Chapter 5: Conversations: Part One
Feeling scared, Buffy reached out and grabbed Willow's hand for support. Then they split up to wake everyone and call an impromptu meeting downstairs. Angel had come up from the tunnels just after sunrise, and Buffy asked him to get hold of Fred, Wesley and Gunn. He looked like he wanted to ask questions, but at her look he left. Their relationship had been somewhat strained over the past month. Angel obviously wanted more from her, but it didn't feel right to Buffy. He felt like part of her past now. Like part of the world she couldn't exist in. Which was funny, since that had always been his role.
She sighed and began pacing as she waited for everyone to come together. Thirty minutes later, Team Angel, The Scoobies, and The Newbie Slayers were sitting around the lobby looking more or less awake. Dawn was eyeing Buffy worriedly; she could tell something serious was up. When everyone quieted down, Willow came to stand near Buffy. They exchanged a nervous glance. Buffy cleared her throat and began to speak.
"Ok, we called you all here because something big has come up. First off, I'll fill those of you in that weren't at the Scooby meeting yesterday." Giles looked like he wanted to object, but Buffy held up a hand to stop him. "I know we were trying to keep this under wraps, but there's no time for that now." She explained the events of the Scooby meeting, but refrained from showing them her wound site. Willow winced as Buffy mentioned her theory, but Buffy squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Then, last night I was taken from this plane to meet with Whistler." Angel growled audibly at the mention of the balance demon. Buffy went on to explain everything Whistler had said, and they all stared at her in shock. Dawn's eyes welled up. She had a feeling she knew what was coming next. Angel tried to interrupt, but she stopped him. "Please, let me just get this out. The point of the story is that I'm being sent to another dimension to work for the PTB there." She grinned humorlessly, and then looked at Willow again. "They're sending two warriors, so I asked Willow to come with me." There was dead silence in the room. Then everyone started talking at once.
Kennedy: "WHAT? No WAY is that bitch dragging you out of this dimension, Willow!"
Angel: "Warriors. I'm a warrior!" He looked hurt.
Xander: "Why Willow and not me? Can I come, too?"
Giles: "How do you know you can trust that you were with the Powers?"
Gunn: "When do you have to leave?"
Fred: "Gosh, I hope it's not like Pylea."
Wesley: "I'm so sorry, I had no idea all this was happening."
Dawn: "Are you coming back?"
Buffy sighed and pulled at her hair. "Okay, let's see. First, I've had dealings with Whistler before, and as much as I don't like him, he's legit. And everything he told me adds up."
"I met with him too," Willow said. "After Buffy made her choice, he met with me to see if I was in."
Buffy took the reins again, choosing to ignore Angel, Xander and Kennedy. "Whistler will be back in about 21 hours, and no, I can't ever come back. I'm not sure about Willow." Dawn began to cry softly.
"Man, you guys' lives suck." Gunn said, trying to break the tension.
Giles sighed. "Buffy - Willow, I want to protest and insist we hash this out to the very last detail, but my heart tells me this is real. So rather than waste our last hours together, I'll simply ask what I can do to help you."
"I'll protest!" Kennedy yelled loudly. "This is bullshit!" She turned on Buffy angrily. "You can do whatever the hell you want, Buffy, this is your fault anyway. You were better off dead! But I will not let you drag Willow down with you. What'd you do to convince her, huh? Put on your 'woe is me' poor-Buffy act? Well, I've had it!" She was abruptly cut off from her rant as Willow stepped up and placed a finger over her lips.
Willow's glare cut the younger woman down. "This isn't about you, and I don't have time to tell you all the reasons that that girl (she pointed at a stricken Buffy) is a bigger hero with a bigger heart than you'll ever have. You know what she said when Whistler told her she was meant to die again? She told him to kill her in order to make things right. That's Buffy. It's your fault if you don't see it."
