Twelve minutes after she had hung up the telephone in the Croft Stable's, the Lady of the Manor walked casually through the parlour. Her boots falling softly and quietly upon the marble tiled surface as she entered the room her guests were using as a venue for their morning meal. Without pausing to address either young woman, Lady Croft sat down at the prepared place between both parties, draping a napkin over her lap in a fluid sweep that seemed more natural to her then breathing. Her presentation was immaculate and did not at all betray someone who had awoke before the sparrows and had spent the past two-hours in the company of a large quadruped.
The unannounced, sudden and near silent arrival caught both Slayer and Academic by surprise causing them to hastily swallow what was in their mouths. Dawn was first to offer the elder of the group her acknowledgements and she did so with an awkward nod and nervous smile. Earning for her a nod and a smile in return. The blonder sister, however, chose to wait until her food had successfully cleared her mouth on its journey to her stomach before surrendering an address to their shared host.
Buffy firmly placed her utensils upon the table, giving off an exaggerated rattle on the high-end porcelain plates to which she was dining off of. The abrupt 'cling-clanging' that met this disrespectful gesture caused Lara to unintentionally wince, but remain quiet to the affront it had caused her at hearing it. The Slayer composed herself and chose to await the high-born's face to retreat back towards its 'normal' features and receive her acknowledgement before speaking. Lara's sideway and annoyed glace at her was, she believed, as good of a que as any.
"Your man, Jeeves, told us you were out on Black Beauty, galloping around your estate. Is that normal for you 'silver-spoon' types? To get up at the crack of dawn and leaving guests to wonder where their esteemed host have run off to?"
Lara's eyebrow arched in an annoyed fashion to the Slayer's caustic delivery. From what Henry told her on the phone she had suspected Buffy would try and provoke her from the get-go. But she wasn't expecting it to be so blunted and 'ordinary'. Not even five seconds and she has already gotten under my skin. Well done, Miss Summers.
The Tomb Raider took a second to draw in a cleansing breath, considering her course. If this was the best Buffy could accomplish then she feared they would be here all morning. Fortunately, or rather un-fortunately, the Slayer had unknowingly provided her with a 'in'. One that could be used to fan a flame. After all, for anyone who knew Lara Croft – *REALLY* knew her, they would know there was only one 'taboo' in her presence. One sure way for a person to glimpse her rarely seen darker side. And that was to diminish the value and worth of any of her 'people'. And nothing showed a greater disrespect, as far as she was concerned, then to intentionally misname another. True enough, if it was an accident, done in jest, to tease, or if the other person was game to the joke then that would be deemed excusable in her book. But to do so purposefully as a means of eliciting contempt, or because that person in question could not even bother to offer the other the simple civility to commit the other's name to their memory? Well, too her that was not only rude but it was also unpardonable. In this instance, she feared that Buffy was intentionally degrading her oldest living confidant. And that was very much like a red-rag to a Bull.
Levelling her full and undivided attention in Buffy's direction, the Tomb Raider met the Slayer's intimidating glare with her own gaze. The adventurer's smouldering orbs of caramel perfection infiltrated the chilly aqua dominance that the blonde had been trying to establish upon the High-born.
It was an age old and childish gamble of one-upmanship. A war of wills, one that Lara felt assured that once the 'battle' was met that she would emerge victorious from the encounter. For though it might be true that Buffy Anne Summers had stood eye-to-eye with Demon's, Vampire's and other outlandish manner of Monster's in her strange and intriguing life. It was doubtful that she ever had to stare down the drunken advances of lecherous, entitled and self-congratulating Trust-Fund Playboy's for most of her adolescent and adult life.
The various Beasts' that the Slayer had encountered would gain a sense of thrill and power out of effortlessly provoking fear and intimidation in its prey. So their reactions, when they came across a human who would reflect that same look back at them would be to quickly fold in confusion. This had probably warped Buffy's opinion of her 20-yard glare to the point where she thought herself quite formidable. Sadly, however, on this Tuesday morn the Slayer would learn that in this unique arena of 'intimate-intimidation' there was no one equal in all of Europe to that of Lady Lara Croft.
Well, that was a lie. There was ONE equal. One man. And on the rare occasions whenever they did find themselves facing off against each other, any personal thoughts of supremacy and domination would be quickly forgotten by them both in hasty favour of ripping the other's clothes from their body. Damn that bloody eye-patch of his and that perfect smirking smile. Damn the way he always intentionally stops shaving a week before he knew she is coming to visit him, all because he knows that seeing him with a rough manly stubble made her knees fold.
Yes sir. Her 'Man' knew exactly what rabbit to pull out of his hat to make her forget her anger and to submit to his desires, and admittedly, to her own desires as well. There were even times when she thought he would start an argument just so they could move on to a healthy dose of Make-Up Sex five-minutes after the first exchange of harsh words. In fact, her current 'condition', she suspected, was a result of just such a bout of conflict.
Lara halted her pleasant ponderings and began to quickly reflect on the moment. She could broke no losses towards supplanting Buffy. This was now a matter of pride more then anything else, this American Up-start needed to learn her place towards manner's, especially manner's involving insulting the people she cared about. This subtle battlefield was HER domain. And her life-experience of dealing with the privileged Jet Set and other various God's Gift's had bred in the female-aristocrat an adversary the likes the Slayer had probably never before faced. In comparison to the world of the ego-driven 'Beautiful People' which Lara found herself regularly forced to associate with during Charity Events, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer's 'petulant-look', only exposed herself as being that of a baby who hadn't as yet found her feet.
For the Tomb Raider it was an easy and practiced thing to dismantle the entitled-arrogance of the Privileged-Set with only a glance. It was a skill she had to nurture early in her life given the various unwanted attentions she received, coincidently, at the same time she started to 'develop' as a woman. The various leer's and the offensive looks that were directed towards her by men twice her age and women desperately trying to hang on to their youth. She could not recall the number of 'well-meaning-friends' who tried to take her under their wing when they realised that she had no official Guardian and was the sole Heir to the famed Croft Fortune. She was thought by many to be a fragile lamb amongst a Pride of ravenous Lion's. And in that boy's-only environment she had to make herself grow-up quickly and become equally quick witted or run the risk of being taken advantage of and fugitively, if not literally, eaten alive.
She learned, during those awkward adolescent years, that to meet chilly-glare for chilly-glare rarely ever earned either participant any advantage in battles of social dominance. And such mistakes like these were generally ones only made by fools or novices, and she was now neither. In these chosen instances and encounters, the Tomb Raider used what God and his Angel's above had blessed her with - her sexuality. And if there was anything she was MORE then confident on it was her sexual-appeal. True, some might call this 'confidence' in her own lustful-allure conceitful and an 'arrogance' all it's own and maybe on some level it was. But she had discovered over the past one and a half decades that this attribute was also the greatest weapon she possessed in her arsenal. A weapon that could be effortlessly turned on any opponent, whether her intended target was man or woman, young or old, straight or 'bent'. She knew that a few well placed suggestive phrases, accompanied with a long enough smouldering-and-a-highly-sexually-charged-gaze at her quarry, that it would always unnerve her prey and allow her to then gain whatever advantage was sought.
