Author's Note: Okay, that took way longer than I meant it to - sorry. Had a conference thing for work, and then got wrapped up in a couple of other fics and stuck on this one. Back now!
If it's alright with everyone, I'll do feedback replies in the next update - I've read them, and I'm very grateful to all of you, though!
Chapter 15 – Elemental
Rating: R (no smut, though - soon!
)
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
“Hello?”
“Giles – it’s me.”
“Oh, are we prepared to talk about the impending apocalypse now?”
Buffy grinned. “Sorry about that – I was kinda busy.”
“And it was more important than the end of the world?”
“Yep,” she agreed brightly. Giles sighed, and she smiled – suddenly she felt 17 again, picturing Giles staring disapprovingly at her for some offense or another. It was the youngest she’d felt in a long time, and she gave Faith’s hand a gentle squeeze. Faith smiled tentatively as Giles went on.
“I visited Ethan. I’m fairly certain he told me everything he knows.”
“How many times did you have to hit him?”
Giles hesitated. “Just a few. He was...eager to help.”
“I’ll bet he was, Ripper,” she teased. Giles coughed.
“Indeed. Now, onto the business at hand.”
“Chaos. Hang on a sec, I want to put the phone on speaker.” Buffy fiddled with her mobile, finally locating the button in question. “Okay, go ahead.”
“Okay...Chaos. He – and of course, it’s a genderless being, but from what you’ve told me it’s occupying the body of a man, so let’s call it he – is one of the lower beings. In some ways he’s remarkably powerful – there’s an entire branch of magic referred to as chaos magic, and the spells therein are difficult for even experienced witches to combat – but at the same time he’s something of a joke among the lower beings. For millennia, he’s been resentful of his place. He sees this quest he’s on – reopening the hellmouths and bringing the demons back – as his free pass to fame and glory. Or, rather, the evil equivalent of same.”
“So...he’s a glory hound? That’s what this is all about? He’s going to bring on an apocalypse because he’s the underworld’s Shemp?”
“Precisely.”
“And I thought the First was lame. Anyway, look, there’s a new wrinkle, too – I didn’t tell you when I called earlier, because we didn’t know then. He’s after Dawn. She and Anya are on the run, but I don’t know how long they’ll be able to avoid him.”
“Dawn?” Giles sounded confused for a moment. “But why...oh. Oh, dear. Oh.”
“Talk to me, Giles – I don’t like when you say things like that.”
“I know what he wants with her. It’s...it’s not good, Buffy.”
“Well, don’t get all cliffhanger-y, just tell me!”
“He’s going to open a portal.”
“We know that, G-man, it’s kind of yesterday’s news,” Faith rolled her eyes.
“Not just the hellmouths!” Giles snapped. “If he wants Dawn, it’s so he can open the portal that her blood opened once before.”
“Wait – you said that door was closed, Giles. You told me, and you promised Dawn – her blood could only be used to open that portal at that specific time, and never again. That she was safe, and she’d never be the key again.”
“And that was the truth. I just...omitted some details.”
Buffy’s jaw dropped. “You
lied to me? To
Dawn?”
“I never thought it would be an issue! I hadn’t planned on our toppling the First Evil, or Tara changing the world, and I certainly never thought Chaos would walk free.”
“That’s...damn it, Giles! What else do I need to know? What exactly did you ‘omit’?”
“It’s...complicated.”
“I hate it when you use that word. Somehow complicated always means bad.”
“Look,” Giles sighed, “I was planning on sending a shipment of books to Rome for Willow and Tara. I could accompany the shipment, meet you there?”
“Rome? We’re not going to Rome! We’re going back to Sunnydale, and then we’re going to run down Anya and Dawn.”
“Why?”
“G, I know there’s still bad blood between us, but I’m worried about you. Did you fall on your head recently? Slip in the shower?”
“What?”
“That’s the only reason I can think you’d have asked a question that stupid. What do you mean, why? Didn’t Buffy just tell you that they’re on the run?”
“Well, yes...but chasing them down might be the wrong approach.”
“How? How could that possibly be the wrong approach?” Faith was stunned.
“Well, if everything needs to happen in Rome, then why not just advise them to surrender and be brought there?”
