California Trippin'
Disclaimer-I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dark Angel, only the parts that I make up in this story.
Summary-This is a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Max, Alec, Jondy, and Krit leave Seattle in need of a vacation. Everything has blown over with the transgenics and familiars. The virus between Max and Logan is cured but they aren't together. The transgenics are free to roam around without the hate groups and so they decide to go to California, where Buffy and the gang are dealing with the First.
Pairings-I finally figured out what the pairings are...Max/Spike, Jondy/Krit, and Faith/Alec. Buffy has yet to be paired off...
Chapter Eight-Loyalties Part I
Buffy's House (A Few Days Later)...
Willow and Giles were talking to a police officer. Willow was staring intently at him, obviously working a spell.
"Ah, thank you officer. We appreciate your help," Giles said as he flipped through a file.
"Oh, no, thank you Inspector," the officer replied. "We don't get a lot of contact with Interpol, so we're happy to help you with anything you need. Is there anything else we can help you with?"
"No. Thank you. We're fine," Willow replied.
"Right...because-Wait...Who are-who are you?" the officer asked with a confused expression. Willow continued to stare intently at him.
"I'm with the Inspector," she explained. He still looked confused and unconvinced.
"Well, um, I think it's about time we, uh, catch our flight to...Interpol," Giles said hurriedly before pulling Willow away.
"Good idea," Willow said as they walked down the street. "My control was fading. What's up with those cops?"
"Same as everyone. The hellmouth is active again."
The officer continued to watch them leave before being joined by two other cops.
"Who was that?" one asked.
The man that Willow and Giles hadtalked to shrugged his shoulders. "I-uh...don't know," he answered. The third officer held out a flyer that had a picture of Faith.
"Did you get one of these?"
"No. Who is that?"
"Fugitive. Ran to ground right here in our own backyard."
"Yeah?" the first officer asked eagerly. "Sounds like a situation that needs some justice."
Buffy's House...
Anya and Andrew were standing in front of the potentials. Anya was reading off note cards while Andrew wrote key words on an easel-pad.
"So, we know that a big battle is coming. Ubervamps galore," Anya lectured as Andrew wrote in giant red letters 'UBERVAMP'. "We also know that they are hard to kill. But I've been talking to some of my old contacts and they've provided us with some surprising information." Andrew drew a picture of a Ubervamp. "For example, they can be staked." Andrew drew a red arrow next to the word 'stake'. "We didn't know this. Of course, these guys have incredibly strong sternums, so it's a lot like driving a wooden stake through solid steel. But you guys are all super-strong right?" Kennedy scoffed.
"Um...no?" she replied.
"Okay, ya know what?" Rona began. "I used to be really afraid of these Ubervamp guys but then this crazy preacher guy blows into town. Now I'm mostly afraid of him." Anya looked slightly flustered as she flipped through her note cards.
"Well...we're working on getting some info on that guy," she said. "I know you're all upset. I, myself, would rather be sitting with my ex-fiancé than killing time with you people in this increasingly ripe-smelling basement. And I would be, too, if not for a certain awkward discussion we had on that cot over there following some very exciting and unpredicted breakup-sex." Some of the girls became grossed out and moved off the cot. Andrew wrote 'breakup sex' and underlined it on the easel-pad. "But you have to know this information. We can't stop just because someone else is trying to kill you, too."
Kitchen...
Max and Faith were sitting on the countertop eating chips. Kennedy and Amanda came up the stairs.
"Got enough to share?" Kennedy asked. Faith tipped the bag to her. She grabbed a handful.
"Aren't you supposed to be down at Hogwarts?" Faith asked. Max looked slightly confused at the reference. "Children's book." Max nodded in understanding.
"Probably," Kennedy replied.
"Guess Anya's technique's probably a little different than what you're used to," Faith commented.
"Do you think they're gonna be questions about her sex life on the test? 'Cause I really don't want to have to study that..." Amanda said. Faith grinned.
