Black Cats: Part 1
Cordelia let out a scream and Wes and Angel came running. Angel held her while she moaned, holding her head with both of her hands. Finally the vision stopped and she rested against Angel, gasping for breath. Wes spoke. "Cordy, what did you see?"
She pushed away and sent a look of anguish to Angel. "It's Giles, something was attacking him and Buffy couldn't kill it."
Angel stepped closer to her, a look of severe consternation on his face. "What was it, what was attacking him?"
Cordy shook her head. "I didn't recognize it. It was black, had a muzzle thing, pointed ears, like a cat, but it was big. Bigger than Buffy."
This was ringing an uncomfortable bell with Wesley. He began to pull some books off the shelves. Angel was pacing. "Where was she? Where is this happening?"
Cordy looked frustrated. "I don't know. I saw a bed, but it wasn't Buffy's bedroom. I don't know." She looked up at Angel, an apology on her face for the dearth of information.
Angel put his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Cordy. You can't control the visions." He looked at Wes. "We have to go, now."
Wes looked outside at the brightly shining sun. He gestured towards the window. "Perhaps we should wait."
Angel shook his head. "If we leave now it will be dark by the time we get to Sunnydale. I don't want to waste any time, not if Buffy's in trouble." He was already trying to call Buffy. He reached a recording that said the number had been changed. He quickly dialed that number and the phone rang and rang without a response. Angel slammed the phone down. "Damn it. Why isn't her answering machine working?" He handed the phone to Cordelia. "Here, try Giles." He raced downstairs to get some weapons.
Cordy looked up Giles' number and called it. She reached a recording that said the number had been changed. After writing it down she called the new number. After twenty rings she hung up. Cordy looked at Wes, a puzzled expression on her face. "No answering machine at either place. That's sort of weird."
Wes just grunted at her as he frantically made a pile of books he wanted to take with him. He knew he'd read a prophecy about something that happened at this time of year. He looked up as Angel raced back up the stairs. They all headed for the garage, Cordy picking up a blanket to cover Angel with as they swept out of the office.
***
Kevin had apologized for about the hundredth time for knocking the answering machine off the counter when Buffy finally couldn't stand it anymore. She attacked him, punishing him with tickling until he was begging for mercy. Finally Buffy relented. "There, you break it again, I'll tickle you twice as long. Besides, anybody who might have called us is gonna be here tonight, so it's no big."
Kevin grinned at her. Paul had been right. Once Kevin found out what Buffy could do he was totally enamored of her and her skills. He struggled to a sitting position. "Will you bend another knife for me?"
Giles answered for her, sending a mock glare to both Kevin and Buffy. "No she will not. We are rapidly running out of silverware."
Buffy grinned at Kevin. "There, Giles has spoken." As pleased as she was that Kevin had decided he liked her she occasionally felt like a circus sideshow. "You'll just have to wait until an evil demon or something comes along and you can just watch me…" She heard Giles clear his throat. Without even looking she could feel him glaring at her so she quickly amended her sentence, "…which will never happen again and even if it did, which it won't, you can't watch." She leaned down and tickled Kevin again. "See how much trouble you get me in, you little monkey."
She scooped up the remains of the answering machine and threw it in the trash. Kevin got up and went to stand by Giles. Giles was looking through one of his books trying to find something about black cats. He closed the book keeping his place with one of his fingers. As he was about to speak to Kevin they all heard the door slam next door.
Kevin's eyes lit up. "Mom and Roger are home." He flashed a grin at Giles and was out the door. Giles let out a deep breath and slumped back in his chair.
Buffy came over and sat in his lap. She kissed him and laying his book down he wrapped his arms around her enjoying this opportunity to be alone with her. Kevin had been staying with them for the last three days and as much as Giles loved Kevin, having him underfoot nonstop had been a tad overwhelming and he was delighted Roger and Linda were home from their weekend away.
The kiss grew more passionate and Giles longed to take Buffy upstairs and make love to her but he knew Roger would be over in a few minutes. Along with everybody else. Giles reluctantly pulled back from the kiss. He grinned as Buffy made a whining noise and he kissed her on the end of her nose. "As much as I hate to put a stop to this we have quite a few people due to arrive shortly on our doorstep."
