Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11: What Child is This


Buffy drives as fast as she can without getting pulled over, her hands covered in Faith’s blood. She applies constant pressure hoping that she would get her friend home in time. The Suburban raced north on route 237 heading towards Interstate 90. Faith gasped for air, struggling to speak

“Buffy, I don’t think…”

“Hush…. You are going to make it…Faith, I don’t think I can do this…without you! Faith, Faith!”

Faith drifted in and out of consciousness. As the Suburban rolled towards the exit for Interstate 90, Buffy reached down for Faith’s wrist, it was clammy to the touch and she felt no pulse.

“No…No…please,” with a look of desperation Buffy took a right onto McKinley Rd, looking frantically for a place to pull over. The Suburban lurched onto Detroit Ave. where she found an alleyway. Buffy parked the vehicle and quickly ran over to the passenger’s side pulling Faith out, and gently laying her on the ground.

Buffy tilted Faith’s head to the side, using her finger to clear her airway; she placed her palm across her friend’s chest counting four fingers in width up from the solar plexus. After finding her mark, Buffy tilted Faiths head back and placed both palms down on her sternum. She then applied five even thrusts, hearing life giving oxygen suck into Faiths lungs, then held Faith’s nose and blew five quick bursts of her breath into Faith’s slightly open mouth. Then she tilted her head forward, looking, listening, and feeling for any sign of life.

Buffy continued to perform CPR for what seemed forever, and just when she was about to give up, Faith’s eyes shot open as she breathed in cool air on her own.

Buffy gently smiled at Faith, “Take short breaths… I almost lost Faith, ah excuse the pun…. Faith…Faith.”

Faith was staring down the alleyway, holding up a trembling hand as she pointed.

Buffy saw a distant glimpse of what her friend must have been looking at. Down the length of the alley, she could make out a struggle between what looked like two bikers dragging away a very young girl. Buffy swore under her breath, “Are you going to be alright?

“Yes…go get her,” Faith struggled to say.

Buffy reached down and felt Faith’s pulse. The rate was way too low, she didn’t have much time. The Slayer gently laid her friend’s head down and grabbed her Katana, bolting down the alley, staying close to the shadows, keeping an eye on her quarry, at the same time looking for any debris laying in her path that would give away her position.

“Grab her, Pounder, so I can get on the dog collar.”

“What are you going to do with her, Viper? You going to eat her?”

“Not until she warms my bed.”

Buffy steps out of the shadows shocked at what she heard. She saw two very large Vampires wearing jeans and cut off leather jackets with The Devil’s Seraphim embroidered on the back. They were trying to put a dog collar on a young girl barely twelve years old. The girl was dressed in rags: a softball team jersey, jacket, and jeans she was filthy, tattered, and hair matted. Obviously, she lived on the streets.

“Please…don’t hurt me!” she pleaded with her captors.

“Only for about a week, now shut the fuc@ up, bitch!” Viper said as he smacked her and tried again to get the collar around her neck. Blood trickled down the side of the young girl’s face as her eyes narrowed and she stood up.

Buffy steeped forward ready to go into action as Viper’s head snapped back suddenly. The young girl went into a flurry of kicking, biting and scratching. She slammed her heel down hard on Pounder’s instep and as he cried out, Viper pulled out a large hunting knife.

“I guess your not going to warm my bed after all.”

“I’ll warm your bed!” Buffy said as she charged towards Viper, drawing the Katana at a full run.

Buffy tossed Mr. Pointy towards the little girl pinned against a Dumpster. She just stared at it, not really sure what it was for.
Buffy got in range of Pounder first, front kicking him just under the chin, and as he turned in the Slayer’s direction, she followed this up with a double roundhouse to the temple, which slammed Punder hard against some crates. Buffy slowly turned towards a very shocked Viper.

“Who are you?” Viper questioned.

“I’m your date…honey”

Buffy moved effortlessly forward in her attack; she performed two downward strikes, blocked by Vipers hunting knife. She spun quickly on her forward foot with her back facing Viper, changing the grip of her Katana, drawing the blade forward then backward quickly; the blade cut deep through Vipers sternum. Buffy quickly pulled the blade out and continued on her three hundred and sixty-degree turn ending up in an arc of black dust as the Slayer beheaded him.

She walked stoically through the dust, showing little emotion on purpose, as she picked up Mr. Pointy and performed a spinning back thrust into Pounder’s dead heart, just as he made it to his feet.

Buffy turned towards the small girl, as the dust settled, and took a knee. She smiled at the small child and reached out her hand. The girl just starred at her outreached hand, not sure what she had just saw or what she was looking at now. She was backing away, trying to press herself between the brick wall and the dumpster.

Buffy glanced down at her hand covered in Faiths blood. Then she remembered that her face still had the black tiger striped camouflaged pattern from the airport mission.

“You must be terrified! I’m here to help you, but you have to help me, see… my friend is down there and she’s hurt. Will you come with me?” Buffy asked the young girl.

“O.K. I’ll help you,” the young girl replied as she stood up wiping the tears from her face.

“My name is Buffy. What’s your name?”

“Christina, my name is Christina…thank you, Buffy.”

“You’re welcome, Christina. Do you have a Mommy or Daddy?
“No…they were killed…by one of them,” Christina answered eyes welling with tears.

“One of what, honey.”

“You know a…a… Monster”

Buffy was shocked at what she feared, “You have no one to take care you…do you?”

“No, it’s alright! I can take care of…” Christina angrily pulled away from Buffy’s hand.

Buffy took a knee, “Christina, how long have you lived outside…here?”

“The softball game was in June. My mom and dad…they were killed that night,” Christina answered.

“Why don’t you…come and live with me?” Buffy asked as she reached down, picked up Christina and placed her on her hip walking towards the truck. “Whoa, and you can use Dawns shower…would you like that?”

