A/N: Thanks for the feedback everyone! Good and Bad is always welcomed, it
helps. A few people e-mailed me directly with their disgust and
disappointment with the last chapter over the dead bodies in the High
School. I know it's not something anyone wants to think about, but in a
situation such as the one I'm writing about, people tend to die. Mutant
Enemy said the seal needed blood to open, not me. If I wanted the
Ubervamps and The First to really be a foe worth fearing, some blood was
going to have to be spilled. I'm sorry if anyone felt uncomfortable.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Faith grew more and more nervous as she approached City Hall. In her mind she saw it all again, killing the Deputy-Mayor, killing Mr. Trick and leading herself down a destructive path by offering her services to The Mayor. In her months back in Sunnydale, fighting evil and redeeming herself, Faith had stayed far away from this place. Now it was calling to her.
"You okay?" Buffy whispered as the group moved on.
Faith nodded, knowing her fear was written all over her face.
Buffy stopped and turned to the groups. "Okay guys." She said. "We've made it this far, now let's make it home."
Everyone nodded, understanding in those plain words Buffy's desire for everyone to make it out alive. They all knew some may die, but no one was willing to let those bad thoughts and vibes into their minds.
Faith took command. "Surround the building. We enter together in five minutes. Take the stairs down to the basement."
"There's probably a lot of force waiting for us." Giles cautioned.
"Demons, vamps, Turok-Hans galore." Faith said. "I'm sure they're all waiting inside. Doesn't matter. Fight your way through."
"If its too much to plow through?" Connor asked.
"Then fight it back to the best of your abilities and allow the others to get to the basement." Faith said. "Everyone ready."
Nods went all around.
"Let's go." Buffy said, nodding toward the building.
Buffy, Faith, Angel and Gunn led groups across the grass and surrounded the building. They all counted down to the moment the attack would begin. Buffy silently squeezed Willow's hand and offered her an encouraging smile. Willow nodded. It didn't take her best friend to see the fear in Willow's eyes. Xander stood behind Willow, his hand resting protectively against her arm. Anya stood to Xander's side and readied herself. She took a deep breath a remembered how well she could fight as a demon, human or not, she knew that this was meant to be. Giles stood about ten feet from his slayer and watched the steely gaze in her face. He lowered his head and inhaled sharply. When Giles raised his eyes to the building he was much less Rupert Giles and much more the Ripper of his youth. Giles hefted his battle-axe and readied himself. Dawn stood behind Giles and mentally prepared herself, over and over in her mind the words came back to her "When it's bad, Buffy won't choose you, She'll be against you." Dawn tried to block the thought from her mind, but the voice kept echoing in her head. Dawn's eyes began to water as she watched her sister in the distance. Sensing something was wrong, Oz turned to Dawn and whimpered, he laid his pawn atop her foot and looked into her eyes. So much emotion passed through the two that it seemed Oz has told Dawn that he'd protect her. Dawn looked up and watched as Connor and Angel began to climb to the roof of City Hall. She knew others were already on their way up to survey the surroundings. Connor jumped down and nodded. Wordlessly the gang rushed City Hall.
Wesley let out a shrill battle cry as he ran up the steps at City Hall, he remembered the Wesley he once was, the first time he was outside of this building nearly four years ago. He wasn't that Wesley anymore; he was a warrior now. Wesley ran through the doors and began attacking with might and bravery.
Giles followed the group in, attacking everything that stood between him and the stairwell to the basement. His body fueled with fire as well as fear for his charge and her followers. Giles plowed through vampire after vampire before one even laid a hand on him.
Faith rushed forward, breaking from the group. She fought like a wild animal, slashing and punching, kicking and jumping. All the while knowing that her goal was getting closer.
Buffy attacked with renewed spirit. The first would pay for what it did to those kids at the school. The teachers who she met with, the students who had come for her help, her advice. Buffy pushed through the crowd of demons and vampires, her eyes set firmly at the staircase ahead.
Amanda and Molly moved together through the mass. Each ducking and punching, feeding off of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Amanda's body hummed with the new power within as she moved off, fighting what Angel had called the good fight. Molly stayed close to Amanda, her body feeling supercharged with the slayer powers. Molly and Amanda pressed on toward the staircase.
Rona and Vi joined Rondell in protecting Willow; they knew she had to get to the basement safely. The three fighters flanked Willow with Xander and Anya bringing up the rear. The three fought with a precision that has been developed in their short time together.
Gunn moved quickly with Angel and Connor at his sides. The three men pushed through the opposition with speed and skill. Angel pushed on, swearing to protect not only his son, but also the people he loved.
Kennedy fought alone, carefully watching Willow from the corner of her eye. She fought with a newly found strength and resolve. Someone was pushing her through; she would make it.
The stairway door stood less than five feet away from Buffy. She pushed herself to the wall and began fending off all the demons that tried to pin her there. She hoped others had already made it through. Buffy ducked as a body flew overhead, she scrambled to make sure it wasn't one of her friends. Faith ran through and grabbed Buffy's arm.
"Not a problem, B." Faith said. "Wasn't one of ours." Buffy looked at Faith's face. The woman had blood pouring from her nose and a gash in the side of her head. "You coming?" Faith shouted.
