SotW --- 6
SUNNYDALE: T- 45 SECONDS AND COUNTING %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Piper! Where is he going? Don't we need him here? Like to stop us all from dying?"
"He's getting Pheobe. Power of Three, remember? Not Power of Two and a couple acquaintances we picked up along the way." Piper growled as the floor began to shift subtly under her feet.
"We don't have time to wait for them to think up something and *then* get back here! In thirty seconds this house is going down and we become road-kill!"
"Look on the bright side, Paige. You'll finally get that perfect flat stomach you're always whining that you don't have. And it'll match the rest of you!"
In another corner, Willow and Xander continued their perpetual argument over Spike's intrinsic worth as something other than a sacrifice or dust in the vacuum cleaner bag.
"I don't care! You can't do it, Xander. I won't let you! It'd be the same as murder!"
"He's already dead, Wills! You can't murder a dead guy! The rest of us on the other hand, have lives we'd rather not lose...."
That doesn't mean it's right to just shove him out the door to face.... whatever's out there. Maybe he wasn't here from the start.... but he's an honorary Scoobie, now, with all the attendant privileges and protections."
"You can say that after all the things he's done? The only privilege Spike's entitled to is going out there and falling on the sword he and Angelus made, which is now dangling point down over our heads! He needs to face his past, Wills and I'm just the one to help him." Xander replied angrily, turning and moving toward the spot near the door where he'd last seen the vampire standing. Willow, unwilling to allow him to do something in anger he'd never forgive himself for later, grabbed his arm and held him back.
"Xander, no! You stop or I will make you!"
"You couldn't do it. I know you too well.... and you know this is the only way."
Just then, Tara came running up with news that pulled the rug out from under Xander's argument and his hatred of Spike.
"Somebody stop him! You have to make him come back..."
"Make who come back?" Willow asked. "What's wrong, baby?"
"Spike! He just ran outside.... he said he couldn't let any of us get hurt. We have to save him...."
Willow simply gazed at Xander. He immediately knew two things: exactly what she expected him to do and that he could not refuse her, no matter how much he might want to.
"Wills, no. I won't...."
"Resolve face. You know what resolve face means, Xander Harris. You go out there and rescue Spike before the demon can hurt him!"
"And what if the demon wants to hurt me instead?!"
"Either you go... or I will."
Faced with Willow risking her own life in defense of Spike, which Xander had no doubts she would do without hesitation, he turned, walked to the door and opened it, grumbling all the while, his rhetoric cut off when he slammed the door behind him again.
"Pains in the ass, both of 'em.... the things I let her talk me into.... 'Get out there and rescue Spike'.... you watch, I'll save his worthless butt an' all I'll get is grief...."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"That was fast, Cole. Everything's not okay."
"No. They're dealing with a high level demon down there and time's running out fast. Definitely a job for the Power of Three."
"I'm ready. Let's go."
"No word yet from Leo or the Slayer?"
"Nothing, but it hasn't been that long. It's not time to be worried yet. Piper and Paige are the priority now."
"Don't forget the other two witches, the vampire, the vengeance demon and the civilian. Don't ask me what he's doing there. I couldn't even make a guess."
" 'Just a two day road trip' she says... 'I'll call if there's a problem' she says... Why do I listen to her?" Pheobe mused as they shimmered out.
%%%%%%%%%%%
"So? Where are these 'elders' of yours, huh? Why aren't they here? Don't bother to answer that. I know why. The cowards are afraid to face me. They know I can puree their kidnapping asses...."
"Please! You won't win any points with the Elders talking about them like that!"
"I have to talk *about* them since I can't talk *to* them. If they'd show up...."
"I warned you this might not work. Once they make a decision, it's made and almost nothing will get them to change their minds."
Buffy jumped eagerly on this tidbit of information.
"So they have reversed their judgments before?"
"Only once that I know of. They were determined to keep me and Pheobe's sister Piper apart. We tried to get married, the Elders pulled me back here, forced me to stay away from her.... it's a long story. The up- shot is that they were just waiting for proof that we could handle all the problems and stresses of being together and being what we are. Once we gave them that proof, they let us have the wedding."
"Speaking of which, what are you anyway?"
"I'm what's called a WhiteLighter. I'm sort of a... guardian angel for Piper, Pheobe and Paige. I help others too, but I'm mainly their protector."
"Yeah? Where have you been all my life? At least through high school. I really could have used an angel back then."
"You have one. You've always had one."
"What? And also huh? I don't have a guardian angel. If I did I wouldn't have died twice.... and my mom would still be alive."
"That's not how we work. We're not supposed to stop anything bad from ever happening to you. Our job.... put it this way, alright? You know the motto of Alcoholics Anonymous? The Serenity Prayer?"
"Lord give me the courage to change the things I can, the strength to accept the things I can't and the wisdom to know the difference. Right?"
"Exactly. A WhiteLighter wrote that. It's the first thing a new initiate is taught. Some things we can make better, make right.... some things, tragic or not, are meant to be and we can't change them. It's not an easy lesson, but if you can't learn and understand that, you don't become one of us. Your angel is one of the best there is."
