The Chosen; Where Do We Go From Here? (4a/4)

[Kirayoshi@xxxxxxxxxx]

And he finally finished the thing! Phoen Dusk is in the on-deck circle. Enjoy.

Kirayoshi

Disclaimers; Joss gave us the lemons; I'm just making the lemonade. And don't worry, I'm using sugar.

Spoilers; through the series finale, "Chosen". Keep in mind that I'm basing this on spoiler reports, not the actual episodes, so I may be wrong on some points.

Rating; PG-13.

Author's Note; This is my pilot for a virtual Buffy-spinoff. Someone's gotta be first, right? Better me than some B/S-er!

Pairing; None yet, but knowing me, Buffy and Willow are gonna start noticing each other at some point...

Feedback; Please do. Flames will be subject to brief scorn, then deleted without ceremony.

Summary; Buffy Summers, for the first time in her life, is free of her calling as the Slayer. But there is still evil in the world. Was 'Chosen' the end, or a new beginning?

The Chosen
written by Kirayoshi

======== 

Part four

"These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arm

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms"
--Dire Straits,
"Brothers In Arms"

"-And then I made my way here, and found Dawn," Vi finished explaining to the police officer, who had been writing down Vi's testimony in shorthand on a small pad as Willow looked on. Steven offered the small Irish girl a glass of water, which she accepted gratefully. "Fortunately I wasn't hurt too badly, so Dawn was able to patch me up." She regarded Dawn with a thankful smile, which warmed Dawn's heart no end.

"That's fortunate," Officer Richardson spoke quietly, his eyes reading Vi's face carefully. "From the description you gave me, sounds like 'Iceman' Isaacs again. Will you be in Seattle for long, Miss Fitzgerald?"

"Possibly," Vi answered. "I've been living in Los Angeles for the last few months."

Richardson nodded slightly. "I know where he hangs out, Miss. Can you make yourself available to testify at his trial?"

"I'll be there," Vi answered sternly. "It'll be my pleasure to put that friggin' amadon behind bars!"

"Mine as well, Miss Fitzgerald." Richardson closed his tablet and turned toward Dawn, who tensed slightly as she considered what he was likely to ask. "Miss Summers, just where is your sister?"

"Uh, she's doing a grocery run, I think," Dawn blurted out. Richardson's eyes locked onto hers briefly, leaving Dawn to feel as though she was strapped to a lie-detector. "She let me clock in a couple of hours to help clean up the bar before we open."

Richardson glanced at Dawn again for a second. "Riiight," he breathed slowly. "Are you expecting her to come to work today?"

"Actually," Willow answered casually, "tonight's her night off. She may show to check up on Steven, but probably only for a second or so." As Richardson regarded Steven's statement, he heard the front door swing open. Buffy and Faith walked through the doorway, and Richardson crooked an eyebrow toward the blond woman. "Speak of the devil," he muttered. "Miss Summers, it's good to see you."

"Officer," Buffy greeted the policeman calmly. "What brings you here?"

"Your bartender called me up," Richardson answered. "Evidently 'Iceman' assaulted your friend today." He turned his head toward Vi, who waved weakly at Buffy and Faith.

"Vi!" Faith gasped. "You okay?"

"I've been worse," Vi half-smiled at Faith.

"Officer," Buffy asked, "are you going to arrest Iceman?"

"On my way to do that now," Richardson announced as he headed for the door. "And if I'm doing the math right, this is his third strike. But he's just the little fish; maybe we can get him to turn on Moretti. I'd like to see Phat behind bars."

Too late, Buffy thought but did not say. "Well thanks for coming. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Richardson turned toward Buffy, his eyes level and unreadable. "Look, if you know anything else about Moretti, I need to know it. Is there anything else you can tell me?"

Buffy met Richardson's piercing his gaze with calm eyes. "I wish I did know more. If I hear anything, though, I have your number."

"Good," Richardson answered as he opened the door. "I like you, Miss Summers. You're good people. But if you remember anything that can help put Moretti away, I need you to level with me."

