Situation: FUBAR
 
 
 
 
 

In the Midwest a few days later, a young woman rode her bike up to a salvage yard, going to the owner.  "Mr. Singer, can we talk for a moment please?" she asked politely.

"Sure, miss."  He smiled and let her walk him off.  "What's wrong?  Need parts for your bike?"

"No, my bike's old but my mother got it for me.  Mr. Singer, I have a heads up from the Slayer House in Cleveland.  Apparently there's a major new plot to take out all you hunters."  He stared, looking a bit less friendly.  She smiled.  "I'm one of the slayers, Mr. Singer.  Our oldest one found out that some demons went to a military project to find something specific to stop demon hunters.  They were stopped but that doesn't mean the rest of the plot isn't on-going.  She wasn't sure of total facts but she said that we have two out here.  I'm going to find them tonight if you wanted to help me question them.  After all, we were told that we were lucky to have guys like you who did the same job."

He nodded once.  "How are there more than one Slayer right now?"

"Willow had to activate all of us to stop the First Evil a few years back."

"I see.  When are you going?"

She beamed.  "Do you want to drive?  I drive a junky old compact car."

He smirked.  It was nice of her to ask but handy to have him driving.  Gave him more control over things.  "That'd be fine.  When?"

"Whenever you're ready.  I have to grab a few weapons because I stupidly didn't have Dawn shrink them for me."  She smiled.  "I'll be back in a few hours with the full report she sent?"

"Please."  She nodded and walked back to her bike, riding off.  He went back to his job, considering it.  There was always a demonic plan to take hunters out.  This one might just get worse since they had been military.  He had no idea what sort of things they could've gotten into.

***

Xander got back to the US a few months later, shaking his head when he ran into an agent at the airport.  "It's meeting time not an emergency."

"Sir, we have a problem that needs a bit of help beyond that and the Council said that the hunters could handle it," the agent told him, handing him a folder.  "They could use a lot of help but Buffy was sure they could handle it."

"She often is.  Then she decides they're *normal*."  He read it over, nodding.  "Whisk me away, guys."  He led him to the other plane so he could go.  He sent a text to Dawn's phone to tell her he ran into something and was handling it for a few hours.  He'd be late for the meeting tomorrow.  The flight wasn't that long.  Thankfully Cleveland was nearer to the Midwest than DC or LA.  He found the pile of demons around a graveyard.

"No," he moaned.  He knew what had happened.  He had sent that vision.  He called.  "Dawn, send me my girls and any of my girls there to me now.  Huge ass sitch that I sent that vision about."  He hung up and the girls appeared with Dawn.  He nodded.  "Find the one that made the deal.  Fix it."  She nodded, jogging off with one of the slayers she worked well with.  The agents got her to where they were.  "Ladies, I think you see the issues."

They nodded and dove in, him backing them up.  Yeah, this was not a happy apocalypse.  He found the headstone he had seen in his vision, kicking it.  "The one time I need explosives," he complained.  He looked in his bag, coming up with something.  Fire demon snot.  He threw it on the headstone and lit it on fire.  It burned hot enough to melt stone.  He made sure it melted and then turned, finding a higher demon there.  "Not playing fair," he sneered.

"Who are you?  You're not one of mine," he said.  He looked the boy over.  "You seem like a hunter though."

Xander smirked.  "I'm the White Knight of Sunnydale."  He saw the horrified look on the agent's face.  "Heard that rumor?"

"Yes, sir."  He had a lot of respect for this one.

Xander attacked the demon.  It tried to jump into him instead but he had shields thanks to the shaman he had worked with.  "Girls," he called.  They rushed in and one got the demon down.  He panted, pushing it out.  "What are you, Voldemort?" he sneered.  He killed him since the girls couldn't kill humans.  The demon released the body.  Xander stared at it.  "Not done playing with you yet."  Dawn walked up and cast to capture it.  "Thanks, Dawn."

"Welcome, Xander."   She checked.  "Not possessed.  I'm so proud," she teased.

He smirked.  "The Shaman helped."  He looked at the other girls.  "They down?"  They nodded.  "All of them?"

"A few fled, Xander."

"We'll get 'em later," he decided.  He looked at the hunters, staring at the older one.  "Julia Goodwin said she had met you.  I sent her that vision as well."  The old guy blanched, nodding.  "Welcome."  He pointed at the mess he had made.  "It's down.  No angelic apocalypse now."  He looked at Dean.  "Did she fix the deal?"

"Yeah.  Bobby had to stop me from killing her for it, but she did."

"I tried to explain," she said.  "It had to be done as soon as possible."  She shrugged.  "I nearly knocked you out first instead."

"That would've made me fight," the other said.

