"Hey, Gus, have you found Connor yet?"
"We have him. W&H had him hidden after they performed a spell to wipe his mind. It replaced his memories with those of a normal childhood but they left a trapdoor. The doctors are working with him. Any suggestions?"
"Those spell always deteriorate eventually, maybe ease him out and find out what happened. Got a feeling there's more to it than we think. Why would they leave a trapdoor? See if the doctors can figure out how to spring it and what it's suppose to make him do, then they can counter it. I'd like to see him. Is there a way to do that without blowing our cover?"
"We could probably arrange it. Take a weekend off for some X event and we'll work around that. We should be able to have him calm and coherent in about a week," Gibbons told her.
"Next, can you look into what's left of the Watcher's Council? I'd like to get my hands on some of the money to start a Council. From what I understand, when I die a different type Slayer will be called. You'll need to talk to Whistler to find out who's next in line, then we can decide when she should be approached. I'd like to train her that way when she receives my memories, she can step in smoothly and take over," Buffy requested trying to think if she needed to tell him anything else.
"I'll get on it and see what Whis knows. Have you gotten any closer to finding out when the Sr. Partners are going to appear?"
"Hey Gibbons, I've talked with the rest of the team and there's something big supposed to happen by the end of next month. Shell's working in acquisitions and several strange artifacts are scheduled for delivery then. Word on the street from Stix and K-9 is the same. Robert works with Wesley and they're making treaties with big demons still thinking their keeping the peace. Trina is Gunn's paralegal and the contracts they've negotiated are in favor of the most violent demons," Xander reported.
"There's something else. Cordy's visions have led them to kill only lesser demons. I watched one the other day and the demon inhabiting her isn't of the good. It's a Volarian, they have the gift of sight but their eyes turn a pure white and are very strong. The problem is they're a higher-level demon on the evil scale and are power hungry. From what Lorne told me, before she became a 'higher being' she used to float and was glowy, even her eyes. She could do some minor healing but no added strength. That's a Venusian demon. He said that the Powers had to enhance her 'gifts' when she became a higher being for her to survive. Gus, you think the Powers would change someone from a good benevolent demon to an evil power hungry one?" Buffy smirked into the video phone.
"I'll see if I can pry anything out of Whis' cryptic jaw," Gibbons answered, giving Buffy a knowing smile.
"Listen, gotta go. Supposed to patrol in a few. We're meeting Spike tonight; he has some information for us." Buffy shut down the phone with a wave to their boss.
"Oy, Slayer, where you been? I already bagged me four tonight. You're going to have to hustle to keep up." Spike smirked, stomping out a cigarette.
"Hey, Spike. How's it going? We haven't seen much of you lately. Where you been hiding?" Xander asked, shaking the blonde vampire's hand in an intricate pattern only they knew.
"Oh, here and about. Keeping me self busy bothering Peaches on a regular basis," he said with a naughty grin.
"You're so bad." Buffy smiled at the irritation Spike dished out to Angel.
"That's me the Big Bad, and don't you forget it." He grabbed her growling into her neck causing her to laugh.
"Hey, quit macking on my woman," Xander yelled, popping Spike on the head.
"Watch the hair." He patted his bleached locks back into place. "Got some interesting bits of gossip for ya, Slayer."
"What is it?" she asked excitedly. Spike always had the most interesting gossip to share..
"Not here in the open, let's patrol then go catch us a drink or two." Spike walked off with his black duster billowing out behind him.
Several hours later in a back table of a loud demon bar Spike, Xander and Buffy were sitting drinking beers. "Spike, spill it what have you heard?" Buffy demanded impatiently.
"Well, I've been getting some weird vibes from the cheerleader. So, I start following her real quiet like. She works real close with the Sr. Partner's mouthpiece, Eve. Turns out vision girl got let out of the great beyond by the Sr.s. She's working for them, Slayer. They need Angel to lose his soul for some reason. She keeps talking about it being glued in, but that she'll chip it away a piece at a time. Seems she thinks once Angelus shows, she'll be his queen, stupid bint. Cheerleader's been setting him up since she got back, getting him to do what he wouldn't normally do. She's the one to push to come to W&H, from what I've heard from the others. Their harmless just following the leader. Gunn's a lost cause though, sold his soul for those law smarts, stupid wanker. Angel should know that you can't get something for nothing, there's always consequences." Spike shook his head in disgust.
"We kinda had a feeling that was the way it was going. The big question is how do we mess with their plans? Some of it we can do on the sly by taking out the demons they think they're trying to make alliances with. We have to be careful with Cordy though. If we remove her, they'll just get someone else. There has to be a way to put back whatever they take from Angel's soul. He's somehow the key here for the Partners to be able to breakthrough," Buffy replied, trying to think through the situation.