Buffy looked behind her at the clock on the wall and let out a cry. She leaped off of Giles' lap looking down at herself. "I'll never be ready in time." She leant down and kissed him quickly. "I have to go take a shower." And in a flash she was gone.
Giles grinned as he watched her run up the stairs. He kept the grin on his face as he heard Roger step through the kitchen door. When Roger saw him he grinned back. Giles got up and slapped Roger on the arm. "Good to have you back."
Roger grinned even wider. "Why, was he that terrible?"
Giles let out a soft chuckle. "No, he was fine." He looked at Roger. "It's just good to have you back."
Roger shot Giles an affectionate look. "Thanks. It's good to be back." He helped himself to a beer out of the refrigerator. He offered one to Giles but Giles shook his head. Roger took in all the books. "Are you sleuthing something in particular or just keeping in shape?"
Giles frowned. "Buffy saw quite a few black cats while she was out on patrol." He shook his head. "I don't know if it means anything or not. I suppose a lot of people could just own black cats and they were all out at the same time but it got Buffy's Slayer senses tingling. I seem to remember reading something about black cats but I can't put my finger on it." He looked at Roger. "What did Linda decide?"
Roger grinned. "She's staying."
Giles smiled back, thrilled for his friend, and for himself. "I'm glad for you."
"Me too. I was sure she would decide to leave. Not that I could have blamed her especially after that whole vampire thing two weeks ago."
Giles grimaced. He still didn't understand why there had been so many, and why they'd come to the house. If it hadn't been for Buffy and Spike they would have been in serious trouble. They'd all been in the back yard enjoying a barbecue dinner courtesy of Roger's grill when they'd been attacked by at least a dozen vampires.
Giles and Paul had run inside for weapons while Buffy had started attacking, allowing everyone the opportunity to get inside. Spike had run for Kevin who had been farthest from the house. Dodging vampires he had raced him back to the house and practically thrown him at Roger. Then he had gone to stand at Buffy's side to fight.
Paul had gotten stakes to Buffy and Spike, holding on to some extras just in case, and then stood back with the others as Buffy and Spike started staking vampires and Giles began to behead them with his sword. Within a few minutes they were all gone and the three of them were wiping dust off their clothing.
There was the usual assortment of scrapes and bruises and Linda had helped Roger patch everyone up. Giles had been impressed with how calm she had been. Linda had heard the stories, she had seen Giles materialize in front of her eyes, she knew a demon had attacked Kevin, but this was the first time she had seen something like this, watched a full fledged attack, up close and personal.
Roger had been petrified that she would leave right then, that night or the next day, but she hadn't. However, it was clear she was working it through, trying to figure out what was right for her, for Kevin, for their future. She and Roger had taken this weekend to talk and to decide.
Giles smiled as Linda walked in. She smiled back. "Did Roger tell you?"
Giles nodded. "I'm delighted." He shot a mischievous look at Roger. "I'm not sure I understand why you'd choose to stay." He shook his head. "I still haven't figured out why Roger and Paul stay."
Linda walked over to him and placed a kiss on Giles' cheek. She touched him gently on the arm. "I know why they stay." She walked back to Roger and rested her back against his chest, pulling Roger's arms around her. "And I know why I'm staying."
She looked at Kevin running around in the back yard. "I keep thinking that Buffy was only four years older than him when she became the Slayer. I can't even conceive of that." She shook her head. "If I had my way I'd have never wanted Kevin to know about any of this. About demons and magic, what a Slayer is, or why there needs to be one. But he does know and I don't know how to make his life normal again."
She pulled up one of Roger's hands to place a kiss upon it. Roger kissed the top of her head. "So, if he can't have a normal life, the next best thing is to let him have all of you. I can't imagine him having better men in his life, or more loving friends, or stronger protectors, or wiser teachers." She sent Giles a loving look. "He'd already be dead if it wasn't for you."
Giles felt honored by her words and he moved over to her. Roger let Linda go and Giles embraced her, holding her tightly just for a moment.
