and they never will be. For now they were even if it's for a brief moment. Buffy felt safe in Angel's arms and no matter what happens out there this was safest and sounded place to be.
So now what? More to come soon. Comments and reviews are welcomed thanks for reading.