Chapter 2 - The Coming of Dawn

June 2nd, 2001

SUNRISE

Sunnydale, California – Glory's Tower

"Let the blood … flow … free." Doc exclaimed, pulling the knife away from Dawn's marred body. Crimson fluid quickly rushing through it's new found exits, dripping from the platform and into the air below. Finally, finally the magnificent Glorificus could return home, to the Goddess she was meant to be. Finally he would be able to escape from the shadows he was forced to live in on this pitiful world, to stand at the right hand of his God.

"Dawn!".

Doc whirled around at the voice, raising an eyebrow at the young woman approaching. The Key's guardian, her supposed sister, The Slayer.

"Buffy!" Dawn shouted in a panicked plea.

Doc grinned raising the knife ready to fight off the Slayer. "This should be interesting."

There was no pause, no hesitation, Buffy striding towards the only thing between her and her sister, resolute, catching the thrust of his knife with an iron grip. With a burst of force and a furious shove her adversary had lost the battle of balance. On this narrow platform, her small stature coming in handy for once in her life. A low center of gravity grounding her push. Under better circumstance, this was a prime moment for anything witty. Swallowing the joke forming in the front of her mind while watching as the … thing fell at ever increasing speeds into gravity's embrace.

She turned away, towards her wide eyed sister. "I'm here" She used every ounce of uneasy tenderness available in a bid to calm her sister.

Dawn winced "Buffy, it hurts" The blood continuing to stream from her body, each laceration long and deep.

"I've got you. Come here. You're gonna be okay." Buffy soothed.

Neither noticed the few drops of Dawn's blood slowly dripping from the platform. Each to caught up in the emotion of their reunion as blood fell silently through the air until meeting an invisible resistance, halting it's fall. Where blood once hung, a speck of light appeared, swiftly growing from its source.

Buffy felt the air sizzle with power, refusing to look back as she lead her limping sister across the platform and back towards the main structure of the tower.

Without warning her sister wrestled an arm free of her gentle grasp, quickly turning with eyes of defiance at the worst possible time.

"Go!" Buffy ordered, watching as her sisters eyes turned from defiance, to sadness, making the final, painful leap to acceptance.

"Buffy … It's started!" She pointed to the ball of dreaded light forming below. The gateway that could only be sealed by her death.

Whipping around to follow her sister's finger, Buffy felt her stomach drop to her feet, understanding in that instant what it meant. Gasping as she saw the portal growing into existence. Bolts of lightning splitting the air, the crack of thunder joining the buzz of dark magic filling her ears.

"I'm sorry." Dawn muttered, tears rolling down her cheeks as her eyes met the worried gaze of her older sister.

Buffy forced a thin smile. "It doesn't matter." She knew what was coming, what it meant. She wouldn't kill her own sister, couldn't, shouldn't have to. A kinder fate to let the world end. To meet death with Dawn's hand in her own rather than survive, knowing the price was her little sisters life.

In a moment of courage Dawn took a heavy breath. She'd watched her sister save the world time and time again. Just this once, this one time, it was her who held the Key, the blood, everything needed to save the world. In a dash she streaked forwards, darting around the edge of her sister towards the end that had to come for the world to live. She didn't want to die, but this is what was needed, the one thing she could do.

"What are you doing?" Buffy demanded, snapping up her sisters arm a bit too harshly.

"I have to jump! The energy."

"It'll kill you!"

Dawn's eyes drifted to the grated metal floor "I know … I know about the ritual."

… … …

"I have to stop it."

Buffy's eyes narrowed "No"

"I have to! Look … look at what's happening!"

The tower shook beneath them, Dawn gripping anything nearby to keep her balance. Buffy, keeping a calm composure, nimbly swayed like a cat. The screeching roar of creatures from hell flooding their ears. Each emerging from the portal, eager to explore this new world. Each illuminated by ominous glow of the sphere which would end all life on Earth..

