The Warriors

Dawn crawled wearily out of bed, knowing that Xander had already arrived at the mansion. Thank God, it was Saturday and she didn't have to go to school, she grimaced. At her age to be still in school and flunking history at that! She growled at that thought, damn history books, that was NOT how things happen. She did NOT have affairs with Anthony or Julius Cesear.

She came out of her room, for once praying that the bathroom was empty...YESSS! Thank you! Thank you! She darted into the bathroom, locking the door and tried to take the quickest shower in the history of mankind, brushing her teeth at the same time to make it even briefer when over the water she heard the door being jimmied open.

Puzzled she shut off the water and wrapped a towel around her, her mouth tightening as she met Kennedy's mocking eyes and the open door.

"All right, I think you've had long enough in here," Kennedy snickered, growing annoyed at the continuing silence from the girl and the way she constantly ignored her baiting.

"I've only been in here for," Dawn checked the bathroom clock, "about 6 minutes so I believe I still have at least 4 minutes left," she said dryly.

"Well, us Potentials need to get first crack at the shower and the hot water so you'll have to leave now," Kennedy said arrogantly, a smirk on her face.

Dawn raised a brow, "That's all right, I was already done anyhow," she said equitably almost laughing at the frustrated rage on Kennedy's face. How she loathe the girl, half the time she hoped one of the damn Bringers would clock the bitch.

"Good!" Kennedy snapped, gritting her teeth. "Then why don't you get out of here so a real hero can wash up," she stressed the word 'hero' hoping to get a rise out of the little bitch, watching intently for any response. Nearly growling at the response she got.

"Well you are standing in front of the door," Dawn reminded her, firmly keeping her rage under control. If something wasn't done about this damn girl, SOON then she would figure out a way and take her out herself. None of this showed in her blue eyes as she strolled past the fuming Kennedy.

"Hey, bring that towel back here! Someone might need it," Kennedy said sharply, extending her hand.

"Well, considering that towels were handed out just last night, I seriously doubt that," Dawn said coolly as she continued to her bedroom.

"I said take it off," Kennedy snarled, finally she had found a way to get at the girl.

"Fine...I'll give it to you when I put on my robe," Dawn rolled her eyes.

"NO! You take it off now," Kennedy said huskily, she looked Dawn up and down, licking her lips.

Dawn turned around with her hand on her doorknob, casting a openly contemptuous look at the dark-hair Potential she said quietly, "No," and stepped into her room.

Kennedy smirked nastily, finally she had something to go on as she started forward and stop abruptly as she saw the vampire leaning against the wall, watching her with sharp attention in his cold blue eyes. She gritted her teeth knowing she couldn't do a thing to Dawn, especially not with him watching her.

The first thing she was going to do when she became the Slayer was fucking dust his dead ass!

"Sumptin' wrong Niblet," Spike said coolly, watching the fuming Potential with cold dislike. Of all the bloomin' girls litterin’ the house, she was the one that he hated the most, a wicked look came in his eyes. Ain't it too bad the Slayer had his chip removed?

"Naw, it ain't nothing I can't handle, thanks Spike," Dawn gave him a brief smile before shutting her door, leaving Spike and Kennedy alone in the hallway.

Kennedy glared at the coldly composed vampire, oh he was definitely on her list of things to kill once she became the Slayer. Now that she had Willow on her side, there was no doubt in her mind that eventually she would be able to convince the girl to do the spell that would activate only her once Buffy was dead. And since witches were borderline human...well she would cross that bridge when she needed to cross it.

With one last cold glare at Spike, she whirled and stormed away. A nasty idea had just presented itself to her on how to get back at Dawn.

Spike regarded the direction Kennedy had took off in with a thoughtful look on his face. It was driving him wild that every time he voiced a protest about Kennedy, Buffy would brush him off, making light of it. He had tried to warn her about that nasty piece of work, Kennedy but she ignored him, warning him coldly to stay out of it. While he didn't have any problems with the nasty bint pickin' at Xander and playing mind games with Red, no one had better mess with his Niblet. That was something he wasn't gonna stand for not even from Buffy! And at that thought, he frowned. When had he become so possessive with Niblet and since when did he consider her HIS? His brow cleared, it obviously had something to do with her being Buffy's sister n'all.

