"Buffy! Laney! Slow down please!"

Buffy swings open the metal gate to the cemetery and strides in, holding a flashlight. Laney is on her heels looking around bored as she has her hands in her sweatshirt pockets. Giles runs in behind them to catch up.

"Giles, we have work to do, remember? Get with the program."

Giles holds his chest as he breathes hard trying to catch his breath. The three continue walking to the mausoleum.

Giles pants as Laney hands him a bottle of water that she hid in her pocket, "I-I... thank you. Buffy, you're behaving remarkably im-immaturely."

Buffy shrugs, "You know why? I am immature."

Laney snorts leaning against a pillar as Buffy lightly glares at her.

"I'm a teen. I have yet to mature."

"I was simply offering some constructive criticism." Giles offers the bottle back to Laney but she shakes her head and looks around bored.

Giles frowns realizing that Laney wasn't herself. But he also knows that now was not the time to talk to her about why she looked depressed.

"No! You were harsh! God, you act like I picked this gig. But remember, I'm the picked."

"What you have us more than a gig. It's a sacred duty. Which shouldn't prevent you from eventually procuring some more gainful f-f-form of employment. Uh-uh-uh, such as I did."

Buffy's eyebrows furrow, "Uh, Giles, it's one thing to be a Watcher and a librarian. They go together like chicken and... another chicken, or... two chickens, or... something, you know what I'm saying! The point is, no one blinks an eye if you want to spend all your days with books. What am I supposed to do? Carve stakes for a nursery?"

Giles sighs nodding, "Um, point taken. I must, however, admit, I-I've never really... Well, now there's a thought, have you ever considered law enforcement?"

Laney tries not to smile as Buffy stops in her tracks. Giles turns to face her and sees her looking at him like he's crazy.

A moment later her expression changes to exasperation, and she raises her flashlight and jerks it at the mausoleum behind him.

"What?" He turns to look, "Oh!"

They walk up the steps and go in. The chamber is bare except for two large stone vases and a pile of rubble on the floor.

"May I?" Giles asks as he reaches for the flashlight.

Buffy nods handing it to him, "Be my guest."

He turns on the flashlight and walks over to where the wall has been broken into.

"It's a reliquary. Used to house items of religious significance. Most commonly a finger or some other body part from a saint."

"Note to self... religion: freaky."

Buffy leans against the wall as Laney follows behind Giles who scans around the rest of the room with the flashlight. He spots a name engraved on a stone high above.

"Du Lac. Oh dear, oh dear."

Laney frowns, "I hate when you say that."

"Josephus du Lac was buried here. He belonged to a religious sect that was excommunicated by the Vatican at the turn of the century."

"Excommunicated and sent to Sunnydale. There's a guy big with the sinning." Buffy says.

"You remember the book that was stolen from the library by a vampire a few weeks ago?"

Buffy nods thinking back to the night, "Yeah."

"It was written by Du Lac. Damn it!"

"Ohhhh Giles just cussed." Laney smirks as she pokes Giles' shoulder.

Giles rolls his eyes then let's out an exasperated sigh, "I let it slip my mind with all the excitement."

"I'm guessing it wasn't a 'Taste of the Vatican' cookbook." Buffy jokes.

"No, the, uh, book was said to contain rituals and spells that reap unspeakable evil. However, it was written in archaic Latin so that nobody but the sect members could understand it."

The three walk out the mausoleum. Buffy claps her hands together with a hopeful smile.

"So, everything's cool then."

Laney stares at her incredulously, "The man says rituals and unspeakable evil and you say hey no everything's cool?... Everything is far from cool."

"I agree," Giles points towards Laney, "First the book was taken from the library, and now the vampires have stolen something from Du Lac's tomb."

"You think they figured out how to read the book?" Buffy asks.

"Something's coming, Buffy, and whatever it is, I can guarantee it's not good."

Laney rolls her eyes groaning, "Is it ever?"

...

Several jets are parked at their gates at the town airport. Inside a cargo bay of a jet, the door opens and a baggage handler comes up the loading ramp and steps in. He notices that the cargo nets have been torn open, and takes off his headphones.

"What the hell?" The handler questions as he looks closer and suspects someone's there.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here!"

He pulls out his flashlight and holds it ready to use as a club.

"Hey, c'mon!"

