Disclaimer: see part 1
Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Carol.Clarke@mail.state.ky.us
Chapter 3
Organizing Your Desk Life
The autopsies had gone well. The three soldier's toxicology screens had at
first shown nothing, but Willow did the test again on the brain stem and there she
found a chemical taken from the blowfish. Her colleagues were impressed, which
Willow thought was a good thing.
“We will need to do more tests. It is far from over.” Willow shifted in her seat looking up at Pam.
“Smart and cautious.” Pam smiled at Willow noticing how uncomfortable the girl seemed.
“Is there something you need me to do?” Willow asked half afraid of the answer.
“Yes, but first I would just like to talk to you.”
Pam picked up the picture Willow had placed on her desk. It was a picture of Buffy and their friends. “Which one is your girlfriend?” Pam asked changing tactics.
Willow walked around the desk needing an excuse to stand, then she realized it was not a good idea either. She knew Pam saw her stiffness, making Willow blush again. The witch just hoped Pam took the blushing as something else. Standing beside the taller woman Willow placed a finger on the picture pointing out Buffy.
“She is very pretty. Then again so are you.” Pam had talked with director about the best way to work with the girl. She hoped he was right about gentle kindness working. Willow for her part, just blushed deeper.
“Who are the rest of these people.” Pam continued noting the deep red blush on the young doctor.
Relieved to have something else to do besides blush Willow began pointing out her friends. “That's Xander. He has been by best friend since we were 5. We grew up together. That's his wife Amy Madison only now she is Amy Harris. This is Oz, He's in a band. He was my first boyfriend when we were in high school, we're still good friends. That was the girl he was dating when we took this, only now he isn't dating her. I think her name was Shelly or Kelly I can't remember. And that's Cordelia and Doyle. They work for a Private eye firm in town. I went to school with Cordy. She once dated Xander but now she lives with Doyle.” Willow knew she was in babble mode but Pam made her nervous.
“This is Mrs. Summers, I mean Mrs. Giles. Buffy's Mom and that's Giles, Buffy' s wat-...stepdad.” [Must be more careful] Willow chastised herself. “And the little person all bundled up in way too many clothes is Kir. There all friends from Sunnydale only they don't live in Sunnydale anymore except Buffy's Mom and Giles. I babble a lot I am sorry. With that she put the picture back on her desk and sought shelter behind her desk.
Pam continued to stare at the photo. There was something about it but she couldn't put her finger on what it was she was missing. “It's nice to see you have the same friends from childhood not many people can say that. But I get the feeling they are more like family to you,” Pam said conversationally, as she continued to look at the photo.
“Yeah, they are definitely family.” Willow didn't have to even think about that. They were really her family.
“I read that your own parents were killed a few years ago. I'm sorry.” Pam did not know why she brought this up, but she was happy the girl still had people who loved her
“Been reading my file?” Willow questioned to change the subject.
“Yes and I can't believe you haven't broken in to look at it yourself.” Pam really wasn't sure the girl hadn't but she thought she should fish. The young doctor really did have the skill to break in.
“I've already been arrested for that once this year. I try to keep my going to jail down to a maximum of once a decade. Willow knew Pam was fishing, but didn't feel like biting just yet. She didn't trust these people.
“Sounds wise. If you want to look at your file, at least what I have, come by my office and I will let you take a look. Maybe that way we can forego jail for few years.. Anyway, right now I need you to do some internet searching on a supernatural matter. The Vatican has placed all its occult books on file with an encrypted system. I would like you to see if you can open it.”
This was the second test of her skills, Pam knew. The soldier's bodies had been the first and the young doctor had passed with stunning accuracy and skill.
“I won't get in trouble for this right?” Willow asked.
“No, the last time I checked the Vatican was in Rome and you're here in the US. Working for the FBI on business. So how long do you think it will take you to break in, Doctor?”
“That depends on what you want, the area or library you want to look at, and what you need to know.”
Pam was stunned, the girl knew the basic structure of the Vatican computer system. Only Pam wasn't sure why she should have this information. “I have a list here. It is a long list. But the first thing I need is what they have on the Ahhasha Records and the Book of Azobel."
“Then you want the Kirinov section in the Saint Innation Library right? Willow answered automatically looking Pam in the face trying to read her thoughts.
“If I can use my computer it will only take me a minute.”
