Aftermath and College
by Bwriter
Part 24
[reviews]
Part twenty four
A/N - sorry I've taken so long to update this one, but I'm finally getting things done, so I say yay me, oh and also if I don't get another update out for a while - HAPPY CHRISTMAS J
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Buffy walked one step behind the bound commando with only one thought in mind.
'Finish this and go home to Willow'
Tom walked beside his charge, throwing her concerned looks every so often, and it was grating on her nerves.
"What?" she snapped.
Tom didn't flinch from her tone the way his body was telling him to, he simply smirked at her and gestured at Riley.
"What happens when he leads us to the boss?"
"Simple. We find the bitch, we stop the bitch."
"Yeah, that's all well and good, but Buff, she's human, and I'm sure that this organisation is more that one woman."
Buffy stopped walking and halted Riley.
"Your right," she sighed and looked up at the sky before making eye contact again.
"Okay, we find her and get the information we need, then we back off after a friendly warning, if that doesn't stop her, we'll call in the council, see if they can't convince the authorities over here to see the light."
Tom smirked at her wording, hearing Giles come through loud and clear.
"Lead on MacDuff."
Buffy rolled her eyes at the Englishman, a small smile playing on her lips.
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Willow looked from Xander's serious face, to Giles matching one, before her gaze moved over to Anya' beaming one.
"So, a Royal Flush wins then?" she said as she pulled all of the candy they were using as chips over to her side of the table.
Willow threw down her cards. Poker just wasn't her game.
Giles caught her looking at the clock again and sent her a little smile, grateful when she returned it.
"I will accept this candy as payment, though for future reference, money would be better."
Everyone groaned at Anya's comment, Willow throwing her pillow at the girl.
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Buffy stared at the middle aged woman in front of her.
"You know, a very close friend of mine actually liked you, thought you were the best thing since sliced bread."
Maggie looked the blonde up and down, wondering why Riley just stood there, not doing anything when there was a Slayer with a sword to her throat.
"Your point being?"
Buffy smirked and withdrew her sword from the woman's throat.
"They say that there is a fine line between a genius and insanity. Which category do you fall into?"
Maggie's face twisted into a scowl.
Buffy saw her eyes flicker into the corner of the room and stepped back.
"T."
Tom followed her eyes and nodded, making his way over.
Buffy gasped when he opened it, not expecting to see who was on the other side.
"Kim?"
Kim walked into the room, after a little persuading from Tom.
"Buffy."
Buffy stared at Willow's ex, wondering just what the hell was going on.
Looking over at Tom, she saw that he was as confused as her.
"Okay, I want answers, and I want them now. What the hell is going on here?" The look on Buffy's face, the hard tint of her eyes forced Maggie to flinch before sighing.
Their plans were ruined now, but that was okay, she still had Adam.
Buffy stepped towards the woman and raised her sword.
"I'm waiting."
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Willow jumped when the door opened to reveal Buffy and Tom.
Buffy took the offered kiss and led Willow over to the couch, sitting down and pulling Willow into her lap.
"Well, how did it go?"
Buffy looked at her watcher and shook her head, her eyes moving to Willow.
Deciding that she couldn't not tell Willow in private, Buffy stood up and pulled Willow into Giles spare room, ignoring the questions coming at her from those assembled in the room.
"Buffy? what's so bad that you brought me in here to tell me?"
Willow sat on the bed facing the Slayer and waited for her to start.
Buffy took a deep breath and looked up, meeting the eyes she longed to just lose herself in.
"How well do you know Kim?"
Willow was taken aback by the question.
"Why?" There was an edge to her voice.
Buffy shook her head, "It's not what you think, Willow, when Riley led me to Walsh tonight, Kim was there."
Willow sat back in her chair, a frown creasing her forehead.
"What?"
Buffy reached out and took Willow's hand.
"Willow, she is a part of the Initiative."
Willow's eyes closed as she thought about what that meant.
Buffy closed her eyes, not wanting to tell Willow what she was about to tell her.
"Willow, Walsh told me tonight, though I did have a sword to her throat, that Kim... well she had a special project."
Willow looked up, tears in her eyes.
"Me." It wasn't a question, just a simple fact.
Buffy nodded her head anyway.
"They got close to you... to find out things about me."
Willow flinched back from Buffy's touch and the Slayer sighed.
"And I fell for it hook line and sinker."
"Will..."
Willow stood up and began to pace between the bed and the door.
"I was so stupid, I should have questioned her. She came from nowhere and swept me off my feet, right when I needed it. And I was pathetic enough to fall for her act. I mean, who would find me attractive at first glance."
Buffy jumped into her way and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Me."
Pushing forward, she smashed her lips against Willow's.
Pulling back, Buffy leaned her forehead against her girlfriends and spoke calmly.
"You are a beautiful, smart, sexy strong woman. Never doubt that."
Willow's face crumpled and she collapsed into Buffy's strong arms.
"She used me."
Buffy lowered Willow to the bed and lay her down before spooning against her, one hand resting on Willow's tummy, the other entwined with Willow's.
"You must be wondering."
Buffy frowned and leaned up so she could see Willow's face.
"What?"
"What I told her about you."
Buffy shook her head and pressed a gentle kiss against Willow's lips, tasting the salt from her tears.
"I love you."
Buffy pulled Willow tighter and rocked her as her girlfriend cried over the betrayal of her ex.
She knew how hard it was for Willow to find out the truth. The redhead had told her once before about how Kim had helped take away the loneliness that shrouded her life when Buffy left.
Now, that was all a lie.
As Willow drifted off into a restless sleep, Buffy's eyes turned hard and cold.
Maggie may have told her what she wanted to know about Kim, but by the time Buffy had gotten around to asking about the home made demon, the room had been swamped with soldiers and she and Tom had to fight their way out.
The Initiative was going down, and Buffy was going to make sure that Kim and Walsh went alone for the ride.
tbc