"Babe, you have to be careful she's jealous of you. You could be a target," Xander said with worry in his eyes.
"I know but that can't be helped," Buffy sighed tired of Cordelia's real and imagined jealousy's regarding Angel.
"Yep, vision girl goes off every time Peaches sneaks a look at you," Spike agreed. "Wouldn't put it past her to try to take you out, Slayer."
"You and Cage will just have to watch my back then, huh. C'mon, Cage take me home. Bye Spike."
"People, here's what's going on. Cordy had a vision this morning and there's going to be a battle between two clans tonight. Here are pictures. We're going to be helping the ones with the red scales. They're P'granaras and are peaceful. The ones with the blue skin are Grypnases, a warrior clan who prey on them. We should be at the docks at ten since both clans are fish eaters who only come out at night. We want to keep them away from any civilians is everybody clear?" Angel stood up when no one said anything and left the room.
Buffy looked at Xander and Spike, nodding her head. They made their way down to the garage, climbing into Xander's car. Spike covered up with a blanket to protect against the sun. Buffy put on the scrambler, which showed that no one had budded the car - good. She turned so that she could see both men.
"It's official the visions aren't from the Powers. The demons are the opposite. We're supposed to go in tonight and slaughter a clan that's like big whales. They come to the same spot each year to have their babies. The P'granaras steal the babies and use them as slaves until they're used up. We're going to go find the P'granes today and take them out. The Gryps won't come up on the docks unless they're trying to get their babies back. What I don't get is why the Partners would want to take out the entire clan. Normally, the skirmishes end with causalities but not whole clans getting wiped out." Buffy wrinkled her nose as some thought tried to come to the surface from her memories. "Oh crap! The Partners are using this as a sacrifice to Zmortem; he is an ancient sea god. Plus it moves Angel a little closer to Angelus. Cage, contact the others. I think I know where the P'granes are hiding. There are some caves not far from the docks."
"What about me, Slayer? Can't do much of a walk about on the beach, ya know?"
"I've got an off-road that can take us straight up to the caves," Xander told him, patting him on the back.
"We'll need to burn the bodies and keep them away from the water. Just in case, we don't want to accidentally make our own sacrifice," Buffy explained, winking at her two guys.
~~~~~
"Hey guys, thanks for coming, I've missed you; Cage's told me that you're doing a great job. Sorry, that I can't be in contact with you but we thought that I was too visible. Thought you might be in for a spot of violence as my best friend would say. Speaking of best friends, this is Spike. When we go in there, we need to make sure that no bad guys makes it out. Their heart's in their throat; beheading's are good. A direct shot in the eye brain will kill them too. Use swords or guns, take your pick. We'll burn the bodies when we're through, except for a few that we'll keep. Be careful with the fire, Spike is flammable," Buffy warned. Looking at her best friend, she noticed him checking out Trina. Trina with her long dancer's body, short chestnut hair and big blue eyes was not immune to the attention. Buffy watched the looks between the two with interest; they might be good for each other.
An hour later after the last fire sputtered out. "Okay, guys, we need to move the bodies. Someone grab those dead Gryps we found. They'll need to be on the docks before we arrive. Stix, you and K-9 take care of that, make it look good for me guys. You were great in there everybody. You're improving. Gibbons said to tell you, he's proud of you and thinks we're close to blowing this whole thing wide open." Buffy told them as she climbed into the truck with Xander and Spike. Spike turned to look at Trina one last time as they drove off.
"Spike, see something ya like brother?"
"Nice looking bint wouldn't mind sharing a cuppa with her."
That night as they moved in ready to do battle, Buffy looked around surprised to see Cordy dressed and ready for the fight. She smoothly moved between Xander and Spike, slanting her eyes over to the bleached blonde. They nodded in agreement, moving to provide a protective circle around her. Someone gave a shout, and everyone ran over to find the bodies of the demons laid out.
"There are five dead bodies here, sir. No other activity around," a W&H security officer reported.
"Maybe they finished early and went home," Buffy suggested.
"They couldn't have. There are supposed to be more. They live in clans. That means more than one or two, Buffy," Cordy snapped, still irritated that the blonde Slayer insisted on coming tonight.
"Well maybe they broke up. You know like bands do sometimes." Buffy's nose wrinkled at the idea.
"Listen you, twit. My vision showed me a big fight. There should be at least 50 sac..., I mean demons here. My visions are always right. Tell her Angel." She whirled to her vampire lover, expecting him to support her claim.
