Operation Slayers and Non Essentials, the Second Coming:

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

"Remind me again why you're on my team again?" Kennedy asked

"You want my answer or Giles'?" Gabriel replied as he kicked a stone off the empty sidewalk.

"Surprise me"

After searching around small streets near the cemetery Father Gabriel was found in for close to twenty minutes, team Kennedy was about to turn back and try searching in a different direction. That is until the group of demon hunters heard the unmistakable pitch of female screams. As quickly as possible, the Slayers of team Kennedy ran to the origin of the screams; Father Gabriel and Andrew bringing up the rear. When the two males of the group caught up to their superwomen counterparts, they found that the origin of the screaming came from outside a small nightclub.

"Please…please just let me go. I won't tell anyone I swear." A young blonde babbled as she was crying and pleading with the vampire who was holding her by her wrists. The poor young thing couldn't have been much older than Dawn. The blonde looked like a terrified clown after a car accident; her makeup was running down her swelling face while she was bleeding from her lip.

"Relax baby, whats the hurry? We have all night to-" The vampire stopped himself as he saw Father Gabriel walking towards him with purpose; Kennedy grabbing onto Gabe's coat sleeve to try to stop him, but the young paladin walked out of her light grasp.

"Hey man, just keep walk-"…*BOOONNNGGG*,was the only sound heard as Father Gabriel absolutely smashed the vampire in the face with his fully expanded shield; the vampire flying backwards as his backside landed hard on the sidewalk.

"Stake!" Father Gabriel called, catching a stake tossed to him.

The man then took Mary's right hand, wrapped her fingers around the stake and quickly plunged it into the vampire's chest; turning the monster to ash before Mary's eyes.

"What?...how?-"

Gabriel walked to the night club's door and raised his foot in the air. "In the name of the Father! The Son! And the-"

"Hey Jerry! C'mere you gotta try this one! She just did a rail of coke, guaranteed!" a random vampire yelled over club music to his buddy.

"E SPIRITO SANTO!"

Suddenly, all victimized and vampiric eyes fell to the source of the loud yelling and swinging door. Within seconds, Team Kennedy with Father Gabriel taking point, entered the club and made a shocking discovery. As club beats pumped through the floors and walls, the entire club was taken over by vampires, male and female. All over the place vamps were drinking, dancing, feeding, raping and fucking; or they were a few seconds ago. And like a movie scene playing in slow motion, Gabriel strode forwards as the evil dead rushed the group before he gave the command.

"HOOOOOLLLD! THHHEEE! LINNNNEEE!"

"We're gonna run this town tonight boys and girls!" a random vampire in a black suit said to his horde.

"But boss, what about the Slayers?"

The sharp looking vampire inhaled and smiled before speaking, "Ah, smell that? That's the smell of opportunity. While the Slayers are busy taking on the higher up's, we can come in under the radar Lucy. Now hurry up and finished loading the truck! I'm getting hungry and horny-"

Without Warning the vampress formerly known as Lucy disintegrated before everyone's eyes as a wooden stake landed on the ash vault with a clank.

"Luuuuccccy, I'm hooommmme!" Faith announced to the world, with Dante by her side and the less experienced Slayer's behind her.

Soon enough, the white hat's finished off their foe's and got as many injured as possible outside to the awaiting ambulances and fire trucks that someone must have called. Team Kennedy and Father Gabriel quickly covered themselves with ash and walked around while showing their battle scars to any fireman or paramedic that came to them, trying to look like the victim rather than the heroes. Once all of the band of demon hunters were able to slip away from the medics and frantic people asking them questions of what in God's named just happened, they started to make their way back to Slayer central…Until they were interrupted by a sudden, "Hey!"

Everyone but Father Gabriel groaned in frustration and rolled their eyes. Nobody wanted to deal with another person wondering if they were crazy or if monsters were real.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Mary asked.

"Mary as much as I would love a good lay right now, you should go take care of your sis-." Father Gabriel stopped as he was interrupted by the deafening sounds of an ambulance siren; a woman sitting up in a stretcher giving Mary a thumbs up becoming visible through the back door window as the vehicle passed by.

