General standard disclaimer information can be located in the first chapter.
Please note that dialogue from Primeval is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer Transcripts (site)
With midterms and half course finals under their belts, Buffy, Willow, Anya, Tara, and Mackenzie make their way through the mall in search of the perfect gift ideas. Mackenzie really enjoyed getting to know the girls and what better way for female bonding then shopping. She managed to pick up a few things for her parents, her brother Jason, Duncan, Methos, and her Uncle Joe.
"Hey Kenzie, what do you think of this for Giles?" Buffy inquires holding out a leather-bound blank volume.
"Doesn't he have a lifetime supply of Watcher's journals?" she jokes and Buffy smiles at the response.
"You're the only one I'd let get away with that." She sighs in defeat. "What am I supposed to get him?"
"A sexy pair of Christmas boxers," Anya interjects as she happily pulls several types from the display table.
"This is Giles we're talking about, not my boyfriend Anya! Unlike you, I presently don't have one." She never liked the reminder, but what else could she do? Her talk with Riley ended in her letting him go.
They leave the store and walk down the bustling hall towards a bookstore. Perusing the shelves, true crime, self-help, cooking and baking— she decides against getting Giles a book.
"What about a book?" Mackenzie suggests. "It says, 'hey I listen when you make references to old stuff', but not too much, you know?" she adds holding out a volume towards Buffy.
"That could work," Buffy replies and thinks about the suggestion. "But I'll have to hit your uncle's store for something like that." She adds as she places the book back on the shelf and they make their way out of the store. A rumble has them turning to look at Willow.
"What? I'm sorry, tummy says, 'where's the food'". She smiles sheepishly and they all glance at their watches.
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." Anya agrees and Tara nods as well.
"Why don't we try that new place?" Tara suggests and they make their way towards the directory to find the new restaurant.
They are seated at a comfortable booth tucked within a garden setting. They sit with their menus open, lowering them every so often to discuss what they're thinking of ordering.
"This looks good," Anya says, showing Mackenzie a picture of glazed chicken on a bed of noodles and stir-fried vegetables. She nods and points to another photo of Sheppard's Pie.
"This is American style though." Tara reminds her and they laugh at the thought.
"That's true, I can always make that and freeze the rest for later." She laughs, "Oh, I think I'll try this." She rests her finger on dessert— a caramel apple cheesecake.
"That looks amazing!" Buffy exclaims. "You have to have something more substantial for lunch than that."
"Yes, mom," Mackenzie replies and thinks for a moment.
"I think I'll have the Chicken Shish Kabob with Greek salad and if I'm still hungry I'll share dessert with someone." They nod in agreement.
"Good afternoon ladies. My name is James, I'll be your waiter." The waiter says cheerfully. "May I bring you something to drink?"
"A diet iced tea," Buffy says with a bright smile.
"A Diet Coke for her." Willow gestures towards Tara, "and one for me as well please." He jots the orders thus far.
"I'll have a Diet Sprit with lemon." Anya smiles up at him.
"Just water with lemon for me please." Mackenzie looks up at him for a moment and he nods.
"I'll be back for your orders." He smiles and turns to get their drinks.
"Ooh, this looks really good," Buffy says as she Shows Anya the description. "It's a noodle bowl with sweet and sour chicken and shrimp."
"That does look good," Willow says.
"I think I'll have the Monte Crisco," Tara adds and they all read the description and agree.
"Your drinks ladies." He says upon his return and begins to set their drinks in front of them. They pick up their glasses and hold them up.
"Bon appetite." They say as they clink their glasses and sip their beverages.
"Are you ready to order?"
"Yes, I'll have the Sweet and sour chicken shrimp noodle bowl," Buffy says and closes her menu.
"The Chicken shish kabob with a Greek side salad." Mackenzie also closes her menu.
"Glazed chicken please." Anya closes and sets her menu on top of the others.
"The Monte Crisco." Tara smiles and Willow set their menus aside.
"Also, do you think we could have a plate of French fries and sweet potato fries?" Mackenzie inquires. We're all having salads with our entrees. I think a little fun is in order." She looks at her dining companions.
"Of course." He replies and collects their menus before retreating to the kitchen.
They enjoy their non-demon, no male time together— talking classes, crushes, and other things that are 'normal' conversation for Sunnydale's civilian population. Once they finish lunch, they set themselves back on their mission and finish as much of their Christmas shopping as they can in each other's company before heading towards Mackenzie's SUV and load their packages into the rear, carefully closing the door so as not to squish their purchases.
"Why don't we wrap gifts at my place?" Mackenzie suggests. "That way most of it's done and should we bump into the guys, we don't have to worry about their snooping."
"That sounds like a plan." Anya agrees, knowing how Xander is around gifts— not that she's any better. She pulls into her spot and they remove their bags.
"I'm just going to head over to your uncle's bookstore and see if I can find what I'm looking for there," Buffy says as she drops her bags on the coffee table.
"You want a lift?"
"Nah, I won't be that long." She adds and makes her way back to the foyer to put her shoes and jacket on. "See you guys in a bit." She says over her shoulder and closes the door behind her.