He walks in further, looking for whoever it is. He sees a shadow moving behind a baggage container. Suddenly a foot comes up and kicks him in the face, in the gut and again in the face. He falls onto his back unconscious. The person walks toward the cargo door and peeks out. It's a young Caribbean girl with long curly hair tied back and large hoop earrings. She makes her way out of the plane, keeping a careful watch for anyone who might see her.

...

The next day in the library, Laney, Willow, Buffy and Xander are all sitting at the table.

"So Giles is sure that the vampire who stole his book is connected to the one you slayed last night? Or is it slew?" Willow asks.

Giles comes out of the stacks and down the stairs with a National Geographic magazine, "Both are correct, and, yes, I'm sure. Du Lac was both a, a... a theologian and a mathematician. This article describes an invention of his, which he called 'The Du Lac Cross'."

Xander frowns confused, "So, why go to all the trouble of inventing something, and then giving it a weak name like that? I mean, I'da gone with 'The Cross-o-matic', or, uh, 'The Amazing Mr. Cross'."

The girls just stare at him. He looks up at Giles and nods. Giles doesn't think his musings are funny either.

"At least his names sound like something evil. Yours sound like a child's jump rope or something."

Xander gasps as Laney ignores him and continues writing on a paper in-front of her.

"Don't start you two. The cross was more than a mere symbol," Giles hands the open magazine to Willow, "it was used to understand certain mystical texts, to, uh, decipher hidden meanings and so forth."

Buffy sighs, "So you're saying these vampires went to all this hassle for your basic decoder ring?"

Giles looks taken aback by the metaphor, "Uh, actually, yes, I, I suppose I am."

Willow nods, "According to this, Du Lac destroyed every cross except the one buried with him."

"Why destroy your own work?"

Giles paces, "Perhaps he feared what might happen if it fell into the wrong hands."

"A fear we'll soon get to experience for ourselves up close and personal."

"Accurate..." Laney points her pen at Xander agreeing with him for once.

"U-unless we can preempt their plans."

"How?" Willow questions Giles.

"Uh, by learning what's in the book before they do. Which means we can expect to be here later tonight."

Laney sighs in exhaustion while pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, "Great I didn't want to be alone anyways."

Giles frowns, "Are you alright?"

Laney smiles but it doesn't show in her eyes, "Yeah. I'm always fine."

Willow rubs her sisters shoulder with a knowing yet reassuring look then smiles broadly, "Goody! Research party!"

Xander shakes his head, "Will, you need a life in the worst way."

Buffy gets up and stretches, "Speaking of, I really have to bail, but I promise I'll be back bright and early tomorrow and ready to slay."

Giles frowns, "This is a matter of some urgency, Buffy."

"I realize that. Well, you have to admit, I kinda lack in the book area. I mean, you guys are the brains, I'd only be here for moral support anyway."

Xander disagrees with a grin, "That's untrue, Buffy, you totally contribute. You go for snacks!"

Buffy looks to Willow for help.

Willow stops smiling and begins to stutter out an excuse, "She should go. Y-y'know, gather her strength."

Giles shrugs, "Perhaps you're right. There may be fierce battles ahead."

Buffy makes tracks for the door.

Xander groans, "But Ho-Hos are a vital part of my cognitive process!"

Buffy smiles back at him, "Sorry, Xand. Someplace I have to be."

Giles and Xander give each other a look.

Laney smiles softly as she thinks back to Angel talking to her earlier about him and Buffy going on an ice skating date. She thought it was super cute. But it also made her realize how sad and lonely she was currently.

As Xander drags Willow to go get snacks from the vending machine, Laney continues writing. Giles watches her wipe her cheek with the end of her sleeve then continue writing once again. Sighing, Giles gets up and sits down beside Laney who stops writing and glances over at him.

"Hi?"

"Hello... Laney are you sure you're quite alright?"

Laney takes a deep breath then shakes her head, "I'm trying not to be one of those desperate girlfriends who need their boyfriends around 24/7... but I'm realizing how much of an impact Colby has made in my life so far..."

"And you miss him?"

Laney nods smiling painfully, "Am I totally a crazy person or what?"

Giles shakes his head, "For missing your partner?"

