"So, what did
you guys talk about out on the dance floor? From the looks you guys had on your
faces, it was something pretty serious."
"Oh, you, me, Faith."
"Faith? What about her."
Buffy's tone had done a total 180 in just seconds.
"Well, I just wanted to know what she was like. I mean her being the Slayer
before me. You know, just a little common info."
"Oh. Well, that's, uh, different. I never thought about the girl before
me."
"Well, I only did because Dorian made me read all the Watcher's journals.
Boring MUCH!!"
Buffy just laughed.
"Sounds like it's not all smooth and narrow on this path."
"Well, we have our differences, but we have learned to get along. So,
what'd you and Clay talk about?"
"Well, you, me, and you some more. He's totally into you girl. You guys got
something special. I can sense it."
"I know. I, gosh, he's just so great. I mean he always understands me. We
have like this connection. I can feel him."
"You mean like a tingle goes up your spine, but it's not of the vampy
type. Then your stomach starts doing flip flops."
"How'd you know?"
"Angel and me can sense one another. When he's in a room, I don't even have
to look for him any more, I can just walk around the house and feel him. It's
great for hide and go seek."
Chris gave her a funny look.
"Don't ask."
"You know its not good for little girl's to be
out after dark by themselves."
"Marcus, how many times do I have to kick your ass?"
"Well, seeing as how I'm going to kick yours this time, none."
"Ok, let's get this over with."
Buffy signaled for Chris to head around behind him.
"What's this? Looks like we've got a new player in the gang."
Buffy gritted her teeth and lunged at him. She did a flying roundhouse and
landed a solid kick to the side of his head. He fell to the ground, but
recovered quickly. Just as he was regaining his footing, Buffy did a snap kick
and knocked him down again. Chris signaled to Buffy to let her go a few rounds.
"Fresh blood. And so young. I'll be done with you in no time."
"Oh, Marcus, did I forget to introduce you? This is Chris, the Vampire
Slayer."
"What? How are there two. There may only be ONE Slayer."
"Well, see, I messed that up when I died. OOPS!!"
"Nice to," she kicked him in the head, "meet you."
He went down hard, and Chris pulled the stake from her waistband.
"This is my stake...this is my stake in your heart...Any questions?"
"Nice. Great moves."
"Thanks. Well, guess we better make one more sweep and then get back
home."
"Yeah. So, you guys get a lot of Vamps in Texas?"
"Well, probably not as many as you guys, seeing as how you are on the
Hellmouth, but we get our share. Lately it's been pretty slow though. That's a
good thing. I am so behind in school."
"Well, if you need her too, I'm sure Will can get you caught up in no time.
Although, I doubt that's what you want to be doing over your vacation. But, if
you need it, just let me or Will know."
"Thanks. I might take you up on that."
The girls made one more sweep and headed home.
"Buffy? Is that you?"
"Yeah Mom. Hey, I have someone I want you to meet. Come in the living
room."
A blond woman in khaki's and a peach colored polo shirt walked into the living
room with a towel over her shoulder.
"Hello. I am guessing you're Chris."
"Yes, and I am guessing you're Mrs. Summers."
"That would be correct. But, you can call me Joyce. It's very nice to meet
you. Buffy, Angel and the rest of the guys stopped by to grab their stuff, but
then they headed back to the mansion."
"Oh, Thanks mom. I was just going to grab something I needed and then head
back over there. But, we better hurry before Xander and Angel kill each other.
Oh, has Giles called? I haven't seen him all day."
"Uh, no, not that I can remember. You might check with Angel. He might have
called over there."
"Ok Mom thanks."
"You guys better get outta here soon, it's getting really late."
"Love you."
'Love you too. Come on Chris."
Chris and Buffy ran up to her room. Chris couldn't believe how much her room
looked like a normal girl's. It had stuffed animals, posters, pictures of her
friends, but very few. She figured they were over at, the mansion? Angel must be
like rich. She got excited thinking about it. She noticed that Buffy was
sitting down in front of a chest. She saw on top there were pictures, ice
skates, and awards won. She pulled up the top tray and underneath was like a
Slayer's dream. Stakes, crosses, holy water, crossbow bolts, garlic, everything
you would need to dust an entire, almost, army of vamps. She had something like
that at her house. She realized she was missing her mom. She figured she'd ask
Angel or Buffy if she could call her mom when they got back to Buffy and Angel's
place. She sat down on the bed as Buffy filled a bag with some Slayer supplies
and some clothes. She grabbed a very worn leather jacket out of her closet and
put it on and zipped the bag.
"You ready?"
"Yeah. I thought you were living with Angel though."
"Well, I still stay here every once in a while. Just to help mom out with
Dawn and stuff. By the way, Dawn is my sister. It's a really long story and
it's difficult to explain. When we have a really long free moment, I'll tell
you about it. But, for right now, just know, she's my sister. You might get to
meet her later. A lot has been going on. But Mom is right, we gotta get
going."
