Chapter 30 - The Lull Before the Storm
The vibes Buffy and Spike were giving off when they got back that day were pretty heavy. Spike was obviously terrified, and Buffy was furious. Despite that, Spike seemed, on the outside at least, just a bit psyched. Buffy's emotional state was more obvious to anyone who saw her - she just wanted revenge. If there had been some way she could get to Dawson that day, I don't think anyone'd have been able to stop her.
Well, maybe one thing. She obviously knew how Spike was feeling - maybe even better than I did. She marched him upstairs for some quiet time, and whatever she did, it seemed to work. I'm not saying it was instant, but gradually, the level of fear and agitation I could sense dissipated.
The next few weeks were quiet. Spike seemed relaxed, and everything on the Slaying front seemed quiet. Buffy's bump seemed to be growing noticeably, and Spike was just so pleased as it became more obvious.
Dr. Chan seemed sure that Buffy's pregnancy was going normally, except for the timing. Her latest estimate was that the baby should arrive in about six weeks, and the house was gradually filling with the things for the baby, and we were all getting wrapped up in the idea.
It's funny. I mean, the scoobs have been my family since High School. Mom and Dad, they're there, I mean, they make sure I don't want for anything, but, I'm closer to my friends. This baby is already part of the gang, and she would be, even if we didn't already know her.
Giles is so cute. It's like he's going to be a grandfather. He's so careful about Buffy - making sure she's not taking any chances, and he's completely changed her training. He's been reading books on exercise in pregnancy, and he's been adapting their recommendations to Buffy's, well, special abilities. Of course, even that wasn't good enough for Spike. He's taken each suggestion along to Dr. Chan and had her ok it before he's agreed.
Buffy's coped really well too. She's never been one to give up control, but she's listening to Spike more than I ever thought she would. I think she's actually enjoying the attention, but I also think she's doing it to keep Spike involved in everything. I think his reaction to Dawson freaked her. It's understandable, I suppose. I mean, whatever Spike's been, he's never been a coward. Even back in the days when he wanted to kill us all, he wasn't scared to take risks. I'd even say that it was the risk that gave him a buzz.
I'm sitting at the Magic Box research table on a Tuesday morning. I'm actually sorting out some things for Anya, because there's no really urgent research on at the moment. I've been working here fairly regularly lately. I've got to wait for a few months before I can get back into school, and I've been glad of something to do.
While I'm working, I'm thinking through what Jenna told me last night. She's planning to go home, and Giles had agreed that she should. She hasn't set a date yet, but she wanted to give me some warning.
My first reaction was, well, I was kinda nervous. I mean, knowing she's there, it's been a crutch for me. I knew she'd be able to spot if I was going bad again, and maybe she'd be able to stop me. The prospect of being without her, well, it's scary. But, it's also kinda good. I mean, it means she trusts me.
The phone rings, and Anya excuses herself from a customer. who's been dithering between two versions of the same fertility statue for twenty minutes, to answer it. She's obviously been itching for an excuse to get away from her for half that time, sensing that she's not actually going to be spending any money today.
"The Magic Box, where all your Magical needs are met," she chirps into the handset.
A moment later she continues. "No, she's not here, is it urgent?"
There's a long gap then, as Anya listens intently, but it's obvious she doesn't like what she hears, as her agitation increases steadily throughout the call.
"I see, yes, I expect to see her later, so I'll tell her. Is there a number where she can reach you?"
"Thanks, I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that."
When Anya has broken the connection, I approach her.
"What's up?" I ask, concerned at the worry I now feel emanating from Anya.
"That was Dr. Chan," she starts. "Apparently, her office was closed down this morning. Some men, they claimed to be police, marched in, ordered her and the rest of the staff off the premises, and told her there was to be an investigation into her qualifications. She qualified in Britain, and she's got all the permits and licences she needs to practise here, but they didn't believe her. She hasn't got any access even to her own files. That's why she called here. Apparently, before she was removed from the building, one of the men seemed particularly interested in finding Buffy's file. Without her files, she doesn't have Buffy's phone number, but she did remember that I'd recommended her, and that I worked here, and she wanted to warn Buffy. She's also left her own number, and offered to come and continue treating Buffy at home if she wants. She's quite a good customer, actually. More into meditation aids than anything else, she says it helps more during labour than some drugs."