"I understand," Buffy answered. "And if I do remember anything, I'll tell you first thing."

Richardson nodded once. "You take care of yourself, Miss Summers." He left the club quietly. Buffy held her breath for a second, finally releasing it in a faint groan of pain. At that instant Willow noticed that Buffy hadn't removed her hand from her side. 

Faith let Buffy lean on her as she escorted her to the nearest available seat. "Dawn," she asked hurriedly, "Buffy said you had a first-aid kit out?"

"Right here," Dawn grabbed the box and rushed toward her sister. "What happened? Did Phat Albert do anything to you?"

"Nothing like that," Buffy answered. "Just the old football injury acting up again."

Steven cocked an eyebrow slightly. "You played football?"

"No," Buffy complained faintly, "just got kicked around like one a while back."

"Right," Steven answered, slightly befuddled. "What say I go check the produce stock while you girls, uh, talk shop or whatever..." Steven ducked into the backroom, leaving Buffy and her growing circle of friends alone.

As Steven disappeared, Buffy's face contorted into a grimace of pain. Willow winced in sympathy, asking, "Was that the First's wound?" Buffy nodded sharply, remembering her final battle as the Slayer.

Dawn's eyes narrowed as she examined the wound. "Not too serious," Dawn announced as she threaded her needle, "maybe three or four stitches. But I thought that wound had healed."

"Me too," Buffy answered, wincing slightly as Dawn first inserted the needle into her flesh. "Shortly after we left the remains of Sunnydale, Giles examined the wound the First Evil gave me. He said that some dark magic was involved, and would probably keep that wound from healing completely. That's why he insisted that I finally hang up my stakes."

"Hey," Willow sat by her friend's side and held her hand, "it's gonna be okay. Maybe I can find a spell that can draw the dark magic out of your wound."

"Don't go out of your way, Willow," Buffy assured her friend, smiling. "I'm alive, I've got a job that I like, I've got you and Dawnie here, I call that blessing enough for one lifetime." Willow squeezed her friend's hand lightly, as Buffy allowed herself to enjoy Willow's closeness.

Once she satisfied herself that Buffy was doing well, Faith approached Vi, who was sitting up slowly, her own injuries fading rapidly. "Hey, Vi," Faith greeted the young Irish woman, "you okay?"

"Hurt like hell at first," Vi admitted, "but I've been hurt worse."

"Good," Faith scowled for a second. "'Cause now I can chew you out with a clear conscience! What the blue blazes were you doing going out at night without backup? Giles left us strict orders..."

"It wasn't night," Vi answered plainly. "It was three-fifteen when I met those blokes near Post Alley. Not even sunset yet."

"She's telling the truth," Dawn raised her voice, surprising herself with the vehemence with which she defended Vi. "The sun was still up when Vi showed up here."

Faith regarded both Dawn and Vi with a measuring eye. Eventually she shrugged her shoulders and turned toward Buffy. "You saw Phat's men, Buff. Were any of them vamps?"

Buffy shook her head once. "Not a one. All I had to do was give them the 'Eye of the Wolf' and they scattered. I think he recruited them as cannon fodder, and he didn't exactly inspire their loyalty."

Faith sighed lightly and nodded. "Gotcha. You're gonna be okay, Vi. Just watch yourself next time, huh?" Vi smiled warmly at Faith, as Buffy, Willow and Dawn watched in genuine amazement. This wasn't the aloof and private Faith they had encountered in the past. The Faith they knew never went in for displays of affection.

"So," Buffy asked as Dawn finished stitching her up, "what brings you up this way, Faith? I thought you were aiding Giles in rebuilding the Council."

"That's why we're here," Faith answered, sitting next to Vi. "Look, I'm no good at tact, so I'll just say it straight out. Buffy, Red, we need you."

