Happy Development 16/20 & 17/20
Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Firefly
Pairing: Buffy/Willow, Faith/River, Mal/Inara, Kaylee/Simon
Rating: PG-13 (mostly, there maybe some more adult language and themes, nothing that you would see on say the higher numbers of cable TV)
Disclaimer: Due to the slightly off chance that Joss or a legal suit type person may read this and in their anger, sue, I will say that this little piece of work is for fun. The characters contained below belong to Joss, ME production, and others that I don't know. The Chinese from this story is taken from the book, Finding Serenity.
Summary: The Scoobs and The Crew meet up in Cleveland a few years after Sunnydale became a landfill. Hijinx ensue.
A/N: Well, hell, it's Monday... =0/
Ch. 16 - Coca Cola
The pop that echoed on the bridge when Willow stretched her neck muscles was the best indicator that she had been sitting looking at the computer or whatever River had called it way too long. Her back ached and she was sure that when she got up there would be a permanent imprint on the seat suspiciously shaped like her butt. Her eyes were dry and burning from the hours spent on Serenity this morning. The witch looked at the two empty coffee cups and the plate that held the crumbs of four doughnuts and decided that it was time for a serious break.
Emerging from the hangar, her eyes protested the bright afternoon sun and she winced at the pain. Willow took her time getting to the back of the house stretching her unused muscles and allowed the feeling to come back to her extremities. As she rounded the corner, she found the person she was looking for. Inara sat back in the grass; her arms stretched behind her holding up her weight. The witch sat down next to her friend and sent an amused glance towards the objects of the other woman’s entertainment.
“How long have they been torturing your people?” asked Willow.
“A few hours now. I’m not clear as to why Buffy insisted they train, but, well, look at them.” Inara waved a hand at the group before her.
Willow shifted her focus to the 17 girls and 2 men before her. Faith, Buffy, and Tami weaved in and out of 8 pairs of sparring partners. From what could be seen, they had chosen to focus on the quarter staff and the sounds of clacking and grunting filled the afternoon air. She focused on Buffy as the blonde watched Jayne and Carrie go at it. The pink haired slayer swept Jayne’s feet from beneath him and then stopped the tip of the staff an inch from hitting his face.
Buffy barked, “Enough!” She helped Jayne to his feet and requested Carrie’s staff. “Jayne, you really need to pay attention to her body.”
“Gorram it woman!” Jayne brushed some of the debris from his body as he glared at the two slayers before him. “T’ain‘t right. I know how to fight.”
“No, you really don’t. You know how to watch a weapon and use brute force to get what you want. That’s not fighting that’s brawling. Big difference.” Buffy took a fighting stance and waited on Jayne to ready himself.
As he picked up his staff, twirling her staff, Buffy said, “You’re watching the weapon. Stop.” She watched as her words meant absolutely nothing to the man. Smirking, she shifted her weight to her left leg and kicked out with her right connecting with the man’s stomach. He barely deflected the follow up blow from the staff as she chided, “You need to pay the most attention to my body.” She allowed him a moment to recover and then caught his glare. “Look at what parts of me are moving. The staff is a tool and nothing more. My legs are more dangerous than this.” She parried his attack and then reigned down a series of pulled blows most of which he deflected until the last few sent him, once again, to the grass.
The rest of the group had stopped and watched Jayne get his ass handed to him until Buffy turned to face the crowd. “Alright. Is everyone ready for lunch?” The chorus of yes’s was mainly from the slayers. Breaking up, Tami offered to make lunch with the help of a few of the slayers present.
Mal, Jayne, Zoë, River, Buffy and Faith all came to sit down by the women lounging in the grass. While Buffy was pretty confident that everyone knew the change of her relationship status, she kept touching to a minimum as she sat down next to her witch.
“So, Willow what have you figured out?” Mal asked, sitting beside Inara.
“Hmm, well, sitting for that long causes the achies; other than that, just a few key points. I need more time.” Willow fidgeted with the grass and looked at Buffy.
“We’ll figure it out. Promise.” Buffy tried for a reassuring smile.
“And if we don’t?” Jayne spoke up.
“I…” Willow stopped at a loss for words. This had been going through her mind for some time and unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to come up with anything.
“Jayne, we’ll handle that if it comes to it.” Mal’s tone held an edge that caused the other man to back down.
“It’s really not that bad. I just don’t…you can’t just…” The redhead struggled for the words to the ideas her mind had been mulling over. Just as she opened her mouth to clarify her non-sentences, she noticed Xander walking towards the group wearing his worried face. She nudged Buffy with her shoulder and nodded towards their friend.
Buffy looked up asking, “What’s up Xand?”
As he reached the group, he said, “Buff, uh Giles called. Seems there are some…Ya know he used all of his British speak and you should probably talk to him. You too, Will.”
“Ok.” Buffy stood and offered her hand to Willow. “Let’s see what Watcher Prime wants.”
Willow took the hand and excused herself and Buffy from the group. They followed Xander to the room he had set up for communications.
Xander established the connection with Cleveland and a moment later, Giles’ harried voice came through, “Hello?”
“Giles, it’s me. I’ve got Xand and Will. What’s got your tweed in knots?” Buffy asked.
“Oh, right, hello you three. How is New Mexico? I trust everything went well?”
“Everything’s good so far,” Willow offered.
“Giles, we’re good, everyone’s good. What’s going on?” The annoyance in Buffy’s voice clear.
“Yes, quite right. Xander, shall I continue from the point of being hung up on?” the tone of the watcher’s question heavy with sarcasm.
“Sure thing, boss man.” Xander wiggled his eyebrows at his two friends.
“First order of business. Xander after you hung up on me, I took the liberty of securing passage back to Cleveland for the three of you. Before any of you interrupt, allow me a moment to explain. It seems we were all a bit too hasty in regards to those demons a few weeks back. Some of the information I have needs a more thorough look at, but I feel that it’s enough to warrant being concerned over and bring, for the time being, the three of you back. Willow, I have Kimmie sending the documentation for your travel via e-mail. I trust you will take care of the rest?”
“Sure thing, Giles,” agreed Willow.
“Huh?” Buffy asked the shock clear in her features. “You were all with the gung-ho about getting us out here. Time travelers needing to get back, we had a meeting.”
“Buffy I assure you that this is taking precedent over them, but I, the demons I feel are tied to our guests’ arrival,” Giles said.
“Those Coca Cola thingies? We slayed, they stopped trying to end the world. Not seeing the tie in.”
“Coca Cola? Buffy, what are you, oh, never mind, yes, that’s right the Lekakolo demons.”
Buffy smiled as she heard the all too familiar sounds of Giles’ handkerchief being brought out. Not being able to help herself, she said, “Giles we should look into getting you contacts. Of course it wouldn’t leave you with things to do when you’re all frustrated at me.”
Sending the slayer a chastising glare, Willow shook her head and asked, “So, we got what’s wrong and Buffy’s not the only one seeing the connection that’s not, Giles.”
“It would appear that there seems to be, I had initially thought these demons weren’t actually found in this dimension, but then prior to our last session together, I found an account of the ritual they were trying to perform. So, naturally, I had dismissed my earlier musings of them not being from here and went ahead with the second theory of them wanting to end the world.”
“Sounds like the norm, G-man.” Xander’s face reflected deep confusion.
“Well, I was right on both accounts. It seems that they are trying to end the world. It’s what this type of demon lives for really. They go from place to place to cause an apocalypse, but I was also right on my account of them not being from this dimension.”
“Giles, not seeing the big. You wanna talk in circles more so I can get it. Blonde remember?”
“My word Buffy, you’re supposed to gain patience as you get older not lose it,” Giles snapped. “What I’m saying is that as I furthered my research, I fear that their appearance here in this dimension is tied to the appearance of our friends from the future.”
Willow leaned forward on the table the three of them were seated around and let her mind click the new pieces of the puzzle in. “Giles, you don’t think that’s why they landed here do you? ‘Cuz then that falls under the mystical heading and makes everything more complicated and then you add on the fact that we’ve killed two of these demons and we’ve already done so much and do you know how long I’ve been brushing up on my physics?”
Buffy placed a hand on Willow’s arm as her agitation grew and squeezed. “Giles, you broke Willow and I’m still not seeing the problem. So what, they’re appearances are tied together? They still need to get back to their own time and it’s not like the Coca Loka things are gonna offer us any help.”
Willow turned to Buffy seeing where the slayer was going and said, “Sweetie, let’s just go back to Cleveland.” Turning away from Buffy, the witch faced the phone. “Giles, you’re not saying everything. We’ll go over everything in detail when we get back.”
“Quite right. It would be easiest to do this when everyone is present.”
“Giles, fine with the travel arrangements, but what about Faith?” Buffy asked.
“I would like to leave her in New Mexico with our friends for now. She’s been with them since they arrived and she seems to get along well enough.”
“Alright. Will, what do we need to do?” Buffy asked, turning to her witch.
“Uhm, let me find out when the flight is for, but going to pack wouldn’t be a bad. Giles, we gotta get stuff together. See you in a bit.” Willow waited for Giles to say his goodbyes and then disconnected. “Alright, Xand, you wanna let everyone know that we are leaving. Buff, go pack. I’m gonna get together the travel stuff.”
Xander nodded and left the two girls alone. Buffy waited until the door shut then turned to Willow. “Is this bad?”
“Uh, no, I don’t really know. We’ll work it out.” She smiled at her lover and then turned back to the laptop she had booted up.
“’Kay. I’m gonna make with the packing. See you in a few.” She kissed the top of Willow’s head and left the witch to the computer.
“Hmm…morning you,” Buffy cooed, as she tried to stretch her limbs while still wrapped around Willow.
“Morning.” Willow shot a glance over at her bedside clock and groaned. “Up, we need to get there.”
“Will, it’s only,” Buffy let her eyes follow the same path her lover’s had a moment ago and they bulged. “Okay, so it’s way late. Right. Up.” She rolled off to the right and bounced up from the mattress. Turning back to the bed, she smiled. “We still have time for a shower?” Wiggling her eyebrows got a laugh and a nod from the witch.