"The Defenders?" I ask, changing the subject back to the problem.
"Sounds like it," she replies, picking up the phone and dialling.
Ten minutes later, Giles, Xander, Buffy and Spike all know what's happened. After so many weeks without an obvious threat, I think we were all starting to relax. We set up a meeting at the store for after everyone's finished work, although it's hard to see what a meeting's going to do. We're already pretty sure that the Defenders are behind this. If they've got hold of Buffy's records, then they know she's pregnant, and they also know about the peculiarities of that pregnancy. There're probably also blood test results in her file, and we don't know what they might be able to read into those.
When we're all together later, the mood's a strange mixture of resignation, irritation, and an undercurrent of abject terror. That's coming mainly from Spike, but, like before, it's not obvious on the outside. To the others, he's just quiet, not making his usual wisecracks.
We go over the facts again, making sure everyone is aware of the danger.
"We must assume," Giles summarises, "that the Defenders know about the child, and there's a good chance that they know that Spike's the father. They may even know about Buffy's new status. Given what we know about their plans, we've got to assume that they will want to capture Buffy."
"We know that, Watcher," Spike growls. "Question is, what're we going to do about it? Has Finn come up with anything on Dawson yet? Can't help but think he's been bloody useless so far."
"Well, no," Giles mumbles. It's obvious that he's torn between agreeing with Spike and wanting to stand up for Riley. "I understand that he's having to be careful. He can hardly just walk in and ask about her without being suspicious."
Spike humphs at that, and even Xander doesn't look completely convinced.
"So, precautions?" Giles continues.
"We've got to make sure Buffy's not alone," Spike states. "While she's at work, that's ok, I'll be there too, but I don't know how long that'll go on. You should start taking things a bit easier, Pet." He turns to Buffy as he says that last bit. I miss a lot of it, but I get the feeling they do a lot of their communication without words. I don't mean they're in each other's heads, just that they can read how the other one's feeling.
"Ok," Buffy agrees rather hesitantly. "The not being alone bit, anyway. As far as work's concerned, I'm feeling fine, and it's not as if it's physically demanding. But, remember, that's where they caught up with you. So, we're going to both start being careful, especially when the kids have gone home. Not that I think that'd stop them. I mean, they just walked in and took over a doctor's office in broad daylight. What's to stop them arresting us on trumped up charges and then making us disappear."
"There's nothing to suggest that Spike's in any particular danger," Giles states.
"Except what Dawson said last time we saw her. She wants him back, and if she hasn't made a move yet, it's only because it hasn't suited some other purpose of hers, or the people she works for."
I feel it clearly that time. It doesn't last long, just a black chill that sweeps over Spike at the memory of Dawson. Buffy feels it too, because she instantly moves closer to him, squeezing his hand a little tighter.
"What else can we do?" Giles asks.
"I've got a new protection spell I can try, I suggest. Jenna and I worked it out a couple of days ago, putting together the best parts of all the protection spells we know, but we haven't had a chance to try it yet. It should be stronger than anything I've used before. And I'll do my best to stay close to Buffy. At least, I should be able to pick up on aggressive vibes as they approach."
Giles, Anya and Xander chat back and forth for a bit, but they're not actually adding anything to what we've decided. I stop listening, just letting my mind wander around them, feeling a part of what they're feeling, and I'm so glad these people are my friends. Even Spike. It's funny. At first, I had reservations about Anya, but now, well, she's one of the gang. And Spike? Him too. And the reservations I had about him were super-sized. But he loves Buffy so much, how could he not be part of the gang? That's what brought us together. Slaying demons, sure, but it was slaying demons with Buffy that kept us together. We've faced a lot over the years, and I'd be lying if I said this didn't scare me, but we'll do it. We'll keep Buffy safe, and we'll see Dawn/Zara again. And I'm going to be an honorary auntie!
