One Last Shot
by Whedonist
Chapter 16
[reviews]
A/N: I start back to work tomorrow after a an emergency trip home. I will be unable to update pretty much anything for at least a week or possibly two. Because of the upcoming insanity, I wanted to post what I had done. I hope you guys enjoy.
Disclaimer: You may not know the man...and love well...maybe stretching it for some, but these wonderful, crazy, characters belong to Joss Whedon. I'm just havin' some of that wacky stuff called fun.
Chapter 16
"Honestly Dawn, why you had to go and insist on wearing these ridiculous shirts is beyond me. Tell me again why this is necessary?"
Dawn rolled her eyes at the British man and said, "Because while you may not appreciate them, Buffy and Willow will."
The shirts in question were white with funny saying's on them. Dawn had found them in a shop in Bath. They had deplaned and were currently waiting on their luggage. Willow was dragging Buffy through airport trying to get to Dawn, Ken and Giles.
"Wills slow down; these heels are a little hard to walk in than the flats you're wearing."
"Come on slow poke. They should be at the baggage claim by now. I'm so excited. I haven't seen Dawnie or anyone else in at least three months."
"Fine, just give me my arm back. I think you dislocated my shoulder."
"Fine ya big baby." Willow mocked pouted and then fell in step with the other girl.
They spotted everyone in the customs line and waited. A half hour later Dawn took a running leap at Willow and the two hugged.
"Willow, oh my god it's so good to see you. I've missed you so much." Dawn released the witch and let her get her hello's in with Giles and Kennedy. Turning to Buffy, Dawn hugged her shorter, but older sister and wouldn't let go even when Buffy released her grip.
"Dawnie. I'm not going anywhere. Can I have my arms back?"
Dawn released her grip and stepped back. She swiped the few tears that had leaked out from her eye and smiled.
"I've missed you to sis." Buffy then walked up and hugged Giles.
"Buffy dear it's been too long."
"Hi Giles."
Kennedy turned and said to hello to Buffy. With out even thinking about it, Buffy slugged Kennedy and knocked her on her ass. She stepped up to the fallen brunette and offered her hand.
"Kennedy, if you hurt her again, it will be a century before they find the bleached bones of your body. And it's nice to see you again to."
Kennedy accepted the hand and then nodded at Buffy. The blonde turned around and saw both Willow and Dawn glaring at her. Buffy smiled and shrugged.
"Buffy, I can't believe you. You can't go around hitting people whenever you feel like it. What are you 12?" Dawn huffed and then brushed passed her to check on her girlfriend.
Giles was putting his kerchief back in his pocket and placing his glasses on.
"Baby, didn't we talk about you not hitting people?"
"Wills, don't okay. It's fine, I'm fine, Kennedy's fine."
"Buff..."
Willow was stopped by her girlfriend's hand. Deciding to let it go, she took the hand of the blonde and led everyone out of the airport.
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They all got back to the apartment and got everyone situated. Jimmy had shown up during the unloading and was currently talking to Giles and Buffy about what was going on. Willow, Dawn and Kennedy were in the bedroom talking.
"So Willow, how are you and Buffy doing?"
The witch looked at Kennedy and smirked. Subtly was never a strong point with the girl.
"Things are fine. I think. We are working through it."
"You mean to tell me you actually got my sister open up about her feelings?"
"It took some coercing, but yeah."
Willow laid down on the bed and sighed. She wasn't ready for the fifth degree about her budding relationship with the blonde let alone with her kinda sister/daughter and her ex-girlfriend.
"Will, you said on the phone you needed some help with a work related issue with Buffy. What's going on?"
Willow propped herself help and recounted yesterday's events to the two girls. As she finished up, Dawn looked ready to pummel just about anything that got in her way and Kennedy had grown silent.
"I got some information about where this guy hangs out. I want you two to come with me. I need to have a little chat with this guy."
In unison the couple said, "Let's go."
They had gotten out of the apartment with little interrogation and were headed to Precinct 283. The intention was to follow Pete and Nate until they stopped for lunch or were at least somewhere they could be confronted. It didn't take long and the girl's had tailed then to a pub off Wooster. The girls walked in to a dimly lit and smoke filled bar. The two cops were in a corner booth with a waitress.
"You two go make some trouble at the jukebox. Pick something slutty to dance to." Willow ordered and then left the two girls. She walked over to the bar and ordered water.
It didn't take long for the dancing of the slayer and her girlfriend to draw attention. Nate was the first that could be heard with Pete trying to calm his busted up partner down. Smiling into her water she bided her time. She saw Nate walk over to the jukebox to unplug the machine and stalk over to the girls. Willow spun around on her stool and started in.
"Hello detective."
Nate glanced up and looked at Willow, recognition showing on his face.
