Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 127

 

Friday December 6, 2002

11 PM

 

Buffy walks through the cemetery patrolling. She pauses at a noise but relaxes as Oz steps up.

Buffy: Empty?

Oz: Yep. Yours too?

Buffy: Uh huh. Ready to take a sweep toward town?

Oz: Sure.

They walk in silence, each scanning their eyes around.

Buffy: So how is the new band?

Oz: Coming along.

Buffy: Any gigs?

Oz: Oh we’re not ready. Still can’t find a decent drummer. Not that we are all that great but you know drums. Kinda important.

Buffy: I guess, if you say so.

Oz stops.

Buffy: Hear something?

Oz: Smell.

He heads down an alley.

Buffy: Smell?

She follows him closely. They see the boy pressing the girl against the wall but before Buffy can react the boy crumbles into dust. The young blonde looks up at the couple with a smile.

Crystal: Hi.

She heads toward the street.

Buffy: Halt!

Crystal: What?

Buffy: What in hell are you doing?

Crystal: I was heading to the Bronze to meet you.

Buffy: Yes and the alley?

Crystal: I got tingly and looked in the alley. Dust boy there was going after some girl so I broke it up.

Buffy: By yourself?

Crystal: It was one vamp. What is the big deal?

Buffy: The big deal is you are not ready. I told you I do not want you out here alone. Not yet.

Crystal: So what was I suppose to do let him kill her while I looked for you or Faith.

Buffy: No but I don’t need you dead either.

Crystal: Buffy, you have trained me. I am not ready to take on whole nest yet but I can handle one measly newbie by myself. I don’t want to die either and I won’t. I won’t take on more than I can handle.

Buffy looks over the girl and smiles.

Buffy: You are so much more prepared than I ever was. You give me hope for Caitlin.

Crystal: When her day comes, she will be ready. I won’t be around to see it but I know she will be amazing.

Buffy: I hope you are right. Well not about the not being around part.

Crystal: I know what you meant. So are we going to the Bronze?

Oz: Me and two pretty ladies. I say yes .

Crystal giggles. Buffy glances and admires the combination of strength and youth in her slayer kin.

Buffy: I’m in.

They stroll through the streets until they reach the club. They walk toward the door but are stopped by the doorman.

Bouncer: Cover.

Buffy: What?

Bouncer: It’s Friday. Three dollar cover charge.

Buffy: Nope. Where’s Gus?

Bouncer: At the bar.

Buffy: Suggest you get him.

Crystal: Buffy, just pay.

The bouncer signals to Gus. After a few minutes Gus emerges.

Gus: What is it? The place is packed.

Bouncer: This little girl insist she and her friends don’t have to pay.

Gus turns and looks at Buffy leaning against the wall. Crystal and Oz stand nearby. Gus walks over.

Gus: Buffy, you look wonderful. I guess congratulations are in order.

Buffy: Thanks. So you going to tell cro-mag there what’s the what.

Gus: Sure thing.

He glances at Oz.

Gus: Oz. Good to see you.

Oz.: Same here.

Gus walks up to the bouncer.

Gus: Frankie, that little girl you mentioned is the head of my uh well my security company and she and her assistants get free access anytime.

He glances up to see Faith and Spike arriving from the other direction. He turns toward Buffy.

Gus: You expecting trouble?

Buffy: No. They are off duty tonight.

Faith and Spike walk up.

Faith: Hey B.

Buffy: Hello. So you enjoying the night off?

Faith: Going to.

Gus: Well I am needed back behind the bar. Frankie remember these faces. They and their co-workers get in anytime.

Frankie: Got it.

Gus: Buffy stop by the bar later I need to discuss some things.

Buffy: Sure.

Faith, Spike, Oz, and Crystal slip in the door. Buffy stops and looks at Frankie.

Frankie: He said you could go in.

Buffy: I know. I just wondering why you have a problem with it.

Frankie: Not my job to second guess the boss. What ever you have on him is his business.

Buffy: What? Have on him? What are you saying?

Frankie: Nothing. I just don’t see a bunch of kids as no dang security team.

Buffy: Well I hope you don’t need our help then.

She walks off in a huff. He stares at her irritated.

Frankie: It must be big.

Buffy looks around the club. Her eyes fall on the dance floor and her mouth falls open. There in front of her eyes is wild child Faith wrapped in the arms of the chipped vampire, slow dancing. Slow dancing. Not flaying to some rumbling beat. Not gyrating to some sexual cacophony. But slow dancing to a romantic ballad. Buffy suddenly feels she has entered the twilight zone. She has stepped through a portal to an alternate dimension. Oz walks up.

Oz: Buff?

Buffy: Uh, please tell me you see it too.

Oz: Yes.

Buffy: Okay so I am not having hallucinations. That is good. I think.

