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 Nine-Loyalties Part II

Bronze...

Faith, Alec, Max, Jondy, and Krit were all dancing in a group while a band played on the stage. Some other potentials were dancing as well while others were playing pool or drinking.

"What kind of band plays during an apocalypse?" Max shouted over the music. Faith grinned.

"I think this band might actually be one of the signs," she replied. The others laughed and continued dancing.

Buffy's House...

"Hey guys, how's it...going?" Buffy trailed off as she realized everyone was gone when she walked into the living room.

"Buffy? Are you hurt?" Giles called from the dining room.

"Oh...Caleb came looking for seconds," she replied as she joined him.

"My god, is he..."

"Still able to make me see little cartoon birdies around my head? You betcha," she answered as she sat down in a chair, groaning. "So, how did those police files work out? Were they helpful?" Giles looked slightly flustered.

"Uh, yes...very much so, I think," he replied. "There's evidence that Caleb may have established a foothold up north."

"That's great..." Buffy began, smiling.

"I sent, uh, Spike to look into it," Giles interrupted her. Her smile disappeared.

"Spike? Do you intend for him to return alive?"

"Yes, I sent Andrew with him."

"Again, I ask the question." Giles sighed heavily.

"Buffy, you weren't here. Decisions have to be made in your absence," he explained.

"Yeah, well those are the ones that have been scaring me," she replied.

"I did what I thought was right."

"I'm suddenly getting flashbacks from the last time you said that," Buffy growled.

"Considering your current non-relationship with Spike, I thought you'd be happy for him to be gone for a little while." Buffy glared at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Amanda walked in on him and Max kissing. I thought you already knew they were together," Giles quickly noticed Buffy's look of shock and dismay. "Buffy, I'm sorry...I didn't mean...Well... he is a, uh, vampire, I guess we can't be too surprised..."

"Whatever," she interrupted as her face hardened. She looked around the room. "Where'd everybody go?" Giles sighed.

"Um...Faith and the transgenics thought that the girls could do with some time off their studies. They took them to the Bronze," he explained. Buffy shook her head and rolled her eyes before walking out the door.

Bronze...

Jondy and Krit walked off the dance floor and headed over to a table where their drinks waited. They sat in silence for a few minutes, avoiding each other's eyes.

"So..." they chorused, then laughed sheepishly.

"We're gonna have to deal with it at some point..." Jondy commented after a beat silence. Krit nodded in agreement.

"I know...I just don't know how..." Krit replied. Jondy covered his hand with hers. Krit lifted his gaze to meet her eyes.

"We'll figure it out together, alright?" she promised. Krit smiled slightly and nodded his head.

"Deal."

Faith, Alec and Max walked off the dance floor and joined Amanda, who was sipping from a red drink.

"This is so cool!" she said excitedly. "Buffy would never let us do this. You are so cool!" She touched Faith's leg and turned to her friends. "This woman is so cool!"

"Hey, hey. How old are you?" Alec asked.

"Seventeen." Faith glanced around before taking Amanda's drink, taking a sip.

"Yeah, we're gonna get you a nice 7-Up, okay?" She excused herself from Alec and Max and headed back on to the dance floor.

Three police officers walked up to her. Faith turned and faced them, smiling.

"Hey boys, what took you so long? Where ya been?" she joked. But the officers were all serious.

"You're going to have to come with us, miss. Outstanding warrants," one said.

"Yeah? Or maybe you could buy me another drink and we see where the evening takes us," Faith replied as she handed him her drink. One of the police officers grabbed her hands roughly, put them behind her, and started walking her out.

"Hey!" Dawn called out when she saw them taking Faith away. Max, Alec, Jondy, and Krit hurried over.

"What's going on?" Krit asked.

"It's cool, I got it," Faith replied as one of the officers took out a shotgun. "It's nothing. Get-get off me."

"Shut up," an officer growled at her as they led her to the alley out back. The transgenics and potentials tried to follow them but an officer shut the door before they could get out.

"I'll tell you right now," Faith said once they were outside and she was able to shake off the officers holding her. "I'm not going back to jail." She turned to go back inside.

"Who said anything about jail?" Faith whipped around and saw that all three officers and their handguns pointed at her.

Inside the Bronze...

The officer that had closed the door was still guarding it, with a shotgun.

"This doesn't concern you," he told the transgenics and potentials.

"Bullshit," Alec growled.

"It'll be over before you know it," the officer said. "Trust me, the best thing you can do is wait here."