In this particular circumstance it took mere seconds for the Tomb Raider to begin to acquire the upper hand and seize the lead. Countering the Chosen One's cold glare with her sultry one.
Under the administrations of her Host's eyes, the Slayer's righteousness began to momentarily dissolve away. Causing Buffy Summer's to awkwardly and timidly break eye contact with the other. As Buffy broke away she momentarily lost all reason to why she was even angry at the other. The provocativeness of Croft's 'look' sending a tingle through her spine.
Gaining some small pleasure at the glazed frenzy and alarm that was now being portrayed in the Slayer's eyes, Lara leaned forward slightly, offering a small and oppressive smile before allowing her full lips to part. "I probably should have made this rule very clear last night when we first met, Buffy. It is a simple tenet and it is the only one I hold in my house. I don't care if you accidentally set fire to one of the Monet's; I don't care if you take the Bugatti Veyron for a spin and then drive it off a cliff. I don't care if you blow-up the East Wing. That's why I pay the exorbitant insurance premiums that I do. You even have free-reign to do what Sir Keith Richard's did four-years ago and if the mood takes you you may relieve yourself on the potted ficus in the Main Hall. Heaven's, you can do *all* these four things and I assure you that as you are my respected guest not a single word of offence or anger will pass my lips, though to honest I would much prefer it if you didn't.
"But there is one and only one rule that everyone who crosses the threshold must abide by, myself included, and that is that in my Home we treat everybody with respect. And absolutely no-one is above that rule, not even the Queen-Mother. You can lay thick your snippy attitude to whom ever passes your way when you leave my gates. But whilst you are a visitor in my home you will conduct yourself accordingly to this single and very simple principle, as it will be conducted equally to yourself. Do we have an understanding?"
Buffy Summer's did not answer, but her silence spoke volumes towards her acceptance of the warning.
"Now before we move off this distasteful subject and proceed further to matters I am sure you are anxious to discuss with me. I want you to also know of one very important thing, *Henry*, has more class and refinement in a week-old toe-nail clipping then any of us have in our entire body. He has a name. Commit it to memory and use it. And use it respectfully. It's not Jeeves, or Snevley or any other clichéd Butler-name you may have witnessed in the funny-papers, your American sit-coms, or Hollywood Movies. His name is Henry. If I ever, and I mean this sincerely Buffy, if I *ever* have to correct you again or hear you demean or speak cruelly towards his efforts to do his tasks with the professionalism I have come to anticipate from him, then I assure you, I will make it my priority in this life to have you regret it."
"Is that some kind of a threat?"
"Yes it is and believe you me it's not a worn-out one either. You see you have just made the mistake of singling out one of few people who matter most to me in this World. Henry might come across as 'stuffy and starched', but that is only because you do not have, as yet, the privilege to know him better. His wit and dry delivery is beyond compare and I value him immensely. He looks out for me and my happiness even without the asking. Such a man is a treasure and I value him as such. I wonder how many men you have in your life who would just as selflessly look out for you and your best interest, Buffy? Can you name one? Because I am certain if you could you wouldn't be single at this very moment, would you."
The Vampire Slayer stiffen in her chair. The last thing she wanted was to be either corrected or reminded of any lost opportunities of happiness. Her mind automatically and briefly linked itself to memories of Xander and it was all she could do to maintain her composure and not blush or scream out in frustration. For the last several days, nearly every small and subtle reference always kept leading back to him. But if she was to be completely honest with herself, her thoughts started to become consumed with Xander the moment she first heard about the machete attack two-months ago. But whereas with those impressions she was consumed with both guilt and fear, in the last twelve hours, whatever panicky concerns she possessed had now been replaced by emotions that ran in the exact opposite direction.
She had spent all of last night awake, listening as her sister slept in the bed beside her, forcing her mind to replay all the moments she had shared with him. Not the scary ones or the ones in which she found herself worrying about his well-being. But the good and happy ones. The ones that made her laugh. The ones that made her glad to be alive. The ones that made her 'Buffy' and not 'The Slayer'. She was ashamed to admit this, even if it was just to herself, but every truly happy moment she possessed, even if she was struggling with pain and doubt, he was always there. Not Giles, not Angel or Riley or Spike. Not her mother, Willow or even Dawn. It was always him. Xander had done more then just being her friend, because no friend, 'best' or otherwise, would have put up with the crap that she used to pile on to his shoulders. In fact the more she kept thinking about him and the struggles they had both faced together in the past, the more everything seemed 'right'. He could have been, quite simply, the best thing in her life. But a stupid Pact-Agreement between her and Willow when they first became friends had automatically made him a 'look-but-don't-touch' issue. And now, if Croft was right and the Slayer-Spirit manipulated her and diverted her attention elsewhere, then … No! She refused to believe that all was as lost with Xander as she believed. They may never be what they could have been destined to be, but she would not give up on the friendship that was once so strong.
Lara leaned back in her chair, but refused to take her eyes off the Slayer. A curious expression crossing the brunette's features as a decidedly focused and determined look began to morph upon the face of the blonde. The Raider could only imagine what thoughts were now running rampant through the Slayer's head, but she was not willing to lose the upper hand. "I am quite sure you have heard, or may have even claimed to others that there are people whom you would willingly die for, yes? Well, Buffy, Henry is someone who I would not only die for but also willingly *kill* for. As that old joke goes: 'A friend will help you hide an affair. A GOOD friend will help you hide a body.' Despite whatever thoughts you may have towards the functioning relationship of me and my staff, I would like to advise you that though I consider myself their employer, I also consider myself as being to each of them a very, very *good* friend. That and I also happen to own an Estate with a sizable parcel of land to hide whatever bodies might happen to pile up in my assorted efforts and enthusiasm to prove that friendship to them. Do we understand each other?"
The Ladyship's delivery to the Slayer was evenly spoken and without any timbre in her tone that would betray she was at all uncertain too her own words or that she was bluffing. Because the truth of the matter is she wasn't. She would crawl through fire and broken glass, prepared to risk damnation itself for the people she cared about and she felt she needed to emphasis this small fact to the Slayer if she was to be ever taken seriously by the miniscule blonde.
Buffy slowly nodded her understanding, casting her eyes out through the large window in front of her. Her mind imagining just how many people could be safely and VERY easily buried on the great expanse of property for no one to ever know, see, or hear of ever again. There was obviously more to Lara Croft then Dawn's exaggerated stories. Stories that prior to this moment she had believed to be embellished and impossible to believe. But now? Now she had doubts. In that brief ten-second exchange she witnessed a fierceness in the brunette. An almost feral-resolve. One that stirred in Buffy a fragment of a near ancient memory.
A memory that unnerved her to the very core.
