ff: The Synchronicity Solution 7

[Carol.Clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Title: The Synchronicity Solution
Chapter Seven: Death, Life and Death
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
Timeline: The Story bounces around in time from 2003 to 2019.
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, NOT FOR THE SQUEMISH 

The Synchronicity Solution
Death, Life and Death

October 12, 2003. Liverpool England

Kate could not figure out her brother. They had driven like mad men to get
to Manchester. Riley made a phone call and then they drove on to Liverpool.
Then they checked into a cheap motel and then nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The four of them just sat in the room waiting. She had tried to ask Riley
about it only to have him suggest that she just go back to the base. She had
refused of course. She may not have had her mother's powers of intuition but
she knew Riley was in some kind of major trouble.

Then the phone rang. 

October 12, 2003 just off the coast near Liverpool, England.

Buffy sat in a chair in the crews quarters of a small fishing trawler
holding Willow's head in her lap. After just one day Willow was already
starting to go through withdrawal. She could feel it herself. The lack of
her daily dose of medication. Buffy knew it would get much worse before it
got better. The real question she kept asking herself is what the drugs
would do to her baby.

Looking up from her lover she gazed at her sleeping sister curled in the
arms of the boy who had rescued them. She didn't know exactly how to deal
with that problem yet. Her sister was only 16 and the experience would scar
her for life. Killing her boyfriend would not help that problem at all. This
was going to have to be handled carefully. She would let Riley kill him
later she jokingly decided.

That led Buffy to her next thought. Ben may have gotten lucky and gotten
them off the ship by some kind of fluke but Buffy doubted it. She knew they
must have let them go. But why? It was only a matter of weeks maybe even
days until her baby was born. If they planed on letting them go they would
not have waited until the eleventh hour just before her baby was born. And
if they were telling the truth they had taken them because of the baby, why
not just wait until the baby was born before arranging for them to get
loose. No the counsel was up to something evil.

Looking at the boy and then up to the boys uncle she didn't think the boy
was more than a pawn. They had to know the boy had an uncle with a boat.
Buffy was lost in thought when she heard the boys' uncle coming down the
stairs.

"Sorry lass, but we are near the shore, Ben said to wake you all before we
docked." The man said.

Buffy could see the kindness in his eyes. He had been unprepared for the
sight of Willows back when he pulled them aboard. Or her own pregnant belly.
Since the first day they had been aboard the ship Ben's Uncle Brian had
treated them well. 

"Thanks Brian. I'll wake them." Buffy said shaking Willow.

Brain walked across the room and shook his nephew awake. "Are we there yet?"
was Dawn's sleepy comment.

2019 York England

James sipped his hot chocolate and turned up the sound on the CD player he
had borrowed from one of the working girls. He wanted to drown out the sound
of Martins handy work upstairs. Closing his eyes and rubbing his head he let
himself relax. He always felt empty after one of the girls had suckled him.

He didn't know what else to call what they did to him. Every night after he
had been out slaying, Martin would bring him to this house or one of the
other brothels in town. It embarrassed him that slaying always left him hard
and erect. He would have just preferred to handle the problem alone in his
room but Martin had insisted that slayers' sexual appetites needed to be
cared for by professionals. Apparently so did his father because Quentin
Travers had an account with every brothel in town. And not just to take care
of Martins needs either. James knew Martins taste disgusted his father. The
accounts were arranged for his benefit. It was one of the things his father
threw in his face as often as possible.

So after he had successfully slayed the demon of the day, Martin would pack
him off here where some girl his own age would open his pants and suckle him
until he ejaculated. Then she would stuff him back in his pants. If he was
lucky the girl would wash him up afterwards and bring him to the kitchen
where Mrs. Zanrtra, the Madame, would make him hot chocolate. If he was
really lucky one of the girls would lend him a radio or CD player and he
could drown out the lucky girls' scream that had to take Martin's abuses. 