Buffy found her voice. “I did
not just hear you say they should surrender.”
“Yes – you did.”
“God, this is like Glory all over again!”
“I’m not asking you to kill your sister, Buffy. It makes good tactical sense to let Chaos bring her to you.”
“And what about Anya? What possible reason would Chaos have for keeping her alive?”
Giles’ silence was answer enough. “So, would you like me to transfer you to Willow and Tara, and you can tell them your grand plan? To let their daughter die because it “tactically” makes more sense?”
There was silence on the line. “Well?”
“No. Look – I suggest a compromise. Send Willow and Tara to Rome. We have a great deal of research to do before the deadline, and Willow particularly will need to prepare.”
“Why her?”
“Because we’ll need a gifted witch, studied in Chaos Magic, if we’re to win this fight.”
It was Buffy’s was turn to be silent. “Fine,” she said slowly. “We’ll send them back, but Faith and I
are going to save Dawn and Anya.”
“Very well. I should be in Rome in a few hours. I’ll expect them.”
“Goodbye, Giles.”
She savagely punched at the ‘End’ button, but her shaking fingers missed it. Faith hung up for her and pulled her close. “It’s okay, B. Nothin’s going to happen to the brat, I promise you.”
“I,” Buffy swallowed. “I couldn’t take it, if it did.” Faith held her tightly. “And I...what if...”
“What?”
“The last time this portal opened...” Buffy trailed off. Faith pulled away and grabbed her face with both hands.
“You listen to me, B. Listen good. You are
not going to die. I will tear down every demon in creation with my bare hands before I let that happen.” Buffy gave her a wan smile.
“My warrior woman.”
“Damn straight. Hey – why didn’t you tell him about the dream?”
“Because he got me all upset, and I forgot. I’ll send the message along with our witches.”
“You really think they’ll go back to Rome, knowing the kid’s still out there?”
“They have to. We’re really short on prep time, and if Willow needs to get all trained up on chaos magic, then we need her in Rome.”
“I’ll let you convince them, then – I’m going to stand back out of the way in case she turns you into a frog or somethin’.”
[hr]
“I shouldn’t be leaning on you,” Willow murmured, settling back against Tara’s chest. “I’m a whale.”
“You’re beautiful,” Tara assured her, reaching around her bulging middle. “So beautiful. That’s our daughters in there, and you’re giving them life. I can’t think of anything more amazing than that.”
“Well, you looked better.”
“I did not – my stretch marks looked like a r-roadmap to Denver. Anyway,” she sighed, “seems like a lifetime ago now.”
“It does,” Willow agreed. “I miss...simple. You know? Back in your dorm room, watching Miss Kitty playing with a ball of string, never sparing a thought to the darkness at the door. Just...loving you.”
“I know,” Tara’s voice was thick. “But I d-don’t think we’ll ever have a simple life, Will. Even back then, playing with Miss Kitty, I was w-worried that I was a demon and that you’d find out, you were struggling with...”
“Being gay? Yeah. Maybe there’s no such thing as a simple life. But I’d settle for a calm moment or two, I think.”
Tara tightened her grip, luxuriating in the warmth of the bath. “There will be. W-We’re not going to be doing this f-forever.”
“We’ll retire and pass on our world-saving duties to the next generation, huh?”
“Yeah,” Tara smiled. “Imagine – Anya’s n-nearly old enough to have kids of her own, and th-then we’ll be-“
“Don’t say it,” Willow groaned. “Anya’s forbidden from dating until she’s thirty-five.”
“G-Good luck with that,” Tara snorted. “Speaking of Anya, could you c-call her? I know she said a c-couple of days, but I’m worried.”
“Of course, baby.” Willow closed her eyes.
“Anya?”
“Mama? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, sweetheart – just checking on you. Did you go to the hospital?”
The sensation of Anya laughing through their mental connection was odd, like a tickle in her mind.
“Sort of. We stopped in Bakersfield, but he followed us. We had to make a quick getaway.”
“Are you and Dawn okay?”
“We’re fine – running short of gas, though, and I’m not sure it’s safe to stop to fill up. His magic is...different, mama. I couldn’t stop it, and I couldn’t touch him.”
