If That’s What it Takes

Mr. Trick walked back into the Mayor’s office looking a bit worse for the wear. He knew there was a reason the Slayer let him leave with his unlife. Unfortunately, he couldn’t figure out what that reason could possibly be.

“It’s not working,” the Mayor said with a pout.

Mr. Trick looked over at the man with wide eyes, “It’s supposed to do something besides shred?”

“It’s supposed to cheer me up,” the Mayor answered without looking up, “Usually using the shredder gives me a lift. It’s fun.”

“And today you’re not getting the ya-yas,” Trick said.

“No,” the Mayor said, “I guess it will take more than this to turn my frown upside down. I just don’t understand why Allan would leave such a paper trail about our dealings. Do you think he was going to betray me? Oh, now, that’s just a horrible thought. And now he’s dead, I’ll never get the chance to scold him.”

“Bad karma,” Faith said sarcastically.

The Mayor walked over to where she was restrained in a chair and roughly forced her to look him in the eyes, “You must think that if you annoy me enough, I’ll just kill you. That’s not the way this works.”

Faith rolled her eyes at the soon to be demon, “No, I just like annoying you. You won’t kill me.”

Intrigued, the Mayor took a step back, “Really?”

“Sure,” Faith said with a shrug, “You need me to keep the other’s out of your plans. If I’m dead, well, there won’t be much of you left to become demon spawn.”

“You sound fairly confident that this other Slayer can defeat him,” Trick said.

“Yeah, B’s thorough like that,” Faith answered.

“You know, kiddo, she might not even come for you,” the Mayor said sincerely, “I mean, the Slayer is a one person thing. A monopoly and you’re trying to franchise.”

“This the part where you tell me how special I am and how much more I could be if I would just stop living under B’s shadow?” Faith asked, “Cuz, honestly, it’s not exactly original.”

“You’re loyal,” the Mayor said, “That’s a good thing. But, are you loyal to the right side? Think about it, you’ve been here overnight…no attempt has been made to rescue you. They’ve left you all alone. I’d never leave you alone, Faith. You could be great.”

“Never leave me?” Faith asked, “That seem a bit hard, don’t ya think, with you ascending and all.”

“You have trust issues, I understand that,” the Mayor said, “Let me see what I can do to fix that.”

Faith raised both of her eyebrows at the man. Now she was positive that this man was psycho. Any evil person who wanted to earn a Slayer’s trust was off their rocker.

“Mr. Trick, why don’t you untie our girl, I’ve got a little present for her,” the Mayor said.

“You want me, the vampire, to untie the pissed off vampire Slayer?” Trick asked incredulously.

“Yes,” the Mayor said with a smile.

Faith smiled triumphantly as the vampire who’d been such a pain in her ass untied her restraints. Before he had a chance to retreat behind the Mayor, Faith ripped his head clean off, leaving a neat pile of dust on the floor in front of her.

“Was that really necessary?” the Mayor asked, “And now look, my floor is dirty.”

Faith didn’t bother to answer the man. She merely brushed off her pants in a completely unnecessary manner and sauntered over to the Mayor’s desk. She traced the letter opener with her index finger before removing it from the holder.

“You know, Faith,” the Mayor began, “The only reason you’re still alive is because I wanted it that way.”

“And the point would be coming before the ascension?” Faith asked.

“Kids today. Rush, rush, rush. Well, Faith, the point is you’re a very powerful young woman and I can see that there might be a future for you in Sunnydale. I see you’re admiring my letter opener,” the Mayor said as he moved closer to the girl.

Without answering, Faith lunged at the man. The pointed end of the opener lodged precisely over his heart.

Nothing.

“You have really good aim,” the Mayor said with a smile.

He carefully pulled the letter opener out of his chest. Faith watched with wide eyes as the wound healed itself with in seconds. Not even Spike had that kind of healing power.

“You see,” the Mayor began, “I’m what you might call impervious. Can’t be killed or harmed in anyway. And that’s just a cornerstone in my plans for this great town of ours.”

