Why She Fights (6)
It was like Sunnydale all over again. A bunch of wired teenage girls clutching blades and stakes against the boogieman. Rona hated it. For a few days, they had been safe. Able to think--nah, let's be real, pretend--they had a while to breathe. Now it's the same old same old. The slayers not standing guard were packing up all their stuff and cramming it into their rucksacks. Mr. Giles had driven the school bus over to the hospital with Caridad and Gretta to get Principal Wood. Swearing into her cellphone, Kennedy was promising a charter company in Arizona everything up to making out in front of the pilots with Willow if they would just get a goddamn plane to goddamn Oxnard. Buffy and Xander--
Rona had watched them when Mr. Pryce gave them the news. She didn't understand much. Too many players whose names she had only heard a few times, craziness like some kind of goddess coming to earth to eat people. There was only the effect of his words to understand how bad things had become. When he told them this "Angel" had made a deal for the amulet, Buffy had crumpled exactly like when Dawn had asked her to leave that last horrible night. Rona hadn't thought about it much. As far as she had been concerned, ding ding the witch was death, all hail Faith as the new queen. Only now did Rona think about how lost Buffy had seemed. Even her own blood turning on her. Betrayal. Xander had been worse hearing about his friend Cordelia and the coma. At first he hadn't reacted much. Really quiet. Then he had punched right through the table. He sat next to Buffy by their shelter, wrist taped up, without any expression at all.
"Ma'am!" Vi ran up to Buffy. "I talked with my dad. He's found us a flight home on an Air Force plane heading back to Pope. It'll be landing at Camarillo in three hours."
"We're meeting the Pope?" Buffy said. "I-I need a new outfit. And maybe a wimple."
"It's a base next to Fort Bragg, ma'am," Vi said, non-plussed. "My dad served there with the 43rd Airlift for a while."
"Bring on the dueling banjos," Kennedy said, snapping shut her cell. "Being anywhere near Wolfram and Hart is nowhere I want to be."
"These lawyers scare you that much?" Rona said.
"I spent almost a year in a 'straight re-education' camp when I was thirteen," Kennedy snarled, "because my--thankfully late--grand-daddy decided that he didn't want a dyke for an heiress. Wolfram and Hart broke my daddy's custody and had me declared cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Only got out when the asshole died. I'm up for the Two Minute Hate when they're around."
"How'd he find out you were gay?" Rona asked.
"Caught under the stairs at Sterling Academy with the daughter of the Swiss Consul." Kennedy waggled her eyebrows. "Heidi. Blond pigtails, and could she yodel."
"You should swap stories with Faith." Buffy sagged. "An entire week without angst. That's a record for me. Nice while it lasted. So, New York, New York, what a wonderful town?"
"Saks, Neiman-Marcus," Kennedy said, waving around her credit card, "and I'll treat."
"And I am suddenly depression free." Buffy closed her eyes. "Not. Ken, get us transport out of...wherever we're going."
"Already got a bus coach lined up in Fayetteville," Kennedy replied.
"Vi, Rona, round up Caridad and Dominique," Buffy ordered, the cold mask of the general coming over her face. "Make sure everyone's packed and ready."
"Yes, ma'am," Vi said.
"And--" Confused, Buffy swiveled around. "Xander? Where are you going?"
"With Wes," Xander said, packing a duffel. "I'll catch up."
"Are you insane?" Buffy tore the bag away. "There's a big neon sign with flashing arrows saying 'Obvious Trap' over those two. The only things missing are a hick preacher and wine barrels."
"Cordy was one of us," Xander said. He tried to dodge out of Buffy's way. "We owe it to her. Can't just leave her behind, not like Ahn, what if she was still--"
"No! I am not losing anyone else." Buffy cocked back her arm. "Hold still. Choose which side, left or right. I'll make sure the chains are comfy."
"That would have been the high point of my life, once upon a time," Xander said. "I have to do this. Have to be sure."
