Animal - Ch. 19
Ch. 19 - …You Better Not Fear How You Die
My arms fold across my chest and I listen to Buffy go over the information we got from the taps on the building. Olivia looks at me and I give her a tight-lipped smile. My partner’s looking a little better this morning which is a good thing. I think I worry about her just as much as I do my kids.
“Dawn’s teams of slayers have started to gather and put together an offensive attack. I’ll know more tomorrow,” Buffy stands center in the small interrogation room. The usual people are here, but the room was preferable to being out on the floor talking about vampires.
"Do we have a plan on how to get at the building?” Olivia asks.
Buffy nods. “I do, but…” she looks between me, Olivia and Alex. “It doesn’t involve you guys.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” Alex snaps.
“Alex,” Willow tries to reason, “None of you have any real experience going into a situation like this. It’s safer for everyone.”
I would protest my lack of involvement, but I can’t. They’re right. I wouldn’t send a rookie in with a S.W.A.T. team especially when the numbers are so skewed.
I watch as Alex considers the reason and she sighs, pursing her lips. I know that look. She doesn’t like it, but I think she understands. Olivia nods to me and I dip my chin in agreement.
“Hey,” Cragen’s head pokes through the door as he says, “We need to move this downstairs. Buffy there’s a group from the government, said that you called them.”
Buffy nods and moves towards the door, following Cragen out. We all file out behind her and take the stairs to one of the conference rooms on the second floor. We file in and take seats around a large table waiting on the feebs to get up here. It takes a few minutes of waiting, but as the door opens I recognize, Takeda and Kramer following a dark haired woman in tight fitting cargo pants, tank top and F.B.I. jacket.
Buffy and Willow both squeak, “Faith!”
“Heya B. Hi, Red.” The brunette leading the pack, Faith I guess, chirps back. Jimmy stands and shakes hands with Faith.
Willow stands and both Faith and her do a small dance before committing to an uncomfortable looking hug. Buffy just nods in Faith’s direction and I wonder what kind of history they have.
I watch Angel step out of the shadows from the corner, a grin gracing his otherwise morose features. “Hello Faith,” he says softly.
I watch her spin around at the sound and her face lights up. “Angel!” She practically runs over and stops short of jumping into his arms. Instead of the hug I expect, she punches him the shoulder and he staggers back. “You fucker!”
Angel for his part takes it on the chin and shrugs. “Uh, sorry a little too late?”
Faith eyes him a moment and then shakes her head. “You try and take on three different hell gods again and don’t call and invite me to the fight, I’m gonna come out to L.A. for you.” She wiggles her eyebrows and finishes, “And you won’t like what I do.”
He smiles and before I can register, he has her in a hug.
“As much,” Buffy says from the other end of the room, “as I love a good reunion, I want to know what you’re doing here, Faith.”
Angel releases her and they both start around to Buffy’s side of the room. “Dawn called. Said that I should be here with my team. So here I am. You got the head bitch here. We’re here to help, B. not start any trouble.”
Buffy nods, her face finally breaking into a smile. “Good I can use the help. So who’s who and what?” she asks pointing at the 7 girls standing against the back wall of the room. “I’ve met Satsu and Amanda, but…”
Faith nods and points to each girl as she goes through names, “This is Ang, Missy, Kelly, Lori and Rory.” Each girl smiles and offers a small wave.
“Nice to meet you,” Willow waves at the girls. “I’m Willow, this is Buffy obviously and that’s,” she says pointing, “Jimmy. The rest of the people here are Detective’s Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler, Debra Morgan and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot.”
All of us wave or nod while Willow pulls Lilah’s building up on the screen behind her. The satellite image is decent and shows a real time display on the current activity of the building. Since it’s three in the afternoon, there isn’t a lot.
I watch as Buffy stands and goes to the screen to point as she talks, “This is where they’re calling home. It’s a four story building in a rundown neighborhood north of Harlem.” She points to a set of doors and says, “The good with this building is that there are only three ways to get in and three ways to get out. The roof, the basement-sewer access and the front doors. The bad with this building is that there are only three ways in or out.”
“Assuming we don’t make any ourselves,” one of the slayers, Missy, speaks up from the back.
Buffy rolls her eyes and looks at Faith. “I can see why she’s on your team,” Buffy says, smirking.
“We like our free thinkers, B.” Faith leans back in her chair looking over the building.
“Will got us a full count on the building’s occupants. Eighty-four total bodies, heat signatures put actual humans at eight in the building. Three on the fourth floor, two on the third and second floors and one on the first.” A thermo image of the building pops up and Buffy points to a few large splotches, saying, “These here are where we think the demons are. They’re large enough and they’re giving off enough heat. So that takes our total of eighty-four and breaks it down like this, eight humans, three demons and seventy-three vamps.”
I watch as the faces of the slayers fall. Faith looks at Buffy from the corner of her eye as she purses her lips.
“That’s gonna be bloody impossible,” Rory moans. “Just how many of us are gonna be goin’ in to the building?”
“So far, Me, Willow, Faith, Angel and the seven of you.” Buffy folds her arms across her chest as the rest of the group takes in the ramifications. By my count, assuming the humans are friendly, that’s still over ten demons to one person. Those aren’t good odds on any day.
“You realize Ms. Summers that it’s a fookin’ suicide mission right?” Rory looks Buffy in the eye.
For her part Buffy shrugs and replies, “I’ve faced worse odds. Besides we will be taking care of some of them before rushing in there.” The building rotates and she points to several windows. “We do have a plan. Would you like to hear it before you throw yourself on your sword?”
