Chapter Five
Silence. Heavy, layered, stunned silence. Giles was attempting to form words, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound was emitted. Cordelia looked as though may faint and Oz as though he'd just seen a ghost. Xander fell into the chair behind him, his mouth hanging open and astonishment in his eyes. Buffy looked almost insulted.
"It's been a long time," Willow spoke coolly as she stepped into the Magic Box, letting the door close behind her.
Shaking himself from his stupor Giles stepped from behind the counter. "Willow?"
Buffy, however, moved straight to the point, "What do you want?"
"Right," Willow's eyes turned cold, her tone harsh. "It's nice to see you too, Buffy. Oh and by the way I've been doing just fine since you ran me out of town six years ago. Not that you even care."
Buffy's face softened. "Willow – "
"Don't Buffy," the redhead interrupted. "An apology now, from you, would be pointless and in vain and done only to make yourself feel better about the way you treated me. So let's just skip the whole kiss-and-makeup reunion, okay?"
Buffy starred at Willow as though the redhead had struck her. She regretted the way things had ended between them, that Willow could see in her old friend's eyes, but she wasn't willing to forgive or forget. Willow, on the other hand, had never fully recovered from the events that had driven her from her childhood home and turned her friends against her. What the Scooby's had done to Willow was not something she'd ever forget and forgiveness was just too much to ask.
Turning away from Buffy Willow spoke, "Giles, I'm assuming you've been briefed on the situation."
Looking very much taken aback Giles stumbled over his response, "Oh, um, well, yes I suppose so, but – "
Lifting her hand Willow silence his stuttering and asked, "You have spoken to Head Watcher Travers, right?" Giles nodded. "Did he disclose any of the details concerning the matter?" This time Giles shook his head and Willow sighed. "Figures. That pompous airbag, he couldn't tie his shoes without proper assistance."
"Wait a second," Cordelia chimed in. "How do you know about all this?"
Rolling her eyes Willow starred at her old childhood tormenter. "Still not the brightest thing are you, Cordy? Let me spell this out for you, okay? An organization known as the Demon Alliance has enlisted the aid of a rather powerful shaman by the name of Dé'sa who has placed all of you under a hypnotic spell. Are you following me so far?" Willow's question was met by looks of confusion and she smiled to herself. "Unknown to you is the fact that Dé'sa's control over your sleeping mind, that is your subconscious, is total meaning there's a possibility that at any given time of any given day you are acting under his command. Now, seeing as Hope is in your care and at risk of suffering because of the manipulation against you the Watcher's Council has deemed this situation within their jurisdiction and, as such, dispatched a team or, more specifically, my team, to place you under quarantine until after the resolution of this situation."
Huffing, Buffy stepped forward. "So let me get this straight," her voice was strained and Willow knew she was struggling to conceal her anger. "You're working for the Council who has sent you here to quarantine us because a shaman has worked his mojo and we're now a threat to Hope?"
"Well," Willow grinned, "there's more to it then that but you lack the proper authorization to be enlightened as to the full situation at hand so for now, yes, that's all you need to know."
"So," Cordelia spoke, "where's your team?"
Willow, who had thought Spike and Drusilla had followed her inside, turned around and sighed. "I swear," she muttered to herself. "If I could kill those two I would." Cupping her hands over her mouth Willow whistled softly, mimicking a robin's call. "Show Boy. Night Hawk," she snapped. "Fall in!"
Spike and Dru hurried inside, muttering apologies.
"Oh – "
"My – "
"God – "
Peering over Willow's shoulder Spike and Dru couldn't help but laugh. Giles, Xander and Buffy starred like characters out of Three Stooges movie and, unable to resist, Team Songbird returned:
"Larry – "
"Moe – "
"Curly – "
Their mouths moving, attempting to form coherent thought, the Scooby's starred at the threesome. But, before any of the them regained the ability of speech Willow's call phone rang. Pressing the speaker-phone button Willow answered it, "Rosenberg here."
From the microphone, attached to her phone, tucked into one of the many holders at her belt, a static voice asked, "Have the birds landed?"
"Yes, sir," Willow replied. "The birds have entered the roost."
"Nicely done, Pioneer."
Nodding to her Team, smiling, Willow answered, "Thank you, sir. And our orders?"
"Team Songbird is to search and destroy."
"Copy that Command."
"Good luck, Pioneer."
Grinning at the joke between herself and Bruckheim Willow responded, "Luck is for the weak, sir."
"Who was that?"
Ignoring Xander's question Willow faced Buffy. "Agent Rosenberg. First Division Council Infantry and Commander of Team Songbird. By orders of my superiors and by the authority of the Council of Watchers I hereby place you under quarantined arrest until further notice. Any violation of these orders will result in immediate and severe retribution followed by imprisonment and trial before the Council. Have I made myself clear?"
"No," Buffy spoke defiantly. "I will not follow such ludicrous orders from a bunch of old guys half way across the world and I will not sit back a let you place us under quarantine."
Willow's face turned to stone and Buffy took an involuntary step back as the redhead moved towards her, as did the others. "You don't want to fuck with me, Buffy," the redhead threatened. "I'm not the mousy, defenseless little hacker you turned your back on. You will do as I tell you or you'll have to deal with me and don't be so sure that you'll come out victorious."
Buffy didn't respond. Instead she looked away and Willow's eyes fell upon the others who did the same. Satisfied that her point was made Willow turned and headed towards the door, followed by Spike and Drusilla. "Oh," Willow stopped, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll be in contact."
With that she closed the door behind her and left her once-friends starring at the door in utter shock.
