TITLE: A Future of the Past
DISCLAIMER: It's not mine and it's not fair! It belongs to God (aka Joss)
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Chapter 2 ~ I know you.
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"Banana"
"Hammock."
"What?" Xander asked looking at his best friend, who was smiling back at him.
"Since when did banana's and hammocks relate?"
"Xander it's the random thought game."
"Yeah I know, but that is probably the weirdest answer I have heard," he said still looking puzzled, as Buffy and Dawn sauntered into the Magic Box,
"Hey Buff. What would you say if I said banana?"
"Um -" Buffy pondered as she seated herself on the bench opposite her two friends, beside Tara, looking somewhat bemused by the question,
"Monkey?" she said, shrugging her shoulders,
"See, sensible. Dawn?" Dawn stifled a yawn as she turned to look at Xander,
"Bed. But then that's 'cause it's Saturday morning and where any normal teenager would be at the moment if it weren't for their sister!" she said glaring at Buffy, putting the emphasis on the word sister. Buffy chose to ignore her as she searched the shop,
"Where's Mr. Bright and Breezy?"
"Not here." Xander said turning back to the construction site schedule he was working on. Buffy frowned, looking at her watch. It was nearly midday,
"But it's late and Giles counts tardiness as the ninth deadly sin."
"He was supposed to open up the store this morning and he wasn't here. He's cost us valuable money." Anya said, annoyance in her voice as she continued to sort out the candles on the rack before the door opened the reveal a customer. Anya quickly left the candles behind to go to the young woman, the words, 'Can I help you?' drifting across the shop,
"He'll turn up Buff." Xander said rolling up the pieces of paper and taking them in one hand,
"He's probably fallen asleep on a book and not heard his alarm." He said bringing himself to his feet,
"But while other's sleep away Saturday morning's on comfy books, some of us have work to go to." He said moving away from the small group, ruffling Dawn's hair.
"I'll see you later." He said to the assembled party, blowing a not-so- secret kiss to Anya, who was still attending to the customer, before leaving the shop. Buffy stood up feeling restless, going to one of the bookshelves.
"Buffy?" Willow asked, tearing her eyes away from the laptop in front of her,
"Yeah?" she asked struggling under the weight of several books before she plonked them on the table,
"What are you doing?"
"Research. I can make Giles proud by finding out what the weird glowy thing is before him." She said seating herself down on the bench and picking up the nearest book,
"So should I look under 'weird', 'glowy', or 'thing'?" she asked looking at Willow helplessly,
"Sorry I'm late." The familiar voice came from the steps as the Watcher descended them. If it was possible, Buffy thought he looked worse than he did yesterday. He had large bags under his eyes, and his face seemed shiny, as if he had a fever or something. He wasn't dressed in his usual attire of a smart suit, pressed shirt and tie. Instead he wore jeans and a jumper that looked as though it would have fitted Santa Clause,
"My - uh - my alarm didn't go off." Giles said seating himself on the edge of the bench, taking his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose. He noticed the books on the table, and his features frowned, as if he was trying to remember something,
"What are we researching?" he asked looking up at the assembled company,
"We're not." Dawn informed him,
"Then we're emptying the shelves of books why?"
"We're not. I just thought that I would start and look for whatever it was I saw last night without you. Seen as you weren't in."
"Sorry." He mumbled again before Buffy continued,
"No it's ok I just - Last night there was a weird glowy thing and -"
"She wasn't to sure what to look up. I mean there are thousands of books on things and lots on weird, but not so many on - ow!" Dawn exclaimed as her sister kicked her under the table,
"Another one of our demons came out of it. It's dead now but I wanna know what the weird glowy -"
"Portals." Giles said interrupting her, before expanding as confused faces stared at him,
"Well one would presume that's what it is. If you saw something come out of it. And we've already established that these - uh - demons became extinct a while ago, so I would presume that this portal leads to somewhere that's - uh -" he rubbed at his head as he continued to frown,
"Where Giles?" Buffy said casting a glance over her Watcher, concerned for his well being,
"Well it could be any number of places. The past; the future; another dimension; a parallel universe, any number of possibilities. But I think the more pressing matter Buffy, is to close the portal."