“We’re waiting to hear back from Giles – we’ll figure something out, Anya, I promise you. For now, though, just cast a basic shield charm. That should keep you invisible long enough to get more gas. Are you still going to Las Vegas?”
“Yeah – for now, anyway. Lots of people, should hopefully confuse whatever he’s using to track us.”
“Good idea. I’ll let you focus on your charm, sweetheart – be safe, okay? I’ll call you tomorrow. Or, if you find a hotel tonight, call me, okay? We’ll have our phones with us.”
“Will do. I love you, mama – my love to mom, too, okay?”
“Love you too, my baby girl.”
“Bye mama.”
Willow slumped. “Okay. They’re okay. He’s following them, though, and he’s using some kind of magic she’s powerless against. He nearly caught them in Bakersfield.”
“They’re b-both...they’re n-not hurt?”
“No, they got away. They’re still headed for Vegas, and either I’ll call her tomorrow or she’ll call us.”
“Good,” Tara sighed. “Could you light some c-candles, Will? I’d l-like to just sit here for a while, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course,” Willow made a gesture and the room was suddenly filled with a dusky glow.
“Thank you,” Tara murmured.
[hr]
Giles stormed into the cell, not waiting for the guard’s nod. He grabbed the sleeping Ethan and pulled him roughly to his feet.
“He wants to use the Key. You didn’t think to mention that?”
“Ripper, I’ve been a bit out of touch, remember? I didn’t think Chaos even knew about the Key.”
“How do we stop him? That girl will not be subject to this again, not while I can prevent it.”
“And what makes you think you can prevent it?” Giles shook him roughly.
“Because I must. And you’re going to tell me exactly how.”
“I’ve told you everything I know, Rupert.”
“Then tell me where to find someone who knows more than you.”
Ethan sighed. “I can give you a name, but I can’t guarantee the person in question is going to help you. In fact, I’d be more surprised if they don’t dismember you on sight.”
“I’ll take my chances. Who is it?”
“You remember Jennifer Travers, yes?”
Giles’ jaw dropped.
[hr]
Willow answered Buffy’s knock, dressed in the white terrycloth robe the hotel had provided. Tara was reclined on the bed, dressed in a matching one. “Come on in, Buffy. Did you guys find out anything?”
“Well, yes and no.” Buffy recounted what Giles had told them, leaving out the part where they’d have to go to Rome.
“I never thought that made any sense,” Willow murmured when she was finished. “If the Key was around for thousands of years, why would it only work once?” She noticed Buffy glaring at her. “Sorry – off topic.”
“So,” Tara chimed in, “we have two problems, then. I m-mean, big problems. Chaos magic, for one, and Dawnie. We n-need to learn everything we c-can about the magic.”
“Actually,” Buffy winced, “Giles has some information for the two of you on that front.”
“That’s terrific!” Willow bounced on the balls of her feet. “And yet, despite its terrificness, you’re not smiling. You’re not even grinning. What’s up?”
“He needs...uh...you guys need to go to Rome.”
“Well, of course we do – we all do.”
“Not later.”
The words took a moment to sink in, but when they did Willow’s eyes lit up with fire. “What? You want to abandon Anya – and Dawn?”
“Not abandon – we’re going after them, Will. But you’re the only one who can do the mojo thing, so you’ll do more good in Rome.”
“I told you,” Faith whispered in Buffy’s ear as Willow stewed. “I’ll still love you when you’re a frog, I promise.”
Tara reached out for Willow’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s okay, Will. “You know Buffy and Faith will k-keep them safe.”
“I know, it’s just – it feels like we’re turning our backs on her.”
“N-Never, Will. She knows – you can call her after and explain, too.”
The room was draped in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Finally Willow exhaled loudly. “Fine. I mean, what else can I say? But Buffy, if you don’t keep her safe-“
“You won’t need to do anything to me, Will. If anything happens to her, it’ll be because I’m already dead. Okay?”
“Okay.” Willow sat down on the bed beside Tara. “What else do we need to know?”
“I never finished telling you about my dream...”
[hr]
More soon, I promise!
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Ha. That was hilarious.
but then again, what's a scoobie without an apocalypse to avert?
