Chapter 7
The Battles Begin
Buffy and Faith were in the northern cemetery. Buffy was lost in thought, and Faith knew it too.
"Ok, B, spill."
"What?"
"I know that look."
"Ok, ok. It's this whole thing with Erin and Kat. I am really worried about them. And I am also worried about how slow it has been."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I know last night, those vamps decided to show their faces, but that was it, nothing more."
"Hey. I got an idea."
"What about?"
"The six of us, putting all our money together and buying the old mansion."
"Sounds like a good plan to me. Let's talk to Wills and Tara about it, then Kat and Erin."
"Good idea. Now, if I were two stupid demons where would I hide?"
"The old warehouse section. We can check it during the day. Let's get home."
"Yeah."
Back at the Summers' home, Giles, Joyce, and Angel were in the kitchen talking about the upcoming weddings.
"So, You are giving Buffy away, and Angel you are giving Tara away," Joyce asked.
"Well that's how they wanted it," Angel answered, "Tara is a sweet kid, and its really a shame that her family treated her that way."
"Sometimes family goes further than blood," Giles added.
"Very true. Look at you and Buffy, Rupert, she loves you like a father," Joyce said, smiling.
"And I love her like a daughter."
Joyce smiled brightly at Giles' remarks. Willow and Tara had just made their way into the kitchen and went over to fridge.
"Is everything ok," Giles asked.
"They are still sleeping, and the slayers haven't come back yet," Tara said.
"Are they all right?"
"I fear the worst for them, actually. They are connected more than I have ever seen two people. Dreams are almost intertwined, and its like, oh I don't know. It's just so hard to see them in so much pain, all because of a bastard of a father."
"Well, I don't see the worst happening for them, Tara. They now have four very grateful and loving people in their lives. And I would say that their lives are going to be better now, that you guys have taken a liking to them," Angel said.
"I agree," Giles added, "though it seems like they've been through a tremendous amount of hell, with all of you, they will make it, without a doubt."
Willow just nodded in agreement. Just as they stopped talking, the two slayers came in through the back door. Willow and Tara went to their sides. Buffy smiled at them.
"Any luck," Giles asked.
"A very slow and quiet night. We are going to check the warehouse distract in the morning. Better in the day light, gives up the advantage," Buffy said.
"Good call. You'll be able to get the upper hand."
"Yeah. Tara, Willow, we need to talk to you," Faith said.
Faith, Buffy, Tara, and Willow went into the dining room, and sat around the table.
"Ok. What's up," Willow asked.
"How would you like it if all of us, including Kat and Erin, moved into the mansion," Buffy said.
Willow and Tara looked at each other, then burst into laughter.
"What," Faith asked.
"Tara and I were talking about this earlier. We were going to talk to you two about it, when you got home."
"Well, I take it you agree then," Buffy asked.
"Yup," Tara answered.
"Good. We'll talk to them in the morning. Let's get some sleep!"
The four girls went to their rooms, and snuggled up against their other. The next morning, Tara, Willow, Faith and Buffy headed downstairs. They noticed Erin and Kat were not on the couch. Buffy ran to the kitchen. Giles and Joyce were there. Giles had a piece of paper in his hand.
"They must have left in the night, while we all slept. It says that they need to deal with this alone. I am sorry Buffy. I guess they got scared and never wanted to hurt you," Giles said, handing Buffy the letter.
" 'Dear guys'," Buffy began, " 'I know you wanted all of us to fight together, but this is a battle that Erin and I must fight ourselves. This would put you in too much danger. I am sorry for bringing this danger to your home. Please, I beg of you, stay out if this. This has always been my fight. I care too much for you guys to be hurt on my account. Tara, I'm sorry. Sorry for bringing you into all of this, forgive me. With love, Kat.' Oh my gods! She is going after them herself."
"What? How can she do that," Willow asked.
"Because she thinks that she can save us all if her and Erin do this themselves," Tara said, "She wants to save us, even if that means dying herself. Erin will kill herself to join her."
"Whoa. You mean that they are going to die trying to stop these demons, and if Kat dies, Erin is going to kill herself," Faith asked.
"Yes."
With that, the four girls ran out of the house and headed towards the warehouse district of Sunnydale. Kat and Erin walked hand in hand through the older buildings.
"You think they're here," Erin asked.
"Safest place, you know. They can hide easier here."
"So nice you remember our old haunts child," Manix cackled.
"Stay with a demon, learn a lot."
"Well, do you have what you came for? Or did you lose the gumption you once had?"
"I no longer work for you, Manix! You can tell the bloody council that too."
"Oh, we know," a voice with a British accent answered.
"Quentin!"
Quentin Travers, once one of the best in the council, came out of the shadows.
"Yes, child. So glad you remember me."
"I remember killers, Travers! You killed my mother you son of a bitch!"
