“So . . . do you think you’re going to keep it?” Faith asked.
Dawn shrugged. “I love him. I really do.”
“Him the baby or him Connor?” Faith asked.
“I don’t know the baby’s gender yet,” Dawn said.
“Nobody else knows, yet. I’d never breathe a word if you decide not to-”
“Thanks,” Dawn said. “I . . . I always thought if I were in this situation, I wouldn’t . . . you know. Take the easy way out. Not that I judge girls who decide to have an-”
“You don’t have to make a political speech, Dawn. Tell me what you want.”
“I don’t know,” Dawn cried. “I’m so young. And Connor’s so . . .”
“Immature?” Faith offered. “Dysfunctional? Impulsive? Violent? Insane? Stop me when I get there.”
“All those things. But I love him. But I don’t think, in my line of work, I’d have that long of a life. Is that a reason to keep the baby or to not keep it?”
“I don’t know. But until you decide, we should keep this between the two of us.”
Dawn nodded.
“Dawn,” Faith said in a soft voice.
“Yeah?”
“I wasn’t kidding about having to pee. It’s gotten to the point where holding it in hurts.”
Dawn laughed. “Okay. Just take the pregnancy test out with you when you leave.”
**
Kevin Tam, weak and bleeding from hours of torture, was chained to Vladimir’s desk.
Billy was hanging around the warehouse. He was nervous at still being around the vampires who’d once tortured him relentlessly. But they’d promised Billy a flight out of the country. So far, they’d kept all their promises. They promised they’d torture him and they did. They promised they’d break him and they did that, too. Then they promised to train him, give him work, and pay him. Intellectually, Billy knew he was probably suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Nonetheless, there was something familiar, if not comforting, about their presence.
Anton looked at the doctor, then at his his watch. “Serge,” he said into a hand radio. “Why haven’t you checked in? Serge?”
A Kevlar-clad figure in a helmet entered the warehouse. Kevin looked at him and felt as if the figure was somehow familiar. Something in the way he moved seemed almost feline in nature.
“Serge, what are you doing in here?” Vladimir asked, looking up.
The figure did not respond. He only continued walking closer.
Anton looked at him more closely and noticed the large battle axe strapped to the figure’s back. Battle axes weren’t the type of weapon the Markovics used. Then Anton realized this man wasn’t one of the Markovics troops.
“Alarm!” Anton shouted. He went for his gun, but the axe whirled through the air, taking the vampire’s head off.
Vladimir grabbed his pistol from the desk and fired three shots that were easily absorbed by the Kevlar body armor the intruder had stripped from Serge. Vladimir turned to Kevin and reached for him, hoping to hold him hostage.
The doctor kicked Vladimir in the shin. Kevin was upset that his gang had sent a rescue team of one, but still hoped against hope he was about to be freed.
***
“Kevin first,” Richard said. “Then Connor. We know where Kevin is. We know he’s in danger. Connor can take care of himself.”
“I don’t want to go into it,” Faith said. “But it’s really, really important we get Connor back. And soon.”
“Bollocks,” Spike pitched in. “Connor chose to go off the reservation. I’m with Mayor McEvil.”
“Too bad you’re not in charge, then,” Faith said angrily.
“We get the doctor,” Dawn said calmly. “Then we get Connor and start trying to track down the rest of the council. The Markovics have had us on the run for too long. We need to get to the other slayers and regroup.”
Faith looked down and nodded. She wanted to find Connor for Dawn. Then again, she could probably use a doctor right now, too.
Xander grabbed some weapons. “Let’s go load the car, Dawn.” He headed out with the watcher while the others got the rest of the weapons ready. “I’m still your pal, right?”
“Yeah,” Dawn said distractedly.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s up?”
“Woman problems. That time of the month.” In a way, that was true. The woman problem was that that time of the month wouldn’t happen again for about three quarters of a year.
“I know you said that to gross me out and shut me up, but you should know two things. First, I’m not as afraid of women and female body functions as I once was. Second, even with one eyes, I can still see when you’re lying. You don’t want to tell me, I won’t push. But I’m always here for you.”
Dawn looked up and smiled. “Thanks, Xander.” She was about to ask if he was willing to be a surrogate father, but that seemed a bit much.
“Ready to roll?” Faith called as she headed toward the van Xander had rented.
****
“What are the chances the vampires are having a bonfire?” Xander asked. The flames were visible for miles.
The van was stopped at the gate into the industrial park where the Markovics had been. Fire engines and police everywhere. Kevin, looking pretty beat up, was being loaded into an ambulance.
