Peterson Air Force Base, 0100 hours; the next day.
It was back at the Army Base in Sunnydale that both Joyce and Dawn signed the Non-Disclosure agreement with General Hammond answering any questions that they may have. Once the both of them signed the document, he led them onto the awaiting plane on the tarmac which then soon took off into the night sky. The entire ride was quiet with Joyce holding on to Dawn, the both of them looking worried at the situation the found themselves in.
"I know this is a big change, Mrs Summers" said the General as he looked at the blonde woman from his seat, "but given what we heard about Glory and what she could do if she got a hold of Dawn? This is the only way to prevent the potential end of the world."
"So does me being the Key make me evil?" asked Dawn as the two of them looked at the younger girl, "I mean… am I real? Am I evil? Am I good?"
"Yes" said Joyce as she kissed the top of Dawn's head, "you're very real. And you're not evil, don't ever think that."
"Miss Summers" said the General as he looked at Dawn, "I believe that you'd have been safe with your sister; I believe that she'd have done everything to protect you. But with the Council being involved? And with Glory being involved? There is no way to know what they would have done to you. Believe me when I say that I have seen evil, perhaps not the type of evil that your sister battles… but evil nevertheless. You are not evil, Miss Summers; it's the intentions of those that want to use you that are a concern."
"And are you gonna use me?" asked Dawn as she looked at the General, realizing that it was already too late in asking that question as it finally hit her that there are those who'd use her to end the world, and bring hell to Earth. Dawn looked up at her mother who she noticed was looking back at the General as well, before she looked at the bald man again.
"No" said the General, "the reason why you'll be heading to your destination will be known to only a select few; myself, the commander of the base you'll be sent to, Ellie, my second in command and his team of which Ellie's mother in a part of, and the President."
"President of?" asked Joyce.
"The United States, ma'am" said the General as Joyce and Dawn looked on in surprise.
"But why would the President… I mean…" asked Dawn.
"When Tara told us about you" said the General as he looked at Dawn, "I got special clearance for you, and your mother, to travel to our classified location. All I'll say about that is you'll be safe where no one, not even the Watchers Council, can get to you. Now, get some sleep. The both of you."
Joyce looked at the General smile at the both of them before he nodded his head. They then had a few more hours of small talk while Dawn looked out the window where she looked at the clouds below. Soon, she fell asleep.. only to be woken up by Joyce just before the plane landed. Dawn looked out the window and then back at the General confused before she looked at her mother and asked where they were.
"Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs" said the General.
It took a few more minutes for the plane to taxi before it came to a complete stop before the General removed his seat belt, as did Joyce and Dawn with theirs. Once they had taken off the belts, a door opened and an officer in an Air Force uniform walked in and saluted the General before leading them out of the plane and into an awaiting SUV. Joyce and Dawn got into the SUV's back seat while the General got into the passenger's side seat before they were driven out of the base. As they were driving, Joyce and Dawn saw the General take out his phone and then make a phone call.. he asked someone named Colonel Reynolds to meet him at the Control Room. Joyce and Dawn looked at each other confused before looking at the General again; they had so many questions going through their mind… but decided to wait awhile before asking anything. Dawn and Joyce then looked out their windows and wondered where in Colorado Springs they could be hidden. Joyce and Dawn looked at the sights that were whizzing by, and before long they found themselves at the entrance gates to Cheyenne Mountain.
"General?" asked Joyce as she looked at General Hammond, "we're going to be staying in the mountain?"
"Is that safe?" asked Dawn, "I mean.. with what Glory could be able to do, maybe…"
"I promised that you will be safe" said the General as he looked back at the two Summers women, "and I'm keeping my word."
"General Hammond, sir" said the Guard as he saluted the bald man. General Hammond nodded his head before telling the guard to hand the two guests in the back some visitors passes. The guard then nodded his head before he stepped into the guards station and then got out again carrying two plastic passes with lanyards before handing them to the bald man, "thank you, Sergeant."
"Sir" said the guard as he stepped back and saluted the man while the gate opened.
The General returned the salute before the SUV was driven into the mountain. It was only a few minutes later that the SUV stopped at a lone entryway that consisted of glass double doors that had the NORAD logo emblazed on it. The General then turned around and handed the passes to Joyce and Dawn, telling them the passes would get them into anywhere they needed to go.. except for areas that were classified since experiments or projects were being carried out.