"Right. Whenever she starts talking about getting all sweaty with Xander like that, I just remind her I had him first. Shuts her right the hell up," she said. Max glanced at her in surprise.
"You slept with Xander?" she questioned. Faith nodded. "Damn." She stuffed her mouth with chips. Faith smirked and did the same.
"Studying demon hot zones and pressure points won't do us a lot of good while preacher man's out there, ready to finish the job he started," Kennedy complained.
"No one's come up with any info on Caleb yet?" Faith asked with her mouth half-full. Kennedy and Amanda shook their heads.
"Hey, who's here?" Buffy called out from the dining room. Faith, Max, Kennedy, and Amanda followed her voice.
"We are, I guess," Max answered.
"Watcha got?" Faith asked. Buffy put the file she was holding on the table.
"Some information that Willow and Giles were able to get off the police database," she replied. "With Caleb's overt religiosity thing, to learn more about him, let's find out where he's been."
"Incidents of violence and vandalism connected to California religious institutions in the last ten years," Max read off the file. "Good place to start."
"Yeah, if we don't find anything on California than we can just expand the search," Buffy replied.
"Makes sense. What kind of stuff should we be looking for, exactly?" Max questioned as she sat down in a chair.
"Anything that looks like Caleb, his church, his ring..."
"His ability to render a slayer useless in just one punch..." Kennedy commented. Buffy looked up from the papers she was reading, hurt. Faith frowned. "I-I'm sorry...that was stupid-I don't know I said that." Buffy sniffed, obviously trying to stifle her tears as she stood up.
"I-It's okay...um, you know, I should go to the school and get the rest of my stuff..." she said.
"I really didn't mean..."
"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it...Hey, isn't Anya supposed to be doing that thing for you guys today?" Kennedy and Amanda nodded.
"Yeah. We should probably get back down there..." she said before she and Amanda left.
"See that everyone gets started on this," Buffy said to Faith and Max. They nodded.
"Sure thing," Max replied as Buffy walked out.
"Wow...guess that whole 'battle' has got her really depressed," Alec commented as he sauntered into the room. Both females turned to look at him.
"What do you want, Alec?" Max asked tiredly as she flipped through some papers. Alec shrugged.
"Just wanted to hang out with my favorite girls," he replied. Max and Faith shot him a look. "Er...women."
"You're a real smooth talker," Faith teased. Alec mock-frowned.
"Give me a break. You got me all turned around," he smiled smugly. Max scoffed loudly.
"I have that effect on men," Faith replied. Alec's grin widened. "But from what I hear, you're not exactly all man, are you?"
"Oh, you mean that vagina of his? Please, it's barely noticeable," Max commented, somehow able to keep a straight face. Faith looked incredibly shocked while Alec was burning a bright red. Both Faith and Max suddenly burst out laughing. Alec crossed his arms defiantly.
"That wasn't funny," he mumbled. Faith reached over and ruffled his hair.
"Aw, she was just kidding," she paused. "Right?"
"Of course!" Alec answered quickly. Max giggled.
"I was joking. Alec is 'all man'," she made quotation marks with her fingers.
"So even though you guys were made in test tubes, you're still human?" Faith asked. Max and Alec exchanged a look.
"We'd like to think so," Alec replied.
"But sometimes other people disagree," Max added. Faith nodded in understanding.
"From those stories you told me...regular people came off as real bigoted assholes," she said. Both Max and Alec nodded.
"It's pretty much all okay now, though. 'Cept for the occasional banana peel or something," Alec commented.
"Yeah. People always treat you differently after you avert an apocalypse...or so I've heard," Faith replied. Both transgenics looked at her in confusion.
"I thought you helped out in at least one or something..."
"Sure. When you put it that way."
"Meaning..."
"I helped out in one...just not on the good side," Faith explained.
"Oh."
A few minutes of silence followed.
"Guess we should get to work, huh?" Max suggested.
"Yeah, the First and Caleb aren't gettin' any less evil..." Alec commented as the three of them began to search through the papers.
Backyard...
