Love On The Hellmouth

Once they arrived they soon found Willow. “Hey Will how is she?” “Just woke up.” The three of them walked into the girl’s room, “Her name is Shannon.” “Hey Shannon, my name is Buffy.” “You’re the Slayer. The original?” “Yes.” “He said I could only tell you.” “What? Who did this to you?” “He was a minister or something... at least he dressed like one. Called himself Caleb. I thought he was trying to save me... at first.” “He picked you up on the side of the road?” Buffy asks as Shannon nods, “The Bringers were chasing me... He said they were ‘his boys...’ Right before he burned me.” She turns away from them and pulls the bandage from her neck revealing a symbol burned into her flesh. Buffy and Willow share a look and Willow takes a photo of the symbol. Shannon continues, “He wanted to tell you something. Before he... cut me... he told me to give the slayer a message.” Buffy looks at Shannon, “What was it?” “He said, ‘I have something of yours.’” The two Slayers look at each other and leave the room. Willow tells the girl to rest and someone would be back in the morning to pick her up.

The three of them head back to the house in Willow’s car. Willow tells Buffy what happened in L.A. “They were told that Angelus knew their big bad. They got this guy, heavy into dark magic, to remove his soul. Angelus told them what they wanted to know. When they went to get his soul from their vault they found it missing. He got out. That’s when Wesley broke Faith out. The two of them hunted him. They found a place where people were paying vamps to bite them but with a twist. The people would shot up. Both parties got a mega high. Faith wouldn’t kill Angel ‘cos of what he did for her so she shot up. But she used too much. An OD plus being almost drained, the Slayer healing couldn’t help. She died just as I gave Angel his soul back. I’m sorry Buffy.” Buffy silently cried on Kennedy’s shoulder. When they reached the house Buffy immediately stopped and walked into the house calling everyone to the lounge room.

Buffy starts the meeting off, “We've got a new player in town.
Dresses like a preacher. Calls himself Caleb. Looks like he's
working for The First. He's taunting us. Calling us out. Says he has something of mine. Could be another girl. Could be something
else. Don't know. Don't care. I'm tired of talking. I'm tired of
training. He's got something of mine? Fine. I'm getting it back. Now I know none of you are ready to go up against anything much less something we know nothing about. You are yet to be tested in battle. We’ll deal with that later. That’s why only Kennedy and I will go out and find him. Spike will train with the Potentials inside. No one is going out after dark. Willow will put up a ward something to keep out the bad guys. Xander start re-enforcing all our walls, window and anything else that you think need it. Dawn, Anya and Andrew will find Caleb’s mark that Willow photographed. The girl he attacked said he seemed real religious. If Kennedy and I aren’t back or haven’t called in within three hours, Xander and Spike will come find us. No one leaves this house till I get back. Does everyone understand?” Buffy was greeted by a roomful of nods. She walked over to her weapons chest and grabbed some axes for her and Kennedy. Buffy looked back to the gang, “See you all in three hours.” Then the two Slayers headed out.

The two Slayers wandered Sunnydale until they caught sight of a Bringer. The two kept back and followed him. They followed him till he arrived at an old vineyard. At first it looked completely abandoned. The Slayers moved closer and saw that there were quite a few Bringers moving around. Kennedy whispers to Buffy, “Looks like we found our hornet’s nest.” “Yeah. Want to go in?” “Buffy I think this was too easy. I think this Caleb wants us to go in.” “I think you’re right. We go in. If it is too hairy we run.” “Okay.”
The two of them move slowly through the vineyard. They move into a larger area and spot about eight Bringers. The Bringers circle the two Slayers. Both sides attack at the same time, but the Bringers are no match for the Slayers and soon the Slayers are the only ones left standing. The Slayers begin to move forward when they suddenly hear the sound of boots on concrete advancing towards them. It’s Caleb and he is the embodiment of calm, “Well now...You girls are just burning with righteousness, aren't you? Problem is, you think they're blazing like suns, when really you're matchsticks in the face of the darkness. You having fun? Hope my boys haven't worn you out too much. Need you fit for when I... purify you.” Buffy is clearly bored, “Save the sermon, padre. Heard you had something of mine.” Caleb smiles at Buffy as he continues to come closer to her, “You like my little message, did you? You know, I ruined a perfectly good knife on that girl. Got her soiled blood all over the place. I may need to get a new truck. So you're the Slayer. The Slayer. The strongest and fastest and most aflame with that most precious invention of all mankind: the notion of goodness. The Slayer must indeed be powerful.” He suddenly whips his fist out from behind his back, Buffy never seeing it, and punches her sending her flying over Kennedy’s head. slamslams into the back wall and hits the ground hard, knocked unconscious. Caleb looks at Kennedy’s shocked face. He smiles, “So, what else you got?” Kennedy takes one last look at Caleb and runs to Buffy. She picks her up and runs out of the vineyard. Caleb just watches them go.