Watchers Council

Chapter 23

“I could certainly clear my schedule once this is dealt with” Giles sounded excited as Buffy stood in Dawn’s office shamelessly listening to his conversation.

“Who?” she mouthed to Dawn and leaned in to read Dawn’s hastily written note. “Wesley” she said to herself and looked completely confused. “Our Wesley?” she whispered to Dawn but her sister shook her head and turned to face her computer screen to deal with the call she was taking.

“Buffy?” Giles looked into Dawn’s office and waved her into his. “Any progress?” he asked.

“I was going to tell you what Wesley spilled earlier but I guess he brought you up to date?” she waved at his phone. “Why the big grin, usually he makes you all scowly” she folded her arms and leaned against the filing cabinet.

“Nonsense, he has matured into a fine young man” Giles checked through his written notes and finally looked up to see her looking extremely sceptical. “Also he now has access to many texts and manuscripts which have been misappropriated over the years” he smiled and shrugged as the real reason for his happiness hit her. “He has offered me first refusal on his library” he finished in an embarrassed mumble.

“You are so cheap” she giggled. “I’d have held out for some cool weapons as well as the books. After all I’m sure he doesn’t want his new friends to be informed of his wimpy Wes days at good old Sunnydale High”

*****

An hour later a small team of people had been collected in the boardroom. “As far as Wesley can ascertain, the client merely wanted a watch kept of our activities on the off chance that they could launch an attack if we were weakened by something else” Giles looked round the room and allowed his eyes to rest briefly on Willow. “The surveillance was sub contracted to our suspect with a minimum of information given to him about our activities” he said softly and saw her eyes lift to meet his. “He knows we are a training facility for slayers but has no idea of our individual past records” he noted her slight nod before turning to address everyone else. “It seems the client had no idea what Wesley was talking about when he asked about the letters and threats to Alex and Willow”

“It’s not part of the planned evilness?” Buffy asked.

Giles shook his head. “Wesley explained what had happened and the client was more than a little annoyed that the extracurricular activities undertaken by his employee had allowed us to uncover his plans” he allowed a small grin to appear. “He gained the distinct impression that said employee would be meeting with his employer in due course for a serious discussion on his performance”

“Is that Wesley as in Wyndham Price?” Ross asked and saw Giles’ eyes harden. “I thought he had been sacked from the Council some years ago, can we trust his information?”

“Wesley was sacked not long after I was and in similar circumstances” Giles could feel the tension in the room rise as Buffy and Willow both got ready to defend him. “He has spent his time since in defeating evil without the interference of the Watcher’s Council and we are lucky that he is prepared to accept that we are a different organisation now and is willing to help us”

Buffy glanced at Willow, both of them understanding that Giles was overstating the case a little. “I trust him as much as I trust Giles” Buffy said quietly but everyone in the room suddenly held their breath as she turned to stare at Ross. “As yet, even after the last few years, I can’t say the same for you” she held his gaze.

“If you haven’t learned by now that we judge people on results and not on Quentin Travers’ assessment of their usefulness then I think we have a much more serious problem than a lone stalker.” Willow rose and stood behind Buffy, slowly flexing the fingers of one hand before resting it on Buffy’s shoulder.

“Perhaps we should all take a break and calm down a little?” Giles suggested but was interrupted by Buffy.

“No Giles” she glanced at him but returned her gaze to the slightly green face of the other watcher. “This isn’t the first time your judgement has been questioned, we finish this, once and for all, right now”

“I didn’t mean” Ross began but was interrupted by a short knock at the door before it opened to admit an angry looking Xander.

“What’s going on?” he looked towards Giles for an explanation and Giles looked surprised before turning to glare at Willow.

“We are just finishing a meeting to discuss Wesley’s information about Willow’s stalker” he explained and hoped that the young man would remember that Willow’s ability to communicate telepathically was an extremely closely guarded secret.

“Giles?” Dawn, breathing heavily, pushed the door open further and stood beside Xander.

“Willow” Giles sighed and knew that she had put out a general distress call to all of the usual suspects. “Everyone sit down and calm down” he motioned to Xander and Dawn and they moved to take up seats beside Buffy. “Willow, please” he said and waited for her to return to her seat.

“Willow?” Faith pushed the door open further and stared at the red head. “Where’s the fire?” she glanced around the room, taking in all of the occupants and quickly sizing the situation up.

“Ross thinks Wesley can’t be trusted” Buffy said carelessly, before Giles could stop her, and waited for Faith’s reaction. Over the past week, during their discussions while patrolling, she had realised that Faith held a genuine affection for her ex-watcher and had asked Willow to summon her as well.

Faith quickly crossed the room and picked the startled watcher up by his shirt front. “If you’ve got a problem with Wesley then you’ve got a problem with me” she said politely, but didn’t let him go. “So, what’s the problem?”

“Faith” Giles sighed and stood up to close the door firmly, checking with a quick glance at Willow that she didn’t expect anyone else. “Please put him down” he waited for her to drop him back into his seat and shook his head as she continued to stand inches away from him. “Why don’t you take a seat with the others?” he saw her hesitate before she turned and stood behind Buffy’s chair. “Ross, if you genuinely still believe that Travers was correct in his assessment of our capabilities then perhaps we need to discuss reassigning you to where you will be more comfortable” he looked around the room and saw Danny and the other watcher looking shocked and confused.

“I wasn’t a part of Travers’ inner circle and I just wanted to check that we could trust Wyndham Price” Ross replied belligerently. “How did they find out so quickly” he nodded his head to Xander, Dawn and Faith.

“That’s not important right now” Giles sighed and knew that he would figure it out himself when he thought back over the recent scene. “Do you believe that I am the best person to be running the Council?” he asked quietly and held up his hand to placate Buffy. “Please, let him answer” he looked at her and waited till she had subsided back into her seat before turning back to Ross.

“Of course I do” Ross replied and looked to the other watcher to see if he had any supporters in the room. “It’s just difficult when I spent the last five years of the old Council being told that you were all dangerous renegades and that we had to be constantly on our guard in case you decided to work against us”

“We started working against Travers when he tried to kill me” Buffy said angrily and saw Giles flinch. “The same time as he almost got my mother killed and sacked Giles” she continued. “We worked against Travers when he tried to blackmail me into joining the Council again and threatened to get Giles deported” she stood up and slowly walked to stand behind Giles’ chair. “We ignored Travers from that moment on because he never again had anything useful to share with us” she rested her hand on Giles’ shoulder. “So, you have five seconds to choose who you believe, who you stand with, who you fight beside, who you trust, because I will not allow anyone to question the judgement or motives of Rupert Giles” she stood glaring at Ross and heard Faith move to stand beside her. “Your time’s up” she said and dropped hend fnd from Giles’ shoulder before stepping past him.