She hadn't felt this 'intensity' from another person since she and Faith had squared off with one another at the other's Apartment several years earlier. Back when the then Benedict Arnold of the Scooby Gang had chosen to play henchwoman and go-to-assassin-gal for Mayor McSnake. There was a primal energy being exchanged between the two, herself and Croft, one that was more then just a contest of wills or some childish dare of 'chicken'. This, it seemed to her, was a challenge on a visceral level. A restrained provocation was being directed for her to try and take what the other had. Something precious and something Buffy was almost certain of, that Lady Croft, was not willing to give up without a fight. And if her Slayer, as well as woman's intuition had anything to say, whatever this object was it was a pretty major 'thing' at that. The petty argument created over 'remembering' Henry's name was obviously just camouflage for something else. Something that was brewing unsaid, and presently unknown.
Ever since the discoveries of the previous night the Slayer suspected, despite her impeccable need to prove to be a gentile Host, that Croft was concealing something. Some extra bit of info or other secret. After all you don't invite strangers into your home and drop that kind of bombshell. You *never* lay all your cards out on the table with your first hand, at least that was her experience. You always kept an Ace or a King hidden from show until you knew what the other player had. And Buffy had to conclude that whatever this 'Ace' was it was indeed something very personal to the Tomb Raider if her Slayer-Sense was any indication. And in this withholding, Buffy saw her host's Achilles heel. A vulnerability.
Buffy slowly drew her eyes across the table, avoiding the aristocrat, to lock sight with her younger sister. A sister who was trying to unsubtly direct her to amp-down from the whole 'I am the Law' routine. Buffy's first thought was towards the oddity of this direction, especially considering It had been planned by the pair prior to coming down for breakfast on a steamed mirror in their bathroom, that she was to intentionally 'bait' the so-called Lady of the Manor. The objective was a simple one, to provoke Croft to the point where she would lose her temper so they might get the chance to see the true-face behind all the manners and etiquette. But obviously, Lara Croft, was someone who did not lose control of herself often, either that or she was trying to mirror their strategy and 'bait' them. Yet if Croft was trying to turn the tables and get a rise out of them, the question of the hour would be 'why'? The Slayer suspected that if this was so then all would be revealed in time, she just hoped it would not be something that would bite either of them on the ass when that moment arrived. If Lady Lara Croft could keep her cool, the blonde Slayer believed she could certainly match her.
Understanding that Dawn knew the Tomb Raider's reputation far better then herself, the elder sister complied with the youngest direction. She returned a small and almost unnoticed nod, choosing to look contrite to the gentle rebuke that had just been delivered. Allowing her sister to now take over their cause, hoping one way or another that some reliable answers can be gained.
Dawn cleared her throat and gently introduced herself into the conversation. It was, on her part, an inflated attempt to try and identify herself as a 'Peacemaker'. A role she had hoped would enable her to keep the conversation progressing forward in a direction of her choosing, whilst at the same time to also establish herself as being separate of her sister's aggressiveness.
"I have to apologise on Buffy's behalf, Lady Croft, she has long suffered from the dreaded affliction of speaking-before-thinking…"
Buffy's 'contrite expression' was momentarily lost as she imagined mental daggers being flung at her little sister from across the table. No doubt about it, at some point down the track she was going to make her pay for that remark as only a big sister could.
"…Fortunately it only affect's the first-borns in the Summer's bloodline. Henry's been truly wonderful, and this breakfast is positively amazing."
Lara now turned her attention to the younger sister and offered her fresh target a warm smile. But despite the warmth she tried to generate, she was still very much on guard of what new stratagem was now being played out by the pair. "I will make sure he knows that at least 'one' of you is able to appreciate the effort he puts in."
Lara allowed her affirmation to settle on both her guest's ears as she herself reassessed this new strategy. Last night, Dawn, though expressing frustration and annoyance towards her big-sister's ignorance, certainly wasn't rude or insulting in doing so. What the younger had just said went completely against character, at least the character the seasoned adventurer had created for the younger in her mind. But that was fine, if either Summer's wished to treat her like a fool then that would be a mistake they would have to live with later.
Lara straightened herself up in her seat as she continued to address the younger guest. "And I apologise for my own tone, I didn't mean to come off sounding harsh. But last night I had, at best, interrupted sleep and I fear this has prompted me to be a little bit short-of-temper." Lady Croft then looked remorsefully back at the Slayer, intending what she was planning to say next be directed to the blonde at her side. "But in saying this I also hope you both clearly understand that I see my staff as my 'family'. And as I said, I do not take kindly to those who disrespect my family."
The chestnut haired academic smiled politely and nodded her understanding. "Yes, there is nothing more important then family." The younger sister silently congratulated herself on how effortlessly she had defused a very tense situation between both women.
"Our mom died six years ago and our dad has been pretty much a no-show in both of our lives since they got divorced. The only family we both have are the people we have consciously introduced into it. Maybe they are not exactly blood-related, but they are still our family. And if anyone disrespected Willow, Giles or Xan around me, or for that matter Buffy, then you can expect some pretty strong words to be said. Maybe not so much from Buffy, she doesn't exactly have the same vocabulary as me."
Lara crocked her head to the side in curiosity, her eyes almost twinkling. "Xan? What an unusual name."
"Err, no. Xan is short for Xander."
"Oh! I see, you mean that man you spoke of last night don't you? Your … 'Heart'?" A knowing smile slid across her mouth as she teased the young Summer's.
The question startled Dawn, causing her to blush slightly. The young woman then offered her Ladyship an exaggerated and hasty nod, all awhile averting her eyes nervously from her sister. Meekly she answered. "Yeah. That's him. He's … yeah, well, he's not mine. He's *our* Heart. My family's heart."
The corner of Lara's lip then curled upwards in personal amusement at how uncomfortable the mere mention of 'Xander' and 'Heart' together made the young Oxford Student look as though she wanted to flee the room in embarrassment. Leaning to her side, to favour Buffy, Lara whispered loud enough for her words to carry across the table. "I think this mysterious gentleman friend of Dawn's might have some healthy competition, wouldn't you say, Buffy?"
There did not appear to be any cold menace in the claim, just playful teasing. But for what ever the reason, the Slayer felt as though she had just been patted the wrong way. In her mind it was as though the gorgeous brunette was making fun of the two people she valued most in the entire world. Her little sister and her best … friend (?)
"Yeah? And what if he does?" Buffy chimed back, with undeniable edge in her words. She might be a lot of things to a lot of people, but foremost she would always see herself as Dawn's protector, and she didn't like seeing someone … anyone, try and embarrass her. "If this new guy of hers is competition for Xander, then that means he's on par with him. And if that's the case then I couldn't be happier."
Lara straightened herself again and showed a cat-who-ate-the-canary smile to both her guest's. "My, my, my. To have this effect on two attractive young women, Xander, must be more then just a 'Heart'. I wonder if there are any other parts of him that are equally impressive?" The Tomb Raider then offer the pair a disarming chuckle at the crude- amusement of her own words.
That was it! At least as far as Buffy was concerned. Croft might be able to embarrass Dawn, but she was not going to allow the Aristocrat make fun of someone who wasn't there to defend themselves. Especially a guy who she was now starting to think could be the other piece of her soul. Slowly the Slayer stood up and placed her napkin across her now finished morning meal. With more of a growl then anything else, the Chosen One, answered. "Don't talk about Xander like that."
"Like what?"
"Like he's a Joke. Xander isn't a Joke. You want to talk smack about him, then you can expect to be smacked down by me in return."