Looking back at Mary, Father Gabriel smiled and wrapped his arm around Mary's waist and held her close with their faces now inches apart as they stared at each other. "Care to come with us mi amore?"

Mary simply rested her head on Gabriel's shoulder and kissed his jawline tenderly.

"Booootyy call!" Kennedy yelled while smiling and fist pumping towards the two, receiving death glares from the two new love birds.

Chapter 13

"Alright, I gather we are ready to begin?...Were is Father Gabriel?" Giles asked from his library chair, sipping his tea while the morning sun crept through the window.

"Ummm..He's in the show-"

"Enjoying his booty" Kennedy cut in non-nonchalantly, interrupting Olivia.

"Ah, so you Slayed and managed to take spoils from the vampires I gather?" Giles asked with his brow raised. Back in Sunnydale, Giles would have been appalled by the idea of stealing from the dead undead, but not after years of getting his ass kicked by the evils of hell. That and he did far worse in his youth.

"Nooo, I mean he's tappin some-" A sudden knock on the door interrupted Kennedy, Father Gabriel now sticking his wet haired head through the opening he created as he opened the door just enough to stick his head in.

"…..wood?" Kennedy finished.

"Premesso?" Father Gabriel asked.

"Avanti" Dawn answered, all beings in the room looking back and forth between Father Gabriel and Dawn in confusion.

"I asked for permission to enter the room. Thank you Dawn, your Italian is coming along well." Gabriel announced as he walked in the room.

"You're getting him to teach you Italian? Where? When?" Andrew asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Don't worry Andrew, I can teach you a few sentences that will make questa bella here melt in your arms."

"Speaking of which, Mary still here or did you tell her to say ten Our Father's and a Glory Be to your penis before kicking her out?" Kennedy asked Father Gabriel.

As Giles looked between the two completely baffled, Gabriel replied, "I gave her money for a cab, walked with her to the end of the street to help this place remain hidden from the cab driver, told her how to keep safe from the evils in the night and walked back. A crooked priest I may be mi amore, but I am also a gentleman." While Giles was still trying to put two and two together, Gabriel looked towards Olivia and smiled, "Oh and thank you for the gloves doctore, much appreciated."

"Gloves? We have gloves for battle?" Giles asked as he looked up at his love beside him. "Why don't we give our Slayer's these gloves to? I'm sure it would help with splinters for the young ones".

All of team Kennedy started to laugh almost hysterically while Olivia and Father Gabriel smiled, holding back their laughter while sharing a knowing gaze at each other.

"Um Rupert dear, he meant another kind of glove…that only men can use." Olivia clarified.

"What kind of glov-" Giles cut himself off with a look of wide eyed shock. The patriarch then raised his finger in the air and opened his mouth to speak, "But…You're a….Alright, fair enough. Well done old man, jolly good." Giles finished.

"What did the creepy old pervy priest do?" Faith asked as she walked into the Library, a very dirty looking Dante right beside her.

"Padre Pio here, tapped some ass and just sent her home." One of the ladies in the room told Faith while pointing her thumb towards Gabe.

"Kennedy!" Both Father Gabriel and Giles scolded.

"Wheeeey" Faith said with a smile as she strode over to Gabriel and slung her by-now mended arm over the younger man's shoulders.

"If we can please have the meet…Ahhh! Bloody hell Faith! Get control of your beast!" Giles almost screeched as Dante started to shake his fur from side to side, dust and mud flying in all directions.

"Take it easy G! Is that any way to talk about Dante the Destroyer?" Faith asked as she sat in one of the chairs, exhausted.

"So he made his first kill then?" Giles asked as he grabbed pen and paper, Olivia getting ready to type.

"First, five, twenty…I'm telling you G, Dante was amazing. And that stare thing ya talked about works…he just can't fully control it yet." Faith replied.

"I take it Dante's stare affected you and the younger Slayers?" Giles asked over Olivia's typing.

"Yeah, he got me and some of the others a few times when we called his name or when he looked back to check on us." Faith admitted.

