Disclaimer: Check in the last twenty-three parts to find out what is and isn't mine.

Author's Notes: (TU looks anxiously behind her, and calls out to her Muses) You guys got that bomb shelter done yet? (receives negative responses from Muses) Well, you'd better have it done by the end of this part, otherwise I won't be alive to finish the story! (Muses increase their productivity, as TU turns nervously to Readers) Uh, hello. Don't mind my Muses. They're just making sure I'll be safe in case something should happen. (TU scurries away while calling out to Readers) Bye!

Thank Yous: El Chacal, Harry2, and Superfan your reviews were very much appreciated.

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is really eager to finish this story...as there are only four parts left (I know I said "six left" in the last part, but I realized I could smoosh two of those parts together, and will be doing so)!)

Part 24

Seacouver: Airport, 9:13am, Day 12

"I wish you guys didn't have to go," Dawn said plaintively as she leaned back against Spike.

Wesley, Fred, Joe, Dawn, and Spike all stood in a loose circle in the main waiting lounge of the airport, a reluctant parting taking place.

"We really don't want to," Fred admitted while holding Wesley's hand, "but we need to help out at the office."

"Yes, especially as it is just Cordelia there at the moment," Wesley added.

Spike and Dawn winced simultaneously, as Joe chuckled wryly, before saying, "I don't envy you guys. She'll be on the warpath when you get back."

"She was already on the warpath when we left," the Watcher of Slayers said dryly. "She was complaining that we were purposefully leaving her alone with just Kate and David to keep her company."

"And we received a call this morning that pretty much commanded that we'd better not even think about extending our stay here," Fred concluded.

Spike smirked, while Dawn rolled her eyes. In a knowing tone, the Immortal Slayer commented, "She'll never change."

Silence descended, the bustle of the airport the only thing heard, then Joe's cell phone rang. The others watched in interest as the Watcher answered the phone, spoke into it for a moment, then put the electronic device away. Upon seeing everyone's curious expressions, he supplied, "That was one of the guys I put on Adam to make sure nothing happened to him while we're here. Seems he finally shook off the sedative enough to actually be doing stuff at his place."

"Then you guys should go and make sure he's really alright then," Fred said. "We'll be fine being here by ourselves."

Wesley nodded his agreement to his fiancée's words, as Dawn asked unsurely, "You sure you guys don't want us to hang out with you until your flight leaves?"

"Of course we're sure," Fred exclaimed as she impulsively leaned forward and hugged the young Slayer in reassurance. "We'll be seeing you guys soon enough. I'm positive of it."

As the two women pulled away from each other, Joe's cell phone rang once again. Sighing, he answered it, and heard a familiar voice growl low and darkly, "Call off your dogs."

"Good morning to you too, Adam," the Watcher responded sarcastically. He then added in a serious tone of voice, "That's not happening until I drive up to your place and personally pick you up. That's the Tribunal's orders, and I can't gainsay it."

A rather foul curse in an ancient tongue was the only response.

Joe chuckled, then said amiably, "Don't worry, my friend, we'll be there shortly," and hung up.

Seacouver: Joe's Blues Bar, 5:33pm, Day 12

Dawn paused in reading her book and listened as thunder rumbled so ominously and loudly that the reverberations could literally be felt coursing through one's body, and rattled many of the drink glasses in the bar. From the kitchen, where he was helping Joe fix dinner for everyone, Spike laughed out loud in sheer delight as the Watcher cursed in startlement. A pain-filled moan drew her attention to the one beside her. Her expression turned pitying.

Methos sprawled bonelessly the length of the seat of one of the bar's booths—which Dawn sat on one end of. He was the picture of perfect misery as he lay ashen-faced with a cool damp cloth over his eyes. He mumbled indistinctly in a plaintive tone, causing the younger Immortal to shake her head in sympathy. A few minutes later, Joe and Spike arrived with the food.