"Buffy, you have to let me go! Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing, it'll never stop." Dawn paused finally able to meet her sisters eyes. The normally calm glare of seasoned green eyes etched with a moment of uncertainty. "You know you have to let me. It has to have the blood."

A corner of Buffy's mind screamed. A piece of information finally clicking into place.

Blood!

Memories of the past months formed, sharpened, finally clarifying into realization.

Cause it's always got to be blood!

It's Summers blood. It's just like mine.

She's me. The monks made her out of me.

Death is your gift

Buffy's frown slowly etched into a grim smile. Her eyes turning to view the portal once more. The sun was rising in the distance, the sky flooding with a mosaic of colors.

There was another option. An option that would spare the most precious thing she had in this life. Her smile widened.

This was good

This was right

This was what she was meant for.

A perfect end for a life that had become too much to bear. She turned, facing her sister one last time. This is what it was all for, what it all meant, this was her purpose. She knew she'd never grow old, something she'd come to terms with long ago. Never have children, never have grandchildren, never experience so many of the wonderful things life had to offer.

But, her sister could.

One final gift to the world, one to ensure a future for Dawn. She took in the sight of Dawn's features, letting the feeling of peace descended for the first time since that fateful day so many years ago. No more fighting, no more suffering, no more pain. Buffy brought herself to meet Dawn's wet eyes one last time.

The End … finally, it's here.

Her sister must have realized the thoughts that were going through her mind. Dawn's face showing just how horrified she was. "Buffy … No!"

"Dawnie, I have to."

"No!"

"Listen to me. Please, there's not a lot of time, listen." Buffy cooed, stroking her sisters beautiful silky hair for the last time.

With her final words to her sister she kissed Dawn's forehead as lovingly as she could manage. Gently caressing her sisters face with a hand, brushing away tears one last time. This was it. The day they both knew had been coming. Death … her death. No way to run, no way to hide. Just pushing it off for another day the best she could manage. Every slayer came with an expiration date, and hers was long past. To think she could die like this, in a final act to save everything that she held dear. To be able to give her sister the farewell she deserved instead of the inevitable alternative, of not returning home one fateful night. It was a picturesque moment she could embrace. She was ready, she'd been ready for years.

Is today the day I die?

Yes.

Yes it is.

Without a word she turned, running down the platform with a smile etched across her lips. One final, simple, mission so her sister could live. The fall was exhilarating as she dove off the end into the portal of death below. When the pain arrived, it was overwhelming, all encompassing. Every cell in her body instantly on fire with a righteous pain the second she hit the light. Her body shuddered and wracked without command, jolts of fire bursting through her being. Even with the horror of sensation flooding her mind, she couldn't help but hold her a smile, serene as her vision faded into the blackness. One last thought running through her mind.

This is the last pain I'll ever feel.

Dawn remained as stoic as circumstance would allow, still in wide eyed disbelief at the top of the tower. Watching, frozen, as her sister dove out of sight. The shock momentarily suppressing reality as she took in the sight.

Only Buffy could make dying look so graceful.

The thought brought her a small moment of pride as she ran through Buffy's final loving words. Words more sincere and honest than she'd heard in a long time. In that final moment, her sister, not the slayer, truly emerged from behind all the walls and masks Buffy had built over the punishing years. The woman she'd always looked up to in her truest form smiling back with unquestioning love in her eyes.

'Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will Always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and that, that I'm okay. Give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me.'

Dawn stood motionless atop the tower as her sisters form slipped away in her final act of bravery. A sacrifice proving without refute that Buffy truly loved her above all else, above even her own life.

The crackling buzz of energy sharply intensified before surging inward on itself into nothingness. Dawn let out a breath, everyone was safe.

Buffy had saved the world once again.

A sickening 'thud' echoed into her ears as reality landed home. A noise that could have only been one horrifying thing. The sound of her sisters body slamming into the ground reminding her that not everyone had been safe in that moment of serenity.