"Until he can fully control his abilities, I don't want Dante unescorted by you in combat, nor is it wise to have him in a large patrol group." Giles told the members of Slayer Central, only to get a whimper from Dante.

"Don't you look at me like that." Giles sternly told Dante. "I suggest you start training Dante on how to use his abilities on foes only. There are some codex's and text in here on demon's and even human's that have developed bonds with beats, both normal and supernatural."

"Jeez! Years later and he's still giving me homework! Whats next G? Take a ruler to my ass?" Faith asked, noticing almost all the men in the room staring off into space…not blinking.

After whipping off his glasses and giving them a shine using ridiculous speed and technique he developed over the years, Giles continued. "Anything else you want to report?" Giles asked while looking back at Faith.

"Yeah, how the hell did you keep up with me and B back in the day? I'm exhausted." Faith groaned and then stretched in her chair.

With a smile, Giles answered the Slayer. "A great deal of tea, saint like patience and the constant nagging in the back of my mind that I was ten times as worse when I was that age."

"I think we need a few pool boys or young man whores around here G. I can't count how many sex questions I got last night. I know I was a horny fuck way back when-" Dawn suddenly coughed and cleared her throat, cutting Faith off momentarily. "….Why can't those kid's believe the stork story? Damn internet!" Faith continued after giving Dawn the finger.

"Welcome to the wonderful world of mentorism Faith, have fun." Giles said with a smile, then grabbing his tea cup and took a sip as he leant back in his chair.

"You're just loving this ain'tcha?" Faith asked her watcher.

"You have no idea" Giles answered. "Alright," Giles spoke moments before taking a final sip of tea and placing his cup back on his desk. "Anything else Faith?"

"Nada"

"Moving on then. Kennedy?"

"We didn't find anything that has to do with the bringers. But we did find a nightclub that got taken over by vamps and-"

"What the hell man? I have to babysit and they get to go out Slayin and dancin!" Faith abruptly interrupted.

"Faith please! Kennedy, continue." Giles spoke as he waved his hand to Kennedy.

"So we saw Gabe's sex buddy about to be drained outside the club and instead of going with my plan to lure more out and thin the herd, he decided to be all manly and play the hero, bash the bad guy's head in and save the slut in distress. Oh and instead of being all ninja like and sneaking in and slicing throats, he hulk smashed the door open and announced our arrival." Kennedy explained as she stared daggers through Father Gabriel.

"Hey, my hero routine worked didn't it?"

"And if Andy didn't go AC/DC on their asses we might not be here right now smart one!" Kennedy snapped back, getting into Gabriel's personal space. "I don't like leaving my team in someone else's hands! And I don't!...Like them being in danger because they're in incapable hands!" Kennedy finished in a tone Angelus once used against the demony voice of evil birth mother Cordelia.

"Yo! Ken-"

"No!" Father Gabriel suddenly hollered, still looking into Kennedy's eyes while holding a finger up behind his back to stop Faith. "Your right." Father Gabriel replied, the held breathes in the room releasing all at once. "But not because of why you would think." Father Gabriel continued.

"Kennedy, I am sorry for leading inadequately. I forgot that I am not with my own team and I should have taken into account your team's strengths and weaknesses that Mr. Giles told me about, instead of expecting your team to react like mine. For that I am sorry." Father Gabriel told the Slayer genuinely and then looked around the room. "To all of you, I apologize."

"Well that's understandable, one can't expect a new employer and his employee's to work like a well-oiled machine at first." Giles spoke out, trying to ease the tension.

"Apology accepted padre, I shouldn't have yelled. I'll say a few prayers for snapping at you." Kennedy told the paladin with a smirk as she offered him her hand.

Gabriel smirked back and shook Kennedy's hand gingerly…before pulling her close, face to face with their lip's an inch away from each other before Father Gabriel spoke. "But if you ever call me incapable of leading ever again child," Gabriel now slowly snaked his face almost flush with Kennedy's until his lips were millimeters away from Kennedy's ear before he continued. "You will need those prayers. "

"…..That's hot." Rona uttered once again, this time being in awe of the tension and energy smoldering off of Paladin Gabriel and Slayer Kennedy instead of Buffy and Spike.

