BUFFY’S POV
I open my eyes and stare out the window as the plane stops at the gate. I’m beat and by the time we get home it’ll be after midnight. I’ve just spent the last 4 days with a mildly psychotic, 15 year old Slayer and her parents. Now I just have the mildly psychotic 15 year old Slayer and the last 22 straight hours of travel time has been a blast. Ok, I know it’s unfair to call her psychotic, once the drugs wear off and she begins to feel her power, she’ll be able to start healing herself. I’ll have to talk to Will, I’m sure she can help with that.
I wait for the plane to empty, letting Emma sleep a little while longer. Kennedy is going to have a field-day with this one. I think to myself then shake my head. Who would have thought Ken would become my right hand after the way we started out years ago? I could barely stand her, really only putting up with her because she was with Willow. I guess it was because she had been so much like Faith: cocky and obstinate to a fault but at the same time strong and caring. Now look at her: taking on most of the girl’s training herself, completely organizing the school and freeing me up to bring in these lost ones. The girls worship her and I’m sure Emma, no doubt, will follow suit.
Emma had been confined to a mental institution for the last 5 years. Her parents didn’t know how to handle her sudden strength and lack of ability to control it, so they brought her to the doctor. Then Emma promptly slipped through the cracks. After numerous physical and psychological tests coming back normal, the doctors resorted to sedation to keep her parents placated and the staff in one piece. Five years of heavy duty anti-psychotics starting out at 10? Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.
She is still asleep when the last of the other passengers deplane. Her mop of light brown hair rests on my shoulder, her hand holding my arm. Knowing she’s still very skittish, I gently call her name as I put my hand over hers.
“Is it time for my pill?” Emma asks sleepily.
My heart is breaking for this poor kid. “No honey, remember I told you, no more pills.” I collect our belongings and head for the Taxi stand.
As we drive, I realize I probably need to start her working with Willow first for some basic academics before she starts with Slayer training. 10 years old what’s that 4th 5th grade tops? She’ll probably get frustrated trying to express herself once the drugs wear off completely. Better to get her started on school work, it will help her focus on something non-threatening now that she is thrown into this new environment. She can always just sit in on the Slayer classes.
“So there are lots of girls just like me there?”
“Yes Emma, lots and lots.”
“And we are going to live together in a big house and go to school?” Her eyes were big as saucers.
“Yes, and everyone is really nice and the teachers are going to help you understand who you are.”
“Wow.”
I chuckle as I pay the driver and make my way to the house. Looking up, I stop as I feel a powerful presence. It’s not Willow; it feels completely different than anyone I’ve ever sensed before. But at the same time, it’s familiar in a way, only I can’t connect a face with it. It must be one of the witches from Devon, I think to myself. I usher Emma inside, close the door and drop our bags. Hearing voices in the living room, I cock my head at her, “Want to meet some of your teachers now?”
Emma has a very wide smile on her face and nods. “Do you think they’ll like me?”
“I’m sure they will. Come on.”
I walk in talking with Emma trailing behind me, “Hey guys, I’d like you all to meet Emma.” I stop dead in my tracks and Emma slams up against my back. Faith is leaning against the arm of the couch looking right at me; slowly I drink in the sight of her. She stands, plain white T-shirt, faded blue jeans, black motorcycle boots and absolutely gorgeous.
“Sorry Ms. Summers” Emma pokes her head out from behind me and sees the looks flying around the room, “I thought you said everyone was nice.”
My heart is pounding and I know I’m visibly shaken. Slowly, I take a breath to calm myself. I will not lose control in front of this girl. “Please, Emma, call me Buffy. And they are very nice, we just got home a day early and they weren’t expecting us.”
“Oh,” she looks around the room again, then back to me, “are you sure?”
“Of course I am.”
That spurs Dawn into action jumping out of her chair and swooping me up in a big hug. I stagger back a couple of steps. “Buffy! I would have picked you up. Why didn’t you call? Faith’s here, isn’t it great?”
After walking back to Emma I turn to look Faith, “Yes I can see, we’ll have to talk later, ok?” I’m so smooth. Then I turn to my sister, “It was no big Dawn, we took a cab.” I put my arm around Emma’s shoulders. “Emma, this is my sister Dawn, and that’s Willow, Kennedy and Andrew, they are all teachers here. This is Faith, I’m not sure why she’s here, but I’m sure I will soon. Everybody, this is Emma.”