Oz: Buffy, Crystal senses trouble.

Buffy turns and looks at him. She shakes to clear her head.

Buffy: Trouble? Okay, lead the way.

They walk over to the bottom of the stairs.

Buffy: What you find?

Crystal: Nothing yet. I just am getting some major wigs from up there.

Buffy: You have some major radar going.

Crystal: I know.

The trio move up the steps. Three pair of eyes scan the crowd. As Buffy reaches the landing she stops and looks over the railing. Faith is staring toward a dark corner of the platform.

Buffy: Faith sees something.

She moves toward the corner. Crystal looks down as Faith starts to move and sees Buffy. She stops, smiles and pulls Spike back into her arms. Crystal follows the eldest slayer. Buffy, Crystal, and Oz surround the five huddled in the corner on the couches. A single female victim is trapped and severely weakened.

Buffy: This is not good.

Crystal. Nope.

Buffy smiles at the girls attempt at bravado. The group look up at the intruders. One member lunges to grab Crystal but Oz slams a stake into its back. The others gasp and jump up. The trio easily dispatch the other three. Buffy kneels in front of the victim.

Buffy: Can you move?

The girl’s head lolls to one side.

Buffy: Guys, I think we need to take her out of here.

Crystal: She need to go to the hospital?

Buffy: Too late.

Crystal gasps and a her voice catches in her throat.

Buffy: Go tell Gus.

Oz turns to the stairs.

Crystal: D..d..d..deeeaad?

Buffy: Yes. I hope just dead.

Crystal: How can you tell?

Buffy: We can’t. Not until she rises or doesn’t.

Crystal: Can we like do something now?

Buffy: Not until the coroner see her.

Gus walks up.

Buffy: Sorry.

Gus: Did you get them all.

Buffy: I think so. But we were too late.

Gus: I called the police. Looks like Friday night is over here.

Buffy: I am sorry.

Gus: Not your fault. Well let me go out front and wait. Can you stay with….

Buffy: Go.

Gus returns moments later with two police officers. One kneels beside the victim and checks her pulse.

Officer: Call the morgue.

He stands up and looks around.

Officer: Someone want to fill me in.

Buffy: We came up her to sit and found her.

Crystal looks over the railing as Buffy talks to the officer. The patrons slowly leave. The bouncer looks up and stares. Anger reflects on his face.

The coroner arrives and the group moves downstairs out of his way. The bouncer walks up and stands with his arms crossed glaring at Buffy and her friends. Faith walks up to Buffy.

Faith: You need me?

Buffy: No go have fun.

Faith: I think I will.

Spike follows Faith out the door.

Officer: Well I guess that is it. If you think of anything.

Frankie: Wait a minute. You just going to let them go?

Officer: Do you know something?

Frankie: I know that they are not to be trusted.

Buffy: What?!!

Frankie: These kids show up and the manager gives them free run of the place.

Gus: You are out of line. They are part of the security here.

Officer: Who is?

Gus: Buffy and Oz and the others.

Officers: These kids.

Buffy: I am not a kid. I am twenty-one, married with two children. Heck I drive a mini-van for christ sake.

Oz snickers. Buffy looks at him in shock.

Officer: So does this security company have a name?

Kate: Angel Investigations.

Officer: Detective Lockley.

Kate: Hello Buffy.

Buffy: Kate.

Kate: I see you had the baby.

Buffy: Three weeks ago.

Kate: And already out working. You are dedicated.

Buffy: Well my backup needed a night off after covering me for so long.

Kate: How is she doing?

Buffy: Fine. She just left.

Kate: So Gus. Another body?

Gus: Unfortunately.

Kate: Well lets hope it is the last.

Gus: With Buffy and her folks coming in I feel safe.

Kate: Good. Buffy can we talk?

Officer: Detective, do you need us?

Kate: No. Just type up your report and leave it on my desk.

Frankie stands there staring as Buffy and Kate walk over to talk private.

Gus: Frankie, if you have a problem you better speak up.

Frankie: No.

Gus: Buffy is good at her job and I don’t want her or her people treated bad.

Frankie: What ever you say.

Gus: Well lets clean up and go home.

Frankie: Fine.

He moves and begins setting chairs on the tables but never takes his eyes off Buffy. Oz walks up to him.

Oz: She can have you down without breaking a sweat.

Frankie: Yeah right.

Oz: Okay just thought I would warn you.

Buffy walks up.

Oz: Ready.

Buffy: Yes. Lets go.

Frankie watches the trio exit the building.

 

 

 

Main Street

Spike and Faith walk along the sidewalk.

Spike: Where to?

Faith: Not sure.

Spike: We can go to the Dukes.

Faith: Boring.

Spike grabs her arm and motions at the store window. They look at the black leather pants and matching vest hanging on the mannequin.

