BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || Keeping Up With the Scoobies || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS

Title: Keeping Up With the Scoobies – The Long Way Home

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Joss Whedon. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: m/f, f/f, hurt/comfort, survivor's guilt, fluff, found family

Main Pairing: Spike/Buffy

Side Pairings: Tara/Willow, Xander/Renee, Robin/Faith, Connor/Dawn, Dowling/Dylan, Angel/Cordelia, Wesley/Fred, Gunn/Anne, Oz/Bay, Buffy/Satsu (briefly), Willow/Kennedy (briefly)

Buffy Characters: William 'Spike' Pratt, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers, Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Alexander 'Xander' Harris, Andrew Wells, Tara Maclay, Renee, Faith Lehane, Robin Wood, Robert Dowling, Dylan Turner, Satsu, Kennedy, Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne, Bayarmaa 'Bay'

Angel Characters: Angel, Cordelia Chase, Connor Angel, Harmony Kendall, Winifred 'Fred' Burkle, Wesley Wyndam Pryce, Charles Gunn, Lorne, Anne Steele

Summary: Buffy shared her powers with all potential Slayers. But that was only the beginning. Now, she has to deal with all the new Slayers, with the aftermath of LA going to hell – and coming back. The world knows about the supernatural, there's no going back.

Keeping Up With the Scoobies

The Long Way Home

23. San Francisco's Siren Song (2)

"Okay, boss. What's the game-plan?" Carina asked when everyone arrived.

Buffy's eyes surveyed her troops. Her family and her squad. And then she looked at the tall building they were going to head into. An office building as tall as Buffy's eyes could see. Lily's realm, which meant she had the home advantage, and it also meant she had the loyalty of the people inside. Ah, Buffy had really hoped this could somehow be resolved with talking. Who was she kidding? When had anything she had to deal with ever been resolvable with talking...?

"I'm going in first, hoping that she may underestimate me. Think the Slayer does a solo trip. Lily is going to be my fight, but I want Rox by my side due to the Siren Call powers."

Spike, Willow and Xander seemed particularly deflated that they couldn't be more useful by her side, but due to their attraction to women they were as easily influenced as Buffy and what she needed in her direct back-up was someone who couldn't cave to the call.

"In fact, team-ups. Those with attraction to women gotta pair up with someone who isn't. I'm sure we must have enough straight women available to cover everyone?"

Buffy vaguely motioned around, but thankfully enough, her squad was already pairing up accordingly with the Scoobies. Good. She had a good team. The past months here in San Francisco, they had formed them together, she had seen the progress in her young Slayers. Seen them grow from the young, excitable teens who couldn't control their strength, to their first vamp dustings and now they were here, knowing how to organize themselves, knowing to take the situation seriously.

"While I'm off, Xander is in charge," was the last thing Buffy said. "You take it from here?"

She locked eyes with Xander, then Willow. Her oldest friends smiled at her and then pulled her into a tight hug. Before she left with Roxanne, she grabbed Spike by the lapel of his jacket and pulled him into a bruising kiss. The last she looked at was Renee, conveying her feelings with one look. She was leaving her most important people in Renee's care. And she knew that Renee cared, loved Xander and had come to think of the Scoobies as her family too. Renee nodded briefly.

"Okay. Let's go fight a siren," Buffy announced.

Roxanne grinned at her with a brief nod. "Let's."

The two of them walked into the building, greeted by an unnaturally beautiful receptionist (again). Buffy's fingers gripped the handle of her scythe that Will had brought her. She had a feeling this time around, she was going to actually need it. It's been a while. Things had been going so smooth here, she had grown so... used, to the calm. The routine of going on patrol and dusting the usual stray vampire who broke the set rules, taking out minor demons who misbehaved.

"I know you're good," Buffy said as they just walked past the protesting receptionist and headed for the stairs – stairs were safe, elevators could be controlled by an outside force. "You're one of my strongest fighters, you got more life experience than the younger girls in the squad. But your life experience is still different from experience with fighting demons."

"I know that," Roxanne said in acknowledgment. "You're lead. I'm your second."

"I just need you to..." Buffy paused for a moment. "Fighting minor demons can be incredibly easy for Slayers. Major demons can be a very different experience and I need you to keep your head in the game, okay? Don't get cocky because you've proven yourself with minor demons."

"Don't underestimate the enemy or else she will kick my ass. Got it, Buff."

A small smile danced on Buffy's lips at that and she nodded pleased. For so long, she had never seen herself as a leader, but over the past months, during these peaceful times when she had gotten a chance to be a leader not while she was forced into it because the world was ending but when she got to structure her leadership and have moments of calm to sit down with her people and hash out problems before they could bubble over, she had come to embrace this role. She was the head Slayer. She'd once been the Chosen One, and now she was the leader of the Slayers.

