"So, that was the dream. What do you think?"
"I don't know, Buffy. Dreams are funny things."
Buffy looked down and drummed her fingers on the reading table at the back of the Magic Box. She'd stopped in on her way to work to talk to Tara.
"I know, and I hate to dump it all on you, but I wanted to talk it over with someone who knows about stuff."
Tara smiled shyly, pleased that Buffy thought of her that way. "Well, I know about your prophetic dreams in the past, but this one might not be. Y...you've been through a lot lately." She stumbled over her words, thinking about her part in what Buffy had been through.
"It just seemed so real. Not like a dream."
"Look at it this way. Riley's back in town. You and Riley were together, and now you and Spike..."
"It's ok. You can say it. We were 'together'.... in a way."
"R..right. We're all upset about Xander and Anya, and Drusilla and Acathla figured in when you and Angel... when you and Angel broke up. Maybe your subconscious is just throwing all these things together."
"You think so?"
"Maybe. Tell you what. There's a spell I can do, to clarify prophecies. If there's anything to your dream, it should tell us. It takes a little preparation, so if you can stop by again after work, we can try that."
"That would be great. Thank you, Tara."
"Sure."
Buffy gave her friend a hug, then left the store. Tara was gathering up the spell components when she heard the bells over the door jingle.
"Can I help you find something?" She turned around, but saw no one in the store.
"Hello?"
---------------------
"Screw that. I'm leaving."
"Garrett, man, you heard what he said."
"I don't care what Hormones-for-Brains said. Besides, he'll be gone for hours. He'll never know."
"I don't know...."
"Man, aren't you hungry? Aren't you tired of being stuck in here, sucking the backwash out of Finn's empties?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts. I'm outta here. The rest of you do what you want."
Garrett pulled himself up and through the portal in the ceiling, into the sewer tunnels, and began walking, muttering to himself.
"No balls. And Finn.... he's just a whelp. Why should he be in charge over me?"
He reached a manhole marked with orange spray paint and other, darker fluids, climbed up the ladder and emerged into the alley behind Willy's Bar. He went in, sat down, and gestured for a bottle and a shot glass. He downed several shots in quick succession, then grabbed the bottle and started chugging directly from it.
"Wo-man?"
"Wha?" Garrett turned and looked at the demon next to him. It spoke slowly, lisping around it's large tusks.
"Muthhhhht be wo-man. Nothing elthhhhe make drink like that."
"Yeah, it's a woman. Not the way you think, though." He took a big swig of whiskey. "It's the damn Slayer." He slammed the bottle down on the bar. The demons surrounding him all nodded and grunted.
"Slay-er."
"Ssssshe killed mmmmmy maaaaaate."
"Gave me this!" The demon speaking held up a tentacle which was obviously missing a few feet off the end.
"Ruinsssss everythiiiiiiiiiiing."
"Damn right she does! We COULD have a sweet little thing going, me and my crew, but noooooo. God-blessed soldier boy comes in, with his 'I'm in command here!' wants to play footsie with her, instead of just killing her... or staying the hell out of her way."
"Mnnngh. Baaad."
"Ssssssssssss"
"Dude. You're fucked."
"I know." Garrett said unhappily, reaching for his bottle. He tilted it uo, but nothing came out. He held it up and squinted into it.
"Here y'go, mate." Another bottle appeared on the bar.
"Gee, thanks, man."
"It's nothing. So, tell me, what's this 'soldier boy' of yours got in mind?"
"Oh, man...." Garrett took a swig out of the new bottle. "He's just nuts. You know what?" He lowered his voice and leaned towards his new drinking companion. "I think he actually wants to turn the Slayer?!?!"
"Does he, now?"
"Yeah. Fuckin' crazy."
"Tell you what I think.... I think you need a new chief around there."
"Don't I wish. I'd take over, but, he's strong, and the others, they're just followers, man."
"Have y'thought about outside recruiting?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean me. I am the Big Bad, after all......."
---------------------
"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course I'm sure. It'll be a piece of cake. From wot you say, this Finn's a nancy-boy, he is. And the rest of that motley excuse for a gang will fold right up once we take 'im out. Either that, or they're dust. Then, you an' me, we take over things."
"Well... I don't know. There's four of them, and two of us...." Garrett swayed drunkenly, reaching a hand out to steady himself against the alley wall.
"Man, haven't you been listening to me? I've killed two Slayers. Even took out Angelus, the Scourge of Europe, all by meself!"
"Really?"
"Well... I did 'ave me a little help. But she just distracted him, while I did all the work. Here, 'ave another drink."
Garrett took a gulp out of the offered bottle, and hiccupped softly.
"Whass a 'nancy-boy', anyhow?"
"Look, and here's the sewer entrance! You go first, mate. Lead the way. Mind you, there's no....."
Garrett disappeared down the open manhole. There was a loud splash. Water splattered out on the street.
"...ladder."