“Keep ‘em busy,” Faith said as she popped out the back hatch of the van. She jumped the fence and ran to Kevin’s ambulance. Xander began chatting with the policeman, hoping to find out what happened.
Faith sat next to Kevin. “I’m his girlfriend,” Faith explained quickly to one of the EMT’s. “Kevin, honey, what happened?”
“He’s psychotic,” Kevin muttered.
“What happened?” Faith repeated.
“Connor,” Kevin said weakly. “He killed them all and burned the place down. Tortured Vladimir for an hour. They said something about . . . about . . . man, this morphine feels good.”
“Stay with me, baby,” Faith said for the EMT’s benefit. “Tell me what I need to know and I promise I’ll give you a blow job in the hospital.”
“He’s after the Markovics’ client,” Kevin said. “Some kind of demon warrior goddess in Brazil.”
Faith was pretty sure it was the morphine talking now.
“Billy was still there,” Kevin said weakly.
Faith suddenly felt worried. Kevin had said Connor killed them all. Had he killed Billy? Had he killed a human?
“Where’s Billy now?” Faith asked.
“An ambulance just took him away,” Kevin said. Faith sighed with relief. That relief disappeared when Kevin continued. “In my medical opinion, I don’t think they’ll be able to get his eyes back in. But they stand a good chance of reattaching his ears.”
“Connor?” Faith said, frightened beyond words for the boy’s sanity.
Kevin nodded. “He helped me out. Said he had nothing to live for. Lorne told him Dawn didn’t love him anymore and he just wanted to . . .”
“Kill,” Faith said sullenly.
“Die,” Kevin corrected her.
The ambulance pulled into the hospital. Faith leaned down and kissed Kevin deeply. “I’m going to talk to your family,” Faith said. “They’re all here. You understand what I’m saying?”
Kevin nodded, but Faith wasn’t sure Kevin had gotten the message. He was out of it now.
*****
“Demon warrior goddess?” Xander said. “That sounds not good.”
“Any thoughts on who that could be, watcher girl?” Faith said, looking to Dawn.
“I think I know who it is,” Spike said, pacing nervously. “All this time, we thought the Markovics were hired to take out Wolfram & Hart so someone could eliminate competition. Now I’m thinking it was revenge.”
Dawn looked up. “Illissa? No, wait. It’s . . .”
“Illyria,” Spike said.
“Right,” Dawn said. “I read that file. I swear. But . . . I thought she was dead.”
“She was nowhere to be found when the dust settled after the big rumble,” Spike said. “Angel and I assumed she bit it in the battle. Now I’m thinking maybe not. She has reason to hate Wolfram & Hart. Lorne told me that whoever hired the Markovics knew who he was. Illyria knew Lorne.”
Richard began pacing nervously.
“We have to take her out,” Faith said.
“Pretty tall order for just the five of us,” Spike said.
“Right,” Xander said. “We need backup. We need to find the other slayers.”
“But Connor’s on his way down there right now!” Dawn said frantically.
“The runt got himself into this mess on his own,” Spike said.
“Not exactly,” Dawn said. “I’ve been kind of remiss on giving him his treatments. It’s been months.”
“But he only started acting crazy a few hours ago,” Xander said.
“Oh,” Spike said, looking at the ceiling.
“What?” Xander said.
“Nothing,” Spike said.
“Spill,” Faith said.
“Well,” Spike said. “Dawn was draining Connor of some kind of dark energy that hitched a ride from Quar’Toth.”
“Right,” Dawn said.
“I’m just thinking . . .” Spike was disgusted by the thought of his innocent Little Bit . . . “You’re a big ball of energy. I’m guessing you were draining the evil out of him just by . . . I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Damn,” Faith said, looking at Dawn in appreciation. “You really do give the best lovin’ in town.”
“I heard of guys being cranky when they didn’t get any,” Dawn said with a grin. “I guess Connor’s no different.”
“Can you please not talk about this,” Xander said.
“I thought you said you weren’t upset by female functions any more,” Dawn protested.
“Yeah,” Xander said. “But I’m still upset by your female functions.”
“We split up,” Dawn said. “Some of us get Connor from Brazil before he gets himself killed. The others track down the remaining slayers.
“I know of weapons caches left over from the Initiative,” Richard chimed in. “We should meet ten miles due north of Muir Woods in one week.”
“You hid weapons in Muir Woods?” Dawn said.
“Of course,” Richard said. “Why else do you think the government would preserve all that forest?”
“Dawn needs to help get Connor,” Faith said. “The doctor should go with her.”
“Is she sick?” Spike asked.
“Spike, you go with them,” Faith said, ignoring the vampire’s question. “You know Illyria. That can only help. Xander, the mayor, and I will track down the slayers.”
