Twist of Fate: Chapter 9
by Lisette
Legalese: See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and ratings.
One Month Later - The Centre
"Miss Parker, I think I have a lead on Jarod," Broots cried as he hurried into the room, coming to a quick and bumbling halt at the glare that was sent in his direction. "I, uh, was able to get a match on the writing..." he trailed off as Miss Parker's sharp eyes flickered from him to someone sitting in the chair by her desk, and back in his direction once again. Confused, Broots slowly turned and felt his face pale as he took in Lyle's grinning countenance.
"You were saying?" he queried, smiling broadly as his sister's shoulders slumped at his words.
"The... the notes were written with oyster juice," Broots continued, wishing he could take back his earlier entrance. While Mr. Lyle had been anything but obtrusive the last few weeks, any time spent with him added to Broots' constant nervousness. And to think that he thought Miss Parker was bad - she was nothing compared to the evil that was her brother. He smiled like he was America's golden boy while Broots just knew that on the inside he was plotting something sinister. Probably something to do with eviscerating him if he messed up.
"Oyster juice! How creative!" Lyle crowed, enjoying his twin's every frustrated sigh and glare in the computer technician's direction. Sitting forward, he began to gently tap a slim finger against his smooth chin, a thoughtful expression flitting across his face. "And what is the elusive lab rat up to this time? Or more specifically, do we know where?" he asked, watching idly as Sydney joined their little group.
"It seems that Jarod is leading us to a wax museum in San Francisco," the older man supplied, silently appraising the situation as Broots carefully laid a sheaf of papers before Miss Parker.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Lyle prompted, climbing from the chair and heading towards the door. "I always enjoy San Francisco in the-" he broke off as his cell phone began to vibrate in his pocket. Frowning, he paused to lift the small device to his ear. Within seconds the frown was replaced by a grin of delight as he muttered a few words and then snapped the phone shut, turning to his twin with a large smile. "On second thought, send Jarod my regards," he said as he turned towards the door.
"But-" Miss Parker stuttered in disbelief, watching her brother's retreating back with a mixture of confusion and relief. With narrowed eyes, she quickly turned towards the others.
"I wonder what that was about," Broots murmured, his gaze turning thoughtful as he turned to the others.
"Evidently something important enough to draw him away from the hunt for Jarod," Sydney added, his gaze mirroring Broots' before he shrugged away the curious fact. "Which means that we really should be off before he changes his mind. Did you secure the jet?" he asked, his question directed at the computer technician.
"Yeah, it should be waiting for us," Broots agreed as he turned towards the door, following the older man and only pausing when he realized that they were one person short. "Miss Parker, are you coming?"
Startled, Miss Parker finally drew her eyes away from where her brother had disappeared. She didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit. Sometimes it seemed that Lyle's one enjoyment in life was making her own life more difficult. He relished in her every frustration, and when it came to Jarod, his enjoyment of the game seemed to turn deadly. Many times, she wondered if Lyle's hate was to the point where he would prefer the lab rat dead as much as captured. Put that together with Lyle passing up an opportunity to frustrate herself and possibly encounter the elusive Pretender... it had to be something very important indeed to draw him away. And that was what worried her most. Anything that held her twin's attention that closely was bound to be bad for the rest of them.
"Miss Parker?" Sydney queried once again. "The jet is waiting."
"Let's go," she stated, her voice flat as she moved from around her desk and followed the other two out the door. They were right. Jarod was always their main objective and the mysteries that were Lyle could wait. "Let's find our lab rat."
Morning had crept quietly upon the small town of Sunnydale, stealing the moon's last silver rays and casting its inhabitants into the slow early morning light. Under the morning's cloak of shadows, a sleek black car drew to a halt outside the small hotel, a slim man slipping from its doors as a soft summer wind tousled his fine brown hair.
"Mr. Lyle," a lumbering man greeted as he walked towards one set of rooms towards the back of the structure.