Buffy chose that moment to walk back into the kitchen. "Hey, you trying to steal my guy?"
Linda laughed and pulled back, grinning at Buffy. "Like I'd have a chance." She leaned back into Roger. "Besides I already have a guy."
Buffy's eyes lit up. "You're staying?" Linda nodded, grinning. Buffy went and stood next to Giles, sighing happily as he put his arm around her and pulled her up close. Buffy took them all in with a glance. "Yay for us."
They heard a yell and looking out the side window saw Paul and Kevin wrestling in the grass. Roger and Giles exchanged a grin and Giles headed out to get the food that Paul had set off to the side. Linda and Buffy began pulling out plates and cups. Roger went off to his house to get some extra silverware.
Willow and Tara chose that moment to arrive and they helped Giles carry in the food. Paul came in carrying Kevin upside down. He dumped him unceremoniously on the living room carpet. Paul walked over and slapped Giles on the back and then he took in everyone's grins. He grabbed Linda, pulled her in for a big hug, and grinned at her. "I take it you're staying?" She nodded. He hugged her again and then groaned. "God, does that mean Kevin has to stay too?" He grunted as Kevin bulldozed into him. Paul just picked him up, turned him in his arms until he was upside down again and dumped him back on the carpet. Kevin lay there giggling.
Buffy started counting heads. "Who are we missing?"
Giles answered her. "Anya and Xander. They should be here shortly as soon as she closes up."
Kevin piped in. "And Spike." He loved Spike.
Giles rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes, and Spike. We mustn't forget about him." He looked at Kevin. "He won't be here until after dark." Giles gestured to Kevin to assist him. The two of them began to move the books off the kitchen table and restack them on the coffee table.
Buffy noticed the activity. "Hey, any kitty news?"
Giles frowned. "Nothing yet." He looked at his books, tempted by them.
Buffy knew that look too well. She walked over to him and pulled him away. "After dinner, Giles. The books aren't going anywhere."
Roger entered the kitchen. He felt something brush against his ankle and he looked down. Whatever it was raced by him and into the house. He frowned and looked at Giles. "Speaking of cats, did you guys get one while we were gone?"
Giles' eyebrows rose. "No, why do you ask?"
Roger shook his head. "Well, maybe I'm imagining it but I could have sworn a cat just ran by me and into your house."
Buffy started to look nervous. "A black cat?"
Roger nodded. "Yeah, a black cat."
Buffy turned to Giles and gestured to the books. "I think I'm changing my mind." Giles nodded, agreeing, and headed for the couch. Buffy looked at everyone else. "Stay here." She motioned to Paul with her head and she called out. "Here, kitty, kitty." Paul joined her and the two of them started walking through the house.
Tara and Willow joined Giles over by the couch, settling into the love seat. "What are we looking for?"
Giles handed each of them a book. "Anything about black cats." As they started looking through their assigned books Linda and Roger started bringing them plates of food.
***
It was just dark by the time Angel, Wes, and Cordy reached Sunnydale. They went to Giles' home first as his was closest. Angel was leaping from the car before Wes even brought it to a complete stop. He rapped on Giles' door. When there was no answer he knocked harder using the flat of his hand. He turned away frustrated. Wes and Cordy had just gotten to the door by then and he motioned them back to the car. "Let's go to Buffy's."
Wes drove them over to Buffy's. They didn't even get out of the car. The house was empty; that was clear even from the street. Their eyes were all focused on the For Sale sign on her lawn, and the Sold sign on top of that. Angel shot a look of confusion at his two companions. "Where are they? I can't believe she'd leave and not tell me."
Cordelia had no idea. According to her vision both Buffy and Giles were still alive, or at least had been until a short time ago. Wes started driving again. "We'll go to his shop. Maybe someone will be there." Angel sat back in his seat, his anxiety growing by the minute.
***
Paul and Buffy searched the whole house but saw no trace of the cat. Buffy threw herself down on the couch next to Giles. "I don't get it. It just up and vanished."
Roger smiled a little sheepishly. "Maybe I imagined it."
Buffy shook her head. "No, I feel…something. Something's not right."
