Episode 14: The Battle at the Bronze

Fray tied the black apron around her waist and tucked a long knife into one of the large pockets. Kennedy was doing the same and Rona, Vi, and a handful of other Slayers were standing in the storage closet grabbing weapons out of a large laundry bag that Hunter had brought back. There were also close to twenty Slayers standing outside listening to the concert. Fray could hear the heavy drum beats and the screaming guitars but she quickly shut out the noise. "Ready to go?" Fray asked Kennedy.

She flashed Fray a smiled. "The first guy that tries to feel me up gets a cold drink right in his lap."

Fray smiled and nodded. "Juts don't get my in trouble. I plan on keeping this job for a few days after we're done."

Kennedy just smiled and walked out of the back room. Fray turned to Rona. "You know what to do right?"

Rona smiled. "If we don't hear anything we come out and start kicking ass, if we hear something then we run out the back door like a bunch of scared rabbits."

Fray nodded. "Make sure you listen."

Rona nodded. "Be careful," she said. "But get Willow back."

"I will," Fray said.

Then she turned around and walked out the door and into the BRONZE. It was more crowded then it had been on opening night. The band that was playing was a local favorite and everyone was trying to crowd in to the club to see them. Fray took a few orders, got a few tips and talked some with a few of her classmates. The whole time though, she was looking around for some sign of the Timers.

Hunter came over and ordered a drink. "They have a scout," he said. "A guy over in one of the corners. I think they're waiting for everyone to leave. Tell everyone to stay even after the concert's over."

Fray nodded, handed him a drink and walked into the back room. Vi, Rona and the others were waiting around, sitting on boxes and talking. They looked up expectantly when she walked in. She told them what Hunter had told her and then walked back out into the club. It was late by the time everyone left. The only people left were the Slayers and the man in the corner. Fray walked over to him. "I think you have something that I want."

He looked up at her and she saw that his face was covered in white paint. "You're probably right," he hissed. "But you won't get her back as long as your friends are here. Get everyone out but you and your Shielder and then we'll talk."

Fray looked up. She grabbed a beer bottle off a nearby table and dropped it onto the floor. She didn't even look up as everyone started walking out of the club. She grabbed Hunter's shoulder before he could leave though. "You can stay," she whispered to him.

He nodded and went to lean against the bar. Kennedy looked at Fray and the younger girl smiled at her. Fray saw tears forming in her eyes again so she turned away and shook her head. When they were all gone she shut the door and bolted it. "Alright," she said to the man with the painted face. "Where is she?"

"Turn around," he said.

Fray spun around. Willow was standing there, her arms and legs bound and blood running out of the corner of her mouth. Five of the masked warriors stood on either side of her. Fray's stomach clenched in revulsion and she spun back towards the other man. "Let her go," Fray yelled.

The man with the painted face chuckled as he stood up. "I can't just give her to you," he said.

His voice was dry and rasping like wind blowing through dead leaves. Fray's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll take her."

The man smiled, his yellow teeth standing out against his white face. He pulled something out of his pocket and Fray saw that it was a small glowing orb. "If this is broken without being close to her, she dies. Don't tempt me or I'll shatter this all over the floor and your witch will die."

Fray's glare deepened but she didn't move. "What do you want?" she asked.

The man smiled. "I want that shiny little gem in your friend's pocket. That's what you're after and I figure that we deserve a chance at it too."

Hunter took a step forward and he looked ready to lunge but Fray stopped him with a hand. "Give me the amulet," she said.

Hunter looked at her like she was crazy. "But we need it."

"Then we'll get it back."

Hunter handed it to her. His jaw was clenched so he didn't say anything more but his hands were tightened into fists at his side. "Take it," Fray said, tossing the amulet to him. "But you'd better keep looking over your shoulder because I'll be after you until I get that back."

The man smiled again and bowed low. "Thank you my lady. But I hate to steal and leave but I have a previous appointment. My friends will finish our business though."

