Graile Ch. 4 - A Day at the Summers' House

[Jack Xavier Warriner <connor_macbeth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Aiyo,
I swear I sent this chapter before. Damned Yahoo.
Anyhoo. This is Chapter three, For the record, the
order is:
Chapter One - Welcome to Hemry
Chapter Two - Intermission
Chapter Three - Mr. Covington Goes to Sunnydale
Chapter Four - A Day at the Summers' House
Chapter Five - Old Man

Sorry for the mix up.

Graile 
Chapter Four - A Day at the Summers' House

By: MacBeth and Oracle

Disclaimers: Again, What?s not mine I have borrowed. I
had some help with this one; Oracle came up with the
exercise scene. Zim is an old Vietnamese man and my
neighbor; he also makes the best tea. 

Warning: Some Alcohol consumption and deep intent
towards a loving relationship between two girls. If
this is a problem for you, then in all likelihood you
are a small hearted, mean spirited, insecure person
who cannot hold their liquor and are most likely in
desperate need of a hug. 

Feedback: Please? Otherwise I?ll probably screw up the
story and you?ll hate me forever.
* * *

Los Angeles, 1996
Hemry High School

The Gym fire outlined the short blonde as she
thrust a short length of wood into the chest of a boy
she sat next to in history class. He looked at her
with utter hatred before he combusted in a cloud of
dust and ash as she whirled around to face the other
vampires. The remaining vampires circled her and her
"partner" Pike. Elizabeth Anne Summers knew the police
were not going to understand her need to burn the gym,
again. She plunged the stake into the heart of the
next vampire, a girl she had seen in the halls
everyday. 
Finally, it was down to her and a large, hulking
side of beef, who played left tackle for the varsity
football team. She had run out of stakes and Pike was
going toe to toe with a chinese girl. Buffy looked
around for anything to use when this tiny exacto knife
clattered to the ground beside her. Not one to look a
gift horse in the mouth, she bent down to pick it up
and eyed the thug-vamps neck with a calculating eye.
He had a look of shock on his face when she started
towards him, brandishing the tool with a practiced
hand. 
A shadow moved slightly atop of Peabody's Wayback
Fashions, a retro clothing shop across the street from
the school. The dark figure turned his head away in
disgust as Buffy hacked into the football player's
neck. When he turned back he saw the L.A.P.D. guiding
a handcuffed Buffy into the back of a squad car. Not
concerned at all, he turned away and dropped off the
building.
* * *