Coolly, Lara, met the Slayer's eyes. Lara then allowed her vision to travel up and down the body of the blonde, assessing her stance and posture. There was no doubt that Buffy was primed to react, but there was definite control being enforced by the 'human-side' of Buffy Summer's over the Slayer-part of her. Still, she had believed that their little 'dance' would last a little longer before she would have gotten this reaction. As it stood it had lasted less then five-minutes. Still, she had learned what she needed too. Buffy had demonstrated near full control of her Slayer-self, either that or the Slayer Spirit had merged so effectively with her over the years of co-habitation that they had become close to being one solid entity. And if this was indeed true then Buffy was exactly who she needed to have with her on this expedition.
"Well?" Buffy demanded.
"Well, what?" Lara offered tiredly.
"Are you going to apologise?"
Lara turned her head away from the blonde and smiled again, like a parent who had just seen a child do something adorable. "If it will make you feel better, then of coarse. I apologise. Now you know exactly how I feel, Buffy."
Refusing to take her seat as she still felt the matter had not as yet been successfully resolved, the Slayer, remained standing. But her posture and rigidity became more relaxed. "Feel? Feel about what?"
"Henry, of coarse. Now you know how I felt when I heard you disrespecting, Henry. It's not a nice feeling, is it?"
At this point the man-servant in question, Henry, walked into the room with his usual style and grace. Pushing a cart that had on the top tray a hot plate with two poached eggs and three rashers of bacon to the side. Without being urged, the middle-aged Englishman proceeded to place the food, pour a steaming cup of tea to his Mistress's specifications and lay down the silver cutlery in front of Lara. He then added to the opposite side of the tea cup arrangement a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice, with pulp included.
After establishing the placement of the meal in front of his Mistress, the butler then began to clear the table of the completed meals of the two guest's. Receiving murmuring 'thank-you' from both sisters. Buffy, suddenly feeling very conspicuous towards being the only one standing as he tried to clear the table, slowly and humbly descended once more into her seat.
Dawn's breathing relaxed slightly at the Englishman's arrival, things were getting far to tense in the room for her liking. As a matter of curiosity, the young American watched the man-servant carefully and silently stack the two plates and cutlery on the lower shelf of his trolley. After the completion of these tasks he then placed a small separate plate beside the juice glass of Lady Croft. On the plate were three tablets and a capsule.
Lara noticed Dawn's interest in her morning medication. And in a quick velvety gesture she picked the offending items, placed them in her mouth and took a hasty sip of the juice in front of her to help wash them down. "Damn vitamin's. I'd rather not take them at all, but Henry would never let me get away with it. Last time I tried to avoid them he threatened to break them up and conceal them in my food, like I was some stubborn and ill family pet."
Dawn returned Lara's polite smile and chuckle as she glanced up at the now sour expression on the man-servants face. But despite the look on her face, the younger Summer's sister knew that there was something out of the ordinary with that morning regime of pharmaceuticals. She had seen one of the capsules and two of those tablets before. The tablets were Calcium and Folic Acid supplements. During her vacation period away from Oxford she would stay at Giles weekend cottage in the Catskills, his bathroom cabinet was full of the kind of medication you would expect from a person sailing on the far side of middle-age. One of these 'vitamins' was for osteoporosis and the other was a source of B9. The capsule was another she was more then familiar with, many first and second year Oxford students would take them around exam time especially if they were anxious towards their up-coming tests. The capsule helped combat nausea.
Dawn's mind started to work this problem through in a very 'Willow-type-manner'. Why would a seemingly healthy young woman need to take supplements to boost her calcium and red-blood cells in the body? And what was she queasy over that she needed to take medication to starve it off? If horseback-riding made her nauseous then why would she subject herself to it so early in the … morning? Morning … vomit… nausea … sickness … ?*
"* OH MY GOD!" Dawn pounced up from the table, her eyes all but bulging out of her sockets and an overjoyed grin growing from ear to ear. Earlier this morning when she and Buffy were getting dressed her sister had told her about how Lara confided in her about a secret Tribal Wedding. She had to admit that she had been stunned by her sister's confession; she had followed the life and adventures of the 'Tomb Raider' ever since she moved to England and had never heard her Hero linked to anyone long-term enough to get hitched. In actuality, she confessed to herself, most of the guys Lara was reported to have associate with were all pretty shady, mercenary types. Not the kind you would ever try and build a future with. Sure, maybe a steamy weekend in Amsterdam, but nothing with white picketed fences.
Dawn, had prided herself in being an unrecognised authority of Croft's experiences and published adventures to an almost 'stalker' type degree. So for her to hear, from her sister no-less, that her 'Hero' was not only secretly married but also desperately pining for her 'husband' to participate in a legal ceremony as soon as possible, well, this did not compute. Where was the whole 'Strong, Independent, I-am-woman-hear-me-kick-the-crap-out-of-any-guy-who-thinks-I-should-just-play-with-Barbies' Female that she revered? But now it all made sense. Lady Lara Croft, one of the most sought after bachelorette's in the World, was in the family way!
Both Lara and Buffy looked at the now standing Dawn Summer's as she tried to stutter out a sentence. Silently and in her mind, Dawn, started cursing Buffy for having such a big fat mouth. Her big sister had been offered this info in strict confidence and what did she do? Less then twelve-hours later she's sharing it with her baby sis. How could she now impress Lara with her deductive abilities without also revealing that Buffy had let the cat-out-of-the-bag with respects to her 'wedding secret'?
Lara was right when she warned Buffy the night before, the British Tabloid Press was merciless, and if they so much as got the scent of blood in the water they would not stop until lives were left in ruin. Just as long as they got a tasty story out of the carnage they caused. The only thing she could do now at this stage is pretend that she was 'out of the loop' and impress upon Buffy to keep her trap shut. Keeping this baby-discovery to herself and herself alone. At least until a chance presented itself when Lara might confide in her the same way she had with her older sister.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Summer's?"
Dawn swallowed her voice, doing her best to discount the farrowed brows of her host and her sister at her impulsive 'God' declaration. "I … I think I might have left one of the taps running in the bathroom upstairs, Henry. Sorry."
The Butler offered the younger sister a tight smile. "Do not worry yourself; I shall tend to it immediately." Then with as much grace and poise as he had entered the Sun Room, the man-servant departed the same way.
As soon as Henry had left earshot, Buffy chose to take advantage. "Okay, this has been nice and all. But there are a few things we need to hash out."
Lara chose not to look up from her meal as she stabbed the poached eggs with her knife. "Hash? How do you mean?"
"You know who I am?"
"Of coarse I do, you're Buffy Summer's, sister to Dawn Summer's."
It was clear to Dawn from the amusing tone provided that Lara was earning some enjoyment out of Buffy's frustration. And Dawn knew that if she had noticed her jovial-air, then Buffy certainly did as well.
The Slayer gripped the edge of the table, her fingernails being heard splintering and tearing at the hard wooden surface. Looking across the divide to her sibling, Buffy, then growled out a response. "Fine, if that's how you want to do this, cool. But if your not going to take me seriously then we're leaving. With or without a ride back to London. Dawn get up and say your goodbyes!"
