Animal - Ch. 12

[1shinyboat]

Ch. 12 - Listed M.I.A.

At six in the morning, the pen at S.V.U. is quiet which is good. The cops that are around are too absorbed in their own tasks and the four main detectives aren’t in yet. All good things for me, ‘cause I’m going to deck these two.

Which shouldn’t surprise. I’m a slayer turned cop whose need for violence to solve problems is only outweighed by the need to look good while inflicting said violence.

Amanda I know. She’s usually okay, but her time out of Sunnydale and at the schools has made her….stiff.

“Ma’am,” Satsu says, “The sweeps we did last night didn’t bring anything in.”

My teeth grind together and I swear if she doesn’t quit with this ‘ma’am’ shit, she’s going to find out just how hard a veteran slayer can punch.

“Buffy, there aren’t any vamp…” I cut Amanda off and glance quickly around the room to make sure that no one heard her.

My hands grip two upper arms and I march them up the steps to the crash room. The last thing any of us need right now is more questions. I open up the door and shove both of the slayers inside. I slam the door and take a deep breath.

Amanda looks worried and as I look at Satsu, I can’t tell if she’s pissed or… nah, she’s just pissed.

“Okay, first thing,” I say, rounding on them. “No mention of vampires, demons, slayers or other things like us that nightmares are made of. Period. No one besides Jimmy is aware that’s what’s involved in these cases. Second, and more importantly, Satsu cut it out with the ma’am crap. I’ve got a name. Use it.”

Amanda shrinks a little and Satsu nods.

“We clear?” I ask.

“Yes, ma’a…yes Buffy.” Satsu’s jacket opens and reveals her firearm as her hands go in her pants pocket. I would think of her as a serious Asian type, but there are streaks of color, red, green, blue and purple that are threaded in her ponytail. She also has the craziest idea of what slacks and jacket should go together. Although her choice in foot attire is commendable. Running in heels that are that thin usually means you have to throw the shoe out after one patrol.

It’s a shame too. The ankle high boots she’s wearing are really cute.

“Good, now that we have that clear, you two can fill me on what has and has not been done.” I lean against the door and wait.

Amanda and Satsu look between each other and decide who’s going to do the talking. Apparently, Satsu lost as she says, “The Miami portion of this is being handled. We have another set of slayers down there posing as F.B.I. so that we can keep each other in the loop.” I watch as Satsu moves into a relaxed ‘at ease’ stance I’ve seen in the military and at the academy. “We did sweeps last night and found nothing. From what we could find out there aren’t any vampires in the city that are attacking people. A few suck houses here and there, but all the vamps inside a forty mile radius are so scared of you being around they won’t try anything.”

“Yeah, it was kinda funny. We went into this bar last night, Buffy, and the bartender there like peed all over himself when we mentioned you,” Amanda snickers.

Sharp almond shaped eyes turn to Amanda and she stops laughing. Satsu hisses, “I thought we weren’t going to mention that. Someone of Buffy Summers’ stature doesn’t need to be given a blow by blow of our patrols.”

Amanda rolls her eyes and I can’t help but join her. Satsu needs to clue up. I look at Amanda and wink at her. She gives me a slight nod and I push off the door. Opening it, I allow her to slip through and shut it before Satsu thinks it’s her time to go too.

One hand rests on my hip, the other I use to push her back away from the door. “There are few things you and I need clear up if you’re going to stay here and help wrap this thing up.” I poke a finger in her chest and start in, “Your job here isn’t to patrol my city. It’s to find the vamp that’s done this. Considering that no one informed me right away of Dexter and the other two going missing, I assume that my sister thinks you’re good. That may be. I won’t know until you cut with the hero worship bullshit you’ve been sending my way and do your job. Amanda was with us in Sunnydale. She knows the score. Quit treating her like a kid. She isn’t.”

I step back and run a hand through my hair. Satsu looks up at me, frowning. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t think…”

“Think what? That being treated like a person counts?” I snarl. I should be nicer, but since when has that ever stopped me before. “You ever think about why almost everyone else from before is involved in the Council except Willow and me?”

