Title: Rain Falls On The Just (11/?)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X…. Is there any other kind?
Description: It's Part 11. If you don't know by now, I'm keeping quiet.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a can of mace and a hatred for mimes. Hmm… Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB own Buffy and all related characters.
"Is Xander okay?" Buffy asked.
"He's fine," Anya said. "On the run from a lot of demons, but he seems to be holding his own."
"You said you had an idea," Willow said. "What's the plan?"
"Xander and Cordelia are on their way to speak with a seer. They were planning on seeing if she could tell them how to get home. If you can project your spirit into the ether, I can guide you to the seer's body."
"So that I can perform the spell from their location. Definitely safer for them that way," Willow agreed.
"But what about you?" Tara asked. "Isn't this dangerous?"
"Sure," Willow said, grinning at her love. "But that's what we do, right?"
"I don't know, Will," Buffy said. "Xander wouldn't want you doing something crazy."
"I would be there to guide her," Anya said. "And once the spell is complete, I can lead them back home. A lifeline of sorts."
"Is this the only option?" the Slayer asked.
"It's the only one that has a shot at working," Willow said.
"Then do it. But be careful. If it looks like it isn't working, abort. I'm not losing anyone else."
"Did you mean what you said back there?" Angel asked.
"About?" Faith kept walking and didn't make eye contact.
"About wanting out. You really think they just want Buffy?"
"Well, why would they want me? I mean, I haven't had any run-ins with W and H since I worked for them."
"Good point. But we have to protect her. She's lost so much…"
"That she may not care if she lives or dies," Faith said flatly. "Who's gonna protect us? Nobody but us, that's who."
"That's kind of cynical."
"But it's true. Still, I'm not ready to give up. We'll see if she comes up with a plan."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Let's just say I'm thinking seriously about abandoning ship."
"How much farther?" Cordelia asked.
"Just over the rise," Xander said, squinting from the light of the distant twin suns.
"You said that two rises ago," Cordelia complained. "I thought you knew where you were going."
"I do. Basically."
"We're gonna die from heat stroke."
"No we won't. We'll burst into flame LONG before that!"
"Cute."
"Seriously, it's not much farther. I promise."
"I'm warning you, Xander. If you don't get us out of this, I'll kill you."
"If I don't get us out of this, we'll be dead anyway."
"Oh, yeah."
"C'mon. You shut up for a minute, and I'll buy you an ice cream when we get home."
"With sprinkles?"
Oz looked over his shoulder for what must have been the hundredth time since he arrived in Los Angeles. He had disguised himself as well as possible, but almost wished the moon was full. Wolfram and Hart had killed his friends and planned to kill a few more. He was determined to help stop them.
A car passed him. There was an infant seat in the back. His mind refocused on Anya's baby. "First, I make sure Alex is safe. Then the payback," he thought. "I just hope I live long enough to be a part of it."
He checked the paper in his pocket, reading the address one more time. He was there. Looking at the place, he wondered if he was too late. The door was unlocked, so he stepped inside. It had obviously been a year or two since the place had seen any real life.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
He ran his fingers along the top of a nearby table. There was a thick layer of dust.
"Hello? I need your help. Willow told me you could help me."
Still no answer.
Oz sat down at the edge of the stage and closed his eyes. The tune began to rise in his throat. He didn't even think about stopping it. Maybe singing was still the key.
"I read the news today, oh boy," he sang. "About a lucky man who made the grade. And though the news was rather sad. Well, I just had to laugh. I saw the photograph." He heard movement. "He blew his mind out in a car. He hadn't noticed that the lights had changed."
"Enough," said a voice from the darkness. "I can't take seeing anymore of what you have to show."
"He's killed his friends," Oz said softly. "You saw that?"
"Yes. I saw it."
"I need your help."
"I know, kid. I know."
"My name is Oz. I'm a friend of the Slayers."
"And you still love the little witch girl."
Oz cocked one eyebrow.
"Don't deny it, Wolfie. I saw it as clear as day. Now why don't you tell the Host where you plan to start searching for this missing baby?"
