Chapter 19

Jack turned off the grill and stepped forward to where the Furlings were speaking quietly. This was what he needed, something he could do. He was tired of being on the sidelines watching while Giles and Willow tried to understand what had happened to him. The Colonel had patrolled with Buffy and Spike and that had helped his thirst for adventure, but it hadn't been enough.

"What did the Alliance say? Where is Sekhmet? Are the demons backing her?"

The dark haired Furling narrowed her eyes in anger at Jack, but before she could answer she turned her attention toward Spike. "Demon?" Her curious gaze turned back toward Penthesilea. "Why is a demon here….alive?"

The Slayers standing with the Furlings tensed and before anyone could stop her, one Slayer broke from the group and attacked. Without thought Willow raised her arm and put a barrier between her and Spike.

The easiest explanation that Willow could think of was Angel's and she went with it. "He was cursed with a soul and now he has to help us. Spike is one of the good guys."

"I am not!" Spike protested automatically and then looked at the furious Slayers and Furlings gathered in front of him. "Er, that's right. I'm a bleeding heart poofter." He vowed to get back at the petite red head before the day was out. He didn't know what he could do with the sodding chip in his head, but he'd think of something.

Penthesilea was pleased with how well Willow tapped into the power of the mage without thought. It was as it should be, how they were meant to be before the Watchers interfered. Her gaze traveled to her sisters and those that were called, her smile turned soft as her eyes connected with the Slayer that had attacked the demon. "You did well…." She paused for a name.

The brunette slayer's muscles were still poised for battle despite the magical barrier surrounding her 'prey'. "Kennedy. My name is Kennedy."

"You did well, Kennedy. You followed your instincts and attacked the demon. We are a team, however, and as a team we have to work together. The Mages, Slayers, Furlings and others need to work as a cohesive group if we are to defeat Sekhmet." She knew the Fuflings could defeat Sekhmet along with the alliance, but for the Mages and Slayers to work as they should have been for centuries, they needed to trust the other.

She turned her attention to Ainia, "What news do you bring from the Alliance." Penthesilea hid her smile as she felt Jack move closer to the Furlings.

"The Knox have agreed to help and the Asgard will help on the other front. Sekhmet is rising through the System Lords, but only with the consideration that she can guarantee an alliance with the demons of Niurin."

Willow interrupted before they could continue their discussions. "Wait! Does that mean that the demons are coming back from their dimension and into ours? I mean more than we've already seen?" Pure fear skittered down her spine at the thought of all the demons returning, or even half the demons returning. This was worse than any apocalypse they've faced. This was aliens and demons coming to their planet.

Ainia nodded her head, "Yes, they are. The Tok'ra have intercepted some communications among the Goa'uld and the other System Lords seemed confident that she could deliver what she promised."

"But…but you defeated them once before here, can't you do it again?"

"We can and we will with the help of the Knox and the others." Ainia acknowledged. "When we defeated the Goa'uld here before, it was before their alliance with the demons. There is already an alliance with Sekhmet and a demon, perhaps others. The battle will be harder this time." Her dark eyes bored into Willow's, "but we will defeat them. It can not be allowed for the Goa'ulds to ally themselves with demons."

Jack took in everything said and even what hadn't been said. He knew the Asgard helping with the other situation was whatever the SGC would be facing. The desire to go through the gate and to be beside Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c again was strong. They'd fought side by side for years and it chafed that it wasn't his place anymore. At least not until they figured out the de-aging. His eyes moved over to where Anya, Buffy, Giles, Xander, Spike, Dawn and Willow were standing, they were his teammates now. "How much time?"

"Enough time to train as a group, but not enough time that will be needed." Ainia answered the Taur'i.

"But will it be enough time to steal weapons needed?" An idea began to form in Jack's mind. He wouldn't be able to get more zats or even a staff weapon in this world, but he still had his military ID that he hadn't turned in to Hammond. He could raid the nearby military post.

A smirk tilted the corner of Xander's lips as he understood where Jack's question was leading. "I can help with that. I've had practice getting in and out of the base."

Jack cocked his head, considering the young man and finally nodded his head. He remembered what Willow had said about 'soldier guy' and he could use the help. "Follow my instructions exactly or I'll leave you there, understood?"

Xander snapped to attention and gave him a mock salute.

Buffy rolled her eyes at his antics and turned to Dawn and Willow, "I guess that means training for us." She didn't like that Dawn had been called to be a Slayer, but she could no longer deny it. Turning to her sister, she wrinkled her nose, "You know I'm going to remind you every time you complain about the training that you always felt left out when I went to train with Giles."

Dawn stuck her tongue out at her sister, but it didn't detract from the excitement in her eyes. She was finally going to make a difference. Something other than research girl.

Everyone turned to leave, the picnic forgotten with their new duties. "Oi! What about me?" Spike yelled as he tried to walk passed the magical barrier that Willow had erected earlier.

Willow blushed a bright red as she turned toward Spike, "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. I forgot that I hadn't taken it down yet."

Spike narrowed his eyes at the petite redhead as she moved to dissolve the barrier, adding this to his long list of things to get even for. He was ready to crack some heads even if the only heads he could crack were demon ones. A new thought occurred and he wondered if he would be able to attack the Goa'uld. While they weren't quite demons, they weren't quite human either.