"Can't Deny Destiny"
Chapter 3 "Arrivals B.egin"
Rogue Angel
Disclaimer and such see Chapter 1
*****
The hotel room
Max and Jondy walked back into the hotel room, Liz was dialing a number. "Hey, is Maria there?" she asked.
Jondy's hand snapped out and hung up the phone.
"What was that for?" Liz asked rudely.
"Your boyfriend can come but your friend no," Jondy said calmly.
"Why not? She deserves to know the truth about me."
"You don't have leverage over her, if she told someone you'd have nothing to counter with."
"She's not like that, she wouldn't tell."
"Liz..." Jondy said, trying to reason.
"You've been my CO for all of five minutes, you don't know Maria."
"But I've been your big sister my whole life. I do know Maria, she has a tendency to overreact. She's not safe."
"But Max is safe because I can use his non-Earth origin against him?"
"Yes." Jondy looked away, "No. I'm sorry Liz, invite all of your friends... I'm just overreacting. If your boyfriend can trust them with his secret, you can trust them with ours."
Liz smiled and then hugged Jondy. "I swear, our secret will be safe."
Jondy kissed Liz's forehead. "I trust you. I can get them free tickets too. Have them come late tonight or early tomorrow."
Faith entered the room. "Yo, the boys are on their way, they were in Idaho heading East but they changed directions, they should be here by dark."
Jondy smiled. "Did you call Brin?"
Liz nodded. "On her way, she's in Utah and on her way up."
"Alright, Maxie, call Jace and everyone will be coming."
Max took the phone from Faith and dialed. "Jace, it's Max. How's little Max?"
"She's great."
"It's a girl?"
"Yes. I don't think I ever thanked you enough for what you did."
"It really was no problem. So are you still in Mexico?"
"Actually, Victor took little Maxine to his parents and I was on my way to surprise you."
Max laughed. "Seriously?"
"Cat's out of the bag. I'll be there in about six hours."
"That is so funny, I was calling to see if you wanted to come up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Liz, Faith, and Jondy kinda initiated it."
"So everyone's coming?"
"Yep."
Nervousness flooded Jace's voice. "Won't they, um, think I'm a traitor?"
"They could never. Hold on, Jondy's waving at me for something." Max pulled the phone from her ear. "What?"
"Can I talk to her?" Jondy asked in a soft, pathetic whine. She made a puppy dog face. Max laughed and resigned the phone.
"Jace?" Jondy asked softly.
"Jondy?" Jace had tears in her eyes. "How are you?"
"I'm great, what about you, little sister? What's this about a little Max?"
"I had a daughter."
"My God, that's great." After a pause she said, "I'm really glad to hear your voice."
"You too."
"We can't wait till you get here. Faith and Liz are jumping around and smiling."
"They're happy to see me?" Jace asked nervously.
"Of course. I can't speak for them but I understand why you stayed. Zack never blamed you for staying either." Jace couldn't speak, she was crying. "We'll see you in a bit, right?"
"Uh, huh," Jace managed to make out.
"Love ya."
"Back at you, big sis."
Jondy hung up. "I need a drink."
"It's barely after noon," Liz said.
"Nuh uh. It's beer thirty and Jon's buying," Faith said getting up.
"Since I seem to be the only one with money... Unless Max has the hundred she owes me."
"It's ninety-five and not yet."
"I can't go, I have to call my friends," Liz said picking up the phone.
Jondy tossed her the cell phone. "Use this and come on. You don't have to drink if you don't want to."
Liz smiled and got up. The four girls went to the car and loaded in. Liz called Maria and told her to tell Max that Michael, Isabel, Jesse, and Kyle could come too.
Maria was very happy about this and demanded to speak to the family member who pulled her away so quickly.
"Uh, Maria, that's not a good idea." Liz said.
"Why not?"
"Because she's not a good person to piss off."
"Neither am I, put her on."
Liz looked to Jondy, who smiled and nodded. "Don't smile," Liz said, "I'm starting to think that smiling is a bad thing with you."
Jondy grinned even larger then grabbed the phone. "Yeah?"
"Are you the bitch who dragged Liz away?"
"The bitch, am I? Well then, I guess that's a big ten-four."
