78. Distractions
Willow stared at the hypnotizing
white snow
that filled the computer screen from the window that was supposed to be
connected to Buffy's camera, a look of mingled boredom and anxiety on
her face. It had been several hours since Buffy had cut the connection,
deliberately preventing her friends – or anyone else – from seeing what
would go on in the underground room from that point.
That was probably of the good, Willow thought with a little grimace, as
she was quite sure that she did not want to witness Spike's version of
justice upon someone who was guilty of as many and as brutal offenses
as Riley.
On the unfortunate side – the utter lack of communication with her
friends allowed her very active imagination to run wild, concocting all
sorts of scenarios of what might have happened once the camera shut
off. And it was not only the moral integrity of her best friend that
she was worried about, but the physical safety of both Buffy and Spike,
as well.
Just because Riley had been subdued at the last moment of conversation
she had had with Buffy, did not mean that it was not possible that he
could have escaped somehow. And as Buffy had told her, the whole
facility was filled with Riley's men, all looking for Buffy and Spike.
There were any number of terrible things that could have happened – and
she had no way of knowing if they did – if they had already.
By this point, she was no longer the only on concerned.
"Buffy should have contacted us by now, don't you think?" Xander said,
an anxious frown on his face. "Do you think something happened to them?"
He and Anya had come up behind her, and were looking over her shoulder
at the depressingly blank computer screen.
"It's highly likely," Anya pointed out matter-of-factly. "Right before
Aaron and I left, they were surrounded by soldiers. They just seemed to
keep coming and coming..."
"Anya..." Xander began to gently shush her, seeing Willow's eyes widen in
fear.
"But they got away from those soldiers," Tara reminded her lover
quickly, coming up beside her and taking her hand reassuringly. "Right
now they're locked away in a separate room, where none of the soldiers
know that they are..."
"But that doesn't mean they couldn't find them," Anya pointed out. "I
mean, it *is* a possibility..."
"Anya!" Xander objected more firmly, alarm in his eyes as his best
friend appeared even paler and more fretful.
The sharp tone of his voice seemed to silence the room for a moment,
each of them lost in their own sobering thoughts. Xander quietly drew
Anya away across the room for a quiet explanation of just why her quite
accurate observations were inappropriate under the circumstances.
Giles was sitting on the floor a few yards away, surrounded by his trio
of vampires, all seeking the comfort and security provided by his
presence. He quietly listened to the brief conversation without
comment, a thoughtful expression on his face. He watched Willow closely
as she rested her head in her hands with a shaky sigh of fearful
frustration.
When he spoke, his calm voice rang out clearly in the stillness of the
stone room. With a slightly careless shrug, he said quietly, "At least
if the soldiers *do* find them – they can use Riley as a hostage."
The words themselves were sensible, considering the circumstances. A
bit more matter-of-fact than Willow might have expected the Watcher to
speak regarding that sort of matter, but not in the least bit amusing.
What caught her by surprise was the uncharacteristic smirk on his face,
the only slightly disguised glee in his voice at the thought of Riley's
being used as a hostage.
In spite of herself, Willow laughed softly, feeling a bit of her
tension ease with the very act of laughing. It was going to be okay,
she reassured herself. Buffy was the Slayer. She had faced much more
frightening things than Riley and a bunch of human soldiers. And with
the chips no longer functioning, Spike would be able to help her.
There was really nothing to worry about, she told herself firmly.
Nothing at all.
Suddenly, a loud scraping sound of stone against stone drew all of
their attention, and Giles rose from his spot on the floor, his hand
going instinctively to the pistol he had tucked under his jacket, as
all of them froze where they were, recognizing the sound of the hidden
door that had allowed them entrance into this place – opening.
Willow managed to think through the panic that came over her, and snap
the laptop closed, stepping quickly away from it a few steps to join
the others, doing her best not to make the computer look as if it was
currently in use. There was no telling who might be coming through that
door – but if it was Riley's men, as her worst fears made her suspect,
she did not want them getting their hands on the evidence stored on
that computer.