"O…k" said Dawn confused as she hung the pass around her neck, as did Joyce.
"But…" said Joyce when the General told her that all answers will be revealed soon enough. He got out of the SUV, while the driver opened the door for Joyce; helping the older blonde woman out of the car, as well as Dawn. The driver then saluted General Hammond before he drove off. The bald man then led the two Summers women into the lobby where the guard at the desk stood straight up. He nodded at the man as the two women walked into the lobby while he pressed a button on the elevator. Once the door opened, he led Joyce and Dawn into the elevator which they then took to the tenth floor.
"We're going down?" asked Joyce as the doors opened again while the General nodded his head. He then led them out the elevator to a hallway where at the end were two more guards who, upon seeing the General, stood tall and straight and between them was another elevator doorway. The man then nodded at the two who then stood at ease before one of the pressed a button and opened the elevator door.
"Thanks" said Joyce as she followed the General into the elevator and watched as he put a key card into a slot before pressing the button for the twenty-eighth floor. Once the button was lit, he removed the card from the slot and the elevator started moving downwards. The General looked at the confused looks on both Joyce and Dawn before smiling and telling them they were going to meet the man who'll be accompanying them to their destination, and introducing them to the base commander who'll be looking after them.
"Now" said the General as the elevator stopped and he led the two of them out into a hallway which was mostly empty, save for a few Airmen here and there walking around and into another hallway, as well as other people in uniform who were going about their business while Dawn and Joyce looked around before looking at the Genera once again, "what the both of you are about to see is the most closely guarded secret on Earth. It'll take you to your new home for the next month, and I'd just have to remind you again about the NDA and.."
"I understand, General" said Joyce as the both of them stopped walking just as the General turned around to face them.
"Mrs. Summers, Dawn" said the General as he looked at them, "everything that you see, hear, or do will fall under section 11-C-9 of the National Security Act. Which means anything about this gets revealed to those without the proper clearance? Then you'll be charged with treason.. the both of you. This is a very serious situation… this is for your safety, but secrecy needs to be maintained."
"I understand" said Joyce.
"Me too" said Dawn as she looked around, "I mean… no offence but we're just under a mountain. And…"
"If you'd come with me?" asked the General as he walked alongside Joyce and Dawn this time. They turned into another straight hallway as they continued to walk along while the General talked, "in 1928 there was a dig at the Giza plateau in Egypt where they found a ring of alien origin that…"
"Excuse me?" asked Joyce as she stopped walking, as did Dawn, "did.. did you just say…."
"Alien? As in ET? You know.. phone home?" asked Dawn while she pointed her finger into the air, just as the fictional alien did in the movie.
"Sir" said a man's voice from behind the General. Dawn and Joyce, looked over the General's shoulder at a man in a greenish uniform walking towards them after he appeared from the side of a wall, "I heard you from the control room, you wanted to see me?"
"Colonel Albert Reynolds" said the General as she motioned toward the two women, "meet Mrs. Joyce Summers, and her daughter, Miss Dawn Summers."
"Ma'am" said the Colonel as he shook Joyce's hand before he shook Dawn's hand before looking at the General with a look of confusion.
"Colonel I'd like for you to accompany both Mrs. Summers and Dawn to the Beta site" said the General as Colonel Reynolds nodded his head, "the President's authorised them to stay there for a month until a matter of grave concern is cleared up."
"Sir?" asked the Colonel.
"Miss Carter's taking care of it" said the General, "Colonel Pratt's expecting both Dawn and Mrs. Summers. I would like for you to remain until they've completed their medicals, and have been settled down."
"Sure" said Colonel Reynolds as they walked toward a blast door, past the control room that Dawn and Joyce guessed was the same point that the Colonel had appeared from earlier. The Colonel used his key-card to open the blast doors while the General led Joyce and Dawn into the Gateroom where the two women stared transfixed at the circular metallic object that was standing with a ramp that led to its middle.
