Disclaimer: The Awakeners and Tribunal members are mine, and that's about it.

Author's Note: Sorry if this part took awhile coming out, but I wanted to make sure I got this one right (considering the material...as you'll see). That, school, and RL kept me busy as well.

Author's Note 2: I will readily admit that I know next to nothing about the Highlander Tribunal, only that there is one. I happened to somehow miss those eps ((snort) make that most of the HL series). So what you're about to read is my assumption of what that group would do. I just hope it holds up to the actual thing...or surpasses it (a girl can dream, can't she?)!

Author's Note 3: Dear gods! I hated writing the first section of this part...until I got to Methos being the all powerful Immortal, most ancient of his kind living...hehehe! All I can say is that this is an extra long part (6,357 words total) 'cause the Muses went to town with it. That's the only hint I'm giving!

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who just learned that they're making another Highlander movie...hopefully this one will have more Methos action in it (which from the summary sounds like it will)!)

Part 22

Seacouver: Joe's Blues Bar, 8:25am, Day 10

"So when's this storm supposed to finally let loose," Dawn asked idly as she leaned against the bar countertop and played with her juice drink's metal top, sliding it back and forth between her hands.

Methos looked up from the newspaper he was reading on the opposite side of the counter to gaze over at the bored Slayer, and replied, "Sometime tonight, according to the weatherman. I, personally, say it'll be tomorrow night or the day after. When it happens, there's going to be some heavy storm damage, too."

"You'd know," Spike commented as he settled on the stool beside his bonded, "as you've lived long enough ta tell better than those electronic gadgets they use."

Dawn snorted, then said, "You sounded just like Giles, Spike." She then shook her head, stopped playing with the cap top, and continued, asking, "When will these Tribunal guys get here?"

"They should be arriving any moment from the airport. It's the reason Joe's waiting in his office, instead of out here with us," Methos answered while folding the newspaper and putting it down. He then looked at his watch, saying, "What I'm worried about is where are Wesley and Fred? They should already be here."

It was Spike's turn to snort, as he said flippantly, "Prob'bly still at their hotel calculatin' when tha best time ta have a weddin' is."

"Or walking through the door," Methos added amusedly as he nodded towards the entrance to the bar.

The supernatural couple turned to look and see the newly engaged twosome deep in conversation as they walked into the bar heavily bundled in warm clothes. With a mischievous grin, Dawn silently slipped out of her seat and stealthily sneaked around and behind the two. Both jumped and Fred gave out a shriek as the young Immortal Slayer threw her arms around them and said happily, "I'm so glad you guys came!" Spike sniggered as Methos rolled his eyes while Dawn dragged Wesley and Fred over to them, laughing. As they all settled onto their seats, she exclaimed, "You should've seen your faces!"

Wesley shook his head in exasperation as Fred said, "I should've expected that to happen, considering how long it's been since I've seen you."

Dawn nodded emphatically, then asked in a rush, "How're things going in LA? What's been happening with Mom and Dad? I've been feeling stuff and calling, but they don't tell me anything!"

The two newest arrivals to Seacouver looked at each other uncomfortably, obviously trying to figure out who should speak. After a moment, Wesley sighed, took his glasses off, fiddled with them, and averted his eyes as he said reluctantly, "I really shouldn't be speaking of this, as Buffy and Angel specifically requested us not to, but I think it's time to let you know what's been happening."

Those words immediately caught the attention of all three immortal beings, as they sat up straight, and focused solely upon Wesley. Clearing his throat, the Watcher said, "Before you traveled here, we were trying to find out why the Taraka Order were after Buffy. We visited Lorne after you left, and he directed us to Lindsey McDonald. From him we learned that the Taraka Order were after four specific people: the Twice-Lived Slayer, Death, the Key and the Archangel of Darkness and Light Combined. These were the names the Order were given of those they were meant to hunt done and incapacitate…but not necessarily kill."

Dawn sucked in a breath sharply with realization, before she said with a shocked gaze, "Mom, Uncle, me, and Dad."

