Chapter 22

The silence that settled over the extended group lasted only moments and then Wesley beckoned Giles to him.

"Is it wise to let the daywalker roam around like this"

"I believe William will be a great asset to the side of good Wesley, now we need you to provide us with another portal."

Wesley blinked and then agreed, gathering together the materials necessary to make the portal open.

"Where do you wish this one to go to Giles?"

"I'm coming too"

"Angel I believe it would be best if you remained here."

Angel tightened his grip on Williams's hand and the daywalker looked up at his sire worriedly.

"Sire don't, we shall be alright, the slayer wont let anything happen to us"

"Angel you cant come with us, we don't know what conditions we'll be walking into, and we don't want to risk you as well."

"But its alright to risk William?'

Buffy let go of Williams's hand and took Angel's staring up into his eyes.

"You know I'll look after him, you have your own work to do here and we'll be back soon enough"

Angel looked down at the two blondes, both staring earnestly up at him, he pulled them both into a bear hug and whispered to them.

"I'm only a call away if you need me, both of you know that don't you"

He kissed Buffy first, gently laying his lips on hers, she cupped his face with her hand and kissed him back sweetly. She moved out of his arms and watched as he pulled William to him, resting his forehead on his childe's.

"My childe, never forget how much you mean to me"

William smiled softly and kissed Angel gently in reply before pulling out of his arms.

"How could I sire?"

Giles cleared his throat and motioned to Sg1 to come closer

"Jack, Samantha if you would be so kind"

Jack wandered over a little uneasy at the way he would be returning to Cheyenne Mountain.

"Umm do you want co-ordinates or something"?

Giles pulled off his glasses and polished them frowning for a moment.

"Hmmm maybe it would be best if Samantha helped Wesley with this. Samantha could you please stand here with Wesley, yes inside the circle please. Now when he incants the spell I want you to focus on the place you wish to go to, Wesley are you ready"

The rest of the group stood back as Wesley joined Sam in the centre of the mystic circle. The major watched closely as the young man incanted some words and scattered a gleaming dust, throwing it into the air. As he did so the dust sparkled and seemed to form a large circle, lines of runes and symbols formed around the edge. It reminded Sam a lot of the Stargate, she focused on the gate room, seeing in her mind the huge circular gate and the ramp leading down from it. Her eyes widened as the gate room she saw in her minds eye formed inside the glittering dust. Wesley finished with a final shouted word and the opalescent wall materialised.

"Quickly now you must go, call me when you wish to return, now that I have seen the room I can recall the portal."

William reluctantly parted from his sire, taking Buffy's outstretched hand and allowing her to draw him towards the wall. Jack strode to the portal and crossed through, quickly followed by Sam and Teal'c. Giles, Willow, Tara, Buffy and William walked through the portal, collapsing as soon as they had crossed the threshold. Immediately they were stopped in their tracks by a wall of weapons, soldiers had all of them sighted and Buffy settled into a fighting stance. Jack looked around and saw her, he caught her eye and shook his head, Buffy subsided relaxing slightly. Jack sighed and smiled when he saw the bald head of General Hammond come through the blast doors.

"Honey we're home"

"Colonel O'Neil, would you care to explain how you got in here with all these people. And where is Doctor Jackson?"

Jack's eyes clouded for a moment and then he fought his emotions down and replied flippantly.

"Well Sir, we got a group discount, but there's a problem with Daniel"

General Hammond glared at his disobedient officer and jerked his head towards the door.

"Lets go up to my office and you can tell me all about it. In the meantime all your ahh.. friends here can be quartered elsewhere."

"Hey Jack you didn't mention that we were gonna be locked up"

Jack sighed and took Buffy's glare in his stride, he spoke quietly in his superiors ear.

"Maybe Sam should go with them, I think she wants the Doc to take a look at something anyway. Oh and Giles should come with us"

General Hammond drew himself up to his full height, measuring Jack's words carefully before inclining his head in agreement.

"All right Major Carter will you please escort our guests to the infirmary, lets go Colonel"

Jack gestured for Giles to accompany him with the colonel, while Teal'c ushered the rest of the group out of the gate room. Arriving in the infirmary Sam greeted Janet Frasier warmly,

"Hi Janet, I've got something interesting here for you"

"Sam, I see you've brought me a crowd, what has you so excited"

Sam drew Buffy and William forward, the vampire looked about nervously, Buffy took his hand whispering in his ear.

"Its all right William, I wont let anyone hurt you"

Sam strove to put the vampire at ease, shocked that she had forgotten what he had been through.

"We're not going to do anything to you that you don't want us to William. Trust me please"

Janet looked concerned as the young man was coaxed forward to meet her, she held out her hand to him. He looked at it for a long moment and then took it lightly, dropping it as soon as he could without being impolite.

"Janet this is Buffy and William, the redhead is Willow and her girlfriend is Tara. They are all very special people. Buffy is it all right if we run some tests on you and the others, if there's anything that makes you uncomfortable you don't have to do it. But I would be interested to know if there's something in your makeup that's unique."

Buffy looked at Willow and Tara who nodded slowly, then at William who clutched at her hand.

"William, is it okay"

He didn't answer he just dropped his head his chin nearly touching his chest, when he raised it again his eyes glowed. Janet stepped back in surprise, but Sam gave her a reassuring touch on the arm.

"Its ok Janet, this is Radic, he came through the gate with my father, his host died and he was able to help William."

Radic's deep voice rumbled into the silence that followed.

"William has retreated, as has the demon, neither of them will be able to cope with the tests. Though they have given permission for me to do this for them. I'm afraid the tortures they endured at the hands of the Initiative are still fresh in their minds."

Janet looked dumbfounded, "Torture…"

"A branch of the government experimented on various demons it captured, Spike sorry William was one of them"

"He's a demon, I don't believe it, he looks so sweet."

The white glow faded from William's eyes and an amber one replaced it briefly as the demon came forward and showed his true face. Janet stared at the ridged forehead and fangs reaching out to gently touch his cheek. The demon faded away and the white glow came back in his eyes as Radic resumed control.

"A vampire?"

"Yes"

"So your body is essentially dead is that correct"

"This body did die but became something else after death, William is the man who was before the demon invaded his body."

Janet frowned, " I don't see how that can be, but lets do some tests and see what we can find out"

She ushered them further into the infirmary and gestured to some nurses to come and help them.

"Please run the usual tests, blood workups, cat scans, let's see what we have"

Janet took William by the hand and gently drew him into a cubicle, performing his tests herself.

Shortly after she released them all back into Sam and Teal'cs custody and they were shown into the briefing room. General Hammond, Jack and Giles were seated at the big table as they were waved into their seats.

"Well I hear from Colonel O'Neil and Mr Giles that you have been a great service to your country. I'd like to thank you all for your help in this matter"

Sam raised her hand to speak and the General nodded giving her permission.

"Do we have the go ahead to use the Stargate General"

"I've spoken to the President and after much consideration it has been decided."

He paused for effect. " You have a go Major."

tbc

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