TITLE: Interim
AUTHOR: William Rayne
EMAIL:
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: Clark/Lana
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: Exile, Phoenix
DISTRIBUTION: , 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: This is the second part of the story. Building on the Dawn magics angle and other stuff we saw in season 7. This was going to be longer but figured I'd do the big rescue next chapter.
As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust.
137
Interim
Chapter 7
September 2003 (Tuesday), Smallville
Clark paced impatiently, waiting for the paramedics and Sheriff Adams to finish talking to Dawn. Going over the events that occurred in the past hour, Clark was anxious to ask the girl some questions of his own. As he looked across the way at the brunette, he wished he possessed the enhanced hearing that Lana had with her Slayer abilities or at the very least, the ability to read lips from a distance. After the Summers girl had said his Kryptonian name aloud, she had passed out. The explosion had caused the neighbors to call the authorities and Clark had fibbed, saying that he had arrived as Dawn had feinted. Which was more or less true. Considering that the sheriff had yet to question him further, Clark assumed that Dawn hadn't contradicted his story. Dawn's expression changed from cooperative to worried and Clark wondered as to the cause.
So engrossed in his thoughts, Clark didn't notice his parents until Jonathan said, "Clark, son, what happened?"
Clark turned and faced them. Judging from their reaction, he wasn't hiding his own inner turmoil well. Before he could reply verbally, Jonathan indicated with a nod and hand gesture that it would have to wait. Glancing over his shoulder, Clark saw the Sheriff approaching.
"Mr. Kent," the Sheriff Adams stated with authority. As both Jonathan and Clark turned their attention towards her, she corrected, "Clark."
"Yes, sheriff?" Clark asked.
"This seems to be the second explosion you've been close to this year---" she began.
"Now, sheriff, you don't think that Clark has had any involvement in either, do you?" Jonathan interrupted.
Looking at Jonathan with annoyance, she stated dubiously, "No. Lucky for Clark that his story matches with Ms. Summers'. However, I have to ensure that your son doesn't run off again until we've fully investigated the matter."
"Meaning?" Clark asked with apprehension.
"Meaning that you have two choices, Mr. Kent," Sheriff Adams replied, "You can either come with me quietly to holding or you can be under temporary house arrest."
Jonathan was about to say something but the sheriff anticipated the argument by stating, "The official court approval for the latter should arrive shortly."
The Kents nodded taciturnly and the sheriff finished, "There is one other matter to resolve."
"What would that be, sheriff?" Martha inquired cautiously.
"Ms. Summers over yonder," Sheriff Nancy Adams said. The Kents looked at her blankly as the sheriff motioned Dawn towards them. "I can't say anything officially so I'll have her make her request and any details she wishes to share."
When Dawn arrived to join the coterie, she looked directly at Clark and the boy avoided her gaze. Martha and Jonathan took note of the exchange but kept silent for the moment. With the sheriff's nod, Dawn said, "Uh, my sister's been kidnapped as well. The sheriff wanted to keep me in protective custody since she seems to think that I may be a potential target as well. So, I thought, who better to stay with than you guys."
This was the last thing anyone of the Kents expected to hear, the ensuing silence prompted Dawn to add, "That is, if it's alright with you."
"Of course, that's alright with us," Martha said immediately.
Later, Kent Farm
"What happened?" Martha and Jonathan said simultaneously for the third time as Dawn and Clark recanted what happened at the Summers' Barn. The teens sighed and retold the tale once more. By the end, the strange events had sunk in.
"Let me get this straight," Jonathan directed the question more at Dawn than his son, "You cast a revelation spell thinking that Clark might be some sort of spell-wielding demon."
"Yuh-huh," Dawn responded, glad the break in the monotony of retelling the same story over and over again, "A Devrac specifically. Which are rare since the last time someone thought they found one was over a decade ago and the last confirmed sighting was 400 years ago."
"Then somehow," Jonathan said as he massaged his temple, "for some reason, it went, as you put it, 'kerblooey' causing you and Clark to switch memories."
"Yeah," Clark said, "That's about the whole of it."
"About? There's more?" Martha said exasperatedly.
"I was wondering if you were going to say something about that to them," Dawn remarked offhandedly.
Clark gave her a half-smile that seemed to say, 'Thanks for keeping quiet' then he proceeded to tell his parents where Morgan Edge fit into all of this.
Jonathan and Martha's response was cut short by the Quantum Leap theme ring tone that issued from Dawn's phone. She looked at her caller ID and seeing the name, gave the phone to Clark.
Clark looked at it and nodded. Opening the phone, he hesitantly answered, "Hello?"
"Ah, Kal," the Morgan Edge, "why am I not surprised? Guess I should get straight to the point though you should know why I'm calling."
"I want to know that they're safe, first," Kal responded evenly.
For a second there was silence then the sound of Lana's voice warning, "Clark, it's a trap. Don't make any d---"
The statement cut off in a muffled gag and Edge stated, "Warehouse 18 on the south side. 5 A.M."
Before Clark could respond, the line went dead. Dawn deduced the call by saying, "So, lemme guess, we have a time and place…which would beg the question as to how much time do we have to gain a better advantage?"