Buffy!

Her eyes clenched shut, her face contorting as tears once more erupted from her eyes. As her knees crashed into the sharp metal grating of the platform, she never realized the cry filling the air was her own.

Why her? Why did she have to die? Why did the world have to be so cruel?

Her soul ripped in half as she felt a burning rage at the unfairness of it all. A pain unlike any she'd ever experienced before flooding through her body, stabbing, like a thousand needles begging to be set free.

The metal grate cut into her cheek as she collapsed into it. Letting out sobs of inconsolable pain amongst her solitude atop this tower she despised. She reached out with her hands, gripping the sides of the narrow walkway pulling with her might, but getting nowhere. Instead letting the steel bite into the soft flesh of her hands. She wanted to tear down every inch this tower piece by piece. Rip apart every scrap of steel that had taken her sister from her so unfairly. She wanted revenge on this cold reminder still bearing her weight.

She pulled harder on the grate, embracing the small spark of darkness within. Her face grinding into the metal, fresh pain powering her screams pushing her mind into a haze of rage.

Are you ready to be strong?

The question barley registered in her thoughts, too lost in the moment to respond to the dark voice growling within. Like a wave crashing through her body the darkness found a home. She felt it, shuddering as something moved into her, something evil, foreign … something … familiar. With another anguished scream, blood poured from her hands as the metal grate and supports below began to buckle and groan, the steel straining under her fury.

She took in a gasp of air, shocked, her hands closing the gap towards one another. The movement wholly unexpected. Feeling, sensing more than understanding, she knew she had to move. Quickly rising to her bloodied knees and rolling backwards like a finely practiced gymnast. Making it back into the main portion of the tower, narrowly avoiding the impending collapse of the now damaged portion of the walkway.

Gracefully rising to her feet she took only a second to brush aside the budding questions. Without thought she lashed out in anger, punching the nearest steel column that she could find with all her strength. In the back of her mind she knew the stupidity of it, bracing herself for the pain that was sure to result. She didn't care, she wanted pain, needed it. An outlet for the darkness that filling her every corner.

It didn't come.

The steel rang like a bell, but it didn't hurt, not like it should have. Screaming again and again she followed through with punch after punch. Prepared for the crunch of the brittle bones in her hands.

She closed her eyes at the moment of each impact, letting out another scream of hate directed at the object which had helped take her sister. her lips curled into a manic grin at the futility of it all. Dawn could tell each time she hit the column she did so with more and more strength, but still nothing happened.

Throwing everything she had at it in one final effort Dawn was stunned by a loud snap. But instead of bone, it was the metal that gave way. The thick steel yielding beneath her rage. As it parted away from her first she lost balance, stumbling off the edge of the tower. Eyes instantly shooting open, her breath hitching in panic as she felt herself begin to fall. Reaching out instinctively to grab the first piece of anything she swung herself gracefully back onto the platform. Landing smoothly on the balls of her feet, now one level lower than she had started. Her mouth dropped open, eyes widening even more, to the point of pain. Her mind racing to process what had just happened.

"What the?" Dawn looked down at her bloodstained hands. Her heart pounded in her ears while she caught her breath from the fright of the near fatal fall. Her knuckles were bloodied, and they hurt, but not as much as expected. She could almost see the cuts healing. Feel the itch as skin she'd torn on the rusted walkway start to knit itself back together.

She remembered the feeling of contact, of power flowing through her. The almost plastic feel of steel yielding under her strength.

Dawn's eyes settled on a similar column nearby, smiling at the fading throb as she lashed out. Punching it just the same as she had before but keeping her eyes open this time. She watched as her punch hit home, watched the support buckle under the force. Her smile widened in her rage, giving in to the darkness that had made her its new home. She lashed out at everything she saw, punching and kicking anything in range just for the chaos of it. Just to defile that which had robbed something from her.

