New Horizons: Chapter Forty-Eight
The Continuance
By Annie
06-05-2002
"Okay," Willow said, putting down a huge stack of maps on the table in the Magic Box and looking a little excited as she smiled brightly. "I think I've figured out where the Trio of Nerds are hiding."
"Are we seriously gonna call them that, or has anyone got a better name?" Buffy asked.
"How about the Trio of Sodding Wankers?" Spike suggested helpfully and she turned to him with a small smile, shaking her head.
"Need something Dawn could actually take in her mouth," she stated and he smiled a little.
"Just shorten it then, to the Trio of S.W," he said and she rolled her eyes, but smiled widely nonetheless.
"Who would've thought you could actually prove useless in something?" she grumbled and now he grinned at her as he bent forward on the chair he was seated and grabbed her hand, pulling her down on his lap from her standing position and she smiled a little as she put her arms around his neck.
Xander observed them silently and then he felt Anya's hand slide into his and he turned to her, smiling a little and she returned it. He relaxed slightly and turned back to Willow.
Willow eyed the Slayer and the Vamp for a moment, a smile gracing her lips before she turned back to the maps, placing her hands on the pile and saying:
"I checked all the reference data where they've lived before and found a pattern. They don't like to move more than a few miles from the former place and I'm not sure why, but I'm sure that I'm right." They were all looking at her, approvingly. "Well, after that I just did a check on newly obtained leases and which ones fit their profile. You know, dark and gloomy basement kinda place," she finished.
"Well done, Red," Spike said with a smile and she smiled back with a nod.
The vamp still had some difficulty grasping the concept of being even slightly accepted by this group of beings, and even more so that they actually seemed to be serious about it. Then the Slayer shifted slightly in his arms and the incredible sense of being home, being where he belonged, washed over him and he smiled a little to himself, the grip he had around her tightening slightly.
"Okay, so give me the address and I'll go kick their door down true Slayer style," Buffy said and Willow looked at her for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Or." she trailed off and Buffy raised her eyebrows questioningly for her to continue. "Or maybe you should let the police handle this one," Willow finished and now Buffy's eyebrows shot up high as she got off Spike's lap to stand up.
"What?" she asked and Willow shrugged a little.
"Think about it, Buffy," she said. "They're not exactly the kind of monsters you're used to dealing with."
"No, they're not, they're a bunch of pathetic little boys with way too much time on their hands and a serious case of acrophobia!" she stated and Willow furrowed her brow slightly.
"They're scared of heights?" she asked and Buffy paused for a moment, then she shook her head.
"No. No, that other thing -ia something, when you steal things."
"Kleptomania," Xander said and Buffy nodded.
"Yes, they're a bunch of kleptos," she said and Spike smiled a little.
"Reminds me of someone," he grumbled and she turned to him impatiently. "Eh, me," he said and she raised her eyebrows at that.
"That's right, you still owe me for six months of disappearing Burba weed," Anya cut in and he turned his head to her with a nonchalant smile.
"THAT'S a whole other part of the problem," he stated and she sighed, shaking her head a little.
"Okay, focus, guys," Buffy interrupted. "I wanna have that address 'cause I wanna go check the damn place out myself. Besides, those little girls probably keep journals on every little evil scam they've ever thought up, and especially all the data of those that've had to do with ME. Don't want the police to read THAT, even if they'll probably only think that the Trio is completely crazy or something for calling me a Slayer, there might be one or two 'believers' and."
"Point taken," Willow interrupted, just finishing writing the address requested down on a piece of paper. "Go get 'em, tiger," she added when she handed the note to Buffy and Buffy took it with a small smile.
"Thanks, Wills," she said and drew a breath. "Okay. Spike, you coming?"
He looked slightly regretful.
"Daylight." he grumbled and she nodded. "I would come anyway only."
She smiled, bending down to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
"I don't want you to.I just forgot about.that," she said with a nod towards the windows and the sunshine. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
Then she turned and walked up the steps and to the door. The small bell ringing over her head and then she was gone.
Spike sighed a little, glaring at the window and wishing more than ever that he was.
No, it would drive him crazy to think it, so better let it rest.
Willow turned around and walked up to the counter, giving a startled cry when a cat slunk by her feet and ran up the steps to the door, meowing when it got there.
All of the others were staring at Willow who signaled that she was fine and then they turned to the cat. Willow furrowed her brow a little as she walked up the steps as well and to where the cat was sitting, seemingly waiting patiently, tail wrapped around its paws and looking up at her.