Sunnydale, California
12:17am 
Sarducci Family Mausoleum

Buffy leaned against a pillar and checked her nails
again. The recently deceased priest was taking longer
to raise than Buffy had anticipated. ?God! Just rise
already.? Buffy puffed her cheeks out in a sigh.
?That?s it.? she yelled. Buffy stormed over to the
marble sarcophagi and pushed aside the marble lid with
ease. She then reached down to the newly placed casket
and cracked open the lid, the coffin?s locks giving
way beneath the Slayer?s supernatural strength. Buffy
gripped the stake and waited, willing the damned
corpse to wake up. Finally, Two minutes later, Father
Guido opened his eyes and shifted to his new vampiric
face. Buffy winked and slammed the stake home.
Giles poked his head into the Mausoleum door and
clicked a stopwatch in his hand. ?Buffy, someday,
you?ll have to explain to me why it is you feel you
have to wait for the vampire to rise.? The older
British gentleman said. He began writing while his
Slayer charge dusted off the stake and slid it into
the back of her belt. Buffy waited for Giles to finish
his chronicle thing and brushed crypt dust from her
black Levi?s. ?Uh, Giles?? she asked, and her Watcher
looked up from his notes. ?Can we go?? Buffy
restrained a tiny bit of impatience in her tone.
?Oh, right. Well, there were no other mysterious
deaths reported, so a quick sweep and we can call it a
night then.? Giles gestured for her to exit ahead of
him.
?Giles?? she asked hesitantly.
?Yes, Buffy?? he turned his head in her direction. 
?What do you think of Jack?? she asked, checking
her bottles of Holy Water stuffed into the leather
jacket Angel had given her and basically fidgeting. 
?Well, he seems to be a smart and capable young
man. You did say he helped Merrick and you with a
vampire in Los Angeles.? Giles stated with a subtle
question in his voice.
?I?m not asking about him like I?m looking for
approval. I?m asking because he gives me a minor
wiggins.? Giles grinned slightly and waited. ?Giles, I
knew he was there before I heard or saw him. But I
don?t feel like he?s a bad guy. It?s kind of weird. I
feel... Well, good. Like I can do almost anything. I
just wanted you to do some digging on him. Call your
tweed look-alikes in England, please?? She looked to
her Watcher. ?I trust him with my life, but I need to
know more about him before I trust him with yours, or
Xand?s or Will?s. Ok??
Giles took a moment to think what this would
entail. ?Alright Buffy. I?ll trust your judgment and
make a few phone calls.? An odd and chilling feeling
coursed down Buffy?s spine a second before a sound
from behind them caused them to stop walking. Turning
slowly, they saw a tall cowled being standing under a
light post fifty feet behind them. Giles sighed in
disappointment, ?Well, we should have both seen this
coming.?
Buffy smirked and nudged him in the stomach. ?Hush.
We?re supposed to be frightened, remember?? she stage
whispered, taking a step closer to the rather
mysterious person. ?It?s a little late out for a
midnight stroll, isn?t it?? she said, fingering the
stake in the sleeve of her leather jacket. Buffy
blinked, and suddenly the hooded man grabbed her
throat and lifted her up two feet in the air. Giles
shook his head in disbelief as the vampire pulled the
Slayer close. Buffy pulled the stake out and made to
plunge it into his chest when a gloved hand slapped
the sharpened rod out of her hand. 
?Slayer.? a deep muffled voice sounded form the
hood of the jet-black coat. ?I have come for the
Hunter known as Jack. Tell him to settle his affairs,
I will wait for him below the Sanderson Mausoleum.?
He pulled her closer and Buffy could nearly make
out a face when suddenly the cowled vampire was
staggered by a powerful blow from behind and a
familiar voice growled, ?Let her go!? 
The vampire turned slightly and without looking,
backhanded Angel thirty feet before turning back to a
nearly blacked out Buffy. The grip around her throat
loosened slightly and without thinking, she choked out
a question. ?Who...aw.. Are you?? she glared into the
dark hood. 
The powerful being pulled her close and whispered
in her ear. Pulling back, the vampire casually tossed
the Slayer back against the stunned Watcher, causing
them to both tumble to the ground in a heap. When they
got to their feet, the Cowled vampire was nowhere to
be seen. Angel stood on shaky legs and slowly made his
way to Buffy. ?It?s been a while since I?ve been hit
that hard.? he looked Buffy over, ?Are you ok??
genuine concern evident in his voice.
Giles nodded, as did Buffy. ?Yeah.? she coughed
out, rubbing her bruised and sore throat. 
?Angel, Do you have any idea who that was?? Giles
asked as he checked Buffy?s neck for permanent damage.
?No. But he?s old. Very old, and very powerful.?
Angel answered, a slight ounce of fear in his tone.
?Grill.? Buffy managed in a passable imitation of
Christopher Lambert.
?Excuse me Buffy?? Giles asked as Angel felt a stab
of fear slide into his heart.
?He said his name was Grill.? Buffy managed, as her
voice slowly returned to normal.
Angel turned to look directly in Buffy?s eyes.
?Buffy, was it Grill or... Graile?? he asked,
completely serious.
Buffy nodded. ?Yeah, that?s it. Graile. Why? What?s
so big?? She asked, ?Angel, you?re scaring me. Giles?
Who?s this Graile vampy?? She turned to her Watcher in
growing fear.
Angel turned to Giles. ?Get her home, Now!? he
finished, shifting into his Vampire face and turned
away with a swoosh of his long leather coat. Buffy
spent the remainder of the flight home arguing with
Giles to either explain, or to let her go help Angel.
Giles closed the front door of his apartment and
immediately headed for his Scotch cabinet. He filled a
glass with three fingers of twelve-year-old single
malt and downed it in one swallow. Buffy watched this
with growing detachment. ?Now will you explain what
the HELL just happened?? Buffy demanded.
The British man nodded and sat down wearily in his
chair. ?I?m not quite sure how it is possible, but
that Vampire you just met was Graile.? he said as much
to himself as to the Slayer. ?Graile is a Very old
Vampire. The Watcher?s Council has records that date
him as far back as being a sorcerer in the court of
Emperor Nero. Even then, he was considered old.?
?Nero? as in Rome, Nero?? Buffy asked, as Giles
nodded she took a second glass from the liquor
cabinet, filled it with the amber liquor and drained
it as quickly as Giles had. ?Why is it impossible??
Giles sighed and motioned for the bottle of scotch.
Buffy handed over the bottle and waited as her Watcher
filled and drained his glass again. ?Buffy, Graile was
reportedly killed in 1888, by a Watcher named Marcus
Covington. Marcus was a legend among Watchers; He
killed an Elder Vampire, single-handedly eliminated a
tribe of Yautja Demons in Madagascar, and, with some
help from civilians, much as you have done with Xander
and Willow, defended the underground of London from an
invasion of WereRats. I know these stories because
Marcus was a very close friend of my Great
Grandfather, Alexander. Furthermore, I believe your
friend Jack is Marcus? direct descendent and this may
be why Graile is after him. You may want to keep an
eye on him and I sincerely doubt you should tell him
of Graile?s location.? Giles refilled both glasses and
hesitated. ?Buffy...? he looked at her glass.
?Relax Giles. This never happened.? Buffy winked
and slowly sipped her scotch as though she had for
decades. ?This is good scotch. My uncle in Kansas lets
me have a glass or two when I visit.?
Giles looked at Buffy. ?You have an uncle in
Kansas??
?Two, and both in this little Podunk called
Smallville. One?s cool, the other is a complete ass
though.? she said with a conspiratorial smile. 
* * *