"Always throwing yourself at your girls." Buffy handed back the duffel. "Tell Giles I'm going with. We'll--"
"I'll go," Rona blurted out.
"You can't," Kennedy said, "you have no idea how nasty these guys are."
"It's the smart play." Rona struggled to keep her voice steady. "We can't lose Buffy. We need you to get everyone safe. Vi has her mom and dad waiting. So, I'll go."
"You're sure?" Buffy demanded.
"Probably not in five seconds," Rona admitted, "but now, yeah, I'm ready."
A sharp nod. The only agreement Rona needed to send her scrambling for weapons. She grabbed a stake and the kukri Mr. Giles had slipped her in the hospital. Kennedy tossed her a bag with a sword and battle axe. Vi put together a field-stripped crossbow. They hugged. One for all and all for one, even when it all came down to one slayer again. Vi whispered the first rule: don't die. Didn't intend to. Although if--when--they got out, Xander's ass was going to get kicked around the block for pulling her into this. She caught up to Xander marching out the Port Huemene gate. A limo waited on the street outside. The beetles-and-tinfoil shivers came over her as the door opened. Lilah held open the door with all the sweetness of a fairytale witch asking a couple of kids to clean out her oven.
At least the ride into Hell was plush. Black girl was definitely front of the bus now. Wolfram and Hart's limousine was all expensive wood paneling and rich leather. Then Rona thought about what some of the bindings of Mr. Giles' books had said to have been made of, and wanted to levitate her ass off the seats. The mini-bar looked good right about now. Of course, considering this was a law firm that was supposed to do the First Evil's taxes, Rona would rather take her chances smacking her head with a war hammer. Mr. Pryce sat across from them, back stiff. He became even stiffer when Lilah's hand caressed his knee. He angrily slapped it away. Oh yeah, definitely a Spike and Buffy vibe going on there. Xander didn't notice. He was quiet while they drove to Oxnard Airport. A helicopter with the W&H logo whirled up when the limo nosed through the gate.
Definitely the stupid thing.
+++++
Rona had never seen anyone in a coma. Creepy as hell--like seeing her grams laid out in her coffin before the service, only alive. If you could call that alive. Although with this woman, it was beauty sleep. The dark-haired woman in the hospital room--and what kind of law firm had its own medical wing?--could have been resting up for a high-end model shoot. No wonder Xander had risked this much to see her. Maybe an old girlfriend, the way he held her hand while sitting next to her. Had a tiny, bitter grin. The others in the room kept their space as if afraid to get too close. Mr. Pryce and a hunk of a brother whose suit said uptown and body said Compton chatted quietly about living wills and custody. A green demon with actual horns sipped from a fancy martini glass. At least he didn't set off her alarms like that scary lawyer bitch of Mr. Pryce's. What did set her on edge with the big, brooding vampire in the corner. Staying close to Xander, Rona's hand never left the stake hidden in the small of her back beneath her shirt.
"That's my Queen C," Xander said, kissing her forehead. "Gave birth to a goddess, and a bet there isn't a stretch mark on her."
"Harris," the vamp said, shifting uncomfortably, "the firm will do everything it can. If Willow can see her--"
"Hold that thought." Xander nodded, once. "Okay, fuck you in the heart sideways with a telephone pole if you think Wills is coming a hundred miles of this place."
"That is hardly fair," Mr. Pryce said. "Angel accepted the position as head of this branch of Wolfram and Hart for your sakes. It was a significant sacrifice."
"He did it for Buff." Xander shrugged. "We're a lot alike, aren't we, Angel? These women we love. They come into our lives, they get us to love 'em. Then they die. Hell of a way to bond."
"There's hope." This Angel said it as if he wanted--needed--to believe it. "There's always hope."
"She's gone." Xander kissed Cordelia's forehead. "Cordelia lying dressed like this, in this room? She'd be screaming her head off. Give them hell in the next life, Cordy. You'll never be a name tag person to me."
