A Buffy the Vampire Slayer/CSI crossover. This story is a sequel to "Should Have Gone To Vegas..." and "Manhunters." which involve Angel, Riley Finn, and other characters from BtVS and Angel. It is set between Buffy Seasons 6 and 7, and contains spoilers for Buffy season 6 and my earlier stories.

All characters are the intellectual property of their respective creators, film companies, etc.; this story may not be sold or distributed on a profit-making basis.

I'm British, so's my spelling. Live with it.

WORK IN PROGRESS - Feedback is greatly appreciated, especially on anything that looks like a continuity or factual error.


Slayer, Las Vegas

By Marcus L. Rowland

V

Sara had to spend nearly an hour with an identification technician before they left headquarters. Fortunately she had a good memory for faces and knew how to make the system work efficiently. Meanwhile Buffy described the vampires' clothing to Dawn, who sketched it and made dozens of small changes before Buffy was satisfied.

"Okay," said Sara, "Three good-looking vamps, and from the look of it three designer dresses, or good knock-offs."

"They're current styles," said Buffy, "usually vamps are a few years behind the times."

"If they moved here in a hurry two years ago maybe they had to change their wardrobes," commented Sara.

"Could be, we never really checked out their place properly once we were sure they were gone. Dracula was really loaded, maybe they just went on a shopping spree with his cash once he was out of the way. Although it's kind of hard for a vampire to go clothes shopping inconspicuously, not having a reflection is a little obvious in a dress store."

"Most times I've heard of vampires on a shopping spree," said Dawn, "they just pick what they want and kill anyone who gets in their way."

"Well yeah, but I think the Brides were trying to keep a low profile. A high body count tends to attract attention."

"Those sketches are very good," said Sara, "I'll get copies circulated to dress stores and boutiques, see if we can find out where they came from. Okay, I think we're about finished, I'll lead the way back to my place. When we get there remind me to give you a parking permit to display behind your windscreen, or you'll be clamped."

* * * * * *

As Sara got out of her car she thought she saw something flicker through the security lighting. Something flying...

Buffy and Dawn pulled up in their Jeep, and Sara went over with a parking permit. "Could be nothing, but I think I just saw a bat."

"Do you get them normally?" asked Buffy.

"Can't say I've noticed any here, but there's plenty in the area. Get a rabies case every two or three years."

"They mostly fly on moonlit nights and around dusk, and near lakes and rivers," said Dawn, "it's not the right time and there's no moon."

"How do you know that?" asked Buffy, reaching into the Jeep for a crossbow.

"Because unlike some people here I occasionally remember to do my science assignments," said Dawn, getting out a cross.

"I used to do mine... sometimes. Wasn't the same after that giant mantis thing killed my favourite teacher."

"So what do we do now?" asked Sara, thinking "Giant mantis?"

"Get inside. Dawn, I've got a feeling Sara's right, I can feel something watching us. You take the small case and the crossbow and a couple of bottles of holy water, I'll bring the bags. Sara, take the cross from Dawn and another couple of bottles."

Sara noticed the Jeep visibly rise on its springs as Buffy got the bags. "What on earth do you have in there?"

"Clothes, cosmetics, a few weapons."

"Even for you it's a little heavy," said Dawn. "What are you packing there? Hope it's not another rocket launcher, they're kind of illegal."

"If you must know, I bought the hammer," said Buffy.

"We're fighting vampires, not Bugs Bunny."

"Hammer?" asked Sara, leading the way up the outside steps to her apartment, and wondering how the sisters found time to bicker when their lives might be in danger.

"Troll hammer. It's big and kind of heavy. Fought a goddess with it once. Didn't know what I'd need when we left Sunnydale. It's probably overkill for the brides."

"That thing is overkill for demolishing buildings, Buffy. And I'll bet it's crushed my clothes."

"Yeah, well... Sara, when we get to your apartment don't invite us in. You never know who else might be listening. Just open the door and get inside quickly, leave us room to follow you."

They reached the landing outside the apartment. Buffy looked around, and said "I think we're clear. Remember, no invitations."

Sara unlocked the door, checked the burglar alarm readout inside, and punched in the over-ride code, then switched on the light and stepped in, stifling her natural urge to say "come in."