How he hated his uncle. He knew that most of the screaming wasn't real. The
girls screamed like bloody murder when Martin did them so that he wouldn't
really hurt them as badly. He laid off if they screamed a lot. Then Martin
liked his women to scream. And if they didn't do it right he would make them
scream for real. So James just turned up the music and closed his eyes and
let the gray magic loose.

He was seeing through the demon's eyes again. He liked the little demon. He
often wondered what he would do if he ran into the demon. If Martin were
with him he would have to slay her. But if they were alone he wondered what
he should do, somehow killing the woman didn't seem right. She might have
been a demon but wasn't really an evil demon. The worst thing he had ever
seen her do was to impersonate an angel. He still laughed about that.

One of Kimberly's teachers had been giving her a hard time because her
parents were lesbians. So Alex had dressed as an angel and had walked
through the wall of the woman's apartment, and announced that she was an
Angel of the lord. James thought the glowing skin was a nice touch as well
as spreading her thin silk like white wings out. Then she proceeded to read
the woman the riot act on what god wants from a good Christian. Alex had
made her point. In truth he was impressed that a demon would care that much
about someone else. Then he knew the demon loved her family. Love was
something else James was surprised to find inside a demon.

James often wondered what his life would be like with out the gray magic. In
his visions he knew these people. He had always known these people. And
through them he knew the rest of the world did not bring fifteen-year-old
boys to brothels to get hot chocolate. His own mother never made him hot
chocolate. Then again his own mother wasn't sober after 3 o'clock in the
afternoon.

Focusing he re entered the demons eyes. They were at the 'spectrum' or at
least that is what the demon called it. It was an off track-betting place.
There were four or five large screen television sets all with different
races going on. James closed his eyes and smiled. He planned to enjoy his
visit.

Des Moines Iowa 2019

"Why am I here again." Kim whined.

"Because your mother and I have been busy lately and I thought we should
spend some time together. Now do you want some pizza or a hot dog."

"Hot dog and I understand the family time thing, but why are we HERE." Kim
said pointing around the room.

"Because Alex needs to work." Willow replied. "And I'll have a slice of
cheese pizza."

"Hot Dog, cheese pizza, nachos, two cokes and a beer?" Alex smiled as she
said beer. It was meant as a question. She always asked Willow before she
drank.

"Fine but only one and I drive home." Willow replied before putting her arm
around her daughter. "Now lets go find a good spot at a table." 

"Mom why do you always make such a big deal out of Alex getting a beer. It's
not like she ever has more than one or two. Hell, Aunt Dawn drinks more then
Alex." Kim grumbled following her mother.

"And if Alex wants to sleep in my bed that is all she will ever have.
Alcohol is not our friend." Willow said finding a table and sitting down.

"You know I am not ten anymore. You can talk to me like it's not Sesame
Street. What happened to the whole 'Alex is a demon and sometimes she has to
just be a demon' thing." Kimberly grumbled crossing her arms and sitting
down next to her mother.

"Alex is a demon but not an evil scanky demon. Kim, since you are not ten
anymore, then you must know the difference from the things Alex does to
survive verses real evil. Gambling and other vices are different from
drinking and driving. If Alex were evil I wouldn't have married her."

"Mom you are such a drama queen. Does Alex know which race she is going to
bet on?" Kim said changing the subject. 

October 12, 2003. Liverpool, England 

Kate Finn had gone down stairs to the desk to get a pencil. She hoped all
those years of watching bad cop shows and mystery movies were going to pay
off. She returned up stairs and picked up the blank pad were her brother had
written down the address he got from the caller on the phone. Taking the
pencil she careful shaded in the area on the blank page. It had worked and
Kate could see the address clearly on the page. 

Setting the address down Kate picked up the letter Riley had left with her.
The one he said not to open unless they did not return in 24 hours. They had
been gone over 10 hours but Kate didn't care, she knew something was
terrible wrong. She opened up the letter and began to read. It was the story
of how and why Riley was in England. It also said to read his journal as
that explained everything. 