"You're the one who threw her out!" Kennedy yelled bitterly. "You all did, and now you're making nice like it never happened?" She looked around the room. Team Angel just looked confused. "They left that out of their little battle stories, didn't they?" she asked Angel. "How we called that bitch out over her bad decisions and holier-than-thou attitude, and sent her packing! Then, just cuz she comes back with a pretty new toy, everyone loves her again. And now you," she turned back to Willow "are running off with her to a different dimension?" Angel glanced at Buffy, who dropped her head in confirmation. She hadn't told him about this when he'd come with the amulet. Suddenly full of rage and struggling to control the beast within, he punched Kennedy in the face, caught her, and then carried her unconscious body upstairs to her room. Everyone froze.
"Well that was the most fun you could have, without actually having any fun," Xander commented.
"Hey, I'm glad Broody there did it, so I wouldn't have to," Faith said. "B, we never really got a chance to talk much after that night, what with me being in coma # 2 and you playing King Arthur…"
Buffy held a hand up to stop her. "I'm ready to let it go if you are," she said quietly. Dawn came closer, and Buffy reached out to take her sister's hands in her own. She was about to speak, but Dawn got there first.
"Look, Buffy, I know you think I'm gonna flip out and run away and get myself into some life threatening situation, but I'm not. I'm a big girl, and I'm your sister. I know better than anyone that you aren't well. I hate this, but I also know why I have to stay here." She turned to speak to Willow. "Promise me that you'll find a way to bring me to wherever you are someday for a visit." Willow nodded tearily as she watched the two sisters hug each other tightly.
Giles approached and Buffy opened her arms to her watcher-father. "I cannot believe that just after we got you back, you're going again," he murmured.
"I know the feeling," she replied sadly. "Listen, I know you agreed once to be Dawn's legal guardian and the paperwork's all up to snuff, but I wanted to ask you again to be sure..."
"Of course, Buffy. You're both like my own daughters."
"I know this is morbid or whatever, but I think you'll need to fake my death so that you can start acting on Dawn's behalf. Something where they won't look for my body." Giles sighed as her words brought home with finality that she wasn't coming back.
"So Buff," Xander broke in, desperate to stop the direction the conversation was taking, "What'll you and Wil need on this safari? Leopard-skin bikinis, perhaps?" He grinned rakishly, happy when both women turned on him in mock anger.
"Too bad we won't need a pirate, Xand," Buffy cooed and Willow laughed out loud as Xander's hand reflexively reached up to touch his eye patch.
"Hey! On behalf of the one-eyed, I formally protest!" Everyone around them laughed.
"He has a point," Fred said softly. "Well, not about the bikinis, cuz from the perspective of havin' lived in a demon dimension for five years, the last thing you want is a bikini. What I wished I'd had were comfortable clothes and shoes… and soap! And hopefully they won't put an iron collar around your neck, cuz those don't go well with any outfit. But I guess you're goin' to save the world and all, not to be a slave like I was…" she trailed off, and Buffy looked at her sympathetically, feeling sad that she hadn't been able to get to know this woman.
"You're totally right, comfy clothes are a must. And good thinking about the soap. Whistler made it sound like this was a more primitive world, they don't even have cars or indoor plumbing," she sighed. "A shower is definitely on my list of things to do before we go." Fred looked pleased at being able to help.
"If you're gonna be ridin' horses, you should get some nice thick pants," she went on. "And sugar cubes! Sugar cubes will help you bond with any horse, and you don't want 'em to throw ya off. Oh! And campin' gear! I would've killed for a sleepin' bag when I was in Pylea."
"That's our girl, Fred," Wesley said, fondly. "You can always count on her to think of the little things no one else would think of." They smiled at each other, and Gunn grinned from his corner of the room. He knew Wesley was still in love with Fred and he hoped they'd get it together, soon.
Willow spoke up. "Giles, can you still access the council's funds? We're sorta lacking in the money department."
He nodded, "I can take care of the expense."
