{"id":10382,"date":"2016-11-13T19:58:59","date_gmt":"2016-11-13T19:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=10382"},"modified":"2018-07-23T20:58:44","modified_gmt":"2018-07-23T19:58:44","slug":"season-of-solace-101-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/13\/season-of-solace-101-02\/","title":{"rendered":"Season of Solace. 101-02"},"content":{"rendered":"
101: \u00a0 \u00a0 The Foyer, Crawford Street Mansion, Central Sunnydale<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe sun is up,\u201d Buffy announced to the two slumbering lumps on the floor. They were both buried inside their sleeping bags blocking out the sunlight that shone through the stained glass above the front door.<\/p>\n

Mumbles and groans sounded and one after the other, Willow and Xander emerged from their makeshift cocoons. \u201cIs it morning already?\u201d Willow yawned widely, her eyes still closed.<\/p>\n

Xander glared squint-eyed toward the light. \u201cNope. It\u2019s a really bright porch light. Go back to sleep.\u201d He dived back under the covers.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet up,\u201d Buffy nudged him with her foot. Sending Willow a look of frustration, she tried again, \u201cWakey, wakey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow rolled onto her side, not quite ready to leave the warmth of her sleeping bag. \u201cTry the zipper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following along with the suggestion, Buffy unzipped it and let the air rush in as she tossed the cover aside. Xander squirmed in half-sleep rolling into a fetal position. He hadn\u2019t bothered changing into his pajamas last night. They\u2019d all stayed up waiting for Angel and Cordelia to come back downstairs. When that didn\u2019t happen, there was still the matter of guarding the front door.<\/p>\n

Around three a.m. both Xander and Willow looked like they\u2019d had enough for the night. Their eyes were closing and their vigil was more of a cat nap than guard duty. Buffy figured she could always wake them if trouble presented itself. They had removed their shoes and crawled into their respective sleeping bags without complaint.<\/p>\n

Reaching down, Buffy tried shaking Xander\u2019s shoulder, but he only mumbled at her. Tickling his ribs brought a sleepy leer to his face that had her backing off fast. Willow was now fully awake and grinning at her efforts. \u201cTry his feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy\u2019s eyes widened as she stared at Xander\u2019s sock clad feet. One sock was half off, down to his ankle and hanging from his toes. Wrinkling her nose, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou kill vampires and deal with gore everyday,\u201d Willow pointed out, \u201cand you can\u2019t deal with Xander feet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Standing, Buffy crossed her arms and held her head high. \u201cA Slayer\u2019s gotta draw the line somewhere. We can let him have another ten minutes while we get our stuff ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re leaving?\u201d Willow shucked off the sleeping bag and reached for her shoes. \u201cI thought we needed to be here in case\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy informed her about her decision to contact Giles. \u201cIt\u2019s daylight now. Should be safe enough. If the demon hasn\u2019t tracked Cordelia to the mansion by now, I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCrosathnam demons are nocturnal,\u201d Angel\u2019s voice sounded from the top of the stairs startling them both, \u201cbut they\u2019re not restricted from sunlight. Cordy is still in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Xander woke up instantly. \u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the shower,\u201d Angel told them.<\/p>\n

Buffy saw that Angel\u2019s hair was damp, too. He was fully dressed. Different clothes than last night: a dark blue shirt, black pants, clean boots. He looked gorgeous and a lot more relaxed than before. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she said, \u201cI need to talk to Giles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reaching into his back pocket, Angel pulled out a familiar looking cell phone. Buffy realized it belonged to her Watcher. \u201cCall him to come over. We need to strategize. And Cordelia needs him today.\u201d<\/p>\n

I need him today, thought Buffy glumly. \u201cWhat for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo take her to the police station to make a statement,\u201d Angel\u2019s jaw tightened up at her tone. \u201cShe also wants to see her grandmother and doesn\u2019t want to do it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Buffy realized that she hadn\u2019t even thought about that. Still, she didn\u2019t want to face Cordelia yet. Looking at Angel was hard enough knowing he had spent the night with her. She wasn\u2019t one hundred percent convinced that they\u2019d had sex last night. The things she\u2019d heard might have totally been her imagination. Being ninety-nine point nine percent certain left her a tiny bit of room for denial.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t be alone,\u201d Xander was on his feet now. \u201cI\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel stared at the boy for a tense moment before saying, \u201cThanks. Just keep her safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d promised Xander feeling a little more manly than he had a minute ago. \u201cIt\u2019s killing you not to go, isn\u2019t it? I mean\u2014 if you could actually be any deader.\u201d<\/p>\n