"Dawn!" Giles yelled breathlessly, his legs having finally reached the pinnacle of the tower where Dawn was standing. "What are you … " He was stunned into silence, watching as Dawn landed another punch onto the mangled metal in front of her. Her sharp breaths the only pauses in her screams. He gasp when he saw the metal buckle under the force of her bloodied fist.

"Dawn what …?" Giles couldn't finish his sentence, his voice drowned out by the sound of Dawn setting loose her fury against a new unsuspecting column, one appearing completely pointless in the maze that was the structures frame. Using both fists in rapid succession she hammered away.

"Lil' Bit? Where the bleeding hell…?" Spike yelled, stopping as he tracked the Watcher's eyes to the furious screaming girl pounding away with bloodied fists.

"Dawn, stop!" Spike yelled, running up and trying to stop her rampage. He didn't expect her to turn so quickly. Unprepared for the elbow blow came out of nowhere, dislocating his jaw when she ripping her hand out of his grip. The pain was lost in the multitude of others. Just one more in a long list of bruises and broken bones he'd already sustained as he snapped his jaw back into place with a grunt.

He watched as Dawn pulled back her fist once more reading another strike, keeping it balled into a tight fist.

Bloody hell, she's just as strong as Buffy

He watched as the hopelessly telegraphed punch began rocketing towards his face. Quickly shifting to the side, Spike let her momentum carry her forwards. Letting him trap her arms, wrapping the furious girl up in an improvised bear hug.

"Watcher! What the hell is this?" Spike demanded as he looked up at Giles, covering his mouth with one hand as he looked on in shock.

"It … it can't be!"

Dawn, frustrated by being trapped in Spike's arms let out another blood curdling scream of frustration, struggling against the vampire's imprisoning hold.

"Dawn, calm down dammit!" Spike yelled "Giles, She… She's got a bleeding Slayer's strength!"

"Giles where's Dawn, oh … where's Buffy?" Xander yelled as he reached the level of the tower they were on, easily spotting Dawn struggling in Spike's arms.

Dawn let out another scream, using years of practice to wiggle free from her cage turning the instant she was free with a wild punch aimed at Spike's face.

"Dawn, stop!" Spike yelled, his head darting from side to side to avoid the storm of angry little fists. Grunting when one finally connected to his chest knocking him back.

"Dawn, where's Buffy?" Giles yelled, trying to get the hysterical child to stop destroying everything around her.

The words caused the crazed brunette to take pause. Letting out a murderous chuckle as she slowly turned her icy blue eyes towards the voice. "Buffy's dead"

Her words passed like the eye of a hurricane, a cold statement before the calm was gone. She screamed again, letting her rage power another wild slew of punches aimed towards Spike's face landing a few home as he ducked and dodged the rest.

"Dawn! Damn it Niblet, just stop a minute!" Spike repeated, only to be ignored, chasing him wildly around the platform like a crazed bull. Finally, pushed towards the edge of the platform, his options removed, he drove a well aimed fist into the underside of the girls chin. The girl he was charged to protect.

Without a sound she crumpled in an unconscious heap.

"Watcher, what … What the hell was that? Dawn … Dawn's a … How the bleeding hell is Dawn a Slayer all of a sudden!" Spike asked sharply.

"Dawn's a what now?" Xander yelled out.

Within seconds the trio of men had surrounded the unconscious form, each fighting to prove their caring over the rest.

"Are you sure?" Giles asked meeting spikes gaze.

"Are you kidding me? She's a bloody Slayer you pillock! " Spike explained.

"No. It's not … There's no way. The Slayer line already passed Buffy. And the only way you get a new one is if … " Giles froze as understanding came. Dawn's screams finally making sense.

"No" Giles gasp, his eyes moving to Spike praying for another explanation.

Spike's head fell. His eyes resting on the slight form at his feet.

"No what?" Xander asked looking confused. "What?"

