Disclaimers: Please see Part One
By: Firewolfe
Monday, May 18, 2015

A/N: A big thank you to rafestark for betaing this insanity and making it more sensible. If there are any mistakes they are mine. Again thanks for the help.
Fire

Boston Is Burning

Part 47 Insanity and watchers

The hunters listened to Travers and Post, not at all surprised that both men were now using different names. They listened as the two suggested a course of action to regain control of the slayer line and other supernatural assets.

The idea that Wiccans and others in the supernatural community chose to side with the so called Scoobys enraged them. They believed that the original council was the only one with the right to manage the slayers. They had been chosen by the Powers That Be and would help bring the slayers back in line.

"So, all in favor of taking out the slayers and the covens that do not follow the natural order, say aye." Travers said. The vote annoyed him but he and Post had decided to at least pretend to care about the voices of the men and women they would send to face the slayers.

The room was filled with ayes, even as one woman reconsidered her commitment to the cause. She was not so foolish as to say anything about her doubts. Jamie knew she would have to plan when and how to slip away, there would be no second chances with these people. Even the idea of running was scary after working with the hunters for so many years - she knew them, trusted them and considered many family.

Jamie didn't question the role she had played so far, but this…this plan to kill, just for not falling in line was wrong. It was one thing to end a potential who would endanger the world. When she had been forced to kill them she did so as swiftly and painlessly as possible, justifying it as merciful compared to how vampires would otherwise torture and kill the girls. But it was something different to extend it to those not in the line.

Jamie listened and took notes. If it came down to it, she would do what she had to in order to save the world. But she would not murder someone just to give the leaders more power. That idea made her sick.

Detective Sgt. Crowe slid into a booth. He would not miss this for anything. He was so damned tired of taking second place to that dyke Rizzoli. She been a pain in his ass since she had come to Homicide, and it was time for him to bring the bitch down.

A man slid in next to him and pushed over a package. Crowe took it and smiled. He would bring Rizzoli down and maybe get a chance to show that arrogant Doctor what a real man could do while he was at it. She had to want a man after being stuck with Rizzoli for so long - he had no doubt that the Captain's golden child had seduced the doctor away from guys somehow, probably using some sort of mojo or drugs. Crowe was certain she had access to them, after all Rizzoli had been in Narcotics before transferring to Homicide. But this package would ensure that he could get his revenge.

Crowe pulled it across the table and stuck it into his bag, then took the envelope and opened it far enough to look inside. He smiled at the bank draft of over six million which would make life sweet. An early retirement was looking promising now.

"I will see it done." the Detective Sargent assured his visitor. "Now excuse me, I have to go speak to a reporter. I do hope you and your associates step up the good work. Those women are abominations and damaging the moral fiber of the community."

Post chuckled at that, thinking about the plan Travers was beginning across town. "Oh our teams are out as we speak."

When Travers gave the word, their hit team rushed into a local coven book store. Before anyone could react the place was hit by a hail of gunfire. Several patrons and staff went down immediately, others ducking and scrambling for cover as some attackers emptied the cash register while others continued to hunt and fire. Finally they tossed Molotov cocktails into the stacks, before running out as quickly as they came. The outside of the building was left tagged with the ominous warning, "All who follow the devil's work will burn. Opposing those who watch will end in death. The chosen, she alone shall fight. The dark is held at bay by sacrifice."

Elsewhere fire bombs went off, shattering the sacred circle. No one was present at the time, but the damage to one of the coven's holy sites would shake them to the core.

The slayer base in Boston was hit with an onslaught of gunfire and once more fire engulfed the building. It was connected to several others - including a day care. The death toll could have been horrific, but the brave men and women of the Boston Fire Department were able to rescue all the children. They discovered later the rescue had been supported by several employees, also members of the coven, who had perished using their magic to prevent the fire from reaching the children. Children who were all part demon of the neutral or friendly type, enough to make them targets for Travers and company.

Buffy watched as Jane paled and knew immediately that something bad had happened. She noticed Maura was also looking sick, as both women and the police officers around them spoke on their phones. Dracula looked ready to kill and Buffy saw that Lucas didn't seem any happier about the situation.

Mathew moved through the crowds as quickly as he could toward the day care center. As he approached he pulled out his identification.
"I'm a doctor! Let me through to help." He was shocked at the damage, but his professionalism kicked in causing him to quickly shift focus. He would worry about what had happened later - there were injured people who needed his care.