Dawn followed, then Buffy, who put her bags down, took the crossbow from Dawn, and stepped back outside with a finger to her lips, shutting the door loudly. A couple of seconds later there was a loud thud, a cry of pain that sounded like a man's voice, and a "swoosh" noise.

"Buffy dusted one," said Dawn. Another swoosh. "Must be at least one other, she'd want one to question."

Through the door they heard Buffy say "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is you tell me what I want to know. The hard way is I chain you to this pillar and we wait for the sun to rise."

"I can't let her do that," said Catherine, "she hasn't read him his rights."

"He's a walking corpse," said Dawn. "The only right he has now is that we stop the bitches who made him that way."

"But... torture?"

"Oh, there's worse Buffy can do," Dawn said loudly, "put a cross in his mouth and make him swallow it, or pour holy water in his eyes, or pull off his arms and legs, or..."

Outside they heard a man's voice, talking fast, then a loud thud and a cry of pain. Buffy shouted "Give me some handcuffs."

Sara pulled a pair from her belt, noticing Dawn rummaging in one of the bags, and cautiously opened the door. Buffy was kneeling on the back of a ragged figure, dressed in tattered jeans and T-shirt. "Newby. Cannon fodder for the Brides. Well done on the threats, Dawn."

"Who was making threats?" asked Dawn, producing a much larger pair of steel manacles, "like you wouldn't do it if you had to..."

"Where do you want him?" asked Buffy. "Remember, I can't bring him inside unless you invite him, and if you invite him he can come back any time he wants to."

"Cuff him to the hand-rail out here," said Sara, "I'll call Brass, he's got a team ready to handle this."

Buffy looked doubtful but did as she asked, using the larger cuffs and stepping back quickly as he came to.

"Okay," said Sara, "You have the right to remain silent..."

A few minutes later a trio of officers in full riot gear arrived. "Good evening. Got the keys for the cuffs, Sara?"

"Good evening, Jeff. Buffy?"

"Here. Don't say I didn't warn you."

One of the officers unlocked the cuffs, covered by the others, while the vampire stood there, apparently subdued. As the key clicked his face morphed and he tried to bite him. One of the waiting officers slammed a baton into the vampire's teeth, breaking fangs, the other shoved an electrified prod into his stomach. In moments they had the vampire cuffed again, and a heavy leather gag in his bleeding mouth. "Resisting arrest, that's good enough to hold him," said 'Jeff'. "We'll take care of the paperwork in the morning." He joined the others in dragging the vampire away.

"We may only be police," said Sara, "but we've got the resources of one of the richest cities in America backing us. Perps often have a hard time understanding that."

"Impressive," said Buffy, "just hope he doesn't hypnotise someone and escape."

"Do you think that's likely?" asked Sara.

"Not really, it's only the older vampires, and ones that were psychic before they were turned, that seem to have the knack."

"Okay then... coffee?"

They went inside.

* * * * * *

"...so then the guy is practically on his knees," said Buffy, cutting another slice of pizza, "begging me not to tell anyone that he's a virgin, and Xander is taking it out on the eggs, hoping we won't notice that she kidnapped him for the same reason."

"Happy days?" asked Sara, wondering how Buffy kept her figure on that calorie intake.

"Occasional happy moments, maybe. One kid was vamped the day I started, three others were killed a couple of days later. My final year someone realised we had the lowest death rate since the school started keeping records. Some of the class thought that was a reason to celebrate at the prom, then sixteen people died on graduation day. What do you think?"

"That's... tough."

"Nothing like a corpse falling out of your locker to brighten your day."

"That might brighten your day," said Dawn, "but I'm beat. When you call Giles say 'hi' for me, and give Willow a kiss. I'm heading for bed."

"How about you?" asked Sara once Dawn was gone.

"Slayers don't seem to need much sleep. I'm going to hit a few bars, a couple of places that fang-face mentioned and anywhere else that looks interesting, and make my presence felt. The vamps know I'm here, I want them and everyone else to know that life will be very tough if I don't get what I want."

"I'd better come with you."

"No. You'd slow me down, and like I said the vamps know I'm here. As in, here in this apartment. If you were right there was a bat out there, and I doubt it was one of the newbies I staked. I'd really appreciate it if you could stay up until I get back and make sure that Dawn doesn't come to any harm. She knows better than to fall for most vampire tricks, and I hope I've told you enough that you'll be all right until I get back, but I don't want her left on her own."

"Why would they want to hurt Dawn?" asked Sara quietly.

