Title: Of Gates and Mouths 3/?
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail:
Archive: If anyone wishes to go ahead, but it would be polite to at least drop me a line.
Rating: 12A/PG-13 this part
Pairings: Willow/Tara Buffy/Faith Amanda/Andrew Janet/Sam
Crossover: BtVS/Angel and Stargate.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in any of the shows. If I did, boy would I have some fun?
Spoilers: See part 1.
Notes: See part 1.
Summery: See part 1.
After graduating from High school Dawn was accepted to PennState, where she meets her new roommate Cassandra.
A/N: The names of the nightclub and bars etc are all real places, I have included them to add an air of authenticity to the background not to offend anyone I am sure those few places I have demons hanging out at are very nice places to socialise with friends without the likelihood of being eaten.
Thanks to the following people who helped me with this story: irishwavefan, Electronis Zappa. I have been trying to contact my beta Hilary for six months now (I hope she is okay!) so I am posting this story un-betad. Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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Same time Conference room SGC
Colonel O'Neill, still in his dress uniform, led Daniel and Doctor Fraiser into the room to see the General, Sam and Teal'c sat waiting for them, "So what is so important that we have to leave the meeting with the Joint Chiefs and come back here?"
"Jack, take a seat and we'll try and find out," General Hammond told his second in command, allowing a small smile onto his face at the confusion now on the Colonel's face.
"What is that supposed to mean? You called us back and you don't know why?" said Jack taking his customary chair.
"Yesterday we had a security breach, someone got into our computer, and besides getting general information on the Stargate and this command, obtained copies of yours as well as Doctor Jackson's and Doctor Fraiser's personnel files and a copy of Cassandra's school record," explained General Hammond.
Jack and the other two looked shocked; he turned to look at Sam, "How? You told everyone that would be impossible."
"It should have been sir; we had the best system analysts as well as all the former hackers that now work for the government attempting to get into the system." Sam looked down at the files in front of her for a moment, the embarrassment clearly on her face before looking up at her CO, "They all assured me that no one would be able to get in."
"Well we all know how much they know don't we Carter," snapped O'Neill. He turned back to the General, "So now what? Have these people been arrested?"
"No Colonel and it gets worse," said Hammond.
"Worse, what else?" sighed Jack this was starting to look like a bad day.
"A little over five hours ago there was another incursion, on my instructions Major Carter secured all our files on the back-up computer system, which as you know has no connection to the outside," explained Hammond. He glanced at Sam, "When the second incursion happened Major Carter made the decision to attempt to recruit them if possible while still trying to locate them to inform the appropriate law enforcement agencies if they refused."
"I take it things didn't go well?"
"No sir, this person who called themselves 'Kali', which seemed to be a joke to them, this 'Kali' had advance knowledge of the security program I was using to trace them, claiming to know the original designer. I then offered them the chance to work with us; they turned me down, saying something about doing something to protect the world from something in the dark!" Sam explained.
"What did they mean by that?" mused Daniel.
"All they said was that it was best that I didn't know! Then they said they were sorry about what was about to happen, that was when the entire mountains computer system crashed... well all except the infirmary, the operating theatre which Doctor Evens was using at the time, and isolation. Techs are still trying to workout how they managed that!" finished Sam.
"So they have access to advanced technology! Which means they are one of two groups," put in Daniel, "Either they are from offworld or they have connections to someone in government."
"That was my first thought, but they made no mention of the Goa'uld etc and claimed that this last time they were just curious about the Stargate, so I don't think they were from another branch of government!" pointed out Sam.
"So how are the three of you connected to this security breach," said General Hammond, "They told Major Carter that they were checking on you in case you were a threat to someone, but concluded that you were not. So we need to find out who connects the three of you and Cassandra?"
"When exactly did the first incursion happen?" asked Jack.
Sam glanced at the file in front of her, "Approximately 1300 EST and ended at 1832 EST yesterday," she said somewhat quietly, blushing lightly.
"You're telling me they were on the system for over five hours Carter," ranted O'Neill, Janet wanted to console Sam at that moment, but knew that would have to wait.
"Y-yes sir, it appears it took them three of those hours to obtain Cassie's file then they hit the barriers installed to protect our systems, it seemed to hold them back for over two more hours, then something unknown entered the system and took all the protections down. Whatever it was must have wiped itself from the computer because there was no trace of anything on it when I investigated later."
"Dawn Summers," put in Daniel.
"Who?" asked the General.
"Cassie's new roommate, unless anyone can think of anything else that directly connects the three of us and Cassie but exclude everyone else it has to be Dawn," Daniel explained.
"Would this individual be in a position to try something like this?" asked the General.
"I don't think so, and anyway we were with her until about 1500 so she couldn't be the one that hacked the system," Janet pointed out.
"No but her sister could have!" Jack said, "By all accounts she is head of some type of security company, presumably in the Cleveland area where they live."
"It would fit sir," said Sam looking at the General, "Cleveland is east of Chicago and north of DC."
"You wanna run that by us again Carter?" asked O'Neill.
"Yes sir, the security programs managed to narrow down the location of the hacker during their first incursion to east of Chicago and north of DC," Sam explained.
"Alright people we will go with the assumption that it is this... did you get her name?" said the General.
"Buffy, Buffy Summers," supplied Daniel.
"Right that this Buffy Summers and her associates are behind this, I'll contact the appropriate people, in the meantime anyone talking to Cassandra should not inform her of our suspicions," said the General beginning to get up.
"Do you think Cassie is in any danger?" asked Janet, they could all hear the worry in her voice.
The General gave his CMO a reassuring smile, "No I don't believe so! And if I did the five of you would already be on your way to bring her back home," he told them, they all knew that, although he did not vocalise it, he loved Cassandra as much as anyone else in the room with the possible exception of Janet and Sam. "Dismissed," he said turning towards his office.
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Dawn unlocked their door and led everyone into Cassandra and her dorm room, when everyone was in Kennedy closed the door.
The slayer's eyes met Dawn's she could see the pain and anger there, "You had to expose my friends to your damn job didn't you!" Dawn accused between clenched teeth, "All I wanted was a nice normal shot at college before I had to come back to it."
"Hey don't blame me for the vamps," snapped Kennedy, "If Manda and me hadn't decided to make a sweep of the campus before going home you would be dead or worse and Buffy, Faith and Willow would be on their way here to kill me."
Dawn considered Kennedy's words, she realised the slayer was right, a slight blush appeared on her face, "Sorry, I know it's not your fault Ken," she apologised. She looked at the new girl, "So you must be Manda?" the younger girl nodded, "Pleased to meet you." a smirk lit up her face as she looked back at Kennedy, "So my sister sent another slayer, a new one cuz I wouldn't know her, I didn't think she was that good at deceiving me!" she laughed.