"It's already closed. It just disappeared after the demon came through." Giles frowned, completely confused now,
"I'm not sure -" he got up off the bench quite stiffly and crossed to the shelf, picking one of the books off of it and flicking through it,
"From what I've heard of portals, they never close automatically. They need some kind of binding spell."
"Oh Tara and me could help with that." Willow suddenly said, brightening,
"Yes, that would be - uh - yes." Giles said absentmindedly,
"Maybe we should go out on patrol tonight and you can show me where the portal appeared.
"Meanwhile I think we should find out what we can about portals. Willow would you like to see what a web search brings up,
"I'm sure there's some other books on -" as Giles turned round he reached out for the shelf to steady himself as the room spun. He knew the moment he had pulled himself out of bed over an hour ago he shouldn't have,
"Giles?" Buffy asked standing up and moving towards the Watcher, who was supporting himself on the shelf,
"I'm fine Buffy." He said turning his attention back to the book, realizing that the words were swimming on the page.
"Giles you lost us money!" Anya proclaimed, after finally finishing with the customer. Giles sighed as he turned towards Anya.
'Definitely shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed this morning'
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Spike collapsed in his armchair as he lit another cigarette. He didn't know what time he had been kicked out of Willie's place the night before, he only remembered waking up in the sewers with a splitting headache. Now after a good twenty minutes of navigating the twists and turns - and dead ends - of the miles of sewers under Sunnydale, he was home.
It was nearing to sundown again and Spike didn't know what he planned to do tonight. Or maybe he did?
He remembered why he had gone to Willie's in the first place. He was supposed to find what was up with the new vampires and demons and that were appearing out of nowhere.
A smile played on the vampire's lips as he took a long drag of his fag, waiting for the sun to set. He was going to have fun with the Slayer and her little Scooby gang tonight. What tales he had to tell. In fact, he quite fancied this new world.
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Tara's hand found Willow's easily as they entered the morbid confines of Restfield cemetery. Tara had gotten used to the idea of hanging out in morgues, cemeteries and Magic Shops since she had met Willow. She didn't mind though, it meant she got to spend time with her Willow.
A smile spread across her face at the words, 'Her Willow,' causing her to move closer to Willow as a chill passed through her,
"Cold baby?" Willow asked as they trailed behind Buffy and Giles. Tara nodded, pulling her jacket round her more, but not doing anything more on the matter,
"Is Mr. Giles alright?" Tara asked as she watched him stumbled to catch up with Buffy. Willow followed her gaze to the Englishman,
"I don't know," she said truthfully,
"He didn't look too good today though."
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"Giles I told you that you shouldn't have come." Buffy said, watching Giles as he stumbled yet again,
"Buffy there is no way that you giving me details such as 'weird glowy thing' is going to determine that this, 'Thing' is a portal. Even if it is a portal we must determine where it leads to and how to close it."
"Here!" Buffy said stopping abruptly, which caused Giles to slam into the back of her. She swayed, but not as much as Giles. She turned just in time to stop him collapsing to the ground,
"Giles you're ill." She said in protest as she helped him to perch on the nearest headstone,
"Let me take you home? Please?" Giles shook his head as Willow and Tara came up behind the two,
"This the spot?" Willow asked tentatively, watching Buffy,
"Yeah, this is it. But I need to take Giles -"
"You will do nothing of the sort." Giles said, bringing himself to his feet. Buffy's eyes passed over her mentor. His eyes were sunk deep inside his head, large bags under them. His face was pale, with a sheen to it that made it shimmer in the moonlight. He probably had a fever Buffy thought, but she knew he was stubborn and would not leave unless she carried his unconscious body or he saw the portal with his own two eyes. She wished for the latter though, even though she was a slayer the large built Watcher was still a little too much for her to carry,
"Evenin' all." The annoying English voice crept out the shadows, followed by the annoyance that was William the bloody,
"What do you want Spike?" Buffy asked, sighing as she turned on the blond vampire. Spike pulled a packet of fags out of his coat pocket and lit up,
"No way to treat a fellow comrade in arms. But seen as you mention it I might be wanting something."