“Ours?” Faith asked.

“Well of course,” the Mayor said, “You’re really having trouble with the big picture here. I’m offering you a chance to survive. Even if your friends do come and save you, safety won’t last for long. Once I ascend, your friends won’t fill a pothole.”

“Why would I join with you? What makes you so sure B won’t come save the day?” Faith asked.

“You don’t know?” the Mayor asked with concern, “Why, you killed Allan the deputy mayor.”

Faith’s eyes shot wide open. Her mind was reeling trying to remember anything like that. Was the deputy mayor already a demon? Did she really kill a human?

After taking a moment to appreciate the horror on the girls face, the Mayor said, “At least, that’s what Mr. Trick was kind enough to tell them.”

A moment of silence ensued. Both were taking a moment to regain their bearings. All of the new information needed to be digested properly.

“Mr. Trick really was a disappointment. He never could follow through. Would have made a terrible golfer, really,” the Mayor paused, “He had me convinced that you and your friends were occupied with some vengeance demon and a witch, but that didn’t last long enough. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He killed my dear friend Allan with a wooden stake through the heart, a perfect way to set up the Slayers. The plan was simple enough to get away with; however, I have people to check on my people. Someone saw what he did, but I can’t let a little thing like that ruin my day. I decided to see it as an opportunity.”

“A way to bring me to the dark side?” Faith asked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giles paced the library, “I really don’t understand why you just let him go, Buffy.”

“He’s a little gift for Faith,” Buffy answered with a wicked grin, “She didn’t kill anyone. I would have felt it if she did. This way she knows that we know she’s innocent.”

At Giles confused face Willow added, “She was afraid we’d think she killed him. That was the vibe she was sending out through the claim in like tidal waves.”

“I say we storm the castle and get her out,” Xander said cheerfully.

Giles removed his glasses and polished them vigorously, “We can’t just ‘storm’ in Xander. The Mayor is not a foolish man. There is a reason besides just petty ransom that Faith is being kept alive.”

“Xander is half right Giles,” Buffy began, “We can’t wait for too long. I can’t go into details, but you’ve just gotta trust me.”

Giles nodded and resumed his pacing. He very seldom had reason to not trust his Slayer. On matters such as this, he trusted her judgment completely.

Buffy walked over to where Spike was lounged on the steps and curled up next to him. Taking the rather obvious hint, Spike pulled the petite girl into his embrace. Gently, he began to stroke her hair and whisper words of comfort. Through the bond, he could feel Buffy’s anxiety and Faith’s confusion.

“What’s going on?” an irate Joyce asked as she burst into the library.

Seeing her sister and her vampire curled up on the steps, Dawn dashed over to them and was immediately enveloped in their arms.

“It appears that Faith has been taken by the Mayor,” Giles answered. He didn’t dare pretend he didn’t know what the woman was asking. Joyce Summers was not a woman to cross no matter who you were.

“Is that what I felt?” Joyce asked as she slumped into a chair.

“Yes,” Buffy said, “Because you’re my blood, you can feel all the people who are connected to me. Faith, Willow and Cordy are connected.”

Joyce nodded her head. Her daughter had informed her of the bond, but she really didn’t understand the full extent of its power. It was comforting to her, as a mother, to be able to tell when her baby girl was in any sort of danger, but it was also a little unnerving knowing that there would be little she could do to help.

“Will she be ok?” Dawn asked in a small voice.

“Yeah, Nibblet,” Spike said soothingly, “Big sis and I will make sure she gets back.”

Dawn nodded her head and snuggled closer to her powerful family. She considered Spike to be part of the family, as did her mother. It should have seemed strange to the girl, to consider a vampire family, but this was Sunnydale so it seemed rather fitting.

“We need to formulate a plan of attack. The Mayor’s office is not a place to just burst into,” Giles said.

“Will?” Buffy asked, “Can you hack into the Mayor’s computer?”

“Yeah, probably, Buffy,” Willow said, “But do we have enough time for that?”