Kennedy joined in the laugh, "Well actually she only came up with the idea after she left you yesterday when you found out I was here. I told her that I wasn't surprised that every one of her friends found out about her."
"Yeah, I found out just three days after she became the slayer. The only two people that didn't find out were mum and dad, they just thought she was falling in with a bad crowd," Dawn said.
"What happened out there? What were those things? What are you three?" asked Cassandra looking at Dawn and the other two girls. 'None of those guys... things were Goa'uld! I need to phone mum.'
Dawn looked at her friend sadly, "I so didn't want you involved in any of this Cassie," she told her roommate.
"Thanks," Cassandra said sarcastically, "So are you going to tell us what just happened?"
Dawn sighed, "Okay, but I'm not sure you'll believe me."
"You'd be surprised at what I believe," Cassandra said.
"Okay then," said Dawn taking her desk chair she turned it around and sat down. "What I'm about to tell you can't be repeated outside this room, not just because most people will think you're nuts but because it could place you and them in danger, the other side don't like too many people knowing about them."
"You don't have to worry about me telling anyone, I already think I'm nuts after tonight," put in Frank.
"Just tell us Dawn... please, I need to know," said Cassandra.
"Right. Those four outside were vampires, yes they exist," Dawn added quickly as she saw Frank about to ask her to confirm what she was saying. "Please hold off any questions until I finish ok?" at their nods she continued, "All the evil you thought was myth is real, vampire, demons, werewolves although werewolves are just ordinary people that survived an attack by another and became infected.
"I am just a girl whose sister became the slayer," 'They don't need to know about the Key!' "Her friends helped her guard the Hellmouth below Sunnydale," she looked at Cassandra, "That was what destroyed Sunnydale, because of an ancient evil that had come to town, my sister and the rest of us had no real choice but to destroy it."
"You said your friends here are slayers but you imply that there is only one?" Cassandra pointed out.
"Well both are true, when a slayer dies the next is called, just after we moved to Sunnydale Buffy was drowned in a fight with a vampire called The Master, but Xander brought her back using CPR but because she was technically dead the next slayer was activated, she died a year later which activated Faith, my sisters girlfriend. Well that was how it stayed until just before we closed the Hellmouth in Sunnydale when Willow with her girlfriend's help cast a spell to activate all the potential slayers around the world but for whatever reason only those at the Hellmouth became slayers. Kennedy was one of them while Manda replaced one that died after."
"Spell? What like Harry Potter?" asked Jimmy.
"Look we need to go, Manda has school tomorrow," Dawn saw the sour look on the younger girl's face, "You can get together tomorrow and get all the details," pointed out Kennedy, she looked at the two boys, "We'll escort you home, just in case there are more vamps around."
Dawn could see that both of the boys were about to protest, "Jimmy, Frank, please go with them, I'll feel much happier knowing that you got home safe, I promise that I'll explain everything tomorrow after classes, we'll come to your dorm okay?"
"Alright," nodded Frank musing over everything that Dawn had just told them, he walked over to Cassandra and gave her a quick kiss goodnight while Jimmy stood looking awkward, Dawn smiled reassuringly at him as she walked over and gave him a very passionate kiss that had his knees buckling.
"Wow does Buffy know you can kiss like that," smirked Kennedy.
Dawn turned towards the slayer, "No and she is not going to find out, I don't want her told about Jimmy either," she said her eyes narrowing with the veiled threat.
Still smirking Kennedy held her hands up, "I swear she won't hear it from me."
"Make sure she doesn't," said Dawn, opening the door and allowing everyone to leave, "And thank you Kennedy."
"No problem, just doing my job, call if there is any trouble, night Dawn," said Kennedy heading for the exit.
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To the surprise of Cassandra, Dawn spent an hour writing the report she had to hand in the next day, while she herself could not get the idea of vampires out of her head; she spent the time just channel hopping not able to concentrate on any of the shows. When Dawn got up from her desk to start changing, Cassandra sighed and turning the TV off began changing herself.
There was strained silence as the two young women got ready for bed. They climbed into their beds laying in silence before Dawn began to talk, "When I found out that vampires really existed I thought it was so cool, all those old vampire movies... But when I was twelve we moved to Sunnydale... I saw my first victim six weeks later, I had snuck out one night to follow Buffy, she was always telling me it was dangerous but being young and stupid I didn't listen. Anyway I followed her, I got bored very quickly thinking that she had lied about vampires and was probably just meeting a boy, I was going to go home and tell mum that she had snuck out in revenge.
"Of course being Sunnydale it didn't work out that way I hadn't got 10 yards when a vamp in game face, that's what we call it when a vamp changes from a human face to a vampire face. Anyway I screamed so loud I'm sure mum could have heard," Dawn laughed humourlessly. "Buffy caught the vamp trying to carry me off, she beat him almost to unconsciousness while I just stood and stared, after she staked him she really ragged on me... until I started crying then she went all protective and concerned, she took me back home and sneaked me in through her bedroom window." She giggled again, "The next day she met me out of school and took me to see Giles who gave me a longwinded speech about irresponsibility and not to do it ever again. From then on all I wanted to do was join her and the Scoobies."
"Scoobies?" queried Cassandra.
"Oh yeah, Xander the guy who helped me yesterday, he came up with the name as they helped Buffy and Giles find out what was happening around Sunnydale's demon population plus he has this thing about cartoons so they began calling themselves the Scooby gang."
"Thanks for telling me... you've had a very strange life," Cassandra said.
"You can say that again. I hope this hasn't ruined our friendship before it's really started," Dawn said with trepidation.
"Of course not, I get that you just wanted to forget that things like vampires exist for awhile, it wasn't your fault we were attacked and if anything, having you here meant I didn't die," pointed out Cassandra.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, if you weren't here your friend Kennedy would not have been around to save me tonight."
"I guess I never thought of it that way!"
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Tuesday morning SGC
General Hammond had a deep frown on his face as he walked into the conference room. Having been informed by Daniel that the most likely suspect behind the security breach was the sister of Cassandra's roommate he had contacted the President, who had just returned his call.
The General looked at SG-1 and Doctor Fraiser who had awaited the outcome of the call he had just received, "What did the President say?" asked Jack.
Hammond took his seat before replying, "He informed me that in all likelihood it was not Ms Summers but a friend of hers that broke into our system, her name is Willow Rosenberg, who is something of a computer genius. He ordered us to forget we ever heard of Ms Summers or Ms Rosenberg but he would arrange for someone to go and see them in Cleveland and ask them to refrain from anymore attempts to enter our computer system," he told them.
"What!" exclaimed O'Neill, "This Rosenberg woman brakes into a top secret computer system and takes information on the Stargate and our personnel files and all he is going to do is ask her to not do it again?"