"Don't listen to him," Max said angrily. "He won't hurt us. Dawn, go use the phone." Dawn to turned to go and the officer cocked his gun and shot at the lights, frightening the potentials. The transgenics just scowled.

"The best thing you can do is wait...here," the officer repeated.

"I'm sick of this crap," Jondy growled before taking the gun and hitting the officer in the face with it. He made a move to take it back but Krit elbowed him in the face. He staggered backward and Max kicked him in the chest before flipping him over her shoulder, onto the ground. Alec held his foot on the officer's throat.

"Open the door," he said to Dawn. She opened it and they rushed out into the alley.

Faith was on the ground, shielding her arms over her face while the police ganged up on her with Billy clubs. Max and Jondy threw the officers off of Faith. Faith joined the fight soon after she stood up. She grabbed a club from one and pressed it against his throat and then knocked him into the wall. He sunk down to the ground, unconscious.

Alec kicked an officer into the hood of his car, knocking him out. Max finished off the other one.

Buffy walked up as the fight ended.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" she asked angrily.

"Just blowing off some steam," Faith answered.

"Well, it started that way. Until the cops went evil on us," Krit added. The potentials came out of the club and gathered around.

"Girls, go home," Buffy ordered and glared at Faith and the transgenics. "I need to speak with these guys for a minute." The girls left. "What is this?"

"They needed a break, all right?" Faith explained. "They've been running themselves into the ground. Things just got outta hand."

"Taking a break is one thing-I get blowing off steam-but they were fighting! And those girls were drunk! What were you thinking!"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time," Alec replied.

"Yeah, what if someone had gotten hurt?"

"They didn't," Max argued. Buffy glared at her.

"Stay out of this," she growled. Max narrowed her eyes at her but didn't retort.

"No one got hurt, B. You don't even know these girls. Maybe you should have a little more confidence in 'em, let them mess up sometimes. How the hell else are they gonna learn?" Faith snapped. "And don't talk like Max and the others aren't a part of this. They are. Just as much as you and me."

"Learning from your mistakes is one thing. But you don't throw children..."

"They're not children," Max interrupted. Buffy glared at her again.

"That really isn't the point," she snapped and started to walk away.

"Well how safe were they when you dragged 'em off to meet Caleb?" Faith asked. Buffy stopped walking and the transgenics watched warily. "How safe was Rona or Jessie or Molly?"

Enraged, Buffy stalked over to Faith and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground.

"Hey!" Max shouted, getting between Buffy and Faith. "Leave her alone!" Buffy retaliated with a punch to her face as well, catching her off guard.

"What the hell was that for?" Max growled but didn't fight back. Jondy lunged forward to do it for her but Max stopped her.

"You kissed him," Buffy said menacingly. Max stared at her, clearly seeing the hurt and anger. Then she punched her.

"What's going on now is much more important than being jealous of your ex-vamp lover and me," Max replied, voice low and dangerous. Buffy glared at her, holding her jaw. Then she turned and stalked away, noticing that the potentials hadn't gone far enough and had seen the whole thing.

Jondy made another move to go after Buffy but both Max and Faith stopped her.

"Don't worry about it, we're fine," Faith said as she and the transgenics stared off at Buffy's retreating form.

"How could she say that to you guys? We were a part of it too...and she barely even acknowledged us," Jondy complained. Max and Faith just ignored her ranting and continued walking. "And why didn't you tell me you kissed Spike?"

"Because I was trying to forget about it," Max muttered. Faith glanced at her, concerned.

"Why would you want to forget about kissing Spike?" she asked. Max didn't answer.

"Let's just get back to the house. Buffy's probably got a whole 'big meeting' set up to insult us some more," Alec commented.

"Don't," Max said. Alec looked at her in confusion. "Buffy was just...stressed out..."

"Right. And I guess her stress relief is to punch her supposed friends in the face for kissing an ex-boyfriend?" Max didn't reply. The walk back to Buffy's house was silent the rest of the way.

Robin Wood was arriving at the same time they were.

"Am I late?" he asked. Faith just looked at him. "For the big meeting. I hate being late."

"Guess we'll be late together if we are..." Krit muttered. Wood took a closer look at Faith.

"Were you guys fighting or something? 'Cause it looks like they banged you up pretty well," he commented. Faith smirked.

"Cops. Mostly," she explained. Wood's brow furrowed.

"Mostly?"