“Who’s Dawn?”

“That’s my sister, you’re going to like her,” Buffy replied.

Buffy set Christina down as they approached the Suburban. Faith lay where she was left, drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Buffy, what’s wrong with her?”

“She’s hurt, help me put her in the truck.”

Buffy purposely let Christina do most of the lifting to confirm what she had been thinking. Buffy and Christina gently placed Faith back into the passenger seat and pulled her seat back as she placed her friend’s feet up on the dash to prevent shock. Also, so she could reach her and monitor her vitals; then they put on her seat belt, and Christina got in the back, locking her seatbelt in place.

“Christina, you’re going to have to be quiet for a minute, while I check in…O.K. Christina…” Buffy looked into the back where Christina was fast asleep, with a smile on her little dirty face. Buffy checked Faith’s pulse, which was slow and thready, then checked the field dressing and picked up the Motorola.

“Sierra Mike…this is Bravo Foxtrot…come-in Sierra Mike.”

“Bravo Foxtrot…this is Sierra Mike…what is your location? Over.”

“Sierra Mike, I’m at the intersection of Hillard Rd and Detroit Ave…break. Foxtrot is injured bad, almost lost her…and Sierra Mike, I have a package…how copy over”

“Say again, Bravo Foxtrot…you have a package.”

“Sierra Mike, I have recovered a twelve-year old Victor Sierra…condition follows…break. Lacerations, extremely malnourished, and dehydrated…she’s been on her own for over two months”

“Good copy, Bravo Foxtrot…medical standing by…bring them in…Sierra Mike…out.”

The Sgt. Maj. placed the mic back on his belt, standing in the parking lot he looked at the Scoobs and Dr. Kidare. Everyone was standing there with their mouths open.

“All right, game faces on you heard her…Dr. Kidare prep for another casualty,” The Sgt. Maj. barked.

“Willow, go get another I.V., double the lactated ringers, another gurney, B and C Vitamin booster, and bring some blankets. Xander can you help her?” Dr. Kidare asked.

“Sure Doc!” Xander said at a full run to catch up with Willow.

“Mr. Giles, how young are Slayers when they get called?” Dr. Kidare asked.

“Usually, around the age of fifteen. Except for a Slayer by the name of Thessily who was also twelve, I have never heard of a Slayer younger then that,” he responded.

“Great, that means there could be twelve year old Slayers all over the world alone and in danger,” Dr. Kidare responded.

Buffy turned onto Rt. 90 and drove the five miles back to the Sanctuary in ten minutes, constantly monitoring Faith’s breathing and pulse. She drove up to the main entrance, the security guard already had the gate opened and waved her through.



Chapter 12: She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Sister!


Dr. Kidare moved the gurney into position as the Suburban pulled into the carport. She opened the passenger door and reached in to take Faith’s pulse; then she put a sphygmomanometer or a blood pressure cuff on Faiths right arm. Using a stethoscope, she listened for a heartbeat below the cuff.

“Her blood pressure is sixty over forty, it’s too low, she’s lost a lot of blood. We will have to stabilize her here,” Dr. Kidare said with urgency.

Dr. Kidare motioned to Eddie and Kennedy, who were closest, to place Faith onto the gurney.

“You two will have to assist, hand me that bag of o-positive,” Dr. Kidare said as she turned on the oxygen tank and placed a mask over the Slayer’s face, and then took her pulse. “Too slow and erratic, we’re losing her.”

Kennedy looked at Dr. Kidare with disbelief, “ Doctor is she… she going to be all right?”

“We have to get her blood volume and pressure back to normal levels,” Dr. Kidare answered as she ripped open a Benzedrine prep pack and cleaned Faith’s arm, then inserted an IV and hooked up a pint of whole blood. Dr. Kidare continued to monitor Faith’s vitals, she then connected a bag of lactated ringers, essentially sugar water for nourishment which gives the blood volume.

Willow and Xander moved the second gurney into position at the rear door, and Dawn opened the door and reached inside.

“Buffy, no…who are you people?” Christina screamed, just waking up, cowering deeper into the rear of the vehicle.

“Hey…it’s going to be alright…we’re friends, we just want to help you,” Dawn said to the frightened child.

“Are you…Dawn?” Christina asked.

“Yes…come, on let me help you out of there.” Dawn reached in and Christina took her hand.

Dawn ignored the smell, picked up Christina and placed her onto the waiting gurney.

“My name is Christina.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Hey, we’re going to take care of you. This is Xander and Willow…Christina, they’re going to have to do some things that may hurt a little bit, are you scared?” Dawn asked her.

“Nope, I mean if …Buffy’s with me…I won’t be,” Christina replied.

“Yeah…believe me, kid! A lot of people feel that way…including me,” Xander said as Buffy walked over, smiled at him, and took her hand.

“Dawn, would you go to your room and get Christina some clean clothes.”

“Sure Buffy,” Dawn answered as she ran through the front entrance and disappeared up the steps.

"Christina, do you see Faith? The Doctor is going to have to give you a tube in your arm, like hers. It’s called an I.V. and it will help you. Will you be brave for me?” Buffy asked her.

“A tube, you mean like on ER?” Christina asked.

“Yes, like that.”

“Alright, are you going to stay with me?”

“Christina, we will all be with you.”

“I’m not afraid,” Christina said.

“Good girl, go ahead Willow,” Buffy told her friend.

“Willow, start her off with four pints of saline solution to every pint of Lactated Ringers, then give her the B and C booster. Oh, when we get her downstairs, put her in the bed next to the bathroom, she’s ambulatory.” Dr. Kidare told her assistant.

“Damn, see what living on the streets will get you…now she’s ambulatory!” Xander said to no one in particular.

