Chapter 18
Jerking awake Dean Winchester was on his feet and letting out a loud, "What the Fuck?" If it hadn't been for the fact that everyone else was awake and looking like they'd just had an out of body experience he would have thought the whole thing had been a dream. "Did everyone else?" he trailed off not know how to even voice what had happened.
"Have the same freaky ass dream where the world exploded?" Buffy finished for him as she practically looked under the couch to make sure they were back in the real world.
"Okay what the hell was that?" Sam asked looking completely dazed and confused.
"Wow, wicked trip." Dawn giggled.
"Who was that guy? Did it work? Does the scythe look any different to you guys?" Sam continued to rattle off questions.
"Don't look at me I've got no clue. Why don't you ask giggles over there she seemed to know the guy." Dean said putting his head in his hands as if he was trying to ward off a headache.
"Yeah about that Dawnie, who was that guy?" Buffy turned on her sister demanding answers.
"No clue." Dawn answered with a grin. "Seriously I don't know." She reiterated as Buffy advanced on her like a tiger hunting prey. "It was one of those weird instinct things. I knew I knew him, and that we were friends but out here in the real world I can't access that information."
"The main question is did it work?" Sam said picking up the scythe and holding it an inch away from his face as he began to inspect every inch.
"It doesn't look any different to me. Does it feel different?" Buffy asked turning away from her interrogation of Dawn for the moment.
"Not that I can tell. Do you sense anything?" Sam asked as he handed Buffy the Scythe.
"Doesn't feel any different to me." Buffy said closing her eyes and focusing on the scythe.
"That's crazy though right? Cause I mean it did happen. We were all there. We poured all our energy into the damn thing it ought to be different." Dean ranted as he took the scythe from Buffy.
"All right let's just calm down and think." Sam said as he started to rub his eyes as a familiar headache began to form behind his eyes. "Damn not now." He muttered quietly.
"Hey Sammy you okay?" Dean asked familiar with the way Sam was hunched in pain.
"Sam what's wrong?" A concerned Dawn asked as she crossed quickly to Sam's side.
"Damn it's a vision." Dean said as Sam nearly went to his knees, clutching at his head.
"That's a vision?" Buffy asked as she helped Dean and Dawn maneuver Sam to the couch. "Is it always this painful?"
"Ever since he started having them. Dawn do you think you could…?" Dean trailed off as Dawn immediately wrapped her arms around Sam and tried to ease his pain with their connection.
As the connection opened Dawn was nearly incapacitated with the amount of pain Sam was being forced to endure. It felt like her head was about to split open. Gasping out loud Dawn tightened her grip around Sam to keep herself steady. As painful as it was there was no way she was going to let Sam go through this alone. As she started to adjust, she began to see what Sam was seeing, and it was terrifying. She and Sam were in a field lined for battle. Dawn could see herself standing next to the rest of the Scooby's, with Glory and Aaquerafet on the other. Dawn gasped when she saw Riley standing beside Aaquerafet. It was that gasp that alerted Sam to her presence.
"Dawn? What are you doing here?" Sam asked perplexed at Dawn's sudden arrival.
"I wasn't going to let you go through this alone Sam. Remember we're a team." Dawn answered simply taking Sam's hand for her comfort as much as his.
"I don't want you to have to bear this Dawn." Sam spoke with quiet remorse.
"My choice, Samuel. I can't believe how bad it's going to get. And Riley, I never really wanted to believe…" Dawn trailed off her eyes filling with tears at the thought of having to face Riley on a battlefield.
"It's not him you know." Sam squeezed Dawn's hand. "The possession was recent, and not willing, anymore then if he'd been turned by a vampire."
"How can you tell?" Dawn asked desperate to reassure herself that Riley hadn't been playing them for the last year and a half.
"I don't know, but I can just tell." Sam answered.
"Is this how it's going to be?" Dawn asked finally as they watched a battle unfold all around them.
"This is one possibility." Sam answered calmly. "I've changed visions before, but it's never a guarantee."
"Then why are you being forced to endure this over and over?" Dawn asked indignantly, furious that Sam would have to suffer any additional pain.
"Because it's not set is stone. The future is always changing. Even now this vision is different from the one that brought Dean and I to Sunnydale." Sam finished.
