Title: Life Saver 3/10
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: If you want, but it is polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and the Gilmore Girls.
Spoiler: Season 7 of Buffy and mid to late season 1 of Gilmore Girls, so GG timeline is moved a few years.
Rating: PG
Pairing: Lorelai/Luke eventually plus Buffy canon pairings.
Summery: Two more potentials arrive! Set around Potential Ep. 7.12 of Buffy.
Notes: This was inspired by reading a couple of Buffy-Gilmore Girls crossovers and the fact that Hallmark (in the UK) have started showing GG from the first season.
It should also be noted that although a lot of the dialogue in this story comes from the scripts posted on BuffyWorld some of it is changed or even spoken by different people.
This part is going out unbetad as I have now waited, with several email enquires, to hear back from my sixth beta in as many months. I have gone through it myself and tried to catch any errors but if you find any I missed, I apologise. If there is anyone out there who would like to beta future parts of this story drop me a email and we can talk about it. BUT I must point out that the below statement applies.
Feedback: If you wish.
Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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The car was almost on its last legs, the blonde gritted her teeth as she shifted down a gear, the clutch making a grinding sound. She glanced at her friend asleep next to her, worried that it would wake her. Madeline was having trouble sleeping; she had always been closer to their Watcher than she had!
It was just getting light behind them, she just hoped they could make it to the Slayer before the car died on them or the Bringers caught them.
"Twenty miles, just twenty more," she mumbled to the sky in prayer as they passed a road sign announcing that Sunnydale was twenty miles ahead.
The brunette suddenly jerked awake looking around a little fearful. "Bad dream again?" asked her companion glancing at her in sympathy.
"Yeah," said the brunette settling back into the seat. "But this time they caught you as well... God there was so much blood," she said as she ran her hands over her face, "I was so frightened that I just stood and watched as the bringers gutted both of you... Then I ran."
The blonde reached over and squeezed the brunette's shoulder, "It didn't happen Maddie, Max took them all out. And there is no way you would have left me anymore than I would you," said the blonde smiling. "Why don't you try phoning again, we should get a signal now, let the Slayer know we will be there soon," she suggested.
"Okay," said Madeline digging out her cellphone, "Hopefully someone will be awake."
"What! They're going to sleep with everything that is going on," laughed the blonde humourlessly.
The phone rang several times before a very familiar voice answered. "Summers residence."
Madeline sat up straight a look of shock on her face as she said, "Rory! What the hell are you doing in Sunnydale?" she looked at an equally shocked Louise.
"Madeline! What are you doing calling here?" asked Rory, shock in her own voice.
Madeline put two and two together, "You're a potential like us! Please god, don't tell us Paris is one too."
Rory laughed, happy to hear a familiar voice, "Not as far as I know. But my mum is... or so the Watchers tell us... Wait us. Who is with you?"
"Louise," smiled Madeline. "Look we are about twenty miles east of the city; we ran into some bringers a while back and had to go across country. I think something broke. Can someone come and meet us?"
"Hang on I'll ask," said Rory. Madeline could hear a mumbled conversation. "Madeline. Xander, Mum and I will meet you. Xander said to keep heading towards town and we will get there soon."
"Xander," asked Madeline.
"Yeah he's sort of the handyman/friend of Buffy Summers, the Slayer," explained Rory.
"Oooh is he hot?"
Madeline could almost picture Rory rolling her eyes. "Yes and unless you want to fight Anya, his not so ex, I'd forget him if I were you. She'd even scare Paris," said Rory.
"Right got it, Xander's taken," laughed Madeline, some of the tension leaving her. She hesitated for a moment before saying with a smile, "It's great to hear a familiar voice Rory, be careful."
"We will and it's good to hear your voice too. See you soon, bye," said Rory before replacing the receiver.
Louise smirked at Madeline in the growing light, "Kind of freaky isn't it. The three of us all go to Chilton and all potentials. I wonder if anyone else from school is a potential."
"Yeah, as long as that bitch Frencie isn't one though," shuddered Madeline. Suddenly they heard a hissing sound and looked to the front of the car, steam was slowly hissing out the radiator, "My dad is going to be pissed when we get back home and hears that my car is a wreck and just outside Sunnydale California," sighed the brunette.
"Well look at it this way, if we survive and the world doesn't go boom. Being grounded for a week would be so worth it," smirked Louise.
"You think he will ground me for that long," replied Madeline in mock horror.
Louise laughed loudly, "Well maybe not," she said turning to look back out the windscreen as she tried gently encouraging the car to go on.
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The car made it about five more miles before it gave up the ghost. Louise glanced at her friend asking what she thought with a look.
"Let's start walking, it's light enough to see any bringers coming," said Madeline.
"Right," said Louise opening the door before grabbing the bag off the backseat she looked over at Madeline as the other girl pulled out a handgun; "I still can't get past the fact you have that thing and your dad taught you to use it?"
Madeline smiled at her friend as she checked the weapon over, "Remember the time we got jumped by that vamp in Hartford, I had to tell him something when he saw the bruising. So when I told him I was mugged, he insisted on teaching me how to use a gun. The P220 was a gift from a former Special Forces friend of my dad's. It has a good stopping power for a 9mm, so with all the bringers around it made sense to bring it," she said slipping it into her waistband and hiding it with her jacket.
They started walking along the side of the road as quickly as they could, continually on the lookout for anyone or anything that could jump out at them.
They had been walking for about ten minutes when about a hundred yards away half a dozen bringers appeared from some undergrowth and began running in their direction. Madeline did not hesitate; she pulled the pistol from her waistband, put a round into the chamber and quickly took aim, squeezing the trigger as her father had taught her. She put two rounds into the chest of the first three bringers sending them to the ground to bleed out their lives on the side of the road.
Meanwhile Louise had dropped the bag and pulled out a short sword and took a defensive stance next to her life long friend. Madeline instinctively moved to the side for Louise to slash at the nearest Bringer before the brunette kicked him backwards into the one behind and put a round into the head of the last one. As Louise plunged the sword through the two downed bringers, she received a nasty slash just above her knee.