"This is the Stargate" said General Hammond as Colonel Reynolds stood next to Joyce. The Colonel then explained to the two women how the Stargate worked while General Hammond turned around and ordered Walter to dial the Beta site. The General turned around just as the Colonel finished telling Joyce that if they wanted more scientific details about how the Stargate worked, then they'd need to ask Major Carter.
"So Faith's mom isn't on deployment?" asked Dawn as she looked at the Colonel and the General just as the inner track started to spin.
"Technically she is.. she and her team are on a mission on another planet" said the General while Dawn and Joyce just stared at the chevrons lighting up, while Walter shouted out the chevron numbers.
"Chevron seven" said Walter, "is locked."Joyce and Dawn jumped back slightly before laughing at their actions while the unstable vortex of the wormhole rushed outwards before it was pulled back into the event horizon.
"So that..." asked Joyce as she pointed at the blue puddle in the middle of the ring.
"The event horizon of a subspace wormhole" said General Hammond, "it's connected to a planet where we have our Beta Site, nearly six thousand light years away."
"Ma'am, Miss Summers" said the Colonel as he walked up the ramp before looking back and motioning at the nervous women, "don't worry, it's like walking from one room to the next."
"Do we want to know what happens to our bodies?" asked Dawn as she held Joyce's hand while they stepped onto the ramp while looking at the event horizon.
"Not really" said the Colonel, "but it's completely harmless. Think of it like the real life counterpart to the Star Trek transport beams… but much cooler. Once on the other side, I'll introduce you to the base commander, then you'll go for a quick medical and then we'll show you to your quarters. It's not the best accommodations but it's decent enough. There's a gym, Mess Hall, two lounges where you could play some board games, table tennis, or watch some DVD's... and that's not counting the scientific research labs.
"Which the both of you will not be able to enter" said the General as Joyce looked at the bald man, "we told you that we'll keep you and Dawn safe, and this is the best way. You'll be off-world where you won't be found. No matter how hard anyone tries."
"Thank you" said Joyce as the General nodded his head.
"This is so cool!" shouted Dawn as she walked up to the event horizon, followed by Joyce and Colonel Reynolds. She put her hand through the event horizon before looking at her mother. The Colonel told the both of them that it was perfectly safe as he walked through the event horizon. Joyce and Dawn then looked back at the General, who nodded his head, before they held each other's hands again and stepped through.
The Magic Box, 0930 hours.
Faith woke up to a loud noise as she got onto her back and groggily reached for her bed side table to turn off the offending sound. When finding nothing on the table, the Slayer put her head up and looked around with half closed eyes before she remembered where she was; her Sunnydale hotel room. Plopping her head back on the pillow, Faith wiped her eyes and yawned before she removed what remained of the blanket covering her frame before sitting up and yawning again. Looking around the room, she then reached under her pillow and took out the Intar which she immediately deactivated before getting off the bed, her feet hitting the carpeted floor as she walked over to the table where she kept her belongings and the metal case for the Intar in her hand.
Faith put the weapon back into the case, after which she checked her phone for any message. She smiled when she found one from the General who told her that Walter had found some apartment and home rental listings, and that they'd have something for her by later that day. He then told Faith in his text that Joyce and Dawn where at the Beta, and had been settled. He continued the text saying that she passed her medical and they were now sleeping in one of the quarters.
"And Miss Summers wanted me to tell you that you were right, some of the guys at the site are hot" said Faith to herself, chuckling as she imagined Dawn looking at one officer, followed by another, with Joyce in the background telling the brunette to stop. Faith sent a message back saying that she received the message, and that she had just woken up. She continued to tell the General through her text that she was heading out in thirty minutes to continue research on Glory.
Once Faith sent the message, she did some quick stretching before she went back into the restroom to freshen up and take a hot shower. Putting her clothes back on again a few minutes later, the dark haired Slayer then grabbed her belongings and the metal case before she walked out of the door. Faith then checked out of the hotel before heading for her SUV while looking around for anything suspicious, she was very aware that, at least until tomorrow, she was on her own in Sunnydale; that she couldn't trust any of the Scoobies with her life, even Tara and Giles.