"Spike we're not in the mood for your games tonight." Giles said, leaning against a gravestone, taking strength from it,
"Not in the mood for much are we Watcher. Looks like you need some nurse- maiding." Spike said, a grin on his face as his looked at the petite blond. Buffy's eyes narrowed,
"Either you'll go away and leave us alone or you can become more acquainted with my stake." She said taking a step towards him, pulling out her stake for effect,
"Never get any information out of me if I'm dead Slayer." He said taking a long drag of his cigarette,
"What do you know?" Giles asked, moving forward towards the vampire, wobbling on his feet,
"Very authoritative with the swaying and all." He said sniffing,
"And a lot more than you do by looks of it. More importantly what you going to pay me?"
"Spike either tell us or -" Buffy broke off as the that same speck of light appeared behind Spike, the same way it had the night before,
"Or what Slayer? You need me." He said pointing at her,
"You need me to get you information and the like. Without me you wouldn't know -" Spike was cut off as two forms barreled into him from the portal,
"Thank God for that." Buffy quipped, before she watched another two forms come through. The first two had been Kulich demons, and the second two were obviously vampires. They were quick on their feet as well, going for Buffy before she even moved. One of the demons went for Giles, while the second vampire went for the two witches; while the second demon busied itself with the still floored Spike.
There was one thing Buffy disliked about going patrolling with her friends, and that was the fact she had to look out for them while looking out for herself. As she spun the vampire away she caught sight of another two coming through the still open portal,
"Willow!" she called, turning to find Tara and Willow trying to fight of one of the vampires. She staked the vampire she had been fighting before moving towards them both.
"Bloody hell!" Spike said, pulling himself to his feet again, and stepping out the way as another two vamps came through the portal,
"Alright ma-" he was cut off again as the vampire swung at him,
"Hey! I'm on your side mate!" he said as the vampire tried to hit him again,
"You're a liar Spike! You haven't been on our side since you got that soul!" it retorted before striking out at the stunned Spike. He fell to the floor, spitting grass,
"Soul?" he whispered, to no one but himself, as he felt himself being picked up.
Buffy shifted her weight again as the vampire took another swing at her, a second coming to join the brawl,
"Guys, hurry up before anymore appear." Willow and Tara sat crossed legged on the floor, holding hands before they proceeded to chant. The second vampire tried to kick her and she caught his foot mid-air, flipping him,
"That all you got?" she mocked as the vamp stared up at her in horror,
"Slayer? You're dead." Buffy stood stunned for a moment,
"Dead?"
Giles ducked a blow from the demon, hearing its fist crack into the side of the mausoleum. He was too slow, and his spinning head was making him slower. The demon grabbed him by the neck and arm, pinning him against the crypt for a moment, it's claws ripping into his arm, drawing blood, before tossing him aside like a rag doll.
He groaned as he landed painfully on the ground, before he watched another figure come through the portal, going into a roll before coming back up on their feet. She went for the demon that was coming at him again, fighting it with the air of a Slayer, her long brown her flowing behind her, her tatty jeans showing her skint knees. Her motions were fluid as she brandished a sword, swinging it at the demons head, decapitating it before the demon even had time to blink.
Giles heard chanting behind, mingled with sounds of a dusting vampire as he watched the portal retreat on itself from his position on the ground. The last vampire came at him, before stopping short, staring at Giles in confusion,
"Boss?" it asked before the girl that had saved him plunged a stake into it's back. She then came towards him, kneeling beside him,
"Are you -" she broke off half way through her sentence, the soft English accent disappearing. She pulled back away from him, obviously shocked by what she saw.
'But what was the girl seeing?' Giles wondered. She shook her head before scrambling to her feet,
"You're dead." She said, panic in her voice before running away from him into the night.
Spike saw the girl run and followed her, his duster flapping behind him before disappearing into the night as well. There was silence amongst the group as Willow and Tara tried to find their bearings again and Buffy stood wondering if what she had heard was true. Giles broke the silence coughing painfully as he tried to pull himself into a standing position. Buffy dropped her stake and went to her Watcher,
"Will you let me take you home now?"