Buffy hesitated, then said "Most magical rituals will work just as well with Dawn's blood as with mine."

"But she isn't a Slayer."

"I know. There are reasons... but I can't discuss them."

"Okay. If you could leave me a crossbow and some ammunition, and show me how to use it, I'll make myself another coffee and keep watch."

"Keep your gun handy too, they might have human servants that don't need an invitation to get inside."

Buffy strapped a sword to her back, covering it with a loose leather jacket, put stakes into the pockets, and went to the door. "Lock and chain it as soon as I'm gone. When I get back make sure it really is me before you open the door. And whatever you do, don't invite anyone in, even me."

A few minutes after she left Dawn came out of her room, still dressed.

"I thought you'd gone to bed," said Sara.

"I'm like Buffy, don't need much sleep. You mind if I keep you company until she gets back?"

"Sure. I was just going to read, but if you'd prefer TV or some music..?"

"No. I've got things to read, need to find out more about Dracula." She paused, and Sara knew something important was coming. "What Buffy said about my blood is true."

"You have good hearing."

"Yeah. I'm like Buffy in a lot of ways. What she didn't say..." she hesitated again, then said "It works both ways. When she died last year, it was in my place. Someone started a spell with my blood, it would have destroyed the world. She stomped the bad guys, but the only way to stop the spell was to kill me... except Buffy realised it would stop if she killed herself instead."

"And you've been blaming yourself ever since?"

"Wouldn't you?"

"Were you responsible for the spell?"

There was a long pause, then "No."

"Did you do everything you could to avoid it?"

Another pause. "Yes."

"Did you ask her to do it?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why blame yourself for it?"

"I don't know. The really bad part..."

"Yes?"

"She told you how they brought her back from Heaven. Afterwards she was... different. Like part of her wanted to be dead again. She got over it eventually, but I spent most of the last year hating her because she wanted to leave me."

"Did she?"

"I don't think so. But I wasn't thinking too straight then. And then a few weeks ago she was shot, nearly killed again, and I actually blamed her for it."

"All girls hate their brothers and sisters some of the time. From the sound of things, if I led the life you two lead I'd be catatonic. I think you're tough, and I think you're handling a really rough deal as well as you can. You can have my sympathy, for what it's worth. But if you want advice go to someone else, I'm fresh out."

Dawn thought a while, then smiled. "I guess. Any of that pizza left?"

* * * * * *

In the lab Greg soldered the final resistor onto his latest project, waited a few seconds for it to cool, and clipped a nine volt battery into place. There was a subdued whistle; he raised the board towards the nearest fluorescent light, and it changed to a shrill hum. When he shook a bunch of keys a clicking noise came from the speaker, and there was a loud rasp when he rubbed his fingers together.

"Now for some real tests," he muttered, and fired up some of the equipment he usually used to analyse suspect tapes.

* * * * * *

Catherine sat by the bed, with a book of fairy tales on her lap, and wondered if she was being a coward. Her daughter stirred slightly in her sleep, and Catherine gently pulled the covers up a little. If this was cowardice, she decided, she could live with it.

She slowly dialed down the brightness of the light and went to make herself supper and write up some reports.

* * * * * *

After visiting a couple of shops Nick went to the pistol range and got an unusual gun from his locker; a huge smooth-bore black-powder revolver normally used for specialist contests. He spent the next two hours experimenting with loads until he had what he wanted. He locked the gun and ammunition into a steel transport case and took it home. In the morning he'd do the paperwork to carry it instead of his normal gun.

* * * * * *

Grissom didn't know it, but his mind was working along similar lines to Greg. He stopped off at a discount computer store on his way home and picked up a job lot of cheap web cameras, and spent the rest of the evening reading and checking on-line sources. As far as he could tell standard laboratory equipment would do nearly everything he wanted. Once he was satisfied he went to bed.

* * * * * *

Warrick sat in his apartment, staring into space and waiting for instructions. Occasionally he opened a jar of flies and ate one.

* * * * * *

Buffy left Sara's apartment on foot and headed across town towards the first bar on her list. Her route would take her through two cemetaries and a park. She didn't know the city, but she was reasonably sure she'd be able to take care of herself. She was sure that she was being watched. Although she didn't know it, she was being tracked by four cameras and half a dozen pairs of eyes, most of them human.

TO BE CONTINUED