Fic: "Who...?" Part XXXIII...

[reg...@aol.com]

"Who?"

Disclaimer: Not mine but thine...O, Joss!

Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse,
http://www.geocities.com/buffyrebecca/Cicelypg.html or direct to story
at http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/who.html...

General audience level...

Summary: Events after the great Sunnydale battle have left Buffy
seeking her past and present...With help from an Immortal source.

Part XXXIII...

***

Rome...

Apartment of Dawn, “Buffy”, and their temporary roomie...

Currently engaged in the last scene of the performance of a
lifetime...

Though having been ably supported by a costar who, despite a lack of
cues or joint rehearsal time, was handling the scene with equal
aplomb...

Of course, Andrew reflected, for the fifth time reminding his
accompanying Slayers in Training Angela and Seth of the importance of
saying nothing to the departing, sorrowful William...Angel probably
didn’t know much more than Will about the real sit...Though surely
Giles had warned him in some way, at the very least, that there should
be no personal contact with “Buffy” and no attempt on the Immortal..

The girls were frowning at him, he noticed,,,Their powerful Buffy
passed memories of poor Will pressing,,,He tugged at his tuxedo
collar...

“It’s terrible...” Angela hissed,,,, “Why couldn’t we tell him?...”

“Those are our orders from the ChairmanAnd Mrs. WSecurity” Andrew
replied “And if she’s ok with it, we should be”

“Ok with it?...If she knew, she’d never let him leave that wayThe
look on his face” Seth sighed mournfullyShaking her blonde tresses
“Andrew, we’re killing him all over again”

“Yeah” Angela glared “If she were here, Cicely wouldn’t hesitate”

“There are good reasons, ladies” Andy shook his head “His life and
hers and many others depend on keeping the secret” He eyed the
girls

“Please” he said, simply “You know I’m on her sideTheir sideBut I
swear it’s not the right timeAnd he would be in danger as much as
sheProbably more so”

Angela eyed Seth, Seth shrugged “Ok”

“But I want to be there in LA when things get hairy” Angela noted

“Likewise” Seth nodded, firmlyThen smiled at the wry nod from
AndrewMe, tooI hopeHe noted

“So, we’re supposed to be hitting the town, right?...” she asked
“With our own Jamie Bond?...” she patted his arm fondly, then put hers
through his

“Lets paint this Eternal City” Angela, grinning, taking the other
arm

It’s a tough job, butAndrew thoughtLetting himself be wafted off to
the waiting limo

“Andrew?...” Seth nudged him “Shouldn’t you at least be making a call
first?...”

Hmmn?

“Mrs. Walthrop might like to hear about her husband’s trip to
Italy?...” she suggested

Oh, right

Angela, arch smile to SethOur beloved Watcher is not quite as
impervious to our charms as seemed

Always knew he had it in him

***

“Well?...” Dawn looked at the cell phone in her hand

“Xander?...”

Faint, long sigh from phone

“You think it’s a bad idea?...” she asked

“I thought Buffy being a Slayer was a bad idea, to be frank” the
reply came “This one, is just the latest in a long line”

“My dad’s alive, XanderAre you saying you still think we can’t trust
him?...”

“Not your dad” slight choaking catch on the “dad” “I don’t trust”

“Mom only wants to find himOr do you mean someone else?...That guy,
her Watcher?...”

“Dawn” another sigh

“Should I go?...She’d be pissed but if you think?”

“No...” firmly “You stay in Italy... Damnit, why didn’t Giles tell
me, before I left?”

“Don’t think he knew till Andy came backAt least that’s what he
says”

“If I find out he deliberately let her find outTo get her to LA to
fight those bastards”

Dawn, gulping a bitWhat?...

“Xander?...You think Giles?...Why would he do that?...”

“Dawn, I don’t know anymoreI don’t know either of them anymoreWillow
is with her?...”

