East Cemetery, Sunnydale, 2300 hours.
Buffy and Teal'c were walking through the cemetery together, with the Slayer taking out the stake that she kept hidden in her black jacket and Teal'c walking next to her with his hands behind his back. As they were both walking together past the gravestones, Buffy kept on glancing to her right towards his forehead symbol that was hidden under his hat and towards the Zat that he kept in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
"Is there something you wish to ask me, Buffy Summers" said Teal'c, noticing Buffy's glances towards him, as Buffy suddenly looked away from the Jaffa.
"Umm…. So….." said Buffy nervously, "so…. Aliens.. huh?"
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he nodded towards Buffy, "we have encountered humans on many different worlds, many of whom seek freedom from the Goa'uld."
"I know we haven't talked much since the meeting in Colorado" said Buffy, "and I mean this all happened only a few days later so there's not been much of a chance to just chit chat and…. I mean…"
"You wish to ask me about my past" said Teal'c as Buffy looked at him surprised. Turning to the blonde Slayer, Teal'c told him that Willow acted the same way she was acting. That she had many questions to ask and that they spent hours talking about his planet, his family and everything else that mattered.
Buffy looked down and smiled when she thought about all the rapid fire questions her best friends ask the Jaffa she was walking next to.
"A lot of questions huh?" said Buffy smiling as she looked at Teal'c.
"Indeed" replied Teal'c.
"So" said Buffy, "I know you told us about Chulak and why you joined the SGC, but can you tell me about your family?"
"I have a wife and son on Chulak" said Teal'c, "however, they were treated as outcasts after I defected to the cause of the Tau'ri. Last year my son, Ry'ac, was brainwashed by Apophis so that he would be loyal to him. However, with the help of SG1, I was able to get my wife and son away from the planet I had been born and sent them to live with our allies in the Land of Light."
"Land of Light?" asked Buffy.
"Yes" said Teal'c, "you will read about it once you have joined the SGC."
"I see" said Buffy as she glanced at the symbiote pouch, "does.. does your symbiote have a name? I mean can you talk to it or, something?"
"O'Neill calls the larvae I carry, Junior" said Teal'c as Buffy gave a small smile, "it not only provides me with my immune system; it also provides me with strength, longevity, and healing. I have to perform what is known as kel'no'reem every night so that my symbiote can heal my body, without it… I will die."
"I see" said Buffy when she came to a realization, "you said increased longevity, right?"
She looked on as Teal'c nodded his head.
"So how old are you?" asked Buffy as she looked at Teal'c, "I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
"I am about a hundred years old" said Teal'c as Buffy looked on in surprise.
"Neat" said the Slayer with a smile when the both of them stopped when they heard a sound in the distance. Looking around, Buffy and Teal'c could only see shadows thanks to the trees whose braches were swaying because of the slight breeze. The both of them started walking again quietly until they heard the same sound again, this time from behind them.
"Are they vampires?" asked Teal'c as he scanned his surroundings while Buffy had her stake up and looking around.
"Maybe" said Buffy when they heard another sound coming from a crypt close by. Buffy nodded towards the crypt before the both of them made their way to the structure. Getting close, Buffy and Teal'c saw that the door was locked but they could hear the sounds of someone, or something making noises from the inside. Looking at each other, Teal'c nodded at the Slayer who then kicked the locked door open before walking into a nest of eight vampires.
"Hey guys" said Buffy as she gave the vampires a small wave as Teal'c walked in behind her, "I'm here from the City to serve you an eviction notice…. You know… this placed isn't really zoned for…."
Immediately the vampires 'vamped-out' mid-sentence before coming towards Buffy and Teal'c all at once.
"You" said Buffy as she ducked before stabbing one of the vampires with her stake, "never let me finish."
Buffy then jumped back as another vampire lunged at her, while she glanced at Teal'c who was surrounded by four of the vampires as they growled at him. However, that distraction prevented her from seeing the fast that was coming towards her face which knocked her back on the floor. Getting up, she saw two of the vampires holding back Teal'c while another one jumped onto his back. He was trying to shake them off, but Buffy knew that he wasn't using all of his strength.
'He probably thinks they're still human' thought Buffy to herself went she saw a movement in the corner of her eyes.
"Te…." Said Buffy as she turned around to block the vampire who jumped at her from the darkness, before she kicked him in the chest which flung him against the wall. She then rushed him before piercing his heart with her stake; turning him to dust instantly. She then turned around and looked on in shock as the vampire behind him bit into his neck.
