Disclaimer: the only character here that belongs to me is Catherine Tyler, the rest belong to their respected parties.
Strength and Honor
Part 4
By: Marcus
On a plane to California
Buffy let her head drop back to her seat as she exhaled rather loudly as well as being somewhat irritating to Methos sitting next to her. He looked over to her, putting his book down he stared as she acted as though he weren't "What is it now?" he asked. Buffy looked at him and pointed to herself "What? Oh, I'm ok." She said in a false cheer.
Methos shook his head and went back to his book, he had to admire the change Amanda had made on her though, and her hair was dark now, black and a very deep shade of red running all through it. Her eyes were a green color now too, very intense to look into. Amanda bought her a leather coat to go with it, it stopped just before her knees, and it suited her well.
"We should be landing in a few hours, Joe said that the place is already being set up, all there is to do is to hire people and run the place any way you see fit." He said. Buffy smiled. Her own bar, not everyday a friend just gives you one, she had to admit, in some ways, she was happy she had died, she'd already learned much from Duncan and the others. But her heart longed for home, for Dawn.
She took a leather bound book out of her bag by her feet and opened it, showing her previous journal entries over the past few weeks. She took out a pencil and began to write.
~
I'm going home.
I'm so scared and anxious at the same time, knots wrenching at my stomach like hot knives. I'm so afraid of being seen by them, and seeing them myself. What really gets to me is the slaying. I know for sure that they're still keeping the fight in my place.
Dawn, oh my sweet little sister, how I miss her so. Even when she gets under my skin so much, I miss that especially. It proves to me that she is my sister, now more than ever. How she smiles, cries, yawns in boredom and even argues with me, it makes me love her all the more.
Dawn, I'm coming home to you.
~
Sunnydale
Willow sat before the headstone, silently staring at it intensely, Tara kneeled just behind her, her arms around Willow from behind, resting her head on Willows shoulder.
The two of them had decided to arrive early, Giles and Spike were going to arrive after them, the four of them were to meet with the new slayer tonight, in less than an hour.
"I still can't get used to this." Willow said to Tara softly "Seeing her grave, reading the name, it numbs me inside." She said. Tara gently moved her hand from around Willows shoulder and gently touched her cheek, slowly turning her head with gentle ease "I know, but don't worry, you're not alone." She whispered into her ear, gently kissing her lobe.
Willow smiled, closing her eyes and resting her head back against Tara "Thank you." She replied, honestly and simply. They heard a ruffling in the bushes and they immediately stood tall on their feet. "Who's there?" Willow asked, trying to sound tough, but sounded scared and meek instead.
Willow relaxed a little as she stood in front of Tara, being protective of her. As she watched she saw the new slayer emerge from the shadows "You can relax, I'm not here to fight." Catherine said roughly.
"That's good to know." Spike said as he and Giles walked up from behind Willow and Tara. Catherine grinned and waved "Hey Spike." She mumbled. "So, you wanted me here, you…" she stopped as she met Giles' eyes, his very face spoke words to her "I know you…they told me about you. I've been looking for you Rupert." She said to him.
Everyone looked at Giles and Catherine in confusion "H-How do you know him?" Tara asked shyly. Catherine slowly folded her arms, covering her bare arms, she had no coat and she still wore the same clothes as when Spike had first approached her. Spike noticed it and walked over to her, shedding his coat like a peel and placed it over her shoulders "Here, stay warm." He whispered into her ear.
Catherine looked up at him, no longer looking tough, but so fragile, and afraid. "Uh…" she began as she touched her temples with her fingertips "The other watchers told me about you…" she began. Giles walked up to her "You've met them?" he asked carefully. Catherine looked at him, lacking some of the gentleness in her eyes, but still looking vulnerable "Yeah, unfortunately I have. They told me all that stuff about it being my birthright and stuff, and that you were bad news with the other slayer. After awhile they tried to be more controlling, and eventually they said if I didn't do what they wanted, they'd terminate me. So I ran, came here eventually." She said softly and calmly.
