Part Six
***Somewhere over the Atlantic***
He honestly wondered why all these bad things just kept on happening to him.
Now, he was well aware that some people that it worse. He himself had been spared the bad vibes/dreams that had been affecting his friends and other people. And that was something he was grateful for, because looking at those clued into the evil feeling vibes, he could tell it was hell on them. All three girls, Buffy, Dawn, and this Fred girl, looked tired and haunted. Dawn was forever biting her lip, something she must have picked up from Willow. Buffy was going at the punching bag like there was no tomorrow, and this Fred girl, well she just plain pale in the face and shaking almost constantly. He knew they had it bad, even worse than him.
But it didn't stop him from lamenting the situation he had been stuck in. Groaning inwardly at the thought, Xander shifted in his seat, looking across the aisle at the girls seated in the middle.
They were on a plane to England, with the exception of Buffy, Angel, Gunn, their green demon friend, and Cordelia, because she was missing. The LA crew had made their arrival in Sunnydale the day after Xander had collected Anya. Angel had made the plane reservations ahead of time, booking the flight for the five of them.
And who would that five be, you might wonder? Well, it was him, Dawn, Anya, Fred, and Connor, Angel's kid. Angel had a kid, can you believe it? Xander wasn't aware that was even possible. In fact, he knew it wasn't possible, and yet, there he was. All possible and the such.
Buffy had insisted on them going, to meet with Giles like the man had instructed a day or two ago. Xander wasn't sure when. With all the fear and activity as of late, the days were just kind of melting into one another. He was very tired but entirely too wound up to do anything about it.
He looked back across the aisle, seeing the three girls seated there. Dawn was still pouting, leaning her head on Anya's shoulder as she glared into nothingness. The youngest Summers had not appreciated being sent off while her sister remained in the line of fire. But Buffy had put her foot down. And when the Slayer puts her foot down, there isn't much room left to argue about it.
Besides, Buffy needed to stay in the States at least until they had come up with a solution to the whole Faith situation. It was agreed that they could not just leave the Slayer in a prison cell where whoever was obviously coming could get at her no problem. And there was the odd chance that they would need Faith's help in the end. Buffy had been sceptical to the notion that Faith could do any good, but Angel had held firm. And for once, the two didn't argue about it. They knew that either way, Faith was coming out. They just didn't know how yet.
Anya was a nervous wreck. The Dark Mark business had scared the shit out of the former demon. And once she had explained to him why, Xander couldn't really blame her for it. After all, this Voldemort guy sounded like real bad news. And just the thought that he could kill a person with just a flick of his wrist and few mumbled words, well, that didn't sit well with Xander either. As well, the guy seemed to be just plain sadistic as well. Anya had gone off to Memory Lane, dragging up everything she could remember of the guy. And all the stuff she had seen firsthand. It had been horrible to say the least.
Fred, well, he didn't really know Fred well enough to know what the girl was thinking. He had heard her story from Angel and Gunn, something that made him feel infinitely sorry for the girl. Five years in a world where humans were treated like beasts of burden? He couldn't imagine what she had been through. And what was going on with her now. Angel mentioned the things she had said. Stuff like the earth being poisoned and all living things withering away into death. It sent chills up his spine, way worse than when he had heard about Buffy and Dawn's vibes and dreams. Murder and death is one thing, but poison in the very earth? That was something new for him.
Xander gave another sigh, turning away from the girls to glance at the figure sitting rather stubbornly next to him. Connor, Angel's boy, had not been happy about being sent on this trip. He also hated it when his father had hunted him down and dragged him to Sunnydale. Connor refused to go at first. In fact, he had tried to physically repulse the notion of it, but against Angel and Buffy, he stood no real chance. There was some bad blood going on between the boy and the LA crew. Something very very bad, involving an underwater coffin. Xander hadn't really wanted details about it.
But the Council, meaning Giles, Buffy, and Deadboy had agreed that having Connor run about on his own at a time like this would not be a good idea. Same reasoning behind sending Dawn away applied to the boy. Whatever was out there, and whatever it had to do with this Voldemort guy, should not have the chance to get at a magically prophecized baby or a mystical ball of energy turned human. The two teenagers were entirely too magical, full of too much power, to just be left so unprotected. They had to go to the Council, to seek whatever protection they had to offer.
