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Chapter 13

The phone rang and Angel snapped it up before it could sound again. 

“Yeah?” 

Angel listened as Giles relayed the Slayer’s whereabouts, telling him to hurry because it looked like she was on the move.  He rung off with the watcher and urged Wood to put his foot on the gas.   

The foursome had resumed the same seats as before.  Neither vampire wanted to have to worry about parking the SUV if they happened to spot the Slayer.  Easier for them just to throw open their respective doors and jump out. 

Spike’s guess had been on the money.  The Slayer wasn’t far from the beach.  Just off of Fifth Street, as a matter of fact.   

“We’ll be there in five minutes,” Angel informed Spike.   

Spike nodded, eyes intent on the scenery as it passed in a blur.  All the while hoping he’d make it there in time. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Spike saw a flash of a blonde haired woman garbed in a formfitting red dress race around the corner; he didn’t bother to tell Wood to stop the SUV and let him out since it would take to much time, and honestly, he didn’t think he could get the words out at the fear of seeing her being chased by another male.   

Throwing open the door, he jumped from the moving vehicle before anyone could react, rolling on the street for a bit before he could right himself and take off in Buffy’s direction. 

He didn’t hear the squeal of tires as Wood ground the SUV to a halt when his sire leapt out of the vehicle after him.  Didn’t hear the dark-haired Slayer curse and chase after the pair, scythe in hand.  No, his focus was solely on his Slayer and her pursuer… and the faint trace of her blood he could smell on the air. 

Tearing around the corner, he poured on a burst of speed when he saw Buffy stumble in the distance, allowing the dark-haired vampire to close in on her.  His rage was close to the surface; amber eyes narrowed intently on the male that thought to do harm to his mate. 

That someone would dare… 

Spike shoved the thought aside for now and the one that had his heart in his throat – that Buffy was either too weak to defend herself, or the vampire was too strong.   

It wouldn’t do for him to make a mistake because he couldn’t control his emotions.   

When Buffy veered left suddenly, seeking to escape through the park, Spike cut a diagonal path and managed to plow into the vampire chasing her, sending them both into the ground.  Spike rolled easily and vaulted to his feet, not surprised in the least when his opponent did the same, having sensed that this was no mere fledgling chasing after his girl.   

He was all set to attack the vampire with fist and fangs when he felt the presence of his sire… only it wasn’t Angel – though he wasn’t too far behind – but Drusilla.  He froze, amber eyes watching warily as she emerged from behind the trees. 

“Hello, my Spike.” 

Demonic features faded away, and Spike’s blue gaze darted warily between the two. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Hidden among the trees, she stopped suddenly, sensing the lack of pursuit by the male vampire.  She wasn’t quite sure what had prevented him from coming after her, but she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth.   

Smiling widely, now that she was free, her thoughts turned to a quick meal – followed by more… leisurely ones.  The sounds of the city beckoned in the distance, and she made her way along the dirt path away from the quiet neighborhood and the two vampires with whom she’d spent the previous evening.   

~*~*~*~*~ 

Angel raced into the park and came to an abrupt halt.  His eyes widened in astonishment upon noticing his childer.  Spike and Sam stood several feet apart, their fight obviously interrupted by the appearance of Drusilla. 

“Daddy!” Drusilla squealed, clapping her hands together in maniacal glee. She danced over towards Sam, who stood eyeing the blond and brunette warily; pale limbs gleamed in the moonlight, her movements a seductive sway that held the two ensouled vampires ensnared and unable to start after her.  Her fingers played with Sam’s hair, much to the male’s annoyance – though he stood docilely enough.  She ignored both her sire and her childe as her fingers roamed over his face.   

“Such a pretty boy,” she cooed, speaking loud enough for both Spike and Angel to hear her.  “Bad daddy… not telling me.” 

As Drusilla had gotten closer to Sam, Spike had backed up a few paces, wary of the mercurial moods of his sire. 

“Dru…” Angel warned. 

In the blink of an eye, her childlike manner disappeared, and her demon burst forth – hissing when the brunette Slayer emerged into the clearing.  The vampiress eyed the scythe held in her hand.  Visions assaulted her, and her fingers rubbed at her temples while she swayed from side to side. 

“No… no… no…” she moaned.  “You can’t have her… I won’t let you.” 

The suddenness of the vampiress’ attack startled the trio, and Drusilla had Faith pinned to the ground before either Spike or Angel could react. 

Wood’s bellow of rage spurred them into action.  

He raced towards the two women, his stake at the ready…  

Only, Angel beat him to it.  He flung his childe off the Slayer and helped Faith to her feet.  When the girl made to stay and fight, he pushed her in the direction Buffy had taken. 

“Get to Buffy… hurry!” 

Sam tried to disappear in the confusion, go after the bitch that thought she could tell him no, but his escape route was cut off by the blond.   

Spike was there, blocking his retreat – smiling evilly at the vampire. 

“Going somewhere, mate?” he asked, circling his opponent slowly and drawing him back into the park and away from the path through the woods Buffy had taken. 

“What’s it to you?” 

