Chapter 8
Giles spotted the man he was looking for, wearing a blazer over a navy blue sweater, and slacks, carrying an overnight bag. He warmly shook hands with his old friend and former colleague.
"It's good to see you, old man, though I wish it was under better circumstances," Giles said.
"Agreed. I had hoped my first visit to Los Angeles would be for pleasure. Alas, the world's safety always seems to get in the way."
"Yes, it does. My car is this way. How was your flight?"
"Long, of course. I never could sleep on a plane. I hope you won't find me rude if I end up making it an early night," Reginald replied.
"Nonsense…I understand perfectly. We have a bit of a drive ahead. Perhaps you can bring me up to speed."
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"Yes, we're home safe, Buffy. No…Rupert went to pick up a friend from the airport…I'll have him call if it's not too late…yes, I understand that you're worried, but it's been a long day. You'll be back tomorrow, honey, either way. Yes…try to enjoy the evening. Okay, dear…love you, too. Bye." Joyce hung up the phone with a sigh. It was a typical request from Buffy. When she wanted answers, she wanted them now, and to hell with you if you didn't comply. She'd just persist until she got her answer.
What worried Joyce is that none of them may want to hear what Reginald came to say.
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"Goodness…where to begin…?" Reginald mused, collecting his thoughts.
"When did the crisis start?"
"Christmas Eve. The attack happened late in the evening. Only the Board was still there, with a handful of other staff members in the building. It was the last meeting before the holiday break. It was a well-planned two-prong attack. The security footage showed one enemy team heading upstairs, and the other down into the vaults." Reggie paused, his next words difficult to convey. "The senior staff is all dead, Rupert. Quentin Travers, Roger Wyndham-Price, all of them…"
"Dear Lord…
"And two items were stolen from the vault – a scroll, and the Amulet of Talraska. You might remember that the amulet is the headpiece for-"
"The Staff of Talraska, yes…it's said that the two pieces combined will give the wielder access to unlimited power. They were broken apart after the Old One was defeated. It's said that the shaft was lost centuries ago."
"I'm glad your memory hasn't become rusty. We're assuming that whomever organized the attack wants to reassemble the staff. As for the scroll, we're still trying to ascertain which one was taken. Records for that part of the library are still on paper. Obviously, the Council has been in a state of chaos, with every Department Head assassinated. This enemy knows us, knows our schedules, our protocols…"
"An inside source of information. Bloody hell…was a tactical team sent out after the attackers?"
"Yes, but the trail ran cold after a couple blocks. With mystical help, no doubt. It's the only way to explain the failure of every security measure in the building. The only blessing is the relatively small number of casualties. You know how full Headquarters is normally."
"I appreciate you informing me in person, but it wasn't necessary. I'm assuming there is another reason you're here?"
"Astute as always, Rupert. We need your help to weather this crisis, and Miss Summers'. It is critical that the amulet be retrieved before it is reunited with the staff. The whole world depends on it. And…we need you back. Morale is at an all-time low, and there are trust issues brewing…rumors already flying about who might have sold us out."
"I haven't been a Council employee for four years. I'm a bit out of the loop, Reggie."
"Hasn't stopped you from maintaining contacts, though. Think it over, but I'll need an answer by the time I leave."
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The twins were on a sugar high, having stolen cookies from Dawn's plate when she went to the bathroom. Their current activity was running circles around the sofa, giggling, shrieking, and feeding off each other's energy.
"Okay, I'm afraid now," said Xander, placing his card down in a game of Uno.
"They're not even one, Xander. This is just a little noise," Dawn teased.
"We'll make sure to share during the Terrible Twos," Spike added, with a smirk.
"Our girls won't be terrible. Pay no attention to him," Kara stated. Her mate snorted in disbelief at her statement. "What?"
"Do you live with the same girls I do? We already can't keep them from climbing everythin'," he replied.
"They'll understand the rules better as they get older."
"Uh-huh…"
"Well, at least they're not turning door knobs, yet," Dawn offered. "They've only figured out pull-down handles."
"Mama play!"
"Not right now, Ana."
"Da'?"
"What, bit?"
"Play?" She was doing her best pout, and he melted.
Spike stood up from the table and walked over to crouch in front of his daughter. "And what would you like to play, sweetheart?"
She leaned in close to his ear, and said, "Lilli hide."
"She is?" he mock-whispered. "Should we look for her?" He heard the other twin giggling nearby and ascertained she was under the coffee table.
Ana nodded, her wild curls bobbing around her little face. She pointed through the sofa. Kara watched from her seat as Spike whispered some instructions in Ana's ear, and then the two rounded opposite ends of the couch, and pounced on Lillian, who shrieked as her father tickled her.
Kara sighed happily, love in her eyes. Spike looked at her, and winked, before turning his attention back to the twins.