Finishing the letter in short Kate opened her brother's suitcase and found
the journal. Not knowing what else to do she began reading the true story of
Rileys' life. Someone else might have thought it was a delusion or a lie,
Kate knew it was the simple truth. Then Kate knew about a lot of things she
had never told anyone but her mother.


October 12, 2003. Liverpool, England a warehouse by the ocean.

The four of them found their way to the warehouse. It was hard because they
had to walk a little over a mile. All of women were cold and tired and in
general weak from the captivity. In the end Ben had to walk between Buffy
and Willow to help hold them up. Still they had finally made it. 

Ben stopped outside the side door and started to open it when Buffy grabbed
his hand. "I don't like this. Something isn't right." The weaken slayer
said.

"It will be alright I promise. Your husband is going to meet us here and he
will get you all back to America. You'll see." Ben said smiling then adding
a wink at Dawn.

Ben opened the door and walked in. Buffy, Willow and finally Dawn followed
them in to the dark warehouse. 

"Look by the door there should be a switch." Ben directed.

Before Dawn could close the door she was grabbed from behind had shoved into
the room. The door was closed and the light switch turned on.

"Ms Summers so glad you could join us. We have been waiting for you."
Quentin said from a seat in the center of the room.

"Tara" Willow cried and ran over to her lover. Tara was hanging from a metal
pole. Her throat had been cut.

"You should be happy for her witch. She died quickly. Martin was a little
disappointed I didn't let him play with her before she died. It was the
least I could do really you have been such a good behavior-management tool
for the slayer. It's why I am going to let you live... for a while." Quentin
said patiently. 

Buffy had grabbed Dawn and pulled her close to try and protect her. Willow
was crying and hugging Tara's body. Buffy was trying to decide what to do.
Riley and Giles were both tied to similar poles. It was clear they had both
been beaten badly. Riley's arm was broken and from the blood dripping down
Giles leg he had several deep cuts. There was nothing she could do for Tara.
One more failure Buffy thought to herself.

"Buffy?" Riley said weekly.

"Riley." Buffy answered tears falling. She held Dawn tightly and started to
slowly move to Riley.

"Buffy you take care of our child. No matter what these bastards say or do I
know the truth. I love you. Now take care of our child. Keep her safe."
Riley cried

"He is right Buffy." Giles added bravely, his voice weak.

"How touching. How very touching and so brave. I wonder if you would be this
brave if you could have watched your pregnant wife make love to her little
dyke witch friend aboard the ship." Martin said in disgust before turning on
a video of Willow and Buffy having sex aboard the ship. The TV screen was
placed right at Riley's eye level and Martin grabbed his head and held it
facing the screen.

"Riley, I won't lie to you. I did sleep with Willow on the ship. But it
doesn't mean I love you any less. This is another one of their games. Please
Riley you know I love you." Buffy said still moving slowly over to Riley.

"It's alright. I am not that surprised." Riley said weakly, blood dripping
from his mouth

Dawn clung tightly to Buffy, tears falling down her face. Buffy was trying
to hold everything together. To think her way out off this. She counted the
guards, Fourteen, all human. All of them with dart guns loaded and aimed.
Then there was Quentin and Martin. Quentin was seated in the center of the
room while Martin was still holding Riley's head forcing him to watch the
screen.

Riley and Giles were to beaten up to run. Willow had collapsed into a ball
still holding Tara. If she could get Willow to focus she might be able to
cast a spell but Buffy doubted it. The heroin in Willows blood had made it
hard for Willow to use her magic. Besides Buffy didn't think Willow even
knew where she was anymore. Dawn was too scared to help that much. Ben might
be able to fight a little but he was only one man. A good man, Buffy
concluded. It was clear from the shock on his face he had no idea it was a
set up.
Buffy continued to slowly move to Riley. When she neared Martin he let go of
her husband and moved back. She always knew he was really a coward. Reaching
Riley's side Buffy began to untie him. The drugs had taken most of her
strength and it was hard to just undo the knots. "Dawn see if you can untie
Giles."