"What's changed?" Dawn asked looking around curiously.
"The addition of the scythe is new, as well as that tower." Sam said as he studied the details intently. "I think that's it." He finally said and in that instant the pain was back exploding behind Dawn's eyes and causing her to cry out in pain as she was suddenly back in the mansion surrounded by a very concerned Buffy and Dean.
"Augh!" Sam cried as he finally opened his eyes a few seconds later and took in Dawn's haggard appearance. "Dawn don't ever do that again." Sam said as he pulled Dawn to him and began to rub her back.
"What happened?" Buffy asked trying not to push, but dieing to know what had caused her sister such obvious distress.
"What'd you see?" Dean asked handing Sam and Dawn some aspirin he kept for occasions just like this one.
"Thanks man." Sam said gratefully. Then addressing the previous question's Sam answered, "When Dawn was trying to help she got pulled into the vision with me, and unfortunately was forced to deal with the pain as well."
"How long were we out?" Dawn asked once her head stopped spinning. She couldn't help but wonder how Sam and Cordy were able to sustain their sanity in the face of such regular pain.
"Thirty seconds max." Dean answered with a concerned look on his face.
"What!" Dawn exclaimed sitting up and then regretting that action in the next second.
"Time has no meaning during a vision Dawn." Sam tried to explain. "It always feels longer, but I've never had a vision last longer then a minute to Dean, even though it always feels like I've been out for hours."
"What did you see?" Buffy asked again for Dean since she could tell he was getting kind of antsy.
"We were on a battlefield facing off against Glory and Aaquerafet, like in my initial vision. There were some changes though, now there was a tower I don't know it's purpose, but Glory's minions were protecting it fiercely. Also Riley was fighting against us, and it was a possession, not willingly." Sam finished gently. "It's actually a good thing, because we may now be able to change the future."
"I don't understand." Buffy asked her heart heavy with the loss of Riley.
"If we can contain Riley tomorrow and get some answers from the demon possessing him, we can hopefully change the outcome of this battle."
Dean got up quickly running for the stairs saying, "I'm going to go wake up Giles, and Dad. Between our shared dream, which we still haven't worked out and Sam's vision we need to make sure we're prepared for Riley's arrival tomorrow."
"Damn I'd nearly forgotten about the dream." Dawn said tiredly as she continued to rest her head on Sam's shoulders.
"Everything does seem to be coming faster." Buffy acquiesced as she sat on the sofa and laid her head on Sam's other shoulder.
"When it rains, it pours." Sam muttered leaning his head back and throwing an arm around Buffy on one side and Dawn on the other.
When Dean came back a few minutes later with John and Giles in tow Buffy, Dawn, and Sam were sound asleep and Sam was snoring. Looking at the tableau before him Dean muttered, "I swear if this whole thing was a dream I'm going to be so pissed off." Shaking Sam's shoulder lightly he said, "Wake up dude, conference on impending apocalypse remember?"
Shaking his head Sam woke up, and said, "Damn did we fall asleep, man I'm so tired."
"Ditto, and normally weird shared dreams coupled with apocalyptic visions of death and destruction wake me right up." Buffy said as she to stretched out the kinks in her neck.
"Oh funny, ha ha." Dawn muttered still not over the pain from the vision.
"I take it Dean filled you in on our fun filled evening." Buffy addressed Giles and John who were both looking entirely too amused at the situation.
"Yes, he mentioned something about a shared dream, plus a vision on a battle." Giles answered sitting down on the sofa. "Now perhaps you can fill in a few details and then we can all try and get a few more hours of rest, since it appears tomorrows going to be a busy day." Giles finished focusing on the upcoming information.
It ended up taking only thirty minutes to fill Giles and John in on what happened, since both were the type to wait until the end to ask questions rather then interrupt narrative. It certainly helped speed the process up; once they were finished Giles shared a look with John, and proceeded to start cleaning his glasses.
John spoke first, "So first of all none of you seem to be noticing any immediate changes in the scythe?" At the nods all around he looked to Giles for an explanation.
"Quite possibly it could be tied to the bonds you share as well. Have you tried opening the link between the four of you and seeing what happens?" Giles asked thinking intently.