"Listen, never ever take Liz away from us again."
"Maria is it?"
"Yes it is."
"Alright Maria, I have a better idea. You never ever threaten me again and I promise to not cut the brake lines on your red piece of shit Jetta. You so much as glare at me and you will never wake up with me standing over your bed with a gun in your face. How does that sound?"
"Yeah right," Maria said trying to sound disbelieving and hide the fear she felt.
"Jondy, please don't. I want to keep my friends alive," Liz pleaded.
"You heard that?" Jondy said.
"Uh huh," Maria said gulping.
"Now, my family all had a fucked up childhood and we had an emergency. Liz hasn't seen any of us since before the pulse. She sees you everyday, be a little fucking understanding. Ok? See you tonight. Buh-bye."
She hung up and Faith was in hysterics, Max had a grin on her face, Liz just shook her head. "What? I didn't go overboard, did I?" Jondy asked innocently.
"I think you scared the shit out of her," Liz said.
"She'll probably hire a body guard," Faith said.
Jondy pulled the car to a stop and turned the car off. "Here we go."
Max looked at the building. "I've never been here before."
"I know the guy who runs the place, it's a 24 hour club. Very incognito. No cops, no closing, no last call, no lame music, and since I know the guy it's no charge."
They piled out of the car and into the club. The music was banging, Jondy walked right up to the bar.
"What up?" she asked the handsome, dark haired bartender, they locked hands in a weird handshake.
"Jonnie, what up girl?"
"Yo, Mikhail, I want you to meet some of my family." She waved the girls over. "That's Max, Liz, and Faith. Girls, this is Mikhail, he's the guy who got me into bartending among other things."
"Nice to meet you, ladies," Mikhail said grinning. "What's your poison?"
"Whatever you want to make," Faith said putting a hand suggestively on Mikhail's face.
"Uh, Pepsi," Liz said.
"Something on tap," Max said.
"Make sure the Pepsi is Pepsi, ok? And you know what I like," Jondy said.
"Hard liquor and loud music," Mikhail said. He fixed the drinks and handed them out. He handed Faith's drink to her last. "You, little miss, I made you the same thing as Jonnie. It's called a neuro-neutralizer. Her own concoction. Takes a lot of balls to get one down and keep it there."
"Nothin' I can't handle," Faith said taking a shot. She crunched her face and her eyes watered.
Jondy took her shoot and then clouted Faith in the back. "That'll put hair on your ass."
"I don't doubt it," Faith said taking another drink. Her face contorting in the same fashion as before.
Max took a sniff of Jondy's drink. "What's in it?"
"Don't ask," Jondy said. "Anyone want to hit the dance floor? I seem some fly guys out there."
Faith followed after Jondy to the dance floor. The unidentifiable dance rhythm was hypnotic. The two girls were soon surrounded by four or five guys.
"Max," Liz said quietly. "Something's not right with Jondy."
"What makes you say that?" Max said with concern in her voice.
"She's being very secretive and she's kinda... A bit wild."
"She's coming out of a bad relationship. A bit of wildness can be appreciated."
"She stole the car we've been driving."
"Faith was sprung from prison by Jondy too."
"Why was Faith in jail?"
"Aggravated assault and murder one."
"She wasn't guilty, was she?"
"I haven't found out yet, but I heard about an armed robbery charge? In Utah, right?"
Liz blushed. "Yeah."
"We've all have a tarnished record, even Zack."
"Really?" Liz asked shyly.
"Yeah. Don't worry. Everything's gonna play out ok."
Jondy came over and sat next to the girls. "You two just gonna sit 'n watch or you gonna come out and meet some of our new friends?" She didn't wait for a response, she reached out and grabbed a hand of both girls. They yielded and followed out to the dance floor.
The four girls were soon the middle of crowd. They danced in a group and everyone else danced around them. Faith and Jondy were the most provocative dancers of the four.
After five or seven songs, the girls retreated to the bar. Jondy looked to her watch. "I've got to go pick up someone at the airport, you guys wanna wait here or go back to the hotel room?"
"Can't we go with?" Max asked.
"Nope." Jondy said ordering another drink.