She pinched him on the arm.  "Now you're both free."  She pointed at the captured demon.  "He's there."  Dean pulled out a gun and shot it.  The demon died.  "Sweet."

Xander looked and nodded.  "I could use one of those in Africa."  One of the slayers hugged him, making him hiss.  "Ow.  Owowow."  She glared at him.  "Possessed hyenas."  He smirked.  Dawn groaned.  "They're free.  I had to get them unpossessed.  They tried to take out the girls."  He shrugged and winced a bit.  He looked at the hunters again.  He snapped his fingers.  "Dawn, card?"  She pulled her ID case out of her bra and handed one over.   "If you can't find Julia, call us.  This is Dawn.  She's one of our senior witches."

"Cleveland?" Dean demanded.  "You guys are in Cleveland?"

"That's where the newest hellmouth is."  Dawn grinned.  "Not our fault.  The original Council had been Brits and we were in Sunnydale."  Sam shuddered.  "Yeah, exactly.  Now we're all around."  She smiled at Xander.  "You're so getting nagged later."

"You tell your sister and I'm going to spank her too the first time she tries to tell me it's a slayer's job."

"Good point.  Can you?"

"Definitely."  He looked at the hunters again.  "If you need us for something huge, call.  We do handle apocalypses very well."  He looked at the agent.  "Okay, let's....."  Dawn brought them home.  "Hey, cool.  Bag?"

"I'll get the agent to send it," she promised, going to call that one's agency to get a message to him.  They knew the usual agents who hung around to 'help them'.  "Reports, ladies."  They sighed but went to do that.  She did her own once she was off the phone.

Back in North Dakota, the three hunters were looking at each other.  "A whole army of bouncy, female warriors," Dean said.  "I always thought they'd be wearing fantasy chainmail armor."

The agent snorted.  "Don't tempt them.  A few of them do some club hunting looking like working girls."  He saw the bag and picked it up.  "I'll get this back to Harris."  He wrote two numbers on the back of the card.  "That's Harris' cellphone.  Sometimes he's in the US, sometimes in Africa, but the girls actually listen to him most of the time.  The other is the agent who is the official liaison with the Council if it's something we should know as the government, gentlemen."  He looked at Dean.  "He's already fixed that St. Louis thing.  We went to look and found the extra skin.  Your records... that was damn stupid, boys, but effective."  He left.

Bobby shook his head.  "That's just strange."

"Very," Dean agreed.  He put it into his wallet for now.  "Okay...."  He looked at the mess then at Bobby.  "Now what?"

"Now, we have a beer.  We deserve a beer.  Sammy, you good?"

"Yeah, she killed him, fixed the injury, restarted him, and the crossroads demon showed up but got her ass kicked too.  She so went off," Dean assured him, happier now.  Sammy was safe, he wasn't going to go to hell.  Things were good.  "For some reason the demon was scared of her."

"It takes a lot of power to do that disappearing thing for one person," Bobby said.  "I don't know many witches who'd even think about it outside of an emergency.   If she could take all of them, she's pretty powerful."

"She was kinda cute too," Sam admitted with a grin.

"She was," Dean agreed.  "Too young for me though."  He shrugged.  "If you want to tap that, hit on the girl.  She clearly knows what we do."  They got into their cars and headed for a bar.  This had been too strange.  They were happy it was solved but still strange.  They weren't used to the US riding to the rescue.

***

Xander turned around in his shower to rinse off his back, staring at the woman in the doorway.  "Yes?"

"Demons?"

"Hyenas.  Possessed and sent after the girls.  I could get them calmed down so we could banish them."  He shrugged.  "A few got friendly.  One tried to fight."  He went back to scrubbing.  If Faith wanted to stare at him, so be it.  "How has your tour been?"

"Better than yours.  You good with that one dying?"

"No," he said, staring at her.  "But I did all I could to save her.  I offered to take her place and they poisoned us instead."  She nodded.  "We mourned, did a wonderful service for her."

"Good.  She call another one?  G wanted to know."

"No."

"That's two now that haven't called a new one."  Xander smiled.  "But five have."

"So we need less now.  It's evening out."  She nodded, handing him a towel with a smirk.  "Thanks, Faith.  How was yours?"

"The only good thing I found about mine is part of my route has a few German bars."  She walked off.

Xander got out and dried off, putting on clean clothes and heading down to the kitchen.  He handed Giles his reports since they had been in his pocket on a keydrive.  Giles handed them to his assistant to print for him.  "The reports from earlier done?" he asked.

"Yes, they were.  Thank you for that warning as well."  He stared at him.  "That vision came here?"

"I faxed a copy here and one to Julia Goodwin.  She knew the hunters involved, that was part of what I saw."  He got some juice and sat down to drink it.

