Chapter 51
A couple of hours later, Buffy woke up and looked up at Angel's peaceful, sleeping face. She gently detangled herself from his arms and slipped down the hall to check on Connor. He was sleeping peacefully as well in his bed. Buffy went down to the kitchen to get something to drink before she headed back to bed. The front door opened and Spike and Andrew walked in.
"We're back!" Andrew called, walking in the dining room.
"Shh. In here." Buffy called softly.
Spike and Andrew walked in and Spike looked at her. "Hey." She smiled at him.
"Hi. I missed everyone a lot. Sorry it took so long to get back from our mission-mission, but we had to wait out the sun. Well, I think our mission went very well. We, uh, we rode on Spike's hog, which was very cool, and, uh…. uh, played some amusing games, and…. oh! We got some new information. You know what? I really need to urinate." He rushed out of the room.
"He's a breath of fresh air, isn't he? Thank god I don't breathe." Spike said. "So, I think we got a lead. Where is everyone?"
"I made them leave." Buffy said.
"Good for you. Get some quiet, Buffy time."
"No. They turned against me and tried to kick me out of my house."
"Pardon?" Buffy nodded. "That's right bloody swell of them, eh? Those sad, sad, ungrateful traitors. Who do they think they are?"
"They're just scared and confused. Can't say I blame them."
Spike started to say something, but stopped, staring at Buffy. "What's this, then?"
"What?"
"Where is he?"
She rolled her eyes. "The rivalry between you two will never end will it?" He didn't say anything. "He's upstairs sleeping right now."
"Sleeping where?"
"Spike…."
"I'm just asking."
"It's a loaded question and I don't have my armor on."
"So, he's in your bed, is he?"
"Why are you pressing this? We're not together. I'm not even with Angel…. I don't think."
"But you want to be."
"Stop making a big deal out of this. He's here to help."
"You don't have to get shirty about it."
"I'm not shirty. And what is shirty? That's not even a word." Spike looked away. "You're a dope."
"I'm a what?"
"You're a dope. And a bonehead. And you're shirty."
"Have you gone completely carrot-top?"
"Look, I am tired of defensiveness and weird, mixed signals. You know, I have Faith for that. Let's just get to the truth here, ok? We had a relationship…."
"I thought we still did."
She shook her head. "I don't even know anymore what we have. You've been my closest ally through all of this and I trust you. But…. I don't know."
"God, I'm such a jerk. I can't do this."
"Spike…."
"I love you Buffy. You'll probably never understand the extent of it, but I do. I don't want you as just my friend!" He sighed. "But as long as he's around…. I'll never know if you love me back because all you can see is him."
"I never meant for it to go as far as it did between us."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't know!"
"I've lived for soddin' ever, Buffy. I've done everything. Done things with you I can't spell, but…. I've never…. been close…. to anyone. Least of all, you. 'Till the last few months."
"Why?"
"Because you stood there at my side and you actually saw me. When you used to look at me, you wouldn't look at me….. You looked through me. But the night you told the Initiative blokes to take that chip out and when I heard you tell Giles you took it out because you knew I was a good man…. It was the best moments of my life and I'm terrified now because of it."
"You don't have to be."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know. Does it have to mean something?"
"No. Not right now."
"Maybe when…."
"No." Spike threw up his hands. "Let's just leave it. He's here now and you've got him and you'll never look at me because he's here and because you've got him." He turned away from her and walked out the back door.
Upstairs, Angel listened intently to the conversation between Buffy and Spike. He wondered if Buffy had started her relationship with Spike again while she waited for Angel. When the door opened and Buffy walked into the room, he pretended to be asleep. She walked around, making sure the windows were covered so he wouldn't burn in the coming sunlight, and then changed into her clothes and left. He spent all day sitting in the dark room thinking over what he felt about Buffy's relationship with Spike. Then, to take his mind off of it, he grabbed the folder Lilah had given him when he took over Wolfram and Hart. He held the amulet up the light from the candles and stared at it before diving in to the tedious work of translating and decoding the papers in the file.
Connor came into the room at around eleven looking for Buffy. "I don't know where she went, son." Angel said.
"What are you looking at?" Connor asked.
"These files I was given to help Buffy out."
"Is that necklace for her?"
"I'm not sure."
"I don't think she'll like it."
Angel laughed. "It's a little gaudy isn't it?"
"Will you come downstairs and eat lunch with me? Andrew's down there and he's talking my ear off about something called Star Wars. It sounds like a battle that was fought in another dimension, but I'm not sure. What's a light saber?"
Angel shook his head, laughing. "It's a popular series of movies, Connor."
"A light saber is?"
"No. Star Wars. A light saber is like their sword. It comes in different colors." Angel stood up. "I'll save you from the eventual death from boredom. Star Wars wasn't really my thing."
At about one in the afternoon, the door banged open and frightened voices floated into the kitchen. Angel and Connor rushed into the dining room to be greeted by the sight of wounded teenage girls. Buffy was moving around the room carrying a large scythe and ordering the Potentials around. The living room was being turned into an impromptu triage unit as the healthy ones treated the wounds of the girls that were hurt.
