Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or series I am just borrowing them from their awesome creators.

Boston's witch burnings

By: Fire Wolfe

A/N: 'Telepathy or thoughts', "Speech"
April 28, 2013

Part 14

The doctors protested rather loudly when they learned that Maura and Dr. Martin had transfused Caylin however they were not really able to protest much. While it was against procedure it was not illegal technically so all they could do was protest. That was not even done all that loudly when they realized that Maura's parents were present. It was more for forms sake as the hospital was not about to alienate one of their largest private benefactors well two if you included all the separate work Maura did from her family's foundation. The AMA forms to release Caylin were quickly provided and she was soon dressing and eager to leave the hospital. Jane had to almost smirk at that. It seemed that while Caylin may want to follow her sister and mother into the medical profession she was not really a good patient. Then again that was something she shared with her big sister and sister-in-law not that Jane would point that out anytime soon. They all headed out to the Isles family home. Jane was wary about this whole situation and she was having Frankie meet them there. Korsak had of course called the captain only to be informed that the mayor and governor had called and asked that they accept the help the Council was offering and that both officials were grateful for their and senior Doctor Isles help. That is Maura's father. It seemed that the blonde Buffy was right they had their orders. It did not mean that the Homicide detective and her partners liked it however. It was a measure of their unease that they all drove to Maura's family home together. Jane watched as Maura sat next to her quietly. Her beloved had little to say so far on the drive. It bothered Jane that Maura seemed to have some idea about what was going on but, seemed reluctant to share that information. It was troubling to think that her mate might be holding a part of herself separate still.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Isle limo was large enough to carry the them all well except for the police officers which is Buffy was being totally honest with herself was a relief. She wanted them to feel independent and secure. The last thing they needed was to create even more resentment. The fact that they had called in the big guns politically was not something Buffy had really wanted to do but the more she saw of this situation the more uneasy she had become hence the calling or rather texting Giles and getting the ball rolling. Her gut told her Dr. Isles the linguist would be a valuable ally on more than one front. Once again she cursed Travers for pissing off so many good watchers. She had a feeling had he been Faith's watcher things might have been better for her. Not that she would ever say that because clearly Faith had good memories of her watcher and she had no intention of showing any disrespect for the woman who had died to protect Faith. She would not more tolerate that then she would ever accept anyone showing a lack of respect for Merrick. Learning that the two men had known each other had gone a long way to easing Buffy's distrust of a stranger. Then again perhaps she was simply used to having to learn to play nice with others. Perhaps she was growing up. Nope never happening, because like the greatest warrior of them all once said diplomacy is only war in a different form and Buffy knew herself well she was despite everything including her desire not to be she was a warrior. Accepting that had brought her peace and it let her finally control the raging slayer inside. They were one now and that made her life so much easier. She owed Faith for that one the ability to accept one's darkness that the warrior brought was a gift that Faith had helped her learn to accept. It did not make one evil it merely let her channel the darkness to protecting those that walked in the light. The dark slayer was not evil she was a predator and despite or maybe because of her time with the Mayor she could accept that it was not the darkness that lured her rather the light of love the Mayor offered. In doing this she accepted her predatory aspects and because of it had helped Buffy see they were not all bad things to have. It meant that they used the dark to protect the innocents and that was a good thing. Buffy pulled herself from her musings when Constance Isles asked her if she believed that Caylin and Hope would now become slayers as well.

"Will Caylin and Hope Martin become slayers Miss Summers?"

Buffy looked up at her then at Willow and Dawn. It really was more of a question they might be able to answer. Her gut told her that at least for the moment they were not slayers nor were they exactly potentials. The two women had gotten a boost for certain but not the entire slayer package, plus with Willow and Dawn in the mix the changes might be far more than she first considered. Of course Dawn's blood always added to the situation sometimes in surprising ways. Her blood was an activating agent and she had a feeling it activated the thing that made a slayer possible as well as boosting the power the two women already had. Neither was exactly weak willed or helpless despite the way they had found Caylin. She had been fighting to protect herself despite her clear attraction to the vampire.

"I am not sure Mrs. Isles, Willow, Dawn what do you think. I don't sense them as slayers and from the look on Faith's face she doesn't either but, they don't feel like normal human beings either."

"I agree with B they feel sorta like Potentials but, not we all saw the girl Caylin heal up fast as Maura did but I'm not sure if that was the spell or her own power. Red what do you think?" Faith said agreeing with her sister slayer. She looked worried and pensive. It was clear to Buffy that Faith had decided to adopt Caylin as a sister despite their not really being a blood tie. Then again if anyone knew family was about choice it was the Scooby Gang.

Willow looked thoughtful for a moment then answered. "She and Doctor Martin have power, its old and in the blood I could feel it even before the change. Maybe, it got a boost and then they became potentials but because of the boost are more. I'm not sure about it. I mean I am not sure what Dr. Martin is or Paddy Doyle for that matter then there is Caylin we don't know who or what her father is?

"Yeah that could change things a lot." Dawn agreed. "The power flare was big and I felt like I got kicked by a mule, they both took a lot of power from me and Willow. I think maybe even more than from the slayers. So they are likely to have witch powers now too. Which would be good if they are not slayers, not that I am 100 percent sure they did not have some power to begin with, I felt something; Willow what did you feel?"

"Old power I could taste it almost it was like Paddy Doyle's but more subtle. Dawn is right that took a lot out of me as well. I could sleep for a week. Not that I'm going to but….I am whipped." Willow agreed.

"Well then care must be used. I do hope that Dr. Martin can control the power and help Caylin control hers as well as press the dangers of being involved with a vampire." Constance said.