"It's only been two days. I'm ju-I know nothing horrible is going to happen. It's just boot camp. But what about when he comes back? Will he leave again? Will he change his mind about wanting to be with me while he's gone?" Laney shakes her head as she laughs to herself, "Sorry I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. You have bigger issues. Like making sure no unspeakable evil kills Buffy... again."

Giles places his hand on Laney's to stop her from writing, "You do realize that just because I'm Buffy's watcher doesn't mean I don't watch over you either? I care about how you are feeling as well. Laney I realize that Colby being gone is making you have doubts or worries but don't. I assure you that boy is in love with you. Even if he has not said it yet."

"How do you know that?" Laney asks with tears formed in her eyes.

Laney was terrified. She had never felt so strongly for someone who actually cared about her truly. Her first boyfriend was abusive and cheated. Xander chose her then changed his mind. She didn't want to be anyone's second choice. She just wanted to know that Colby was the one. Because she wanted him to be so bad. And if he wasn't then she hoped that they would be together for a long time and whatever the reason they wouldn't be together, it wouldn't be because of cheating or being a second choice.

"How do you know that taking this time to reflect and be away from me, that he'll realize he doesn't want to be with me."

Giles frowns. Laney had so much trauma that she always thought whatever the problem it was her fault.

"Well because he sent himself away. He went to military boot camp as you say to get better. Stronger. The way I see it, Colby had it in his mind that being involved with you may lead to injuries or worse. And I believe that he want anything but to be collateral damage. I'm sure in fact that he wants to be sort of a knight in shining armor for you if the situation permits. I fully believe that he went away for you... not to run away."

"Why did you allow me to be with him?"

"Hmm I'm not quite sure I understand your question."

Laney shrugs, "Buffy tried to go out with Owen. And that totally didn't work. And I realize she's the slayer so it's a big deal. But I'm a slayer in training. I'm part of the Scooby Gang... anyone around me is in danger. So why allow me to even risk that?"

Giles thinks for a moment before taking off his glasses and giving Laney a sincere stare, "Because I believe in you. I don't worry about your decisions. The way you carry yourself and handle certain situations is far different than Buffy. I know you think logic before acting. Anyhow it was Colby's decision that allowed me the trust in you both to be okay. He helped save you all that night. He was shocked by the hellmouth creatures and if he was, he did an amazing job not showing it. I trust you both to know the risk of this life. And I trust you both to take care of one another."

Laney smiles looking down at her paper, "I'm writing him a letter. I think if I try to write one everyday, it'll show him that I'm okay. Even though I miss him a ton. I don't want him to feel bad about leaving."

"I think he will enjoy reading every single one."

"Thank you for this... I don't really have anyone to talk to-"

"What about Willow or Cordel-"

Laney frowns shaking her head, "I meant parental wise. My dad isn't here. My mom doesn't care. And Willow's mom is never home... really thank you." Laney turns in her chair and pulls Giles into a hug, "It means a lot."

Its kind of awkward at first because of Giles not hugging back, but when he realizes that Laney won't let go until he hugs back, he does.

"I appreciate you, Giles."

Giles smiles feeling his heart elate. He was glad he could help Laney. He felt himself slowly begin to shift into a paternal role for her as the days went on. And he wasn't complaining. He just hoped everything would be okay.

...

Hours later, Giles inspects a ring under a magnifying lamp. Buffy is sitting on the steps holding an icepack to her knee. While Laney, Willow, and Xander are at the table.

"This guy was hard-core, Giles. And Angel was power-freaked by that ring."

Giles frowns, "I'm afraid he was not overreacting. This ring is worn only by members of the Order of Taraka. It's a society of deadly assassins dating back to King Solomon."

Xander shrugs, "And didn't they beat the Elks this year in the Sunnydale adult bowling league championships?"

"Their credo is to sow discord and kill the unwary."

"Bowling is a vicious game."

Giles yells very annoyed, "That's enough, Xander!"

Xander looks down in shame. Buffy and Willow look concerned and upset. Laney makes duck lips before whispering yikes and looking at her phone.

Giles sighs taking off his glasses and rubbing his forehead, "Sorry. It's just not the time for jokes. I need to think."

Buffy groans, "These assassins, why are they after me?"

"Is she dumb?"

Everyone turns to Laney. Laney looks up at the silence and sees Buffy frowning.

"Oh whoops I said that out loud? Bad brain... on that note I'll be back in a few."