"And you know this how?"
"The Elders understand how filled with death and sadness a Slayer's life can be. They wouldn't assign you anything less."
"Okay. Say I go along with this. I have a guardian angel. Who is it?"
"You must know I can't tell you that. If you figure it out for yourself, that's okay, but even if I knew I wouldn't reveal the angel's identity. Major no-no."
"What, are they gonna make you write 'I will not be a blabbermouth angel' five hundred times on the blackboard?"
"Something like that."
Suddenly, Leo tensed and his head came up. "They've agreed to see you and hear your petition for your sister's return."
"About time. Let's move."
"Don't be so eager. You're not in control here. They're not happy with what's gone on in this case and they want some answers. Conveniently...."
"... I demanded to be dropped into the hot seat. I stepped right in it, didn't I?"
"Not really. Just listen carefully and tell them everything you know about Dawn. Tell the truth and you'll be fine."
"Then they'll give her back to me?"
"I doubt it. Anything's possible, especially here, but I really doubt it."
"Possible I like. Doubt? Not in my vocabulary. Let's go. I've got questions to answer."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Xander stepped out the front door of Buffy's house into a solid lightless mass. Even worse than a night without moon or stars, this darkness enveloped him as if he were drowning in gelatin made of India ink, or trying to find his way through a maze of cumbersome, clinging black velvet drapes.
"Spike! Where are you?! Say something so I can find you!"
"Harris, you stupid git! Go back in the house! I'm the one it wants, let it take me. Ain't nobody wants me around anyhow."
"Yeah? Tell that to Willow and Tara! They don't share our opinion.... Keep talking! I'll be there in a minute. I think I'm close...."
"Ya idiot! I don't wanna be rescued, get it? If I stop now the rest a'your little buddies in there'll be worm food! Go the hell back!"
"If I go back in without you, you don't want to know what Willow will do to me...." Xander replied as his flailing hands finally contacted Spike's leather jacket. "Okay! Time to go, DC. It's getting harder to breathe.... I need to get back inside.... before my lungs.... shut down.... in self- defense.... God... what... what's happ... happening....."
"Ahhhh.... ya fool.... damn, stupid humans.... you been breathin' this stuff... it's no good now.... gotta get you back...."
Suddenly, it was Spike who was eager to return to the house. His expression almost darker than the substance that surrounded them, the vampire lifted a now limp, barely alive Xander into his arms and ran, screaming for the people inside to shout and help direct him, praying they could hear his voice.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
TBC.....
SUNNYDALE: T- 45 SECONDS AND COUNTING %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Piper! Where is he going? Don't we need him here? Like to stop us all from dying?"
"He's getting Pheobe. Power of Three, remember? Not Power of Two and a couple acquaintances we picked up along the way." Piper growled as the floor began to shift subtly under her feet.
"We don't have time to wait for them to think up something and *then* get back here! In thirty seconds this house is going down and we become road-kill!"
"Look on the bright side, Paige. You'll finally get that perfect flat stomach you're always whining that you don't have. And it'll match the rest of you!"
In another corner, Willow and Xander continued their perpetual argument over Spike's intrinsic worth as something other than a sacrifice or dust in the vacuum cleaner bag.
"I don't care! You can't do it, Xander. I won't let you! It'd be the same as murder!"
"He's already dead, Wills! You can't murder a dead guy! The rest of us on the other hand, have lives we'd rather not lose...."
That doesn't mean it's right to just shove him out the door to face.... whatever's out there. Maybe he wasn't here from the start.... but he's an honorary Scoobie, now, with all the attendant privileges and protections."
"You can say that after all the things he's done? The only privilege Spike's entitled to is going out there and falling on the sword he and Angelus made, which is now dangling point down over our heads! He needs to face his past, Wills and I'm just the one to help him." Xander replied angrily, turning and moving toward the spot near the door where he'd last seen the vampire standing. Willow, unwilling to allow him to do something in anger he'd never forgive himself for later, grabbed his arm and held him back.
"Xander, no! You stop or I will make you!"
"You couldn't do it. I know you too well.... and you know this is the only way."
Just then, Tara came running up with news that pulled the rug out from under Xander's argument and his hatred of Spike.
"Somebody stop him! You have to make him come back..."
"Make who come back?" Willow asked. "What's wrong, baby?"
"Spike! He just ran outside.... he said he couldn't let any of us get hurt. We have to save him...."
Willow simply gazed at Xander. He immediately knew two things: exactly what she expected him to do and that he could not refuse her, no matter how much he might want to.
"Wills, no. I won't...."
"Resolve face. You know what resolve face means, Xander Harris. You go out there and rescue Spike before the demon can hurt him!"
"And what if the demon wants to hurt me instead?!"
"Either you go... or I will."
Faced with Willow risking her own life in defense of Spike, which Xander had no doubts she would do without hesitation, he turned, walked to the door and opened it, grumbling all the while, his rhetoric cut off when he slammed the door behind him again.