“YeahAnd a Council teamXander, she’d have gone to LA if Giles asked
her to fightShe wanted to before, to find Dru and Angel and wellHe
wouldn’t have had to trick her into going”

“I supposeBut why did the Partners keep William alive?...There’s
something going on here, DawnSomething I don’t like”

“My dad’s not working for the Partners, XanderAndrew said he was
keeping a little clear of Angel” tight grip on phone

“I’m sure he’s not, DawnDawn, I’m sorry about what I said about…I
wasn’t thinking…” pause… “As An would say, you know me…Anyway, I’m
sure he’s still up and kicking…”

“He was here” her voice trembling “Just five days ago, he was
hereWorried about her and Andy had to send him and Angel packingTold
them she was with the Immortal nowAll for this stupid plan of Giles’
and Angel’sMom was ready to teleport to his plane or him from it, but
Willow wouldn’t risk itXander, this little game here has my dad
thinking Mom’s with another guyAgainAnd if I’d just been”

“What did BuffyCicely” he corrected “Say?...”

“At first?...I never knew she knew words like thatAt least a properly
bred English dameYou could feel poor Andy dissolving without hearing
a word on his end But finally she accepted he’d done the right
thingHe reminded her Dad and Angel were probably monitored every
second in Rome in case they made contact with herEven a rescue
teleport might have been blockedAnd she knew it might happen,
probably would with a high profile “Buffy” in Rome...Still, she’s more
committed to the plan than ever nowMoved up the LA trip and left this
morning”

PlanHe thought, frowning at his phoneGlancing round his sparse
office at Nairobi’s Hall of AntiquariansGranted him with all due
ceremony on his arrival, left to his use as he pleased, whenever he
should wish to come by and assist in Slayer training as his other work
allowed

Months and monthsGiles had this damned scheme going on behind the
scenesSacrificing both that poor Winifred and Angel’s rep and that
cyborgs team

And maybe a lot more

“And Giles had no problem with that?...”

“I guess…” Dawn, hesitant… “Xander?...”

That bastardThat scheming bastardHe promised me he’d be up front
with themAnd he’s not played straight with her or any of us since

ever

“Xander?”

“Dawnie, promise me you’ll sit tight?...Wait till I get there, at
least?...”

“You’re coming?” brightening tone

“YeahBut only if you promise to be thereMeet me at Rome Airport?...”

“I will” Dawn breathed, not fully realizing the tone in her voice

He hesitated

My GodCicely does know her daughter

An...C’mon...You know I’m not taking it seriously...But a one-eyed
lonely guy can use a little adoration now and then...he smiled a brief
second then frowned at the phone, a somewhat worn 60's style corded...

“And, DawnI think it would be best to keep my coming from Andy for
nowPlease?...”

“Really?...If you’re sure?” worry now the dominant tone

“It’s not that I don’t trust Andy”

“So…Xander, you’re not fooling me?...You’re not going on to LA?”

“Dawn…?”

“Sorry…” sigh… “After everything that’s been going on, do you blame
me?...So, we’re going to England?...”

Emphasis on that “we” he noted...Watch it, buster...As An would say...

“You and I are going on to England…Right now I think we need to speak
to Chairman Giles close up and personal”

***

Office of the Chairman of the Royal Council of Antiquarians and
Library Scientists, London...

Magda at her desk frowning at the decibel level coming from the inner
office...

Getting dangerously close to a need for a bit of stick, she thought…
Eyeing said stick beside her desk…

“You knew William was in LA as soon as Angel didYou wanted him there
so Cicely would go if you needed her to” Xander glared at a sedate
Giles, seated behind his desk, staring back quite calmly “It’s why
you asked Angel to do this in the first place, you thought then Buffy
would go for his sakeYou’re not protecting her, you never have
beenYou’ve been holding her in reverse in case things got hairy”

“Reserve...” Dawn hissed...

“Right, reserve...And you were...” Xander, visibly upset...