Dawn slowly and carefully let go of Buffy and moved over to Giles. The
guards just moved out of the way and held their guns aimed at the women.
They were taking no chances. Even eight and half months pregnant and
weakened by drugs they still knew Buffy was dangerous.

Buffy undid the last knot and Riley slid to the floor. Willows mournful
cries echoed around the room. She had untied Tara and was now cradling her
in her arms. "I thought I would never see you again." Riley said kissing
Buffy. The slayer could taste the blood on his lips and knew he had internal
injuries.

"Shh, I am right here." Buffy whispered kissing him tenderly. Ben had moved
over with Dawn and they were untying Giles. "I am so sorry," Buffy carefully
began to wipe the blood away.

"I am surprised at you Ms. Summers. I would have expected you to ask the
obvious question by now." Quentin said from his chair in the center of the
room.

"I just don't feel like playing your games now Quent. I think it goes
something like this, I say 'why', you reply but you have done this to
yourself, to all of your friends, then I cry and you get you little rocks
off. So am I right?" Buffy said angrily while continuing to wipe the blood
away from Riley's face.

"Colorful girl. But you are right. There is a reason why slayers fight
alone. Look at yourself, how can you defend the world in your current state.
You're pregnant for god's sake. Do you really think you could save the world
with your belly so round? No because you indulged your desires how many
people died. How many people died that you could have saved? Hell if you had
to defile yourself at least you could have chosen the little witch. She
would not leave you so vulnerable. We understand slayers by their nature
have sexual needs. The power leaves you aroused. But in all the history of
the earth no slayer ever got pregnant and lived. If you hadn't already died
we would have been forced to kill you. The world can not be without an
active slayer." Quentin preached.

"This is like my eighteen birthday. Your logic sucks you do realize this.
What do you people do, kill off every slayer that doesn't meet your model.
Funny but I thought we were the chosen. You think you can do better than
god. Sorry but you killed Tara, you killed Faith and you are the evil in
this room not me. Don't you even try and play mind games with me? I loved
Riley. Hell I loved Faith. These people are my family. And I will not feel
guilty for sharing my life with them. Riley and I are going to have a child.
I will never feel guilty about that do you understand me Quentin Travers."

"I knew I loved you for some reason." Riley said reaching out for Buffy's
hand.

"I am glad you feel that way. I just hope you can live with causing your
families death." Quentin nodded his head and several of the guards moved
forward. The first grabbed Ben and pulled him away. Then quickly slit his
throat and he fell to the floor.

"Another death you've caused Ms. Summers." Quentin said smiling.

Giles was grabbed next and pulled over by Ben's body. "Buffy I have always
loved you like you were my own daughter." Giles said sadly then he held up
his head for the men to cut his throat. His body was dropped to the ground.

Riley was grabbed next. Buffy tried to fight them off but she was shot with
a single dart then tied to the pole that Riley was on. She felt the drug but
she did not stop trying to fight her way free. Dawn was grabbed and dragged
to the pole Tara was tied to and bound to it. Willow just kissed Tara's cold
lips and walked to the pole Giles was tied on. She didn't even fight when
her hands were tied.

"Buffy you see that our child is taken care of. Get the baby to my mother
she will help you. No matter what they say I know this is not your fault.
They are bastards." Riley spat. "Take care of our child. I love you." Riley
said just before his throat was cut as well. Buffy screamed "No" but it was
all she could do.

The guards then gathered up their things and lined up at the door. One by
one the exited.

"We are letting you go Ms. Summers. You or the witch should be able to free
yourself in the next day or so. Just remember this, we will always know
where you are and what you are doing. You belong to us... body and soul. And
we can always find a way to punish you. So you will go back to slaying but
you will work for us. Is that clear. You still have your sister, your coming
child and the witch that we can kill. As long as you have anyone in your
life we will always own you." Quentin said. Then he stood up and left the
warehouse leaving the women 

Outside Sea side Warehouse, October 13, 2003 Liverpool England.