Even though Dawn was almost certain this was a bluff, she couldn't be a hundred percent sure. So reluctantly she raised herself from the table and played along. The shared movement by both herself and Buffy finally forced Lara to tear her eyes off from the plate in front of her. And even though there was no smile on her face, there was warmth in her eyes as she spoke to both of them.
"Please, don't leave, at least not like this. If you are insistent on departing then I ask you to wait until Henry has returned from tending to Dawn's running faucet. It would take you an easy hour just to walk to the Main Gate and your footwear is not designed for such uneven and earthy travel. Besides, I would feel better, and so would you, if we could as you said 'hash' things out like civilised adults and come to some understanding. Talk, without the unnecessary accusations."
"Accusations? I think I am completely justified in wanting to know what your 'Game' is! I mean, do you take us both for fools? What's your angle? Why did you invite us here?" Buffy's voice once more carried steel in every syllable, Lara Croft, however, remained unfazed by that harsh and cold questions.
The Tomb Raider gestured for both women to reclaim their seats. Only when both eventually complied did she answer the Slayer's question. "Angle? There was no angle except that I wanted to get to know you both better. That and because, Buffy, I want to help you. You and all the other Slayer's."
"Ah, so you *DO* know who I am!"
Lara returned to eating her morning breakfast, carving up her egg as she answered. "Of coarse I do."
With a hurt tone in her voice, Dawn chose now to challenge the person she was hoping would have mentored her in the world of Archaeology instead of just using her as a means of getting Buffy into the same room as her. "Then why the deception?"
Lara met Dawn's eyes prior to answering and as before, Dawn could only see genuine warmth and sincerity in her gaze. "There was no deception, Dawn. Though I will admit to withholding certain relevant and very personal information from our exchanges last evening, this data did not in anyway impact upon the inaccuracy of what was offered to you both. I was completely forward and honest with you regarding everything Slayer related."
"But you had us at an unfair disadvantage, you knew who we were."
"And you knew who I was Dawn. I am not so foolish as to not know that someone like yourself would be unaware of my character or of my various sensationalised accomplishments?" Lara then returned her attention back to her breakfast as she proceeded to answer the younger sister's statement. "You did come here expecting to be interviewed, didn't you? How silly would it have been for you to have fronted up to such a thing and not be familiar with the personality that you would be meeting? Besides, did I not say when I met you both last night that I never invite anyone into my Family Home who I did not already know forwards and backwards? Do really you think myself prone to such exaggeration?"
Grudgingly both Dawn and Buffy looked to each other from across the table. Both recalling with ease that this was indeed exactly what was told to them both the evening before.
"If anyone in this group of ours has been deceptive, it has been you two. I welcomed you into my home with relevant information towards Slayer's. Information, it was clear, that you were both obviously unaware of. Which, if I can be completely frank and honest, I find both frightening and staggering all at the same time. I mean, Buffy, do you truly not have any interest at all in the circumstances that led up to you losing complete choice over your life and how it is lived? I find that absolutely remarkable."
The critic forced the Slayer to break her glance away and stare angrily upon the wooden surface of the polished table, gritting her teeth
"I revealed the suspected Mythology of the Slayer-Line, the Curse and suspected Cure as well as other poignant pieces of fact. And now you dare have the gall to make me feel as though *I* am the manipulator?"
Lara looked back and forth between the silent pair, allowing her words to sink in. "I can appreciate that your lives are centred very much upon secrecy. And that exposing the truth of who you are and what you know with respects to the various things that go 'bump in the night' to normal-people would have you both in a white jacket with long sleeves bouncing off four walls before you could say 'Queen and Country'."
Buffy looked up from the top of the table she had been staring down at with a startled expression, one that then quickly morphed into a furious one as it focused on the direction of the speaking Adventurer. Dawn could read a plethora of emotions as they formed delicately on the now angered blondes face. Everything from fear, guilt, pain all the way to raw hate. The younger Summer's sister wasn't certain if Lara's proven and impressive 'intelligence' on both she and Buffy was as complete as she claimed or whether the Tomb Raider's reference to either of them ending up in a Mental Ward was a random comment. Regardless, Dawn was certain that it did nothing but stir up frightening memories of a time when Buffy had once indeed tried to warn both their mother and father of the truth about Vampire's and the outcome of her honesty.
It was after their Mom and Dad had returned from their 'Couple Retreat'. A Retreat that was designed to help reignite the passion in their marriage only to discover that during their two-week absence their daughter had started to hang-out with a High School Drop-out called 'Pike' and that her name was significantly linked to a fire that took the lives six of her classmates and thirty or so reported 'Gang Member's that crashed the School Dance.
The explanation she gave the pair on the 'Why' and 'Wherefores' of everything, from the truth of her involvement in the Fire to being 'Called' as a mythical Demon Slayer of Supernatural Things, all the way to the death of her first Watcher Merrick was beyond the word 'fantastical'. To both parent's, this was not the 'Daughter' they had raised. So they did the only thing they thought responsible parents would do if they saw their child becoming tormented with delusions of unbelievable grandeur. They admitted her into a Mental Health Ward.
Buffy was there for up to twelve weeks being force fed anti-psychotic medication and receiving injections against her will. It was during that time that the stress of supporting a marriage that was obviously failing. Their eldest child becoming the focus point of a police investigation into arson and possible manslaughter. Having this daughter then labelled a delinquent by the District School Board and then expelled under suspicion of a criminal act which cost the High School she attended three-million dollars in repairs and restoration. As well as having said daughter presently drooling into her Fruit Cup in the local Looney Bin proved all too much for Hank Summer's own sanity and stability within the home he helped build.
When Buffy finally started to 'play-the-game' and not resist her Doctor's, admitting to them that Vampire's and Demon's were all part of a delusion, she was discharged. But by that time it was too late to ever return back to the life she once had. Her father had now moved out of their home and both her Mom and Dad were dealing through their respective Divorce Lawyer's. For everyday that followed, right up until Joyce Summer's death, Buffy carried around the guilt of knowing that it was her handful of straw that finally broke the Camel's back and destroyed her family.
Dawn drew herself out of her inner thoughts and looked at her 'hero'. If Lara *did* know that her sister ended up in a Psyche Ward and of the heartache that it caused not only for her and their family then she was playing full-contact football on very thin ice. Anyone who knew Buffy well enough knew that touching on this subject was a dangerous one and one that you undertook at your own peril. If not for the fact that they both desperately still needed answers from Lady Croft, Dawn suspected that Buffy would be right about now tearing elder female's luscious raven mane out from it's roots.
"… But I would have thought that after I revealed that my forefather was once a Watcher who oversaw his own Vampire Slayer and a member of the Council that I would earn a little bit of credibility and trust. But, no! At no point as I was making these various, and dare I say *significant*, disclosures known to you did either of you offer to imitate my own goodwill. Rather instead you both chose to play 'dumb' and to make me feel like a fool for wanting to believe we could actually trust one another."
