I want to apologize for taking so long with this chapter. I write what I hear, but lately I've been hearing everything but Supernatural and Buffy. My inner dialogues have been between Veronica and Logan or Booth and Bones, or Danny and Mary. Everything but Buffy and Supernatural, so needless to say I couldn't write dialogue that sounded like Sam, Dawn, Buffy, and Dean when I was hearing a running argument between Logan and Veronica going on in my head. To make up for the lateness of this post it is the longest one I've ever written. What can I say when they finally start talking they get on a roll. I hope everyone enjoys, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. I will take suggestions and corrections. I want to improve.
Thanks
Chapter 13
"Whoa." Was all Dean could think to say.
"Double whoa." Buffy answered.
"That's going to be so cool." Dean said.
"Oh yeah, and I've already got superpowers." Buffy said with a gleam in her eyes.
"Now hold on just a second. This is not something we need to rush into. It's going to take some time and practice. If we give you to much we could accidentally kill you." Sam told them soberly.
"Yes Buffy even you." Dawn answered. "You may be supernatural already, but this is a whole different type of power."
"So what do we need to do?" Dean asked.
"Well first we need to access both of your own individual powers and let them mingle and get familiar with the feel of one another." Sam started.
"Wait, what individual powers. I'm just plain old ordinary." Dean said looking confused.
Sharing an amused glance with Dawn Sam answered his brother. "Dean you've never been ordinary a day in your life. I mean come on; your power comes from inside you. Your soul, your desire to help people, the way you never quit or ask for praise. That's your power, and brother mine allow me to assure you it's awesome." Sam finished
Shaking his head and turning away in embarrassment Dean tried desperately to change the subject. "Sammy didn't we discuss this last night. I mean I know you're all bonded with a girl now, but I was serious about keeping the chick flick moments to a minimum bitch."
Rolling his eyes Sam answered "Whatever you say jerk. Now get over here and close your eyes, I'm going to help you recognize and access your power jackass."
"Geek." Dean snarked.
"Shut-up." Sam answered.
"So are they always like this?" Buffy said to Dawn.
"Oh this is nothing. I've got memories of them on a road trip where they continuously snarked at each other for 6 hours straight." Dawn told Buffy seriously.
"Oh that's impressive." Buffy joked.
"Come on let me help you access the slayer so she can come out to play." Dawn said grabbing Buffy's hands. "Close your eyes and focus on your inner power." After a few seconds a beam of white light interwoven with black began to seep out of Buffy and join the power swirling around the room.
Off to the side Dean's power had taken the form of fire as flames leapt out of his body and all around him.
"Damn Dean. It makes sense I guess." Sam said as he sadly shook his head.
"What makes sense Sammy?" Dean said surprised at the fire since it was normally the thing he hated most in the world.
"You may hate fire Dean, but it is responsible for making you the person you are today." Sam muttered out loud.
"Whatever." Dean said uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Let's get to the good stuff."
Once all the power was unleashed, it really was a site to behold. The myriad of colors flew around the room. Meeting other power in a head on collision, then softening and joining with that power. Buffy and Dean's power seemed to flow seamlessly together much like Dawn and Sam.
Watching it with interest Dawn whispered to Sam "Hey are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"If you mean the fact that my brother and your sister seem remarkably well suited then, yeah I'm seeing what you're seeing." Sam replied throwing and arm around Dawn's shoulders and laughing at how much fun they could have with Buffy and Dean.
"Oh we're going to milk this for alllll it's worth." Dawn giggled.
"Okay we'd better get to work before everyone on the outside starts to get worried." Sam said finally waving Buffy and Dean closer. "Okay so now that our powers have all merged we need to reallocate. Now here's what we're going to do, Buffy and Dean, you guys are going to take 90 of your power back. Then Dawn and I are going to infuse both of you with 20 additional percent of our combined power. This is going to be an adjustment so be prepared." Sam told them seriously.
"Buffy I know your already used to superpowers, but this is going to be different." Dawn stated. "Your used to physical powers, but not mental. Remember the aspect of a demon?"
"Whoa I'm not going to go crazy again am I?" Buffy asked nervously.
"That's why we're only giving both of you 20 of our mixed power. It won't overload either of you, and will give you time to learn control." Dawn finished.
"Now Dean you're going to have the biggest adjustment, since your not used to having power that is easily accessible." Sam started.
"So what I should be prepared for mental acuity. Sam I heard the spiel to Buffy." Dean huffed.
