Getting Ahead of Myself
by sailor80
Thirty-eight
[reviews]
***Dialogue from "Buffy vs. Dracula" by Marti Noxon***
On the ride, Tara told them she had a simple spell, and had all ready used it at the gallery.
"Why?" Willow asked suspiciously.
"Practice," Tara said.
Willow looked at her, then at Joyce. "You sure?"
"It was me," Joyce said before Tara could answer.
"What, Mom?" Buffy said.
"I let him in. We had coffee. He seemed so nice and normal."
"A good Sunnydale rule of thumb, avoid white-skinned men in capes," Willow said.
Joyce looked in the rearview mirror and caught Buffy's eyes for a second. "I'm sorry, honey."
"It's all right, Mom." Buffy looked at Willow, relief obvious on her face.
Tara started the spell soon after they arrived. Dawn stood in the living room and watched Tara work at the door. When she stepped away from the door, Dawn asked, "Can I help?"
"No," Buffy said, while Willow said, "Yes." They looked at each other. "Tara won't let her do anything," Willow said in a low voice, and after a few seconds, Buffy said, "Ok."
Dawn took off for the kitchen, where Tara had not yet started the spell on the back door. She handed Dawn the bottle of holy water. "Hold this for me, sweetie."
Dawn stood attentively and watched while Tara repeated the spell, and put the holy water in her hand when Tara reached for it. Tara finished the spell and turned her attention to Dawn. "Thank you."
"Welcome."
"Wanna help with dinner?"
"Yes."
"Good. I need you since my favorite helper isn't here."
"When is Aunt Faith coming home?"
"Sunday night." Tara pulled a chair to the sink and lifted Dawn onto it. She showed her how to use the peeler, and set her to peeling carrots while she gathered the rest of what she needed.
"That's a long time," Dawn said.
"Seems like it, but it isn't really."
"I miss her."
"Me, too." Tara smiled at Dawn. The phone rang, and Tara wiped her hands on a towel while crossing the room. As she reached for it, she heard Willow call for her, but picked up the phone first. She heard a click, then Faith saying in an annoyed tone, "She did not hang up on me."
Tara chuckled. "No, she didn't hang up on you."
"Hey, Blondie."
"Hey yourself. What's going on?"
"Just checkin' in with my favorite witch. Good day?"
"Mostly." Tara returned to the sink. "Somebody else wants to talk to you."
"Who?"
"You'll find out in a second." Tara helped Dawn wipe her hands, then handed her the phone.
"Hello," Dawn said.
"Hey, munchkin."
"Aunt Faith! We were just talking about you."
"Must be why I called. What'cha up to?"
"I'm helping Aunt Tara fix dinner."
"Good. What else?"
"Mommy took me to the library today."
"Excellent!"
"An' Aunt Tara let me help with a spell."
"That's pretty neat, huh?"
"Uh huh." Dawn launched into a detailed description of her assistance.
At the other end, Faith bit her lip to keep from laughing. Right down to the serious tone, Dawn sounded like Willow. When Dawn finished her description, Faith said, "Cool. I'll be home in five days, ok?"
"No. You should come home now."
"I'm sorry, Dawnie, I can't do that."
"But I miss you."
"I miss you, too, kiddo. Let me talk to Aunt Tara again, all right?"
"Bye." Dawn held the phone out to Tara.
"Yeah?" Tara said while she walked toward the phone's wall unit.
"I miss you more," Faith said. "I'll call when I get in from patrol."
"Please. Be careful."
"Always. Love you."
"Love you, too, Faith. I'll talk to you later." Tara hung up and returned to the counter, smiling.
Buffy followed Willow upstairs and leaned against the closed door while Willow blessed and sealed their bedroom windows. It was nearly dark, and Buffy was itching to go out. When Willow finished, she went to Buffy and put one hand on her cheek. The look in Buffy's eyes caused her to ask, "What's wrong?"
"There's this voice, telling me to go out."
"Not tonight," Willow said firmly. "I know it's hard, but you have to fight it."
"I am." Buffy said.
"Good." Willow leaned in and kissed Buffy.
"That helps a lot," Buffy murmured.
"Good to know." Willow kissed her again.