There it was, Xander clamped his mouth shut, that glare that suggested he\u2019d said too much again. Angel hadn\u2019t budged an inch, but somehow seemed to loom even larger as they faced each other. \u201cDon\u2019t push it, Harris,\u201d he gritted his teeth. \u201cCordy needs to do this. Otherwise I wouldn\u2019t let her out of my sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy held her breath as the ache in her chest turned to stabbing pain. It wasn\u2019t fair. Now that his soul was permanent and they could be together\u2026he was with Cordelia. How was that possible? Her brain just couldn\u2019t wrap itself around the concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Buffy snapped. Grabbing Willow by the arm, she glared at her other friend and nodded toward the door. \u201cXander\u2026keys. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! What about Cordelia?\u201d Willow asked as she was shuffled forward.<\/p>\n

Angel barked out her name stopping Buffy in her tracks. \u201cI need you to deal with this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll deal,\u201d Buffy\u2019s head tilted up a notch. Her lips closed into a natural pout, eyes wide with determination. \u201cDon\u2019t expect me to pretend to like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel found it hard to look at her. The pain showing in her eyes actually made him feel like howling triumphantly. She\u2019d sent him to hell, dumped him, all but pushed him at Cordelia and now she acted as if she had a right to be upset that he\u2019d fallen for someone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t expect you to like it, Buffy,\u201d he lifted his gaze to hers. It wasn\u2019t exactly the apology she was looking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll send Giles back to pick Cor up,\u201d Buffy told him as she moved toward the door again. \u201cI\u2014I just need a little downtime first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Xander had left the keys to the Plymouth next to the ice chest in the middle of the foyer floor. \u201cWe\u2019ll just borrow the car again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so fast.\u201d Angel put a hand on his shoulder before Xander could step out of the indirect light into the sunny open doorway. He took the Plymouth keys away. \u201cI have a job for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gulping, Xander hated the idea already. \u201cA job?\u201d He looked down at the new set of keys Angel placed in his palm. His jaw dropped open at the news that he was to return the DeSoto parked out front to its owner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019ll be careful with it,\u201d Angel clapped Xander on the back. \u201cSpike won\u2019t take kindly to any new dents.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpike?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel gave him a little nudge toward the door. \u201cJust take it to the Factory before nightfall. I think you\u2019ll remember the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019d left the door wide open on the way out. Angel edged the shadows to the far side and closed it. He was about to head back up to check on Cordelia when the bedroom door opened and closed. Waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, he felt a smug smile form as he saw her swathed in his robe.<\/p>\n

It was huge on her, doubled over across her chest and knotted at her waist it still gaped invitingly. \u201cMy stuff is still downstairs,\u201d Cordelia told him. \u201cAnd that reminds me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re already gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn,\u201d Cordelia growled exaggeratedly. \u201cJust like them. Escaping before I can lecture them on the perils of putting designer clothes into trash bags.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel glanced at the stuffed green bags. Wondering if it would help mollify her, \u201cI have an iron.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolling her eyes, Cordelia padded down the stairs barefoot. \u201cOf course you do. What vampire doesn\u2019t these days,\u201d she added, grinning.<\/p>\n

Before she reached the bottom step, he swept his arm around her waist and pulled her to him for a lingering kiss. Finally, Angel set her on her feet letting her body skim down his before letting go. \u201cNow the real question is\u2026do you have food of the non-piggy blood variety?\u201d Cordelia moved out of his arms and headed for the ice chest.<\/p>\n

Flipping it open, she found snacks galore in a tray on top of the ice. Angel peered over her shoulder as she fished through the sodas, Ho-Ho packages and Twinkies. \u201cThere are no Fruit Roll-Ups,\u201d Cordelia huffed. \u201cHow could they forget the Fruit Roll-Ups?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a breakfast food?\u201d Angel cluelessly inquired.<\/p>\n