At that moment, they saw another dozen or so bringers running towards them. Madeline fired off the remaining two rounds before clicking the empty clip onto the road and pushing her last full clip into the gun. She looked at Louise knowing what she was thinking, "I'm staying," she growled as she began firing at the oncoming bringers.
At that moment, a car appeared over the low hill behind the bringers. After a second or two, the driver gunned the engine, aiming at the bringers.
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Xander accelerated a little, for some reason his instincts told him to hurry; he glanced over at Lorelai sat next to him and Rory leaning forward between the seats both had anxious looks on their faces.
They came over a low hill and saw the backs of a dozen or so bringers running towards two girls next to three downed bringers; "There they are," cried Rory as she took in the scene before them.
"Right. Hold on," said Xander as he aimed the car at the bringers and put his foot to the floor.
The car streaked through the middle of the bringers sending two onto the bonnet and on over the roof, the rest being propelled to both sides of the road as Xander swung the car back and forth into them. With a screech of brakes, Xander stopped just beyond where Madeline and Louise stood.
Lorelai jumped out of the passenger door as Rory jumped out on the other side, both held crossbows, "Hurry," said Rory as she fired a bolt into one of the bringers who were beginning to rise, Lorelai taking out another.
Madeline wrapped her arm around the wounded Louise who had picked up their bag, and quickly hurried to the waiting car, climbing in the back with Rory they sped off down the road a little so Xander could more easily turn around. As they passed the remaining bringers, now running towards the car, he swung into them taking out another two before leaving the rest in the dust. "Man that was fun," he laughed, "I haven't used anything as heavy as a car for a while."
"When was the last time," asked Lorelai curiously.
"Well a couple of years ago, I got to use a wrecking ball on a hell god bitch that had kidnapped Dawn," Xander said glancing at the older Gilmore. "Names Xander," he said glancing into the back where Rory and the other brunette were trying to stop the bleeding on the blonde's leg; "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, one of them got a good slash at my leg. I'm Louise and this is Madeline," said the blonde nodding to her friend. She smirked at Rory, "You were right, he is hot."
Rory blushed as she glanced at Xander and her mother who also had a smirk on her face, "Ignore her Xander she's always like this."
"Right well let's get back to Slayer central and we can see to your leg," said Xander.
"How many potentials are here?" asked Madeline.
"Besides us four there are five more back at the house... Two have been killed here since this started," answered Rory. "Where's your Watcher?"
Louise exchange a worried look with Madeline before the brunette looked at the two Gilmores, "He died saving us... It was Max Medina," she said tears standing in her eyes.
Lorelai gave a strangled cry as tears appeared in her own eyes; Rory reached forward and placed a hand on her mother's shoulder.
"You knew him," guessed Xander.
Lorelai nodded, "Yeah we dated for a while, he asked me to marry him not long before we left home... I never got to say yes."
"Right... Sorry. It never gets any easier to lose someone you love," said Xander thinking of Jesse.
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They arrived back at the house about fifteen minutes later. For ease, Xander carried Louise into the house trailed by the rest; the door was opened by Dawn, "What happened?" she asked stepping back and letting Xander pass into the living room. The three potentials sat on the settee got up to allow Xander to lay Louise down.
"They were being attacked by bringers when we got there," explained Rory standing with Madeline and her mother near Louise, "They'd already killed three..."
"At least eight actually," smiled Madeline pulling her gun from her waistband and checking that the clip was empty.
"You used a gun," exclaimed Lorelai. "Wait how come we haven't been using guns on the bringers?" she asked looking at Giles and Luke as they came in with the first aid box.
"Because guns will not kill many of the other evil things that we have around here," said Giles as he knelt down by Louise examining the wound. "And it is harder to explain to the authorities why you have a concealed firearm," he looked at Madeline, "Where did you get it?"
"Dad gave it to me and taught me how to use it," explained Madeline. "No bullets left though."
"Right well for the moment I think it safer if you let Xander look after it for you," said Giles. Madeline shrugged and handed the empty gun to Xander. Giles turned back to Louise, "I think you need a couple of stitches. Are you willing to allow me to do it, over the years I have had extensive experience with such things. Or if you prefer we can take you to the hospital."
Louise gave Rory and Madeline a withered look, "It's like listening to our teachers at Chilton, why didn't you leave me to be killed by the bringers." Rory and Madeline laughed, as Louise looked to Giles, "Why didn't you just ask if I wanted you to do it or go to hospital? I don't need your life story. Yes you do it," she said between gritted teeth.
Giles pushed his glasses back on, "Right then... This will be painful."
"No kidding Sherlock. Just get on with it," growled Louise.
"Don't mind Louise she was always like this with Max when she got hurt," explained Madeline.
"Max... Your Watcher," guessed Giles, "What was his other name?" picking up on the brunette's use of the past tense.
"Medina, Max Medina," said Madeline quietly. "He was killed by bringers five days ago," she finished the tears in her eyes once more. Lorelai's maternal instinct coming out she drew the girl into a hug even as she felt tears standing in her own eyes.
Giles looked at the two new arrivals, "You're the bi-potentials!" he said.
"That's what Max said," said Louise gritting her teeth as Giles began stitching the wound.
"What's a bi-potential? 'Cause I'm thinking its got nothing to do with sexuality," said Buffy coming through the front door with Anya and Kennedy, all carrying bags of shopping.
"No Buffy," said Giles glancing at the Slayer. "Occasionally, whatever it is that chooses the girls that will become potentials, will choose two that have become so close they can fight side by side as if they were telepathically linked, anticipating each others moves. Also it is, or was I should say, believed by the Council that if one became the Slayer they would each hold the power, the downside being that if one died at that stage they both would."
"Max never told us that part," added Madeline.
"He probably didn't wish to alarm you," explained Giles. "It's only theory anyway, of the dozen or so times throughout history bi-potentials have come to light, none have ever become the Slayer."
"Ah Watcher guy. You think you could finish fixing my leg before you get into the lectures," asked Louise after Giles had stopped to explain her and Madeline.
"Yes, sorry," apologised Giles.
"What happened to her?" asked Buffy handing her bags to Andrew to put away.
"A whole bunch of bringers were attacking them when we got to them," answered Lorelai. "The good news is we took out at least a dozen," she smirked.