Giles tossed down the book he was looking at onto the coffee table. "I know I'm missing it. It's right here in front of me and I can't for the life of me remember." He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Buffy snuggled up next to him and Giles put his arm around her.
Willow finished with the book she had been looking at. "Maybe it got out." She put the book on the coffee table and picked up another one. "Or maybe it's some weird sort of Hellmouth Halloween thing. You know, black cats in the house, vampires in the back yard." She looked up to find everyone staring at her. She blushed. "Well it is Halloween on Wednesday." She looked at Giles. "I know you always say that Halloween is generally a demon free time but every Halloween for the past few years has been pretty shiver worthy."
Giles stared at Willow. "It's Halloween next week?"
Buffy smiled at Giles, shaking her head. "Hello? Where have you been?" She gestured to the Halloween decorations she and Kevin had spent a good deal of the day putting up.
Giles nodded absently at her. He was too busy thinking. Removing his arm from around Buffy he sat there, lost in thought. No one interrupted him. Giles snapped his fingers, stood, and quickly ran up the stairs. Buffy grinned at Willow. "Super research guy to the rescue." The grin came off her face and it was replaced by a look of intense concentration, her hand up to keep anyone from talking. She was off the couch and halfway up the stairs before anyone else registered Giles' cry of pain.
Buffy followed the sounds of the struggle to one of the spare bedrooms. She found Giles trying to fight off a demon, one hand attempting to keep snapping teeth away from his face, the other trying to protect himself from flailing claws. It was almost as large as Giles was, black, like a cross between a cat and a large ape. Buffy barreled into the room and leapt at the demon, her momentum taking it off of Giles.
Paul got to the bedroom next and watched as Giles rolled away and tried to get up. Paul ran to assist him. Giles opened up the closet and pulled out a sword. Paul yelled as the demon tore loose of Buffy and headed for Giles again. Buffy tackled it to the floor yelling. "It wants you Giles, get out of here." Giles had no intention of leaving Buffy alone. The beast shook free again and was almost on top of Giles before he even got the sword up. He plunged the sword into the demon's chest but it didn't even faze it.
It kept coming and only Paul shoving Giles out of the way kept him from being mauled. The demon took Paul down accidentally. It ignored Paul and headed for Giles again. Buffy blindsided it and she and the demon both slammed into the wall. This time Buffy yelled at Paul. "Paul, get him out of here." Paul grabbed Giles and shoved him through the doorway slamming the door shut behind Giles and locking it. Paul leaped out of the way as the beast tried to break down the door. He pulled his gun out of his holster and while the demon was clawing at the door he raised it and fired the gun at its head.
The beast exploded. Both Buffy and Paul shielded themselves expecting to be covered with its remains. After a few moments they realized that nothing was hitting them at all. It was just gone, without a trace. Buffy stood up and looked at Paul and then at the gun in his hand. She grinned. "Cool."
Paul grinned back and then he grimaced as he heard Giles yelling and slamming on the door. "He doesn't sound too happy."
Buffy snorted. "Too bad." She stalked over to the door and opened it. As Giles opened his mouth Buffy started in on him. "Don't even start. It wanted to kill you. It wasn't interested in Paul or me. It didn't even try to hurt us. We couldn't kill it while we were having to protect you." She finished her speech by reaching up and giving him a hard kiss and then she wrapped her arms around him pulling him close.
Giles could feel her trembling. Giles lowered his head to whisper in her ear. "I'm all right, Buffy, really, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I was just afraid for you."
She pulled back and started checking him over. He was badly scratched and there seemed to be a lot of blood. She yelled for Roger only to realize that he was already there. She looked up and saw the rest of them spread out on the staircase. Buffy moved so Roger could start checking out Giles' wounds.
Giles looked at Paul and glared at him. Paul held up his hands, one hand still holding the gun. Giles just rolled his eyes and waved with one of his hands to get Paul to put his own hands down. He looked at the gun and his eyebrows rose. "Were you able to kill it with that?"
Buffy stood next to Paul. "I think he earned his Boy Scout Slayer badge today." She grinned up at Paul and Paul grinned back. He returned his gun to his holster.
