Previously on GU:CM
"Don't go far," the voice echoed out behind them and it wasn't Buffy's voice but it seemed to panic the other three whereas it made Caitlin want to stake the vampire herself
"We'll get the police! It's just a few blocks up!" Willow said as she ran along with the other three, she clearly wasn't used to vampires it seemed.
"Not going to help Willow," Caitlin said as she tightened her hold on the weakened Jesse, he was suffering from light-headedness due to the blood loss but they were lucky he could still walk, suddenly all four of them stopped as they saw lots of vampires in front of them "this is not good," Caitlin remarked as the vampires came at them.
~GU:CM~
The Harvest
With more vampires than people they were easily split up, Caitlin had two vampires facing her and a part of her was panicking because without slayer strength this wouldn't be easy. The female lunged at her first and got her down to the ground but Caitlin was able to get the stake out of her jacket before they hit the ground. The initial impact caused the vampire to jolt forward effectively ramming the stake through her heart, the dust settled around and on Caitlin making the teenager cough as she sat up. The other vampire couldn't believe his eyes, his partner had just been staked by a mere human so he shot forward and pinned the girl on her back "I'm sorry but I don't find you attractive," Caitlin mocked as she felt the cold breath on her neck. She managed to manoeuvre her leg up to the vampire's chest and pushed up making him loose his balance, it gave her time to throw him over her head. Caitlin needed to catch her breath, after being slammed to the ground twice and using most of her strength to overbalance the vampire had left her breathless but the break was short lived as the vampire was back on top of her quickly. This time the vampire held her hands away from her body and used his legs to pin hers to the floor, effectively pinning her to the floor, but not to be outdone Caitlin propelled her head forward connecting with the vampires. The blow to the head made him grab his head in pain, then seeing her opportunity she plunged the stake into his heart dusting another vampire and getting dusty for the trouble. Caitlin got to her feet and heard her name being shouted by her sister and made her way over to where the voice sounded from and saw Xander, Willow and Buffy stood there.
"Oh thank god," Buffy rushed forward and hugged Caitlin tightly who, was feeling sore from the two impacts with the ground and her sister tight hold, groaned in discomfort. Buffy heard and pulled out to look her sister over "Did they hurt you, Xander said he saw two go after you?" Buffy brushed her hand over her sister and noticed she was covered in dust, "Here I am worrying and you dusted a vampire," Buffy sounded annoyed but her face showed relief and pride.
"Nuh-huh I got two of them," Caitlin held up two fingers with a proud grin "First one slammed me into the ground but got herself staked by my stake...idiot," Buffy nodded holding back laughter at Caitlin's partially annoyed face, "Second one again slammed me to the floor, I managed to flip him off of me but he just came back. I had to head butt him so my back hurts and so does my head," Buffy wrapped her arm around her sisters waist and Caitlin leant against her.
Willow came over "I'm glad you're okay," she said smiling gently, Caitlin leant her head against her sisters and nodded at Willow, not wanting to tell her how sore she was feeling because they didn't need to scare either of them more.
Caitlin frowned, Jesses was missing "Where's Jesse?" she asked but from the look on the two faces she could see he had been taken.
"The chick from the mausoleum took him," Xander mumbled looking at the two blondes in front of him, he was glad they were here or Willow would have been gone too, Xander put his arm over Willows shoulder, "I'm glad you're okay."
Willow couldn't help but agree "If it weren't for those two I wouldn't be," she said as she looked over the two blondes, she couldn't help but notice the identical looks of guilt "It's not your fault guys," the two blondes shrugged but don't say anything.
"Let's head home there's nothing else we can do tonight, we need to know where they are held up" Buffy with Caitlin still leaning against her makes her way out of the graveyard and to wherever Xander and Willow live.
~GU:CM~
The next morning they all found themselves in the library, they had told Giles what happened after what he saw at the Bronze and when he heard Caitlin had gotten rid of two vampires herself he stared at her and the gaze was judging. Buffy was going to say something but Caitlin beat her to it "Have you got a problem Mr Watcher? Is it because I help Buffy because I know Merrick didn't like it and if you have a problem then you can shove it," her tone was biting and guarded, the words broke Giles out of his trance.
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed them "No I was wondering how you managed it but now isn't Important," he put his glasses back on and headed to the stacks to pick up the book her had put down earlier. "This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold aeons Demons walked the earth, they made it their home, their uh their hell," as he spoke he picked other books up and added it to the pile growing in his arms. Caitlin was familiar with what he was talking about having read it in an ancient book she found at a book store in LA "But in time they lost their purchase on this reality, the way was made for mortal animal for...for man, all that remains of the old ones...are vestiges," he finally ended up back at the table the other four occupied "Certain magics, Certain creatures."
Willow and Caitlin were sat down next to each other; Caitlin sat up straight because slouching hurt her back. Xander stood by the few stairs that led to the stacks and Buffy stood behind her sister with an ice pack held to her elbow "And vampires," Buffy added as Giles put the book down and got a nod from Giles.
"This is where I have a problem," Xander stopped leaning and walked closer to the table in the centre of the library, near Giles "See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it," Xander looked at everyone in the room in denial.
"Isn't that what we saw last night?" the redhead questioned, she didn't think it was logical for vampires to exist but what she saw last night was proof enough for her that something beyond normal existed.
Buffy came in with a helpful response after seeing the other two's distress, trying to be helpful "No, those weren't vampires, those were just guys in need of a facial or maybe they had rabies," Xander didn't look like he was believing her and neither did Willow.
Caitlin joined her sister but her words were pure sarcasm "And that guy turning to dust? Just a trick of light," Buffy and Giles shot Caitlin a look but the youngest occupant in the library didn't care she was in a bad mood.
Buffy sighed knowing that the other two needed to believe vampires were real "That's what I said the first time I saw a vampire, well after I was done with the screaming part," Willow looked a little pale at the information.
"Oh, I...I need to sit down," Willow wasn't thinking clearly all she could think was that vampires were real and that she had almost been eaten by one.
"You are sitting down," Buffy replied a little slower than she had just been speaking as she was looking down at Willow.
Willow continued to stare in front of her looking pale "Oh! Good for me," her usual excitement wasn't in her voice and if Caitlin wasn't so mopey then she would be worried .
"So, vampires are demons?" Xander's questioned looking at the three girls in front of him
"The books tell that the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human mixed their blood, he was a... a human form possessed infected with the demons soul," Giles handed Xander the book so he could see what they were truly dealing with. "He bit another and another and so they walked the Earth, feeding, killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out and the Old ones to return."
"And a Slayer was created to help fight off the demons in this world, to try and stop them feeding and changing," Caitlin spoke up as she looked at the table in front of her, not meeting anyone's eyes because she knew all about how the slayer was created, she had stolen Merrick's book about it.
"A what?" Xander asked looking down at Caitlin with the book still open in his hand, he had heard what she said but to him it meant nothing only sounded like a code name for something.
"For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the slayer. One girl in all the world, a chosen one," Xander turned to face the older male as he spoke, the guy seemed to know a lot on the subject and Xander wanted to know some of it.