“I wouldn’t have stopped William from coming to her once he
corporealized” Giles shook his head

“You.” Dawn, clenching fists “You put my dad in this againYou put
my mother at riskYou liar, you murdererI don’t care what Willow’s
spell says, you’re the oneThe one who”

“No, Dawn” Giles said quietly “I may be as ruthless as Xander is
implying but I’m not Dr. FarrisFor your mother’s sake you mustn’t let
yourself be fooled that way”

“Goddamn you, why should I listen to you at all?...Mother was right to
warn me not to trust you” she fumed “Xander?...” she turned to him
“Lets get outta hereWe have a plane to catch for LA”

“Why, Giles?” Xander eyed him

“Because, Mr. Harris” Roger’s voice, in grimly sarcastic tone, he
eyeing Giles “No single life, or lives, is worth the survival of our
beloved Humanity”

Giles sighed

“Xander, the defeat of the First came at a colossal priceOur Slayers
are the last of the lineThere will be no more Slayers after
themWe’ve established that and it cannot be reversed”

“Good” Dawn said, firmly

“Not necessarily...” Giles eyed her... “If we don’t drive the worst of
DemonityThe Partners and all their crewFrom Earth now, while we have
the strength and seal all the demonic portals to EarthWe never
willAnd we can’t hold them in the ancient stalemate without
SlayersThey will overrun EarthAnd reduce Humanity to feed stock and
slaves”

“Cicely was aware of thatWhy didn’t you just ask her?...You know
she’d do itEspecially to save Will”

“To save WilliamExactly” Giles said, carefully “And once she finds
and saves himWhat then?”

“You didn’t think she’d lead the Slayers against the PartnersKnowing
what Cicely thinks of the Council” Dawn said “You thought she’d do,
just what she’s doingGo for Dad and get him outSo you deliberately
set it up that wayOnly you waited until Angel was ready to move so
she’d have to fight it out with them”

“And defeat themAs she will” he noted

“You’ve never given a damn about my motherAs Buffy Summers or Cicely
Walthrop” Dawn continued

“If that were true” Roger cut in “He’d have killed her the day
Cicely re emerged, Ms. SummersBe fair to himHe’ll only kill her if
all other options are exhausted”

Giles, turning, looked at his colleague a long momentRoger staring
back, imperturbable

“You’re dealing with a Rathskellar, not a Farris, Dawn” Roger
concluded “Whether that’s worse on a moral scaleTo sanction such
acts while fully aware of the immorality of themAs opposed to Farris’
blinding desire and ambitionIs your choiceNot that I, a man who has
sacrificed his only son to the same cause, have any claim to judgment
here”

“Whatever the two of youOr Buffy for that matterNow believe” Giles
said quietly “I have loved Buffy Summers as a daughter and would
willingly die for her or to protect herI honestly believe that she
will never have the peace she deservesAs Buffy Summers or Cicely
Walthrop unless and until the final battle is won and Demonity is
driven from this planet”

“And what about the victims?...” Xander spoke up “You’ve lied to us
about that as wellYou told Buffy nothing could be done for them, for
the innocents who were taken as vampsBut that’s not true and never
was”

“A Slayer who spends her life trying to help the Undead will end up,
inevitably, one of them, Xander”

“A Slayer can’t help themBut you could’ve” Dawn noted “You knew
about the curse, you probably knew about the African demon protecting
the soul wellAnd that spell Angel’s company used to bring back
Darla’s soulThese people could be saved”

“One or two, perhaps a few moreAt enormous costAnd to what end?...To
be reborn with knowledge of the acts of their demon?...Dragged from
Heaven or Limbo back to a world where everyone who they ever loved or
loved them is dead and gone, often centuries ago, trapped
immortality?...Do you think Drusilla’s soul would appreciate returning
in that foul body?...”

“Angel and my father have dealtPretty well, I might add” Dawn shook
her head “And you didn’t mind creating a small army of cyborgs with
human soulsOr was that only cause you couldn’t control them without
souls?...”

“Dawn, there have been thousands of Slayers killed over the years and
thousands of Watchers, many of whom died with or trying to help their
SlayersShould we ignore their sacrifices to allow your mother and
father a few years on Earth?...Should we throw away a chance to bring
Humanity freedom from a terrible menace, a menace that at best would
destroy us all, and at best cripples and enslaves us?”