“Hi” Emma says weakly seeing everyone’s attention is on her. Remembering her manners, she smiles and walks over to them; “Pleased to meet you.” she shakes hands with Dawn, Andrew then Kennedy. She slows as she makes her way to Willow and Faith, then stops completely.
I notice her wariness and start to walk over to her, “Are you ok, Em?” I look at Willow worried.
She backs away from them, pulling up to my side. “They have a lot of power,” she whispers to me incredulously.
Now my senses are tingling like never before and I know it’s coming from Faith. Needing to reassure Emma quickly I answer, “Yes they do. They use it to help people so you have nothing to worry about, ok? Dawn is going to show you to your room and get you settled. It’s really late and you need to get some sleep.”
“Alright, goodnight, it was nice to meet you all” She turns to follow Dawn upstairs, then comes back and gives me a hug. “Thank you for bringing me here. It feels” she looks around the room... right.”
Returning the hug, I smile “You are very welcome. Now get some sleep, we’ll talk some more in the morning.”
The room gets very quiet very quickly when Dawn and Emma leave. No one moves as Faith and I just look at each other.
“Look at the time, wow it’s late, got an early class in the morning, goodnight everyone.” Andrew slinks out as quickly as he can.
Willow opens her mouth to speak but I raise my hand, “Will, please, don’t. Let me talk to Faith, ok?” Willow bows her head.
Kennedy takes her hand and leads her out, “Goodnight, guys. Buff, I’ll take your stuff up to your room.”
“Ok, thanks Ken.”
I turn to Faith and sigh. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.” I walk into the kitchen. Seeing Faith has come in after me, I look up, “Any requests?”
“What ever you’re having is fine by me.” Faith says lightly.
I open a bottle of Chardonnay from the fridge; grab a couple of glasses and pour two healthy portions. Tilting my head back to the living room, “Come on, it’s more comfortable inside.”
Handing Faith her glass I sink into the couch, putting my feet on the coffee table. Faith mirrors my actions but on the other couch so we are facing each other. We just sit for a while sipping our drinks. Not talking, just feeling each others company, it wasn’t uncomfortable. I finally break the silence.
“Why couldn’t I sense you? I sensed something, something powerful like Emma said, but not you. Well, not the you I used to know.”
“It’s a long story and, honestly, you look kinda beat.”
I nod, “Yeah, three continents in two days, traveling really kicks my ass.’’ I look up at her, “So, you’re back and actually showing yourself to me, I have to assume the PtB let you go?”
She was shocked, “How did you...”
“Cordy, she told me before she died.” I raise my glass then lean across the coffee table to touch it to Faith’s, “To old friends” then take a long pull.
“So, you didn’t tell the others.” She sips hers while leaning back into the couch.
“No, she asked me not to – she said that you would be back when the Powers deemed it so.” I look up at her, “Funny, even though she told me you would find your way here; I thought I’d never see you again. You know, the years start passing by, getting the school up and running took a while, finishing our degrees was huge.” I start to think of all that has passed and get a little spacey, “seeing Dawn become a watcher of watchers – God I’m so proud of her, and Willow getting her magic not only under control but really letting it guide her in a GOOD way, Ken helped her so much. Then traveling everywhere with Jessie and bringing in troubled Slayers together, that was incredible until I had to watch...” That snaps me out of my reverie. I wave my hand, nervously putting it through my hair, “Sorry, tired, babbling...” Shit, I didn’t mean for all that to come out. I think my brain is going into serious meltdown here. “Anyway, Cordy came to me in a Slayer dream and told me about your agreement with the Powers... why you made it and that you’d be back.” I finally stop the babble-fest, get up and walk over to the window, “I felt you here when Angel and the others died.” I put my glass on the ledge and wrap my arms around myself as I stare into the darkness of the backyard.
Faith puts her glass down, “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Sure you were.” She rises; stepping in behind me she lays her hands tentatively on my shoulders. “You’ve always been stronger than you thought.”
Shaking my head, “I needed you.” Suddenly all the pain of these last years is back and falling on me like dead weight. I lean back into her and close my eyes. I can’t help the tears from coming and I’m too tired to care. Then, I feel Faith’s hands slowly slide down my arms and surround my waist, drawing me nearer.
“I knew I couldn’t stay and didn’t want to make things worse.”
I could feel as well as hear Faith’s heart beating rapidly. It was clamoring as fast as mine. I let out the breath I had been holding, “You still feel it too.” It wasn’t a question.
“Never stopped,” She whispers in my ear.
“But you wanted me to think you didn’t care.”
“It was the only way I could find the strength to leave you. I had some serious issues I needed to work out.”
