ff:The Synchronicity Solution

[Carol.Clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Title: The Synchronicity Solution
Chapter Two: The Dark Times
Rating NC-17/R
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
Timeline: The Story bounces around in time from 2003 to 2019. OK and a
little 2002 in this part.
Summary. Catherine Finn likes to help people, human and non-human alike. But
can she save her own granddaughter?
Thanks: Cheryl Hill
Warning: character death, forced drug taking,

The Synchronicity Solution
The Dark Times

April 7, 2003 I 64 just outside of Louisville, Ky.


"Catherine what makes you think this girl is even going to be here?" Ryan
asked his wife not for the first time that day.

"She needs a job. Besides since James left you need more help on the farm."

"So which is she, Catherine?" Ryan asked pointedly.

"I have already told you. She is not an alcoholic or drug addict. She is
just a little down on her luck. Ryan Doyle Finn have you ever won an
argument with me when I make up my mind? Well have you?" Catherine asked
pointedly.

"It's just when you pick up some stranger to help us on the farm they are
usually a drug addict or alcoholic. So just tell me what is wrong with this
one?" Ryan answered back. He knew he would have to except whatever his wife
had in mind. He always did. 

"She is a banshee. Not a full blooded one. Her mother was a half-spectral
demon and half gypsy seer. "

"A banshee, what the hell was her father, the Second Coming of Christ?"

"No he was a spectral demon as well. Ryan you will like her. Other than she
glows in the dark when she is nervous she is very nice. And look there she
is." Catherine said pointing at the girl walking toward their car.

May 30, 2003 Sunnydale California

Buffy Finn leaned against her husband of two weeks. They had married quickly
not because she was indeed pregnant but because it was her mother's last
wish. She had hoped her mother would have lived long enough to see her
coming child but the cancer in her brain had taken her quickly. At least she
didn't suffer, Buffy kept trying to reassure herself. 

Riley wrapped his arms around his wife as she continued to blankly stare at
her mother's body laid neatly out in her casket. "Honey, we need to go.
Maybe get you and the baby something to eat. The funeral is tomorrow." He
really didn't know what to say to her. He was just glad his parents had
flown out to help him. 

"Buffy, Riley is right. You need to eat something." Willow said from beside
her friend. Buffy released Riley and pulled her long time friend into a hug
and let her tears fall freely. Willow just held her while Buffy broke down.

"Son, let them be." Ryan Finn whispered to his son before guiding the boy
out of the viewing room. Once outside Ryan Finn sat down and patted a nearby
seat for his son.

"Where is mom?" Riley asked.

"With Dawn. Seems you have an instant family here. One on the way and your
wife's sister to raise." Ryan summed up factually for his son.

"I know dad. I got the job at the University. They want me to continue
teaching Freshman Psychology. The pay is ok, we should be able to make it on
my salary." Riley answered his father. Oddly finding it comforting talking
business. He had cared a great deal for Joyce Summers and was feeling her
lose as well but he had had to push his own feelings to the side in order to
be there for his wife and sister-in-law. The fact that his own wife often
pushed him away and sought out the comfort of her friends still bothered
him. Mostly it was the comfort of a certain lesbian friend that hurt him the
most but he would never voice that feeling. Not if he wanted to stay
married. 

"So how is the farm? Mom said you got some help now that James is in the
army."

"Yep, a girl."

"Another one of moms charity cases?" Riley asked thinking of the many drunks
his mother had brought home over the years.

"Something like that, only she is a good worker. She seems to like farm
work. To be honest I like the girl."

"You like one of mom's people now that's a first."

"Well this one's not a drunk. Never did like drunks."

"Then what's her story?" Riley asked with curiosity.

"You wouldn't believe me son if I told you."

Des Moines Iowa 2019

Buffy Summers-Finn couldn't stop shaking. She felt like every fiber in her
body was on fire. God she wanted another fix, anything to stop the pain. To
stop the shaking. Her muscles were loose and uncooperative. It would be a
week or more before they came back on line. Before she could even think
about slaying again. Not that she cared. The counsel had another slayer now.
She was just the spare. The one they use and throw out. 

