Willow woke up slowly unsurprised that she was alone. Getting up, she slipped on her silk robe and left the bedroom
Entering the kitchen, she found the coffee already made and poured herself a cupful of the hot liquid. Holding the cup in both hands, she closed her eyes and breathed in the aroma before taking a sip.
Padding around the bar that ran halfway across the room, she sat at the glass-topped breakfast table where she could look out through the big glass patio door into the backyard to watch Kennedy's morning workout.
The slayer, with her hair in a ponytail, wearing a light blue spandex sports bra, matching shorts and white sneakers, stood in a deep, left front-stance in the center of the yard holding a pair of sais up in a high 'X' block position. Despite the cool Colorado morning air, her skin glistened with a light sheen of sweat. She kicked out with a smooth, yet fast, right front kick to the chest of an imaginary opponent then without setting her foot down, transitioned into a sidekick at another fictious attacker to her right. Shifting, she set her foot down in a right front-stance while delivering a left-handed stab with her sai.
Willow smiled as she continued to drink her coffee and watch her girlfriend fluidly move through her routine. This was definitely her favorite part of the morning.
*** *** ***
Stefan Zorichov rose from his seat at the dining table to greet the woman walking through the wide archway into his richly decorated dining room. "Ahhh Victoria, so good to see you looking so refreshed after last night's unpleasant experience."
"Yes, well, a good night's sleep and clean clothes can work wonders. I want to thank you again for such an expedient rescue as well as your hospitality."
"Anytime my dear. Your father and I shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship. I like to think that could extend to us as well. May I offer you some breakfast? My chef has prepared a wonderful eggs benedict."
"Thank you. That would be nice."
Stefan turned to his butler standing at a side door to the right. The butler bowed to the silent command and went to fetch Victoria's breakfast.
"Please sit." Stefan pulled a chair away from the table.
Thank you." Victoria glided over to the chair and gracefully slipped into it.
"I'm sorry you had to suffer such an indignity last night. It seems that I may have underestimated this slayer and her friends."
"I trust that mistake will not be repeated."
"Of that I guarantee." Stephan reclaimed his own seat. "I already have Douglass collecting all the information he can find on this particular girl and her friends. Regardless of what he finds however, any further retribution will have to wait until after tomorrow night's business is complete. After that, we can devote our undivided attention to making an example of these meddlers."
"Of course." Victoria politely agreed. "Shall I inform Diego of any changes in the meeting?"
"No. There shouldn't be any problems. The slayer doesn't know anything about this business deal so we'll proceed as planned."
"Very well." Victoria conceded. The butler returned at that moment and set plate before her and began pouring the woman some coffee from a silver pot as she delicately took a bite. "Mmmm. This IS good!"
*** *** ***
Daniel walked into the locker room in time to see Jack wad up his jacket and angrily throw it into his open locker then slam the door closed causing a loud metallic bang. "Whatever the locker did, I'm sure it didn't mean it."
Jack turned around facing his friend. "I know. It's just ---."
"You're frustrated."
"Gee, how could you tell?" Jack sarcastically chided.
Daniel ignored the attitude. "Hammond said that the Tok'ra have dispatched a ship to retrace the flight plan and he's started sending search teams out to the planets they might have stopped at. There's still a chance that they we'll find them."
"Yeah, sure." The Colonel didn't sound optimistic.
*** *** ***
Kennedy slid the patio door closed behind her as she came inside after her workout, a white towel draped around her neck and the sais in one hand. Seeing Willow still sitting at the table with an empty cup and a happy grin made her ask. "See somethin' you like?"
"Absolutely." The witch got up and approached the other girl. "A very beautiful, … and slightly sweaty slayer."
Kennedy hooked her sais on the back of the nearest chair. Then took hold of her towel with both hands and looped it around the redhead's neck pulling her closer. "Is that a complaint I hear? Since when did a little sweat bother you?"
"Nooo." Willow chastised while stroking the sides of the younger girl's bare legs. "No complaint girl, here. And a little sweat always gets me bothered." She smiled before giving the brunette a short, gentle kiss. "Good mornin'."
"Mmmm, very." The slayer purred then stopped herself. "I'd love to stay here like this a little longer but I want to get to the base and check on the guys and I need a shower." Kennedy had a thought. "Wan'na join me?"
"I thought you were in a hurry?"
"I am. If we shower together we'd save time."
"Uh-Huhhhh. Is that the real reason or are you trying to seduce me?"
"Can you blame me?"
"You're incorrigible." Willow accused teasingly and pulled away. "Go. Shower. I'll make breakfast."
"Fine." Kennedy resigned and started walking away then turned around. Continuing to walk backward more slowly, she called back to her girlfriend. "Don't think you're foolin' me though. I know you just want to play with all those new toys." She teased.
"Hey, you're the one that said you were in a hurry. I thought you wanted to see about the guys?"