Mikhail brought over four shot glasses. "Another one of Jondy's concoctions," he said before he left.
Jondy passed them out and all four girls took a slam. Liz nearly spit hers out. Jondy was the only one who's face didn't contort. She laughed.
"Ugh. What was that called?" Liz asked.
"To Mikhail it doesn't have a name. But I call it the Transgen. It's got a little bit of everything in it. So here or hotel?"
The three not going to the airport decided to stay at the club. Jondy departed and left at full speed. When she finally came to a stop she was at the one runway airport. A plane had just touched down and the passengers were walking out. Jondy sat on the hood of her car and smiled when she saw the tall, blond, muscular figure of her brother Zack walk towards her.
She could not contain her excitement and she ran to him. He dropped his bags and they hugged.
"How you doing cowboy?" Jondy asked.
"Great. Where's everyone?"
"On their way. Some of the girls are at a bar."
"Drinking already? It's four in the afternoon."
"We've been there for four hours," Jondy said with a grin on her face. "Shit, it's good to see you."
"You too, baby sister... Wow, is that your car?"
"Yep."
Jondy and Zack loaded into the car and she drove him to the hotel. "I thought you said they were at a bar?" Zack said.
"They are, you're here to surprise them," Jondy said with a grin.
Zack managed a small smile and he laid down on his bed. Jondy sped back to the bar. Max, Liz, and Faith had all had at least four of Jondy's "Transgen" drinks since she had left. They were all dancing, but Jondy could tell that they were long gone. Mikhail allowed her behind the bar and she made a special concoction for all of the girls. She pulled them off of the dance floor and back to the bar.
The girls all tried to slur out some argument but nothing came out. Jondy handed them the drinks, they all slammed them. Their faces contorted and some of the drunkenness seemed to leave their body.
"That was gross," Liz said.
"Yeah, I call it Instant Sobriety. In about five minutes you'll be sober... How many did you have? Scratch that, I don't want to know," Jondy said grinning.
"Some of our guests have arrived, and they want to see you."
"Who?" Faith said, shaking her head.
"Sworn to secrecy," Jondy said heading out.
The girls drove in silence as the three were dragged into sobriety. When they got to the hotel the girls stumbled out.
"Shit, I thought you said it would take five minutes," Liz said.
"I should have mixed it stronger, I could make another."
"No," All three girls said in a snap.
Jondy concealed a grin as she opened the door to Zack's room. The three stumbled in and saw Zack sitting on the bed. He sat with a grin. Liz screamed a high pitched squeal and hugged him. Faith rushed to him also. Max covered her mouth. Jondy put her arm around Max.
"I told you..." Jondy said in a whisper. "He can't take his eyes off of you."
It was true, Zack had cast quick glances at his two younger sisters but his gaze was locked on Max. He was able to peel the two off of him and he stood to move to Max. "I understand why you did what you did, Max," he said, a deep breath almost stopped the last part from exiting his lips. "And it was the right choice."
"You're not mad?" Max asked in almost a whisper.
"I could never stay mad at you." He hugged her.
She felt almost on the brink of tears, a huge smile was on her face. Jondy stood in the door grinning profusely. A knock behind her caused her to jump. Two figures stood in the door, a tall olive-skinned boy, and a slightly shorter than average height beautiful blonde girl.
"We're early," Krit said smiling at Jondy's reaction.
Jondy spun and hugged Krit. Krit let go and made his way in.
"So where's the undead one?" Syl asked hugging Jondy.
"Inside."
Zane walked up. He was fair skinned with dark hair, very blue eyes, and he was two or three days late for a shave. Jondy couldn't help but notice how his muscles rippled with each step. "You're pushing him away, remember?" she reminded herself but then the thought of his kiss came back to her. They stood looking at each other in the doorway to the hotel.
"Jon."
"Zane. You look good."
"I'd say the same thing but everytime I say something like that we end up hating each other. So note it but leave it unsaid." He couldn't look in her eyes.
"When I said it, it was just a civil remark... Like, how's the weather?"
"Right."
"Right."
They locked eyes and seemed as if they were going to kiss or kill each other when Faith came to the door. She noticed the tension between the two. "I'm getting non-alcoholic beverages, you want?"
