Fic: Of Slayers and Angels Part 14/?

["frank_8281" <frank_8281@xxxxxxxxx>]

Part 14

Shadow's POV

Finally! Thought they would NEVER leave. Gotta admit though, it was 
pretty funny watching Faith stagger out between Willow and Buffy. 
What wasn't funny was listening to her slur apologies to the blonde 
and the redhead. Hope they don't realize what she's apologizing for. 
Buffy killing Faith wouldn't be good at all. I knock on Giles' door 
and he opens it looking annoyed. 

"This had better be& oh, it's you." He says.

"Pleased to see you too." As I push past him into the apartment.

"Please, do come in! After all, it's not as if it were 3 o'clock in 
the morning!" He says sarcastically.

For a moment I consider being subtle, but that's never been my strong 
suit.

"Her eighteenth birthday is ten days away Giles. Have you made up 
your mind yet? Are you going to hypnotize her? Poison her? All so a 
group of old men half a world away can feel like they're in control 
of something?"

For a moment he just stands there, stunned. Then he sinks into a 
chair and puts his face in his hands.

"Dear God. That's all it is isn't it. An exercise in control. A way 
for the Council to beat the Slayers into submission."

I nod. "And a way for them to dispose of the ones who prove 
themselves to be too `difficult'. After all, accidents happen, a 
Vampire, more vicious than they thought. A Watcher, not careful 
enough about the dose he gives his Slayer."

Giles looks up at that, a stricken expression on his face.

"Usually in those cases the Watcher ends up dead too. Suicide, 
because of guilt or grief. Of course, some of them need& a little 
push let's say."

"My God, how could they have come to this& this madness?"

"It's not exactly a recent development Giles. They've been like this 
for centuries. Scheming, lying even killing their own people to 
maintain control of the Slayers." I sit on the couch across from him.

"Surely it wasn't always this way? At some point the Council had to 
be& true to the tenets that they have always espoused to the rank and 
file." 

"In the beginning maybe. The change didn't happen all at once Giles. 
Over the centuries as the Council gained more power, both mundane and 
mystical, they felt the need for more control over the Slayers. So 
they changed their methods. Over time, instead of teaching and 
guiding the Slayers they began issuing orders."

"And the Cruciamentum?" He asks.

I sigh and sink a little deeper into the couch. "It wasn't always 
what the Council has perverted it into. It was supposed to be a right 
of passage, a graduation of sorts. To see if the Slayer was ready to 
be sent out on her own without a Watcher overseeing her every move."

"Without& is that even possible?"

"Haven't you been listening Giles? That's how it was MEANT to be! 
After a Slayer passed the Cruciamentum the Watchers Council was only 
supposed to provide support! Research, weapons, and living quarters 
or whatever else she might need. The Council was supposed to work for 
the Slayer, not the other way around!"

Giles looks down at the floor. When he looks up his eyes are hard and 
filled with fire.

"It will be that way again Shadow, somehow." Huh, I know I got no 
reason to, but I believe him.

Mayor's POV

In all my time here I don't think there has ever been quite this much 
activity, Demonic or otherwise in my little town. Two Slayers, a very 
nasty Vampire on the loose, and now this report. According to this, 
The Watchers Council has descended on Sunnydale in force. Is it 
possible that they know about my plans? About the Ascension? No, no I 
don't think so. If they did I feel sure that the Slayers would 
already be on my doorstep. I think perhaps I should send Mr. Trick 
with an invitation to this new Vampire so that I can offer him a 
position in my administration. After all, he's killed Slayers before. 
I think he'll find two to be& fun.

Spike's POV
After a few pints at Willie's I take my leave of the place. And walk 
right into a group of Vampires waiting outside. Their leader (wearing 
a suit and tie no less) introduces himself as Mr. Trick. Says some 
one wants to see me. And since I just sent all my people to the lair  
the odds seem a little one sided. So&

"Lead the way mate." I say with a flourish.

My `host' leads us to a limo and we get in and travel downtown. When 
we stop I get out and find myself in front of City Hall no less!

"What in the bloody hell are we doing here Trick?" 

"Patience, my man patience. All will be made clear in a minute."

We go up in a private elevator and come out in an office with a big 
desk and an average looking Human behind it. My eye is drawn to the 
nameplate on the desk.

"Well, well, well. Hizzoner the Mayor! Tell me Mr. Mayor, what does a 
guy like you want with a guy like me?" I ask as I drop into the chair 
in front of the desk.

"Well, Spike I have a vision. A vision of a neat, orderly Sunnydale; 
followed by a neat, orderly world. But I have a problem. You see 
certain people are standing in the way of my vision, even though they 
don't know it yet. Now I have never been one to just wait and let a 
problem develop until it's insurmountable. So here's what I propose. 
I would like you to take care of my little problem, not to put too 
fine a point on it, by killing the Slayers. What do you say? You up 
for it?"

I chuckle as I ask, "Now why would I want to take on not one, but TWO 
Slayers for you even if one of them IS Damn near useless?" 

"Actually, I was thinking about a large amount of money and a place 
in my new order. Otherwise I don't think I'm gonna have any use for 
you at all."

He gestures and I look behind me to see a large number of heavily 
armed Vampires.

"You know, I just had the carpet cleaned in here and while I'd hate 
to get it all dusty& I will if I have to."

"In that case Mr. Mayor, I guess you've got yourself a deal."