Pam was dumb founded. She had seven of the FBI's best people working on breaking into the Vatican's system, none had come close. In fact the man who had gotten the farthest had told her just yesterday that the main problem was that you had to know what section or library something was in to even begin to decrypt it enough to break in and find it. The most Pam was hoping for was a list of libraries and sections. Still, she thought, the girl was too quick with her statement. A minute. She must be kidding.
Willow's file had indicated she was very good at decrypting computer systems and a fairly good Doctor of Pathology. But she was still a small town girl. She still had the same friends from high school. She had lived her whole life in a 100 mile radius. So the question Pam was asking herself was why a kid like that would have a need for this kind of knowledge. Pam had seen many hackers over the years with the FBI. Most were just out for thrills. Breaking into unbreakable systems. Most of them eventually went too far and were caught. Many leaving virus or taking money to prove they had conquered the cyber equivalent of Mount Everest. Willow just didn't fit the profile. For starters she had not gone into a computer field. She was a pathologist with a heavy chemical background. Secondly, she never left a calling card, she never took a dime. She just read files and closed them. This was the part that made her hair stand on end. It was the profile of a spy. She had seen CIA people with this behaviour. The decrypting was a job. A way of gaining information. Yet the file she was given had large gaps in it.
Willow had turned around and was in her chair facing one of the two computers in her office. She had it on and was typing code in at an amazing speed. In about 3 minutes she turned around to Pam and said. “Ok I'm in. What do you want me to get for you? Oh, you realize that anything the Vatican has will be, at the least, be in Latin, if not Hebrew or some other dead language. They are not big on translations.” Willow said as she waited for her boss to instruct her further. Pam blinked turning her thoughts back to the here and now.
“You can't possibly be in all ready. You couldn't get in that fast. It has a complicated encryption system!” Pam was trying to shake herself. She knew something big was going on.
“Uh, not to argue with you but the Vatican's system isn't really complicated at all. It mostly just uses the whole you-have-to-know-where-something-is-to-find-it method. But beyond that you just have to push the right buttons. That and read Latin,” Willow stated, wondering if this had been a mistake.
“Show me. Show me how to get in.” Pam answered in disbelief.
"Ok, I will reboot and show you.” After getting the system up. Willow put the internet address in from memory. She wrote it down for Pam and entered the Vatican research site. Then she brought up the directory system. It was in Latin. Willow picked the one that said, in Latin, "Archives." A password was asked for. Willow typed in "The lord is my shepherd" in English.
“It doesn't matter what language you type it in as long as it is the first line in Psalm 23.” Then she instead of hitting Enter she brought the arrow to a midpoint in screen. Pam noticed that the page was a blue pattern with repeating Greek script. “Instead of enter hit the Greek letters that say 23rd.” Willow explained. This brought up another directory. She picked the Saint Innation Library then she repeated the same process as before only typing in the second line and again picking 23 out of Hebrew letters. Repeating the process once more, she picked the Kirinov section, used the 3 line of the psalm, and clicked on 23rd in Latin.
“It is always the same. First directory is the first line, the second uses the second and so on. The trick is to know where something is. You have to pick the right library or section. Those are very random. It is the random layout they rely on. Other then that, it is designed for priests to do research anywhere in the world in their native language. If the lords prayer doesn't work then try the sermon on the mound. In some weird places they use the message from Gabriel to Mary or the Alpha and Omega line from Revelations or the Old Testament list of names for Christ. You know; He will be called wonderful, et cetera, et cetera. The lines usually have something to do with the section in some way. But mostly it's just the lord's prayer.” Willow explained barely looking up from the screen.
The red headed hacker reached for a few discs in a draw. She stuck a disc in the machine then opened the Akkasha record and began downloading it. A few discs later she began the Book of Azbobel.
Pam could not believe that it was that simple. “I have had people working on this for months. I can't believe it was that simple,” She stated not even stopping to consider what she was saying.
“Well to be honest it took me about 3 months to break the system the first time.”
“When did you do that?”
“When I was in high school.”
“How old were you?” Pam's mind was really half in fear and half in awe.
“I must have been about 17. No wait, I must have been 16 because it was right after the Master died but before Angel went bad.” [Tell her everything Will, you have watch what I say.] Willow scolded herself.
“What?”
“Nothing- I was 16. I guess I have been doing this for a while.” Willow was going to have to watch herself. When she was nervous she babbled and it might get her into trouble here or rather, into more trouble.