Giles adjusted his lenses as squinted his eyes, stretching the skin around his nose "They somewhat tried similar tactics here as well." He said. He looked back at her, he saw how she looked, and it wasn't good. "Where are you staying?" he asked. Catherine shrugged "Uh, this old mansion in another cemetery." She said. They all knew the place; Angels old home before leaving for LA
Giles thought for awhile "Would you consider an offer for a better place?" he asked her. Catherine looked at him in surprise, she wasn't expecting such kindness and generosity from them, at least not this soon. "Why would you do something like that for me?" she asked him, wanting to know the angle he was aiming at.
Giles shook his head "You're the slayer, I still consider it my job to look after you, and care just as much." He said. Catherine looked to the others, they smiled shyly, nodding, telling her silently that his heart was in the right place, that he did care more than he was really letting on.
"You can stay with us." Willow said, looking at Tara to see her nodding with total agreement. Catherine paced a little, walking away and to them, she really wasn't sure, there was so much she still didn't know about them still, but she was hungry, no work yet, and the mansion was so cold at night, and unprotected against vampires. She looked at them, sighing loudly as she gave up the debate inside herself "Ok…I accept your offer."
Catherine chewed veraciously at the sandwich and drank her coffee just as fast. Willow smiled at Tara as they all watched her eat. Catherine stopped suddenly as she noticed their stares "What? You all act as if you never seen a starving slayer eat." She said sarcastically. "Sorry, we just didn't think you'd be eating three servings already." Spike said as he drank a beer and puffed at a smoke. Giles too had a drink in his hand and was painfully listening to the loud music.
Tara held Willows hand under the table tightly; they didn't really feel like dancing, the right feeling tonight. Spike was feeling down again, it had been happening a lot in the past months, he tried to hide it from them, but it didn't really work with Giles. Catherine ate the last of her Buffalo wings and pushed the plate away, finishing her coffee in a single gulp. She leaned back in her seat, hands on her stomach and smiling as though it were ecstasy "Thanks." She said to them.
"You look sleepy." Willow mentioned, seeing Catherine seem to close her eyes a little longer now. Catherine nodded agreeing "Yeah, been a few days since I last ate."
Spike interjected at this point, shaking his hand at them "Eh, one minute here. You said that the watchers got a little up and nasty with you." He said to Catherine. She nodded "Yeah, what's your point?" she asked. Giles nodded at this point "Yes, last time we met, it was established that the watchers worked for the slayer." He said.
"Yeah, you were even reinstated too." Willow said. Giles thought, crossing his arms and bringing a hooked finger to his chin "I'll have to make a few calls to them, see what's going on, this isn't right." He said. Catherine looked worried, a little nervous even "Well, all I want right now is a spot to sleep." She said, trying unsuccessfully to hold back a yawn.
Giles nodded as did Willow and Tara "Yes, seems like a good idea, I should be getting back home, I left Xander and Anya to take care of Dawn." Giles said. Spike stood up, tossing money on the table "On me mates." He said before taking off abruptly before any of them could thank him.
"Come on, we'll set you up at our place." Tara said to Catherine, they all stood up now, feeling stiff and tired "Thanks." Catherine yawned out.
Los Angeles
Angel walked down the stairs into the lobby, for the first time in over two months since Buffy had died, he was feeling more too normal a little. The others had left for the night, leaving the place empty except for Winifred who was dancing lightly to some music in the lobby. He stopped halfway down the stairs and just watched her dance.
It was a soft song; she seemed to just move with the rhythm to it, not caring what the outcome was. Waving her arms from side to side, her eyes closed with a soft look of comfort on her face. The way her hips moved to the sounds with her legs.
The song had no words, just instruments playing together in harmony. She stopped when her eyes fluttered open and she saw him sitting on the step watching her "Oh. Angel…" she said, smiling as she moved a loch of hair out of her face "Care to dance?" she asked in her usual innocent tone.
Angel immediately remembered the last time he was asked that question, it was a party at Cordellias place, a woman had asked him to dance and he immediately saw himself in his mind dancing, along with her staring at him with a dropped jaw and wide eyes.
Angel gave a small smile as she shook his head "Trust me, I can't, and I shouldn't either." He said, "I'm a menace." He added with a grin. Fred shook her head with a warm smile as she walked over to him "Then I'll teach you, come on." She begged, taking hold of his hands and dragging him out to the floor.