Kennedy waited for Gabriel to pull back and meet her gaze once again before speaking, "Is this how you got Mary to go down on you big guy?" Kennedy retorted with almost a Faith like sexy grin before repeating Gabe's actions and placing her lips almost on the young man's ear. "Just name the time and the place and we'll see who goes down first."

"…That's hotter," Vi admitted.

"Moving on.." Kennedy eventually said as she broke the gaze she shared with Father Gabriel and looked at Giles almost a minute later. A man whom was now red faced and furiously cleaning his glasses.

"Yes.. well…A… Go on." Giles encouraged as he put his glasses back onto his face.

"So captain Italia here took point and surprisingly did a really good job keeping most of the heat on him." Kennedy replied and then looked at Father Gabriel as he took a seat. "I'm guessing you have someone in your group to knock em down once you've set em up?"

"Pretty much, yeah. Two of the four members of my squad specializes more on speed and technique than power. After I down an enemy, one or both of them finish the job." The young paladin answered.

"Fascinating!" Giles announced, clearly impressed. "But how do you compensate when your formation is compromised and the enemy goes after the others?"

"Actually…G-unit brings up a good point." Rona agreed from her seat with interest.

"Rona please. It's bad enough Faith taught you to use those slang words for me, I don't wish you nor the younger and more impressionable Slayers to call me anything but Giles." Giles told Rona with a frown.

"Hey c'mon G. G-unit is a badass nickname yo! All who agree raise ya hands." Faith retorted, getting a room full of people minus two to raise their hands. "Holla"

"Children enough." Giles said sternly with a hand in the air to stop his embarrassment. "Father Gabriel, if you will?"

"Well long story short, certain paladins who are especially good with shields have a blood magic spell cast on their shield, as well as have their shields blessed." Gabriel continued, sighing as the blank stares sent his way made the young man realize he had to explain everything to the people in front of him instead of relaxing in his seat. "…Alright so every shield using warrior of the Catholic church has his or her shield blessed in the ritual of St. Peter….and don't ask me how it's done because I have no clue, all I know is it has something to do with Peter being the guardian of the gates of heaven and invoking his saintness to help guard the shield's user. In addition to the blessing, blood magic is used to ensure that only the proper owner of the shield can harness the power of the blessing. So-"

Father Gabriel suddenly stopped himself as he and every other occupant of the room looked towards the direction of a crumpling sound. To everyone's disbelief, Andrew was trying to open a bag of Doritos without bursting the contents of the foil bag onto the floor. Eventually, Andrew managed to get the bag open without incident and reached into the bag to grab a chip. As Andrew was about to bite into some cheesey goodness, he noticed the silence and looked up. Staring back at the young watcher was a very peeved looking paladin and head watcher, and a bunch of hungry and probably horny female bottomless pits.

"What? I'm hungry….." Andrew said in his defense before sighing and passing the bag of chips to be shared, starting with Dawn.

"Annnyways…The blood magic requires the blood of the shield's user or the blood of a direct descendant. But the blood of a close relative may not do the trick if the bloodline has been too diluted. If the original user was a male and his great, great granddaughter tried to use the shield for example."

"So what does this shield of craziness do? Jeez Dante down boy!" Faith asked before trying to push her pet off of her and away from her hand full of chips.

"The best way I can put it is that when I or my family members use Eva, and yes I named my shield as all paladin's do-"

"Geek!" Kennedy suddenly murmured through a cough. "Oh, excuse me. Please continue." The Slayer encouraged with a hand over her chest.

While staring daggers through the Latina Slayer, the young man continued. "Whenever I use my shield, I have no idea how I do it, but I can sort of…well focus the attention and hostility of the enemy towards me, as long as the enemy is void of any goodness inside of him, her or it."

"Oh so you're an aggro magnet…Wow you really are a tank" Andrew suddenly spoke while chewing, receiving only snickers and stares for his efforts.