“Wait” Ross held up his hands in panic and looked to Giles to protect him. “I never said I didn’t trust you, I was only…”

“Buffy, Faith let me explain to him” Giles tried to intervene but the slayers had moved to take their positions on either side of Ross.

“Door or window?” Faith looked over his head towards Buffy and quirked a grin as Buffy struggled to keep the smile from her face.

“Please don’t let them hurt me, I swear I didn’t agree with Travers” Ross was pleading, he knew there was no way he could outrun the slayers.

“He thought you shouldn’t be involved in the search for the stalker” Dawn suddenly spoke up and everyone looked at her in surprise. “He thought you would lose it and flay him if you found him first” she pointed at the hapless watcher and saw Willow’s eyes darken a little as she moved towards him.

“Stop this immediately” Giles stood up and raised his voice. “Buffy, Faith get back to your seats and Willow, calm down” he waited till everyone had reluctantly moved away from Ross before pacing to the windows and back again. “I cannot believe that we are reduced to this ridiculous posturing and in-fighting when we have someone out there who is threatening a member of the Council” he said seriously and glared at all of them. “Ross, go back to your office and pull together your notes from the last few patrols, I want an idea of the movements of this man and what he was watching on the campus” he nodded and waited for Ross and the other watcher to leave the room. “Danny, perhaps you could find out for me if we can access any reports he may have sent to his employer via email from his computer?” he saw the young man quickly glance at Willow and her small nod that he should leave.

“I’m sorry” Buffy mumbled when the door finally closed on Danny, leaving the Scoobies and Faith in the room.

“Don’t” he held his hand up and paced the length of the room a few more times. Buffy and Willow exchanged worried glances. “What exactly did you hope to achieve with your little display?” he finally turned and stared at Willow. “We now have three more people who know of your telepathic abilities and a watcher who has been bullied by two slayers who should know better” he glared at Buffy and Faith. “And what exactly were you two going to do?” he included Xander and Dawn in the general glare. “I know we are all a little overwrought by the activities of this stalker, but it isn’t the end of the world and I would have hoped that we had left the playground bullying behind us long ago.” He saw them all drop their gazes to the floor and swallowed the laugh that almost threatened to ruin his righteous indignation. “Dawn and Xander, get back to whatever you were doing before Willow sounded the alarm” he couldn’t look at them as they left and paced to the other end of the room till he heard the door close behind them. “Faith, while I admire your new found loyalty to Wesley, I doubt you would want me to share with him your spirited defence of his honour?” he waited for her sulky shake of the head. “I thought not, perhaps a few hours in the gym will help to work off the extra energy?” he suggested and motioned with his head towards the door.

“Go easy on them” she said quietly as she reached the door. “There ore only looking out for you” she didn’t wait for his answer but pulled the door shut behind her.

“I’m sorry” Willow looked up and met his gaze. “I deserve to have people not trusting me but you don’t” she thought of pulling her resolve face out of the closet but decided it probably wasn’t the best time.

“I doubt that being threatened and scared out of his wits by two slayers and a witch who are supposedly under my supervision has done much to increase his trust in me” Giles suggested dryly and returned to his seat.

“What can we do to fix it?” Buffy asked and he could tell that she was near to tears. “I could resign” she offered and finally looked at him. “Or you could tell him that you fired me as a punishment and that would look like you were being take-charge guy”

“You would need to fire me as well” Willow bit her lower lip. “Danny could take over the department without too much upheaval and at least the other watchers would know that you were completely in control”

“So I demonstrate my control and clear headed suitability for the position by firing the most successful slayer there has ever been and one of the most powerful witches on the planet?” he raised his eyebrows. “And what do I do for an encore, sell the computer passwords on e-bay to raise funds?”

Willow looked at him in astonishment. “E-bay?” she muttered and realised that he was fighting a grin. “You think it’s funny” she stated and looked at Buffy. “He thinks it’s funny and he’s just treating us like naughty children for hin amn amusement”

Buffy stared at him for several moments before wiping her eyes. “I can’t believe I defended you” she huffed and sniffed a little. “Next time I’m on their side” she scowled and stormed out of the room.

“Will she be OK?” Giles looked after her before turning to Willow. “I’m sorry, but the looks on your faces, it was like Schneider had ordered you all to wait outside his office” he finally allowed himself to smile. “That’s the first time I’ve actually felt like a headmaster since we started this place” he admitted.

“She’ll be fine, she just gets a little uptight when people attack you and the disappointed ppropproval thing was a little too well done” Willow shrugged and took a deep breath. “I’m really sorry, I guess I was just proving his point for him when I nearly lost it” she looked down at her clasped hands as they rested on the table.

“I think it would be better if you waited till tomorrow to apologise to Ross” he stood up and gently lifted her hands from the table. “I know how much pressure you’ve been under but it is almost over and it looks like we won’t need to get involved after all” he waited till she had pushed the chair back and stood up before hugging her. “Perhaps you and Alex could get away for a break?” he suggested when she pulled back.

“Oh Goddess” Willow ran her hand through her hair and looked even more fed up. “I’ll need to talk to her and admit what’s been going on” she sighed and slumped down in the chair again. “She’s going to be really mad that I didn’t tell her about the letters”

“You could explain that I asked to kto keep it quiet” he suggested and began gathering his papers together. “After all, as soon as he chose you as his target it became a Council problem and I decide how those situations are dealt with”

“Now you’re being masterful” she giggled and drew in a deep breath. “I’m really sorry” she said quietly and stared at the carpet. “For letting Ross get to me and reacting earlier and for having something else to apologise for”

“I think you lost me around the second clause” he leaned against the edge of the table and watched.
.

“I mean all I seem to do these days is apologise for something or other and so now I need to apologise for doing that so often” she looked up and saw him grinning at her. “I think I liked it better when you were uptight tweed guy” she huffed but smiled asl.
l.