He shrugged and turned to Giles. "I figured it was worth a try."
Buffy turned to Giles as well. "It just exploded and disappeared. No demon goo or anything." She moved over to Roger. "Is he okay?"
Roger nodded. "The only bad ones are on his arm." He indicated the two deep puncture wounds and the one-inch gashes that continued down from them.
Buffy made a face. "Ouch."
Giles looked down at his arm, puzzled. "It was quite odd. When he first attacked me he just held down that arm and made that wound. When I pulled it away from him he kept trying for that arm again." He looked at Roger. "I think I'd like to sit down now."
Roger started helping him down the stairs and Buffy moved to support his other side. They sat him at the kitchen table and Roger began to clean all the cuts. Kevin was hovering close by and Giles pulled him close so he could sit on his knee while he was being looked after. Kevin leaned back and rested against Giles' chest.
Buffy perched on the table thinking out loud. "Was that the cat? Did it change into that bigger mutant cat thing? Why couldn't Paul and I find it?"
Giles nodded. He ran his free hand through Kevin's hair. "Yes, I imagine it was. I don't know how it managed to hide from you."
Paul spoke up. "Why did it only want you?"
"I don't know that either." He looked at Willow. "Willow, there are some Watcher diaries upstairs in the back bedroom. That's where I was heading. Will you find them and bring them down?" He looked at Paul. "Maybe you should go with her." Paul nodded and he and Willow headed upstairs.
End Part 1
Black Cats: Part 2
Xander hung up the phone. Anya was about to turn the lock when Angel, Wes and Cordy walked through the door. Angel wasted no time in pleasantries. "Where's Buffy?"
Xander blew out a breath. "Hey Angel, long time no see, fine thanks, and you?"
Angel wasn't in the mood. "She could be in danger, where is she?"
"She's home. I just got off the phone with her. She's fine."
"We just went by her home, she isn't living there anymore."
"She's at her new home."
"Why did she move?"
Xander didn't answer for a minute. He realized that Angel had no idea that Giles and Buffy were together now, that they were living together. He didn't intend to be the one who told him. He liked his head where it was. "Bad memories."
Angel thought of Buffy's mom and nodded, thinking he understood. "You're sure she's safe? Where's Giles?"
"Giles is there with her. They all are. She said he just got attacked but they're all okay. He asked me to bring him a few books." He motioned to Anya. "We were heading over to Buffy's anyway, for dinner." Xander nodded to Wes and Cordy. "Hey guys."
They both greeted him back. Anya wasn't terribly pleased to see Cordelia. She moved next to Xander and stood very close to him. Xander smiled at her and squeezed her hand. He spoke to her. "Let me grab those books and we can head on over there." He took in Angel, Wes and Cordy. "I guess you guys should come too, to explain why you're here, why you thought Buffy was in danger." He hoped Giles didn't knock him into tomorrow for bringing Angel over. "Maybe I should call Buffy and let her know."
Cordy shook her head. "No, it will be more fun to surprise her."
Xander silently snorted to himself, speaking softly so only Anya could hear. "Oh, yeah. Lots of fun." He had to admit he wanted to see Angel's face when he caught on to Buffy and Giles. Xander knew it was an evil thought but he couldn't help it. He didn't like Angel, never had, never would.
***
Cordy let out a whistle as they pulled up outside of what was supposedly Buffy's new home. "Jeez, check out the digs. How did she afford this?" Once they saw Xander and Anya getting out of Xander's car, the three of them got out too. Angel followed Xander up to the door. Cordy and Wes started pulling out the books that Wes had stuffed in the trunk.
Giles was just beginning to go through the books that Willow and Paul had brought down, Kevin still on his knee. He looked up at the brief knock and smiled as Xander and Anya breezed through the door. Giles pulled a few more volumes out, checking for dates.
Xander pasted a smile on his face and in a false cheery voice he gestured back to the door. "Look guys, company."
Buffy looked up and her jaw dropped. "Angel?"