Kate Finn had read her brother's journal twice while she waited for him to
return. After twenty-four hours she opened the letter he had given her again
and called the Washington DC number and asked for Graham. 

After she had identified herself as Captain Finn of the US Airforce and
finished the general introduction. Reminding Graham of the few times Riley
had brought him home for the holidays or just to visit when they served
together. Kate then read the code phrase off the letter to Graham. "Bronco
has broken loose, send the cowboys after her." Graham had been quiet for
about a minute.

"Kate just stay at the hotel. I am on my way."

And that was it. He had hung up. But that wasn't good enough for Kate.
Graham was in America. An America at war, while she was in Liverpool.

She had picked up the paper with the address she had found and then wrote a
quick note to Graham. She left the note at the desk and then she had driven
to the address.

Now Kate stood outside the warehouse. She could feel the wrongness of the
place. Feel the evil. No sound could be heard in the area. Carefully she
opened the door. Then taking a deep breath she walked through. "Hello anyone
here?" She called.

"Here" A woman's voice answered.

Kate pulled a flashlight out of her pocket and shined it toward the voice.
"My God!" was her first expression. She ran toward the woman tied on the
pole. "Buffy?" she asked.

Then she tripped and fell flat on her face. Her hands covered in blood. She
moved off the body and picked up her flashlight. Even covered in blood and
in the dim light she recognized her brother's face. "Riley"

"He is dead. It was a trap. They killed them, They killed them all." Buffy
said flatly. "You're Kate, Riley's sister." The slayer said still pulling at
her bonds.

"We need to get Buffy out of here. She is in labor." Dawn said from her own
pole. Kate shone the flashlight back at Buffy. Move the flashlight around
she looked below Buffy's feet at the puddle of water. Her water had broken.
Forcing herself into combat mode Kate said, "How far apart are the
contractions?"

"About 5 minutes. My water broke about hour ago. I can't break loose. I have
been trying but they shot me with another dart. Can't shake free off the
drug." Buffy said evenly before breaking into deep breathing. She and Riley
had signed up for classes but they never got around to taking them before
she was kidnapped.

Kate stood up and moved over to Buffy. Carefully avoiding the other bodies
in the way. She reached into her pocket and took out her pocketknife. In a
minute she had cut Buffy loose. "Free Dawn first, I will need her help with
Willow." Buffy instructed.

The two women moved over to Dawn and Kate began cutting. After a few minutes
Buffy began breathing hard in another contraction. "Dawn get Willow free."
Buffy ordered between breathing. Leaving Buffy Dawn followed by Kate moved
over to Willow. Willow had slid to the floor just staring off into nothing.
Dawn carefully cut her down. The second she was free, Willow walked over to
Tara's body and cradled her head in her lap. She just sat there on the floor
holding her head and wiping her face with her hand.

After the contraction passed Buffy moved over by Willow signaling for the
others to stay back. "Will, I am sorry." She said gently as she put her hand
on Willow's head.

"Riley was right Buff, this isn't your fault. They are animals. Evil. They
just did this for spite. Buffy we can't let them win, ever. I don't care."
Willow said quickly her tears pouring down her cheeks. 

"We won't. I don't know how yet but someday I will see they get what they
deserve."

"Buffy we need to get out of here now. The baby." Dawn said 

"She is right. Riley left me a letter that is how I found you. He said not
to trust the local police so I need to get you out of here. Back to the
base. We need a doctor." Kate said helping Willow to her feet. There would
be time for explanations later.

Then Kate managed to get the three women out to the car and take off. She
really didn't know where else to take them except back to the base. She just
prayed her captain stripes could land her a doctor. She also knew that the
baby would be there long before they reached the base.

March 14 2007 somewhere in Kansas.