"Correct," Wesley said. "They knew that Buffy was the Slayer mentioned, but not whom the others were. In an attempt to keep them from learning that information, we – as Cordelia put it – lead them on a 'wild goose chase'. That was how Angel became injured." He sighed heavily, then added, "But that is not all. Not only were there things happening in our area, but Sunnydale is having troubles as well. Apparently, there is some sort of fiendish plot occurring there. The Slayer called after your 'death' has been kidnapped by the demon lord D'Hoffryn…and he evidently also plans to kidnap Anya's newborn child as well."

"WHAT?" Dawn shrieked in horror, the other two staring in mute shock. "Why?"

"No one knows," Fred answered softly. "Whistler might, but he's keeping tight-lipped about it. Admittedly, whatever's going on has him terrified."

Ashen-faced, Dawn said in a shaken voice, "This isn't good. This is so not good!" She quickly turned to look at Spike and exclaimed, "We've gotta get back there and help them!"

His expression grim, the vampire said in concurrence, "Agreed, love. As soon as we're done with this trial, we'll head on back."

"I am afraid that I must disagree with that," Wesley said firmly as he put his glasses back on. "Your parents wish for you to remain here where it is safe."

"Bullshit," Dawn exploded in sudden fury. "I'm not a damn fucking child! I'm a Slayer, godamnit! I can handle myself in battle just as well as they can!"

"They know you can," Fred said soothingly to the fuming Immortal Slayer. "They just feel that you've been through enough right now, and that you shouldn't necessarily be involved in this fight. They've already called in others to help."

The Slayer stared at the two before her in wrathful vehemence, spat out words in an ancient language that few scholars could understand let alone speak, and stalked away to the lady's room. Methos stood ramrod straight in astonishment at having heard that particular curse uttered from his volatile student's lips, while the young woman's mate stared after his bonded's retreating form in stunned awe. Meanwhile, Wesley and Fred gazed at each other, mortified at having heard what they heard.

At that moment, Joe stepped out of his office, looked at the tableau before him, and asked in concern, "What happened?"

Shaking himself like a wet dog would for a moment to get over his shock, the ancient Immortal replied as he stepped out from behind the bar, "There seems to be some trouble happening in Sunnydale. Dawn wants to go help, but has been forbidden from doing so. She is very angry."

Spike rolled his eyes in disbelief and muttered, "Angry doesn't even begin describin' what she is right now."

"Well, whatever mood she's in, she needs to calm down quick. They're here," Joe said as he jerked his hand in the general direction of the back entrance of the building.

Fred's eyes widened, before she rushed after Dawn. Grimacing, Methos said with growing sarcasm, "Great. Just…great. Their timing couldn't be better!"

The moment Methos finished speaking, voices could be heard talking quietly. A second later, three people – two men and one woman – entered the bar from the direction Joe had pointed. They stopped talking, then straightened and separated from their near huddle as they noticed the others in the room. They quickly made their way over to the small crowd.

Nodding her head curtly, the woman of the three stepped forward, held out her hand to Methos, and said in a professional manner, "We meet again, Mr. Pierson."

The ancient Immortal studied the woman before him, then took the proffered hand and shook it. He replied as he released her hand, "So we have, Mrs. Laurence. I take it my name will not be spoken in front of the accused?"

"Of course not," spoke up one of the two men. "You may be known as Immortal, but they do not have high enough clearance to know your true identity."

Tilting his head to the side while crossing his arms, Methos inquired, "And you are?"

Inclining his head in acknowledgement, the one who had spoken answered, "I am Samuel Soni, and it is a privilege to meet you at last."

Spike and Joe smirked knowingly at each other as Methos frowned while mentally rolling his eyes. He could tell that this person idolized what he was and more specifically who he was: the world's oldest living Immortal. Carefully schooling his features, he gazed at the remaining Tribunal member…and knew this one was the complete opposite. Barely disguised disgust shimmered in the mortal man's eyes as he answered the Immortal's cool inquiring gaze, saying brusquely, "I am Paul Winters."

"And I am Charlotte Laurence, the Head of this Tribunal," Mrs. Laurence supplied for the benefit of those that did not know her.

An uncomfortable silence fell after that of those who did not know what else to discuss, which was then broken by Joe asking, "So, have you guys found someone to act as judge, or is Adam here going to have to be it?"

Charlotte answered Joe, replying, "We would have had someone else, had we been able to locate Duncan MacLeod. His location is unknown, though, to his current Watcher."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell her when she asked, but I just don't know. Mac only told one person where he was going before he left, and that person's not talking."