Thinking about it for a minute, I wipe my eyes and try to keep my voice even. “Did you get it worked out, Faith?”
It takes Faith a moment to answer then she rests her chin on my shoulder, “Yeah.”
I slide my arms over hers, holding them in place, “Then I guess it was worth it.”
We stay like that, her body encircling mine, looking out into the night that was soon becoming day. The exhaustion finally takes me and I sway, Faith tightens her grip, holding me up. “You ok?”
“Yeah, just, no sleep in two days.”
“Why don’t you get to bed and I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Ok, I should be done by 3:00 – 4:00.” Making no move to leave the warm, safe circle of Faith’s arms I realize I wouldn’t be in her arms right now if I wasn’t exhausted and my guard down, but I’m happy I am. I know it’s crazy and I should be angry or at the very least aloof, but I’m not, can’t help it. I’m such a freak.
“Take as long as you need, I’ll wait.” She means it in more ways than one and I nod to let her know I understand both meanings. Faith hesitates, then kisses the back of my head and turns to leave, “Goodnight B.”
I can’t help the words as they tumble from of my mouth, “Are you really going to stick around this time?”
Faith stops short as if the blow was physical. “As long as you let me.” She calls back before she lets herself out.
BUFFY’S POV
We’ve been fighting for what seems like ages. We’re tired and know we can’t last much longer. Jessie’s eyes are glued to mine; we know both of us aren’t getting out of this alive. It’s a trap and we were the bait, now one of us has to be the sacrifice. The demon regards both of us then grabs Jessie’s head in his gnarled, veined hands and twists. There is no mistaking that crack.
Throwing Jessie’s now lifeless body to the ground before me the demon laughs, “How many does that make Slayer? Let’s see: Angel, Spike, Riley and now Jessie. This one lasted longer than the rest, but it’s always the same in the end with you, isn’t it? Now, about the little girl, you won’t be giving me any more trouble, will you?” He laughs again and leaves to begin his search.
It all happened in an instant. Now I’m sitting on the floor stunned, cradling my dead lover’s head in my lap when I feel I’m no longer alone. “Just take me too and get it over with.” I say so utterly defeated.
“The kid is scared and alone. Go to her now, she’s waiting for you.” I don’t move I can’t. “She’s just a kid with no training and that demon is looking for her. Come on, B, get her safe, Jessie would understand.”
“Faith?” I look around but of course she’s not there. So this is what it feels like when you finally lose your marbles. Seeing someone you love murdered right in front of your eyes is always good for hallucinations. But the imaginary-Faith-voice is right; I need to get the girl out of here.
I wipe my tears and then look down while I run my fingers through Jessie’s hair one last time. Realizing those sky blue eyes will be my last memory; I trail my hand up this face I know will burn in my mind forever and close them.
I awake soaking wet and panting. “Son-of-a-bitch!” I haven’t had that dream in over a year. Looking over to the clock I see it’s only 6:30am. God help me, am I ever going to sleep again? I lay in bed until my alarm goes off at 7; I reset it for 8. Considering I didn’t get to bed till 4:30, only got 2 hours of sleep before my nightmare memory freaked me out, and it’s my first day back, I think I’m entitled to at least another hour.
When the alarm rings again I’m still awake, thinking not about Jessie, but Faith and last night. She seemed so different, older, calmer, that ridiculous bravado gone, I laugh at myself “I think I just described me.”
Closing my eyes, I hug my pillow trying to recall exactly how I felt in her arms: warm, safe, happy. I could feel her mystical strength as she held me and, wow, it was intense. I wonder what could have possibly happened to her while with the PtB for her to have acquired that kind of power.
“Buff” Willow peaks her head in the room, “How are you?”
“Exhausted, nightmare, couldn’t sleep” I pout, “I don’t want to go to work today.”
Will smiles as she comes in sitting at the end of the bed, “Yeah, well, it’s Friday so it will go quickly. So... what happened last night?”
“Nothing, we talked.”
“Oh-my-God you are so lying, tell me everything.”
“She’s been working for the PtB all this time”
“Wow, really? I always thought that was just BS.”
“Will!”
Willow shrugs, “Do you blame me? Kennedy hasn’t heard from her in five years then she calls out of the blue last week.”
“No, I guess.” I look down then back up at Willow, “I have a confession to make.” Taking in her concerned look, I jump right in, “Years ago, Cordy told me Faith was working for the Powers.” I hold up my hand as Will opens her eyes and mouth wide. “Let me finish before you yell at me? She nods.
