Title: An apocalypse that she couldn’t fight
Author:
hellbells101Fandom: Jericho (2006)
Word Count: 1,597
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Jericho (2006) - All rights belong to their respective owners.
Summary: Buffy was in shock a little; she never thought that she’d find an apocalypse she couldn’t fight. The twenty nuclear bombs that struck simultaneously was one such situation.
Buffy was in shock, she was in Jericho and her goddamn rental car had broken down. So she went into the local bar and observed the locals. She saw the guy once again, he'd been given a wide-berth by most of the locals. It didn't take a genius to realise that he was the local black-sheep.
She'd come to Jericho, Kansas to see a young slayer - Bonnie was a special case. She had been born deaf and that meant the council needed to send someone who knew ASL. It had surprised everyone when Buffy had rolled her eyes and said she'd do it.
.
Jake had grinned seeing a non-judgemental face and sat down beside her. Buffy could guess that he was having a rough time of it. She had asked a little wryly, "What are we drinking to?"
Jake grinned, he had a feeling that he could like his drinking companion, "to family of course."
Buffy nodded, "Uh-huh, so black sheep?"
"Got it in one."
The conversation continued longer and Jake pretended to be sad when she explained that her car had broken down. Jake sighed, "Well I'm waiting for my ma and then I'm out of here."
Buffy, a little flirty, "You'll be my knight in shining armour."
Buffy watched Jake's little family drama unfold, and it pissed her off that people just stood gossiping. Those were the people treated to Slayer-death-glare No1. It didn't bother Buffy, but if they guy was high-tailing it of town - Buffy could work with that.
Buffy could see he needed a distraction, so she spoke up, "Hey stranger, I need to get to Denver and I'm willing to pay."
Jake looked at Buffy, and smiled, "I don't mind a pretty lady for the journey."
The conversation wasn't nearly awkward as you'd expect for two strangers. Then life got really complicated - well, Buffy couldn't fight a nuclear explosion. Jake, not surprisingly, lost control of the car and it crashed. Buffy was freaked for a minute, but that was all the time that she would give herself to freak out. She kicked out the door and grabbed Jake out the car. She could smell the fuel and she was scared that it would blow with Jake in the car.
Jake looked in the distance, seeing the cloud, "You know I never thought I'd say this but I think we should go back to town, we need information."
Buffy though could see the soldier lurking in background of his eyes. Buffy silently agreed, she'd go back to town and help a little, but first they would need information. Not for the first time, she wanted to thank Willow for the magic cell-phones.
Buffy looked at Jake, "Listen I can get information, but you're not the only one with secrets."
Jake laughed, "It's the end of the world. You can tell me your secrets when you're ready."
Buffy had to admire his ability to roll with the punches. "So Giles can you tell me what the hell is going on. Someone has just tried to end-the-world and it's pissed me off that I can't fight a nuclear bomb."
Jake was surprised and like himself, something had fundamentally shifted in Buffy; the minute the first bomb went off. He heard the ironic laughter in her voice, "Yeah I suppose I would give it my best shot."
Buffy got a little tense, "Look Giles, I know you could send Willow and if something like Brazil happens - you can come and get my ass, but I'm going to stay and help."
Buffy saw Jake's shock at the working cell-phone. "It's magic," was Buffy's flippant response. She could see he was struggling a little on that leg so she asked, "If I was to give you a hand, will you feel less manly?"
Jake shrugged, "Well, I'm feeling too much pain to worry."
Buffy snickered, "Good answer. She put her arm under his shoulders, letting him lean on her."
Jake was making slow progress but there was no one else on the roads. He needed to know, "How bad is it?"
Buffy warred with herself, on how much she should say, "Twenty cities have been hit, including DC."
Jake took a minute to comprehend the sheer devastation, "You said on the phone that you could get the hell out of here."
Buffy decided that honesty with at least one person would be rest, "Yeah, I have a friend who could portal me out of here ... Still, wouldn't be fair to leave my knight in shining armour."
So Buffy was involved in the Supernatural, which was interesting, but Jake had encountered the Supernatural in the Middle-East. Jake looked at Buffy and felt the stirrings of something special. The eye staring was broken by hearing two panicking kids. There ramblings were interpreted by Buffy. The adults shared a worried look, Buffy was the one to speak to the children, "Okay, look we'll go and see but you need to set a fair pace, as Mr ..."
