The songs belong to T. Reiser, my cousin.
Chapter 34
New Year's Eve…
"…Okay, so we'll see you there at 7…uh-huh, Brian's band goes on at 9…cool. Bye, Tara." Kara hung up the phone and went back to drying her hair.
"Glinda still coming?"
"Yep. She just wanted to confirm, and get directions." She glanced back at her husband, since she couldn't see him in the mirror. "Mmm, you look hot."
"Think so, hmm?" Spike slid his hands under the bath sheet wrapped around his mate. "We could do something about that…"
"Very tempting…but no, we'll be late if we start anything now. I'll take a rain check for later, though," she purred.
"Sure you don't want to, kitten? I'll be quick."
"Spiiiiike!" Kara whined. "I have to finish getting ready. Besides, we already spent all morning in bed."
"And your point would be?"
"Shoo!…horny vampire. Did you just come with a never-ending supply of sex appeal?"
"Pretty much," he smugly replied. Spike planted a noisy kiss on her cheek, and sauntered off to read while she finished in the bathroom.
------------------------
"So, what is it we're going to again?" Buffy asked Willow.
"Kara's friend Brian…you know, the guitar player that roomed with Will, your ex? His band is playing tonight, among others, at a club in L.A. She invited Tara, and me and now I'm inviting you. It'll be fun, Buffy, and you could use some fun, right?"
"I guess…as long as there's no major New Year's Eve badness brewing?"
"Tara and I checked. There are no unusual mystical forces gathering tonight in Sunnydale. The demons are probably partying somewhere, too, so I think you can take the night off. Please come? You've been holed up in the house doing homework, and I'm starting to worry."
"Okay, Wills, I'm in. Is this a Dawn-safe place, 'cause she's bouncing next to me begging to come?"
"Hold on." Willow covered the phone to talk to Tara. "Dawn wants to come, too."
"She can't, unfortunately. The club is 21 and over tonight. Says so on the flyer Kara gave me."
"Buffy? Yeah, Dawn can't come. They're only letting in people 21 and over. Sorry, Dawnie!"
"She's pouting, but she says it's okay. You guys will pick me up?"
"Uh-huh. We'll see you in half and hour."
"Okay. Bye, Wills." Buffy hung up the phone and rushed to her closet to find something to wear.
---------------------
"I.D.s, please." The bouncer shone his flashlight over each I.D., checking birth dates. He took the $20 cover charge, and waved the girls in.
Tara spotted Spike at a central table.
"Hey, Spike. Where's Kara?"
"Backstage with Brian and the band. He came out a while ago to give her a pass. Evening, Red, Slayer."
"This doesn't look much like a New Year's Eve party," Buffy commented.
"The bands don't start playing until 8, Slayer. Have some bloody patience. Go get a drink, or something."
"I think I will!" She stormed off to the bar.
"I think something happened between her and Sebastian. She's been moody since he left," Willow said.
"Haven't a clue, Red. He didn't mention a word. Would you ladies like anything? First round on me," Spike offered.
"Just sodas, please," Tara replied. Spike nodded with a smile, and left the table.
-------------------------
"Come on, Kara. Please join us for one song," Brian pleaded.
"Brian, I'm 8 months pregnant. I don't belong on a rock stage."
"Pfft! With your pipes, it wouldn't matter if you were in a wheelchair. We'll do 'Leave What You Know of Love Behind' for you. It's a slow song." The rest of the band sounded their agreement.
"Okay, I'll sing harmony, but that's all you're getting from me tonight."
Brian kissed her on the cheek. "Yes! You won't regret it. It's the 5th song on the set, so just be ready to come up."
"Alright," she laughed. "I'm going to go reclaim my seat. Tara and Willow should be here by now."
----------------------
"Tastes Like Chicken" was the 3rd band of the night. The first two bands were doing a 30-minute set, including time to plug in their guitars. The first had been okay, but they appeared to be new on the club scene, and very nervous. The second band was an attempt at punk that Spike found atrocious, but had the younger crowd bouncing on the dance floor. "Tastes Like Chicken" was getting 45 minutes. The crowd cheered loudly when Brian and the others walked on stage. They'd been accumulating a cult following for two years, and were well known among the circuit of smaller clubs.
"For those of you not familiar with us, we're 'Tastes Like Chicken'. Everybody else – you know what to do." Their fans cheered, ready for the opening song.
