Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
Disclaimer: The dialogue borrowed from "The Gift" obviously belongs to whomever wrote it.
Previously:
The rest of the group had already assembled outside, surveying the damage Glory had done and trying to get Buffy to respond. Buffy sat on the ground, her face marred with grief, completely catatonic.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Faith asked, watching her girlfriend with worry.
"Yeah. She needs to see," Kara said.
"See what?"
"Death is her gift," Kara replied, looking over at Faith with a primeval light shining in her eyes. "But so is life."
Chapter Twenty-Three:
Then tension in the room was palpable; so thick that Faith could almost taste it. The group was assembled in the Magic Box. Only a few minutes before, Willow had found a spell to restore Tara's sanity, revitalizing a shred of hope for the group, though it would have to wait until Tara led them to Glory's hideout. The atmosphere had changed drastically when Buffy announced that under no circumstances were any of them to eliminate Dawn if the portal were to open. Giles, in playing devil's advocate, had opened a can of worms that not only had everyone questioning Buffy's motives, but their own moral compass.
If the portal were to open, Dawn's blood would be the only way to close it; or so Faith thought, though Kara, Spike, and Callum seemed relatively at ease. Even Giles, despite the verbal lashing he received from Buffy, seemed fairly tranquil, as if they had some innate knowledge of the course of events. Faith smiled to herself, suddenly realizing that they did; Kara had a plan. Faith glanced over at the dark haired girl, wondering, not for the first time, what was lurking behind her eyes. It was impossible to tell, much like Faith, Kara kept a constant veil over the windows to her soul, making it futile to try to anticipate her actions and emotions.
However, despite that, Faith could see a flicker of doubt in Kara's eyes. Something was bothering her, but whatever it was, she kept it to herself. The group was suddenly standing, gathering around Willow and Tara as they encouraged the blonde witch to go to Glory. "Stay close but don't crowd her. We'll follow in a minute. Everybody knows their jobs. Remember, the ritual starts, we all die. And I'll kill anyone who comes near Dawn," Buffy said sternly. The Scoobies filed out of the store, leaving Buffy and Faith.
"You ready for this, B?" Faith asked, walking up to her. Buffy turned and pulled Faith into a warm embrace, feeling as if it could be the last time. "Hey, it's okay," Faith said, wrapping her arms around Buffy, who was shaking slightly.
"I know," Buffy said, her words muffled as she nuzzled Faith's neck. "I'm just...I don't want to lose anyone. Not Dawn, not any of the Scoobies...not you," Buffy said, pulling away and looking at Faith with eyes shining with unshed tears. Faith smiled lazily, running her hand through Buffy's golden hair.
"You won't," Faith said simply, leaning down and capturing Buffy's lips with her own. The kiss was gentle, lasting only a few moments, but shook them both to the very core of their beings.
"How can you be sure?" Buffy breathed, resting her head on Faith's chest, just next to the healing gunshot wound that nearly killed her. Reaching her hand up, Buffy gingerly placed it on the wound, feeling the steady beat of Faith's heart beneath.
"I've got faith," Faith said jokingly, rewarded with a laugh and small smile from Buffy. "Come on, we've gotta go."
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"Don't do anything stupid," Anya instructed, looking up into Xander's chocolate eyes with worry. "Buffy's the hero, not you. Just remember, running is always a viable option."
Xander smiled patiently at his if-the-world-doesn't-end-fiancé. "I'll be careful," he said, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Take care of Buffy's mom, alright?" He said, smiling back at the very worried and very stressed Joyce Summers.
"I will. She's in good hands," Anya said proudly. "We'll be waiting at the house."
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"You know, we do this kinda thing all the time. Nothing to worry about really," Spike said, attempting to comfort the distressed woman next to him.
"So you've fought a hell god before?" Joyce asked hopefully, turning toward the bleached vampire.
"Well, not exactly. But you know, us demons, really, we're all alike. Kill one, you can kill us all," Spike said jauntily.
"Take care of Dawn," Joyce suddenly said, her expression deadly serious. Spike regarded her for a moment.
"I promise."
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"They're shutting me in...cages, cages. The world's falling down," Tara muttered as she wandered a bit away from the group, heading in Glory's general direction. Giles and Willow watched her, worry etched across their faces.
"You're sure the spell will work?" Giles asked.
"It will," Willow answered confidently. "It has to. She's my everything."
................................
"I would think we should be pretty confident going into this, but you don't look so sure," Callum said, standing beside Kara outside the Magic Box.
"They're calling me," Kara said, looking up at the sky absently.
"Who?" Callum asked, looking at her sharply.
"The Powers that Be. Something isn't right. They want to see me," Kara responded. Her voice was detached, almost as if the words were flowing through her.
"When?"
"After Glory. Things are changing. Buffy's resurrection brought about the First, altered the line of slayers," Kara muttered.
"But Buffy isn't going to die tonight," Callum said. "The First won't rise if Buffy doesn't die."