“Tomorrow I want you to show the others how to get into the Vatican system and then finish work with Dr. Cramer on the tox and autopsy of the soldiers.”
“Yes Dr. Nichols”. Willow was glad when Pam left. Plus she really wanted to stand up and move to a position that was more comfortable.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Pam went directly to her office. She went back through the personnel records. At first it seemed complete. It had records of her activities from her last year in junior high through graduating from Medical school. She was arrested two weeks after her residency was completed. Details about her known associates namely one Xander Harris. Owner of a string of used car lots. And her lover, one Buffy Anne Summers, with no constant means of employment. Some temporary secretarial work, as an aerobic and martial arts instructor, a bouncer, and some private eye work. Kind of a Jack of all trades.
Then it struck Pam what was wrong with her records. They were in a way too perfect, too complete. Why would the FBI under the guise of the CIA have tabs on an average 15 year old? Why track her friends? There was something she wasn't seeing and she knew it. And these records were missing details. They listed the systems she had broken into but not the reason. And if they had known she was breaking in to major systems why not arrest when she was still in high school? Why wait until she got out of med school?
Pam put down the file and wandered into Willow's office. Pam had seen the redhead leave earlier. Pam walked around the office and examined it. Neat and ordered was the only impression she got from the office. But the girl had only worked there two days. As Pam looked around her eyes fell on the picture of Willow's 'family'. Picking it up, she looked deep into the photographic eyes looking for answers. There was something familiar about the photo, she was missing something and she knew it. [But what, and how do I find out?] Pam asked herself. She had tried pulling up information on Willow out of the criminal database, but it only repeated what she already had. Then it hit her. She hadn't looked up Willow's friend's files. Maybe she could find the answers there.
Pam returned to her office and opened the FBI database. She typed in Buffy Summers. After narrowing down the matches she found the matching photo of Willow's lover. And there she stopped. “No wonder Bob wanted her to move out.” Ms. Summers had been questioned hundreds of times for things relating to arson, murder, assault...beginning at age 15. She had been placed on probation and expelled from Hemry High in LA for burning down the gym twice. A search warrant was issued for her arrest at age 17 for the murder of a young foreign national.
At age 18 she was identified by two policemen as one of two girls in a gang called the Slayers. The two girls had been caught red handed in a sporting goods store. Cameras had caught their pictures as well as the police squad car's internal camera. These same two girls busted out of the patrol car causing it to crash and the officers to suffer mild concussions. The mayor of Sunnydale himself had made the department drop any arrest or interrogations. It was also believed that later that same night these two girls killed the deputy mayor with some kind of wooden weapon. From there her record led to almost 50 arrests for violent acts, but not one conviction. In every single case the charges were dropped. More often than not they were dropped for lack of evidence or from an outside party's influence.
There were other things as well. Ms. Summers had no history of hemophilia or any other blood disease yet she had received over 27 blood transfusions. She had been admitted to the hospital dozens of times for broken bones, fractures and blood loss, yet in every case she recovered quickly. Pam looked closely at both the crimes and the injuries. Willow's lover was mixed up in the occult all right. The photos of her neck wounds, or “neck ruptures" as they were called, were consistent with Vampire bites. She had seen tons of evidence of Vampires. The crime scenes where she was arrested were littered with occult items. The question Pam had to ask was: Is Willow involved and how deep? Pam figured the best was to find out was to ask the girl. Pam left for personnel to look up the address.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Willow got home in time to hear Xander and Buffy arguing in the house. [This is not good.]
“Yeah and look what you have done to Willow! You've ruined her life! Buffy, you are so selfish……can't you think of some one else beside yourself?” Xander said angrily.
Willow slammed the door. “Can you Xander? I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Buffy and neither would you or your kids. And while we are at it, I wouldn't want to live without Buffy.”
Xander just hung his head, while Buffy smiled, until Willow reached the couch and flopped down, wincing as she remembered her sore bottom. Then Buffy hung her head as well. “Ok everyone have a seat and Buffy that means you had better sit next to me and be nice.”
Buffy used Slayer speed to land next to her lover. Giving her a soft kiss hello before turning to Xander.
“Sorry, my mouth has never been my best ally.” Xander said making eye contact with Buffy.
“Mine either and I said things just as bad, only Willow, thankfully, didn't hear them, else I would be on the coach with you tonight.”