Methos rolled his eyes, before saying firmly in some irritation what he'd obviously reiterated before to Joe, "I'm not telling you! He told me his reasons for leaving, and believe me when I say he needs time to himself."

"Someone asking where Duncan is again, Uncle," Dawn asked in wan amusement as she and Fred walked up to the group.

Spike immediately went over to the Slayer and placed an arm around her as he asked with concern, "You alright, Pet?"

The girl nodded and replied in a subdued voice as she leaned back into him, "Yeah. Just tired of all this crap."

"Who is this," Paul Winters asked abruptly, "and the one with her?"

Throwing an irritated glance at the man, Methos said, "This is my student. The man with her is her husband."

"He knows what she is," asked Samuel curiously.

"Bloody well right I know," Spike exclaimed. "I knew it before she did. 'Ell, 'er whole family knew!"

Joe – upon sensing the impending awkward questions on how that could be possible – asked the Tribunal, "If Adam's supposed to be judging this trial, then where's those he'll judge?"

Tearing her eyes away from Dawn and Spike, the female Tribunal member answered, "They wait for us to finish in here, then we will bring them in to be judged."

"Do we have anything further to discuss before the trial," Methos asked.

"No," Charlotte answered simply.

"Then let's get this thing started," the Immortal said firmly.

Humming her agreement, the Head of the Tribunal glanced at Paul. The man nodded and exited the building. As the Tribunal member fetched the accused, the others sat down at the tables near the stage. Minutes later the sound of many feet shuffling could be heard. In a moment, they saw three bound and disgruntled men enter the main area of the bar being guarded by four others with a military air about them. The three were lead to sit on the edge of the stage by the guards as Paul sat down by Samuel.

Once everyone was situated, Charlotte said formally, "Assembled Watchers and guests, we have gathered here in this place to hear evidence against a sub-division within the Society of Watchers' organization, and to pass judgment upon the indicated group." She glanced at Samuel on her right. "Mr. Soni, will you read the names of those accused that are before us?"

Samuel stood as Charlotte sat, and said while reading from a paper in his hands, "The accused stand as thus: Chris Bodrick, Matthew Godrid, and Max Hayson. They are charged with organizing an unauthorized division within our organization—calling themselves the Awakeners, and of persuading members within the Watchers to join their cause."

As Samuel returned to his seat, Mrs. Laurence turned to where Methos sat and said, "Judge Pierson, you have now heard the charges laid before these three. Will you now listen to the evidence against them?"

Methos leaned forward and gazed through narrowed green/gold eyes over his raised and clasped hands. In a measured tone filled with warning, the ancient Immortal said, "If you will answer one question, yes: why are these three not accused with causing immortality in pre-Immortals?"

Inclining her head in understanding, Charlotte answered, "Your question is just. The answer is that even if these have lead the Awakeners, they are not the ones who found and then ordered the 'awakening' of pre-Immortals to their latent immortality. That one will be brought in once these have received their sentence."

Methos contemplated this knowledge for a small amount of time, then nodded and gestured vaguely before saying, "Continue."

Not bothering to acknowledge the Immortal's word, Paul Winters stood briefly, and said, "The Tribunal calls upon Wesley Wyndam-Price and Winifred Burkle to bring forth their evidence against the Awakeners before us."

The two stood, Fred holding several bound folders, which she handed out to the Tribunal and Methos. Once she had done this, she sat down and Wesley began to speak, saying, "What you have just been given is the information I and Fred gathered during our tenure among the Awakeners." Wesley then slipped off his glasses as he fell into his lecturing mode. "Six months ago, Winifred Burkle was visiting her family in Texas. While there, she witnessed a strange event: she saw a man killed, and that those that did the killing remained hidden and waited for their target to revive before slipping away.

"She quickly went to aid the new Immortal, whom she learned was Lewis Smith. Unknowingly, she was seen by one of the snipers. Two months after the incident, she was approached by one of those she had seen that night. She learned of the Awakeners through this person, and was offered membership among them. She asked them to give her a month to decide. The person agreed. She immediately spoke with me her concerns about these Awakeners and what they were doing. I instantly saw, as she did, the implications of this group: they were clearly breaking the rules set by the Society of Watchers.

