Greeting and Salutations. Okay guys, this one goes a bit slow, but you get a taste of the good Dru I promised. Tell me what you think. Review!
Sunnydale"So, he really is your father?" Willow asked the small image of Buffy.
"Yep," the feral said, "We're bringing him down to meet mom. Need a favour though, Wills. Looks like we were conceived in or created by Weapon X."
"Buffy…" Willow began. Finding out you were a part of an experiment is one thing. The fact that her good friend thought she might have been created…
"We need you to see if you can find their computers and do what you do best," Willow smiled.
"You want info or the full package?" Willow asked. Buffy grinned.
"Full package, Wills. Shut 'em down and give us a location. I don't care who they are, who they work for or what they think they're doing. We stop them, permanently."
"I'll see what I can do," Willow said. She hadn't seen Buffy like this since… well since never, "There's something we need to tell you before you get here. It's about…well, it's about Dru."
"She's back?""Kind of," Willow said slowly, "We think she had a run in with Weapon X."
"Tell me you're joking.""She got grabbed by a guy that sounds like Sabretooth in Mexico," Willow said, "When we found her in LA, she had some kind of metal claws and a chip that kept her from hurting anyone without the proper commands. The Initiative managed to override some of them, but she can't hurt any living creature. That was their idea," Buffy exhaled sharply.
"How's she taking things?"
"Not to well," the red head said almost sadly, "She's even crazier than she used to be. I don't know what those creeps did to her, but whatever it was, it wasn't a good thing. On the plus side, she's made friend."
"Say what?"
"Yep," Willow nodded, "A living, breathing, human friend. Vamps jumped one of the girls on campus, Tara Maclay. Believe it or not, Dru stepped in. Tara's been keeping her on the straight and narrow. And she's a witch to, so we have extra fire power in that respect."
"Druscilla and another witch?" Buffy took a breath, "We just can't do things normally, can we?"
"Wouldn't be on the Hellmouth if we could," Willow reasoned.
"Good point. All right, tell everyone we're coming back and get on that Weapon X search. Get Xander's friends to help. We'll be there in about a month. Things to do."
"See you then, then."
Sanctuary
"Well?" Angel asked.
"Willow's going to see what she can find," Buffy said. She took a breath. This was not going to be pretty, "Angel…"
"What is it, love?"
"It looks like Weapon X got to Dru," Angel's face became a mask.
"What happened?"
"The gang were checking out something in LA," Buffy began, "They found her there. She had some kind of claws and a chip that kept her under control. From what they could find out, she got grabbed by some guy matching the fur balls description."
"How is she?" Angel asked, old feelings of protection for his former Child coming to the surface.
"Not good," Buffy told him, "Whatever happened hasn't helped her sanity. The Initiative managed to override the chip, but they left some of the systems active, so she can't hurt living beings. On the upside, she's fighting the good fight. Saved a girl at the university. According to Willow, the two have been fast friends ever since."
"Well, that's unexpected," Dru, a hero? Definitely not what Angelus had planned for the girl. Angel was proud of her. No soul, but she was doing the right thing, "How could they have grabbed her though?"
"We'll have to ask her," Buffy said. Angel nodded. An unexpected twist indeed.
"So, let me get this straight," Logan looked at his daughter's lover, "Weapon X has turned their attention to the undead, an' they grabbed your Child…"
"Former," Angel said, "I'm not a vampire anymore."
"You still think of her in the same way," Logan pointed out, "That makes it current."
"He's got point, sweetie," Buffy said, leaning against him.
"These guys are gettin' out 'a hand," Logan growled.
"Willow and Xander are working on it," Buffy said, "Possibly Sage as well. Hopefully they'll find something."
"I think I might up our chances a bit," her father said, getting to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Shalimar asked.
"I got a call to make."
S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier
Location Unknown.
"What?" Nick Fury, head of the Supreme Headquarters Espionage Law-enforcement Division, answered the phone gruffly.
"That any way ta talk ta an old friend, Fury?" the voice on the other end said, "By the way, ya still owe fifty from the last card game."
"Logan? What do you want?"
"What, no 'hello Logan'?" Wolverine said with a chuckle, "No 'good to hear from ya'? I'm crushed."
"You'll get over it," Fury said dryly, "What is it?"
"I need a favour, Fury," Logan said. He quickly told fury what was happening.
"Flamin' hell," Fury breathed, "This is true?"
"Every flamin' detail," Logan confirmed, "Buffy's got some friends looking, but we need to find these guys and shut them down. It ain't gonna be pretty, or else I'd a' called Chuck. Fact a' the matter is, this is gonna be downright violent."
"I understand, friend," Fury said, "Fact is, we've been getting' reports of mutant kidnappin's all over the place. I'll get the brains right on it."
"Thanks, bub," Logan said, "One thing, though. Ya can't nuke the place. We want ta know who the mother is, and the info'll be there."