"Did she not get it to them?"

"I think she was trying when she got hit by that possessed driver," Xander said.  "She probably couldn't find them when she got out of the hospital.  The demon earlier was a higher demon, upper echelon.  The possessing sort."  Giles shuddered.  "By the way, destroyed the keystone to their hellgate."  He took another drink while Giles stared at him.

"Thank you.  That's helpful.  Are there others?"

Xander shrugged.  "Not anymore in Africa, Switzerland, or the Middle East."

"Good to know."  He went to research that topic.  If he had to, he'd talk to those hunters and see if they could take the rest down.

Xander looked at Buffy when she walked in.  "Hey."

"Hey.  Thank you but you're still not supposed to be in a battle."

"Bite me," he said dryly, staring at her.  "I've been in plenty of battles in Africa and gee, I'm damn good at it still, Buffy."  She scowled.  He glared.  She backed down from that 'you're normal' point again.  "Other than that, did Dawn tell you they were cute?  Maybe you can introduce yourself so you can have a boyfriend who knows what you do."

"I might," she agreed with a smile.  "Hyenas?"

"Possessed.  I calmed them down and banished them.  They were sent after my girls."

"Oh."  She nodded.  "Did they try to pin you and hurt you?"

"No.  One tried to fight for dominance but a fist is more powerful than claws sometimes."  She grimaced, shaking her head.  "So, yearly meeting?"

"Tomorrow.  Willow's flying in tonight."

"That's cool.  How is she liking there?"

"She's liking it a lot and two girls went to help her.  They're liking it a lot."

"Wonderful."  He smiled.  "I'm taking nominations for my open spot."

"I think we're doing a finding this weekend."

"Decent."  He finished his juice and put his glass in the dish washer then followed her to the living room.  "Everyone on dates?"

"Most everyone's farmed out to other houses," she said with a smile.  "We only have sixteen girls here in residence."

"Cool."  He sat down and stretched out.  "Too long on a plane."

"I bet.  Must take nearly all day to fly from Africa."  He nodded.  "We were thinking that some of the houses need to be rearranged."  He stared at her.  "Giles wants to go rebuild the London house.  I was thinking maybe I'd like to take Faith's route for a bit, get some traveling done."

He considered it, nodding.  "That's not a bad idea.  Dawn staying or going?"

"Staying.  It's safer to have her here than any of the other houses."

"Cool.  Though I'm told we'll have to reestablish the one in DC after she stopped something but it got her blown up?"

She nodded.  "Yeah, that was three months ago," she sighed.  "I don't know who to send to DC."

"Faith."  She gaped.  "She's not going to have to deal with the higher ups.  She knows how to deal with agents.  If not, Kamria."

"I can see Kamria.  I'll ask Faith."  She went to do that.  She came back.  "Would you take over Cleveland?"  He nodded.  "Thanks."

"My girls get Jameson, out of the Brazil house.  They respect him and he knows I'll fuck him up if he hurts them."

"Sure."  She went to post those changes and then talk to Faith.  Giles signed off on them by the time she got back.  "Kamria to go to DC.  Faith wants here.  She said we need a senior here on call for apocalypses."

"I can agree with that," Giles said, making those notes.  "Jameson will be in for the meeting?"

"I'll make sure."  She called the house in Brazil, chatting with the girls down there.  She hung up.  "We need a slayer reunion and picnic thing."

"We can call one this weekend," Xander said.  "With the huge bad we just stopped it'll be quiet."

"Cool."  She put out that slayer wide call so they could all fall back and enjoy some time off.  She got hold of those hunters through Julia too.  She wanted to meet them and Giles wanted to talk about the other hellgates they had to close before they became a problem.

***

Xander smiled as the Impala pulled up, nudging Buffy.  "That's them."  She bounced over.  He smiled at his girls.  "Jameson is going to take over for me because Buffy wants to leave the hellmouth," he told them.  They pouted.  "You know him, we trained him together."  They nodded.  "I'm going to be here.  If he wants you girls to switch off, you can come hang with me and Faith."  He moved some hair off one's cheek.  "It'll be cool.  He can make ice cream too."  They grinned and pulled him over to talk to him.  He noticed Giles walked over to talk to the young hunters too.  "Those two," he said with a point.  "Are hunters.  Like I am but they're not Council aligned."

"Like that guy in South Africa?" Tam asked.

"Yup."  They went to talk to them.  Buffy was flirting but they wanted to talk business with them.  She could impress them that way.  They drew the boys over to talk to them.  All the girls talked to them.  It wasn't often they had cute guys who knew about hunting near them.  Buffy still got in plenty of flirting time.  So did Dawn with the taller one.  After the picnic in the park was done with, Xander walked over to the younger one.  "It's not often they get guys who understand."