"Greene."
Buffy barely bated an eyelash, "As Mr Greene is injured."
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Darkness had set in by the time they reached the broken down bus. Of course, Buffy would have to be in America when the freaking nuclear bombs went off. Her Slayer senses were crawling, and the worst part of it was this was an apocalypse that she couldn't fight. And boy did that suck.
The kids were cold, wet and terrified. The teacher, Heather, had done a fantastic job but the young girl was injured - badly. Jake was limping, and noted the flat tyre - that was fixable. The huge ditch was a bigger hurdle. Buffy wondered what else could and would go wrong today. Then again, she felt it best not to tempt the fates by asking.
Jake was good with kids, and the kids started calling him, "Mr Fantastic." She'd though it adorable but had been given her own moniker, "Supergirl."
A little levity amongst the adults, "I'd love to see you in costume."
Heather smirked, "Well I think if Buffy is to dress up then you should do the same."
Jake gave his best cocky grin, "when we get back to town. I'll dress up however you like."
Somehow, between the three adults they got the bus moving and heading towards the town. Heather was keeping the kids calm; Jake was performing first aid in the little girl and Buffy? Buffy was driving, a sure sign of the apocalypse.
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In town, the people were scared and turning on each other. Johnston Greene was disappointed that it had come to this but that was life. He addressed the men and womens’ fears, they were valid, many were parents and their school kids were stuck out in the middle of nowhere. He could understand their fear.
The bus journey back had been fraught. Buffy had been driving while Jake performed an emergency tracheotomy. The brake blew out and Jake and Heather were starting to really struggle with their own injuries.
There was an honest-to-God, witch-burning crowd gathering; Buffy managed to distract that one by crashing the bus, into the nearest bush. Buffy heard Jakes' soft, "Dad."
Buffy could let reunions take place, once they were all safe. "Listen we have seriously injured people on the bus."
April Greene, who Buffy had already figured to be very scary, momma - came bustling on and looked horrified at Jakes' injuries. Jake shook her off, "Get the others off, I'll be okay."
His mother looked at him in disbelief, "You'll be okay."
Jake smiled through the pain, "Yeah, I have my knight in shining armour."
His mom noticed the pretty blonde driving, her clothes were a little torn, but designer. Buffy played it cool, "Hey more like Gucci than Armour but hey, right time, right place."
April Greene, had seen that look on her sons face more than once. She hoped that Buffy stuck around. Jake had a slightly dopey look on his face, she just wasn't sure if he was love-struck, or in pain. He asked, the new girl, "Think you can give a boy one last hand."
Buffy smiled, and it was radiant, "Well, you promised to show me around town, and I promised I'd stay as long as I could."
Jake was still struggling, "Mom we saw an empty Prison Bus back on the main route."
April Greene felt her husband join her, and look on in worry as their son was pushed into the back of an ambulance truck. They could see the bond that was developing between the blonde girl, Buffy and Jake.
Johnston Greene, watched the son who he thought would never grow up be dragged away to hospital. He had been resistant until his new friend, had threatened to drag him into the ambulance. He watched in interest as Jake immediately back down at the blonde’s threat.
In the back of the ambulance, "So can you stay here?"
Buffy shrugged, "I'll stay and help, think anyone will believe the kids?"
Jake laughed and lay back on the bed, "Nah, use your looks. No one will believe that you alone could push a school bus."
Buffy chewed her lip, she would help but in this situation - she was a fish out of water. Jake took her hand, "Hey we will tell Dad in the morning but tonight we need sleep."
Buffy feigned arrogance, "You might, but Supergirl doesn't"
That earned her a pained laugh, but it was clear to see that he was in a lot of pain. Buffy seriously hated this situation, she would have to report back in, and somehow, being the senior delegate on this continent organise the remaining Slayer. In many ways though, Buffy was stuck in the same situation as the townspeople - too little information and not enough time. It may be the end of the world, but this was one apocalypse that Buffy couldn't fight. Then again, no one said that she had to do it alone.