She shakes her head.

“Gee what a shocker. Knowing Giles, Dawn and Xander, they’ve been spreading half truths and using me as a role model.” I snicker, “Since when should I be used as a role model?”

I spin away from her to walk the length of the crib, folding my arms across my chest as I pace. I lose sight of the fact that Satsu’s still with me as I continue to rant, “Was it the odd desire to bang vampires? Maybe it was my inability to let my friends help. Maybe they just think that it was how I led everyone around me into some freakish downward spiral ending in death and general mayhem.”

I stop to pose casually as another idea hits me, “I know, it’s my keen fashion sense and general air of whimsy.”

“Stop,” Satsu half shouts. She finally stands up to me. Meets me in the eyes like she would anyone else. “When Miss Dawn, Mr. Giles, Mr. Harris or Miss Lehane speaks of you and of Willow, they talk about how you lead with your heart. That it may have gotten you into some trouble, but it always steered you through the storm.” She steps into my personal space. “They talk about how much love you have and how loyal you are to those that you care for. They talk about your ability to forgive and your passion for doing what’s right regardless of the consequences.”

She shakes her head and gives me her own bitter laugh, “They tell us all how much they love you. That’s how they begin your story at every academy. I’m sorry you don’t see that as a good thing.”

Her hand drops from my arm and she backs away. As she approaches the door, she looks back at me and shakes her head. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you ma’… Buffy, but whether or not you want it, you’re a hero to every girl that’s a slayer. Even if you don’t see it. That’s the neat part, you don’t have to. You just are.” With that she opens the door and strides out, head held high, leaving me alone in the darkened crash room.

I drop to the nearest cot and hang my head. Well, don’t I feel like a complete tool now. God. I really am an ass. On the plus side, at least my family thinks I’m the coolest kid on the block. Now if only I could believe it.

This is why I don’t have anything to do with the Council anymore. Well, I mean the other reasons are good too, but it’s also the girls that come through. I don’t have to see them. I don’t have to see the women that I’ve signed an early death certificate for. I think I could handle everything else, but what they don’t see is that it’s my fault they probably won’t get to be old enough to drink. They also won’t ever understand that I’m just like them; I’ve just beaten the odds with the help of a bunch of morons who love me.

I sigh and stand. I need to not go anywhere near any of that psychological mess. Like not even approach it.

What I need to do is get my head back and focused on finding the vamp from our sketch artist’s drawings. Find the crazy bitch and stake her ass if only to make some type of amends to Debra and Dexter.

They deserve at least that much.

I saunter into the station and find that this morning I’m not alone. The two F.B.I. agents sit at a makeshift workstation and Buffy’s coming down the steps to my right. She nods in my direction and says, “Good morning, Raph.” For some reason that makes her smile.

I still don’t get the whole Ninja Turtle thing, maybe one day she can explain it to me. Today, I can’t even seem to care. Last night with Alex is still fresh in my mind. It’ll take more than Buffy and the weird shit that swirls around her to get me out of my mood.

Alex is amazing. Last night was just…I grudgingly left her this morning, recuperating in my bed.

“Morning, Buffy,” I chirp back and start making some drinkable coffee. “Good morning to you two too, Takeda and Kramer. You want some coffee?”

Both agents nod their head and I look at them more closely. Both look a little tired and rumpled. I wonder when the last time they actually took a break was.

I finish with the preparations and let the coffee maker do its thing. Turning back to my desk, I smile at the messenger carrying a large package. “Can I help you?” I ask going over to greet the man.

“Yeah, I’ve got a package for a Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg. I tried at the,” he checks the details and says, “Twenty-fourth Precinct, but her boss sent me down here.”

“Yeah. Hang on.” I turn to call for Buffy but she’s right behind me. I step back surprised that she was there and wonder why I didn’t hear her approach.

“Hi,” she greets the courier. “I’m Buffy.”

The guy snaps his gum and gives her a once over. “I’m sure you are.”