"We knew we must infiltrate this group and find out what we could to stop these people from causing irreparable damage. Therefore, when the month's time had ended, she accepted the offer. She was almost instantly able to gain a position of secretary for the leaders of the Awakeners. For a month did she gather information, but soon came to realize that she was missing something. We had anticipated this might occur. Therefore, Ms. Burkle used the plan we had carefully laid out beforehand. In another month's time, I was numbered among the field agents of the Awakeners. With me in place, we were able to gather the missing pieces of information that Fred alone could not get…which leads us to now."

Wesley placed his glasses back on his nose, and continued, stating in a matter-of-fact manner, "The knowledge we have gleaned from our research is simple. Yet, in its simplicity, it is paramount. The Awakeners serve one purpose, and one alone: to keep the Gathering from happening by making pre-Immortals Immortal."

The Watcher paused in his monolog as he turned his gaze onto an ever increasingly uneasy and tense Dawn, and proceeded with his explanation, saying, "The Head of the Awakeners – through means we were unable to learn – would give to his leaders the name and location of a pre-Immortal of or over the age of eighteen years. The leaders would then order a select few from among the field agents to follow the one targeted, and learn the habits and ways of this person for two months time. After that time, this information would be given to the Head of the Awakeners. In turn, this person would after roughly a week or two send orders on how they were to go about 'awakening' the pre-Immortal to his or her immortality. They would then take these instructions and select the group of agents best suited for the task."

Wesley drew in a deep breath, then requested with a gesture towards his future wife, "Fred, would you now please explain the essentials of what we found?"

Winifred Burkle nodded and stood while Wesley sat down. In her soft voice, she articulated, "What you've just heard Wesley say explains what the Awakeners do overall, but does not tell you all the facts. I'm going to give you that now." She looked at the paper in her hands. "First, I must explain why this group exists. It has been noticed among our organization that fewer and fewer Immortals are being brought forth, and that Immortals are battling each other in greater numbers than has ever been known or recorded before in history. This has caused many to fear that the Gathering is drawing eminently closer.

"This fear is what brought the Awakeners into being. Their plan: to stop the Gathering from happening by causing more Immortals to come into existence. For a year they have worked towards this goal, and now four Immortals exist because of them. These four are—in their order of becoming Immortal: Martin Hendricks, Lewis Smith, Monica Sorenson, and Dawn Summers. The leaders have also been able to convert twenty-six people to their cause from among the Watchers. Of these twenty-six, five died this month in their attempt to make Dawn Summers Immortal, and caused numerous civilian deaths in a very public manner…which threatened accidental exposure of the Watchers during the police investigation over what happened. Thankfully, through various channels of authority we have, we were able to avoid this potential disaster.

"As can be seen, the Awakeners have broken several of our organization's laws in a major and inexcusable manner. What I and Wesley have told you are the most notable facts. If you wish to know more, you may ask us or look in the folders I gave to you. Thank you."

Fred then sat down with a silent sigh of relief beside her fiancé. A contemplative silence fell, which was then broken as Charlotte Laurence shifted in her seat and turned to face Methos again. She said, "You have now heard the evidence against the three accused, Judge Pierson. What judgment do you pass on them?"

Methos slowly stood, his face expressionless as he unhurriedly made his way over to the three leaders of the Awakeners. He stood before them, gazing at them coldly. The three accused soon found that they could not endure the ancient and knowing gaze for long before they began to shift about uncomfortably.

Not taking his eyes off of them, the Immortal Watcher said quietly in a tone of voice that was like the slow tolling of a church bell, "I find them guilty. Their punishment: they must be taken off of active duty, separated, and be given archival work in the most secure and remote areas for the rest of their lives. They will be allowed no communication with the outside world…or with each other. This too, do I say: those they recruited must be carefully watched and be given this same sentence should they continue what these three started." He turned his back on the judged and faced the Tribunal. "Do you find this judgment acceptable, Tribunal of the Society of Watchers?"

The three looked at each other, nodded as one, and faced the Immortal. Charlotte said as spokesperson, "We find your judgment just. It shall be as you decreed…effective immediately."