The two girls walked out of the house and got into Chris's car and drove over to
the mansion. Buffy was surprised to find that it was quiet when they walked up
to the house.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
"Oh, hey, shhh."
"What?"
"We're watching a movie...Apocalypse Now."
"Xander? Do you ever get enough of that movie?"
"No. It's the best."
"Whatever. Angel, has Giles called?"
"No. Why?"
"I was just wondering. I haven't heard from him all day. Will, have you
been to the magic shop?"
"Uh, yeah, but Anya was running the shop. Giles wasn't there. She said
he was out."
"Well, I am gonna call him."
She ran off into the bedroom.
"Hey babe. How was patrol?"
"Oh, usual. We dusted some vamp that seemed to know Buffy pretty well.
Marcus or something like that. I had the honor of dusting his raunchy
butt."
"Good for you."
"Hey, I am gonna go and give mom a call. I am missin her. I'll be back in a
minute."
Chris kissed Clay on the cheek and ran off into the kitchen.
"Uh, we have a problem major! Giles isn't answering his phone and I called
the Magic shop and Anya said he hasn't been in and he hasn't contacted her all
day. I think we lost Giles. Where's Chris? I wanna head over to his house and
check it out."
"I'll go with you guys."
"Sure Angel. Whatever...grab some stakes."
"I'm going to."
"I dunno Clay. You better check with Chris."
"Check with me about what?"
"We can't find Giles, so we're heading over to his house to check it out.
Clay wants to come with me you and Angel."
"Sure. He can take care of himself. Let's go."
The four walked out of the house and climbed into Chris's car.
They drove over to
Giles's and found his door standing wide open.
"Ok, this is never a good sign. Angel, Clay, I want you guys to check all
the local demon hangouts and talk to Spike too. See if he knows where he might
be. I wanna find Giles, and I want him in one piece."
Angel and Clay nodded and started off on foot.
"Hey, take my car. You'll get there faster."
She tossed the keys to Angel.
"Thanks."
"He does know how to drive right?"
"Of course. Now help me look around and see what, if anything, is
missing."
Buffy and Chris fanned out across the small apartment.
"Hey, Buffy, I think there might of been a fight."
Buffy ran into the little kitchen.
"Why?"
"Uh, well, the fact that there's broken
glasses and some blood on the floor is a definite wig factor."
"Just let's calm down and think. Ok, we need Willow."
"I got my cell. Call her."
Buffy took the offered phone and dialed Angel's number.
"Hello? Angel's."
"Hey, Will, I need you to get the books and let Xander look through them
and you research on the net. I wanna know any rituals that are suppose to be
going on within the next 2 weeks. Something fishy is up and it's going down
soon. They have my Watcher, whoever they are, and I want him back!"
"Ok, Buff, you got it. We'll see you guys when you get here. And Buffy,
don't worry. Giles is strong."
"I know. I won't. Thanks Will. Later."
"Ok, why don't we hit the cemeteries and Willy's? I bet I can beat some
information out of him tonight."
Buffy and Chris walked out the door, Buffy shutting it behind her.
"Hello Willy. How's it going?"
"Oh, Buffy, fine."
Willy hated it when the Slayer came into his joint. She always ran off all the
customers.
"What can I do for ya today?"
"Well, I seem to be missing my Watcher. Would you know anything about that?
Any new rituals coming up or anything?"
"Uhh, no, I don't know nothin. Honest."
"Well, Willy, you see this young lady right here?"
Willy just nodded.
"This here is my friend Chris. She's also a Slayer, and if you're lying,
we're both gonna come back and open up a big can of whoop ass on you. Got
me?"
Will nodded sheepishly again. Buffy and Chris turned around to leave.
"Wait."
Buffy smiled to herself.
"Yes?"
"Ok, I heard something last night. Something about a ritual that'll change
the person in charge, if you know what I mean. It's big. Very hush hush."
"Who's involved in this very hush hush operation?"
"Some commando boys. They come in here and have a drink every once in a
while. They know about you Slayer. One of them knows you."
"Who?"
"There's a lot of them. I don't know."
Buffy signaled to Chris and she stepped forward and grabbed Willy's shirt.
"Willy, don't make me hurt you. I really don't like doing this."
"Ok, ok. Riley, I think is his name. He was tellin his boys about having a
class with you or something."
"Oh god. Not Riley. So that's why he's been hangin around me lately."
"What's this ritual gonna do?"
"Well, its gonna allow these commandos and whoever's running that mess of
an operation to control demons. Make them do their will and crap like that.
Wonder why they need that British guy?"
"I don't know. But you better hope nothing happens to him, or it'll be your
head."
Buffy and Chris turned around and walked out of the bar.
"Nice job. You really had him convinced you were gonna kick his butt!"
"Yeah, took a few acting classes."
They both giggled.
"Well, let's head back to Angel's. Maybe they've found something."