"If Buffy needs help," Angel said, intercepting Xander before he could reach the door. Rona nearly dusted him right there. "You don't trust us. You probably shouldn't. I'll do what I can."
"Stay away from us, or I'll kill you." Xander's grin twisted from wistful to murderous. "You've dragged down too many already. It's all going to end in fire and tears, you know that?"
"Yeah." Angel nodded. "Tell her I love her."
"I will." Xander glanced around the room. "Here I am, no eye, no wife, no home. You've got a fancy new office and minions. And, boy, never thought I would say this, but I pity you, you poor bastard."
Xander maintained until he was right at the elevator before his knees gave out. Rona held him up so the Wolfram and Hart scum wouldn't see him collapse. Bastards. We're leaving here with our heads high. Her stake whipped out to press against Mr. Pryce's throat when he rushed up to help. Close, too close... Rona froze when he tucked a small card into her pocket, out of sight of the others. He mouthed a single word. "Watcher". Rona backed away with Xander into the elevator. The shaven-headed black lawyer escorted them up top to the helipad on the roof of the Wolfram and Hart tower. Couldn't stop staring at her. Waiting for them was a chopper--not one of W&H's--with the rotor spinning. Kennedy crouched in one door, a crossbow at the ready. Alright, my sister! Smart not to trust these people to get them back without trying something. Entire place was wrong. Rona rushed them into the chopper's cabin a second before it lifted off.
She glanced at the business card in her pocket. Written in pen on the back was a name and phone number.
Huh.
Who was David Nabbit?
The helicopter landed at Camarillo Airport. Nothing much: some buildings and a runway outside of the city. Squatting at one end was a huge four-engined cargo place with the propellers already starting to turn. The Sunnydale Survivors were getting in through a ramp at the back of the plane. Buffy paced from side to side until Rona and Xander stepped off. Rushing up, she took Xander's weight off of Rona. Good thing too. So heavy to carry. Rona met Vi and Kennedy by the ramp, sharing one last hug. Inside the plane, it was bare bones. Only seats made out of webbing along the sides of the cargo hold. She strapped in as best she could. Just before the ramp closed, Rona took in one last glimpse of California blue sky.
She spat out the crack right before the ramp shut.
Screw this state.
Exhausted, Rona fell asleep as the plane flew east.
END
Rona had watched them when Mr. Pryce gave them the news. She didn't understand much. Too many players whose names she had only heard a few times, craziness like some kind of goddess coming to earth to eat people. There was only the effect of his words to understand how bad things had become. When he told them this "Angel" had made a deal for the amulet, Buffy had crumpled exactly like when Dawn had asked her to leave that last horrible night. Rona hadn't thought about it much. As far as she had been concerned, ding ding the witch was death, all hail Faith as the new queen. Only now did Rona think about how lost Buffy had seemed. Even her own blood turning on her. Betrayal. Xander had been worse hearing about his friend Cordelia and the coma. At first he hadn't reacted much. Really quiet. Then he had punched right through the table. He sat next to Buffy by their shelter, wrist taped up, without any expression at all.
"Ma'am!" Vi ran up to Buffy. "I talked with my dad. He's found us a flight home on an Air Force plane heading back to Pope. It'll be landing at Camarillo in three hours."
"We're meeting the Pope?" Buffy said. "I-I need a new outfit. And maybe a wimple."
"It's a base next to Fort Bragg, ma'am," Vi said, non-plussed. "My dad served there with the 43rd Airlift for a while."
"Bring on the dueling banjos," Kennedy said, snapping shut her cell. "Being anywhere near Wolfram and Hart is nowhere I want to be."
"These lawyers scare you that much?" Rona said.
"I spent almost a year in a 'straight re-education' camp when I was thirteen," Kennedy snarled, "because my--thankfully late--grand-daddy decided that he didn't want a dyke for an heiress. Wolfram and Hart broke my daddy's custody and had me declared cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Only got out when the asshole died. I'm up for the Two Minute Hate when they're around."