Dawn got dressed quickly, she had a a lot of things to get done today, one of which was the grocery shopping that seemed to have fallen on her shoulders every week, she grimaced. Those lazy girls had better get off their asses and start helping out around here, what did they think she was, their servant? She hadn't seen any of them, not once, lift a hand to clean the dishes or even to clean up after themselves, was her angry thought. They weren't Potential Slayers, they were Potential pain in the asses, she snorted to herself.

Even Spike helped washed the dishes and he only used a friggin' mug! Xander would come in tired after work and be instantly presented with a long list of things that needed to be taken care of by Buffy or Kennedy before he even had time to take off his jacket or even eat something. Her lips curved in a nasty smile, it was driving Kennedy absolutely wild that her efforts of trying to drive a wedge between Willow and Xander was proving to be highly unsuccessful. Man, she could hardly wait to see the look on both Kennedy and Buffy's faces, she hugged herself with glee.

Abruptly she lost her smile, poor Spike she sighed in regret.

She bit her lip, she knew just howfy wfy was going to react to the sight of Angel. Two people were definitely going to be hurt today, only one she was going to regret seeing hurt: Spike. She hoped that there was something that she could do to help ease his pain.

She headed down the stairs to the kitchen and joined Andrew in starting breakfast. As usual they waited until the Potentials were all finished before she and Andrew began eating, trying to simultaneously restore order to the kitchen, the dining room and living room. Sighing in satisfaction four hours later at the clean rooms, she listened with half her attention on Andrew cheerful babble until they parted. She gave him a silent look of encouragement over her shoulder, hearing the loneliness behind his words. Hopefully things were going to be looking up for him.

She ran upstairs and, grabbing her purse and the weekly shopping list made her way past the Potentials on the stairs, blinking as she saw Buffy waiting for her at the door. Casting a sideways look, she saw the smirk on Kennedy's face and the other Potentials chilling out on the couch and floor watching TV in their pajamas

"Dawn, could I have a minute before you take off," Buffy had a slight distracted frown on her face.

"Sure Buff, what's up," Dawn bounced to a stop in front of her, her eyes curious.

Buffy sighed, she knew Dawn was going to go ballistic, but she had to realize that everyone needed to pitch in around the house. She knew Dawn would be unhappy butld rld reluctantly do it, maybe when Xander got back they would be able to work together in getting it done, her expression brighten. Hows that expression go, lots of hands made the work lidle or something like that, she frowned, what the hell was a lidle anyway.

Spike came out of the kitchen drinking his blood, watching the two sisters curiously.

"I know you're not going to like this, but there's a shitload of clothes in the basement that need washing," Buffy said unhappily, seeing Dawn's eyes begin to cloud over.

"And your point is," Dawn said coolly, her eyes narrowing.

"And I need you to take care of washing the clothes, folding them up and distributing back to the girls," Buffy said rapidly, relieved to get all out, she ignored the disbelieving expression on Spike's face at her order to Dawn.

She turned to go and froze at Dawn's quiet one word reply.

"No."

Frowning she looked back, "What did you say," she asked slowly.

Kennedy nudged a couple of the Potentials with a wicked smile on her face. Rona and Emily both gave her a cold look of disdain that she returned with equal interest.

"I said no," Dawn said matter-of-factly reaching for the door and opening it.

Buffy pressed her hand against the door, ripping it from Dawn's grasp and slamming it shut.

"Look Dawn, I know that this is a lot to ask, but we all have to pull together on this," Buffy said reasonably, "If we don't work together around the house, taking care of things and cleaning up, pretty soon the First won't need to worry about us, because we will be dead." Her head tilted slightly regarding her frozen face sister, trying to convince her to take on a little bit more added responsibility, it wasn't like Dawn was going out there and risking her life night after night like they were.

"C'mon Dawn," she wheedled, "I'm just asking for a little bit more extra effort from you. I know you can do it," she smiled.