"See this is why sleep in necessary, I can't believe we didn't think of that." Sam said ruefully.
As they opened the link lightly Dawn let out a whispered, "Damn!"
Buffy was to surprised to even admonish Dawn to watch her language as she took in the beauty of the scythe. It was glowing, colors were swirling around inside peaking to the surface only to be over come with a wave of fresh color every second.
"Double damn." Dean said echoing Dawn.
"I think it's safe to say you were right." Johns said to Giles aside as the four warriors were to over come to speak.
Letting out a chuckle Giles answered, "Apparently." Then deciding to get Buffy's attention Giles said more loudly, "Everyone could you please shut the link down and focus over here for a moment." It took a few seconds as none of the four wanted to tear their eyes away from the breath taking power of the scythe. Once Giles was sure he had their attention he continued, "Now that the first matter has been sorted, let's focus on what we should do when Riley arrives tomorrow, or I should say later today."
"Well, we kind of already were prepared weren't we?" Buffy asked. "I mean Tara and Willow were working on a containment spell, and they seemed to be happy with the results."
"Yes thanks to John we were able to get a devils' trap from an associate." Giles nodded.
At the boys look John clarified, "Bobby lent me a book of full-proof demon holds when I told him I was on the demon's trail."
"Didn't he try and shoot you the last time you spoke?" Sam asked looking at Dean for clarification.
Dean nodded and shrugged his shoulders at his dad's ability to charm and infuriate people at the same time.
Nodding ruefully with a smile John said, "He got over that a while ago. Anyway this was business, and Bobby would never let anything interfere with kicking some evil ass."
"So we're all set then right? We just get Riley into this devil's trap and then start asking questions." Dawn said looking like all she wanted to do was to go back to sleep.
"Well we will have to figure out how to compel the demon to speak to us, and figure out what is the truth and what are lies, but that's it essentially." Giles said, and then added, "You all look exhausted, go back to sleep and when Willow, Tara, Xander, and Anya arrive in a few hours we can continue to formulate a plan."
"Oh thank god." Dawn said as she simply leaned over and went to sleep on the couch.
"Ditto." Dean added as he simply leaned his head back against the couch since he'd been resting on the floor.
Looking grateful Buffy and Sam managed to both make it to their former palettes before falling asleep. John and Giles headed upstairs for two more hours of sleep before the sun rose.
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When Xander, Anya, Tara, and Willow arrived at eight they found Giles, and John in the kitchen drinking coffee and contemplating plans for interrogating Riley. Buffy, Sam, Dean, and Dawn were still asleep in the living room. After filling in everyone on the events of the previous evening Giles asked Willow to "Please wake up Buffy and the others, since they now needed to plan on how to deal with Riley."
As Willow left the room she hugged a despondent Xander who couldn't seem to get over the fact that they'd lost Riley. Turning to John Xander had to ask, "Is there any way to exorcise the demon in Riley? I mean why can't we just do that?"
Looking saddened about what he was going to have to share with Xander, John said, "Unfortunately not. If it was a normal demon possession that would be a possibility, but with this particular type of demon it doesn't just inhabit the persons body, but destroys them from the inside out. That's why it's so damn difficult to track and kill. It's got to find a new host every couple of months because the body and soul of each person is killed in the process. I'm sorry son, but even if we got the demon out of Riley's body, he would be a vegetable. The soul is the first thing to be destroyed. Riley's as dead as if he took a bullet in the head, the demon's just taking his body for a ride."
"So that means the possession was recent?" Tara asked hopeful for Xander's sake that he could hold on to the friendship he'd shared with Riley.
Nodding John said, "Over the last week, no more then two. If I had to guess I'd say in between when he left the store, and when he turned up at Buffy's." Putting a hand on Xander's shoulder John said quietly, "I know it's hard, if you need to talk I'll be available. Give yourself time, it never gets easier to lose a friend."
"Thanks." Xander said and then turned to address Giles, " Hey G-man I'm going to work the store for you and Anya today if that's all right? I just would prefer not to be apart of the planning or implementation of this mission if that's okay?"
"Of course Xander, we'll call if we need you, but otherwise we'll fill you in, in the morning." Giles answered sympathetically as he gave Xander the keys to the shop and sent him on his way.