"They're nice girls.  Very sweet."  He grinned.  "Dean's never had that many hit on him before."

"It's cool.   Most of them are big girls.  I'd only protest if they're mistreated and I doubt you two would."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Coming back to the house?   I'm told I'm taking it over for a bit."

"Sure," he said, looking at Dean, who nodded.   The girls seemed pretty nice and Giles had a library full of books that they wanted to check out.

***

Xander got called to DC by the president's secretary, so he dressed up before getting on the plane.  He was met at the airport by Kamria.  "What happened?"  He hadn't seen her in months, since the picnic.

"A higher up vamped.  I called in a warning and was told not to handle it."

He grimaced.  "That's the sucky part of being in DC, the higher ups."  He let her take him to his rental car, she hardly ever drove, and he took them to the White House.  They were let in and he nodded at the VP since he was waiting.  "The higher up that got vamped?"

"There was?"  Kamria nodded.  "Well, crap.  No wonder Jack had a hair pulling night.  No, I'm here over something else.  Some sort of plot to get you guys in trouble."

"Oh, charming," Xander said with a smirk.  "Remind me to talk to a bar later," he told his slayer, who nodded quickly.  Jack walked in with his guards.  "Hey, guys.  Peter."  He got a smile from one of the guards.  "So, this higher up?" he asked Jack.

"Today is not a good day," Jack told him.  "The House is looking at a covert bill to destroy the Council."

"We can move back to England but a few of us will still have to be in Cleveland, and I'm going to talk to a few former poker buddies later."  He smirked.  Jack shuddered.  "So, why beyond the demon whores?"

"Possibly but a few are ultra christians," John warned.

Xander looked at him.  "You have two demons serving as pages in Congress."  John groaned.  "One's time is up in about a week I think."

"I noticed him," Peter said.  "The other's usually a flesh eater?"  Kamria nodded.  "Well, maybe we can arrange something then."

Xander smirked.  "I heard the sermon."  He shuddered because that televangelist was breathing fire over the fact that demons were real and 'infecting' their country.  "They're in for a world of hurt since their church is sitting on top of a native burial ground.  We can't stop people if they want to retaliate.  I might try but I have bigger demons to kill than a witch who'd activate that."  He looked at the two heads of the government again, seeing the horrified look.  "By the way, Cheyenne's pretty secure against that, especially with Willow there."

"Thank you."

"Any idea if they're being influenced by those things that the underground is deathly worried about?  The ones you used to deal with?"

"Snake ones or religious ones?" John asked.

"Either, though I know the head guy is snaked.  I got told that."

Jack nodded, making that note.  "I'll have him subtly checked.  Thanks, Harris.  Her doing that?"

"Last night.  It's been on the news today.  That's why I didn't complain too much about coming here today and Faith turned off the ringers on all the phones but Andrew's."

John laughed.  "I figure you guys have had plenty of religious leaders who hated your people."  Xander nodded.  "This higher up?"  Jack held up a note.  He read it and grimaced.  "Just vamped?"  Kamria nodded.  "Can we keep them human?"

"A soul restoration spell but only Willow can do them," Xander offered.  "It'd reimplant the soul, which wouldn't mean they couldn't kill but they might think more about it."

"Let her resign," John decided.  "She's causing problems beyond this."  Jack nodded at that.  "Kamria, we'll sneak you there."

"Yes, sir," she chirped, smiling at him.

"You're still much too young to flirt with me, young lady."

She smirked.  "Of course I am but I can drool, right?"

"If you must," he decided.  She giggled and pinched him on the arm.  Clearly one of the guards was new because he stiffened and reached for her.  "She's fine," John told him.

Jack looked at the guard.  "Are you snaked?"

Xander looked.  "Possessed."  He threw his vial of holy water on the guy, making him yelp.  "We can banish his later, sir."

"Thanks, Harris."  He smirked.  "Keep us informed if you guys start having problems with this attempted act of Congress."

Xander snickered.  "That's going to suck since almost all apocalypses happen in the spring.  By the way, I'm hearing rumors that there's going to be a peaceful demon protest for immigration reform to allow them asylum and permits."

"Are they going to be open?" John asked.  Xander nodded.  "Won't that break the usual silence?"

"It's going to be after this spring."  Both slumped, shaking their heads.  Xander snickered.  "You guys have that in sync even, cool."  He looked at Kamria.  "I believe I sent that to you?"

"I passed it onto the guys in Homeworld."  Jack called over there to chew someone a new one.  She turned to look at the possessed guy, finding two more guards in the doorway.  "He's possessed."

"We have the White House chapel if you need it, ma'am."