Spike snorted, what was the girl thinking? Between Dawn and Willow, even those two wankers Andrew and Xander, the house stayed functional and relatively clean.

He looked behind him, sensing movement and glance down into Andrew's worried eyes. He looked away focusing back on the argument.

"Buffy," Dawn said slowly, "When was the last time you saw any of the Potential clean up after themselves? When was the last time you saw them cook a meal for everyone, take only about 20 minutes in the bathroom, unclog the toilet or the sink? When was the last time you saw anyone other than me, Willow, Andrew and Xander lift a hand to clean or do anything around the house?" Dawn regarded the flushing Buffy with cool remote eyes.

"Don't take that tone with me," she snapped at Dawn, quickly realizing her mistake, she tried to correct it, "I'm sorry I'm just tired I guess, between work, Slaying and keeping us alive is making me a little grumpy lately," she peeked at Dawn to see if the girl was buying it.

"Maybe you're right," Dawn said, "But if that's the case, then I have a right to be a little tired also considering that I'm up at 5:00 am every morning, taking a 10 minutes shower, because heaven forbid that I use up the hot water before one of the Potential wakes up, rushing downstairs to make breakfast for the house, running upstairs to get dressed for school while Xander and Andrew clean up the kitchen and living room, grabbing my bookbag and heading off to school for six hours, then rushing home to help Willow prepared dinner, clean up the house and then helping Willow wash up after dinner, before researching for five hours then running upstairs to take a cold shower, because each of the Potentials wanted to take a hot shower before bedtime. So I'm thinking that perhaps I also have a right to be a little weary," she regarded Buffy stonily.

Rona and Emily exchanged guilty looks, the girl was right...none of them had been pulling their own weight.

"Today, like every other Saturday morning I'm heading to the grocery store for this weeks adventure in shopping which should take, oh I don't know, about four hours. I will then come back and hopefully if Willow, Xander, Spike or Andrew is around I'll get help in unloading all the groceries from the car and help in putting the multitude of groceries away as your Potentials wander back and forth through the kitchen complaining about there's nothing to eat and 'when is lunch gonna be ready'. And now, you want me to also wash their clothes too," Dawn said through gritted teeth, her hands clenching into fists, her eyes flashing in rage.

"Let me guess who's brilliant idea this was," she snarled flicker a cold contemptuous look at the gloating girl on the couch, "Kennedy!"

"Don't put the blame on Kennedy," Buffy said sharply, aware that the majority of the girls were watching them and her mouth tightened angrily. Dawn needed to understand her place in their war with the First.

"Look, Dawn, right now you don't have any fighting ability so it only make sense for you to help where ever you can. The Potentials obviously had a great deal of work that occupies their time like building up their strength, their endurance and ability to protect Sunnydale and you, I might add," Buffy said coldly, stg atg at Dawn.

Spike snorted, "And wha're the bints doing right now," he said gesturing to the girls sitting on the floor in their pajamas. He couldn't believe Buffy had just spouted all that nonsense to the Niblet.

"Stay out of this Spike," Buffy snapped angrily, rounding on him in rage. She was the one in charge, she gave the orders and everyone needed to fuckin' well learn how to fall in line and pull together.

"No, I will not," Spike snarled, "Niblet is right. You ain't here all day when they sit n'front of the telly for five hours, you ain't here when they rummage through the fridge creatin' a mess for Willow and Andrew to clean up. They only exercise for 'bout n'hour or two a day. There's plenty of time for them to clean up afta 'emselves. Ain't nothing but a bunch of lazy layabouts, is what they are," he shouted angrily glaring furiously at her.

The phone rang as Buffy glared at Spike, despite her current feeling for him, he needed to know exactly who was in charge around here or he could get the hell out of here. There could not be two leaders in this war. They either had to fall in line or get left behind, she wearily eyed her sister, including Dawn and Xander. There would be no free rides, at least not around here.

Maybe Xander, Willow, Dawn and Andrew *were* doing a little more work around the house, but they weren't fighters and someone needed to take up the slack. She snorted, how would it look if the house was attacked and the Potential were too pooped after running around cleaning up the house to defend themselves?

