Chapter 35

In the Line of Duty

A/N: Chapter thirty five of the series. I will try to post most chapters this week, but I will probably won't post another one till next year. Thankfully, I have a whole week worth of free time (meaning a break from work, finally) and there's that small event we all like to call Christmas.

Thanks to all who are still reading this, and I wish you a merry Christmas. See you in 2006.

Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss Whedon and the parties involved in airing the show.

Feedback: Sure.

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London, England

December 2017

Wesley walked through fire, hoping it would cleanse his body.

Illyria walked next to him, frowning every time her companion would engage in dangerous activities. She always hated when he placed himself in unnecessary risk, remembering clearly the time she had witnessed his body ceasing to function.

She shook her head, hating how with each passing day, she grew more concerned for the sake of a mortal who would get killed too soon or would succumb to time.

Connor ran through the fire as well, his face and hands covered with his jacket.

"What are you, crazy?" He said as he caught up with them.

"There was no other way to cross that street." Wesley replied. "Fire doesn't seem to do much damage to me. Illyria is impervious to it, and I knew you'd find a way to get through."

"You're fucking nuts, man." Connor said. "Get that death wish of yours in check, or else all England will explode."

Wesley chuckled and spread his arms.

"London is already exploding!" He said. "Look around! There's fire everywhere! People are fleeing the city like rats flee a sinking boat!" He stopped walking and turned to see Connor.

"You, more than everyone else, know what hell looks like." Wesley continued. "You must remember Quor'toth, even if your memories were tampered with."

"What has that got to do with this?" Connor asked.

"That you understand." Wesley said. "You know as well as I do that London is already lost. They caught us by surprise, just like they wanted to."

"We can still save the city." Connor said.

"Didn't you hear anything in the meetings?" Wesley said, walking again. "We can't win. Balance is torn and there's no point in fighting. The slayers are more concerned with saving a doomed city than remembering what will happen if Balance is not restored."

"One city against the world?" Connor asked.

"It's all about numbers." Wesley repeated the same words he'd said to Giles. "A million people versus six billion? It's an obvious choice."

"It's not what heroes do." Connor said. Wesley stopped again and remembered something, thirteen years ago.

'I walk with heroes.'

He turned and the coldness in his eyes made even Connor pause.

"We are not heroes, Connor:" He said. "We are murderers, the three of us."

The three kept walking, this time in complete silence.

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"They did what?"

Dawn thought she hadn't heard correctly. Buffy was pacing around like a caged animal, a fury in her eyes she had not expressed for ages.

"I said the police shot two slayers." Buffy repeated, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. "God, what is wrong with them?"

"I said, do not shoot civilians!"

They turned around and saw Joe talking to his radio. His face was distorted with anger and whomever was on the other side of the line was receiving hell.

"I don't care what they're seeing, what is happening is not because of civilians!" He shouted. "For God's sake, you've lived in this city for ten years, Lisa! You know the stories are true!"

"You can't be serious, Joe." The electronic voice replied. "Vampires don't exist."

"Then the thing that killed my brother was what?"

"A lunatic, we all know that."

"You have always been a stupid know it all, Lisa Simpson, but don't presume to know what is going on now." Joe said, feeling his anger slipping out of his control. "Don't shoot another civilian, I don't care what is going on, they're not to blame."

"Is that an order?"

"Of course it's an order, I'm still your superior!"

"Then I will blame this city's destruction on you!"

"Blame it on me, godammit! But I want an order issued that the next officer who shoots a civilian will be put in jail!"

"Who will enforce that call?"

"I will if I have to, you stuck up bitch, now do as I say!"

Joe cursed a bit more and waited. He counted from ten to one, and when he'd reached four, his radio buzzed to life.

"Sergeant Hallenbeck, can you hear me?" Came a fine, polished voice with a higher class accent.

"Yes, Superintendent Chalmers." Joe answered, sighing.

"Officer Simpson has paged me not ten seconds ago, Sgt., claiming you issued a statement of cease fire, is that correct?" The voice said.

"Yes sir."

"And may I ask why? In case you haven't noticed, the city is on fire, there are riots everywhere, reports of vicious fictional creatures and vigilantism. So, could you be so kind to tell me why are you ordering my men to stand down?" The man finished with a scream, and Joe sighed again.

"With all due respect sir, but you're safe in your comfy chair, and my men and I are busting our asses in this city, and when I tell you vampires are the ones ripping our men's faces off, I expect you to believe me!" Joe shouted again.