"Detective Frazier, before you go and do what I think you're about to do, may I have a word."
Glaring at the two other girls, he stalked up to the bar.
"Outside would be best, don't you think so sir?" She placed her hand around his arm and led him outside.
He tried to stop what was happening, but his feet weren't listening and he was compelled to obey the girl's instructions. Kennedy and Dawn followed them out. By the time they got out there Willow had backed the tall man into a corner.
"Mister, I don't care what kind of credentials you carry. Buffy told me what you said and usually I don't let things like that get to me, but this time you made me cranky. It's not good to make me cranky. So I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you to leave her alone and if I hear one word of shit like that coming out of your mouth again, Jimmy won't have the chance to get to you." Willow's hand was placed by his head, blocking him in. She could feel the anger crackling through her system and was able to control it. She knew her eyes were black and her hair was growing darker by the second, but she didn't care. She was here to make a point and put the fear of any god or goddess that he believed in in to him.
Nate muttered and shook his head.
"Now, you're going to be a good little homophobe and call up your boss and tell him to drop any and all corrective action on Detective Summers and her partner. If in the next three hours I don't hear from Buffy saying that they can go back to work tomorrow I'm going to pay you another visit and that one won't be as pleasant."
Again the man nodded.
"Also, you are going to call her and apologize. In fact I want that done now." Willow produced his own phone and dialed the apartment number. She handed it over and allowed him to complete the call.
"Thank you. One last thing Detective. If there ever come's a time when I have to revisit you please keep in mind that the last man I killed I flayed alive. I will not be so kind with you." With that Willow turned and walked off into the spring sunlight of New York City. Tailing her was a stunned and frightened couple.
None of the girls looked back and saw the growing wet spot appear on the front of the man's dress slacks. Nor did they see him crumple to the ground and begin to cry.
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By the time the three made it back to the apartment, Xander and Faith were already there. The girls entered the apartment and were embraced before they even got the door shut. The assailant was a one eyed father to be. He released Dawn and Kennedy, but held on to Willow until a few loud coughs from two slayers caused him to release his friend.
Laughing Willow pulled back and smiled. "I've missed you to Xander." They walked over hand in hand and placed a kiss on their partner's lips.
"Hey Mr. Grabby Hands, watch it with my girlfriend." Buffy teased
Xander held his hands up and shrugged.
"Yeah Red, I know your sordid past with my X."
"Faith, in case you missed the memo: hello gay now! Besides Buff's a better kisser." Willow stuck her tongue out and moved out of the way to avoid Xander's playful shove. "When did you guys get here?"
"About 15 minutes ago. So Wills, what is this you come to town, people start dying, what's the deal? Is there something you want to tell us?" Xander smiled and teased his friend.
"I can assure you Mr. Harris, this is not me. It might have something to do with me, but I've had good alibis for my entire time here."
"Heya Cupcake," Jimmy called out. "I just got off the phone with Pat. We're back at work tomorrow. We've also, in an uncharacteristic act of kindness, are the primary on both Murillo and Poulson."
Faith mouthed cupcake to Willow in question. Willow just shrugged.
"Oh for joy. This is good though. I was thinking we need to start running a search on past Sunnydale residences. Also Faith, Ken, Willow I'm going to need you guys to do some foot work. Stat asking around at any of the local demon haunts and see if anything or one is being talked about."
"We can get started today." Kennedy said.
"Giles, Dawn, Xan can you guys look over the girl's info, see if anything pops out at you? Besides the fact they are from Sunnydale"
"Aye, Aye, General Bufferton. But can I take a nap first. I drove all night."
"Do whatever. Faith and Xan you guys got Willow's room. Dawnie, I've put you and Ken in the office. Giles, I'm sorry but it is a real comfy couch. I've spent many a night on it."
"It's quite alright Buffy."
"Cupcake if you want I got a spare twin at my house. It'd fit nicely against the wall if Ruppert doesn't like your couch. It looks lumpy."
"Hey, there are no lumps in my couch." Buffy shot a glance at the item in question and rethought her stance, "Okay so there maybe a few lumps. If it's not an issue, than yeah the other bed may not be such the worst idea ever."
"Nah B the worst idea ever was this carpet. Who the hell put it in?"
"Faith." Buffy warned. "Nevermind, Xander control your honey."
"You're kidding right. I can make suggestions, but she'll never listen."
Willow put her head in her hands.
If I have to listen to this for more than a week I'm gonna go loopy. Oh, my head is all spinny. Maybe showing off that much to the numbskull of a detective was not such a bright idea. It was fun though seeing him that scared. Although if he hadn't come through on his end, I'm not sure what I would have done.
Buffy noticed the paler than usual redhead and went over to see what was wrong.
"Wills you don't look so hot. You feeling ok?"
