Disclaimer.. Only the bits et, etc…..

A/N. I know, I know. I said two. I think the pressure must be getting to me…. Anyway. Here's the next bit….

Oh!! When you see this…." " It denotes telepathy.

Chapter Fifty.

Alnwick.

Freedom. She could taste it. But it wasn't a rescue, she wasn't out of it just yet. She still had to get back to Oxford. Hayley found the road where all the traffic noise was coming from. Signs at the junction told her that it was the A1, ahead of her to the east was a place called Denwick, to the north was Berwick on Tweed, and to the south was Morpeth and Newcastle upon Tyne.

"For a kid from the outback, you sure are a long way from home." She muttered.

South was the way to go. She didn't know how far it was, but at some point she knew that she'd come across a service station, or a truck stop. She began walking towards Newcastle along the wide cycle track come footpath that ran alongside the A1.

A while later she came across a lay-by, the sort that were set back from the road to give resting drivers some respite from the hullabaloo of the traffic.

As soon as she spotted it, she knew this was the moment she was about to be rescued. Gold italic lettering adorned the metallic blue of the truck.

Carter International Logistics.

-------------------------------------------------

Area 51. Prometheus docking bay.

A security detail carried out ain intricate search of the Prometheus' dock and after Sam had briefed the returning technicians on the problem at hand, they were back working on the spaceship. Carter was calling her report in to the SGC. The General said he didn't know of any other projects in the area, Sam wasn't convinced. All he'd say was that it probably wasn't a good idea to go snooping…

"Sir. We still don't know what caused the transporter to malfunction in that way."

"And a good thing too Carter, you're too valuable to the SGC to go off looking for trouble. Maybe it's an Asgard fail-safe, to stop you getting into hot water? Like that DNA tag they put on me to stop the cloning thing." He suggested.

"Could be, but it works everywhere else, sir."

"Yes. You even beamed my favourite coffee mug off my desk. That was good coffee, Carter, I want it back."

Sam allowed herself a little smirk. "Yes sir, right away." She tapped in the co-ordinates and the mug disappeared in a flash of light.

"Thank you. Now, as I was…" O'Neill started.

"Magnetism!" She yelled into the phone. There was a yowl of pain at the other end.

"That was hot! Carter! Deal with this and then call me. Later. Much later!"

"Sorry sir. I just thought that it might be something to do with magnetism. There was a fault line that was unstabl…"

There was a click at the other end. Sam's eyes widened and she gave the phone a tight smile. "You too. Sir."

She replaced the phone and turned to the other technicians who had obviously heard the banter between the two.

"I'm going for some air." She announced. Punching a key on the pad she too disappeared in a flash of light.

As she did the group shared looks.

"Definitely." Said one.

"Okay. How much?" Said another.

"Ten bucks says within the year." Said a third one.

"Same amount. Six months tops." Said the fourth.

---------------------

WSC Initiative.

Buffy dropped to Dan's side and cradled his head in her lap. She kissed his forehead and stroked his temple with the back of her hand.

"Danny, come on wake up!" She said, concern in her voice.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Asked Graham.

Buffy looked at Willow. "He needs sunlight. Will, help, please." She begged.

Willow obliged and teleported them outside into the sunlight. A group of guards on the pad noticed the trio appear at the far end of the area, and called a warning to Major Hoyle.

That was the moment when Sam Carter appeared next to the Major. He jumped slightly.

"Sorry." She said.

"S'okay. Ma'am. Did you beam anyone else out?" He asked.

"No, why?"

He pointed to the figures at the edge of the pad, two crouched and one prone.

"Coz they've just appeared there." He added.

"What! Sound the alert." She ordered. "I want to talk to them."

An alarm went off. Guards started running towards the trio. Then they stopped as the three just faded from view.

"Did they just… Was it a mirage?"

Sam shook her head. "No. they were there. We all saw them. Mirages are optical phenomenon; light refractions, not illusions, and not witnessed the same way by everyone."

The guards looked back at the Major, waiting for instructions. He indicated for them to fan out and search.

-------------------

From their position at the edge of the pad Buffy and Willow held hands, Dan's head still in Buffy's lap. Willow looked anxious as the guards ran towards them, and prepared to raise her shields.

