Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

"Buffy?"

Willow's voice was soft but at the same time, full of panic. Full of worry for me, I guessed. She had every right to be. If Willow, or anyone else for that matter, could hear what was going on inside of my head right now... they'd have me committed to an asylum for sure.

"Buffy, what was that all about?"

Giles asked; this time I couldn't ignore the question. Ignoring Giles was never something I'd been good at. I smiled a bit of a grin and headed for the door, looking between the two of them, noticing the worry imprinted on their faces.

"Slayer duties call. I'll be going to Washington in the morning, probably be back in a couple of days. An army of newborn vampires are on the loose and the resident vampires up there are afraid they're going to get killed off."

"Vampires, calling the Vampire Slayer? Talk about desperate."

Willow commented and I couldn't help but laugh. Will was absolutely right. This must be some very serious business or, would seven vampires with 'gifts' really be calling upon the Slayer? The three of us left the office and walked out, of course to inquisitive eyes. Xander, Cordelia, Oz, Jenny... they all looked like they were deer caught in the headlights.

"Slayer duties?"

Xander asked and I simply nodded. I knew Xander absolutely detested research and well, to be very honest, he wasn't that great at it either. But that was Xander's role in this group, along with the rest of the gang. They study, I train to get stronger. Grabbing a book, Xander sat down and started to read... About what, I didn't know. I hadn't informed him what to read about.

"Xander, you don't have to do any research. I'm going away for this mission."

I said firmly and the dark haired male cheered, sliding the book away from him on the table. I'm sure in his mind he was saying something to the effect of, "break my heart." Cordelia chimed in, a rather big grin upon her face.

"Tell me we're going to Aspen! I hear the ski slopes are just divine this time of the year! Wouldn't you want to go do something like that lo-- Xander?"

Was it just me or was Cordelia about to call Xander, love or lover? Odd. Either way, before the Xand-man could answer her, I answered instead, rather snappily in fact. More so than I intended.

"Did I say we're going away on a mission? I said I'm going away for this mission. This is way too dangerous to get all of you involved in. If you guys feel like you absolutely must help me, then just study and call me if you make a break about newborn vampires. But even that shouldn't be necessary. The man who called me seems very much educated on the situation."

I explained to the lot of them, watching as Willow took her place next to Oz again at the table and Giles stood like a Watcher should and watched over his gathering, next to Jenny of course.

"Why exactly do they need a Slayer for newborn vampires? If they themselves are vampires? I've seen Angel dust quite a few...."

The one who rarely talked, Oz, put in his two cents. I honestly thought the same thing. I had seen Angel dust quite a number of vampires. A vampire killing another vampire, it was odd. But I suppose a vampire dating a vampire Slayer was even odder.

"Because of the number. It's literally an army of newborns. There are seven vampires with gifts up there that will be helping me fight. But they believe without me, that they're going to get eradicated somehow. I'm going up there to save seven good vampires and hey, maybe at the same time, I'll let out some much needed Angel-steam."

It was that statement that made everyone laugh a bit, but also that statement packed my bags for me. If it meant getting and keeping me away from Angel....Angelus... then I suppose they viewed it as a good thing. A great thing perhaps.

"Knowing Angelus, knowing that I'm his obsession, he might follow me. But I think, I'll be safe up there with the other vampires. They seem to want to protect humans as well...and let's face it,"

I made a bit of a funny face,

"I'm human. You guys, you'll have to stay on your toes for Spike and Drusilla. Never know, if Angelus leaves... they'll have their own agenda, they won't be following his."

I informed my group and they seemed very understanding, didn't have a whole lot of questions. I suppose, while I wasn't here this afternoon, they'd went over the 'if you see Angelus, kill him' introductory. Wow, I can't believe I missed that class.

Heading home from the library, I had company as per usual. Xander and Willow, somehow managing to leave behind Oz and Cordelia...even Giles hadn't accompanied; followed me home and helped pack me up for the trip. I took a weeks worth of everything, just in case it took that long. Anything longer than that and, well, I hoped the vampires would have a washing machine, that or perhaps I'd be dead...so I wouldn't have to worry about time or dirty clothes anymore.