"Let's do something slow, that's so easy." She said. Angel simply stood there as she took his hands into hers and his other around her waist. They were only a few inches apart "Ok, just move with me to the music." She instructed.
As she moved, Angel clumsily moved with her, trying to copy her but with little degree. Fred stopped, shaking her head "No, you're trying to hard, just move with it, clear you head and just let go." She said "It's kind of like…meditation." She added, knowing that Angel did meditate from time to time. Angel nodded as he prepared to try again.
He did as she told him, just listen to the music and let yourself go, and he found himself dancing –more or less- with Winifred in his arms.
Winifred smiled as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, stretching her arms around him, holding on to him closely. It was a peaceful moment, free of pain, sorrow. Just a time where the outside world and its worries just didn't exist.
Sunnydale
Catherine dropped on the small sofa in Willow and Taras home hard, her leg and arm on her left side hung over the side. Tara got her a pillow as Willow came from the closet with a blanket to find her passed out. "Wow, I guess the mansion isn't to comfy these days." Willow said, amazed at how fast Catherine passed out.
"Damn right Willow." Catherine groaned out of the corner of her mouth. Tara helped her up and placed the pillow under her head "I'll get you a change of clothes to sleep in." she said. Catherine shook her head "S'okay, I usually sleep in light clothing." She said, striping off Spike coat.
Willow was surprised, Spike never did leave his coat anywhere but on him –unless he was in his crypt- she took the coat and hung it on the back of the door, she turned around to jump in shock as she saw Catherine stripping for the most part and covering herself with the blanket. She looked at her and Tara "What, don't tell me you two have never slept nude."
Willow nearly passed out right there; Tara fidgeted a little and got nervous as she had turned around, facing her back to Catherine. Willow became jumpy as she shook her hands, trying to find a reply "Uh…we…uh…haven't done THAT yet." She said, trying to be specific. Catherine tucked the blanket loosely around her upper body as she lay back comfortably "Oh, well, best of luck when you do. I…disliked my first time." She said.
Tara sat on the bed, lying on her side a little "What kind of guy was he?" she asked. Catherine looked at her with sleepy eyes "SHE was rather…wrong for me, let's keep it at that for now." Willow lay next to Tara and began to feel sleep overcome her as well "You mean…you're gay?" she asked. Catherine smiled lightly "Yeah, but that was after some traumatic experience with a few guys." She said, but before she could say more, she fell asleep totally.
Willow wrapped her arms around Tara and rested her head on her shoulder "She seemed to hate thinking about her reasons." Tara said, Willow looked at her with a pout expression.
"Have you ever thought about…you know…" Tara asked shyly. Willow nodded "Yeah!" she said enthusiastically, she shook her head as she realized that she had said that wrong "Well, uh, yeah, I do think about that, but I'm in no hurry." She said. Tara smiled "Yeah, me neither."
Willow took Taras hand gently as she took in a deep breath "I just don't…want to ruin anything, I'm terrified of that." She whispered. Tara rolled over to her other side and came face to face with Willow; she gently smiled as she touched Willows cheek with a gentle touch "I am too. Willow, I know you love me, and I love you, with that…what else could we really want?"
One week later
"Adam!" Buffy yelled from the storage room behind the bar. Methos jumped in his seat as he was trying to avoid her for awhile. Buffy was going nuts with the preparations on the bar that she had named 'Powers That Be'. The place was opening that very night and Buffy wanted the place to be fully stocked and perfect.
She stormed out of the room and to the bar where he was with his drink and papers "What the hell?" he said exasperatedly as he saw the look on her face, she was frustrated and a little angry, "We still have no beer back there, we have liquor and everything else for drinks, but where the hell is the beer?" she asked, nervous and anxious at the same time. Methos took a deep breath and raised his hand "They delivery guy called earlier, he'll be here in an hour with lots of beer, ok?"
Buffy calmed down and paced behind him a little "Do we have all the people we need?" she asked. Methos nodded his head "All but one, we need one more, a barkeep. I have two resumes here, one is some guy with lousy references, but he's good at the job. And one Catherine Tyler, she's new here and she's had a bit of experience in the position." He said, trying to make up his mind.