That Same Moment, Warehouse 18 Sub-Level
Chloe woke up with a migraine. Rising from the mattress she was on, she took in her surroundings. Resembling a prison cell, it contained the bare necessities of toilet, sink and bed. The room even had the complimentary metal bars. The only difference between this and a prison cell was the blinking light of the camera across the hall beyond the bars. As she looked at the bars and thought to herself, You have got to be kidding me. Bars for a Slayer? Unless they don't know I'm a Slayer. If they do, I would've guessed plexi-glass or some electrical barrier.
Walking up to the bars, she placed her hands on them and grunted in surprise as they didn't bend. Remembering an old cartoon episode of X-men she had seen, she checked for something that would act as an inhibitor and was interrupted by Buffy saying, "Oh, you're awake. I tried the bars too. Dunno if it's some sort of magic thing or something else---"
"Do you have anything that looks electronical on you?" Chloe interrupted as she resumed her search for an inhibitor.
Buffy checked herself as well and concluded, "Nope. Why you ask?"
"There goes my inhibitor theory," Chloe responded despondently as she slumped against the wall closest to Buffy's voice.
"Inhibi-whats-it?" Buffy replied in confusion.
"Something I saw in an X-men cartoon episode," Chloe answered.
"And suddenly it's quite apparent to me why you and my sister get along so well," Buffy remarked dryly.
Meanwhile, Warehouse 18 Ground Level
A man sat in front of a bank of monitors with his hand propping up his head as he stared numbly into the closed circuit video feeds. He didn't notice Charity's presence until she barked, "Status."
Nearly jumping out of his seat, the man responded, "No change, sir. Er, ma'am."
Luckily for him, Charity's attention was fixated upon the blonde women in prison cells. What are you? she thought as she gazed into the screen. The Slayer she recognized, but the other two girls were an anomaly that her and Edge hadn't expected. They were obviously not human because of the extra effort that was required to secure them. While they were unconscious, samples of their blood was drawn to determine what type of demon or half-demon they may be. While both teen anomalies were of particular interest, the blonde had stood out in that the sample taken from her was distinctly inhuman under the microscope. She had questioned Vertigo about his retrieval of the blonde but could not find anything noteworthy in his account.
Charity's thoughts turned on Vertigo. He was Edge's second lieutenant and Charity was sure make known her place above him. While he was content in his position, Charity wanted insurance but had yet to discover his true name. In fact, all that she knew about him is what he and Edge had told her. Which wasn't much…according to them, Vertigo was neither human nor demon but something called a meta-human. Charity had studied a lot of demons and had yet to find any that could replicate the ability which gave Vertigo his moniker.
At that moment, Vertigo was playing guard on the brunette as Edge made a call to the Devrac. Once that was through, they would question the brunette then the blonde in the time between now and the delivery.
8 hours to deadline, Kansas City
Clark wasn't sure which was more unbelievable, the events of the past 24 hours, the absurdity of Dawn's plan or the fact that he was actually going along with it. Clark took in the noises and commotion of the city and was faintly reminded about his time in Metropolis as Kal but the memories were interrupted by a buzz in his pocket from his cell phone. Promptly, he sped back to Smallville and thought, Hopefully this will be enough to convince them.
Meanwhile, Smallville
Dawn was quite pleased with herself. Everything was going according to plan, more or less. She hadn't expected Hicksville PD to leave a deputy behind after the fourth 'malfunction' of Clark's house arrest bracelet. Though that was easily remedied and the unexpected deputy was going to work to their advantage…or so she hoped.
Of course my plan's going to work, Dawn thought, It's brilliant. So far Clark's ran to Metropolis, GothamCityCoastCity, Central City and now Kansas City. They've detected him gone every time and every time he's been back before they arrive. Gotta love that über-speed of his. Now they've called the deputy and said deputy will confirm that the device is on the fritz and won't bother us anymore so we can make the rendezvous with Edge. Unless, they replace it and then…well, let's hope we luck out.
As she finished her last thought, she glanced towards the bathroom door in anticipation then hurriedly directed her gaze elsewhere. Her eyes fell upon the Kents and the look in their eyes was apprehensive. Smiling hesitantly, Dawn wished she could reassure them that the plan would work.
The knock on the bathroom door was answered by flush of the toilet and, more importantly, Clark opening it just a crack. Hoping the anxiety wouldn't show in his voice Clark said, "Yes, Deputy McDaniels?"
Muttering an apology, the deputy waved Clark off. Not noticing the silent collective sigh of relief, Deputy McDaniels radioed back to the station, "He hasn't moved from my sight, Sheriff."
"Damn piece of technology," responded an irritated female voice, "Well guess we'll just have to replace the…" The sheriff stopped suddenly and abruptly changed subjects, "It seems that Lady Luck is on Mr. Kent's side. That's the only bracelet we have left and I'd hate to trouble the Honorable Judge Ross at this hour especially since she was hesitant to issue the order to begin with. I need you back in the station McDaniels, we still have to find those girls."
The Deputy bid his farewells. When he was out of earshot, Dawn let out the squeal of delight she had been suppressing since she overheard the radio conversation. After a mini-celebration with his family and newly found friend, Clark turned to Dawn and said, "I can't believe that actually worked."
Dawn shot him a mock injured look and stated plainly, "There were absolutely no doubts in my mind that it wouldn't."
Rolling his eyes, Clark changed the subject and asked, "So now what, Ms. Mission Impossible?"