The Gift of a Family Ch17. Messing around in the Dark.

Thank you Sulien for your opinions and everything you do to help.

Thanks also to Polgara and Bluebird for your opinions and help too.

Buffy sensed them before she heard them, instantly she pushed Wesley behind a column and pulled Daniel into the shadows behind another column, keeping her eyes and all her senses focused on the passageway ahead. There were vampires coming in their direction, a lot of them. She was hoping that they would continue straight to go out, she was really hoping that they weren't about to turn into the tunnel they were backtracking in.

Buffy, what is going on? Wesley asked her in her mind.

We are hoping that the vampires go straight and aren't coming to eat us. There isn't a lot of room to maneuver and fight in these tunnels. Buffy responded.

At least that means that only a couple could attack you at a time. Wesley pointed out.

True but in this darkness you and Daniel won't have much of a chance if any of them slip by me. She pointed out and held her breath as she sensed the movement down the other tunnel, a number of vampires were passing their tunnel by. She just hoped they wouldn't hear their hearts beating or see them hiding in the shadows.

At length they passed and she turned her attention back to Daniel and couldn't help blushing as she realized that he was holding her flush against his chest and she was the one who threw herself there. She couldn't believe she hadn't realized it before, all of her attention had been on the passing vampires, but now it was on the raging fire that seemed to be blazing just under her skin. She could feel her rational thought slipping away as one of his hands came up and gently explored her face and lips with a feather light touch.

Subconsciously she moistened her lips and thought how much nicer the moment could be if she could see the blues of his eyes and the expression on his face. His other arm gently and hesitantly pulled her closer and she forgot about everything except being there in his arms. She could sense him leaning down to kiss her and stood up on her toes to meet him.

Their lips met in a gentle and hesitant peck followed almost instantly with another that lasted only a moment longer. The kisses quickly escalated until they were both lost in a passionate haze until their mouths were almost making love to each other.

Aren't we good yet? Wesley asked from his hiding place at the other side of the tunnel. He was completely oblivious to Buffy and Daniels extra curricular activities but he knew the vampires had already passed them and was wondering why they weren't moving again.

"Hmm?" Buffy asked.

Aren't we good yet?

"Great." Buffy whispered a little breathlessly.

"Incredible." Daniel whispered, just as breathless, agreeing with her.

If the danger has passed why aren't we moving again? Do you sense more vampires coming? Wesley asked wondering why Buffy and Daniel seemed so out of it and were whispering out loud.

Buffy blinked, vampires? "Oh, the vampires!" She exclaimed still forgetting to use the spell. Realizing how she was acting she couldn't help slapping her forehead. Waves of guilt washed over her, Jack was in danger and here she was messing around with Daniel in the Dark. Feeling disgusted with herself Buffy pulled away from Daniel.

I'll just go...make sure they are all gone. She managed to remember to use the spell as she quickly rushed up the tunnel now thankful that it was dark. She was blushing brightly now but was only glad that Wes hadn't seen what she and Daniel had been sharing their first kiss, er, kisses.

Buffy slipped into the tunnel and reached out with her senses. She wondered what was going on and felt guilty about indulging in smoochies with Daniel while Jack was being held captive and an apocalypse was brewing. Buffy had always believed that she needed to find joy and life anywhere she possibly could as life was short enough, but the mission should come first and she could feel that she was running out of time. She was also agonizing over the fact that after she had decided to wait before getting involved again, that she could fall for Daniel so quickly, after deciding that she should wait before getting involved again. After what had happened with Spike she really didn't want to lead Daniel on and she knew she needed time.

When she was around him he made her feel warm and alive. It was distracting and she decided a little dangerous, she needed to focus on the dragon and stopping the ritual.

She took a deep breath and decided to worry about it later and concentrated on her senses. Deciding that the path was clear she pulled herself together and went back to get Daniel and Wes.

Daniel followed Buffy his hands about her tiny waist as she lead him through the dark. It was reassuring to him to be able to touch her in this darkened void. Earlier, he had been lost in terror for her safety when she had left him and Wesley to face the vampire alone in the darkness. He couldn't make out his own hand before his face and knew he could be of no help to her if she were to get into trouble. Now as they worked their way back to the trail he couldn't help thinking about how quickly he had come to care for the young woman.

His musings were abruptly cut short however as Buffy stopped and tossed Wesley behind a darkened column and pushed him up against the wall. Her tiny body leaned into his and he could smell her. Her scent of sandalwood smelled exotic and sexy, it surrounded him filling his senses, until there was no room for rational thought just the scent of her and the way her body fit perfectly against his. His arms came up around her and he could feel the rushing of her beating heart.

He was amazed at how right it felt to hold her, of the feeling of ascension that seemed to flow through the two of them, though neither were ascended any longer. It built up inside of him until he could do nothing but kiss her, and so he had.