"Got it," Fury said, "I'll let ya know if we get anything. Logan…?"
"Yeah?"
"Watch yer back," Fury said earnestly, "They're kickin' inta high gear for somethin'."
"No need ta worry," Logan said with a chuckle, "We got Shal's friends watchin' our back, an' Buffy's boyfriend too. Buffy herself…well, let's just say she takes after her old man."
"Holy shit," Fury muttered, trying to imagine two Wolverines. He had a feeling what he had in mind fell well short of the actual damage the two would cause.
"See ya 'round, Fury," Logan said, hanging up. Nick looked at the phone, then grinned.
"This I gotta see."
Hellmouth, sweet Hellmouth.
One month later.
"So this is Sunnydale?" Logan said as they drove into town.
"Nice to see it's in one piece," Buffy said, "Think they've started rebuilding the high school yet?"
"Probably not," Angel said distantly. Buffy placed a hand on his leg.
"You okay?"
"No," he said truthfully, "I don't know how Dru's going to handle seeing us. After Spike…" he didn't need to say anymore. The Scooby's had dusted Dru's Child the year before. Well, Oz had. She, Shalimar, Faith, Angel and Xander had been handling a GSA agent at the time.
"It's not like she can really hurt us at the moment," Buffy said. Angel gave her a withering look, "Sorry. I didn't mean…"
"It's alright," Angel said soothingly, wrapping an arm around her, "Considering the history you two share, I won't be surprised if you say anything harsh. Just try to give her the benefit of the doubt."
"I'll try," Buffy said, cuddling up to him, "Can't guarantee anything, but I'll try."
"That's all I'm asking for."
"I don't want to see her," Dru said. She and the gang were waiting at the manor on Crawford. So many horrible memories and she was about to meet the one she had truly hurt all over again, "I can't. She'll kill me. I deserve it, but I don't want to die."
"I-I'm sure you're over reacting, Dru," Tara said nervously. She knew her vampiric friend wasn't over reacting at all, but she hated seeing Dru like this.
"Yeah, D, relax," Faith said. She'd felt an odd kinship with the seer. Not a surprise, both them had made, or been forced into, some bad decisions in the past. Faith had promised herself she would not let the vampire wallow in self-pity. She just couldn't understand why she seemed so… Angel-esque, "C'mon, vision girl. Use that gift of yours. You know what'll happen. You're just not looking."
"I don't want to know," Dru whispered, "I'm dust and I deserve it."
"You don't know that," Faith said, "Maybe you deserve it for what you've done, but you've made good. If it weren't for you, Tara'd be dead, or worse. Face it, Vision Girl, you're a hero now."
"But…"
"Listen," Faith said, "If B can forgive me, than you've got a chance at least. Besides, maybe you can pay her back for the stuff you did wrong. You're the only person we know that can deliver those Weapon X bastards on a silver platter."
"I guess…" Dru stopped, a shudder running through her body, "They're here, outside. The Twins, their father and…him," her panic receded a bit, "Daddy's here. Live but here."
"Maybe I should go in alone first," Angel said, stepping in front of them as they got out of the car, "Just in case."
"Probably a good idea," Logan said, "You can calm 'er down."
"And we've got to introduce dad to mom and that really sounded weird," Buffy said. She gave Angel a quick kiss, "Call when you're ready."
"I will," he said, "Be careful."
"We'll keep her in one piece, Angel," Shalimar said as they got back in the car, Logan driving.
"Home, James," Buffy said with a giggle.
"Very flamin' funny," Angel watched as they drove off. Once out of sight, he took a breath and walked up to the door, opening it.
The first sight he saw was Dru, shivering in fear.
"Dru," he breathed. The seer looked up at him, and what Angel saw in those eyes scared him to death. He couldn't blame the others for not knowing. None of them had looked into her eyes; none of them knew her like he did.
"You have your soul," Faith and the unknown blonde gasped, looking over at Dru.
"Is that why it hurts?" Dru asked, "When I think of what I've done? Is that why I hoped you'd bring her, so I could take the punishment I deserved? Is that why I want to die? Is this what it was like for you? I don't want to move, but it only helps when I help people. Why does it hurt?" Angel could say nothing, merely moving to her side and embracing her like a father would his injured child.
"You sure you want to do this?" Buffy asked as they got out of the car.
"I should thank the woman that raised one of my daughters," Logan said, still shocked at how easily he had gotten used to it.
"Just try to behave yourself," Buffy said as they walked up to the front door.
"That's my line," Logan muttered. The girls giggled as Buffy opened the door.
"Mom, we're home!" she called out. A couple of minutes later, Joyce appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Buffy," Joyce moved down the stairs and wrapped her daughter in a tight embrace, "How are you?"
"Alive," Buffy said, "Weirding out a bit, but still here."
"Hi, Mrs Summers," Shalimar said. Joyce turned to her.
