Unknown Factors (Book One)

Ch.30: For you to wake again

  "All right. Switch. Left lead." Pops told Buffy as she was striking at the training gloves.

  "So you really think they might be able to help us?" Buffy asked.

  "If you mean are they gonna help us find out something about Glory-" He paused as Buffy gave a few punches. "I saw that coming. You're dropping your shoulder." Pops told the Slayer. "Uh, the resources that the Watchers Council have at its disposal, I-I mean, the central library alone is-is-" Giles was getting a dreamy look in his eyes.

  "Don't talk about the books again." Buffy said. Smirking as I kept my balance, I noticed a bug crawling on the floor between my hands. It was so tiny, so I just ignored it as I stayed in the handstand position. "You get all....and sometimes there's drool."

  "I'm sorry, but we have really exhausted the materials I have here and we-we're coming up empty." Buffy continued to punch. "And you're-you're still dropping your shoulder. I can see when you're gonna go with your right." Pops sighed as Buffy paused. "You're doing it again!" He repeated when she went back to punching. "W-Wow! Ohh!"

  "Sorry, sorry." Buffy quickly said to Pops. "So, Glory's all you're gonna talk to them about, right?"

  "Let's-Let's take a break."

  "Answer me."

  "I'm not gonna mention Dawn's name. I wouldn't do that. I promise."

  "But you're gonna tell them about the Key?" Buffy asked as I lifted one of my hands. Pops had said I had to do this every now and then to make sure I still could keep my focus. Focus was pretty much the only thing that kept my demon parts hidden, and control is what allowed me to show only certain parts without going 'full demon'. "That Glory's looking for something called the Key?"

  "Knowing her goal is-is crucial. I mean, if anything helps them uncover her origins, her-her plans...."

  "I know." Buffy got a pout in her tone. "It's just I trust these Watchers about as far as you could throw them."

  "Thank you very much." Pops replied with slight sarcasm, and Buffy sighed.

  "I'm just freaked about the idea of giving them any information that could possibly lead them to Dawn."

  "Truly, Buffy, if I saw an alternative, I- If-If the Initiative were still around, I'd consider using them, but they're gone." Pops told Buffy as I heard them sit down. "And then Riley was the-was the last link we had to the government." The room went rather quiet. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, uh-"

  "It's okay. You can say his name." Buffy sniffed. "I'm doing all right. These things happen. People break up and they move on. For a while it feels like the end of the world, you know, but big picture-"

  "Not so huge." Pops said.

  "Not so huge? I just said it feels like the end of the world! Don't you listen?" There was another silent pause. "I'm teasing." Buffy told him.

  "Oh."

  "Sort of. I'll be okay."

  "Well, I do hate to go if you're feeling badly."

  "Look, if it helps you find out something about Glory, I'm thrilled to have you gone. Plus, I got the other Giles to keep me company." I glanced up to see Buffy smiling at me.

~

  "You're going away for a week?" Anya asked as we were sitting around the table with books. "That's great."

  "Yes, yes, everybody seems delighted about it."

  "Well, I get to run the store, right?"

  "You? W-Well, there's quite a lot for one person to take care of." Pops got this look on his face. "Uh, uh, I mean, the trash men, for example. I mean, th-th-they've been making such a mess in the back alley that, well, the recycling people can't get in there to collect. Well, somebody has to talk to them."