Chapter Nine

"So, what hunt is sending us to the middle of nowhere southern California?" asked Dean as he drove the Impala west.

"A town called Sunnydale," Bobby told them from the backseat. "It has its own hellmouth."

"And just what is a hellmouth?" asked Dean.

"A thin spot between dimensions: here and hell," Bobby explained.

"What, like a devil's gate?" asked Sam from the passenger seat.

"Yes, only natural," said Bobby.

"Natural?" asked Sam. "Isn't the devil's gate natural?"

"A devil's gate isn't a natural door to hell," Bobby explained. "Some idjit fool with dreams of power or a love on for Satan, or—hell—just an idiot hoping to save the world somehow comes along and punches his way through until a hunter—like Samuel Colt—slaps a lock on it. A hellmouth is a place where the energies are strongest between worlds. They wear on the veil so much that they create holes in them."

"And we're headed to…what? Patch it up?" asked Dean.

"So to speak," said Bobby. "The hellmouth doesn't just create chaos; it attracts it. Creatures from all over flock to it like hyenas on a gazelle. I think I know a spell that will close it back up."

"Great," shrugged Dean. "Sounds like a plan."

"But it's not gonna let us do it without a fight," Bobby told them. "The minute we start, we are gonna get jumped by all manner of evil. We're gonna need help."

"You called, uh, Rufus or someone?" asked Sam.

"No," said Bobby. "Word on the hunter circuit is that there's a hunter in Sunnydale—one of the best anyone's ever seen. Name of Buffy Summers."

"She's meeting us somewhere?" asked Sam.

"None of my contacts has any numbers for her or anything," Bobby told them. "She's really off the grid. We'll just have to hit a phonebook when we get there."

"Awesome," said Dean.

****************************************************************SPN/BTVS******************************************************************

"What do you mean, she's headed right for us?" asked Buffy.

"Well, I've been tracking it for the last two hours, and it's headed in a straight line for Sunnydale," said Willow. "Now, she could stop anywhere on the way, but with our luck—"

"She's coming to kill me," muttered Buffy.

"But she can't," said Anya. "We brought her back. She can't die again."

"Anya, honey, Buffy's not gonna die," Xander told her.

"Good," said Anya.

"Do you have a timeframe?" Buffy asked Willow.

"No," said Willow. "It looks like she's still in Utah. Looks like she's driving instead of taking a plane."

"Good," said Buffy. "Looks like I got a few hours to kill. I'll be on patrol. Call me when she hits town, and I'll keep an eye out."

"You want company, Buff?" asked Xander.

"Nah, that's okay," said Buffy. "I need to stretch my legs. I'll see you guys in the morning."

"Good luck," said Dawn.

Buffy headed to the front door, slipping on her jean jacket from the peg on the wall and grabbing a set of house keys from the table. Slipping the keys into the pocket of her jeans, she stepped out the door and headed down the sidewalk through town.

It looked to be a quiet night, which was what Buffy had been hoping for. She had needed to get out of the house. She loved her friends and sister, but ever since she got back, she couldn't find it in herself to care. Her friends had meant well by bringing her back, believing they were rescuing her from hell. In reality, Buffy had been living peacefully in heaven. Buffy didn't think she could ever tell them.

Before long, Buffy had found her way into the cemetery. She made her way through the tombstones, her arms crossed in front of her.

"Looks like someone's having a hard night," came a deep, Cockney voice from behind her.

Buffy came to a stop, not turning around. "What do you want, Spike?"

"Just keeping you company," said Spike, walking towards her.

"What makes you think I need company?" asked Buffy, turning to face him.

"Well, let's see," mused Spike. "You left the house to go patrol when everything has been pretty quiet lately, you seem more like you're out for a walk than a patrol, and you just look like you could use a friend."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "And you thought you'd do me a favor?"

Spike stepped closer. "Well, I am the only one who really knows how you must feel right now. Figured you might want to…unload or something."

"Well, you can do one thing for me," said Buffy.

Spike nodded.

"Duck," said Buffy, charging forward.

Spike toppled to the ground as a Polgara demon hit him over the head. Buffy swung a punch as Spike climbed to his feet. The demon kicked at Buffy, who side-stepped him and drove her elbow into his back.

"Buffy!" Spike shouted.

Buffy turned to see a second Polgara jutting at her with his arm skewer. Buffy blocked his arm as Spike took on the first demon. Buffy drove her foot into the Polgara's gut, following it up with a kick to the head.

The next second, ten or so more Polgaras swarmed out of the trees, converging on the Slayer and vampire.

"Buffy, run!" Spike yelled as four demons knocked him into a tombstone, knocking him out.

Buffy kicked the legs out from under the demon she was fighting and turned to make a run for it. Many hands grabbed her, shoving her down. She watched a tombstone come at her before the world went black.

******************************************************SPN/BTVS********************************************************************

The Impala passed a sign welcoming them to Sunnydale.

"Alright, let's find a motel," said Dean. "They usually have phonebooks in the rooms. We'll find her in the morning."

They found a small motel on the edge of town and checked in. After they unpacked their bags into the two rooms, Sam noticed Dean standing at the window, staring out of it with a frown.

"What is it?" asked Sam. "You see something?"

Dean shook his head slowly. "No, I just…There's something about this town. I don't like it."

"Maybe you can feel the hellmouth," suggested Sam.

Dean stared out the window. "Maybe…" He narrowed his eyes, leaning closer to the glass. "Or maybe it's them."

Sam joined him at the window, spotting a group of creatures sneaking along the edge of the forest. Their skin looked reptilian; they were definitely not human.

"Come on," said Dean.

They grabbed their pistols, a couple of knives, and some machetes. Not knowing what these things were, they weren't taking any chances.

Dean and Sam took off across the parking lot, sneaking up on the six or so creatures. They were standing over a young brunette woman, raising what looked like a sword over her.

"Hey!" shouted Dean.

The things spun around, and Dean could see the sword wasn't a sword at all. There appeared to be a skewer coming out of the thing's arm.

"Holy…" muttered Dean.

Now that he got a good look, he could see that they really weren't human. They were something Dean had never seen before.

The creatures charged towards them, and Dean opened fire, slugging three of them in the gut. They dropped to the ground as Sam dropped the other three. They stared at the dead beings warily.

"Well, that was easy," muttered Dean.

The girl jumped up and ran for it.

Dean knelt next to one of them, poking at the skewer sticking out of its wrist. "What are these things?"

Sam knelt next to him. "No clue. My first thought is a wraith, but lore says they can pass as human."

"Well…good to know bullets can take 'em down," said Dean.

Sam was suddenly pulled up from next to him.

"Sam!" Dean shouted, turning to see ten more of those things swarming out from the trees.

A couple of them had grabbed Sam, hitting him over the head. Dean raised his pistol, but one knocked it out of his hand. Dean quickly began using his Slayer skills to fight them, but the truth of the matter was that he was plainly outnumbered. They gained the upper hand and flung him into a tree, knocking him unconscious.