She cocks her head to the side, missing it. In her defense, I step up and make sure he sees my badge. “Look kid, give her the package and scram.”

He backs down and hands Buffy the clipboard. She signs and takes the awkward package. The kid gives us a slight wave and I glare. Smart ass.

She bounces over to her desk and I notice that Jimmy isn’t with her for the first time. With them living together, I’d assume they’d come in together, but…

El’s not here yet, Munch and Fin caught the night rotation so they’ll be in later.

Curious, I go stand by her desk as she shoots off a message with her phone. We both look over the package and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was a picture or art of some kind beneath the brown wrapping paper. The script on the label is neat and it looks familiar. I wish I could place it, but…maybe a gallery down in the village?

Buffy looks at me and I shrug. She sighs and leans against her desk. “Will needs to get here soon. I want to open it.”

“Patience?” I ask.

“Isn’t something I think I’ve ever had. It got left out of my D.N.A.” She grins and drums her fingers against her thigh.

“Jimmy?” I ask again. Maybe I can make a game out of how many one-word questions I can ask.

“At the hospital. Debra’s awake and we’re trying to jog her memory.”

“She was tortured for weeks on end and dumped. She was left for dead in New York City during the winter. We’ll be lucky if she can make a positive I.D. on the perp when we get ‘em in custody.”

Buffy shrugs while the feebs take an active interest in the conversation.

They won’t speak to me for some reason. They’ll smile and nod, but all questions get directed to Summers. I’m about to ask one of them why, when Willow comes breezing through, her usual bubbly self.

“Hi!” She waves at everyone in the room, but makes a beeline for Buffy. This is something that I’ve been interested in seeing. Neither one seem intent on hiding their relationship with each other, nor does Buffy hide the fact that she’s engaged to a woman. For a cop, even in a large city, that’s near career suicide. But she gladly accepts a peck on the lips from her lover regardless.

Willow’s eyes go large as she eyes the package. Then her brow furrows and mouth pinches. “Baby, why would they send it to both of us at your work?” She looks at Buffy who just shrugs.

“It’s a present, Will.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “We all know about my love affair with presents…wait,” she points to the feebs and myself, “well, at least Will knows. Jimmy would confirm, but he’s at the hospital and Sweetie, he said to say that if you love him lots, you’d bring him by another change of clothes.”

Willow laughs and shakes her head. “He could try coming home one time this week. He hasn’t been there once since Thursday morning.”

Buffy holds her hands up, saying, “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

A hand on my shoulder interrupts my watching and Elliot smiles at me waggling a finger between the two women. “What gives?”

“Don’t ask, just observe.” I say quietly. I also take my own advice and observe. Looking at the other women in the room, they seem just as intrigued by the play by play as I am.

“So,” Willow says as she stares Buffy down, “A package gets delivered to your work with our names on it and you, the detective of the family, don’t see a problem with that?”

“Uh,” Buffy’s mouth turns up in this small half smile and she bats her eyelashes at her wife. “Present?”

Willow rolls her eyes and looks at the package again. She kneels and runs her hands over the wrapping. “Does anyone have a knife?” she asks from the floor as she inspects the label.

Elliot fishes in his pocket and comes up with a pocketknife. He goes over and hands it to Willow. “Thanks,” she says, taking the offered blade. “Gloves,” she demands of her partner and holds out her hand. Buffy goes to her messenger bag and pulls out a couple of pairs of latex gloves.

“Will, don’t you think…” Buffy starts

Willow interrupts, “The label’s the same as the paper that’s been found with our victims, Buffy. This isn’t a wedding present. This is a message. Just like everything else.” Buffy looks at her and then her eyes grow a bit large. “Trust me, baby. We want to process this like evidence.”

“Satsu,” Buffy calls, “call C.S.U. and get another tech down to help Willow process this.”

“But, ma’am, you don’t even know if it's from the va…unsub,” Satsu tries to reason. She stops as Buffy stares her down.

“Make the call, Takeda.” Buffy turns back to Willow and they both pull gloves on. El goes to help them, but I hold him back. It’s addressed to them. I want to see this and I don’t want him getting hurt if anything happens.