Straightening up, Cordelia told him, \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any of those,\u201d he looked almost downfallen. Angel had bought a few things since Cordelia and the others started coming over. He knew how to cook, but had not done so in years. It was not necessary to keep food in the place. After Cordelia made him eat fries at the Deli, he had been experimenting a little, but the experience was not the same without her there.<\/p>\n

Taking the unopened Twinkie pack out of her hand, he tossed it back in the chest. \u201cHow about some scrambled eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got eggs?\u201d Cordelia didn\u2019t bother to hide her surprise as she walked with him toward the kitchen. Seeking clarification, \u201cEggs from chickens. Not demony eggs, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel just raised a brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust asking.\u201d Cordelia shrugged and then looked suddenly sad. \u201cBev used to make great scrambled eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a heartbeat, Angel cupped the nape of her neck, glancing down into her grief stricken eyes. Wishing he knew what to say, he silently pulled her into his embrace. Cordelia wrapped her arms around his waist, rested her cheek against his chest, and sighed deeply.<\/p>\n

Scene 102<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oak Park Street, Central Sunnydale<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\n

It seemed like a different world this morning. Buffy kept her eyes on the road as the car zipped by familiar sights. It all seemed like a dream somehow. A strangely wrong kind where Angel loved Cordelia and she was sitting in the passenger seat of Spike\u2019s beermobile.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod, it stinks of beer and smoke,\u201d Buffy groused sinking lower in the seat. \u201cI hate this car. And I hate Spike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow was the one in the back seat with the rest of the empty beer cans. She was the one who should be complaining. At least Xander got to drive. That goofy guy grin was back on his face as soon as he got behind the wheel. It was a lucky thing that the drive from Crawford Street to Giles\u2019 place only took a few minutes in the early morning traffic.<\/p>\n

She closed the door behind her and followed Buffy and Xander to the courtyard entry of Giles\u2019 small condo. The iron cross design on the door had already existed before the Watcher moved in. Willow hadn\u2019t really thought about Giles selecting the place because the door acted as a vampire deterrent. She wondered if the architect knew about the vamps when he designed it.<\/p>\n

They did not have to wait long after ringing the doorbell. Faith answered the door in a matter of moments looking irritated that her sleep had been disturbed. Her tousled brown hair could not hide the shiner darkening the skin around her left eye. There were scrapes and bruises everywhere. And the thought that this was after several hours of super-fast healing only made it worse.<\/p>\n

Faith stood there wearing a plaid pajama top. \u201cAre you coming in?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaping in surprise, Willow gasped, \u201cYou\u2019re here\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs in not in the hoosegow,\u201d Xander\u2019s attention dropped to her bare legs.<\/p>\n

Willow finished, \u201cand you\u2019re wearing Giles\u2019 pajamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNormally I wouldn\u2019t bother,\u201d Faith shrugged, \u201cbut I wouldn\u2019t want to keep Wes or the G-man up all night. I don\u2019t like to tease.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d blurted Buffy completely surprised to see her. Faith was supposed to be in jail.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice to see you, too, Summers,\u201d Faith mocked as Buffy and her cronies filed past. \u201cI could ask you the same question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt Miss Summers is here to check in with her Watcher,\u201d Wesley stepped up from behind Faith, his hands closed around the lapels of his robe, \u201can excellent notion albeit at the crack of dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he prattled on about a Watcher\u2019s duty and his endless vigil, Buffy called out at the top of her lungs, \u201cGiles!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a matter of fact, I have a number of lessons for you to master.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faith turned to stare at Wesley who looked far less starchy than he had last night. Now rumpled with bed hair and his early morning stubble shadowing his jaw, he almost looked kind of hot. If only he would keep his mouth shut. A smirk appeared on her mouth despite the twinge of pain it brought.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk like that just makes me hot,\u201d Faith leaned in close enjoying the instant look of panic in his eyes. \u201cWhat kind of lessons did you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Scene 103<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

101: \u00a0 \u00a0 The Foyer, Crawford Street Mansion, Central Sunnydale   \u201cThe sun is up,\u201d Buffy announced to the two slumbering lumps on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-to-be-continued-fic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10382\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}