"Shalimar Fox, how many times have told you," she said sternly, "Joyce or mom will do. Not even Xander calls me 'Mrs Summers' any more," her eyes travelled to the rather unkept looking man standing behind them, "And who's this? Shalimar, are you following Buffy's example and chasing older men?"
"Eww!" Buffy exploded, "Mom, this is our father."
"Logan," he said, holding his hand out. Joyce looked at him a moment, then slapped him across the face.
"Mom!" Buffy yelled, "What was that for?"
"For leaving the two of you in the hands of that… albino monster," Joyce said angrily, shaking her hand.
"Mom…"
"It's alright, Buffy," Logan said, rubbing his cheek. He looked at Joyce, "That's quite a slap ya got on ya, darlin'," Joyce glared at him, "Look, I didn't even know the girls existed til Sage told me about them, an' we only confirmed they're mine a month ago. Believe me, if I'd known what was going on, I would have turned the world upside down lookin' for 'em. An' don't ask how I couldn't know, it's complicated."
"Look, mister," Joyce said, "I've been the mother of a Vampire Slayer for the past five years, only to find out she's actually a New Mutant and not even mine. I think I can handle complicated."
"I was experimented on by a top secret organisations that implanted a metal onto my entire skeleton," Logan said, "That includes the claws that're a part of my powers. Buffy and Shalimar were conceived- or created- in those labs. We have no idea who the mother is," Joyce blinked a couple of times, then looked at Buffy.
"It runs in the family, doesn't it?" She asked.
"Looks like it," Buffy said. She looked at Joyce sheepishly, rubbing the back of her hands, "Mom… if I show you one more thing, do you promise not to wig?"
"I'll do my best, hon," Joyce said, "I doubt there's anything you can show me now that could surprise…" Buffy popped a set of claws out, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?"
"So much for that idea," Shalimar muttered.
"Mom, calm down, please," Buffy said desperately, "It's just a little something from dad's side. This is what his claws would look like if he didn't have the metal," Joyce looked down at the girl who, no matter what happened, would be her daughter.
"Buffy…"
"It's alright," Buffy said, sliding her claws back in. Joyce watched as the wound healed right over, "I heal fast. Faster than a Slayer. Dad's claws look better, but mine add a natural look to it all," Joyce looked up at Logan. He nodded, popping his own claws. Joyce gasped as metal blades slid out of his knuckles, in the same spot as Buffy's bone ones.
"Does that hurt?" Joyce breathed.
"Like hell," Logan said with a smile, retracting his claws, "You get used to it," Joyce looked at Shalimar.
"Not yet," the feral said.
"Not ever, hopefully," Buffy said, her voice shaking, "I don't want you to go through that."
"Buffy…"
"I nearly killed someone," Buffy said, tears starting to leak from her eyes, "Alright, he's a total jerk, but…" She ran through the story, Logan draping his arm over her shoulder.
"Buffy…" Joyce wrapped her daughter in her arms, "It's alright, hon. You just…lost control a bit."
"What if it happens again?" Buffy sobbed, "What if I hurt you or Willow or Xander? What if someone dies?"
"Yer strong, darlin'" Logan said, "You can control it. Hell, if I can, anyone can. We're all here to help ya."
"Thankyou," Buffy whispered. Logan smiled.
"Not a problem," he whispered. He suddenly looked up at Joyce as if remembering something, "Summers? You wouldn't happen ta know a Scott Summers, would ya?"
"Hank had a cousin named Scott," Joyce said. Buffy looked up.
"Uncle Red Eye?" She asked, "The one that works at the school in…" something dawned on her, "Wasn't he a mutant?"
"Oh dear," Joyce said, "You know him, don't you?" Logan grinned.
"Me an' Slim work together," he said, "Sort of a 'love- hate' relationship," Buffy tried, and failed, to keep herself from bursting into hysterics.
"I have to be there when you tell him," she said, "Please, dad. I always thought he was a bit stiff."
"Yeah, he is," Logan chuckled, "But he's got his reasons for. Facin' end of the world every other week, bein' unable ta control his mutant power. Sure, he's got a bug up his ass, but I trust that bug with my life. 'Course," he said with a mischievous grin, "doesn't mean I have to make it easy on him."
"Amen to that," Buffy said with an equal grin, "And all I got off him was trouble off Hank."
"Buffy…" Joyce started.
"I'm sorry, mom," Buffy muttered, "but I haven't thought of him as my father since he ran off to Spain with his secretary, and you can't expect me to call him that now."
"Alright," Joyce said, "I understand. Now, let's sit down, and you three can explain everything."
"Is there ice cream involved?" Buffy asked.
"Ice cream?" Logan asked.
"Not old enough for whisky," Shalimar said.
"Whisky?" Joyce asked, looking at him. Logan shrugged.
"I am old enough."
Stay tuned.
Doc.