It didn't take Buffy long to decide, a few seconds only "Tyler, hire her now." she said "She's my age and someone like that always needs a job, trust me." She said, looking at the resume over Methos' shoulder.
Methos nodded "Ok, there are two numbers here, she's living with friends and another place she stays at, a shop called THE MAGIC BOX."
Buffy nearly fell to the floor as she heard the name of that shop, Giles' shop "Oh." She said, shocked and silent suddenly. Methos put the resume down and turned to face her, seeing the look of shock on her face "What is it?" he asked her. Buffy seemed to gaze into infinity for a second, oblivious to Methos' question. She shook for a moment and looked at him "Huh? Oh, uh…you remember I told you about Giles?" she asked, Methos silently nodded.
"Well, Giles owns the Magic Shop." She said, Methos thought for a moment, only a moment as he realized the situation that could come of this "She knows your friends." He said "They would most likely come here. We won't hire her then." He said. "No!" Buffy snapped as soon as he said it "Hire her, I want to keep an eye out for them, this is perfect." She said.
Methos glanced her a worried look "Be careful of this line you're walking here Buffy, it's a fine one." He said. Buffy nodded as she looked at the clock, it was a few hours before the opening, and two before nightfall "I'm going out ok? Just call this Catherine Tyler and make sure the beer gets here and put on ice alright?" she asked him. Methos nodded with a smile as she smiled back and walked back to the office to fetch her coat.
She walked back out to the bar, passing by Methos giving him a wave and smile as she headed for the door, her leather coat over her shoulders and everything she needed with her.
The Magic Box
"Will you please come along Giles?" Catherine asked for the hundredth time as she punched the bag with Giles holding it from behind it. "No, it sounds like a frivolous place to go. And I don't see why you need to work there, you have a job here if you'd just ask." He said. Catherine stopped, her hair tied back in a tail, and a few strands were matted to her face from the beads of sweat coming down her forehead.
"It just…doesn't quite seem like my gig y'know? I like the bar, there's music, people…booze." She said with a grin at him. Giles rolled his eyes as he prepared himself for another volley of Catherine's blows through the punching bag. "I did make contacted with the council on your encounter with these so-called watchers, they have nothing to do with them, every one of our current and former operatives have been accounted for…" he said, pausing as one strike winded him.
"Someone will be arriving within a few days to meet you, a temporary liaison." He said in a shaken voice. Catherine stopped and took hold of the chains as she bent forward a little "Great." She said, sounding more upset than happy about it. Giles released the bag and moved next to her, a hand on her shoulder "I assure you, they won't do anything to you." He said, "Just remember one thing Catherine…they work for you, not the other way around. You have the power in the relationship." He said.
Catherine looked up and smiled at him "Thanks." She said, gently touching his arm "Good to know that." She added. "Uh, excuse me?" they heard from the door. The two of them looked up to the door to see Anya there waiting shyly "Catherine, you have a call." She said, pointing her thumb back to the front.
"Thanks." Catherine said as she and Giles rushed to the front, Catherine picked up the phone and spoke into it.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Hello, Catherine Tyler?" a voice said back to her.
"Yes, this is she."
"Oh, ok, this is Adam Pearson from the bar you applied at, the Powers That Be, we've decided to hire you on as our barkeep." The voice said.
Catherine lit up with a smile as she quietly pointed at the receiver and silently yelling for joy, she stopped suddenly "Uh, great! When do you want me to start?" she asked.
"Uh, we'd like you to begin tonight if that's alright, I apologize for the short notice, but things are mad around here, the owner wanted you to work in fact." He said.
"What time?"
"Ah, we open tonight around nightfall, six o'clock, sound good?" he asked.
Catherine happily nodded "That's good, I'll be there an hour ahead, is that alright?"
"Yes, that's a good idea, see you then Miss Tyler." He said.
Catherine hung up the phone and looked at Giles and Anya looking at her in silence. "I got the job!" she yelled in joy, throwing her arms up in the air, smiling happily. Anya clapped her hands as she smiled immensely "Good! Now you can make lots of money and everything!" she said, sounding like a capitalist as she sometimes did.