Barely pausing to nod to the miscellaneous sweeper, Lyle hurried past and was quickly swallowed into a haze of smoke and bright lights, loud voices cascading over him. But as the door clicked shut behind him, the room fell silent as all eyes turned towards him.
"Well?" he asked, his eyes searching those of the men gathered, sliding past one and another until they lit upon a tall, slim black man man standing towards the back of the large room, his hair cropped close to his dark head.
"She's back," he answered simply, cocking his gun and sliding it into the holster at his side.
"And the preparations?"
"Complete. Mr. Raines has been notified and we'll be ready to move tonight."
For a moment, Lyle didn't respond as he slowly mulled over the news, his eyes sliding away from Willie and taking in the assortment of sweepers that filled the room. Four men. Four of the best sweepers that the Centre had to offer, ready to take his plan into action. "And everyone has seen the tapes?"
"Every one of them. We're ready."
"Good," Lyle murmured, his trademark cold smile lifting his lips once again. "Good."
As the deep vestiges of sleep slowly left her body, Buffy found herself drifting somewhere between sleep and the waking world, trying to process what was waking her. As the small sound filtered through her senses once again, Buffy had her answer as she jolted awake, tossing her comforter aside as she crept on light feet to her bureau, ignoring her pimpled flesh as the air conditioned air prickled at her tanned skin. It took less than a second for the confusion of sleep to fade as Buffy's eyes slid around her brightly lit room, the morning sun banishing all shadows and casting the room into light. The threat wasn't here.
The sound came again, so quiet that it was impossible to discern its source as Buffy quietly slid open her top drawer and instinctively bypassed the stake, what with the bright sunshine pouring in her room, and went right for what could do the most damage to someone who wasn't her typical vampire: a wickedly long knife. As the sound came again, Buffy moved to her door on silent feet, the plush carpet muffling her movements as she pulled open her door. Carefully she arched her slender neck around the edge, her eyes warily taking in the empty hallway. She crept into the area, the light once more banishing the shadows she usually dwelt in. She moved towards the stairs as the sound came again, this time definitely from behind her and further down the hall. Freezing, Buffy turned and made her way back down the hall, finally pausing outside her mother's closed bedroom door. Steeling herself, she tightened her grip on the blade's hilt, took a deep breath, and then she launched into action.
Shoving the door open, Buffy quickly dove and rolled over the plush carpeting, the knife tucked at her side as her eyes took in a shift of movement on the other side of her mother's bed, by the closet. Finishing her roll, Buffy drew back and was about to launch her knife at the intruder when her eyes registered the familiar vision. "Mom?" she choked, catching her hand at the very last instant, her eyes locking on her mother's wide, startled eyes.
"Buffy, good heavens!" her mother cried, holding her hand to her chest as her wide eyes took in the large knife that had almost been sent in her direction.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy quickly retorted, hurrying to her feet as she quickly dropped the knife on her mother's bedside stand. "And more important, why didn't you call and let me know you were coming? I could have killed you!" she protested, her eyes sweeping over the room and noting the large suitcase that was open on her mother's bed.
"Well I thought that it could be a surprise," Joyce muttered, finally getting her heartbeat back to a normal rate as she returned to her unpacking.
"Mom, we've been over this," Buffy sighed as she shuffled forward and draped herself over the large bed. "I'm the Slayer. You just don't surprise the Slayer or bad things happen."
"Hmm, I guess I was focusing more on the fact that you're my daughter," Joyce responded, her smile tight-lipped as she paused in her task and took in her daughter's appearance, from her blue cotton boxer shorts to her small white tank with a large pink heart etched on the front, hair mussed from sleep. "And at the moment, you hardly look the part of danger," she added, a small smile lifting her lips.
Smiling, Buffy admitted defeat as she took in her mother's own appearance. It had been a little over a month since she had seen her last and it didn't look as much had changed - the same curly hair and lean figure. On the other hand, the dark rings under her mother's eyes were a new touch. "How's Gram?" Buffy asked, switching tracks as her mother sighed softly.