DISCLAIMER: It's not mine and it's not fair! It belongs to God (aka Joss)
*********************************************************************
Chapter 2 ~ I know you.
*********************************************************************
"Banana"
"Hammock."
"What?" Xander asked looking at his best friend, who was smiling back at him.
"Since when did banana's and hammocks relate?"
"Xander it's the random thought game."
"Yeah I know, but that is probably the weirdest answer I have heard," he said still looking puzzled, as Buffy and Dawn sauntered into the Magic Box,
"Hey Buff. What would you say if I said banana?"
"Um -" Buffy pondered as she seated herself on the bench opposite her two friends, beside Tara, looking somewhat bemused by the question,
"Monkey?" she said, shrugging her shoulders,
"See, sensible. Dawn?" Dawn stifled a yawn as she turned to look at Xander,
"Bed. But then that's 'cause it's Saturday morning and where any normal teenager would be at the moment if it weren't for their sister!" she said glaring at Buffy, putting the emphasis on the word sister. Buffy chose to ignore her as she searched the shop,
"Where's Mr. Bright and Breezy?"
"Not here." Xander said turning back to the construction site schedule he was working on. Buffy frowned, looking at her watch. It was nearly midday,
"But it's late and Giles counts tardiness as the ninth deadly sin."
"He was supposed to open up the store this morning and he wasn't here. He's cost us valuable money." Anya said, annoyance in her voice as she continued to sort out the candles on the rack before the door opened the reveal a customer. Anya quickly left the candles behind to go to the young woman, the words, 'Can I help you?' drifting across the shop,
"He'll turn up Buff." Xander said rolling up the pieces of paper and taking them in one hand,
"He's probably fallen asleep on a book and not heard his alarm." He said bringing himself to his feet,
"But while other's sleep away Saturday morning's on comfy books, some of us have work to go to." He said moving away from the small group, ruffling Dawn's hair.
"I'll see you later." He said to the assembled party, blowing a not-so- secret kiss to Anya, who was still attending to the customer, before leaving the shop. Buffy stood up feeling restless, going to one of the bookshelves.
"Buffy?" Willow asked, tearing her eyes away from the laptop in front of her,
"Yeah?" she asked struggling under the weight of several books before she plonked them on the table,
"What are you doing?"
"Research. I can make Giles proud by finding out what the weird glowy thing is before him." She said seating herself down on the bench and picking up the nearest book,
"So should I look under 'weird', 'glowy', or 'thing'?" she asked looking at Willow helplessly,
"Sorry I'm late." The familiar voice came from the steps as the Watcher descended them. If it was possible, Buffy thought he looked worse than he did yesterday. He had large bags under his eyes, and his face seemed shiny, as if he had a fever or something. He wasn't dressed in his usual attire of a smart suit, pressed shirt and tie. Instead he wore jeans and a jumper that looked as though it would have fitted Santa Clause,
"My - uh - my alarm didn't go off." Giles said seating himself on the edge of the bench, taking his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose. He noticed the books on the table, and his features frowned, as if he was trying to remember something,
"What are we researching?" he asked looking up at the assembled company,
"We're not." Dawn informed him,
"Then we're emptying the shelves of books why?"
"We're not. I just thought that I would start and look for whatever it was I saw last night without you. Seen as you weren't in."
"Sorry." He mumbled again before Buffy continued,
"No it's ok I just - Last night there was a weird glowy thing and -"
"She wasn't to sure what to look up. I mean there are thousands of books on things and lots on weird, but not so many on - ow!" Dawn exclaimed as her sister kicked her under the table,
"Another one of our demons came out of it. It's dead now but I wanna know what the weird glowy -"
"Portals." Giles said interrupting her, before expanding as confused faces stared at him,
"Well one would presume that's what it is. If you saw something come out of it. And we've already established that these - uh - demons became extinct a while ago, so I would presume that this portal leads to somewhere that's - uh -" he rubbed at his head as he continued to frown,
"Where Giles?" Buffy said casting a glance over her Watcher, concerned for his well being,
"Well it could be any number of places. The past; the future; another dimension; a parallel universe, any number of possibilities. But I think the more pressing matter Buffy, is to close the portal."