I don’t worry about Buffy and Willow. My gut tells me that if anything were to happen, they would come out virtually unscathed.

We all gather around a few feet back as the paper is carefully cut off and placed on top of a desk.

A painting underneath is revealed.

It appears to be done in hues of reds and browns. I step closer and I hear Buffy hiss, “It’s blood.”

Willow looks up at her and nods. “It’s still wet too,” the doctor adds.

All of us stare at the picture of a figure hanging with their arms wrapped around a bar. The figure hangs there. Below it are roughed out images of a cross, stake and sword. The image is feminine in form with long hair and exaggerated hips.

Satsu, Buffy, Amanda and Willow all see everything at the same time and it clicks for them. Buffy’s the first one to hiss, “Son of a bitch.”

She spins away from the painting and I step back from her. There’s a fire in her eyes that I’ve not seen before. In fact, I haven’t seen it in anyone before. It’s like she’s declaring war. “They just made this way too personal.”

“Buffy, you can’t assume it’s you,” Willow tries to calm her lover down.

“Bullshit, Willow. If it’s not me that’s hanging there, it’s one of the girls.” Her fists clench at her side before they rest on her hips, her knuckles white as she grips them. “Are you really going to try and convince me that that’s not personal?”

Willow falters for a second, but shakes her head.

My face falls as I realize the truth in my slayers words. This whole damn thing has been personal. The kids, the names of the victims, this new present. It’s all been geared at getting to us. To making sure Buffy and I are as involved as we can be.

I stand up and look at Satsu and Amanda. They don’t look happy. Elliot and Olivia just seem sort of confused, not understanding the references in the painting.

I will say this, if that is supposed to be my Buffy up there, the vampire responsible for this, will have my face imprinted in their being as I send their ass back to hell. I grab Buffy’s hand not caring who’s around or that both of us are working.

This goes beyond professionalism.

One of the techs, a new guy shows up with a kit and I help him set up and start collecting samples. I glance back and the five with guns are talking quietly amongst themselves. I tune into some of the conversation. The two slayers are asking if we want the F.B.I. lab to process the painting.

“No,” I answer for the cops standing around. “I want to process this here. If the bureau gets their hands on it, I think they’ll trash it.”

“Detective Summers, it’s your call.” Satsu says.

“Satsu, that’s not your…” Amanda tries to correct her, but I’m up and in front of the other slayers face before she can finish.

“Look, in case you missed the memo, there’s a crazy person out there not only coming after people we know, but they also seem to be targeting the woman I love. So you either listen to me or get the hell out of here!” I point to the door and wait for her to make her decision. Satsu’s eyes drop to the floor.

“I…I wasn’t…” she stammers.

“Will,” Buffy’s hand moves to my shoulder as she tries to calm me down.

“Doctor Rosenberg,” the tech calls out.

I look in his direction and he holds a piece of paper out to me. I go over and take the item being offered. “It was behind the frame sealed behind the paper on the frame job.”

“Thanks.” I smile at him. I unfold the thick parchment and silently read over the message. My blood boils, and if it could really boil without killing me, it would be. I read for the rest of the group, “The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside.”

I don’t do what I really want to do which is crumble this up, find this bitch and stuff it down her throat. I also know that the reaction I’m having I blame on spending all of my free time around two cops with tempers, my lover’s violent tendencies when she gets angry have started rubbing off.

What can I say, I’m easily influenced, especially by blondes with sultry smiles.

Olivia’s left hand goes to her hip while her right massages the back of her neck. “I know that.”

“Okay,” Amanda says, “What is it?”

All of us roll our eyes, knowing that if Olivia knew what it was exactly she would have said something. The brunette detective paces back to her desk and forward again, trying to remember where she's heard those words before.

“It’s Homer,” Alex says from the doorway.

“As in Simpson?” Buffy asks.

I laugh and pull her by me, shushing her.

Alex’s mouth turns up into a small smile and she answers, “As in the bard. It’s from the Iliad.”