"Hello there," she said gently as she bent down to look for a collar.
There wasn't any.
"What a pretty cat." she mumbled, staring at its incredibly black fur and then into its green eyes, ".very pretty cat." she said again and then she reached up and opened the door.
The cat looked at her for a moment longer and then it turned and ran out into the day.
Willow closed the door, staring at the handle for a moment and then shaking her head a little.
Weird, she thought before walking back into the Magic Box.
***
Torah sighed with relief as she sunk down on the couch. That had been a close call; too close. This Slayer was clever and if she caught the mortals, if she got her hands on Torah's amulet then... Torah shivered with discomfort at the prospect of returning to her prison.
"Well, she's not clever enough, though," Torah smiled to herself.
Then the front door opened and she shot up, staring at the young redhead who entered, immediately recognizing her from earlier in the Magic Box. The exhaustion surrounding her was heavy enough to feel and Torah swallowed when she also sensed the unmistakable power resting inside this woman's chest.
The Wicca looked up, stopping dead in her tracks as her eyes fell on the strange woman, and then remembering what Buffy had told her the night before, explaining to Willow why her bed was occupied.
Willow closed the door behind her and put on a smile.
"Hi," she said, throwing down her backpack carelessly and walking up to Torah. "My name's Willow," she added as she reached out a hand and Torah smiled, nodding.
"I know, Buffy told me that you stay here, thanks for letting me use your bed," she said.
Willow lowered her hand slowly, wondering why the girl hadn't taken it but then shrugging it off, looking into the woman's eyes she suddenly had the strangest feeling of having met her somewhere before.
"No need," she then said to Torah's thank you. "So, you're new in town, huh?"
Torah nodded a little, her face growing serious and Willow realized that Buffy had mentioned something this morning about a man.Tom.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring anything up that could hurt," she said quickly and Torah shook her head, looking away. "Hey, I was thinking about making brownies, you wanna help?" Willow asked, hoping to get the woman's mind off of her loss and Torah looked up, then she smiled slightly.
"Is it hard? I'm not very much the baking person," she said a little timidly and Willow laughed, walking back into the hall and grabbing her backpack she patted it as she said:
"Me either, I'm more of the foods person myself, but in this little baby we have the mix that simplifies everything."
Torah smiled.
"All right," she then said and the two women walked into the kitchen together.
There was a knock on the front door and then it opened, Tara stepping inside and Willow popped a head out through the kitchen doorway to see who had come by, her eyes widening a little when she saw who it was and she smiled a little hesitantly as Tara came towards her.
"Eh, hi," she said as Tara stopped in front of her and Tara smiled back.
Willow started to relax.
"Eh, hi," Tara said and Willow smiled at that.
Torah watched the two mortals, sensing a strong bond between them, and then an even stronger love and. longing. She furrowed her brow, observing them closely now.
"So," Willow said and Tara smiled.
"So, I'm here 'cause I'm supposed to meet Dawnie for lunch," she answered and then she turned her head a little, her eyes locking in Torah's and growing larger. "B-but if you're b-busy I-I can." she started and Willow glanced quickly at the other woman as well before shaking her head.
"No, no, we were just making brownies. I mean, this is Torah, eh, Buffy and Spike helped her out last night," she said and Tara gazed at the beautiful woman who almost looked unearthly.
"Oh," Tara now said with a small smile. "Hello."
Torah smiled back.
"Hello."
This is VERY interesting, Torah thought to herself as she watched the two Wicca's making small talk again. Very interesting, indeed. The love in this house seems almost grand. Pity, really, to ruin it.
Then she smiled widely.
No, not really.
***
Buffy kicked the door down true Slayer style before yelling:
"Warren!"
She took a step in through the door and looked around, searching the small room for any sign of life. When there wasn't any she sighed, walking inside and glaring at the furniture and the small windows, feeling nothing but detest for the space where the Trio's schemes had been conjured.
"Dammit," she then hissed. "I'm too late - again. How the hell can they know when I'm coming?"
She looked around for any kind of left behind junk that could prove valuable, but this time the whole place was actually cleaned out.
She sighed heavily once more, walking up the few steps to the door and trampling over it impatiently before she went outside.
"How the HELL can they know when I'm coming?" she repeated, her brain starting to work over time as she headed back to the Magic Box.
She entered the shop walking fast over the plateau from the entrance, down the steps and straight into the sparring room where she immediately began her search. Soon Anya came to stand in the doorway, looking curiously at her.
