A/N: Sorry about the wait. It'll take awhile for the next chapter. Having some writer's block concerning this story.
Chapter 5: War in the Graveyard
The moment Jessica's black chunky heeled boots touched the ground of the graveyard she felt at ease. Too bad she couldn't say the same for the potentials, they seemed to become more paranoid, glancing around at every single noise. Catching Faith's attention Jessica knew she noticed the tenseness in the potentials, which would probably explain why Faith was smirking, although she was trying to hide it just not very successfully. Walking to a clearing within the graveyard, every graveyard in Sunnydale had a clearing like this. It was for those dead bodies that kept showing up because of vampires or demons.
"Okay," Buffy stated suddenly, scaring most of the potentials causing them to jump. Jessica shook her head slightly as Faith ducked her head hiding a full blown grin. "Tonight's training session will be on attack strategies."
The blonde slayer went on talking about what the lesson would be on and how it would be held. Jessica looked down at the ground when Faith sent a sideways glance at her, seeing that the youngest slayer wasn't going to say anything to interrupt commander Buffy. Faith couldn't blame her, every time Buffy and Jessica were in a room together there always seemed to be a fight. Deciding that this little speech that Buffy was giving had to stop, Faith said, "I have a different idea for training... Well actually it was Jess's idea."
"Really now..." Buffy said unenthusiastically as Faith walked to the front of the pack dragging Jessica along with her. Buffy watch suspiciously as Faith opened an gym bag pulling out a white plastic bag throwing it at the potentials. Kennedy manage to catch it as the rest of the potentials took a slight step back.
"They're just bracelets." Kennedy stated in a questioning tone pulling out a blue bracelet and a red one.
"Yes. You guys are gonna play a game-" Faith started before Jessica interrupted.
"War, to be exact."
"See we really don't wanna deal with you wannabes so you are gonna kill each other." Faith stated easily and bluntly scaring some of the potentials. Wide, frighten eyes gazed back at the slayers and soulful vampire.
Before Buffy started to get on Faith's case about what she said, Jessica took charge to explain what Faith tried to, which she failed horribly at. Faith never was good at telling the exact details. "See what the plan is, your goin' to be split into groups. One group will be red, the other blue. You can travel anywhere you want as long as you stay within the graveyard. You'll be fightin' each other with weapons. Now, I don't want anyone to turn up dead or severely injured so be careful, but you need to keep in mind that should this be real, like your fightin' for your lives. If you can't fight properly, and I'm using this term very loosely, the main thing you need to know is that you need to keep your enemy as far away as possible. If they can touch you, they can kill you."
"How will we know that the other person is dead?" Vi asked.
"When you position your weapon in a spot where it is fatal you say 'your dead'. Simple. Now remember you will be using real weapons so don't stab each other. When your dead you come back here and wait until the game is over. Got it?" Jessica explained. The potentials all glanced at each other, some smiling, some not.
"But you said we would have weapons, we don't." Kennedy stated. Jessica sent a look over to Faith, who opened up the gym bag pulling out a knife. While she was handing the correct knives to the correct girls, Jessica spilt the girls into group. Well she elected Kennedy to command the blue team and Rhona for the red team, then allowed them to pick their team members.
Figuring she did all she could Jessica took a seat on one of the many tombstones surrounding the clearing and lit up a cigarette, mentally cursing that this was her last pack. Buffy stood a few feet away, arms crossed watching Faith pass out the remaining knives with an unhappy look plastered on her face. Yep. I knew this wasn't going to end well. Jessica mused taking a long, hard drag.
Feeling Spike's presence behind her, close enough to almost be touching. His hand reached out taking the cigarette from Jessica before saying, " Didn't anyone tell you, pet, smoking can kill."
"Yeah. Well, by the way things are goin' it really doesn't matter." she replied. Jessica could feel the vibrations coming from Spike as he chuckled.
"Right you are, luv. Stepping on toes." the bleach blonde vampire said. Jessica shot him a look, snatching her cigarette back. She knew what he was talking about, but didn't really want to go into it.
"Don't remind me." she muttered taking a long drag. Cool grey eyes watched the potentials as they fawned over their new weapons. When all the weapons were handed out and the teams were decided they all turned to face Jessica.
Raising an eyebrow, she simply said, "What are you waiting for?"
The potentials turned to each other sharing a common confused look before setting their attention back on Jessica. Sighing she pointed out towards the woods that surrounded the end of the small clearing, the entire graveyard was fenced in so Jessica didn't have to worry about having some of the potentials wonder out of the graveyard. The potentials got the hint and quickly headed into the woods, when they were out of sight Jessica nodded towards Faith, who smirked and yelled, "FIGHT!"
A sudden, loud commotion emitted from the woods causing Jessica and Faith to share an amused look. They didn't think the potentials would actually get into the game, but it seemed that they needed to release some anger. What would be a better way than this. Jessica stood up stretching, feeling the night breeze against her skin. It was nice, soothing even, but that feeling was quickly shattered by Buffy.
"What was that!" Buffy exclaimed, tapping her fingertips against her crossed arms. Jessica ran a hand through her hair sighing. She knew that this was going to happen sooner or later, but preferably she wanted it to be later.
"What?" Jessica asked quietly, mentally preparing for the rant that was about to happen.
"What! That!" the blonde haired slayer started, pointing to the woods. "Why would you... I mean how did... Do you like taking over my authority?"
"No."
"Then why is it you are always questioning me or doing things without my permission." Buffy continued ranting, while Jessica just stood there calmly waiting for the slayer to finish. Buffy went on about how Jessica didn't follow any of the rules.
When Jessica was sure Buffy was finished she said, "Look, I'm not going to apologize for what I just did with the potentials, and about this morning's excursion, Dawn and Jackie wanted to come along."
Buffy went to open her mouth, but Jessica continued on. "Let's get something straight. I don't like being a leader. I believe people should have a choice about what they are doing and not just blindly follow someone. But I am a fighter. It's in my blood. You can act all high and mighty as you want, I don't care, but realize that there are two other Slayers here to help. So stop bitchin' about all the responsibility you have. You want help ask, it's as easy as that."
Silence followed Jessica's calm speech. Buffy was shocked, to say the least, her mouth was hanging a little bit opened. No one had ever spoken to her like that in a long time. Jessica turned and began to walk away, but hesitated. Turning back to face Buffy, she added, "I'm only here because I'm a Slayer and it's my fight too. That and Angel asked me to. I'll fight with you, but I won't follow you. So don't expect me to. I believe it's best I stay at a motel until the apocalypse comes because obviously if I stay we're gonna keep fighting."
With that said Jessica walked out of the graveyard, not bothering to look back. When the youngest slayer was out of sight, Faith turned and glared at Buffy. Trying to keep her anger in check, she asked, "What is your problem, B? All she was tryin' to do was help. No offense to you, but the way your training the wannabes is not really gonna help them in a fight. Lecturing them can only do so much. The method she was using actually allowed them to figure out how they can fight. What works for them and everything."
Buffy sighed. She knew she was being a bitch to the youngest slayer. Running her hands over her face, through her blonde hair trying to figure out what to do. Palms rested against her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Pulling her hands away, hazel eyes swept across the graveyard. Potentials sat near the gravestones waiting for a team to win, leaves decorated most of their bodies, scratches from branches lined their arms, but overall they seemed to be enjoying it. Confusion was sparked in those hazel eyes as Buffy glanced around.
"Faith, where's Spike?"
A/N: Review. Tell me what you think. Also if you have any ideas for future chapters or anything, it would be appreciated. Might help me with my writer's block.