“You never gave my mother a choiceNever”

“None of us has a choice, Dawn” Giles shook his head “None of
usExcept which side we chooseThe sidelines are not an option”

“She never chose the sidelinesBut she wanted the freedom to fight on
her own”

“And we can’t allow her that freedom, sorry” Giles said, quietly
“Any more than I can allow my best friend to save the son he loves
from terrible danger and almost certain death”

“You gave Angel a choice” she insisted “He could’ve said no”

“I knew he wouldn’tNot with Connor’s happiness and sanity on the
lineYour parents are free to kill me or destroy this organization, if
they so choose after the battle’s won, DawnI couldn’t stop them if I
wanted toBut the battle will have to be fought and won first, by them
and by us”

“Lets go, Xander” Dawn said, abruptly “We’ve things to do in LA”

She paused, without looking at Giles “If my parents are gone,
GilesI’ll kill you myself”

“I understand” he said “Goodbye, Ms. SummersTake care of her,
Xander”

Xander eyed him briefly and turned to follow Dawn

“Well done, Mr. Chairman” Roger said, staring at him

***

LAOne week later

“Ah” Buffy sighed, brushing brunette hair back and smoothing her red
blouseConservative but not overly so

Anyway at least no giant hat, Willow thought with relief

Buffy, frowning at the length of her skirtShrugging at Willow’s look
“You know I’ll never be comfortable in these lewd thingsI thought you
said that this would be a modest outfit”

I knowI knowShe waved at Willow’s sigh “For this benighted eraHalf
naked is modestAnyway, what a pleasure to finally be nearly back to
my own color” Buffy notedEyeing herself in a pocket mirror “Even if
it’s meant as a deceptionFrankly, the blonde never suited meBut,
even with the eyeglasses, you really think it’s difficult to recognize
meBuffy, I mean?...”

“Trust me” Willow noddedEyeing the small brunette in blouse and
skirt with eyeglasses perched on nose before her seated across the
café tableThe most conservative of conservative businesswomenOne
might even consider her as on the verge of librarian chic

Willow couldn’t help desperately suppressing a smile

My pal Buffy striving to lookWell, like meWithout even some kind of
spell or mind control

“Not even William will recognize you”

Buffy smiled wanlyShaking head No, Willow

“William will recognize meI know he will” slight nervous turn away

“Just rather wishIt would be me he’ll recognize” she said, quietly

“Maybe he already has” Willow patted her gently “Maybe he always
did”

“I live in hope of that” Buffy eyed herSlight smile “Not because
women were fools in my day, you knowBut because”

“Because you loved him and you can’t and won’t let him goEven to your
own other selfCicely” Willow sighed “I know the feeling sweetie,
believe me”

“And, I’m sorry” she eyed her

Buffy noddingYes

“Well, lets go discover AmericaThank God at least I can make use of
proper pronunciation in this guise”

“Totally” Willow slipped on sunglassesEyeing herself in the
mirrorWhoaA blonde, tanned Willow in bikini top and shortsBuffy
frowning at her

“Ok?...” Willow eyed her

“Oh, yes” dryly “You look quite the frivolous French prostitute”

“Just the effect I’m aimin’ forThanks” grin “Though now we would
say ‘blonde airhead’”

“Somehow it just doesn’t suit you” Buffy frowned “No” she put up a
hand to Willow’s anxious look “I don’t mean it’s not a fine
disguise, it isIt just isn’t you”

“Thanks” Willow gave her a warm smile and a pat “Really, I mean
thatAnd it is something Buffy would have said”

Buffy smiling back “Then I’m glad I did” Frown at mirror in
hand“Rather wish I’d not listened on cutting my hairMiss Summers’
old style was short enoughI had such lovely tresses, once,
WillowWhat’s William going to say when he sees I’ve gone and cut them
off?”