Giles went quite still as Buffy spoke his name. Roger and Paul's heads snapped up. Giles knew it was Angel and not Angelus, or Xander wouldn't have entered so casually but he couldn't stop his heart from speeding up or the way his jaw clenched. Giles stood, sliding Kevin off his knee, instinctively pushing Kevin behind him. Giles looked up to see that both Roger and Paul had moved until they stood on each side of him.
Buffy swung her head to Giles. She saw how pale he had gotten and how tense he was. Buffy was ashamed that it was the first time she had ever really paid attention to the affect Angel had on Giles. Watching Roger and Paul she knew that before Angel got anywhere near Giles that he'd have to go through both of them first. Buffy felt such a surge of love for them. She could see that they were watching Angel and watching her, waiting to see what she would do.
Buffy looked back at Angel and he was still looking at her, clearly waiting for an invitation. He spoke softly. "Buffy, will you invite me in?"
Just then, Spike sauntered into the living room having entered through the kitchen. He saw Kevin standing behind Giles and he snuck up on him and grabbed him. Kevin let out a yelp and Giles jumped. He turned quickly and when he saw Spike he let out a breath. "Spike, you scared the living daylights out of me."
Spike grinned, unrepentant. "Sorry mate. What's everyone so tense for anyway?" He looked up and saw Angel. He scowled. "Oh bugger, it's you." He turned his back on Angel and continued his harassment of Kevin. Kevin giggled, trying to fight back.
Angel's eyes could hardly hide his dismay at the fact that Spike clearly had free access to Buffy's home. Angel had seen Giles push the young boy behind him when Giles had seen him at the door. But right now Giles was completely ignoring Spike and the same boy, clearly unconcerned that Spike might hurt him. Angel turned his eyes back to Buffy, still waiting for his invitation.
Buffy caught Giles' eyes. Then with the smallest of nods and a smile, she left the choice up to him. Giles saw the gift she was giving him and he softly smiled at her. He turned to Angel and spoke. "Angel, please, come in."
As Angel stepped across the threshold, Wes showed up holding Cordy tightly against him. "Angel, she had another vision."
Angel lifted Cordy up in his arms and carried her over to the couch. He looked up and caught Willow's eye. "Can you get me a wet cloth?"
Willow nodded and headed for the kitchen. Both Giles and Buffy walked over to the couch. Giles sat on the arm of the couch, Buffy standing by his side. They both watched Cordy as she lay on the couch, pale and clearly in pain.
Wes had gone back out to get the books. As he walked in he looked behind him, a puzzled expression on his face. He glanced over at Buffy. "Do you own cats?"
Buffy looked alarmed. "No, why?"
Wes pointed outside with his chin. "Well, there are quite a few black cats on your front lawn." He let out a little yelp as he felt something down by his feet. "Oh, there's one now."
Buffy yelled at Spike. "Spike, stop that cat." She turned and gestured to Wes. "Shut the door, now."
Spike lunged for the cat and caught it by the scruff of its neck. He held it up looking at Buffy. "What am I doing with this?"
Buffy walked over to it, looking at it carefully. It looked just like a house cat. She flashed a confused look at Giles. Giles approached it a bit more gingerly. Buffy made sure that she stayed between Giles and the cat. Paul had one hand on his gun. As Giles came closer the cat began to hiss and yowl and it tried to scratch Spike to get free. Spike just held on tighter. Spike looked at Giles. "Jesus, Watcher, what did you do, steal its litter box?"
Cordy had sat up by now and she, Angel and Wes were watching the cat as it continued to hiss at Giles. Buffy turned to them. "One of these cats got in the house a little while ago and turned into a big cat thingie that attacked Giles."
Cordy nodded. "I saw that in my vision down in LA. How did you stop it? In my vision you couldn't."
Buffy indicated Paul with her chin. "He shot it."
Cordy looked at Paul, saw the hand on his gun. She realized she didn't know him, actually didn't know several of the people in the room. "Who's he?"
Buffy shook her head. "We'll do introductions in a minute. What do we do with Felix here?"