Faith pointed to where Buffy punched her. "This is from someone who just thinks she's a cop. It's my favorite of all my current bruises," she said. Wood nodded in understanding.

"Guess we better get inside," Alec commented. The others mumbled their agreement.

The living room was chock-block full of potentials when they entered. They sat down just as Buffy walked in. She glanced over at Max and Faith. They stared blankly back.

"I-I'm glad you guys are here," she began, smiling nervously. Faith rolled her eyes while Max continued to sport her 'soldier' face. "I think you all will be interested in what I found out."

"W-What would that be?" Willow asked, nervousness seeping into her voice.

"It's about the cellar," Buffy continued. "I know that night wasn't fun...for any of us." Rona glared at her. "But I figured some stuff out about that place, and I realize now what we have to do." Giles looked at her, concerned. "We're going back in." Many of the potentials scoffed loudly. "Look, I know what you're thinking, but I had a visit from Caleb at the school today. While he was talking, I figured something out. He kept making all this noise about the school."

"Is it that seal thing again?" Wood asked.

"Should we try closing it again?" Willow questioned. Buffy shook her head.

"No, it's not the seal," she replied. "We've spent so much time worrying about the seal and the hellmouth. Why isn't Caleb guarding them if they're so important? He's only guarding the vineyard. There's something there. I say it's their power, and I say it's time we go in and take it from 'em." More groans and scoffs were clearly heard. Faith stood up from her seat on the couch, arms crossed.

"Or, here's an idea, how 'bout...we don't," she said. Buffy looked at her, confused. "It's a neat theory, B. But I'm not going in that place again. Not without proof. You shouldn't and neither should they." She gestured to the potentials.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy..."

"Maybe it ends okay the way you plan it...but maybe it doesn't."

"Did you come here to fight?"

"We're all fighters. But you gotta give me something to fight, something real...not..."

"Windmills," Giles supplied softly.

"There is something there," Buffy repeated. She smiled nervously and looked around at the people surrounding her. "I-I don't understand this...For seven years...I've kept us safe...doing exactly this. And now, what-you've suddenly decided you can't trust me?"

"You're being reckless," Rona said bluntly. Buffy looked shocked.

"What?" she breathed.

"You are! Man, I don't even know you and I can tell. You're so obsessed with defeating this Caleb guy that you're willing to risk anything to..." Rona continued.

"That is not what I'm trying to do," Buffy interrupted through gritted teeth. Kennedy walked up to her, face angry and determined.

"People are dying," she stated.

"Kennedy..." Willow said calmly.

"Why are you always standing up for her!" Kennedy snapped. Willow's expression was sad.

"I'm not," she said softly. Kennedy suddenly looked proud and smug. Max felt her jaw tighten. "With everything that's happened...I'm worried about your judgement, Buffy."

"Look...I wish this could be a democracy, I do. But democracies don't win battles," Buffy argued. "There has to be a single voice. You need someone to lead you...someone to issue orders, be reckless sometimes and not take your feelings into account."

"And it's automatically you," Anya said. "You really think you're better than us."

"No, I..."

"But we don't know. You came into this world with some advantages of course, that's the legacy. But you didn't earn it. They were just handed to you. That doesn't make you better than us. That makes you luckier than us."

"Look, I'm willing to talk strategy. I'll hear suggestions...but this is the plan," Buffy replied, almost pleadingly. "I'm still in charge here."

"And why is that exactly?" Rona commented.

"I'm the slayer."

"Isn't Faith a slayer too?"

"Whoa, whoa. So not what I meant. I'm not in-charge-chick. I just think B needs to calm down, take a siesta or something. But I'm not who you want," Faith explained.

"Maybe we needto vote...see who wants Faith to have a turn in charge," Kennedy suggested.

"No," Buffy said sternly.

"No what?"

"No. You don't get to vote until I've had my chance to pal around, get everybody drunk. I didn't realize this was a popularity contest. I should have equal time to bakeyou cookies, braidyour hair..."

"Learn their names," Faith interrupted. Buffy glared at her.

"You're just loving this aren't you?" she said angrily, butthe otherscould tell she was close to tears.

"You have no idea what I'm feeling," Faith replied. "I didn't come here to take anything from you. I came here to beat the bad guy, to do right, however the hell it works. I don't know if I can lead. But the real question is...can you follow?"

"So we vote," Wood said.

"Wait...guys..." Buffy began pleadingly, looking around. Anya had her arms crossed, Willow and Xander turned away from her. "I know I'm right about this...I just need a little time...I can't stand by and watch her lead you into some disaster." Dawn walked up and faced her.