Once at her SUV, the Slayer got in and then drove away to get two boxes of donuts, and a large cup of coffee before heading to the Magic Box. It was already ten fifteen by the time she parked the SUV outside the Magic Box. Faith reached behind her for the metal case before thinking against it, she was debating with herself on the drive to the shop if she should bring weapons with her in case something happened to go wrong, but the Slayer decided against it. So she got out of the SUV, grabbed the two boxes of donuts and her coffee before locking up and closing the car door and walking away. Opening the main door and then walking into the shop, Faith saw that there were around six customers milling around while Giles was behind the counter and Anya was helping some of the other customers; and in the middle were the Scoobies who were sitting at the table looking back at her. She saw Buffy and the others, except for Kennedy who was missing from the group, looking back at her as she walked towards Giles who had just given some change to a customer who then walked past Faith and left the store.
"You're late, Faith" said Giles as Faith put the boxes on the counter before opening the top box, and grabbing a donut and then biting into it.
"Sorry, G-man" said Faith as she took a sip of her coffee, "had to stop by for some donuts for breakfast, anyway.. you guys got anything?"
"Nothing so far" said Giles as he closed the register drawer before nodding over at the table, "take a seat and grab what you can… let's get as much as we can by today."
"Where's the baby Slayer?" whispered Faith as she leaned into Giles.
"The back" said Giles, "the Council contacted her for an update."
"They were supposed to be calling you, right?" whispered Faith.
"If they have any information, or updates" said Giles, "that's what the General said. I know there's no way to know what they're telling Kennedy… you of all people know how the Council operates. The best we can do is read what we already have, which is apparently all the Council has from the rather terse second long conversation I had with Quentin when he just called for Kennedy."
"That sucks" said as she turned around to see Xander looking back at her, "Hey Xander, donuts?"
Giles frowned as Xander turned back to his books again while the older man saw Tara giving the dark haired Slayer a tiny wave before getting back to her reading. In the meantime, he also saw Willow looking at Faith for a little while, and he could tell that Faith was looking back at the redhead who then looked away.
"Hey" whispered Faith as she turned back towards Giles, "I get B being pissed at me, I get Xander giving me the stink eye… but why's Red seem so.. I mean.. so distant? I thought she'd be more pissed than Xander since we screwed each other and…"
Faith smiled at the grimace on the Watcher's face which was when he took of his glasses and started to wipe them down.
"Fine" whispered Faith, "we had sex. Anyway, I also held her at knifepoint, and threatened to kill her… and she hasn't said a word. Just looks at me like she's seen something bad or… I mean I don't know."
"That's for Willow to tell you" whispered Giles gently as he looked at Willow who was looking through the books with her shoulders slumped. He also noticed that Buffy was looking at the redhead, and he could tell that she was struggling to reach out her hand for the redhead and comfort her… but he knew that the blonde Slayer's opinion of Willow began to slightly change after what happened with Oz. He remembered Buffy telling him about the horrible stench of flesh and hair that permeated the science lab where Veruca's body lay dead, along with Oz's burning body that was covered in green flame with Willow in Kennedy's arms screaming in anguish for her boyfriend.
Back in the present, Giles was willing for Buffy to comfort the redhead, that they needed to get back to how it used to be, that they needed to fight together against a god. He then looked at Faith before telling her to take a seat and look through some of the books. Nodding her head, Faith then headed for the empty chair that next to Tara before she told Buffy that she got a message from General Hammond saying that Joyce and Dawn reached the destination safely. Once Faith had given the news, she saw Xander look at Buffy who was still looking at the books in front of her before she closed her eyes and nodded her head.
"So she's safe then, right?" asked Tara as Buffy just looked down at the books.
"Yeah" said Faith, "they're safe. It's somewhere the Council, or Glory, can never find them."
"That's a good thing" said Tara as she looked up and smiled at Faith, which was something that Willow glanced at before looking back at the books again.
Faith nodded her head as she pulled back the empty chair just as the door to the back training area opened and Kennedy walked out.
"Hey" said Kennedy as she pointed at Faith while walking towards Giles and handing the cordless phone receiver back to him. She then looked back at faith before walking towards her, "that's my seat. And anyway, this table here? It's for the real Scoobies.. meaning not you."
"There's no signs anywhere, Kennedy" said Giles from behind the counter as another customer came to pay for some items which Anya helped her carry, "just seat somewhere else."