"Sure," Zane said. "Anything but diet."
"What about you?" Faith asked Jondy.
"Yeah. Whatever," she said and she exited.
Faith shrugged and headed out. "Nice to see you, Zane, I've got a hug for you once I'm not errand girl."
"Holding you to it," he said and he entered.
Inside the room there was a lot of excitement and hugging. Max watched Zane enter and noticed Jondy hadn't returned yet. She inwardly wished that Zack's room had been configured like Jondy's. Zack's had a blind spot by the door, the room had a wall that hid the door. Max waited until Faith returned with the cola before she went after Jondy. Faith, noticing her, threw Max Jondy's drink.
Max walked to the bench where they had been sitting earlier. Jondy was laying on it, looking at the stars.
"I brought your drink," Max said.
Jondy snapped up and looked over, tears in her eyes. Max walked over slowly and put her arm around Jondy.
"Are you ok?" Max asked.
"He's infuriating," Jondy began, "I hate the charade that we play. It's killing me, Max."
"Why don't you end it?"
"Now? Right now? With what's coming I've got to push everyone away."
"No, you don't. How about I head in there and ask Zane to come out and talk to you?"
"No. If he wants to, he'll come around. I'm tired and I'm gonna go to bed. Everyone's room keys and bunk assignments are at the front desk."
"Bunk assignments?"
Jondy grinned sheepishly. "I didn't want the X-5s in one room and Liz's friends in another so I... Yeah, anal, I know."
"Anal but noble."
"Call your friends too. That Original Cindy chick and whoever else. Maybe not Logan..."
"Yeah." A thought struck Max. "There's another X-5 in town. 494."
"Hey, Ben was 493."
"He's Ben's identical twin, nothing like him. His name's Alec."
"Invite him. I don't care. I'm heading off to sleep."
In Sunnydale, California
Angel, Wesley, and Cordellia sat with the Scooby Gang in the Magic Shop. Angel was playing the footage for them.
"Holy lightning bolts Batman, that was fast," a guy named Xander said, his humor was lost in everyone's reactions.
"Buffy beat Faith up but she just jumped that fence?" Willow said.
"Inexplicably too," Cordellia said.
"Big word," Xander said with a grin. Cordellia rolled her eyes.
"I never thought Faith would have the britches to do that," Spike said in his snotty British accent.
"I don't care how she did it, I want to know where she is and how do I get her back there," Buffy said.
"I have a contact in Seattle named Logan Cale. He's into non-paranormal things like this. His reaction when he responded about the footage was not how I expected it. He didn't seemed all to startled about it," Angel began.
"But what did he say?" Buffy pressed.
"He didn't," Angel responded.
"So Faith is loose and she's got a really strong friend," Anya said.
"Pretty much," Cordellia said. "But thank you anyway, Captain Obvious."
"I think your contact is hiding her," Buffy said, "Or at least hiding information."
"So what are you suggesting?" Dawn asked.
"Road trip," Buffy said.
In Seattle
Jondy didn't actually go to sleep. She didn't need sleep. She had gotten to the point when she only about an hour a day and her doze in the hotel had covered a week plus. In truth, she didn't want to be near Zane. It was too tough, even the excitement of everyone coming couldn't compete with her feelings towards him. At three AM, her cell phone rang.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Uh, hello, sorry for waking you. Is Liz there?" a male's voice asked.
"I was up. Liz isn't here right now. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I guess. My name's Max. I'm her boyfriend."
"I'm Jondy, one of her sisters. Are you guys in town already?"
"Yeah."
"How many are with you?"
"Six, including myself."
"Ok, I'm gonna be at the air strip in about half an hour."
"How will we know it's you?"
"You'll know."
Jondy hung up and got up. She changed quickly into dark clothes and she pulled out her ski cap. She exited the room and walked past her BMW, she continued into town on foot until she found a SUV with seating for eight. She opened her jacket and pulled out a kit. She dropped to the ground and disconnected the alarm system. She made short work of unlocking the car and starting it. In twenty minutes she was at the air strip. A group of six was sitting around waiting Jondy rolled up next to them.
"Are you Max?" she asked.
"Jondy?"