"I was as shocked as you." Hammond looked around the table before continuing, trying to assess how they would react, "I got the distinct impression that after he received my call yesterday he received additional information on Ms Summers and her associates, whatever it was it seemed to scar him, I could hear it in his voice."
"What could scar the most powerful man on the planet?" Daniel mused.
"I have no idea," answered the General, "But the only time I have heard that kind of fear from a President was after the two naquadah bombs failed to destroy Apophis and his two motherships four years ago."
"Is Cassie in any danger?" asked Janet.
"He assured me that neither Ms Summers nor anyone associated with her would harm her as long as she was no threat to Dawn Summers, by all accounts Ms Summers is very protective of her sister."
Jack looked around at the other members of SG-1, "So that's it?" disgust on his voice.
"Yes Jack it is," sighed Hammond, he looked over at Major Carter, "But Major I think it prudent to leave all our files off the main system... for now."
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NID black operations base (Unit one) Maryland
The two officers entered Colonel Maybourne's office and took the two seats he indicated, Graham could see he was not happy, "What happened Major?"
"All was going to plan, the hostiles had been released and had just got into place to kill the two boyfriends when out of nowhere two Latino females appeared and began to take down the hostiles. That was when Captain Miller activated the hostile self-destructs, which I wholeheartedly agree with; he has more experience than any of the unit in regards to slayers."
Maybourne looked at Graham, "How did you know they were slayers?" he asked.
"I once sparred with Buffy Summers back in Sunnydale plus I had several occasions in which to observe her, not least when she helped evac the Initiative after the demon hybrid Adam had released all the hostiles," Graham explained.
Maybourne nodded considering what to do next, his superiors would not be pleased if he failed them; "Very well Captain but I was under the impression that there was only two slayers, Buffy Summers and the girl that escaped from prison some years ago... could this Faith have been one of them?"
"I'm sorry sir I can't explain what has happened; as I understand it one slayer is only activated when the last dies!" Graham told the two other men, "All I can think of is that Buffy Summers lied when she told us that... or she is unaware of any other slayers, although that I would say is unlikely as the two tonight were so near her sister."
"Agreed Captain, we will operate on the assumption Buffy Summers lied and that there are an unknown number of slayers." Maybourne said before pausing, "We will continue to observe Dawn Summers and Cassandra Fraiser but another team will watch the two slayers and if it becomes possible we will secure one for study; our behavioural modifier techniques have gotten better since Sunnydale, maybe these slayers can be made to work for us!"
"With your permission sir I'll make the necessary arrangements," said Edwards.
"Yes Major please do. And keep me advised. Dismissed," said Maybourne.
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SGC, General Hammond's office
Colonel O'Neill knocked on the doorframe of his CO's office, Hammond looked up, "Come in Jack," he said gesturing to the chair.
O'Neill closed the door and took his seat, "What's going on George?"
General Hammond sighed, "Honestly I don't know? As I said, I could hear the fear in his voice. Whoever this Summers and Rosenberg are, they must have something on him that he wants to keep them onside."
"Could they be offworlders? Someone we don't know about?"
"To be honest it's as likely as any other explanation," said Hammond.
"Sir I know we were ordered to forget about them but I'd like Carter to take a closer look at them," said Jack.
General Hammond nodded, "Yes, but discreetly Colonel."
"Right sir, discretion is my middle name," smiled Jack rising.
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Cleveland-Hopkins airport
Riley and his wife Samantha got into the rental car at the far side of the airport where their military chopper had dropped them, "Any idea why we got the call?" asked Samantha.
"No, other than I'm known to Buffy and Willow, I guess the President figured I'll have more pull than a stranger," answered Riley.
"What do you think Willow found out, it must have been pretty big to pull us out of Peru," mused Samantha.
"All I know is it is a top secret facility in Colorado Springs. So what's the address?"
"Just off the corner of West 9th and Frankfort Avenue," Samantha said glancing at part of the telex they had received earlier.
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Watchful Security
They parked the car and got out, Samantha looked at her husband a little worried, "How do you think Willow will react?"
"I think she will be okay with doing what the President wants," Riley said giving his wife a reassuring smile.
Walking into the lobby and up to the receptionist Riley gave her one of his disarming smiles, "Good morning, may I help you?" she asked.
"I hope so, would it be possible for us to see Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg?" said Riley.
"I'll see, who shall I say is calling?" asked the receptionist picking up the phone.
"Riley and Samantha Finn."
The receptionist pressed one of the buttons, Riley could hear the muffled response at the other end of the phone, "Hi Amanda, I have a Riley and Samantha Finn to see Buffy and Willow." The receptionist raised her eyebrow as she looked at Riley while listening to Amanda, "Okay will do! Bye," she replaced the receiver frowning at them, "They were not expecting you to get here so quickly they only contacted your superiors about an hour ago," she told them.
Riley and Sam exchanged a confused look, "Why would Buffy and Willow contact our boss?" asked Sam looking at the receptionist.
"I'm not privy to that information, sorry," she smiled at them. The receptionist pointed to her right, "If you go down there you will find Buffy's office at the end," she told them before picking up the ringing phone.
As they walked down the indicated corridor Samantha looked over at Riley, "What do you think they contacted Colonel Stevens for?"
"I don't know, I can't believe they need our help, with Buffy's last experience with a semi military operation I can't think of any reason she would want our help."
"But they were asking for us not our unit," pointed out Sam as they pushed open the door to Buffy's office, to be greeted by a tall very slim, Samantha would have said skinny, young woman of about nineteen.
Amanda looked up, mentally assessing if the two people entering the office were a threat, ever since Willow had cast the spell at Sunnydale high to make her and the other potentials there full slayers, she had discovered that whenever she saw someone for the first time she would assess the quickest way to take them out. She shivered involuntary, not liking that part of her new psyche. "Riley and Sam I assume?" she said.
"Yes, are Buffy and Willow available? We need to speak to them," Riley told the young woman.
"Buffy is waiting for you, Willow is unavailable at the moment but Giles is coming to see you, please come with me," said Amanda getting up and walking towards the other door in the room.
"Thanks," said Riley.
Amanda knocked and entered without waiting for an answer, smiling as Buffy got up from her desk and walked towards the three, "Your ten o'clock is here," Amanda giggled, "I've always wanted to say that," she said to her fellow slayer. "I'll send Giles in as soon as he gets here," she told Buffy before closing the door.
Buffy closed the distance between herself and the Finns, "Riley," she said smiling as she hugged him, "It's so nice to see you again," she released her former boyfriend and hugged Sam, "I hope you're keeping him in line," she laughed lightly.
"Yeah most of the time, his military training to obey his superiors has helped a lot," she joined Buffy in laughing as they saw the sourer look he was giving them.