“If we hurry. No funny hands lady,” Willow warned while following the blonde into the bathroom.
The shower was quick and they made it to the conference room after swinging by the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast. Buffy entered the room balancing three doughnuts and her and Willow’s coffee. The redhead was behind her juggling three books and her laptop. Both stopped short inside the door as they took in the sight of the room. The room held an oblong conference table, big enough to seat 12 people along with the space at the front for a flat screen and a projector screen so that Xander could torture everyone with PowerPoint, but today the usually bare table was stacked with books and several laptops, the hum of their fans the only thing audible in the room. Giles was hunched over two texts, Xander was lazily reading one large book with his feet propped up on the table and doughnut in hand, Vi was the only one who looked up to acknowledge their entrance.
“Hi Buffy, Hi Willow.” Vi smiled.
“Hi Vi, how goes it?” Buffy asked, setting their breakfast down.
“Uhm, yeah, Giles?” Vi waited a moment for him to respond; when none came, she spoke louder, “MR. GILES?”
“Wh-what, oh, good morning you two.” He grinned up at his old charges and sat back from the table. “Glad you finally made it.” He looked over his glasses at Buffy and then Willow.
“Hey, we’re only…” The blonde looked down at her wrist and noticed the absence of a watch. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re late. It’s not a new. What’s up with the research?”
“Trying to get a jump on the latest bad or the old bad that’s now newer.” Xander said, dropping his feet from the table. He shoved the rest of the doughnut in his mouth and let his eyes scan his two friends locking on the doughnuts Buffy sat on the table. “You gonna eat those?”
The slayer shot Xander a glare. “Yes, hands off the sugar.”
“Right, not to come between a slayer and her sustenance.” Xander backed away from the general area slowly.
Plopping down in a chair, Willow offloaded her things and snagged her coffee. “So researchy goodness early in the morning. Just like I remember. Ya know, there’s something to be said for the familiarity of obscure occult texts. It’s like hearing an old song that you liked, brings back memories.” Willow stopped when she realized everyone was on the verge of laughing. “Fine, business first, mussing later. What have you found out?”
Giles stretched and then removed his glasses before starting in. “Right, first order of business. While you lot were away I did some further digging, what I found led me to a civilization in what would be considered modern day Mongolia. Now, records are of course, sketchy at best, but from what I could gather, this select breed of demons made an appearance some 12,500 year ago. When they appeared, there are accounts of a group of peoples showing up in the same area. The tribes had convened and from what I could dig through, seemed to think that the two were related.” Giles had stood during his account of the past few days and replaced his glasses as he continued.
“Now, prior to calling Xander, I had discovered an account that reads more like a creation myth from some of the ancient Inuit tribes. This particular band of peoples migrated south and eventually became the ancestors to the Indians and South American Peoples.
“Ahem…” Willow cleared her throat and glared at Giles.
“What?” Giles looked over his glasses at the redhead.
“Indians? Giles, they are not called Indians anymore. Native American, if you please. They are the indigenous people of this land.”
Rolling his eyes, Giles continued, “Pardon me, they became the ancestors to nearly all of the Native American peoples.” The watcher raised an eyebrow in Willow’s direction.
“As much fun as this little exchange is bringing flashbacks to the small pox having, syphilis infested disaster that was Thanksgiving Day 1999. Can we uh, ya know, continue?” Xander asked.
“As I was saying, these particular band of peoples had been able to record, or as it were pass down, a story of their ancestors. It is told that the group of people that appeared around the same time as our demons were fair skinned, with more than half of their members with white hair and light eyes. It continues to go on with a tail of a curse on their ancestors. Their travel to the new land was marked by the appearance of beasts that decimated the land and neighboring tribes. In order to avoid the death of innocents, the group migrated north across a land bridge, to what I assume to be modern day Alaska.
“The tribe along with another group migrated north then east and settled for a time. Here they were able to set up a village and maintain some order. The elders there would talk of their “home land.” Now, during their accounts, the “outsiders” described a place that seemed far too technologically advanced for that time. Warmer climate for instance along with better mobility and they also discussed and showed the people a way to make better weaponry than just spears. This is neatly documented, but again the source of the information was “debunked” due to the improbability that people in that time were not as evolutionarily advanced. Of course, given light to this information…” Giles looked at the bored faces of his family and sighed, “Am I boring you?”
“More like killing us…but same diff.” Buffy smirked at her watcher, “So let’s play the Buffy’s short attention span game: what’s the bottom line, before I go back to sleep.” The smile she shot to Giles took the sting from her words.
“You really have managed to take the joy out of this you know?” Giles stood from his chair and began pacing. “From what I have gathered, it was fortunate that there are accounts of a slayer being in that area that managed to dispatch the demons. What I would like, Willow, is to see if you can find anything more than I have. Verification that the two appearances were linked by more than the passage I have found.” He waited on Willow to nod and then continued, “Now, why we are researching. We need to find out why the two are linked and if they are linked how we can send them back, both of them.”
Ch. 17 - Ni Buy Gou Ge Ni Hun Qiu
“Are you okay?” River asked, as she leaned against the back of the house next to Faith. It was Faith and herself who had taken the three to the airport but since their departure, Faith had grown sullen.
“Hey Riv, yeah. Guess so. Just thinkin’ is all.” Faith took the last pull on her cigarette and flicked the butt far out in front of her. Her eyes looked out over the darkened grounds and relished the warm breeze that washed over her skin.
“Then why have you been so quiet since they left?”
“I…” Faith nervously shifted her weight to her right leg trying to decide on the best way to answer. “Okay, right, so, it takes one call from good ole’ Rupert to get the three of them to go running back to Ohio, which is cool ‘cuz I guess now we got more info, but bein’ looped in would not have hurt at all.”
River let a smile play at her lips and then, deciding on a plan, grabbed Faith’s hand. She pulled the willing slayer to a tree halfway out into the yard. She settled herself against the tree trunk then tugged on the hand she still held. Faith looked down to see River staring up at her with a ‘what are you waiting for?’ look. Plopping down next to the other girl, Faith rested her head on an offered shoulder.
“They did,” said River, after a few quiet moments.
“Did what, Riv?”
“Uhm, you called it loop in. I think what you meant was tell you what was going on. They did. As soon as they learned more, they did tell you. I don’t think they knew much before they called us tonight.”
“What makes you think that?” Faith asked, looking up into the pensive face of her friend.
River closed her eyes and idly wished she could not answer that question. “Because they need us, like we need them. Your family has decisions to make as will mine.”
Faith burrowed further into River’s side and just nodded.
“Were there any big surprises with tonight’s conversation?” River asked.
“Dunno, I mean demons trying to end the world, hey really old game. In fact it’s so old, I wish they’d get a new one.” Faith let the smile overtake her as she giggled out, “I can see it now; demons of the world uniting to bring about world peace much to the dismay of beauty queens the world over.”
“Beauty Queens?” River inquired.
Faith sobered up and shrugged. “Just, ah, ya know what? Remind me to make you watch Miss Congeniality, alright?”
“Alright.” River let the conversation lapse knowing both were too busy with their own thoughts. The day hadn’t been that eventful, but she found herself growing tired none the less. Stretching, she nudged Faith. “I’m going to go to bed. Will you be coming in soon?”
Faith rubbed her eyes and blinked at the girl. “Sleep wouldn’t be bad.” She stood offering River her hand. Once the two were standing, Faith grinned. “Race ya!” And took off in the direction of the house.
River raised her eyebrows and then quickly followed the slayer back to the house.
Buffy stepped out of her walk-in closet and asked, “When did I get so many shoes? Or clothes even? How?”
Xander poked his head out of the bathroom door and smiled. “We call it shopping. You and a redhead about,” Xander leveled off Willow’s height with his hand, “Yay high, for a while now. Although with the new, I’m sure you’ll spend your time…otherwise occupied.” He shot Buffy a lecherous grin and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Hey!” The blonde turned a glare towards Xander.
“No, Buff you don’t get to give me the Buffy glare. Just think. All that money you’re going to save while you’re, dare I say, having orgasms with the bestest bud of all that’s mine.”
Cocking her hip to the side Buffy crossed her arms and thought about the sense. Nodding, she grinned and said, “True. Ya know, Xand.” She stalked over to Xander and pulled him from the bathroom. Slinging an arm over his shoulder, she pulled him to her and said, “You missed out, Xand. Will. Great orgasms.”
The man gaped at her and blushed a deep red. Knowing that she got him, Buffy released her hold and let him go back to putting up the new shelving in the bathroom while she went back to her closet to try and make room for more of Willow’s stuff. While they had both agreed that moving in to one room was a bit too soon for either’s liking, they both wanted to keep the basics in both places.
Xander poked his head in to the closet a few minutes later to take in the site of Buffy sitting on the floor surrounded by shoes of varying shapes and colors. “Buff, the patch didn’t seem to work. You ever think of maybe checking into a rehab clinic? You and Lindsay Lohan can bunk together then you can slip her my number.”
Buffy tossed a boot in his direction and continued to sort through the mess she had created. “I think not.”
“Fine be a kill joy.” He rubbed the back of his neck and continued to stare at the blonde. “Hey Buff, uhm, ya know I just wanted to say, if you haven’t uh, picked up on it that I’m happy for uh, you and Will.”
“Huh?” Buffy looked back up mildly confused by the sudden topic change.
“Well, it’s just, you two haven’t made with the coming out officially thing yet. It’s cool with me. I mean kinda weird in a way, but it’s good. Although, if you hurt her, I reserve the right to try and kill you.”
Buffy stood apart from the sea of shoes and pulled Xander into a hug, “Not gonna happen.”
“That’s good. Oh and one other thing, when?”
“When what?”
“When did you change teams?”
“Ah.” Buffy pulled back and shifted uncomfortably for a moment before settling on an answer, “To make it easy, I didn’t know what I had until I lost it. Or more, I didn’t know what I felt until I lost it.”
