Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 28

 Eddie jumped up as the front door opened and Malcolm, Ivy, Jax, and Becca came rushing in. His eyes narrowed. He could sense the fear, anxiety, and tension rolling off of them in waves. What about running an errand to a magic shop had them so freaked out? He raced forward, pulling Becca close to him.

His entire body stilled, his hands forming into fists against her back. He could smell it all over her, the smell of decay, hopelessness, and death. Eddie knew exactly where she had been and he was working hard not to lose his shit in that moment, to scream at her. What would have led her back into that place?

"Becca..." he growled quietly, pulling back, his eyes searching hers. "What were you doing in that place again? What the hell were you thinking?"

Her eyes widened and then she offered him a sheepish smile, "Shit. You know, it really sucks having a boyfriend who can smell where you've been all over you. It kind of takes the mystery out of the relationship. I mean, am I not allowed to have my own life outside of you?"

"You think this is funny?" he demanded. "This is about as far from funny as it gets. We have a plan. You were supposed to go get ingredients and then come right back. What? You just decided to take a fun little detour for some sightseeing in hell?"

"No," Becca explained, pushing away from him. "I took a detour to smash Vecna's bones so Spike won't be able to raise him no matter how our plan goes. So really, you should be thanking me."

"Thanking you?" Eddie scoffed, crossing his arms. "And you just, what, decided this on a whim? Why didn't you say anything? I would have been way better back-up than these three." He pointed to Malcolm, Ivy, and Jax.

"Hey!" Ivy said indignantly. "We've been her back-up for years and we do a pretty good job. Except when we weren't her back-up anyway...we waited outside."

Eddie spun on Becca, his eyes hard and angry. "You went in there alone!?"

"Yes. I did. It was a stealth mission, Eddie. I was planning on getting in, smashing the bones, and getting back out. It wouldn't make sense to have a whole group of people tramping through the woods and I am a lot faster alone."

"Jesus Christ! Becca, do you like risking your life?"

Crossing her arms, she glowered at him. "No. I actually don't. It's not my idea of a good time but it is a part of my life. It's one of the risks of my job. Besides, I am standing here, in front of you, very much alive. Clearly, I did not die. My mission was successful. Vecna is gone. Spike can't use him. And now we can move forward with our plan knowing that no matter what happens, at least he can't bring that murderous psycho back from the beyond."

"So...I guess that gnawing feeling you had was pretty accurate," Robin said, forcing a small laugh as she tried to break the tension.

They glanced over at her, clearly unamused and she held her hands up, grimacing and looking away. Becca moved past Eddie and into the middle of the room. He knew she was annoyed at his concern but he couldn't help it. Why did she keep insisting on putting herself in situations she might not come back from? He knew she was a slayer. He knew that was part of the gig, but she didn't always have to do everything on her own.

"Look, it's said and done. I already did it and we don't have time to stand here and argue about it. We have more important things happening right now." She paused, biting her lower lip gently. "I am pretty sure Spike knows that I smashed his plan for world destruction into dust."

"Okay..." said Steve, "and I am assuming that's not a good thing, right?"

"No, because now he knows that we are planning something," Becca explained. "He doesn't know what we're planning but he is going to be even more suspicious when we try to lure him out of the Upside Down. We're going to have to be very careful or he's going to figure out what's going on pretty quickly. I just hope he comes when we call."