“Xander, that just means she can walk and talk,” Willow said slightly smiling.

“Then why not just say that,” Xander whispered into her ear.

“This may hurt for just a second, Christina, are you ready?” Willow asked her.

“I’m a big girl now,” Christina said looking away towards Buffy who was squeezing her hand tight.

“Yes, you are and you’re doing great!” Buffy told her as she gently stroked her matted hair.

“Faith’s starting to stabilize, her pulse is getting stronger, her blood pressure is returning to normal. Eddie, Kennedy, let’s wheel her down. Mr. Giles, Faith is going to be out for a while, but Christina is going to need some solid food in about an hour.” Dr. Kidare stated as Giles pulled out his cell phone.

“Hello, yes…Mariana…yes, this is Rupert Giles, I’m doing good, thank you…We have recovered a very young girl…is there any way you could open the kitchen and make her something to eat? Yes …Yes, that would be fine, she will be in the Infirmary…thank you…I don’t know, perhaps a cheese burger…alright, have someone send it down when your ready…you might want to make more then one…thank you…you too.” Giles placed the phone back into his pocket as they started to wheel the two patients down stairs.

Dr. Kidare proceeded to hook Faith up to monitoring equipment and a catheter after she kicked all the males out. They had to wait outside.

Dawn and Willow helped Christina off of the gurney and into the shower room. As Dawn held up her I.V., Willow cut off her clothes with a pair of surgeon scissors.
“We can burn those! Alright, let’s get you cleaned up, wash your hair using this first and let it sit in for three minutes, it will kill any hitchy hiker things. Then just shampoo and soap, and call me, I’ll be right here with some clothes Dawn got for you."

Twenty minutes later Christina called for Willow, after getting dressed in some Grey sweat pants, socks, underwear, and an oversized red Sunneydale High sweat shirt. Dawn, Buffy, and Willow combed out Christina’s hair. She was a beautiful child, shoulder length black hair, brown eyes, and she couldn’t stop smiling. At least she knew she was safe tonight…something she hadn’t felt for a very long time.

Willow and Dawn proceeded to clean and bandage some of the deeper lacerations and just cleaned the minor cuts and abrasions. Dawn put Fantasia into the DVD player and turned on the television.

Buffy stepped out into the hallway and motioned for Giles, the Sgt. Maj., and Jeff to the far end of the hall.

“Giles, I know what I heard, the meaner one said that he wanted her to warm his bed and that it would take a week for her to die. What the hell is that?” Buffy said looking very upset.

“Well, Buffy, it would seem that this breed of Vampire does not kill its victims immediately. They’re raping them and at least this one prefers children.” Giles said gently cleaning his glasses.

“There might be more out there! Giles, we have to do something…now!” Buffy exclaimed.

“I should think a recon is in order. Start planning a mission for this evening,” he replied.

“I was afraid this would start happening again,” Jeff stated.

“Again…again? You knew about this and didn’t tell us…why?” Buffy asked him.

“About six months ago we were investigating missing children and got a location on where they were being held. We mounted an operation to clean out the nest. We killed about ten of them, and rescued Tracy Beck who was the only survivor,” Jeff answered.

“Who is Tracy Beck?” Buffy asked.

“She’s one of the girls that work here at the Sanctuary. She works on Xander’s construction crew. You are welcome to check our files, there are many that live and work here that have a horrible story. Buffy, we haven’t exactly had the time to brief you on every operation we have mounted while here in Cleveland,” Jeff replied.

“I know…sorry for being snippety, but Christina is just a child,” Buffy said starting to calm a little.

“Buffy, Demons and Monsters don’t care…some specifically target children. That’s why Slayers were created to try and keep them at bay and to protect the weak,” Jeff stated.

“Well, I intend to do something about it. This stops now!” Buffy said as she went back to check on Faith and Christina.

Christina was sitting upright in her hospital bed, eating a cheeseburger and drinking a glass of milk at the request of Dr. Kidare.

“Dr. Kidare, how are they?” Buffy asked.

“We’ve stabilized Faith, we’re moving her into the operating room very soon to remove the shaft…I’m not going to lie to you, it’s going to be touch and go.”

“I thought she stabilized,” Buffy responded.

“She did and she is, but with the amount of blood loss, I’m afraid that she has a bleeder temporarily stopped because of the shaft…”

“Removing the shaft could cause major problems,” Buffy said finishing her sentence for her.

“That’s right, please excuse me,” Dr. Kidare said as she started to brief Willow on the upcoming operation.“

“Oh, Dr. Kidare, later, when Faith is alright, I want you to examine Christina for a possible rape.”

“What are you saying?” Dr. Kidare asked with a look of concern.

“We believe that the Vampires, The Devil’s Seraphim…not only feed on children, they’re also…”

“I understand…I take it these results only come to you…as soon as I get some free time.”

“Thank you,” Buffy said as Dr. Kidare walked over to where Faith was laying.

Buffy walked over to Christina’s bed: “How you feeling, Christina?”

“A lot better…I think I’ll be able to leave tomorrow,” Christina said to Buffy’s shock.

“Leave…where would you go?” She asked sitting on the edge of the bed with her.

“Back where you found me, I have a place, only I know about it. It’s warm at night and these big fan blades keep out the monsters.”

“Why? Don’t you like it here?” Buffy asked.

“Sure, you’re all very nice, and you have already helped me. Plus, you don’t want a kid hanging around,” Christina said.

Buffy placed her hands over Christina’s and said:

“We don’t want you to stay, if you don’t want to, but it would make us all very happy if you stayed here with us. We can take care of you and you haven’t even seen your new room. Xander is fixing it up now, and as soon as Dr. Kidare says so, we can go see it.”