“Giles?” Faith pushed open the door and glanced round the room to see who was still with him. “We’ve got a problem” she nodded herd and and started down the corridor. Giles and Willow both let out deep breaths before following her. “After I left I checked with the team who were keeping an eye on our guy and they’ve lost him” she kept walking and filled them in over her shoulder.

“Maybe he’s running?” Willow suggested.

“No I mean they literally lost him” Faith pushed open the front door of the main building and they saw three young slayers standing in the car park looking extremely embarrassed. “Tell him” Faith hooked her thumb at Giles as they arrived at the group.

“He was one of the suspects who kept turning up around the campus and we were following him while he was taking his normal route to walk around the perimeter of the campus” the tallest of the three girls had obviously drawn the short straw and been left to explain. “When he got to the tree line at the back of the grounds we let him get a little further ahead then we lost him” she gulped nervously.

“He probably knew he was being followed and doubled back” Giles suggested.

“He didn’t” one of the other girls insisted before biting her lip and staring at the ground. “We were really careful, we knew what he was threatening to do to Ms Rosenberg and we wouldn’t make a rooky mistake” she looked up at Willow with anguish. “One minute he was there and then the next hd jud just vanished” she waved her hands in the air before taking a step back and staring meaningfully at the ground again.

“Show me” Willow said quietly and the three young girls set off for the trees that formed the northernmost edge to the campus. “Can you feel it?” Willow turned to look at Giles as they both suddenly stopped walking.

“A little” he nodded and stood turning his head, as if trying to catch an elusive sound.

“It was over here” Willow pointed and they all trooped after her.

“Hold up” Faith finally realised what was happening and put her arm out to stop Willow. “Let me” she stepped in front of her and slowly walked towards a small clearing. “Nothing here” she finished her investigation of the surrounding area and turned to watch Willow and Giles in deep conversation.

“Someone opened a portal here” Giles explained to the slayers. “He either had considerable power himself or someone opened a doorway for him” he turned towards Willow again. “There was no way you could have followed him, you did the right thing in reporting this as quickly as you did” he tried to reassure them while concentrating on Willow. “Anything?” he finally asked when she had completed a walk around the perimeter of the clearing.

“Definitely a dimensional portal, I remember how they smell” she smiled at them. “Perhaps his boss wanted to talk to him really urgently about something?” she winked at Faith and turned baowarowards the main building. “I don’t think we’ll have much more trouble from him” she assured the three younger slayers who were still looking worried. “Thanks for all your help over the last few days, how about I buy you lunch?” she nodded to Giles and followed the girls.

“Looks like you’re not the only one suffering from the crush curse” Faith shook her head. “That’s quite a fan club red has gathered for herself” she pointed after the small group.

“I can’t imagine what you’re referring to” he said in his stuffiest tones before checking his watch. “Actually lunch sounds like a good idea, are you free?”

“I thought you were still mad at me?” she waved to the boardroom windows as they crossed the car park.

“I would rather you didn’t threaten to throw respected members of the Council out of the window but, on the whole, I was more surprised than angry” he admitted. “We haven’t had much of a chance to talk since you came back, I think I have a lot of catching up to do” he opened the door for her and she stared at him for a moment before shrugging and heading for the cafeteria.

*****

“Willow” Dawn arrived at the table just as Willow was winding up the story of the fish monsters in high school. “I just took a phone call from Alex for you” she handed her a piece of paper. “I explained how you had accidentally dropped your mobile and that was why you weren’t answering but I think you’d better call her back” she grinned at the others as Willow blushed. “Hey guys, you going to the Bronze this weekend?” she sat down next to the young slayers and started an animated discussion about the band who were playing on Saturday night.

“The Bronze?” Willow finally surfaced from her worries about Alex to pick up on what they wealkialking about.

“Yeah, didn’t you know?” Dawn asked in surprise. “I tracked down the guy who used to run the old Bronze and persuaded him to set up another one in town” she turned back to the other girls.

Willow shook her head and left them to their discussions. “Danny, can I have a word?” she asked as she passed his office and waited for him to close the door of her office before she sat down. “I’m really sorry about my behaviour earlier” she took a deep breath and motioned for him to sit down. “I hope you didn’t think any of that was directed at you?”

“I’m not even sure I know what any of that was but I’m relieved to say that I felt like a totally innocent bystander for most of it” he smiled and slumped down in the chair.

“Good” she nodded and smiled at him. “I need you to know that I offered to resign afterwards and told Giles that you were more than capable of taking over the running of the department”

“You offered?” skedsked nervously.

“And he declined” she admitted. “Thankfully, cause I don’t really have anything else to do” she looked around at the office she had managed to clutter up over the last three years. “Anyway” she blew out a breath and looked back at her assistant. “I just wanted you to know that I meant what I said to Giles, you would be running this place if I wasn’t around”

“Thank you” heded.ded. “But let’s not test the theory any time soon, please?” he asked won wondered why she suddenly lost the colour from her face. “Are you OK?” he asked and leaned forward.

“I’m fine” she closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. “What I really wanted to tell you was that I’m thinking of taking a couple of weeks off” she finally got hersendernder control and looked at him. “Alex is coming back this weekend and I think I’d like to get away from here for a while” she waved her hand to indicate the building.

“Sure” he nodded and watched her for another moment. “Why don’t you start this afternoon” he suggested. “You should probably get some packing done?”

“I just have a few phone calls to make then I think I’ll take you up on your offer” she smiled at him. “Thanks for everything Danny” she rested her hand on his arm before sitting back and waiting for him to close the door. Pulling the piece of paper Dawn had given her from her jeans pocket she dialled the number. “Could I speak to Alex Taylor please?” she said poly any and started to doodle on the pad in front of her. “It’s Dr Rosenberg with her test results” she smiled as the familiar lie dropped easily into place. “Ms Taylor, I’ve got some good news and some bad news” she said solemnly when Alex picked up the call.

“Bad news first please Doctor” Alex played along but felt relief flood through her. If Willow was playing stupid games on the phone then her life was back to normal.

“I’m afraid medical science has confirmed our suspicions, your girlfriend is a complete idiot” Willow realised she was drawing lots of love hearts and ripped the top page from her pad. “No, I’m afraid it’s hopeless, there isn’t any cure” she replied to Alex’s anxious question.

“And the good news?” Alex shook her head as an assistant knocked her door. She indicated that they could come in and quickly read through the paperwork they handed her before scrawling her name at the bottom.

“The idiot is completely, utterly and incurably in love with you” Willow settled back in her chair and lifted her feet to rest on her desk.