"You are going to have to stay off that leg for a few days," advised Giles as he began wrapping the bandage around the blonde's leg.
"Oh joy," sighed Louise, "Do you at least have MTV," she asked looking around at the others.
"Of course," said Dawn a little sharply as if she had been insulted.
"Okay is there anything else we should know about this bi-potential thing, and is it just me or are there some strange thing happening, first we have Lorelai who is not supposed to still be a potential, now this," said Buffy sitting down in a chair as she watched Giles finish bandaging Louise's leg.
"Well although by everything we were ever told, Lorelai should not be a potential, my guess is that because of the Council's fear that a child of a potential may have become the Slayer they just killed them out of hand, they may well have both been potentials all along. As for Madeline and Louise being bi-potentials, other than yourself they are the best fighters here, they do not have the abilities of a Slayer, strength etc. but while fighting together they are more than a match for a Vampire," explained Giles. "But one strange thing about bi-potentials is they are no different than any other potential when they are separated."
"Okay so any future fights we make sure they stay together," Buffy mused.
"That would be my advice," nodded Giles.
Kennedy came back from the kitchen and stood next to Willow, "This sucks," she said looking at Rory, Madeline and Louise, "My school totally destroys Chilton in sports yet Chilton gets three potentials while I'm the only one from Hillside Academy!"
"Actually hon. I went to Hillside," added Lorelai.
Rory smirked at Kennedy, "What can we say; obviously some potentials have more brains than others."
Kennedy frowned at Rory, not sure if she had just been insulted? "Hey," said Lorelai indignantly.
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Rona and Vi walked through one of Sunnydale's cemeteries nervously, holding stakes, being as quiet as they could. Something behind them stepped on a branch making a cracking sound, and the girls turned to look. Spike, with his vampire face on, stood right behind them. He punched Rona to the ground as Vi tried to stake him, but Spike caught her hand and grabbed her.
Twisting Vi's arm behind her back, he put his other arm around her throat, growling, he bent down to bite her neck and she screamed. Spike stopped and looked up as he let his vampire face fade away. Vi squeaked with fright.
Still holding her, he looked at the group coming towards them, "Ok, these two are dead. Why?"
"'Cause the black chick always gets it first," Rona mumbled as she stood dusting herself off.
"Ow!" said Vi trying to get the Vampire to release her.
"What was that, Rona?" asked Buffy.
"I'm dead because he's a Vampire. I don't have Slayer strength, Slayer speed, i-it wasn't a fair fight," said Rona.
Spike knew what Vi wanted but he was having fun still holding his arm to her neck, "Vi, do you think I care about a fair fight."
"No, no sir," said Vi, her voice squeaking a little, "You don't play by the rules, and I have learned a valuable lesson of some sort." Spike twisted her arm behind her back, "Ow."
"Okay Spike," Buffy said. He let Vi go and she hurried over to the other potentials who were standing near Buffy. "You're right. You don't have Slayer strength. But that doesn't mean that you're not strong. You have inherent abilities that others do not have."
"Not like you do," said Molly as she and Rory wrote in their notepads.
"No, not yet, but it's there. Madeline and Louise learned to use it. You have the potential. You have strength, speed, instinct. You just have to learn to trust yourself. Rona, what did your instincts tell you to do just then?" said Buffy.
"Block his attack, keep him off balance, gain the advantage..." Rona said half-heartedly.
"No, they didn't," said Buffy.
"They told me to run," admitted Rona.
"Vi?" asked Buffy turning to the redhead.
"They told me to run. They're still sort of telling me to run," said Vi rubbing her wrist.
"Don't fight on his terms. Your gut's telling you to run, run. OK? Regain the higher ground. Make the fight your own," said Buffy. "Spike, what did your instincts tell you to do just then?" she asked the Vampire.
"Hunt. Kill," smirked Spike.
Buffy walked out in front of the potentials. "Come at me," she said, Spike raised his eyebrows and smiled a little; "Full speed." She turned to the potentials, "He needs to kill to live. That tells you everything you need to know," she looked back at Spike.
Spike growled and lunged at Buffy. She ducked and he went face first into a headstone. He fell to the ground lying flat on his back. Buffy quickly straddled him, holding one hand to his throat and pointing a stake at his heart with the other. She looked over at the potentials, "Instinct. Understand his, but trust yours. You were chosen for a reason." Spike groaned softly, Buffy looked down at him, "Are you OK?" she asked letting go of his throat.
"I'm... fine," said Spike trying to sit up, "Couple of ribs ain't quite set right since... I'm fine."
"Lemme see," said Buffy lifting up his shirt a little to inspect his ribs.
"No, it's just..." Spike tried to say.
"Spike," said Buffy concerned as she touched his skin.
Spike held her hand, "I'm gonna be OK."
"That's hot," Rona smirked.
"So, we're supposed to, like, make out with them or something?" asked Molly still taking notes.
"Rory under no circumstances are you ever to make out with a vamp... however cute he is," said Lorelai the sides of her mouth twitching.
Rory smiled at the mischief in her mother's eyes, "Right mum, no making out with the undead, got it," she giggled.
"Careful Buffy. Just when you think it's part of the lesson," Vi said gesturing to her hurt wrist, "He'll hurt your arm."
Buffy stood up, ignoring the comments coming from the potentials; she offered her hand to Spike, helping him stand, "Let's go. Rory, Lorelai. You're up. Next lesson..."
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The next day Buffy, carrying an axe, paced back and forth in her basement looking disapprovingly at the girls while they chattered. Rory, Madeline and Kennedy were talking about Chilton and Hillside; occasionally Lorelai would add something usually making them laugh. While Rona, Molly and Vi were talking about their homes. Dawn sat quietly on the stairs, watching them through the stair rails.
"No way. One armed push-ups are bull," said Madeline.
"I can do 'em. I can do the kinda way you clap between," bragged Kennedy.
"Louise and I are more of the chin up kinda girls. I can do chin-ups 'til the cows come home," said Madeline.
"The only exercise me and mum did before coming here was walking to Luke's each day for coffee," said Rory.
Suddenly Buffy stopped pacing and hurled the axe at the target hanging on the wall. It landed in the centre, a perfect bull's-eye. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her, a little apprehensive. She glared at them sternly. "You're all gonna die... But you knew that already," she said pacing in front of them. "'Cause that's the cool reward for being human. Big dessert at the end of the meal.