Methos nodded in satisfaction, retook his seat, and looked over at Dawn. He grew concerned when he saw her sitting in her seat rigidly with her eyes closed and ashen-faced. She held tightly to Spike's hand…as the vampire tried hard not to show how much pain her grip was causing him. Methos carefully reached over and gently rested his hand on her shoulder. It took a moment for her to acknowledge the touch, which she then did by slowly opening her eyes and turning her head to face the older Immortal, revealing dark blue haunted orbs that shimmered with unshed tears. Silently, he held open his arms in invitation. The young Slayer instantly released Spike's hand and flew into the ancient Immortal's embrace.

As he wrapped his arms around her, Dawn muffled a sob against Methos' chest. He glanced over to the vampire to see him unobtrusively massaging his hand under the table as he gazed at his mate. Sensing the Immortal looking at him, he glanced up and locked eyes with Methos. Both saw what the other was feeling at that moment: relief that Dawn was finally letting free the emotions concerning her becoming Immortal. Feeling Dawn shake in his arms, Methos looked back down…and found his heart breaking as he glimpsed the utter grief and pain upon what he could see of the girl's face.

Without looking up from the now quietly crying Slayer, the ancient Immortal ordered in a no-nonsense tone, "Get those three out of here."

It was quickly done.

Half an hour passed before Dawn was finally calm enough to pull back from Methos and wipe the tears from her face. With a mumbled "excuse me," the young woman rose from her seat and headed towards the ladies room. Fred followed a moment later. Both returned five minutes after that, the Slayer wearing a determined expression as she sat down.

Still concerned, Methos asked and suggested, "Do you want to leave, Dawn? I could simply tell you what happens next later."

The Slayer resolutely shook her head, then said firmly, "No! I'm gonna see this through. It's the only way I'll be able to put this nightmare behind me and get on with my life."

Methos sighed resignedly, before saying, "Very well," before turning to the Tribunal, and asking, "Will you now explain why you wished to have the Head of the Awakeners judged separately from his underlings? I sense there is more going on here than has been said."

Giving forth her own sigh, Charlotte answered, "That is because there is, for what I'm about to say will explain why we wished an Immortal as judge." She took the manila folder Paul handed her, which she then gave to Methos. Grimly, she added, "It seems that you are not the only one of your kind to infiltrate our organization…it just happens that you are the most notable through your connection with Duncan MacLeod and Joe Dawson."

The ancient Immortal looked up sharply as he took the folder. In a near morbid humor, the Head of the Tribunal said in half-jest, "It seems we need to find a way to alter the Watcher tattoo to factor in Immortals among us." Before anyone could react and question her, she looked over to a guard that had remained behind, and ordered curtly, "Bring him in."

The moment that the guard left the room, a pandemonium of voices broke out. It was quickly stifled as Samuel Soni let out a piercing whistle. In the silence that followed, he said calmly and reasonably, "If you will just wait, your questions will be answered."

A tense silence fell. Moments later, all looked towards the sound of scuffling. The Immortals of the group stiffened to alert attention as the presence of an unknown member of their race came into their sensing range. The sounds of struggle paused for a moment, then increased dramatically as a group of ten men constraining another that was bound and attempting escape came staggering and lurching into the barroom. The same guard that had gone to fetch the man quickly broke away and grabbed a sturdy chair while removing a coil of rope from across his chest. With several people holding a limb each, the Immortal was dumped into the chair and quickly and securely tied to it. Almost all the guards sighed in relief as all but two pulled away from the still struggling captive to stand attentively in various strategic places in the room.

Gracefully rising from her seat, Charlotte walked towards the bound man. She studied him through calculating eyes for a moment as she rested one hand on her hip, then turned to the others. The man behind her stilled as she said, "You are probably wondering how we were able to figure out that this man was Immortal. I will tell you: I was once his Watcher, as he was my first assignment. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Kenton Goodman: a roughly two hundred year old Immortal born in the Colonies, and Head of the Awakeners."

In the silence that followed that declaration, Methos slowly rose from his seat. His narrowed eyes glinted golden in the overhead lights of the bar as he slowly moved towards the bound Immortal. It seemed as if with every step taken, time reversed; for the demeanor of the ancient Immortal slowly slipped from a modern guise of harmlessness to one that was practically dangerously feral. A person almost felt as though they were watching a large desert cat stalking its knowingly helpless prey.