“Vague that up some more, I’m not seeing the path.”
Buffy sat down on the bed and swung her feet, “Really Xand, I don’t know. I mean, in Sunnydale, during the First, I gave Angel this…okay there was analogies and it was bad, but I wasn’t thinking clearly then and when Will went away, then she came back. I just…well that horrible little speech I gave Angel which at the time, no sense and did I mention bad, kinda made sense. She, well, she was kinda the baker. And if the baker can’t enjoy warm, delicious cookie me then, no one should.”
Xander cocked his head to the side and studied the woman before him. Deciding it was best to leave the subject alone he smiled, nodded and went back to work in the bathroom. A few minutes later, he poked his head around the corner and noticed Buffy still sitting there. “So Buff, that mean’s only Will get to eat you now?”
Chaos greeted Buffy as she entered the research room. To her right, Xander and Kimmie had a wall map up of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs that had multi-colored thumb tacks protruding from it and the two were currently arguing over another map that was spread out on the corner of the table. Willow and Dawn were both bent over a computer monitor having an argument that Buffy wasn’t sure she wanted to know about. The only one present who looked semi-relaxed was Giles who was sitting back in a chair reading through a book.
Her first attempt at getting everyone’s attention only garnered a nod from Giles. Setting down the tray of drinks and box of doughnuts, she stuck her middle and index finger in her mouth and whistled. The noise caught everyone’s attention. Responding to the glare’s being sent her way with a grin, she asked, “Alright peeps, what’s up?”
“We’ve got a location on the demons,” Kimmie offered looking over to the map on the wall.
“It’s not concrete, Kim. We need more than a few guesses and one sighting,” Xander warned. “We think we have their location.”
“Look, Xander. I know you’re good at this, but I’m telling you, our demons are there.” Kimmie pointed to a green push pin on the map. “We can get visual confirmation from one of the teams tonight, but I’d bet my right arm that’s where they are.”
“Fine, but if not, then I get to not only tell you I told you so, but you get to be on “on-call” status for a month”
“What?!” Kimmie gaped at her boss and shook her head. The blonde stuffed her hands in her jeans thinking about the deal. “Fine, but if I’m right you take my Friday night shifts for the next month.”
Scratching his chin, Xander weighed his options and looked over at the map. “Uh, fine. Send out Charlie Team tonight. Rig them with video and we’ll see.”
Kimmie smiled and ran out the door to go prep the team.
“Do you think she’s right?” Buffy asked as she stepped over to the map on the wall.
“Probably, but I wasn’t gonna tell her that.” Xander pointed at a couple of the red pins and started to fill Buffy in, “We haven’t gotten any hard visuals, but Kimmie and Vi did some neat triangulation and considering where we first saw them and the population of the area, they think they are here.” Xander pointed to an area right outside of the metro region of the city.
“Huh, alright well that’s a good.” Buffy turned to Willow and Dawn. “What do you two have?”
“Just Willow being stubborn,” Dawn said, folding her arms across her chest to peer over at the witch.
“No, no stubborn, just right Dawnie.” Willow smiled over to Buffy.
“Right? No. Stubborn? Yes. Willow you can’t believe that it’s the same people?”
The redhead glared at Dawn. “Yes, I can. I spent all this morning tracking down the information. It fits.” The women stood off against each other. Dawn in her own right had grown into a woman of formidable stature while Willow stood her ground and slowly watched the resolve of her “might as well be sister” falter.
It was Buffy who stepped between the two, causing each to look away. Glancing at Dawn, Buffy settled her gaze on Willow. “You wanna clue the rest of us in?” The blonde took Willow’s hand and sat them down in two of the wooden chairs surrounding the table.
“Dawn and I have been working the past two days to try and link things together. I’ve been through about 8 different on-line archives with most not being readily available to the public and she’s been searching for references to our demon friends…”
“I found some vague accounts of the demons or maybe it was demon cousins. I’m not sure, but I found some stuff and Willow, like usual, just took it and ran,” Dawn blurted out. She took in the body language of her sister and Willow and raised an eyebrow in Buffy’s direction.
“Took and ran I did. It was the most solid lead and we need to be sure how to deal. What it gave me was circumstantial, but the best explanation for what those researchers found for the NGP.”
“NGP?” Buffy queried.
“Oh, sorry, The National Genographic Project.”
“Willow, dear, are you, what I mean to say is, what does a global science experiment have to do with our situation?” Giles perked up from his chair.
Willow slid the keyboard in front of her and hit a few keys. The projector motor came to life and the computer’s screen was now on the wall behind them. Everyone except Willow turned to see the display.
“The National Genographic Project has lots, well nearly everything to do with what I’ve found.” Willow’s hands flew over the keys as she went through and accessed the network of the research facilities. Scanning the file list, her eyes found the folder she was looking for. Bringing up a map, she began talking, “Giles, this goes back to what you were saying when we first got here. I think the times are a bit off, but that could be for a dozen reasons. The accounts that you found about that group of people migrating may be more truthful than you think. Dawn found some references that I think link it all together.
“What I’ve got is pretty much a genetic link between the groups. Thanks to the research done by this experiment. These scientists have used mtDNA to pretty much find all of the ancestors of the Native and South Americans. They’ve shown the migration patterns of human civilization through the use of mtDNA.”
Xander raised his hand and waited for Willow to finish. “Okay Will, for those that still watch Blue and Steve?”
“What’s not clear?”
“mtDNA? More detail would not go unappreciated. Leave the one eyed man a paw print to follow.”
“Oh, right sorry. mtDNA is mitochondrial DNA. It’s the most reliable source of DNA and the most effective when looking at ancestry.”
Xander’s face lit up. “Hey I know about that stuff. I used to play a game on PS1 called…Parasite Elise, no that’s not it.” He drummed his fingers across the desk top in concentration. “Eve, Parasite Eve. It was about this lady’s mitonond-mitohon m-m”
“Mitochondria,” Dawn offered.
“Yeah, mito-what’s-its taking over her body and mutating ‘cuz her’s had different DNA. It was way weird, but one more question, what’s the mito stuffs?”
Willow’s eyebrow’s rose in surprise. “Actually, that’s not half bad and mitochondria are an organelle in the cell that’s an ATP…” Willow’s voice trailed off as she noticed the looks. Rolling her eyes, she decided on simple, “It’s a thing inside of our cells that makes energy. It does have its own DNA which is why it’s pretty neat. Also, it only comes from our mother’s so it makes it way easier to track ‘cuz there’s little variation from one generation to the next.”
“Oh.” Xander nodded and urged Willow to continue, “Okay, so they tracked what where?”
“The researchers tracked the origins of the Indigenous Native and South Americans to a small cluster of tribes in Mongolia. They actually localized it and found that the ancestors came from a specific location of about 9 neighboring tribes. The funny thing is that they also found mtDNA that linked our indigenous Americans to a group of people with Anglo ancestry.” Willow waited a beat for that bit to sink in. When all she continued to get were blank stares she continued, “That’s huge people! More excitement wouldn’t be bad.”
“Will, baby, I’m not seeing it.” Buffy offered a supportive smile and a squeeze of Willow’s thigh.
“The Anglo mtDNA they thought came from Europe, naturally. So they went to Europe and did some testing. The mtDNA that they found to link to the Americans didn’t show till around the mid 1700’s. The DNA was new. The majority of this has been released for public consumption, but they’ve held back on data that didn’t line up.”
Giles sat up straighter and smiled over at the witch. “So the link skips approximately what then?”
Willow looked over at her computer and then hit a few keys bringing up a report and highlighting the findings. “What wasn’t released was that the Anglo group, Haplogroup X is said to have skipped several thousand generations. While reporting is still inconclusive, one could infer that the links between the haplogroups that are said to have been the originators of the Native Americans span nearly 11000 years and skip close to 7000. It appears in tribe X then disappears to reemerge as the strongest link in mtDNA some 7000 years later in, of all places, Mediterranean Europe. It’s linking the two together Giles. It’s really saying that while they don’t know the how or the why the fact is that the mtDNA matches are nearly identical which means the variations are pretty much moot.”
“So then, the big is?” Buffy asked.
“The big is I think the mtDNA that they’ve found to be the originator of the mtDNA in tribe X is actually future mtDNA and that a group of people were shot back into the prehistoric ages by our visiting demon clan.”
The light went on in Buffy’s head as she put the pieces together. “Oh.”
Willow turned and smiled at her. “That’s all you can say is, “Oh”?”
“Well, By George! Just seems kinda inappropriate.”
“Willow…” Dawn butted in. “You can’t just make that kind of assumption.”
Willow turned to face Dawn once again, “I’m not assuming. I was looking at A that led me to B and there C was all unassuming. It fits.” As Dawn was about to speak, Willow held up her hand. “Dawn, I know it’s not all nice and neat. There’re inconsistencies in some of the research, but it’s the best we’ve got to go on. Unless you find something that can blow a hole the size of Buffy’s ego in this then I think it’s the best we have to go on.”
“Hey, what does that mean?” Buffy interrupted.
Winking at her girlfriend, the witch turned back to face Dawn. “It gives us way more to go on. Besides Dawnie, this will open another area for us to research in.”
Unfolding her arms and stuffing them in her pockets, Dawn dropped the argument. “Fine, but I would like the record to state I wasn’t 100% sold on this whole mitochondrial link”
Xander scribbled on a note pad by his elbow making a show of taking notes, “Let the record show that one Dawn “Pumpkin Belly” Summers is not entirely on the mitochondrial train.”
“We can then surmise that the accounts for all intents and purposes are correct then? Our group of demons did make an appearance and brought with them others.” Giles said with a hint of relief on his features.
“I think so. I want Dawn to help corroborate some of this, but it wouldn’t be a far leap in the wacky logical realm.” Willow looked to Dawn and the girl just shrugged. Rolling her eyes, Willow leaned back in her chair and took Buffy’s hand that was resting on her thigh.
