Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
Previously:
Glory closed her eyes and slowly counted to ten, trying to dispel the murderous rage from rising up again. "Find me the key. And do it now."
Chapter Fifteen:
Glory studied the spread of surveillance photos laid out before her, her eyes lingering on each face as her minions scrambled to explain the significance of each person. "This is good," Glory said happily. "Now, do me a favor. Show me the new people." The minions brushed away several photographs until all that was left before her was a collection of grainy, hurried shots of Spike, Kara, Callum, Faith, and Tara.
"These, oh splendiferous being of power and beauty, are all the people the slayer has taken into her company as of late. Each she protects, however," the minion said, pointing to one of the photographs and licking his crusty lips in excitement, "this one she appears to protect above all others."
"You know, I really thought you guys would screw this up," Glory said turning toward the mass of minions gathered before her. "I gotta say, I'm impressed. Bring me the girl."
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"You really think this is gonna work?" Faith asked for about the billionth time. She sat at the island in the kitchen of the Summers house, her leg bouncing nervously, with Kara and Callum watching her intently. Joyce, Buffy, and Dawn had left for the hospital a few hours ago. Glancing at the clock, Faith noted that Joyce would be going in for surgery within the half hour.
Kara sighed. "Yes, it's gonna work. You seriously need to chill out," she said. Though frustrated with the obviously anxious slayer seated across from her, she understood her mother's concern.
"I'm chill," Faith replied defensively. Kara smirked.
"Yeah, okay," she responded sarcastically.
"You think the old bird's got any of the hard stuff around here?" Callum asked, jumping to his feet and searching the kitchen cabinets for something to drink.
"I would doubt it," Kara said. This time, it was Faith who smirked.
"Under the sink," she said as Kara raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Come on, she's gotta live with three teenage girls, you don't think she's got some liquor around to dull the edge?" Faith replied jokingly.
Callum located a bottle of vodka and turned back to the girls, grinning from ear to ear. "I say we get completely sloshed and forget all about Glory and apocalypses and surgeries and every other blasted thing in this ridiculous little world," Callum announced, pulling three glasses out of the cabinet and setting them down on the island. Filling each, he set the bottle down and picked up his glass, proposing a toast. "To second chances," he said, emptying the glass in one swift motion.
Kara and Faith followed his lead, each grinning at the fire that rose up in their throats from the alcohol. The phone suddenly rang, making all three jump. "Hello?" Faith asked, reaching over and plucking the phone off the receiver. "Sure, I'll be right there," Faith said and hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Kara asked, pouring both her and Callum another glass.
"Red, said something about meeting her behind the Magic Box to talk about things. I'll be back in a few," Faith said, grabbing her jacket off the chair and disappearing out of the back door.
"Well, hopefully they'll be making up then," Callum said, sitting heavily back down in his chair next to Kara.
"Yeah, hopefully," Kara replied and turned to look him, surprised to find her face only inches from his.
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Willow hung up the phone, glancing back Riley, who stood only a few feet behind her. "She'll be here," Willow said. "Why couldn't you just call her yourself?" She asked, her tone light and casual. Her eyes drifted over Riley, from his pale face to his fidgeting hands, and she was instantly suspicious. She wasn't particularly fond of Faith, but she didn't want to see anything happen to her either. Though she didn't believe Riley would ever hurt Faith, she couldn't help but wonder why the ex-soldier wanted to meet with Faith in the first place, and why he couldn't arrange it himself.
"You know Faith. She doesn't like me too much. I don't think she would've come if I had called. I just want to talk to her about keeping an eye on Buffy for me, what with all of this stuff happening with her mom," Riley responded, his voice also pleasant despite the rage of emotions coiling in his stomach.
Willow nodded, accepting his answer. "Well, I'm meeting Tara for lunch. See ya later?" She asked, giving Riley another quick glance before leaving the Magic Box.
Riley watched her go, then slipped into the training room and out of the back door. Positioning himself behind a dumpster in the alley that led to the Magic Box, he waited for Faith. His hands wouldn't stop shaking and they drifted up to the bulge in his jacket. Riley smiled.