“I take it Amy kicked you out again,” Willow concluded.
“Yes,” Xander sighed. "What was it this time?" Willow said switching to psycho-analyst mode. Amy threw Xander out of the house about once every 6 months. Amy loved Xander and Xander loved Amy and the kids. They had 3 all under 6. It was just that neither one of them had good role models growing up so they didn't know how to do things without arguing. [At least Amy didn't turn him into a rat.] Willow thought. Then another thought hit her. [I hope this isn't about Anya...]
Anya still loved Xander and being the nice guy that he was, he often would go over and try to help her. Anya needed a lot of help. Willow and Buffy had also been called to help. But in Anya's defense she had only been human for about 11 years and she was a demon for over a 1000. It wasn't easy for her. She really did try to be a good human. Even as a demon she wasn't that bad as demons go. But Amy was a jealous person and Xander was not always in control of his own heart. Amy still got jealous over Willow who she really liked. Even after Amy was sure Willow had joined the Sapphic, she had twinges of jealousy.
“Ok, what happened?” Willow asked.
“It was all Larry's fault.”
“Larry who?” Buffy asked.
“You know, gay Larry from high school Larry.”
“Oh, Larry who lives with Scott Hope, right.”
“That's the guy, good old Larry.” Xander sang out in a sarcastic tune.
“Still lost,” Buffy added. “Explain.”
“Ok, so I sign up little Xan Jr. for tee ball, only after I sign him up I find out that Larry was going to be the coach. And I didn't really want Xan exposed to Larry, so I asked for him to be put on another team. Well, when Amy found out about what I did...”
“That doesn't sound like Amy at all,” mused Willow, still in Freud mode..
“It doesn't,” Buffy added sternly looking at Xander..
“And you came here for a shoulder to cry on. Xander you really need to think before do things sometimes,” Buffy added harshly as she took Willow's hand.
Xander, only now realizing what he had done, felt truly ashamed. “It's just that I don't think of you guys like that.”
“Like what?” Buffy said defensively, ready to start battling with Xander again.
“Enough, both of you I am not in the mood.” Willow said rubbing her temples.
Xander and Buffy sat perfectly still and no one talked. Then Xander said sheepishly, “Maybe I should go.”
“Xander sit down, we fight but we are family. Here is were you should be.” Willow said.
“Yeah you are definitely family,” Buffy said leaning over to kiss Xander on the check. “I'm going for pizza, I'll be back in a little while.”
Willow just tossed Buffy her wallet and keys. The Witch knew perfectly well the pizza place delivered, she also knew Buffy was on her way to pick Amy and the kids up.[We should have become marriage counselors.] Willow thought.
Thirty minutes later Buffy, four pizzas three kids and one witch heavier, made it home.
Buffy and Willow fed the kids in the backyard while Amy and Xander talked in the house. Later Buffy and Amy took the kids to the car and Xander and Willow hugged on the porch.
Chapter 4
A Very Long Night With Many Guest Appearances
The last thing Pam Nichols expected to see was Willow Rosenberg on her front porch hugging a handsome man. As she pulled her car over she then noticed the two women putting a toddler into a car seat. Pam was struck at how beautiful the women seemed. It appeared that Dr. Rosenberg didn't know any ugly people.
The four adults noticed the car parking right away. Years of living on the Hellmouth made them all cautious. Dr. Nichols got out of her car and waved at Willow. The four met by the child-ridden car.
“Pam, I didn't expect to see you here,” Willow said, fear returning to her stomach.
“Wait, I know you, don't I,” Amy said looking at Pam. The other adults just looked at her. “You’re Dr. Nichols with the FBI occult crime unit. We have been meeting with you on Wicca exchanges once a month. You know ‘the not all witches are evil’ group.”
“Yes of course Mrs. Harris, I didn't know you knew Dr. Rosenberg. The blocks tumbling in place. “No wait Willow, the picture on your desk of your family you showed me today, Mrs. Harris you were in it.”
“Not the one from last Thanksgiving? I look awful in that.” Amy answered.
“You don't look awful and besides I like that picture," Willow said as she leaned unconsciously against Buffy.
“Yeah honey, I think you look good all the time. Xander said kissing his wives cheek.
“You are in the dog house so you have to say that”. But Amy was smiling at her husband.
“Will, how about some introductions.” Buffy said.
