FIC: Dark Alliance 5b/5 (Conclusion)

["mike" <wizathogwarts@xxxxxxxxx>]

See previous for disclaimers.

Chapter 5b

Xander stumbled down the steps in front of the gym just as the first 
police car pulled up with flashing lights and its wailing siren cut 
off as the vehicle screeched to an abrupt halt.  He tried to stand 
straight, as if to appear normal but the pain of the broken ribs 
sent a wave through him which brought on nausea and lethargy 
resulting in his complete collapse.
He struggled to rise and made it to a crouched sitting position as 
he felt a hand on his shoulder and an inquiring voice.
"What happened?"  Xander heard the words and forced himself to look 
at the source.
His eyes traveled up the blue clad chest to the clean shaven face 
and distantly noted the concerned look.  Only one thought was on his 
mind though.
"You have to stop them.  If you don't, they'll kill Willow."  He 
gasped out the refrain in spite of the pain it caused.
Immediately alert to possible homicide the officer asked the next 
questions quickly.
"Who, how many and which way did they go?"  The words were spoken 
quickly but with an underlying need that Xander felt compelled to 
respond to.
"Students, about sixty or so.  They took off after Willow and Buffy 
west on Crowley."  The effort used up whatever reserves he had and 
Xander passed out as the pain forced his mind into unconsciousness. 

The officer keyed his shoulder radio and without any attempt to 
control his voice yelled.  "Dispatch!  I need an ambulance at 
Sunnydale High School.  I also need every available unit to stop a 
mob of approximately sixty students who are in the process of 
attempting to do harm to two girls.  They are on foot proceeding 
west on Crowley" The officer was aware of exactly who the two girls 
were and knew dispatch would also, the entire force knew of the 
special protection going on at the high school.
Receiving confirmation, the officer then gently eased Xander's body 
to a prone position while awaiting the ambulance.


-----------------




The students gathered outside the crypt were growing restless.  
Talking among themselves and time was overcoming their personal 
fear.  More and more individual voices began to cry out to go after 
and draw out the focus of their hate.  Just as emotions reached a 
near fever pitch the first squad cars arrived.
Flashing lights and sirens drew their focus but their emotional 
state left no room for fear of the police.  The crazed students 
seeing only two cars and three men in blue felt confident as they 
turned their hate towards the police.
Several of the students surged forward driven by frustration fueled 
hate and a need to exact it.  The impetus of a few was all it took 
to push the rest and en masse the crazed students charged.
In fear for their lives, two officers drew and leveled their side 
arms while the third unlocked a shotgun from its vehicle restraint.
The officers all yelled for the crowd to halt but they may as well 
have yelled at a tidal wave.  The students surged and just as 
several more police cars pulled up one of the officers opened fire.  
In response the other two officers also began firing.  Several 
seconds of gunfire and screams shattered the night.  Blood ran hot 
and sticky on the cool green grass.  The dying fell and the living 
stumbled over the fallen.  The wave was halted and the only sounds 
were the cries of the wounded and dying as gun smoke gently wafted 
away.
Cordelia Chase lay still.  She could feel something warm and thick 
flowing down the side of her head, slowly seeping through her hair 
into the ear that wasn't pressed into the cemetery lawn.  She spent 
several minutes mentally checking herself for injuries but except 
for the heavy press of bodies on top of her she felt no pain.  As 
she completed this self examination awareness of her position and 
surroundings settled in.  

`I wonder if I can return the dress?'  She thought idly.

---------------------------



Willow helped Buffy position herself within the circle of golden 
sand.  Buffy reached up and caressed Willows cheek.  Seeing the 
worry and concern on Willow's face she smiled.  

"I can't wait for my special wake up kiss."  Buffy said softly.

Willow felt warmed by the softness and confidence expressed by 
Buffy.  Returning the smile she quelled all her concerns.
"The first of many."  Willow responded.


Buffy chuckled.  "You plan on doing this a lot hey?"

Willow's smile turned into a shy smirk.  "Well I'm not planning on 
doing this again, just the petite mort the French speak of."
Buffy gasped softly then grinned wickedly.  "Be prepared to receive 
your own little deaths."
Willows heart thumped wildly as her mind went off on temporary 
blissful tangents.   With a smile she leaned forward and kissed 
Buffy softly on the lips.
"Just relax.  It will all be over soon."  Willow said softly, her 
words and breath caressing Buffy's lips.
Standing she glanced down on Buffy one more time and as she did, 
Buffy winked at her.  That one gesture simple as it was washed away 
any remaining concerns or doubts she had.
Feeling more determined than she ever had she exited the circle to 
examine the map laid on the floor with candles at each corner.  The 
map of the world had been sprinkled with multi colored ingredients.  
A small blue light glowed strongly on the map just north of Los 
Angeles in California.
Turning to Angel she asked.  "How much time do we have?"