Christmas music plays loudly and the only sounds, besides their obvious chatter about the holiday, is the rustle of colourful wrapping paper with cartoon reindeer, Santa Clauses, penguins, and bears being cut to size; satin tape being pulled from the plastic dispensers and put to work holding the package contents closed; and ribbon being pulled from various spools, tied around packages, and scissors curling them into decorative finishing touches.
"They had better appreciate all this work," Anya states, matter-of-factly as she examines her handiwork.
"I'm sure they will," Mackenzie says gently and gets up to go to the kitchen. "You guys want anything?" she inquires. "Tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate?"
"Popcorn!" Anya replies happily.
"Hot chocolate!" Tara and Willow reply in unison.
"Anya, do you want something to drink too?" she asks while putting the popcorn in the microwave and setting up the mugs of milk to go in next, she pulls the powdered chocolate from the cupboard.
Returning with a tray, she sets it on a spot Willow clears off the coffee table.
"We should do stuff like this more often," Anya says, her ruby lips turn up in a bright smile as she reaches out towards the bowl of popcorn. The thump at the door brings Mackenzie from the bustle in the living room. Expecting to find Buffy, she is surprised that it's Giles.
"Is Buffy here?"
"Giles, I don't mean to be rude. I mean. I'd invite you in, but we're kind of having an impromptu gift wrapping party." She shoves her feet into a pair of shoes and steps outside to talk to him. "Is everything all right?" she inquires, before catching herself. "Of course not, or you wouldn't be here." She mentally kicks herself for her stupidity. Why suddenly was he getting to her more than before?
"We do have a problem." He coughs lightly.
"Does it have something to do with the pesky Initiative?" he nods. "I see. I'll send her over as soon as she gets back."
"Thank you." He reaches out and places a reassuring hand upon her shoulder and she smiles up at him with a nod. He then turns and makes his way across the courtyard to his flat, and she watches his back as he walks.
"What did Mr. Giles want?" Tara inquires as Mackenzie re-enters the living room.
"Just needs to speak to Buffy. Something to do with the Initiative." She adds with a sigh before reclaiming her place beside the table and the mountain of waste paper, tape, and ribbons. She smiles, trying not to upset their non-demon, non-Slaying time. When Buffy returns; however, Mackenzie stands and goes to meet her in the foyer.
"Giles came by looking for you."
"Why doesn't he just call me?" she rolls her eyes.
"I don't know. He's expecting you. Something to do with your ex's stupid macho Initiative."
"Great. I don't even get to have any fun with you guys." She pouts and decides that it's best to bite that bullet. "I'll catch you later?" placing her bag down beside the hall table she heads back out, crossing the courtyard to Giles' flat.
The group knew that Buffy felt left out of their fun, so they agree to stop their wrapping make something for dinner.
"What have you got?" Anya inquires as they move to the kitchen.
"Let's see." Mackenzie pauses and opens the fridge. "We could make chicken linguini with some sort of salad— either Caser or garden, depending on whether or not you want bacon bits for the pasta or the salad or both." She smiles as she pulls the chicken breasts from the fridge along with the rest of the ingredients. "Or we could go simpler and have a throw-down stir-fry instead over pasta or rice."
"I like the throw-down stir-fry idea." Willow smiles, "we can do pasta and rice." She adds.
"Everyone agree?" Mackenzie says from her spot in front of the fridge.
"Agree to what?" Buffy inquires from the door as she removes her shoes and jacket, hanging it on a peg beside the door.
"Oh, we're talking a chicken throw-down stir-fry." Tara fills her in.
"Sounds yummy. What can I do to help?" she inquires as she makes her way to the kitchen.
"Buffy can you even boil water?" Anya asks bluntly.
"Hey! That was a one-time thing." She pouts and helps Mackenzie pulls veggies from the crisper. "I'll handle cutting and marinating the chicken." She adds and gets started. Tara and Willow take pasta and rice duty, while Anya helps Mackenzie chop various vegetables.
"This is going to taste so good," Willow says waiting for the pots of water to boil.
"I'll set the table," Tara adds and finds the needed plates, glasses, and cutlery.
"Patrol tonight?" Mackenzie asks making general conversation.
"Yes, as per the norm, but not until I've had my fun." She winks and carefully rinses the chicken under the cold water in the sink and uses a paper towel to quickly dry the pieces before placing them into the awaiting bowl.
"Everything is okay right?"
"Of course." She replies as she measures various ingredients for the marinade.
"Don't worry, girls night in isn't going to get ruined." She places plastic wrap over the chicken and sets it aside.
Buffy washes her hands with antibacterial soap and cleans the cutting board and knife, then places them in the dishwasher before turning back to the sink and disinfecting it with bleach.
"Don't want anyone getting sick because of the chicken." She puts the dishcloth back in its place, washes her hands once more and turns to help Mackenzie with the vegetables while Tara and Willow place the pasta in one pot of boiling water and rice in the other. Anya raids Mackenzie's wine selection for something suitable for their meal.
"Find anything to your liking?" Mackenzie inquires, from behind and Anya pulls a bottle.
"I'm pretty sure this one will work just fine." She places the bottle on the table and returns to the living room to turn the music back on— sometime during their cooking fest, the music had stopped.
