Chapter 10 -- Tea & Near-Death

Two hours later found the Doctor drinking tea in a hotel kitchen, surrounded by Slayers.

"So, what are your questions? Or have you calmed down?"

"You are not taking her anywhere until you've answered my questions. And maybe not even then."

"The way I see it, according to your own laws, you have no say-so in that."

"She's sixteen," Buffy ground out.

"Seventeen," he corrected. "Seventeen. Oh, damn, I missed your birthday again, didn't I?"

"Eleventh time in a row," Kyra said. "Don't worry about it."

"See, you could pretty much say...I'm her only living relative. And unless she has any objections, I was planning on taking her with me."

"Where?"

"Wherever she wants to go."

"Better question would be when," Willow said.

"That, too."

"Her family's dead."

"I'm her godfather."

"She's never mentioned her godfather," Buffy argued.

"She has to me," Ginger said. "He's the one who saved her life, when the vampires came for her family."

"Actually, she saved herself. I just got her to a safe location. God, you were young then, weren't you?"

"And you ain't changed a bit."

"Well, I just saw you yesterday," the Doctor replied.

"See, that's just bloody confusing, that is," Kyra muttered.

"Well, that's the best state of mind to be in," he said.

"Why Kyra?" Buffy demanded.

"Because, unlike you, she's interesting. Always curious, always got a question."

"Well, he's got that part right," Spike muttered, walking into the kitchen.

"Spike! Long time, no see. Changed your hair a bit. Rather blonder."

"Do I know you, mate."

"Not with this face."

"Oh, the Doctor. Right."

"He wants to take Kyra gallivanting around the universe."

"Good on her," Spike muttered. "Don't forget to pack some extra clothes, love."

Buffy gaped at him. "That's it?"

"What the bloody hell else do you want me to say? 'No, you can't go, you've been naughty'? I ain't her father. Technically, she's supposed to kill me." He shrugged. "'Sides, he's the Doctor. Supposedly a great bloody honor to be chosen by a Time Lord. Wouldn't wanna go, me, but if she wants to, it's her choice. 'Sides, she'd get to see stuff she ain't gonna see parkin' her keister down on Earth. She's the kinda girl who could do with seein' the whole universe." He turned to the Doctor. "Bring her back in one piece. I like that one."

"Oh, don't worry," he said. "She'll be home in time for...Christmas. Yes, Christmas is always good."

"Better be," Ginger muttered. "I already bought her present."

"It's July!" Rona cried.

"Overachiever," Kyra said.

"Look who's talkin'!"

"Look, Kyra, you can't go," Buffy snapped. "You are sixteen!"

"Seventeen," the Doctor corrected. "She's seventeen, and you're not her boss. Tell me, what's her last name?"

"What?"

"Her last name. Surname. Just about everybody's got one. All right, when's her birthday?"

"What?"

"May 6th. What's her favorite food?"

Buffy glared.

"Oh, and that one's easy! Lasagna. Has it for her birthday, every year. What was her favorite subject in school?"

"All of 'em?" Connor suggested.

"Hmm. He's not bad. Tell me, if she's one of your girls, how can he guess these things better than you can?"

"I am responsible for her."

"No, you're responsible for yourself and your friends. She's just a Slayer. She's in control of her own destiny now. You made good sure of that."

"You cannot drag her off!"

"He's not draggin' me," Kyra said.

"It's like this," the Doctor said. "You've got serious issues. And I don't trust her in your hands."

"What? How dare you!"

"This is gonna get ugly," Spike commented.

"How dare you to assume that you can control every facet of her fate! How dare you tell me or her that she can't do as she wishes! Isn't that what you've been fighting for? Freedom? Isn't that what the good fight's all about? Freedom, to be who you are, instead of being subjected to demon invasions?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Becoming the companion of a Time Lord is a long and established tradition. A great honor. Most races would kill for that honor."

"Then why choose one of my girls?" Buffy yelled back.

"I chose her way before she ever met you."

"She is my responsibility, one of my Slayers."

"I'm not your bloody anything! It has nothin' to do with me, you don't know me! And you sure as hell don't own me!"

"Put it this way, Buffy, right? Right now, you're just about as bad as the First. And on that note, Kyra, let's go."

"Can I at least get my things?"

"Already got 'em packed."

She grinned.

"Took a side trip in the Tardis, before I came to pick you up."

"Awesome," she said.

Buffy grabbed the Doctor's arm.

The Doctor shoved her back. "Don't you ever lay your hand on me -- or her -- again!"

Buffy picked herself up off the floor. "What the hell are you? What gives you the right?"

"Buffy, stop," Willow said.

"I am a Time Lord," he said. "If I wanted, I could go back and erase your entire existence. If I wanted, I could go back, and make sure you were never called as a Slayer. Then where would you be, Miss Priss? Back off, before I break one of my own rules."

Kyra touched his arm. "Doctor."

"Right then. Spike. Good to see you again. Sorry it was this situation."

"Oh, I'll see you again. In fact, I'll walk you out." Once they were out of earshot of Buffy, Spike spoke in a low voice. "Settin' up a Slayer school in England. Most of Kyra's girls are gonna be there. The Archive Building, love, you know it. Don't come near Buffy. She's right volatile right now."

"Not a worry," Kyra muttered.

"It's amazing," the Doctor muttered. "Not one single being has ever pushed me that far. I almost did. I almost erased her entirely."

"Not worth the effort," Spike informed him. He gave Kyra a brief, one-armed hug. "Take care of yourself, love. And if anything happens to her, mate, you answer to me." With that, he turned and headed down the stairs.

"Let's get out of here," Kyra said. "I never want to see her again."

"Oh, I'm sure we can arrange that. Where do you want to go first?"

"I don't know. Surprise me."

"Right then. Now where did I park?"

TBC...