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X…. Is there any other kind?
Description: It's Part 11. If you don't know by now, I'm keeping quiet.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a can of mace and a hatred for mimes. Hmm… Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB own Buffy and all related characters.
"Is Xander okay?" Buffy asked.
"He's fine," Anya said. "On the run from a lot of demons, but he seems to be holding his own."
"You said you had an idea," Willow said. "What's the plan?"
"Xander and Cordelia are on their way to speak with a seer. They were planning on seeing if she could tell them how to get home. If you can project your spirit into the ether, I can guide you to the seer's body."
"So that I can perform the spell from their location. Definitely safer for them that way," Willow agreed.
"But what about you?" Tara asked. "Isn't this dangerous?"
"Sure," Willow said, grinning at her love. "But that's what we do, right?"
"I don't know, Will," Buffy said. "Xander wouldn't want you doing something crazy."
"I would be there to guide her," Anya said. "And once the spell is complete, I can lead them back home. A lifeline of sorts."
"Is this the only option?" the Slayer asked.
"It's the only one that has a shot at working," Willow said.
"Then do it. But be careful. If it looks like it isn't working, abort. I'm not losing anyone else."
"Did you mean what you said back there?" Angel asked.
"About?" Faith kept walking and didn't make eye contact.
"About wanting out. You really think they just want Buffy?"
"Well, why would they want me? I mean, I haven't had any run-ins with W and H since I worked for them."
"Good point. But we have to protect her. She's lost so much…"
"That she may not care if she lives or dies," Faith said flatly. "Who's gonna protect us? Nobody but us, that's who."
"That's kind of cynical."
"But it's true. Still, I'm not ready to give up. We'll see if she comes up with a plan."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Let's just say I'm thinking seriously about abandoning ship."
"How much farther?" Cordelia asked.
"Just over the rise," Xander said, squinting from the light of the distant twin suns.
"You said that two rises ago," Cordelia complained. "I thought you knew where you were going."
"I do. Basically."
"We're gonna die from heat stroke."
"No we won't. We'll burst into flame LONG before that!"
"Cute."
"Seriously, it's not much farther. I promise."
"I'm warning you, Xander. If you don't get us out of this, I'll kill you."
"If I don't get us out of this, we'll be dead anyway."
"Oh, yeah."
"C'mon. You shut up for a minute, and I'll buy you an ice cream when we get home."
"With sprinkles?"
Oz looked over his shoulder for what must have been the hundredth time since he arrived in Los Angeles. He had disguised himself as well as possible, but almost wished the moon was full. Wolfram and Hart had killed his friends and planned to kill a few more. He was determined to help stop them.
A car passed him. There was an infant seat in the back. His mind refocused on Anya's baby. "First, I make sure Alex is safe. Then the payback," he thought. "I just hope I live long enough to be a part of it."
He checked the paper in his pocket, reading the address one more time. He was there. Looking at the place, he wondered if he was too late. The door was unlocked, so he stepped inside. It had obviously been a year or two since the place had seen any real life.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
He ran his fingers along the top of a nearby table. There was a thick layer of dust.
"Hello? I need your help. Willow told me you could help me."
Still no answer.
Oz sat down at the edge of the stage and closed his eyes. The tune began to rise in his throat. He didn't even think about stopping it. Maybe singing was still the key.
"I read the news today, oh boy," he sang. "About a lucky man who made the grade. And though the news was rather sad. Well, I just had to laugh. I saw the photograph." He heard movement. "He blew his mind out in a car. He hadn't noticed that the lights had changed."
"Enough," said a voice from the darkness. "I can't take seeing anymore of what you have to show."
"He's killed his friends," Oz said softly. "You saw that?"
"Yes. I saw it."
"I need your help."
"I know, kid. I know."
"My name is Oz. I'm a friend of the Slayers."
"And you still love the little witch girl."
Oz cocked one eyebrow.
"Don't deny it, Wolfie. I saw it as clear as day. Now why don't you tell the Host where you plan to start searching for this missing baby?"