Buffy leans in and whispers, “Is that something I should have read?”

I give her a quick peck on the cheek, unable to resist the cute befuddled look and nod.

“I could kiss you right now!” Olivia says. “I knew it but…”

Alex drops her bag by Olivia’s desk and strides over to the group. I resist the urge to ogle. I mean I have a thing for blondes, but I’m also marrying the woman who gave me my thing for blondes in the first place.

Alex leans into her girlfriend and whispers something. I’m not sure what, but by the flush coming over Olivia, I’d say it was something fun.

“Okay, so I’m still not seeing the big with the quote,” Buffy says behind me.

The details of the poem come back to me and I say, “Buffy, Satsu and Amanda, I need to speak with you in private.” I turn and head for the stairs. If I remember correctly, there should be an interview room or two up there.

I don’t give them much of a chance to protest, taking off for the steps. I go to the first empty room I find and wait for the three slayers to catch up with me. Quickly they file in and I slam the door closed.

“You two,” I say pointing to the two young slayers, “I want this entire city searched top to bottom. I want this vampire or vampires found and staked.”

“With all due…” Amanda starts.

She’s cut off by Buffy, “Whoa, Will, chill.”

Spinning towards my slayer I shake my head. “Buffy, in case the memo got trashed, this vamp is coming after you and it’s coming after me. The Iliad was a poem about war. That’s,” I rage on, waving the parchment at her, “a huge honking gauntlet, Buffy.”

“What makes you think I don’t see that?” she snarls and then clarifies, “The coming after us thing, ‘cause the whole Iliad-Simpson thing is a bit over my head right now.”

I toss a quick look at the agents and Amanda, while she’s seen us argue, hasn’t seen Buffy or I argue like this. Satsu seems mildly pleased. I’ll deal with that later. If I get a later. Instead, I redirect all of my attention to my dense lover. “Buffy, where were you when Nekko came after us? Because if you’ve forgotten about that, there are scars on your body that I can show you to help jog your memory.”

Her face pinches and I press, “In case you forgot, the last time we were singled out, you and Faith both ended up in the hospital. Four people died, not counting Nekko and his wakcy warlock pal. We almost lost Jimmy and…” I swallow the bile that comes up the back of my throat and finish, “I nearly lost you.”

“Will,” Buffy says trying to dampen my growing wig. “I understand. I remember, but there’s too much on this. There are too many eyes on this right now.”

“Buff that would matter if the body count wasn’t rising. I scanned the painting. There’s at least seven different samples of blood on that thing. Let’s assume that they aren’t from any of our last seven victims and say they’re all new. That makes fourteen.”

She shakes her head. “Satsu and Amanda, excuse us. Don’t sweep until I talk to you,” she directs. As they file out of the room. Buffy inches closer to me. “Willow, baby, please okay, I get it. I’m beyond pissed right now, but I need you level headed.”

Her arms encircle my waist and I lay my head on her shoulder. “I know,” I mumble. “Just this vamp’s different. Well, not horribly different, but she’s like…”

“It feels like Angelus?” she whispers.

I can only nod. It feels like we’re being played with. It feels like junior year and I’m scared that when I go home of what I’ll find. I don’t have goldfish anymore. I have a Buffy and a Jimmy.

Will I find them next?

Her hands run soothing patterns over my back but it doesn’t quell the panic I feel right now.

“We’ll find them, Willow. I’ll find them and we’ll dust them and we’ll get back to being us again,” she promises.

I smile at that. Buffy always has found a way to keep her promises.

“Two days,” I tell her.

“That’s a long time.” She squeezes me and pulls back looking me in the eye. “Promise me,” she demands.

“I can’t.” I won’t tell her I won’t go psycho if she dies. I can’t make that promise.

Her eyes dart to the floor and she seems to accept it. “Well, Will that doesn’t leave me much of a choice does it?”

“Nope.” I smile at her and draw her in for a kiss. I’m still cranky at her, but that really isn’t a reason to deny myself smoochies.

I’m not that stupid.