Kendra stood ramrod-straight, staring at Giles.
"Your watcher sent you back?"
"Yes, sir. He mentioned the opening of hell itself."
"He wasn't far off, from what I've read. Acathla the demon--capable of destroying this earth and all of its inhabitants by sending us all to hell. And the fact that the museum curator has been killed, combined with the fact that the demon is missing--" Giles took off his glasses to polish them. "It all points to Angelus and his friends."
"I thought that Angel was good."
"He was," said Buffy. "He had a gypsy curse, and a soul.... But there was a little problem, and he lost his soul. So now he's evil."
"You have not killed him yet?"
"I haven't been able to."
"I see."
"It's not like that, Kendra. You have no idea how much I want to kill him. But I can't. He's stronger than me, and a better fighter. He joined Spike and Drusilla, and now his sire's come back to town."
"Darla? I thought that she was dead."
"She was. But some prophecy.... All these vamps that were really powerful, that I've killed in the last year, have come back. I guess Darla did too, even though Angel killed her. And Jesse came back, too, even though Xander killed him."
"Jesse? Who is...."
"A friend of mine," said Xander. "He was sired right after Buffy came to Sunnydale."
"Oh. I am sorry," she said after a long pause.
"It's fine. We'd gotten used to it."
"I see."
"So, yeah, Acathla, Angelus, Darla, Drusilla, and Spike. It's a really great team. But I've got to go patrolling, anyway. Wanna come with? It's going to be fun--another great life and death situation, just like we slayers specialize in."
"That is alright. If it does not matter to you, nor your Watcher, I would like to get settled in."
"Sure. You can stay at my place."
"Buffy, I'm not so sure about this. Your mother still doesn't know about your calling, and--"
"And it's time she found out," Buffy finished quietly. "Come on, Kendra."
The two of them left the library.
"So, that was Kendra," mused Oz. "An uptight girl."
"She--she's not comfortable around boys."
"Or anything but vamps that she's fighting," chimed in Cordy. "She's kind of business-like."
"I noticed."
"Guys? She's still a Slayer, and she's still here to help. Research, remember?" After Willow reminded them, they all turned back to the books.
**
Buffy and Kendra walked down Buffy's street. "Will there be time for you to patrol, after you tell your mother?"
"I'd think that there was always time for patrolling," Buffy pointed out, reminding Kendra of the gung-ho approach to slaying she'd had during her first time in Sunnydale.
"Perhaps," she answered uncomfortably.
They walked up the steps to Buffy's porch. When they walked in, they found Joyce sitting on her living room couch with a somewhat frightening sight.....
"Spike," Buffy hissed.
"Hello, pet." He stood up. "Just been talking to your mum a bit."
"He's a very interesting person. Who's this?"
"This is Kendra. Mom, I need to talk to Spike for a moment." Without saying anything else, she grabbed Spike's arm and dragged him into the kitchen.
"What did you tell her?"
"Why, the truth, Slayer. That you and I have met before, and that we don't get along too well, but that I came to make amends."
"That's good. Did you tell her the vampire stuff?"
"No, seemed to remember Angelus mentioning that you hadn't told your mum yet. Didn't think it'd be a good way to start, telling her that her daughter had been lying for a few years."
"Fine. That's one reason for me to not stake you right now."
"I came to help."
"Why do I not believe this?"
"Because I'm a vampire--not known for the helpfulness. But, see, Angelus has Acathla."
"Tell me something useful."
"You have to be worthy to open it. And he could do it. He's got enough evil in him that he could do it."
"So what?"
"I should also probably tell you that you need to get back to good old Sunnydale High."
"What for?"
"Dru and Darla are leading an attack there right now. It's too late, Buffy." He grabbed her arm before she could run off.
"What're they doing?"
"They're getting your Watcher. Angelus needs him for the ritual."
"Giles would never tell Angel anything."
"No, he wouldn't. But Dru can do some interesting things to the mind, her being crazy and all that. So, he may just tell her, and she's not the type for keeping secrets."
"What's your point, Spike?"
"You're going to stop your ex, you're gonna need help. Not those damned Scoobies of yours--they won't be any good and you know it. That slayer friend of yours could help, but she's no match for Angel. No, you're going to need more help."
"Why would you?"
"I'm evil, doesn't mean I want the world to end. I like this world. You have all kinds of great things--but mainly, you have people. Billions of people, walking around like Happy Meals with legs. They all go to hell, means no more food. That, and I really don't want to go with them."
"So... You're not helping Angel."
"No. And you're the only one who could stop him."
"So, what happens when I do?"
"Dru and I leave town."
"No. Drusilla is too dangerous, and I will never let her walk."
"We won't come back. Angelus and Darla are yours--stake, keep, run to the ground, whatever you like. But Dru and I go."
"Only if Giles lives."
"Fine."
"If he dies, she dies."
"Fine. I'll make sure Angelus keeps him. Can I go?"
"Yes. Get out."
"Fine. And Slayer--" he turned around from the back doorway, his face genuinely worried. "You might want to hurry."
The door slammed shut. Buffy walked back into the living room.
"Kendra, I've got to go. Mom, she needs to stay with you. I will tell you everything when I get home--I promise. Do not invite anyone else into the house tonight, no matter who they are. Do not let him back into the house," she finished, indicating with a jerk of her head back to the kitchen that she was talking about Spike.
"Fine. Buffy?"
"Yeah, Mom?"
"Where are you going?"
"To help a friend."
"Be careful," Kendra told her.
"You too." She gripped Kendra's hand for a moment, then left.
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