As the vampire set the food down onto the booth's table, Joe nudged one of the Ancient Immortal's feet with his cane, saying, "Come one, Methos, sit up and eat something. It'll help get rid of your headache."

Not moving an inch, Methos replied in a mumble just loud enough to be heard, "This isn't a headache, it's the mother of all hangovers."

Spike snorted, unceremoniously shoved the older Immortal's legs off of the seat, and gestured for Joe to sit down. Dawn scooted over in her own seat to allow Spike room to sit beside her while gently yet firmly making her teacher sit up.

Methos stared listlessly at the food placed before him, but picked up his fork and began eating when Dawn glared at him, and said commandingly in a tone that could not be denied, "Eat!"

Everyone had almost finished their meals when thunder seemed to shake the very ground. Methos looked up and tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. His eyes were free from fatigue and pain, and his skin was no longer ashen, as he said softly, "That storm's going to break by seven at the latest."

"I hope so," Joe said. "My group's getting antsy about watching you guys in this weather. The sooner this storm clears the better."

Methos made a noncommittal sound. Dawn glanced uneasily upward as another rumble of thunder came from outside. "We should all go home before this storm lets loose," she suggested.

Spike nodded his agreement while slipping an arm around Dawn's shoulders.

"I don't enjoy the thought of driving in this," Joe commented.

"Do we have much choice," Methos rhetorically asked, then added, "Dawn's right. Let's get moving."

Seacouver: Seacouver Park, 8pm, Day 12

Methos leaned against one of the amphitheater's pillars in the center of Seacouver Park, watching the rain cascade in a torrential downpour only a foot in front of him.

I told them it would begin by seven. I've never been wrong.

A forceful blast of wind suddenly roared by, causing the nearly lateral wind to go completely sideways for several seconds.

I wonder if she'll even come.

The wind stilled for a moment, the sound of the rain the only thing heard. A second later, thunder rumbled so loudly that in the afterimage of the lighting flash the air seemed to shudder in shock. A slow smile touched the Immortal's lips as a bittersweet memory of a time long forgotten by all except he and one other came to him. It was a memory that was over two thousand years old.

Southeastern Europe, roughly 100 BC

The raid had been particularly fortunate that week, but Methos had sensed a fell storm on the way, and suggested they find safer shelter than their tents. After questioning one of their new slaves about the lay of the land, they traveled to a complex set of caves mentioned…leaving their half-alive informant for the beasts. Two days of travel later, they arrived at the caves just in time to avoid the storm. A storm that would last for five days and nearly flood their shelter.

The first day was spent by settling in, leaving little time for relaxation. The second and third day found many doing the daily chores of a camp. As the fourth day dawned with no sign of the storm letting up, many of the slaves wondered if perhaps the Gods were finally enacting Their revenge on their masters. The Horsemen could sense the hopeful-yet-uneasy atmosphere that had come over the camp, and lashed out at any in their path—except for the one known as Death. He simply sat back and watched impassively the events happening in the cave.

The fifth day found two sets of eyes gazing with increasing hunger at the rain. As night of that same day began to fall, Methos rose suddenly from where he had been reclining, his eyes burning with intense emotion. His expression was wildly feral as he gazed about him, causing all but one to cower and scatter in fear of what Death might do.

His gaze locked with the one who did not flee. It was his slave. The Immortal slave. Long curling hair flowing freely down her back in dark strands while standing tall, a simple white dress adorning her frame, her gaze was as fey as his own, and her stance was prideful and defiant. An anticipatory smile slowly appeared on his face. Growling low in his throat, Death stripped all his clothes but his leggings off, and purposefully strode out into the storm.

He stopped about twenty feet from the cave entrance, hair whipping his face with sodden strands, raised his arms out to his sides, and tilted his face to the sky. His stance appeared as though he were beseeching the gods to do his will. Methos luxuriated in the rain running over his body…and laughed. He laughed in absolute joy, a thing he had not done since before he could remember. He looked young in that moment, young and carefree. Then he felt eyes boring into his back, and knew who it was. Slowly and smoothly turning around, he saw the entire camp watching him, but had eyes for only one.