The other slayer nods and Buffy smiles. “Good. Deb, Jimmy, Olivia, Elliot and Alex are going to be given tear gas. You five get to have fun shooting canisters into the front part of the building first, then we’ll hit the second, third and fourth floors. While Willow seals the roof access, the vamps are going to try and scatter. They will try going outside, but since we’re planning an assault during the day, they’ll only kill themselves. Will, Angel and I will go through the basement access hatch and work our way up. Faith, you and your team will hit a set of fourth floor windows.” Her hands go to her hips and she levels a glare at them all as she says, “Gas masks firmly in place. The attack from the top down will give you time to work your way through the building. Kill anything non-human and save any of the humans you find.”
Faith chews her lower lip before nodding her head. “It seems solid.” She grins and shoots Buffy a wink. “Almost like you’ve been doing this for a long time.”
Buffy’s middle finger rises directed towards the brunette and all Faith does is grin wider, saying, “I tried, but you said you weren’t gay.”
My eyebrow’s rise in response and I hear a small snicker from some of the other rooms occupants. Buffy takes the ribbing well and lets it drop. I watch Willow shake her head, but her hair doesn’t quite cover the smirk at the corners of her mouth. Angel, I observe, looks a little pained as he shrinks back against the wall.
“So when are we planning this assault?” Alex asks. “I have no idea how to fire a tear gas gun so someone’s going to need to teach me.”
“Oh,” Buffy says.
“Don’t think we’ll need her, Cupcake,” Jimmy speaks up from his chair on her left. “We’ve got four people that have the training. We can manage while you and the others take the building. ‘Sides, Alex we don’t need an A.D.A. being questioned about their involvement on a raid that’s not gonna give us any bodies.”
Alex thinks about this for a moment and nods, asking, “Just how exactly are we going to explain that little detail?”
Faith speaks up and chirps, “We’ll sweep it under the rug. I also don’t think there won’t be bodies. If it is a suck house, they’ve got dead bodies in there. We’ll just use them until we can clear the minimal media attention.”
I raise my eyebrow and wonder aloud, “Done this often?”
The brunette shrugs. “Too often for my liking, but it’s what it is and we’ll deal. B. we gonna be ready to roll soon?”
Buffy nods and says, “We’ll be leaving here as soon as the S.W.A.T. truck’s ready. Jimmy you’re driving us there.”
My foot squishes down on something and I cringe. Yep, this is my life, can’t get enough traipsing around through sewers on a hell mouth in high school, I feel the need to do it now at twenty-eight years old. I shake my head and continue to follow Willow a few feet in front of me. I also remember why we offered to take the sewer entrance in the first place, Angel.
I cast a quick glance back over my shoulder and wonder why the reason I’m in the sewer has been sulking all damn day. I know the stakeout with Jimmy wasn’t going to go great, but I at least thought both of them would work together. Jimmy doesn’t know him and really isn’t impressed with the stories he’s heard.
I would agree if I didn’t know Angel. Will says it’s okay that he still has a piece of my heart. For one, it’s annoying that he does, two, it’s annoying that she knows this and is understanding and three; I’m annoyed at being annoyed.
“Buff, we’re getting close,” Will says as she stops.
“Jimmy,” I say into the com-mic that’s in my ear, “what’s your twenty?”
“En route,” he replies. “Give me five and we’ll be in position. Over.”
“Faith,” I call out her name.
“We’re ready B. As soon as the tear gas flies, we’ll roll,” her voice is crisp in my ear and I nod absently.
“I can’t do this,” Angel says on my right.
“Can’t do what?” Will asks. Yeah. Can’t do what, I want to know.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He looks at me, eyes sad.
“Angel,” I stop, knowing the what he’s talking about is my engagement. At first I’m a little angry; I don’t need to clear it with him, but…
If the roles were reversed, I’d want him to tell me.
Sighing, I shift on my feet and shrug. “Just what exactly would you want me to say? ‘Hey, ex of mine, I’m gay now and marrying my best friend from high school. Just thought I’d let you know.’”
His lips purse and Will sighs.
“Angel, I can be all irrational and annoyed that you’re annoyed, and I am a little, but…” I fold my arms across my chest, my bottom lip quivers involuntarily and I can’t complete the thought.
His face droops and he pouts, “But we talked there were cookies and…”
“Oh Criminey, not the cookie analogy again…,” Willow grumbles, but she lets us talk. She’ll never know how grateful I am that I have her by my side.
“Angel,” I say, “I know,” it’s all I offer and I hope he gets it. I held out the same hope for the two of us for so long. I’m just not sure when I became okay with not having it anymore.
“But you…” His eyes skirt between Willow and me.
“Guys,” Will’s voice breaks through and she pleads, “as much as I think you two need to have this conversation, does it have to be done now?”
“Willow,” Angel starts and stops.
“No,” she says stamping her foot, causing a splash of sewer ick to dust our pants legs, “You two need to talk. I’m on the talk train. I’m not on the talk train in the middle of the sewer while we get ready to bust in on a building full of vamps. After or whatever, but not now.”
I watch him nod slowly and I say, “Later, Angel. I promise.”
He dips his chin in submission and we resume our walk. The hatch that leads to the basement is about fifteen feet ahead and I motion for the other two to stand back. It’s a large steel grate in the ceiling of the sewer with a set of rungs embedded in the side of the concrete to climb up.
I inch my way up, tuning an ear to any sounds that may come from the area above us. I hear the drip of water and nothing else. Carefully, I tug the grate down and the hinges give way easily. It swings down and I tense. When nothing comes shooting from the entrance, I grip the edge of the hole and hoist myself up and in.
I breathe in the smell of rot, blood and mildew. It’s pleasant in the torture chamber kinda way. The space is empty and I poke my head down and offer Willow my hand. I grip her forearm as we work together to pull her up. We both stand once she’s on the basement floor and dust our clothes off. Once Angel jumps through, I pull a stake from the small of my back.