"I do. But there's someone else I'd like to check on more." Kennedy's tone was full of innuendo as she held her hands up to make teasing grabbing motions.
"Go!" Willow commanded pointing toward the bathroom while trying not to smile.
*** *** ***
Willow stood in front of the open refrigerator pouring a glass of orange juice when the doorbell rang. "Now who's that?" she questioned herself curiously. Closing the refrigerator and setting the full glass on the counter, she left the kitchen.
Concerned that this could be another attack by Zorichov, the witch cautiously approached the front door, reaching out beyond the barrier searching for any hostile energy. Feeling none, she looked through the peephole. "Ohhh brother." She muttered and relaxed before wrapping the robe more securely around herself. Once she was ready she undid the deadbolt and chain lock then opened the door to face the visitor. "Andrew, what are you doing here?"
Sure enough the little man stood there in serious need of a haircut, wearing a long trench coat and fedora looking like a character from an old spy movie. Willow raised an inquisitive eyebrow when she noticed that the briefcase he was holding by his side was handcuffed to his wrist.
"We are the bearers of knowledge."
"What?"
"That's how I think we should all greet each other from now on. Then you answer with, 'And the keepers of the guardians'. You know so we watchers can recognize each other."
"But I already know who you are."
Andrew whined in aggravation. "What if I'm an imposter? How do I know you're not an imposter? We need to be sure."
"I could turn you upside down and spin you 'round and 'round until you hurl. Would that prove to you that I'm me?"
"That won't be necessary."
"I thought not. Now tell me why you're here."
"Mr. Giles sent me with this top secret file on your Godfather wannabe." He held the briefcase up to show her. "Can I come in?" He sounded as he half expected her to say no.
"I guess." Willow breathed then stood back and held the door open.
*** *** ***
Andrew studied the house's interior décor, nodding approvingly, as the witch led her visitor back into the kitchen.
"Kennedy's still in the shower and there are some other people who need to hear this too." Willow explained without looking at the man as she crossed the room to the phone mounted on the wall at the beginning of the bar and picked it off its base and started dialing.
Andrew glanced around taking in the view of the kitchen noticing the glass of orange juice on the counter. "Oooo! Orange juice!" he quietly exclaimed to himself before scooping it up and begin to drink, vaguely hearing Willow in the background speaking into the phone.
"O.K. They'll be here soon." Willow casually informed as she sat the receiver back in its base. Then looked up to see Andrew down the last of HER Orange juice "Hey!"
"What!?" the startled man nearly choked on the last swallow.
*** *** ***
Hammond intercepted sg-1 on their way to the gateroom by stepping into their path just short of their destination. "Hold up people. There's been a change in plans."
"What's up?" Jack inquired.
"Willow just called in. Someone with information on Zorichov is at her house right now and she invited us to go over it with them since bringing the source here is out of the question for obvious reasons.
"What about our current mission?" Daniel interjected. "Who's going to search the planet?"
"Sg-10 will be reporting in soon. They'll have to cover it. I'd rather have someone the girls already know go, and since the only other friends they've made here are still in the infirmary, that leaves you. I want you to gather all the recent Intel you have and compare it to what their guy has."
*** *** ***
"Mmmm Ummm. Somethin' smells good." Kennedy entered the kitchen with her head down, still buttoning her white blouse.
"Doesn't it though. You know back in Sunnydale I ---"
The brunette jerked her head up at hearing the unexpected, yet familiar, voice to see the man it belonged to standing in front of the stove wearing an apron over his tailored suit, and using a kitchen knife to scrape diced bell peppers off a cutting board and into a skillet already containing a variety of other herbs. "ANDREW!" She quickly clutched her blouse closed before he could get a glimpse under it. What. The. Hell. Are You Doing Here!? Where's Willow!?"
"Mr. Giles sent me with the file on the local Kingpin. Willow said something about checking her e-mail. And as long as I'm here I decided to make breakfast for my favorite couple." He hurriedly explained. Then hoped to appease the obviously irate woman. "What do you like in your omelet?"
"Why didn't Giles just call? Or e-mail. Or even FED-EX it." The slayer wasn't looking at the man, having turned her back to hurriedly finish buttoning her blouse.
"I see you've noticed our company." Willow interrupted coming back from the other room.
"Why didn't you warn me he was here?"
"Sorry. But you were still in the shower and I thought I'd be finished before you got out. By the way Faith found another one in Tokyo so she's closing the gap. And Dawn wants to know ---. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"Me?" Kennedy questioned startled by the sudden outburst.
"Not you, HIM!" the witch looked over the slayer's shoulder.
Kennedy turned around to see what Willow meant.
"It's o.k. I know what I'm doing. I saw Emeril do this once on the food network. Watch!" Andrew smiled expectantly as he shook the skillet in an attempt to shuffle the contents. Only to succeed in spilling it all over the stovetop and floor. "OOOPS."
"AN--DREW!!" Both girls shouted.