“Willow I’m not even sure if I can. The records that we have only go back so far and you’re talking about going back nearly 20,000 years.” Annoyance won out in the brunette as she watched a look pass between her sister and Willow. “Okay that’s it you two. What’s going on?”
Buffy’s head snapped up to meet the narrowed gaze of her sister and she blushed. “I, what are you talking about Dawn?” Feigning ignorance for the moment, Buffy hoped to buy a little more time.
“That.” Dawn waved her hand at the connected digits between the two woman sitting next her. “You two are way too touchy and don’t think I missed the ‘baby’ that slipped out Buffy. Are you two together?”
They both heard a sharp intake of breath from Giles’ general direction. Buffy locked eyes with Willow in silent communication. Nodding, Willow began to speak as she turned to face Dawn, “Yeah Dawnie, we are. We weren’t gonna say anything just yet. New and all, but yes to your question.”
Dawn’s face caught fire as she threw three books into a messenger bag. Tossing the bag over her shoulder, she spun around to face the new couple. “Great, Buff. What, you couldn’t handle guys anymore so you go to the only gay woman you know?” She turned around and headed for the door. Taking one last parting shot, she growled over her shoulder, “Why is it you’re not happy ‘till you’ve killed everything I love?”
Tears sprang to Willow’s eyes as she turned to the slayer. Buffy looked over at Willow and pulled her into a hug. The two stayed that way for a moment until a cough broke the tense air.
“Buffy, Willow” Giles’s soft voice filled the room. “I think perhaps, at least on my end, a congratulations are in order or perhaps a well wishing and good luck to you both.”
Willow gratefully smiled at Giles and Buffy just nodded wiping the tears from her lover’s cheeks.
“Thanks Giles.” Buffy’s voice was thick. “I, it means a lot.”
He smiled ruefully at his old charge and added, “Perhaps this relationship will stick for the both of you. Lord knows you both deserve it.”
The meeting broke up after Dawn’s dramatic exit causing Buffy and Willow to retire to the witch’s room. Willow’s head rested on Buffy’s arm as the blonde ran her fingers through red locks. Buffy’s head was propped up on a few pillows and watched her feet knock together in agitation.
“Will, what, Dawn...” Confusion, anger, and hurt laced Buffy’s voice.
“I dunno Buff. That was…intense.”
“I need to talk to her. Why does she do this anyhow? What the hell?”
“Again, I don’t know. It was bizarre. I thought…” Willow tried to keep her voice from wavering, “I thought that she would be happy for us. She was so supportive of Tara and well Kennedy not so much, but I get the why.”
“I don’t think any of us were real supportive while you and Ken were together.”
Willow smiled and kissed Buffy’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” Willow played with the hem of Buffy’s shirt as she thought about Dawn’s reaction to her and Buffy. Coming up with nothing, she spoke, “Do you think maybe I should go talk to Dawn?”
Buffy glanced down into worried green eyes, “I, maybe, I don’t know. She seemed mad at me. Think maybe I should.”
Not wanting her lover to face the wrath of Dawn alone she offered, “We could talk to her together?”
“Not sucky, but maybe it’s…” leaving the sentence unfinished Buffy blew out exasperatedly.
“But?”
“I…well, sister stuff. Maybe it’s that,” Buffy finished and cringed.
Sensing where Buffy was going with this, Willow conceded and began shoving Buffy away. “Go. Talk to Dawnie. Find out the what.”
The slayer swung her legs over the bed and glanced back, “You sure?”
“Yep. Go. I’ll be here. I want to look at some more stuff anyhow. The DNA gave us a frame of reference and a good link, but if you didn’t know, written records at that time, kinda poopy.”
Buffy smiled and leaned back placing a soft kiss on her witch’s lips. “Kay, so be back in a bit then.”
Willow returned the kiss and then shoved Buffy off the bed. She watched the blonde turn and wave before shutting the door. Willow grabbed her bag from the floor and pulled out her computer. Blowing the bangs from her eyes, she grumbled, “Damnit Dawnie.” And then set to work.
Buffy knocked on Dawn’s door and was torn between wanting her sister to be there and not. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face her sister’s anger for a second time today. A quiet ‘come in’ was offered a moment later and Buffy prepared herself for the upcoming conversation. She stepped into the room and saw her sister sitting at the desk.
“Dawn, we need to talk.”
“Thanks Buffy, but no. Close the door on your way out.”
Buffy sunk down on the bed resting her elbows on her knees. She leaned forward a bit then kicked the back of the chair with her foot. “Not going anywhere until you explain to me that scene in the research room. Not cool and not appreciated. Screw how you made me feel. You hurt Will, Dawn.”
Dawn spun around in her chair and squared off against an aloof looking slayer. “Buffy. Go. I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll just start with the holier than thou routine and then I’ll start yelling.”
The blonde leaned back on the bed using her arms as support and said, “Not leaving squirt. What’s the problem? You were fine with Tara and well, no one was ok with Ken, but that’s not the point.”
Dawn rolled her eyes. “This has nothing to do with Willow or Willow’s taste in women of course with you and Ken, one has to start questioning.”
“So, it’s me?”
“Only if you say you as in you you.” Dawn ran her fingers through her hair and said, “You ruin everything Buffy. I can’t believe you would…it’s Willow for gods sakes and why her? Couldn’t you have picked one of the other witches in residence to sleep with?”
“Just spit it out Dawn,” growled Buffy.
“Don’t you get it? Everyone you love leaves you. Angel, Riley, Spike. You manage to fuck it up and they have to leave town. We just got Willow back and here you are trying to ruin it for everyone!” Dawn’s voice rose in pitch as continued to speak, “You’re so selfish. Did you even think how this was going to affect the rest of us round here? We love Willow too and were just as hurt by her going away. Now, when you break her heart, she isn’t ever going to comeback.” Dawn sank back in the chair and let the tears she had been keeping in check spill over.
Buffy stayed on the bed stunned. She had come in here expecting badness, but this was different. Dawn’s anger and hurt seeped into Buffy’s soul and she knew that Dawn had a point. Buffy had been so jealous of Inara that she had run into this without thinking of the consequences. What would happen if Willow and she did break up? Would the witch really leave all of them for good? Self doubt and guilt clouded Buffy’s thoughts. She choked back the sob that rose in her throat. She wondered why Dawn looked so blurry and the tears running down her face didn’t register until she felt the drops fall from her chin.
“D-Dawn,” Buffy coughed to clear her throat and tried to continue, “Dawnie, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“You don’t know Buffy. Anything could happen. You could go all wall on us if something major happens and shut down on everyone. You could die one night and then Willow will what, just accept it? Like she did the second time you died? Yeah, that’ll happen,” the sarcasm laced snort cut in to the blonde and she looked down at her shoes. “Lemme guess, she’s gonna be the one to break your heart when she realizes that she suddenly likes boys again? There’s only one way for this to end Buffy, I lose one or both of you. I-I c-c-can’t do that anymore.”
Dawn shoved back from her chair causing the chair to bang in to the desk behind it. She began pacing as she spat the words out, “Ya know, I could have dealt with you getting together with Xander, ‘cuz he’s well he’s like something that doesn’t go away even though you abuse it. He would take the beatings you give your lovers and still be around. Willow won’t, she’ll…she’ll leave or something worse and you’ll have taken the closest thing to a parent I have away…again.”
Buffy struggled for breath as Dawn’s words did worse than any bad ever had. Blood rushed through her and her ears rang as her pulse pounded. Not being able to take any more of Dawn’s tirade, she pushed herself up and struggled to the door. Not bothering to say another word, Buffy ran down the hall to her own room.
Willow looked up from her computer and noticed that more time had passed than she had anticipated. She stretched her back and stood. Wondering where Buffy had gone off to, she set out in search of her wayward lover. She didn’t expect Dawn and Buffy to take that long in the conversation department. Truthfully she had thought it would take a maximum of 15 minutes for Dawn and Buffy both to come running in and Dawn apologizing. Willow reached out for Buffy’s presence and found it in disturbing disarray in the slayer’s bedroom.
Willow ignored the idea of knocking and pushed the door open. No lights were on in the darkening room and she could only make out the vague, covered shape of what she could only assume to be her girlfriend. Thankful for the lack of footwear, she crawled on the bed and slipped in behind the small blonde. Willow wrapped her arms around the curled body and began placing small kisses on the exposed portion of Buffy’s neck. The action garnered little response from the still form so she pulled Buffy closer to her and whispered, “Hey sleepy head. It’s me. Wake up.”
Buffy’s head shook a little and finally after a few more moments of coaxing, her eyes fluttered open. “Wasn’t sleeping. More like avoiding with a healthy dose of brooding,” the blonde whispered back. She turned in Willow’s arms letting her lover’s scent calm her.
Willow laid there a moment with Buffy clutching to her and then gently tried to persuade her lover in to talking more, “I take it the talk didn’t end so well?”
A short hard laugh escaped Buffy’s lips. “No, the word well would be used to define something that didn’t suck. It sucked, but on the plus side it’s not you.”
“No? Then what?” Willow asked.
Buffy pulled herself up to rest her forehead against Willow’s. Her mouth pinched in thought deciding on how much to tell Willow and then, “It’s me. She, uh, thinks I’ll hurt you.”
“Oh, that’s…sweet. I think. You won’t though.”
Buffy gave her lover a small, sad smile. “You can’t know that Will. Track records all sorts of bad.”
“And mine’s much better?” Willow sat farther up in the bed and pulled Buffy to a resting position on her shoulder. “Well, as sweet as Dawn’s concern is, she needs to butt out and at least pretend to be happy. It’s the polite thing to do.”
“She…Will, if we do, break up, you’re not going to leave are you?” Buffy’s quiet voice resonated in Willow and she couldn’t help but shake her head.
“No Buff. Can’t leave. Even, even when I got back from England and things were…well…shitty. I couldn’t leave. You guys are home. When I was gone with Ken, I was miserable. As you know, I didn’t last that long. Color me co-dependant.” Willow ran her hands down Buffy’s back. She could tell Buffy was holding back but decided to let it go. She would talk with Dawn later, privately.