"What are you doing?" she asked and Buffy huffed as she moved the couch.
"I'm looking for something," she answered and Anya raised her eyebrows a little.
"Well, all the price-worthy and lovely things, if I say so myself, are out here in the store," she pointed out and Buffy looked up, shaking her head.
"Not that kinda thing," she said, pushing the couch back against the wall and continuing her search.
Anya watched her for a moment and then the bell rang and she lit up, turning around and walking into the shop to meet and greet with the customer.
Half an hour later she was ringing in the price for the nice woman who had just bought a book on dragons for almost sixty dollars when Buffy stormed out of the sparring room, flustered.
"Dammit!" she exclaimed, her eyes wild as she looked around the room. "I know you're here somewhere, all those stupid gadgets they're always using to bloody get to me, you HAVE to be here!"
The woman stared at the Slayer as Anya put her purchase in a bag and then handed it to her.
"Thank you for shopping at the Magic Box," she said with a smile and the woman jumped a little at the sound of her voice, turning her eyes to her.
"Is that girl crazy or something?" she asked as she took the bag from Anya.
Anya tilted her head a little, looking at Buffy who was now searching the bookshelves by the table.
"I, as her friend, shouldn't think so, but sometimes I am contemplating it," she answered and the woman nodded, then shook her head before she started up and left the shop.
"Buffy, are you feeling all right?" Anya asked as she walked around the counter.
Buffy nodded, her hands gliding frantically over the rows of books and then she straightened her back and came to a halt. She stared at the scull in front of her and then reached out a hand and poked the lens, sticking out of one of the deep eye-sockets, with one finger; shaking her head a little to herself.
"Unbelievable," she murmured as she took the scull down and started tearing the small camera out of there. "Those sodding wankers!" she exclaimed as she gave it up, threw the scull on the floor and started to stomp on it.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Anya exclaimed. "My floor, my SCULL!"
"My ass!" Buffy growled and then she seemed to be satisfied with the pile of distorted plastic, crushed glass and mangled bone at her feet because she stopped her stomping and looked up at the vengeance demon.
"I want to make a wish," she then said and Anya's eyes enlarged at that.
***
"This is not good, this is not good," Andrew kept chanting and Warren was seriously thinking about snapping his neck and be done with it.
The image of the Slayer staring straight into the camera at the Magic Box had NOT been good, for sure, and the fact that the image now was replaced by a black empty nothing on the screen was definitely NOT good either, but GOD how many times could a person say the same sentence?!
Warren was just about to reach out and grab Andrew when Jonathan gulped and pointed:
"Look," he said, finger trembling as they all could see the Slayer leaving the Magic Box, looking around and almost instantly spotting the second camera.
"Damn," Warren said. "She's gonna take away our vision, we won't be able to check up on her anymore and then."
"This is not good, this is not good."
".who knows what'll happen. Will you STOP that RAMBLING?!" he screamed and Andrew's eyes grew round as he shut his mouth, nodding. "Thank you," Warren said, sighing and shaking his head.
"We still have Torah though, right?" Jonathan asked and Warren turned to him. "Well, if she can be in.um, cat form when she doesn't have to be in human form then we're all set," he added hesitantly and Warren smiled condescendingly.
"Sounds like a plan. Only little thing that might provoke a problem is the fact that she can't pull a Clark Kent every time she IS in human form and happens to find something out, now can she? And then we're as good as screwed anyway," he said and Jonathan sighed, nodding.
"Maybe this is the end," he said gloomily and at that Warren reached out and grabbed a hard hold on his jacket with one hand, glaring at him.
"Never say that," he said, voice threatening and Jonathan stared at him. "This will NEVER end!" Warren continued. "Oh no! This is just the beginning!"
Jonathan pulled out of his grip, trying not to raise his eyebrows but finding it a little difficult. Warren sounded almost.mad. Yeah, crazy.
He's going off the deep end, Jonathan thought, shaking his head and in the back of his mind starting to run through all the villains he knew that had lost their minds in the movies.
***
Buffy took the blow the vamp delivered without flinching before bringing out her stake, twirling around and sinking it into his chest.
"Too bad you couldn't 'stick' around," she quipped as she moved out of the way for the blowing grains of ashes.
She sighed, starting to brush the ones that were clinging to her off of her as she heard the bushes behind her move and then Spike stepped through them.
"Did you get him?" she asked, referring to the vamp that had made a run for it instead of hogging it out.