"Teal'c!" continued Buffy as she ran towards him but was intercepted by another vampire, "listen to me… they aren't human… you need to…."
She felt herself being spun around by the vampire that intercepted her as she hit one of the walls. Turning around, she saw the vampire that bit into Teal'c immediately jump off him and spit out the blood in disgust.
"What the hell?!" shouted the vampire as the vampire that was coming towards Buffy stopped, while the Slayers herself looked in surprise at what just happened, "what the hell are you? Your blood is disgusting."
"Something's wrong" said the vampire who had his back to Buffy while sniffing the air, "I'm getting two scents off from him… and…"
"Yea" said Buffy as she staked the vampire from behind, "he's unique."
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he grabbed the vampire who had bit him and looked at his demonic visage, "so this is a real vampire. O'Neill has shown me 'Dracula' it did not look like this."
"Yeah" said Buffy as she rushed another vampire while Teal'c easily threw the one that bit him against the wall before he blocked the other vampire. IN the meantime, Buffy staked another one while telling Teal'c that certain creative freedoms were taken with the looks of movie vampires, "and they world at large doesn't really know what vampires look like anyway… so… there."
"I see" said Teal'c as he grabbed the vampire that was rushing towards him before he grabbed the demon's arm and flung him against a wall. He then took out his Zat and blasted the remaining three with one charge.
"You alright?" asked Buffy as she looked at the bite mark on his neck, "you're still bleeding."
"My symbiote will heal me" said Teal'c as he looked at Buffy and bowed his head slightly. He then turned back to the vampires and asked Buffy if they could be saved.
"No" said Buffy as she staked the remaining vampires, "they're possessed by a demon, that pushed out their souls, that's out for blood. The only one I know who can be an ally is in Los Angeles, he was cursed with his soul. Well, he's there doing good work. There is another one that Giles' has been holding prisoner. The Initiative people did something to him where he can't harm human beings… but those two are the only ones I know who won't harm humans anyway."
"I see" said Teal'c as he looked around at the empty room that had piles of dust in some places, the only hint that this crypt was occupied by Vampires at one point in time, "perhaps they could be asked to assist Faith Lehane when she finally comes into her own."
"Yeah" said Buffy softly before she looked up at Teal'c, "am I doing the right thing?"
"I cannot answer that question for you" said Teal'c as the both of them walked out of the crypt, "however, if you are worried about Faith Lehane taking over your duties…"
"I still am" said Buffy softly as they walked through the graveyard, "I know Willow… I mean my Willow said that the other Willow show her things about but… I mean I don't know."
"It is natural to be unsure" said Teal'c calmly as his bleeding stopped and the puncture marks heals over, "and while I have only known Captain Rosenberg for a short while… I do believe her when she says Faith Lehane can be an asset. I have spoken to the alternate Faith Lehane as well, and I believe that the Faith Lehane here would be similar to the other… or even better, once she has been given the proper environment to grow and flourish. As will you. You and Willow Rosenberg will make fine additions to the SGC, that much is something that I can be certain of."
"Thanks" said Buffy softly as they turned back and headed to the city, and home.
Stevenson Hall, U.C. Sunnydale , that same time.
Major Carter had stopped by the U.C. Sunnydale Campus while she was driving Joyce's jeep. The older woman had given her the keys to the vehicles just before they left the hospital building. Tara told the Major that she had an early morning class to go to in the morning, and that after that was completed.. she'll meet everyone back at the hospital.
"Are you sure about this, Tara?" asked the Major as Tara got out of the passenger seat, "I could wait for you if you'd like, and Mrs. Summers did say that her house is quite big."
"I.. I'm sure" said Tara as she smiled at the Major while trying her best not to glanced at Willow.
"To tell you the truth, Colonel O'Neill doesn't want any of us to remain alone" said Major Carter, "I know the danger's passed but still… at least while we're here, he'd like for us to remain together. But it's your choice, if you want I can contact campus security and have them keep watch around Stevenson."
"I.. I see" said Tara as she looked back up at her darkened window before looking at the Major again.
"And if you decide to stay at Mrs. Summers' house, I'm usually up early" said Major Carter smiling at Tara, "I can give you a ride to class; and then after you're done we can take the trip to the hospital together."
"O.. Ok" said Tara nodding her head as she looked at Willow and Anya who were in the back seat, "I..I guess I'll do that then."