Next>>>
Pairing: Buffy/Willow, Faith/River, Mal/Inara, Kaylee/Simon
Rating: PG-13 (mostly, there maybe some more adult language and themes, nothing that you would see on say the higher numbers of cable TV)
Disclaimer: Due to the slightly off chance that Joss or a legal suit type person may read this and in their anger, sue, I will say that this little piece of work is for fun. The characters contained below belong to Joss, ME production, and others that I don't know. The Chinese from this story is taken from the book, Finding Serenity.
Summary: The Scoobs and The Crew meet up in Cleveland a few years after Sunnydale became a landfill. Hijinx ensue.
A/N: Well, hell, it's Monday... =0/
Ch. 16 - Coca Cola
The pop that echoed on the bridge when Willow stretched her neck muscles was the best indicator that she had been sitting looking at the computer or whatever River had called it way too long. Her back ached and she was sure that when she got up there would be a permanent imprint on the seat suspiciously shaped like her butt. Her eyes were dry and burning from the hours spent on Serenity this morning. The witch looked at the two empty coffee cups and the plate that held the crumbs of four doughnuts and decided that it was time for a serious break.
Emerging from the hangar, her eyes protested the bright afternoon sun and she winced at the pain. Willow took her time getting to the back of the house stretching her unused muscles and allowed the feeling to come back to her extremities. As she rounded the corner, she found the person she was looking for. Inara sat back in the grass; her arms stretched behind her holding up her weight. The witch sat down next to her friend and sent an amused glance towards the objects of the other woman’s entertainment.
“How long have they been torturing your people?” asked Willow.
“A few hours now. I’m not clear as to why Buffy insisted they train, but, well, look at them.” Inara waved a hand at the group before her.
Willow shifted her focus to the 17 girls and 2 men before her. Faith, Buffy, and Tami weaved in and out of 8 pairs of sparring partners. From what could be seen, they had chosen to focus on the quarter staff and the sounds of clacking and grunting filled the afternoon air. She focused on Buffy as the blonde watched Jayne and Carrie go at it. The pink haired slayer swept Jayne’s feet from beneath him and then stopped the tip of the staff an inch from hitting his face.
Buffy barked, “Enough!” She helped Jayne to his feet and requested Carrie’s staff. “Jayne, you really need to pay attention to her body.”
“Gorram it woman!” Jayne brushed some of the debris from his body as he glared at the two slayers before him. “T’ain‘t right. I know how to fight.”
“No, you really don’t. You know how to watch a weapon and use brute force to get what you want. That’s not fighting that’s brawling. Big difference.” Buffy took a fighting stance and waited on Jayne to ready himself.
As he picked up his staff, twirling her staff, Buffy said, “You’re watching the weapon. Stop.” She watched as her words meant absolutely nothing to the man. Smirking, she shifted her weight to her left leg and kicked out with her right connecting with the man’s stomach. He barely deflected the follow up blow from the staff as she chided, “You need to pay the most attention to my body.” She allowed him a moment to recover and then caught his glare. “Look at what parts of me are moving. The staff is a tool and nothing more. My legs are more dangerous than this.” She parried his attack and then reigned down a series of pulled blows most of which he deflected until the last few sent him, once again, to the grass.
The rest of the group had stopped and watched Jayne get his ass handed to him until Buffy turned to face the crowd. “Alright. Is everyone ready for lunch?” The chorus of yes’s was mainly from the slayers. Breaking up, Tami offered to make lunch with the help of a few of the slayers present.
Mal, Jayne, Zoë, River, Buffy and Faith all came to sit down by the women lounging in the grass. While Buffy was pretty confident that everyone knew the change of her relationship status, she kept touching to a minimum as she sat down next to her witch.
“So, Willow what have you figured out?” Mal asked, sitting beside Inara.
“Hmm, well, sitting for that long causes the achies; other than that, just a few key points. I need more time.” Willow fidgeted with the grass and looked at Buffy.
“We’ll figure it out. Promise.” Buffy tried for a reassuring smile.
“And if we don’t?” Jayne spoke up.
“I…” Willow stopped at a loss for words. This had been going through her mind for some time and unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to come up with anything.
“Jayne, we’ll handle that if it comes to it.” Mal’s tone held an edge that caused the other man to back down.
“It’s really not that bad. I just don’t…you can’t just…” The redhead struggled for the words to the ideas her mind had been mulling over. Just as she opened her mouth to clarify her non-sentences, she noticed Xander walking towards the group wearing his worried face. She nudged Buffy with her shoulder and nodded towards their friend.
Buffy looked up asking, “What’s up Xand?”
As he reached the group, he said, “Buff, uh Giles called. Seems there are some…Ya know he used all of his British speak and you should probably talk to him. You too, Will.”
“Ok.” Buffy stood and offered her hand to Willow. “Let’s see what Watcher Prime wants.”
Willow took the hand and excused herself and Buffy from the group. They followed Xander to the room he had set up for communications.
Xander established the connection with Cleveland and a moment later, Giles’ harried voice came through, “Hello?”
“Giles, it’s me. I’ve got Xand and Will. What’s got your tweed in knots?” Buffy asked.
“Oh, right, hello you three. How is New Mexico? I trust everything went well?”
“Everything’s good so far,” Willow offered.
“Giles, we’re good, everyone’s good. What’s going on?” The annoyance in Buffy’s voice clear.
“Yes, quite right. Xander, shall I continue from the point of being hung up on?” the tone of the watcher’s question heavy with sarcasm.
“Sure thing, boss man.” Xander wiggled his eyebrows at his two friends.
“First order of business. Xander after you hung up on me, I took the liberty of securing passage back to Cleveland for the three of you. Before any of you interrupt, allow me a moment to explain. It seems we were all a bit too hasty in regards to those demons a few weeks back. Some of the information I have needs a more thorough look at, but I feel that it’s enough to warrant being concerned over and bring, for the time being, the three of you back. Willow, I have Kimmie sending the documentation for your travel via e-mail. I trust you will take care of the rest?”
“Sure thing, Giles,” agreed Willow.
“Huh?” Buffy asked the shock clear in her features. “You were all with the gung-ho about getting us out here. Time travelers needing to get back, we had a meeting.”
“Buffy I assure you that this is taking precedent over them, but I, the demons I feel are tied to our guests’ arrival,” Giles said.
“Those Coca Cola thingies? We slayed, they stopped trying to end the world. Not seeing the tie in.”
“Coca Cola? Buffy, what are you, oh, never mind, yes, that’s right the Lekakolo demons.”
Buffy smiled as she heard the all too familiar sounds of Giles’ handkerchief being brought out. Not being able to help herself, she said, “Giles we should look into getting you contacts. Of course it wouldn’t leave you with things to do when you’re all frustrated at me.”
Sending the slayer a chastising glare, Willow shook her head and asked, “So, we got what’s wrong and Buffy’s not the only one seeing the connection that’s not, Giles.”
“It would appear that there seems to be, I had initially thought these demons weren’t actually found in this dimension, but then prior to our last session together, I found an account of the ritual they were trying to perform. So, naturally, I had dismissed my earlier musings of them not being from here and went ahead with the second theory of them wanting to end the world.”
“Sounds like the norm, G-man.” Xander’s face reflected deep confusion.
“Well, I was right on both accounts. It seems that they are trying to end the world. It’s what this type of demon lives for really. They go from place to place to cause an apocalypse, but I was also right on my account of them not being from this dimension.”
“Giles, not seeing the big. You wanna talk in circles more so I can get it. Blonde remember?”
“My word Buffy, you’re supposed to gain patience as you get older not lose it,” Giles snapped. “What I’m saying is that as I furthered my research, I fear that their appearance here in this dimension is tied to the appearance of our friends from the future.”
Willow leaned forward on the table the three of them were seated around and let her mind click the new pieces of the puzzle in. “Giles, you don’t think that’s why they landed here do you? ‘Cuz then that falls under the mystical heading and makes everything more complicated and then you add on the fact that we’ve killed two of these demons and we’ve already done so much and do you know how long I’ve been brushing up on my physics?”
Buffy placed a hand on Willow’s arm as her agitation grew and squeezed. “Giles, you broke Willow and I’m still not seeing the problem. So what, they’re appearances are tied together? They still need to get back to their own time and it’s not like the Coca Loka things are gonna offer us any help.”
Willow turned to Buffy seeing where the slayer was going and said, “Sweetie, let’s just go back to Cleveland.” Turning away from Buffy, the witch faced the phone. “Giles, you’re not saying everything. We’ll go over everything in detail when we get back.”
“Quite right. It would be easiest to do this when everyone is present.”
“Giles, fine with the travel arrangements, but what about Faith?” Buffy asked.
“I would like to leave her in New Mexico with our friends for now. She’s been with them since they arrived and she seems to get along well enough.”
“Alright. Will, what do we need to do?” Buffy asked, turning to her witch.
“Uhm, let me find out when the flight is for, but going to pack wouldn’t be a bad. Giles, we gotta get stuff together. See you in a bit.” Willow waited for Giles to say his goodbyes and then disconnected. “Alright, Xand, you wanna let everyone know that we are leaving. Buff, go pack. I’m gonna get together the travel stuff.”
Xander nodded and left the two girls alone. Buffy waited until the door shut then turned to Willow. “Is this bad?”
“Uh, no, I don’t really know. We’ll work it out.” She smiled at her lover and then turned back to the laptop she had booted up.
“’Kay. I’m gonna make with the packing. See you in a few.” She kissed the top of Willow’s head and left the witch to the computer.
“Hmm…morning you,” Buffy cooed, as she tried to stretch her limbs while still wrapped around Willow.
“Morning.” Willow shot a glance over at her bedside clock and groaned. “Up, we need to get there.”
“Will, it’s only,” Buffy let her eyes follow the same path her lover’s had a moment ago and they bulged. “Okay, so it’s way late. Right. Up.” She rolled off to the right and bounced up from the mattress. Turning back to the bed, she smiled. “We still have time for a shower?” Wiggling her eyebrows got a laugh and a nod from the witch.