"Put the gear in the back. Max, we've got to talk."
Disclaimer and such see Chapter 1
*****
The hotel room
Max and Jondy walked back into the hotel room, Liz was dialing a number. "Hey, is Maria there?" she asked.
Jondy's hand snapped out and hung up the phone.
"What was that for?" Liz asked rudely.
"Your boyfriend can come but your friend no," Jondy said calmly.
"Why not? She deserves to know the truth about me."
"You don't have leverage over her, if she told someone you'd have nothing to counter with."
"She's not like that, she wouldn't tell."
"Liz..." Jondy said, trying to reason.
"You've been my CO for all of five minutes, you don't know Maria."
"But I've been your big sister my whole life. I do know Maria, she has a tendency to overreact. She's not safe."
"But Max is safe because I can use his non-Earth origin against him?"
"Yes." Jondy looked away, "No. I'm sorry Liz, invite all of your friends... I'm just overreacting. If your boyfriend can trust them with his secret, you can trust them with ours."
Liz smiled and then hugged Jondy. "I swear, our secret will be safe."
Jondy kissed Liz's forehead. "I trust you. I can get them free tickets too. Have them come late tonight or early tomorrow."
Faith entered the room. "Yo, the boys are on their way, they were in Idaho heading East but they changed directions, they should be here by dark."
Jondy smiled. "Did you call Brin?"
Liz nodded. "On her way, she's in Utah and on her way up."
"Alright, Maxie, call Jace and everyone will be coming."
Max took the phone from Faith and dialed. "Jace, it's Max. How's little Max?"
"She's great."
"It's a girl?"
"Yes. I don't think I ever thanked you enough for what you did."
"It really was no problem. So are you still in Mexico?"
"Actually, Victor took little Maxine to his parents and I was on my way to surprise you."
Max laughed. "Seriously?"
"Cat's out of the bag. I'll be there in about six hours."
"That is so funny, I was calling to see if you wanted to come up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Liz, Faith, and Jondy kinda initiated it."
"So everyone's coming?"
"Yep."
Nervousness flooded Jace's voice. "Won't they, um, think I'm a traitor?"
"They could never. Hold on, Jondy's waving at me for something." Max pulled the phone from her ear. "What?"
"Can I talk to her?" Jondy asked in a soft, pathetic whine. She made a puppy dog face. Max laughed and resigned the phone.
"Jace?" Jondy asked softly.
"Jondy?" Jace had tears in her eyes. "How are you?"
"I'm great, what about you, little sister? What's this about a little Max?"
"I had a daughter."
"My God, that's great." After a pause she said, "I'm really glad to hear your voice."
"You too."
"We can't wait till you get here. Faith and Liz are jumping around and smiling."
"They're happy to see me?" Jace asked nervously.
"Of course. I can't speak for them but I understand why you stayed. Zack never blamed you for staying either." Jace couldn't speak, she was crying. "We'll see you in a bit, right?"
"Uh, huh," Jace managed to make out.
"Love ya."
"Back at you, big sis."
Jondy hung up. "I need a drink."
"It's barely after noon," Liz said.
"Nuh uh. It's beer thirty and Jon's buying," Faith said getting up.
"Since I seem to be the only one with money... Unless Max has the hundred she owes me."
"It's ninety-five and not yet."
"I can't go, I have to call my friends," Liz said picking up the phone.
Jondy tossed her the cell phone. "Use this and come on. You don't have to drink if you don't want to."
Liz smiled and got up. The four girls went to the car and loaded in. Liz called Maria and told her to tell Max that Michael, Isabel, Jesse, and Kyle could come too.
Maria was very happy about this and demanded to speak to the family member who pulled her away so quickly.
"Uh, Maria, that's not a good idea." Liz said.
"Why not?"
"Because she's not a good person to piss off."
"Neither am I, put her on."
Liz looked to Jondy, who smiled and nodded. "Don't smile," Liz said, "I'm starting to think that smiling is a bad thing with you."
Jondy grinned even larger then grabbed the phone. "Yeah?"
"Are you the bitch who dragged Liz away?"
"The bitch, am I? Well then, I guess that's a big ten-four."
"Listen, never ever take Liz away from us again."