By the time Methos had reached the bound Immortal, Kenton Goodman had shrunk back in his seat as far as he possibly could. All in the bar watched tensely as the eldest living Immortal effortlessly crouched down and placed his elbows on the other Immortal's knees…keeping eye contact the entire time without blinking. Tilting his head to the side as a bird would, Methos asked in a smooth and deceptively casual voice, an accent of some long forgotten time coming forth, "Tell me, Kenton, what makes you think that what you are doing will stop the Gathering from happening?"

Still pressed back in his seat, Kenton bared his teeth in an attempt to seem intimidating, and snarled with the light of a fanatic in his eyes in an old English accent, "I will do what I can, and pray the Lord will do the rest. I will not see Immortals ruling mankind! God alone has that right!"

Methos' eyes narrowed even further as he silently thought, A zealot, before asking, "Why?"

Forgetting his bound state, Kenton attempted to lung forward and quickly found he could not. In fury, he spate out, saying in a near frenzy, "I beheld Satan as lightning falls from heaven. And Satan was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him! And the Lord's angels overcame him by the sword; and the devil's angels loved not their lives, their Immortal existence! Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you! They were gathered together to battle, and those that had received the Lord's mark upon their hands watched as one became victorious. I saw the souls of them that were beheaded within the lightning, and they sat upon a throne as one being to rule the world…until God cast them down for a thousand years!"

The man drew in breath sharply, then proclaimed loudly and fervently, "Are we not the devil's angels? I will not see us gathering together to cause further war with the Lord!"

Stunned silence fell, the only sounds being Kenton panting for breath as his eyes gazed wildly about as he continued to struggle against his bonds.

"He's insane," Dawn managed to strangle out past her horror.

"Not only that," Spike added grimly as he held tightly to his mate, "but he's completely mangled the scripture. I barely recognized where 'e'd gotten it all from."

Methos' eyes were mere slits as he slowly reached up and grabbed Kenton's head, and forced the man to look at him. With a low growl, he said, "You are wrong!" He then spoke several archaic words so swiftly that not even Dawn or Wesley could interpret, before surging to his feet and stalking away from the other Immortal. He stopped in the middle of the room, stayed still for a moment, then whirled around to face the group. All but Dawn and Spike found themselves shrinking back from the ancient Immortal's cold gaze. In a voice devoid of emotion and feeling, Methos said, "By your words, Immortal, you have condemned yourself. I find you guilty of purposefully making pre-Immortals Immortal. Your sentence: death. I myself will see to your execution, for I will not see another be overcome with your madness when they take your Quickening."

Charlotte took a hesitant step forward in the nerve-racking silence that followed, and said then asked, "We hear and acknowledge your judgment. I would ask, though, how you know that you are best suited to take on this one's Quickening? How can you guarantee that you will not become mad as he is?"

The ancient Immortal's lip curled up as his eyes went hard. He said in a soft and deadly tone, "I'm already insane." His gaze turned to the bound Immortal. "But at least I recognize it and can keep it under control…unlike him," he then spat out.

An even tenser silence descended for a moment, then Charlotte suggested, "Perhaps we should take care of this matter, so that no Immortal takes this one's Quickening."

"NO," Methos snapped out furiously as he stalked towards the Head of the Tribunal. "You required an Immortal to deal with this matter, and an Immortal shall deal with it! You cannot rescind your request now…it is too late!"

Seacouver: Art Museum, 4pmish, Day 11

The wind rattled the glass paneling in the museum's entranceway as Dawn and Spike staggered into the partition between the outside and inside of the building looking extremely disheveled. They quickly paid their entrance fee and entered the main foyer of the museum. The two glanced around before choosing a direction and taking it. They gazed at the paintings and sculptures as they walked about—occasionally commenting, and respectfully stopped by a sculpture done by one Tessa Noel for a moment. After about a half hour, they found what they were looking for: a nice and secluded dark corner in a small room where they would not easily be noticed.

With a relieved sigh, Dawn rested against Spike as the vampire leaned back against the wall behind him and wrapped his arms around his chosen and bonded mate. For long minutes they simply sat in companionable silence, then Spike looked down to see the love of his life nearly asleep, and chuckled fondly. This caused Dawn to look up curiously, and inquire, "What?"