Faith's words were met with a strange pregnant silence. Buffy rolled the words around in her mind, as her eyes sought Willow's face. The red-haired wiccan's eyes narrowed and her features remained unreadable. Dawn and Vi both looked expectantly at Buffy, awaiting her reaction.

Buffy slumped tiredly in her seat. "Faith, right now the last thing you guys need is a has-been Slayer who can't even take on a cut-rate Dracula without busting a gut. You don't need me, not with a hundred new Slayers waiting in the wings..."

"That's part of the problem," Faith lowered her head in exasperation. "We've got over two hundred new Slayers over in LA. The Hyperion Hotel is chock full of Slayers. We've got Slayers coming out of the woodwork, and more are being located every day. We're hip-deep in Slayers; it's a Slay-a-nanny. It's Slayer-licious! What we need is experience. There's like a handful of living old-school Watchers who survived the First Evil's attack last year."

Willow glanced at Faith for a moment, her eyes a question. "You saying you want us to sign on as Watchers?"

"Check please," Buffy groaned, raising her hand slightly. "C'mon, Faith, Willow, Vi, Dawn, you all were there when the SITs turned on me. Hell, you sided with them! And I doubt any of the new Slayers want me around. Last I checked Kennedy's still using a photo of me as a dartboard! I'm not Watcher material!"

"First off," Faith interrupted, raising her voice to silence Buffy's tirade, "Giles doesn't really like the 'W' word. Me, I'm more partial to 'mentor'. You're right, Buffy, you're not a general. That's not what we're looking for. We don't need a general, nor do we need a drill sergeant. We need role models, mentors. We need people who've been in the trenches, who know what's out there at night. Buffy," she stared into Buffy, her dark-brown orbs open and pleading for the first time since the two Slayers first met, "you've got the best record of any Slayer in history. You've clocked more kills and saved the world more times than any three Slayers before you. You're the role-model for every new slayer that comes down the pike."

"She's not lying," Vi added, leaning forward to participate in the discussion. "I know things were dicey between us when we were facing Caleb, but in the end we all owe you our lives. I'm just sorry it took me so long to say it."

"Okay, okay, I get it," Buffy raised her eyes sharply. "I'm Joan of Arc, Doctor Quinn and Supergirl all rolled into one. Look, I appreciate what you're saying, but I still don't know. I just got my life back in something vaguely resembling order. I mean, don't get me wrong, good cause, I'm on board with that. But do you really want me back in the game?"

Faith flashed Buffy an understanding look. "Hey, it's a new ball-game for all of us. But Giles wouldn't have sent us if it weren't important. We're not here to force you into anything, Buffy. Just think about it, okay? If you decide no, then situation resolved. Vi and I go our merry way. All we want is for you to consider the offer. That goes for you too, Red. We want you both on board."

Buffy's brow wrinkled in thought, and she could practically see the neurons firing in Willow's eyes. Finally, Buffy nodded. "Okay, I'll think about it." Willow smiled, silently agreeing with Buffy's decision.

"Hey," Buffy snapped her head forward in sudden thought. "You guys need a place to crash? I've got a guest room in my condo."

"Oh, I dinna think that'll be necessary," Vi dimpled sweetly. "Faith and I have a nice hotel room for the next few nights."

"Yeah, indoor pool, sauna, free continental breakfast..." Faith chuckled. "Which of course means donuts and coffee, but hey, that's all I need. We Slayers burn it, we don't store it. Am I right?"

"You're right," Buffy laughed slightly, careful to avoid aggravating the wound. Willow and Dawn joined the three Slayers in their light banter, until Buffy glanced at the clock. "Oh boy, it's almost time to open. Steven?" she called out. "Time to start the party! Can you fly solo tonight?"

"I am all over it, Bosslady!" Steven ducked his head out of the cooler with a smile and a wink. He took his place behind the bar as the first teenage regulars began to file in through the front door. Buffy and the others retreated to a private booth to catch up on the recent events in their lives and generally take pleasure in each other's company.