"Sure did," Spike answered, nodding. "Are you all right, love? You seem a bit off tonight."
"Hah," she grumbled. "When am I ever 'off'? First the Trio of Absolutely the most Sodding Wankers Ever get away AGAIN and so I have to start the research all over AGAIN, then the vampires are out in twice the amount and for God knows why so we'll probably have to patrol most of the night and did I mention I had a double shift at the Double Meat today?"
He smiled a little, stepping up to her.
"Are you tired, or is that just what I think I'm hearing?" he asked softly and she sighed, shaking her head and pulling away from him.
"This isn't good either," she said and he felt his heart sink heavily in his chest at that.
"W-what do you mean?" he asked and she sighed.
"This, us, patrolling. Last night CAN'T happen again, Spike. What if she had died?"
He felt relief wash over him, he had thought she'd meant.everything.
"I know," he now said, nodding. "I just wanted to give you a little peck on the cheek," he added, eyes glittering and she couldn't help but smile a little.
"Liar," she stated and he laughed.
"Buffy!" Xander's voice was suddenly heard and Buffy swirled around, surprised.
"Xander, is anything wrong?" she asked worriedly and he shook his head.
"No, nothing's WRONG, it's just. Well, you need to come home."
"Why?"
"I promised I wouldn't say," he answered, face serious and she frowned.
"Xander, if something's wrong and you're not telling me-.
"Nothing's wrong, Buff. It's just important."
She observed him for a moment in silence and then sighed.
"Fine, let's go."
They started walking. She felt the annoyance with the Trio getting away yet again bubble up inside her and she grumbled to herself.
"Buffy, let it go," Spike said and she shook her head a little.
"I wish I could. I just can't believe that they-."
"You'll catch them, love," he interrupted and she huffed at that, shaking her head again and looking up at him.
"How the hell do you know?" she asked harshly and he raised his eyebrows.
"Don't take it out on me," he said, growing a little agitated himself at that.
"Don't be so damn sensitive," she growled, looking away and he stared at her for a moment.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he grumbled and she let hear a low laugh.
"What the hell do you THINK it means? I'm just saying don't be so God damn sensitive," she repeated. "The vampire in you should at least be able to provide THAT."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"WHAT the bloody hell did you just say to me?" he exclaimed and a small ironic smile graced her lips as they turned onto the street leading to her backyard.
"Eh, guys," Xander tried, keeping up with their pace and listening to the fight he knew was building as they turned into the backyard.
"I SAID," Buffy now said, looking at her lover and ignoring her friend, "that if you weren't so light headed all the time maybe we could actually do some work together."
Xander swallowed at the expression in Spike's eyes, then he walked past the two to open the door to the kitchen.
Spike swallowed hard as well, glaring at her as they walked inside.
"You know, you should have told me this a lot sooner, then I could have left-."
"Hah, always knew you would," she stated calmly and Xander left the kitchen as fast as he could, going up stairs to get Willow.
".-you ALONE," Spike grumbled, finishing his sentence, and then he shook his head. "Seems you don't know anything about me, pet," he then growled and she huffed.
"I should have known that THIS would happen," she retorted, both of them standing opposite each other at the breakfast table and their eyes hard in the others.
"You are bloody unbelievable!" he suddenly exclaimed, the fear and the rage both clawing painfully in his chest.
"And so are you!" she yelled back. "I can't believe we even decided to do this, to try it out, look at what it's led us to, we almost killed a person!"
"What the hell is the matter with you?" he barked back.
"I want you to leave. You should have left that night when you came back," she growled and he stared at her for a moment.
"You are so God damn scared that I'll actually just bloody up and leave that you're trying to push me away, well, DAMMIT to hell, Slayer!" he screamed at her and her eyes grew round.
Her heart was beating hard in her chest and her eyes were locked in his for the longest time before they both moved around to the side at the same time.
She slid her arms around his neck and parted her lips to meet his tongue and kissed him passionately as he pulled her closer, his hands running over her back before he lifted her up and placed her on the table.
"I love you," he mumbled into her mouth and she almost started crying. "And I'm not leaving you."
She kissed him fiercely and clung to him, wrapping her legs around his waist and trying to get as close to him as possible.
"Oh, my."
The sound of the so familiar voice coming from behind her back made both Slayer and Vamp pull away from each other in surprise.
Buffy stared at the slightly embarrassed man in the doorway and blinked, disbelieving before she mumbled in a hoarse voice:
"Giles?"