"Hun? Is there something you want to tell me? Should I leave you two alone?" Dawn said while smiling, trying desperately to hold back her laughter.

"What? No, being a tank means…You know what, I'm not gonna bother anymore. If you people can't get my comic, movie or video game references, tough cookies!" Andrew announced with a bit of a pout as he crossed his arms over his chest. Which of course earned the young man a chorus of laughter, even from Father Gabriel and Giles.

"Aww baby, I'm just joking. You can tell me later. K?" Dawn replied, attempting to comfort her man while rubbing his arm lovingly.

"All tom foolery aside, your saying that in your hands your shield mystically and/or divinely attracts evil?...That's brilliant! Incredibly deadly to the person taking point, but still a good small squadron battle tactic."

"Hence why stealth isn't one of my strong suits." Gabriel said while glancing at Kennedy.

"So padre drag's the baddies in and the rest of his crew takes them out…Wow, I wish I could see him work. How good is he with his little toy?" Faith asked the room, only to see team Kennedy look down at the floor and receive silence in return. "…Guys?...What?

"I think I know why they won't answer." Gabe said with a sly smile as he got up from his seat and walked to Dawn and crouched down so he was now staring her in the face; keeping his gaze stuck on Kennedy when he past her as they shared a smart ass smirk with each other until he crouched to stare into Dawn's eyes. "As the only non lezbo here to see me in action last night, c'mon admit it bella. You liked what you saw" Father Gabriel said with a smile and wink.

"…Fuck sorry Ken!" Dawn squealed moments later as she placed her now red face in her hands and then looked past the paladin and right at Faith. "He was hot!"

"DAWN!" Both Kennedy and Andrew screamed.

Both Vi and Rona looked at each other before sharing a shrug and look at Faith as Rona spoke, "Yeah, padre badass was tight."

Kennedy could only sigh in both disbelief and frustration as her team, her family, just left her out to dry…especially after she strongly hinted that she wanted to be the only one to report on Gabriel. Sure that may seem a little cold and shallow, but hell has no fury like a woman's scorn. Smiling from ear to ear, Father Gabriel got up from his crouched position and walked back to his seat. But not before passing by Kennedy, sending a wink and an air kiss her way that only she, Giles and Olivia could see. The second Father Gabriel's back past Kennedy, the Latina Slayer got into a stance that could only mean she was going to pounce. But before Kennedy could strike, a loud bang and then a familiar voice was heard.

"FAITH!"

"Umm…hey B? What's up?"

"You know damn well what's up! Care to explain why half of the underage girls you 'babysat' are hung over?" Buffy asked her lover as she made her way from the library door way to Faith's side, limping without the aid of crutches or a cane.

"Umm…inneret?" Faith answered back, soon offering Buffy some Doritos with a shit eating smile after noticing Buffy wasn't letting up. After seconds of nothing, Faith tried to explain. "Well B, Dante-" Suddenly, Faith's loyal pet whimpered and trotted behind Giles' desk and lied on the floor next to the man; covering his demonic eyes with his paws.

"Momma's boy!" Faith hollered at the demon before slowly turning to look at an impatient Buffy. An impatient Buffy who was waiting for an answer with her hands on her hips and a raised eye brow.

Faith sighed before speaking. "B, you have no idea how annoying it is having a bunch of little girls constantly asking about booze, sex and rock and roll-".Faith was suddenly cut off by Dawn coughing. "…I said a bunch of girls. Not just one brat." Faith retorted while still looking at Buffy, not being able to see Dawn's sneer.

"And what kind of example are you setting for these young girls Faith? Instead of coming to 'square Summers', go to 'find the fun Faith?' Not only are you making me look like a girl version of Giles, but you're taking away their innocence-"

Buffy was quickly cut off by a giggling Faith. And after seconds of more giggling, Buffy cracked a smile and fell onto Faith's lap and pouted. "Stop laughing at me."