And Giles had offered them a hell of a lot of protection. The Watcher had assured them all that he had found the safest place for them. He just needed to get confirmation before he could send them. And anyway, they had to wait on all the Slayers in Training to be brought to London as well. Xander had been stunned to hear that Giles had recalled all the Watchers to London, a desperate move no doubt. It didn't make him feel any better about the whole situation in the least. Xander had the sinking feeling that all of this was way over their heads.
But back to why it sucked to be him at the moment. It really did suck to be him. Apparently, whatever Connor had done to Angel had made Fred very angry. So angry to the point where she wouldn't even look at the boy. So that meant that having her keep an eye on him was totally out of the question.
Guess who the job fell to then?
Xander sighed, shifting in his seat again. He did not like the idea of being responsible for Angel's kid. Given his own track record with Deadboy you'd think that Angel would also be against it. But no, Xander had been ordered to watch over the magic not-so-much-a-baby-anymore not only by the vampire, but by Buffy herself. So he was stuck, guarding this boy that apparently hated everyone even remotely associated with his father. And even though Xander may dislike his father more than Connor did, the boy was not being very social.
Xander couldn't help but think that it would end badly.
***
***Hogwarts, England***
"It's happening Minerva."
Minerva McGonagall sighed, hanging her head a bit. There was fear in her heart now, much greater than the one she had been harbouring before. In the summer time, it had been in anticipation of what the Dark Lord would do next. And now, it was outright fear of what it seemed like he was doing.
"But why them?" she asked tearfully. "Why those girls? The Slayers have nothing to do with our World. They are Muggles, creatures destined for the Muggle World and that world alone. What does he seek to gain Albus?"
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, could only shake his head in confusion.
"I have no idea what he means to do," the professor revealed with a sigh. "But it cannot be good for anyone, Muggle or Wizard alike. He is planning something much larger than before."
"What are we going to do?" Professor McGonagall asked in the same tearful tone as before.
"First, we begin by agreeing to this letter," he replied, waving the parchment in his right hand. "We must work together with the Council if we are to have any hope of stopping this."
"But, will we have enough room?" McGonagall asked nervously. "I mean, there are so many of them."
"We will make room," Dumbledore dismissed. "Worry not about those little details Minerva. Our real problem lays with the Ministry and Cornelius Fudge. I have no doubt that even in light of all these occurances he will deny the very idea of Voldemort's return. He will dismiss it as a Watcher's problem, nothing for the Wizarding World to be involved in."
"How could he deny any of it?" McGonagall demanded. "There are Death Eaters out there in the Muggle World, hunting these people down. Their problems are our problems."
"And I agree with you completely in that respect," Dumbledore assured her. "If Cornelius cannot be moved on the subject, then I fear we will have to go around him."
"Around him?" McGonagall repeated.
"Yes," Dumbledore affirmed. "If Fudge refuses to act, then the Council and I will have no choice but to turn to the Aurors and other Ministry leaders. We have no time for Fudge's fears and delusions, things must be done, and done quickly."
"What are we to tell the students?"
"The truth," he replied without a blink. "I will not hide from them the very real horrors going on outside. They need to be alert and ready."
"But the Slytherins-"
"Must be given a fair chance," Dumbledore finished for her. "We will see where their loyalties lie. Do not fear Minerva, even if they turn out to be the very thing we feared, they will not be a threat. Hogwarts will not fall to Voldemort. It did not in the past, and it will not now."
McGonagall nodded, watching quietly as Dumbledore moved to attach a post to an owl, the one that had arrived with the request in the first place.
"But first things first," Dumbledore stated firmly. "We must ready the school. Our guests should be arriving in mere days."
***
***Giles Manor, England***
"He said he would save me for last."
Giles groaned, shutting his eyes and putting a hand to his forehead. It never rains, it pours.
"This person, this Voldemort guy," Willow pushed, ignoring his noise of frustration. "He's after the Slayers and apparently after me. Now tell me Giles, what the hell is going on?"