Below the Sanderson Crypt

Angel flew back ten feet to slam into the far wall
of the cold crypt, and while upside down in mid air
was struck with a thought. ?This just isn?t my day.?
After tumbling to the ground, he looked up to see a
pair of Italian leather shoes before him, as a gloved
hand reached down and grabbed his neck. Pulling him
upright and closer, Graile shook his head softly at
the bruised and beaten vampire.
?Angelus. I know of your quest for redemption.
Whether you succeed concerns me not. I will not,
however, interfere. Leave this crypt and tell the
spawn of my enemy that I wait for him here.? Graile
then gestured fluidly with his free hand and brushed
frost from Angel?s silk shirt. A small portal appeared
five feet from the pair. ?Incidentally, if you hurt
Buffy. I?ll hunt you to the ends of the earth and
torture you beyond anything even you could possibly
comprehend.? he whispered in the battered vampire?s
ear as he tossed him easily through the gate.
Angel tumbled out of the portal onto the floor of
his apartment. He lay there in painful silence as his
bruises flared. ?If I hurt her..?? he asked the empty
room in confusion.

* * *
1630 Revello Drive
Sunnydale California

Buffy stood outside the front door to her house and
shook her head to clear the liquor induced fog. ?That
was Really good scotch...? she mumbled to herself as
she opened the front door. Using every Slayer stealth
skill she possessed, she snuck into the living room to
check on Jack. 
Buffy was taken aback to find him sitting
bare-chested, on the couch with a black cloth over the
coffee table, cleaning a multitude of assault weapons
set neatly before him. Jack looked up from brush
cleaning the barrel of an M4A1 to grin sheepishly at
the Slayer. ?Um... Hello.?
?Hello to you too. Since when did you go all Rambo
on me?? she asked, eyeing the variety of weapons in
mid repair. Jack shrugged, and slid the barrel back
into the assault weapon. 
?Mere mortals need an advantage against Demons. Not
everyone has the luxury of Slayer Strength.? He
finished with his trademark grin and without even
looking, easily slid the pieces of metal together into
an instrument of lethal power. ?If you?d like, I can
give you a crash course...? he hinted after setting
aside the now complete M4A1.
?Jack, I REALLY dislike guns.? she said with a wary
glance. 
?B, It?s better to maintain, and never utilize then
to need and never possess. Lao Zim. Besides, I have a
feeling you?d be a natural.? he said as he picked up
an already cleaned M9 pistol. By four a.m., they had
finished cleaning and assembling the rest of Jack?s
weaponry, and Buffy had a better understanding of a
modern day arsenal. 
?Jack?? She turned to him after setting aside a
Glock 4. ?Why didn?t you tell me Lucius was alive??
Jack hesitated and sighed. ?I was getting to it.
Remember he was possessed by the Incarnation of War??
He asked, waiting for her nod. ?After which, he pulled
a Bruce Banner?? Another nod. ?Well, the average human
body contains nine pints of blood. I sense you know
this. Lucius? body contained eleven pints. Ordiniconii
only drank roughly eight pints, Leaving a little over
three, which kept Lucius alive albeit barely. To keep
him alive, the Incarnation was forced to bond with him
faster to survive. So what normally would have taken
decades occurred in mere hours. I remembered I had
dropped my lighter in the tower and turned back to get
it. It was on the same floor we fought the ?Master?
and I found Lucius. He was almost completely healed
and I simply took him with me.?
Buffy accepted this and stood. ?OK, Jack. I?m
going to bed; I can still get a couple of hours of
sleep before Willow gets here. Oh, that reminds me,
Giles and I want to talk to you during Lunch so, if
you could drop by...? She ended with a yawn. Shuffling
forward, she made it to her room and into bed before
falling deeply asleep for the second time of the
night. Buffy winced and stopped at the staircase
before turning her head slightly. ?Jack???
?Pike?s fine Buffy. He and Deanna are happy. Go to
bed.? He said as he stashed his weapons neatly in the
duffle. As Buffy walked up the stairs, a memory kept
flashing through her head, of her walking alongside
Jack to his car, with him lighting a cigarette as they
walked. Buffy resolved to get Willow to help her
research her ?old friend?.
Jack grinned and pulled three steel rods from his
duffle bag. He also grabbed a black cotton button
shirt and headed towards the kitchen. The young
Irishman pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and
slipped out the back door. 