Rona darted over to answer it, uncomfortable with the escalating tension in the air. Dawn and Spike were absolutely right and starting today, she was going to start pulling her share of the workload. Her mama would roll over in her grave if she saw her now!

"Hello? Xander! Where are you guys," she yelled in relief into the phone, hoping that they were on their way back. She hoped that Willow would be able to calm everyone down

The front door opened, startling Dawn as Giles, Anya and Robin stepped through.

Giles raised a brow at the looks on the two sisters faces, a little taken aback at the angry expression on Dawn’s face. He sighed wearily, very much tempted to shake some common sense into Buffy’s brain. He had no doubts that somehow, in some manner she had managed to get Dawn’s back up.

Ruefully he wondered when had he automatically began assuming that Buffy was the cause of the latest battle within the Summers’ household. He shook his head, one day soon the child would find a queue forming, all wishing to do grievous bodily harm to her. His lips quirked, and from the look on Dawn’s face, she was going to be first person in the queue.

“Perhaps someone will do the honors,” he queried, raising a brow and looking around. Not in the least surprised at the babble of words from everyone, as everyone tried out yell the others, to present their side of the quarrel.

His eyes narrowed looking at the smirk on Kennedy’s face as she watched the chaos, a look that quickly disappeared when she noticed him looking at her and an expression of presumed innocence appeared.

Oh no, my girl, he thought coldly, eyeing her. I had your number the instant I met you. Had you not been so needed in Sunnydale I would have left you on the rubbish heap where I found you.

Robin stood slightly behind Giles, a little uncomfortable but firmly meeting Spike’s icy blue eyes head on. He would make no apologies about trying to kill the vampire, having since come to terms with his mother loss of life. It was her job and her duty, he just feared that Spike would revert to being back under the First’s control.

And until proven otherwise, he was going to keep a close eye on Spike, no matter what Buffy said. Just because he had a soul was no indication that he wouldn’t go off the deep end and start slaughtering everyone in their sleep. The main reason why he made sure never to sleep in this house. At least in his own apartment, Spike needed his permission to enter…something that he would never give.

Spike met Robin’s eyes, unsurprised to see the wary hostility still lurking in the man’s eyes. He nodded, good the human understood just as Giles did. Despite helping them, he was no White Hat…soul or not he was still a demon, the original Big Bad…former member of the Scourge of Europe.

He helped the Scoobies because he loved Buffy, he frowned slightly, or was it simply lust that he felt for her. If it was only lust, then why did he feel the need to stay?

Cor! did he miss the days when all he thought about was the kill...hot blood flowing down his throat and the incredible shagging that took place after a long hunt between the four of them, Darla, Angelus, Dru and himself.

“Enough,” Giles shouted over Dawn and Buffy’s voices. He turned sternly to Buffy.

“Buffy, you are entirely out of line to expect Dawn to take on additional duties around this household.“ He cast a cold look around the room at the Potentials in various stages of undress.

“You apparently have more than enough idle hands that could be far better served in a much more constructive manner. I’ve watched and remained silent for too long, hoping that you would come to see reason, but I fear that I was wrong,” he said with icy dignity, “Beginning today, I will draw up a list of household duties that *everyone* will follow, no exceptions. There will be no longer any laying about while Willow, Andrew, Dawn and Xander try to take care of things.”

Buffy’s mouth had dropped open at the blistering reprimand from Giles, then she flushed angrily, “This is MY house, I make the rules around here. Weren’t you the one that said I need to learn how to command? Well, I am in command,” she yelled, “I’m doing exactly what you taught me to do....Giles,” she growled.


“What the hell is going on there, Rona,” Xander said anxiously into the phone, listening to the yelling voices.

“Buffy apparently got up on her big ass high horse, with a little boost from Ms. My-name-is-Kennedy-and-I’m-Rich-and-better-than-you, of course,” Rona said drily into the phone and then a sigh from the other end. “I think it’s just that all us girls are on top of each other, that’s all,” she offered in consolation.