"I don't know," Giles revealed. "We know it has something to do with the Death Eaters, and with Voldemort, but not like it was in the past. There is something different this time, something far more sinister than before."
"Why would he take Spike?" Willow broke in. "Why like this? He has his soul now, he couldn't very well help him. And besides, Spike hates working for other people."
"Well, Spike did say they asked him about the Slayers in Training," Giles mused, looking down at the sleeping vampire on his couch. "Perhaps he thought he could extract information from him."
"But they would have gotten more information from a Watcher," Willow disagreed. "I mean, they killed like what, six? Why didn't they take one as prisoner to ask about the Slayer? After all, you guys are the living experts on the subject. It's kind of your job to be."
"Well, yes," Giles nodded, offering a faint smile to the redhead. "It would seem more logical to take one of us-"
"So what does Spike know about Slayers that makes him so important?" Willow demanded. Giles stilled, eyes widening.
"He's killed two," the man whispered. "And he's worked alongside Buffy for many years now. If you wanted information on Buffy and her weaknesses, who else would you go to for information?"
Willow tensed, sending a panicked look Spike's way.
"He said he escaped," she murmured. "Meaning that they probably weren't done with him at that point."
"No," Giles agreed. "They probably weren't."
Willow reached out, stroking some blonde hair away from the vampire's forehead.
"When he recovers, we could have a better idea of what's going on," Willow mused. "We should take him with us."
Giles froze at that, looking at Willow sharply.
"Do you know how hard it would be to convince them to let a vampire on grounds?" he demanded.
"Spike has a chip," Willow reminded him. "And a soul. I doubt he would be a threat to anyone. And besides Giles, you know I'm right."
Giles sighed, dropping his head into his hands. She was right, Spike would be better off with Willow than anywhere else. And if the enemy was indeed still after him . . . they wouldn't be able to get their hands on him in there.
"Very well," Giles sighed. "I will write to the Headmaster and ask for permission to bring Spike along. I can make no guarantees though Willow."
Willow nodded, taking her seat by the sleeping Spike.
"Well, we have to try at least, don't we?"
*****
***Somewhere over the Atlantic***
He honestly wondered why all these bad things just kept on happening to him.
Now, he was well aware that some people that it worse. He himself had been spared the bad vibes/dreams that had been affecting his friends and other people. And that was something he was grateful for, because looking at those clued into the evil feeling vibes, he could tell it was hell on them. All three girls, Buffy, Dawn, and this Fred girl, looked tired and haunted. Dawn was forever biting her lip, something she must have picked up from Willow. Buffy was going at the punching bag like there was no tomorrow, and this Fred girl, well she just plain pale in the face and shaking almost constantly. He knew they had it bad, even worse than him.
But it didn't stop him from lamenting the situation he had been stuck in. Groaning inwardly at the thought, Xander shifted in his seat, looking across the aisle at the girls seated in the middle.
They were on a plane to England, with the exception of Buffy, Angel, Gunn, their green demon friend, and Cordelia, because she was missing. The LA crew had made their arrival in Sunnydale the day after Xander had collected Anya. Angel had made the plane reservations ahead of time, booking the flight for the five of them.
And who would that five be, you might wonder? Well, it was him, Dawn, Anya, Fred, and Connor, Angel's kid. Angel had a kid, can you believe it? Xander wasn't aware that was even possible. In fact, he knew it wasn't possible, and yet, there he was. All possible and the such.
Buffy had insisted on them going, to meet with Giles like the man had instructed a day or two ago. Xander wasn't sure when. With all the fear and activity as of late, the days were just kind of melting into one another. He was very tired but entirely too wound up to do anything about it.
He looked back across the aisle, seeing the three girls seated there. Dawn was still pouting, leaning her head on Anya's shoulder as she glared into nothingness. The youngest Summers had not appreciated being sent off while her sister remained in the line of fire. But Buffy had put her foot down. And when the Slayer puts her foot down, there isn't much room left to argue about it.