“Buffy, why are you being so nice to me? No one has ever been this nice to me, except for… my mommy and daddy,” Christina asked her big brown eyes welling up.

“Maybe it’s because we both need it,” Buffy answered as she gave the small girl a warm hug.

“Buffy, if I was to ever get another…mommy, I would want her to be you.” Christina said wiping her eyes.

“Really, that’s probably the sweetest thing someone has ever said to me. Do you mean it or are you just trying to get an allowance?”

“Maybe a little bit of both,” Christina said shooting under the covers as Buffy’s finger found her stomach. The two giggled, played and laughed for a while then Buffy got up.

“You get some sleep,” Buffy said as she gently kissed Christina’s forehead.

“Dawn, can I speak to you in the hallway?” Buffy said as she strode through the double doors almost running Dawn over, who was listening on the other side.

“What’s up?” Dawn asked her big sister.

“Two things. I want you to find out anything you can about the The Devil’s Seraphim, and I want you to help me plan a full scale assault on their nest. I won’t…I can’t let them hurt another girl.” Buffy asked, her eyes starting to pool.

“I’m on it, don’t worry, Buffy. We’re going to shut them down!” Dawn said

“Hey, that thing about you being her mom, do you think you could…I mean…”

“Dawn, do you want a little sister?” Buffy asked not really ready to talk about it.

“Buffy, that would make her my niece.” Dawn said.

“Oh, yeah…right.”

“Buffy, are you alright?”

“It’s…just been a really rough day…ya know.”

“Yeah, but I can’t wait till tomorrow.” Dawn replied.

“Excited about the first day at school?” Buffy asked.

“Not school…getting home and training some more!” Dawn replied as she headed upstairs to check on her Slayer.



Chapter 13: Redemption is a Bitch



Dr. Kidare, Willow, and Kennedy wheeled Faith into the operating room and started to prep her for surgery. The Doctor gently cut away Faith’s Tee shirt, exposing the bloodied bandages that were now oozing. Kennedy winced and started to tear up, as Dr. Kidare looked up compassionately.

“Kennedy, you can go if you want, me and Willow can do this.”

“No…sorry, if it’s alright, I think I’ll stay…I got it together.”

“Willow get, ready…as I pull out the shaft, be ready to hand me a clamp for any bleeders. Kennedy, stand by with some sponges.”

Dr. Kidare looked up at the Electro cardiogram for one more reading as she took a pair of surgeon pliers and firmly pulled out the shaft. A large spray of blood shot across Dr. Kidare’s face shield.

“Damn it, we have a bleeder,” she opened her hand as Willow slapped a clamp into it.

Dr. Kidare worked frantically trying to clamp the nicked artery as Kennedy sponged up the wound so the doctor could see.

“Willow, it’s slipped deeper inside, hook up another pint of O+ and keep them coming. Kennedy, put the light right here.” She went deeper inside trying not to damage any other organs, but she knew if she couldn’t clamp this artery Faith would bleed out.

“Kennedy sponge here, ten cc’s of adrenaline, Willow. Just a second…got it, now hand me the needle.” Dr. Kidare sewed the nick in Faith’s artery as Kennedy wiped the blood off of her face shield.

She inspected the wound looking up frequently at the Electro cardiogram. “Her pulse is strong…lets close her.” Dr. Kidare sewed up the back wound then the front all the time checking her vitals.

“Faith’s blood pressure is one twenty over sixty and her pulse is at a steady fifty five…she’s going to be fine.”

“Thank you, Doctor…that’s great,” Kennedy said.
“You helped, both of you…but we are not out of the woods. Willow, twenty four hours observation and at least forty-eight hours Intensive care. I better not see her out of bed for at least three days, and I am aware of how fast Slayers can heal…good work…one more pint of whole blood and then Lactated Ringers up to four pints,” Dr. Kidare said to her head nurse as she headed out to the hallway.

Everyone was seated in some folding metal chairs along the hallway; The Slayers, Watchers, Sergeant Major Douglas, Asano, and even the ladies from the cafeteria. They all looked up in somber silence as Dr. Kidare pulled off her face shield and Surgeon mask. Buffy and Mr. Giles ran up to her as she pulled the mask away.

“She’s going to be fine.”

The hallway cheered as metal chairs slammed against the walls and floor due to everyone jumping out of their chairs at the same time.

“Man, that girl is tough.” Eddie said to Scott.

“That’s because Bravo Team rules,” Michael stated.

“I believe it was the Alpha Team Leader that saved her life, boys.” The Sgt. Maj. said as he adjusted his patrol cap.

“Now she’s going to need a lot of rest, for the next couple of days.” She said as she motioned to Giles, Buffy, Sgt. Maj., and Jeff, who walked to the other side of the hall as everyone shook hands and hugged ecstatic that Faith was going to be all right.

“Mr. Giles, starting tomorrow I want to take tissue and blood samples from all field personal…I don’t want to say anything now, but talking to Willow I had an idea that I think can help. Oh, and my O- positive supply is low, I need donors.”

“I’m O-positive,” Jeff stated.

“I am too Doc,” The Sgt Maj. said.

“Wait a minute, what do you need tissue samples for?” Buffy asked crossing her arms.

“I wasn’t going to say anything until I was sure, but Willow has been reading some of the manuscripts and books recovered from The Watchers Counsel, including a very interesting book called The Book of Fours. Willow believes that using blood and a spell from this book, we can identify what type of Slayers we have here, based on the four basic elements of fire, water, earth, and wind,” Dr. Kidare explained.

“What…huh…what?” Buffy asked.

“Basically, Buffy, if you had a team in the field… I hope I have this right! With one Slayer type of each of these elements you would have a very powerful force indeed,” Dr. Kidare stated.

“That is intriguing, Dr. Kidare, but that doesn’t explain the need for a tissue sample,” Giles stated.

