Title: Confessions of a Teenage Watcher

Author: Episkopos Reverend Alixtii O'Krull V, TRL of the Church of St. Jesu the Heretic, Discordian

Timeline: Somewhere around "The Girl in Question." Spoilers for "Chosen."

Rating: PG

Summary: Dawn Summers is an American attending an Italian high school in Rome. Beatrice DeCosta is her Italian classmate. Their rôles as Watcher and Slayer will send them into a world of high intrigue as the Council tries to assert its control over the guardianship of the Cleveland Hellmouth.

Disclaimer: All original Buffy and Angel characters belong to Mutant Enemy, not me.

Dawn's salary from the Council is £70,000 a year with benefits-not bad for a 17-year-old girl. Even better when Italy is on the euro, which is weaker than the pound. With that type of money, she can not only support her sister (she and Giles still haven't managed to convince Lydia of the need for stipends for the Slayers, although it remains at the top of their list of priorities, and they did manage some basic health insurance), but also buy herself some nice office furniture.

Like a nice, expensive wood desk, the best to be found in all of Rome. Dawn has a vision of one entering her office and being all intimidated by it-which might happen if it wasn't always covered in books and post-it notes, with only a small space cleared for her iBook.

But hey, she still has that really comfy leather desk chair. And that pen she bought on a whim for €300. (Buffy still doesn't know about that one, and Dawn's not about to tell her.) So Dawn sits down in her comfy chair, pulls out her expensive pen and looks at Beatrice and Wyndham-Pryce over an open copy of the Tradescan Codex. "So?"

"So," says Wyndam-Pryce, "I am sure you are aware that there are several modes of thought which exist right now within the Council. There are those of us who believe in the time-honoured methods by which the Council has always operated-"

"-and which got it blown up-"

"-and those who would recklessly discard them."

Dawn sighs. If she lets Wyndham-Pryce talk in circles, they'll be there all day. Best to get him to cut to the chase. "What has Giles done this time, Roger?"

"I understand, because of your involvement with the elder Miss Summers, both you and Rupert find yourselves sympathetic to the plight of the Slayers. To a degree, this is quite laudable."

"But you feel we let our feelings blind us? We have had this conversation before, Roger. Giles was having these arguments with the Council before I even existed."

Wyndham-Pryce nods. "Quite so. But as I said, we've received new intelligence."

Dawn gestures for him to continue.

"It's the Cleveland Hellmouth. We have reason to believe it's about to become active."

"You misunderstood me, Miss Summers. It isn't the Slayers' ability to avert the apocalypse that we doubt. It is just that, in these times of crisis, we do not feel that a formerly rogue Slayer who remains a fugitive from the law is the best one to represent the Council's interests in these matters."

"Wait-let me get a hold of this. You don't care if the world ends. Only if we lose power."

"Of course I care. I simply believe that concern is secondary."

"And didn't it ever occur to you that if the world does end, then all your power games will be nought? Don't even answer that: I'm fairly sure I don't want to know the answer."

"It is imperative that a member of the High Council visit Cleveland to oversee the crisis."

"Then go yourself."

"Do you really think that is advisable?"

Damn. He has her there. There's no way sending Wyndham-Pryce to oversee Faith could end in any way even remotely resembling "good."

"Giles?"

"He has other matters he must devote himself to."

"Look, as you well know, I'm not able to leave Italy right now. I have school. And since I don't see why we can't let our people already there take over the apocalypse..."

"Certainly you and Beatrice could take a week off."

"My legal guardian wouldn't allow it. Class is my first priority, and all that."

"And you always listen to your legal guardian."

"Of course."

"Such as when you neglected to push through the new initiatives she wanted?"

Dawn pauses for a moment, spins around in her desk chair, nods. "Okay, I listen to my legal guardian when it's for the best of the Council. Or when Buffy can find out about it."

Beatrice speaks up. "Term break is in a couple of weeks. We could go then."

Dawn shoots a look at her Slayer, but it's too late. The damage is done.

"That should be sufficient," says Roger Wyndham-Pryce as he rises to leave. "I'll let you two girls get to your training, then."

Once he is gone, Dawn turns to Beatrice. "What in the world were you thinking?" she asks.

Beatrice shrugs. "Well, it's Faith. The famous ex-rogue Slayer. This way we get to meet her."

Dawn looks at her Slayer, aghast. "That's what all that was about? Why couldn't I just call her and arrange for her to visit next weekend, instead of us having to do an important mission to Cleveland thing?"

Beatrice looks back at Dawn with awe. "You can do that?"

"Yes, I can. I've known her for years. She tried to kill my sister, after all, when she and Buffy were our age. Not to mention I'm High Council and could order her here. And don't look so god-damned impressed. When I tell you I can call Orlando Bloom and arrange for him to visit next weekend, then you can look impressed."

Beatrice smiles. "Can you?"

"I wish I could." She doesn't even care if a Vengeance Demon hears her say it.