"Thanks, Anya!" Willow calls as she strains the pasta. Tara turns down the rice to allow it to absorb whatever water is left and fluff up. Mackenzie then gets her wok and heats it for the chicken and vegetables.
Once they have finished creating their meal, they sit at the table, the food transferred to a large platter, the rice in a French white Corning Ware dish with a clear glass lid and the pasta in another. Anya pours the wine, while Willow hands one dish with rice one way and Tara hands the pasta the other way around the table so they can have whichever they prefer. Then they follow it with the stir-fry. Once everyone has their meal set the way they like it, they raise their glasses and declare a wonderful meal with the gentle clink of their glasses.
"Excuse me for a moment." Mackenzie smiles as she rises and heads towards the kitchen. Picking up the bag on the counter, she slips her feet into a pair of flip-flops and puts her jacket on. She makes her way across the courtyard, knocks on his door and waits.
"Mackenzie. Hi." Giles greets her with a wide smile.
"I won't keep you long. I just thought that I'd bring you something over to eat. We've had a wonderful girls' gift buying day and have just made a mountain of food. I thought… Well, I thought perhaps you would like an evening off from preparing your own meal."
"Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you." He replies and receives the bag she holds out towards him.
"I'll see you around, I better get back before my meals cold." She turns to leave. "Bon appetite."
"Merci beaucoup." He chuckles and watches her head back to her flat before closing the door and heading to his kitchen to see what the girls have whipped up. She re-enters her home and removes her jacket and flip-flops and quickly takes her seat and digs into her dinner.
Once the dishes have been loaded into the dishwasher, the girls return to their wrapping with hot chocolate and other goodies. Buffy really enjoys this friend bonding time and realises how much she had missed out when she was with Riley and hanging out with the Initiative.
"So Buffy, find what you were looking for Giles' gift?" Mackenzie asks as she finishes putting the final touches on Xander's gift. She writes out a tag and slips it into place, securing it with a piece of satin tape.
"Oh yes, I found something that I think he will enjoy." She replies and pulls the bag out from under the coffee table. She holds it out for Mackenzie to see. She opens the bag and gently removes the volume. Smiling her approval, she hands the volume back and Buffy carefully selects wrapping paper.
"That's quite the book."
"Since you were able to procure a few books that helped us already, I thought Giles might need this one. When we blew up the library, he lost a significant chunk of his personal collection." She explains.
"I'm sure he'll appreciate your sentiment." She returns to her wrapping while Buffy cuts the proper amount of paper and begins to carefully wrap the book.
Glancing at the time, Buffy places her wrapped gifts in plastic bags and places them beside the tree.
"I'll come by and pick them up tomorrow after classes. If that's okay with you Kenzie, I don't want to wake you after patrol."
"I thought I'd take the girls home, why don't I leave them with Willow?"
"That works too. Making sure they're safe is a priority." Buffy says as she puts her shoes on, slips her jacket on, buttons it up.
"Have a safe patrol," Anya says as she places another clump of paper into the plastic green garbage bag as Buffy slips out the door and closes it behind her.
Buffy finds that it's another chilly night as she moves from one cemetery to another and through the vacant parks. It's not an active evening either, which with the lack of combat causes the chill to really sink into her bones. She sighs as she mentally taunts the newbie vamps rising for the first time— yet for some reason, not many have been turned, so she heads towards the lesser travelled back alleys in Sunnydale's main drag that houses the Bronze, the movie theatre, and other shops, restaurants, and businesses. If they aren't in the cemeteries, the 'older' vamps tend to hang in more populated areas where they can easily pluck a snack from a group. Once again, she is confronted with nothing—no vamp activity and no demon activity either. Weird, she muses to herself as she turns a corner and nearly bumps right into Riley's chest.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." She explains before making eye contact with her TA.
"Buffy?"
"Riley." She remains glued in place.
"What are you doing out so late on your own?" he inquires with his gentle smile and she finds it difficult to concentrate while watching his lips move.
"Just patrolling." She replies trying to regain her composure. It hadn't been that long since their breakup and she still felt that odd tug in her chest whenever he was around her— class was difficult enough, she really didn't need to see him outside of the world of academia as well. "I better get moving, Giles keeps tabs on me for safety." She stammers and turns on a heel before he has the chance to say anymore. The wound was still far too fresh and she really didn't need any more salt dumped into it.
The following days are filled with papers, assignments, tests and midterms. Mackenzie manages to keep her stress-level down by training when she wasn't studying at Joe's bookstore, or at Giles' helping with research— which, of course, hadn't gone completely unnoticed by Duncan, Joe, and Methos. Like clockwork, Methos enters the dojo with a cup of coffee and casually leans against the door until the last swig before tossing the paper cup into the receptacle as the crosses the threshold. Then the teasing begins.
"Hey Mac, Kenzie." He nods towards them and takes a seat on one of the benches.
"So Kenzie, when you going public?" he says with a huge smile.
"Are you here to train or talk to Duncan?" her retort is laced with ice.
"Razz you, of course!" He presses his back against the wall and stretches his long jean-clad legs out before him.