“You are an idiot” Alex finally gave in to the giggles. “What on earth happened to your phone?”

“It was an evil phone and had to be destroyed” Willow giggled as well. “OK, I dropped it and I haven’t gotten around to setting up the replacement yet” she admitted.

*****

Forty minutes later Buffy hatedated outside Willow’s door. “Will?” she finally peeked round the edge of the door. “You busy?” she asked.

“Give me a minute” Willow turned her chair and waved to Buffy to come in. “No, its just Buffy” she listened for another minute. “OK, I’ll see you on Saturday afternoon?” she checked and glanced up at Buffy before clearing her throat. “I’ll call you later” she whispered into the phone and blushed before hanging up and smiling at Buffy. “You OK?” she asked.

“I was coming to ask you the same question but I think I know what the answer will be” Buffy smiled as the blush deepened on her friend. “I’m guessing that was Alex”

“Yeah, everything’s fine but then I haven’t told her about the letters yet” Willow admitted and checked her watch. “I was just going to call Wesley, can you give me half an hour then I thought an afternoon at the mall was overdue”

“I’m not sure I like coming second to Wesley but the magic shopping word is helping to alleviate the pain” she grinned. “Tell Wes I said hi and come get me in Dawn’s office when you’re ready”

“Mr Wyndham Price please” she said when the receptionist answered and just managed to restrain herself from telling her it was Dr Rosenberg calling. “Wesley?” she asked and grinned to herself when she heard his voice again. “You still travelling a dark path?” she giggled as he sighed long sufferingly. “Nope, I haven’t tried to end the world this week” she replied to his question.

“I’m glad to hear it” Wesley settled into his chair and swivelled it round to stare at the view from his twenty first floor corner office. “A dimensional portal?” he turned back to his desk and hunted for a pen. “Really?” he sounded intrigued as Willow guessed at the size of the portal and the energy required to create it. “Well I would be surprise our our client had access to that kind of power but perhaps he was willing to bring in an expert in this case”

“I would think he’d be pretty annoyed at us finding his spy” Willow agreed and they discussed the ramifications of the stalker’s disappearance for the next few minutes. “Anyway, I really called because I’m hoping to be in LA next week and was wondering if I could get a sneaky look at your library” she smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of upsetting Giles, can’t it just be our litsecrsecret?” she asked. “I’ll call you early next week when I know what I’m doing” she listened to his response. “Thanks, for everything Wesley” she said quietly and hung up the phone after making some notes in her diary.

*****

“Where are you two sneaking off to?” Xander caught them heading out of the front door.

“We weren’t sneaking” Willow protested.

“We’re going shopping and I said we should ask you to come as well” Buffy folded her arms. “Now I’m not so sure”

“Who else will carry your many bags?” he asked and searched through his pockets. “Or provide the transport?” he waved his keys in front of them.

“We need to go to the shoe shop first then I need to get some stuff for Alex coming back” Willow listed her requirement her her fingers as she sat in the back of the car.

“Can we stop for coffee first?” Xander asked and both girls sighed.

“You always want to stop for coffee first Xan” Buffy complained. “No stamina, that’s your problem” she poked him in the ribs and they all laughed as he protested.

***
“
“Why don’t you get a coffee and we’ll catch up?” Buffy suggested two hours later.

“You should be the one getting coffee while I help Willow” Xander stood his ground and Willow stifled a groan.

“Guys please, I can manage this by myself, both of you go for coffee” she pleaded and they finally agreed to let her choose her own surprise for Alex in the lingerie shop. Twenty minutes later she met them and tried to keep her purchases away from prying eyes. “If I showed you whatoughought it would only ruin a perfectly good fantasy” Willow sighed and held the bag away from Xander. “Your imagination is bound to be better than the real thing”

“You may have a point” he admitted and rubbed his hands together. “So, what’s next?”

“How about we grab something to eat then I’ve heard of this really cool place we could go to tonight” Willow suggested and they all agreed.

*****

“How on earth?” Xander stood in the doorway and looked around in astonishment.

“No way” Buffy stood beside him and stared at the pool table.

“I think they’ve even recreated the roaches” Willow suggested distastefully as she glanced into the dark corners. “It’s pretty close to the original, isn’t it?” she looked around and moved towards the stage. “Hey, I recognise a couple of these bands” she read the list of upcoming attractions posted next to the stage.

“Suddenly I feel about 200 years old” Xander sighed and headed for the bar.

“I know what you mean” Buffy agreed with him and sat down at their usual table. “And Dawn thought this would be a good idea?” she asked as Willow pulled a stool up next to her.

“It seems she remembers us raving about the Bronze when we were in high school and she thought it would be a good way for the slayers to relax and get away from the campus” Willow continued to look around. “I don’t think she realised how realistic it would be”

“You will never believe this” Xander rnedrned with three beers. “They even do those deep fried onion flower things” he pointed to the bar.

“Spike used to love them” Buffy smiled then rolled her eyes at the looks from the others. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing” they both shook their heads and smiled.

*****

“What, no limo?” Alex pouted as Willow started piling her luggage into the trunk of Xander’s car.

“You are insatiable” Willow sighed and pulled Alex in for a lingering kiss. “Let’s get home” she smiled as they parted several minutes later.

“I don’t mind coming with you” Alex assured her an hour later as Willow prepared to return Xander’s car to the campus. “We can walk home together and have outdoor smoochies on the way” she put her arm through Willow’s and laughed as Willow rolled her eyes.

*****

“So I thought we could head to LA for a few days and then maybe Las Vegas” Willow was explaining her tentative plans for the proposed holiday. “We could drop in on some old friends and I could show you off to them”

“Do I finally get to meet the famous Angel?” Alex followed Willow to Xander’s office.

“I guess so” Willow nodded and knocked on Xander’s door. “He must have popped out, I’ll leave the keys for him” she mumbled as shoppeopped the keys on his desk and took Alex’s hand to walk back towards the main entrance. As they walked down the corridor Willow became aware of unusual noises coming from the direction of the basement.

“Sounds like someone’s having a party” Alex suggested as Willow stopped to listen.

“Mmmmm” Willow nodded absently and was about to head down the corridor to check when the basement door blew off it’s hinges and flew straight at them. She instinctively raised her hand and the force field took the brunt of the shock but she was slammed into the wall behind them. She glanced to make sure Alex was within the protection of the field before closing her eyes. “No matter what happens, stay right beside me” she ordered Alex a moment later and waited for the answering nod before walking carefully towards the basement.