“I don’t know, but I want you to at least get started on it,” Buffy said.

“What about us?” Xander asked with a motion to the remaining occupants, “I know I want to help.”

Buffy smiled warmly at her friends, “I’m not sure what else there is to do at the moment.”

“What about the Hall of Records? Go to the source,” Oz suggested.

“That’s a good idea,” Buffy said, “Giles? Could you take the gang there and start looking?”

“Of course, Buffy,” Giles said, “What about you and Spike?”

“We’re on weapons detail,” Buffy said, “I don’t know what we’re up against so I’m just going to go full out G.I. Joe. We’ll also hit the streets, see what the scum of Sunnydale know.”

Giles nodded and began to usher the group out of the room.

“Mom, you and Dawnie should go home. There really isn’t much for you guys to do right now,” Buffy said, “Once Faith gets back, I’ll need you.”

Joyce nodded her head and turned to leave, “Dawn, let’s go.”

Dawn looked up at Buffy and Spike with wide, pleading eyes.

“No, Dawnie,” Buffy said softly, “Not this time.”

Knowing there was more than one way to get what she wanted, she turned her pout up a notch and looked at Spike.

“That’s cheating, Bit,” Spike said, “I can’t say yes and have Big Sis all pissed at me, now can I?”

Instead of backing down, Dawn merely blinked her eyes innocently at Spike and made her lip tremble.

‘Luv, she’s killin’ me. Help!’

‘I don’t want her to get hurt, Spike.’

‘We’re not going after the baddie yet, Slayer.’

‘You want her to come with us?’

‘Don’t think she’ll let us off the hook till we do, luv.’

“Alright, Dawn, you can come,” Buffy said, “But, when we go to get Faith, you’ve gotta promise to stay with mom and not put up a fight about it.”

Dawn smiled brilliantly up at her two favorite people, “I promise.”

“Don’t worry, mum,” Spike said to a distressed Joyce, “We’ll take good care of her.”

“I know, Spike,” Joyce answered as she left.

“This is one of those times that I wish I had the telepathy thing with Faith,” Buffy said, “Not that most of her thoughts are one’s I’d want to hear, but something isn’t right about all of this. There’s something more going on, or something bigger coming. I can feel it.”

“I know, luv,” Spike said, “I feel it too.”

“Buffy?” Dawn said in a small voice, “Is she going to be alright?”

Buffy walked determinedly over to her sister and pulled her into a tight embrace. She didn’t know how to answer the simple question. It was too vague. Would she be alive? Would she be the same Faith? Would the Mayor be able to hurt her? There were just too many questions.

‘She’s strong, luv. She’ll take care of herself.’

‘You so need to not be reading my thoughts right now, Spike.’

‘Now’s when they’re most real Slayer. Not gonna let you do this alone. I can’t.’

Buffy looked up from her sister’s shoulder and saw the most intense gaze directed at her. All of the emotions, all of the tension, everything was expressed in her vampire’s eyes. All of the sudden, her legs gave out and she found herself sprawled out on the floor. She looked up at Spike. The restraint that he had been using through the bond was suddenly not so restrained. It was as if the dam to his emotions was now removed. The sheer force of what he felt for her, for Faith…for everyone on she held dear was so far beyond powerful. There wasn’t a word to describe what he was allowing her to feel. It went beyond him being willing to die for any one of them.

“You made me fall,” Buffy pouted up at him.

A smirk crossed over the vampire’s face, “That I did.”

Like a small child, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her tongue, “I don’t like you very much right now.”

‘But you love me.’

‘Again, with the cheating!’

‘Vampire, luv.’

“Let’s go,” Buffy said as she stood to her feet. She was choosing to ignore the vampire for the moment. There were things she wanted to do to get back at him, however, the presence of her baby sister kept her from acting out on her urges.

“Willies?” Spike asked.

“Figured that’d be the easiest,” Buffy said, “Plus, I really need to hit something.”

“Don’t you like always need to hit something?” Dawn quipped.