Besides, Buffy needed to stay in the States at least until they had come up with a solution to the whole Faith situation. It was agreed that they could not just leave the Slayer in a prison cell where whoever was obviously coming could get at her no problem. And there was the odd chance that they would need Faith's help in the end. Buffy had been sceptical to the notion that Faith could do any good, but Angel had held firm. And for once, the two didn't argue about it. They knew that either way, Faith was coming out. They just didn't know how yet.
Anya was a nervous wreck. The Dark Mark business had scared the shit out of the former demon. And once she had explained to him why, Xander couldn't really blame her for it. After all, this Voldemort guy sounded like real bad news. And just the thought that he could kill a person with just a flick of his wrist and few mumbled words, well, that didn't sit well with Xander either. As well, the guy seemed to be just plain sadistic as well. Anya had gone off to Memory Lane, dragging up everything she could remember of the guy. And all the stuff she had seen firsthand. It had been horrible to say the least.
Fred, well, he didn't really know Fred well enough to know what the girl was thinking. He had heard her story from Angel and Gunn, something that made him feel infinitely sorry for the girl. Five years in a world where humans were treated like beasts of burden? He couldn't imagine what she had been through. And what was going on with her now. Angel mentioned the things she had said. Stuff like the earth being poisoned and all living things withering away into death. It sent chills up his spine, way worse than when he had heard about Buffy and Dawn's vibes and dreams. Murder and death is one thing, but poison in the very earth? That was something new for him.
Xander gave another sigh, turning away from the girls to glance at the figure sitting rather stubbornly next to him. Connor, Angel's boy, had not been happy about being sent on this trip. He also hated it when his father had hunted him down and dragged him to Sunnydale. Connor refused to go at first. In fact, he had tried to physically repulse the notion of it, but against Angel and Buffy, he stood no real chance. There was some bad blood going on between the boy and the LA crew. Something very very bad, involving an underwater coffin. Xander hadn't really wanted details about it.
But the Council, meaning Giles, Buffy, and Deadboy had agreed that having Connor run about on his own at a time like this would not be a good idea. Same reasoning behind sending Dawn away applied to the boy. Whatever was out there, and whatever it had to do with this Voldemort guy, should not have the chance to get at a magically prophecized baby or a mystical ball of energy turned human. The two teenagers were entirely too magical, full of too much power, to just be left so unprotected. They had to go to the Council, to seek whatever protection they had to offer.
And Giles had offered them a hell of a lot of protection. The Watcher had assured them all that he had found the safest place for them. He just needed to get confirmation before he could send them. And anyway, they had to wait on all the Slayers in Training to be brought to London as well. Xander had been stunned to hear that Giles had recalled all the Watchers to London, a desperate move no doubt. It didn't make him feel any better about the whole situation in the least. Xander had the sinking feeling that all of this was way over their heads.
But back to why it sucked to be him at the moment. It really did suck to be him. Apparently, whatever Connor had done to Angel had made Fred very angry. So angry to the point where she wouldn't even look at the boy. So that meant that having her keep an eye on him was totally out of the question.
Guess who the job fell to then?
Xander sighed, shifting in his seat again. He did not like the idea of being responsible for Angel's kid. Given his own track record with Deadboy you'd think that Angel would also be against it. But no, Xander had been ordered to watch over the magic not-so-much-a-baby-anymore not only by the vampire, but by Buffy herself. So he was stuck, guarding this boy that apparently hated everyone even remotely associated with his father. And even though Xander may dislike his father more than Connor did, the boy was not being very social.
Xander couldn't help but think that it would end badly.
***
***Hogwarts, England***
"It's happening Minerva."
Minerva McGonagall sighed, hanging her head a bit. There was fear in her heart now, much greater than the one she had been harbouring before. In the summer time, it had been in anticipation of what the Dark Lord would do next. And now, it was outright fear of what it seemed like he was doing.
"But why them?" she asked tearfully. "Why those girls? The Slayers have nothing to do with our World. They are Muggles, creatures destined for the Muggle World and that world alone. What does he seek to gain Albus?"
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, could only shake his head in confusion.
"I have no idea what he means to do," the professor revealed with a sigh. "But it cannot be good for anyone, Muggle or Wizard alike. He is planning something much larger than before."
"What are we going to do?" Professor McGonagall asked in the same tearful tone as before.