Willow turns to the hole and says some words in Latin. The grate rises and latches closed. It burns red as she sprinkles some powder over it. The powder fades as she dusts her hands free.
“Ready?” I ask through our link.
She looks at me, offers a soft smile and nods. We move through the basement in sections. The part we came up was obviously used for torture and some of the other rooms we clear were too. Nicely enough, the bottom part of the building is empty. If I believed in God, I may say thanks; instead I find the steps to lead us to the first floor.
We climb the steps slowly inching our way up. Stopping before I reach the landing, I look back at Will and Angel, two of the people that mean the most to me. I nod slightly and I hear Willow in my head, “After this, I want new shoes.”
A grin comes over me and I reply, “And some new outfits. I’ve ruined two suits this week.”
“Fine,” she says, “and Buffy?”
“Yeah Will?”
“I love you,” her words envelope me in warmth and strengthen my resolve.
“I kinda love you too Will.” I reflect back at her. Touching the com-mic I say, “Jimmy, we’re in position, we’ll wait for your go.”
I don’t know what we’ll find through that door. I just know what I need to do. Willow hands me my gas mask and I slip it on, turning back I see Angel and her already wearing theirs.
I finish the last few steps and grip the doorknob at the landing. In the distance, I hear the muffled shattering of glass. Taking my cue from Jimmy, I push the door open. The hallway’s empty as I motion the other two forward. Around me and through the walls and ceiling, I hear vampires start to panic. Their erratic movements and disorientation becoming more pronounced as we move through the first floor of the building.
The rooms that we clear are empty. It’s not something I’m happy about. The first vamp we encounter comes from a set of steps to my right. Angel has him staked and ashed before I even bring my stake up. Footfalls from above tell me more are coming. He looks at me and I know.
Trusting that I’ll see him again, I grab Will’s hand and pull her forward letting Angel take care of the vamps coming from that entry point. Rounding the corner on my left, there’s one lone door midway down the hall. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Briefly, I close my eyes and let myself feel.
There are only two other people down this way. I just can’t tell if they’re human or not.
Not bothering with the caution thing anymore, I rip my mask off, certain no tear gas is coming this way, charge down the hallway and kick the door open. Walking through, I look around. A bed is on the far side of the room about twenty feet ahead. I groan as I look around. The place is lit by candles. Sheer curtains surround the bed. All of it done in red and black. Rolling my eyes, I grumble, “Does taste go out the window when you die?”
Will removers her own mask and snickers behind me as we approach the half-cloaked king bed. I gather a bit of the soft cloth in my hands and rip off the canopy. Dexter’s pale face rests in front of me.
Expecting his eyes to open or for him to go all bumpy, I’m mildly surprised that he’s still warm as my finger tips brush his stubbly cheek and across stained lips. The constant outside noise of terrified vamps and breaking windows and walls fade away. I allow myself a brief moment of guilt and regret.
I pull down the collar on his shirt and see the fresh wounds on his neck still leaking blood.
The reality of what that means hits me like a sledgehammer. I jump away like he’s going to catch fire.
That stupid, fucking, bitch!
“You’re a bit behind schedule, dear,” a voice sounds over my shoulder. Will and I spin around and Lilah stands in the doorway. “I so wanted you to see his death.”
Knowing she isn’t going to throw down that far way, I effect a more casual posture and say blandly, “Here I thought fashionably late was all the rage.”
“For some things yes, but others, it’s only proper to be on time.” She sighs and steps into the room, her hand trailing behind to caress the frame of the door. She moves carefully to the bed, sitting down next to Dexter. Running a hand through his hair she reflects, “He was quite the trooper, you know. I kept him alive through it all. He watched in horror as I tortured his sister, the slayer and those children with their families. He was particularly reticent after I had killed those kids.” Her fangs flash for a brief second as she spits, “Vile little creatures.”
I take a step back as she turns to me, mouth full of fangs. “I wanted to show him how wrong he was. He picked the wrong side you see. He finally gave in and admitted it.” She stands and pats his arm one last time before turning her attention to me and Will. “I let him go this morning.”
Not waiting for her to make the first move, I launch my attack. A left hook snaps her head back as her fangs cut into my knuckles. My right fist shoots out and my hit lands squarely on her nose. She staggers back into the bed and rolls to the other side.
“You are in my home,” she hisses, “don’t be rude.”
Willow steps in front of me and spits, “You know, this whole crazy, vampire, stalker act. I’m really over it.” I see the ball of light form in her hand and I have a brief urge to stop her so that I can kill the bitch, but…
I realize I just want this over with.
“Drusilla had that spot way before you. So do us all a favor and just shut the fuck up already,” she snaps and lets the small ball of sunlight shoot from her hand.
We both watch as it hits the center of Lilah’s chest. Shock registers across her face as she begins to burn from the inside out then falls to ash on the thick carpet.
Without thought, I return to the bed and look back at Dexter. Debra will want to see him. Disregarding protocol, I gently scoop him up in my arms and allow Willow to lead us out to the front of the building. As we move forward, I hear the sounds of fighting above me and I hope Angel, Faith and the team are doing well.
I squint as we reach the entrance. Sunlight and fiery ash rain down on us as we step outside.
The whir of lights from the two fire trucks and a few scattered police cars cause me to squint in the late afternoon sunlight. I look around and cradle her injured head in my hands. Making sure to keep the compress tight against where she was hit.
My hand shakes as I replace the compress and look down into half lidded, pain filled brown eyes. “Are you sure, Liv?” I ask gently. I think we should take her to the hospital, but she’s been insistent that we don’t.
“I’m okay, Alex, really,” she says a little thickly. “I’m actually more worried about Elliot.”