“I need some DNA. After thousands of years we still do not know very much about a Slayer,” She responded.

Buffy took a step towards her. “Well, basically, Lori, we just met. You saved my friend’s life tonight and I am grateful, but I don’t want anybody to know how we tick, it would be dangerous for anyone to know exactly how we were made,” Buffy said looking agitated.

“Alright, Buffy, when you are ready to make additional weapons like the Flame, let me know, because I think I can do it,” Dr. Kidare said as she turned towards the doors to the operating room.

“Dr. Kidare, I will let you know. Can I see Faith now?” Buffy asked.

“She’s asleep…alright, only for a minute…Buffy, she lived only because of the first aid you performed out there. You saved both of those girls tonight. I just thought you should know that, and I am not here to hurt you, I am here to help you in any way.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Buffy said as she went in the operating room.

Faith was lying flat on her back, the remnants of her camouflage still on her face, she had an I.V. in her arm, a tube in her mouth, and an oxygen mask on. As she lay unconscious, Kennedy and Willow were cleaning her up with a soapy washcloth and water. Buffy walked up to her bedside and just looked at her. The Electro cardiogram was beeping on Faith’s every heartbeat. Buffy whispered a thank you to Willow and Kennedy.

“She was dying…and she saw Christina being chased through the alleyway. She knew she was going to die and told me to save Christina,” Buffy put her hand to her mouth.

“Buffy, that’s what a Slayer does, I’ve been watching you do those sort of things since we met. That’s why I’m here, that’s why we are all here,” Willow explained to her best friend.

“Thanks Will, I guess I needed to hear that.”

Buffy leaned over and gently kissed Faith’s forehead, then walked into the adjoining room to check on Christina. She was asleep on her back, a half eaten cheeseburger sitting on a tray in front of her, the television playing Fantasia, a half empty bag of saline solution hung from a hook off her bed. Buffy removed the food cart and tray to the other side of the room, and turned off the movie. She then walked over to Christina’s bedside and pulled a blanket up close to her chin.




Chapter 14: Pesky Kid

Early Morning, The Sanctuary


Christina was up and moving, she reached down and pulled out her IV, wincing from the pain. She ate the other half of her cheeseburger, wrapped up in a blanket on the floor in front of the television. The she got up and looked through the double doors to where she could see Faith, and the Electrocardiogram beeping at a steady pace. Christina walked in and stood by Faith’s bed as Dr. Kidare walked in.

“Hey…you're up, how are you feeling, why do you have your IV out?” Dr. Kidare asked as she took Christina’s pulse, then pulled out a pen light.

“Follow the light, Christina. I can’t find any thing, it looks like your doing alright, but I want you back in bed, young lady.”

“Doctor, can I stay here with her…for a little while?” Christina asked.

“Alright, only if you go put on your socks, and grab your blanket, but when breakfast gets here you are going back to bed,” Dr. Kidare answered moving a lock of hair away from Christina’s face.

“Hey, Doc, how’s our patient?” The Sgt. Maj. asked placing his eighty-pound rucksack out in the hallway. He usually gets up at this time for a run before anyone starts to wake up.

“She’s doing just fine. I cannot believe how fast a Slayer heals, I expect she will wake up soon. I mean it, Sgt. Maj. both of these girls are under my control for the next day or so, they must get their rest.”

“That’s fine Doc, but don’t yell for me when she wants to leave. Just kidding, Lori, we’ll jump that hurdle when we come to it, good luck! I’m going for a run, be back in about forty-five minutes,” The Sgt. Maj. said grabbing his rucksack and running up the stairs.

Christina ran through the double doors, her socks on and her blanket draped over her shoulder. She sat in a chair as Dr. Kidare checked Faith’s vitals and changed her IV bag of saline solution.

“Christina, were you hurt by anyone while you lived on the streets? I mean did anyone ever touch you where you didn’t want to be touched?” Dr. Kidare asked.

“You mean…has anyone ever tried to take advantage of me?” Christina asked.

“Yes, you’re a very smart girl.”

“No, cause I used to stay hidden…I only came out for food,” Christina answered.

“You know that we all care for you very much, especially Buffy…don’t you?” Dr. Kidare asked.

“Yes, everyone’s been so nice, and Buffy said I can live here.”

“Christina, I have to do some tests, very personal tests, and I want your permission.”

“Alright, but only if Buffy is here. Where is she anyway? She should be up by now.”

“Honey, she’s probably asleep. I think she had a pretty tough night,” Dr. Kidare answered.

***

The alarm clock on Buffy’s night stand went off at 05:30. She smashed it in, vowing under her breath to buy a tougher one or just put it in the bathroom. She got up, stumbled into the bathroom, turned on the radio, and took a shower. She had enough time to see Faith, and Christina, eat breakfast, and get the girls off to school.

***

“Christina, will you keep an eye on Faith while I do some work in my office?” Dr. Kidare asked.

“Alright. What do I have to do?”

“All you really have to do is keep an eye on her, that big machine up there will tell me if something is wrong.Just call me when Buffy wakes up,” Dr. Kidare walked into her office and shut the door.

Christina propped herself up on Faith’s bed with a pillow and just watched her. Bored, she poked Faith in the side. “Wake up, Faith you have to get up now,” Christina now started to tap her finger on Faith’s forehead. “Get up,” Christina said now her face about six inches from the Slayer’s. Faith was able to open one eye, but not yet able to focus.

“Who are you, where am I?” Faith asked as Christina’s face came into focus.

“Your home, silly head and I’m Christina, don’t you know your home?”

“Why were you poking me? Faith asked.

“Because… what, are you going to sleep all day? We could watch a movie.”