"Don't worry Will. They can't see or hear us." Said Buffy.

Willow raised her eyebrows. "Say you're not gonna melt away or somethin' are ya?"

Buffy giggled. "No. Not this time. I'm here for keeps."

Dan groaned and opened his eyes. "What happened? Where are we?"

"Out in the desert. You overtaxed yourself, I think. Look sunshine. Feeling better?" She answered, more brightly.

He started to get up. Buffy shook her head. "Give it a minute. We got company."

Willow was looking toward the hanger, she had that same puzzled look on her face again.

Dan looked to the side and saw the guards looking in their general direction, but not directly at them, then they started to move outwards from the hanger.

"Invisible?" He asked. "Did they see us?"

"Invisible." She confirmed. "Only for a moment."

He relaxed. Then he looked past the guards, shielding his eyes against the glare.

"Isn't that Colonel Carter over there?" He said, remembering the pictures he'd seen.

Willow slapped her forehead.

"D'oh. Yes. That's the energy signature I've been feeling. They must have some alien gismo or doohickey somewhere near here."

"Great! Trust the Initiative. First they set up shop on a hellmouth, now right on top of a doohickey." Said Buffy. "How do they manage it?"

"I think we'd better get out of here, before they get any ideas that there is still someone here." Suggested Dan, seeing the guards getting closer and adopting a systematic search pattern.

Willow teleported them all back inside the Initiative base. They headed for the infirmary where Riley was sitting in a chair sipping at a glass of water, holding the hand of his still unconscious wife on the bed next to him.

"Doc says I've got you to thank for getting us back, Dan."

"Anything for a mate in trouble." Dan grinned. "How is she?"

"Still out, but she's okay. Doc's doing some tests to see if you're right."

"About her being pregnant?" Queried Dan. "Oh I'm certain of it. It's hard to explain, but, there were three souls inside her. The demon was a different type of thing. Cold, dark, raw. But Sam's soul is warm, strong, and so is the other one."

"So it's not another demon then?"

"No. Definitely not."

"Any clues as to…."

"I'm a copper who vanquishes demons; not a obstetrician." Grinned Dan.

"Hey, congratulations. The family Finn." Said Buffy.

"Yeah, congrats. Do you remember how they did it How they possessed you?" Asked Willow, changing the subject.

Riley gave her a blank look. "What? Er no. Sorry. I remember Sam and I going for a meal. Then we got back to the hotel. Went to our suite, and that's it." He said.

"Maybe Sam can tell us more when she comes round. She was the one who alerted Graham." Said Buffy.

"Wow. Well, she's certainly a fighter." Said Riley.

Buffy looked at her watch. "We ought to be getting back. Dan and I want to catch up with Emily Hecht, before she does any more damage. Can you drop us off, Will?"

Willow nodded.

"Hecht? That name sounds familiar." Said Riley.

"Maguire's lawyer is her husband." Said Dan.

Riley looked at the glass he held. "Water" It's got something to do with the water….." He trailed off.

"Narrows it down, a little. If you think of anything else, give me a call." Said Buffy.

"I'll check in with you later." Announced Willow. "After I've told Natalie a Sunnydale bedtime story. Then I'm gonna take a look around. See what Colonel Carter is up to."

Riley wasn't keeping up with the conversation, it was going in too many different directions for his still semi-conscious brain to connect to.

"Alien devices and doohickeys!" Dan grinned in explanation to Riley's blank look.

"Oh." Said Riley, still not sure what he was hearing.

"Will. I swear you're tryin to give that girl nightmares." Commented Buffy.

"Oh, no, no, no.. Only the watershed version. I tone them down… A lot. See you both later." Willow said, smiling at Riley.

She gathered her power and the three of them disappeared.

-------------------------------------------------

Prometheus.

Shortly after the appearance, and then the disappearance of the trio, the all clear had been sounded from within the affected facility and everyone had returned to their normal duties. Sam had again tried to gain access to the other facility, but, was denied, someone was not accepting her clearance.

Soon she was back on the phone to the General again, and she couldn't help wonder why the General was playing the incident down so easily. Was there something he knew that he couldn't, or wouldn't tell her.

"Carter. Let it go."

"Sir?"