I concede as I think back to the beginning of the mêlée. Everything began as planned, except for the clouds. We hadn’t planned on those. They covered up a lot of the sunlight as the vampires began coming out of the building. Not wanting to let them get away, Jimmy started to wade through them, hitting and staking them as he took them on one by one. Elliot, Olivia and Deb jumped in to help.
Somewhere, at some point, the building caught fire. The F.D.N.Y. showed up and so did some regular patrol cars. Right now, Faith, Buffy and Isabel are talking to the uniforms and getting everyone’s story straight. While I sit with Olivia on the back of a bus making sure her head is going to stop bleeding from the knock she took. Her second vampire slammed her into the building and I watched as her head bounced off the wall.
I remove the compress and watch as no blood oozes from the laceration. Satisfied, I take the bandage the medic left me and gingerly apply it over the cut. I resist my urge to kiss it and hold her closer, knowing that there are some cops from the one-six around and I don’t need to deal with what will ensue if they see.
Instead I squeeze her shoulder and look over to Elliot resting on the gurney. His arm is in a sling and there’s a drip connected to his free arm. Poor Elliot.
He was tossed over a set of vampires exiting the building and crashed down onto the unyielding concrete. They think his arm’s broke. He will be going to the hospital as soon as the medics get back.
“Come on, counselor, take a seat,” Olivia says patting the steel of the vehicle.
I concede and rest my head against her shoulder. Her cheek nestles on top of my head and I stare out at the scene.
God this is such a mess.
I look out to my left and see Jimmy standing behind Debra. My jaw clenches as I feel sympathy for the woman who’s lost her last remaining family member. I know all too well what that’s like. She guards the gurney with her brother’s body on it. Standing vigil in the dying light, I haven’t seen her move or shed a tear since we all watched Buffy carry the man out of the building.
I sneeze as the smoke and ash tickle my nose. Olivia hands me a crumpled tissue from her pocket and I nod, thanking her. Willow emerges from the smoldering building with C.S.U. techs. A group follows them out of the building carrying two more body bags.
They stack them to the right of the building and head back in. I look at the small pile, fifteen so far and from what Faith said, there’s a few dozen more victims that need to be carried out. “I wish there was someone to prosecute for this?” I grumble.
Olivia laughs and pats my knee. “Easy there Alex. We’re going to have too many holes to cover up in our DD-5’s.”
I look at her crossly and she relents holding up a hand, “Alright more holes than usual.” She hooks a thumb over her shoulder and says, “And I need to ride in with Elliot to make sure he’s not alone until Kathy comes.”
I wince, knowing that that conversation won’t be a pleasant one.
“I can ride in with you. Maybe keep Kathy from ripping you a new one.” I smile at her and wink.
The corner of her mouth rides up in a half smile and my stomach flops. When I first came to S.V.U. and I had that reaction for the first time, I thought it was indigestion. When it happened the second and the third…I had no idea I was in as deep as I was. Now, I’m just thankful that she’ll smile at me like that again.
“It’s a mess out here,” she whispers quietly. I look at her and nod. The firemen are still putting out the fourth floor while C.S.U. is going in and removing bodies. There’s a barricade set up on the east side of the building blocking the T.V. cameras from some of the more grisly money shots.
My mouth sets a grim line taking in the sight in front of me then I say, “It looks like a battlefield.” A small gust of wind picks up and the ash either from the vampires’ bodies or the fire picks up and swirls in the air.
“It was,” my lover says solemnly next to me. “We won though. That’s what counts.”
“It does, I just hope it’s over.” I pat her knee and sigh.
She shakes her head and says, “Some of the stuff I saw, Alex…I don’t think it’ll be over for a while. I just…if there is a God, I hope this isn’t the start of a new trend. Those slayers are good women, good girls. I hope their time as a slayer is better than what Buffy went through. The few stories she shared…” she trails off and runs her hand through hair.
“Willow too. She shared a few tidbits. Can you imagine growing up with that weight?” I ask.
“Not really.” She manages to smile and says, “Knowing now though, I think that if there were any group that could, it would be them.”
“I see they’ve earned your respect.” I look up at her and she nods.
“A lot more than that.”
“Liv,” Elliot rasps from the gurney behind us. “Did you call Kathy?”
“Yeah partner, she’s going to meet us at the hospital,” Olivia says moving inside to sit on the bench next to where Elliot is laying. I move with her and finally feel like we’re away from enough eyes to grab her hand. Greedily she takes it and with her other hand reaches out and takes her partner’s free hand.
“How’s Morgan?” he asks thickly.
“They found Dexter’s body,” I say quietly.
Elliot’s eyes close and he nods. “That sucks.”
“Counselor,” A.U.S.A. Cohen looks up at us from the back of the bus. “I was going to address media concerns. Would you like to make a statement for the N.Y.P.D.? Perhaps you and Detective Benson would like to. Buffy wants to avoid the cameras if at all possible and from what I’ve been told you are both versed in camera time.”
I look at Liv and she shrugs.
“Go on partner,” Elliot urges. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
We both nod and hop down on to the black top. “What’s the story?” I ask.
“In a joint effort with local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has closed the operations of a small terrorist cell that was responsible for a house burning and the subsequent death of Miami Dade’s respected blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan,” she pauses and straightens her jacket. “Along with Dexter, the deaths of his wife and children have also been closed as the surviving members of the cell are being detained in Federal lock up, pending arraignment and trial.”
I look at her and raise an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
She grins at us and shrugs. “I could give you more detail, but with situations like this, I find less is more.”
“How are the rest of the girls?” Olivia asks.
Isabel shrugs and says, “A few scrapes and bruises, but they did well. I suspect they’ll be back at their home base before tomorrow.”
