To Conquer Death
by Rainne
Interlude: Sunnydale
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"He obviously thinks I'm... what's your term, Buffy? Mentally challenged," Giles commented to the Scoobies, who were staring at the answering machine that Quentin Travers's voice had just spoken from. It had startled them into silence when it kicked on, as Giles had forgotten to turn the ringer on and they hadn't known anyone was calling. In retrospect, Giles was glad of his oversight, since it meant he now had some warning that Travers was looking for him.
"So Janna was right," Buffy observed. "They are chasing her. And they probably want Dakota, too."
"Almost without a doubt," Giles replied. "They most likely want them both dead."
Buffy nodded. "Well, that's not going to happen." She stood. "I'm going to get the girls from school. The sooner they're safe, the better off we'll all be."
Once the school office's required papers were signed, Buffy walked outside into the sunshine to wait for the girls, who came outside shortly, Dawn carrying Mercedes' bag while Mercedes shrugged into her Sunnydale Junior High Band jacket. "Hey, girls."
"Hey, Buff, what's the sitch?" Dawn asked.
"Hop in and I'll explain. We've got to get you packed." They climbed into the Jeep and headed toward Revello Drive, and Buffy attempted to explain the situation. "The guys from the Watcher's Council are back," she told them. "They're gunning for Dakota and they pretty much want her dead. We don't know why. But things are gonna get ugly around here, probably tomorrow, and I don't want the two of you in danger. So you're going with Anya to stay with a friend of Dakota's."
"We can take care of ourselves," Dawn began to protest hotly, but she was cut off by Mercedes' calming hand on her arm.
"I ain't so sure about that, Dawn," Mercedes said quietly. "These are guys that we already know don't play fair. I know either of us could hold our own in a fair fight, but can you honestly say you can protect yourself against a grown man who's tryin' to kill ya?" She shook her head. "I cain't. And besides, what if he don't try to kill ya? You wanna get snatched, held for ransom, in a trade? How would you feel to hear somebody demand an exchange — your life for Dakota's?"
Dawn stared at Mercedes for a long moment. "How do you know about stuff like this?"
Mercedes grinned. "I watch a lot of suspense movies."
Dawn sighed, then grinned. "Okay. San Francisco, Buffy? Can we go to the Castro while we're there?"