"Let it go. It doesn't matter. I need you back here by tomorrow morning. Understood?"

"Sir, is there something you're not telling me?"

"No." The comment sounded final.

Sam thought better of it. "Okay sir. I will." She said. "For now, anyway." She thought to herself.

"Good. Later. Carter."

"Goodbye sir."

She turned to the panel that had been installed and tested the conduits for compliance. "I will…For now." She murmured.

-------------------------------

SGC. Cheyenne Mountain.

Jack replaced the phone carefully as though it was some delicate piece of china. He glanced again to the buff coloured folder in front of him. The one that said 'WSC Initiative Project - Eyes Only.' on the cover.

He replaced the file in the desk drawer and locked it, putting the key in his pocket. His thoughts returned to the pile of team reports that had mounted up whilst he had been in Washington.

He sighed, and pushed the intercom button.

"Yes General?" Master Sergeant Walter Harriman's voice crackled over the line."

"Walter. Do I have to sign every one of these reports?"

"Every one sir."

Jack was silent. The intercom crackled again.

"And read them too, sir."

"All of them?"

"Every one, sir" Came the reply.

Jack groaned and sat back in his chair. Shutting his eyes for a moment, he drifted off to his relaxing place…..To a barbers shop in Indiana. Stylin' Joe's…

-----------------------------------------------

London.

It was late. Soon the clubs would be opening. Emily Hecht checked her attire in the mirror. She twirled around making the hem of the dress she was wearing swirl around her. Pleased with her look she grabbed her purse off the dresser and headed out of the door.

The Four Seasons Hotel was in the heart of the business sector on Canary Wharf, and the reception area was crowded with business people, some checking in late for early meetings tomorrow, some checking out; and the usual after dinner drinks between colleagues.

She cruised through the lounge area glancing at the suited and booted men. None appealed to her needs so she left the reception and hailed a taxi. The victims of her forays of the two previous nights had not been discovered as yet, and she was feeling confident that her change of persona and venue had had the desired effect; and it was a nice hotel, why spoil it by adding another conquest from the guests to her list.

As the taxi pulled away, the real Jo Portman stepped from her vantage point, followed outside, and climbed into the next waiting taxi, instructing the driver to follow the previous one.

On the journey, Jo noted that the driver was unusually quiet. Most cabbies had chatty personalities and wanted to know about all sorts of things, whilst telling you which celebrity or politician they'd had in their back seat this week. She dismissed it as one of those things and concentrated on the task in hand.

Every so often he'd glance in the mirror at her, and she couldn't help feeling she'd seen him somewhere before.

"You seem familiar. Do I know you?" She asked.

"Dahn't fink so luv." He replied. "I'd certainly know if I'd met a luvverly lady like you before." He added, sounding as though Bow had been his birthplace.

The remark was followed by a grimace and she was sure he'd flinched, because the taxi had wobbled slightly as though he'd jerked the steering wheel.

She also noted the slight glare he offered to the space at his side.

"Something wrong? Is the cab alright?" She asked.

"Nahw worries luv. Touch of sciatica." He replied.

Jo left it. He wasn't the problem right now. Emily was. They pulled up about a hundred metres away from the other cab and watched as Emily alighted, paid, and entered the premises.

"What d'ya wanna do luv?" Asked the driver.

Jo thought for a moment. She couldn't go into the club herself, Emily would spot her.

"Drop me here please. I'll get another cab when I decide."

"Your choice luv. That'll be a tenner." Said the driver, indicating to the meter.

Jo paid up and got out. She stood by the kerb for a minute as the taxi departed. She was wishing right now that she'd gotten Adam or Ros to come with her. At least she'd have someone else to see what Emily was doing inside the club.

--------------------------

The cabbie hadn't been quiet. The conversation he was having was all in his head, silently planning the operation with his invisible partner seated next to him.

Dan pulled the cab around the corner and stopped.

"What was that for?" He said, referring to the dig to the ribs that Buffy had given him as she faded into view beside him.

"I'd certainly know if I'd met a luvverly lady like you before?" She said, imitating his cockney accent.

"It's called undercover. I was acting. You know, pretending. Were you jealous?" He said, a sly grin forming on his lips.

Buffy pouted. "No."