She nodded.  "Cool."  She dragged him off no matter how much he tried to get free.  Demons weren't any match for an alpha slayer.  Xander followed, he knew how to banish better than she did.  Really, the demon fled from Xander when he pulled out the holy water bottle they had in a cabinet.  "Still scary, Xander."

Xander grinned. "Yes I am."  He left, going to the local demon bars.  She could wait in the car.   The whole bar stared.  He smirked.  "If whoever is trying to hype this year's apocalypse, make them stop before we have to go around them.  Remember, pouty slayers shop, guys, and hunt more."  They all nodded quickly.  "Which ones are calling in their markers if they don't get us out of the US?"

"Two of the highest because you blocked their apocalypse," one demon said.  "Not even on the demonic side."

"Huh."  He nodded, walking off to find the church they knew was actually holy in the city.  It was a small shrine that *everyone* in the underground knew about.  He walked in and looked around, then looked at the supposed priest.  "Oh, great Fallen one," he said bluntly, walking up to him.  The priest stiffened.  "Xander Harris.  I'm in charge of the Council house on the hellmouth."  The man shuddered.  "You might tell them that if your side starts the apocalypse, the girls will still fight.  It's their job."

"They won't win against our side, my son."

Xander looked at him.  "Any side that claims supremacy is already evil, Father.  Wanting to take out humanity is evil, no matter where you stand philosophically."

"A slayer....."

"Father, we have more than one slayer."  He gaped, shaking his head.  Xander nodded.  "We have for years now, since I did CPR.  Or didn't you see the invasion in LA?"  He went pale, shaking his head again.  "Yeah.  We have more than one slayer, Father.  If they start it, the girls will end it.  Permanently.  Both sides if possible but it will be ended.  No matter which side starts it.  Don't believe me, go talk to Buffy."

He swallowed.  "That is not the way it should be."

Xander smirked.  "The Powers hate some of us for doing things that meant they won by screwing their plans so they worked.  Buffy and me included."

"Oh, dear.  She's still alive?"

"Yeah, she's in Germany this week."  He bowed his head and nodded.  "I know you have a few friends you can point this out to.  You might also warn them that with the stuff that comes out of a certain program in Colorado, we're going to need them to help us fight.  Unless they want that pantheon of philosophy to win?"  He shook his head.  Xander grinned.  "That's why I came to you instead of going somewhere less...connected."

"How did you know?"  Xander let down his possession shields.  "Oh, you know an ascended?"

"Cordelia.  I used to date her."  He shuddered.  Xander smirked.  "Exactly, Father.  I'm a Hellmouth baby.  The last one born in Sunnydale.  I believe there's a prophecy."  He left him to shudder in private.

***

Dean got a visit that night by a man he didn't know.  "Who're you?"

"If the One Who Sees hadn't changed things, you would know me as the one who rescued you from Hell, Dean Winchester."

Dean nodded.  "I'll have to thank him.  Why come to me now?"

"There is a prophecy that many wish to come to pass.  That the last Hellmouth Child Born will take over both heaven and hell."

Sam looked up from his laptop.  "Xander would never do that.  He's more than content working with the slayers."  Dean gave him an odd look.  "Both of those are Xander.  The One Who Sees was the name the First Evil prophecy called him.  The other is his name for the heaven and hell fighting in a final apocalypse prophecy."  He went back to his searching.  "By the way, he sent an email saying that you guys might show up here.  That the prophecy said that I might break the seals."  He looked at him.  "I have no intention of it."

"The things that you can do will, Samuel."

Sam nodded.  "I'll talk to Dawn about taking that taint from me.  She's been working on it."  He grinned.  "The Sunnydale team learned to be proactive over prophecies."  Someone slid into the seat next to him.  He looked at her.  "Hi."

"Hi," Dean said with a grin.

"Hi."  She smirked at the angel.  "Say my name," she said.

"You are...."  He looked.  "Dawn Isabelle Summers."

"Who else am I?"

He stared.  Then he scanned her.  He gasped and backed away.  "You are not supposed to be in that form!" he said in awe.

"Yeah, exactly.  But Glory happened.  So I am."  She stared at him.  "Should it start, I'll be there.  In a way that will make your boss shudder.  For both sides."

"I understand."  He nodded at her.  "You have much wisdom."

"And I was trained by Xander to be proactive and by my sister to be a bitch."  She grinned sweetly at him.  "Any other questions?  Because he also said he pointed something out.  There's more than one slayer now."  The angel shook his head.  She nodded.  "Yeah, there are.  Xander knew CPR."  He went to tell the others that.  She looked at Sam.  "It's nasty, it'll hurt like a bitch, but I can get that demon taint out of you."

"Please," he agreed quietly, closing his laptop.  "How did you know?"