They all watch Laney grab her phone and jacket then walk out the library.

Willow chuckles nervously as she tries to fill the awkward silence, "Maybe cause you're the scourge of the underworld?"

"I haven't been that scourgey lately."

Giles rubs his eyes with a low exhale, "I don't know, I don't know. I think the best thing we can do is to find a secure location. Somewhere out of the way you can go until we decide on the best course of action."

Buffy gets up, "Okay, now you and Angel have both said to head for the hills. Are you saying I can't handle this, that I'm not strong enough to fight these people?"

"They're a breed apart, Buffy. U-unlike vampires they have no earthly desires," Willow listens to Giles in shock, "but to collect their bounty. They find a target, and, uh... they eliminate it."

Buffy absorbs this solemnly.

"You can k*ll as many of them as you like, it won't make any difference. Where there's one, there will be another, and another. They won't stop coming until the job is done. Each one of them works alone. His own way. Some are human, some... a-are not. Y-you won't know who they are until they strike."

...

"You called me to go with you here?"

Laney stands side by side with Angel as they stare at a spray painted run down bar. She peeks over at Angel with a raised eyebrow.

"What am I? Your bodyguard?"

Angel snorts, "Unlikely short stack."

Laney's mouth drops in shock, "Wow rude... I'm so proud."

Angel shakes his head as Laney smiles, "I thought you would want to put your investigator skills to test. Seeing as that may be your future career."

"How'd you know about that?"

"Cordelia texted me-"

Laney chokes on air as she holds her hand to her chest, "You actually allowed Cordelia to have your number? Who are you?" She giggles.

"Oh relax I only answer if she says something about you."

Laney pouts then smiles softly while poking Angel's cheek, "You love me. You're obsessed..." she jokes.

Angel rolls his eyes, "You're just the first real friend I've had."

"Surely you had friends when you were you know not a vampy."

"Not really. Was a lonely kid."

Laney frowns then nudges him with her shoulder as she walks past him into the bar, "Welp prepare to be my friend for a long time mister. Now let's do good cop bad cop."

Angel smiles then frowns confused as he follows her, "What is that?"

Inside the sleazy supernatural bar, the owner Willy is sweeping up the place after hours. Angel and Laney appear in the shadow of the doorway.

"We're closed! Can't you read the sign?"

Angel steps into the light.

"Oh, uh... hey, Angel. I didn't recognize you in the dark there. Who's the beauty?"

Laney crosses her arms over her chest, "Flattered but not here for the flirty witty one liners. Let's get to business."

Willy frowns, "What, uh... what can I do for you tonight?"

Angel nods, "We need some information."

"Yeah? Man, that's too bad, 'cause... I'm stayin' away from that whole scene. I'm livin' right, Angel."

Angel slowly walks past the booths over to the pinball machine.

"Sure you are, Willy. And I'm taking up sunbathing."

Willy chuckles nervously as Laney walks around him, "C'mon, man. Don't be that way! I-I treat you vamps good! I-I-I-I don't hassle you, you don't hassle me... We all enjoy the patronage of this establishment. Everybody's happy, right?"

"Not quite Willy."

Laney laughs as Willy jumps in fright as she pats his shoulder smoothing out his shirt.

Angel smirks at Laney then glares at Willy, "Who sent them?"

Willy looks confused at the two, "Who sent who?"

Angel stops at the pinball machine, "The Order of Taraka."

"I-I... I tell ya, I haven't been in the loop."

Laney shakes her head while hopping on the counter to sit with her legs crossed, "Yeah he's definitely lying."

Angel nods crossing over to the bar closer to Willy, "Let's try again. The Order of Taraka, they're after the Slayer."

Willy chuckles nervously, "C'mon, man."

Angel steps towards Willy who now stands right in front of Laney's legs.

"Was it Spike?"

"Look, Angel, I-I got some good pigs' blood in, good stuff, my fence said..."

Angel grabs Willy and smacks his head into the bar right beside Laney's thigh. Willy knocks a half- empty pitcher of beer onto the floor.

"Hey watch the skirt! Corduroy stains horribly."

Angel presses down hard on Willy's head with his hand.

"Damn it! Ah..."

"You know, I'm a little rusty when it comes to killing humans. It could take a while."

