TITLE: Interim
AUTHOR: William Rayne
EMAIL: knytmare%at%yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: Willow sends Buffy (and by extension, Dawn) to Kansas to find 3 newly chosen slayers. Who knew that a place called Smallville would become more than a routine search and train. AU, cross-over with Smallville.
SPOILERS: BtVS: Chosen, SV: Exodus, Precipice
DISTRIBUTION: FanFiction.net, email me
DISCLAIMER someone else owns 'em, I'm just taking them out to play. Don't sue me, I have no money
FEEDBACK: Desired like none other.
NOTES AND NEWS: As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust.
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Interim
Chapter 1
Smallville, August 2003
Dawn took off her belt and handed it over to her sister. Buffy took her head out from underneath the hood of the steaming car and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I dunno, I always see it on TV. Car breaks down, usually they need a belt to fix it. So I figured you could use it. You know, just in case," Dawn offered the belt once more.
Buffy put her hand to her face, smearing some grease on it, she sighed. "I don't think that will work. In fact, put your belt back on. Looks like we're walking into town. We'll have to find a phone to get this towed."
"Why can't we just use our cell phones?"
"I wouldn't mind paying the roaming charges but in order to do that we'd need a signal. Which we can't get out here in BFE," Buffy said as she checked her phone once again.
"What about our stuff?"
"Get what you need and are able to carry," Buffy replied, "I'm sure we'll be able to get our stuff out when we find a tow-truck but can't be too safe."
Dawn grinned, "You got that Slayer strength, why can't you just carry everything?"
Buffy stared at her sister, "One, I'm not a pack mule and two, next time you should pack lighter." The matter settled in Buffy's mind, she grabbed her only two duffle bags, one full of weapons and the other with her travel materials.
Dawn scowled and muttered, "Some of that crap is for school," as she chose to carry her computer bag and one of the bags of clothes she packed. Looking up, she let out a small yelp of joy and pointed to the cloud of dust that could be seen in the setting sun.
The truck pulled over and a tall man in plaid hopped out of the driver's seat and asked, "You girls need any help?"
Buffy put down her bags and assumed a neutral stance, "That'd be nice, Mister?"
"Kent, Jonathan Kent."
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Dawn shoveled down the food at the dinner table and Buffy smiled apologetically at the red-headed woman across from her, "Dawn, slow down. Don't be rude."
"That's alright, um," the woman said, trying to recall her guest's name.
"Buffy and thanks again for inviting us for dinner," she replied as she nudge her sister with a kick under the table.
"Yeah, thanfs very mush," Dawn said with a full mouth. Swallowing, she amended, "I mean, thank you very much Mr. and Mrs. Kent. You've been too kind to us."
Buffy had become less guarded when she was sure that Mr. Kent was genuinely trying to help and not some creep trying to take advantage of two young girls stuck out in the countryside. Jonathan took a look at the car and said something about the carburetor and radiator. The girls were apprehensive about the cost to fix it and he offered to do it himself. By the time he had finished looking over the vehicle, it was late and Buffy asked where the nearest restaurant and local hotel were. He felt sorry for them and insisted that the girls have dinner with him and his wife. They would get the car later after dinner. The food was wonderful. It was a home-cooked meal that reminded them of their late mother.
"So what brings you girls to Smallville?" Martha Kent inquired.
"Uh," Buffy said, "We use to live in Sunnydale, California."
Jonathan interrupted, "Wasn't that the place where the sinkhole hit?"
"Yuh-huh," Dawn answered between bites.
"I'm sorry to hear about that. You must of lost everything," Martha said sympathetically.
The girls were silent as they remembered the events that led to what the media had called a sinkhole. They had lost a lot of friends in the battle to close the Hellmouth. Buffy and Dawn thought of the numerous Chosen as well as Anya and Spike who had given their lives for the fate of the world. Before they could be queried further on that subject, Buffy said, "Anyways, my old boss, Principal Robin Wood, recommended this town to move to. It seemed like a good place for Dawn to finish her schooling while I tried to find a better job. Principal Wood wrote a letter of recommendation for me. I was the old guidance councilor at Dawn's old school." She had practiced the cover story they had concocted and was pleased she could deliver it so naturally.
"Wow," the Kents said in amazement. Jonathan sensed there was more to the story than she let on and gently inquired, "Forgive me for asking, but what about your parents."
The sisters glanced at each other, they knew this would come up eventually in such a small town but didn't think it would be this soon. "Our mother died two years ago and our dad, he's off with his secretary somewhere in Europe."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Mr. Kent apologized.
"No," Buffy responded, "It's alright. We've come to accept it. Besides we still have good friends we can count on in a bind."
"Well, now you have two more," Martha said warmly with a smile.
The Summers sisters smiled back. If the Kents were any indication to what was in store for them in a small town life, they might just enjoy their tour of duty in the town. Dinner ended and Buffy insisted on helping Mr. Kent retrieve their wayward vehicle while Dawn helped with the dishes.
Dawn looked about the house and saw some of the family pictures while retrieving the last of the dishes. "So," she said as Martha turned her attention towards her, "who's the hottie in the pictures?"
Martha turned sad for a moment and Dawn apologized for asking. "No, no. It's alright. That's our son Clark." Martha didn't know what made her so at ease with the girl. Perhaps it was the absence of Clark or something about her in general. Either way, she figured Dawn and Buffy would hear about it around town eventually and she added, "He ran away."