"Then you can't stay here," she said. Buffy stared at her in shock, hurt clearly visible. "I love you, but we have to be together in this. You can't be a part of it. So I need you to leave. I'm sorry, but this is my house, too." Buffy blinked in disbelief and turned to go.

"Stop!" Max suddenly shouted. Everyone turned to look at her. "What the hell is wrong with you people?"

"What? You don't..." Kennedy began.

"Shut up!" Max ordered. Kennedy glared at her. "Buffy said she's been leading you for seven years? And the moment things get a little rocky and unsure...you kick her out of her own house? I was around plenty of brainwashed kids when I was younger...but I've never met anyone who was so fuckin' screwed up...that they'd betray their own family without really talking things out. Those kids may have been brainwashed...but they never turned their backs on the others. What the fuck is your excuse?" Everyone stared at her in silence. Tears were falling down Buffy's face.

"How can you stand up for her?" Rona questioned. "She punched you for god's sake."

"Yeah, for kissing her ex-boyfriend. Who, hey, is a vampire," Kennedy agreed. Max narrowed her eyes and stalked over to her. She visibly gulped as Max radiated anger.

"Shut. Your. Mouth," she growled. "Buffy may have hit me...but I'm not stupid enough to just hang her out to dry. This is a friggin apocalypse we're dealing with. And you want to kick out a slayer? Who's soul reason for living is to save the world? Are you fuckin high?" Kennedy backed away towards Willow, not responding.

"Bottom line is...we need Buffy to win this fight. She's one of the good guys. There's not a single way in hell that we'll win without her," Alec added.

"You guys have only been here for liketwo weeks," Kennedy retorted, regaining her voice. "We've been here a helluva lot longer than that. You don't even know what she put us through."

"Did you have to slit anyone's throat? Watch any of your friends get disected because something happened to them that they couldn't control?" Max asked. Kennedy didn't respond. "I have one question for you then. Are you still alive?"

"What kind of question is that?" Anya asked. Max shot her a look and she immediately shut up.

"Answer the question," Max ordered.

"Yes, we're still alive," Kennedy replied grudgingly. The other potentials mumbled the same answer.

Max smirked humorlessly. "Then what she supposedly put you through...doesn't seem to be that bad, since you're still alive and kicking. Although 'annoying' is probably more appropriate." Faith smirked. Max turned to face her. "Do you wanna be leader of this group of small-hearted brats?" Faith opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a flood of negativity towards Max's comment.

"We do not have small hearts!" Dawn argued. Max glared at her.

"Of course you don't," she said sarcastically. "That's why you wanted to kick out your only sister." Dawn looked away."Buffy's doing the best that she can. There are always casualties in wars."

"Casualties," Buffy finally entered the conversation. Everyone turned to look at her. Her face was tear-streaked but she was no longer crying. "It sounds so...casual." She looked at everyone around her. "Human deaths are never casual. They're heartbreaking. Always were...always will be. Nothing can ever prepare you for losing a friend or family member. It's always sudden."

"Buffy..." Xander began apologetically. She smiled softly at him.

"Xander...I've known you for seven years...You've fought by my side. Same with you Willow, Giles," she began. The others just watched her, confused. "I've died twice...and you've brought me back both times, obviously. I wouldn't be here without you guys. And I thank you for that. But...you were right. Maybe I am acting reckless. Maybe Faith should have chance at being leader." Faith smiled slightly at her. "But what Max said was also right. We're in the middle of an apocalypse. I can't leave you. No matter how much you may want me too." Rona and Kennedy's gaze dropped in shame. "I still stand by what I said. Something is at the vineyard." Sighs were heard around the room. Buffy just smiled. "If you don't want to fall in line...whether it's right beside me or behind me...I don't care. I know I'm right. You want proof? Don't worry, come tomorrow night...I'll have all the proof we need to win this war. Anyone wanna risk their necks and come?"

A/N-Take a wild guess who's gonna be going with her...hehe.

LadyV77-Always best to look on the bright side ;o) Krit Kat's a cute nickname.

Tap Dancing Widow-I kinda like it too, it can turn any character evil...which is cool...hehe.

Sky Angel-Don't worry,they'll sort thingsout in due time ;o)

cora-Yay! It finally worked. Thanks for telling it to me ;o)

Angel Of Darkness231-I've noticed and I'm very grateful ;o) I'll do my best.