Smoke was billowing up the stairs and she heard Alex cough. “Fumosus purgo” Willow said and waited for the smoke to clear before heading down the stairs. She peered round the edge of the hole in the wall that used to contain the door. “Do you trust me?” she turned to Alex and slid down the wall to rest on the floor.

“Willow, are you OK?” Alex asked as she dropped down beside her and tried to stop the hysteria from reaching the surface. “What the hell is happening?”

“I don’t really have time to explain right now. The others are on their way so we just need to stay out of sight for a while and then I can get you to safety” she tried a deep breath but felt her ribs protest and knew several of them were broken. “We’ll be safe here for now” she rested her hand on Alex’s knee and dropped her head to her own knees. The power required to keep the force field around both of them was causing her to call on reserves she hadn’t needed in a long time.

“Will, what’s happening?” Alex gulped and looked around at the debris littering the hallway.

“I think someone’s upset at the Council and they’ve decided to throw their weight around a bit” Willow looked up at the noises coming from just above them. “But they reckoned without the cavalry” she said as Buffy and Faith strode down the corridor towards them.

“Willow” Buffy dropped down next to her and lifted her head to look in her eyes. “Are you hurt?” she asked as she noted the sweat matting her hair to her forehead and the pale complexion.

“I think she might have broken some ribs” Alex said quietly and sniffed. “When the door blew off she stopped it but ended up getting slammed pretty hard” she pointed to the large door lying further up the hallway.

“Dimensional portal” Willow gathered her strength and stood up with Buffy’s help. “Feels the same as the one in the woods” she looked towards Faith who nodded and headed back up the hallway to warn the others. “I need Alex out of here” she met Buffy’s eyes and held them. “I can’t fight this and protect her at the same time” she winced as she pushed away from the wall. “Please” she swallowed the bile as it rose in her throat and looked towards the basement room quickly. “Now Buffy, they’re trying again”

“Alex come with me” Buffy grabbed her arm and ignored the woman’s protests to drag her behind her. “If I have to, I’ll knock you out and carry you” she stared straight at her and returned to running up the hallway with Alex as the blonde agreed with a nod. “Xander, get Alex out of here” Buffy turned to see who else had received Willow’s summons. “Giles” she headed towards him.

“Faith told me” he said grimly and looked at the group of slayers and watchers who were gathering in the main entrance hall. “Get them into groups and seal the building” he ordered before turning to Xander. “Get Dawn and Alex to safety then call Angel, tell him what’s happening and that we could do with some legal advice” he took his jacket off and began rolling up his shirt sleeves. “Is she OK?” he asked Buffy as they headed back down the hall towards Willow.

“Broken ribs and possibly a little concussion but she was able to protect Alex till we arrived” she ended on a whisper as they approached the room. “Damn” she muttered as there was no sign of the red head. “She said they were trying again” she peered round the corner and tried to see through the smoke.

“You take that side” Giles pointed and ducked into the room in the other direction.

“Giles” she whispered fiercely at him but he had disappeared in the smoke so she turned and headed towards the far end of the room. “Willow?” she dropped on her knees beside the crumpled form of her friend. “Shit, Giles get over here” she shouted and tried to wave some of the smoke from around them.

“Damn, is she breathing?” he asked and muttered under his breath to clear the air a little. He leaned over the still form and listened to her heart and breathing. “I think she’s just unconscious but she seems to have closed the portal” he looked around the rapidly clearing room. “Let’s get her out of here” he waited for Buffy to lift Willow into her arms before letting her precede him out of the room. “Faith” he waved to her as they came back to the main entrance. “Get some of the slayers to pass the word to Ross and the other watchers that it’s a dimensional portal but I think we’ve sealed it for now” he watched her walk towards a small group of slayers and explain the situation before turning back towards them.

“Is this about the stalker guy?” she asked and glanced down at Buffy as she tried to bring Willow round.

“I doubt he’d have the power but I think it might be connected” Giles nodded and sighed in relief. “Dr Crow, I need her conscious now” he pointed to Willow and tapped Buffy’s shoulder. “Let the doctor deal with her” he ordered and moved a little way off. “Wesley suggested that his client might take his revenge out on the expert he had employed to spy on us but I rather think he has decided to take it out on us too” he looked between Buffy and Faith and saw them both nod. He noticed Buffy wiping blood from her hand and tried not to think about how badly Willow was hurt. “Xander is calling Angel and I think our best plan is to try to contain the danger until he can clear it up from his end”

“Can anyone other than Willow keep the portal from opening?” Buffy glanced over her shoulder to watch the doctor as he knelt beside the red head.

“No, she is the only one with the necessary power” he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. “However, I think we may be able to distract them for a while” he set off towards the devastated room again and the slayers shook their heads and followed him. “We need to make some markings on the floor” he paced out some measurements and waited till Faith had lifted some broken equipment out of his way before turning back to them. “There should be some marking tape in the changing rooms and I’ll need as many candles as you can find”

*****

“Willow” Alex pushed Dawn out of the way and ran to drop down beside the doctor and a still unconscious Will. “Is she..” the question died on her lips and she looked up at the doctor.

“She’s unconscious but this will help” he expelled the air from the end of the syringe before sticking it into her arm.

“I think she might have broken some ribs and banged her head” Alex gripped Willow’s left hand as she willed her to come round.

“We can sort them out once this is over with” the doctor pulled another syringe from his bag and filled it. “They need her downstairs” he explained and checked his watch. “At last” he muttered as her eyelids fluttered and she started to stir. “Willow” he gently tapped her cheek. “Can you hear me?” he asked and dropped the unnecessary second dose back into his bag.

“Alex?” she suddenly sat straight up and looked around in a daze.

“I’m right here honey” Alex squeezed her hand and pulled her into a hug.

“Are you OK?” Willow asked and scowled at the doctor as he checked her pulse. “Where’s Buffy?” she shrugged him off and tried to stand up. “How long have I been out, what’s happening?” she turned to find someone who could answer her questions. “Faith” she shouted and was about to walk towards her when she remembered Alex. “Honey I need you to get away from here” she put her hands on Alex’s shoulders. “I’ll be fine but I need to concentrate and I can’t do that if I’m worrying about you” she waited forx tox to nod but the blonde simply stared at her. “What’s the matter, don’t you understand?” she finally asked.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Alex asked weakly and pointed to Willow’s pupils. “Why are they black?”