In a rather uncharacteristic show of compassion Anya motioned towards her devastated boyfriend and said, "I'm going to go with Xander, we'll see you in the morning." Then headed out the door and wrapped her arms around Xander hoping she could offer some comfort through her embrace.
"Thanks Any." Xander whispered in her hair.
"Come on let's go make some money. It always makes me feel better." Anya said as she pulled Xander towards the car.
Letting out a chuckle Xander got in the car with a sigh.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Anya urged eager to help in any way she could.
"It's just, that Riley and I were the guys you know? I guess I just feel like I'm some sort of curse. I mean first Jesse, and then Riley. It's like the ones that are important to me always die, while it doesn't seem to happen to anyone else. I don't want to lose you to An. I don't think I could stand it." Xander finished as he poured out his heart.
"Don't worry, honey. I'm not going anywhere, I mean I've been alive for twelve hundred years, I've picked up a few tricks along the way." Anya winked deviously.
"Thanks babe, now let's go see how well that money therapy works for me okay?" Xander leaned over and kissed Anya's cheek so grateful she was in his life.
Back at the mansion everyone was reasonably awake and those that weren't were drinking coffee religiously to ensure its imminence.
Buffy and Willow were both sad and concerned for Xander, but had decided to give him time to grieve and then have an old fashioned movie night with just the three of them the following evening. Both girls felt a little guilty at how quickly the group dynamics had once again shifted away from the original foursome of Giles, Buffy, Willow, and Xander.
The rest of the morning was spent preparing for Riley's imminent arrival. The devil's trap was in place, and Willow and Tara had worked out a number of different truth spells to see if any would work on the demon.
As 5:30 fast approached the tension in the mansion began to grow. Buffy, Dean, Sam, and Dawn had spent the afternoon working with the new and improved scythe, and the difference was startling. None of the former difficulties now seemed present, in fact there appeared to be no more flaws in their technique at all. It was heartening news, and the continued practice did help pass the time until the doorbell on the mansion rang signaling Riley's arrival.
Taking a deep breath Buffy went to answer the door. Reminding herself that it wasn't really Riley, anymore then it had been Angel Buffy opened the door and said, "Riley thanks so much for coming. Giles is waiting in the living room. He's very interested in the information you have to share. I know there's a lot we need to fill you in on as well."
The demon wearing Riley's face grinned triumphantly before saying, "You know I'd do anything to help Buffy. We've got to work together if we're going to beat this thing."
Buffy grimaced inwardly as she led the demon into the trap, her only regret was that she wouldn't be able to physically kick the things ass. Riley might not have been the love of her life, but he'd been sweet and had tried really hard to be what she needed. This demon was going to pay dearly for daring to kill someone she cared about. She'd said it once and she'd say it again. No one, and I mean no one messes with her boyfriend, ex or not.
John couldn't help but think the whole thing was a little anti-climactic. As soon as the demon came into the large living room he was caught in the trap. Now as long as no one broke the seal there was no way he could get out.
Giles wasted no time in beginning the interrogation, "I don't know your name, and I don't care, you are know trapped. There is no use denying that you are currently a demon in possession of Riley's body so please don't bother to insult our intelligence. You are caught inside a devil's trap, and I can assure you there is no way out."
The demon was stunned, how could they have known. Letting out a snarl of rage he raced forward only to be thrown back forcefully by the barrier keeping him trapped. Furious with himself, and these impudent mortals he raged, "You are all going to die painful deaths. Do you really think you can defeat my father? He will crush you bones, and live forever ruling hell with the power he harnesses from you."
"Oh good something new. Not!" Buffy said as she rolled her eyes. "I mean come on end of the world, blah blah, die painfully, more blah blah. I mean what is there like a script or something? Cause seriously kill the guy who wrote it, cause it's not working anymore."
"Buffy." Giles admonished. "Now's really not the time."
"Right, sorry." Buffy said as she took a seat and let Giles, John, Willow and Tara work on getting information out of the Riley imposter.
Casting the first spell Willow and Tara then stood back and let John ask the first test question to see if the spell would work on the demon.
"Tell us what your father's so called plans are for the upcoming battle?" John barked out.
