Disclaimer: Joss owns all the BTVS stuff, I made up the plot and the extra characters... Inspiration: All the things I said in previous parts that I've now forgotten... plus a couple of really dull train journeys... Recap: B & W are in Manchester helping Torr, a were-slayer, defeat the forces of evil....
The rain tapped against the window just as Willow was waking up. As she sat up on the edge of the bed she could hear the faint sound of someone working out in the room next-door. Part of her dream came flooding back to her - she remembered snuggling up to someone and feeling very safe, but the memory was too hazy and she couldn't make out who it was. After quickly getting dressed she headed out of the room. As she entered the main room she spotted Joe and Torr sitting on the sofa watching TV. "The weather's turned again then." commented Willow as she walked towards them. "I know, I really should be out patrolling." replied Torr as she started to rise. "No you don't!" exclaimed Joe grabbing Torr's arm and pulling her back down into the seat, "You're in no fit state to be out there getting beaten into an even bloodier pulp!" "I could do it." remarked Buffy as she came through the door from the back room, "Although, I might need some help as I don't know my way around the city, and I can't drive." she continued, glancing at Joe. "Sure, I can do that." replied Joe as he got up and headed towards the front door. "Alright, but I'm patrolling with you tomorrow." Torr yelled as Buffy and Joe left, "Oh well, want to watch a movie?" she continued as she turned to face Willow. **** The thunder rumbled overhead and a bolt of lightning momentarily lit up the skies as Graham wandered through the wet city streets. Ruairc asking him to personally take care of this had freaked him out slightly and he knew that failure would not be tolerated. He had seen the strength of Ruairc's power before and felt that he didn't want to be on the receiving end of it. Over two hours had passed since he'd set off in search of his new friend but not knowing where he could be lurking in a city of this size was somewhat hampering his search. He was considering giving up when he rounded the corner and headed through the tunnel under the main railway station. "I'm guessing that you're looking for me," a voice from behind appeared, "I can't think of any other reason why you'd be traipsing around in the rain for at least the past hour." "You were following me?" Graham replied as he turned round to face the hooded man. "And you didn't notice." he quipped back. "I need your help." Graham continued ignoring his friend's comment, "I need to know absolutely everything you know about the slayers." "I don't know that much about the new one although there is a red- head who appeared at the same time." he explained, "I'm not sure who she is though but the blonde slayer seemed to care about her." "How about the other slayer?" Graham asked again "She has a brother, he goes out on patrols with her sometimes. But leave the wolf to me, if you try to stop me or get in my way I'll take you out as well." he replied walking around Graham towards the far end of the tunnel. "Thank you my friend." Graham remarked turning to face his friend again, "If I should need to contact you, is there a faster way than wandering around in the shadows?" "Go to the old Grafton pub up near the University and ask for Patrick, he'll know where you can find me," he replied as he headed down the tunnel, "but I'm more likely to find you first!", and with that he disappeared back into the shadows. "I was thinking more of a name!" Graham muttered to himself as he continued walking this time towards his apartment as he had a plan forming in his warped mind. **** "More popcorn." asked Torr handing Willow another bowl. "No, no more." Willow replied looking bleary-eyed and rather ill, "Anymore popcorn and I'm going to barf!" "I suppose we have eaten quite a bit!" Torr continued, placing the bowl down on the table in front of her, "So I'm guessing you have some good stories about what it's like living in Sunnydale. From the little Buffy's told me, it sounds like quite an interesting place." "Interesting is certainly one word for it." As Willow began to tell a few tales of life in Sunnydale, Torr picked the popcorn bowl back up and finished off what was left. **** Joe parked the van just round the corner from where Buffy had jumped out. He grabbed the double-headed axe from behind him and ran down towards the alleyway. As he neared it, he could hear the sound of something or someone being thrown against the walls of the surrounding buildings. Buffy had noticed a rather large, somewhat hairy and demon-looking creature lurking in the shadows as they drove past through the back streets. Against all of Joe's advice, Buffy had promptly leapt out of the van and chased it into the alley, Joe was just hoping that it was the demon being thrown around. In the alleyway the demon approached where Buffy was just picking herself off the ground after being thrown against the wall. Buffy thought the demon looked a bit like a were-wolf but with large curly horns, also the lack of a full moon had ruled wolves out. The demon held Buffy down and was trying to maul her, thinking she was finally exhausted, when she kicked out sending it flying down the alleyway. As Joe turned the corner brandishing the axe he noticed the demon running towards Buffy. The force of the demon hitting her knocked them both to the ground but Buffy rolled over backwards and flipped the demon upside down into the wall. "Buffy!" Joe yelled as he threw the axe in her direction. Catching it perfectly she spun round and lodged the axe in the side of the demon's neck. As Buffy removed the axe, the demon grasped at the wound, slid slowly to the ground and with one last growl, died. "Well that was a bit dramatic." commented Buffy "Are you alright?" gasped Joe as he reached where Buffy was standing. "Fitter than you." she quipped back noticing his wheezing after running such a short distance, "Nice axe by the way." she continued looking down at the now rather bloody but still highly decorated labrys. "It's one of Torr's favourites. She has quite a collection." Joe replied as they headed back towards the van. "Well I suppose we ought to continue patrolling." Buffy remarked, "Still plenty of time until dawn." **** "So let me get this straight." remarked Torr seeming slightly overwhelmed by the tales Willow had been telling, "You've averted a number of apocalypses and helped kill many demons and vampires. Turned into a ghost then later met a vampire version of yourself from an alternative universe. Blown up your school and a rather large demon, who used to be the mayor, in the process. Helped stop a demon- human-machine hybrid, created by a mad government scientist, by combining all your strengths into Buffy. And had the first slayer try to kill you all in your dreams." "Put like that it all sounds all pretty huge and unbelievable, but yeah we've done all that." replied Willow with a kind of pleased and slightly smug grin on her face. "Woh! And all this in four years, since you first met Buffy?" "Yep." "Right. So how come you and Buffy haven't got it together yet?" Torr asked inquisitively but rather out of the blue, "If this is a touchy subject then forget I asked." she continued noticing Willow's open- jawed expression, "It's blatantly obvious to me that you're both in love with each other." "But... how can you tell?" questioned Willow regaining her composure slightly, "Is this one of those extra wolf senses?" "Not exactly a wolf-sense although that might have heightened it, more a gay sense!" Torr replied, "I came out a couple of years ago and since then I've learnt what signs to look out for, so I don't try it on with someone who's not that way inclined or already taken." "Signs?" "Haven't you ever noticed that whenever you're talking about Buffy you get this little warm-glow inside?" as Torr explained Willow just nodded, "Well it shows." "But she's my best friend. I wouldn't want to jeopardise that friendship." Willow replied suddenly feeling a need to justify why she hadn't broached the subject before. "That old chestnut." exclaimed Torr, "Two of Joe's friends thought that. For 6 months they kept putting it off, until one day they decided to go for it. Instead of losing the friendship between them, it strengthened and they became much closer. Infact they're now inseparable, best friends and lovers all rolled into one. That one day was 6 years ago and they're still going strong." "Ah, but Buffy's not interested in women..." "You'd be surprised what secrets the human body can give away without you even realising!" Torr remarked, raising her eyebrows.