“Ok, so Cordy came to me in a Slayer dream and said Faith made some crazy deal with the PtB that she would trade like years of her life to become their Champion. She would basically be at their beck and call in any way they deemed fit. They knew she needed a path to redemption and they knew Angel would be gone soon.”
“When was this?”
“Right before Cordy died. She told me I shouldn’t tell anyone, are you angry at me?”
“No, I understand. I think I’m more shocked you never spilled the beans.”
I lean over and swat at her.
“So…”
“So what?”
“Come on Buff, is there any possibility? I mean I could almost see the sparks fly between you guys last night. The energy between you two… it seems to be even stronger than before if that’s at all possible.” Willow rolls her eyes.
I start to blush, “Maybe?”
Willow pounced, “WHAT HAPPENED?”
“Nothing! My God Will, what do you think happened? I jumped her bones as soon as you guys left the room?”
Willow raises her eyebrows, “You didn’t see your face when you first saw her last night. I think ‘lusty’ would be a good description. Yes, it was VERY lusty!” She leers at me.
Exasperated, I shake my head. “For Pete’s sake Will, nothing ‘happened’, we had a glass of wine and talked.” I pause, thinking for a moment. “Well, it was more like we were in each others presence speaking occasionally. But not in a bad way, make sense?”
“Yes, perfect sense.” Will smiles at me.
I look down, playing with a crease on the sheet. Softly I ask, “Remember when Angel and the others died and I told you I could feel her here?”
“Boy do I, I thought you were certifiable, going on and on and…” Will stops and looks up at me. “Wait, she was really here?”
“I asked her about it last night and she told me she came back to see if I was ok.”
“Wow, Buffy, that’s really great.” Seeing me nod and look away, “And that’s why you look so distant and confused?”
“I’m scared Willow. I just don’t know, when she holds me my entire body tingles like it’s never been that alive. There’s this feeling of, I don’t know, belonging? home? It’s like a piece of me was missing and now it’s back in place. But I’m so scared. She’s just got back from a multi-dimensional plane. What if she leaves again? I can’t go through it a second time. And after Jessie, I don’t know, maybe that demon was right, dating me is too dangerous.” I lean back, wrap my arms around my legs, and rest my chin on my knees. “Everyone seems to be a whole lot safer when I’m single.” I say it jokingly, but Will knows I kinda mean it.
“First of all, you are both very different people then you were 10 years ago, a lot has changed. But from what I saw last night, she wants to be where ever you are. Second, and I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious here, but we’re in a dangerous business. I know this sounds callous, especially coming from me considering what I did after Tara was killed, but people die. And doing what we do, we see a lot of it. Look, you’re the Slayer, Buffy, evil beings will always attempt to find your weakness and exploit it. That demon tried when he killed Jessie in front of you, thinking you would give up. But you were still able to bring Ms Hartness’s daughter back to the Coven safely.”
Willow reaches out and grabs my hand, “All of them, Angel, Spike, Riley, Jessie, they died fighting the good fight, none of them would have it any other way. Faith’s a big girl, she knows the score, probably more so than we do – the power coming from her is immense. We can’t even imagine what she’s seen or how much she’s gone through. If anyone can defend herself against evil in any incarnation, it would be her.” Will stops and thinks for a second, “I’d bet money on it!”
“I don’t know. I guess.” I smile.
“Yeah, well I know, so why don’t you try and get a little more sleep. Dawn will make sure Emma gets showered, fed and introduced. I sense something different about her and I know I kinda freak her out, but we can talk about it later.” Will pats my hand then gets up to leave.
“Wills?”
She turns back, “Yeah, Buff?”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.” She smiles and closes the door.
MEANWHILE AT A DINER DOWNTOWN
FAITH’S POV
I’m on my third of most likely many cups of coffee today while I wait for Kennedy. I didn’t sleep much, I can’t stop thinking about how it felt to hold her again, it was better than I remembered. Even after all these years, seeing her last night... damn. Well at least I know I’m not in this alone.
“Hey.” Ken sits down next to me. “Did you eat?”
I break from my thoughts, “No, I was waiting for you.”
We order breakfast then Ken describes my accounts, how they are set up and how she’s been filing taxes for her because of the income generated by the interest.
“How did you get my Social Security number and signature?”
“Will is really amazing with the computer. Well, she’s amazing in a lot of ways.” She looks at me and winks.
“Yeah, I’ll bet. How are you two doing?”
“We’re great. I know everyone thought we were a flash in the pan, but we understand each other, you know? It’s like we keep each other grounded, we’re our own patch of sanity in the midst of all the insanity that constantly surrounds us.”