"Don't kid yourselves, you guys. This whole thing is all about death," she stopped pacing, "You think you're different 'cause you might be the next Slayer? Death is what a Slayer breathes, what a Slayer dreams about when she sleeps. Death is what a Slayer lives. My death could make you the next Slayer," Buffy walked over to retrieve her axe from the target, "Oh, goody. Rapt attention. I love that so much. Now, where was I? Ah." she set the axe down on a table and walked back to the front, "If we go with what Anya's resources are telling us, then the First is in remission for a while, which we think means advantage us."
"Well, what does that mean about the First?" asked Rona.
Buffy crossed her arms, "As best we can tell, he, or precisely, 'it', was putting a lot of stock in that UberVamp thing, the Chaka Khan."
"Turok-Han," corrected Dawn from the stairs.
Buffy began pacing again, "So when I kicked its ass, the whole Firsty circus decided to back off for a while. Good news. Means we probably don't have to worry about it pulling Spike's strings for a while." She stood still looking down at them, "Here's the half-empty. Time away means time to regroup. And part of that regrouping is coming back stronger than ever. The odds are against us. Time is against us. And some of us will die in this battle. Decide now that it's not going to be you," she walked closer to the girls empathising with them, "I know you're all tired, far away from home, anxious. But you're all special. Most people in this world have no idea why they're here or what they want to do. You do. You have a mission, a reason for being here. You're not here by chance. You're here because you are the chosen ones." She then turned, walking upstairs, "Dawn, you better hurry up and eat something so you're not late for school," she said.
Dawn got up and slowly followed her sister; Lorelai watched her go, a frown coming to her face.
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Buffy sat at her desk in the Counsellor's office, talking on the telephone. "Xander, I know. I'm sorry ... If you're gonna take a shower at my house, lock the door ... Of course they're curious ... Why don't you have Lorelai have a word with them ... Oh she was the first through the door. Sorry." A student walked up to her cubicle, Buffy gestured to her to sit, "Hey, I gotta go. Uh, has Giles checked in yet?" The girl sat in a chair across from Buffy, "I thought he was picking up that Chao-Ahn girl in Shanghai yesterday ... OK, well, uh, let me know if he does. Bye." She hung up, sighing, "Amanda, right? I'm all yours."
"Do people ever think you're weird?" asked Amanda.
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Buffy and Dawn came through their front door, only to find Vi and Rona in a heated discussion with Xander. Andrew was also in the room. Xander appeared to be chastising the girls and gesturing emphatically to the destruction that surrounds him. The cushions and chairs were on the floor, furniture was broken—even the pictures on the walls were crooked.
"...there might be an appropriate place to do that, like maybe outside," said Xander loudly.
"Why do we always have to yell?" yelled Andrew.
Buffy crossed her arms and scowled, "I was only gone a few hours."
Willow walked in from the dining room, "Buffy?"
Buffy cocked her head and smirked at the arguers, "Oh, look everybody. It's Willow. Perhaps with a blunt weapon of some sort."
"Buffy, we just got news," Willow said turning back to the dining room, Buffy and Xander followed, Anya was already there.
"Where are the others?" asked Buffy taking a seat.
"Lorelai thought some of the girls needed some clothes so she talked Luke into taking them to the mall," explained Willow, "I got Louise lying down on Dawn's bed," she said before going on to tell the Slayer about the phone call from the Coven.
Buffy looked around at Xander, Willow, and Anya sat at the dining room table. Andrew was standing just behind Xander, and Dawn was leaning against the wall. "And she's sure?" asked Buffy.
Willow nodded, "Positive. Althenea said the seers located another potential Slayer here in Sunnydale. Someone that already lives here."
"Oh, God..." exclaimed Buffy.
"All these girls flocking to town, and this one's already here and under our noses?" snorted Anya.
"Wait, the seers couldn't find out her name or, like, her address or anything? Am I getting the definition of seer wrong?" said Xander looking around.
"I was gonna take the girls out tonight, a little show and tell, but maybe now I shouldn't," said Buffy.
"They were so excited. You're gonna break their little hearts," said Andrew.
"This town is lousy with bringers. I don't want to risk that they find this new girl first," pointed out Buffy.
"No, you should go. I can do a spell to find her tonight. I just have to get together a few ingredients. But you-you shouldn't skip your training, it's too important," declared Willow.
"You think you can handle it?" Buffy asked the redhead, a little worried in her voice.
"No problemo," said Xander in support of Willow.
"Yeah, and you guys have more important things to do," said Dawn, fidgeting a little.
"OK, I'll take 'em," nodded Buffy.
Andrew pumped his fist, "Yes!"
Buffy shook her head, "Andrew, you're not going."
Andrew grunted softly as his expression deflated into a pout and he stomped off into the living room.
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Later that night most of the potentials were going through the pile of weapons that lay on the kitchen countertop.
Molly picked up a crossbow, "Ooh, crossbow! Got to love it," she said as she panned around the kitchen, "Feels like I'm storming a castle."
"You do a lot of that, do you?" asked Rona.
"I might, I had a beauty like this," smiled Molly. As Dawn walked into the kitchen, Molly pointed the crossbow at her, "Halt."
"OK, see, that's why we don't point the weapons in the kitchen," said Dawn.
"It's not loaded," pointed out Vi.
"That's always the lead quote under the headline, 'Household Crossbow Accident Claims Teen'," countered Dawn.
"Dawn's right," said Lorelai.
"Oh, a mace!" said Vi picking up a mace.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "Yeah, that's better."
Rona picked up a stake, "Gotta go with the stake. It's classic. I like the feel of wood in my hand," she smiled.
Kennedy walked into the kitchen, "Lost me there." On seeing the pile of weapons she smiled, "Hey, we gearing up already?"
"Oh, right. You guys are going on your little group patrol," said Dawn somewhat sadly.
"More than that, it's an outing," smiled Vi.
Kennedy picked up a dagger, smiling, "I'm thinking tonight we might actually get to kill things."
Lorelai studied Dawn as she got some juice and walked back into living room. She turned to Rory, "Be back in a minute," she told her daughter as she went after Dawn.