"When you two have finished we have things to sort out," Riley said indignantly.
"Right," agreed Buffy, "Take a seat, Giles will be here soon. So how have you both been?"
"Thanks," Samantha smiled at Buffy taking a seat, "Fine, we've just got in from Peru, a group of religious type vampires are taking dozens of local villages somewhere into the mountains we haven't managed to fined them yet," she told the slayer.
"Sorry for taking you away but if you can give us everything you know we'd be more than happy to help," said Buffy.
At that moment Giles came in, he smiled at Riley who rose to shake the watcher's hand, "It's nice to see you again," Riley said before turning to his wife, "Giles this is my wife Samantha, Sam this is Rupert Giles, I think I told you about him?"
"Nice to meet you Samantha."
"Likewise Mr Giles but please call me Sam."
"Very well Sam but only if you call me Giles."
"Agreed Giles," said Sam smiling at the Englishmen.
Retaking there seats Riley looked at his ex, "What did you mean just now when you said you were sorry for taking us out of Peru?"
Buffy looked confused for a moment, "Didn't we? I know we only managed to get hold of your bosses an hour or so ago but I assumed that was why you were here."
Giles smiled at his slayer, "Buffy it takes longer than an hour to fly from South America to Cleveland, it is fortuitous that they are here but I suspect it has nothing to do with my call."
"We have no idea what you are talking about Giles. We are here on the orders of the President," Riley told them.
"Why?" Buffy asked a little worried.
"He suspects that you had Willow look into a top secret base in Colorado Springs, he wants your word as well as Willow's that you will not do it again," Riley told them.
Buffy had an amused look in her eyes, "The President of the United States asks that Willow not hack into the SGC again, why didn't he just send the FBI to arrest us?"
"All he told me was that if you were to ask that type of question I was to tell you he is aware of what Willow almost did a few years ago!" Riley answered frowning, "What did she almost do?"
Riley saw a tightening of Buffy's jaw, "She tried to end the world, until Xander talked her down. A guy called Warren shot me and Tara, she thought Tara was dead, she went a little insane, she's better now."
Sam went a little pale, "She can do that?" she asked barely above a whisper.
Giles, who had been cleaning his glasses, just gave her a stony face, "Yes."
At that moment the door opened and the redhead entered with her girlfriend, Sam unconsciously sought her husband's hand, feeling the tension in him, "Hi Riley, Rachel our receptionist said you were here and wanted to see me. So what's up?" smiled Willow pulling Tara into the room with her.
Tara immediately sensed the fear and general tension coming from their guests, "Willow," she said quietly trying to warn her girlfriend, "I think we should comeback later."
Willow frowned at Tara, "Why? This is Riley and Sam," she turned back to the Finns, her smile disarming, "Sorry about that but you know what Tara's like around strangers and she doesn't know Sam."
Giles rose from his chair and went over to the witches, whom he had spent so much time with in England while the Coven was helping Willow in how to use magick rather than magick using her. He looked into Willow's eyes, "Riley and Sam are aware of what transpired in Sunnydale after Buffy and Tara were shot."
The tears came then as she hugged Tara who pulled her into her arms, "Oh goddess, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she kept repeating.
Then Buffy joined Giles as they hugged both young women lending their own strength in aiding the distraught redhead.
Samantha's own eyes misted up as she sat observing Willow, somehow she could feel the many emotions that the redhead was feeling not least the guilt, without thinking she rose from her chair and crossed the room to the four friends. Sam placed a hand on Willow's shoulder and simply said, "I forgive you," she had no idea where it came from or even why she had said it but she felt an overwhelming need to say it to the young witch.
Willow looked stunned for a moment before she broke away from her three friends and threw herself into the older woman's arms; "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Willow began to repeat into Sam's chest.
At that moment Sam, although only five years older than the redhead, felt her maternal instincts rise, stroking Willow's hair she met Tara's eyes and an understanding passed between them, "It's alright Willow, everything is going to be alright now."
Tara's heart ached to pull Willow back into a hug but when she looked into Sam's eyes, she realised that Willow needed the forgiveness of this virtual stranger. She and the rest of the gang had been telling her since Xander had stopped her from destroying the world that they forgave her, but to Willow that was what friends did, but a stranger forgiving her. 'Now we can move on,' she thought.
Buffy looked sadly at her best friend, "Will why don't you let Tara take you home," she suggested.
Willow pulled away from Sam smiling a little sadly at her, looking at the wet stain that now covered part of her top, "Sorry about your top," she apologised.
"That's alright Willow, you'd be surprised at how often Riley cries on my tops," Sam laughed lightly at her own joke.
Willow also laughed as the image of the larger Riley crying in his wife's arms, she turned to Buffy, "Yeah I'd like that if it's okay with you?"
"Of course it's okay, I'm sure Giles and Robin can sort out anything you are working on," said Buffy.
"Yes of course Willow," added Giles.
Riley looked at the redhead as Tara led her out the door, "I hope you feel better soon Willow."
Willow turned to face them all, "Bye," she said smiling sadly at them.
"I need a drink," said Sam suddenly breaking the silence that had descended after the two witches had left.
Buffy smacked her forehead, "I'm so sorry I should have asked you if you wanted a drink when you got here," she apologised, "So what do you want? Tea, coffee or something stronger?"
"It's a little early for alcohol Buffy," pointed out Giles.
Sam turned to the slayer, "Coffee will be fine Buffy, we've had about two hours sleep since... what day is it?"
"Tuesday," Buffy told her.
"Since Sunday morning," Sam informed them.
"Well maybe we could finish our business over dinner tonight?" suggested Giles, "That way you will be able to think more clearly."
"And what business would that be Giles?" asked Riley, "The only reason we came here was to get Buffy and Willow's assurances that they would not hack into the military computer in Colorado Springs again."
"I suppose that the person that Willow spoke to the second time figured out who we were from what she told them," Buffy mused. "You can tell them that we will not do it again as long as they are no threat to Dawn," a hardness came into her eyes, "If that changes all bets are off," she told the Finns.
"I'll inform the President," Riley said solemnly.
"The other business we want to discuss is the possibility of you two coming to work for us," Giles told them while Buffy opened the door and asked Amanda to get them all drinks.
"What? Why?" asked Riley.
"We can't really go into details until we know that you will join us," Giles told them, "What I can tell you is that you would mostly be doing the type of work you are now and that we would pay you 25% above your currently salary."
"Wow very generous," said Sam taking a seat.
"We'll talk it over and give you our decision tonight," put in Riley as he took a seat next to his wife.
"That's fine," said Buffy grabbing a note pad from her desk and taking her seat, handed the pad to a confused Giles, "So what can you tell us about these religious vamps in Peru?"