The Continuance
By Annie
06-05-2002
"Okay," Willow said, putting down a huge stack of maps on the table in the Magic Box and looking a little excited as she smiled brightly. "I think I've figured out where the Trio of Nerds are hiding."
"Are we seriously gonna call them that, or has anyone got a better name?" Buffy asked.
"How about the Trio of Sodding Wankers?" Spike suggested helpfully and she turned to him with a small smile, shaking her head.
"Need something Dawn could actually take in her mouth," she stated and he smiled a little.
"Just shorten it then, to the Trio of S.W," he said and she rolled her eyes, but smiled widely nonetheless.
"Who would've thought you could actually prove useless in something?" she grumbled and now he grinned at her as he bent forward on the chair he was seated and grabbed her hand, pulling her down on his lap from her standing position and she smiled a little as she put her arms around his neck.
Xander observed them silently and then he felt Anya's hand slide into his and he turned to her, smiling a little and she returned it. He relaxed slightly and turned back to Willow.
Willow eyed the Slayer and the Vamp for a moment, a smile gracing her lips before she turned back to the maps, placing her hands on the pile and saying:
"I checked all the reference data where they've lived before and found a pattern. They don't like to move more than a few miles from the former place and I'm not sure why, but I'm sure that I'm right." They were all looking at her, approvingly. "Well, after that I just did a check on newly obtained leases and which ones fit their profile. You know, dark and gloomy basement kinda place," she finished.
"Well done, Red," Spike said with a smile and she smiled back with a nod.
The vamp still had some difficulty grasping the concept of being even slightly accepted by this group of beings, and even more so that they actually seemed to be serious about it. Then the Slayer shifted slightly in his arms and the incredible sense of being home, being where he belonged, washed over him and he smiled a little to himself, the grip he had around her tightening slightly.
"Okay, so give me the address and I'll go kick their door down true Slayer style," Buffy said and Willow looked at her for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Or." she trailed off and Buffy raised her eyebrows questioningly for her to continue. "Or maybe you should let the police handle this one," Willow finished and now Buffy's eyebrows shot up high as she got off Spike's lap to stand up.
"What?" she asked and Willow shrugged a little.
"Think about it, Buffy," she said. "They're not exactly the kind of monsters you're used to dealing with."
"No, they're not, they're a bunch of pathetic little boys with way too much time on their hands and a serious case of acrophobia!" she stated and Willow furrowed her brow slightly.
"They're scared of heights?" she asked and Buffy paused for a moment, then she shook her head.
"No. No, that other thing -ia something, when you steal things."
"Kleptomania," Xander said and Buffy nodded.
"Yes, they're a bunch of kleptos," she said and Spike smiled a little.
"Reminds me of someone," he grumbled and she turned to him impatiently. "Eh, me," he said and she raised her eyebrows at that.
"That's right, you still owe me for six months of disappearing Burba weed," Anya cut in and he turned his head to her with a nonchalant smile.
"THAT'S a whole other part of the problem," he stated and she sighed, shaking her head a little.
"Okay, focus, guys," Buffy interrupted. "I wanna have that address 'cause I wanna go check the damn place out myself. Besides, those little girls probably keep journals on every little evil scam they've ever thought up, and especially all the data of those that've had to do with ME. Don't want the police to read THAT, even if they'll probably only think that the Trio is completely crazy or something for calling me a Slayer, there might be one or two 'believers' and."
"Point taken," Willow interrupted, just finishing writing the address requested down on a piece of paper. "Go get 'em, tiger," she added when she handed the note to Buffy and Buffy took it with a small smile.
"Thanks, Wills," she said and drew a breath. "Okay. Spike, you coming?"
He looked slightly regretful.
"Daylight." he grumbled and she nodded. "I would come anyway only."
She smiled, bending down to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
"I don't want you to.I just forgot about.that," she said with a nod towards the windows and the sunshine. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
Then she turned and walked up the steps and to the door. The small bell ringing over her head and then she was gone.
Spike sighed a little, glaring at the window and wishing more than ever that he was.
No, it would drive him crazy to think it, so better let it rest.
Willow turned around and walked up to the counter, giving a startled cry when a cat slunk by her feet and ran up the steps to the door, meowing when it got there.
All of the others were staring at Willow who signaled that she was fine and then they turned to the cat. Willow furrowed her brow a little as she walked up the steps as well and to where the cat was sitting, seemingly waiting patiently, tail wrapped around its paws and looking up at her.