"Heads up," Buffy straightened, gripping her scythe tightly. "Things are about to get interesting."

Two women ascended down the stairs, wearing pencil-skirts and blouses, and shoes that looked like they might cost more than Buffy's entire wardrobe. Perfectly put together, perfect smiles, but there was something unnatural to them. Too perfect, maybe. Their smiles seemed to warp, like their mouths stretched just a bit too wide and their teeth seemed to lengthen and sharpen.

"You two should not be here," stated the one wearing white.

The one in beige cocked her head. "Miss Vesper does not appreciate rude interruptions."

"Oh, so sorry. I really hate being rude," Buffy lifted her scythe. "So, if you two would just get out of the way, there would not be any reason for me to be rude at all."

"Ah, ah, ah," the one in white wagged her finger in an incredibly obnoxious manner – and her perfectly manicured nails seemed to grow into talons. "Please leave the premises, Miss Summers, or we may have to eat your heart. Well, not 'we', I think Miss Vesper expressed the desire that your heart ought to be hers to devour. But hers, hers seems like a good snack."

"We haven't had lunch yet, Maureen," the lady in beige agreed.

They were talking about Roxanne. Eating her heart. Well, that definitely put all doubt about this being some sexual manipulation and playfulness and nothing more out of Buffy's mind. This was some seriously fucked up shit. Buffy didn't hesitate to swing her scythe, causing Maureen to screech in an unnaturally high pitch as the scythe went clean through her outstretched finger.

"Rude," the siren snarled. "Guess we can rip it out to serve it to Miss Vesper."

And with that, the two sirens lunged forward at the Slayers. Buffy and Roxanne were as quick to react, Buffy going for the one in white and Roxie taking care of the one dressed in beige. They tried not to go for the kill – they generally tried not to go for the kill if it was avoidable, with the agreements and moves forward they had made. A part in recognizing vampires and demons as not mindless killing creatures was to actually give them rights. Processes, lawyers. If at all possible. Obviously, if the heat of battle demanded it, and if their own lives or the lives of the innocent, were at stake, then that went out the window. These were low-level minions, those could sometimes even be rehabilitated. They tied the two sirens up when they were down and then moved on. After a quick glance, they'd determined where Lily Vesper's office was. All the way up. Of course.

They only ran into two more problems on the way before they found their target. Surprising. But then, Lily knew they were coming. Buffy straightened up as she saw the office of Lily Vesper, with nice golden letters engraved on the black wood. Fancy.

"I'm going in first," Buffy announced. "You'll follow behind."

Roxie nodded and remained outside as Buffy entered the office. Behind a heavy mahogany desk sat Lily Vesper, stunning as ever. Her long, black hair flowing like liquid ink behind her. No. More like shadows. Her eyes seemed to turn more and more red as they bore into Buffy's very soul. Slowly, she got up from her chair, as though she had all the time in the world and wasn't facing a potential threat here, with the head Slayer in her office. Underestimating Buffy. Rude.

"Miss Vesper. I think we have some things to discuss."

"I don't think we do, Miss Summers," Lily said with the most polite look on her face. "In fact, I'm quite sure you were told that your business in my city has concluded. Leave."

It was an order. Firm, strong voice, not leaving room for an argument. Buffy felt intoxicated by her scent and compelled by her voice. She nearly turned around to just... do as she was told. Damn it.

"Oh no, you don't," a bold soared past Buffy and nearly into Lily as Roxanne entered.

Buffy snapped out of it, shaking her head with an angry glare. Lily looked irritated as she turned to stare at the bold now embedded into her chair.

"First," Lily sounded like she was really suppressing her anger. "You come into my city. You change its laws. Make... all the vermin crawl out from where it used to be hidden."

Buffy blinked, repeatedly. Stunned. What? That was what that was about? Seriously?

"You... joined the council, to manipulate the council. To get them to change their minds about... me?" Buffy walked over toward Lily. "Because you don't like change?"

"I like change," Lily tilted her head. "I like change in my favor. This... makes this whole city worse. And I can smell the change in the air. The way humans are reacting to it. If you're going to succeed here, you may well these glorious United States for me. I've come to appreciate them, and how easy they are to manipulate, especially when it comes to politics. Your little idea needs to be stomped before it can take root in the system."

Buffy heaved a deep sigh. Okay, she should have anticipated that. They did anticipate that the first time around, but when people were being so welcoming, Buffy had let herself be lulled into a false sense of feeling safe. This was... not safe. She shouldn't have felt safe.