Despite her own feelings of conflict on behalf of her sister, Dawn could not contend against the inner emotion of shame at herself and her own actions. Her doe eyes strayed to her lap, Lara was right. She had been honest with them and they had not extended the same courtesy.
"… If anyone at this table has the right to feel as though their nose has been put out of place, it is most certainly me. You have gained more from your brief association with myself, then I have with you. And if it was not for the fact that I have an invested interest in trying to earn and build on my relationship with either of you I would bid you both 'good-day'. Fortunately, however, that is indeed the case."
Dawn looked up from her lap, relief showing on her face as she looked over at her sister. Buffy was once again looking in the direction of Lara, but the younger Summer's sibling could see that there was no 'relief' on show. Buffy hated being one-upped by anyone, she undoubtedly hated it more that Lady Croft had done such very easily and then in the same breath extended to both of them her pseudo-forgiveness.
"B…but why?" The question to Dawn was one that for her was obviously waiting to be asked and now that Lara had finished 'scolding' both of them she felt a need to ask it aloud.
"Why what?"
"Why us? You already know about the Council. Why did you come to me, I mean … come to Buffy? You could have gone straight to them if you had info on helping the Slayer's. You didn't have to use me like this. If you needed a go-between I would have even been willing to help you out. You didn't need to create this elaborate ruse of internship."
Lara gently closed her eyes and winced as she now considered how Dawn must have perceived everything that had been going on between herself and her sister. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and her bee-sting lips offered the young Oxford student an apologetic smile. "There was no ruse, Dawn. My desire to meet you was for all the reasons I gave you and though I can understand your reluctance to now believe my words I do not regret dinner last night or everything that transpired afterwards. You have indeed impressed me and I would be happy to guide you further if you will allow me too."
Buffy was not willing to allow her suspicions settle however, she still was harbouring a great deal of anger at Croft for using her sister to draw her out to her Manor. At this stage it was easier for the Slayer to distrust the thirty-year-old then to submit to Lara's flowery reassurances. "Yeah, but why her? Don't misunderstand me, if this is what Dawnie wants then I'm all for it. But she's right; this smells worse then week old fish. She told me the other day that you never offer people these slots, and you apparently get applications from eager egg-heads from all over the World. So why her and why now?"
It was at this moment that Henry re-entered the Sun Room and chose to join in on the tail end of the conversation. "An average of one-hundred submissions' a year, nearly 99.9 percent of them male. Many not even in the field of Archaeology, just post-teenage boys hoping to try their 'luck'. We typically discount the Curriculum Vitae that sneak in the full-naked-body shots of themselves."
Lara hid her laugh behind a raised hand, but the twinkle in her eyes could not hide how amused she always was whenever such submission's occurred. "You are such a prude, Henry. Those are always good for a laugh and you know it."
"That maybe, Lady Croft, but your not the poor soul that must sort through the correspondence are you? There are something's I do not need to see staring back at me at ten in the morning."
Lara chuckled again as she pushed her now empty plate aside and drew her cup of tea in front of her person. Henry then turned to look at Dawn, bowing slightly before addressing her. "I wish to assure you Ms. Summer's that I fully inspected your room and you will be relieved to know that your memory was playing tricks on you. You did indeed turn all the taps closed."
Dawn blushed and nodded her thanks to the butler for the unnecessary effort, feeling another wave of guilt overcome her for lying and having him make a redundant journey.
Buffy wasn't prepared, however, to let the matter drop after all she still had not received a firm explanation. True, Croft may have said that Dawn 'had the job of being her little protégé' but that did not explain the suspicious timing of it all. "Yeah, but*"
The Man-Servant, Henry, must have anticipated the Slayer's argument and challenging follow-up as he then broke into Buffy's question without pause whilst he began clearing his Mistress's plate and placing it upon the trolley.
"* Lady Croft will be taking an extended time away from the lifestyle she is famous for in order to pursue more home-bound interests. But her experience has been such that she knows one cannot turn and walk away from the responsibilities entrusted upon us by our ancestors and that there are some in this World who would use these precious discoveries to diabolical ends. For the last month or so, Lady Croft, has been entertaining the idea of offering a capable young person the means and opportunity too, as they say, step into her combat boots on the day she *does* retire. Your sister, Ms Summer's is not only well thought of by her Professor's but her unique background as being the sister of the longest-lived Slayer on record has exposed her to many unusual and extraordinary scenario's that the common student her age is inexperienced on. Added to this already impressive list of credentials, she is also very highly thought of by someone whom Lady Croft both respects and admires."
Buffy was darting her annoyed expression between both the now smug High Born as she started to sip her tea and the butler to her side. The Slayer wasn't sure what was truly worrying her the most, the fact that the middle-aged Englishman's explanation answered nearly all her doubts or the fact that Dawn had been vetted and no one had even known about it. "Yeah, you mentioned this mystery-person, last night. Who is it? If you're going to be listening to their advice then I want to know if their advice is worth counting on. What did they say about her?"
"Shut-up, Buffy!" The Slayer looked over to her sister once more and again she saw the same excitable smile that was plastered across her face when she stood up five minutes earlier and shouted out to God. At that moment, Dawn, didn't care who had spoken so highly of her all she knew was one thing: Lara Croft didn't want her to be her student, she wanted her to be her Successor!
"Do you mean it? This isn't some Summer Protégé Program is it? This is the real deal. You actually want to train me to be another 'you'?"
Lara's eyebrows raised. "I certainly hope your ambitions, Dawn, extend further then just being an imitation of another. I am hoping you would rather make your own name and not chose to try and capitalise off of mine. I think you have potential. A first class mind tempered with an inquisitive nature. But do not think for one moment this will be a leisurely boat journey down the Thames. You will be thrust into an intensive training schedule of languages, customs and survivalist training. Firearm's, as well as self defence."
"Self Defence? Guns? What the Hell do you think your going to get my sister into?"
"Shut Up, Buffy!"
"Not on your life! Tell me, *LADY* Croft."
"What I am planning, Buffy, is to develop in Dawn the skills to be able to get herself out of whatever hostile situation that she might find herself in. I, like many others, plan for the worst and hope for the best. True, Dawn can follow the road of many of her peers and spend a majority of her life in a Museum dusting and cleaning up pottery fragments. She might even, after several years, of sitting hunched over on a stool be permitted to attend a dig where her skills will be employed in sifting through tonnes and tones of loose earth in search of bone fragments the size of your tooth. But the person who holds her in the highest regard thinks that she is, like her secret beau, capable of … 'extraordinary' things."
"But she's never held a gun in her life."
"Then she will learn."
"Or knows how to fight."
"And whose fault is that, Buffy?" The Slayer looked startled at her little sister's accusation. "You have promised me for years to teach me to take care of myself. But only Giles and Faith have ever taken the time to show me how to do a roundhouse kick or throw a punch. You promised me once that you would show me the world. But the world I have seen, I have seen under my own terms. Not yours. You have no right to play the 'Big Sister' Routine now, when you have literally had years to put your money where you mouth is. If I want to take, Lara, up on her offer then you'll just have to lump it. Because you cannot pick and chose when it's convenient for you to be my sister and when it isn't. And if I want to do this, then … tough luck for you."