"Will, come here. She's losing a lot of blood." Buffy called.
"Got it." Willow went to the side of the girl Buffy was attending. Giles and Xander carried an unconscious Faith through the front door and up the stairs. Kennedy and Amanda stood in the doorway, concerned, as Buffy went to supervise.
"What happened?" Angel asked Buffy as she raced past him.
"They were ambushed. Is my room ok?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, of course."
Buffy looked at Giles and Xander. "The room upstairs is ready for her."
"Good." Giles said.
"I hope we're in time." Xander said.
"Is she ok? Is she gonna be ok?" Amanda asked.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, right?" Kennedy said.
"Careful!" Xander barked.
"Just mind her head." Giles said.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
Angel jumped in front of Giles and Xander and took Faith in his arms. "I've got her."
"I'll be up in a second."
"You guys heal fast, right? You Slayers?" Kennedy asked Buffy.
"Yeah."
"So…. she'll be ok?"
"I don't know."
"What's with the axe thing?" One potential asked.
"I took it from Caleb. It might be important."
"Let's hope." Vi said.
"I think we got punished." Amanda said.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"We, uh…. we followed her." Kennedy said. "And it was…."
"It didn't work out." Vi finished.
"You guys, it was a trap. It's not her fault. That could've just as easily happened to me."
"So are you…. are you, like, back?" Caridad asked.
"I don't know. I guess." Buffy grabbed a first-aid kit and her new weapon and headed up the stairs.
"So, we got a plan now, or anything?" Kennedy asked.
"Yeah, there's a plan. Get ready. Time's up." Buffy headed into her room where Giles was taking Faith's pulse.
"Is she breathing ok?" Xander asked.
Giles nodded. "Still unconscious, though."
"We've still got work to do." Buffy said, hefting the scythe. "Giles, Angel, come with me. Xander…." She tossed him the First Aid kit. "The rest of you, out. Downstairs. Someone get Willow up here."
Angel grabbed Buffy's elbow in the hallway and she looked up at him. "You ok?"
"Never better. Why?"
"Just checking."
Buffy held up her new weapon. "I think it's maybe some kind of scythe. The only thing I know for sure is it made Caleb back off in a hurry."
"So it's true. Scythe matters." Willow said, pushing Giles playfully.
"And, ignoring that, I'd just like to point out this is really quite ingenious." Giles said, playing with the weapon.
"Kills strong bodies 3 ways." Bufy said.
"And you say you sense something when you hold it?" Angel asked.
"Not much, but it's strong. And I knew it belonged to me. I just knew it."
"In addition to being ancient, it's clearly mystical." Giles said.
"Yeah, I figured that one out when I King Arthured it out of the stone."
"So maybe it's like some kind of traditional Slayer weapon." Willow said.
"I can't imagine how something like this could exist without my having heard of it." Giles said.
"Or me." Angel interjected.
"Well, the good guys are not traditionally known for their communication skills." Buffy said. Angel smiled as Giles cleared his throat.
"Right. Um…." Giles sat on the bed. "Any chance that it might be something other than a tool for killing things?"
"The First's guys clearly wanted it out of that stone. It's not just a tool. It's important. We need to find out whatever we can. Who made it, when, why? Does it have a name? I don't know, a credit report? Just find out fast."
"We'll start work immediately."
"Yeah, don't worry, Buff. We'll find out everything there is to know." Willow said as she opened her laptop.
"Good, because right now, that thing's all we've got going for us." She walked out and into the bathroom. For once it was empty and peaceful.
Angel walked in and closed the door. "Anything you need help with?"
She shook her head. "Not from you."
"Ouch."
"I only meant…. Dawn. She needs to not be here."
"She can head to LA. I'm sure the gang would put her up there."
"She can't drive herself."
"Are you asking me to take her?"
"No. I'm going to ask Xander."
Buffy and Xander stood across the island from each other in the kitchen while Angel and Connor sat in the dining room waiting for them to come out.
"You got it?" Buffy asked.
"Wait. I'm not to the 'got it' place yet. I'm still in the neighborhood of 'you've gotta be kidding'." Xander said.
"You know it's for the good."
"I don't. Buffy, do you get that? If I do this, that's it for me for this fight. I feel like you're putting me out to pasture."
"Of course I'm not putting you out to pasture. What does that even mean?"
"Well, you know, it's like, uh…. when a cow gets old and loses an eye, or its ability to be milked, the farmer takes it and puts it in a different pasture so it won't have to…. fight…. with the priests. Look, I don't need you to protect me."
"I'm not."
"I feel like you're replacing me because he's here."
"Xander…."
"I got hurt, but I'm not done. I can still fight."
"I know. That's why I need you to do this. Xander, I need someone that I can count on no matter what happens."
"I just always thought that I would…. I would be there with you…. you know, for the end."
"Hey!"
"Well, not that this is the end."
"Thanks a lot."
"No, no, no. By the end, I meant, uh…. a heroic, uplifting way. See, I'm still optimistic. You're just thrown off a little by this gritty-looking eye patch."
"I know what you meant."
"I should be at your side. That's all I'm saying."