"How'd he find out you were gay?" Rona asked.
"Caught under the stairs at Sterling Academy with the daughter of the Swiss Consul." Kennedy waggled her eyebrows. "Heidi. Blond pigtails, and could she yodel."
"You should swap stories with Faith." Buffy sagged. "An entire week without angst. That's a record for me. Nice while it lasted. So, New York, New York, what a wonderful town?"
"Saks, Neiman-Marcus," Kennedy said, waving around her credit card, "and I'll treat."
"And I am suddenly depression free." Buffy closed her eyes. "Not. Ken, get us transport out of...wherever we're going."
"Already got a bus coach lined up in Fayetteville," Kennedy replied.
"Vi, Rona, round up Caridad and Dominique," Buffy ordered, the cold mask of the general coming over her face. "Make sure everyone's packed and ready."
"Yes, ma'am," Vi said.
"And--" Confused, Buffy swiveled around. "Xander? Where are you going?"
"With Wes," Xander said, packing a duffel. "I'll catch up."
"Are you insane?" Buffy tore the bag away. "There's a big neon sign with flashing arrows saying 'Obvious Trap' over those two. The only things missing are a hick preacher and wine barrels."
"Cordy was one of us," Xander said. He tried to dodge out of Buffy's way. "We owe it to her. Can't just leave her behind, not like Ahn, what if she was still--"
"No! I am not losing anyone else." Buffy cocked back her arm. "Hold still. Choose which side, left or right. I'll make sure the chains are comfy."
"That would have been the high point of my life, once upon a time," Xander said. "I have to do this. Have to be sure."
"Always throwing yourself at your girls." Buffy handed back the duffel. "Tell Giles I'm going with. We'll--"
"I'll go," Rona blurted out.
"You can't," Kennedy said, "you have no idea how nasty these guys are."
"It's the smart play." Rona struggled to keep her voice steady. "We can't lose Buffy. We need you to get everyone safe. Vi has her mom and dad waiting. So, I'll go."
"You're sure?" Buffy demanded.
"Probably not in five seconds," Rona admitted, "but now, yeah, I'm ready."
A sharp nod. The only agreement Rona needed to send her scrambling for weapons. She grabbed a stake and the kukri Mr. Giles had slipped her in the hospital. Kennedy tossed her a bag with a sword and battle axe. Vi put together a field-stripped crossbow. They hugged. One for all and all for one, even when it all came down to one slayer again. Vi whispered the first rule: don't die. Didn't intend to. Although if--when--they got out, Xander's ass was going to get kicked around the block for pulling her into this. She caught up to Xander marching out the Port Huemene gate. A limo waited on the street outside. The beetles-and-tinfoil shivers came over her as the door opened. Lilah held open the door with all the sweetness of a fairytale witch asking a couple of kids to clean out her oven.
At least the ride into Hell was plush. Black girl was definitely front of the bus now. Wolfram and Hart's limousine was all expensive wood paneling and rich leather. Then Rona thought about what some of the bindings of Mr. Giles' books had said to have been made of, and wanted to levitate her ass off the seats. The mini-bar looked good right about now. Of course, considering this was a law firm that was supposed to do the First Evil's taxes, Rona would rather take her chances smacking her head with a war hammer. Mr. Pryce sat across from them, back stiff. He became even stiffer when Lilah's hand caressed his knee. He angrily slapped it away. Oh yeah, definitely a Spike and Buffy vibe going on there. Xander didn't notice. He was quiet while they drove to Oxnard Airport. A helicopter with the W&H logo whirled up when the limo nosed through the gate.
Definitely the stupid thing.