"He loves doing this part," Buffy chimed in knowing the story off by heart by now, her former watcher had drilled it into her head and by doing so also her sisters head. Buffy also wanted Giles to not tell the story again.
"All right," Giles got the hint it seemed "The slayer hunts vampires. Buffy is a slayer. Don't tell anyone, that's all the vampire information you need."
"Except for one thing how to kill them," Xander spoke up after Giles had finished, hey if vampires existed he wanted to know how to kill them just to be safer.
"A stake through the heart, decapitation, fire and sunlight...oh and crosses repel them," Caitlin replied to Xander, he wanted to know so she was going to tell them because the more information they had the better their hoped of staying alive.
Buffy quickly intercepted "You don't. I do," she didn't need anyone else to try and hunt vampires, sometimes she left Caitlin at home when she went slaying just because she didn't want her to go fearing for her safety and Caitlin knew how to kill them quite well. So she certainly didn't want Willow and Xander trying to stake a vampire.
Xander didn't seem happy with that "Jesse's my..."
Buffy cut him off knowing what he was going to say "Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken," everyone could see the oldest blonde was beating herself up about it.
"That's not true," Caitlin said as she finally made eye contact, she didn't want her sister taking the blame for something she had no control over. Caitlin was glad her sister was willing take responsibility for things that were her fault but this was not one of them if anyone let him get taken technically it was her she was with the other three when they had been attacked but she dare not voice it.
"If you hadn't shown up, they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?" Willow didn't look any better and the thought of being trapped with the vampires made her feel sick to her stomach and she was thankful Buffy had turned up.
Caitlin and Buffy both put a hand on the girls shoulder, Caitlin leant in to get a better look at Willow "Breathe," she said simply seeing as the girl didn't appear to be doing that at the moment.
"Breathe," Willow repeated taking in a deep breath then releasing it.
"Breathe. This big guy Luke, he talked about an offering to the master. I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding, Jesse may be alive. I'll find him." Buffy walked forward and placed a hand on her hip, she looked ready for action and for either of the guys in front of her to put up a fight.
"This may be a dumb question but shouldn't we call the police?" Willow nervously looked up at Buffy; she remembered Caitlin saying something about it but couldn't remember what the younger girl had said.
"And they'd believe us, of course," Giles commented sarcastically, he noticed the glare Caitlin was sending him and turned around.
"We don't have to say vampires, we...could just say there's a...a bad man," Willows innocence came through and Caitlin's glare softens slightly as she leans back against the chair, her back making her uncomfortable.
Buffy came to stand behind Willows chair and bent down slightly "They couldn't handle it, and even if they did show up they'd only come with guns," she wasn't patronising like Giles but explained it to her simply with no condescendence in her voice.
"You have no idea where they took Jesse?" Giles turned around now that the stupid idea of involving the police was out of the way.
"I looked around but as soon as they got clear of the graveyard they could have just...voom!" Buffy answered her watchers question from where she still was leaning against Willow's chair.
"They can fly?" came the response from the surprised young male; he looked shocked when Caitlin burst out laughing. Buffy raised a brow at her sisters sudden hysterical laughing but happy to see her laughing again.
"They can drive," Caitlin managed to get out whilst laughing, Xander looked embarrassed but he didn't know that they couldn't turn into bats. Caitlin wiped the tears gathering in her eyes and sat up again but flinched in pain, "Ow," she got out through gritted teeth.
Buffy rushed to her sister's side "Are you okay?" she put her ice back at the bottom of her sisters back and held it there, she didn't like seeing Caitlin injured especially when it came because of her calling, this wouldn't be the first injury the younger Summers got but it certainly won't be the last.
Caitlin tried to smile but it came out a grimace "Yeah just a bit sore," she said even if it was clear she was in more pain than just being sore.
"Are you sure?" Willow asked shyly not wanting the girl to snap at her, she didn't know if Caitlin hated being asked a question more than once, she sighed in relief when Caitlin looked at her with soft eyes and nodded showing she would get through the day "I don't remember hearing a car," Buffy stood up and looked at Willow, she didn't remember hearing a car either so it meant they were still at the cemetery.
"Let's take an enormous intuitive leap and say they went underground," Giles said as he re-joined the conversation.
"Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in the entire town without catching rays. But I didn't see any access around there," Buffy looked frustrated about the fact she couldn't figure these vampires out.
"Well there's an electrical tunnel runs under the whole town," Xander informed the frustrated blonde.
Giles seemed intrigued by the idea and jumped on board "If we have a diagnostic of the tunnel system, it might indicate a meeting place...I suppose we could go to the building commission."
"We *so*don't have time," Caitlin said as she thought about the long process of going to the building then discussing why they needed the plans and how they would get there, her head started to hurt more.
"Uh, Guys? There may be another way," Willow leant forward and everyone turned to face her waiting for her to clarify, with the attention she blushed. "I could just get into the commission mainframe and get the blueprints," she shrugged trying to downplay the actual seriousness of what she could do.
"You hack?" Caitlin whispered, Willow looked at her with a smile telling the younger teen that she did and Caitlin burst into a massive grin "That is *so* cool!" she exclaimed and everyone looked at her as if she had lost her mind. Caitlin coughed in embarrassment "Well excuse me for being an excitable 14 year old but I've never met a hacker," she defended herself in a low grumble and with Willow and Buffy close enough to hear the redhead beamed and the blonde giggled at her sister because she found the weirdest things cool. Caitlin watched as Willow hacked into the building commission's records and brought up the blueprints for the town, she needed to get up and move around because her back was absolutely killing her. Caitlin stood up and started for the Library doors but before she got too far she heard her name being called, she saw Buffy approaching her "I'm just going to the restroom Buff; I need to move around by backs irritating me."
Buffy looked hesitant to let her out of her sight not when the vampires could get around town easily during the day "Alright but if you're not back in 5 minutes I'm coming after you," Caitlin didn't even argue because her sisters face was serious, Buffy was always protective of her and with that became a little ridiculous with her demands but she wasn't in the mode to argue.
~GU:CM~
Caitlin entered the restroom and headed straight for the sinks, she ran the water until it was very cold then took her top off she turned slightly so she could see her back, and her back was badly bruised from the hard ground, at the top of her back there was a tribal tattoo and it looked fairly new. Caitlin got the tattoo just after the incident in LA but her sisters don't know about it, between her shoulder blades was a rather large and gruesome looking scar and at the bottom of her back on her hip were three scars in a parallel line and looked very much like a claw mark. It's for your own good the male voice rung out in her head as she gazed at her back you need to stay here, the voice was relentless you're not normal,you need help, It's all your fault, your fault, your fault,IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT she knew whose voice that was and the anger she had left behind in LA came rushing right back. She was paying so much attention to trying to shut the voices out of her head she failed to notice the person who was standing by the door.