“If we hurry. No funny hands lady,” Willow warned while following the blonde into the bathroom.
The shower was quick and they made it to the conference room after swinging by the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast. Buffy entered the room balancing three doughnuts and her and Willow’s coffee. The redhead was behind her juggling three books and her laptop. Both stopped short inside the door as they took in the sight of the room. The room held an oblong conference table, big enough to seat 12 people along with the space at the front for a flat screen and a projector screen so that Xander could torture everyone with PowerPoint, but today the usually bare table was stacked with books and several laptops, the hum of their fans the only thing audible in the room. Giles was hunched over two texts, Xander was lazily reading one large book with his feet propped up on the table and doughnut in hand, Vi was the only one who looked up to acknowledge their entrance.
“Hi Buffy, Hi Willow.” Vi smiled.
“Hi Vi, how goes it?” Buffy asked, setting their breakfast down.
“Uhm, yeah, Giles?” Vi waited a moment for him to respond; when none came, she spoke louder, “MR. GILES?”
“Wh-what, oh, good morning you two.” He grinned up at his old charges and sat back from the table. “Glad you finally made it.” He looked over his glasses at Buffy and then Willow.
“Hey, we’re only…” The blonde looked down at her wrist and noticed the absence of a watch. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re late. It’s not a new. What’s up with the research?”
“Trying to get a jump on the latest bad or the old bad that’s now newer.” Xander said, dropping his feet from the table. He shoved the rest of the doughnut in his mouth and let his eyes scan his two friends locking on the doughnuts Buffy sat on the table. “You gonna eat those?”
The slayer shot Xander a glare. “Yes, hands off the sugar.”
“Right, not to come between a slayer and her sustenance.” Xander backed away from the general area slowly.
Plopping down in a chair, Willow offloaded her things and snagged her coffee. “So researchy goodness early in the morning. Just like I remember. Ya know, there’s something to be said for the familiarity of obscure occult texts. It’s like hearing an old song that you liked, brings back memories.” Willow stopped when she realized everyone was on the verge of laughing. “Fine, business first, mussing later. What have you found out?”
Giles stretched and then removed his glasses before starting in. “Right, first order of business. While you lot were away I did some further digging, what I found led me to a civilization in what would be considered modern day Mongolia. Now, records are of course, sketchy at best, but from what I could gather, this select breed of demons made an appearance some 12,500 year ago. When they appeared, there are accounts of a group of peoples showing up in the same area. The tribes had convened and from what I could dig through, seemed to think that the two were related.” Giles had stood during his account of the past few days and replaced his glasses as he continued.
“Now, prior to calling Xander, I had discovered an account that reads more like a creation myth from some of the ancient Inuit tribes. This particular band of peoples migrated south and eventually became the ancestors to the Indians and South American Peoples.
“Ahem…” Willow cleared her throat and glared at Giles.
“What?” Giles looked over his glasses at the redhead.
“Indians? Giles, they are not called Indians anymore. Native American, if you please. They are the indigenous people of this land.”
Rolling his eyes, Giles continued, “Pardon me, they became the ancestors to nearly all of the Native American peoples.” The watcher raised an eyebrow in Willow’s direction.
“As much fun as this little exchange is bringing flashbacks to the small pox having, syphilis infested disaster that was Thanksgiving Day 1999. Can we uh, ya know, continue?” Xander asked.
“As I was saying, these particular band of peoples had been able to record, or as it were pass down, a story of their ancestors. It is told that the group of people that appeared around the same time as our demons were fair skinned, with more than half of their members with white hair and light eyes. It continues to go on with a tail of a curse on their ancestors. Their travel to the new land was marked by the appearance of beasts that decimated the land and neighboring tribes. In order to avoid the death of innocents, the group migrated north across a land bridge, to what I assume to be modern day Alaska.
“The tribe along with another group migrated north then east and settled for a time. Here they were able to set up a village and maintain some order. The elders there would talk of their “home land.” Now, during their accounts, the “outsiders” described a place that seemed far too technologically advanced for that time. Warmer climate for instance along with better mobility and they also discussed and showed the people a way to make better weaponry than just spears. This is neatly documented, but again the source of the information was “debunked” due to the improbability that people in that time were not as evolutionarily advanced. Of course, given light to this information…” Giles looked at the bored faces of his family and sighed, “Am I boring you?”
“More like killing us…but same diff.” Buffy smirked at her watcher, “So let’s play the Buffy’s short attention span game: what’s the bottom line, before I go back to sleep.” The smile she shot to Giles took the sting from her words.
“You really have managed to take the joy out of this you know?” Giles stood from his chair and began pacing. “From what I have gathered, it was fortunate that there are accounts of a slayer being in that area that managed to dispatch the demons. What I would like, Willow, is to see if you can find anything more than I have. Verification that the two appearances were linked by more than the passage I have found.” He waited on Willow to nod and then continued, “Now, why we are researching. We need to find out why the two are linked and if they are linked how we can send them back, both of them.”
Ch. 17 - Ni Buy Gou Ge Ni Hun Qiu
“Are you okay?” River asked, as she leaned against the back of the house next to Faith. It was Faith and herself who had taken the three to the airport but since their departure, Faith had grown sullen.
“Hey Riv, yeah. Guess so. Just thinkin’ is all.” Faith took the last pull on her cigarette and flicked the butt far out in front of her. Her eyes looked out over the darkened grounds and relished the warm breeze that washed over her skin.
“Then why have you been so quiet since they left?”
“I…” Faith nervously shifted her weight to her right leg trying to decide on the best way to answer. “Okay, right, so, it takes one call from good ole’ Rupert to get the three of them to go running back to Ohio, which is cool ‘cuz I guess now we got more info, but bein’ looped in would not have hurt at all.”
River let a smile play at her lips and then, deciding on a plan, grabbed Faith’s hand. She pulled the willing slayer to a tree halfway out into the yard. She settled herself against the tree trunk then tugged on the hand she still held. Faith looked down to see River staring up at her with a ‘what are you waiting for?’ look. Plopping down next to the other girl, Faith rested her head on an offered shoulder.
“They did,” said River, after a few quiet moments.
“Did what, Riv?”
“Uhm, you called it loop in. I think what you meant was tell you what was going on. They did. As soon as they learned more, they did tell you. I don’t think they knew much before they called us tonight.”
“What makes you think that?” Faith asked, looking up into the pensive face of her friend.
River closed her eyes and idly wished she could not answer that question. “Because they need us, like we need them. Your family has decisions to make as will mine.”
Faith burrowed further into River’s side and just nodded.
“Were there any big surprises with tonight’s conversation?” River asked.
“Dunno, I mean demons trying to end the world, hey really old game. In fact it’s so old, I wish they’d get a new one.” Faith let the smile overtake her as she giggled out, “I can see it now; demons of the world uniting to bring about world peace much to the dismay of beauty queens the world over.”
“Beauty Queens?” River inquired.
Faith sobered up and shrugged. “Just, ah, ya know what? Remind me to make you watch Miss Congeniality, alright?”
“Alright.” River let the conversation lapse knowing both were too busy with their own thoughts. The day hadn’t been that eventful, but she found herself growing tired none the less. Stretching, she nudged Faith. “I’m going to go to bed. Will you be coming in soon?”
Faith rubbed her eyes and blinked at the girl. “Sleep wouldn’t be bad.” She stood offering River her hand. Once the two were standing, Faith grinned. “Race ya!” And took off in the direction of the house.
River raised her eyebrows and then quickly followed the slayer back to the house.
Buffy stepped out of her walk-in closet and asked, “When did I get so many shoes? Or clothes even? How?”
Xander poked his head out of the bathroom door and smiled. “We call it shopping. You and a redhead about,” Xander leveled off Willow’s height with his hand, “Yay high, for a while now. Although with the new, I’m sure you’ll spend your time…otherwise occupied.” He shot Buffy a lecherous grin and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Hey!” The blonde turned a glare towards Xander.
“No, Buff you don’t get to give me the Buffy glare. Just think. All that money you’re going to save while you’re, dare I say, having orgasms with the bestest bud of all that’s mine.”
Cocking her hip to the side Buffy crossed her arms and thought about the sense. Nodding, she grinned and said, “True. Ya know, Xand.” She stalked over to Xander and pulled him from the bathroom. Slinging an arm over his shoulder, she pulled him to her and said, “You missed out, Xand. Will. Great orgasms.”
The man gaped at her and blushed a deep red. Knowing that she got him, Buffy released her hold and let him go back to putting up the new shelving in the bathroom while she went back to her closet to try and make room for more of Willow’s stuff. While they had both agreed that moving in to one room was a bit too soon for either’s liking, they both wanted to keep the basics in both places.
Xander poked his head in to the closet a few minutes later to take in the site of Buffy sitting on the floor surrounded by shoes of varying shapes and colors. “Buff, the patch didn’t seem to work. You ever think of maybe checking into a rehab clinic? You and Lindsay Lohan can bunk together then you can slip her my number.”
Buffy tossed a boot in his direction and continued to sort through the mess she had created. “I think not.”
“Fine be a kill joy.” He rubbed the back of his neck and continued to stare at the blonde. “Hey Buff, uhm, ya know I just wanted to say, if you haven’t uh, picked up on it that I’m happy for uh, you and Will.”
“Huh?” Buffy looked back up mildly confused by the sudden topic change.
“Well, it’s just, you two haven’t made with the coming out officially thing yet. It’s cool with me. I mean kinda weird in a way, but it’s good. Although, if you hurt her, I reserve the right to try and kill you.”
Buffy stood apart from the sea of shoes and pulled Xander into a hug, “Not gonna happen.”
“That’s good. Oh and one other thing, when?”
“When what?”
“When did you change teams?”
“Ah.” Buffy pulled back and shifted uncomfortably for a moment before settling on an answer, “To make it easy, I didn’t know what I had until I lost it. Or more, I didn’t know what I felt until I lost it.”