Giles scrunched his face up. He wasn't really sure. "I guess just put him outside for now. If there are several of them out there, killing the one doesn't seem as if it will do much good." He gestured at the cat and as his arm moved closer, the cat swiped at him, claws extended. Buffy grabbed Giles' arm out of harm's way. Giles crossed his arms over his chest. He finished the thought he had intended to go with his gesture. "Plus, despite its clear animosity for me it looks just like a regular cat." He didn't feel that comfortable just killing a cat.
Buffy wasn't sure she liked Giles' suggestion but she didn't have one of her own. She looked at the group. "Okay, Xander, open the door when I say so. Everyone, stay sharp in case any more try and get in. Spike, go stand by the door." She looked at Paul and flashed him a quick grin. "Ready, Boy Scout?" Paul grinned back and pulled his gun out, ready to use it if it should prove necessary.
Cordelia watched Paul, wondering who the hell he was. Her eyes wandered over him, taking in his stance, his gun, the determination in his eyes. She couldn't help letting out a small sigh.
Spike moved right next to the door. Xander had his hand on the doorknob. At Buffy's signal he opened the door. Spike threw the cat outside and Xander slammed the door shut. Xander walked over to the window and looked outside. "Jesus." He let the curtain fall back and he sent Buffy a very alarmed look.
She walked over to join him and took a look. "Oh God. Giles." Giles moved to stand next to Buffy. At his expression everyone went to the windows and looked out. There were cats everywhere, surrounding the house. Buffy couldn't look away. She saw Giles' death in each and every one of them. She spoke to them all. "No one opens a door or a window until we figure out what's going on."
Linda pulled her eyes away from the sight and turned to Roger. "You know what this reminds me of?" He shook his head. She continued. "Remember last Halloween? You wanted to get me all scared so you told me that ghost story your dad had told you. It was all about black cats turning into demons, how they attacked that guy and how the girl tried to save him." Linda was trying to remember. "Oh, what was her name, Colleen, or Collette?"
Paul turned to Roger. "God, she's right. It is just like that story dad told us." He swung around to face Giles. "When dad's mind started to go he began to tell us the most amazing stories. We weren't sure why he told them to us but they scared the bejeezus out of us and we loved them. I remember this one particularly because everyone died in it. They didn't all end badly, in fact, in most of them, that girl, and I think her name was Colleen, saved the day. Her and her friend Patrick."
Giles let out a gasp and he walked quickly across the room to the box of diaries. He searched for a certain one and once he found it he started flipping through the pages. He looked at Paul. "Was your father a police officer?" Paul nodded. "In Ireland?"
Paul nodded again. "Yes, he was a policeman in Ireland before he moved to the United States and met mom."
Giles shook his head in disbelief. "What was his name?"
Paul walked over to Giles. "Shaun Erikson. Why?"
Giles handed the diary to Paul. He looked over at Roger and then back at Paul. "I can't believe I didn't make the connection before. Your father worked with a Slayer. Her name was Colleen and her Watcher's name was Patrick."
Paul's jaw dropped and he looked down at the book in his hand. A slow grin started to form on his face. "Dad worked with a Slayer?" He sat down. "Man, all those stories he told. They must have been Slayer and Watcher stories." He looked up at Giles. "There was so much about his life in Ireland he'd never tell us, especially what made him leave there to come here."
Roger walked over to join Paul. He looked at Giles too. "After mom died, he started to, I don't know, fade, I guess. He would tell us these stories. Some days when we were visiting with him he'd talk for hours, one story after another. Each one more fantastic and unbelievable than the last." He barked out a laugh. "And here we are, living it."
Wes walked over. "I hate to interrupt but perhaps we should find out what Cordelia's last vision was and perhaps attempt to figure out what's going on."
Giles shook his head. "Of course, Wes. You're quite right." He walked back over to Cordy, who was sitting on the couch. "Cordelia, are you feeling better? Are you able to tell us what you saw?"
Cordy nodded, still massaging her temples with her index fingers. She gestured outside with one of her thumbs. "It seems a bit unnecessary now. It was another attack by the same sort of cat thing. It left a mark on your arm. And there were lots of black cats." She held the curtain open for a moment and everyone was momentarily transfixed by the glitter of cat eyes outside.