Giles grinned and checked his watch "Damn it! I have to go pick up Dawn at school about ten minutes ago. Anya, can you manage until I get back?" he asked, grabbing his coat and heading to the door in a hurry. Anya nodded "Sure!" she chirped. Catherine went towards him "I'm coming too, besides, I need to try and buy some clothes for work."
Sunnydale shopping district
"Dawn, I said I was sorry, I was just late by ten minutes." Giles said as he and Dawn walked with Catherine in the streets with him following from behind. "Giles, I don't mind you being a little late, but when you knew I wanted to go out with Willow and Tara -which is to late by the way- you didn't show up in time." Dawn said to him, not angrily, but frustrated.
Catherine smirked to herself, secretly from Dawn or Giles, she was liking them a lot more these days "Well, at least you got to come along with me right? That's not so bad is it?" Catherine asked with a smile in Dawns direction. Dawn shrugged "No, not really." She said. Truth be told, Dawn didn't know Catherine very well still, and she did want to get to know her as well, so this was a good opportunity to do so.
Catherine stopped when she saw something that caught her eye, leather pants and a shirt with a thin one over top, coming down past her hips "Oh, how much is this?" she asked, rushing over to it. The price was amazing, sale, and it was more than half off "Giles?" she asked, looking back to him. Giles sighed as he looked at his feet "oh alright." He said, inowing to give in than to argue with her, especially when Dawn was there to back her up.
A half hour later, Catherine and Dawn were carrying some bags in their hands out of the store, they had apparently spent more of Giles money than expected. Catherine had found a nice piece for Sawn as well, even with Giles objecting, they got it for her.
"So, was that so bad?" Catherine asked Dawn, tapping her on the shoulder with her own, smiling at the teenager. Dawn looked at her smiling "Ok, it was a good time, I'm glad I came along." She said. "Um, does that mean I'm forgiven?" Giles asked as he rushed up next to them with his hands in his pockets. Catherine winked at Dawn, and Dawn just nodded with a smile "Ok. You're forgiven." She said. "Why thank you." He said with a calm yet distinguished voice.
They decided to look around some more, Giles offered to pay for one more item each, and Dawn choose the place, a clothing store with a retro fashion sense. Dawn walked in first with Catherine behind her and Giles carrying the bags, all of them.
They began to go through the clothes, a lot of them weren't to any of their standards, and Giles was feeling pretty uneasy when they went through the underwear section (womens underwear to be precise.)
Dawn was about to give up and leave with the others when she heard something familiar.
"How much?" a woman asked, that voice, so familiar.
Dawn couldn't see who was, it was coming from another part of the store, she only heard it vaguely. She left Catherine and Giles in search of this woman. She walked into the coats section to find a woman with raven black hair, she saw her eyes barely as she was behind some clothes, they were green. She moved through the people and clothes between them. But she was too late as the woman went to the cash register, away from her.
Dawn moved again, through the racks and stuff between them, she saw the woman totally now from behind, she stood away off from her, watching intently and curiously, hoping to see her face.
Buffy handed the money to the cashier with a smile, her new coat was then placed in a bag and handed to her. "Thank you, please shop with us again soon." The young woman said happily. Buffy nodded and smiled back as she took the bag and turned to walk away. Who she saw caught her eye and made her stop dead inside. Dawn, standing there staring back at her.
"Uh, hello." Buffy said, trying to change her voice, but with little degree of success. Dawn stared at her almost in shock "I-I…Just thought you looked like someone I knew….I'm sorry." She said before rushing away from her. Buffy watched as Dawn rushed off to Giles at the front of the store and another woman, her age roughly. Dark hair like hers was, a little taller though.
Buffy looked around and noticed the rear exit, it was already open to let a breeze come in the hot store. She quickly moved for it without hesitation, looking over her shoulder at Dawn once more, she stopped and pressed against a corner, eyeing her sister from hiding distance. Oh, her heart pumped her blood so quickly now, finally seeing her little sister again, the only thing that still hurt her was that she was still hiding her true self from Dawn.
