Even though Faith knew Willow was probably teasing, the jibe spurred her into a trot. All around, the rest of the stragglers picked up their own pace. Faith didn't pay attention. The Juniors might be green, but they all understood their jobs – kill vampires and stay alive. The cops didn't understand anything and wouldn't until the vampires started looking for a snack. For now, everyone was on their own. She had other things to think about.
Actually, only one thing. Willow.
Slipping behind the wheel of the rental car, Faith started the engine on auto-pilot. "Did I break you?" Willow asked, with laughter edging her voice.
"I hope not." Nicole leaned over the back seat, and Faith saw her grin reflected in the rearview mirror. "You may think I'm ready to lead, but… Nope. Not yet. This is Faith's party; she's the only Slayer with a real invitation to the party."
Life couldn't get any worse. Faith scowled at the teasing, an unaccustomed blush scalding her cheeks. She rammed the gearstick into drive and stomped on the accelerator. Gravel spewed from beneath the tires and the car fishtailed for a second before she brought it under control.
"Looks normal from my end," Chelsea said, jumping on the bandwagon. "I mean, does Faith ever smile? Or drive better than a cabbie trying to make JKF before his fare's flight?"
There were going to be permanent indentations on the steering wheel from Faith's grip.
"Hmm, if I didn't know better, I'd say frustration makes for a very cranky Slayer." The laughter was still in Willow's voice. She wasn't even trying to hide it. "Maybe that was always Buffy's problem," she continued thoughtfully – as Faith fought to keep the car on the road and her jaw off the floorboard. "I'll have to ask Giles the next time I talk to him. Surely there's something in all those Watcher's Diaries about the phenomenon."
Nicole snorted. "Make sure to tape that conversation – if he doesn't die from a heart attack the second you ask." She flung herself back into the seat. "You know, it's too bad we can't head back to the city and keep teasing Faith. She's kinda funny when her face turns red and her eyes bug out."
"I'll show you funny," Faith muttered; although, she was sure her blush was still in place and her eyes did feel a bit wider than normal. Her grip on the wheel eased after a minute, though. She was getting used to the constant verbal poking. Not to mention Nicole hadn't exactly sounded lighthearted by the time she'd finished her final comment. Fun time seemed to be over. Faith added one last jab to prove she was still in the game. "'Sides, my eyes don't 'bug out.' I was concentratin' on the road." That was better. She could handle this with practice.
"Concentrate on getting us all to the voting site safely," Chelsea corrected. "It was bad enough when I knew I was the one with a bull's eye on my back. Now I've got Munch and Liv sharing the danger."
Faith noticed there was no mention of how likely it was that she, Willow, or the Juniors would be in the line of fire, too. Good. Maybe Chelsea was ready to stop fighting her over every decision. "Your crew is backup, Chief. They only get to come off the bench if the rest of us are dead."
"That wasn't the impression I got earlier," Chelsea pointed out – and Faith silently cursed her stellar memory. "You didn't want them around until the odds got bad."
Stalling for time, Faith made a production out of checking the side and rearview mirrors for the rest of the team's cars. "You ain't at the same table. The odds're bad, yeah. But we're stacking the deck. That's why Liv and the Sarge are followin'. They won't be in the front; they'd be dead. We keep 'em in the back…just in case." It was an overstatement. Faith had no idea how many vampires were waiting for them. For all she did know, the two clueless cops behind them might be in the thick of the fighting the second they hit St. Reginald. She didn't say that to Chelsea; the Chief had enough to worry about. Besides, there was still a minuscule chance Faith was wrong about the situation at the voting site.
Unfortunately, Chelsea was too smart for the snow job – and she let Faith know, in no uncertain terms. "Bullshit."
The succinct assessment made Faith chuckle. "Yeah, it is. I was tryin' to make you feel better. You must be special. I don't do that for just anybody… Guess I won't waste time on that again. It'll be grumpy Faith all the way."
"Whoo hoo," Willow uttered in a voice only Faith and Nicole would be able to hear. Glancing across the front seat, Faith saw Willow wink at her. "My favorite."
Blushing was going to get old. Fast. Faith still winked back, ignoring the soft gagging from the back seat. "Since I'm back to bein' me, Chief, we need a plan in a hurry. Don't think it will take more'n two, maybe three hours, to get to the voting place. Sunlight's a plus, but it won't be enough."
"Especially not with all the buildings. If the vampires hide inside, it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel. I could probably do something to make us harder to see," Willow said. "Invisibility is out; too much of an energy drain. If I refract the light a little and do some sort of camouflage spell, we might blend enough for them to miss us."
"You…you can do that?" Chelsea appeared pale when Faith looked in the rear view mirror.
Willow didn't respond immediately, and Faith watched Chelsea fidget. "I said probably," Willow admitted with a shrug. "New spells – especially complex ones – don't always work as planned. It's theoretically possible."
Faith didn't think that's what Chelsea had in mind with her question. "Red's wicked powerful, Chief," she said and watched Chelsea nod. "Any other options? We're gonna need the mojo for the big battle, I'm thinkin'. Won't do us much good if you're out for the count," Faith continued, directing her comment to Willow.