"Not well," Joyce admitted, abandoning her efforts as she moved towards the bed. Buffy quickly scooted aside to allow room for her mother as she settled onto the soft mattress, her hand reaching forward to absently toy with her daughter's golden locks. "The doctor's don't think it will be much longer," she murmured, her voice catching as she thought of her mother - the only family she had left besides her daughter. Both she and Hank were only children, and with his parents having passed away when Buffy was just a little girl, and her own father having died in the war... her mother and daughter were all that she had left.
"I'm sorry," Buffy murmured, sitting up quickly and wrapping her small arms around her mother's shoulders.
Sighing, Joyce returned the hug, breathing in her daughter's sweet scent and holding her close. All too soon the moment ended as Buffy pulled away, her eyes filled with concern. To her unasked question, Joyce slowly nodded her head. "I won't be home for long," she murmured, watching as her daughter's expression fell. "I just need to check up on some things at the gallery and then I need to go back. Probably no more than a few days."
"Hey, no big," Buffy quickly countered, forcing a smile for her mother. "I'm a big girl and can take care of myself," she proclaimed. "See, house still in one glorious piece," she continued, waving her hand at the room around them. "Besides, college will be starting soon and then you'll really be rid of me!"
At this, Joyce had to force her own smile. "How could I forget?" she murmured, her eyes turning away. "My baby is growing up and about to leave the nest."
"Not really," Buffy countered, nudging her mother's side. "After all, the Slayer can't really leave the Hellmouth. I'll be right across town and will be back for good food and free laundry quite often!" she joked, earning another pained smile.
Sighing, Joyce slowly shook her head as she once more attempted to unpack her large bag. "Well, what have I missed?"
"Missed?" Buffy mused, going over the last month or so in her mind. "Hmm... whole lot of nothing," she summed up, rolling lazily over on the soft comforter. "Xander left for his grand road trip of the US a few weeks ago, Giles has re-alphabetized his entire home library, and Willow and I have increased our wardrobes by many visits to the mall," she recounted, watching as her mother sorted through her clothing. "Oh, and Oz is finally back in town. He and the Dingoes are playing tonight at the Bronze."
At this, Joyce finally paused in her unpacking, just long enough to let a small frown slip through. "So you'll be going to the Bronze tonight?" she asked, hoping to mask her disappointment.
"Only for a brief appearance," Buffy assured, not missing her mother's crestfallen expression. "After I'll make a quick stop at Giles to give him the heads up and be home in time for many sappy movies and bowls of ice cream," she continued, her grin broadening as she reached out to tug on the hem of her mother's shirt. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too," Joyce murmured, turning to envelop her daughter in a fierce hug. "I've missed you, too."
"So your mom is back," Oz summed up later that night, his arm tightening around Willow's small shoulders as he nodded his head towards Buffy from across their usual table.
"Back and ready to bond," Buffy confirmed, her eyes skipping over the people in the crowded club before turning back to Oz's familiar countenance. "Which is why I'm skipping out on your performance tonight. Sorry," she added, shrugging her shoulders impishly as she flashed a wry smile.
"No big," he responded in his usual monosyllabic manner. "After all, mom's are important. I can dig."
"And besides, I'll still be here to be all cheery and yay Oz!" Willow quipped, grinning at her boyfriend as she snuggled against his side.
"See," Buffy added, nodding to the couple, "not even needed."
"No. You'll always be needed," Oz countered, smiling one of his rare smiles as his eyes skipped back to where his band was beginning to gather - time for their set to begin. "Later," he added as he slipped away, pausing to give Willow a quick kiss before disappearing into the throngs of dancing teens.
Sighing, Willow watched him go before turning back to her friend. "Well tell your mom I said hi and that I'll probably see her tomorrow," the redhead added, trying to focus back on her friend and failing miserably.
Laughing, Buffy could only shake her head at her friend's love struck expression, even as a pang of sadness tore through her heart. She knew that her own face hadn't wore such a look since Angel had left. The worst part was that she didn't know if it would ever hold such a look again. Sighing, Buffy shrugged the past away and smiled at her friend once more. "Have fun tonight," she called out, her voice quickly lost amongst the beat of the Dingoe's first song and obviously lost to her friend, who was already standing and clapping loudly for the band. Smiling, Buffy turned and took her leave. She had one more stop to make.