*** *** ***
Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c, wearing his 'Murray' hat, stepped onto the front stoop and Daniel rang the doorbell. They didn't have to wait long before Willow answered it now fully dressed. "Come on in guys. Any word yet?"
Neither man doubted what she meant but Teal'c answered. "Not as of yet."
Kennedy came in sight with Andrew. "Wouldn't a secret handshake be better or how about a badge, you know you could flash at each other?"
"Badges." Andrew smiled dreamily staring off in space. "Cool."
"Hi guys." Kennedy greeted cheerily when she noticed the new arrivals. "This is Andrew. Andrew, this is Jack, Daniel and ---."
"Murray." Jack cut in finishing the introduction earning a look from the two women before they relented.
"Sooo, you're the Air Force guys that are not the Initiative?" Andrew stated.
"That is correct." 'Murray' confirmed.
"But how do we know that? You could be planning something evil and ---."
"Now listen here Andy! ---" Jack was getting angry.
"Chill man." Kennedy stepped in. "They're the good guys. Zorichov is responsible for killing some of their people. That's why they're here."
"But there is some ah, classified stuff here."
"Ohhh who are you kiddin'? This is no time for one of your little fantasies. Now get your stuff and let's get on with it." The slayer gripped the geek's shoulders, turned him around and gently pushed him toward the next room.
Andrew huffed while crossing his arms and stalked off to retrieve his briefcase.
"Is he always so ---? So ---" Jack began.
"Paranoid?" Kennedy suggested.
"Delusional?" Willow offered. "Pretty much. But he has his uses."
*** *** ***
"So what can you tell us about Zorichov that our own background check couldn't" Jack asked as the group sat around the girl's dinner table.
"Gather 'round." He waved while moving to the head of the table. "Listen to a tale I like to call ---."
"Just get to the point Andy." Jack interrupted impatiently.
Andrew "Harrumphed. Fine. He's a warlock."
"A Warlock!"
"Yes, A very powerful and evil warlock. He provides a variety of mystical services to a number of demons, organized crime families as well as our favorite evil law firm.
"Wonderful." Willow sighed, sitting back in her chair.
Sg-1 looked a little puzzled. "Evil law firm?" Daniel asked.
"Wolfram & Hart. They're the personification of every crooked lawyer joke and insult you ever heard." Willow explained. "They represent the worst of the worst demons and humans around."
"Demons have lawyers?" Daniel was intrigued by the thought.
"Oh yeah! They sometimes need a connection to the human world, someone to act as a front or to cover up after them." Willow explained.
"Yeah did you ever see Devil's Advocate? Al Pacino was superb as ---." Andrew started to chime in.
"We get the point." Jack interrupted abruptly.
"What about you? What did you come up with?" Kennedy addressed Jack.
"We still haven't identified the woman that took part in the ambush. But according to the surveillance that the F.B.I. has him under she has been seen with Zorichov off and on for the past three months.
"Long before his encounter with us." Willow observed.
"Also," Jack flipped through his own file then passed a photograph across the dining table to Kennedy. "Was this the vampire that was with her?"
"Yep. That's him."
Willow took the photo from her girlfriend. "Who is ---was he?"
"His name was Michael Gant. An undercover FBI agent who disappeared five years ago while trying to infiltrate Zorichov's operation."
"Well I guess we know what happened to him." Kennedy stated.
"Zorichov must've found out and turned him into a vampire." Daniel voiced the slayer's thought.
"We think we know who the woman was." Andrew pulled a folder from his briefcase
"Her name is Victoria, ah somethin'. It's here somewhere." He flipped through a few sheets of paper in his briefcase looking for the name. "Macmillan." He pulled the papers he was reading out. "Her father was Victor Macmillan, a freelance middleman whose specialty was to broker deals between various groups. He also troubleshot anything that got in the way of those deals. His favorite M.O. was to use demons to take out his targets. He was on the old council's watch list. He handled a number of jobs with our Al Capone until he died last year."
"Looks like she took up the family business." Kennedy suggested
"How did the old man die?" Jack was interested to know
"Drunk driver up in Chicago."
"Not what you'd expect huh." Willow summed.
"They must already have something else in the works. And Zorichov sent her after you when we messed up his protection scheme." Daniel suggested.
"That would explain why Zorichov was so quick to rescue her. Any idea on what they're up to?" Jack asked.
"We don't know. But since Victoria's father's main occupation was brokering deals between various underworld groups. It's a safe bet that it's along those lines."
"So he's looking to make some kind of deal with somebody."
"Probably with someone as unsavory as he is." Kennedy voiced.
"We must ascertain more information." Teal'c stated.
"The question is how?" Daniel posed.
"Actually, I have an idea." Willow raised her hand bringing everyone's attention to her.
*** *** ***
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know. I know. I know! This chapter was a long time coming but I wanted to get it right. I just hope everyone hasn't lost interest. These past few chapters may seem off topic now but they are important, as you will see soon. I don't want to give anything away but I setting up something.