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Joyce greeted them at the door, hearing the two men talking in the courtyard as they neared the apartment. "You made good time. Hi, you must be Reggie. I'm Joyce."
The shorter man shook her proffered hand. "Reginald Hastings. Please to meet you. Rupert has told me much about you."
"Oh, has he? All good, I hope?" she teased.
"Of course. Your daughter, the Slayer…is she around, also?"
"No, Buffy's still in Big Bear. She'll be back tomorrow." They moved into the living room, Giles carrying Reggie's bag to the guest bedroom.
"Ah, yes…Rupert mentioned you had been on a family vacation. My deepest apologies for the interruption," he said sincerely.
"Thank you. I made a light supper, if anyone's hungry?"
"Thank you, dear. I'm famished. Reggie?"
"I had a meal on the plane, but I could use a drink before bed," he replied.
Once they were seated, Joyce posed her question.
"Is this a problem my daughter is going to have to get involved in?" she asked, straight to the point.
"We do need her help, but I'll understand if she refuses, with her past history with the Council. We do not know the identity of our adversary, and as such, cannot estimate their strength. We will endeavor to make do, however, if we have to," Reggie replied.
Joyce seemed satisfied with that answer for the moment, and they continued to eat dinner and chat about unrelated things. Reginald went to bed soon afterwards.
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Tara and Willow were roused at sunrise to prepare for the protection spell. The coven shared a light breakfast, then instructions were gone over in detail. The spell would react to hostile intentions against the manor, either magical or physical. An impenetrable barrio would instantly surround the building to shield them. The witches could then escape through a series of secret underground tunnels, and regroup.
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The inevitable thing about a sugar rush is that you will crash when it wears off. After the tickling match with their father, the twins were suddenly very sleepy. Kara and Spike carried them upstairs, gave them a quick washing, changed diapers, and dressed them for bed. They were all but out by the time they were laid down to sleep. Dawn stopped in after retrieving something from her room.
"They look like little angels," she remarked. Spike slipped past her to go into the next room.
"Yep. Part of me wants to keep them like this forever. Are you going to bed soon?" Kara asked.
"Not yet…I wanted to read some," Dawn replied, holding up her book.
"Ah…okay. Good. Well…we're turning in early. Goodnight, Dawn."
"'Night, Kara. 'Night, Spike!"
"Sleep well, Niblet," he called through the door. Dawn turned for the stairs, and Kara slipped into their room.
Spike was reclining casually on the bed, dressed in just his jeans, and dangling a pair of handcuffs from one finger. Kara's eyes roamed over his body, noticing the already prominent evidence of his desire for her.
"Told you I had plans for you tonight, luv," he purred.
"So you did," she replied, approaching the bed. "You packed handcuffs?"
He smirked. "Never know when they might come in handy, pet. Are you ready to do what I tell you?"
"Mmm-hmm," she nodded. He shifted, revealing that his jeans were unfastened, and she longed to touch him. He chuckled, noticing the hungry look in her eye.
"Good girl, except, you didn't use the right words."
"So?"
He smiled. "Defiance will get you punished, little girl," he replied, standing up and grabbing her by the back of the neck.
"Oh, really?" she shot back, getting into the game.
"Every time, pet," Spike promised, before attacking her mouth with a brutal kiss. She was dazed when he released her, only noticing her bound wrists when she tried to lift her hands to wrap around him.
"Hey!"
"I warned you, baby." By the wicked gleam in his darkened eyes, she was in for something special.
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"Ahn, demon names are not acceptable Scrabble words," Xander stated.
"Why not? They're words I know how to spell."
"Yeah, but the rest of us don't. It's in the rules that it needs to be a word from the dictionary."
"Sebastian knows them, too," she pouted.
"Most, yes, but I can't compete with Anya's 1000 years of knowledge."
"Oh, can we just play!" Buffy interjected.
"Someone's moody," Dawn remarked, settling on the couch. Her sister scowled at her.
"Are Kara and William coming back down?" Sebastian asked the teen.
"No…they're, uh…"
"Oh! Very well, then," the knight muttered.
"Dawn, were you eavesdropping again?" Buffy scolded.
"Eeew! God, no! That's gross, Buffy! They're like family!"
"Orgasmically happy family," Anya added.
"Ahn…" Xander sighed.
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Spike and Kara took a last walk through the woods just before sunrise, while the girls were still asleep. It was quiet, the local birds having yet to wake, and the still air was heavily perfumed from the various pines…at least to hypersensitive noses.
"Didn't think you'd want to come out here, luv."
"Why not?" she wondered.
"Because even I lost count of how many times I made you scream," he replied, giving her a heated look even now.
"Thanks for the gag, by the way. I'm still pulling fuzz out of my mouth."