Dawn sat on the couch and picked up the book she was studying, Lorelai watched her for a moment before going and sitting next to the teenager, "You wanna talk about it?" she asked after a moment.
"Talk about what?" asked Dawn not looking up from the book.
"You feel left out. With all us potentials around, you think Buffy and the others are ignoring you. So do you want to talk about it?" said Lorelai gently.
"What's to talk about? The only time they notice me is if they need someone to get snacks or, if Giles or Willow aren't around, to translate some obscure prophesy that goes way above Xander and my sister's head," snorted Dawn bitterly.
"They all love you, they'd die to protect you," pointed out Lorelai.
"Yeah well I'm almost two years older than Buffy was when she became the Slayer and a year older than Willow and Xander when they found out. Yet they still think I'm too young to fight," said Dawn, her voice getting louder, "I'm older than all the potentials but you and Kennedy, and fought more demons and vamps than all of you except Madeline and Louise." She threw the book across the room and started crying in frustration.
Lorelai drew Dawn into her arms holding her tight as she cried, "Everything will work out... Do you want me to talk to Buffy for you? See if she will let you come tonight," Lorelai asked quietly.
Dawn shook her head into Lorelai's shoulder, "No, it's okay, I got some homework to finish and I'll help Willow with the spell," she said.
Dawn pulled away from Lorelai, wiping her eyes on the tissue Lorelai handed her, "Why don't you go wash your face honey," she suggested to the teenager.
Dawn nodded, getting up she smiled down at Lorelai, "Thanks for being there and letting me rant," she said.
"It's what Mum's do. I know no one can replace your mother but if you ever want to talk, or rant, I'll be here okay," said Lorelai smiling at the teenager who just nodded before heading for the bathroom. Lorelai sighed and got up heading back to the kitchen, all the other potentials looked at her, "I don't want any of you saying anything about what just happened with Dawn," she said.
"Of course not mum," said Rory, "Right guys?" she said looking around at the others.
"She sounded really pissed," said Vi quietly.
"Don't you think she has reason too? Since we started arriving, how much time do you think Buffy and the others have had to just be there for her," pointed out Lorelai. "Well she doesn't what me to speak to Buffy about this but from now on I expect you all to think about her feelings before you do or say something about potentials or training, or fighting vamps, it's not her fault we are and she's not. And just remember, just because she's not a potential doesn't mean she wouldn't be killed in an instant if the bringers attacked the house." Lorelai walked over to the counter and picked up a crossbow.
A few minutes later Buffy walked through the backdoor into the kitchen, Andrew following, "I'm not begging," he whined.
"You're like a small dog dancing for Snausages," said Buffy.
"You don't want me coming along 'cause you think I'm evil," stated Andrew.
"He doesn't seem evil, exactly," pointed out Vi.
Buffy crossed her arms, "He's not evil, but when he gets close to it, he picks up its flavour like a mushroom or something."
"But I'm reformed. I'm like Vegeta on Dragonball Z. I used to be a pure Sayan, and now I fight for the side of Goku," countered Andrew.
Buffy shook her head, "Still not coming," she said having no idea what he was referring too.
"It's not fair. Spike just killed people, and he gets to go," whined Andrew.
"Spike didn't have freewill and you did," pointed out Buffy.
"I hate my freewill," sighed Andrew.
Just then, Spike entered the kitchen, "This is where you're all hiding. You ready to go or what?"
"Let's go, girls. Grab your weapons," said Buffy.
The potentials each grabbed a weapon and followed Buffy and Spike out of the house.
--------------
Willow, Dawn, and Andrew gathered around the coffee table, taking inventory of Willow's spell ingredients, Madeline sat on the couch with Louise's legs resting on her lap and Luke leaned against the end.
"OK, I got my tumbleweed, my eggs...got my chrysalises...chrysali? My butterfly transformer pods. Hey, wh-where's my snakeskin?" asked Willow looking up from the list of ingredients.
Andrew held up the snakeskin as if it were a live snake and hissed, "At your ssssservice, Miss Rosenberg, ssssir." Willow stared disapprovingly and Andrew handed the skin to her, "Can you imagine if every once in a while, people just wriggled out of their skin and left it behind them like—like on the sidewalk. Talk about embarrassing."
"Weird kid," said Luke shaking his head.
Dawn looked at Willow, "Hey, do you think this girl, this potential, goes to Sunnydale?"
"Hmm. Well, I guess probably, huh. I mean, she's got to be about that age," mused Willow.
"Could be anybody. Could be that glamazon in gym class, what's her name? Oh, my lab partner, Margot the freak. Boy, I hope not, because she totally fainted right in the middle of our foetal pig dissection. Somehow I just don't think she's cut out for the slayage biz," said Dawn.
A look of pain appeared on Andrew's face, "Killing pigs is just so wrong... And also hard," he said. Dawn gave him a curious look.
"Well, we'll know soon enough who the next potential is. Somebody's life is about to change," said Willow.
"Yeah," said Louise from her position on the couch, "And not in a good way," she said bitterly, Madeline patted the blonde's good knee in understanding.
"How long will it take? Will we find out who it is right away?" asked Dawn getting a little excited.
Willow nodded, "Pretty much. The spell will conjure up this brilliant light, a-and the light will find the potential and it'll illuminate her with a glowing aura."
"Cool," smiled Andrew.
"I've enchanted this map," said Willow gesturing to a map on the coffee table, "So we can track her basic location. We'll have to hot-foot it, but I'm betting we find her tonight."
"You know, if it is Margot, she's so gonna faint," announced Dawn.
Willow moved to sit in front of the lit fireplace. She already had a mortar and pestle on the hearth and she laid the other ingredients nearby. The others sat or stood around watching as she recited the spell, throwing each item in turn onto the fire.
"To light the aura of the new, skin of snake and chrysalis too.
To indicate the fresh reborn, tumbleweed and rosebush thorn.
An egg that means the life to come.
Take this, oh spirit, and my spell is done."
As Willow finished the spell recitation, an orange haze emanated from the fireplace. Everyone in the room wrinkled up their noses and started coughing.
"Oh, good God, what is that smell?" asked Xander walking in from the kitchen with Anya.
