Part 3
"A new Slayer? Can they really do that?" Willow didn't sound too happy.
The news Giles had dropped on the Scoobies was not particularly welcome. The loss of Buffy was hard enough, even two years after she had gone, her presence still hung heavily around the Summer's house. The news that some stranger was going to show up and take over her duties, had come as more than a little surprise.
"So, is she coming here or what?" Xander asked.
The group sat scattered around the Summers' family living room. The rain and thunder crashing out side seemed to match the mood of the group. The mugs of hot chocolate Willow was handing round weren't really doing the trick, neither were the marshmallows Tara was passing out.
"Yes, that's apparently so." Giles sat on an arm chair, despondently cleaning his classes. "According to the Council, I am to be her new Watcher. Her name is Cynthia Collins. She will be arriving tomorrow morning."
"So this girl is just going to waltz in and take over? What's so special about her, anyway?" Anya seemed more interested in her manicure than the new Slayer.
"Some unfortunate girl just picked out at random for a stupid unfair legend," Dawn grumbled, staring at the carpet. "I'm going for a walk."
"It's storming outside, you know," Anya pointed out unhelpfully.
Dawn barely glanced at her as she headed for the front door. "I'm aware of that." They heard the door slamming shut.
"Shouldn't somebody go after her?" Xander had started to move after Dawn.
"Maybe we should just let her clear her head for a bit," Tara suggested.
"Dawn alone in Sunnydale and a storm. Does that spell disaster to anyone else?" Xander said, attempting a smile, though it wasn't really much of a joke.
The living room lights flickered as a clap of thunder boomed over-head, lighting briefly illuminated the room in an eerie white glow.
"Let's go get her before she gets into trouble," Willow said with a sigh, standing up. "We'll catch up on this new Slayer detail later."
Before Giles could protest or say anything they'd gone to get Dawn. Not that there was anything to protest about. There were things he needed to sort out for the new Slayer, training schedules, weapons, and probably high school as well. Not for the first time he found himself missing the old Sunnydale High library.
From what Giles knew Faith wasn't dead, so why there was suddenly a need for a new Slayer was surprising. How could there even be a new Slayer, anyway? The Council hadn't really been much for answering his questions. He had to train her, and that was that.
The Scoobies had done very well with fighting the demon population of Sunnydale, with the added bonus of Spike's strength and speed to make things slightly easier. Though in his opinion, the addition of the Buffy-bot had been more of a hindrance than a help. After almost every battle something needed fixing.
"I made sandwiches for everyone. Peanut butter and jelly. Always fun for rainy days." The bot had appeared in the door way, a huge smile on her plastic lips as she carried a silver trey into the room with a plate piled high with triangular sandwiches. Then she noticed the absence of people in the room. "Oh, did we have to go slay something?"
"My patience," Anya muttered. "They've gone to get Dawn, and Xander's going to get all soaked and drip everywhere." She frowned at the living room window, as if it were responsible for the weather.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon," Giles said, absent mindedly reaching for one of the sandwiches.
"Is there anything important we really need to know about this new Slayer?" Tara asked, sipping from one of the hot chocolate mugs.
"Not that I'm aware of, but - "
"There's always a but," Anya snorted. "Let me guess, she's got issues with Spike, or something along those lines."
"I shouldn't think so. She's only Dawn's age, and she's from Ohio."
"We should set up the guest bedroom for her." Tara put her cup down. "Come on." She tugged Anya up from her seat, propelling her and the Buffy-bot out the room.
Giles silently thanked her. Anya was not in one of her most helpful moods and her tactless comments and pointing out the obvious were not exactly improving the situation. There was only so much of her he could stand when she was like that. Despite his attempts at reassurance, he wouldn't help worrying. This was Sunnydale, after all.
* * *
"A new Slayer? Can they really do that?" Willow didn't sound too happy.
The news Giles had dropped on the Scoobies was not particularly welcome. The loss of Buffy was hard enough, even two years after she had gone, her presence still hung heavily around the Summer's house. The news that some stranger was going to show up and take over her duties, had come as more than a little surprise.
"So, is she coming here or what?" Xander asked.
The group sat scattered around the Summers' family living room. The rain and thunder crashing out side seemed to match the mood of the group. The mugs of hot chocolate Willow was handing round weren't really doing the trick, neither were the marshmallows Tara was passing out.
"Yes, that's apparently so." Giles sat on an arm chair, despondently cleaning his classes. "According to the Council, I am to be her new Watcher. Her name is Cynthia Collins. She will be arriving tomorrow morning."
"So this girl is just going to waltz in and take over? What's so special about her, anyway?" Anya seemed more interested in her manicure than the new Slayer.
"Some unfortunate girl just picked out at random for a stupid unfair legend," Dawn grumbled, staring at the carpet. "I'm going for a walk."
"It's storming outside, you know," Anya pointed out unhelpfully.
Dawn barely glanced at her as she headed for the front door. "I'm aware of that." They heard the door slamming shut.
"Shouldn't somebody go after her?" Xander had started to move after Dawn.
"Maybe we should just let her clear her head for a bit," Tara suggested.
"Dawn alone in Sunnydale and a storm. Does that spell disaster to anyone else?" Xander said, attempting a smile, though it wasn't really much of a joke.
The living room lights flickered as a clap of thunder boomed over-head, lighting briefly illuminated the room in an eerie white glow.
"Let's go get her before she gets into trouble," Willow said with a sigh, standing up. "We'll catch up on this new Slayer detail later."
Before Giles could protest or say anything they'd gone to get Dawn. Not that there was anything to protest about. There were things he needed to sort out for the new Slayer, training schedules, weapons, and probably high school as well. Not for the first time he found himself missing the old Sunnydale High library.
From what Giles knew Faith wasn't dead, so why there was suddenly a need for a new Slayer was surprising. How could there even be a new Slayer, anyway? The Council hadn't really been much for answering his questions. He had to train her, and that was that.
The Scoobies had done very well with fighting the demon population of Sunnydale, with the added bonus of Spike's strength and speed to make things slightly easier. Though in his opinion, the addition of the Buffy-bot had been more of a hindrance than a help. After almost every battle something needed fixing.
"I made sandwiches for everyone. Peanut butter and jelly. Always fun for rainy days." The bot had appeared in the door way, a huge smile on her plastic lips as she carried a silver trey into the room with a plate piled high with triangular sandwiches. Then she noticed the absence of people in the room. "Oh, did we have to go slay something?"
"My patience," Anya muttered. "They've gone to get Dawn, and Xander's going to get all soaked and drip everywhere." She frowned at the living room window, as if it were responsible for the weather.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon," Giles said, absent mindedly reaching for one of the sandwiches.
"Is there anything important we really need to know about this new Slayer?" Tara asked, sipping from one of the hot chocolate mugs.
"Not that I'm aware of, but - "
"There's always a but," Anya snorted. "Let me guess, she's got issues with Spike, or something along those lines."
"I shouldn't think so. She's only Dawn's age, and she's from Ohio."
"We should set up the guest bedroom for her." Tara put her cup down. "Come on." She tugged Anya up from her seat, propelling her and the Buffy-bot out the room.
Giles silently thanked her. Anya was not in one of her most helpful moods and her tactless comments and pointing out the obvious were not exactly improving the situation. There was only so much of her he could stand when she was like that. Despite his attempts at reassurance, he wouldn't help worrying. This was Sunnydale, after all.
* * *