Dan looked at her sceptically. "No, of course you weren't. Come on. Let's go and see what our spook's up to." He squeezed her hand and gave her a kiss. "I love you." He said, emphasising the 'you'.

She smiled and returned the compliment. "I love you too."

There was a pause.

"You're right." She admitted. "I was a little jealous. I just don't know why?"

"It's just a hunch." He said, thoughtfully. "But it wouldn't have anything to do with Sam and Riley, and their forthcoming addition. Would it?"

"No? Yes? Maybe?" She sounded unsure, whichever way she said it.

He cupped her chin in his hand, and kissed her again, briefly. "We'll get there. I promise. One step at a time. Okay?"

She nodded and smiled. "Okay."

Dan took a breath, and asserted himself. "Now. Let's focus on the job in hand. Keep the spook out of the way. Demon in there. Find her, lure her out, vanquish, and save the human half. Right? "

"Right."

----------------------------

Jo stood for several minutes waiting for an opportunity. A crowd of people, all obviously friends, came into view and made their way to the door of the club. Moving swiftly she joined them as they entered; keeping in their midst until she could find a vantage point inside and locate Emily.

She didn't spot the cab driver and a blonde approach from the rear and also enter the club. At least, she would have done, if they'd been visible.

As soon as Dan entered the club he was alerted to the cold wash of darkness given off by the demonic presence. He let go of Buffy's hand and became visible, made his way to the bar and ordered a drink.

The place was packed. So crowded that no-one minded if they got bumped or eased out of the way by an unseen person. It was expected. They just carried on dancing. That gave Dan an advantage. He could make contact with Emily, stay out of Jo Portman's line of vision, and, Buffy could remain invisible and close enough if any strong arm tactics were necessary.

There was one other advantage. Even with the music at a deafening volume, their telepathic conversations were held at normal levels, and not overheard by anyone else.

Jo stood behind a pillar and cautiously looked around the club for signs of Emily. She spotted her over by the bar and was considering going over to her and making with the 'surprised to see you here' routine when there was a tap on her shoulder, and a voice behind her said.

"What's a nice girl like you doing in a dump like this."

She turned to see Gavin Jenkins. A sort of ex from about three years ago, long before she'd started working for MI-5.

"Gav, fancy seeing you here." She said. Jo was genuinely surprised, no, shocked, and caught off-guard for a moment.

"Long time, no see, Jo-Jo. What you been up to?" He almost shouted.

"This and that. You?" She shouted back.

"Writing for the Standard now." He yelled.

Jo nodded. "Good." She manoeuvred Gavin around so that he was between her and where Emily stood at the bar scanning the crowded room for whatever it was she was looking for.

Jo's training held in good stead, enabling her to continue the strained voice conversation and watch Emily at the same time. Gavin was totally unaware of the situation so he kept going, boasting about everything he was doing; partly the reason she'd dumped him all that time ago. He hadn't changed.

Right now she needed him as a cover story. Her eyes widened slightly as she spotted a familiar profile approaching the bar and order a drink. The cabbie. What was he doing…..?

It all became apparent soon enough. Emily spotted him too, and made a bee line to the end of the bar where he was.

"Shit!" She thought. Had he seen her enter the club, was he going to give her away?

She watched, and Gavin continued to ramble on, as Emily made all the moves on the man. From one or two words, they began a conversation that was as hard as the one that she was having, well she was half listening to, anyway. It wasn't long before Emily leaned in to the cabbie and said something into his ear. He nodded, they finished their drinks and made for the exit.

Jo suddenly realise that she was between them and the door. There were too many people around to get out of the way so she just focussed on Gavin more and hoped neither of them would spot her.

You don't always get what you hope for. Emily spotted Jo and tugged at the cabby's sleeve. Dan pretended to be a bit vague as the two acted surprised, his mental conversation with Buffy was all about how they were going to ditch Jo and whoever the guy was.

Jo was just about to make an excuse and stay put, the man Emily had just introduced as Andy Jervis might just be another spy, and if Emily was cruising bars picking up dates she didn't want to know, or get caught up in someone else's operation. Then, Gavin turned out to be a bigger pest than he already was.

"How about the four of us going for a curry?" He suggested.