It was a long, restless night for Buffy. Willow woke several times, too, the second to an empty bed. She tried not to panic, and went first to Dawn's room. Buffy sat on the floor beside Dawn's bed and watched her daughter sleep. She looked over her shoulder at Willow.
"Honey, are you all right?"
"Just fighting that voice."
Willow kneeled behind Buffy and wrapped her arms around her. They stayed there for several minutes, Buffy's eyes on Dawn, Willow's eyes going from one to the other.
"Go back to bed, Wills. I promise I won't leave the house."
"You sure?"
"Yes." Buffy shifted a little. "You have class tomorrow. Get some sleep."
Willow kissed Buffy's cheek. "If you need me," she began.
"I know where to find you."
"Love you."
"Love you, too." Buffy squeezed Willow's hand gently before releasing her.
After Willow left, Buffy sat and concentrated on Dawn. In these rare quiet moments, she found herself still incredulous at all that happened. Her daughter slept deeply, not moving, stuffed animals scattered around her. Each time the voice urged her to go out into the darkness, she looked at Dawn, noting small details of her appearance: Willow's hairline, her own nose, the perfection of her hands. Those, and her promise to Willow, kept her glued to the floor. Shortly before sunrise, she fell asleep.
Dawn woke her when she stepped sleepily from her bed onto Buffy's back. Buffy was able to turn and catch her before Dawn fell, and they both broke into giggles. Buffy looked forward to her days with Dawn. They always had fun together once they finished the list of work Willow left for them. By the time they got downstairs, everyone was gone. They had cereal for breakfast, sitting on the couch to watch "Clifford the Big Red Dog" while they ate.
Then came study time for both of them. Dawn did her work, and Buffy did hers, taking regular breaks to check on Dawn. After lunch, they headed to the beach. Dawn loved the tide pool at the south end of the beach. It was warm and shallow and always had different little beasties moving around in it. Dawn kept track of them, sketching each new one and writing down the names of ones she previously saw. Buffy enjoyed sitting on the beach. The view at Kingman's Bluff was spectacular, but sitting on the beach calmed her. When she heard that voice, she refocused her attention on Dawn, but more than once, found herself staring at the horizon, unable to recall her thoughts when she returned.
Willow spun her foot impatiently while she waited for class to end. She loved the subject, but not the professor, who found a way to make it boring. When she finished, she and Giles were going hunting for Dracula. She hoped they would be back at the shop by the time Buffy and Dawn arrived.
Buffy and Dawn played in the workout room while they waited for Willow to return. Late in the afternoon, Xander arrived. He greeted Anya and asked after Buffy, and followed Anya's pointing to the workout room.
"Buffster, hey."
"Hi, Xan. What's up?"
"Need you to see something."
Buffy looked at him. "Now?"
"Yeah."
Buffy shrugged. It sounded important. Xander was jittery and nervous, reminding her of Amy the rat, who still lived in a corner of their room. "All right." She ignored Dawn and left with Xander by the alley door, a dazed look on her face.
Dawn looked at the alley door, then into the shop. She went back into the shop and climbed up into one of the big chairs around the table and began to read one of the books that was always open there. Anya noticed her when she finished with a customer and said, "You aren't supposed to read those books."
"What can I read?"
"Where's Buffy?"
"She and Uncle Xander left."
"What? When?"
Dawn shrugged.
"Oh, when I see him, he's in so much trouble."
"Why?"
"Because he's not supposed to leave without telling me," Anya improvised.
"Can I play on the trampoline?"
"No. Nice try, though."
Dawn smiled. She liked Anya, who spoke to her like she spoke to everyone else. "What can I do?"
Anya crossed the shop and went through the bookshelf behind the round table. She selected a book and gave it to Dawn. "Read this."
"Why this and not the one I was reading?"
"Willow will be quite unpleasant if I let you read that." Anya slid the book away from Dawn, who shrugged and opened the book Anya gave her.
Xander spoke in quick, jerky sentences while he led Buffy from the Magic Box. "I'm supposed to deliver you to the master now," he told her once they were away from downtown Sunnydale.
Buffy looked at him.
"There's this whole deal where I get to be immortal. You cool with that?"
"Take me to him," Buffy answered.
