Title: Slayer Central chapter 10
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.



Xander kept an arm around Crystal's shoulders as he guided her through the front door.

"It's okay, Crystal. I got the vamp. It can't hurt you now."

The girl hardly seemed to hear his comforting mantra. She continued to shiver slightly now and again. Cordelia approached them.

"What happened to her?"

"Vampwars. They were trying to get at the blood shipment. I had to dust one that was coming for her. Can you get a blanket? I think she's still a little in shock."

Cordelia hurried to a linen closet and raced back to wrap the fleecy blanket around Crystal's body.

"You were at the hospital and you didn't get her checked out for this? I guess the Wizard didn't give you any brains, after all!"

"No. No doctor."

Crystal sounded adamant.

Xander shrugged.

"That was all she would say. They can't treat her if she won't let them. Keep an eye on her, would you, Cordy? I'm gonna get her some hot chocolate."

"Sure. You do that."

Just then the door opened again and Giles and Angel walked through supporting a very wobbly Wesley. Spike sauntered in last and closed the door.

"Evening, all."

With that greeting, The bleach-blonde vampire headed for his basement bedroom, pulling a bloodbag from the depths of a pocket and flipping it as he went. Giles and Angel both glared after him, as did Xander. Cordelia stood staring at Wesley.

"Oh my God! Wesley! What happened? Are you alright?"

"Nothing to worry about; just a bit of concussion."

Wesley swayed as the other two moved aside slightly.

"Concussion?! Have you been taking Giles lessons?"

"Now see here..." Giles began.

"You could have been killed! Don't ever scare me like that again!"

With that, Cordelia threw herself into Wesley's arms. Unfortunately, he was not steady enough on his feet to withstand a flying tackle and both fell to the floor. If their kisses were any indication, neither minded a bit.

"If I'd known that would work, I would have hit Wes over the head weeks ago" was Angel's only comment.

*****

When Giles got to his bedroom, Buffy was waiting up.

"It's late, luv. You should be sleeping" he admonished gently.

"I just couldn't. I need to know my Mom's gonna have the blood she needs first. Are Angel and Wes back yet?"

"Yes. In fact, I ended up helping them protect the shipment. It's all there, except for the bag Spike sneaked out. Wes got banged on the head. Mild concussion. He should be fine in a day or two. The one I'm worried about is Crystal. She and I were just leaving when the vampires showed up, and she saw the whole thing. Xander staked one that was coming for her. She's a bit shaken up, as you might imagine."

Buffy nodded.

"It's pretty freaksome the first time you see one. Maybe I could talk to her. It might help."

"I'm not certain she wants to talk to anyone tonight."

"Rupert, what did you do the first time you saw a vamp?"

"Panicked a bit, then staked it. Of course, I'd been trained to do that since I was ten years old."

"Crystal didn't believe these things were real this morning. Maybe she wants to talk, maybe she doesn't, but I think she needs to. And, no offense, but I think she'd rather talk to a mom than you. I guess I'm the closest thing we've got on tap tonight."

*****

"You blundering idiots! You stupid mother fuckers! How could you screw it up?"

Parker slammed the vampire's face into the factory wall. He wrenched the demon's face back to his own.

"All I fucking wanted was some food for us until the plan goes into action. Now you tell me that some goodie two shoes types dusted nine of my toughest minions and you ran for your miserable unlife. Now we all starve until the next shipment, and it's all your fault."

He snapped the minion's spine and dropped him to the floor. The vampire remained there, moaning in agony.

"Nobody feeds him, nobody helps him. You all got that? Good."

Parker grabbed Harmony by the arm and dragged her away before she could make a fatuous comment.

*****

Giles ushered Crystal into the bedroom. Buffy patted the space next to her in bed to indicate that the girl should come sit with her as Giles slipped quietly out into the hall.

"You okay?"

Crystal nodded a bit shakily.

"'Cause it wouldn't surprise me if you weren't. I mean, I remember the first time I met up with a real, not-so-live vamp, it was kinda scary. And I had special powers and stuff. You're just...you. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I don't have any problem with that or anything, so it's not an insult...and I'm no good at this, am I?"

Crystal shrugged noncommittally.

"Who's good at something like this?"

"Good question. I guess I just thought it might come more naturally now. Maybe the Mom gene is a second trimester thing."

The girls laughed slightly and ran their hands over their bellies.

"If it is, I think mine is running a little late" Crystal observed. "I don't seem to be getting anything right."

"So are you really okay? Rupert said you refused to let a doctor examine you."

"And do what? Put me in a straightjacket when I tell him what happened? They'd never believe the truth."

"That's why everyone in this house is so good at lying to the authorities. Except Rupert; he's a terrible liar. You can trust him, you know. He's not like my Dad. Same with Xander and Wes and Angel. Not all guys are bad."

"I guess not. Look, Buffy, I told Rupert today that we need to find Hank. I want a divorce. You were right all along. Then I guess you'll want me gone."

"Why would I want that? Crystal, we want you to stay. That's my little sib in there and I want to get to know him or her when the time comes. Anyway, you keep saying you have nowhere else to go, so you might as well stay."

"Good. 'Cause that's what I was planning to do."

*****

"A word with you, Spike."

Giles stood in the basement doorway. Despite the fact that his hands were in his pockets, he managed to look threatening. Spike straightened and adjusted his baggy jeans.

"Which one, mate? I'm sure you know lots and lots of them, so you don't need any of mine."

Giles pocketed his glasses and pulled his out handkerchief. He began to wipe his hands as he spoke quietly.

"We get your blood from Willy, or we get it from the butcher, Spike. Preferably the butcher. One never knows where Willy gets his supplies. We do not take blood bags from hospital shipments we are guarding. If you ever do that again..."

"Yeah, yeah, long painful death at the hands of a pissed-off Watcher. I know the bloody drill by now."

"Good. So we understand one another."

Spike glared at the live Englishman.

"Yeah. We bloody understand one another."

Giles smiled slightly as he replaced his handkerchief and glasses.

"Then I'll wish you a goodnight."

He turned to leave.

"Night Rups. Have a nice wank."

Giles stopped and turned. Despite his menacing look, Spike began to laugh.

"You think nobody knows, don't you. I know you haven't had any since you got here. How long can you hold out, eh? Houseful of pretty girls all warm and willing. When you gonna offer one of them a nice tumble?"

"If you value your continued existence, I suggest you be quiet."

"Slayer's not doing anything to reduce the frustration, is she? Not that I can blame her. I mean, look at you, mate! You're as bad as her dad. Trying to have a last fling with your long-lost youth, and neither one of you thinks of what you're doing to those poor kiddies - and I don't mean the ones those girls are having."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't I? Slayer likes her men dark, Rups, not all safe and tweedy. That's why soldier boy didn't last. Mark my words, once she squirts out the brat, you'll find yourself lonely every night. Even lonelier than you are now. Which one will comfort you then? Red? Demon Girl? Face it; they won't keep you warm either. They're all just kids and you're a dirty, frustrated old man. Sure Buffy says she loves you now, but how long will that last when you get a few more gray hairs and start putting your teeth in a glass at bedtime?"

"And I suppose you plan to be waiting in the wings when I'm too old and decrepit to please my wife?"

"Dunno if it'll do me any good, either, but yeah. I'll be waiting. So will Angel."

Spike swallowed as Giles removed his glasses again.


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