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail:
Archive: If anyone wishes to go ahead, but it would be polite to at least drop me a line.
Rating: 12A/PG-13 this part
Pairings: Willow/Tara Buffy/Faith Amanda/Andrew Janet/Sam
Crossover: BtVS/Angel and Stargate.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in any of the shows. If I did, boy would I have some fun?
Spoilers: See part 1.
Notes: See part 1.
Summery: See part 1.
After graduating from High school Dawn was accepted to PennState, where she meets her new roommate Cassandra.
A/N: The names of the nightclub and bars etc are all real places, I have included them to add an air of authenticity to the background not to offend anyone I am sure those few places I have demons hanging out at are very nice places to socialise with friends without the likelihood of being eaten.
Thanks to the following people who helped me with this story: irishwavefan, Electronis Zappa. I have been trying to contact my beta Hilary for six months now (I hope she is okay!) so I am posting this story un-betad. Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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Same time Conference room SGC
Colonel O'Neill, still in his dress uniform, led Daniel and Doctor Fraiser into the room to see the General, Sam and Teal'c sat waiting for them, "So what is so important that we have to leave the meeting with the Joint Chiefs and come back here?"
"Jack, take a seat and we'll try and find out," General Hammond told his second in command, allowing a small smile onto his face at the confusion now on the Colonel's face.
"What is that supposed to mean? You called us back and you don't know why?" said Jack taking his customary chair.
"Yesterday we had a security breach, someone got into our computer, and besides getting general information on the Stargate and this command, obtained copies of yours as well as Doctor Jackson's and Doctor Fraiser's personnel files and a copy of Cassandra's school record," explained General Hammond.
Jack and the other two looked shocked; he turned to look at Sam, "How? You told everyone that would be impossible."
"It should have been sir; we had the best system analysts as well as all the former hackers that now work for the government attempting to get into the system." Sam looked down at the files in front of her for a moment, the embarrassment clearly on her face before looking up at her CO, "They all assured me that no one would be able to get in."
"Well we all know how much they know don't we Carter," snapped O'Neill. He turned back to the General, "So now what? Have these people been arrested?"
"No Colonel and it gets worse," said Hammond.
"Worse, what else?" sighed Jack this was starting to look like a bad day.
"A little over five hours ago there was another incursion, on my instructions Major Carter secured all our files on the back-up computer system, which as you know has no connection to the outside," explained Hammond. He glanced at Sam, "When the second incursion happened Major Carter made the decision to attempt to recruit them if possible while still trying to locate them to inform the appropriate law enforcement agencies if they refused."
"I take it things didn't go well?"
"No sir, this person who called themselves 'Kali', which seemed to be a joke to them, this 'Kali' had advance knowledge of the security program I was using to trace them, claiming to know the original designer. I then offered them the chance to work with us; they turned me down, saying something about doing something to protect the world from something in the dark!" Sam explained.
"What did they mean by that?" mused Daniel.
"All they said was that it was best that I didn't know! Then they said they were sorry about what was about to happen, that was when the entire mountains computer system crashed... well all except the infirmary, the operating theatre which Doctor Evens was using at the time, and isolation. Techs are still trying to workout how they managed that!" finished Sam.
"So they have access to advanced technology! Which means they are one of two groups," put in Daniel, "Either they are from offworld or they have connections to someone in government."
"That was my first thought, but they made no mention of the Goa'uld etc and claimed that this last time they were just curious about the Stargate, so I don't think they were from another branch of government!" pointed out Sam.
"So how are the three of you connected to this security breach," said General Hammond, "They told Major Carter that they were checking on you in case you were a threat to someone, but concluded that you were not. So we need to find out who connects the three of you and Cassandra?"
"When exactly did the first incursion happen?" asked Jack.
Sam glanced at the file in front of her, "Approximately 1300 EST and ended at 1832 EST yesterday," she said somewhat quietly, blushing lightly.
"You're telling me they were on the system for over five hours Carter," ranted O'Neill, Janet wanted to console Sam at that moment, but knew that would have to wait.
"Y-yes sir, it appears it took them three of those hours to obtain Cassie's file then they hit the barriers installed to protect our systems, it seemed to hold them back for over two more hours, then something unknown entered the system and took all the protections down. Whatever it was must have wiped itself from the computer because there was no trace of anything on it when I investigated later."
"Dawn Summers," put in Daniel.
"Who?" asked the General.
"Cassie's new roommate, unless anyone can think of anything else that directly connects the three of us and Cassie but exclude everyone else it has to be Dawn," Daniel explained.
"Would this individual be in a position to try something like this?" asked the General.
"I don't think so, and anyway we were with her until about 1500 so she couldn't be the one that hacked the system," Janet pointed out.
"No but her sister could have!" Jack said, "By all accounts she is head of some type of security company, presumably in the Cleveland area where they live."
"It would fit sir," said Sam looking at the General, "Cleveland is east of Chicago and north of DC."
"You wanna run that by us again Carter?" asked O'Neill.
"Yes sir, the security programs managed to narrow down the location of the hacker during their first incursion to east of Chicago and north of DC," Sam explained.
"Alright people we will go with the assumption that it is this... did you get her name?" said the General.
"Buffy, Buffy Summers," supplied Daniel.
"Right that this Buffy Summers and her associates are behind this, I'll contact the appropriate people, in the meantime anyone talking to Cassandra should not inform her of our suspicions," said the General beginning to get up.
"Do you think Cassie is in any danger?" asked Janet, they could all hear the worry in her voice.
The General gave his CMO a reassuring smile, "No I don't believe so! And if I did the five of you would already be on your way to bring her back home," he told them, they all knew that, although he did not vocalise it, he loved Cassandra as much as anyone else in the room with the possible exception of Janet and Sam. "Dismissed," he said turning towards his office.
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Dawn unlocked their door and led everyone into Cassandra and her dorm room, when everyone was in Kennedy closed the door.
The slayer's eyes met Dawn's she could see the pain and anger there, "You had to expose my friends to your damn job didn't you!" Dawn accused between clenched teeth, "All I wanted was a nice normal shot at college before I had to come back to it."
"Hey don't blame me for the vamps," snapped Kennedy, "If Manda and me hadn't decided to make a sweep of the campus before going home you would be dead or worse and Buffy, Faith and Willow would be on their way here to kill me."
Dawn considered Kennedy's words, she realised the slayer was right, a slight blush appeared on her face, "Sorry, I know it's not your fault Ken," she apologised. She looked at the new girl, "So you must be Manda?" the younger girl nodded, "Pleased to meet you." a smirk lit up her face as she looked back at Kennedy, "So my sister sent another slayer, a new one cuz I wouldn't know her, I didn't think she was that good at deceiving me!" she laughed.