"Well?" said Kennedy as she looked back at Faith, "you heard the man, sit somewhere else."
"I was speaking to you, Kennedy" said Giles.
"Kennedy" said Tara as she looked at the new Slayer.
"You wanna sit with her somewhere, be my guest" said Kennedy as she looked at Tara while she pointed at the table, "but not here."
"Oh for crying out loud" said Faith as she noticed that the others, except for Tara, weren't making a move to back her up. She then grabbed some books and papers that needed to be translated while carrying the cup of now warm coffee in one hand before she walked towards the stairs, and then turned and looked towards the Scoobies, "it's kinda nice to know where I stand, you know. At least I don't have to think about if I should be watching my back whenever we face Glory, and…"
"Faith" said Giles as the latest customer left while another one who was queued up behind him walked up to the register to pay. He then asked Anya to take care of the customer before he walked around the counter and approached the table, "they…"
"It's cool, Giles" said Faith shrugging her shoulders as she looked at Giles, "I said that we'll help Mrs. S and Dawn, and we did. I said that I'll stay here until they return and I will… and there'll be people I trust coming in tomorrow; people who I know will watch my back, so that's fine with me."
Faith then looked at Buffy who was still looking at the books in front of her.
"B?" said Faith, "I promised that you'll be able to talk to your mom and sis, and I mean that. So other than that, you guys can do what you want and how you want. Me and my friends will still be here helping out."
"Buffy, Kennedy" said Giles as he looked at the two Slayers while Faith turned and walked up the stairs to the second floor. He saw her sit down cross legged on the floor next to the books on dark magic before putting the cup of coffee behind her and then laying the books and papers all around her. He then turned to the Slayers again who looked at him before telling them that he wanted to talk to the both of them privately.
"Not now, Giles" said Kennedy as she sat down and grabbed some books while Giles frowned at the Slayer.
"We don't have the time, Giles" said Buffy as she looked at her Watcher, "we have a month and we don't know everything… we don't know if what Travers said was true about Glory being a god, or even what her weaknesses are. We can't waste time and…"
"This isn't a waste of time, Buffy" said Giles gently while looking at his Slayer, "the three of you are Slayers, and you need to work together and…"
"Please, Giles" said Buffy again, her voice tired and stressful, "please, let's finish this research first? Then we'll talk.. let's find Glory's weakness first?"
"Fine" sighed Giles as he looked at Buffy, and then at Kennedy who were reading books and then looking at the papers while translating what was on the ancient looking parchments. He then saw Tara looking back at him, before the young woman looked at Faith who was sitting up at the second floor taking a sip of her coffee while reading.
Making a decision, the blonde witch put the papers she had with her in her into the fold of her books before getting up. Everyone looked at her as she headed for the donut boxes before grabbing four donuts. Then on her way back to the table, she looked at Willow before looking away again and grabbing the books she had been reading earlier with her other hand. Tara then rushed up the stairs as a surprised Faith looked up at her taking a seat across from her before handing her two donuts. Smirking, the dark haired Slayer took the donuts and then put it on top of the coffee cup while the blonde witch licked her fingers before getting back to going through the books. Faith then looked at the long haired blonde, who then glanced up at her and smiled before the both of them started work again.
All the while, Willow was watching this exchange between the both of them as she thought about the few times she had used magic to disguise Kennedy's voice to pretend that she was Oz, since the redhead couldn't speak… because if she did, it would just hurt even more than it did to hear his voice. When Kennedy couldn't take it anymore, Willow begged Tara to just talk to Faith a few more times as Faith's friend; to lay the ground work for Oz's 'departure' from Sunnydale so that he could control the wolf. Willow remembered begging everyone not to tell Faith what she did.. that she didn't want the dark haired Slayer to think that the redhead was anything like her.