“Of course, how rude of me. This is my boss Dr Pam Nichols and I guess you know Amy and this is her husband Xander Harris. Their three kids are in the car. The handsome guy peeking out is Xand Jr., the 6-year old waved at Dr. Nichols. The three-year-old is Jesse and the cute little girl is Jenny. She is what, Amy, just about 18 months?
“Yes, can you believe it.” Amy said with a sigh.
“She looks just like her mom.” Xander added. The adults looked at the children happy in their presence.
“And this is Buffy- my baby.” Willow added placing an arm around Buffy's waist as they continued to watch the children.
“Oh please,” Amy whined, “If you keep that up I will be sick. I just wish Xander would get the idea though.” The three women all laughed, as Xander and Pam felt lost on this long running joke.
“So, I'll follow you home honey it is almost dark now.” Xander said looking at the sky.
In a few minutes Xander and family had left and Willow had shown Pam around their small house. Buffy had left Pam and Willow alone in the den while she did dishes.
“Nice friends, so you not only know the password to the Vatican, you know the local president of LA Wiccans. Not many people can say that. Still with your science background I would think that knowing people who think there are witches must make it hard on your friendship with her husband.” It was as good a place as any to search for answers Pam thought.
It was clear to Willow, Pam had concluded Willow knew Amy through her association with Xander. If she remembered the picture, she must remember that she had mentioned that Xander and she had known each other since they were 5. Still she had to tread carefully. Willow thought it was time to do some fishing of her own.
“She doesn't.” Willow stated.
“She doesn't what?” Pam asked confused.
“She doesn't think she is a witch, she knows she is one. A very powerful one, which is why she is President of the California chapter, not just LA. It is usually someone much older. Age and experience are import to witches.” There, Willow had given her facts, ones that she knew could be checked.
“I didn't know you knew so much about witches. Do you practice witchcraft yourself?" That would explain some of her past Pam thought.
“I dabble.”
It was at that moment Buffy came back in the room to ask if they wanted drinks. “Dabble in what?”
“Witchcraft” Pam stated flatly.
“Oh you dabble, like Amy dabbles, please.” Buffy said. Buffy realized too late that she had overstepped her bounds. She was now on enemy turf. [Bunch of bullies and spies] she thought. “So you know Amy from her awareness meetings,” Buffy stated, [Time to play ball] she thought. Then she added half-joking and half-baiting Pam, “Just don't piss her off. She is great at the ‘turn you into a rat thing’, it's the changing you back part that has the bugs. Besides it leaves you with this longing for cheese that never goes away. I just came into see if you needed anything like maybe something to drink before I have to go meet Angel. He has a job for me.”
“You didn't tell me that.” Willow forgetting anything she had said concentrating on her lover.
“Well with the Xander/Amy soap I didn't have time.”
“Is it a paying job or ……” Willow stopped and looked at Pam, “the other kind?”
“Paying I think. You know his cop friend Kate. She knows this guy who has a daughter that is hanging out with one of those LA gangs. Anyway the guy is going to pay me to go get her and then put her in rehab. Angel would do it but he is booked and this is a one-time thing. If the kid goes back to the gang not much anyone can do. Angel thought I might have more luck with her. It's work.”
“Just be careful and remember even you can't walk through bullets.”
Just then the doorbell rang. “Please God don't let this be Xander.” Buffy said as she went to answer the door.
Seconds later Buffy's voice could be heard “Oh I thought I was going to meet you at your office not that I was looking forward to Cordelia.” Then there was a long pause and Buffy added, “Oh sorry, you haven't been here before. Angel, come in.”
“Sorry about showing up. There has been a major change in plans. Turns out it's not just a drug gang after all. The daughter is mixed up with a chaos demon. It’s connected with the other case I am working on and the time frame is not good.”
“Ok, let me get my equipment, go say hello to Willow, she is in the den with her ‘new boss’. Buffy emphasized the words new boss. Willow knew Buffy was basically telling Angel to check out Pam because she didn't trust her.
Angel walked into the den and waved at Willow.
“Hi Angel, oh this is my boss at the FBI/CIA thing, Pam Nichols. Pam this is Angel.”
“So you are a PI. I am sorry I didn't catch your last name.”
“Smith,” Angel replied.
Willow never knew what he would say, some times it was Smith sometimes it was Jones. Once when he was with Buffy they were Mr. and Mrs. Fall.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Smith.” It was at that moment that Pam looked back to the hall at the mirror across from the den.