"Some of us can feel when the really powerful beings show up.  That's how I know whenever Willow leaves this plane."  She took Dean's beer to sip.  "Buffy wanted to know if you wanted a vacation to Germany.  She's trying really hard not to kill the skinheads she ran into."

"I can't do much more than that."

"She needs backed up and if she asks Xander, they're going to be greasy spots.  Africa was bad for his temper sometimes."

He nodded.  "I can see that point with their sort.  How big?"

"About twenty.  Hiding out on top of a hellgate so she's sure it's going to be an issue."

"Yeah, I can see about getting her some help."

"Killer."  She took his keys from him and sent him to her.  She handed Sam the keys.  "Here, so you can drive for a few days since I know he doesn't let you."

He snickered.  "He's going to complain to her."

"She said they took a kid hostage earlier and she can't do it without killing humans, which is a bad to a slayer."

"Then he can definitely help."  He put the keys in his pocket.  "You sure you can detox all of it?"

"I can at least get the greatest majority tonight.  The rest I may have to do it again.  We'll see once I'm done."  He nodded, paying for his tab and taking his laptop to follow her to the car.  If he had to be detoxed to stop an apocalypse, so be it.

***

The same angel appeared to Xander that night.  He looked up from filing reports.  "What?"

"The Key must have a guardian who knows the darkness she should not approach.  Otherwise she can destroy all."

"She knows that.  That's one reason why they made her the sister of a slayer."

"Even that darkness might lead her astray."

Xander shrugged.  "If you want her to have a guardian, talk to Dawn, not me.  Buffy and I both guarded her for years.  She's doing what she wants to do of her own free will."

The angel nodded at that.  "Still, the Father is worried."

Xander stared at him.  "Seeing as I know, thanks to a vision, about the whole apocalypse plan?  Yeah, I'm not worried since he's taking a vacation, Castiel."  The angel slumped.  "Is it the ones who want this apocalypse?"

"No, it is not.  A lot of the more moderate and modest, the lower ones who know what sort of temper she could have, are worried."

Xander nodded.  "Okay.  I'll talk to her about it.  I won't promise because she's not dating right now."

The angel nodded.  "Please.  I saw that she had touched the dark already."

"In her grief, she started to raise her mother but ended it herself."

The angel bowed his head.  "Is she among us?"

"I'd hope so with the way she was a good mother.  Her mother's name was Joyce."

"I'll search her out and ask her opinion on the matter.  Thank you for telling her of our concerns."  He disappeared.

Xander tapped out a text message to Dawn's phone.  Because that was a bit freaky.  Even for them.

***

Jack looked up as someone invaded his office.  "Sir, we need to throw a White House dinner for the new ambassadors."

"Make sure it's food I'll eat," he said, going back to the dreaded paperwork.

"Sir, this means an actual *dinner*.  Invitations and all that," the chief of staff said.

Jack gave him a dirty look.  "If I had a wife, I'd let you have her to talk to.  Otherwise, can it be a barbeque?"

"No."

"Crap."

"Nor can it have ribs or beer.  Steaks might work though."

Jack shuddered.  "I guess I'll have to dress up too?"

"Yes, sir."  He loved to fluster his boss and the horrified look on his face was spectacular.  "You'll need a co-host or hostess as well."

"Not like I'm married.  Get Sheppard to do it.  He's like the wife in this 'ship."

"Yes, sir.  Will you be bringing a date?"

"Who would I bring?"

"That blonde young woman you talk to now and then perhaps?"

"Buffy?  She'd kill me."

"If that's what you two do in private, sir, then I have no need to know."  He smiled.  "I'll start the planning for you."  He fled, mentally giggling at the shudders of horror.  This would be their first White House event so he'd have to get someone to tutor them both in etiquette.  Fortunately John's secretary was good at that.

Jack leaned over to look at his secretary's desk.  "If you let slip that I called him my wife, he'll paddle you," he called.  He got back to his paperwork of doom.  Maybe it would block out the thought of bringing Buffy as a date.  She was cute but she might stake an ambassador.  He'd never hear the end of it.

***

Jon O'Neill looked around his training groups.  "Good morning.  We're leaving this pretty city of nothing-for-normal-guys-to-do today.  We're going on a mission to an Ori controlled world to help a senior team," he said with a smirk.  A few cheered.  "I know, I'm bored too, guys.  So, gear up, double your ammo count for this trip, remember you can shoot Priors and priests alike, and let's go.  You have an hour to gear up."  They ran off.

"Wish I could go," John pouted.

"You'll have plenty of opportunity to get into trouble," Jon pointed out.  "Let the Council people run wild for a bit.  I'm told they hold yearly apocalypses."