It was only after she had pulled away from him, to make sure the vampires were gone, that reality had come back to him. They were in a dark tunnel with blood sucking vampires, needing to save Jack and he was acting like some fool teenager. He could just about kick himself for the way he was acting, and yet he couldn't entirely regret it.

When Buffy returned from checking the tunnel ahead, Daniel had Wesley follow behind her, so that he could put some space between himself and the woman who had the natural ability to turn his normally sharp mind into jelly.

The shadows receded as they continued on until they stood at the mouth of an enormous cavern. It was even bigger than in Buffy's dream.

It looks like the ritual has already begun. Wesley pointed out. Looking into the cavern, they could see that the Dragon and Jack seemed to be having an intense discussion.

It looks like Jack is awake and pissing off the natives as usual. Daniel thought and winced as he realized the big hint that he had accidently dropped in front of Wesley and Buffy.

Here is the plan, Daniel you concentrate on getting Jack and the others free. Get them and yourself out of here. Wesley you watch his back. Buffy stated.

Buffy, not to be negative or anything but how are we supposed to get to Jack and the other sacrifices? There are vampires everywhere. Daniel asked.

That is easy, I'm gonna be distracting them by turning them all to dust. Buffy stated with a predatory look in her eye. Then without another word she slipped into the shadows and seemed to disappear altogether. Daniel blinked in shock and searched the shadows for her, but soon gave up and turned his attention to the vampires standing between them and Jack. He heard a powerful voice command.

"Let it begin." Just as there was a blur of movement and the vampires that were in their way disappeared into softly falling dust. Still he couldn't see Buffy.

Daniel she has cleared the path let's go. Wesley's mind whispered to his own. Together they hurried into the open space of the cave and slipped up to hide behind the first pillar of stone they came to.

Risking a glance into the circle he could see Jack chained to a pillar of stone. There were also a number of vampires, one with a long and sharp looking knife who had just cut away the sleeves and pant legs of a young soldier's uniform. He had also cut a long slash down the soldier's arms and legs letting the blood slowly drip into channels imbedded into the seal that lead to the eye at its center. The vampire stood and raised the blade, it looked like he was about to cut the soldiers throat. Daniel would never find out what the vampire was going to do because the next moment he saw Buffy appear where the vampire had been standing. The long knife he had been holding fell to the ground along with his dust.

"Buffy." Jack whispered seeing his daughter take out the vampire who had started cutting on the soldier next to him.

Jack blinked as his voice was echoed by several of the soldier-sacrifices. His daughter took out two other vampires who were close to her and turned to the soldiers.

"Graham, Abrams, er..."

"Names Zachary, you saved me from a polgara demon that day. I've always wanted to thank you."

"Oh that's so sweet, but what are you guys doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Africa or South America or somewhere protecting the natives from demons?" She asked as she started fighting more vampires that had rushed in toward her.

"Agent Finn, sent us." Zachary stated.

"Oh, Riley or Sam?" She asked as she threw a right hook at the vampire closest to her and knocked another to the ground.

"Riley, a powerful vampire called the Dragon is planning something big, we came to...warn you."

"Great." Buffy stated as she took out two more vampires. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Hostile 17 has gone crazy."

Buffy stopped fighting and looked over at the soldier in shock.

"Spike's crazy?" She asked just as a vampire landed a punch that sent her flying back to land on her back and Jack shouted a warning a moment too late.

Buffy flipped to her feet.

"Hey, I was having a conversation here!" She growled and threw a stake at the offending vampire dusting him.

"Buffy," Jack said clearly worried and more than a little irritated. "Why don't you talk to your little friends after you save us?"

Buffy raced forward and attacked the vampires aggressively watching from the corner of her eye as Daniel got to work on freeing an old man she didn't recognize, he looked like he was probably retired and she guessed he might have fought in World War II. He was like 100 or something and she was glad that he hadn't already died from a heart attack, what with being abducted by vampires and all.

Suddenly she didn't have any more vampires around her, they had all fallen back and a different one walked forward. He wasn't much taller than her he had dark hair and green eyes. She could sense that he was a master and seeing the twin red and gold dragons on his forearm's she guessed that this was the Dragon.

He carried a red and gold sword so Buffy reached into the small bag she carried to magically draw her shiny new sword. It seemed to sing to her as she drew it and she felt a little more confident as she stood before the vampire who was a slayer of slayers. She had faced Spike and survived and she could face the Dragon. Then her confidence faltered as she recalled that the reason she had defeated Spike was because of her mother's intervention. Now her family was all dead and she stood to face this new challenge alone.

"I look forward to seeing what you are capable of with that sword, Childe." He stated.

Hearing him refer to her as if he had already turned her Buffy could feel fire burning in her veins, not of passion but of anger and rage. The dream was far too close to her thoughts but the anger burned such thoughts away.

"I am not nor will I ever be your childe." Buffy growled and leapt toward him. Their swords crashed together and a light sparked between them. The battle had only just begun.

Please Review.