"It's not your fault" Kennedy had said a year earlier after they met at Xander's place with the rest of the Scoobies.. including Giles, who were all in shock at what just happened with Oz a few hours ago, "he wolfed out, we were defenceless and… and you did what you had to do. You used your magic the best way you knew how and…"
"Willow" said Tara who was speaking with her hands over her mouth in shock, "how? I.. I never taught you that and… and…"
"It was powerful Magic" said Giles as he sat with his head in his hands, remembering the young man who loved Willow, "Willow, how did you learn that? It.. it's hard to control and…"
"She learned it herself" said Kennedy while Willow continued to sob, "Tara only taught her defensive and little piddly offensive spells that weren't going to save us from a fully transformed werewolf, and…"
"I taught you advanced spells that I knew you could control, Will" said Tara gently while her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the red-haired girl while Xander and Anya remained silent, "but…"
"You didn't… you didn't teach me anything" said Willow as she looked at a hurt Tara through tear stained eyes, "you taught me nothing!"
"Willow" said Giles, "calm down."
"I watched my boyfriend burn up alive because you never taught me anything!" shouted Willow as she stood up and pointed her finger at Tara, "defensive spells, or 'oh, use this to push them away and then run'. That's it! If you taught me the spell I used, then maybe I could have controlled it and… and…"
"I wanted you to learn control, Willow" said Tara as her voice shook, "we could have gone to that spell in a few years and…"
"In a few years?" asked Kennedy, "she… we could have died today. And Buffy arrived late and… and we could have died. Can you get that through your thick skull."
"I…" said Tara shaking her head as Anya got off her seat and walked over to the blonde witch.
"I've seen her train you, Willow" said Anya as she put her hands around the blonde witch's shoulders, "you want to learn things too fast. She was just helping you and.. and now you say this?"
Willow shook her head as she returned to the present day before she looked up at Tara again. She remembered how upset she was; the redhead remembered that Buffy told her that she killed Oz, that she was still in disbelief that the redhead killed her boyfriend. Willow remembered Buffy telling her in the living room a year ago that she should have just shielded herself and waited for Buffy.. that she was only seconds away. Willow remembered tears falling from Buffy's eyes while she asked her why she couldn't just hold off, that she could have done something. Kennedy told Buffy that it was him or them, she was the one who told Willow to use a spell to defend them and that she had.
"Has.. has anyone told his family?" asked Xander as he got up and stayed close with Willow who hugged the man as she continued to sob, "any… Will, I.. I'll contact them. Tell.. tell them that there was an accident and… and…"
"What do we tell Faith?" Anya had asked while she was holding on to Tara who was looking down at the floor while wiping the tears that were flowing from her eyes at the loss of a friend, "I mean she and Oz talk nearly every day and…"
"Who cares?" asked Kennedy.
"I don't… I don't want her to know" said Willow through her sobs as she looked at everyone while still hugging Xander, "I don't want to give her the satisfaction in thinking that I'm just like her. Please… don't tell her."
"You… Oh God… you did what you had to do" said Xander as he held on to the redhead even tighter. He had lost a friend, but he also knew that when Oz became the wolf.. he lost all reason; that Willow had no choice but to lash out to defend herself and Kennedy.
"I.. I'm going home" said Tara as she slowly got up while avoiding looking at everyone, "I… I…"
"Tara" said Willow as she broke apart from Xander and walked towards the blonde with. She reached for Tara who stepped back as soon as she saw her hand reaching for hers. Willow, seeing the reaction, took a step back while deeply regretting what she had already told the witch standing in front of her, "Tara, I…"
"I… I… will still be… be… around if.. if.. you need help" said Tara as she walked past Willow and towards the door, "but… but… I.. I.. damn it!"
Every one jumped at Tara's outburst as she closed her eyes before taking a deep breath, and then looking at Willow, while at the same time doing her best not to stutter.
"Remember what.. what I told you" said Tara as she opened the door, "if.. if you let magic control you, then.. then.. people will use you for your power. I just wanted you to be in control and… and you'll be a powerful witch. And.."
"Tara" said Willow who stepped forward while Tara took a step back which raising a hand to stop the redhead from coming towards her anymore.
"And the.. the way you're going now" said Tara, "I'm afraid for you. I… I'll be here if… if you ever need me but.. but I'm not going to stay here beside you while you put yourself in danger. That's your choice… what you do from now on is against all my advice."
"She'll be much better, much more focused, and more powerful without you" said Kennedy.
"Power without knowledge and understanding is dangerous, Will" said Tara as she stepped out of the door while looking at Willow, "be careful. I'll go say a prayer for Oz, ask the goddess of Light to watch over his soul."