"Come on, then" said Major Carter who turned off the engine before she took off her seatbelt and opened the driver side door, "we'll all go together."
"Ummm.. Major?" said Tara nervously, "would it be alright if I bring just Willow with me? I mean… my room's in such a mess right now… and Willow and Buffy were the only ones to see that mess that I'm embarrassed to let others se the mess…. I mean.. I really both wanna show people the mess I make… I mean…"
"We'll be alright" said Willow as she gave a pleading look towards the Major.
"Yes" said Anya as she nodded her head excitedly while going to Tara's defence, "her room is really messy… you have panties and bra's and…."
"Anya!" said Willow and Tara, who was extremely horrified, together as they saw the ex-vengeance demon smile while the Major's face turned red.
"It's true" said Anya as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright" said the Major as she shook her head before she looked at Tara, "how long would you need?"
"Fifteen minutes?" said Tara as the Major raised her eyebrows, "it's really a mess…. And…"
"It really is" said Willow, "Bufy and I have been there, and we sometimes have to help her find stuff….. you know… because of the mess."
"Alright" said Major Carter as she closed the driver side door, "but if your not back in fifteen minutes… then I'm coming to get the both of you."
"Yes, ma'am" smiled Willow as she and Tara ran up the stairs leading up to the entrance of Stevenson Hall. After they ran through the door's, Tara and Willow didn't wait for the elevator… instead they ran up the stairs and onto Tara's floor. Looking behind them to make sure they weren't followed, Tara and Willow held each other's hands and rushed towards the blonde witch's door. Tara's hands shook as she tried to put the card into the scanner to unlock the door while Willow could only smile. After a few tries, Willow grabbed the card and slid it in and out off the scanner. The door finally unlocked before Tara turned the knob and turned on the switch closed to the inside entrance that illuminated the absolutely spotless room.
Closing the door behind her, Willow grinned as Tara turned around and grabbed both sides of Willow's face before going in for a kiss.
"Messy, huh?" said Willow as she looked around the clean room before she pushed Tara against a wall and kissed her.
"Yeah" breathed in Tara as the redhead attacked her neck, "it's really, really dirty."
"Uh huh" said Willow as this time she hopped onto Tara's desk while the blonde put her hands under Willow's shirt and brushed her fingers along her bare back.
"I'm sorry" said Tara as she caressed Willow's cheek with one hand while rubbing her back with the other, "I knew that we couldn't… you know… at Buffy's house since the Major was there… and I figured it would be better if I stayed in the dorm. If I was in the house with you then… well, you'd be getting into a lot of trouble… you know?"
"I'm sorry" said Willow who gave a little yelp as Tara bit her shoulder before looking confused at the redhead. Willow gave a small smile at the confused look on Tara's face as the redhead told her that she was sorry she had to hide their relationship from Colonel O'Neill and the others. That she'd tell them one day when all of them were much closer than they are right now. However, it was the redhead's turn to be surprised when Tara told her that Daniel and Teal'c already guessed that they were in a relationship.
"But" said Tara as she giggled at the surprised look on Willow's face, "don't worry, Daniel said that they won't tell anyone."
"Phew" said Willow as she gave Tara another kiss on her lips.
"How long do we have?" asked Tara as she ran her hands through Willow's hair.
"Another ten minutes" said Willow who looked at her wristwatch before they heard a faint buzzing sound.
"Ok" said Tara who was still holding on to Willow as they looked around the room, "do you hear…."
Suddenly, the both of them found themselves awash in a white light when their surroundings suddenly changed from Tara's room, to a greyish coloured room with a large window on one side.
"Willow" said Tara as she let go of the redhead while the both of them walked cautiously towards the window, "Is that…..?"
"Yea" said a shocked Willow when she looked at the view of Earth before the both of them looked around at their surroundings, "I think we're on a ship…. "
"Yea" said Tara softly when she saw movement from the corner of her eyes. Turning towards the area of the movement, she kept on nudging Willow's arm while pointing at a grey alien that walked out from behind a console at the far corner of the room.
"Ummmm…. Ummmm…. Ummmmm.." said Willow as she looked at Tara, and then at the grey alien who looked just like the Roswell Grey's that the redhead used to read books about when she was younger, "hi?"
"Hello, I am Thor. Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet."
"Oh" said Tara and Willow together just before the both of them fainted on the floor of Thor's ship.
TBC.