Willow had arrived moments earlier to see Caitlin hitting her head with her own hand, she focused on the mirror and couldn't hold back a gasp when she saw the state of Caitlin's back. Caitlin looked up when she heard the gasp her hands freezing in mid-air as she looked at Willow, "Caitlin...what..." Willow didn't finish her sentence but approached the teen; she took in the water in the basin and figured out what she was trying to do. "Let me help," Caitlin didn't do anything but stared at Willow and the older girl could tell she was afraid of her asking questions so she manoeuvred Caitlin to stand with her back facing the back wall, Willow got some paper and soaked it in water then dabbed the blondes back. "Buffy asked me to find you, she's gone looking for Jesse we found where they had access to the tunnels," Willow said as she helped Caitlin put her top back on.
"Second day of school and she's already skipping," Caitlin murmured as she and Willow left the restroom, Xander was standing outside waiting and started walking along with them.
"Murder, death, disaster, what else?" Willow asked as she wrote down what she had to search on a pad of paper she had just gotten out of her bag.
"Paranormal, Unexplained, Natural disasters," Xander said liking the fact her could be helpful, he just hoped it was actually of some use in their searches.
"Earthquake, flood..." Caitlin expanded natural disasters needed to be split up in a search otherwise it was too broad and could take hours to find something useful.
"Rain of toads," Xander said pointing both hands at Willow liking his idea very much, he would personally never like to see that but it could probably happen if stuff like this really existed.
"Right," Willow noted all of their suggestions down quickly but in clear hand writing, she liked the fact that her computer skills could be of more use than hacking when she was bored.
"Rain of toads, will that be in the paper?" Xander asked Caitlin looking confused, she returned his look at his question.
Caitlin tried to think why he would ask her "How would I know?" Caitlin asked sounding just as confused at Xander himself, she couldn't fathom a reason for her knowing if rain of toads would be in the paper, sure she read the paper but most people did.
Xander shrugged he thought she would know seeing as she was a slayer too, "I don't know you're a slayer aren't you?" he asked looking proud of himself for knowing that.
Caitlin now looked amused he had assumed they were twins and that if they were twins she too had to be a slayer "I'm not a Slayer Xander, just the Slayers sister...I've only been doing this since I was 13 and I just help," Caitlin explained and Willow seemed to understand whereas Xander looked down right confused.
"Only been doing it since you were 13? You've been doing this for 3 years! And I thought you were a Slayer because you knew how to kill them," Xander's face was completely blank; his thought process had shut down due to his confusion.
Caitlin once again noticed he thought that she was Buffy's twin "Xander I'm not Buffy's twin, she's two years older than me I'm just 2 grades ahead."
Willow decided to step in before they had to scrape Xander brains off of the walls, he had only made the same assumption everyone else had but she was glad to see Caitlin took it lightly and didn't seem to bothered "I'll do a computer search, if it's there, it'll turn up, anything to lead us to vampires," Willow said still writing down events to search.
Xander looked a bit skittish now and Caitlin narrowed her eyes "and I, in the meantime, will help by standing around like an idiot," both girls could hear the annoyance in his voice.
"Not like an idiot just standing," Willow quickly assured him trying to be the best friend and help his doubts but the blonde could see it wasn't working.
"Buffy doesn't want you getting hurt," Caitlin was firm as she looked at the older teenager standing in front of her. It was clear Buffy didn't want any of them getting hurt simply because she was still with them as both a defence and a way to keep her safe.
Xander was about to protest to Caitlin when Willow spoke up to agree with the young blonde "*I* don't want you getting hurt," they could see the desperation in her eyes for him to understand.
Xander was finally able to say what he was going to say before Willow chimed in "This is just too much. Yesterday my life's 'Uh-Oh! Pop quiz' today, it's 'rain of toads'" Xander said.
Caitlin mumbled under her breath but it wasn't loud or clear enough for the other two to understand. "I know. And everyone else thinks it's just a normal day," Willow glanced around watching everyone getting on with their lives as if nothing was different.
"Nobody knows, it's like we've got this big secret," the brunette replied following Willow's lead by looking around.
Willow looked back at her long time best friend "We do. That's what a secret is, when you know something other guys don't," she spoke slowly but wasn't patronizing which Caitlin had to give her credit for.
"Right," he looked over his shoulder then back to the girls "look, maybe you two should get to class" suspicion arose in both girls about that fact he didn't include himself in that statement.
Caitlin crossed her arms stiffly over her chest trying not to move too much "you mean we. *We* should get to class," she corrected his statement in a resolved tone knowing he was about to go out and follow her sister which in her books was a big no because he'd possibly either get himself killed or both of them if he tried to help.
"Yeah," he quickly made eye contact then started to look anywhere but at the two girls in front of him trying not to give anything away but he was actually just making himself look more guilty.
"Buffy'll be OK. Whatever's down there, I think she can handle it," he couldn't pull one over on his best friend no matter had hard he tried, and frankly he wasn't fooling Caitlin either who had only known him 24 hours, he sucked at lying.
"Yeah, I do too," Xander replied making eye contact again with Willow, who still looked worried he was going to follow the older blonde.
"I know she can," Caitlin shrugged when they both glanced at her "she'd been doing this awhile guys." She uncrossed her arms and they fell lifelessly to her sides trying hard not to think about the past that statement brought up. Willow noticed her eyes getting glazed so she nudged the blonde and got a smile of thanks in return "let's get to class," she said and started walking to her Latin room.
~GU:CM~
She needed to focus; she hadn't been this unfocused since before her respite in San Francisco with her Grandmother and Cousins at it was seriously affecting her during class, so instead of listening, seeing as she was ahead of them anyways, she tried the mantra her Grams taught her to block out bad memories 'I am free and my family is safety' she repeated the words until she felt relaxed and calm, she noticed it had taken most of the lesson to calm down. When the bell rang she quickly made her way out into the hall only to see Willow waiting for her "Will," Willow raised an eyebrow at the nickname "Sorry don't like full names, what are you doing here?" she hoped she didn't have to explain the scene in the bathroom to her.
Willow didn't know how to approach Caitlin about what she had seen in the bathroom but she wanted to know if the younger teen was truly alright "Are you alright?" she asked softly putting her hand on the teens forearm, they both had computer lab next but Caitlin didn't know she was in the same class as Willow.
Caitlin seriously considered the question, was she alright? Well she felt better but she didn't know if that meant she was alright so she decided to answer truthfully, "I'm getting better," she smiled slightly as they stopped in front of the computer lab "From the way you haven't said bye I guess we have this class together," Caitlin raised a blonde brow at her redhead friend. Willow nodded and they both headed in, Caitlin was instructed to sit next to Willow so the read head could help her catch up but Willow already had yesterday during sixth period.
It had been about 20 minutes before someone had finally complained about the work "No," Cordelia's voice echoed out in the relatively quiet room but no one really glanced at her "It's supposed to find the syntax and match it! Or wait..."
Cordelia was interrupted by a blonde girl who Caitlin had found out was Harmony "Are we going to the Bronze tonight?" Caitlin glanced at her but turned back when she witnessed the worshipping look she sent Cordelia.