Angel looked at the stopwatch in his hand and replied 
stoically.  "Four minutes."
Willow nodded then reentered the circle and kneeled by Buffy's 
side.  She had practiced this many times and knew exactly how long 
it would take, three minutes.  As she mentally prepared herself she 
felt herself connect with the earth and the elements just as Buffy 
had taught her.  She felt the quiescent of readiness suffuse her 
whole being just moment before Angel's soft "Now."
Willow immediately began the spell.  The first set of chants 
invoking guardianship and protection then into the incantation of 
real death.  The words and power flowed and as they did she felt 
Buffy's body; her life force became a tangible essence, an essence 
which she had complete power over.  Never before with her practice 
on rats and cats had she felt such complete symbiosis.  When she had 
performed this spell with animals there had always been a resistance 
to overcome.  This time there was no resistance, only complete trust 
and subjugation.  It was a gift of love that made her chest ache 
with the power it felt.
Her concentration was almost disrupted at the sound of a distant 
explosion.  So forceful that even miles away the windows rattled.
Composing herself she completed her chant while simultaneously 
releasing Buffy's life force from her body.  As she felt Buffy's 
life depart she couldn't help feeling as if her own departed also.  
Looking down upon the now still body before her she laid her hand 
upon Buffy's heart.  

> From the moment her hand came to rest she felt not one flutter.  
Still she kept her hand in place, not that it was necessary but more 
to remember what it would be like to not have Buffy alive.
Then the walls were awash in a bright light which slowly dimmed.  
The previous light that had shone in California was no more.  The 
new light now shone on an island in the Caribbean.
"It's done.  A new slayer has been called."  Angel spoke hurriedly 
knowing that Buffy was now truly dead.


------------------------------



More police cars arrived, their flashing lights creating shadows 
that danced in the darkness.  The shadows seemed to grow beyond 
their light given existence as blood and emotion fed the air and 
ground.

Guns were slowly holstered as the police surrounded the shocked 
students, the living staring wide eyed at the wounded and dying.  
Crying filled the air along with moans and pleas for help.  Those 
students still standing offered no resistance as they were pushed 
face down on the ground.
Several of the officers were gently separating the living from the 
wounded as the first ambulance arrived.  Chaos was being leashed but 
left the offal of death in its wake.
Suddenly the ground shook.  Rescue workers and officers alike 
stumbled in their efforts to remain standing.  A powerful ripple 
under them literally threw people laying and standing into the air.  
Students careened about as fear drove them to escape.
Sound and heat combined in a hurricane forced blast to knock 
everyone to the ground as a terrific explosion split the night sky 
with near blinding light.  As the sound of the explosion faded 
leaving ears ringing a rain of ash and dust fell to cover everyone 
in a blanket of destruction as the earth strove to cover the 
inequity of man.


-----------------------------



Xander lay on the examination table in the Sunnydale Hospital 
emergency room pleading with the doctor's and nurses tending to his 
injuries.
"I have to go.  They're going to kill her.  Have to stop them."  He 
repeated over and over.
All work halted as a sudden shaking caused everyone to grasp onto 
tables for support as their eyes darted apprehensively about.  
Lights flicked as the room gave a quick and terrible shake, and then 
burned bright once more as the shaking subsided.
Xander screamed as fear and panic drove his injured body off the 
gurney.  Distracted care givers were too late to halt his mad rush 
but the pain of a broken rib tearing into deep muscle sent his body 
crashing in spite of his determination.
Carefully he was returned to the gurney and as sedatives took effect 
all about could hear his litany.
"I'm sorry Willow.  I failed you.  I failed.  I failed.  Willow.  
Willow..."