"I'm here to train right now. Perhaps if you want any actual news, you can wait a quarter to forever."
"Look, I'm not the only one who's noticed how much time you're not spending at home."
"How?" she asks as she just manages to avoid Duncan's attack. Getting her thoughts back together, she resumes her defensive stance and, like a chess match awaits his next move.
"Kenzie, your shoulder is slumped," Duncan instructs and she corrects her form. "Better." He continues to attack and has her practice her defence. She ducks his next assault and counters with a few well-placed punches and a final round-house kick. He smiles as he sees the determination return to her eyes. Methos' interruption wasn't such a bad thing after all. When their sparring match is finished, Mackenzie bows in respect and makes her way to her gym bag to grab a towel and take a much-needed gulp of water.
"Buffy and Giles should be here shortly to train." Duncan suddenly says and Mackenzie wonders why he would be telling her this news.
"Oh?" she looks at him.
"I realised that there really isn't sufficient space for them to train at his flat. And I highly doubt that UC Sunnydale would appreciate that kind of training on campus." He adds as he makes his way across the room to his water bottle and takes a quick swig before replaces the cap before setting it back down.
"Well I guess I should be going then." She says looking at the clock.
"Don't you want to be here when he arrives?" Methos asks while fluttering his eyelashes teasing her once more.
"Want to spare?" she challenges him.
"I didn't bring my workout clothes." He holds up his hands and she rolls her eyes.
"A likely story— I'll see you for our Saturday morning run?" she directs her question towards Duncan. He nods and she puts a US Sunnydale sweatshirt over her soaked tank top and slings her bag over her shoulder.
"We'll talk later." Duncan smiles and she nods before turning on her heel and making her way out of the dojo.
Giles and Buffy arrive, apparently just missing Mackenzie's departure, to run through a new training routine. With a new bad on the loose, she realises the significance in gaining the upper hand— and what better way than to train.
"Hey, Duncan!" Buffy greets him happily. "Thanks again for allowing us the use of your dojo." She adds as she lets her bag drop onto a nearby bench. Giles follows suit.
"Duncan." He says as he opens his bag and sets himself up.
"Giles." He returns her greeting and nods towards Giles. "Since I wasn't sure what your immediate needs are, I've finished my training for the day. The dojo is yours." He places his towel around his broad shoulders and Giles looks around.
"Again, thank you for this," Giles says smiling as Duncan and Methos make their way to the elevator. "We shan't be too long." He adds, watching as Duncan lifts the metal gate.
"Oh don't worry. Take whatever time you need." He adds as they get into the metal cage and he lowers the gate.
"Okay Giles, bring it on!" Buffy states ready for whatever he has to throw at her. He rolls his eyes and tilts his head.
"What did you think I had in mind?" he inquires.
"I dressed to workout in whatever capacity." She replies.
"Well let's go through a few warm-up exercises, we'll move onto some hand-to-hand, our weapon routine and then cool it down."
"So our regular routine to start?"
"If that's okay with you? I would like to see how your time away from training has affected your form, in particular." He states as she begins to warm up by running sprints across the floor to ready her body for a quick stretch.
"Okay, I think before we start the hand-to-hand, we should do a few offensive routines with hand pads." She nods and moves towards the side of the gym to retrieve the set for him. Stepping back, Buffy takes a breath and begins to move towards him, throwing a few punches and kicks— gently testing his ability to absorb her attacks.
Giles was actually impressed by how well her ease of movement and strength had been maintained despite their lack of training together.
"I had forgotten that you had at the very least been training with Riley." He says after a moments break, removing the hand pads. She doesn't really want to talk about Riley, so she merely shrugs and takes the pads from him and returns them to their proper place.
"I guess. I couldn't really go all out on him either. Even though he was hopped up on those drugs." She states in a quiet tone. Giles can tell that she's still hurt by their breakup, so he doesn't wish to push the issue.
"Hand-to-hand, then?" he asks and she finishes towelling some of the sweat from her brow, sets her hair back in its ponytail and makes her way towards him. They bow to each other as though it were an official match, and assume their respective fighting stances. They quickly size each other and begin their sparring— easing into it, so she doesn't injure him like she had in the past.
Once home, Mackenzie removes her shoes and jacket, puts her bag near the basement door and heads straight upstairs for a shower. The hot water feels wonderful against her body as she runs her hands over her skin. Washing and rinsing her hair, she turns her back towards the shower head and allows the hot water to massage her neck and shoulder for a moment before turning back around and shutting off the water. Standing at the sink in her towel, she checks her body for bruises and is happy that there aren't any this time, she then makes her way back to her bedroom to find something clean to wear. Knowing that it was far too early for pyjamas, she pulls a pair of black cotton yoga pants, a pink tank top, and a casual button-down sweater, some socks and clean undergarments. Once dressed, she tidies the bathroom, making sure her towels are hung to dry. Turning out the light, she walks through her bedroom, slipping her slippers on as she exits and heads downstairs to homework and cooking dinner.