I nod and prepare myself to address the public. Just another day at the office.
My arms fold across my chest and I listen to Buffy go over the information we got from the taps on the building. Olivia looks at me and I give her a tight-lipped smile. My partner’s looking a little better this morning which is a good thing. I think I worry about her just as much as I do my kids.
“Dawn’s teams of slayers have started to gather and put together an offensive attack. I’ll know more tomorrow,” Buffy stands center in the small interrogation room. The usual people are here, but the room was preferable to being out on the floor talking about vampires.
"Do we have a plan on how to get at the building?” Olivia asks.
Buffy nods. “I do, but…” she looks between me, Olivia and Alex. “It doesn’t involve you guys.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” Alex snaps.
“Alex,” Willow tries to reason, “None of you have any real experience going into a situation like this. It’s safer for everyone.”
I would protest my lack of involvement, but I can’t. They’re right. I wouldn’t send a rookie in with a S.W.A.T. team especially when the numbers are so skewed.
I watch as Alex considers the reason and she sighs, pursing her lips. I know that look. She doesn’t like it, but I think she understands. Olivia nods to me and I dip my chin in agreement.
“Hey,” Cragen’s head pokes through the door as he says, “We need to move this downstairs. Buffy there’s a group from the government, said that you called them.”
Buffy nods and moves towards the door, following Cragen out. We all file out behind her and take the stairs to one of the conference rooms on the second floor. We file in and take seats around a large table waiting on the feebs to get up here. It takes a few minutes of waiting, but as the door opens I recognize, Takeda and Kramer following a dark haired woman in tight fitting cargo pants, tank top and F.B.I. jacket.
Buffy and Willow both squeak, “Faith!”
“Heya B. Hi, Red.” The brunette leading the pack, Faith I guess, chirps back. Jimmy stands and shakes hands with Faith.
Willow stands and both Faith and her do a small dance before committing to an uncomfortable looking hug. Buffy just nods in Faith’s direction and I wonder what kind of history they have.
I watch Angel step out of the shadows from the corner, a grin gracing his otherwise morose features. “Hello Faith,” he says softly.
I watch her spin around at the sound and her face lights up. “Angel!” She practically runs over and stops short of jumping into his arms. Instead of the hug I expect, she punches him the shoulder and he staggers back. “You fucker!”
Angel for his part takes it on the chin and shrugs. “Uh, sorry a little too late?”
Faith eyes him a moment and then shakes her head. “You try and take on three different hell gods again and don’t call and invite me to the fight, I’m gonna come out to L.A. for you.” She wiggles her eyebrows and finishes, “And you won’t like what I do.”
He smiles and before I can register, he has her in a hug.
“As much,” Buffy says from the other end of the room, “as I love a good reunion, I want to know what you’re doing here, Faith.”
Angel releases her and they both start around to Buffy’s side of the room. “Dawn called. Said that I should be here with my team. So here I am. You got the head bitch here. We’re here to help, B. not start any trouble.”
Buffy nods, her face finally breaking into a smile. “Good I can use the help. So who’s who and what?” she asks pointing at the 7 girls standing against the back wall of the room. “I’ve met Satsu and Amanda, but…”
Faith nods and points to each girl as she goes through names, “This is Ang, Missy, Kelly, Lori and Rory.” Each girl smiles and offers a small wave.
“Nice to meet you,” Willow waves at the girls. “I’m Willow, this is Buffy obviously and that’s,” she says pointing, “Jimmy. The rest of the people here are Detective’s Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler, Debra Morgan and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot.”
All of us wave or nod while Willow pulls Lilah’s building up on the screen behind her. The satellite image is decent and shows a real time display on the current activity of the building. Since it’s three in the afternoon, there isn’t a lot.
I watch as Buffy stands and goes to the screen to point as she talks, “This is where they’re calling home. It’s a four story building in a rundown neighborhood north of Harlem.” She points to a set of doors and says, “The good with this building is that there are only three ways to get in and three ways to get out. The roof, the basement-sewer access and the front doors. The bad with this building is that there are only three ways in or out.”
“Assuming we don’t make any ourselves,” one of the slayers, Missy, speaks up from the back.
Buffy rolls her eyes and looks at Faith. “I can see why she’s on your team,” Buffy says, smirking.
“We like our free thinkers, B.” Faith leans back in her chair looking over the building.
“Will got us a full count on the building’s occupants. Eighty-four total bodies, heat signatures put actual humans at eight in the building. Three on the fourth floor, two on the third and second floors and one on the first.” A thermo image of the building pops up and Buffy points to a few large splotches, saying, “These here are where we think the demons are. They’re large enough and they’re giving off enough heat. So that takes our total of eighty-four and breaks it down like this, eight humans, three demons and seventy-three vamps.”
I watch as the faces of the slayers fall. Faith looks at Buffy from the corner of her eye as she purses her lips.
“That’s gonna be bloody impossible,” Rory moans. “Just how many of us are gonna be goin’ in to the building?”
“So far, Me, Willow, Faith, Angel and the seven of you.” Buffy folds her arms across her chest as the rest of the group takes in the ramifications. By my count, assuming the humans are friendly, that’s still over ten demons to one person. Those aren’t good odds on any day.
“You realize Ms. Summers that it’s a fookin’ suicide mission right?” Rory looks Buffy in the eye.
For her part Buffy shrugs and replies, “I’ve faced worse odds. Besides we will be taking care of some of them before rushing in there.” The building rotates and she points to several windows. “We do have a plan. Would you like to hear it before you throw yourself on your sword?”