+++++
Rona had never seen anyone in a coma. Creepy as hell--like seeing her grams laid out in her coffin before the service, only alive. If you could call that alive. Although with this woman, it was beauty sleep. The dark-haired woman in the hospital room--and what kind of law firm had its own medical wing?--could have been resting up for a high-end model shoot. No wonder Xander had risked this much to see her. Maybe an old girlfriend, the way he held her hand while sitting next to her. Had a tiny, bitter grin. The others in the room kept their space as if afraid to get too close. Mr. Pryce and a hunk of a brother whose suit said uptown and body said Compton chatted quietly about living wills and custody. A green demon with actual horns sipped from a fancy martini glass. At least he didn't set off her alarms like that scary lawyer bitch of Mr. Pryce's. What did set her on edge with the big, brooding vampire in the corner. Staying close to Xander, Rona's hand never left the stake hidden in the small of her back beneath her shirt.
"That's my Queen C," Xander said, kissing her forehead. "Gave birth to a goddess, and a bet there isn't a stretch mark on her."
"Harris," the vamp said, shifting uncomfortably, "the firm will do everything it can. If Willow can see her--"
"Hold that thought." Xander nodded, once. "Okay, fuck you in the heart sideways with a telephone pole if you think Wills is coming a hundred miles of this place."
"That is hardly fair," Mr. Pryce said. "Angel accepted the position as head of this branch of Wolfram and Hart for your sakes. It was a significant sacrifice."
"He did it for Buff." Xander shrugged. "We're a lot alike, aren't we, Angel? These women we love. They come into our lives, they get us to love 'em. Then they die. Hell of a way to bond."
"There's hope." This Angel said it as if he wanted--needed--to believe it. "There's always hope."
"She's gone." Xander kissed Cordelia's forehead. "Cordelia lying dressed like this, in this room? She'd be screaming her head off. Give them hell in the next life, Cordy. You'll never be a name tag person to me."
"If Buffy needs help," Angel said, intercepting Xander before he could reach the door. Rona nearly dusted him right there. "You don't trust us. You probably shouldn't. I'll do what I can."
"Stay away from us, or I'll kill you." Xander's grin twisted from wistful to murderous. "You've dragged down too many already. It's all going to end in fire and tears, you know that?"
"Yeah." Angel nodded. "Tell her I love her."
"I will." Xander glanced around the room. "Here I am, no eye, no wife, no home. You've got a fancy new office and minions. And, boy, never thought I would say this, but I pity you, you poor bastard."
Xander maintained until he was right at the elevator before his knees gave out. Rona held him up so the Wolfram and Hart scum wouldn't see him collapse. Bastards. We're leaving here with our heads high. Her stake whipped out to press against Mr. Pryce's throat when he rushed up to help. Close, too close... Rona froze when he tucked a small card into her pocket, out of sight of the others. He mouthed a single word. "Watcher". Rona backed away with Xander into the elevator. The shaven-headed black lawyer escorted them up top to the helipad on the roof of the Wolfram and Hart tower. Couldn't stop staring at her. Waiting for them was a chopper--not one of W&H's--with the rotor spinning. Kennedy crouched in one door, a crossbow at the ready. Alright, my sister! Smart not to trust these people to get them back without trying something. Entire place was wrong. Rona rushed them into the chopper's cabin a second before it lifted off.
She glanced at the business card in her pocket. Written in pen on the back was a name and phone number.
Huh.
Who was David Nabbit?
The helicopter landed at Camarillo Airport. Nothing much: some buildings and a runway outside of the city. Squatting at one end was a huge four-engined cargo place with the propellers already starting to turn. The Sunnydale Survivors were getting in through a ramp at the back of the plane. Buffy paced from side to side until Rona and Xander stepped off. Rushing up, she took Xander's weight off of Rona. Good thing too. So heavy to carry. Rona met Vi and Kennedy by the ramp, sharing one last hug. Inside the plane, it was bare bones. Only seats made out of webbing along the sides of the cargo hold. She strapped in as best she could. Just before the ramp closed, Rona took in one last glimpse of California blue sky.
She spat out the crack right before the ramp shut.
Screw this state.
Exhausted, Rona fell asleep as the plane flew east.
END