"Go to hell, Winchester, your wife's blood tasted sweet to my father, and yours is going to be even sweeter." The demon snarled grinning elatedly when he saw the flash of pain on John Winchester's face at the mention of his precious Mary.
Buffy and Dawn had to forcefully keep Sam and Dean in their seats as both boys had tensed and looked ready to charge the demon throwing all caution to the wind.
John had fared better, having been prepared for a mental attack of this sort. Addressing the demon John retorted, "How are you feeling after that swan dive my boys sent you on? Tell me how mad was daddy that you got your ass handed to you by my kid's in Chicago? Really, really mad, or just semi-homicidal." John taunted his own face shining with determination.
Before the demon could answer Willow and Tara finished performing the second truth spell and while it wasn't 100 effective it did take the demon a little longer to shake it off. Stuttering he said, "He was furious, he destroyed the vessel I was inhabiting in his fury." Once he was back under control he ground out, "Nice try witches, but you will never have enough power to hold a truth spell on me."
Determined not to give up, Willow and Tara cast the third spell as Dawn, Buffy, Dean, and Sam mentally discussed whether it would be wise to try and help Willow and Tara with a boost of power.
The third spell was as ineffective as the first, as the demon just laughed every time Giles, or John asked him what his father's plans were again.
Deciding to help Buffy walked quietly over to Willow and Tara who were discussing which spell to use next. "Hey guys sorry to interrupt, but do you think we can help?" Buffy whispered.
"What do you mean?" Tara asked eager to find a solution.
"Well the one thing demon boy over there said that did ring true was that you two wouldn't have enough power to make a spell work, but what if you were backed up by use. I mean trust me we've got some power and then some."
"I don't know could there be implications for Willow and myself?" Tara asked gently thinking about the changes Buffy and Dean had gone through since the bonding.
"There shouldn't be, this isn't a bonding, but rather a sharing process. You would just be using some of our power." Buffy answered after conferring mentally with Sam and Dawn.
After looking at Willow, Tara nodded her head, and Buffy took both of their hands in hers. Taking deep breaths Buffy began to focus on channeling power through Willow and Tara. Willow and Tara both let out a gasp at the amount of power they were feeling. Quickly Willow and Tara began the second spell again this time accessing the power of the foursome, and boy the difference was startling
The demon froze mid-taunt his features going slack and his jaw dropping open. Looking behind him Giles got a nod from Willow indicating that the spell was good to go, and taking the initiative Giles turned back and quickly barked out "What are your father's plans?"
Voice monotone the demon answered, "My order's were to locate the lock and key and destroy them both before the battle commences."
"Does he know what type of vessels they are inhibiting?" John worded the question carefully not wanting to give the demon any information.
"No, he suspects the boy may be the lock, but he can't prove it yet. He is counting on me to provide him with that information." Once again the monotone voice of the demon filled the room.
"When did you acquire the form of Riley?" Giles asked hoping to ease Xander's mind the next day.
"We obtained Riley as he was leaving the gym last week. He was stopped and asked for directions it was easy to overpower him." The demon droned.
John was getting ready to form another question when the doorbell rang and everyone froze in shock.
"Who the hell is that?" Dean asked looking around for any sign of expectance.
Shrugging her shoulder's Buffy said, "I'll go find out, be right back." As she left the room to go answer the door.
Everyone in the room remained silent as they waited to find out if it was friend or foe at the door. A loud exclamation of "What?" from Buffy had Dean headed for the door, but he stopped as Buffy stepped into the room with an odd look on her face.
"Dawn?" Buffy asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Looking as confused as everyone else Dawn answered with a hesitant. "No."
"Really? So the guy Dave at the door who says he's here to take you out on a date, is just a figment of my imagination." Buffy finished ironically.
"Oh Shit!"
To be continued.
I know once again its cliffhanger hell. Sorry. Any way this one didn't quite make it to 16 pages, but 11 in two day isn't to bad. I'm starting to really get an idea of where this story is going, but the details it's going to take to get it there are intense, so please bear with me if it takes a few days to get the next chapter up. I'm really striving for quality and quantity together, and that's not easy. Thanks to all the reviewers, please keep reviewing. It really does inspire, and I can use all the inspiration I can get. Have a great weekend.