"Giles…" Dawn said, walking up to them. Catherine and Giles turned to her with concern "Dawn, you look like you've seen a ghost." Giles said, noticing the paleness of her skin. Dawn swallowed hard "No…just Buffy."
The Powers That Be Bar
Methos went over some of the books that he had moved with him, very old, others were rewrites of older ones. He scanned through a couple of them, mumbling the words out to himself.
There is a legend. About four women who fell from the stars as if they were fallen angels. People say that they are only legend, a myth, even told as a fairytale. But they will come, they shall walk among us.
One, whom death shall not take, slayer of evil, shall lead, deliver the world from darkness. In a time when Evil reigned supreme. Where freedom is but a dying memory, when there are nearly no champions left to fight against the evil in the lands.
They will show us what it means to be free, how to live again, how to stop being afraid.
People will come from all over the land to meet them, to fight at their side without question, and they will lead us, fight against insurmountable odds.
Together the four shall bring peace and freedom back, and fight back the darkness, thus breathing new life into us, now and forever.
You see, they won't just be warriors, or champions, or even slayers…they are to be heros.
Methos sat back in his seat, looking into space "That's it." He said quietly to himself "It's her…Buffy." Just then the door flung open, he turned to see her standing there, looking very distressed. He stood up from his seat and walked towards her. Buffy sat down on the step and huddled, pulling her knees close to herself "I saw my sister less than a half hour ago." She said plainly.
Methos walked up and sat next to her "Are you ok?" he asked her, touching her shoulder gently. Buffy didn't answer just yet, waited a few moments "I lied to her, acted as though she were a total stranger…when all I wanted to do was rush up and hold her, tell her how much I love her." She said, her voice becoming quieter and quieter.
"Maybe you will, soon." He said "Just find a way to tell them the truth, until then, keep your distance, look out for them." He said. Buffy looked at him sith a sad yet appreciative look "Thanks Adam, I will." She said before patting his shoulder with a shy smile and getting back up, taking her bags and heading towards the back room.
Spikes Crypt
"Dawn, I'm telling you it couldn't have been her." Spike said, pacing in front of Dawn with a cigarette in between his fingers. Dawn sat on the large tomb near the back of the room, looking at him, her legs crossed and leaning into them on her elbows "Spike, I'm telling you it was, she looked a little different but she looked just like Buffy!" she said.
Spike shook his head and took a drag from the smoke in his hand "Dawn, she's dead. Gone, buried, I wish like hell she were still here with us…but she isn't."
Dawn shot up to her feet from where she sat and stood up in front of him "It's her! I know it!" she said to him angrily. Spike stopped pacing and stood in front of the girl, speechless and staring at her "Ok then…say you're right, what do we do then if it is her?"
Dawn wasn't sure then "I don't know really." She said, defeated by herself. Spike smirked as he shook his head "Ok then, we just keep an eye out, not hard to miss someone in this town." He said.
Dawn lessened her posture and looked at him "You do believe me though…right?", Spike sighed deeply and shrugged, he wouldn't lie to Dawn, or patronize her, she knew him that way best "A little, I believe you a little."
Los Angeles
"So, I see you're feeling back to your normal self." Host said as Angel walked into his bar. Angel took a seat along with a drink, he had come alone this time out. "Yeah, more or less. I need advice, or help." Angel said, shy in some ways.
Host put his drink down and looked at him curiously "Really? Ok, what about buddy?" he asked, eager to help out in whatever way that Angel had in mind. Angel began to squirm in his seat a little as the question was going to be torture on him "About...women." he said, looking at Host with such nervous eyes.
Host (Loren) nearly spit his drink out as he heard Angel ask about women "I assume it's Winifred right?" he asked, looking at Angel in almost shock "Yeah, of course it is, who else would it be? Geez Angel, you know about your curse right? This is kind of a gamble isn't it?" Host asked in an urgent tone.
Angel slouched in his seat and nodded his head low "Yeah, but I can't seem to help it, I'm falling in love with her. It's like everything about her appeals to me, the fact that my demon half doesn't scare her in the least is like a gift in a way. And the way she looks, acts…I don't know what to do." He said.