"Stop it," Buffy sighed, holding her scythe still but trying to reason, one last time. "You're a business woman. You know you can't do business when you're dead."

"Threats," Lily looked so bored, rolling her eyes. "Slayers. You know, throughout my life, there have been hundreds of your kind. Barely noticeable. You... You mean nothing to me. You take care of the vermin. Little more than exterminators, really."

Gee. Thanks. Buffy exchanged a look with Roxanne, who had switched from her crossbow to her knives. Always preferred those and close combat. Lily ground her teeth together. So did Buffy. She rolled her head once, listening to the cracking of her neck. There was noise outside, alerting her to the arrival of the others in the upper level. Nice.

Buffy locked eyes with Lily. "Well then. Time to do some extermination, I guess."

"How dare you-" Lily snarled, baring her fangs.

That usually does the trick with the arrogant one. Trip their ego. Lily lunged forward without thinking, going for Buffy. She countered easily. The thing about sirens was that they were manipulators, not so much fighters. And this one, in particular, was a business woman. Buffy and Lily went at it hard and fast until Lily had gathered her composure some.

"You have to stop doing that," Lily said softly, patting Buffy's cheek.

Her eyes were so hypnotizing. Buffy paused. The next moment, a knife dove into Buffy's ribs. Great. Buffy hissed. Lily screeched as Roxie came from behind and rammed her knives into Lily from either side. Buffy squeezed her eyes shot for a moment, trying to concentrate. Okay.

"Are you okay?" Roxanne asked over Lily's shoulder.

"Yep. Yeah. Peachy. Little knife to the ribs, nothing I haven't had before."

Buffy was actually itching to finish the job, but this was a business woman and the politics of it would look – and then Lily plunged her talons into Roxanne's stomach and suddenly, Buffy's patience snapped. She struck her scythe without a second's hesitance. While Lily went down and started on a villain monologue on how she could not go down like that, Buffy went to Roxanne, pressing her hand down on the wound on her stomach.

"Hey there," Buffy spoke softly. "Let's get you out of here, yeah?"

"Ye—eah," Roxanne smiled weakly. "Maybe a hospital."

/break\

"I am fi—ine," Buffy glared, swatting at Spike's hands.

"There is a knife sticking out of your rib-cage," Spike glared at his girlfriend, then glared at the knife, then back at Buffy's face. "Willow, back me up here."

"Spike's right. There is a knife sticking out of you. We're bringing Roxanne to the hospital, you are absolutely going with her to get checked out," Willow, the traitor, agreed with Spike.

Buffy narrowed her eyes at them both. "This is ridiculous. It's just a stab-wound."

"No such thing as just a stab-wound," argued Xander from where him and Renee were helping Roxanne toward the elevator. "Be a good Slayer and cooperate or they will knock you out."

"Look at it this way," Renee offered. "You're the leader. Lead with a good example. If you want us to go to the hospital with any injuries, you gotta go to the hospital with any injuries."

"Thank you, babe, you are amazing," Xander smiled, kissing her cheek.

Buffy opened and closed her mouth repeatedly. Damn it. How was she supposed to argue with that. But this really was just a minor stab-wound. She was a Slayer. Their healing would take care of this faster than a hospital could, there was no reason for that, really. Urgh.

/break\

When Roxanne came to it, it was to the delightful view of a hospital room ceiling. Wonderful. So she had done the embarrassing thing of passing out. Groaning, she covered her eyes. She was too old to pass out from a little blood-loss. C'mon. She had gotten to go out and fight at Buffy's side!

"Hey, you're back with us again," Alisha's voice, soft.

She was sitting on the foot-end of Roxanne's bed. Had probably been worried the most. Alisha wasn't that much younger than her – four years – and she had kind of latched onto Rox, relieved to see another black woman among the squad, making her feel just a little more seen. Less alone. Though Alisha had quickly found a lot of connection to the other girls too and alone wasn't a problem anymore for her, she still remained with a focus on Roxanne. Priya, Aiko and Noelani were crammed into the chairs, actually asleep though. Huh. Seemed the girls were worried for her.

"They've been taking shifts. Got really worried about you. We all did."

Startled, Roxanne turned toward her other side. On the other bed in the hospital room was Buffy Summers, laying in a hospital gown, looking mostly annoyed. She had a leisure arm around Artemis, who was laying in the bed with her, having dozed off.

"Am I okay?" Roxie asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Minor stab-wound," Buffy huffed. "If not for the sleeping teen on me, I would have already gotten changed again. You, on the other hand, are down one spleen."

"I'm what now."

"Yeah," Buffy cleared her throat. "You... took a siren to the gut real hard. She sank her talons in really, really deep. And... tore that to shreds. Seems the Slayer healing actually, uh... The surgeons removed it. You'll be fine. You will be fine, okay? Recovery from the surgery should be easier for you actually, being a Slayer and all."

