Chapter 7
Thanks for catching up with this story. Sorry, it's been kind of hard for me to update recently, having some blocking issues. Anyway, here's a short bit to get things moving again. Hope it's okay - ml
Here's where we left things off last time
"You really had us worried," Dawn said, burying her face in his chest.
"I'm sorry," Xander said, hugging her back. Cordelia joined the embrace.
"Okay," Xander said softly. "Now if you guys will just step back, I can finish killing Wesley and we can go to lunch." He took a step towards the English Watcher.
Wesley blanched.
"Knock it off, Pirate Boy," Cordelia commanded.
"Cordy, he almost got Faith killed," Xander said as he turned to his ex-girlfriend.
"And if he was the first one of us who'd ever made a mistake, you'd be perfectly justified in beating him to a pulp," Cordelia replied icily.
There was no response to that, Xander knew it. With effort, he composed himself and said. "You're right. He turned to Wesley and said, "I'm sorry, Wes. I know you we're trying to do what you thought was right. Maybe when we've cooled down we can talk about this and see what we both can learn from it."
Wesley was still a little shaky after the close call with Xander. He was scarier than the Watcher's old instructor at the Academy, and in the Wesley world, that was saying something. "Yes, I think that you and I could meet with Giles and conduct a debriefing."
"Sure," Xander agreed. "I'd like Willow to be there, too. And Cordelia." He turned to his old friend. It's always useful to have someone around who's so skilled in diplomacy."
Dawn giggled as Cordelia stuck her tongue out at Xander.
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Faith woke up, her bruises from last night's fight mostly healed as was the splitting headache her overdose had left her with. She got out of bed and walked around her hospital room. There was nothing there, no television, books, anything. She guessed Willow probably would know if she walked out, but what was she supposed to do in an empty room?
Fortunately, Xander arrived soon after a few minutes. Startled to see him mobile, Faith almost ran to hug him, but she caught herself. He was still a guy, and with guys, there was always trouble once you let them know you cared.
"Hey," Xander said, "I hear you had a close call last night." Faith noticed that he was carrying a box.
"Yeah, I guess everybody knows that now," Faith said, sitting back on the bed.
"It'll be okay," Xander said softly. He walked towards her bed and extended the box towards her with a shy smile. "I brought you some stuff."
Faith was pretty sure that Xander was unaware of the meaning of that phrase. He really didn't look like a pusher to her. Still, you never know… She took the box anyway.
She pulled out a cassette player and a number of mix tapes, a copy of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," and a harmonica. She looked up at the one-eyed Watcher.
"I thought you might be getting bored in here, so these are some things of mine that I thought you could use. I've got some comic books and a deck of cards if you want."
Faith smiled, "Thanks. But a harmonica?"
"I was in Africa for a while," Xander explained. "Kind of hard to drag along a tuba. When you're alone a lot, you need something to keep the sky from closing in around you."
"Don't you mean the walls?"
"Not where I was," Xander replied. "But that's another story. Anyway, I talked to Cordelia and Dawn, and they are both totally ready to help you spend Giles's money and buy some new clothes. I'm sorry about dragging you here without any of your stuff."
"You were kinda busy saving my life and getting shot," Faith allowed.
"There is that," Xander grinned. "Still, I know what it's like to be alone in a new place. When Sunnydale… Anyway, I had to leave home without anything once, and sometimes I miss things, you know, like pictures or my old shirts."
"Well, I didn't have any old pictures that I need to see again," Faith said. "I haven't had a lot of Kodak moments in my life so far."
"We'll have to change that," Xander said.
Faith could see the sincerity in his eyes. It freaked her out a little. "Could we find some food?" She asked.
Xander noted her unease and said, "Sure, let's go raid a kitchen. I think we're entitled."
As soon as they left the room, Willow came trotting down the hall. "Oh, hey Xander," Willow said, a little surprised.
"Hey," Xander replied. "We're in search of Slayer Chow. Wanna come?"
Willow's uncertainty was replaced by a wide smile. No matter how old they got, Xander still wanted to make sure she was included in things. She remembered the remark he'd made years ago about the two of them ending up in a rest home together. She looked over at Faith.
"So, you had a spell up to see if I left, huh?" Faith asked.