Buffy suddenly became speechless, it was like she was hearing Xander's argument to her in the Watcher's Library all over again. Was she really that selfish? Were people and friendships for her based only on convenience? She never really thought so, at least she never really thought Dawn thought so. But the fact that these words were being spoken obviously meant that on some low tier level, her sister, believed her to be a very self-interested person.
Seizing the initiative, Henry, spoke up. "It will not all be daggers and intrigue, Ms Dawn. So if I were you I would get those glamorous thoughts out of your head. Many weeks have been spent in preparation of adventures in Libraries. Infact, Lady Croft's success is all based upon preparation and her choice of travel companions."
"Yeah, that's another thing. I don't like the guys you have told me she hangs out with."
"Two years ago, Ms Buffy, I would have agreed with that allegation. But over the past couple of years her choice has improved. So rest assured, though some would say Lady Croft is 'reckless', they can never say that she is reckless with other people lives, and neither is her partner of choice. I can say now, that if Lara was to take Ms Dawn under her wing, then your sister will be more protected then the Queen herself."
The Englishman's soothing words seemed to pacify the Slayer's fears, if only a little. "But why didn't you go to the Council if you have all this info. You gotta know that they will find out about it eventually, besides they would have a more extensive knowledge of Slayer's then anywhere."
Lara leaned back in her chair, her eyes briefly passing over to her man-servant before they fixed themselves once more on the Slayer. "I don't trust them. Though I do understand that over the last few years there has been a re-vamping, if you will excuse the pun, under the administration of Senior Watcher Rupert Giles. But there is still relevant information that has been intentionally kept hush-hush from the masses, and I do not like that."
"What are you talking about?"
The Tomb Raider looked from Buffy to Dawn and back again. "This is what I mean. You two are perhaps the most trusted people in Mr Giles life and yet you are oblivious to the horrid reality of things."
This time it was Dawn's turn to voice the question of her meaning.
Lifting her tea to her lips, the beauty asked the younger. "How many Slayer's in the World are there Dawn? Not just active Slayer's but also those in reserve?"
Not wishing to disclose the actual figure, Dawn, chose to be vague. "Several thousand."
"Of those several thousand, how many have died since they had been 'called'?"
"A few hundred or so, certainly no more then 700."
Returning her tea cup to the saucer, Croft, gently closed her eyes. "And how many new Slayer's have been called into existence with those deaths? Can I phantom to say none, correct? You have just been drawing from the many reserves you have deposited around the world, haven't you?"
Dawn didn't answer, the truth was she couldn't answer. To the best of her knowledge, Lara, was right. Ever since Willow cast her spell and ignited all the Potential's around the world and making them all pre-mature Slayer's there has not been a single one called since.
Dawn's expression was enough for Buffy to know that Lady Croft had said something frightening real and accurate. There were no more Slayer's being called, ANYWHERE!
"When your friend, Willow, called forth all the Chosen Ones, despite her noble intentions. She forced and stretched the Slayer Curse into something it wasn't supposed to be. What she did was she threw a drum of gasoline on a fire. It burns bright and it burns hot, but it also only flares for an instant. At the end of this generation, the Slayer line will be extinguished. In twenty, thirty, maybe forty years tops, the Slayer's will be no more and the Vampires, the Werewolves, the Demon's and Wizards and Witches will take hold of civilisation once more. And God help us all then."
"How do you know about Willow and the Spell. Are you blaming all this on her?"
"My sources are very reliable and yes, Buffy, I am blaming her. Because it was she who opened the door and didn't think on how she was to close it again once the job was done. She just left it open. What she did was both irresponsible and arrogant. A novice would have known better. You never cast an enchantment or a spell unless you have the means to reverse it. And we have to fix this blunder, Buffy, before the world pays for it in Spades."
"Alright, how? Miss I-have-the-Answer's"
A smug smile passed over the Tomb Raider's lips. "You already know how, Buffy. You both do. I told you last night, remember?"
The Slayer looked at her sister and was happy to see the same puzzled expression on her face as it was on her own. But this expression only lasted for a few moments as Dawn started to bounce up and down in her chair with excitement.
"The Legend. The Myth about her going off to fight the non-existent monster."
Lara nodded, pleased that the young Oxford Student had worked it out so quickly. "Absolutely correct. Well done, Dawn."
Buffy raised her hand in annoyance. "Excuse me. Can anyone then explain it to me then?"
Dawn giggled and started to clarify. "The first Slayer said she would not return to her village until she had vanquished the monster, Buff."
"Yeah. But Croft said that the Monster didn't really exist. That it was a Fool's Errand."
"Exactly. We find where the Village was originally and we walk any and all current Slayer's to it's boarder's. Because the Monster was never destroyed, the oath that binds the Curse will no permit the Spirit to cross the threshold of the village. Instant exorcism. And because the Host isn't killed, death is not a factor. The Spirit will just go somewhere into the ether, collecting other part's of it's spirit until there is only one Slayer left and then the Curse will, or rather should, reset itself to it's original parameters. Of only one girl in all the world at one time malarky."
Lara was pleased. That was exactly what she believed as well. "You are absolutely correct, Dawn. And it was for this reason I invited you as soon as I found out your sister had arrived in England."
"Hang on. How did you find out so quickly? I only knew when Buffy had phoned me from the airport. And then a couple of hours later I was called to the Dean's office with your invitation. How did you find out so quickly?"
"You'd be surprised what a few hundred pound's a month to a lowly paid Visa Official will get you."
"You endorse bribery?"
"Of coarse not. I endorse information. I have my very own 'Persons of Interest', and when one of them goes through the official channels to arriving on my home soil. I would prefer not to be caught with my pants down around my ankles unprepared. I have over my life made a great deal of 'colourful friends' who might wish to pay me a surprise visit. As well as people I generally find myself in regular competition with. In knowing that they have arrived on my home turf I am able divide my attention towards an endeavour that they themselves are working on. And see if it is something that might also interest me. And to the better person goes the spoils."
"And I'm on your 'Hit List'?"
"Along with several other people of note, Ms Buffy. Not all of them dubious in nature."
"Yeah? Like who. Not feeling too reassured that I am on anybodies list. Give me an example."
"Professor Sydney Fox, for one."
"THE RELIC HUNTER!" Dawn screeched out.
"The wannabe, you mean." Answered with a derisive tone. "She's more about quantity and less about quality. She can have her trinkets, I'm all about the big Prizes. As rival's go, Dawn, she is not in my class. So please curb your excitement towards someone who might be a little more deserving of such praise."
"Meow." At last, Buffy, had seen something get under the aristocrat's cool armour. "I sense a little bit of history? Wanna share."
"Not particularly. She is an obvious and cheap floozy who is reliant on her many contacts and associates to do the necessary research involved. After which she takes that information and extracts the various finds. That and she always ends up sleeping with any poor soul who gets stuck going on expeditions with her."
Dawn looked absolutely miserable towards this claim. "I remember, Xander, saying he met her once three-years ago. He told me she was a very nice, capable and generous person."
"Oh, I bet he did."