Host shook his head, this was something of a difficult situation, no doubting that. He was about to answer when he saw the entrance, Winifred walked in herself. Host looked at Angel "Did Fred come with you?" he asked. Angel looked up sharply at Host "No, why?" he asked.
Host nodded his head at the entrance "She just walked in." he said. Angels eyes went wide as he bolted to the ground, Host thought what the hell he was doing and did the same "Why you hiding?" he asked urgently and frustrated "This is a good suit." He mumbled as they watched her from under the table.
"I don't want her to see me, I haven't told her how I feel." Angel whispered to him, looking at Fred as looked around the bar, and took a seat right at their table. Angel and Host scurried back rapidly, acting like mice "Now what?" Host hissed. Angel looked at him with frustration "You don't have to hide, this is YOUR bar." He said. Host rolled his eyes "Why don't you talk to her?" he asked.
Angel shrugged "I'm afraid." He said plainly. Host shook his head "That's part of the game, take a guess Angel. You're supposed to be, that's your humanity calling there, answer it." He said to the vampire.
Angel looked forward (which happened to be where Winifreds legs were just a foot from his face) and thought, he couldn't keep hiding himself from her, he really wanted something with her. But on the minus side he would have to be cautious with how it would go if something did evolve from his feelings for her.
Winifred sat at the table quietly, trying to figure out where Loren was, he was usually at the bar or this table, and he wasn't on stage either, so she decided to wait.
"Hey!" Angel said as she saw his head appear from under the table, with a shy look on his face. Fred nearly jumped out of her seat with a yelp as she lightly jumped "Angel! W-what are you doing under there?" she asked, touching her chest, feeling her heart pumping quickly. Angel smiled shyly as he took a seat next to her "Uh, nothing, what you doing here?" he asked.
Winifred shrugged "Nothing, you?"
Angel shook his head "Just here for the drinks." He said, looking at her with a steady gaze "Do you want something to drink?" he asked. Winifred smiled sheepishly with a nod "Sure."
Just then, Host popped up from under the table also with a smile on his face "Sure thing, let me get one for ya." He said, causing Fred to jump once more. When Host left to the bar, Fred looked at Angel "Is there anyone else under there?"
Sunnydale
The bar was booming, there were more people here than there was at the Bronze usually. There were a dozen and more dancing to the music playing, dozens talking as they drank their beers.
Catherine was at the bar, handing out beers and drinks with the supervisor Mr. Pearson whom was also the second barkeep. At first she felt overwhelmed by the enormous crowd, but after and hour it had quieted down much. Right now, Willow and Tara were on the dance floor moving to the music, Spike had arrived a little while ago to congratulate her and to have a drink at the bar, talking to her when she wasn't busy.
Xander and Anya were with Willow and Tara dancing, having a good time, they had to admit that this new place was a good one, the beers were a little cheaper than at the bronze, and the music was just as good, maybe a little better.
Giles and Dawn were with Spike at the bar, Mr. Pearson said that the owner had no objections to Dawn being in the bar at anytime, as long as she didn't drink anything with alcohol in it. Dawn was smiling happily as Catherine was having a good time with her new job, and she found that Mr. Pearson was ok too. He had been giving her some cola on the house this evening.
Giles had been talking to Pearson mainly, surprised that he was quite the intellectual like himself.
Buffy was watching from the back end of the bar, seeing Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander dancing, smiling and laughing as they just let their worries fade away for the time they had here. And seeing Giles, the man whom was in almost every way her father, talking to Methos, she would definitely talk to Methos about it later, grill him for every detail.
She smiled to herself softly as she saw Dawn and Spike talking with that woman, Buffy was surprised to see that she was the same person with Giles and Dawn from the store in town. She smiled as she saw Spike joking around with her, talking, pointing and talking about something she couldn't even hear. She began to pay much attention to Spike, how he acted as her big brother, talking to her in the cold truth of life.
She looked around, the DJ was playing album after album, people dancing all around, a few couples making out in the dark corners. This felt great, it felt like home.
Outside
"She's in there. Prepare to move in and retrieve the slayer." A man said, his face covered in the shadows as he spoke in a radio to twenty others. "No, wait till she leaves the place, we don't need any attention drawn to ourselves, remember, we work as secretly as possible!" another yelled back. The man who spoke previously nodded "Yes sir, sorry sir." He said back.