You got it all Just to say you already had it You want it all Just to try and get a kiss You want it all Just to Say you already had it You want it all, but you can't have this!The song was fast and upbeat, and funny – getting the crowd on their feet dancing and bobbing their heads to the rhythm. Kara sang along, knowing all the songs by heart. She smiled at the other girls, seeing they were getting into it. Spike tapped his fingers, trying not to be too enthusiastic until he'd seen more of what they could do. He was an even tougher critic than Kara was.
The band kept the momentum going with the next three songs, playing fast and hard. Brian stepped up to the mic again when it was time for the 5th song.
"We have a special treat for you tonight. My dear friend, Kara, is going to sing harmony on this next song. Come up here, darlin'."
Kara's group looked surprised, to say the least. She kissed Spike on the cheek, then made her way to the stairs at the side of the stage. The crowd parted to let her pass as people quickly noticed that she was with child. Brian was at the steps to offer her a hand as she came up. She took her place behind the spare mic next to the keyboardist and nodded that she was ready.
"Okay, this song is 'Leave What You Know of Love Behind'." Brian started to play lead, then the others joined in as he prepared to sing the first lyric.
You live your life
You live it well
You synchronized
You never tell
You do it all so patiently
But did you ever notice me?
I stand afar
To watch within
To be the puzzle piece
Where do I begin?
You have the things love helped you find,
But can you leave it all behind
Leave what you know of love behind
I cannot say what has to be
If you're doin' fine,
Then you don't need me
But what you'd miss,
You'd never know
Can you ever once let go?
Leave what you know of love behind
Leave what you know of love behind-
Leave what you know of love behind
I have this feeling
The time is now
Give what you've got
And I'll excite it somehow
The secret is ours
No one will know
Won't you let it go?
Brian launched into a Spanish-guitar-inspired solo at this point. It was Kara's favorite part of the song, as he did it so beautifully.
Leave what you know of love behind
Leave what you know of love behind-
Leave what you know of love behind
Leave what you know of love behind…
The rest of the band stopped playing here, leaving Brian to play as they sang along.
Leave what you know of love behind
Leave what you know of love behind—
Leave what you know of love behind
Leave – what – you know – of love – behind…
The keyboard player finished off the song with a quiet note, and then, the crowd cheered.
"Give a hand for Kara Taylor! Thanks, Kara," Brian said. One of the stagehands helped her off the stage, and Kara went back to her table.
"Just couldn't resist, could you?" Spike murmured to Kara, as he took her into his arms.
"They gave me the puppy look. Notice, though, that I didn't agree to sing 'Addicted' again."
"I did notice that. Bit of a shame, though. You're sexy when you do that one," he purred.
"That's just a ploy to get into my pants."
"Is it working?"
"I already told you 'later'. Did you forget already?"
"Never, baby."
------------------------
A man in black spoke into the mic connected to his earpiece. "We have confirmation of the target, ma'am."
"I know. I'm upstairs. Wait until she heads to the restrooms, and don't screw this up!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
-------------------------
By 11:15, the 5th band had just ended their set. The club manager came onstage to announce a short break while the stagehands set up for the final band of the night, which would play them past midnight.
"I wonder who the last band is? It just says 'Surprise Group' on the flyer," Willow said.
"As long as they're better than that last group," Buffy complained.
"What's the matter, Slayer? Speed metal too hard for you?" Spike mocked.
"Pfft! No! I just don't consider an assault on my eardrums good music," she retorted back.
"You still listen to Britney Spears, Slayer. You wouldn't know good music if it hit you in the bloody head!"
"Spike, honey, could you get me a water before the next band starts?" Kara asked sweetly.
"Sure, kitten." He walked to the bar after one last glare at Buffy.
"Thanks you!" Tara whispered to her friend. Kara giggled.
The stagehands cleared off, the house lights came back down, and the manager stepped up to the mic again.
"We have a rare treat for you tonight, folks. After a very long hiatus away from the club scene, our last band of the night has decided to make their comeback appearance right here on this stage. Please give a very loud, enthusiastic welcome to…Dingoes Ate My Baby!"
"Oh, my God! It's Oz!" Willow and Buffy yelled. They stood and waved at their old friend, and bass player, who was currently back to red hair. He finally looked up, and acknowledged them with a nod.
"This is so cool! We haven't heard them play since high school!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Yeah…Devon's not there anymore. I wonder who's the new guy?" Willow asked.
"Did you know he was in L.A.?"
"Not a clue. You know how Oz is…"
"Hey, that's Dog Boy," Spike announced, sitting down next to Kara again. She thankfully took the bottled water and guzzled down half of it.