Jondy and Krit were both laying down on the grass, talking.
"What do you suppose she's thinking about?" Jondy asked. Krit glanced at her.
"Who?"
"Buffy."
"Oh. I dunno. She definitely feels terrible about leading the girls into that trap a few days ago..."
"Yeah, that's what I figured too. I can't even begin to imagine what she must be going through..." Jondy commented. Krit sighed.
"Yeah..."
"Please. You know exactly what she's going through," a familiar voice startled them both. They sat up quickly and saw someone they'd never thought they'd see again. "Isn't that right, Kritty?"
"Syl..." Krit breathed. Both his and Jondy's eyes were wide with fear and wonder. "How...I thought you..."
"Died? Well I sort of did," she snapped. "Guess who's fault that was?" Krit swallowed hard.
"I'm so sorry Syl. I didn't know..." he began, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Well, of course you didn't know. It's not your fault," she smiled comfortingly. But it suddenly turned to a cruel smirk. "You were just born stupid like that."
"Why are you talking like this, Syl?" Jondy asked as tears filled her eyes as well.
"Because lover-boy over here isn't honoring my existence. Are ya Sparky?" she growled. "You 'accidently' lead me and some others into a trap set by the Familiars. You, of course, escape alive. While I and two others disappear forever."
"It was an accident!" Krit cried out desperately. "I never meant for you to get hurt..."
"Oh, I didn't get hurt. I just died. And now you and Jondy are making moon-eyes at each other."
"What? No we aren't," Jondy protested lamely. Syl scoffed.
"Please, I can see you," she replied emphatically. Jondy gulped. Tears were streaming down both her and Krit's faces. "I die, and you just move on to the closest hussy."
"Please...stop...Syl," Krit pleaded.
"That's not Syl," Max and Faith stood on the porch, glaring at 'Syl'. Krit and Jondy looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean that's not Syl?" Jondy asked.
"It's the First," Faith explained. Krit and Jondy immediately backed away.
"Well, you've definitely gotten smarter since the last time I saw you, baby sister," Syl/First taunted. Max's jaw tightened.
"Get. Out," she ordered.
"Honey, I already am out. As you can see," Syl/First gestured to its surroundings.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Face," she growled.
"Now Maxie..."
"GET OUT!" she screamed. The First disappeared in a flash of light. She stared at the place it had been in, eyes wide as tears began to fall down her cheeks. Faith looked at her in concern. Krit and Jondy were in the same state. They fell to the ground at almost the exact same time, all sobbing.
Spike and Alec appeared in the doorway and noticed Faith's obvious annoyance that she didn't know what to do to help them. Spike's eyes fell on Max's shaking form. He made a move to go to her, but Alec stopped him. He looked over at him in annoyance and Alec just simply pointed to the sun. Spike frowned and hesitated before stepping back farther into the shade.
"Faith," Alec said. Faith turned to look at him. "What happened? Spike and I heard someone scream 'get out'?"
"The First," Faith replied, voice shaking slightly. "It appeared as one of their siblings I guess." Alec swallowed.
"Which one?" he asked warily.
"Syl, I think it was." Alec inhaled sharply. "Guess she was important to you guys, huh?" she tried to joke but it fell flat. She bit her lip. "What should we do?"
"Get Max inside. I'll get Jondy and Krit."
High School...
Buffy walked through the empty halls past the cleaned-out lockers. She walked into her old cubicle and sat at her desk. She picked up an old picture of her, Willow, and Xander from when they were in high school. She touched it lightly and sniffled.
"Oh, now look..." Caleb appeared in front of her. "Things don't go quite the way you wanted 'em to so here come the waterworks. Ain't that just like a woman?"
"Get out of here," Buffy ordered through gritted teeth. Caleb laughed humorlessly.
"Now, now little girl. Manners," he said condescendingly. "This here's a public school ain't it? Kinda deserted. Folks work so hard in keepin' the Lord out. Look what happens. He abandons you." Buffy began to inch towards one of her filing cabinets. "Wouldn't do that if I were you swee'pea. Fighting didn't do you much good last time, did it? How's Xander by the way? Still got both his eyes?"