"I had too. She was too much of a liability. Just like the two of you are now. Manix, Kresiaz, kill them."
"With pleasure, boss," Kresiaz said.
The two demons lunged at Erin and Kat. Kat pushed Erin out of the way, tackling Manix. She knocked him down, then got up quickly, leaping towards Kresiaz. He knocked her down, and headed towards Erin.
"Excuse me, sorry to crash your hell spawn party, but those are my friends, ass munch," a voice boomed.
Everyone looked over and saw Buffy, Faith, Tara and Willow standing at the entrance of the warehouse.
"Is it invitation only, or can anyone come," Faith growled, running full speed at Kresiaz.
She leapt in the air, kicking him across the face. Buffy ran after Manix, spearing him once again into the ground. Tara and Willow ran to get Erin, while Kat turned her full attention to Quentin. She walked up right into his face, smacking him as hard as she could.
"Oh very smart. Attack the man that killed your mother. Extremely brilliant of you."
"It is. You don't have your goons to hold me back."
Kat punched Quentin across the face, knocking him to the floor. He got up, and while he was bent over, she gave him an ax kick, knocking him back down. She backed up and stared at him.
"Get up, you dick weed, get up!"
Quentin slowly got to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. He brushed off his jacket and stared Kat straight in the eyes.
"You really think you can beat me?"
"Oh yeah."
Kat ran at him again, decking him hard. Meanwhile Faith and Buffy were locked up with the demons. Buffy had Manix in a headlock, and soon, with a quick snap, he fell slumped to the floor. Faith was soon disposing of Kresiaz, snapping his neck as well. The battle between Quentin and Kat raged on. Quentin had gotten a few cheap shots, knocking her once again to the floor. She stood up, bloody and bruised.
"Is that all you got, old man?"
"No, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve."
Quentin then pulled out a gun, firing a round at Kat. Her body slumped to the ground as he made a quick exit.
"This is far from over, slayers!"
Erin ran quickly to Kat, placing a firm hand over the wound. The wound was right below her left shoulder. Buffy and Faith took off after Quentin to try and stop him, while Tara and Willow ran over to help Erin.
"Is it bad," Willow asked.
"Yes, and no. It's above the heart, I believe, but we need to get her to a hospital, now!"
"I'm on it," Tara said, pulling out her cell phone.
She dialed 911 and had an ambulance dispatched to where they were. Willow ripped some cloth from her shirt to help with clotting. Buffy and Faith returned and looked at the girls.
"Is she going to be ok? I mean, oh man," Faith said, fear laced in her voice.
"The bleeding has slowed, which is a good sign. She is knocked out, and hopefully will stay out till help arrives," Erin said.
"Erin, promise me something," Buffy said.
"What?"
"If she dies, that you will not take your own life."
"I can't promise that."
"Promise me, damn it! I am not about to lose you too, ok. I've lost too many people I care about to this destiny. I promise you that Quentin will get what is coming to him, and I plan on dishing out some extra. That bastard is still gonna pay for the test that made me lose my strength, doubt a great man and nearly made me lose my mother and my life."
"All right," Erin said, her voice broken, "I promise you. Just get that bastard back."
"I swear on my life I will!"
Then silence. In the distance, the sirens cried out as the ambulance grew closer and closer to the warehouse. Buffy stared out the door Quentin ran out of and glared. They all knew, one way or another, that this was going to be a life or death situation. But for Buffy, Faith and Erin, the wanted Quentin's death, and Buffy swore to her self that she would be there when it was time for him to die.
Faith and Buffy quickly disposed of the two demon bodies by throwing them into the river behind the warehouse. As they did that, the paramedics arrived. Buffy and Faith watched from a distance.
"Do you think this war is far from over," Faith asked Buffy.
"Hopefully, but you know I can't kill him. Neither can you. I know someone who owes me a big favor. I know she will do it for me."
"You think she will?"
"I know it."
Faith and Buffy watched as the paramedics arrived. In pure anger, Buffy turned and walked out, but punched the steel wall as hard as she could. The sound thundered throughout the warehouse. Kat was quickly put on a stretcher and placed in the back of the ambulance. Erin went with her. Willow and Tara walked over to where Faith was. Tara snuggled into Faith, while Willow looked at the dent in the wall.
She went out to find Buffy sitting by the waters edge. Buffy was holding her bruised hand. Willow took it from her and kissed it gently.
"Steel walls don't make for good punching bags."
"I know. I was just angry and upset."
"I know, baby, I know."
"Quentin will die for this. I swear it."
"Buffy, promise me that you won't take his life."
"I won't, I swear."
Willow kissed Buffy gently. Faith and Tara walked behind them.
"Let's go home," Faith said, "we need to get to the hospital, and let everyone know what happened."
Buffy nodded and stood up, helping Willow to her feet. They then all headed off towards the house.