Wes was looking through the box of diaries. He turned to Cordy. "What kind of mark?"
Cordy made a swoop on her forearm. "Kind of like the letter 'C'."
Wes nodded and pursed his lips, thinking. "The letter 'C'." Both he and Giles looked at each other at the same time, twin looks of alarm on their faces. They both spoke. "The mark of the crescent moon."
They both headed for the couch, Giles to his books on the coffee table, Wes to the pile of books he had brought that were on the floor nearby. Cordy got out of the way. Paul smiled as Giles switched into research mode. He loved to watch him like this. He had never known anyone with the ability to concentrate the way Giles did. It was as if the outside world ceased to exist and he alone was privy to a private universe that was so clear to him in the books before him.
Paul noticed the pretty brunette as she stayed next to the couch and looked out the window. He was wondering who she was as well, and how she fit in with this group. He peered around the room looking for Angel and found him trying to talk to Buffy. Paul watched him, trying to not just hate him on sight for everything he had done to the people he considered his family at this point. He casually moved a little closer.
Angel touched Buffy on the arm. "Buffy."
Buffy turned and smiled. "Angel. It's good to see you."
Angel smiled at that, then he furrowed his brow. "Why was Giles able to invite me in? I thought you lived here."
Cordy had walked over and joined the conversation. "Yeah, and how'd you afford a place like this?" She looked around. "This is pretty nice."
Buffy grinned and pointed at Roger who conveniently looked up at the same moment. He headed over her way at the gesture. "You can thank the real estate guru here for that."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"This house. The deal you got Giles."
Roger laughed. Angel frowned. "I thought this was your place."
Buffy nodded. "It is but Giles bought it."
Angel's eyebrows rose. "Giles bought you a house?"
Buffy shook her head. "He bought us a house. We both live here." She took in the house with a gesture. "We needed a bigger place, for all his books, for me to train. To fit everyone in." She grinned at Roger and Paul at that.
Cordy moved closer. "Which brings me back to my first question. Who are you guys?"
Buffy pointed at Roger. "Roger Erikson." She pointed at Paul. "Paul Erikson. Brothers, they were friends of Giles' at first, but now they're family." She swung her chin back to Roger. "He's a doctor and now he takes care of us too. And Paul…" She held her hand out to him and he came in close sneaking his arm around her waist. "He's the Chief of Police here in Sunnydale. I had the privilege of meeting him one night when he arrested me and threw me into a cell."
Paul rolled his eyes. "You had to tell them that."
Buffy grinned impishly. "It's my favorite story." He pinched her side and she let out a shriek. "Stop that." He just pinched her again.
Both Cordy and Angel watched the two of them play. Angel's eyes darkened and Cordy felt a stab of disappointment. Buffy linked her arm through Paul's and gestured to Cordy. "Cordelia Chase. She went to high school with us and now works with Angel and Wes in LA. They're sort of in the demon PI business, Angel Investigations. Cordy gets these visions of people who need help and they help." Buffy turned her eyes to Angel. "And this is Angel."
Angel nodded to both Roger and Paul and they nodded back. Angel and Paul sized each other up. Buffy continued with the introductions, oblivious. She pointed at Linda. "That's Linda, she's Roger's sweetie, also a doctor, and Kevin…" She looked for him. "Ah, and Kevin, who is currently being massacred by Spike, is her son. The three of them live next door."
Paul looked over at Giles to see that he was in a heated discussion with Wes. Neither of them looked very happy. He gave Buffy a gentle squeeze and he headed over to Giles.
Angel followed him with his eyes and then turned back to Buffy. "Where does he live?"
"Who?"
"Paul."
"At his house."
"He doesn't mind that you live here with Giles?"
Buffy looked confused. "Why would he care about that?" She was also distracted by the discussion going on at the couch. She headed over that way. Wes had gotten up to retrieve the box of Watcher diaries and both he and Giles were pulling them all out looking for specific dates. She went and sat next to Giles. "What's up?"
Giles hesitated, then he reached for a book that was lying open on the coffee table. "We found a prophecy."
End Part 2