Disclaimer: Buffy and Torchwood universes are not mine. I'm just playing with them ^^

Wouah! You're wonderful guys! So many reviews! I can't believe it...

And just in time! I'm finally done with my moving in. It's so weird. It's the first time I'm on my own (the Cotenant doesn't count). It's great but frightening. But I'm getting used to it.

Bad news: Muse is going on Holiday. I hope she's going to come back soon x_x

For now, I have this chapter. I'm sorry if you miss Andy. I'm not writing when I'm thinking it doesn't bring anything to the story and if I force myself to write scenes, they're generally bad or really bad... He's going to appear later in the story.

For now, back to the story. I'm really not happy with that chapter but every time I try to rewrite it, I feel like it's worse. So I left it like that. Tell me what you think.

Good Holiday for the lucky ones!!

Chapter Twelve

Overcrowded

After the beating of the previous night, Buffy decided to stop worrying. She couldn't do everything and getting killed would do no one any good. She had to get on with her life and keep an eye open. She was going to take a holiday! No patrols until she was back in decent shape. And she had other things to do. Like finding a gift for Gwen's wedding. A dress and shoes to wear as well. So, shopping was her priority from now on. To do it right, she went to London for three days of intense shopping.

In the capital, she visited Giles and the Council Head Quarter there. She met a few of the young Slayers and Watchers that were there at the time. She wasn't really comfortable with them. They eyed her like some kind of superhero or Goddess. Each time she was introduced to someone, their eyes went wide when they understood that she was THE Buffy, THE Slayer, the one who died twice (three if you counted the time where Warren tried to kill her because her heart had stopped and without Willow she would be dead by now) and who dated two of the most feared vampires, yadda-yadda-yadda. She was the myth of the myth. Like Russian dolls. There was the Slayer and there was her.

She was surprised when she realized how glad she was to come home. She immediately called Gwen and Tosh and organized a night out. She realized how much she loved her new life and her independence. No more "Buffy, do that", "Buffy, kill that". She was her own master. And she liked that! She was thinking about Jack's offer. They didn't have talk about it. Every time she thought of going to talk to him, she remembered the last time she had done that and she was automatically blushed. In fact, she hadn't make eye contact with Ianto yet. The young man was as embarrassed as her. Of course, Owen had joked each time he could. Soon, Tosh and Gwen had learnt what happened but didn't make any comments. Not out loud, at least. Their knowing smiles and giggles were downright annoying. Jack wasn't embarrassed at all. And on some occasions, he answered Owen's jokes with outrageous flirting, making the doctor blush a few times. It had the benefit of shutting him up.

Finally, Buffy forgot about the ritual. Maybe the guys were right, it was a onetime thing. It was calm on the supernatural side. All in all, the Slayer was having one of the best times of her life.

¤

"Ianto!"

Buffy watched the young man hit the wall and cringed in sympathy. That had to hurt. She had only half a second before the Weevil launched itself at her. She dodged, using her small size and her speed to get behind it. She grabbed it by the throat and kicked its knee. It fell and she held it there, squeezing its windpipe as hard as she could without killing it. It trashed, trying to hit her and to free itself.

Ianto got to his feet slowly. Buffy felt the Weevil go limp in her arms and she let it fall on the floor, out cold. She ran to help Ianto.

"Are you alright?"

"Give me a minute."

A bruise was appearing on his forehead where he had hit the wall. She hit the comm. Jack gave her, feeling like one of these spies in the movies, and told the Captain that their Weevil was out cold. They had split into three teams: Jack and Tosh, Owen and Gwen and Ianto and her when three Weevils went upstairs at the same time. Apparently, if everything was calm in the supernatural world, things were different in ET's. Torchwood was out almost every night. Weevils were coming at the surface and were more aggressive than usual. So, the Slayer was working with Torchwood constantly.

She glanced at Ianto. He was steadier on his feet. He straightened his vest and his tie and looked at the Weevil on the floor:

"Is it…?"

"No. Just unconscious."

Not killing aliens had been hard for her. She was used to killing baddies, not capturing them and locking them in a cell. She didn't see why Jack wanted to keep them alive. Weevils that went aboveground were like rabid dogs. And you killed rabid dogs. So why not Weevils? She could make it quick and snap their necks. But no, the Captain was against that. She obeyed. It was his problem if their cells were almost full now. And it wasn't like he was experimenting on them so…

She grabbed the Weevil and put it over her shoulder with ease. Ianto watched her with awe. It wasn't the first time he saw her do that but it still amazed him. It was even slightly funny to see a woman so tiny carrying something as big and heavy as the alien on her back. It seemed completely unrealistic. And his standards for the unrealistic were high. He led the way to the car and opened it. Buffy put the Weevil in the back and sighed:

"One more."

He didn't say anything. He wasn't close to the woman. She was too exuberant, too cheery and too creepy. He knew she was a really good fighter and he was relieved she was one of the good guys. But there was something about her… The way she could go from a dumb Californian girl to a scary killer in the blink of an eye. She was the Slayer and he wondered if she knew how to be anything else. He saw the way she was always sizing people up, and studying her surroundings. She was always on her guard and he wasn't sure that she was even aware of doing it. She was like a female version of Jack. And he had enough to deal with, with Jack. He couldn't predict her, didn't know what could trigger the Slayer. And she had walked in on him and the Captain doing... stuff. That was enough to make him blush when she looked at him. In a word, she made him uneasy. And he didn't like that feeling. So he kept his distance, even if Gwen and Tosh seemed to have become best friends with her. Even Owen was civil with her now. And Jack was talking about recruiting her. Sure, she would be a great asset to the team if she agreed.