His Immortal slave gazed at him with eyes that shone with a flame like unto a wildfire. Her desire to be out there with him shone clearly. The innocence of his face melted away and became predacious. He gestured for her to come…and she came.

The moment she stepped out into the storm, her expression turned rapturous. Lightning flashed brilliantly as she stalked towards him, the look of a huntress in her stare. Methos' own eyes turned dangerously playful as Cassandra stopped in front of him, looking fully into his face. Quicker that thought, the male Immortal pressed his lips ardently against hers for but a second, before swiftly moving away.

The Immortal woman reeled for a moment, then straightened suddenly as Methos called out to her in a taunting voice filled with promise.

"Catch me if you can, woman."

She immediately took up the challenge. A game of hunter and hunted followed then, one that was like nothing anyone there had ever seen. One would chase the other through the dangerous and waterlogged clearing, then catch the one hunted. A searing kiss would follow, then the pursuer would dart away, and the chase would continue. Many hours did this last, until – with a wild cry in her native tongue – the Immortal slave lunged forward and pounced on her master. They rolled in the mud for several seconds, before stopping with him on top of her. His eyes shone with a light well known to her…and for once, her eyes bore the same expression.

They lay there passionately in the slowing rain, uncaring of who saw them and what they did and thought.

Present Day

Methos stirred, shook his head to dispel the memory, and thought to himself resignly, then scornfully, That was probably when my brother started to want her for himself…the fool!

He continued to watch the rain, and as a bolt of lightning dazzled his eyes…he sensed it: a malevolent presence behind him. Before he had time to react, slender hands wrapped around his throat and squeezed with surprising strength.

A venomous voice of the female kind then hissed out, "You are not my childe! Where is he?"

Seacouver: Dock Warehouse District, 8pm, Day 12

An old black convertible Model T slowly pulled into the dock warehouse district, the well-kept classical car looking very out of place in amongst the derelict buildings. The vehicle stopped, it's engine and lights were turned off, but no one got out.

Dawn Summers sat within the vehicle, clutching the steering wheel with surprising force…if one did not know she was a Slayer, and that she was showing considerable restraint. The young woman was shaking with the near all-consuming fear barely controlled within her, her mind flying in every direction.

Oh, God! If I didn't know I could come back from just about any injury, I would've had a heart attack before I ever got here! I hope Spike got to Methos' place alright…especially while riding that bike of his. I feel bad about deceiving him like that, but I couldn't risk having him here... What was that?

A flash of lightning had revealed a pale blur some distance away from her, but she couldn't be sure.

Damn it. This storm couldn't've come at a worse time! I can't see anything from in here. Oh, no!

Dawn's hand flew to her shoulder to cover Spike's bite mark as she tensed and drew in breath sharply. The sense of an approaching Immortal had come to her, and she whimpered as her fear started to get the better of her.

I don't want to do this. I really don't want to do this! Why did I think I had to do this to protect him? I've only just become Immortal! I'm-not-ready-for-this! Iwantmymotherrrrr!

By this time Dawn was hyperventilating, when the car suddenly bounced…as though something had landed on it. She screamed, and jumped so high in her seat that she hit the ceiling of the automobile with her head. One hand holding her skull as she blinked stars out of her vision, the Slayer blindly grabbed for the sword in the seat beside her. As she felt cool metal settle into her grip, she looked up…and froze, gazing in wide-eyed shock at what was before her.

OH!

A large gray wolf stood on the hood of the car, staring through the watery windshield…straight at Dawn. The eyes of the beast showed great intelligence, and seemed to be laughing at her. The young Slayer drew in a slow shuddering breath, willing her heart to slow down to a more normal beat, and thought inanely, That wolf looks intelligent enough to talk!