Willow took a deep breath before remembering the broken ribs. “Listen, it’s just a reaction to doing the magic earlier, I’m fine, really, but I need to go” she turned to find Faith waiting at her shoulder. “Did the portal open?” she asked.

“Not yet and Giles is planning some kind of jinx for it” she held up several candles. “Seems you’re the only one who can stop it” Faith looked over Willow’s shoulder to see Alex staring in disbelief at the pandemonium around them. “Blondie never seen you all witched out before?” she asked but before Willow could reply they both turned at a scream from the basement. “Move” Faith ordered and pushed both of them to the relative safety of a side room.

“I need to be in there” Willow tried to take shallow breaths and shook her head to clear it. “Alex” she looked round to find her. “There isn’t time to get you to safety so you need to stay closer to me than ever before” she held out her hand and smiled as Alex gripped onto it. “Don’t let go” she kept eye contact for several seconds and winced as Alex struggled to hold down the sobs. “Faith, clear the area and make sure everyone has a weapon” she closed her eyes for a second and gathered her strength. “Stay with me” she whispered to Alex and was sure that the blonde understood all that she meant with the simple phrase.

*****

“Why do they always have to have mucous?” Buffy shouted to Giles across the room as she slashed at a tentacle that waved past her.

“I think it’s a bye-law” he shouted back and hacked the end of one of the tentacles off, neatly side stepping the inevitable fluids. “Push him back towards the portal” he shouted and worked with Buffy to cut off any avenues of escape for the large, slimy demon.

“Get down” they both heard inside their heads and instinctively dropped to the floor and stayed down. “You can come up now” Willow said quietly and they both lifted their heads in relief at the singular lack of sticky demonic presence in the room. “I’ve closed it for now but someone’s determined to keep trying” Willow was obviously only still standing with Alex’s help and she absently wiped the blood running from her nose onto her sleeve.

“What was that?” Alex looked at Giles as he stood up and started brushing dust from his clothes.

“Ehm I’m not really sure, I’ve never seen one with tentacles and arms before, I’ll check my books and get back to you” he turned to hand his sword to Buffy. “I’ll find Xander and see what Angel is doing about this at his end” he walked off with Faith and turned at what remained of the doorway. “Willow, just keep it closed, no heroics OK?” he waited till he saw her answering nod before continuing out.

“Sit down” Buffy ordered as she led Willow to a pile of training mats in the middle of the floor. “Is there anything I can do?” she sat down in front of Willow.

“I think I might need to borrow a little of the slayer mojo in a while but it’ll be a few minutes till they try again” she turned to face Alex. “Are you hurt?” she finally realised she hadn’t checked yet.

“Me?” Alex stared at her in astonishment before looking at a dishevelled Buffy and then taking in the entire, trashed basement. “Either you doped my coffee and I’m having a really weird trip or this is what you guys actually do for a living” her eyes finally stopped back at Willow. “Are you going to be OK, what did Rupert mean about keeping it closed?”

Buffy saw Willow struggling to stay conscious and took Alex’s attention for a few moments. “Recently we found someone spying on us and told his boss that he’d been rumbled. His boss has decided to remodel our buildings by opening a dimensional portal and dropping some really icky bad guys through it to teach us a lesson” Buffy explained before stopping for a breath. “Basically, Willow can use her magic to keep the door shut between our world and the demon dimension that is grand central station right now” she looked up as a dozen heavily armed slayers arrived. “Give me a minute to get them positioned” she mumbled and went to explain her plans to them.

“Hey” Willow winced and hugged her right arm round her midriff. “You didn’t decide if LA and Las Vegas were OK for our trip next week” she reminded Alex and tried not to breathe.

“I was going to suggest bungee jumping to bring some excitement back into our lives” Alex moved to kneel behind her and let her lean back.

“Maybe we could do that the second week” Willow swallowed some blood as it dripped down the back of her throat. She let her head roll back to rest on Alex’s shoulder. “Sorry about this, can I take a raincheck on the outdoor smoochies?” she closed her eyes so that Alex wouldn’t need to see them.

“I think even indoor smoochies are on hold until your ribs are better” Alex suted ted and gently wrapped her arms round Willow’s waist. “Don’t you dare leave me” she whispered in Willow’s ear. Willow tried to concentrate on her breathing for a few minutes.

“Buffy” she said quietly but her friend was beside her in seconds. “It’s nearly time” she held out one hand to the blonde slayer.

“Heads up guys” Buffy shouted over her shoulder before taking Willow’s hand in both of hers. “Take whatever you need” she settled down next to Willow and smiled at Alex. “Hey, everything’s going to be fine” she assured her.

Alex was about to reply when she felt Willow tense in her arms. She looked down at her and watched as the little blood that remained slowly drained from her face. “I’m here honey” she whispered and looked up as the air shimmered about ten feet in front of them.

Willow’s eyes opened suddenly and she held her free hand out towards the thickening air. A few mumbled words were enough to cause sparks to appear at the edge of the disturbance and to stop it growing in size. After a stalemate of several seconds it began to shrink and finally disappeared completely with a loud pop and a rush of air. “Can’t do many more” she gasped and slumped back unconscious into Alex’s arms.

Buffy’s head had dropped and she was breathing heavily. Slowly she looked up and lowered Willow’s hand to her side. “She’s passed out because of the pain” she said quietly to Alex and swallowed the sobs that threatened to overcome her. “She channelled some of the pain to me while she took my strength” she explained before looking at the keyed up slayers watching them. “Get Giles and Faith back here, now” she ordered the closest one.

“We need to get her to a hospital” Alex was gently stroking Willow’s hair and trying to stop her tears from dripping onto her face. “She could be bleeding internally”

“Buffy!” Giles ran in and dropped on his knees beside Willow. “Damn, what happened?” he checked her pulse and winced when he opened her eyelid to see the totally black eye staring back at him.

“She managed to close another one but I think she’s out of the game” Buffy rolled her shoulders. “What’s happening in LA?”

“Angel and Wesley have dealt with their client but they can’t get the dimensional portal to close” he looked round to find Faith. “We’ll probably have to let the next one open, get everyone ready” he gently placed his hands on Alex’s shoulders. “Let me” he offered and waited till she relinquished her hold on Willow. He gently lowered her to the ground and ran his hands over her abdomen and rib cage. “Come on Willow” he gritted his teeth and checked her eyes again.