John nodded.  "So we've heard.  We got briefed on some of the earlier ones by Rosenburg.  Did you train your students for those?"

"I don't know if I can train them to use a sword in case of emergency but otherwise, yeah.  I've been over the classification manuals they gave Jack."  John nodded at that.  "Some of those things are freakier than anything we've run into."

"I'm wondering how they decided to make one teenage girl deal with it by herself," John admitted with a grimace.  "At least now she's got backup.  Even if I'd want more than a few more superior girls with me."

"Me too," Jon agreed.  "Gotta gear up.  Make sure they get extra bullets.  You always need them with the Ori."  John nodded, going to talk to the arms master while Jon got his own gear.  It was good to get back into action again.  Now if only John could quit being bored by politicians and go back to the real work he loved to do.

***

Dean got back to the US via Rosenburg Express, which was making him queasy.  She said she had sent him to where Sam was.  So why was he in Vegas?  They had been in Iowa.  It had been three weeks, but that was a big step out of their usual habits.  He noticed a slightly familiar figure walking his way.  "Hey," he said to the angel.  "Another bad thing came up?" he guessed.

"We have found that when the Key was made human, it was tied to the line of a hunter who could protect it and keep it from being led to the dark," he said, looking serious.  "After having talked to the Key's parent, we have decided it is safer if they are together now."

"So, my brother's now got a new friend," he said bluntly.  The angel nodded.  "Where is he?"

"He is in the Palace," he said with a point.  "We have arranged things for them.  That way they are able to brace each other and the seals will not break."  He smiled slightly.  "They were quite displeased but we released her mother to talk to her for a few minutes.  She understands and they both accepted it."

"It sounds like you married off my brother, dude.  I should beat your ass for that."

"You may go talk to him but what was done by heavenly decree cannot be undone this time.  Her mother is fierce, much more stubborn than her daughters."

"At least it's a girl," Dean said dryly.  "Though I have no idea what you'd do if Sammy had to go gay."

"He would have adapted.  Their lines were joined when the Key was made human."  He disappeared.

Dean hiked to the 'palace', which was a slightly sleazy motel.  Definitely their usual caliber of place to stay.  "Winchester?" he asked the desk clerk.

"They asked not to be disturbed, sir."

"I'm Sammy's big brother.  I think he's expecting me to yell."

She nodded and found their room number, handing over a key.   "He said you would be joining them and would need an adjoining room."

"Thanks."  He went up there.  He decided to knock.  Sam opened the door.  "The angels married you off?" he asked dryly, not walking in there.

"Yeah, and it's a huge ass shock."  He nodded, letting him inside.  Dawn waved from her spot on the bed.

"What the fuck?" Dean demanded.

Dawn looked up, smiling some.  "Originally, before Glory got woken up, I was a glowing green ball of energy.  They made me the sister of a slayer to protect me from a hell goddess."

"That's so Winchester luck," Dean decided, shaking his head.  "So you two are hitched?"  She nodded.  "We sure?"

"Yeah, we were apparently muchly drunk," she said dryly.  "We woke up the next morning naked, him already in me, and with a tape of the wedding on loop on the VCR."  She shrugged.  "We *so* yelled."

"Yes we did," Sam agreed.  "The manager himself came up to tell us to quit yelling about being married and to go get it annulled."

Dean nodded.  "Can we?"

"We thought about it for a few hours, and somehow ended up having fantastic sex again," Dawn admitted.  She put her laptop aside.  "Heaven is apparently a bit panicky."

"Apparently," Dean agreed.  He sighed.  "So, the hunting stuff?"

"Honestly, Dean, we need you guys in Cleveland.  We're building up to another super apocalypse this spring.  Like the one in LA only with higher demons instead of a mass of them.  We're going all hands, even the girls who wanted to be normal and only took enough training to defend their families are going to be there."  He nodded at that.  "So, how was my sister?"

"We worked well together," he admitted.  "She wants something longer term and I'm not ready yet but she understood that.  So we played."  He shrugged.  "It was good for both of us."

She smiled.  "I don't care if Buffy has a one-night thing or a real thing, Dean.  As long as you're not like the panty point shithead she dated in college."  He shook his head.  "Then it's fine with us.  We'd only beat you to death if you played with her."

"Xander too?" he asked dryly.  "He seemed overprotective."

"Sometimes.  Not over her though.  She burned that bridge."  Dean nodded at that.  "Willow too."  She shrugged.  "He's already called to tell Sam that he expects me to be treated good.  Or else he'd blow him up and let the girls keep you this time."  Dean snickered.  "He also said I had better be taking the pill religiously, and I assured him I am."

"Thank God.  The Impala's going to be strange enough with a woman in it.  There hasn't been one of those since our mother."