Buffy looked away she was the last person to complain about someone falling for a vampire. Lord knows she could fully understand the attraction. She rolled her eyes damn sexy vampires why couldn't humans be as good looking?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Dr. Isle what the hell is going on?" Korsak demanded. The fact that he used her title showed who upset the normally genial detective was. It along with his tone got him a dark glare from Jane.

Maura however held up her hand to stop Jane's instinctive defense of her. "He had a right to ask and I know Barry as well as you most likely have a few questions."

"Yeah, but Maura he should not be so rude. We are all family here."

Korsak had the grace to blush and Maura felt comfort from Jane's words even if she knew Korsak had a right to be upset.

"Jane, Vince has a reason to be upset. I suppose that this is all coming out of right field for you."

"Left field Maura," Jane corrected automatically but still pleased at the baseball reference her beloved tried to make. "Go on then explain what is going on because I am really lost here."

Maura sighed and decided that she had to explain this. It would sound incredulous coming from her given how she always said science was the answer. The mystical she had generally discounted or she had as far as her friends and partner was concerned. How could she easily explain that she pushed science because the supernatural mystical could be frightening and at least science could be explained?

"Jane, it's not that easy to explain."

"Maura we really need to ok now what is going on?" Jane said.

"Easy Janie give her a chance to explain."Vince said. "Go ahead Maura take your time."

Jane gave her partner a hard look but backed down not wanting to upset her love.

"As you know I am always looking to science to for answers to the questions I had in life. However when I was in Europe and Africa I discovered that science only answers some questions." Maura explained she paused clearly trying to find the words that would explain what she thought was happening right now. It seemed that her two worlds were merging and not in a way she had ever expected. She had never really known her adoptive parents shared her views on the mystical. Once more she was struck on how separate their lives had been. However in this case she suspected it was because they had wanted to protect her from the darkness so it did not cause the pang of pain it might. In fact it made her understand that they had loved her enough to protect her from what they thought could be dangerous. Now however it was clear that time had passed and something drastic had changed. She looked down at her hands and flexed them. Power flowed through her. She looked at Jane and sensed a change in her as well. How was she supposed to explain mystical/ supernatural power to a woman who despite her church's teaching still believed herself to be Catholic? "When I was at boarding school we learned a lot of different things. I told you I never really had friends in school. Well that was not exactly the truth. I did have two good friends for a little while. They were lovely girls and they never minded my constant questions or social awkwardness. Inna and Anna were twins and they came from a long line of Wicca's. They only attended school for a short time but they were perhaps the only reason I was able to cope with being away from home and dealing with school. They helped me develop the ability to compartmentalize and meditate the two things that kept me sane and able to function once they were gone. The girls were both about year or so older than I was and took me under their wing. I must have been around eleven or so at the time. They had come to school late and were slightly behind in their studies which are how we all ended up meeting. The headmistress wanted me to help them catch up with their studies as I was already ahead in most of mine. I believe she thought it was a way to keep all the social outcasts together because frankly neither Inna nor Anna ever fit in any better than I did. However unlike me they had each other so I suppose it was easier for them."

Jane listened it was clear this was not an easy thing for Maura to discuss. She was a little hurt but the revelations but it made sense in a way and she loved Maura enough to listen and not make snap judgments this was clearly a painful part of her past and she did not want to hurt her by failing to be supportive. Lord knows Maura had helped her enough to have earned a little slack.

"Well it was a little awkward at first but I wanted to show I could be mature and help others so I worked with the girls. It was clear to me from the beginning that they were highly intelligent and that they were only behind because they had lacked a more formal education. I learned they had been home schooled until their mother died and they had been sent here because there was no one at home who had the education to teach them. Anyway they became my friends and I gradually learned about them and their beliefs. We would often work outside as they hated to be indoors and this is how I learned they were brilliant with plants and their uses. At first I just thought they had an extensive knowledge of plants because they had had a large garden which of course was true but, it was not the whole truth by far. It was the excuse they gave everyone but, I had to know more. " Once more she paused and looked out the window clearly lost in the past.

"Ok so they were what into plants so?" Jane prompted she wanted answers and preferably before they reached Maura family home.

Maura sighed. "I learned they were Wicca from a long line of them. I went home with them once and a while and their grandmother welcomed me with open arms. I …I learned to accept their beliefs and learned that there is a whole world out there that science cannot explain and that it defies logic but it's there and it can be deadly."

"What do you mean Maura?" Jane asked.

Maura sighed and looked out the window. "My friends were Wicca and they came from a small coven in the mountain. This coven had been there for centuries helping the locals and living peacefully. However for everything good there is evil and evil found them. It killed Inna and Anna's mother and caused them to be sent to school for their safety. I was always interested in healing and medicines and the chance to learn native healing was too good to pass up. So I went home with them on break. It should have fun and educational became a lesson in learning that the world is not black or white and that evil sometimes wears a beloved's face."

"I don't understand Doctor?" Barry said.

"I know, I am not sure…well let's say that I learned that there is evil in the world that can't be explained by science and that vampires are real and dangerous. Magic is real and it can protect or destroy. I learned to accept that sometimes things are not as they seem and that there really is a higher power and that I could feel its power and embrace it. In the time I was with them I learned to accept Wicca and I suppose if I follow any religion even loosely it is that one. I believe that good can be channeled but those who wish to use it to heal both humans and the creatures or the world and perhaps the earth itself."

The car fell silent as her three friends tried to process what she was saying and reconcile it with the scientifically minded doctor they knew and loved. Somehow this was not a comfort.

TBC…

A/N: Sorry for the long delay real life been busy and troublesome Please review if there is still interest in this story.

Fire