"Nothin', Pet, nothin' at all," Spike answered softly as he brushed a few strands of wayward hair out of Dawn's face and behind one ear.

In response to this, the young Slayer snuggled more firmly against Spike, and mumbled, "I still can't believe what happened yesterday. Adam was so, so, so…" she shivered as she found herself at a loss of words, then said determinedly, "Remind me to never royally piss him off."

"Right with ya on that one, love," Spike agreed. "Even though 'e gave that Immortal a chance to fight 'im, the guy didn't stand a chance."

"And the look on his face after it was all over…" a tremor shook Dawn's frame as she drew breath in sharply as she squeezed her eyes shut and clung more tightly to Spike. "He was so angry, yet so sad at the same time."

"'E looked lost, love. That's the only way ta describe it," the vampire said bluntly.

"He was lost, Spike," Dawn said sadly as she sat up on the bench, and turned to face her bonded. "Lost in some ancient memory that still affects him today. 'Cause he sure wasn't speaking any modern dialect after taking that Quickening. It took me and Wesley a while to figure out he was saying. And only because of Adam training me to comprehend any language was I able to fully understand him…but he wasn't making sense even then!"

"Yeah, and the only way we were able to finally shut his rambling up was when Joe spiked the old man's beer with enough sleeping pills to drop an elephant from what I saw. When I checked in with Joe at noon, the bloke was still sleepin' it off," Spike added.

Dawn nodded, then said soberly after a moment, "We'd be in Sunnydale right now if I wasn't so concerned for Adam. He's in no condition to face another Immortal at the moment."

Spike snorted disbelievingly at this, and said, "Right. Even half-insane and incapacitated 'e'd still be able ta take down another Immortal. I've yet to see that man completely loose it."

"According to Joe, he did…once. And Duncan was the only one who kept him from dying that time," Dawn supplied soberly.

"That's tha Horsemen incident, isn't it," Spike inquired, then added thoughtfully off of Dawn's nod of agreement, "Yeah, that'd be tha exception."

Silence fell between them again, then Dawn muttered darkly with slowly growing anger, "I still can't believe they'd order me to stay here when I knew there's trouble that I could help them with. And on top of that, they had all this crap going on, and didn't think to tell me! Oooo! I just wanna…grr!"

"Down girl," Spike said in slight amusement and shock. "I 'aven't seen you this riled up since tha' time they almost didn't allow us ta bond."

Without commenting, Dawn surged to her feet, and started to pace agitatedly in front of Spike. Not really talking to the vampire, the Immortal Slayer said in aggravated annoyance, "It's always the same damn thing to with them: I'm too young, they're just trying to protect me, or my all time favorite: it's for your own good! Fuck them! I'm a damn adult! I can do whatever the fucking Hell I want! Damnit, just listening to them makes me glad I can't have kids…'cause I sure as Hell wouldn't want to put them through this shit!"

"Dawn," Spike said sharply, as he quickly got to his feet and grabbed her to stop her pacing and forcefully made her sit down on the bench. Leaning over the furious Slayer, his hissed in some anger, "Keep it down will you! We'll start drawing attention to us if you keep this up!"

The vampire sat down and pulled the resistant Immortal to him. Forcefully calming himself, Spike said soothingly, "They don't want to loose you, Love. That's what it all comes down to."

Dawn closed her eyes and slowly relaxed against her bonded as he rubbed her back. A tear gradually started making its way down her face as she said in a wavering voice, "I know. But they don't realize it's the same way for me, too. You, Mom, Dad, and Uncle are the only family I really have that I know will still be here in a hundred years. I don't want to think that any of you won't be around when that time comes."

Spike gently pulled the Slayer up to face him, wiped the tear from Dawn's face, and leaned forward to kiss her tenderly for a moment. Resting his forehead against hers so that they were eye-to-eye, the vampire said lovingly, "I'll be here, Nibblet…even if I 'ave ta go about resurrectin' myself like a phoenix would. And the Poofer would be doin' tha same thing…knowin' 'im."

Dawn smiled tremulously with love shimmering in her eyes, wrapped her arms around her bonded, and kissed Spike deeply. That is what the guard that came to investigate the sound of raised voices saw as he entered the room…before silently leaving with an indulgent expression on his face.