"Hello there," she said gently as she bent down to look for a collar.
There wasn't any.
"What a pretty cat." she mumbled, staring at its incredibly black fur and then into its green eyes, ".very pretty cat." she said again and then she reached up and opened the door.
The cat looked at her for a moment longer and then it turned and ran out into the day.
Willow closed the door, staring at the handle for a moment and then shaking her head a little.
Weird, she thought before walking back into the Magic Box.
***
Torah sighed with relief as she sunk down on the couch. That had been a close call; too close. This Slayer was clever and if she caught the mortals, if she got her hands on Torah's amulet then... Torah shivered with discomfort at the prospect of returning to her prison.
"Well, she's not clever enough, though," Torah smiled to herself.
Then the front door opened and she shot up, staring at the young redhead who entered, immediately recognizing her from earlier in the Magic Box. The exhaustion surrounding her was heavy enough to feel and Torah swallowed when she also sensed the unmistakable power resting inside this woman's chest.
The Wicca looked up, stopping dead in her tracks as her eyes fell on the strange woman, and then remembering what Buffy had told her the night before, explaining to Willow why her bed was occupied.
Willow closed the door behind her and put on a smile.
"Hi," she said, throwing down her backpack carelessly and walking up to Torah. "My name's Willow," she added as she reached out a hand and Torah smiled, nodding.
"I know, Buffy told me that you stay here, thanks for letting me use your bed," she said.
Willow lowered her hand slowly, wondering why the girl hadn't taken it but then shrugging it off, looking into the woman's eyes she suddenly had the strangest feeling of having met her somewhere before.
"No need," she then said to Torah's thank you. "So, you're new in town, huh?"
Torah nodded a little, her face growing serious and Willow realized that Buffy had mentioned something this morning about a man.Tom.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring anything up that could hurt," she said quickly and Torah shook her head, looking away. "Hey, I was thinking about making brownies, you wanna help?" Willow asked, hoping to get the woman's mind off of her loss and Torah looked up, then she smiled slightly.
"Is it hard? I'm not very much the baking person," she said a little timidly and Willow laughed, walking back into the hall and grabbing her backpack she patted it as she said:
"Me either, I'm more of the foods person myself, but in this little baby we have the mix that simplifies everything."
Torah smiled.
"All right," she then said and the two women walked into the kitchen together.
There was a knock on the front door and then it opened, Tara stepping inside and Willow popped a head out through the kitchen doorway to see who had come by, her eyes widening a little when she saw who it was and she smiled a little hesitantly as Tara came towards her.
"Eh, hi," she said as Tara stopped in front of her and Tara smiled back.
Willow started to relax.
"Eh, hi," Tara said and Willow smiled at that.
Torah watched the two mortals, sensing a strong bond between them, and then an even stronger love and. longing. She furrowed her brow, observing them closely now.
"So," Willow said and Tara smiled.
"So, I'm here 'cause I'm supposed to meet Dawnie for lunch," she answered and then she turned her head a little, her eyes locking in Torah's and growing larger. "B-but if you're b-busy I-I can." she started and Willow glanced quickly at the other woman as well before shaking her head.
"No, no, we were just making brownies. I mean, this is Torah, eh, Buffy and Spike helped her out last night," she said and Tara gazed at the beautiful woman who almost looked unearthly.
"Oh," Tara now said with a small smile. "Hello."
Torah smiled back.
"Hello."
This is VERY interesting, Torah thought to herself as she watched the two Wicca's making small talk again. Very interesting, indeed. The love in this house seems almost grand. Pity, really, to ruin it.
Then she smiled widely.
No, not really.
***
Buffy kicked the door down true Slayer style before yelling:
"Warren!"
She took a step in through the door and looked around, searching the small room for any sign of life. When there wasn't any she sighed, walking inside and glaring at the furniture and the small windows, feeling nothing but detest for the space where the Trio's schemes had been conjured.
"Dammit," she then hissed. "I'm too late - again. How the hell can they know when I'm coming?"
She looked around for any kind of left behind junk that could prove valuable, but this time the whole place was actually cleaned out.
She sighed heavily once more, walking up the few steps to the door and trampling over it impatiently before she went outside.
"How the HELL can they know when I'm coming?" she repeated, her brain starting to work over time as she headed back to the Magic Box.
She entered the shop walking fast over the plateau from the entrance, down the steps and straight into the sparring room where she immediately began her search. Soon Anya came to stand in the doorway, looking curiously at her.