Anya covered her nose with her hand, "I'm fairly sure that's the smell of a hardboiled egg being thrown into a fire."
"Uh-huh," agreed Luke.
"The smell will lead us to the potential," pointed out Willow also covering her mouth and nose with her hand.
"Or some poor soul who ate too many chimichangas," added Xander.
"She'll also be lit with a brilliant aura," said Willow observing the cloud of vapour hanging over the table.
"Is it supposed to be shimmying all over like that?" asked Dawn curiously.
"I don't know. I don't think so," said Willow.
"So you messed up the spell again. At least it smells, you know, other-worldly," Anya sighed. Willow looked at her hurt. "Oh, look, pretty." Anya said changing the subject by pointing to the light.
"I suck. I'm sorry, you guys, I...Maybe we could figure something out on the computer," said Willow letting her shoulders slump.
"Good call. I'm gonna open the door and let this place air out," said Dawn waving at the air in front of her as she walked to the front door.
Xander put his arm around Willow, "Don't worry Will. It's really no big."
"I just...I was sure that it was gonna work," said Willow. Suddenly, the mass of light formed into a solid beam and headed straight for Dawn, it hit the teenager with enough force that it picked her up and pinned her to the door, the light going straight into her. She dropped to the ground, her chest still glowing orange. Somewhat disoriented, Dawn looked at the others with wide eyes as Luke helped her up. "Dawn!" exclaimed Willow, "I think it worked."
Xander, Willow and Anya step forward, "Dawn, are you OK?" asked the redhead.
"Maybe y-you did it wrong? Was it a-ambiguous in any way? Did you maybe say potential sailors? 'Cause I-I do like the water," said Dawn.
Louise could not help it and laughed. Dawn stared daggers at her, "Sorry," whispered the blonde.
"I did it right," said Willow.
Xander stared at Dawn, "Wow, she...you're a potential. You could be the next Slayer," he exclaimed.
Dawn's eyes went wide, "Whoa," she said going to sit next to Louise who had sat up.
Anya knelt in front of her, "Wow, it's like one second you were this klutzy teenager with fake memories and a history of kleptomania, and then—then suddenly you're a hero, a hero with a much abbreviated lifespan," she said.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Luke.
"It's not important," said Willow quickly.
"Are you sure?" asked Luke curiously.
"Yes," said Dawn a little angry that Anya may have let her secret out to others.
"This is huge. We have to think about this," said Xander.
"As far as I can remember, there has never been more than one potential in any family in the same generation," stated Luke.
"I-I can't think about this," said Dawn standing and beginning to pace, as she tried to ignore the implications of what Luke had just said. "It doesn't fit in my head." She turned on her friends, "She has to die... I mean, if I was ever the Slayer, it would mean she died," she slumped into a chair.
"Well, it's a lot like being the Pope in that way, except you don't have to be some Old Catholic," pointed out Anya, trying to be helpful.
"I've got to call Buffy. She's gonna be so excited," said Willow heading for the phone.
Xander blocked her, "No, we can't. She didn't bring a cell phone," he said.
"Well, sure, 'cause all the important people are with her," said Dawn, a little bitterness coming into her voice.
"You are important," said Xander firmly. "And you are forgetting Madeline and Louise."
Dawn stood again, "Wh-wha-what happens now?"
"Well, you could start by maybe sitting still for a sec," said Anya getting a little annoyed at the teenager.
Dawn continued pacing, "I-I can't. I-I need to know what happens to my life."
"Well, I guess Buffy trains you," said Willow gently.
Dawn nodded, "Right, I train with the potentials...other potentials. Learn to do the stuff they're learning."
"Right, we also have to protect you from the, uh, eyeless guys, the ones with the sharp, sharp knives," said Anya being her normal tactful self.
"Bringers," said Dawn.
"It's OK, we'll protect you," reassured Willow.
Dawn looked around worried, "What if they saw the spell?"
"Saw the spell? Dawn, they can't see flashcards. Big ones," pointed out Xander.
Dawn started getting more upset, "We did a big orange powerful spell. What if they sensed it? What if they're on their way?"
"Dawn, it's unlikely they would come here just because we found out you are a potential," pointed out Luke, "They would have come for Madeline and Louise as soon as Buffy and the others left."
"Luke's right Dawn, I think you're safe here for now," said Xander.
"Well what do we do now?" asked Dawn.
"Well, we'll tell Buffy as soon as she gets back..." said Willow.
"Let's not," interrupted Dawn.
"What? Dawn, she has to know," said Willow.
Dawn shook her head, "I-I know, just not right away. Guys, when mum appeared to me, she said..."
"Dawnie..." Willow tried saying.
"No, please. She said something about Buffy, and I'm thinking... I'm just not so sure Buffy will be happy for me."
"Of course she will," countered Willow.
"Yeah right," snorted Louise, "Cause Buffy's going to be so happy that her little sister just got a Bringer target pinned to her."
"Louise is right, I mean, I'm not even sure I'm happy for me. Everything's different for me now," said Dawn.
"That's because you're a part of something larger. Like being swallowed. By something larger," said Anya.
"This-this is too much for my head again," said Dawn running upstairs, "I can't. I—I need to be..."
Xander looked at Anya, "Nice job with the 'getting swallowed' analogy."
--------------
Buffy and Spike led the potentials into the demon bar. The place dimly lit, and filled with disgusting looking patrons, which could never be mistaken for humans. As Buffy and crew walked in, some of the patrons turned to look at them as the young girls gawk at where they were.
"This is a bar," laughed Rona.
Kennedy grinned widely, "Best damn field trip I ever took. Hillside never took us anywhere this cool."
Molly's eyes went wide as she realised just where they were, "Look, they're all..."
"They're demons! It's a demon bar. It's like a gay bar, only with demons," said Vi her voice going very high.
One of the demons stood and greeted Spike. It looked a little like a walrus with smaller teeth and long droopy warts dangling from its face. "Spike! Long time. Nice of you to bring snacks," it said eyeing the potentials, they all unconsciously moved closer to Buffy.
"Touch them, and lose your privates," growled Spike, the demon scowled at the Vampire and walked away.
"I didn't like him," whispered Vi to the others.