“He’s gotten used to the shorter hair, I think, Cicely”

“Not on me, though” she shook her head, closing compact

“I think getting his wife and daughter back will compensate” Willow
smiled “And we could always find you a decent wig”

“First order of business after the mission is accomplished” Buffy
noted “And now” she rose from her seat in the café she and Willow
had been sitting, sipping coffee and tea, while observing the colossal
structure of the Wolfram Hart Tower across the street

“We goAnd” she stared across the streetHands tense and clenching

“No chargin’ in, Cicely” Willow hastily insisted “He could be in
there but he might notThey’re too well shielded for me to risk a
probeAnd either way he’sCicely?...”

She eyed Buffy as the Slayer bent over and suddenly...Released the
contents of lunch

“Sorry” a wan faced Buffy sat back down

“You ok?...” Willow looked round, carefully noting the cautious looks
of support from several agents seated round or on the streetTwo
cyborgs in glam, three human WatchersThe twenty five home based LA
Slayers kept well back to limit the need for aural dampeningOne
Slayer and one wiccan, ok with the skilled masking the Council had
providedA horde of Slayers, sticking out like a sore invisible thumb
to Wolfram Hart’s occult securityAnd WH likely kept careful track of
a number they’d detected since activation...

“Nerves” Buffy replied “Just a touch of nerves” She looked at
Willow “He actually could be in there”

“After 120 plus years, I think I get it” Willow smiled “After all,
you guys didn’t even have a proper honeymoon”

“Oh, noNot Will” Buffy shook her head “He’s not in there, not right
nowOccult shielding or no I’d sense himI mean that egotistical
jackass risking my husband’s life and the lives of his dearest friends
on this insane crusadeAnd for the Council, no less”

Willow stared “But the Council asked AngelHe did it for ConnorYou
heard Giles’ report”

“He couldn’t wait to accept, I’ve no doubtWell, lets not waste
timeWe’re readyLets go and beard the lion’s den and shake some
answers out of my soulful ex loverOr his people”

“Buffy”

“No chargin’I got that” Buffy waved a hand “But you already said
they give public tours of the buildingAnd we’ve as much right to see
the place as any other good citizenComeI’m sure Mr. Angel is the
sort of friendly manager who’ll spare a little time for visiting
tourists with questions” They rose and crossed, cautiously…

At the door, employees, clients of various fry, tourists, streaming
out…A guard stopped them..

“We’re closing early, ladies…” she insisted, firmly… “Try tomorrow…”

“But…” Buffy put on an innocent, wide-eyed look that Willow blinked
at…

“…We have an appointment with Mr. Angel, himself…”

“Mr. Angel has left the building, ma’am…Try calling his secretary to
reschedule…”

“Is something wrong?...Has the gas…er electricity…” Buffy corrected…
“Gone amiss?...”

“I’ve no information on that, ma’am…” the blonde guard shook her head
firmly…

WhoaWillow gasped

“Willow?...I didn’t know you’d had experience with horses” Buffy
stared at her

“What?...No” Willow shook head “I mean, look”

“Look where?...”

“The blonde just out the front door with the umbrella makin’ for that
cabNot even waiting to be picked up at the doorHarmony’s gotta be up
to something”

“Is that?”

“Angel’s secretary, Wolfram Hart’s spy, killer vampire, our ex
classmateYeah” Willow hurriedly replied “If we could get her”

“Buffy?...” she stared as Buffy raced across the streetArriving too
late as the cab sped away

“Damnation!...” Buffy criedStamping foot on the ground hard enough
that several bystanders looked round in confusion

The Big One for LA, now?...