The Battles Begin
Buffy and Faith were in the northern cemetery. Buffy was lost in thought, and Faith knew it too.
"Ok, B, spill."
"What?"
"I know that look."
"Ok, ok. It's this whole thing with Erin and Kat. I am really worried about them. And I am also worried about how slow it has been."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I know last night, those vamps decided to show their faces, but that was it, nothing more."
"Hey. I got an idea."
"What about?"
"The six of us, putting all our money together and buying the old mansion."
"Sounds like a good plan to me. Let's talk to Wills and Tara about it, then Kat and Erin."
"Good idea. Now, if I were two stupid demons where would I hide?"
"The old warehouse section. We can check it during the day. Let's get home."
"Yeah."
Back at the Summers' home, Giles, Joyce, and Angel were in the kitchen talking about the upcoming weddings.
"So, You are giving Buffy away, and Angel you are giving Tara away," Joyce asked.
"Well that's how they wanted it," Angel answered, "Tara is a sweet kid, and its really a shame that her family treated her that way."
"Sometimes family goes further than blood," Giles added.
"Very true. Look at you and Buffy, Rupert, she loves you like a father," Joyce said, smiling.
"And I love her like a daughter."
Joyce smiled brightly at Giles' remarks. Willow and Tara had just made their way into the kitchen and went over to fridge.
"Is everything ok," Giles asked.
"They are still sleeping, and the slayers haven't come back yet," Tara said.
"Are they all right?"
"I fear the worst for them, actually. They are connected more than I have ever seen two people. Dreams are almost intertwined, and its like, oh I don't know. It's just so hard to see them in so much pain, all because of a bastard of a father."
"Well, I don't see the worst happening for them, Tara. They now have four very grateful and loving people in their lives. And I would say that their lives are going to be better now, that you guys have taken a liking to them," Angel said.
"I agree," Giles added, "though it seems like they've been through a tremendous amount of hell, with all of you, they will make it, without a doubt."
Willow just nodded in agreement. Just as they stopped talking, the two slayers came in through the back door. Willow and Tara went to their sides. Buffy smiled at them.
"Any luck," Giles asked.
"A very slow and quiet night. We are going to check the warehouse distract in the morning. Better in the day light, gives up the advantage," Buffy said.
"Good call. You'll be able to get the upper hand."
"Yeah. Tara, Willow, we need to talk to you," Faith said.
Faith, Buffy, Tara, and Willow went into the dining room, and sat around the table.
"Ok. What's up," Willow asked.
"How would you like it if all of us, including Kat and Erin, moved into the mansion," Buffy said.
Willow and Tara looked at each other, then burst into laughter.
"What," Faith asked.
"Tara and I were talking about this earlier. We were going to talk to you two about it, when you got home."
"Well, I take it you agree then," Buffy asked.
"Yup," Tara answered.
"Good. We'll talk to them in the morning. Let's get some sleep!"
The four girls went to their rooms, and snuggled up against their other. The next morning, Tara, Willow, Faith and Buffy headed downstairs. They noticed Erin and Kat were not on the couch. Buffy ran to the kitchen. Giles and Joyce were there. Giles had a piece of paper in his hand.
"They must have left in the night, while we all slept. It says that they need to deal with this alone. I am sorry Buffy. I guess they got scared and never wanted to hurt you," Giles said, handing Buffy the letter.
" 'Dear guys'," Buffy began, " 'I know you wanted all of us to fight together, but this is a battle that Erin and I must fight ourselves. This would put you in too much danger. I am sorry for bringing this danger to your home. Please, I beg of you, stay out if this. This has always been my fight. I care too much for you guys to be hurt on my account. Tara, I'm sorry. Sorry for bringing you into all of this, forgive me. With love, Kat.' Oh my gods! She is going after them herself."
"What? How can she do that," Willow asked.
"Because she thinks that she can save us all if her and Erin do this themselves," Tara said, "She wants to save us, even if that means dying herself. Erin will kill herself to join her."
"Whoa. You mean that they are going to die trying to stop these demons, and if Kat dies, Erin is going to kill herself," Faith asked.
"Yes."
With that, the four girls ran out of the house and headed towards the warehouse district of Sunnydale. Kat and Erin walked hand in hand through the older buildings.
"You think they're here," Erin asked.
"Safest place, you know. They can hide easier here."
"So nice you remember our old haunts child," Manix cackled.
"Stay with a demon, learn a lot."
"Well, do you have what you came for? Or did you lose the gumption you once had?"
"I no longer work for you, Manix! You can tell the bloody council that too."
"Oh, we know," a voice with a British accent answered.
"Quentin!"
Quentin Travers, once one of the best in the council, came out of the shadows.
"Yes, child. So glad you remember me."
"I remember killers, Travers! You killed my mother you son of a bitch!"