… … …

The girlish screams from the base of the tower broke the silence. Spike hefting an unconscious Dawn into his arms, subtly brushing away tears in the process.

Tears flowed unopposed as each Scoobie stared at Buffy's motionless corpse. Each one processing silently in their own stunned disbelief. In their minds, they expected her to somehow wake up. To just shrug off the damage to her body with a quip as she had every time before. Buffy always survived, always found that little loophole. Always powered through no matter how bad the injury. For years they'd watched as wave after wave of evil crash against their leader. Each one finally breaking against the unstoppable wall of light that was Buffy Summers. Now, each was coming to grips with the same inescapable conclusion.

Buffy wasn't coming back.

Dawn's eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting Spike's sadly returning the stare only briefly before closing hers once more. She couldn't bear the pain she saw, she had enough pain. For a moment she let herself dream, let her body stay limp and unmoving in the strong arms supporting her. If she ignored the scent of cigarettes, the cold grip of his arms, if she tuned everything out she could almost pretend it was Buffy who was keeping her safe. Carrying her home after she sprained her ankle. Rocking her to sleep after their mother died. Running with her cradled in her arms keeping her safe from Glory, the one responsible for setting all of this in motion.

The moment of self delusion made reality all the worse. Reality crashing into her chest like a brick dropped from space making the pain in her jaw irrelevant. Her eyes slid open once more. Even beaten and bruised to within an inch of his unlife, Spikes eyes had never lost that glow. That little gleam of mischief that made Spike, Spike. The little bead of liquid sorrow running down his cheek and the vacant look on his face said everything

I'm so sorry

"We need to leave" Willow muttered breaking the silence.

Xander: "We can't leave her here, not like this!"

"W...We should m...move her" Tara stuttered "Mr. Giles c...can you carry her?"

"Yes, I … … … yes" Giles replied, walking closer to the rubble pile serving as Buffy's shrine of sacrifice "Xander"

Xander: "Huh? … Oh … Yeah, I'll … I'll help"

"Don't touch her!" Dawn yelled. Wriggling free of Spikes arms at to her feet so quickly she nearly fell on her face from her new disproportionate strength.

The group looked on surprised as the youngest Summers walked towards her sister's body. None able to meet the steely eyes of raw emotion, flinching as as they caught the familiar spark of primal rage Buffy radiated in her purest form.

"Dawn we need to move her, we … we can't explain this" Willow explained taking a step to intercept the young Scoobie.

"Don't!" Dawn shoved Willow to the side before kneeling down near Buffy's motionless body.

Her heart skipped a beat as anger gave way to grief and sorrow. It was the eyes … she couldn't look away from the eyes. Motionless and glassy green orbs starting distantly into nowhere. The eyes of her sister … The Slayer … the woman who had taken every insult, every curse, every hateful word she could throw her way returning only love in return. Guilt quickly smothering everything else.

Buffy had died because of her. To save her. A Key some monks crammed into a teenage body that her sister died to protect. Now it was Buffy that was just a body. This time she'd given literally everything she had to stop the world from ending. To stop herfrom ending. Using her own life to close the portal that demanded Summers blood.

It was her fault … her fault the her sister was now the lifeless body lying at her feet. The best slayer in written history had been killed and for What? Because the monks had made Buffy love her. She had killed her own sister.

The slew of bodies she noticed surrounding them finally snapped her out of her frozen grief. Ignoring the tear stained faces of the Scoobies she reached down, carefully scooping up her sisters slender body with her small arms. Lifting the larger woman from the pile of rubble with an effortlessly grace, and resting it gently down on the level ground before crashing to her bloodied knees.

The crowd who'd not been on the tower gasp at the casual display of strength each knew she shouldn't have. Dawn simply ignoring them as she used the sleeve of her dress to clean the dirt, sweat, and grime off her sisters face. Finger combing the messy blonde hair as the pieces of her heart seemed to break into ever smaller pieces. It seemed such a worthless gesture, but even in death, she knew Buffy would want to look her best.