By the time they reached the castle, it was dark. Buffy and Xander walked up the steps, and Xander opened the door for Buffy. Inside, it was the cliché of a medieval castle. Large wooden furniture filled the rooms, which were lit by torches on the walls and candles on nearly every surface. Buffy followed Xander to a large dining room.
"Master? I deliver the slayer. She who you most desire," Xander bowed as Buffy entered the room behind him. "Sorry, whom."
At the far end of the room, by the fireplace, Dracula stood. He wore black pants with a red shirt and black vest. He turned slowly and looked at Buffy.
"So now comes the immortality, right? You do the thing, and,"
"Leave us." Dracula silenced Xander with the instruction. "We must not be interrupted."
"You bet," Xander said, and left the room.
Buffy and Dracula stared at each other from opposite ends of the long table.
"I knew you'd come," Dracula told her.
"Why? Because I'm under your thrall?" Buffy pulled out a stake. "Well, guess again, pal."
"Put the stake down."
"Okay." Buffy placed the stake on the table and looked at her hand, surprised at its betrayal of her will. "Right. That ... was not ... you," she said, although she didn't sound convinced. "I did that. I did that because ... I wanted to."
Dracula continued to watch her.
"Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing," she said nervously.
The list of places Willow and Giles had to check was longer than either of them thought it would be. Properties were scattered all over Sunnydale, and they were down to two locations. Since they were on foot, they took a shortcut through the park.
"I've lived in Sunnydale all my life. Know what I never noticed before?"
"A castle?" Giles answered.
"Big honkin' castle," Willow agreed, and they both headed toward it.
They entered and looked around. Giles said quietly, "I'll go this way, you go the other." He pointed to his right to indicate where he was going.
Willow nodded, and they set out to see what they could find.
In the dining room, Buffy told Dracula, "Stay away from me."
"Are you afraid I will bite you?" He approached Buffy slowly. "Slayer, that's why you came."
"No. It's not gonna happen again."
"Stop me." Dracula continued his advance. "Stake me."
Buffy took a step back, and looked at the stake on the table. "Any minute now."
"Do you know why you cannot resist?"
"Cause you're famous?"
"Because you do not want to."
Buffy shook her head. "My friends," she began.
"They're here," Dracula said, and she looked at him. "They will not find us. We are alone."
Buffy frowned.
"Always alone," Dracula continued, ignoring Buffy's anxiety and beginning to circle her. "There is so much I have to teach you. Your history, your power. What your body is capable of."
Buffy shook her head. "I don't need to know."
"You long to. And you will have eternity to discover yourself." Dracula stood in front of her. "But first, a little taste."
"I won't let you." Buffy recalled the concern in Willow's eyes while she cleaned her neck.
"I didn't mean for me," he said with a small smile.
Willow moved through the dim hallways, trying each door she came to. All except one opened easily, and she began to move on. The door opened and Xander came out. "Nobody harms my master."
"Your master?" Willow asked.
"You want him? You come through me."
"Xander, are you all right?"
"I mean it. Nobody bothers my master." He took a step toward his friend, and somehow managed to look mencing for a moment.
Willow eyed him for a few seconds, then swung her bag at his head. He dropped, unconscious. "I knew that book would come in handy," she said quietly, and stepped over him.
On the other side of the castle, Giles went through the same routine. When a door opened for him, he stepped into the room. There was no floor, and he fell into the darkness. "Oh, good show, Giles," he muttered. "At least you didn't get knocked out for a change." He turned onto his back, groaning. "Oh. Oh, ladies."
Three vampire women crawled to him and draped themselves over him.
"You would ... be the three sisters, yes?"
They kissed his face and began rubbing his chest.
"E-excellent, right. Uh, I'd heard that you were myth. Obviously erroneous."
One of them ripped his shirt open and caressed his bare skin. "Aah! Ooh, that's, uh, that, uh," he giggled, "tickles! Ooh, uh, oh, dear god," he panted.
Dracula rolled up his sleeve.
"What are you," Buffy started.
"All those years fighting us. Your power so near to our own." He sliced his wrist with a fingernail. "And you've never once wanted to know what it is that we fight for?" He held his arm out to Buffy. "Never even a taste?"
"If I drink that."
