All We've Lost: Where the Past, Present, and Future Meet
by Rayne
I decided to stray from the first person Buffy narrative. The beginning chapters were put in that perspective for a reason, but now there are going to be numerous other characters added to the mix. This story has certainly taken off in a direction I hadn’t originally intended, but all of the encouraging feedback has driven me to continue on. Please continue to REVIEW, it gives me great encouragement to continue on!!!!

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An eerie aura of despair seemed to settle over Los Angeles as Willow looked out the window of the private jet they rented to transport the slayers in Rome to the U.S. After quite a bit of game plan talk through intercontinental telephone lines Buffy figured it would be easiest to get everyone together in one location. Apparently, when Buffy said everyone, she meant everyone and since there are currently more Slayers in the United States than anywhere else in the world, it was decided it would be easiest to bring those in Rome here than vice versa.

Scattered chatter throughout the interior cabin allowed Willow a bit of insight into the moods of the Slayers. Most seemed on edge, conversing rather nervously, mostly in an attempt to do anything but think about the current situation in which they have found themselves. Other’s in the group, namely Xander to her right and Kennedy to her left, are sleeping rather peacefully, while others are reading books, listing to music, and generally just relaxing on the long flight; most of these were present during the fight in Sunnydale.

A wave of turbulence hit the plane and a brief announcement requesting that all passengers put their tray tables in their ‘upright and locked’ positions and fasten their seatbelts marked their decent into LAX. Everything within Willow told her that this was going to be a very long night.

Buffy and Angel waited in the ‘new arrivals’ section of LAX. After the conversation with Willow, Buffy and Angel had sprung into action, sending out notification (via cell phone) to the US based Slayers and renting a location large enough for nearly 700 people. They were all well aware that there were other potentials in the world unaware of their gifts but still just as much targets because of them, but there was no way to get to them now. It had taken a lot of years and a lot of losses to come to terms with the fact she couldn’t save everyone. ‘Shades of gray’ she had started to tell herself, ‘sacrifice is necessary if it serves the greater good.’

The airport was relatively quite, only about 10-15 people were currently awaiting the arrival of their loved ones, impatiently pacing back and forth a gate away. A large shuffling of feet coming down the terminal gate signaled Buffy and Angel that the group had arrived, and from what it sounded like, a rather large group it is. Willow, Xander, and Giles headed up the procession as they neared the receiving area and the moment they stepped foot in the actual airport, Buffy, Willow, and Xander were embracing. They had discovered not too long ago that the apocalypse is never picky on when it chooses to rear its ugly head so they make sure to show each other that they care at every chance possible.

Turning to Giles, Buffy gives him a large hug and upon pulling back gives a look around at the group. “Where’s Dawn?” she questions, standing on tip toe to take in heads of about 200 women.

“She decided to stay in Rome.” Giles replies, stealing a glance over her shoulder at Angel who is currently busy conversing with Willow. “David became concerned when we advised him that the entire facility was heading to America. He had wanted to come along with so Dawn decided it would be in everyone’s best interest if she stay behind to soothe his nerves and allow us time to deal with our current situation prior to you handling your, ahem, personal ones.” The last statement is said as his eyes once again level on Angel.

Buffy knew that Giles would never again feel comfortable about Angel. Many years ago, Angelus, Angel’s demon side, had murdered Jenny Calendar. Giles had never forgiven Angel for it, although he was well aware that it wasn’t Angel himself that had been in charge of his body, and Giles had never truly moved on. Angelus had been the cause of many peoples despair during that time and in a way, many of them had blamed Buffy herself for their pain. Some of them probably still do in a small way. Deciding that this was not the time to get into Angel’s new found humanity, Buffy threw a quick “follow me” over her shoulder toward the group and led them through the baggage claim and out to the row of buses that they had rented for toting everyone.

The artificial caterpillar of buses effectively made its way across Los Angeles and to the outskirts of town and the large warehouse that had been rented for this occasion. Barely anyone spoke and those that did only spoke in hushed tones to the two or three people near them. Buffy and the Scooby’s sat near the front of the bus, quietly discussing the current situation; formalities were left behind in these situations and catching up would take place later, once they had solved the problem and ensured that more people would survive to live another day. That’s what their lives had become now; fight now, talk later. Somehow leaving the personal things for later made it less likely that they wouldn’t survive to see tomorrow. No one even seemed to notice that they had pulled up in front of the warehouse.

What seemed like and endless row of cars was already parked in the lot, signaling the already present Slayer population within its walls. An army of lethal females quickly filed off of the buses and made their way indoors. The original five remained outside, taking a moment to prepare themselves for the long night ahead. Almost every one of the slayers inside that warehouse had been attacked tonight and lived to tell about it; a step above and beyond what Buffy herself had almost brought to the table. Had Angel not been there, well, things probably wouldn’t have turned out quite so rosy.

“What I don’t understand,” says Xander, breaking the silence that had settled over the group “is how these demons knew where all of these slayers were going to be. I mean, what, had they been tracking them or something? Buffy was all the way in L.A. here and they still managed to find her.”

Taking off his glasses, Giles begins rubbing them between the cleansing cloth in his ever-so-famous manner. “I really don’t know Xander. Perhaps we have a traitor, so to speak, within our midst.” Placing the glasses back in their rightful spot, he looks the group once over, his gaze ending on Buffy. “What I do know is that we lost far too many innocent girls tonight. Many had never even seen the battlefield but lost their lives regardless. We must find a way to end this hunt.”

Willow’s head perks up at the idea of formulating a plan. “I’ve actually been thinking a lot about that. 8 hour plane ride and all, and I think I may have an idea for a spell. It still has a lot of kinks in it and could end up killing everyone if I don’t work it out right, but it’s something I’m working on.” She looks up sheepishly at the group, the self confident and powerful witch suddenly reverted back to 17 year old introverted Willow, “I’ll let you know if I figure out something that will work.”

“What I do know,” Buffy interjects, drawing the attention back to herself for a moment, “is that we currently have a missing Slayer, about 500 nervous semi-Slayers, and the five best problem solvers and fighters the world has ever seen.” She squares her shoulders and grabs onto Angel’s arm for reassurance. “We’ve fought gods, closed Hellmouths, slain an uncountable number of vampires, and managed to graduate High School. We can figure this out. We always do.”

For the first time since everyone had arrived at the warehouse, Angel attempted to draw their attention. He hadn’t wanted to butt in; this was their show and he was just along for the ride now. Truth be told though, this was his city and he had far more connections in it than that did. “I can call in the cavalry,” he said, “I still have quite a few friends that helped me fight against Wolfram and Hart. Lorne is still around here somewhere, so are Gunn and his group. Plus,” he pauses a moment, looking to the group for their okay to continue; one glance at their awaiting eyes and he presses on, his gaze stopping on Buffy awaiting her response, “Spike’s still in L.A.”


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