"Ooh! Shopping!" Faith grinned. "Not gonna miss out on a Council funded shopping spree! When do we jet?"
"Whoever wants to go can meet out front in 10 minutes," Buffy said. Giles decided to take the potentials to the training room to test their skills. Angel, obviously brooding, decided to stay behind with them, as did Wesley and Gunn. Buffy, Xander, Faith, Willow and Dawn were standing outside discussing which cars to take, when Buffy stopped suddenly.
"Hold that thought." She went back inside.
"Going after Dead Boy?" Xander suggested.
Buffy stepped inside and saw Fred standing with Wesley and Gunn. "Hey Fred, you wanna come with?" she asked.
"Oh, I don't know," she demurred. "I don't wanna take away from your last day with your friends."
"Well, I think there's room on my dance card for you," Buffy replied, smiling. "And besides, without your advice I'm gonna buy all the wrong stuff! Like that yummy leather skirt I saw the other day…" she trailed off, then remembered her point. "And Willow! I bet Willow will just buy more clogs," she taunted.
Fred gave in. "Well, we can't have that." Buffy linked arms with the young woman and led her out of the Hyperion before she could change her mind, leaving a grinning Gunn and Wesley behind.
"You know, it's two bad those ladies can't stay. Fred needs more friends," Gunn said.
"Yes, and we're left behind to deal with Angel," Wesley gave a long-suffering sigh and both men laughed.
As Buffy and Fred rejoined the group waiting outside, Xander spoke up.
"I'm a little miffed, Buff. I was looking forward to spending some quality time with Tall, Dark & Broody, and instead you bring me Tall, Gorgeous, and decidedly Not Broody." The others grinned as Fred blushed.
"Better watch out, Xand, Wesley's gonna get jealous," Buffy replied.
"What?" Fred objected. "Wesley doesn't like me like that. We're just friends."
"Oh please!" Willow scoffed, smiling. "If he stared at you any harder, his eyes would pop right out of his head!"
"Mmm hmm," Faith agreed. "Watcher's got it bad!"
"Really?" Fred asked, looking rather delighted.
Back inside the Hyperion, Gunn and Wesley warily approached Angel as he watched Giles working with the potentials.
"What's the verdict?" Gunn asked.
"It's true," Angel replied. "They're not nearly as strong as Buffy or Faith."
"How are you faring, Angel?" Wesley asked, finally. "This has been a lot to take in."
Angel sighed and knitted his eyebrows together. "She's been through too much already. They all have. This was supposed to be her chance to have that weight lifted. Instead she gets ejected from her dimension. I've always had a difficult relationship with the Powers, but it makes sense. I have so much to atone for; they have a right to make it hard. But Buffy, she's never been anything but good, she's always done whatever it takes to make things right. I feel like there must be some other way this could've gone down. They're using her. Preying on her guilt over things she had no control of to get her to be their champion again."
"I don't fully understand all of this," Wesley began, "but it seems clear that she can't stay here."
"Maybe," Angel said darkly. "But does that mean she has to be sent to fight another war? Why can't they just send her back to heaven?"
"Good point," Gunn said. "You know what I wonder? Say she died last month like she was supposed to. You think they would've let her go then? Cuz I'm kinda thinkin' not. Way I see it, they had this all planned out. Some world goes way out of balance and needs a couple champions. Why not send the best and get the credit for the win?"
"Good lord, that's disheartening," Wesley replied. "It implies that we're no more than chess pieces to be moved around at whim."
Angel growled. "Anyone think it's a little suspicious that my link to the Powers hasn't been restored yet? After everything with Cordelia… I've been so upset about losing her that it only just occurred to me that I've been cut off for a while now." He stalked away angrily.
"Like I said earlier, their lives suck," Gunn said.
"Mmm," Wesley agreed. "I don't think he's just angry about Buffy being used, though."
"What else is there?" Gunn asked.
"He's angry that she didn't choose him."