“Well, good news then. When they pause for breath you can tell them that Angel here and is allowing us the use of the mansion, so there will be plenty of space for everyone and lots of bathrooms too,” Xander smiled at Angel over the mouthpiece.

“For real, for real?!” Rona said excitedly, almost squeaking into the phone, ignoring the argument behind her.

“Yep, we’re arranging for furniture and beds for everyone as we speak. Just tell everyone to meet us here at 5 pm, and we can give you Potentials the grand tour,” Xander chuckled, ducking under the couch that was sailing over his head through the room.

He looked around the busy room at his fellow Warriors, the Keys and Guardians with their mates and companions. He didn’t know how he would have managed if he hadn’t thought to call on them for help. And they came running, eager to meet his Mates and tell all his secrets. He glared at Zeus, he was definitely gonna figure out a way to fix him as Zeus gave him a bland smile in return.

He turned back to his conversation with Rona, “Yeah, just make sure you tell them, especially Buffy, that 5 pm and no earlier, ‘K,” he said firmly.

“Man, for a beds of our own,” Rona laughed, “We’ll all sit on her. See ya later,” and she hung up the phone as she turned back to the cold war of words between Mr. Giles and Buffy. She snickered, a war that Mr. Giles could easily win even if his tongue was ripped out.

Giles eyed Buffy with arctic politeness, “Then I assume that you have the wherewithall to continue the upkept of this household…shopping for groceries, paying the mortgage, the electric bill and the telephone bill, in the event that Xander finds that he has had enough of you and your demanding attitude,yes? Because currently I believe that Xander is paying for all these expenses considering that you seem to feel that work is somehow beneath you,” he raised a brow at the now white faced Slayer.

Buffy swallowed hard, she had forgotten that it was Xander that supported this house and everyone. She tried to rally herself.

“I don’t think that work is beneath me. I do have a job, sure it's only a couple of hours but...but it’s just that with fighting the First, training the Potentials and patroling isn’t leaving much time for another job and Xander understands that,” she protested uneasily.

Robin looked at her quietly, “Does he?” Man, was he glad that he wasn’t staying in this house, he would have been tempted to beat the shit out of her for that kind of attitude. How in the hell did Xander stand her? He shuddered at the close call he had on their date. Thank God he hadn’t gotten serious with her.

“Does he really? “Anya spoke for the first time, “ And how would you know what he understands, Buffy? For some reason I can’t seem to recall you ever thanking Xander for all he’s done in supporting you, supporting every lazy one of your prescious Potenials. Yes, I admit that sometimes I can be a little oblivious to what’s going on around me if it doesn’t have to do with money, but I’ve watched you Buffy. And you know what? Even I can see a little scorn in your eyes when you look at him, and if I can see that, what do you imagine Xander sees in your eyes?”

Her question dropped like stones in the silence that rippled throughout the room.

Emily stepped forward, her head held high, “Mr. Giles what can I do to help?”

Susan came down the rest of the stairs, “Dawn, maybe I can go with you to the store and help? Make the grocery shopping easier, eh?” She smiled, her eyes ashamed.

Peggy stood up, “Well, all those clothes ain’t gonna get washed if I keep on sitting heah,” she drawled and ambled down to the basement.

Giles looked with warm approval at the girls running around, each clamoring for a job assignment and gave a cool look at the stubborn look on Buffy and Kennedy’s faces. Clearly stronger measures would be needed for the two silent duo.

Buffy’s lips pressed together tightly, they were all against her! How did anybody expect to fight against the First if they were all tired after cleaning up? Don’t they realize that they were potential Slayers? They had a duty to mankind to fight evil, not evil dishes or evil dust!

Grudgingly she conceded defeat, if they wanted to get to expend all their energy cleaning house, she made a face, well, the First and his creatures was gonna teach them a lesson on the powers of conservation, that is if any survived.

Kennedy looked around thoughtfully at the girls, she knew she had better move swiftly or lose her support base. She saw the looks some of the girls were giving her and realized that she was rapidly losing ground.