-----------------------------




Willow immediately grasped the totem that lay by her side.  Invoking 
the previously staged urns in the four corners of the room they 
began to glow in turn until the last.  A bright flash of light and 
now the room glowed with a bluish light.
Willow turned to look at the map and saw the flame that indicated 
the location of the new slayer die.  The protective field prevented 
any location spell of any kind to pass through.
Turning back to Buffy she composed herself as she prepared to 
overcome her remaining fears.  She had discussed this spell with 
Buffy and when Buffy had learned that the spell could be broken not 
only by the spell caster, but by true loves kiss she had insisted 
that Willow break the spell with a kiss.
Willow had fretted immediately upon hearing this, not that she 
didn't believe that she loved Buffy but that she would find out that 
Buffy didn't truly love her.  But Buffy had been insistent.  Buffy's 
confidence had eventually calmed her nerves but now they all came 
rushing back.  

`If the kiss doesn't awaken her she'll know I'm not her true love 
and leave me.'  The tiny voice now spoke loudly as she gazed upon 
Buffy's serenely calm face.
`This was Buffy's desire.  She believes.  She believes in you.  All 
you have to do is believe in her.'  This thought slowly drowned out 
the negative one as she dipped her face towards the lips of her 
hopefully true love.
Willow hesitated for just a moment more then memory of all their 
times together rushed through her mind.  The memories cascading like 
a flood washing away all debris before it.  

"I love you."  She whispered just before bring her lips to Buffy's.

The kiss started off gentle.  Willow felt the lips she had kissed so 
many times as unresponsive.  Undaunted she increased the pressure 
and passion, throwing all her love into the kiss, determined not to 
relent until she felt a response.
Willow felt warmth course over her face.  It spread softly over her 
entire body.  Indescribable sensations emanated from the joining of 
their lips washing all thought from her mind.  She was no longer a 
thinking being, she was more.  Thoughts in words and pictures were 
inadequate for communicating what she was feeling.  You can't 
explain true beauty.  It has to be experienced.  

Willow found herself in sensations beyond anything she had ever 
experienced.  Beyond anything she had ever imagined.  The entire 
world had ceased to exist; all that mattered was the incredible joy 
she felt as her soul joined with Buffy's.
She slowly became aware of slim soft fingers caressing the back of 
her neck.  As this awareness set in she also became aware that her 
tongue was slowly caressing Buffy's and Buffy's tongue was caressing 
hers back.
Hot panting breath spilled from her mouth as she slowly pulled back 
to make sure that Buffy was in fact alive and kissing her.  Willow 
opened her eyes slowly overcoming her trepidation.  What she beheld 
sent her spirit soaring.  Buffy's beautiful eyes looking into hers.
"My one true love."  Buffy whispered.

"My one true love."  Willow whispered in reply.

They both took a few moments to cherish the moment and slowly caress 
each other.  So lost were they that they didn't realize that minutes 
were passing.
> From the moment Willow began the kiss Angel felt as if he had been 
holding his breath and his heart had stopped beating.  But since he 
didn't really breathe and his heart didn't beat, these were just 
phantom feelings he had forgotten about until this time. 

When he saw Buffy's hand reach around to Willow's neck he actually 
gasped in relief.  `Enough with the emotions, still lots to do.'  He 
reminded himself, but stood silently watching the two girls as the 
tenderly locked eyes with each other.  He noticed from the corner of 
his eye a blue light on the maps surface.
`I think it's time for an intervention.'  He decided after a couple 
of minutes had passé.
"Ready for your tat's?"  He said loudly enough to get their 
attention.
So completely lost in each other the two girls looked at Angel with 
surprised looks on their faces.
"Uh, yea.  All ready for the needles and pain."  Buffy's sarcasm was 
slow and dripping.
Willow chuckled.  "Is the big tough slayer afraid of an itty bitty 
needle?"  She asked while poking Buffy gently in the side.
Buffy raised one eyebrow at her girlfriend.  "Ask me again after you 
get yours."  She said smugly.
They had decided the symbols should go on the left shoulder blade.  
Angel had a deft sure hand and it was agreed that it would be best 
for him to do the designs.
Buffy went first, removing her shirt and leaving on her bra.  She 
sat stoically without a single flinch as Angel meticulously created 
the magical symbol with the special ink.  After about 15 minutes, he 
gently dabbed the excess away and satisfied turned to Willow.
"Your turn."  

Willow had watched Buffy not show any discomfort at all and felt 
completely secure as she turned her back to angle and removed her 
shirt.  She felt the cool alcohol swab cleanse the area and then his 
large cool hands touch her back.
"Ready?"  He asked.

"Yep, tat me."  Willow replied assuredly.

At the first touch of the needle Willow screeched and jerked 
forward. 

