SIX
Piper put Watt into his playpen and gave him his bottle. The infant began to hungrily devour the liquid as if he hadn't been fed in days. Xander and Dawn had been gone for two days. They had arrived at Giles' friend and their call had allowed Buffy to relax, knowing they were well away from the danger.
"Where are Angel and Spike?" she asked as Buffy came into the room.
"They left as soon as it got dark," said Buffy. "Spike thinks he's learned something about grown up Wyatt. Apparently some new power has moved into the fringes of the demonic community here. He went to check it out."
"And Angel?" Piper asked.
"I don't know," said Buffy. "Things are kind of strained between us right now. He doesn't confide in me like he used to."
"I'm sorry about that," said Piper. "For a vampire, he's pretty caring."
"It's because he has a soul," said Buffy. "He's trying to make up for all the evil he did when he was Angelus. It's a pretty big load to carry."
"I can imagine," said Piper. "Phoebe's in the attic with Willow. They seem to be hitting it off rather well. She's giving Willow a crash course in the Book of Shadows."
"Willow always was the studious type," said Buffy. "Any idea where Chris and Leo are?"
"Leo is with the Elders," said Piper. "They're still trying to locate Wyatt. Chris is with Giles in the study."
"We were," said Chris as he and Giles walked into the living room. "Giles knows a lot about demons. More than most mortals. We've been trying to figure out the best way to protect baby Wyatt when The First attacks."
"All ready taken care of," said Piper, looking at her son.
"You've formulated a plan then?" Giles asked.
"In a manner of speaking," said Piper, unable to stifle a small laugh. "I'm sorry. It's just that your choice of the word 'formulate' just struck me funny, that's all."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," said Giles, confused.
"Well," said Piper, looking at Wyatt again, "I just gave Wyatt his formula. And that should protect him until this is all over."
"How can formula protect him?" Chris asked. "There's nothing magical about it."
"There is about this one," said Piper. "I took what you told me about The First and I think I've come up with a vanquishing potion. I can't be sure of course until we use it but it's the best I could come up with."
"Excellent," said Giles. "The only problem is using it against The First when it attacks. Things can get quite hectic in combat. Are you sure you'll be able to use the potion in time?"
"I don't have to," said Piper. "I put it in Wyatt's formula. That's why what you said struck me as funny. All we have to do is put some of the potion in his formula every time we feed him. Then, when The First tries to possess him, boom. It's all over."
"Is that wise?" Chris asked. "Feeding a vanquishing potion to Wyatt? You don't know how that might affect him."
"It's the best I could come up with," said Piper. "Besides, it shouldn't hurt him. It's designed for The First. And I was even able to make his formula the base of the potion. That took some doing, let me tell you. But as long as we keep feeding it to him, it should be in his system when that thing attacks. If we can't vanquish it another way, the potion should do the trick."
"Excuse me a second," said Chris. "I'll be right back."
Chris orbed out of the manor without another word.
"I'd still be careful," said Giles. "Potions can be notoriously unpredictable. It might be best if you varied the potion-based formula with regular formula."
"That's a good idea," said Piper. "Especially if this goes on for a while."
"I don't think that's likely to happen," said Buffy suddenly.
Everyone turned and saw a strange man standing over the playpen where Wyatt sat drinking his bottle. The man smiled an evil smiled and reached for the young infant. Buffy didn't hesitate. He leapt across the room, stepping up on the edge of the playpen, launching herself at the man. Just as she cleared the side of the playpen, Wyatt's force field activated. Caught off guard, Buffy collided with the force field and fell to the floor. She was slightly dazed but otherwise uninjured.
"Oh no you don't," said Piper raising her hands to bring her explosive power to bear.
The man raised his hand and it glowed a light blue. Piper's power bounced harmlessly off the man causing no harm to him. The man then reached into the playpen for baby Wyatt. Without warning Wyatt's force field suddenly vanished leaving the baby at the man's mercy. And no one close enough to stop him.