"Try to attack Xander again, and I will end you," Buffy growled. Caleb pushed her desk over violently and walked purposefully towards her.
"Mind your manners," he said. "That mouth of yours could get you into some serious trouble. You should relax a little. Look at where you are. The school, the seal...it's all gonna be a part of the great sweepin' tide of change, and you're gonna be a part of it. Now, why would you wanna miss that? More importantly, why would you want to get in its way?" Buffy scowled.
"I guess I'm just ornery," she replied before punching him in the face. Caleb laughed as he picked her up by the neck and threw her through the window. She crashed intoa wall and fell to the ground unconscious.
"I'll see you soon, little lady," Caleb said before walking away.
Basement (Night)...
Max was laying down on Spike's cot, facing the wall while Spike was leaning against the stairs, watching.
"Wanna talk about it yet, luv?" he finally broke the silence. He received a whimpering noise in return. He smiled softly and walked over to her. "Come on, where's that fiery bint I know and..." He caught himself before he finished that sentence. Max turned to face him. Her face was tear-streaked and her eyes were slightly red. "Max..." he began as he kneeled down so they were eye-to-eye.
"She was my sister," Max said softly. "Well, not biological but family's family, right?" Spike just nodded. Max glanced away from him. "It was back when we were fighting the war against the Familiars. Some of our transgenics had been captured. I sent a group over to rescue them...Krit and Syl were two of the six that went...It was a trap," her voice cracked and more tears fell. Spike gathered her in his arms. "We didn't know...we didn't know...Syl and two others were killed...Krit loved her more than anything..." Spike stroked her hair as she continued. "And one of the worst things...he blames himself for it. It's my fault and Krit blames himself...And now the First is impersonating her. Getting off on the fact that just one more glimpse of Syl's face...and Krit's heart continues to rip itself apart in guilt..." She clung to Spike's shirt as her body shook with more sobs.
"Hey, hey, listen to me pet," Spike murmured into her hair. "You were right before. You didn't know. You couldn't have. Those bugger Familiars just had ya mind spun. This bit's death wasn't your fault, or Krit's. I'm sure she wouldn't want her sister and former lover to be eatin' 'emselves up like you are. She's probably just wantin' you to cherish your memories with her, never forget her, but still move on with your lives." Max turned her face to look up at him.
"Really?"
"Hey, you were the one that told me not to 'rag' on myself for past mistakes and misfortunes, luv," he reminded, smiling slightly. She smiled weakly back. "You alright now?"
"Always," she replied. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Okay, maybe not always..." Her smile strengthened as she stared into his eyes. "I don't know many vampires so I don't have a lot of experience but...are all of you this insightful?" Spike smiled.
"Doubt it, luv. Most vamps only have their 'sight' set on your jugular," he replied.
"Makes sense. My 'jugular' is pretty nice looking," Max joked as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck fully. Spike stared at it in awe.
"That it is..." he said softly, brushing his fingertips across it. Max's eyes fluttered closed.
"Remember what I said earlier? That as long as you don't go biting my neck, we'll get along great?" she asked, voice low. Spike muttered a 'yes' as he continued to lightly stroke her neck. She opened her eyes. "Just wanted to make sure..." She placed her hand on the back of his head. Blue eyes met brown.
"Make sure what?" Spike asked softly. Max smiled slightly before bringing her lips up to meet his. The kiss quickly became intense as Max ran her fingers through Spike's hair, which was surprisingly soft. Spike's hands moved from her neck down to her waist. Neither really needed air so the kiss continued for quite a while.
"Wow," a voice quickly broke them apart. They turned to face Amanda, whose eyes were wide. "Didn't mean to interrupt, but Spike, Giles asked to see you."
"Uh...right...tell him I'll be up...er, there, in a minute," Spike replied. Amanda nodded, smirking, before heading back upstairs. Spike and Max turned to face each other. Max's face was flushed and her hair was slightly disarray. She grinned.
