Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow

Note: I'm trying to separate the sections, but nothing I seem to do shows up when I upload the document. I apologize if it's a bit difficult to follow.

Previously:

"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."

"Yeah, hopefully," Kara replied and turned to look at Callum, surprised to find her face only inches from his.

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.

Chapter Sixteen:

"Hey Nibblet," Spike said appearing as if from no where and seating himself next to Dawn on one of the hard, plastic hospital chairs. "Where's big sis?"

"Getting coffee," Dawn replied, smiling over at the bleached blonde vampire. "Shouldn't you be hiding out from the sun right about now?" Dawn asked.

"I never did like to do things properly," Spike replied. "Besides, I figured you could probably use some company."

Dawn smiled gratefully. "Yeah. Buffy keeps finding things to do to keep busy." Leaning over, Dawn rested her head against Spike's shoulder. The action caught him a bit off guard, but after several moments, he wrapped his arm around her.

Dawn buried her face in Spike's leather jacket, reveling in the smell that was uniquely Spike. Little did she know he was doing the same. "Thanks for coming," Dawn whispered, closing her eyes. "Tell me a story?"

Spike smiled, absently running his hand through her long, brown hair. "Alright then. Once upon a time..."

..................................................

Callum leaned forward, capturing Kara's lips with his own, and sweeping her up in a passionate kiss. They reluctantly broke away when the need for oxygen compelled them. Kara smiled brilliantly and gently traced the contours of his face with her fingertips, lingering on his lips, and tracing his jaw. His eyes never left hers as she continued her ministrations, and Callum felt as if he were drowning in the swirling dark of her eyes. They were almost black with desire, yet he could see sparks of emerald shining in the afternoon sun.

They were both so entranced that when the doorbell rang they nearly fell out of their chairs. Collecting herself, Kara stood and spoke, though barely a whisper, "I better get that." Moving out of the kitchen, she paused as the door swung shut and closed her eyes, smiling with a happiness she hadn't known before. Then she took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and walked to the door.

"Forget your key?" She asked, opening the door expecting to see Faith there. Instead, the doorstep was empty. Curious, Kara stepped outside, walking a bit down the sidewalk, but found no one there. "Okay," she muttered to herself and turned to walk back in the house. From deep inside, she could hear the sounds of a struggle, and something crashing to the floor.

Running back into the house, she passed through the doorway only to have two strong arms wrap around her from behind and pull her backwards. She collided with the wall, her head slamming back. Pain shot through her skull and an explosion of stars burst in front of her eyes. Lifting her hand to the back of her head, her fingers tangled in her hair and came back wet with blood.

"That's not her," a voice said above her. Craning her neck to see who was speaking, Kara was dismayed to find the world spinning around her. She couldn't focus on anything but the pain.

"She's not in the house," another voice said, slightly panicked.

"We can't go back empty handed," the first voice replied. "Let's take her."

Kara felt hands groping at her, lifting her up, and carrying her out of the house. Her eyes rolled back in her head and the last thing she remembered seeing was the blue sky above her and the warm sun shining down on her face.

..................................................

Faith walked down the main drag of downtown Sunnydale, watching as the Magic Box loomed closer. She was a bit nervous about talking with the red haired witch. Though she desperately wanted to make things right between them, she wasn't so sure that was what Willow had in mind. Wrapping her jacket tighter around her lean, yet muscular frame, Faith turned down the alley that led to the back door. She wasn't quite in the mood to deal with Anya or Xander.

She hadn't particularly been paying attention, or she might have noticed Riley step out from behind her as she passed the dumpster. She did, however, hear the tiny click when he pulled the hammer back on his gun. Faith froze. "Red?" She asked, turning around slowly.

"Think again," Riley said, leveling the gun to her chest. Confusion flashed through Faith's eyes and he smirked. "What? Did you really think I'd let you take Buffy from me? You're nothing. You're a piece of shit, a trailer park whore. You don't deserve her," Riley spat, stepping closer.

Faith could practically see the rage spilling off him. For one of the few times in her life, she was genuinely afraid. Riley on a good day couldn't touch her, but Riley with a gun could kill her. "What do you want?" She asked cautiously, slowly raising her hands in a gesture of defeat.

"What do I want?" Riley asked, almost incredulous. "I want you gone."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Faith said, her voice calm and steady though she could feel her hands shaking.

Riley smiled, his white teeth flashing and his eyes lighting up with a devious gleam. "I can."

Faith heard the shot ring out in the alley just before the bullet slammed into her chest. Stumbling backwards, she glanced down at her shirt, watching in a sort of morbid fascination as blood began to seep out and spread across the fabric. Then she fell and seemed to fall forever before hitting the pavement. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs and for a few moments, she couldn't breathe at all. Then the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.

She heard the pounding of Riley's feet vibrating through the concrete and the screech of the backdoor of the Magic Box slamming open and hitting the wall. "Oh God," Anya said, rushing over to where Faith lay in a pool of her own blood. "Xander!" She yelled back at the store, kneeling down beside Faith and pressing her hands against the wound. Xander appeared through the doorway, freezing when he saw Faith. "Call an ambulance," Anya instructed, but he didn't move. "Xander," she said lowly, catching his attention. "Go inside and call an ambulance."

Xander nodded and ran back into the store. "You're gonna be okay," Anya told Faith. "Just hang on."

....................................................

Kara, Spike, and Mason ran forever, their legs pounding into the ground and the muscles tearing and stretching beyond their capability. Night fell as they entered the forest and the trees were like giants swaying and moaning in the wind. After a couple of hours, they came across an abandoned cabin. Spike went in first, to make sure there were no demons inside. Upon his signal, Kara and Mason joined him.

"There's some food in the pantry," Spike said. "I think it's edible. And there are some blankets over there."

Kara moved across the room, grabbing a blanketing and motioning for Mason to join her as she wrapped them up and settled into the corner. She could hear Spike moving around in the darkened room, fixing some food for them to eat. Mason looked up at her, his wide, innocent eyes wet and shining. "If you could do anything, what would you do?" He asked.

Kara thought for a moment before responding. "I'd go swimming," she said. "Never done it before, but I always thought it sounded fun. What would you do?" She asked, gazing back down at him.

"Fly away."