Chapter Six
Willow rushed to the door as the doorbell chimed for the second time. "On my way!" She hollered from the hall. She reached the door and pulled it open, immediately holding a hand up to block the rays of bright sun. She stood there in silence.
"Willow, who is it?" Buffy called from the kitchen.
No response.
"Will?" Buffy said, taking off for the door, fearing the worse. Buffy came to a complete stop as she caught sight of the figure at the door.
"Hey." Oz said, in his typical voice. "Bad time?"
Willow stood there for a moment, taking it all in.
"No." Buffy said. "Well, yes actually."
"Oz?" Willow finally said, tears in her eyes.
"Hey." Oz offered again, pulling Willow into a friendly hug. "Heard you guys had a demon problem."
"Most definitely." Buffy said, taking Oz's bag.
"Thought you guys could use a hand." Oz said, entering the living room.
"Will?" Buffy asked. "Can you fill Oz in on everything that happened?"
Willow nodded and led Oz to the couch.
"I'll go find a place for you." Buffy said, taking Oz's bag into the dining room.
When Buffy returned, she found Willow crying in Oz's arms, Oz sat in stunned silence as he repeated Willow's last word. "Dead."
Willow breathed hard as she went into the explanation of everything that happened after Tara's death. Oz sat there in stoic silence, holding Willow as she spoke. Buffy silently left the room and returned to the kitchen.
"They still in there?" Kennedy asked, shoving the last of her meal in her mouth.
"Yea." Buffy nodded sadly. "Look Kennedy-."
"I know." Kennedy said. "Willow told me about Oz. She also told me that Tara was the first woman she ever loved."
"Oz was the first man." Buffy said, peering out the window.
"I'm not jealous." Kennedy said bravely.
"Good." Buffy said.
"I'm lying." Kennedy sighed.
"I know." Buffy offered a smile. "Get the team together, it'll be dark soon. We have to hit the streets."
"On it." Kennedy said, tossing her dish into the sink.
"Ugh." Buffy moaned as she saw the pile of dishes in the sink. "Who's on dish duty this week?"
"I'll do them." Fred said, entering the kitchen.
"That's okay." Buffy sighed, picking up the sponge.
"No, really." Fred said, taking the sponge from Buffy's hand. "Wesley and Mr. Giles are researching. They don't need me right now."
Buffy smiled sincerely. "Thank you." She said.
"No problem." Fred smiled.
"Now, I just have to fix the sleeping arrangements and get weapons for tonight." Buffy said.
"Well, I can figure out sleeping arrangements." Fred offered. "And Charles can get weapons."
"Where is Gunn?" Buffy asked, noting that she had not seen him since he arrived.
"He's on the phone upstairs." Fred answered. "Trying to reach his old gang. He figures with no demons in L.A., maybe they can do some good here."
"The more the merrier." Buffy said. "Except when it comes to sleeping arrangements." Buffy frowned as she looked at the mass of people now entering the dining room. "We need a bigger base of operations."
Fred tried to smile. "We'll figure something out." She offered.
Buffy returned the smile as she headed out into the living room. "Everyone gather up." She called. "Can I get everyone in the living room!" She called upstairs.
Buffy sat on the couch as the fourteen potential slayers entered the living room, followed by Giles, Spike, Angel and the MoG.
"Okay." Buffy said, looking tired and haggard. "Day team is back from this morning's patrol. You guys report to Giles for a report and instructions. Make sure you guys get some rest tonight. Fred's going to get the sleeping arrangements set up, so see her for a place to rest." Buffy turned her head to the right. "Night team." She breathed. "We're going to have to spilt up to blanket the town tonight. There are demons pouring in left and right. We've got to be out there in force to hold them back. We're going to separate into groups. Faith will lead the first group." Buffy said, nodding to Faith. "Chloe, Vi and Dawn, you guys go with Faith. Saddle up, heavy weaponry, make sure you keep a few good stakes at your side at all times. Angel will lead the second group. Gunn, Rona and Kennedy will go with him. Same thing. Make sure your well covered. Angel brought a new assortment of weapons with him, check them out and find something you're comfortable with. Amanda, Molly and Connor, you guys are with me. Spike, hit the local demon haunts, a lot of new demons in town, they may not know you're involved with us. See if you can't get any information. Uh, Lorne? You too. Giles can get you oriented as to where the demon haunts are. You and Spike can spilt them. Who'd I miss that wasn't on morning patrol?"
"Me." Oz popped up from behind.
"Oz, are you sure?" Buffy asked.
"Got the wolf under control." Oz said. "If I need it, I can call it."
"Good." Buffy said. "Go with Faith's team."
"Sure." Oz said. "Can I just get one of you guys to carry an extra pair of pants."
Dawn smiled at Oz. "Sure." She teasingly hit his arm.
"Wesley and I will continue our research." Giles said.
"There are some other volumes that we'll need." Wesley said. "The magick shop is holding them for me."
"Great." Buffy said. "Go out armed if you go tonight."