"That was something, huh?" she commented. Spike smiled slightly but couldn't quite meet her eyes. Max frowned. "Unless that was just one-sided..." He quickly looked up at her.
"No, definitely two-sided," he assured.
"Then what's wrong?"
"I just...um...took me by surprise."
"Meaning...?"
"Meaning...I've been in lovewith Buffy forwho knows how long..." Spike tried to explain. Max's expression suddenly turned angry.
"But you thought 'what the hell, can't get the blonde, might as well go for the convenient brunette'?" Spike stood and glared at her.
"Hey! That's not what I was saying!" he argued.
"I said 'thought' smart one," Max replied.
"I was just tryin' to explain my actions."
"And I think I got the message pretty damn clear," Max growled. "Think kissing me was a mistake? Fine, forget it ever happened."
"That's not what I..." Spike began angrily but Max blurred up the stairs. "Meant..." He sighed and followed, wanting to see what Giles wanted.
He walked into the living room where all the potentials were lounging around and Andrew, Dawn, Giles, and Faith were waiting for him.
"What's up...Rupert?" he asked tiredly.
"Spike, I have a mission for you," Giles replied. Spike raised his eyebrows.
"Really? 'Cause you know, sometimes your little 'missions' end with you trying to get me killed. Not too fond of those."
"This is bona fide...look at these," Giles said as he handed him a picture and a magnifying glass.
"Looks like our boy's been here. What do you want me to do?" Spike asked after he examined the picture.
"I'd like you to go there. I need someone who can take care of themselves in case Caleb left any...souvenirs," Giles answered as Max and Alec walked into the room. Max purposefully didn't look at Spike.
"Heard there was news," she commented. Spike rolled his eyes but didn't say anything.
"I was just showing this to Spike and asking him to go investigate it," Giles explained. Max gave Spike an expecting look.
"What?" he asked curtly.
"Just wondering why you haven't left yet," she replied in the same tone. Faith and Alec noticed this exchange and gave each other confused looks.
"Just on my way," Spike growled and headed for the front door.
"Are we gonna get to the food-stealing issue soon?" Andrew whined.
"Take Andrew," Giles said quickly.
"What?" Spike and Andrew chorused incredulously. Max smirked.
"Well, you are always saying you wanted to get out of the house more," Dawn reminded Andrew.
"There may be demons...lurking about. You never know. He's a demon expert. He can help," Giles added. Spike gave him a look.
"Oh, please."
"Well, he can bring his pan flute thing along. Excellent. Off you go," Giles ushered Andrew out of his chair and he followed Spike out the door. Dawn turned to the potentials.
"See? That's something, right? We'll have some news soon," she said, forcing a smile.
"Maybe," Faith commented. "In the meantime the troops gotta sit here and stew, feeling crappier by the minute."
"We should keep them occupied," Alec added.
"Yeah...I know how to keep 'em occupied,"Faith exchanged twin smirks with Max.
A/N-As you can probably tell by the chapter title, this has two parts. It would end up very long if I didn't cut it in half. I'm glad you all are happy that Xander got to keep his eye, I didn't like it when he lost it in the show...Review please! ;o)
RavynJensen-I wonder why that is...maybe sites just can't be posted in reviews...I dunno.
LadyV77-Since he was one for Halloween, maybe they thought it would be a little ironic or something.
Sky Angel-You're welcome ;o)
Angel Of Darkness231-I'm very thankful for fans ;o) And I love reading your reviews.
cora-This is really weird, the site still didn't show up...thanks for trying though ;o)
nights-ether-Thanks a lot ;o) I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
kim-Caleb was pretty strong on Buffy the Vampire Slayer so I'm just trying to keep it true to that. But don't worry, he's definitely not invincible or anything and the transgenics will kick his ass in due time ;o) Jondy and Krit weren't there because they were helping guard the house along with Willow and Giles so the rest of the potentials wouldn't get hurt.