"No were going to the other cool place in Sunnydale, of course we're going to the Bronze tonight. No cover?" Cordelia looked around as if she were going to tell a secret but kept her voice at a normal level "But you should have been there last night, cos I ran into Buffy," Caitlin tensed when she heard her sister's name being said and she knew nothing good could come from it "And could she *be* any weirder?" Cordelia asked, Willow turned subtly to look at Cordelia but also enough so she could still see Caitlin who was staring off into space "She attacked me! Do you believe it?" Caitlin sat upright at that and made Willow jump.
Harmony sighed as she looked at the screen "I think we did this part wrong," she seemed to talk as if she were still on the same subject.
Cordelia in her snobbishness copied the change in conversation easily taking a holier than thou approach "Why do *we* have to devise these programs? Isn't that what nerds do? What'd she do?" Cordelia leant over to Harmony trying to see Willow's screen.
Harmony looked over to Willows screen and flinched when she met Caitlin's glare, which was solely focused on Cordelia so she sighed in relief and read Willow's screen, Caitlin fixed her glare to Harmony so the blonde quickly turned around "Uh, she's doing something else."
Caitlin didn't pay attention to what they were saying until they started talking about her sister again "So anyway, I come out of the bathroom and she comes running at me, screaming with a stick 'I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you!' I swear!" Willow focused her attention on Caitlin and saw her doing some breathing exercises and when some kid asked who and then they got into being kicked out but what she heard next caused a reaction Willow never expected. "Uh, because she's a psycho loony," Caitlin slammed her hand on the desk and gripped it hard.
"No, she's not," the sister commented with a low voice and when Cordelia asked her what Caitlin turned and set a bone chilling glare on the older teenager and started to stand up.
"She's not a psycho. You don't even know her," Willow spoke up hoping to distract the blonde, because the hollow look in the girl's eyes was scaring her and they weren't even focusing on her.
"Excuse me who gave you permission to exist; do I horn in on your private discussions? No why because you're boring," Cordelia said with a smug little grin. Willow stood up and headed for the printer planning on ignoring the harsh words but again Willow was shocked by Caitlin.
Caitlin smirked and started clapping confusing the three kids who had smirked at bashing Willow "What a performance by the queen bitch herself," Cordelia's jaw dropped. Caitlin made her way and stood behind Cordelia who stayed perfectly still "You're so pathetic y'know, you pick on someone with triple digit IQ just because their smarter than your single digit IQ. I'm surprised you can even speak cos you're so stupid...when they all abandon you queeny I'm gonna be the first one to point and ridicule you," she pushed hard on the back of Cordelia's chair then turned to face Harmony. "Think about spreading rumours about my friends or my sister and I and you're gonna wish your parents get transferred...we clear?" too stunned to speak the dumb blonde nods her head. Caitlin pats Cordelia on the shoulder "So glad we understand each other," Caitlin made her way over to Willow as the others immediately started speaking about work.
Willow gave a shy smile having heard everything "Thank you," Caitlin's face remained blank as if she had used up her emotions for the day but her lip twitched as she nodded "Deliver," she said after hearing the others conversation on how to save, they made their way out of class having finished everything as Willow helped Caitlin complete it. Caitlin stared at Willow too drained to raise her eyebrow and the redhead just shrugged "After what they said I want to make them do it again."
Caitlin huffed a laugh as she continued to follow Willow towards the library, as they entered they heard Giles call Buffy's name in question obviously hoping it was her "It's just us," Caitlin said in a monotone as her and Willow approached the centre of the Library.
"So, there's no word?" Willow asked as they finally came to a stop, she looked over at all the books that were on the table and she almost got her excited vibe back but Caitlin placed a hand on her arm, a silent way to tell her to stay focused.
Giles thought for a second about what she was asking then it clicked, she was asking about the missing blonde "Uh, not as yet, no," he stuttered over his words, he took his glasses off and leant back against the chair and let his attention be on the girls.
Willow ever the optimist "Well, I'm sure they're...great," she said trying to sound her usual perkiness but it didn't work as she was a little worried about all of the vampires.
Giles seemed not to care as he didn't try to assure the redhead and he was glad he didn't get a response from the blonde who was leaning against the desk, she appeared to be content staring into space "Did you find anything of interest?"
"I think maybe," she started to approach Giles reading off of the sheets she had printed "I surfed through old newspapers around the time of that earthquake back in '37, for several months before, there were a rash of murders." Willow handed the papers to Giles and was rewarded by a slightly distracted praise.
"Great," Giles said and as he had just realised what he said backtracked "I mean, uh, well not great in a good way uh...go on," he gave up trying to explain as Caitlin finally focused her attention on him and her eyes showed amusement at his stuttering, but her face never broke its frozen mask.
Willow continued "Well, they sound like the kind you were looking for. Throats, blood..." Willow showed Giles the picture and then cringed away not wanting to see it anymore.
"It's all coming together, I rather wish it weren't," Giles muttered and looked at all the evidence in front of him. Caitlin made no move to get closer to him and he seemed to want to ignore her which she was fine with but her eyes lingered on Willow as the older girl started looking over the texts.
Caitlin hoped up onto the desk she was leaning against and continued to look over towards Giles and Willow but not saying anything, she didn't know how long she had been sat there but Willow approached her with a big smile on her face but her eyes also held fright and concern "You alright?" Caitlin asked seeing Willow trying to mask her feelings.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Willow asked timidly hoping not to piss off the blonde; Caitlin just shrugged not knowing if Willow should ask her. Willow placed her hand on Caitlin's joined hands that were resting in her lap "Are you okay?" She had wanted to ask the question since the hollow look entered the blonde's eyes but she was too afraid to and when Caitlin shrugged again she tightened her hold on the joined hands slightly. Caitlin looked down at their joint hands then back to the older females face, she could see the honesty in Willow's eyes and wanted to tell her what was wrong but the story was too long "We're friends right?" Willow was shy in asking, putting herself on the line to be shot down but Caitlin didn't do that.
She wouldn't do that, Willow was too sweet for her to shot down and she generally liked her company "Yeah we are," she tried to smile but her face wouldn't move from its frozen position but Willow could see she was trying and smiled back to her. Caitlin jumped off the counter and stood in front of Willow "There's a lot I'll need to tell you later on but for now I get like this sometimes and I'm working on it," Willow nodded and returned to the books to help Giles out, the youngest occupant wanted to but her heart just wasn't in it. Just as she was about to join them Buffy came through the library doors, Caitlin rushed over and threw her arms around her sister and buried her head into her sisters neck "Glad you're okay?" she whispered in broken words.
Buffy rested her head against her sisters and rubbed her back trying to soothe her, something must have happened in one of her classes to get her like this and when she looked up she saw Willow's worried gaze fixed directly onto her sister. "Cait what happened?" she tried to pull her sister back but it didn't work, so carefully she manoeuvred them so she could lean against the checkout desk. Caitlin was trying to keep her breathing regular but it obviously didn't work because Buffy hugged her closer, "Baby please?" using her old nickname for her almost brought the younger sister to tears. Caitlin felt herself being moved but didn't speak not wanting to show weakness in front of others "Baby we're alone," Buffy said, she had asked Giles to use his office and led her sister there.