With a slight pop he disappeared, the amulet with him. The orb though, was now falling to the floor. Fray was about to make a move for it when a red blur shot by her and caught it in midair. Hunter turned around and tossed the orb to Fray. "Take care of Willow. I'll deal with our friends."

Fray nodded and turned towards Willow. The Wicca was now lying against the wall. Her green eyes were half closed but she smiled slightly when Fray came over to her. The younger woman ignored the sounds behind her and just cupped her hand behind Willow's head. "I'm sorry for getting you into this," Fray said.

Willow shook her head as well as she could. "No," she croaked. "I've been in worse. I was friends with Buffy, remember. You're nothing compared to her."

Fray smiled and cracked open the orb. The pale blue smoke that seemed to be filling it left the orb and flew in through Willow's nose and mouth. Fray helped Willow sit up but she was in no shape to help. Fray turned and looked at Hunter. He was attempting to take on all ten of the fighters but sweat was pouring off his body. He was fighting a losing battle. "Take this," Willow whispered, putting her hands over Fray's.

Fray felt her hands growing warm and when Willow removed them, small balls of fire lay in the palms' of Fray's hands. Willow smiled and then leaned back in the chair. "Go on," she said.

Fray clenched her fists around the balls of fire and let out a roar of battle as she turned around. Four of the warriors turned towards her and started rushing forward. Fray drew back and threw both balls of fire into their midst like baseballs. Then suddenly hey hands grew cold and when she looked down small balls of blue frost had formed. She could feel the cold running all the way through her arms and into her chest. Two of the fighters were on fire thanks to Willow and they soon disappeared. The others were still coming though. One rushed forward and Fray slammed him in the chest with her palm. He quickly froze and then shattered when he slammed into the opposite wall.

The other fighter rushed forward followed by two of his friends. Fray slammed the first one in the stomach with a sidekick and then jumped up, the side of her foot catching him in the head and snapping his neck. The other two hesitated when they saw what she was doing and Fray used that hesitation to her ability. She jumped forward and struck them both in the chest with front kicks. They both flew back and slammed into one of the tables.

Fray walked over to them and pressed both of her palms into their chests. They quickly froze and she slammed her heel into their frozen bodies and shattered them. When she turned around there were no more of the creatures left. Hunter was stumbling across the floor with blood running out of his nose. "I never knew you could work Magick."

"It's thanks to Willow."

Willow smiled. "I gave you the fire. The ice is your own creation."

Fray looked down and saw that small balls of ice were still on her hands she thought about them not being there and suddenly they weren't. Fray just shook her head. "You learn a new thing every day," Fray said.

Hunter started for the door but Fray caught his wrist. "What are you doing?"

"Going after the boss," he said. "He's got the amulet."

Fray nodded. "We'll meet again. That amulet isn't what we want. I can feel it. What we're looking for is still back in the Hellmouth. Let him keep it for now. We'll get it back soon enough."

Hunter just looked at her and then a smile broke across his face. "And the Fader's back," he said.

Fray just smiled. "Come on," she said, walking over to Willow. "Let's get the hell out of here."

Fray helped Willow up, more weight on Fray then was on the floor. Fray half walked, half carried the witch out the door and into the cool night air of New Sunnydale. All of the Slayers had surrounded the building, it looked like there were more then fifty now. Dawn, Xander, Wood, Faith, and Andrew were also standing around. Kennedy was the first to move.

She shot forward and hugged Fray and Willow at the same time. Then she hugged Willow, tears falling down her face. "Thank you," Kennedy mouthed from over Willow's shoulder.

Fray just smiled and nodded slightly. Hunter looked around and smiled. "Your family?" he asked, pointing to everyone standing around.

"Every one of them," Fray said.

Rona, Vi, and some of the other Slayers that Fray knew came forward, big smiles plastered on their faces, and started asking about how everything was. Fray answered all of their questions and then finally had to push them off. "Sorry everyone but I've got to go home. I'll come by the Coven tomorrow and answer some more alright."