Popping her prepared meal, homemade three-bean turkey chilli, a recipe she found online, she quickly prepares a salad of romaine lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and a carrot with just enough dressing. Removing the dish from the microwave, she sets the table and then remembers that the news will be on and it's always good to know what's actually going on the in the world beyond her front door, even though the goings around her own area might be just as interesting. With her meal finished, the dishes in the dishwasher, she returns to the living room and flips the lights on the tree then settles herself on the sofa to finish reading a few sources for an upcoming essay due before she leaves for home to stay with her family. A gentle tap on her door brings her from her thoughts and she pushes the blanket off and stands— she makes her way to the door and is sure to check the peephole before opening it.
"Giles. Hi." She says and steps aside to let him in. "What brings you here?" she inquires as he removes his shoes and jacket.
"I'm not interrupting anything, I hope." He finds himself looking in to be sure that she doesn't have company.
"Oh, just school work, which by the way is going to be the unnatural death of me." She leads him to the living room. "Would you care for anything?" she inquires waiting for his answer.
"A cup of tea would be lovely." He replies and she moves to the kitchen and he follows. "Please, allow me to help." She nods as she fills the electric kettle and he moves towards the fridge to retrieve the milk.
"You seem to have a handle on my kitchen." Her comment accompanies a warm smile, which he returns. In the cosy space, they manage to put together the tray and while she reaches to get the tea biscuits, Giles picks up the tray and makes his way to the living room and sets it on the coffee table.
Hitching his casual navy pants, he settles himself on the sofa as Mackenzie follows with the plate of cookies. She places the plate on the tray as they wait for the tea to steep.
"How did your training session go?" she inquires sitting on the other end of the sofa, facing him and tucking one of her long legs under herself— she picks up a pillow and places it in her lap so she can rest her arms on it.
"I think that despite our not training together consistently, Buffy has managed to maintain the foundation that I have established with her from the beginning of her training."
"That's awesome." She watches as he moves to pour their tea. He pours a drop of milk into each mug and lifts the teapot repeating the movements to pour the steeped hot liquid into the mugs— he then picks up one of the mugs and extends it out towards her and she receives it.
"Thanks. Tea somehow always tastes better when someone else pours it."
"Like a meal prepared by someone else." He adds and lifts his mug to take a sip. She leans towards the plate of cookies and takes one, carefully submerging it into the steaming liquid before biting into it.
"So how will you be spending your holiday?" Giles inquires, changing the subject.
"Oh, I think I'll be heading home once again and spending time with my family and friends." She replies looking into his eyes, which she notes have darkened into a deep mossy green. "What about yourself?"
"In a manner of speaking the same thing." He replies and they sit in a comfortable silence, which neither wishes to break with speech. Mackenzie is grateful for the break and in reality the company. Spending time with Giles on a non-vampire, demon, monster, things-that-go-bump-in-the-night capacity has become something few and far between. Actually, when she thought about it, they had been spending a great deal of time together with respect to vampires, demons and all things undead and evil. Once in a while, she wouldn't actually be needed for translations, rather just regular research, which had made her feel as though she actually was part of the group— but in reality, she was secretly enjoying the time she spent with him, even if it wasn't alone.
"So, I presume that I'm on house-sitting duty?" he cracks the joke with a wide grin and glint in his eyes. Before she replies, she stares at him for a long moment.
"I suppose I hadn't thought of that." She joshes back. He places his mug on the tray and gently takes hers from her, their fingers brushing ever so softly— she finds that she has to look away momentarily to collect herself. Were there sparks? She wonders as they had only just begun spending a great deal of time together— originally, she had thought that whatever she had felt before wasn't something she would continue to feel, but here they were, sitting on the sofa in her living room and all she wanted to do was ravage him. Instead, so as not to embarrass herself, she thought of her various assignments, conjugated verbs in her head and even thought of the worst monster she could think of. By the look in his eyes, he had to have noticed it as well— so she manages to keep her cool and removes the pillow from her lap, stands, picks up the tray and returns to the kitchen.
"I do have another favour to ask of you." He says from the island. She lifts her eyes to meet his.
"Sure, what is it?" she gently picks up the mugs, quickly rinses them and places them in the dishwasher.
"I have more translations. This is more help due to time being a factor. Of course, I understand if you don't have the time— with school and everything." He manages as he removes his glasses and quickly retrieves his handkerchief to clean them. She turns and watches him closely for a moment.
"Exams are finished for now— all I have left is a short research paper. I'm sure I can find a bit of time to help you out before the winter break." She replies and he replaces his glasses with a smile.
"Thanks." He glances at the clock and realises that they had spent a good two hours in each others company, and yet, he truly didn't want to leave. How odd, he thinks to himself as they make their way to the foyer. He replaces his shoes and slips his jacket over his broad shoulders and runs his arms through the sleeves, but doesn't bother to button it up.
"I'll drop by tomorrow once I've finished the last main section of my paper." She finds that she easily closes the distance between them and quickly gives him a hug. He returns her embrace just as comfortably, they gently release each other, and he slowly turns and opens the door to leave. "Good night." She says as she leans against the doorframe to watch him walk across the courtyard. Once he opens his door, he turns to see her and waves. She waves back, then closes and locks her door.