"Or I could kill him!" Laney suggests as she looks at a small dab of beer in her skirt then glares at Willy.

"Oh, Spike will draw and quarter me, man!"

"I'll take care of Spike." Angel glances over at Laney and nods towards the door, "That's all we need. Go tell the others."

Laney nods and jumps down from the bar, "Alright be careful."

Willy looks between the two, "Is she a vamp too?"

Laney frowns, "Of course not."

"Could've fooled me."

Laney smiles shrugging slightly, "Excellent."

As she walks out the bar, Willy's eyes watch her every move. Angel rolls his eyes and slams his head back down making him look the opposite way.

"Ah!! Sorry! Didn't know you and the human were a thing."

"We're not."

"Could've fooled me."

"Shut up."

As Laney hurries out the bar, she texts Willow that she was in the way back to the library. Just as she turns the corner on the sidewalk, she bumps into another person. She curses holding her shoulder and frowning at a black girl with curly kinky hair in a ponytail.

"Oh shit my bad."

"Tis alright."

Laney looks at her black boots and smiles, "Cute shoes!"

"Tank you."

Laney nods and turns around to continue walking. She has a feeling in her stomach but she wasn't sure what it meant. She peeks over her shoulder to see an empty sidewalk. Frowning with a shrug, Laney continues on with her walk to the library.

Willy groans once more as his head I smacked into the bar once again, "You know he ordered those guys! Spike's sick of the slayer getting in his way!"

"Where can I find him?"

"I tell you that, I'm gonna need relocating expenses! It'll cost you!"

Angel presses harder, "It'll cost who?"

"Okay! Okay! He and that freaky chick of his are..."

He is interrupted by someone kicking Angel in the face. Angel falls back onto the floor dazed and looks up at his attacker. It's the girl from the airport who had just ran into Laney outside.

She grabs Willy's broom, breaks the end of the handle off and attacks Angel with the makeshift stake.

Angel rolls out of the way of the girl's thrust. Willy takes the opportunity to flee the bar. Angel is up again, and he ducks a swing from her. She tries a direct thrust, which Angel just pushes aside, but she follows it up with a punch to the face from her other hand and uses her momentum to spin around for a roundhouse kick, knocking him through the door into the back room.

He crashes into several cases of beer. When he gets back up he's vamped out. The girl charges him with the stake held above her head in both hands. He blocks her charge with his arms and twists her arms down, forcing her to drop the stake, and shoves her into a bank of lockers. He tries to knock her legs out from under her, but her footing is firm and she kicks him in the back, knocking him down instead.

Once down he tries kicking again, and this time makes her fall. She grabs his shirt, pulls him up a bit and kicks him in the face. They both scramble to their feet. Angel swings and misses. He swings the other way, but she blocks it and punches him three times in the gut and then a right hook to his jaw.

She shoves him into the door of the cage. He bounces off of it and she kicks him in the chest, making him stumble backward through the cage door and into a bunch of empty water bottles. Several cans fall onto him from a shelf above. She looks at him with cold eyes as he recovers from his fall.

Angel growls as his vampire face shows, "Who are you? If you tell me what I need to know I won't hurt you."

She laughs as she steps back.

"You think this is funny?"

She swings closed the cage door and sets the bolt. Angel scrambles to his feet and slams up against the door.

Kendra smirks, "I tink it is funny now. Dat girl. De one I saw you wit before?"

Angel glares, "You stay away from her."

"I'm afraid you are not in a position to treaten. And I assume the girl I ran into a moment ago will be a problem as well."

Angel growls pulling at the bars, "You touch a hair on her head... Wait until I get outta here I'll do more than just threaten!"

Kendra looks up at the windows and shrugs, "Den I suggest ya move quickly. Eastern exposure. De sun will be comin' in a few hours."

She padlocks the cage and backs away slowly as she watches Angel's face turn from fury to worry.

"More dan enough time for me to find your girlfriends."

Angel screams in anger and slams the cage with his hand.

What did we think of this chapter?

Do we like the relationship forming between Giles and Laney?

No more Colby for a hot minute 😭 but it's all on purpose

I love me some Kendra... even though the accent was a tough one 😬 it wasn't the best Jamaican accent but she tried. However Kendra is bad a**. I love it.

Fav trio?

Fav part so far?

Future predictions?

Any special requests...