"Nice job of blending in, girls," Spike sneered.
Rona laughed, "We're a bunch of 15 and 16 year olds in a demon bar. How much blending did you think we were gonna do?"
Buffy smiled at the potentials, "Look, it's ok. Usually you come to a place like this, you wanna be seen. You wanna scare someone, or make contact..."
"Or have a strong drink," suggested Molly.
"Not usually that," said Buffy.
"You don't drink?" queried Kennedy.
"Sure I do..." Buffy saw the look Lorelai was giving her, "I mean, no. That would be wrong."
"Do they card?" asked Vi.
Buffy smiled, "Nope, go ahead." The girls walked up to the bar, "Down all the yak urine shots or pigs blood spritzers you like," she said.
Spike smirked.
"Gross," said Rory backing away from the bar with the other potentials.
"Got that right. Prices they charge, you could get human blood straight from the body," Spike said, Molly stared at him, "Vampire..." he pointed out.
"Look, if I come here, it's 'cause I gotta wring some information out of something large, scary, drunk, with a room full of friends who don't care much for the Slayer. Remember that. Not a being in here wouldn't be glad to rip your throat out," said Buffy.
A demon walked up behind Buffy while she was talking to the potentials, "Buffy. Girl, how ya been?" it said.
Buffy turned surprise on her face, "Clem!" she smiled getting a good look at him, "You look great, so toned," she said hugging him.
"He's ripping out her throat right now," whispered Kennedy to the others.
"Oh, my God! It is so good to see you. I saw this great show on the History Channel the other night that I knew you would love, and then something went all flooey with my TiVo," said Clem.
Buffy smiled as she glanced at the potentials having heard what Kennedy had said, "You know what. Can I talk to you for a second over here?" she step away with Clem from the group, and Buffy whispered something in his ear.
Kennedy looked at Rona, "You think she dated him too?" she whispered.
Buffy and Clem rejoin the group. "OK, everyone. These are the girls," said Buffy.
Clem smiled, "Howdy. So, you girls are gonna deal with demons, huh? Just lemme tell you this." He leaned in as if to whisper something to them, the potentials crowd around, following suit. Then Clem showed them his other face, the potentials screamed and jumped back in fright.
"I could use a shot of that yak urine right about now," said Vi.
"Yeah," said Lorelai and Rory quietly holding each other.
--------------
Willow knocked on Dawn's door. Xander and Anya stood just behind her. "Come on, sweetie, open up," she said.
"Want me to kick down the door?" asked Anya enthusiastically.
"Anya," said Xander a little annoyed.
Anya laughed, "What? It'd be funny. Besides, she's been sulking in there forever." Xander tried the doorknob, it was unlocked, "Oh," she said with disappointment.
They entered Dawn's room, looking around, but Dawn was not there.
"Crap," said Anya before noticing the open window, "Double crap."
"Gone. We got to find her before the bringers do," said Xander anxiously.
"I can do a locator spell, but we gotta hurry. And find Buffy," said Willow as they headed back to the living room.
After some arguing with Luke, Madeline and Louise, they decided that Xander and Anya would attempt to find Buffy, as they knew the town, while the others waited with Willow until she did the spell.
--------------
Holding up a flashlight and looking around, Buffy and Spike led the potentials inside a crypt. "A Vampire is an animal. Sometimes they run in packs, sometimes alone. Who can tell us where we are?" asked the Slayer.
"It's a nest," guessed Rona.
"How can you tell?" asked Buffy handing the flashlight to Spike.
"Only a vamp could live like this," said Kennedy looking around her with disgust.
"Some, yeah. As a group, we're not known for our tasteful decor, but in all fairness to the race," said Spike looking around, "This place is seriously lacking in style."
"Thank you, Spike," said Buffy.
"I'm merely saying..."
"He has a point. Vampires can live anywhere. Any way they want. Taste, fashions, living conditions...they can vary. The animal inside, always the same," said Buffy.
Spike looked at Buffy and frowned.
"Where'd you live?" asked Rory looking curiously at Spike.
"What, you mean before?" Rory nodded, "A crypt actually, but nicer. A bit more, I don't know if posh is the right word, but it was more like..."
"Comfy," suggested Buffy.
"Excuse me? When did you find it comfy?" exclaimed Kennedy.
"Moving on," said Buffy hastily, the potentials tried not to laugh, "You want to stay alive, you have to spot and identify a nest on site. Look around, all of you. Look for signs that just last night maybe a dozen, two dozen vampires were right where we're standing. Go ahead."
The girls reluctantly broke up and started looking around the crypt.
Spike smirked at Buffy, "Work, work, work. This little excursion was just in danger of being interesting."
"You know what, Spike..." Buffy said looking over to see the potentials had gathered around, inspecting something on the floor, "Interesting is not a problem."
"Buffy, I think we found something," said Rona looking over at the Slayer.
Molly stared with her mouth open, "It's a body," she said going a little green.
Buffy walked over, kneeling to look, she pulled on its shoulder, letting it go, she sighed, "It's not a body. It's leftovers," she said standing up.
The body started to move and growled as it looked back over its shoulder at Buffy. Its face that of a Vampire.
Buffy, holding a stake, faced-off with the Vampire while the potentials watched from behind her. Lorelai noticed that not just Rory but the others unconsciously drew closer to her.
"No one's safe. Not here, not ever. See this guy?" said Buffy.
"B-but he was dead a minute ago," exclaimed Kennedy.
"That was a minute ago. Now..." said Buffy as she punched him in the face, "...he's the enemy."
The Vampire lunged at Buffy, who threw him across the room. The Vampire managed to turn it into a roll across the floor. But Buffy walked slowly after him, still with the stake in her hand, while talking to the potentials. "You can't think too much. Reacting's better. Could be the difference between staying alive and that other thing," she said as she punched the Vampire and dropped the stake on the floor, beginning to exchange blows with it.
Kennedy tried to go to Buffy's aid, but Spike held her back.
"The question is never, 'What do you think,' it's always, 'What do you know?' You gotta know it. If you don't, if you make one mistake," said Buffy, she punched the Vampire, and he landed on his back on a stone sarcophagus. He tried to kick Buffy, but she grabbed his foot and punched him in the face. Then she pushed his leg, flipping him over and off the other side of the sarcophagus. "You're not a potential. You're dead. What do you know? Right now, the only thing you know for sure is you got me," stated Buffy.