What Giles doesn't see as he closes his door and secures it, is the wisp of the curtains in Joe's flat fall back against the window casing. With a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he removes and hangs his jacket by the door, his shoes follow and he decides that an early night is probably for the best— he has quite a bit of research ahead of himself. What they know is that their newest foe consisted of a compilation of various bits and pieces of various demons and monsters— what they are unsure of, are what exact pieces and what those pieces do. Riley had been instrumental in procuring some of Professor Walsh's notes on 314, yet they were still unsure exactly what 314 was.
Once her final essay was submitted, Mackenzie could breathe once more. Besides, in her mind, she would soon see Giles, even if it was research related. She made a quick stop home first to pick up what she usually referred to as 'writer's block' cookies— whatever ingredients she had in the house that would make cookies would be utilised. This time she had made peanut butter toffee cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and tried to adapt a thumbprint cookie into something a little more interesting— thankfully with success and she knew she would be making them for Christmas as well. She dumps her school bag at the foot of the stairs, just out of the way and makes her way to the kitchen to pick up the Tupperware container filled to the brim with cookies. Hope they like them, she muses as she catches her reflection in the hall mirror and fusses with her hair to make it look a bit neater.
She knocks once on his door.
"Enter at your own risk!" she hears Xander holler from within and she balances the container in one arm and turns the doorknob with the other. All eyes lift from their respective books as she enters and Giles is the first to greet and help her.
"Kenzie, you made it." He says, accepting the container and setting it on his nearby desk, resting it on top of a pile of books. Then he proceeds to help her out of her jacket.
"Thanks. How could I not? You requested my assistance." She pauses. "And I brought provisions for the researchers." She adds with a smile and they share a silent moment— in that moment, more is said. Xander is the first to spring to his feet and head towards the container.
"What have we here?"
"Oh, I baked when I was supposed to be studying for exams and paper writing." She smiles as she recalls how much the distraction actually assisted in calming her enough to concentrate.
"Xander if you could wait I'll make us some tea to accompany the cookies." Giles taps the young man's hand away from the container in jest.
"That actually sounds like a good idea. I need a break!" he exclaims and moves to plop himself into his spot on the sofa between Anya and Buffy, who have closed the books they had been looking at. Mackenzie joins Giles in the small kitchen and together they set a tray for the tea— an act that he is very well versed in and she always finds his movements calming.
"So you mentioned some texts to translate?"
"Ah yes, I thought it would go a bit faster if we worked on the translations while the others managed the newer editions."
"That sounds like a plan. Buffy know what we're actually dealing with?"
"Riley brought over some specs of project 314; however, what we don't know is how old they are."
"So the demon parts could have changed— Professor Walsh could have been studying whatever and found another demon part that would be far more effective."
He nods as he pours the boiling water over the teabags in the teapot and places a tea cosy over the pot.
"She's actually quite brilliant you know?" Mackenzie states with a deep frown, her teeth nibbling nervously at her lower lip.
"Don't worry my dear, we'll get everything sorted out." He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gently squeezes— she nods with a slight smile and covers his. Picking up the tray she makes her way into the living room with Giles behind her, the container of cookies and small square paper napkins for the group. Buffy moves the blueprints of the Initiatives base away from the table so Mackenzie can place the tray down and they won't spill on anything of significance. Giles ceremoniously pours the tea, when everyone receives their cup, they add whatever they need. Mackenzie merely adds milk and opens the lid to reveal the treats.
"These look amazing!" Buffy exclaims as she snags a chocolate chip cookie.
"Yeah, just what we needed." Xander manages to take one of each type and they all laugh.
While enjoying their break, Mackenzie finishes her tea and takes her teacup to the kitchen, placing it in the sink and returns to pick up one of the books Giles has set aside specifically for her. She finds an overstuffed pillow, setting it on the floor, she sits herself down with the book and a notebook jotting notes here and there. The book describes fairly old demons and their characteristics. She looks at the schematics of this 314 and tries to see if any of the demons in the volume fits. None fit the profile, so she sets the book aside and opens another. Between Giles and herself, they manage to get through the books in need of translation. Setting the last book aside, Mackenzie rolls her head and tries to loosen her neck and shoulders. Giles, sitting in the leather armchair behind her, offers her a quick massage to untangle her muscles, which she accepts with a smile and he gently places his hands on her shoulders and works the stiffness out.
"Thanks." She whispers and hands him the notebook that she has scribbled the translations of various demons whose parts appeared to match 314.
Xander pulls another piece of paper from a file and reads aloud:
"Adam, or 314, will be ready for his debut very soon. I am so very proud of our progress and by the holidays he shall be fully functional."
"I'm not exactly liking this," Buffy says as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Essentially, we have the blueprints, the access, and the how to."
"Buffy we're not ready," Giles interjects.
"We have the element of surprise," Willow says aloud. "I mean, sure Buffy got her ass kicked that first time, but she has us to help her this time."
"What are you getting at?" Anya's eyebrows shoot up into her blond hairline.
"Just think about it. Perhaps we're going about this the wrong way."
"The Slayer is singular. She is the Chosen One, but alone in this particular situation, she will not be victorious. Professor Walsh was sure of that."
"That's why she had Buffy quasi-join the Initiative isn't it?" Giles suddenly puts some of the pieces together. "Damn, we've been taking the wrong approach."