Dan almost groaned out loud.

Emily considered it for a moment. She had all night. If it came to it, all she had to do was make sure that the body, or bodies, were never discovered. At least, not immediately.

Dan was sure he actually felt Buffy roll her eyes when everyone else agreed.

"You do realise I'm hungry too." She messaged.

"I'll see what I can do. But if you become visible, she'll sense your presence." He replied.

"I know. So much for a simple operation." She commented….

-------------------

The quartet made their way outside, Gavin hailed a cab and gave the instruction, a curry house on the Mile End Road.

"It's not that far." Dan messaged, as Buffy complained about being left behind.

Making sure he was last to get into the cab he dropped the keys to the one he'd parked around the corner onto the pavement.

"I'll try and direct you. Just don't bend it; or I'll be filling in forms for the rest of my life." He messaged as the door closed.

The cab pulled away and Buffy went back to the cab, becoming visible again as she did. Unlocking the door, she sat in the drivers seat.

"I can do this…I can do this." She intoned. Putting the key in the ignition she turned it. The diesel engined vehicle growled and rattled into life.

"Oh…Crap!" She said, looking at the floor. There was a third pedal. Then she looked to the left. "Double crap!" She muttered. "It's a stick shift!"

She took a deep breath. Muttering to herself, she concentrated, and tried to recall what everyone had ever said about clutch changes and gears.

"Clutch down…engage lowest gear…" She looked at the stick, helpfully there was a diagram on the knob.

"First gear." There was a crunch, she winced as it went in. "Okay. Parking brake and raise clutch as you increase revs. Oh, yeah. Drive on the left." She muttered out loud.

This she did, and the cab lurched forward as she lifted the clutch a little too quickly. Then she hit the accelerator too much, and the taxi kangarooed along for a few yards. She pushed her foot down on the clutch again, attempting to go for second. There was another crunch as the gear engaged, the clutch came up too quickly again and it stalled.

Fortunately there were no other cars around her. She stopped the car rolling by using the foot brake; and was attempting to start it again when the rear door opened and a couple, slightly the worse for drink, stumbled in.

"The Hyatt. Park lane." Said the man, an air of authority in his voice.

"Get out!" Said Buffy. "This isn't a cab."

"S'funny. Looks like one to me." The woman replied, with a giggle.

The man looked annoyed. "No! Look! Take us to the Hyatt, now! Or I'll take your number and report you to the licensing authority. I'll have it revoked!"

The man leaned forward and pointed to the plate that was attached to the privacy window.

Buffy let a small growl escape her lips. There wasn't time to argue. She needed to be elsewhere. "Fine! Don't say I didn't warn you!"

They say that sometimes you need the right motivation to do something. This was one of those moments. She restarted the engine, dipped the clutch and rammed the gear home, crunching as she did.

Revving the diesel hard, she accelerated away, throwing the couple back into the rear seat, Getting her directions from Dan, she homed in on him as she careered through the streets, the two in the back holding on for their lives, getting paler and paler by the minute.

She eventually pulled up across the road from the Indian restaurant. Messaging to Dan that she'd arrived she turned to the couple. They looked dishevelled and shocked.

"I warned you! Like I said. Not a cab! Park Lane is thataway. I think. Walk. It'll do you good!" She growled, pointing ahead of them.

The woman reached for the door and the two tumbled out of the cab. As they staggered off, Buffy leaned out of the window and called after them.

"And sober up! It's dangerous out there!"

She sat there and waited. Her stomach gave a rumble. It knew when there was food about.

"Food's coming in a few minutes." Came the message.

-----------------------------

Inside the restaurant Dan impressed everyone with his language skills by ordering in Hindi, conversing fluently with the waiter. Gavin was positively green with envy, he'd been going there for ages and hadn't even learned a word of the language.

Jo was intrigued by the bogus cab driver, who said his name was Andy Jervis, and that he worked for an insurance broker in the city. She still thought that she'd seen him somewhere else, but couldn't place him.

Emily wasn't fazed by Dan's linguistic prowess, to her he was just another sexual conquest, and bin fodder afterwards. She was contemplating on how she was going to achieve it, and get rid of the others.