“I’m really glad to hear it.”
“So out with it, what happened last night? I heard your bike at 4 in the morning. I’m sure Will and Buffy are gonna catch it from the neighbors.”
“Nothing really.”
“Yeah, ok, that usually takes 4 hours.”
“We had some wine and talked a bit. She was really tired.”
“She had a tough trip.” Ken shook her head. “That girl Emma’s parents, what a piece of work. They wanted us to pay them cash to take her here. We tried to explain what it is we do, all they wanted was to recoup their money for putting her in the institution. They said we owed it to them because we didn’t tell them she was going to be a Slayer. Can you believe it?”
“People are harsh”
“Yeah, but with your own kid? Sometimes I just don’t get it.” She shakes her head and has some more coffee. “So, back to you and Buffy...”
“We’re going to talk some more this afternoon after she’s had time to square some things away with Red and Dawn. And what is up with Dawn and Andrew? I always thought he was family?”
Kennedy laughs, “They’ve been inseparable for years. It’s weird, they don’t date other people and both insist nothing is going on between them. So we all just leave it alone.” She tilts her head. “So, have you thought about staying on here? You can’t imagine how much help you’d be to the program, not to mention how happy I’d be to know you’re not in some alternate universe being ripped to shreds by some crazy demon.” She finishes her coffee and signals the waitress for more.
“It wasn’t all about ripping demons apart, Ken.” I shake my head at her. “I did actually get to help some people.” I laugh, “Well, sometimes they were people.”
“What was it like?”
I take a deep breath, “Well, at first, it was just like we did here: something happens, go in and fight the bad guys. Then as your school as well as the other watchers got more Slayers trained and working in this world the PtB decided it was time for me to start working in other ones. They have a twisted way of doing things: they would tell me about a tenth of what they knew then send me into some crazy situation and I would try to fix it, to help, to just try and make someone’s life better. Then just as things would get under control they would send me off to my next assignment.”
“That’s why I couldn’t stay in touch even to check in these last 5 years. They only let me come back here for literally one minute a couple of years ago.” I stop, remembering how they sent me to B for that split second when she needed someone to push her to go on. Sighing, I continue. “But it was just for a moment, and then I was back in some God forsaken dimension where the vamps ruled and the humans hid.”
Ken is silent for a minute, “Doesn’t sound like you got much down time.”
“Not so much.” I shake my head.
“Is this like a vacation then, I mean are they going to let you stay?”
I laugh, “Vacation on the Hellmouth? No. I can stay if I want to, they know where I am.”
“So?”
“I don’t know, Ken. I thought a lot about it on the drive up here. Like you said when I phoned, you guys are the only family I have. I’m going to try and make it work here, but a lot depends on Buffy. I know there’s still something between us. I guess we have to see if it’s got staying power.”
“Alright, so what’s the plan?”
“She asked me to come back about 3:00 – 4:00 so we could talk more.”
“That gives us the whole day, cool. Let’s get the bank stuff done then we’ll go back to the house and I’ll show you all the other paper work. Then maybe you want to sit in on a couple of classes, you know, get an idea of what we’re doing here?”
“Sounds good to me.”
LATER
By the time we leave the bank at 11:00, I’m completely blown away. I have well over $1 million in a variety of long term investments and liquid accounts that Ken chose over the years. They say I can change anything I want, but I can’t tell the dude I’ve been in another dimension for the past 5 years and have no clue what to invest in. I take out some spending money cause the cash the PtB gave me was running low.
My first purchase is another helmet so Ken can ride back with me. As we get off the bike Ken remarks, “Nice ride, real smooth for a bike.”
“Yeah, the PtB let me pick it out. They gave me this and a hundred bucks to get here, I though I had it made. Who knew you guys were gonna make me rich?”
“Hey, it was either ‘acquire the funds’ and use them as we see fit or it would have been confiscated by the bank. This way the money still works for training Slayers and we get to stick together. Sort of like a home base. Come on, let’s get a quick sandwich. I have classes at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00.”
“What are you teaching?”
“Today it’s ‘What to do when you’re so out numbered you can’t even count them’.”
“Love the title.” I laugh.
“One of my favorite jobs, naming the classes.”
As Kennedy makes us some sandwiches, I sit at the kitchen table. “Ken, you know of a realtor I can hook up with to get an apartment? I don’t want to waste that new found cash on a hotel, you know?”
“You don’t want to stay here with us?” Kennedy looks up a little hurt.