"Just a little one," Willow admitted. "I was gonna come by and see you anyway. I wanted to get some things together for you, you know a kind of Welcome to Slaying kinda basket."
"You and Harris think alike," Faith said, amused. "He just dropped off some stuff."
"Not the harmonica?" Willow said in a frightened voice.
"Yeah," Faith said. "Don't worry, I've always been able to find better uses for my mouth."
The faces of both Willow and Xander went blank as their minds took a trip to a similar visual place.
Faith snickered. "I meant eating, you perverts." (Author's note: she didn't).
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It was with no small bit of anxiety that Wesley entered Rupert Giles' office later that afternoon. He had just failed his first test and fully expected the Senior Watcher to transfer his assignment to Xander.
"Oh, Wesley," Giles said with a surprisingly warm smile (as far as Wesley was concerned). "I was hoping that you'd drop by. I wanted to speak with you for a moment, if I may."
"I understand completely," Wesley said. "I deeply apologize for the incident last night. It was my fault completely and…"
"Would you please stop," Giles said, gently. "Wesley, I have every confidence in you. You were first in your class and I have no doubt that you will become a fine Watcher with time. We can never reach our potential unless we make mistakes and learn from them. However, I noticed on your online report of last night's activities that Faith mentioned the two vampires fought with each other."
"Yes," Wesley said, feeling a bit unsteady. This wasn't at all how he expected this conversation to go. Still, he did understand the importance of Faith's statement. "She said that the vampires were so anxious to kill her that they interfered with each other, and one beheaded the other. While I know this is at the very least atypical behavior, I spoke with her at length about this and I'm certain she is telling the truth."
"Yes, she had no reason to lie about that," Giles agreed. "I'd like to send a patrol out tonight to see if there's anything else we can find out about the area. Maybe there is an influence at work."
"What kind of influence?" Wesley asked.
"I have information that we may be dealing with an entity much like the First Evil. It is called War, the red horseman, and various other unpleasant appellations. If possible, I'd like your help with research."
"You want to send Faith on patrol without me?" Wesley asked, afraid this was the first step in losing his Slayer.
"Certainly not," Giles replied. "I think we'll need to work with Faith before she's ready to patrol effectively. I was thinking of sending Willow and Oz. Willow would be able to sense any magical influences and Oz is more than satisfactory as a combatant if it comes to that."
"G-man," Xander called out brightly as he entered the office. "You wanted me on book duty tonight?"
"Yes, and you agreed not to call me that infernal name between the hours of 9 and 5," Giles answered pointing to a large grandfather clock on his wall that clearly indicated 4:55.
"Your clock is slow," Xander replied holding out his cell phone which read, also very plainly, 5:01.
Wesley followed the banter between the two old friends.
"My clock is, and always shall be, the final arbiter of the time in my office," Giles said with mock exasperation.
"Then wind it," Xander said with a smile. "Willow got your message and is going to find Oz. Dawn and Cordie are letting Faith try on some of their clothes. Tomorrow they'll take Faith shopping for girl things."
"I shall immediately inform our treasurer to sell off the appropriate amount of stock," Giles fretted.
"Well, if we have her running around naked, the neighbors will talk," Xander said.
"Or selling tickets and binoculars," Wesley couldn't help from blurting out.
"Another country heard from," Xander said with a smile. "I could see that happening. So, fearless leader, anything from Buffy and company?"
Giles smile faded. "It appears that Kakistos has obtained a significant number of minions in the Boston area. There was an encounter yesterday with a particularly venomous creature called Mr. Trick. Spike was able to defeat him, but it was a fierce battle and Buffy will need a few days to be at full capacity again."
"Should I assemble the Scoobies?" Xander asked.
"I'm afraid not, at present. We need to research the threat mentioned by Bella and Verity. Perhaps once we understand more about it…"
"Okay, I get it," Xander said. "Come on Wes, it's book time."
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Willow and Oz walked to the cemetery shortly after dark. Willow was extending her senses, trying to find any strange influences. Oz was, surprisingly enough, strangely quiet.
"What's up?" Willow finally asked.
"Not much," Oz replied, a little too quickly.
Willow stopped walking and raised her eyebrow at her former boyfriend.