======== 

She had abandoned sleep as a lost cause hours ago, and was content to sit on her sofa and admire the night skies of the Puget Sound harbor from her window. Buffy held an oversized mug that Dawn had made for her in ceramics class, and sipped her decaf French roast. One more reason to like Seattle, she reflected, there's no shortage of fine coffee available. 

A light rap at her door brought her out of her reverie, and she rushed to the door, cinching the belt of her robe. "Hey, Buffy," Willow half-smiled when Buffy opened the door. "You couldn't sleep either, huh?" Buffy shrugged her shoulders and opened the door for her best friend. Willow held up a carton of ice cream, announcing, "I brought the rocky road."

"I'll get the spoons," Buffy grinned as she headed for the kitchen. "But keep it down, Dawn's asleep."

"Yeah, right," Willow rolled her eyes knowingly as she opened the carton. She immediately placed the carton on the coffee table, and sat cross-legged on one side of the couch, as Buffy emerged from her kitchen with two spoons. She offered one to Willow and the two proceeded to dig into the carton.

"So, Buffy," Willow asked her best friend after downing two heaping spoonfuls of rocky road, "you feeling any better after your run-in with Phat?"

Buffy gingerly felt at her stitched wound, testing it gently. "Still a little tender," she grimaced slightly. "I guess it's time for me to take things easy."

"Here," Willow squirmed slightly, maneuvering herself to face Buffy as she took her friend's hand in her own. "Remember when you gave me your strength last year?" Buffy smiled as she recalled the healing trance Willow used to recover from the skinning demon, and how she sat with her that night, channeling her love and support into Willow. "I think it's my turn." 

Buffy placed her spoon in the carton, tucked her feet under her legs and placed her hands in Willow's. The two women closed their eyes as Willow's mind spun a thread of thought, connecting herself to Buffy. She slowly channeled her strength into the heart of her friend and felt the love and friendship vibrating through the thread. Buffy felt a warmth flooding her, diffusing through her body and undoing the fatigue and stress in her nerves. The warmth concentrated within the reopened wound, merging with Buffy's own Slayer healing factor to gently knit blood vessels and seal opened flesh. Within seconds, the wound was fully healed.

When Willow released Buffy's hands, Buffy immediately lifted the hem of her tee shirt and examined the wound. The row of tight stitches now covered a fading, almost invisible hairline scar. "Wow," Buffy breathed. "Hardly feel a thing now. Thanks."

"Any time," Willow answered warmly. She returned to her ice cream, noticing that it had softened slightly. "I guess we're both thinking about the same thing, huh?"

Buffy lowered her head, not quite ready to face Willow's eyes. "Yeah. You want to go, don't you?"

"Only if you go with me."

The simplicity of Willow's declaration caught Buffy by surprise. She glanced sharply at Willow, a lump forming in her throat as jade eyes met hers in a mind-reader's stare. "Look, if you want to join the cause, go for it. Don't wait around for me, just go. You have so much to contribute. More than I could."

Willow sat quietly, reining in her desire to deny Buffy's statement. Not so long ago her first impulse would be to hug Buffy fiercely and assure her that she was worthy, that she had plenty to contribute. Willow once again considered the ultimate irony of her life; that the one person who was more responsible for bolstering Willow's self esteem had such a low self esteem of her own.

Buffy glanced sideways at Willow, a puzzled look marring her features. "Isn't this the part where you try to convince me I'm wrong about myself and tell me to stop the self-pity party?"

"Normally I would," Willow crooked her eyebrow. "But you already know that you're wrong about yourself, so why hear it from me?"

Buffy shook her head as she dug her spoon into the carton. "I just want a normal life. No more vamps, no more having to save the world. Is that wrong? Am I being selfish?"

Willow chuckled slightly, saying, "I don't know, Buffy. Are you?"