Three hours after their impromptu weapon lessons
ended, Buffy walked from her bedroom dressed and ready
for her day out on the town with her bestest bud,
Willow. She leapt from the second floor and landed
silently onto the bottom of the staircase. The Slayer
whistled softly as she straightened her clothes from
her leap and head bopped her way into the kitchen.
Seeing her mother standing at the counter and staring
obliviously out the window into the backyard. Buffy
cocked an eyebrow at her mother?s vacant expression
and slid up quietly beside her. Looking out the window
in her Mother?s line of sight. Seeing Jack outside in
black sweats and bare-chested save for a fine sheen of
sweat, she grinned a little and trilled out a fox
whistle. Joyce snapped her head to her daughter and
blushed slightly. ?Morning! Your friend uh, Jack is
um, He?s certainly...?
?Limber?? Buffy supplied cheekily. 
?Right... Limber? Joyce muttered as Jack, oblivious
to his audience, placed his hands down on the ground
and brought his right leg straight up before bring his
other leg up in a perfect handstand. Mother and
Daughter simultaneously tilted their heads to better
view the display of muscled flesh.
Bending his arms slightly, Jack launched himself
back overhead and landed in a crouch on the balls of
his feet. Standing, he rolled, stretched his shoulders
out and picked up three steel rods. Jack screwed the
rods together to make one long staff and began an
intricate kata, which he moved through with fluid
grace. 
Buffy watched in awe at his technique while her
mother simply watched in awe. The doorbell rang and
Buffy beat every land speed record by running to the
door, flinging it open, pulling a very surprised
Willow in, and closing the door before dragging the
redhead with her back to the kitchen. Joyce never
noticed her daughter?s absence as Jack finished the
kata with a swift snap of the staff to the right
leveled at the small of his back. 
Willow, Buffy, and Joyce watched in silence as Jack
set the staff onto two low branches of the oak tree in
the backyard and began a set of chin-ups. Willow
watched as beads of sweat slid down Jack?s chest
before he dropped to the ground and walked to the
porch. Stifling a grin, he took a deep pull off his
bottle of water and swallowed. Jack sighed, then
removed the cap and poured the bottle?s contents over
his head and chest. Joyce inhaled sharply and Willow?s
eyes bugged slightly while Buffy smiled and stifled
deep laughter. She grabbed a towel, opened the back
door, and walked slowly over to the now refreshed
Irishman. ?So how long before the ?Lorenzo Lamas?
moment have you known they were there?? she asked with
a smirk.
Jack cracked an eyebrow. ?They??
?Fine. We. Happy? Now answer the question.? Buffy
sighed. 
Jack chuckled, pulled on his black cotton button up
shirt and walked into the kitchen and smiled at the
two women trying to appear disinterested. ?Morning
Joyce. Willow.? he said as he headed to the guest
bathroom for a quick shower. Buffy watched him go with
a grin.
Joyce watched him go out of the corner of her eye.
?Um Buffy? When were you going to tell me he had
tattoos? Just how old is Jack?? Joyce asked her
daughter after finding her voice and shifting into
Parent mode.
Buffy was stopped cold with the last question. ?I
actually don?t know how old he is Mom and I?ve never
been in the position to see the uh tattoos. Do you
think that one on the right bicep is a pigeon or
sparrow?? she finished with a confused look in her
eyes. 
Willow was distracted by the curve of Buffy?s neck
and answered automatically, ?Kingfisher.? she shook
her head and thought of her rage of Cordelia to
distract herself. Looking up she noticed her friend?s
amazed look. ?Uh, I saw one in a novel I read once. It
was the symbol of a knighthood. Ready to go?? urgent
to get some time alone with Buffy, she practically
dragged the Slayer out the door.
Buffy smiled and matched Willow?s speed. ?So where
are we off to in such a hurry?? 
?No hurry, just getting antsy to get this day
started. So what did you wanna do today?? Willow
asked as they crossed the street.
?Well, we need java first off, then I thought maybe
a trip through the mall?? Buffy suggested and nodded
at Willow?s grin. ?But we have to swing by Giles?
apartment. He made some phone calls about our man Jack
and I want all the info I can get before I tell him
Graile?s message. This entire situation just feels off
to me. You know?? Buffy turned to Willow with a
wrinkle in her brow. 
Willow nodded. ?I know. I thought I was
hallucinating. It?s like there?s a lot of things that
he?s just not telling us. I trust him, but not
completely. I hope Giles has something for us.?
?Enough serious stuff, I need JAVA!? Buffy seethed.