Caitlin didn't lift her head but took a deep breath then exhaled calming herself by taking in her sister's familiar scent "I can't do it Buff." Slayer hearing picked up the muffled words but the older blonde didn't try to ask her what, if she had learnt anything from the last couple of months it was to be patient with Caitlin. Buffy's patience was rewarded a couple of minutes later "I'm not like I used to be, I can't keep calm and act like everything's alright anymore," she didn't quite understand the words but she knew Caitlin needed to talk about it.
Buffy managed to pull her sister back enough to see the tears rolling down her face, with the gentleness of an older sister Buffy wiped the tears from Caitlin's cheeks and kissed her forehead "Baby I'm not even going to try to understand what you're going through because I couldn't possibly grasp it but you're strong and you're not alone, take it one day at a time and I'm always here for you, so is mom." Caitlin tried to smile but couldn't make her muscles move then Buffy placed a kiss on her forehead again and she managed a small smile then, "There's what I'm looking for...I'm going to go out there and talk to the others," Buffy started to leave but Caitlin grasped her wrist and pulled her into a hug again which she accepted easily.
Caitlin pulled back and kissed the corner of her sister's mouth "Thank you," she whispered and released Buffy but before the other blonde could shut the door she spoke again "Jesse is a vampire isn't he," she received a nod to her statement and was left alone in the office. She sat in Giles's office chair and started to relax only to jump seconds later from hearing a metallic sound crashing but didn't get up to investigate assuming it was something falling over, with her eyes closed she listened to what was happening in the next room.
Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles decided that the harvest was going to be held at the Bronze and started to head off "Caitlin," Buffy raised her voice slightly "I gotta make a stop." Caitlin jumped over the counter and fell in step with Xander and Willow, Willow smiled Caitlin who managed to return it this time.
"What for?" Giles asked as he quickly glanced behind him to look at Buffy, he could fathom a reason for her to need to stop anywhere other than the Bronze, he managed to put his coat on before the Slayer replied.
"Supplies," was all she said as she reached behind her for her sister's hand, Caitlin knew where they were headed and hoped that Dawn and their mother were busy.
Caitlin looked over at Xander as her sister pulled her closer to her side "I'm sorry Xander," he knew what she was talking about and replied with a soft me too and when he tried to smile at her it came out as a grimace. Caitlin saw the look in Willow's eyes and grabbed her hand to give it an encouraging squeeze; the slightly older girl gave her a thankful look but didn't release the younger girl's hand which Caitlin was surprisingly okay with.
~GU:CM~
Caitlin sat in the kitchen with Dawn and listened about how her day went and she enjoyed the change of scenery, so to speak, and even commented that it sounded like her sister was enjoying school "Who wouldn't," Dawn replied as she gave Caitlin a sceptical look "Don't you?" with this question Caitlin knew she had to be careful because if she said no then Dawn would start not liking school.
"You've seen my grades of course I like school," Caitlin got up and stood behind Dawn and put her arms around her baby sisters waist then placed her head on her shoulder, "C'mon Dawnie, you knew that," Dawn dropped her head back to rest it on her sisters shoulder. It was unlike Dawn to be quiet around her so she knew she was being serious and was slightly worried.
Dawn tilted her head so she could see Caitlin's face and Caitlin returned the favour by looking at her as well "It's just lately you don't seem to," now she knew where this was going. Dawn didn't know why her behaviour had changed dramatically over the past couple of months "You even stopped swimming, dancing and Martial Arts," back in LA Caitlin was always out and about or off doing activities but since the incident she had barely left the house and when she did she had to be with other people.
Caitlin turned Dawn to face her and saw the look of concern on her younger sister's face "I know I've been different, I may never go back to being the old me Taz but I'm trying to get better okay?" Dawn's eyes watered, she obviously wasn't satisfied "What did dad tell you about it?" she winced at the word dad, Hank certainly wasn't her father and she hated referring to him as such but Dawn wasn't aware that they had a different father, Joyce would tell her eventually but only when she wouldn't throw it back in her sisters face if she got angry.
"He said you spent time away with school but Grams said he sent you away, then he told me it was because you were in trouble and that you just needed some time to get your act together and he set up for you to be an exchange student...but you were fine before you went away and worse when you came back," Dawn didn't understand, Caitlin had gone away for a while and come back worse how was she getting better when there was nothing wrong with her in the first place.
Caitlin wiped the tears away "It takes time Dawnie and you being yourself helps me bunches okay?" Dawn nodded feeling helpful; she wanted the old Caitlin back so anything she could do to help would be good. "So if you see me acting crazy be even crazier, it might help," Dawn beamed at her; Caitlin was almost afraid what Dawn would be like if she was crazier. Dawn got up and headed upstairs to start on her homework. Caitlin laughed under her breath as she watched Dawn scamper away.
Joyce came into the kitchen and saw the amusement in her daughter's eyes "What's so funny?" she liked seeing her daughter happy, she knew Buffy wouldn't be down tonight seeing as she just grounded her but at least two of her three daughters seemed happy, she had seen Dawn on her way down the stairs and the 10 year old looked ecstatic.
"I think I just gave Dawn permission to go crazy," she laughed as her mother groaned and before she could say anything Caitlin started speaking again. "She was upset that I hadn't gone back to being myself and I told her that being herself helped more than she could ever know and said if I act crazy to go crazier...think that was a bad move?" the blonde turned to face her mother as she prepared food "Don't make any for me I'm out tonight."
"Well you'll being going alone I grounded Buffy," Caitlin knew that it wouldn't stop Buffy but kept her mouth shut "And I think what you said to Dawn might be helpful to both of you so I think it was a good move," Joyce touched her daughters cheek as she started on dinner.
Caitlin got up and placed a kiss on her mother's cheek "I'll be back later, not too sure when." Joyce nodded at Caitlin who made her way to the front door and grabbed her leather jacket "Taz I'm going out," she heard Dawn reply and made her way out of the door and met Buffy "You are so grounded" she laughed when she saw Buffy's disgruntled look.
~GU:CM~
The five of them ran towards the Bronze and saw that no one was waiting outside and the bouncer wasn't there, they all stopped outside of the main door and Buffy tried to open the door she grunted when it wouldn't open "It's locked," she said as she tried again with more force, she turned around and lifted her arms in the air slightly.
Giles turned around as he spoke "We're too late," he seemed to be trying to find a new way in. He hadn't been pleased when the two blondes were late meeting the others but Caitlin like a good sister ratted her older sister out with a light smirk on her face that made it hard for Buffy to stay mad.
"I didn't know I'd get grounded!" Buffy protested at her watchers short statement and she seemed to be pleading for him to believe her, Caitlin was less than surprised when her mother told her Buffy was grounded because she had missed the last couple of classes.
"Can you break it?" Xander asked as he pointed to the door Giles was now approaching, he wanted to see her break the door even if he should be worrying more on the fact that vampires were killing people inside for the harvest.