"Oh," Roxanne blinked a couple of times, staring up at the ceiling.

"You did good," Buffy's voice was gentle. "You did great. You were the backup I needed. You may have saved my life. She got in my head with her siren's song. And you took a big hit for it."

Roxanne's heart fluttered at the praise. She'd done good. She was a good Slayer. She was.

/break\

"I need you to not freak out, Dawnie."

"...You know that is a terrible way of starting a conversation, right, Spike?"

Spike's lips curled into a smile as he shifted the phone some. "Your sister is in the hospital. It's nothing serious, just a 'minor stab-wound', as she keeps claiming. Honestly, Slayer and all, it was most likely not necessary for her to go to the hospital, but... I know you didn't exactly appreciate learning about Artemis late. I wouldn't want you to hear about this through the Slayerette grapevines, ya know."

There was a pause, and Spike liked to imagine Dawn in her dorm-room, pacing. "Okay. My sister is in the hospital. But... she is fine? You're promising me she is fine?"

"Yes. On my life," Spike quirked his lips. "Or afterlife. She is. It really was just a stab-wound. Closed right up again after a couple of hours, left a minor scar."

"Okay," Dawn breathed out. "Thank you. For calling me, for telling me."

"Always," Spike paused, his voice more unsure. "We're family."

"We are," there was force to her words.

/break\

"Hey there, Slayer," Spike spoke gently, seeing she was barely awake.

She was beautiful when she was just waking up. Gentle. He loved when the morning sun was hitting her face like this, making her glow. Her eyelids fluttered and soft, green eyes looked up at him, confused for a moment, before she smiled. An edge of annoyance at still being in the hospital, but it was less for her sake, more about Roxanne at this point. She'd had an operation and though Buffy hated being in the hospital for herself, she decided to stick around so she could keep an eye on Roxie. Spike brushed Buffy's hair out of her face with gentle fingers.

"How are you feeling?" Spike asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I'm good! I was good last night when you people insisted on bringing me here!"

"I'd say don't pout, but then you look cute when you pout," Spike grinned as he leaned in to kiss her pouty lips. "You had a knife in your gut. I know you're tough, Slayer. But a knife in the wrong organ can end even a tough Slayer. Don't... take unnecessary risks. Take care of yourself."

"You're right," Buffy heaved a sigh, tilting her head back to stare up at the ceiling. "You're right. I'm just... annoyed. I got stabbed like a total newbie. Because a pretty lady talked to me."

"It's literally her power," Spike huffed amused. "That's like getting annoyed a vampire bit you with their fangs, or a dragon singed you with fire-breath."

Buffy wiggled her nose, still not looking at him. "I guess you're right. It's just a little more pathetic when this happens because a pretty lady tells you not to attack her."

"Miss Summers?" Mayor Peace knocked on the hospital room door and stuck her head in, interrupting the moment. "I... woke up in a strange place, feeling... dizzy and... disoriented and missing some days. Your witch-friend, Miss Maclay, found me, actually. And explained... things to me? I don't think I fully understand it yet. Are you up to explain things further?"

"Yeah. Yes. Absolutely," Buffy sat upright on her bed. "So, Lily Vesper, siren. Can manipulate people who are attracted to her. Used that to get into your head. And... other council members' heads. She didn't really like having us Slayers around, wanted to get rid of us."

Mayor Peace looked incredibly embarrassed by this. "I do remember... a date and... Oh. I don't... I am so sorry for whatever I said under the influence of... this. Naturally, none of it was binding or anything. I'd like for us to have a formal meeting about all of it, when you feel better? Perhaps with the whole council? From what Miss Maclay said, the... council... hasn't been..."

"Yes, it's not been doing its job lately, thanks to Miss Vesper," Buffy nodded. "A council meeting would be a great idea. Maybe you guys could meet up this week alone, to get caught up, and I'll meet with you when I get back."

"Get back?" Mayor Peace and Spike spoke nearly at the same time.

"Yes. I've come to the decision that maybe I need a vacation. I have a job now, with work hours and pay and all of that. And maybe, getting stabbed during your regular work job, maybe that means you need a vacation," Buffy smiled, first at the mayor, then over at Spike. "What do you say? I've never been on a vacation. We've never been on a vacation."

"Yeah. Yeah, vacation sounds great. I'd love a vacation."

The mayor offered a smile and an understanding nod at that. "After your vacation, then."


Author's note: Next chapter, Spike and Buffy are going on a well-deserved vacation and they may or may not take Tillow and Xanee with them, haven't decided on that yet! ;)