After more giggling and smiles all around the room, Faith tried to comfort her lover. "Awww, c'mere lover," Faith cooed before she closed the distance between the Chosen Two and kissed Buffy chastely on her lips. "It's not my fault you grew up to be a square B, look who you had with you." Faith told Buffy while nodding Giles' way.

"I beg your pardon. I'll have you know in my youth-"

"Ya ya, you were the rebel without a cause drummer for Floyd. Olivia told us all about the bad assery of the legendary Ripper." Faith cut in.

"Hey! Nobody told me anything." Buffy piped up.

"Trust me B, you don't want to know. Giles made Mick Jagger look like a boy scout."

"…..Ewwwww" Both Summers sisters revolted in unison.

"Anyways" Giles spoke, cleaning his glasses so vigorously while being flustered that he could feel the metal brackets bend.

"But B, c'mon innocence? You know what we had to see when we first started. Hell by the time I was called I already saw shit that could beat Ron Jeremy's and Michael Myers work combined. It's better that these girls are exposed to the shit we have to deal with, with one of us there to guide them. And not one of them have their blood innocence anymore, even though its vampires and not human's, everyone here knows that fucks with your head at first."

Buffy soon let out a long and drawn out sigh after Faith finished while resting her head on Faith's chest. "Your right Fai. I just want these girls to grow into Slayerhood the same way I did. Friends and family to help, the best watcher around and a safe place to call home." Giles couldn't help but smile after his surrogate daughter admitted her wants for the young Slayers.

"Well were two of three aren't we?" Vi voiced.

"Well if Andy can keep up and if padre pervert can keep it in his pants, should be a piece of cake" Kennedy quipped while sitting on the edge of Giles' desk.

"Oh you know you want it" Father Gabriel replied.

"Eat me"

"Anytime mi amore"

"And with that I take my leave to face the challenges of the day…the other challenges." Giles spoke out as he grabbed his newspaper, cup of tea and started to walk out of the library; hearing the bickering fade as he walked.

"Oh don't you start with that mi amore crap! I'm not that easy."

"That's not what a little Asian birdie told me during the hockey game. In fact, I have been led to believe that if someone touches you right under-"

"Say it and die padre! And stop taking up Satsu's time!"

"Some one's gettttinggg jeaaaloouuuussss"

"You MOTHER-"

*Click*. Golden silence was now heard as the Library doors were closed shut.

(days later)

"Ahhhhhh, how I love doing the 'out of nowhere' night service. Father Brently must have drank too much communion wine again. I should get Willow to see if there is an anti-alcoholic spell tomorrow." Father Gabriel told himself as he was making his way up the steps to the medium sized Catholic Church of Saint John Ogilvie.

Taking off his 'old country cap' as he entered the building, Father Gabriel opened his mouth to greet someone; but strangely, not a soul was in the church lobby. Furrowing his brow, the young paladin walked up to the main hall doors and opened them. Father Gabriel's face was then contorted in pure disgust and horror. For before his very eyes, bodies of men, women and children lay in a bloody heap all around the large room. On the alter steps, in the church pews, in the isles, and even in the band area, the main hall of the St. John Ogilvie's church made the chorus of 'Let the bodies hit the floor' look like an understatement. Gabriel briskly walked up and down the church isles and scanned for any survivors. The man eventually made it to the marble altar with no success…or so the Gabriel thought. In the silence of the dead, Father Gabriel was able to hear someone else breathing.

Listening closely and staying silent, the paladin followed the trail his ear lead him on as best as he could. Soon, Father Gabriel was standing behind a familiar marble altar and looking out to the masses of the dead. With one quick movement, the man crouched down and looked under the altar; only to get an earful of a little girl's screams.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

With a sudden yelp, Father Gabriel fell back on his ass and palms of his hands while looking with wide eyes at a young girl screaming back at him.

"Easy..Easy little one! I'm not going to hurt you," the man said in an attempt to comfort the little blonde girl to no avail. "Hey.. HEY!" Father Gabriel tried again, still to no avail as the girl was still screaming at him.