It was then that she heard a female voice that she had heard only once before say within her mind, "Follow."

The wolf turned and jumped off of the car, looking back only once. The Immortal presence quickly faded. Dawn remained seated in the car, her expression becoming determined as a cold anger filled her.

So, she wants to play games, does she? Well, she has another thing coming. No one messes with this Slayer!

With a firm resolve in place to get what she came here to do done, the Immortal Slayer slipped out of the car, her sword in plain view. She did not care who saw her. This was a night for the supernatural to be abroad, and any mortal caught in the middle beware!

Moving slowly in the direction she had seen the wolf going in, Dawn kept a constant surveillance of her surroundings. After going in one direction for several minutes, the Slayer saw a brief flash of gray fur going around a building, and felt an even briefer flicker of Immortal presence. She turned and followed the trail laid out for her. Half an hour perhaps passed in this manner, with Dawn becoming thoroughly soaked despite the layers she wore to protect herself.

Many times, she found herself in a place she sensed she had been in before—which she knew she actually had been in by sight, and felt the rage within her growing with each passing moment. She knew the one she had come here to meet was mocking her. As lightning and thunder simultaneously made themselves known, the young Immortal stopped, her expression mutinous.

That's it! I've had it with this game! She thinks to tire me out before fighting me? She doesn't realize who she's dealing with.

Her eyes blazing, Dawn raised her head proudly and gazed defiantly into the raging storm. Loose strands of hair whipping about her face, she shouted mentally and physically into the storm to the presence she could almost feel, "Cassandra! Cassandra, I won't play your game any more! We fight now or not at all! I have better things to do than play your games!"

For a moment, nothing changed, then Immortal presence washed over her. She turned around to see the gray wolf standing behind her. Once more, Cassandra's voice filled her mind, saying simply, "Come."

A calmness falling upon her, the Immortal Slayer followed the canine to a warehouse whose door stood wide open. Breathing a soft sigh of relief to be out of the rain, Dawn stepped inside the building. An even thicker darkness than what was outside engulfed her. She paused, allowing her eyes to adjust, and let her Slayer senses spread out. She felt no one but the one she wanted present, and felt the last of her fear flee.

Idly humming to herself, Dawn methodically stripped off the protective layers she wore against the weather, while at the same time steadily making her way towards the Immortal presence she felt. Peeling off her sweater to reveal her exercise clothes, the young Slayer reached the center of the warehouse, and stopped.

She gazed coolly at the wolf laying alertly on the ground, the creature's tongue lolling as it seemed to smile while panting, giving off a deceptive air of harmlessness.

"Hello, Cassandra," Dawn said calmly.

The wolf barked once, as if laughing shortly with pleasure; then the creature's form blurred, shifted upwards, and became solid once more to reveal the Immortal Dawn had named. The woman bowed mockingly to the Slayer, then said smoothly, "Well done, little girl. After your display in the car, I doubted if you would be worthy of my attentions. You proved me wrong."

Dawn snorted, pointed her sword at the other woman, and said sarcastically, then intently, "I'm so glad to have your approval. I've tired of your games, bitch. You will not have him, and I will make sure of it. You won't have the pleasure of tormenting Methos through the taking of your Quickening, 'cause I'll take it!"

Cassandra snarled in fury as she pulled her sword out of the sheath strapped to her back, and growled out, "I will enjoy destroying you, girl," and rushed forward.

The sound of metal clashing against metal rang sharply through the near empty warehouse.

Next Part: Sunnydale. Sneaking about, challenges, and revelations. It is time to prepare for war!

Important Notice: If you don't give me a way to contact you, how can I reply? Please make sure to leave me some way to get a hold of you!

(TU sees the angry mob of Readers rampaging towards her, and dives into the now complete bomb shelter. As her Muses seal it, she calls out) See you in the next part! --TU