“What can I do to help,” she asked with feigned brightness. “I’m sorry that I didn’t see what was so obvious, Giles,” she dimpled at him, “I, mean considering that you’re so much older than us, I should have listen to you.”

Giles looked at her with an unreadable expression, easily reading the look of sly cunning on her face.

Behind his glasses, his eyes flashed and Spike looked on with an amused expression on his face. Humans had their own sort of demons too, he smirked at the look of cold ruthlessness in Rupert’s eyes.

Buffy eyed Giles with uncertain eyes, uh oh. She had seen that Ripper look only once before, when they were fighting Glory…uneasily recalling exactly who had put a final end to a possible return of Glory.

Rona looked at the now conciliatory Buffy and then at Mr. Giles, “That was Xander on the phone, “ she announced.

“Yeah, what did he say,” Buffy said eagerly, gratefully turning away from the cold look on Giles face with a shudder.

“He said some girl name Angel is letting use use her crib, uhm her mansion. He said that they’re arranging for beds and stuff and to meet him there at 5,” Rona reported, a little taken aback by the look on Buffy’s face.

Spike froze, the Poofer was here?! In Sunnydale?! He eyed Buffy sourly, nearly growling at the look on her face. What…now that Peaches was back he was getting the boot? Didn’t she get it? If the bloody wanker wanted her he would have figured out a way to keep her, and not that he would ever tell ‘em but the bleeding git was right smart for a soddin’ poofer. He woulda found a way.

Buffy tried to control the near rapturious look she knew was spreading across her face…her Angel was back?! She wanted to rush right over there just to look at him, at his beautiful face. She sighed, her eyes dreamy.

Rona eyed her nervously, she thought only Kennedy and Willow were the lesbians in the group, now she gotta watch out for Buffy? She shook her head.

Giles looked startled, “Angel is here and letting us use his mansion?! I say, that is a jolly bit of luck! Perhaps it's Willow’s influence that is allowing the two to behave themselves,” he looked heartened.

“I’m going over there,” Buffy said with feigned casualness, “They might need some help…and…and…help.” She turned and stopped abruptly, flushing at the look of derision on Spikes’ face.

Spike looked at her sardonically, well aware of why she was rushing over to the wanker. What, did she think he had suddenly become noseblind? He could smell just how wet she became when she heard Angel was in town.

“Uh uh,” Rona shook her head, “Xander said not a minute before 5 pm or you ain’t gonna get in,” she said firmly.

“Ha! Angel would let me in easily,” Buffy smiled confidently, assured of her power over Angel despite their being apart for so many years. Afterall, he did drive all the way back to Sunnydale for her mother’s funeral, didn’t he? And didn’t he hold her until dawn approached?

“Buffy, clearly discretion is the better part of valor,” Giles said firmly. “Xander, Willow and Angel obviously have things well under control…we would only be in their way if we went over there.”

“But what if they need help,” Buffy whined with wide puppy dog eyes.

“They have a phone,” Giles said somewhat rudely, annoyed at the way she was trying to manipulate him. “And I’m quite sure that even Angel is well aware of how to use a phone,” he continued drily. His lips twitching at the amused snort from Spike.

“Too right, mate,” Spike snickered, “But sometimes, I do hafta wonder about the guv’nor brainbox.”

“Angel and Xander will kill each other,” Buffy tried a different argument this time, on surer ground now.

“That's absolutely rot!” Giles said in irritation, “If they hadn’t managed to kill each other within 30 minutes then I’m sure that we can at least count on Angel’s unique ability to ignore the provocation to kill Xander,” this was said with a rueful shake of Giles’ head.

“I still say we should go,” Buffy said stubbornly, her lip thrust out in a sulky pout.

“And I insist that we stay,” Giles regarded her with a clear warning in his eyes.

Buffy eyed him for a few seconds before she backed down. Even generals had commanding officers, she remembered.

“Fine,” she said huffily, turning away. “But I think you’re making a big mistake,” and stormed up to her bedroom.

Giles turned to the numerous Potentials standing around, watching the argument. He raised a brow, “I believe that you have chores to do,” nodding in satisfaction at the scrambling that immediately took place.