Oz began to look really uncomfortable. "Okay, I've kind of started going out with Cordelia."
Willow's face fell. She wasn't upset because she still wanted to be with Oz….Well, that wasn't the only reason, anyway. Why did it have to be…"You're seeing Cordelia?" She finally asked, wanting to be certain what she had heard.
"Yeah. I mean, she's different now, she…"
"You're seeing Cordelia?" Willow asked again, disbelief evident in her voice.
"Come on Willow, you know that she's not the person we knew in high school. We should be able to get beyond that. After all you've gone through…"
"I so don't need to go there," Willow said, cutting him off and resuming her walk towards the cemetery.
"Willow," Oz called out.
Willow just wanted to get away for a minute to gather herself. Distracted, she failed to notice the red mist that spilled out over the cemetery gate.
"Go away," Willow yelled back, her anger building at a furious pace. She picked magically picked up a stone and threw it at Oz.
"Dammit Willow, stop running," Oz said, beginning to lose his temper as well. He tossed a fallen tree branch at her.
Willow used her power to deflect the branch. "If you want to tell somebody what to do, go find your girlfriend," Willow warned as she gathered energy into herself.
Oz stopped, enraged that Willow would threaten him. He allowed his inner wolf to emerge. His snout lengthened and fur broke out over his body.
Willow used her power to pick up the werewolf and toss him against the stone wall of the cemetery. "Did you really think I'd let you get close enough to hurt me," she taunted, her eyes black.
Oz was stunned by the force of his impact against the stone.
Willow lifted a loose stone to hurl at the guitarist. That was when she noticed the red mist surrounding them. Once Oz became unconscious, it all started flowing towards the wiccan.
Willow realized that her emotions were totally out of proportion with what had happened. She tried to use the techniques she had learned in Devon to help her regain control, but for some reason her feelings couldn't be contained. She focused her mind and sent energy towards the Watcher's compound.
Oz was still immobile and Willow was about to lose it completely. Whatever the red mist was, it was impossible for Willow to resist at this point. She fell back into the only option she had left. The coven in Devon had taught her this as a last resort in case she ever felt dark magics possessing her again. She reached into a pocket in her jacket and pulled out an enchanted stone. "Retreat," she whispered. With that command, her consciousness mind was walled off and she fell to the earth.
The mist retreated from her and settled over Oz.
Xander was researching with Giles and Wesley when suddenly he screamed an pawed at the necklace Willow had given him. It was burning him!
"What the Devil!" Wesley cried, startled.
Xander managed to take the necklace off, burning one hand in the process. "It's Willow's necklace. I think she's in trouble"
Giles picked up his phone and called Cordelia. "Cordelia," he said when she answered. "We need to assemble in the weapons room. It appears something has happened to Willow and Oz."
The Watcher had no way of knowing how painful this information was to the brunette beauty. Still, she had years of experience in this kind of thing, so she quickly regained control of her emotions. "I'm with Dawn and Faith. Should they come to?"
Giles considered. He knew that it would be dangerous to expose Faith to too much before she was trained, but they may need every fighter they could get. "Yes, could use their help."
Wesley helped Xander put something on his burned neck and hand. The Scoobies met in the weapons room. Wesley, Giles, and Xander grabbed swords, Cordelia took a staff, and Dawn selected daggers. Xander gave Faith a stake and a short sword.
"What's burned?" Faith asked, her Slayer senses catching the faint smell.
"That would be me," Xander replied. "That's how we know something's happened."
Dawn and Cordelia shrank back from Xander.
They got to the cemetery as fast as they could. They saw Willow by the gate of the cemetery. Xander hurried to his oldest friend, but he couldn't wake her up. There were no apparent injuries to the redhead.
A huge, hairy form suddenly broke through the cemetery wall. It had a snout like a dog, but its fangs were at least six inches long. It was taller than Giles and Xander and although it stood like a man its hunched gait most closely resembled a bear's.
"What the hell is that?" Cordelia asked.
"I think it's your boyfriend," Dawn replied, noticing the torn remnants of a sweatshirt around the creature's neck.
"Boyfriend!" Four voices shrieked.
That's all for now. Hope to update soon. Please review! ml