If There Was No Buffy

Chapter Fourteen

Slayer Versus Slayers

Before anyone could react, once again the back door was kicked open, and this time both Slayers made it inside and they were carrying the long, tapered stakes they favored. One went after Spike, and the other after Buffy.

Buffy didn't hesitate to go on the attack, but her opponent spun away from the punch, and delivered a spinning kick to Buffy's back as she went past, knocking her to the floor. But recovering, from her hands and knees, Buffy used a mule kick to the Slayer's lower abdomen, doubling her over. Buffy grabbed her by her single, long braid and flipped her over onto her back, delivered a quick punch to the face, then picked her up and tossed her out of the door onto the porch.

Spike had grabbed the stake barely in time, but was having trouble controlling her. Willow threw a hand out and a silent red flash of light hit the Slayer's eyes. As she recoiled from the blinding attack, Buffy grabbed her by her arm, threw her face first into the refrigerator, stunning her, then she sailed out the back door into her sister, who was trying to come to her feet.

"Willow!" Buffy yelled. "The Glory spell! The one at the gas station!"

Willow closed her eyes, concentrating, her arms held tightly to herself. Then she shouted as she flung her arms out, "Circling arms, raise a wall!"

A circle of light expanded outward from her, passing through everyone inside. Just in time the sphere of light threw Mary and Marie, who were about to come back in, off the porch and into the back yard. Dawn slammed the door, but the jamb was broken so there was no way to lock it.

"That should hold for a while," Willow said, then turned her attention back to Buffy, Giles forgotten about.

"How…?" she asked, mystified and confused.

"I don't know how, exactly. But I knew everyone was in danger. All of you were dying. I had to save you."

"She dug herself out of her grave," Dawn said, holding back tears. "Her hands were all bloody and dirty. But she's clean now. And she's back."

Willow left Giles' side and walked to Buffy, hesitated then put her arms around her, and Buffy responded in kind. They held onto each other for half a minute, then separated.

"You have no idea how much we missed you."

Buffy smiled, then went to Giles.

"You've looked better," she said as she touched the side of his face.

"I've felt better."

Buffy looked at Spike. "You've been protecting them?"

Spike nodded his assent. "Doing what I can." And he was rewarded with an appreciative smile.

Buffy then looked at Tara. "Tara. I'm glad you're here."

Before Tara could answer, they heard a car's horn sounding without stopping.

"Xander!" Willow exclaimed. "They were coming over to watch Dawn. The Slayers!"

They all rushed to the front door and could hear breaking glass as the two Slayers were shattering the car's windows to get at Xander and Anya.

"Willow, make a door!" Buffy shouted as she ran out of the front door, not waiting to make sure it was done. But Willow was quick enough and Buffy launched herself off the porch and ran to the street where the car was.

Both Slayers turned to confront her, both wielding the deadly spikes. Buffy ducked under one of them, but was caught in the face by the second so hard it broke in two. Slowed by the impact, Buffy was stunned enough that the twins could alternately spin and kick her as if she were a rag doll.

Spike ran out behind Buffy. He tackled one of them, driving her into the side of Xander's car. Buffy then saw that the one who was attacking her faltered for a second, allowing her to deliver an uppercut.

"If you hurt one, it affects the other!" Willow shouted out.

By now Xander and Spike were fighting together, but the Slayer was faster and eluded most of their attempts to hit her, while delivering damaging blows interchangeably to them with her spikes. But at the same time she was being slowed as Buffy continued to mete out powerful, nonstop left- and right-hand punches to the face and body of other.

Then it was over.

One Slayer lay motionless on the ground as the other writhed next to her sister, holding herself and screaming out in agony.

"I-I think I killed her," Buffy said fearfully. She looked at Dawn and Willow, who came out when they saw it was over, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I-I didn't mean to. I couldn't stop hitting her. I…."

Willow put a hand on her shoulder and Buffy turned into her, sobbing loudly. Dawn joined them, and Buffy's arm went around her as well.

While they were consoling Buffy, Spike and Xander roughly pulled the barely conscious Slayer to her feet and using rope from the car's trunk, tied her hands behind her and dragged her into the house. Half a minute later Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Anya followed. As soon as the Slayer was tied to a dining room chair, Xander and Spike went back outside to get the dead Slayer. They put her on the back porch and covered her with the tarp.

While Willow and Tara went back to tending to Giles, Buffy sat down in a chair in front of the Slayer. Spike stood behind Buffy, and Xander stood in the doorway to the kitchen. All were waiting for the Slayer to become lucid enough to interrogate her. But as they waited, her strength slowly ebbed, until she also died. One could not live without the other.

"What now?" Xander asked the room.

"We have to get rid of the bodies," Buffy said slowly. "Tonight."

"But where?"

"The woods. In my grave. It's the only place. And you have to bury the headstone as well."

Both Slayers were wrapped in the tarp, then tied with the rope. And while Spike and Xander took them to be buried, Giles' injuries were finally tended to.

"I assure you," he protested. "My wounds are mostly superficial. Scrapes and bruises."

But Willow and Tara continued to wash and bandage them. Not much was said until Xander and Spike returned two hours later.

"I don't know about you guys," Willow said, "But I could use some sleep."

Everyone agreed. But the sleeping arrangements had to made. They decided to put Giles in Dawn's bed.

"Dawn, you can sleep in our room with us if you want," Tara said.

"Okay. My sleeping bag is in the attic."

Dawn started to go get it then stopped. "Are you sure? I mean, if you guys want to – you know, I can sleep on the sofa."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Willow told her. "I'll be asleep before my head hits the pillow."

Dawn went after her sleeping bag.

"Why don't you guys take my room?" Buffy said to Xander and Anya.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm not that tired. Apparently I was asleep for three months. I'll stay down here. If I get tired, I'll lay down on the sofa."

After everyone had settled down, Spike and Buffy were alone.

"Helluva fight," he said, not knowing what to say. "Good thing you showed up when you did. Just HOW did all that happen?"

"I'd rather not talk about it right now. Maybe tomorrow. I know everyone has questions."

"Fine. Guess I'll get some sleep myself. I'm in the cellar. Dawn fixed it up for me."

"I know. And – thanks for looking out for her. It means a lot – knowing she was safe."

"Well, if you want to talk, or not, you know where I'll be."

Spike then left for the cellar.

Buffy went to each room and turned off the lights. The darker it was the better she liked it. She then went into the living room and sat down in the easy chair, staring into the darkness, knowing sleep would not come any time soon, if at all.

To Be Continued