“Mr. Smith, were you aware that you have no reflection?” Pam reached in her jacket and check on her gun. Angel turned around silently swearing to himself.
“Trick mirror” Willow said.
“What?” Buffy popped back in, “Trick mirror” Angel added.
“Oh yeah, trick mirror, very funny. Let's go. Willow will you be ok?” Buffy said dragging Angel from the room.
“We're ok.” Willow reassured Buffy.
Buffy pushed Angel out of the den. Then turn back around and kissed Willow quickly.
Pam was fuming. “Ok Dr. Rosenberg let's start over. You know witches and a vampire. You have been into just about every occult library in the world. I pulled your records. It took a while, did you know the CIA had records on you since you were 15. They had a lot of records. You were once a practicing witch at least according to your credit bills.”
Pausing only to breath, Pam continued angrily, “Your lover while not a hacker has an interesting record. She has been arrested 50 times in 7 countries and not been convicted once. In fact, not once has she even gone to trial. Ever single charge, weird murder or assault, and there have been lots of assault charges, breaking and entering, arson, none have gone to trial. Her records started at 15 when she burned down the high school gym not once but twice. Quite a record, if the information is right. She’s also burned down or destroyed 7 other gyms, 4 stores, 15 abandoned buildings and this is my personal favorite, she blew up her high school on graduation day, still not once was she brought to trial.”
“So much for your permanent records not following you around.” Willow deadpanned.
“Did you know most people go through life without ever needing a blood transfusion? Your friend has been given 27 blood transfusions due to severe blood loss. Usually from something called neck rupture, I am a doctor and I don't know what neck rupture is, but the scar on her neck and given the fact she apparently works for a vampire makes me wonder. No wonder Bob asked you to move out on your girlfriend and Bob is not the least bit homophobic. I was given some of this information but I never dreamed you were this deep in the occult." Pam stated throwing up her arms.
“So you're thinking jail was a better idea.”
“No,” Pam almost shouted, “you are far to dangerous to leave unchecked. And I thought you were some naive kid caught up in the excitement of being kind of bad without actually hurting anyone. Boy was I wrong. Now doctor, what the hell is going on?”
“Depends, you do believe that Vampires are real. You have seen vampires before?” Willow was familiar with the work of the Initiative, so she knew that someone in the government knew about demons.
“Personally no, but I have enough research done by CIA departments and people in my department to know that they exist. You are all from Sunnydale, and your vampire friend seemed safe enough. Did Dr. Walsh At UC Sunnydale treat your friend?”
“You know about the Initiative? But to answer you question. No, Angel was cursed with his soul by gypsies.”
“Cursed with his soul?”
“When you become a vampire your soul leaves because you die and the demon takes over. It has no conscience and in general you can't trust Vampires. But gypsies put Angel's soul back in his body. He remembers everything he did as a vampire. He killed his own family. Pam you don't have to worry he is good now and he helps people. He is trying to get atonement for all the evil he did without his soul. Angel was Buffy's first boyfriend. It is a long story. Anyway I am a witch, we fight the bad guys and before Buffy closed the Hellmouth for good we had a lot of evil to fight.”
“The places Buffy destroyed, well the gym, the gyms were full of vampires, no humans and it was the only thing we could do. We blew up the high school because the mayor who was a demon was about to ascend which is very bad and very big like the size of the high school big. And a lot of people helped, which is why no one ever even arrested us even though the whole town knew it was Buffy. I know I sound crazy. But if I were lying why would the government be so damn ready to put me to work. I think it isn't me you need to worry about but the guys who knew all this before and hid it.” Willow said wondering if she should be telling her about everything and everyone.
“You have a point. Somebody wanted you in the CIA 12 years ago and was willing to wait for you to get out of medical school. Somebody somewhere sure was keeping your girlfriend out of jail. Can you prove you are a witch?” Pam said changing the subject.
“What, you want me to turn you into a rat or something?” Willow asked all to innocently.
“No, can you do something less……” Pam didn't finish her sentence because she was staring at a floating pencil, then a floating book, soon a cup, a set of keys and a ruler joined the fray.
“Take one of them, go ahead it won't hurt you.”
Pam reached for the ruler and put it in her hand. She checked it for stings.
Willow put the other things down, one by one, on the desk. “It took me years to learn to do more then on or two objects at a time. But on the other hand it is fun to know the laws of physic can be broken.”