Kennedy joined in the laugh, "Well actually she only came up with the idea after she left you yesterday when you found out I was here. I told her that I wasn't surprised that every one of her friends found out about her."
"Yeah, I found out just three days after she became the slayer. The only two people that didn't find out were mum and dad, they just thought she was falling in with a bad crowd," Dawn said.
"What happened out there? What were those things? What are you three?" asked Cassandra looking at Dawn and the other two girls. 'None of those guys... things were Goa'uld! I need to phone mum.'
Dawn looked at her friend sadly, "I so didn't want you involved in any of this Cassie," she told her roommate.
"Thanks," Cassandra said sarcastically, "So are you going to tell us what just happened?"
Dawn sighed, "Okay, but I'm not sure you'll believe me."
"You'd be surprised at what I believe," Cassandra said.
"Okay then," said Dawn taking her desk chair she turned it around and sat down. "What I'm about to tell you can't be repeated outside this room, not just because most people will think you're nuts but because it could place you and them in danger, the other side don't like too many people knowing about them."
"You don't have to worry about me telling anyone, I already think I'm nuts after tonight," put in Frank.
"Just tell us Dawn... please, I need to know," said Cassandra.
"Right. Those four outside were vampires, yes they exist," Dawn added quickly as she saw Frank about to ask her to confirm what she was saying. "Please hold off any questions until I finish ok?" at their nods she continued, "All the evil you thought was myth is real, vampire, demons, werewolves although werewolves are just ordinary people that survived an attack by another and became infected.
"I am just a girl whose sister became the slayer," 'They don't need to know about the Key!' "Her friends helped her guard the Hellmouth below Sunnydale," she looked at Cassandra, "That was what destroyed Sunnydale, because of an ancient evil that had come to town, my sister and the rest of us had no real choice but to destroy it."
"You said your friends here are slayers but you imply that there is only one?" Cassandra pointed out.
"Well both are true, when a slayer dies the next is called, just after we moved to Sunnydale Buffy was drowned in a fight with a vampire called The Master, but Xander brought her back using CPR but because she was technically dead the next slayer was activated, she died a year later which activated Faith, my sisters girlfriend. Well that was how it stayed until just before we closed the Hellmouth in Sunnydale when Willow with her girlfriend's help cast a spell to activate all the potential slayers around the world but for whatever reason only those at the Hellmouth became slayers. Kennedy was one of them while Manda replaced one that died after."
"Spell? What like Harry Potter?" asked Jimmy.
"Look we need to go, Manda has school tomorrow," Dawn saw the sour look on the younger girl's face, "You can get together tomorrow and get all the details," pointed out Kennedy, she looked at the two boys, "We'll escort you home, just in case there are more vamps around."
Dawn could see that both of the boys were about to protest, "Jimmy, Frank, please go with them, I'll feel much happier knowing that you got home safe, I promise that I'll explain everything tomorrow after classes, we'll come to your dorm okay?"
"Alright," nodded Frank musing over everything that Dawn had just told them, he walked over to Cassandra and gave her a quick kiss goodnight while Jimmy stood looking awkward, Dawn smiled reassuringly at him as she walked over and gave him a very passionate kiss that had his knees buckling.
"Wow does Buffy know you can kiss like that," smirked Kennedy.
Dawn turned towards the slayer, "No and she is not going to find out, I don't want her told about Jimmy either," she said her eyes narrowing with the veiled threat.
Still smirking Kennedy held her hands up, "I swear she won't hear it from me."
"Make sure she doesn't," said Dawn, opening the door and allowing everyone to leave, "And thank you Kennedy."
"No problem, just doing my job, call if there is any trouble, night Dawn," said Kennedy heading for the exit.
--------------
To the surprise of Cassandra, Dawn spent an hour writing the report she had to hand in the next day, while she herself could not get the idea of vampires out of her head; she spent the time just channel hopping not able to concentrate on any of the shows. When Dawn got up from her desk to start changing, Cassandra sighed and turning the TV off began changing herself.
There was strained silence as the two young women got ready for bed. They climbed into their beds laying in silence before Dawn began to talk, "When I found out that vampires really existed I thought it was so cool, all those old vampire movies... But when I was twelve we moved to Sunnydale... I saw my first victim six weeks later, I had snuck out one night to follow Buffy, she was always telling me it was dangerous but being young and stupid I didn't listen. Anyway I followed her, I got bored very quickly thinking that she had lied about vampires and was probably just meeting a boy, I was going to go home and tell mum that she had snuck out in revenge.
"Of course being Sunnydale it didn't work out that way I hadn't got 10 yards when a vamp in game face, that's what we call it when a vamp changes from a human face to a vampire face. Anyway I screamed so loud I'm sure mum could have heard," Dawn laughed humourlessly. "Buffy caught the vamp trying to carry me off, she beat him almost to unconsciousness while I just stood and stared, after she staked him she really ragged on me... until I started crying then she went all protective and concerned, she took me back home and sneaked me in through her bedroom window." She giggled again, "The next day she met me out of school and took me to see Giles who gave me a longwinded speech about irresponsibility and not to do it ever again. From then on all I wanted to do was join her and the Scoobies."
"Scoobies?" queried Cassandra.
"Oh yeah, Xander the guy who helped me yesterday, he came up with the name as they helped Buffy and Giles find out what was happening around Sunnydale's demon population plus he has this thing about cartoons so they began calling themselves the Scooby gang."
"Thanks for telling me... you've had a very strange life," Cassandra said.
"You can say that again. I hope this hasn't ruined our friendship before it's really started," Dawn said with trepidation.
"Of course not, I get that you just wanted to forget that things like vampires exist for awhile, it wasn't your fault we were attacked and if anything, having you here meant I didn't die," pointed out Cassandra.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, if you weren't here your friend Kennedy would not have been around to save me tonight."
"I guess I never thought of it that way!"
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Tuesday morning SGC
General Hammond had a deep frown on his face as he walked into the conference room. Having been informed by Daniel that the most likely suspect behind the security breach was the sister of Cassandra's roommate he had contacted the President, who had just returned his call.
The General looked at SG-1 and Doctor Fraiser who had awaited the outcome of the call he had just received, "What did the President say?" asked Jack.
Hammond took his seat before replying, "He informed me that in all likelihood it was not Ms Summers but a friend of hers that broke into our system, her name is Willow Rosenberg, who is something of a computer genius. He ordered us to forget we ever heard of Ms Summers or Ms Rosenberg but he would arrange for someone to go and see them in Cleveland and ask them to refrain from anymore attempts to enter our computer system," he told them.
"What!" exclaimed O'Neill, "This Rosenberg woman brakes into a top secret computer system and takes information on the Stargate and our personnel files and all he is going to do is ask her to not do it again?"
