Authors Note: I would like to say that I now that there were grammatical errors in my last chapter. I will try to keep that from happening again. If you think that I too quickly dismissed Kennedy's character in the prologue, I did not; keep reading though and all will be explained. My beta tester told me that my dialogue needed some work, but I think she just has not watched the show enough to understand the simplicity of how Joss's characters speak. As I have stated in my profile please tell me what you think.
Watchers Council: New Beginnings
Chapter 1: "There's a new sheriff in town"
Morning came just as it did every day. Dawn marvelled at the beauty of the sunrise. She had seen so many in her existence. She had seen the first sunrise eons ago however there was something about looking at one through a humans eyes that was so much more awe inspiring. When god had created man he said they were his children endowed with the one gift he would not give the rest of creation, choice. Humans had the ability to say no to god. Because of this, everything humankind did had much greater importance. Every turn of a leaf was a miracle, every sunrise rapturous. Dawn had been the Key for all eternity yet she had never been as humble as she was at this moment.
Dawn stood in Giles office watching the city wake up. She was trying to decide what she was going to do with herself. The past six hours were a blur. She had over stepped her boundaries. She had broken the rules, god's rules. She had been waiting all night for god to smite her powers, but he had not, why? She had been contemplating this when the sun broke over the horizon and instantly she understood why. God had made her human, screwing up came with the title. As a human being, she could choose. By human standards, she had screwed up a lot over the last few years. She had been terrible on her sister, she had not meant to trouble Buffy she just wanted to experience everything there was to being human. Not once though had she broken the boundaries god had given her. Now standing in this place surrounded by a new hell mouth she felt truly alive.
Dawn leaned against the window and wrapped herself the warmth of the early day sun. The city was slowly starting to come to life. People were milling about on the sidewalk and the perpetual river of traffic was beginning to build. A yellow taxi pulled up to the front of the building. It took dawn a second to register what was happening. She watched as the cabbie pulled luggage to the sidewalk. Her eyes went wide is someone moving in!
Dawn rushed from the office and ran to the elevator down the hall. By the time, she reached the lobby the cab was pulling away from the curb. The lobby was empty save a dark clad man about six feet tall. For some reason she felt like she knew him but she could not quit place the feeling. He had olive skin and a British air about him. He had a black fedora on his head covering shoulder length brown hair. He loosely wore a black trench coat, black trousers and a black button-up shirt. His black shoes polished into mirrors. He carried a suitcase in one hand and in the other; he tightly gripped a large katana.
"Um hello, can I help you?" Dawn tried to act casual.
"Ah yes, my name is James, James Davies" he shifted the katana to the other hand shock Dawns hand. The smile plastered on his face contradicted the dominating demeanour he had been giving off. "And you are?"
"Oh, my name is Dawn Summers." Dawn could not help giggling like a schoolchild.
"Yes, yes the Key. I have so wanted to meet you." His face was so sincere yet Dawn could not help but feel shocked. "I'm sorry is that not common knowledge around here."
"Its not that, I'm just a little bit taken back. How do you know I'm the key?" Dawn returned her hand to her pocket.
"I apologize, I was sent by the Ministry of Faith." His face was washed in a glow the cloud swoon hearts and spur war. "The Crown has put me in charge of the American branch of the Watchers Council."
"We already have a watcher." Dawn was confused.
"Surly Mr. Giles knew I was coming." James adjusted his hate and straightened his coat.
"He didn't tell us anything." Dawn exclaimed.
The doors to the elevator opened and deposited Giles and the Scooby's into the lobby. James approached Giles put down his things and threw up his arms.
"Ripper, how are you old dog!" he slapped his hands down on Giles's shoulders.
"James, what are you doing here" Giles had a smile on his face.
"As I was just telling Ms. Summers, I have been sent by the Ministry." James cocked his head and took in Giles appearance.
"You're the Ministries emissary?" pushed up his glasses, and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Hold on a minute Giles." Buffy spoke up. "What do you mean by emissary?"
"And why did he call you Ripper" this came from dawn she had a perplexed look on her face. The last person they had known to call him by that name tried to kill them.
"This is an old chum of mine from Oxford." Giles said hoping to satisfy her. "And he has been sent here by the British government to take over the Watchers Council."
"So what he's supposed to be my watcher now." Buffy said with a mock scoff. "Cause that didn't work the last time the council tried it."
"To be quit honest Wesley Price was a idiot, and anyway it is my belief that you no long require a watcher." James stood tall he was not about to let even the Chosen One, berate him like a common thug.
"I like him already." Buffy said, addressing Giles. "But if your not here to be my watcher then why are you here?"
"There are nearly thirty other slayers in this building. And unlike you they need a watcher lest they get killed by some unholy monster in this city." James circled Buffy like a hawk.
Buffy felt small. She had not thought about the girls at all. "Your right, they do need a watcher. But why can't Giles be their watcher?"
"Because Giles has lost his path, on several occasions he has proven that he would sacrifice human life to save and protect you." James stooped pacing and looked into Giles's eyes. "Something like that simply cannot be accepted. Life is sacred good or evil. No man has the right to take another's life. I think you know that." James turned his gaze to Buffy searching her soul. "He must search his soul and find restitution with god for the things he has done."
"He's right Buffy." Dawn had been quite for some time. "The slayer is a symbol of god."
"God, what does god have to do with anything." Buffy stared at dawn. "Was god there when mom died?"
Damn her "God has everything to do with it." Dawn could not look at her sister. "God is the reason you're still alive." Her face streaked with tears and her voice began to crack.
"We raised Buffy from the dead not god." Xander could not stand to remain quiet any longer.
"The petty demon you tried to sell your souls too could not raise Buffy from the dead. If you had succeeded in your spell Buffy would be nothing more than a zombie." James coolly walked over to his suitcase and lifted his things off the ground. "Her resurrection has been foretold for centuries. It is a miracle you didn't foul everything up, now before we start ripping each others throats out I could use a cup of tea."