In her panic it did not occur to her that said evidence was also saved
on the computers at the governor's office by this point.
But her fears and precautions proved unfounded and unnecessary, when
the intruders appeared through the door. Soldiers, yes – but not
Riley's men. Their uniforms were different, and the vampires in the
room visibly relaxed at the notable absence of the scent that marked
Riley's soldiers.
At the sight of Giles' drawn weapon, however, they drew theirs as well.
"Drop the gun," one of them ordered calmly. "You are not in any danger.
Drop your weapon."
"You *would* say that," Xander snapped in a tone of fearful agitation.
"So you can eliminate all of us potential witnesses without losing any
of your own men!"
"Xander," Anya's hand on his arm was calming, as she spoke with unusual
calm and softness. "These aren't Riley's men. These aren't the same men
who kidnapped me."
"Identify yourselves and give me some reason to believe your claim that
we are in no danger, and I might be persuaded to put down my weapon,"
Giles replied coolly to the soldier who had addressed him, ignoring the
comments of the others. "Otherwise it would be foolhardy to willingly
place my trust in you with no reason to do so."
The man who was leading the group smiled, respect dawning in his eyes
for the older man, as he lowered his weapon. After regarding him a
moment longer, considering, he tossed the gun down in the center of the
room, holding eye contact with the Watcher the entire time.
His hands raised in a universal gesture to indicate that he was not a
threat, he slowly approached Giles, who appeared very surprised by the
soldier's actions. Keeping his hands raised, he nodded toward his
breast pocket, explaining easily, "Identification's in my pocket. I'm a
marshal with the California state militia. I'm in no way affiliated
with Riley Finn or his organization."
His tone still cool, his weapon still aimed as he reached cautiously
into the man's pocket, Giles asked, "And how exactly do you know that
that would be my suspicion?" As he spoke, he removed the id card,
scanning it with a scrutinizing frown.
"Because your friend Mrs. Finn told me," the soldier shot back, drawing
Giles' sharp, surprised gaze. "She also told us this is where we would
find you."
Giles replaced the card, lowering his gun slowly, as the soldier went
on, "She didn't want you all to attempt to leave here on your own,
without all of Finn's men accounted for yet – and she didn't want you
to have to stay here all night, either. She requested that until every
single one of the soldiers affiliated with his organization is
accounted for, you all would be under our protection."
There was a sound of truth to the man's words, and he seemed
trustworthy, meeting Giles' eyes with confidence and honesty. He found
himself inclined to believe him. "And why has Buffy only sent you here
to get us? Where is she herself? Is she safe?"
"She is quite safe. We found her relatively unharmed in one of Finn's
secret training facilities. She sent us instead of coming with us
because she is currently on her way to the governor's mansion for a
private audience."
That stunned the group into silence – but was a claim that was too
far-fetched to be a lie. Giles slowly replaced his gun under his coat,
further reassured when the soldiers lowered their weapons as well, and
none of them even suggested that he actually give his up.
"We've secured several hotel rooms for you to stay in until it's safe,
and we'll be guarding them to be sure that you're safe. Mrs. Finn will
join you once she's finished with her meeting with the governor," the
soldier explained. "Let's go."
When Giles cautiously moved forward to follow the man toward the door,
all of the others followed him – almost.
"What about Spike?" Tara asked suddenly, her clear, soft voice ringing
out with concern, as she stopped just before they reached the door. She
met the eyes of the marshal squarely as he turned toward her
questioningly, a bold question in her own eyes. "Is *he* all right?"
The marshal frowned, shaking his head in confusion and an utter lack of
recognition.
"The vampire that was with Buffy. Spike. Is he okay?" Willow clarified
for the man, aware that most humans, even those who would find Riley's
activities repulsive and abhorrent, still did not think of vampires as
having anywhere near the status of humans. The well-being of the
vampire accompanying the prominent lady currently being escorted to the
governor's mansion had probably never crossed their mind.
Indeed, the marshal *did* appear surprised when he realized what the
question was. "Yes," he replied without hesitation, however. "The
vampire's with Mrs. Finn, on the way to see the governor as we speak.