She grabbed the stake from the floor as the Vampire leapt toward her, kicking at her face. She ducked and blocked his follow up punches. Finally, Buffy grabbed him by his shoulders and threw him to the back of the crypt as she stood near the doorway. Buffy dropped the stake, and walked out of the crypt with Spike and closed the doors behind them, locking the potentials in. The Vampire walked menacingly toward the potentials, their faces were full of fear.
--------------
It was some twenty minutes before Xander and Anya managed to find Buffy and the others. Xander ran up to the crypt just as Buffy was releasing the potentials that all seemed psyched after dusting the Vampire. "Buff," panted her friend, "It's Dawn. Dawn's the potential," the potentials all exchanged looks, "Only she didn't take it so well, when we checked in her room... Buff she snuck out the window."
Buffy paled, she looked at Spike, "Think you can find her?"
"Yeah of course but I'll have to start at the house," said Spike.
"Right let's go," said Buffy beginning to hurry towards the cemetery gates.
"Buffy, Will's doing a locator spell, she'll phone with Dawn's location," explained Xander as he hurried after the Slayer.
"Okay well we'll start heading back to the house just in case," said Buffy.
Just then, Xander's phone began ringing, "Yeah Will we found her ... School, right, see you," he clicked the top of his phone closed and looked at Buffy, "She's at the school," he said.
"Right Anya, get the potentials back to the house, Spike, Xand, come on," said Buffy turning and beginning to run towards the school.
--------------
As they entered the school, they split up in their search for Dawn.
"Amanda, listen to me. Remember when you said I was special? Well, I'm not. But the thing is, you are. This is your battle, Amanda," said Dawn as they stood at the top of a flight of stairs.
"No, I can't," said Amanda shaking her head.
"You can. You've got too. Look, I've got your back, but this is something you have to do. It's something you were born to do," explained Dawn as she saw bringers approaching from the other end of the hall; she handed Amanda the flagpole, "Here, this belongs to you," she said solemnly.
Amanda reluctantly took the flagpole fragment from Dawn.
From the bottom of the stairs, Xander saw Dawn and Amanda talking. He climbed halfway up the stairs, "Buffy, up here," he called out.
Buffy and Spike appeared at the bottom and followed Xander up the stairs toward Dawn and Amanda. As the bringers came toward Amanda, she used the flagpole as a staff, knocking them down, seemly quite good.
Dawn managed to stay out of the way and avoid the crossfire. As Amanda knocked the bringers down the stairs, Buffy and Spike attacked them.
Buffy stabbed a Bringer with his own dagger, before passing it to Spike, "Here," she said. Spike used the dagger to stab the one he was fighting.
The Vampire that had attacked Dawn and Amanda in the classroom earlier appeared and attacked Amanda. She used the flagpole to hit the Vampire several times on its body and face which eventually sent him into the wall where she staked him.
Buffy calmly walked up the stairs to the last Bringer lying stunned and broke his neck.
Amanda turned to her, confused and perturbed, "OK. One minute I'm in Swing Choirs, and the next... What the hell's going on? You tell me to come to you with problems. Turns out, a Vampire attacked me. Problem. So I go to your house, and when I get there, this orange cloud hits me."
Dawn looked at Xander, "She was at the doorway," she clarified.
"And I don't know if you're into the drugs, but that's not my deal, all right. That cloud hit me, and I got a little dizzy and discombobulated," said Amanda.
"It was Willow's spell. She's the potential Slayer," explained Dawn looking at Buffy.
"Come on, let's get home and we can talk," said Buffy gently.
--------------
The next morning the potentials were still talking enthusiastically about the fight the night before. Lorelai, Amanda, and Kennedy were sitting on the couch with Rory sat on the arm leaning into her mother, talking with Molly, who sat in a chair, while Vi, Chloe and Rona were kneeling on the floor.
Rona shook her head, "I'm sure the Vampire thought we were like, what, seven helpless girls. And then Vi—Vi actually yells, 'We're just seven helpless girls.'"
"That was part of my plan," added Vi, Kennedy rolled her eyes playfully at the redhead.
"When it all started going down, it was like we knew what we were doing. For real," said Rona excitedly.
"Yeah, like when you dodged that first attack and it went after Rory," said Molly, "And Lorelai cracked him across the jaw."
"Yeah I can't believe you did that mum," said Rory smiling at her mother.
"I told you kiddo, anyone try and hurt you. They Die," said Lorelai patting Rory's knee.
"I hurt his arm," said Vi proudly, "Yep. And an arm can be as lethal as a mouth."
Molly looked at Kennedy, "When Rory and Lorelai pinned him to the wall and you staked him, seriously, the rush was like..."
"So you took one out solo?" said Lorelai looking at Amanda sensing that the girl was beginning to feel left out.
"Yeah, what was that like?" asked Molly a little awed.
"I don't know. I mean, when I saw the Vampire, vamp..." said Amanda.
"Vampire's good too," encouraged Kennedy.
"Cool. Yeah, when that Vampire attacked me, I felt this kind of charge, you know?" explained Amanda.
Lorelai saw Dawn standing in the doorway, watching them talk. Her arms crossed and she was pouting a little. Lorelai made a decision at that moment.
"Like you realize in one instant that your whole life is different," said Kennedy.
"Exactly. It's that rush you're talking about," agreed Amanda.
"Okay, you guys, let's head downstairs. Get our newest arrival up to speed," suggested Lorelai getting up. The others all got up and began filing out the room. Lorelai stood in front of Dawn, "Why don't you come as well, you can show us what you know and we can help each other get ready for what's coming."
Dawn looked at Lorelai for a moment, "What about Buffy?"
"What about her," asked Lorelai, "Look Dawn you're part of this, I know Buffy wishes you weren't, the same as I wish Rory wasn't, but you both are and the more practise you get the better your chances are of walking away from here."
Dawn gave Lorelai a little smile, "Okay," she said.
"Great," smiled Lorelai placing an arm around the teenager's shoulders as they followed the others into the basement.