Caitlin sized the door up and guessed that Buffy wouldn't be able to break through it because it was a few inches thick steel and she was right "No, not that thing. You try the back entrance and I'll find my own way," she commanded as she looked up at the roof, she wondered if she could get up their without making too much noise so she didn't alert the vampires inside.
"Right, come on," Giles said as he approached the foursome again, he had tried to see if the door had any weak points but was unable to in his quick scan and he didn't have the time to check it more thoroughly. He started to walk off towards the back with the other three before Buffy's attention turned back to them.
She realised that she had all of the necessary equipment for killing the vampires in her hand and knew they would need it more than her "Uh, wait, guys here," she handed Caitlin the bag as she knew her sister knew what to do with it but she knew her sister too well "You get the exit cleared and the people out. That's all," she said to the group but directed it mainly at her sister "Don't go Wild bunch on me," she said firmly and hoped to some higher power that her sister listened and didn't become a meal for the harvest. She was counting on her too keep the other three safe even if one of them was a watcher.
Caitlin nodded getting the hint "See you inside then," she squeezed her sisters hand that had lingered on the bag and ran off feeling excited yet dreading what was about to happen. The other three followed her lead and soon they were at the back door.
Willow went for the handle only to find it locked as well "No joy," she said as she turned to face the others, Xander was a little out of breath, Giles was leaning against the wall trying to catch his but Caitlin showed no sign of fatigue but they had no idea why seeing as Willow was breathing a little hard too. All the years in her chosen activities had given Caitlin the advantage when it came to this sort of thing.
"We have to get in there before Jesse does something stupider than usual," Xander said as he looked at the back doors then to the others, he didn't want his friend to kill anyone and it hadn't occurred to him fully that Jesse was no longer Jesse
"You listen to me. Jesse is dead you have to remember that when you see him, you're not looking at your friend you're looking at the thing that killed him," Giles said as he tried to even his breathing, being his age and running around everywhere was not going to be easy the two in front of him needed to get it into their heads that when turned into a vampire that you were no longer their only a demon was there.
Caitlin stepped up to help explain it to Giles, "He's going to play on your compassion you two, he knows you know him and want to save him but you can't save him because when you see him it's just a demon wearing a mask that looks like Jesse," she said calmly not wanting to freak them out any more than necessary but she too knew they had to get it into their heads vampires aren't people and they don't care what happens to the people they used to know.
Giles picked up an empty keg and started to hit it against the door in hopes that it might actually open, after a few hits the door started to wobble more showing it was becoming loosened by the hits and with one final hit the door swung open "Hurry," he said to the three teenagers, Xander charged in first then Giles and Willow followed quickly by Caitlin and the door closed behind her. Giles and Willow stayed by the door as Xander and Caitlin headed for the people inside.
Caitlin saw her sister and some big vampire on stage but settled her mind on helping clear the people out, she noticed Xander getting attacked by a vampire from behind but before she could move to help the vampire was decapitated by something and Xander dropped to the floor "Heads up," Caitlin snorted despite the situation and saw her sister trying to suppress her laughter on stage. She saw the big vampire coming up from behind and called her sisters name but she was too late and the vampire got her in a bear hold and started to squeeze, she started to head for her sister when a vampire jumped her from the side crashing both of them to the floor. Caitlin sighed inwardly noticing how she was always pushed to the floor by vampires, she managed to roll him off of her and stake him with one she had taken out of the bag earlier, and seeing how all the vampires were getting restless she opened the door at the front and started to get people to go through their as well. Caitlin saw Xander with Jesse, Giles being attacked by the same blonde vampire that was in the crypt but she saw Willow helping, Caitlin concentrated on getting people out.
Buffy staked Luke and watched him turn to dust then she looked over at the two vampires who had Xander and watched them run so she climbed off the stage and watched everyone approach her "I take it it's over," Giles said as he stood next to Buffy.
"Did we win?" Willow asked as she stopped next to Giles and watched Xander approach with Buffy's jacket.
"Well we averted the apocalypse, I'd give us points for that," Buffy commented as she took the jacket from Xander. She put her arm around her sister's waist and held the jacket in one hand, she nudged her slightly.
"One thing's for sure nothing's ever going to be the same," Giles took his glasses off and cleaned then so he missed the blondes flinching as only they knew how true Xander's spoken words were seeing as they had both changed since she was first summoned as the Slayer, Willow observed the flinching as she was the only one looking their way.
~GU:CM~
Caitlin was stood with Willow and Giles as they waited for Buffy and Xander to catch up, she heard Buffy ask Xander what he had been expecting "I don't know something, I mean the dead rose; we should at least have an assembly," the idea was good but unlikely seeing as no-one really died and probably no-one believed what had been seen anyways.
Giles, Caitlin and Willow started to walk along with the other two "People have a tendency to rationalise what they can and forget what they can't," Giles said as they headed down the pathway towards a building.
"Believe me, I've seen it happen," Buffy said as she pulled the lollipop out of her mouth and before she can put it back Caitlin intercepted and put it in her mouth "Oh Cait gross," Buffy pouted as Caitlin gave a victory noise and the others laughed at the sibling action.
"Well *I'll* never forget it none of it," Willow said looking more colourful in the face today having gotten over the shock of everything. Caitlin linked her arm with the redheads and Willow smiled in response to her action.
"Good. Next time you'll be prepared," Giles commented off handily, surprising Willow and Xander, they didn't know there was going to be a next time but they both saw that Buffy and Caitlin didn't batter an eyelid.
Xander finally spoke his thoughts "Next time?" Willow seemed to agree with him as she followed up his question with her own.
"Next time is why?" Willow question nervously and Caitlin squeezed her arm in reassurance, it made her feel better knowing Buffy and Caitlin were there now, even if Caitlin had a strange tendency to space out or lose her emotions.
"We prevented the Master from opening the mouth of Hell, but he might not stop trying," Giles explained patiently but the condescending tone wasn't present and Caitlin was glad otherwise she would have lost her good mood, and her good moods were very rare these days. "The funs just beginning," Giles said and almost allowed himself to smile at catching the teenagers unawares.
Caitlin huffed "You're view on fun is distorted Giles," the youngest said from behind the older male, she wouldn't count getting hunted fun and certainly not sitting around waiting for it to happen either, her good mood was sinking. Buffy slung an arm around her younger sister's shoulder and gripped it slightly hoping that the other blonde kept some of her good vibes.
"More vampires?" Willow asked the colour once again draining from her face at the thought of those ugly things running around.
They had come to a halt and Giles turned around "Not just vampires. The next threat we face may be something quite different," he seemed excited with that fact and his giddiness was not helping the others whilst Buffy remained nonchalant.
Buffy had gotten another lollipop out "I can hardly wait," she shrugged and stuck the lolly in her mouth; Caitlin nudged her and smiled at her acceptance.
Giles didn't seem happy that the others didn't seem as happy as he did, Caitlin was starting to think he was slightly twisted "We are at the centre of a mystical convergence here; we may in fact stand between the Earth and its total destruction," no one seemed to share his enthusiasm but someone certainly commented on it.
