Title: Slayer Central chapter 2
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



The next few days passed in a whirlwind of activity. Possessions were packed, arrangements for moving vans made, and tempers flared repeatedly over the organisation of the mass migration.

In the middle of all the fuss came one day of quiet.

Joyce went into the hospital for her biopsy.

Buffy lay at home in bed trying to concentrate on deciding which of her possessions would be making the move with her, and which would either go into storage or be given away. It was a futile effort. All she could think of was her mother.

Giles and Crystal had gone to the hospital and most of the others were either working or packing their own things, so Buffy had only Wesley with her. He'd volunteered to help her pack for the day.

The former Watcher kept a close eye on the girl as she stared at lists and absently chewed her fingernail. Finally, he approached the bed and spoke to her.

"Are you quite all right Buffy? Is there anything you need?"

Buffy blinked fiercely several times before answering.

"I'm okay."

"Are you?"

"I said I was."

Wesley returned to packing books, mildly stung by the rebuff.

"I just thought perhaps you might wish to talk. I didn't mean to offend."

"Were you gonna tell me about every person you've ever known who came through surgery just fine? 'Cause if that's what you want to say, I'm not sure I want to hear it."

"Actually, I thought you might like someone to listen to you."

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't have that much to say."

"Well, if you change your mind, I'm here and I'm willing to listen."

*****

"What time is it now?"

Giles stifled his irritation and looked at his watch.

"Three minutes since the last time you asked."

"Do you think they'll be done soon?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. I never studied medicine."

Crystal stood and paced nervously.

"I hate waiting for stuff."

Both loked up as they heard footsteps approaching. Both tried not to look too disappointed when it was Xander.

"Hey, Giles, Crystal. Any word yet?"

"Not yet. I thought you were working today?"

"Yeah, I'm on my lunchbreak. Thought I'd stop and see what the good word is before I go see Anya. She said to say she hopes Joyce doesn't die, by the way, which is Anyaspeak for..."

Yes, yes, yes I believe I understand Anyaspeak by now. Tell her I said thank you." Giles quirked a small smile.

During the exchange, Crystal watched the two men warily. Both were startled by her next words.

"Xander, is it true your girlfriend is a demon?"

*****

"What happened to you and Cordy?"

Wesley dropped the stack of books he'd been carrying.

"I beg you pardon?"

"You heard me. So spill."

"I take it, then, Cordelia hasn't told you?"

Wesley turned his attention to gathering up the books.

"Not as such. She's called you names and made some pretty rude assumptions about whether your parents were ever married, but she hasn't said what's the damage."

"I can assure you that my parents were married well before I was ever thought of."

"Slick answer. Now why are you and Cordy so mad at each other?"

"If you wish to know the answer, I suggest you ask her."

"Already tried. That's why I'm asking you."

"I thought you didn't want to talk."

"I meant I don't want to talk about me. So is it something you said, something you didn't say, something you did, or something you didn't do?"

"What it is, is personal."

Wesley began to pack books with his back to Buffy.

"Okay, you don't have to bite my head off. I was just wondering. You guys just seemed so...together. Now you're not."

"No. We're not."

"Is that for good?"

"That's rather up to Cordelia."

"So you want her back, right?"

"Buffy, could we please not talk about this anymore?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"How on Earth does Giles manage with you every day?"

*****

Giles and Xander stared, dumbstruck at the girl.

"Well, is she?"

"Who told you that?" Giles sputtered.

"Joyce. Right after the big 'we all have to move' meeting where nobody would answer my questions. So, is it true?"

"This is hardly the time or the place to discuss the matter."

"Well when is the time? I know there's stuff going on and I know this vampire crap isn't true."

"You haven't told her? Giles! She needs to know this stuff."

"All right now, both of you, calm down. Remember we're in a hospital. Crystal, I apologise, but Buffy and I felt you were perhaps unprepared for the truth."

"Which is?"

"What did Joyce tell you?"

"A bunch of stupid stuff about monsters being real and Anya being a demon. She said Buffy kills vampires."

"Actually, " Xander offered, "we prefer the term 'slays' over 'kills'. And Anya hasn't been a demon since she was in High School."

"A demon who goes to school? Everyone here thinks I'm just an idiot."

"No, Crystal, we don't. We simply felt this was too much on top of...well, everything else you already have to deal with. Now don't upset yourself; it's not good for the baby."

Giles attempted to lead her back to a chair. Crystal pulled away. Having seen a similar fire in his own wife's eyes more times than he cared to think about, Giles backed off. Xander also decided to take the better part of valor.

"I'll see you two later. Have fun, Big G."

When Xander was gone, Giles took his chair and tried again with the girl.

"Crystal, I am deeply sorry. It was my decision to wait until you were better established to tell you all this. Buffy tried to warn me, but I didn't listen. I should have. I wanted to...preserve your innocence as long as possible before revealing the truth to you."

"I still don't know what the truth is."

"It's what Joyce told you. You see, as long as there have been demons, there has been a Slayer - a Chosen One - who battles the forces of darkness. Buffy is the Slayer."

"Joyce said there was another."

"Yes, that's right. A few months after she came to Sunnydale, Buffy, well, she was...um...killed by a vampire. Luckily, Xander was on hand and he saved her life. But technically, she was dead for a minute or two and the next Slayer was called. Kendra. When Kendra died the following year, Faith was called. Unfortunately, Faith was also mentally unstable and she turned to evil. She's in prison now, I understand."

"So there's two people in the world that are supposed to save us all from monsters and demons and stuff and one's in prison and the other's stuck in bed because she's pregnant?"

"I'm afraid so."

"If it was true, I'd probably be scared right now."

*****

"How long does this sort of thing usually take?"

"I don't know."

Wesley breathed a sigh of relief that they were no longer discussing his relationship with Cordelia. The combination of worry, hormonal overload, and boredom was making Buffy even more mercurial than ever, and the subjects had changed rapidly since she had decided to speak to him.

"I wish Rupert would call. I hate waiting like this."

"Why don't I make you a cup of tea? Something herbal?"

"Okay. And maybe something to eat?"

"What would you like?"

"You'll never believe this, but I'm going crazy for a peanut butter and salami sandwich."

Wesley turned a pale shade of green as Buffy smacked her lips in anticipation of the treat. He swallowed down his rising gorge

"And I thought the woman had all the nausea during pregnancy" he muttered on his way to the kitchen.

*****

Giles pulled the Citroen to a stop outside his complex with a sinking feeling in his gut. How would Buffy take the news? He slid his long frame out of the tiny car and went around to let Crystal out. His instinct was to protect the girl, but she was halfway up the walk before he caught up.

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"Why" Do you let goblins stay in your apartment?"

"Of course not. They make a dreadful mess. I meant, are you sure there isn't someone you'd like to talk to? A friend? Your mother perhaps?"

"Hank's gone and Mom threw me out. I don't have much of anywhere else to go, do I?"

Giles opened the door without further words and went to the bed where Buffy awaited him, wide eyed in hope and fear. The answer was in his eyes.

"It's bad. Tell me how bad."

"I'm sorry, Buffy. Your mother has a brain tumor.


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