"On it." Buffy said, as she helped Faith open the stairwell door. Buffy and Faith ran down the stairs and into the heart of The First's operation.
"'Bout time." A familiar voice said as the lights came on.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Faith grew more and more nervous as she approached City Hall. In her mind she saw it all again, killing the Deputy-Mayor, killing Mr. Trick and leading herself down a destructive path by offering her services to The Mayor. In her months back in Sunnydale, fighting evil and redeeming herself, Faith had stayed far away from this place. Now it was calling to her.
"You okay?" Buffy whispered as the group moved on.
Faith nodded, knowing her fear was written all over her face.
Buffy stopped and turned to the groups. "Okay guys." She said. "We've made it this far, now let's make it home."
Everyone nodded, understanding in those plain words Buffy's desire for everyone to make it out alive. They all knew some may die, but no one was willing to let those bad thoughts and vibes into their minds.
Faith took command. "Surround the building. We enter together in five minutes. Take the stairs down to the basement."
"There's probably a lot of force waiting for us." Giles cautioned.
"Demons, vamps, Turok-Hans galore." Faith said. "I'm sure they're all waiting inside. Doesn't matter. Fight your way through."
"If its too much to plow through?" Connor asked.
"Then fight it back to the best of your abilities and allow the others to get to the basement." Faith said. "Everyone ready."
Nods went all around.
"Let's go." Buffy said, nodding toward the building.
Buffy, Faith, Angel and Gunn led groups across the grass and surrounded the building. They all counted down to the moment the attack would begin. Buffy silently squeezed Willow's hand and offered her an encouraging smile. Willow nodded. It didn't take her best friend to see the fear in Willow's eyes. Xander stood behind Willow, his hand resting protectively against her arm. Anya stood to Xander's side and readied herself. She took a deep breath a remembered how well she could fight as a demon, human or not, she knew that this was meant to be. Giles stood about ten feet from his slayer and watched the steely gaze in her face. He lowered his head and inhaled sharply. When Giles raised his eyes to the building he was much less Rupert Giles and much more the Ripper of his youth. Giles hefted his battle-axe and readied himself. Dawn stood behind Giles and mentally prepared herself, over and over in her mind the words came back to her "When it's bad, Buffy won't choose you, She'll be against you." Dawn tried to block the thought from her mind, but the voice kept echoing in her head. Dawn's eyes began to water as she watched her sister in the distance. Sensing something was wrong, Oz turned to Dawn and whimpered, he laid his pawn atop her foot and looked into her eyes. So much emotion passed through the two that it seemed Oz has told Dawn that he'd protect her. Dawn looked up and watched as Connor and Angel began to climb to the roof of City Hall. She knew others were already on their way up to survey the surroundings. Connor jumped down and nodded. Wordlessly the gang rushed City Hall.
Wesley let out a shrill battle cry as he ran up the steps at City Hall, he remembered the Wesley he once was, the first time he was outside of this building nearly four years ago. He wasn't that Wesley anymore; he was a warrior now. Wesley ran through the doors and began attacking with might and bravery.
Giles followed the group in, attacking everything that stood between him and the stairwell to the basement. His body fueled with fire as well as fear for his charge and her followers. Giles plowed through vampire after vampire before one even laid a hand on him.
Faith rushed forward, breaking from the group. She fought like a wild animal, slashing and punching, kicking and jumping. All the while knowing that her goal was getting closer.
Buffy attacked with renewed spirit. The first would pay for what it did to those kids at the school. The teachers who she met with, the students who had come for her help, her advice. Buffy pushed through the crowd of demons and vampires, her eyes set firmly at the staircase ahead.
Amanda and Molly moved together through the mass. Each ducking and punching, feeding off of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Amanda's body hummed with the new power within as she moved off, fighting what Angel had called the good fight. Molly stayed close to Amanda, her body feeling supercharged with the slayer powers. Molly and Amanda pressed on toward the staircase.
Rona and Vi joined Rondell in protecting Willow; they knew she had to get to the basement safely. The three fighters flanked Willow with Xander and Anya bringing up the rear. The three fought with a precision that has been developed in their short time together.
Gunn moved quickly with Angel and Connor at his sides. The three men pushed through the opposition with speed and skill. Angel pushed on, swearing to protect not only his son, but also the people he loved.
Kennedy fought alone, carefully watching Willow from the corner of her eye. She fought with a newly found strength and resolve. Someone was pushing her through; she would make it.
The stairway door stood less than five feet away from Buffy. She pushed herself to the wall and began fending off all the demons that tried to pin her there. She hoped others had already made it through. Buffy ducked as a body flew overhead, she scrambled to make sure it wasn't one of her friends. Faith ran through and grabbed Buffy's arm.
"Not a problem, B." Faith said. "Wasn't one of ours." Buffy looked at Faith's face. The woman had blood pouring from her nose and a gash in the side of her head. "You coming?" Faith shouted.
"On it." Buffy said, as she helped Faith open the stairwell door. Buffy and Faith ran down the stairs and into the heart of The First's operation.
"'Bout time." A familiar voice said as the lights came on.