"First, we begin by agreeing to this letter," he replied, waving the parchment in his right hand. "We must work together with the Council if we are to have any hope of stopping this."
"But, will we have enough room?" McGonagall asked nervously. "I mean, there are so many of them."
"We will make room," Dumbledore dismissed. "Worry not about those little details Minerva. Our real problem lays with the Ministry and Cornelius Fudge. I have no doubt that even in light of all these occurances he will deny the very idea of Voldemort's return. He will dismiss it as a Watcher's problem, nothing for the Wizarding World to be involved in."
"How could he deny any of it?" McGonagall demanded. "There are Death Eaters out there in the Muggle World, hunting these people down. Their problems are our problems."
"And I agree with you completely in that respect," Dumbledore assured her. "If Cornelius cannot be moved on the subject, then I fear we will have to go around him."
"Around him?" McGonagall repeated.
"Yes," Dumbledore affirmed. "If Fudge refuses to act, then the Council and I will have no choice but to turn to the Aurors and other Ministry leaders. We have no time for Fudge's fears and delusions, things must be done, and done quickly."
"What are we to tell the students?"
"The truth," he replied without a blink. "I will not hide from them the very real horrors going on outside. They need to be alert and ready."
"But the Slytherins-"
"Must be given a fair chance," Dumbledore finished for her. "We will see where their loyalties lie. Do not fear Minerva, even if they turn out to be the very thing we feared, they will not be a threat. Hogwarts will not fall to Voldemort. It did not in the past, and it will not now."
McGonagall nodded, watching quietly as Dumbledore moved to attach a post to an owl, the one that had arrived with the request in the first place.
"But first things first," Dumbledore stated firmly. "We must ready the school. Our guests should be arriving in mere days."
***
***Giles Manor, England***
"He said he would save me for last."
Giles groaned, shutting his eyes and putting a hand to his forehead. It never rains, it pours.
"This person, this Voldemort guy," Willow pushed, ignoring his noise of frustration. "He's after the Slayers and apparently after me. Now tell me Giles, what the hell is going on?"
"I don't know," Giles revealed. "We know it has something to do with the Death Eaters, and with Voldemort, but not like it was in the past. There is something different this time, something far more sinister than before."
"Why would he take Spike?" Willow broke in. "Why like this? He has his soul now, he couldn't very well help him. And besides, Spike hates working for other people."
"Well, Spike did say they asked him about the Slayers in Training," Giles mused, looking down at the sleeping vampire on his couch. "Perhaps he thought he could extract information from him."
"But they would have gotten more information from a Watcher," Willow disagreed. "I mean, they killed like what, six? Why didn't they take one as prisoner to ask about the Slayer? After all, you guys are the living experts on the subject. It's kind of your job to be."
"Well, yes," Giles nodded, offering a faint smile to the redhead. "It would seem more logical to take one of us-"
"So what does Spike know about Slayers that makes him so important?" Willow demanded. Giles stilled, eyes widening.
"He's killed two," the man whispered. "And he's worked alongside Buffy for many years now. If you wanted information on Buffy and her weaknesses, who else would you go to for information?"
Willow tensed, sending a panicked look Spike's way.
"He said he escaped," she murmured. "Meaning that they probably weren't done with him at that point."
"No," Giles agreed. "They probably weren't."
Willow reached out, stroking some blonde hair away from the vampire's forehead.
"When he recovers, we could have a better idea of what's going on," Willow mused. "We should take him with us."
Giles froze at that, looking at Willow sharply.
"Do you know how hard it would be to convince them to let a vampire on grounds?" he demanded.
"Spike has a chip," Willow reminded him. "And a soul. I doubt he would be a threat to anyone. And besides Giles, you know I'm right."
Giles sighed, dropping his head into his hands. She was right, Spike would be better off with Willow than anywhere else. And if the enemy was indeed still after him . . . they wouldn't be able to get their hands on him in there.
"Very well," Giles sighed. "I will write to the Headmaster and ask for permission to bring Spike along. I can make no guarantees though Willow."
Willow nodded, taking her seat by the sleeping Spike.
"Well, we have to try at least, don't we?"
*****