Again, Dracula didn't let her finish. "I have not drunk enough for you to change. You must be near death to become one of us. And that comes only when you plead for it."
Buffy stared at his wrist. "I'm not hungry."
"No. Your craving goes deeper than that."
Buffy stared at him.
"You think you know," Dracula whispered, "what you are. What's to come. You haven't even begun."
Buffy looked at his arm, then his face. She took his hand in both of hers and put her mouth over his bloody wrist.
"Find it. The darkness. Find your true nature," he urged.
Buffy closed her eyes. She saw herself running through cemeteries, staking vampire after vampire, and then she saw the reasons she did those things: Willow, Dawn, her mother and the others. She raised her head. "Wow," she said softly, and shoved Dracula across the table with a quick push. "That was gross."
She walked toward Dracula as he got to his feet.
"You are resisting."
"Looks like."
"Come here. Come to me." Dracula held out his hand.
"You know, I really think the thrall has gone out of our relationship. But I want to thank you for opening up my eyes a little."
"What is this?"
"My true nature. You want a taste?"
Dracula growled and lunged at her. She jumped over his head, spun, kicked him, punched him twice, and finally kicked him into a wall. He spun back, grabbed her arm, punched her and flung her across the room. She landed on the table on her back.
Willow saw the open door. "Buffy? Are you in whoa!" She regained her balance and took half a step back before it registered what she saw. "Giles! Giles!" Willow pulled a cross from her bag and held it out. The three female vampires hissed and backed away. Willow tossed the cross to Giles, who caught it.
"Come on, Giles!" Willow urged him. He put the cross away, and took a quick leap to catch the edge of the floor where Willow stood. She grabbed his shirt collar and helped him out.
"Thank god you came," Giles said fervently. "There was no possible escape." He noticed that he had only a sock on one foot. "Oh, my shoe." He pointed into the pit. "Silly me, I'll just pop."
Willow grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the hallway. "No, no, no." She tugged insistently on Giles' arm. "No more chick pit for you. Come on."
Buffy gathered momentum as she crossed the room. She put her shoulder into Dracula, and they rolled on the stone floor. The traded punches before Buffy was able to grab his shirt and force his back to the floor. They continued to fight, testing the limits of the other's skill. Buffy used whatever she could as a weapon, forcing Dracula away with a chair and a torch. "A guy like you should think about going electric. Seriously," she said.
Dracula growled and turned to smoke. Buffy looked around and saw the smoke converging. She dropped the torch and grabbed her stake from the table as she ran toward the smoke.
When Dracula appeared from the smoke at the top of the stairs, Buffy drove the stake into his chest. Dracula was stunned.
"How do you like my darkness now?" Buffy smirked.
Dracula growled, fell down the stairs, and exploded into dust. Buffy sauntered down the stairs, and Willow and Giles rushed in.
"Buffy! Are you all right?" Willow asked while crossing the room.
"Yeah. Chock full of free will." She smiled and bussed Willow's cheek.
"And Dracula?" Giles asked.
"Eurotrashed." Buffy smiled.
Xander, a torch in his hand, raced into the room. "Where is he? Where's the creep that turned me into his spider-eating man-bitch?"
"He's gone," Buffy reported.
"Damn it!" Xander yelled. "You know what? I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over. I'm finished being everybody's butt-monkey!"
Buffy, Willow, and Giles nodded. None of them dared looked at each other.
"Check. No more butt-monkey," Buffy agreed.
"It coulda been worse," Willow told him. "At least you weren't making time with the dracu-babes like Giles here."
"I was not making time!" Giles attempted to correct her. "I, I was, uh, just about to kill those, uh, loathsome creatures when you interrupted me." He pulled his torn shirt together.
Willow grinned. "You were gonna nuzzle 'em to death?"
Buffy grinned, too, and pulled her away. Xander went with them.
"Of course not! I was in complete control," Giles told an empty room, and followed them out.
The fog appeared at the bottom of the stairs. As soon as Dracula appeared from it, a hand appeared and staked him. "You think I don't watch your movies?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "You always come back."
Dracula exploded into dust again. Buffy folded her arms and watched.
The fog began to collect again.
"I'm standing right here!"
The fog dissipated.