“Well, I want to be consistent,” Buffy said defensively.

Deciding it would be best not to comment, Spike settled for smirking at his girl. She really could be adorable at times.

Dawn smiled fondly at the blond duo as they strolled down the streets of Sunnydale. It really was nice to see her sister so happy with someone. Once someone looked past the danger that radiated from the pair they couldn’t help but notice the deep love that flowed between them. It was shown in every movement, every look, every touch. It was the kind of love Dawn craved to have one day, even if she was some mystical ball of energy.

“Slayer….Spike,” Willie said nervously, “What brings you to my fine establishment?”

“I need information,” Buffy said evenly, “And you’re the scum to give it to me.”

Willie gulped and took a step back, not that there was really anywhere to go, but still it was the thought that counted.

“Look, Slayer,” Willie began, “I’d love to help you out, you know that, but…uh, I’m out of that business. Just on the up and up.”

Buffy grinned wickedly up at Spike, “See, baby, I do get to hit something!”

Spike let loose a roaring laugh. Between the look on his Slayer’s face and the instant paling of the man behind the counter, he couldn’t help it. There were just some things that were down right funny.

“Now, now,” Willie was visibly sweating by now, “There’s no need to be hasty.”

“Actually,” Spike said in a low, dangerous tone, “There is, mate.”

Willie gulped.

Dawn grinned from ear to ear. This was the coolest thing she’d ever seen. She knew her sister was cool, but this was way above and beyond.

“I need to know about the Mayor. Anything you know, and don’t tell me it’s nothing,” Buffy said.

“The Mayor?” Willie pulled at the collar of his shirt, “That’s dangerous stuff, even for you, Slayer. The Mayor isn’t someone you want to go messin’ with.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Buffy said in a dark tone.

“So it’s true then,” Willie said, “Mayor does have the other Slayer.”

In a blink of an eye, Buffy and Spike were both across the counter. Spike was in game face and had his fangs dangerously close to his jugular. Buffy had the man’s arms pinned behind his back.

“Talk, or I let him eat,” Buffy said with a warm smile.

“Alright, Slayer,” Willie said with a scared smile, “I don’t know much, but I’ll tell ya what I know.”

“So, do you always get to beat him up?” Dawn asked twenty minutes later.

“No, Dawnie,” Buffy said with a grin, “Sometimes, he just answers the questions.”

“That was just so amazing,” Dawn gushed, “I’ve got the coolest sister in the whole world.”

Buffy smiled at her sister. Even if she was annoying most of the time, she’d kill anyone, human or not, that tried to take her away. If she was some mystical key, well, she’d take on all the hell gods and their minons.

“Alright, Bit,” Spike said, “Time to get you home. Big sis and I have some things to take care of.”

“But – ” Dawn began to whine.

“No,” Buffy said, “Don’t make me regret taking you with us to see Willie.”

Dawn looked properly rebuffed and took off across the street to their house.

“Ready to go save the day?” Buffy asked.

“Always,” Spike said with a grin.

“Spike?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, luv?” Spike replied with concern.

Buffy looked up at Spike with wide, concerned eyes.

Spike abruptly stopped walking and scooped Buffy into his arms. He mumbled soothing nothings into her ear and rubbed little circles on her back. It was the only thing he knew to do for the girl.

Buffy pulled back slightly and looked into Spike’s eyes. Instantly, she felt better. Even if this thing was invincible until the ascension and they didn’t know the first thing about the ascension, as long as she had Spike somehow she knew everything would work out in the end.

With a determination Spike had never witnessed, Buffy straightened herself up and walked into the double doors of City Hall.

“You gonna let me have all the fun?” Buffy asked over her shoulder.

Spike shook his thoughts and followed his girl into no man’s land.

“Now or never, mate,” Spike mumbled to himself.

“We’ve been expecting you,” a suited man said as the pair entered the foyer.

“Expecting?” Buffy asked skeptically.

“Why, you’ve come for the other Slayer,” the man said, “The Mayor will be surprised you’re here so soon.”