"Maria is it?"
"Yes it is."
"Alright Maria, I have a better idea. You never ever threaten me again and I promise to not cut the brake lines on your red piece of shit Jetta. You so much as glare at me and you will never wake up with me standing over your bed with a gun in your face. How does that sound?"
"Yeah right," Maria said trying to sound disbelieving and hide the fear she felt.
"Jondy, please don't. I want to keep my friends alive," Liz pleaded.
"You heard that?" Jondy said.
"Uh huh," Maria said gulping.
"Now, my family all had a fucked up childhood and we had an emergency. Liz hasn't seen any of us since before the pulse. She sees you everyday, be a little fucking understanding. Ok? See you tonight. Buh-bye."
She hung up and Faith was in hysterics, Max had a grin on her face, Liz just shook her head. "What? I didn't go overboard, did I?" Jondy asked innocently.
"I think you scared the shit out of her," Liz said.
"She'll probably hire a body guard," Faith said.
Jondy pulled the car to a stop and turned the car off. "Here we go."
Max looked at the building. "I've never been here before."
"I know the guy who runs the place, it's a 24 hour club. Very incognito. No cops, no closing, no last call, no lame music, and since I know the guy it's no charge."
They piled out of the car and into the club. The music was banging, Jondy walked right up to the bar.
"What up?" she asked the handsome, dark haired bartender, they locked hands in a weird handshake.
"Jonnie, what up girl?"
"Yo, Mikhail, I want you to meet some of my family." She waved the girls over. "That's Max, Liz, and Faith. Girls, this is Mikhail, he's the guy who got me into bartending among other things."
"Nice to meet you, ladies," Mikhail said grinning. "What's your poison?"
"Whatever you want to make," Faith said putting a hand suggestively on Mikhail's face.
"Uh, Pepsi," Liz said.
"Something on tap," Max said.
"Make sure the Pepsi is Pepsi, ok? And you know what I like," Jondy said.
"Hard liquor and loud music," Mikhail said. He fixed the drinks and handed them out. He handed Faith's drink to her last. "You, little miss, I made you the same thing as Jonnie. It's called a neuro-neutralizer. Her own concoction. Takes a lot of balls to get one down and keep it there."
"Nothin' I can't handle," Faith said taking a shot. She crunched her face and her eyes watered.
Jondy took her shoot and then clouted Faith in the back. "That'll put hair on your ass."
"I don't doubt it," Faith said taking another drink. Her face contorting in the same fashion as before.
Max took a sniff of Jondy's drink. "What's in it?"
"Don't ask," Jondy said. "Anyone want to hit the dance floor? I seem some fly guys out there."
Faith followed after Jondy to the dance floor. The unidentifiable dance rhythm was hypnotic. The two girls were soon surrounded by four or five guys.
"Max," Liz said quietly. "Something's not right with Jondy."
"What makes you say that?" Max said with concern in her voice.
"She's being very secretive and she's kinda... A bit wild."
"She's coming out of a bad relationship. A bit of wildness can be appreciated."
"She stole the car we've been driving."
"Faith was sprung from prison by Jondy too."
"Why was Faith in jail?"
"Aggravated assault and murder one."
"She wasn't guilty, was she?"
"I haven't found out yet, but I heard about an armed robbery charge? In Utah, right?"
Liz blushed. "Yeah."
"We've all have a tarnished record, even Zack."
"Really?" Liz asked shyly.
"Yeah. Don't worry. Everything's gonna play out ok."
Jondy came over and sat next to the girls. "You two just gonna sit 'n watch or you gonna come out and meet some of our new friends?" She didn't wait for a response, she reached out and grabbed a hand of both girls. They yielded and followed out to the dance floor.
The four girls were soon the middle of crowd. They danced in a group and everyone else danced around them. Faith and Jondy were the most provocative dancers of the four.
After five or seven songs, the girls retreated to the bar. Jondy looked to her watch. "I've got to go pick up someone at the airport, you guys wanna wait here or go back to the hotel room?"
"Can't we go with?" Max asked.
"Nope." Jondy said ordering another drink.
Mikhail brought over four shot glasses. "Another one of Jondy's concoctions," he said before he left.