"Giles!" Buffy called as she opened the wooden door, poking her head around the corner and eyeing the small and empty living room. "Hello? Anybody home?" she called again, slowly stepping into the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
"Don't you ever knock?" came Giles' reply as he turned away from his stove and eyed his Slayer over the rim of his glasses.
"Nah, keeps you on your toes," Buffy quipped as she crossed the room and settled on one of the hard stools that lined the bar that separated his kitchen from the living room. "Whatcha making?" she asked, her nose wrinkling at the horrible stench that wafted from her watcher's pan. "Please don't say dinner!"
Fighting a small smile, Giles turned away from his concoction and allowed one of his patented frowns to slip through. "It's called-"
"Whatever," Buffy interrupted, smiling innocently as she reached down to fiddle with the hem of her red halter. "So, got a proposition for you," she continued, watching as Giles' features instantly turned suspicious.
"I'm listening," Giles prompted, turning fully away from the stove and moving to stand before his slayer. As he took in her red, sparkly halter top and her tight-fitting black pants, booty pants, as he believed Willow referred to them, and high-heeled boots, he thought that he had an idea of what was coming. After all, his Slayer was hardly dressed in her typical patrol clothing.
"So, my mom is back in town for a few days," she started, absently twirling a lock of her blonde hair round one finger, "and seeing as how it's been all quiet Hellmouth lately..."
"You'd like to go clubbing?" Giles prompted, his gaze turning purposely towards her wardrobe.
"Huh?" Buffy murmured, taken aback as she followed her watcher's gaze down to her Bronze-worthy clothes. "Oh, this? Uh uh," Buffy countered, shaking her head curtly as she frowned at her watcher. "Already been there, done that - I just wanted to know if I could skip out on patrol so I could hang with my mom. I promise to do double time tomorrow-"
"Of course," Giles interrupted with a small smile, watching as his slayer graced him with a bright grin. Even though Buffy rarely talked about her feelings, Giles knew how much she had missed her mother the past month while she was away. With her father being less of a father day by day, he found Buffy turning to him more and more as a parental figure - especially with her mother temporarily out of the picture as well. And while he enjoyed the attention and the feelings that the small girl provoked in him, he knew that all children needed their mother and a mother's love. "Although I do expect you to patrol 'double time' tomorrow," he continued, trying to be stern as Buffy impulsively reached across the counter and squeezed him in her small embrace.
"Thank you, Giles," she murmured, her breath soft against his ear as she quickly pulled away, skipping from the stool and hurrying towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow!" she called over her shoulder, pausing to wave once before disappearing through his door as quickly as she had appeared.
Sighing, Giles watched the door through shuttered eyes. "That girl," he murmured, with more affection and love then he could ever dare to express. Sighing, he turned away and moved once more back to the stove. "My girl."
As Buffy hurried up the walk, she eyed the strange car that sat in her driveway with disappointed eyes. She didn't recognize the dark car, and after all the work that she had gone through, all of the loved ones that she had to disappoint in order to get this night ready, she didn't want to have to share her mother with strangers. After all, tonight was supposed to have been about the two of them, bonding like they had always done when she was little or when the world got to be too much.
Sighing, she pushed aside her disappointment and moved towards the door, forcing a bright smile as she pushed it open and stepped into the brightly lit hall. "Mom?" she called, the door clicking shut behind her as she turned and moved into the entrance to the living room, freezing as she took in the strange man facing towards the mantle opposite her. "Where's my-" she began, her words dying on her lips as the man slowly turned, his back resting casually against the mantle behind him. "Who are-" she began, her words dying away as she took in his slim figure and dark hair. She knew this man from somewhere... saw him... "Wonder Boy!" she cried out, finally remembering when she had seen him last - the night that she had met Jarod.