"I was as shocked as you." Hammond looked around the table before continuing, trying to assess how they would react, "I got the distinct impression that after he received my call yesterday he received additional information on Ms Summers and her associates, whatever it was it seemed to scar him, I could hear it in his voice."
"What could scar the most powerful man on the planet?" Daniel mused.
"I have no idea," answered the General, "But the only time I have heard that kind of fear from a President was after the two naquadah bombs failed to destroy Apophis and his two motherships four years ago."
"Is Cassie in any danger?" asked Janet.
"He assured me that neither Ms Summers nor anyone associated with her would harm her as long as she was no threat to Dawn Summers, by all accounts Ms Summers is very protective of her sister."
Jack looked around at the other members of SG-1, "So that's it?" disgust on his voice.
"Yes Jack it is," sighed Hammond, he looked over at Major Carter, "But Major I think it prudent to leave all our files off the main system... for now."
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NID black operations base (Unit one) Maryland
The two officers entered Colonel Maybourne's office and took the two seats he indicated, Graham could see he was not happy, "What happened Major?"
"All was going to plan, the hostiles had been released and had just got into place to kill the two boyfriends when out of nowhere two Latino females appeared and began to take down the hostiles. That was when Captain Miller activated the hostile self-destructs, which I wholeheartedly agree with; he has more experience than any of the unit in regards to slayers."
Maybourne looked at Graham, "How did you know they were slayers?" he asked.
"I once sparred with Buffy Summers back in Sunnydale plus I had several occasions in which to observe her, not least when she helped evac the Initiative after the demon hybrid Adam had released all the hostiles," Graham explained.
Maybourne nodded considering what to do next, his superiors would not be pleased if he failed them; "Very well Captain but I was under the impression that there was only two slayers, Buffy Summers and the girl that escaped from prison some years ago... could this Faith have been one of them?"
"I'm sorry sir I can't explain what has happened; as I understand it one slayer is only activated when the last dies!" Graham told the two other men, "All I can think of is that Buffy Summers lied when she told us that... or she is unaware of any other slayers, although that I would say is unlikely as the two tonight were so near her sister."
"Agreed Captain, we will operate on the assumption Buffy Summers lied and that there are an unknown number of slayers." Maybourne said before pausing, "We will continue to observe Dawn Summers and Cassandra Fraiser but another team will watch the two slayers and if it becomes possible we will secure one for study; our behavioural modifier techniques have gotten better since Sunnydale, maybe these slayers can be made to work for us!"
"With your permission sir I'll make the necessary arrangements," said Edwards.
"Yes Major please do. And keep me advised. Dismissed," said Maybourne.
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SGC, General Hammond's office
Colonel O'Neill knocked on the doorframe of his CO's office, Hammond looked up, "Come in Jack," he said gesturing to the chair.
O'Neill closed the door and took his seat, "What's going on George?"
General Hammond sighed, "Honestly I don't know? As I said, I could hear the fear in his voice. Whoever this Summers and Rosenberg are, they must have something on him that he wants to keep them onside."
"Could they be offworlders? Someone we don't know about?"
"To be honest it's as likely as any other explanation," said Hammond.
"Sir I know we were ordered to forget about them but I'd like Carter to take a closer look at them," said Jack.
General Hammond nodded, "Yes, but discreetly Colonel."
"Right sir, discretion is my middle name," smiled Jack rising.
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Cleveland-Hopkins airport
Riley and his wife Samantha got into the rental car at the far side of the airport where their military chopper had dropped them, "Any idea why we got the call?" asked Samantha.
"No, other than I'm known to Buffy and Willow, I guess the President figured I'll have more pull than a stranger," answered Riley.
"What do you think Willow found out, it must have been pretty big to pull us out of Peru," mused Samantha.
"All I know is it is a top secret facility in Colorado Springs. So what's the address?"
"Just off the corner of West 9th and Frankfort Avenue," Samantha said glancing at part of the telex they had received earlier.
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Watchful Security
They parked the car and got out, Samantha looked at her husband a little worried, "How do you think Willow will react?"
"I think she will be okay with doing what the President wants," Riley said giving his wife a reassuring smile.
Walking into the lobby and up to the receptionist Riley gave her one of his disarming smiles, "Good morning, may I help you?" she asked.
"I hope so, would it be possible for us to see Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg?" said Riley.
"I'll see, who shall I say is calling?" asked the receptionist picking up the phone.
"Riley and Samantha Finn."
The receptionist pressed one of the buttons, Riley could hear the muffled response at the other end of the phone, "Hi Amanda, I have a Riley and Samantha Finn to see Buffy and Willow." The receptionist raised her eyebrow as she looked at Riley while listening to Amanda, "Okay will do! Bye," she replaced the receiver frowning at them, "They were not expecting you to get here so quickly they only contacted your superiors about an hour ago," she told them.
Riley and Sam exchanged a confused look, "Why would Buffy and Willow contact our boss?" asked Sam looking at the receptionist.
"I'm not privy to that information, sorry," she smiled at them. The receptionist pointed to her right, "If you go down there you will find Buffy's office at the end," she told them before picking up the ringing phone.
As they walked down the indicated corridor Samantha looked over at Riley, "What do you think they contacted Colonel Stevens for?"
"I don't know, I can't believe they need our help, with Buffy's last experience with a semi military operation I can't think of any reason she would want our help."
"But they were asking for us not our unit," pointed out Sam as they pushed open the door to Buffy's office, to be greeted by a tall very slim, Samantha would have said skinny, young woman of about nineteen.
Amanda looked up, mentally assessing if the two people entering the office were a threat, ever since Willow had cast the spell at Sunnydale high to make her and the other potentials there full slayers, she had discovered that whenever she saw someone for the first time she would assess the quickest way to take them out. She shivered involuntary, not liking that part of her new psyche. "Riley and Sam I assume?" she said.
"Yes, are Buffy and Willow available? We need to speak to them," Riley told the young woman.
"Buffy is waiting for you, Willow is unavailable at the moment but Giles is coming to see you, please come with me," said Amanda getting up and walking towards the other door in the room.
"Thanks," said Riley.
Amanda knocked and entered without waiting for an answer, smiling as Buffy got up from her desk and walked towards the three, "Your ten o'clock is here," Amanda giggled, "I've always wanted to say that," she said to her fellow slayer. "I'll send Giles in as soon as he gets here," she told Buffy before closing the door.
Buffy closed the distance between herself and the Finns, "Riley," she said smiling as she hugged him, "It's so nice to see you again," she released her former boyfriend and hugged Sam, "I hope you're keeping him in line," she laughed lightly.
"Yeah most of the time, his military training to obey his superiors has helped a lot," she joined Buffy in laughing as they saw the sourer look he was giving them.