Seacouver: Well Insulated Dock Warehouse, 11pm, Day 11

The dark long-haired Immortal woman slowly entered the near empty warehouse, her sword drawn. Her dark eyes quickly cut through the darkness as though it were nothing, as she searched for something…or someone. A shifting in the shadows drew the Immortal's eye, as a haunted female voice murmured, "Plaything stopped our fun in my Angel's city, Seer-Sister."

"It matters not," Cassandra stated matter-of-factly as she put her sword away, "as that was only a diversion to keep his allies occupied. They have greater worries to deal with right now."

Drusilla giggled as she seemingly glided towards the Immortal woman, and said in delight upon reaching her, "Daddy and Mummy know not what they face. Vengeance will have his way!"

Cassandra sneered in disgust, then said, "I don't care what they do, as long as they stay out of my way…until I deal with them too!"

The vampiress growled low in her throat as her face changed from classic beauty to a hideous visage of evil. In a deadly tone, she hissed, "Harm my daddy and you will not live to regret it!"

As quickly as she had put her sword away, she drew it back out even more swiftly and placed it against Drusilla's neck as the Immortal snarled, "I will do what I wish, vampire! You will not be around long enough to stop me from what I've Seen!"

Yellow eyes gleaming dangerously, Drusilla whirled away from the Immortal woman, lashing out with her sharp nails as she did so. "Think I know this not," the vampiress snapped out. "My ending shall be how I choose, and I have chosen!"

Wiping the blood away from her healed cheek, Cassandra looked at it, then turned her frigid gaze to the enraged vampiress. Her voice as cold as her gaze, she said, "I came not to argue with you, but to make sure our plans do not clash…unlike last time."

Glowering at the other woman, Drusilla said sullenly, "In the park tomorrow night I shall face my childe."

"And here in this warehouse I shall face him, at the same time as your confrontation," Cassandra said firmly, her eyes glimmering dangerously.

"Yes," hissed Drusilla, her eyes shinning with madness. "The blood shall flow to mingle with the dust, and the balance of Light and Dark will be forever changed as the Box is opened! I have Seen it!"

Author's Note 4: The scripture Kenton misquoted (and was purposefully mangled by me) is from the King James Bible, and are as follows: Luke 10:18, Revelations 12:9, 11-12; 20:2-4, 7-8 (for anyone interested in seeing how it should be).

Next Part: Sunnydale. More arrivals ((rolls eyes) my Muse total is up to almost 50 now!), and Evil's machinations.

Author's Responses to Reviewers
El Chacal: (stunned amazement) I just happened to look on your bio out of curiosity when I went to read that story you wanted me to review. I was overwhelmed and startled to know that you consider me your inspiration. I am deeply humbled by that knowledge, as I really don't consider myself that great of a writer (as you've heard me say before). I am constantly trying to improve my abilities in that area, and know I have made leaps and bounds in progression of my skills. Just look at Guardians of the Night 1 (my 1st work) compared to this story (my latest)! My aim is to one day be a professional writer, and this forum is really a workshop for me to perfect my skills. Thank you for showing me that I just might be closer to my goal than I had thought.

To Terilyn4: (counts past notices on her website) Six updates? Man, I was busy! When I Can Write: I have a binder that I keep with me at all times, and the moment I find myself not doing anything...I write. Admittedly, I also write during my college classes to alleviate boredom. I'm also constantly thinking about it and what's happening and will happen in the story. On top of that, I edit my own work. How other's do it, I don't know, but that's what I do.

To Harry2: (somewhat surprised and startled) Wow, you've made my 200th review on ff-net. (throws some confetti in the air and blows a horn) Congratulations! Not much else to say, except glad you want to write with me. I'll email you my thoughts sometime soon. As for the rest...hehehe!

To Superfan: Travers: hehehe... Dream Sequence: (innocently) Who says that's in the past? As for the relationship, I write it as I see it, and put it how they (the Muses) want me to.

To Zantac the Barbarian: (sniggering) Manhood Slayer (snorts as she swallows a laugh) has a nice ring to it (busts out in hysterical laughter).

I don't know...was this part alright, guys? Let me know one way or the other, 'cause I'm still wondering where it all came from. Ah, well...see you all in the next installment! --TU