* * *

Joyce closed the door after signing for the UPS
man?s delivery. The long narrow wooden crate could be
only one thing, her personal collection?s latest
acquisition, a genuine Shinto katana dated to the
Meiji Dynasty. The estate sale she had attended in LA
had been relatively fruitful as the family for some
reason had chose not to have most of the items
appraised. Prying the lid open with a crowbar and
pulling the sheathed sword from the crate, she looked
around and slowly drew the blade. Joyce grinned as she
hefted the ancient blade and gave a few light swings.
?Hwaah?? she cried in a cheap Asian sound.
?You?re holding it wrong.? Jack said from the
doorway behind her, clutching a much too small towel
around his very wet and very naked waist. Joyce
startled and dropped the sword. Jack?s foot shot out
and lightly kicked the handle upwards into his hand. 
Jack adjusted the hold on the towel around his waist
and handed the sword back to its owner. ?I came in to
ask if you had any normal sized towels, ? he asked,
trying not to drip on the floor.
The very wet, very muscled, and nearly naked young
man before her distracted Joyce and she barely managed
a weak nod. ?Sure, I uh, guess Buffy never put the
linens away like I asked her to. I um, just got in a
shipment yesterday, including this piece here. I
believe it?s from the Meiji dynasty.? She gushed,
holding up the antique weapon, trying to distract
herself from peeking below his navel. 
Jack motioned for the sword and Joyce passed it to
him with reverent care. Gripping the handle with ease,
he examined the blade thoroughly. ?It?s not Meiji.? He
muttered. Joyce sighed in disappointment while Jack
continued. ?It?s older. Momoyama period, maybe early
Edo, and it was owned by either a disciple of the
Master, or the Master himself.? He looked up from the
tsuba with a tone of awe.
Joyce turned from the blade to the young man before
her. ?What Master?? 
?Musashi Miyamoto, The Japanese Swordsman. Joyce,
this blade is priceless. There are laws against
westerners even looking at it, let alone taking it out
of the country. I highly suggest you take this to a
bank and place it in a safety deposit box first thing
tomorrow morning.? Jack, in a moment of excitement,
placed his other hand on Joyce?s shoulder to emphasize
his point. The small towel, lacking a hand to hold it
around his waist, fell around his ankles. Jack and
Joyce simultaneously looked down, Jack at the towel,
Joyce slightly higher. ?Oh god, sorry.? Jack mumbled
as he kneeled to retrieve the towel. ?Um, if you could
tell me where I can find one slightly larger?? 
?Hall closet beneath the staircase.? Joyce uttered
robotically, her mind still fixated on the flash. Jack
focused his mind on finding a towel larger than a
handkerchief and not thinking about how he had just
accidentally flashed the Slayer?s mother. 

* * *

6 Pm.

Buffy stood watching for vamps as Willow knocked on
Giles? front door and subtly keeping an eye on the
redhead?s bum. They had managed an entire day as
simple teenagers in the mall. Trying on shoes,
dresses, and listening to demos at a music store. The
librarian of the girl?s high school opened his door
and smiled. ?Ah, good evening Willow, Buffy. Please.?
He finished with an enter gesture. ?I called a few
friends and some of the fringe members of the Watchers
Council. Jack?s clean Buffy. Completely clean.? He
said as his Slayer charge and her friend moved to the
breakfast bar and sat on the stools. Xander waved from
the librarian?s couch. 
?Well great! All that effort for nothing.? Buffy
seethed and slammed her fist onto the counter.
Willow was struck by a thought. ?How clean Giles?? 
Giles half bowed to the hacker. ?Excellent
question. He?s entirely too clean. No criminal record,
nothing in Interpol, MI6, Every Dutch Authority,
Scotland Yard, the American three letter groups,
nothing!? 
Xander nodded along with Giles? statement. ?It?s
like this guy is a saint. The only thing G-man found
was a law firm that seems to run in his family.
Covington, Lafeyette, and Warriner.?
Giles glared at Xander, ?Please do not call me
that.? He sighed then removed his glasses and wiped
them clean with a handkerchief. ?I?ve called my
grandfather, and he?s insisted that he come here to
talk in person. He detests modern technology.?
Buffy exchanged a glance with the others and three
eyebrows rose in Giles? direction. ?Not that I blame
him.? Willow scoffed and Buffy was simply struck by
the humorous glimmer in the redhead?s eyes. Willow
turned to Buffy in a stage whisper, ?Quick, break out
the scones, Pappy Giles is coming to town!? Buffy
burst out in giggles and Willow joined her. Giles
glared at both girls before turning his back in false
indignity and chuckled softly. 
When Giles turned back, he was the very image of
British stoicism; ?My grandfather will be here
tomorrow morning, hopefully at a decent hour. And for
once, I won?t have to worry about running out of
scones.?
?He hopped the first flight?? Buffy asked, thinking
over the timetable.
?No. He lives in Noe Valley in San Francisco.?
Giles finished with a frown. ?At least it?s colder
there.?
?And here I thought that Giles was the first to
visit ?The Colonies?, wow.? Willow said with a mild
jaw drop.
?Ha ha, yes very droll. Actually, My
Great-Grandfather was the first Giles to come to
America, during the Old West.? He trailed off. ?I
believe that?s enough Genealogy for tonight. I should
get the spare bedroom ready.? He said more to himself
then to any of his guests. 
Willow frowned as a foggy and vague memory started
pressing on her. ?Covington, Lafeyette and Warriner??