"Wow that's really... sad," Caitlin said from around her lolly her good mood keeping steady seeing as she was being sarcastic yet funny.
Buffy shrugged as her sister looked at her, she assumed all watchers were like that strange old man "I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school," they carried on walking, the girls linked together and the males stood in front of them trying to look slightly manly. Caitlin pushed her sister a little showing she didn't agree with what she had just said so Buffy pushed their hips together showing her playful attitude.
Xander jumped in "Oh yeah cos that's a plan. A lot of schools aren't on Hellmouths," he walked slightly behind them having started latter than them.
Willow took over the chain of though and sounding just as serious as Buffy had, "You could blow something up. They're really strict about that," her suggestion seemed very likely to happen.
"Try not to give her ideas plus... Nah she doesn't like repeating herself," Caitlin joked as they kept on walking further away from Giles, who stood there watching them leave.
"I was thinking of a more subtle approach, you know. Like excessive not studying," Buffy muttered not wanting to think about blowing something up seeing as she was one step away from it back in LA plus she was surprised Caitlin brought it up willingly.
Caitlin looked over at Buffy and smirked at the little pout on her face, she couldn't help but allow the next comment to come out of her mouth "But sis don't you already do that," she laughed as Buffy's jaw dropped open, Caitlin lifted her hand to take the lolly but Buffy grabbed it and pushed it back down. Buffy mumbled something about mean little sisters that brought Caitlin to giggles.
Willow liked this side of Caitlin that she was seeing as she hadn't seen it before "You two are very close," she commented in an absent minded tone, both blondes looked at her and she blushed under their gaze.
Xander had noticed they were close as well and he put his arms around their shoulders "So ever gotten into a cat fight," his mind wandering off to forbidden fantasies about Caitlin and Buffy cat fighting with other girls and it earned him an elbow from both blondes into each side of his ribs and he coughed in surprise.
Caitlin stayed under his arm and made no move to get him to drop it either so the brunette knew he hadn't crossed any lines "Please I'd kick ass before they even close to me, I'm a third Dan." she wondered if he knew what that meant and looking up at his face she could see that he didn't "Martial Arts...black belt," she said slowly giving him time to catch up and when he did his eyes got wide and he laughed nervously. "Buffy's the one to get into cat fights not me," Caitlin supplied not wanting to crush his fantasies too badly and she was in a mood for annoying Buffy.
Buffy huffed and crossed her arms but didn't move from under his arm either "that was like twice and before I became the Slayer I remind you sis," Buffy stuck her chin out and got laughs from the other three which brought a smile to her lips. Soon they were standing outside her and Caitlin's class "We'd better head in," Buffy sighed dramatically and pulled the door open, Caitlin waved to the other two and walked in and after saying goodbye Buffy followed.
Xander watched the two go in amusement he had never seen two siblings so close before and he had certainly never seen two so alike yet so different "I have a feeling school is going to get so much better with those two around," he looked down at Willow who was nodding her head with a big smile on her face.
"They certainly liven the place up," Willow added as she and Xander walked on to their lesson, she liked the siblings and couldn't wait to get to know them better.
~GU:CM~
Lunch came around quickly that day and found the four of them sat on the benches in the courtyard; Caitlin was sat by Buffy's feet whilst the older three sat on the actual bench "Hey Buffy you thought about taking cheerleading back up?" Caitlin asked as she leant back against Buffy's legs, Buffy's hand went to her sister's head and started to play with her hair.
"Yeah I thought of going to the try outs next week...what about you?" Buffy couldn't see her sister's face but she could just imagine the look of horror splayed across her face, Buffy giggled and true to her thoughts Caitlin looked absolutely horrified. Buffy couldn't stop herself as she teased Caitlin, "You know you want to...it's just like dancing" Caitlin turned her head to send Buffy a glare.
Xander seemed interested "try-outs...cheerleading outfits, when?" he was interested just not on the right thing; Buffy gave him the information which brought a smile to the teens face. Xander looked down at the younger blonde "You dance?" he had picked up on what Buffy had said and figured out she did the dancing.
"Yes I dance...better than cheerleading," Caitlin stood up and got in the cheerleading stance, "Okay team today were going to learn our new routine," Xander saw where she was going and stood next to her to mimic her actions "give me an S, Give me a T, give me U, Give P, give me a I and a D, what does that spell?...no seriously what does it spell?" she had acted out all the letters along with Xander and turned to face him when she asked what it seriously spelt in her overly preppy voice.
Xander raised his hand and in a girly voice answered "Oh oh I know, Stupid," he pronounced stupid out; both smiled and clapped in an overly joyous and perky way. Buffy and Willow were laughing by the end of their routine.
"It's dancing for idiots," Caitlin said as she sat back down by Buffy's feet and Xander returned to his place at the end of the bench. Buffy kicked her sister in the back at the comment seeing as she had been a cheerleader "My point exactly," the blonde muttered, which got her another kick.
Willow put her lunch box away seeing as she was finished and decided to ask Caitlin some questions, "So what other things do you do?" Caitlin looked at her and tilted her head to the side waiting for Willow to clarify her question, "I mean what other activities did you do in your free time back in LA?"
"Oh I did dancing, swimming and Martial Arts...I'm going to the local club tonight to see if I can do any of them again," Caitlin said as she bit into her apple, she had done them since she was 3 and won lots of competitions in each but she assumed none of them tracked the sports, However...
"Caitlin McKenzie-Halliwell!" Xander blurted out pointing at the youngest in the group, Caitlin's eyes widened as did Buffy's seeing as she hadn't expected it any more than Caitlin had. Everyone usually assumed her last name was Summers which it was but her name in registered competitions was McKenzie-Halliwell not Halliwell-Summers, seeing as it was about her and not Hank's ego, now she thought about it she noticed how Dawn never asked questions about the change in name.
"McKenzie-Halliwell?" Willow looked at Xander, who was still busy pointing at Caitlin.
Xander continued to point but faced Willow, "Yeah couple of months ago we watched that dance competition and there was that really good group of street dancers that mixed most of the styles up...the choreographer and main dancer was called Caitlin McKenzie-Halliwell," Willow raised her eyebrow not getting the connection "Caitlin's full name is Caitlin Halliwell-Summers." Willow's eyes widened and they both looked back at Caitlin.
Caitlin shifted uncomfortably under their looks, "My performing name is McKenzie-Halliwell," she mumbled in admittance but from her look they knew they would get no more about her name.
"I remember that competition; you had the guys in a sort of stairs formation and ran up them, then back flipped off the top and landed slightly in front of them and did a few backhand springs out of the way for the other dances before you came back in...I was very impressed," Buffy praised Caitlin and gave her an affectionate stroke of the hair.
Caitlin ducked her head under the impressed stares of the others, "Yeah well I haven't danced in 6 months and I don't know if I can get in anywhere here," she shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal but the others could see the disappointment on her face.