“You’re that kid in the alley, Buffy was able to save you.” Faith said while thinking to herself: “So she brought you here to torment me! Well, I’m outta here.”

Faith leaned up in her bed wincing at the pain in her chest as she removed her nose tube, and started to pull at her IV. The thumb sensor fell off, causing the Electro cardiogram to start beeping, sending a signal to Dr. Kidare’s office.

Dr. Kidare ran into the Intensive care unit yelling “Faith, no!”

Buffy hit the bottom of the steps and saw Dr. Kidare running through the double doors at a sprint.

“What’s going on…Faith, what are you doing?” Buffy yelled.

“Buffy, I’m…My Team…needs me…”

“Faith, that’s ridiculous, you almost died last night…” Buffy said trying to hold her down.

Dr. Kidare was trying to prepare a sedative, plunging a needle into an ampoule of yellow liquid.

“Doc, no offense, but if you stick me with that I’ll have to hurt you,” Faith said.

“Faith, you could have internal injuries…you have to rest,” Dr. Kidare said putting down the needle.

“Look, I’m all better, see…” Faith said yanking off her bandage exposing an already sealed wound.

Dr. Kidare with a look of shock on her face, said: “That’s incredible…let me see that. I don’t believe it, I had no idea Slayers healed that fast. But you’re still staying here, young lady. Oh, Faith, the next time you want to hurt me for helping you, I will have you kicked out of here so fast your head will spin. That is unless. Do you know anyone else that can perform surgery on your sisters? Do we have an understanding?” Dr. Kidare looked very upset.

“Yes…ma’am! Um, sorry… Doctor,” Faith said.

“That’s alright. Now, Christina, are you ready for what we talked about?” Dr. Kidare asked, then turned to Buffy:

“Buffy, Christina said she will only allow me to look at her if you are here,”

“Faith, you’re going to be alright, I’ll be right back, please stay here,” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, Buff, I’ll be O.K., go take care of her,” Faith said.

As Buffy took Christina by the hand and followed the doctor, the latter turned towards Faith and stuck out her tongue. Faith narrowed her eyes as they exited the Infirmary.

In the examination room, Dr. Kidare and Buffy helped Christina take off her clothes and put a sheet over her on the examination table. Christina held Buffy’s hand during the exam. Dr. Kidare conducted her examination of the young Slayer, and looked up and smiled.

“Christina, you can get dressed now, I need to talk with Buffy in the hallway, alright.”

“Alright, Doctor,” Christina said as Buffy helped her up.

“Her hymen is still intact, she has never been abused, at least not in that way,” Dr. Kidare said.

“Thank you, Lori. Whew, I feel much better now. Sorry about Faith, Doc, she’s just cranky.”

“I understand, Buffy. I’m going to need blood samples from the girls before they go to school.”

“Alright, I’ll tell Dawn, thank you again, Doctor Kidare,” Buffy said as she went in to get Christina and take her back to the Intensive care unit.

Faith was asleep when they walked through the ICU. Buffy lifted Christina up onto the bed, and pulled the covers tight around her neck. Christina’s large brown eyes watching every move she made.

Buffy pulled up a chair next to Christina’s bedside. “Christina, can I talk to you?”

“Sure, Buffy,” Christina said.

“I’ve got to take the girls to school soon, but I’ll be back. Christina do you know what attacked you last night?”

“Monsters,” the young Slayer answered.
“Yeah, they were monsters, but do you know what kind of monsters?”

“Nope, but they were mean, and you killed them.”

“That’s sorta what I’m trying to get at, Christina. The two monsters that attacked you last night were Vampires. That’s my job…that’s what I do, and I’m what you call a Vampire Slayer. So is Faith, Vi, Kennedy, Choi-Ann, and so are you,” Buffy tried to explain.

“What…get out of town! You mean like a Monster Hunter or something…I’m a monster hunter.”

“Christina, why do you think you are so strong and heal so fast?”

“Because, my daddy used to say ‘Christina if you eat a proper breakfast you will grow up big and strong’.”

“Have you had a proper breakfast lately?”

“Well, no…”

“Christina, that’s what we do here. We train to hunt monsters, and one day so will you.”

“Why not now, I want to be just like you…I want to kill monsters too.”

“Because right now you are to young,” Buffy stated.

“How old do I have to be?”

“If you’re going to be my daughter, around twenty-four,” Buffy said with a smile.

“Buffy…hey, you said your daughter…do you mean it? Don’t tease me.”

“I really do, I think it would be the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Yes, I mean it.”

Christina jumped up and dove into Buffy’s out stretched arms, almost knocking her out of her chair, then leaned up and kissed Buffy on the cheek: “When?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to ask Giles and Mr. Van Helsing today.”
Mariana knocked softly on the door and opened it. “Hello, I brought breakfast for the little one.”

“Dr. Kidare, Faith, and your breakfast is here too, we thought you would want to eat here this morning. Miss Summers, what you did last night was very brave. God has blessed the Sanctuary with the presence of this child.”

“Thank you, Mariana, I think so too,” Buffy said helping get Christina’s breakfast set.

“Mariana… Can I tell her, Buffy? Please.”

“Sure, everyone will know today anyway.”

“Buffy’s going to be my Mom.”

“Oh…that is wonderful news, Miss Summers, you truly are a saint.”

“Mariana, that’s the sweetest thing.”

“I mean it, this child needs you so bad…I prayed for her and Faith all last night. I’ll leave you two alone, have a nice breakfast…call me if you need anything.”

The two Slayers sat and ate their breakfast of toast, eggs, sausage, milk, and juice. Buffy got up turned on the movie, and leaned over and kissed Christina goodbye. Then she checked on Faith who had eaten a little bit, and ran upstairs to get the girls ready.