“Mind that language and get in” Willow called from the cab she’d just
hired

“My apologiesQuick thinking, girl”

“Step on it, the other cab with the blonde just outta Wolfram
Hart...!” Willow called to the driver

“There’s an extra fiver in it for you, sir!” Buffy chimed in

“She means fiftyGo!” Willow corrected to the cabbie’s frowning look
“It’s her husband’s mistressWe need photos”

“Fifty?” Buffy gasped, fumingAs the cab raced off

“Mistress?!!...” she looked at Willow

“Just a plausible excuse” Willow whispered, innocentlyKeeping her
eyes away from Buffy’s suspicious look

“She means one hundredHurry along there, sir!!!” Buffy called to the
cabbie

***

“Hello, Harmony”

“Jesus” Harmony backed awayLooking desperately for the nearest exit

Now there’s the last person I ever expected to be taken for, Willow
thought

God, what a dayLose your job to a forthcoming demonic invasion,
betray your bossNot necessarily in that orderAnd now, in the haven
of my own building

Cornered by my nemesesNemesis?...

Whatever happened to an American vampire’s posh apartment home being
her crypt?

“BufBufHi, WillowBuf” Harmony, still backing

“This one?...” Buffy eyed Willow

“Yep” Willow nodded

“I like the blonde, Willow” Harmony triedKeeping her terror sticken
eyes off the famed Slayer and former classmate

“Thanks” Willow looked her over

She looks rather prosperous these daysBut then, Angel’s secretaryOne
of the US’ leading CEOs

“Where is my husband, trollopire?...” Buffy, curtlyPulling stake

“AndAndThe brunette is youBufBuf” Harmony, gasping at the last as
Buffy stepped quietly toward her, stake in hand

“Say?...Is that a new stake?...”

“Where is my husband?...” Buffy repeated

Harmony now hearing the question clearly for the first time, Willow
realizedLooking at Willow with shock

“Are they married?...When?...”

AhhhShe gasped as Buffy threw her against a wall, keeping her arm
clamped in a vise grip, stake against her desperately upturned throat

“Cannnnttt”

“Better let her talk, Buffy” Willow urged

Buffy pulled the stake back just a hair

“Believe it” Harmony finished with a gulp of air “You and Angel are
married?...”

“Nina’s gonna be pissed” she managed a very careful shake of head,
trying to avoid the still threatening stake pointBuffy throwing
Willow a puzzled glance...Nina?...

Later...Willow’s look back...

Right...

“Harmony” Willow said carefully “Your lifeOr whateverDepends on
thisWhere are William and Angel?...Do you know?...Or don’t you?...”

“Ummn”

“I’ll bounce you off that ceiling and onto this stake point” Buffy
said, icy calm tone “Now answer my friend”

“I think they’re out there” Harmony waved “If they’re still
aroundDoing whatever before fighting the Black Thorns”

“Take us ‘there’Now” Buffy pulled her from the wall

“Sure, sureBut I think they didn’t all go to the same place to bare
their souls before death in a hopeless fightUmmnSayIs that a
British accent?...You know, I know about accents cause I work for one
of the world’s leading”

“I mean tres elegant, the accent thing and all, BuffyIt’s really
pretty goodBut you might wanna try FrenchThat’s the one that
really” Oh!...

“Duly noted” Buffy pulled her arm up behind her back, turning her
slightly to conceal from any stray passersby “You should know I’ve
had a mild case of reincarnation and don’t really remember youUmmn?”

“Harmony” Willow supplied

“RightSo while I doubt I would have much trouble killing you in any
case, it’ll be quite easy for me to destroy you now”

“Reincarnation?...Is that like, past lives and all?...” eager tone

Well, that explains the granny glassesShe thought

Though of courseBuffy SummersAlways knew she’d degenerate to geek
adult after her brief period of high school mid level coolness

“YesIt’s like that” Dryly “Now...MoveOr dust” Buffy forced her
alongThey moved down past the elevator area and stairwell of
Harmony’s floor “You have a place here”

“Oh, yeah” Harmony, rather pleased at the notion of humiliating two
ole classmates with her success in the world “Just two doors
downHere, lemme get my keyYou’ll love it”

“Willow?...” Buffy glanced at herWillow concentrating
“Empty and no sign of an occult security systemThat I can read”
Willow nodded
“I wouldn’t try to” Harmony began

“In then” Buffy pulled then threw her inside, hurrying after, Willow
following

***