"Not necessarily," Mackenzie adds.
"Professor Walsh didn't account for our magical abilities." She looks down at her hands momentarily.
"Willow?" Giles' stern tone enough to cause the young red-head to retract her previous statement.
"Okay, I know I shouldn't have done this, but I found a spell."
"What if it goes wrong?" Xander inquires with a nervous expression.
"It won't. It will work. If Giles does it." She amends carefully.
"Willow, I don't have that kind of power." Giles shakes his head— mentally recalling his Ripper days and how powerful and addictive magic can be. Shaking his head he looks towards Buffy.
"What is it?" she can hardly believe that she's seriously considering Willow's suggestion, not only is it a chance in hell at best, but dangerous for them to even be involved in the situation in the first place.
"Here." She hands Giles the book and he begins skimming the page.
Upon first glance it appears to be a pretty good chance for Buffy and her friends to rid the world of another baddie; however, he too saw the danger in their infiltrating the Initiative. After much discussion and a final agreement as to how they would accomplish their goal, the group decide that they have accomplished enough research for the evening. Buffy is the first to leave and sets out do a quick sweep on her way back to the dorms. Xander offers to drive Willow and Tara back to the dorms with Anya— leaving Giles and Mackenzie alone once again.
"Thanks again for all of your help." He smiles, a shimmer of something catches his mossy green eyes.
"Hey no problem, it's the least I can do under the circumstances." She replies standing and placing the pillow back in its place on the sofa. She then moves to collect the rest of their mess so Giles doesn't have to deal with it on his own.
"And thanks for helping to tidy up." She only tilts her head and picks up the tea tray.
"Again, not a problem." She replies. "Are you sure there isn't more that I can do to help?"
"I don't want you in the line of fire." He reaches out and runs his hand down her arm, a gesture to offer comfort. She looks into the sink as it fills with hot soapy water and begins to place the teacups within.
"I'd wish you good luck or something to that effect, but I suppose I don't really know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything." He stops himself from reaching out and tucking the strand of dark hair that had worked itself loose from her ear and blocks his view of her face. Mackenzie manages to wash the dishes and he dries them, setting them back in their place in the cupboard.
Setting their plan in motion, they make their way to Lowell House.
"Nervous?" Willow asks.
"No way. I'm full of good old kamikaze spirit." Xander replies
"Xander, just because this is never going to work, there's no need to be negative." Giles rolls his eyes.
"The adjoining spell— is it powerful enough to defeat Adam?" Willow inquires.
"It's very powerful. It's also extraordinarily dangerous." Giles replies, knowing the strength of the spell.
"Game faces, guys. We're going in." Buffy kicks in the window.
They navigate through the house towards the secret elevator of the Initiative.
Suspending themselves from cables, Willow and Buffy carefully lower themselves down into the darkness of the shaft.
"How are you doing?" Buffy asks as they carefully climb down the cable.
"Super. What was I thinking, using stairs all this time?" she replies, one hand under the other— carefully lowering herself.
"Okay. Will?"
"No really, Buffy. It's not as scary as I thought." She replies.
"No, that's not what I was gonna say. I just— I'm sorry. I hate that things have been so strained between all of us." Her confession coming at probably the worst time imaginable.
"It's not your fault. Spike stirred up trouble." she illustrates her understanding of their situation.
"Yeah, but I think the trouble was stir-uppable. I think we've all sort of drifted apart this year, don't you?"
"Maybe a little. But, you know, the first year of college, it's hard to keep the old high school gang together." Willow downplays the obvious blame.
But I want it together. Will, I miss you. And Giles, and Xander— and it's my fault. I've been wrapped up in my own stuff, I've been a bad friend."
"You're the Slayer, Buffy. Your stuff is pretty crucial."
"I mean Riley— and Riley mostly."
"Well, I haven't been Miss Available either. I, I kept secrets. I hid things from everyone." Willow assumes some of the blame as well.
"That's not your fault. Will, you were going through something huge." Buffy clarifies.
"I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared."
"You can tell me anything. I love you, you're my best friend." Buffy shakes her head to illustrate her point and reaches out towards Willow and they hug.
"Me too, I love you too." She replies as they begin to free fall due to their combined weight. "Oh, falling now!" she exclaims. Landing at the bottom of the shaft, they maintain their embrace.
"Let's promise to never, not talk again," Buffy says lightly.
"I promise, I promise." She replies happily as Xander slides down and they both hug him.
"Xander," Buffy says.
"Oh, wonderful Xander," Willow adds.
"You know we love you, right?" Buffy states.
"We totally do." Willow smiles.
"Oh God, we're gonna die, aren't we?" he says.
"No, we just missed you," Willow says sweetly as he looks up.
"Giles hurry up!" he calls up the shaft, Giles looks down into the darkness. "You definitely wanna get down here for this!" he adds happily. Once down, they get to work on the elevator doors, inching them slowly with a crowbar.
"Okay, we stick together, then everyone should be fine." Buffy's pep talk. "Everybody ready?" she inquires as Giles finishes prying open the door. "Let's..." the rest of her thought is cut off as the open doors reveal five Commando guys with their laser blasters trained upon them. "do this." She finishes her thought.