Buffy started laughing and the laughing soon turned hysterical as 
she began to roll on the floor laughing at Willow's reaction to a 
single needle prick.
Indignant, Willow jumped atop the laughing slayer and began tickling 
her unmercifully.  Soon Buffy was too weak from laughing to even 
struggle as tears came from her eyes and she pleaded with Willow to 
stop.
"No more." Gasp, gasp. "Please," gasp "no more." gasp "I'm sorry I 
la&" gasp "laughed." Gasp, gasp gasp.
Willow relented but stayed atop her girlfriend.  Buffy finally 
regained her breath and composure.
Looking up at Willow Buffy slowly grasped Willow's hands to prevent 
any form of attack.  

"I think you should be laying down on your stomach for this and I'll 
help hold you still."  Buffy said softly and as non-threatening as 
possible.
Willow simply nodded and got off Buffy.  Buffy kneeled at Willow's 
head and gently but firmly held her shoulders down and waited for 
Angel to proceed.
Angel shook his head the returned to his task and with the same care 
quickly reproduced the exact same symbol on Willow as he had Buffy 
while ignoring the occasional whimpers that Willow emitted.
Once completed, Buffy and Willow each did a glamour spell which 
changed their appearance sufficiently so that they could no longer 
be mistaken for Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg.
The only things not altered were their height and general physique.  
Buffy's hair was now deep chocolate brown.  Her eyes were a soft 
grey.  Her facial features while still pretty no longer shone with 
its previous beauty.
Willow's hair was raven black, her eyes topaz blue.  She no longer 
looked elfish.  Her face was the kind of beauty that went unnoticed 
at first glance.  And that was the idea.
Both girls had worked on their appearance with each other for 
several days.  They needed to not attract attention but also wanted 
to be pleasing to each other.  The first thing to go was hair 
color.  Blondes and redheads always attract attention.  Brunettes 
are usually ignored unless their displaying some physical attribute 
prominently. 

Changing height and weight was problematic but since there was 
nothing unusual about their current physiques, that was not a 
problem.  Getting the faces right was what took the most time.
After examining each other Willow sprinkled gold dust on Buffy's 
tattoo then pressed a blue crystal on it.  Incanting several lines 
of Latin the stone flashed brightly.  As it did, the light 
disappeared from the locator map. Willow removed the stone and 
handed it to Buffy.
Buffy repeated the process on Willow.  The put their shirts back on 
and stood in front of Angle holding each other's hand.
Looking expectantly at him the girls waited his opinion, if any.  
This was the first time Angel had seen what they would look like.  
The only one who had known was Joyce.
Angel looked from one to the other.  The only way he knew who was 
who was that Willow is about four inches taller than Buffy.  He 
couldn't help but grin.  They were both still beauties, but there 
was nothing so remarkable about their appearance that you would look 
twice if you passed them on the street.
"You both look incredible.  And this look is permanent as long as 
you have the tattoos, right?"  He smiled as he saw the shy smiles of 
appreciation light their faces.
"Yep, just as if we'd been born looking like this."  Willow replied 
while mugging comically. 

"But they do something else; Buffy's tattoo should prevent her from 
being detected.  As you can see, no light on the map."  Willow's 
voice sounded confident but her hand trembled as she prepared to 
break the protection spell that should no longer be necessary.
Willow raised her hands as she uttered the words to release the 
protection of the spell.  The four urns in each corner of the room 
suddenly extinguished and a light appeared on the map.  One lone 
light glowed brightly on the island of Jamaica.
"Phew.  Was anyone else scared that wouldn't work?"  Willow joked as 
she released the tension she had felt.
"Not me."  Buffy smiled as she pulled Willow into a hug.

"So Willow, Buffy, you ready to head north and start your new 
life?"  Angel asked expectantly.
"Willow and Buffy are dead Angel.  I'm Marcia Denise Cohen."  Willow 
said as she reached out her hand in way of introduction.
Looking down at her hand Angel slowly grasped it in a 
handshake.  "Uh, pleased to meet you Marcia."
Buffy then reached her hand forward.  "And I'm Sandra Louise Gale. 
But everyone just calls me Sandy."
Taking Buffy's proffered hand he shook it also then smiled 
wryly.  "Ok Sandy, Marcia.  We've got a four hour drive and only six 
hours before sunrise.  We better get going."

-----------------------

One week after the devastation of the gas explosion Sunnydale began 
to return to its normal state of denial.  National news crews packed 
up and left when the tragedy could no longer be milked for ratings.  
Search and Rescue volunteers gave up their search for two missing 
girls.  