The other slayer nods and Buffy smiles. “Good. Deb, Jimmy, Olivia, Elliot and Alex are going to be given tear gas. You five get to have fun shooting canisters into the front part of the building first, then we’ll hit the second, third and fourth floors. While Willow seals the roof access, the vamps are going to try and scatter. They will try going outside, but since we’re planning an assault during the day, they’ll only kill themselves. Will, Angel and I will go through the basement access hatch and work our way up. Faith, you and your team will hit a set of fourth floor windows.” Her hands go to her hips and she levels a glare at them all as she says, “Gas masks firmly in place. The attack from the top down will give you time to work your way through the building. Kill anything non-human and save any of the humans you find.”
Faith chews her lower lip before nodding her head. “It seems solid.” She grins and shoots Buffy a wink. “Almost like you’ve been doing this for a long time.”
Buffy’s middle finger rises directed towards the brunette and all Faith does is grin wider, saying, “I tried, but you said you weren’t gay.”
My eyebrow’s rise in response and I hear a small snicker from some of the other rooms occupants. Buffy takes the ribbing well and lets it drop. I watch Willow shake her head, but her hair doesn’t quite cover the smirk at the corners of her mouth. Angel, I observe, looks a little pained as he shrinks back against the wall.
“So when are we planning this assault?” Alex asks. “I have no idea how to fire a tear gas gun so someone’s going to need to teach me.”
“Oh,” Buffy says.
“Don’t think we’ll need her, Cupcake,” Jimmy speaks up from his chair on her left. “We’ve got four people that have the training. We can manage while you and the others take the building. ‘Sides, Alex we don’t need an A.D.A. being questioned about their involvement on a raid that’s not gonna give us any bodies.”
Alex thinks about this for a moment and nods, asking, “Just how exactly are we going to explain that little detail?”
Faith speaks up and chirps, “We’ll sweep it under the rug. I also don’t think there won’t be bodies. If it is a suck house, they’ve got dead bodies in there. We’ll just use them until we can clear the minimal media attention.”
I raise my eyebrow and wonder aloud, “Done this often?”
The brunette shrugs. “Too often for my liking, but it’s what it is and we’ll deal. B. we gonna be ready to roll soon?”
Buffy nods and says, “We’ll be leaving here as soon as the S.W.A.T. truck’s ready. Jimmy you’re driving us there.”
My foot squishes down on something and I cringe. Yep, this is my life, can’t get enough traipsing around through sewers on a hell mouth in high school, I feel the need to do it now at twenty-eight years old. I shake my head and continue to follow Willow a few feet in front of me. I also remember why we offered to take the sewer entrance in the first place, Angel.
I cast a quick glance back over my shoulder and wonder why the reason I’m in the sewer has been sulking all damn day. I know the stakeout with Jimmy wasn’t going to go great, but I at least thought both of them would work together. Jimmy doesn’t know him and really isn’t impressed with the stories he’s heard.
I would agree if I didn’t know Angel. Will says it’s okay that he still has a piece of my heart. For one, it’s annoying that he does, two, it’s annoying that she knows this and is understanding and three; I’m annoyed at being annoyed.
“Buff, we’re getting close,” Will says as she stops.
“Jimmy,” I say into the com-mic that’s in my ear, “what’s your twenty?”
“En route,” he replies. “Give me five and we’ll be in position. Over.”
“Faith,” I call out her name.
“We’re ready B. As soon as the tear gas flies, we’ll roll,” her voice is crisp in my ear and I nod absently.
“I can’t do this,” Angel says on my right.
“Can’t do what?” Will asks. Yeah. Can’t do what, I want to know.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He looks at me, eyes sad.
“Angel,” I stop, knowing the what he’s talking about is my engagement. At first I’m a little angry; I don’t need to clear it with him, but…
If the roles were reversed, I’d want him to tell me.
Sighing, I shift on my feet and shrug. “Just what exactly would you want me to say? ‘Hey, ex of mine, I’m gay now and marrying my best friend from high school. Just thought I’d let you know.’”
His lips purse and Will sighs.
“Angel, I can be all irrational and annoyed that you’re annoyed, and I am a little, but…” I fold my arms across my chest, my bottom lip quivers involuntarily and I can’t complete the thought.
His face droops and he pouts, “But we talked there were cookies and…”
“Oh Criminey, not the cookie analogy again…,” Willow grumbles, but she lets us talk. She’ll never know how grateful I am that I have her by my side.
“Angel,” I say, “I know,” it’s all I offer and I hope he gets it. I held out the same hope for the two of us for so long. I’m just not sure when I became okay with not having it anymore.
“But you…” His eyes skirt between Willow and me.
“Guys,” Will’s voice breaks through and she pleads, “as much as I think you two need to have this conversation, does it have to be done now?”
“Willow,” Angel starts and stops.
“No,” she says stamping her foot, causing a splash of sewer ick to dust our pants legs, “You two need to talk. I’m on the talk train. I’m not on the talk train in the middle of the sewer while we get ready to bust in on a building full of vamps. After or whatever, but not now.”
I watch him nod slowly and I say, “Later, Angel. I promise.”
He dips his chin in submission and we resume our walk. The hatch that leads to the basement is about fifteen feet ahead and I motion for the other two to stand back. It’s a large steel grate in the ceiling of the sewer with a set of rungs embedded in the side of the concrete to climb up.
I inch my way up, tuning an ear to any sounds that may come from the area above us. I hear the drip of water and nothing else. Carefully, I tug the grate down and the hinges give way easily. It swings down and I tense. When nothing comes shooting from the entrance, I grip the edge of the hole and hoist myself up and in.
I breathe in the smell of rot, blood and mildew. It’s pleasant in the torture chamber kinda way. The space is empty and I poke my head down and offer Willow my hand. I grip her forearm as we work together to pull her up. We both stand once she’s on the basement floor and dust our clothes off. Once Angel jumps through, I pull a stake from the small of my back.