They made their way to the Hub and Buffy carried the Weevil on her back. They were the first ones back. Ianto lead her to a free cell where she deposited her burden. While he was closing it, she looked at the other cells.

"You've got a lot of Weevils."

"They're more actives than usual," answered Ianto.

She followed him when he returned to the common area. She had to use a little of her Slayer ability to keep up with him. He had longer legs than her and wasn't waiting.

"Doesn't that worry you?" she asked.

"We survey the Rift and capture Weevils and other things. There's not much we can do."

"Why are they suddenly so aggressive? Why are they leaving the sewers? Something should trigger them, right?"

"We don't know."

He glared at her, not really liking her interrogation. He didn't have the answers and the fact that she had a point was frustrating him and didn't help with his beginning headache. Something was wrong with the Weevils. They were more active these days. But why?

Owen and Gwen went back, interrupting Buffy's questioning. The Slayer went to pick up the Weevil and took him to a cell with Gwen. The Doctor tended to Ianto's injury. Jack and Tosh arrived. The Captain let the alien fall to the floor:

"That thing is heavy!"

He saw Ianto in Owen's infirmary. He walked towards them and frowned, worried:

"What happened?"

His companion shrugged and casually said:

"Met a wall. I'll survive."

Tosh saw the Weevil move and took a step back:

"Jack! Our guest is waking up."

"I'm on it!" said Buffy, running towards them.

She kicked him in the head and the alien went limp.

"Was that really necessary?" asked Jack.

"What do you want me to do? Sing him a lullaby?"

She didn't wait for an answer, picked the alien up and carried him like the other two. They watched her leave and Owen shuddered:

"You know, every time she does that, she freaks me out!"

"But it's useful."

Tosh was in front of her computers, erasing their traces and studying the Rift. Jack was watching Owen take care of Ianto. He wanted to ask what had happened but he knew it wouldn't be well viewed. After all, with their job, getting injured was part of the deal. He left the men and went to his office. In his chair, he thought of the days events. The Weevils were getting more and more aggressive and they didn't know why. The Rift was quiet. Alien activities—other than their Weevil of course—were nearly nonexistent. He wasn't bored. No, he was worried. He remembered Buffy's concern a few weeks ago, when she said that something was coming because of this ritual. Could it influence the Weevils? They had all forgotten about the case. After all, nothing happened and it had been months now. He would have to keep an eye open. The Slayer walked into his office without knocking and fell on a chair in front of him.

"You're almost out of cells."

He sighed. Yeah, that was one of his problems too.

"I know."

"Are you going to investigate?"

He frowned:

"Into what?"

"Into your Weevils going out of control?"

"What do you want me to do?" he snapped.

She put her hands in the air in the international sign of peace:

"I don't know, I'm just asking!"

He could have apologized but he didn't. He didn't like the situation. He would have to ask Owen later about his opinion on the Weevils. He was the expert. Gwen entered, followed by the team. She pointed an angry finger at her boss:

"You have to find a solution! I'm getting married in less than two weeks, Weevils or not! I won't stop my wedding, even if spaceships invade Earth! Am I clear?"

"Wow, she's scary," Buffy whispered, impressed.

Jack smiled:

"I know Gwen. And nothing will happen during your wedding."

"And my honeymoon. I won't cancel that either."

"Or your honeymoon."

Buffy's cell vibrated and she extracted it from her jean pocket. It was Willow. That was not good. They weren't in touch often. And after the last time… She stood up while answering:

"Hi Will, what's up?"

"We have a situation."

Buffy knew that voice too well. Something was going on. She listened carefully. The Witch was in Cleveland. The Hellmouth had been really active the past few weeks and demons were creating havoc. Several Slayers had been injured. They had discovered a bunch of warlocks wanting to end the world. They were cleverer than most because they had succeeded in staying under the Council's radar. Now, things were really bad and they needed the big guns. They needed Buffy. The demons were too strong and the baddies too well organized for young Slayers to work on it alone. Faith was somewhere in Australia with a pretty ugly situation on her hands so she couldn't come. Buffy said nothing when she heard that. So, they had tried to contact the brunette first. This time at least. She was really their last chance. She got even angrier when she learnt that they had already booked her a plane. It was stupid because it was logical to assume that she would come. She was still the Slayer and it was a possible apocalypse. And as proud as she was, she wasn't going to let the world end for the sake of it. When she hung up, she sighed.

The others were watching her. She looked at Gwen:

"Weevils will be the last of your problem, darling."

"I'm doomed," the brunette declared.

Buffy checked the hour. She had a little more than two hours before her flight.

"I have to leave. I'm going to Cleveland. I'm sorry Gwen but I don't know if I'll be back for your wedding. I'll try."

She hugged both women and left quickly. She took a cab to go home. In her apartment, she grabbed the first piece of luggage she found and threw clothes in it. She would buy what she needed when she arrived. She couldn't take weapons. She would have to use the ones they had. She ran out of her home. Her cab was waiting and drove her to the airport. She didn't really know how she felt about going to Cleveland. She wandered who she would see. Willow, that was sure. Faith wouldn't be there. Xander and Dawn? She would see. She realized she didn't really care. What she really wanted was to save the world and be back in time for Gwen's wedding. With luck, she could be back for her bachelorette party.

With a frown, she realized that she thought of the future like it was something certain, like she was going to survive. But she was going to the Hellmouth to stop of bunch of crazy demons ending the world. She could die. She wasn't sure she'd survive. Like every time, she was going to put her life on the line. How could she forget that? She couldn't forget that. It meant that she would be careless during the fight and that could kill her.

Once she was settled on the plane, she fidgeted until she found a comfortable position. Something was telling her this was her last chance for a few hours of sleep.

¤ ¤ tbc ¤ ¤