Wesley nodded.
"Anya." Buffy said, turning to the ex-demon. "How are we doing on supplies?"
"Magick supplies and food is stocked for at least another day or two." Anya said. "The grocery store was a little hairy this morning. It's like a riot out there."
"Great." Buffy sighed.
"If we want to continue getting supplies though, we need money." Anya said.
"We're working on it." Buffy said. "We're almost tapped on cash in the house. Start looking for things to sell."
Anya nodded.
"Xander?" Buffy called.
"Yea, the guy at the hardware store gave me everything on credit." Xander said. "Manny's a nice guy. Said if we keep fighting the demons back, he'll supply us with the items we need."
"Great." Buffy said.
"He also said he'd keep an eye out for us on things moving into town." Xander added.
"Good." Buffy nodded. "We can use all the eyes we can get."
"Everyone set?" Buffy asked.
Yeses were echoed throughout the room.
"Good." Buffy nodded. "Morning patrol, Giles and Wes are going to work on your training. Stay in the house."
"Will do." Giles nodded. "But it's going to cut into the research."
"Get Fred to help you with the texts." Buffy said. "Rotate off on training."
Giles nodded.
"Tonight's patrol unit has training tomorrow at nine, make sure you're back in this house and get a few hours of sleep first." Buffy commanded.
The night patrol nodded.
"Let's get moving." Buffy said, hoisting her weapon bag on her shoulder.
"And let's keep in touch tonight." Giles called over the crowd. "Last night's no contact was very dangerous."
"Dawn, wait a minute." Buffy called as Dawn headed to the weapons chest. "I wanted to give you something." Buffy pulled a familiar stake from her weapons bag.
"Mr. Pointy?" Dawn said, choking back a sob. "But he's you're lucky stake."
"Actually, he was Kendra's lucky stake." Buffy said. "You take him now."
"Buffy, I don't know what to say." Dawn smiled and took the sharp stake.
"Just promise me that you'll be safe." Buffy said. "And that you'll listen to Faith and trust your instincts."
"Will do." Dawn said.
"Dawn, I love you." Buffy said seriously. "I can't protect you all the time. Maybe this will help." She nodded to Mr. Pointy. "Use him well."
"I will." Dawn hugged her sister tightly.
"Oh and Dawn?" Buffy said strictly. "This does not mean you can borrow Mr. Gordo."
Dawn smiled and headed to the weapons chest. She had an extra sense of power with her tonight, like Buffy had given more than just a stake. She had passed on a piece of the slayer.
Willow rushed to the door as the doorbell chimed for the second time. "On my way!" She hollered from the hall. She reached the door and pulled it open, immediately holding a hand up to block the rays of bright sun. She stood there in silence.
"Willow, who is it?" Buffy called from the kitchen.
No response.
"Will?" Buffy said, taking off for the door, fearing the worse. Buffy came to a complete stop as she caught sight of the figure at the door.
"Hey." Oz said, in his typical voice. "Bad time?"
Willow stood there for a moment, taking it all in.
"No." Buffy said. "Well, yes actually."
"Oz?" Willow finally said, tears in her eyes.
"Hey." Oz offered again, pulling Willow into a friendly hug. "Heard you guys had a demon problem."
"Most definitely." Buffy said, taking Oz's bag.
"Thought you guys could use a hand." Oz said, entering the living room.
"Will?" Buffy asked. "Can you fill Oz in on everything that happened?"
Willow nodded and led Oz to the couch.
"I'll go find a place for you." Buffy said, taking Oz's bag into the dining room.
When Buffy returned, she found Willow crying in Oz's arms, Oz sat in stunned silence as he repeated Willow's last word. "Dead."
Willow breathed hard as she went into the explanation of everything that happened after Tara's death. Oz sat there in stoic silence, holding Willow as she spoke. Buffy silently left the room and returned to the kitchen.
"They still in there?" Kennedy asked, shoving the last of her meal in her mouth.
"Yea." Buffy nodded sadly. "Look Kennedy-."
"I know." Kennedy said. "Willow told me about Oz. She also told me that Tara was the first woman she ever loved."
"Oz was the first man." Buffy said, peering out the window.
"I'm not jealous." Kennedy said bravely.
"Good." Buffy said.
"I'm lying." Kennedy sighed.
"I know." Buffy offered a smile. "Get the team together, it'll be dark soon. We have to hit the streets."
"On it." Kennedy said, tossing her dish into the sink.
"Ugh." Buffy moaned as she saw the pile of dishes in the sink. "Who's on dish duty this week?"
"I'll do them." Fred said, entering the kitchen.
"That's okay." Buffy sighed, picking up the sponge.
"No, really." Fred said, taking the sponge from Buffy's hand. "Wesley and Mr. Giles are researching. They don't need me right now."
Buffy smiled sincerely. "Thank you." She said.
"No problem." Fred smiled.
"Now, I just have to fix the sleeping arrangements and get weapons for tonight." Buffy said.