Tara was unsure how to feel at the moment. The last time she'd seen Oz, he'd wolfed out and attacked her for smelling like Willow. He'd had a hard time around Willow, too. If he was back with the band, did that mean he'd finally learned to control his werewolf side?
Kara noticed her friend's unease, and patted her hand in comfort. "I'm sure it will be okay," she whispered.
"Yeah," Tara replied. She gave Kara a hesitant smile before turning back to the band as they played the first song.
"Glinda alright?"
"Yeah. It's just a little weird, here, with Oz."
-------------------------
Around a quarter to midnight, Kara stood up and stretched.
"I'm going to head to the ladies' room before it strikes 12," she said to Spike. He nodded.
"Hurry back, pet."
The restrooms were way in the back, under the balcony. Kara had to take the long way to find a path she could fit her stomach through. She sighed in relief when she reached the dimly lit corridor and pushed the door to the women's bathroom open. Blinking at the suddenly bright light, Kara chose a stall and did her business, washed her hands at the sink, checked her make-up, and walked back to the door to head for the table. She'd just cleared the door and stepped into the hallway, when she felt a jolt to the back of her neck.
-----------------------
(SPIKE!) Kara's voice screamed in his head, and he went running, barreling through the crowd as a blur. His exit was so quick, Tara knew there had to be trouble, and followed.
--------------------------
Kara was stunned by the jolt of electricity from the taser, but it didn't knock her out, as he assailant intended. Still, it was enough to make her disoriented, and give her attackers time to start dragging her out the back door just beyond the restrooms. She shook her head to clear it, and started fighting back in the alley.
Kara stomped her foot into the knee of the man at her right and slammed the heel of her palm into the nose of the guy on her left. The force shattered his nose, driving the shards into his brain, and he went down, starting to seize. She spun back to the man limping on one leg, now, throwing a left cross to his jaw that laid him out of the deck. She stomped her boot on his neck and twisted her foot as she drove it down, crushing the bones.
Her acute hearing picked up the movements of the two men behind her coming to the aid of their comrades. She'd just engaged the one, when a black blur slammed into the other with a roar. Spike put his whole body into the punch to the other man's head, then immediately clutched his own and backed away.
"Kara, they're human!" he yelled. His call registered to her just as she snapped the neck of her attacker with a vicious twist of her hands. She crossed the few feet to her mate and knelt down to soothe him. The pain had yet to clear.
"Are you alright?" he asked, throwing his arms around her.
"Yeah, baby. I'm okay. Just have a stiff neck from where that one tried to taser me," she replied, pointing to the twitching body. "Who the hell are these guys?"
"I don't know…Humans in head to toe commando gear could belong to bloody anybody."
"Are you guys okay?" Tara called, catching up to them. "Oh, goddess…what happened here?"
"They tried to kidnap me. Unfortunately, there's no one we can question," Kara answered.
"That one's still alive, luv, just unconscious. Though, I hit 'im hard enough to put him out for a few hours," Spike added.
Kara growled at the human lying on the ground. She was still in fullfangy visage.
"I'm not waiting that long," she snarled, stalking over to the body and hauling him up. She sank her fangs into his neck and gulped down a couple mouthfuls, concentrating. Just as quickly, Kara dropped him again and walked back to Tara and Spike, licking her teeth clean. "He's from Wolfram and Hart. Name sound familiar?" she asked her mate.
"Yeah…inter-dimensional law firm dedicated to evil. One of the biggest branches is here in L.A."
"What did you do?" Tara asked. Her friend was a bit disturbing at the moment.
"I searched his mind, through his blood. Since he was unconscious, there were no barriers. I even know the name of that guy's first pet."
"Is he dead?"
"No. He'll live," Kara replied. "If I allow it." She started to take a couple steps towards him.
"Kara! You can't do that. It would be murder. He can't even defend himself."
"They threatened my babies, Tara. The bond demands retribution," she growled.
"Then let the police handle it…" Kara shook her head and started forward again, only to be stopped by a strong grip on her elbow.
"She's right, luv. I know how you feel, but you don't want this on your soul. The guilt will hit you later, 'cause this act will forever change you. We'll make an anonymous call to the cops, then go back inside and enjoy the rest of the show."
"We can just make it inside before midnight," Tara added, steering the conversation to safer thoughts.
Kara relaxed, and said, "Okay."
------------------------
"Is the tracking device operational?"
"Yes, ma'am. The target never noticed it was implanted."
"Excellent. Monitor her movements." The brunette closed her cell phone and leaned back in her chair with her drink. "Soon, Miss Taylor. Very soon."