Xander nodded and moved to his best friend as she
scrunched up her nose in thought. ?What?re you
thinking Will?? 
Willow turned to her oldest friend with a look of
sudden comprehension. ?Covington, Lafeyette and
Warriner! Now I remember where I?ve seen those names!
I was in my dad?s study looking for a calculator when
I saw this intricate coat of arms on some papers. I
looked a little closer, saw those names and a little
lower I saw mine. I just wish I could remember what
those papers said.? She shrugged in slight
embarrassment. 
Buffy watched the two friends interact and
suppressed a stab of jealousy. ?Great,? she thought to
herself, ?Now, I?m jealous of Xander? this is getting
out of hand?? she shook her head. ?Willow, tomorrow, I
think you need to borrow your dad?s calculator again.?
She hinted. 
Willow nodded with a slight grin. ?I do have that
Math homework?? 
Giles stepped out of the spare bedroom carrying a
bundle of sharpened stakes. ?I no longer believe that
my spare bedroom is a proper place to sharpen stakes,
at least not without putting paper down. Xander, could
you please give me a hand with the vacuum?? he asked
in a slightly accusatory tone. 
Xander hung his head. ?I knew I forgot something??
Without complaint, he took the vacuum cleaner form the
librarian and headed into the backroom. Giles
suppressed a grin as he turned to his Slayer charge.
?When is Jack due?? He asked seconds before there was
a knock at the door. ?Of course.? He muttered as he
headed for the door.

* * *

Thirty Minutes Earlier

Jack sat at the wheel of his jet-black Oldsmobile
Cutlass convertible and held his cell phone to his
ear. ?Jack.? He announced in greeting.
Three hundred and ninety miles away, an elderly
Scotsman held a cellular phone he cursed daily to his
ear and spoke. ?Jack? I just spoke to my Grandson
Rupert. Can you hear me? I hate this bloody thing.?
?Yes old man, I hear you, it?s good to know you?re
still alive.? Jack smiled while turning his
convertible into a dark alley.
You were right, he made the connection between you
and? your ?Grandfather?. I?m riding down there
tonight. I must say it will be a pleasure to see you
and my grandson again.?
Jack grinned. ?It?ll be good to see your aging,
disintegrating form too old man.? He laughed.
?Jack?? The Scotsman?s voice took on a somber tone.
?Is she there? Ok and everything?? 
?Yes Vincent. Willow?s here, and It hurts to say
that she?s an identical image of Alex. They don?t know
much if anything and I?m beginning to doubt whether I
should tell them. I remember how you and the old crew
reacted to the news.?
?Jack, you swore to Alexandra that you?d put
everything right. If the Dark Bitch does come, having
the infamous Scoobies together, and at their best may
be the only chance we have.? Vincent moved through his
house at a brisk pace, packing an old set of
saddlebags. ?I?ll be in Sunnydale in six hours. I know
you Jack; don?t act on whatever impulse you?ve got
right now. Just wait.? Vincent pleaded as he clicked
off the phone and moved into the garage of his
two-story house in Noe Valley. The Harley Davidson
Dyna Glide was right where he?d left it this morning,
polished lovingly and just waiting to be ridden.
Vincent Macleod fastened the saddlebags to his
precious motorcycle and settled his muscled seventy
four year old frame onto the lovingly oiled leather
seat. ?Damn you Jack, I?m too damned old to ride that
far?? he moaned out loud as he walked the bike out
onto the street.

