FIC: Postponed Daybreak (3/12 ish)

["C S Armitage" <soren_nyrond@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay -- Chunk 3

 
TITLE: Daybreak Postponed [or soemthing like that] (3/12)
AUTHOR: Soren Nyrond
DISCLAIMER: All characters in this part belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy -- etc etc as in part (0/12). Some ideas have been borrowed for elsewhere to illuminate this story: they did once belong to Other Companies (and still do, I imagine), but since they are by way of being generic concepts, Idon't think anything's awry.
SUMMARY: A Visit (or not) to the Travel Agents -- get your Strange EuopeanCurrency at the counter on the left; get your anti Foot-and-Mouth innoculations on the right.
ARCHIVING:: All enquiries welcomed
SPOILERS: None 
AUTHOR'S NOTES: All nice feedback welcome. 
 

 
DAYBREAK HAS BEEN POSTPONED

By Soren Nyrond

Part Three - In Transit

"I have to come !"

"Buffy - it isn't that easy !"

"Look, we're talking life or death here - "

"I think you're exaggerating slightly, Buffy . "



 

"Might I interrupt ?" Xander Harris said.

Heads turned - to be honest the participants had forgotten he was there.

Taking their (slightly non-plussed) silence for assent, Xander pressed on: "If Cordelia's vision was right - and according to Wesley and Angel, they tend to be, unless someone stops them coming true - Giles is scheduled to be shredded Watcher some time in the near future, in England."

He paused, just in case he'd missed something obvious and someone was going to step in and correct him. No-one did, so he tool up his thread again.

"If no G-Man, then no Watcher for Buffy, which puts the Buff-meister half a bag of points down dealing with anything beyond straight vampsand petty demons. So, we need the G-Man alive.

"Which leaves Giles two options, in my view. One: he doesn't go - " And, seeing Giles' mouth open, Xander pressed his advantage: "- And that isn't a starter. Or Buff goes with.

"Which means, where are the schedules and let's plan the flight?"

"We may not need," Willow said.

 

Up till now Willow had been sitting quietly, so her interjection caused the same non-plussed silence as Xander's had. Xander looked at Buffy (he wasn't going to admit to Giles that he was lost - with Buff, he hadthe chance - the good chance - that she would cover for him; Buffy looked at Giles (on the off-chance that he had understood); and Giles looked at Willow with the blatant devotion of a puppy who knows he's been asked to do something clever, for a master he adores, and now wants it explained again, with biscuits.

"Go on, Will," Buffy finally prompted.

"Well, I think I could whip up a Distance Distortion spell - make England just a step or two away."

"Solves the airline ticket problem," Buffy said, spryly. "And instantaneous travel means Mom wouldn't worry, 'cause she needn't be told about it."

Giles raked Willow's innocent face. "There's a catch," he said.

Willow donned her "honor student" face.

"I can't do it till this evening - I need to build my strength up.  

"And I need to go with - so I can bring you back.  

"And I need an anchor - something ordinary and mundane to focus with. Buffy's a Slayer, and you've been a demon, Giles. I'll need to take Xander with us."

 

"Where are we going ?"

"Don't you trust me, Buffy ?"

"Not when you've just done that good a snow-job on Giles."

"What do you mean ?" Willow tried to sound innocent but she was bubbling too much inside.

"'You've been a demon, Giles - I need ordinary Xander.'"

"And ?"

"Xander's been a hyena, been locked up for a praying mantis, been hazed at a frat party, been GI Joe - Willow, he's boinked Faith !!"

"And ?"

"Will - it's hardly - what was it you said : 'ordinary and mundane'."

 

They reached the dorm and Willow opened the door to their room.

"Still, it got him in," she said.

"Okay," Buffy said. "Now, you need your rest." Her tone was suppressed joy (from getting to go) mixed with concern (as to what she was going to do while she was waiting)

Willow turned round. "Sort of," she said. "But I'd rest better with you," she said.

Buffy's expression altered in a flash and suddenly she realisedthat Willow was getting rather good at this misdirecting people's attention.

 

"Mind you," Willow said, a little later:" We will need Tara's help."