“Vague that up some more, I’m not seeing the path.”
Buffy sat down on the bed and swung her feet, “Really Xand, I don’t know. I mean, in Sunnydale, during the First, I gave Angel this…okay there was analogies and it was bad, but I wasn’t thinking clearly then and when Will went away, then she came back. I just…well that horrible little speech I gave Angel which at the time, no sense and did I mention bad, kinda made sense. She, well, she was kinda the baker. And if the baker can’t enjoy warm, delicious cookie me then, no one should.”
Xander cocked his head to the side and studied the woman before him. Deciding it was best to leave the subject alone he smiled, nodded and went back to work in the bathroom. A few minutes later, he poked his head around the corner and noticed Buffy still sitting there. “So Buff, that mean’s only Will get to eat you now?”
Chaos greeted Buffy as she entered the research room. To her right, Xander and Kimmie had a wall map up of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs that had multi-colored thumb tacks protruding from it and the two were currently arguing over another map that was spread out on the corner of the table. Willow and Dawn were both bent over a computer monitor having an argument that Buffy wasn’t sure she wanted to know about. The only one present who looked semi-relaxed was Giles who was sitting back in a chair reading through a book.
Her first attempt at getting everyone’s attention only garnered a nod from Giles. Setting down the tray of drinks and box of doughnuts, she stuck her middle and index finger in her mouth and whistled. The noise caught everyone’s attention. Responding to the glare’s being sent her way with a grin, she asked, “Alright peeps, what’s up?”
“We’ve got a location on the demons,” Kimmie offered looking over to the map on the wall.
“It’s not concrete, Kim. We need more than a few guesses and one sighting,” Xander warned. “We think we have their location.”
“Look, Xander. I know you’re good at this, but I’m telling you, our demons are there.” Kimmie pointed to a green push pin on the map. “We can get visual confirmation from one of the teams tonight, but I’d bet my right arm that’s where they are.”
“Fine, but if not, then I get to not only tell you I told you so, but you get to be on “on-call” status for a month”
“What?!” Kimmie gaped at her boss and shook her head. The blonde stuffed her hands in her jeans thinking about the deal. “Fine, but if I’m right you take my Friday night shifts for the next month.”
Scratching his chin, Xander weighed his options and looked over at the map. “Uh, fine. Send out Charlie Team tonight. Rig them with video and we’ll see.”
Kimmie smiled and ran out the door to go prep the team.
“Do you think she’s right?” Buffy asked as she stepped over to the map on the wall.
“Probably, but I wasn’t gonna tell her that.” Xander pointed at a couple of the red pins and started to fill Buffy in, “We haven’t gotten any hard visuals, but Kimmie and Vi did some neat triangulation and considering where we first saw them and the population of the area, they think they are here.” Xander pointed to an area right outside of the metro region of the city.
“Huh, alright well that’s a good.” Buffy turned to Willow and Dawn. “What do you two have?”
“Just Willow being stubborn,” Dawn said, folding her arms across her chest to peer over at the witch.
“No, no stubborn, just right Dawnie.” Willow smiled over to Buffy.
“Right? No. Stubborn? Yes. Willow you can’t believe that it’s the same people?”
The redhead glared at Dawn. “Yes, I can. I spent all this morning tracking down the information. It fits.” The women stood off against each other. Dawn in her own right had grown into a woman of formidable stature while Willow stood her ground and slowly watched the resolve of her “might as well be sister” falter.
It was Buffy who stepped between the two, causing each to look away. Glancing at Dawn, Buffy settled her gaze on Willow. “You wanna clue the rest of us in?” The blonde took Willow’s hand and sat them down in two of the wooden chairs surrounding the table.
“Dawn and I have been working the past two days to try and link things together. I’ve been through about 8 different on-line archives with most not being readily available to the public and she’s been searching for references to our demon friends…”
“I found some vague accounts of the demons or maybe it was demon cousins. I’m not sure, but I found some stuff and Willow, like usual, just took it and ran,” Dawn blurted out. She took in the body language of her sister and Willow and raised an eyebrow in Buffy’s direction.
“Took and ran I did. It was the most solid lead and we need to be sure how to deal. What it gave me was circumstantial, but the best explanation for what those researchers found for the NGP.”
“NGP?” Buffy queried.
“Oh, sorry, The National Genographic Project.”
“Willow, dear, are you, what I mean to say is, what does a global science experiment have to do with our situation?” Giles perked up from his chair.
Willow slid the keyboard in front of her and hit a few keys. The projector motor came to life and the computer’s screen was now on the wall behind them. Everyone except Willow turned to see the display.
“The National Genographic Project has lots, well nearly everything to do with what I’ve found.” Willow’s hands flew over the keys as she went through and accessed the network of the research facilities. Scanning the file list, her eyes found the folder she was looking for. Bringing up a map, she began talking, “Giles, this goes back to what you were saying when we first got here. I think the times are a bit off, but that could be for a dozen reasons. The accounts that you found about that group of people migrating may be more truthful than you think. Dawn found some references that I think link it all together.
“What I’ve got is pretty much a genetic link between the groups. Thanks to the research done by this experiment. These scientists have used mtDNA to pretty much find all of the ancestors of the Native and South Americans. They’ve shown the migration patterns of human civilization through the use of mtDNA.”
Xander raised his hand and waited for Willow to finish. “Okay Will, for those that still watch Blue and Steve?”
“What’s not clear?”
“mtDNA? More detail would not go unappreciated. Leave the one eyed man a paw print to follow.”
“Oh, right sorry. mtDNA is mitochondrial DNA. It’s the most reliable source of DNA and the most effective when looking at ancestry.”
Xander’s face lit up. “Hey I know about that stuff. I used to play a game on PS1 called…Parasite Elise, no that’s not it.” He drummed his fingers across the desk top in concentration. “Eve, Parasite Eve. It was about this lady’s mitonond-mitohon m-m”
“Mitochondria,” Dawn offered.
“Yeah, mito-what’s-its taking over her body and mutating ‘cuz her’s had different DNA. It was way weird, but one more question, what’s the mito stuffs?”
Willow’s eyebrow’s rose in surprise. “Actually, that’s not half bad and mitochondria are an organelle in the cell that’s an ATP…” Willow’s voice trailed off as she noticed the looks. Rolling her eyes, she decided on simple, “It’s a thing inside of our cells that makes energy. It does have its own DNA which is why it’s pretty neat. Also, it only comes from our mother’s so it makes it way easier to track ‘cuz there’s little variation from one generation to the next.”
“Oh.” Xander nodded and urged Willow to continue, “Okay, so they tracked what where?”
“The researchers tracked the origins of the Indigenous Native and South Americans to a small cluster of tribes in Mongolia. They actually localized it and found that the ancestors came from a specific location of about 9 neighboring tribes. The funny thing is that they also found mtDNA that linked our indigenous Americans to a group of people with Anglo ancestry.” Willow waited a beat for that bit to sink in. When all she continued to get were blank stares she continued, “That’s huge people! More excitement wouldn’t be bad.”
“Will, baby, I’m not seeing it.” Buffy offered a supportive smile and a squeeze of Willow’s thigh.
“The Anglo mtDNA they thought came from Europe, naturally. So they went to Europe and did some testing. The mtDNA that they found to link to the Americans didn’t show till around the mid 1700’s. The DNA was new. The majority of this has been released for public consumption, but they’ve held back on data that didn’t line up.”
Giles sat up straighter and smiled over at the witch. “So the link skips approximately what then?”
Willow looked over at her computer and then hit a few keys bringing up a report and highlighting the findings. “What wasn’t released was that the Anglo group, Haplogroup X is said to have skipped several thousand generations. While reporting is still inconclusive, one could infer that the links between the haplogroups that are said to have been the originators of the Native Americans span nearly 11000 years and skip close to 7000. It appears in tribe X then disappears to reemerge as the strongest link in mtDNA some 7000 years later in, of all places, Mediterranean Europe. It’s linking the two together Giles. It’s really saying that while they don’t know the how or the why the fact is that the mtDNA matches are nearly identical which means the variations are pretty much moot.”
“So then, the big is?” Buffy asked.
“The big is I think the mtDNA that they’ve found to be the originator of the mtDNA in tribe X is actually future mtDNA and that a group of people were shot back into the prehistoric ages by our visiting demon clan.”
The light went on in Buffy’s head as she put the pieces together. “Oh.”
Willow turned and smiled at her. “That’s all you can say is, “Oh”?”
“Well, By George! Just seems kinda inappropriate.”
“Willow…” Dawn butted in. “You can’t just make that kind of assumption.”
Willow turned to face Dawn once again, “I’m not assuming. I was looking at A that led me to B and there C was all unassuming. It fits.” As Dawn was about to speak, Willow held up her hand. “Dawn, I know it’s not all nice and neat. There’re inconsistencies in some of the research, but it’s the best we’ve got to go on. Unless you find something that can blow a hole the size of Buffy’s ego in this then I think it’s the best we have to go on.”
“Hey, what does that mean?” Buffy interrupted.
Winking at her girlfriend, the witch turned back to face Dawn. “It gives us way more to go on. Besides Dawnie, this will open another area for us to research in.”
Unfolding her arms and stuffing them in her pockets, Dawn dropped the argument. “Fine, but I would like the record to state I wasn’t 100% sold on this whole mitochondrial link”
Xander scribbled on a note pad by his elbow making a show of taking notes, “Let the record show that one Dawn “Pumpkin Belly” Summers is not entirely on the mitochondrial train.”
“We can then surmise that the accounts for all intents and purposes are correct then? Our group of demons did make an appearance and brought with them others.” Giles said with a hint of relief on his features.
“I think so. I want Dawn to help corroborate some of this, but it wouldn’t be a far leap in the wacky logical realm.” Willow looked to Dawn and the girl just shrugged. Rolling her eyes, Willow leaned back in her chair and took Buffy’s hand that was resting on her thigh.