Faith: What?

Spike: Love to see that on you.

Faith: Sure, sure. That thing costs as much I my rent.

Spike: Who is talking buying?

Faith: Me. I am not doing anything to get my parole revoked and robbery would do it.

Spike: Not if I do it.

Faith: Possession of stolen property also not good..

Spike: Oh. Well maybe……….

Faith: Forget it. Lets go shoot some pool.

Spike follows her glancing back over his shoulder at the window.

 

Buffy, Oz, and Crystal sweep the cemetery.

Crystal: I better head home before dad goes out looking for me.

Buffy: You want us to walk you ?

Crystal: No. I can be there in just a few minutes.

Buffy: No more solo work.

Crystal: Got it boss.

She takes off.

Buffy: Was I ever that cocky?

Oz: At times.

Buffy: Oh.

They continue to walk in silence. Absorbing the sights, sounds, and smells of the night surrounding them.

Buffy: I almost forgot how boring patrolling can get.

Oz: Uh huh.

Buffy: Not that I am not glad to be back in the action.

Oz: You want to go home.

Buffy: Uh no, well yes. I miss the kids. Sue me.

Oz: Understandable.

Buffy: I guess. So since we are alone, is there anything I need to know about the plans?

Oz: Not really. Everything is set. You still keeping Angel in the dark?

Buffy: He is always in the dark.

She looks at his stoic face.

Buffy: My puns are never appreciated.

Oz: I do.

Buffy: So, when do we tell the others?

Oz: Your call.

Buffy: I guess we can tell Willow and Dawn now and then you can tell the Cordy and the others when you get back.

Oz: And Giles?

Buffy: Told him already.

Oz: Hope it works.

Buffy: It will. I have confidence.

They approach the yellow house and mount the steps.

Oz: Buffy?

She turns and looks at him.

Oz: Angel is a very lucky man.

Buffy smiles and opens the door.

 

 

Saturday, December 7, 2002

Spike lies in bed watching Faith dress for work.

Spike: What time you be back?

Faith: Not sure. Probably not till 3 or 4. We got a few big deliveries. Guess folks are giving furniture for Christmas.

Spike: We patrolling tonight?

Faith: Nope. Buffy said I am free for awhile unless she needs backup.

Spike: We going out?

Faith: Not sure. Now I got to haul out of here.

He watches her take off out the door before heading for the shower. Once dressed he grabs his blanket and takes off out the door and drops into the nearby sewer access. He moves through the tunnels until he reaches the ladder. He hoist himself up and looks around the dark room before strolling into the bar.

Willie: Spike. What brings you here? I hope you are alone.

Spike: I’m alone.

Willie: Well what can I get ya?

Spike: I’m looking for a little action.

Willie: You need a girl?

Spike: Not a girl. I am looking for a game.

Willie: Game?

Spike: Poker.

Willie: No, no poker here Clem and his crew got there thing going in Duke’s back room.

Spike: Not looking for no kitten poker. I am looking for the kind with real dough.

Willie: Well can’t help ya there man.

Spike: Come on, you hear stuff. Talk.

Willie: I hear that Duke almost lost his liquor license. Can’t afford to lose mine.

Spike: Damn it Willie.

Willie: Why the sudden jonesing for a game?

Spike: No reason.

Willie walks to the other end of the bar for a customer. Spike sits and lights a cigarette. Willie moves back to him.

Willie: What ya drinking?

Spike: Not. Still waiting.

Willie: I’m telling you there ain’t no gambling here. No where. The cops are coming down hard.

Spike: Bloody hell. I know you know.

Willie: What’s the deal man?

Spike: Just trying to score some cash.

Willie: The lady ain’t keeping you no more.

Spike: I ain’t kept. Just want to buy something.

Willie: A Christmas present for one slayer?

Spike: What‘s it to ya?

Willie: Well heck man. I think I can help.

Spike: You going to give me the cash?

Willie: No, I am going to hire you.

Spike: I don’t work.

Willie: It’s all I got.

He walks off down the bar. Spike sits there watching the room. Willie glances at him and Spike signals him. He moves back down the bar.

Willie: Listen, I have paying customers.

Spike: What kind of work?

Willie: Running the bar four five afternoons. Old lady wants me home more.

Spike: Running? As in serving drinks?

Willie: And occasional chicken fingers and such.

Spike: You have to be bloody insane.

Willie: I need someone. You need money.

Spike: How much money?

Willie: Depends on the tips.

Spike: That requires being nice.

Willie: You catch on.

Spike: Or lets say I just beat the crap out of you and you give me the cash.

Willie: I’m not a demon.

Spike: You think you are smart.

Willie: No. Just know my customers.

He turns to walk away.

Spike: Wait.

Willie: What?

Spike: I’ll do it.

© 2005 Tara