"I had too. She was too much of a liability. Just like the two of you are now. Manix, Kresiaz, kill them."
"With pleasure, boss," Kresiaz said.
The two demons lunged at Erin and Kat. Kat pushed Erin out of the way, tackling Manix. She knocked him down, then got up quickly, leaping towards Kresiaz. He knocked her down, and headed towards Erin.
"Excuse me, sorry to crash your hell spawn party, but those are my friends, ass munch," a voice boomed.
Everyone looked over and saw Buffy, Faith, Tara and Willow standing at the entrance of the warehouse.
"Is it invitation only, or can anyone come," Faith growled, running full speed at Kresiaz.
She leapt in the air, kicking him across the face. Buffy ran after Manix, spearing him once again into the ground. Tara and Willow ran to get Erin, while Kat turned her full attention to Quentin. She walked up right into his face, smacking him as hard as she could.
"Oh very smart. Attack the man that killed your mother. Extremely brilliant of you."
"It is. You don't have your goons to hold me back."
Kat punched Quentin across the face, knocking him to the floor. He got up, and while he was bent over, she gave him an ax kick, knocking him back down. She backed up and stared at him.
"Get up, you dick weed, get up!"
Quentin slowly got to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. He brushed off his jacket and stared Kat straight in the eyes.
"You really think you can beat me?"
"Oh yeah."
Kat ran at him again, decking him hard. Meanwhile Faith and Buffy were locked up with the demons. Buffy had Manix in a headlock, and soon, with a quick snap, he fell slumped to the floor. Faith was soon disposing of Kresiaz, snapping his neck as well. The battle between Quentin and Kat raged on. Quentin had gotten a few cheap shots, knocking her once again to the floor. She stood up, bloody and bruised.
"Is that all you got, old man?"
"No, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve."
Quentin then pulled out a gun, firing a round at Kat. Her body slumped to the ground as he made a quick exit.
"This is far from over, slayers!"
Erin ran quickly to Kat, placing a firm hand over the wound. The wound was right below her left shoulder. Buffy and Faith took off after Quentin to try and stop him, while Tara and Willow ran over to help Erin.
"Is it bad," Willow asked.
"Yes, and no. It's above the heart, I believe, but we need to get her to a hospital, now!"
"I'm on it," Tara said, pulling out her cell phone.
She dialed 911 and had an ambulance dispatched to where they were. Willow ripped some cloth from her shirt to help with clotting. Buffy and Faith returned and looked at the girls.
"Is she going to be ok? I mean, oh man," Faith said, fear laced in her voice.
"The bleeding has slowed, which is a good sign. She is knocked out, and hopefully will stay out till help arrives," Erin said.
"Erin, promise me something," Buffy said.
"What?"
"If she dies, that you will not take your own life."
"I can't promise that."
"Promise me, damn it! I am not about to lose you too, ok. I've lost too many people I care about to this destiny. I promise you that Quentin will get what is coming to him, and I plan on dishing out some extra. That bastard is still gonna pay for the test that made me lose my strength, doubt a great man and nearly made me lose my mother and my life."
"All right," Erin said, her voice broken, "I promise you. Just get that bastard back."
"I swear on my life I will!"
Then silence. In the distance, the sirens cried out as the ambulance grew closer and closer to the warehouse. Buffy stared out the door Quentin ran out of and glared. They all knew, one way or another, that this was going to be a life or death situation. But for Buffy, Faith and Erin, the wanted Quentin's death, and Buffy swore to her self that she would be there when it was time for him to die.
Faith and Buffy quickly disposed of the two demon bodies by throwing them into the river behind the warehouse. As they did that, the paramedics arrived. Buffy and Faith watched from a distance.
"Do you think this war is far from over," Faith asked Buffy.
"Hopefully, but you know I can't kill him. Neither can you. I know someone who owes me a big favor. I know she will do it for me."
"You think she will?"
"I know it."
Faith and Buffy watched as the paramedics arrived. In pure anger, Buffy turned and walked out, but punched the steel wall as hard as she could. The sound thundered throughout the warehouse. Kat was quickly put on a stretcher and placed in the back of the ambulance. Erin went with her. Willow and Tara walked over to where Faith was. Tara snuggled into Faith, while Willow looked at the dent in the wall.
She went out to find Buffy sitting by the waters edge. Buffy was holding her bruised hand. Willow took it from her and kissed it gently.
"Steel walls don't make for good punching bags."
"I know. I was just angry and upset."
"I know, baby, I know."
"Quentin will die for this. I swear it."
"Buffy, promise me that you won't take his life."
"I won't, I swear."
Willow kissed Buffy gently. Faith and Tara walked behind them.
"Let's go home," Faith said, "we need to get to the hospital, and let everyone know what happened."
Buffy nodded and stood up, helping Willow to her feet. They then all headed off towards the house.