Willow remembered watching Tara leave, just as Buffy got up and told Willow that she'll accompany Tara home. The redhead turned to her best friend who looked back at her as if she was a stranger, she told Buffy that what she did was killing her and that if she could take it back.. she would.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Will" said Buffy softly as she left the house.
"Buff" said Willow as the blonde Slayer stopped, "please don't tell Mrs. Summers and Dawn? Please?"
Willow remembered the look that Buffy had given her, the same look that she sometimes sees on the blonde Slayer's face; a mixture of disbelief, anger, and anguish. She remembered Buffy just turning around without a word as she walked out of Xander's apartment with Willow just looking at the door. She then looked at Anya who turned around and then walked into the bedroom that she shared with Xander, closing the door behind her. Willow remembered Giles getting up from his seat and approaching Willow, and telling her through a choked voice that he'll help her get through this.
"Me too, Willow" said Xander as he hugged his oldest friend who continued sobbing again.
It was the following day after Oz's death that his family was notified. IN the meantime, Willow, Kennedy who had been staying with her the previous night, and Xander told Oz's roommates about what happened. They all solemnly started to pack the young man's room, with Kennedy taking Oz's cell phone without his roommates noticing; it would be that cell phone that Faith would later call a few times with Kennedy using a spell to disguise her voice as Oz.
Now, as Willow thought about everything that happened during the past year, her chest started to ache. She was already tired and felt exhausted from her guilt in what she did to Oz, in what she had made the people who cared for her do; all of them lied for her: Buffy to Joyce and Dawn, and Tara to Faith.
They all were under the impression that Oz was away to learn how to control the wolf.
"Will?" whispered Buffy as the redhead looked at the blonde Slayer while she wiped her eyes, "you ok?"
Willow sniffed before she shook her head and then got up.
"I'm so sorry, Buffy. For everything" whispered Willow to the surprise of Kennedy who was looking back at her questioningly. The redhead gathered her things while the others looked on, especially Kennedy before the redhead walked up the stairs and asked Tara, and Faith if she could join them.
"Yea" said Faith as she shimmied back before she went back to pouring over her books, while occasionally glancing over at Willow who was looking at Tara as she sat down between the two of them. She saw Tara give the redhead a small smile before she gently squeezed her hand. It was then that there was a rumbling sound that made not only Tara, Faith sit up and look at Willow… so did Buffy who looked straight at Willow who looked back at her and frowned.
"Here, Red" said Faith as she turned and took one of the two donuts and handed it to Willow, "hungry much?"
"Thanks" said the redhead as they looked at each other for a few second, before the redhead broke contact and they went back to work.
It was three hours later that Faith received a call from the General saying that they had rented a small home for her on 1340 Crescent Place, and that someone from the SGC was already on the way there to set up the connections for a secured line to the SGC.
"Ok, cool" said Faith speaking to the General, "I think I'll need a sleeping bag and… and two more for the big guy and Jonas. Oh, and since we'll be here for a month… maybe we could get Murray to bring his DVD's. Make it a party. Cool, I'll get a TV and a DVD player… plus some clothes. Yeah, General… we're still doing research and then I'll go get some new clothes for today."
"I'll have Samantha pack a bag for you when she comes back tomorrow, Ellie" said the General over the phone, "you'll get that with Teal'c and Mr. Quinn when they meet you in Sunnydale."
"My laptop too" said Faith.
"Of course" said the General, "be safe. Also, Siler and two others will be installing some additional systems, and they should be done in six hours after they arrive in Sunnydale. I told them to call you once they're done so that they can walk you through the systems that they installed. Then they'll be returning to the SGC."
"Got it" said Faith nodding her head, "and Mrs. S, and Dawn?"
"Once everything's been installed and ready to go" said the General, "Buffy can speak to them then. Mrs. Summers and Dawn are eager to talk to you first though, and then with Buffy."
"Got it" said Faith as the General said his goodbye, "I'll be waiting for their call."
Once Faith put her phone away, she looked down at Buffy and told her that someone was coming by the place the Air Force got her to install the secured line. Faith told her that she'll be able to talk to Joyce and Dawn after she tests the system out. Buffy just nodded her head, while Giles smiled before they went back to translating the documents the Council had given them.
TBC.