Jondy passed them out and all four girls took a slam. Liz nearly spit hers out. Jondy was the only one who's face didn't contort. She laughed.
"Ugh. What was that called?" Liz asked.
"To Mikhail it doesn't have a name. But I call it the Transgen. It's got a little bit of everything in it. So here or hotel?"
The three not going to the airport decided to stay at the club. Jondy departed and left at full speed. When she finally came to a stop she was at the one runway airport. A plane had just touched down and the passengers were walking out. Jondy sat on the hood of her car and smiled when she saw the tall, blond, muscular figure of her brother Zack walk towards her.
She could not contain her excitement and she ran to him. He dropped his bags and they hugged.
"How you doing cowboy?" Jondy asked.
"Great. Where's everyone?"
"On their way. Some of the girls are at a bar."
"Drinking already? It's four in the afternoon."
"We've been there for four hours," Jondy said with a grin on her face. "Shit, it's good to see you."
"You too, baby sister... Wow, is that your car?"
"Yep."
Jondy and Zack loaded into the car and she drove him to the hotel. "I thought you said they were at a bar?" Zack said.
"They are, you're here to surprise them," Jondy said with a grin.
Zack managed a small smile and he laid down on his bed. Jondy sped back to the bar. Max, Liz, and Faith had all had at least four of Jondy's "Transgen" drinks since she had left. They were all dancing, but Jondy could tell that they were long gone. Mikhail allowed her behind the bar and she made a special concoction for all of the girls. She pulled them off of the dance floor and back to the bar.
The girls all tried to slur out some argument but nothing came out. Jondy handed them the drinks, they all slammed them. Their faces contorted and some of the drunkenness seemed to leave their body.
"That was gross," Liz said.
"Yeah, I call it Instant Sobriety. In about five minutes you'll be sober... How many did you have? Scratch that, I don't want to know," Jondy said grinning.
"Some of our guests have arrived, and they want to see you."
"Who?" Faith said, shaking her head.
"Sworn to secrecy," Jondy said heading out.
The girls drove in silence as the three were dragged into sobriety. When they got to the hotel the girls stumbled out.
"Shit, I thought you said it would take five minutes," Liz said.
"I should have mixed it stronger, I could make another."
"No," All three girls said in a snap.
Jondy concealed a grin as she opened the door to Zack's room. The three stumbled in and saw Zack sitting on the bed. He sat with a grin. Liz screamed a high pitched squeal and hugged him. Faith rushed to him also. Max covered her mouth. Jondy put her arm around Max.
"I told you..." Jondy said in a whisper. "He can't take his eyes off of you."
It was true, Zack had cast quick glances at his two younger sisters but his gaze was locked on Max. He was able to peel the two off of him and he stood to move to Max. "I understand why you did what you did, Max," he said, a deep breath almost stopped the last part from exiting his lips. "And it was the right choice."
"You're not mad?" Max asked in almost a whisper.
"I could never stay mad at you." He hugged her.
She felt almost on the brink of tears, a huge smile was on her face. Jondy stood in the door grinning profusely. A knock behind her caused her to jump. Two figures stood in the door, a tall olive-skinned boy, and a slightly shorter than average height beautiful blonde girl.
"We're early," Krit said smiling at Jondy's reaction.
Jondy spun and hugged Krit. Krit let go and made his way in.
"So where's the undead one?" Syl asked hugging Jondy.
"Inside."
Zane walked up. He was fair skinned with dark hair, very blue eyes, and he was two or three days late for a shave. Jondy couldn't help but notice how his muscles rippled with each step. "You're pushing him away, remember?" she reminded herself but then the thought of his kiss came back to her. They stood looking at each other in the doorway to the hotel.
"Jon."
"Zane. You look good."
"I'd say the same thing but everytime I say something like that we end up hating each other. So note it but leave it unsaid." He couldn't look in her eyes.
"When I said it, it was just a civil remark... Like, how's the weather?"
"Right."
"Right."
They locked eyes and seemed as if they were going to kiss or kill each other when Faith came to the door. She noticed the tension between the two. "I'm getting non-alcoholic beverages, you want?"
"Sure," Zane said. "Anything but diet."