Gabriel suddenly had a childish, yet viable idea. The young paladin crawled to his hands and knees close to the little blonde girl's face and stared at her before he,

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Father Gabriel began to wail right back at the little girl's face, soon causing the little girl to stop screaming and look at Father Gabriel with a puzzled look.

"There we go" Gabriel said with a smile. "I'm not going to hurt you bella. Let's get you out of here and somewhere safe ok?" The man asked the child while gently offering his hand.

"Buffy! I see you're not limping, that's wonderful." Giles greeted his Slayer as she entered his office within Slayer Central's library.

"Yep, I'm a lean, mean, Buffy machine again. So what's the what tonight?" Buffy asked as she sat down in front of her surrogate father.

"Quiet as usual," the man answered while pouring himself and his visitor a cup of tea from his seat. "And you know what that means, either were back to the norm or-"

"Were still due for one hell of a Halloween party?"

"You always did have a knack for laughing in the face of imminent death" Giles stated with a smile before sipping his tea and leaning back in his seat.

"The other Councils have anything big going on? Heard anything? The Vatican starting another holy war?" Buffy asked as she drank her tea.

"Nothing large enough for us to be concerned about. The typical nightly war and once every few month apocalypse's I'm afraid." Giles answered.

"Darn it, why can't anyone else get the hard jobs? Why always me?" Buffy asked with a pout.

"Because you're legendary? And dare I say it, the only one of your kind?" Giles offered. "Although I am not as good as Andrew, if you'd like I can go through your Slayer history in dramatical fashion?" Giles mused, earning a smile from Buffy.

"I miss this Giles. You know, just us…library, tea…" Buffy said with a smile, and in turn, gaining an affectionate smile from her father figure.

*CRASH*, the sudden sound of the library doors almost smashing open was heard echoing throughout the entire library. Both Buffy and Giles sighed and looked down at their tea cups. "I for one, don't miss that" Giles uttered.

"Ditto" Buffy agreed as the two got out of their seats and began to leave the office.

"Giles! Rupert Giles! We need to talk!" Father Gabriel yelled until he saw Buffy and Giles coming out of Giles' office.

"What is it Father Gabriel?" Giles asked, soon turning his gaze to something Gabriel was carrying and wrapped in the man's coat.

Father Gabriel swiftly walked to the nearby library table and gently placed the object on the table surface with its legs dangling off the table's edge.

"Gabe, is there something you want to tell us? Did you purpose to Mary when we weren't looking?" Buffy mused as she gazed upon the face of a young blonde girl, Father Gabriel looking stone faced back at the Slayer. "That's what I was afraid of, what happened?"

"Giles, do you have any cookies and tea around?" Father Gabriel asked.

"Yes in my office on the table."

Gabriel then looked at the little girl and said in a soft voice, "Why don't you go in and have some cookies, eh?"

Getting a nod as a response, the young paladin took the girl's hand and led her to Giles' office and soon came back to his comrades.

"Gabriel? What happened?" Giles asked this time.

Looking around the man to see if the young girl was out of earshot, Father Gabriel started, "I went to the church to do an on-call service but when I got there….bodies Mr. Giles, all I found were bodies and her hiding under the altar. I imagine she was there the whole time."

"Good lord!" Giles gasped. "Were there any clues to what happened?"

"Nothing to be sure of. All I know is that it didn't look like a beastie did it. I never heard of anything demonic ever going in a church before. Some of the wounds I saw on the way out looked like it was from a blade." Father Gabriel replied.

"I have." Buffy announced. "A half demon and half machine terminator type thing got random vamps to believe that the church is nothing to fear. And whether it's because there is a trace of humanity within a vampire or because the power of positive thinking really can work wonders, evil in church isn't impossible."

Sighing, Father Gabriel thought for a moment before declaring before Buffy and Giles, "There's only one way to know for sure."

"Father Gabriel, you can't be suggesting-"

"Know any other way ?" the paladin asked, shutting Giles up.

"Hey there sweetie," Father Gabriel said as he looked past Giles and at the blonde girl leaning in the doorway. The man walked to the little blonde, crouched and then met her at eye level. "Do you think we can talk about what happened later?"