What no-one else around the table knew, was that during his conversation with the waiter, Dan had ordered a separate meal to be sent out to the blonde sitting in the black London taxi across the road. The waiter had been a little sceptical about it at first, but Dan assured him it was all above board and that he would pay for it at an appropriate moment.

They continued their own meal, whilst outside, the Slayer was discovering the delightful and aromatic contents of the two brown carrier bags that were handed to her through the window.

---------------------------

Rio de Janeiro.

Kennedy opened the door a crack and looked in at the sleeping duo. Willow had fallen asleep herself as she'd told the little girl a tale of daring do from the land of the hellmouth. Daddy had been the subject of this one, and the moral of the tale was… Not to raise bad demons, however much of a good an idea it might seem at the time.

"There's one for the album." She muttered.

She pulled out a camera and snapped away at the scene, Willow, her head lolled gently against the headboard, and Natalie snuggled along side, her head in the sleeping storytellers lap.

Entering the room with the stealth that only a slayer could achieve, she took a blanket and gently draped it over the pair. Willow might be mad with herself in the morning that she'd missed her intended foray into what lay beyond the Initiative's facility; but it could wait. Kennedy surmised that whatever was there, would still be there tomorrow.

"Even the most powerful witch in the world needs to sleep sometime." She whispered, and settled down in the large comfy chair to keep vigil over the slumbering pair….

-----------------------------

The Grange Reading.

It was nearly midnight when the phone rang at The Grange. Derek put his book down and picked it up.

"Derek Carter." He said.

"Sir. It's Harry Watkins, night manager at the Newcastle depot. Sorry to call so late." Came the broad Geordie accented voice at the other end.

"That's alright, Harry. Something up?"

"I've got a bit of a dilemma, like. It's one of my drivers, Denny Roberts. He's picked up a young lady on the A1."

Derek was shocked for a moment. "What?! He knows company policy on this, doesn't he?"

"It's not like that sir. It's just. It looks like she's been roughed up, and she's got a pair of handcuffs attached to one wrist, she won't let me call the police in, but she's already called some friends in Oxford with Denny's phone, who are sending someone for her. She's claiming that she knows you, or rather she knows of your son Daniel. I just wanted to check it out before I made a decision like."

"I hope it's not another bloody journo trying to make a name for herself by claiming she's had a fling with Danny. What's her name?"

"She doesn't actually claim that sir. Her name's Hayley McDonald, says she knows a Dawn Summers?" I don't know that name."

"I do. Hang on a moment, Harry." Derek's attitude changed immediately. He cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and called out to his wife.

"Katie! Come here a minute, love!"

He un-cupped his hand from the mouthpiece and spoke to Harry again.

"Harry, can you put her on the line."

"Yes sir, one moment." The phone was put on hold.

Derek waited, then Kate came into the room. "What's wrong?" She asked.

Derek explained quickly and passed the phone to Kate, who took the phone just as Hayley answered the other end.

"Hello, is that Hayley. I'm Kate Daniel's mother. Are you alright?

"Sort of, Mrs Carter. I got lost, and, er, well…."

Kate took over the conversation. "Hayley. Listen. I'm going to ask you some questions. Just answer yes or no. Okay.

"Okay."

"Can Harry overhear what I'm saying?"

"No."

"Are you a watcher?"

"No."

"Okay. Is there another slayer coming to help you?

"Yes."

"Good. Did you have a job to do up there?

"No."

"Was there anyone else with you? Another slayer?"

"No."

"Were you caught by some…thing?"

"Yes, and no, but it could qualify as that."

"I see. Do we need to alert Dawn or Buffy?"

"No. Please don't do that. I'll sort it out. Honest." There was a pause. "Harry Watkins wants to talk to you again, Mrs Carter. I think Katrina and Michelle are here. I'll be okay. Sorry to have bothered you."

"Anytime Hayley. Stay safe, put Harry back on will you."

The phone was handed back to Harry. There was a short conversation, Kate thanking him for his diligence, asking him to thank Denny Roberts too; and to keep quiet as per Hayley's wishes.

After the call was ended Derek looked at his wife. "She sounded scared." He said.

Kate nodded. "And weak. She said that it could qualify as a 'thing', I got the impression that it was a person that hurt her."