"When you two have finished we have things to sort out," Riley said indignantly.
"Right," agreed Buffy, "Take a seat, Giles will be here soon. So how have you both been?"
"Thanks," Samantha smiled at Buffy taking a seat, "Fine, we've just got in from Peru, a group of religious type vampires are taking dozens of local villages somewhere into the mountains we haven't managed to fined them yet," she told the slayer.
"Sorry for taking you away but if you can give us everything you know we'd be more than happy to help," said Buffy.
At that moment Giles came in, he smiled at Riley who rose to shake the watcher's hand, "It's nice to see you again," Riley said before turning to his wife, "Giles this is my wife Samantha, Sam this is Rupert Giles, I think I told you about him?"
"Nice to meet you Samantha."
"Likewise Mr Giles but please call me Sam."
"Very well Sam but only if you call me Giles."
"Agreed Giles," said Sam smiling at the Englishmen.
Retaking there seats Riley looked at his ex, "What did you mean just now when you said you were sorry for taking us out of Peru?"
Buffy looked confused for a moment, "Didn't we? I know we only managed to get hold of your bosses an hour or so ago but I assumed that was why you were here."
Giles smiled at his slayer, "Buffy it takes longer than an hour to fly from South America to Cleveland, it is fortuitous that they are here but I suspect it has nothing to do with my call."
"We have no idea what you are talking about Giles. We are here on the orders of the President," Riley told them.
"Why?" Buffy asked a little worried.
"He suspects that you had Willow look into a top secret base in Colorado Springs, he wants your word as well as Willow's that you will not do it again," Riley told them.
Buffy had an amused look in her eyes, "The President of the United States asks that Willow not hack into the SGC again, why didn't he just send the FBI to arrest us?"
"All he told me was that if you were to ask that type of question I was to tell you he is aware of what Willow almost did a few years ago!" Riley answered frowning, "What did she almost do?"
Riley saw a tightening of Buffy's jaw, "She tried to end the world, until Xander talked her down. A guy called Warren shot me and Tara, she thought Tara was dead, she went a little insane, she's better now."
Sam went a little pale, "She can do that?" she asked barely above a whisper.
Giles, who had been cleaning his glasses, just gave her a stony face, "Yes."
At that moment the door opened and the redhead entered with her girlfriend, Sam unconsciously sought her husband's hand, feeling the tension in him, "Hi Riley, Rachel our receptionist said you were here and wanted to see me. So what's up?" smiled Willow pulling Tara into the room with her.
Tara immediately sensed the fear and general tension coming from their guests, "Willow," she said quietly trying to warn her girlfriend, "I think we should comeback later."
Willow frowned at Tara, "Why? This is Riley and Sam," she turned back to the Finns, her smile disarming, "Sorry about that but you know what Tara's like around strangers and she doesn't know Sam."
Giles rose from his chair and went over to the witches, whom he had spent so much time with in England while the Coven was helping Willow in how to use magick rather than magick using her. He looked into Willow's eyes, "Riley and Sam are aware of what transpired in Sunnydale after Buffy and Tara were shot."
The tears came then as she hugged Tara who pulled her into her arms, "Oh goddess, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she kept repeating.
Then Buffy joined Giles as they hugged both young women lending their own strength in aiding the distraught redhead.
Samantha's own eyes misted up as she sat observing Willow, somehow she could feel the many emotions that the redhead was feeling not least the guilt, without thinking she rose from her chair and crossed the room to the four friends. Sam placed a hand on Willow's shoulder and simply said, "I forgive you," she had no idea where it came from or even why she had said it but she felt an overwhelming need to say it to the young witch.
Willow looked stunned for a moment before she broke away from her three friends and threw herself into the older woman's arms; "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Willow began to repeat into Sam's chest.
At that moment Sam, although only five years older than the redhead, felt her maternal instincts rise, stroking Willow's hair she met Tara's eyes and an understanding passed between them, "It's alright Willow, everything is going to be alright now."
Tara's heart ached to pull Willow back into a hug but when she looked into Sam's eyes, she realised that Willow needed the forgiveness of this virtual stranger. She and the rest of the gang had been telling her since Xander had stopped her from destroying the world that they forgave her, but to Willow that was what friends did, but a stranger forgiving her. 'Now we can move on,' she thought.
Buffy looked sadly at her best friend, "Will why don't you let Tara take you home," she suggested.
Willow pulled away from Sam smiling a little sadly at her, looking at the wet stain that now covered part of her top, "Sorry about your top," she apologised.
"That's alright Willow, you'd be surprised at how often Riley cries on my tops," Sam laughed lightly at her own joke.
Willow also laughed as the image of the larger Riley crying in his wife's arms, she turned to Buffy, "Yeah I'd like that if it's okay with you?"
"Of course it's okay, I'm sure Giles and Robin can sort out anything you are working on," said Buffy.
"Yes of course Willow," added Giles.
Riley looked at the redhead as Tara led her out the door, "I hope you feel better soon Willow."
Willow turned to face them all, "Bye," she said smiling sadly at them.
"I need a drink," said Sam suddenly breaking the silence that had descended after the two witches had left.
Buffy smacked her forehead, "I'm so sorry I should have asked you if you wanted a drink when you got here," she apologised, "So what do you want? Tea, coffee or something stronger?"
"It's a little early for alcohol Buffy," pointed out Giles.
Sam turned to the slayer, "Coffee will be fine Buffy, we've had about two hours sleep since... what day is it?"
"Tuesday," Buffy told her.
"Since Sunday morning," Sam informed them.
"Well maybe we could finish our business over dinner tonight?" suggested Giles, "That way you will be able to think more clearly."
"And what business would that be Giles?" asked Riley, "The only reason we came here was to get Buffy and Willow's assurances that they would not hack into the military computer in Colorado Springs again."
"I suppose that the person that Willow spoke to the second time figured out who we were from what she told them," Buffy mused. "You can tell them that we will not do it again as long as they are no threat to Dawn," a hardness came into her eyes, "If that changes all bets are off," she told the Finns.
"I'll inform the President," Riley said solemnly.
"The other business we want to discuss is the possibility of you two coming to work for us," Giles told them while Buffy opened the door and asked Amanda to get them all drinks.
"What? Why?" asked Riley.
"We can't really go into details until we know that you will join us," Giles told them, "What I can tell you is that you would mostly be doing the type of work you are now and that we would pay you 25% above your currently salary."
"Wow very generous," said Sam taking a seat.
"We'll talk it over and give you our decision tonight," put in Riley as he took a seat next to his wife.
"That's fine," said Buffy grabbing a note pad from her desk and taking her seat, handed the pad to a confused Giles, "So what can you tell us about these religious vamps in Peru?"