He's fine."
The vampire in question was not so very sure of that fact. He sat very
close to Buffy in the back seat of the sleek black sedan that was
transporting them to their meeting with the governor, warily watching
the two men in the front seat. Neither of them was doing anything
suspicious – neither of them was actually moving or speaking at all –
but that did nothing to ease his tension. In fact, the silence seemed
to make it worse.
Buffy was tuned in enough with Spike's feelings by now to know how
nervous he was – even before she felt his leg shaking against hers. She
knew he was having a hard time trusting any humans, after all he had
been through, and understandably so. He probably was wondering if these
humans were really taking them where they said they were – if they were
safe, even now. His trembling stilled under the comfortingly firm hand
she placed on his thigh, as he realized how obvious his fear was to her.
"Sorry," he said softly, quiet enough that only she could hear him.
"Just a bit – er – tense...what with all the – the -- tension, and..." he
began to explain awkwardly. When she turned a sympathetic, reassuring
smile on him, he gave up, releasing a deep, shaky breath as he looked
away, running a trembling hand through his hair, and admitted in a
whisper, "Sod it all, love – bloody terrified here."
She turned in the seat so that she was facing him, pulling him in
unexpectedly for a slow, sensuous kiss that expressed explicitly just
what she would *really* like to be doing with her vampire at that
moment. Despite his nervousness, he could not help but respond, feeling
his desire for her rising as the heat of her kiss began to melt away
his tension.
He opened his eyes for a moment, and happened to catch the eye of the
driver, staring into the mirror with shock – and fascination. He
chuckled softly against Buffy's lips, closing his eyes again.
"What?" she whispered huskily, her own desire revealed in her voice as
she drew back to meet his eyes. "What is it?"
"Givin' the bloody chauffeur a free show, pet," he informed her in a
whisper that ended in a gasp, as her lips found the pulse point in his
throat and sucked gently, heightening his arousal.
"Let 'em watch," she whispered, drawing back for a moment, replying
between kisses. "They're the ones intruding on *our* time." She nipped
gently at his neck, and he arched it back instinctively, allowing her
better access. "Who wants to meet with a
boring...stuffy...politician...anyway?" she asked teasingly, punctuating each
word with a kiss.
"Not me," he gasped without thought, and she let out a soft, throaty
laugh, pulling back to meet his eyes again for a moment, her eyes
darkened to jade and smoldering with desire.
She pulled his head closer to her and leaned in to whisper in his ear,
"After this meeting is over – you know what I wanna do?"
"Wha - *uuggh*..." he moaned softly, caught by surprise when she gently
nipped at his ear.
The suggestions she whispered in his ear for the next few minutes,
emphasized with kisses and nibbles and not-so-subtle touches, drove all
thoughts of danger or fear, all the uncertain questions, from his mind.
All he could think about was her, and how badly he wanted her, *now* --
until the car suddenly stopped, and they looked up to see that they
were indeed parked in front of what appeared to be a smaller version of
the White House – the governor's mansion.
She pulled back, meeting his eyes with a sparkling smile, satisfaction
in her gaze. "See? Safe and sound," she whispered.
His eyes widened as he realized what she had done, and he tried to look
properly outraged, when all he wanted to do was laugh. "You mean
you...just to...to keep me from..."
"Worked, didn't it?" she smirked with affection in her eyes, just as
the man on her side of the car opened her door for her, and she slid
around to get out.
Following her out on her side, he admitted with a shrug, "I'll give you
that. But I'll tell you one thing, love – whether you meant it or not,
I'm bloody well holding you to those things you said!"
"Oh, I meant it, all right!" she declared with a laugh, reaching out
and taking his hand as they followed the two men up the winding walkway
leading to the entrance.
Their light banter and laughter was a result of their relief that their
trust in the men who had found them in Riley's basement facility had
been well-placed – but it also masked a certain amount of nervousness.
They really were at the governor's mansion, and were going to be given
the chance to explain all that had happened.
The moment of truth had come – if only the truth would be believed.