"Slayers are tough. Aren't they? What could a person possibly do to a slayer to have that effect on her?" Queried her husband.

"I don't know. Anyway she's safe, her friends from Oxford had just arrived."

Derek sighed. "Good. Ah well; I suppose we'll find out what happened soon enough. Coming to bed?"

Kate nodded, still thinking about the girl on the other end of the phone, as they left the lounge and took the stairs up to bed.

---------------------------------

London. Tower Hamlets

It didn't take long for Gavin to re-assert himself and begin boasting about his job at the Standard. This guy just didn't have any friends, Dan thought. Jo made all the right noises in the right places but Dan could sense that she wanted to be elsewhere.

Emily was so bored that would have snapped Gavin's neck there and then if she could have gotten away with it. Just as Dan was about to make his excuses Gavin beat him to it.

"How about a nightcap. My place is only just around the corner."

"What happened to the flat in Pimlico?" Queried Jo.

"Bought a house Jo-Jo. Needed more space."

Space for what, Jo didn't want to find out. Emily jumped at the chance. She'd check the place out and if it was suitable the three she was with would be there permanently.

Dan obligingly went with the flow and messaged Buffy as to their intentions. At the pay desk, he also took care of the bill saying to Gavin that they'd settle up later. What he really wanted to do was find out more about the house and it's layout so that Buffy could be there waiting when they arrived.

A two minute walk later, Gavin was fumbling with his keys at the door. As he opened it he somehow managed to drop them, Dan suspecting a little slayer intervention, and whilst he was picking them up Buffy slipped past him.

Emily had listened to the conversation between the men, so she too knew that he was alone in the house, his model railway collection and layout were upstairs, and he was taking a few day's off work to do some decorating. Perfect.

As Gavin bent over to reach a bottle from a low cupboard Emily saw her chance. She kicked his backside hard and his head collided with the door, knocking him out. Then she whipped around and sent an unprepared Jo sprawling into a nearby armchair with a back handed blow. That left Dan. As she turned to him, he showed no shock or puzzlement in what she was doing.

"I know he was a bit of a bore, but did you have to do that. And it's certainly no way to treat an old friend."

"Oh, thank the Old Ones. I thought you were more interested in him than me." She snapped.

Dan came clean. "To be honest, you're not my type either. I prefer my ladies a lot less…demonic."

This made Emily stop in her tracks. "You know? How?"

"It's a gift. Now, allow me introduce you to my fiancée." He said smiling.

As he said it Emily felt herself yanked backwards off her feet, and she fell in a heap on the floor. As Buffy revealed herself Jo gasped in amazement from the chair.

"Slayer…How did….You do that?" Spat Emily.

"Like he said, it's a gift. Now. Play nice and this won't hurt a bit….No wait, on second thoughts, don't. I haven't had a good scrap in weeks"

Emily jumped up and flew at Buffy, who dodged at the last moment and Emily went crashing into the sofa, Buffy obligingly hooked her foot under the bottom of it and flipped it up tipping it over on top of the demon. There was a moment when it was still.

"Can't you do better than that?" Taunted Buffy.

The sofa was pushed off and Emily leapt up. She stalked over to Buffy this time and the pair began trading blows, Buffy blocking almost all of the ones that Emily dealt, and hitting home with her own.

Dan dragged the unconscious Gavin out of harms way and then went to tend to Jo. As he bent over her he came face to face with her service weapon.

"Put it away Jo. Harry wouldn't be pleased if you shot me. Besides, it wouldn't work."

"You know!?" She said. She averted the gun and looked past him to the catfight that was taking place. Her eyes widened as Buffy hit home with a roundhouse kick that sent Emily flying into the far wall. Even more amazing to her was that Emily got up, shrugged it off, and countered with blows that sent Buffy staggering.

"Need any help love?" Dan asked.

Buffy wiped her lip on the back of her hand and saw the trace of blood there.

"Nope, I got it." She replied. Then it was back to the blow trading.

Dan checked on Gavin, he was still out cold.

"Is he going to be okay?" Asked Jo. She ducked as an ornament came flying across the room towards them.

Yeah, he'll be alright." Said Dan, not taking his eyes off the fight.

Buffy was getting the upper hand, probably a good thing, because the room was a mess.