The match continued for tense minutes, as the three women stared at Joe, unsure of why he was trying to help them.

"It comes to this, Sgt., if you don't stand down and let my men do their jobs, it is you who will be placed under arrest!" Superintendent Chalmers said. Joe barked a laugh.

"Why don't you come out and do it yourself, your highness?" Joe sarcastically said. "Maybe if you see what is really going on you'll stop shooting innocent girls!"

"Need I to remind you this is an open channel, Sergeant?"

"No need, sir." Joe said, smiling. "So maybe you'll want to explain why I saw officers shoot down innocent girls who were trying to help."

The line went dead and Joe smiled again.

"Let's see how that helps your reelection, sir." He said to the radio. "Now, you should think about your voters, and specially those innocent girls. Order your men to stop firing at humans."

"If I go down, you'll go down with me, Hallenbeck." The voice said.

"You should try to see outside your office, sir." Joe replied. "The city's already going down. You should worry about that."

"Very well, Hallenbeck, but I'll blame all of this on you."

The line once again went dead and Joe realized he'd thrown twenty five years of a clean career down the toilet.

"You shouldn't have done that." Buffy said. Joe shook his head and took out the keys to his pair of handcuffs.

"Never liked that bastard." He said. "We were once friends, but he enjoyed licking ass. Not my style."

He grabbed Buffy's hands and soon they were free of the cuffs.

"I do believe you should be looking for another job." Dawn said.

Joe chuckled.

"Nah, there's still some good guys in the force, speaking of which." He took the radio and switched to an open wavelength.

"This is Sergeant Joseph Hallenbeck, speaking from the middle of what used to be Piccadilly Circus." He said. "Those who've worked with me know I don't speak bullshit, so I want you all to hear me now."

He looked around and saw the flames reaching the sky.

"I am not English, or British or however you want to call yourselves. I was born in New York and I will always love it. But I've learnt to love the UK. My daughter grew up in here and I had another kid in here. This city saved my marriage and I met a lot of friends here."

He looked at the three women in front of him and smiled at them.

"Those of us who have worked night shifts, this comes as no surprise." He sighed again and looked up. "I am throwing my career away, but you all know those things are vampires. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, vampires. But not the regular kind. These fuckers won't die with a stake through the heart. They are tough, these ones, and there are people helping us.

"There will be girls helping others, incredible girls who know how to get rid of these super vamps. You may think I'm crazy but don't cut connection. Hear me out. They can help. They are helping us. I ask of you to stop shooting civilians. I know things are awful, and we've lost so much, but they can help. I have seen it with my own eyes.

"So I ask of you, let them help you. If you're wondering how you will recognize them, I have someone who will help you." Joe looked at Buffy and handed her the radio. She looked at it and then at the others.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" She asked.

"Tell them how they will recognize your girls." Joe said. Buffy thought about it for a few seconds, when Dawn tapped her shoulder.

"Remember that movie mom didn't want us to see?" She said. "With Tom Hanks? 'Saving Private Ryan'?"

Buffy stared at her sister, as her mind processed the information. She smiled and took the radio.

"I don't know who is hearing this, but what Sgt. Hallenbeck said is true." Buffy began. "I am not lying, you have seen the things out there. They are called Turok hans, and are primitive vampires, far stronger than the average.

"I swear to God I am not lying. There are friends of mine helping, and what Sgt, Hallenbeck said is true. Please don't shoot them. They are here to help you. And I must warn you, my girls are trained and are as strong as the vampires. They will help, but they will also defend themselves if they have to."

Buffy placed on her earpiece and talked to it.

"I will not say my name in an open channel, but you all know who I am."

Her voice was heard over countless radios and all the slayers looked up as they heard their leader's voice.

"The local PD has killed two of my girls. We respect their jurisdiction, but we will defend ourselves. The city is on the brink of destruction and we have to work together. I hope you'll understand and work with us."

Joe nodded, giving her the thumbs up.

"Friends will scream 'Flash.'" She looked at Dawn and smiled.

"And friends will answer 'Thunder'."

End of Chapter

A/N 2: Yeah, I loved 'Saving Private Ryan', same as 'Black Hawk Down' and the mega cool 'Band of Brothers.' Of course, Officer Lisa Simpson is based on the middle sister on The Simpsons. Greatest show of all time, but Lisa has always been the worst character.