"Ok, wait. The place closes in a hour, when that happens, we retrieve her, all units, fan out, watch all exits for her."
An hour later, back alley
Catherine was closing up the bar, Mr. Pearson and the owner were inside doing the rest of the clean up. Catherine had dumped the last of the trash in the bin. She smiled to herself, they had given her an excellent salary and the tips she had gotten were great.
As she was walking back inside, she heard the thumps of feet hitting the asphalt. She spun around to see three men standing there, looking like black ops soldiers with weapons in hand.
She knew who they were off the bat, the ones who called themselves watchers. "You're coming back with us, NOW!" one of them said. Catherine glared at them "Like hell." She growled as she rushed towards them, not giving them the chance to react.
Catherine leapt in the air, putting all her weight back she flipped backwards, letting her feet smash in one of the mens jaw with tremendous force, sending him back more than five feet. Catherine landed on her feet to see the other two on their way towards her, one of them was screaming into a radio, she could expect their buddies to show up at any time now.
Catherine spun around and bent her leg, as she came around to face the one on her right. Her leg shot out and hit him in the face hard, nearly taking his head off as he back flipped and crashed on the ground.
But the third man caught hold of her from behind, placing something over her nose and mouth, she began to feel dizzy and light headed.
She was about to pass out when she was suddenly released and fell to the ground, all around her she could only hear what followed. Gun shots, screaming and sounds of fighting and punches landed. She leaned against the wall not far from her and kneeled up, opening her eyes, what she saw surprised her.
Spike was there, fighting as best he could, she saw that when he hit on of them he screamed painfully almost dropping to his knees. He was suckering them in, using them against each other, it was more of a fight for a tactician than a fighter, and Spike was loosing ground apparently.
Spike regrouped, rushing over to Catherine, putting an arm around her as the so-called 'watchers' retreated and regrouped. "You ok luv?" he asked, breathing hard and sweating lightly. Catherine could hardly think straight, his words were like echos, her body felt so heavy "Spike?"
They were surrounded now, dozens of them at all dies, them against the wall "I'm sorry, I've done it again." Spike whispered.
Just as the watchers were about to strike, they heard the sounds of metal, a sword being unsheathed. They turned to see a figure standing there, a woman with a black coat on, coming down to her knees, her sword was of an odd look, it wasn't straight as others were, it had curves to it, the width was thick, and looked razor sharp. It was an Egyptian blade, a little shorter than other swords by nearly an inch.
"Get away from them." She said, her voice was low and intimidating, even to the watchers. They turned to face her "Who the hell are you?" one of them asked, stepping towards her. The woman stepped up to him, the obvious leader "Not that it matters, to you, I'm Sarah Montrose." She said.
Spike listened carefully, not getting a clear view of their obvious, the scent he got from this woman, it was so familiar to him, he knew it, the blood coursing through her veins. "Buffy?" he whispered to himself, standing up, looking at her clearly now. the woman with dark raven hair, jade green eyes. The look was different, but for Spike, who knew her face like the wind of life and death itself.
She locked eyes with him, seeing her lips move "Spike." She whispered. Spike was speechless, but the moment left as Buffy snapped to life, her fist thrashing at the leaders face quickly and harshly. She spun around and let the hilt of her sword strike another one.
She was moving so fast that in the few seconds it took her, more than half of the men were on the ground, and the rest were retreating with their wounded. Spike stood there, Catherine on the ground behind him. He looked around, his arms at his sides. "Wow." He said, when he looked up, he saw her standing in the shadows "Buffy? Is it you?" he asked, moving closer a little.
Buffy looked at him, silently she backed away, she thought she was ready, when he recognized her she thought it would be all good and well.
"Is she alright?" she asked, trying to act like a stranger. Spike turned around to see Catherine beginning to regain her demeanor, he looked back to find her mere inches from his "Dawn…is she…doing well?" she asked, he saw the look in her eyes, it was her "Yes, we're all looking out for her, I'm keeping my promise." He said.
Buffy leaned into him, putting her arms around her "Thank you."
End Part 4