"Mom I am hungry." Kimberly Rosenberg told her mother.

"I know honey. So am I but we have to wait until we get to your
grandmothers. You know mommy doesn't have any money." Willow said ashamed
that they once again had nothing. That they once again were on the run.

"No" Alex said pulling the car over to the side of the road. "I will not let
you both go hungry. Willow this is ridiculous. I know you want to teach her
what is right but she also needs to learn how to survive. I'll just get us
some food and gas money. We don't have enough money to make it to your mom's
house anyway. Willow it's still a four hour drive and I already put every
dime we had into the tank." Alex said angrily her eyes and skin glowing.

"We talked about this Alex. It is never right to hurt other people." Willow
answered back. 

"Will, I am with the demon. We haven't got any money and we haven't eaten in
a day. Plus we are in the middle of nowhere so Alex can't exactly do the
whole psychic track race thing. Besides Alex can do it without hurting
anyone. So they lose money. They have insurance. It's not right but..." Dawn
said evenly.

"Alex I am not going to let you rob some store." Willow said crossing her
arms.

"Fine then we won't rob a store but we are getting something to eat." Alex
replied starting the car up and heading back down the highway. 

Alex pulled off at the next exit and then into a truck stop. "We are getting
some dinner." Alex announced. She then got out of the car and opened the
back seat. She pulled Kimberly out of the car and into her arms. Dawn also
got out of the car. Without even looking back, Alex headed into the diner.
About a minute later Willow joined them. The four Women ordered a good meal.
The waitress was nice and the food was great on empty stomachs. They had to
leave in a hurry. Everything they couldn't fit in the car was left behind.
This was not the first time they had gone on the run. The watchers had
closed off their bank account before they could get to their cash. So they
had run off with less than a hundred dollars. Gas from Maine had eaten
almost all of it. They were hoping to get to Willow's mother's house to hit
her parents up for some start up money. If Alex could get to a bookie or
track they would be able to make enough money to start over and pay her
mother back. But they had to get there first.

After the meal Alex looked over at Dawn and said. "Dawn take Kim to the car
and start the engine. It's your turn to drive." Dawn didn't even ask she
just took Kim and left. Then Alex looked over at Willow and said, "Safer if
you wait in the car." 

"Screw you." Was Willow's only answer.

"Fine but I am going to do this."

"Fine but don't expect to wake up next to me tomorrow." 

"Your mother never lets us sleep in the same bed." 

"Fine be that way." Willow said crossing her arms.

"Ready for the check." Cindy the waitress asked.

"Cindy, truth is we haven't got a dime." Alex said flatly taking off her
glasses. "I normally pay for such good service but.... Look Cindy my family
was hungry, I have a kid and we are in trouble. And now I am going to have
to do bad things but don't worry I am not going to hurt you or anyone. I
just need a little cash and we will leave." Alex said letting her eyes and
skin glow. Alex then pulled off her jacket and handed it to Willow. Her
Wings were extended to their full extent. Alex's wings were not made of
feathers but looked more like cloth. White linen or silk cloth.

The few people in the truck stop were now focused on Alex. "Everyone stay
calm and no one will get hurt." She announced letting her wings carry her
across the room. She purposely flew through part of the counter. She landed
next to the register. Looking at the waitress standing beside it she said,
"Open it please." The woman did. 

"Do you have a business card with an address on it." She asked 

"Alex the ticket has the address." Willow said as she moved to stand by Alex
and torn off a blank ticket and put it in her pocket.

"How much do we need?" Alex asked her lover.

"Two hundred would be a safe amount. I haven't called ahead my mom might not
even be home." Willow said frankly.

Alex counted out two hundred dollars in twenties and took a handful of
quarters. Then she wrote a note. "This is an IOU. If we get back on our feet
we will send you the money but I won't promise you anything. I am a demon we
are not good at promises or loyalty to be honest."

"She gets the picture Alex. Now lets go." Willow replied


.


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