Chapter 15: Natasha, Romanian Slayer
18:30 hrs Carpathian Mountains, Central Romania

The sun was just setting behind a far ridge in the central Carpathian Mountains near the Borga pass. A horned adder had a death grip on a mountain rat as a single black helicopter, a Ka-60 Kasatka flew in out of the sun and hovered over a clearing, five ropes ejected from the open side doors. Quickly and without hesitation five soldiers hooked in and gave a thumbs up, they rappelled to the ground, the first solider that hit the ground cleared the area immediately around the landing zone. Once the leader hit the ground they moved out. The five man patrol moved silently through the woods, moving in a diamond formation, the lead solider gave the signal for freeze, holding a fist straight up in the air. The team was dressed in black Gore-Tex overcoats, mountain boots, gloves, sweaters, and trousers. The only exposed skin was between the black ski mask and their night vision goggles. Each solider carried an eighty-pound black rucksack with climbing gear and ropes strapped tight to the sides. The lead solider had a crossbow and what looked like two wooden stakes strapped to each thigh, the other four soldiers carried AKMS 7.62 assault rifles and 10mm Makarov pistols. The solider at point moved forward, checked the front, returned and gave the signal to move out.

The point found a clearing at the base of a cliff, leading to the back of a large very old castle. After moving back to the formation the solider motioned the others forward. They took up a three hundred and sixty-degree security position. The lead solider moved to the center and started to assemble, what looked like a large metal tube with a grappling hook hanging out of the front. After un-strapping a large rope and snapping one end to the grappling hook; The solider spun the hook into place, and fired sending the hook, and three hundred feet of rope, a knot tied every foot, shooting up the cliff. The cliff at the castle base was one thousand feet up. The lead solider started climbing, crossbow strapped across the back, leaving the empty rucksack at the base. Moving methodically hand over hand the point made it to the first escarpment clearing it immediately; as the other four made it over the edge and took up positions. One of the soldiers handed his rucksack to the point, who pulled out essential climbing gear: pitons, ascender’s, safety cam’s, snap link’s, and a three hundred-foot rope. The lead solider snapped one end of the rope to his belt. Turning to the leader, gave a thumbs up and proceeded to climb up the side of the cliff stopping only to safety cam between a crack in the cliff and hooked it to the rope, the solider repeated this every one hundred feet. The team painstakingly climbed, for over an hour and a half. The lead solider pulled up and over the back wall of the castle and dropped silently into the shadows, un-hooking from the safety line.

The point cleared the top part of a citadel as the other four dropped to the granite deck and took up positions. The leader pulled off his mask and night vision goggles and pulled out his canteen taking a drink of well-deserved water as did the other three. The Team leader Col. Victor Rozhkov turned towards the point and scowled “Natasha, drink some water, you do us no good if you pass out from exhaustion. You are a Vampire Slayer, but you are not this, Rambo.” “Father, I would kick this…Rambo’s ass, but I drink papa,” Natasha answered her Father and Watcher. Natasha, thirteen years old, pulled off her sweat filled ski mask gently placing the night vision goggles in a small bag hooked to her utility belt, her long blond hair gently flowing in the wind. She stood all of five foot three, but as her features showed there was nothing gentle about this girl. Recognized and trained since the age of five by her father Col. Victor Rozhkov an ex Russian Spetznatz Commando during the cold war, retired Romanian Special Forces Officer, and currently the leader and trainer of a highly elite government sanctioned Vampire Hunter team. Natasha walked over to the commander as the other three soldiers, Major Demetri Petrenko, Capt. Dominique Petroski, and Master Sgt. Ivan Dechuckov; covered any approach. All right, Natasha place the satellite feed into position. Natasha pulled out a laptop computer and hooked up a small eight-inch diameter satellite dish that had a digital compass readout. She accessed the Romanian recon satellite, and zoomed onto a set of coordinates showing the castle clearly.

She zoomed in further and switched to a thermal reading and turned the screen towards her commander. “Colonel, this is the team, these are the castles security, most likely Werewolves, this alone in his chamber is your master vampire, and down here at the bottom of this citadel is the villages children, the target.
Natasha packed away the laptop and satellite dish into the empty rucksack. She then walked over to Msgt. Dechuckov who was rigging and inspecting the decent ropes and gear.
“Are we ready, Master Sergeant?” Natasha asked while slipping her night vision goggles back over her head.
“Yes, and this time Natasha, you will wait for everyone to be in position; before you charge in, do you understand?” Msgt. Dechuckov asked the Slayer.
“Yes; Master Sergeant,” Natasha replied hooking into the center rope with a snap link.

“Master, the castle has been breached,” an aide told Lord Duke Voevode.
“Send out the dogs of war, they are going for the children, if they find them this castle will be burned to the ground,” Duke Voevode told the aide.
The aide ran out of the chamber yelling for the guards.
Three of the castle guards ran to the aide. “The castles been breached, the Master wants you to
Guard the children; kill them if you have to. The guards wore oversize pants, breastplates, leather lanyards made to expand as they turned, the guards took a step back battle axes in hand.
All three went into a jerking spasm as their snout, backbone, muscles, sinews, and tendon expanded as they turned. With a growl, the three Werewolves headed towards the bottom of the citadel where the children were being held.

