CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
Buffy awoke feeling completely and utterly content. It was the first time in many weeks that she'd been able to drift into consciousness rather than being awoken by what sounded like a stampede of elephants in her house. She sighed happily and stretched, lifting herself onto one elbow and gazing down at Angel.
She leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He looked as though he'd needed the sleep as much as she had. She ran her hand through his hair and smiled softly, letting her feelings of love for the handsome vampire fill her senses. If it hadn't been for him arriving when he had the night before, chances were she would have had a complete breakdown. Connor and Spike had helped her tremendously as well.
Carefully, she rolled off the bed, stilling when she stood up, ensuring that Angel hadn't woken up. He shifted in his sleep, but didn't stir. She moved to the desk and found a piece of paper and pencil, jotting down a note for her sleeping lover.
She then quickly pulled on her boots and her discarded coat and crept out of the bedroom, past the still sleeping figures of Connor and Spike and out into the rising sunlight.
She'd faced Caleb, and there was no way that she was going to allow Angel, and especially not Connor, to go up against him. He was stronger than the Beast even, and Buffy wasn't about to risk her family for that. The Gang may have had their heads buried in the sand in regards to a return attack on the vineyard, but they were right in saying that it was risky. And Buffy didn't want to risk anyone else. Not when she had only just discovered Connor, and not when things with Angel were finally as she wanted them.
With one last glance at the mansion, Buffy began the ten-mile jog to the vineyard, wanting nothing more than to get the fight with Caleb over with.
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"So, it turned out that all the stone tablets basically said the same thing," Andrew explained to the group of Potentials that sat scattered around the Summers' house. Faith leant against the doorframe nonchalantly, listening to what Andrew had to say. "The First and Caleb are protecting something and we don't know exactly what it is, but it's something powerful and they don't want the Slayers to get it. I'm thinking it could be a weapon and if we're looking for an arsenal-"
"You're not coming," Faith interjected.
Andrew didn't know whether to be relieved or upset. "If one is looking for an arsenal, what better place to find a-"
"Weapon," Faith finished.
The dark Slayer and Giles had collaborated on the plans the evening before. They'd found the most likely place for the Bringer's to be holding their weapons. It was close to the school, but in an open area that wouldn't be easily found. Xander had found the closest entrance to the arsenal, and the plan was to go in and discover what Caleb was hiding.
"Those of you who are coming with me to the arsenal, you know who you are. Everybody ready? Let's do this thing."
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It was nearly half an hour after Buffy had that anyone else in the mansion stirred. Angel woke and rolled onto his side, instinctively reaching out for Buffy. His eyes opened when he didn't feel her there, and for a moment he thought he'd maybe dreamed the entire thing and that he was still in LA. Her scent and the fact that he was in the mansion in Sunnydale told him otherwise. He wiped at his eyes and sat up, spotting a white piece of folded paper on Buffy's pillow. He reached across to grab hold of it and felt his unbeating heart begin to sink.
Dear Angel,
I'm sorry for not waking you up this morning, but this is what has to be done. You, and Connor, and probably even Spike are too important to me to risk any of you going up against Caleb. This is the work that I have to do. There was a reason that the Slayer was supposed to work alone. I don't know if I can defeat Caleb, but I will do everything I can to take him down with me. Know that I love you, and tell Connor that he is one of the very best gifts I could have ever received. Make sure your cell phone is switched on, and be ready to back me up. If I sense you within ten feet of the vineyard though, I'll make the Beast look like an amateur compared to me. I love you.
Always.
Buffy.Angel swore loudly, and moments later, Connor and Spike were at the door.
"Where's Buffy?" Connor asked, his senses reaching out, trying to feel his real mother within the mansion. Angel just held up the note with a hopeless look in his eyes.
"She's gone."
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"Heard you've got something of mine."
"Well, if it ain't the prodigal Slayer."
"Where's it at? I'm gonna find it sooner or later."
"No you're not. I lay a hand on you and you're just a dead little girl," Caleb retorted.
Buffy held her hands out, an open invitation for him to attack her. "Then lay a hand on me. If you can," she taunted.
He lunged at her, going to backhand her across the face, but Buffy quickly leant backwards. Caleb went to follow through with his other hand, but Buffy jumped over him. She looked back, saw him lunge towards her, and she quickly ducked into a roll, running and leaping onto the barrels of wine as Caleb chased after her, only to be confused by the First Evil posing as Buffy.
She continued to duck, dodge and weave away from him, further enraging Caleb. He struck out at her again, only to have his fist caught up in the shelves full of wine. Buffy ducked beneath his arm and ran to the other side of the room only to be stopped by Caleb's voice.
"You whore!"
"You know, you really should watch your language. Someone who didn't know you might think you were a woman-hating jerk."
Caleb angrily pushed a barrel to the side, and Buffy's eyes lit with a newfound discovery. Behind Caleb was a trap door, and Buffy instinctively knew that this was where she needed to be. Caleb advanced towards her, and Buffy ducked beneath his arm once more, sliding to the ground and pushing herself through the trapdoor, which closed behind her, a barrel falling on top of it.
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Meanwhile, done in the arsenal, Faith and twelve Potentials were in a battle against six Bringers, fighting in nearly total darkness except for the few flashlights they'd brought with them. Almost too easily, the battle ended, the Potentials and the dark Slayer coming out on top with no fatalities and barely any injuries.
"Is that it?" Vi asked. "I mean, not that that wasn't fun, but…"
"Yo Faith," Kennedy called, her flashlight pointing down a flight of stairs. "Check this out."
The group descended to a lower level within the sewers, Faith stealing one of the girl's flashlights as she crossed a small metal bridge to a locked box. She felt a smile about to erupt on her face. This was what they'd come for! She'd been right all along!
She smashed her boot onto the lock, effectively breaking it. She flicked the catch up and opened the box, only to have her heart plummet with fear. Inside the box was a stick of what Faith knew to be dynamite, attached to a clock that was counting down backwards.
7…6…5
"Everybody get down!"
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Much thanks for the reviews! You're all funky! Again, my apologies for not killing Cordelia, but…
K.