"It's already closed. It just disappeared after the demon came through." Giles frowned, completely confused now,
"I'm not sure -" he got up off the bench quite stiffly and crossed to the shelf, picking one of the books off of it and flicking through it,
"From what I've heard of portals, they never close automatically. They need some kind of binding spell."
"Oh Tara and me could help with that." Willow suddenly said, brightening,
"Yes, that would be - uh - yes." Giles said absentmindedly,
"Maybe we should go out on patrol tonight and you can show me where the portal appeared.
"Meanwhile I think we should find out what we can about portals. Willow would you like to see what a web search brings up,
"I'm sure there's some other books on -" as Giles turned round he reached out for the shelf to steady himself as the room spun. He knew the moment he had pulled himself out of bed over an hour ago he shouldn't have,
"Giles?" Buffy asked standing up and moving towards the Watcher, who was supporting himself on the shelf,
"I'm fine Buffy." He said turning his attention back to the book, realizing that the words were swimming on the page.
"Giles you lost us money!" Anya proclaimed, after finally finishing with the customer. Giles sighed as he turned towards Anya.
'Definitely shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed this morning'
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Spike collapsed in his armchair as he lit another cigarette. He didn't know what time he had been kicked out of Willie's place the night before, he only remembered waking up in the sewers with a splitting headache. Now after a good twenty minutes of navigating the twists and turns - and dead ends - of the miles of sewers under Sunnydale, he was home.
It was nearing to sundown again and Spike didn't know what he planned to do tonight. Or maybe he did?
He remembered why he had gone to Willie's in the first place. He was supposed to find what was up with the new vampires and demons and that were appearing out of nowhere.
A smile played on the vampire's lips as he took a long drag of his fag, waiting for the sun to set. He was going to have fun with the Slayer and her little Scooby gang tonight. What tales he had to tell. In fact, he quite fancied this new world.
*********************************************************************
Tara's hand found Willow's easily as they entered the morbid confines of Restfield cemetery. Tara had gotten used to the idea of hanging out in morgues, cemeteries and Magic Shops since she had met Willow. She didn't mind though, it meant she got to spend time with her Willow.
A smile spread across her face at the words, 'Her Willow,' causing her to move closer to Willow as a chill passed through her,
"Cold baby?" Willow asked as they trailed behind Buffy and Giles. Tara nodded, pulling her jacket round her more, but not doing anything more on the matter,
"Is Mr. Giles alright?" Tara asked as she watched him stumbled to catch up with Buffy. Willow followed her gaze to the Englishman,
"I don't know," she said truthfully,
"He didn't look too good today though."
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"Giles I told you that you shouldn't have come." Buffy said, watching Giles as he stumbled yet again,
"Buffy there is no way that you giving me details such as 'weird glowy thing' is going to determine that this, 'Thing' is a portal. Even if it is a portal we must determine where it leads to and how to close it."
"Here!" Buffy said stopping abruptly, which caused Giles to slam into the back of her. She swayed, but not as much as Giles. She turned just in time to stop him collapsing to the ground,
"Giles you're ill." She said in protest as she helped him to perch on the nearest headstone,
"Let me take you home? Please?" Giles shook his head as Willow and Tara came up behind the two,
"This the spot?" Willow asked tentatively, watching Buffy,
"Yeah, this is it. But I need to take Giles -"
"You will do nothing of the sort." Giles said, bringing himself to his feet. Buffy's eyes passed over her mentor. His eyes were sunk deep inside his head, large bags under them. His face was pale, with a sheen to it that made it shimmer in the moonlight. He probably had a fever Buffy thought, but she knew he was stubborn and would not leave unless she carried his unconscious body or he saw the portal with his own two eyes. She wished for the latter though, even though she was a slayer the large built Watcher was still a little too much for her to carry,
"Evenin' all." The annoying English voice crept out the shadows, followed by the annoyance that was William the bloody,
"What do you want Spike?" Buffy asked, sighing as she turned on the blond vampire. Spike pulled a packet of fags out of his coat pocket and lit up,
"No way to treat a fellow comrade in arms. But seen as you mention it I might be wanting something."