"What are you doing?" she asked and Buffy huffed as she moved the couch.
"I'm looking for something," she answered and Anya raised her eyebrows a little.
"Well, all the price-worthy and lovely things, if I say so myself, are out here in the store," she pointed out and Buffy looked up, shaking her head.
"Not that kinda thing," she said, pushing the couch back against the wall and continuing her search.
Anya watched her for a moment and then the bell rang and she lit up, turning around and walking into the shop to meet and greet with the customer.
Half an hour later she was ringing in the price for the nice woman who had just bought a book on dragons for almost sixty dollars when Buffy stormed out of the sparring room, flustered.
"Dammit!" she exclaimed, her eyes wild as she looked around the room. "I know you're here somewhere, all those stupid gadgets they're always using to bloody get to me, you HAVE to be here!"
The woman stared at the Slayer as Anya put her purchase in a bag and then handed it to her.
"Thank you for shopping at the Magic Box," she said with a smile and the woman jumped a little at the sound of her voice, turning her eyes to her.
"Is that girl crazy or something?" she asked as she took the bag from Anya.
Anya tilted her head a little, looking at Buffy who was now searching the bookshelves by the table.
"I, as her friend, shouldn't think so, but sometimes I am contemplating it," she answered and the woman nodded, then shook her head before she started up and left the shop.
"Buffy, are you feeling all right?" Anya asked as she walked around the counter.
Buffy nodded, her hands gliding frantically over the rows of books and then she straightened her back and came to a halt. She stared at the scull in front of her and then reached out a hand and poked the lens, sticking out of one of the deep eye-sockets, with one finger; shaking her head a little to herself.
"Unbelievable," she murmured as she took the scull down and started tearing the small camera out of there. "Those sodding wankers!" she exclaimed as she gave it up, threw the scull on the floor and started to stomp on it.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Anya exclaimed. "My floor, my SCULL!"
"My ass!" Buffy growled and then she seemed to be satisfied with the pile of distorted plastic, crushed glass and mangled bone at her feet because she stopped her stomping and looked up at the vengeance demon.
"I want to make a wish," she then said and Anya's eyes enlarged at that.
***
"This is not good, this is not good," Andrew kept chanting and Warren was seriously thinking about snapping his neck and be done with it.
The image of the Slayer staring straight into the camera at the Magic Box had NOT been good, for sure, and the fact that the image now was replaced by a black empty nothing on the screen was definitely NOT good either, but GOD how many times could a person say the same sentence?!
Warren was just about to reach out and grab Andrew when Jonathan gulped and pointed:
"Look," he said, finger trembling as they all could see the Slayer leaving the Magic Box, looking around and almost instantly spotting the second camera.
"Damn," Warren said. "She's gonna take away our vision, we won't be able to check up on her anymore and then."
"This is not good, this is not good."
".who knows what'll happen. Will you STOP that RAMBLING?!" he screamed and Andrew's eyes grew round as he shut his mouth, nodding. "Thank you," Warren said, sighing and shaking his head.
"We still have Torah though, right?" Jonathan asked and Warren turned to him. "Well, if she can be in.um, cat form when she doesn't have to be in human form then we're all set," he added hesitantly and Warren smiled condescendingly.
"Sounds like a plan. Only little thing that might provoke a problem is the fact that she can't pull a Clark Kent every time she IS in human form and happens to find something out, now can she? And then we're as good as screwed anyway," he said and Jonathan sighed, nodding.
"Maybe this is the end," he said gloomily and at that Warren reached out and grabbed a hard hold on his jacket with one hand, glaring at him.
"Never say that," he said, voice threatening and Jonathan stared at him. "This will NEVER end!" Warren continued. "Oh no! This is just the beginning!"
Jonathan pulled out of his grip, trying not to raise his eyebrows but finding it a little difficult. Warren sounded almost.mad. Yeah, crazy.
He's going off the deep end, Jonathan thought, shaking his head and in the back of his mind starting to run through all the villains he knew that had lost their minds in the movies.
***
Buffy took the blow the vamp delivered without flinching before bringing out her stake, twirling around and sinking it into his chest.
"Too bad you couldn't 'stick' around," she quipped as she moved out of the way for the blowing grains of ashes.
She sighed, starting to brush the ones that were clinging to her off of her as she heard the bushes behind her move and then Spike stepped through them.
"Did you get him?" she asked, referring to the vamp that had made a run for it instead of hogging it out.