* * *

Now

Giles opened the door to his apartment and smiled
at the young Irishman. ?Jack, please come in.? Closing
the door behind his newest guest, Giles removed his
glasses and cleaned them with a kerchief. Jack set a
leather briefcase down and leaned against the
Watcher?s desk and grinned at the two girls seated on
Giles? barstools. 
Buffy took the initiative, ?Jack, Graile made an
appearance last night.? Buffy looked to willow for
support and frowned when her friend?s attention seemed
focused on the briefcase. ?Graile wants to meet you
beneath the Sanderson mausoleum. There?s a sewer
access through a loose grating in the corner. I chased
a Grillock demon down there about three weeks ago.?
She shuddered at the memory.
Jack nodded. ? I expected as much, though I would
have liked to have been told this a mite earlier??
Standing, Jack let out a heavy breath and looked at
the others. ?I?ve? I?ve named each of you
beneficiaries should I not come out of that Tomb.? He
finished with a somber tone. He pulled a packet of
papers from the leather case. ?Giles, if you could
hold onto these.? The Watcher nodded and took the slim
bundle. 
Jack turned to the two girls as he picked up his
attaché. ?Buffy. I?m only going to ask you this once.
I want you to stay here until I call you. Ok?? Buffy
hesitated. ?Elizabeth Anne Summers. I want you to
swear to me that you?ll stay here until I call. You
owe me that if nothing else.? Jack?s eyes took on an
almost inhuman amount of age and weariness.
Buffy choked down her protests and nodded, ?I
swear.?
Jack stepped closer and hugged Buffy tightly and
whispered so lightly only the blonde could hear him.
?Either you tell her tonight, or I?ll come back from
the dead and tell her myself.? Without another word,
he released her and walked out the door. As the door
closed, Xander walked out of the bedroom with the
vacuum cleaner in hand. 
Xander set the vac down and looked at the clock.
?So when does Jack get here?? Moments later, the four
heard the Convertible?s engine start and slowly fade.
?Oh.? Buffy walked to Giles? weapon chest, pulled out
an axe, and headed for the door before Willow?s voice
stopped her. 
?Buffy, you swore you?d stay.?
?I lied. You three stay here.? She commanded as she
closed the door behind her. The determined Slayer
hadn?t reached the street before Xander, Giles and
Willow had caught up with her. ?I thought I told you
three to stay behind.? 
?And when you see dog collars around our necks,
we?ll stay.? Xander retorted and adjusted his grip on
one of Giles? crossbows. ?Now which cemetery is that
Crypt in??
Willow shifted the short sword belted to her waist.
?Shady Field cemetery. That road construction that?s
taking forever on 27th street will force him to take a
detour and if we cut through Oaken Lanes, we?ll beat
Jack there.?
Giles moved a horseman?s pick to his left shoulder
and nodded in agreement. 
Buffy sighed and was about to argue when she
spotted three vampires standing under a streetlight
smoking. ?Xander, Giles, you guys up to handling them
and we?ll meet you at the Tomb?? hearing to
affirmative answers, the group split up. 
Buffy and Willow had barely exited one cemetery and
were moving across the street into the other when the
clouds overhead started to rumble with thunder. Willow
tightened her yellow sweater around her neck and tried
to move faster. Buffy stopped so her friend could
catch her breath. As Willow bent over and grabbed her
knees to slow her breathing, Buffy leaned against a
headstone and took stock of her weaponry, three stakes
tucked into the lining of her black leather jacket, a
glass flask of holy water, and the double bladed axe
she absconded with from Giles? weapon chest. 
The redhead stood up and wiped lightly falling rain
from her eyes. ?Ok, thanks for the breather.? 
Buffy was distracted by thoughts of the upcoming
battle. ?Anything for you Will.? She said offhand as
they started running.
?I wish? she mumbled to herself as she tried to
keep up with the Slayer.
Giles and Xander meanwhile, were shocked with how
easy their undead opponents had been to dispatch.
Xander turned to Giles and grinned. ?Hurry up G-man,
We can still get there before Jack.? 
Giles sighed and followed his young American
counterpoint. ?I?ve asked you before to not call me
that?? 