She was still furious that she had let herself be caught again. How many
times was it now? And now that they had set her free again she knew she
should be using the 200 dollars they had stuffed in her pocket to buy a
ticket and get to the Finn's farm. She would need to dry out again. Need to
clear her head. Catherine Finn always took her in and never asked any
questions. Just took her in and dried her out. And when she was strong
enough she would leave the farm that had been Riley's home as a child and
she would wonder the country, the globe helping where she could, fighting
evil. 

Only before she ran off to hide while the chemicals and muscle relaxers
worked their way out of her system she needed to see her again. Needed to
know she was ok. So Buffy worked her way back into the corner waiting for
her daughter to come home from school.

"Buffy you could wait inside where it is warm." The demon said seconds after
walking through the wall the slayer was crouched beside. 

"Alex Valaqeauz, I was wondering when you would show up." Sarcasm pouring
from the slayers voice.
"I promised you I would try and keep her safe. You really didn't think I
wouldn't notice someone lurking in the shadows." Alex answered while
wrapping a blanket around the shaking slayer.

"Why did I ever in trust my daughter to a demon." Buffy said while accepting
the blanket. She was terribly cold. 

"You didn't in trust her to me. You in trusted her with Willow. Come on, If
you won't come inside our house, Dawn's apartment is only two blocks over.
Kimberly won't be home from school for another two hours. I'll have you back
in time I promise. We need to get you warm."

"Dawn will be at work. I don't want her seeing me like this either. I don't
want any of them seeing me like this."

"It wouldn't matter Buffy. They love you. Besides they know it's the counsel
and not you that is responsible." Alex said moving Buffy toward her car. She
needed to get Buffy out of the wind and rain and inside. The counsel had
really done a number on her this time. Buffy tried to move forward but
stumbled over the blanket. Alex caught her and moved her into the car. Buffy
was shaking hard as the drugs they had used to control her were wearing off.

"They dropped you off in Des Moines again I see." Alex said to keep Buffy
talking as she started the car.

"Yeah last night. At least I think it was last night. They know Catherine
usually dries me out after they finish their experiments."

"Still trying to clone you?"

"Like I know. I am just the ...oh... pull over." 

Alex did as Buffy managed to open the car door in time to throw up. 

Los Angeles Ca, 2002.

Buffy picked up a chair and threw it hard against the far wall. It broke
apart and its pieces flew wildly around the room. Angel caught a leg piece
inches away from Riley's head.

"Bastards, they didn't even both hiding what they did." Buffy screamed as
she let tears form in her eyes. "I didn't, we never,.... they killed her."
Buffy stumbled out as years of regret and lost opportunities flooded her
mind.

"Buffy she knew." Angel said

"I just hoped she got her redemption." Buffy finally said regaining
composure. 

"We have to get out of here." Riley stated looking wildly around the room.

Buffy just looked down at Faith's body one last time disgusted by tubes and
IV's inserted into it. Her chest split open from the earlier autopsy.

"Why, why bust her out of jail for this. To cut her open. Why did they do it
Angel?"

"Think about it Buffy." Had been his answer.

At the time Buffy really didn't know.

Des Moines, Iowa 2019 

As Buffy finished throwing up she said out loud, "Now I know"

"Know what?"

"Why they killed Faith."

"Why?" Alex only vaguely knew who Faith was but she needed to keep Buffy
talking.

"If they had taken me instead, killed me they wouldn't have gotten a new
slayer. That's why they take me now but don't kill me. I am not important on
the grand scale. I don't matter. I have made my next slayer. Now I am just
experimentally material. Is my daughter ok?"

"She is fine. I'll show you pictures once we are at Dawn's house."

"I still want to see her. I need to see her for myself."

"I know"


"I wear the cheese it does not wear me." Bald Man, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.