Alex watched him with mounting frustration. “She needs to be in a hospital” she pushed his hands away. “Stop all of this and help me get her out of here” she demanded.

“Maybe she’s right?” Buffy suggested as she looked down at the crumpled figure at her feet.

“Giles” Faith nodded to the end of the room, where the air appeared to be thickening again. “Stay with them, we’ll take care of this” she ordered and led a group of twenty young girls towards the disturbance.

“Let’t het her behind here” Buffy suggested and gently lifted Willow, putting her down behind the pile of brogym gym equipment that Faith had dumped there earlier. “Alex, stay with Giles and Willow and do whatever he says” Buffy looked around for a weapon. “I’ll make sure nothing gets close” she waved to another group of slayers and they formed a loose circle around the three people crouched behind the rubble.

“She’s coming round” Alex whispered and leaned down to wipe some dirt from Willow’s face.

“Willow” Giles chafed the back of her hand and kept glancing over his shoulder at the battle being waged at the other end of the hall. “Come on Willow, waken up” he moved to her other hand.

“Alex” Willow said and coughed. Despite the shouts and roars from the struggle, her groan was heard by everyone in the room. “Ow” she finally winced and opened her eyes to see Alex smiling weakly at her. “I think I might have broken some ribs” she whispered and desperately tried not to cough again.

“Dr Rosenberg I presume?” Alex tried to laugh but it turned into a sob and she couldn’t stop the tears splashing onto Willow’s shirt.

“The portal” she turned her head slightly to look at Giles. “Is it open?” she started to struggle to sit up but both of them gently held her prone.

“It’s open and providing the first decent fight most of our slayers have had in years” he suggested dryly as he watched several young girls hacking and slashing at demons who looked like they would be suing their travel agents if they ever made it back to their own dimension.

“We’re going to get you to a hospital as soon as we can” Alex took her jacket off and draped it over Willow. “Just hold on, I’m right here with you”

“What’s happening with Angel?” Willow squeezed Alex’s hand to let her know she had heard her but she knew her priority was the portal.

“Angel has disposed of the client but someone called Fred is struggling to close the portal at their end” he pulled a brokieceiece of bench over and leaned against it.

“Fred’s smart and she’s kind of an expert on these things” Willow nodded and closed her eyes for a moment. Alex thought she had fainted again and was surprised when her eyes opened again so quickly. “Do you have a phone on you?” she asked Giles and struggled to sit up.

“You are not making any phone calls” Alex said firmly and glared at Giles as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “You’ve done enough” she felt her anger building and using up the adrenaline she had been wasting on fear and worry.

“I think I have an idea about the portal and I need to talk to Fred” Willow explained patiently and lifted the phone from Giles’ hand. “No mojo, just talking, I promise” she struggled to focus on the keypad.

“You can’t even see straight” Alex growled and lifted the phone from her hand.

“Let me” Giles said quietly and retrieved the phone to dial a number. “Wesley?” he asked and heard howling and moaning in the background. “The portal is open at this end but Willow thinks she may have an idea” he handed to phone to Willow and tried to avoid Alex’s accusing glare.

Willow asked Wesley to describe the markings surrounding the portal opening at their end. “I think you should try the Book of Tigoret” she suggested and moved the phone to her other ear as Wesley struggled to find the reference she mentioned. “Yes, if you use that itatitation while someone pours the mixture into the circle, it should be enough to weaken the field and it will collapse in on itself” she listened as Wesley shouted some instructions to his team. Her free hand found Alex’s and she tried to slip her hand into the clenched fist of her girlfriend. “Alex, honey, I’m only making a call” she whispered quietly and saw Giles glance over his shoulder as the noise seemed to come closer to them.

“Alex” he shouted as the demon broke through the ranks of slayers and made straight for them. At the last minute Buffy threw her sword and hit it between what she hoped passed for shoulder blades. However, it’s momentum carried it over the temporary barricade that the three were hiding behind and Giles pushed Alex to one side and threw himself across Willow.

*****

“Rupert” he frowned as someone bawled in his ear, causing his pounding headache to achieve new levels of poundiness. “Rupert, can you hear me?” Alex whispered and moved from the chair at the side of his bed to wave down the corridor. “I think he’s coming round” she stood back as Buffy and Dawn sprinted down the corridor and skidded to a halt to enter the room with a little decorum.

“Giles” Buffy lifted his hand and tried to avoid the I.V. that was taped to the back of it. “Everything’s OK, you’re in hospital but you’re going to be fine” she assured him and waited for his eyes to open.

“Willow?” he croaked and screwed his eyes up against the white glare.

“She’s in the next room but she’s OK too” Dawn smiled down at him and gently placed his glasses on his face.

“Alex?” he asked next and tried to lift his left hand to fix his glasses.

“I’m still here, thanks to you” Alex looked like she had been crying for several hours. “You’ve broken your arm and gotten some stitches in a deep cut” she explained why his left hand was in plaster and his side was wrapped with dressings.

“And you won’t be surprised to learn that you took a bit of ock ock to the head” Buffy smiled before sniffling a little. “I’m sorry I let him past me” she squeezed his hand until he winced before apologetically settling it back on the bed. “Anyway, you need your rest and someone has a school to run while you’re malingering in here” she smiled sweetly and nodded to Dawn and they both left.

“Dear God” he groaned and dropped his head back onto the pillows.

“Do you want some painkillers?” Alex asked worriedly.

“Please tell me Buffy isn’t in charge?” he looked around and seemed so evidently concerned about it that Alex couldn’t stop the giggle. “Alex, are you feeling alright?” he asked and finally managed to get his glasses to sit properly.

“Rupert?” Kate stood in the doorway looking on in complete confusion as she saw Alex doubled up in hysterics beside his bed and him looking at her in concern. “What on earth happened?” she strode to his side and leaned down to kiss him quickly.

“I seem to have broken my arm and had a bit of concussion but I’m fine now” he smiled up at her and tried to the the picture of health. “However, I think Alex might need some help” he pointed to the young woman gasping on the chair beside the bed.

“Alex, do I need to slap you?” Kate asked as she stood over her, a grin quirking her mouth. “Please stop laughing at Rupert in his hospital gown” she suggested and bit her lip to stop joining in on the contagilauglaughter. “This is serious” she finally managed to get out before giggling as well.