"Yeah, I think I'm just gonna go lay down for a minute." Under her breath she whispered, "Somebody wouldn't let me get enough sleep last night." She winked at Buffy and excused herself.
"I'm just gonna go check on her make sure she's ah, ok and all." Lamely Buffy slinked out to the room.
"You do that B. Give her whatever she needs."
Buffy peaked her head around the corner and flipped the younger girl off.
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Buffy walked into the darkened room and laid down next to her witch.
"Wills, I'm thinking something's more off than you just being tired. I noticed the darker than usual hair. Is there something you want to tell me?"
"I...I had a chat with our homophobic detective friend is all. It kinda pooped me out."
"Willow..."
"Don't Buff. I wasn't going to stand around and watch that dumby get away with saying something like that. I didn't do much of anything, just talked to him. He seemed to be receptive to my suggestion."
Buffy pulled Willow to her and kissed her forehead. "If all you did was just talk to him why did you go all black magic woman?"
"Because," Willow sighed, "he needed to understand that messing with my girl will end poorly for him."
"Hmm"
"Buff you don't know. Okay. There's been worse than what you had to deal with from that jerk. What happened before was 'cuz I didn't say anything. Well, I'm done not saying anything. In fact I'm gonna start sayin' a lot of this doesn't stop."
"What?" Buffy pulled back to look at the other girl.
"It's just some stuff that happened with Tare and I. Don't worry about it okay?"
"We'll have to revisit this later. Are you feeling any better?"
"There's room for improvement." Willow smiled and covered the slayers lips with her own. She moved them so that they were on their sides and moved her hand underneath Buffy's shirt. Buffy moaned at the sensation and went for Willow's pants.
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So the gang's been here for about a week. The apartment's insane and Willow's finishing out the rest of her paperwork and tests to get into med school. She had the M-Cats last week and there has been no new development on these cases. Nobody's setting off any bat radar. With Nate's apology and my badge back work has been quiet. It's weird seeing everyone together like this again. I never thought I could miss it so much and find it nerve wracking all at the same time, but here I am lying in bed watching Willow sleep and thinking that running away again was not the best idea I ever had.
Dawn's so grown up. Her and Ken seem to be happy. It's nice seeing her in a relationship that isn't completely dysfunctional; gods know she didn't have the best role models. Really the best she could have hoped for were Will and Tara.
Buffy glanced over at the clock. It was 3am and she had been lying there for nearly two hours and hadn't been able to get to sleep. Sighing she got out of bed. She padded into the kitchen and found Faith up eating a sandwich.
"Heya B. What brings you out at this hour?"
"Couldn't sleep. You?"
"Hungry. 8 weeks pregnant and you think that the Doc would tell you that you're appetite would increase by a thousand percent. Hell I sent Xand to the store a dozen times since I got knocked up. The cooks at the school can't seem to keep the pantry's stocked."
"Well you always ate a lot. Maybe being pregnant just kinda made the slayer metabolism extra metabolizie."
"Eh, dunno. What I do know is that I need some pie."
"Pie?"
"Yeah, maybe a chocholote cream or key lime."
Buffy thought of a diner she knew of on the Upper West Side and thought that pie not be such a bad idea.
"Let's go. I'll get changed and tell Wills."
"You serious?"
"Yeah there's a place I know that has some great pies and as a bonus they're open 24 hours."
"Sweetness. I'll meet you here in five."
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The diner was a retro throw back from the 60's. It had mini-juke boxes on each table and floors were checkerboard linoleum.
"B this place is wicked strange. What did they do build a damn time machine and go back to get this stuff?"
"I don't think so. Look at the menu there's some historical info."
They took a booth near the back and ordered.
"So B how's life?"
"Besides the dead girls things are good I guess. You?"
"Five by five ya know. The girls at the school are pretty cool. Sometimes a little much. Kinda like telatubbies on crack if they get too much caffeine, but X handles them pretty well. I usually just go take a walk when things get too crazy. Vamps there are wicked easy to kill. It's like they think their immortal."
"They are for the most part Faith."
"Yeah, but you know what I mean. So what about you and Red?"
"What about Willow and I?"
"Well I mean you two seem to be awful cozy, picture of domestic bliss and all. How's it going?"
"The same could be said for you and Xander Faith. I mean let's face it you as a mom not the first thing I would ever think of."
"Stranger things have happened?"
"Like?"
"I dunno, you and Willow. Xand and I had that bit of a past, but you were, you B never let yourself get close enough to her. If you would have listened to me when I first got to SunnyD thing's could have been different for you."
"Faith haven't we had the conversation about you and putting in your two sense were it doesn't belong."
"Yeah, but it ain't ever stopped me before." Faith smiled and tug into her food.
"Humph."