Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All characters appearing in Salem's Lot are copyright Stephen King. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
The Slayer Squad –Season Two: When It Comes Crashing Down
By
Celgress
Sunnydale late December 1997
Christmas 1997 was a sad time for the Giles girls. The holiday season was filled with memories of what the vampire Heinrich Joseph Nest had done last year. Matters were further complicated by Angel's odd behavior. Since Buffy's return the souled vampire had grown distance. When he was around Angel explained it by claiming he was worried about what the Order might be plotting, as a result he was doing his own research into Barlow and his more powerful minions, research that consumed much of his free time. His explanation did little to placate Buffy. Who felt she'd now been cheated out of not one but two holiday seasons with her boyfriend.
Jenny officially joined the household a few days before Christmas. The whole gang helped move her stuff from her apartment. It was like their version of a Christmas party. Jenny had tried to reconcile with her Uncle however he would have none of it. Her Uncle felt Jenny had failed in her duty to assure Angel's continued suffering. The old man said he would leave Sunnydale if the obligation hadn't reverted to him. Buffy warned Jenny's Uncle not to interfere in Angel's life he merely scoffed at the Slayer's threats.
Meanwhile Buffy shared with the others what her 'mother' had told her in the Pathways of Destiny. They couldn't find any mention of the mysterious names Kendra, Faith & Dawn in any of the Watchers Diaries or books of prophesy Giles had in his collection. Buffy knew the names were important but for now there was nothing that could be done about them.
Sunnydale High School, day
"Congratulations are in order I hear." Principle Snyder said with his ever present sneer. "You two are getting married, how cute."
"Principle Snyder I doubt you called us in early on the first day of winter term merely to extend your congratulations." Jenny said from her position seated next to her fiancé.
"Correct Ms. Calendar." Snyder said taking a long swig from his coffee mug. "See most of the weirdness that happens around the school centers on you, Mr. Giles here and his young charges."
"W-What are you implying Principle Snyder?" Giles asked none too happy with the principle's line of reasoning.
"I'm saying I think both of you are corrupting influences." Snyder said not mincing any words.
"See here", Giles said rising out of his seat. Jenny singled for Giles to sit back down which he reluctantly did.
"Unless you have some evidence of wrong doing on your parts I suggest you pick your next words very carefully." Jenny said. "Your allegations are trending dangerously close to slander Principle Snyder. You wouldn't want me and my fiancé to sue the school now would you?"
"Of course no one wants that." Snyder said suddenly fidgeting in his chair. "However I must make it clear I will not tolerate any further shenanigans in my school. I want all your extracurricular activities on school grounds to cease immediately, understand? Whatever you do in private is your own business."
"How dare you…." Giles began.
"We understand Principle Snyder." Jenny said taking Giles by the arm. "We'll be going now, have a nice day."
During the first half of January the Slayer Squad, along with Giles, Jenny, Ford & occasionally Angel, faced off against a body hopping demon named Night Terror who wanted one of the Slayer Squad members as a powerful host. Using Willow's increasing magical expertise to banish Night Terror from their dimension the heroes next tangled with a reality bending demon Balsamo who had taken up residence in the newly reopened Sunnydale Drive in. Thwarting the designs of Balsamo the team then faced the sinister proprietor of a creepy carnival out to steal the souls of his customers. Destroying the sin eater within the house of mirrors the Slayer Squad scored another victory.
Antiques Shop, day
"Greetings Mr. Fordham I've been expecting you." Richard Throckett Straker said looking up from behind the counter when Ford entered the newly opened shop.
"I trust your Straker?" Ford asked.
"I am, you are a gremlin and a rather fearsome looking one if I do say so myself." Straker said.
"How did you….?"
"Your illusions have no effect on me trickster."
"Lord Barlow said I am to assistant you in any way possible. What is my first assignment?"
"Continue what you are doing, until further notice." Straker said shifting several items around on the countertop.
"That's it?" Ford asked. "I was expecting you'd have something more in mind?"
"Worry not my impish friend I'll be in touch." Straker said turning his back on Ford. "You may leave now." Straker started dusting off the shelves behind the counter, "filthy simply filthy."
"Unbelievable", Ford muttered under his breathing before leaving the store. Hearing the door slam Straker smiled.
The Sunken Church, several nights later
"You should kill them." Malik said looking at Angelus. "We do you insist on prolonging the inevitable?"