"Point taken." Biting her lip, Willow turned her head to stare out the window. "This is out of my experience. Research, I can do. Magic, I can do. Plan a battle…"
It was a familiar refrain. None of the kids in this car, in any of the cars, had experience with what lay ahead. Chelsea swallowed hard, nearly gagging on the sour taste of bile. Blindly fumbling with the map she'd stuffed in her coat pocket, Chelsea marshaled her frantically racing mind. If her bodyguards couldn't find a safe way in, she would.
Unfortunately, the roads and buildings hadn't changed since the last time Chelsea had looked at the printed map. Coming in on New York 37 was their only option unless they hopped out of the car and hiked through the woods, and this wasn't a weekend vacation. Chelsea grew up in the city; even hardened New Yorkers understood that lots of trees equaled shade.
Shade meant vampires.
Digging her cell phone out, Chelsea snapped it open and punched Fin's number on her speed dial. "Yo, Rookie. This better be good. I can't believe I'm stuck in a car out in the boonies. Not to mention the kid and the old guy in the back."
"You haven't seen boonies yet." It was hard to tease when you weren't in the mood, Chelsea realized. She gave up on niceties altogether. "I need to talk to Anshu."
Fin grunted in her ear, but Chelsea heard the rustle as he handed over the phone. "Chelsea, is everything all right?"
Hardly. Repressing a snort, she answered, "We're heading to the election site now. I've got maps of the area. Is 37 the only way in?" It sounded stupid. The maps indicated one, and only one, main road in the area.
"It is the only paved road, yes." Anshu didn't sound as bewildered as Chelsea had expected. "However, there are other places you will not find on your maps. Small, dirt tracks the tribe uses for farm equipment and livestock."
It was perfect, except… "Through the wooded areas?" Chelsea asked, already sure of his answer.
"Most of them. Tribal lands are well forested. We work hard to maintain a balance with Nature, even in modern times," Anshu said.
The Mohawk history lesson would have to wait. "Look, we have a problem. You've talked with…Juanita," Chelsea said, thinking hard to recall the name of the Junior Slayer in the car with Anshu. "You know we've probably got vampires waiting for us. Trees give us – and them – shelter. We can't go in the main route. Where can we go?" And not get killed? "Faith wants to set up in a house right on the edge of the peninsula."
"Balik's home." There was silence on the other end of the line, and Chelsea shifted impatiently. "Do you not intend to go to the tribal hall?"
Damn it. Chelsea closed her eyes and lightly banged her head against the passenger-side window. They hadn't given him that information. Juanita hadn't been there for Nicole's "find." "No. Sorry. It's a good bet the vampires will be there waiting. From what we've been able to find," she felt only moderately embarrassed at that particular overstatement of her role, "nothing says I have to make my selection there."
"I will alert the remainder of our kin to move to that location as soon as we have a solution to your arrival." Anshu's calm, level voice helped Chelsea regain her composure. "There is only one other way through St. Reginald that might prove safe. It will not help you completely avoid the normal road onto tribal lands; however, if you go to where McGrath and Sheldon meet, there is a dirt road. It skirts the edges of several farms and wooded areas. You will not be in the trees, only near."
Chelsea saw Faith stiffen and turn her head, apparently listening to her conversation with Anshu. Not everyone in the car had super hearing – or memory. Hastily marking the spot Anshu had mentioned on her map, she made an encouraging noise to prod him to continue.
He took the hint. "The path will take you along the edge of the river on the west side of the peninsula, limiting the threat from at least one direction," Anshu said softly. "I will have as many people along the route to assist you as I can."
"Thank you." Chelsea had been a police officer for several years. The Brotherhood in Blue had been her family. Now, though, the amazing feel of real family pushed away her fear of the immediate future. "I'll…I'll see you soon," she nearly whispered before closing the phone. For a brief second, she floated on the continued, invisible support Anshu had offered.
And then Chelsea got back to the business of staying alive. "I'm sure Faith and Nicole heard the new plan, Willow. I'll fill you in while Nicole starts the Slayer Phone Tree." She smiled at the wrinkled nose and dramatic sigh she received from Nicole. "Here's what we've got…"
The explanation to Willow didn't take nearly as long as it took Nicole to contact each of the cars in their cavalcade. Chelsea had enough free time to lose the confidence she'd gained from Anshu. Each mile marker sign tightened an invisible noose around her neck.
"You gonna be OK back there, Chief? Lookin' kinda pale." Faith had to notice Chelsea's growing anxiety. "Somethin' on the call I missed?"
"No." The refusal was curt, and Chelsea grimaced before rubbing her hands up and down the legs of her pants. "I…"
Faith laughed. "You're freakin'. It happens."
It shouldn't happen, Chelsea silently answered. She was an experienced police officer; fear was normal. Complete and total panic was not. To sidestep anymore discussion of the topic, Chelsea said, "Now that we know a way in, do we have a clue how I'm supposed to cast my vote? Is there some special ballot box or do I just call out a name?"
"Fuck, Chief, do you even know who's on the short list?" Faith fired back.