Kennedy was already moving Willow away from the crowd and towards their car. Fray said hi to Dawn, Xander, Faith, Wood, and Andrew. Faith even gave Hunter a pat on the back and flashed him a rare smiled. "Come on Hunter," Fray said, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt. "Let's go home."

Hunter just smiled and let himself be steered towards the car.

When they all got to the apartment Fray helped Kennedy dress Willow's wounds and change her clothes. When she was finally in bed Fray sat down on the sofa and laid her head back on the cushions. Kennedy sat down next to her and smiled. "You should be with your girl," Fray said.

Kennedy's smiled widened. "I feel fine just knowing that she's in the next room. Thanks for getting her back."

Fray smiled. "I told you I would."

Kennedy just nodded. "What about the amulet. I mean you had to give it to the Timers."

Fray shook her head. "That wasn't what we were looking for. It will help though but we'll get it back. What we want though, it's still down in the Hellmouth. We need to go down and get it."

"I'll get some girls to help," Kennedy said.

"Make sure you don't get the ones that fought down there. It might be too much for some of them. There are weapons and skeletons, things that most of your Slayers won't want to be reminded of."

Kennedy nodded. "My girls can handle themselves but I'll make sure that they can handle it."

"Can you?" Fray asked.

Kennedy smiled and nodded. "We won, remember?"

"Yeah," Fray said. "That helps doesn't it?"

Kennedy nodded. "When do you need us?"

"Saturday," Fray said. "I've got school and work all this week. I'll ask off for Saturday."

Kennedy nodded. "Speaking of school. You'd better get your ass to bed if you want to be able to drag yourself out in the morning. It's already midnight."

Fray nodded and stood up. Hunter was sitting in the kitchen, a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. "Just a second," Fray said, walking over to him.

"Hey," she said, sitting down across from him. "Are you going to sleep tonight?"

Hunter looked up at her, dark rings circled his shocking blue eyes but he just smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine," he said. "I've still got some reserves left."

Fray shook her head. "No way," she said. "We've got school in the morning. You can sleep in my room. On the floor of course."

Hunter smiled. "Of course."

Fray smiled as she stood up and they walked towards her room. "Do you snore?" Fray asked.

"I don't know," Hunter said.

Fray smiled. "Don't worry. If I hit you in the head with a pillow in the middle of the night then you snore. If I don't, you're safe."

Hunter just smiled and walked into the bedroom. Fray turned around and smiled at Kennedy. Kennedy smiled back. "Be good," she said.

Fray laughed and walked into the bedroom.

Fray turned over in bed and looked over the edge. Hunter was lying on the floor, his arm under his pillow. His eyes were open and they seemed to glow in the dark. "Can't sleep?" he asked her.

Fray shook her head. "I'm starting to remember things. Some of my training, some of my past. I can see a giant city with flying vehicles and towering buildings. It's strange though, I'm having an inner battle. My training goes against the feeling that I have towards everyone I've met. The love, the hope, the hate and the anger that I keep feeling, it all goes against what I've learned. But I can't help thinking that my training was wrong."

Hunter looked straight into her eyes and smiled. "It was wrong and it is wrong. Emotions don't make you weak, they make you human and that's what you are. Don't ever go against what you are and what you feel."

"Do you believe that your training was wrong?" Fray asked.

Hunter nodded. "It tells me that what I'm feeling is wrong but these emotions feel right. They make me happy and it makes me work harder for people that I care about."

"So you care about the people that I have made friends with?"

"Yes," he said. "But I also care about the girl that they are friends with."

Fray was glad that it was dark so he couldn't see her blush. "What was your name where we came from?"

"Sevan," Hunter said, the name spoken as if it was a curse. "The name of a warrior that I am not worthy of."

"Who was that warrior?"

"The man who gave his DNA to make me; my father."

Fray heard him turn over and soon his breathing was regular and he was asleep but it was a long time coming for Fray.