"It's not only that, now that you've accessed your own power there are going to be some physical changes as well." Sam told him. "You're not going to become a superhero so calm down." Sam raised his hands to hold off Dean from getting to excited. "But you are going to be a little faster and stronger. How much of either we're just going to have to wait and see." Sam finished.
"Wicked." Dean smirked.
"It is pretty cool, I love having super powers." Buffy answered with her own smirk. "I can't wait to go patrolling tonight."
"Oh hell yeah. Let's get this show on the road people." Dean said excitedly.
Rolling their eyes at the antics of their siblings Sam and Dawn began to show Buffy and Dean how to call their power back, then topped them off with the combined power that Sam and Dawn shared. Once done they led Buffy and Dean back to the white room and then back to consciousness.
Hearing movement from the four Willow jumped up excitedly anxious to hear about what they'd seen and done for such a long time. Sundown had occurred 30 minutes prior and Spike was waiting anxiously with news.
As everyone groaned from remaining in the same position for such a long time Spike couldn't hold off on commenting. "Hey if you wankers are done with all the meditating I've got some info on your big honking evil."
"Shut up Spike, we're coming" Buffy groaned out as she stretched out on the floor before raising her legs and then throwing them forward to jump into a standing position.
Sam and Dawn helped each other up and Dean jumped to his feet in the same maneuver Buffy had used. "How long have we been out?" Dean asked curiously noticing that it was dark outside.
"3 hours." John answered, "Can you tell us what happened?" he addressed both of his boys.
"Oh you're not going to believe this." Dean answered with glee. "It was so cool, dad…." Dean was interrupted by Sam who quickly said.
"Hey now why don't we make sure we have some precautions in place before we go talking about stuff that the enemy would kill to know." Sam finished significantly raising an eyebrow in Spike's direction as well as concerned with magical bugging.
"Gotcha. We'll fill you in later dad promise." Dean answered having seen mentally what Sam was driving at immediately. "Wicked." Dean thought to himself.
"Oh yeah it is." Buffy answered mentally with a huge smile on her face.
"Are you kidding?" Dean thought as he shot an incredulous look at Dawn and Sam
"Nope." The two younger siblings answered back mentally.
"So cool." Dean thought.
"Excuse me, if the 4 of you are done standing there and looking at each other I've got places to be and poker to play." Spike asked sarcastically from the chair he was lounging in.
"Fine Spike report." Buffy said out loud while thinking "you bleached blonde undead waste of space." Which had Dean, Sam and Dawn trying not to laugh out loud.
"Thank you slayer my night is now complete. Glory and her minions are holed up in a mansion on the north side of town. Your demon buddy is there as well with his two kids. I don't know what they're planning, but it's big, and they're looking for recruits." Spike finished.
"Were you able to get a time frame." John asked urgently.
"No. Just that it might be a few weeks, since they've put the word out there that any evil being has 3 weeks to come sign up for apocalypse now." Spike finished sarcastically.
"Well at least that gives us some time to get our own plan in order." Giles said with trepidation.
"Oh come on 3 weeks that's like forever we'll totally kick their Asses. Most of the time we're flying blind till the big day anyway. This time we have advanced notice powers a plenty and all kinds of allies. I'm almost more scared at how prepared we are then at the evil we're facing." Xander said trying to lighten the mood.
"Xander." Willow groaned, "Don't help."
"Sometimes I shouldn't speak words." Xander said forlornly.
"Whatever can I leave now? Have I fulfilled my information quota for the week? I have planes." Spike stated.
"Fine Spike get out of here. We'll be in contact." Buffy said as Giles doled out the usual amount of money they paid Spike for information.
"Pleasure doing business with you. I hope Glory rips your spines out and wears them as hats." Spike said as he walked out the door.
Shaking his head and chuckling at the antics of Willow and Xander and Spike John addressed the rest of the group. " So now that we have a time frame we need to figure out a safe place to plan and prepare. Willow can you and Tara secure this place enough so that we won't have any magical eavesdroppers?" John queried.
"That might pose a problem." Tara stated softly. "This place is open to all people being a business, trying to ward against the unwanted would contradict the nature of the business. I recommend finding someplace else to train. Somewhere that's not connected to Buffy or anyone else."
"Damn I hadn't even thought of that." Giles exclaimed thinking of the nightmare it would be to ward the entire building. "The business would have to be shut down."
