Disclaimer: None of the characters below belong to me. All the BtVS people belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox. I’m just trying to have fun.
Pairing: Buffy/Willow, of course.
Spoilers: Anything up to and including the Series Finale is possible
Distribution: IKOLY and Wishful Thinking. Anybody else, just ask.
Rating: NC-17, mostly for language, but who knows what might happen.
Feedback: Well, Yeah! frank_8281@xxxxxxxxx
The Times In Between
May 4th2004, 8:30 am
Faith, Kennedy and Althenea were still going over the material Giles had sent when they heard Buffy sobbing in her sleep.
Faith was at Buffy’s side in an instant, “Buffy wake up,” she said as she gathered the blonde Slayer in her arms, “It’s okay B I got you… Shhh… It’s okay.”
“No Faith, it’s not okay,” Buffy looked up and despite the tears, Faith had never seen a look of such pure hatred on her sister Slayer’s face, “and it’s not going to be till the First is finally dead!”
10:23 am
It had taken nearly thirty minutes for Buffy to calm down enough to tell the others what had happened on the dreamscape. Then it took another thirty minutes for Faith and Althenea to convince her not to rush to the rescue and maybe get Willow killed.
“Think about it B!” Faith said, “If all she needs is to kill Red, why hasn’t she done it already?”
“I don’t know… F!” Faith tensed, whenever Buffy had called her that in the past they had been about to come to blows. “But who knows what the First could be doing to Willow right now!”
“Slayer,” Althenea said as she hung up the phone she had been using to speak to Giles.
“What!” Both girls said simultaneously, bringing a smile to the coven leader’s lips.
“While you two have been shouting at one another, Rupert and I have come to some conclusions. We believe that if the first were simply planning to kill Willow it would have done so already. Since it hasn’t…” She trailed off.
“Then why would she tell me that?” the blonde asked.
“To make you do just what you’re doing now.” Kennedy spoke up from where she was seated at the table. “Stop thinking and rush to the rescue.”
“And charge right into whatever trap it’s got planned.” Faith crossed her arms and shook her head. “Kenn’s right B, and I bet you thought you’d never hear this from me but, we need a plan.”
“This from the girl who once chased six vampires into a sewer with a smile and a wave?” Buffy asked.
“Yeah, I’ve grown up a little since then.” Faith had a touch of sadness in her voice as she continued; “Course if I’d done it sooner…”
“Don’t do that,” Kennedy said, moving to Faith’s side and taking her hand. “We’ve HAD this discussion, remember? No more living in the past. Present tense living ONLY.”
Faith and Kennedy continued talking quietly while Buffy asked Althenea, “So how do we find out what the First is really up to?”
The coven leader gestured towards the table, still covered with maps and photographs from the earlier planning session. “I’m not sure, but the answer may lie in the research that Rupert sent.”
So for the next few hours the three Slayers and their host pored over the files Giles had given Buffy before her departure.
6:02 pm
“Son of a BITCH!” Buffy exclaimed as she threw a sheaf of papers down on the table. “This is getting us nowhere…”
“Wait,” Althenea said. “This may be something. According to legend a tribe of Ke’lock demons once made their nests near the circle. Apparently they believed that it would become the gateway for the return of the Old Ones.”
“Old Ones?” asked Kennedy.
“The pure demons driven from this plane of existence through the Sunnydale Hellmouth.” Althenea explained.
“Wait a minute,” Buffy said, confused. “Didn’t ALL the Hellmouths collapse at the same time as Sunnydale’s?”
“Well, Rupert has a theory. If a place had the potential to become a Hellmouth but was inactive at the time of the collapse it might still be possible, by releasing enough magickal energy, to awaken that potential and create a new Hellmouth.”
“Oh shit!” exclaimed Faith. “I saw that somewhere!” she began sifting through the pile of paper in front of her.
“What?” Kennedy asked. “The Hellmouth thing?”
“No… the magick energy thing.” She sounded a bit frantic as she finally cried, “Here! Look at this.” She passed the pages to Althenea.
As Willow’s mentor scanned the papers she muttered to herself, “Hmm, yes… Yes! This could be it.”
Buffy couldn’t control her impatience any longer. “What?” she cried, “What IS it?”
“Oh! Err… sorry. According to this, in order to release the energy that is inside Willow, she would have to be… well…”
Between gritted teeth Buffy spat “Just SAY it!”
Taking a deep breath, Althenea continued, “She would have to be killed with a magickal tool or implement that she had used in a powerful working or spell.”