"A towel was all I could come up with on short notice." He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. "The important thing is that I took your mind off this mess for a few hours. If the Slayer's needed somewhere, she'll go, and with Bas by her side, she won't fail. Hell, he'll probably call in the cavalry at the first sign of trouble. So, let it go. We have plenty to keep us busy in our own life."
"I can't help it. You married a worrier that likes to fix things. But…I'll leave the fight to the others, unless they need me, okay?"
"Thank you. Come on, kitten. We have time for a hot shower before the twins are awake."
Kara shook her head at her mate's insatiable appetite, grinning as he took her hand and pulled her back to the cabin.
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Kara opened the bathroom door and eeeped in surprise. Dawn was standing there, leaning against the railing with her arms crossed over her chest and a glare on her face. She arched a brow when Spike came to a stop right behind Kara.
(Busted…) he thought to his wife.
"Hey! Don't worry…there's still enough hot water," Kara said cheerfully.
"Wow, amazing," she deadpanned. "Could you guys move? Kinda have to do stuff?"
"Oh, sure!" Kara hastily moved into their room, Spike right behind her with a firm grip on his towel. They closed the door, and collapsed into giggles.
Dawn rolled her eyes and moved into the bathroom to carry out her routine. She'd barely washed her hands, when there was a hasty knock on the door. Upon opening it, Anya rushed past her in a beeline for the toilet. Dawn made a speedy retreat, closing the door behind her. She'd be puking right next to Anya if she stayed within earshot. Time to pack, and start cleaning before the cabin owner arrived to take the keys back.
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Buffy stifled a groan as she walked into the kitchen. Spike was nibbling along Kara's neck while she made the twin's cereal. God, they were like horny teenagers! Why did she end up with friends who couldn't keep their hands off each other in public? And they were parents – it was just eew! At least she had the decency to not flaunt it in front of people. She and Sebastian never did anything inappropriate at her mother's house, and never groped in public. Even the idea of parking on Make-Out Hill had her blushing profusely.
"Can't you guys get a room?" she snapped.
"Ooo, someone hasn't had her coffee, yet," the vampire taunted.
"Shut up, Spike," was the automatic reply. She grumbled unintelligibly as she poured her first cup. Kara smiled in obvious amusement. "You shut up, too," Buffy griped, and left the room.
(I don't envy Bas for the next five days.) Spike said telepathically.
(Be nice. And thank you for not saying that out loud.)
(Hey! I can learn…'Sides, I've gotten too many fists to the nose for spoutin' off when she's like this. It's self-preservation, pet.)
"Mama! Hungee!"
"That's my cue. Finish packing, hmm?"
"Yes, luv. Mornin', Bas."
"William. Good morning, Kara. And how are my girls?"
"Very hungry. There's still coffee left. Have anything you want for breakfast. We need to clear out what we bought."
"Alright."
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Ms. Carter arrived at noon, as promised. She accepted the check and thanked them profusely for leaving the cabin as they'd found it. Even the Christmas tree had been moved out to stand in the backyard.
"I hope you all had a wonderful stay. Feel free to book a week in summer. There's all kinds of fun on the lake then."
"Thanks, Ms. Carter. We'll keep that in mind," Kara said. She shook the woman's hand, then climbed into the truck, which was behind Xander's car.
Dawn was sitting between the twins. She had begged to come with them, in private, of course, insisting that she'd be ready to commit murder by the end of the 3-hour drive. Kara agreed on the condition that Dawn baby-sit the next time she and Spike went out on a date. The teen had immediately said, "Done!" and hugged her, then tossed her bag in the back and climbed in the truck. Spike and Dawn were having a debate over what CD to put in when Kara slid in behind the wheel.
"First CD is driver's choice. How about that?" she said, putting a cap on the bickering. They pouted, sighing out a simultaneous "Fine…" that had Kara stifling a giggle. She slid in a clean comedy CD that ended up appeasing both of them.
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"Good morning, Reggie. Coffee or tea?" Giles asked.
"Tea, please. Coffee gives me indigestion. Have you thought about rejoining the Council?"
"It's not a decision I can make overnight, old friend. I've made a life here, and Buffy still needs my support. Besides, you said all the senior members are dead, so who has the authority to hire new employees?"
"Well, as expected, those of us under the department heads have been promoted by default. Many of those people are on friendly terms with you. When we decided the Slayer had to be approached, it was only natural to consider asking for your help, too. We've been making decisions as a group until the new Council Head can be appointed, following established protocols for an event such as this."
"Of course. Have the candidates been selected, yet?"
"No. We've been too involved with upgrading security, trying to find a trace of the mercenary group, and taking care of burial details. Research is working hard to ascertain any possible uses for the Amulet. We can't go any further without more information."