The Gift of a Family Chapter 3. New Gifts?
Buffy sighed she walked in the dark of the night. Alone as usual she started walking toward the cemetery. She wanted to visit her mothers' grave. She didn't want to admit it but she was worried about facing her first apocalypse alone.
Buffy didn't like to think about them, but when she was out walking alone she remembered the times she was out with her friends. She missed them so very much. She loved her friends and always would but it was hard not to feel a little betrayed. They had all gone off and left her all alone. In a town whose darkness had killed her twice.
They risked their lives to help me. She reminded herself. It wasn't their mystical calling to fight evil. When we all started, they didn't have any powers to protect them. But, they risked their lives for me anyway.
Still she felt the darkness that was her life slowly fill her aching soul. She still felt betrayed. They dragged me out of heaven and left me to dig myself out of my own coffin. Being torn from heaven was the worst thing I ever had to live through. The emptiness and sorrow threatened to consume me. I sought solace from the only one who would give it. Spike. When they found out, they looked at me like I was a monster, the undead. They acted like I had betrayed them. I could always see the judgement in their eyes. Then one by one they all left me to carry the burden alone. Sometimes I feel like they only wanted me back to protect them. Because they needed a slayer, they could trust. Because they didn't want to stand alone. Then they left me to do that very thing. The sad thing is, there isn't a place in this entire town that doesn't haunt me with memories.
She had been out for hours searching for information on the newest threat to the world. Dawn had told her to use her new gifts to find their lair. That would be great, if she knew what these new gifts were. Shaking her head, she tried to clear the dark and depressing thoughts that were dragging her down. Dawn told me I could have a family again. Cheer up Buffy. She promised, I won't be alone, if I can get through this last test.
"Something to look forward to." Yes, but she also said that I was needed somewhere else. That means more trouble. "At least I won't be alone." Buffy suddenly stopped walking as she realized that she was talking to herself. "It's official. I have been alone for too long. Now it's midnight in the garden of good and evil and the cuckoo bird won't stop singing to its self." I'm officially going crazy. I would pay good money for some mindless violence right about now.
The sound of gunfire shattered her escalating depression. Instantly she raced into the night toward her mother's grave where the sound of gunshots had come from. She really hoped she could get the information she desperately needed. Besides being lonely and feeling abandoned she really missed the help her friends used to give her with research.
Lost in a haze of pain Jack didn't notice the men as they approached or when they started attacking Daniel. Nor did he hear Daniel's warning shout. It barely registered to his battered soul when he was suddenly being pummeled by a number of incredibly strong men.
Years of training deeply ingrained in his system from Black Ops and years through the Stargate took over. He managed to break away from his attackers and pulled his gun. Finally looking at his attackers he realized that he was not dealing with humans. He emptied the clip. He shot the creature until his gun was nothing more than an empty piece of metal.
Crap, all of the bullets are gone and I think I only made it angry! He thought as he assessed the situation with the wary and steadied eye of a man who had been in many dire circumstances. In the distance he could hear Daniel cry out.
Shit! Rushing forward he tried slipping past the hostile to help Daniel. The creature was faster than he could have believed was possible. Instantly he had Jack in a restraining hold. Crap this thing is strong. Is it some kind of Goa'uld? No, even snakeheads die, or jump hosts, if you fill them with enough lead. What the heck are these guys?
"You will make an excellent blood sacrifice."
"Blood sacrifice, that's one I haven't heard before, at least recently. Sounds scary, it almost ranks up there with dental work and taxes . . . Almost." Jack stated sarcastically. They must be some kind of powerful Satanic Cult Mongers.
Ignoring Jacks sarcasm the Cult Monger shouted back. "Don't kill the other one. We need them both for the Horcoth ritual." Turning the creature brought Jack forcibly through the other wackos.
"Dammit! I told you not to drain them!" He shouted.
"Daniel!" Jack shouted. Daniel lay face down in the cemetery grass with yet another creature behind him.
"I didn't completely drain him Dagger. He will have enough blood left for the ritual." The other creature stated coldly.