I'm just thinking about what it's going to be like, having a baby in the house, helping to take care of her, when it's as if there's a dark shadow over everything. You know, the way a sudden storm can darken the sky in summer. And then I realise I've lost it. I can't feel my friends any more. Their emotions are as closed off to me as they always were before, and through the darkness as I peer at them, I slowly see them. They're blurred and indistinct, but I recognise the shapes and contours of the people closest to me.
It's been so long that it takes several seconds for me to realise what's happened. I'm no longer seeing my friends with my magical vision. I'm seeing them with my eyes. And while that's cause for celebration, I can't help but wonder what's happened to that other sight. And then I know. Something is walking in the door, and I recognise it. It's the creature that forced me to try to kill Dawn. It said then that it's a sink for magic, and that's what it's done - it's taken my power from me. Things I'd forgotten about that day come back instantly as he approaches.
The others notice him now, too. Behind him are several armed men, guns pointed at us. I make an attempt to raise some sort of shield between us, but I know before I do it that it'll fail. I'm aware of Jenna trying something too, but, like me, she fails. Spike jumps to his feet, pushing Buffy behind him, and he's immediately joined by Giles and Xander. Somewhere in the background, I realise that Anya's teleported away.
It's a stand off. The men say nothing, and there's nothing the rest of us can do against armed men. They're obviously waiting for something, and then the door opens again.
A woman walks in. She doesn't look exceptional in any way, but the effect she has on two of our group is obvious. I don't need to be able to feel Spike's emotions to know that this is Dawson. It's written in every line of his body, as my eyes struggle to take in the detail around me. She smiles at us as she approaches, walking around her men so that she has a direct line of sight to the rest of us.
"Well, Hostile, 17," she purrs. "I told you I'd see you soon. It really was so rude of you to run off before. There were so many things I wanted to do to you. You're a spoilsport, you know that?"
She turns her gaze towards Buffy.
"And you, Miss Summers. You really had us fooled, you know? I mean, we knew you were pregnant, but, well, our tests showed us that he couldn't father a child with a human, so it just didn't occur to us that it was his. From what Finn told us about him, we thought he'd just decided to step in and take advantage of the situation since you'd been dumped by the child's father. And then we saw the blood tests at Dr. Chan's. It's only a slight difference, of course, but since we'd already done a full work up on 17, it didn't take a lot to realise that you were the same. You're no more human than he is. And, I'm going to have so much fun watching this pregnancy continue, and then fully investigating the spawn you're carrying. It's a truly unique opportunity, you know."
"Just a minute," Giles begins, looking at Jenna and me, and obviously wondering why we're not doing anything. I shake my head in his direction, and Jenna does the same.
"Oh, are you wondering what's happened to your witches? Well, my friend here," she gesticulates to the demon she has with her, "has the ability to soak up magical power. They can't do anything. And, neither can you, because my men have orders to shoot the Slayer. She might not die, but the spawn would be at risk, now wouldn't it? So, be a good little Englishman, and keep out of this."
"Let's go," she orders, and two of the men approach Spike and Buffy, going around behind them, pushing at them with the barrels of their guns.
There's absolutely nothing we can do as we watch them leave. As soon as the door closes behind them, we move as one, heading towards the door, only to see them being loaded into the back of a nondescript van. Dawson smiles back at us. I really want to wipe that smile off her face.
As the van drives away, Giles and Xander start to move towards Xander's car, when Anya reappears in front of them.
"Let me," she says. "I can follow them without being seen, and I'll let you know where they take them. It's safer this way."
They nod their heads, recognising the truth of what she says, and with a satisfied nod, she disappears again, teleporting off into the distance somewhere, leaving the rest of us to stay behind and try to come up with a way out of this.