"Sure did," Spike answered, nodding. "Are you all right, love? You seem a bit off tonight."
"Hah," she grumbled. "When am I ever 'off'? First the Trio of Absolutely the most Sodding Wankers Ever get away AGAIN and so I have to start the research all over AGAIN, then the vampires are out in twice the amount and for God knows why so we'll probably have to patrol most of the night and did I mention I had a double shift at the Double Meat today?"
He smiled a little, stepping up to her.
"Are you tired, or is that just what I think I'm hearing?" he asked softly and she sighed, shaking her head and pulling away from him.
"This isn't good either," she said and he felt his heart sink heavily in his chest at that.
"W-what do you mean?" he asked and she sighed.
"This, us, patrolling. Last night CAN'T happen again, Spike. What if she had died?"
He felt relief wash over him, he had thought she'd meant.everything.
"I know," he now said, nodding. "I just wanted to give you a little peck on the cheek," he added, eyes glittering and she couldn't help but smile a little.
"Liar," she stated and he laughed.
"Buffy!" Xander's voice was suddenly heard and Buffy swirled around, surprised.
"Xander, is anything wrong?" she asked worriedly and he shook his head.
"No, nothing's WRONG, it's just. Well, you need to come home."
"Why?"
"I promised I wouldn't say," he answered, face serious and she frowned.
"Xander, if something's wrong and you're not telling me-.
"Nothing's wrong, Buff. It's just important."
She observed him for a moment in silence and then sighed.
"Fine, let's go."
They started walking. She felt the annoyance with the Trio getting away yet again bubble up inside her and she grumbled to herself.
"Buffy, let it go," Spike said and she shook her head a little.
"I wish I could. I just can't believe that they-."
"You'll catch them, love," he interrupted and she huffed at that, shaking her head again and looking up at him.
"How the hell do you know?" she asked harshly and he raised his eyebrows.
"Don't take it out on me," he said, growing a little agitated himself at that.
"Don't be so damn sensitive," she growled, looking away and he stared at her for a moment.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he grumbled and she let hear a low laugh.
"What the hell do you THINK it means? I'm just saying don't be so God damn sensitive," she repeated. "The vampire in you should at least be able to provide THAT."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"WHAT the bloody hell did you just say to me?" he exclaimed and a small ironic smile graced her lips as they turned onto the street leading to her backyard.
"Eh, guys," Xander tried, keeping up with their pace and listening to the fight he knew was building as they turned into the backyard.
"I SAID," Buffy now said, looking at her lover and ignoring her friend, "that if you weren't so light headed all the time maybe we could actually do some work together."
Xander swallowed at the expression in Spike's eyes, then he walked past the two to open the door to the kitchen.
Spike swallowed hard as well, glaring at her as they walked inside.
"You know, you should have told me this a lot sooner, then I could have left-."
"Hah, always knew you would," she stated calmly and Xander left the kitchen as fast as he could, going up stairs to get Willow.
".-you ALONE," Spike grumbled, finishing his sentence, and then he shook his head. "Seems you don't know anything about me, pet," he then growled and she huffed.
"I should have known that THIS would happen," she retorted, both of them standing opposite each other at the breakfast table and their eyes hard in the others.
"You are bloody unbelievable!" he suddenly exclaimed, the fear and the rage both clawing painfully in his chest.
"And so are you!" she yelled back. "I can't believe we even decided to do this, to try it out, look at what it's led us to, we almost killed a person!"
"What the hell is the matter with you?" he barked back.
"I want you to leave. You should have left that night when you came back," she growled and he stared at her for a moment.
"You are so God damn scared that I'll actually just bloody up and leave that you're trying to push me away, well, DAMMIT to hell, Slayer!" he screamed at her and her eyes grew round.
Her heart was beating hard in her chest and her eyes were locked in his for the longest time before they both moved around to the side at the same time.
She slid her arms around his neck and parted her lips to meet his tongue and kissed him passionately as he pulled her closer, his hands running over her back before he lifted her up and placed her on the table.
"I love you," he mumbled into her mouth and she almost started crying. "And I'm not leaving you."
She kissed him fiercely and clung to him, wrapping her legs around his waist and trying to get as close to him as possible.
"Oh, my."
The sound of the so familiar voice coming from behind her back made both Slayer and Vamp pull away from each other in surprise.
Buffy stared at the slightly embarrassed man in the doorway and blinked, disbelieving before she mumbled in a hoarse voice:
"Giles?"