"Well, I can figure out sleeping arrangements." Fred offered. "And Charles can get weapons."
"Where is Gunn?" Buffy asked, noting that she had not seen him since he arrived.
"He's on the phone upstairs." Fred answered. "Trying to reach his old gang. He figures with no demons in L.A., maybe they can do some good here."
"The more the merrier." Buffy said. "Except when it comes to sleeping arrangements." Buffy frowned as she looked at the mass of people now entering the dining room. "We need a bigger base of operations."
Fred tried to smile. "We'll figure something out." She offered.
Buffy returned the smile as she headed out into the living room. "Everyone gather up." She called. "Can I get everyone in the living room!" She called upstairs.
Buffy sat on the couch as the fourteen potential slayers entered the living room, followed by Giles, Spike, Angel and the MoG.
"Okay." Buffy said, looking tired and haggard. "Day team is back from this morning's patrol. You guys report to Giles for a report and instructions. Make sure you guys get some rest tonight. Fred's going to get the sleeping arrangements set up, so see her for a place to rest." Buffy turned her head to the right. "Night team." She breathed. "We're going to have to spilt up to blanket the town tonight. There are demons pouring in left and right. We've got to be out there in force to hold them back. We're going to separate into groups. Faith will lead the first group." Buffy said, nodding to Faith. "Chloe, Vi and Dawn, you guys go with Faith. Saddle up, heavy weaponry, make sure you keep a few good stakes at your side at all times. Angel will lead the second group. Gunn, Rona and Kennedy will go with him. Same thing. Make sure your well covered. Angel brought a new assortment of weapons with him, check them out and find something you're comfortable with. Amanda, Molly and Connor, you guys are with me. Spike, hit the local demon haunts, a lot of new demons in town, they may not know you're involved with us. See if you can't get any information. Uh, Lorne? You too. Giles can get you oriented as to where the demon haunts are. You and Spike can spilt them. Who'd I miss that wasn't on morning patrol?"
"Me." Oz popped up from behind.
"Oz, are you sure?" Buffy asked.
"Got the wolf under control." Oz said. "If I need it, I can call it."
"Good." Buffy said. "Go with Faith's team."
"Sure." Oz said. "Can I just get one of you guys to carry an extra pair of pants."
Dawn smiled at Oz. "Sure." She teasingly hit his arm.
"Wesley and I will continue our research." Giles said.
"There are some other volumes that we'll need." Wesley said. "The magick shop is holding them for me."
"Great." Buffy said. "Go out armed if you go tonight."
Wesley nodded.
"Anya." Buffy said, turning to the ex-demon. "How are we doing on supplies?"
"Magick supplies and food is stocked for at least another day or two." Anya said. "The grocery store was a little hairy this morning. It's like a riot out there."
"Great." Buffy sighed.
"If we want to continue getting supplies though, we need money." Anya said.
"We're working on it." Buffy said. "We're almost tapped on cash in the house. Start looking for things to sell."
Anya nodded.
"Xander?" Buffy called.
"Yea, the guy at the hardware store gave me everything on credit." Xander said. "Manny's a nice guy. Said if we keep fighting the demons back, he'll supply us with the items we need."
"Great." Buffy said.
"He also said he'd keep an eye out for us on things moving into town." Xander added.
"Good." Buffy nodded. "We can use all the eyes we can get."
"Everyone set?" Buffy asked.
Yeses were echoed throughout the room.
"Good." Buffy nodded. "Morning patrol, Giles and Wes are going to work on your training. Stay in the house."
"Will do." Giles nodded. "But it's going to cut into the research."
"Get Fred to help you with the texts." Buffy said. "Rotate off on training."
Giles nodded.
"Tonight's patrol unit has training tomorrow at nine, make sure you're back in this house and get a few hours of sleep first." Buffy commanded.
The night patrol nodded.
"Let's get moving." Buffy said, hoisting her weapon bag on her shoulder.
"And let's keep in touch tonight." Giles called over the crowd. "Last night's no contact was very dangerous."
"Dawn, wait a minute." Buffy called as Dawn headed to the weapons chest. "I wanted to give you something." Buffy pulled a familiar stake from her weapons bag.
"Mr. Pointy?" Dawn said, choking back a sob. "But he's you're lucky stake."
"Actually, he was Kendra's lucky stake." Buffy said. "You take him now."
"Buffy, I don't know what to say." Dawn smiled and took the sharp stake.
"Just promise me that you'll be safe." Buffy said. "And that you'll listen to Faith and trust your instincts."
"Will do." Dawn said.
"Dawn, I love you." Buffy said seriously. "I can't protect you all the time. Maybe this will help." She nodded to Mr. Pointy. "Use him well."
"I will." Dawn hugged her sister tightly.
"Oh and Dawn?" Buffy said strictly. "This does not mean you can borrow Mr. Gordo."
Dawn smiled and headed to the weapons chest. She had an extra sense of power with her tonight, like Buffy had given more than just a stake. She had passed on a piece of the slayer.