“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” Xander asked as he wheeled Willow into the room.

The three old friends watched in amazement as the two new friends continued to laugh without having the slightest idea as to what was so funny. Finally Alex slumped into the chair and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry” she mumbled and slapped Kate’s hand as she started to snigger again. “His biggest worry is that Buffy’s been left in charge” she pointed to Giles and tried to get her breathing back under control.

“She’s not, is she?” Willow looked on anxiously before realising the ridiculousness of the situation. She grinned at Giles and held up her hand. “Do not make me laugh” she warned him before struggling to keep a giggle from escaping.

Alex had spent twelve hours in the hospital, moving between the adjoining rooms to watch first Willow and then Giles sleep. She dreaded to think what she must look like, never mind smell of. The demon had landed inches from where Giles had thrown her and some extremely unpleasant fluids had leaked over most of her clothes before they had pulled her to safety. She remembered Buffy and Faith picking up the deadweight of the demon and throwing it at least twenty feet away as they tried to get at Giles and Willow underneath it. Giles had shielded her with his body and had broken an arm in the process. The demon had been wielding a short sword in the battle and Giles was lucky that it had missed his lung when the demon stabbed him as he landed. Willow had been knocked unconscious again but her injuries weren’t as serious as first thought and she had been left with several broken ribs to sleep off the effects of the last few days on top of the worry of the last few weeks.

*****

“I think you two are milking this a little” Kate suggested with a raised eyebrow as she put two mugs of hot chocolate in front of Willow and Giles several days later.

“I know they are milking it a lot” Alex suggested as she came from the kitchen with a plate of hot, buttered toast.

“Have we run out of those little marshmallows?” Giles pouted and winked at Willow as Kate sighed and returned to the kitchen. “I’m sure the doctor told us to get as much rest and recuperation as possible” he reminded Alex.

“The physical therapists also said you had to do your exercises” she stood with her hands on her hips and looked down at them.

“I have” they both nodded at the same time and smiled angelically at the two women who looked at them sceptically.

“How are the patients?” Xander asked as he came in with a large box of doughnuts. “Save some for Buffy, she’s on her way” he handed the box to Alex who sniffed and took them into the kitchen. “What’s up with sexy lexy?” he whispered to Willow as he lifted a slice of toast from the plate.

“She thinks Giles and I should be exercising more” Willow sighed.

“Don’t even think it” Giles growled at Xander as he saw the glint in his eye. “She means the exercises from the hospital” he explained patiently and shifted his sling slightly. “Why is Buffy coming round, is something wrong?” he asked and lifted a slice of toast.

“Nope” Xander shook his head and thanked Kate for the coffee she handed him. “She just wants to get the final debrief done on the whole thing so that she can let Angel know that everything is closed at this end” he glanced into the kitchen and lowered his voice again. “How much do Alex and Kate know?” he asked.

“I told Alex everything while I was in the hospital” Willow admitted and tried not to remember the hurt in her girlfriend’s face as she realised Willow had kept it from her.

“Kate knows as well” Giles nodded and put the rest of his slice of toast back onto the plate as he remembered Kate’s anger at being kept in the dark when her friends were in danger.

*****

“Xander, can you look after the invalids for a few hours?” Kate asked as she picked up her jacket and handbag. “Alex and I have some shopping to do”

“Sure” he shrugged and stood up to hold Alex’s coat for her.

“Shopping?” Willow asked and started to get up.

“This is a girl’s day out” Alex leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry, I won’t max your cards” she grinned and turned to Giles. “I can’t say the same about Kate” she patted his good hand and followed Kate out the door.

“That was ominous” Giles said after several moments of silence.

“They are some happy shoppers” Buffy commented when she arrived a few moments later. She ignored the concerned looks on their faces and began going through the progress they had made in identifying the person who had been spying on them. “It seems he was one of the demons that the Mayor had made deals with to gain his power originally” she started packing her papers away again. “After the Ascension was a bust he started keeping a watch on us to find a weakness” she shook her head. “Seemed to have missed the whole ‘slayer dying’ thing entirely so he probably wasn’t that big a threat in the first place” she shrugged. “Only really got annoyed when he found out his latest spy guy was branching out”

“And Angel is sure he has closed down the operation in LA?” Giles checked and stood up to pace a little. “I’m just a little sore” he explained when Buffy smiled at him. “Quite different from a working pace ase assured her as he stretched his back gingerly, carefully avoiding pulling his stitches.

*****

“This was a good idea” Alex said quietly as Kate parked the car at the mall. “I just need to do something normal”

“What was it like?” Kate asked as they headed for the first floor. “I mean I remember the vampire but he was on his own and Rupert staked him quite quickly so it probably wasn’t representative of a normal day at the office”

“I don’t really know how to explain it” Alex shrugged. “I mean I’ve known these people for a few years now and yet they suddenly seemed to be different” she looked at Kate. “Even Willow”

“Like when Clark Kent took his glasses off?” Kate suggested.

“Yeah, I think that’s as good a description as any” Alex sighed. “I mean they were fighting evil and that’s such a comic book thing to think about but they were literally stabbing the monsters”

“I’ve seen Rupert lose his temper once or twice and he’s told me about what he was like when he was younger, but I can’t imagine what he’s like when something threatens any of his girls” Kate looked round to make sure they weren’t being overheard.

“He wasn’t angry, just very efficient and cool and calm and..” Alex stopped again and looked apologetic. “Next time let’s make sure I’m attending the conference in Seattle and you can be in the middle of it” she suggested.

“I’m not sure I need to know that badly” Kate smiled and looked in the window of the clothes shop they had wandered to. “Was there anything specific you were looking for?”

“Actually there is, but not here” Alex shook her head and turned towards a jewellery store. “Do you think she’ll like it?” she checked twenty minutes later.

“I’m guessing she’ll do much more than like it” Kate smiled at the younger woman. “Have you discussed the idea with her?”

“Not really” Alex admitted. “It’s not like we can do anything official but I just need to do something” she swallowed. “I thought I had lost her” she mumbled and turned away from Kate to wipe her eyes.

“I understand” Kate put her arm round her shoulders. “I’m just jealous that you can make the big gesture” she sighed. “It’s a little more difficult for me”

“Doesn’t have to be” Alex said. “I mean we could have a double blessing or something”

“You know, that’s not such a ridiculous idea” Kate said quietly and nodded when Alex suggested a coffee break.