"You wonder if they'll be any different from Sunnydale vamps,"

Will said quietly as we packed my last bag. I laughed a bit, shaking my head. I had learned a long time ago that, from Angel no less,

"No vampires are different. Angel may have had a soul, but he's the only one. This vampire and his family... I don't think they have souls. But I think they've been around for generations, just like Angel has and maybe, just maybe, they've learned how to have consciences. They did say they had gifts though..."

I remembered once again and sat down at the end of my bed, thinking about what he had said about the daughter that could see the future. Said her visions were subjective, could change if the person changed their mind. Could that mean, she could see my decision in coming up there? But she hadn't met me...so maybe she couldn't 'focus in on me', as he had said about the local boy... then again, had she 'personally' met him either?

"Gifts, like what kind of gifts?"

Xander asked and it broke my concentration. I looked over to him with a bit of a laugh, thinking it was a little ridiculous now myself. Vampires didn't have gifts. If vampires had gifts, Angel would have the greatest one of all.....that thought shot me down in flames but I tried to hide it from my friends. I was starting to become an ace at hiding things. Physically and mentally.

"The man said that his daughter could see the future."

The minute I said that, Willow's eyes widened and she smiled really big.

"A clairvoyant! I've always wanted to meet one! Oh...oh...sorry, I let my excitement get to me again,"

Willow started to blush about the color of her hair and I couldn't help but laugh once more. When Will and I first met about a year ago now, well, she was reserved. Sheltered if you will. But I've broken Will out of that mold so to speak. When we first started dusting vampires, well, I did the dusting, she did the researching; Will was afraid of the unknown. Will was afraid of the things that I fought.

Perhaps some of my courage has rubbed off on her? I'm not quite sure. But I know the Willow I met a year ago wouldn't have ever wanted to meet a clairvoyant vampire. Laughing a bit more and smiling at my revelation, I placed my hand on Will's shoulder when she sat down next to me.

"If this all goes to plan, maybe she can come down here and meet you, if her clairvoyance is real. Hell, I'd love to make some powerful vampire friends. That way, maybe they can do me a favor and come down here,"

I wasn't quite finished with my sentence yet but Xander decided to finish it for me... in his own way.

"And kill Angel for you!"

I glared at him... I knew he detested Angel. Especially now that he was Angelus. Xander's hatred for Angel runs deep; jealousy because Xander wanted to date me when I first came to Sunnydale. That was no secret, still Xander tried to keep it from me.

Though he was with Cordelia now, it was more than clear to me that Xander and Willow should be a couple. Though it was also clear to me that Willow and Oz, were meant to be together. But even through all that, to me, it didn't give Xander the right to say that. Angel had been a great friend to me, Angel had been a great lover. Until we took it a step too far.

"Buffy, I'm sorry. He's a doofus sometimes.. We'll go ahead and leave and let you sleep."

Will said and I nodded, giving her a bit of a hug before she got up off of my bed and grabbed Xander's arm. Now, looking at Willow, you wouldn't think she would have the strength to drag Xander against his will... Well, Willow sometimes surprised you like that. Watching her drag Xander out of my bedroom without him even getting the faintest bit of a 'goodbye' out of his mouth, hearing them go down the stairs and out of my front door. I took a sigh in relief.

Laying back upon my bed, I gazed up at the ceiling. For a moment, I glanced over at the necklace that I had decided not to wear now... the cross necklace Angel had given me. I could hear his voice, I could feel his touch. Trying to reason with me, telling me I shouldn't go, that it was too dangerous for his Buffy.

I wondered if a cross would even hurt the vampires up there. What Willow said was kind of sinking in. Were these entirely different vampires? Did vampires come in different breeds? I just wasn't sure. I'm sure a lot of surprises lay in store for me up in Washington.

I could hear myself saying it wasn't dangerous and that if he worried so much... just come with me. I fell asleep dreaming of how we use to be. Before I went and screwed everything up.