"What about you?" Faith asked Jondy.
"Yeah. Whatever," she said and she exited.
Faith shrugged and headed out. "Nice to see you, Zane, I've got a hug for you once I'm not errand girl."
"Holding you to it," he said and he entered.
Inside the room there was a lot of excitement and hugging. Max watched Zane enter and noticed Jondy hadn't returned yet. She inwardly wished that Zack's room had been configured like Jondy's. Zack's had a blind spot by the door, the room had a wall that hid the door. Max waited until Faith returned with the cola before she went after Jondy. Faith, noticing her, threw Max Jondy's drink.
Max walked to the bench where they had been sitting earlier. Jondy was laying on it, looking at the stars.
"I brought your drink," Max said.
Jondy snapped up and looked over, tears in her eyes. Max walked over slowly and put her arm around Jondy.
"Are you ok?" Max asked.
"He's infuriating," Jondy began, "I hate the charade that we play. It's killing me, Max."
"Why don't you end it?"
"Now? Right now? With what's coming I've got to push everyone away."
"No, you don't. How about I head in there and ask Zane to come out and talk to you?"
"No. If he wants to, he'll come around. I'm tired and I'm gonna go to bed. Everyone's room keys and bunk assignments are at the front desk."
"Bunk assignments?"
Jondy grinned sheepishly. "I didn't want the X-5s in one room and Liz's friends in another so I... Yeah, anal, I know."
"Anal but noble."
"Call your friends too. That Original Cindy chick and whoever else. Maybe not Logan..."
"Yeah." A thought struck Max. "There's another X-5 in town. 494."
"Hey, Ben was 493."
"He's Ben's identical twin, nothing like him. His name's Alec."
"Invite him. I don't care. I'm heading off to sleep."
In Sunnydale, California
Angel, Wesley, and Cordellia sat with the Scooby Gang in the Magic Shop. Angel was playing the footage for them.
"Holy lightning bolts Batman, that was fast," a guy named Xander said, his humor was lost in everyone's reactions.
"Buffy beat Faith up but she just jumped that fence?" Willow said.
"Inexplicably too," Cordellia said.
"Big word," Xander said with a grin. Cordellia rolled her eyes.
"I never thought Faith would have the britches to do that," Spike said in his snotty British accent.
"I don't care how she did it, I want to know where she is and how do I get her back there," Buffy said.
"I have a contact in Seattle named Logan Cale. He's into non-paranormal things like this. His reaction when he responded about the footage was not how I expected it. He didn't seemed all to startled about it," Angel began.
"But what did he say?" Buffy pressed.
"He didn't," Angel responded.
"So Faith is loose and she's got a really strong friend," Anya said.
"Pretty much," Cordellia said. "But thank you anyway, Captain Obvious."
"I think your contact is hiding her," Buffy said, "Or at least hiding information."
"So what are you suggesting?" Dawn asked.
"Road trip," Buffy said.
In Seattle
Jondy didn't actually go to sleep. She didn't need sleep. She had gotten to the point when she only about an hour a day and her doze in the hotel had covered a week plus. In truth, she didn't want to be near Zane. It was too tough, even the excitement of everyone coming couldn't compete with her feelings towards him. At three AM, her cell phone rang.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Uh, hello, sorry for waking you. Is Liz there?" a male's voice asked.
"I was up. Liz isn't here right now. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I guess. My name's Max. I'm her boyfriend."
"I'm Jondy, one of her sisters. Are you guys in town already?"
"Yeah."
"How many are with you?"
"Six, including myself."
"Ok, I'm gonna be at the air strip in about half an hour."
"How will we know it's you?"
"You'll know."
Jondy hung up and got up. She changed quickly into dark clothes and she pulled out her ski cap. She exited the room and walked past her BMW, she continued into town on foot until she found a SUV with seating for eight. She opened her jacket and pulled out a kit. She dropped to the ground and disconnected the alarm system. She made short work of unlocking the car and starting it. In twenty minutes she was at the air strip. A group of six was sitting around waiting Jondy rolled up next to them.
"Are you Max?" she asked.
"Jondy?"
"Put the gear in the back. Max, we've got to talk."