"Oh," Dawn said as she dried off the dishes Martha handed to her. "I'm sorry. I may not know him or why he left but with a mom like you, I'm sure he'll come back home. He'd have to be a really dumb kid not to."
Martha sniffled and smiled at the young girl, "Thank you, Dawn."
The phone rang and Dawn, seeing that Mrs. Kent had her hands full with a dish, dashed to answer it, "I'll get it for you." Picking up the phone, she said, "Kent residence."
The only answer was some heavy breathing and Dawn instantly reacted, "Ew, get a life, perv." The phone clicked and Martha looked at her with mixed emotions.
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"You really don't have to come out with me for your car," Jonathan said with a half smile.
"You've been too kind to my sister and me," Buffy responded, "I don't want us to be an unnecessary burden."
Mr. Kent changed the subject, realizing that to argue about it now was futile. "Where do you two plan to stay in Smallville?"
"Oh, Giles already rented us a place, we just have to get the key and find it."
"Giles?"
"Oh, he was my high school mentor. He's in England now but we keep in contact," Buffy said, knowing full well the farmer would think she's insane if she told the truth. Besides, Giles was her mentor.
As they put the car unto a trailer hitched to the truck, they chatted about little things. Buffy gave the address of the place Giles had rented and it turned out that it was Lana's old house. Jonathan gave her the general layout of the town, including the Talon where the young people hung out. Buffy inconspicuously asked how far from town they were since the place they'd be staying was next door to the Kents. Since they couldn't get the keys to the house until the next morning, Jonathan insisted they stay in the spare room. They got back and she said she wanted to walk and get some fresh air. Mr. Kent looked at her apprehensively until she reassured him that she could take care of herself and not get lost. Mr. Kent entered the house and Buffy strode towards town to patrol.
Jonathan shouted that he was back and when Martha asked where Buffy was, Dawn accidentally responded, "She probably went patrolling."
"Patrolling?" the Kents said in unified confusion.
"Um, uh, I meant petroleum," Dawn amended.
"Petroleum?" they said, even more confused.
"Yeah, we had an argument about it on the trip from California. You know, like the Beverly Hillbillies. Anyways, she probably went to prove me wrong but I tell you, there'll be black gold in them thar hill. Er, plains," Dawn finished lamely.
The Kents chuckled at the youngster and at how odd Californians can be.
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Lana had just finished closing up the Talon when she turned around, she found herself facing 3 unsavory characters. The two women and lone male grinned sinisterly at her.
"Uh, sorry but we just closed," Lana said warily, "if you want a drink you can come back in the morning. We'll be open then."
One of the women, a pink haired punk smiled and said, "Oh, I still think you have enough to serve three." Her companions chuckled and their faces morphed, revealing their true nature.
Lana didn't have time to be frightened or scream as the punk launched herself at the teenage girl. Lana was glad that Lex Luthor had given her self-defense lessons previously that year and the training kicked in as she dodged the initial attack. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw the male advancing. Realizing they were trying to box her in, she let loose a spinning sidekick against him to gain some breathing room. It connected and sent him flying into the near-by alleyway. She could've sworn she heard a scream and a 'poof' but was too pre-occupied to give it any thought. Behind her, she heard the punk hiss, "Slayer."
Lana turned around, ready to face her next assailant and instead found the two remaining women facing a short blonde haired girl holding a pointed wooden stake?
"Actually, I'm more of an indie music kind of girl. You know, like the 5, 6, 7, 8's? And even if I did listen to metal, it wouldn't be Slayer," the mysterious blonde quipped.
The punk rushed the blonde while her companion hesitated and took off running. Lana watched in awe as the girl quickly deflected the attack and unleashed one of her own. Lana was even more amazed at how easy and familiar the fight was for her mysterious savior. Then to her horror, she saw the girl drive the stake through the heart of the punk. Before Lana's mind could form a coherent reaction to the action, she saw the punk explode in a cloud of dust.
The girl looked at the pile of dust and said, "And I didn't even get to introduce myself to you. I'm Buffy and you're history."
Buffy turned towards Lana and said plainly, "It's late and not safe to be out. I suggest staying at home and not inviting in any strangers."
Lana nodded numbly and turned to leave. As she started to walk back towards Chloe's she heard her savior say, "Wait."
When the girl turned around, Buffy smiled and said, "You handled yourself well there."
Lana smiled and ran for home. Buffy was tempted to ask the girl if she has had any weird dreams, especially this summer, but decided the poor thing had had a strange enough night already. Besides, there was the matter of the third vampire to track down and take care of. So much for this being a quiet small town.
A/N: I plan on exploring the Key aspect of Dawn that was never resolved later on. I gave a hint of my take on it with how readily everyone tends to feel comfortable around her. Oh yeah, I'm horrible with action so I apologize and any suggestions on writing better action would be well appreciated. Oh yeah, BFE is a term in my area. It means 'Butt Fucked Egypt' or just someplace way out in the country. Can't remember if Wood survived the battle but think I got all the people who fell in battle. Also can't remember where Hank is supposed to be. I'm fairly sure I remember the explanation in the series or I read it in a fic…dunno.
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