My thanks to those reading.
The Dawning of Faith
Chapter 27
The flowers spilled onto the floor.
"Calm down Marty, you did the right thing. Amanda, Kennedy, get the nest team together, NOW." The two slayers stormed away, screaming for the other team leaders. "How many were there?" Buffy asked Marty.
"I'm not sure, we heard music, and we saw maybe ten vamps in this mausoleum, and we were sneaking off to call it in when like three or four more just popped up and started yelling, and then the ones from the crypt rushed out and…"
Giles' phone buzzed.
"Yes?" he said.
"Did Marty make it out?' asked Faith's voice in his ear.
"Yes, she's just arrived, what's going –"
"Just one of those things," Faith broke in, "there were thirteen of them. I sent Marty for help because I couldn't worry about her too; she's not ready for this much. Not a nest this big, a routine patrol, sure; but she'd just have held me back with this mess. I was doing pretty good, I'd already dusted seven, and then one of the assholes got me with a crossbow. I outran them and managed to barricade myself inside the DuFresne mausoleum, but now they've found me, and I don't think the doors will hold much longer, but if I can't get this bleeding stopped it isn't gonna matter. I can't use my right arm, either. Sooner would be better than later, Giles. Tell Dawnie I love her, will you?"
The connection was broken.
"Faith is barricaded inside the DuFresne mausoleum, and she's badly injured, losing a lot of blood. We must hurry, I'll alert Doctor Blake." He punched a number on speed dial, and then turned his face to Dawn. "She said to tell you that she loves you, Dawn. Richard, Giles here, we need you immediately, can you come? It's Faith…"
"Coming," snapped Doctor Blake.
Giles had known that he would. Last year Faith had saved him and his daughter from vampires. Dr. Blake was a trauma surgeon, and had helped set up a very complete infirmary at the Slayer's house, conducted classes in first aid for them all, and given them a cell number that he always answered. He was brusque, but brilliant, and he loved Faith and the other Slayers fiercely.
" He's on his way," Giles told them, "we just need to get to her in time. LeAnne, put three units for Faith in the warmer. We want to be ready." LeAnne ran for the infirmary.
Willow stood clutching the medical kit that she had 'ported as soon as Marty had arrived. She turned her face to Dawn, and saw the younger woman looking at her in mute appeal. Even now, Dawn was honoring her pledge. What Willow did not see, was doubt.
"Go," Willow mouthed as she threw the kit to Dawn.
Dawn's mind sped down the familiar road to the Shady Rest cemetery, passed through the gates, and threaded a path through the tombstones…
"Look at Dawn;" Buffy said to Giles, "she's in shock. This can't happen. She can't lose Faith, not now. MOVE YOUR ASSES, SLAYERS!", she bellowed. "Are the keys in the car, Marty?"
"Yes."
"You did good, you did right," Buffy told her again, "COME ON, PEOPLE!"
Dawn's mind found the DuFresne mausoleum and entered…
"God, Giles, she's hurting so, she's –"
Willow, Giles, and Buffy fell to their knees as the air left the room.
"gone…" Buffy breathed in wonder.
Giles and Buffy looked to Willow, and were startled to see that her eyes were much darker than usual.
"Don't worry," Willow told them, "it's still me. I just loaned Dawnie a little juice in case she needs it."
"Dawn teleported?" Giles asked in wonder.
"How could you let her try that, Will?" snapped Buffy.
"Dawn knows what she's doing, Buffy," Willow said calmly.
"After only two or three lessons? Nonsense," insisted Giles.
"Dawn is an Avatar," Willow stated plainly.
"Good Lord!" gasped Giles.
"Huh?" Buffy added.
"Hey baby," Dawn greeted Faith as she hurriedly tore open the medical kit.
"Dawnie? What are you doing here?" Faith asked. Dawn was terrified by the weakness of her voice.
"Where else would I be?" Dawn asked calmly as she cut the fabric away from the wound. Fortunately the bolt had completely penetrated, and had not hit bone. Unfortunately, it had nicked an artery, and it was bleeding badly.
"At least she still has blood to lose," Dawn thought as she dumped the clotting agent into both sides of the wound.
"I love you Dawnie," whispered Faith as the pounding on the doors increased in ferocity, and the hinges groaned under the strain.
"I know you do, my heart," Dawn answered as she packed the wound and bound it, "but I love you more."
"No way!" Faith hissed as Dawn snugged the bandages.
"We'll call it a tie, then," Dawn whispered as she kissed Faith.
"MOVE IT, GOD DAMMIT!" shrieked Buffy. The Slayers careened into the living area laden with gear.
"Amanda, you're driving," snapped Buffy as she headed to the door.
"Too late," said Willow.
Buffy turned to her in horror.
"Are you ready to go now, love?" Dawn whispered to Faith as she held her tightly.
"As long as you're with me, I'm good," Faith said quietly, her eyes on Dawn's face.
The doors collapsed with a scream of tortured metal, and the vampires stormed into the mausoleum.