"Spike we're not in the mood for your games tonight." Giles said, leaning against a gravestone, taking strength from it,
"Not in the mood for much are we Watcher. Looks like you need some nurse- maiding." Spike said, a grin on his face as his looked at the petite blond. Buffy's eyes narrowed,
"Either you'll go away and leave us alone or you can become more acquainted with my stake." She said taking a step towards him, pulling out her stake for effect,
"Never get any information out of me if I'm dead Slayer." He said taking a long drag of his cigarette,
"What do you know?" Giles asked, moving forward towards the vampire, wobbling on his feet,
"Very authoritative with the swaying and all." He said sniffing,
"And a lot more than you do by looks of it. More importantly what you going to pay me?"
"Spike either tell us or -" Buffy broke off as the that same speck of light appeared behind Spike, the same way it had the night before,
"Or what Slayer? You need me." He said pointing at her,
"You need me to get you information and the like. Without me you wouldn't know -" Spike was cut off as two forms barreled into him from the portal,
"Thank God for that." Buffy quipped, before she watched another two forms come through. The first two had been Kulich demons, and the second two were obviously vampires. They were quick on their feet as well, going for Buffy before she even moved. One of the demons went for Giles, while the second vampire went for the two witches; while the second demon busied itself with the still floored Spike.
There was one thing Buffy disliked about going patrolling with her friends, and that was the fact she had to look out for them while looking out for herself. As she spun the vampire away she caught sight of another two coming through the still open portal,
"Willow!" she called, turning to find Tara and Willow trying to fight of one of the vampires. She staked the vampire she had been fighting before moving towards them both.
"Bloody hell!" Spike said, pulling himself to his feet again, and stepping out the way as another two vamps came through the portal,
"Alright ma-" he was cut off again as the vampire swung at him,
"Hey! I'm on your side mate!" he said as the vampire tried to hit him again,
"You're a liar Spike! You haven't been on our side since you got that soul!" it retorted before striking out at the stunned Spike. He fell to the floor, spitting grass,
"Soul?" he whispered, to no one but himself, as he felt himself being picked up.
Buffy shifted her weight again as the vampire took another swing at her, a second coming to join the brawl,
"Guys, hurry up before anymore appear." Willow and Tara sat crossed legged on the floor, holding hands before they proceeded to chant. The second vampire tried to kick her and she caught his foot mid-air, flipping him,
"That all you got?" she mocked as the vamp stared up at her in horror,
"Slayer? You're dead." Buffy stood stunned for a moment,
"Dead?"
Giles ducked a blow from the demon, hearing its fist crack into the side of the mausoleum. He was too slow, and his spinning head was making him slower. The demon grabbed him by the neck and arm, pinning him against the crypt for a moment, it's claws ripping into his arm, drawing blood, before tossing him aside like a rag doll.
He groaned as he landed painfully on the ground, before he watched another figure come through the portal, going into a roll before coming back up on their feet. She went for the demon that was coming at him again, fighting it with the air of a Slayer, her long brown her flowing behind her, her tatty jeans showing her skint knees. Her motions were fluid as she brandished a sword, swinging it at the demons head, decapitating it before the demon even had time to blink.
Giles heard chanting behind, mingled with sounds of a dusting vampire as he watched the portal retreat on itself from his position on the ground. The last vampire came at him, before stopping short, staring at Giles in confusion,
"Boss?" it asked before the girl that had saved him plunged a stake into it's back. She then came towards him, kneeling beside him,
"Are you -" she broke off half way through her sentence, the soft English accent disappearing. She pulled back away from him, obviously shocked by what she saw.
'But what was the girl seeing?' Giles wondered. She shook her head before scrambling to her feet,
"You're dead." She said, panic in her voice before running away from him into the night.
Spike saw the girl run and followed her, his duster flapping behind him before disappearing into the night as well. There was silence amongst the group as Willow and Tara tried to find their bearings again and Buffy stood wondering if what she had heard was true. Giles broke the silence coughing painfully as he tried to pull himself into a standing position. Buffy dropped her stake and went to her Watcher,
"Will you let me take you home now?"