"No," Kara said gravely. "This is just the beginning."
.........................................
"What the freakin' hell did that bitch do to me?" Glory yelled angrily, clutching her head. Willow stood a few feet away, smiling triumphantly as the bolt of energy flowing from her fingertips effectively stunned the hell god. Then she backed off, running to Tara, preparing the spell to bring back her sanity.
"That's not the least of your troubles. You've got two very pissed off slayers to deal with," Buffy said, quickly taking Willow's place, with Faith just behind her. "Be careful," Buffy whispered back to her.
"I know, I'm not gonna break," Faith whispered back, half-heartedly angry, though pleased that Buffy was concerned. Then they rushed, the battle with Glory beginning.
...........................................
"Okay, Spike," Kara said as an opening formed between Glory's minions. "Time to get our asses up that tower."
"Keep them safe, yeah, mate?" Spike said, glancing back at Callum and motioning toward the Scoobies crouched behind some packing crates. Callum nodded. Then he and Kara took off running, dashing between the minions and crazy people, their feet banging on the metal stairs of the tower.
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"Tara?" Willow asked, stroking the side of her girlfriend's face as she finished the spell. The confusion disappeared from her eyes and Tara looked up at Willow.
"Willow...I got so lost," she murmured.
"I'll always find you, baby," Willow said, kissing her passionately.
"Less with the smoochies, more with the helping to fight," Xander instructed, effectively ending their moment. Willow looked over at him and smiled goofily, then glanced up at the tower.
"Uh, guys? Is there someone up there?"
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"Hey kid...wanna see a trick?"
"Move!" Kara yelled as she looked up, seeing Doc rapidly approaching Dawn. Spike growled, his face transforming into his inner demon, and he flew the rest of the way up the tower.
"I really wouldn't do that if I were you, mate," he growled as his feet hit the top stair. Only a few feet separated him from the demon called Doc, a loyal follower of Glory.
"Spike!" Dawn yelled, hope filling her voice upon seeing the vampire.
"Hang on, Nibblet," Spike instructed, advancing.
Kara ran up the stairs, her feet pounding on the metal and sending shockwaves up through her legs. Her heart was pounding. She could see Spike advancing on Dawn and Doc. "Come on," she muttered, praying that Spike wouldn't fail this time.
"You don't come near the girl, Doc," Spike said menacingly.
"I don't smell a soul anywhere on you...why do you care?"
"I made a promise to a lady," Spike answered solemnly.
"Who? The Slayer?" Doc said, laughing.
"No," Spike replied. "Her mum." Rushing on the demon, he grabbed Doc, wrestling with him for the knife in his hand.
...........................................
"Tell her it's over. She missed her shot. She goes. She ever -- EVER -- comes near me and mine again...," Buffy growled, trailing off as Ben interrupted her.
"We won't. I swear," he assured her, fear shining in his eyes. Buffy quickly walked away to find the others. When she was gone, Giles slowly walked up to Ben, a grim look on his face.
"Can you move?" He asked the injured man calmly.
"Need a minute," Ben replied, breathing heavily. "She could have killed me."
"No she couldn't. Never. And sooner or later, Glory will re-emerge and make Buffy pay for that mercy, and the world with her. Buffy even knows that, and still she couldn't take a human life. She's a hero, you see. She's not like us," Giles said, kneeling down beside the man. Ben looked at him warily.
"Us?"
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Kara watched from the top stair of the tower as Doc drove the knife deep into Spike's gut. "I'll send the lady your regrets," Doc muttered, preparing to hurl Spike off the tower.
"I bloody well don't think so," Spike growled, and grabbing onto the demon's coat, both toppling off the tower and onto the ground below. Kara rushed over to the railing, watching them fall, and wincing as they hit the ground.
"He okay?" Dawn asked worriedly, trying to catch a glimpse of them, but failing.
"He'll live," Kara muttered and then rushed over to free Dawn from her binds.
Below, the group assembled around Buffy and Faith, who were looking up at the tower. "Can you see what's going on?" Buffy asked.
"It's alright," Spike said, limping up to them. "She's fine. Kara's bringing her down."
"What happened to you?" Faith asked, giving him the once over.
Spike rolled his eyes. "There was a demon. Pushed me off the tower. Took him with me. He's dead now," Spike said triumphantly.
Giles wandered up to the group, cleaning his glasses on his shirt. "Get the deed done?" Spike asked lowly, coming up beside the watcher. Giles somberly nodded.
"Spike!" Dawn yelled, rushing over to the vampire and throwing her arms around him. Kara trailed behind her, surveying the group, glad to see everyone alive and well.
"So, night's still young," Callum said. "Drinks?"
The group walked away, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. Kara strayed behind, distancing herself from them. She was happy they had succeeded, but a great fear held her heart. Her eyes became unsettled and, looking toward the sky, she muttered, "From beneath you it devours."