“So Amy is a powerful witch too. You're in Amy's coven?”
“No, Amy really isn't even in Amy's coven. We get together trade stuff help each other out, but no covens. Not in the classic sense. Amy really is a very powerful witch. She has massive power, but I have a little more skill at the harder spells. Truth is Amy is far to busy being a mother to Xander and his three kids and Xander is a very big kid. Most witches are pretty innocent. And most are good guys. Many like Amy come from families of witches with handed down powers and spells. Others are New Ager’s who found they have a little talent. Some don't really have any talent. In truth it is the ones as you might say who play at being witches that are the most dangerous. They have no idea what evil they can do. And evil loves to feed on the innocent.”
Pam and Willow continued talking until shortly before dawn when the front door slammed.
“Ok so where is she?” Cordelia’s voice echoed through the house.
Willow jumped and went to the living room. Buffy was leaning on a blood soaked Cordelia. Only the blood was coming from Buffy.
“Damn. Cordelia bring her into the kitchen.”
“And hello to you” Cordelia said a she pushed Buffy forward. Pam reached the other side and took some of the weight off the girl.
[Damn, Pam’s still here.] Willow thought. “Pam this Cordelia, Cordelia this is Pam.".
“What, Willow final get smart and leave you Buffy?” Cordelia said.
Willow had water running and her med. kit out when they reached the kitchen.
“Thanks Cordy. Are you ok? Are Doyle and Angel ok?”
“Well my clothes are ruined, but everyone but Buffy is ok. Bumps and bruises, but ok. It was an ambush.”
Willow cut Buffy's jacket and shirt away, tossing them to the floor.
Pam grabbed the towels and began cleaning the wounds to get a better look.
While Pam cleaned, Willow used a small flashlight on looked in Buffy's eyes. "Yep just as I thought, you have one hell of a concussion.
Cordelia asked, "How did you know that?”
Willow looked at Cordelia. "She hasn't argued with you once.”
"Oh that explains it.” Cordelia thought out loud.
“She is going to need a lot of stitches; I'll call for an ambulance.” Pam said.
She was meet with three loud “NO's”
“I have everything she needs in the bag.” Willow replied firmly.
“Plus her being a real doctor,” Cordelia added.
“Ok, how can I help?” Pam asked.
Buffy had three large claw marks on her back and three across her stomach. All were deep and needed stitches.
Willow gave Buffy a local and began the job of stitching the back cuts. Just as Willow was starting on the stomach wounds the front door flew open.
“How could you be so stupid? If you found out if was a set up, why go there in the first place?” A women's voice said.
“But we weren’t sure it was a set up and Faith isn't exactly the most reliable source, you have said so yourself,” A man with an Irish brogue answered.
“Ow, my head is about to explode I can feel it,” Buffy answered
Doyle and Kate entered the kitchen
“Hi honey, is every thing ok?” Doyle said hugging Cordelia.
“Other then my outfit is ruined,” Cordelia stopped herself and whispered “I think she'll be ok once the Slayer healing thing sets in.” Cordelia really did care about people; she just had a hard time showing it.
“So what does the doctor and some person I don't know say?” Kate asked. “Oh and Angel said to call him. He would have come with us……”
“Almost dawn” Buffy stated, knowing from Slayer instinct.
Willow tied off the last stitch on the first stomach wound and moved to the second. “So how come no one told me Faith was involved because this is what generally happens when Faith is involved.” Willow stated through clenched teeth.
“Will, for once it wasn't her fault. She actually warned us and we didn't listen. And before you say she probably knew, remember that it's Faith and brain damaged Faith at that.” Buffy said.
“It doesn't matter, she has bad karma and I can blame her if I want to! So we are never ever, ever doing anything that Faith does or doesn't suggest!!” Willow replied angrily.
“Jealous much,” Cordelia said.
“Redhead's,” Buffy answered.
“Witches” Doyle said.
“I’m with Willow” Kate said. “So who is your friend?”
“Cops” The group said together.
“Kate, this is my boss Pam” Willow answered.
“One of the bully's and spies?” Kate asked.
“Bullies and spies?” Pam asked puzzled.
“Just go with it.” Willow said. “Yes, only she is with the FBI.”
“A feebee huh.” Kate replied suspiciously.
They were all quiet.
“She knows. Well not everything, but most of it. CIA records.” Willow stated.