They are taken to the Cornel, who is ready for them— only the conversation quickly moves away from his supposed genius idea of how to get close enough to Adam to disengage him. Hit him simultaneously with multiple taser blasters set with as high a voltage shock as possible. Xander only rolls his eyes in disbelief.
"Great plan. That's right up there with 'duck and cover'." Buffy has already seen how ineffective the plan would be.
"This is not your business. It's mine, you, the Initiative, the boys at the Pentagon, you're all in way over your heads. Messing with primeval forces you have absolutely no comprehension of."
"And you do?" he cuts her off.
"I'm the Slayer. You're playing on my turf." She replies with a confidence unexpected by her slight body.
"Up there, maybe. But down here, I'm the one who's in control." No sooner do the words leave his lips that the power shuts down.
Once the team breaks away from their captures, they navigate towards room 314 and Adam. Locating a room close enough, she hopes they will be safe enough to perform their ritual. They all share a final look as she leaves them and enters room 314— only to find a scene right out of a science fiction film in front of her. Is Professor Walsh a zombie? Buffy wonders as Forest, one of Riley's Initiative buddies, all bits and pieces himself, lunges towards her. She struggles to maintain the upper hand long enough for the group to get started. In the quiet of the room, Giles lights a candle as Willow begins to chant.
"The power of the Slayer and all who yield it. Last, to ancient first, we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain and primal strength. Accept us in the power we possess. Make us mind and heart and spirit joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will."
Still not feeling any different, Buffy figures they are still in the process of joining. However, she quickly realises that she's seriously getting her ass kicked.
"Buffy?" she hears Riley softly call her name. Forrest then punches her in the face.
"Shut up and watch me kill your girlfriend, Finn. That's an order." He growls. Inside the adjoining room, Willow continues.
"Spiritus— Spirit." She hands Xander a card.
"Animus—Heart." He says as she hands Giles a card.
"Sophus— Mind," Giles says.
"And Manus." Willow's voice holds courage. "We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel— the hand, daughter of Sineya. First of the ones." Willow finishes while in the other room Buffy continues to hold her own.
"Is that it? Is that all you got?" Forrest taunts her.
"No," Riley states as Walsh and Engleman glance over. "She's got me."
"Looks who's come off the bench." Forrest makes his way towards Riley, but Buffy heads him off with a kick to the face.
"I need to get to Adam, like now, are you able?" she looks at him.
"Go." He nods and she leaves. Buffy makes her way to the main control room and attacks Adam until his skewer flips out and he attempts to stab her with it— she reacts quickly by snapping it with her knee and punches him in the face.
"Broke your arm." She says innocently.
"Got another." He replies as his other suddenly sports a mini-gun. "I've been upgrading." As he fires at her. Diving behind the console, he finally stops.
"We implore thee, admit us, bring us to the vessel, take us now."
Revealing herself from her hiding place, Adam blows up the console and continues looking for Buffy. She rises to her feet, her eyes glowing a violent, fiery orange.
"You can't last much longer." He taunts her.
"We can. We are forever." Her voice not truly her own, it holds the combination of her and her friends— and suddenly she is speaking Sumerian. He responds by firing at her, but a force field suddenly appears protecting her from his attack.
"Very interesting." He states as though studying her. Their battle continues and Adam tries to attack her hand-to-hand, but she expertly blocks each and every punch— kicking him in the stomach, he stumbles and falls; she grabs his head.
"How can you?"
"You could never hope to grasp the source" Xander's voice is heard and Buffy finishes the thought, "of our power." She uppercuts him which sends him flying, landing in a heap on the floor and then picks him up and kicks him against the wall. Reaching into him, she then pulls out the uranium. "But yours is right here." She states and all Adam can do is groan weakly as he falls to the floor.
"Buffy," Riley says as he watches the uranium levitating as he hears a woman's voice speaking in Sumerian and the uranium suddenly disappears— Buffy's eyes suddenly change to her normal colour and she faints, but he manages to catch her. As Buffy drops, so too do her friends in the other room.
"Wow! That was..." Willow trails off as the door breaks down and a demon enters. Spike has followed it and quickly breaks the demon's neck and it crumples to the floor at his feet.
"Nasty sort of fellow. Lucky for you blighters I was here eh?" he states.
"Yes, thank you," Giles replies, yet his tone changes. "Although your heroism has been slightly muted by the fact that you were helping Adam to start a war that would kill us all."
"You probably just saved us so we wouldn't stake you right here," Xander adds.
"Did it work?" Spikes expression serious as they all get up. "Well then, everything's all right. And we all get to be not staked through the heart. Good work, team." The sounds of footsteps stopping at the open door draw their attention.
"Buffy," Giles says as Willow rushes to her friend to hug her.
"Wasn't it amazing?" she asks.
"You were great," Xander replies.
"We were great." Buffy corrects him.
"We still got men out there." Riley brings things back to perspective and they get back to helping civilians against the various demons who had escaped no thanks to Adam and his master plan. The project would be terminated and once there wasn't a single soul within the complex underground facility, the Initiative essentially blew it up.