"Dammit Brian, the stronger they are and the more blood we use the better the ritual will turn out!" Then throwing Jack at the creatures behind him the wacko named Dagger stepped toward Brian and suddenly there was a cloud of dust and no Brian.
"Does anybody else want to put themselves before our lord and ritual?" He shouted back at the others. When no one answered he turned to walk away. "Then bring them and no snacking on the way. I am going to go see how the others are doing." He broke into a run and was gone.
"I might not be able to feed on you but don't think I'm not above breaking your bones if you try anything." One of the remaining creatures told Jack.
"Oh goodie." Jack stated. "Blood sacrifice and broken bones." I doubt that anything they can do to me will compare with the time I spent with Bal. Jack thought to himself.
Buffy raced through the night praying she would make it on time. It had been too long since she heard the gunshots. Maybe she was already too late? Pushing harder she raced through cemetery toward the group of shadows in the distance.
"The Slayer!" One of the vamps shouted practically in Jack's ear. Instantly he was being dragged bodily by a couple of very strong and frightened cult mongers. Jack couldn't see much as his captors tried to force him into running. He could hear all hell breaking loose behind him and wondered what was going on. Stepping hard on a cult member's foot, Jack tried to ram the thing off of its feet. From the corner of his eye he saw one of the incredibly strong things flying through the air. Even as the creature holding him seemed to hiss in anger.
Suddenly the vice-like grip it had on him was gone and Jack was coughing out dust. Turning Jack froze in shock. He shook his head. Ok so my mind is going all wonky again. It comes from all the crazy stuff that happens working at the SGC. Like having the knowledge of the Ancients down loaded and erased from your brain.
There, fighting a dwindling number of the creatures was a young girl who looked exactly like his daughter.
"Buffy?" He asked in shock.
"Yeps." She answered punching the vamp to the ground.
"Have we met?" She asked as she leapt forward and plunged something into its chest. Jack rubbed his eyes in wonder. The creature disappeared into a cloud of dust. Jack couldn't begin to figure out what he was feeling in this instant. Shock, relief, shock, surprise, shock, worry, and shock, all seemed to bring him to muddled confusion.
My daughter is alive! The elation that filled him was marred only by his next thought. She might be a Goa'uld, there is definitely something going on with her. A dangerous look crossed his eye as he thought what he would do to the snake once he got it safely out of his daughter.
Buffy turned to the last vampire left, the one she had thrown into a gravestone. It was trying to get away but she had some questions to ask it.
Attacking the vamp she lashed out knocking it to the ground. Instantly she pinned it to the ground with her stake just above its heart.
"Ok, Mr. Minion, we're going to play a little game of twenty questions. If I don't like your answers, your death will be slow and painful. Where is this ritual going down and who are you gunning for?"
"The Dragon will feast on your blood when the ritual is over Slayer. His chosen will be blessed." This said the vampire arched his body up, forcing the stake into his heart. The second she realized what the vampire was doing she pulled back, but it was too late. The last vampire was gone in a poof of dust.
Getting up, Buffy turned to look at the two men she had saved. At least I hope I saved them both. She ran to the one who was still unconscious and gently turned him over. She blinked in surprise. He seemed familiar somehow. Feeling for a pulse, she knew that he would be ok if they got him a transfusion quickly. And if the other vamps didn't make him drink. She noticed the other man looking at her as if she were a ghost but he quickly turned his attention to his friend.
"Is he..." Buffy could hear the protective worry in his voice. It reminded her of Giles when he was in father figure mode.
"He needs a transfusion. We need to get him to a hospital. Is that your car?" Jack nodded not trusting himself to talk to her just yet.
"Let's go." She leaned forward to pick Daniel up but Jack beat her to it.
"You drive. I'll look at his wounds." Jack stated. Once again he was floored by his daughter. This young girl who was so business like, had seemed so dark and dangerous only a moment ago...Smiled. Her smile was brighter than the sun and Jack felt his heart breaking with the knowledge that he had lived for so long without his daughter in his life. She seemed so happy, and he could imagine her younger self jumping up and down with joy.