Dracula hung up his phone and turned to the slayers and their companions. "The Council has struck again. They have hit several of the coven's holdings including the circle and bookstore - assassins attacked with assault rifles and fire bombs. Miss Summers I am sorry to say they fire-bombed the office your slayer and witches were using. It's engulfed in flames. BFD are responding but sadly we lost several witches at the day care. They all worked there, and I think they must have used their magic to protect the children as we've had no reports of casualties among the young ones. But it will be a disaster nonetheless, the children are mostly allied or at least neutral demons. How can we keep the supernatural under wraps? Those children have little control."

"Da it may not be so bad. The witches would have tried to hide the differences as well as fight the fire. Martha worked there and she was good at that sort of magic." Lucas tried to reassure, but couldn't help frowning as it occurred to him that the level of magic used was likely high and could not have lasted long as the witches had died protecting the children.

"It may hold." Willow said, thinking out loud. "I mean if they sacrificed themselves to protect the kids then…the magic would hold."

Buffy and Faith were angry. Both women had worked hard to create allies in the demon community, and rarely had any problems with neutrals. At the beginning, Clem had been a good reason to try, and then Doyle had helped Angel. While neither woman knew the half-demon well he had been by all accounts a good man.

Kennedy merely looked annoyed. The latest attack was going to complicate an already delicate situation. She had to wonder whether Travers and company were sane. In the past 48 to 72 hours they had pissed off a lot of people, most with the power to end them and given what was happening few would be swift or merciful in doing it. She knew the watchers would be put down and put down hard. The only question that remained at this point was who would get dibs. Hell, if anything had the power to break this new truce it would be debating who got the pleasure of ending the watcher's lives. Then again, maybe her Willow could drop them all in a hell dimension and declare open season on them. A solution to think about suggesting once they caught the bastards - if they got them alive. Kennedy wasn't so sure that would happen.

Boston was once more on the national news because of a terrorist attack. This time it was home-grown and likely some radical fringe group. The nation's Christian leaders were quick to denounce the acts. Not that some who were insanely rigid in their beliefs didn't privately applaud the actions, however none were foolish enough to say so in public. Of course, the group of priests that helped the slayers said prayers for the fallen. Witches they may be, but they did fight to save the world and these men and women honored that. They had long ago decided that only the Creator could judge anyone's actions. With luck and his/her mercy the fallen would find heaven or its equivalent.

In the heavens various pantheons shook with anger. Hecate heard the pleading of her witches who gave their last breaths protecting the innocent, demon though they be. Children who were innocent, simply trying to grow up and learn to be better people, in their pleading and in their sacrifice she found them worthy. Their spells therefore became stronger and the children would, for as long as they served good, now and forever after would be allowed to pass as human. She was a goddess who was wise and merciful when needed and in this case the price paid by the witches was more than sufficient to allow her to power their spells. The women had used their very life force to protect the children and Hecate would honor that even as she welcomed them personally to the afterlife.

Apollo God of the Sun watched as his distant son stood beside the slayer queen, thinking what a fine human he was. However Apollo was soon joined by Ares who glared at him. "Don't go thinking he is yours alone to claim."

"Hey, he belongs to all of us. We all added a bit to his bloodline." Athena said. "Just because his father's family only knows part of it does not mean he is not ours as well. Angela's family was from mine and I will not let my grandson, no matter how many times removed, be left defenseless."

"Well back off, no one likes Greeks bearing gifts." Loki said to all of them, coming forward. "That one is the perfect blend of all of us. I mean look at him he is a handsome fellow."

The Greek Gods glared at the Norse one. However, Loki was right - Francesco Rizzoli was the perfect offspring of the Gods. The many blood lines that lead to him all had differing Gods to boost their power. Even his own Grandmother and Grandfather had no clue as to the power the young officer of the law could call in time. He was as much God as human, and far more than any Demi god in recent memory.
The Slayer queen would have an Equal to stand at her side, though he would always see himself as only human with a bit of extra as his powers and skills were only now coming out. He would be the first of his kind. A male warrior to stand at the side of the slayers, meaning that a new line of protectors would soon arise. After all immortality always had a cost, and their cost would be to bring forth the new generation of Earth's defenders.
Not that any of the Gods thought the process would bother either human. In fact most smirked at the idea of Buffy chasing after children.

Osiris grinned at the idea. He may have been forced to let the slayer go but in the end there would be many more souls to guard the afterlife in time. He would claim the slayer as one of his as his power had been used to bring her back to life. His justice had given her life not once but twice and he would call her his daughter, even if she never knew or accepted that fact. Even his visions telling her death was her gift had not been accepted - it was a shame that she did not understand they meant that death was hers only when she chose to allow it. Even then it could be simply a vacation if she so chose.

Loki smirked at the idea of his grandchildren being protectors of Thor's beloved Midgard. He would have a legitimate excuse to visit and even Thor could not complain. If he did maybe he could con Osiris into helping him toss his big brother around some?

TBC...