“Willow I’m not even sure if I can. The records that we have only go back so far and you’re talking about going back nearly 20,000 years.” Annoyance won out in the brunette as she watched a look pass between her sister and Willow. “Okay that’s it you two. What’s going on?”
Buffy’s head snapped up to meet the narrowed gaze of her sister and she blushed. “I, what are you talking about Dawn?” Feigning ignorance for the moment, Buffy hoped to buy a little more time.
“That.” Dawn waved her hand at the connected digits between the two woman sitting next her. “You two are way too touchy and don’t think I missed the ‘baby’ that slipped out Buffy. Are you two together?”
They both heard a sharp intake of breath from Giles’ general direction. Buffy locked eyes with Willow in silent communication. Nodding, Willow began to speak as she turned to face Dawn, “Yeah Dawnie, we are. We weren’t gonna say anything just yet. New and all, but yes to your question.”
Dawn’s face caught fire as she threw three books into a messenger bag. Tossing the bag over her shoulder, she spun around to face the new couple. “Great, Buff. What, you couldn’t handle guys anymore so you go to the only gay woman you know?” She turned around and headed for the door. Taking one last parting shot, she growled over her shoulder, “Why is it you’re not happy ‘till you’ve killed everything I love?”
Tears sprang to Willow’s eyes as she turned to the slayer. Buffy looked over at Willow and pulled her into a hug. The two stayed that way for a moment until a cough broke the tense air.
“Buffy, Willow” Giles’s soft voice filled the room. “I think perhaps, at least on my end, a congratulations are in order or perhaps a well wishing and good luck to you both.”
Willow gratefully smiled at Giles and Buffy just nodded wiping the tears from her lover’s cheeks.
“Thanks Giles.” Buffy’s voice was thick. “I, it means a lot.”
He smiled ruefully at his old charge and added, “Perhaps this relationship will stick for the both of you. Lord knows you both deserve it.”
The meeting broke up after Dawn’s dramatic exit causing Buffy and Willow to retire to the witch’s room. Willow’s head rested on Buffy’s arm as the blonde ran her fingers through red locks. Buffy’s head was propped up on a few pillows and watched her feet knock together in agitation.
“Will, what, Dawn...” Confusion, anger, and hurt laced Buffy’s voice.
“I dunno Buff. That was…intense.”
“I need to talk to her. Why does she do this anyhow? What the hell?”
“Again, I don’t know. It was bizarre. I thought…” Willow tried to keep her voice from wavering, “I thought that she would be happy for us. She was so supportive of Tara and well Kennedy not so much, but I get the why.”
“I don’t think any of us were real supportive while you and Ken were together.”
Willow smiled and kissed Buffy’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” Willow played with the hem of Buffy’s shirt as she thought about Dawn’s reaction to her and Buffy. Coming up with nothing, she spoke, “Do you think maybe I should go talk to Dawn?”
Buffy glanced down into worried green eyes, “I, maybe, I don’t know. She seemed mad at me. Think maybe I should.”
Not wanting her lover to face the wrath of Dawn alone she offered, “We could talk to her together?”
“Not sucky, but maybe it’s…” leaving the sentence unfinished Buffy blew out exasperatedly.
“But?”
“I…well, sister stuff. Maybe it’s that,” Buffy finished and cringed.
Sensing where Buffy was going with this, Willow conceded and began shoving Buffy away. “Go. Talk to Dawnie. Find out the what.”
The slayer swung her legs over the bed and glanced back, “You sure?”
“Yep. Go. I’ll be here. I want to look at some more stuff anyhow. The DNA gave us a frame of reference and a good link, but if you didn’t know, written records at that time, kinda poopy.”
Buffy smiled and leaned back placing a soft kiss on her witch’s lips. “Kay, so be back in a bit then.”
Willow returned the kiss and then shoved Buffy off the bed. She watched the blonde turn and wave before shutting the door. Willow grabbed her bag from the floor and pulled out her computer. Blowing the bangs from her eyes, she grumbled, “Damnit Dawnie.” And then set to work.
Buffy knocked on Dawn’s door and was torn between wanting her sister to be there and not. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face her sister’s anger for a second time today. A quiet ‘come in’ was offered a moment later and Buffy prepared herself for the upcoming conversation. She stepped into the room and saw her sister sitting at the desk.
“Dawn, we need to talk.”
“Thanks Buffy, but no. Close the door on your way out.”
Buffy sunk down on the bed resting her elbows on her knees. She leaned forward a bit then kicked the back of the chair with her foot. “Not going anywhere until you explain to me that scene in the research room. Not cool and not appreciated. Screw how you made me feel. You hurt Will, Dawn.”
Dawn spun around in her chair and squared off against an aloof looking slayer. “Buffy. Go. I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll just start with the holier than thou routine and then I’ll start yelling.”
The blonde leaned back on the bed using her arms as support and said, “Not leaving squirt. What’s the problem? You were fine with Tara and well, no one was ok with Ken, but that’s not the point.”
Dawn rolled her eyes. “This has nothing to do with Willow or Willow’s taste in women of course with you and Ken, one has to start questioning.”
“So, it’s me?”
“Only if you say you as in you you.” Dawn ran her fingers through her hair and said, “You ruin everything Buffy. I can’t believe you would…it’s Willow for gods sakes and why her? Couldn’t you have picked one of the other witches in residence to sleep with?”
“Just spit it out Dawn,” growled Buffy.
“Don’t you get it? Everyone you love leaves you. Angel, Riley, Spike. You manage to fuck it up and they have to leave town. We just got Willow back and here you are trying to ruin it for everyone!” Dawn’s voice rose in pitch as continued to speak, “You’re so selfish. Did you even think how this was going to affect the rest of us round here? We love Willow too and were just as hurt by her going away. Now, when you break her heart, she isn’t ever going to comeback.” Dawn sank back in the chair and let the tears she had been keeping in check spill over.
Buffy stayed on the bed stunned. She had come in here expecting badness, but this was different. Dawn’s anger and hurt seeped into Buffy’s soul and she knew that Dawn had a point. Buffy had been so jealous of Inara that she had run into this without thinking of the consequences. What would happen if Willow and she did break up? Would the witch really leave all of them for good? Self doubt and guilt clouded Buffy’s thoughts. She choked back the sob that rose in her throat. She wondered why Dawn looked so blurry and the tears running down her face didn’t register until she felt the drops fall from her chin.
“D-Dawn,” Buffy coughed to clear her throat and tried to continue, “Dawnie, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“You don’t know Buffy. Anything could happen. You could go all wall on us if something major happens and shut down on everyone. You could die one night and then Willow will what, just accept it? Like she did the second time you died? Yeah, that’ll happen,” the sarcasm laced snort cut in to the blonde and she looked down at her shoes. “Lemme guess, she’s gonna be the one to break your heart when she realizes that she suddenly likes boys again? There’s only one way for this to end Buffy, I lose one or both of you. I-I c-c-can’t do that anymore.”
Dawn shoved back from her chair causing the chair to bang in to the desk behind it. She began pacing as she spat the words out, “Ya know, I could have dealt with you getting together with Xander, ‘cuz he’s well he’s like something that doesn’t go away even though you abuse it. He would take the beatings you give your lovers and still be around. Willow won’t, she’ll…she’ll leave or something worse and you’ll have taken the closest thing to a parent I have away…again.”
Buffy struggled for breath as Dawn’s words did worse than any bad ever had. Blood rushed through her and her ears rang as her pulse pounded. Not being able to take any more of Dawn’s tirade, she pushed herself up and struggled to the door. Not bothering to say another word, Buffy ran down the hall to her own room.
Willow looked up from her computer and noticed that more time had passed than she had anticipated. She stretched her back and stood. Wondering where Buffy had gone off to, she set out in search of her wayward lover. She didn’t expect Dawn and Buffy to take that long in the conversation department. Truthfully she had thought it would take a maximum of 15 minutes for Dawn and Buffy both to come running in and Dawn apologizing. Willow reached out for Buffy’s presence and found it in disturbing disarray in the slayer’s bedroom.
Willow ignored the idea of knocking and pushed the door open. No lights were on in the darkening room and she could only make out the vague, covered shape of what she could only assume to be her girlfriend. Thankful for the lack of footwear, she crawled on the bed and slipped in behind the small blonde. Willow wrapped her arms around the curled body and began placing small kisses on the exposed portion of Buffy’s neck. The action garnered little response from the still form so she pulled Buffy closer to her and whispered, “Hey sleepy head. It’s me. Wake up.”
Buffy’s head shook a little and finally after a few more moments of coaxing, her eyes fluttered open. “Wasn’t sleeping. More like avoiding with a healthy dose of brooding,” the blonde whispered back. She turned in Willow’s arms letting her lover’s scent calm her.
Willow laid there a moment with Buffy clutching to her and then gently tried to persuade her lover in to talking more, “I take it the talk didn’t end so well?”
A short hard laugh escaped Buffy’s lips. “No, the word well would be used to define something that didn’t suck. It sucked, but on the plus side it’s not you.”
“No? Then what?” Willow asked.
Buffy pulled herself up to rest her forehead against Willow’s. Her mouth pinched in thought deciding on how much to tell Willow and then, “It’s me. She, uh, thinks I’ll hurt you.”
“Oh, that’s…sweet. I think. You won’t though.”
Buffy gave her lover a small, sad smile. “You can’t know that Will. Track records all sorts of bad.”
“And mine’s much better?” Willow sat farther up in the bed and pulled Buffy to a resting position on her shoulder. “Well, as sweet as Dawn’s concern is, she needs to butt out and at least pretend to be happy. It’s the polite thing to do.”
“She…Will, if we do, break up, you’re not going to leave are you?” Buffy’s quiet voice resonated in Willow and she couldn’t help but shake her head.
“No Buff. Can’t leave. Even, even when I got back from England and things were…well…shitty. I couldn’t leave. You guys are home. When I was gone with Ken, I was miserable. As you know, I didn’t last that long. Color me co-dependant.” Willow ran her hands down Buffy’s back. She could tell Buffy was holding back but decided to let it go. She would talk with Dawn later, privately.
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