"Pains in the ass, both of 'em.... the things I let her talk me into.... 'Get out there and rescue Spike'.... you watch, I'll save his worthless butt an' all I'll get is grief...."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"That was fast, Cole. Everything's not okay."
"No. They're dealing with a high level demon down there and time's running out fast. Definitely a job for the Power of Three."
"I'm ready. Let's go."
"No word yet from Leo or the Slayer?"
"Nothing, but it hasn't been that long. It's not time to be worried yet. Piper and Paige are the priority now."
"Don't forget the other two witches, the vampire, the vengeance demon and the civilian. Don't ask me what he's doing there. I couldn't even make a guess."
" 'Just a two day road trip' she says... 'I'll call if there's a problem' she says... Why do I listen to her?" Pheobe mused as they shimmered out.
%%%%%%%%%%%
"So? Where are these 'elders' of yours, huh? Why aren't they here? Don't bother to answer that. I know why. The cowards are afraid to face me. They know I can puree their kidnapping asses...."
"Please! You won't win any points with the Elders talking about them like that!"
"I have to talk *about* them since I can't talk *to* them. If they'd show up...."
"I warned you this might not work. Once they make a decision, it's made and almost nothing will get them to change their minds."
Buffy jumped eagerly on this tidbit of information.
"So they have reversed their judgments before?"
"Only once that I know of. They were determined to keep me and Pheobe's sister Piper apart. We tried to get married, the Elders pulled me back here, forced me to stay away from her.... it's a long story. The up- shot is that they were just waiting for proof that we could handle all the problems and stresses of being together and being what we are. Once we gave them that proof, they let us have the wedding."
"Speaking of which, what are you anyway?"
"I'm what's called a WhiteLighter. I'm sort of a... guardian angel for Piper, Pheobe and Paige. I help others too, but I'm mainly their protector."
"Yeah? Where have you been all my life? At least through high school. I really could have used an angel back then."
"You have one. You've always had one."
"What? And also huh? I don't have a guardian angel. If I did I wouldn't have died twice.... and my mom would still be alive."
"That's not how we work. We're not supposed to stop anything bad from ever happening to you. Our job.... put it this way, alright? You know the motto of Alcoholics Anonymous? The Serenity Prayer?"
"Lord give me the courage to change the things I can, the strength to accept the things I can't and the wisdom to know the difference. Right?"
"Exactly. A WhiteLighter wrote that. It's the first thing a new initiate is taught. Some things we can make better, make right.... some things, tragic or not, are meant to be and we can't change them. It's not an easy lesson, but if you can't learn and understand that, you don't become one of us. Your angel is one of the best there is."
"And you know this how?"
"The Elders understand how filled with death and sadness a Slayer's life can be. They wouldn't assign you anything less."
"Okay. Say I go along with this. I have a guardian angel. Who is it?"
"You must know I can't tell you that. If you figure it out for yourself, that's okay, but even if I knew I wouldn't reveal the angel's identity. Major no-no."
"What, are they gonna make you write 'I will not be a blabbermouth angel' five hundred times on the blackboard?"
"Something like that."
Suddenly, Leo tensed and his head came up. "They've agreed to see you and hear your petition for your sister's return."
"About time. Let's move."
"Don't be so eager. You're not in control here. They're not happy with what's gone on in this case and they want some answers. Conveniently...."
"... I demanded to be dropped into the hot seat. I stepped right in it, didn't I?"
"Not really. Just listen carefully and tell them everything you know about Dawn. Tell the truth and you'll be fine."
"Then they'll give her back to me?"
"I doubt it. Anything's possible, especially here, but I really doubt it."
"Possible I like. Doubt? Not in my vocabulary. Let's go. I've got questions to answer."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Xander stepped out the front door of Buffy's house into a solid lightless mass. Even worse than a night without moon or stars, this darkness enveloped him as if he were drowning in gelatin made of India ink, or trying to find his way through a maze of cumbersome, clinging black velvet drapes.
"Spike! Where are you?! Say something so I can find you!"
"Harris, you stupid git! Go back in the house! I'm the one it wants, let it take me. Ain't nobody wants me around anyhow."
"Yeah? Tell that to Willow and Tara! They don't share our opinion.... Keep talking! I'll be there in a minute. I think I'm close...."
"Ya idiot! I don't wanna be rescued, get it? If I stop now the rest a'your little buddies in there'll be worm food! Go the hell back!"
"If I go back in without you, you don't want to know what Willow will do to me...." Xander replied as his flailing hands finally contacted Spike's leather jacket. "Okay! Time to go, DC. It's getting harder to breathe.... I need to get back inside.... before my lungs.... shut down.... in self- defense.... God... what... what's happ... happening....."
"Ahhhh.... ya fool.... damn, stupid humans.... you been breathin' this stuff... it's no good now.... gotta get you back...."
Suddenly, it was Spike who was eager to return to the house. His expression almost darker than the substance that surrounded them, the vampire lifted a now limp, barely alive Xander into his arms and ran, screaming for the people inside to shout and help direct him, praying they could hear his voice.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
TBC.....