Not one to be cowed, Sam moved right along with the other vamp, unwilling to let his back become exposed.  After being sired by Angel, he’d been cast out, and had to “grow up” fast – it made for the strong vampire he’d become.  So, while he could tell that the blond standing before him was older in years, experience-wise, Sam knew he would be able to take him. 

What he didn’t realize was that Spike had suffered much the same fate, though inadvertently.  Angel had left him upon getting his soul.  And though Drusilla had been with him in the century since, it was Spike who had been calling the shots, his sire not having the mental capabilities after losing both her sire and grandsire.  Not that she’d ever had them to begin with… 

“What’s it to me?”  His tone was conversational and he paused, pretending to think over the matter.  It lasted but a second before it turned deadly.  Icy blue eyes regarded the vampire before him. 

Sam watched him warily, not failing to notice the other’s menace.  The way his body was coiled and ready to strike and was just waiting for the slightest provocation.  

“You dared to attack my mate…”  Spike jumped forward and slammed his fist into the vampire’s nose.  “And I mean to be addressin’ that issue.” 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Faith rounded a bend in the path and caught a glimpse of red up ahead of her.  She poured on a burst of speed to close the distance between herself and Buffy, grateful that she appeared in no hurry.  Grateful, too, that her boyfriend was not possessing of Slayer strength, and was left far behind – she didn’t want him anywhere near the volatile Buffy. 

She knew when Buffy finally sensed her, like her vampire early Slayer warning system seemed to sound in her head.  Her body stiffened and she whirled around, fangs and ridges prominent as she prepared to do battle with the killer of her kind. 

The Slayer watched her eyes widen upon seeing the weapon she held. 

“That’s some stake you got there.” 

“Bit harder to hide,” Faith deadpanned, taking a cautious few steps closer.  “But I think the pluses far outweigh the minuses… don’t you agree?” 

She twirled the scythe and relaxed into a defensive crouch, watching as the blonde snorted at her quip before her eyes narrowed with deadly intent.  Unconsciously, Faith’s body stiffened in anticipation of the other’s attack.   

‘She just has to touch it,’ she reminded herself.   

The vampiress launched herself at Faith, fangs barred, and it took all Faith had not to swing her weapon in a deadly arc and sever Buffy’s head from her shoulders.  Her Slayer survival instincts had kicked in.  Not to mention her motherly ones... 

At the last second, Faith twisted to the side and allowed the forward momentum of the other to propel her forward several feet.  Faith swiveled her body and brought the scythe up defensively in front of her.  Her heart was pounding; the adrenaline racing through her veins resounded in her ears, blocking out all other noises. 

Except for the blonde’s angry growl.   

Again Faith watched her sister Slayer race towards her, arms outstretched.  The scythe came up in front of her, seemingly of its own accord, her arms blindly obeying the signals from her brain; her attention was on Buffy running full tilt towards her. 

The impact sent both women to the ground, Buffy sprawled on top of her. 

One hand wrapped around the red scythe. 

Though it was deathly quiet, Faith could have sworn there was a booming clap of thunder as the Slayer weapon erupted with light.   

Buffy’s head was thrown back as the force of the magic consumed her.  Her demon faded away, and her eyes stood open and fixed on nothing - her body glowing white in the darkness of the woods. 

Faith felt tears form in her eyes as the image of Willow suddenly appeared, and then another.  Her hand lifted, trying to reach out and touch the witch.  Her tears fell over onto her cheeks when the girl paused and looked down at her, then skimmed her ghostly fingers along her own.   

It was over as quickly as it had begun, but Faith knew that the moment would stay with her forever. 

Her vision blurred beneath the onslaught of her tears, and Faith could barely make out the First Slayer’s spirit being guided towards Buffy.  How she melded with the blonde and faded out of sight.  How Willow seemed to nod and look skyward before she slipped back into the weapon. 

The glow about Buffy and the scythe faded abruptly, and Faith felt the blonde slump forward onto her chest.  Faith’s arms slid about her sister Slayer in a soothing embrace, ignoring the weapon digging into her ribs. 

“It’s alright, Buffy… you’re ok now,” she murmured soothingly to the girl, while trying to simultaneously stem the flow of her own tears.   

The odd rumbling of Buffy’s chest stilled her hands for a minute… but then she smiled softly.   

Then Faith felt her stomach flutter. 

“Like that, little one?” she murmured, chuckling softly.   

The rumbling beneath her jarred Buffy out of her stupor.  She opened her eyes, which widened comically upon noticing who she was lying on. 

“Faith?” she asked, somewhat shakily. 

“Hey, B!  You… uh… mind getting up now?  I’m all about the sisterly love, but this pole digging into my chest is killing me.” 

Buffy scrambled off the girl, and was struck by a wave of dizziness.  Faith was there in an instant, slipping Buffy’s arm around her shoulder and drawing the blonde close to her side; she palmed the scythe in her other hand. 

Just then, Wood came racing into view.  He ground to a halt at seeing the two girls walking together. 

“Faith?” he asked, taking a hesitant step forward. 

“Five-by-five, baby.  Though, you can give me a hand here.  B’s a little out of it, I think.” 

Wood hurried towards the pair and easily lifted the blonde into his arms. 

“Come on… let’s get back to the others.”

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