"Buffy, her visions have never been wrong before. Cor, did you actually see 50 or just the two types fighting?" Angel asked, trying to understand what was going on.
"I saw them fighting, lots of them" she said, through clenched teeth.
"But, couldn't the vision just mean that there's more than one demon. That they were groupie demons not there would be groups of groupie demons fighting. Did I say that right?" Buffy tilted her head. Xander and Spike hid their grins. They loved it when Buffy used her confusion to make everyone come to the right conclusion.
"Sometimes the Powers only give us clues in a vision and we have to figure it out."
"Angel, I am telling you I know what I saw," Cordy yelled at the souled vampire.
"Cor, calm down, I believe you but there isn't anything we can do about it," Angel said trying to placate her.
"You know your visions better than anyone, Cordy. Why don't we just wait? Maybe these guys are just early and the rest are still coming," Buffy offered with a friendly smile for her high school nemesis.
"Sir, we've searched the entire area for a full square mile. There's no sign of any demon activity," the lead security officer called over the earphones.
"Tell security to call it a night and good work," Angel replied. "Okay, everybody pack it in. I'm sorry that we couldn't save the P'granaras, Cor." He patted her back, trying to calm her.
She was crying but her tears were from frustration and anger. What the hell happened? I know what I saw. I don't have time for this kind of screw-up. I have to talk to Eve tonight but how can I get away from Angel to do it? I'll have to drug his blood again. My plans for tonight are ruined and after I decided to get rid of Buffy during the battle. I don't know when I'll have another opportunity, damn it.
"Hey, Angel, almost forgot to tell you. Cage and I'll be out of town for the next four days. We'll see you guys on Monday," Buffy called over her shoulder as her and Xander walked off arm in arm.
Angel watched them go; his arm unconsciously tightening around Cordelia. Her eyes narrowed watching the other couple. Well at least she will be out of my hair for the next few days. I will have plenty of time to work on Angel and try to fix some of this mess.
Buffy and Xander jumped from the helicopter as it landed somewhere outside of Nevada. They walked into a health facility and signed in while Gibbons waited for them. Buffy surprised him by giving him a hug. "Just shut up and accept it. I've grown fond of straight shooters. If I would've met you first, Cage wouldn't have had a chance." She winked at him walking on ahead.
Xander laughed at the look on Gibbons' face. "You'd never survive old man but what a way to go." He grinned, catching up with her.
Gibbons followed, telling them to go to Observation Room 1. They walked in and looked through a two-way mirror at a slender young man with light brown hair and large blue eyes. Buffy gasped, Connor looked like Dawn. She spun around glaring at Gus with fire burning in her eyes. "Get him here now," she growled. Gus stepped back eyes wide realizing he was looking at the Slayer, in all her glory and rage. One minute later, Whistler walked through the door. In a blur of motion, Buffy had him by the throat against the wall. "Do you remember what I threatened you with before," she hissed, "I'll make you pray for that kindness if you don't start talking. That's my son in there and I want to know how and why." She dropped him, stepping back.
"You remember the day that Angel turned back?" Buffy nodded. "Connor's the result. He part of an important prophesy, and when Angel slept with Darla, the Powers put him into her. You weren't supposed to die; you were supposed to help Angel raise Connor. They even took vision girl out of the picture, hoping that he'd come to you for help, but everything went to hell in a hand basket. The boy can tell you about what happened," the balance demon explained.
"Why did they take my child?" Buffy asked, staring at the teenager through the glass. Her finger traced his face.
"You would've lost him when you fought Adam. He's needed Buffy; he's important to this world. It isn't Angel that's supposed to fight the End of Days battle; it's Connor. He'll be unstoppable. Well, he will be, if you can fix the damage that's been done to him. You have a big heart kid just let him see it and he'll start to heal. If Angel wouldn't have turned back the day it would've been different. The Powers wanted to reward you for all your hard work. You would've raised him together and kept him safe. Angel would've received his strength, but he never could look beyond himself. It was a selfish wish kid, no matter what he thought. He didn't even try for any other solutions or think of you, not really. You were the one rescuing him and his ego couldn't handle that. Sorry kid."
"Whistler, the only thing I'm sorry about is the hell my son's gone through. You're right Angel's always been selfish. I'm happy with who I am and who I'm with, so don't feel sorry for me. I'm going to go talk to him." She walked over to kiss Xander then walked out.
"Man, that's one scary woman," Whistler said rubbing his neck.
"You're telling me. If you wouldn't have gotten here when you did, she probably would've dropped kicked me to you" Gus admitted.
"Boys, you should know better than to piss off a Slayer." Xander grinned, shaking his head. They turned to watch Buffy enter the room and sit beside Connor on the bed.