* * *

The village’s children huddled together crying, the grayish tint of there skin showed that they have been fed upon. Suddenly with a loud crash, the hunter team crashed through the pane of glass and started to clear the room. Natasha yanked off her mask and ran up to the startled children, ironically; there were some that were older then Natasha. “Stay calm, we are here to get you out,” Natasha said still with a firm grip on her crossbow.
With a loud crash the Werewolf guards came through the wooden door, the center one, battleaxe high charged towards the children, Natasha stepped forward firing her silver tipped bolt hitting the beast in the shoulder. Natasha tossed aside the crossbow, and pulled the two silver inlaid wooden stakes from the sheaths on the lower part of her legs. Getting into a fighting stance, Natasha braced for the charge. The silver starting to work its way into the beasts blood made him slightly stumble, Natasha met him head on. She performed a perfect leaping rear leg front snap kick, straightening up the crouched over wolf man. She landed directly in front of him as his snout leveled back out. Natasha spun clockwise, then counterclockwise planting her stakes deep into the beast’s chest plate. The beast howled, and then snarled as his lifeless body crashed to the concrete floor. At the same time the other two beasts followed closely behind by the castles Vampiric Imperial Guard descended on the team.
Capt. Petroski and Col. Rozhkov went left throwing concussion grenades while Maj. Petrenko and Msgt. Dechuckov went right firing their AKMS 7.62 hard wood encased silver nitrate bullets.
At the moment the concussion grenades went off with a thunderous explosion knocking some of the Imperial guard to the ground. Natasha’s orders were to protect the children, she fought back the urge to go and help her father and the members of her team.
“Natasha, move the children to the roof. We will follow shortly,” Col. Rozhkov ordered.


Crossbow reloaded and back in the slayer’s hands, Natasha hustled the children towards a large wooden door that led to a staircase. One of the werewolves broke through and charged Natasha who dropped to a knee and fired a bolt through his neck. She sidestepped and hook kicked the large beast as it fell past her, dying in a spasm on the cold dusty castle floor. Master Sergeant Dechuckov, the team’s demolition man threw a satchel charge full of wood and silver scraps behind the Imperial Guard, it landed in the doorframe. The hunter team fell back towards the staircase, Col. Rozhkov the last one through the doorway; the explosion rocked the castle walls. Werewolf and Vampiric Guards died by the dozens in a heap of blood, dust, and sinew as the team made it up the spiral staircase. Natasha made it to the roof huddling the children in a small circle as she pulled out a handheld radio.
“Black Dragon, this is predator…come in, over.”
“Come in, predator this is black dragon…over.”
“Black dragon this is predator…we are ready for extraction…”
“Read you loud and clear predator we will be there in three minutes, this is black dragon, out.”

The team made it to the roof and took up positions as the chopper touched down, Natasha loaded the children first, as one of the surviving Imperial guard came out on the roof carrying a sword. “He is mine!” Natasha yelled and stepped forward as Col. Rozhkov nodded his head yes.
The Vampire charged sword out front; Natasha sidestepped the charge knocking the sword out of the way, while round kicking the guard across the bridge of his nose snapping his head back.
Natasha ducked the counterblow and front snap kicked the Imperial guard in the chin.
“Natasha we are ready…quit playing with him and lets go,” Col. Rozhkov ordered.
Natasha tuned and shot a look at her father, her blue eyes narrowed as she spun on her forward leg double staking the Vampiric guard, turning and walking through a cloud of black dust, dissipated quickly by the blades of the chopper. Natasha walked up to her father “you never let me have any fun, papa!” He smiled at his beautiful daughter as he instinctively helped her aboard. She gladly took his arm as she noticed all of the children staring at her with their mouths open.


Natasha sat down in the chopper, and pulled out a Walkman cassette player putting on the headphones, she closed her eyes listening to Scorpions, Rock you like a Hurricane during the ride home. The children watched their new hero the full ride home; every now and then she would open an eye to see them still staring at her. The KA-60 Kasatka touched down on the edge of the village as the townspeople started to walk towards the helicopter. Natasha opened the doors and started to help the children out. The villagers started to scream as they saw a glimpse of their children, they ran faster now as other villagers came out of their houses. Mothers, tears flowing down their weathered faces aged by grief were the first to make it to the landing zone. “Thank you, my baby…thank you so much,” a young mother said to Natasha, her arms gripped firmly around a little ten year-old girl.
The Mother carried the little girl to her crying father, who fell to his knees; the young girl would not take her eyes off of Natasha.
Parents and screams of joy carried off the last of the children.


“Natasha, all you need now is red cape.”
“Kiss my ass! Capt. Petroski,” Natasha said as she boarded.
The hunter team laughed as the main rotors moaned the chopper flew off towards the moonlight.
The KA-60 touched down at a remote Romanian military base and the team off loaded.
“Make sure you turn in all of your equipment, and clean your weapons before you sleep,” Major Petrenko ordered. Natasha grabbed both of her stakes out of their leather sheaves and brushed them off on her pants. “All Clean! Goodnight, this is why we don’t carry guns, have fun,” Natasha said to Capt. Petroski.
“Son of bitch, She always gets away with dat,” Capt. Petroski said to Msgt. Dechuckov. “You know, She always gets away with dat…Team Leaders pet!”


Col. Rozhkov knocked on the door to Natasha’s quarters.
“Natasha answered the door with a towel wrapped around her.
“I am sorry I will come back later.”
“No papa; please come in.”
“Natasha…I am sorry, I have been called to meet with the Romanian counsel to report on the operation I’m afraid I will not be able to take you to the airport tomorrow.”
“Father, it is alright…don’t worry I will be fine,”
“I want you to pay attention to what you learn, come back to us.”
“This is good opportunity…papa to get to train with Buffy Summers…it is going to be good.”
“I love you…my daughter, call me if you need anything be careful, dasvadanya my beautiful girl.
“I love you too papa, dasvadanya.” Natasha said standing on the tips of her toes to kiss her father.
The next morning Natasha said her good-byes to her friends and the members of her team then she got into Capt. Petroski’s sedan and he gave her a ride to the Airport.
Natasha waved goodbye to the captain and boarded the 747 that would take her to Seattle, Washington then on to Cleveland International Airport. She sat in her seat with a window and took a last look at her beloved country; she would not see it again for about a year.

* * *