“But they might try to kill the mayor if they see him,” Xander said. “Never mind. That’s actually a plus for this plan.”
“Spike,” Faith said. “If possible, could you play hound dog and track Lorne?”
“I’m not as good as Connor, but I can give it a try.”
“Find Lorne and see if he can tell us exactly where in Brazil Connor’s headed.”
“How would he know?” Spike asked
Faith frowned. “As soon as he heard Connor sing, he worked to undo the spell that made Connor a normal kid. Lorne wanted him to be a warrior. Then he told Connor that Dawn didn’t love him and sent the kid after the Markovics and their boss. All of this with Connor has been Lorne’s plan from the Go.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Dawn said angrily. And she meant it.
“Oh, we’ll kick his ass, alright,” Faith said. “But not until after we have your man back.”
“Well, kids,” Spike said. “This is a plan.” He turned and headed for the motel where they’d last seen Lorne.
“Perhaps we should gather some medical supplies,” Richard said to Xander. “The slayers we find are bound to be injured.”
Xander sighed and nodded. “Lead the way, evil man.”
Faith and Dawn were in the room alone for a moment. Finally, Kevin lumbered into the room. “Hey,” he said. “I feel . . . sore. But, you know.”
“Think you can do an exam?” Faith asked.
“What?” Kevin said. “We’re in a hospital full of doctors who aren’t pumped full of morphine.”
“I need someone I can trust,” Dawn said.
“And you trust me? I’m the associate of some kind of arch-nemesis, aren’t I?”
“She’s pregnant,” Faith said finally. “She’s pregnant, and we don’t want the others to know.”
Kevin looked at Dawn sympathetically. He didn’t think he was in any kind of condition to do an exam, but knew the girl must feel a need for someone familiar to be the one checking on the child. Especially considering the father was now insane and probably half way to Brazil. “We’ll find an empty examining room. I’ll try to grab a sonogram machine.”
“Thanks,” Dawn said.
“Why don’t you wait in the hall?” Faith said to Dawn. Dawn nodded and left. Faith looked at Kevin. “Want to tell me about it?”
“What?” Kevin asked.
“I’ve known enough addicts in my time to be able to spot one. What’s your poison?”
“Morphine,” Kevin said coldly. “I wasn’t awake when the doctors found me at the warehouse. I couldn’t tell them not to . . .”
“Not to dope you up,” Faith said. “That’s what Richard has over you?”
Kevin nodded. “I was a doctor in the Navy. I was on a chopper that went down. Got hurt pretty bad. When I was recovering from the crash, I got hooked. It got worse and worse until I had a couple patients die on me. Dishonorable discharge and a ban from practicing medicine.”
“But Richard fixed all that,” Faith said.
Kevin nodded calmly. “And never let me forget it.”
Faith shouldn’t have been surprised by the story, but she was. The doctor looked so young and clean cut and . . . she didn’t know. He looked like he’d never had a day of trouble in his life. And yet . . .
“Are you going to be able to do this for Dawn?” Faith asked.
Kevin nodded. “But I wouldn’t let me do any surgery until you’re sure I’m clean.”
“Alright, doc. I got your back. Just don’t screw me. Metaphorically, I mean. If you were interested in literally screwing me . . . well, I’d have to consider that.”
Kevin blushed and looked down. Faith smiled at the doctor’s embarrassment.
******
Lorne knew he was in trouble, but it was too late for them to stop him. Everything that needed to happen was already set in motion. And the green demon had long ago reconciled himself with the fact that, despite his generally peaceful nature, he would die a violent death.
Spike shoved Lorne against the wall and knocked on the exam room door. Faith opened the door from the inside.
“Got your message,” Spike said. “Here’s our demon.”
“It’s nice to finally work with a vampire who knows how to use a cell phone,” Lorne quipped.
“I’m having my women’s exam,” Faith said. “Hope you don’t mind.” She grabbed Lorne and pulled him into the room. Looking at Spike, she smiled awkwardly. “Um . . . thanks.”
“Want me to come in?” Spike asked. “Not like I haven’t see it before.”
“I think I got it covered. See if you can help Xander and the Mayor with stealing medical supplies.”
“Ooh,” Spike said happily. “Stealing is fun.”
Faith turned back to Lorne who was watching Kevin run the sonogram over Dawn’s belly. He looked completely petrified.
“So you see, now, huh?” Faith said. “You sent her baby’s father off to die.”
“Come on,” Lorne said in a pleading tone a she looked up at the ceiling. “One wasn’t enough?!”
“What are you talking about?” Faith said.