Buffy's POV

I've been awake for a while now, thinking about what Shadow told me 
last night. I told Willow the whole story after we got Faith tucked 
in.  And yeah, Will was right, she was a handful until she finally 
went to sleep. Between us though, we managed to keep 
anything `embarrassing' from happening, at least at first. Will says 
she might know someone that Faith might find `interesting'. Her word 
not mine. Afterwards we tried sleeping on the floor but the carpet 
smelled like things I don't even want to imagine. 

So we joined Faith on the bed. Which was okay at first, Wills and I 
were wrapped around each other (no funny business& well not much 
anyway) but at some point Faith must have felt lonely cause when I 
woke up I was spooning Willow and Faith was spooning me! So much for 
not being embarrassed. So here we are, a brunette, a blonde and a 
redhead. I haven't tried to get untangled yet because I don't want 
Will to wake up with Faith's arms around me. She's already insecure 
about Faith and this will sooo not help.

Faith's POV

Umm& warm, comfy. Strange scent, that smells& like strawberries and 
vanilla? Slowly I open my eyes as I realize that I am not the only 
one in this bed. Right in front of me is a mass of tousled blonde 
hair and my arm is around the waist of the body attached to it. And 
the scent belongs to&

"Oh shit! Buffy?"

"Shush, I don't want to wake Willow yet." She says quietly. "Faith, 
can you give me some room to get up. I need the bathroom."

"Sure B, just let me& ow, ow! Fuck me, THAT hurt!" As I gently ease 
myself into the only chair in my crappy motel room. 

"Stiff?" She asks as she goes thru the bathroom door. "Try 
stretching, it always helps me."

Yeah, well stretching isn't gonna help the jumbled mess in my brain. 
What the fuck happened to me last night? I mean I know WHAT happened 
to me; I just don't understand what's going on in my head. I thought 
I had it all figured out. I thought I knew what I wanted to do. I was 
gonna take everything she loves away from her, especially Willow. But 
the more I think I know Buffy, the more confused I get, She just& 
keeps helping me! Even when I make it clear that I don't WANT her 
help. And now& fuck! I don't know what I do want. All I know for sure 
is that if B finds out about me sending those pictures to Red's 
parents, she'll fucking KILL me! 

Willow's POV

As I wake I realize that Buffy's not with me. I look around and see 
Faith in the chair across the room. Uh oh, I know that look, she's 
thinking about Buffy.

"Faith?"

"Huh? Oh, mornin' Red." She says, obviously distracted. Yeah, my 
girlfriend has that effect on people.

"Where's Buffy?"

"Bathroom." One-word answers are never a good sign.

I sit up and put my shoes on, surreptitiously keeping an eye on Faith 
as she stretches to get the soreness out of her muscles. She has a 
troubled look on her face. I think about what Buffy said last night 
about Shadow and what he told her about himself and about Slayers. I 
mean a lot of it makes sense. Like the part about mated Slayers 
living longer. But I can't help but think that he's leaving something 
out, something important. And if it's something that might endanger 
Buffy, maybe I should find out what.

Buffy's POV

After I use the bathroom and wash my hands, I notice that there are 
no clean towels. Dammit! We have GOT to find Faith somewhere else to 
live. I dry off on my shirt as best I can and it suddenly occurs to 
me. There's more than one apartment in the Pierson building. They may 
not all be as nice as the place Angel gave Wills and me, but they've 
got to be better than this dump. We'll have to talk to Angel about it 
but I don't think he'll mind especially if I show him this place. I 
shudder as I look around the dingy little bathroom with its tiny 
shower stained with rust and maybe other things. I head back into the 
bedroom to see Will awake and getting dressed and Faith doing 
exercises. 

"Morning Wills. Faith, you might want to take it easy today. You 
don't want to hurt yourself."

She gives me a sour look and says, "I& uh, I can take it B."

Damn Slayer stubbornness, Willow is doing her best not to laugh. I 
give her my best Slayer look and ask, "What's so funny Will?"

With a dangerous edge to her voice Faith adds, "Yeah Red, share with 
the rest of us."

"Actually I was just thinking that now Buffy knows how I feel when 
I'm trying to get HER to take care of herself." She says with an 
innocent look on her face. 

"Heh& heh& Hahaha&ow! Oh Fuck, ow, ow, ow& don't make me laugh Red 
please, my ooo& my ribs ain't up to it.

"Anyway, now that everybody has had their morning chuckle at my 
expense, what I was going to say was that Will and I are going to the 
Bronze on Saturday night and YOU are coming with. But if you don't 
give yourself time to heal you're not going to feel up to it. So rest 
up." 

Well I don't think Faith could look more shocked if I'd staked her 
and Will, bless her, turns on one of her thousand watt smiles as the 
brunette looks back and forth between us.

"Uh, I, uh&" She stammers.

"We'll take that as a `yes'! See you there at nine then?"

While Faith is still groping for words, I pull my boots on and grab 
my jacket and head for the door.

"Bye Faith, c'mon Wills Mom'll be worried."

I take Willow's hand and drag her out the door leaving Faith still 
stuttering behind us.

"Buffy? Why Saturday?"

"Two reasons. One: It's the day after tomorrow so that gives you time 
to talk to your prospect for Faith. Two: It gives us tomorrow night 
free."

"Free for what?" She asks.

"Well," I squeeze her hand and give her a wicked grin, "I thought we 
might take an elevator ride together."

Her head snaps around as her mouth forms a silent "O". God, she's so 
CUTE when she blushes!

TBC&   

   



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/RoMolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

Community email addresses:
     Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Subscribe:    buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Unsubscribe:  buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     List owner:   buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortcut URL to this page:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow

Official archive for the list:
     http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic

Other links to Buffy/Willow fics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/links  

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/