Her silent work complete she leaned over, placing a kiss on her sisters forehead matching the one she'd received only minutes ago. Burying her face into her sisters tattered sweater to muffle the pained screams that followed.

"Giles, what … what's going on?" Willow asked, shocked.

Giles shook his head, hanging it from the sore muscles in the back of his neck unable to meet anyone eyes. "The monks made Dawn from Buffy, Buffy was the slayer, when she … when she died the essence of the slayer tried to transfer down the line. But … the line had already passed so it went to the closest place it could." His eyes never rose from his feat as he muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Wait, that means … ?" Xander paused, finally understanding what he saw earlier.

Giles Nodded

"We can't leave her here" Dawn softly spoke once more, rising to her feat ignoring the conversation in the background.

"I … agree" Giles said grimly.

Dawn's eyes shifted from her sister to Giles. The man always had a hardness to him. Something only seen in Buffy or Spike. In a random though she realized she'd never seen him cry before. The last time she'd seen a grown man cry was … her body tensed as another thought filtered past the grief. "If they know Buffy died they'll take me away, they'll send me to my father or, or a foster home." Another fit of choked sobs erupted as she realized her life was somehow only going only get worse.

"No, they won't." Giles reassured.

"Umm Giles, not that I'm loving this conversation but they will take her" Willow pointed out.

"No, They won't. Buffy … she … she made arrangements." Giles said.

"What?" Xander asked, confused.

"I promised Buffy I'd look after you if she … She made me your godfather shortly after Joyce died. I'll burn in hell before I break that promise." Giles voice turned coldas a ruthless flint of ripper broke through.

No one dared doubt the mans frightening sincerity.

"She … she never said … " Dawn choked.

"She didn't want you to worry you Dawn. But she knew this day would come." Giles explained.

"No … she can't be … she'll come back … she … " Dawn murmured as the simple words shattered reality around her. Slumping back to her knees in a heap, weeping and broken. She knew the remaining Scoobies were starting at her.

Fine

That they were already blaming her for Buffy's death in some corner of their minds.

Fine

Spike walked cautiously to Giles speaking softly in his ear "What are we going to do Watcher? About … ?" He grimaced at the silent glare that was returned "Yeah … that … look don't make me say it just get it done. I'll take care of the bit."

Giles clenched his teeth as Spike turned, sweeping Dawn back into his arms. "Willow, do you have enough energy to... ?" Giles question was cut off by the exhausted eyes of the young witch looking back at him.

"I … I c...can help. I t...think I know what you're thinking. I h...haven't known Buffy as l...long as you guys. It w...will be easier for me to …" Tara spoke gently as the group seemed to recoil at whatever it was they were planning.

Xander smeared tears and dirt across his face with a bloodied fist "She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve Anyof this."

… … …

"Look, it had to be said." Xander let out a sad sigh "Come on Spike, let's get Dawn to the Hospital. I don't want to watch … this."

Dawn, cradled in Spike's arms, trying to tune out the softly spoken words as each step took them that much further away from this nightmare turned reality. Her newly sensitive ears still picking up more than wanted causing her to look back at her sister praying she'd wake up at the sight. Her efforts were for naught, each time Spike twisting his body to block her view. Finally resigning herself to look back up into his eyes as his arms gently cushioned each jarring step taken.

A few of Spike's cold tears landed on her face when he closed the distance between their heads speaking so softly that only a slayer could hear "Be brave."

Her mind flashed to her sister's final loving words.

Dawn, the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me

Be Brave

She repeated the thought in her mind, letting it focus into a steely resolve.

Be Brave, that's what she would do, for Buffy.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex (SGC) – Major Samantha Carters Lab

Major Samantha 'Sam' Carter closed her eyes, soaking in a deep breath of the precious scent. "Coffee" she moaned to no one but the god of caffeine, letting her feet carry her along the memorized path to her home away from home.