Buffy looked down at her hands as she asked, “A tool or… a weapon?”
“Yes.” She answered.
“It wants the Scythe?” Asked Kennedy.
“Fucking bitch needs to get a new tune.” Faith said darkly.
With a venomous scowl, Buffy looked up and said, “She wants it? Let’s give it to her.”
9:22 pm
The stone circle was only about an hour from the Coven house but preparations for the coming confrontation took almost two hours. After Buffy had explained what she wanted, Althenea was skeptical. Kennedy, even more so. But Faith simply smiled and said, “Damn B, where do you get this shit from?”
“Ten percent inspiration, ninety percent desperation.” Buffy deadpanned. Looking at Al, as Faith had nicknamed her, to Althenea’s eternal consternation, the blonde Slayer asked, “Can you do it?” The witch nodded in the affirmative and Buffy sighed in relief. “Okay, let’s go get Willow.”
So weapons were gathered, spells were cast and instructions were given to the Coven. Althenea didn’t want them anywhere near the fight but had them preparing a spell to cap a newborn Hellmouth in case Buffy’s scheme failed.
Getting into the cavern under the circle looked simple enough. Giles’ research had included a diagram and even photographs from an archeological survey done in the late nineties. So they knew the basic layout and where the entrance was. The stone circle itself, only about half the size of Stonehenge, was on a mound in a clearing in the woods. The entrance to the cavern was at the base of the mound on the west side some ten yards from the tree line.
There were two levels. The first was a fairly narrow tunnel and was lined with secondary caves that might have once been sleeping quarters. According to the diagram this let out into the main Cavern. Two ramps led left and right from the tunnel exit to the cavern floor about thirty feet down. The monoliths that made up the circle on the surface extended through the roof of the cavern all the way to the floor. In the center of the cavern was a raised circular area like a dais or stage. Beyond that, opposite the entrance tunnel, was another smaller tunnel that led to a series of small caves. That was where they figured the First was holding Willow. The only real problem they could see was that there was only one way in or out. It sort of limited their options if they had to make a hasty exit.
They had hiked in the last mile or so trying to keep at least some element of surprise on their side. Faith and Kennedy were armed with a large axe apiece, stakes, long Bowie knives and vials filled with Holy Water. In addition Kennedy had an elaborate multi shot hunting crossbow with a telescopic night sight slung at her back. As expected Buffy carried the Scythe, along with a sword sheathed at her back and ‘Mr. Pointy’ he r favorite stake.
As they approached the edge of the clearing the Slayers and the Witch saw their first obstacle, Two Bringers guarding the tunnel entrance. Buffy waved Kennedy forward and tapped the crossbow as she pointed at the guards. The younger brunette nodded, unslung the weapon and took careful aim. Two shots later both Bringers were dead. Even if they hadn’t been mute, neither would have had time to raise an alarm.
Quickly crossing the open space, Buffy and Faith concealed the bodies in a patch of brush near the entrance while Kennedy ushered Al into the tunnel. Buffy and Faith took point, checking side caves as they went. Finally they reached the end of the tunnel. Buffy waved the others into the last empty cave to get Althenea set up as she crept to the exit and peeked into the main cave.
She saw a crowd of Turok-Han, maybe forty of them, squabbling and yapping at each other in that weird clicky language of theirs. Nearby was a group of nine Bringers just standing there facing towards the dais. The First Evil and the one person she was hoping to see most were nowhere in sight.
Buffy ducked back into the smaller cave and reported to the others what she’d seen.
“Fewer than we thought then,” Faith, whispered.
“Still, more than I’d like to handle one at a time.” Kennedy said earning herself a glare from Buffy.
Hence, phase one of the plan.” Buffy said, “Al, how’s the mojo coming?”
Althenea gave a long-suffering sigh at the blonde’s use of the irritating nickname from where she sat cross-legged in a sacred circle drawn in green powder on the cave floor. “Almost ready.” She said.
“Faith? You ready to do this?” The blonde Slayer asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” She replied. “Kenn?”
“I know! I know!” the younger Slayer snapped, then taking a deep breath she continued, “Keep the escape route clear, protect Al and cover you guys.” She walked over to Faith and looked into her girlfriends face and said softly. “Have I mentioned just how much I HATE this part of the plan?”
Faith touched Kennedy’s arm and said, “We’ve been over this Kenn. You’re the best shot we have with a crossbow. That makes you the one for the job.”
“I know,” she grumped, “but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
As she placed the last ingredient in a small cast iron pot Althenea said, “Now ladies.”