"Because I enjoy playing with my food." Angelus said. "It increases the eventual satisfaction of the kill. You should try it sometime."
"The time is not yet right." Barlow rasped from his throne. "When the first anniversary of my favorite child's death approaches we strike. Do you dare contradict the writings of Aurelius?"
"Pardon my transgression Lord Barlow, I meant no disrespect." Malik said bowing his head.
"That is five months away." Yuki Makimura said what do we do in the meantime Lord Barlow?"
"She has a point oh Great One." Absalom said the Anointed One standing beside him.
"Go hunting if you will." Barlow rasped waving a hand dismissively.
"And suffer the same fate as Lucien and Scylla, no thanks." A random female vampire said. Her statement generated a chorus of agreement.
"Cowards", Makimura spat glaring at the lesser demons distain in her eyes.
"Makimura hold your tongue." Barlow admonished. "I do not want you pressuring the other order members into taking any unnecessary risks. Our numbers must remain high until the final assault."
"Yes Lord Barlow." Makimura said looking ashamed.
"Worry not child when the time is right I shall gladly let you off your leash." Barlow rasped. "The streets of this wretched town shall then run red with blood."
"You paint such a lovely picture my lord." Angelus said slipping into vamp face.
The last week in January the Slayer Squad stumbled upon and terminated a robot named Ted. The android was preying on middle aged women using the local Lonely Hearts column. In February at school Buffy and Willow banished a Djinn which was accidentally released from a locker that it had contained in since 1937. After that mind controlling parasites almost took over the town at the behest of their mother a massive demon living under Sunnydale High, as the result of infected eggs used for a Sex ED project. Luckily the Slayer Squad and Ford, who remained oddly unaffected by the spawn in spite of being touched by several, killed momma ending the plague. A werewolf and werewolf hunter showed up in town next. The werewolf turned out to be Oz the same Oz who had first exposed the Slayer Squad to the media. In spite of their personal feelings towards the guy who had nearly ruined their lives Buffy, Xander & a conflicted Willow, she still thought Oz was kind of cute, saved Oz from the machinations of the hunter Cain. Afterwards they encouraged Oz to flee town.
Sunnydale High School, night
It was early March. Xander and Cordelia were making out in the parking lot of Sunnydale High. Something they did often. It was a damp night and Cordelia had the top of her convertible up. They heard a sharp knock breaking away from their activity the couple saw their friend Angel outside looking wet and miserable. Cordelia rolled down the window.
"Hi guys sorry to bother you. Can I get a ride? I'm getting soaked out here." Angel said.
"Sure" Cordelia said smoothing out her mini dress. Xander sighed in frustration buttoning up his pants.
What happened next was nearly beyond imagining. Cordelia opened her door only to have Angel slip into game face. The vampire griped the cheerleader roughly around the neck yanking her out of the car. Xander tried to react however a pair of claws that had smashed through the adjacent window, were soon encircling his own throat.
"What is wrong with you Angel?" Cordelia cried now exposed to the light rain.
"Absolutely nothing in fact I haven't felt so good in over a century." Angel said grinning.
On the other side of the car Xander was being held by Makimura her gang of blind Eidu monks, all in game face, clustered around the White Knight. Hissing Makimura bite Xander on the neck. After she'd finished feasting upon his super charged blood she dropped him on the damp pavement then viciously kicked him in the face. Angelus dragged Cordelia over to where the other vampires were reigning down blows upon the helpless Xander.
"Watch this lover boy." Angelus said kneeling down he snapped Cordelia's neck in front of Xander. Her limp body fell to the pavement, Cordelia's unblinking eyes staring blankly into Xander's own. Xander released an anguished scream.
"Pick him up." Angelus instructed. The Eidu pulled Xander to his feet. "I'm going to enjoy this you annoying little punk." Angelus drew off punching Xander in the chest then in the jaw then in the chest again. By the time the vampires left him lying in a heap next to his murdered girlfriend Xander had been thoroughly brutalized.
"Give Buffy my love. Tell her I appreciated her enthusiasm however her technique in the bedroom is atrocious. Maybe you can help her out now you're unattached, huh Xander?" Angelus said delivering one more kick to Xander's midsection for good measure. "Tell your friends Angelus is back. Oh yeah, nearly forgot to mention. I'll be paying them each a visit at a time and place of my choosing real soon."
To Be Continued