“No offense, it’s just that I’ve been basically alone for the last 10 years you know? I kinda am used to some quiet, alone time you know?”
“And staying here would put an extra strain on you and Buffy?” Kennedy asks knowingly.
“Well, yeah, that too.” I agree sheepishly
“I hear you; let me get you set up.”
Ken gets me an appointment the next morning with a realtor who specializes in apartments close by.
She shows me around until her first class starts. The school consists of two incredible Victorian houses next to each other which serve as home, offices and classrooms. Both have 10 bedrooms and completely refurbished basements that are used as gyms/training rooms. They’re Ken and Buffy’s pride and joy. There always seems to be about a dozen girls ranging in age from 15 to 18 living with them. Once they hit 18 they are given the chance to go to college paid for by the school. No one has declined yet and they don’t expect anyone to in the future either. After college most stay “in the system” as Dawn puts it: going to hot spots when called upon; sort of like sleeper cells – but in a good way.
I sit through the first two classes, watching Kennedy’s manner and rapport with the SiTs from the back of the room. I have to hand it to her, the girls are captivated and paying attention to every word that leaves her mouth.
In the middle of the third class Buffy comes in quietly and sits next to Emma and me in the back. Every now and again Emma turns and peaks at me. I keep getting a vibe I can’t really peg from her; I’ll have to ask Red about it later.
Ken motions for me to join her at the front. As I pass B and Emma I wink. They both smile and bow their heads a little, very cute.
“I want to show you guys how easy it is for any one of us to get their ass seriously kicked in about two minutes, ok?” The class grumbles, thinking they know how to defend themselves and not really thinking I was a threat to Kennedy, they’ve seen her fight. “Ok, Faith, want to show them what they can aspire to?”
“I’ll go easy on you, cause I haven’t had time to tell you how unfair this would be.”
“Don’t you dare. They need to see how out of control it can get.”
I start to whisper to her, “You don’t understand what they...”
Kennedy cuts me off, “Let’s go Faith, the girls need to learn they’re not invincible.”
I smile, “Ok, remember, you asked for it.”
B is watching closely as we circled each other.
Ken stops and takes a fighting stance. I just turn and walk away. As Ken approaches me from behind, I jump up carrying myself backwards in the air landing behind Ken. A kick in the back lands her on her knees, after the subsequent leg sweep, she is lying flat on the floor shaking her head.
“OHHHH” coo the girls.
She gets up and waits for me to come to her. When I do we trade blows but mostly block punches and kicks. I start to pick up the pace, Ken tries to keep up but can’t. Once I see an opening I land a direct hit to the solar plexus. Kennedy goes down, hard. The entire class gets on their feet.
I go to her, “Fuck, you ok?”
Ken nods; she can’t breathe yet, but knows she’ll be alright.
Buffy comes to the front, “Well, since Kennedy needs a break and it’s almost 4:00 anyway, why don’t we call it a day?”
I reach my hand out to Ken as the girls shuffle out amazed I bested her so quickly.
“Sorry Ken” I say as I pull her up. “I didn’t want to make you look bad in front of the kids.”
“I’m fine, but damn that was some hit. What the hell did the PtB do to you? You have moves and strength that are beyond a Slayer. The vibe when you’re fighting... it’s wicked different, like you’re a Slayer and a demon and a witch all rolled up into one.”
I look at her then at Buffy. “I couldn’t have said it any better if I tried.”
“You’re shitting me. They really did that to you?” Ken is awe-struck.
Buffy turns to me, “That’s why I couldn’t sense you last night?”
“Basically, yes and yes.” I answer both of them then look at Buffy “Does it matter?”
Seeing where this is going, Ken wants out of there fast. “Yeah, ok, I’ll be in my office if you need me, licking my wounds.” She leaves us alone.
“No, of course it doesn’t matter. Come on; tell me about these powers of yours.”
I start to explain as we walk to Buffy’s office, “I needed them to survive some of the dimensions I was in, so the PtB instilled them in me by changing parts of my composition to that of a witch and demon. Hey, I’m no Red, I do minor spells like raising a protection barrier around me and maybe one or two others, and I have some telekinetic powers. They chose an Empath Demon, so I can read other people’s feelings that way I can gauge motives, but that can be exhausting, so I keep it ‘turned off’ unless I really need to use it.”
“Wow. So did it hurt when they ‘changed your composition’?”
“Like no other pain I ever felt in my life, but it was worth it.”
“Tell me” Buffy says as she closes the door to her office behind us.