"Where else could we train?" Xander asked. "I mean the whole point of turning the back room in to a training room was so we wouldn't have this problem. And what about the wards you just did to protect the four over there?"
"Those were individualized wards placed around each person to block their personal signature." Willow explained. "To try and do that for everyone would take more power then Tara and I have not to mention it would make us invisible to customer. Basically it would severely disrupt the flow of business. Whether they would be aware of it or not customers would feel unwelcome and want to leave as quickly as possible."
"I can just shut down business for the next 3 weeks…. " Giles began only to be cut off by Buffy.
"Absolutely not Giles. This is your lively hood, not to mention we can train here sometimes to throw Glory and the Demon off our scent. Let me make a phone call to Angel. I'm sure he'd let us use the mansion for training then Willow and Tara can ward the heck out of it." Buffy stated.
"Angel?" Dean asked.
"Loooooongg story." The Scooby's said in unison.
"What you mean the fact that he's your ex-boyfriend and a vampire and has a soul that he lost with a moment of pure happiness on your 17th birthday. Yeah I know all that, I just thought his name was Angelus." Dean stated at the stunned Buffy.
"Uhm Angel's a nickname. How do you know about Angel?" Buffy asked still trying to process the fact that the Winchester seemed to know all about him.
"I've done some work with him in the past when I've passed through L.A., and it's a small world as far as the supernatural goes word gets around." John clarified from behind the counter.
Buffy looked at Dean nervously anticipating a bad reaction to the fact that she'd dated a vampire soul or no soul. Riley's reaction hadn't been positive at all.
Dean looked nonplussed thought through the new mental link grasped Buffy's uncertainty about his reaction tried to put her at ease. "Talk about a sucky birthday present, literally and figuratively. Though it doesn't beat the succubus I accidently went out with about 5 years ago. Damn bitch nearly made me her bitch before the night was over." Dean offered with a wink and a smile.
"Dude that was so hysterical I thought you were going to have a heart attack when you found out. His face turned so red it could probably have been read by thermal infrared scanners from outer space." Sam said joining in on the teasing.
"Excuse me, dude I know your not going there, cause that whacked out poltergeist that fell in love with you nearly brought the motel down we were staying in." Dean shot right back.
John let out a bark of laughter. "I'd nearly forgotten about that how old were you Sammy?"
Blushing profusely Sam replied "Fifteen, hey it wasn't my fault I reminded her of her high school sweetheart. Damn that woman seriously held a grudge."
"Please you are all armatures compared to me." Xander stated. "I almost got eaten by a female preying mantis who wanted to mate with me, I went out with a rejuvenated Inca mummy, and I'm now dating an ex-vengeance demon."
"You win." Dean stated empathically looking at Xander with a mixture of respect and incredulity.
Joining in on the laugher Buffy said "Well I'm glad you don't have a problem with Angel he's a good man. I'll go give him a call right now. I don't think it's going to be a problem thought." Buffy said as she walked into Gile's office to make the call.
"So while we're waiting on the go for the mansion boys and Dawn of course how about you join me in the training room for some sparring." John stated as they waited for a response from Angel.
"Sounds good to me let's see what the Dawnster remembers from yesterday." Dean said ruffling Dawn's hair as he walked past her.
"Jackass." Dawn muttered playfully under her breath.
"Uh yeah." Sam joked with Dawn as he led her in the back.
Watching Dawn and Sam head to train Sam's arm around Dawn's shoulder Giles couldn't help but have a moment of apprehension at the relationship developing between the two younger siblings.
Catching the look on his face Buffy watched her watcher contemplate the strange relationship as she finished up her call with Angel. Having gotten the okay as she expected Buffy quickly wished Angel the best and did drop the news that she was no longer dating Riley which caused a breathless "Thank god." From the L.A end of the line. Laughing as he tried to backpedal his way to safety Buffy assured Angel that she had thoughts along the same lines and the two star-crossed lovers bid each other good-bye.
Instead of going into the back to help with sparring Buffy crossed to her watcher and said quietly "Penny for your thoughts, or should I say pound? No a pound would be to much what's the English equivalent of a penny anyway?"
Laughing at how quickly Buffy could distract herself Giles answered, "The closet would be a pence, and my thoughts aren't even worth that." Giles told her not even sure if he should voice his concerns.
Knowing that Giles was concerned about overstepping bounds Buffy took the imitative. "Don't worry Giles I've been inside both their minds there's nothing hinky going on there." Buffy smiled sincerely as always touched by the concern her Watcher shows for her and her family.