Willow turns to the hole and says some words in Latin. The grate rises and latches closed. It burns red as she sprinkles some powder over it. The powder fades as she dusts her hands free.
“Ready?” I ask through our link.
She looks at me, offers a soft smile and nods. We move through the basement in sections. The part we came up was obviously used for torture and some of the other rooms we clear were too. Nicely enough, the bottom part of the building is empty. If I believed in God, I may say thanks; instead I find the steps to lead us to the first floor.
We climb the steps slowly inching our way up. Stopping before I reach the landing, I look back at Will and Angel, two of the people that mean the most to me. I nod slightly and I hear Willow in my head, “After this, I want new shoes.”
A grin comes over me and I reply, “And some new outfits. I’ve ruined two suits this week.”
“Fine,” she says, “and Buffy?”
“Yeah Will?”
“I love you,” her words envelope me in warmth and strengthen my resolve.
“I kinda love you too Will.” I reflect back at her. Touching the com-mic I say, “Jimmy, we’re in position, we’ll wait for your go.”
I don’t know what we’ll find through that door. I just know what I need to do. Willow hands me my gas mask and I slip it on, turning back I see Angel and her already wearing theirs.
I finish the last few steps and grip the doorknob at the landing. In the distance, I hear the muffled shattering of glass. Taking my cue from Jimmy, I push the door open. The hallway’s empty as I motion the other two forward. Around me and through the walls and ceiling, I hear vampires start to panic. Their erratic movements and disorientation becoming more pronounced as we move through the first floor of the building.
The rooms that we clear are empty. It’s not something I’m happy about. The first vamp we encounter comes from a set of steps to my right. Angel has him staked and ashed before I even bring my stake up. Footfalls from above tell me more are coming. He looks at me and I know.
Trusting that I’ll see him again, I grab Will’s hand and pull her forward letting Angel take care of the vamps coming from that entry point. Rounding the corner on my left, there’s one lone door midway down the hall. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Briefly, I close my eyes and let myself feel.
There are only two other people down this way. I just can’t tell if they’re human or not.
Not bothering with the caution thing anymore, I rip my mask off, certain no tear gas is coming this way, charge down the hallway and kick the door open. Walking through, I look around. A bed is on the far side of the room about twenty feet ahead. I groan as I look around. The place is lit by candles. Sheer curtains surround the bed. All of it done in red and black. Rolling my eyes, I grumble, “Does taste go out the window when you die?”
Will removers her own mask and snickers behind me as we approach the half-cloaked king bed. I gather a bit of the soft cloth in my hands and rip off the canopy. Dexter’s pale face rests in front of me.
Expecting his eyes to open or for him to go all bumpy, I’m mildly surprised that he’s still warm as my finger tips brush his stubbly cheek and across stained lips. The constant outside noise of terrified vamps and breaking windows and walls fade away. I allow myself a brief moment of guilt and regret.
I pull down the collar on his shirt and see the fresh wounds on his neck still leaking blood.
The reality of what that means hits me like a sledgehammer. I jump away like he’s going to catch fire.
That stupid, fucking, bitch!
“You’re a bit behind schedule, dear,” a voice sounds over my shoulder. Will and I spin around and Lilah stands in the doorway. “I so wanted you to see his death.”
Knowing she isn’t going to throw down that far way, I effect a more casual posture and say blandly, “Here I thought fashionably late was all the rage.”
“For some things yes, but others, it’s only proper to be on time.” She sighs and steps into the room, her hand trailing behind to caress the frame of the door. She moves carefully to the bed, sitting down next to Dexter. Running a hand through his hair she reflects, “He was quite the trooper, you know. I kept him alive through it all. He watched in horror as I tortured his sister, the slayer and those children with their families. He was particularly reticent after I had killed those kids.” Her fangs flash for a brief second as she spits, “Vile little creatures.”
I take a step back as she turns to me, mouth full of fangs. “I wanted to show him how wrong he was. He picked the wrong side you see. He finally gave in and admitted it.” She stands and pats his arm one last time before turning her attention to me and Will. “I let him go this morning.”
Not waiting for her to make the first move, I launch my attack. A left hook snaps her head back as her fangs cut into my knuckles. My right fist shoots out and my hit lands squarely on her nose. She staggers back into the bed and rolls to the other side.
“You are in my home,” she hisses, “don’t be rude.”
Willow steps in front of me and spits, “You know, this whole crazy, vampire, stalker act. I’m really over it.” I see the ball of light form in her hand and I have a brief urge to stop her so that I can kill the bitch, but…
I realize I just want this over with.
“Drusilla had that spot way before you. So do us all a favor and just shut the fuck up already,” she snaps and lets the small ball of sunlight shoot from her hand.
We both watch as it hits the center of Lilah’s chest. Shock registers across her face as she begins to burn from the inside out then falls to ash on the thick carpet.
Without thought, I return to the bed and look back at Dexter. Debra will want to see him. Disregarding protocol, I gently scoop him up in my arms and allow Willow to lead us out to the front of the building. As we move forward, I hear the sounds of fighting above me and I hope Angel, Faith and the team are doing well.
I squint as we reach the entrance. Sunlight and fiery ash rain down on us as we step outside.
The whir of lights from the two fire trucks and a few scattered police cars cause me to squint in the late afternoon sunlight. I look around and cradle her injured head in my hands. Making sure to keep the compress tight against where she was hit.
My hand shakes as I replace the compress and look down into half lidded, pain filled brown eyes. “Are you sure, Liv?” I ask gently. I think we should take her to the hospital, but she’s been insistent that we don’t.
“I’m okay, Alex, really,” she says a little thickly. “I’m actually more worried about Elliot.”