Experts reported that the devastation was so severe that it would be 
unlikely that anyone would ever know what happened.  It had taken 
three days to finally extinguish the fires and the ground was still 
warm a week later.  The heat was so great and lasted so long that 
any evidence would have been completely destroyed they had explained.
Four funerals had been held for students who did not survive the 
panicked police response.  Public outcries slowly waned as the Mayor 
promised full investigations and accountability.
Two more funerals were planned when officials notified the families 
of the two missing girls, two funerals that would have no grave, no 
urn, no final resting.  The only thing they would have was grief, 
loss and pain for those attending.
Xander Harris and his friend Jesse stood in the back of the 
synagogue while they listened to tearful goodbyes and the mournful 
recitation of Kaddish.  Xander was still in physical pain ten days 
after that terrible night but they were nothing compared to the pain 
in his heart.
He had done a lot of thinking in the last ten days.  Anger and hate 
mixed in a sea of longing for his best friend, even anger at Willow 
but mostly at himself.  Through the pain decisions had been made, 
decisions to change his life.  

`I failed Willow.  The only person I've ever loved, the only person 
to ever believe in me.'  This had finally become a recurring thought 
after battling through the anger.  He had reached a turning point in 
his life.  

`It's my fault I wasn't there to protect her.  What I did was too 
little and too late.  I won't fail her again.'  He swore as the 
service ended and the family and friends slowly gathered around the 
grieving parents.
Xander exited the building with Jesse following concerned for the 
state of his friend.
"Hey Xand, whatcha going to do now?  You wanna hang or something."  
Jesse asked not knowing what else to say but feeling the need to do 
something to help.
"No Jess, I can't.  I've got some things to take care of."  Xander 
replied as he picked up his pace a bit.
"Uh, like what.  Can I help?"  Jesse sped up also suddenly worried 
about what kind of things his friend was planning.
"You can't help with this Jesse.  This is something I need to do on 
my own."  Xander replied with determination.
"Well can you tell me what it is at least?"  Jesse asked truly 
worried now.
Responding to his friends concern Xander offered a terse explanation.

"I need to register for summer school."  

Jesse stopped stunned and speechless and thus never heard what 
Xander said next.
"I won't fail you again Willow, never again."

  

---------------------




Two girls sat huddled before an early morning fire waiting as the 
first glimmers of dawn began to brighten the eastern horizon.  The 
ocean breeze behind them brought the lull of waves as they washed 
the sandy shore of the Oregon coast line.
Their peaceful watch was interrupted by the lonely mewing of a 
kitten.  The blue eyed girl with raven locks broke off a small piece 
of cheese from the paper plate to her side.
Holding the small offering out to the tiny black and white kitten 
that was nervously watching them from about ten feet away she softly 
called.
"Kitty, here kitty.  I have some cheese for you."  

Both girls stayed still making no sudden movements.  All their 
attention was on the very skinny kitten that was approaching slowly 
as hunger overcame its fear.  Laying the cheese on the ground when 
the kitten was only inches away, she slowly withdrew her hand.
After a quick sniff, the kitten voraciously consumed the bit of 
cheese.  After a few more bits of cheese, the kitten allowed itself 
to be picked up.  Slowly positioning the kitten against her chest, 
the blue eyed girl slowly caressed the kitten cooing softly.  The 
grey eyed girl carefully added her own caresses.
"She's adorable.  Can we keep her?"  Marcia asked in a whisper not 
wanting to startle the kitten.
"She looks like she needs a home.  What would you name her?"  Sandy 
replied in the same whispering voice.
"I think I'd name her Liza."  Marcia replied after a moments thought.

"Why Liza?"  Sandy asked a bit confused.

"She reminds me of Liza Minnelli from the Sterile Cuckoo."  Marcia 
replied with a sad smile.
"Oh that one.  I can't believe you made me watch that.  I'm getting 
depressed just remembering it."  Sandy said snidely with a hint of 
teasing.
"Well I liked it.  It made me care about her.  She was empty and 
lonely like me, like I used to be.  I just want to make Liza to feel 
like I do now."  She replied with a touch of petulance.
Sandy kissed Marcia on the cheek.  "Then Liza it is."

As they split their attention between the kitten and the dawning sun 
they basked in this small window of peace.  Contentment eased their 
worries as the sun warmed their faces and the purrs of a small ball 
of fur warmed their hearts.


The End.



I know I left questions unanswered and a lot of things open but 
that's the reason for sequels.





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

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