"That obvious huh?" Giles asked. "Buffy it's not their relationship today that concerns me. Sam is a noble, moral man who would never take advantage of a 14-year-old girl. I guess I'm just concerned as to what's going to happen, as Dawn gets older? I mean she is bound to Sam and once she starts to look at men in a romantic light it's going to be only natural that she compare them to the most important male in her life which I think we can safely state is going to be Sam. How is some 16 year old boy going to compare to a 23 year old man who you are mentally linked to, whose sole purpose in life is to take care of you. It's going to only natural that she would start to think of Sam in a romantic light, and then what? Not that Sam would take advantage of her anymore at 16 then he would at 14, but a rejection from him could devastate Dawn even more. I don't know…" Giles trailed off unsure how to continue.
"I know it made me a little nervous at first to, hell it still does." Buffy said her voice laced with sympathy. "I don't know Giles I guess all we can do is trust Sam. Trust him not to hurt her, and if he does trust him to help heal her. I mean it's such a complicated relationship. I know right now all they see each other as is either siblings or best friends, but they got memories of them being lovers, what happens if those memories start to take over. Part of me wants to lock Dawn away to keep her safe, but Giles when we were inside their minds it was unbelievable. They're so connected, I really think separating them would possibly kill them now that they've found each other." Buffy finished uncertainly.
"I guess all we can do is keep a watchful eye and hope for the best." Giles said "It's hardly a concern right now anyway, but do you think maybe we should voice our concerns to Sam? To see what he says about the ramifications of the connection they share?" Giles asked.
"I guess my only concern is that he'll think I'm accusing him of something, but it might be the only way to make me feel better." Buffy said concerned about insulting their new friends.
"Sam's an intelligent young man, I'm sure he'll be understanding of our concerns, and probably has a few of his own." Giles answered.
"As always your right." Buffy smirked at Giles as he let out an inelegant snort at her observation. "I'll talk to him tomorrow while Dawn's at school."
"Good now that that's settled let's go see how Dawn's self defense is progressing then move to the mansion. I'm assuming you got permission?"
"Of course. Angel says hi by the way." Buffy said heading towards the back.
"Send him my regards of course." Giles said.
"Righty O." Buffy mocked.
"Oh shut up." Giles answered back.
Buffy's laughter followed him into the back.
BTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBTVSSNBT
A couple of hours later everyone was settled in at the mansion. It was agreed that John, Dean and Sam would stay there since the floor at the Summer's house wasn't exactly comfortable. Tara and Willow had warded the mansion against anything remotely evil, and were able to put quiet a bit of power behind the wards thanks to Dawn and Sam. Pizza had been ordered and everyone gathered around anxious to hear what happened earlier that day between Sam, Dawn, Buffy and Dean.
"Okay we'll I guess I'll start." Sam said quickly finishing the last bite of his piece of pizza. "When I joined Dawn in her mind we allowed our powers to join together creating essentially a vortex of power. We then called Buffy and Dean in because we knew there involvement was going to be necessary in the upcoming battle. Dawn and I both have access to our full power, but we're still just two people. We don't have eyes in the back of our heads, and unfortunately we're not invulnerable. When Buffy and Dean got there we allowed them to both unleash their power and then when they took it back we boosted it with some of the combined power of Dawn and myself."
"How much power? What are the ramifications? Can their bodies handle the power that was not meant to be theirs?" Giles started rattling off questions concerned about the safely of this endeavor.
"Giles breath." Buffy said trying to calm down her watcher. "We took back 90 of our individual power and then they topped us off with an additional 20. The upside is that we all have a mental bond. It's not very strong, but we can contact each other if necessary, and know if someone is in danger."
"I'm also going to get to have some kicking physical changes as well." Dean smirked still excited about the possibilities.
"I thought that spin kick was a little strong for you." John said appreciatively as he thought back to the earlier sparring session.
"Yep. I'm the man." Dean stated.
"Shut up." Sam said rolling his eyes. "Don't make me regret giving you power jerk."
"Whatever bitch." Dean shot back.
"Anyway." Dawn interrupted before the brothers got started on one of their banter wars. "This was just the beginning. We gave them just enough to get acclimated without having any serious damage occur. Once they've gotten used to the changes in their power we'll update them again. The goal is 50 before the big battle." Dawn finished.
"Damn I'm going to be a badass." Dean shouted throwing his arms up in the air.