The last several days had been brutal, stuck off world on a desolate planet trying to get a dial home device functioning once more. Only SG-1 could be so lucky as to have the DHD struck by a bolt of lightening only moments before they were scheduled to return home. Her ears were still ringing from the sonic boom of air ionizing into plasma only a dozen meters away.

Slumping into her chair she downed a gulp of the precious elixir, her attention caught by a flashing light on one of the many displays in her lab.

"Huh?"

Her weariness, gone in the flash of an LED, kicked her – according to Jack - 'Redicu-normous' brain from it's half conscious state into unrestrained overdrive. The puzzle of a new discovery springing her into action as she powered up servers left and right, rousing them from their waking slumber.

The thought of coffee was left behind as her eyes raced eagerly to dissect the data streaming across the screen. "What the?" She quickly dove into typing a brief report outlining what she had found. A brief report, a very brief report, twenty pages, tops.

Thirty minutes, and an angry glare at the subtle reminder in the form of an industrial paper shredder later. She'd paired her eighteen page report down to something more understandable to an senior Air force General. She sighed, cursing Jack's name and the industrial epoxy he'd used to mount the shredder next to her door.

Her eyes looking sadly at the half page of bare bone facts and details as she strode through the door on a mission towards her superior's office. Only three lonely numbers in the whole whopping two hundred and seven words, and one of those was in SG-1.

CheyenneMountain Complex (SGC) – General Hammond's Office

"Major Carter, you wanted to see me" General George Hammond spoke, not bothering to lift his eyes from the intelligence packet resting on his desk.

"Yes sir, you know I keep an eye on any energy bursts that happen in or near earth's atmosphere."

"Yes …" He drew out the words finally breaking from another depressing report about how screwed they were. "I assume there is a point Major."

Sam shifted to hide the flinch at the General weary eyes. "Yes sir, two hours ago a massive energy burst was detected in California."

"A ship exiting hyperspace?"

"Unlikely sir. It doesn't match anything we have on record. And even then, from what we know, using hyperspace drives in atmosphere is basically like playing Russian roulette with a planet sized revolver."

Hammond managed a slight smile at the mental image of a Goa'uld Ha'tak smashing into the Earth's rocky embrace. "Then what was it?"

"No idea sir, but I think it's worth checking out. It was located in a town called Sunnydale. Where specifically in that town, I couldn't say."

Hammond frowned, closing the file on his desk. This was one of those issues where he wished he had a freer hand. "Sunnydale? We can't go there Major, not in any official capacity. Unless you have some kind of proof that there are aliens involved then we're strictly hands off. The NID will have to send someone."

It was Sam's turn to frown. "The NID sir? After the stunts they've pulled lately?"

General Hammond pierced his subordinate with an annoyed glare "Yes Major, the NID. I don't like it any more than you do but there are laws Major."

"I can go, strictly off the records Sir. Vacation and all that."

Like a dog with a bone this one.

Hammond admired an eager officer, but as tempted as he was to look the other way the angry looking red phone on his desk warned him against it. "I'm sorry Major, not this time. Sunnydale is strictly off limits by presidential order. And before you ask I don't know why."

Sam felt her aspirations of a new discovery dashed before they'd even found solid footing.

"Besides, the NID aren't all bad. After their glorious …" He caught himself before careless words of frustration could escape. "An old friend of mine has been assigned as our new liaison. Is that all Major?"

Sam sighed, subtly, making sure not to let the General see. "Yes sir"

"Good, then I'll expect you at the briefing at … " Hammond paused as he looked at his watch in contemplation "1200 Hours."

"Of course Sir."

"Major" Hammond quickly added, finally noticing the slight wrinkles in his officers disheveled uniform. Her weary eyes and tired face of a soldier on the verge of collapse. Kept going only by the excitement of a discovery now quashed. "Make it 1400 hours. Get some sleep Major. Before Dr. Fraisier sees you."