Piper put Watt into his playpen and gave him his bottle. The infant began to hungrily devour the liquid as if he hadn't been fed in days. Xander and Dawn had been gone for two days. They had arrived at Giles' friend and their call had allowed Buffy to relax, knowing they were well away from the danger.
"Where are Angel and Spike?" she asked as Buffy came into the room.
"They left as soon as it got dark," said Buffy. "Spike thinks he's learned something about grown up Wyatt. Apparently some new power has moved into the fringes of the demonic community here. He went to check it out."
"And Angel?" Piper asked.
"I don't know," said Buffy. "Things are kind of strained between us right now. He doesn't confide in me like he used to."
"I'm sorry about that," said Piper. "For a vampire, he's pretty caring."
"It's because he has a soul," said Buffy. "He's trying to make up for all the evil he did when he was Angelus. It's a pretty big load to carry."
"I can imagine," said Piper. "Phoebe's in the attic with Willow. They seem to be hitting it off rather well. She's giving Willow a crash course in the Book of Shadows."
"Willow always was the studious type," said Buffy. "Any idea where Chris and Leo are?"
"Leo is with the Elders," said Piper. "They're still trying to locate Wyatt. Chris is with Giles in the study."
"We were," said Chris as he and Giles walked into the living room. "Giles knows a lot about demons. More than most mortals. We've been trying to figure out the best way to protect baby Wyatt when The First attacks."
"All ready taken care of," said Piper, looking at her son.
"You've formulated a plan then?" Giles asked.
"In a manner of speaking," said Piper, unable to stifle a small laugh. "I'm sorry. It's just that your choice of the word 'formulate' just struck me funny, that's all."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," said Giles, confused.
"Well," said Piper, looking at Wyatt again, "I just gave Wyatt his formula. And that should protect him until this is all over."
"How can formula protect him?" Chris asked. "There's nothing magical about it."
"There is about this one," said Piper. "I took what you told me about The First and I think I've come up with a vanquishing potion. I can't be sure of course until we use it but it's the best I could come up with."
"Excellent," said Giles. "The only problem is using it against The First when it attacks. Things can get quite hectic in combat. Are you sure you'll be able to use the potion in time?"
"I don't have to," said Piper. "I put it in Wyatt's formula. That's why what you said struck me as funny. All we have to do is put some of the potion in his formula every time we feed him. Then, when The First tries to possess him, boom. It's all over."
"Is that wise?" Chris asked. "Feeding a vanquishing potion to Wyatt? You don't know how that might affect him."
"It's the best I could come up with," said Piper. "Besides, it shouldn't hurt him. It's designed for The First. And I was even able to make his formula the base of the potion. That took some doing, let me tell you. But as long as we keep feeding it to him, it should be in his system when that thing attacks. If we can't vanquish it another way, the potion should do the trick."
"Excuse me a second," said Chris. "I'll be right back."
Chris orbed out of the manor without another word.
"I'd still be careful," said Giles. "Potions can be notoriously unpredictable. It might be best if you varied the potion-based formula with regular formula."
"That's a good idea," said Piper. "Especially if this goes on for a while."
"I don't think that's likely to happen," said Buffy suddenly.
Everyone turned and saw a strange man standing over the playpen where Wyatt sat drinking his bottle. The man smiled an evil smiled and reached for the young infant. Buffy didn't hesitate. He leapt across the room, stepping up on the edge of the playpen, launching herself at the man. Just as she cleared the side of the playpen, Wyatt's force field activated. Caught off guard, Buffy collided with the force field and fell to the floor. She was slightly dazed but otherwise uninjured.
"Oh no you don't," said Piper raising her hands to bring her explosive power to bear.
The man raised his hand and it glowed a light blue. Piper's power bounced harmlessly off the man causing no harm to him. The man then reached into the playpen for baby Wyatt. Without warning Wyatt's force field suddenly vanished leaving the baby at the man's mercy. And no one close enough to stop him.