"I'm sure there is so you get back into dancing, swimming and kicking butt and I'll get back into cheerleading," Buffy exclaimed happily, Xander and Willow nodding for her as they looked at Caitlin not liking to see her upset.
Caitlin chuckled at her next thought and voiced it "What is Giles going to say about you cheerleading?" Buffy made a face and shrugged not really caring what he thought, "Oh this'll be fun" Caitlin commented as the bell rung to signal the end of the period.
~GU:CM~
Caitlin led on her bed with her headphones on listening to Metallica at a high volume to drown out the voices in her head and sounds around her as she was trying to relax. Just as Sandman came on she opened her eyes feeling someone looking at her, Dawn was stood by the door with the phone in her hand, she quickly took her headphones off and waved Dawn in. Dawn handed her sister the phone and started heading out of the room but her older sister caught her wrist and pulled her on to the bed and on top of her and Dawn couldn't help but get comfortable as Caitlin wrapped an arm around her sister "Hello," Caitlin spoke not knowing who it was.
"CAITWIN!" was her reply and she instantly knew it was her Cousin Piper's child Perri. Perri Izadora Patricia Halliwell or Pip to her family.
"Hey kiddo how have you been?" the 14 year old asked her 4 year old Cousin, it had been a week since she had seen her and she missed her Cousins and Grandmother something fierce as they had been her Pillar for the past couple of months.
Laboured breathing came from the phone and she wasn't sure if it was because of the Asthma or because the child was excited "I'm Okays I misses you and Paige," her older Cousin Paige had left for her around the world trip a week before they had left for Sunnydale.
"Aww I'm sure she misses you too Pip, she still phones every day at 5 doesn't she?" she got an uh-huh from the child so she carried on "Kiddo shouldn't you be in bed? Have you spoken to Buff, Dawnie and mom yet?" Caitlin asked as she glanced at her clock noticing it was 6:30.
Caitlin could hear shuffling in the background and knew Perri was either being moved or finding her mother, the first option was most viable Piper never let Perri too far out of her sight. Perri giggled "Yeppers I's going now momma taking me up, nu-night," Caitlin chuckled as Perri said yeppers her Aunts and Dawn had trained her to say it during their stay.
The phone swapped hands, "Hey baby C," a new voice greeted. Caitlin took a quick glance at Dawn when she felt something start to play with her fingers and realised it was Dawn drumming them out on her own stomach.
"Hey Pipes, how's the job?" Caitlin smirked to herself and Dawn when she looked up, both knew their Cousin hated her job but she needed the money.
She heard a groan before she heard her grandmothers voice telling Piper she'd put Perri too bed and a quick conversation between mother and young child. "Sorry about that, the job is horrible...how are things in Sunnydale?"
"You know I don't mind Piper. I sympathise but I can't relate I love my jobs...well I signed back up for dancing, swimming and Martial Arts. I have some friends their names are Willow and Xander and they're great but Willow kind of caught me at a breaking point, she hasn't questioned me yet she just helped me out, oh and Buffy got grounded already it was funny," Caitlin recapped to Piper, and at one point heard a deep intake of breath. Dawn quickly looked up at her sister not knowing about another episode.
Piper didn't like hearing that Caitlin had another breakdown but she knew to expect them because she would always have them she just hoped they would get further apart and less frequent, "you're okay for now? I'm glad you've gotten back into your activities, it will help you...Grams wants to talk to you, so I'll talk to you later Baby C...Call if you need to talk to me at any time okay?"
"I can't say I'm okay but I think I'll get better it's hard but you've seen that, you more than the others...I'll call you if I need you I promise, chat later." Caitlin gave Dawn a small smile showing her she was fine, Dawn kept looking up at her sister wondering if she was going to keep having these breakdowns.
"Hello Caitlin, how are you?" her grandmother Penny Halliwell asked her, Caitlin caught the real question though, how are you feeling after the episode?
Caitlin started to get agitated with everyone asking her how she was all the time but tried to keep calm, "Okay I guess, I feel agitated because everyone keeps asking me the same thing," Caitlin returned sounding annoyed.
Penny sighed down the phone, "Did you do the mantra we decided on?"
Caitlin tried to calm herself down but she couldn't seem to do it "Of course," she replied in a tight tone. Dawn started to rub Caitlin's stomach to try and get her to calm down, she had seen her cousins do it during their stay and it had always worked.
"Don't take that tone with me young lady; I'm just trying to help...now what set you off in Class, Buffy was told you seemed like a different person?" Penny had to remain calm when Caitlin started to get agitated otherwise it would escalade and she never wanted it to get as bad as it had been when the girls had gotten into the big argument.
"Who do you think you are my warden?" Caitlin growled through clenched teeth as her body tensed, Dawn knew the signs and quickly raced to get her mother and Buffy.
"Caitlin dear calm down, now tell me what set you off" it was calmly requested but did little to pacify the agitated teenager, "Darling, please calm down."
Caitlin knew she needed to tell her grandmother why she had the change in class, "some kids were bad mouthing Buffy calling her a psycho, they just threw the word out without thinking and it annoyed me, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BUFFY!" Caitlin shouted the last bit as she saw her older sister and mother come in through the door looking worried. They knew she must be having another episode because she never spoke to Grams that way.
"I know that dear and you know that but some teenagers are just idiots...did you take your lithium today?" Grams obviously wasn't going to stop asking these routine questions.
Caitlin slumped down defeated; she had forgotten to take her medication this morning and without her regular exercise her emotions were all over the place, "Goddess, no I forgot," she whispered suddenly feeling self-conscious and stupid. Joyce and Buffy were now sat next to her waiting for her to finish.
"We all forget to take medicine sometimes..." Caitlin blocked her grandmother out as she gripped some of her hair tightly and scrunched up her face; Joyce took the phone away and left the room talking to her mother.
Buffy pulled Caitlin to her side and when Caitlin put her head on her shoulder she put her head on her little sisters, "Wanna talk about it?" she asked softly not wanting to annoy her sister any more than she already was. Caitlin just shook her head, she was drained and all she wanted was to sleep. Buffy led them both down and pulled Caitlin to rest on top of her.
Joyce walked back in the room twenty minutes later and saw Caitlin asleep with her head under her sister's chin, "Your grandmother said Caitlin snapped at her after asking how she was and what happened in school, your sister seemed to be on edge and apparently Willow witnessed her breakdown." Joyce sat on the bed and rubbed Caitlin's back.
Buffy nodded at her mother "Willow told me today that she noticed Caitlin seemed to go through emotions quickly and was easily agitated by something in class and now I know why I'm not surprised." Her sister was defensive of her even if she were two years younger.
Joyce leant forward and placed a kiss on her sleeping daughters forehead before placing one on her awake daughter's forehead and stood up, "Will you stay with Caitlin tonight whilst I have Dawn stay with me, she's down stairs crying?" Joyce asked the unnecessary question just to be polite; she knew Buffy would stay with her little sister. Buffy smiled tightly and nodded. Joyce turned and left the room hoping that her daughter would bounce back to how she used to be before her ex had messed it all up.
\Silver-Eternal-Dragon/