Even Buffy was surprised at the almost snarling nature of the aristocrat's reply. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Nothing. And I am certain your friend is a true gentleman where such things are concerned. Not the kind of man to kiss and tell. Even if he does still receive the odd e-mail from her from time to time asking if he was free to go on another 'adventure' or to meet her for dinner in Cairo or Casablanca or …."
"*ahem*"
Lara composed herself and then looked up thankfully to her confidant. "But I am sure all of that would be in your friend's past. *If* he had sex with her, of coarse. And I'm not saying that he did. I'm just saying that he would have been in the minority if that was indeed the case. It's really none of my business who your friend had sex with three-years ago. It would just be nice to know that your friend had standard's, that's all."
Henry calmly placed his hand on his Mistresses shoulder in a soothing manner. "Moving back to topic. Yes, Ms Buffy, your name is on Lady Croft's 'Hit List' as you put it. And as soon as your arrival through Heathrow was confirmed, Lady Croft made efforts to approach Ms Dawn. But she was always planning on doing so, your return was just fortuitus and it allowed her to take the action she needed to commence her plans."
"Why me?"
"Because, Buffy, not only are you a Slayer. But you are the oldest Slayer on record. Your connection to the Spirit that resides in you would be extremely powerful. Meaning that we are hoping to use that connection as a type of divining rod to the natural landmarks that litter that portion of Africa. A type of Historical Memory. And having you tell us whether some of the places we pass are familiar to you or not. A great deal of Africa has been unaffected by the encroachment of civilisation. Most natural landmarks are as true now as they were tens of thousands of years ago. I mean, we do not have to use you if you do not wish to be part of this expedition, we have others …" Lara gave Henry a very sour look. ".. who are presently on route to England to help us if need be. But the more the merrier."
It took Buffy all of three seconds to decide and the decision, in truth, was never in doubt. "Okay, I'll do it. When do we leave?"
For the next hour, Lara Croft went over their travel plans. It was a lot sooner then either Buffy and Dawn were comfortable with, two days hence. But Dawn was super eager and Buffy had never seen her sister this excited so she was not going to play 'wet blanket' on the whole deal. She and Dawn had to provide Henry with their passports as soon as they got back to London and Bryce would oversee all the Visa's and travel arrangements. The only conditions were that they were not supposed to breath a word of the expedition to anyone, not even the Watcher's Council. If they were made aware of the goal of the adventure, to find away to remove their army of Slayer's and return them all back to the 'one girl policy' then they feared there would be definite opposition.
All the pair really had to do was get their affairs in order so that they could pull a disappearing act for a few weeks and not be missed. For Buffy, that was an easy ask. For Dawn, however, with classes she had to get special permission. Fortunately Lara had provided her with a covering letter to the Chancellor of Oxford advising him that she would be in her educational guardianship for the foreseeable future. The younger Summer's sister couldn't wait to see the expression on Chancellor Patton's assistant when she handed the letter from the Desk of Lady Lara Croft, and hoped she could remember to bring a camera with her to record the event.
Now the two were being driven back to London in the same stately car in which had bought them to the estate 14-hours earlier and would be collecting them again in 48-hours time. Buffy still had that knotted feeling in her gut that Croft had been keeping something from them, but she felt a lot more easier now then she did two-hours previous.
Reading her sister's silence correctly, Dawn, drew up the automatic partition that separated the back seat from the front. Offering Henry an apologetic look as she did so to his curious eyes reflecting back to her from the rear view mirror.
"Your not still thinking that Lara's evil, are you?"
With a smile and a sigh the elder answered. "No, not pure evil. There is a lot of stuff going on Dawn. A lot of stuff. And I didn't know any of it. Did you?"
"No."
"I mean, forget about the Curse Business and the True Love thing, and you better believe me, I'll be raising that with Giles tomorrow morning. But there is also the who Slayer thing. No one has been called since Will did her thing. How come we weren't told that? I mean that seems to me to be mega important. Right?"
"Yep. But you can't tell him, Buffy. Giles can't know what we know. I trust Giles with my life, but what about those that work under him? The old Council had so many secret comities that the left hand sometimes didn't know what the right one was doing. I know, Giles, has tried to be a lot more transparent with that stuff. But he's not god. He can't be everywhere and do everything. One mistaken word to the wrong person and it could be catastrophic."
"I know."
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you think ,Lara, turned down my suggestion of contacting Xander and getting him involved with this? I mean, nobody knows more about the First Slayer then him, and he's in Africa as well. It's a win/win."
Buffy shrugged non-committedly. "Maybe it's because he works for the Council and everything he does she thinks he'll report back to the Watcher's." Truth was, the Slayer was pretty relieved when Lara deflected Dawn's eagerness to call Xander up and tell him all about what they were doing. Her thoughts and emotions were still quite haywire on the 'Xander-True Love' thing. It was just another headache she could do without for the time being. When she saw Xander again, and right now she was committed to doing just that, but she wanted to do it on her terms. She did not want it to be forced. She wanted to be prepared, with many pithy and rehearsed comments at her disposal so that she wouldn't feel like the biggest and lowest slime on the planet.
"But you work for the Council too."
"Yeah. But I'm an Independent-Slayer. I don't have a Watcher breathing down my neck. I've paid my dues in the Field. I contact the Council on a needs must basis and they do the same for me. I get a weekly Pay Check, but very little oversight. Except for the Annual Review of coarse. Xander, has to touch base with them every week and tell them what he's done and where he has been, as well as where he plans to be for the following week."
Dawn shoulders slumped, she was really hoping to have the excuse to phone Xander up on his Satellite phone and brag about her meeting the Tomb Raider and going on a Expedition with her. "So what do you plan to do between now and the time Henry collects us in two days?"
"Well, as I said, I'm definitely going to see Giles tomorrow, whether he wants me too or not. And I going to get some answers on this Curse and True Love thing. There is no way that if this is real, that the Council wasn't already in the know. And I just want to find out if Giles was in the know as well. I'm pretty free tonight. Want to have dinner together?"
"Are you kidding me? I just met the Tomb Raider and I have been offered the chance to be part of her legacy. You really think I want to spend tonight and tomorrow eating in a fancy restaurant with you? Hell, I'm going to tell all my friends at school who I met and then I'm going to lock myself away in the College Library and absorb everything I can find on Alexander the Great, Heracles and the Amazonian's. No way am I going to screw this up. So I'm sorry, Buff. Your eating for one tonight."
The Slayer forced a smile, she was pretty much expecting that answer anyway. "The Hotel I'm staying at has it's own DVD Library for Guest's. I might check out what they got. Order a double helping of some Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream. Turn the lights down real low and have the night in."
"Any idea's what you might watch?"
"Actually, yeah." Buffy looked out the window, watching the green trees and vibrant grass pass. "After what you said the other night, I have a need to watch Troy again. This time, however, I think I won't be paying as much attention to the Brad Pitt character as I used too."
If Buffy could have drawn her eyes away from the beauty of the emerald landscape as it went by, she would have witnessed her younger sister's own eyes begin to narrow at her innocent comment.
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Sorry for the delay. Writer's Block and the fact I was working on two chapter's at once. I hope I am forgiven. R & R please :-).