* * *

Buffy and Willow stopped in the Mausoleum?s archway
after having made excellent time, apparently arriving
at the Tomb long before Jack. By now the rain was
falling heavily, causing the tomb to smell musty and
leaving both girls soaked and nearly frozen. ?Is it
just? Just me or I iss it colder over here?? Willow
whimpered.
Buffy shrugged off her leather jacket and without
hesitating draped it over her best friend?s shoulders.
Willow started to protest when Buffy placed her
fingertip on her lips to silence her. ?Hush.? She was
amazed at how soft those lips felt beneath her finger
before whispering nervously. ?It?s too cold to
protest.? Buffy began to rub her friends arms under
the coat, gently squeezing the slim shoulders as
Willow began to shudder in a way that was in no way
related to the cold. The rubbing slowed down to a
gentle caress as a very nervous Buffy moved closer to
the chilled redhead. 
?Oh, god? She?s moving closer? what?ll I do? I sure
as hell won?t look in her eyes?? Then as if to make a
liar of herself, she looked up and locked eyes with
the blonde. Sapphire burned into Emerald as heartbeats
raced.
?Oh God, What am I doing?? Buffy thought as she
realized she could no longer control herself; she
swallowed nervously and dragged her right hand up to
brush her thumb along Willow?s cheek. The girl in the
Slayer?s arms moved even closer and nuzzled the hand
on her cheek. Time seemed to slow down as their lips
met. The kiss started as a mere brushing of lips
before it deepened. It grew more passionate and heated
as arms encircled and bodies merged. As lips parted
due to a need for oxygen, Buffy looked deep in her
eyes, ?I love you. More than Angel, more than Pike, I
need you to know that.? Buffy had slid her hand to the
small of Willow?s back and pulled her tightly against
her.
Willow nodded ?I love you too, so much.? She
replied as she slipped a hand behind her love?s neck
and pulled her down for another kiss. ?I?ve wanted to
do that for a very long time.? She grinned and blushed
at the same time. 
Slayer hearing allowed Buffy to hear the footsteps
well before they came within vision. ?They?re here
Will.? 
Giles and Xander walked up slowly, Xander, seeing
the two in a very intimate position, promptly went
into shock. Giles, being the epitome of British
stoicism, stifled his knowing grin and ushered the now
sputtering Harris into the mausoleum. ?I trust you
will let us know when Jack gets here?? he said,
entering the mausoleum without waiting for an answer. 
Buffy grinned into Willow?s shoulder, as the
redhead bit back laughter. ?I think Xander is having
an aneurysm?? Buffy whispered into the nape of her
neck.
?He is NOT going to let this go.? Buffy answered.
Willow squeaked in agreement and sighed.
The two stood in the entrance of the Sanderson
Crypt and simply held each other, reveling in their
newfound intimacy. ?Well, I take it this isn?t a group
hug?? Jack said from the bushes of a nearby mausoleum.
The two girls snapped out of their reverie to look at
the young Irishman who was lighting a cigarette with a
flick of his lighter.
?Jack. How long have you been here?? Buffy accused.
Willow released the Slayer but still kept close.
?About five minutes before you. I took 27th
street.? He said in between drags. 
?But there was considerable road construction. That
entire street was blocked off.? Willow ventured and
absently rested her hand on the pommel of the short
sword. Jack saw this instinctual move and grinned. 
?That?s what sidewalks are for.? Jack stated simply
and moved to the doorway. ?Do you mind moving?? he
asked as he drew twin Berettas from shoulder
harnesses. ?I have a seven thousand year old vampire
to kill.? 
Buffy locked eyes and held a silent conversation
with her old friend. ?I told her.? She said finally. 
Jack nodded. ?I saw. When I come out of here, we?re
going to have a long talk.? He said as he and the
girls moved deeper into the Tomb. Shaking his head, he
chuckled as he moved next to Giles.
The Watcher nodded to Jack until he saw the
firearms. ?I doubt those will do much good against a
vampire of Graile Kaer Ti?Carrok?s age.? 
Jack turned in amazement to Giles at the full name.
?Not many people know his true name, well done!? Jack
holstered one handgun, dropped the clip from the other
and thumb-flicked a shell out of the clip towards the
Watcher. ?Compressed wood tipped bullets filled with
fulminated mercury. Those ARE effective if you can
shoot direct heart shots.? The Watcher tossed the
bullet back and shouldered his pick. The Irishman
racked the slide, slid in the bullet and snapped the
clip into the berretta before he moved to the grating
in the corner. 
As Jack lifted the grate, Xander shouldered the
crossbow and looked at the two girls in the doorway.
?You guys owe me an explanation. But just so you know,
I?m am so more than cool with this.? He said with a
soothing Xander Harris grin, and dropped down into the
sewers behind the Irishman. Giles walked over to the
two girls. ?If you two are serious, relationship wise,
you have my support.? Giles smiled genuinely and moved
to follow Xander downwards.
?You do realize this could have gone a whole lot
worse?? Buffy said as she snuck a kiss. Willow wasn?t
satisfied with the quick peck. She pulled the Slayer
into a tight embrace and kissed her passionately. 
To say that Buffy was surprised at Willow?s
aggressiveness would be an understatement. ?You have
no idea what you do to me.? The Slayer said, caressing
her cheek and backing over to the grating, never
breaking eye contact. 
After Buffy dropped down, Willow looked upwards and
closed her eyes. ?Thank you.? The redhead smiled
happily and drew Giles? short sword before dropping
down into the sewers below.

TBC

* * *


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