“So far, so good,” Kevin said, looking at the sonogram. “It’s a little undersized and you’re awfully small for being ten weeks along, but-”
“What?!” Dawn said. “Ten weeks. What are you talking about? I had my period last month. I can’t be two and half months along.”
“No offense, doc,” Faith said in a measured tone. “But are you sure you’re seeing everything clearly?”
Kevin looked at the sonogram and gulped. He wondered if Faith was right; if he was so doped he couldn’t do this. He pointed to a pulsing organ in the middle of the fetus. “See that?”
“Yeah,” Faith said. “It’s the heart, right?”
“It’s almost completely developed and roughly the same size as it will be when the child is born. That develops in week ten.”
Lorne began whimpering.
“These,” Kevin said, continuing to point, “are fingers. And these are toes. They don’t develop until the eighth week. We can measure the fetus’s brainwaves, also a development of the eighth week.”
“It’s growing faster than a normal pregnancy,” Lorne said, his voice filled with terror. “A couple years ago, Connor impregnated Cordelia.”
“He what?” Dawn and Faith yelled simultaneously. Dawn was angry, while Faith couldn’t help feel a little proud of the kid for having knocked up the ice queen.
“I better go,” Kevin said, quickly exiting the room.
“Listen to me!” Lorne said. “That pregnancy developed quickly, too. When it was over, Cordy was in a coma and she’d given birth to a fully grown, mind-controlling goddess.” Lorne looked at Dawn. “You need to get rid of it.”
“No!” Dawn snapped.
“It could kill you!” Lorne responded.
Faith held her hand up to silence the demon. “Dawn, eight hours ago, you weren’t even sure you wanted to keep it.”
“I’m sure now,” Dawn said angrily.
“This is just like Cordy!” Lorne said. “When she was pregnant, she was all about protecting the baby.”
“Faith,” Dawn said pleadingly. “I can feel it. It . . . it wants to be born. It needs to be born. I can tell.”
“Fine,” Faith said, squeezing Dawn’s hair. “But tell us if you think you’re turning evil.”
Lorne was about to protest, but Faith grabbed him and shoved him into a wall. “Shut up! I don’t want to hear anything else from you. So just shut up. Now tell me, where specifically is Connor heading?”
Lorne gulped. “Brazilian Highlands, near Brasília.”
Faith nodded. “Willow said Brazil went quiet. It wasn’t because the demons were gone. It was because they were building an army.”
“Illyria,” Lorne said. “When Connor sang, I saw him. I saw his destiny.”
“To kill Illyria,” Faith said.
“Yes,” Lorne said.
“By himself?”
“What?” Lorne said. “No. He had an army of his own. And you and the slayers were there.”
“Then there’s where your plan falls apart,” Faith said irritably. “The slayers are missing and a bunch of them are probably dead. Connor didn’t build and army. After you told him Dawn didn’t love him, he headed straight to the Markovics, then straight to Brazil. By himself.”
*******
Xander had packed most of the medical supplies into the van. He turned to see Kevin approach Richard and whisper to him. Richard whispered back and Kevin began arguing with him.
“What’s up guys?” Xander said, coming up on them quickly. “You wouldn’t happen to be planning evil, would ya?”
Richard turned to face Xander. He was holding a small box, roughly the size of a cigar box.
“What’s in the box?” Xander asked.
“A present,” Richard said. “And not an easy one to come by, let me tell you.”
“Present for who?” Xander asked cautiously.
“Why for you, of course,” Richard smiled. It was his usual, folksy politician smile. The same he used for all occasions; from schmoozing voters to threatening the lives of high school students.
“No thanks,” Xander said.
“Kevin?” Richard said, looking to the doctor.
“This is too dangerous!” Kevin protested. “Especially under the . . . in my current state, I-”
Xander turned to run. Richard held out his hand and Xander was propelled against the wall by an invisible force. Xander turned and punched Richard in the jaw. Richard stumbled back, unaccustomed to fist fights. Richard recovered and slammed his handkerchief over Xander’s mouth. Xander struggled and almost broke free, but the chloroform did its work and Xander slipped into unconsciousness.
When Xander came to, he was strapped to a table. He struggled against the restraints holding him down.
“This surgery is insane!” Kevin was whispering. “And I’m in no condition to perform it even if it weren’t.”
“You know my motto, Kevin,” Richard grinned. “No stinkin’ thinkin’. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. And you should, too. Now get over there and cut Mr. Harris’s eye out.”
Kevin walked over to Xander. “I’m sorry,” he said as.
Xander gritted his teeth and tried to scream, but no sound came out. Not even when the scalpel cut into his eye.
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