I concede as I think back to the beginning of the mêlée. Everything began as planned, except for the clouds. We hadn’t planned on those. They covered up a lot of the sunlight as the vampires began coming out of the building. Not wanting to let them get away, Jimmy started to wade through them, hitting and staking them as he took them on one by one. Elliot, Olivia and Deb jumped in to help.
Somewhere, at some point, the building caught fire. The F.D.N.Y. showed up and so did some regular patrol cars. Right now, Faith, Buffy and Isabel are talking to the uniforms and getting everyone’s story straight. While I sit with Olivia on the back of a bus making sure her head is going to stop bleeding from the knock she took. Her second vampire slammed her into the building and I watched as her head bounced off the wall.
I remove the compress and watch as no blood oozes from the laceration. Satisfied, I take the bandage the medic left me and gingerly apply it over the cut. I resist my urge to kiss it and hold her closer, knowing that there are some cops from the one-six around and I don’t need to deal with what will ensue if they see.
Instead I squeeze her shoulder and look over to Elliot resting on the gurney. His arm is in a sling and there’s a drip connected to his free arm. Poor Elliot.
He was tossed over a set of vampires exiting the building and crashed down onto the unyielding concrete. They think his arm’s broke. He will be going to the hospital as soon as the medics get back.
“Come on, counselor, take a seat,” Olivia says patting the steel of the vehicle.
I concede and rest my head against her shoulder. Her cheek nestles on top of my head and I stare out at the scene.
God this is such a mess.
I look out to my left and see Jimmy standing behind Debra. My jaw clenches as I feel sympathy for the woman who’s lost her last remaining family member. I know all too well what that’s like. She guards the gurney with her brother’s body on it. Standing vigil in the dying light, I haven’t seen her move or shed a tear since we all watched Buffy carry the man out of the building.
I sneeze as the smoke and ash tickle my nose. Olivia hands me a crumpled tissue from her pocket and I nod, thanking her. Willow emerges from the smoldering building with C.S.U. techs. A group follows them out of the building carrying two more body bags.
They stack them to the right of the building and head back in. I look at the small pile, fifteen so far and from what Faith said, there’s a few dozen more victims that need to be carried out. “I wish there was someone to prosecute for this?” I grumble.
Olivia laughs and pats my knee. “Easy there Alex. We’re going to have too many holes to cover up in our DD-5’s.”
I look at her crossly and she relents holding up a hand, “Alright more holes than usual.” She hooks a thumb over her shoulder and says, “And I need to ride in with Elliot to make sure he’s not alone until Kathy comes.”
I wince, knowing that that conversation won’t be a pleasant one.
“I can ride in with you. Maybe keep Kathy from ripping you a new one.” I smile at her and wink.
The corner of her mouth rides up in a half smile and my stomach flops. When I first came to S.V.U. and I had that reaction for the first time, I thought it was indigestion. When it happened the second and the third…I had no idea I was in as deep as I was. Now, I’m just thankful that she’ll smile at me like that again.
“It’s a mess out here,” she whispers quietly. I look at her and nod. The firemen are still putting out the fourth floor while C.S.U. is going in and removing bodies. There’s a barricade set up on the east side of the building blocking the T.V. cameras from some of the more grisly money shots.
My mouth sets a grim line taking in the sight in front of me then I say, “It looks like a battlefield.” A small gust of wind picks up and the ash either from the vampires’ bodies or the fire picks up and swirls in the air.
“It was,” my lover says solemnly next to me. “We won though. That’s what counts.”
“It does, I just hope it’s over.” I pat her knee and sigh.
She shakes her head and says, “Some of the stuff I saw, Alex…I don’t think it’ll be over for a while. I just…if there is a God, I hope this isn’t the start of a new trend. Those slayers are good women, good girls. I hope their time as a slayer is better than what Buffy went through. The few stories she shared…” she trails off and runs her hand through hair.
“Willow too. She shared a few tidbits. Can you imagine growing up with that weight?” I ask.
“Not really.” She manages to smile and says, “Knowing now though, I think that if there were any group that could, it would be them.”
“I see they’ve earned your respect.” I look up at her and she nods.
“A lot more than that.”
“Liv,” Elliot rasps from the gurney behind us. “Did you call Kathy?”
“Yeah partner, she’s going to meet us at the hospital,” Olivia says moving inside to sit on the bench next to where Elliot is laying. I move with her and finally feel like we’re away from enough eyes to grab her hand. Greedily she takes it and with her other hand reaches out and takes her partner’s free hand.
“How’s Morgan?” he asks thickly.
“They found Dexter’s body,” I say quietly.
Elliot’s eyes close and he nods. “That sucks.”
“Counselor,” A.U.S.A. Cohen looks up at us from the back of the bus. “I was going to address media concerns. Would you like to make a statement for the N.Y.P.D.? Perhaps you and Detective Benson would like to. Buffy wants to avoid the cameras if at all possible and from what I’ve been told you are both versed in camera time.”
I look at Liv and she shrugs.
“Go on partner,” Elliot urges. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
We both nod and hop down on to the black top. “What’s the story?” I ask.
“In a joint effort with local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has closed the operations of a small terrorist cell that was responsible for a house burning and the subsequent death of Miami Dade’s respected blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan,” she pauses and straightens her jacket. “Along with Dexter, the deaths of his wife and children have also been closed as the surviving members of the cell are being detained in Federal lock up, pending arraignment and trial.”
I look at her and raise an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
She grins at us and shrugs. “I could give you more detail, but with situations like this, I find less is more.”
“How are the rest of the girls?” Olivia asks.
Isabel shrugs and says, “A few scrapes and bruises, but they did well. I suspect they’ll be back at their home base before tomorrow.”
I nod and prepare myself to address the public. Just another day at the office.