"You will be. You're my strength, Xander. You're the reason I made it this far. I trust you with my life. That's why I need you to do this for me."
"Ok."
Buffy smiled and started to walk to the dining room. "Also, you can't shoot a bow and arrow anymore, and every time you pick up a sword, I worry that you're gonna break one of our good lamps."
"Hey!"
"Don't look at me. You're the one who said I'm gonna die."
"I never said you were gonna die. I…. I implied that you were gonna die. It's totally different."
"Yeah, ok. Sure."
"Besides, if you die, I'll just bring you back to life." Xander looked at Angel. "That's what I do."
"I remember." Angel said with a smirk.
"I wonder what Giles and Willow have found." Buffy said.
"Let's go find out."
She smiled and followed Angel up the stairs with Connor close behind. Her weapon was leaning against the bed and Giles was pacing behind Willow who was typing away at the computer. "It's a scythe for sure. Lucky break, though." Willow said.
"What's that?" Buffy asked.
"The people that built the weapon buried it here in Sunnydale and then pretty much buried themselves here."
"Huh?"
"There's a pyramid-like structure in The Sunnydale Rest Cemetery, yes?" Giles asked. Buffy nodded. "It's the entrance to a pagan temple that could provide more answers about your scythe."
"Good." Buffy picked up her scythe and smiled at the power of it coursing through her veins.
"Oh, Faith's awake."
"Really?" She looked at the scythe and looked at the door. "I think I'll go say 'hey, check out my badass weapon.'"
Angel chuckled and met her in the hall. "Want me to come with?"
"Only if you want." They left Connor standing in his room with Willow and Xander. He was checking out the scythe. Buffy knocked on her own bedroom door and then walked in. "Hey."
"Yo, B. Angel." Faith's eyes hit the scythe in Buffy's hand. "Huh. Are we duking it out then? Cause I'm always up for a fight, but personally…."
"No. It's…. Here." She handed the weapon to Faith and the darker Slayer almost jumped at the power that came from the weapon. "You feel it too, don't you?"
"Damn. And damn, that's something."
"I know."
"It's old. It's strong, and it feels like…. like it's mine." Faith placed it on the bed beside her. "I guess that means it's yours."
"It belongs to the Slayer." Buffy picked up the scythe.
"Slayer in charge, which, I'm guessing, is you."
"I honestly don't know. Does it matter?"
"It never mattered to me. Somebody has to lead. Let's vote for Chao-Ahn. It's harder to lead people into a deathtrap if you don't speak English."
"It wasn't your fault." Angel said.
"I'm really not looking for forgiveness."
"You're not?"
"What do you want me to say? I blew it. I don't need a pep talk now."
"You didn't blow it." Buffy said.
"Tell that to…."
"People die. You lead them into battle, they're gonna die. It doesn't matter how ready you are or how smart you are. War is about death. Needless, stupid death."
"So, here's the laugh riot. My whole life I've been a loner."
"That's the funny part? Did I miss something?"
"I'm trying to…."
"Sorry. Sorry. Go."
"No ties, no buddies, no relationships that lasted longer than…. well, Robin lasted pretty long. Boy's got stamina."
"Principal Wood? And you?"
"Don't tell me you two got wriggly."
Buffy looked at Angel and felt suddenly guilty that she and Robin had gone on a date. "No. No. No, no. We're just good friends. Or mortal enemies, depending on which day of the…. Was that the funny part?"
"Ok. The point. Me, by myself all the time. I'm looking at you, everything you have, and, I don't know, jealous. Then there I am. Everybody's looking to me, trusting me to lead them, and I've never felt so alone in my entire life."
"Yeah." Buffy swallowed and looked down.
"And that's you every day, isn't it?"
"I love my friends. I'm very grateful for them. But that's the price. Being a Slayer."
"There's only supposed to be one. Maybe that's why you and I can never get along. We're not supposed to exist together."
"Also, you went evil and were killing people."
"Good point. Also a factor."
"But you're right. I mean, I…. I guess everyone's alone. But being a Slayer? There's a burden we can't share."
"And no one else can feel it." Faith nodded. "Thank God we're hot chicks with superpowers."
"Takes the edge off."
"Comforting."
"Mm-hmm."
Angel glanced out the window. "Buffy." She looked at him. "It's dark out. You want me to come with to the cemetery?"
"Uh. Yeah."
"I'll meet you downstairs then." Angel nodded at Faith and walked out.
"Damn, B." Faith said.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"After all this time…. That boy's still got it bad for you."
"Pft. Feeling's mutual."
"Then toss him in the dirt and take him for a ride."
Buffy almost choked. "Faith…."
"I know the score, but damn…. You two…. You've got the big forever love."
"It's a lot more complicated than that." Faith didn't say anything, just nodded.
"I swear, you walked into his life all blonde hair and sunshine and you look at him now. You two… You're lives are mixed in there together. Guess that's one of the reasons I'm so jealous of you because you say you're alone, but then I only have to look in either of your eyes and know that you're not. You have him no matter where you are or what you're doing. And that vice is versa for him."
"Thanks." Buffy walked out of the room carrying her scythe at her side.