Smacking his son on the back of his head John Winchester couldn't help but be pleased at the possibilities this was going to offer Dean.
Everyone else laughed at Dean's enthusiasm even Sam though he was rolling his eyes as he chuckled.
"So essentially what we need to do is start training as a unit working together." Buffy told her watcher.
"Between John and myself as well as Xander I'm sure we can come up with a suitable training regime that will get the four of you up to speed in no time." Giles said already running possibilities through his head.
"Knew I could count on you to have a plan." Buffy said. "While you guys are contemplating that I need to go patrol."
"I'm with you I need to work off some excess energy after sitting still for so long." Dean said as he stood up and stretched.
"Sounds good why don't you patrol with me Dean I want to get an idea of how much stronger and faster you are now." John said running ideas through his head as well.
"Sounds good then Sam can patrol with me." Buffy stated thinking she could voice her concerns tonight rather then waiting for the morning. "We'll take the East end of town and you take the West. I want to stay out of direct contact with the terrible twosome as long as possible. No sense in giving away all our secrets."
"Sounds good to me. We can drop Dawn off at home along the way." Sam said as the pulled the reluctant teen upright.
"Oh come on let me go please." Dawn begged tugging on Sam's long frame.
Taking a look at Buffy and reading her need to speak with Sam alone Sam simply looked Dawn in the eye communicating the need for her to please not argue.
Getting the picture quickly Dawn sent Buffy a look pleading with her to play nice and then said "Okay, but sooner or later you're going to have to let me go on patrol."
"Keys man." Sam said to Dean knowing that Dean and John would be using John's truck and that Buffy didn't have a car of her own.
Tossing the keys Dean warned. "Not a scratch." Pointing a finger at Sammy seriously.
"I promise your baby will be in the same condition." Sam told Dean knowing what a fanatic he was about his car.
After dropping Dawn off Sam turned the Impala towards the East side of town. Looking at the uncertain Slayer he said, "It's okay, what are your concerns exactly? The more I know the more I can tell you."
"I'm sorry Sam I don't want you to think I don't trust you….."Buffy started but was quickly interrupted by Sam
"Hey, hey did I sound upset. I know you trust me Buffy, but when a 23-year-old guy has a bond with your 14-year-old sister there are bond to be some concerns. I get it don't worry, just tell me what they are and I'll try to help."
After explaining the concerns she and Giles had talked about earlier they had arrived in the Eastern area of Sunnydale. "There's a parking garage up ahead we can park there and then patrol on foot."
"Sounds good." Sam said his mind still on the concerns that Buffy had voiced. "I'm not ignoring what you said I'm just trying to think about how to explain." He told her as Buffy started looking worried about his silence.
Once they had parked and gotten as many weapons as they could carry Sam said, "I can't tell you what's going to happen in the future Buffy, and your concerns are valid. The only thing I can tell you is that Dawn and I have to be in agreement to work. It's like we're on opposite ends of a seesaw. We need to be in constant balance. I'm not going to want anything she's not ready to give and vice versa. Who ever thought this stuff out really did take everything into consideration." Sam said his voice laced with admiration.
"So you're saying that Dawn won't want you in a romantic way until you want her in a romantic way?" Buffy asked skeptically.
"And vice versa, Buffy I'm not going to all of a sudden be overcome with lust for you 14 year old sister and ravage her in the back of the Magic Box." Sam joked earning a wry grin from the slayer. "Yes we have memories of when we were once lovers, but it's almost like memories from a dream. They don't affect the here and now. We even looked different it was only our souls that stayed the same. It's like watching a movie you know it relates to you, but you can't comprehend the meaning exactly."
"Really I just assumed you looked just like this in each life." Buffy said surprised at that revelation
"No in each life we looked completely different. Otherwise I think it would be difficult to ignore until we were both ready with those memories sitting in the back of our heads."
Laughing at the truth of that statement Buffy said "Yeah I can see how having a running video of you getting busy with a girl who is now 14 would be a little disturbing."
"Uhm yeah that would be a problem." Sam joked.
"Thanks Sam this has really eased my mind." Buffy told him gratefully.
"No problem Buffy it's better that we get this cleared up now since we're going to be around each other for a long time."
"Agreed now when we finish up here make sure you come inside with me, so Dawn won't think I fed you to a vampire."
"Done that before have we?" Sam asked
"Nah just threatened to." Buffy answered.
"Good to know." Sam replied
To be continued
