Shades of gray- Story 2 {BtVS/Supernatural}

7. "We be the cavalry ma'am!"

A/N: The name for this chapter was a quote from Christian Kane's character Eliot Spenser in a Leverage episode. Characters aren't mine, but Whedon and Kripke's. Some dialogue from Twiztv.com.

The main area was blocked off with yellow crime scene tape in the library, and Buffy walked in, grabbing and pulling down on the tape. As she headed toward the table she saw the chalk outline of Kendra on the floor and passed it slowly, careful not to step on it. She looked at the Orb, candles and other things that were used in the attempt at cursing Angelus. She reached under the table, pulled out Kendra's large duffel bag and set it on the table, and as she was going through it, Snyder came into the library.

“You do know this is a crime scene, don't you?” He told her, and Buffy looked up at him as he approached. “But then... you're a criminal, so that pretty much works out.”

“You know I didn't do it. The police will figure it out.”

“In case you haven't noticed, the police of Sunnydale are deeply stupid,” he took a few steps closer, “It doesn't matter anyway, whatever they find, you've proved too much of a liability for this school. These are the moments you want to savor. You wish time would stop so that you could live them over and over again.” He smiled smugly, “You're expelled.”

Buffy reached into the bag and pulls out the sword blessed by the knight who first slew Acathla. She held it up and turned it in her hand, Snyder looked at it, then at her and gulped. Buffy gazed at the polished blade.

“You never ever got a single date in high school, did you?” She asked him and he sniffed.

“Your point being?”

She started out of the library, leaning the blade into his face as she passed him. He bent back as he watched her go. This time she made no attempt to avoid the chalk markings on the floor, Snyder pulled out his cell phone and dialed, checking to make sure she was gone before he held the phone up to his ear. “It's Snyder,” he said and smiled, “tell the Mayor I have good news.”

Drusilla knelt behind Giles, patting the sweat from his forehead. “Is that better?” She asked, patting more. “Hmm?” She pulled away the cloth, “poor thing.” She ran a finger down his cheek. She ran her hand up the back of Giles' head and over the top, closing her eyes, reading his thoughts. She gasped and removed her hand, whispering in Giles’ ear, “Of course.” She stood up and went to his other side and held up two fingers to hypnotize him. “Look at me.”

Giles turned his head to look away, trying to resist. She circled the rest of the way in front of him, waving her fingers. “Mm-mm-mm-mm.” Finally Giles can’t resist any longer and looked at her. She waved her fingers some more and drew them in toward her eyes. “Be... in me.”

Giles quickly fell under her spell, being as weak as he was; she looked into his eyes and smiles. “Hmm. See with your heart.” She covered his eyes with one hand, and then lifted it away he gasps at Jenny kneeling before him. He can't believe it at first, but then accepted it, smiling weakly at her. “Jenny! I thought I'd lost you.”

“Shhh, I'll never leave you.”

“We have to get out of here,” Giles said, trying to stand up.

“No-no-no-no-no. Slowly,” she brushed a hand over his temple, down his cheek, and over his lips. Giles struggled through the fog, knowing that it can’t really be Jenny. “Did you tell Angel? About the ritual?”

“No, we have to get... him away from Acathla.”

“Why? Is he close to figuring it out?”

“Later,” he nodded, anxious to get out of there.

“Tell me what to do.” She implored, and he looked at her, helpless and confused. “It's all right. We'll be together... finally. We'll have everything we never got to have... Never got to feel... Just tell me what to do.”

“We have to get Angel away from Acathla,” Giles said again.

“Angel’s the key?”

“H-h-his, his blood... H-he mustn't...” She shushed him again and kissed him passionately, as Angelus and Spike watched, pleased with the result.

“Blood, of course. The blood on my hands must be my own. I am the key that will open up the door. My blood. My life, okay. Kill him.” He considered, and then turned to go.

“Uh, but what if he's lying?” Spike hesitated, still trying to stall, and Angelus paused, “yeah, good point. Alright, don't kill him.” He leaned down to Spike, “You know I kinda like having you watch my back. It's kinda like old times.” He chuckled and they both turned back to see Drusilla, still kissing Giles. They tried to get her attention, and she finally started, turning back to them with an evil smile as Giles realized he’d been tricked.

Buffy approached Giles’ house, dread settling in her gut. She’d just gone by Sam and Dean’s hotel and it’d been trashed. She had the feeling that Angelus had ordered them captured so they couldn’t help her, and she hoped they were both alive. Buffy found Whistler in the kitchen, holing an empty bottle of Sherry, then moving to check out the fridge.

“Whistler,” she addressed him, “what did you mean, the sword isn't enough?”

“You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun. You're never gonna get the good stuff.” He told her, finding a beer and opening it.

“Tell me how to use it,” she demanded.

“Angel's the key; his blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send 'em both back to Hell. But I strongly suggest that you get there before that happens, 'cause the faster you kill Angel, the easier it's gonna be on you.” He told her, taking a swig of the beer and closing the fridge again.

“Don't worry about me.”

“It's all on the line here, kid.”

“I can deal,” she said sadly, thinking of all she’d lost, “I got nothing left to lose.”

“Wrong, kid. You got one more thing.” He said after she’d left, watching her back.

Buffy walked toward the mansion at a determined pace, the sword wrapped in a cloth at her side. Suddenly Xander ran out of the bushes on the hillside and jumped into the street in front of her. She startled and took a step back. “Xander!”

“Cavalry's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock,” he said, holding up a large rock, “but it's here.” He glanced around for Dean but didn’t see him, and turned back to her, “Where’s Dean? I thought he was going to be here to help? That slacker,” he joked, but he saw the worry in her eyes.

Buffy held up a stake, and he tossed the rock aside as he took the stake. “That's better.”

“Angelus grabbed them I think. You're not here to fight.” She started walking, “You get Giles and Sam out, and you run like hell, understood? I can't protect you.” She pulled the cloth off the sword and tossed it aside. “I'm gonna be too busy killing.”

“Now, that's a new look for you.”

“It's a present for Angel,” she answered, steel in her voice.

“Willow,” he stopped, “uh, she told me to tell you...”

“Tell me what?”

“Kick his ass,” he said, after pausing to think a moment. Without a word they continued walking, Xander hesitated a moment again, then followed.