"Thank you, Miss Psych Major," Buffy snapped at her. "I'm serious though. What do Giles and Faith think I can contribute? It took me seven years to figure it out but I finally did! I'm no hero! I'm no role model, I'm just a shallow, selfish little bitch who got dealt a weird hand, and had to deal the best she could! I'm not better than anyone else, just because I was the Slayer! If anything, you, Xander, Tara, even Cordy, you're far better than I am, because you volunteered for the gig, I was just a draft! Don't you get it? I'm just a human being!"

Willow sat for five seconds after Buffy finished her tirade, watching as her friend's breathing slowed and her heartbeat returned to normal. She then clapped her hands loudly and repeatedly. "Congratulations, Buffy. You've made a breakthrough. You're not just a Slayer, you're a human being. And on behalf of the other six billion of us, welcome to the party. Take your coat off, relax, we got a giant Twister game going on in the corner, and there'll be drinks and dancing and live music later. Maybe even some improv comedy."

Buffy started to speak, but strangely found herself robbed of speech. Her mouth hung open for a moment, the sunlight of Willow's words filtering through her mind. Finally she tried to speak again, this time with more success. "I needed to say that, didn't I?" Willow nodded enthusiastically. "I needed to finally put it into words, without any prompting from the cheap seats. How do you do that? How do you know me better than I know myself?"

Willow shrugged her shoulders, smiling innocently. "Magic?"

Buffy smirked before lobbing a throw pillow toward Willow's shoulder, missing by a foot. "You're right though. I've been doing the Slayer gig so long, that's how I've defined myself. Slayer first, Buffy second. Actually, Buffy distant second. Maybe I'm finally at a point in my life where I can get to know the real me."

"Well, take it from someone who used to know that person," Willow patted her hand gently on Buffy's knee. "You two are gonna get along just fine."

Buffy simply sat thoughtfully, the epiphany of the last few seconds sinking into her heart, feeling as right and true as anything Buffy had ever known in her lifetime. "You think that's what Faith was talking about? That's what I have to offer the new Slayers?"

"That it's okay to be human as well as the Slayer?" Willow mused. "Could be."

Buffy closed her eyes, allowing her shoulders to stretch as though finally freed of a terrible burden. "I think my cookies are finally done," she whispered dreamily.

Willow's eyes shot open. "Cookies? Where?"

Buffy laughed lightly at the eager expression on Willow's face. "I'll explain later." She regarded Willow's puzzled features warmly. God, she thought, it's good to have you back in my life! "Hmm, the school's Winter break starts in a couple of weeks. Maybe Dawn and I can visit Giles in LA. Just to talk things over."

"Then it's settled," Willow answered with an elfin grin. "We'll get together with Giles and maybe work something out."

"Right." Buffy eyed Willow knowingly, before craning her neck toward the hallway. "Is that okay with you, Dawn?" she shouted.

"About time!" Dawn answered back, emerging from her bedroom door. "Y'see, I knew you two were on board the moment Faith and Vi brought it up," she added as she joined her sister in the living room. "I just wondered when you'd figure it out. Hey, is that rocky road?"

"Grab a spoon, Dawnie," Buffy laughed, "it ain't gonna last forever!" Dawn rushed into the kitchen, emerging seconds later with a spoon in her hand. As Dawn and Willow dug into the ice cream, Buffy sat back for a moment, content to bask in the warmth of her family. 

"You were right about one thing, Willow," Buffy commented.

"Just one?" Willow asked teasingly, causing Buffy to make a wry face while Dawn giggled mischievously. 

"Before we graduated from high school. You told me that you didn't think I fought the good fight just because I had to." Buffy reached instinctively for Willow's hand, reveling in the love and friendship that emanated from their entwined fingers. "Thanks for being right when I needed it again."

"That's what I'm there for," Willow smiled through a mouthful of rocky road.

======== 

"Friends are the DNA of society. They are the basic building blocks of life. If you have a couple of good ones, treasure them like gold. There's nothing better. Ever look at that MCI ad they have, "Friends and Family"? Who do they mention first? Your friends help you carry the big weight in life. That big burden we've all got called, 'What the Hell am I doing?'" 
--Jerry Seinfeld