“From the bugs?” Doyle asked.
“That and from the surveillance from the last 10 years of our lives. We are very interesting to someone.”
“It is just like the CIA to know stuff and not help,” Kate said. “Is Buffy really ok Will? She hasn't had a good comeback in a while.”
“Concussion. How long was she out?”
“Willow, I told you only a couple minutes.” Buffy answered.
“About 40 minutes” Doyle said.
“So what happened and I was asking Doyle, Buffy.”
“Buffy followed us in as backup. Only they were waiting. A chaos demon popped out into real space and picked her up and threw her into a wall.”
“Hence the claw marks” Willow said.
“Anyway they left her alone because she was out and fought with us for a while. Then well we lost. Buffy woke up, saved us like usual, I never knew that a ceiling fan could do that to a chaos demon before.”
“Not to mention that whole thing with the electric can opener.” Cordelia added.
“Let me guess, someone called the cops about the noise and you showed up.” Willow said to Kate.
“Actually she was there with us. But otherwise that’s right.” Buffy added. “Besides they left the part out about the futon coach.”
“Eww!” Cordelia, Kate and Doyle said together.
Willow finished and leaned over and kissed Buffy on the lips.
“Do you have to do that here,” Cordelia asked.
“Cordelia, it is their house.” Kate said irritatedly.
“Besides, I think is kind of nice.” Doyle smirked. Before Cordelia punched him in the stomach.
“You and Xander,” Buffy said.
“Who and Xander?” Cordelia asked.
“Today Xander and Amy had this huge fight because Larry is going to coach Xand Jr's. Tee ball team. Well you know Amy loved Larry even in high school and Xander was scared to death of him.”
“Demon's he could handle, a gay football player he freaked. I can see why they would fight.” Cordelia added. Then looking over at Buffy, “And I am not homophobic, just because I don't want to watch Willow stick her tongue down your throat does not make me homophobic.” Cordelia said indignantly.
“She just kissed me Cordy and you are to.”
“I see your feeling better Buffy,” Kate said. “If everything is cool I am tired and I think I'll go home. It you need me, I’ve got the cell.”
“Wait, before you go, can you and Cordy give me a hand putting her in bed. And I can get you some clean clothes Cordy? You too Kate. Doyle, you keep Pam company, ok.”
Kate went around to Buffy’s side. “She wasn't this unbalanced before, well physically anyway.” Kate said as she helped Willow stand Buffy up. “Did you give her something?”
“Just a local, but the blood loss and concussion and the whole Slayer dynamic, her body reacts differently then most people. It draws on itself when injured for self-preservation, then it has to shut down a little later.” Willow replied.
The three women got Buffy into bed and in clean clothes. Willow handed Kate a few names to check. Kate and Cordelia borrowed some of Buffy's sweats and tee shirts.
Just before falling asleep Buffy said to Kate “Say good night to Angel when you see him this morning.”
Willow and Cordelia just laughed. “Kate, Buffy and Angel tell each other everything,” Willow whispered. “It used to unnerve me too.”
Returning to the kitchen they found Doyle with a glass of whiskey. “Your friend or whatever, she left. She said that she was assigning you to work at home today and to call her this afternoon if the world doesn't end."
“Doyle, would you trust her?” Willow asked carefully. Doyle had good instincts even if he didn't trust them himself.
“I don't know. She seems ok, only I think she is a pawn.” Doyle answered before taking another drink of whiskey.
“Your vision” Cordelia said. “He had a vision that you were a game piece on a chessboard.”
“You weren't in danger, but the person that was using you as a pawn in the game was in danger and the game went out of control. Faith was one of the pieces. Faith and Xander, Amy and the kids, Angel, Kate, Cordy, Buffy and I were watching the game. We couldn't help you. Not one of my clearer visions, sorry.” Doyle said and finished the whiskey off in one large swallow.
“Actually it makes perfect sense to me. And you are right, you guys can't help this time. But I wish I knew how Xander and Faith fit in it. When did Faith get back in town?” Willow asked distractedly.
“Couple weeks ago she showed up asked Angel if he knew were she could get a job and did he help her. That’s Angel.” Kate answered. “A barkeeper owed him a favor. Faith is working behind the bar at the Fosterage. She is sleeping in a room over the bar. Truth is she seemed kind of happy with it, for Faith at least.”
End Part 2
Continued in Part 3