She grinned.  "I can meet you guys in Cleveland if you want."

"Nah, you two probably need bonding time or other newlywed shit that translates to sex."

Dawn smirked at Sam.  "Didn't you say you were sore?"

"Yup.  Those lessons you took off Xander's former girlfriend Anya wrecked my back."  Dean's mouth flopped open.  "She was a former vengeance demon that Xander dated.  Nearly married her."

"She was all about the sex," Dawn agreed with a smile.  Dean shuddered.  "She only wanted seven or eight orgasms a day."

"Unfortunately she told Dawn how to kill my back," Sam quipped.  He sat on the bed.  "So, you've got the room next door.  The Impala is in a parking garage next door.  We told Bobby, who choked.  A lot.  We sent him pictures of us.  He's still probably choking.  I met her mother.  She seemed nice, but one of those backbones of steel women."  Dean nodded at that.  "You got told?"

"The angel dude said that he brought her down to talk to you."  He shook his head.

"Oh, freakiness," Dawn warned.  "If I do get pregnant it's your dad being sent back.  Mommy said that he's nagging and pushy so some of the angels want him reborn sooner so he can't force his way back down here.  I suggested they ascend him like they did Cordelia.  He can help the Powers deal with the slayers and hunters."

"He said that they unfortunately can't do that without a higher order," Sam finished.

"Damn."  Dean considered it.  "Give yourself a few years, Dawn?"

"So not a problem," she assured him, waving a hand in the air.  "Not my thing to be a mother yet.  I'm much too wild."  Sam blushed.  "What?  You said you liked clubbing with me."

"I did until the two succuba tried to take you from me."

"They're some of Xander's former poker buddies," she said dryly.  Dean moaned, going to his room to bang his head against a wall.  She took a kiss.  "Is your back better yet?"

"No, it's not," he said with a smile.  "Go back to chatting with your sister."  She pulled her laptop back over and he went to talk to his brother.  Being married was freaky in a lot of ways.  It was definitely different than he had with Jess.

***

Dawn walked the boys into the house.  "We're back!" she shouted.

"Good, we have 2 days," Faith called.   She came out of the office.  "Giles was pushed down in the tube, whatever that is, and broke his leg.  He can't get here because he's in traction.  Brazil's house got attacked last night but they're handling it and will have to be gotten magically if they're showing up.  X's girls in Africa can't get passports and visas."

Dawn waved a hand.  "Can be dealt with.  Otherwise?"

"B can't get back.  Germany has people who wanted to talk too much about stuff."

"Again, dealt with.  She's in the car."  Faith grinned at her.  "Other issues?"

"City Council is having a panicy girl fit.  Homeland here is having a panic attack too.  They're both in denial it'll be bad.  X can't get through to either of the higher ups we know."

Dawn nodded.  "Let me handle that first."  She went to DC.  The Homeland people she knew were there.  They never left their offices.  "General Hammond," she said with a smile.

"Miss Summers.  An update on what's going to happen in Cleveland soon?"

"Some of your people are ignoring it in finest Sunnydale fashion.  We might need some evacuating or keeping normals inside duties and they're ignoring it."

"I can fix that."

"Some of our people are being magiced in since some of yours wouldn't let them enter legally."

"Agreed."

"It's in two days."

"I'll deal with the locals for you today."  She smiled.  "Let me know if you need more help."

"I will.  X tried to call the higher ups.  Can't get through."

"That'll stop," he assured her.  She beamed a happy smile and left.  He called the head of Homeland Security to his office.  He was technically the guy's boss.  "Cleveland is having an apocalypse in two days."

"We don't believe in such things."

"Then you're fired," George said simply.  The man gaped.  He stared at him.  "You're risking an entire city.  I'm going to let them sue you."  He stood up.  "Let me talk to the others who need to know.  I'll expect your forms on my desk by the end of the day.  Gladys," he called to his secretary.  She nodded.  "He's fired."  He walked out, heading to the Secret Service office.  If there was a mass conspiracy, they probably weren't as involved.  He showed his ID.  "Is the director in?"

"Yes, Sir."  She called and got him up there.

He walked into the office with a smile.  "Cleveland's having an apocalypse in two days.  Apparently there's a move by our government to not care."

"Shit," he muttered.  "Okay, I'll get with that."

"For some reason, the president's and vice president's phones haven't been working.  I've heard that from a few sources now."

He stared at him.  "That'll stop too."

"Thank you."  He smiled.  "Call your office there?"

"Definitely and I'll get someone who can lead a problem if need be."  He made a call to route an agent he knew could handle it that way.  The general left, leaving him to shudder in peace and quiet.  This was so bad and much too close to DC.

TBC...

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