The Wiccan elder began to chant and Faith and Buffy felt a tingling sensation run over their bodies as their vision blurred just for a second.
Moments later two Bringers emerged from the tunnel into the main cavern, moving smoothly down the ramp to the right. When they reached the floor they began to work their way around toward the entrance to the caves behind the dais. In the cave they had just exited, Kennedy nervously kept watch as Althenea continued her incantation.
In the main cavern, the two paused in their approach to the tunnel entrance as an agitated looking First emerged with a Bringer by her side.
“What is TAKING them so long!” She asked poutily in Buffy’s voice. “That lie I fed the Slayer about killing her redheaded slut should have had them charging to the rescue HOURS ago!” The Bringer beside her made a noncommittal gesture.
“No.” said the First, “We don’t have the resources to just assault the Coven and take what we need. Not anymore, but once I have the Scythe and use it to awaken this Hellmouth to be, energy will be mine in abundance again and that bitch will pay for every day since Sunnydale. Every day that I’ve spent like THIS!” The First glanced at her harbinger as she approached the dais and stumbled on an irregularity in the floor.
Behind the glamour protecting her and Faith, Buffy’s eyes widened as she thought, ‘She’s not incorporeal anymore!’
Faith gripped Buffy’s arm in warning as she shook her head willing her fellow Slayer to stick to the plan.
Nodding as she took a deep breath and one last hate-filled look at the First she thought, ‘Your time is sooo running out bitch.’ Then followed Faith into the tunnel.
Moving swiftly down the torch lit corridor, the glamour disguised Slayers discovered two doors at the end of it. Buffy moved to the one on the right, touching it lightly.
“She’s in here.” She whispered.
“How do you know?” Faith asked.
“I just know.” She drew back the bolt and stepped through, spinning just in time to catch the rock that Willow was trying to brain her with.
“Willow!” Buffy hissed, “It’s me.”
Willow stared in confusion at the apparent Harbinger speaking with Buffy’s voice. Then the redhead’s face slowly lit up with an understanding smile. Buffy couldn’t stop grinning.
“Buffy?” The camouflaged Slayer nodded. “Oh god Buffy, I’ve been so scared!” She all but leapt into Buffy’s arms as the blonde began peppering Willow’s face with kisses.
“Uh, guys?” Faith whispered, “Come on guys! There’s a serious gross out factor watchin’ a Bringer kiss Red.”
“Oh… sorry Faith.” Buffy said apologetically but still couldn’t stop grinning or pull herself away from Willow.
“Don’t be sorry B, just give her the doohickey and let’s get the fuck outta Dodge!” Faith said from her position by the open door.
“Doohickey?” asked Willow.
“Yeah, here,” Buffy said, pulling a crystal on a chain out of her pocket. “Put this on Will, it’ll extend the glamour to cover you. Then we get you to Al and the party really starts.” Willow slipped the chain over her head and the glamour kicked in changing her appearance to match the camouflaged Slayers.
A newly disguised (and very confused) redhead asked, “Who’s Al?”
“Althenea, she’ll fill you in on the rest of the plan.”
Willow shook her head as she giggled, “Oh… Althenea must HATE that nickname! Faith’s doing?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said, still unable to stop smiling. “Hey, speaking of which, where’d she go?”
Going back to the hallway they saw Faith was standing in the now open doorway across the way. Joining her they found she was staring into what must have been the First’s living quarters. At first glance it appeared to be a typical girl’s bedroom, with a huge four-poster bed and colorful draperies hiding the rough-hewn walls.
Faith nudged Buffy and pointed to a large amount of clothes hanging on makeshift racks at one side of the room. Dozens of pairs of shoes were lined up underneath. “Guess she doesn’t just look like you B.” she snickered. “Maybe you two should join S. A.”
“S.A.?” Buffy inquired sourly.
While Willow struggled to control the impulse to giggle, she said, “Shoe-aholics Anonymous.”
“Actually,” Faith deadpanned, “I was gonna go with Shop-aholics … but I like Red’s better.”
Buffy glared from behind the glamour.
“Let’s get moving.” The lead Slayer growled.
Quickly the three moved back into the main cavern. The First was still talking animatedly to her mute henchman as they began crossing the open spaces between the monoliths. They made it almost all the way to the ramp when she called out, “Excuse me, but since when do my Harbingers hold hands?”
Buffy sighed, realizing that her hand was indeed entwined with Willow’s.
“Shit.” Said Faith disgustedly, “KNEW I should have kept you two separated…”
TBC…