"You do this sort of thing often." Asked Jo.

Dan was still watching Emily get her arse handed to her.

"What, get invited into people's houses, then trash the place? No, not often. Usually she just kills them out in the street." Dan replied nonchalantly.

There was a pause, and he glanced at Jo, her eyes wide in disbelief as Buffy got the better of her opponent and pinned her down from behind.

"Wait. Hold her there." Dan called out.

He scrambled over to the pair. Emily was still struggling but Buffy held her tightly and she couldn't move. Dan placed his hands over her, they emitted the healing glow, and after a few moments Emily convulsed, the demonic essence erupted from her, followed by light bursting forth. Then she went limp in Buffy's arms.

Jo sat back, agog at the scene before her eyes. "Is… Is she… Dead?"

"No, just asleep. She might be out for a while though. We should get her away from here. She probably won't remember any of this when she wakes up." Said Dan.

"Who are you people?" Jo asked.

"Not now, later. Dan, can you help Gavin. I'll take Emily out to the cab." Said Buffy.

"What are we telling him?" He asked.

Buffy looked around at the mess. "Disturbed a gang of burglars?" She suggested. "I hope he's insured."

Dan nodded, and Buffy scooped up Emily and headed out of the door. Dan placed his hand on Gavin's head. The lump that had developed, vanished and he began to stir.

"Ow. What happened?" He said groggily.

"Looks like we disturbed a gang of burglars Gav." Said Jo. "They're gone now, but they left a bit of a mess I'm afraid."

"You'd better call the police and get a crime number. I've got a cab for us. We've got to take Emily to hospital. She's not too good." Added Dan.

"Thanks. Yeah. I'll sort this, you look after Emily….I'll be okay…." He trailed off and sat dazed for a moment before starting to pick things up from off the floor. Dan and Jo headed out of the door.

"You sure he'll be okay?" Asked Jo.

"Yeah. He'll be alright. He'll tidy up, play with his trains, and he'll be fine. Probably write something for the Standard about his experience, though I'm betting it won't be anywhere near the truth, and he'll be the hero." Said Dan.

By this time they were at the taxi. Buffy had already placed the sleeping Emily in the rear and Jo got in too. As they drove away, Jo plucked up the courage to ask more questions.

"What about me?"

"You're an MI-5 operative. I think you know how to keep quiet." Replied Dan.

"Was that Emily that you were fighting? Or something else?" She queried.

"As far as we know, she was possessed, how, we're not too sure at the moment, but it's got something to do with her husband, Arthur Maguire, a white powder, and water." Said Buffy

"Possessed?"

"By a demon." Dan answered.

"A demon!" Said Jo, sceptically.

Buffy nodded. "Danny's able to sense them, for some reason I can't. Slayers can't. We don't know the answer to that either, yet."

Jo's brain worked hard remembering all the links she'd studied in preparation for her mission to Switzerland. The connections to Maguire rang a bell.

"You're Daniel Carter. I knew I'd seen your picture somewhere before. Maguire was implicated in Mandy Manning's death, you were her fiancé…." She trailed off as she saw the look on Buffy's face.

"Sorry, I suffer from foot in mouth occasionally."

"No it's okay. And, yes, you're right….not about the foot in mouth thingy, but we know he arranged the hit man to do his dirty work." Said Buffy.

Dan had pulled up outside the hospital by this time. Jo looked torn between staying with her friend and asking more questions.

Dan saw her dilemma. "Go and see Harry tomorrow. He'll answer anything else you need to know. You'll need someone else to talk this through with. I saw the look on your face when Buffy appeared out of nowhere."

Emily was beginning to come round. Jo helped Buffy get her out of the rear and they stood by the A and E entrance for a moment

"You're not coming in?"

"No. Too many questions, and too many camera's. We like to keep a low profile." Said Dan, sensing Buffy's dislike of such places.

As Buffy got back into the taxi, she called out to Jo. "Tell your friend Zaf, I'm sorry about his leg."

Jo thought about it, and grinned. Emily groaned and Jo hurried inside with her.

As Dan pulled away. Buffy gave him a hard look.

"Next time you get a car for a covert op. Get one with an auto box…"

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End of Chapter Fifty.